"Perfect." Senior boasted, placing a tray of cookies on the kitchen counter top.
"I'm leaving." Ziva made it be known, standing in the large doorway between the kitchen and living room, "Would you..."
"What's that?" Senior turned, looking at Ziva.
"He fell asleep on the couch. I finally got him to eat a piece of pizza and take his pain pill."
"Ahh, good, good, but, uhh, you don't have to leave, Ziva. There's more than enough room for you stay. I'm sure Junior..."
"Oh, I'm not going home." Ziva stated, "I need to find Tony a present."
Senior looked at his watch, "It's nearly 7 pm on Christmas Eve, that's going to be a challenge."
"Yes, but I have to try." Ziva replied, "Can you watch him for me?"
"Of course, of course." Senior answered, "Here, take a few of these with you, to keep you warm." He offered Ziva a few cookies from the tray.
Ziva cocked her head slightly, "What are they?"
"Snickerdoodles." Senior smiled, "Junior's favorite, his mother's recipe."
Ziva smiled back and stepped over to Senior, "Tony showed me a photo of her...she was...very beautiful."
"Yes." Senior nodded and handed the cookies to Ziva, "She was taken far too young."
"I...I am sorry."
Senior let out a small sigh, "It should've been me and not her, a child shouldn't have to grow up without a mother."
Ziva leaned into Senior, giving him a hug and layed her head on his chest.
"Ziva...can I ask you to do something?"
Ziva pulled away from Senior, "Do you need me to pick up something for dinner?"
"No, no." Senior raised his hands, "Never mind, uhh, you better get going before everything closes."
Ziva nodded and turned to leave. She walked out of the kitchen and over to the couch where Tony was fast asleep. She patted the top of his head before quietly leaving through the front door.
Ziva crept back into the apartment, it was darkened, the Christmas tree was the only thing illumating the way.
"Where did you go?" A voice rang out. Tony shielded his eyes as he turned on a lamp.
"I uhh, had to get something from home...how are you feeling?" Ziva asked, obviously hiding something behind her back.
Tony smacked his lips together, his mouth was dry, "Uhh, can you get me a glass of water?"
"Sure." Ziva hurried past Tony and into the kitchen. Moments later, she came back with a glass of water.
Tony took the glass from Ziva and took a sip, coughing as he did so.
Ziva sat down next to Tony and began rubbing on his chest, "Are you okay?"
Tony looked down at Ziva's hand, "Yeah, thank you."
Ziva smiled at Tony, "Are you in pain, because it's about time for another pain pill."
"No, no, I'm good, besides those things knock me out."
"That's good, Tony, you need your rest...I am worried about you."
"Oh, Ziva...if you think this is bad, you should've seen me with the plague. Now, that was bad." Tony softly laughed, but it quickly turned to a cough.
"I wish I could have been there to take care of you." Ziva ran the back of her fingers along the top of his cheek and into his hair, catching herself just as her fingertips grazed his temple, pulling her hand away.
"I doubt that very much, I was a whiny little..."
"Bitch, yes?" Ziva guessed with a smile.
Tony turned his head and just smiled along with her, "Okay, I think I'm ready for that pill now."
Ziva extended her arm, grabbing a bottle of painkillers from the coffee table and opened the lid. She shook one out and moved it Tony's mouth, "Open up."
Tony opened his mouth and Ziva tossed it in, "Heh. Two points." He quipped and took a drink of water.
Ziva rolled her eyes, but smiled just the same, "Did you joke this much when you had the plague?"
"Ziva...you do know me, right?"
Ziva laughed, "Sorry, that was a stupid question."
"It's alright...I still love ya."
Ziva smiled, "So, I have been thinking..."
"About?" Tony closed his eyes and tilted his head back.
"About us...about..."
A soft snore escaped from Tony's lips.
Ziva moved her hand to Tony's shoulder to wake him, but stopped. She cozied up next to him, using his shoulder as a pillow, letting him sleep.
Ziva moaned as she woke up, peeling her face away from Tony's arm.
"Good morning." Senior smiled, standing next to Christmas tree, "Sleep well?"
Ziva sat up and scooted to the edge of couch, rubbing her face in her hands, "What time is it?"
"Nearly 7, want some breakfast?"
Ziva shook her head no, "Any tea?"
"Uhh, yeah, I think I saw some earlier, let me go look."
Ziva stood up and joined Senior in the kitchen.
"How'd shopping go?" Senior asked, placing a cup of water into the microwave to heat up.
"Awful." Ziva replied, "I am SO glad I'm Jewish, I could not deal with that every year."
Senior pulled the cup from the microwave and brought it over to Ziva and grinned and gestured upward with a shake of his head.
Ziva looked up, seeing a mistletoe and just chuckled. She quickly gave Senior kisses on both cheek before grabbing the mistletoe and headed back towards the living room. She moved to the couch, but tripped on one of Tony's crutches and fell face forward into his lap.
Tony sprang to life and focused his eyes downward. Ziva scrambled back to a seat position next to him, "What are you doing?"
Ziva chuckled nervously, "I tripped."
Tony squinted at his lap and then slowly rotated his head towards Ziva, "Is that mistletoe in my lap?"
AN - God, I am a joke whore.
AN2 - Suck it, Mayans!