A/N: First off, I am not dead. Second, I'm so sorry about how long this took to update. I have had no time to write lately due to (this week at least) my birthday, summer reading, and test prep. I start school in a week so writing time will be even less probably :(. Thank you to all who reviewed and I will try to get the next chapter out as quick as I can. The story will eventually be Tiva just to remind you.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Seven

Ziva stepped into the quaint old diner that she had not visited since her time Israel. The small family run restaurant had been passed down for generations and had seen Ziva grow from a young child to an adult. Every Sunday morning the Gibbs family would sit in the booth nearest the window and chow down on the best frenchtoast in town. As the door closed the door she saw that she was the only person in the diner at the time. The staff all froze and she recognized their slightly aged faces. The wife of the owner shrieked giddily,

"Ziva!"

She felt a pair of arms envelop her in a hug and she smiled,

"Hello Mrs. Linda"

She greeted kindly before the energetic woman stepped away before looking the girl up and down.

"Heels? Ok girl, now who are you and what have you done with Ziva?"

They both began laughing and Ziva finally explained,

"Kelly happened."

"I haven't seen that girl in ages, nor have I seen Kate. What have they been up too?"

"Kate has been working at NCIS as a field agent and Kelly is working at Bethesda."

"And you? Where have you been? Your accent is much more pronounced than it was when you were younger."

"Israel for the most part."

"And what where you doing in Israel, it is dangerous there. I cannot believe Jenny and Jethro allowed their youngest daughter to go spend time Israel!"

"The Israeli Army, and later Mossad."

Linda looked at Ziva for a moment and thought, Mossad, aren't they assassins? Deciding not ask she simply closed the topic,

"Well I'm glad you are home now. Will you be staying?"

"It seems as so."

"Then why don't we get you seated, and you can look over the menu. Usual seat."

Without another word the older woman led the way to the booth. Ziva reminced about old memories as her legs slid across the red pleather with a smile on her face she though, just like it use to be. When so many things had changed in her life, it was nice that one thing had stayed constant. Ziva gazed up at the walls when she smelt the familiar aroma of cigars, sweat, and cologne fill the room. A smile spread across the dark haired girl's light pink lips and her head spun around. She motioned for him to come sit and he obeyed orders, as always.

"Shalom Zivaleh."

"Shalom Malachi."

She said as he bent down to kiss her on the cheek, and then proceeded to take his seat.

"I have transported some of your personal items from our house to the U.S. it should be arriving soon."

She gave a curt nod as she quickly red through the menu, though she already knew exactly what she wanted to order. French toast with black coffee, yum.

"What is good here?"

"Everything."

"What are you going to order?"

"French toast and black coffee."

"I will order the same."

They both closed the menus simultaneously and Linda was there to take their orders,

"What can I get for you guys?"

"The usual for both us."

"Two orders of French toast and two black cups of coffee coming right up."

"Thank you."

Linda walked away giving the cook the order. She stood in the kitchen silently spying on the girl that was like a daughter. She seemed happy, though there was something different about her. More different that just her wearing heels.

Back at the table the pair were looking at eachother, as if communicating with their eyes. Ziva finally broke the silence asking,

"How long will you be here?"

"I am assigned to the embassy till told otherwise. Being shot in the shoulder rendered me in Director David's eyes useless."

"It took getting shot in the shoulder to make him realize you are useless? Took him quiet long enough." She responded jokingly.

"I was not useless when you were in your 'moods' now was I? If I remember correctly you asked for more than just one round a few times."

"It was you who wanted a few more rounds."

"You never protested."

"I did not. Though, I have had much better."

"When?"

"High school."

"How about we go back to my apartment and I prove your memories wrong?"

"Cannot I am due back at NCIS soon."

"Tonight then?"

"We will see."

Soon after the food came out and they both ate in silence. She wore a look of pure bliss on her face as she moved onto her fourth and final piece of French toast. He noticed her expression and noted,

"I have not seen that expression in quiet a long time. You should smile more motek."

"I would if I had something to smile about."

"If we meet again tonight you will."

"You pig."

With a chuckle Malachi finished his food and just studied her as she continued to eat. His cell phone rang and he hurriedly took it out of his pocket. He stood up and said,

"Excuse me, I will be right back."

With that he walked out the door standing in front of the diner. He peered in as the person on the other line spoke to him agitated in rapid Hebrew. He listened contently before saying shalom and walking back in. When he returned he saw that Ziva was finished and gave the waitress his credit card. Ziva scolded him,

"I could have paid Malachi."

"You can repay me tonight. I must go; the embassy called and is requesting my presence. Return my card tonight. It is under an alias anyway."

"Which one?"

He only smirked and left leaving an air of mystery looming. Linda came back momentarily before noting the gentleman had left.

"Where did your date go?"

"He got a call from his work and was needed right away."

"Ah. Well, here is his credit card. Give it back to him will you?"

"I'm seeing him later tonight so it shouldn't be a problem."

"He is different than the boys you use to date Ziva."

"I am not the same person I was Mrs. Linda."

On that note Ziva stood up and gave the woman a small hug before excusing herself,

"Kate is expecting me back at NCIS. I must get going."

"Come back soon Ziva."

Ziva nodded and was on her way.

Ziva rounded the corner of the bull pen to see everyone including her father doing paper work. Or, trying to look like they were doing paper work while playing solitaire on their phone. She perched herself on the edge of her sisters desk, as she continued diligently working. As she finished the last of her paper work she finally looked up at Ziva.

"So where were you?"

"I was at the old diner."

"Who were you there with?"

"An old friend."

"From this continent?"

"No but he was been reassigned to this continent for the time being."

"Well, you must tell me about him over lunch. When do you want to eat again?"

"I just had breakfast so noon or one?"

"If no cases come up then yes. You know I am just waiting to hear about your sex life."

Gibbs put his pen down and looked up at his daughters,

"Since when have you had a sex life Ziva?"

Ziva simply said nothing as Kate responded for her,

"Since junior year if I remember right."

"KATE."

Gibbs just stared at his youngest daughter for a moment before going back to work. Kate left to go use the ladies room, so Ziva decided to pay a visit to Ducky. She took the stairs down, and smiled as the doors whooshed open.

"Ziva my dear, how are you today?"

"I am well, and yourself?"

"Just fine. I was just about to head up to Abby's lab. Will you take them up to her? I have inventory to complete. Hopefully this time I do not find any live children in the body bags."

He placed the samples into her hands before she could protest. Abby and her had a friendship severing argument before she left for Israel, and Ziva had a feeling the dust still hadn't settled since their big blow out. Ziva complied when he turned around to continue doing inventory, and she walked out. As she stepped into the elevator and pressed the floor of the lab she sighed and thought to herself, it is now or never. The ride up to Abby's lab was painstaking slow; outcomes of how the scene could play out were running through her mind. Each result worse than the last. Finally as she reached the floor, she heard the familiar sound of death metal music blasting from the lab. After a deep breath she walked into the room lab.

"Abby, Ducky wanted me to give you these samples."

Abby whipped around to see her sister standing before her.

"Ziva? You're back? Since when?"

Abby did the one thing that Ziva had never expected her to do, she hugged her.

"I missed you so, so, so much. I am so glad you are safe. I am so sorry about what happened before you left!"

Abby just kept Ziva enveloped in her arms when Ziva answered,

"I have been here for about a month and a half."

"NO ONE TOLD ME? WHAT KIND OF FAMILY IS THIS?"

Ziva only laughed as the goth began to ramble on about how she was going to kill them and leave no forensic evidence behind if they ever kept something like this from her again. Ziva interrupted the rant,

"Abby, would you like to go grab lunch with Kate and me at either noon or one today?"

"It's a date!"

The three of them sat at a table speaking about random ins and outs before Kate finally brought up the question.

"Ok so for what this lunch was originally planned for, spill about Mr. Israel."

Ziva rolled her eyes as Abby asked,

"Wait Ziva found some hot guy in Israel?"

"Well, I don't know if he is hot but I do know that I haven't seen her smile like that since she was seventeen an-"

"KATE SHUT UP."

"Only if you spill everything about Mr. Israeli."

"Alright…"

"Mr. Israeli's name is Malachi, he was my partner in Mossad and we were together for about a year and a half. We shared a house, and he is very good in bed. Happy now Kate?"

"Not quiet."

"Why did you break up?"

"Work."

As Kate was about to ask another question Ziva's phone rang. She checked the caller ID and noticed it was Malachi. She gave a polite excuse me before picking up and walking away from the table.

"Shalom Malachi. How did you get his number?"

"I have my resources motek."

Not a second later she felt a familiar pair of muscular arms wrap around her waist, and light kisses being pressed to her neck.

"How did you know I was here?"

"As I said, I have my resources."

"I am here with my sisters, they keep asking about you. Would you care to join us for lunch?"

"Yes but first, I will pick you up around seven tonight at your parents house, and then have dinner and dessert at my house."

He said seductively into her ear. She only smiled and grabbed his hand leading him to the table.

"Kate, Abby, this is Malachi. Malachi these are two of my older sisters Kate and Abby"

Kate and Abby both offered polite hellos as they noticed Malachi's arm snaked around her waist and Ziva leaning lovingly into his side. Her lips were curved up into a content smile as she gazed up at him. Soon she asked him to fill the empty seat at the table and Kate began to interrogate Malachi. He skillfully maneuvered the questions so he would not give too much away due to the fact that he preferred to keep his personal life, personal. He only gave the basic amount of information necessary before checking his watch and saying,

"I must be going; my lunch hour is almost over. It was a pleasure meeting you too."

Ziva followed him out of the restaurant and their lips met. He was almost against the wall as she stood on her tip toes to meet his lips. His hands rested on her sides as she tosseled her hair. Though as things were about to get much more PG-13 they pushed apart. He straightened his tie and whispered in her ear,

"Tonight."

Please review! They give me motivation to write faster. Tell me what you like, what you didn't, or what you want to happen. I have a plan, but it keeps getting changed, so if any of you have an idea PM me or post it in a review! (: I'm always open to new ideas and love to talk to people!