A/N: SOOOOO sorry it took me so long to update. I had about half of this typed up then my computer got a virus then it got another virus, then I had no ambition to type. I've been writing more of my sister's story than my own. I would like to think that the length of this chapter makes up of some of the wait. This is by far the longest thing I have ever written. PLEASE REVIEW AND I MAY GET THE NEXT CHAPTER UP FAIRLY SOON!!!!!!!
I'm also really happy because I made mallet line for marching band next year!!
The next day, Tony was up at quarter to six, even before Ziva was up for her run. He carefully pulled his arms off from around Ziva's abdomen and carefully crawled out of bed, making sure not to wake her up. He grabbed his clothes for the day and climbed into the shower.
Ziva heard the water in the bathroom turn on and noticed that Tony was no longer next to her in the bed. The next thing she noticed was the time. She was so shocked that Tony had gotten up early, now the question was why. She crawled out of bed and went and knocked on the bathroom door.
"Tony! Why are you up so early?" she asked him yelling through the closed door.
"We're going to Animal Kingdom! You have to be there right when it opens in order to get in line of the best ride ever!" He said as he turned of the shower. That was a quick shower, Ziva though as he stepped out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Hurry up! Get ready! We have to leave soon!" Tony said as he grabbed his close out of the bathroom and shoved Ziva in so she could take a shower.
"You do realize that the park doesn't open until eight? And it is only six fifteen. That is an hour and forty five minutes! What is the 'best ride' that you are so eager to go on?" Ziva asked walking over to her suite case to get clothes for after her shower.
"Oh, so we have time to get ready, how was I supposed to know when it opened. On the bright side, we have time to go on a run." He said kind of weakly hoping Ziva was not mad at him for walking her up unintentionally.
"I was going to go on a run any how." she said grabbing athletic shorts and a sports bra. "So what is this 'best ride' I ask yet again?!"
"It's called Expedition Everest! It's this really fast rollercoaster that goes through 'Mt. Everest'" he said with air quotes at the end. "There is a surprise that happens on it but I wont spoil it for you."
"Wait, have you been to Disney before?" Ziva asked. They had both since changed into their running close and were walking down the hall way. They turned the corner and nearly ran into Gibbs.
"I am so sorry Boss. Do you need me to get you another coffee or anything?" Tony asked sincerely hoping he wasn't going to get in big trouble for this run in.
"Your up early." was all he said as he walked back to his room. Tony and Ziva had made it to the path that they had gone running on the night before.
Ziva took off at a quick pace that Tony had trouble matching at first. When he finally caught up to her, she sped up her pace trying to make him work even harder. Tony was really falling behind her now so she slowed down her pace laughing as Tony finally caught up to her.
"Show off!" he yelled as she started speeding up again. They were now running parallel to the pool that was on the other side a the hotel's massive campus. Tony was on the far side of it with Ziva running only two feet away from the pool.
Tony thought of an awful idea. A wonderful, awful, idea. He ran just a little bit faster that Ziva so that he was slightly in front of her then he just stopped. Ziva ran right past him and when she did, he pushed her, hard. Into the pool.
She screamed as she felt the ground slip from beneath her feet as cold water surrounded her. When she came up to the surface, she set her sights on a hysterically laughing Tony. She quickly swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out of the cold water. Tony took it was his que to run when he saw the daggers Ziva was shooting at him. "DiNozzo! Get you ass back here!" she yelled as she ran after him.
Tony was so glad that she had not brought her weapons along on her run this morning. He really should start thinking things through before he pushes an assassin into a pool while she is running.
Tony made it back to the section of the hotel where their room was and saw Abby, McGee and Gibbs waiting of them. Ziva was about three yards behind him and closely gaining because he was getting very tired. "Tony! What did you do to Ziva?!" Gibbs yelled at him as he ran past. Gibbs caught the edge of Tony's shirt causing him to fall to the ground.
Ziva caught up to him right as he hit the concrete. "You are so dead!" she yelled at him.
"Ziver, you better not kill him. I don't think you want to make us all go back to DC just because of Tony's incompetence." Gibbs instructed. Ziva released her hold on Tony only to lightly hit him in the groin.
"He pushed me into the pool!" she said looking at Gibbs for him to do something to Tony.
"Go get dressed! Now we are going to be late!" Abby yelled at them. Tony quickly got off the ground running to his room dragging Ziva behind him.
"We are NOT going to be late!" Tony yelled as he disappeared into the room.`
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
They arrived at the gates of Animal Kingdom with ten minutes to spare. Tony elbowed his way to the front of the entrance line followed by Ziva. They were the only ones that were planning on going on Expedition Everest. When the gates finally opened, they both took off running.
Tony got to where the line starts but could not find Ziva. He wove his way through the never ending barricades for when the line was really long. He got to where you board the ride and found Ziva waiting for him. "You should run faster." she said smirking.
"I wouldn't brag if I were you. You never know, you just might, oh I don't know…get pushed into a pool." Ziva punched him in the shoulder.
They were the first people in line so they got the first car on the track. They both crawled into the car and put the safety bar down. The ride started and they went up a very steep incline and then went very fast on level track. After a few, maybe thirty, seconds, the turned a fast corner and the track was broken! They came to a halting stop, then waited a few seconds then went backwards. They came to a stop in a dark cave then a projector showed a Yeti hologram. Then the ride went back the way they had just come, but this time they went forward.
They went out the cave then they went down a very VERY steep drop. Tony even heard Ziva scream at the sudden drop. They came to a stop at the boarding zone. Ziva was so stunned that Tony had to practically pry her hand off the safety bar so they could get out of the car.
"We are sooooo going again!" Ziva said pulling Tony's arm in the direction of the line.
"Later ninja. We have places to go, people to see. We have to go see what the pictures look like." Tony said pulling Ziva in the direction of the gift shop. On one of the screens was their picture. Tony was smiling and you could tell he was laughing. Ziva, on the other hand, looked like she was screaming her head off gripping the safety bar for dear life, exactly what Tony saw and heard her doing.
"We are NOT going to get that picture! That is so embarrassing." Ziva said pulling Tony's arm in the direction of line, but he wouldn't budge.
"I totally need that picture. How often do I get a chance to get a picture of my ninja screaming." Tony said getting in line for the pictures.
"Fine. Wait--your ninja? When did I become your's?"
"When you agreed to go out with me."
"And I did that when I say I would go out with you?"
"Stop asking questions!" Tony snapped as he got there printed pictures. He handed hers to her and grabbed her arm leading her away from the line to go again. "Later. We have to find the rest of the gang."
They found everybody else outside of the gift shop. "Let me see the picture!" Abby said as she grabbed the picture out of Tony's hand. "Holy crap!"
"What?" McGee asked.
"Ziva's screaming like a little girl." Tony answered for Abby. Ziva punched him really hard in the shoulder. "OHH!"
"Cut it out! Where are we going to go on now?" Gibbs ask as they mindlessly wondered out of the gift shop.
Abby pulled a map out and started looking at it. "We can go on the Kali River Rapids ride then make our way over to the Festival of the Lion King performance." she suggested.
"That works. Which way?" McGee asked. Abby led them over to a short ride that was quite a ways off the large path that they had been on. "Abby, what kind of ride is this?" McGee asked when he started to hear flowing water.
"A raft ride. Don't worry, you'll be fine." she said as she pulled him into a seat next to her on the raft. They sat next to each other as did Tony and Ziva. The ride started and the raft went around a few corners then they we on a large conveyor belt carrying them up a hill.
They went down the hill with the flow of the water then splashed into the water. Tony and Ziva got the most wet because the were sitting in the front. They went around a few more corners and they got more and more wet.
When the ride finally finished, they were all thoroughly soaked. They climbed out of the boat with their clothes sticking to them. McGee was starting to turn a little green but was starting to get better about fast rides.
They walked over the other side of the park and got seats of the eleven o'clock Festival of the Lion King performance. It was only ten thirty so they had time. Tony and Ziva went to go walk around for a little while to kill time. They ended up getting an autograph of Tigger and Pooh upon Tony's insistence. They made it back just in time for the show.
It started with singing just like the movie and then these people came out. They gave each section of the seating an animal that they had to imitate. The NCIS agents plus Abby were sitting in the giraffe section. "What sound does a giraffe make?" one of the actors asked a little girl sitting in the front row of their section.
"I dunno." the little girl that looked about five years old said. Several people started laughing at her cuteness.
"What sound does a giraffe make?" Ziva whispered to Tony how was sitting next to her.
"Shh! I'm trying to watch!" said Abby shushing them really paying attention to the show.
"I didn't think they made a sound." Tony replied and Abby hit him.
"They make this kind of shrill sound. Can you roll your tongue?" the actress asked the same little girl. The girl did and the crowd cheered. The show continued with a whole acrobatic routine. The show finished after about a half hour of full acrobatics, singing, and even people on stilts.
They left the stage area after the show. "What are we going to do now?" Ziva asked.
"I want to go on the safari ride thingy." McGee said.
"You guys can do that. Ziva and I will be seeing the noon showing of the Finding Nemo Musical." Tony said as he pulled her off in a direction without so much as a word from anyone else.
"They have a musical for it?" Ziva asked eagerly.
"Yeah, and I'm pretty sure you didn't want the whole team going with you to see it after what you said at Epcot."
"Thank you." Ziva said leaning into him to give him a hug. They had made there way to the theater and sat down in seats. "Can we get something to eat after this? I'm hungry. Since you pushed me into the pool this morning I didn't get time to have breakfast. And don't think I don't remember what you did this morning."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say my ninja."
"Would you please stop calling me that." Ziva said annoyed.
"Why? I thought you liked it." Tony said kind of hurt.
Ziva started laughing at the face of hurt he gave her. "Yes," she said laughing, "I do like it when you call me that but the kids sitting around us started to stare at me because they now think I'm a ninja."
"But you ARE a ninja." Tony insisted. The kids around started to stare even more and now started whispering to their parents.
"Tony! Stop saying that!" Ziva said hitting his shoulder.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Are you really a ninja?" a very brave girl sitting in front of them asked Ziva curiously.
"Um…no. He just thinks I am," Ziva said sweetly to the girl.
"She really is she just doesn't like to admit it." Tony said to the girl. The girl had a confused face but before she could ask more questions the lights in the theater dimmed signing that the show was going to start.
People in fish costumes came out on the stage and Ziva was transfixed. The little girl in front of them was still staring at Ziva. Tony decided to prove to the girl that Ziva was, in fact, a ninja, so when Ziva was looking at the other side of the room he put his hand up to poke her. With out even looking she swatted his hand away before it could touch her. The girl giggled at the ninja display going on behind her. She then turned around smiling to watch the show.
Meanwhile, Abby, McGee, and Gibbs were in line for the Kilimanjaro Safari ride, as McGee had suggested. When they got to the front of the line, they got seated on one of the safari jeeps. They had a tour guide/driver that was showing them around the inside of an animal enclosure. They got a radio call saying that "poachers" were in after the animals and that their jeep was to intercept them. McGee and Abby, being really gullible, thought they were being serious about the poachers. Gibbs had to explain to them after the ride was over that it was just an act to make the kids enjoy it.
The trio walked over to a restaurant called The Yak and the Yeti to have a late lunch, as it was around 1 o'clock. The restaurant has Asian themed food and they thought it would be something different. They ended up finding Tony and Ziva eating there, having had the same idea they did.
"Hey guys!" Abby said walking up to them and sitting down in one of the chairs at the table. "How was the show?"
"Good!" Ziva said. "But Tony kept making all the kids around us staring at me by calling me a ninja."
"But it's true!" Tony still insisted. Ziva punched again for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
"What are we going to do after we eat?" Gibbs asked.
"We are going to see the 2 o'clock showing of It's Tough to be a Bug." Abby said.
"What is that?" Ziva asked confused.
"Have you ever seen the movie Bugs Life?" Tony asked. When she shook her head he said, "Well, it's a show based off of that movie. It basically has talking bugs and a bunch of stuff. I don't really like the movie but I heard it is supposed to be a good show."
At two o'clock, the team was sitting in there seats in the theater that was in the Tree of Life as the show was starting. It was in 3D, so they all had to wear funny looking glasses. Tony had been making fun of them up until it had started. Have way through, people around them started to scream. None of the team could figure out why until their seats started feeling like there were bugs on their seats that they were sitting on. McGee almost screamed when he noticed.
After the movie/show was over, all five of them filed out of the theater. "Is there anything else we want to do while we're here?" Abby asked.
"I think we covered every thing that I wanted to go on." Tony said. Ziva nodded her head in agreement.
"Same here." said McGee.
"What about you, Gibbs? You've been quiet this whole vacation!" Abby said.
"It wasn't my idea to come here." Gibbs said ending his questioning.
"Anybody that is not in favor of going back to the hotel speak now or forever hold you peace." Abby said. Tony purposely coughed and Ziva punched him, yet again, on Abby's behalf.
"What is it? International Punch Tony Day?" Tony said as they made there way to the front gate.
"We are still in the US so it would only be national not international." Ziva pointed out.
"You're Israeli so it counts as international!" Tony shot back at her playfully.
"Touché." Ziva said and then gently punch him in the arm just to mock him.
When they got back to the hotel, Gibbs decided that he was going to his room to do whatever. Abby and McGee had said something about going to the pool. Tony said that he had something planned for him and Ziva but that they should all meet up for dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Ziva and Tony were in their room changing for what Tony had planned. "Put a swimsuit on under your clothes." Tony said as he grabbed swim trunks and went into the bathroom to change.
"What are we doing that I would need a swimsuit on? Are we going to the pool?" Ziva asked trying to get a hint or a clue out of him.
"We are not going to the pool." was all Tony said.
When both of them were changed, Tony lead them to the opposite side of the lake. "We are going to be renting kayaks." Tony said as they made there way over to where you rent them.
"Tony, I have no idea how to kayak." Ziva said reluctantly as Tony got into the back of the two person kayak they had rented.
"Then here, let me help you in." Tony said offering a hand to steady her as she slipped into her seat. "Put a life jacket on since you have never done this before."
"I said I didn't now how to kayak, I never said I didn't know how to swim. There is a distinct difference."
"Whatever!" Tony said as he used his paddle to splash Ziva. "You want to use both sides of your paddle to move. Use one side then while that end is up, use the other side that is in the water."
"That makes no sense." Ziva said confusedly trying to follow what Tony had said only succeeding in almost tipping them over.
"Turn around and watch me." She did as she was told and turned around, now successfully tipping them over. They both landed in the water with a splash. When they resurfaced, some of the people that had been walking around the lake stopped to laugh at them.
Tony was chasing Ziva around for tipping them over. When he reached her, he pushed her under water. "Why did you tip us over?" he questioned her.
"I did not mean to. I only turned around like you said. But I guess it is only fair that I get you wet after you pushed me into the pool this morning."
"Fine, but you are the one that has to pull the kayak to the dock." Tony said swimming away.
Ziva grabbed a rope that was attached to the boat, usually to tie it to the dock, and began the long swim back to the dock. Lucky for her, they where only on the opposite side of the lake from the dock. "Just great!" Ziva thought as she swam.
When she finally made it back to the dock, the whole team was standing there. "Hurry up! We are supposed to be at the restaurant already!" Abby said rushing them.
"Not my fault that Ziva wanted to take an impromptu swim. How about you guys go to the restaurant and we will meet you there in a few minutes. We just have to go change." Tony suggested.
"Sure, that works. Oh, and wear something nice!" Abby called after them as they had already started making there way back to there room.
They got back to their room five minutes later and started getting ready. Luckily, they had already picked out what they were going to wear before they had left to go kayaking. Tony changed into dark wash jeans and a plain teal shirt. Ziva changed into a magenta colored knit sun dress that had spaghetti straps and a band at the waist. She was also wearing black heels that she took off and carried as they made there way around the lake to the restaurant.
"Why did you bring heels if you aren't going to wear them?" Tony asked teasing her.
"They hurt my feet to walk in but are the only shoes I brought that go with this dress. I'll put the on when we get to the restaurant. Now stop bothering me about my shoes!" Ziva said.
"Let me guess, you're about to punch me again?" Tony asked bracing himself for it.
"Maybe." she said as they walked in the restaurant and found the table with the rest of the team. They sat and eat and talked for over three hours marveling at all the fun they are having.
After they finished, Gibbs said he was going to bed and watch some TV. Abby and McGee said they were going to do the same. Tony and Ziva said that they were going to go hang out at the pool and maybe go in the hot tub, thankful that it was open until eleven.
Tony and Ziva went by the pool and found it surprisingly empty. Since it was after nine at night, they figured that most of the parents that where at the pool with there kids had went to bed. Tony went down the water slide while Ziva laughed at him for being so immature. They ended up having a "water war" trying to splash each other.
"I'm going in the hot tub." Ziva said getting out of the pool and making her way over to the empty hot tub. Tony got out and joined her.
"Where do you want to go on our date when we get back to DC?" Tony asked as they leaned back staring at the sky.
"I still never said I would go out with you." Ziva said not looking at him.
"Fine. Ziva, will you go on a date with me?" Tony asked playing her game.
"Let me think about it…no." Ziva said smirking.
"Well if that's how you want to play it," Tony said standing up and walking right in front of her, "You leave me no other choice than to do this."
"Do what--" Ziva started but was cut off when Tony leaned down and kissed her. Ziva wasn't really sure what was happening for a few seconds until she felt Tony starting to pull away. She brought her hands up to hold his face in her hands. They kissed until they really needed to breath.
"I was joking, of course I will go out with you." Ziva said getting out of the water. Tony just watched her walk towards the table where they had set there things and then hurried after her.
"So you'll go out with me?" Tony asked slightly confused.
"I just said that, didn't I?" Ziva said.
"Yeah, but after I kissed you. So the kiss had nothing to do with you going out with me."
"No, I just wanted to see how you take rejection." Ziva said as they started back for their room.
"You're a cruel person." Tony said.
"That's why you love me!" Ziva said jumping on to Tony's back of a piggy back ride to their room. Tony groaned under her wait.
"Give me some warning when you are about to do that." Tony said.
"What ever."
"Or maybe I'm just a really good kisser and you want to go out with me so that maybe I'll kiss you again."
"I your dreams. I could get you to kiss me any time I wish."
"Is that a challenge."
"Maybe." Ziva said as she jumped off Tony's back and ran up the stairs to their hotel room.
Tony wasn't sure what Ziva meant by what she said, but he was sure he would find out on there first date, hopefully.
Tony woke up around one that night and found Ziva curled up next to him in the bed. He wasn't really sure what had woke him up but he found that he couldn't fall back asleep because he was entranced by watching Ziva.
He slowly, and carefully, climbed out of bed, trying not to wake Ziva, and went over to the bags of things they had bought throughout the week. He pulled out a small box. He opened it and pulled out a necklace. It was on a silver chain and had small Mickey Mouse pennant with three real diamonds in it. He really hoped she liked it because it hadn't been that cheap but he thought it was completely worth it.
He carefully crawled back onto the bed and sat next to Ziva. He gently pulled her hair out of the way and placed the necklace around her neck. He put her back down and waited a few seconds before he moved again to make sure she didn't wake up. She snuggled closer into the covers so Tony thought it was safe to move and lay down in the bed again. He laid down and she instantly snuggled closer to him.
She must have noticed the new necklace around her neck because she mumbled, "Thank you, Tony."
Tony fell asleep again with a huge smile on his face as he wrapped his arms around Ziva's waist to pull her closer, if it was physically possible. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.
THANK YOU FOR READING AND PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!