There has never been someone who could read him so well. As much as he tries to hide it, and he does, she can see through his masks. It is like the words are written on his face, it seems to him. She can tell when something is bugging him, even if it is something so unimportant that he could never explain why it upset him. But she knows.
It seems to him like she knows everything about him. Like she can read his darkest thoughts, and he feels that their are many of them. But she sees the good, always the good.
He trusts her. That much he knows. But what else does he feel, that is a mystery. Affection, maybe. But nothing like the love she has for him. Yet, it is so easy to be with her. They walk together, in silence. And it is enough, just to know that she will always be there when he needs her. Will be there to give advice and to tell the truth. To tell him what he needs to know, to tell him what she reads on her face.
That's how it all began. Just a look. A look that didn't mean anything. Their eyes met and friendship was formed. It took a while before either of them would admit it, but they became best friends. For them it was easy to be together, nothing had to be said. Just company.
Then the rumors started to spread. She couldn't deny to him that she accepted them. The rumors of their togetherness. But that was not what he wanted. He didn't want to be forced into anything by the words from others' mouths. And she understood.
He began to date someone else, and this she accepted as well. It made him happy, or he thought it did, at any rate. She knew it wouldn't last. He knew it too. But she wouldn't say that to him. She let him find his own way, giving him the space he needed. The friend he was looking for, though maybe she wanted more.
He fell in love. Not with her, of course, but in love nonetheless. So she watched, and she helped him. Told him what needed to be said, to be done, for things to work out for him and his new girl. It hurt her, of course, she loved him. But she had never been happier.
Knowing that she had a friend that she could rely on was enough. So yes, it hurt. But that didn't matter. Life hurt. But that is the price we pay. She didn't believe it for a long time, but he changed her. Turned her into someone who was willing to fail, just for the experience. Sure, she was still a perfectionist, sure she still was snide sometimes. But it didn't matter anymore. Because they were friends, and that truth was enough.
After all, feeling is the price we pay for living, and it is worth it.
A/N- I don't know what characters I was thinking for this one. Maybe Ziva watching Tony fall in love with Jeanne? I don't know. That is kinda what I was going for. You tell me what you think. I would like to thank Brendan, if you are reading my other story I'm Alive, then you already know Bren. But if you don't, then he is my BBF, and he gave me the quote "feeling is the price we pay for living." So I thank him for that. If you like this, please let me know, because I will do another one like it, but from the opposite perspective. Still no names, of course. So tell me what you think, thank you for reading, and thank you Brendan for your words of wisdom! I love you all!