Author's Note

Hello readers. Familiar Faces are back.

I must confess that I was ready to abandon the story. Although TIVA fandom had never been stronger than it is now in my heart, it is mentally exhausting for me to continue writing that story,(considering the situation on NCIS the last two years) especially when the story's plot is on particular part that I'm writing now. I just hope for me to be strong enough so I could finish that story. In addition, forgive me I've changed my penname and I confused you. I'm still Athena (LOL). I wanted to do it a long time ago because I wanted to honor the TIVA nation in my country. I just hope you like the idea.

Anyway back to the story

Debbie: I'm glad you loved the chapter. I love you too 3.

Guest: who you don't like Ziva and the way I'm writing the story. Thank you. The way you are reviewing my story means that I'm doing a great job. Because first of all the last 2 seasons the Agents are indeed a bunch of teenagers. Secondly because Ziva is not likeable to you which means I'm writing her perfectly. Thirdly unfortunately for you and TIVA bashers and fortunately for me and TIVA shippers the story has still many many chapters. Because Harberg might destroyed TIVA on our screens but made it stronger in my heart. And fourth, because reading your reviews I have written the best TIVA chapter of the story until now (not the current). To sum up: Thank you for your reviews generally. I suppose I'm doing such a great job on writing TIVA that I'm pissing you off.

Specials thanks:

To Teresa: who is my personal consultant on this story. The one who managed to change my mind so I would continue the story. If she hadn't been I would have abandoned the story a long time ago.

To Laitie:my personal beta who she has been through a hell to correct my errors as always…

And of course all of you that favorited reviewed followed that story

Disclaimer: If I had owned it, Tony and Ziva would have had a bunch of TIVA babies by now.

This is the new chapter of Familiar Faces…Enjoy!

Athena

Tony had less than two weeks until Valentine's Day and, also, to find a unique way to propose Ziva. He wanted her to remember that day for all her life, to be such a special day. A day that both he and Ziva could tell their children and their grandchildren about; like a fairy tale. Because, yes, he wanted children with Ziva. He wanted her to have the happy ending she deserved, with him at her side. However, he couldn't come up with something unique enough. At the begging, he thought to propose her during the dinner he had planned, but he decided against it. It wasn't something unconventional, plus that was the way he had proposed to Wendy and he didn't want that. Afterwards, he decided on a walk to the park and popping the question there, but remembering the Ray fiasco, this idea also had to be excluded. He was fresh out of ideas and he sighed from desperation.

"Tony, what's going on?" The female voice dragged him from his thoughts.

"Huh?" He raised his head and looked at Ziva. Sitting next to him to the couch, she patted his shoulder.

"Tony, you promised me that you won't shut me out again. What's going on?" she asked. "Does it have to do with your trip?"

He rubbed the back of his head. Truth be told, part of his anxiety was because of this trip. He had to take care of something before he proposed to her. "Nothing's wrong." he replied, smiling lightly.

"You're lying and-"

Tony cut her off. "I'm not lying you, and I'm not shutting you out. Believe me. As for the trip, I already told you."

"I wish I hadn't promised to babysit for Victoria, so I could go with you." she sighed, burying her face in his neck.

"Relax." He tried to calm her down. "It's only the weekend." Placing a strand of hair behind her ear and looking deep into her eyes, he went on. "Do you know how much I love you?"

"No, I don't. Please tell me. How much?" she asked teasingly and rubbed her knuckles on his cheek, not taking her eyes from his.

"No?" he asked in disbelief. "No?" He stood up from the couch and, with a sudden movement, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her up to the bedroom.

"Put me down!" she yelped, giggling "Put me down! We have to go to work..." she went on, seriously, now.

Tony entered the bedroom with her and laid her on the bed, crawling on top of her.

"I love you so much." he said as he started planting kisses on her neck "So much that words are not enough to show you what I feel about you." he whispered as his hands slowly found their way under the hem of her shirt. "Let my actions to show it."

"We are going to be late at work and-" she tried to protest, but he silenced her with a hungry kiss, making her moan.

"I'm the Team Leader, sweet cheeks." he whispered, grinning, and tried to pull her shirt up. "So you don't have to worry about the consequences of being late." he continued and brought his lips up to her neck.

"What about Van-"

"Shhhh, don't worry about it. Vance is out of town." he explained and started peppering kisses between Ziva's breasts after he had pulled her shirt over her head.

"In that case…we can be late but…" she answered with a devilish smile and rolled them over in the bed, "I like to be on top!" she went on and kissed his lips with force. Ziva started to unbutton his shirt quickly without breaking the kiss. With a mischievous smile afterwards, she undid his belt and unzipped his pants. But when she about to pull them off him with a quick move, Tony rolled them back with Ziva under him.

"My turn." he stated firmly and kissed her, biting her lower lip lightly, earning a moan from her. Tony moved his lips to her neck, then her sternum, kissing his way down to her stomach. He had never felt in his lips, in his fingerprints, such soft skin as hers. He loved to touch it, to kiss it, but most of all, to taste every inch of her beautiful, caramel skin.

"Tony…" she moaned almost silently as he was licking her belly button.

"I told you, my love." he replied and licked her belly button again. "Let my actions show you what I feel. What I feel...about you." he completed with soft voice and started unzipping the zipper of her pants. She could feel the electric shock that he created on her body every time he touched her.

"Tony." Ziva gasped. She was losing more and more control each time her body came into contact with any part of his.

"God, Ziva, I love you so much." he confessed breathlessly and pulled her pants off and stood up on his on feet to admire the beautiful sight in front of him.

Pulling his pants off, he got on top of her and stroked her cheek, looking deep into her brown eyes. He leaned and kissed her, letting his actions speak for his heart one more time.

Tony walked through the cemetery. He hadn't been there for a long time, but his memory wouldn't allow him to forget where her grave was. Holding a bouquet of yellow roses, her favorites, he stood still in front of it. At the sight of the name, the dates of birth and death, carved into the granite stone, he couldn't fight back his tears.

"Hi, Mom." Tony mumbled, his voice thick. "Sorry for not visiting to you all that time but..." he trailed off, swallowing hard. "I'm here to tell you that I'm going to propose to the greatest woman in my life, my soul mate. You know, Ziva. I already told you about her." he sighed before he went on. "You know Dad gave me your ring to propose to her with. He told me that Ziva is the only one who deserves it. And he's right, she does. She's the best thing that's ever happened to my life. You would have loved her, if you had met her." Tony couldn't choke his tears back anymore. He missed her so much. "I wish…I wish you were here." he sobbed and unleashed his tears in front of the grave. "I miss you." Tony whispered and leaned in so he could trace the carved stone with his fingers.

Elisabeth-Christina DiNozzo

October 3rd 1944- December 17th 1976

A Beloved Mother And Wife

"Goodbye, Mom." he said and placed the flowers on the grass in front of the gravestone. "I love you." he said and a light breeze hit him, instantly making him smile before he turned on his heels and left.

The days passed. Tony returned from his trip, as did Gibbs from his vacation. Tony managed to mask his anxiousness from Ziva and the rest of the team, but not from his Boss. Gibbs knew that something was off with his SFA, but he didn't want to push things any further. He knew that when time was right, Tony would come and talk to him. He just wished that what was bugging the young man wasn't something serious, because, truth be told, those two years that Ziva was in Israel were rough for him. Especially after the fiasco he had had with Zoe, and the mess she had created afterwards.

"I've been waiting for you to come to me for days, DiNozzo." Gibbs said, hearing his SFA's footsteps on the top of his stairs. As he predicted, Tony showed up in his basement. Taking his attention from the project that he was working on, the ex-marine headed for the workbench with his tools and filled two glasses with bourbon, handing one to Tony, who made his way down the stairs.

"I know you understood that something was off and thanks for not pushing me, but I think you have to know why." Tony said, holding the glass with both of his hands. "Besides, you have a right to know.'' Gibbs took a sip of bourbon and waited for him to explain.

"I am going to ask Ziva to marry me tomorrow, and I want your blessing, Boss, because you are like father to her. And…and it's important…to me as much as it is to her." he declared to the older man, looking at him in the eyes. Gibbs studied the younger man...he could see determination and honesty in his eyes.

"And before you say it," Tony continued, "No, I won't hurt her. I love her with all my heart. I'd rather hurt myself than hurt her." he concluded and Gibbs smiled a little, remembering those exact words coming from Ziva's mouth not too long ago, standing at the same spot where Tony was standing now.

"Tony," Gibbs said, approaching him. "Remember one night when you came down here, after the incident with Bodnar's car crash, and you told me that you were worrying about Ziva?" he asked and Tony nodded. "I asked you something that night. If anything had happened between you and her in Berlin. Do you remember your answer?" he continued.

"Yeah, Boss. I told you that nothing happened, and it's the truth. But what does that have to do with this?"

"I had wished your answer would have been different that night," Gibbs confessed. Tony's jaw dropped. "I had wished your answer would have been different, telling me that both of you had had the guts to break rule #12, and that you were together and happy, at last, because, damn you deserved it! It's just that it took you two more years to do it, with Ziva's departure and your…" Gibbs trailed off, sighing.

"Boss-"

"Sometimes during those two years, I thought it had been too late for you." Gibbs interrupted his Agent. "I thought that with having rule #12, I had wasted the only chance to see two of my 'children' happy together. Thank God I was wrong," he said with a light chuckle and took Tony into a tight hug. "I give you my blessing and, this time, I'm sure I' am doing the right thing. Good luck, son. I'm so happy for you both." his voice cracked as he pulled away.

"Thanks, Boss, it means a lot. Although, I have no idea how to do it." Tony confessed sighing. "I want it to be something special, like she is, and I don't have clue what to do. And what if she…"

Gibbs chuckled. "You'll find a way, DiNozzo. When it's about your true love, your soul mate, you will find the right way and the right time. Trust me. And don't worry, she won't refuse." he told the younger man with confidence. "She loves you. She truly loves you." he reassured him, patting Tony on the shoulder.

"I hope so, Boss. I hope so…because…"

"Don't hope, DiNozzo." Gibbs interrupted him. "Be sure." Gibbs told Tony and he smiled.

Tony entered the house and headed towards the stairs. As soon as he stepped into the bedroom, he heard the water running in the bathroom. He placed his cell and keys on his nightstand and began to unbutton his shirt slowly with the thought of a naked and soaking-wet Ziva crossing his mind. After he undid his pants and his boxers, which he left them fall to the floor, he pushed the door of the bathroom open and came up against the clouds of steam that were covering the whole room. Few moments later, he saw Ziva through the mist. She had her back to the door, under the stream of hot water. She was soaking wet, like Aphrodite just risen from the sea. He stared at her body from head to toe just like a predatory animal stared at its potential quarry. Ziva sensed his stare and met his gaze after she had turned her head over her right shoulder.

"Hello, Handsome." she said seductively and a grin plastered on Tony's face. Turning her body so he could have full a view of hers, she looked at him full of lust and bit her finger in a seductive way, waiting for his next move. It was the all encouragement that Tony needed. Making a few steps towards her, he got in the tub and wrapped his arms around her body.

"Did you get a tattoo of my name?" Ziva asked in disbelief, sliding her hand down his left muscled shoulder, which was marked with her name. She had the same reaction that Tony had had months ago upon seeing her shoulder marked with his name.

"I wanted to feel you close to me at every moment, every hour and every minute." he replied. "EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. Just like you do with me." he went on whispering into her ear before he bit her earlobe, an action which was enough for Ziva heart to beat faster and fill her stomach butterflies.

"Tony." she moaned as Tony pressed her against the cold wall of the shower.

"I love you." he whispered without stopping to plant kisses all over her body. Tony loved her body. Every time he caressed it, every time he kissed it, every time he made love to it, he felt like he had discovered the meaning of life. Like he had conquered the world. And he kinda had done so, because Ziva was his entire world. He wanted make love to her every single moment, everywhere he could.

"Tony." she whispered as she started shaking in his arms. She was reaching her breaking point. She couldn't stand the sensations that he was offering. Tony sensed it, too, because the same thing was happening to him.

"Open your eyes, Ziva." he demanded and Ziva obliged, locking her eyes on his. It was the only thing they needed to reach the edge. To become one with each other. For one more time. Tony gave her a quick kiss and rested his forehead on hers. "I…" it was the only thing that he could manage to whisper with a shaking voice, gasping for breath.

"I know." Ziva said softly, her voice shaking just as much and stroked his cheek, her eyes still locked on his. "I know." she repeated and returned the quick kiss he was giving her before she nestled her head in the crook of his neck.

Tony buried his face in her wet hair, smelling the scent of the jasmine and vanilla shampoo. Standing there, with the hot water still raining down on their heads like a waterfall, they stayed hugging each other, feeling the heat radiating from their bodies. "I wish I could stay like this forever." he murmured into her hair, tightening his grip around her body.

"So do I," Ziva replied and kissed his collarbone. "So do I."

The morning came, and Tony couldn't be more anxious than he already was. After moving into the bed the activities they had had in the shower, Tony had not slept well, because his sleep was interrupted by a nightmare. He had seen that he was proposing to Ziva, but she refused him, telling him that she wasn't ready for this big step. Even he knew how much she loved him he couldn't bare the idea of being rejected by her. But this dream, and the thought of her rejection, couldn't stand in the way of his decision to pop the question that night. Grabbing his keys and his cell from the nightstand, he couldn't get out of his mind what the first drawer was hiding. He glanced around the room, making sure Ziva was not around, before he opened the drawer and took out the blue velvet box. Tony opened the box and there it was; his mother's engagement ring. It was a white gold ring, perfectly matched with the color of Ziva's Star of David necklace. The ring was encrusted with little diamonds in the Princess cut, while there was a 1 carat, round, brilliant diamond in the middle. 'The most perfect 4C's, Junior.' Senior had bragged when his mother, Elisabeth, had shown her engagement ring to Tony once, while he was still a child. And now, years later, he couldn't do anything but smile at that memory. And, of course, at Senior's words that day at the airport. Because his father was right. Ziva was the only one who deserved it, not only because of its beauty but also because of the fact that she was the woman of his life. No one woman could be compared to her. Neither Wendy nor Jeanne. Tony closed the box, but he didn't place it back into the drawer. Instead, he put it in the inside pocket of his jacket to take it with him at the office. He didn't know why, he just felt like it was the right thing to do.

"Are you ready?" Ziva asked, dragging him from his thoughts standing at the door frame, staring at him. Tony turned his head to face her.

"Yeah, I am." he replied. Taking few steps towards her, he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Did I tell you, today, how much I love you?" he asked, looking deep into her brown eyes.

Ziva chuckled lightly. She couldn't remember how many times Tony had said that to her that morning from the moment they had woken up. Wanting to tease him though, she raised her head pretending that she was deep in thought before she answered. "Ummm, no." she said playfully, looking back at him.

"Well, then, I love you, Ziva David. I love you so much." he told her, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

"And I love you, too, Tony DiNozzo. I love you so much." she replied and cupped his cheek in her palm. "So, shall we go to work? We don't want Gibbs to head-slap us again, do we?" Tony rubbed the back of his head at the thought that, and she laughed. "Come on. Let's go." Ziva encouraged him, taking Tony's hand in hers and dragging them out of the room.

At the Navy Yard, time was passing very slowly. Tony was becoming more frustrated minute by minute. He was alone at the bullpen, typing furiously on his computer, when the 'ding' of elevator was heard and Abby stepped out of it.

"Where is everybody?" Abby asked as she approached Tony's desk.

"Gibbs is with Vance, McGee's on a coffee run, and Bishop while Ziva are at MTAC." he answered without taking his eyes from the computer screen.

"Do you have any plans for you and Ziva tonight? It's Valentine's Day." she asked with a smirk after she sat down on McGee's chair.

He didn't answer. Instead, he started groaning because his computer screen just broke. "Damn you, stupid machine!" Tony shouted slapping his computer screen.

"Tony, relax. You've been very tense lately." Abby said.

"Yeah, he has." McGee observed, making his appearance in the bullpen with five cups of coffee and a Caf-Pow in his grasp.

"Thank you, McGee. You always take care of me." the Goth replied and took the Caf-Pow, smiling while the young Agent just grinned.

Tony stood up from his chair and leaned up against Ziva's desk. "Sorry, guys. It's just-" he cut himself off mid-sentence, watching Ziva and Ellie walking down the stairs from MTAC. She was so beautiful at that moment. The way she had her hair in a ponytail, not to mention the girly clothes she was wearing that day. She was like a fairy in a Disney movie. Like an exotic princess. His princess. Watching her walking down the stairs in slow motion, like in a movie, laughing loud at Bishop's joke, he felt so...Well, he couldn't explain how he felt. But he knew one thing, this was his chance. This was the special for him. To do it now, at the place where everything started. Tony pushed himself from the desk and grabbed Ziva's arms as soon as she approached her desk, locking his two green-hazel eyes on hers.

"Are you alright?" Ziva asked her boyfriend, because his behavior the last month had made her anxious. Tony didn't answer. He just kept his eyes locked on hers and, before anyone could manage to say or do something, he knelt down on the one knee.

"Ziva," Tony started, his voice shaking and kept her two hands on his, leaving not only Ziva and the rest of the team speechless, but also the whole the MCRT floor. "I knew from the first time I met you, when you walked into that bullpen, that you were something special," he continued, not taking his eyes from hers. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he spoke again. "The one for me. And even though it took us a little more than a decade to be together, to admit our feelings for each other, I didn't regret anything that's happened since living with you the past years."

"Tony, what…?" she was ready to say something, but he cut her off.

"You told me, once, that we can't change the past, but we can hope to a better future. I want that future, Ziva, and I want it with you.'' Letting go of her hands, he slid one of his into the inside pocket of his jacket and took out the blue velvet box. With shaking hands, he opened it and the revealed his mother's ring. Taking a deep breath, and with whole MCRT floor witnessing the event, Tony asked the most important question to the most important woman of his life. "Ziva David, my soul mate, will you marry me?"

What do you think? Will Ziva say 'yes' to Tony and make him the happiest man in the World or will she refuse and break Tony's heart forever?