"When did this start?" Gibbs was staring down his senior field agent with a glare so intense it could kill. Tony leaned back and sighed
"We've been seeing each other for a while. Couple of months, actually."
"Tell me."
Abby had outdone herself. The office was decorate with sparkly green and red wreaths, tinsel, and a gigantic fake tree, covered in little ornaments. Every morning there was a present on someone's desk. Abby had even hot-glued little bells to the bottoms of people's desk chairs, so that every time someone sat down or got up, the bell would jingle (that part annoyed the heck out of everyone, and Ziva had eventually found her bell, violently ripping it off and throwing it across the bullpen). But the tinsel, bells, and tree weren't the only thing Abby had put up. The black haired forensic scientist had hung up sprigs of mistletoe.
They were in almost every doorway, above the entrance to the stairs, even right outside the elevator. Co-workers got caught under it all the time. If it was two men, a fist bump or a hug would suffice. For two women, it was a kiss on each cheek, like the French would do. But it it was a man and lady together, you had two options. A kiss on the cheek was good enough for everyone, but the courageous men went in for a full kiss on the lips. Most of those guys got big slaps across the cheek. But some sparked some new office romances.
McGee gave timid little cheek kisses to women, and an awkward high five to guys. Gibbs too gave cheek kisses to women, but he just walked away when he was caught with a dude. With Abby, anything went. She usually gave cheek kisses just like everyone else, but with some men she would grab their faces and give a passionate kiss of red lipstick. Tony did the same as McGee, only slightly bolder and cracking stupid jokes. Ziva did not understand the custom. She put up an argument every time she got caught underneath a spring of mistletoe. Eventually, Abby excused her from the office tradition.
It was late at night on Christmas Eve. McGee had gone out to dinner with Abby. Gibbs was working on his boat in his basement, and didn't want company. That left both Tony and Ziva in the bullpen, filling out late paperwork for a case. It was about 9:30 when they finished, and both started packing up for the night.
"Going out tonight, Tony?"
"Nah. Just some beer and Christmas movies." He paused a moment before glancing her way and flashing a signature grin. "And you, Zee-vah?"
She smiled at the sound of her name stretched out in a way that only he could get away with. "Nothing. Maybe just a book, a glass of wine. Maybe I'll just sleep."
They walked out together, Tony babbling on about the classic Christmas movies. "So, Zi, that's why It's a Wonderful Life is the best. But I've always loved Polar Express..."
"Tony-"
"-and then you find out that the santa is actually-"
"Tony."
"-the little boy doesn't even really have a name, which is-"
"Tony!"
"-really weird... what?"
They were standing right in front of the elevator doors. He looked up and saw a tiny branch of green leaves and little white berries hanging a foot above his head. She met his eyes, and they stared tentatively at eachother for a minute.
Their lips crushed together. And for the first time in 14 years, Ziva wasn't alone on Christmas Eve.
So that's how their relationship started. Hope this chapter was any good. Thanks for all your lovely reviews and support. Feel free to post some more. :-) Anyways, I can't wait to write some more chapters (but I've got school, so it might be a week or so). I'm aiming for five. Love you all!
xoxo, J