And I still feel like I am falling
When I look in your eyes
And in the dunes at Coney Island
Will you kiss me on the lips like it was the first time
And I will pretend to resist
Cause in a world so full of troubles
I think that we've seen enough
And they'll still be here tomorrow
When the sun comes up
- Antje Duvekot "Coney Island"
They walked along the boardwalk, fingers intertwined. It was mid afternoon in February and almost no one was out. It was silent and lonely. Peaceful. It suited them in a way.
Suddenly Tony pulled Ziva to his chest, wrapping his arms firmly around her waist. She squeaked in surprise, before finding her mouth cut off by a sweet kiss. She pulled away as soon as she could.
"What was that for?" she asked angrily.
"I love you."
She stared at him for a moment. He had never said that before.
"I love you too."
They stared at each other for a moment longer. He pulled one hand free, still holding her firmly to him with the other. He stroked her cheek lovingly before pulling her mouth to his again. This time she didn't argue.
ONE YEAR AGO
"Good morning Tony, you are here early," Ziva said as she walked into the bullpen.
He didn't answer, purposefully ignoring her.
"Tony? What is wrong?"
"Nothing."
"If nothing were wrong, you would be running in here two minutes late and reading GSM before Gibbs got here." She dropped her stuff next to her desk and then walked over to lean on his. "So something is wrong."
"Nothing is wrong Ziva!"
She looked down at his desk. A beautiful letter typed on fancy stationary sat on his desk. Quick as lighting, she reached down and grabbed it jumping out of reach as Tony yelled, "Ziva! That's personal!"
Thankfully, Gibbs wasn't there yet and McGee was down visiting Abby.
"'You are invited to the wedding of Anthony DiNozzo Sr. and Clare Adams on the 18th of February.'" She looked up at Tony. "Your dad's getting married?"
He slumped back down into his desk chair, his face in his hands, elbows on knees. "Apparently. I haven't even heard of this girl. And then I get this." On the back of the invitation was a photo of a young blonde girl, snuggled up against his father.
"Wow. That's interesting."
"He wants me to go." She looked down to see him looking up at her, pain and weakness in his eyes. "I just don't know if I can. Ziva, I– I don't know if I can be in the same room with him and a new stepmother…" His face fell back into his hands. He was on the verge of a meltdown.
She dropped down to her knees in front of him and put her hands on his knees. "Hey, it's alright. I'm here. We're all here for you, Tony."
She heard him take a few ragged deep breaths before he turned his face up to her.
"Ziva? Will you come with me? For moral support, you know?"
She thought for about half a second. She was his partner, she was supposed to be there for him. Did that extend to going to his father's wedding with him? They had always been involved in the other's personal life. This wasn't over stopping the boundaries.
"Okay."
