A/N: Many thanks to all those who have left some kind of feedback on my stories in the past. Rest assured that I've read them, and used them to motivate myself to keep writing, or even continue a story.

In case you missed it, I posted a Christmas follow-up chapter to Faking Your Way Through Thanksgiving Dinner.

Tony and Ziva and a winter wonderland, that's perhaps not all that wonderful.

Day 28: Write about a winter wonderland.


Ziva took in the frozen river, the snow covered bridge and trees. A squirrel climbed on top of the bench fifty feet from them, disturbing the snow on the seat and back with tiny paw prints. It jumped into the trashcan next to the bench, and emerged a few seconds later. As sudden as it had appeared, it disappeared back into the distance.

It was quiet. The layer of snow somehow seemed to muffle most sounds. Movement in a tree nearby drew her attention. A magpie flew away, rustling the branches, making the snow gathered there flutter down to the white carpet underneath.

"What are you smiling about," Tony asked in a tense voice.

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"

She turned to look at him, feeling a calm sense of serenity. He looked at her with a blank expression

"You worry me sometimes, David."

Ziva frowned. Tony didn't like winter all that much, but the view to her right was simply picturesque. Even he had to see that.

Tony quirked an eyebrow, then waved his arms around. "How can you enjoy this scene?"

"Not that view, DiNozzo," Ziva said looking at the three dismembered bodies and bloodstained snow surrounding him. She made a sweeping motion with her arm in the direction of the stone arch bridge. "That view."

Tony fiddled with the pen and notepad he was holding, and jutted his chin out.

"You'll go crazy if you don't stop and appreciate the beauty around you every now and then," she said thoughtfully.

For a few moments, he took in the winter wonderland she had been enjoying a minute ago. Then he grimaced and looked at the crime scene around him.

"You've got mad compartmentalizing skills, Ziva," he said with a sigh.

"I am not mad," she said and clenched her jaw.

Tony rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh my god," he muttered. "Get back to work, Snow Queen."

Ziva nodded tightly, and turned to her right one last time. The squirrel had reappeared, perhaps it was a different one, and she briefly wished Tony could feel the sense of peace she experienced looking at the snow covered landscape before her.

She snapped a picture, sighed, and went back to work.