So, what I got that you want to see.. Riley having his ass kicked by 1; Tony, 2; Gibbs and or 3; Ziva. I will see what I can do. If there is anything else, just tell me :)

This is more of a filler and lead up for the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Not Mine

Ziva took her keys and walked quickly to her car, she needed to take some time for herself; she made it to the park where she first met Tony. The past few weeks had been hard. She had tried avoiding Riley at all costs, but now he knew that she had been lying to him, and that caused fear to course through her veins. She had never been truly fearful until that day.

She had grabbed her jacket before she left and now she was glad she did; she wrapped the jacket around her body as a cold breeze washed over her body. She briefly wondered what would have happened if she had argued with her father; stood her ground, made it clear that this isn't what she wanted out of life: to be in a forced relationship while she dated the person who she actually wanted to be with on the side.

She felt guilty. Even if Tony said that he was fine with it, it didn't matter because if things were to continue how they were then by the end of the year after next she would be married. Then Riley would metaphorically have complete control over her; he could and probably would claim her in every way possible, she probably wouldn't put it past him to move the wedding up.

She had put her foot down once; but was she willing to do it again? Would she do it if it could threaten her life?

Her brother knew she didn't want to be part of this, her mother knew she didn't want to be part of this; even her father knew she didn't want to be part of this. But she didn't have a choice; she wanted to know why she was being sold off to some other man with no ties to anything; he wasn't Jewish, Israeli, held any values that her father or her family held close, the only thing he really was... Was rich.

Maybe that was why, maybe Eli knew that if they were to marry, then Riley might put the inheritance to Ziva, then once that had happened Eli would kill Riley and Ziva would be left with his money...

But then how would he get the money from Ziva; kill her too?

It didn't make sense. The decision for an arranged marriage had to have been from an external source - well, the suggestion for it - or else it would have been brought up throughout her teenage years and her childhood. It wasn't even a tradition in the family to have the eldest daughter to be married out of the family by someone the father had chosen, other wise her mother wouldn't have reacted the way she did in the beginning. If it were from an external source than that would mean from Riley or his family.

Was it possible that Riley wanted her for an unknown reason and given Eli and offer he couldn't refuse?

Ziva made a mental note to check up on his family at some stage.

The thing that was the most worrying at the current time was the weekend trip she had to go on.

Ziva walked to a small bridge that was built over a narrow stream that was a few metres too wide to step over. She leant on the railing.

Maybe she should take Tony's advice: say 'no', not 'how high'.

Maybe she was scared and that's why she did it. She didn't consider herself to be a push over. But maybe, she was scared and used the excuse of protecting her sister for complying with what ever wish her father wanted.

Maybe it was time to step up and face the fear; even if it could possibly injure or kill her.

"How are you and Ziva's friend Abby going?" Tony asked as he and Tim walked through the mall. Tony needed a new DVD player and he needed to know the best one to buy.

"Good, we have a date tonight,"

"Have you slept with her?" Tony asked while Tim rolled his eyes at the predictable question.

"Not yet," He replied, "How about you and Ziva? That situation must be complicated,"

"It is, but we forget about him while we're together,"

"Have you slept with her?"

"I don't kiss and tell Tim," Tony replied.

"Yes you do, and since you said that I'm gonna say that you have,"

"Yeah, we did," Tony was easily to tell the truth, "The other day after her engagement party," He paused for a moment as the person who had been walking beside them that wasn't associated with them but walking in the same direction look at him, "It's not what you think," He added.

"Have you talked about it?"

"Not really. The Riley dude is sort of moot when we're together. I think she is trying to forget and I'm the way she does it,"

"Is that normal?"

"She's spending time with me; the relationship is moving,"

"Yeah, I get that; but what will happen if she gets married? There is only so much you can do," Tim said.

"We are in the process of sorting that out,"

"You just said she doesn't talk to you about him,"

"No I didn't I said it was a moot point. I think once we know why she is being arranged to marry someone then it will be easier to work out how to prevent it from happening. Is this the shop?" Tony asked.

"Yeah,"

Ziva made her way to a park bench; as she sat down she took her phone from her pocket and dialled Abby's number.

She picked up after the first ring, "Waiting for my call Abs?" Ziva asked.

"It was right next to me. What's up?"

"I can't make it this weekend; I know it means a lot to you but I cannot go,"

"Why? Actually; where are you? I'll come to you,"

"I'm at the park," Ziva replied.

It only took her a few minutes to arrive. Ziva was running her fingers along the grain in the wooden table she sat at.

"I have never seen you so depressed Ziva," Abby announced as she sat down across from Ziva.

"I'm not depressed," Ziva replied.

"What do you call it?"

"Riley came into my house and started yelling at me for lying about my work time sheet and now he thinks that I am lying about this weekend, and apparently he wants to take me away from the weekend,"

"You really need to find away to deal with everything Ziva,"

"I slept with Tony the other night," Ziva stated.

"Is that really away to deal with it?"

"We went boxing first,"

"Maybe you should talk to your father," Abby suggested.

"Probably; but would he talk to me. There has to be a reason Riley has chosen me or I have been chosen to marry him. You don't get married off for no reason," Ziva replied.

"You're right, but you can't keep doing this. It's not all guess work, you can have a million theories Ziva, and none of them might be right," Abby said.

"I am aware of that," She thought for a moment before she nodded at whatever she was confirming to herself, "Yes, I will talk to my father,"

"Are you sure?" Abby said.

"You just told me I should," Ziva said.

"I know, but now I'm not sure,"

Ziva rolled her eyes, "Are you going to come with me?"

Abby thought about it for a minute, "I think it's something you have to do by yourself. Don't let him push you around,"

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