A/N: Rule 1 came about in my story "Coming Home" so this chapter is particularly short. Read that story if you want to see how I bring Ziva back and Tony make Rule 1. It sets up the base for these little one-shots, but you don't need to read it in order to follow this story.
Also: obviously I don't own NCIS, because if I did Ziva would never have left!
The bed was much too cold.
Tony rolled over to check, already knowing he would find it empty. He turned is face into her pillow and groaned loudly. It was still warm and smelled of Ziva. She couldn't have left too long ago. Tony felt the long fingers of sleep trying to drag him back down, but he sat up stiffly and defiantly.
He would not already break his Rule 1.
He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and shoved his feet into his slippers. It was still pitch black outside.
"Please still be here Zee." He said to himself under his breath before braving himself to leave the room. He padded quietly down the hallway, his heart sinking when he found the living room empty. Then he heard it, a muffled thud of a cabinet door shutting in the kitchen. Tony tiptoed through the living room with a boyish grin on his face. She was still there. She hadn't left.
Ziva stood with her back turned, holding a glass of water and staring out the dark kitchen window. Her curly hair was mussed from sleeping and her feet were bare on the tile floor. His apartment, so unused to female visitors that stayed long, somehow had been more accepting of her presence than he expected. She fit perfectly there; she belonged.
"What are you doing awake Tony?" She asked without turning around. He shouldn't have been surprised. Of course his little ninja could tell he was there without looking.
"Just making sure that you're still here." He answered, leaning against the door frame that led into the kitchen. Ziva turned to face him, her dark eyes heavy with hurt.
"You thought that I had left?" she asked. She could not blame him; she had left before, after all. Tony shrugged, still leaning against the frame.
"I had to make sure that you didn't break Rule 1." He said smiling sideways. Ziva tilted her head and leaned back against the counter.
"Do not screw over your partner? Or always separate the suspects?" she asked. Tony laughed, standing upright.
"Not Gibb's Rule 1. My Rule 1." He said as he crossed the kitchen. Ziva folded her arms over her chest.
"You have rules now, Tony?" she smirked. Tony nodded as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"And what is Rule 1?" Ziva questioned. She uncrossed her arms and rested her palms on his chest.
"To never let you get away again." He answered her, pressing her against the counter as he kissed her. He felt Ziva smiled against his lips.
"I like Rule 1." She whispered.
"I like Rule 1 part A better." He whispered back. She arched her eyebrows in interest. Tony's grin grew wider across his face.
"Rule 1 A: never stop kissing you."