A Bikini and Swimming Trunks

The next morning after breakfast Ziva was standing in the bedroom alone, looking at what she had packed herself for bathing suits, not realizing how she would feel looking at them before putting them on in front of Tony. She picked out her favorite black string bikini and held it up in front of her.

Without a second thought, she put the bikini on and glanced in the full length mirror in her room. She put a hair tie around her wrist and as she turned back around she caught a glimpse of the long scar that ran almost parallel with her spin. She grimaced. It was nearly white against her bronze skin and she knew that it stood out.

It's a private beach, she reminded herself, it's only you and Tony. You can do this. He will not think anything different because of this. He will still love you the way you are.

With a determined look on her face she slipped her sandals on her feet and placed sunglasses on top of her curly hair. She stopped in the doorway of the small living room of the cabin, staring.

Tony was standing there with his swimming trunks on and no shirt. There were sunglasses perched on his head and he was looking out the window. His back was to her. She could see every muscle in it as she looked at him and she smiled to herself. She couldn't get much luckier than she was.

She walked up to him, still determined not to think anything of the obvious evidence on her back that she was still not completely whole. He placed one hand on either side of his waist and moved them upward.

She smiled up at him as he turned around and got a shocked look on his face. His eyes were wide, but he was smiling devilishly.

"That's the same one you wore in Los Angeles," he pointed out.

"It is," she replied and looked in his eyes. "Tony?"

"You look great, Ziva," he said, seeing the hesitancy in her eyes.

She was trying really hard to ignore the scar on her back that she knew was there and he hadn't seen yet. He wrapped his arms around her and noticed it. He turned her around and frowned at the scar. He ran his fingers up and down the length of it, which covered nearly her entire back. Then he turned her around again and looked into her eyes deeply.

"You are gorgeous," he whispered in her ear and took her hand, leading them out of the cabin and onto the beach.

Ziva was smiling to herself. This couldn't get much better. She was right in reassuring herself that he wouldn't see her any differently. As a matter of fact, she was sure that he was more pleased than before he knew the scar was there. He must know what it cost her to walk out of that bedroom with her entire back bare for him to see.

They spent the day laying in the sun and enjoying the warmth. A little after noontime, Tony suggested they build a sandcastle.

"Isn't that something that children do?" she asked. "Tali and I used to build them as children when we would go to the beach in Haifa."

"It'll be fun," Tony promised. "I never got to build them."

She giggled a little and grabbed his hand moving him closer to the water where the sand was wet and they began to dig in the sand and build with it. As the tide came in they hurried to finish it and just as it finished a wave reached Ziva's toes. She squealed at the unseen wave that came up on her and Tony laughed, picking her up around the middle and carrying her away from the water.

"I will save you from the ocean, my dear," he said jokingly and she was laughing as he ran from the water and back to their beach spot.

As he set her down on her feet, she kissed him lightly on the lips, only a small brush of her lips on his and then hesitated, knowing that if she went further this could be it. But, there was definitely a conversation to be had before she could think that way. Luckily, Tony seemed to be on the same wavelength as her, as was usual, and he pressed one firm kiss to her lips and began picking up the beach-blankets and other things they had come out with earlier that day.

This told Ziva that he knew what she wanted, but knew she was unsure, and he wasn't going anywhere. She felt reassured with the kiss and she really did want all of Tony, but wasn't sure. She was questioning herself now that she was completely alone with him. But, she knew she wouldn't question herself for much longer.

"I think another movie is in order with some sandwiches or pizza, what do you think, Zi?" he asked quietly as they got back inside.

"That sounds like a great idea, Tony," she said and began to put stuff away while Tony ordered some pizza for take-out.

A little while later when the doorbell rang, Ziva would only stand facing the door. Tony could see how uncomfortable she was with someone else in their presence and he made the transaction as quickly as possible and went straight to her side, taking her into his arms and holding her tight.

"Better?" he asked her.

"Much," she responded with a wide smile on her face.

A/N – More fluff for you! Ziva is really beginning to show Tony how much she trusts him and he is honoring that trust in every way that he can! Leave a review and let me know what you think.