Lockers and Love

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Tony?" Her voice was low and filled with sleep. He ran a thumb across her cheek.

"Shh. Go back to sleep. I'll be back in a minute." She gave a slight nod and he disappeared into his bathroom. He took a very quick shower, brushed his teeth, and got into the bed. He was comfortable with wearing only his boxers around her now. After one morning, a couple of weeks back, Ziva couldn't help but laugh at the compromising position that Tony was in. He smiled at the memory.

"That is definitely not your knee." She laughed. Tony couldn't help but bury his face into the pillow. This was not something he expected when he woke up.

"It's the morning." She laughed even harder at his embarrassment. When she saw that he was smiling, but wasn't entirely laughing, she planted a sweet kiss upon his lips and smiled at him.

"You have nothing to be uncomfortable about. I am just having some fun with you. I want you to be comfortable around me." Tony smiled at her.

"I am comfortable around you. It's just not something I was expecting this morning." He couldn't help the chuckle.

"At least I know that you really are attracted to me." She said it as a joke but Tony looked her dead in the eye as he spoke.

"I have been attracted to you since the first moment that I laid my eyes on you. Nothing is going to change that. Ever. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my life. Inside and out." Tears were forming in her eyes at his sweet words. She wasn't very good with emotions, something Tony knew, so she couldn't say something that sweet at the time.

"You are not so bad yourself, Tony." He smiled at her. He kissed her passionately that morning, turning it into a full-on make-out session.

He snuggled up against her frame, her back up against his chest. He put his arms around her and inhaled the scent of just her. Everything about her made his insides turn into mush. He was happy that she recuperated his feelings. The fact that she loved him back meant more to him than anything ever had. The fact that she trusted him the way she did was something that Tony would never take for granted.

He fell asleep to her heartbeat.

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The next day, everyone got up and got dressed. Ziva had gotten used to having to pack a bag for overnights, especially if they had school the next day. They had spent more time at Tony's than at hers. Rivka would come over some nights too. She was getting along with Jenny and Gibbs very well. Jenny and Rivka always talked on the phone and they would always eat lunch or dinner with one another. Both Tony and Ziva were glad that their parents were getting along.

Everyone met in the kitchen and made either cereal or oatmeal. They left the house pretty quickly and all got into their separate cars. Tony sang some Frank Sinatra the whole way to school, while Ziva could only laugh at his antics. They pulled into Tony's parking space and got out. They waited for the crew to arrive and then they all made their way into the building. They split off into separate directions to make it to their classes. Just like in previous months, Tony sat beside Ziva. They worked throughout the class diligently. By the time the bell rang, all of their work had been completed.

"Hey, Tony. Could you come here for a second? Promise not to keep you too long." Tony looked over at Ziva and she smiled.

"I will wait for you in the hallway." Tony nodded and made his way over to Mr. Barnes.

Barnes looked at him through his glasses.

"I just wanted to congratulate you, Tony. You are one of my top students in this class. Number two actually." Tony smiled, he had no doubt who was number one.