A/N- As always, I don't own them. I have a sinking feeling that Z is going to get hurt on next week's episode, and I will go on record as saying that I won't watch NCIS without her, and you may lay to that. Sorry, all, bad day.
Chapter Nine
Tony eased back into the apartment, a takeout sack in his teeth, boxes in both hands. Turning to bump the door closed with his butt, he then headed to deposit the food on the kitchen table.
"Ziva? Z? Food's here!" He began dishing out, lasagna for him, alfredo for her, bread in the middle….and was startled when a pair of arms closed around him from behind. He heard a low giggle.
"Not very aware, are we, Very Special Agent DiNozzo? I could have been anyone, you know."
"Yeah, except I already knew you were here, and the door's locked." He turned to face her, cupping her face and kissing her. "So, who else could you have been? Even if there was an intruder in here, you'd have mangled him by now, and probably not even break a sweat doing it."
"Such confidence." Ziva laughed. "I am starved." She sat, digging into her fettucine.
"So, what do you want to do this weekend? Movie, road trip?"
"Actually, Abby and I are having a girls' night on Saturday." Ziva smiled at Tony's expression. "What? An ex-Mossad ninja can not have fun with a Goth forensic scientist? Abby and I have done this many times, Tony. We plan these for Saturday, because you and I always did our movie nights on Friday, remember?"
"Really? How did I miss that all these years?"
"I have no idea, but I do have something to tell you. On one condition."
"OK, shoot."
"You have to promise NOT to mention this to anyone and not to tease McGee or Abby about it. Agreed?"
"Oh, this must be good. What is it?"
"I believe they are together again."
"NO! Really? How do you figure?"
"The way they have been acting lately and…"
"You know, now that you mention it, he has been spending a lot of time down there lately." Tony caught Ziva's look. "Sorry, Z. You were saying?"
"And I saw them kissing in the lab when I went to deliver some folders to Abby today."
"Oh, that. Abby kisses everyone, Z. Kinda like she hugs everyone. Surely…."
"McGee was doing the kissing, Tony." Ziva carefully refrained from mentioning exactly where McGee had been kissing.
"Well, what do you know? Probie and Abby, together again." The gleam in Tony's eye was unmistakable. Ziva spoke quickly.
"You promised. Not a word. If they want us to know, they will tell us. McGee has been discreet enough not to mention what he saw, except maybe to Abby, as you said, and we will do the same."
"Yeah, if he only knew…." Tony wiggled his eyebrows at Ziva. "He'd have a permanent blush."
"And that is exactly why I prefer he not know, at least about the interrogation room, the bathroom, and the evidence locker….what were you thinking of, by the way?" Tony has snuck into evidence behind Ziva after the encounter in the bathroom that day, intending only to kiss her, and ending up making love to her on a pile of boxes.
"I dunno. Some things just come over me. So, speaking of…Gibbs knows, right?"
"Correct. About everything, marriage included. He is fine with it."
"Good. Z, are you sure….? I mean, now that you're staying, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to back off."
"Back off? Is that what you want, Tony?" Ziva regarded him with a steady gaze.
"Me? Hell, no! I love you, Z. I just don't want you to feel like you have to marry me, just because you said you would when we thought it would keep you here. I mean, oh, hell, I never even thought to ask if you had a…a…."
Ziva laughed, amused. Tony was rarely at a loss for words. "No, Tony, I have no other interest. I would not have began a relationship with you if I had. I do want to marry you, I love you, too. But I would not object to enjoying each other for a while before we do. If we date for a few months, it will give us time to really see how it will work. Not that there isn't a whole lot we don't already know about each other." She laughed again.
Tony laughed as well, relieved. "So, you gonna tell Abs? I mean since McGee's probably already blabbed to her anyway?"
"Yes, I most likely will. Maybe she will tell me about their relationship." Ziva caught Tony's grimace. "Now, stop that! You know he is your friend, they make a sweet couple, stop acting like that."
"Yes, dear." Tony's voice was faintly mocking as he returned to his lasagna.
"I may have to make you pay for that comment later."
"Looking forward to it, Z. The pleasure is all mine, I assure you."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Abby waited impatiently for Ziva to finish changing. Movie in, popcorn ready, she was all set for a fun night. Ziva entered, smiling as she always did at Abby's nightgown and cap. Black, of course, but with lace edging. Ziva looked at her own attire, yoga pants and a T shirt. She smiled again. Tony was right, what an odd match they were.
Abby reached for the remote, ready to hit PLAY, when Ziva spoke.
"Abby? Can we talk?"
"Sure, Ziva. What's on your mind?"
"Well, you are my best friend, and I feel badly that I have not told you about this sooner, in fact, Tony is sure that McGee already has told you, so I probably do not need to, but I do want you to hear it from me, and…."
"Ziva!" Ziva stopped short. Abby leaned forward, placing a hand on Ziva's ankle. "You're babbling worse than me. What's up?"
"Tony and I, we are…seeing each other." Ziva's statement was greeted with a shriek as Abby launched herself across the sofa, enveloping her in a hug.
"Oh, I knew it, I just knew it. I mean, Timmy said he thought he saw Tony kiss you, or almost kiss you, but then there was that other thing, and I just knew it!"
"Yes, McGee did walk in at an inopportune moment. Tony did not take it very well…..what other thing, Abby?"
Abby stopped suddenly, turning a deep red. Oops. "Um, ah, nothing, just what Timmy said, that's what I meant." She stared down, picking nervously at the polish on her big toe.
"Abby." Ziva's voice was firm. Abby reluctantly looked up. "What 'other thing'?"
"Please don't make me tell you. You'll get mad."
"I will get mad, but only if you don't tell me what it is. Do you not trust me, Abby?"
"Of course I trust you. But this….we didn't mean to, it just, and then, and, well." Abby finished with a shrug.
"Abby. Start at the beginning and tell me what happened. I will not get mad at you. It can not be as bad as all that."
"You say that now, but….OK, here goes. Timmy and I were in the lab, and, well, we were in the lab." Abby could feel her ears burning. "And we were headed out and we heard a scream, and I said it sounded like you, so Timmy ran down the hall to help you and then I followed him, and he tried to stop me, but I wouldn't listen, and then we saw you and Tony." Abby finished the sentence lamely.
"You saw Tony and I? What is so bad about that? You see us every day."
"In Interrogation, Z. We saw you in Interrogation."
"Oh! Oh, well, …." Now Ziva was at a loss for words.
"Z, I am so sorry. We should never, and we didn't, and…." Abby felt Ziva's hand on her arm.
"It is all right, Abby. Actually, it makes me feel better."
"It does? How, I mean, why?"
"Because we are even now, that is why."
"Even? How are we even? We saw you…"
"And I saw you." Ziva spoke softly.
"Saw me?"
"A few days ago, did you or McGee notice something in the lab that neither of you brought down?"
"Yes, but we never found out who brought it." Realization dawned on Abby's face. "Oh."
"Yes, it was me. I spoke, but you did not hear me, and I left the folders on the table. I did not see much, Abby. I left as soon as I understood. I am sorry."
Abby sighed. "No, no need. It's actually a relief to know it was you. You won't tell." She paused. "You won't, will you?"
"Abby! Of course not! Any more than you would tell about Tony and I. Just be thankful that you did not get caught by Gibbs. Although, I must say, he did handle it better than either Tony or I thought he would."
"Wait a minute, Gibbs caught the two of you?" Abby was incredulous.
"Well, not like you and McGee did, but yes, Tony and I met him as we were waiting for the elevator. He was kind enough to inform me that my shirt was inside out." Ziva laughed, remembering.
"Oh, my God, you and Tony must have been, like, so freaked out." Now Abby was laughing.
"Yes, but he never said a word, and now that everything else is settled, I will share another secret with you."
"OK." Abby sat forward. Seemed to be the night for spilling your guts.
"Tony and I are, he asked me to marry him." Ziva held up a hand, stilling Abby from yet another shrieking hug. "He asked me before we knew I would be able to stay. We still plan to, but later, now that there is no reason to rush." Ziva accepted the hug now, surprised to find Abby tearing up and even more surprised to find herself doing the same. "OK, enough of this, start the movie!"
A/N- And that's all she wrote for now. More smut next chapter. Thank you all for the great reviews!
