Ziva stepped off the elevator and walked to her desk dropping her bag next to her chair she paused when she saw a small box on her desk. Nudging it with a pencil she eyed it skeptically. The box was plain white with nothing to give away what was inside.

"You know Ziva you could just open it and see what's inside rather than poke it. If it made it through security then it's not likely to be a bomb." Tony saw her frown slightly.

"I did not order anything, and I am not expecting anything either." Ziva continued to stare at the box.

Gibbs stepped to his desk coffee in hand and managed to hide a grin. "It was delivered first thing this morning."

Tony watched Ziva flush with color and smiled. "Must have done something right Ziva he's already sending you gifts."

It was all Ziva could do not look at Gibbs instead she let herself be distracted by McGee's arrival. He smiled at her like every other morning.

"What's everyone staring at?"

Tony elbowed McGee "Ziva got a gift."

McGee grinned wider and moved closer. "Are you going to open it?"

Ziva knew she didn't have a choice so settling in her seat she pulled the box toward her and lifted the lid. She had to bite back a laugh when she saw what it was. Reaching in the box she pulled the metal object out and couldn't hold back the laugh this time.

McGee cocked his head and looked at Tony when he snorted with laughter. "What's so funny?"

Ziva stared at the alarm clock. It took only a second before she remembered her excuse for being late the morning before. Her alarm clock hadn't really been stepped on but the thought that Gibbs would pay this much attention to detail still made her smile. She looked up and found Tony and McGee looking at her. "He felt bad I got in trouble for being late. I am assuming this is his way of apologizing."

Gibbs continued to focus on his computer but knew he should comment somehow. "Interesting apology."

Ziva laughed again, staring at the alarm clock she could tell it was an antique. It had a feminine flair without being girly. It would suit her bedroom perfectly and she had no idea when he would have had the time to buy it.

Gibbs' phone rang and the moment was quickly lost as the workday began.

Ziva began working through the various case files on her desk, grateful for the quiet few days they'd had. It wouldn't last for long though and soon she and Gibbs would be working two cases. Thinking about the case that had brought Gibbs to her room she wondered how long it would take to be invited into the inner circle. It wouldn't be quick or easy but she had some ideas she would run past Gibbs, no matter how much she would like to savor the fact that they could be together she couldn't forget that lives were at stake. She saw a shadow fall over her and looked up to see Abby.

"We're having lunch."

Ziva cocked an eyebrow. "We are?" Glancing at the alarm clock on her desk she was surprised to see it was nearing lunch time.

"Yes we are, we haven't done lunch in ages and I hear rumors. You get to spill your guts." Abby was nearly bouncing with eagerness but what Ziva noticed was not Abby's usual bubbliness but the way Gibbs ever so slightly startled at the way Abby said "rumors".

Abby oblivious to the havoc she was causing sipped on her caf-pow and continued nodding. "I'm not letting you say no Ziva. I ordered in Thai and everything."

Ziva sighed good-naturedly "Well I cannot possibly refuse that. "

Gibbs found he was watching her again something he was going to have to be careful of, if he didn't want to give them away. She reached up to push back her hair and the long sleeve of her blouse fell back, revealing her bracelet.

Gibbs held still and watched as his team took notice. Tony was sneaking up behind Abby attempting to pilfer her caf-pow just to annoy her, McGee heard Abby's indrawn breath and craned his head to see what had caught her notice. Just seeing Ziva wearing it brought forth a wave of desire, it didn't surprise him, Abby's reaction did. Abby stopped her bouncing, set down the Caf-Pow and reached forward to touch the gold. He would be forever grateful Ziva stepped back just in time to prevent the action.

"Wow Ziva that's beautiful …" McGee pointed to the bracelet, Tony whistled, but Abby remained oddly quiet.

Ziva reacted instinctively drawing her hand back and giving Abby an apologetic look so as to soothe any hurt. It was all she could do not to look to Gibbs but somehow she managed. "Thank you McGee it was a gift."

"It's an antique isn't it Ziva?" Tony watched as all heads turned toward him. "What a family with money means you learn this stuff." What Tony didn't say out loud was that it was a damn expensive antique from the looks of the gold.

"Yes it is." Ziva didn't realize the smile that touched her face was a dead giveaway to the depth of emotion behind the piece of jewelry but Gibbs saw it and he saw the others recognize it as well. They each looked at each other and Tony raised his eyebrows but no one said anything aloud.

He came up to her because it would seem odd if he didn't he looked down at the jewelry hiding what it truly meant and instead offering a casual smile. "Nice."

Looking at the others he took a sip of his coffee "Let's break for lunch. "

Ziva followed Abby to the office adjacent to her lab, where they often ate lunch. The set out the lunch Abby had ordered and began eating all without Abby saying a word, not the norm for her. Ziva remained quiet waiting for her to say something.

Ziva saw concern on her face, hiding a smile she stole a sip of Abby's' caf-pow.

"Ziva I know what that bracelet means...do you?"

This time Ziva couldn't help but smile. "Yes Abby I do."

"Traditional or modern meaning?"

Ziva blushed knowing exactly what Abby was asking "I don't have a Dom Abby. He is... I belong to him in a different way."

"So the traditional meaning then. I knew you were seeing someone but you haven't said anything about him at all."

There was genuine hurt in Abby's eyes; it was hard for Ziva to ignore. She and Abby had become close and yet she had shared nothing of course that would hurt her. "It is just that he is...so much more than the others. For now I need him to just be mine. I want to tell you about him, but.." Ziva sighed deeply "It is not simple Abby. I knew when I first saw him that I was his but the timing was not right and now it is very new but at the same time it is like we have always been. Does that make sense?

Abby watched Ziva and could see the depth of emotion she was struggling with. It made her smile, she was happy Ziva had found someone. "It does Ziva, surprises me if we're being honest but then you're good for surprises." Abby gave her a hug.

Ziva accepted the hug even though doing so was still a new thing for her. "Thanks Abby for understanding it helps. But please don't.."

"Ziva I'm not going to tell anyone what that bracelet means, that's your business."

Ziva nodded. "How did you recognize what it means Abby? I did not think anyone would recognize what it represents."

Abby saw Ziva blush for a second time and had to swallow hard not to choke on her caf-pow. She would have bet money she'd never find anything that could make Ziva embarrassed. "Well first I am a Forensic Specialist, secondly.." It was Abby's turn to blush. "I do have a Dom so while I haven't seen that particular type of bracelet I recognized what I was seeing."

Ziva absorbed Abby's words. "Do not take this wrong but that is not what my relationship is about. It is about pleasing him by allowing him to be the man he cannot otherwise be." Ziva pushed away her food. "I am not saying this well, in some ways it is like the lifestyle you are a part of. I give him the right to tell me what I can and cannot do under some circumstances, but there is no punishment if I do not. For me there is pleasure in giving him the right to do so, pleasure in when he asks something. It is in his nature to want to control, but he has not indulged that nature for some time so for him the pleasure comes from having someone willing to allow him to be that man. But it does not involve punishment….I could not."

Abby could have been offended by Ziva's need to reassure her that her relationship was nothing like the lifestyle Abby lived but she realized that Ziva was reassuring herself. After everything Ziva had gone through in her life it came as no surprise. Abby took Ziva's hand "It's okay Ziva, I understand."

Ziva took a deep breath sharing her secrets wasn't comfortable for her but Abby had shown genuine concern and their friendship was important to her. "I should go back to work. I know we have more time for lunch but I need some time to.."

Abby smiled and hugged Ziva again. "Just remember I'm here to listen if you need me."

Ziva nodded and left Abby's office. She made her way to an empty office and leaned against the wall. She needed, wanted Gibbs and wondered how the hell it happened that she could be in this state so quickly. She pulled her phone out of her pocket as the door opened, startled she pushed away from the wall only to find herself pressed back against it. She recognized his scent even as she wondered how he knew where to find her.

Gibbs locked his hands on her hips, "I went looking for you, don't know why just needed to see you. What happened?"

Ziva was shocked by his words, didn't understand his worry.

"You look upset. Did Abby say something?"

Ziva unconsciously pushed into his touch her need for him riding her hard. Shaking her head when words wouldn't force their way out she let her head rest against his shoulder.

Gibbs let his hand trail through her hair, it was easy to see what she wanted and damned if she wasn't tempting the hell out of him. "Ziva she must have said something."

Ziva drew in a long breath and met his gaze, "She recognized what the bracelet meant. I should have realized she might. She has seen them in a different concept , she has a Dom."

Gibbs took in his own deep breath. Still stroking her hair he felt her shudder. "She thought it meant something else, something she is more familiar with."

"Yes, I explained to her for me it was different. "

Gibbs watched her eyes stray ever so slightly away from him and realized she might have her own doubts about what he might expect. "That isn't what this is about Ziva, I would never ask that of you and it isn't what I'm about anyways."

"I know and that is what I told Abby. I just do not share my feelings well and it was difficult. Then when I left her lab I realized how much I needed you and it…" Ziva shifted in his arms trying to get closer knowing that time was rapidly ticking away till they needed to be back at their desks.

"It caught you off guard. You are not the only one Ziva. This is just as new for me as it is for you." He wanted to kiss her so badly but if he did he'd lose what little control he had left. "We'll find our way through this even it gets "hinky" as Abby would say." He saw her smile and felt her relax against him. Tugging gently on her hair he allowed himself a gentle press of his lips against her forehead. "I want you to wear your hair loose only for me from now on. I want to know that at night when it's falling all around me I'm the only one who is allowed to see it that way. "he barely held onto the last of his control when he felt her shudder of pleasure at his words.

"Yes." Ziva felt him pulling away and knew that their time alone until tonight was over. He left the room and shut the door behind him. Shuddering she gathered herself until she could breathe normally again, Gibbs was a force to be reckoned with even when you weren't his enemy.

Gibbs had sent everyone home at a decent hour, intending to follow quickly. Instead Ducky had asked to have a drink and Gibbs didn't refuse. Ducky was a good friend and he wouldn't neglect him when it was obvious he needed the company. He'd texted Ziva ,something that had caused her to send back a shocked smiley face to his phone. He hadn't had much opportunity to text before but he could see now the appeal.

It was dark by the time he'd finished his drink with Ducky and he decided to stop home first to gather some things before risking another night at Ziva's. If they weren't careful they would be caught before they really needed to be but that did little to stop him from wanting to be there. As he entered his house there was no longer any doubt he was being watched. A late model sedan sat in the same spot as it had a day earlier. Cautiously he entered his house only to catch the scent of steak coming from his kitchen.

Ziva saw him open the door gun in hand and almost reached for her own. She was calmed when he holstered his weapon when he saw her. "I took the liberty of sweeping for bugs, we are definitely being watched."

Gibbs nodded. "I'm sorry things ran so late."

Ziva smiled "Do not be I am glad you had a chance to visit with Ducky. I hope it is okay that I came here without asking first. I could lie and say I thought it would be good for our cover but I just wanted to be here with you. "

Gibbs wondered if she knew how beautiful she was. She dressed for him a long loose skirt and gauzy shirt made his palms itch to touch her. Her hair was loose and as he stepped closer to her he could tell she smelled as good as the food she was cooking. "You can come here any time Ziva, you don't have to ask." He waited patiently while she finished the last few steps in the meal she was preparing. He wanted to pay attention to it but found all he wanted was her.

"Tomorrow I'm taking you out to dinner. There is a restaurant about an hour's drive from here. Tomorrow is Friday we don't have to work the next day and I want to take you out. It will serve two purposes since we are being watched they will have a chance to see that we are trying to hide this, while not exactly doing the best job of it. But most importantly I want you to know that while we do have to hide this I wouldn't given the choice."

"I am not ashamed of us Jethro, but I do not mind having us as a secret." She turned off the stove and turned to face him, brushing against him when she found he was closer then she had realized.

Gibbs understood what she was saying, by being the only ones that knew about their relationship it became even more special. "Will you stay tonight?"

Ziva wanted to but she shook her head anyways. "Not the whole night at least, I thought I would leave somewhere around one am, that is if that sedan is still sitting outside your house."

Gibbs nodded "It was when I got here." He sighed and grabbed a beer from the fridge. "We should discuss how we're going to handle the case."

"That is another reason I came and made dinner. If you had come to my house I doubt we would have found our way to talking." Ziva smiled and served up their food. Sitting next to him on the couch she hear d him snicker.

"Not likely." Gibbs took a bite of his food and sighed in pleasure. He'd forgotten what it was like to have a home cooked meal. "This is good Ziva, I didn't know you could cook."

"As awkward as this is to say Jethro there is probably a lot we do not know about each other." Ziva saw him wince and laughed. "It does not have to be a bad thing, it just means we have lots to learn, yes?"

Gibbs watched her and smiled in return. It was a good way to look at things. "What do you think we should do next?"

Ziva pushed her empty plate away and thought for a minute. "I think going out to dinner is a good start. After that I think we should spend a few days as we normally would not seeing each other every moment. It is not my first choice but if we are trying to keep this quiet it would not make sense that we would be able to be together every day."

Gibbs took a long swallow of beer and reluctantly nodded in agreement. "You're right. Also if we keep it somewhat casual it will be assumed this has been going on longer than it has."

"The waiting will not be easy for you I know you like to jump right into a case."

"Can't do that this time, Zi." Gibbs saw her react to the nickname with a smile but she didn't say anything. "It's more important than anything else that they approach us, we knew it could take a while so we'll just have to find a way to entertain ourselves till then." He grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

Ziva laughed she barely recognized the relaxed man in front of her. "I am sure we can come up with something Jethro." She took a deep breath and debated whether or not to tell him what she'd heard earlier in the day.

Jethro watched her wrestle with something "What is it Zi?"

"I heard a rumor today." Ziva saw him grimace.

"Seems to be a lot of those running around," Gibbs walked their plates into the kitchen and loaded them into the dishwasher. "Do I want to know?"

"Someone who knows Colonel Mann discussed that she is headed back to the states. She was saying that she intends to seek you out. I did not hear any more after that or when she might be returning, but I thought you should know." Ziva bit her lip working to clean up the kitchen in tandem with Gibbs. He stopped her by wrapping an arm around her waist.

Gibbs watched Ziva and didn't see the jealousy or insecurity he would have expected from another woman. "She and I ended things Zi. Yes we were together, yes it was somewhat serious but it would never have worked. If she's coming back to see me I have no idea why."

Ziva nodded and looked up at him. "I do not have the right to ask but is there any chance she is returning with a child you did not know about."

Gibbs felt like she had dumped a bucket of cold water on him, then he started laughing and found it very hard to stop even when she punched him in the shoulder. "Zi, have you been watching soap operas?"

Ziva pouted as he laughed at her. "Tony said it would be a good way continue to work on my social skills. From your reaction I am guessing he was playing a prank."

Gibbs finally stopped laughing "That would be my guess Zi and no there is no way she is returning with a child, this is her business but she was past the point of being able to have kids. Add to that we were always careful anyways. I always am with my partners."

Ziva took in that bit of information and blushed. "I am sorry Jethro ."

"Never be sorry Ziva, you can ask me anything. I would like you to answer a question for me though. This is not something you have to answer but I would like you to."

Ziva knew what his question was and walked slowly into his living room, sitting back down on his couch. It wasn't until she felt him next to her that she found her voice. "It was one of my first missions for Moussad, I took a pretty bad beating, lost an ovary, damaged another and there is scarring. When I woke up my father personally gave me the news."

Gibbs sighed and pulled her into his embrace, leaning back into the couch. "I'm sorry Ziva."

Ziva took in a deep breath. "It is a fact Jethro. I am not happy about it but it is."

Gibbs held her tighter. There was far too much running through his head, suspicions, ideas, questions, instead he remained quiet. "It doesn't make you any less of a woman Ziva. If I could make it better I would. If I could give you a child of your own I would."

Ziva was shocked and knew he could tell. She would never have brought up children if it hadn't been for her stupid imagination; she knew talking about children could cause him pain.

"That surprises you Zi?"

"Yes, I would have thought after this many years after …"

Gibbs gave her a rough smile. "after Kelly?"

She nodded against him.

"I will always mourn Kelly and Shannon, Ziva. I will never ,not have them in my head or my heart. I still love them. But I learned the hard way you can't get the past back. I chose never to have a child with my other wives, I thought because it would hurt too much but I realize it was because I knew things wouldn't work out." Gibbs stroked her hair. "I don't mean to hurt you."

Ziva shifted in his arms making sure he could see her face. "You didn't Jethro. I feel honored that you can share this with me. It is only right that you still carry them with you. And as fast as this has happened if I had the choice I would have your child." The pain of what she would never have eased somewhat and she enjoyed the silence of being held.

Gibbs sighed. "This is nice Zi, just sitting here holding you, never thought we'd have this. I shouldn't tell you this it's not right or fair but even when I was with Mann I still thought about you, still wanted you. "

Ziva listened to Gibbs' heart as she let her head rest against his chest. "There has not been a man I have been with that I did not want you instead Gibbs. I tried to make it work with some of them but I always knew I wanted you."

Gibbs savored that admission, "Don't wear that green dress tomorrow night." His tone was harsher than intended and he almost apologized when he heard her laugh softly he stopped himself. "What is so funny?"

"I do not even own that dress anymore and I would never have done such a thing." Ziva caught his blue eyes filled with frustration and offered him a gentle smile. "I have not ever slept with Tony if you are worried about that."

Gibbs felt relief wash through him trying not to let it show, knowing he'd failed when she chuckled again. "I wasn't going to ask Ziva, not really a fair question."

Ziva respected that he thought so, "Jethro, you have the right to ask anything."

"It's hard to think about him touching you, knowing how you respond so easily." Gibbs bit off the rest of his words.

"I respond that way to you Jethro, but it has not always been that way. With Tony it was an act; it was awkward and felt wrong. Even if we have to act a certain way for this case it is not the same because I want you, regardless of time or place. I never have wanted Tony." Ziva nearly lost her breath when she suddenly found herself underneath Gibbs his mouth against her neck.

Gibbs felt her sigh of pleasure against his chest. His fingers found the buttons of her blouse and quickly undid them pushing it off her shoulders he found she was naked underneath. "Hell!"

Ziva let her mouth claim his thrusting her tongue roughly showing him exactly what she wanted. Reaching between them she pulled off his shirt and began undoing the buckle of his belt. "Too slow."

Gibbs smiled and used one hand to pull off her skirt, again she was naked underneath and he swore loudly. "Had I known you were like this all night."

"Good thing we did our talking first." The feel of his slacks sliding off made her breath catch. Suddenly he was cradled between her thighs and her legs wrapped around his hips demanding more.

"I always intend to go slow with you Ziva, but then you're in my arms and it's like a dammed teenager again." Her smile as her eyes met his was of pure satisfaction. As he slid inside her she cried out his name.

Ziva felt him slide inside her and coherent thought flew away. His hands worked magic on her body, touching and caressing as his mouth did the same. She felt her body nearing the edge, she was hot and slick and his relentless stroking was driving her out of her mind. "Neshama…please I don't want slow."

Gibbs nibbled at her shoulder, waiting for her body to tell him it was ready. Even as her hands moved over him and urged him to move faster he heard her beg for more. It was his undoing. "Come for me Ziva, right now."

Ziva felt her body respond instantly, she fell the last bit over the edge at his words. Her body exploded barely able to register his whispered word in her ear and his own body coming apart against her.

Gibbs was lost when just as he asked she came and came hard in his arms, shaking with the force of it. The beauty of the moment pushed him into his own release even as he reminded them both just how much they belonged together.

"Mine"