A week had passed since the photo shoot and Ziva was spending more time than not at his home. Gibbs found Ziva curled up on his couch staring into his fireplace. She was slightly frowning and that made him wonder. "Everything ok Zi?"

Glancing at him she smiled. "Yes I am just thinking."

"Look pretty serious, should I be worried." At first the words had been meant to tease her but as she turned to him he felt a shift in the air.

"No Jethro but I would like to talk."

Settling onto the couch Gibbs faced her. "I'm listening."

"I have been thinking about Nico." She saw him smile and blushed in spite of herself. "I see you already knew this."

"I expected it, and so you understand I am not bothered by it." He saw something he couldn't place flicker through her eyes and he took in a deep breath. "I asked this once before Ziva but I will ask it again. Does it bother you that I am willing to allow Nico in our life?" Her eyes fixed on his, that dark assessing gaze heavy on him.

"No Jethro. But I do have some questions."

It was Gibbs' turn to feel something akin to discomfort "Then ask."

"What are your feelings for Nico? There is something there but, I do not want to assume." She watched a ruddy stain cross his cheeks and saw the slightest glance away. "There is no judgement Jethro I just want to understand."

"We have never been physically intimate Ziva if that is what you want to know."

"That is the least of things I was wondering about Jethro and even if you had I would not be bothered by it. But there is intimacy there." Again there were the subtle signs of his discomfort. "Jethro you do not have to answer."

"Yes I do Ziva. It's only fair." He ran a hand through his hair. "Diane saw what you are seeing and then some, she made assumptions, that is why the golf club." He expected a laugh or even the faint hint of a grin instead he saw hurt in Ziva's eyes as she watched him.

"She did not wait for you to explain?"

"No." for a moment Gibbs wondered if this was what Ziva felt like as his submissive. Somewhere between scared and exhilarated to know he could trust her. "To be fair she walked in on something that could have been easily misconstrued but was simply what Nico and I are."

"I am sorry for that."

"As you know I met Nico when I was young. We spent years growing up together. We had thought we were men before but we realized how wrong we were after we'd spent a few years in hell. It was before Shannon died, he was taken out there in the desert. It took us a few days to find him and when we did they'd carved him up." He had to take a moment to swallow back the bile of how he'd found him. "We were far out from base camp, in an area we weren't supposed to be in. There was no way to get a copter in and no way Nico was walking out."

Ziva could easily picture it; no one had discussed it after that first night but Nico's scars extended down his legs, along his arms and even dangerously close to his cock. She took Gibbs hand in her own stroking his knuckles gently.

"I volunteered to stay with him, in this crappy little burned out shack as far away from where'd they'd had him as we could get. We had radioed asking for extraction but there was no way. Some bull shit about politics and trying to make a deal. Only three of us had gone in after him." He saw the way she lifted her brow at him. "We didn't exactly have permission to go after him." This time there was a grin.

"They went back to meet with a bigger team. They ran into some trouble and short of it is it took a few days for us to get out. During that time I took care of Nico. We talked for hours; I told him anything and everything about my life. Whatever, it took to help him stay past the pain or at least on top of it." He looked at her hands so small in his but still so powerful and wondered how she would ever understand what came next." After that it was difficult to be away from each other. We couldn't say anything to anyone and for a long time didn't speak of it even to each other. But it was there. Nico has pull in high places and shortly after we were a team. It's been there ever since. I need him in my life. When he showed up the other day I was both happy to see him and.."

"Scared that I would see what you thought I couldn't understand." She scooted closer to him.

"I'm still scared Ziva that you will think that the reason he shares our bed is for that reason alone." He couldn't look at her, had to focus instead on the way her hands clasped his.

"Jethro, I love you, all of you. And I know you love me, however short our time together has been it was meant to be. You refuse to call your feelings for Nico what they are. do you think it makes you less of a man to admit them." His pulse under her fingers quickened to a furious beat and he stood abruptly, walking away from her.

"It's not like that Ziva, we aren't sexual with each other."

Ziva smiled "That was not what I was referring to. And it is my turn I think to push you too hard. But in some ways you are. It would be hard to avoid it at all when you are both with me. But I understand that you are saying you believe you are not sexually attracted to each other. The intimacy comes from everything but that. So why is it so hard to admit you love him?"

Gibbs felt her standing behind him and he was forced to press his head against the glass of the window he was staring out. "Because I didn't think anyone could understand. Hell we don't understand it, and we don't talk about it."

"I think you worry too much about what is expected of being a man. You are the strongest man I have ever known. Because your strength is not just about the physical, you are strong in so many ways. You do not have to answer but I would like to know what it is Diane saw that she could not understand." He was quiet for so long she thought he wouldn't answer her.

"He came to visit, stayed in the guest room. I had just woken up, he'd just gotten out of the shower." His hands clenched tightly at his sides before gripping the window sill. "The scars on his back get tight and it helps to rub oil into them. But it's also hard for him to reach most of them. I was doing it for him." He almost pulled away from her again. Instead he felt her turning him to face her. "What else could she have done, or assumed. It wasn't what it looked like it wasn't.."

"Stop Jethro. I am not Diane." The uncertainty in his eyes was painful, fear, something she wasn't used to seeing was hovering there as well. "Nothing you have said to me makes me want you any less, love you any less or question the kind of man you are. If anything I think I love you more. But I want you to think about something. You said the reason we have Nico with us in not because of how you feel for him. I think perhaps it is at least part of the reason. You saw in me what I could not admit to myself. What I needed the woman I need to be in this house. The one who submits to you here is far different than who I am anywhere else. I think subconsciously you knew that I could accept what you feel for Nico and it is why things went the way they have. That is not a bad thing. Maybe this us with Nico is just what we both need. You have been trying for years to find a woman who could understand the man you are. I can only hope I am that woman."

Gibbs wanted to say something but his voice was stuck in his throat. At the same time he saw her eyes drop to the floor. "I would like to take a bath if I may?" pride rushed through him soothing the ragged edges. "You may. Ziva…" A knocking at the door interrupted them and he saw her hand go to the gun at her side. A habit, that never failed to turn him on.

Gibbs opened the door and shook his head. "Speak of the devil, but you didn't need to knock." The anxiety was back in the pit of his stomach but he worked to push it away.

Ziva raised her eyes from the floor smiling wide. "Nico you're home." She stepped forward gave him a quick hug and kiss then turned for the stairs. "I'll be down in a bit, the bathtub is calling."

Nico dropped his bag by the couch and after shutting the door studied Gibbs carefully. "What happened?"

"She knows."

Nico cocked his head "Knows what?"

"Us."

"Oh. I would say I should leave but I didn't notice a golf club anywhere." The roughest grin crossed Gibbs lips. "How did she react at first?"

"Well we had just finished discussing it before you knocked."

"Oh." He wasn't sure what else to say so he remained quiet.

"I told her what Diane saw." He saw the alarm in Nico's eyes and managed a shake of his head. "She wasn't bothered by it. And she doesn't assume anything else."

"Oh." Nico laughed then. "Sorry but apparently that's the only word I've got at the moment."

"Yeah. Did you read her file?"

Sobering he nodded. "I thought I knew but damn Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded before letting his head fall back against the couch. Nico joined him they sat their quietly staring at the ceiling. "I have no idea what happens next Nico."

"Me either so I guess we wing it like we always have." They laughed and the tension seemed to ease off.

Ziva came down the stairs expecting to see the guys had moved down to the basement. Instead Gibbs was out cold against the back of the couch. Nico had appeared to be until he turned toward her. She smiled and nodded toward the kitchen. Quietly he slipped from the couch and followed her.

"Welcome home Nico." Ziva poured a glass of scotch for him and water for herself.

"You said that before, called it home. But it isn't." he joined her at the table, trying to ignore the satin robe and the bare skin he knew was underneath.

"I think it was your home long before I could call it mine, or should have been." Like Gibbs his eyes drifted away from her. "He wants you to stay, and you want to stay. I think you are worried about judgement from me, from others."

"Do you think the only reason I want to stay is because of him?"

"No I think there are feelings for me as well. I knew it before you left, understood it for myself when I became jealous over Abby. But I was afraid if I admitted it that it meant I wasn't being faithful to Jethro. Then I started to realize that it was more about just Jethro and I. I needed time to work that through in my head. "

"And still you welcome me?"

"Why would I not? Jethro deserves to be loved in as many ways as possible. His happiness is my happiness. I think you both have more issues with it than I do. I would like to ask why you have not just moved here. Jethro has had his women, but he has not lived with one in a long time?"

"We knew eventually someone would see something and not understand or see it for something it wasn't"

"I find it strange that two women can love each, other live together without being romantic and society does not blink but two men do and suddenly there is a stigma."

"Not everyone is as accepting as you Ziva. Gibbs gave me your file, the real one."

"He told me. I did not think it necessary for you to see all of it but he thought it important."

"You're a strong woman. The gift of your submission is even sweater knowing what you've been through. Add to that your acceptance of who we are…"

"You have not changed in my eyes Nico neither you or Jethro." She reached across the table fighting the taboos she was learning to ignore. "I missed you when you were gone. I have trouble admitting that because it leaves me feeling confused but it is the truth."

"And I missed you and yes Gibbs as well." He looked toward the living room. "I didn't hear from him while I was gone I'm assuming the situation with Harith is the same."

She nodded. "Nothing new, a possible sighting once but, no confirmation."

He reached for the bottle of scotch pouring just a slight bit more for him, went to fill her glass and remembered she wasn't drinking. "You feeling ok?" Ziva often had an evening glass of scotch. She blushed but he didn't understand. "Ziva?"

"I am just being cautious. Jethro and I decided to try for a baby." The words once out had her nerves dancing about inside her. "We should know in a week or so."

Nico smiled. "I wondered how you would react."

Ziva was almost surprised Nico knew but then from what she'd learned she shouldn't have been. Suddenly a thought struck her. "It is why you left?"

"Only partly that moment needed to be for you without any worry of fatherhood." Her brow marred but he continued speaking. "And I also needed some time to think, figure things out on my own end."

She rose and went toward the counter pulling out the things to make a meal. "Do you plan to stay Nico?"

She wasn't looking at him her back was to him as she washed some vegetables. It was intentional keeping the pressure off. "I don't know it depends on what Gibbs decides."

"What we decided Nico all of us." Gibbs stumbled into the kitchen fighting off the remnants of the nap he'd taken. "You could have woken me."

Ziva turned back around. "Why? You obviously needed the rest."

"Thank you. I was going to take you to dinner tonight but you're making chef salad and now I want to stay in."

Ziva smiled "I would also prefer to stay in. Can I pour you a drink Jethro?"

"Yes please." He waited until she'd set the glass in front of him. "What else is it you want Ziva?"

"I would like to greet Nico properly. I have not done so since you were sleeping and he has just returned." The two men looked at each other silent words being spoken and there was a heady lust rolling low in her belly.

"Ziva you do not need my permission to touch Nico, kiss him or be with him. Unless, we are in a specific moment. I have a request though." She looked at him desire simmering in her dark eyes. "I want to watch."

Ziva felt her skin burn against the slide of satin on her body as she walked toward Nico it was almost too much. He sat in the chair facing her waiting for her to take the final steps to him. As she did instead of leaning over she straddled his lap her robe falling aside as her body met his through heavy denim. Her hands found purchase on the sides of his jaw and her mouth found his. The guilt she had felt before dissipated as she felt Gibbs watching them. There was no doubt or anger in the air around her. Instead the feel of Nico thrusting hard against her and the slide of his tongue against hers had her gasping for air as his mouth slid down the column of her neck.

Nico undid the tie of her robe letting the satin fall to the floor. His mouth found first one breast and then another. Her hands were tugging at his hair as she twisted her hips against him. He reached between them undoing his jeans and zipper. Even before he could finish her hands were reaching for him curling tight around the naked length of his cock. "I don't have a condom Ziva."

Ziva pulled in a rough breath ready to move when suddenly Gibbs was standing there beside them. One hand gave a foil packet to Nico the other grasped her neck and pulled her into a kiss. As his tongue thrust deep she felt the searing slide of Nico inside her. She gasped as Gibbs stepped back leaning against the counter. He watched without moving, or touching.

Nico felt Ziva's body tighten around him as she realized Gibbs would only watch. It was almost akin to frenzy yet the way she slid up and down his cock was careful and controlled. She threw her head back when he sank even deeper and he was biting back a curse word. Glancing at Gibbs he managed to speak. "She was made for this."

"Yes she was." There was so much beauty in the way Ziva lost herself in the moment. He knew from experience she wasn't holding back. When Nico tasted the skin of her neck she finally fell over the edge. Crying out as her fingers bit into his shoulders.

Ziva splintered apart as she wrapped around Nico her body rushing with sensation. It took a long time to come down from the high. When the edges started to clear she was draped over Nico his breath as unsteady as her own.

Gibbs waited a moment longer before pulling gently on Ziva's hair once she was standing he gave her a quick deep kiss gently wrapped her robe around her. "That was beautiful. Now I'd like you to return to making dinner. "

Ziva turned to him. "But you.." she saw something flip the dark hint of the dominant she'd nearly forgotten. It caused a strong shiver of anticipation.

"So quickly you have forgotten Ziva. I did not ask. You will return to the kitchen and finish making our meal because it pleases me." The pleasure he watched slide through her almost had him taking her then and there. Instead he would remind her just what she had agreed to. "When the meal is served you may come upstairs to call Nico and I to dinner."

"Yes sir." Her eyes hit the floor the chaos of lust, anticipation and need confused her but knowing she was pleasing him helped to settle her a bit. When she looked up again they were gone.