Author's Note:

If you read up on the internet you will find the following:

Leroy Jethro Gibbs is 57-year-old and Ziva David is 37 years old - Age difference of 20 years

Harrison Ford and his wife – Age difference 23 years

Donald Trump and his wife – Age difference 24 years

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones – Age difference 25 years

Celine Deon and her late husband – Age difference 26 years

Hence age is just a number. If the age difference between Gibbs and Ziva disturbs you, you should not read Zibbs stories. Thanks.

To all who enjoy Zibbs stories, this is for you …

Enjoy…

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Ziva stood in the shower, the scorching hot water hitting her back before cascading down her body.

The back ache was niggling, irritating and if she was honest getting worse. And now she even had an occasion sharp pain slice across her entire midriff.

What is wrong with me?

I've never felt like this before.

Argh!

She gasped as the pain sliced across her lower back and around to her abdomen. Doubling over she held onto the shower wall for support.

As soon as the pain subsided to a manageable level, she stepped out of the shower, dried herself and slipped into one of Gibbs' oversized t-shirts. Then she headed into their bedroom, threw aside the duvet and climbed into bed. She lay on her side, pressing a hand to her back.

That's how Gibbs found her a few minutes later.

"Hey." He said as he placed a tray covered with food on the bed and sat down next to her.

Ziva sat up and forced a smile.

"Mmm, grilled chicken … that smells delicious."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, now that you're here." She smiled as she leaned forward and kissed him. He returned the kiss but was not fooled.

You're not fine, honey…

But I'll take care of you.

As they pulled apart, Gibbs said, "Let's eat before it gets cold."

He handed her a plate and picked up the other one for himself. They ate in silence and Ziva was glad that she was able to mask her pain from him. He loved her so much and the last thing she wanted was for him to worry about her.

She thought back to almost a year earlier when they had just finished a particularly tough case in which he'd been injured. She'd waited at his bed side that evening after the rest of the team had left. He had a concussion and needed to be awoken every two hours. It had been around midnight when she'd been stroking his head that she'd let her emotions run free.

Thinking he was asleep she'd whispered everything that was on her mind, everything about how she felt about him… how much she loved him… how much she wanted to be with him… how afraid she was that he didn't feel the same… how afraid she was of losing him… She'd been so startled when she'd looked at his face through her tear stained eyes and found him looking directly at her.

She'd tried to pull away, embarrassed. But he'd lifted his hand to her cheek and said, "Come here."

She'd leaned forward as his fingers massaged the back of her head. He looked directly into her eyes as he'd lightly kissed her lips. As her eyes had widened in shock, surprise, uncertainty she'd felt his lips curl into a smile. And then he'd pulled her closer, practically on top of him and simply devoured her mouth. That first kiss had been sensational, all encompassing, and totally overwhelming.

When he'd finally broken the kiss, he'd smiled up at her and said, "God, Ziva… I'm crazy about you…"

She'd smiled and then he'd said, "I hope this is real and not some concussion or meds induced hallucination, because God damn it I want you!"

She'd been stunned by his declaration and responded by reassuring him that this was no hallucination.

Later that evening, she'd asked him, "What about rule no. 12?"

"To hell with it… Now that I have you I ain't letting you go."

And that was how it had all begun and they had moved in together just 3 months later to the stunned surprise of the rest of their team.

"Hey, Ziva." Gibbs said tapping the side of her cheek.

"Mmm, sorry baby. I was just lost in thought."

"I noticed." He said as he took her plate. Despite being hungry she'd barely eaten half her meal. Moving the tray to the pedestal next to the bed Gibbs leaned forward and kissed her. As she sat up to return the kiss, the pain intensified and she gasped against his lips.

"Damnit, I'm taking you to the ER." Gibbs said as he supported her. She moaned as the pain reached a pinnacle and radiated across her midriff.

"Just… hold me… please." She whispered and Gibbs of course did as she asked.

A few moments later the pain subsided again and Ziva lay back against the pillows.

"Is it that time of the month?" Gibbs asked.

"If it is, it's a week too early."

"Then what could it be?"

"Maybe I just pulled a muscle or something or maybe I am going to be early this month." Ziva replied.

"Let's just get it checked out." Gibbs said making to get off the bed.

"No, please baby. All I need is for you to rub some voltaren gel into my lower back. I'm sure that will ease the pain."

"Ziva…" Gibbs warned.

"Please Jethro. If it gets worse you can take me to the ER. Okay?"

"Roll over," Gibbs said, not really buying her explanation. He retrieved the voltaren gel from the pedestal drawer, lowered the duvet and lifted her t-shirt. She didn't where any panties and Gibbs had always found that to be so sexy.

Squirting a bit of the gel into his palm, he gently began stroking her back. He worked the gel into her lower back and hips and relaxed as he felt her start to relax.

"You have the most amazing, warm, firm hands." Ziva sighed.

"And you have the sexiest behind I'm ever seen."

"Mmm," Ziva murmured as he rubbed her lower back. It felt wonderful and she felt some of the tension start to leave her body. Gibbs continued stroking her and as he sensed that she was falling asleep, he pulled her t-shirt down and covered her with the duvet. Leaning over her, he kissed her cheek and whispered, "Sleep tight, honey."

Then he picked up the tray and headed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

As he washed and dried the dishes, he remembered how the team, especially Tony had reacted to him and Ziva the first time they'd walked into the bullpen together… hand in hand. Ziva had such a delicious glow of a woman who had been thoroughly loved and he couldn't stop grinning.

Tony'd looked from him to Ziva and back and then he'd head slapped himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. McGee had just starred.

"Boss, Ziva… something you want to tell us." Tony's asked.

"Something you want to know, DiNozzo?" Gibbs had asked coming to stand right up into DiNozzo's personal space.

"Ah, well, Boss. Only if you think there is something I… I mean… we need to know." Tony'd said stepping back.

"Jethro, let's get this over with." Ziva'd laughed.

"Jethro?" Tony'd questioned raising his eyebrows.

"Listen up," he'd had said as he'd wrapped an arm around Ziva and she'd blushed. "Ziva's moving in with me."

"What!"

"Oh boy!" McGee's exclaimed.

"What about Rule no. 12? When did this happen? How did this happen?" Tony had questioned just as Ducky and Abby had come into the bullpen.

Ducky had shaken he's hand as Abby'd hugged Ziva and him as she'd said, "Ooohhhh…. I am sooo happy for the two of you… You make the cutest couple."

"Couple!?" Tony'd choked.

"DiNozzo, McGee back to work." He'd ordered pretending that all was normal. Then he'd looked at Ziva and she'd blushed. He'd nodded his head, unable to believe just how lucky he was to have found love again.

He shook his head again as he headed down to the basement. He still couldn't believe how lucky he was. And he knew that he loved Ziva differently to how he loved Shannon but almost equally as much.

"I just hope you feel better come morning." He murmured as he started working on his latest boat project, one that he intended naming Tali, in memory of Ziva's late sister.

Upstairs in his bedroom, Ziva gasped as shooting pain sliced across her midriff. Her abdomen and back were caught in a vicious spasm and she turned her face into the pillow to muffle her cries of agony. She felt an intense heaviness and an urgent need to use the toilet. Wrapping her arms around her midriff, she rushed into the bathroom and sat down on the toilet.

It felt as if a flood gate had been opened and fluid gushed out of her body. She crouched forward, one hand on her stomach the other on her back as the pain intensified further.

Oh God… What's happening to me?!

"Jethro!" She screamed.

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Author's Note:

That's it for this chapter.

Let me know your thoughts…