Let me know what you've been things of this, please! I hope you like this chapter!

-owl

Ziva woke slowly, stretching in the weak light of dawn. She and Tony had gotten to be late the previous night, then had stayed up even later talking.

"I saw you and Kensi sparring," Tony had said.

Ziva grinned. "Yeah?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I saw your impressive win in your hand to hand round. You should have seen Deeks' face, though, when Kensi had her breath knocked out of her. He looked positively murderous."

Ziva laughed. "It is a good thing that he did not act on that, seeing as Kensi was just fine. Do you have any tips on how to improve my dagger skills?"

He shrugged. "I think it was mostly that Kensi got a lucky hit, but we can work on it together if you want."

"That would be nice. I know that daggers are not the most efficient of weapons, but it is still beneficial to know how to fight with them efficiently."

"Yeah," Tony agreed. "It can never hurt to know another form of defense."

Then they went on to talk about the Christmas party. That took them a while, as Tony also had to explain his conversation with Gibbs and Hetty, and Ziva had to explain what she had been called away for during the spar. They heard the bell toll for midnight before they had blown out the candle and gone to sleep.

Getting up and dressing quickly in the chill of the room, Ziva remembered that the Operacja delegation would be returning home today. It was unfortunate that they were going to be leaving so soon after they had arrived, but Ziva knew that Hetty had made it a point to always be at her palace when the new year arrived.

"Tony," Ziva said, shaking her husband awake. "Hetty and the others will be leaving soon. Get up."

He groaned, but did sit up. "Alright, I'll get ready and make my way down there, you go on ahead."

Ziva nodded and left the room. The castle was silent as she passed through it, no one was yet awake. When she got outside, she found Kensi, Callen, and Sam helping the coachman to harness the horses. Their three horses were already saddled and waiting.

"Good morning, Ziva!" Kensi called when she saw the other woman. "Are you here to see us off?"

She grinned. "Yes, we are sorry to see you go. But, after all, who can stop tradition?" she added rhetorically.

"Well said, Queen Ziva." Hetty's voice came from behind her.

Ziva turned and smiled at the empress. "How soon do you hope to be leaving?" she asked."

"Oh we'll leave when the time is right," Hetty responded before returning to the castle.

"Does she say vague things like that often?" Ziva asked, turning back to the others.

They all nodded. "Yeah, that's a normal part of our day," Callen said. Then he and the others went back to helping the coachman to harness the seven horses. It didn't take them long, and Ziva was quite impressed that they were so efficient. In almost no time at all the horses and carriage were ready and Deeks had come out of the castle, carrying a large pile of furs that had been hung by the fires in the kitchens.

"I got Nell, Eric, and Michelle up," he announced. "They should be here soon, then Hetty will more than likely emerge from the ground, scaring us all and telling us that it's time to go."

Kensi and Callen chuckled, though Sam had a look on his face that Ziva took to mean he knew Deeks was right, though he didn't want to admit it.

"I don't always do that, Duke Deeks."

All five of them whipped around to see Hetty leading the last three of the Operacja group from the castle.

"Sometimes I do use the door," she added dryly.

From behind the four of them came Tony, Abby, and Kate, rushing to catch up. Abby, true to form, launched herself at Nell and the rest of them in turn for goodbye hugs. Tony stood next to Ziva, holding her hand in his. Kate followed behind Abby, shaking hands and hugging her closer friends.

"We wish you safe travels," Tony said regally, bowing his head to Hetty.

Hetty gave him a smile and gave him a quick curtsy. "Thank you. We must be off now, may your Christmas day be bright, and the new year bring with it love and joy."

Then she nodded and swept up into the carriage. Eric, Nell, Deeks, and Michelle followed her, and they situated themselves under the warmed furs that Deeks had brought out earlier. Kensi, Sam, and Callen all mounted their horses, and the coachman took his seat.

The DiNozzo and Meadth representatives waved as Sam led the charge from the courtyard. The carriage followed him, and Kensi and Callen took up the rear of the group, riding far enough behind to avoid the spray of snow from the carriage wheels.

Ziva, Tony, Kate, and Abby stayed in the courtyard until they could no longer see Callen and Kensi's horses.

"We need to invite them here again," Abby said. "Like during the summer when there isn't much to do, and traveling isn't an issue."

Ziva smiled at the idea. "I like that. Tony and I will talk about it later."

Abby nodded, then started meandering back to the castle.

"Where are you going, Abby?" Kate called after her.

"I was up too late, and now I'm up too early. I'm going to bed, where it's warm."

Tony laughed softly, watching Abby. Then he turned back to Kate and Ziva. "To each her own. Kate, would you like to join us for breakfast?"

Kate nodded. "Sure."

After they had eaten breakfast together, Ziva and Kate left Tony to his own devices and went to the library. There they hung out, just the two of them, enjoying each other's company.

"I really need to go on more trips here," Kate finally said, breaking a comfortable silence between the sisters.

Ziva smiled. "Yes, you do. Besides, it is easier for you to come here than for me to go home."

"Speaking of," Kate cut in. "I think Father said that we are leaving tomorrow. Something about getting home the day after the new year was going to bring luck."

"You'll need to tell Abby. She will be heartbroken. She was hoping that you all would stay until closer to Christmas."

"I know. But it is not my decision to make. She can bring it up with Father."