Wait
When Tony looked back on the weeks that had passed after Ziva's aunt had died he would have wondered how he had managed. He had dedicated himself to Ziva until she loved him. He became her on call comforter whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on and her best friend by all means and ends. This of course made him ecstatic and he spent all his time with her trying to peel away what was blocking him from the real Ziva.
Every day at work he was constantly aware of her and she would of him. They smiled at each other and argued less and less. They were mostly shy in some aspects. They were aware that they had a deep affection for each other and that took away any need to impress each other or to flirt. This dramatic change did not go unnoticed by Gibbs. He watched the two watching each other like a hawk or a protective mother bear. Their behaviour was also infuriating him because they were not breaking any of his rules.
He took Tony aside many times and questioned him about his intentions but every time he did this he was left disappointed. Tony just rambled on about their strictly work partner relationship. Their cover was deep.
Ziva for her part was happy but unsure of where the two would go next in their relationship. They hadn't met outside of work in a long time and mostly if they were sent out alone together in the field they remained silent or talked about anything but their feelings for each other.
One December morning when the weather was icy cold with low snow clouds. Tony and Ziva found they were alone in the car with the heater cranked up, stuck in traffic on their way back from a victim's apartment.
Tony had the radio on down low and was bobbing his head to the familiar tunes. Ziva felt something strange overcome her. It started at her toes and Tingled at her fingers.
"When I was 7. I was at my aunt's house. I was playing in the garden and I looked up and saw a lizard." she said. Not looking at Tony but staring at the back of the SUV in front of them. "I tried to grab it so I could look at it but I got its tail but the rest of it ran away. I found myself with the tail of the lizard completely detached and wriggling in my hand."
She laughed to herself and he looked at her steadily. "That was the first time I remember crying. I felt so bad that I may have killed the lizard."
She smiled again and glanced at Tony to find him staring at her with soft eyes.
"I know it's stupid but-"
"No. its not." he interrupted. "It's the least stupid thing I have ever heard."
They looked at each other for a few long moments and then Tony turned away. He had just let Ziva see him staring at her. Now he felt like a real idiot. But when he looked again she was still looking at him.
"This is going to work out." she said. She sounded so sure and so hopeful at the same time.
"I know it is." he smiled and acted on his impulse to stoke her cheek. She didn't rip his arm off or bite him or anything. She just smiled at him until he replaced the hand on the driver's wheel as the traffic began to move.
A gap in the traffic appeared and Tony shot the car through it. Soon they were back at the navy yard. Tony parked the car and the two of them climbed out then Ziva's cell phone rang.
"It's Gibbs." she looked at Tony and answered the phone
"Gibbs, we're here now."
"Ziva. You've got a guest up here."
She hung up and looked at Tony in confusion.
"I have a visitor."
He shrugged and the two of them entered the building and in to the elevator. When they reached the squad room Gibbs was waiting for them with an unreadable expression. He gestured to Ziva's desk where a small girl was sitting.
"Taylah!" Ziva gasped. Tony also looked surprised as he dropped his gear.
"Taylah, what are you doing here?" Ziva hid her hands from Taylah as they were shivering with the memory that she had killed Taylah's own mother.
"My mother is dead. Uncle Eli sent me here. He is angry." Taylah had tears welling in her eyes and she bit her lip to restrain herself.
Ziva took the girls hand and sat down across from her and tried to figure out what the girl was saying.
"So, he has discarded you to live here. Because of your mother?"
"I suppose so. I-I just don't know what to do." the girl let a sob slip from her and she bowed her head.
Ziva sighed sadly and put her arm around the girl and looked over at Tony. He had a frown creased on his face and his eyes on her.
Gibbs approached her.
"Ziva. Take her home. Settle her in."
"Yes." Ziva shook her head to clear it "Of course you are to stay with me." she looks at the girls singular wheeled bag and her small back pack. "Is this all you came with."
"It is all I have." Taylah sniffed "I hate to burden you Ziva but you are all I have."
Ziva hugged Taylah close and then grabbed her bag.
"Gibbs I will try and be in tomorrow. I am sorry to leave you like this."
He shook his head and waved her away. Tony looked as if he wanted to follow her but her kept his place and gave her a small wave she nodded and waved back as she guided Taylah out. He held his hand up by his ear with his thumb and pinkie out and mouthed 'call me' she smiled and turned away to leave. Ziva took Taylah to her car and opened the passenger door for her to get in and put her bags in the back. Taylah was getting tired. With the jet lag she should be going to bed at that same time. She let her head loll against her shoulder as they started driving. Ziva thought over everything. She would have to call her father and talk to him about this. Sending a young girl to America was foolish and wrong of him. She would also not be able to send Taylah back to him. Who was her guardian now her mother had died? Who was responsible? She felt wrong to be caring for the child of the woman she had recently murdered. The drive wasn't long from the base to her home with Ziva driving. The driving didn't wake the child though. She was use to the driving style of Ziva's family. Once they reached Ziva's home she scooped up the sleeping girl and carried her up to the third floor where she awkwardly managed to unlock the door and let herself in. She gently laid Taylah on the couch and then went back down to her car to collect her bags. When she went outside she found Tony leaning on her car and grinning at her.
She was so pleased to see him she took his hand when she reached him and he asked seriously. "Everything okay?"
"Yes. She is sleeping in the couch. Tony what am I going to do with her. I killed her mother. I can't keep her."
Tony took her arms gently and looked in to her eyes.
"She needs you. Who else has she got?"
Ziva shook her head and pulled away from Tony to get to her car. She opened it and pulled out the small case and gave it to Tony and then took the backpack and closed the door.
"How did you get away?" she asked as they walked back up the stairs to her building.
"Gibbs told me to come see you." he shrugged. "He's on to me."
"Of course he is." she smiled, unconcerned "And it's making him crazy."
They took the elevator to the third floor and came back in to Ziva's apartment. Taylah was still curled up on the sofa and Ziva went off to find some pillows and a blanket while Tony put down the bags. Ziva returned and threw the blanket over Taylah and gently put a pillow under her head. She then beckoned for Tony to follow her out of the room do they wouldn't wake Taylah.
Once in the kitchen Ziva grabbed two glasses. "Drink?"
"I think alcohol is the last thing you need right now." though he contradicted himself by accepting with a small nod. Ziva pored two measures of bourbon and handed one to Tony.
"You know, I always hated bourbon before I met Gibbs." Ziva observed. She held up her glass and took a sip.
"Me too. I guess it's an acquired taste just like the man. You spend enough time with him and it grows on you." Tony grinned at her as he swirled the contents of his own cup.
Suddenly they heard a thump from the next room. Ziva dashed out first and Tony was hot on her heels.
"What happened?" Ziva gasped looking at the smashed glass pieces that lay on the floor.
Taylah was sitting up rubbing her eyes. "Ziva," she turned round "Something knocked it over. It's under that chair." she pointed to the arm chair. Tony approached it, knowing what he would find. And sure enough Alea sprung out in a flash of black fur and tackled his shoe laces with great ferocity.
"What is that?" Taylah yawned
"That is Alea. She is Tony's kitten." Ziva smiled at the two wrestling on the floor.
"Hey. Don't make me take full responsibility. She's your child as well."
Taylah raised an eye brow at Ziva and Ziva laughed. "It's a shared arrangement."
"Right. So you two are her parents?"
The two of them sighed and Tony simply aloud Alea massacre his shoes.
"Sure why not." Ziva sighed and sat beside the girl on the couch.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes I am a little hungry." She replied quietly.
"You like pizza?" Tony asked.
"Tony." Ziva rolled her eyes. "We can't give her pizza on her first night in America."
"Sure we can. Let her taste our culture." Tony pushed
Ziva sighed and smiled at him as he dialled the number.
Taylah fell asleep again watching movies. Tony pushed Ziva back as she tried to stand and got up himself. He scooped up the girl and took her to the guest room where they had set up a small camp bed. It was small but squishy and he laid the girl down it gently. He covered her up with a blanket and left the room, switching the light off as he went.
Ziva was clearing up plates when he came out and he leaned against the wall and sighed as he watched her. After a moment she looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"I guess we had to hold that talk." she sighed.
"We have time for that. One thing at a time." he said softly as he approached her. He took the box from her hand and leaned close.
She knew what was coming and she let her scenes take over and aloud her body to go with it. She ran a hand over his shoulder and went on tip toes so she was closer to him.
He kissed her gently. Although it could be argued that she kissed him. But beside all points they were there together. Kissing gently in the dimly lit living room. Ziva was suffering an inner conflict. Her heart was basking in the glory of its triumph while her brains hard 6 years' Tony training was setting off frantic alarms. It was strange that someone she had so much history with could be there with her certainly and beautifully. They had saved each other's lives so many times that it would seem certain that they would always end up like this.
Neither of them knew how they could speak these thoughts but they both knew that the kiss had made things simpler. With the lightness of it and the gentleness, they were healing all the fights. All the tears. All the wasted times.
Tony pulled away first. He felt so happy and completely overjoyed with his and Ziva's revelation. He stroked her cheeks and hugged her gently to him as he brushed the wisps of hair from her face and kissed her again and again.
She held him close also. She never wanted him to go but he did. After many kisses he let her go and sighed happily.
"I have to go. I have work. I will call you." he smiled so sweetly and picked up his bag to leave. She wanted to tell him that every time he walked away it hurt more and more. But she didn't. She simply smiled back.
She approached him as he reached the door and took his cheeks and looked in to his eyes.
"You are an idiot." she laughed and kissed him one last time.
He grinned and chucked her under her chin. Then left.
:) Mmm Tiva.