This is the final chapter, and the ending is left open for interpretation, so interept it how you like. I just hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Disclaimed.

Work is a normal routine now for the MCRT after the death of Harper Dearing. The days don't seem as long and stress filled. Ziva is still adjusting to the changes in her life; but she learnt from an early age to pick herself up and carry on. It's something that's stuck with her all these years, but she's learning that voicing her upset is a good thing, and it's healthy for her.

Towards the end of the day, Ziva is cornered on her way back from the lab by Gibbs, and in the elevator of all places. He asks what the hell has been going on with her; and he's so damn blunt about it, that she's taken aback. She explains that she's just exhausted, and the fact that Dearing was still hanging around, made her feel worse. But apparently that's not what he's getting at. He wants to know what's up with her desperate need to look innocent, especially around Tony.

She takes a deep breath and prepares to spin a lie, but it seems like everyone is beating her to the punch these days. "I know, Ziva."

She raises her eyebrows in question, and folds her arms over her chest. "You know, what, Gibbs?"

She watches him tilt his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. He always does that when he knows something, and expects her or McGee or Tony to know what he's thinking without him saying it. She's usually good at doing that, but not today, she can't be bothered to be frank. "Gibbs, I am not in the mood to guess."

"About you, and DiNozzo."

She's gonna play the innocent card as best she can here; "What?"

"You know what I'm talking about." Sadly, yes, she does know what he's talking about. Better not beat around the bush now. "Abs confirmed the suspicions."

What a surprise, Abby couldn't keep her mouth closed for very long it seems. She knew that would happen. "When did you-"

"The day you and DiNozzo ran off." Ok, she knows she should've seen that coming, the man can predict the future for god sakes. "Congratulations." She lifts her head to catch his gaze, and she smiles at the sincerity she sees in his eyes. It's completely genuine, and she accepts the forehead kiss with a grateful thank you, and then the world stops spinning and she is catapulted back into the workspace with her colleagues to carry on her day.

It's not long after her conversation with the Boss, does Tony get dragged away, for what she assumes is the same reason. Gibbs will probably threaten him with bodily harm and give him a huge smack across the back of the head. She just knows these things. So yeah, when Gibbs returns with a smirk, and Tony with a smile and a hand rubbing the back of his head, her suspicions are pretty much confirmed.

So, in the midst of the case, with one less thing to worry about, Ziva turns her attention back to what Abby said the previous day, and tries to consider what the hell she meant by it. It's a lot to take in as it is, and her friend's thoughts, no matter how necessary, make Ziva feel worse, and frankly a little sick.

So when the end of the day rolls in, Ziva watches as each of her team members departs her second home. Gibbs, then Abby and then McGee. She tells Tony that she'll be over at his place soon, as she has spare clothes in her trunk for tomorrow anyway, and he leaves just before her.

The separate drive allows her to process her thoughts. She's been thinking over Abby's words non-stop. It's a huge deal. Don't treat it as something that just happened, and the rings are merely pretty jewellery.

She knows deep down that Abby is right, but she and Tony can't function that way. They can't act like their marriage is a huge thing, because one or both of them are bound to back out. She's perfectly content with the way things are. She has a husband, who she loves. She gets great sex, and the easy and natural flow of a partnership she's had for the better part of over six years. What more could she possibly want in this moment in time?

She quickly shakes the thoughts from her head, and grabs her stuff before heading up to his apartment.

He's pouring some wine for them both when she gets in, and she gladly takes up the offer of alcohol. Boy does she need it, after this past week.

She feels the intensity of the stare he's giving her right now, and she takes a large swig to cover the flush she gets across her cheeks. "What did Abby say to you?"

Just when she thought she could avoid that topic altogether. Nevermind. She does her best to remain collected and casual, and lowers her wine glass and latches onto his gaze. "Nothing I did not already know."

She watches as his brows furrow and she begins to feel the frustration she tried to bury rise in her again. "What's that supposed to mean?"

It means that Abby is right, and we need to treat this as a marriage; treat each other as husband and wife, and respect the rings for the symbols they are. She ain't telling him that. "It means nothing." She raises her chin stubbornly in the hopes that he'll drop the conversation and just shove his hands down her pants and get her off instead.

He doesn't. Sexual frustration now added to the list of things that irritates Ziva this week. "What did she say, Ziva?" He is sterner and she's struggling to keep her composure with this whole thing. Maybe secrets don't always work out.

"I already told you-"

"I know what you said. But I want the truth."

She huffs in annoyance and tries to come up with something that will cloak the truth, but keep some honesty. But she's drawing blanks and she knows he won't give up on this. He never does. He's giving her that stern yet concerned look he gives her now when he knows that she's lying, and she begins to squirm under his stare. She gives in. "Abby... She made me, think, differently."

"Differently? Differently how?"

She starts to fiddle with her glass again, staring down at the pale liquid, anything to avoid his gaze now. "The way, I have been thinking about, this, should change."

"This? Meaning, us?" Oh god, the pain and anger in his voice. She gives in then and lifts her head. His expression is even worse. He looks so hurt by her words, that her heart starts to ache in sympathy. "Not, in a bad way Tony... You know, how I feel about you. That will not change."

"You sure about that?" God he looks so vulnerable right now. She was supposed to be the one with all the worries and doubts and fears about all this. Since when did the tables turn? She has not even a trace of doubt in her mind that Tony is the right guy for her. Heck, she loves him right?

So she puts down her glass and steps into his space and presses a hand to his cheek, and gives him a serious but sincere look. "I cannot imagine being with anyone else." That's as close as she can get to her true feelings in words for now, she's much better at showing it than saying it.

It seems to work, because the next thing she feels is Tony's lips on hers; and god, even an hour away from his lips seems like an eternity. So she pushes her body into his, and shudders in his embrace when his tongue joins hers, and his hands grip her hips like he's a sinking ship and she's his lifeline.

Good god, he was right. Her life really did have more meaning after she'd slept with him. Stupid DiNozzo.

Now I can finally relax. :) Thank you very much for reading this story. From everyone who read it from day 1, to those who may have recently found this story. Thank you. I hope you had fun with this, as much as I did.