"Cherish each other, that's all I'm saying." The words went over and over again in Tony's mind. He sat on his sofa with a bottle of beer staring at a blank TV. He only had one person on his mind, and it was Ziva. He thought about everything they have been through. All the times he almost lost her. He thought about Somalia, which made him think about Michael. Then he thought all the times he almost lost her. He didn't think he could handle it again. He wasn't in love with her. Yeah, he loved her but not that way. Wait did he? Did Tony DiNozzo love Ziva David. His partner of 7 years. His best friend. The only girl who actually understood him. The only girl he could talk to about things. The only girl he felt comfortable around. They had been through so much together. He didn't know what to do. Was he about to admit that he loved her? Could he do this? He wasn't the type of guy to go about falling in love with girls, but this was different. This was Ziva. Ziva David. The strongest person he had ever met. She had been through so much in her life. Maybe she felt the same way. Was it possible? He couldn't go about keeping this bottled inside forever. Someone special once told him that.
"I love her," He thought out loud. He stood up and smiled. "I love her," He repeated. "I love her."
He put his beer bottle on the table and ran for his coat. He opened his apartment door to see Ziva David just about to knock on it.
"Ziva!" He shouted excitedly. Surprised to see her, wondering what she was doing here he grabbed her wrist softly and pulled her in. He held the top of her hands.
"Ziva, I have to tell you something." He begun.
"Yes?" She said shyly.
"Ziva, I think… Actually I know, that I am in love with you." He told her. She gasped. He took her hands in his. "Ziva you are the most amazing, beautiful kick-ass person I have ever met. I have been thinking about this for a while. I know you are probably still hurting about just braking up with Ray but oh my God Ziva I am totally and completely in love with you. I know I sound like a stupid little school boy here, but I am serious Ziva. I love you."
She stared into his glassy green eyes a little longer and then pulled him crashing into her and she kissed him passionately on the lips. They kissed until they had to break apart for oxygen reasons. She put her forehead on his.
"I love you too Tony. That's what I came here to tell you." She told him when she got her breath back.
He smiled and pulled her into another kiss. He was holding her so close and so tight as if he was never going to let her go. Something he didn't want to do. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the only woman he loves. That woman being Ziva David.