So here's my latest fanfic. Yes it's another Tiva, I did say I liked writing the last one and I did. I have never been to Las Vegas so if you live there or have visited Vegas or just know I have got some of the details wrong I am very sorry, hope it doesn't stop you reading it and I hope you like it. As always please review!
Italics- Hebrew
Disclaimer: DON'T OWN NCIS!
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tony asked, a worried look on his face that told Ziva he was concerned that she was having second thoughts about the decision they had made, well half an hour a go.
"Yes of course" she replied, smiling sheepishly. It wasn't like Ziva to doubt her own decisions but it was only now occurring to her what she had agreed, no suggested they did.
"Ok" said the lady at the desk, standing up and walking towards Ziva and Tony, "are you ready to get married?"
24 hours earlier
The plane landed at McCarran International airport at 17, 00 hours in Las Vegas. It had been a long week for the MCRT and before last night it had been 3 days since anyone had last seen their own homes, they were all shattered by the time Gibbs had given them permission to leave and craving their own beds as sleeping on the floor next to your desk was not the most comfortable position one could spend their nights in.
Tony had made plans to go to Vegas for a weekend break and it was only last night that Ziva had invited herself to come too. Usually he would have said no but it was Ziva and she did deserve a break, so he had agreed (though he probably didn't have much choice) to let her tag along.
"Why Las Vegas" Ziva asked Tony curiously as they waited for their luggage at the carrousel.
"Why not?" Tony replied.
"I just thought of you more as the Miami beach or Panama city type" Ziva said matter of factly.
"Well, I used to be, but I have matured now and thought I would give gambling a go, it's more…"
"Mature" Ziva smiled, finishing Tony's sentence for him.
"Yes" he replied hesitantly, unsure of Ziva's intentions with the comment.
Once they had waited nearly an hour for their suitcases they grabbed a taxi to the hotel. It was only 15 minutes away from the airport but the taxi driver managed to fit an hour's conversation (or monologue) into that short space of time making the trip seem much, much longer. The hotel was packed and nearly everyone except for the new arrivers appeared to be drunk, all clutching some form of alcoholic drink, despite the fact it was only 7 in the evening. "My kind of place" Tony said smiling, gazing around the casino in ore.
"Of course it is, DiNozzo" Ziva sighed, turning back to the front desk. They then checked in and headed up to their room. It was a very typical hotel room but luckily, immaculately kept. "Only one bed?" Ziva commented, eyeing the King-sized sceptically.
"Well if you had informed me earlier, you were interrupting my trip I could have made special arrangements, so it's your fault really." Ziva didn't answer, just turned away from Tony and began unpacking her bag. "Do you want me to call for a mattress?" Tony asked.
"Of course" Ziva said rotating sharply to face DiNozzo a horrified look on her face, "I wouldn't be caught dead sharing a bed with you!"
Now it was Tony's turn not to reply, he went to call room service while Ziva continued to unpack her bag. "Wait" Tony said, running back into the room, "Have you been to the doctor's recently?"
"What for?" Ziva asked innocently.
"Oh, you know, just for that little noise you make when you sleep, it's nothing really, you just… snore like a drunken sailor! In fact no, you snore louder than a drunken sailor!" Tony said, exasperated.
"Oh, I didn't realise." Ziva replied turning again to hide the small smile now forming on her lips.
"You didn't… oh never mind, just don't blame me if I kill you in your sleep!" Tony said his voice higher than usual. Ziva just smiled.
After briefly exploring the casino and losing $20 in the process, Tony and Ziva hit the rack. It was pretty early but both were still suffering from a combination of jet lag and a week's lack of sleep resulting in Ziva being knocked out pretty much instantly and Tony suffering through her snoring for an hour before sleep finally took over.
The next morning they explored Vegas. They saw Hotel Paris, the Bellagio and Caesar's Palace and took a stroll down the boulevard passing the chapel. Ziva paused outside, glancing up at the shining, white walls. How many people had passed through those doors? Ziva thought, how many had in one moment, pledged themselves to each other for the rest of their lives? Did they realise the commitment? Probably not. To most the idea of marrying in Vegas probably sounded like the furthest thing from romance there could be, but something about it drew Ziva to that chapel. Maybe it was the lack of planning that made her like it, the decision made in one moment, no thinking involved; no one to ask meant that nobody could deny them the opportunity, not even her father. At this thought Ziva's mind wandered to a conversation she had had with her brother years ago while they were both still teenagers.
"Do you think we shall ever find love, Ari?" Ziva asked her older brother, tears running down her face, she had asked her father earlier that day about the strange and exciting concept of marriage, she was 16 and nearly obsessed with idea of love and romance, something she hadn't yet experienced. Though Eli David had told her she was being ridiculous and that she should not be focused on anything other than her studies at that moment in time. This comment had stung Ziva hard, she felt like this was her father's subtle way of telling her that she did not have the right to love, or to be loved; her father condemned the idea of tears so she did not let them fall down her face until she had found her brother, he she could trust.
"Ziva… you will find a happy ending one day" Ari smiled at his little sister, holding her close.
"How do you know? How do you know we won't end up like Aba? I don't think he believes in love Ari, not love for another person at least" Ziva whispered, her eyes wet with tears.
"He does believe in love Ziva, he loves you and Tali and Israel, Aba knows though that to love another for a long time is a risk he cannot afford to take, not when he spends his life protecting the country that is his one true love. Ziva you are nothing like him, trust me on this." Ziva nodded, though she could hear it again, that strange edge in her brother's voice when he spoke of their father, she had never heard it at any other time and she had also never mentioned it to Ari.
"You do not think he loves you?" Ziva asked, though another wave of sobs was coming on and she wasn't sure if her brother could make out that last part. He pulled her closer as she sobbed into his shirt, drenching it in tears; Ziva did not hear Ari when he answered, "Perhaps…" he murmured into his little sister's hair.
"Ziva, you coming?" Tony asked as he watched her stare up at the chapel, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Ziva didn't answer.
"Tony, have you ever thought of getting married?" she asked, her eyes not leaving the chapel.
"You offering?" he asked her laughing.
"I'm serious Tony" Ziva said turning to him.
"Yes, once, Wendy, we were engaged but I thought you knew that."
Ziva looked at him curiously for a moment then sighed, "Yes, I did know that"
"Then why ask?" Tony said, slightly worried now. Ziva's attitude had changed rapidly she seemed fascinated by the chapel in front of her, almost as if she wanted to go in. Tony wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing, maybe it was good…
For dinner they went to a restaurant in the heart of Las Vegas. It was a roof top restaurant with incredible views over the city; very romantic, though of course Tony and Ziva weren't on a date. The meal was delicious and the evening was fun. Tony found himself wondering why they had never done this before, him and Ziva, having dinner together, it was fun. A totally none date kind of fun of course, Tony told himself.
As the sky darkened, the lights off Vegas turned on. The city came alive with the enthusiasm and excitement of Saturday night. Las Vegas seemed to buzz below them and it was something they had never experienced before in Washington; it was in a way, magical. The lights of a thousand stars flickered below and above them lighting up the sky magnificently and the far away hum of music from the casinos could be heard in the distance. "I never thanked you Tony" Ziva said as they walked down the street. They had left the restaurant and had the full intention of heading back to the casino where they planned on getting very drunk (that was the whole idea of the trip, at least for Tony, anyway).
"What for?" Tony said, watching Ziva as she strolled down the street next to him.
"Allowing me to come with you, I'm enjoying myself." Ziva said looking up to him and smiling, she wasn't sure if it was just the street light or the alcohol, though she hadn't had much yet, but Tony looked different somehow, good different.
"No problem, I am glad to have some company, especially if it's you." Tony hadn't meant to say that last part, it had just kind of slipped out.
"Especially if it's me?" Ziva questioned him, one eyebrow raised, 'what does he mean by that?' she asked herself, secretly hoping… wait no. What was she thinking? Tony was her co-worker, her friend, nothing more, even if he did look particularly handsome tonight…
"Err…" Tony said "Yeah, you know you're my friend, my best friend, I'm glad…" Tony trailed off; his voice had been wobbly as he had quickly tried to scramble together a plausible answer to her question.
They looked at each other, not speaking for a few seconds. Ziva's mind blurred as she looked into his eyes she couldn't remember where she was let alone what she was doing there. "Marry me." Ziva murmured.
No, no, no! What had she just said? Tony was going to think she was crazy and run away screaming or something even worse than that. This wasn't what was supposed to happen, she wasn't supposed propose. What was she thinking? She wasn't thinking; that was the problem. What was wrong with her? Panic took over and Ziva closed her eyes waiting for the running and the screaming. "Ok"
Ziva looked up, not quite believing her own ears. Had he really just said that? "I'm sorry?" Ziva asked, "I thought you would…"
"I know me two." Tony gulped, what was he saying? She had been joking, of course she had been joking; though she hadn't sounded like she had been joking…
"Are you serious?" Ziva asked "I mean; do you really want to get married?"
"Do you?" Tony asked.
"Yes" Ziva said, her throat dry. She meant it, she actually meant it. She wanted to marry Tony, she had always wanted to marry Tony she just didn't know how to say it, how to ask it and she had had no idea if Tony had felt the same way.
"So do I." Tony replied and he meant it.
"Wow" said Ziva, it was the only word that seemed to express properly how she felt then, the only word that made sense.
"We're going to get married." Tony laughed then smiled, he finally knew she felt the same way as he did. She had the same feelings for him that he had been trying to deny for her for the past few months.
"Yes" Ziva replied smiling as well, "and I know the perfect place."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tony asked, a worried look on his face that told Ziva he was concerned that she was having second thoughts about the decision they had made, well half an hour a go.
"Yes of course" she replied, smiling sheepishly. It wasn't like Ziva to doubt her own decisions but it was only now occurring to her what she had agreed, no suggested they did.
"Ok" said the lady at the desk, standing up and walking towards Ziva and Tony, "are you ready to get married?"
"Definitely" The two said unanimously as they stood up holding hands and walked into the chapel.