Title: Favourite Friend
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show, nothing explicitly naughty)
Disclaimer: I am an unmotived beauty consultant and frazzled barista who does not own NCIS, it belong to its creator, network, writers, actors, actresses and other people who bring it to life weekly, I make no money from having fun with these characters, just some much needed sanity. I also do not own the song which helped this fic to grow it belongs to Katie Rox, and likely SOCAN.
Summary: Tony goes to pick up Ziva from the airport after she buries her father, but she doesn't want to go home.
Notes: Time for their first date… I hope you like what Tony has planned. So good news! I lied to you all about the length of this fic! It's going to be twenty four parts plus the epilogue… I missed a couple of things I found important, and one chapter needed to split in two. I actually found the time to get the other parts to make this end up with an even twenty five written (half actually on the computer). So yay! Bonus!
"…I need you here, you're my favourite friend…"
A few days after they had told their friends about their relationship Tony explained to Ziva that he had arranged their first date. She still thought it was odd to go on their first date after everything that had happened between them, but agreed to the night mostly to humour him. He had even planned out a way that he could, essentially pick her up while still keeping his promise to Gibbs to keep her safe. He had everything set up and would follow her home after work, then wait in the car while she got ready and pick her up. He had changed at work, knowing she would be safe there, and got into his car before she saw him then followed her home, to wait.
He felt a little foolish as he sat in his car in his parking space at the apartment, wearing a suit, flowers at his side, but if this was how to keep her safe that was what he was going to do. Since Gibbs had found out about Bodnar being back in the area they had spoken to the super who had agreed to let the tenants know to no longer hold the door for anyone they didn't know. The only way someone should get in would be to buzzed in or have a key, and Dinozzo was watching the door like he was on a stakeout as he waited for her text telling him she was ready.
He smiled when his phone beeped. He picked up the flowers he'd bought at lunch and hid in his car, knowing she was safe at work with her co-workers. Instead of letting himself in he buzzed up to her apartment, then went up the two flights of stairs to her door. He knocked and waited for her to answer. When she opened the door, wearing a long silver-gray dress his jaw was almost on the floor. Getting to see her like that made all the waiting, and any strange looks he might have gotten more than worth it. He really did feel like he was picking her up for their first date, rather than just going on some sort of date night.
"You look amazing," he stammered, offering her the bouquet of red roses.
"Thank you, these are beautiful," she told him, grinning, taking the bouquet from him. "I will go put these in some water."
She went into the kitchen, and quickly put the flowers in a vase. As she went back through the living room she picked up a knit shawl, and her clutch style purse. She didn't know what he had planned but she was looking forward to it. Her jaw dropped when he pulled into the parking lot of her favourite restaurant. She had never told him about this place, and she wondered how he'd found out about it.
"Tony," she whispered.
"I thought you might like it here, Abby told me you suggested she go a few times and I took a chance. You like it right?"
"Of course I do. This is my favourite restaurant. It reminds me of home."
They went inside, telling the hostess they had reservations and they were seated right away. Ziva knew there was more to the evening, because this was not the kind of place that required either of them to be as dressed up as they were. They didn't look out of place because there were other couples on dates, but she wondered what else he could have planned. Through the whole meal she caught him staring at her, which she found endearing.
As they finished up their meal she began to wonder what else he had planned. He was the one who told her to wear a nice dress. Just the dinner would have been enough to make their first date a success but she knew he must have something else planned. He kept looking at his watch, which she knew meant there was a start time for whatever he had planned, and she hoped they wouldn't be late as they ordered dessert.
"Tony what else do you have planned?" she asked him.
"It's a surprise," he told her. "It took this long for us to have our first date I'm going to make it memorable."
"This was enough, really."
He shook his head. "Not for me." He then looked at his watch again.
"Are we going to be late?"
"We have over an hour. Enjoy your desert," he assured her.
After they left the restaurant she wasn't sure what to expect but she was certainly not expecting what happened next. Their final stop was at the arts centre. She couldn't believe that Tony Dinozzo was bringing her to see an opera. He had his hand on the small of her back as they went to their seats. She smiled at him, glad that he was willing to do this for her, and hoped that it would be the first of a few nights at the opera.
"Tony," she whispered as they entered one of the balcony boxes.
"I know you like this one, and I thought being here would be better than being in the orchestra not knowing who we might sit next to. I hope you like it."
"This is perfect," she assured him. "I have never seen this performance before."
"I've never been to the opera before."
"You are in for a treat."
He smiled as they sat down, waiting for the performance to start. He took her hand as the show started hand she smiled at him and squeezed his hand, happy for the small display of affection. He had never really enjoyed the opera before, but seeing her face as the signers sang their tortured but somehow beautiful songs made it all worth it. He could tell she was enjoying herself and despite this not being the kind entertainment he enjoyed getting to see her face light up and watch her relax fully on their date made the experience a good one. They left the theatre holding hands, and he led her to his car.
"I still don't think I know what was happening during most of that performance," he admitted to her when they got back to the car.
"It is about losing the love of your life too soon," she explained. "I cannot believe you were able to get those tickets. Tonight was amazing Tony, thank you, I'm glad you talked me into doing this."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I had a great night too. I hope we can do it again."
"I would like that."
She smiled and kissed him softly as they stood at her doorway. For a long moment they were locked in the embrace. She smiled at him and pulled away, unlocking the door. He captured her lips again, not wanting to go back to reality just yet. They had just been on a perfect first date, and he didn't want it to end. He knew Ziva wasn't the kind of woman who invited a man in on a first date, and he did technically still have keys to his apartment for another week. He had wanted so much for the date to be real, maybe she would too.
"Ziva, I'm not being pretentious in thinking this date is going to end up with us in bed, right?" he asked.
She laughed, a full real laugh, something he was getting to hear more often, yet not enough, lately. "I think it is time we stop pretending this was just another first date. This was the best date I have been on in my life, even if I am already living with and in love with the man who took me on it."
He smiled. "This was a good date we'll have to arrange to do things like this more often."
"I would like that Tony."
They went inside and he followed her to their bedroom. She went into the bathroom first. When she came out she was wearing a black kimono with her hair up in loose bun. Tony went right over to her, and pulled her into a sensuous embrace. She wrapped her arms around him pulling him closer to her and toward the bed.
End Part 13
Notes: Okay so no we are past the half way point in this fic, with the added parts… Let me know if you liked the date… Do you know whose reaction is missing? He's up next ;)