"Morning." Ziva smiled coming down the stairs finding Tony sitting at the piano."Whatcha playing?"
"Well, I was learning this new song." Tony said.
"Can I hear it?" Ziva asked sitting next to him.
"It isn't really done and it is a duet, so, I can't sing some of it." Tony smiled.
"What is it called?" Ziva asked nodding him in the shoulder.
"Come and Save Me." Tony said.
"I never heard it." Ziva said. "But when you finish, let me know."
"Okay." Tony said going back to working on the piano. Ziva smiled and kissed his temple. She then got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Hey ZIVA!" Neshia smiled from the kitchen table.
"I thought you left?" Ziva said/asked.
"We did." Neshia smiled. "But Grandma had to drop us off cause she was doing something."
"Us?"
"Hey Zi," Yaron said coming up from be hind her. He placed the bowl of fruit he was carrying on the table and turned to her. "Mom had to run errands and said to stay here and if it bothered you, then we would leave."
"Nah, it doesn't bother me. Yaron, it is just like old times." Ziva smiled.
"Almost." Yaron said thinking of their missing face. Tali.
"Tony and I are going to stay here for the day. It is are last day here, so we decided to stay in and relax. We were going to start a movie later on, if you guys are up to it." Ziva said.
"Of course!" Neshia smiled. "Can I sit next to Tony?"
"NESHIA!" Yaron said. "Leave the boy alone."
"Ziva said that I could keep him!" Neshia whined.
"Yesterday. For an HOUR." Yaron said. "Time is up and he is Ziva's again."
"Not fair!" Neshia said crossing her arms across her chest.
Ziva smiled and leaned down to the little girls height. "Tony is playing the piano right now, I am sure he would teach you something if you asked him too."
She smiled brightly and ran out of the kitchen towards the piano.
"Ziva, why did you do that?" Yaron asked sitting at the table. "Tony was with her all day yesterday and then you go sick her on him again."
"You are acting as if she is a rabid dog." Ziva laughed.
"You know that she can get a little persistent after a long time. I have no doubt that she will be forcing Tony to do crazy girly things in about ten minutes." Yaron said.
"You worry yourself too much. Tony can take care of himself, especially from Neshia." Ziva said sitting down at the table across from Yaron. "He had a sister, and she died when she was 7. She was about Neshia's age and Tony feels as if it was his fault. Even though she died from Leukemia."
"You would never know..." Yaron said.
"I can tell that Neshia reminds him of his sister, and everything he could have done with her." Ziva said. "He likes being with her. It brings back old memories."
"Why does he play the piano?" Yaron asked. "I know it is an odd question, but, when he plays something about him changes."
"It was his sister's dream to become a singer. Tony played the piano, or guitar for her while she sang." Ziva said. "You see, his sister was always sick and always in the hospital, so he would bring the guitar and play music for her and sing to her to make her feel better. About three weeks before she died, the doctors had told Tony and his family that she did not have a lot of time left. Tony organized a performance for her and she sang to the nurses as a concert. The day before she died, she told Tony that he was not allowed to stop playing the instruments. And that if he did, she would kick his butt all the way from heaven."
Yaron nodded, telling Ziva to continue.
"She was very bright and happy for someone who was about to die, and told him that he wasn't allowed to change." Ziva said. "Sometimes, I think of how lucky Tali had it. He death was quick, painless, she had no suffering. But Carly, Tony's sister. She suffered for four years before dying. Tony sat there and watched his sister, slowly die and I don't think I would have been able to do what he did. He says he is amazed by me coping with all the death, but the way I see it, I do not think I would have had the strength to sit by Carly's bed everyday and just wait not know how much time he had left with her."
"Death is death, Ziva."
"Yaron, do not let Mossad fool you. I know you grew up here, I did too, yes we have seen horrible things but really, how easy did they get off compared to Carly?" Ziva said. "Tali died from a bomb, quick and painless. Arielle died within two days, and for the most part she wasn't even conscious, and my dad, another bomb. Yes, dying has the same result in the end, but, would you rather lose someone quickly, in an instant. Or would you rather sit and watch them die, knowing there is nothing you can do to save them. Knowing you are going to sit there and sing songs with your dying sister because it makes her smile and it might be the last day you see her smile."
Yaron didn't say anything at first. "What are you trying to say, Ziva?"
"I don't know." Ziva said putting her head down on the table, trying to gather her thoughts. She really didn't know what she was trying to prove.
Yaron smiled. "Ziva," He smiled. "Do not think for one moment I have judged that boy, saying he had an easy past."
"I know that Yaron." Ziva said tear starting to form in her eyes, "It is just... he hides it so well, with Neshia and then pretending like he has never grieved and just everything. Sometimes I feel like crying for him because I know that he won't. I know that he has always been my rock, and he would never break down. I want to scream for him, why her? Why an innocent little girl? Why his little sister who could have been everything she ever dreamed of."
"Ziva." Tony said interrupting Yaron and Ziva's conversation. Ziva quickly turned to look at him, she then wiped the ears from her eyes.. He had a sad smile on his face and walked over to the table. "Yaron, could you give us a minute?"
"Sure." Yaron said leaving the table and walking towards where Neshia might be.
"Ziva." Tony said taking her hand in his. "I love you. and I know you love me, but you have to stop worrying about me. It has been four years since Carly died. I am okay now. I promise."
"I-" Ziva started.
"She liked you," Tony said. "I know you only knew her for the last couple months, but, she really liked you. She told me that one day we were going to get married."
"She did." Ziva said.
Tony nodded. "I think she knew before we did. She knew that something was gong to happen to us."
"Tony I lied to you." Ziva said getting it off her chest. Tony looked up at her, the smile erasing from his face.
"About what?" He asked, in a confused voice.
"When I said that I hadn't sang since Tali died. I lied." Ziva said. "Remember when we went to see your sister, and she was complaining on how hungry she was. You went to find her something to eat and I stayed with her. Well, when you did, her pain medication ran out and she started to cry and then she was fine, because the nurse gave her more, but she was still upset. I asked her if there was anything I could do to help her, and she said to sing. So I sat next her and she laid there in front of me, her eyes teary and I sang. I can't tell you what I sang, because I do not remember."
"Zi," Tony said squeezing her hand. He smiled a little.
"I am not done." Ziva said. "And when I was singing, she smiled and closed her eyes, and looked peaceful. And then I realized why you suffered everyday, going to see her. It was just, seeing her smiling it made my day and it made me happy." Ziva wiped the tears from her eyes, looking over at Tony, trying to get some reaction.
Tony stepped off his chair and walked over to her chair. He wrapped his arm around her waist and buried his head in her shoulder. "I love you." He whispered, his lips brushing her ear.
"I love you too." Ziva whispered. A few more tears fell from Ziva's eyes, remembering Carly's smile and her laugh. "I miss her." Ziva said. "She was always happy, always in a good mood and always singing."
"I miss her too." Tony said holding Ziva tighter. "I miss her too. If I could do anything to have her back, I would do it."
"I know." Ziva said. "Tony, you were the best big brother she could have ever asked for. You did a lot of stuff that most brother's wouldn't do. I know for a fact that she loved you very much."
Tony blinked away tears. "Neshia reminds me of Carly." He said still not moving. "She has the same fun, spunky attitude." Tony smiled.
"She does." Ziva laughed a little.
"Zi," Tony whispered,
"Ya?" Ziva asked pulling away a little so that she could look at his face. Tony rested his forehead against hers.
"Carly had everything she ever dreamed of." Tony said. "She didn't need to sing in front of crowds, or on a stage with millions of fans. She was happy with just us, You, Me and my mom. When she sang for the nurses, she was so excited but she really loved when she was sitting in her room, singing to just us."
"I guess that is all that really mattered." Ziva smiled.
Tony smiled and leaned in so that his lips were just above hers. "Yes, it is." Tony said before leaning in all the way and kissing Ziva. Ziva smiled against his lips and brought her hands up and cupped his cheeks holding his head there.
That Night:
Ziva sat down at the piano, running through a couple chords and scales. Tony smiled and came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. Ziva smiled and leaned back against him. She tilted her head back and looked up at him. "Hey, what's up?" She asked.
Tony smiled down to her. "Your brother said to pack everything because our plane leaves early tomorrow morning and he doesn't want anything rushed so have everything that you don't need packed."
"Okay." She smiled. "I will go do that now."
She got up off the bench and walked around to Tony. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
"What is this for?" Tony asked, hugging her back
"Because I love you." Ziva smiled against his chest. She untangled herself and walked back upstairs.
Tony smiled and sat down on the bench in front of the piano. He pressed the keys and began to play. The beginning of the song came out perfectly. Soon the song lyrics were up and he began to sing.
"The sky keeps on changing colors
In the rain
Nothing ever seems
To stay the same
But I found you to my
Surprise
I found all I needed
In your eyes
Everyone keeps leaving
But you stayed
When I held you tonight
And let my heart go free" Tony sang softly, not too loud because he didn't want anyone to hear it.
He played the chorus not singing though, because that was Ziva's part and his voice would not sound good singing that high.
"Love
Nothing ever takes the place
Of love
Breaks through all the madness
Like a flood
You washed away my fears
And let my heart go free" He sang again. This time, he heard Ziva walk behind him and she placed her arms around his shoulders leaning on him.
"Hold me close
Now until forever
I'll be unafraid
Hold me close
Give me back
My reason to believe
Come and save me" Ziva sang, the chorus coming out perfectly even though she had never sang the song before, she understood the music enough to sing it almost to perfection.
"Hold me close
Now until forever
I'll be unafraid
Hold me close
Give me back
My reason to believe
Come and save me" Ziva continued singing as the chorus repeated itself. She smiled and kissed Tony's head when there was a break in the lyrics.
"Come and save me" Tony sang after her in perfect harmony
"I found you tonight" Ziva sang finishing off the song. She smiled and sat down next to Tony. He turned and looked at her, smiling as well.
"I like that song." Ziva smiled.
"I like it too." Tony said leaning in and kissing her. Ziva smiled and kissed him back, she then pulled away and looked at the music.
"Where did you find the song?" Ziva asked. When Tony didn't answer she looked at him and saw him still starring at her."What is wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"NO." Tony smiled. He chuckled a little then replied, "It is just, you look beautiful."
"Thanks." Ziva said, her cheeks getting pink.
"Absolutely beautiful." Tony whispered, kissing her again, this time he held her close so that she couldn't pull away.