After they had all eaten their ice cream, they made small talk for about another hour or so. Tony turned to Ziva and smiled as he noticed she was still wearing his jacket. He looked at his watch and noticed that it was almost 9:30. He had seen the text from Rivka to Ziva and decided that it was about time to take her home.
"Hey Guys, it's getting late and I need to get Ziva home. I don't want Rivka upset with me." Ziva chuckled.
"My mother loves you but yes I should get home. Thank you for inviting me. I had a fun time tonight. I have never had ice cream before so this was a first for me. Thank you." Abby almost fell out of her chair.
"You've never had ice cream before?!" Ziva shook her head. She was never allowed ice cream. Another one of her father's unrealistic ideals for her life. Gibbs looked at her with wow in his eyes. Gibbs made a silent promise to protect this girl with everything that he had. Like Tony, he felt a pull towards her, not exactly like Tony, but more of a fatherly protector. She had been practically dictated her entire life and now she could finally live 18 years later. 18 years too late.
Everybody stood up from their chairs, all deciding that it was time to go home as it was getting late, and made their way to their respective cars. Tony opened the passenger side door for Ziva and she stepped in with a small on her face. He went around the car and hopped in on his side and started the engine. They made their way to Ziva's house in silence. Neither sure what they should talk about. Tony turned to look at her and let out a small smirk when he noticed that Ziva was looking at him too. He looked back to the road and turned the radio up so they weren't in complete silence.
They pulled into Ziva's driveway, and just like before, Tony got out and went around to her door to open it. Ziva gave him a sly smile and looked into his beautiful green eyes that were even more beautiful in the night light. God, he was a sight to behold. He walked her up to her door and saw that the porch light was on. No doubt Rivka was waiting for her to get home. She turned to look at him just as they got to the car. He was standing closer to her than she expected and made a quick glance at his lips before looking into his eyes again. He couldn't help but lean in a bit towards her. The temptation to kiss her was way stronger than it was earlier. They were mere inches from each other when the light in the living room inside the house turned on. Both sensing that Rivka was still up and waiting for her, they stepped apart. Wanting to put some distance between them. Tony gulped and went wide-eyed as he realized what he was about to do. He didn't want to cross a line. Didn't want to pressure her into anything. He didn't want her to go back to her previous thoughts about him. That he was just trying to get into her pants.
Ziva saw his hesitation. Was there something wrong with her? Was he embarrassed or ashamed to kiss her? It was almost like he could read her thoughts. He placed his hand on the side of her cheek and looked her in the eye as he spoke.
"I want to. I really do..." He leaned in a little further, proving his point that she had a hold over him. She leaned in as well. They were millimeters apart when Tony pulled back again.
"Ziva..." All of a sudden, the front door opened to reveal Rivka on the other side with a small smirk on her face. Tony and Ziva looked her way with wide eyes. Tony gulped again and moved away from Ziva.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning for school. If you would like me too, that is." Ziva gave him a slight nod, embarrassed that her mother caught them.
"I would like that." She whispered. He smiled and nodded. He made his way back to his car and with a wave pulled out of the driveway and into the night.
Ziva turned to look at her mother, who she couldn't help but notice the giant smile plastered on her face.
"What?" Ziva asked, already knowing what it was about.
"I used to be that way with your father. He used to look at me that way." Immediately, Ziva went on the defensive.
"Tony is nothing like Abba, Ima." Rivka nodded her head sadly.
"Your father was not always that way, Zivaleh. He used to be a good man."
"I find that very hard to believe." Ziva scoffed. After all he did to her, she was supposed to believe him to be a good man?
"Eli was never the same once he joined Mossad, neither was Ari." Ziva looked at the lights that were illuminating the streets around them. Rivka kept speaking even though Ziva wished she would stop this conversation before it became too hurtful.
"Ziva. You are smitten with this boy and he you. Embrace it. Let him in. I can see that you want to."
"Everyone who gets close always ends up dead. Eli, Ari, and now Tali. I can not afford to lose anyone else." Rivka again looked away sadly.
"Zivaleh." Ziva shook her head and stepped into the house, making her way up the stairs to her bedroom that was still littered with boxes. She moved over to one and pulled away at the top. What she saw inside made her cry. It was a picture of Ari, Tali, and herself when they were kids. Ari around the age of 12, Ziva around the age of 8, and Tali around the age of 4. They were so innocent, so childlike. What happened to the family that she used to know? Oh right, it was all taken away from her. From a hardcore father to death. Nothing about her family was even remotely normal.
Ziva looked around her room to see where she could place the photo. She settled on the empty spot on her dresser next to her grandmother's jewelry box. She looked around her room once more. They had painted the day before and her room was now a beautiful shade of dark blue. Her bed having a white comforter, matched perfectly with the paint and was quite comfortable. She had a nightstand with a lamp on it next to her bed and a desk with binders and notebooks piled up on top of it next to it. Her dresser was a beautiful oak wood and fit perfectly in the space between her closet. She had her own bathroom too. Something she wasn't even remotely used to.
She always had to share a bathroom with her siblings and other guests that came to their house. Now, she had this private bathroom where she could take long hot showers and stay in the bath for however long she wanted.
Ziva moved over to her desk and sat down in her chair. She pulled out her Chemistry notebook and pulled her homework out of the folder. She solved the first 5 problems fairly quickly and was about to move onto her next problem when her phone buzzed beside her. It was from Tony.
Tony: Hey. My family and I are having a BBQ tomorrow night. Would you want to come?
Ziva's face scrunched up in confusion.
Ziva: What is a BBQ?
Tony: A Barbeque. Maybe there we can teach you some American slang.
Ziva smiled. He would never forget to fix her English.
Ziva: Great. What time?
Tony: Sweet! Around 7. Is that okay?
Ziva: Sounds good.
Tony: Hey Zi, can I ask you a question?
Ziva's smile became bigger. Her heart beating rapidly.
Ziva: Of course.
Tony: Can I call you?
Ziva: Yes.
Her phone began ringing immediately. She laughed as there was no hesitation. She hit the answer button and was met with Tony's voice.
"Hey Zi. I need your help with something if you're willing to that is."
"Ask away." She could practically feel his smile on the other end of the line.
"So I was wondering about this math homework. Math's never been good to me and I know you understand it a whole lot better than I do. Can you help me with a couple of problems?"
By this time, Ziva had already pulled out her math notebook and folder and was pulling out their math homework.
"What questions do you need help with?" This time there was some hesitation on his end.
"Uhh...like all of them. I think after someone explains the first three or so, I'll be able to get the rest."
"Okay. I am going to put you on speakerphone so I do not have to hold it. Be nice." Ziva's laugh rang through the phone and he followed soon after.
They worked on their problems together, Ziva showing him how to do them, and Tony listening intently to the information that she was providing. When Tony finally got it, they both worked on their homework together, Tony checking to make sure he was right, which he was. Tony finally understood what they were doing as of right now in this class. Math always kicked his ass no matter how hard he studied it. Not that he did much of that, but still, a total train wreck.
"Thank you for helping me. I think I'll get a better grade on that quiz tomorrow. Thanks, Zi."
"No problem, Tony. Anytime."
"Really?" His tone was mischievous and playful, something that made Ziva laugh again.
"Homework, Tony." His laugh made butterflies appear in her stomach. Something that only he was able to do.
They talked about school and their other classes for about an hour and a half before Ziva noticed the clock on her nightstand.
"It is getting late, Tony. I should probably head to bed. I will see you tomorrow, yes?"
"Yeah. See you in the morning...Sweetcheeks." Ziva smiled. She liked this new nickname. Well only when it was just them. Not in front of everybody.
"Good night, Tony."
"Night, Ziva." Ziva pulled the phone from her ear and reluctantly hung up the phone. She could stay up all night and talk to him. Something she had never even thought of doing before. Everything was different now. And as she was drifting off to sleep under her warm comforter, she couldn't believe how happy she was.