Good to know so many of you are enjoying these; I hope you like the rest just as much :)

Thanks to those who review, and come over from Tumblr to leave them. You're all aces.

jae

Rise

The shuffle of her feet on the floor above echoes around their kitchen, and they share an intimate look, casting their eyes to the foot of the stairwell.

He hides his grin behind his coffee mug as a tiny face peers out from between the rail, crouched lowly as if she believes she's well hidden from view. Ziva turns around to hide her smirk, going back to the kettle heating on the stovetop. He steps around her, trailing his hand down her side as he reaches for the paper beside her, and she moves in to the touch.

"This is a record," Ziva murmurs for his ears alone. Tony grabs the paper, leaning into her neck to brush a kiss near her ear.

"She gets the early rising thing from you, sweetcheeks."

Ziva smiles, his stubble scratching pleasantly against her skin, and she turns her face toward his to kiss him slowly.

"Perhaps," She presses a final, quick kiss to his lips and pulls back, looking behind him with a smirk. "But that," she nods, "Is all you."

Ziva pulls her hands from the kettle, drawing them up his shoulders to turn his body to face behind him, and he stifles his laughter as her arms wind around him, hugging his chest.

He squints through the early morning dawn shining through the window, grinning at the sight of their daughter already dozed off with her face pressed against the bannister railing, sprawled out against the steps.

Ziva's arms fall from around him as leans toward the counter to set down his coffee, and as she turns back to the stove with a shake of her head, he whips the rolled up paper in his hand across her backside teasingly.

"She certainly didn't inherit your stealth." He smirks, throwing the paper onto the counter, and Ziva shoots him a half affronted, half amused look at his retreating back as he heads toward the stairs.

With a smile, he leans down to plug in the Christmas lights that are woven around the railings, lighting up the stairwell more so, and sets up the stairs, two at a time, and the little girl is stirring just as he bends to reach for her.

"Hey, munchkin." He groans, lifting her against his chest, and she snuggles pleasantly against him with a sigh. "That can't be comfortable."

She turns her tired face into his neck, bringing her small hand up to rest on his shoulder.

"Mmm." She mumbles, causing Tony to laugh, and he presses a kiss to the top of her head.

"How about we go put you in our bed," He says, rocking her softly. "Get a little more sleep?"

The little girl comes to life a little then, pulling her sleepy face from his neck, shaking her head resolutely.

"No sleep." She mumbles, pointing toward Ziva, who appears at the foot of their stairs, blowing gently on the steaming mug in her hand. She turns her familiar, brown eyes back toward her father. "Presents."

Ziva's soft chuckle echoes up the stairs, and Tony echoes her, hiking their daughter up on his hip in resignation.

"How about breakfast first, then?"

Relaxing, her head falls back against his shoulder, and her eyes droop as she answers softly.

"Then presents?"

Ziva greets them as he steps down beside her, running a gentle hand down their daughter's back, grinning as she turns her face to greet her with a sleepy smile.

"Then presents," Ziva assures, leaning over to press a kiss to her cheek.

"Good morning, tatehleh. Merry Christmas."

She stretches a heavy arm to pat her mother's cheek, and Ziva presses her warm, tiny hand against her, clasping it with her own.

"Merry Christmas, momma."

Tony allows Ziva to pull their daughter from his grasp effortlessly, still holding her tea with her free arm, and he marvels at the move as she returns to the kitchen with the little girl hugging tightly to her side.

He smirks at their retreating backs.

His girls, his early risers.