Author's Note

Hey guys! To all my readers of What We Could Have Been (aka the Mote fanfic) don't you worry, because it's still on going and I'm not giving up on the story just bit. I just felt like this one should be done, because the idea came to me in a dream (sounds weird right haha) I hope you enjoy, and this is the one thing I'm doing to cope up with the whole Cote situation. Feedbacks are well appreciated!

Disclaimer:

I do not own NCIS or the characters

Her heart was beating so fast as if she just came from a marathon, her palms were sweating, she felt a heavy brick landing on her chest making it hard to breath with each passing minute. Ziva David was never been afraid to face anything, she's been through worse but why does everything about going back to the place she used to call her home gives her continuous butterflies in her stomach? She wanted to throw up, she's been sitting uneasily on the passenger seat inside the airplane for an hour now. There was nothing wrong, but why does she feels like there are a lot of things she needs to be worrying about?

Okay, maybe it's because she never told anyone about her "surprise visit" back in D.C. No one, not even Tony nor Gibbs did she even bother to speak about going back. If only the team knew how many times Ziva tried to bring the topic of going home to them, and yet she can't find the right words to say for she was afraid of what the circumstances will take her. She didn't want anyone knowing it, not yet because the team might think she is back for good, even if she's back for one month only.

One month is enough, she thinks. The purpose of going back was not because of her job, it was because she missed every single one from her family. She missed Ducky and his endless stories; she missed laughing at Palmer's jokes no matter how "worn hat" they can sometimes be, McGee and his computer and the firm friendship she has already built with him, Abby and the long warm hugs the Goth gives to her after a very tiring day. Most importantly, Gibbs who was nothing but a Father Ziva always dreamed of having, she longed for his embrace to match with his warm smile.

And of course, her partner—Tony.

Tony, the very first person who caught her attention as soon as she landed on American Soil, the very first one whom she opened up Tali with him even if it was their first meeting, the person who once travelled all the way to Somalia and to tell her how he couldn't live without her, the person she spent late nights doing paperwork, having "batnaps", babbling about numerous movie references, talking about weddings, and eloping, the person she once admitted how grateful she was to have him in her life, most importantly, the one she got stuck with in an elevator, who brought her the opera in honour of Tali, who shared a dance with her in Berlin, the one who interlocked fingers with her right before they had that accident that almost shattered both of their lives, the person who spent four months, four months just to find her, just to tell her how he's willing to change with her as long as she comes home with him, the last person whom Ziva shared a passionate, one to be remembered kiss right before he left. Ziva was never wrong to think that this Tony DiNozzo that she loved dearly was her soulmate.

To sum it all up, she missed him the most. There was never a day that she wouldn't think of him, wishing he was doing the same. There was never a night, she prayed that someday, they would both be back and do the right thing, which is to have each other. She realized, that the only thing that has been keeping her going ever since she started working in NCIS was him, she built a world around him, and it took her months right after he left, to think about what she wanted. And that was to keep him forever.

She wanted to go back not just to visit, but to claim the love she's been wanting for a long time. She loves him, but does he still feel the same way about her? Maybe that thought was the blame for all the butterflies in her stomach right now, maybe she was afraid of change, she was afraid that people have forgotten, or worse, she was in great fear that the love of her life met someone, who isn't as complicated her.

It's been a year since she last felt her lips pressed on his, been three months since she last had contact with Tony, she knew how things were changing for them back in D.C, that was something she truthfully respect, but she knew that the change back there was something more, and it has something to do with Tony. Ziva felt clueless of what Tony could be hiding from her, he used to spend his free time talking to her but during the last few weeks, it seems like their connection has gotten cold. Ziva knew something was up, but she was afraid to question him because she felt like she doesn't have the right to.

Ziva kept reminding herself that she wasn't his, and that Tony can see women as much as he likes, he was the Tony that Ziva first met, but she hoped deep inside, that Tony somehow changed and be the Tony she always dreamed of having. The Tony, who would be for his Ziva only.

Her thoughts overruled her mind, that she barely heard the announcement of the flight attendant that they already landed. Ziva waited patiently for the other passengers to head through the exit, as soon as everyone was out, she took one last deep breath and got up from her feet, got her personal belongings and headed out of the plane sharing a gentle smile with one of the flight attendants who greeted her goodbye as she goes down the stairs to the tarmac.

The weather was fine, the sun shining brightly amongst the skies. Nothing changed much inside the airport, and it was all fine with Ziva. She took the rest of her luggage, smiled at everyone who looks at her, and hailed a cab on her way to the hotel.

She missed being in her apartment, being in the park where she used to jog every morning, the diner she frequently go to for breakfast, the Navy Yard, the bullpen, most especially the elevators, the men's room... places she would often go with Tony that both considered as their "unexpected bonding places"

The ride on the way to her hotel was silent; she didn't bother to turn on her phone. No, not yet she figured that was something she would be doing later right after she checked in, Ziva knew that if she turned on her phone now, she would lose her patience and directly call everyone to tell her she's home. No, she's not going to spoil the moment; she would wait for the right time, when she's ready. There were a lot of explaining to do for the whole team, most especially a lot of catching up with them.

The driver must have sense that she was undergoing a lot of deep thinking, base from the way she stares blankly across the window, the way she kept toying with her fingers, through her long brown hair all the way to her lap.

"First time huh?" The driver asked, taking a short glance to his mirror.

Ziva's thoughts interrupted, she looked up and smiled. "No, I came back to visit."

"Well, in that case. Welcome home!" The driver greeted her, smiling back as he takes a turn in a nearby corner of the street.

Home. Home is where my heart is. She sighed happily, closing her eyes for a bit. She made it back to her home, now... for her family.