The early morning dawn wasn't usually kind to Gibbs. On a normal morning he woke early out of habit, years of military had left him with a strict internal clock. On a normal morning he woke to the dying embers of the fireplace and the shiver of old memories. But, this wasn't a normal morning. It was Christmas Eve and he had woken next to Ziva. A startling reality he'd thought for a moment he'd dreamed, again. Instead she was curled in his arms tucked up under his chin. Beneath his hand against her breast he felt the slow steady beat of her heart. Her scent surrounded him and her breath against his neck was like a prayer. He drew in his own long shaky breath feeling a long forgotten emotion wash over him.

At some point he'd fallen in love with her. The truth of it had him swallowing hard past the lump in his throat. In his arms she snuggled closer, the gesture so natural so trusting he had to remind himself they hadn't done this before. Yet, not the first time or the second had making love to Ziva felt like anything other than coming home. There had been none of the awkwardness he might have expected. Glancing up at the lights of the Christmas tree he smiled, they'd never made it to his bed, only managed a few more blankets from the hall closet. The lights on the tree still flickered even as dawn tried to force its way in the room.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her he felt his heart trip in his chest. She would wake up soon and he couldn't be sure just how she would react. Ziva was unpredictable; waking up in his arms might just be more than she was ready for. There was no way of knowing what she felt for him went beyond the physical. He heard his own sigh and silently cursed his foolishness. Married four times and he was thinking like a teenage boy. He might have laughed if the idea of not having her in his life didn't scare the hell out of him.

"Jethro, your heart is beating very fast….are you trying to find a chance to slip away?" Ziva had woken in the gentle cradle of Gibbs' arms savoring the scent of wood and coffee. His hand gently stroked her hair a soothing gesture that was nothing like how she was used to waking up. Instead of the terror of a nightmare bringing her into the early morning she had the remnants of ecstasy.

Gibbs jumped a bit when he realized she was awake, then chuckled. "No Ziver, not trying to slip away… just trying to hold on." He hadn't realized he'd said the last words aloud until she looked up at him those brown eyes full of questions.

Ziva bit her lip not quite understanding what Gibbs was saying. "So you are not regretting last night?"

He looked down at her trying to hide at least some of how much he felt for her. He didn't want to pressure her with his feelings. "Regretting it didn't happen sooner." He saw the smile light her face and the ache in his chest eased just a bit.

Ziva watched his face carefully, something in his eyes made her nervous. He looked unsure; it wasn't something she'd seen in him before. Gibbs was always confident, always absolutely certain in everything he did. So why now was he looking at her with such uncertainty? "I have wanted last night to happen for a long time Jethro, I have no regrets either." She watched relief slip through his eyes. It was the briefest glimpse but it told her everything she needed to know about what his uncertainty was about. "I have wanted to be with you for longer than you might believe."

Gibbs watched her eyes close briefly then find his again. Her words were soft barely audible above the sounds of the waking day outside. "I do not mean just physically." Then again her eyes darted away from his.

The last of the aching uncertainty left him; he knew exactly what she was telling him. "I didn't think…Why me Ziva."

Ziva smiled knowing it had to be his past that had him not seeing just who he was to her. "Because not loving you would be impossible Jethro." Pale blue eyes filled with shock grabbed her even as his hand tightened in her hair.

Gibbs had to close his eyes and simply breathe for a moment. Hearing Ziva so openly declare how she felt was nearly his undoing. His heart was back to racing and his body pressed so close to hers reacted instantly. When he finally found his control again she was still watching him, not looking away just carefully watching him. "Didn't figure a woman like you could…."

Ziva reached out and stroked his cheek, "It was easy to fall in love with you, much harder to hide it." She let her hand trace the finely honed muscles of his chest. "It is why last night I could no longer hide how I felt."

"Glad you didn't wait anymore, might have gone crazy." Gibbs pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I was lying here watching you, wondering how I was going to let you go. Wasn't a good feeling."

Ziva looked up at him and smiled, "Do you want me to go Jethro, do you want this to be a one-time thing?"

"No." he let his head rest on the top of hers breathing in her scent trying to still his nerves. "Want you to stay for more than just today or tonight. Love you too."

His words were low and rough, barely above a whisper but Ziva knew what it meant for him to say them aloud. "I want that too." Glancing at him she bit her lip, "I did not think I was the kind of woman you could love."

Gibbs chuckled "Can't imagine why Ziver."

She was forced to look away, toward the sparkling pine above them. "I have a past that I cannot deny, have done things that I cannot change. Not all of them were honorable and you Jethro are the most honorable man I have ever known."

Gibbs sucked in a breath, her honesty was painful. "Ziva my past is not so innocent as you might think." He forced her gaze to his. "And I know who you are Ziva, here where it matters." He pressed his hand firmly onto her chest where her heart beat a rapid pace this time.

Ziva bit her lip and frowned. "I am not a redhead either."

Gibbs knew she was serious but all the same he laughed. "And for that I'm very thankful." Glancing around the room he grinned again and shook his head "Though I do think we have a serious problem."

Ziva sat up wrapping a blanket around her, as her hand slid across the floor beside them she winced when something snagged her palm. Turning her hand over she blushed when she found a button pressed into her palm.

Gibbs laughed again the sound not as rusty as it had been the night before. "And that would be the source of our problem. My lack of patience means you have no wearable clothing." Glancing at the blanket around her he smiled. "Not that I'm complaining."

It was Ziva's turn to laugh. "My go bag is in your trunk Jethro." She bit her lip when he looked at her in surprise.

"Oh Really and just how did it get there?" He watched her blush and smirk at him.

"If I could not pick a simple trunk lock I would not be very good at what I do, now would I?" He laughed again; it was sound that before the past twenty four hours had been so rare that now it was like a gift.

"Right in front of me all this time Zi." He tangled his hand in her hair pulling her close.

Before he could press his lips to hers she nodded. "Right in front of us Jethro, we just had to be brave."

GZGZGZGZGZGZGZGZ

Ziva wandered throughout Gibbs' home. Morning had given way to afternoon; she'd managed to untangle herself from the nest of blankets and dress, much to Gibbs' disappointment. After lunch he'd informed he needed to go out for a bit but had insisted she wait for him. She hadn't argued knowing what it meant for him to ask.

Instead she'd rebuilt the fire and gone digging in his freezer for something that would resemble Christmas dinner. It had been longer than she would have expected, enough time that she had a roast and the side dishes to go with it cooking. Gibbs' house had always been clean so that left her with little to do. Remembering where he kept his Christmas decorations she began adding a bit more to the living room. Christmas might be nearly over but he'd liked the tree it certainly couldn't hurt.

Jackson Gibbs walked in his son's living room and promptly scared Ziva David half out of her skin. As he dropped his bag and shut the door behind him he watched her alternate between grabbing for a gun that wasn't there and trying not to fall off the ladder she was perched on. He was pretty sure she swore in Hebrew although it could have been Arabic.

Ziva had been so focused on the lights she was hanging around Gibbs fireplace that she hadn't heard any hint of someone entering Gibbs house. She wasn't sure what ticked her off more the fact she'd forgot to put her gun back on, or the fact she damn near fell off the ladder. When her swearing made Jackson laugh she managed to find her footing and bite back her own laugh.

Jackson took in Ziva's bare feet, casual dress the Christmas decoration that hadn't been up in Jethro's house for years and began putting two and two together.

"I can see the spinning wheels Jackson." She watched him frown scratch his head and knew she'd said the words wrong. "You are thinking, yes? About why I am here?"

"Ah, It's you can see the wheels turning Ziva." He shoved his hands in his pockets and wondering just where Gibbs was decided discretion was a good idea in this case. "And all I see is you putting up Christmas Decorations."

Ziva climbed down from the ladder and made her way over to him. Leaning in she kissed him on the cheek. "Good to see you Jackson, you are looking well."

Jackson saw the sparkle in her eyes didn't miss the way she changed the subject but let it go. "Something smells good."

"That is dinner, Christmas dinner." Ziva wiped her hands on her jeans wondering what to do next. "Would you like some coffee?"

Jackson had to hide his smile at her awkwardness. "Love some." He followed her into the kitchen wondering at what point Gibbs would remember he'd invited him to stay for the holidays.

GZGZGZGZGZGZGZ

If Ziva hadn't been waiting on the other side of his front door Gibbs would have been in a far worse mood than he was. Shopping on Christmas Eve was apparently a very bad idea that a lot of people had. The crowds had almost made him flash his badge just to hurry the process along, almost. Arms stacked with packages he managed with great difficulty to get in his front door. His mouth instantly began watering at something delicious smelling coming from his kitchen. A glance around the living room told him she'd been busy here as well. Before he could make it much farther his feet slipped out from under him and with a great deal of noise and swearing he found himself flat on his ass on his floor.

In only moments Ziva was staring down at him failing to hide the laughter shaking her shoulders. "It is not necessary Gibbs for you to actually fall at my feet." She offered her hand helping him up as he grabbed at something on the floor. There in his hands was yet another button.

"Patience was never my strong suit Ziver, should have actually undone the buttons rather than …"

"I prefer the impatience Jethro, I do think though we should sweep for them again." Ziva had briefly forgotten that they were not alone. Her fingers played at the collar of his shirt, straightening it just a bit.

Gibbs put the button in his pocket. "I'm thinking we should have them bronzed." The bark of laughter that came as a result of his comment was deeper than he expected causing his head to snap sharply behind Ziva.

Jackson couldn't stop laughing, he was laughing so hard he had to lean against the door jamb of the kitchen. The pair in front of him turned to face him, perfect in their timing both giving him the same look. Which of course only made him laugh that much harder.

Gibbs glanced at Ziva "I forgot I had invited him for a few days."

"I guessed as much. It is a good thing he did not get here earlier." She watched Gibbs blush and look down at his feet. "I can go."

Gibbs watched his dad sober instantly, catch his eye. The look his dad gave him almost made him laugh again; Jackson was just shy of shouting at him to make her stay. Finding her eyes he shook his head. "Hell no."

Jackson cleared his throat "I know how to keep a secret." When they both laughed he cocked his head.

Gibbs finished picking up the packages, placing most of them beneath the tree and carrying the rest into the kitchen. "Not a secret dad."

Ziva glanced from Gibbs to Jackson. "Last night at the Christmas party, it sort of came out."

Jackson raised both eyebrows. "Oh."

Gibbs glanced at her saw her grinning and couldn't stop from leaning in to place a quick kiss on her nose. "Something smells amazing Ziver aside from you that is."

GZGZGZGZGZGZGZGZ

The awkwardness had passed and her dinner had turned out better than she'd hoped. Ziva was doing the dishes against Gibbs protests while he ran downstairs to do something. He'd announced in a very un-Gibbs fashion that when he came back upstairs they would open gifts. She hadn't been able to hide her shock at the near eagerness in his expression.

Glancing over to Jackson who was drying for her she offered an apologetic look. "I have a gift for Jethro but I will apologize I do not have one for you."

Jackson paused in his drying and rested a hand on her shoulder. "You already gave me one Ziva dear."

Ziva frowned, pulling the plug from the sink and rinsing away the remaining bubbles. "I do not understand."

"Jethro. He's happy. Haven't seen that in a long time. That is more than enough." When his voice might have weakened he turned and stacked the dishes in the cupboard.

Ziva gave him a quick impulsive hug "He makes me happy too." Then before they both continued to act out of character she poured three mugs of coffee, sliding one to Jackson and carrying the others into the living room.

Ziva stared under the tree a bit surprised at what she saw there, while at the same time trying not to picture her and Gibbs under that very tree the night before. Gibbs came up the stairs caught her look and laughed softly.

"I should head to bed let the two of you share your Christmas." Jackson made to head to the guest room.

"Got you something too dad." Gibbs' had his father's gifts for some time now, had purchased them even before inviting him for the holidays.

"You do not have to leave Jackson." Ziva settled on the floor in front of the tree, leaning her back against the couch next to Gibbs. Only when Jackson settled to the armchair next to them did she turn her attention back to Gibbs. "That is a lot of presents Jethro, for just the three of us."

Gibbs winked. "Missed Hanukkah Ziver, so I made up for it."

Ziva felt her heart skip. "That was very thoughtful Jethro."

Gibbs nudge three of the packages at his Dad, watched the older man look at him in surprise. "Thought you forgot I was coming son."

"Had them for a while, sorry about forgetting got distracted." Jackson laughed, Ziva blushed and he didn't bother to hide his smile.

Jackson opened one of his gifts. A framed painting of Stillwater, where he'd lived his entire life. It was a meaningful gift coming from his son who didn't have the best memories of the place. "Thank you son."

Gibbs shrugged but accepted the package his dad handed him. Tearing off the paper he found a book of Antique woodworking techniques. "Hey this is nice thanks dad."

Ziva watched the very real smile pass between the two men and was startled at the similarity she saw. Her attention returned to Gibbs when he handed her two presents. Opening the first she found her favorite sour candies. With a grateful smile she found the next was a small plastic envelope with a needle and thread. As she turned it over in her hand she watched Gibbs blush. The label read "Button Repair Kit" for those emergency situations. Ziva threw her head back laughing long and hard.

Jackson coughed past his muffled laugh. Saw his son's eyes shy away from him till he too was grinning.

Ziva reached into the pile of gifts and pulled out hers for Jethro. "So it is not perfect but I made it myself."

Gibbs stared at the rather large package and wondered how she'd fit it in her bag, but then Ziva was known for her mystery. Opening the box he pulled out a carpenter's tool box. "You made this?"

"I have watched you make things for a very long time; I thought I would try myself. It is much harder than you make it look and I am still cleaning up the sawdust."

Gibbs traced the curved edges of the box, inspecting the fine work that had gone into it. It had to have taken her hours and yet he couldn't find a single flaw. "It's beautiful Ziver, you did an amazing job."

Ziva shrugged, "You seem to like things that have a history to them, less than modern, the wood I made it with was from the tree you cut down last year." She saw his eyes catch hers. The tree had been damaged in a storm and Gibbs had been forced to cut it down. That he had been in an especially bad mood, when she'd asked about it, he'd told her that it was the tree Kelly had loved to climb every chance she got.

Jackson watched Jethro suck in a breath and clench his hands tightly around the handle of the box.

"Thank you Ziva." Gibbs saw her shrug again, and despite his father reached forward and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth.

Jackson took the moment to open his next gift. His favorite work gloves, more correctly five pairs of them were inside. "Perfect mine were just starting to wear out." He only had one more gift for Jethro so he handed it over.

Gibbs pulled at the tissue paper in the gift bag and pulled out a new lathe. He chuckled "Guess you two know me pretty well. Thanks dad it will come in handy."

Setting down his gift he pushed the stack of gifts toward Ziva. He laughed when her eyes widened.

"I feel spoiled."

"Good, now open."

Ziva began with a thin envelope, inside were two movie tickets.

"Figured we could try for an actual date." She grinned and nodded, pulling the next long thin package to her. Lifting off the lid she found a slim handled knife. Not a throwing knife from the curved edge.

"For when we go fishing." He saw her eyes light up.

The next package was much smaller just a tiny square box; pulling open the lid she saw a charm in the same shade of gold as her Star of David. Touching it with the tip of her finger she glanced to him.

"Saint Michael protector of warriors never hurts to have a little extra protection."

"It's beautiful Jethro. I will love wearing it." Removing her necklace she slid the charm on refastening the chain. It was hard for a moment not to let her emotions get the better of her. A quick glance to Jackson and then she moved on to the next gift. Again the box was small and when she flipped open the lid inside was a small gold coin.

"What is it?" Jackson directed his question at Gibbs when Ziva seemed lost in the tiny gold coin.

"Gelt. A jewish tradition, usually given to children but it has other meanings too." Gibbs had no doubt Ziva knew the history of giving a coin for a wife. Saw it in the way her shocked eyes met his. He'd had the insane urge to buy her a ring. Had stood in front of the damn jewelry counter for a full half hour trying to talk himself out of doing so. As he watched her now he thought perhaps this would mean more than a ring.

"Jethro…." Ziva felt her stomach fill with butterflies, the rapid speed with which they'd gone from trying to hide what they were to each other to this was making her head spin. When he only smiled she reluctantly set the coin on the table nearby. The gift bag wasn't very heavy but when she pulled out the dreidel inside she was surprised. It wasn't fancy, one that could be bought in any store specializing in Jewish gifts but she knew it was about the words on it that had prompted Gibbs to give it to her.

"A great miracle happened here" she watched Gibbs smile and look away. Jackson coughed and added an "Amen" which made her laugh as well.

She reached for the final package which was rather large opening the side she reached in between the sheets of paper and pulled out the heavy wood piece inside.

"Jethro did you make this?"

"Yeah, seems we both had the same idea." His original intent before last night had happened, had been to give it her tomorrow when he stopped by but this was so much better.

Ziva stared in awe at the menorah, elaborately and beautifully carved it was a work of art. Solid and heavy in her hand it was more than a gift it was an acknowledgment of her faith. "Thank you Jethro it is more than…."

"Next year we can light it together." He saw her surprise. Knew there was more she wanted to say but needed time to process all that had happened.

Ziva swallowed hard and reached for the last gift under the tree. Handing it to him she bit hard on her lip. "I hope you do not get angry, I thought you would be opening it alone, but then….If you want to you can wait." Ziva saw his confusion, watched him look from the present to his dad then back to her.

Jackson saw the first sign of hesitation on Ziva's face and from what she had said knew that whatever had happened between her and Gibbs had been very recent.

Gibbs felt the heavy weight of the present as he pulled off the paper. At first glance it looked like a very large book but when he turned the front cover he knew it was something much more. A picture of his family, the family he never forgot but hurt to remember stared back at him. Each page he turned held more pictures, mainly of Kelly from infancy through to the very last photo taken of her. His hands physically shook as he found on the very last page, the last letter his daughter had written him. He knew every line, every word down to the hearts of the I's in I love you daddy. As he stared he saw the paper had been sealed in protective covering before being slipped into the album.

Jackson glanced from Gibbs to Ziva. Her teeth were worrying her lip and her hands were rubbing against her jean covered legs. It was a damn fine gift, spoke volumes about the woman Ziva was, but even he couldn't predict how his son would react.

At first Gibbs had felt the pain he so associated with any memory of his family, but then he felt the joy. Every photo showed the smiles he also remembered were so apart of his daughter. Shannon's smile was there too, often with him sitting right next to her. Other showed him and Kelly through the various phases of her young life. The tears that threatened this time were of happiness. "Thank you Ziva, it's …" He couldn't finish couldn't say more, or he would lose it right there in front of his dad. "How….did you?"

"When we got down the Christmas decorations, I found a box with pictures in them. I took a risk." She didn't share how she'd had to stay up late any nights working furiously to finish it in time or that she was scared to death he'd hate her for bringing up his past.

"It's an amazing gift Ziva." Gibbs was forced to stop talking or he was going to lose it.

Ziva let out the breath she'd been holding in. "I think I am going to get more coffee. I will be right back." It was more about giving Gibbs and his father time and space than really needing coffee.

Jackson watched Gibbs as his eyes followed Ziva into the kitchen. In his lap his hands were still tightly clenched around the scrapbook. "Helluva gift, from a helluva woman."

Gibbs snapped his attention to his dad, managing a grin. "Don't I know it."

"Pretty brave too. The woman and the gift." He watched Gibbs look at him strangely. "What?"

"Nothing just something she said earlier. I'm glad you came dad." He meant it too it had been a good day.

"Me too and on that note I'm heading to bed." Jackson found a bit of bravery himself leaning down and giving his son a quick hug. The gentle squeeze back had his throat tightening. "Night son."

"Night dad." Gibbs stared at Jackson till he was gone and then down at the book in his hands. Nothing could have prepared him for her gift, either of them. Swallowing hard he took one last look at Kelly's letter and then set the book on the coffee table. Glancing toward the kitchen he pushed himself off the couch in search of her.

"Ziver?" he found her staring out the window above his kitchen sink. "You ok?" he breathed a little easier when her eyes found his and the smile in them was genuine.

"Yes Jethro I am fine. I thought maybe you would like a few minutes alone with your father." He pulled her close resting his hand on her hip the other on the counter behind them.

"Thanks. He went on to bed. We talked about it a little this morning but thought I would ask anyways will you stay tonight?" he watched her smile grow bigger dark eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks then she was looking at him and his heart was doing the two-step.

"Yes." The happiness in his eyes burned a bit brighter with her answer. "My gifts were perfect more than that, they were thoughtful. Thank you again."

Gibbs stared between them where her hand lay softly against his chest, thinking just how right that seemed. "Glad you liked them. I saw you hung stockings, good thing too I bought stuff to put in them."

"Even your fathers?" She saw him look slightly alarmed. "Do not worry, I brought things with me for you, there is enough for both of you, plus you have some things in the pantry that will work as well."

"You brought stuff with you? Let me guess in the magic go-bag?" he watched her eyes dance and chuckled. "Figured you'd be staying that long….?"

Ziva could have taken his comment wrong but she knew him well enough, "No I was planning on filling it on the sly. Figured you would find it whenever. I might be Jewish, and I do observe Hanukkah but the tradition of Santa and reindeer has its appeal too."

"Should we leave out cookies, and milk? Carrots for the reindeer as well?" she giggled and he decided he needed to be silly more often if he could make her laugh like that.

"I think perhaps we should go to bed you have one more gift to unwrap tonight." Pulling on the bravery she had spoken of earlier she pulled away and made her way toward the stairs and his room.

Gibbs watched her walk with confidence it was sexy as all get out. "What gift is that?"

Ziva looked back at him giving him her sexiest smile. "Me."