A/N I apologize to all of the people who have continued to follow this story. This chapter has been a long time coming. It felt like I had written myself into a corner with that last chapter and this one wouldn't cooperate. (I understand how Ducky feels when the corpses don't have anything to say to him.) After deleting everything and starting over three times, I finally decided to post this meager offering. Hopefully, we can get past this and move on to better stuff.

Tony rolled over and managed to open one eye. He watched Ziva tuck a long sleeved shirt into a pair of worn cargo pants. She had pulled her hair back in a ponytail that definitely wasn't up to her usual pristine standards. She bent to slip on a pair of battered sneaker.

"You going somewhere?" he asked after a jaw-popping yawn.

"Yes." Ziva straightened from tying her shoes. "I am going next door."

Tony opened the other eye. "Why?"

"To apologize, Tony. I owe them both an apology." Ziva picked her keys up from the dresser and slipped them into her pocket.

"Don't forget to knock." Tony rolled over and settled back into his pillow. He yelped when a hand connected with the back of his head. By the time he sat up, Ziva was closing the bedroom door behind her.

Ziva crossed her front lawn and hopped over the short wooden fence that separated the yards. She trudged up Jethro's front steps and crossed the porch. She put her hand on the doorknob and then withdrew it. She stared at the front door and hesitated. Finally, she reached out and knocked. As she waited, not so patiently, she couldn't help but reflect on how unnatural this felt. She had just turned to leave when the door opened.

"Ziva," Liz was standing inside the door. "Come on in."

Liz moved aside to allow Ziva to enter the house. She noticed immediately that the younger woman was uncomfortable. Ziva had her hands in her pockets and had stopped just inside the door. Liz shut the door and headed to the kitchen.

"I just steeped a pot of tea. Please come join me for a cup." Liz said as she moved past the younger woman. Ziva hesitated and then followed her.

Ziva sat at the table and waited while Liz retrieved another cup and spoon from the kitchen. Ziva had tossed and turned all night. At first, she had been angry. Finally, sometime around dawn, she had forced herself to think about the previous night's events from Liz's point of view. The 'incident,' as the young agent had come to think of it, had not been Liz's fault. Ziva had forced herself to admit, the blame could be laid squarely at her own feet.

Liz handed Ziva her cup and then sat opposite Jethro's adopted daughter. Sleep for Liz had also been elusive. She understood the close relationship shared by her fiancé and his agents. What they had witnessed last night had surely been embarrassing and traumatic for both of the younger people. Despite Jethro's attempts to downplay the seriousness of the incident, Liz knew Ziva had to be horrified and upset.

"Liz, I owe you an apology. I am very sorry. I should not have just walked in last night. Tony warned me that I should knock, but I did not listen to him." Ziva jumped right in with the reason for her visit.

Liz knew she couldn't allow Ziva to take all of the blame on herself. "Ziva, I owe you an apology, too. I didn't think you and Tony would be coming over last night. Jethro said you had gone to dinner and I knew how exhausted all of you were."

Ziva played with her cup. "We did not know you were here. We would not have interrupted had we known. I insisted we check on Gibbs." She finally looked at Liz. "I know how much cases involving children upset him. I did not think he should be alone."

"I understand. I didn't think he should be alone either." Liz placed a hand over Ziva's. "I am so glad Jethro has you and Tony in his life. He's told me how much he loves both of you. Ziva, I don't want you to feel like you can't come over whenever you want. I know you and Tony both see this as your home, too. I don't want that to change."

Ziva hoped her smile looked more convincing than it felt. "I appreciate that. However, I think some things will have to change. Obviously, we will no longer be able to barge in whenever we want."

Liz hoped her face wasn't as red as it felt. "Ziva, you have my word that you and Tony will not be shocked again. I had a discussion with Jethro about how parents should be discreet with certain…activities." She paused and smiled shyly. "However, I would hope that if you happen to find the front door locked, you won't be offended and that you won't pick the lock."

Ziva snorted the drink of tea she had just taken. After she had wiped her shirt with her napkin, Ziva tried, quite unsuccessfully, to look stern. "Just do not forget to lock the door."

"I promise." Liz squeezed Ziva's hand. "Are we okay?"

"I know I can act like a spoiled brat sometimes. But, we are all adults. I understand how easily one can become…carried away. If you will forgive me, then we are okay." Ziva felt they were all incredibly blessed that Jethro had found this wonderful, understanding woman.

"Ziva, there's nothing to forgive. It was an unfortunate accident." Liz was happy that the event hadn't damaged her relationship with the younger woman she was beginning to think of as a daughter.

Before Ziva could say anything else, the women heard Jethro coming down the stairs. Ziva covered her face with her hand. "I am so not ready for this," she mumbled.

Jethro ambled into the room. He kissed Liz and then dropped a kiss on top of Ziva's lowered head. "Morning, Ziver."

When he continued on his way to the kitchen, Ziva looked at Liz. "I suppose I should apologize to him, also."

Liz nodded. "That might be a good idea. I'll just sit here and read the paper."

Ziva took her cup to the kitchen and stopped just inside the entry-way. Jethro was pouring a cup of coffee. He was dressed in sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. His hair was still damp from the shower. Experience had taught her that Leroy Jethro Gibbs was not a morning person. Ziva gave a brief thought to postponing this conversation. She gave herself a swift, mental kick. Putting this off would not make it any easier.

"Gibbs?" Ziva wasn't surprised when he only grunted as a response. No, he was definitely not a morning person. She watched as he took a first, long drink of coffee. It was almost possible to see the caffeine make its way through his system.

"Dad, can we talk?" Ziva tried again.

This time, Jethro focused on his obviously uncomfortable, unofficially adopted daughter. He didn't want to have this conversation any more than she did. He had to give her credit. She was brave enough to broach the subject he had hoped to avoid.

Jethro leaned against the counter. "Sure," was his reluctant answer.

Ziva took a deep breath. "I am sorry."

Jethro took another drink of coffee before he responded. "For what?"

Ziva fought to keep her impatience from showing. She had known he would not make this easy. "I am sorry for last night. I should not have just walked in without knocking."

"Why not?" Jethro refilled his coffee cup.

"Because it was incredibly rude and presumptuous of me. This is your home. I should respect your privacy." Ziva sat her cup on the counter and slid her hands into her pockets.

Jethro leaned back against the counter. "Ziver have you ever had to knock on my door?"

Ziva narrowed her eyes in confusion. "No, I have not. But…"

Jethro cut her off. "Why should you have expected last night to be any different?"

"Because…I…you were…" Unable to think of a logical response, Ziva just stared at him.

"All the lights were still on so I was obviously still up. It's not like you had any reason to think you were going to catch us making out on the couch." He smiled when Ziva blushed and sputtered a protest. "Ziver, don't beat yourself up over this. It was an accident."

"I was afraid you would be angry." Ziva was still struggling with feelings of guilt.

"I'm not angry, Ziver. I should have known you two would show up here." Jethro took another drink of coffee and looked marginally more awake. He held out an arm to the side and said, "Come here."

Jethro smiled at the speed Ziva crossed the kitchen and hugged him. He returned the hug without spilling his coffee. He winked at Liz as she entered the kitchen.

"Ziva would you like something for breakfast?" Liz asked her.

Ziva kept an arm around Jethro's waist as she turned to face Liz. "No, thank you. I think I will go home and go back to bed." She smiled up at Jethro. "I did not sleep so well last night."

Jethro placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Tell DiNozzo I plan to work on the hot tub this afternoon. I could use his help."

Ziva raised an eyebrow and snorted. "You trust Tony to assist you with plumbing?"

"No." Jethro pushed her gently towards the door. "I trust him to fetch and carry and hand me the tools I ask for."

Liz gave Ziva a quick hug. "Go get some sleep, Dear. I plan to make a run to the market. I'll fix a late lunch for all of us."

Ziva surprised herself by returning the hug. "Thank you, Liz. You have taken such good care of all of us this week." She lowered her voice and whispered, "And, thank you for taking such good care of Gibbs."

"It's my pleasure, Ziva." Liz was stunned by how intensely she had come to care for this special young woman. "Now, go. You need to sleep."

Ziva returned home in a much better mood than when she had made the trip next door. Despite Liz's assurances to the contrary, Ziva knew her relationship with Jethro and Liz had shifted. She would now have to respect the fact that Jethro was no longer alone. He was now part of a couple. And, Ziva found she really liked feeling that she was gaining another family member.

When Ziva slid into the bed, Tony rolled over and wrapped his arms around her. "How did it go?"

"It went fine." Ziva laid her head on his chest and snuggled closer. "Gibbs said he needs your help this afternoon with the hot tub. Liz plans to feed us later."

Tony fought the pull of sleep long enough to respond. "We're definitely keeping her."