AN. You have no idea how much trouble this chapter caused me. Someone logged off my computer before I could save it and I lost most of it so I had to type it all up and before that I was on holiday and there was no interent so I wrote it ut by hand so then I had to type it all up and then I tried to get it edited but my editer has gone to Melbourne and doesnt have a computer with her so any mistakes in here are my fault but I have checked more than I usually do so I hope it's okay. Please review when you've finished reading, I really want to know what everyone thinks, the next chapter will probably be the last because if I drag my stories out I tend to not finish them. So please review and I hope to get the next chapter out faster than I did this one.
Disclaimer- I don't own anyone but Kiara. And I don't own the songs either- Come Fly With Me- Frank Sinatra
Why Can't We Be Friends- Sublime
Play That Funky Music- Wild Cherry
Ignorance- Kasey Chambers
Tony was watching Ziva again, not watching but scrutinising her. Looking right to the bottom of her eyes looking at her soul. Ziva hoped her Mossad training would pull through and hide any of her feelings that he might see but deep down she knew she couldn't hide the crazed, tormented look she saw whenever she looked in a mirror, not to Tony anyway.
"Ziva," Tony whispered, completely forgetting about the picture, instead talking to Ziva the best way they could, silently.
Ziva knew as soon as he whispered her name that he had seen everything, that her strong brick walls had crashed down, allowing him to see the beautiful but crumbling mansion within, a mansion that needed time, care and love to build it back up to the beautiful state it used to be in.
But there is something about old crumbling houses that makes it more beautiful than if it was whole. The large cracks that have been filled with tiny creatures that come out during the night, green vines that snaked around the whitewashed walls, holding it together temporarily, waiting for a more permanent glue.
Ziva was unable to look away from Tony's eyes, the bright green orbs holding her gaze, taking her away from the world for a few moments until she was pulled back by a small tug on her jacket.
Ziva looked down at Kiara, her brown eyes asking the older woman to come down to her level.
"Can I sit on Tony's lap?" she whispered ever so quietly into Ziva's ear, dreading the answer would be no.
Ziva felt strange smiling this much but she couldn't help the grin that came to her face at this question. Tony was ever the ladies man, even to a four year old.
"Of course you can Metuka." She replied, picking her up gently and walking around so they were behind Tony's desk.
"What's the matter Tony, off with the elves?" Ziva said jokingly.
"Pixies." Tony said almost tiredly. "It's off with the pixies, Ziva."
"Are you okay?" Ziva asked, dropping her voice to the same volume as Tony's, bending over so her head was next to his, concern lacing her words.
"Yeah, I just need a bit of sleep, I'm tired." He said, smiling again, almost looking like the Tony she was used to. But not quite.
"You have no idea." She said murmuring quietly, forgetting she was so close to Tony and that he could hear what she usually kept to herself.
"Ziva…" Tony started, moving closer to her, finally realising the pain she was feeling, the pain that laced through her words.
"Go home you two, you look dead." Gibbs said, perfect timing as usual, walking through the bull-pen, making Tony jump up with surprise.
"Ben Zona." Ziva muttered under her breath.
"What does that mean?" The little girl in her arms asked, her brown eyes wide and innocent.
"Umm…" Ziva stumbled. "I'll tell you when you're older."
"Ziva, Kiara's under your protective custody, take good care of her and remember she's four so make sure she goes to bed at a reasonable time." He said, walking up to her and giving her the Gibbs stare. She replied by giving him her own 'death glare'.
"Just because I don't have a child does not mean I don't know how to look after one!" Ziva exclaimed. She had taken care of Tali when their mother died, which was a big responsibility for a four year old. She knew what she was doing.
She realised after it was too late. That Gibb's was scrutinising her too. Was it that obvious that she was coming undone at the seams? That her life was spinning out of control as she slept? The answer was no, not usually, but after her silent conversation with Tony, she was vulnerable and she couldn't stop the flow of emotions pouring out of her eyes.
She looked down for a second, regaining her composure before looking back up at him, her emotions carefully shielded by the brick wall that was once again standing tall and unmovable.
Gibb's narrowed his eyes, he knew something was wrong with Ziva; her encounter with Tony wasn't like anything he had seen between the two of them, almost like they were talking to each other without words.
Not to mention the little girl. He could see since he first saw her that she was attached to her, more than even he got with children and that scared him. What if it affected her work? What if something happened to the girl? He didn't know if Ziva would be able to cope. And what would happen when they were forced to give the girl to Social Services? The girl didn't have a father that they knew of and her mother had changed her names so many times that they weren't sure if they could find any family, or if they were still alive. Ziva had better watch herself but for tonight the girl needed to stay with someone she could trust and at the moment, that person was Ziva.
"Come on Perach Katan, it's time to go home."
---
"What do you want for dinner?" Ziva asked Kiara, keeping her eyes trained on the road and her driving to legal speed.
"Pizza!" The little girl said excitedly, looking at Ziva with a big smile before looking back down at the floor again.
"Pizza? In that case I know the perfect place." She replied, turning the wheel sharply and doing a rather fast and illegal U-turn, before pulling up into one of her and Tony's favourite pizza parlours.
"Ah Ziva! Where is Tony tonight?" The manager asked with a think Italian accent. "And who is this young lady?"
When he looked at Kiara though, she got scared and tried to hide behind Ziva.
"Have you and Agent DiNozzo neglected to tell me something?" He asked with a wink.
"How many times do we have to tell you, Tony and I are just friends." Ziva replied tersely.
"Until you stop denying it with your eyes." He said with a chuckle. "Now who is your friend?"
"This is Kiara," Ziva said, pulling Kiara from behind her and picking her up. As soon as she was in Ziva's arms though, she buried her head in Ziva's shoulder, her heart racing.
"I'm taking care of her for a while."
He was about to ask why when he saw a familiar head walk up the path and opened the door with a jingle.
"Tony!" Te manager said good-naturedly.
At the sound of his name, Kiara looked over the top of Ziva's shoulder, smiling slightly when she saw it was her Tony.
"Hi Tony." She said quietly so Tony could only just hear it, her warm breath making Ziva's hair move slightly.
"Hey Kiddo." He replied gently, walking towards her then tugging Ziva's hair gently.
She turned around to glare at him but was surprised at how close he was and took a step back.
"Can I?" He asked excitedly. Can I come and help you with Kiara tonight? His eyes asked. Ziva glared at him for a few more seconds before sighing slightly and turning away from him to order.
"Fine but you're paying."
The manager looked at the two of them with amusement. Why couldn't they see they were both in love with each other? Not the sappy, I love you, my life would never be the same without you love, but love none the less.
"See you Alfonso!" Ziva called out as they left the shop, two hot pizzas in one arm, Kiara in the other.
"For the last time it's Fonzie!"
---
Ziva pulled into her driveway, Tony close behind and walked to her front door, Kiara once again on her hip.
Once they were inside, Tony started dishing up the pizza while Ziva showed Kiara around her house.
"And this Perach Katan is your room," Ziva said, opening the door to the small spare room one over from hers. "I'm right next door so if you need anything you come and get me okay. Do you like it?"
Kiara looked up and Ziva, a tiny smile once again on her face.
"A whole room for me? Wow, thankyou." She said before grabbing Ziva's leg and hugging it tightly. "I love you Ziva."
Ziva's eyes went wide with shock. The girl hadn't even known her a whole day yet she already loved her. It was a strange feeling, knowing you were loved, one she hadn't felt properly since Tali's death thirteen years ago. NCIS was her family now but even though they were close, they didn't have the unconditional love that real families and now Kiara and her had.
"I-"
"Hey, I was wondering where you two were, pizzas getting cold." Tony said, barging into the room, knowing as soon as he saw the small, strange glimmer in Ziva's eyes that he had interrupted something. He could practically hear Ziva's Hebrew cursing in his head, wait! It was because she was doing it out loud.
"Lech Tizdayen"
Oops, he thought. Snap back to it DiNozzo.
---
"What is this song anyway Tony?" Ziva asked from her spot on the couch.
"It's your CD, how should I know?" Tony retorted immaturely, poking his tongue out at Ziva after.
"Because you gave it to me!" She yelled exasperatedly.
"Well of course I did, it's awesome." He said, a classic DiNozzo smile on his face, his foot tapping along in time to the song. "May I have this dance?" He asked, getting up off the couch and extending his hand out to Kiara.
She smiled one of her rare huge smiles and jumped up to join Tony but just as she did the song ended and her wide smile faltered.
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
"Sinatra!" Tony said gleefully, picking up Kiara gently and placing her tiny feet on his and started to waltz stupidly around the room. Ziva looked over the back of the couch laughing at the strange pair as they twirled around the room and every time they passed her Tony would give her a wink and Kiara would let go of one of Tony's hand and give her an excited wave.
"Are you going to join us Sweetcheeks?" Tony asked between lifting Kiara up in the air and twirling her around.
Ziva didn't answer just smiled and jumped from the couch but just as she got over to Kiara and started to jive with her the song ended.
The next song was rather slow though, with a strong drum beat and as the song went along, the brass came in. Seeing as it was too slow to dance to while they were this excited, Ziva walked over to the CD player to change. Her finger was on the button when another larger hand covered hers and stopped it from changing the song.
"What are you doing Tony?" She asked, a hint of a threat to her voice as she turned around to face him, effectively trapping herself between his arms and the bookshelf.
He didn't answer her, just stared into her eyes in the way that made her feel all funny inside, all tingly.
Just as the music was building up in a crescendo though, he moved closer before it hit a peak and he jumped away waving his arms and head in ways that might be considered dancing.
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Kiara and Ziva met each others gaze before laughing and joining Tony in his spaz movements, waving their heads around so their long hair knocked over various items in Ziva's apartment.
Ziva was dancing with Kiara, holding hands and twisting around in a weird way due to the height difference. Tony walked, well danced, over to the pair and pulled Ziva away so she turned around and catching her in a dip, Kiara squealing with laughter.
They all jumped around together until the song slowed down when they all collapsed on the floor singing, or more like yelling the simple lyrics. Tony and Ziva lay next to each other until Kiara ran and jumped on the two of them giggling loudly. Tony moaned in pain when her little knee went into his stomach and then moved her so she was laying between the two of them, Ziva and Tony's strong, warm arms wrapped around her, making her feel safer then she had ever felt before. She snuggled into the two of them, still singing along as the song died out knowing that at least she would be able to get to sleep easily.
"No way! I forgot I put this song on here!" Tony said excitedly as it changed song once again.
He jumped up and grabbed hand from each of his two girls, when they became his girls he didn't know but he was fine with hit.
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right!
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down the boogie
And play that funky music 'til you die
The all started grooving appropriately to the song, Tony pulling Ziva into a ballroom hold as they tangoed, waltzed, jived, and salsa-d stupidly around the room before going over to Kiara and picking her up so she was clinging onto Tony her back pressed safely against Ziva making sure she didn't fall and then the three of them started to dance around, to anyone who came in, looking like they were drunk.
The song ended but they stayed together dancing still.
Don't wanna read the paper
I don't like bad news
Last night a man got shot
Outside the House of Blues
The mood changed instantly and instead of being stupid they all held onto each other tightly slowly dancing, Kiara still wedged safely between Tony and Ziva.
"Why is this song on here Tony?" Ziva asked quietly, noticing Kiara's were starting to droop tiredly.
"It reminded me of you Ziva." He whispered back, squeezing a hand between Kiara and Ziva so he could rub the little girl's back as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
When she was well and truly asleep Ziva took her and laid her down gently in her bed, pulling the covers over her and dropping a small kiss on her forehead.
"Laila tov Perach Katan" She whispered gently before heading out of the room, nearly running into Tony when he was standing just outside the door.
"Sorry Tony, I didn't see you." She said quietly, her eyes going down to the floor.
"Will you tell me what wrong Ziva?" He asked her, his green eyes begging her to tell him.
She knew that he wouldn't believe her if she said she was fine, he had seen it in her eyes before so she just looked up at him.
"Not this time Tony. Are you going now?"
"One last thing then I will." He said, smiling slightly and walking over to the now silent CD player, putting it back on the last song, Ignorance. "Would you like to dance Ziva?"
She looked at his outstretched hand, knowing that if she accepted it would surely lead to something bad, that she would say something she didn't want Tony to know. Say what was really troubling her but his face was so earnest and eager and she found herself taking his hand before she knew what was happening. He let a big smile overtake his face as she hesitantly put her arms around him and he pulled her close, relishing in the warmth of her slight body.
They danced slowly for a while, Ziva eventually letting her head rest on Tony's chest as he pulled her impossibly closer. Even after the music stopped and there was nothing but silence they stayed in each others embrace, Ziva nearly falling asleep before a small crash sounded from Kiara's room and Ziva yanked herself out of Tony's arms, running to the girls room her gun ready in her hands.
As she looked in the room, she saw the little girl fast asleep, her arm slumped by the bedside table, the clock that was there previously on the floor. Ziva was sure that was what the crash was but she didn't want to take any chances. She looked around the room quietly, Tony watching her from the door, before she went over to Kiara once again dropping a tiny kiss on her forehead as she pulled the covers over her.
"You love her don't you?" Tony said, his voice deep as he tried to keep quiet as possible. Ziva didn't answer him, only looked at him, anger and helplessness in her eyes. "What happens when you have to give her to Social Services?"
Ziva walked quickly over to Tony, her eyes blazing. "It's time for you to go."
"Ziva, I'm sor-"
"Go." She said, her voice quiet but her tone threatening and final.
'Zi…" He trailed off; looking deep into her eyes, trying to see what was haunting her.
"I cannot do this now, Tony, please go." She didn't meet his eyes at all as she showed him to the door and he walked away slowly, looking back at her once, worried at how her usually confident gaze was focussed at the floor.
"Buona notte Ziva."