A/N: Hey guys! Really, all I gotta say is that Tony's last episode was just a temporary muse. Thankfully it made me able to finally finish this. You guys are seriously my world, thanks for everything. Keep on reading, following, favoriting (favouriting?) and reviewing!

-edancel

Chapter 18

Morning rays interfered with bright blue that cascaded across an early April sky as hushed mourners filled the cemetery one by one. Helen Kismet's heart finally stopped at the age of sixty-four. It was when the beeps coming from the machine unexpectedly became slower and slower by the minute and for the Doctors who had grown accustomed by her presence, unfortunately could do nothing about it.

Ziva David, a woman who has grown close to Helen had to deliver the unfortunate news to the Kismet family. Phone call after phone call a very special agent Anthony Dinozzo comforted her through everything. Unbeknownst to him, Ziva was grateful.

Days after the Librarian's funeral, Ziva was held with responsibility of the library. However, it was sold almost immediately for she could not bear to set foot in what some would call a sanctuary.

After a while Tony was no longer drowning himself with sadness. Of course he was still mourning, but somehow with Ziva there with him, Tony would often think his life was still capable of feeling hopeful.

The minister motioned for everyone to stand up as the burial proceeded. Flowers were thrown into the casket space. Red ones, blue ones, yellow ones. Not until the brown coffin was permanently placed did tears start to well into Tony's eyes. He quickly wipes the salty liquid with the back of his hand as the other tightly holds Ziva's. The two stay like that for what seemed like hours, silently observing the woman that had mothered them for months, gave each other advice and maybe even brought them together. Subsequently, Ziva's head found its way in the crook of his neck as light rain drops begin to pelter them.

"I still can't believe it," Ziva whispers.

Tony sighs, "I know."

Gibbs waits inside the elevator at 0500 hours, hoping to get an early start on cold cases, silently praying that a Marine hasn't got a call from death. He is down two members of his team, however as the elevator opens with its familiar ding, he withholds himself as he regards all the desks in front are filled with agents. His agents for that manner.

Portia did not take the reassignment lightly. She's a great agent, surely, but her chemistry with the team was never any good. There always was this awkward tension between his remaining kids and her and he felt it was the right thing to do. Of course when she left, Ziva returned.

Ziva back at NCIS was not as different as everyone had thought it would be. She has been gone before. She has been kidnapped before, went missing before, but she's always found her way back to what has become her home. NCIS will always have a special place for Ziva David, Gibbs was sure of it. All of his kids are back and that is all that matters.

"Morning Boss," they all say in unison.

McGee walks over as the field agent in charge takes a seat and whispers to him, "Don't you think it's a little odd that they're both here today?"

Gibbs casts a soft glance to the pair, immediately feeling empathy for them. "If they want to be here, that's their choice, McGee."

"But Bo-"

Another glance. "Tony and Ziva are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. If it starts to affect their work, that's when it's my problem." He adds, "and Ziva just got back. You really think she would rather not be here than anywhere else, Tim?"

"It's weird, you know. Not seeing her here..this library will never be the same," Tony says as he takes a long last look around the library.

Ziva glances up slowly at Tony as she places the last of her items into a brown cardboard box. "Yes, it is. I think it is because we never thought her time was near." She pauses, "we were so blinded with happiness, morality had finally shown its true presence."

Tony begins to wonder why this woman he secretly proclaimed his love to, barely shed a tear. She was much closer to Helen than he ever was. Their bond was much deeper, despite himself knowing the librarian longer.

Yet, at this moment, they should be happy right now. It would have been what Helen wanted Tony thinks; she would have wanted them to go out and have fun or simply enjoy each other's company. Still, there they are, mourning the loss of a friend. A close friend.

Ziva interrupts his thoughts, "Tony?"

Idling with haunting inquiries, he answers. "Hmm?"

Ziva gathers the last of her belongings and puts her jacket on. She sighs deeply. "Let's go."

He follows.

They're lying in his bed as they are reminiscing. His arm is tucked tightly around her waist and he is relishing this very moment. The moonlight is slowly peaking its way across the room, it is the only source of light that reaches them in their own little world. He's telling her about his father's wedding. How it was an undeniable disorganized disaster. But everyone somehow enjoyed it, including himself.

She's memorizing his breathing, wondering how this man next to her has captured her heart. They're both laughing. She has realized long ago that he has brought her all the happiness she's ever wanted. She truly, truly loves him.

"Hey Ziva?"

She looks up at those remarkable emerald green eyes, "yes, Tony?"

He starts to laugh again, his Dinozzo smile flashing at her, he can't believe he's doing it. "Before Helen died, she wanted me to tell you something.."

Tony continues, "you know there was only one other woman whom I cared so much about. I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. But then..she left me. I never thought I could ever recover from that.

"After a while I swore I wouldn't let myself feel like that again. I just couldn't. And then you came. You made me feel what I said I would never feel again. I was confused. And when you left me too, I reverted back to my old ways. It was awful. Yet, for some reason I just couldn't stop thinking about you. I couldn't give you up. So I fought. I fought and I won. You're here, Ziva and..I..I love you."

Ziva kisses him with all she has, including her love for him. When he breaks the kiss he whispers quietly, "I have always loved you. It just took me a while to say it."

On the tarmac where she proclaimed her love to him, she expected he would not return the gesture. Tony Dinozzo is an emotionally complicated man. He's been burned, hurt and heart broken. She expected nonetheless. But hearing him say what he had said at this very moment is life changing. They finally made it. They beat their demons and they survived. And really, that is all she could have wished for.

"And I love you, Tony.""