Chapter 10

Saturday December 11th, 2010
Georgetown, Washington DC
Gibbs' Residence
11:15 a.m. E.S.T

It had been almost a month since the events surrounding Robert's funeral. Jethro had somehow managed to get Jenny to drop all the charges against Sara, Vittoria didn't want to know how he did it, so she never asked, which meant that Sara and Gil were able to return to Vegas a couple days later, Sara having to figure out what she was going to do given her rather sudden resignation in light of attacking the director of NCIS.

Vittoria was still adjusting to life without Robert and without the constant company of her Secret Service detail, enjoying the freedom of being able to go where she wanted without her ever-present shadow, even if Jethro did have a tendency to watch over her more than she felt necessary.

Michelle had returned to school a few days after the funeral, leaving just her and Jethro alone in the house, bringing up a lot of memories for Vittoria, memories she wanted to keep buried away so she found herself other things to do to keep them at bay, like house hunting, which is what she was doing that morning.

"Hey Mom, whatcha doing?" asked Michelle as she entered the living room and leant over the back of the couch so she was looking over Vittoria's shoulder at the laptop on the coffee table, she was home on Christmas break.

"Hi Sweetie, I'm looking at houses online. What do you think about this one? It's in Capital Hill. It's got four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool…" Vittoria trailed off as she showed Michelle the online pictures of the house.

"It's nice," Michelle said sort of non-commitally.

"You don't like it," Vittoria said.

"No, no I do, it's just…"

"Just what, Honey?"

"What about looking for a house in Henderson," Michelle said.

"Henderson? Michelle, there are no areas in DC called Henderson," Vittoria said in confusion.

"I know."

"Then what…Honey, what's going on?" Vittoria asked in concern as she turned to really look at her daughter.

"I just thought that maybe we could, I don't know, move closer to Uncle Peter and Aunt Sara and Uncle Gil. Uncle Peter said we could come and stay with him until we could find a place and Lindsay's always going on about what a great school she goes to. I thought that maybe if we moved out there we could be closer to your family and I could go to school where Lindsay does, which would mean I could live at home with you and…"

"You've really thought about this, haven't you?" Vittoria asked as she brushed Michelle's hair behind her ear as she nodded. "I thought you'd want to stay in DC and be close to your father's family. You've known your Uncle Justin and Aunt Judith a lot longer than you've known you're Uncle Peter. And what about your Uncle Brandon and his family?"

"Mom, after the stunt they pulled at Dad's funeral, I don't want anything to do with them," Michelle said angrily.

"Honey, they were only doing what they thought was best for you…"

"By taking you away from me?" demanded Michelle. "I'd just lost my Dad and they wanted to take the only mother I've ever known away from me too? How was that what was best for me?"

"Honey…"

"Mom, please don't try to defend them," Michelle pleaded. "I don't care what you may or may not have done in the past or even who or what you were. You're my Mom. Dad loved you. I love you."

"Michelle, are you sure about this? I mean, if we move to Vegas you'll be leaving your friends, your school, everything you know," Vittoria said.

"I know Mom, and I don't care. I just want us to be someplace where we're both happy. I know you're not happy in Washington without Dad and I don't really like it here either and as for school, I hate boarding school and I don't have any real friends except for Lindsay and she's in Vegas," Michelle said. "And like I said, if I go to Butterfield with Lindsay than I can live at home with you and…"

"Alright Honey alright, you win. I'll call Peter and let him know he's getting some houseguests in the near future until we can get settled in a place of our own and I'll see about getting you enrolled at Butterfield so you can start there in January," Vittoria said.

"Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Honey," Vittoria said kissing Michelle on the forehead before turning back to her computer. I guess I better start looking in a new city then."

"Guess so," replied Michelle. "I'm gonna head upstairs and call Lindsay if that's alright."

"Of course it is, Honey," Vittoria replied.

"Hi Uncle Jethro," Michelle greeted as she zipped past him on her way upstairs to the room he had given her, it had been Kelly's a long time ago.

"Hey Munchkin," Jethro greeted as she whipped past him. "So you're moving to Vegas then," he said once Michelle was gone.

"We can't stay here forever, Jethro," Vittoria said, not taking her eyes off the computer in front of her as Jethro made his way over to the couch and sat down next to her.

"You don't have to leave, Ali," he countered.

"I know. I'm grateful to you for taking us in the way that you did, Jethro, but we've intruded on you long enough," Vittoria said quietly.

"You're not intruding Ali," Jethro said, brushing some of Vittoria's hair behind her ear, causing her to lean towards him, to lean into his touch.

"Jethro…" Vittoria began turning her head to face him.

"Ali don't…" Jethro countered as he leant in and kissed her lightly, neither one seeing Michelle on the stairs. She had come down to get something only to find her mother and uncle kissing. Without making a sound she quietly crept up the stairs so as not to let them know she'd seen them.

"Jethro I'm sorry, I can't do this," Vittoria said breaking away suddenly. "It's too soon and beside we don't work…"

"Ali…"

"Jeth, please don't," Vittoria begged as she stood up and ran from the room.

"Damn it," Jethro cursed when he heard the bedroom door close a moment later.

Saturday December 25th, 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada
Willows Residence
3:13 p.m. P.S.T

"Hey Mom, can I borrow the car for a bit? I promise to be back before dinner," Lindsay said as she entered the kitchen where Catherine and Sara were busy making dinner.

"Lindsay, do you have to do this now?" asked Catherine in exasperation.

"Yeah," Lindsay shrugged.

"Well, where are you going?"

"Michelle's house," Lindsay said.

"Michelle's house? As in Michelle Kinsley, Michelle?" demanded Catherine.

"Yeah," replied Lindsay.

"Lindsay, you do realize I'm not going to let you drive to Washington," Catherine said.

"I never said I was going to drive to Washington," countered Lindsay, rolling her eyes. "I'm driving over to her Uncle's house. I want to give her and her mom their presents."

"Did she just say Ali is over at Peter's?" Sara asked Catherine after a beat.

"That's what it sounded like," replied Catherine as she watched her daughter walk out of the kitchen.

"Can you handle the stuffing without me?"

"Only if you drag that girl's butt back here with you," Catherine said. "We have more than enough food to feed her, Michelle and Peter; we just need to keep Nick away from it as long as possible."

"I'll have Gil give Nick, Aiden duty, there's no way he'll get food then," Sara winked before making her way out to her husband, then to the car.

"Sara?" Peter asked in surprise when he opened the door a short while later, his sister's best friend being the last person he expected to see that afternoon. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard from a little birdie that your sister is in town and have been sent to A, smack her for not telling me she was in town and B, drag her, you, and Michelle back for Christmas dinner," Sara answered with a grin.

"They arrived yesterday morning. It took a little longer for Ali to arrange everything than she had hoped. Michelle's upstairs with Lindsay but Ali's not here at the moment," Peter said as he stepped back to allow Sara into the house.

"She's not?" Sara asked surprised.

"She left about an hour ago actually," Peter replied as he led Sara towards the living room.

"Interesting..." Sara trailed off. "So what are the plans for today? Or do I get to face Catherine and tell her I couldn't get you guys there... she's a bit scary with that butcher knife of hers..."

"We didn't really have any plans, just going to have a quiet night. We were going to order in when Ali got back, which hopefully should be soon."

"So I might be able to talk you into coming to Christmas dinner at Catherine's?"

"It might not be a bad idea. Might help get Ali to come out of her shell a bit," Peter said.

"She okay?" Sara asked concerned.

"Something's bothering her but she refuses to talk about it and I think it's tied to Robert in a way," Peter told her.

Sara hummed before nodding, "I'll chat with her later, she might talk to me before you...girlfriend power and all."

"Well looks like she's back," Peter said spying Vittoria making her way up the driveway towards the front door through the picture window. "Little One, come into the living room for a minute will you?" he called when he heard the front door open.

"What is it, Big Brother?" Vittoria asked stepping into the living room. "Sara? What are you doing here?"

"Linds decided to come visit Michelle, Catherine sent me to say hi, miss you, and get your butts over to dinner, or else she might use the variety of knives in her kitchen on me," she shrugged.

"I don't know if I feel up to a big crowd Sara but Michelle's more than welcome to go if she wants, you too Peter," Vittoria said turning and leaving the living room, heading upstairs.

"That was unexpected..." Sara blinked. "If you want, why don't you and Michelle head back with Linds, I'll talk to her and give her a ride over if she decides to come?"

"I'll go up and get Michelle and Lindsay and we'll meet you at Catherine's house," Peter said as he rose and headed out of the room.

Sara stood and headed for the kitchen, making up two cups of hot chocolate before getting a hug from Michelle as she, Lindsey, and Peter left. Making her way upstairs, she knocked on Vittoria 's door and waited.

"It's open Sara," Vittoria called through the closed door before returning her gaze out her window.

"I come bearing hot chocolate...and a bottle of whip cream," Sara offered as she slipped inside.

"I don't really feel like any but thanks anyway," Vittoria replied quietly.

"Okay..." she agreed as she sat Vittoria's cup down before pulling her leg under her and sitting on the end of the bed. "So...what's making you a Burgermeister this Christmas afternoon?" she asked with a teasing tone.

"I'm not being a Burgermeister as you call it," Vittoria sighed. "I'm just not really into it this year that's all."

"Ali...Robert wouldn't want you moping around the house," she pointed out gently.

"I know that, Sara."

"The gang would love to see you," she prodded softly. "And to my knowledge it's not supposed to be a big deal, just dinner..."

"I don't know if I'd be very good company right now, Sara."

"It's Christmas, it doesn't matter if you're good company, it just matters that you're with family," she countered.

"Sara the last thing everyone needs is my depression ruining the Christmas spirit," Vittoria argued.

"Ali, honey...you're not going to ruin the Christmas spirit...Catherine might if I show up without you, but you won't. No one expects you to be happy go lucky cheerful miss Christmas 2010. Hell, no one expects you to even be there...just having you around is going to make everyone's day that much greater. Whether you like to believe it or not Ali, everyone here considers you family...even that annoying Texan I made some semblance of peace with after you made your peace with him..."

"Will your brother be there?"

"Well, with people showing up with no warning...God only knows. But he was back east when I spoke to him two hours ago so... 'm going to assume that he's not going to be another unexpected arrival..." Sara shrugged. "Things okay between you and him?" she continued carefully.

"They're fine. Why wouldn't they be?" asked Vittoria rather erratically.

"No reason...just wondering since he got mentioned...I worry, it's part sixteen - A of the contract I signed when we became best friends in high school," Sara answered, deciding to definitely not push now. In a day or two she'd show up with ice cream and Lindsey in tow to do something with Michelle...

"I'm sorry, I told you I'm not very good company right now," Vittoria sighed.

"And I told you that none of us are going to care," Sara countered with a smile. "Come on, come with me. Please? Please, please, please, please, please? I'll take you and Michelle to...Disneyland for her birthday next month...Lindsey can come too if Michelle wants..."

"Michelle is going to love you even more, you know that right?" Vittoria replied with a chuckle and a small smile. "Since I don't seem to have a choice in the matter and you know I can't stand to see you beg, I guess you've won."

"Yes!" Sara stood and did a little dance. "Come on, I might get you into the Christmas spirit yet...I made Greg make me a CD mix of all the Rankin Bass music. I've been driving Gil nuts with it for weeks. Well, I've been driving them all crazy I think," she mused. "Then again, I think the majority of the group is still in shock I am as big on Christmas as I am since I always worked Christmas before Gil and I got together," she shrugged, "And I'll stop babbling so you can get up and get ready or whatever."

"My jeans and sweater aren't sufficient attire?" asked Vittoria in concern. "I thought you said this was low key."

"It's perfect attire, I didn't know if you wanted to do anything like the restroom or something," Sara smiled sheepishly. "I'm giddy, sue me."

"Let's just go before I change my mind please," Vittoria said standing up from where she was seated in the window, picking her coat up in the process.

"Deal," Sara smiled, grabbing the cups to drop them in the sink on the way out of the house. "Ride with me or follow?"

"I don't have a car and I'm assuming Peter took Michelle so I'll go with you."

"Good point," Sara nodded as she unlocked the car. "So, are you staying in Vegas or just visiting?"

"We're staying. Michelle asked if we could move out here so she could be closer to you and Peter and Lindsay of course. She wanted to attend Butterfield Academy with Lindsay so that she could live at home. She hated boarding school and after her father's death, she said the kids were making it really hard for her," Vittoria shrugged as she climbed in.

"Well, I'll do my best to keep from doing another dance for joy," Sara smiled. "It will be nice to have you guys around though, and it will be good for Michelle I think, having Linds here. Too bad we can't make kids stop being brats though...she didn't need that," she sighed as she turned the car towards Catherine's.

"I think it was me they were hassling her over. She attended the same school as Justin's children so I'm sure they were the ones that started it, picking up their father's attitude," Vittoria said quietly as Sara pulled to a stop.

"No offence Robert," Sara looked up, "But your brother is a jackass."

"And I'll be voting for the other guy in the next election," Vittoria commented sarcastically.

"You and me both," Sara agreed.

"Guess we better get in there and save your skin."

"We should...and make sure the distraction of Aiden duty was enough to keep Nick away from the food..." Sara agreed before opening her door.

"Aiden duty?" asked Vittoria in confusion.

"Catherine and I figured if we gave him Aiden, he'd have his hands full and be unable to get to the food. Aiden likes to claim one person and have their full attention until he gets bored, usually about two hours after he gets that person."

"Should I say poor Nick or poor Sam? Shouldn't they be expecting their own little one sometime soon?" asked Vittoria curiously.

"I have no idea honestly," Sara answered as they approached the door.

"Nick must have learned to control himself a little better than," Vittoria teased.

Sara chuckled, "That I want no knowledge of," she winked before opening the door. "I'm back and there better be food left Nick and Greg!"

"I'm insulted!" Greg shouted back.

"Mom! You came," Michelle said running out of the living room and hugging Vittoria around the waist.

"Well, you have a very persistent Aunt," Vittoria replied.

"Thank you, Aunt Sara," Michelle said letting go of Vittoria to hug Sara instead.

"You're welcome, Michelle," Sara smiled, "I had a little extra incentive though. And deal with it Greggo," she added in his direction.

"Extra incentive?" asked Vittoria in confusion.

"Catherine and her butcher knife," Sara whispered.

"Right," Vittoria nodded. "So how much food did you all leave us poor east coasters who are not used to not freezing our butts off buried in snow drifts?" she asked as they walked into the living room.

"Plenty," Catherine grinned.

"She was standing in the kitchen doorway with a knife going 'I know how to hide evidence'...she's freakin' scary..." Greg piped up.

"You weren't kidding about the knife," Vittoria said turning to look at Sara.

"Nope, there are a few things I don't kid about, and a woman waving a knife is the first and foremost," Sara agreed with a slight frown before shaking her head and smiling.

"She doesn't know," Vittoria said quietly.

"No," Sara answered just as quietly as the group from the living room started towards the dining room. "Only you, Peter and Gil. I don't want the looks you know? Gil wishes I would tell them but he's not pushing me."

"Sara, I think you should tell them. Trust me on this and take it from someone who knows from personal experience, secrets have a way of getting out when you least expect or want them to," Vittoria said.

"I know," Sara agreed. "Trust me, I know..."

"Okay, who's up for some carols?" asked Greg suddenly, rubbing his hands together, when dinner was finished a short while later.

"Did he just ask about singing carols?" asked Vittoria in surprise.

"Yeah...but he's entirely too happy about it..." Catherine agreed, Sara nodding as she leaned away from Greg.

"I'd actually rather just go sit in the other room and find out how everyone's doing out this way. Find out what's been happening and stuff so that I'm up to speed on everything now that I'm looking for a house out this way," Vittoria said, changing the topic away from singing.

Lindsay was about to say something but after a quick look at Michelle who shook her head ever so slightly she decided against saying anything.

"Sounds like a fantastic plan to me," Sara smiled, "After I kidnap Catherine's bedroom and get Aid to sleep."

"Kidnap away because I'm going to kidnap Ali," Catherine said as she rose and took Vittoria's arm and led her into the living room.

"Then I'm going to kidnap Warrick!" Greg announced.

"Do it man and I'll hit you," Warrick shot him a look and Greg shrugged.

"Nick it is, I'm not about to try and kidnap his wife."

"Too late Greg, Sam's already got Nick," Vittoria called back as Catherine led her into the living room.

"Okay...Griss man I'll kidnap you," Greg shrugged before noticing Grissom was gone. "Damn I can't kidnap anyone can I? Although I suppose I could kidnap the two teenagers..."

"Not likely," Michelle said as she took Lindsay's hand and dragged her into the other room.

"Cheer up, you don't have to worry about kidnapping charges now," Warrick smirked.

"Ha, ha," replied Greg as he and Warrick followed the path the others had taken into the living room.

"So anyone have any suggestions on where to look for a house?" Vittoria asked from where she was sitting on the couch.

"Henderson?" Peter smiled.

"Summerlin," Greg suggested.

"The three bedroom, two story for sale down the street," Lindsey smiled innocently.

"I should have known," Vittoria laughed.

"Should have known, what?" Sara asked as she walked into the room with Gil.

"That Lindsay would have already picked out a house for Michelle and me," Vittoria said.

"Ah well, I won't start looking in the morning then," Sara chuckled. "She had more notice than I did," she added with a wink towards Lindsey.

"Yes well, I think Lindsay and Michelle have been plotting together this whole time," Vittoria said. "I seem to recall Michelle telling me about how Lindsay kept going on about what a great school she attended in the hopes of convincing me to move back west."

"It worked, didn't it," countered Michelle. "Besides, I've seen the pictures of the house just down the street. It's really nice Mom and plus I don't want a house, I want a home and I think this could be the house."

"I need to take a look at it for myself, Michelle and then we'll talk about it okay?" Vittoria said.

"Works for me," Michelle replied.

"Heaven help me," Vittoria laughed.

"Especially since your best friend just joined their little club," Gil pointed out with a smile, and nodding towards the entrance that Sara was disappearing through, Lindsey and Michelle with her.

"Scary how fast they move..." Greg mused.

"Why do I suddenly feel like I should be afraid?" asked Vittoria.

"Be afraid, be very afraid," Warrick chuckled with an evil voice. "Lindsey is one scary kid when she puts her mind to something. She gets it from her mom..."

"Hey!" Catherine sent a glare his way before rolling her eyes when he just raised an eyebrow.

"I'm beginning to think I should have taken Jethro up on his offer to stay with him a while longer," Vittoria commented.

"How is Jethro?" Gil asked curious.

"The same as he ever is, I guess. You know what he's like, Gil, not overly open about his feelings. He's still quite upset with Jenny over what she did and quite frankly I don't blame him. She's the reason behind everything that's happened to me over the years," Vittoria said.

"Is she still in charge of NCIS after everything she did?" Nick asked after a moment.

"Unfortunately," Vittoria sighed. "I seemed to have lost all my influence in Washington since Robert died thanks to Brandon and Justin."

"Bastards...and I voted for the jackass," Sam sighed. "Yes, I know you didn't Mr. Republican and none of your family did the lot of Republicans they are," she added rolling her eyes at Nick who held his hands up in defense.

"You're not the only one that voted for them, and it wasn't just because I was involved with Robert at the time that I voted for them. I thought Brandon was a better man than he turned out to be," Vittoria said.

"I think everyone in this room who voted for him feels the same way," Gil pointed out. "You should have seen Sara when it hit her that she voted for him once we were back home after everything..." he continued with a slight shudder. His bug room was still going through refurbishments...

"It could have been worse Gil," Vittoria said.

"How's that?" asked Greg curiously.

"She could have been in the room with me the day of the funeral," Vittoria replied.

"Oh that's an image," he groaned as he rubbed at his temples, "Instead of attacking the director of NCIS she would have attacked the President... Aiden would be visiting her in prison with his grandchildren..."

"Can you imagine the news on CNN at work that night if that happened?" Greg asked curiously. "Everyone in the lab would be falling off chairs in shock..."

"If it wasn't for Ryan I may have attacked Brandon myself, in which case Sara would be visiting me in prison and I'd never see Michelle again," Vittoria said.

"Why are we talking about prison?" Sara asked as she entered the room, "And can we drop it before the two teenagers come back? And Ali the house is gorgeous if you don't fall in love with it, I'll kiss Greg."

"Excuse me?" Gil stared at his wife in shock.

"That is so wrong," Greg grumbled.

"Relax baby, like I said she's going to love it."

"Oh God, Sara and Grissom PDAs," Greg groaned.

"After how many years you're still complaining about those?" Catherine rolled her eyes.

"When I was just having the mental image of getting to kiss my one time dream girl before she up and got married to my boss, of course I am!"

"Oh, bad mental image," Vittoria groaned.

"God yes," Sam covered her eyes.

"What's a bad mental image?" Lindsey asked as she and Michelle walked in.

"We're trying to recruit someone for bug babysitting duty," Sara answered.

"Yeah, no way, I only watch Aid..." Lindsey shook her head. "That room is just scary as hell, no offence Uncle Gil."

"None taken," he answered with a shrug

"Anyway, so how about caroling now?" Greg suggested once more.

"Frosty the Snowman..." Lindsey and Michelle broke out into song with grins.

"Oh dear God, please not that song," Sara groaned. "Any other Bass-Rankin song, any other Christmas song, but not that one..."

"Fine," Lindsey pouted. "Games then maybe? Old Christmas movie marathon? Dessert?"

"I know there is a copy of the Ruldoph Monopoly somewhere in this house..." Greg suggested.

"Rudolph Monopoly?" asked Vittoria in confusion. "I know I've been living on the east coast for the past few years but I've never heard of Rudolph Monopoly."

"Monopoly created a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer edition of the game a few years back, Greg got it for Lindsey a while back," Catherine explained.

"Well ,count me out but the rest of you are more than welcome to play," Vittoria said.

"I got Hermey!" Greg announced, "Sara has Sam as always..."

"Well, I guess I'm playing then..." Sara shrugged. "So are you," she turned to her husband with a smirk as the others laughed.

Everyone kind of separated while staying in the same room, Lindsey and Michelle joining the game with Warrick and they did drag Gil into it as well. Someone popped in one of the DVDs Lindsey had of the Rankin-Bass movies, and the others sat down to watch or talk amongst themselves. Eventually they raided the desserts and later leftovers for munchies, the monopoly game finally finishing when Sara took the last of Greg's property with a grin as he jokingly sobbed over the injustice and all the elves now left homeless by her.

And eventually the party wound down, everyone slowly making their way from the house, Sara promising to come see Vittoria the next day, and plans being put into the works for Michelle to come spend the night with Lindsey the coming Saturday, and Lindsey would be going to Peter's for New Years Eve since Cath had to work…