Chapter 3

Tony and Ziva stood in the elevator letting the door open and close in front of them about 5 times before they finally pushed the button to go to the lobby.

"So…" Tony said playing with his car keys. "About what Gibbs said, is that true? Do you have feelings for me?"

"Tony look, maybe we should talk about this over dinner after all I am starving."

Tony smiled and walked out of the elevator. Once again almost in tune with how their day was supposed to begin one week ago. He opened the door, put Ziva's bag in the car and closed the door. Ziva smiled and couldn't help but wonder if what Gibb's had said just a few minutes prior was true.

"Would you like something to drink? I have water, soda, beer and wine." Tony smiled before Ziva could respond. He knew what she liked and he came walking in with two bottles of water.

"Tony, can I ask you a question? Do you like me as more than a friend?"

Tony smiled, very shocked by the statement that had just been made by his partner and friend. He had known the question was going to come up, in fact, he wanted the question to be asked more than anything in the world. He just wasn't expecting it to come on the heels of the statement made by his boss. He didn't know how to respond in fact, he just stood there stone faced trying to decide if what was going through his head was something he should say or if he should just keep his mouth shut.

"Ziva. It's been 5 years since you came to NCIS. I felt a connection to you since. I felt like we were in sync from the very beginning. I don't know I guess I just feel like a better man when I am around you."

Ziva and Tony sit down for a dinner of pizza. That was the only thing Tony knew how to cook which surprised Ziva, considering the fact that he ordered it more often than cooked it.

"Tony. When you rescued me from that terrorist cell at the horn of Africa, I made a promise to myself. One I intend to keep. I promised that for as long as you would let me I would try to always show you that you are the man in my life who has always had my back and never let me down. I love you too, Tony, more than anything."

Tony and Ziva will continue the strange journey of love in the next chapter…Will they take the plunge into becoming a couple or will they just continue to be friends and hide their love?