Last chapter, folks. Done. Over. Fini. Again, it's not the longest of chapters, but I really hope it's a satisfying ending. I wanted to add a bit of Gibbs' POV to get a view of the family from the outside. I hope it works.

''Demps?''

''Hey, boss.''

Tony slowly paced through his garden with the phone to his ear. ''I just thought I'd call to, you know, check in,'' he told Alex.

''Yeah? Well, I'm still a bit shaken, but I'm good. It's nice to be back.''

Tony recalled him mentioning a visit to New York. ''You with your parents?''

He heard a heavy sigh over the line. ''Yeah. They've been great. But they're used to me being overseas and facing danger so…''

Tony smiled. ''So they know how to deal with worrying.''

''Something like that.''

After a few seconds of silence, Dempsey decided to do some checking in of his own. ''How are Ziva and Lia?''

Tony looked back to the house, where Ziva was helping Lia to read a children's book on the decking. His heart warmed at the sight. ''They're good,'' he answered eventually. ''I Think I scared them a little bit, though.''

''They must be happy to have you home.''

He smiled as Lia looked up from the book and gave him a wave. ''They seem to be.''

''I never really thanked him, you know,'' Alex said, confusing Tony a little.

He frowned. ''Who?''

''Gibbs.''

Of course. ''Me neither, come to think of it.''

''Something tells me he doesn't care about gratitude.''

Tony chuckled all too knowingly. ''No. He's not a big fan of any form of verbal communication.''

''A man of action.''

''Exactly,'' Tony confirmed. ''A bit like you, Demps.''

Alex scoffed. ''I wouldn't say that.''

''Once a marine, always a marine,'' Tony reminded him. ''Isn't that how it goes?''

He was surprised when he heard nothing but silence on the other end of the line for a solid five seconds, and even moved the phone from his ear to check that the call hadn't disconnected. It was still going, and it was another few seconds after he held it up to his ear again before Dempsey spoke again. ''You know,'' Alex began a bit more quietly. ''When I joined NCIS, I thought I'd be helping people. Saving lives, not taking them.''

Tony felt his heart squeeze with sympathy. He remembered Ziva going through the same transition in the years after she'd arrived in the US, and knew that she valued life a whole lot more as time went on. There was a difference between Mossad and the US Marine Corps, but Ziva and Alex were both soldiers, and they both wanted to make the world a better—and safer—place. Nowadays they were just doing it in a different way.

''You do save lives,'' Tony assured him. ''You've saved mine a hundred times.''

Alex sighed. ''I killed a lot of people over there, boss.''

Tony swallowed. ''I know. But, they were trying to shoot you, so it was hardly in cold blood.''

''I don't really mind about the contractors, or the local militia.''

After more silence, Tony guessed what he was talking about. ''You couldn't have saved him, Alex.''

''Them,'' Alex corrected bitterly. ''I couldn't save either of them.''

Something clicked inside Tony's brain, and he felt like slapping himself. ''God, I should've told you right away,'' he self-berated.

''Told me what?'' Alex asked confusedly.

''Riyad's alive.''

''What?!'' Alex's voice was barely a whisper.

Tony felt his eyes burn. ''Yeah. I got a call this morning. He was still critical last time I checked, but he's stable. It's another reason why I wanted to speak.'' He paused for a few moments. ''His dad didn't make it.''

He heard a sniff. ''See? I could've saved his dad. And now he's in hospital—''

''Alex. I've been punishing myself about that for two days,'' he said honestly. ''It's pointless, okay? There was nothing we could do. They were both incredibly brave, and they saved both our lives.''

''But—''

''Riyad wouldn't have made it without your CPR,'' Tony told him, tears now gathering in his eyes. ''You saved one life, Alex. A kid's life. In my experience, that counts for a hell of a lot.'' He took a calming breath and remembered the words his old boss had told him once, after a really, really bad day. ''You can't save them all. Okay? But, if you save just one life, then that's a whole world kept spinning for somebody.''

Another sniffle could be heard, as well as few shaky breaths. ''Is there any way to contact the kid? A letter or a phone call or something?''

Tony was as proud of his senior field agent as he'd ever been. ''I'm working on it.''

''What'll happen to him now?''

He ran a hand through his hair. ''I'm going to make sure he ends up in the best hands. There are some pretty great organisations that help orphans and refugees. Put them in a good school, a safe place to live, all that jazz.''

''Okay. Let me know if I can help in any way.''

Tony smiled. ''I will.'' He looked up to see Lia waving him over and pointing at the plate of lunch that was waiting for him on the outside table. ''I've got to go, buddy. You get some rest, okay?''

''Okay. Thanks, boss.''

''You never need to thank me.''

Alex scoffed. ''You're as bad as Gibbs.''

Tony smiled as he hung up, and it felt like another huge weight had been lifted from his chest after the call. Most of the weight was gone now, in fact, but not all of it. Alex had pointed out that he hadn't got a chance to talk to Gibbs yet, and although Tony wasn't really thinking about that much since he got home, he still felt like it was something he should do. He knew Lia was as keen to thank him as anyone, and the old marine would never get mad at her for showing him gratitude. Perhaps it was time to visit a familiar old house.

...

Leroy Jethro Gibbs was never good at sitting still. Laying back, relaxing and generally doing nothing was something he had never really been comfortable with. He couldn't just kill time at his own leisure. He needed something to work on, something to keep him busy and on his toes. Since he lost Shannon and Kelly, he had become a workaholic. He was never a big fan of that word—it was just his job, after all—but he knew that was how he was viewed by everyone, and wasn't too bothered by it. NCIS was full-time, and he loved his job almost as much as he loved his team. He was happy to dedicate himself to justice and public safety, and so he was never one to go looking for time off.

But Vance had insisted, and so here he was.

The weather was gorgeous, even if it went against his stern marine persona to admit it, and he felt like basement woodwork wouldn't cut it on a day like this. So, instead, he had impulsively decided to do some gardening. In his own back yard this time. He had spent a few days with Ziva and Lia in the DiNozzo house, and he was honestly surprised at how much he'd enjoyed the activity. His own garden needed a lot more work, and he silently berated himself for leaving it this long. Shannon always loved a tidy, colourful back yard, and the least he could do for her was to find the time to maintain it.

He placed his cold beer back onto the table, and got back to his feet. From the back porch, the amount of work needed appeared to increase with every look. In truth, though, it wasn't the same without the little DiNozzo helping out enthusiastically. She really had a way of brightening the place up, even when the sun shone with the intensity it had done all day. He sighed and headed back to the largest flower bed at the far end of the yard.

''Gibbs! Gibbs!''

He turned around, as startled as he ever got, and looked down at the source of the excitement. Lia's little legs carried her over the cobbles with a few rapid tip-taps, before she threw her arms around his legs in a hug. He frowned at the top of her head and looked up to see her parents arriving from the side of the house. He felt amusement tug at his lips.

''Hey, Lia.''

She stepped back and smiled up at him. ''Hi.''

''Didn't know you were dropping by.''

She reached up to push some wayward hair from her face. ''We wanted to come and say todah for my present,'' she explained.

He frowned, only because he hadn't actually given her the present yet. ''What present?''

Tony and Ziva arrived, and the former stepped up and ruffled his daughter's hair affectionately. ''You brought my daddy home,'' Lia reminded him as she looked up at Tony with a grin. ''Me and Momma missed him lots, and now he's back!''

Gibbs met Tony's eyes, and his former senior field agent smiled gratefully. Ziva gave him a smile that struck him as much more shy, but no less thankful. He shook his head and looked aimlessly in to the distance. ''You guys really need to stop thanking me,'' he told them, completely aware that it was a bit unreasonable. But did they expect anything else? ''I've been saving both your asses for years.''

Ziva gave him a warning look. ''Language, Gibbs.''

Tony shot him a narrowed-eyed look of minor offence. ''Hey! We've saved your ass plenty of times, too.''

Ziva slapped his arm in exasperation. ''Tony!''

''What? It's true.''

She glared at him. ''I know, but do not say ass in front of the baby.''

It was obvious that Tony was holding back a smirk. ''You just said it, you know.''

''I'm not a baby!'' Lia protested.

Ziva rolled her eyes and muttered something foreign under her breath as Lia looked up at her curiously. ''I know you are not, sweetie. But you still can't say bad words.''

''Is ass a naughty word, Momma?''

Her mother gave her a stern look. ''Yes, it is. Do not say it.''

''Okay.''

''Good girl.''

Gibbs couldn't help but smile with pride at the Israeli woman for her parenting skills. He was all too aware that she doubted herself a lot before having Lia, but she was constantly proving herself wrong and rising to every challenge parenthood threw at her. The fact that Lia was such a well-behaved and gentle child was credit to the way she had been raised so far. Tony and Ziva were doing great. Pride was a familiar feeling when it came to these two, almost as familiar as the mischievous look he was met with when he looked back up from his surrogate granddaughter.

''Is this swearing situation another thing you need to save my ass from?'' Tony asked, swiftly receiving a pinch from his wife for his repeated slip-up. ''Ow! Butt. I mean save my butt from.''

Lia giggled at her dad, a sound that made everyone's face light up. Gibbs leaned down towards her and rested his hands on his knees. The sparkle of life in her eyes was ever-present, and he wasn't sure when it had become so familiar and so uplifting, but he wasn't surprised about how easily it could make him smile.

''Your dad's silly, isn't he?''

She giggled again and nodded. ''Uh-huh,'' she agreed.

''But that's why you love him, right?''

Her face turned more serious. ''Yes.''

He kissed the top of her head. ''Happy birthday, by the way.''

She made a face that was a mixture of confusion and amusement, and looked so much like her mother that it made his old heart hurt a little. ''That was yesterday, Gibbs,'' she pointed out. ''My mommy says I gotsa wait a whole 'nother year,'' she added sadly.

He tilted his head with a shrug of his lips. ''Yeah? Well, I wasn't there yesterday.''

Her face lit up. ''Can today be my birthday, too?''

''Sure,'' he nodded.

She looked past him to the flower beds. ''Can I help you make the garden look all pretty?''

He looked up to the parents for permission. Tony simply shrugged and Ziva smiled knowingly and nodded. Lia's face was hopeful when he turned back to her. ''I'd like that,'' he answered eventually.

She clapped her hands in excitement and grabbed his hand. ''Thank you, Gibbs.''

Ziva sighed. ''Don't get your dress too dirty, tatelah.''

Lia, apparently not too concerned about her dress, giggled and tugged at Gibb's hand. He gave Tony and Ziva a smirk as he gestured to the house. ''Grab a beer. There's some fruit on the porch table, too.''

''We do not wish to impose ourselves,'' Ziva said politely. Gibbs simply raised his eyebrows at her, trying to communicate how much he didn't mind. She seemed to get the message. ''Thank you.''

''Grab me another beer while you're at it,'' he told Tony.

''I'm on it, boss,'' Tony saluted as he turned towards the house. ''Don't work her too hard.''

Ziva scoffed. ''Ha!'' She looked back to Gibbs. ''Do not let her work you too hard.''

He smiled, but was being pulled impatiently by Lia before he could reply. She led him over to the flower bed at the back of the yard and he kneeled down on the mat he'd left on the ground there. Lia stood beside him, looking attentive and willing. He gave her a warm smile coloured with pride. He wasn't sure he'd ever met anyone quite as energetic and keen as Lia, but he guessed that with her genetics it was always going to be the case.

''You ready?''

She nodded. ''Ken.''

He pointed at the weeds sprouting from the soil. ''First, we've got to pull out all the nasty little ones. You see 'em?''

Another nod. ''The green, pointy ones?''

''That's right,'' he nodded, before holding her hand and placing it at the base of one of the weeds. ''You've got to pull it right from the bottom so the roots come out, too. Okay?'' She gripped the right spot and he gently helped her tug the plant from the soil. ''That's it.''

The roots emerged with it, and she beamed at him. ''Got it!''

He laughed with her. ''Yeah, you've got it.''

...

Ziva watched on as her daughter helped Gibbs 'make the garden look all pretty', and felt an immeasurable amount of pride and love as she did so. Lia seemed to bring such a bright spark of life to everything she touched. She could make anyone smile—even Gibbs—and seemed to have a heart full of kindness. That can't have all came from Ziva, could it? She turned to look at her husband, and saw him smirk as he took a sip of his beer. No, she decided. It couldn't.

''I never thought I'd see the day,'' he mused.

She frowned. ''See what day?''

''The day when I'd have a kid,'' he elaborated. ''And that Gibbs would actually enjoy spending time with them.''

She narrowed her eyes. ''Are you saying it's no fun spending time with Lia?''

His head shot round. ''What? No, of course not. I'm just saying, you know, he's Gibbs! And that it's just weird how—'' he cut himself off when he noticed her smirk. ''You're a cruel woman, Mrs DiNozzo.'' His own smile told her she was forgiven, though.

She winked at him, before looking back to their companions at the bottom of the garden. ''I know what you mean,'' she assured him. ''I have similar thoughts all the time. I am grateful for him.''

''Me too.''

She smiled again after Lia's giggles could be heard travelling up the garden. ''And she adores him.''

Tony chuckled. ''She seems to adore everything. That smile must be constant by now.''

Ziva's face fell as she remembered their previous trauma. When Tony was gone, Lia's smile was anything but constant. She had been plagued by nightmares, and it didn't help that Ziva had been struggling so much, too. She didn't think she'd ever seen her daughter so sad before, and never wanted to again. She was still sorry that her baby had to witness her having her own nightmare on one occasion. Just the memory of her girl's tears made her heart break. She felt her eyes grow misty, and could tell Tony's were on her.

''Hey,'' he said as he leaned over to rest his hand on hers. ''Are you okay?''

She wiped at her eyes with her free hand. ''I am fine.''

''Your eyes beg to differ.''

She smiled briefly as self-awareness kicked in. ''I am just glad,'' she told him.

He seemed a little confused. ''That we have Lia?'' he guessed.

''No,'' she shook her head, but then quickly corrected her mistake. ''Well, yes. I am always glad of that.''

He smiled softly. ''I know.''

She composed herself with a few deep breaths, and kept her gaze focused on Lia, and how happy she was. It gave her strength. ''I am glad I never had to tell her that her daddy wasn't coming home,'' she said thickly, turning back to meet his eyes. His face melted at her words. ''And I am glad I never had to see her face when I did.''

The guilt that was suddenly marring his features made her chest hurt. ''God, Ziva, I'm so sorry.''

''It was not your fault,'' she assured him, gripping his hand for emphasis. ''Please know that, Tony. Please know that we are not mad at you for it.''

He lifted their conjoined hands and kissed the back of hers. ''I never want to make you guys mad.''

''You can never make us mad,'' she said, before altering her statement somewhat. ''Correction: you can never make Lia mad. You have pissed me off more times than I can count.''

He snorted, and she was glad he took it in good humour like she intended. ''I must've done something right, though.''

She gave him a smile, and leaned over to give him a brief kiss. ''Yes, you must have.''

''I knew you wouldn't be able to resist my charm,'' he said afterwards. ''Very few can.''

She tilted her head. ''Yes, it only took about nine years before I gave in. You are practically James Bond.''

His smile grew at her sarcasm. ''I know that was supposed to be a blow to my ego, sweetcheeks, but you know much I love being compared to Bond.''

''You love being compared to a British man who kills hundreds of people and treats women like a piece of meat?''

He shrugged. ''The similarities are uncanny.''

She gave him a look of disapproval. ''I hope there are no Bond girls on the side that I should be worried about.''

''Nope,'' he answered quickly, before meeting her gaze and holding it. ''I've found mine, and I'm sticking with her for good.'' He leant over to kiss her again. ''She's pretty great. And hot,'' he added.

She raised her eyebrows. ''Really? When will I get to meet her?''

He laughed loudly. ''The thing is, I've had a kid with her now, so I've got to stick around. That's not very Bond-like if you ask me.'' Her mouth fell, and she slapped his shoulder. ''But it's a million times better,'' he added sincerely. ''And my amazing, beautiful wife is better than anything I could ever have dreamed of.''

She hmphed at him, even as flattery warmed her cheeks. ''No need to kiss my ass.''

''No, I'll do that later. When we're in private.''

She snorted and gave his hand another pat. ''Now you are dreaming.''

He chuckled warmly, and they both returned their gaze to Lia and Gibbs. Ziva, once again, thanked whatever greater power allowed her to have this life. She never really expected to be this happy—at least not since she became an adult—but here she was. It was surreal, really, but it was the best kind of disbelief. And, sure, they may have their ups and downs, and their dangerous encounters, but she and Tony were maintaining the world they'd built for themselves, much like her father figure and her daughter were maintaining the garden they were all sharing.

She was at peace.

...

After a few more hours of gardening, Lia was beginning to tire. Gibbs could see it, and he expected that her parents would probably see it, too. And, sure enough, Tony approached them with a knowing look, and crouched down to kiss Lia on the forehead and brush some dirt off her still mostly yellow dress. Gibbs finished planting the flowers he'd picked for this particular bed, and ruffled Lia's hair when he was done.

''I think it's time to head home, cutie-pie,'' Tony told her softly. ''Hm?''

She let out a yawn as she nodded. ''Okay.''

''Okay.'' Tony looked up at Gibbs with a small sile. ''She do a good job?''

Gibbs shifted his gaze to her and sent a look of appraisal. ''She did a great job,'' he said, holding his hand out for a high-five. She hit his hand with a grin. ''I think she deserves an ice cream.'' Her face lit up even more. ''Don't you, Lia?''

''Yeah!'' She replied delightedly.

Tony tilted his head with a serious expression. ''Not until after dinner, okay?''

Lia pouted at her father. ''But that's ages away!''

''We're having it as soon as we get home,'' he argued.

She crossed her arms in a huff. ''The sun will be all gone by then.''

Tony frowned, but Gibbs could see the amusement in his eyes. ''You don't need it to be sunny to have an ice cream, baby.''

''Yes, you do,'' she insisted.

Tony sighed, and his eyes fell to the collection of colourful flowers laying on the ground next to Lia. ''What have you got there, sweetie?'' he asked, no doubt trying to take her mind off ice cream. For a few moments, at least.

Nicely played, Gibbs thought to himself.

''Flowers for Momma,'' Lia explained, perking up a little.

Tony smiled at her proudly. ''Oh yeah?''

She nodded. ''They are really pretty flowers,'' she explained, ''and my mommy's really pretty, too.''

He chuckled. ''I can't disagree with that.''

''So I wanted to gives them to her, 'cause I love her lots and lots.''

Tony's face melted slightly, and Gibbs knew exactly what he was feeling because, honestly, he was feeling it, too. This kid broke both their hearts. ''I think she'll really like that, Lia,'' Tony said seriously.

She picked two of them up and offered them to him. ''You want some, too?''

Tony sniffed, but shook his head as he laughed softly. ''No, thank you, baby. You really are a sweet little thing, aren't you?''

''Yes,'' she agreed, forcing a chuckle out of both men.

Tony kissed her cheek, and Gibbs got to his feet, ignoring how much his bones seemed to creak as he did so, and touched her shoulder briefly. ''I'll go find you that ice cream. It might have to be popsicle, though. Not sure I have anything else.''

Lia grinned up at him, and Tony rolled his eyes at the action. ''I don't think she minds either way, Gibbs. Am I right, Lia?''

''Can I have both?'' she asked innocently.

Gibbs smirked. ''Maybe when we finish the garden, kiddo.''

He went into the house and looked in his freezer for any treats he might have for Lia. He smiled when he found that, yes, she would indeed have to settle for a popsicle, only because he knew she would be all too happy to have anything cold and sweet. When he headed back to the porch, he froze in the doorway at the sight before him.

Ziva was almost in tears as Lia offered her the small bunch of flowers she'd carefully picked out for her. Tony watched on, his pride and love radiating from like a bright beacon, and Gibbs could have sworn his eyes looked a little watery as well. Little Lia's face was serious, and she looked up at her mother hopefully as she passed the flowers over. Ziva beamed and squatted down to hug Lia tightly and pepper her face with kisses. Tony rested his hand on her shoulder just as Gibbs saw her say the words 'I love you, too,' to her daughter.

The whole thing was too much for his ancient heart.

And there was that feeling again. Pride. Unfiltered and unwavering. It was almost enough to make him cry, too, but he couldn't let it go that far. He knew how hard it was—how exhausting and heart-breaking and emotionally draining it was—to try and find the right balance between their line of work and their family. He had spent years trying to find it himself, only to realise he may have got it wrong when it was too late.

But they had found it.

And he hoped to God—honestly, wholeheartedly hoped—that they would never take it for granted.

He had a good feeling the DiNozzos would have their happily ever after.

Kinda short, but hopefully kinda sweet. I just wanted to finish this, really. Now I can start working on other stuff (I always find it easier to start stuff from scratch, rather than continue an existing story). Thank you so much to those of you who stuck with this all the way through. I know it took quite long, and that I overloaded it with fluff a bit, but I really appreciated all the reivews. Hope you enjoyed it.

P.S. I am planning on doing a companion piece/ one-shot about Tony's time in Afghanistan. Not sure when, but keep an eye out for it. Cheers, beautiful people.