a/n: The final chapter. Enjoy:

Tony's POV:

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-=-

I'm not usually a cuddler. Well, that's not entirely fair to say. It's just that normally when I have sex with someone, they go home before I fall asleep. Or I go home. I'm not used to sharing a bed.

In fact, I usually steer clear of bed-sharing at all costs.

Usually.

Right now with Ziva's head resting against my chest, and her arm draped loosely around my waist… I'm wondering why I ever avoided the experience.

It's amazing.

I mean, we aren't even technically cuddling. We've only got like… three points of contact. Her arm on my torso, my arm and hand on her back, and her head on my chest.

I don't think that can be defined as cuddling.

And if it is, then I don't just want to cuddle.

She adjusts her head, and I go rigid.

She's too peaceful to wake up right now.

When I'm confident she's asleep, I take my hand and brush a stray piece of hair out of her face.

God she's beautiful.

Suddenly I'm hit with the overwhelming feel of contentment.

I could live like this. Waking up with Ziva next to me…

I want to live like this.

I want to be able to fall asleep with her against me, and wake up the exact same way.

I want to have a lazy Sunday morning with her, lying in bed and just enjoying the feel of her body.

I want Ziva.

To have her so tantalizingly close is killing me. I suppose it's good that I've been able to hold off these feelings for a while. Well, not really hold off. I mean, I had them. I just ignored them.

Probably why they're all crashing down on my right now.

I feel her head move yet again, nuzzling further into my shirt-clad chest.

I think she's tormenting me on purpose.

I want to take a look at the alarm clock, but to do so would mean discommoding Ziva, and I'm not that cruel.

Her head moves again, unfortunately this time it's away from my body. Her eyes open before she blinks a couple times.

"Morning." I say softly, apparently startling her as she withdraws her arm from my side.

I feel strangely empty as I pull my arm away too.

"Mornin'." She says, voice hoarse, hair messy, and eyes half closed.

I don't think I've seen anything cuter.

Cuter.

Cuter?

I'd be more disgusted with myself if it weren't so true.

"What time is it?" She asks, and I turn over to take a glance at the clock.

"Eight in the morning." She nods, and starts sitting up. "Whoa, where you going, my ninja?"

"Bathroom."

"Oh. I suppose that's fair."

As soon as the door closes behind I grab my phone from my bedside and flip it open.

Yup. New text from Abby:

Ziva is at your house right??

I'm not particularly adept at texting, so I opt for calling instead.

"Tony?" Of course she would answer on the first ring.

"Hey, Abbs, just letting you know that yes, Ziva is here."

"Good. I was worried. I mean, I wasn't actually worried. I know Ziva can take care of herself of course, but I just didn't know… I mean I knew she was at your house for dinner, but she doesn't normally stay after. Speaking of which, why did she stay over?"

She's not hiding the suggestive tone in her voice.

"She fell asleep on the couch." I hear the shower running in the background. Maybe I should go make breakfast. "Listen, I've got some pancakes to cook, but Ziva should be back at your place soon."

"Bye, Tony!"

"See you tomorrow, Abby." I smile as I close my phone before hopping out of bed.

Hopefully she won't be back at Abby's too soon though.

-=-

I hardly notice Ziva when she walks in as I'm in the middle of flipping a chocolate chip pancake.

"Do you mind if I join you for breakfast?" She asks quietly from her spot at the doorway.

"Well, seeing as I'm making a dozen pancakes, I certainly hope you do."

She smiles, and I motion to the plate next to me.

"We've got some blueberry, some chocolate chips, and some regular. Go ahead and start eating."

"I will wait for you."

"Well, I'm just finishing these last two… Seriously. Start eating."

She gives me a defiant look, and stands still.

"Could you at least get the syrup out of the fridge?"

She smiles before walking past me, lightly brushing my arm. I'm relatively certain it was an incidental contact, but I still shiver at the touch.

"I put your clothes on your bed. Thank you for letting me wear them last night."

"Of course. And if you didn't notice, you wore an OSU shirt. I think that means you're an honorary buckeye now."

She scoffs.

"In your dreams, DiNozzo." I stick my tongue out at her before turning off the stove. "Would you like me to get out plates?"

"If you wouldn't mind…" I say, placing the giant platter of pancakes on the island counter. "Bon appetite, madam."

"Todah," she responds and I graciously take a plate from her outstretched hand.

I feel we're married.

"I feel like we're married." I say. Stupidly.

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know… It just kinda feels that way. I mean, I never really eat breakfast with anyone. Maybe that's it."

"How does eating breakfast with me make you think we are married?"

"Never mind, it's not important. Just eat your pancakes."

She makes a face at me, before taking her seat on one of the barstools.

"Well thank you for making these, Tony. They look delicious."

"They taste even better."

We eat in silence for a few moments before she starts, "Listen, about last night."

She pauses and I stop eating.

"I had a bad dream, and I overreacted. I know that makes me sound like a child, but it is what happened."

Anything that makes Ziva cry that much cannot just be a bad dream. I'm tempted to call her out on this and ask her what the real issue is, but ultimately it's not my place.

If she wants to talk about, she'll talk about it.

"Okay." I say, taking her by surprise. "If you ever have that dream again, just call me. Whatever time of the night."

She nods, though we both know she won't call.

The rest of breakfast is spent in superficial banter. Just the way I like it.

"Thank you for breakfast." She says, rinsing her plate before putting in the dishwasher.

"You are very welcome my ninja." She smiles at me, and I smile back.

God she's beautiful.

"Don't leave."

What did I just say?

"What?"

"I just…"

Screw it.

I take the short steps over to her and lightly cup her face, as her eyes search my own.

"Tony,"

I silence her with my lips, moving a hand to her back as she puts hers on my chest.

I want to deepen the kiss. I want to press her against the counter and I want to taker her back to my room and I want Ziva.

I want Ziva.

I hide my groan as I feel her gently push me away.

Ziva doesn't want me.

"I do not think I am ready for this."

I'm silent. What would I say anyway?

"It is not that I do not want it. Us. It is just…"

"Too soon?"

"Yes. I am still not myself, and I think you deserve to have someone less emotionally unstable. I also would like to be normal again before I start a relationship."

"I can wait."

"Tony-"

"Ziva, even if you don't want me to wait, I'm going to."

"You deserve to be happy. I do not think I can give you that."

"I'll take my chances."

We're silent for a moment.

"I will see you tomorrow, Tony." She says, and I close my eyes as she brushes her lips against my cheek.

I only open them once I hear her walk past me, though I don't turn around to see her walk out the door.

Well. That's pretty much the best I could've hoped for.

I mean, sure, it was great waking up to Ziva. It was great eating breakfast with Ziva. And it was damn sure great kissing Ziva.

But nothing was going to progress from that. Not until she's ready at any rate.

But it's good to be friends with her again. It's good to be partners with her again.

Maybe I'm a little upset that I won't have a romantic relationship with her, but I do have a relationship with her again.

And that is what counts.

-=-

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Hope you enjoyed this story.

Yeah, I'm probably going to make it a trilogy. I'm not sure when I'll have the first chapter up, but it might take a while.

It will be called "Rise" so be on the lookout.

Anywho, thanks for reading this.

-Fin-