AN: I know it doesn't seem this way, but there's only 1-2 more after this before the epilogue.

MN: We have decided not to do NaNoWriMo this year. Just not enough time left to plan. Next year, victory will be ours!


Ziva pulled four bottles of water from the fridge and walked back into the living room. She handed a bottle each to McGee, Greeley, and Rhodes. She waited for Tony to set down the box in his hands and stole a quick kiss before handing him the last.

"Oh come on you two. Wait for us to leave before you start that." Greeley's tone was teasing as was the grin on his face.

"Is that the last of it?" Ziva took Tony's open bottle and took a sip before handing it back.

"Yep. DiNozzo's stuff is all off the truck and my stuff is all on."

It had been two months since they had returned from Hawaii, and nearly six now since they had resigned from NCIS. She was surprised that she had been so comfortable with the idea of Tony moving in. It made sense, really. They spent almost every night together anyway, and Greeley had loved the idea of taking over Tony's lease and having a place of his own.

She leaned against him now and glanced at the clock. "What do you guys say we stop for lunch on the way to unload Alex's stuff?"

Tony's arm wrapped around her. "Sounds good to me." He leaned in to murmur in her ear. "But the faster we get done unloading his stuff, the faster we get back here to celebrate together."

She elbowed him lightly and pulled away. "Let's go."


As she pushed back from him, Tony tried to swoop in for another kiss, but she deflected. "Stop! I need to get in the shower. I'm filthy." Despite her best attempts to seem serious, there was a lighthearted tone in her voice.

He waggled his eyebrows at her mischievously. "I could come help you. You know, wash your back and all that."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the grin that spread on her face as she escaped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Ziva indulged herself just a little longer than normal in the shower, allowing the hot water to soothe the stiff muscles she'd aquired from the lifting she'd done that day. When she was done, she towel dried her hair, not feeling like dealing with the blow drier. Tony had left one of his baggy shirts in the bathroom and she bypassed her own pajama shirt and pulled that over her head and slipped on a pair of panties before exiting the room.

She found him in the living room, carefully organizing his movies onto the shelves he and Rhodes had installed the previous weekend. "I thought you were done unpacking for the night?"

He shrugged as he put the cases in his hand into place. "Just occupying my time while you showered." He turned toward her and a smile instantly spread on his face. "So, that's where my shirt went."

She stepped toward him, placing a hand on his bare chest. "You left it in the bathroom, so I figured you were not using it."

He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her. "Keep it. It looks better on you." He dipped his head to capture her lips in a long, deep kiss.

The move left her slightly breathless when he released her and his grin shifted to one of satisfaction. "I ordered pizza. I didn't really think either of us was up for cooking. Personally, I have other things I plan to do with my time tonight."

They were still standing in close contact and she pointedly shifted against him. "Oh? What kind of plans? Organizing your movie collection?"

"Oh no. The movies can wait." He dove in for another kiss, his hands sliding down from her back and under the hem of the shirt to her panty-clad rear. He groaned and brought his lips out of contact with hers. "Are those the pink ones?"

She had chosen them deliberately and she grinned at his reaction. "Yes, they are."

He used his grip on her backside to pull her more firmly against him as he reconnected their mouths. He started backing her toward the hall, and, presumably, the bedroom, but they had only just drawn level with the entrance to the kitchen when a firm knock sounded on the door.

She pushed Tony back and smiled at him. "You get the pizza; I will get a couple of beers." She spun and moved through the doorway before he could respond.

She pulled two bottles from the fridge and opened them. Her meticulous side got the better of her and she stopped to clear the counter of its accumulation of empty water and Powerade bottles before taking the cold drinks and exiting back to the living room. She nearly dropped both bottles when she emerged into the room. "McGee! What are you doing here?"

To his credit, her friend averted his eyes when he noticed her attire. "We need to talk. Did you want to…?" He trailed off, but she understood his implication.

"Yes." She pressed the drinks into Tony's hands then retreated down the hall. She quickly donned a pair of baggy knit pants then returned to the living room. By the time she got there, Tony had pulled a shirt on and he and McGee were sitting in armchairs on opposite sides of the coffee table. There were now a trio of beers resting on coasters between them. She perched herself on the arm of Tony's chair and he shifted to bring his arm into contact with her.

McGee wasted no time in explaining the reason for his unannounced visit. "Abby called me about half an hour ago. Gibbs just walked into NCIS headquarters."

Ziva felt like she had been sucker punched and she felt Tony stiffen beside her as he spoke. "Did she find out where he's been?"

"No. He marched straight into Vance's office and he hasn't left. They have the room locked down, so she couldn't tap into The Director's computer." McGee was staring down at his shoes, rather than attempt to look them in the eye.

They were all given a bit more time to process the information by another knock on the door. Tony once again answered it. He paid the young man who nearly always delivered their pizza and accepted the food without any of his usual chit-chat or gusto. He returned to the living room, setting the box on the table with the untouched beers before resuming his seat.

It was Ziva who broke the silence. "So, what's next?"

McGee shrugged. "I imagine that either nothing will change, or we'll be summoned. Soon."

"Well, they'll have to wait until Monday." Ziva turned to look down at Tony as he spoke and he locked his eyes with hers. "I have plans and I'm not cancelling them because Gibbs decided to show back up after half a year."

She reached down and took his hand. "Agreed. If they wish to speak with us, they can do so next week."

McGee nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Sarah showed up to spend the weekend with me. I'm not going to let them ruin that." After another moment of silence, he stood. "Let me know if either of you gets the call, and enjoy your weekend."

Tony rose as well and moved toward the door with their friend. "You too Tim. And thanks. For the heads up. And for doing it in person."


The texts had come in barely five minutes after McGee had left. As they had all agreed, she and Tony both responded that they wouldn't be able to make it to their former office until Monday morning. A quick conversation between her partner and McGee had confirmed that he had done the same.

Now it was nearly 0300 and Ziva still hadn't managed to fall asleep. She could tell by the tempo of his breathing that Tony was awake beside her so she rolled to face him. Even in the near darkness she could tell that he had been watching her.

He seemed to read what was on her mind just by looking at her and reached out to pull her to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "It's going to be okay. Whatever they say and whatever we decide, it'll be okay. They don't get to change this. He doesn't get to define who we are and what we can and can't do anymore, Zi. We don't owe him that much."

She nodded against his chest. "You're right. We don't. Don't let him make up your mind for you, Tony. You need to do right by yourself for a change. Follow your heart, not his or mine or anyone else's. Promise?"

He squeezed her even tighter. "Promise. And you too? I know you've always felt like you owed him everything, but you've repaid your debt. You deserve to be happy too."

She pushed against him until he loosened his grip so she could pull back to look at him. "I promise." She gave him a gentle kiss then settled back in his arms, suddenly feeling much more relaxed.


AN: Ahhhh, I just love going from super fluff to super angst, especially when I can legitimately blame it on Bastian. It was totally his idea!

MN: True story.