Chapter 12

Sunday December 25th, 2011
Las Vegas, Nevada
Kinsley Residence
8:15 p.m. P.S.T

"Ali, what are you doing?" Michael asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"These dishes aren't going to do themselves you know," Vittoria replied looking at Michael over her shoulder before turning back to the sink full of dishes in front of her.

"I know that, but you have guests," Michael chided as he walked over and pulled Vittoria's hands out of the sink and began drying them off. "You can't avoid this forever."

"Yes, I can," Vittoria countered.

"Ali," Michael sighed.

"I can't do this Michael," Vittoria said as she let her head hit his chest.

"Yes, you can," Michael reassured as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Would you prefer to do it privately? I can go and get Jethro for you."

"No!" Vittoria said pulling away. "I can't tell him privately. If I could don't you think I would have said something by now? My God, Michael, I've known the man for over twenty-five years and been in love with him just as long and yet I've never been able to tell him that. Jethro Gibbs is not the kind of man you just tell I love you to…"

"Ali, breathe," said Michael taking a gentle but firm hold of Vittoria's head. "He's not going to reject you, I promise. Now lets get out there and get this over with." When Vittoria nodded, he let go of his hold on her head and took her by the hand, leading her out into the living room, where everyone was gathered talking while Warrick sat at the piano, playing carols quietly in the background. "Hey Rick, would you mind?" he asked as he and Vittoria stepped up behind Warrick.

"No problem," Warrick said, as he stood up, surprised to see Vittoria sit down at the piano.

"Take a deep breath and remember I'm right here," Michael said quietly in Vittoria's ear before giving her shoulders a squeeze and stepping back.

Taking a deep breath, Vittoria ran her fingers along the keys, playing a few notes in the process and catching the attention of everyone gathered, most of whom were surprised to see Vittoria sitting at the piano, with the exception of Michelle, Lindsay and Catherine. After a few minutes of playing notes at random, Vittoria took another deep breath and began to play a melody, her eyes closing as she began to sing.

I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changed, yes really changed

In these past few days
When I've seen myself
I seem like someone else

I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man
He's just a man

And I've had so many
Men before
In very many ways
He's just one more

Should I bring him down
Should I scream and shout
Should I speak of love

Let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny
I should be in this position?
I'm the one
Who's always been
So calm so cool
No lover's fool
Running every show
He scares me so

I never thought I'd come to this
What's it all about?
Yet

If he said he loved me
I'd be lost
I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope
Just couldn't cope

I'd turn my head
I'd back away
I wouldn't want to know
He scares me so
I want him so
I love him so

Before anyone could do or say anything, even the two that recognized the significance of the song, Vittoria began playing once more.

I could write books
'bout all the things you don't know about me,
page after page of all the things you didn't say.

I could write books
'bout all the things you didn't do,
And then write twice as much
about how much I still love you.

I drop hints about my birthday,
you forget it anyway.
I say pick me up at seven,
and you do, but the wrong day.

Is there something I should know about
that's going on inside?
What is wrong with me that there's
so much of you you hide?

I could write books
'bout all the ways you hurt me,
All the ways you didn't even know could destroy a person so.
I could write books
'bout all the things you took from me,
And then write twice as much
About how much you give back.

I could fill all the desert sands
With ancient scriptures from my hands,
Watch siroccos come erase them
And then write them all again.

I just can't understand why I do
all these things that don't make sense;
but love it seems has a logic
that defies all evidence.

I could write books
'bout all the things I don't know about you,
volumes one and two of all the doubt you've put me through.

And maybe I'll never know
why you do the things you do,
but I do know...I'll always love you.
'Cuz deep inside, I think you love me, too.

Once again as one song ended another quickly began, the emotions that could be heard slowly building in the previous songs becoming quite evident the minute Vittoria began singing once more.

When you're on your own
When you're at a fork in the road
You don't know which way to go
There's too many suns in our rows

You haven't laughed in a while
When you can't even fake a smile
When you feel ashamed
The uniform don't make you brave

All I can do is love you to pieces
Give you a shoulder to cry when you need it
When the day is long and the night is coming down on you
All I can do
All I can do
All I can do

When you forget your name
The pleasure can't disguise your pain
And you don't feel the same
I won't forget the love you made

All I can do is love you to pieces
Give you a shoulder to cry when you need it
When the day is long and the night is coming down on you
All I can do
All I can do
All I can do

What a lovely day to shape your dreams
And you don't even have to sleep
You can make it what you want to be
You can fly away

You can change your name
Have a happy face
It can be so real
ohhhhhh

All I can do is love you to pieces
Give you a shoulder to cry when you need it
When the day is long and the night is coming down on you
All I can do
All I can do
All I can do
Is something I can't tell.

When she was done singing, Vittoria opened her eyes and looked straight at Jethro, who merely looked back, his expression unreadable. After a moment a silent tear slid down her cheek. "Excuse me," she said, her voice barely audible as she bolted from the room.

"Wow, who knew Ali could sing like that," said Greg.

"Not now Greg," Catherine said.

"Sara don't," Michael said stepping forward and stopping Sara from following Vittoria from the room.

"Michael you better have a hell of a good reason for keeping me from going after my best friend," Sara hissed.

"I do," Michael countered. "You're not the one that needs to go after her."

"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Peter, his concern for his sister evident in his voice. "If not Sara then why aren't you going after her?"

"Because it's not me she was referring to," Michael said.

"What do you mean, it wasn't you?" insisted Peter. "She mentioned someone in uniform and you're a cop, you still have a uniform."

"I'm not the only one here who wears a uniform Peter," Michael said. "I've also never forgotten anything."

"Excuse me," Jethro said suddenly as he pushed past Peter and Michael and quickly made his way from the room.

"Oh, like hell he's the one she was referring to," Peter said as he went to go after Jethro, intent on stopping him.

"Hold it right there, Peter," Sara stepped into his path.

"Get out of my way, Sara," countered Peter.

"Hey, if I can't go, you're not going either," she shot back. "It's a no sibling deal going on here."

"I don't care. I'm not about to leave my sister alone with your bastard of a brother. He's crushed her one too many times. I'm not about to stand by and watch as he does it again," Peter argued.

"And neither of us get a say in what Bastard does! It's his life, and her life and it's up to her to tell him to get lost because until she does he's not going to give up. He loves her for God's sake."

"Well, he's got one hell of a way of showing it. How many times have we had to pick up the pieces after he's broken her, Sara?"

"I know, BELIEVE me, I KNOW," she countered softly, "I didn't say he was brilliant, I said he loved her. And he's changed Peter; believe it or not he has. He left the DC area for the first time since moving there with Shannon and Kelly, he's left the service completely, and he's more the man he was before he was broken himself...I don't think he's going to break her heart again..."

"I'm sorry Sara, but I just don't believe you," Peter said sadly.

"Then believe that Ali knows what she's doing, she would have sent him away by now if she didn't want to talk to him," she pointed out quietly.

"If you want to be mad at someone, Peter, be made at me," Michael said. "I'm the one that convinced her to do this."

"Why the hell would you do that?" demanded Peter.

"Because I love her," Michael said.

"Then why are you pushing her towards a man that's done nothing but hurt her for years?" questioned Peter.

"Because she loves him. Completely and totally loves him with every piece of her soul," Michael said. "I love her too much to go on allowing her to deny her heart."

"This is bullshit. I don't care what either of you say, I'm going to get my sister away from that bastard," Peter swore as he pushed past Sara and made his way upstairs.

"God damn it," Sara hissed as she spun and followed after him. Michael on her heels as the others just looked at each other wondering if they should follow too. Only to decide that yeah, they better go cause Sara might kill Peter and then it could get really ugly.

Meanwhile upstairs...

"Mom?" Michelle called quietly as she stuck her head around the door and looked into Vittoria's room, only to see Vittoria lying on the bed, her back to the door as she cried. "Oh Mom, please don't cry" Michelle begged quietly as she walked over to the bed and climbed on, lying down behind Vittoria and wrapping her arms around her mother from behind. "I'm here, Mom. I'll never leave you. I love you so much. Please don't cry." A few minutes later, after Vittoria's breathing seemed to even out, Michelle heard a gentle tapping on the door.

"Ali?"

Hearing her uncle's voice, she got up off the bed, careful not to wake her mother, and made her way over to the door.

"Michelle?" Jethro said in surprise when she opened the door.

"Hi Uncle Jethro," Michelle said quietly.

"Is your mom in there?"

"Yes," Michelle replied, not moving away from the door.

"Can I see her?"

"Are you going to hurt her?" demanded Michelle.

"No, Michelle. I'm here to try to make right something I should have a long time ago," Jethro said.

"If you promise not to hurt her, I'll let you in," Michelle said.

"I promise, Michelle. Hurting your mom is the last thing I want to do," Jethro reassured.

Looking over her shoulder at the closed door for a moment, Michelle sighed before turning back around to face her uncle. "Alright, you can see her."

"Thank you. Why don't you head back downstairs so your Aunt Sara doesn't start to worry about where you are."

Michelle nodded in response before stepping around Jethro and making her way down the hall and back downstairs.

After watching Michelle make her way down the hall, Jethro stepped up to the door, turning the handle quietly and pushing the door open. Stepping into the room, he noticed Vittoria lying on the bed so he closed the door quietly behind him and made his way over to the bed, crouching down beside it so he was eye level with Vittoria before brushing her hair off her face.

Feeling the gentle caress, Vittoria slowly opened her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse and barely louder than whisper.

"I came here to tell you that I'm sorry and that I'm an idiot," Jethro said.

"You're not an idiot Jethro," Vittoria said sitting up. "I am. I was a fool for letting Michael convince me of something I knew could never be."

"Ali…"

"Jeth please. You and I both know we could never work, no matter how much I may want it," Vittoria said standing up and walking over to her window.

"Ali that's not true and you know it," Jethro argued as Vittoria walked past him. "You've never given us a chance."

"I've never given us a chance? I've given us chance after chance and all I've ever gotten from it was a broken heart. You don't want me Jeth, you never have."

"Ali…" Jethro began stepping up behind Vittoria

"Jeth don't," Vittoria snapped spinning to face him. "It's not me you want. You made that perfectly clear years ago. I knew from the minute I first met you that no matter how much I loved you, you were never mine to have and you never would be."

"Ali, you were fourteen when Shannon and I first met you," Jethro said, doing the math in his head as he took hold of Vittoria's upper arms to try to stop her walking away from him, like she looked like she was contemplating.

"That doesn't change the fact that I was in love with you," Vittoria snapped as she tried to break Jethro's hold on her. "But it doesn't matter because I knew I could never have you. That you'd never want me."

"That's not true Ali," Jethro argued, refusing to let her go.

"Isn't it? I know, Jethro. I know that all that time you spent with me whenever I came to Washington had nothing to do with you wanting to spend time with me. You did it because Sara asked you to. You didn't care about me; you didn't want to spend time with me. You only tolerated my presence for Sara's sake. Never mind the fact that I was a tie to Shannon, no matter how small a tie, that's all that mattered to you."

"Ali, I apologized for treating you the way that I did. You know I never meant to hurt you…"

"How can you hurt someone you don't see, Jethro? You never saw me. When you looked at me, it wasn't me you were seeing. It was Shannon. That night at the hotel, it wasn't me you were with, it wasn't me you proposed to, it was Shannon," Vittoria said, swiping away her tears. "Well, I'm sorry Jethro, but I'm not Shannon."

"And I don't want you to be," Jethro countered. "Ali, I am so sorry for hurting you the way that I obviously did that night. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do. I didn't even know I'd said what I did until Sara told me after she found you back here. Ali, you're a big part of the reason that I was able to finally put Shannon to rest. It nearly killed me to lose you that night. I was ready to come after you but Sara said you'd married someone else and that you were happy. I wasn't going to interfere in that, especially since I was still trying to recover from the explosion. And then you disappeared completely. My God Ali, if losing you to Nick nearly killed me, losing you entirely nearly destroyed me for good. You know what I was like when I was trying to find Ari, Ali, when you vanished; I was ten times worse trying to find you, just ask Tony or Tim. I drove them insane in my determination to find you. And then you show up out of the blue at the Marine Corp Birthday Ball of all places."

"I had hoped you wouldn't be there," Vittoria said quietly. "I tried so hard to convince General Leery to pick another girl. I even tried to price myself so ridiculously high that it would be better to pick another girl but he didn't even flinch. He met my price and paid so much more. How could I say no? And then to see you there…I don't even know how you managed to recognize me."

"I didn't at first. I found myself drawn to you. I couldn't keep my eyes off the dark haired goddess in the room; it drove Jenny insane the entire night. There was something about the way that you moved that triggered some sort of recognition inside me. Eventually I had to know if it was really you and that's when I asked you to dance," Jethro explained as he raised his hand to cup Vittoria's cheek, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone and wiping away her tears.

"That one dance nearly destroyed me. It was so hard for me to walk away from you that night."

"Then why did you?"

"Because I wasn't the woman you knew anymore. Vittoria was dead, had been for a number of years thanks to Nick. If you had cared about me at one time, it was Tori you cared for, not Aliana. I was also seeing Robert, a man who didn't care about my past, about who I was or had been."

"And you think I would have judged you for you past?"

"Like I said Jethro, I wasn't Shannon. She was perfect, I wasn't, how could I ever hope to live up to that," Vittoria said, finally stepping around him and walking over to the bed, where she sat down on the edge, her eyes downcast.

"Then why follow me? Why show up at the club that night and reveal yourself?"

"I honestly don't know why I followed you. I guess I just had to know that you were all right. As to why I showed up at the club, that was Sara. If I hadn't seen her that morning I never would have come. As for revealing myself…I don't know. I was so lonely. Yes, I had Robert and Michelle but it wasn't the same. I was surrounded by people and yet I was so utterly alone."

"Ali, about what happened between us after Robert's death," Jethro began as he sat down next to Vittoria.

"I never should have come to you Jeth but I didn't know where to go or what to do."

"I'm glad you felt you could come to me, Ali," he said brushing her hair behind her ear once more. "You were wrong about one thing though."

"What was that?"

"That we don't work. Ali I think we can work if you'll let us. When I look at you, I don't see Shannon, I never have. When I look at you, I see a woman that is exceedingly strong. A woman that's had to make her own way through life the best way she could. I see a woman that would do anything and everything in her power to protect those that she loves. I see a woman that has won the love of a young girl who would do anything she could to protect her mother from being hurt. I see a woman who is tired of being strong. I see a woman who I would do whatever I had to in order to protect her and keep her safe; a woman who deserves happiness; a woman who deserves to be loved for who she truly is. A woman I could love for the rest of my days if she'll let me," he finished as he pulled something out of his pocket and held it out in front of Vittoria.

"Jeth…" Vittoria began only to trail off when she caught sight of what Jethro was holding in front of her.

"This belongs to you Ali; it has ever since I first put it on your finger and if you'll let me, I'd like to keep that promise I made to you years ago."

"You love me?" Vittoria asked uncertainly.

"I do. I've loved you for a very long time, Ali. I realized just how much I love you when you walked out of my house for the last time a year ago. It's part of why I came to Vegas. I came here in the hopes that we might be able to find a way to be together. I love you, Ali. I want to be a part of your life. You and Michelle mean the world to me."

"Jeth…"

"Marry me, Ali."

Unable to find words of any sort, Vittoria merely nodded.

Gently slipping the ring on Vittoria's finger, Jethro closed the gap between them, his lips touching hers in a tender kiss, which quickly deepened as Vittoria wrapped her arms around his neck and his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Uncle Peter, no, you can't go in there!" cried Michelle as Peter threw the door open to Vittoria's room and stormed in.

"Peter…" Jethro began as he stood, "I know right now you're probably upset…"

"That's putting it mildly," Peter snapped as he stalked over to where Jethro had stood up from the bed, pulling his arm back and slamming his fist into Jethro's jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Peter!" Vittoria cried out in shock as she watched her brother's actions, quickly jumping from the bed and crouching down beside Jethro. "How could you?" she demanded.

"The bastard deserved it," Peter growled.

Sara stepped up behind Peter and tapped his shoulder, "What?" he barked as he turned before she smacked him hard enough that she shook her hand to get rid of the stinging when finished.

"Next time, don't resort to violent measures, that fucking hurt," she huffed. "And sorry Ali, but I had to do it."

"Don't worry about it," Vittoria said as she rose from her spot, stalked over to her brother and did exactly what Sara had just done before returning to Jethro's side and helping him to his feet. "Stay out of this Peter. This doesn't concern you," she said as she helped Jethro from the room, everyone clearing a path as they neared.

"But..." Peter began.

"Shut up while you're ahead, Peter, next time I'll ask Warrick or Nick to punch you," Sara snapped before spinning on her heels and trailing after her best friend and brother.

"I am not letting my sister marry your bastard of a brother, Sara," Peter said as he followed Sara.

"And you don't have a say in it, Peter," snapped Vittoria as they entered the living room just as she was placing a towel full of ice on Jethro's jaw. "I ran once, I'm not past doing it again only I'll take Jethro and Michelle with me this time and you'll never see or hear from any of us again."

"Uh, that threat does just include him right? Because so help me Peter if you make me loose not just Ali but my brother... I'll beat the crap out of you and I'm sure more than a few in this room will help," Sara glared at him.

"I'm there," Greg spoke up, Warrick crossing his arms over his chest and nodding his agreement.

"I got the alibi covered," Catherine agreed.

"Peter please," Vittoria pleaded from where she was sitting next to Jethro. "I know you're worried and I understand that. Really I do but…but you have no idea how hard this has been for me. Not just today but for the past…I don't know how many years. Yes, I loved Nick and by God, I loved Robert but neither one of those ever came close to the feelings I have for Jethro. Peter, I've loved him since I was fourteen…"

"Holy crap man, she's been in love with you that long and you're just now getting around to asking her to marry you?" Greg stared at Jethro in shock.

"Marriage? Who said anything about marriage?" Peter looked around in confusion.

"Yes Peter, marriage. Jethro asked me to marry him and I said yes. And this isn't the first time he asked Greg. I broke it off the first time due to a serious misunderstanding," Vittoria said.

"Oh, well, that's good I suppose..." Greg shrugged.

"You might want to sit down, Peter," Sara spoke gently as she led him towards a chair. "I think we just managed to shock him into silence..."

"Ali…" Peter began as he sat down

"Peter please," Vittoria pleaded as she knelt down in front of her brother, her hands resting on his knees and her chin on her hands. "I know what I'm doing. I promise you. Please just trust me. You have no idea of what Jethro's done for me. He's the one that saved me the night that Robert died. If it wasn't for Jethro, Michelle would have lost both her parents that night. Not to mention he's the one that was there for me when I did lose Robert and when Brandon tried to take Michelle from me."

"What are you talking about Ali?" asked Peter in confusion. "Why would Michelle have lost both her parents?"

"Mom?" asked Michelle in confusion and concern.

"Ali are you sure you want to share that?" Sara asked softly.

"Peter, the night Robert died it was the night of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I had stepped out to freshen up but on my way back into the ballroom, I was attacked. They'd taken out David while I was in the ladies room," Vittoria began, her voice taking on a slight waiver as she relived the memories of that night that she had buried so long ago. "I was grabbed from behind and dragged into a storage room. When my attacker finally released me, I got a chance to see who it was."

"Who was it?" asked Peter.

"It was a man by the name of General Leery. I'd attended the ball with him a few years earlier. This was before I married Robert. He didn't attend that year as he was running for office with Brandon and didn't have the time for it, otherwise I would have gone with him," Vittoria said.

"Why did you go at all then?" wondered Peter.

"Leery was determined to go with me, even with my pricing myself ridiculously high in the hopes he would choose another one of my girls."

Practically everyone was just staring in shock and horror in the case of the CSIs whose minds were already jumping to the conclusion of what happened, as Sara moved from her place next to Gil to stand next to Michelle and carefully pull her close.

Michael moved to stand next to Gil, the only two who knew at least some of what was about to be revealed.

"I tried to get away from him but he was too strong. He pinned me against the wall and started cutting off my oxygen by pressing on my throat. He told me I belonged to him. That he owned me and the hundred grand he paid me two years earlier proved that. I tried to tell him that it had been a one-time deal but he wouldn't listen. He told me that I may not have verbally made him agree to that price but the clothing I was wearing and my body made it impossible for him to say no, that he had to know what it felt like to…to have me ride him as he put it as he ground into me, letting me know exactly what his intentions were," Vittoria said, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I was disgusted. I lashed out at him, scratching him across the face. I caught him off guard enough for him to release his hold on my throat but I didn't get very far before he grabbed me once more, back handing me hard enough to send me to the floor, where he proceeded to pull my wrap off my arms and tie my hands together with it. Once he had my hands tied he picked me up and literally hung me from the wall from my bonds. I pleaded with him to stop, to not do what he was doing but he wouldn't listen. He…he ripped my underwear off then he started taunting me when he realized how scared I was. The next thing I know, I'm being lifted up off the floor. I begged him not to do it but he told me that if I screamed he'd kill me and that's when…that's when I felt him force himself into me," she said as she finally gave into her tears. "He was going to kill me Peter. I knew it. I knew deep down that when he was finished there was no way I was walking out of that room alive."

"How did you get away? How did you stop him?" asked Peter quietly, appalled at what his sister had been put through.

"I stopped him," Jethro said from his spot on the couch.

"How did you know?" Catherine asked softly, having pulled her own daughter into her arms while Sara held the now crying Michelle, softly whispering into her hair.

"I had seen Ali leave the room and when she didn't return I just knew something was wrong. Call it a gut feeling but I just knew she was in trouble so I went looking for her. I found David unconscious in a room just down from the ladies room. When I checked the other rooms they were all empty but I heard noises coming from one I hadn't checked yet. When I opened the door I found Ali hanging on the wall with Leery on top of her. When I told him to release her, he refused. He wanted to know why I was defending the honor of a whore. I told him I was defending the honor of the wife of the Vice President. When he continued to refuse to release her, he left me no choice but to shoot him. I knew what kind of danger he posed so I skipped the injuring shot and went straight for the kill shot, shooting him in the temple. The minute he was on the ground away from Ali, I got her down and untied her, which is when Robert and the Secret Service showed up. Robert picked Ali up and they made their way from the Ball. Ali was at my house waiting for me when I got home later that night," Jethro explained.

"What were you doing at his house if you'd gone home to Blair House with Robert?" asked Peter.

"I lost Robert minutes after we returned to Blair House," Vittoria said. "We were making our way upstairs to our bedroom when it happened. He just suddenly collapsed to the floor next to me. I checked for a pulse but there was none. I didn't know what to do or where to go and given what had just happened to me I wanted to be someplace I felt safe. That place being with Jethro."

"Jesus Christ," Warrick spoke quietly.

"Ali..." Sara called gently, glancing down at Michelle when Vittoria looked at her.

"Oh Michelle," Vittoria sighed. "Come here, Honey," she said holding her arms out to her daughter, who came running. "Forgive me Michelle, I never wanted you to know about that night," she soothed as she held her crying daughter tight.

"Peter, I'm going to marry Ali and help her raise Michelle, with or without your blessing," Jethro said as he rose and walked over to where Vittoria and Michelle were sitting at Peter's feet. "But I would rather do it with your blessing and I know it would mean a lot to Ali and Michelle," he said as he got down on the floor with them, pulling Ali close as she held onto Michelle.

"Ali, I'm sorry, I had no idea," Peter apologized.

"You were never supposed to know, no one except those involved were ever supposed to know. I only told you to show you the kind of man Jethro is," Vittoria said quietly.

"I hear you, Little One. Loud and clear I hear you and you have my blessing if you want it," Peter said as he squeezed Vittoria's shoulder comfortingly.

"Thank you," sniffled Vittoria in reply.

"Okay," Sara began with a determined nod, "I think we need a good stiff drink for those of us who are legal, and we need to celebrate an engagement."

"I'll go get it," Peter said as he got up from his chair and made his way out of the room.

"Michelle, Honey, are you okay?" Vittoria asked quietly. "Do you want to go lie down upstairs for a bit?"

"Yes please," Michelle replied, her voice quiet and slightly hoarse from her tears.

"I'll take her," Jethro said as he stood up before bending over and picking Michelle up in his arms and carrying her upstairs to her room.

Once they were gone, Lindsey following after to lie down as well, Sara and Catherine both released deep sighs. "Ali?" Catherine began softly, "I know I don't speak for the others but I want you to know, if you're worried about it, I'll never look at you differently or anything like that. I just wish I could go beat up that General guy."

"Join the club, I think that was the only thing that might have given Jeth a chuckle was when I was questioning how dead the guy was exactly cause I wanted to beat the crap out of him..."

"Same is true for me girl," Warrick spoke up quickly, nods from Greg, Nick, Sam and Gil rounding out the group.

"I was so frightened. After Leery and then Robert…I could barely think straight, hell I don't think I was even thinking at all by that point. I just knew I needed to feel safe and the one thing that always made me feel safe was Jethro," Vittoria said.

"My brother comes in handy occasionally," Sara smiled softly.

"I think I scared the crap out of him when I showed up."

"Oh yeah, you did," Sara chuckled, "about as much as he scared me when he called and simply told me to get out there..."

"I have put your brother through so much Sara, I can't believe that he…"

"Don't you dare finish that statement Ali," Jethro said as he came back down the stairs. "Believe it because you're not going to get rid of me from this moment on," he said as he walked over to where Ali was still sitting and pulled her to her feet before pulling her into his arms, kissing her forehead before tucking her head under his chin. "I'm never letting you go again, you hear me.

"Yes sir," Vittoria giggled.

"Good because I would hate to call DiNozzo and Magee and have them start chasing you again when you pull your disappearing act," Jethro teased.

"You didn't," Vittoria said in surprise. "Sara, tell me he didn't."

"I know nothing, I am clueless as to what he is talking about."

"Jeth, please tell me you didn't," Vittoria said pulling back slightly. "Wait you said upstairs that you drove Tim and Tony nuts trying to find me when I disappeared, don't tell me you had them searching for me too?"

"Only when you started stalking me at NCIS," Jethro said.

Vittoria groaned as her head hit Jethro's chest.

"If it's any consolation, Tony thought you were quite the 'babe'," Jethro said.

"That so does not help," Vittoria said from the vicinity of Jethro's chest.

"What doesn't help?" asked Peter as he walked back into the room, tray in hand containing a number of bottles and glasses.

"Bastard's annoying co-worker thought Ali was a babe," Sara chuckled. "I can relate girl, he was hitting on me prior to someone pointing out I was engaged at the time."

"I think I'm going to just die of embarrassment right now," Vittoria mumbled.

"Nope, no dying of embarrassment until this lot have seen us drunk off our butts singing karaoke like we did back in Frisco and since that won't be happening ever again...you can't die of embarrassment," Sara countered.

"I've seen you both sing karaoke," Jethro said. "You both sing very well."

"Which reminds me," Vittoria began. "What on earth possessed you to pick the Webber Love Trio in Washington?"

"Not when we've been drinking for hours and are ready to pass out drunk," Sara countered before turning to Vittoria, "And memory serves me I think Ziva picked it..."

"And you couldn't have stopped her? Sara I seem to recall they were trying to get you on stage singing. You could have picked anything, why did you have to let them pick that song?" countered Vittoria.

"Okay, so maybe I saw you and was trying to get a message to you..." she ducked her head. "Make you remember the good times and maybe let me back in you know?" she continued quietly.

"By ripping my heart out? You knew Jethro was there and my feelings for him," Vittoria said.

"Oops," she offered, sufficiently chastised for the most part.

"Sara…"

"Ali, that's enough," Jethro said putting his hand over Vittoria's mouth stopping anything further she might consider saying. "It's Christmas and we're supposed to be celebrating," he said quietly into her ear. "You agreed to marry me remember?"

Vittoria nodded before turning her face to look Jethro in the eye. "I haven't forgotten," she said quietly as she leaned in and kissed him.

"I think that might be our cue to leave," Michael laughed.

"Yes, we'll do the whole drinking celebrating thing another day," Sara nodded.

"I'll take Michelle to my place for a sleepover tonight," Catherine spoke up.

"Uh huh," Vittoria said as she broke momentarily for air before Jethro captured her lips again and pulled her as close as possible for a few moments before he broke the kiss once more.

"Lock the door on your way out Brat," he instructed as he lifted Vittoria up in his arms and carried her out of the room.

"Oh, that is something I never wanted to see, my brother and best friend actually on their way to..." Sara grumbled as she went to get the two girls, the group quickly making their way from the house to leave the couple in peace.