A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Busy as hell.


Ziva's POV:

"Ziva? Ziva?"

I groggily blinked. "Hmmph?" I up at Tony, confused. Then, it all came back to me: me storming out of Cherry's office, Tony telling me how he would take me to D.C. I abruptly sat up.

"Good morning." He said softly. He kissed my forehead. Involuntarily, I blushed.

"Hey, we're almost to NCIS." He smiled wearily. Suddenly, my stomach jumped: how would they react? How would they treat me?

Suddenly, Tony's face fell. "What? What is it?"

"They will not like me, Tony. I know they won't." I said, turning away so he wouldn't see the tears beginning to form in my eyes.

"Hey." He said softly. He gently cupped my cheek, and turned me towards him. "They are more understanding than you think, Ziva."

"They will understand a prostitute?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They understand a lot." He said. He looked into my eyes. "They understood me."

I took out my bag with my things in it. "Can I at least change?"

He smiled. "Sure. We'll stop by my place."


The door clicked, and Ziva saw Tony walk out with only a towel around his waist. His muscles were clearly outlined, drops of water glistening on his abs.

"My turn?" Ziva asked. Tony bowed and gestured to the bathroom.

"Yours, milady."

Ziva s tepped in. She stepped inside the shower, and turned the handle.

Ziva stepped out of the shower, being careful not to slip on the tile. Then, she realized:

I forgot a towel.

"Uh, Tony?" she called.

"Yeah?" he asked, his voice muffled.

"I forgot a towel." She said.

"Okay, I'll, uhh….bring you one." He said. She heard things shifting. Suddenly, the door opened.

Ziva stood there, totally naked. However, he locked eyes with her. Tony took the towel and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Come on. Almost time for me to go." He said quietly, brushing the hair out of her eyes. He then kissed her lightly on the lips.


Ziva felt a small jolt as the elevator started to rise.

"Tony?"

"Yes, Ziva?"

"What if they don't like me?"

"Ziva, don't worry. I'll stand behind you, no matter what. I promise."

The elevator doors opened. Ziva felt herself shrink a little into the elevator wall.

"Come on. It's okay." Tony said gently, taking her hand.

She stepped into the building, shaking slightly.

He immediately stepped into the bullpen.

"Hey, Tony." A sandy haired man came to greet them. "Long time no see."

"Don't start crying on me, McGoobers." Tony said. The man rolled his eyes. He looked at Ziva. "New girlfriend? Already?"

Tony blushed deeply. "No, I, um-"

"Why did you bring her, DiNozzo?" A voice, sharper than steel blades, cut through the dialogue.

"Boss, I'd like you to meet Ziva David." Tony said, gesturing to Ziva. She smiled and waved.

"Nice to meet you, sir."

A man with steely blue eyes and short-cut silver hair stared her down. "David? As in Eli David?"

Suddenly, Ziva's world came to a screeching halt.

"He is….my father." Ziva muttered.

"Your father?" Gibbs stared.

"Not anymore." She said, holding up her head.

"Boss, she was….abandoned by her father." He said quietly.

"Tony, do not cover for me. I ran away." She said, looking the man in the eye. "Because what he did was wrong."

"Boss, can I talk to you?" Tony seized Gibbs' arm and marched him outside the bullpen, to the elevator. He stepped inside, and shut it off.

"What, DiNozzo?"

"Boss, she may be our lead in this case. She's used to be a slum girl. She knows her way around there."

"Is that why you are with her?" Gibbs inquired. Tony suddenly clenched his fists.

"You believe I would save her from the slums just for information? How low do you think I am?"

Gibbs raised his hands in defeat. "No. Why, though?"

"We went to high school together, me and Ziva. We used to be….extremely close."

"Then what?"

"Then, she just disappeared. Hadn't seen her since. I just found her, literally."

Gibbs nodded. Then, he asked.

"Do you love her?"

Tony shrugged. "I don't know, Gibbs. I really don't."


"Home sweet home." Tony tiredly dragged his feet across the threshold of his apartment.

Ziva, however, bounced happily, like a three year old who had just been given a cookie.

"I like your job!" She said. "Abby…she's an interesting one."

Tony chuckled. "She's quite cheery for a girl who wears all black most of the time."

He turned around, and Ziva was gone. He heard clanking in the kitchen.

"Zi, you are either starting a pots and pans band or you're making me dinner. I support whatever career path you choose, but I sincerely hope for the latter."

He heard her laugh, musical and tinkling. He smiled.

Suddenly, he was brought back to another time, another place.

They left the loud music and the singing and screaming. The flashing lights could be dimly seen outside the window.

"Awww yeah!"

"Get some, Tony!"

"Shut up!" Tony yelled. His friends hooted and called to him. He turned to the brown-eyed girl beside him.

"Don't pay attention to them, Zi." He said, hooking his arm around hers.

She chuckled. "There was no reason for me to, Tony." She answered. Her eyes were bright, full of life. Her hair fell in long ringlets to her shoulders, and a delicate hand dangled at her side. The moon illuminated her features, but cast others into a light shadow. It makes her more beautiful than usual, Tony thought.

She sat on the bench in the park, and invited him to sit next to her.

"Senior year." She said, staring up at the white moon.

"Yeah." He said, looking up with her.

"A lot will change in the next year, Tony."

"I know it will."

"But…."

"But what? Come on, Zi! You got accepted into Washington University! You have scholarships!" He said, turning to her.

"I'm afraid, Tony. I don't want us to ever grow apart."

"Oh." He said softly. He took her hand. "I promise, Ziva."

"You promise what?"

"I will never leave you. If you left for a hundred years, I would be waiting for you when you came back."

She ruffled his hair. "You are such a hopeless romantic."

"I'm serious, Ziva. Whatever place you go, I will go. Whatever happens, I will stand beside you." And he kissed her, not hungrily, but lightly. Sweetly.

Tony's heart suddenly sank.

He had broken his promise.


Well? Come on, guys, please review!

REVIEW!

-Vi