Oddly enough, Tony and Ziva both woke up at the exact same time much to their amusement. They both looked down to Tony's arms wrapped around Ziva's waist. Feeling as if he were intruding, Tony quickly pulled his arms away, both of them feeling and craving the lost touch.

"Sorry." Tony said as he got up to get dressed for a run.

"Don't be." Ziva mumbled under her breath as she watched Tony leave her room. Truthfully, Ziva wanted Tony's arms back on her waist. She wanted them pulling her even tighter towards his body, acting as a protective and comforting shield. Ziva slowly slid out of bed and changed into her running clothes before running down the stairs. She was about to go grab her water when she caught a glimpse of Tony slipping out the front door. Ziva quickly ran to the front door and stuck her head out the door.

"Tony!" Ziva shouted, causing Tony to turn around, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Aren't you going to wait for me?" Ziva shouted at him as she decided to leave her water and join him in his run.

"Oh sorry, I thought you wouldn't want to run with me after last night, and this morning." Tony said as his heartbeat picked up speed, heavily anticipating an answer.

"Why would you say that?" Ziva asked, truly confused.

"Well now that you know about all the baggage I carry around, I don't know maybe you would see me as a different person, in a bad way?" Tony asked, hoping she would disagree.

"Of course not, Tony. I do see you differently, but in a good way." Ziva said with a bright smile, much to Tony's relief. "Now, lets go running again!" Ziva said and took off without him. Tony chuckled as he ran to catch up with Ziva.

NCIS

For about two weeks Tony and Ziva kept up the same pattern of going for a run with each other in the mornings. After everyone learned about Tony's secret, Tony was scared of their reactions at first. But over time he realized that they didn't see him as a monster or a freak, but just a normal person, and it made him feel more welcome into their little family. Tony started to open up to them, let his guard down and allow the playful jokester to come back out of it's shell. Everyone had to admit, while the cold and calculated Tony was pretty badass and quite frankly extremely sexy, all in all the real Tony was more enjoyable for everyone. Even Anthony seemed to be more bubbly and happy when Tony let his guard down. Tony and Chris spent a lot more time with the Gibbs's, often inviting them over for dinner paired with light and hearty banter, jokes, and stories. Gibbs and Chris both developed a strong friendship with each other, but maybe that was just a military thing.

It was a Friday and that meant game day for Tony's team. Ziva said she was going with Abby, Tali, Ari, and McGee to watch and support him, and that knowledge put Tony in a particularly good mood. It was a tradition for players to give their jackets to their girlfriends, and although Ziva wasn't actually his girlfriend, he just wanted her to wear it for no other particular reason then to see Ziva supporting him at the game, and letting everyone in the whole damn school know that she was. Tony walked out of his English class looking for Ziva to ask her if she would honor him by wearing his football jacket. Tony walked over to her locker to see her talking with Ari and Tali about something, but he couldn't tell. With jacket in hand, he walked over to Ziva.

"Hi Tony!" Ziva said brightly as she just finished her explanation to Tali of why English was an important subject in our lives.

"Hey Ziva. I was wondering if you wanted to wear my football jacket to the game tonight." Tony said nervously, but he didn't show it. As if a gunshot rang out, every single student who was in earshot of Tony spinned around to look at Tony in utter disbelief and shock, their mouths hanging so low you could fit an orange in them.

"I have my own jacket, Tony! There is no need for you to give yours to me." Ziva said with a chuckle. Ari and Tali both watched with smiles on their faces, both glancing at each other as if to say I told you so.

"Well yeah, but there's a tradition where each player would give their girlfriends their jackets to wear to the game to show they were supporting that player." Tony said, drawing several gasps from various students at the word 'girlfriend.' Quickly realizing what it looked like, Tony quickly added, "But we can go as friends, that is, if you want to wear the jacket at all." Ziva pretended to ponder the proposition when the answer was already yes, just to tease him.

"What if I do want to go as your girlfriend?" Ziva teased, drawing several giggles from other students. Tony smiled as he put his jacket in her hands.

"Well Ms. Ziva David, that's for you to decide." Tony flirted back, and everyone in the hallway gasped in shock. Ziva turned a deep shade of red as Tony walked away, lightly blowing in her ear as he walked away. As soon as Tony left the entire hallway was buzzing with activity, gossiping with each other as Ziva turned an even deeper shade of red, if that was possible. Deciding to spare her, Tali and Ari walked to go to History class, both taking note of the fact that Ziva was furiously blushing.

Ziva quickly hid her face in her locker as she tried to hide the rise of blood she could feel in her cheeks. An everlasting smile was plastered onto her face as she put the jacket in her locker, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Does he actually want me to go as his girlfriend? Does he really see that in me?

The rest of the day passed by, the entire school (teachers included!) was gossiping with one another, both completely surprised that not only did Tony show a smile, but he actually flirted with Ziva. Tony DiNozzo does not flirt! (Did the planet come off it's axis?).

"OH MY GOD ZIVA! IS IT TRUE, DID TONY ASK YOU TO WEAR HIS FOOTBALL JACKET, AND DID HE REALLY FLIRT WITH YOU!?" Abby squealed as soon as they got home, attracting the attention of Gibbs and Jenny who waited for the answer. Ziva laughed as she turned a light shade of pink, but nodded in answer, much to Gibbs and Jenny's amusement.

"OH MY GOD!" Abby squealed as she bounced up and down like a wild child, bringing Ziva in a death-grip bear hug.

"Can't...breathe..." Ziva choked out, squirming to escape.

"Oh, sorry!" Abby apologized as she continued to jump up and down, then paused mid-jump, her eyes widening.

"Bathroom!" Abby yelled as she bounded up the stairs in a mad dash to reach that toilet seat! Ziva, Ari, Tali, and Jenny all burst into laughter as Gibbs chuckled to himself, going to the basement to work on his boat.

"How...many...Caf-Pows...did...she...drink!?" Jenny asked between laughs, the look on her face when the realization hit her just too priceless.

"Eight I think." Ari said as he regained his composure. Sensing a conversation about Tony about to occur, he grabbed Tali by the wrist and gently led her up the stairs, pulling her over to eavesdrop.

"So, Tony really flirted with you, huh?" Jenny asked. Ziva looked like a deer (or maybe a doe? Female deer?) caught in the headlights as she blushed in embarrassment for probably the fiftieth time (a record for the David Family).

"I-uh-he-uh." Ziva stammered, unsure how to answer that. Jenny simply chuckled and rubbed her hand in understanding.

"You know, I think he really likes you." Jenny said, stealing Ziva's breath for a second.

"Why do you say that?" Ziva breathed out, her heart pumping like mad at even the thought of a relationship with Tony.

"Because he treats you like you're made of glass. Because you two go out for runs together every single day of the week. Because he's at his happiest when he's around you." Jenny said, seeing the look of disbelief and hope on Ziva's face.

"But...how can he have feelings for me? What does he see in me that he can't find a better version of in any other of the girls at our school?" Ziva asked.

"It's because you know him for who he really is under the cold mask he wears at school, because you are quite beautiful, because he feels something different with you." Jenny said. Ziva couldn't respond as the words in her throat got caught up. Ziva was already feeling lightheaded, and this was just about thinking about a relationship with Tony (imagine how lightheaded she would feel during a kiss? Or perhaps something more...physical?).

"Trust me on this, Ziva. Just let it play out and you'll see for yourself how he feels about you." Jenny said as she went upstairs to give Ziva her privacy.

NCIS

"Hi Tony! You look good!" Jenny beamed as she let Tony come inside, equipment slung over his shoulder.

"Thanks Jen." Tony smiled as he fumbled with his car keys. "Is everyone ready?" Tony asked.

"Yup!" Ari shouted as he bounded down the stairs, Abby, McGee, Tali, and Ziva in tow. Tony couldn't help but smile at seeing Ziva wearing his jacket. Somehow it made her look even sexier than normal.

Abby, Tali, and Ziva couldn't help but ogle at how good Tony looked. His red Nike Combat T-Shirt pressed tightly against his body, each detail of his muscular body clearly depicted through his shirt, as if he were made of granite and each individual dip in his torso, arms, and legs were chiseled by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi himself (french guy who made the Statue of Liberty). Even Jenny was sneaking a quick peak here and there, much to Tony's discomfort and amusement. McGee and Ari both burst into laughter as they watched the four women ogle at Tony, said person squirming under the spotlight. Gibbs snorted as he came down the stairs, having seen for himself all the ogling done.

"You guys have fun." Gibbs said, sipping his coffee.

"Will do." Tony said as they all walked out of the house and hopped into Tony's SUV.