The chapel smelled like old wood and lies.
It two in the morning meaning the world outside was sleeping but Ziva felt like she'd never sleep again with her heart wouldn't stop racing and her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
She stood in front of a small altar, still wearing the white dress from the auction, it had become a costume for a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
The judge stood across from her with the kind of facial expression that said he'd married people in the middle of the night before and knew not to ask questions.
"Miss Wilson?" The judge's voice was clipped. Impatient. "The certificate needs your signature." She stared at the marriage on the altar. Her name already typed in neat black letters. Ziva Marie Wilson. A blank line next to it, waiting.
Her hand didn't move toward the pen. "I need a minute," she said.
The judge sighed. "Miss Wilson it's very late, and I have other..."
"Wait outside." Tyrell's voice cut through.
"Five minutes," he muttered, gathering his things. The door clicked shut behind him.
Ziva turned to Tyrell. "You said you loved me in high school."
His shoulders went rigid.
"I don't even remember you saying it." Her voice came out harder than she meant. "When? Where?"
Tyrell didn't look at her instead he walked to the altar, gripping the edge like he needed something solid to hold onto. "Parking lot," he said quietly. "After prom."
She remembered that night. Standing alone in a second-hand dress, watching couples leave together.
"I told you I'd been in love with you since sophomore year." Tyrell's voice was rough. "That I'd wait as long it took"
The memory surfaced making her uncomfortable. "And I said..." her throat dry.
Tyrell turned, he looked wounded "You said I was dangerous. That Judy told you I got in fights. Sold drugs and that I'd ruin your life." The words hit like a slap, because she had said exactly that.
"Judy said you were expelled for dealing," Ziva whispered.
Tyrell laughed and the sound made her chest hurt. "I was expelled for beating the shit out of a senior who tried to assault a girl at a party." His hands clenched into fists. "But Judy didn't tell you that part, did she?"
Ziva went still. "What?"
"Senior line-backer Roland Marc, found him in an upstairs bedroom with a freshman who was too drunk to stand. She was crying while he was.." Tyrell's jaw locked. "I put him in the hospital. Broke his jaw in three places and the school gave me two options: expulsion or criminal charges."
The air left her lungs. "I didn't know," she breathed.
"I know." No anger in his voice. Just acceptance. Like he'd made peace with it a long time ago. "You'd already decided who I was."
The truth of it settled in her chest like a stone.
Ziva stepped closer. "Why didn't you correct me?"
Tyrell met her eyes. "Would it have mattered?"
She wanted to say yes but the truth was back then, she wouldn't have. She'd been so desperate to be normal, to date someone safe, who didn't get called to the principal's office or make teachers nervous. Someone like Timothy.
Look where that got her.
"So you followed me to university?" The question came out quieter now.
Tyrell nodded slowly. "Different department. Engineering. I stayed close. Watched you fall for Timothy. Watched him.." His voice went hard. "Watched him bleed you dry."
Ziva's anger flared. "And you did nothing?"
"I tried!" Tyrell's voice rose for the first time. "Twice. I tried to tell you what he was doing."
Another memory surfaced. Junior year. Tyrell showing up at her apartment, trying to warn her about Timothy's gambling debts. The money she kept lending him. She'd slammed the door in his face.
Senior year, in the library Tyrell cornered her asking if she knew Timothy was seeing other women. She'd called him jealous and told him to leave them alone.
"Oh God," Ziva whispered.
Tyrell started pacing. "I backed off and stayed away, thought maybe I was wrong, maybe he really did love you."
He stopped and turned "Then three months ago, I saw him meeting with someone I recognized. Viktor Kozlov. Russian national with ties to trafficking rings across Eastern Europe."
Ziva suddenly felt cold.
"I had him followed and wiretapped his phone." Tyrell's voice cracked. "And when I saw the sale contract with your name on it..."
"So you've been watching me for four years?" Her voice barely audible.
"Protecting you."
"That's not protection, Tyrell." She took another step closer. "That's obsession."
He didn't look away. "I know," he said quietly. "But you're alive, and if obsession is what it takes to keep you that way, then I'll be obsessed." The honesty in his voice was devastating.
Ziva's hand hovered over the marriage certificate. "If I sign this," she whispered, "what happens to me?"
Tyrell moved closer. "You become untouchable," he said. "My wife legally, no one can take you."
His eyes searched hers. "You'll have your own bank accounts. Your own space. I won't..." He swallowed. "I won't touch you unless you want me to. You'll be free to leave whenever you want. I just need you safe first."
Ziva's throat tightened. "And if I don't sign?"
Tyrell's expression shuttered. "Then I can't protect you, and they will come."
A knock on the door. The judge's voice, irritated. "I need an answer. Now."
Ziva looked at Tyrell and she picked up the pen.
Tyrell exhaled like he'd been holding his breath for years.
Her hand shook as she signed, Ziva Marie Wilson becoming Ziva Marie Smart with one stroke of ink.
The judge returned, already rushing through the words like he had somewhere better to be.
"Do you, Tyrell Alexander Smart, take this woman..."
"I do." No hesitation.
"and do you, Ziva Marie Wilson, take this man"
"I....do."
"Then by the power vested in me," The judge barely looked up. "You may now kiss the bride."
Tyrell froze.
Ziva's heart hammered.
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away but she didn't.
Their lips met. Soft at first like neither of them quite believed this was real then something ignited.
Ziva gasped against his mouth and Tyrell's hand came up, cupping her face with a gentleness that felt foreign while his other hand settled on her waist, pulling her closer deepening the kiss. Years of longing compressed into seconds. Tyrell kissed her like she was oxygen and he'd been drowning, and God help her, she kissed him back.
When they broke apart, both were shaking.
Tyrell's forehead rested against hers. His thumb brushed her cheekbone. "I'll spend the rest of my life earning this," he whispered. Voice hoarse.
Ziva's breath shook. She opened her mouth...
The chapel door slammed open. Marcus burst in, phone in hand, face pale. "Sir! Timothy Keene just posted bail."
Tyrell's entire body went rigid.
"And he's headed to the media with allegations," Marcus continued. "He's claiming you kidnapped Ziva. That she's being held against her will."