Disclaimer: I own nothing. These characters belong to CBS and whoever else owns the rights to them.
Pairing: Abby and Ziva NCIS
Summary: A look at the relationship between Abby and Ziva as it develops.
Timeline: Starting in season three and spanning through to season six. This chapter specifically follows after Season 6, episode 3. I believe the title is Capitol Offense.
Spoilers: There are references to various episodes throughout. This one doesn't mention any particular episode.
Author's Note: This chapter was a hard one to write. I struggled with it for days, trying to get it right and I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but I really don't see it getting any better. I hope that you all enjoy it and that it doesn't suck too much.

Thanks, as always to those of you who read and replied. Your comments mean the world to me and make my day. You rock. Seriously.

Chapter 13

Ziva turned to look at her, uncertainty etched across her features.

"What about your first date rule?"

Abby let out a groan as she remembered their conversation from the night before. "It's a stupid rule."

Ziva's lips twitched in a smile she was obviously trying to hold back. Abby knew that she'd probably sounded like a petulant five year old but she couldn't quite bring herself to care. Her skin still tingled from Ziva's touch and she couldn't seem to focus on anything beyond getting that sensation back. Her body ached to have Ziva back on top of her, pressing into her.

She tugged Ziva's wrist gently, bringing the other woman a step closer. "That rule only exists to stop people from thinking that I'm easy."

That wasn't entirely true, although that was part of it. Her rule had, in turns, stopped her from wrecking good relationships by moving too fast and prevented her from getting too involved with people who weren't worth her time and effort.

She used the first date as a gauge. If the person she was with seemed overly dissapointed at the end of the evening, when they were sent home alone, she generally didn't bother with them again. Abby didn't mind the occasional one night stand, but only when she knew that's what she'd signed on for. She didn't like being used just for sex. And if things went well and they connected then she let things progress naturally from there.

She hadn't ever really dated someone she'd been friends with before. At least, not anybody she'd gotten as close to as she had with Ziva. They had already connected. She already knew that her feelings for Ziva ran pretty deep.

She didn't know how all this was supposed to work. All she did know was that her body was craving Ziva's touch and she'd never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Ziva right now.

"Abby, you are anything but easy."

She wasn't sure if Ziva was teasing her or if she had truly misunderstood her words.

"It means someone who will sleep with anybody."

"And, you are not concerned that I will think you are easy?"

Abby rolled her eyes. "I think we both know that's not true."

Ziva smirked and raised an eyebrow, feigning skepticism but the humor did not reach her eyes and suddenly Abby realized how this must look to the younger woman. They hadn't even gone out, officially, as a couple, yet and already Abby was pressuring her to spend the night.

She was acting just like those overly horny guys that she turned away at the end of the night. Even though they had both agreed to wait, here she was, trying to coax Ziva into having sex.

She felt like such a jerk.

Her libido was the last thing on her mind as she tugged Ziva's wrist again and said, "we don't even have to do anything just please, stay."

Ziva raised and eyebrow at her again.

"I swear. I just want to fall asleep holding you."

Ziva hesitated a moment and then nodded.

Pleased by the younger woman's choice, Abby rose and guided Ziva towards the bedroom.

"I'm sure I have something you can borrow to sleep in. It might be a little big but..." she dropped her grip on Ziva's wrist as they entered her bedroom and she headed for her dresser. After rifling through it for a few minutes she found an old, faded plain black t-shirt and a pair of shorts that were a size too small when she'd bought them but had never gotten around to returning.

"Did you want to shower or anything?"

"Do you mind?"

"Of course not. There's extra towels in the cabinet beside the sink. Help yourself to soap and shampoo or whatever."

"Thank you, Abby."

Ziva took the proffered clothing and dissapeared into the bathroom. Abby climbed into bed and stretched out, listening to the sounds of the other woman moving around in the other room. She drifted off to the sound of the shower running and stirred awake when Ziva stepped back into the bedroom, flicking the light off before making her way across to the bed, where she hesitated a moment before sliding beneath the covers and lying on her back next to Abby. As soon as Ziva had settled in Abby rolled onto her side and wrapped an arm and a leg around her.

"Are you going to be getting up at some ungodly hour of the morning again?"

"I will be getting up for my run at five tomorrow, yes." Ziva shifted onto her side and draped her arm around Abby's waist.

Abby groaned at the thought of being up that early in the morning. "Will you wake me before you go, like you did this morning?" she whispered as she buried her face in the crook of Ziva's neck.

"If you want, yes."

"And, will you let me take you out for dinner, like we were supposed to do tonight?"

"I would like that. Very much."

Abby pressed a kiss against the side of Ziva's neck and let her eyes drift shut. "Good night, Zee."

"Good night, Abby."

Abby wasn't quite sure what woke her the next morning. It could have been the slivers of light that seeped through the edges of her blind, slowly brightening the room as the sun rose. Or it could have been the gentle rasp of breathing next to her ear. Or maybe it was the slight shifting of the surface beneath her. Whatever it was, it stirred her awake just before seven. With a faint groan she stretched out to her full height and peeked at the neon letters projected onto her wall by the clock on her bedside table. 6:40. Still twenty minutes before her alarm was set to go off.

That couldn't be right. It was almost seven, and Ziva was still lying beside her.

"Ziva?"

"Hmmm?"

"You're still here? I thought you were going for a run."

She felt more than heard Ziva's chuckle. "I tried. Someone would not let me up."

It was then that Abby became fully aware of their positions. Ziva was on her back and Abby was practically sprawled on top of her, legs draped over hers, head tucked into the crook of her neck...and one hand gently cupping her breast beneath the fabric of her t-shirt.

"Ziva, I'm sorry. I didn't...I was..." A blush heated her cheeks and she quickly pulled her hand back, only to have Ziva grab her wrist, stopping her.

"It's fine, Abby."

"You missed your run."

"I can make it up later."

"God, Ziva. I am sorry. I didn't mean to...to...hold you hostage in my bed."

"It really is fine, Abby."

"I wasn't trying to cop a feel, I swear. I must have done it while I was sleeping. You must think I'm horrible, after last night and now this, this morning. I really-"

"Abby."

At Ziva's sharp tone she cut herself off and raised her head to meet Ziva's gaze. She was surprised to see her eyes shining with amusement.

"There are worse ways to wake up."

Abby's heart felt a hundred times lighter as she took in Ziva's teasing smile.

"Yeah?" She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Yeah."

"I really am sorry about your run."

"I know."

"And for molesting you in your sleep."

"I know."

"And for pushing you last night."

Ziva's smile softened as she nodded. "I know."

"We agreed to wait. It wasn't fair of me to try and force you-"

"You did not try and force me," Ziva interrupted her. "Coax, maybe. Persuade, certainly. But you never forced anything on me."

"Okay, but still. It wasn't fair of me to try and get you to go back on the agreement we made. And, you have to know that I do respect you-"

"That was never in question, Abby."

"And I am taking this relationship seriously. It's just, damn it Ziva you are hot. And when you kiss me..." she trailed off, shivering as her body remembered the feeling of Ziva's lips on hers.

"Do you not think it is the same for me?"

Ziva's question gave her pause. She'd never really thought of that. Ziva always seemed to have such poise and control. She was always the one to pull away, to break things off when they got too intense.

"The things you do to me..."Ziva trailed off, her eyes going foggy for a minute, as if remembering. And Abby couldn't help the faint smirk that graced her lips.

"But I want our first time to mean something. I have slept with a lot of people that didn't mean much of anything to me. So when you and I finally do make love I want it to be special."

Abby nodded. She understood. It was hard to abide by sometimes but she did understand. And she felt the same way.

"Define a lot."

Ziva chuckled. "Figures you would pick up on that, out of everything I just said."

Abby shifted her weight so she was lying fully on top of Ziva and gazing down into her eyes. "I heard everything you just said," she said softly, holding Ziva's stare. "And I agree, wholeheartedly." She dipped her head and captured Ziva's lips for a deep, slow kiss.

Just then, her alarm blared, startling them both. Abby rolled off Ziva, onto her back and let out a frustrated groan as Ziva uttered what sounded like a curse in a language she assumed was hebrew.

The moment broken, Abby eased out of bed and shut the alarm off. "So, how about you let me cook you breakfast?"

"You can cook?"

"I can cook." Abby tried not to feel offended by the question. She might not be a great chef like Ziva but she knew her way around a stove.

"And all this time, you have been letting me cook for you? And you never said a word?"

Abby gave a sheepish shrug. "You're really good."

Ziva laughed softly. "Breakfast sounds great."