After receiving a Saturday morning phone call, Lizzie ended the conversation after talking a few minutes and sat up in bed. She had several missed calls and text messages on her phone. After reading the texts and listening to the voicemails, they were all deleted. The spot next to her was empty, and she hated the emptiness. Her Friday night date with Tony hadn't turned out the way she had hoped. The pair had gone climbing, and Lizzie decided to give her boyfriend an ultimatum. If Tony beat her to the top, he would tell her he loved her. If she made it to the top before him, he still had to tell her he loved her. He ended up making it to the top before she did, but the words were lost on Elizabeth's ears. Needless to say, the date ended early. Instead of being let inside, Tony was met with a door in his face. He spent five minutes banging on the door to be let inside until Katie opened it, threatening his life. With his tail between his legs, Tony left and drove home.

Lizzie took a shower and slipped into her robe afterwards. She knocked on her sister's door and opened it after hearing nothing. There was a note on the bed, so she picked it up.

Running with Ziva. See you when I get back. – K

She threw the note into the trash can with a smirk on her face. Wonders never ceased. Her sister had actually woken up relatively early to go running. The running or who she was running with wasn't surprising to Lizzie, but it was the hour at which Katie had woken up. Katie and Ziva were running buddies but usually ran at night. She made breakfast for herself and ate alone. She called her sister and left her a voicemail. After getting ready for the day, Lizzie left the apartment and drove to her parents' home. She let herself in and wasn't greeted by her mother or father. "Cooper!" She was almost knocked down and was being licked in the face moments later.

"Cooper, down boy," Gibbs said firmly. The seven year old German Shepherd jumped off Lizzie and ran over to Gibbs after sniffing the bag Lizzie brought for the weekend.

Lizzie laughed softly. "I take it he's excited to be home."

"Oh yeah. Sit," he commanded and reinforced with a hand motion. Cooper sat and looked up expectantly. Lizzie walked over and knelt down, hugging the dog.

"I missed him so much." She hugged the dog to her more and scratched his ears. Cooper was hit by a car a few months ago and had been recovering at the vet since Jen and Jethro weren't able to properly monitor or take care of him because of their insane work hours. The dog was more than happy to be home and with his family. Gibbs watched the pair and noticed the bag dropped near the doorway.

Cooper's ears perked at the sound of a door closing, and he began barking. "Go get her," Lizzie said with a laugh and watched him jog to the back of the house. The woman who held his heart was Jenny. Gibbs shook his head. He had bought the dog to keep him company, but Cooper was a ladies' man that loved redheads too. Jethro examined his daughter's face. "Why the bag, Lizzie? You okay?"

"I'm fine, daddy. I just want to be here this weekend."

He nodded his head. "You sure you're okay?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

He nodded his head. "Want to work on the boat?" If he had a problem, working on the boat relaxed him. Plus, it might make Lizzie open up and talk to him.

However, she saw through the question. "Nice try."

A tiny smirk crossed her father's mouth. He should have known she would have seen through his question. Like him, she'd talk when she was ready and not a minute sooner. "One day, you'll want to work on the boat with me."

"It doesn't hurt to dream. Does it?" She grinned at him.

He shook his head. "It doesn't, Elizabeth. I'm going to get out of here before your mother puts me to work."

"On what?"

"She's thinking about redoing the backyard."

Lizzie laughed and shook her head. Jen would get on kicks about landscaping every so often. She'd want every aspect of the backyard changed and would think she and Jethro could do it themselves. Last time, she was unsatisfied with their work to the degree that a professional was hired to fix their landscaping. "Daddy, at least…she doesn't want to redecorate the house."

He groaned at the thought. He rarely cared for his wife's adventures in changing their home. It didn't matter what the house looked like as long as she was in it with him. "You got a point, Lizzie," he admitted as he walked to the front door. He stopped and turned around. "If you need to talk, I'm here."

She nodded her head and walked into the kitchen. Cooper was sitting on the floor, watching Jen move about the kitchen. Lizzie pulled out a chair at the island and sat down.

"Want a cup of coffee?" Her mother asked, looking over her shoulder at her. Lizzie answered with a shake of her head. "What's the matter? You're quiet."

"Did you say I love you first to daddy?"

Jen took a sip of her coffee and motioned for Lizzie to follow her outside. Cooper quickly got to his feet and followed his ladies outside, flopping down at Jenny's feet. She scratched his head and looked at her daughter. "I did say it first."

"What did he say?"

She smirked as she recalled the memory. "That'll be the day."

"Why?"

"I have no idea. I've never asked him. I decided not to say it again to him after that. A week later, he told me he loved me. We were spending the weekend together and were checking out the little shops when it started raining. We ran for cover underneath the awning of a café."

"And?" Lizzie asked with keen interest. She loved hearing these stories about her parents. Of course, she always heard them from her mother. Her father wasn't one for words, but he was romantic so she learned.

"He kissed me then told me he loved me."

Lizzie sighed heavily and took a sip of her mother's coffee. Cooper nudged his head underneath her hand and looked up at her. She smiled softly at the dog and rubbed his ears.

"It doesn't matter who says it first, Lizzie. What matters is if those words get returned. The person who says it first doesn't have any issues. They haven't had their heartbroken…or if they have, they're willing to give it again. It may take time for the other person to say it. Give them time, honey." Before she could ask why the question had been asked, Cooper started barking but stopped when Gibbs told him to be quiet. Jen looked at her husband. "Forget something?"

"Make a list. I'll pick up whatever you want for the backyard."

The smile on her face was smug as she handed him the list. She had written down everything while the coffee was making. He smirked and took the list from her, leaning down and kissing the side of her face. "If you need anything else, call."

"That'll be the day," Lizzie said, looking at her father.

He raised an eyebrow and stared into his wife's eyes. "You told her?"

"She asked, Jethro."

Jethro shook his head and stuffed the list into his pocket. On his way out, he ruffled Lizzie's hair which she hated. She rolled her eyes and petted the dog. "Is it okay if I stay here this weekend?"

"You don't have to ask. You are always welcome, Lizzie. It's still your home."

Lizzie removed herself from her seat and hugged her mother tightly. The reaction wasn't what her mother had been expecting, but she enjoyed the hug until hearing muffled sobs.

"Lizzie?" Her question was met with more sounds of muffled crying, and her daughter burying her face into her more. "Honey," Jen coaxed while rubbing her back. "Talk to me, please."

Minutes later, Lizzie pulled away as she wiped at her eyes, and the anguish in her eyes made her mother's heart ache. "Nothing…just a stupid boy. That's all."

Jen nodded her head in understanding and tucked Lizzie's red hair behind her ears. "Want some ice cream? That's the best medicine." She knew better than to ask any questions. Her daughter was old enough to handle her romantic troubles. Jen would only interfere if asked. Instead of spending her day in the backyard, she and Lizzie took up residence in the den with ice cream and movies for the day. Jethro returned home and found his girls with tissues and crying over a sappy movie. He quickly unloaded all the items from his shopping trip and left to go work on the boat. There was too much estrogen and crying for him, but he realized his daughter was having boy trouble. If he needed to break a few bones, he would. It didn't appear that Lizzie's heart was completely broken, so no one would have to be put in a full body cast or body bag.

A weekend at home with her mother and father was the best medicine for Elizabeth. She ignored Tony's phone calls and immediately deleted the voicemails he left. After Sunday dinner, she returned to the apartment. Shortly after both siblings returned home, Katie left to go bowling with Abby. Lizzie didn't feel like going and promised Abby she'd go next time. There was a light knock at the door. On the other side, Tony let out a shaky breath. He had no idea what would happen when the door opened. He knew he had to see her and attempt to make things right. He stared into Lizzie's eyes when she opened the door, and he could see the hurt he'd put there.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Can I come in?"

Lizzie moved out of the doorway and walked into the apartment, allowing him to come inside. She wished she could have slammed the door in his face. "What are you doing here, Tony?"

"I left a few messages. You've had me worried all weekend."

"You left twenty messages. That's more than a few, and I'm fine."

"I'm not getting that feeling from you, Liz," he responded as the door closed. He looked around the apartment and realized Katie was nowhere in sight. There was a silver lining.

She turned around, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at him. Tony almost winced at the iciness of her stare. He'd seen Director Shepard use that look a time or two. He knew the effects.

"I was going to bring flowers."

"I don't see any flowers."

"Well, I didn't want to stop. I wanted to see you, so I should...have stopped and brought you flowers. Liz…is this about what I didn't say?"

She nodded her head and wiped at her eyes. "I've said it. You haven't said it to me, Tony."

"I have said it!"

"Love ya is not the same as I love you! I love you comes from the heart. I don't want to hear it after we've slept together. I want to hear it because you mean it and want to tell me you love me, Tony." She stopped talking and stared at him. She felt as if she was wasting her time explaining this to him. "Please, don't say it now."

"What if I mean it, Liz?"

"I don't think you do. I love you. I've fallen for you. You need to figure out if you feel the same way."

"I don't want to hurt you," he said sincerely. He did love her, but he couldn't say it to her before. He was ready to say it now, but she didn't want to hear it. He never had the greatest timing.

"Tony, leave. Go…I don't want to see you until you figure things out."

He made a step toward her, but she put her hand up, looking at him with teary blue green eyes. "Don't. Please, go."

Tony swallowed hard and nodded his head. "I'll go, Liz." He turned on his heels and took a deep breath, walking to the door and leaving. He closed his eyes and leaned against the door, listening to Lizzie's muffled cries. He never wanted to hurt her, but he had done it. If he could travel back in time, he would change Friday night.