Disclaimer: In chapter 1!
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"This is the Captain. We will be landing at Reagan International in fifteen minutes. It is a beautiful 80 degrees with clear skies. I hope you have enjoyed your flight and we hope to see you on Brazil Air again." The Captain's nasally voice croaked over the loudspeaker.
They'd packed and snuck out of that motel room quietly. Tony had been certain no one had followed them. Though he didn't know who would be following since he had no real clue what Ziva was working on. But he would try to find out; even if Ziva insisted it wasn't her secret to tell. He was going to enjoy these eight days and keep her close but he'd be damned if he'd let her go - really let her go after the eight days were over.
They had showered together that morning in that crappy motel shower that had the water pressure of a leaky faucet but he hadn't cared. He had enjoyed getting every bit of soap off of her. Afterwards, he had helped her stash her guns and rifle and when they got to the airport they managed to catch a flight to DC quickly. His mind raced with plans for the next eight days; he'd have to call the team they'd want to see her as soon as possible but not today.
Tony cradled Ziva on his shoulder and looked down to see her eyes flutter open, "Morning sleepy."
"Hi," she replied as she gazed up at him, "Did I sleep long?"
"Few hours," he told her as he kissed her temple.
"You look wide awake," Ziva said as she straightened, "did you get any sleep?"
"Yup." Tony responded. "I got enough. Are you tired? Do you want to go home and get some more rest?"
Ziva stretched her back and shook her head. "No. I am fine. What do you want to do?"
"I want to go shopping," Tony smiled before moving her hair behind her ear so he could see her face fully.
"Shopping?" Ziva peered at him quizzically. "For groceries?"
"Yes, some of that but there is one big purchase I want to make right away," Tony buckled Ziva's seatbelt before he did his own as the flight attendants started preparing for landing. He knew Ziva was indulging him because she'd would normally swat his hand away. It just gave him all the more pleasure to hear the click of the seatbelt.
"What do you want to buy?" Ziva asked.
"A bigger bed and I want it installed by tonight," Tony glanced at his watch, "it's only 9:30am we should have plenty of time to get it done."
Ziva chuckled and ran her hand along Tony's cheek. "I never understood why you had a twin bed? But, you do not need to get a new mattress, Tony. How about we stay at the Adam's House Hotel, my treat?"
"No," he said and kissed her lips softly, He didn't want to stay in some hotel room like they were having a torrid affair. No, he wanted to be home with her. He wanted her to feel like this was home not a liaison, not something temporary that they'd remember fondly but something real, something permanent. "we have to stay at my place." Tony shook his head, "No, our place."
Ziva cast her eyes down before returning her gaze to Tony, "You shouldn't disrupt the apartment. Is it not better if we stay at the hotel?"
"I want you in our home," Tony held her hand, rubbed her knuckles with his thumb. "I want you to know it's your home."
"Tony," Ziva squeezed his hand. "For now, for this...visit. We should-"
"I want these next eight days to feel like the start of our life," Tony kissed the back of her hand. He meant every word, he didn't want this to feel like an ending but a beginning because he would do everything in his power to see that she'd be back, that she was his. "I don't want to talk about day eight."
"Tony, I do not want you to-," Ziva stopped mid-sentence, her eyes studying Tony's face, "Ok," she said. "We'll have fun."
Tony leaned in and kissed her, slowly, softly he savored every bit of her. But he knew he could never, ever get enough in a lifetime much less in eight damn days. When they pulled apart Ziva touched his face and he placed his hand on hers as the plane landed.
"What about Gibbs, McGee, Abby?" Ziva asked as the plane taxied to the gate. "When are we going to see them?"
"Tomorrow," Tony answered. "I want you to myself today."
They disembarked and made their way to Tony's apartment where they dropped their stuff and turned right back out and headed for the stores in Tony's car. It didn't take long to wind up at Mattress Empire and Tony had Ziva lying down on this mattress or that one. The clerk was enjoying their sarcastic comments about mattress durability and finally they decided on a firm mattress with a pillowtop. It was the most couple-y thing they'd ever done together. Tony paid for the mattress and talked the clerk into making sure it was delivered this afternoon by four. The entire process took them only an hour after leaving Tony's place.
"Ziva David," Tony said with a twinkle in his eye, "may I invite you to an early lunch?"
Ziva turned into him on the street as they held hands, "Are you asking me out on a date, Mr. DiNozzo?"
"I suppose I am," Tony grinned at her then his grin faded, "this is our first official date."
"Yes, it is," Ziva smiled up at him.
"We've shared so many meals, drinks, movies...and we never," Tony choked back a breath.
"We never went on a real date," Ziva finished. "Therefore, Mr. DiNozzo, I accept your invitation for lunch."
Tony pulled her into his arms and kissed the side of her neck, "So much time wasted," he whispered.
"Do not think about it," Ziva said. "We are having fun, remember?"
"I remember," Tony let her go then took her hand as he walked forward. "Come on, I am going to take you somewhere fancy, Miss David."
"Tony, I'd be just as happy with a slice of pizza," she pulled him to a nearby pizza parlor. "I'm hungry. I want deep dish," she said as she reached up and kissed him quickly then led him inside.
They ordered a pie and managed to get the primo booth by the window. And Tony watched her savor the first gooey piece.
"Where is your stuff?" Tony asked between bites.
"My stuff?" Ziva put her piece down, "from my apartment?"
"Yes," Tony wiped his hands with one of the flimsy napkins. "You let go of your lease in June. What did you do with it all?"
"It is in storage in Anacostia," Ziva replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, since we're moving in together," Tony grazed her hand with his thumb, "don't you think we should bring some of that stuff over?"
Ziva was clearly surprised as she leaned back in her seat. "Do you not think you are taking this too far?"
Tony took both her hands in his and gazed into her eyes, "This is very real, Ziva. I love you...I love you. When you come home, you come home to me...to our place. And I want it to really be our place. That means your stuff is there too."
Ziva picked up one of his hands and kissed it softly, "I do not want you to have to deal with that stuff. It is just things, nothing there is important. I will feel home when I am with you."
"I want the things," Tony nodded. "All the trappings a couple have. I want it all."