AN: So JenJen got bored and started reading this so now she's nagging on this! I just can't win for losing with her!

MN: Fliffity fluffity flufferton!


Ziva checked that her towel was fully secure before exiting the bathroom. She had heard the apartment door open a few minutes ago, indicating that Greeley was home. She had managed to start a load of laundry, get dinner going, and clean up the apartment. As soon as the washer had stopped, she had tossed her clothes in the dryer then gotten in the shower. She had plans to start another load of laundry before her friends arrived.

When she left the bathroom, she could hear her roommate's voice filtering down the hall from the living room. Apparently he was on the phone. She got dressed quickly then returned to the laundry room to start her second load. By the time she entered the living room, Greeley was sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"The prodigal roommate returns. Have a good weekend?" He was grinning at her from his spot on the couch.

She could tell by the way he looked at her that he knew and she blushed. "Yes, I did. Thank you."

He chuckled at her discomfort. "Yes, you really are that obvious. I could tell something was different at dinner Thursday night. You disappearing for the weekend just confirmed it. So, you going to tell me the story?"

She shook her head. "We wouldn't have time. It is a very long one. Abby wanted me to ask you if you are able to stay for dinner tonight. She said that you are part of the family now and she would love to have you share Sunday dinner with us."

The last time Abby had stopped by, Ziva had been in the shower so she'd spent her wait conversing with Greeley and had immediately become attached to the man. He shrugged now. "Can't think of anything I'd rather do."

"Great. It's going to be a crowded table tonight. Ducky, Jimmy, and Breena are all making it. Abby said she's trying to drag another agent, Dorneget, with her. Then McGee and Tony of course. It should be great." A time dinged in the kitchen and she turned to go check the roast.

He followed her and began pulling dishes from the cabinet. "Nine people right?"

She nodded as she reset the timer then began pulling vegetables out and setting them in the sink. "Yes. But you cannot set the table yet. We are going to have to put the leaf in it for everyone to fit. Give me a few minutes and I will help you."

"Alright." He pulled out a cutting board and knife.

They chatted idly as she peeled and chopped. She was nearly done when the doorbell rang and Greeley pushed away from the counter. "I'll get that. Whichever one of them that is, they're early."

She couldn't help but smile as he left the room. She wasn't sure how he'd managed to do laundry and pack his bag already, but she wasn't complaining. A few moments later, she was shocked when it was Abby's voice that came filtering through the house.

"Hi Alex! I know I'm like super early but I haven't gotten to talk to Ziva since she got home so I figured I'd help her get ready and we could catch up. Oh, right! Ned, Alex. Alex, Ned. Ziva in the kitchen?"

Before Greeley could respond, Ziva could hear Abby's boots clunking toward her. She managed to put down the knife and turn toward the doorway just in time to be on the receiving end of an 'Abby hug'. "You're home! And you are tan! How was Hawaii? Tell me about the wedding? Did you get to spend a lot of time on the beach? Of course you did! That's how you got the tan! I missed you guys sooooo much."

"Abby!" Ziva's shout made the Goth pause and release her. "Hawaii was great. The wedding was beautiful. We spent entire days on the beach. And I missed you too." She moved back to the counter to pile the vegetables she had chopped into a large salad bowl.

The scientist followed her to the counter, leaning beside her. "Where's Tony? He usually beats me here. You didn't leave him in Hawaii, did you?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "No. He had to do laundry. We had a little security incident when we got home so he spent the weekend nursing a black eye."

Abby's face fell. "What do you mean a 'security incident'? What happened?"

"The couple we were assigned to protect were attacked. Tony intervened and took a rather strong hit to the face. He is fine. I believe that Gibbs has hit him harder." She rinsed the cutting board and knife before realizing that her friend had fallen silent at the mention of their former boss. "Any word?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm really worried. He hasn't been home. McGee and I rigged the door. We'll get an alert if the doors are opened. What if something happened and we don't know?"

Ziva placed a comforting hand on the other woman's pale arm. "Abby, Gibbs is resilient. He would not go down without enough of a fight that someone would have been alerted."

"You're right."

They stood in silence for a moment before the sound of the front door opening filtered through the apartment. "Zi?"

She could hear Dorneget and Greeley in the dining room, meaning that Tony didn't know she wasn't alone. "Abby and I are in the kitchen."

He entered the room a moment later, a grocery bag in his hand. He seemed to be prepared for his own loving assault by the skinny Goth as she launched herself at him and hugged tightly. "Tony! I'm so glad you're okay." She pushed him back to check out his face. "It doesn't look too bad. Does it hurt?"

Ziva could tell he was suppressing a laugh. "It's fine Abbs. I was well taken care of."

She continued studying him. "Something else is different too." Ziva could almost see the light bulb go off behind her eyes. "You look happy. Apparently Hawaii suits you."

"Yes, it does." She finally released him completely and Tony crossed to the fridge. "I brought wine. Figured we could use a couple of extra bottles with the extra bodies tonight."

"Thanks." Before Ziva could say anything else there was another knock on the door.

Tony shut the fridge. "That'll be McGee. I saw him drive past on my way in looking for a spot. I'll get it." He disappeared from the room.

Ziva stuck the salad bowl in the fridge and once again checked the roast, now accompanied by vegetables, in the oven. No sooner had she closed the oven door and set down the hot pad then Abby smacked her in the arm.

She spun to face the other woman. "What was that for?"

Abby grinned from ear to ear. "For not telling me! You and Tony totally hooked up in Hawaii, didn't you?

Ziva's stomach flipped. She wasn't sure how Abby had managed to deduce that from being in the same room as the two them for all of one minute. "Abby, you can't…"

The other woman cut her off. "Don't worry. I won't say anything. But they are going to figure it out pretty soon. Except Jimmy maybe. He can be a little dense. But I'm super happy for you guys."

Ziva smiled. "Thanks, Abby."


As he handed her a full glass of wine, Tony's fingers brushed hers and Ziva couldn't help but smile up at him. Dinner had gone well, both Dorneget and Greeley melding with the group seamlessly and now all nine of them were crammed into Ziva's living room.

Tony let his fingers linger for a moment before he turned to perch on the arm of the couch next to her and dove back into the conversation. "So, McWriter, how is the book coming along?"

McGee was once again seated on the floor in front of Abby and he shrugged. "Pretty good. Should be done in the next couple of weeks so I can get it off to my editor."

The group idly chatted about McGee's books for a while then moved on, bringing one another up to speed on the past few weeks of one another's lives. Ziva realized it was starting to get late and they still had dessert in the kitchen. Breena had made a delicious looking trifle for the evening and she refused to let it go to waste. She turned to Tony. "Want to help me with dessert?"

He stood. "Sure."

She followed him into the kitchen and set her wine glass on the counter. Before she could do more than turn around, he had pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in a deep kiss. After a few moments he pulled back just enough to separate their mouths and grinned. "I've been waiting for the chance to do that since I got here."

She couldn't help her own answering smile. "I understand the feeling. We really probably should get the food though."

He nodded but kissed her again before stepping back. As she pulled plates from the cabinet, he retrieved the trifle from the fridge. They quickly established a routine. Ziva dished a serving and handed the plate off to Tony who lined them up on the counter. Halfway through, she decided to warn him about their perky friend. "Abby knows. About us. I don't know how but she figured it out."

She heard his sigh and looked toward him. "She promised not to tell anyone."

He took the plate from her hand. "Yeah, so did McGee when he called me out on it. I have no idea how he figured it out by talking to me for twenty whole seconds."

Ziva dished the final serving. "If I did not know better, I would guess that they were spying on us."

"No kidding." He started to pick up a pair of plates, but set them back on the counter then removed the one from her hand as well before gripping it in his and practically pulling her back toward the living room. "I've got a solution."

As they reentered the room, everyone glanced their way, but continued talking.

"Hey, I've got something to say." At Tony's words the conversation stopped and everyone looked at them. "Just to clear the air: Yes, Ziva and I are seeing each other. No, we don't want you to question us about it."

Abby and McGee exchanged smug grins, Greeley avoided everyone's eyes all together, and the rest of their companions stared at them in stunned silence. To Ziva's surprise, it was Breena who broke the tension. "Well, it's about time. Now, what about dessert?"


AN: There is probably going to be a time jump for the next chapter.