"I guess there's no need to ask how you got here, huh?" Tony said absently. "What is wrong Tony?" "I was thinking about Kate. I think about her less now, but every once in awhile a thought creeps into my mind." Tony told her. Ziva giggled, "Thinking about her naked again Tony?" He turned away, and all he said was "No." Ziva reached out and touched his arm gently, "It is okay to miss her Tony. She was your partner and I am sure that you will always remember her." "Kate was so different than you Ziva. Sometimes I don't know how we got along at all, she didn't like confrontation and she was a serious soul. But you... you're different. From the moment you walked into NCIS I knew we'd be a perfect fit. You challenged me, when no one else would. When I pushed you, you pushed me right back. No one had done that to me before. All along I thought it was okay to schlep along having everything my way, but then when you arrived my whole perspective on life changed. You made me want things I didn't know existed in my little world. You Ziva David are something special." Looking at Ziva he saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes, he wasn't sure what that meant. "Tony, I do not know what to say. I am not used to hearing you say things like this and I am surprised." It's now or never he thought. He breathed in deeply and grasped Ziva's hand in his. "Ziva, there's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time and if I wait any longer I'm not sure it will come out the way I've rehearsed." A dog barked and caused them both to look up because it sounded dangerously close. The dog bounded directly between him and Ziva making him release his grip on her hand. Directly behind the husky was a little girl, who appeared to be about 5 years old. Her strawberry blonde hair was tied in pigtails and paying no attention she headed straight for them. She tripped on the edge of the blanket and both of their arms shot out to catch the little girl. She fell into Ziva's arms unharmed. "Are you okay?" Ziva softly asked. She nodded and sat up in Ziva's lap. Her mother came running up apologizing profusely. "It is okay. I do not think she hurt herself." The little girls mother knelt on the ground speaking to her daughter in a gentle tone, "Maddie are you okay honey? I told you not to run after Mickey like that." Then she turned her attention to Tony & Ziva, "I'm sorry. I hope she didn't interrupt. Mickey got off the leash and Maddie will be devestated if we don't find her." Maddie walked over to Ziva, "Do you have a doggy Miss Lady? I named mine after Mickey Mouse!" she said enthusiastically. "Micky Mouse?" Ziva looked confused. "I'll explain later." Tony shot her smile. Maddie tugged on Ziva's sleeve, "will you help me find Mickey please?" "I.." she started. Maddie’s mother interrupted, "I'm sorry, she shouldn't have asked you. Thank you." "That is all right, we do not mind assisting you in your search for... ,” she paused, then said “Mickey." Ziva smiled at the little girl next to her. They got up & took off in the direction in which the husky had gone only moments before. It took over 2 hours, but they eventually found Mickey, the dog not the mouse, asleep in a far corner of the park under a bench.    

As he walked her back to her car, he was frustrated that they didn't finish their talk. It seemed that something always interrupted them, he wished that the man above would quit playing games with him and just let him tell her. When he reached her car, he blurted out "we need to talk about that kiss." He figured the what exactly happened talk would lead straight into the feelings talk, but to his surprise Ziva said, "Tony, this is not a conversation I am prepared to have right now. I am not ready to deal with the consequences of what I suspect will be said between us. The elephant in the room will still be here tomorrow." "Yeah you would get that right, wouldn't you?" he begrudgingly answered. "Ziva I won't give up on you. On us. This conversation may be over right now, but we are far from finished talking about it." He opened her door, let her slip into the drivers seat before leaning down towards her. "You can't escape what we feel Ziva. I spent years trying to before I realized I wanted to let these feelings take me over." With that he turned to walk away leaving Ziva stunned.

...To Be Continued...