Chapter Thirty Two

"Ziva, lets let Abs and McGee watch Conner. I think you need a break." Tony looked at the ninja who was sitting by Conner playing with him. She looked worn out. She did need a break.

"What kind of a break Tony?" Ziva looked at Tony for a moment then turned her gaze to her young son. Conner was amused by everything at that point and was very happy.

"We can go out to dinner. Abs and McGee will watch him while we're gone and on our way back we can pick him up." Tony shrugged, "its worth a try. You need a break and Conner looks like he's in a really good mood. I think he'll be fine with even Vance watching him at this point."

"Ab!" Conner threw his hands in the air hearing Tony. He looked at his mother and the man he knew as dad and laughed. His laugh was contagious and both adults began to laugh along.

"Alright Tony. I will go along with you to dinner." Ziva agreed as she laughed.

Tony smiled, "awesome. I'll call Abs and McGee." He went to his room and called Abby. He was glad he was finally getting his chance and he wasn't chickening out anymore.

When Ziva and Tony dropped Conner off at McGee's apartment, Ziva was confident Conner would be fine. Especially when he found out about McGee's typewriter and how he could play with it with McGee.

"You going to be fine with leaving him?" Tony asked as they walked to his car.

Ziva nodded. "Yes. He is used to Abby and McGee, so he will be fine with staying with them."

Tony opened her door for her, it was surprising for Ziva cause he'd never done it.

"Um, thank you Tony." She looked at him for a moment before getting in.

After she had gotten in, Tony shut her door and went to the drivers side. "And so it begins." He mumbled to himself before getting in.

"Where are we going?" Ziva looked at him as he finished buckling and started the car.

"Italian. I hope its okay with you." He looked at Ziva before starting to drive.

"Yes." Ziva sighed contently. She felt good about having a small break. She needed it. Especially after all the stress had gone away. She needed time for herself and Tony, to be able to talk about things and finally fix everything that had happened between them, they had already apologized but Ziva knew that it wouldn't be fixed until they talked.

Tony drove in the content silence. He knew Ziva was enjoying the silence so he'd let her have it. He needed it anyways. He needed the extra time to think. To decide what he was going to say. He needed to say it to. He wanted to make sure Ziva knew. But he wanted to make sure it was good for her. That she knew he was honest and sincere. But how would he do that? He'd never told a girl something that meant, so much. Well he had, just not with as much worry that she might not think he was sincere. It just proved Ziva was important to him.

When they got to the restaurant Tony parked and quickly got out and opened Ziva's door.

Ziva was surprised as she un-buckled and got out. "Thank you Tony."

Tony nodded with a smile and shut her door after she got out. He locked the car and walked inside with her, once again holding the door open for her.

This is new. Ziva thought as she walked in. I did not know Tony could be such a gentleman. It's…She looked at him as he went up to the counter and gave his name to the hostess, charming.

Tony walked back to Ziva smiling, "lets go."

"Already? A table that quick?" Ziva asked surprised as she walked with him to follow the waitress.

"I called ahead and got a reservation." Tony grinned.

"What if I had decided I did not need a break?" Ziva teased back. She went to go sit when they got to the table.

Tony quickly pulled her chair out for her. He smiled at her.

Ziva smiled back and sat, "thank you Tony. But I can get my chair out on my own."

Tony chuckled. "I'm being helpful." He sat in his seat across from Ziva.

Ziva smiled and took her menu. She opened it and looked at the different meals to choose from.

Tony watched her mesmerized. She looked so beautiful. The way her eyes shone a little with a small sparkle. She had make-up on, but it was faint. Her curly hair gently fell onto her shoulders bunching up together softly. Damn she was so gorgeous. Looking at her was breath taking.

"What can I get you two to drink?" The waiter had come sooner than Tony had thought. It made him jump.

Tony scrambled to see what they had. He looked at the menu and said the first thing he saw. "Some champagne please."

"For both?" The waiter glanced at the exotic beauty for confirmation.

Ziva nodded. "Yes. Thank you." She was graceful about it, not missing a beat.

The waiter nodded, "I'll be right back with that." He left the two.

Tony looked at his menu starting to blush. Compared to Ziva, he was lame. Why would she want to have a relationship with an ordinary lame guy? Especially when she was so perfect, beautiful, and probably the most sweetest and gentlest mother he'd ever watched. Ziva around Conner compared to her at work was two completely different people. At work she was more sophisticated. She was very quick and on her toes more. She got the job done and she did it sufficiently and quickly. With Conner, she was calm, smiling, laughing, relaxed. She didn't worry. She was gentle and patient. It was almost as if she stepped back in time to her childhood when she helped take care of Talia, her sister. Tony knew that Ziva had a gentle nature, but wasn't allowed to show it because back in her home country they had to grow up fast and forget all their emotions.

"Tony, you alright? You are very quiet." Ziva observed.

Tony looked up at her, she was looking at her menu with an amused smile on her lips. "Yeah Zivers. Just thinking."

"About?" Ziva tilted her head slightly keeping her eyes on her menu still.

"Uh, things." Tony stuttered. This was so not him. No girl could ever make him this nervous. Only Ziva could apparently. He liked the feeling, but also didn't. He wanted to be confident and not get cold feet.

"Like?" Ziva looked up this time for a moment, locking her brown eyes with his green ones for what felt like an eternity. She looked back down to her menu and Tony wanted to look in her eyes longer. Way longer.

"Well, kinda the reason I wanted to bring you to dinner."

"I thought it was for a break?" Ziva looked up again. This time longer and this time a confused expression. "Is break a new word for talking about things?"

Tony almost chuckled. He would've if he wasn't so nervous. "No. I used the excuse of the break for it. But yeah I did want you to be able to get a small break from having to take care of him.

"Oh." Ziva said simply. "What was the other reason?"

"Well, I um, want to talk to you about-" He took a deep breath. "How I feel about you. Ziva, I love you. I don't know how to explain how. I just do." All his words came out in a rush.

Ziva couldn't help but just smile at him as the waiter brought their champagne, he got it opened, made sure it tasted right to them, took their orders and left.

"Tony, have I ever told you how hilarious it is to watch you when you are not your confident self?" A small chuckle escaped her lips.

Tony looked down. "Oh." That wasn't something any guy would want to hear. Tony slipped on the charm hoping Ziva wouldn't have noticed. "No you haven't as a matter of fact."

Ziva smiled, "its very charming." She reached across the table and gently laid her hand on his. "But to be honest, I am not sure how I feel about you."

Once again Tony looked down. He hated how this was going so far. He was being brave and finally telling her, finally saying what he had wanted for so long, and here he was, getting shot down by the woman he loved. He wasn't sure if he should just give up, or keep trying. Giving up seemed like a better option, especially at that moment.