Ziva was tossing and turning all night, her nightmare almost real. She had been nightmare free last night, since she had told Tony about her previous one. He was the only person who could stop her nightmares.

Ziva shot up, gasping as her horrible dream startled her awake. She sat there, her breathing heavy. She bit her lip to keep from crying.
Quickly, Ziva grabbed her phone and dialed Tony's number. It was two a.m., but she had hopes he would answer. He had to. She couldn't work like this.

"Ziva," he answered groggily, "it's two in the morning."

"I know. I am sorry if I woke you..." She replied, now ashamed that she had been selfish enough to call. Her breathing was still rough, which Tony noticed.

"Zee, what's wrong?" He asked, nearly forcing himself awake.

"I cannot sleep." She confessed.

"Oh god. Don't tell me it's the nightmares."

"It is..."

"I'm coming over. Don't go anywhere!"

"Wait, you do not have a key."

"Ziva I know where you hide your key. I'll be over in a few." He confessed. Ziva could hear him getting dressed over the phone. She was lucky to have a partner like him.

Ziva hadn't noticed when Tony walked in. She sat there with tears in her eyes, expecting him to be a while longer.

"Zee, are you crying?" He asked, walking in and sitting down on the bed beside her. She looked at him. "You are..." Tony hugged her.

"Thanks for coming, Tony." She sniffled, not moving from his arms.

"My pleasure. I thought you were done worrying about Somalia, Zee?" He asked.

"I am. They are not about Somalia this time." She confessed. Here we go, she thought. He was shocked.

"Then what about?" Tony questioned, as thoughts started racing through his mind.

Ziva sat up and asked him if he knew what happened to Ari. He was wondering where she was going with this, but he said yes and elaborated.

Ziva shook her head, "They told you wrong. For good reasons."

"Then how did he..-" He almost asked, but upon looking at her face, he knew. "You killed him?"
She nodded.
"Oh God, Ziva. I'm so sorry. Is that what the dreams were about?" He asked. Becoming aware she was close to tears, he cupped her face in his hands and looked her in the eyes.

"No, but it's part of it." She looked him in the eyes, locking their gaze for just a moment. He noticed a saddened look in her soft brown eyes yet again. Against Tony's will, she broke from his grasp and grabbed her phone again. She dialed her voicemail, playing back a message her father had sent.

*I know you killed Ari. I know everything. I'm coming to DC this week to talk*

"Zee, he's just coming to talk," He said, again seeing despair in her eyes, "but you don't think so."

"In Mossad, traitors can be punished to whatever extent the director sees fit. Tony, he killed my mother. He would not hesitate kill me, too." She informed him, her eyes filling with water.

"No, Ziva. No...he can't. I won't let him touch you." He held her even tighter than before, and put his chin on top of her head.

"He's my father. How can you stop him?" She cried into his chest.

"I don't know how, I just know I will. Because... Because..." He stuttered, wondering weather or not he should finish. Ziva broke from his hug, again against his will.

"Because...?" Ziva sniffled and looked him in the eye. She was surprised; her eyes enlarged. How was he going to finish that sentence?

Tony breathed in deep and let out a sigh. "Because I love you. I have for a long time. Each guy you've been with I've been jealous of. I wondered what they had that I didn't. I can't stand being without you, Ziva, so I won't let anything happen to you. I couldn't bare it again. Not after Somalia."
Ziva was stunned. Had he really just uttered those words? Did Anthony DiNozzo junior, the commitment phobe, just tell her that he loved her? How could she respond to that?
"Tony..." She managed, as she was forcing herself to say something, anything in response.
"You're probably really going to hate me now, but at the moment I don't care. I had to tell you, and I'm ashamed it took me this long."
"I could never hate you, Tony. Especially not for saying that! I'm just amazed that you finally said it. Or that you said it at all." She smiled at him; her words left him puzzled.
"I don't understand." He admitted.
"It was a million tiny, little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together. And I knew it." Ziva said, a wide smile taking over her face.

"Ziva David, did you just quote a movie?"

"I did," Ziva confirmed. "Sleepless in Seattle. The fir-"

"The first movie we watched together!" Tony finished. "You've been saving that one, haven't you?"

"Maybe."

Tony smiled, "So I'm not the only one with feelings then?"

"Correct, Anthony. I love you too." He loved the way she said 'Anthony'. Maybe it was because he's so used to being called Tony, that the way she says it sounds foreign to him. Or maybe it's her sexy accent that draws his attention. Whatever it was, he liked it. It was tantalizing.

"Then I guess I can finally do this without pretending." He stated, cupping her face once again, this time kissing her. It was better than when they were undercover. The thought of the kiss alone was intoxicating. This time, it was for real. He took advantage of the moment, leaving her to pull away on her own.
When she did, they're breath sounded like Ziva's had over the phone- heavy. He didn't care. She was finally his. Nothing was going to ruin this, he thought as she placed her head on his chest and he placed his chin on her head, like earlier. It was perfect.

Then, he remembered the prominent issue of her father that was still hanging in the air. The last thing he wanted was to ruin the moment. He compared and contrasted his choices in his head. This scene, this feeling, it would never happen again. It was a one-time experience. The topic of her fathers visit could be discussed at any time- at least, before he arrived. Knowing this, he made his decision.
"Hey, Zee?" He called.
"Yes?" She answered, not moving her head.
"You know, it's still early, and neither of us got much sleep. How about we take a nap?" He suggested, running his fingers through her silky hair. He felt her smile.

"Sure." She agreed. They both climbed in her bed and snuggled against each other. Ziva's warm body brushed up against Tony's, making him feel equally warm. He nuzzled his head in her neck and took in her scent. The aroma she gave off was euphoric. She smelled perfect, because Ziva David was flawless in every way. From her curls to her curves and down to her perfect legs, she was beautiful, in every single aspect.

Even though it was horrible that she had killed her own brother, Tony was thankful she did. If he had lived, Ziva would have never become part of his life.

At work the next day, no one had noticed Tony and Ziva get out of the same car, nor did they pay attention to them walking in together. Nobody had noticed because nobody was there.

"Did we get here early?" Tony wondered.

"I doubt it." Ziva smirked. Tony's eyes grew wide at her reference.

"Ziva David!" He exclaimed. She said nothing in response as the smirk lingered on her lips.

"I have a question." Tony stated.

"What?" Ziva questioned.

"Are you going to tell the others about your father?" He asked. Ziva was sure he was about to say 'us' instead of 'your father'. But he didn't, and she was glad.

"Of course. Eventually... Why do you ask?"

"I can if you'd like. Spare you the pain of going through it again." Tony offered.

"If the time comes, sure." She agreed.

Gibbs and McGee walked into the squadroom as McGee grabbed his bag.

"Dead Petty Officer at Liberty Heights. Gear up!" Gibbs ordered.

Tony and Ziva, too, grabbed their bags and followed their boss to the elevator.

Afterwards, the team began their usual background checks and seizing bank and phone records. Tony, finished with his searching, made his way to Ziva's desk.

"Did you tell McGee yet?" Ziva asked, her eyes not moving from her computer screen.

"Not yet. Did you mention your father?" He asked in return.
Before Ziva could spit out an answer, Gibbs walked in, stopping when he heard the question.

"What about your father?" He asked Ziva, still standing in the same place.
Ziva looked at Tony.

"He's coming for a, uh, visit type thing." Tony half explained. Or less than half, really.

"Type thing?" Gibbs repeated.
This time, Tony looked at Ziva.

"Gibbs, he knows." She stated.

"About?" Gibbs was beginning to get agitated now. He wanted the entire story.

Now, McGee was making his way over. Reluctantly, Ziva played the message her father sent.

Gibbs felt his whole body shiver, and McGee almost choked.

"But Ari died-" He struggled.

"No, McGee. I did kill him. The only reason you did not know was to avoid a major dispute between NCIS and Mossad. Or worse, the United States and Israel." She informed him.

"Did you know, Tony?" McGee managed.

Tony nodded.

"Since when?" He piped.

Tony looked at Ziva again.

"You broke rule twelve, didn't you?" McGee comprehended.

"More like breaking." Tony corrected. McGee, although having figured his answer, choked once again. Gibbs became heated. He decided it wasn't the time, however.

"Ziva, finish explaining." Gibbs instructed. McGee thought she was done, and his face showed it as he turned his attention back to the conversation.
Ziva sat back in her chair and eyeballed the both of them, then Tony, then them again.

"I am certain he is not just coming to talk." She started.

"Why?" Gibbs asked.

Ziva swallowed, eyeing Tony. He nodded, understanding what she wanted.

"In Mossad, killing another officer is a severe crime. Ziva, like her mother, would be considered a traitor. Eli killed her mother, and she believes he has the intention of doing the same to her." Tony elaborated. Ziva shut her eyes the entire time, attempting to drown out the thoughts.

"Wouldn't have to interrogate you first, Ziva?" McGee asked, once again stunned.

"He would take me to Israel and interrogate me, yes. If they think what I did was unjustified, they'll..." She trailed off, suddenly taking interest to her computer again. Tony massaged her back with one hand to try and soothe her.

"Nothing-" Gibbs paused as he noticed Tony's hand. "Nothing like that will happen. We won't allow it."

Hearing Tony's words from last night repeated, a small smile grew on Ziva's face. She knew, though, that no amount of protection could keep her here. Ziva knew she would be taken away, because it was inevitable. What she wasn't entirely sure of, was her chances of making it back alive.

Later that night:

"Hey, Tony?" Ziva called a few moments after they'd said goodnight.

"Yeah, Zee?" He asked.

"Do you really believe you can stand up to my father and his officers?"

"If I can't alone, surely Gibbs could. Plus there's McGee and Vance and everybody else. But if you mean fighting... I'm sure we'd find a way. Why?"

"Just wondering..." Her tone told Tony she had a reason to ask such a question, but he wasn't sure he would like it.

"You sure there's nothing else bothering you?" He questioned as he turned to face the back of her. She didn't answer. "Ziva?"

She realized not mentioning this earlier was a mistake. "Tony, I should have told you before."

"Tell me now."

"I do not know how."

"What's the worst that could happen?" Tony was taken back, now significantly concerned about her response.

"It could break your heart…" She confessed.