Ziva sighed as the queue moved forwards by one person. It was not an exasperated sigh - though it probably should be, what with the speed that the queue was moving but it wasn't. It was a happy sigh. Happy because there was a point last year (or several points, let's be honest) that she thought that she would never get to do something so mundane ever again. No waiting to get coffee, no selecting of syrups, no perusing the baked goods. None of that. But here she was, queuing up to get just that and she honestly couldn't be happier. She wanted to stop and take it all in. And maybe buy more than one pastry. Hey, Ducky said she had to put on weight. That meant she could get two pastries, right? That's what she was going with.

Anyway, she was hungry. She wanted to eat. Something that she wasn't used to feeling until recently.

Now the big question was, which ones did she get? This place always had so many options and they all looked good. Incredibly good. Oh, was that a croissant? A chocolate filled one? Oh, and there was a blueberry muffin. And a banana one. Why were there so many choices?

"What's your order, ma'am?" The monotone voice of the barista interrupted her thoughts.

Oh. Ziva hadn't realised that she had hit the top of the queue. That definitely wasn't good.

She made her choices with the pastries and gave her order. She was then directed to the side to wait. Wait, wait, wait. That's all she had been doing recently. Wait for psych results. Wait for the team to get back. Wait. Ziva was tired of waiting.

The bell jingled, inducting yet another person had entered. Ziva couldn't help but feel sorry for the baristas, it looked like they weren't getting a break any time soon.

She instinctively glanced up at the person who entered and couldn't help but so a doubletake.

It was Raphael. Raphael with the two girls and who she played Scrabble with. Used to psych play Scrabble with. Why those were the thoughts that went through her head when she saw him, she didn't know. All she knew was that it suddenly felt like she couldn't move.

Her breathing started to get heavy as she felt her panic rising. No. This wasn't anything to panic about. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out.

Oh, why wasn't her coffee ready already? Ziva looked helplessly at the counter and it looked like the barista was doing the order of the person who was in front of her. It was a big one. Because of course it was. There were already six coffees waiting there with two more being prepared. There was no way her order would be ready before Raphael made his.

Deep breaths. Maybe he wouldn't see her. She would just take a few steps back and stay out if his line of sight. It was easy.

Or maybe she shouldn't. Should she approach him? Or was it better to try and ignore him, she remembered what Tony said and she wanted to do it but suddenly her mouth went dry and it felt like her tongue wouldn't work.

Maybe ignoring him would be best. She would try again another time. Unfortunately, that decision was taken out of her hands when Raphael saw her.

"Ziva?" Raphael asked incredulously.

She swallowed heavily and kicked her lips.

"Hello, Raphael."

Why was her voice so raspy and quiet? It didn't sound d like her at all and apparently Raphael thought the same as he frowned at her in confusion.

Wishing she had her necklace to fidget with, Ziva waited for him to say something. Anything. But he didn't. He just stared at her. She didn't think she had ever seen the man stay so still for so long.

"You aren't in Israel."

"No." She coughed and then repeated herself in a more normal tone of voice. "No. I am not."

Is that what they had been told? Or was it just what he assumed? She technically didn't spend a lot of time in Israel before she was in... well, you know.

"You are back here."

"Yes."

He seemed to having a hard time processing all of this. She could relate.

"For good?"

Ziva wasn't exactly sure what he meant by this but she nodded anyway.

"Yes."

"What were you doing? What happened?"

"I had to return to Israel," she replied vaguely. "For work."

"Work," he drew out slowly. "But why-"

The words seemed to die in his throat as he looked at her. It made her feel very self-conscious.

"Sorry, I have been rude," he said quite abruptly. "How are you?"

She gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Fi- good. I am good."

Tony didn't like her using the word fine all the time so she changed it up a bit. Even if it was a lie. Not even a good lie because Raphael didn't even look like je believed her.

"Hmm," he looked her up and down. "Have you been back long?"

Ziva shrugged. Technically yes. A gear, in fact. But did she say that to him? Did she have it in her to explain? She didn't think so. She wouldn't explain or discuss it with people she was very close to never mind Raphael.

"A few months."

"Oh. Have you talked with anyone?"

It sounded like he already knew the answer to that but was just asking anyway.

"No " Ziva shook her head. "I thought it had been too long."

Was everyone even playing Scrabble now? Had people moved on? Were there new people?

"We would have answered a text. Or a call."

Would they have, though? Would they really? Ziva didn't say anything, instead making a noncommittal noise.

Then Raphael said something that she never ever expected to hear.

"Would you like to come to tonight's game?"

He was inviting her to a Scrabble game? Just like he had all those years ago. Had it really been years?

Ziva bit her lip. Could she do this? She looked at Raphael's hopeful face.

"Yes."

AN: And that's it! Wow, I never intended this to be this long! I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed, favourited and followed this story. I've really appreciated all of you!