A/N: Hey there :) Sooo, I know I said this would be up sooner but yeahhh..it's been two days so I guess that's still okay ;) Please enjoy reading! :)

Ziva arrived in Abby's lab only to find Tony and Abby both staring at the computer screen. She walked closer, neither of them noticing her presence. She glanced over Tony's shoulder to see what they were looking at.

It was a video of the conference room, obviously live. Andrew was just leaning in to kiss Ali. "You're not seriously watching them, are you?", she demanded. Tony and Abby quickly spun around.

"Ziva, we weren't..we were just..", Abby stammered but Ziva held up her hand, not really needing an explanation. "Just turn it off, okay? This is none of our business.", she stated and Abby nodded, pressing a couple keys to cut off the live stream.

"Sorry", Tony murmured, "I just wanted to make sure that she was okay.." Ziva shot him a smile: "I know." He smiled back and they were basically in their own little world, not even remembering that Abby was in the room with them until she cleared her throat.

They both looked at Abby with an apologetic look. It really wasn't the first time this had happened. Tony excused himself and Ziva and they quickly made their way out of the lab and into the elevator.

Once it started moving Tony flipped the emergency switch and the elevator came to a stop. He took a step closer to Ziva, their toes already touching. She didn't even waste a second and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, claiming his lips in a kiss that was long overdue.

They hadn't really gotten a moment of privacy the entire day (and night for that matter because Gibbs had made them stay) and she had literally been aching to be in his arms, to kiss him.

His arms immediately found their way around her waist, pulling her closer to her, kissing her back almost desperately. When they pulled back they were both breathing heavily.

She rested her forehead on his and looked into his eyes, their lips almost touching again. "I missed you", she whispered. He chuckled: "I was down in Abby's lab for like ten minutes."

But she shook her head, her eyes dead serious. "You know what I mean, Tony.", she said quietly. He nodded and turned serious again. "I miss you every second we're not together, Zi. You know that.", he murmured, his breath tickling her skin and sending shivers down her spine.

She gave him a quick peck on the lips, then pulled back a little more. "I'm worried about Ali.", she stated, leaning back against the elevator wall. Tony took a step forward, coming to stand in front of her.

He didn't really need to ask anything else. He knew that she'd talk when she was ready. It was what she always did and he'd come to know her better than himself in some aspects.

It was kind of terrifying at times but also incredible because now he was sure what it felt like to have a soul mate. Eventually Ziva started to talk: "She reminds me too much of myself. I don't want her to make the same mistakes I made."

"Hey, your father can't hurt her anymore so she won't..", he started but she cut him off: "That's not what I'm talking about." He was confused now. What was she talking about?

If it wasn't about their shared family history..then what the hell was this about? He didn't dare ask though but instead waited for her to tell him when she was ready.

"Sure, we share the same family history and we've both been through..a lot. But that's not what I'm talking about here.", she stated. Tony had to swallow hard when she mentioned the part of having been through a lot.

Ziva had been through hell and back but he didn't know as much about Ali's past. What if it had been similar to what Ziva had had to go through? He didn't really want to think about it.

"What is it, Ziva? You know you can tell me anything.", he said carefully and she nodded, giving him a warm but sad smile. "Does it have to do with Freddie and Andrew?", he tried.

Ziva sighed but then decided that she had to get this out. She had to tell him because she knew he'd understand. At least she hoped he would.

She took a deep breath and then started to tell Ali's story: "Freddie and Ali have known each other for quite some time. They met in Israel and they were best friends..and maybe more. But then Freddie had to leave and shortly after Ali came to the US as well. She always pretended to be over Freddie and then she met Andrew and they started dating. But now that Freddie is back..she's not sure anymore. In fact, she's upstairs right now, trying to break up with Andrew instead of really making it right because of what he saw on the video."

Tony didn't say anything. It was clear that Ziva wasn't done yet. "I just don't want her to make the same mistake I made.", she repeated her words from minutes ago.

He took another step towards her, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. "What mistake?", he whispered. She looked to the side and let go of his hand.

Then she spoke: "You love one person but you can't tell them because you're scared of the consequences. You don't wanna risk the friendship or whatever. Fact is, you can't bring yourself to tell them. Then some other person comes along and since you can't have the one you really want..you give it a try. You start a serious relationship with someone but your heart belongs to someone else. You're so desperate that you start to commit fully to that relationship based on a lie. A lie to yourself. But you can't help it. At least you have someone by your side, something permanent. Maybe you don't realize what you're doing until it's too late. The one you really want is not available anymore, so you have to move on. You throw everything you have into that relationship and you think that maybe, just maybe you'll eventually love that person but deep down you know that your heart still belongs to another. It's ridiculous and it's a vicious circle, really. I just don't want that to happen to Ali."

She was breathing heavily by now and Tony just stood there, too shocked to react in any way. When he finally found his voice again he silently asked:"Because that happened to you?"

She nodded her head, still not looking at him. "Wow. And here I thought you actually loved me.", he said, a sarcastic laugh escaping his throat. She spun around quickly at that, her eyes meeting his.

"What?!", she cried. "You commit fully to this relationship because you can't have the one you actually lo..", he started but was cut off by her lips on his. She pressed her body flush against his, her arms finding their way around his neck.

He couldn't really help it when his arms found their way around her waist out of reflex. But eventually his mind screamed at him to stop and discuss this first. He pulled away and they were both breathing heavily.

He tried to get a little distance between them but she clung to him like he was her lifeline. "Tony..", she started but he cut her off: "No, Ziva, I don't wanna hear it okay?! First you tell me this and then you just kiss me to...what? Make me forget?"

She stared at him, tears pooling in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. "Are you kidding me?", she hissed. His eyes were hard and he simply stared right into hers.

"Tony, you're not the fake relationship. You're the person I have been in love with for years. The person I couldn't have.", she whispered and suddenly understanding dawned on him. His own eyes started to water as he struggled to find words.

Before he was able to say anything she continued: "I have been in love with you for years, Tony. Years! But I couldn't have you. I was too scared to tell you and I was afraid of what it might do to our friendship. I couldn't risk that. Then Ray came along and I..he was just a friend at first but then I saw you with EJ and I realized that my chance was gone and I was just so..desperately..in need of something..permanent. I looked right past his faults and told myself that this was my only chance of happiness. I didn't realize what I was doing until he proposed and we found out about..you know. From that moment on I knew that it was so wrong. I couldn't commit to a person when my heart already belonged to..you. I couldn't, Tony. So, I settled with being content. It was enough for me to see you at work everyday, seeing you smile across the bullpen, a few touches here and there."

She trailed off. "And then Ali came along.", Tony finished for her, his voice raw with emotion. Ziva nodded. "God, Ziva. If only you'd told me sooner. You have no idea what that proposal did to me!", he exclaimed, then added in a whisper: "You had me at hello."

She couldn't help the sob that escaped her throat when he said that. He pulled her to his chest and rubbed her back softly. When she calmed down – and he did, too – he pressed his lips to hers in a slow and sweet kiss.

When they pulled apart they smiled at each other. "It won't happen to Ali. I'll make sure of that.", Tony promised and she smiled even brighter, making his heart swell.

"I love you.", Ziva said. A grin spread across Tony's face as he replied: "And I love you, Ziva."

A/N: As always, thank you for reading :) Please leave a review on your way out, telling me what you think :) The next chapter will feature Ali and Freddie. (any shipper names? :D) I'll post it asap :)
I'll totally reply to all of your lovely reviews on the weekend! I have an exam coming up on Thursday but yeahh, afterwards I'll totally reply to all of them! :)
Love y'all!
~ C.