Abby turned and gave Ziva a hesitant look.

"Are you sure it won't violate any Jewish beliefs or anything?"

That had to be the fifth or sixth time she had asked that. And Ziva's answer had not changed. She shook her head.

"It is just pretend, is it not?"

"Well, yes. But it's still about celebrating Christmas."

That was a fair point but Ziva did not think that by doing this she was going to insult her own religion. And it wasn't like anyone was going to know she was Jewish. That and she didn't want to be left out.

"This" being NCIS volunteering at a "Santa's Grotto". Which no one had yet to explain to her beyond the need for people to be Elves to help Santa out.

Tony snorted. "A Jewish elf. That's something."

She didn't think that a Jewish Elf was a thing but she did not like Tony's tone so she gave him a sharp elbow. It caught him in the ribs and made him yelp. Much better.

Abby beamed at "Santa will be very happy! He needs all the elves he can get to help him out!"

"You know, the idea of Santa Claus is pretty messed up. It is a fat man who breaks into your house with presents made by tiny people who know of you have been bad or good. How do they know-blrfff!"

Abby had covered her mouth with her hands to stop her from talking.

"You're ruining Christmas for me. Stop. Santa is a nice, jolly, old man who brings cheer and happiness to everyone."

"Well, kids," McGee corrected.

Abby gave him a look and repeated, "Everyone."

"Uh, yeah, everyone," McGee agreed quickly.

"So, does that mean that you won't help at the Santa's grotto?" Abby asked once she was satisfied that McGee wasn't going to contradict her again.

"No, I will," Ziva agreed. "I do not mind and it's for charity."

Abby blinked at her and then beamed, engulfing her in a strangling hug.

"Oh, this is great!" she exclaimed once she had released Ziva. "Let me get all of your costumes."

Ziva looked around at her teammates in horror. Costumes?

"No. No way!" Tony said firmly, actually he shouted. "It's not happening."

"It's part of the costume."

"No."

"It's tradition!" Abby tried, handing out a green bundle of something to Tony.

He had his arms crossed and was refusing to even touch whatever Abby was currently holding.

"I was never one for tradition."

"You are now."

Abby was now waving the bundle of... material? Yes, that's what it looked like. She was now waving the green material in his face. Tony pushed her hand away.

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Come on, Tony, I'm wearing them," McGee said with a long-suffering sigh.

"Yeah, well you should already be used to them, Elf Lord," Tony said scathingly.

"I told you, I don't dress up for that game-"

"Yeah, yeah," McGee got waved off as Tony turned resolutely back to Abby. "I'm still not wearing those tights. DiNozzo men do not do tights."

"Tony has to wear tights?" Ziva asked in amusement.

Oh, this was something she had to see.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Abby and Tony glared at each other. Ziva did not know why Tony bothered, Abby always won this sort of thing. It really was just easier to give in - not that she always did right away but Ziva wasn't the focus of the conversation at the moment.

"There is nothing wrong with tights, Tony," she told him.

Of course, Ziva was also wearing tights but she was wearing a dress so hers did not look so out of place on her or odd, except for the rather garish shade of green her dress was. She privately preferred khaki green but, upon seeing the slightly crazed look in Abby's eye, had decided not to ask.

"There is everything wrong with men in tights," Tony said firmly.

"What about ballet dancers?"

"That's different."

"And so is this," Abby said with a tone of finality, shoving the tights into his hand and then giving him a shove.

Thankfully, Tony gave in with a "Fine, fine," and he trailed into the restrooms they were all standing outside of.

Abby then doled McGee out his costume, complete with shoes because Abby really did go all out with these things. She also handed Ziva a pair that were notably different from McGee's.

"Why doesn't Ziva's shoes have bells?" McGee complained.

Abby put her hands on her hips. "Because she is a ninja elf, McGee. Ninjas can't be heard!"

McGee grumbled at her but didn't dare argue further.

"Now, go get changed," Abby ordered, holding her hand out. "Give me your jumper l, I want to see if the tunic would look better with your shirt or not."

"Who is Santa, by the way?" McGee asked, voice muffled by the sound of him obediently pulling his jumper over his head. "Is it Ducky?"

"No," Abby said regretfully. "He would have made an awesome Santa but he has to bring his mom somewhere today."

"Then it is someone we do not know?"

Ziva did not think that it was a good idea for someone who was not used to them to work with them. They could do without complaints.

"No, we all definitely know him."

"Know who?" Tony asked as he came out of the bathroom looking like a thoroughly disgruntled elf.

Ziva decided it was prudent to bit her tongue. She wouldn't want to upset Abby.

"Apparently we know who is being Santa," Ziva answered.

Tony looked at her and then raised a questioning eyebrow at Abby.

"It's Gibbs, isn't it?"

"Maybe."

"You think the Director is dressing up as Mrs Claus?" Tony asked, waggling his eyebrows only to immediately say "Ouch! That was inappropriate, ma'am!"

Ziva found it amusing that Tony could tell the difference in who was head slapping him now.

"Yes, it was, DiNozzo," she told him, striding off.

Tony shook his head and then turned to give Ziva the once over.

"Isn't someone being a good little elf?"

"You need to get into the spirit of things," she said with a straight a face as she could muster.

Something that was completely unappreciated by her partner who was giving her a dark look.

"You wait until you see the hats."