A/N: Okay so what the actual F*** was that? I'm deeply impressed by the lack of respect they showed for their very own characters. Tony and Ziva deserved better, both individually and together. And so did Cote and Michael. I will forever be pissed. I was pissed after Past, Present, Future, but that episode last night took things to a whole different level. That is just disrespectful in every possible way. And low. Even for NCIS. Killing Ziva was the stupidiest thing they have ever done. Why bring back (mention) a character they hadn't mentioned in three years just to kill her off? HOW STUPID IS THAT? I was also not happy with the whole Tali storyline to be completely honest. And yet, I decided to include her in this. Because this story will attempt to fix what the writers of NCIS screwed up. It takes off right after the finale and will go on from there. Because I refuse to believe that Ziva David is dead.

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of its characters. Because if I did, none of this would have happened. (UGH)

Summary: Because no matter how many people had told him that Ziva was gone, he couldn't let go of that sliver of hope. Ziva David couldn't be dead. Tiva. Post 13x24.

Note about Canon/AU: Even though I wasn't happy AT ALL with what NCIS did, this story will attempt to fix it. And therefore, everything up to the end of 13x24 is canon. Tali is canon, Tony not knowing about Tali is canon, Ziva being declared dead is canon. We will go from there...

Enjoy? :D

Washington DC, United States – May 17, 2016

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Tony didn't even look up when his dad asked the question he had asked quite a handful of times ever since Tony had told him about his plans. He zipped his bag, for the second time in two days. It heart sank as he flashed back to the first time he had packed the bag. So much had happened in the past 24 hours. Things he had never expected to have to deal with. His gaze landed on Tali, who was peacefully playing with her toy doggy on the couch. She didn't deserve any of this. But he was going to make sure she had the childhood she deserved.

"Junior," his dad's voice pulled Tony from his thoughts.

He looked up at his dad, who had crossed the room and was now standing right beside him. Tony sighed, momentarily dropping halting in his movements.

"I have to," he said, his voice betraying him for what wasn't the first time that day.

It took all of his willpower to not spill everything to his dad. Everything being the real reason he felt like he had to do this. He wasn't going to Israel and Paris with Tali to inflict even more emotional pain on himself. He was doing it to find answers. Because no matter how many people had told him that Ziva was gone, he couldn't let go of that sliver of hope. Ziva David couldn't be dead.

Tel Aviv, Israel – May 18, 2016

Tony sighed deeply as his head finally hit the pillows. The flight to Tel Aviv had been the longest hours of his life. Between having to entertain Tali, who had refused to go to sleep, and keeping himself together, he had barely had time to sort through his thoughts. He had managed to put Tali to sleep surprisingly fast after arriving at the hotel, the little girl completely worn out by the events of the past two days. So was he though. And now, laying on the cold sheets of the double bed in Israel, it was all catching up with him.

He had a daughter. They had a daughter. And Ziva was supposedly dead. Only, he didn't believe that. He hadn't believed it from the second McGee and Abby had shown up at his apartment. He hadn't believed it when Gibbs had told him. He hadn't believed it when Orli had told him. And he sure as hell wouldn't believe it until he was proven otherwise. He had questioned everyone who had told him she was dead. Was there proof? Were they sure? Had they found a body? Matched her DNA?

Funnily enough though, he hadn't questioned for even a second whether Tali was really his daughter. From the very moment Tali had walked into the room, he had noticed. She looked just like Ziva, but she had his eyes. She was the living proof of their love. The only thing that didn't quite make sense to him, though, was why Ziva had kept her pregnancy from him.

"Ima?"

Tony squeezed his eyes shut, trying to swallow down the lump forming in his throat.

"Ima?" Tali's voice grew louder.

He got up, walked over to Tali and smiled sadly. The little girl's eyes were wide, hopeful.

"Your mom is not here, sweetie," he told her softly.

Tali stretched out her arms, her hands trying to grasp his hands. His throat constricted when her tiny fingers wrapped around his and he wasn't able to tear his gaze away.

"Ima," Tali repeated, slower this time, and pointed at the bag next to the toddler bed.

"I'm sorry, little one," Tony took a deep breath, "but she's not in there."

Tali giggled and Tony forced a smile onto his face. Staying strong for her was easier said than done.

"You need to sleep, Tali," his voice was tired.

She yawned, but shook her head. "Ima."

"Tali, she can't be here right now. But I'm here. Your," he swallowed hard, "your Aba."

The little girl seemed to consider that for a moment, then a smile spread across her face and she nodded, pointing at him, "Aba."

The faintest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Yes, that's right, Tali."

"Now will you go to sleep?" He tried again.

She pointed at the bag again and started getting impatient, just like she had back when they had still been in his apartment in Washington. God, how much easier it would be if she could speak.

He sighed, "What is it Tali?"

Tali mumbled a word that he couldn't quite make out. But it reminded him a lot of the word she had used to refer to her stuffed animal.

"You want your doggy?" He asked.

She nodded enthusiastically, pointing at the bag and repeating the word. Tony reached for the bag and unzipped it. The dog was right on top and he pulled it out and gave it to Tali, who grinned brightly. His gaze though was fixed on the item that the dog had previously covered. The framed picture of him and Ziva in Paris. The one item that wouldn't add up. Why would Tali have this framed picture in her bag? Of all the pictures Ziva could have chosen to always have in Tali's go bag, it was the one of them in Paris.

"Neshika," Tali said, looking up at Tony with wide eyes.

"Neshika?" Tony repeated.

He had no idea what the word meant. Was it another stuffed animal? A toy? A goodnight story Ziva always read her? He should have really brushed up on his Hebrew. But then again, how could he have seen any of this coming?

Tali pointed to her cheek, "Neshika."

He frantically pulled his phone from his pocket, cursing under his breath when he saw he had no service.

"What is Neshika, Tali?" He asked.

Tali pointed at Tony, then at her cheek, "Neshika."

It started to dawn on him then, "Goodnight kiss?" He pointed to his lips, then to her cheek to illustrate what he meant.

Tali nodded enthusiastically, "Neshika."

He smiled in relief. That he could do. He leaned in and pressed a featherlight kiss on Tali's cheek. She smiled at him happily, then yawned and hugged her doggy close.

"Go to sleep now, Tali, okay?" He whispered as he tugged her in.

She nodded, her eyes already closing. He couldn't help but smile at how peaceful she looked. She had no idea what was going on around her. And he couldn't help but envy his daughter for that.

He went over to the bed again and sat down on the edge, Tali's bag still in his hands. He took out the picture frame and stared at it. When he had first discovered the picture among Tali's things, he hadn't been able to stop his mind from going back to a conversation he had had with Ziva years ago. And he couldn't help but flash back to that very moment again.

Washington DC, United States – May 2011

"I meant what I said earlier," Ziva whispered.

He wasn't sure whether he had been supposed to hear it, but he turned the volume of the TV down anyway and turned to look at her.

It had been a long day for all of them and at the end of the day, a silent agreement had passed between him and Ziva that neither of them should or wanted to go home alone that night. So he had followed her to her place. She had started a movie while Tony had gotten beers from the fridge, all without a single word passing between them.

"What exactly?" Tony asked, referring to her whispered statement.

She looked up at him, and his heart ached when he saw tears pooling in her eyes yet again. He fought the urge to reach out and wipe them away.

"There's always going to be another monster," she said, her voice conveying her sadness. The sadness he himself felt as well.

"Yeah, but we're gonna get them," he promised for the second time that day.

He couldn't fight the urge to reach for her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

She shook her head, "One day we will not."

"But one day isn't today," he countered.

"Perhaps not today. Or tomorrow," she nodded, "but one day."

"Ziva," he started, but she cut him off, "That day will come, Tony."

He sighed, "And then what?"

"When that day comes, we need a plan."

"A plan? Like an escape plan?" He couldn't help but smirk.

"I am not joking, Tony," she told him sternly. The smirk froze on his face and he mumbled an apology.

"If we ever need to escape, go into hiding, we will go to Paris," she then said.

He gulped audibly. "Paris?"

She nodded, "Paris."

"Why Paris?"

"It is a nice city, yes?"

"It's also thousands of miles away."

She rolled her eyes, "Which is the point exactly."

"And what if only one of us needs to go into hiding? Is there a different location?" Tony asked.

Ziva seemed to contemplate that for a second, then shrugged, "We will always find each other. Just like we will always have Paris."

He felt a familiar warmth spread through his body and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Yes, we will."

Tel Aviv, Israel – Present Day

Tony traced Ziva's face on the picture with his finger. She had always had a thing for symbols. When he had tried to trace her down in Israel three years ago, she had sent him a picture of her with her brother Ari during their childhood years. He hadn't been able to place it right away, but the picture had been a clue about her whereabouts. He couldn't help but wonder whether this was as well.

A/N: And that was the first chapter! Second one is already in the works. Please let me know what you think/what you'd want to see happen/what could be improved in the reviews section below :)
Love you all and keep your heads up, people!
~ C.