A/N: After the flashback (First part) everything in italic is in her head. :)
"I love you." he said as I walk away.
I turn around and stare at him. Many things run through my mind.
He got down on one knee, and my jaw fell open, eyes wide with shock.
"Will you marry me?"
Perhaps I should have handled it differently…
Her mind wandered off. Her eyes bore a blank expression as her inner Ziva scolded her for the perfect moment she spoiled. The moment that could have been hers. Theirs.
"Could that have been what he thought we would want together?" her mind tossed at her. "Yes."
"Is that really the best answer you've got?"
"What do you expect?" she paused a moment before thinking again. "What could you have expected?" she asked herself innocently.
Tears came slowly yet to her eyes, "I could have jumped. I should have jumped. He was the reason I had considered it. That man was so faithful to his dead wife. Ray was the reason his wife was dead. If Ray had not had to ruin her life, I could have coped. I would have coped."
Her inner voice was softer, more gentle when it spoke, "And how about if he left you again?"
This one puzzled her. As each week went by, her patience was thinning and the wait nearly killed her. Even though she saw him fulfill his promise, it just might not be enough. "I would cope." She answered.
"Why?" was the response the voice gave.
"He used to be the man I loved. Being with him could have made me happy."
"Could?"
"He is not the man I love. I have opened my eyes wide enough."
A tear stained her cheek as she pulled herself out of the stupor, but she brushed it off.
Tony right in front of her hadn't stopped staring at her. There was concern in his eyes. But she lit a faint smile, earning a returning one from him too.
"I chose what I did for a reason." She reminded herself.
In reality, she had no idea what really impulse her to do so. But when her partner's eyes kindled, and his smile lit up the room, she knew what she did was right. If not for her, then for him.
A/N: :) Review! :)