Happiness

Ziva awoke in Tony's arms and she smiled into his chest as she snuggled a little closer to him. She knew it wasn't just a dream and yet she was having a hard time believing that it was reality. She was so happy that she felt as though something inside of her was swelling with the joy she was feeling right in that moment.

She was remembering moments from last night. She couldn't believe that she had just given herself to Tony so easily after so long of thinking that she wouldn't be okay if she did that. She smiled wider and began tracing nondescript patterns on his chest.

"Good morning, my ninja," Tony whispered.

"Good morning, yourself," she whispered back and leaned up, pressing a kiss to his lips. "It feels like it should have been a dream."

"Then, I don't want this dream to ever end," he replied and she smiled, while his arms wrapped tighter around him. "It is upsetting that we have to go back home today."

"No, it's not," Ziva said. "We have each other. Though, we should probably keep this quiet from the others. You know… the rules."

He laughed. Now she was bringing up the rules and knowing that they still mattered. She laughed along with him, knowing how ridiculous that sounded after all the not caring they had done last night.

"We can do that," he said quietly. "As long as I get to keep you for myself."

"You absolutely should keep me for yourself, Tony," Ziva said quietly.

Ziva's phone buzzed and so did Tony's. They both groaned. Then, Ziva's phone started ringing. She sighed and got up and looked at it. It was Gibbs.

"David," she answered the phone.

"Hi. Hate to cut your day off short, but we got a case that needs us," he said into the phone. "So, give me an estimate of time of arrival."

"About four hours if I am to leave in the state I'm in. Make it five, I would really like to put some appropriate clothes on and pack my belongings and perhaps take a shower," Ziva said. "Would you like me to call Tony?"

"Yes," Gibbs said. "See you two in five hours."

Ziva was confused by this statement. She stuttered a couple of syllables but never let any words escape her lips.

"I'll tell McGee that time too, since he's three hours away. That'll give him some time also. Glad one of us is back to process this crime scene though. Dornegat is just not going to do well on this. Perhaps I'll recruit Abby if she's nearby," Gibbs said into the phone.

Ziva was relieved. He didn't know. She would have to work to keep this away from Gibbs and she knew this. She also knew that Tony realized it as well. She pulled on some clothes and tossed some to Tony, who pulled them on quickly. It didn't take them long to pack up, but they interrupted each other frequently, so five hours was a good guess by the time they returned to NCIS.

Once they were there, the crime scene had already been processed and they were standing in the squad room getting filled in on the case. They were standing too close together. Their arms were touching and that was all that either of them could think about.

"Hello! Earth to David and DiNozzo!" Gibbs said, waving his hand in front of the two agents' faces. "Go, pick up this guy!"

They both moved at once, startled by the fact that they had been lost in their thoughts and blushing furiously as they grabbed their bags and headed for the door.

They met Gibbs back in the observation room. He was going to interrogate the suspect they had now. He could see that Ziva and Tony's minds were not done with their vacation and he knew it had been a mistake to call them back a day early, because they had not adjusted to being back at work yet and it was very clear.

He shook his head as he left them alone in the observation room, lost in his own thoughts and thinking he knew exactly where their heads were at, based on when and why they were blushing today. He nearly laughed at them and sighed as he left the room..

"We're going to have to do better than that," Tony said laughing.

"Something tells me that he is somehow involved in all this," Ziva said quietly. "Something tells me that he is the reason both of us went to Paris together."

"Had that feeling for a while. He's been watching us like a hawk ever since. Hiding it from him is not going to be easy," Tony said quietly.

"If he finds out, he finds out," Ziva said with a shrug. "We will make it work somehow. I would just rather he see that it can work before we're sure he knows."

"Me too, sweet cheeks," Tony said quietly and then turned to watch the interrogation.

A/N – So, Tony and Ziva are happy and feel like they're living in a dream. They are very happy and you will see more of how happy in future chapters. But, for now, they are still working out how to hide this from everyone and the reason why they are hiding it has nothing to do with rule 12. They only want the chance to prove themselves to Gibbs and the rest of their family.