Author's Note: Wow, I guess I haven't lost my touch with this couple.

As always, they will end up naked together (TIVA sex is one of my main vices) but it'll be a little while before I get to that.

I don't exactly know where I'm going with this but I'll try to make it as humorous and in character as possible.

Enjoy the chapter.


PS: I don't know much about Washington D.C. so if I'm inaccurate, please don't tar and feather me.

Disclaimer: NOT MINE. I JUST HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO DO DPB JUSTICE.

After a minor argument over who would drive and a hearty breakfast, they were out and about.

She had forgotten just how beautiful Washington D.C. was in spring.

The area near the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument was lightly scented with cherry blossoms. Her hand stole to her hair, more specifically the flower in it.

Tony had put it in while they were walking around.

"Hold still for a sec, Ziva." he said as he stepped off of the path.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

He didn't reply but he simply caught a falling flower from a tree, coming back to her with petals in his hair.


With very gentle fingers, he put his prize in her bun, right near her knife.

"This way some mall cop won't try to frisk you. Although, a certain federal agent wouldn't mind feeling your..."


"Finish that sentence and I will beat the dung out of you." she threatened.


"It's beat the shit out of me, Ziva. And you would have to catch me first."

"That would be simple. I am faster than you.", she retorted smugly.


"Oh, really?" he drawled.

That had led to a race to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, which had been a tie.

Now, she was idly running her fingers through his hair as he napped with his head on her lap.

Looking down, she took a good look at him. There were a few more lines on his face than she remembered but he still had a boyish thing going for him. The stubble made him look rugged and the dark circles under his eyes were slowly fading. He shifted but didn't wake. He was snoring lightly, his full pink lips parted slightly. She actually loved his lips.

They were the softest and sweetest she had ever tasted. Of course, she'd never admit that to him...

Never say never, Ziva. Sometimes the unexpected happens..., an inner voice chided.


Especially with this man, she mused. For example, of all the things she had been expecting, an undercover mission had not even crossed her mind as an explanation to his odd behaviour. Not because he wasn't competent enough to do it. No, Tony was an impressive NCIS agent. What had made it unexpected was that he didn't immediately tell her what was going on. Orders or not, they had always been straight with each other. She had to find out with everyone else.

And that had really hurt.

But, she had forgiven him.

Does he know that, though? I have been a bit distant. He probably thinks I am angry with him. I can never get...I can never stay angry at him for more than a day or two...


"What are you thinking about?"

A surprised squeak escaped her as she looked down into his open eyes.

He chuckled and sat up, his back letting out a loud crack in protest.

"You are getting old." she giggled.

"Not funny. Seriously, what's on your mind?" he groaned.

She hesitated and then said, "I have forgiven you. You know, for the whole undercover mission and the whole scaring the hell out me thing..."

He looked confused and she clarified, "When began spending more time at the hospital and when you mentioned that you had gone in for tests..."

Comprehension and a healthy dose of guilt clouded his features.

"...You thought I had relapsed with Y. Pestis.", he finished.

She nodded and he sighed.

"Ziva, I'm sorry."

"In the words of Macbeth: What is done is done. I have forgiven you. You are human. Humans screw up all the time. That is why we have a hole in the ozone layer, yes?"

He chuckled and nodded, standing up.

"Come on. I'm hungry."

Ziva rolled her eyes but took his offered hand.

"You are always hungry. Pizza?" she asked as she joined him in descending the steps.

"Can I put bacon on it?"

She rolled her eyes and replied, "Only if I can put vegetables on it."

"Bacon is a vegetable!"

"It is not!"

"It should be! I'm going to write the FDA about that!"

She laughed at his defiant defence of bacon and shook her head.

Even though he was a complete goofball, he was still her Tony and she wouldn't trade him for the world.