It's their 45th anniversary today, and as he lays the roses on the grave, he knows that wherever she is, she's smiling.
"I do not need roses, Tony. They will die anyway. I know you love me and that is enough."
He should call the children, and talk to them, but they are busy with their own lives, and he doesn't want to bother them. As he's debating this however, his phone rings and he looks down, squinting a bit to see the name on the caller id.
He answers it, "Hello Abby.
"Happy Aniversary Tony."
He can hear the sad smile in her voice, and he straightens,
"Thanks Abs, how are you?"
"Doing well, sitting with Bert the second and contemplating which movie to watch."
Tony smiled at the mention of the farting Giraffe, he had bought it for her to replace Bert the hippo when the poor thing had died in the jaws of a dog.
"Have you heard from probie?"
Abby laughs softly, "The other day. He's good."
Unlike with everyone else he talks to, this conversation isn't forced, it's Abby. He can tell her everything and always does.
"I miss her Abs."
"I know."
He looks down at the gravestone, intricately carved with desert flowers, her name, Ziva DiNozzo, is in the center, Beautiful wife and mother it reads underneath, and the saying brings back memories of the times they had together.
Dancing together, alone in the first apartment they shared, Ziva laughing at him because there was no music.
Ziva holding their firstborn, smiling at him. The children calling for him, playing with him while Ziva watched, smiling in happiness.
The memories overwhelm him and he sits down, still holding the phone to his ear.
"I'm tired Abby." He can tell she's shaking her head,
"Come on Tony, do it for me. Stay for me."
He's too old to care anymore, he wants to see Ziva. To hold her again, dance with her again.
He looks up at the bright blue sky, wondering again if she's dancing up there somewhere in the heavens, and if when he too dies, will he be able to dance with her.
"Yes."
As usual, Abby knows exactly what he's thinking, and he smiles briefly.
"Thanks Abby. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Be careful."
"Always."
He shouldn't be driving anymore, but he had to come to the cemetery.
He makes it home, and goes inside, stopping, as he always does, to take a deep breath and try to smell her once more. He closes the door and settles into his favorite chair, feeling particularly lonely.
He leans back and closes his eyes, the vision of favorite woman swaying towards him, smiling as always, dancing on a cloud, the cloud he's always imagined her on.
He can almost feel her arms around him as he holds her close and they sway together.
This vision is more real than any he's had before, he can smell her, the faint perfume she wears, light and airy, barely noticeable.
He opens his mouth, not sure if he should speak, "Ziva?"
"Yes, Tony?"
"Is this… Are you?"
"I am yours forever, am I not?"
"But how?"
"There comes a time when we must all leave the life we knew."
"And this, this is where we go?"
He looks around, seeing nothing but blue sky and white clouds.
"Yes.. I have been waiting on you."
He hugs her, "I would have come sooner, but,"
"You did not have a choice, but you are here now."
He smiles against her hair,
"I Love you."
"And I love you."
Somewhere in the vast Heavens, music begins playing, a violin and Tony is sure that it's playing for them.
He holds her close and they dance, their love radiating among the stars.
There is nowhere else they would rather be.