I was so grateful to the response of the last chapter I have already fixed this one up and got it ready for you. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews of the past chapter, here is the next one of this ever growing story.
Hundan.
"When is Zeev going to wake up Tony?" Caleb asked as he slurped on the hot chocolate Tony had made him after dinner.
"I'm not sure, she's been tired today so she's just catching up on all the sleep she needs before work tomorrow" Tony explained. He looked briefly over at Maxi on the armchair, she was reading a text on her phone and there was a big smile on her face. He knows that you don't realize you're smiling so much when you read a text from someone special. He wonders who she's texting.
"Then how come you not sleep too?" Caleb asked. He was smarter then he looked, just like his sister.
"Well someone has to stay up and look after you, don't they?" Tony said as he reached down and tickled Caleb's foot slightly. It brought a laugh out of him and almost had him spilling his drink.
"But can we wake her before bed? I want to see Zeev" Caleb asked. Tony looked down at him and couldn't help but be pulled in by his glowing green eyes. He couldn't say no to this kid and he wondered when exactly that had started.
"I guess we could go see if she'll wake up, only for a little bit and then you, Maxi and Ziva will all have to go to bed to rest up for tomorrow" Tony said, making a deal. Caleb nodded his head.
"Yep. Can we go see her now?" he asked. He was already getting off the couch and putting his drink on the table before Tony could reply.
"Alright. Maxi do you want to come too?" Tony asked, looking up at her. She broke her gaze from her phone and set it down on the armrest.
"Yes, I would like that" she replied as she stood and joined them in the walk down the hallway. They got to Ziva's bedroom door and Tony lead the way as he opened it slowly. It was dark as they walked in and her snores could be heard. Tony walked over to Ziva's nightstand and switched her little lamp on. A small light lit up most the room in a weak orange glow and he could now see Ziva's face. She looked so innocent when she slept and it made it harder for him to wake her up just looking at her being so peaceful.
Maxi didn't miss the way Tony was looking at Ziva right now, he was kneeled down in front of her and he was considering not waking her because she looked so peaceful. And she would say the next thing she saw was unexpected but it's not like it was something she wouldn't expect if she really thought about it. He brought his hand up and softly ran it through the side of her hair while he whispered her name. It looked as though he's done that more than once and Maxi wonders just how much he has.
Tony stroked his hand through her hair again and whispered her name a little louder. Ziva moved slightly and her eyes began to blink. They opened and she smiled up at him when she saw who it was.
"Hey sleepyhead" Tony smiled down at her. His hand still in her hair.
"Hmm, what time is it?" she groaned, she felt like she'd only been asleep for about an hour.
"About half eight" he replied. As soon as she processed his reply she jolted up in bed.
"Oh my God, Tony the kids" she exclaimed, she only then noticed Maxi and Caleb standing in the doorway.
"It's ok, I picked them up earlier" he said but whatever her reply was, it was cut off as Caleb ran over to the bed and jumped up before gripping his arms around Ziva in a big hug.
"You awake, I missed you Zeev" he said. She couldn't help but bring her own arms around him and hugged him back tightly. She hadn't seen Caleb in almost three days. He was asleep when she'd come home to check on them yesterday. Maxi made her way over to the bed and joined in the hug when Ziva brought an arm out for her. Ziva loved these sorts of moments between her and the kids. She loves how much they care for her.
Tony smiled at the sight of the three of them on the bed and decided maybe it would be best if he gave them some privacy for a while, he quietly headed out of the room and went to the kitchen to clean up some of the dishes that were in there.
She'd just placed a sleepy Caleb in bed and said a goodnight to Maxi who was also heading to bed. She still couldn't believe that Tony had gone and picked them up and then fed them and also helped with homework. Since when did she ever deserve him? He'd left the room before but she knew he hadn't left, so she went in search of him. She found him drying the last of the dishes in the sink. She definitely did not deserve this much from him.
When he saw her walk into the kitchen a smile grew on his face.
"You should be in bed" he stated, drying the plate before placing it in her cupboard. She just smiled and made her way closer to him.
"You did not have to do this you know? You could have woken me and I would have gone and got the kids" she said as she came to stop in front of him. He placed the dish towel on the bench.
"Even if I tried I wouldn't have been able to wake you. And anyways, I didn't mind doing it, you needed your rest more than I did" he explained. There was a soft smile on her face.
"Thank you Tony, I really do not deserve what you do for me sometimes" she said. She placed her palm against his chest and leant up, giving him a light kiss to his cheek.
"Really, thank you" she repeated. She was so close to him right now and their eyes were locked. He brought his hand up to the side of her face and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"You are always welcome Zi" he whispered. He didn't know what it was but the way she was looking at him and when she inched that small bit closer to him, eyes flicking to his lips, he couldn't help but lean in that short distance and bring his lips down on hers softly. He wondered if they are not thinking straight because they both are still tired or just because they've been doing too much thinking over the years and just given up. He had a feeling it was a little of both.
Her hand on his chest tightened around his shirt as she kissed him back, absorbing everything from him in just this one simple kiss. When he pulled back his forehead dropped on hers and he stared into her eyes. Before he could form a sentence, she was speaking.
"Stay?" she said, her other hand threading into the back of his hair "You are too tired to be driving home at this hour" she added. His thumb traced the line of her cheekbone.
"Ok" he replied. Slowly both of their grips on each other were released and they finally stepped back before heading down to the bedroom. He didn't know what that kiss meant between them, if it meant their relationship would begin to change slightly or if it was just a simple 'thanks' in a very intimate way. His guess would be on the first one. But he wasn't sure, and he wasn't about to have this conversation with Ziva, not when they are both this tired and need their sleep.
When they got to her bedroom he watched as she removed the cargo pants she had been wearing since the day before and climbed into the bed in just her shirt and underwear. And he wouldn't say that he didn't look, of course he did. He found it hard not to look at those long beautiful and bare legs of hers. He followed in her lead, his pants weren't the most comfortable things to sleep in.
He slipped into the other side of the bed and lay facing her, and like the night before her back was to him. He was staring at it wondering if he should, if he should scoot that little bit closer and wrap his arms around her. Before he could make up his mind however her hand was reaching out behind her in search of his one, when hers locked around his hand she pulled it around her waist. Silently telling him that, yeah, he wasn't the only one that wanted to cuddle up right now. And so he pulled his arm more around her and shuffled closer until his chest pressed against her back, he listened for a very short moment to her calm breathing before sleep overtook him.
They'd woken to the sound of Ziva's alarm clock the next morning, and when Tony woke she felt his arm tighten around her a little more.
"I really don't want to get out of bed" he mumbled against her neck, his breath warm against the skin there "Can't it be the weekend already?" he sighed. She knew how he felt, she too did not want to remove herself from the warmth of her bed and the comfort of his arms. Not after the rough start to the week they've had a work. She ran her hand softly along the arm around her waist. Her silent statement to him that she didn't want to move either, but they had to. Not just for work but Ziva had to get the kids up and to school.
"You might want to head home soon, I don't want you to be late for work" she said quietly. She wasn't trying to kick him out of her house, out of her bed because their situation was awkward, she was actually comfortable right now and she had a feeling he was too. They didn't regret how close they had slept, they hadn't regretted that brief kiss last night.
"Yeah, I know. I don't want to get on Gibbs' bad side today, head slaps wouldn't help my tiredness" he stated. He couldn't help it when his lips lightly trailed along her neck. She shivered slightly at the touch.
"Sorry that you didn't get the sleep you should have" she said quietly. Her fingers lightly trailing up and down his forearm.
"Na, it's ok. I enjoyed my night" he admitted. A small silence hung between them as his lips placed a small kiss behind her ear. He really needed to let her go and stop before he makes them late for work and the kids late for school.
"I should really get going" he said. His arms reluctantly removing themselves from around her. He only got half way up to sitting position in the bed before Ziva was following him.
"Tony?" she said. Her eyes coming level to his.
"Yeah Zi?" he replied. She inched closer to him and his heart rate jumped a little.
"I just wanted to-" she began but was cut off by herself when she softly pressed her lips to his. His hand reached out and threaded into her curls on its own accord. When she leant back her eyes were sparkling at him with a new light to them, and the smile that grew on her face, he couldn't get enough of it.
"I will see you at work?" she asked. Not really a question that needed an answer but she wasn't sure what else to say. He nodded.
"Yeah. Did you want me to pick you up some breakfast?" he asked. Her smile grew.
"I would really like that" she replied. He smiled back and finally made his way out of bed, missing her warmth immediately. As he slipped on his jeans he couldn't help but asking something.
"You sure you don't need help with the kids this morning?" he asked. He really was a saint.
"No, it is ok Tony. You just get home and get ready" she smiled some more.
"Ok, I'll see you soon" he said before making his way down the hallway. She managed to get herself out of bed after that, it wasn't so warm now he'd left. She made her way into the kid's room and they were both awake and smiling at her as she walked in.
"Should we get some breakfast?" Ziva asked. Caleb nodded and immediately sprinted his way out into the hallway and headed for the kitchen, while Maxi hung back. Ziva could see question in the younger girl's eyes.
"Was that Tony I just heard leaving?" she asked. Ziva didn't miss the smirk on her face.
"Yes it was, he was too tired to be driving home last night" she replied, like it was nothing. Maxi knew Ziva was telling her the truth but there was something she was leaving out. Maxi's smirk only got bigger because she knew there was more to Tony and Ziva then they say there is. And he'd stayed last night, in Ziva's bedroom none the less.
"Ok, I believe you" Maxi replied and Ziva could see that cheeky glint in the girls eyes. What was Maxi thinking exactly?
As they sat at the breakfast table and Ziva tried to keep Caleb from getting his breakfast everywhere, Maxi raised something she had on her mind.
"Umm Ziva?" Maxi asked. Ziva looked across at Maxi and noticed she had suddenly become a little bit nervous.
"Yeah Maxi?" she replied. She watched as Maxi nervously bit on her breakfast spoon.
"Um well I want to ask you something" she said. Ziva wondered what exactly this was about, Maxi normally just came straight out with the question.
"Yes…" Ziva said at length "I am listening" she added.
"There's this thing with this guy, and I was just wondering if maybe…" Maxi began. Ziva's ears picked up on the word guy. She hadn't had a problem with Maxi and boys yet but she knew it would come at some point. And she wasn't really sure how to handle it. Maybe Tony would know, he used to be a teenage boy.
"If Maybe?" Ziva asked when Maxi didn't finish. Caleb was watching with interest at his sister's nervousness right now.
"If it was alright if I went and hung out with him on the weekend, and maybe he could come over later after that" Maxi tried. This was a new thing for her, she'd never really had a thing for boys in Israel but now she was just beginning to get to that stage were she liked them more than friends. And there was this one guy she had been spending a lot of time at school with who she was really beginning to like. Ziva had to think about that for a moment but she settled on a decision.
"Yes, that is alright. Are you just going to go to the mall or something?" Ziva asked. Unsure where it was teenagers hung out these days.
"Yeah, that and we were going to go to the movies or something" Maxi replied. Had Ziva really said yes?
"Ok, as long as you are responsible" Ziva said, there was seriousness to her gaze that Maxi read loud and clear.
"I promise" she replied. She would always be responsible and Ziva could trust her.
"And he is very welcome to come around for dinner later on if you like" Ziva added. She would very much like to meet this boy if he is captivating Maxi the way Ziva could tell he was. The way she was nervous and how Ziva had noticed Maxi texting a lot more than ever since she had brought her a cell phone. Maxi wasn't the type of girl to need her phone all the time, but lately she had.
Maxi looked a little bit hesitant. Not because she didn't want Ziva to meet him but she didn't know if inviting a boy over for dinner with your family was too much too soon.
"If…if I am only friends with him would that be too much? Bringing him over for dinner?" Maxi then asked. Ziva realized she was asking her for her own female opinion on the matter, not as her caregiver.
"That all depends on if he is someone who you want to stay friends with or if you were hoping for something a little more than that in the future" Ziva replied. Five years ago she probably wouldn't know this stuff but Tony's necessity to talk about all things she always thought weren't ever going to be relevant to her, were starting to become much more relevant now she had a teenager. She watched Maxi's eyes look away briefly and that gave her the answer.
"If you like him a little more than friends and he feels the same way, I am sure he will not mind coming over for dinner. If he is a boy with good values I am sure he will not have a problem with it, friends or more" she replied. She hoped she was right about all of this, she was just going by everything Tony had taught her over the years. Maxi smiled a little, she knew Dean was different to most boys, he had good values.
"Dean has good values, I think you'll like him" Maxi stated, assuring Ziva. Ziva smiled.
"I am very excited to meet this friend of yours" Ziva said with a little bit of a cheeky grin. She knew Maxi liked him more than a friend. Maxi couldn't help but blush a little.
