Author's Note: The section is inspired from the Beatles Anthology song, Real Love. It seemed to an appropriate tune to describe the complex relationship between Ziva and Tony. It's written as a "will they, won't they" moment. The following is a two part Ziva-Tony moment.

"Hey, Boss…"

Tony entered MTAC, expecting to see Suzanne, Claudia and Gibbs. Ziva remained inside with several agents, jotting notes and reading information. On screen, he saw Bishop taking Jane Hamilton through the employee exit, a gracious gesture to avoid the press and leave with some peace.

'I'm not ready for this conversation.' Tony's first thought.

Alone, having an opportunity to talk. The working agents suggested a break.

They couldn't look at each other-at least, at the same time.

"Gibbs and McGee took them to work." Ziva answered. Briefly, she glanced at Tony.

"They left soon as the interview stopped."

"Claudia say anything?" He played it cool, calm. Again, he glanced at the interview notes and quickly at Ziva.

She nodded no, smiled and continued with the reading. "Just that they're meeting at 1 o'clock."

"They're briefing probably all afternoon and into the evening." Tony sighed.

"Had plans?" Ziva flashed the mischievous smile.

All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dreams
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Tony was hesitant to discuss Claudia in front of Ziva, knowing their history, their feelings for one another. From their first undercover assignment together-a married couple, a convincing performance. He remembered the kiss in detail, thinking how unbelievably soft for Mossad. Hell, she didn't even looked Mossad; way too attractive for an assassin. All about first impressions—the khaki cargo pants, wide head scarf. Once introduced as the Liaison with Mossad—the definition: to bound, to tie,-the long hair flowed, the dark eyes sparkled in each smile, muttered Ziva-isms: she snarled Tony DiNozzo into a flirtatious, sensual game of 'will or submit.' Eight long years of partnership.

"I'm tired of pretending." Tony confessed. Her response, the two in a trapped elevator-So am I.

Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they really were doing
Was waiting for love

"We usually go to dinner Wednesdays. I'm just Tony; she's Claudia…" Tony sat down in the empty chair. "One, maybe two days out the week, we're not a Special Agent or a Press Secretary…just a date. We go to a movie, maybe order take-out and watch a classic on the flat screen."

'Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone
It's real love, it's real
Yes it's real love, it's real

"You love Claudia?"

She fondly reminisced their eight year partnership, the one on one moments with only the two. Without question, it was professional and romantic chemistry. It was evident, undeniable, and insatiable.

"Did you or did you not sleep with him?" Her Abba flatly asked during a visit, showing the surveillance took notice, reminding work then pleasure. Mossad first; work was first. Her father promised that, "One day, you will dance with a man who deserves your love."

"Ah, you two got married and didn't tell me?"

Surrogate father Gibbs the Western father-figure, more of an Abba than her own, came with the wisecracks. Always, he reminded both Tony and 'David' of Rule 12—never date coworkers.

Ziva compartmentalized life—personal and private. Despite her obvious interest in Tony DiNozzo, it was business first. It took her too long to realize she shared many dances with her soulmate.

"I love you, Ziva." Tony whispered. "I've always loved you."

It was the answer she waited to hear. Tony DiNozzo was the man who deserved her love. In fact, he earned it.

"Agent David: do you consider me to be in your life?"

"You jeopardized your entire career, and for what?" Tony, without hesitation, said for her, for Ziva David.

"Guess I couldn't live without you."

Their memories from the past were deeply rooted, but only memories. It was years later and things happened. Both Tony and Ziva were in the present.

"But I'm in your life as a different role."

"I really messed things up…between everybody." Ziva softly replied. "Especially between…us."

"I understood why you left, but when you…" Tony stopped. "It did hurt."

Tony DiNozzo clinched his fists. 'You're frustrating as hell,' he thought. Eight years of 'will you, won't you. Will you stop playing games!?'

Hell, I didn't help either.

Preparing to walk away, he stopped. In his mind…'NO. I'm not doing that, the same way she did me.'

"Compartmentalize everything…sounds familiar?" Tony sighed. Instead, he faced her.

Tony remembered why he became exclusive to Claudia.

"I worked. I went home. I worked again. I went home…what changed it was Claudia."

Tony shared how Claudia, like Ziva, had reservation about pursuing a relationship. She dated very little since the death of her husband in Afghanistan.

"I didn't know she was a widow."

"She was married 15 years, got married a week after she graduated from college. I had to break a wall."

It was a blind date, initially a favor from Suzanne. A special ceremony for Supervisory Special Agent Gibbs, which he wanted everyone to attend, was held. A rarity: Boss agreed to attend a ceremony. Tony did not have a date.

"Claudia has been the first steady, healthy relationship I've had." Tony continued. "But I keep thinking about…us, what we had."

"Do you love her?"

"Didn't you tell me the heart wants what it wants?"

Yet, the question years ago Ziva posed to him echoed, his response perfectly reasonable, justifiable.

"I'm in love with Claudia." Tony said with conviction.