Before you read this one-shot, I want you to know that I started writing it a few months ago but finished it today. You'll see why I feel like I had to clarify that. It takes place five years after 11x02 ("Past, Present, and Future") but season 13 finale never existed (I was so heartbroken after watching it, by the way).
English isn't my first language, so please excuse any mistakes :)
I own nothing.

Ziva was walking down the street she knew so well five years ago when she was still working at NCIS. Her favourite coffee shop was still there. She always purchased hot drinks for her co-workers there and sue her but she hardly ever could stop herself from buying a piece of cake to eat later if she wouldn't have any break till the end of the day.

And next to that coffee shop was a place where Tony bought take-outs since the day she met him and the team. Not only because it was close to the Navy Yard but also it was really good, and Tony being Tony would never eat something he didn't like. Well, except once. Ziva cooked them dinner after a tough case and he didn't tell her that he was not a big fan of nuts. He was so tired and hungry that he didn't really care anyway.

It was almost four pm on Saturday - a sunny day in the middle of May. Families were out in a nearby park spending their free time together relaxing from stress, work and focusing on their family bond.

Seeing them she stopped and smiled. She sighed heavily trying not to think too much about what she could have had these days if she hadn't decided to work her issues out on her own. She was thirty-nine and still alone. That was what she wanted, wasn't it? Who knows, maybe today she would be happily married or even a mother?

There was a time she didn't believe she would be able to even live that long. She was born to make her father proud, to serve, fight, kill. She was good at it but there could always be someone better and she would be gone in a moment. After seeing so much anger, evil, so many deaths caused by heartless people, people just like her, how could she possibly think about a perfect life with a man and children by her side? Did she deserve a happily ever after, after all she had done?

She was a grown woman now. Maybe she didn't exactly know what she wanted but she was perfectly aware of what she needed. Ziva was done with being alone anymore, she longed for someone to stick by her side again, for someone who would always be ready to devote himself as much as she did, someone who would understand why she acted the way she did when she was broken, who would accept her past, who wouldn't question her about it, who would love her with pure love... In only she knew she found that person all these years ago. But she knew now and she was willing to go for it, to fight for her own happiness.

Her heart almost stopped when she spotted him next to the tree across the street. He was wearing his casual clothes and talking on the phone but his eyes were focused on something in front of him. She tried to recognise what he was looking at but all she could see was a playground with some children.

And then she understood.

She'd been gone for five years, five long years.

What were you hoping for? That he would wait for you? Even if he did at first, did you really believe he wouldn't find someone else? He told you he wanted to change, he wanted to move on with his life. You weren't ready, you thought you can wait some more time and then think about starting a family with him but he was done with waiting, with hoping you'll be back, with you. You're too late.

In the meantime, a little blonde girl rushed towards him. He bend down and stroked her ponytail with his free hand while she was hugging his leg. Ziva saw him covering his phone with his palm and saying something to the child which caused a giggle from the little one. She put her small hands in the air and silently pleaded for being picked up, he gently did it and placed her on his hip.

She was standing frozen trying to blink back tears. There she was, back in DC, almost next to the person she loved and a girl… The girl she hoped she would have with him one day. Except that she would look different. She wouldn't be blonde, well maybe she would but not that light blonde, her hair would be curly but she would still be loved as much as the little one in front of her.

She almost lost it when the child looked in her direction. Ziva could swear that Tony's daughter smiled at her placing her head on his shoulder. It made him chuckle and then he placed a kiss on her head. Seeing he was going towards her, still not aware of her presence, Ziva hid in the nearest bookshop.

You could have had it, you know it.

Yes, she knew and that's probably what hurt the most. But now she had to let it go, let them go, let them live their happy life. After all she'd done to him he deserved much more.

If only she knew how wrong she was.

If only she knew that this little girl wasn't his daughter.

If only she knew he promised Jimmy to take care of Victoria while he and Breena were spending some time alone celebrating their wedding anniversary.

If only she knew he was still truly, madly and deeply in love with her.