A.N. Okay, I know, stupid idea. Starting a sequel/part 2 thing is bad for me because I get really bad at updating the longer it is so I'm counting on you guys to review and make me keep on writing. This was going to be a new story but then I realised it would be easier to do in here because lots of people have it on alert so anyway- this chapter is about Ziva coming to terms with Kiara and her new family, so it might suck and if it does, please review and tell me and I will get rid of it. So now, on with the story...

Disclaimer- I only own Kiara :D

The apartment was filled with the sound of her loud snores combining with his slightly quieter ones, so frequent it was a wonder either of them could sleep but then one set of snores stopped and only slightly less loud snores filled the room but only for a few seconds.

Tony didn't know when it had become harder to sleep through silence than his partners insanely loud snores but he was pretty sure it was soon after he had realised that Ziva stopped snoring for only two reasons. One, she had woken up and two, she was having a nightmare.

They had had this thing going on for months now. Once a week Ziva would go over to Tony's after work. They'd go for a run and they'd keep on running until one of them gave up. The one who gave up made or paid for dinner and the winner picked the movie. When they first started Ziva had won nearly every time but now they were pretty much even.

And once a week Tony would go over to Ziva's and they'd do the same thing.

Ever since the night after Kiara left they would stay at the other person's house for the night because although she didn't like to admit, having Tony with her made the terrifying nightmares that plagued her nearly every night, that much easier to bear.

"Ziva," Tony whispered in the now silent room. "Are you okay?" He was shaking her slightly now, not wanting her to wake up screaming like she had last night. He hated seeing his tough partner so vulnerable so he pulled her closer so her back was right against his chest and soon enough, her snores started up again, calming Tony and letting him go to sleep peacefully.

-

When she woke up she would realise that dreaming this would end up stuffing her up even more but right now she was relishing in the feeling of them close to her, hearing the high pitched voice of Kiara's mix through the deeper and warmer voice of Tali, the two of them sitting together, radiant smiles on both their faces, so big and infectious that Ziva couldn't keep one off her own face as she watched two people she loved playing in the sun. She could tell she was going to wake up soon so she absorbed as much of the scene as she could in those last few moments and just as Kiara and Tali turned to look at her, their brown eyes identical she felt the dream slip away, the warm sun slip away leaving only the warmth along her back from where Tony was hugging himself to her. She relished in that warmth for a few minutes before she slipped out of the bed, grabbing her running shorts and sports bra, getting changed in her bathroom then grabbing her shoes and a water bottle and slipping out the door, leaving Tony asleep in her bed.

The cold morning air hit her face as she ran, wiping all thoughts from her head and making her run twice as hard to feel the sticky warmth that her runs provided in summer. After a few minutes she felt the burn start deep in her chest and for a few minutes she battled with it but this morning she won and had pushed past the pain barrier, increasing her pace until she could feel the sweat on her body and the ground banging repetitively beneath her feet.

She could feel the muscles in her legs and stomach working but she knew that her breathing would fail before her muscles would and after shaving nearly a minute off her time she collapsed on the grass, feeling the dirt stick to her sweaty skin and the slight drops of rain that were almost non-existent hit her face, starting to cool her down.

She listened to the faint sound of traffic and the even fainter sound of birds in the early morning and she stayed lying on the ground for longer than she would have usually, her senses heightened, listening, smelling, seeing and feeling things she hadn't in a long time.

-

He was running along his usual path when he saw someone lying off to the side. His agent side taking over, he immediately went on alert, running over to the body ready to check a pulse but had to shake his head and regroup when he got closer and realised the body was actually Ziva.

"What are you doing Tony?"

He was momentarily stunned at the question. What was he doing? What about what she was doing? She was lying off to the side of his running path, and probably hers too, in the rain and in nothing but shorts and a bra, her dark curly hair plastered to her face by the rain that had built up to a steady pour since he left Ziva's house.

He saw Roy's bright orange beanie beside her and for some reason he was struck with the realisation of why Ziva always had the nightmares.

She couldn't let go.

She was holding onto any piece of the people she had lost, holding on tight and unable to let go. The dreams, as much as she hated and feared them, let her remember the people she had lost. He knew about Tali but how many others wandered through her dreams at night? How many people was she holding on to?

"Going for a run, what about you? You'll get sick if you lie here too long."

She just smiled at him, raindrops running down her cheeks onto the wet ground. She was in a strange mood. Not happy or sad. Not angry or depressed, just…there. Her smile lingered for a few moments but was then blown away, replaced by the serene look she wore before.

"Come on Tony, we had better get back. If we are late, Gibbs will have our head," she said, jumping up, suddenly full of energy and ready to race an exhausted Tony.

He winced at the thought of a slap before grabbing Ziva's hand and getting up then sprinting back to her house.

Short I know but I wanted to post it and see what people thought and if it was worth continuing or if everyones going- umm you can stop there. Anyway, PLEEEASE review :D And I'll try and get the next chapter out soon. (For people who have read Love is what makes you smile when you're tired I will write the occasional thing when it crosses my mind but there wont be regular updates.)

:) Jules.