Hi everyone. I just feel like I should point out: Tony and Ziva might not be acting very in-character, but remember that the soulmate-bond makes them feel very safe around one another. So even though Ziva does not yet know, she is attracted to Tony and she trusts him. I know that the Ziva of season three would never trust him so easily, but for the sake of the story… It IS fanfiction after all…

Disclaimer: Yeah, right.

When Tony woke up, he panicked when he saw that he was alone in the bed. She was right there. She had been the entire night. He had woken up a few times and then watched her as he fell asleep again. She looked so peaceful when she slept. All of her worries were washed away from her face and only the sweetness remained. And if felt so right having her next to him in his bed. He could literally not wait for the day when he had her for real. The day he did not have to feel guilty about running his hand over her thigh and onto her hip, taking his shirt with it. She looked to sexy in it. He wanted her in his clothes the whole time. Or better yet: out of them. He had gasped when he had seen her tattoo – those two perfect letters binding them together for all eternity. He mentally cursed himself for not coming up with something more creative for her to have written on her body, but later decided that what he did say was in fact perfect. It allowed him to pursue her without scaring her off.

And now she was gone and his bed was empty. He panicked even more when he realised that he had no way of contacting her. If she were gone, he couldn't find her. Absentmindedly he smelled the pillow she had slept on and could still detect that scent that was just her.

He jumped out of bed with every intention of hunting her down – she couldn't have gotten very far. He quickly pulled a pair of jeans on over his boxers and cursed again when he made to get his keys and didn't find them. McGee had his car. Damn it! He sprinted out the bedroom door and stopped short when he passed the bathroom. The door was closed. He never closed it. He was still staring at it when it suddenly opened and she stood before him. She hadn't left.

He was so shocked and relieved that he stood stock still for he didn't know how long. He was only roused from his tranquil state by her voice.

"Tony?"

"Oh, Ziva!" he almost yelled and leapt at her. His strong arms encircled her body as he held on to her for dear life. He vaguely felt her arms tentatively wrap around his back as he ranted on without taking a breath. "When I woke up and found the bed empty I thought you had left and I was going to go out and find you and I - "

"Tony!" she interrupted him. "I'm here. I told you I was not going anywhere." She pulled back a little so that she could look at his face. He didn't let her go far though as their faces were only inches apart and she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. "And you were really going out to find me?" He only nodded mutely. "Tony, it is pouring outside. Have you not noticed?"

"It's raining again? Man, I hate this weather. Doesn't allow you to do anything." As if to demonstrate his point, a giant clash of thunder and lightning sounded and lit up the room, making Ziva jump. Tony only pulled her back into his chest and kissed the top of her head. He knew not to comment on it. Instead, he tried to change the subject in an attempt to take her mind off of it. "Hey, what do you say we make some breakfast? Pancakes sound good?"

He smiled when she nodded against his chest. "Delicious," came her answer, although a little muffled by his shirt. He noticed she had put on her now dry, albeit a but wrinkled, clothes of the previous day.

"Good! Come on," he said as he pulled her out of the bathroom and down the hall. He didn't have the will to let go of her completely and grasped her hand in his as they made their way to the kitchen. He feared for a moment that he might have overstepped the line, but smiled to himself when she made no move to pull away. "You know most Americans buy the batter in those premixed packets, but I prefer to make my own," he excitedly explained. "Sure, it takes a little longer and is a lot more effort, but it tastes so good! You just wait – I'm going to make you the best-tasting pancake of your life!"

She smiled broadly at his excitement and he thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight.

"I am sure it will be, Tony."

"So when I have time, I make a few batches and then put them in the freezer – it isn't as good when it's defrosted than when it's fresh, but it's still better than that Wal-Mart stuff. I'm all out at the moment, so we'll have to start from scratch. You up for it?" he asked breathlessly when they reached the kitchen counter. "I mean you don't have to help – I can do it on my own, but I just thought - "

For the second time in so many minutes, he was silenced by her – this time by her finger pressing lightly to his lips. He was struck with how soft the pad of her finger was, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss it, but held back.

"Tony," she emphasised, "I would very much like to help you."

He couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face.

"Okay, so I'll get you an apron and I'll get the mixer and the flour and the baking powder and the salt and…"

She listened to him list every single thing they would need and could only smile. He was so fun-loving and she liked it. He was the exact opposite of her seriousness. They complimented each other. She felt an apron being pulled over her head and a moment later she was tuned around by her shoulders so that he would tie it behind her back while he still chatted on about the pancakes. She knew she was fully capable of doing it herself, but she enjoyed being taken care of for the first time in her life. She was always so independent, but she liked him doing things for her.

Standing in his kitchen in an apron felt very domestic and it terrified her. But as always, she tackled the fear head on. They were starting to build a good thing here and she was not going to ruin it by running away.