A/N: I edited the summary so you guys can know where I am eventually going. It's time for a much longer chapter, thank you so much for reading!

Chapter 2, The Night Before (Life Goes On).

Ziva smiled as she replied the conversation in her mind. She started to wonder all the things they missed for being too caught up with all their cases and she asked herself how come they never had the chance to enjoy happiness. Palmer's wedding? A bomb explodes. McGee has a new girlfriend? Next thing they know they are quitting their jobs. Tony holds her hand? A car almost kills them. Good things never came without a couple of bad ones, that was just the way it was. She took her mind back to the previous night when they said their goodbyes and saw Ducky and Jimmy driving away. Tim asked her if she could give Tony a ride since he probably would have to drive Abby home. He wasn't half done with his sentence when they heard the engine of Abby's car and she drove past them, almost taking them between the wheels. It was safe to say she would be pissed at them for a long time.

And finally, there they were. The three musketeers, the very special agent and his probies, Tommy, Lisa and McGregor, Gibbs' team. All on their own. They had no clue on what was next, what the hell were they supposed to do now? She was getting sick of that question. The glances they shared confirmed what they were feelings, they were confused. This whole thing was so new and unexpected for them. Tony asked them to meet him tomorrow at his apartment for dinner, Tim said he'd call him and Ziva simply nodded. Luckily for her, McGee offered Tony a ride before she felt the compromise to ask. They turned to face the building behind them and silently hoped for things to work out. She got inside her car and drove away before any of them came up with a different plan, she couldn't even stand herself right now, she didn't want to hurt any of them by saying or doing something she shouldn't. She would see them tomorrow. She would be more calm and less worried. She would see things clearly and understand all they had done. She hoped she would.

Just as she promised, she showed up at Tony's place with a fake smile she had practiced before leaving her apartment. He heard him running to the door and opening it quickly, running back to wherever he was before she could even say "hello". The place smelled different and she had to double check the scene happening before her eyes, Anthony DiNozzo was cooking or at least, trying to. Ziva smiled when he saw him struggling with some tomatoes and she took a step further to the kitchen.

"No, no," He lifted his palm as a stop sign. "The DiNozzo's recipes must stay secret. Get comfortable, I think I'll be done soon."

"Should I call for a pizza or wait a little bit longer?" To tease him while he was doing something that required his full attention was like a very enjoyable activity. He made her a face and pretty much kicked her out of the kitchen. She lifted her hands and walked away, standing in the living room.

Last time she was there she didn't have the mind to be nosy and go through his stuff but today, it wasn't any different. She looked around a couple of times before she made her way to his bedroom and she threw herself over the soft, small bed. A good night of sleep, that was something she was really aching for. Ziva reached for a pillow and she crossed her arms under it. She could still hear kitchen supplies falling and Tony cursing and talking to himself but as she closed her eyes, they only thing she could hear were all the previous conversations she had had last night. It was like watching a movie about her life, replaying every single thing she had done since she killed Bodnar until that exact moment of her laying in Tony's bed. Slowly, she came back to reality when the noises from the kitchen were replaced with footsteps coming her way.

"What the hell are we going to do?" Tony stopped by the door frame, taking his time to stare at her. Ziva had her face buried in his pillow, therefore she couldn't see him looking her up and down several times. He couldn't help it, he was convinced it was something on his DNA. Bringing his mind back to business, he walked to her and sat by the edge of the bed. He was trying to come up with a smart answer to her question and once he realized he was unable to think of one he left his foolish side answer for him. "Now, Ziva, now you move so I can lay on my bed and be as comfy as you seem to be."

Ziva groaned, probably in frustration but she moved anyway. Tony accidentally hit his shoulder against hers and she replied hitting his feet with her own. It took them time to find a way to fit in the small bed but after some minutes, Tony imitated her position and crossed his arms under the other pillow, releasing the pressure between their shoulders. Their sides were still stuck to each other and Ziva thought about how fast the heat from his body reached hers. It hadn't been so long since they were next to the other in a bed. Soon enough, she opened her eyes and met his gaze almost instantly.

"I mean it, Tony," Her eyes traveled through his features. He was sweaty from his time in the kitchen but his eyes didn't look tired like her own. His eyes gave her a little hope. "Gibbs told us to wait but he did not say for how long, what happens now?"

"I don't know," She frowned, where was the hope in that? She gave him a minute to work out something else to say but when he closed his eyes and didn't go on, she couldn't help but push. "You do not know?"

"No. I'm trying to keep calm and see the bright side in this mess but I can't, it's hard."

"You have always liked challenges."

"Not of this kind."

Silence filled the room again. Tony still had his eyes closed so Ziva decided to join him and close her own. She didn't notice when she started to focus on his breathing the same way she had done in Berlin. There was something in the way air came in and out from his body that made her feel peace. It was merely the feeling of having him there, close to her, feeling the air filling his lungs. She would never accept it but she loved that. At some point, she started to drift off to sleep fighting with the little power she was putting in order to stay awake but at the end, she let go.

It wasn't until minutes (or hours?) later that she opened her eyes again at the sound of a phone ringing. As she assumed, Tony was no longer by her side and she could hear his voice coming from somewhere in the living room. It was a quarter after eight now, which told her she was asleep for almost forty minutes. It took all the power in her body to stand up and leave the bed that had felt so good against her body. She walked to the kitchen in the search of water, finding an all set-up table instead. There were fake flowers in the middle, a bottle of red wine, two empty glasses and two plates with pasta and a nice piece of salmon that smelled delicious.

"Bon appétit," Ziva jumped at his sudden appearance. "Or as I should probably say, buon appetito bambina."

"Grazie mille," He moved the chair for her and then he sat across from her. They shared a delicate smile before Tony took his full attention to the food in front of him. Ziva took a few minutes to admire his enthusiasm. He looked at her, "What? It's good, I promise."

Ziva smiled and started to eat, making sure to drop a comment of how good it was every now and then. Tony rarely cooked so she thought she would give him a little encouragement to do it more often now that they had the time. "So, what is the occasion?"

"I could give you the list," He took a bite and talked until he was almost done with it. "For being unemployed, for having a messy life," Gulp, he finished his bite. "For being stood up by McGee, I mean, really. Who gets to say "McGee stood me up"? That's quite an occasion."

"He was the one who called," It was a statement, not a question. Still, he looked at her and asked her to go on. "And I assume he is really enjoying his time off with Delilah." Damn ninja, how did she do that?

"Who would've guessed, huh?"

"So you made dinner for McGee and since he did not show up you had to share it with me, yes?"

"I didn't have to do anything, Ziva." He chuckled. "I was only looking for some team distraction tonight and you are my team, it's all good."

Tony picked up both or their plates and disappeared into the kitchen. Those words –you are my team- echoed in her ears. They were friends, co-workers, a team. Yes, they were many things and yes, it was all good. Why were those words bothering her, then? Was it the way he said it? The way his eyes lost the shine they had early that day? Maybe it was the guilt she felt every time they talked about them as an "us". They were another thing she had screwed up. She went all for that last option and sighed. Grabbing both of their glasses and the now half-empty bottle of wine, Ziva made her way to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. "Can you keep a secret?"

"What kind of secret?" He turned to her. "I'm not in the mood for lethal, threatening secrets these days."

"It is more like a… happy secret." The corner of his mouth twisted in a smile and his eyes lit up. Tony DiNozzo sure liked gossip. She opened the bottle and poured more wine into their glasses as he spoke. "Spit it, David."

"Jimmy and Breena are going to adopt a child," Tony spilled a few of his wine on his mouth back to the glass and Ziva looked at him in disgust. "Keep the wine in your mouth, you cannot tell anyone."

"Ah, our little autopsy gremlin," He raised his glass. "He's growing up so fast."

"At least one of us has a happy life."

"Hey, I have a happy life!" Ziva laughed loud in purpose. "I mean, I don't have a hot, blonde wife who wants to adopt kids or a solid job but I think I have a happy life. It could be worse so no complaining."

Ziva nodded as Tony took both of their glasses to the sink. She walked to the living room with the intentions of calling it a night and drive home. Tony questioned her driving skills, as usual, but this time he meant it. She had had at least four glasses of wine and if he feared for his life when Ziva drove sober, he didn't want to imagine how she would do with a few drinks in her system. "I am fine, really. I will text you once I get home."

"Take it easy, ok? Streets are almost empty, it's not fast and furious."

"It is not what?"

"Fast and furious," he replied, she lifted her shoulders and gave him a blank stare. "Remind me to enlighten your world with movies during this time off, Ziva. It's about damn time."

She gave him a half smile and stepped closer to kiss his cheek. Tony tensed up in surprise and Ziva walked out of the door in a sudden rush. Well, now that was something new. As soon as she got inside her car she ran her hands through her face and blinked heavily a couple of times wondering where did that come from. What was she thinking? Oh, right. She wasn't thinking. She let go a long sigh and drove away. Meanwhile, Tony stood still for a moment right there in front of the door. He had a playful smile on his face. The best part of it, he thought, was that he could tell she did it without thinking. It came out so natural. As he went to his room, got out of his jeans and unbuttoned his shirt he swore he could still feel her warm lips on his cheek. Yeah, he could definitely get used to the feeling. His phone vibrated on the night stand next to his bed and he smiled as he read Ziva's promised text, "I am home."