Chapter Five

As I made my way down a long street in the middle of West Hollywood, I could hear the hectic traffic to my right, smell flowers and food from kiosks lining the inner section of the sidewalk to my left. I keep walking, not having a definitive location to end up. I then see Shane crossing the street from the other side of it. She jogged up to me, a smile on her angular face.

"Hey. Ziva, right?" She asked, seeming pleased to see me.

"Yes. Hello, Shane." I replied with a smile, glad to see her as well.

"Are you in the mood to go to "The Planet" and chat with us?" The young woman asked.

"That sounds good."

Shane, nodding, escorted me to "The Planet" and we walk inside. Dana Fairbanks and Tina Kennard were sitting at a table that we walked up to.

"Ziva!" Tina said, sounding surprised.

"Yes, hello. You are Tina, correct?" I question, sitting down in the chair across from her.

"Uh-huh. Where's your lady friend?" She asked me.

I grin at the mention of Monique.

"Oh, Monique is at work. I do not have work today." I explain to the woman.

I take note of Tina and Dana nodding. I reach up and fiddle with my Star of David a bit as I remain silent, not sure of what else to say.

"So," Dana started. "How are you adjusting to West Hollywood?"

"I am adjusting okay. Not as well as Monique, I suppose… but she is more used to the constant moving than I am."

"Well, it's a nice place… we all enjoy it. Especially the night life." Shane told me, a sly look coming to her face.

That sly look got to me. What was so exciting about the night life that it would invoke a sly reaction? Tina rolled her eyes.

"She means hitting all the lesbian bars in Hollywood." Tina clarified, most liking catching onto my curious and confused expression.

"Oh, I see." I responded, nodding slowly.

"Yeah. This one's pretty wild." Dana added, gesturing her thumb at Shane.

Shane playfully shoved Dana, and both ladies were giggling. I smirked at their actions. Just then Alice and Carmen came into the café, smiles plastered across their faces. They stopped in their tracks when they saw me. It was as if they did not expect to see me back here again.

"Oh, uh, hey, Ziva." Carmen greeted, waving to me.

"Ziva, hey. It's good to see you here." Alice added, smiling radiantly.

I returned the smile, feeling more in place with the world in that moment. Warm welcomes were so incredibly appreciated that it made me wonder if they truly understood just how grateful I am to them. They joined us, ordering a couple drinks. I had nothing and that was fine. Tapping my fingers mindlessly on the table, I could not help but think of Monique. She seemed to always be on my mind, but is that not what relatively new love is supposed to be like? I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my name being said.

"Ziva… yoo-hoo, earth to Ziva." Alice said, waving a hand in front of my face.

"Huh!" I replied, snapping out of my thoughts.

The girls giggled at my actions, enjoying the little performance. I blushed slightly.

"Someone misses their girlfriend." Alice teased, poking my arm with her finger.

Later that day I decided I had had enough excitement for one day and wanted to go home so that I could relax before I started work the next day. I sat down on my couch upon entering our house, propping my feet up with a sigh. I missed my most beautiful Monique. Was it truly possible to miss someone so much? She hadn't even been gone for twenty-four hours. Is that pathetic?

I jump slightly when I hear and see the door open. Before I was able to reach for my weapon, I see Monique's smiling face. She seemed to have had a good day. I eagerly jumped up from the couch and rushed to Monique, feeling quite out of character. She hugged me, holding me there in her arms and I felt nothing but love emanating from her frame, from her soul. I held her, too, never wanting the feeling of transcending love to end.

We must have been standing there for several moments, perhaps minutes. The time just passed and the rest of the world seemed to no longer exist. It was such a pleasant feeling, no, more than pleasant… perfect. I let out a content sigh, gripping her tighter, and she did the same.

"I love you," She told me in a soft, almost soothing voice, "so much."

"I love you, too." I murmured back.

A few more moments passed before Monique released me, yet I did not.

"Baby, I have to use the restroom." She whispered to me, stroking my hair.

"Aw," I pouted. "But I don't want to let go of you."

"I know. I know. I'll be back in a couple minutes. I promise." She assured me, looking into my pouty brown eyes.

I push out my bottom lip for a bit and finally let her go. She patted my cheeks gently and went to the restroom. When she returned she lifted me up into her arms in somewhat of a surprise attack. She held me in her arms bridal style and spun me just a bit. What had her so happy?

"You seem so happy!" I observed in exclamation.

"Yes, I am. You wanna know why?" She teasingly asked me.

I giggled softly.

"Yes."

"Because, today, I got to come home from work to the most amazingly beautiful girlfriend on earth!" She explained, holding me close.

I could not help but squeal as she spun me one last time. She set me on my feet and wrapped her arms around my waist before kissing my rose colored lips. I, without hesitation, returned her kiss and we pulled apart. I reached up and stroked her luxurious brunette curls. She leaned in and kissed me again, pulling back before I could return it.

"You are perfect." Monique murmured to me, caressing my cheek so gently it was as if her hand was not even there.

I was able to tell that she was teasing me. She was so good at this, among other things. I leaned into her touch but she moved her hands just enough so that yet again I could barely feel them. A devilish grin plastered across her face as I impatiently groaned.

"You are so responsive tonight." She remarked.

I shrug as she pressed herself into me.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, her hands wandering lower down my body.

I felt chills rush through me. I nod slowly, surely. I knew from the look in her eyes that she was not talking about food, but something much more pleasurable. Her hands went to the button on my pants and I watched her face as her eyes were glued to where her hands were. I keep my eyes on her marvelous face. Since her time in L.A. she had developed a bit of a tan. She was even more beautiful with the tan, yet she was always beautiful and always possessed this grace. I think it was one of the many things about her that I fell in love with.

She allowed her exuberant eyes to scan up to my face and her hand went inside my pants. I let out a sharp breath in reaction to her touch. She was so amazing, astounding. What I had not realized was that Monique had a certain special surprise in store for me.