It was a few weeks before Christmas and Ziva had come over to the Gibbs' house after school. It had been Tony's idea. He had practically dragged her home with him and his brother Tim because he thought she should have some festive holiday fun.

Right now they were hanging pine branches above the doorways with Stan while Kate and Dwayne backed cookies Jimmy sat on the couch watching and giggling delightedly, and Abby, Sarah, and Michelle brought up boxes of ornaments and decorations from the basement.

Abby came bursting into the room, carrying a box and a bottle of super glue, and biting her lip. She stopped in front of the step ladder and held out the box so they could see its contents and saying, "The stable from the nativity set broke. Now I'm going to have to glue it all back together."

Ziva looked at the box and said, "Do not worry, I am sure it will be just as nice as before once you are finished."

Abby glared at her and said, "Yeah? Well you're not the one doing the putting back together." And with that she stormed off up the stairs.

Ziva looked after her for a minute before hopping off the step-ladder, causing it to lurch, Tim still on top of it, and Tony to grip harder trying to keep it steady. She then headed up the stairs after Abby.

Back on the ladder, Tim frowned and said, "We should tell Kate."

Tony let go of the bottom of the ladder and said, You finish hanging that thing, I'm going to tell Kate."

Luckily, Stan had just finished hanging his piece on the other side of that particular door and grabbed the bottom of the ladder so Tim could finish hanging his piece. Tim did so then bid hasty thanks to his brother as he scrambled of after Tony into the kitchen. Sighing and chuckling, Stan scooped up Jimmy and followed.

A few hours later, Dwayne and Stan were carrying the ladder back down the basement steps while Tony and Tim were sweeping up any stray needles, and Michelle and Sarah were in the kitchen cleaning up while Kate supervised, holding Jimmy.

Suddenly, footsteps down the stairs were accompanied by a few stray giggles as Abby and Ziva carried the now glued back together stable down the stairs. Tony and Tim stood and stared as the two of them worked together, smiling. They'd had a tense adversarial relationship since their first meeting at Thanksgiving. Tony raised one eyebrow and asked, "What happened up there?"

Ziva grinned and answered, "You would just to know would you not?" causing Abby to giggle. They carefully set the stable down. Just them, Ziva struck herself on the forehead in realization, saying, "I need to call Jenny and tell her I'm here."

Tony nodded and said, "Come on," pulling her to the kitchen. He picked up the phone and quickly dialed Jenny's number.

Jenny's phone started ringing, just as she was packing up to leave. She sighed and picked it up, saying, "Special Agent Sheppard.

Tony grinned, "Are you Special Agent Jenny Sheppard or some other special Agent Sheppard? 'Cause…"

Jenny frowned and said, "Tony?"

Ziva grabbed Tony's hand and pulled it painfully behind his back, grabbing the phone.

Jenny heard a loud gasp and then Ziva's voice, saying, "I'm sorry about that Jenny."

Jenny chuckled then it hit her and she asked, "Ziva, where are you guys?"

Ziva frowned, "Tony insisted I come home with him after school today. You do not mind do you?"

Jenny sighed, "No, of course not, just call me and tell me next time."

Ziva cocked her head in confusion, "I am calling you."

Jenny raised an eyebrow in surprise but said, "I can't argue with that. I'm just leaving and I'll be there in 15 minutes to pick you up."

Gibbs, who had been listening to Jenny's side of the conversation since she mentioned Tony, looked up at her and asked, "Ziva ended up my house?"

She just nodded and sighed, not bothering to ask how he knew. Gibbs just grinned.

Later that night, Dwayne was down in the basement with his father. Gibbs knew his son had something on his mind but didn't push him. Finally Dwayne spoke up. "Some something happened today," he began. Gibbs stopped sanding and looked at him, signaling him to go on. Dwayne leaned back against the boat, "The stable in the Nativity set was broken. Abby was upset and took it out on Ziva. You know how those two haven't been getting along." Gibbs nodded, and Dwayne went on, "She ran up the stairs with it and Ziva followed her up. I don't know what happened up there, but it's fixed now, and the two of them came down giggling." Gibbs raised one eyebrow in surprise. Dwayne smiled at this motion, "Yeah, I'm shocked too. But what I needed to ask you is, are things good between them now?"

Gibbs went back to his boat for several minutes, contemplating what Dwayne had said. Finally he spoke, "Ziva chased Abby up those stairs, she clearly wants to make good. Abby… well, she's never liked Ziva, but she's nice kid, isn't too good at holding grudges. They just needed time to bond. They had that tonight. I'd say if they aren't good, they will be."

Dwayne nodded, satisfied with the answer headed up the stairs, calling down, "Goodnight."

Gibbs called out "Night," in response before turning back to the boat.