Disclaimer: No. Nada. Nope.
Tony and Ziva made love many more times those three days they had together. They laid in their fort most of the time, sharing memories, telling secrets and getting to know each other better. The third day rested heavily on both their minds, but neither wanted to talk about it and ruin they happy mood that hung around them.
Eventually their bliss was interrupted when Ziva's alarm went off on the morning she was supposed to return to Israel and Tony was to fly out for Kate's funeral. Ziva cried when they came together that morning. It was very unusual for her, but for the first time in her life she feared going home. She was afraid of what her father would say about her being with Tony and wanting to resign from Mossad. She imagined he would be very angry and she wished she could have Tony there to support her.
For Tony it was heart wrenching to see Ziva's face wet with tears as he worshipped her body for the last time before they had to separate. It was very difficult for him as well to know that his soulmate will be halfway around the world, attending the funeral of her brother – whom she killed – and facing her Director and her father. He longed to go with her as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear while wiping at her tears with his fingers and occasionally his lips.
It near-well killed both of them when Tony dropped Ziva off at the airport at ten. He was glad they didn't have to witness Ari's body being loaded unto the aircraft, but knew Ziva would constantly be thinking about being on the same plane as him.
When the announcement came that she had to board her flight to Tel Aviv, his heart fell right down and landed beneath his feet. He turned to Ziva and took her in his arms, not caring if anyone saw.
"I will miss you, Zi," he said, trying to sound brave for her when in reality he felt as if half his heart was being taken away from him. He heard her sob into his neck and what was left of his heart broke into tiny little pieces.
"I do not know if I can do this, Tony," she confessed, her voice muffled by his jacket and the lump in her throat.
"I know you can, sweetheart. You are a strong woman. You're my crazy Israeli ninja chick," he laughed. His spirits lifted a bit when he heard her chuckle.
She looked up at him, tears still evident in her eyes. He used his thumb to wipe them away before they could fall.
"I have had the most wonderful couple of days with you, Tony. Thank you so much for everything."
"Anything for you Ziva."
He dipped his head down to kiss her goodbye and she responded with vigour. Savouring the last few moments he could hold her in his arms, he pulled her closer to him. Eventually they had to separate though and he did so reluctantly.
"Come back to me, Ziva," he pleaded.
"I will. I promise."
"Good luck," he wished, stroking her cheek.
"Thank you, Tony. For you too." They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds more before the final boarding call came. "I have to go now."
"I know. Be safe."
"I always am," she assured him.
He kissed her longingly one last time before letting her go.
"Goodbye, sweetheart."
"Shalom, Tony."
He watched with a heavy heart as she boarded the plane that will take her away from him and prayed that she would return to him safely. Then he turned from the terminal and made his way to NCIS to catch his own plane.
Meanwhile Ziva sat in her seat, watching as the ground disappeared from beneath the plane and all she could see was miles and miles of ocean. She was on her way to face her father. This thought scared her a little, so she decided to get some sleep before then. She closed her eyes and dreamed of her time with Tony.
A few hours later, she was woken when the plane started to descend. She was surprised that she had slept through the entire flight, but she was also glad of the rest in had given her. Tony had been insatiable the previous night, so they did not get much sleep.
Climbing off the plane, she saw the Mossad vehicles parked at the terminal. She watched this time as the casket holding Ari's remains was unloaded and driven off to Mossad Headquarters. Squaring her shoulders, she climbed into her assigned car and followed.
Being the Director's daughter had its perks when wanting a meeting with him. Arriving at the building, she was immediately escorted to his office, asked to only wait a few moments as he was finishing a meeting.
She had barely sat down in the waiting room when the door to his office opened and his guests stepped out. She did not recognise them, so she only smiled politely as she waited for permission to enter. When it was finally granted, she took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
"Hello, abba," she greeted him.
"Ziva, please come in!" he said as he stood to kiss her on both cheeks and hug her lightly.
"How have you been?" she asked, hoping to keep this conversation civil.
"As always, busy. How was America?"
"You know very well," she stated bluntly.
"Yes. It is a tragedy about Ari, of course. But he turned to Hamas, so he only got what he deserved."
Ziva felt anger flare in her core, outraged that her father could be so off-handed about his own son's death. She saw in her mind's eye however a vision of Tony smiling at her and she took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Very well. I do not wish to talk about this." She knew Gibbs's report said that he had shot Ari and not her, so she did not want to take the chance of her father finding out the truth and probably kill her, so she decided to get right down to what she wanted to tell him. "Abba, there is something I have to tell you."
"Yes, what is it?" he asked absentmindedly as he looked at some paperwork on his desk.
"I want to resign from Mossad." She saw him freeze and waited for the worst. He looked up at her slowly, his eyes blank.
"No," he said icily.
"This is not a request, abba. I will go whether you approve of not."
"What has gotten into you, Ziva? Mossad is your home!" he burst out.
"No, it is not! I do not want to kill anymore! I refuse!" she kept her stand.
"What has brought this on?"
"I found my soulmate," she said as she saw him freeze for the second time. She was surprised to see his eyes soften a millimetre.
"You found him?"
"Yes, abba."
"Oh, my dear child. I am so happy for you," he said as he came to embrace her. "Now tell me, who is this man that has captured your soul?"
He released her from his arms then and sat back in his chair. She was surprised at his sudden change of mood, but decided to go with it.
"His name is Anthony DiNozzo."
"He is not Jewish?!" Eli burst out again, startling her in her seat.
"No," she confirmed.
"Why, Ziva?! Why would you do this?!"
"Abba! I could not control it! You know how the soulmate-bond works!"
"Yes," he conceded as he deflated a little. "I am sorry. It was only unexpected."
"It was for me too. I never expected this to happen. But it has. And I am going back to America to be with him."
"I understand, Ziva. You have my blessing."
"I do?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, my dear. I remember the moment I found my soulmate in your ima. It is the most wonderful thing in the world and I know it is absolute torture to be separated from that person. So go. Pack up your house and have everything shipped over. Be with him."
Ziva sat on the chair, shocked at how her father's mood seemed to change every few seconds, but grateful nonetheless that she had gotten her wish.
"Thank you, abba. Thank you very much," she said as she went to embrace him this time.
"I am not happy to be losing you, my daughter. But I know you must go to be happy."
"I will be back one day. And I will bring him with me so that you can meet him."
"I would like that."
With that their meeting came to a close and Ziva left his office in high spirits. Arriving at her house, she was excited to pack everything, but very surprised when she only came up with a few boxes of personal items. A sad look came over her face as she realised that she had never made her house into a home, but she looked forward to doing that in America.