Dinner was a warm, comforting feeling with Rivka's traditional cooking filling the small safe house with the rich aromas of home. The food itself was simple, but it held the flavors of memories garlic, spices, and warmth that brought Ziva back to a time before everything had fractured. They sat around the small wooden table, Rivka at one end, Ziva and Tali across from each other, and Tony seated next to Ziva.

As they began to eat, the tension that had clung to them all day seemed to ease, the earlier danger and stress momentarily forgotten. For a while, there was mostly the sound of utensils clinking against plates, a quiet sense of normalcy settling in.

Rivka glanced across the table at Tony, observing the man who had become a steady presence in her daughters live. She had noticed the ease with which he interacted with Ziva and how naturally their dynamic seemed to be. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to probe a little. After all, this man was Ziva's closest coworker and perhaps, much more.

"So, Tony," Rivka began, her voice calm and polite, "tell me a little about yourself. I understand you work with Ziva, but how did you end up as an NCIS agent?"

Tony, caught mid-bite, looked up, a little surprised by the question. He swallowed quickly, wiped his mouth, and flashed his trademark grin. "Ah, well, it's a bit of a long story."

Ziva rolled her eyes slightly, already knowing that Tony was about to embellish the details, but she didn't stop him. She simply focused on her food, allowing the conversation to unfold.

Rivka smiled encouragingly. "I have time. I'd like to know more about the man who spends so much time with my daughter."

Tony chuckled softly, appreciating her directness. "Well, before NCIS, I was a cop. Worked homicide in Baltimore. I always liked the investigative side of things, figuring out the puzzle. But after a while, I realized I wanted something... more, something that challenged me in new ways."

Rivka nodded thoughtfully. "And how did you transition from Baltimore to NCIS?"

Tony leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the chance to talk. "One day, NCIS showed up during a case I was working. That's when I met Gibbs." He glanced at Ziva, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. "You know how convincing he can be."

Ziva smirked at that, her eyes still on her plate. "Yes, very convincing."

Tali, intrigued, leaned in. "So, Gibbs just recruited you right out of Baltimore?"

Tony nodded. "Pretty much. He made me an offer, and I decided it was time for a change. Joined NCIS and never looked back."

Rivka observed him carefully, nodding as she processed the information. "And how have you found working with Ziva? I imagine she can be... challenging."

Ziva shot her mother a sideways glance, knowing exactly what she meant. But Tony's grin only widened, his eyes sparkling with affection and mischief.

"Challenging?" Tony repeated with a teasing tone. "I'd say working with Ziva keeps me on my toes. She's one of the best agents I've ever worked with. Smart, tough, always ahead of the game."

Ziva looked up at that, slightly surprised by his genuine praise. Her lips softened into a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Tony."

Rivka didn't miss the subtle exchange between them, her curiosity piqued even further. "It sounds like you have a great deal of respect for each other."

Tony nodded earnestly. "Absolutely. Ziva's been through a lot, and she's stronger for it. She's saved my life more times than I can count."

Ziva raised an eyebrow. "Only because you tend to get into trouble more than most."

Tony grinned, unable to resist a comeback. "Maybe I get into trouble more than most, but at least I'm not the one causing the bar fights."

Ziva shot him a sharp look, but there was a spark of amusement in her eyes. "That was one time, and it wasn't my fault."

Tali blinked in surprise, her head turning toward Ziva. "Wait, what happened?"

Tony chuckled lightly. "Oh, there was this case where we went into this bar to talk with possible witnesses a few days before Christmas and let's just say it turned out to be quite the adventure."

Ziva shook her head, a small smile on her face. "You always manage to make it sound more dramatic than it really is."

Rivka smiled softly, glad to see her daughters laughing with Tony. "It seems you both find yourselves in unusual situations."

Tony nodded, a playful glint in his eye. "What can I say? Trouble finds us."

Ziva shot him a knowing look. "You attract it."

"Hey, it keeps life interesting, doesn't it?" Tony replied, his grin wide.

Rivka's gaze softened as she watched the banter between the two. "It sounds like you have quite a partnership."

Ziva glanced at Tony, her expression shifting to one of warmth. "We do. It's been… enlightening."

As the evening wore on, the conversation became lighter again, Tony sharing more amusing stories from his days as a cop, and Tali chiming in with her own observations. By the time dinner was over, the warmth of the food and the company had settled over them like a blanket, momentarily pushing aside the fear and uncertainty of the outside world. For now, they were together, and that was enough.

The sun had set, casting the safe house in a gentle twilight glow. The comforting smell of Rivka's cooking lingered in the air as Tali yawned widely, stretching her arms above her head.

"I think I'm going to hit the hay," she announced, looking between Ziva and Tony. "It's been a long day."

Rivka nodded, wiping her hands on a towel. "You should get some rest, Tali. Tomorrow will be another long day."

"Hey Ziva how come that your sister gets the idioms right but you can't get them?" Asked Tony.

"Probably because I have spent almost most of my life in the US" said Tali while Ziva ignored the teasing.

"Goodnight, Ziva, Tony," Tali said, her voice tinged with fatigue as she headed upstairs with her mother.

Once the two had disappeared, Ziva turned to Tony, leaning against the kitchen counter. "It's nice to have some quiet for a moment," she said, letting out a soft breath.

Tony chuckled, pouring himself another cup of coffee. "Yeah, quiet is good. It's been a bit of a whirlwind since you two arrived. I have to say, I really like your sister."

Ziva raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "Oh really? Is that so?"

"Definitely," Tony replied, leaning against the counter next to her, the warmth of the moment settling around them. "She seems really smart and fun. I'm looking forward to getting to know her more. So far, it's just been Tali telling me stories about 'young Ziva.'"

Ziva's smile faded slightly as she crossed her arms. "Tony I warn you. If you rey to get more stories out of her I will..."

Tony's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Are you scared I'll find out something embarrassing?"

Ziva shot him a playful glare. "I'm not scared. I just don't want old wounds to be re-opened. Some things are better left in the past."

"Oh come on, everyone has their awkward moments," he teased, leaning a bit closer, his expression genuine. "Besides, I'd like to hear more about you. You're not just the badass agent and great friend there's got to be more to your story. You hardly ever talk about it"

Ziva sighed, knowing he was right. "I know. Childhood is not that easy with a father like yours was and how Eli is. It's just..."

"Is it possible that you don't want to share a lot also because of a certain someone who would be part of the stories?" Asked Tony moving closer towards her. He did not have to mention the name as he knew that both where thinking about the same person.

"He wasn't only the monster you got to know. He was a great big brother and always there when I needed him. Actually you two would have gotten along very well" said Ziva looking down playing with her fingers. This was a forbidden and strange territory they where talking about. Usually she never mentioned her older brother who was responsible for Kates death.

"Hey" said Tony now standing right in front of her. He touched her hand for a second so she would stop playing around with them. He then softly liftet her chin his hand not leaving it. He studied her face as she was looking into his eyes. "I can separate both versions of him from each other you know. It's ok to talk about him. Only if you want to." he said.

"Exaggerated or not, I think it's all part of the package," he continued. "And besides, Tali seems really fond of you. You must have been a great big sister."

Ziva's eyes softened at the mention of Tali. "I did my best," she admitted quietly, her thoughts drifting to her childhood. "But I wish I could have protected her more. Being separated from my family... it's complicated."

Tony nodded, sensing the shift in her tone. "You did what you could. The past is the past, and you're here now. That's what matters."

She met his gaze, feeling a wave of gratitude for his understanding. "Thank you, Tony." She placed her hand on top of his shirt where his heart was. She often did that to say thank you and he enjoyed that small gesture.

"Anytime," he said. Only then he realized that he still touched her face. Actually not wanting to do so but he put his arm down.

"But seriously, if you're worried about me finding out embarrassing stories, I'll just have to get Tali to share more."

Ziva shook her head, a smile breaking through her serious demeanor. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, but you like it," he said, his grin widening.

Ziva laughed softly, the tension of the day easing with their banter. "Maybe I do. Just don't ask her about the time I thought I could impress my friends by jumping off the roof of the shed."

Tony's eyes lit up with interest. "Now that sounds like a story I need to hear."

Ziva rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the smile that lingered on her lips. "You're incorrigible."

As they stood together in the kitchen, a comfortable silence settled between them, the bond they shared growing stronger amidst the chaos surrounding them. In that moment, Ziva realized how grateful she was to have him by her side, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope for the future.