Ziva immediately knew when she awoke that she wasn't at her own home. The colors were wrong, the scent was wrong, and these things made it very, very right. "Mmm… Tony?" she murmured as she rubbed her eyes, holding the sheet to her chest. Looking to her side, her eyebrows contracted into a sharp V when she saw he wasn't there. She got out of the bed, and, unable to find her clothes anywhere, threw on one of his dress shirts, not bothering to button it. She walked around his apartment, looking in the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen, and the dining area.
Her heart plummeted when she realized that he wasn't there.
Dammit, Ziva, she thought to herself, sinking onto his couch and burying her face in her hands. How could you do this? You knew this would happen! I mean, yes, it's his own home, but he's not the kind to stick around once he's finished. How could you let yourself be vulnerable to him?! Unbidden, her question from the previous night rose to mind: "Will you still love me in the morning, Tony?" Tears poured down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably.
She heard the front door open, and she rose to her feet, fists clenched at her sides and prepared to shout when she took in the sight before her. Tony was struggling to work his way into his apartment, a laundry-filled hamper balanced precariously on his knee while one hand pushed open the door and the other held a brown paper grocery bag. He managed to make it in, closing the door behind him, and set everything down, smiling when he saw her. His smile slowly turned to a frown when he saw her tear-streaked cheeks.
"I take it you didn't find the note I left next to the alarm clock?"
Ziva's face turned beet red in embarrassment, and she strode forwards, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. He quickly reciprocated the hug, burying his face in her hair, and he held her until she let go. "Well, I took our laundry down to the basement because it needed to be washed after yesterday's storm. While that was going, I ran across the street and got some supplies, because I don't really have anything in my fridge." He pouted slightly. "I was hoping I'd be able to surprise you with breakfast in bed."
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I should have trusted you."
"Boss would cite Rule #6, but I want you to understand something, Ziva. You don't have to strong with me. I'll be there for you whenever you're feeling weak."
Ziva just smiled softly, and grabbed enough of her clothes out of the basket to make herself decent enough to help him make breakfast. As she watched Tony busy himself making omelets, she felt truly at peace. Yes, she knew, he will still love me in the morning.
Review, tell me how I did.
-Zeratide, out.