Thank you all for sticking with this story! We appreciate all the great reviews! Here's the end to a fantastic summer.

-x-

Her chest was tight, knuckles turning white and her face - she had NEVER looked that pale in her life. She can hardly concentrate now, not when the man that she happened to be in love with is standing inches away from her. Her thoughts are too clouded and she can't keep up with the pace of her emotions. It's all too much to bear, and she couldn't breathe, she wanted to tear up, but it'll be so damn foolish to do so, not when too much has happened. Everything about them now is buried in the past with their I Will lists, so what's the point of being all emotional and sappy as fuck to a man she assumed would never, even dare to care?

Straightening her posture, she bit the inside of her cheek and tilted her head. She wanted to leave - run away as fast as possible. She couldn't care less to where she'll end up, she's willing to go miles away - just not anywhere near him. No.

Tony's heart was thumping out of his chest. It was so much worse than chasing after a suspect, or being interrogated by Gibbs himself. If it's even possible, he found it more calming to be shot directly in the gut than having to gaze at those brown beautiful orbs. His weak head still couldn't process the fact that the woman that he's been dreading to see for the past two years, was simply standing there. Right there. She was as beautiful as ever, he doubts if the word 'beautiful' is even enough to describe her. She was more than that, God - he can't find the right words to put it, but all he knew was that he was blown away by her presence.

She had her hair cut, as if that wouldn't be enough to kill him right then and there. And that dress, the way it emphasized her curves, her toned, tanned abdomen and that epic ass of hers - it was all too much. He felt so guilty because he knew by heart that he shouldn't be thinking about this. It's definitely not the right time, not when there were so many things left unsaid back in Israel. And he had to admit that even if his heart was racing fast, he could also feel his chest tightening because for some reason all the pain came rushing back at him.

It is rude to stare, DiNozzo.

To go after her or not -

Fucking idiot, of course you should.

With a deep breath and shaky arms, he managed to take a few steps, making his way towards her. Ziva, on the other hand, fought the urge to walk out then again, she realized she was so through of walking away. For once she should face it and she couldn't care less of whatever happens after that. Of course, she shouldn't leave, not when he's already there - She needed answers too, and she deserved to know his reasons.

He came to a halt, leaving her enough space to walk away - but she didn't.

Thank God.

He was slowly dreading inside, it was beyond painful to simply stare at her - not when he can finally get a closer glimpse of her face and smell the sweetness of her perfume that he's lived out through his dreams these past few years.

He leaned closer and had a puzzled look on his face. That's funny, since when did Ziva smell like - cinnamon and green mints? He shrugged his thoughts away, and decided step forward until a smile tugged on the corner of his lips. He buried his hands in his pocket, deeper and deeper until his fingers touched the pendant of her Star of David necklace.

"You... cut your hair." He replied. Way to start a conversation, DiNozzo.

She smirked, her gaze went south raising her eyebrows. "And you gained weight." She pointed out, her accent thicker than the last time he remembered.

Tony laughed, patting on his abdomen. "It's nice to see you too, Zee-vah." He replied with sarcasm.

They stood there in silence, both busy interpreting each other's eyes. It was awfully uncomfortable to simply stand there, given that they were in a bar - and everyone seemed to be lost in interacting with one another, but them. How ironic. They never did things the right way.

"What are you doing here?" Tony decided to stick to their awkward conversation other than continuing their staring contest.

Ziva tilted her head in amusement, "I should say the same." Usually she was the one blurting out rude questions.

Tony dismissively waved a hand and managed a laugh. "I asked you first." His face went from amusement to stoic, keeping a straight line on his mouth.

"I am with someone, Tony. It is rude to just leave them there." She cut to the chase as she rolled her eyes in annoyance, obviously forcing her system to remain calm. but every look he gave her made her want to explode.

"So... I'm assuming you have a date?" He felt a bitter taste form in his mouth as he said these words. Years from now, he still wouldn't admit that he doesn't have the rights to her and that she's allowed to do date whoever she wants. The tinge of jealousy crept up on his heart. but he quickly masked his expression.

"Yes, indeed I do." She replied shortly, her gaze looking away from his.

Tony scoffed, shaking his thoughts away. He scanned the surroundings as his eyes finally stopped on the other side of the room, where the speed dating was taking place. He pointed to it, raising his eyebrow. "You're here for the speed dating thingy?" The amused expression on his face barely hiding his laugh.

Ziva's eyes widened, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hm? And you are not?! I am surprised because I know how you like to drop women after five minutes." She teased... little did she know, that it was slowly getting to him.

His jaw tightened, "And you should know that isn't any longer my thing."

"Really?" She asked, her mouth agape. He sooner realized what she was referring to, his head was pounding in frustration and he could no longer hold back the urge to speak, without even thinking ahead.

"We still talking about the speed dating?" He asked, leaning closer. He almost wanted to touch her, but apparently now is never the right time to do so.

"I do not know. You tell me -"

"Listen, if you want proof - you're free to ask, Zoe. Been seeing her for six months now." He hissed and regretted as soon as he saw her eyes cloud over.

It was rude, insensitive and most definitely the largest dick move that he could have ever done (if such word even exists.) He shouldn't have let his emotions get in the way, not when he wasn't in the right mind to think before letting these words slip out of his mouth. It was way out of line and now there was nothing left to do. but look at the mess he'd made.

Ziva kept her composure, with her knuckles crumpling into fists - she kept a smile on her face. She cleared her throat before she allowed herself to speak once more.

"Ah, yes. I did hear from your teammates about her." She nodded, eyes now solely focused on the floor.

"Wha - who told you?" His eyebrows narrowed.

Ziva had her eyes closed, reprimanding herself from letting a single tear fall down her cheek. It was a moment of weakness that she could not stand for Tony to see because having him see her at this kind of emotional state seemed pointless now. It's clear to her now, face to face - that he has moved on, and he chose to break her heart.

"Does not matter who. Apparently, you were delighted to tell it to everyone, but me." She trailed off, her eyes reconnecting with his once again, and he saw tears pooling in her eyes. "But that is no longer important anymore. Just how everything about us, is too."

She turned her head around to leave when she felt his fingers grasping on her arm.

"Ziva - "

A slap went straight to his cheek. He didn't see that one coming, but he deserved it and should have known better. It was the first time that it ever came to this point. "You know, why did I even bother talking to you or going miles away from home for you?" She asked in distraught, not even caring how people were now turning around to look at both of them, even the host from the speed dating stopped talking just to find out where the commotion was coming from. "This is the last time we will see each other, Tony... don't ever talk to me again."

Tony grasped her wrist again, tighter and winced at the sting of his cheek. "Don't leave like this, Zee. You can't leave us like this."

She tried to shake his grip off, cursing in Hebrew at how he seemed to have never learned. She just slapped him and he still had the balls to hold on. "Anthony, let go." She warned.

"I never have. I never will." He gulped, still holding onto her.

She turned slightly, realizing what he'd meant. Too late. The tears were already running down her face. She'd hit the love of her life. Something she swore she'd never do after their physical altercation in Israel after Michael. Maybe after all she was that blood struck monster that couldn't stop hurting people, no matter how hard she tried. Perhaps Abby was right.

"Tony, stop. Please." She begged, refusing to look at him.

"Tell me what else they told you." He pulled her closer once she stopped fighting back. "I can guarantee none of it was true."

"Are you saying the team lies?!" She shook her head, confused at his reasoning to all of this.

"Well, I'm not saying they tell the truth or else they would've told you what a mess I've been without you…" His hand slid down from her wrist to her hand, holding tightly before she could pull away. "Ziva, I've done nothing for two years, but sit at home and drown in whiskey. I felt like half of me died when you left. I couldn't sleep, eat, Christ. I couldn't even function at work because my whole life was gone. You never contacted me once. I tried, constantly, to get through to you and every phone line was disconnected. I emailed you. Fuck, Ziva. I even contacted Orli to make sure that you were safe. I gave up one night because do you really think it was fair to let me sit home and rot while you were out enjoying the world?!" Their faces were inches apart now, the heat blazing when Ziva raised her voice.

"I told you that I would come home to you, Tony. That was the whole point of me giving you my necklace. Did you really think that I gave you that necklace for no reason? That I would just give the man I love my necklace and never return? After you gave me it?" She ripped her hand out of his, challenging him by stepping closer. Both of their chests now touching.

Tony's hand dug into his suit pocket again, clasping the Star of David necklace and pulling it out. He raised his arm, letting the chain fall down in a similar sequence as to the one in Israel. "Yeah, you know… Zoe's not too big of a fan of me carrying this around."

Ziva tilted her head, "You carry it around?"

"For some fucked up reason, I do, Ziva." He scowled, "In fact, I just broke up with my girlfriend over it."

"But you just-" She started, biting her lip in that way that drove Tony insane.

"Yeah, it was a mistake. Okay? People make mistakes, I think we both know that." His breath was hot against her cheeks, "Nothing with her was ever serious. She was there to pass the time and kill the loneliness. I don't even know her middle name or where she even was born because I didn't care. All I cared about was trying to get better and trying to pretend like nothing with you had happened. But, guess what? Couldn't do that. Everything I said those nights in Israel, I meant. You're the one in my dreams when I'm married, you're the one in my dreams when I'm a father, and you're the one constantly fucking up my night of sleep because you're there. Someway, somehow, you're always there. No matter what body is next to me, you're in my head. It's always been like that." He shrugged and continued on, "And I meant what I said earlier, I've been rotting away without you. That's why I carry this." He moved the necklace towards her, gripping her shoulders to turn her around. "Don't bite your lip…" His voice was barely a whisper as his shaky hands brushed away the hair from her neck and fastened the gold chain around her neck. "It does things to me that you wouldn't even believe."

Ziva turned around slowly as soon as he was finished, her breath hitching, "I do not know what to say, Tony."

"Just tell me that you're home. That's all I've wanted to hear for the longest time." His voice cracked and his eyes were filled with tears now based off the sight of her, in front of him, her necklace back in its original place.

Lauren stood in awe, watching the couple and almost in tears herself while she watched Tony confess everything to Ziva. She wasn't one for sloppy, romantic movies either. What the hell? Next to her, Breena smiled and pulled out her phone to capture the moment. And, of course text Jimmy that her and her sister's evil plan had worked.

In the moment, Ziva closed the gap between her and Tony. Her breath fanning over his chin, his cheek and up to his ear. She licked her lips, the sound making Tony close his eyes and force himself not to be turned on at just how close she was to him. There was something about this woman that could change his mood instantly and light up his libido quicker than any woman ever had. "With you, Tony…I am always home." She pulled back, studying his face to catch his reaction.

Tony smiled down at her, his eyes glistening and full of love. "I know you said you've got a date over there," He cocked his head to the side in the direction of the event, "So I hope he doesn't mind if I kiss you."

Ziva groaned, "Please. He already kissed me and had the worst breath. Plus, he kept talking about getting me wet-"

"WHAT!" Tony squealed, letting go of her and going to advance towards the man that was staring at them. "I'll fucking kill him."

Ziva chuckled, using all her weight to stop Tony from charging at Ray. She brought him back to facing her, wrapping her arms around his neck and started scraping her nails through the hair on the back of his neck. "There is no need to cause a murder scene, mon petit pois."

Tony took a deep breath, leaning down into her space again. "Really? Agent Dah-veed is telling me not to cause a murder scene? I'm shocked."

"Well, we could drown him. I still cannot figure out where the swimming pool is in here." She looked around, quizzically.

"The swimming pool?" Tony scrunched his face together in a confused look, his arms attaching to the sides of her hips to bring her closer.

Ziva sighed, "It does not matter. What matters is a universal power brought us both here tonight."

Tony hummed "It was inevitable." He leaned down, bringing his lips to hers and giving her a passionate kiss. Their lips working in unison, savoring the taste of each other in a heated spirit. His hands worked their way up, tangling in her hair and he gripped her neck when she moaned.

"OH MY GOD!" Lauren clapped, jumping up and down when Breena shoved her to stay still. "You guys are so cute!" She screeched, one last clap with her hands. "My work here is totally done!"

Tony and Ziva pulled away, breathless from their intense exchange and Ziva turned around to look at her friends. "Your work?" She questioned.

"This is all totally because of me! I mean, let's be honest?" Lauren pretended to fan herself.

Tony laughed, his hands still around Ziva's waist. "Oh yeah, I had an interesting chat with Lauren at the bar."

Ziva gaffed, hitting her friend playfully. "I do not even want to know."

"No, you really don't." Tony smiled at Lauren, winking at her as a sign of understanding.

"Why don't you two go figure out some more things for the night?" Lauren winked back, shimmying her shoulders and raising her eye brows. "I'll keep things on lockdown here. Ray said he-"

"No!" Breena interrupted, "We are going to go home because you've had enough and all of the guys here are creeps!"

Tony and Ziva laughed at the concerning ways of Breena, her motherly side taking over. "So, what'dya say? Should we go to that diner down the street and get some of our midnight pancakes?" Tony asked Ziva.

"I think that would be lovely idea, yes?" Ziva smiled up at him, taking his offering hand and saying goodbye to her friends.

"Use a condom!" Lauren yelled after the couple, falling over as Breena shoved her to the side and giggling when she heard her sister mutter an "ow".

-x-

And that's it! You've reached the final chapter of this fic! Thank you guys for your overall support and for sticking with us for the past few months. We hope you enjoyed Dating Games just as how much we've enjoyed writing it!

That's all... For now ;) thanks once again!

- Ash and Mavic