In the squadroom late at night Tony brought a large bowl of popcorn and two drinks out to share with his partner. "Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?"

She rolled her eyes. "It is just a movie, Tony."

His expression was all righteous indignation. "How dare you. Is Mickey just a mouse? Ringling Brothers just a circus?"

Ziva looked at him like the answer should be obvious. "Yes!"

Tony sighed, apparently giving her up for a lost cause. "Well you see, that's why you don't have any friends."

She turned to face him indignantly. "I do have friends."

"Really?" He held up the clicker and pressed play. "Then what are you doing with me, watching a movie on a Friday night at work, huh?"

Ziva stopped sipping her drink but spoke slowly and didn't look at him. "You are my friend."

Tony's tone was curious. "Really?"

She stared straight ahead. "No. My date cancelled."

He was quick with the response. "Mine too."

Ziva raised an eyebrow, not believing him in the slightest, and turned to her partner, hesitating before asking. "Does this count as a date then?" Four years in America and many customs and rules still confused her.

Tony fixed a startled gaze on her. "Rule 12 Zee-vah?"

Her brow furrowed. "So this is...not a date?"

The way she said it made him think. "This is not a date," he confirmed, surprised to see a shadow of disappointment cross her face. "And since it isn't a date, maybe we can do it again sometime."

Interest flickered in her eyes as she felt out his offer. "You...want to...not go on a date with me?"

Tony nodded. "As long as we're not breaking Rule 12 of course."

A smile tugged at her lips. "Of course. And would this not a date include any...date related activities?"

He chuckled. "Well, assuming that's something you'd like to explore, under Rule 12 they aren't specifically prohibited."

Ziva twirled her straw. "That would be nice. But not dating could be complicated, so...slow, yes?"

Tony tapped his fingers against his cup. "Absolutely. I doubt anyone has ever tried not dating before, so we can make up our own rules for how things are done."

She tilted her head to the side and regarded him carefully. "You planned this."

He gulped and shifted uneasily in his chair. "What makes you say that?"

Ziva raked slender fingers through her wavy hair. "You did not run away when I asked what this was."

Tony rubbed his face nervously and shrugged, trying not to stare. "Maybe I hoped this would happen."

Ziva crossed her legs and slouched down a little more in her chair. "Just so no cats die from curiosity, how long have you wanted to ask me on not a date?"

He hemmed and hawed and finally blew out his breath. "Since I saw you in Cartagena after four months at sea."

"Really?" Ziva was intrigued. "Huh."

Tony frowned. "Huh what?"

She leaned her head on her hand. "I am glad you asked."

A grin stretched across his face. "Me too Zi, me too."