Next chapter people. Sorry for the wait. This was going to be a completely different chapter, but I changed my mind instead and ran out of time to publish it last weekend.
I'm back at school which means that I will be publishing only once a week on weekends. If you want to know what is being updated and when; please follow me on livejournal. I have created a profile to keep you posted if I am unable to post a chapter on the weekends. I will also post photos relating my stories, and hopefully as I get more comfortable and understand how to use it a little better I will probably use it for a bit more than that. But please check it out :)
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
It didn't surprise her when she arrived home the next morning that her family didn't ask questions about her night even though she was over the moon.
But what surprised her to the extreme that made her crash from her high was not that the house was eerily empty or her brother and sister weren't arguing over what TV channel the TV should be on. Especially since the TV was on. What made her high crash and burn was as she peered into the dinning room as she walked past she stopped dead in her tracks at who was there. Riley; having a casual conversation with her father.
"Ziva; finally you're home," Riley said as he stood and walked up to her. He kissed her on the cheek - and it felt wrong; nothing clicked inside like it did with Tony. His touch was cold.
"I was at a friend's house," She said.
"I know. I just came to ask if you want to go out with me tomorrow night?" He asked.
Ziva looked at her father before looking back at Riley, "Sure," She said reluctantly.
"Good, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye, Eli," He said. Eli murmured a goodbye and Ziva watched him as he put a folded rectangular piece of paper in his pocket.
"Where are Tali and Ari?" Ziva asked.
"Shopping, Tali starts school again next week. She needs some items for school," He said without making eye contact.
Ziva stood in the door way for a moment before she hesitantly placed her bag on the floor near the wall and pulled a seat out for her across from her father.
"What do you want Ziva?" He asked.
"I want the truth," She stated.
"About what?" He asked.
"About why you want me to marry Riley," She replied.
"He is good for you," He replied - he was calm... eerily calm. Too calm for Ziva's liking.
"What makes you think that?" She asked.
"Because he will be able to support you,"
"I can support myself," She stated.
"He has money," Eli stated in return.
"I do not need money. I can make my own,"
"I want to set you up for the best chance you have in life," He said as he finally looked at her. It wasn't often that Ziva could read her father; but a look in his eyes made something not sit well with him. It was something close to... fear?
"I can set up my own chances. I am an independent person. I cannot live happily while I am made to be with someone that I do not want to be with," Ziva pried.
"You don't like him?" He asked.
"No, he is boring," Ziva replied.
"I do not care whether he is boring or extremely fun. You will continue dating him and then you will marry him. When he asks; you will say 'yes'. I do not care," He snapped angrily.
Ziva stood from her chair and grabbed her bag as she walked to her room.
Later that day; Ziva was lying on her bed looking at her ceiling thinking about her night and comparing it to the few nights before that on her date with Riley when her door opened. She turned her head to look at her brother as he shut the door behind him.
She watched him expectantly but she was the one who talked first, "Do you know why he is doing this?"
"No. Do you want to do this?" He asked.
"No," She replied, "You would think that if I were being forced to marry someone then he would at least choose someone who held the same values as him. But there are no similarities," She said
"He probably has another motive," He said as he took seat next to her.
A comfortable silence settled over them. Until, "So who were you out with last night?" Ari said with an amused but curious tone.
"Abby," Ziva replied.
"Liar. Even though your to-be fiancé came here earlier, your not nearly as down as you were the other night when you found out you were going out with him,"
"What is that meant to mean? That I cannot have a good time with my best friend anymore?" Ziva asked.
"You can; but you weren't with her," Ari taunted, "Come on, I won't tell Eli,"
Ziva looked at him; she trusted her brother. He knew this. But trusting him with something that could get her in a heap of trouble? She debated for a moment before the trust to her brother won.
"I was with someone that I met the day I found out that I was to marry Riley," She admitted.
"What is his name?"
"Who said it was a man?" Ziva asked.
"I just know these things,"
"His name is Tony," Ziva stated.
"Does Tony have a last name?"
"Yes; but I am not telling you,"
"Were you with him last night?" He asked.
"Yes," She admitted once again.
"Why?"
"Because I like him,"
"Really? Or do you just like the idea of choosing your own person to go out with," He asked.
"I like him," She said.
"Why?"
"I do not know. I just do. Why do you like your girlfriend?" She asked.
He was silent for a moment, "Well played,"
"Can you promise me something?" She asked.
"Yes,"
"Can you not tell Abba?" She said.
"I won't. As long as you make sure you keep yourself safe. You know how to read people, don't let yourself read the book by the cover," He said. Ziva nodded.
"I won't," She said.
"... Don't you find it interesting?" He asked, "Ziva?"
"What?" She had tuned out around an hour ago - nodding and smiling when she thought was necessary.
"Never mind," He said.
They were walking through a deserted park - the only thing illuminating it was the park lights. The only reason she was walking so close to him was because she was cold and he had a jacket.
"Are you okay?" He asked with sincerity colouring his voice.
"Yes I am fine," She said as a cold shiver ran through her body.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"I said I was fine," She said a little more forcefully.
"Okay," They walked in silence again.
"What are your plans for the week?" He asked.
"I am working. I start my new job on Tuesday. Tomorrow, my friends and I are going shopping for stuff, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I am working. I will not be free for at least a week," She said, "Oh, and I will probably be at a friend's house on Saturday night and won't come home until Sunday night,"
"Well, maybe you need to make some time for me,"
"I cannot just stop working. I want to make a good impression. After I have found where I sit in the workplace then I will begin trying to change working days. My friends and I have had the shopping trip planned for a month. There is a sale that happens every year at her favourite shop. We organised me staying over at her house last night. I cannot change what I have planned," She explained.
"Just don't work. I have money for you,"
"I do not want your money," Ziva stated, "I am tired. Can you please drive me home?" She asked.
"Not quiet yet. I want to ask you something," Ziva's stomach dropped.
"Also while I was at your house the other day - while I was talking to your father I asked him a question. I trust you know this situation; so, I am asking you if you want to marry me," He stated - not asked - as he pulled a ring from his pocket.
All that was running through her head was Tony's words that told her that she needed to please everyone, that she was the obedient person, that she never said know to people aside from friends. It made her do something that she regretted as soon as the word came from her mouth, "No,"
"No?" He questioned.
"No, I mean yes. Just not yet. I have not even kissed you yet. This is only our second date," She defended.
"I need to know that you will marry me in the future. I need you to say yes," He said grabbing her arm tightly.
She tried to shrug from his grip without hurting hi but she couldn't she couldn't say yes but she couldn't say know.
His grip was getting tighter the longer that she didn't answer.
"Please let go of me," She said, "I will, if you marry me," She compromised. He let her go and she looked at her tan arm. She couldn't see any discolouration in the dim light.
"Good," He said, handing her the ring. Reluctantly she slid it on her ring finger. He leant in and kissed her cheek.
"Do you want to go home?" He asked.
"Please," She stated.
They returned to his car and she grabbed her jacket and put it on - shielding her from the cold and the world from her surely bruised arm.
Not sure about the last part, but it needs to happen and I decided now.
Review Please :D