We are here - the final chapter of "Elves". This was my first "big" story with this account and I want to thank everyone for being so supportive. Special thanks to DS2010, spacekitten2700, Grumpy Alchemist, fiftyshadeswritergal, stareagle, and Hippiechic81.

Please review! I'd love to hear any story ideas that you'd like to see in the future. Also, check out my other current stories "The Easter Exclusives" and "Glittery Grumps". I would love to "see" you over there!

Once again, thank you to all those who encouraged me to turn a tiny idea of a run-in with Santa Claus into a story on acceptance, family, trust, and love. Through writing it, I have enjoyed hearing from the commenters and getting to know you in any small way. I appreciate your willingness to interact - that is what fuelled this story!

Enjoy! Love, MaidenMoonshine

...

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry, merry, merry Christmas!" Abby squealed, rushing across the floor, buckles clinking on her boots, as she threw herself at her friends and family to crush them into particularly loving hugs.

"Merry Christmas, Abs!" Tim greeted her with a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Been into the hot chocolate, huh?" Tony teased, tugging on a ponytail tied back with sparkly holiday ribbon.

"Yep!" She smiled as he gave her a kiss on the top of her head. She turned to Ziva, who was standing to the side rather awkwardly. "Zi, get over here! Merry Christmas!" Ziva moved over to join in the small, happy circle and was enveloped in a hug from Abby. "Come on, boys," Abby demanded. "Group hug!" Ziva was suddenly sandwiched into the middle of a tangle of arms and heads. A tiny memory bubble surfaced of a similar feeling connected to a long-ago Hannukah - it was a good memory.

"Director Shepard, you came?" Abby asked, seeing the director approach in a cute red dress. "Oh, no, we don't have a case, do we?"

"Oh, no, not at all, Abby. Jethro asked me if I would like to join your group." She paused and looked at the surprised agents. "If that ... is all right?"

"Oh, yes! Yes! That's great!" Abby hurried over and hugged the director who seemed just as surprised by the action as Ziva had been. However, this time Abby decided against a group hug. Perhaps it would not be exactly appropriate.

"Ziva," Jen said, turning to the Israeli young woman. "That cookie yesterday?"

"I did not send it to you!" Ziva protested as Jen leveled a stern look on her. "It was not my fault!"

"Relax, Ziva," Jen said, reaching out to brush a strand out of hair out of her face. "I know, I was just teasing you. Whatever you and Abby did with it, it definitely was the worst cookie I've ever tried in my life."

"You are not upset?" Ziva asked.

"Not at all. Merry Christmas, my sweet girl," she said, gently squeezing Ziva's hand.

"You came, Jen," said a familiar voice from the director of the elevator.

"GIIIIIIIIBBBBS!" Abby ran over as fast as she could and hugged her father figure. "Merry Christmas, Daddy!" she whispered in his ear, partly joking but mostly serious.

Gibbs gave her the third kiss of the night and whispered back to her. "Merry Christmas, daughter." He looked up at the others, all watching him and Abby hopefully.

"Get over here," he ordered roughly but with a gentle undertone. Tony and Tim came over with smiles.

"Merry Christmas, Boss."

"Yeah, merry Christmas!"

Gibbs pulled the two of them into a manly hug with a slap on the back to ward off any appearance of going soft. He looked up at Jenny.

"Jen, glad you're here," he said softly with the special smile he always saved for her. She willing stepped forward and hugged him, much to the secret delight of his team.

"Merry Christmas, Jethro," she replied with a smile.

Gibbs turned to the only silent member so far. "Ziva, am I going to get a Christmas hug from you?" he asked gently. She nodded a tiny bit, yet held back a little. Gibbs stepped forward and watched her reaction carefully, not wanting to push her if she did not feel comfortable with affection. She seemed relaxed so he gently pulled her into a tight, warm hug. She rested in his secure love for a few seconds before pulling back. It was going to be awhile before she learned to accept love without putting walls - but at least she had made a start.

"Merry Christmas, my dear friends," Ducky called as he stepped out of the elevator, arms filled with brightly wrapped parcels.

"Yeah, merry Christmas!" Jimmy echoed from behind, holding a sack. "Where would you like this, doctor?"

"Let's head up to MTAC and let the fun begin!" Tony suggested, which was quickly seconded by the other "kids". Jenny, Jethro, and Ducky followed at a slightly slower pace, still enjoying the childlike joy of four of their young co-workers. One face, however, caught all of their attentions as rather pensive.

"My dear Ziva, are you feeling unwell?" Ducky inquired, gently wrapping his arm around the girl as she fell behind the others as they rushed up the stairs.

"Oh, no, Ducky, I am fine," she insisted.

"Then why the quietness and sober face? It is custom to be full of mirth on Christmas Eve."

Ziva looked around at the others, then quietly confessed to her caring friend, "I do not belong here. I am not the same as the others."

"Why, what could you mean?!" Ducky exclaimed. "You are as much part of the team as any of the others."

Ziva looked at him doubtfully. "If you say it," she said dubiously.

"Now, what is really holding you back?" Ducky pressed with the patience of a counselor, despite the signals for him and Ziva to hurry to join the others who were waiting for them before entering MTAC.

"This is ... more than a team," Ziva finally said.

"Yes ... yes, it is," Ducky agreed, still not seeing a problem until he caught a glimpse of the shadow of uncertainty in Ziva's eyes. With that he stopped and gently turned her to look him in the eye. "Ziva, you are a part of our family too. Ever since you arrived you have brought something so special to us. It may have taken time, but we all love you dearly."

Apparently, it would take even more time for that message to fully sink into the Israeli's consciousness.

She gave him a polite smile, one that just skimmed the surface of her face but did not touch even the tip of her beautiful soul. It made Ducky's kind heart ache to see the detachment. Somewhere along the line this girl had been hurt. He did not know where, when, or all the details, but he knew without a doubt what the results were.

If only you knew, dear girl, the depths of love waiting for your here. You may be new, but already you have somehow made your way into the lives and hearts of so many. If only we could convince you. That would be my Christmas wish.

Ducky settled for placing his arm around her waist and escorting her to the door where the others were waiting.

"Come, everyone, let us enjoy an NCIS traditional family Christmas all together, shall we?"

"We shall!" Abby cheered. "Now, will someone let us in?"

The doors opened on a beautiful scene. Abby sucked in her breath, Jen and Ducky looked surprised, and the boys were startled by the sparkly Christmas lights decorating the space. Gibbs kept a stoic expression, as per normal.

But Ziva?

Ziva was entranced. There, at the front of the room, were a row of stockings, just like she had seen in decorations and on the front of Christmas cards. She had gathered that families hung stockings together to hold their gifts.

And there, right in front of her, was a stocking bearing her name. Not only that, but it was nestled in the middle of a whole row of stockings. Ducky, Jen, Tony, Tim, Ziva, Abby, Jimmy, Gibbs.

Her name. There in the middle.

"Oh, look, stockings!" shouted Abby.

"Wait until midnight," Gibbs interrupted her wild dash toward the presents. She gave him an exaggerated pouting face, then giggled.

"I know, I know, wait until Christmas. But I wonder who they're from?" She looked around at everyone.

Tony laughed. "Nice try, Abs. Only you would think of such a thing."

"Didn't someone do this?" Abby asked, proceeding to question everyone. When she reached Gibbs, he answered drily.

"Santa."

"Oh." She paused, then brightened. "OH!" He gave her a stern look, which he copied in Ziva's direction and Jen's immediately after - clearly, there was a warning to keep his secret.

"Must have been," Jen replied with a smile. "Now, how about some apple cider and cookies?"

"Yum! Hey, Gibbs, did you remember the candy canes?"

"Yes."

"Great! I want one to stir my apple cider!"

"Why?"

"Minty apple cider is the best?"

"YUCK!" said everyone else.

...

The movie passed in a comfortable blur, filled with snacks and laughter. The credits rolled, the time ticked down, and suddenly there was a blur of colour and ...

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Abby shrieked. "Gift time!"

It did not take long for the room to turn into mayhem. Ducky handed out his parcels with kind words for each recipient; McGee and Tim gave the girls their promise to take them to any restaurant and show they chose in January; the director passed around boxes of chocolates with heartfelt thanks - although her gift to a certain L.J. Gibbs was a little bit larger.

"What is this?" Ziva asked, having a small box shoved into her hands by the very hyper Miss Scuito.

"Open it!" Abby demanded.

Ziva did and pulled out a small ornament. It was shaped like a gingerbread man cookie and was "decorated" with icing trimming, sprinkles, and the words "First Christmas".

"It was hard to find one that wasn't too babyish," Abby admitted. "I hope that it is okay."

"I love it," Ziva declared. "I will use it to always help me remember" - she paused and glanced at Tony to make sure he was out of hearing range before continuing - "my first time making Christmas cookies as well."

Abby giggled. "But it won't be the last!"

"I did not know what to get for gifts, but I got this for you," Ziva offered quietly. Abby scooped up the small chain with the shiny obsidion pendant in the shape of a cross. "I know it is not what you normally choose, but it reminded me of you for some reason."

"I love it," Abby declared. She crushed Ziva was another hug - too many more of those and she was seriously going to have bruised ribs!

"I will use it for when I can't wear my chokers," Abby was declaring. "I'll wear it when I go to court. Now I finally have pretty jewelry that I can wear that is still me without scaring lawyers or fancy higher-ups!"

"But you do not like your court outfits," Ziva said softly, sad that her well-planned gift was already relegated to that fate. But that thought was soon vanquished with Abby's firm statement.

"No, I don't, but don't you see? This will make it better! You're right - I do love it. It is very much my style, just without the parts of my style that scare people. I didn't mean I'll just wear it at court - I mean that it is one of the few things that I can wear in court. You're an awesome friend, Ziva - that's what I'll always remember with this!"

"You do not scare me," Ziva said, happy once again that her friend loved the gift.

"You don't really scare me either. Now, please help me put it on!"

There were tons of other packages, big and small, serious and humourous. But above all, the stockings were the favourites.

"A whole case of new pens and the entire series of books that I've been wanting to read, along with a gift card to the bakery near my house!" McGee exclaimed. "Whoever got these for me, thanks! I love them!"

"Woah! A note saying that 'Santa can't provide a girlfriend, but all the best!' along with gift cards to several fancy restaurants and a flower shop. And my favourite cologne! Ladies, here I come!" Tony celebrated his gifts.

"Hmm, someone knows me," Jen muttered, looking meaningfully in a certain direction as she pulled out a beautiful leather-bound planner and organizer along with a golden fountain pen.

"Bagpipe music and several history books on Scotland. Oh, and tins of different teas, as well as a big one of my favourite. Bless the soul who gave me these," Ducky mumbled happily.

"A pocket knife - now Agent Gibbs won't get annoyed at me for not having one on me at all times," Jimmy crowed.

Seated next to each other, the two "kids" with the best idea of Santa's true identity unwrapped their stocking gifts. Abby and Ziva took turns exclaiming over the presents, amazed at the taste and goodwill hidden under the tissue paper.

"Oh, my goodness!" Abby exclaimed as the classy choker fell out of the black tissue paper. The thin red collar had a delicate golden pattern laid over the top. It was beautiful. A tear came to her eye. She knew exactly where this had come from - her favourite store. Knowing that "Santa" had braved all that for her warmed her already warm heart even more.

"This is so nice," Ziva whispered, turning the small golden ring in the palm of her hand. Besides her Magen David necklace she rarely wore jewelry, but this tiny ring with a dove on it spoke to her. Peace. It was something that both Israel and she herself longer for - and this ring would remind her to always seek it.

Abby unwrapped her next gift. A tiny angel nightlight, more like a bright sparkling fairy than an angel, was revealed.

"Kate," Abby mumbled softly, tears softening her eyes. Ziva reached out and awkwardly placed her hand on her back. Abby took a moment to remember, then cleared her throat. "Your turn, Ziva. What did you get?"

Ziva turned back to her gift and pulled out her next item. A smile graced her lips as she realized what she was holding. "A knife."

"Another one?"

"Not just another one - this is one of the best," Ziva explained, examining the new weapon. She had no doubt that this one was safe from confiscation. She flipped open the blade and felt the sharpness. "I love it." She immediately slipped it into her pocket.

Thank you, Gibbs.

"Oh, I have something else," Abby laughed. "Oh, two somethings! Candy and ... Ziva, look! Elf earrings!" She pulled out the tiny jingle bell earrings and immediately put them in to show off to her friends. Ziva laughed as Abby shook her head and made them jingle.

"Look what I got!" Ziva pulled out a package of gingersnaps and a scarf with a gingerbread man pattern.

Jingle. Gingersnap. Of course. Just wait a second and ... yes!

Ziva nudged Abby and they both watched Gibbs.

Gibbs picked up his stalking. It had been a decoy, filled with a few items that he bought himself just to keep the others from guessing that the grumpy old boss was responsible for their presents. Of course, that had partially been ruined by the fact that he had a Mrs. Claus and two elves in the room, but the others seemed to be clueless. And as Jen and neither of the girls were complaining about their presents, he felt fairly safe.

What's this? I don't remember this.

One package was wrapped in simple brown paper, tied with a piece of twine jaggedly cut with what he assumed was a knife. Inside was a big bag of his favourite grind of coffee - which he just so happened to be low on, not having been able to find it within the pre-Christmas rush at the mall.

Bless whoever got this - and I think I have a good idea.

Gibbs pulled out another tiny package. Mini bats carrying mistletoe. Yes, he knew who owned this wrapping paper.

"Best Boss" read the custom keychain. He rolled his eyes. He was under no illusions that he was the best - he just was tough on his team and then loved them just as hard to make up for it. Then he flipped the small pendant. The other side read "And Best Santa - Love the Elves". He smiled to himself at that. A glance over toward a corner met with two sets of eager eyes - one brown, one green.

"Come over here you two," he ordered softly. The two made their way around the mess and present contents scattered over the floor to stand by Gibbs' side. He gently pulled each of them into a hug, pressing a kiss first to Abby's forehead, then, more slowly in case of rejection, to Ziva's. The Mossad officer permitted the quick caress.

Maybe some Christmas will really start to come true this year - I really hope that they do! Gibbs pondered, before whispering to his girls.

"Thank you, Elves, thank you. And a merry Christmas to everyone! Ho ho ho ho!"

The End