"All right, guys. I kept up my end of the bargain. Now, spill." Tony demanded, looking expectantly at Ziva.
Abby grinned, waiting for Ziva's response and, more importantly, everyone's reactions to said response. After a brief pause filled with Ziva's uneasy sigh and Tony's inquisitive-five-year-old-boy squirming, Ziva told the team the story she had so recently told Gibbs and Abby.
Everyone was incredibly excited about the baby, voices clamoring promises for tree-houses built, games of football and chess played, free tutoring and babysitting provided, and myriad other offers as the popped into the men's heads.
Ziva attempted to calm down the unruly group, raising her hands in a gesture that resembled defeat and loudly thanking them for being her family. She assured them that she was thrilled that they were so eager to take an active role in the child's life; however, it took a Gibbs stare to silence the group, at which point Abby dramatically took Ziva's hand in hers and announced that they were in a serious, house-buying, family-raising, long-term relationship.
Tony broke into a wide grin and opened his mouth, presumably to make some lewd comment about lesbians, but before he had the opportunity to make a sound, Gibbs head-slapped him, causing him to snap his mouth shut. Ducky, McGee, and Palmer took the more mature, and safer route, and congratulated the two women.
Just as they were finishing this round of excited exclamations, the doorbell rang, indicating that it was time for the other half of the promised "payment" for helping Abby and Ziva move in and set up house: pizza! Soon, pizza boxes were scattered about the living room as the ravenous group grabbed slice after slice. Silence largely reigned during the informal meal, as everyone was much more interested in eating than talking, and was interrupted only by the occasional "sorry" as hands bumped en route to the same piece of pizza and Ziva's promise of a nicer meal at a later date.
When everyone had eaten their fill, they all settled back into more comfortable positions, intent on spending some quality time together talking, reminiscing, and getting to know one another even better. Ziva settled surprisingly comfortably into Abby's embrace, sitting half in her lap with her head resting on Abby's shoulder. Halfway through one of Ducky's reminiscences of his glory days at Eaton, Gibbs realized she was asleep and covered her with a blanket, thinking as he did so of all the times he had done so for Kelly.
As soon as Ducky finished his story, Tony burst out, "She's not snoring!"
Abby, Gibbs, and Ducky exchanged glances and chuckled.
"What?" Tony responded, annoyed at being left out.
"She doesn't snore, Tony," Abby replied, stifling a giggle.
"But..."
"On that mission, and at other times, she has intentionally snored to keep herself partially awake in case of danger," Gibbs explained.
"Plus," Abby cut in, " she might also have enjoyed annoying you!"
"Very mature."
"Like you are?" McGee responded, setting off a round of bickering that resulted in Tony, McGee, and Palmer being head-slapped and Abby being told that she was only spared because Gibbs didn't want to disturb Ziva. This settled them down and the conversation soon returned to shared memories, funny stories, and random factoids (courtesy of Ducky and Abby), who fed off of one another until Gibbs cleared his throat.
Around midnight, Ducky looked at his watch and, startled by the late hour, excused himself. The rest of the team soon followed his example, with Gibbs locking up behind himself only after being assured by Abby that she could get Ziva to bed on her own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Cherie," Abby prompted softly, gently tucking a loose curl behind Ziva's ear.
"Mmmm..." Ziva murmured/whined, eyes still tightly shut and completely unwilling to emerge from her happy bubble of sleep.
"It's time to move to the bed, cher. You won't be comfortable sleeping sitting up all night."
Ziva sighed, pouting slightly, and opened a single eye.
With a gentle kiss to Ziva's forehead, Abby disentangled herself from their embrace, scooted out from beneath her lover, and pulled Ziva, still stubbornly (and adorably, Abby thought) half-asleep, into a standing position. Abby carefully guided Ziva to their bed and Ziva sat, obediently lifting her arms and shifting as required while Abby stripped her and then tucked her under the covers. Abby then quickly undressed herself and slipped under the sheets into Ziva's warm embrace. Ziva gave Abby a lazy kiss and soon the two were fast asleep, limbs entangled in a lazy embrace.