A/N: After a multi-year hiatus of everything in regards to this show, and pairing, I'm dipping my toe back in the NCIS pool (though still not past season 10; however, I am aware of what's happened regarding Tony and Ziva). I occasionally wrote these two at the height of my fandom, which was years ago, but I'm trying to start "anew" with my writing (and this show in a way), so we'll see how this goes. That being said, I don't know exactly what this is, just that I needed to write it.
Not gonna lie though, I kind of missed these fuckers.
I re-watched 9x24 and this came to me. It begins at the end of The Tell and while it does go AU from there, it also keeps in line with the events leading up to and during Till Death Do Us Part.
Title from Pablo Neruda's In My Sky at Twilight.
Now on with the story.
"You cannot expect a person to keep things bottle inside forever, can you?" Ziva wondered to Tony.
Though their conversation began in reference to Gibbs and his new relationship, it took a detour to Tony and Ziva the moment the question left her lips. And the look Tony gave her in return said he knew as much. He gave her a smile, words alluding him at the moment, then went back to his desk. He attempted to busy himself with paperwork until Ziva finished with hers, but his mind kept going back to her question; Tony knew she wasn't looking for an explicit answer to the question, but he couldn't help think it over. It wasn't lost on him that he'd been holding back when it came to his feelings for Ziva - there was no denying that. He could reasonably assume Ziva was doing the same thing, too, based on their recent interactions. And at this point in his life, and relationship with her, Tony couldn't help but wonder why he continued to shove everything down and ignore the glaringly obvious. When they hid or denied their feelings in the past, it usually made matters worse and left one of them crushed. He knew there were still the shallow, superficial reasons (Rule 12, partners, the team, etc.), but none of that could be used in a real argument in the grand scheme of things. And continuing to use those trivial reasons wasn't going to benefit either of them in the long run. In that moment, Tony decided he had to start letting go of things at some point. He was so tired of pretending and had no more interest in keeping the possibility of a relationship with Ziva purely platonic or hypothetical.
When Tony noticed she was just about finished, he gathered his gear and made his way back toward her desk. "What are you doing tomorrow night?" he asked.
"Nothing," Ziva replied, the statement coming as more of a question.
"Ziva David, would you like to go on a date with me?"
Ziva's smile alone could have been her answer, but she responded all the same. "I would love to, Tony."
"Pick you at seven? Barring any dead bodies, of course."
"Of course. Seven works."
Tony gave his most charming, yet sincere smile in return as Ziva gathered her things. In sync, they walked out of the bullpen that evening, both with a new bounce in their step.
Tony picked Ziva up for their date that next night (slightly shocked they didn't have to reschedule because of a dead naval officer somewhere) and there was no hiding his anxiety. Despite his often cool demeanor, there were still the nerves that came along with picking up your best friend for a first date. But as soon as Ziva opened her door any concerns Tony had fell away. Ziva looked stunning in a blue, long sleeve shift dress, block heel sandals that did everything for her legs, curls falling freely, and a smile on her face that told him he had absolutely nothing to be nervous about.
The two went to a nice restaurant in Georgetown overlooking the Potomac. Though he knew he didn't need to go all out, there was no chance in hell Tony wasn't going to make sure this wasn't one of the nicest dates Ziva had been on. He wanted it to be memorable for her. For them. They deserved a nice first date after everything it took for them to finally get here. From the moment they sat down and as the dinner progressed, there was an ease that came only with two people who knew each other for nearly a decade. No asking about what the other did for a living or what their families were like; none of the typical, awkward first date conversations. Instead, the conversation was light and easy; Ziva scoffed at the more ridiculous movie references Tony made and he regaled her with tales from his college days. There was an underlying current of some apprehension about what this night could mean for their future, but they didn't let it dictate their date. And more than that, they were able to enjoy the evening the way two best friends finally starting to date could.
They finished dinner when Tony asked if she wanted to come back to his apartment and have a drink. Ziva accepted, knowing exactly what that "yes" could potentially lead to. Throughout their dinner and the ride back to Tony's apartment, both could feel something in them and their partnership shift. As they entered Tony's apartment, that shift was becoming even more apparent. They knew exactly what it was and what it was going to lead to. And neither were surprised by it. The two weren't operating under any sort of pretense of where the evening could take them and truthfully, they would have been kidding themselves if they didn't think the night would end with them naked in bed so long as dinner went well. And dinner went as well as they could have hoped.
Tony went through the motions of making coffee while Ziva settled on his couch. She thought she should be nervous about what could be coming, and she was slightly, but it wasn't the overwhelming emotion. And she wasn't overwhelmed about it either. The approaching change in their relationship was a long time coming and one she was ready to accept. Ziva had to make a guess that Tony felt the same way.
He brought her coffee and settled next to her. They set their coffees on the table and in that moment, Tony and Ziva couldn't have been more grateful for the loud looks that had been a part of their partnership since day one. It took one weighted look before Tony's lips were crushing Ziva's. She responded favorably, bringing her hands to his cheeks ensuring his mouth didn't leave hers.
There was an urgency and desire to this kiss that was unlike any other they had. And with that kiss, a weight neither (consciously) knew they'd been carrying had been lifted. They made their way to Tony's bedroom exchanging kisses, shredding clothes, and expressing desires both held onto for far too long.
Both woke up the next morning with smiles on their faces, and when they looked at each other, there was never any doubt. They were feeling sated and truly content. Though they knew the sex would be great (the summer Gibbs left assured them of that), the sexual tension that had been building in the years since made it next level. It was also the lack of awkward "morning after" that cemented they were on the right path; no qualms, worries, or regrets made for an easy morning.
Feeling like she didn't get enough of him last night (and early this morning), Ziva moved her body on top of Tony's and peppered his face with kisses before moving her lips further down his body.
Tony couldn't be more satisfied with his current situation.
It was another hour or so before they finally made their way out of bed. Grateful it was Saturday and they weren't on call, they got dressed and walked to a café a few blocks from Tony's place. Even though it had only been one dinner, one date, one night, there was a new sense of peace that surrounded them as they ate breakfast. It was a peace they'd both been searching for and hoping for for a long time.
The change their relationship took the second Ziva posed her question was one neither had fully anticipated but were appreciative of nonetheless.
The blossoming of their relationship continued after that first date. Over the course of the next month they went out with a certain regularity (or as regular as it gets between two federal agents), but they tried to ensure there was never an expectation. If they got off early enough they would try and go out for dinner, but if not, takeout or a home cooked meal was just as good, if not better. More often that not there was sex, but they didn't stay overnight every night; sometimes there was just the tangle of legs on the couch as they watched a movie or read a book before goodbyes were said. And sometimes they said goodbye at the Navy Yard and didn't speak until saying hello the following morning because spending all day and all night with a person could be too much.
The decision they made to jump into a relationship was one they didn't take lightly but they knew the cost of continuing to beat around the bush came with a price they were no longer willing to pay. While the partners weren't totally oblivious about what could happen if their new relationship potentially went south, they also knew the "what-ifs" weren't going to be what stopped them. Because of that, Tony and Ziva didn't try to put an unnecessary pressure on themselves to define what they were doing, though they were both aware of exactly what it was. And it was good.
There was a flipside and comfort that came with dating your partner and best friend. However close Tony and Ziva were before they started their relationship, there were only continuing to get closer. They understood each other and understood what was needed from each other.
Their new romantic relationship largely unaffected their working relationship. The banter was still there, though the years of unresolved sexual tension that had often fueled it was no longer, but they kept things as professional as they had prior to that first date. They never told their coworkers about the personal change their partnership had undergone, and if they did notice something different, nobody ever said anything. Team Gibbs learned long ago that it was often best to stay out of the inner workings of Tony and Ziva's relationship unless explicitly asked otherwise, and it was an unwritten rule that served everybody well over the years. It wasn't as if Tony and Ziva were purposefully keeping it a secret from them, but they also didn't need the (potentially unwelcome) input that could come with it. Jumping into a relationship after everything they'd gone through was big enough, getting comments from the peanut gallery when everything was still new was something they were looking to avoid. They knew everybody would find out when the time was right, whenever and however that may be.
Tony and Ziva escaped work late one evening to enjoy a quick dinner and a stroll around the Navy Yard while Gibbs and McGee went out to chase a lead. They didn't dare go further than that with Dearing still out there, but they also knew if they didn't get out of the building for a minute, they would lose their minds. It'd been non-stop since they determined Dearing's motives and they simply needed a moment. It was peaceful outside the Yard even if they themselves couldn't fully feel that peace. Both would be glad when the bastard was caught and either dead or in jail.
They took a seat on a bench facing the water and watched as the sun went down. As they sat there in the still of twilight, Tony took the moment to let his thoughts wander. He couldn't help but think that this had been a great handful of weeks, the terrorist they were currently chasing notwithstanding. And though it had only been weeks, it was a nice feeling knowing that his partnership with Ziva had a real potential outside the walls of the NCIS building.
Though Tony felt relatively sure about the direction they had gone in, he couldn't get rid of the thoughts that they could potentially be on a different page. While they could often read each other's minds, there were notable exceptions and Tony couldn't help but wonder if this was one of those times. His heart couldn't feel more full, but maybe Ziva's wasn't in it. Maybe Ziva was having fun but didn't see a future of any sort that wasn't professional and that best friends were all they could do.
As soon as those thoughts entered Tony's mind, he couldn't shake them. The only way he could get back to the good was by voicing the bad. "I don't feel like we need to have this conversation, nor do I want to have it," he began, "but I also don't want to be wrong about this. God I really don't want to be wrong about this. This is going good, right? I'm not imagining how well we've made this "transition" and I'm not the only one glad I finally asked you out?"
"You thought asking this while we are chasing a terrorist was the best idea?" Ziva asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.
All Tony could do was give her a sheepish look in response.
Realizing he was actually having misgivings about their relationship, Ziva put his qualms to rest and responded with the answer he'd been hoping for and was happy to give. "Yes, Tony, it is going very good. I am glad that we are finally…here."
He gave her a megawatt smile and sealed the conversation with a kiss. They vacated their bench, Ziva tucked her hand into the crook of Tony's elbow and slowly made their way back to NCIS. In the midst of all the madness, it was nice to be able to lean on each other for support.
The thought to go without her partner never even crossed her mind. But the idea to take the elevator during an evacuation because of a bomb outside the building is probably one they should have given more thought to. There were probably worse places to be trapped together, a Somali desert comes to mind, but they were still alive, seemingly relatively uninjured, and that's probably all they could ask for at this moment in time. It took them a few minutes to orient themselves before the weight of the situation came crashing down, as it had literally just done moments ago.
"Ziva, are you all right?" Tony worryingly asked as his partner as he gathered to his feet, checking himself over for any injuries.
She took a beat before replying. "Yes, I'm fine. A little sore, but I am fine."
Tony looked over his partner, not disbelieving her, but also knowing she has a different definition of "fine" than others. But it appeared this time she did actually appear to be fine. They were stuck in a metal box, but on the bright side, they had no horrific injuries to worry about. There was some debris in the elevator, but not enough that they couldn't move around. They got to their feet giving both themselves and each other another once over to make sure they really were okay before taking out their cells. In an odd stroke of luck, they both had enough service to connect with the outside world. Tony was able to get McGee on his cell and sent a small prayer that he answered. He relayed their current situation to him and McGee assured him he would make sure people knew and they would get help out. But in the meantime, they made themselves as comfortable as they could.
Tony and Ziva stayed quiet for awhile, neither of them knowing quite what to say. They simply took in the relief that at least they were physically fine and with each other.
Texts continued to be sent to the outside world sending updates on themselves and receiving them as well but there wasn't much else they could do other than sit and wait. So naturally it was Tony who eventually filled the silence.
"Did you really mean what you said a few days ago? About eloping? Or was it simply to make yourself feel better about missing the Autopsy Gremlin's wedding?" Tony asked. He then wondered if maybe he did have a head injury if that was the topic of conversation he decided on while they were stuck in very small box. Though they were now in what could be considered a relationship, and were happy, voluntary talk about marriage seemed like a risky discussion.
Ziva, though surprised he dare ask at a time like this, was not in the least surprised by the question, as if she had been expecting it sooner or later. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before giving him an answer.
"I suppose so," she finally replied. "To me, the wedding is more about the commitment I am making to my partner than what kind of cake we're going to be having. Instead of wasting days arguing over who is going to be invited and where they are going to sit and what kind of food we will serve that will accommodate everybody, I would rather spend those days already married. I know people say it is a chance for everybody to celebrate your love, but I think that can be done in the days and years following."
Ziva regarded Tony who had a thoughtful look on his face as he digested her words. She also realized that they were interrupted the other night before he could voice any sort of opinion on the subject.
"What about you, Tony?" Ziva asked him.
Like his partner a few moments ago, Tony took a moment to consider his answer. He had attempted to do the big wedding with Wendy, and if he was honest with himself, Tony would rather get shot than have to go through that again. The effort they went through to make the "perfect day" they ended up never having is not an experience Tony feels like he needs to have again.
"I agree with you. After having almost gone through with it once, I can't imagine not eloping," Tony replied. "Why waste the time and energy planning a wedding when you could be doing other things?" he asked with a tone in his voice and a smirk on his face.
Ziva immediately knew to which he was referring and promptly rolled her eyes the way he knew she would.
Tony continued on, one last thought on the matter, not realizing that he probably should have kept it just that – a thought. "I mean, elopement is probably the best option between two romantically dysfunctional people anyways."
Tony quickly recognized that he one, probably shouldn't have said that at all, but more importantly, definitely should not have said "between two." That has implications neither are ready to acknowledge. Suddenly the roof became a very exciting place in Tony's eyes.
They lapsed back into pensive silence, their thoughts on the conversation that may have taken their relationship into new territory, whether they would fully acknowledge it or not.
It was a few more hours (that felt like days) before the doors were opened and they were free from both the elevator and the almost suffocating atmosphere that enveloped them. They were greeted by Abby before making their way outside to where Gibbs and Vance were located. They got an update on the team first (apparently McGee didn't realize he was injured when they first spoke and Ducky had a heart attack but was in stable condition, so not the news they were expecting) and found out in the time it took them to be released, Dearing was done. It was all over.
The two partners breathed a sigh of relief they'd been holding since this whole Dearing case started. While not everybody got out unscathed or alive, it actually could have been much worse, and they were grateful it wasn't. Tony and Ziva walked back to their cars neither sure where to go from there, both literally and figuratively; the day had thrown them for a loop they had been wholly unprepared for. They reached Ziva's car first, but Tony stood around not entirely sure what he should be doing. Ziva appeared to feel the same way. The awkwardness that surrounded them after their conversation in the elevator disappeared with their release, but neither really knew what the next steps were.
Ziva spoke up first. "Do you want to get something eat? We can get takeout and go to my place."
Tony quickly agreed. He stopped to pick up Italian and made his way to Ziva's apartment where he was greeted by a freshly showered Ziva and a glass of wine. They ate their dinner in a now mostly comfortable silence with an occasional break talking about what happened to Dearing and what happens next, but they were simply reveling in their luck and health. Even though they spent the entire day stuck next to each other, neither could bare to leave the other. The comfort they could get only from the other was exactly what they needed right now. Tony took a much-needed shower while Ziva cleaned up and locked up her place for the night. Though it was still early evening, exhausted, they went to bed and simply held each other.
Vance gave Team Gibbs a mandatory two weeks off starting immediately. NCIS had been cleared and was still functioning, but their bullpen was hardly operational, and more than that, the team was hardly operational. It would be underselling it to say they were mentally and physically exhausted. Dearing was done, and while crime wouldn't stop, there was no sense in pushing the team beyond their limits; pushing them dangerously close to the point of no return. There were other teams and agents that could pick up what would be the MCRT's cases while they were out.
Given the sudden break and being pushed to their near limits these past couple of weeks (and months and years), Tony and Ziva took the opportunity to get some uninterrupted sleep. Tony woke up first, still tired but not nearly as exhausted, and reached for his phone looking for any updates on his colleagues. With nothing of note (gratefully), he quietly left the bed and went to the kitchen. Once the coffee finished brewing, he made his way to the couch and flipped through the channels on tv. Ziva came out shortly thereafter and met him on the couch with her own cup of coffee in hand. He gave her a kiss on her temple in lieu of a "good morning" and they drank their coffee in relative peace with HGTV on in the background.
"I was thinking we should go see McGee later this afternoon," Tony suggested as they made breakfast together and Ziva eagerly agreed. They knew their friend would be okay, but it was important to them they see that for themselves.
They cleaned up breakfast and Tony want back to his apartment for a few hours to decompress and take some solace in his space. Ziva picked him up that afternoon and they headed to the hospital. They visited with McGee, and Abby, for a couple of hours, both thankful that he was doing well and would be released sometime the following day. They left the hospital hungry and walked to a restaurant a few blocks away.
They made small talk about McGee and during their meal Palmer texted a positive update about Ducky. Both sent a quick thanks to the universe that their beloved ME was doing okay, all things considered. Conversation eventually turned to how their teammates really seemed to be doing and what they would do with their two weeks off, neither having taken two weeks off in their lives. How does one go about their day knowing it won't get interrupted by a dead sailor? That they could simply enjoy their time and see where the day took them was a luxury that was foreign to them.
They finished dinner and unhurriedly walked back to Ziva's car enjoying the spring evening. That for once they were here, both safe, and together was still a surreal feeling that neither had gotten past yet.
It had been just over a week since the bombing and the injured members of the team were either home recuperating or resting in a Florida hospital and the rest were trying to return to whatever sense of normalcy they could find. For Tony and Ziva, the week allowed them to find a new sense of normal.
While Tony and Ziva didn't spend every waking moment with each other, both needed to enjoy their own personal space and the other respected that, they were able to spend more time outside the office than they would have otherwise. And that meant getting to know each other even more than they had as partners over the last seven years. They knew each other's quirks, likes and dislikes, and they knew how to press each other's buttons, but now they were learning about the more personal and private aspects. The things that mattered. And the more shallow, but still equally important things. They knew everything they were learning about each other would help them build a future together.
They filled their time together with different dates – brunch, dinner and a movie, walks in Alexandria and Georgetown, and a few touristy things in DC simply because they had the time and beautiful weather. In addition to the talks, their dates consisted of laughs, good natured barbs thrown at each other, and pure happiness. Plus sex. Lots of very good sex.
One evening took them to the National Harbor at sunset where they simply strolled hand-in-hand. Neither were big on PDA, but hell, sometimes you just need to feel your person next to you as you wandered aimlessly or drop a kiss to her head when she said something that completely threw you for a loop in the best possible way.
They made their way to a bench to take in the sunset along the water. The scene was very reminiscent to that when they had their chat in the middle of the Dearing investigation, and as they sat there, Ziva had an epiphany. Tony was it for her. None of the guys she'd been with before gave her the feeling she got when she was with Tony and she couldn't imagine anybody coming after him. Though he could drive her up the hall (no, wall, she mentally corrected), she would gladly take that over the option of him not being there. And she knew that he felt the same way; going on a suicide mission because he couldn't live without her made that quite clear. Though it'd only been a month of dating, it was clear to her that this is what she wanted her life to be. She wanted a life that included Tony in every way. Dates out, dinners in, and partners both with and without the badge.
"I love you, Tony," Ziva told him leaving no trace of doubt in her voice. She'd never been more certain.
There could have been a murder right next to him and Tony would only have had eyes for Ziva. "I love you, too, Ziva," he said with more sincerity and love than he would have thought possible. They weren't the first time Tony said those "three little words" to someone but saying them to Ziva had never felt more right. The words weren't forced, or said simply in return, they were a long time coming.
He was the first to break their eye contact and it was solely because he only had eyes for her lips now. It took everything in his power to keep that kiss publicly appropriate. Then he realized there didn't need to be any urgency with this kiss; they weren't going anywhere. They exchanged a few more chaste kisses then returned their attention to the setting sun, still hand-in-hand.
As Tony and Ziva sat there on the bench in National Harbor, the partners felt more fulfilled than they thought possible or had even come to expect. Despite everything they'd been through, and however bleak their relationship sometimes seemed, it still led them to right here, this moment. They stayed on the bench for a few more minutes watching the sky turn a beautiful mixture of pink and orange when Tony squeezed her hand and got to his feet. He helped her up and she leaned up to give him another kiss before they made their way back to Ziva's apartment. This would not be one of those nights where Tony said goodbye at her door.
There was a knock on Ziva's door late the following night that pulled her attention from the book she was engrossed in. Knowing there was really only one person who would show up out of the blue, she was unsurprised to see Tony standing at her door. But she was slightly surprised to see him given that he was still showing up out of the blue and she saw him that morning.
"Is everything okay?" Ziva asked in lieu of a greeting, opening the door to let him in.
Tony took the invitation and made his way to the living room. Ziva could feel the nervousness that was radiating off him but knew he didn't need any more prompting. He would speak when he was ready. She took a seat on the couch, looking up at him.
"Do you think we would have begun "this" anytime soon, had in not been for that night in the bullpen?" Tony asked her. It was becoming quite clear that Tony spent his day thinking about them and had a few things on his mind. She should have anticipated it would be something about their relationship that spurred his unanticipated visit, especially after last night's affirmations, but Ziva was still slightly taken aback by the question.
"I do not know," Ziva answered him honestly. "It is possible. I would hope not, but there is no point in thinking about what could have been."
Tony listened to her, agreeing with what she was saying. He then continued on with the thought that brought him to her place. "I know we only just started dating a month ago, but it didn't take me a month to fall in love with you. It didn't take me a month to realize that there was no one else out there I could imagine spending the rest of my life with. You've occupied that spot in my life for a long time now. The only regret I have is that it took me so long to ask you out and there was yet another near-death incident in which we could have died before we could even tell each other "I love you." But I couldn't even call it a regret because at least we did get here. And that's the most important thing to me."
Ziva sat in stunned silence, not expecting this monologue. Tony took a beat and a seat on her coffee table while she processed what he'd just said to her. After her revelation on the bench yesterday and their subsequent admissions to each other, there was absolutely zero room for doubt about how they felt about each other. Though she should have known his thoughts mirrored hers, as they so often had, she didn't expect him to lay those thoughts out so explicitly. Ziva sensed he wasn't done, so she waited with bated breath for him to continue the thought that brought him to her apartment at this hour.
Tony took a deep breath, and then lifted his head so his eyes met hers. "Marry me, Ziva. I'm asking you to marry me. And I know this is a huge, next step. That isn't lost on me. And it's quick. Maybe unnecessarily quick. And I don't want you to think I'm only asking because of the explosion. I mean I am here because of the explosion, but it's not a reaction. It's a kick in the ass. But it's also been seven years after we met. And I don't want to find out what happens if we take another seven years to figure out what happens next.
"I'm not taking what we have lightly. I love you. So much it scares me. I want you in my life, in every possible way. I can't waste anymore time, not with you. Will you marry me?"
Ziva took approximately ten seconds to think about what he'd just proposed to her before giving him a reply. "Okay. Tomorrow?"
"Really?" Tony asked, not fully believing her response.
Ziva nodded her head resolutely. "Yes. I love you, too. It is a leap of faith, yes? I would like to take that leap with you," she said throwing his words back at him from a few months ago. Tony was ever grateful of how things seemed to have a way of working out.
The grin Ziva received in response rivaled the brightness of the sun and next thing she knew Tony's lips were on hers. The urgency that their relationship began with was now replaced with something akin to relief. And love. The love between the newly engaged partners coursed through their veins and was cemented in a kiss.
There had been too many close calls. Too many times where it looked like one agent was going to outlive the other, and not through choice. How often had they stared death in the face when they really should have been looking more closely at the person across from them. But here they were, finally taking control of their feelings and their life outside of NCIS. Both had to admit, it felt great. Settled.
Nine days after the bombing, Tony and Ziva made their way to the Arlington Circuit Court to pick up a marriage license. After presenting the necessary documents, they were able to get their license and make their way a block over to a civil servant for the actual ceremony. There was very little fuss, which is exactly what the pair was wanting, and 15 minutes later, they had the commitment they'd been looking for. Something permanent, as Ziva would put it.
Though the newly married partners decided they didn't need wedding bands, they did want them. It was a visual reminder of a promise to the commitment of their partnership. A piece of jewelry that said I'm here, I'm not going anywhere (unless by an outside force because they were still NCIS agents with somewhat shitty luck after all) and it's you and me against whatever else the world is going to throw at us. They stopped at a jewelry store in downtown DC and picked out a "simple" white gold diamond eternity band, size five, 2 mm thin for her and a white gold band sans diamonds for him. It was a foreign feeling, the weight of the rings on their fingers, but the weight that had been lifted off them the second they put the rings on was so much more.
After getting their rings, Tony took them to one of the nicest hotels in downtown D.C. Unbeknownst to Ziva, he got a room for them for a couple of nights at the Hay-Adams Hotel. While they didn't want to make too much of a fuss about the new status in their relationship, Tony did think they deserved something nice to mark the occasion.
As they lay in bed after a few rounds of excellent newlywed sex, Tony couldn't help but think back to a time where they were in a vaguely similar position shortly after they met. Though he was certainly drawn to Ziva in the beginning, and even more so after their time as Sophie and Jean-Paul, he couldn't have imagined their relationship would move beyond looks and lust. It would have been hard for him back then to even conceive of a scenario that was exactly like this one. That however many years and fights later they'd be wrapped up in each other's arm as newlyweds. He let out a slight self-deprecating, ironic chuckle at the thought. Curiously, Ziva looked up at him without lifting her chin off his chest, the question in her eyes.
A grin and "Sweetcheeks," was all Tony gave her.
Ever on the same wavelength, Ziva gave a kiss to his chest and replied, "Mon petit pois."
"I love you," Tony spoke earnestly, though the love and adoration was clear in his eyes. Ziva knew that despite the act Tony often puts on and the occasional bullshit he spews, he loved hard and cared deeply. For her to be so blatantly on the receiving end of that is something Ziva couldn't imagine she would ever take for granted.
"I love you, too," Ziva replied. For Tony, to be on the receiving end of her declaration is something he would hold close to him every day.
Love and cherish 'till death do them part is a vow neither of them would willingly break.
They spent those two days wrapped up in newlywed bliss, actively ignoring the outside world. Once they checked out it would no longer just be them and their secret, so they took advantage the best they knew how – sex, room service, and the comfort of their own little bubble.
As soon as they left the hotel and made their way back to Tony's apartment, Tony and Ziva knew that while they still had to work out the relatively more boring details that came with getting married, there was one important detail they couldn't put off. How do they go about telling their family they just eloped?
After a lengthy conversation on how to break the news to their teammates, their family, they decided to have them over for dinner. Despite not wanting to make a big deal of their new status, they knew it was a big deal and their family deserved more than a shock when they walked into the bullpen following their "vacation." Springing it on them in the middle of the squad room on their first day back would be disrespectful to everybody. They owed it to their teammates and themselves to celebrate this news with them. And they thought it would be a good way to enjoy a meal together before those chances became increasingly slim when they returned to work in a couple of days.
With everybody having the unexpected time off, their schedules were wide open, which meant dinner was going to be sooner rather than later. They also knew the sooner they told them, the sooner they could stop worry about it. So the day after they checked out and three days after they got married, they were at Ziva's place getting dinner ready. The nerves between the newlyweds was palpable; there was no second guessing their decision, just apprehension. Logically they knew their teammates would be happy for them, and that was all that mattered, but they also knew what they'd done would be a complete shock. Surprise was guaranteed to be their first emotion, rather than happiness. There was some debate about whether or not to take the rings off, as they knew matching wedding bands would not escape the notice of their colleagues, but they could also be a great, and welcome, conversation starter.
The team (minus Ducky and Palmer who were still in Florida) arrived at Ziva's apartment and as they mingled while Ziva served them drinks, they realized it was the first time they'd been together since the explosion. There was a collective sigh of relief as they had that realization.
Once they had drinks in hand and were settled in the living room waiting for dinner to finish, Gibbs wasted no time in acknowledging their new accessories. "You gonna fill us in on your new jewelry?"
Divulging details of his personal life used to be something Tony was professional at so they decided it was him who would tell the family what they'd done. No sense in making Ziva sputter her way through. The married partners shared a quick look and made sure to provide a united front before Tony began. "Ziva and I got married three days ago." There. Short and to the point.
The emotions that played out over their friends faces went from surprise to confusion to cautious happiness back to surprise (there was a possible glint of happiness that could be found in Gibbs' eyes), and they knew they all had about a dozen questions to ask, but no one was sure where to start.
"What?" McGee, wide eyed, succinctly asked.
"Ziva and I were dating, but now we're married," Tony replied. He knew they deserved a bit more detail but he also couldn't help dick McGee around a little. And Ziva knew that based on the eye roll he received from her.
"That is something I may come to regret," Ziva mumbled so only Tony could hear. He gave her a cheeky grin in return. He then turned his attention back to the team to give them the better answer they deserved.
"Ziva and I began dating a while ago and decided to get married a few days ago. Funny thing about dating your best friend – getting up the nerve to ask them out is the hard part. Deciding to marry them is the easiest thing you'll do." If she hadn't already said "I do" Ziva would have taken him down to the courthouse the very next day.
"So you eloped?" Gibbs asked, smirking as he remembered the conversation he overheard just before the bombing. He knew the conversation he walked in on was hardly hypothetical, he just didn't realize they'd go through with it in such short order.
Ziva shrugged her shoulders. "We did not want to wait."
As much as they felt the team was their family, they weren't sure how much of their relationship they wanted to divulge to them. They knew that in the end they would be supportive, but they also weren't sure they wanted with the comments that came with "we started dating in April and got married in May." The rest of the team continued to stare at them, neither one knowing what to ask next.
Tony and Ziva had a conversation that was shared only with a look. Once again, Tony took the lead. "Look, we know you want more information, and maybe in due time we'll be inclined to share. But the most important thing to know right now is that Ziva and I are married and happy."
Accepting that that was all the information they were going to get, Abby broke into a smile and got to her feet to give them the biggest Abby-sized hug they'd ever received. Gibbs and McGee followed suit with congratulations of their own. Though they could tell there was disappointment about not being invited and being kept in the dark about a relationship, that took a back seat to supportive happiness.
The oven timer broke up their reverie, but before Ziva left to finish getting dinner ready, she made one last note about her and Tony's marriage. "Thank you. We are very grateful to be able to share and enjoy this news with you all." Tony gave her hand a quick squeeze and flashed a smile before she took off for the kitchen.
Dinner was enjoyed between the five of them, sharing stories of their time off and genuinely enjoying the company of each other. To be able to share this happy time, perhaps the happiest time, with some of the people closest to them is something the partners would not take for granted.
Gibbs lingered after Abby and McGee left, hoping to have a private word with the two. Tony and Ziva had been expecting this. The spouses didn't think they would get a lecture for breaking Rule 12 (it was a little late for that) and they didn't think he'd transfer one of them (their skills as investigators were top notch, and even better together), but he was their boss, and father figure, and there was no doubt he wouldn't have something to say. They stood around the kitchen awkward silence enveloping them. Though it was Gibbs who had something to say, it was Ziva who spoke first.
"I hope you are not disappointed that we did not ask you to come. We went to the courthouse the day after Tony asked me. The ceremony was less about the celebration and only about the commitment."
"I'm not disappointed. Trust me, I get it." Gibbs let out a self-aware chuckle before continuing on. "I just hope you realize how much work it's going to be. Not just being married, but being co-workers, too. You have to leave your personal life at home and in the bullpen it's work. No grab-ass or petty fights about laundry while we're working a case."
"To be fair, Boss," Tony interjected, "the petty fights were happening before we got married."
The only acknowledgment Gibbs gave that statement was a roll of his eyes. "When you step into NCIS, you're part of a team. My team. You can't afford to be distracted because of your relationship. You're two of the best agents I've worked with, and I trust you to make the right decisions, so it's up to you those decisions every day, here and at NCIS.
"But don't think I'm not happy for you." And in the end, that was all Tony and Ziva needed. While they appreciated the lecture disguised as advice, it was his blessing they'd been hoping for. Ziva stepped forward to give him a hug, whispering "thank you" in his ear, and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Tony then stepped forward to also give the man a hug.
After Gibbs left, Tony and Ziva picked up the remains of the evening. They worked in the synchronicity that benefited them throughout the years and it didn't take long before Ziva's apartment was clean and they were laying on the sofa.
"I think that went rather well," Ziva spoke up from her position resting against Tony's chest.
Tony kissed the top of her crown. "I agree. Though it is exhausting, telling your team you got married."
Ziva let out a slight chuckle at that. "Yes, it is." She got to her feet and presented Tony with her hand. "So let's go to bed?"
He took her proffered hand and placed a kiss to her knuckles. "You never have to ask me twice, Sweetcheeks."
Over the next couple of days before their return to work, Tony and Ziva began going over some of the finer details and semantics that came with their new marriage. They called Tony's dad to let him know the big news and he couldn't have been more thrilled for the two of them. To say Senior was excited to finally have Ziva as a daughter-in-law would be an understatement. Palmer and Ducky reacted similarly when they phoned them to share the news; they couldn't be more thankful that Ducky was still around for them to celebrate. Ziva was still undecided on whether or not to let her father know. She knew logically that he should know his only remaining child got married, but her heart told her it wasn't worth the potential heartbreak and headache.
Then there were the more boring aspects of their new marriage. They came to the conclusion the best option would be to move into a new place together at some point, but for the time being they would begin moving Tony's belongings into Ziva's place or storage. Though he owned his apartment, they felt it would be easier to sell, while Ziva still had a few months left on her lease. And it was a bit homier than Tony's. They also needed to reach out to Human Resources and update their personnel information, and then begin dealing with updating any other personal information. Did Ziva change her name? She wasn't sure she wanted to solely go by DiNozzo (and thankfully her new husband understood) and despite all the turmoil having the last name David brought her, it also made her who she is. So maybe Ziva David-DiNozzo was the way to go. And did they combine bank accounts or keep things separate for while? Getting married was a quick decision, and one they didn't regret, but they found that the literal paperwork that has come with it was a real pain in the ass and one they naively neglected to think about. Making lists of places and people that needed to know about their new change in relationship wasn't how they envisioned spending their last days before going back to NCIS, but they did what they could to make it enjoyable. Sex was used often used as a reward for completing a task (or starting one), wine was drunk and laughs were shared. The process could have been a lot more boring if they were doing it with anybody else.
Despite all that, and in spite of it, Tony and Ziva were ready to return to work the next day with a renewed sense of hope. Their foundation had been rocked but they were still standing, and they were standing there together.
There was a little apprehension between the newly married partners as they entered the building for the first time not entirely sure what to expect. Their family knew (and they had the courtesy to shoot Vance an email about it) but coming back to work and being in that environment again caused a little trepidation. Some of that was because of their new status as partners, and some of that was because of the bombing; how close they could have been to losing everything. They decided to arrive earlier than they normally would so they didn't feel as ambushed and could feel more in control. It'd be one thing for them to walk in together, but if they were sat at their desks getting caught up on work when others started to arrive, then it would seem like nothing changed at all. Or at least that's what they told themselves.
McGee walked into the bullpen shortly thereafter with an air of excitement that just told them how glad he was to be able to be back. He'd been the only one of the team to walk away with a visible battle scar, and he was only a couple of inches away from no longer working at NCIS to being the least of his problems. They each greeted each other with a smile and a "Morning, Probie," from Tony; they might never admit it, but all three agents had missed mornings in the bullpen more than they thought possible.
Save for Ducky, who was still recuperating (though fortunately he was able to travel back to DC) the team was home. The first day back was spent getting caught up on paperwork and re-organizing their once blown apart bullpen. It was almost as if the Petty Officers of the area knew they needed to be eased back into things. With the exception of a few whispers of gossip as news spread, the day was not totally out of the ordinary for Tony and Ziva. Their new status could not and would not totally un-affect them while at work, but it was important to the both of them that they would not go out of their way to be "married at work." Especially while everything will still new. They knew Gibbs was trusting them to be the responsible agents they usually were, and they didn't want to give him, or anybody, reason to lose that. And the less ammunition they gave the office, the better it would be for everyone.
But it wasn't just their new relationship status that was different at NCIS. Everything was different because of the bombing. Colleagues were lost or injured and the place they used to see as a haven was no longer. While the work was easy for the day, reconciling their personal feelings on it all was much more difficult. They recognized how lucky they were to be healthy, and now together, while others in the building could not say the same. Some teams and departments were forever changed in the worst kind of way.
To put it mildly, the whole day ended up being very surreal and both were glad they no longer had to go through these days only to come home to an empty apartment at night. In fact, it was nice that they were able to have a place outside the Navy Yard that was considered home.
They came home that night with takeout and an exhaustion they didn't think was possible if you didn't work a crime scene. They took their pizza and beer to the living room and lounged on the couch while they ate.
"Well I've had easier days," Tony whispered staring at the blank tv screen.
All Ziva could do was hum in agreement. They knew all too well that there are no words that could make it any easier. In their line of work there were going to be days like this, and days like the explosion, and every other kind of day until they retired. But all they could do on those days now was be grateful they had a spouse who knew what they were going through and lean on them during the day and kiss them senseless at night.
Over the following months, Tony and Ziva continued to adjust to married life about as well as they could have hoped for. There were moments of incredible frustration for both of them, the petty fights still happened in the bullpen despite Gibbs' warning, and Tony was now fluent in Hebrew curse words. But there was never a moment of doubt or regret from either one of them. They knew it would be hard work, regardless of how quickly they got married, but the effort was worth it. They worked hard to keep their unspoken promise to Gibbs about keeping things separate and they managed for the most part. They took each day as it came, never tried to be more than they were, and always came home.
Never once did Ziva wavier in her decision or question if they were making a mistake. Saying "yes" to Tony and taking this leap in their relationship was the only thing Ziva had felt certain of since she decided to make NCIS her home.
Tony thought he'd been happy in his previous relationships, but even if he was fighting with Ziva he was happier than before. Regardless of what happened to them in the last seven years, he was still wearing a ring on his finger and that was all that mattered now.
A year later, they took a moment to honor their colleagues whose lives were taken from them by Dearing. It was a somber day, not unlike Tony and Ziva had experienced in the past, but it was also hopeful. Regardless of how close Dearing and others came, NCIS, and this team, and couple, were always going to find their footing.
A year and a week later that they spent their anniversary on a red-eye flight to Barcelona. It could be considered a belated honeymoon, but for Tony and Ziva, it was their first chance to get away beyond the walls of NCIS and the city limits of Washington, D.C. They took their vacation as an opportunity to enjoy the life the created for themselves and what was still to come. They sat in their first class seats and took in the sunrise over Spain from the air. There was something peaceful about watching those colors from above. And something even more peaceful knowing they had a lifetime of sunrises to look forward to. Together.
OOC? Maybe. Do I care? Eh. Can't have been worse than what's been done to them on the screen throughout the years.
Hope you enjoyed; should you feel so inclined, please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your time!