After a long day filled with tension and unresolved feelings, Ziva sat at her desk in the bullpen, her mind racing. She was wondering who was behind the second attack. Luckily she drives so fast so that the shooter did not get them. She was still analysing the witness statements when Rivka approached her desk.
"Ziva," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ziva looked up, her expression guarded. "What do you want? We won't leave for probably around two hours. I still have work to do"
"I came to talk again. There are some things I want to tell you before we leave" Rivka replied, her eyes filled with remorse. "Can we go some place quiet? Please?"
Ziva thought about it and considered not talking with her for a second but for Talis sake she decided to let her talk. So Ziva stood up and started to walk towards a quiet little corner. "Follow me" she said and Rivka was just a few steps behind her. When they arrived Ziva leaned against the wall and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She waited for her mother to talk.
"Your boss Gibbs talked to me and made me think about some stuff" said Rivka looking at her hands.
Ziva raised one eyebrow thinking about what Gibbs could have said. He was probably in papa Gibbs mode and not in boss Gibbs mode when they talked.
"I was thinking a lot about what you said to me a few nights ago and about the past." Said Rivka her voice was trembling a bit as she talked trying to find the right words to continue.
"I know it was not easy for you after we left"
Ziva stood straight now trying to stay calm but she could not. She tried to put on her old stone cold face but she failed to do so.
"One thing you are right about. You know Eli it is never easy with him. When you left you knew what he would turn me into" Ziva said sharply, her voice tinged with frustration. "You left me. You abandoned me to him."
Rivka winced at Ziva's words, the pain of her daughter's accusation cutting deep. "I know I did, and I am so sorry. I thought I was Tali you when I left, but I see now how selfish that was."
"Selfish?" Ziva's voice rose. "I was a child, Rivka! I was left alone with a father who didn't care about my safety, only his own ambitions. You should have been there. You might think you did that only for Tali and I know that getting her away from him was the best thing for her but the truth is that you mostly did it for yourself. You wanted to get out of there and you chose the most coward way. You made me believe that it was my fault that my little sister died"
"I thought it was for the best. That I did the right thing. You wanted to make your father proud so often that I thought that you would never want to leave with us" Rivka replied, her voice breaking. "But I realize now that my choices only put you in greater harm. I was scared, Ziva, and I thought leaving would keep everyone safe."
Ziva's expression softened slightly, but the hurt still lingered. "You don't understand. I needed my mother, not just a shadow in the background. I grew up thinking I was unwanted, that I wasn't worth fighting for. I thought that you hated me long before the explosion. But Eli was not. You where the one that made me run towards him. To seek his attention"
"I was wrong," Rivka said, tears glistening in her eyes. "I should have fought for you. I should have faced my fears instead of running away. I should have trusted you to make your own choices, even if it was difficult. After leaving I regretted leaving you behind Ziva. I thought about getting you out of there too but then I would have risked everything I did to keep Tali safe"
Ziva's anger began to dissipate as she saw the sincerity in her mother's eyes. "You were my mother. You were supposed to protect me, not leave me with him." Zivas own eyes now filled with a few tears she did not allow to leave her eyes.
"I know," Rivka replied, her voice filled with remorse. "I can't change the past, but I want to make things right. I'm here now, Ziva, and I'm ready to be the mother you deserve. I want to earn your trust back, even if it takes forever to get it."
Ziva looked away, struggling with her emotions. "It's going to take a long time, Rivka. You can't just come back and expect everything to be okay."
"I don't expect that," Rivka said earnestly. "I just want you to know that I love you and that I'm truly sorry for everything. I should have been there for you, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to support you now."
Ziva met her mother's gaze, the hurt still present but mingling with a flicker of hope. "If you want to be a part of my life again, you need to show me. Words are not enough. You need to prove that you're here for me, not just Tali."
"I will," Rivka promised, determination in her voice. "I want to be part of your life. Just give me a chance."
Ziva nodded slowly, her heart still guarded but beginning to soften. "We'll see. But I can't promise anything yet."
"Just know that I'll be here," Rivka said, her voice steady. "I'll do everything I can to make it right."
As Ziva turned to leave Rivka called out, "And don't think I'll give up so fast this time."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Ziva replied, a small smile forming on her lips.
Rivka watched her mother walk away, a mix of emotions swirling within her. For the first time in years, the possibility of reconciliation felt real. It wouldn't be easy, but it was a start.
As she was walking into the same direction Ziva walked she observed something. Her daughter went to her desk for just a second and she saw Agent DiNozzos lips moving. Her daughter nodded after he stopped talking so this must have been her silent answer.
But her daughter partner did not buy the nodding, at least that's what Rivka thought. He stood up and walked towards Ziva. He said something else and then both left the squadroom heading towards the elevator.
While Rivka walked towards the conference room she thought about that scene wondering if there was more between her daughter and her daughters partner or not.
In the conference room she then talked with Tali about the conversation she and Ziva had. When they where done talking Rivka walked towards the window asking Tali Rivka turned to Tali after a moment, her voice thoughtful. As her eyes wandered around outside she noticed Ziva and Tony outside at the coffee stand. They where sitting close to each other and looked like they had a close conversation.
"Tali… have you noticed how close Ziva is with this man, Tony?"
Tali blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Tony? They're friends. Partners at work. Why?"
Rivka studied her daughter for a moment before continuing. "They seem… more than just friends. There is a closeness between them."
Tali smiled, a little more knowingly this time. "Yeah, I've noticed. They've known each other for years, been through a lot. But Ziva doesn't talk about him like that. At least, not to me. I asked her about their relationship when we where getting tea."
Rivka tilted her head, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Do you think there could be something more between them?"
Tali shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe? It's why I asked her. I have the feelingthat there is more between them but like I said she did not say anythingabout that to me."
Rivka nodded, her gaze growing distant as she thought about her eldest daughter. "Ziva has always been strong, independent. But I can see that Tony makes her feel something. He gives her a kind of support I do not think she lets herself have often."
Tali leaned in slightly, curiosity piqued. "You think they're in love?" Tali has always been a hopeless romantic.
Rivka gave a small smile. "Perhaps. But love is not something Ziva admits to easily. Not after everything she has been through. But that is just the Ziva I knew as a kid. I don't know anything about the grown-up Ziva"
Tali nodded, understanding the weight of her mother's words. "I just want her to be happy, you know? She deserves that."
Rivka looked at her youngest daughter with a soft, bittersweet smile. "She does. And perhaps Tony is part of that happiness, if she allows herself to accept it."
As they sat together, Tali couldn't help but think of the way Ziva had looked at Tony earlier, and the way Tony had looked at her. Maybe her mother was right—maybe Ziva had finally found someone who could help heal the wounds of her past.
Meanwhile Tony and Ziva walked towards the coffee stand outside the building. The whole time Ziva was silent.
"You've been awfully quiet," Tony said, breaking the silence between them. He tilted his head, giving her that familiar half-smirk. "What's going on in that ninja brain of yours?"
Ziva exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. "I have a lot to think about."
Tony leaned against the counter, his casual posture a contrast to the concern in his voice. "Yeah, I figured. I saw you talking with your mother. Did it went well?"
Ziva's jaw tensed. "I think so. It's not just that they're back. It's why she left in the first place. She… she abandoned me, Tony. She left me with Eli."
Tony's playful smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He took a deep breath, knowing Ziva rarely opened up like this. "I'm guessing Rivka didn't have the best reason for that." To give her some comfort he stroked the top of her right hand for a few seconds.
Ziva's lips pressed into a thin line while she started at Tonys hand. "She said it was for Talis safety. That Eli was dangerous and unpredictable, and she had no choice. But I cannot help but feel betrayed. They were alive this whole time and they left me—left me with him."
Tony let the silence settle for a moment, not wanting to push too hard. "Ziva… that's rough. I can't imagine what that must feel like. But you have every right to be angry."
Ziva's gaze softened slightly at his words. "I am angry, Tony. For years, I lived under Eli's shadow, believing my family was gone, and they were out there, alive. I had no one. Only him."
Tony shifted closer, his voice low and comforting. "You don't have to figure this all out today. But don't let her make you feel like you're wrong for being upset. She hurt you."
Ziva looked at him, her guard slipping for just a moment. "I do not know if I can forgive her. With Tali it's easy she was just a kid but my mother..."
"You don't have to," Tony said gently. "At least, not until you're ready. But whatever you decide, I'll be right here." As always when he cheered Ziva up he tucked some strands of hair behind her ear which indeed made her smile.
Ziva gave him a small, appreciative smile. "I know. Thank you, Tony."
Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment, and the space between them seemed to shrink, though neither said anything more. It was a quiet moment of understanding, something they had shared many times before. Still friends, but close in a way that hinted more.
They snapped out of the moment as fast as they got caught in it. They stopped looking at each other and drank the rest of their coffee. Then they stood up and walked back into the building.
Upstairs in the conference room to people watched the whole scene. Tali was grinning over both ears. She was happy that apparently this Tony guy made her sister happy weather they where together or just friends like Ziva told her. Rivka also seemed to be happy but her thoughts drifted away and filled with regret. Regret that she missed so much time of her daughters life. Regret that she left him to Eli and what she must have been through because of him.
End of the next chapter. Please comment and tell me what you think.