Author's Note
Thanks for all the kind reviews on here and to Sarah Gabrielle for her input but most of all thanks to Athena for all her help and encouragement and without who this wouldn't of been published
December 2015
Ziva David stared out of the window at the river Thames running by. It would of been scenic in the summer. But on a cold, dark winter afternoon in December it felt bleak.
"Why the huge sigh "asked a slightly accented voice. Ziva turned to see her good friend former Interpol agent Monique Lisson carrying a tray with two cups of tea.
She handed Ziva her cup and motioned for her to take a seat.
"Nothing I am just missing the sunshine". She took a sip of her tea.
"Well if you wanted sunshine you could of gone anywhere. Not London in December". Monique sank down on a huge, leather armchair.
Ziva shrugged. She felt adrift lately, disconnected from her life. Maybe because of the date..
Monique studied her friend she hadn't seen Ziva in over a year. Had gotten a phone call out of the blue. Ziva was still beautiful her hair was longer almost to her wore an air of sadness. Like an invisible cape.
Ziva could feel her friend's scrutiny and tried to ignore it. Monique had inherited an apartment in London from a family relative and it felt like the right time to get away from Israel.
"Zivi talk to me you're too quiet. What is going on with your job at the school?"Monique put down her cup and brushed a hand thru her hair.
"Nothing Monique, they know I am tired and gave me two months leave. I want to visit a few places, see old friends. Travel Europe Spain, Greece. i love Santorini maybe even Paris again." PARIS.
Unbidden images shot thru her mind like a movie reel. A handsome laughing face, beautiful green eyes. A sidewalk cafe, sightseeing, speeding round on a vespa. Sharing a bed..
"Ziva your hands are shaking, give me that cup. Are you ok?"She knelt down beside the woman she loved like a little sister. This wasn't the Mossad cold blooded assassin she had met 15 years before. This Ziva was a broken, wounded bird. So fragile, she had changed almost beyond recognition since her father dying and leaving America.
"I am FINE Monique please do not jetlagged and if you do not mind I will go and rest." She stood patted her friend's hand and went to the guest room.
Monique picked up the cup and stared after her. If she knew one thing Ziva was stubborn as hell. She would have to be patient and let her speak in her own time.
Ziva lay down on the comfortable bed. Trying to stop her traitorous had she mentioned Paris? It held so many magical memories. Unlike Berlin where good and bad merged together.
She needed to face them instead of burying them. Trying to wipe NCIS and a very special agent from her heart and mind was slowly killing her. 8 years of her life was huge a quarter of it in fact.
PARIS 2010
Tony DiNozzo leaned lazily on the counter listening to Ziva arguing eloquently in french with the hotel concierge. Deux?Two she kept repeating. He jumped as she snapped up the room key muttering couchon pig?! Then stormed off to the elevator. Tony barely made it in time before the doors closed.
Ziva studiously ignored Tony or tried to. "Woah my ninja, what's going on?"She gave him a death stare. "There is only one bed in the hotel room" she ground out thru clenched teeth.
Tony swallowed nervously. He hoped the sofa was comfortable. Ziva moved quickly towards the hotel room leaving a dazed Tony to follow her.
The hotel room was the picture of Parisian elegance. The room was dominated by a huge bed. Tony looked frantically for the sofa and almost choked. It was small and a chaise lounge. Good luck with that DiNozzo. He felt his back protest already.
Ziva was busy going thru her small suitcase she got what she needed and headed to the bathroom firmly closing the door.
Tony sank wearily on the bed and toed off his shoes. He was exhausted, he knew no more as his head hit the fluffy pillows.
Ziva emerged from her shower feeling somewhat revived. As she dried her hair with the towel she came to a standstill.
Fast asleep on the bed his mouth slightly open Anthony DiNozzo was oblivious to the emotions he was rousing in the probationary agent.
Tony looked so much younger and peaceful in sleep. Her heart squeezed painfully. Things had been strained since her return from Africa. She didn't know who she was made her feel things she thought had died. Anger, self-loathing, gratitude and yes love.
She moved to stroke his face realized what she was about to do and dropped her hand. She needed to mend things between then maybe now was a good time to start.
Tony drifted awake to something tickling his face and a familiar and it reminded him of.. He turned Ziva's beautiful dark curls were spread across the pillow. He swallowed she was actually IN the bed next to him asleep.
So it seemed the issue of sleeping on the sofa had been resolved. He had hoped they could get back on track with this trip. Back to something familiar.
He eased himself quietly out the bed careful not to disturb the sleeping ninja. He glanced at his watch he had been out for two hours. Time for a shower, food and some sightseeing maybe he could sweet talk Ziva into joining him. Yes the city of lights was just what was needed. That and the DiNozzo charm who could resist.
Ziva awoke to the sound of the shower and Tony singing Sinatra Fly me to the moon. She smiled got out of bed and dressed quickly. Tony was about to be surprised.
Tony emerged from the bathroom looking extremely handsome in jeans and swallowed she loved him in casual clothes. He always wore designer suits now at work. She thought he looked very sexy in casual attire.
"Ahh Miss David you're awake and ready for action ". Ziva frowned. Action? Tony blushed. "I mean sightseeing that's if you're interested." He stammered. Ziva smiled." Yes Tony but do not whine when I have had enough". The huge smile that lit up his face proved her decision to be more pleasant was the right one.
They headed out into the beautiful city and its sights.
Ziva tried to pretend not to notice Tony was taking her photograph so she gazed off into the distance trying to keep a straight face.
Tony gazed at the beautiful image of Ziva on his camera. She looked radiant, different to the shell of a woman who they had dragged back from the hell of Somalia a few months before. His heart contracted painfully. Them months thinking she was dead drowned on The Damocles.
"Hey DiNozzo are we going to eat or starve? I am hungry ". A huge grin broke out across his face things were definitely improving. Paris seemed to agree with his ninja.
"Food Miss David now you're talking. Lead on mademoiselle." He headed to the vespa. He had sweet talked Ziva into hiring one to get around. Despite her protests he knew she loved speeding around the streets of Paris free from dead bodies, rule 12 and Gibbs.
They went casual for their meal at a bistro style restaurant that Ziva knew of. The food was delicious washed down with a bottle of Merlot. Tony felt a connection to Ziva he hadn't felt since that summer before Jeanne, Jenny's death, Rivkin and the summer from hell had gotten in their way.
Ziva's sparkling brown eyes looked into his."Here's to Paris" he toasted. She clinked his glass. "Paris." she replied huskily. Something special was happening she could feel it she felt young, carefree. Just enjoy Ziva, she told herself let it be.
Thank you for reading... Please review and let me know what you think