I HATE MICHAEL RIVKIN. GRRR.
And yes, I do realise that Tony has not yet made one movie reference, maybe the next chapter.. ?
i'm not very good at writing romantic scenes..
and "a friend" really is a friend. who loves NCIS, but just hasn't realised it yet..

Review pleaaaaaaaaaase. (:

The next morning Tony thought he was dreaming. Ziva's desk was surrounded by flowers of different varieties and sizes. He looked at McGee's desk which was empty. Probably down with Abby, he thought. He placed the single red rose he had got for Ziva down on her desk and decided to snoop around reading the cards that came with the flowers.

Happy Birthday, love James

With love Steven

Happy Birthday from Kurt

Happy Birthday from Dev, just wondered if you'd lost my number because I haven't heard from you? If you have ,no worries. I've written it on the back.

Tony rolled his eyes. He carried on reading the cards with the flowers. Out of 14, only 4 were from women the rest from men. Tony was not happy. He jumped suddenly as a sweet voice murmured into his ear, "Being nosy Tony?"

He looked round to see a very amused Ziva staring back at him.

"Uhhh, no? Happy birthday." he said.

She chuckled as she walked around to her desk "Thank you." Tony watched the way she moved her hips to avoid knocking any flowers over. He gulped and went and sat at his desk, watching her read the cards. She rolled her eyes at them all then looked down at the single red rose. She picked it up and played with the petals absentmindedly. "I love roses" she said talking to herself. She looked up at Tony who looked away.. scared? no, it was more like embarrassment?

She frowned. "Did you see who left this Tony?" she asked.

Tony looked back at her.. blushing? "No"

She knew he was lying but didn't want to pursue the matter, just then her phone rang. She picked up her phone and began speaking Hebrew to the caller. Tony watched her curiously. She spoke for five minutes before looking uncomfortable. "Bye," she said "Love you too." Abby came running in with McGee just as Ziva put down the phone.

"Happy Birthday!" she said enveloping Ziva into a hug, knocking over the flowers, then pushed Ziva back peering at her. "Who do you love?" Abby asked, glancing over to Tony.

Ziva missed the glance and smiled. "That was my aunt Nettie."

Tony let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding and watched McGee wish Ziva a happy birthday. Gibbs came around the corner, "Happy birthday Ziva" Ziva smiled, then Gibbs said "Gear up."

It had been a tiring day; it was 2000 when Gibbs ordered everyone to get home to get ready for Ziva's party.

Ziva was very nervous, she didn't know why. She had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach "A gut feeling" she thought with a wry smile. She looked at herself in the full length mirror in her hallway. She and Abby had chosen a two toned shimmery black and bottle green full length dress in the end, it was V necked and it showed a great deal of her back. It also had a split that showed a toned leg. She wore medium heeled sandals and her hair was put up loosely, she had just put on a pair of silver earrings when the bell rang, it was McGee and Abby. She opened the door and Abby did what she was best at, she shrieked.

"WOW Ziva, you look amazing!"

McGee peered over Ziva's shoulder at her new apartment.

He looked a bit sheepish when he saw Ziva had noticed.

"Uhh, nice apartment." He said

Ziva just smirked and said "Thanks."

She grabbed her bag and was about to grab her car keys when Abby whined at her.

"Awww, come on Ziva you can't drive there on your birthday! That's why me and Tim are here! To drive you. Well not only drive you, but be at the party too.. cos you know we organised it and uh we're you're friends.."

Abby's voice trailed off as she saw the warning look from McGee. Ziva led them out and shut the door behind them.

Ziva gasped when she saw the venue for the party. They had chosen the VIP area from a very well known club. She scanned the room, looking for the rest of the group.

And she saw Tony. His eyes drank every aspect of her body from the bottom to the top like a thirsty man. He saw the toned leg half hidden, the curve of her hips, her flat stomach, her breasts, her graceful neck, her pink lips, her angular nose and then lastly her deep brown eyes. She felt the blood rushing to the surface of her skin. She blushed. Ziva David blushed.

For a moment it felt like they were the only ones there, until McGee came stumbling in bumping into Ziva. Ziva lost eye contact and bumped into a blonde haired man who put a hand on her back, -her bare back, which Tony had only just seen,- steadying her and smiling at her. Tony felt his blood boiling. Ziva shot daggers with her eyes at the man and muttered a "thanks" and removed herself from his grip. She insisted that she was ok to McGee and Abby, Abby punched McGee's arm for his clumsiness. Abby led Ziva towards the rest of the team and Tony gritted his teeth seeing the blonde guy check Ziva out.

His gaze then came back to rest on Ziva, she looked.. beautiful. Ziva blushed again, she could feel Tony's eyes on her again. She avoided eye contact and was greeted by Gibbs, Ducky and Palmer, they all looked pretty good in their smart suits but they could not compare to Tony. Ziva gave a quick calculated Mossad ninja style glance at him. He was wearing a new suit, even a new tie. He looked .. irresistible.

Ducky began telling one of his infamous stories and Ziva didn't know what to do, she was sitting a seat away from Tony and he would not stop staring! Didn't he know how obvious he was being?

Tony how obvious he was being. But he didn't care.

Abby smirked as she sat opposite the two, Tony watching Ziva's every move and Ziva blushing.

Abby suddenly declared it was present time and they all began to pull up boxes of different shapes and sizes.

Gibbs leaned over to Ziva, and handed her a box.

"Don't open it now." Ziva laughed, she knew what it was. A new gun. She could tell by the way Gibbs looked at her nervously.

Palmer handed over a box nervously, "I uh, didn't know what to get so I thought I'd get you, some office supplies.."

Ziva laughed and said "Thank you Jimmy. More paperclips.."

The team laughed, Tony just smirked.

Ducky handed over a small box which had a pair of small studded earrings. She smiled and said "Thank you Ducky, they are very beautiful."

Next Abby handed over a box full of an assortment of CD's. Then everyone's gazes turned to Tony expectantly, he was still staring t Ziva.

"Ahem." Abby cleared her throat and kicked under the table. McGee screamed in pain "ABBY!" Tony snapped out of his dazed state and looked at the rest of the team.

"Yes?"

Ziva's heart sank he had probably forgotten to get her something.

Abby narrowed her eyes at Tony. "Ziva's present Tony" she said through her teeth. Gibbs smirked.

"What about Probie over there?"

McGee, smiled smugly. "Me & Abby got her the dress." Tony looked at him, so that's who he had to thank.

He looked over at Ziva who gave him her best "Gibbs stare." He smiled the using the DiNozzo charm and she was momentarily stunned.

He reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a box. It looked like jewellery. Ziva opened the box and there was a stunned silence. It looked very expensive. It was a silver necklace with an emerald crystal pendant on it.

Tony tried to make a joke out of it.
"Come on, I spent 5 whole dollars on that."

Ziva gave him a smile that melted his heart. "Thank you Tony, for the very expensive necklace. It's beautiful." "Not as beautiful as you" Tony thought and for once he could not think of anything funny to say.

The team then started talking again and Gibbs made his excuse to leave, wishing Ziva a happy birthday again.

There was now an empty seat between Ziva and Tony and they both could see each other clearly. Ducky and Palmer were the next to leave. Ducky half dragging a drunken Palmer to his car.

Suddenly Abby jumped up, and pulled up McGee . "Let's dance Timmy!" McGee jumped up in surprise.

Tony cleared his throat as he moved up a seat next to Ziva. Ziva didn't know what to say.

"You look nice." She scolded herself. Of all things to say?!

Tony grinned "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." Tony said
letting her eyes roam over her body. He suddenly stopped grinning and his face became serious.

He reached for the box with the necklace in and undid the clasp, Ziva turned around so Tony could put the necklace on. Tony looked at her bare back and swallowed. He placed the necklace around her neck and his hand brushed her back sending an electric current through his arm. Ziva sat up straighter and turned around. She opened her mouth to say something when Abby and McGee came back over.

Abby had a digital camera in her hand and was taking random pictures when Tony leaned into Ziva's ear and made a joke about McGee, Ziva tilted her head back and roared with laughter. Abby was slurring her words. "Tonyonyony, drop Ziva home kay? Cos Timmy thinks it's time for us to go, don't you Timmy. BYE ZIVA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and with that they had left.

There was an awkward silence then Tony said, uncertainly "Let me know when you wanna go home." They stayed for a few more drinks and they both were feeling much more relaxed with each other, there was no longer the awkward looks and silences. Ziva then suggested going home.

Tony opened the passenger door of his mustang for Ziva like a true gentleman and began the journey to Ziva's apartment. Tony looked over at her. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked so happy. A loose tendril of hair was on her cheek.

He didn't know what had compelled him to do it but when he stopped outside her apartment he tucked the piece of hair behind her ear.

She was surprised to hear herself ask him if he wanted to come in for a coffee. She was even more surprised when he accepted.

Ziva led him up the stairs to her apartment, Tony admired her from behind. She unlocked the door, shut it behind herself and Tony and said "Well this it, I've decorated the rest of the apartment, it's just the dining room left."

Tony's eyes scanned the apartment, it was pretty similar to his. At the end of the long hallway were 3 doors. One to Ziva's room, the other the bathroom and a spare room he guessed. He walked forward and on the left was the kitchen and living room and on the left was a dining room.

His eyes went back to rest on Ziva.

Ziva looked away, he looked so intense. She gestured to the sofa and said, "Make yourself at home."

She walked over to the kitchen, took a deep breath to steady herself and put the kettle on. She opened the cupboard and reached for the pot of coffee and felt a presence behind her. She turned around to see Tony leaning against the doorframe.

He smiled the DiNozzo smile, tilted his head to the side and said, "Your ninja senses are way off, I've been here all this time."

Ziva just narrowed her eyes.

Tony came forward and stood in front of her. She felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest.

Tony breathed in her sweet scent and placed a soft kiss on her lips. He looked at her face for permission and he kissed her again, this time for longer. He reached up and undid the clasp in her hair running his hand through her hair whilst he placed the other one on the small of her back. Ziva's hands were resting on his chest. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, searching for an answer to his unspoken question.

She began kissing him again and led him into the hallway. Tony began trailing kisses along her neck and shoulder as she took off his blazer and shirt.

Suddenly she stopped.

She could see the reflection of Tony and her in the hallway mirror.

She saw his back.

She saw his tattoo.

Tony murmured her name against her neck. And she pulled away.