Chapter 3
A Roman Holiday
~~Rome, Italy on November 2000~~
Tony sat back from the table outside the Italian ristorante, breathing in a whiff of the Rome air, looking at his father across the table, taking a bite of his pasta. "Well, this is nice. Day out with just you and me, eating some traditional Italian food." He pointed to his food with his fork and nodded. "Much better than the restaurants back home."
Anthony, Senior looked up from his food and smiled. "I miss this area, sometimes. That's why I come out here every so often. When my business brings me here."
Tony scoffed. "Dad, you're always going off on your business jaunts." He shook his head. "At least, now, we get to spend time together, father and son, right?" He tilted his head toward his father and smiled.
"Right, but this time I'm serious, I want to spend some time with you, son." Senior smiled back at Tony. He hated hurting his son's feelings by not being there all the time when he was growing up; he was putting up an effort to make up for some lost time. But it hadn't been easy, not since he had lost his wife and Tony's mother years prior.
Tony nodded as he took another bite of his food. "It's nice just to forget our worries for a week and just spend some time together and talk about things. The movies. The funny things that happened during my training. You know, stuff like that."
"Well, sure. Beats being lonely in that house, I can say that much." Senior raised his hand in the air and looked around him. "The fresh air, the people walking around. Better than staring at the four walls back there."
Tony laughed. "What about just going out to see all of the old Roman Empire buildings? Think about how their lives compared to ours. Especially with all those narrow streets we got today. They could maybe get around easier back then."
Senior laughed. "Tell that to our ancestors. Rome was a bustling place, even back then. People from all over traveling to see the sights."
"Spare me the history," Tony held up a hand. "Gotta admit, though, they sure know how to cook good food. This lasagna, out of the world."
Senior smiled. "I come here for the chicken parmesan, myself. Not many places can get this good. Always imitated, never duplicated." He looked down and cut a piece of chicken and brought it and some pasta up to his mouth.
"Oh, don't discount the Italians in New York. They can cook up some pretty good food there." Tony chuckled. "But, you're right, right here's where you get the O.G., the real deal."
Senior looked up at Tony and blinked. "'O.G.'? What's that?"
Tony smiled. "Original Gangsta. It's a term I hear so often in my police work. Just means someone who's been there from the beginning, who's started from scratch."
"Ah." Senior nodded and took another bite of his chicken parmesan. "So, tell me, how've you been doing with your job? Catching all those bad guys out there?"
"Yeah. Just not walking the beat anymore." Tony smiled. "I'm working for Homicide, now."
Senior sat back, surprise on his face. "Really, now? When'd you get promoted?"
"Not too long ago. I just solved my first homicide case, that's why I got this vacation. Was a real doozy, too." Tony sat back and stretched his legs.
Senior raised an eyebrow. "Do tell. What'd the guy do?"
Tony laughed. "Can't say much, except this guy had been on the run for a long time. We found the perp hiding in some dump out in the Bronx. Investigation's ongoing, because he's been linked to other stuff in the city as well. Robberies and stuff."
"Huh. Well, with the justice system out there, who could expect a speedy trial these days? Overloaded courts, you know." Senior shrugged. "I read the news from time to time, don't forget." He jabbed his fork in the last bit of chicken and put it in his mouth.
"Dad, how can you expect the courts to keep up with the sheer number of crimes that happen in Baltimore, much less New York City? They're working their way through the cases as fast as possible." Tony shrugged. "Anyway, it's out of my hands now. Just gotta show up at court every so often to present my evidence as to how I found the guy."
Senior sighed, realizing that Tony was not going to be more forthcoming about the recent homicide case. He chalked it up to not wanting to possibly harm the case against the suspect in his homicide case, so he changed the subject. "I'm sure it's a nice change of pace, coming out here on your vacation, in this country. A bit slower, wouldn't you say?"
Tony chuckled as he took a bite of his lasagna and mopped up some sauce with his garlic bread. "You can say that again. Nice to just relax away from the rat race every so often."
Just then, Senior's phone rang. "Just a second." He held up his hand and reached into his jacket for his phone as he muttered to himself, "I wonder who could be calling me at this time."
Tony sighed and shook his head. Not again, he thought to himself as he shoved the sauce-laden garlic bread into his mouth.
"Hello?" Senior answered his phone, then listened for a moment. "Oh, really?" His face widened in happy surprise.
Tony leaned across the tabled and said in a lowered voice, "What's up now?"
Senior held up a hand. "I think I got a good deal, now. This new investment opportunity." He turned back to the phone. "When? Now? Okay... okay, I'll be there." He nodded to the phone, then muttered his goodbye as he hung up.
"Oh, great." Tony scoffed and tossed his napkin onto the table beside his plate. "Now what?"
Senior held up his hands after putting the phone back into his jacket pocket and said, "Son, it's going to be okay. It's gonna work out. This one's a perfect opportunity to make money, can't miss out."
Tony pushed himself back from the table. "I guess you'll be wanting to head home to get your stuff and then head out to the airport? Good thing we were just about done eating, anyway."
Senior shot a pained smile to Tony. "If you wouldn't mind?"
Tony sighed. "Fine, at least we did get to spend a little time together. Just wished it was the whole week I'm here."
Senior reached across the table and patted Tony on his hand. "I know, son. I'm sorry, but I'll make it up next time."
"Alright, let's go, Dad." Tony got up from his chair, tossing some money on the table. Senior followed suit and the both of them walked to the car.
When they eventually arrived at the airport, Senior and Tony made their way to the gate that Senior was flying out of. After making their way deep into the terminal complex of the Rome airport, they finally arrived at Senior's gate. Senior turned to Tony and said, "Well, this is it." He smiled at Tony and said, "I'll call you when I get there."
Tony pulled his father in for a hug and said, "You take care, and I'll look forward to your call. Just so I know you're safe."
Senior returned the hug and nodded. "Alright. Shouldn't be too long. I'll be back before you know it," he said as he stepped back from the hug and smiled at Tony.
"Fly safe," Tony said, before waving and walking off a few steps to watch Senior turn and walk through the jetway to board the plane. He let out a sigh and smiled a wry smile to himself. At least I got to spend a little time with the old man, he thought to himself as he shook his head and turned to walk out of the terminal complex.
As he walked through the airport, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure and his head snapped toward the figure, but he lost sight, so he dashed forward and caught a glimpse again. "That person looks familiar," he said to himself. He had caught sight of the back of the head of a woman that stood out from the crowd to him, and only to him. He quickly made his way through the onrush of people, catching up to the woman. She had met with an airport personnel, and was asking where the taxi cabs were, but was struggling with the staff, trying to make herself understood.
"Can I help?" Tony said, in Italian, as he reached the woman.
"Just a minute!" The woman flashed a quick glance back at Tony and held up a finger, then turned back to the agent and tried again, in her rusty Italian. "Taxi, where? What street exit?"
"I'll be your taxi if you wish," he spoke in Italian to the woman. He looked more closely in her face, then said in English, "You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?"
The woman spun around on her heels and smiled at Tony. "Tony! Is that you? It's me, Ziva."
Tony gasped and smiled broadly at Ziva. "Ziva?! My, how you've grown! You look awesome." He took a step back and looked at her more fully. "What've you been up to?"
"Uhm, ex-cusez?" The staff tried to edge in.
Ziva turned to him. "Just a minute!" She held up a finger, then turned back to Tony. "Oh, I'm here on holiday. Gift from my parents." She smiled at Tony. "Didn't expect to bump into you here."
"Ha, well, I was just dropping off my dad on one of his silly business trips," Tony said, waving his hand vaguely in the direction where Senior had left. He scoffed. "I was meant to spend a week with him, but he takes off on his trips and cuts his vacation with me short."
"Maybe you wouldn't mind making your vacation worth it by showing Rome around to me?" Ziva took a couple steps towards Tony and smiled. "You do know Rome, don't you?"
Tony chuckled. "Of course, my dad and I spend time here often. Lived here for a short while, too."
Ziva raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you did? What's the fastest way to the Coliseum?"
Tony laughed and picked up her baggage. "Allow me to be your taxi for the day, or however long you desire." He turned and walked in the direction where his car was parked.
Ziva quickly fell in step with Tony and looked at him as she walked alongside him. "What have you been up to?"
"Homicide department," Tony said automatically. He turned to Ziva and smiled. "Just closed a big case right before I came here for vacation."
Ziva's eyebrows went wide. "Wow, must have been big enough to rate a vacation."
Tony laughed. "I found this guy that had been on the run so long they thought he was dead. He was hiding in some rat hole in the Bronx."
Ziva shivered at the thought. "Why would someone be living in a mouse hole with all the mice and rats of the city?"
Tony looked at Ziva. "No, a rat hole is a really run-down shell of a building, often abandoned and derelict, lacking even the most basic of maintenance. Basically, right on the edge of falling down into the ground, almost." He held up a circled thumb and forefinger, emphasizing the fragility of some of the slum buildings.
Ziva's eyes registered understanding. "Ah. Similar to some of the homes of the poor in our country." She continued to walk alongside Tony until they reached his car.
As soon as Tony finished loading up Ziva's things in the back seat, he quickly ran around to open the passenger door for Ziva. "Step into my taxi, my little friend," Tony said as he smiled at Ziva.
"Why, thank you," Ziva said, chuckling at Tony. "Better than trying to get that thick headed person in there to understand a simple question of, 'where's the taxi cab?' so I can head out to my resort."
Tony chuckled as he got behind the wheel and closed the door. Once he had gotten himself situated in the car, he looked over at Ziva. "Now, where would you like to go first? The Coliseum first, maybe?"
Ziva chuckled. "We could swing past it, then head on up to my resort." The smile quickly faded from her face as she looked back at Tony. "You wouldn't mind driving some distance away from the city?"
Tony turned to Ziva and said, "Hey, it's not a problem. Wherever you need to go, it's not out of my way."
Ziva smiled at Tony. "Let's go sightseeing a bit, then maybe a bite to eat."
"Sounds good," Tony said, smiling. He put the car in gear and drove off.
Eventually, after Tony and Ziva had driven by the different sites such as the Basilica, the Coliseum, and the Vatican, they ended up in front of a small family-run restaurant.
"Dinner, sir and madam?" the waitress ushered the two to a window table where they could watch the traffic flowing by.
Ziva looked out the window. "Weather's starting to change," she said, pointing out the window with a vague motion.
Tony followed her gaze out the window. He could see the clouds starting to form. "Might be an afternoon storm," he said, smiling. "Pretty common this time of the year here."
Ziva nodded. She continued looking out the window, gazing intently, then looked around the restaurant slowly, before looking at Tony. "Nice, quiet location. You come here often?"
Tony smiled and nodded. "Yeah, me and the old man come out here and eat from time to time. It's in the family." He tilted his head and looked at Ziva. "You expecting someone?"
Ziva quickly shook her head. Her lips moved slightly as she said, "No. Just making sure my Abba respects my wishes to not be followed around by his bodyguards all the time." She looked Tony in his eyes and continued talking. "Needed some space to think about things." She suddenly flashed a smile. "But you're here, in front of me."
Tony let out a small chuckle. "Well, it's hard to believe that you're here as well, and I feel like I gotta pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming." Tony reached up and scratched the back of his head.
The waitress came by the table, causing Tony and Ziva to look up. "Your orders?" She held up a pen and paper at the ready.
Ziva nodded at Tony with a smile, as she browsed the menu, quickly finding her choice. She then looked up at Tony then at the waitress, smiling. She said, "I'd like to have the chicken Parmesan, and a side of the house salad, with ranch dressing, please?" Ziva closed the menu and smiled at the waitress, before returning her gaze to Tony.
Tony cleared his throat slightly as he looked up at the waitress. "I think I'll have the chicken Alfredo noodles. Some house salad on the side, also, with some Italian dressing."
The waitress bowed at them. "Excellent choices. I'll bring out the rolls and the drinks." She quickly stepped away to fill their order.
Suddenly, the sky outside the window opened up and a sudden deluge poured down onto the city. "Oh! Look out there!" Ziva exclaimed.
Tony chuckled. "Yeah. Won't last too long, though, I don't think. Maybe an hour, tops."
"Long enough for us to enjoy our meal, then." Ziva turned and smiled at Tony.
Eventually, after Tony and Ziva had finished their meal, they drove through the freshly-soaked streets until they made their way outside the city, about a half hour's distance, before reaching a gated property near a hilltop. When Tony pulled up to the gate, he noticed an intercom box next to the gate, so he pulled up to it and rolled down the window and pressed the call button and waited.
"State your business," a raspy, metallic voice echoed out of the intercom.
Before Tony could respond, Ziva put a hand on his lap and leaned over toward the window and called out in Hebrew, "Ziva David for my vacation. Abba sent me."
The box rasped back at them, "One moment."
Tony looked back at Ziva. "Guards?"
Ziva glanced at Tony. "Yes. Abba owns this place."
Tony's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, nice. Looks fancy." He gazed past the gates out onto the large resort peeking out from behind the trees.
"You may proceed. You're late," the box rasped back in Hebrew.
"Shalom," Ziva replied back. She turned to Tony. "Drive on up through there," she said, pointing to the gates, which were opening by remote command.
Tony let out a low whistle, raising an eyebrow. "Impressive," he said as he put the car in gear and drove down the driveway.
As Tony parked front of the house, the staff came toward Tony as soon as he got out of the car. "Your keys, sir?" the staff said, holding out his hand.
Tony looked at Ziva, an eyebrow raised, as he held his keys up. His eyes said, you sure?
Ziva gave him that look. "Yes, it'll be fine." Her eyes said, give him the keys.
Tony smiled as he nodded to Ziva. "Here you go, sir," he said as he gave the valet his keys. He got out of the car, then ran around to open the door for Ziva, waiting for her to get out of the car. The valet set Ziva's things on the ground next to them as they unloaded her things from the back seat. Tony turned to Ziva and smiled as he picked up Ziva's suitcases. "Lead the way," he said.
Ziva smiled and said, "Follow me." Her finger wagged in a "come with me" motion to Tony. They entered the house, and found themselves in a very spacious living room.
No sooner than Tony had set down the bags, one of the security agents came into the living room. "Ziva?"
Ziva turned around to face the agent. "Yeah?"
"Who's this person you brought with you?" The agent asked in Hebrew as he gave Tony a close look-over.
Ziva smiled. "This is my best friend, Tony. I've not seen him for years." Ziva raised her eyebrow, smiling dismissively at the agent.
The agent chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "Not a problem. Just to let you know that most of the staff are getting off. The usual night guard roster will be here. Let us know if you need anything."
Tony looked around the expansive living room, in awe with the décor, taking in the tapestries that hung down the walls of the great room as he took a few steps further into the room toward the center. He turned to look at the couch, where Ziva had taken a seat. "Got a nice place here." He smiled as he took a couple steps toward Ziva.
"Thank you," Ziva said, smiling. She reached out and patted the couch next to her. "Come, sit next to me."
Tony walked up to Ziva and sat on the couch next to her. He turned to face her and said, "Wow. You've come a long way from, what was it, five years ago?"
Ziva nodded, her hair falling forward a bit, causing her to have to brush her hair away from her face. "Yeah, five years ago. The city that never goes to sleep."
Tony chuckled. "Never sleeps. The city that never sleeps."
Ziva shot him a look. "I've not forgotten you since that day. Or the city." A smile formed on her lips as she reeled off the places she had visited. "That pizza joint. Does that place that served that enormous ice cream bowl still exist?"
Tony chuckled. "Still standing in the same location. Prices have gone up on the Empire State Building experience, though."
Ziva's face turned to that of slight disappointment about the price hike. "Oh, well, at least we got to go enjoy it that day. Best memory of that day."
"Throwing your bodyguards off every chance you got, too," Tony said, chuckling to Ziva.
Ziva batted Tony on his lap. "I know, right? They were so annoying, being all up in my business." But she held up a hand, forestalling Tony. "But, over time, I came to understand that it was all about Abba, and what he did -" She shook her head, correcting herself. "Does. For a living."
Tony sat up straighter, suddenly curious. "What's he do for a living, anyway? All I remember was he was some sort of important figure."
Ziva nodded. "He is. That's why there's a protection detail on him and his family." Ziva sighed and shook her head slightly. "I've come to accept it, anyway. No bullies in school, at least." Ziva flashed a smile to Tony.
Tony laughed. "Any of them that even breathes funny takes one look at your bodyguards and their minds get changed immediately."
Ziva chuckled. "That's about the sum of it."
"So, you're here on vacation, on your own? You said it was a gift?" Tony said, looking at Ziva with curiosity on his face.
Ziva smiled and nodded. "I did well in my studies, so I was rewarded for my eighteenth birthday, which is coming up tomorrow."
"Oh, wow!" Tony's lips widened in a smile. "I didn't realize it was already your birthday. It's been a long time. Time just flew, I guess." Tony smiled at Ziva.
Ziva nodded, and her smile faded. "I wasn't sure where I wanted to go on vacation, and finally decided on here, in Rome. Before I went away."
Tony blinked at Ziva, taken aback. "Away, where? Not like Ari?"
"No-o-o!" Ziva put a hand on Tony's arm. "I'm entering the IDF. The Israeli Defense Force. I'll be doing my two years with them, then after that, I'm not sure what." She shrugged and held her hands up briefly before putting them back down on her lap.
Tony sat back, deflating slightly. "Oh, that doesn't sound so bad. This IDF thing, what's that like, the army equivalent for Israel?"
Ziva flopped a hand back and forth. "Sort of. They also have an air force component, and a naval component. It's all under one umbrella of Israeli Defense Forces."
"Ah, and you and every other able-bodied person get to serve their two years minimum with them," Tony said. "In the States, it's all-volunteer military. They stopped the draft back in the eighties or so, if I remember right."
Ziva nodded. "Correct. Our country is so small, that we have to do this in order to defend our country. I'm sure that time will go by pretty quick." Ziva had wanted to maintain a positive attitude about the whole thing, despite her internal fears of the unknown.
"Well, that makes sense. Especially with the region as volatile as it is, you gotta protect your best interests of your people." Tony smiled at Ziva. "Me, I'm kinda the same way, except on a much smaller scale. I think on a city scale, you think on a country scale."
Ziva tilted her head to the side and considered that. "Oh, right, because you work for the police force, and I'm going to defend my country." She sighed to herself. "I'm just unsure about the unknowns in the future for me." Her eyes told Tony a lot more that lay underneath.
Tony had seen the look in Ziva's eyes, the fear that lay underneath about the uncertainties that lay before her. He had his own uncertainties about the future as well, but they were more on a different level. "Hey. I'm sure it'll all work out. Who knows, maybe you'll make a name for yourself in the service."
"But what if I have?" Ziva whispered to herself. She shook her head slightly. "Well, I'm hopeful that my Abba will be proud of what I do in service of my country," she said, louder this time, for Tony to hear.
"Well, I'm sure he will be." Tony smiled at Ziva. "He's got to be proud of you already. Look at this. This is such a nice setup that your Abba has." He held out his hands, looking around the living room.
Ziva smiled and got up from the couch. "Would you like the mini-tour, or the grand tour?"
Tony chuckled. "Grand tour sounds nicer." He stepped closer to Ziva, but he held back slightly because he was still unsure about how she felt about him at this time. He didn't want to repeat some of what he had gone through previously in his former relationships, which had more or less crashed and burned due to the toll his job took on the relationships.
Ziva reached out and took Tony's hand and led him around the resort. Her touch immediately calmed Tony, and he went with the flow, taking in the sights, murmuring appreciative comments about the rooms, the artwork, the architecture of the resort.
Eventually, after the guided tour Ziva gave him, she turned to him and pulled him closer to her, but not quite to the point of hugging yet. "Every time I see you, something lights up in my heart," Ziva said quietly, smiling at Tony.
Tony chuckled. "I'm still in awe with how much you've grown over the years. And how mature you are for your age." He shook his head. "You're... different."
Ziva tilted her head at him. "Different, how?"
Tony shrugged and smiled. "You still have that personality that says 'never give up' about you. Even to this day, when you were laying into that guy at the airport about the taxi cabs." He held up his hand. "I've always liked that about you. Don't change it for anybody."
Ziva smiled. "I'm sure the IDF will make me a stronger person." She turned to Tony. "What about you? How have you been?"
Tony smiled. "Just made Homicide. I got done with my training, got on the force, like you know. But, just not too long ago, like I said, I cracked a big case and found the guy they were looking for. Next thing you know, I'm being called in front of the chief and being asked if I would like to work Homicide." Tony snapped his fingers. "Just like that."
Ziva's eyebrows raised full mast. "Working long hours?" She had this mental image of an overworked detective looking through reams and reams of paperwork trying to find that one little crumb of clue that would crack the case. "Going through all those old case files and such?"
Tony shrugged. "All about talking with the right people, finding out more information. I still have a couple of contacts in low places," he said, wagging his eyebrows conspiratorially.
Ziva let out a chuckle. "So you have spies working for you, then." She folded her arms in front of her chest.
Tony laughed. "Not really. These people are trying to avoid a serious charge, so they'll cop to a lesser crime in exchange for giving out more intel to the police."
Ziva smiled. "We do things somewhat differently in Israel. We don't make deals with terrorists," she said, fixing Tony with a serious look.
Tony stood back and looked at Ziva appreciatively. "You don't mess around, do you."
"I see the security forces out all the time. There has not been one hijacking on our airline for over thirty years now. The terrorists know better than to try El Al." Ziva smiled at Tony.
"Awesome." Tony looked at Ziva. "So, after? What are your plans?"
Ziva shrugged and held her hands up in the air. "I'm not sure. All I know is, serve in the IDF, and things will fall into place afterwards."
Tony shook his head. "No, I mean, any plans for a guy in the future?"
Ziva shook her head. "One thing at a time. I'm sure my soulmate is out there, waiting. One day." She put a hand on Tony's cheek and smiled.
Tony reached his hand up and laid it over Ziva's hand. He smiled back at Ziva, still a little bit unsure of her intentions, but not resisting this time. "Yeah, I'm sure the same'll happen to me, too." He scoffed a bit, then continued. "Maybe the right woman'll show up and be my soulmate."
Ziva stepped away and walked toward a window and looked out at the courtyard outside the window, thinking to herself for a bit. She looked at the reflection of Tony, and asked, "So, you've had girlfriends in the past?"
Tony sighed as he looked at Ziva's figure standing next to the window. He walked up next to her and looked out the window as he said, "No. Well, yes, I've dated a few, but they don't seem to work out." He flung his hands in the air a bit. "Don't know what their problems are."
Ziva turned to Tony, a smile on her face. "Maybe I could help you figure that out?" She stepped closer to Tony.
Tony chuckled as he took a very tiny step back, looking at Ziva. "Maybe I don't need any help, because the others all had problems of their own. I don't know why, but it seems like I can talk and say anything with you and it just works."
Ziva shot a look at Tony and smirked slightly. "Three times we've met already. What's that all about? Fate?"
Tony shrugged. "Maybe more like destiny." He stepped closer to Ziva and put his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe we're meant to meet each other in occasion, for a reason. Maybe it's something that we are meant to learn together, over a long time."
Ziva grabbed Tony and hugged him tight, tears flowing from her eyes. She held on tight, not wanting to let go of Tony.
Tony stood, taken aback, for a couple of seconds, his mind still trying to catch up with what had just happened. He then put his arms around Ziva and pulled her toward him, and hugged her close. "Hey, it'll be okay. Everything'll work out, I promise," Tony whispered into her ear as he hugged her.
Ziva nodded into his shoulder. "I just don't want to not go through life and not find a soulmate, you know?"
Tony reached up and stroked her hair back. "Hey, keep your hopes up. One day at a time, right?" He pulled his head back and held Ziva where he could look her in her face, then reached up to wipe her tears away. "Whenever you think of anything that you're not sure about, anything you have a doubt about, think about your favorite person there with you."
Ziva smiled at Tony, reaching up to wipe more tears away, then hugging Tony again, and kissing him on his cheek. "Thank you for being my best friend," she whispered into his ear.
"Always an honor to be your best friend over all these years," Tony murmured into her ear as he hugged her.
Ziva stepped back from Tony and nodded. "All these years, and we've never lost sight of each other, have we? I've thought about you often over the years." She leaned over and took her tennis shoes off. "Oh, yes, finally, out of these shoes." She sat down on the couch nearby.
Tony smiled as he sat next to her on the couch. "Every chance I got, I would think about you. The thought of you would keep me going. Like you were saying, 'don't stop, keep going' when I was struggling through some of the cases." He sat back and looked at Ziva.
Ziva noticed Tony looking her up and down as she leaned over to rub her feet. She sat back up after rubbing out the knots in her feet and looked at him. "Like what you're seeing?"
Tony blinked and shook his head slightly. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest, beating rapidly. He averted his stare slightly. "Oh, yeah. Just how you've grown to be a lady almost before I knew it." He smiled at Ziva. Her beauty was undeniable to him. His eyes must have given it away to Ziva.
Ziva batted her eyes. "Maybe you'd like to see my bedroom?"
Tony sat back and smiled a bit nervously. "So direct. Are you sure?" He gulped and rubbed his hands on the sides of his jeans.
Ziva stood up and pulled Tony up off the couch. "It'll be fine," she said. Her eyes beamed messages to Tony. Let's be curious, they said.
Tony chuckled as he went with the flow. "Okay, as you wish." He held on to Ziva's hand as she guided him to the bedroom.
"I want to spend some time with you," Ziva whispered into Tony's ear as she held him close to her right before they entered the bedroom. She stepped back, then opened the door to the bedroom, and beckoned Tony inside.
Tony gulped and smiled as he stepped in and looked around. "Nice little space you have here," he said.
Ziva turned around to him and smiled. "It's not much, but it's home. For the time being that I'm on vacation." She pulled Tony closer to her and planted a kiss, this time full on his lips.
"Mmph!" Tony totally did not expect that move from Ziva. Yet, he didn't resist, but rather, allowed her to kiss her, and returned the kiss, hugging her close to him. After they broke for air, he said, "Wow, did not expect that from you" His face broke out in a smile.
Ziva laughed. "Me either, it just came out." She held a hand to her lips. She looked down at the floor for a moment, then back up to Tony. "I just feel... right with you. Comfortable." She took Tony's hands and held them to her chest. "Out here, age doesn't matter. I just want my best friend to sleep with me this one night. To feel your touch, smell you. So I won't forget you." Ziva smiled as she pulled him even closer to her.
Tony gulped as he smiled at her, slowly stepping toward her. "So you're saying you've never met a guy before?" he breathed the question to her, his heart beating fast.
Ziva shook her head. "No. The men out there never really appealed to me, with the way they talk. You, you're different." She reached up and stroked her hand on Tony's cheek, smiling at him.
Another part of his anatomy was standing at full attention by now, and he was trying his hardest to suppress those thoughts, but was failing miserably. "O-okay, I'll sleep with you," he said, his voice slightly shaky from a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
"Mm." Ziva pulled Tony's shirt off of him, just as the clock struck midnight. She took one of his hands and put it on one of her breasts, massaging it slowly into her breast. "Feel me, touch me," Ziva breathed.
Tony's throat ran dry from excitement as he felt her breast under his hand, and he started to gingerly rub her breasts and abdomen. "Happy birthday," Tony said, smiling at Ziva.
Ziva sighed under Tony's gentle touch and moaned in pleasure. She looked into Tony's face, her eyes wide with excitement. "I've dreamt about us being together - like this - many times." She licked her lips and continued. "I want you to be my first of everything."
"I'll take it slow. Make it special for you," Tony said before he kissed Ziva on her lips, full on, as he embraced her.
"Yes, don't stop." Ziva moaned in pleasure as Tony felt her, as she pulled him into bed with him. They continued exploring the depths of their emotions and love for each other throughout the night.
As soon as the morning sun had risen to the point where it shone through the window, Ziva stirred awake. She turned over and found the bed empty. "Tony?" she called out as she swung her legs out of bed. There was no response, and she shrugged her shoulders. She walked over to the en suite bathroom, grabbing a shirt and pants on the way. She got herself dressed and walked out to the kitchen, finding Tony in there, preparing breakfast.
The housekeeper looked at Ziva and said, "He insisted on cooking breakfast for you, ma'am."
Ziva blinked and smiled at Tony. "I can see that," she said, walking up to Tony. "Good morning. What are you cooking for breakfast?"
Tony turned to look at Ziva and smiled. "Happy birthday, Ziva. Cooking up a nice breakfast for you. Pancakes?" He held up a freshly-done pancake on a spatula.
Ziva smiled and chuckled at Tony. "How sweet of you. Thank you," she said as she walked over to the dining table and waited for breakfast to be served.
Shortly thereafter, Tony came with two plates of breakfast and sat them down on the table as he sat across from Ziva. "Ah, breakfast's served."
Ziva smiled. "What a hearty looking breakfast," she said, looking at her plate of pancakes, eggs, hash browns, and Italian sausages. She noticed the shape of her pancakes, which looked like two hearts laid on the plate smothered with syrup. She looked at him, but said nothing, letting her eyes do all thee talking.
Tony looked up at her and smiled. "Pancakes came out perfect, wouldn't you say?" He picked up his fork and held it over his plate.
Ziva chuckled. "More than perfect. I didn't expect you to cook such a nice breakfast for me."
Tony smiled. "I'd do anything for my little friend," he said, reaching out to hold her hand.
"Hey, now, I'm not so little now." Ziva laughed at Tony.
"Okay, my not-so-little friend," Tony chuckled at Ziva as he took a bite of his hash browns.
"Thank you for making this a special time for me," Ziva said, taking a bite of her pancakes.
Tony smiled and nodded. "Sure makes my vacation even more worth it, in the end. Especially after my dad took off on one of his wild goose chases."
"Aw, that's sad he would do that." Ziva reached out and held Tony's hand. "But at least you have me, for now." She flashed a smile to Tony.
Tony looked at Ziva and smiled. "No regrets about last night?" He took a sip of his coffee.
Ziva smiled and shook her head. "None at all. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Knowing that this might be the last time we see each other, yes, I would."
Tony set his fork down and looked at Ziva across the table. He reached out after a moment and took her hand and said, "Hey, no matter wherever we are in the world, we'll find each other again, eventually. You know what they say, if you let your love go, and they find their way back to you, they're meant for that person."
Ziva nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I just hope we make it through the unknowns out there."
Tony nodded as he rubbed her hand. "I believe it'll all work out for the both of us."
Ziva tilted her head to Tony. "Will we ever know in the future if we'll see each other again?" Her face showed concern, uncertainty, a touch of fear of the unknown.
"Hey, c'mere." Tony sat back and patted his lap, holding his hand out for Ziva. Ziva got up out of her chair and walked around to sit in Tony's lap, sitting astride him, facing him squarely. He held her close to him. "Remember, if you keep your soulmate close to you, you will never forget that person. Draw on that person for your strength, your inspiration." He smiled at her, planting a gentle kiss on her lips.
Ziva smiled and hugged Tony close. "I'll keep my soulmate very close to my heart," she whispered in his ear as she hugged him.
"It'll be alright," Tony whispered back to Ziva as he embraced her.
~~A/N~~
Dear Readers, I just wanted to say, thank you for those awesome Reviews, Tweets, Messages/Kudos in the advance.
P.S. In response to certain reviews, especially from RealBohogal1998, there will be no appearance of Abby in this AU series, at all. In this series, Abby does not exist, at all, in any form or way.