Far Away

A Good Thing

It's actually still Wednesday, but I thought I'd get a head start. We've been making paper snowflakes, yay. My roommate keeps shooting bits of paper at me. I'm a little scared.

*****

"Do you... not think things have changed?" she asked.

Was that a trick question? Screwed if he said yes, screwed if he said no?

"We're definitely not the same people we were four months ago," he said finally. That had to be a safe answer, right?

It seemed so.

She nodded absentmindedly, still staring at her clasped hands. "I agree."

Neither of them seemed sure of where to go next, so they sat in silence.

"Could be a good thing," he ventured.

"Could be."

She wasn't helping. At all.

He was floundering, and he was sure he'd sink if she didn't toss him a lifeline in the next twenty seconds.

She didn't.

"Ziva, help me."

She looked up, both startled and confused.

"I don't know what to say."

"I do not either."

"Maybe I should just go." He stood up, hesitating, giving her the chance to stop him.

He flashed back to that day in Morocco, walking away from her, wanting her to come after him.

Wanting her.

He focused on her face again, and was shocked by the swirl of emotions there.

He was frozen in place as she got up and came to him.

"Tony, please..."

"I can't-"

"Please?" Her hands wrapped around his arm, like she was going to pull him back to the couch.

Her warmth should have thawed him, but if anything it just made him feel colder.

She tugged him toward her, tugging him back to the couch. Closer than before.

"I do not know what to say. But some things you cannot put into words, right? Some things are too great for words. Maybe this... is one of those things?"

A stupid smile crossed his face and stayed there. "I think you're pretty great, too."

She gave him one of those classic Ziva looks, one that said, "Shut up, you fool," but also betrayed the fact she secretly enjoyed the compliment.

"So if this is one of those things you can't put into words, then how do you want to go about this?" he asked.

She shrugged, but he saw her eyes flicker to his lips for the briefest moment.

He would definitely be in favor of that plan.

Almost as if she read his mind, she moved a little closer, her hands tentatively going to his face.

If she kept playing with him like that, he was definitely going to die.

"I think there's only one way forward."

There was only one way they could get through this moment without ruining their friendship. And that was to just keep going.

"I agree," she breathed, leaning still closer.

It had been a long time since he felt like he was drowning in someone's eyes, but he recognized the feeling now.

The world seemed to slow down as her lips finally reached his, just brushing, just teasing, just exploring.

She was going to be the death of him.

He opened his eyes as her lips drew away, and same strange emotion coursed through him as he just stared into her eyes, breathing her in, trying to process what just happened.

She looked just as confused.

He wanted to kiss the confusion right off her face.

But he also wanted her to make the first move. He wanted this, whatever it was, to be on her terms. It had to be on her terms.

If it was on his terms, she would've been his years ago.

He didn't want her to feel like she was just another one of his conquests. If anything, he wanted to be one of hers.

Which is why he felt like he was dreaming when he felt her lips on him again.

And this time she didn't hold back.

It wasn't anything like he'd ever imagined. It was better. So much better.

So delicate, so soft, so gentle. It was the kind of feeling you could only get with someone you really know, really trust, really love.

Hell, yeah, he loved her.

That was the only explanation for the feeling in his chest.

*****

I am fangirling inside. Are you?  If you fangirled at all, please vote, and maybe I'll keep this going in the next chapter.

Otherwise, I'm gonna fast-forward. Kissing scenes make me feel awkward.

Your choice!

Also, technically it's Thursday now so I'm just gonna post this.

Vote and comment!