Chapter Three

The air around her smelled of an older generation. It was a mixture of laundry soap, cleaning wipes, and cinnamon candles. As Ziva entered the house/mansion, the first thing that she saw was a staircase. Then she spotted chairs, doorways, love seats, french doors, and a living room just on the other side of the staircase. Jennifer was sitting on the largest couch with a man around her age standing next her with his back facing Ziva. Two boys who looked to be a few years older than Ziva were running down the stairs and without giving her a single glance raced off into the kitchen. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen was a weird and freaky looking girl around Ziva's age and a tall, scrawny boy with short hair and a timid face.

The boy smiled at her. Ziva smiled back. Then, from the corner of her eye, Jennifer spotted Ziva standing in the doorway and jumped up. "It's about time you came to see me," Jennifer beamed. Ziva turned to face her and they wrapped their arms around each other.

"Shalom, Jenny!"Ziva greeted, "It's so great to see you again."The two of them stood there for a long moment, soaking in the embrace. When she Ziva finally pulled away, she asked, "Where is you're bathroom?"

Jennifer smiled playfully and replied with, "Go that way,"Jennifer said, pointing to the doorway where the boy and freaky girl were talking, "there should be a cream-colored door just before you get into the kitchen."

"Okay," Ziva replied, "thanks." Ziva took off towards the cream-colored door. Just before her hand reached the knob, the boy stepped towards her.

"Hi," he said, "I'm Tim."

Ziva looked at him and smiled. He wasn't as timid in the face as she had thought before. Now, up close, he looked a little more outgoing. "Hello, Tim," she said, "I'm Ziva."

"Nice to meet you, Ziva," Tim said, extending his hand out out to her.

Ziva graciously took it. It was soft and warm and felt clean, "You, too." They shook hands, making their meeting official. Then Ziva grabbed the door knob to the bathroom and went inside. She placed her bag on the counter and pulled out her hairbrush brush and a hair-tie. Her hair was was a complete mess, and she hadn't had a chance all day to fix it. She speedily brushed out the knots and tangles in her hair. The curls were calmed down a bit, but they were still sorta wild. She pulled her hair back into a hair-tie. Then, she pulled out a bobby-pin to pin back the tiny lock of hair that made up her bangs.

After she finished with her hair, she cleaned her face off with a damp wash cloth. Once Ziva finished up in the bathroom, she made sure that she hadn't left a single sign that she'd ever been there (a force of habit she'd picked up over the last couple of years). When she walked out, she'd expected to run into Tim and the other girl, but they weren't there anymore. Instead, Tim was seated at the kitchen table tying on his laptop and the girl was now begging Jennifer for something. The two boys Ziva had seen before were still chasing after each other. Jennifer snapped at them and told them to quit. They ignored her and continued to run into the next room.

Ziva decided to walk up and ask Jennifer which room she was staying in. "Jennifer," she mumbled, "which room am I in?" Ziva hadn't liked the idea of being dropped off and taking over an entire room to herself and be supported and provided for without even being able to give back, but what other choice did she and her father have.

"Go up stairs to the third floor," Jennifer replied, "and when you get to the landing turn left. It's the very last door on the right. It's a light, olive green door."

"Toda." Ziva walked off towards where her stuff was setting and began to grab a few things.

As she began to walk up the stairs she heard someone say, "Wait, let us help." It was the two boys from before. They looked completely different. One was very tall, dark haired, light skinned, and had a straight, almost intimidating look. The other was a bit shorter, had extremely red, curly hair and glossy blue eyes. He had a kind face and a gentle smile.

"Which room are you in?" one of them asked.

"Dude, don't you remember, it's the olive spare room. Jenny already told us about it," the other replied, "Didn't you pay attention? Oh, wait-you were on a date with Angela."

"Whatever, you're just jealous."

"Of you? Why would I be jealous of you?"

"Because I have a fucking sexy girlfriend, and you don't."

"Whatever. Anyway, lets just help Ziva get this stuff in her room so she can get settled." The three of them took off upstairs until they reached the landing to the third floor. They turned left and stopped in front of the last door on the right. It was olive green, just as Jennifer had informed. "The walls are green, too."

"The dressers are light brown, almost white."

"The bed spread is three different shades of tan with a black header."

"It's pretty cool."

"The closet is pretty big, bigger than you might expect it to be."

Ziva blankly starred at them for a moment then said, "Okay then, well, thank you."

"You're welcome!" the red headed one beamed, "by the way, I'm Jack."

"And I'm Laurence, Laurence Sweets, but most just call me Sweets."

"We're cousins."

"Jennifer and Jethro adopted us."

"We started as foster kids in a three year plan-"

"But eight months after we first got here, Jennifer got pregnant with Abby."

"She's the scary looking girl with black hair and hangs out with Timmy."

"You see, at first, Jenny didn't think she was able to get pregnant, so she took in us foster kids and once Abby was born, she decided to adopt us."

"My uncle and his dad gave us up. We lived with him for a while."

"My mother was addicted to drugs and went to jail for it a year after I was born. When I was two, Jack's mom supposedly left for Florida without a trace and his dad couldn't support him."

"So, my uncle took me in. Months later, he gave both me and Sweets up to social services. Everyone there called him Sweets. That's why he goes mostly by that now."

"Yup, very interesting story."

"Yes, it is," Ziva said looking at them with curious eyes, "well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I must get settled in. I'll see you guys later, yes?"

"Yeah sure. Bye, Ziva."They both waved to her; she waved back.

Ziva grabbed the knob and opened her door. She had imagined and ordinary room, maybe a little larger, but kinda normal. However, it wasn't just an ordinary room. No, sir, it was twice the size of her old room. The bed looked to be twice the size of her old one and the dressers were amazingly beautiful. The details and designs weren't quite as intricate as her old dresser, but they were still gorgeous. And there were two of them! A taller one with only five drawers and a shorter one with six drawers. The closet door was standing wide open on the other side of the room in the corner. Ziva walked over to it. There were a few items inside. There was a dress, a few pairs of jeans, and a few tops and jackets.

Ziva grabbed a pair of the really nice boot cut jeans and the dark blue t-shirt with the yellow smiley face on it and set them on the bed. She pulled off her vest and white t-shirt. She put on the t-shirt and it fit perfectly. Next the jeans, they were a little too long and little loose around the knees, but they felt good. It all felt kind of soft and relaxing, unlike her clothing she'd gotten in Israel. There was a long mirror that she could see almost all of her body in. Ziva examined herself and smiled. She looked good. It felt a little weird to look this way. Never had she felt so comfortable and weird at the same time. Ziva headed over too the huge duffel bag on her bed, still wearing the clothing from the closet. She took out he first few layers of clothing and settled them into the first few drawers of the taller drawer. Then did the same to the other the next few layers of clothing. When she finished with the first duffel bag, she folded it up and slid it under the bed.

Ziva then continued on with the rest of her bags and boxes. There were three boxes, two duffel bags, and a suitcase left to unpack. She decided to finish it all off later and went downstairs. When she reached the last step, she could see Jennifer and Jethro slowly kissing in the great room. Her arms were around his neck and his hands were placed on her rosy cheeks. Ziva was about to clear her throat, but she found it kinda cute and romantic. So, she just smiled at them and walked into the living room. There she found Abby looking through a magazine and Jack was talking on the phone with someone. Ziva decided it was a good time to introduce her self to this Abby character. So, she slowly walked over and sat on the couch, only a few inches away from the goth. Ziva was about to open her mouth to speak, but Abby beat her to it. "Hi! I'm Abby! I've heard a lot about you. Your name is Ziva David." Well, she was almost right, except she pronounced it Day-vid instead of Daw-veed.

"Yes, only it's Daw-veed," Ziva explained, "It's pronounced different here, I suppose."

Abby nodded. "Yup! It must be," she replied.

"Well," Ziva began, "I just wanted to say hi and I hope to get to know you better."

"Okay, well, maybe," Abby replied, "and hey, dinner will be done soon. Jenny is working on it right now. We're having Daddy's friend from work as guest tonight. You'll adore him, Ziva! I know it!"

Ziva smiled, "I hope so. What is he like?" she asked.

"Well," Abby began, "he's like an uncle to me. He's Scottish, loves to wear bow ties, performs autopsies for NCIS, and he has the cutest accent. He was the best man at my parents wedding. It was funny; Ducky was more nervous than Daddy!" Abby smiled at the memory of her mother telling her about watching them.

Ziva looked confused, "Ducky? Is that is name?"

"Well, sort of. See, His real name is Donald Mallard, but everyone calls him Ducky, you know, like Donald Duck off of the show with Mickey, Miney, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto?" Ziva had watched the Disney show with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck when she was younger.

"Yes, I remember," Ziva replied. Abby smiled and turned back to her magazine. Ziva stood up and headed into the bathroom. When she finished her business, Abby was watching her intently.

"Hey, are those the clothes from your closet?" Abby asked.

"Yes, why?"Ziva replied.

"Jenny and me picked them out for you just in case. You look good in them," Abby complimented.

"Thank you." At that moment, Jenny appeared from the kitchen, her lipstick slightly smeared, but only Ziva noticed.

"Hey, guys," Jennifer began, "dinner is almost done and Ducky will be here soon. Go get ready, guys." Jennifer was about to walk off back into the kitchen when she noticed Ziva's outfit. She smiled and said, "You look good, Ziva."

"Thank you, Jenny," Ziva replied. Abby walked over to the stairs and jogged up to the second floor. Jack followed closely behind to the third floor with Sweets hot on his tail. Ziva decided to go on up as well and maybe fix up her hair. Once she entered her room, she noticed all of her unpacked boxes and bags. She groaned and dragged herself to the dresser where her hairbrush was laying down at. She pulled her hair of it's ponytail and brushed her hair out. Her hair was extremely long and thick and curly, not to mention soft as silk. She hadn't had it cut or even trimmed in over two years, besides her unwanted bangs.

When she finished with her hair and even a light layer of make-up, she headed downstairs and headed into the dining room where an older man wearing a gray hat like the kind she commonly saw when she traveled in Europe. He was pleasant and lively looking. Ziva examined a faint scar on his cheek. The man cleared his throat and laid his palm on the table top. Then, without even glancing at her, he asked, "When were you planning to introduce yourself." He looked at her and smiled in a curious manner, as if he weren't really smiling at all, but only making a simple face. Ziva cocked her head to the side.

"Well," Ziva began to say, "I didn't want to interrupt, or anything, and I didn't know if maybe. . ."

"If maybe, what?" he asked her.

"I don't. . . I don't really know," she confessed, "It's just I don't know you at all, and I didn't want to just pop up unannounced."

"My dear girl," he said, turning his entire body to face her, "unannounced or not, I love to meet new people from all around the world and you, Miss David, are from Israel, am I correct?"

"Yes, and you must be Ducky," Ziva replied, "I've heard a lot of great things about you from Abby."

"Aw, yes, the girl adores me." He chuckled softly. Ziva smiled and nodded.

"That she does." Just then, Jennifer walked in and looked wide eyed at Ducky. Then to Ziva, back to Ducky, then back to Ziva.

"I see the two of you have met," she stated.

"Yes, we have, and she is quite a marvelous young girl," Ducky replied. Jennifer smiled and walked back into the kitchen. Jethro was in front of the counter where the microwave was. "Ziva's met Ducky. He seemed to like her. Called her a 'marvelous young girl'."

"No kidding?"Jethro asked, "Well, I guess it's a good thing Ziva is learning to get along with people."

"Jethro, Ziva gets along with people just fine. It all just depends on whether she has to or not or whether or not they're on her side. She's Mossad, remember? Everything she knows is about staying alive to finish the job. She know how to get along with just about anyone she wants."

"Yeah, well, maybe that's why she got along with Ducky so well, huh,"He mumbled.

"What?!" Jennifer said, slightly raising her voice, "Jethro, I can assure you, this has nothing to do with a Mossad mission, other than the fact that her father will be attending a very long and complex one. She was suspended from Mossad. Like she would be able to do anything for them."

"That's just what they told you," Jethro pointed out, "For all we know, they could be lying to you."

"They aren't! I trust Ziva with my life. I trust she's telling me the truth."

"And if she isn't?"he asked, looking her straight in the eye.

"Then I'll just have to deal with it." she hissed, meeting Jethro's gaze. He just laughed at her. Jennifer gently smacked his cheek and kissed his lips, "Go away and do something useful," she teased. He smiled and went to let the kids know dinner was ready.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Next chapter is a bit more interesting. SPOILERS! Abby and Ziva become best friends. Okay well not much of a spoiler alert, but know you know what happens. Enjoy ^.^