Time heals wound - Family first alternative version

nothing good left for me

The night has come. Ziva was out to talk with one of the officer. When she came in she stopped in the corridor and looked at Tony and Tali. Tony was on the couch and Tali was standing in front of him between the couch and the coffee table. She was trying to solve a puzzle and Tony was helping her. They haven't noticed that Ziva was staring at them. Once the puzzle was solved Tony said:

"You want to see something beautiful Tali ?"

The little girl nodded, she could not hide her excitement. Tony took Ziva's necklace from his pocket and said: "Look Tali, this is Ima's ... you like it ?"

The little girl took it between her little fingers. She could not take her eyes off from it. A tear streamed down Ziva's cheek. She wiped it away and smiled. She walked inside the living room and said: "come on Tali, it's time to go to bed..." she took Tali in her arms and started walking to the bedroom. She stopped and look back at Tony. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. She smiled and said to Tali: "I think aba should join us don't you think ?"
The little girl looked at her father and nodded with a wide smile. Tony stood up and followed them to Tali's bedroom. Ziva laid Tali down on the bed and sat next to her. Tony sat next to Ziva. He noticed a picture on the bedside table. It was the picture of him and Ziva in Paris. Probably one of the rare item that Ziva had managed to save from the explosion. Ziva said: "every night before she goes to bed she takes that picture and she kisses you good night..."

Tali was looking at her dad. Ziva bent over and kissed Tali's forehead. She said good night in hebrew: "laila tov" and the little girl answered: "laila tov ima". Ziva stood up to let Tony get closer to his daughter. Tali kissed her fingers, placed them on Tony's cheek. She did it the same way she was kissing her father good night every night except that this time, she was not putting her fingers on a picture. He smiled and bent over to kiss her head: "laila tov Tali". Tony and Ziva walked outside and looked at their daughter one last time before turning the lights out.

Ziva knew she could not avoid this conversation any longer. She sat on a chair. Tony looked at her for a second and joined her. Tony started: "come back with me... I just need to know who did this and then I am out.. if it is too hard for you to stay in D.C we can go where ever you want, I don't care... as long as I am with you"

She was listening to him but she was not showing any reaction. He was enable to tell if she was about to agree or no. He was trying his best to convince her: "we can go to Paris... you love Paris... it would be great for Tali... and I love French food..."

Ziva smiled. She said: "you love D.C..."

He did not know what this meant and he was tired of fighting against her stubbornness :

-"yes of course I love D.C... we have already been through this Ziva and I can't do this again ! I've asked you to come back with me and you refused... now that I am here you tell me that you regret that decision but you keep running away..."

She stopped him by placing two fingers on his lips: "you love D.C and you love being a cop .. I have told you that the last thing I want is for you to give up on the life you love because of me"

If Tony was not already confused then now he was. And Ziva could clearly see it on his face: "you are right... there is nothing good left for me here..." she did not had to say one more word. Tony smiled, cupped her face and kissed her. She leaned her forehead on his. She had been thinking about this the entire afternoon, she was scared to go back but she was even more scared of being away from him again. And she knew that this time he would give up on everything to stay with her. She also realized that she was feeling stronger now that he was there. She would have never been able to go back to D.C on her own but with him by her side she was capable of everything.

--- The next morning ---
Tony woke up. Thank God this was not just a dream. He was tired. He had not been sleeping that much last night. His brain had too many things to think about and anyway after all this time away from the woman he loves, sleeping has not been his priority. He looked around. Ziva was up already. He got out of bed and looked for his clothes. They have strewn them around last night. They were obviously too busy kissing each other to care about where their clothes were landing. He smiled at the remembrance of the night they have spent together. It has been a beautiful night were they let their bodies express the years they have spent missing each other. After making love they were both quiet, Ziva resting on Tony's chest. She had something on her mind. Something that has been bothering her. She did not wanted to ruin that moment but she needed to know:
-"Have you been dating anyone ?"
She did not sound upset, she did not wanted him to feel judged, she just needed to know. Tony sighed:
-"I have tried to.. but it never went further than a couple of drinks..." he paused. Ziva looked at him. He cupped her head and continued:
-"they were never funny... never interesting, never... intimidating... they were never you..." he kissed her.
They fell alseep for the few hours they had left. Tony was roused from this memory by voices coming for downstairs. He got out and walk to the kitchen.
-"there they are.."