Disclaimer: Still not mine, but you can be sure I will be checking under the tree in the morning! ;-)
Thanks to all those who read and reviewed before....you deserve a whole platter of delicious cookies! Here is part two of the holiday fluff extravaganza....part 3 is still being written so I'll try and do that in the next day or two. A very Merry Christmas to all!!
Abby's Lab, 6:51pm
Tony is kissing her. She is kissing Tony.
She'd be smiling if her lips weren't otherwise occupied.
Tony's hands traverse her body, two adventurers mapping and exploring foreign territories, as his lips remain close to home, staking their claim on her mouth. Ziva has Tony up against a wall and she's glad for that support because her knees have never given out before with something so nonthreatening as a kiss. So she drapes her body over his and concentrates all her efforts on plundering his mouth with her tongue. She may not be the first, and may not be the last, but she has the infamous Anthony DiNozzo humming in pleasure and she will leave her mark.
"Oh my god, Ziva," he mumbles when she nips gently at his full lower lip. She strokes his jaw with one hand, enjoying the hint of stubble that scratches her palm. Tony fits her body even closer to his. Nestled in this hidden corner in Abby's lab, she feels like they've lost themselves in a cocoon of heat and lust and daring touches. She's thankful, at least, for the steady click-whir-beep of one of Abby's computers as it runs down data even on a holiday. It keeps her from losing herself in her partner completely; she focuses on that beacon lest she forget this was only supposed to be a sweet, simple kiss under the mistletoe and she probably shouldn't be tugging Tony's shirt free of his pants.
Oh. Oh.
Tony's hand certainly just made a pass that was neither sweet nor simple. But definitely, definitely worth all the trouble she'd gone through to end up with Tony as her Secret Santa recipient. Thrills of pleasure rush through Ziva's body in response.
"Tony," she tries to get his attention, realizing things are rapidly spiraling out of their control, but at that very moment he kisses a trail from her lips to her neck and his name sounds like more of an exaltation. She winds her fingers through his hair and urges him closer.
"Kinda busy right now," he mumbles between kisses. "Really focused on opening my gift."
Ziva makes a noise that can only be described as a giggle. She feels a chuckle rumble through Tony in reply. She can't remember the last time she ever felt this happy or carefree. She gasps in delight as Tony unexpectedly claims her mouth again.
He tastes like candy and coffee and the sensory overload she's currently experiencing is making her head spin in the most delicious way. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she uses her new position to gain leverage. She pushes up on her tiptoes and shimmies further up Tony's heated body. Her partner groans in response.
"Another Christmas miracle!"
At the sound of Abby's voice, they quickly pull away and the magic of the moment is lost. Tony's grip on her slackens and Ziva stumbles backwards a step. She tries to blink her way back to reality, tries to quell the urge she has to jump right back into Tony's warm embrace, as she sucks in some much needed air. They both fuss with their disheveled appearances. Ziva bites back a grin at the havoc she wreaked on Tony's hair.
"Uh, hey, Abby," Tony's voice comes out an octave deeper than normal. Abby's eyes widen in barely contained delight. "McInterruptus," he adds, nodding in Tim's direction.
"Looks like you guys made good use of my mistletoe," Abby grins. She gives Ziva an exaggerated wink.
There is a long, awkward moment as Ziva tries to bring herself back to a new world in which she makes out with her partner. Her brain, she finds, is still stuck in the corner, processing the sensation of Tony's hands on her body. The fact that, in addition to McGee and Abby, there are two strangers in Abby's lab, which itself looks like it was invaded and conquered by the Yuletide Spirit, makes it very hard to get her bearings.
Surely things weren't so glittery a few minutes ago?
A few more blinks and Ziva begins to feel the earth steady underneath her feet once again.
She narrows her gaze when she sees that Tim is covering the eyes of the little boy in their company. Tony must realize that fact at the same moment, too, for his hands are suddenly on her waist and shifting her body in front of his. She startles at the renewed contact. She turns to question him, but reads the plea in his eyes. Turning back to their audience, Ziva cannot hide her self-satisfied grin.
"Who are your friends?" Ziva asks, finding her voice at last.
"Oh! Silly me!" Abby jumps to introduce her guests. Tony and Ziva exchange short hellos with Abby's college friend and her nephew.
Ziva tries to pay attention as Fisher goes on in an excited voice about his gift from Santa and how cool MTAC is. The excitement in his voice is endearing and at any other time she would enjoy the display of childhood innocence. Right now, though, all she can concentrate on is the pattern of Tony's breathing behind her. He moves slightly forward so that his chest brushes her back and she hears her own breath hitch.
"Well, it's been great meeting you guys," Abby's friend, Carol, interjects when it's clear Fisher could go on talking all night. "But Fisher and I have to get home and prepare for Santa's visit tonight."
"Don't forget to leave food for the reindeer!" Abby scoops Fisher up into a big hug while McGee ruffles his hair. "I happen to know that Blitzen loves graham crackers."
"Graham crackers?" Ziva can't help but ask. Tony opens his mouth to speak but Abby's deceptively sweet death-glare shuts him up.
Carol and Fisher say their goodbyes and head out. A blanket of silence falls over the remaining team members.
"So." Tim begins, his gaze drifting up to the mistletoe.
"So?" Tony challenges and finally steps out from behind Ziva. She tries to hide a smirk at the warning on his face.
"Soooo….?" Abby urges, gesturing madly between Tony and Ziva. Her smile looks slightly evil.
"Oh, for sobbing out loud!" Ziva declares and storms out of the lab.
Before she makes it to the door, she hears Tony bumbling excuses and the telltale thump as he, presumably, jumps up to steal the mistletoe. Ziva knows he's following right behind her.
Just before she enters the stairwell, she hears Abby's cry, "Anthony DiNozzo come back here with my sugar cookies!"
The Stairwell, 7:18pm
Ziva doesn't make it up one flight of stairs before Tony has caught up with her.
"Whoa, there, Rudolph!" He calls out before tugging on the back of her sweater. Ziva stops in her tracks to prevent the new garment from being stretched out; she fixes him with a displeased look.
Though, once she gets a look at Tony, with his hair spiked up in twelve different directions, mistletoe in one hand, and a plate of cookies in the other, she can't help but smile. He looks ridiculous, but so completely Tony that she can't help the little balloon of happiness that lifts in her heart.
"Do not call me Rudolph," she scolds and turns to fully face him. Her being a step up puts them at eye level with one another.
He ignores her. With a gleam in his eye, he lifts the sprig of green over their heads again. "Since we were so rudely interrupted back there."
Rolling her eyes, Ziva turns and attempts to flee. It isn't that she doesn't want to kiss Tony again, she does, but the mistletoe was supposed to be a one-time deal. A gift. Honestly, she hadn't even entertained the idea that one chaste, innocent kiss would lead to…more kissing.
She's not quite sure she's ready for that and all that it could mean.
Tony easily catches her again, tugging on her hand this time instead of her sweater.
"Hey," his voice is much softer, and more serious, this time. "I was just trying to be funny—
"You are always just trying to be funny," Ziva sighs.
Tony's face falls. "I didn't mean to…" He struggles to find the right words, tries to spin them out of the air with his hand. "I don't know what I did, actually." He takes a deep breath. "I was just trying to kiss you again."
"Oh," is all Ziva can say in response, struck mute by the imploring look in his eyes. She feels the intensity of his gaze all the way down to her toes.
"I like kissing you," he says, a smile teasing on his lips. He moves up a step so they are back to eye-level. Ziva inhales. Tony starts to lean into her. Her eyes slide shut.
"I like kissing you," she agrees as his hand cups her cheek. Her heart begins to pound loudly in her chest; she grips his wrist to keep him close to her.
And then they are kissing again. Softly, slowly, agonizingly tenderly at first as if they are both afraid to make the first move. Ziva finally relents, throwing her arms around his neck and drawing him into her as she deepens the kiss. She hears the plate of cookies clatter to the floor. The sound echoes in the stairwell.
"Your cookies!" Ziva exclaims as she pulls away from Tony. They both turn to watch frosted angels and stars tumble down the stairs in a trail of sprinkles.
For a moment, Tony looks conflicted. She can feel his hands on her waist twitch with the urge to rescue the fallen treats. But then, he laughs.
"Totally worth it," he chuckles and kisses her on the nose.
Ziva's face flushes. "Tony…"
"I'm guessing this is the point in the evening when we have to talk, right?" He rests his forehead against hers; Ziva nods, trying not to get caught up in the blue-green-grey swirl of his eyes.
"Perhaps I should not have…led you on," Ziva begins, trying to find the right words. She pulls away from him. Tony starts to frown. "I don't know if I'm ready for this," she adds in a whisper.
She hates to admit it, because now that she's opened this particular box, she isn't sure if it can be closed again. For years, she wanted this closeness with Tony, and now that she has it, or the promise of it at least… Well, everything is just starting to feel normal again. Is she ready for her life to change again? Is she ready to risk one of the most important relationships in her life?
How easy it was to get caught up in the golden light of the holiday.
"How do you know unless we try?" Tony says, tracing a finger down her jaw. "I'm scared, too. I don't want to lose you."
Ziva shakes her head. "You won't lose me." Of that much, she is certain.
"I'm not going anywhere, either," he promises and, with that look on his face, she can't help but believe him. Ziva takes a shuddering breath. "Look, I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. If you don't want to do this… if you don't feel that way about me…"
Ziva's eyes widen in alarm. "Of course, I feel that way about you."
What, does he think she just gives out mistletoe kisses as a standard gift?
"You called me a big brother!"
Ziva racks her brain for the reference. Remembering, she scowls. "I said you were acting like a big brother. I didn't say I thought of you as one."
"Oh, well…" Tony makes a face and scratches his neck sheepishly.
Ziva switches back to the subject at hand. "A lot has changed in my life lately, Tony. I don't know if I'm ready to risk this, us, too."
"Risk?" Tony raises an eyebrow. "What's the worst that could happen?" Off her look, her quickly amends that. "True, it is a risk. But…I want to take that risk. I thought I lost you forever this summer, Ziva. And all the regrets… I don't want to make that mistake again."
Ziva starts to speak, but Tony silences her with a finger over her mouth. She frowns.
"We'll take it slow. Glacially slow. Like, McGee running a marathon slow." Tony gives her his most charming smile and she feels her defenses, mostly constructed of paper and sand anyway, start to crumble.
"Spend Christmas with me," Tony pleads before she can say anything. He cradles her face in his hands. "Come home with me tonight and we'll watch It's a Wonderful Life and eat cookies. We'll figure this out, and then neck like teenagers. You can head butt me if I get too handsy."
Ziva chuckles. Leaning into Tony again, she tightens her hold around his neck and pulls him closer. "And if I get too handsy?"
"Agent David," he leers, "I will have to take you down."
She laughs into his kiss.
Then, their cell phones both go off.
Tony groans as he attempts to ignore his. But Ziva isn't as distracted and retrieves her phone from her pocket.
"Abby?" She shows the display to Tony, who snarls as he checks his own phone.
"McDead," he confirms before hitting ignore on his phone and shoving it back into his pocket.
Ziva isn't so rude and answers the call. She listens to Abby babble on for a few minutes before hanging up. Tony watches her expectantly.
"Jackson Gibbs is requesting us over for Christmas Eve dinner. We are to be at Gibbs' house by 2000 with dessert and wine, or else."
Tony's face drops. Ziva can't say she doesn't understand the feeling.
"I want to spend this holiday with you, Tony," Ziva assures him with a small smile. She squeezes his hand in hers. "But let us celebrate with our friends, first."
With a put upon sigh, a roll of his eyes, and an impatient shuffle of his feet, Tony agrees. "Fine, but tomorrow you are making me lasagna."
Ziva snorts, and then kisses him on the cheek. "Deal."