Chapter 2 Luigi's Place

Summary: Tony Takes Ziva to his favorite restaurant, Luigi's Place. A restaurant run by old friends from Baltimore.

Thanks to everyone who's left a review and thank you for the massive story/author alerts! It is so heartwarming!

Author's Note: I wonder why so many people say that Ziva doesn't use... contractions, abbreviations, (Doesn't, etc.). Cause in the episode "Silver War" (3.04) when she meets Gibbs again, she says: "I stand corrected. It appears he DIDN'T know." So, for the future, I will be using those abbreviations. I agree, she doesn't use a whole lot of them, but she DOES use them.

Previously on Christmas Love is in the air:

"I don't think he has ever brought a date here." Donna said thoughtful.

"Or in Baltimore." Lucia added softly with glittering eyes.

"You're right! Oh, wow. That IS different." Donna said. "Oh, and one more thing. She's Jewish." she added.

"Then let's make sure we've got a proper meal for the both of them, shall we?" Lucia asked.

Donna smiled and walked back into the restaurant.

Chapter 2 Luigi's Place

Ziva looked in the mirror, studying herself. It had been a while since she had been on a date. 'Although, strictly speaking, this is not a date. It's an answer to Tony's challenge, right?' she thought, looking at her reflection. The emerald green dress fitted her slim body perfect. Her breasts, small but firm, were perfectly cupped, the dress fit her hips like a glove and it ended just short under her knees. The neck was just low enough to inspire men's fantasies but high enough to keep mysteries hidden. The back was cut low, leaving her back bare for a great part. To complete her outfit she wore a beautiful champagne colored wrapping shawl. It was made of satin and it had a nice shine without it being too shiny. 'It will be good as a comfort against the cold too.' she thought.

She reached for the small bottle of perfume on the table and put a few drops on her wrists, behind her ears and in the valley between her breasts. It was just enough to give a nice scent of lavender without it being overwhelming. 'Well, it looks classy. Is this what Tony meant, or is it too much?' she wondered, looking nervously in the mirror. She had put her long and curly hair in a pony tail but seeing that it would leave her shoulders bare without the shawl, she took out her hair clip and shook her head slightly. Her curls now danced around her face and on her shoulders and back. 'Much better!' she thought with one last look in the mirror.

She walked to the living room and picked up her handbag. 'Okay, I've got everything.' she thought after checking if the new movie DVD was in it. 'Perhaps we can watch "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" tonight. It would be fun, right?' she wondered. She looked around in her living room. All the lights but one were out, everything was in its place, so she could go. She turned out the last light and walked into the hallway. She put on her coat and walked out the door.

Tony shot a last glance in the mirror. 'Perfect!' he thought, as he saw his reflection. He was wearing black Armani pants with a white shirt. The accompanying jacket hung on the back of a chair at the dinner table for now. The suit fit his trained body perfect. 'It's good I've been training these last months.' he thought. He put on some cologne , just enough for a light scent.

He walked into the living room. He had placed a few candles in some strategic places, but for now he had simply lit the lamps. After all they would go out for dinner. He had no idea if she'd come inside after dinner. 'But it's worth taking a short, right?' he asked himself nervously. At the coffee table he had placed a few new DVD's and an old one, Frank Capra's "It's a wonderful Life". In the kitchen everything was ready for special home made caramel popcorn. In the refrigerator he had placed the Malt Cider which could be heated later that evening. He had seen the movie so many times, but it was still one of his favorites.

He walked over to the coffee table and studied the other movies he had placed there. There was "Annie", now that was another Christmas original. Though this was a not a movie that fit in the DiNozzo tradition, he knew it was a wonderful movie. He knew McGee would have never expected him to have this particular movie as one of his favorites, but he didn't care. And there were of course the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and the "Lord of the Rings" movies. He had no idea if Ziva had seen any of these and he thought she just had to see them. So... she could choose. And if she wasn't in the mood for a movie night, he could always watch them by himself. 'It will be a lot more fun if she's here, though.'

He walked over to the dinner table. There were only a few envelopes on the table. Nothing weird. He looked around in his apartment. Everything was clean. It was a change. Several months before his apartment might have looked as if a storm had went through it, but things had changed. HE had changed. The summer had changed him. First loosing her and then finding her back. He had gotten a reason to live again. His life had gotten reason again. And that had changed him more then anything else. He was longing for things he hadn't expected. 'But it's good thing, right? It's different, but good.' he thought.

As he took his jacket of the back of the chair and put it on he heard the doorbell ring.

He opened the door and there she was. She had opened her coat as it was rather warm in the hallway. The white coat was precisely as long as her dress. Underneath her coat he saw her emerald dress and the wrapping shawl and he could only look at her. Her breathtaking beauty had rendered him speechless. He stared at her until he heard her voice.

"Tony?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Yes, yes. Come in." he said, opening the door wide. He let her pass him and turned to shut the door. 'Oh, God. How am I gonna do this?' he thought. He felt like he was struck by lightning. 'How am I going to get through this without breaking.. well, any rules?' he thought, a bit desperate. He had no idea. And this was a first. He had had dates who had looked stunningly beautiful, but this was different. This was Ziva. 'And it's not like it's a date, isn't? She just took the challenge. It's not.... a date.' he thought. 'I can do this. It's just a challenge. Nothing more, nothing less.' He told himself. 'Yeah, right. Who am I kidding here?' he asked himself. He turned back to her again and couldn't utter a word. Not a single coherent thought would form in his head.

She started to take her coat of. That seemed to wake him out of his reverie. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently took of her coat. He hung it on a hook while she looked at him.

'God, he has never looked this good, has he?' she thought. She was stunned by his looks. Of course, she knew he was handsome, he had good looks for which almost every woman seem to fall, even the married and old ones. And if he wanted, he could be very charming. He could make a woman feel very special. She was sure of that. And right now she felt.... special. 'Is that how I feel? Is that how he thinks of me? He seemed impressed.' she thought. "Tony, this is.... Classy enough for what you have in mind, yes?" she asked him, suddenly nervous again.

"Classy." he managed to say. "Yeah, classy is good." he said in a choked voice. "You are looking great." he said, mesmerized by her looks.

"Thanks. You are looking quite handsome yourself." she complimented him. 'Wow, did I say that?' she thought.

"Thanks." he said. For one moment he had no idea what to say. Or do for that matter. He watched her walking into his living room. She slowly took off her wrapping shawl and that's when he noticed her bare back. 'Uh-oh... this means trouble. With a big T.' he thought. 'A bare back. I wonder what else- No, wait. Don't go there!' he told himself. He hurried after her.

She looked around and was surprised by the way his apartment looked. 'It's..... different.' she thought. 'No more clutters, no more mess. It looks.... clean. He's changed.' That thought surprised her. She couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but he had changed. With one last look around she walked over to the couch to sit down.

"So." she said.

"Yes." he answered, sitting down in one of his favorite chairs.

Her mind wondered back to earlier that evening, when he had proposed this challenge and she wondered how he was going to do it. "Tony, do you have... any plans for tonight?" she asked.

"Oh yes," he said, slowly regaining his normal teasing composure, "I have made plans. I thought we could go out for dinner first and then see from there. How about that?" he asked.

"I think that's a good idea." she said, a little smile around her lips. 'Dinner and see from there. I can do that.' She thought.

"Oh, and since this is a challenge..... There has to be a price for the one who wins the challenge." he stated.

"Oh, really?" she asked.

"That's a part of every good challenge. You still feeling up to it?" he asked.

"Sure. So... what is your price if you succeed in convincing me?" she asked.

"Let's see...... probie" he teased, a smirk playing around his lips. "How about..... You will do anything I want for the coming three days."

"So..... I will be at your mercy for the coming three days if you win?" she asked to be sure.

"Yes." he smirked.

"Hmpf." she huffed. "Okay, I'll do anything you want for the coming three days." she reluctantly agreed. "BUT.... If I win....." she said threateningly.

"Yes?" he asked innocently.

"Then YOU will be at MY mercy for the coming three days." she said.

"I can live with that." he grinned. "Shall we go?" he asked, with a look at the clock.

"Okay." she said as she raised.

He got up out of his chair and walked with her to the hallway. "Oh, wait here one minute. I have to get something." he said.

She nodded as she put on her coat.

He hurried to his study and took a gift bag from his desk. He walked back to the hallway and put on his overcoat. Ziva shot a curious glance at the gift bag, but said nothing. He opened the door and they went out.

"Do you want me to drive?" Ziva asked.

"No, I'll drive." he said. 'That way she will HAVE to get back here after dinner.' he thought.

"Okay, whatever you want." she said. "It's your challenge, yes?"

"It's my party, Ziva." he corrected her. "But yes, it's also my challenge." he grinned as he opened the door for the passengers seat. She took a seat and he closed the door. He walked around to the drivers side and took a deep breath before he entered the car. 'You can do this, DiNozzo. Just treat it like any other date.' He told himself. 'But it's not like any other date. It's Ziva.' A voice in his head teased.

"It was pleasant that we could leave rather early tonight, yes?" Ziva asked as Tony drove to the restaurant.

"Yeah, it was." he said.

"Let's just hope that no case will spoil the Christmas fun. We deserve a quiet Christmas after last year, yes?" she asked.

"You're right. Let's keep our fingers crossed that no dead marine or anything else turns up." he said.

"Keep our fingers crossed?" she asked confused. "How is that going to help us? How can we eat if we have to keep our fingers crossed?"

"It's a saying." he explained. "It means that you hope that nothing happens. Keeping your fingers crossed is the superstition to let anything not happen."

"Ah, right." she said.

The rest of the ride they talked about things that happened at work, keeping the conversation light.

Tony parked his car in the parking garage next to the restaurant. He got out and before he could turn to help Ziva, she got out quickly. He locked the car and walked with her to the exit of the parking garage. Once outside she looked up and down the street. It was a nice street with different restaurants, bars and cafe's. She wondered where Tony would take her. 'Knowing him, it might as well be a take out with tables.' she thought. He surprised her by taking her to an Italian looking pub.

"This place is owned by friends of mine from Baltimore." he said. "They've got a great diner!" he stated enthusiastic.

"Friends from Baltimore, huh?" she asked.

"Yep." For a moment he seemed lost in thoughts, but then he looked at her again. "They moved here a couple of years ago. I'll tell you all about it later!" he said, as he opened the door to the pub.

She saw a nice Italian looking interior, cozy but with enough room for guests to walk around without bumping into one another. She saw a few tables which were all taken and she noticed the dance floor. Tony guided her to the bar. There were two stools left. At that moment a beautiful brunette noticed Tony and came to great him.

"Tony, how wonderful you could make it!" she said, as she kissed him on his cheek. "Your table isn't free yet, but I've kept these two stools free for you." she said, gesturing to the two free stools.

"That's great, Donna. Thanks!" Tony said, kissing her on her cheek. He turned to Ziva, who had felt a pang of jealousy. "Donna, this is my friend and colleague, Ziva. Ziva, meet Donna." he introduced the two women.

"It's nice to meet you, Ziva." Donna greeted her warmly. 'Not a blonde bimbo.' She thought. 'That's a good sign. I'll have to think of an excuse to let Mamma Lucia greet them.' she thought.

"It is nice to meet you too. I understand that you are old friends from Baltimore?" Ziva asked.

"Yes, that's true. Mamma Lucia and Luigi decided to come here a couple of years ago." Donna answered. "Oh, you'll have to meet them!" she said. "Mamma Lucia and Luigi are always happy to meet friends of Tony!" she beamed at Ziva, ignoring Tony's confused look. After all, he had never taken any friend to Luigi's Place here in Washington. 'This is an excellent excuse to let Mamma Lucia meet Tony's girlfriend.' Donna thought.

"Maybe Mamma Lucia and Luigi can meet Ziva someday." Tony said, a warning look in his eyes for Donna, who chose to completely ignore that look.

"Can I take your coat, Ziva?" she asked.

"Oh, yes please." she said, taking off her coat.

"Tony, you want me to hang up your coat too?" Donna asked.

"Oh, I will hang it up myself." he said, wanting a word with Donna. He wanted to find out what she was up to. Cause she was up to something. That was clear to him.

"Don't be silly." Donna said. "There's no need for you to hang it up yourself. Here, give me your coat and tell Carlo what you want for drinks." she need, taking his coat too and gesturing to Carlo to take their orders. She walked to the cloakroom and was already thinking up a plan to get Mamma Lucia to meet Ziva. 'Maybe she can bring the dishes for her favorite guest?' she thought. 'I'll have to ask her.'

Ziva was unaware of Donna's thoughts and ordered a glass of white wine as she took place at one stool. Tony, on the other side, wondered what Donna was up to. He had this tinkling feeling, but he knew he couldn't just ask her, so he'd have to wait and see. He ordered a beer and took place at the other stool

Carlo served them their drinks and they chatted with him.

"I have to go to the men's room for a moment." Tony said, just as there was a pause in their conversation. Ziva nodded and he walked away. He hoped he'd get a chance to catch Donna, but he saw her nowhere. He shrugged and walked towards the men's room. He didn't see the surprised look on Ziva's face when he walked toward what had appeared to be a private door.

"Err," she said hesitantly to Carlo, "Is Tony going the right way?" she asked.

Carlo looked confused for a moment and then noticed where she looked.

"Oh, yes." He said.

"That is the door to the restaurant." Said a voice behind Ziva as Carlo walked tot he other end of the bar to help a customer. She turned around and saw a young, handsome Italian man.

"The restaurant?" she asked.

"Ah, you don't know yet?" the man said. "Are you here with a friend?" He asked.

"Yes." She said. "Yes, I am here with a friend. And you? Are you meeting someone here?" she asked.

"That's a way to put it." he grinned, taking a seat at the stool Tony had left. "I hope this wasn't taken?" he asked.

"Well, actually..." Ziva started.

"Oh, that's okay. I'll be gone soon." the man chuckled.

"Ah. Well, we are waiting for our table. I don't know how long it will take." Ziva said.

"So, you have a table, right? And is this friend of yours a male friend or a female friend?" the man asked teasingly.

"He is a male friend." Ziva stated. "Why do you ask?" she asked bluntly. She was starting to dislike the line of questioning.

"Oh, nothing special. Just wondering. I couldn't imagine a beautiful woman like yourself being here alone or with a lady friend to spend Christmas Eve. After all, Christmas Eve is a special night, isn't it?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know really. I'm Jewish." she said. "So I don't celebrate Christmas. But I'm here with a friend who does."

"Oh, your Jewish. Friends of mine are Jewish too! How was your Hanukah?" the man asked.

"It was.... okay, I guess." Ziva said, thinking about the last few weeks.

"Ah, you have better memories, I hope." the man said. "Oh, I only now realized I haven't introduced myself yet." He held out his hand. "My name is Luigi." He said, a small smile playing around his lips.

"Luigi. Well, it is nice to meet you, Luigi." Ziva said, shaking his hand.

"Carlo," Luigi called, "give this beautiful woman another drink, will ya?" he asked.

"Do you want me to.... put it on your bill...... sir?" Carlo asked, a smirk playing around his lips.

"You can put it on my bill." Ziva heard Tony's voice saying. She looked over her shoulder and saw him coming up behind her. "Luigi, it's good to see you again. How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm doing good. And you?" Luigi asked.

"Good. Oh, you might wanna be careful." Tony warned.

Luigi raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?" he asked, twinkles in his eyes, while he extended his hand to Tony.

"Lucia heard you're here." Tony said, while he stood beside Ziva. "And she didn't look too happy." He shook Luigi's hand, a teasing look in his eyes.

"Oh, she'll be alright. The kids went into the kitchen for a minute before they're going to church and I'll join her in the kitchen." Luigi stated.

"Are you children going to Church by themselves" Ziva asked.

"Their oldest brother is looking out for them. And afterward they'll be back here. The church is close by, so they'll be alright." He said.

"Wait, you will join her in the kitchen?" Ziva asked. "You are Luigi?" she asked confused.

"Yes." Luigi said with gleaming eyes.

"Ah. So... you are the owner of this restaurant, yes?" she asked.

"Yes, together with my wonderful Lucia." he said.

"Ah. That explains it." she said.

Luigi nodded. "Let me see if your table is ready. I think you're both ready to have a nice dinner, right?" he asked.

"Yes, I think we are." Tony said.

Luigi raised and went into the restaurant. Only a few minutes later he returned. "Your table is ready. If you'll follow me." he said.

Ziva raised from her stool and faced Tony. "Shall we go?" she asked. He nodded. She turned and he placed one hand in the small of her back, gently pushing her through the now crowded place. His hand on her bare skin felt warm and sent tingling feelings to her spine. She looked around and noticed the interior of the restaurant looked like the pub, but here it was clear that it was a restaurant.

Although the restaurant was far less crowded, Tony kept his hand on her back, just because it felt good. Ziva didn't seem to mind so he decided to just enjoy the moment. He was surprised when Luigi didn't take him to his usual table and instead brought them to an intimate table for two. It was placed near the window, on one side hidden by a big plant and on a second side by a big aquarium. They were seated close enough to the kitchen to be able to enjoy the delicious smells, but not close enough to have a view into the kitchen or to be overwhelmed by the kitchen scents. In short, it was an ideal, intimate table. As Ziva was seated, Tony looked at Luigi, raising his eyebrows. Luigi merely shrugged, but said nothing. It seemed he knew as little as Tony did.

At that moment Donna walked to them and handed them the menu. Tony noticed Ziva had gotten a different menu then he and looked questioningly at Donna.

"Kosher." she mouthed over Ziva's head, while she placed her glass on the table. Tony nodded and took a seat.

"Let's see what they've got this year." Tony said, opening his menu.

Ziva followed his lead. While she looked at the menu she noticed the entire menu was made up of only kosher meals. "Tony?" She asked.

"Yes?"

"Do they always serve only kosher dishes here?"

"Nope. But they have a special kosher menu." he stated. "Luigi and Lucia have several friends who are kosher, so they made a special menu for them. And now you can enjoy it too." he said smiling.

A smile lit her face as she looked at him. "Thank you, Tony. They have an extensive kosher menu" she said appreciative.

"De nada" He said.

Author's closing note: "De nada" means: It's nothing or You're welcome. Thanks again for reviewing!