a/n: I felt last night's episode left the whole "American Dream" plot unfinished. This is how I am choosing to conclude it:
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"You a citizen yet?" He asks, a sly smile gracing his features as he throws the bag over his shoulder.
Ziva does not look up from her desk, pen moving quickly upon paper, before replying, "I have my interview this Thursday."
"Ah. Well, if you need any help studying, I'm practically an encyclopedia of constitutional knowledge."
She scoffs quietly and he slowly walks toward her. "Somehow I have trouble believing that."
"So maybe I didn't pay too much attention in my eighth grade government class. Doesn't mean I don't know what it means to be an American."
"Your idea of the 'American Dream' is far different than mine." She says, finally looking up at him, a vaguely amused expression on her face. "I see it as more of a cultural idea. You see it as entrepreneurship."
"Well, sure, that's part of it. Working your way up the cooperate ladder – nothing more capitalist than that." He says and Ziva smiles, returning her focus to the papers beneath her. "But that's not everything. I mean, I've seen 'Death of a Salesman' – the movie at any rate. 1985 made for TV film, Dustin Hoffman's-"
"Tony." Ziva interrupts quickly, throwing in a glare for added effect. "The point."
"It's about settling down. Having a family, owning a house. Living a white-picket life. I get it. Sometimes it even sounds appealing."
"That does not seem like the kind of life you would enjoy." She says after a pause.
"I guess I'm just full of surprises." He says, in a tone that would sound joking had it not been at nearly whisper.
"Yes. Well, that is not why I am becoming a citizen. I do not want white-pickies, or whatever it is you call them."
"What do you want?"
Ziva's eyes meet Tony's as a heavy look passes between the two.
"To be here. To not be in Israel. To be an NCIS agent."
"You're not going to miss it? You spent practically your whole life there. Tough change."
"I have spent the last four years in DC, Tony. I believe I have assimilated." She wants to stop there, but his eyes remain focused intently on her own, pleading her to elaborate. "But, yes. There are certain aspects I will miss."
"Family?" He asks softly.
She lets herself smile a little before closing the file on her desk. "My family is here."
Tony's smile turns genuine, though he tries to suppress it. "It's not really the same though. We're more like surrogates."
"My nuclear family is either physically dead, or emotionally dead. I do not have much else."
"Never thought about having a family of your own? I mean, you looked pretty natural with Amira today. Never thought I'd see you so maternal."
"Why are you asking this?"
Tony pauses, seemingly searching for a legitimate reason. "You're my partner. I feel like I should know these things."
"Then shouldn't I know the same things about you? Have you ever thought about marriage? Commitment? Children?"
Tony is silent for a moment, mouth opening and closing as he tries to articulate a response.
"It is not a simple answer, is it?" She asks, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Let this suffice, Tony: for now, I would be happy to just be an American citizen." She leaves him with a smile, briskly walking past him toward the elevator.
Tony makes no move to follow her, his eyes remaining focused on the spot where Ziva had been standing.
He hears the elevator doors shut before he moves again, taking one last lingering look at the probationary officer's desk.
"Just being a citizen isn't enough anymore." He mutters quietly, walking slowly to the lift. "Not for me."
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So yeah. Very short, and I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews? Any ideas for an elaboration? I kind of want to write more on this.