Disclaimer: I totally don't own even .00000000001% of NCIS, I don't think I could even afford to own that much, so please don't sue me. I'm just writing to hold be over between new episodes. I'm that devoted.

Tony strode into the bullpen with a dazzling smile attached to his face and his earbuds snug inside his ears. He bopped around to the music as he would any other day. Ziva glimpsed up hoping not to be noticed and acted as casual as she could. Even after what happened in Paris nothing had changed in their friendship or their work. Nothing had changed, as peculiar as it sounded, it was the truth.

Maybe it was because a couple is really just close friends, maybe it was because they had already had an intimate friendship such as that of best friends, or even childhood friends. However, this morning something had changed, or rather Ziva was made aware of the change that had occurred months ago. It wasn't as if she hadn't know. It was hard to miss but having to say it out loud made it all the more real.

The more people who knew of the change, the more real it would become. After this morning it would be more real than ever. As long as only she knew, she could just pretend it was a dream, or paranoia. And that was the change; she would not be alone anymore. Tony shot her a smile causing Ziva's gaze to shy away. She didn't want to be there anymore. She wasn't ready for it to become real but suddenly she was trapped.

Tony took notice in this new changed and pulled the earphones from his ears, looking at her quizzically. She remained immersed in her work, whether she was really doing it or not. He took a casual seat at his desk taking just a moment to gather his thoughts. Ziva was a peculiar creature. At times it could be dangerous to explore her poor mood, but others perfectly beneficial. The task at hand was determining what type of day it was today. First, he examined her face, then her outfit and hair. If she was willing to discuss her bad mood she would be less pulled together than if she was pretending nothing was wrong. Yet, he couldn't stay focused long enough to decide because his mind had wandered back in time.

Ziva stood in the middle of the hotel room looking around. In the passed they would have started off, as soon as they crossed the threshold, arguing about who had to take the couch but she seemed to have something else on her mind. She looked over at him and gave him a slight smile, almost reassuring, yet she said nothing. Uncomfortable with the lack of routine, Tony broke the silence.

"So, I guess I'll take the couch, then." Tony mumbled with a smile feeling the restoration of balance.

"Whatever you wish, Tony. I will be sleeping in the bed whether you wish to sleep on the bed or the couch." Ziva answered coolly and then the room was off balance again. Tony wracked his brain for another way to make things as they should be.

"Ziva, are you saying that..?" Tony trailed off feeling extremely stupid. They were both adults, they could share a bed without anything taking place. No boundaries would be crossed. Ziva raised an eyebrow expectantly to which Tony answered with the shake of his head.

"What I am saying is, is that we are in Paris and, and nothing has to change."Ziva stuttered nervously and the sense of stupidity washed over her as well. So, she wasn't thinking about something as innocent as he was.

"Just say it, Zizi. I'm sick of pretending." Tony sighed hoping that he was correct at what she was getting at. A nickname he had never used before escaped his lips and set the scene for the comfort they teased and mocked each other in from day to day.

"So let us not pretend. Just for one night, let us not pretend, Anthony." Ziva spoke with relief and the normal feeling of comfort swelling inside her. And somehow, the subconscious use of his full name displayed just how at ease she was. It was out of character, yes, but she had said it without a second thought. He stepped forward feeling a change, though he knew it would last just a night, and welcoming it. He hung his head down so his lips were level with hers, waiting for her to make the move. She had said it, so she had to initiate it. He was not brave enough to break the rule.

"I want to, Ziva. But Gibbs... and number 12..." Tony whispered, knowing she would fill in the blanks herself. Really, he didn't believe it truly applied to them. They felt something stronger than flings and whatever else would end in petty hard feelings, didn't they? He didn't know if he would go so far as say it was love, though for him it was, because it was too hard to really speak the words.

"Nail the rules, Tony, just for tonight." Ziva replied, short puffs of her breathe hitting his lips. He let his head drop further and even the slightest movement would result in contact.

"The word you're looking for is screw" Tony corrected. Ignoring him and her impatience growing Ziva took the initiative to close the gap between them. Tony let his eyes close, welcoming the feeling of her lips against his. Their arms all hung to their sides, leaving the only contact to be their lips. He wanted to pull her into him but at the same times he didn't want to waste the long awaited touch of her mouth against his. He indulged every inch of the soft skin of her lips, memorizing it because it could be his only chance.

After taking full advantage of just her lips he took to slip his mouth open. She obliged and they twisted together in an array of complex emotions. Slow and steady but wanting all the same. There was so much of each other that they wanted but so little time, and only one chance, that it would a shame to rush. He broke away for a second to tell her everything he had bit back before. If he didn't say it now, before it changed, she would never believe him.

His hands found her face and he let his thumbs graze over the olive color of her cheeks. He memorized her face and thought of the best way to phrase it.

"I couldn't live without you. It was a suicide mission." Tony explained as he gauged her reaction to his words.

Ziva pushed his hands from her face and took a step back knowing the three words he implied, 'i love you'.

"you're only saying.... because we are about to..." Ziva dismissed shaking away the words that penetrated her defenses. Her father hadn't come for her, Tony had. She very well could return his sentiments but the words burned on the tip of her tongue and would not be spoken.

"No, because it's true." Tony disagreed before pulling her to his body, his hands clutching desperately at her upper arms. He could see it in her face, and felt it through her kiss that she wanted to say the very same thing. She twisted her hands up in his hair and proceeded to throw the rules out the window, because tonight they did not apply.

"Good morning, Ziva" Tony said, beginning his journey into what was deeply troubling her.

"Good morning, Tony" She responded with perfectly crafted casualty.

Let me know what you think please! I just realized now how badly screwed up the format got. I'm sure it was confusing and turned people off. (I wished someone had mentioned that it was hard to follow. Then I would have picked up on my mistake earlier) I think I've finally fixed it though! Ug, I'm sorry! I hope you give this a chance. I really appreciate all the hits and reviews and stuff.