She looked perplexed as Tony pulled her along. "Where are we going?" She asked. Tony didn't say anything. He led her back onto the dock. Turning to her, he pulled out his cell phone.

Ziva's eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed. She knew this was the one area reception was available. What was he doing?

"McGee! Yeah, I found her. She's fine, we're fine. Tell Abby not to worry. No, not just yet. I'm not sure, McGee. I'll let you know when we're back." Tony ended the call and looked deeply into Ziva's eyes.

She looked at Tony, not comprehending what he had just done. Tony took her other hand. "I'm giving you time, Ziva. And I'm taking it with you."

Vignette Two: "Past, Present and Future"

Part Two

Ziva didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. She knew Tony had just bought her some more time, but began to wonder how much more time she dared to take. Wait, Tony was going to stay…

"Tony?" She stood next to him, looking up at him and holding her breath.

"You are stuck with me for a while, Ziva." Tony put his arms around her. He added the caveat of "for a while" so as not to scare her off. But what he hoped he was making clear was that what they had just experienced was not a "one-night stand", or rather a "one-day stand", but the sentiment was the same.

What he hoped Ziva understood was that he needed time, too; to figure out what this was between them and that he was willing to see where it would lead. No pressure, no promises; at least not right now.

Ziva nodded and placed her head on his chest, accepting his offer. Tony stroked her back and kissed her hair. "Let's just enjoy it, Ziva. We can do that, can't we? We don't need to worry about the future…just yet."

Ziva pulled back and looked at him, her eyes glistening. "Thank you, Tony." Her voice was full of emotion, and gratitude.

Three Weeks Later

NCIS

Tim looked uncomfortably at his Boss and glanced at Abby. "He went after her, Gibbs. He figured out where she was and went after her." Abby responded quietly.

Gibbs cocked his head. "Where did she go?"

"Uh, we don't know, Boss. Tony hasn't told us." Tim answered.

"Hasn't told you? When did this happen?" Gibbs demanded.

"Tony left three weeks ago, Boss. They haven't come back."

Gibbs cocked his head and gave them one of his famous looks. "Three weeks? They have both been gone for three weeks and you don't know where they are?" Abby twisted in hands and frowned in that crooked cute way of hers.

Gibbs looked at their empty desks. If he had no imagination, he would be scared shitless that his two Agents were injured or worse, dead. Gibbs rubbed the back of his neck, wondering about this new development. He had been to Hell and back, and he wanted his team together again, where they belonged. What were DiNozzo and Ziva up to?

Gibbs, however, had a very active imagination. "Ah, hell!" He exclaimed under his breath, rubbing his jaw. He knew exactly what they were doing. The question was: who would be returning when they got tired of playing house?

"Call them, McGee, now!"

Tim nodded and punched in the number. It went straight to voicemail. "Tony, it's McGee. It's over, Gibbs is back; we're back. You and Ziva can come home now. Call me. Gibbs is, uh…wondering where you are." McGee ended his call and nodded at Gibbs.

Gibbs' Cabin-West Virginia

Tony came into the cabin and sat in one of the rockers. Ziva looked up from the soup she was making, perplexed at his expression. It was hopeful and sad all at the same time.

She straightened up slowly. "What is it, Tony?"

Tony regarded her warily. "I got a voice message from McGee."

Ziva felt her hands shake. She closed the distance between them and sat on his lap. Resting her head against his shoulder, she took a deep breath.

"Tell me." Ziva fully expected to hear that Gibbs was dead; that whatever this mission of his was, it had taken him from them, from her.

Tony laced his fingers in her hand and tightened his arm around her waist. "Gibbs is back, we're being recalled to NCIS."

This was not what Ziva had been dreading to hear, but the release was just as painful. She sobbed quietly into Tony's shoulder.

The past three weeks had been amazing, the two of them exploring their surroundings and each other. Oh, after eight years they knew each other far better than anyone had a right too. But that knowledge had mostly been reserved in the work setting.

Yes, they'd had an occasional off work relationship, but with work lasting from ten to sixteen hours a day, that personal time had been limited and scarce.

Tony's experiment in taking time to actually be together had so far been a great success. They enjoyed being together, day and night; but kept talking of serious things to a minimum. Sometimes you had to just enjoy the moment and go with the flow.

Tony had resisted the urge to suggest that they move their co-habitation to some place a bit more comfortable, and kitchen friendly. By going back to D.C., they were going back to their old lives.

Neither was ready to turn back the clock just yet. Tony was becoming more convinced that he never wanted to go back to "pre-resignation" Tony and Ziva. Oh, he wanted his job back, but the work-only relationship with Ziva would not be enough, not any more.

He knew at some point, this "vacation" would have to end, like when Gibbs finally came back and expected his team to sign on again at NCIS. And now that reality had just reared its ugly head. And like Ziva, he didn't want it to end. But he knew that they had work to do, and he was grateful for a job that had remained available.

"Ziva, I…I don't want to leave, but I think maybe it's time to go back. Gibbs needs us."

Ziva tensed and removed herself from his embrace. "I…I know. I just…I don't know, Tony. I am not ready."

Tony smiled and stood next to her. "Hey, just because we go back doesn't mean this is going to end. I promise you, I have no intention of going back to that single bed of mine." Tony was attempting to lighten the mood with humor, but Ziva pulled away.

"Ziva?" Tony frowned, and for the first time he felt anxiety that maybe his experiment hadn't been the success he had imagined.

"I cannot do this, Tony." She said very quietly.

Tony looked at her, stunned. "You can have whatever you want. I guess the question is; what do you want? Don't do this Ziva."

"Do what?" She countered. "Take responsibility for my life?"

Tony glared at her. "We've been partners for eight years. In all that time, we've had a lot of things happen to us, separately and together; some good and some bad." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"When I think back to when you left, when I thought you were dead…"

Ziva's face paled. "Tony, no…please don't."

"No, I have to do this. Please let me finish." He looked at her until she nodded. "When I thought you were dead, I didn't care anymore. I didn't care about anything. I went to Somalia to avenge your death, but I didn't intend to come back. When Ulman pulled that sack off of your head and I saw that you were alive, my life suddenly had purpose again."

He hesitated. "Do you remember what I said to you then?"

Ziva took a step toward him and answered so softly he could barely hear her. "You said that you couldn't live without me."

Tony took a deep breath. "That's as true today as it was then. Ziva, I am better with you. And I am tired of pretending that my life is perfect the way it is. Far from it. The truth is I have been living behind a façade, acting all confident and daring, but in reality I've been afraid. Afraid to let my guard down; afraid to take any risks; afraid to do anything that could bring me pain."

Tony was pacing back and forth, as a lawyer making the case of a lifetime. "But you know what? For all of my precautions, I am not happy with my life. Oh, I love my job and the people I work with. But it's no longer enough." He sighed heavily.

"These past few months have been hell, but if I've learned anything it's that time waits for no one. Patience is a virtue but procrastination's a bitch. It gets you nothing. Nothing! It's time for me to fall on that sword that's been dangling over my head since I heard the Damocles sank with you on board. It's time for me to man up and face my fears. Because you know what, Ziva? I'd rather take the damn risk and fail, than sit back and do nothing and wonder for the rest of my life what might have been."

Taking a step forward, Tony took her hand. "Ziva, I can't do this without you. Please don't walk away from me."

Ziva wrapped her arms around Tony's waist, overwhelmed by his admission. She laid her head against his chest, feeling the fast beating of his heart, his quick intake of breath. She closed her eyes when he kissed her head. "Tony, I have heard you, but you have misunderstood me. I still have some questions that need to be answered; there are some things I have to attend to before I can go forward. I must call Orli." She felt his intake of breath when she said the name.

"What? The Director of Mossad? No, you can't…you can't go back there." He almost added "I won't let you" but he knew instinctively that he couldn't make Ziva do anything she didn't want to do. He didn't question why he thought she would consider going back, it just came out.

Ziva put her hand against his cheek. "She has left me several messages. Tony, I must hear what she has to say. I need this…I need closure. I would like to be alone, but do not…leave. Please? I will find you when I have finished."

Tony nodded and reluctantly let her go, their hands lingering together until they could no longer touch.

Ziva walked to the lake and paced along the dock, gathering courage. She had been avoiding this call, but the delay could not continue. The time had come to make a decision, a decision that would direct the course of her life.

She took a deep breath and punched in the numbers long ago committed to memory. The voice on the end answered in Hebrew. "It is I, Orli." Ziva responded quietly in English.

Orli Elbaz sat back in her chair, relief flooding her features. "Ziva! What a relief to finally hear from you. Are you well?"

Ziva pressed her lips together at the small talk. "As well as can be expected, I suppose."

Orli smiled knowingly at Ziva's response. She leaned forward, her voice intense. "Ziva, they are doing you a terrible wrong. I implore you to return to your home."

Ziva looked surprised at the suggestion. She shook her head. "I am home, Orli."

"And how do they treat you? Your government has accused you of being a traitor, of being a cold-blooded killer, Ziva!" Orli raised her voice, sounding stern and critical.

Ziva grew impatient. "It is not my government that makes these claims, it is one man. One man who has been proven wrong. I have nothing to hide."

Orli recognized she had overstepped and dialed back her ire. She tried a different track. "But your father's legacy…you must see it through, Ziva. It is what he would have wanted."

Ziva snapped. "How do you know what my father would have wanted? The last we spoke, he talked of grandchildren, not of me returning to Israel and Mossad."

Orli was silent, considering her words. "Perhaps I misspoke, but you would be of great service to us here, and we value you."

Ziva closed her eyes. "No, Orli. My family is here, my home is here. I cannot go back." She took a deep breath and steeled herself for the question she had wanted to ask for years.

"Orli, may I ask you a question?" Her hesitation was not lost on Orli, but she wasn't sure what this was about.

"Of'course, Ziva. I reserve the right to decide whether or not to answer you, of'course."

"Of'course." Ziva took a deep breath. "Did you ever… love my father?

The silence on the other end was deafening. "I loved him with all of my heart, Ziva. I love him still." She paused to gather her thoughts. "I do not believe in regrets. One must take responsibility for one's actions and live with the consequences; and learn from them if such a lesson is forthcoming. But I am sorry that I hurt you and your family. Ziva, the heart wants what it wants. There is no reasoning to it. The mind cannot control it. The happiest time of my life was spent with your Father."

"Then why did you leave him?" Ziva blurted out, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Is that what he told you? No, Ziva. It was Eli who left me. He tried to reconcile with your mother, but she would not take him back. I accepted it of'course, but I never stopped loving him." Orli felt her own tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. She shakily took a deep breath.

"Ziva, I have learned that you must listen to your heart. Do not disregard it or push it aside because you believe that what it is telling you to be false. Trust what your heart tells you." She paused. "There is someone in your life, yes? There is someone that you have been afraid to love?"

Ziva was silent, looking back toward the cabin.

"Do not be afraid, Ziva. Embrace your feelings. The truth will set you free."

Ziva wiped her eyes and smiled softly. "Thank…thank you, Orli. I will…try."

Orli shook her head. "No, Ziva. Do not try. In this you must do. I leave you in my prayers and ask God to watch over you. And Ziva?"

Ziva looked down. "Yes, Orli?"

"Please tell your children that their grandfather was a flawed man, but he was capable of great love."

Ziva hung up, the tears flowing down her cheeks, hugging herself as years of pain were finally released.

After what seemed like an eternity, she composed herself. "The truth will set you free." Ziva felt lighter and freer than she had ever felt in her life. She knew now what she had to do. She looked at the lake one last time, and then turned to walk back to Tony and her future.

Tony sat moodily by the fire, occasionally stirring the soup. He was scared that Ziva was shutting down again. She had been so happy and carefree. Why would going back to work make her run off scared again? Had it all been illusion? Had he only seen what he wanted to see?

He stood abruptly when she came back into the cabin. He nervously waited for her to say what she had to say, prepared to argue his case.

Ziva quietly closed the gap between them. He was distressed to see that she had been crying and a feeling of dread filled his heart. She took one of his hands and looked into his eyes.

"Tony, I have listened to what you have said to me." She began hesitantly. This was going to be the most important conversation she had ever had in her life and she wanted to choose her words carefully.

"What I have learned is that you cannot ignore the past: it informs us as to who we are in the present. What is necessary is that we take those events from the past, both good and bad, and apply the lessons we have learned to make a better future. I have focused too much on the tragedies, the betrayals, the violence and the evil that has shaped my life." Her breath caught, and she looked down. Tony placed a gentle hand on her cheek.

She looked back up at him, gathering the courage to continue. "But in my despair, I overlooked the good. It is time for me to leave my past behind and live my life in the present. So that I may have the future I truly want."

Tony searched her face, not wanting to ask but knowing he had no choice. "And what future is that, Ziva?"

Ziva hesitated. "It is time for me to leave the violence and the killing behind me, Tony. I do not think my future lies at NCIS." She placed her fingertips on his lips when he started to protest. "I may not be your partner at work, Tony. But I will still be your partner." She smiled at his confused looked.

Ziva finally smiled, and placed her hand over his heart. "The heart wants what it wants, Tony. And my heart wants you."

Comprehension dawned on his face. Tony grabbed her and kissed her passionately, eight years of wanting finally culminating in one effusive moment. Ziva cried through the kiss, unable to believe that the love she had denied herself for so long was finally hers.

After a few moments, Tony pulled back and cupped her face with his hands. "I love you, Ziva David." He said roughly, the emotion in his voice betraying his bravado.

Ziva placed her hands over his. "I love you, Anthony DiNozzo." They kissed again, thrilling to their declaration.

Tony felt his eyes teared up, but he didn't care. "DiNozzo men don't cry" was a thing in the past. He would cry every day tears of happiness that this wonderful creature was in his life.

He held her close, resting his head in the curve of her neck. He wanted to savor this moment as long as he could, because before they knew it, reality would slam up against them.

They finally pulled back, still holding hands. Tony stroked her hair.

"Ziva, are you absolutely sure about work? I mean, we can make this work, forget Gibbs. I'll…" Ziva shook her head slowly.

"No, Tony. It is not about Gibbs. It is about me breaking free of my past. Besides, I think it best that at least one of us is not in such a dangerous profession, yes?" Tony started, not sure what Ziva was suggesting, but pleased that it had vestiges of "long term".

Tony really liked the sound of that. "Ok, I won't pressure you about it. But we do need to call McGee back. If nothing else to let him know we got the message."

Ziva looked closely at him. "I am not ready to go back yet, Tony. But I will understand if you need to. Gibbs is waiting for us. He will be angry if at least you do not come."

Tony shook his head. "No, I'm not going to be the one to tell him you aren't re-joining the team. I'm staying until you are ready to face him. And then we'll face him together." Ziva hugged him tightly. He kissed the top of her head, and grabbed his phone. He gave her a quick kiss and headed outside to the lake.

NCIS

McGee sat happily at his desk, eagerly catching up on all of the memos that had been issued since his absence. He was interrupted by the elevator opening. He looked up to see a Rear Admiral exit and make her way up the stairs, led by an escort.

Tim's eyes followed her. "Who's that, McGee?" Gibbs had returned with his coffee in time to see the attractive redhead ascend the top step and continue her path to Director Vance's office.

McGee looked at Gibbs. "I have no idea, other than that's she a Rear Admiral. One star." Gibbs smiled at McGee's military knowledge. That reminded him of something.

"How's your Dad doing, McGee?" Gibbs looked concerned.

Tim lowered his head. "As well as expected I suppose. He's finished his first round of radiation." Gibbs nodded as his phone rang.

"Yeah, Gibbs." His eyes went up to Vance's office. "Be right there." He hung up and took the stairs.

McGee frowned and wondered what was going on. When his cell phone rang, he looked surprise. He answered quickly. "Tony, where in the hell are you? Gibbs is not happy you and Ziva are not back here."

Tony grimaced. "Good to talk to you too, Probie. How is Gibbs? Is he ok?"

Tim craned his neck to look upstairs. "He appears to be. I mean, if he was injured I can't tell. Tony, Parsons is dead."

Tony sucked in his breath. "What happened?" He imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios included Ziva being wanted for his murder. When he heard McGee's message that Gibbs was back and everything was good, he had assumed that Parsons' had dropped his investigation.

"Long story. Come back and I'll tell you two all about it; or rather Gibbs will since he was the one to pull the trigger."

"What?" Tony's sense of relief was marred by his concern that Gibbs killed the very man that had accused him of constantly going outside the law.

"Tony, I can't talk about this on the phone. Come home." McGee was pleading with him.

"Love to, can't; not just yet, Tim. We need some more time."

"Need more time? For what? Is Ziva ok?" For the first time, McGee wondered if Ziva was injured or ill.

"Ziva's safe." Tony temporized. "Look, McGee. I have to go. Tell Gibbs…I don't know, tell him anything. We'll be back, just not right now." Tony hung up, hoping he just hadn't screwed himself out of his career.

"Tony…Tony!" McGee shouted into the phone.

Vance's Office

"Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, this is Admiral Sarah Porter."

"Ma'am." Gibbs shook her hand.

"Thank you, gentlemen. I will be quick and clear. I want you to cease your investigation into Richard Parsons and 'Ezekiel'." The woman stood erect, steel in her eyes.

Gibbs cocked his head. "Not gonna' happen…Ma'am." Vance looked pissed.

"What is this about?" Vance stood up and walked around his desk.

"I cannot discuss this with you, you do not have clearance. Believe me when I tell you that this way above your pay grade and National Security demands that you relinquish this case." Admiral Porter glared at both Vance and Gibbs. "Have I made myself clear?" She turned smartly and stalked out of Vance office.

"Damn!" Gibbs and Vance both muttered under their breath. They looked startled at each other, and then looked around. "Well, Leon? Do we just hand it over?"

Vance sat back at his desk. "Not if I have anything to say about it. I'm calling Tom Morrow. Keep your eye on her, Gibbs."

Gibbs cocked his head, and smiled. "Oh, that shouldn't be too hard."

Gibbs headed back downstairs to the bullpen, finding McGee standing and staring awestruck at the elevator. Gibbs walked up to him and lightly slapped the back of his head.

"Let me guess: Admiral 'I'm in Charge'?" He looked at McGee in amusement.

"Wha...What? Oh, yeah, I guess. She looked really pissed."

Gibbs sat at his desk. "Yeah, well there's a lot of that going around." He looked at McGee holding his cell phone.

"You need to make a call or something, McGee?"

Tim looked at Gibbs in confusion. He then noticed his cell phone was still in his hand.

"Oh…OH! I heard back from Tony." He explained.

Gibbs came back around from his desk. "Tony called? Did you actually speak to him, McGee or did he leave a text or voicemail or whatever it is that you do these days?"

"I talked to him, Boss." McGee looked uncomfortable, not happy to be put in this position.

Gibbs walked up to him. "Well? What did he say?'

"Uh, he said he needed more time; that is, he said that he and Ziva needed more time."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "That's what he said, that they needed more time?" Gibbs didn't raise his voice; he knew that McGee was only the unfortunate messenger.

Gibbs had a sudden sinking feeling, but he couldn't define it. He only knew that it had to do with Ziva.

He debated internally what to do about this news. "McGee, I want you to find them. Track your call, or their GPS. I want to know where they are." He paused. "But don't call him, and don't go after them, got it?"

"On it, Boss." Tim quickly ran down to Abby's lab

Gibbs' Cabin- West Virginia

Two Weeks Later

"Come on, we're gonna' miss it!" Tony grabbed her hand and pulled Ziva to the convertible. He looked at her and arched his eyebrows, laughing. Ziva laughed back at his exuberance.

Tony gunned the Camaro, making the wind blow back Ziva's hair. He glanced at her, marveling anew at her beauty. She turned to look at him, a huge smile on her face. He grinned back, thinking life couldn't get any better than this.

He stole another glance at Ziva, worried about what would happen when the time came to go back, but the contentment on her face wiped his fears away.

He pulled onto the winding road and made his way to the mountain overlook. "Come on, we don't want to miss it!" He grabbed Ziva's hand and they ran to the edge of the stone wall, looking out over the valley below.

He put his arms around her, leaning his head against hers. Together, they held their breath as the sun made its first entrance into another glorious day. The colors were breathtaking; bathing everything they touched crimson, gold and pink.

"Oh, Tony. It is absolutely beautiful." Ziva whispered breathlessly. Tony bent to kiss her and looked at her lovingly.

"Yes, you are." Ziva blushed, but accepted the complement. She hugged him tightly, watching the sun as it continued its ascent.

On one of their earlier explorations that had discovered this spot and knew they had to return one morning to see the sunrise. They watched the sun continue its golden path and reluctantly turned away.

"Where should we head off to now?" Tony grinned at her. Ziva thought for a few moments.

"Just drive and see where the wind blows us." She smiled. Tony liked the sound of that, and put the car in gear.

As they drove along the back roads, Ziva suddenly touched Tony's arm.

"Please stop, Tony." Tony looked around; trying to figure out what would make Ziva want to stop but all he saw was a small church. He pulled up onto the equally small gravel parking lot and stopped the car. He looked at Ziva quizzically.

She smiled hesitantly. "I know it is not a synagogue, but I think I need to speak to God." She looked down.

Tony nodded mutely, not sure what was going through her mind right now. He got out of the car and came around to her side. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Ziva considered his offer. "Yes, I think so. It is time for me to forgive my Father." Tony sucked in his breath at that, his eyes watering. "Maybe I need to do some forgiving of my own…" Tony was not comfortable with his own spirituality. It had been a long time since he had actually been to Mass and the last holy place he had stood in had been the synagogue where he found Ziva after…

Tony swallowed hard, sad that he was ruining their beautiful morning with such morbid thoughts.

They held hands and entered the church together. It was a quaint, country church, no frills but beautiful in its simplicity. Ziva went to the second pew and pulled down the wooden kneeling bench.

She began murmuring to herself softly in Hebrew. Tony was mesmerized by her voice; wishing he had made a better effort to learn her language. Struck by his own need, he went to the opposite side, and knelt, crossing himself and bowing his head.

Wow, lots happening here. The only way I will tolerate Orli being in the second episode is on the phone…Put in the new "pivotal character" but didn't waste a whole lot of time on her. I doubt we will get prolonged TIVA-ness, probably just one scene where it all comes down. The church is from the Twitter pic MW spoiled then deleted immediately. Tonight is "Shabbat Shalom". I would guess the final pre-Season 11 episodes will be the ones related to these events: "SS", "Shiva", "Chasing Ghosts", "Berlin", "Revenge", "Double Blind", "Damned if you Do": that should take us to the premiere. Please review and thanks for the faves and follows.