Someone sent me an e-mail with a list of things kids had to say about love. The one below made me think of Ziva and Tony and how he says her name sometimes.

Touching words from the mouth of babes. A group of professional people posedthis question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?'

'"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is
different. You just know that your name is safe in their
mouth.'"

Billy - age 4

My Name

The first time he said David he said it correctly. I have never told him but it was a huge point in his favor. Most Americans never get it right no matter how many times I tell them or they mangle it on purpose like Abby did for a while. But it was my first name and the way he said it which so intrigued me. He always seemed to say it with a little extra emphasis on the Zee sound even as we met, the tiniest buzzing. After we'd worked together for a few months he started elongating the syllables – Zeee Vaaah. I did not say anything to him the first time he did it and I saw him give a little smile at my silence. He knew I liked it.

Now it is the highlight of my day when he says my name in the special way he has. No one else says it like Tony does. All through the tough times we have been through together the past two years; through Jeanne and Jenny, through months of separation, through lies, manipulations, deaths, heart break…when he says my name, when he says "Zeee Vaaah," I know he cares. Even when he is mad at me or on one of his biggest bastard days when he is more Gibbs than DiNozzo when he says "Zeee Vaaah" I know he still cares.

The four months last summer when I thought I would never hear him say my name again broke my heart and it only began to mend when I heard him say my name again.