Note: In the previous story 'Story of Two Lost Loves' we find out in Chapter 23: Kate's Visit to Israel, that they were engaged. In Chapter 21: Call and Words of Love, we find out that both were talking about marriage and children.

The big question: When does Ari propose or does he and Kate just reach a state of 'we're engaged even though you didn't propose'?

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, NCIS, BULLPEN; DECEMBER 24, 2004, 19:30

Tony, McGee and Kate sat going over papers, their suspect didn't use a computer for anything…old school Gibbs had said.

"It'll be New Years by the time we get done with this case." Kate eyed her watch, Ari had not contacted her in a week and she was hoping he'd call on Christmas or Christmas Eve. "Doesn't Gibbs know that its Christmas Eve and people have personal lives?"

"Are you kidding, he doesn't even let us go most Sundays, why do you think he'll let us go on Christmas Eve?" Tony shook his head and went back to the papers. They sat in the middle of the bullpen on the floor. "Do you see anything that looks like it could be a phone bill?"

Kate's cell phone rang and she stood to get it but Tony had gotten it before her. "Tony don't."

"Why?" He eyed the front to find the name 'David' and laughed, "boyfriend Kate?" She tried to grab it and he flipped it open, "Kate Todd's cell phone, she's currently unavailable…can I take a message?"

"I'm here, DiNozzo's playing a joke." She spoke loud so that Ari would hang up; she knew he would only speak if it were her or Abby..

"Hello?" Tony spoke again and heard a dial tone, "he hung up…sorry."

Kate took the phone and sat at her desk, picking up the office phone and dialed Abby. "Hey Abby, can you do that favor for me…yeah, okay thanks. I know…I'm waiting for that call so…alright see you at Christmas Service." She hung up and looked at her phone as it beeped, showing a text message from Ari.

I will see u soon, hurry home…for x-mas. A.

Kate laughed at his ability to text; she never took him for one to be able to text. She could barely text herself. Tony looked over her shoulder and eyed it.

"Home…not if you don't get out of here soon."

Kate pushed him away and closed her phone, placing it at her waist before heading back down to the floor. After silence and McGee and Tony going through a round of 'you take that stack, I take this one' Gibbs entered the room. He looked at them all, she spoke.

"We barely have anything Gibbs…Hepton kept everything from small notes to trash."

"Why are you still here…its 2100 on Christmas Eve…don't come in till Monday at 1400 and that's an order."

"Thank you." Kate grabbed her stack of papers and shoved them in the box nearest to her. She stood to walk down to the evidence garage to hand in the boxes she had but Gibbs took them.

"Go, I'll take them down…have a good Christmas."

Kate smiled and kissed his cheek, "thanks Gibbs…Merry Christmas."

She grabbed her bags and headed out, opening her phone as she did.

ALEXANDRIA, KATE'S APARTMENT; DECEMBER 24, 2004, 22:00

Kate walked into her apartment and shut the door, calling out as she put her bags and coat up.

"Ari…I'm home." She closed the coat closet and slipped off her shoes before heading to the kitchen, Ari stood making coffee or tea, she couldn't tell which. Placing her hands on his back, she smiled and kissed him through the thin black tee-shirt. "Hey…I know you don't celebrate Christmas so why tell me to hurry home?"

He turned and handed her a cup of green tea, she smiled when he kissed her. "Come, I know you will be spending Christmas with your family tomorrow so I will spend tonight with you."

Both walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. Ari handed her a long thin black box once she was comfortable. "What is it?"

"Just open it my love…I bought it while I was in Israel." Kate opened the box and found a gold chain with a single diamond pendant on the chain. Ari lifted the necklace out and placed it around Kate's neck. He kissed her neck before speaking, "it is better seen and less likely to be destroyed then a ring."

Kate looked at him, "I don't understand."

"Our future engagement my Caitlin, this you can wear whenever you wish…knowing what is ahead for us."

Kate smiled and fingered the necklace, "I love it…you bought it in Israel?"

"I was there; I decided to look upon one of Israel's known markets…diamonds."

"I love it." She laid her head on his chest and soon felt his arms fold around her, "and I don't have to worry about people asking me who my fiancé is, causing issues and searches."

"I knew you would like it," he kissed her head and Kate smiled, "know in the future, when everything is alright…you will receive a ring, just as perfect as you are."

"I don't care…the necklace is enough, it is perfect because it's from you and you chose it especially from me." Kate closed her eyes, "I'm tired, Gibbs worked me till 2100…I should get to bed before I fall asleep here." She yawned as she stood out of his arms, "you can call Tel Aviv before coming to bed."

She smiled and walked to the bedroom, allowing Ari to call into Tel Aviv as he always did.

Opening Ari's bag, which sat by the bathroom door near her closet, she pulled out one of his black short sleeve shirts. He wore black most of the time, which gave her opportunities to steal his shirts as they were almost all alike.

Zipping his bag, she shed her clothes and placed them in the laundry hamper before pulling his shirt and climbed into bed. A chuckle came and she turned to find Ari at the bedroom door.

"I have wondered why my clothes have become low in numbers…I should have looked to you for them." She smiled as he came to join her in bed, "why do you steal them Caitlin."

Kate laid her head on his chest and smiled, "you leave so often, when I wear it, it's like you're holding me." She moved onto her elbow, to look down at Ari. "Will I ever become accustomed to it…it seems like I am but I'm really not."

"In time…it takes time my Caitlin, you are learning what most Israeli wives have by having their father's leave when they are young." He touched her necklace as it hung down, "we cannot say where we go, when we will come back or if we will come back at all. I already give you what I should not…where I go."

"Will it become easier?"

"With time." He smiled and traced her face, "most women wake to find their husbands gone, not knowing when they left, where they are going and when they will return. It is Mossad; only women who are Mossad and have Mossad officers as husbands, truly know what is occurring."

"You promised to leave Mossad…when is this mission over?"

"Caitlin…you know…"

"Just a month…not a day or time or a place, just the month; please give me that so I know how much longer this will occur. This isn't for NCIS…just me…Caitlin."

Ari eyed her, "too much information will place you in harm's way…you know I can only protect you…"

"Ari…please."

"May, it is over in May…now will you stop asking Caitlin?"

Kate placed her head on her hand as it rested on his chest, their faces inches away. "I will not ask again…I know I overstepped my right to know information by asking that…I'm sorry."

Ari ran a hand through her hair, looking at her. "Our separate lives will be over soon enough, soon we will be able to live a life together…just a few more months my Caitlin."

She yawned and moved to lay on her side, still facing him. "Will you be gone when I wake up?"

"Tomorrow is Saturday, my men take off Fridays for religion and Saturdays they rest…a free day. I will be off tomorrow as well Caitlin, however gone by the time you wake up." He leaned over and kissed her head, "sleep well my Caitlin…Merry Christmas."

"Happy belated Chanukah." She smiled and closed her eyes, "you were gone so we couldn't celebrate it together."

"Next year we will," he smiled and brushed her hair out of her face, "we shall celebrate both together…I will make sure I have the entire month with you."

"Good." She smiled and snuggled deeper into the pillow, Ari reached over turned off her light.

He watched Kate for a while before falling asleep…content with everything that was between them.