The Hardest 180
Tony and Ziva in Israel summer and early fall 2013
Chapter 1: Found
Mid-August 2013
"I'm getting close," Tony told McGee and Gibbs. "I can feel it."
Gibbs glared at his SFA over the MTAC communication, "Said that a month and a half ago."
Tony shrugged, "I'm going off the grid for a while, Boss. I'll try to text or email periodically."
"Said THAT too a month and a half ago," Gibbs motioned for McGee end the communication.
Tony closed the video communication app and then shut down the laptop. He sighed and looked towards the doorway to the farmhouse, "I hate lying to him; do you know how hard that was?"
Ziva nodded, "He probably already knows that you lied. He is Gibbs after all."
Tony moved closer to his ninja. He had followed her across the Middle East for a month, seeming to be one step behind until he rethought his plan to find her. Once he had put his mind into 'Ziva mode,' he had found her quickly. They had been together at the farmhouse for the past ten days. Yes, he had counted the days together.
"You're worth it, Zi. I would take a million head slaps just to be with you." Tony brushed his lips on hers, pulling her to him. "Just like we are now; I could stay this way forever." Ziva purred into his kisses and smiled.
"We cannot stay THIS way for too long, Tony. Doda Nettie is coming for dinner in an hour." Tony followed Ziva into the kitchen and helped her prepare dinner.
"I'm glad you decided to let me make spaghetti for Aunt Nettie," Tony grinned at Ziva as she made a salad and garlic bread. "I think she was beginning to think I wouldn't follow through on my promise to make it for her." Tony stirred the spaghetti sauce and then filled a pot with water to make the pasta once Doda Nettie arrived.
"She trusts you, Tony," Ziva reassured him. "Because I trust you, she knows she can too."
"Zivaleh, I trust Tony because he loves you," Nettie entered the kitchen with a cake in her hands. "I brought dessert." She placed the cake on the kitchen counter and hugged Ziva. Tony moved next to Ziva and hugged Nettie as well.
As Nettie seated herself on one of the barstools by the counter, Ziva finished making the salad and chatted with her Doda. Tony put the pasta into the boiling water, adding a teaspoon of olive oil and stirring to separate the strands so they wouldn't stick together. He stirred the sauce, offering a taste to Ziva. She accepted the spoonful he held out for her, commenting after she tasted, "It is better than ever, Tony. You have perfected your recipe!"
"With your help, sweetcheeks, especially with the olives and mushrooms," Tony grinned at Ziva and locked gazes with her. He leaned forward and brushed his lips on hers. Nettie watched her niece and Tony with amusement. She was so very happy for Ziva; she smiled at the couple. If only Rivka were alive to see her Zivaleh so happy.
Tony picked up the pot of spaghetti from the stove and drained the pasta. He dumped the pasta into a serving bowl and placed the bowl, the pot of sauce and some grated parmesan cheese on the table as Ziva put the salad out. Tony held Nettie's chair for her to be seated.
"Toda, Anthony." Nettie smiled at her niece's lover. He was such a polite young man and so attentive to both her and Ziva.
"Al lo davar," Tony replied as he moved to hold Ziva's chair for her.
"Toda," Ziva bushed her lips on Tony's as she sat down. He sat next to her and Nettie offered a blessing for the meal. Tony served pasta and sauce into three bowls, handing one to Nettie first, then one to Ziva and finally one for himself. Ziva served portions of salad and slices of garlic bread to three salad plates and passed them to the others, keeping one for herself.
Nettie took several bites of the spaghetti, "Anthony, this is delicious! You can make spaghetti for me any time!" She smiled at him as she spoke.
Tony grinned at Aunt Nettie, "Toda, Doda Nettie. You should also get Ziva to make lasagna for you." As he replied to Nettie, Tony swiped a piece of a meatball off Ziva's dish, grinning widely at his best friend.
As Ziva grinned back at him, she speared a piece of meat from his plate onto her fork. The couple locked eyes as Nettie watched, amused at their interactions. She now understood why Schmeil had gone into such detail about his dinner with the two. She also realized, as Schmeil had, that these two were so in love with each other; that they were soulmates in every sense of the word. Nettie knew in her heart that Rivka was smiling down on Ziva and her young man.
After the meal, Tony and Ziva put away the leftover food as Nettie put slices of cake on plates for each of them. Ziva made a pot of tea to share with her Doda. The three carried their cake to the porch, along with the tea and a glass of water for Tony. They talked about general things as the sun set and they ate the dessert. Tony wrapped an arm around Ziva as the couple sat side by side on the wicker loveseat on the porch. She leaned her head on his shoulder, her hand on his knee. He softly kissed the top of her head as they chatted with Nettie.
As the stars started appearing, Nettie finished her tea and stood up to say her goodbyes and head home. "Thank you for a wonderful dinner and even better company," she said to both Tony and Ziva. She hugged Tony and then Ziva, "Laila tov. I am sure you two lovebirds are ready for some time to yourselves." She winked at Tony and squeezed Ziva's hands in hers.
"Laila tov, Doda," Tony motioned to Ziva to walk Nettie to her car as he began gathering dishes from the porch. Ziva nodded to Tony and walked with Nettie.
At the older woman's car, she drew her Doda into a hug. "Toda, Doda. We will see you again soon."
Nettie put a hand on Ziva's cheek, "Zivaleh, he is so good for you; he is a good man and he obviously loves you so very much. I am so very happy for you, and I know your Ima is happy as well. Let your heart be fully his; you will be together forever, yaldati. He is your soulmate, yes?"
"Ken, Doda." Ziva hugged her aunt one more time. "Laila tov."
As Ziva watched the tail lights of Nettie's car disappear down the long driveway from the farmhouse, Tony came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled into her neck, letting her curls tickle his face as he placed kisses on the nape of her neck and then nibbled her earlobe. "Mmm," he hummed into her ear. "Now shall we get back to where we were earlier?"
Ziva leaned into his embrace, "Yes…" She trailed off as he turned her to face him and locked his lips on hers. The couple kissed hungrily, and Ziva slowly headed the pair to the house, walking and kissing at the same time.
Inside, Ziva broke the kiss long enough to lock the front door and close lights. She took Tony's hand and led him to the bedroom, tugging at his clothing. He responded to her kisses and ran his hand up under her tank top. She shivered involuntarily at the touch of his hand on her skin. Oh, how he still knew the places to touch her…