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"DiNozzo? When?"

"Three months ago, dad. Three months ago that she did not come to me about her cutting herself after the hell she went through in Somalia. Three months ago that I should have seen the signs but didn't. Three months ago when she was having chronic insomnia and the doctor refused her Ambien so she would crash at her desk at work. Three months ago when I should have been there for her. Should have told her how I felt. Should have offered her a place to come and talk. I assumed she'd come find me if she was having a problem. And now she's pregnant, dad."

"Leroy, you love her, don't you?"

"Yeah dad, I do."

"Does she know?"

"I told her, but I don't think she believed me."

"I wonder why that is. You always had a problem telling people how you felt, Leroy."

"Yeah, I know, dad."

"So do something to show her that you love her, Leroy. You've always been better with actions than with words."

"What about you and me, dad? We were supposed to go ice-fishing today."

"Don't worry about me, Leroy. All I want is for you to be happy."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Can't tell you that. But you'll figure it out."

Later, Gibbs stood in his attic. After Shannon and Kelly died, he had gotten rid of all the clothes, books, toys and furniture. But he had kept Shannon's jewelry. He picked up the hand carved jewelry box he had made for Shannon and opened the door that contained Shannon's necklaces. He knew what would get Ziva's attention and make her believe him. Shannon had been buried with her simple silver star, according to Joann. Jethro only hoped it was true. But there was another Star of David that Gibbs knew Shannon had loved, the one from all those Christmases ago. He found it and placed it in a simple carved box. Ziva had lost her star in Somalia and Gibbs hoped this one would be an acceptable replacement.

He drove to Ziva's apartment and knocked on her door.

"Jethro?"

"Hey Ziver, can I come in for a few minutes?"

"Of course."

He looked around Ziva's militarily clean apartment. It was obvious she was trained to be neat and not take up too much space.

"Can I get you anything, Jethro?"

"No, I just came by to give you this." He held out the box.

"Jethro, it looks amazing. Did you make this?"

"Yeah, but that wasn't what I was planning on giving you, Ziver. Open it."

Ziva opened the box and gasped, "This is beautiful, Jethro. How did you know I wanted one? I was debating if I should just go buy one but now I do not have to. Where did you find this?"

"Oh, just in my attic."

"In your attic?" Ziva looked confused and then her eyes flashed understanding. "Oh Jethro, this was Shannon's was it not? I cannot take this from you."

"I don't think she'd mind. I think she'd want me to give something that was so important to her to the woman I love."

"You love me? Why?"

"I do. I love you because you are you. And because you understand me."

"Even though I am damaged goods?"

"Yes, and I am too."

"You are sure you want to give this necklace to me?"

"Yes, it should be worn by the woman I love."

"Fasten it for me, please, Jethro?" Gibbs fastened the pendant around her neck and then held her close. Outside, the snow came down like a white curtain. Ziva walked to the window.

"It looks like a blizzard, Jethro. You had better stay here. Call Jackson so he does not worry," Ziva said, tossing Gibbs her phone.

"Yeah, yeah it does, Ziver."

Snow fell down to such an extent that it broke Pennsylvania's record. Cars were buried and because of it, the entire extended family of the Fieldings was stuck at Frank and Joann's, including Gibbs and Shannon. There had been card games and fights and books that got re-read but by now everyone was sick of each other.

"You said three days, Shan, it's been seven."

"I can't control the weather, Jethro."

"They're driving me nuts!"

"Me too, but I can't do anything about that either."

Uncle Phil was building a post-it house, like a card house, and was failing at it. Aunt Marley was reading parts of everyone's books aloud much to everyone's dismay. Cousin Naomi was trying to write out an advertisement for a date in the paper. Since Aunt Delia had spilled the news about Shannon being pregnant, Naomi had become increasingly desperate about making a family. Aunt Delia, drunk and smelling of cinnamon Altoids again was singing Christmas carols in a slurred and majorly off-key voice. Uncle Arnold was playing some board game with Tom and Mary. Miss Brewster was knitting a baby blanket for Shannon and Gibbs' arrival. Joann was cutting recipes out of magazines and Frank was hiding them in an attempt to stop his wife from cooking. Shannon was editing a few freelance articles she had written for magazines and Gibbs was staring blankly at a page in a book. He was not even sure which book he was reading.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," He signed to Shannon.

They had both learned sign language when her parents first forbade her to speak to Jethro. She had said that signing did not use her voice so technically she was not breaking her parents rule.

"I know. Me either. But I am trying to make the best of it."

"That's what you said the last ten times."

"So, quit complaining. I can't help it that we're stuck here and all your complaining won't change my answer." Shannon signed back and head-slapped him.

"Hey!" He signed.

"You deserved that."

"For what?"

"Irritating me." Shannon signed and smirked.

The next morning, the bed next to him was empty. A quick look out the window revealed that Shannon was outside bundled up and shoveling out their truck while favoring her left ankle. Gibbs smirked slightly, she must have been desperate to get out of Stillwater. He quickly dressed and grabbed the extra shovel to go help his wife. They were leaving today and nothing would stop them.