Warnings: None for this chapter

A/N: This is the final chapter. I hope that you enjoy it and that it ties everything up nicely. I felt that I took this story as far as I possibly could take it, although, I am not opposed to writing a sequel someday, I am just in the mood to move onto another project. This is not the last Tony/Leah story. I have more ideas for this pairing. I want to thank everyone that took the time to read and review, favorite, follow, etc. This was a monster of a project. Eighty chapters! I tip my hat to those of you that managed to stay with me on this crazy ride for so long!

MTAC was filled with so much tension it was amazing that anyone could breathe in the heavy atmosphere.

Tony sat in the dark of the room, very much aware that this could end badly for all those involved. Despite what Tobias thought, the FBI agent did understand what he was up against. Hell, this was the man that had orchestrated Kate Todd's death; Tony knew that he could easily be next if he wasn't careful.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Leon," Director David's voice filled the space, his face the screen. "Business."

"Eli, we need to talk," Vance said, firmly. "I can't have Mossad assassins running around terrorizing citizens."

David cleared his throat. "I apologize, Leon. Officer Hadar was there to speak to my daughter since I have not been allowed to do so since the death of Officer Rivkin. Please, extend my apologies to Mrs. DiNozzo. I am sure after what happened with Officer Rivkin, another man showing up at her door, armed, was terribly frightening."

Tony bristled. Eli had just confirmed what Tony already knew—the Director of Mossad had sent Rivkin to America to take out Leah. The plan had just back-fired—thankfully.

Vance was equally as angry. "Eli, you realize the political nightmare you could have caused us if Officer Rivkin had murdered Mrs. DiNozzo and a baby?"

"His orders were never to harm Mrs. DiNozzo or the baby," Eli responded. "He misunderstood."

"Ziva must have misunderstood, too," Gibbs snapped. "She was under the impression that Rivkin was going to kill Leah."

"Agent Gibbs, I assure you that there is no danger to Mrs. DiNozzo and her baby," Eli countered.

"Can you assure me?" Tony questioned, getting to his feet and coming into Director David's view.

Eli frowned, slightly. He sized Tony up before speaking. "Agent DiNozzo."

Tony pulled on his suit coat. "Well, can you assure me, Director David, that my wife and daughter are not in danger? You must understand why I'm a little bit apprehensive, I mean, a Kidon assassin broke into our apartment and took my wife captive while he waited for either myself or Ziva to show up."

Gibbs could tell that Tony had Eli back on his heels a bit. "The Israeli Embassy had some interesting things to say about that, Director David. Seems you had been warned by your government to pull Officer Rivkin from the United States and you didn't listen."

"I sent his handler to the United States to retrieve him," Eli snapped.

"Like you sent Ari's?" Tony threw out there. He saw Eli's dark eyes cloud over. "Admit it, Ziva was only sent here to kill Ari, not clear his name."

"Ari was out of control. He should have known what was coming. I took care of it."

"Was that your plan for Rivkin?"

Eli scowled at Tony. "When will I get the chance to speak to my daughter, Leon?"

Vance stiffened, he could feel Tony and Gibbs ready to pounce. "Right now we are still conducting an investigation that your daughter is very much a part of, Eli."

"In other words, she does not wish to speak to me."

"At this time, no. I'm sure that will change."

Director David abruptly ended their call, to the surprise of no one in that room. In the now darkened MTAC Vance turned his attention to the case.

Gibbs had nothing new to offer the NCIS director; Ziva had killed Rivkin in self-defense, and if that wasn't a strong enough argument, she had killed the rogue Mossad officer in defense of a federal agent and his family.

Vance's brow furrowed and he glanced at Tony. "You were armed. Why didn't you kill him?"

Tony was surprised by that question. "He had information that we needed, about the terrorist cell. I thought he was better to the FBI alive rather than dead. He made his own choice, Director Vance." And Ziva was trained to kill in those types of situations. "We both told you that if he hadn't been stopped, he was going to kill us."

"Unfortunately I cannot keep Miss David here much longer," Vance said. "Eli has ordered her back to Israel. Her work visa will be revoked once the position is terminated within NCIS."

"What about asylum?" Gibbs asked.

"Without a direct threat to Ziva the State Department will not grant it," Vance answered. "We're stuck between a rock and a hard place."

Gibbs could tell that Tony wanted to argue. He glared at the younger man to stop him. There was nothing either one of them could do. "DiNozzo, why don't you call it a day? Eli may be a heartless bastard, but he's right—what Leah went through this morning was terribly frightening."

Tony frowned. He couldn't help but feel like this was all his fault. Sighing, he nodded. "Yeah. She wasn't happy when I left her earlier with Hollis. I think she wanted me to skip work…"

The former marine set his jaw. "All the more reason to go check on her, Tony. She's confused, surely, about what is going on and why she's in the middle of it all."

He had to agree. Tony nodded and silently departed MTAC. As much as he wanted to argue and find some way to keep Ziva in the States and not send her back to her scheming father—he knew that he was powerless. Gibbs was right—going home to Leah and his daughter was the best thing for him right now. So he did, pushing all the days worries from his mind the closer he got to his family.

Leah smelled his cologne before she felt his hands rest on her hips. "You're home early," she whispered, while she stirred the stew she was making for dinner.

Tony kissed her temple and buried his face in her hair. "I decided to call it an early day," he replied. "I had a few things to take care of, and then it was brought to my attention that I had a few things to take care of at home—you and Lily."

She continued to work on dinner. "Lily is napping upstairs in the guest room. And I'm fine. I finished cleaning this house top to bottom and I started organizing the stuff in the basement."

He took a deep breath and smiled. "I'm sure Gibbs will be very appreciative of your hard work. But I know you, Leah. What happened today has you rattled."

"It's been quiet since this afternoon. You were right. They weren't here for me or Lily."

"No, they weren't, but it still scared you."

Leah let go of the spoon she was using and it clanged loudly against the metal pot as she moved away. "It did. It makes me wonder how long until the next person comes along, threatening me and Lily because of you."

Tony felt like he'd been punched in the gut. "I never, ever wanted you to be in danger because of me, Leah."

She wiped some tears that fell. "I think… I think Lily and I need to go away for a while. At least until this thing with Ziva blows over."

His heart began to race. Was she planning on leaving him… permanently? Tony couldn't imagine his life without Leah or his daughter, and he certainly didn't want to be away from them. "Leah… please… don't do this."

"Don't do what? Get my daughter to a safe place?" Leah shouted, spinning about on her heel. "I'm tired of constantly looking over my shoulder! I'm tired of hiding and being locked away! I want my life back, Tony!"

"You're just tired and upset," Tony argued. "Everything will feel better once we're back in our apartment and things go back to normal."

"Normal? What is normal for us, Tony? Every time I turn around there's another threat!"

"What do you want me to do? Quit my job? Being a federal agent is all I know! I'm good at it!"

Leah swallowed a sob but allowed her tears to run freely down her cheeks. "I can't… I can't keep doing this, Tony. Don't you see? It's not about us anymore. It's about Lily and what's best for her."

Tony clenched his fists at his sides. "So you think taking her away from her father is what's best for her?"

She adverted her eyes. "If she's safer, yes."

He felt like screaming and throwing things. Fortunately for the both of them the back door opened and Gibbs stepped inside.

Gibbs could immediately tell he had walked in on an argument. He'd seen the fire in Tony's eyes before and Leah was crying. "Am I interrupting?"

"No," Tony said, curtly, with a shake of his head. "Your house so you can't interrupt."

"Is that beef stew I smell?" Gibbs asked, directing the question towards Leah.

"Yes," Leah whispered, wiping her eyes. "My grandmother used to make it. It's…it's comfort food for me."

"After today I think we could all use a bit of comfort food," Gibbs said, smiling.

Tony grumbled something underneath his breath, stomped off to the living room, and then shouted that he was taking Copper for a walk. Leah glanced away and went back to fixing dinner.

Gibbs put his weapon away and went to grab a beer. He popped the top and sat down at the kitchen table. "Leaving isn't the answer, Leah. Maybe Lily would be safer if you left, but that doesn't change the fact that she's still Tony's daughter. If you go… you might be putting her at more risk."

Leah didn't turn to look at him. She kept furiously stirring the pot. "I want my baby safe."

"He wants the same. Everything he does is for you and that baby. Do you love him?"

"What? Of course I do!"

"So you're leaving because…."

"Because… because… I don't really know why, okay! I just know I have to go!"

Gibbs sipped his beer. "Alright," he said, softly. "Just do me a favor, okay?"

Leah turned to glance at him. "What favor is that?"

He sighed and leaned forward. "Sleep on your decision. In the morning if you still want to leave… it can be arranged."

She took a deep breath and slowly nodded her head. She could do that. After all, what was one more night?

Coffee woke Tony up the following morning and with a sinking heart he realized for the first time in months, it was not the baby that woke him. She left. Leah's gone.

Tears burned the backs of his eyes and Tony kicked the covers off. He slowly got up from Gibbs sofa, wondering how the hell the NCIS agent had slept on it all these years. His back was killing him. Making his way into the kitchen he was not surprised to find Gibbs drinking coffee at the table, a newspaper in his hand and Hollis sitting with him. "'Morning," he mumbled going to the coffee pot.

Gibbs glanced up and saw the sag in Tony's shoulders. The FBI agent looked defeated. "Hey," he said. "Hungry? We can make eggs."

"No, thank you," Tony whispered, fixing his coffee. "I'll make sure I'm out of your hair by tonight."

"Why?" Gibbs asked.

"Because you only invited me here so the baby and Leah had a safe place," Tony replied. "Since Leah and Lily are gone, well… I can stay in a hotel."

Hollis arched her eyebrows as the younger man sat down at the kitchen table with them. "Who says that Leah is gone?"

Tony frowned at her and clutched his coffee mug. "Copper is gone; I don't hear Lily; it doesn't take a genius to know that she left." And I miss her so much already.

Gibbs reached out and slapped Tony on the back of the head. When Tony glowered at him, he glared. "She took the dog and the baby out for a run, DiNozzo. She got a good night sleep, woke up with a clear head, and realized that she didn't want to leave you. Some things are going to have to be worked on, to help her get through her fear for Lily's safety… but she loves you, Tony."

"How long… how long has she been gone?" Tony sputtered.

"Left five minutes ago," Hollis replied.

Tony jumped up from the table, hastily threw his sneakers on and told the couple that he was going to catch up to her. As he sprinted from the house Gibbs laughed and shook his head.

Hollis eyed him, curiously. "Would you chase after me like that?"

Gibbs reached over the table and kissed her. "Yes. I absolutely would."

Leah was just about to turn the corner when a hand grasped the one holding onto Copper's leash and she was pulled back into two strong arms. She didn't panic though because she recognized his familiar scent.

Tony held onto her tightly, silently crying into her hair and thankful that she had not left him. "I love you, bella," he whispered over and over again. "I promise, I'm going to do a better job protecting you, protecting Lily."

Lily gurgled, happily from her stroller. Leah sighed, still struggling to comprehend how foolish she had been last night. "I know, Tony; I'm… I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I know you love me, that you love Lily, and that you would never intentionally put us in danger. Can you… can you forgive me for the hurtful things I said last night?"

"Sweetheart, there's nothing to forgive," Tony assured her, pulling back and smiling at her. "I'm just thankful you're still here, that you didn't leave me. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"To be honest, honey, I don't know what Lily and I would have done without you," Leah said, with a shy smile. "My plan sounded good in my head and then Gibbs showed up to be the voice of reason… when I woke up this morning I knew how stupid I was being."

Tony stroked her cheek and then took Copper's leash from her. The dog wagged his tail and yelped, happily. "Mind if I run with you?"

Leah smiled and kissed him, tenderly. "I would love that."

Gibbs opened the door when someone knocked. Copper lazily followed behind him. He wasn't surprised to find Ziva on his front porch. "Something bothering you that it couldn't wait until we got into the office?"

Ziva shook her head and asked if she could come inside. Gibbs stepped aside, Copper sniffed her, and she glided into the house. "I spoke with my father and Officer Hadar last night."

He nodded. Gibbs had been expecting her to speak with Eli and judging by the look in her eyes, she had made her decision on what her future held. "Tea?"

"I will not be long," Ziva explained. "I have a flight to catch."

"You're going back to Israel."

"Yes. It is for the best, Gibbs."

Gibbs frowned. He wasn't so sure about that. "Are you sure you want a life back in Mossad?"

Ziva sighed and shook her head. "I resigned from Mossad. I told my father that my feelings for Tony made it clear that I want a family. I am tired of the spy life style. With my resignation, my work visa is revoked—I cannot stay in Washington. Maybe that is a good thing. I will be able to move on."

He continued to frown. "What about your father? He broke U.S laws, he endangered an American family to prove something to his daughter…"

"The Prime Minister has removed him from office. Another reason I resigned. Carrying the David name does not hold as much honor as it did before," Ziva replied.

"Sounds like the Prime Minister had good reason to remove your father," Gibbs said. He quirked an eyebrow, "Did you have something to do with that?"

"I told him the truth," Ziva replied. "If the truth got my father removed from office, so be it."

Gibbs sighed and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. She had been one to be given a tough lot in life; hopefully cutting her ties from her father and Mossad would bring her peace. "Take care of yourself, Ziver," he whispered before they parted for the final time.

Ziva broke away, muttering one more good-bye to hide her tears, and left the house. Gibbs silently closed the door behind her and turned to find Tony standing in the living room, a solemn expression on his face.

Tony knew that he was not directly responsible for what happened, but maybe he had played some par in an indirect way. "There was no win-win situation in this case, Gibbs."

"I know," Gibbs replied. "However, it seems that some of us are just handed terrible lots in life."

"Ziva's stubborn, she'll turn it around," Tony said, firmly.

"Maybe. FBI give you clearance to go back to your apartment yet?"

"Tomorrow. Ready to get rid of us, Gibbs?"

Gibbs laughed, sadly. "No, everyone just needs to move forward. You can't do that if you're living here, with me and Hollis."

Tony grinned. "We're putting a crimp on your love life, aren't we?" When Gibbs glared at him, he laughed. "Don't worry, Gibbs. I get it. Hard to have any kind of romantic evening when you've got a five month old baby wailing away. Believe me, I know."

He rolled his eyes and pat Copper behind the ears. The dog panted happily and wagged his tail. "Where did you disappear too?"

"Tim called. He wanted to have lunch."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Tony said. "Better than okay, Gibbs. He asked me to be his best man. Guess all the events of the last few days finally gave him the courage to pop the big one on Celeste. Although, I think she knew it was coming."

Gibbs stroked Copper's soft fur and gave him a final pat before he gestured towards the kitchen. "Feel like having a beer?"

Tony grinned and nodded. "Yeah; a beer sounds good to me."

The two men headed into the kitchen and Gibbs retrieved two beers. He popped the top off of them and handed one to Tony. Clanging their bottles together in a toast, both men realized that some times things did not turn out the way you planned, and other times, if you were lucky enough, you got everything you ever wanted.