Hey guys, sorry that the updates have been a little slack lately. I'm currently studying for two different exams at work so that's been taking up a lot of my time. With my career progressing at work, I've got a lot of exams and things to qualify for to get to where I need to be. I will do my best to commit to my writing when I do get the time, because I still love it and love you guys.

I'm also going to try better to respond to those leaving reviews, because those mean the world to me.

Danni. xo

Chapter Twenty-Six

The next day had gone far too quick. Much like the days before he and his friends had a merry good time, drinking into the late hours before he and Ziva had retired to her room and made drunken love to each other. He really, really could get used to that. Not the drunk part, but absolutely making love to Ziva each day. They had tidied Ziva's home, leaving it like they had arrived. Spotless. They had all gone back to the Mossad base after that.

Tony couldn't help the scary feeling deep in his chest as Ziva drove him, Derek and Sarah back to base. He was leaving in two days. Leaving her home had made that feel so real. Before, he could ignore it because he was having a good time with his friends and being out in the country made him forget it all. Forget that he was about to get on a plane back home and Ziva would be staying.

He tried not to seem too pent up and fiddly as they drove back to base but the odd curious glance from Ziva told him she'd noticed. But that wasn't a conversation they would be having in front of their friends; Tony knows that much. As much as his friends knew about them, he wasn't going to invite them to a front row seat to a conversation that would most likely make him cry.

Ziva had also told him this morning that it looks like Ari would be back in Tel Aviv sometime in the afternoon. That was another thought that was swimming around in his head. He knows Ziva wants to see him herself before Tony is brought to his fate by meeting her brother. The main thing about that Tony cannot stop thinking about is that she will be gone tonight. And with the current thoughts swirling in his mind he knows it's going to be a long day. A very long day.

But it is what it is.

She helps him with his bag to his room because he's still on one crutch. When they are finally alone in his room, one that suddenly feels so dark and mundane compared to the warmth of her family home, words are on his lips. But not quite the ones he wants because she didn't need that conversation before seeing her brother for the first time in years.

"Thank you, I had a really good time these last few days" he says as she places his bag on the bed. He realises then that he needs to start packing all his things. Because he's leaving soon. He dreaded the idea of that task so much because it's another thing that made him leaving feel so real. She must have noticed his sombre mood because she's turning to him, her hands slipping around his waist as she steps into him. Her eyes gentle and concerned, searching his. Because she knows something is up.

"You have been awfully quiet Tony" she starts, her hands soothing up his back as she steps even closer. Her body pressed to his now, she's so close her breath is warm on his lips and he sighs at the feeling of her wrapping around him like that. His hand goes to her hip and his other threads into those beautiful curls of hers to tilt her face up towards him. He loves the way she's shorter than him, so he can stare down at her like this. She's so goddamn beautiful it makes his heart stop.

"I know, but I don't want to talk about it before you go see Ari. I don't want to put that weight on you" he replies honestly. He thought about making a joke and beating around the bush, but he knows she'll pull him up on it and make him be honest anyways.

Her eyes give him an understanding gaze then and she nods before kissing him softly. Because she understands. She knows what's on his mind. She nuzzles her face into her neck, clinging to him. He clings right back, feeling like he's crushing her with the amount of force he uses to pull her against him. But she doesn't seem to mind. He feels the way her hands grip and crush around his shirt. Yeah, she really is on the same wavelength as him on this.

He finds himself letting out a long breath. Because feeling her like this, so desperate and tight around him he knows she's feeling as tender as him about this moment. The impending fate that they need to talk about, he's not the only one holding his breath about it all. She cares just as much, she's just as sad as him about it all. He wants to stand in this spot with her for the rest of his life and never let her go.

The ding of her phone reminds him that they are in the real world and that's not an option. Sadly. He thought she would be the one to pull away at the notification of her phone but she didn't, she stayed rooted to her spot with him. He was the one who eventually pulled away.

"You should check that" he smiled at her, doing his best to look content but he knows his smile probably holds some gloom. She nods at him, her smile as dim as his. Not because she didn't care, the fact she did care so much was the reason behind the sadness.

They part and he suddenly feels so cold without her in his arms. He watches as she pulls her phone out of her pocket and she checks the message. He sees the excitement flicker across her face and he steps a little closer so he can run a hand down her back.

"Ari?" he asks and she's nodding at him again. She is the one that's rather quiet now and he suddenly feels her tremble slightly under his hand at her back. Her eyes are glassy when they settle on his and all he does is pull her back into his arms. She clings to him again. The skin at his neck feels wet from her silent tears and it makes him bury his face in her curls and pull her closer.

"I am sorry" she whispers against him. He smiles at that. Because she never has to be sorry for showing him her inner emotions.

"Don't be. Ever" he mumbles back. His hand starts rubbing reassuring motions down her back.

"This all feels like so much at once. You leaving, Ari coming home" she says and a light chuckle slips from her lips "It is silly really" she adds. He pulls back slightly so he can bring a hand to her jaw, lifting her eyes to his.

"I think it's pretty rational actually" he tells her and she smiles a bit at that. Because he reminds her this is all normal and that everything happening right now was a lot. It was emotional. He runs his thumb across her cheeks, wiping away her tears. He doesn't know if it makes her look happier or ready to cry again, but when another tear slips, he guesses it's the latter.

He catches that tear with his thumb and he kisses her. Kisses her with a lump in his throat and tears burning the back of his own eyes. He has no doubt in this moment if he loves her or not.

"You go see your brother; I have that appointment with the doctor to get to anyways" he says instead of what he really wants to. Because like before, he doesn't want to lump that on her before she sees her brother. When he tells her, he wants to be able to hold her in his arms and not let go until the next day. Her watery smile tells him that she was thankful for him stepping up and trying to get her moving. He thinks if he doesn't push her to leave, she probably won't.

Would she really stand up her brother that she hasn't seen in god knows how long for him? Not on his watch. As much as he'd love that, he needs to make her get her tush moving.

He kisses her softly before stepping back and straightening out her clothes with his hands, taming her hair with his fingers until it sits right. Now she looks presentable. Now she looks… "Beautiful" he whispers, staring down at her like she's the eighth wonder of the world.

She kisses him again at that, this time lingering for a long time there. He chuckles against her because they really cannot keep their hands off each other. And not just because of sex, no, this was real intimacy.

"Don't rush home, you enjoy your time with Ari" he states. His heart tightens at his own comment. His apartment wasn't her home, but his arms were. She nods again and he wonders if she's becoming mute with all this emotion. She settles for one last heavy kiss on him before taking a deep breath to settle herself.

"I will be home later" she says with a smile, this one lighting her eyes and holding the happiness she has for returning to his arms that evening. With that she's slipping out his door and he's left alone.

It doesn't take long before the weight builds back on his shoulders but he ignores it as he attempts to pack most of his things. He figures he's going to be holding a weight on his shoulders for a long time to come, because it won't disappear until one of them makes a sacrifice and moves permanently to the others homeland.

Five years. Five years since she has seen her brother. She had replied to him and was set to meet him at their favourite restaurant. The one they always had gone to together whenever they crossed paths in Tel Aviv. She was now parked up just down the street from the restaurant and she was trying to keep herself together.

Her emotions had been all over the show today. Because Tony was leaving and Ari had returned. It was all so much for her to balance at once. Since being with Tony, she had found her emotional armour had cracked more and more. She was not the emotionless soldier now, because he'd made her realise, she didn't have to be. She didn't have to hide it all from the world. Other people might judge her and think of her as weak, but it suddenly didn't seem to bother her so much because she knows Tony will never see her as weak. Only stronger.

And after all these years, one man seeing her like that made nothing else matter. Not when she loved him like she did.

She took a deep breath and smiled. Tony had made her a better person and she wondered if Ari would notice after all these years. She wonders if her brother will like the change in her. She has no doubt he will. She cannot wait to see him.

She gets out of her car and makes her way over to where her brother is most likely waiting for her. She doesn't have to get too close before she sees him. She would spot her brother from a mile away. He's standing outside the restaurant and it doesn't take him long to feel her presence, he turns to her and a massive smile is on his face.

She cannot help herself when she all but runs over to him and crashes into his arms. His arms are strong like she remembered and she feels that relief of familiar love warm over her. She'd missed her brother so much. When the embrace pulls apart, she's beaming with a smile, his one matching hers.

"You look old" she smirks at him and a chuckle vibrates through him. She'd forgotten how much she loved his laugh.

"You look peaceful" he returned and her cheeks warmed. Because he'd noticed immediately. Of course he had.

"It has been a long time Akhy" she reminds him. That it has, far too long indeed.

"Hmm, the girl I left behind is not the same woman you have become" he said smiling down at her. He kisses her softly on both cheeks, greeting her again.

"I have been through a lot since you have been gone" she tells him. She has been to hell and back, but she has also found her promised land in the form of someone who has stolen her heart.

"I look forward to hearing about it" he smiles and puts an arm around her shoulders before walking them into the restaurant. It felt so good to have him back, her brother. The one person that reminded her what family truly felt like.

They talked about a lot over their meal. Briefly work, as much as they could talk about in public. She tells him about what happened with Michael and she sees fire in his eyes. He apologises for not being there for her. She tells him not to blame himself. She talks about the fact Michael was no longer around anymore as he'd been killed. She finds herself being relieved when she explained that.

She talks about their father, how she no longer wants to serve his every demand. She tells him that she no longer wishes to be a part of Eli's life. It's all a lot for him to take in she knows that, but his eyes are light with the information. He tells her she's always deserved better than that. Her heart tightens at his words, because that's something Tony had said too. Then she tells him she wants to leave Mossad.

Her eyes well up, because when he asks more about that thought, she knows there's one thing left to discuss. One person.

"I have learnt a lot over the last few months. We had this investigation where we worked alongside some Americans. The investigation closed this week. However, the main part of why this is important is I have been seeing one of those Americans" she tells him. She feels her cheeks grow warm as she tells him. She has spoken with Ari about her flings in the past, but something was different when she spoke about Tony. He wasn't just a fling. She watches the way her brother's face pulls with a smile and he leans back in his chair.

"Ahh, I see what has brought the peace to your eyes baby sister" he says as his smile grows larger.

"He has made me realise that I deserve more from my life then what Mossad and Eli can give me. He does not know I want to leave yet as this is a decision I need to make on my own. I cannot explain the way he makes me feel Ari" she tells him. The thought of leaving Mossad has always peppered in the back of her mind but she had never had a good enough reason to leave. Now she does.

"Love Ziva, that is clearly how he makes you feel. I could see it the moment I saw you in the street" he leans forward, reaching across the table to gather her hand in his larger one. She had missed him so, so much. "The love he shares with you, it makes you gentle. You remind me a lot of Rivka with that lightness in your heart" he adds, squeezing her hand.

Those words, they made her tear up. Tony had also told her she held her mother's love and she wasn't the fighter like her father. Hearing similar words from someone who knew her mother, broke her down. She tried to sniff back the tears but she felt one break through her defences and run down her cheek.

"I missed you" she chokes out. Because she had. She needs this. Ari telling her those exact words settled her on her decision. She would leave Mossad; of that she was sure now. She loved her mother so much; she was the kindest person Ziva had ever known. If Ari thought he could see her mother in her, it meant she was on the right track in life. Happiness was in sight. Ari squeezes her hand again.

"I missed you too, so much" his words soft. Loving. She swore she could see his eyes go glassy; she had never seen her brother cry. Not once. It was so good to have him back.

"So, what is his name and do I get to meet him?" Ari asked when the air started getting too heavy. He chuckled lightly when he asked and she knew he was close to crying, but he was trying his damn hardest not too. She chuckled back and wiped at the tears on her face.

"His name is Tony and yes, if you behave you can meet him" she clucked her tongue at him. Ari had scared many boys away from her when they had been younger, he was always quite protective of her and Tali. Bless his soul.

"I have to do my brotherly duty and make sure he is up to standard" he raises his hands, in defence. She smiles and rolls her eyes at him.

"No funny business" she warned, chuckling at the mischievous glint in his eyes. She couldn't help but think for a moment that her brother and Tony were a lot alike in a many ways. The cheeky side, the big hearts. Ari may joke about doing his brotherly 'test' but she has no doubt the two of them were going to get along well.

"By the looks of it, funny business will not be needed. He has passed half the test already, I can tell he treats you well by the light in your eyes and the smile on your face" Ari said, suddenly going deep and emotional on her again. She hadn't expected it, she'd expected another joke. His words, had meant more than he would ever know.

Her brother liking Tony felt like one of the most important steps in her advancing life from this point. As it seems, they were halfway there already.

Akhy – My brother.