A/N: I have to warn those of you who have, and have not, had any experiences with my writing. This story is going to be a lot like "Jealousy" and partially "Get Out Alive" in many ways; if you have read the stories, you would know that I am not one to give instant Tiva unless it's a one-shot. For those of you with no experience with my writing, I can assure you that there are many good moments, but there are also a lot of times that you will find arguments, hate, and conflict; this is not a story about Tony and Ziva running off to Hawaii and living happily ever after. This is a story that may not even have a happily ever after.

I hope that my "warning" hasn't scared you away. This is set 2 years after the end of Season 8, main characters being Tony, Ziva, and an OC. Please enjoy. FYI, I don't own NCIS.

Love.

It was a word she'd thought she'd never say, a word she never thought she could say, let alone associate with anyone or anything. Attachment was weakness, and it would only lead to bad things. She'd learned that through years of Mossad, only to have the visions cracked in the US. Still, she had never used the word love, not even in association with her team. Though she did love them for the friends they were, the word itself promised much greater attachment. And after all she'd been through, she wasn't sure that it would ever be possible for her to speak the word.

I love you.

So much different, yet the same. Another thing she'd never pictured herself speaking or relating to. Love was not part of her life… and how could it be? How could any love someone like her, and how could she loan so much trust as to love someone back?

But… that had been before. Before she'd left, before she'd cried, before she'd felt more alone than ever. It had been two years since she'd last set foot on US soil, and she'd only barely had contact with the team since. She'd only seen Abby in person, once, and Tony had never contacted her. He had been moved to his own team in a place he'd only described as "classified," and she'd been moved as a liaison to a small Navy base in Britain. They'd said that her investigative skills would "help" her here; and they'd been right.

For two years she'd played the politics, played the games of the sailors, yet it was never the same. The country was different, and although she loved it, sometimes it made her feel more lost than ever. The United Stated that had been her home was so different, so perfect, and this place… it confused her. It had taken her almost a year to adapt, when she'd barely needed a week in the past.

Some might have claimed her life took a turn for the worst from her move to Britain. She'd claimed differently, swearing that "every cloud had silver lining" - an idiom she'd learned through Tony - and in that, she was quite right. At least for now… her life was simple, almost perfect. It was all too bad that things were never perfect for her.

Dawn was barely breaking, dim rays of sunlight barely lighting the sky, but it was enough to see. Quiet as she could be, Ziva David slowly slid out of bed, making sure to replace the covers exactly the way they had been before. She almost regretted leaving the bed, for the sleeping man's embrace had been perfect, warm and comforting. He looked… so alone, she thought, but she needed her daily runs.

She allowed a small sigh as she slipped out of her night clothing and switched into her jogging outfit. The black, tight clothing felt cool to the touch. With only a slight regretful glance backward, she left the room, stopping only in the kitchen to drink a glass of water before leaving. But as she stopped, she instantly realized her mistake, for she felt a pair of arms close around her waist and pull her backwards.

Smiling, she allowed this, settling in the man's arms. He blinked at her, blue eyes big and tired, but a smile had set on his features as well. She turned in his arms to grant him a light kiss and he only smiled broader. "Now, Ziva, did you really think that you would go jogging without me?"

"You looked tired…" she started to explain, but was cut off as he leaned in to kiss her again. He pulled away from her after a few moments, squeezing her carefully before letting go completely.

"Wait for me, I'll get dressed," he offered, and before she could answer, he'd vanished into their bedroom. The man reappeared a moment later, dressed in just a pair of black shorts. She would have laughed at his sudden decision to go without a shirt if she wasn't so used to it; their routine had been set by now. She knew his routines as well as he knew hers, and they worked in sync this way. The few times that she attempted to leave for a jog without him, he'd be up, right on schedule, and right behind her.

"Alright, I'm ready. Let's go." They exited the small apartment complex quickly, only to have him stop suddenly and turn to her. "Wait, don't I get a kiss for good luck?"

She laughed. "You get enough kisses, but I suppose that I can give you one." Ziva turned and complied with his request, giving him a featherlight kiss before she pivoted on her heel and sprinted off. She was far ahead of him before he realized what had happened, and the yell of surprise behind her when he finally did realize only made her smile more. It didn't take long for him to catch up, and when he did, he reached instantly for her hand.

It must have looked strange, she decided, the two of them running hand-in-hand. Besides the awkward way of running with only one arm pumping while the other was swinging between them, there was the obvious factor of how strange they looked together. She was slim, her muscles obvious though not overly large, all accompanied by her smaller frame and wild brown hair. He was tall, heavy-set with muscles to outmatch her own, and tanned ever-so-perfectly. All of this was accompanied by short blonde hair and the bright blue eyes she'd swear were just as innocent as a child's.

Their route, for the most part, was normal. They ran quietly down the sidewalks and through the parks of the area. At least - all seemed normal. But when something flashed in her vision, it was almost impossible not to stop and stare. Recognition hit her so hard that she almost fell, her breath catching in her throat. No… it couldn't be. But those green eyes! She's seen them for only a moment before they'd vanished… it had to be an illusion.

Beside her, her companion skidded to a halt. His face was of pure concern, his hand instantly reaching for her arm. "Hey, Zi, are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"I… thought I saw something, that is all," she replied, her voice barely audible. It hadn't been a something she'd seen, but a someone, and that person she hadn't seen for two years. Old feelings hit her hard but she pushed them away, drawing a deep breath before she looked up at the man.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to do that. We can continue if you want," she declared, but his look still didn't fade. With a sigh, she stood up and looked around. "For a second I thought I saw someone that used to mean so much to me. But it was an illusion. We cut off communication before I even met you…"

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The man kissed her cheek lovingly with a small smile playing on his face. "Don't worry, love, it'll be alright."

Ziva breathed in his scent, wanting nothing more than to believe him. But if that hadn't been an illusion… to see him again, it would be almost dangerous. There had been so many things that had happened, so many painful things. She couldn't imagine the explanation, and the anger. Could they even explain?

"I love you, Ziva, you know that, right?"

The line still made her breath hitch, for more reasons than one. Knowing that he loved her so meant so much to her, but the fact that she'd heard that same line just over 2 years ago from a different man… it was almost too much. But he doesn't know, she thought guiltily.

"I know, Jacob, I love you as well."

Love.

Such a hard word for her to say before, but impossibly easy now.

Even so, the word brought back so many memories, and now all she wanted was to finish the run and have time to be alone with her own thoughts. Thoughts that she knew would be ridden with his name, and thoughts that would bring back so many memories…

And at that very moment, Ziva David realized she was scared. Of her own thoughts, her own illusions, and what they could do to her life.

A/N: Okay, not the most amazing ending. But hey, it's basically an introduction. c: Yes, you will see Tony soon.