A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. Disclaimer: the usual. Now, what you've all been waiting for…

Previously on Chelsea

She looked exhausted, but so was he. It had been a really long day.

"We need to talk."

McGee had always hated those words. That was what his mother always said when she wanted to butt into his life. It was what his various girlfriends had said, and when Sarah told him that she thought she might be pregnant. While she wasn't, those words always made him shudder.

"McGee?"

McGee turned his attention back to Ziva.

"Where should we start?" he asked, relaxing in his seat.

"What are we going to do about Chelsea when the case is over?" Ziva asked, "You have never answered me that."

"I am adopting her." McGee responded quickly, as if Chelsea was being taken that instant.

"I wish to adopt her too." Ziva said.

"No offence," McGee said carefully, "but -"

"Despite appearances, I have changed." Ziva exclaimed, standing and pacing, "I left Mossad so I could have a half normal life. I want to go through my life on my own terms, not that of my father. I want to be a better parent than my father. And, dammit, I want to have feelings, McGee, but I am terrified of letting anyone near. I have been hurt McGee, badly. And I am tired of it."

McGee could only stare. But then he made a bold decision.

"And you think that I will hurt you?" McGee asked, following her into the living room.

"Especially you Tim." Ziva whispered, a tear falling down her face, collapsing on the couch."

McGee didn't say a word, but sat down next to Ziva. Then he did something as crazy as kissing her.

He wrapped his arms around her.

Ziva stiffened, then relaxed. She began to sob. McGee held her for the next 45 minutes as she cried and cried. His heart was aching for her. He just knew this was the first time in a long time that she had let go.

Ziva had finally calmed down to sniffling. She was still not speaking, out of embarrassment and comfort in McGee's arms. She brushed her long hair out of her face.

"It's ok." McGee murmured into her hair.

Ziva turned her head to face McGee.

"I think it might be." she whispered with a small smile.

With that, McGee lowered his face and kissed Ziva, slowly and sweetly.

Having returned to NCIS, after sending Tony home and attempting to get Abby to rest, Gibbs sat in his desk in deep thought. The lights were low, giving an eerie glow that just seemed right.

"I know that look."

Gibbs looked up to see Jenny standing in the bullpen, leaning on Tony's desk.

"You have a plan."

"Part of a plan." Gibbs said, rubbing his temples.

"Will it work?" Jenny asked, perched upon his desk.

Gibbs just sighed.

"God, I hope so."

McGee had finally settled an exhausted Ziva downstairs. He returned to the living room just as Gibbs came home.

"Hey Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded at him, but stopped and stared at him.

"McGee…"

McGee cringed. Gibbs had a radar like no other. He waited for the Rule 12 speech.

"Keep it out of work."

McGee's mouth dropped open as Gibbs headed upstairs.

Damn. He was good.

Ziva walked upstairs the next morning when all of the sudden she was swept up in strong arms. Before she reacted Mossad style, she decided to see who was holding her. It was McGee, all smiles.

"Tim, what-"

McGee stopped her with a heart-pounding kiss. Ziva responded eagerly.

"Ahem."

McGee and Ziva jumped apart to see Gibbs standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Ziva could never in her lifetime recall an instance in which a she blushed. She was blushing now.

"Chelsea's awake." Gibbs said grumpily.

McGee and Ziva looked downstairs. Chelsea was sitting up.

"How did you-" McGee began, but Gibbs had disappeared, "How does he do that?"

"Hi Mommy an' Daddy!" Chelsea called.

McGee and Ziva laughed.

"Bath time!" McGee called.

Chelsea's face crumpled.

"No!"

"Yes!" McGee retorted, picking her up.

Chelsea managed to squeeze a few tears out, but not enough to stop the preceding.

Ziva had the bath ready, bubbles and rubber ducky included. Ziva helped McGee undress her.

"No Baff! No Baff!" Chelsea chanted as McGee set her in the tub, "Ooo, bubbles!"

Chelsea hated getting into the tub, but loved bubbles and played with McGee while Ziva washed her. All of the sudden, there was white foam in McGee's hair. At first he thought Chelsea had done it, she was giggling so much. But then he saw the mischief in Ziva's eyes.

Thus began an epic bubble war. In a few minutes, they and Gibbs' guest bathroom were covered in bubbles. Just then Gibbs opened the door, just as McGee threw bubbles in that direction.

"McGee!" Gibbs snapped, wiping the bubbles off his face.

"Sorry boss." McGee apologized frantically, glaring at Ziva who was trying not muffle her laughter.

"We leave in 15 minutes." Gibbs barked, then his face softened, "Good morning Chelsea."

"Mornin' Gibby." Chelsea squealed, throwing bubbles at him.

McGee was certain that would upset Gibbs, but he just laughed.

"But when I-"

A classic Gibbs Glare silenced McGee's protest as he turned to leave the bathroom.

"10 minutes." He called.

Ziva's laughter mad McGee so happy. Soap and all, McGee kissed her hard and fast before running out of the bathroom.

This was the kind of morning Ziva had only dreamed of. And it was wonderful.

After dressing Chelsea in little Levi's and a purple shirt, and drying off, Gibbs drove them to NCIS.

"You guys are in for a BIG assignment." Gibbs said in his 'impending doom' tone.

McGee and Ziva immediately felt knots in their stomach. Now would have been the perfect time for someone to have yelled: "INCOMING!"