Tony lay in his single bed absentmindedly twirling the Star of David between his fingers. The necklace had been a permanent fixture upon his neck since the day he left, nearly six months ago. Ziva had slipped it into his pocket as they had kissed goodbye. He remembered his heart breaking in that moment. He had fought for her and still lost her. He was dismal, miserable, just barely holding himself together. He glanced at the clock, 2:30am, and realized that yet again he would not get a decent night's sleep in as many days as he could remember. His brain refused to let her go, even for just a minute to fall sleep.
A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked at the clock, now 3:01am. "No," he moaned, rolling over to bury his face in the pillow. Perhaps if he didn't answer they would go away. At yet another knock, Tony sighed and resigned himself to the fact that whoever it was wasn't giving up. He untangled himself from the mess of sheets, pulled on a loose pair of sweats that just barely clung to his hips, and padded down the hall. He opened the door with a frustrated huff and froze, standing there in complete disbelief.
"Tony."
Surely he was dreaming. She stood in his doorway, uncomfortable and flighty. Her eyes darting from his face to his body and down the hall. He held his breath while taking in the sight of her. She was as beautiful as ever with her loose dark curls encasing her face and shoulders. Tony noted the desperation in her eyes and the dark circles underneath.
"Ziva," he breathed.
"Tony, I…I gave up everything." She fumbled on with her brow creased, "but I could not…and should not give you up. You are the best thing that has ever come into my life, and you are the only family I have left. I cannot give that up."
For a split second neither dared to stir. Tony's hand darted out to her and pulled her close. They crashed into each other, ferocious and passionate. His hand tangled at the base of her neck. He lost himself in the taste, smell, and proximity of her. He pulled Ziva into his apartment, closed the door, and splayed her against it without breaking the kiss.
"Breathe," he told himself. He pulled away just long enough for both to gasp for air. He worked his way from the base of her neck to her ear, eventually returning to her lips. She pushed him away from the door and towards his bedroom, a move that he willingly followed. Together they toppled onto the single bed.
He woke with a smile on his lips. He had slept soundly for the first time in ages. Ziva was curled tightly to him, her hair soft against his chest. She sighed involuntarily and nestled closer in his embrace. "We are going to be ok," he thought. "Ziva came home."