Chapter 2: The Dinozzo mansion

''How nice of you to join this investigation Agent Dinozzo.'' Gibbs said while he gave Tony a head slap.

''Ow'' he whined. Which triggered a giggle from Ziva.

''I'm afraid that was my fault. My plain delayed.'' Senior came in before Tony even began to speak.

''How far are we with this case?'' Ziva asked.

''All done.'' McGee said.

''Really? Who did it?'' Tony asked.

''Petty Officer Harding's best friend.'' Gibbs said

''So much for being a best friend.'' Tony replied.

''No Tony. Petty Officer Harding was cheating on Petty Officer Wilder with a colleague. Therefore Wilder killed Harding and Harding´s best friend got so furious that she killed Wilder.´´ McGee explained which gave him an ´O´ face from Tony.

´´Never date a co- worker.'' Gibbs said. ''Oh we're all done. You can go home.'' Then he went out for coffee.

''I am gonna stay and finish up some rapports.'' McGee said

''I'm sure Abby would love that.'' Tony said.

''Was that meant to be sarcastic?''

''No, Tim.'' Ziva replied to McGee's question.

''Timothy good to see you again.'' Senior said before he walked towards the elevator followed by Tony and Ziva.

''You too.'' He replied to Tony's father.

''Good night Tim.'' Ziva said .

''Night McProbie'' Tony yelled before the elevator doors closed.

''Night'' McGee replied a little too late.

Tony's apartment

''So here we are. Our little place, called heaven.'' Tony said while he opened the door for his father and Ziva.

'' You cleaned up here Junior.'' Senior stated.

''Nope, Ziva did.'' Tony said

''You're way to good for my son.'' Senior said to Ziva.

''Hey'' Tony complained.

''Once again, I am lucky to have him.'' Ziva replied.

''Why don't I take my father to the guestroom while you make us some dinner?''Tony suggested.

''Okay, did you have anything specific in mind or did you expect me just to make something out of what we have?'' Ziva asked.

''Just make something delicious out of what we have left''

Ziva nodded in response before she went to the kitchen to make dinner.

''Let me get you settled in.'' Tony said to his father when they entered the guestroom.

''So you actually listened to my advice.'' His father said.

''What advice?''

''You know, the one where I said you better sweep that 'gorgeous creature' of her feet.''

''I have to admit dad. You were right about me and Ziva. There was something going on.''

''Finally you listen to your old man.''

''But dad, I have to confess something.''

''Go ahead son.''

It was the first time Tony actually heard Senior call him son instead of Junior. It was like now he was marrying Ziva, Senior treated him with respect. Of course they had restored their band piece by piece, but Ziva sure helped that come along faster.

''Ziva and I, we always have been great friends. And even before you told me to charm her, I had a thing for her. I mean we flirted a bit every now and then, but when I really need to talk to someone about something serious, she's always there for me. We were dating together long before you told me to go ahead. We tried to keep it secret and out of the office 'cause of Gibbs' rule.''

''Which rule?'' Senior asked.

''Rule number 12 says you should never date a co- worker.''

''Aha, well I'm happy that you finally learned to listen to your heart instead of your head.''

''When you spend enough time with Gibbs, you have to trust your heart because you won't have any brain cells left to listen to your head.'' Tony chuckled.

''I really love her dad'' Tony continued.

''I know that son. I see it in the way you look at each other. You treat each other with respect and with love. And I admire that.''

''Thank you dad.''

''You know, I can see this marriage going to last a lifetime. And someday I would love to take my grandchildren somewhere to spoil them.''

''Dad, we don't think about kids right now, we're not even married yet. Not that I don't want kids with Ziva because I do, but not right now and she knows that.''

''Tony, go see if you can help her with dinner. I'll stay here and make myself at home.''

''I'll call you when dinner is ready.'' Tony said and left to room to help Ziva.

Tony walked over to the kitchen where his future wife was making dinner. He sneaked up behind her, putting his arms around her waist and his chin rested on one of her shoulders.

''I love you'' Ziva said.

''Where did that came from?'' Tony asked.

''I overheard the last part of the conversation with your father.''

Tony knew how Ziva's ninja senses could be, but he never expected that her hearing was that good. She turned towards Tony to focus completely on him. He looked at her with adoration, waiting for Ziva to continue the conversation.

'' You're right. I do not want to have kids right now. With you, yes. After we're married, someday, yes. Right now, no. Right now I want to enjoy you, only you.''

With that Tony kissed her cheek and slowly turned towards her neck. She could feel a shiver run down her spine. She placed her arms around his neck and let him kiss her mouth. When they deepened their passionate kiss Tony's father came in.

''You save that for after dinner, will you Junior?'' Senior said.

Tony's face turned red and Ziva smiled. Then she returned to her cooking while Tony decided to set the table.

''If you don't mind, we will, won't we Sweet Cheeks.'' Tony said.

The only response he got from Ziva was a look that told him to shut up. But she had a playfulness in her eyes which gave Tony the clearance to go on with what they were doing, after dinner.

''You got yourself settled in Anthony?'' Ziva asked Senior. And with that she avoided Tony's commentary on his father's statement.

''Yes, the guestroom her seems really pleasant.'' Senior answered.

'' I am glad you like it.''

''So, Junior told me that you are a wonderful cook.''

''I try my best.'' She told him with a smile.

''I am still curious to know though. What got you so interested in my son?''

'' He is always there for me. He is my stone in the surface – ''

''- Rock. It is rock in the surface, Zi.'' Tony corrected her once again.

''Right. Even through his joking we managed to build a strong relationship. Over eight years our relationship as partners evolved and with that we started to see each other in a more romantic way.'' Ziva started the conversation again. ''And one night – ''

''- We thought: screw the rules and go for it.'' Tony finished their story.

''Roughly said, yes.'' She replied.

''Then how would you say it?'' Tony challenged her.

''And one night – ''

''You two started doing what you were about to do in the kitchen.'' Senior said with a smile.

''Something like that.'' Ziva said.

''I'm sure not everyone was pleased with that evolvement.'' Senior said, thinking about the rule Tony mentioned.

''Well Abby was happy for us, she even put a bet on it. McGee was a little bit shocked at first. – '' Ziva began and thought back to when Tony told McGee that he was dating Ziva.

''You hooked up with someone last night Tony, didn't you? McGee asked when he saw Tony enter the squad room.

''What makes you ask that question?'' Tony replied as he sat down at his desk.

''Because you sing love songs that you usually hate.''

''Well, life is just great for me at the moment.''

''I hope the woman you shared a bed with last night thinks so too.''

''What do you mean Tim?''

''Oh come on Tony, you know as well as I that you're not a big fan of long time relationships.''

''This time is different, McSingle.''

''Oh, who's the lucky girl.''

''I'm not gonna tell you.''

'' Come on, I always share my relationships with you.''

Tony looked around to make sure Gibbs wasn't there to give him a head slap for what he was about to say.

''If you must know McNozie, it's Ziva.''

''Very funny Tony.'' McGee said. But when he saw the look on Tony's face he knew that his partner was serious.

''Really Tony. Ziva.'' was the first thing that came out of McGee's mouth.

''- and Gibbs had his own special way to react. I mean he wasn't mad, but he wasn't exactly happy either'' She finished.

Tony thought back to how Gibbs reacted when he told him that he wanted to marry Ziva.

''Boss, hey, can I have a moment of your time?'' Tony asked Gibbs when they both stepped into the elevator.

''Make it as quick as an elevator ride Dinozzo.'' He replied.

''You know, I am dating this girl. She is really beautiful, kind, caring, a great cook and our relationships is becoming serious. I want her to marry me, but I kinda need your approval for that.''

''Why? I am not her father.''

''Well that's the thing boss, you kind of are.''

Gibbs gave Tony a strange look. Tony could practically hear his bosses mind spinning, trying to figure out how to take it.

''It's Ziva.'' Tony said.

He expected a head slap that didn't come. He only saw Gibbs lightly smiling before his face went serious again. Gibbs knew that there was something going on between him and Ziva from the start, but he never expected that their relationship would evolve so much that it contained breaking rule number twelve.

''You are not allowed to date her Tony.'' Gibbs said.

''I know boss. But Ziva, she's like my Shannon. I can see me spending the rest of my life with her.'' Tony brought in against his boss.

Then the head slap came.

''You two can stay together with a couple exceptions.'' Gibbs sighed.

''Anything.'' Tony said immediately. He didn't care if Gibbs transferred him to another team, all he wanted was to be with the woman he loved.

''One: if she says 'yes' to your marriage proposal. Two: if you two can keep it out of the office. Three: if you can do your job properly.''

A smile grew on Tony's face.

'Yeah coming Dinozzo.'' He heard Gibbs yell from the squad room.

Soon enough dinner was ready. Anthony and Tony enjoyed Ziva's cooking extremely loud. When they were all finished with their meal, Anthony watched some television while Tony and Ziva cleaned up the table and did the dishes.

''I think, I am going to get some rest. I have a little bit of a jet lag.'' Anthony stated.

''Okay, well enjoy your sleep.'' Ziva said.

''Night dad.'' Tony replied.

Senior turned to his room. He was putting his jacket around a chair and placed his shoes under the bed. He changed into his flannel Pajama's and laid down on bed. Soon his eyes closed and he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile in the living room Tony and Ziva enjoyed their company together. They had snuggled close on the couch while they watched a movie.

''Shall we cut this movie short, I've already seen the end anyway?'' Tony suggested.

''Then how does is end, Tony?'' She asked him teasingly.

A playful smile appeared on his face. Then he started to kiss Ziva softly. She kissed him back and soon the kiss became more passionate and deepened. Ziva moved her hands through his hair while he tried to take off her shirt. By the time they made it to the bedroom there were pieces of clothing all over the place.

''I love you Zi.'' Tony moaned before he put Ziva down on the bed.

Ziva closed the gap between them and captured him in a loving kiss. And then what started of gently took on its own life. She stroked Tony's back softly while he held her head and pulled his fingers through her dark curls. Their two bodies melted together as one, like it was meant to be. About an hour from that moment there were two sweating bodies laying closely to each other.

Tony's hand followed Ziva's perfect lines of her body. Soon they fell asleep in each other's arms. Well mostly Tony's arm folded around Ziva to protect her while he laid behind her. They didn't need to speak about what just happened 'cause they both knew how they felt.

In the middle of the night, Tony awakened because of Ziva. She was tossing and turning next to him with tears coming down her face. Ziva never cried quickly and certainly not in a dream. It was like she was fighting something in her head.