Welcome back!

The usual disclaimer applies.

Warning: More smut ahead. Heehee

Tony was in the shower when she finally made her way home. She shed her sweaty clothes and opened the door to the bathroom.

"Hey," she called softly, "I am back."

Pulling back the curtain, she slipped into the shower behind him. He turned to glance at her over his shoulder but did not turn around.

"I am sorry, Tony." Her forehead dropped to rest against his back as slender arms wrapped around his waist. "I am so sorry."

His anger began to melt away - he never could stay mad at her.

So many words unspoken, so many things to be said , but somehow she could not force those words to leave her lips. Maybe she didn't have to. Maybe he just knew. Of course he knew, he always knew. Except for the one thing that he should know.

"I regret many things, Tony. So many things."

He turned in her embrace so that he could see her face. She peered up at him with sincerity so intense that it tugged at something deep in his gut.

"I could never regret being with you. Never."

Leaning into his embrace, she tightened her arms around him reveling in the feel of his strong body against her own. Bone, flesh, muscle. It was real, he was real. And she drew such comfort from this man that sometimes it took away her very breath. No one had ever cared for her in the way that he had. No one had ever watched her back as he had. And certainly, no one had ever loved her as he had. As he did.

Always.

She felt her breath catch and suddenly it was too much. Too much for one person to bear. All alone. But she wasn't alone. First one sob and then another and she couldn't seem to stop herself - good soldiers do not cry after all - but the pain ripped from deep within her as she clutched his form desperately. As if he alone could keep the monsters at bay.

And maybe he could. He had done a good job of it so far.

He asked no questions, spoke no words, and simply held. Held on to her, for her. Because of her. Because despite all that he was to her - because of all of the things he did for her - she watched his back, too. She loved him, too. Long before he was smart enough to realize just how much he loved her.

She cried until the tension left her body and a strange sense of relief took its place.

And then she laughed. A brittle laugh.

Leaning back, he took her chin in his hand. The slight smile on her lips was genuine.

"It's all pretty screwed up, Tony. Thank God you love me anyway."

He kissed her forehead. The storm had passed.

Reaching around her, his arm brushing the slick smooth skin of her arm, he grabbed the shampoo.

"Come here, Ninja, bath time."

He placed a quick smacking kiss on her mouth then spun her around. She leaned against him with a satisfied groan as he massaged the shampoo into her hair, his long fingers rubbing against her scalp. The scent of jasmine filled the steamy shower as he pulled her lithe body backward into the cascade of water.

Leaning back against his chest, her breath caught as sudsy hands cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing along the tips of hardened nipples. The back of her head collided with his shoulder, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her as a lone finger swiped between her legs slowly and surely.

His erection pressed against her back and she tipped forward, her palms falling against the tile of the shower. Tony's hands continued to tease her as one finger, quickly followed by a second, slipped inside her body.

Her breath coming in short little pants, she leaned her head against the tile. Close - she was so close - just another touch and she would be home.

But he stopped. God help her, he stopped.

Leaning down to bite her earlobe, he laughed when she shuddered.

"I want to see you come, Ziva."

He spun her around.

She did not disappoint.

She was beautiful as she came, hard against his hand, her breath labored, her knees turning to jelly.

Gritting her teeth, she did not scream. She did not yell. But she did grind out his name as her head slipped back - hard - against the slick wall. Her body clenched around his fingers and when his thumb brushed against her clit, her eyes snapped open in surprise and a sharp whimper echoed against the walls.

She shuddered once more and her eyes drifted shut before a dreamy smile settled on her lips. Reaching toward him, shaky fingers found his erection and gently stroked its length.

"Let me return the favor," she purred.

Toweling off her body, he felt his desire rekindle.

"Come here," he whispered and tugged her toward the bed.

Climbing onto the bed she stretched against the cotton of the sheets like a satisfied cat. Sliding in beside her, he traced patterns on her smooth skin until she arched slightly into his touch.

He rolled her body beneath his own, his erection pressed against the opening of her wet heat. And when she wrapped her arms trustingly around his neck he whispered,

"Open your eyes, Ziva."

And she did. Her eyes remained open for the first time since she had returned from Somalia as he slid oh so slowly into her body.

It was slow and it was deep. And she couldn't help the choked sob that escaped her lips, the emotion so intense it became painful.

And when she came she cried once more.

They left for London the next morning.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know how I am doing…hint, hint. ;)