Summary: It was supposed to be a simple drug bust….but then everything had gone wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.
Disclaimer: NCIS is the property of CBS. I do not own any of the characters. Any likeness or resemblance to people, real or factious is unintentional. Fair warning. I am a poor college student. If you sue me you'll put more into your lawyer than you'll ever get out of me.
Authors note: Please help me to become a better writer by leaving reviews. Thank you to all those who have left reviews so far! They are encouraging and very helpful!
Also the Hebrew is as accurate as a basic web search can make it so I do apologize if it is incorrect or spelled incorrectly.
Time had a funny way of getting away from her. It had a funny way of flying by.
She waited patiently for Tony to come around and open her door for her. She hadn't known he could be so chivalrous. But it was something he insisted one.
He pulled open the door and she graciously accepted his arm letting him steady her as she stood.
She had taken a bullet through her leg during the fire fight in the warehouse. That had been six months ago. She had just finished up a long and intensive period of physical therapy and was still a little wobbly on her feet.
He waited smiling at her until she was ready. Until she was sure. Then together, arm in arm they made their way into the restaurant. Tony wanted to celebrate her full return to duty. She had been on desk duty during the course of her physical therapy.
The boredom and repetition had nearly driven her crazy. On the upside she had learned to have a lot of patience. Which was a good thing since Tony and she had started dating. The man required a certain amount of patience.
"You look beautiful by the way…. Have I told you how much I love that dress…?" he remarked holding the door for her.
She brushed passed him, rolling her eyes at him.
He had insisted she look ravishing for tonight's dinner. Something about an upscale place and fine dining.
She had to admit she was impressed. She would have been just as happy with a homemade dinner and candle light. But this was good too.
So she had bought a dress, a simple black affair. Surprisingly flouncy, yet simple. Affordable on her government stipend. Abby had done her hair.
The forensic evidence tech knew something, but no amount of Mossad training, threatening looks, or bribery had been able to pull that something out of her.
She had simply smiled her I-know-something-you-don't smile and refused to say a word.
Hair swept up in an elegant bun, a few strands left out to curl around her face, light make up. Ziva had to admit she felt and looked like a girl. It made the Mossad agent in her squirm. But she suppressed that firmly. Tony had gone to a lot of trouble for this, and she it would not kill her to be a little girly for one night. Besides, secretly deep down inside, she rather enjoyed it.
She smiled as Tony pulled out her chair and sat, adjusting her dress carefully.
It was a very nice restaurant. All oak panels and dim lighting. Discrete servers dressed in black moved from table to table on silent feet, carrying wine and menus. Soft piano music drifted from a large grand in the corner. It was all in all very tasteful.
Her eyes roamed the room for a bit, taking it in, habitually establishing quick exits and escape routes. Marking the waiter's movements and timing. Old habits died hard, she supposed.
When she looked over, she found Tony staring at her, a strange emotion glinting in his eyes.
"What are you staring at?" she asked him, a little put off.
He blinked and seemed to come out of his thoughts, straightening a little, and fiddling with his napkin, before looking back at her. Then he smiled a little, his DiNozzo charm, showing. "Just admiring the way the light plays in your hair and off the…necklace at your throat…" he remarked, his manner very suave.
She smiled a little playing with her Star of David necklace before interlacing her fingers before her. "You look very handsome yourself, Tony…" she remarked truthfully. He had bought a tuxedo for their dinner. Its color and cut fit him perfectly the dark color bringing out his eyes. He had even done his hair. He looked all in all very put together. Charming.
He pursed his lips and laughed a little, rocking back in his chair. He seemed a little nervous.
She narrowed her eyes at him trying to determine what he was up to. The man could be hard to read when he wanted to be.
"Now your staring Zee-vah…" he said with a grin.
She blushed a little and looked away. Clearing her throat.
Thankfully at that moment the waiter came with menus and wine.
They ordered and the waiter poured them wine. As he was leaving Ziva saw him raise an eyebrow at Tony. Tony without looking at him nodded. The man smiled slightly, then catching her glare hurried away.
"All right Tony…what's all this about…" She demanded a little annoyed.
He looked at her innocently. "What…? We're old friends…played basketball together in college…" He replied, his manner coy.
She didn't believe him for a second. She frowned, her eyes narrowing once more. She picked up her knife testing its edge experimentally. It was surprisingly sharp for a table knife. She then fixed him with her best and most scary Mossad glare.
He just smiled and leaned away, rocking back in his chair. He seemed unfazed by her glare or the knife.
He was either very bold or very stupid.
She arched an eyebrow at him. Fine. If he wanted to play games, she would play along for the time being. Though she fully intentioned to make him pay for it later.
The waiter came back with more wine, smiling pleasantly.
She tried her scary Mossad look on him and got a much better response.
He blinked; sweat appearing on his face as he bent to poor her wine, backing up hurriedly when she began to play with her knife.
He turned and as he was turning ran full into Tony who was getting up for something.
It was a subtle trick but Ziva saw something change hands. Though she couldn't tell what.
"Tony…." She warned as he approached and held out a hand to her. He just smirked slightly.
He was taunting her.
She pursed her lips, eying him irritably. She hated surprises. And he knew it.
The waiter had disappeared. Convenient of him. If he had been closer she may have actually used the knife. But only to scare him.
Seeing no way out of it she grudgingly accepted his hand and he whisked her out to the dance floor.
He was very charming as he spun her around, making small talk as they waltzed.
She smirked slightly as she danced…. So he wanted to waltz did he, well she would show him. She nodded to the pianist and the music switched tempos.
Smoothly she changed her footwork, changing the dance from something smooth and graceful to forceful and aggressive. In the Mossad some called it the assassins tango. It was nothing less than a deadly battle of wills.
Tony stumbled slightly but quickly regained his feet looking surprised by the turn of events, and then he smiled and stepped in just as forceful as she was.
She hadn't been expecting that. But she refused to retreat.
It was deadly dance they engaged in. Both giving. Both taking. This was the assassins tango.
The music built in pace and suddenly she found herself in Tony's arms, as he swept her backwards into a deep dip and the music reached a crescendo.
Breathless she tried to figure out how he had gained the upper hand yet again, especially at a game she was so well versed in. But all's she could see was his eyes looking into hers.
Gradually he lifted her up, his eyes never leaving hers. "You are a surprisingly good dancer Zi…." He whispered breathing heavily as he pressed his forehead against hers.
She chuckled, smiling in spite of herself. "Well…Tony…I had a good teacher…." She replied pride hinting in her voice.
He smiled, and chuckled and brushed her lips with a kiss. "I love you…." He whispered pressing his forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. The shift in his tone and in the moods was so sudden it surprised her.
"I love you to Tony…you know this…." She said her brow drawing down slightly in confusion.
"Marry me?" His question was so abrupt that she wasn't sure she had heard right.
"What?" She replied taking her head away from his so she could better look into his eyes.
For a long moment her partner just starred at her, his eyes searching her face and her eyes in a way that made her nervous. Then he got down on one knee looking up at her, her hand clasped between his. He was speaking but she wasn't hearing.
Her heart was racing and blood pounded in her ears loudly. She tried to focus on what he was saying but her head was spinning. Her thoughts and emotions in a confusing jumble. Each arguing for her attention. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. But it was, it was happening.
Desperately she tried to reign in her emotions, trying every technique she knew, but none of it was working.
Then she realized he was no longer speaking. He was looking at her expectantly. Waiting for her answer.
As was everyone else in the room. She was somehow aware of their eyes on her though she couldn't seem to take her eyes off him.
Unconsciously her free hand drifted up to the hollow of her throat. Her fingers brushing the small Star of David nestled there. Somehow touching it steadied her and gave her the focus and control she needed.
"Repeat it…." She said her voice a small, dry, whisper.
"What?" he asked just as softly, brushing the top of her hand with his lips.
"Please…." The word was soft and pleading.
His eyes locked on hers refusing to look away. Somehow he knew exactly what she needed.
"Ziva David….. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life…. I'm not a perfect man…. One of those mistakes was letting you get shot all those months ago. …" he began.
She started to open her mouth to protest that she would do it again. But he squeezed her hand and pressed on.
"I've never felt so lost in my life as when I thought I had lost you. …when I was helpless and couldn't hold on to you…protect you…keep you safe…. I never want to feel that way again… I never want to lose someone I love again….. I know your heart is fragile…. We both are in our both ways…but I promise Ziva to cherish you as you should be cherished. To take care of you and protect you not only as your partner, and friend but as your husband…. I promise your fragile heart won't be broken….Ziva will you marry me…." He repeated the words his voice strangely deep, sincerity in every word.
Something shifted in her heart and she was flooded with sudden joy. So great was it that she couldn't contain it. She felt herself nodding even as she wiped the tears away. Yes she would marry him. Yes she would give him her heart and she would let him in where she had never let someone before.
He smiled his sincere Tony smile at her and took a box out of his pocket. Gently he slid the ring onto her finger. It was a simple affair, just a plain silver band and nothing more. To her it was beautiful. It was perfect. A perfect symbol of their love.
He kissed her hand rose staring deeply into her eyes. "You're beautiful," he whispered.
She couldn't help it she was so overwhelmed with so many different things that she threw her arms around him and kissed him.
He didn't protest, holding her close.
Finally she pulled away and rested her forehead against his, still held tight in his embrace while he whispered sweet nothings into her ear.
Gradually she realized people were cheering and clapping. She pulled away from him grudgingly, and turned.
The waiter had returned offering glasses of wine to her and DiNozzo. She accepted it gladly, smiling a little shyly at their audience.
She scanned their faces, memorizing them and was surprised to see a few familiar faces mingled with the crowd. Cleverly done up so that she hadn't recognized them at first, but they were there none the less. She saw McGee holding tight to Abby. There was Ducky and Palmer standing side by side looking like a father and son. To a tee their expressions were joyous for her and for Tony. Finally tucked into the back was Gibbs. He gave her a fatherly smile, raising his wine glass, slightly.
She raised her glass in return, her smile growing. Leave it to Gibbs to communicate a dozen things in one simple motion.
She turned back to Tony who was beaming proudly, and gave him another gentle kiss which sent her team…her family…to cheering and renewed clapping.
She smiled and rested her palms against Tony's chest for a moment her head resting lightly over his heart, content just to be there for just a moment. Finally she couldn't take the attention any longer and looked up at him pleadingly, a smile teasing her lips.
He smiled at her kissing her forehead briefly before raising his wine glass towards the team, and whisking her away to their table. Somehow he knew. He always knew.
Their meal arrived shortly thereafter but they enjoyed very little of it privately as the members of their family came up gradually. In teams or individually to wish them well and chat. They talked about the proposal and asked to see the ring. Generally making a nuisance of themselves.
Last to come was Gibbs; he approached them as they were just finishing the last of desert a small smile playing over his otherwise serious features.
"You two…. "He looked away, shaking his head, his smile growing. Then he took their interlaced hands between his and patted them, gently.
"Don't you let each other go. You hear me? "He said looking at them each respectively until both had smiled and nodded.
They had no intention of doing so.
"Good... and keep the mushy stuff out of my bull pen okay…." He said with a smirk.
They just looked at each other and smiled as only people in love could do.
He rolled his eyes, pulling Ziva's hand free so he could kiss it gently, before returning it to DiNozzo. Then he left the two in peace and they were finally blissfully alone.
It was a long moment before either of them spoke and when they did it was Ziva who spoke first.
" Akhshav. Tamid. Tamiyd" She spoke each word softly, the Hebrew falling of her tongue effortlessly.
It was probably the most beautiful thing he ha ever heard. Though he had no idea what it meant he knew it had to have meaning by the special look she was giving him. It was a look of heartfelt, deep rooted love.
He smiled slightly, leaning back in his chair, admiring the woman he loved, and wished, not for the first time, that he knew some foreign language so that he could say something romantic in return. Or at least that he could understand Hebrew. "What does that mean?" he asked finally.
She smiled softly at him thinking how handsome he was in the dim lighting. She repeated the words in her mind thinking of what each one meant, thinking of what they would mean to him.
Her grandparents had said the same words to each other always, at the end of each night, and they had enjoyed many years of happy contentment together. She had written those words on her heart and held them close, sharing them with no one until now. She had wanted to be sure. But now she was sure. She had never been surer of anything, then this.
He squeezed her hand, his thumb rubbing gentle circles across its back. His gaze was so trusting. So real. This was more than just Tony her annoying coworker, or DiNozzo her partner. This was Anthony DiNozzo the man she had fallen in love with and with whom she had finally trusted her heart.
"My grandparents said those words to each other every night before they went to bed…." She told him, smiling slightly and looking, reliving the memory.
When she returned her gaze to his she found him open. Waiting. His gaze expectant.
"Akhshav. Tamid. Tamiyd …..Now. Forever. Always. That's how long I will love you Tony. Now, forever and always…." She said quietly.
He drew a deep breath a smile playing at his lips. "Now. Forever. Always... Akhshav. Tamid. Tamiyd." He repeated butchering the Hebrew. But she didn't correct him. She had plenty of time to teach him the correct pronunciation later.
"I like it," he said looking up, meeting her eyes, his eyes sincere. She couldn't help but smile. He had that effect on her.
He stood, bringing her up with him, and led her to the door. Knowing full well that they were about to step into an uncertain but wonderfully bright future together.
"Akshav. Tamid. Tamiyd." He repeated drawing her close and kissing her as he opened her door.
She smiled "Akshav. Tamid. Tamiyd." She murmured her lips brushing his once more, before ducking into the car.
He closed the door and got in next to her. His hand finding hers. Fingers interlacing like they were meant to be.
They drove off then, into the future. It was unknown. It was uncertain. And it was wonderful. Because they were doing it together, more than partners. More than friends.
Akshav. Tamid. Tamiyd.
Now. Forever. Always.
The future awaited and they would take it on….together.
-FIN-
