Ziva walked into her apartment. After leaving the bar, Ziva called Tommy and he was going to come over when he got off work. Ziva knew what she needed to tell him, but she didn't know how to say it. He'd been wonderful the last six months, Ziva thought as she unconsciously played with the ring on her left hand. Looking out the window of her apartment, Ziva concluded one thing: Tommy deserved someone so much better than her.

The four hours Ziva had to wait seemed to drag by. By one o'clock, Ziva was tired of thinking, and did anything but think. She went for a run, but it only opened up a new train of thought. After taking a shower, Ziva set to work on cleaning up around the apartment. She'd kept it relatively clean, but it was due time for an all-out cleaning.

Ziva had just finished re-organizing her bookshelf, when there was a knock on her door. Looking at the clock as she made her way over, she realized it was already time for Tommy to come over. Sure enough, when Ziva opened the door, she saw him standing on the other side. The man was nervous, Ziva could easily tell.

"Hi," Tommy smiled at Ziva.

"Hi," Ziva replied, moving to let Tommy walk in. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked.

"No, I'm fine, thanks," Tommy said, following Ziva to the couch.

Ziva looked at Tommy for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth to say something, but Tommy beat her to it.

"You don't have to say anything," he said, smiling dejectedly. "I knew from the start that it was only a matter of time," he explained. "Every time you mentioned anything about Tony, I could tell a difference in you. You're always so animated when you walk about those you work with, but there was something different when you mentioned his name. Your eyes went distant. Abby warned me when she first introduced us that there had been something between you and him, but she didn't know to what extent. I had hoped it was in the past," he gave Ziva a half-hearted smile, "but a part of me always knew."

Ziva sat stunned at what the man in front of her had just said. "I never meant to hurt you," she began. "You deserve a woman that can give you her whole heart, her whole everything. I am not that woman. I do not have my heart to give you," she told him. "I did not know that until the other night." During their conversation, Ziva had slipped the engagement ring off her finger, and now she reached for Tommy's hand, and gently laid it on his palm. "There is a woman out there who has her whole heart ready for you. She deserves this ring so much more than me."

As Tommy stood to leave, he said, "I hope you find every happiness," and bent down slightly to give Ziva a soft peck on her cheek before turning and walking to the door.

NCIS

Tony sat at his desk, seemingly doing paperwork, but in reality his brain was in full drive thinking about the Israeli woman whose empty desk seemed to haunt him. When he returned to the office, the look on Gibbs face was contrast of itself: it was a half-glare, half-amused/curious look. What was even stranger was the fact that Gibbs seemed to believe the story Tony gave about where Ziva was.

Now Tony sat at his desk, trying to keep himself from calling Ziva. Ever since their conversation at the bar, Tony had been thinking about what she said. He'd been willing to try to give them another try, but Ziva made it clear that she didn't need any more to worry about.

"I just need time to think. This past year has been too chaotic, and I just need to step back and think. I need time to breath," Ziva had said.

Tony decided that he would give her time and space, yet he'd still be there close enough to catch her when she needed it. He'd made a promise to make everything normal between them, and that was exactly what he planned to do until Ziva was ready.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs barked, "Do you plan on answering the telephone anytime today?" he asked, and Tony realized his cell phone was ringing in his hand.

"Sorry, Boss," Tony said as he fumbled with his phone to open it. "DiNozzo," he answered.

"What time is Gibbs letting you leave tonight?" Tony heard Ziva ask from the other side of the line.

"As soon as I finish this paperwork," he said, standing up and walking away from Gibbs and McGee. "Did you talk to him?" he asked quietly.

"When you finish your paperwork, pick up a pizza and come by," Ziva said. "I rented some movies for us to watch this weekend."

Tony could not hide the smile that crept on to his face. "I'll be finished in an hour," he told her before hanging up.

When Tony returned from talking to whoever was on the phone, Gibbs cocked an eyebrow at the determination Tony had in finishing the paperwork on his desk.

"DiNozzo, we've done enough today, why don't you call it a day," Gibbs said from his desk.

"You sure, Boss?" Tony asked. "I can be done in an hour."

"Go before I change my mind," Gibbs said. "The paperwork can wait till Monday."

Tony turned his computer off, and grabbed his bag, standing up from his desk. "See you Monday, Boss."

"Since when did you become such a romantic?" Jenny asked, walking up behind Gibbs.

"They have what we never had a chance to find," Gibbs told her.

Ziva's Apartment

"That was fast," Ziva said as she opened the door for Tony to walk in with the pizza box.

"Boss told me I could leave early," he said, setting the pizza box down on the table and turning around to face her.

"I told Tommy he deserved a woman who could give him her whole heart, and that I never had one to give him," Ziva said. "I want to try again, but this time I want to make it work," she told Tony as she slowly walked towards him.

"I think I can live with that," Tony said, putting his hand on Ziva's waist and pulling her closer.

Ziva slipped her arms around Tony's neck and pulled his head closer to her. When their lips met, it sealed the promise. They knew the moment they connected that this time was different. This time they were meant for each other.