Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

I'm going a little off canon from this chapter onwards. Eli and Jackie weren't killed. Ziva didn't feel the need for revenge and as a result, Parson's investigation into Gibbs didn't happen.

September 2013

Tony walked down the wooden stairs to Gibbs' basement. It had been sometime since he had been there. Gibbs was at the work bench, sandpaper in his hand.

'What are you doing here?' asked Gibbs. Tony went and stood on the other side of the bench. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. He handed it to Gibbs.

'You asking me to marry you, DiNozzo?' Tony smirked.

'Not you. Ziva.' Gibbs opened the box and inside was indeed a ring. A thin gold band with a diamond in the middle, with smaller ones on either side. 'It was my mothers.'

Gibbs closed the box and handed it back to Tony.

'It's beautiful. Ziva will love it.'

'I hope so.'

'You come to ask for permission?' Gibbs picked up his Bourbon.

'No. I don't need it. Or your approval.'

'Then why did you come?'

'I don't know.' Tony played with a tool that was on the bench. 'I just needed to tell you before I ask Ziva. Maybe get your blessing. Things have been a little…' he tailed off, not sure what to say.

'You don't need me. You've got someone else to talk to now' said Gibbs.

'Yeah, I do.' He continued playing with the tool. 'It's been over a year. Almost eighteen months of me and Ziva working together, dating, practically living together now as well. We haven't killed each other yet. I know you don't like our relationship.' Gibbs put down the glass of Bourbon.

'It's not that DiNozzo.'

'Then what is it?' Gibbs paused. This was way out of his comfort zone.

'I didn't want the two of you to get hurt. I know what that's like.'

'I suppose one of us could still screw up.' Gibbs gave him a look and Tony slightly chuckled.

'What about Eli? Does he know?' Tony smiled.

'He gave me his blessing when he was in the US, back in January.'

'Really?' Tony nodded. It was very un-Eli of him. A case of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

'So, you're OK with me asking Ziva?'

'I'll keep an eye out for the invitation.'

Ziva knew that something was up. Tony had been super nice to her all day, and not just boyfriend nice. He had done some of her paperwork for her, bought Ziva her favourite lunch, had let her drive home from work. Usually she had to fight him to let her drive anywhere. He didn't make a single criticism about her driving (too fast, wants to be able to see the next James Bond movie, etc). Once at home, he made dinner, Falafel, and it wasn't that bad either. He had been practicing.

Now that dinner was finished, Ziva decided to test this out. Tony asked what she wanted to do. Ziva suggested they watched a movie; Pirates of the Caribbean. Tony did not groan or try to talk her out of it. Something was definitely up and Ziva was going to get to the bottom of it.

She picked up the remote and paused the film.

'I thought you wanted to watch that' said Tony.

'I do, but I can smell fish.'

'Smells fishy' corrected Tony. Ziva waved a hand to get to be quiet.

'Tony, is something the matter? Is your father?' Tony gave her a small smile.

'No. No, Zi. It's nothing like that.' He got up and fished something out of his bag. Ziva stood up the moment she realised it was a ring box. 'This is why I might be acting a little different.' Tony went over and stood facing Ziva. He opened it and showed its contents to Ziva.

'This was my mothers. I want it to be yours.' Tony's voice was filled with emotion. 'I love you, Ziva. More than anything or anyone else in the world. You are the most important thing to me, and I would like to call you my wife.' Tony got down on one knee. 'Ziva David, will you marry me?'

'Yes.' Tony slipped the ring onto Ziva's finger, stood up and kissed her.

'I love you' he whispered.

'I love you too' she replied.

'Shall we watch the rest of the film?'

'I do not care, Tony. You pick.' They kissed again and sat back down on the sofa. Tony pressed play, though neither of them were remotely watching it. Ziva couldn't help but stare at her hand. 'Did you tell anyone before?'

'My dad. I had to ask him for the ring. He was ecstatic.'

'Perhaps we should call him?'

'Tomorrow. I want to spend tonight with fiancée.' Ziva giggled happily at the word fiancée. 'I also told Gibbs.'

'What did he say?'

'He'll keep an eye out for the invite.' Ziva laughed.

'Does my father know?'

'Yeah. I sent him an email the other day.'

'What did he say?' Ziva was curious.

'Nothing yet, but he gave me his blessing back in January.' Ziva bolted upright and looked at Tony.

'Seriously?' Tony nodded.

'Yeah, seriously. It was the day after we had dinner with him. He asked me what my intentions towards you were.' Ziva laughed again, amazed that Eli David could be so… normal.

Since his visit in January, Eli had kept the channels of communication open. At first it was just email once a week, upgrading to the occasional phone call. It was good. Then the rebuilding of their relationship went even further, with Eli asking Ziva to visit him in Israel. She had been planning to go and visit her homeland anyway. Aunt Nettie had been pestering her for a visit. There was no reason why Ziva couldn't spend some time with her father. And so, in the summer, Ziva had spent two weeks in Israel and came back with happy memories of family and friendship, instead of politics and war.

Their jigsaw had more pieces to it now. Their family was getting stronger.

'We are getting married, Tony' said Ziva.

'Yes, we are.'

Originally, this chapter didn't exist. Then I realised I might get lynched if I didn't include this chapter.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.