** Here is another chapter for you and expect a surprise before week's end :-) Thank you to all the readers, reviewers, follows and favorites. I appreciate your support. Enjoy! **

Disclaimer: This chapter has an observance of Shabbat. I researched this and did my best to have some details, but not too many. If I have gotten something wrong or out of place, please forgive me. No intention was made to offend anyone, just to show some of Ziva's heritage.

Chapter 7

Abby and Ziva had spent the entire late morning and afternoon watching movies, talking and relaxing. While both girls wanted to join Gibbs and the boys working in the back yard, they had been given strict orders from 'Dad' to put their feet up and rest, seeing how neither had really done that since they began their impromptu vacation. While Gibbs and boys were outside, they managed to prepare the foods from Ziva's homeland that would be enjoyed after sundown in observance of Shabbat. Ziva taught Abby how to make the special bread for tonight's meal. The girls were enjoying their time together, it was a rare occasion they were able to do this.

Ziva shared with Abby stories of when she was a young girl and all her family members were together to share the Shabbat dinner. She explained in vivid detail what took place and why. Ziva's eyes shined with joy as she told Abby of the first time she was the one to light the candles and say the blessing to signal Shabbat had begun. How her father then said the blessing over his children, first Ari, then herself and last, Tali, as was the custom. Ziva went on to explain the blessing of the wine, the washing of hands, and how once the portions of bread or 'challah' were given to everyone, they would all enjoy the meal set before them.

By the time Ziva was explaining the final blessings of the Shabbat meal and telling her surrogate sister of the songs they sang afterwards, Abby was very excited she and Gibbs were going to experience this for themselves in a few hours.

After having said good-bye to his boys, Gibbs took one more stroll around the yard to make sure no tools were overlooked and everything was secure from inclement weather. He then made his way into the house to get cleaned up so he would be ready for dinner. Gibbs was looking forward to enjoying the meal Ziva had prepared and learning a little more of her heritage. Over the years there had been many Fridays that Ziva had stayed with him, and on those occasions, when they were home early enough, they would observe Shabbat. He was so proud that she wanted to share this ritual with him and tonight Abby would be with them to enjoy it as well.

Once he had showered and changed into comfortable clothes, Gibbs came downstairs and walked into the dining room to see how warm and inviting his girls had made everything. Soft Jewish music was playing in the background. There was a vase full of early spring flowers, freshly cut from the flowerbeds in the front yard. The table was covered in the linens that Shannon had once purchased for special occasions such as this. Ziva had long ago asked permission to use the gorgeous table cloth and dinner napkins, and Gibbs had told her she could. He knew Shannon would be pleased in knowing that something that had meant so much to herself was getting used by his 'children'. While standing there looking at the beautifully set table, laden down with the delicious feast they were about to enjoy, Gibbs could not help the soft smile that came to his face as he thought of his beautiful wife and how much she would have loved each of his surrogate kids as if they were her own.

He was startled from his thoughts as Abby came up and grabbed his hand, then began leading him to the 'place of honor' at the table. It was time for everything to begin. Ziva stood up and lit the two candles that were sitting before her on the table to signal that Shabbat had begun. She swirled her hands over the flames and brought them up to her eyes as she began to recite the blessing. Gibbs and Abby were honored and humbled to be included in this custom from Ziva's religion. Gibbs felt a surge of pride for his Israeli 'daughter' as he watched her go through the rituals with such confidence and ease.

Soon conversation and laughter filled the room. All three occupants were thoroughly enjoying the meal. They started with a cucumber, tomato and feta cheese salad, followed by chicken casserole with couscous and potato latkes. They finished the meal with dessert of burekas and kugel.

"Ziver, the meal was absolutely delicious, I enjoyed everything. Especially the beginning. You did real good, and I thank you for allowing us to be a part of it."

"Me too, Ziva. The blessings you recited were just beautiful. I am so blown away by it all. Thank you for sharing this with me and Dad."

Ziva blushed at all the praise, but was very happy she was able to share something so special in her life with two members of her American family. It warmed her heart that they both enjoyed everything so much.

"Thank you. I am honored you allowed me to share this with you. It means so much to me."

Gibbs saw how much the evening had meant to Ziva, and also how her eyes were becoming misty, knowing she was thinking of the members of her biological family she had once shared many Shabbat dinners with, but were now gone from her life. Wanting to keep the evening a happy one, Gibbs got into 'Papa Bear' mode and shooed his two girls into the living room with orders to have a movie ready to go when he finished loading the dishwasher. The rest of the evening was spent truly relaxing as the three watched movies and ate popcorn smothered in melted butter.

The loud music ushering the ending credits across the TV screen jolted Gibbs awake. Apparently he had fallen asleep midway through the third movie of the evening. He looked over at Ziva and Abby, both of their heads were slumped over, chin to chest, light snores emanating from each girl. He quietly laughed at the scene before him and started softly nudging them. As his surrogate daughters awakened, he pulled each one up from the couch, gave them a hug and kiss to their forehead, then directed them up the stairs toward their room, wishing them a goodnight.

"Night, Dad…"

"Goodnight, Abba…"

As Gibbs watched the girls slowly ascend the stairwell, he quietly said a prayer of thanks for the four young people in his life. They were his 'kids'… his family. Gibbs knew he was a blessed man.

TBC