I can't even think of the words to describe how thankful and grateful I am to have the giant amount of support and kind words that I've been receiving! Y'all are gonna get tired of me opening every chapter this way, but get used to it, because every favorite, follow, and review I get makes me crazy excited!

Now, on with Chapter 7!

disclaimer: disclaimed.


Darling, I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

-Christina Perri, "A Thousand Years"


She didn't go for a walk.

Ziva ran.

The pounding of the blood in her ears and the slapping of her shoes on the concrete filled her head, and it was all she could do the keep herself composed until her legs felt like jelly and her chest was heaving.

It was all too much.

She passed families, a husband and wife that glowed with the most radiant smiles she had ever seen, kids playing in the park, kids running with a dog, and their joy, their laughter, their happiness echoed around her, it slowed time like in the movies where she was the only one standing still. They moved around her, their giggles and shrieks surrounded her, and she wanted it. She craved it. And here she was, with a man more than willing to give all of that to her, but she was terrified.

She didn't know how far she had gone or where exactly she was, but there was a park bench ahead and not many people around, so she sat, and let the uncomfortable metal seat help her balance the weight of the world that she currently felt like she had to carry.

One tear. Two. More.

Elbows met knees and hands met face, and she succumbed. Why, she didn't know.

Shouldn't I be happy? He's here, he wants me, why won't I let him?

Why won't I let him?

She loved Anthony DiNozzo, that was for sure. He had proved time and time again that he would do absolutely anything for her, love her unconditionally, and she didn't know why. Why would anyone love her? Why would anyone want her?

"Why wouldn't they?"

Her head shot up, and she looked around frantically, her eyes darting around the deserted street, but she saw no one. It was all in her head...but she knew that voice.

And that was when she knew what she needed to do.


He watched the deep red liquid climb up the sides of the glass, and once he was pleased at the amount, Tony set the bottle aside, placed the glass just so, and stepped back to admire his handiwork. It wasn't much, but the impromptu picnic on the balcony would have to do. Food from the restaurant down the street, candles, a blanket from the closet...he was going to wine and dine Ziva David if it was the last thing he did.

The door opened when he was putting on the music, and he heard her footsteps in the hallway. Thank God, he murmured. It had been a few hours...

"Tony?"

"In here," he called, and greeted her with a grin. She looked windswept and just a little tired, and his smile widened just a little when she shrugged off her sweater to reveal his shirt underneath. She really knew how to wear that thing, and the thought made him happier than he should've been. He opened his mouth to ask her how the walk went, but suddenly her arms were around his middle and her head on his chest.

"I love you," she mumbled, and he frowned. She didn't strike him as the overly-mushy type. That was more his department.

"I love you too," he replied, confusedly, his arms going around her nonetheless. "Are you alright?"

Instead of answering, she hugged him for a little while longer before pulling away, and her hands fell to interlock with his.

"I am alright." she responded finally, and he nodded. But his eyebrows were still knit together, and was looking at her weirdly. Ziva sighed, "Really, Tony. I just..." she trailed off, because his green eyes were just so...deep and intense and he was looking at her with such concentration and focus...

He seemed to understand, and planted a kiss on her forehead before whispering, "I have a surprise for you."


They spent the rest of the five days together much like they spent their picnic date: laughing, dancing, drinking, and making love, and neither would have dared trade it for anything. It would have been almost honeymoon-like if there wasn't the please come home with me glint in his eyes every time she looked at him. He was too good of a man to come out and say it, to continually beg her to leave with him, but with each passing day, with each kiss, with each touch, it became louder and clearer and more insistent and she could tell that now it was all he could think about.

It was inevitable that the elephant in the room would have to be addressed, and as the hours ticked down, and his bag was packed and ready for the next morning's early flight out, he finally cleared his throat. And Ziva knew exactly what he was about to say.

"Ziva," he started.

"Tony, I have something I need to do." she bit out, a little harsher than she intended. She switched her position on the bed so that she lay on her back, instead of snuggling in his embrace. She needed to be strong.

He exhaled loudly, but rolled over and took her hand. "Alright."

"Alright?" she was shocked. She looked up at his face, which was now hovering over hers. "Really?"

"No," he replied honestly, "but, I wanna know where you're going."

"Israel." she said, and his eyebrows rose.

"I thought you weren't going back."

"Things...have changed." She had him curious now.

"Okay..."

"Good things, Tony." she reassured, and squeezed his hand for good measure. "I need to visit my mother one last time."

And he understood. Or seemed to, judging by his expression change. "Okay." his lips brushed her temple. "Okay."

"I might visit Aunt Nettie as well. But after that...after that, Tony..."

"You're comin home to me?"

"I am coming home to you."

And that's all he could've asked for.


So yes, this was a tad shorter than the other chapters, but it was necessary. From here the plot will thicken a little, so be prepared for that! Let me know what you think about this chapter, for some reason I'm a little nervous about posting it!

-Laura