Abby bounced on her heels, excitedly waiting for Ziva's reply.
"Abby, the house is lovely, in a wonderful location, and shockingly affordable. But..."
Abby grinned, knowing what her lover's objection would be.
"... it is right next door to Gibbs. I am not sure he would appreciate..."
Too excited to remain silent any longer, Abby interrupted her. "He's already given his approval. In fact, he's inspected it for us and promised to help us move in. He's even drawing up plans to knock down the fence between the two yards so that we've got our own little compound! He said he wants to be as close as possible to his adopted niece or nephew."
Ziva smiled, knowing that Gibbs was indeed extremely excited about the baby, looking forward to being a father again even if the child was not technically his.
"Well," Ziva responded slowly, dragging out her answer to intentionally frustrate Abby, "if Gibbs has no objections then I guess..."
Abby squealed and ambushed Ziva with a typical Abby embrace, careful not to squish the small but growing bump that would soon be their child.
Keeping one arm around Ziva's waist, Abby turned. "Gibbs!!!"
As if he had been waiting for the cue, Gibbs' head popped out of his front door and in no time at all he was standing in front of his soon-to-be next door neighbors and two favorite women.
"I'll knock down the fence as soon as the contract's signed," he grinned. "Oh, and I have a request."
"Anything," Abby responded immediately.
"I want to set up the baby's room. Without any interference from either of you. Meaning, you're not allowed to so much as peek through a crack in the door. You have to keep out and be surprised."
"Oooh! Mystery room!" Abby squealed.
Ziva tilted her head away from Abby, ears ringing from all of her excited shouting. She smiled slightly, then nodded her assent, trying to keep from laughing aloud at Gibbs' uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ziva leaned into Abby's embrace, comfortable on Gibbs house and happily sipping the tea he had just brewed for her. She half-listened to Abby's animated phone conversations with the bank and real estate agent, making all the arrangements for them to purchase the home.
Gibbs watched Ziva closely, amazed at how relaxed she was and silently thanking Abby for the positive effects she had had on the once uptight Mossad assassin.
Ziva setting down the nearly empty tea cup, Ziva closed her eyes and reflected on her contentment. She may have had a difficult life up to this point, but being here, with Abby and Gibbs and, in a larger sense, in DC with her team, she had a true family, who really cared for and supported one another. Her life was not turning out the way she had planned it at all, and for that she was supremely grateful.