A short A/N for once. So I had this huge elaborate party planned out for this chapter and then I realized I was at fifty pages. And I decided to scrap that whole idea and came up with something (I hope) even better. Short and Sweet wins the race, instead of Long and Boring.
Anyway, in response to the ten reviews I got, I love them all but I feel as if you guys are abandoning this story! Now I have a week (and a half) to write so I can get maybe three or four chapter but that's only if I get more than ten reviews!
Anyway, disclaimer yada yada...
And To Us Love Is Born
"Okay, help me up." Ziva said as she held her arms up. Tony chuckled before grabbing her hand and pulling her up.
She smiled, "Thank You." She said before looking around the room. "This is the master bedroom, I presume?"
He nodded, "I even gave you a huge closet."
She smiled, "And how much exactly did this cost?"
Tony chuckled, "That is for me to always know, and for you to enjoy."
Ziva clicked her tongue, "May I see the rest now?"
Tony nodded, "Sure." He led her out of the room and down the hallway of the other two bedrooms. He pointed to the room known as the nursery.
He opened the door and allowed her to walk in first, "I was thinking purple."
Ziva smirked, "I was thinking along the lines of maybe…a tranquil blue."
Tony wrinkled up his nose, "That's not a girly color."
Ziva rolled her eyes, "Anything else?"
Tony nodded, and they both walked out, he showed her the other two bedrooms and told her about the linen closet. They walked downstairs where he showed her the chef style kitchen that blew her away. The divine stove and refrigerator, along with the smooth countertops.
A smile graced her lips as she felt the completeness of the house. He showed her the breakfast area, and where the table and chairs should go. She saw the huge pantry, waiting to be filled.
He then led her to the living room which was still vacant but had endless possibilities. The cabinets in the living room were a refreshingly white with a nice fireplace for roasting marshmallows as Tony described. There was space in the cabinet for a nice size plasma TV which earned him a smirk from expectant partner.
He then escorted her to the other side of the house where he showed her one the bathrooms in which he hand laid every single tile, as he was so proud of himself.
"Oh yeah!" he said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her around a corner and into a small room with a large window overlooking the backyard.
It was painted an calming green that she immediately fell in love with, but there, right in the center was a large, elegant. White Baby Grand Piano.
She stared at him in awe; he gave her the biggest grin she had ever seen.
She walked over carefully and let her fingers tap a few of the keys, she looked at him, "Where did you find one?"
Tony shrugged, "I know people."
She looked back at the large instrument, she became puzzled, she squinted, "What does it say, on that plate?" she asked.
She leaned in to get a better look, she read it before grinning at him, "I was not a part of this."
Tony smiled again, "But we all were."
To Shiloh, from Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa Gibbs, Aunt Jenny, Ducky, McGee, Jimmy, Abby and Bert.
Ziva rolled her eyes, "So now Abby know about the name?"
Tony shook his head, "I just told them it was a gift for the baby. I never said I putting her name on it."
Ziva nodded, "It is beautiful." She stated.
Tony sat down on the seat, placed his hand on the keys and looked expectantly at her, "Care to listen?"
"You learned to play?" she asked as she sat down next to him.
Tony shrugged, "I know a few songs. Maybe I could take up that offer?"
Ziva laughed, "Sure." She nodded through small fits of laughter.
He cracked his fingers, "Alright, let's begin." He played one key twice before adding another, and another.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star…
"How I wonder what you are…" Ziva murmured.
He fumbled on one key before trying to think of the rest. She gently took her hands and placed them on top of his and helped him finish the song.
He chuckled when they finished, "We make beautiful music. Even if it is a nursery rhyme."
She smiled, "Yes, we do."
He dazzled her back with a matching smile, "And we make beautiful babies."
She smiled and laughed slightly before they both stood and he showed her the rest of the house. It wasn't until they got to the deck that she really began to smile.
He waved a hand at all the land, "It's two acres." He told her. "It's huge."
Ziva nodded as she looked around, "I see that."
She stood their looking around, she pictured it being autumn. No snow on the ground, the grass green, the leaves orange. She pictured her and her daughter twirling around as the sun set.
She smiled at him and began laughing quietly, "What?" he asked.
"Do you remember those story books, with the princesses, and the happily ever after?" she asked.
He nodded, "Yeah. It's called Disney."
"I believe this is an off-brand Disney movie."
He smiled down at her, "I'll take that as a compliment."
She looked back at the yard, "You know this reminds me of the pictures my ballet teacher used to show me."
Tony gasped, "The ninja took ballet?"
She smirked, "Yes. I actually liked it."
"Do you remember any moves?" he asked.
"Well, yes, but I am off balance." She said gesturing to her rounded stomach.
He took her hand, "I won't let you fall."
She eyed him suspiciously, before twirling. She laughed as she did so; she twirled again before pointing her toes and pointing one of them to the side.
"Wow, impressive." He said sarcastically.
She punched him playfully, "It was a long time ago, and all I remember is the twirls. I loved the twirls. It was Tali's forte for the jumping and such."
Tony smiled, "Maybe she should do ballet."
Ziva chuckled, "If she's part DiNozzo there's no way she'll be able to stay still. Maybe gymnastics, ice skating, or maybe some kind of martial arts. "
Tony nodded, "That or a big hamster wheel."
Ziva laughed and shook her head, "No. That's just wrong."
She turned and began looking over the tall trees, "Maybe we should get a horse."
"Can you see them running around with like water balloons?" he whispered to her.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "Them?"
"What?" he asked.
"You said them, implying more than one. You want more children?"
Tony shrugged, "I grew up as an only child, and it's not really that fun."
Ziva paused, "I suppose."
Tony scoffed, "Oh, shut up! You had the whole package! A brother and a sister. I don't need to hear your siblingly troubles."
She smirked," Siblingly?" she asked.
"I built this house, I can make up my own words." He replied confidently.
She smiled, "Well, you did an excellent job, Your Majesty."
"So, we have to put furniture in this place." Tony said as he and Ziva leaned against the deck railing overlooking their backyard.
Ziva nodded, "Or else it is just a big empty space."
Tony chuckled, "So…how's two weeks from now. Thursday?"
Ziva frowned, "Two weeks?"
"Yeah, that a problem?"
Ziva grew quiet before licking her lips. She scratched her head slightly, "Um, Ray is thinking about taking a trip…to Israel…"
Tony chuckled slightly, "Israel? Geez, was Rome full?"
She chuckled slightly before pushing her hair to the side, "Eden said something quite similar."
"Well, I mean it's not Bora Bora. Don't get me wrong. It's a beautiful place and excellent for the people who already live there and don't wanna insult you and it's just a nice place but…"
"I know, I lived there." Ziva commented.
Tony shrugged, "Are you even allowed to travel?"
Ziva shrugged also, "I don't know. That is a good question."
They grew quiet for a moment before Tony said, "Well…I guess we'll just pick out furniture when you uh, get back." He said quietly.
She nodded, "Sure. I mean it is not even definite, yet either."
"Yeah." He said.
"But, Tony, this house really is beautiful." She touched her stomach lightly, "She agrees with me."
He smiled at her, "Thanks, you to princess."
"Now about this purple nursery…"
"It has to be a real tree." Jake exclaimed as he, Abby, McGee, Jenny, and his father met at a close-but-not-to-close-as-to-them-getting-caught.
"It's February. Who has a real tree, in February?" McGee asked.
"It's all planned out. McGee, it's almost perfect. I mean, we've got EJ's number," her voice dropped to a whisper as she eyed the cashier carefully.
"I got Ray's…" Jake whispered. "That part was easyish."
"How did you do that again?"
…
Sunday; 1150
A gun range.
A bar.
Even a baseball game.
That's where he expected to find the CIA agent. Not at a ring store!
He wasn't there to buy, as it seemed. He was sitting at a table outside the store, with no one other than, Eli David. And he did not seem happy.
"I give you a mission!" Eli hissed. "I tell you to bring my daughter back to me and you let her go back and fall into the arms of that Antony DiNozzo!"
"Mr. David, she is a stubborn and hard-willed person, and to top that off she's pregnant. She gets angry at everything! It's not my fault."
Eli reached over and slapped Ray across the cheek, "I don't want excuses! I want my daughter back! My granddaughter as well. You convince her to come to Israel, make her happy, propose to her, and bring her back. Or I will have my men transport you to Africa and start a buffalo stampede!" Eli stood, "Understand me?" he growled.
Ray stood and straightened his tie, "Yes, sir."
Eli placed a firm hand on Ray's shoulder, "Walk through this park with me."
Just then, Jake decided it was the best time to strike. He ran from around the corner and purposely crashed into his grandfather's legs, "Grandpa!"
"Jake?" Eli asked stunned.
"Hiya!" he said excitedly. Jake smiled up at Ray, "Hi Ray!"
Ray smiled half-heartedly at the boy; Jake raised his arms above his head. "Up!" he commanded.
Ray reluctantly picked him up, "Hi." He said.
"What cha doin'?" Jake asked.
"Jake, where are you parents?"
Jake looked at his grandfather, he shrugged, "In Taiwan!"
"Jacob, that's not funny." Ray said.
"What's a pet peeve?" Jake asked.
"Something you really don't like." Ray said quickly as he put Jake back on the ground.
Jake pointed to his untied shoe lace, "Can you tie for me?" he asked innocently.
Ray sighed as he bent over once more before glancing up at Eli. He began making the loop when Jake began to whine, "What about the rabbit?" he whined.
"What rabbit?" Eli asked.
"It's an example and it helps little kids learn how to tie their shoes." Ray explained.
"Hey! I'm a big kid." Jake said confidently. "I use the potty like grown 'ups."
"Right, sorry, Jacob." Ray said as he began the rhyme once more, "Take the bunny wrap it around the tree, the bunny runs through the tree. The end." He said as he tied the knot.
"That's not it!" Jake explained.
"Whatever." Ray said as a few contents his pocket fell out. Including his phone and a small black box, along with other non-important things.
"I got it!" Jake exclaimed as he helped Ray pick up his pocket assortments, but not before sneakily slipping the phone into the pocket in his hoodie.
"Uh, thanks Jake." Ray said as he stood.
"Jacob, where are you parents?" Eli asked.
Jake pointed just as Hunter rounded the corner, "Jake, I swear I am going to get a leash." Hunter sighed as he scooped Jake into his arms. "Hey Eli, Ray."
"Taking care of your children, I see?" Eli said judgmentally.
"Just a boy's day out."
Jake nodded, "We were at the pet store. I saw a hamster."
Eli frowned, "You mean a rodent?"
"Hamster."
"Rodent."
"And I saw a snake. I was scared but I gotta big daddy to save me." Jake said as he looked in appreciation at his father.
"Well, yeah, we have to go." Ray said, Hunter nodded and the two older men went on their way towards the park.
Jake sent the text message to Abby before clearing the phone and calling, "Ray!"
Ray turned, "Yeah?"
Jake held up his phone, "You dropped this."
Ray ran up and grabbed it, "Thanks Jake, see you later buddy."
"Bye!" Jake waved as Ray ran to catch up with Eli.
Jake looked at his father, "Did that seem weird to you?"
Hunter shrugged, "Not really. He may have been getting her father's blessing."
"Did you ask when you asked mommy to marry you?"
Hunter scratched the back of his head, "Well see that's a long story…"
"I'm only four." Jake sighed.
Hunter rolled his eyes, "I'll tell you on the way home."
"Hey, you were joking about the leash, right?"
…
"So, they were just sitting there talking?" Abby asked.
Jake nodded as he licked his vanilla with sprinkles cone, "I couldn't hear nothin'."
"But you saw a box?" Jenny asked.
"A ring box." Jake nodded. "And I think I heard something about a plan, and spy, and bring her back." He shrugged again, "I'm not sure."
"Well, what if they really are one for each other?" McGee asked.
Jake glared at him, "I think I know what's going on. But I'm not sure; I don't want to start rumors."
"And you are pretty good at those." Hunter muttered.
"I checked with the CIA." Jenny started. "Ray went rogue on a mission and they cut him off. He hasn't worked with them for months and from what his co-workers said he's moved onto some top secret agency."
"a.k.a Mossad." McGee sighed.
"It's a good possibility." Jenny said. "And, we all know that Ziva was the best there. And know that there's a possibility of her settling down, Eli won't like that. So…He's gonna send the man of her dreams to come and sweep her off her feet and come away from the man she truly loves."
Everybody looked at Jenny in awe, she blushed.
Jake nodded and pointed his spoon at her, "Yeah, that's what I was gonna say."
"Are you sure?" Abby said.
Jenny nodded, "True love should be able to withstand anything…You shouldn't look for your soul mate, they'll find you. And Tony and Ziva are right in front of each other, every day."
"But they both found Ray and EJ."
Abby shook her head, "If what Jenny's saying is true, Eli set that up! So they didn't really find each other."
"What about EJ?" McGee questioned.
"There's something weird about her…" Abby started. "Have you heard anything director?"
"Classified." Jenny said solemnly.
"Aw come on! This plan won't work if we don't know everything."
"Unless you're on that need to know basis of that assignment I can't say."
"Remember the last time only certain people knew something; it all fell apart and Tony became a jack ass. Sorry Jake."
Jake looked up from his father's bowl of rocky road, "What? I didn't hear that last part."
"Good. Anyway, Jenny, come on…"
"Sorry, Abs. Rule number four, I think it is."
"Don't eat cat food?" Jake asked.
"No." Jenny said. "It's the best way to keep a secret is to keep it to yourself, second best, um-"
"Tell one other person, there is no third best."
Everybody froze, "Uh-oh."
"I think you all forgot about Rule 12." He said.
Gibbs sat down at the table and looked amusingly at his team and 'adopted' grandson, "Well?"
"Gibbs you see, what happened was…Um…It was Jake's idea!" McGee shrieked.
"Mickey!" Jake exclaimed. "Traitor!"
"Boss." McGee tried again.
"I heard your plan." Gibbs said before he took a sip of his coffee. He looked at Jake, "Ever think of becoming an agent some day?"
Jake grinned, "I wanna be a spy when I grow up. But not a CIA spy, I swear."
Gibbs chuckled, "Alright."
Abby and the others looked at him expectantly, "Gibbs? Are you gonna kill us?"
Gibbs made a scoff like sound, "Nah. As a matter a fact…"
"Are you in?" Jake asked.
Gibbs looked down at the boy, "If this backfires, it's your monkey butt."
Jake giggled, "Monkey butt."
Tuesday; 1645
"Mom! We're home!" Jake shouted as ran into his home. His father and McGee grunting as they lugged in the eight foot tree they bought.
Eden walked in to greet them but stopped short when she saw the tree. "What the hell is going on?" she asked as she looked up at the tree. "It's February."
Jake turned on his own heels and placed his hands on his hips and mimicked his mother's expression, "Yes, what are, you doing?"
"It's a long story babe. Ask your firstborn." Hunter said as he and McGee set the tree down in the middle of the living room.
Eden looked down at Jake, "I'm listening."
"Okay, but first you have to promise not to tell."
Eden sighed, "I promise."
"And not get mad."
"What'd you do?" Eden asked.
"Nothing, just promise."
"Okay, fine. I promise."
"Alright, is Aunt Ziva here?"
"Uh, no. She and Tony went to a Lamaze class or something."
"Okay, good." He led her over to a chair. "Alright, so the guys and I have a plan."
"For what?"
"To get Aunt Ziva and Uncle Tony together."
Eden grew silent before glaring at Hunter, "You knew about this? And didn't tell me?"
"Hey, he made me swear not to say anything." Hunter said in defense.
"He's four." Eden declared back.
"Mommy, don't be made at Daddy. I figured you'd be mad if I told you."
"Well…Jake…that's their personal lives."
"What if I told you Ray wasn't really in love with Aunt Ziva but he's being paid to do so."
"By who?" Eden questioned.
Jake shrugged, "We think Grandpa."
"What!" she exclaimed.
"We're not sure." Hunter said. "So we weren't gonna tell Ziva, just yet. But we're pretty sure."
"You've got to be kidding me." Eden sighed as she put her head in her hands. "Are you serious?"
Jake nodded, "But we have a plan to make Aunt Ziva and Uncle Tony love each other again!"
"Oh yeah?"
Jake nodded.
"What is it?"
Jake sat there in front if his mother and explained the entire plan to his mother. After he finished she nodded, "It's a good plan, for a four year to come up with, anyway."
"So? Are you mad?"
"At my father, but not at you."
"We still have one problem." Hunter said as he sat down on the arm of the chair Eden sat in.
"Should we tell Ziva or not." McGee finished.
"Well, of course." Eden said.
"But will she believe us?" Hunter said.
"Probably not." Eden muttered. "But if we don't tell her then if this plan works she'll become pissed off that we didn't tell her."
"I don't know…"
"To tell her or not to tell her, that is the question of the century."
…
"Eden? Hi." Ziva called as she entered the house three hours later. "We were in the neighborhood."
Eden ran up to her sister and tried to distract her as to what was going on in her living room, "Hi! Baby sister, what's up?"
Ziva eyed her suspiciously, "You are…perky. What is wrong?"
"Nothing."
"There is something."
"Nope. Not a thing."
"Fine. Where is Jake?"
"Uh, in the kitchen."
Ziva's eyed watched her sister as she walked into the kitchen where her nephew was sitting on the counter checking something off on a piece of paper.
"Eggs?"
"Check." Hunter replied.
"Baking soda?"
"Check."
"Someone baking?" Ziva asked. Jake's eyes lit up and he jumped down from the counter and allowed Ziva to pick him up.
"Hi, teteleh." She murmured as she kissed his head.
"I love you." Jake said as he wrapped his arms around her neck.
"What's going on?" Ziva asked as she looked around curiously.
Eden sighed, "Sit down, Ziva."
She cautiously sat down, "What? What's going on?"
"Um-"
"Would you like your Band-Aid taken off fast or slow?" Jake butted in.
Eden glared at him, "I was gonna say do you want to find out something now or later?"
"I don't understand."
"Shut up Jake." Eden snapped as he prepared to open his mouth. "Ziva, listen, we…we love you and we don't want to hurt you."
"Are you pregnant?" Ziva asked.
"No." Eden said quickly. "It has nothing to do with me."
"Then me?"
"Sorda."
"Okay?"
"Um, I don't know exactly how to say this-"
"Ray's Eli's little bitch!" Jake exclaimed.
"Jake!" All three adults exclaimed.
"What?" he asked innocently. "That's what he is."
"Jake that's not nice to say something about the person you love."
"But he doesn't love you."
"Jake!"
"What's he talking about?" Ziva asked as she looked at her sister.
"Uh…See, that's what I was trying to tell you, calmly." She glared at her son. "Um, the guys kinda saw Ray and Dad together and," she sighed, "It's not real. I'm sorry Ziva."
"Wait. Wait. Did you hear them say this?"
"Well, I heard Grandpa say something about bringing you back."
"He meant taking me back to Israel to see where I grew up!" Ziva said angrily. "He wanted to see it also. And father is not even in town! He is in Israel; he called me the other day."
"Why?" Eden asked.
"I don't know, I could not understand a word he was saying, anyway." Ziva put Jake on the seat next to her. "You must be mistaken."
"No." Jake said. "I'm a hundred p'cent positive."
"Jake it is not nice to tell fibs." Ziva said as she stood.
"I'm not!"
"Give me proof." Ziva said as she folded her arms across her chest.
"I don't have any proof! It was a spur of the moment thing!" he lied. If he told her the whole story she would know what was going on.
"Then let's just drop it." Ziva angrily sighed. "Ray is…"
"An ass?"
Hunter bit back a laugh before Eden nudged him hard in the ribs, "Goodbye." Ziva said as she turned and left the McKenzie home, in full blown anger.
"An ass? Really? Eden asked her son.
Jake shrugged, "What? It's true."
Hunter nodded through chuckles, "True. But it's a bad word."
"Bad word for a bad man."
"You're awfully quiet, tonight." Ray said as the two of them sat over a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant.
Ziva did not answer his one of many pleas of conversation; she was, in fact, in a different world. Her mind was elsewhere as she thought of what Jake said to her.
She was so out of it she had realized she had not touched the dessert she loved so much.
Ray touched her leg, "Hello? Beautiful?"
She snapped out of it and retreated her leg, he looked at her curiously, "What's wrong babe?" he asked.
"How did you get the black eye, again?" she asked.
"I told you. Combat training got a hard." He ran a hand over her cheek, "Why do you ask."
She shook her head, "No reason."
Ray smirked, "There's been something on your mind for the whole dinner."
"No. Not really."
"You did not even touch the double chocolate cake."
Ziva scrunched up her face before pushing the plate away, "I'm not really hungry."
"How can you be not you be hungry? You're pregnant."
"Pregnant people can get not hungry." Ziva snapped.
Ray looked at her hurt, "Hey." He said softly. "What's bothering you?"
"Why were you with my father?" she asked curtly and to the point.
Ray chuckled and looked away, "Jake told you about that?"
"Answer the question."
"It's not what you think."
"What does that mean?" she asked. "Whenever someone says that it's exactly what they think it is."
"It's not something that you should worry about."
"It's my father; I have every right to worry about him. Just answer the question." She growled.
Ray sighed and reached into his pocket. He placed the box on the table, "I was asking him for his permission to marry his last daughter. I was going to propose in your childhood bedroom." He chuckled, "But I guess that's ruined."
Her face full of shock turned to disgust to ever think such a thing about Ray, "Ray, I…"
Ray scratched the back of his head, "If you can't trust me now…I don't think we should go on our trip."
"Ray."
"My commanding superior offered me a mission; I think I'm going to take it." He said. "It's next week."
"Stop." She ordered. "You do not know my father. I have every right to be concerned. He is a dangerous man."
Ray's eyes fell on the box, "Open it."
She looked at him before opening the box slowly, blatantly inspecting it for wires of any nature. There were none so she opened the box, it was empty.
"It's empty."
He nodded, "You're disappointed."
She grew silent, he took her hands in his, "What is this?" she asked.
"Consider it a promise."
"What kind of promise?"
"That I love you." He kissed her cheek, "And that I would never hurt you. You can trust me. I'm your missing half." He kissed her jaw. "Just tell me you love me. That we can be a family. Together. Just the three of us."
He could see the hesistation in her eyes, "I got a position in Israel."
Her eyebrows cocked, he nodded, "I know, right? But I mean, maybe it's for the best. So, what do you think? We'll move over there. And, you know, be regular Israeli's I guess."
"I…" Her sentence was interrupted by her cell phone ringing. "I'm sorry." She clicked ignore before staring at Ray. "I…This too much. We've only known-"
"If it's love, time won't matter." He looked into her eyes and sighed, "Fine. Let's not talk about this right now."
"Then what would you like to talk about?"
"I don't know. The baby."
Ziva hesitated, she knew the promise she made to Tony about their family. Ray looked lovingly at her eyes, "Hm? You seem distant."
"I…It's just I, we-"
"Have you ever thought about naming her after Tali?"
Ziva nodded, "We thought about. We wanted her to be one of her own."
"Oh, so you want something original?"
"Well…"
"I was looking in some baby book, what about Liat? I hear it means 'you are the one for me.'"
Her face paled, she pushed his hand away, "What?"
"What? Don't you like Liat? I thought you would since it's Hebrew and your friend-"
"I never spoke of Liat." Ziva hissed. "Who told you about her? No one is supposed to know."
"Yes you did." Ray said quickly, immediately kicking himself for using the wrong name.
Ziva shook her head, "Only my family knows about Liat. And not even all of them. No one else. You weren't asking my father for my hand, you were…You and him-" She stood. "You trying to find out more about me. About my past. Why?"
"Ziva." He said as he stood next to her. "I talked to him for the ring, and for the ring only." He tried to dig himself out of this huge hole he was in.
"Was any of it real?" she demanded.
"Yes, it still is." He said. "It always is."
She pushed his hands away once more, "Am I, a part of this plan? Or something?"
"No. You're overreacting."
"Oh! You wanna see me overreact? Go on and tell me another lie. Everything you say is a lie! Why don't you tell me sky is not blue, or that water is not white, why don't you tell me…that even if I didn't go to Israel with you or marry you right now you would still love me. Tell me that if I weren't a David you would still love me for me, and not my last name."
Ray grew silent, her face tightened, "So it is true."
"Ziva." He pleaded.
"No. Don't. Just, stop." She sighed before exiting the restaurant in full blown tears. "So much for being the one."
It was only ten-thirty but he was already in bed asleep, with EJ next to him.
Nothing out of the ordinary had gone on, not that it was ever going to. He just wasn't ready for this relationship to go there yet. Ever even.
Sure, they slept in the same bed, but it was nothing more.
He was in the middle of dreaming his little girl was in a tree and refused to come down when he heard his phone ring. He sat up and grabbed it from the nightstand, "Hello?" he groggily asked.
"Hi."
He could tell she was in tears, even though she was trying hard not to let him know, "Hey." He answered. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." she replied.
"You sound upset."
She sighed through the phone, "Um, could you come and pick me up?"
He glanced at EJ, "Sure. Where are you?"
"In front of that museum about ten minutes from your house."
"Alright." Tony said as he put on some actually pants. "I'll be there…in well, ten."
"Alright, thank you, Tony."
"No prob."
…
The ride back was well…awkward, like any other car ride. But what was it supposed to be? Peachy?
"So…Where to?" he asked, trying to break the tension.
She sighed, "Anywhere. Please."
"Eden's it is then."
"Sure." She shrugged.
She glanced at him, "You are not going to ask what happened?"
Tony shrugged, "That's your business, not mine."
She eyed him, "Since when did you begin minding people's privacy?"
"Fine." He said. "What happened?"
"I do not want to talk about it."
"Ziva."
"What?"
"You pressure me to ask what happened, and then you don't wanna talk about it."
"I'm sorry, then. I'll just stop talking."
"I'm just saying."
"He lied to me." Ziva stated bluntly.
"About what?"
"He has been spying on me. Sneaking into my past."
"What?" Tony asked.
"I have things buried for a reason. No need to bring them up."
"Such as?"
"…You do not need to know."
"This is really bugging you." Tony commented.
"Well, yes. I just I don't want to think about her because…"
"Her?"
Ziva sniffled, "Yes. Her."
"Do you mean…Liat?"
She snapped her head up at him, "How do you know about her?"
Tony licked his lips, "Eden told me."
She cursed under her breath in Hebrew, "Why?"
"We were talking about why you keep thing bottled up."
"So you were talking about me?"
"No. I was just asking if you were like that as a child. She said you told everything to your friend, Liat."
Ziva looked at her hands which were in her lap, "I did. But I just didn't want everyone to know. It is painful enough to just hear her name, to think about her. I just want some things private. Between family-"
"It's not good to keep thing bottled up." He butted in.
"I can see that but it makes me feel better not to think about those things."
"Well, I mean I know how you feel. I used to never like to think about Carly but after all of this, it's better now. I feel like I can breathe better now."
"So, what do you want me to say?" she exclaimed. "I miss my friend. I miss her dearly. She was the only person I could trust, beside Eden. It was not fair that she was killed in the accident!"
"Accident?" Tony questioned.
Ziva nodded, "Yes. She was killed, in a car accident. Why, did you hear something else?"
"Uh," he found it odd that Ziva had a different story. "No."
"I just wish I had someone like her now." Ziva sighed as she looked out the window. "She gave me advice?" she looked at Tony. "Did you have a friend that you were close to?"
Tony glanced at her, and then the road, "Yeah. Her name was Adriana. She went to the girls' boarding school, and we had a few classes together."
"I said close friend, not your first girlfriend."
"Oh." Tony chuckled. "Yeah. Andrew Darrell. He lived across the street from me. We used to my play in this big tree in my backyard."
"Are you two still close?"
Tony shrugged, "Sorda. He went to UCLA, I went to OSU. It's kinda to keep up. Last I heard he had a wife and two girls."
Ziva nodded, "Good for him."
"I just think that once you trust people, you'll feel a lot better." Tony said.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure." He said.
"You kinda remind me of her. Liat, I mean. Funny, Out-going…"
He smiled, "Well, thanks ninja."
She nodded, "You are a normal man, for once. I mean, just when you think you found someone who seems normal it turns out they're completely insane and you lose their trust I mean if that means I don't want to marry him then-"
Tony slammed on the brakes, "Whoa. He asked you to marry him?" Just when he thought he could just get a compliment and go.
"Yes, well, sort of."
"What do you mean?"
"He gave me an empty box. He said it was a promise."
"An empty promise?" Tony tried.
"Probably." Ziva muttered.
"Well, what did you say?"
"I said that it was too soon. We've only known each other a few weeks. And I am not even sure if…I do not know if he is my soul mate or not. I would step into something permanent as marrying someone without telling you first, I mean," she made a motion to her belly with was hidden under her dress. "This is your child too. Your life."
"Soul mate?" Tony asked.
"The person you are destined for?" Ziva said.
"I know what it is, but, I mean, why are thinking about soul mates?"
Ziva shrugged, "You never know…You may be with the one."
Tony sighed, "And sometimes you're just with the person you just push around while you ignore the actual one."
Ziva gave a 'huh' before nodding, "I think I actually understand what you mean in that complicated form of a metaphor."
He chuckled as he hit the gas, "Who knows maybe the one is the person you would have never thought was the one."
If only, if only he would stop using metaphors and use the three simple words he wanted to use to bad.
"Hey! I was wondering where my sweats went." Tony said as Ziva reappeared from her bedroom in his OSU sweats.
Ziva shrugged, "They are comfortable."
"I'm glad." Tony smiled.
She settled herself down on the couch with a book, when he began talking, "I don't think you two were supposed to be together."
"Oh really?"
He nodded, "You two keep breaking up and getting back together. If there was something wrong the first time…And don't you think it's weird that he hasn't like asked to meet me or something. I mean that is my kid too."
"This coming from the man who has had more one night stands than a pornography star?"
Tony chuckled, "I'm just sayin…"
"And what about you and EJ?"
Tony shrugged, "No comment. I literally have no legitimate answer. Besides the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm gonna break up with her."
"Why?"
He shrugged, "She's…not me. I just don't think it'll go anywhere."
"You sound like Jake."
"He reminds me of you."
"Oh?"
"Yes. He pushes until he gets the answer he wants. And is very stubborn. But, he doesn't really know who Gisele Bundchen is though."
"He is four." She said sleepily.
"You'd be surprised what I knew at four."
He expected a witty comeback, but instead got her snoring instead. Even if it annoyed everybody else he was just glad she was okay.
He smiled and spotted a blanket over the side of the couch. He walked over and carefully reached over and pulled the blanket, just as her leg moved and he fell. His lower body was in contact with hers, and his face was centimeters from hers. A moment he was secretly glad for. A thought came into his head: That awkward moment when you get to kiss the girl you love.
Her eyes flew open and met his, "What are you doing?"
"I was gonna put this blanket on you." He explained.
"Oh…Well, you can get off me now."
"Why? This is actually quite comfortable."
"Because that is definitely not your knee."
He chuckled as he stood, but his heart drooped slightly as he missed his one opportunity to do something he longed to do.
She sleepily stood, "Here, let me show you out." She led him towards the door, she stopped in the archway. "I'm sure you want to get back to your bed."
She turned and saw him smiling. "What?" she asked.
He walked up to her, "I just wanna try something."
"What?" she asked right before he took her chin and kissed her.
He kissed her.
Time seemed to stop. All the days seemed to mean nothing. Hell, fireworks exploded. It wasn't a meaningless kiss she had received from Ray or one he had given EJ in the past. This seemed like a true genuine kiss.
And neither wanted it to ever end.
He pulled away slowly and reluctantly, his lips on a millimeter away. He, having a craving for her lips, wasn't going to let this opportunity go.
"What made you do that?" she asked, panting heavily.
He pointed upward, there above them, was Mistletoe.
Of course…
She looked up in curiosity, "I don't know how that got there…"
He grinned, "Gotta love the McKenzie's."
Ziva looked at him admiringly, "Do you have this tingly feeling inside of you?"
He nodded, "I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure I know what it's called."
"What?" she murmured.
"I wanna make a diagnosis of love…Remember that person I was telling you about in the car? The person you never thought was your soul mate? The person that's right in front of you the whole time. You're that person. And I don't need some douche hairstyle to make you love me. Right? Please say right, please I don't wanna seem stu-"
Her answer, the answer he desperately wanted, was her lips back on his. He seemed cautious at first but allowed her to wrap her hands around his neck. His hand gingerly ran over her cheek, he pulled away and watched her eyes twinkle, "I love you."
"I think you said that like twenty times already." She laughed.
"Can you say it back?"
She nodded, "I love you too."
"Yes!" he shouted. "She loves me!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. She tugged on him, "Sh! People are probably still sleeping."
He swooped her up in his arms, "I don't care." He kissed her lips again. "I've been waiting to kiss you forever. I've been waiting to get those words off my chest for the past two months. I love you. I love you! I don't care about any other woman but you. EJ was just…something to help me try and not think about you. But nothing can ever replace you. No matter how many movie quotes she does."
"I don't know what I was thinking about Ray." She told him. "And I am sorry for making you wait so long," she leaned in, "But I've had this craving for something only you can help me get rid of."
"Ice Cream?"
She smirked before he took her lips once more, afraid they might disappear, and they stumbled to her room.
…
As clothes were shed and the gentle love-making that got them in this place in the first place. Appeared the man she fell in love with; that made her laugh and smile, that she often pondered having a life with. Finally appeared in her eyes, and she wondered what took her so long.
She finally let go.
He finally got his girl.
They were finally a family.
Dysfunctional. But still, a family.
Finally.
So this was basically the short verison of what was going to happen if I had kept the long ass chapter before. I don't know where the whole conversation in the car came from but I felt that it fit.
As you might have guessed the next chapter will be a carry-over of this chapter because obviously; EJ is still at Tony's apartment, Ray might die, Eli will probably get Gibbs slapped with an AK-47, and the whole getting back together, duh!
I guess I could have named this chapter 'Finally' because it finally happened. And I mean I wasn't planning on that kiss at the end but I believe that I wrapped that up quite nicely and that they still have bumps to overcome.
Now, don't get me wrong this story is definetly not over yet I still have things I want to write about and make you laugh but all in do-time.
To Sum it up: Ray has been working for Eli to bring his daughter and granddaughter back. EJ (Eh, next chapter and Tony's father). And I know what someone is probably thinking: Bad parenting much? (About Jake's potty mouth). But! But, consequences will be reprimaded next chapter.
So, I guess a lot of stuff is happening next chapter. But alas, reviews are needed for the next entry.
I would like more than ten, to make me feel like you actually enjoyed my hardwork and imagination. Even if it's just a simply 'Good'.
Until next time,
!~Broken Piece~!