Ziva David had never felt this relaxed before in her entire life.

She was sitting around her own dining room table surrounded by her entire NCIS family—Gibbs, Abby, McGee, Ducky, Tony, and even autopsy gremlin Palmer. Her dinners had become talk of the bullpen and it seemed only natural that she began to have small team dinner parties more frequently.

They weren't formal, but the team had a tendency to make them formal. On this occasion, Ziva wore a sapphire blue dress that hugged her curves, a small pair of blue heels, and a small cardigan to cover her bare shoulders. Her wavy hair was pulled into a bun with small wisps framing her face.

At this particular dinner, Ziva had prepared hummus, grape leaves, tabouleh, and Cholent, a stew of beans, beef, barley, and potatoes. The dinner had been devoured by all and the group was now relaxing around the table drinking scotch and wine.

"I must say, Ziva, my dear," Ducky exclaimed as he sipped his scotch, "those grape leaves were some of the most spectacular I've ever tasted!"

Ziva blushed slightly as she received Ducky's compliment. "Thank you, Ducky. I will be sure to make them for you again," she said, chuckling to hide her blushing cheeks.

"I agree with Duck-Man!" Abby yelled. "Those were the most tasty things ever! I could live of those grape leaves! They--"

"You could live off those grape leaves and Caf-Pow!," Gibbs interrupted, pointing to the large cup that Abby held in her hands. "You can't forget the Caf-Pow!"

"Right…" Abby said, looking down at the cup she held.

The entire team began to laugh as Abby slurped on her Caf-Pow! and Ziva couldn't help but join in. Looking around the table at the members of her team—of her family—Ziva felt more loved and more peaceful than she ever had in her life. She was just about to raise her wine glass and make a toast to the team, but Gibbs beat her.

He raised his glass and grinned his trademark smile. "These dinners have become something I look forward to more and more every time we have them. The food is amazing and, thanks to Abby here, we're never short of hugs or energy. But," he said, looking at his watch, "I do believe it's time for all of us to get our butts home."

Quickly checking his own watch, Ducky gasped. "You're right, Jethro!" he exclaimed. "Mother will probably be wandering around the house talking to the dogs right about now. I should probably put her back into bed," he added, standing up. "Come on, Mr. Palmer. I'll drive you to your house."

And with that, the team slowly began to leave; Ducky with Palmer, McGee, Abby, and Gibbs all walking down the stairs together until it was just Ziva and Tony left standing in the doorway of Ziva's apartment.

"The food really was great, Zi," Tony said, pulling his coat on. "I'm glad you invite me to these parties," he added.

Ziva felt chills run up her spine as she watched Tony pull his coat on. Watching him put his clothes on made her think of what it would be like to watch him take those same clothes off.

Shaking the thought from her head, Ziva smiled and replied, "It is my pleasure to invite you, Tony. You always make for entertaining conversation."

Tony laughed. "I think I'll take that as a compliment, Miss David," he said. "I guess I'll see you on Monday," he added.

"Yes. I will see you on Monday," Ziva stated as she held the door open for Tony. "Drive safely," she added.

"I will," he laughed as she turned around and began to walk down the hallway.

Once Tony was out of her sight, Ziva shut the door to her apartment and let out a loud sigh.

She pulled her hair out of it's bun and let her curls fall to her shoulders. She tugged the cardigan off and threw it onto her couch as she kicked off her heels. She then headed to the kitchen to clean the dishes.

God, he looked perfect tonight, she thought to herself as she loaded plate after plate into the small dishwasher. That shirt fit him so wonderfully. If only he knew how much that shirt drove me crazy. He's perfect.

Her mind continued to circulate around Tony and her desire for him until she heard a knock at the door. She snapped out of her day dream and looked towards the door, unsure if what she was hearing was real. Then she heard the knocking again.

"Coming," she said as she wiped her hands on a dish towel and walked towards the door. Not bothering to glance in the peephole, she let out a gasp as she opened the door.

"Tony," she said breathlessly. Suddenly, she felt bare and wished she had kept her cardigan on. There's that shirt again. Why did he have to come back? Unless…Maybe he knows it drives me crazy. Maybe he wants to… Ziva thought to herself.

Oh my god, Tony thought as Ziva swung the door open. She looks perfect…

"I…Uh…I forgot my gloves," he said pointing to the table that sat in her living room. "It's cold out there and I don't want freeze my fingers off," he stammered, unable to take his eyes off Ziva.

"Right," Ziva laughed, standing to the side to let Tony in before shutting the door. She turned around and walked to the table where his gloves were. She thought she felt his eyes staring at her as she walked away, but she threw that thought away as she picked up his gloves and handed them to him.

"Thanks…" he murmured, unsure of what to say.

The two of them stood there, awkward silence surrounding them. Ziva fiddled with the ties that hung from her dress and Tony fiddled with his gloves.

Eventually, Tony could take the silence no longer.

"I guess I should be going," he said, turning abruptly and heading swiftly towards the door.

His hand was on the door handle when she lost control. "Tony!" she blurted, placing a hand on his arm.

"Yea?" he asked, looking between her eyes and the hand that rested on his arm.

"I, uh, wanted to ask you something," she said softly, pulling her hand away from his arm and avoiding all eye contact with Tony.

"Okay, shoot," Tony replied, taking his hand from the door and turning to face her.

"I was wondering…Would it be okay if…" Ziva couldn't bring herself to say what was on her mind. She was terrified.

"Come on, Ziva," Tony laughed. "Finish your sentence," he added.

"I was wondering if I could kiss you," she whispered, lifting her head to meet his gaze.