Everything ‘NCIS: Tony and Ziva’ Reveals About the Pair’s Missing Years: Reunion, Sex, More

NCIS: Tony & Ziva brings NCIS alums Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David back into limelight — but what have they been up to since leaving the Washington, D.C., office?

During the series premiere in September, fans were transported to modern times where Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) are coparenting their daughter, Tali (Isla Gie), two decades after their meet-cute on NCIS.

Warning: Spoilers below from season 1 of NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

Season 1 of Tony & Ziva takes place in September and October 2025. Throughout the series, fans get flashback moments of the pair’s missing years, starting when they were reunited in 2020 — and Us Weekly has kept track of them all.

Scroll down for everything Tony & Ziva revealed about the pair’s off-the-grid years — and where they stand in present-day:

NCIS: Tony & Ziva is now streaming on Paramount+.

2005

During Tony & Ziva’s premiere, fans are taken down memory lane to the special agents’ first meeting.

“Hi, I’m Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. Who are you?” Tony cheekily asks Ziva, during a season 3 episode of NCIS, two years after viewers were introduced to Tony.

Ziva quickly responds, “Ziva David. Massad. We’re going to be working together.”

2013

Flash forward to 2013, when Ziva and Tony can no longer deny their connection. During the memory scene, Tony tells Ziva he is “fighting” for her and while Ziva tells him she must “start over alone,” she reminds him he is “so loved.”

2016

Ziva is presumed dead after a terrorist attack in Israel takes out her family’s home. Shortly after the bombing, Tony learns that he and Ziva share a daughter, Tali, and he leaves NCIS to care for her and find “answers” about Ziva’s death.

NCIS fans learned that Ziva was alive during season 17 of the OG series. According to Tony & Ziva it wasn’t until 2020 that she reunited with Tony and their little girl for the first time.

January 2020

During the show’s first episode, viewers see Ziva’s arrival in France via a flashback. “Hi,” Tony says after Ziva hugs Tali at the airport. “Hi. You’re crying,” she replies. “So are you, on the inside,” Tony teases.

Ziva doesn’t skip a beat, telling her partner, “Yeah, well we goddamn deserve it.” She then kisses Tony after being apart for years.

While the reunion is sweet, Ziva later reveals that before they left the airport, she was triggered by a canister falling on the tarmac and pulled her weapon on foreign police. The incident resulted in Ziva starting therapy, which at the start of Tony & Ziva has been going on for five years.

March 2020

In an episode 2 flashback, fans are transported to Ziva and Tony’s life together raising Tali and living under the same roof, temporarily. After Tali falls asleep in her room, the pair go into Tony’s living room, and he reveals he’s been sleeping on the couch so Ziva can have his bed.

“I’m so sorry,” Tony says after fondly placing his hand on Ziva’s face. “It’s OK,” she replies, noting that going “slow” is “not fun,” but she has a “lot to unpack” in therapy and wants to focus on that.

Tony is supportive, telling her, “I am here whatever you need.”

April 2020

While drinking wine at dinner during an episode 3 flashback, Ziva and Tony share an intimate moment. “Here we are. Two ordinary people with normal jobs,” Ziva says after securing a location for her language school. Tony points out, “I don’t think there’s anything ordinary about Ziva David.”

When Ziva worries, “What if I just can’t be normal?” Tony assures her, “I think that’s where I come in.” He then playfully feeds her fruit and jokes that’s what “ordinary people” enjoy doing.

After dinner, the pair return to their shared space and start making out. “We shouldn’t. … I don’t want to send [Tali] any mixed messages,” Ziva says, while Tony argues, “Maybe us being together is the stability Tali needs.”

Ziva tries to deny her feelings for Tony but ultimately gives in and they sleep together. “You always got me in a lot of trouble,” she teases.

May 2020

In a separate flashback from episode 3, Ziva reveals she got her own apartment as part of her therapy and healing, which crushes Tony. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine,” he tells her after cutting his finger with a knife prepping dinner.

Ziva later wonders in therapy if it was a “mistake” to move out on her own. “I just want to give her as normal a life as possible. There’s never been anything normal about my relationship with Tony,” she confesses.

June 2020

During a playdate with Tali at the park shown in episode 4, Ziva panics when a woman hands her a cupcake. She later learns she is a mom from Tali’s school. That evening, Tali has a nightmare, and Ziva blames herself for pushing her fears onto her child.

“This is all my fault. The cupcake on the playground and then I leave her here with all my thoughts,” Ziva tells Tony, who tries to reassure her, “We are both here for her.”

Ziva snaps, “No, you are. I go home and then I leave her here with you. The same way I did when she was 2 and I gave her to you. I don’t want to disappear on my little girl again.”

Tony takes a beat and then says, “Then don’t. Don’t leave.” He pulls off his ring, explaining, “I have this family ring passed from father to son.” Once down on one knee, Tony asks, “Ziva, will you marry me?”

Ziva gets down on her knees and responds, “Yes,” before passionately kissing Tony in the living room.

July 2020

During episode 5, fans get a glimpse of Tony and Ziva on a couples therapy retreat, where they must reveal what “hurts” them the most about each other. Ziva goes first, saying, “You hurt me when you’re not present.” After listening intently, Tony replies, “The truth is you don’t. You don’t hurt me.”

After the therapy session, Ziva’s regular therapist pulls Tony aside and warns him that he and Ziva won’t be able to fully reconnect if he doesn’t open up and tell the whole truth .

August 2020

In a flashback to Germany during episode 6, Tony and Ziva take Tali on a family trip to the woods to unwind. When they arrive, Tali discovers a gun hidden under a table, and Tony walks in to see her holding it on the ground. He panics and grabs the gun before turning his anger on Ziva, who brought them to one of her safehouses. The pair get into a heated argument, which leaves them on the outs during the vacation.

November 2020

Episode 8 shows Tony and Ziva’s differing opinions on their wedding. Tony wants his loved ones there to celebrate — and wants to make Interpol BFF Henry (James D’Arcy) his best man. Ziva, however, wants to just have Tali and an officiant, which brings them to a stalemate.

November 2021

Tony and Ziva eventually agree on a wedding in Barbados, according to an episode 9 flashback. However, a hurricane causes problems on their big day, from flooding the lilac fields and grounding Tony’s dad’s flight to causing additional delays. Ziva agrees to wait for Tony’s dad to arrive to get hitched, but when Tali goes missing from the hotel, everything falls apart.

Although Tali is found safe and sound, Ziva goes off on Tony for keeping her in the dark. He argues that he was a solo parent when she was gone for years, which only makes matters worse.

“You were gone for so long, and you missed so much, and I don’t think you understand how hard that still is for Tali,” Tony tells Ziva, hinting that he is also struggling. Ziva apologizes for leaving him and not telling him when Tali was born, but the damage is done.

“Sometimes I think I don’t trust you,” Tony confesses. “Is that what you really want? A marriage without trust?” Ziva asks, to which Tony replies, “No,” so they don’t go through with the ceremony.

September 2025

While in a safe house in Italy — as seen during episode 2 — Tony and Ziva must share a bed to accommodate everyone else on their team. The pair wake up cuddling in the morning, but don’t talk about the intimate moment. (Tony and Ziva are on the run while trying to prove that they are being set up for stealing money from Interpol).

October 2025

After pretending to be a bride during episode 4 — while trying to trap Interpol double agent Martine (Nassima Benchicou) — Ziva cozies up with Tony on a boat in Budapest as they flee the scene. Tony helps Ziva get out of her wedding gown in an intimate moment but loses his words.

He later musters up the courage to go back down into the room and kisses Ziva passionately. As they start to hook up, they are interrupted by the real bride, Fruzsi (Anne-Marie Waldeck).

Once they return to the bow, Tony gives Ziva his jacket and they stand closely together to take in the scenery.

By episode 7, Tony and Ziva’s chemistry is undeniable, and they can’t help but openly flirt. After reuniting with Tali, who was being hidden at Ziva’s former safehouse amid her parents’ mission, she notices the connection. “Are you two getting back together?” she asks, to which they reply, “No!” Tali says that’s “good,” which makes Ziva take a step back from pursuing her feelings.

However, by the end of the episode, Tony and Ziva are back in hiding as they hunt for a way to take down corrupt Interpol agent Jonah (Julian Ovenden). While staying at Ziva’s therapist’s house, Tony confesses, “I don’t want to ignore the thing that’s right in front of me.” He then kisses Ziva and they end up in bed together.

During the season 1 finale, Tony and Ziva tell Tali that they want to start dating again, and she gives them her stamp of approval. After Ziva gives Tony a framed picture of his late friend Henry and Tali as a sign of respect, he admits, “Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more you go and pull a stunt like that.”

Ziva jokes, “You hang in there big daddy, there’s more where that came from.” The pair kiss as a montage of their romantic moments throughout the season — flashbacks and modern day — run across the screen.