A/N: This chapter comes with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! shout to CSIGurlie07. Clearly, I'm channeling your "Zangst" with this one. =) THANKS to you all for reading!

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

The next morning Ziva began cleaning everything in sight as a means of handling her nerves. After she'd cleaned the house – including the refrigerator and the oven – she cleaned her weapons. Then moved on to his.

By one o'clock she'd run out of things to clean – and she still had five hours to go. She found Gibbs in the basement working on his boat.

"Instead of pizza, I think I will cook tonight."

He stopped his work and considered her. "You don't have to do that."

"I know." She looked at him beseechingly. "I need something to do."

He knew she did. "Sounds great. Everyone loves your cooking, especially me."

That earned him a kiss on the cheek.

"I am going to the store; I will be back."

"Want me to go with you?"

She shook her head. "I am still deciding what I want to make, so I will be puttering a bit – never your favorite activity at the grocery. You stay and work on your boat."

With a quick kiss to his mouth, she was off, her mind already on her next mission.

Ziva shopped at her favorite fresh market, which also carried many good quality Middle Eastern foods. She decided to make a favorite dish of hers from home that her mother used to cook. It had beans, vegetables and rice seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, all cooked together. Oh, and she would have baked chicken breast to go with it; after all, it was not really dinner to Jethro unless there was meat involved. She shook her head with a small smile. She found the makings for the salad she wanted to put together and freshly baked flat bread that she would warm in the oven just before eating. Hmmm…what to have for dessert? she wondered as she continued her shopping.

Returning home, she prepped and cooked most of the afternoon. The heavenly smells eventually drew Gibbs from the basement. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her hair. "Mmmmm…smells good."

"Thank you," she returned, putting the final touches on the cucumber, tomato and feta cheese salad. With a quick press of appreciation to his arms, she stepped away to put it in the refrigerator.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"You could set the table while I take a quick shower."

He got that certain glint in his eye. "Or I could wash your back in the shower and then set the table after." He advanced toward her purposefully.

She glanced at the clock and threw him a dubious look. "We do not have much time…"

"Now, see, that sounds like a challenge. I'm always up for a challenge."

"You are always 'up' for shower sex," she pointed out as he put his hands on her hips and tugged her to him.

He licked his way up her neck. "This would be the first time you complained about that," he murmured in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

As his teeth tugged at her earlobe, her breath caught and she melted even further.

"Who is complaining?" She pulled his mouth to hers hungrily and starting walking him to the stairs.

After their shower – which did include back washing in addition to amazing sex, all with plenty of time to spare, Gibbs noted smugly – he dressed quickly and went to set the table. When Ziva wasn't down by the time he was finished, he went looking for her. He found her sitting on their bed, staring at her engagement ring as she rubbed it back and forth with her right thumb. He leaned against the door frame to their room, hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

"It's about time for them to get here," he said softly.

She nodded, but didn't look up. He walked over and knelt in front of her. Placing his hands on her legs, he silently waited for her to speak.

"There is no way Abby will not notice my ring right away, and I want the chance for us to tell them first, to explain…" She paused and raised her gaze to his. "So, I should take it off…but I do not want to," she finished softly, the look in her eyes more than a little lost.

"I could hang onto it for you."

She shook her head. "I do not want it that far away," she admitted quietly.

"For the record, I'm not planning to be far away from you at any point tonight."

Ziva lowered her gaze back to her hands and lifted one shoulder in a shrug that said she was at a loss to further explain her feelings, and was a little embarrassed by that.

"Your pocket?"

She shook her head. "Too…casual," she said, searching for the right word.

When he didn't offer another suggestion right away, she muttered, "You must think I am being ridiculous."

With his left hand, he tipped her face up to his again. His right hand covered her left, his thumb rubbing her ring, soothing them both. There was a small but understanding smile on his face.

"I think," he began with a slow drawl, "that you love your new ring…and maybe even the guy who gave it to you." He rubbed his nose against hers, teasing. She laughed lightly and nodded, a ghost of a smile on her lips as she started to relax. He shifted so his arms were around her.

"I also think you're nervous, but worrying isn't going to change the outcome tonight."

She laid her head on his shoulder, slumping a little. He gathered her closer, resting his head on her hair.

"I am afraid Abby will hate me," she whispered so faintly that he almost didn't hear her.

"She won't hate you. She'll be hurt that we didn't tell her, but she'll come around.

"And, if worse comes to worst, we'll quit our jobs and travel the world," he stated to distract her.

"Oh? And how will we support ourselves?"

"We could join the circus. How about a knife-throwing act?"

She looked up at him suspiciously. "Who gets to throw the knives?" she asked, playing along.

He rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows the guy gets to throw the knives at the beautiful woman."

"But I am the better knife thrower," she pointed out. "So I should get to throw the knives and you can be the handsome target."

"Huh. Maybe I'll have to rethink this plan."

Her chuckle this time was real. He eased back slightly, leaving his arms looped around her waist.

"Ready to go downstairs?"

She looked at her ring again, still needing to make decision on that first.

"I did think of hanging it around my neck, but this chain is too short." She took hold of her Star of David necklace and slid the pendant back and forth on the chain.

"Unless…I change my shirt…" She turned to move toward the closet.

He stopped her. From the looks of things, she'd already changed her shirt three times, undoubtedly another byproduct of her edginess. They didn't need her to start that again.

He shook his head. "You look beautiful." He tilted his head toward the small wooden box he'd made her that sat on the dresser and held her jewelry. "Got a longer chain in there?"

"Oh. I think so." She went to the box and found one. He stood and went to her as she reluctantly slipped her ring off her finger and onto the chain. It was a long one, so she fastened it before raising her arms to put it on. His hands intercepted hers and he slipped it over her head. She clasped her ring tightly in a fist for a moment before tucking it inside her shirt.

Cupping her face, he kissed her deeply. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she whispered. Wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest, she said, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For understanding me," she clarified.

He smiled, hugging her back, before guiding her to the doorway with a hand on the small of her back.

Then the mischievous gleam was back in his eyes. "I also understand that I'll be the knife thrower in our circus act." His intent was to get her easy confidence back in play and he succeeded.

"You had better be careful, or I will get my knives out right now and show you a thing or two," she threatened playfully.

With a smile on both their faces, they went downstairs. It wasn't long before the team started arriving, several of them meeting up in the driveway.

As Tony came in, he sniffed appreciatively. "Thought we were having pizza, but that smells way better."

Ziva gave a small smile. "Thank you, Tony. I had some time on my hands this afternoon, so I offered to cook."

"And yet another glimpse into the never-ending talents of Ziva David. You know, they should make a movie about you," Tony observed. "It'd be like Julia Childs meets Rambo." There was laughter all around, though Gibbs also looked as though he was trying to decide if a headslap was in order. Ziva shook her head with a grin and rolled her eyes as she headed to the kitchen.

Ziva busied herself with the finishing touches for the meal and everyone helped put the dishes on the table. They sat and ate family style, conversation flowing easily. Well, for most. Ziva was very quiet and really only picked at her food. Jethro had purposely directed people as to where to sit so that he was right next to her. Surreptitiously, he laid the back of his hand on her thigh, waiting for her to put her hand in his. Carefully she did, and he squeezed hers in reassurance. As she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, he looked meaningfully at her barely-touched plate. She took the hint and tried to eat a little more before someone asked what was wrong.

Everyone complimented Ziva on dinner, which she accepted with a smile. Since they were all feeling full, Ducky suggested holding off on having the chocolate mousse she'd made for dessert and everyone readily agreed. The cleared the table together, leaving the dishes in the sink for now.

Most of them took something to drink with them into the living room. McGee, Abby & Tony settled on the couch, while Ducky took an armchair. Gibbs came in last, Ziva right in front of him. He sat in his recliner, and she took up a standing position behind him, arms resting on the back.

"So, Boss," Tony began. "Why'd you invite us all here? Not that I'm complaining about the meal." He toasted Ziva with his beer bottle. She acknowledged him with a nod and a small smile of thanks.

"Well, DiNozzo, we have something we want to tell you."

"We?" Tony laughed. "You sound like the Queen of England – what's with the royal we?"

The others chuckled, while Gibbs smiled a little.

"He means the us 'we,' Tony," Ziva said quietly.

Tony looked at her in confusion. "I think you're messing up on your English again, Zee-vah. That doesn't even make any sense."

"Actually, it makes perfect sense, DiNozzo," said Gibbs enigmatically.

Now everyone was looking confused.

His eyes on the team, Gibbs reached a hand up and Ziva took it. The look on Tony's face would have been comical if the situation hadn't felt so dire.

"Gibbs?" asked Abby faintly, her eyes frozen on their joined hands.

He didn't want to beat around the bush, so he just came out and said it.

"Ziva and I are together."

Silence.

"Well, of course you're together – we're all here together…" Tony's voice faded as he realized he was grasping at straws, trying to ignore the obvious.

More silence.

"How long has this been going on?" Duckly asked after a moment, not ungently.

"Two years," Ziva answered. Her voice was soft, but firm.

An audible gasp escaped Abby's lips, while McGee's mouth dropped open. Tony's face registered complete shock, while even Ducky appeared thrown off guard.

"Two years? No way," Tony scoffed, the first to find his voice. "There is no way we wouldn't have figured it out or seen something in two years!"

"You really think the two of us couldn't pull off an undercover operation, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.

"But –" Tony started to protest, then realized he didn't know what to say.

"Well, if anyone could, it'd be you guys," offered McGee. The revelation had been a total surprise, but he was trying to catch up and be supportive.

"Thank you, McGee." Ziva smiled at him, though it didn't quite reach her eyes yet.

"What about your famous Rule 12?" Abby challenged, her posture screaming betrayal.

Gibbs snorted a rueful breath out his nose. "Went out the window after she was almost killed."

Seeing their confusion deepen, Ziva offered, "The undercover assignment where my cover was blown and Hoffman nearly shot me."

"You've been together ever since?" McGee asked, making a valiant effort to connect the dots.

They nodded. Their eyes met and it was impossible to miss the deep devotion they held for each other. Wanting her closer, Jethro tugged at her hand until she came around and sat on the arm of his chair.

Silence reigned once again.

"Well, this is a surprise," Ducky commented, stating the obvious. "What made you tell us now?"

Ziva spoke first. "The thing about undercover operations is that they are not real. And this is very, very real." She squeezed Jethro's fingers tightly, desperate for further support. He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss there.

Gibbs did not like the vibes in the room and decided they needed to know exactly where things stood. "Besides, if you don't know, you can't come to the wedding."

"The wedding? Gibbs!" Abby practically shrieked.

"You're getting married?" Tony's voice was incredulous.

"Jethro asked me last night and I said yes," Ziva related. "Please understand. We have wanted to tell you for a while now, but it was difficult to know how to do so after all this time. It is more my fault that we waited so long; I was afraid." Ziva averted her eyes from the team, as they looked at her in surprise. Ziva was never afraid of anything.

"I was afraid of exactly this," she admitted softly, her voice breaking. "Please do not take it out on Gibbs; he does not deserve that."

"Ziva-" Gibbs started.

She interrupted him with a press of her fingers against his and with a sad smile, she husked, "I will start the coffee for dessert, yes?"

Needing to get out of there, Ziva moved quickly into the kitchen, wiping at her cheeks. Gibbs looked deliberately at the members of his team, one by one. Then, without saying a word, he followed her.