Disclaimer: See previous chapter

a/n: So I decided to write another chapter. (Sigh) I need Tiva. Oh, this chapter is like, twenty times more Tiva, and hardly any father/son stuff. For whatever that's worth…

I changed the rating to T due to some suggestions in this chapter. I'm not sure what exactly it is that is being suggested, but I'm pretty sure it warrants at least a T rating.

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-=-

Will you marry me?

Ziva David, marry me?

Please marry me, Ziva.

Tony holds his head in his hands as he sits silently at his desk. Three days. Three days since he bought the ring. The same ring that is currently burning a hole in his jacket pocket.

He's wanted to ask her, but anytime the opportunity arises, words have failed him.

Yes, words have failed him. Him. Anthony DiNozzo. Extemporizing aficionado. Effusive to a fault. Verbosity incarnate. At a loss for words.

Only Ziva could possibly do that to him.

I want to spend the rest of my life with you; marry me?

I love you, Ziva; will you marry me?

It's so easy on paper.

He looks up to see Ziva staring at him. The questioning stare. The one that always gives her answers.

Tony gives a small smile before focusing his attention on the computer screen in front of him.

"Are you okay?" She asks, and Tony hears genuine worry in her voice. In fairness, every time he's been with her since talking to Gibbs, he'd been uncharacteristically jumpy. Ziva had of course taken notice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Great. How are you?" He adds sweetly, giving her a familiar grin. She frowns back, sensing his apprehension. "I just really hate paperwork days." It's convincing enough, as it is half-true.

"Me too. Perhaps Gibbs will let us off early today, yes?"

"I doubt that." He says and he watches her face as she gives a sad smile and refocuses her attention on the file she'd been reviewing. "Why, did you have something you wanted to do?"

"Not necessarily something. Perhaps…"

"Someone?" He finishes easily, a true smile gracing his features.

"Exactly."

They share a knowing look across their desks, minds both far away from NCIS's squad room.

Ziva is first to break their eye contact as Gibbs exits the elevator, fresh cup of coffee in hand.

"Where's McGee?" He asks, walking past the pair.

"McGoo? Downstairs with Abby. Said something about a past case…"

"Gibbs," Ziva stands up from her desk, taking the file with her. "I reviewed the case Agent Johnston was assigned…" Tony lets his mind stray from his work as he looks at Ziva. Really looks at Ziva.

Ziva, will you marry me?

The words are so simple, but they hold so much meaning. The idea of marriage used to disgust Tony. Why would anyone want to spend the rest of their life with someone? It sounds like a death sentence.

Or it did. Until Jeanne. Then he understood. Or he thought he did, at any rate. It wasn't until Ziva that he really saw, really envisioned himself getting married. Really liked the idea. Really loved the idea.

His eyes fall on her lips, moving as she explains something to Gibbs. The lips he's kissed countless times. The only lips he ever wants to kiss again.

The only lips he ever wants to kiss again? When did he become some Hugh Grant character?

"That's good work." She smiles and Tony smiles too. He loves her when she's happy. Ziva hands the file to Gibbs who places it on the corner of his desk. "Take the rest of the day off, Ziver."

Her smile widens as she looks at Tony, sticking out her tongue.

"Uh, boss?" Gibbs looks up. "What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Do I get the day off?"

"What work have you done today, DiNozzo?"

He racks his brain as Ziva chuckles behind her desk. "I fixed the coffee machine."

"I hate that damn coffee machine. Tastes like dirt."

"Okay well… I… Um…" Gibbs allows himself a small smile as he watched the gears turn in Tony's mind.

"Just go, Tony." The senior field agent gives his boss a large grin before hastily shutting down his computer.

"Thanks boss." He says, throwing on his jacket and grabbing his bag. Ziva hides her smirk as she puts on her backpack more ceremoniously.

They walk the short distance to the elevator as Tony nervously feels around in his pocket.

Still there.

Ziva gives him another curious glance as she presses the call button, and immediately the doors slide open.

"So, what exactly did you have in mind for this afternoon?" Tony asks, voice low.

Ziva smiles, and pushes the button for the ground floor before turning on Tony. "Remember that night, with the strawberries?" The grin covers his entire face. "I just picked some up at the store yesterday." She whispers this lightly in his ear and he shivers.

God, I love her.

And suddenly he's flicking the emergency stop button. And suddenly he's no longer next to her.

"Tony…?" She asks, as he faces the wall away from her, taking a deep breath. "What is going on?"

Just do it already.

"I love you, Ziva," he says after a moment, turning to look at her. Her eyes darken and concern fills her features.

"What is wrong, Tony?" She asks again, placing her hand lightly on his arm. He gently brushes it off, giving it a small squeeze before letting go.

"I love you… and I need to say this. Because it's important."

She nods, looking into his hazy green eyes as they stare right back into her own.

"Okay, where do I start? I don't know." He's mumbling to himself as he breaks their eye contact, and Ziva ones again reaches for his arm.

"Tony," she says softly and suddenly his gaze can't leave hers. His hand fumbles in his pocket before closing around the desired object.

Show time DiNozzo.

"Ziva, will you marry me?" He asks, pulling out box and falling to a knee. Her mouth opens, though she is too stunned to speak. He speaks for her. "I know there are about a thousand reasons why you shouldn't, but… I love you. And I'm pretty sure you love me too."

"Tony," her voice is quiet, and he doesn't notice.

"And yeah, I know I'm not exactly marriage material, and your father wouldn't approve. But Gibbs approves. I asked him. And I'm sorry I asked him before I asked you, I just did."

"Tony," she says again, with a little more force.

"So if you say no, that's fine. And we can still date, if that's what you want, because we don't need to get married. I mean-" Tony stops himself as he watches a tear fall down Ziva's cheek. "Why are you crying?" he asks plaintively, standing up and reaching out to brush wipe the offending liquid off her face.

"Because you will not listen to me!" She says it with a watery laugh and Tony relaxes – well, slightly. "I love you Tony, and I would love to marry you."

His eyes widen and his mouth drops. "You're serious? I mean… you're serious?"

"Yes." She says simply, beaming widely as she watches a grin start to form upon his face. Before she has time to fully appreciate it however, he draws her into a passion filled kiss.

It's several seconds, perhaps minutes, before they resurface, both with exuberant, breathless smiles filling their features. He opens the box he'd been holding tightly in his hand, before taking out the ring.

"It's not much, but I mean, you can't really have a big flashy ring when your kicking ass can you?" He says it with a nervous laugh, and she kisses him gently.

"It's perfect."

"Yeah, it is." He smiles as he reaches out for her hand and begins to place the ring on her finger.

"Tony. Wrong hand." She laughs, and he blushes.

"I knew that." He removes the ring before placing it in the correct spot.

"I love you, Tony." She says, before pulling him into a tender kiss.

He smirks as he pulls back, looking deep into her eyes.

"So how about those strawberries?"

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I think there should be a Tiva-athon, where people write proposal fics. It would certainly boost spirits. Writing this boosted mine, and I hope reading it boosted yours.

I don't think I'll add another chapter, as I have no idea what it would entail. If you have any suggestions then review, s'il vous plait?

And just a quick note: I have never used the word "smile" (or any synonyms) more in a single chapter then I just did.