Most conversation fell by the wayside as they got further into the game. Normally they would chat about things that didn't require much thought with one or two of them being competitive. Not this time, all the scores were very close which meant there was a lot more concentration and a lot less concentration. Ziva knew that she had shushed people at least three times so that she did not lose her train of thought.

She was currently third and a well-placed word would put her firmly into second and maybe even first place. Just to add more pressure, these were her final tiles - the bag was empty. She would have to make a word from the ones she had or none at all. If she could use her K and X, she would definitely be first. Well, unless Francisca came up with something better after her. But she wasn't going to be able to use her two best letters because she could see nowhere where she could put them.

"Time's a ticking," Amelia tried to hurry up.

"Shh!"

"Let her think how she is going to lose," Raphael tried to say in a smug tone but his anxious look spoiled that - he was currently in the lead.

Then she sighed her defeat. She couldn't use her K and X. With a pout, Ziva reluctantly put down a L and E to make 'LEAD'. That kept her in third place. Oh well, better luck next time.

"Ha! No one will beat me!" Raphael said triumphantly.

"I will!" Francisca said confidently but her face fell when she looked at her letters.

Silence stretched across the table as everyone waited in anticipation. One minute. Two minutes. Three...

Raphael gave Francisca a smug look as she gave in. She could not make any other words. Actually, no other plays at all could be made which meant that Raphael had won - he had the highest score. Narrowly. If Francisca could have made a word, any word, she would have won.

"It's all about spelling," he told her, which she ignored.

Francisca muttered something about the overly precise French but in Spanish and including language that made Ziva raise her eyebrows. It didn't make sense anyway because they were playing in English. Oh, she meant the French people. Ah.

She was not the only one who understood it, or at least some of it as Raphael spat something back at her. Again, Ziva was surprised. She did not think that he used such language.

Language that Francisca understood and was not going to take lying down. Before everyone knew it, they were both arguing with each other but very pointedly in their native languages. It was quite amusing. Well, Ziva thought so. Lucas and Amelia just looked bewildered.

"You know that you are both playing right into your stereotypes, right?" Ziva asked them, which thankfully made them shut up. "Hot tempered, dramatic and emotional," she added much to their outrage.

"Why don't we just leave it here?" Lucas suggested warily. "I need to head home anyway."

Normally they would chat for a while after but that was probably not a good idea when there were two explosive tempers in the mix.

"I will probably not be here for the next game," Ziva said as she gathered her coat and bag.

She almost immediately got a lot of displeased comments.

"But you're literally just back!"

"Oh, come on!"

"That's not fair."

It was Lucas that asked the most important question.

"How do you know you won't be able to make it? Normally you can't make it because a case or something else work related overran. How do you know this in advance?"

Ziva shook her head. "It is not work related. I am taking some time off."

"You can still join is of you are off work!" Francisca exclaimed.

Amelia elbowed her.

"Ow! What was that for!"

"She probably just wants to relax."

"Scrabble is relaxing!"

That got her disbelieving looks from everyone which she just brushed aside.

"It is!"

"Francisca, you and Raphael literally just got into an argument over something barely any of us could understand because you were speaking in Spanish and French." Lucas reminded her.

"He insulted my language," Francesca sniffed

"Because you insulted mine first!"

"OK, that's enough," Amelia said firmly before things could get heated again. "But you just proved my point. Out Scrabble games are definitely not relaxing."

"That is what makes them fun," Raphael said.

"Well, then you will just not have to be off when you come and play." Francesca said firmly.

"That doesn't make sense," Amelia argued.

"I am allowed time off, you know," Ziva said in amusement.

"Not if you're not going to play!"

"I am not going to be in the country," Ziva told them. "So, I would not be able to join even if I was free."

"Oh, where are you going? Anywhere nice?" Amelia asked. "Somewhere warm and sunny? It's getting so cold now."

Now that was definitely the truth. Three years here and Ziva still was not used to D.C winters. She shivered instinctively. And the weather was only to get colder from now on. It was not something she was looking forward to.

"I am going back to Israel for a week or so."

"So, it is work related?" Raphael guessed.

Ziva shook her head.

"No. I am -" but Raphael interrupted her before she could continue.

"Why are you going back to Israel or it's not work related?"

"It is my home, Raphael."

Technically. Homeland. Same thing. And she did miss it. And people. Some people. One person in particular. Not that this gossipy bunch needed to know that. And she probably would be attending to some Mossad business while she was there anyway. She always did when she was in Israel - even if it was supposed to be a holiday. Her father had already requested (ordered) her presence in his office when she returned.

No one looked happy at this which was somewhat touching.

"We could play online Scrabble..." Amelia said thoughtfully.