The weeks flew by in a blur of cases, paperwork, and long nights at NCIS. There was barely a moment to breathe with the team constantly on the move. Spring had arrived in Washington, D.C., but between their busy schedules, no one had much time to enjoy it.
One day, after a particularly long case, Tony leaned back in his chair, glancing at Ziva. "Hey, Zee-vah," he said in his teasing tone. "Have you ever been to the Cherry Blossom Festival?"
Ziva shook her head, not looking up from her report. "No, I have not. Why?"
Tony grinned, pushing himself up from his desk and walking over to lean on the edge of hers. "Well, it's a pretty big deal around here. I think you'd like it. How about I take you? I could be your guide to all things cherry blossom."
Ziva finally looked up, raising an eyebrow at him. "A guide, huh?"
"Yeah! You know, show you the sights, explain the history, get you some sakura-themed snacks. What do you say?"
She considered his offer for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Alright, DiNozzo. I accept."
They made their plans, and for the next few days, there was a lightness between them, something to look forward to outside of work. But then, a week before the festival, their latest case took a dangerous turn.
Tony was shot.
It happened so fast that Ziva almost couldn't believe it. One minute they were chasing down a suspect, and the next, Tony was on the ground, clutching his arm, blood soaking through his shirt.
Her heart raced as they rushed him to the hospital. The hours after that were a blur of doctors and waiting, the sterile smell of the hospital clinging to her senses. He was in surgery, and for the first time in a long while, Ziva felt powerless. She couldn't fight the person who did this. She couldn't take the pain away. She could only sit there, waiting for news.
When the surgeon finally came out, the relief she felt was overwhelming. The bullet had gone clean through his arm, no major damage. He'd need stitches and physical therapy, but Tony was going to be okay.
The next day, Tony was discharged, his arm bandaged, but his humor intact. "Hey, Zee-vah," he greeted her from the hospital bed with a lopsided grin, even as he winced in pain. "Guess I took that 'falling for you' thing a bit too literally."
Ziva had brought him home, ignoring his jokes, and cooked for him, making sure he had everything he needed to recover. Despite the worry still gnawing at her, their plans for the Cherry Blossom Festival remained. Tony wouldn't let a little thing like getting shot ruin their day out.
And so, the day arrived.
The warmth of the spring sun filtered through her windows as Ziva stood in front of her closet, contemplating what to wear. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom outside, and the city was alive with festival energy.
Ziva's fingers grazed over a dress she hadn't worn in years a soft, flowing fabric that brought out her skin tone and her eyes. One of her friends in Israel packed all her stuff together and shipped it to Ziva. She was glad to have stuff from her old live with her. Especially the pictures with Tali in them. She hesitated for a moment. It had been so long since she had worn anything like it. Not since before… before Somalia.
For a brief moment, her gaze shifted to the scars that marked her body. They were faint now, but still visible to anyone who looked closely enough. She traced a finger over one of them, memories flashing through her mind of pain, of survival.
Would people stare? Would Tony notice?
She shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside. The scars were a part of her now, a testament to what she had endured and overcome. She wasn't going to hide them anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Ziva slipped into the dress. The fabric felt unfamiliar but light, like a new beginning. She looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting the straps slightly, and then nodded to her reflection. She was ready.
The day was warm, the kind of perfect spring weather that made you forget winter ever existed. Ziva took one last glance around her apartment, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything, before a knock sounded at the door.
Her heart skipped a beat. Tony was here.
Straightening her posture, she walked towards the door, her fingers hovering over the handle for a moment. She took a breath, steeling herself, and opened it.
Tony stood there, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight of her. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just stared, and Ziva couldn't help but feel a tiny surge of nervousness.
But then his face split into that familiar grin, the one that always made her feel just a little lighter. "Wow, Ziva," he said, his voice soft but full of admiration. "You look... amazing."
Ziva felt warmth rise in her cheeks but played it off with a smirk. "You clean up well too, DiNozzo."
Tony chuckled, offering her his arm. "Shall we?"
Ziva took his arm, letting herself enjoy the moment. As they walked out into the sunny street, the soft breeze carrying the scent of cherry blossoms, Ziva couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Today was just about the festival, about spending time with Tony. But deep down, she knew there was something more between them, something unspoken, waiting for the right moment to surface.
For now, though, she pushed those thoughts aside and allowed herself to enjoy the day, one step at a time.
The festival was everything Tony had promised and more. The streets were lined with cherry blossom trees, their delicate pink petals fluttering down like soft rain in the warm spring breeze. The crowd was lively but peaceful, filled with people admiring the blooms and enjoying the seasonal celebrations. Ziva walked beside Tony, taking it all in—the vibrant atmosphere, the laughter, the beauty of the blossoms against the clear blue sky.
Tony, ever the enthusiastic guide, was in his element. He pointed out interesting details about the festival and shared random trivia about the cherry blossoms and their history in D.C. Ziva listened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched how much Tony truly loved this.
At one point, Tony disappeared for a few minutes, returning with two cones of ice cream. "Sakura-flavored," he said with a grin, handing one to her. "Had to keep with the theme."
Ziva chuckled and accepted the cone, sitting down on a bench by the water. The breeze off the river was refreshing, and the sight of the blossoms reflecting on the water's surface was serene. She took a bite of the ice cream, surprised by its sweet, delicate flavor.
They sat there for a few minutes, quietly enjoying the moment and watching people stroll by. Tony seemed unusually calm for once, the usual hyper energy he exuded tempered by the peaceful setting.
After a while, Tony finished the last bite of his ice cream and turned to Ziva, an expression of thoughtfulness crossing his face. "So, Ziva… I was thinking," he started, his tone casual but there was something different about it. "We've been here for a while. It's been fun, right?"
Ziva looked at him, nodding. "Yes, it has been," she admitted, her voice soft. "It's beautiful here."
Tony gave her a smile and then glanced down at his empty cone before tossing it into the nearby trash bin. "I was wondering... after the festival, what do you say we go out for dinner?"
Ziva raised an eyebrow at him, sensing a change in his tone. She tilted her head slightly, looking at him curiously. "Dinner?" she repeated.
Tony met her eyes, his expression a mix of his usual charm and something more sincere. "Yeah, you know, just the two of us... after all this."
She caught the undertone and asked, "Are you asking me out on a date, Tony?"
For a brief moment, Tony hesitated, but then his smile widened, a little playful but with a touch of vulnerability. "Would you mind if I was?"
Ziva looked at him, feeling her heart skip just a bit. She thought about it for a second, the idea of Tony asking her on a date... it wasn't a surprise, not after all the moments they had shared lately, but hearing it out loud made it real.
"No," she replied, a soft smile crossing her lips. "I wouldn't mind."
Tony's grin grew as he leaned back against the bench, looking out over the water, clearly pleased. "Then it's a date," he said simply, a sparkle in his eyes as he turned to finish his ice cream. "Just you, me, and some good food tonight."
Ziva glanced down at her half-eaten ice cream, trying to suppress the rush of warmth that spread through her. There was something about the way Tony had asked, the ease of the moment, that made her feel like this wasn't just another one of his flirty remarks. It felt... genuine.
As they sat in comfortable silence, watching the festival carry on around them, Ziva couldn't help but think about how far they had come. From their early days of banter and competition to this sharing a quiet moment under the cherry blossoms, Tony asking her on a date as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
For the first time in a long while, Ziva allowed herself to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, this could be something more. And that thought, surprisingly, didn't scare her as much as it once would have.