Chapter 9
AN: Thank you so much for the support.
AN2: As I have said, let me know what episodes you would like me to address. Hope you like this chapter.
Again, sorry if the Hebrew is wrong, blame Google Translate
Five days have passed since Gibbs was deployed and ever since Shannon, Kelly, and Ziva have been doing their best to get used to Gibbs being gone, while continuing, as much as possible, in the ways they usually do. Ever since he was gone Shannon has noticed that Ziva is doing more around the house to help, even though she always helps she seems to have taken it to a new level, and Shannon suspects she knows the exact reason why.
It is Friday evening and Ziva and Kelly are in their room, while Kelly is drawing Ziva, who is sitting on Kelly's bed, is reading, in English, to try and improve. As their door is open Shannon just walks into the room, and over to where Kelly is drawing.
"Kelly, I need to talk to Ziva alone for a minute," Shannon says to her daughter.
"Okay Mom," Kelly says, and she gets up and heads downstairs.
After Kelly walks away Shannon walks over to Ziva and sits down next to her, as Ziva closes her book, marking her page as she does.
"Is something wrong?" Ziva asks worried, as even after months as a part of the Gibbs family she is still expecting to be in trouble at any time.
"No," Shannon tells her daughter. "Ziva, I first want to say that I appreciate how much you have been helping in the last week," Shannon assures her, as she has thought about how to say what she needs to say, and she figures that that is the best way to start.
"Have I done something wrong?" Ziva asks concerned.
"No, of course not Sweetie," Shannon assures her. "Ziva, while I appreciate all the help you have given you don't have to do so much," Shannon explains.
"Gibbs said to watch out for you and Kelly. That is what I am doing," Ziva explains, feeling like she is doing the right thing.
"You don't have to do so much," Shannon explains. "I know back home you didn't really get to be a kid, but you do get to be here," Shannon explains, knowing that Ziva has had to grow up fast.
"I still want to help," Ziva admits.
"And you can, but don't feel like you have to," Shannon explains to Ziva, "Okay?"
"Okay," Ziva says, with a nod, and once she speaks Shannon leans forward and hugs her, kissing her head as she does.
"Now, I have a surprise for you downstairs," Shannon reveals, when they break apart.
"A surprise?" Ziva asks confused.
"Yep," Shannon says, standing up. Once Shannon's stands up she sticks out her hand for Ziva to take, which she does, and the two of them head downstairs.
When Ziva and Shannon walk downstairs they find Kelly sitting in the living room, but that's not what Ziva notices. What Ziva notices is the menorah in the window, and the specific food, and other objects, that are on the table.
Feeling completely overwhelmed Ziva just looks around in shock, and amazement,
"Shannon…" Ziva says, sounding shocked, and finding herself unable to find other words.
"When Gibbs and I took you in we promised each other that we wouldn't let you lose your culture," Shannon explains, as she puts her hand on Ziva's shoulder. "Your Ima always valued her culture, her heritage, and I know she wouldn't want you to lose that, so I don't plan to let you," Shannon explains. "I've done research on Chanukah, and celebrated it with your Ima's family the years I was in Israel, but I was hoping you could help us make sure we do things right,"
"I've been learning too. I want to learn about Chanukah," Kelly says, as she walks over to Shannon and Ziva.
"I will be happy to teach you," Ziva says, with a smile, as she feels like that is important thing and it is a way to combine her two families.
"Great, let's eat," Shannon says and the three Gibbs girls head over to the table.
Once she is sitting down Ziva looks around, she looks at all the traditional food of her culture, at the unlit menorah in the window, at Shannon and Kelly, and as she does she feels overwhelming joy. Even though Ziva knew Chanukah was coming up she didn't expect anything to happen, but the fact that Shannon arranged everything, and that she and Gibbs talked about it, means everything to Ziva, and makes her feel so incredible loved.
Hours later, Ziva has led the Chanukah prays, and the lighting of the menorah, and after she did that she taught Kelly, and to a lesser extent Shannon who did know them, the songs and games of Chanukah. As she played games and sung with Shannon and Kelly Ziva felt at home, for the first time in months she missed her mother and Tali a little less as she felt like they, just like Shannon and Kelly, were right besides her.
As the menorah has burned out, and Shannon has given Kelly and Ziva a couple of presents each, the two younger girls have headed to bed, and Shannon is tucking them in.
"Goodnight, I love you," Shannon says, as she tucks Kelly in a kisses her head.
"Goodnight Mommy," Kelly responds, and once she does she moves to Ziva.
"Goodnight Ziva, I love you," Shannon says, before kissing her head too, and tucking her in. "Goodnight Girls," Shannon says, heading to the door, and going to turn the light off.
"Shannon," Ziva says, before Shannon can turn the light off.
"Yes Ziva?" Shannon asks, turning to look at her.
"Thank you," Ziva says gratefully as everything Shannon did means a lot to her.
"You don't have to thank me, Sweetheart," Shannon assures her. "Get some sleep, both of you," Shannon says, before turning off the light and heading out of the room.
"Night Zizi,".
"Night Kells,".
For the next two nights Ziva, Kelly, and Shannon all celebrate Chanukah together and with every night that pass Ziva is glad to share more her new family.
It is early in the morning and Ziva Is fast asleep, at least she is until she feels herself being shaken awake,
"Zizi, wake up, wake up!" Kelly says, as she keeps shaking her sister, and the only thing that stops her from reacting is the fact that she recognizes her sisters voice.
"Kells?" Ziva asks confused, as she opens her eyes. "What is going on?"
"It's Christmas, there's presents!" Kelly says excitedly before she quickly climbs down the bed and runs out the room Ziva hearing her yell, "MOM!" as she goes.
Assuming that she isn't going to get anymore sleep Ziva gets up and heads out of the room. As she guesses that it is where her sister went Ziva heads to Shannon and Gibbs's room. Walking into the room she finds that Kelly has woken Shannon up and she is now hugging her daughter with one arm.
"Come on, Ziva, join us," Shannon says, giving her an encouraging smile, and Ziva hurries over and climbs into the bed. Once Ziva is in the bed Shannon puts the arm that isn't around Kelly around her and pulls both her girls in close.
"I wish Daddy was here," Kelly says a few moments later.
"I know, I do too," Shannon admits.
"Do you think he'll be able to call?" Kelly asks curious.
"I don't know," Shannon admits, as after watching the news the last few days she can guess where Gibbs is and knows that chances are he won't be able to call. "But it is Christmas, so maybe he'll try," Shannon reveals knowing how much it would mean to her, and Kelly, and even Ziva though she won't admit it, if they were to hear from Gibbs.
"I have never celebrated Christmas before," Ziva reveals, stuttering a little as she struggles with the pronunciation of celebrated.
"You're going to love it," Kelly tells her sister, as she can't wait to teach Ziva all about Christmas just like her sister has been teaching her all about Chanukah. "Mommy, can we open presents now?" Kelly asks.
"If you girls want," Shannon tells her daughter.
"Come on, Zizi," Kelly says, as she excitedly gets up, Ziva does the same and the two girls hurry out of the room.
As the girls hurry out of the room Shannon looks over at a picture of Shannon, her girls, and Gibbs that was taken on Kelly's birthday.
"I wish you were here," Shannon says, looking at Gibbs, and hating that he isn't going to be there for their first Christmas with all four of them, and after spending a few moments looking at the picture Shannon gets up and heads downstairs to join her girls in opening presents.
A few hours later, even though it is after eleven am Shannon, Ziva and Kelly are all still in their pyjamas. The three of them are in the living room, eating the breakfast Shannon made as Kelly and Ziva play with their new toys. Though, toys weren't the only thing they got as they both also got books, puzzles and clothes.
Knowing that the only thing that would make the day better is Gibbs being with them Shannon is just watching her girls as she drinks coffee. While she watches her girls Shannon hears the phone ring and so she gets up and goes to answer it.
"Hello, Gibbs Residence," Shannon answers.
"Hey, you," Gibbs's voice responds.
"Gibbs," Shannon says, sounding glad, causing Kelly and Ziva to look up from what they are doing. "It's really good to hear your voice," Shannon admits, feeling overwhelming joy.
"I don't have long on the phone. I just want to say Merry Christmas, and that I love you," Gibbs admits.
"I love you too," Shannon responds.
"Can I talk to the girls?" Gibbs asks.
"Of course," Shannon says. "Kelly, Ziva," Shannon says, and as soon as she speaks Kelly and Ziva get up and run over to her.
Once Kelly and Ziva are close enough Shannon hands them the phone and the two sisters put the phone between them so that both sisters can hear Gibbs, and he can hear both of them.
"Daddy?"
"Gibbs?"
Kelly and Ziva respectively ask,
"Hey Girls," Gibbs says to his daughters. "Merry Christmas, and Ziva Happy Hanukah," Gibbs says to them.
"Merry Christmas Dad," Kelly responds, as she smiles from ear to ear.
"Merry Christmas, Gibbs… and thank you," Ziva says, as while this is the first time ever she has celebrated Christmas it is a holiday for Gibbs.
"Are you girls having a good day?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Yes!" Kelly confirms.
"Very much so," Ziva confirms.
"That's really good to hear," Gibbs says, smiling even though his girls can't see it. "Look Kelly, Ziva, I have to go, but I want you both to know that I love you," Gibbs tells his daughters.
"We love you too," Kelly says.
"Be careful," Ziva requests.
"I will," Gibbs assures her, "Bye Girls," Gibbs says.
"Bye Gibbs,"
"Bye Dad,"
Ziva and Kelly respond before Gibbs has to hang up.
After Kelly and Ziva hang up with their father Shannon walks over and hugs her girls as while hearing Gibbs's voice was a good thing it would have also been a hard for them as it was such a short conversation.
Hours later, during which Shannon, Kelly, and Ziva did their best to enjoy their Christmas, and night of Chanukah, without Gibbs, the three of them are in bed. But rather, than Ziva and Kelly being in their beds both sisters are in Gibbs and Shannon's bed with her.
Looking between her girls who are sleeping either side of her Shannon smiles slightly, and kisses both their heads. While today was hard without Gibbs there was also a lot of good. It was Ziva's first ever Christmas, and that alone made it amazing. But what made it even more amazing is how clear Kelly and Ziva enjoyed the day, how much fun they had together, and so she just hopes that next year Gibbs can be with them for the holidays.