Title: Share My Life – Part 7

Genre: NCIS

Pairing: Tony and Ziva

Rating: M.

Timeline: Season 9. AU going cannon going AU (with time). Oh yes we're moving towards the end of "seasonal hiatus".

Spoilers: Yeah they're there, vaguely.

Summery: I have to rethink the storyline, so I'll get back to you on this.

Disclaimer: I think we have established by now that they are not mine.

A/N: If this pans out the way my muse is planning it… we're in for one hell of a ride.

Written: November 2011

Word Count: 2 459

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It was well past mid-day when they finally re-woke, stirring slightly between the sheets whilst still wrapped around each other. Tony's hand drifted down her side, relishing in the freedom of being allowed to touch her like that. Ziva pushed back against him and released a contented moan as his hands continued to move over her.

'We should get up,' she finally spoke up when his touches remained chaste, having figured that he was not up to another round. She felt his arm tighten around her holding her to him when it seemed as if she was about to climb out of the bed, his sudden hold on her stilled her as she settled next to him again.

'We don't need to be anywhere right now,' he grunted as his hands continued to move chastely over her, in a way frustrating her more. It took a while for her to realize that it was because he wanted to touch her and not just arouse her, which puzzled her even more, because she had become so used to him talking about his prowess that she had not thought he would want to touch without provoking a response. Not to mention she had never known of a man who wanted to touch just for the sake of touching. But with time she found herself relaxing into his simple touches, coming to understand just how intimate their situation was, that there was no need to provoke a response only to enjoy their time together. There was a different type of awareness building between them and when he finally did roll onto her, she was stunned to find that her body was more than ready for him. However, it was not with the burning ache she had always associated with sex and arousal. Their bodies joined without needing guidance and his movements were slow and tender, holding her, stroking her as they remained within the moment. One Ziva later would come to realize was possibly the most tender and loving moment she had ever experienced. There was just no rush for either of them as they simply enjoyed the shared closeness of their actions. There would always be a time for hard and fast, desperate and clinging, but this was something they together could share, and she found it more fulfilling that any passion filled duel ever could be. Once done, they remained in a close embrace not quite willing to let go of the moment.

It was only much later that they finally exited his bedroom in search of some sustenance.

Tony came up behind her, where she was sitting and shuffling through the images on the table. 'I wanted to show you something. My father has obviously not seen these, because if he had he would know that Ray posed no immediate threat,' Ziva spoke up as she went through the images selecting one and turning it around to read the squiggles on the back.

'What did you find?' Tony said resting his hand on her shoulder, he did not like her mentioning the one name that still stood between them, because even though they had managed to develop some sort of truce between them and with what they had shared, he still was not happy with the fact that he had not told Ziva that Ray's visit to Israel had included a cosy tête-à-tête with her father.

'Ah! Here we go,' Ziva proclaimed once she found the image. 'Daniel, the one operative my father tasked with trailing them made some notes on the back of some of the photos. The men that Ray was meeting with were Palestinian activists,' Ziva said turning to look at him noting his confused frown then continued. 'The Israeli government is busy building a border wall along its one border,' she stated matter of factually, turning to search for a moment through the images. 'There have been huge political uproars about it and there are several Palestinian activists who oppose the construction and limitation of movement that will result from its construction,'

'Hmm much like the Berlin wall,' Tony thought out aloud.

'No nothing like it, the Berlin wall divided a country, this is a boarder wall,' Ziva stated, picking up an mage of Ray standing with some guards next to the wall. 'There has been numerous losses on both sides and many are calling for international intervention, she continued then looked at him.

Tony met her eyes and noted her concern, 'you still keep up with what is happening in your country?' He asked softly.

'I have family there that I care about, and yes, there is part of me that is concerned about what happens there. I spent many years of my life protecting it, it does not just go away,' she returned steadily.

'I'm not questioning your loyalty Ziva,' Tony was quick to return, having known how quickly her defences could come up if she even suspected as much, 'I just did not realize.'

'Anyway,' Ziva started indicating to the photos, 'Ray was seen here meeting with some of the activists, I suspect that he is gathering information on the ground as part of some mission. There have been bomb threats and threats to blast parts of the wall already constructed,' she continued

'Israel by law is allowed to protect it's borders,' Tony reasoned.

'They do not see it as such,' Ziva said indicating to the activists on the photo, 'whatever Ray is doing, it does not involve gathering or selling NCIS or Mossad information,' she concluded.

'Well that's at least a relief,' Tony returned, dropping the photos onto the table with the others.

'You thought that he was guilty?' Ziva was quick to question.

'No I just did not need you tainted by association. That would have really complicated things,' Tony honestly returned.

Ziva simply nodded her head in acknowledgement and Tony looked at her for a moment, knowing that he could not reveal to her the names of the others he'd been tasked with investigating. He also knew that he had to create some distance between them, in order to keep her in the clear of any repercussions and to allow him to do what needed to be done.

'Ziva there is something else I have not told you.' Tony started, then sat down in the chair next to her, waiting for her to turn her attention towards him.

'What Tony,' she asked, slightly weary, knowing he would not withhold something from her without good reason.

'When I was in Israel I spoke to your father,' he started uncertainly.

'I know, he told me,' Ziva returned with a slight nod, not for a moment concerned as to what her father might have had to say.

'No Ziva there's more,' he cautioned her, then saw her eyebrows draw together and the frown appear on her face as if she was trying to figure out what he was trying to forewarn her about.

'Ray also saw your father,' his words caused Ziva's head to pull back slightly as she took a double take of the implication.

'I do not have a good feel about this,' She stated in return, looking at him in question hoping he understood her meaning.

'Ziva, Ray…' he started uncertainly, not knowing how to word what he needed to say, then finally settled on something abstract. 'The ring box he gave you symbolizes more that just a promise,' Tony finally managed to get out before taking a deep breath to continue, 'he actually went to see your father to gain his consent.' Once the words were out he felt a vicelike grip settle over his heart, squeezing it, knowing that there was little he could do because Ray was bound to return and stake his claim, and although they had shared something profoundly intimate, her history with Ray was more established than the fledgling of a relationship they were in. Technically, he knew that he had no hold on her, and that her and Ray were not officially over yet. He chided himself once again for his impulsive behaviour, knowing that he had just made things a hell of a lot more complicated than they should have been. He watched her pull back like she was stung by his words and could actually see her guard coming up.

'You new this before?' Ziva indicated to his bedroom.

Tony just nodded in acknowledgement, knowing how that made him look, 'it was before I knew his investigations did not involve or endanger you,' he returned dubiously.

'You knew and you,' Ziva started in disbelief, for a moment angered by his actions, 'did you even mean anything you said?' She demaned her voice strained with the effort it too to control her disappointment,

'Yes Ziva, I did, every word,' He returned intensely.

'Then why now, was it because you though I would leave, why Tony?' she demanded

'Ziva it wasn't like that, you were there, what we shared… it cannot…' Tony started in defence, incapable of putting to words what their evening together had meant to him.

'Then why tell me now?' she demanded, not quite heeding to his body language or picking up the thousands of subtle messages that she usually picked up on, unconsciously.

'Because Ray does not pose the threat I thought he did last night and you have a right to know,' Tony returned steering himself at the pain that erupted in his gut when he said the words. 'You have to make your decision,' he stated before swallowing the bile down that rose in this throat, before continuing, 'as to who you would want to be with.' He too a deep breath and looked at her for a moment, taking in her perplexed look. 'You said that you wanted to settle down, to start a home… and if that is what you want with Ray then I should not stop you,' Tony nearly choked on the last words, knowing that after what they shared, there was no way he could accept another man in her life. Just the thought that she could make those sounds, that she could sigh and keen so erotically for another man ate at him, but he knew she needed to decide what was best for her.

'You are regretting what happened between us?' Ziva questioned, his behaviour and subtle actions having permeated her initial anger.

'No Ziva, that I never could, but you should have the freedom to make that decision or at least tell him what you have decided.' Tony persisted, knowing that for the rest of his life he would most probably regret his actions and the words that were being spoken.

'What did my father have to say?' Ziva questioned, watching him more intently.

'He… has denied it,' Tony finally answered, wishing he could do the same.

'Well at least there he understands me,' Ziva returned, for a moment slightly relieved.

'What does that mean?' Tony was quick to question, 'I understand you, sometimes.'

'Do you? Then tell me Tony, why did it take so long for us to get here?' She asked indicating between them.

Tony just looked at her in return, totally perplexed by her implication. 'Why are you backing out, if you do not regret it?' she demanded

'Ziva,' Tony returned at a loss for words, because the last thing he wanted to do was to back down. If anything he wanted to start making little DiNozzos with her, not imagining someone making littler Cruzes with her.

Ziva tipped her head slightly and looked at him in question. She knew Tony, knew when he was running scared, and at that moment, he was displaying all the sighs thereof. He was throwing up barriers faster than she could navigate them, and had she not know him better she would have leapt onto the emotional bandwagon and lashed out at him for his behaviour.

'You want me to be sure,' she suddenly spoke up, wanting to feel out her theory, and had it confirmed when he nodded his head slightly. She then thought to push him a bit more, 'and what if I already am sure… If I know what I want?' she asked in return.

Tony swallowed hard the words almost choking him, 'I just want you to be happy.'

'You do? And you're willing to give up whatever you want to provide for that?' She pushed knowing she was pushing him into a corner.

Again Tony felt his gut revolt at her question, 'Yes,' he answered nodding his head slightly.

'Then it is settled,' Ziva stated firmly, ' we will be married next year February, it is leap year so I believe it is permitted for a woman to ask a man.'

'What! Wait…' Tony exclaimed in shock, 'what about Ray?'

'What about him?' Ziva asked calmly in return.

'You were supposed to…' Tony returned at a loss of words, having realized that she had completely and utterly turned that table on him. 'Married,' he returned stunned.

'You said you would give up whatever you wanted for me to be happy,' Ziva deadpanned, 'it is simple I want you,' she finally declared. Tony felt his body respond to that, heat flushed through him before he realized that she had very efficiently managed to side step his intention. Leaving him for a moment dazed at what she implied.

Ziva just shook her head as she watched as he tried to make sense of the last few minutes. For a moment, she could not believe that she had blatantly stated her desires like that, and she hoped that he did not test her resolve on it. Because she new she would back out within a moment if he was unwilling, but at least she would have tried.

She saw the moment he came to a conclusion, and her heart started racing anew. Knowing that this was the moment that would possibly defy her, no their future.

She watched as his hand came to cover hers, noted the gentle way he took it. 'You're serious?' he questioned, and for the first time she could see right through him. He was so open and unguarded that it caused her breath to catch. Ziva simply nodded her head in response not trusting herself to speak.

She saw his eyes glaze over and watched as he swallowed hard, before he moved to pull her into an embrace, holding her tightly to him even more so than he had the night before. 'I won't let you go back on it,' he whispered into her ear whilst breathing in her scent.

'I wouldn't want to,' She professed in return, her eyes closing in gratitude, thankful that it had not come apart around her.

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Okay… I'm still trying to figure out how the muse got to here, that one snuck in the back door,

But what can I say, I'm just along for the ride…