Yes, I know this took longer to get up than I told you it would but I wanted to make sure I had several chapters ready before posting. As always, I'm happy to take ideas and although the first five chapters are already written I can modify them to suit. The length of this story will depend on reviews and how well it is received.

If you haven't read my previous story 'Revising Childhood' then I strongly recommend you go back to it before reading this.

Thanks.

"Ground rules."

October 31st and Ziva was going out 'trick or treating' for the first time. Gibbs' mind had gone over everything that could go wrong-mainly what Ziva could make go wrong-and he cemented on several ground rules she had to follow to the letter.

"You stick with Tony like glue, do not disappear or we'll be having words." He made sure she had taken that in before he continued. "Don't go into anyone's house unless Tony goes in with you. When he decides it's time to come home, it's time to come home. I don't want to hear that you were giving him cheek or that you 'tricked' anyone on your way around tonight. Deal?"

"Deal." Ziva nodded.

Tony was coming around at about quarter to seven so he could take her out. Ziva had made Gibbs promise she wouldn't go out until at least one person had hit their house so she wouldn't be the only one on the street. Tony hated halloween but Gibbs had a feeling that their little escapade may change all that.

"How long until he gets here?" Ziva whined. "It's almost seven now."

"There's only a few kids out right now." Gibbs told her as he peered out the window. "Get your costume on. He'll come."

As Ziva disappeared up to her room to get dressed he sorted the treats out into a few bowls to go by the door. Although most people gave out monkey nuts as well, he had decided against it. At the end of the street there was a young boy who was allergic and he had a feeling there may be several others. Before he could turn away from the door there was a knock and the sounds of three or four kids shouting 'trick or treat'. He answered it to reveal a princess, a witch and a vampire. He dished out the sweets just as Dinozzo parked.

"You made it." Gibbs commented.

"Yeah well the little demons egged my car." He shot back, waving his hand towards his vehicle.

Gibbs smirked as he let the younger man in. He poured the coffee, one in a mug and the other in a to-go-cub, handing the latter to his new arrival. Tony's face dropped.

"I'm taking her?" He blanched at the thought of being out with all those 'little demons'.

"Either that or you can watch the house."

"I'm taking her." Tony confirmed before turning round to shout up the stairs, "You coming Ziva?"

"Minute!" She shouted back.

A few minutes later he felt something poking his back and turned around. She pulled back the plastic samurai sword. She was dressed as a ninja, one samurai sword in her hand and the other crossed on her back.

Tony's face lit up. "Whoa! The little ninja's a little ninja."

He went to pat her balaclava covered head but she twisted his arm and forced him to his knees. He cried in complaint and tapped the floor twice in surrender. There was another knock at the door which caused Ziva to leap off of Tony and rush to the door. The door flew open and she pointed the sword to the princess' (of which there had already been three) neck.

"Koko ni okura reta hito no hanashi." Ziva muttered threateningly. (Speak of who sent you here.)

Gibbs had translated it for her a few days before to Japanese. Japan had been the origin of the ninja and she wanted to be as accurate as possible. Her costume was even a navy-ish colour as it would have been more likely to be. The whole day before she'd been side walking quietly and effectively to perfect her craft.

The princess on front of her looked terrified despite being two or three years older. Tony saved the damsel in distress by shuffling the ninja away and dropping a large handful of the brightly covered chocolates and toffees into her bag. When she had passed, Ziva grinned and slipped out the door, waiting under the cover of oncoming darkness for her chauffeur to follow. Tony shot a pained look back at Gibbs before following her. This is gonna be a long night.

At each house Tony stood on the pavement while Ziva went up to the houses. The first one was Gibbs' elderly neighbour who had taken a shine to Ziva and-although didn't recognise her immediately-was more than happy to start her night out on a high by tipping what Tony could see must have been half the packet of lollies. Ziva placed her hands together and bowed before returning to Tony and sauntering along to the next house.

"Hey, Abby loves halloween. How come she isn't here?" He paused a moment. "How could you even keep her away?"

"I asked for you." Ziva replied in an affectionately curt kind of way. Before he could comment with a sarcastic reply that would ruin the moment she'd rushed ahead to the next house to be served her sugary bag of delights. Fortunately no kids went around his apartment block, in fact he wasn't even sure any kids bar one lived there. To assure himself that one would not be causing any trouble (this year and previously) he'd dropped by two full sized chocolate bars.

By about half eight he was itching to start heading back to Gibbs'. They'd already hit every house on her neighbourhood and had now moved onto the next one. Here there were substantially less pumpkins and porch lights on. Like the others, Ziva made her way up to the house alone. An older man-who could never be mistaken for a gentleman-answered, overweight and balding. Seeing Ziva just seemed to make the man's night. Tony watched as Ziva went tense immediately. Her ninja senses were tingling.

"Trick or treat." She smiled despite herself. There was no point turning back now.

"Hey darling, would you like to come in? My wife would love to see your costume." He grinned back like the Cheshire Cat.

Tony stalked forward. "No, she wouldn't."

The man's face dropped however he dished out the treats and shut the door politely. The man was probably just a sad old man who, although should not be near children, was of no threat at all.

Tony still decided to call it quits. "Come on, Ziva. Let's get you back to your dad."

And she didn't complain.

NCIS-NCIS-NCIS

When they returned to the house both had recovered from the potential (although unlikely) threat. Ziva bounded in and onto her father's lap who had been watching the newly bought TV. Although it was no longer a rickety old black and white box, Gibbs still insisted on watching old fashioned glitchy movies that had been more at home on his old set.

"Daddy, it was great. We went around all the houses here and all around. Almost everyone answered. Look how much candy I got!" She almost squealed.

Gibbs then turned his sights to the exhausted man on front of him. Near panting from the walk, he was also laden with three full bags from the night. Despite the sorry state there was a twinkle in his eyes that suggested he'd enjoyed himself.

"Coffee?" Gibbs offered.

"Nah, I'll just drive my egg stained car home." Tony sighed, placing the bags down carefully and taking out a mini pack of m&m's. He opened the door and stared on in shock. "How come my car's not egg stained?"

"Couple'a kids were egging my neighbour's house. Told them I'd set their dads on 'em if they didn't clean it off."

"So how's my car clean?"

"Got 'em to do your's too."

"Remind me never to mess with you." Tony said impressed. "Anyway, some of us have work tomorrow. Night ninja, night boss."

Gibbs shut the door behind him and-as there had been no more gouley children for at least forty minutes-locked it. He turned to see Ziva on the couch with one of her bags on her lap changing the TV program.

"Hey missy. PJ's first."

Ziva trotted along up the stairs. A lot had changed in the past few months. They'd replaced the TV a few months ago. Actually Tony had replaced the TV and Gibbs had had to get used to that. One day it had just arrived. Meanwhile McGee had helped him hang the tire swing in the garden. That coupled with the trampoline made a very happy child in the garden. Still not content, she was insisting on a treehouse. In the last few weeks they'd sorted things out between the team. Wednesday night was movie night with Tony and the two geniuses were on call for sleepovers. So far all of Tony's movies had been age appropriate however Gibbs was well aware that may not always be the case.

She came back down the stairs and catapulted herself onto his lap, completely knocking the air out of him. Ziva reached up and stretched her armed behind his neck. He looked down to her.

"Did you have fun?" Gibbs asked, still wincing from pain.

"Uh huh," She nodded as she reached out into her bag and pulled out a marshmallow-ish, chocolate snack.

"Half an hour then bed." He said firmly. She began whining without looking away from the TV. "Or you can go now if you'd rather?"

She whined again but it was a different kind, one he was prepared to ignore. For the next half hour they sat as she munched on the treats from her night. When he felt her breathing even out he glanced down to her, her eyes shut and a chocolate bar slipping out of her weakening grasp. Gibbs removed the sweet, wrapping it up before placing it into her bag and kissing her forehead to wake her. He carried her up the stairs as he eyes fluttered, her head continuing to drop her his shoulder.

"Brush teeth." He commanded, placing her feet firmly on the floor.

He sat at the end of her bed as he waited for her to shuffle back in. Ziva climbed up, plopping down onto the mattress as Gibbs tucked her in.

"Can you read to me for a little bit?" She yawned as she snuggled into the warm duvet and pillow.

Her eyes continued to bat shut and he was certain that it would take about a page and a half for her to drop off. Opening the book by her bedside to the appropriate page, he began on chapter 6, 'Pig and Pepper' of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. Already it was well battered and read several times. There was another copy of it in Kelly's room however he had bought Ziva one specifically for he couldn't allow himself to give it to another child. He'd been surprised, if he were honest, when she had loved the book so much. He was looking up into the sky all the time he was speaking, and this Alice thought decidedly uncivil. Gibbs glanced up from the page and, placing the book on the bedside table, he wished her goodnight and left the room.

He took himself down the stairs to clear up the mess of the day: the halloween treats that were flowing out of the too small bag; the ninja sword that hadn't made its way up the stairs; the colouring pens; the coffee mug; the spilt hot chocolate that had only just caught his eye. It had taken a while to get used to. After she had completely de-aged his house had suddenly started to look as though a bomb had detonated. Every night there it was, another large and unmistakeable mess of a young child's to clean up. He wasn't sure how he intended to handle it after he went back to work. On Monday Ziva had her first day of school and his sabbatical was up after Tuesday. He'd tried to stretch it to the following Monday but Vance had told him undoubtedly that wasn't happening. Fair enough, he'd thought, but you couldn't blame a guy for trying. Starting on the mess, he sighed. Another long stretch 'til the father got to sleep.

Tell me what you think, remember reviews are very important especially at the start of a story. I just thought this chapter would be a good introduction Thanks :)