Disclaimer: I do no own the NCIS TV series or any of the characters.

Summary:

Imagine if Ziva and Tony knew each other as children, before NCIS? I give you 5 scenes where their lives could have crossed and, at some moment, a friendship developed. Deliberate gaps of time with room for thought. Non-compliant with canon. Ziva and Tony depicted at ages 5&6, 9&10, 14&15, 17&18, 32&33. Rated T for safety.

A/N- Scene titles correspond with Ziva and Tony's ages. The other scenes will come quickly. Expect them in the next few days because I want to get this out before my muse is gone. Please review :)

5 and 6

It was a simple matter of physics that first brought him to meet her.

Newton's First Law of Motion, to be exact. Although, six year old, Anthony DiNozzo, would describe it as, "Big red ball rolling down bigger hill".

Propelled by gravity, an unusually strong wind for April, and forces unseen, Anthony DiNozzo sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him. He was finally gaining on it when a girl rushed in front of him, out of nowhere, and stopped the ball with her foot. Startled, Anthony jumped back.

"Hey!" Was all he could say as he caught his breath.

The girl smiled, teasingly, passing the ball back-and-forth between her feet, "Is this yours?"

"Give it back!" Anthony said, energy returned, as he reached out for it.

"Relax," she said, still smiling as she kicked it back to him. "I was only looking at it."

But Tony didn't seem to believe her. He hugged the ball protectively and huffed, "Who are you?"

The girl dropped her grin and pushed russet curls out of her face, "Ziva David, my family just moved in." She extended a hand, but dropped it when the boy stared at it, dimly.

"I'm Anthony," He said, wiping his face. Ziva snorted, which caused him to frown.

"My dad's name is Anthony." He said, his voice rising in tenor. However, the news of its origin didn't deter her. She laughed, once again.

"That is much worse."

Anthony balled his hands into fists, annoyed by this girl. He did not see what was funny. He wanted to say something back, but he couldn't think of anything except—

"You're just, just stupid!"

He expected her to cry, to run away after being called a bad word. But Ziva just stood there, looking infuriatingly— unaffected.

"Do you have siblings?" She suddenly asked. The off-beat question threw him.

"No, why?"

Ziva shrugged as only a 3-foot-something-inches tall little girl could.

"I thought so."

Anthony's eyes widened in fear.

"Can you read my mind?"

Ziva shook her head. "It is just the way you talk. You do not have practice in standing up to others."

Anthony forehead creased, failing to understand what she had said.

"I think you have too much practice," he managed. The strange girl's eyes narrowed and Anthony frowned again.

Then there was a man calling from the house they stood in front of. Anthony hadn't really paid attention to it until now. He had been too occupied with his ball and the stupid girl in front of him to notice how far down the street he had ended up.

"Ziva," The man said; his voice was dark and rich like Anthony Senior's imported cigars. It made Anthony snap his head to attention. Ziva did as well.

"Tell your friend to go home. It is time for dinner."

"Yes, Abba." Ziva responded and the man turned back inside, not waiting for her to follow. Ziva turned back to Anthony, their previous dispute fading away, as often happens when grown-ups interrupt.

"I am starting in the kindergarten next week," she told him, wondering if he was going to school.

"You're in kindergarten? I'm in first grade!" He said proud and glad to have won something.

Ziva pouted and Anthony laughed at her.

"What school do you go to?"

"D.C. Preparatory."

"Ziva." The man called from the stairs.

Ziva turned sharply, having been lost in conversation, "I have to go, Tony."

"Anthony." He corrected her.

"Right, shalom." She said and left, quickly running up the walkway and stairs to her home, sparing him a glance before vanishing inside her house.

"Hey! What did you call me?" He yelled at the house, but no one reappeared.

Anthony stood there for a moment, watching as the screen door bounced several times before shutting completely. Another breeze blew and he did not notice until his ball broke free from his arms and bowled down the sloping street. "Not again!" he thought as he leapt up, chasing after it.