Authors note: Hi guys, so this chapter is fairly tame though there is a bit of french kissing, just a warning. To those who expect graphic Tiva sex, next chapter, I promise, and to those who do not wish for 'smut', skip next chapter. I hope you like this chapter, tried my best to proof read, however my new keyboard is a bitch so there may be typos. As always please review, and I'll be happy bunny!


They sat in silence, but it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. It wasn't the silence of not knowing what to say, it was silent because nothing needed to be said in that moment. Everything for a brief second was absolutely perfect.

Chapter Three

"Ziva?" Tony whispered interrupting their silent embrace, "Will you rejoin NCIS?" Ziva pulled away from him and leaned back in her seat, how could he ask her that? Ziva wondered, after all he knew it was not that easy for her.
"Tony...please don't. I do not know yet, can we not just enjoy this? Us. Here, now, together. Please?" Ziva said quietly. Tony smiled and nodded and vowed not to bring it up again.
"So, are you working at the restaurant tomorrow?" He asked cheerfully.
"No, I don't have any shifts on Monday, I was just planning to do some reading." Ziva replied brushing a piece of hair behind her right ear.
"Well I have a lot, a lot, of personal time saved up. I have about a years worth of paid leave days I never used, I'm sure I could sacrifice just one." He winked at her and she laughed. She had missed so many little things about him, his wink included.
"What would we do all day?
"I don't know we can figure something out I'm sure. You know while you've been in Israel you've missed a lot of good movies!" He teased her and she rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.
"It's getting late Tony, and I am tired." Regretfully she started to say only for Tony to give her puppy dog eyes. "Here is my number," She slid a scrap of paper towards him, "Call me tomorrow. That is if Gibbs will let you take a personal day."
"I promise and he can't say no if I ask Vance. Can I walk you home?" He offered kindly.
"No, it is out of your way, and we both know I can handle myself on the streets of DC at this time of night. One more thing, do not tell anyone I am back?"
"I won't, when will you tell them? Abby needs time to organise a parade..." Ziva did not answer instead she walked towards the door, she lightly kissed him on the lips and they both went in opposite directions."

At either end of the city they both fell asleep thinking only of the other. Tony could not help but remember the first time he left her in Israel whilst he rolled away on the runway. He had shot Mossad operative Michael Rivkin in self defence, it was justified though Ziva did not think so. She expressed her distrust in him to Gibbs and rather than choosing between his agents Gibbs left her. Ultimately he had chosen, he chose Tony. When he left her that time he had hopes that she would come back until he learned of her supposed death aboard the Damoclees. He then, truly believed that he would never see her again, not alive at least. To some degree that was true, when he found her again she was half dead in a Somalian terrorist camp. It was almost worst than her being dead, as he knew he was partly to blame, if not entirely. It took months of recovery before she began to resemble her old self, but when her father died she reverted back to form. To him it was irrelevant he did not love her for who she used to be, and he wouldn't love her any less not matter how much she had changed. He only feared that she would not love him the same way, whilst she claimed her feelings had not faded, perhaps she would take time to think about it and realise. Perhaps she would change her mind. Ziva had similar fears of rejection, she was not the woman Tony fell for, that woman was dead. She died along with her sister, brother, mother, father and countless others. The many deaths stripped away her care-free soul and she built up walls to replace them. She had built up so many walls she had created a fortress, of which she was trapped in. Each wall, had stones, each stone placed by the men she had killed. Subsequent others place by the loved ones that cried for her victims. The changes had taken place so slowly she did not even notice who she was becoming until it was too late, NCIS had helped but not enough. She needed to spend time repenting for her many sins, and trying to fix things, alone. Israel had helped but it was only the beginning she still hd a lot to put right. Could she allow herself to be with Tony while she was still so damaged? Was it fair on him? Was she even capable of being in that sort of relationship? She did not know.

The next morning Ziva woke late, almost 9am, which was very late for her. She checked her phone and had a text from Tony, I'll have to face Gibbs tomorrow, but I'm free today. :) - T xx She smiled before quickly replying, Sounds good, meet me at my place 11? -Z xx. She sent another text with her address before going into her bathroom to shower. She spent longer than usual in the shower, she felt silly but she really wanted Tony to see her at her best, unlike yesterday where she was dressed for work and smelt of pasta sauce. Tony meanwhile had the exact same idea he had showered the night before as he always did but he was in front of the mirror trying to get the cleanest shave possible, followed by tugging and teasing his hair till it met his standards. Ziva's hair took a lot longer, she decided not to waste time on straightening it, so she tied it up in a pony tail as best as she could. Her hair was wild and untamed, she had already snapped one hair tied that morning. She let it dry wavily as she applied makeup, natural looking as always. Some brown eyeshadow to contour her lids, and mascara to enhance her lashes slightly, all that was left was a tiny bit of gloss on her lips which he would apply after her breakfast. Tony sprayed cologne, not too much but he made sure it was one she had complimented him on in the past, Ziva decided on an airy rose perfumed with a hint of vanilla. It felt so odd to be dressing up, as it were, for Tony. At 10.20 Ziva poured a bowl of bran flakes with semi skimmed milk, a healthy and equally boring breakfast but it was all she had in. Tony rarely ate breakfast so he decided just to grab a coffee on the way. The journey to Ziva's did not take as long as expected so when he arrived he decided to wait outside for a few minutes and drink his coffee. Ziva brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth, she applied a light tinted lip gloss and went to check her phone. 10.59am. A minute later she heard a knock at the door, and stifled a laugh, Tony really was taking this punctuality thing seriously. When she opened the door DiNozzo was leaning playfully against the frame grinning her.

He pulled from behind his back, a bouquet of light pink roses. "Flowers for M'lady." He handed them to her and she went to go find a vase after inviting him in.
"I can't believe you remembered Tony!" Ziva said referring to he roses.
"That you prefer pink to red? Of course, I'm the same, the red ones are just a bit too cliche. Nice place by the way." He commented scanning the room. It was basic but cosy, there was no evidence that a girl lived there, but that was how Ziva liked it. Simple, practical, only her bathroom and bedroom contained personal items.
"Thanks, I'm still waiting on a few things to arrive from Israel. Do you want a drink?"
"I'm good thanks. I was thinking we could just talk today, and then go for a meal later and a movie if you want?" He said awkwardly, this was new terrain, a date...with Ziva. He had no idea what to do.
"Okay, I like the sounds of that. What do you want to talk about?" She asked naively, there were so many things that needed to be said.
"Anything, I haven't seen you in a long time."
"You saw me yesterday." She joked placing the vase of flowers on her windowsill.
"You know what I mean..."
"I'm sorry. Do you want to sit down then?" She gestured to the couch that was just the right size for two people. Tony sat down wanting to kiss her but he didn't, afraid she was just caught up in the moment the night before and regretted it later. She sat next to him and to Tony's surprise, lay her head down on his shoulder. "I missed you so much Tony, while I was in Israel all I could think about was that kiss at the airport."
"Me too, when I came back to DC things were just so strange without you." He stroked her hair and put his arm round her shoulder pulling her in towards him. "I love you, Ziva. When I fell in love with you it was so unexpected and yet determined. I fell in love with you so gradually, over years, and then all at once suddenly. I love all the things that you do, I love it when you butcher the English language, I love it when you laugh at my stupid jokes, I love the way you are." Ziva was taken aback by this open confession.
"Tony, I am not the same person I was..."
"I don't care," He interrupted her, "I still love you and I hope that you feel the same."
"You know how I feel, I love you. You have always had my back, it was you who found me in Somalia, you who looked for me in Israel, you have always been there for me and all that time I loved you, I just did not know it."

"So what have I missed at NCIS? Who replaced me?" Ziva asked jokily but Tony knew she needed to know.
"Well Gibbs was shot...again. He's so different it's creepy. When he came back after being shot he changed his hair, his clothes...it's weird." Ziva laughed and poked him in the ribs. "Okay, okay, she's called Ellie Bishop, Bish. She's a nice girl, used to work at the NSA, little quirky. Somehow she eats like and pig and gains no weight. I don't know what else to say really, she's good but she's not you. She's fitted in well I guess..." Tony trailed off awkwardly.
"She sounds nice. I do no mind Tony, I knew you would have to replace me sooner or later. Gibbs getting shot isn't much of a surprise."
"Please come into work with me tomorrow?" Tony begged, he hoped she would see what she was missing and apply to be an agent again.
"I will think about it."
"That's all I ask, so...got any good movies?" Ziva whacked him in the face with a cushion from the couch but Tony got his revenge by tickling the back of her neck. They both tumbled onto the floor laughing. "This is so weird Ziva, before you were my partner, my friend, my crazy Israeli..."
"I know, are we dating? I do no know what this is apart from confusing."
"I want us to be. I want to do all the things I never got to do before, all the things I've been missing. I want to hold your hand, kiss you, comfort you, take you to nice places. I want to take care of you, and to be there for you whenever you need me. I also want to win this tickling fight!" He flipped her over and she allowed him to pin her down on the floor. Her arms above her head secured by one of Tonys hands, while the other tickled her stomach. Ziva decided not to go easy on him so she swapped roles quickly by rolling them over, she leant down and kissed him before torturing him with feathery touches on Tony's neck that made him involuntarily giggle like a five year old girl.
"I give up! YOU WIN! Please stop!" Tony yelled, slamming his fist down on the floor in defeat. Ziva started get off him till he pulled her back on top of him. "I said stop tickling me...I didn't say you had to move." He lifted his neck and their lips met, they kissed passionately and Tony felt such a desire for the woman that he felt he could wait any longer. He had already waited years, he deepened the kiss and slipped his tongue into her mouth with Ziva's unspoken permission as she opened her mouth slightly. Tony rolled her over again so he on top, he grinded his body into her and she moaned into his mouth.
"That is not your knee..." She whispered, winking at him. A small reference to their undercover op, Tony laughed. Reluctantly he ended the kiss and they both stood up, Ziva pulled him towards the bedroom, knowing it would be more comfortable than her living room floor. Tony smiled in anticipation for something he had been wanting to do for so many years. Ziva looked into his eyes, full of lust, as she pulled him onto the bed with her...