XMAS TRADITION

Ch. 7

Kate saw the caller ID and marveled that her friend had waited so long to call.

"Who is it?" Tony yawned lying next to her and putting his arm around her waist nuzzling her neck. To say he had been happy with her news would be like saying "Gone with the Wind" was a mediocre film.

It had been painful to watch him bounce around waiting to share his unhindered happiness with her. Angela was thrilled that she was going to be a big sister and had already put in her request for a little sister. Kate had looked at Tony for his opinion on that prospect and smiled widely when he said another princess would bring him as much joy as a prince.

Finally dinner complete, dishes done and their daughter asleep in her bed he carried Kate to their room and gently expressed his love for her and the family she blessed him with.

"I should answer this," she shrugged him off her neck. "She's dying to know how you reacted."

"How did she find out before me? I'm the senior investigator?" he pouted.

"She's a woman and she noticed my reaction to her telling me that Angela would make a good big sister one day," she explained for the tenth time. She sat up pulling the sheet up to cover herself opening the phone. "Hello, Ziva," she smiled at Tony trying to peek under the sheet that she only pulled tighter to hinder him.

"So tell me," Ziva demanded.

Tony heard the order and answered loud enough for her to hear, "I've only been this happy twice before. Once when Kate actually married me and then when Angie was born."

Ziva's eyes misted with her friends' joy. "I am happy for you both." Figuring if Tony was that close to the phone she was probably keeping them from a moment together, she bid them both goodnight.

"Good night Ziva. See you tomorrow," Kate hung up, put her phone on the table beside the bed and opened her sheet to let Tony snuggle up close to her. It was the moments they shared alone like that when she truly loved Tony, because he was truly unselfish when it came to loving her.

Jack's ears had prickled at Ziva's end of the conversation. "Does that all mean what I think it means?" he asked.

"If you think Kate and Tony are expecting another baby, then yes," Ziva nearly exploded sharing the news. "Now Jack, she will probably want to tell everyone herself, so stamp your lips."

"My lips are sealed," Jack laughed.

"Would you like coffee?" she asked as Jack took a seat on the sofa.

"Sounds good," he replied realizing she was looking for company to pass the time before having to go to bed alone.

She returned with a cup of tea for herself and handed the coffee mug to Jack who was relaxing against the cushions.

"You must be tired," she observed suddenly filled with guilt for keeping him awake.

"It's been a long day, sure. Most of my days are," he shrugged blowing across the top of the mug before taking a sip.

"Still I should let you go to bed."

"Ziva, I'm fine. If it makes you feel any better, I'm worried about him, too. Old habits die hard," he looked at her pointedly.

"I am sure he is fine. I only hope he will be home in time for the party. He has a surprise for the children," she smiled picturing how Gibbs would look in his costume.

Jack could only imagine what her smile was not revealing, "Well if I can help in any way just let me know."

"Thank you," she patted his leg. They finished their drinks in a comfortable silence admiring the lights on the tree as they reflected off all the shiny decorations. "Abby will love it," Ziva thought aloud, "Hopefully Jethro gets time to enjoy it too."

Seeing his daughter-in-law getting lost in her own thoughts, Jack took the cups into the kitchen to rinse them out. He returned and said goodnight giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Get some sleep my dear. That boy of yours is going to run you ragged tomorrow."

She smiled amused, "You are right. I will go soon. Sleep well."

Giving her shoulder a squeeze he departed for the guest room leaving her to her thoughts.

Ziva thought back through all the Christmases she celebrated with the team before she and Jethro had admitted to each other that their relationship had evolved into something neither had expected nor one they could fight or deny.

She was strong enough to not have to change him which allowed him to see in her his chance to trust and open his heart again.

Their wedding had been simple, neither having much family left. Her father had even agreed to walk her down the aisle, shocking the couple and making them both grateful. Jack stood as his son's best man, a true statement to the lengths their relationship had come in being repaired.

It was a civil ceremony, as both had religious beliefs that they held personally and non-conventionally. Each respected the others and as holidays approached they managed to incorporate a little tradition from each faith.

Their son had been born named Lee El Jakob, after the three men that meant the most to her. They decided to share their faiths with him until he was old enough to decide what he'd like to follow.

This year they even had the menorah above the fireplace next to the manger. To most it probably made little sense, but to them it was a perfect reflection of their family.

Sighing Ziva got up and lit a candle for the day saying a silent prayer of her own for her husband's safe return. A single tear began to bead in the corner of her eye and she absent-mindedly wiped it away as she drifted to the stairs and the bed where she would sleep holding tight to her lover in her dreams.

Before she made it to her door she stopped to check on her son to make sure he hadn't gotten too tangled in his blankets. Surprisingly the active preschooler hadn't moved much since she'd tucked him in. She closed his door leaving a crack open so a sliver of light shone in if he would happen to awaken in the middle of the night and wander out of bed.

Lying in her bed her eyes closed and sleep imminent Ziva was suddenly wide awake and alert. There had been a noise outside. She grabbed a robe to wrap around her short nightgown. Her gun was pulled from the drawer and she held her finger on the trigger concealing it in her robe pocket. She saw movement outside the front door as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She positioned herself to surprise the trespasser should entry be made through the door.

Her hand clenched on the gun handle, but relaxed as she mentally prepared how to deal with an intruder. The knob turned and the door opened silently as a red and white clad figure entered covered with snow.

Her anxiety turned to laughter and relief as she instantly recognized her husband dressed in the Santa suit.

"Ziva?" he asked surprised to see her behind the door. He smirked, "I'm home."

"Yes you are," she replied adding for good measure with the last of her fear, "And lucky to not be injured."

He chuckled and pulled her into his arms as he closed the door behind her.

"You are cold and wet," she protested unconvincingly as she welcomed the kiss he pressed against her lips.

"Momma," they heard Jakob call sleepily.

Thinking quickly she held Gibbs' arms to keep him from turning around. "Why are you out of bed?" she asked quietly deciding it best to collect him and return him to bed so his father could get himself changed.

"I heard talking," he shrugged finally noticing the red clad man at the door. "Santa!" he exclaimed ready to run at him.

Ziva snatched him around the waist and swung him up onto her hip. "No Jakob. You cannot touch Santa tonight."

"Why not?" he asked frowning looking from her face to Santa who still stood facing the door. Just as well because Gibbs was having a hard time keeping himself from breaking out in laughter.

"He is using his magic and if you touch him it will break the spell and he will not be able to deliver all the presents tomorrow night," she explained not sure if what she said would make any sense to him. She could tell Jethro was close to letting loose his mirth, so she began to go up the stairs.

She was stopped by his next question, "So how come you got to kiss him? Won't that break the magic spell?"

Thinking quickly again she whispered in his ear, "It was a kiss for good luck."

He nodded rubbing his eyes sleep beginning to overcome him once again. "Night Santa," he called out with a yawn.

Disguising his voice his father replied, "Good night young man."

Jakob smiled and rested his head on his mother's shoulder. She laid him back in bed, fixing the blankets snuggly around him once again. She saw Jethro climbing the stairs wearing only the clothes that he'd left for work in that morning.

She raised an eyebrow in question of the whereabouts of his costume. "Hung it in the closet behind some old dry cleaning bags," he explained.

She nodded and smiled seductively at him. He didn't waste any time coming to her to resume the kiss he'd greeted her with at the door.

"Come to bed," she breathed when their lips parted.

"I'll be right there. I want to say good night to Jakob first," he loosened her hold around his waist and she slowly moved away trailing her hand down his shirt.

"Don't take too long," she teased.

He watched her hips sway to their bedroom door and she looked over her shoulder to smile at him her dark hair draping across her shoulders. He loved to watch her and quickly, but quietly entered their son's room to let him know he was home and say goodnight and give him a kiss.

Jakob stirred at his father's touch as he brushed his hair from his forehead to give him a kiss. Seeing his son's eyes flutter he whispered, "Hey Bud. Daddy's home."

Too sleepy to be too excited Jakob nodded and smiled peering at his dad under heavy lids. "Daddy," he managed before drifting back to sleep.

Gibbs stayed a few more minutes watching the child drift deeper into sleep, before silently leaving to join Ziva for the night.