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 to tie up some lose ends before the big day! I can't believe this journey is almost over, thank you so much for going on it with me :D Let me know what you think heart.

Tony got home from picking up dinner, he had gotten already cooked roasted chicken, potatoes, and salad from the store. As he got inside he was sure he heard soft crying coming from the bedroom. The door was closed, which she didn't often do. He went toward the room, after setting down their dinner. When he got closer to the door the noise stopped and the door flew open, and Ziva came out smiling. He was sure there was something more going on.

"Ziva," he asked. "Are you all right?"

"I am fine," she assured him. "Why would you ask?"

"I thought- You know if something is bothering you, you can talk to me about it, right?"

"Why would something be bothering me? I am happy we are going to be married in a few days."

"I know and I'm excited too, but this can't be how you dreamed it would happen."

She laughed, running her fingers along his cheek. "Tony, you cannot think I am one of those women on those movies you like to watch who have planned their weddings down to the last detail when they were four, then break down when something goes wrong?"

"No I don't, but those women are not just in movies. That's not what I meant. You had to have thought about your wedding day a few times in your life, and how you wanted to things to be. I know I have."

She shook her head not believing him. "You have?"

"Mostly it was me fantasizing about my super hot wife walking down the aisle in a slinky wedding dress, then it would skip to me taking the dress off of her. But I think it's normal for a guy to think about how great his wife is going to look in her dress, since that's supposed to be the big surprise."

"That does not surprise me. I suppose I thought about it at times growing up. Tali would have been a bridesmaid, and I thought it might be at the synagogue where my parents were married. I thought for a long time my father would be there, even though our relationship was strained he still did those kind of father thing. But none those are not options." She looked away from him to hide her tears from him. "It is a tradition in my faith for both the bride's parents to walk with her. It is difficult to have none."

"I'm sorry," he whispered needing to comfort him.

He pulled her toward him, knowing she was hurting, and needed to let it out. She buried her head in his chest, as he gently stroked her hair and cheek to soothe her. He could tell she was crying, and gently kissed the top of her reassuring her he was there, and always would be when she was hurting. She looked up at him and he was glad he trusted him like this. He had known she was struggling and was glad she finally let it out, before the wedding.

"I'm right here Ziva," he whispered. "Just let it all out."

"I should not be upset. It is not as if I am unhappy with what we chose."

"Even though you're happy it doesn't mean it's exactly how you wanted it. I understand."

"I cannot imagine marrying you anywhere else now. I want to marry you, but it is difficult to not think about my family as it gets closer."

"I know."

"I believe you when you tell me you would let me have anything I wanted, even that synagogue back home, but the thing that I want no one can get me."

"I would do whatever you asked me to do if that's what you wanted. But I wish I could give you your family on that day, Ziva. I hate seeing you hurting and knowing I can't make it better."

"You are making it better Tony," she assured him, kissing his cheek. "Making it better does not always mean fixing it."

"It still hurts. I love you too."

"I love you. If my father was alive would you have changed your faith?" she asked him.

"I was never religious Ziva so, yes, if that was what I needed to do to make it happen that's what I would have done."

"Why?"

"Because I love you, and you're the only person I ever wanted to marry, I would have done anything in order to make that happen."

"Tony, do not say things like that. I do not like when you act like that when it is only us. I know you have been engaged before."

"I was but I didn't feel like this. I wasn't ready to marry her, and I'm not sure I really wanted to do it, and that's why it didn't work out I thought it was the next step, and it was logical but what I had then is nothing like how I feel now. With you I didn't ask because it was what was expected of me, I asked because I knew that I would be lost and alone without you."

"Tony," she whispered, her emotions getting the better of her.

She again began to cry, this time however it was different. She was glad to be getting it all out, and hearing things she had known but needed to hear out loud to believe. She knew he had been right to get her to let it out. She kissed him softly, then wiped her tears, but they kept coming for a few more long minutes. His heart ached watching her knowing this was all he could do. He wondered if maybe everything had been too fast and that's why she had been so reluctant to talk.

"If it's too much right now we can wait," he assured her. "Everyone will understand."

She smiled at him, running her fingers along his cheek. "I do not want to wait any longer, but I am happy you gave me the choice to change my mind. I am just finding it difficult to not have my family with me right now."

"I know and I'm sorry I can't do more for you."

"You are doing enough."She kissed him softly. "I love you Tony."

"I love you too."

They shared another longer kiss, which started out sweet but soon became a little bit more frenzied like it always did when they were alone. The second he tasted her, he couldn't get enough, and he hoped he would always feel this way. He had to show restraint all day at work, and when they were with their friends in public which made it all the more impossible to resist her once she finally got her attention. His hands slid down her body, resting on her ass, and pulling her roughly into him. They both moaned softly.

"I thought you got us dinner," she reminded him pulling away.

"We can re-heat it." He went to capture her lips again.

The one thing he did like about the nights where he chose the meal, which was usually some kind of take out, was that the meal could quickly be reheated and he didn't have to sit through an amazing meal squirming like a schoolboy if they got distracted by each other before they began the meal. He picked her up easily bringing her into the bedroom, every time she had asked him why he had started lifting her he explained her needed to practice for their wedding night so he wouldn't drop her accidently. As much as she liked to tease him she enjoyed it when he did it and hoped he would continue to do it long after their wedding night.

End Part 24

Notes: Wow it's almost over. I figured I needed to tie up some loose ends before the wedding… Well I hope you enjoyed it!