"So, how did Tony propose?" asked Abby eagerly.

Gibbs and McGee rolled their eyes as if such a question was a typically female one in which they could have no interest. They stayed where they were, however, and waited for Sophie's reply.

Sophie had arrived from Rio a few days after Tony. She and Tony had gone to New York to see her parents and had now come to Washington. Ducky had volunteered his house as a place for the team to meet Sophie: Tony had accepted gratefully feeling that Abby's enthusiasm might be tempered by the elegance of Ducky's brownstone house in Georgetown.

So now the team was gathered in what Ducky called his lounge and enjoying a traditional British high tea. Abby's 'creativity' might have been curbed but her happiness had not. She had greeted Sophie warmly and was now giving her what she termed the 'Abby degree' which was a gentler version of the third degree. The others were happy for her to ask the questions to which they wanted answers but might have felt too diffident to ask themselves.

"So, how did Tony propose?"

"I'm sure it was very romantic," said Ziva, "I seem to remember Tony saying that he nailed his proposal to Wendy."

There was a sound of delicate bone china tea cups clattering in their saucers and a choking cough from Tim,

"Oh, was that inappropriate?" asked Ziva, " but I'm sure Tony has told Sophie about Wendy."

It was perhaps as well that Tony was in the kitchen with Ducky preparing some Welsh Rarebit so he didn't hear what was going on. The others waited with horrified fascination to see what Sophie's response would be. It turned out that she was made of tough stuff. She decided to ignore Ziva's contribution,

"Tony didn't propose," she said, "I proposed to him."

Abby gasped, and then said approvingly,

"You totally rock, Sophie!"

"I agree," said Tony returning with plates of cheesy goodness, "but why in particular?"

"Apparently, you did not propose but were proposed to," said Ziva.

"I was getting round to it," protested Tony.

"I do not remember you as being slow in coming forward," said Ziva, "especially with women."

Sophie then proved why she had been so successful for two years as director of a demanding charity organization in a place where firmness, diplomacy and tact had been needed in equal measure,

"Dr Mallard," she said, "Tony has told me about your Welsh Rabbit. I've been looking forward to trying it".

"Actually, my dear," said Ducky, willingly engaging in the job of pouring oil on potentially troubled waters, "I say 'rarebit' but other people say 'rabbit'. In deference to Abigail's vegetarianism, I prefer to say rarebit."

"And why is it sometimes called rarebit?" asked McGee also gamely trying to divert the conversation.

"Aahh, " said Ducky, drawing a deep breath and obviously bracing himself for one of his erudite and lengthy explanations, "I haven't the foggiest idea!"

As Tony and Ducky handed round the plates of cheese on toast, Gibbs moved position to sit next to Ziva. She opened her mouth to say something but before she could do so, Gibbs managed to catch her eye. He shook his head minutely. Ziva closed her mouth.

NCISNCIS

Gibbs was not surprised to have a visitor to his basement later that evening.

"Gibbs," said Ziva, "I think I displeased you this afternoon at Ducky's."

"You think?" said Gibbs.

"I wanted to explain ... I did not mean to upset Tony's fiancée."

"She has a name, Ziva."

"Yes, of course. I did not mean to upset Sophie."

"Then what did you mean to do?"

"We hardly know her, Gibbs. I wanted to be sure that she was ... right for Tony."

"And talking about DiNozzo's former fiancée was going to achieve that how?"

"I ... I ... do not know. I may not have gone about it in the right way."

"Ziva," Gibbs sighed, "you and I are a lot alike ..."

"You do not like her either?"

"I like her fine," said Gibbs firmly, "what I meant was that we both like to be in control and that's what you've always tried to do with Tony. I can guess why that is, but the reason doesn't really matter. You've always tried to prove that you're better than him, to keep him in his place."

"But," said Ziva, "I ..."

"Let me finish," said Gibbs, "you try to contain Tony, and it doesn't work. Lord knows, I tried to do it over the years and I can testify that it doesn't work. You think it has and then he breaks out. He's like water. You think you've got it contained and safe and it just escapes and leaps up like a fountain.

Ziva laughed, "And we all get wet!"

"That's DiNozzo," shrugged Gibbs, "and I think if you want to be his friend, you're going to have to learn to like Sophie."

"I suppose so," said Ziva reluctantly, "what does your gut say about her, Gibbs?"

"I don't need my gut to tell me anything, Ziva. I just have to look at them together to know that they're right for each other."

NCISNCIS

At about the same time as Ziva and Gibbs were talking in Gibbs' cellar, Sophie and Tony were also discussing Sophie's introduction to the team.

"I'm sorry about Ziva," said Tony.

"That's OK, you'd warned me," said Sophie, "but after what she said I didn't feel like sharing the proposal story!"

"I'm not sure that technically you proposed to me," said Tony, "I don't think you saying, 'Tony, it's all right you can ask me to marry you' was a proposal."

"What would you call it then?"

"More of a 'hurry up and get on it with it' suggestion."

"I think that's quibbling. Tony, if I hadn't said that, would you have proposed?"

"I hope so! I just hadn't done well in the past at judging how committed people were."

"By people, do you mean women?"

"Not entirely. Mostly perhaps, but there have been male people who haven't been quite as honest or supportive as they could have been".

Sophie took his hand and squeezed it, knowing that he was talking about his father and perhaps Gibbs as well. "Well, you know that I'm committed to you, don't you?"

Tony kissed the hand that was holding his. "Yes, and in my defence, I did already have the ring."

"That's true," said Sophie, looking fondly at her engagement ring with its Brazilian emerald.

"So what did you think of my former co-workers?"

"Ducky is charming, Jimmy is sweet, Abby is amazing, Tim is a gentleman, Gibbs ... is someone I will have to take time to think of an adjective for. And Ziva, well, Ziva is combative."

"And you, my love, are very tactful" said Tony.

"Tony, you know that we've talked about having children?"

"Yes ..."

"Well, I realised this afternoon that you already seem to have at least four!"

NCISNCIS

Sophie moved into Tony's newly decorated apartment and found a job as vice principal of an elementary school near Seymour Boulevard for the new school year. The move theater was restored to its former glory, Radhika rejoiced in her refurbished coffee bar, Abby worked her magic on the torn posters and Archie agreed to lead the workshops on the art of projection.

Tony no longer felt the need to do everything in the theater and it might have been expected that he would begin to feel a little underemployed. It happened, however, that there was an appeal against the guilty decision arising from one of Tony's last cases with NCIS. Director Vance asked Tony to go to the Navy Yard to go over some of the evidence.

Tony probably wouldn't have to give evidence but Vance wanted to be sure that McGee and Ziva were up to speed with anything the defence lawyers might bring up. The four of them, with Gibbs, met in one of the conference rooms. Tony's old files and notes were brought up from the basement archives and were reviewed. The Director realised that he had never really worked closely with Tony on the nuts and bolts of a case and found himself impressed. Tony's notes were detailed and thorough and he had good suggestions about how Ziva and Tim should answer potential questions.

After a couple of hours, Vance dismissed the MCRT. Tony was about to follow when Vance stopped him,

"DiNozzo, Tony – I appreciate your help this afternoon."

"It's no problem, Director. I was glad to be of help, I don't want Robinson to be back on the streets any more than you do"

"You know, Tony, I've been thinking recently that presentation skills are sometimes a bit lacking in the agency."

"Yes, Director?" said Tony, trying not be freaked out by Vance calling him Tony and wondering if that meant he should call him Leon in return.

"Yes, I've been thinking that we could do with some sort of consultant who could give advice/training on how to behave in court, how to present evidence. Just on a part time, ad hoc basis. I think I could find the money in the budget and it would pay for itself if we had fewer appeals. What do you think?"

"I think that sounds a good idea, Sir," said Tony politely.

"So, would you be interested?"

"In what?"

"In being the NCIS consultant?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. From what I've seen this afternoon you would be well qualified for the job. And I took the precaution of going back over cases where you were called as witness – all exemplary."

"Me?" repeated Tony, "but I've left NCIS."

"And now you could come back. Not as a field agent, I know you don't want to do that. Not full-time. We could arrange a schedule to fit you." Vance saw that Tony still looked a bit little stunned and, mindful of his full diary, moved on briskly, "think about it. Let me know by next Friday. " He rose, shook Tony's hand and swept out leaving a thoughtful Tony behind.

It was perhaps inevitable, Tony thought afterwards, that Ziva would ambush him in the men's room although her timing might have been a bit off as he had already zipped up by the time she made her entrance.

"Ziva," he said.

"Tony," she replied.

He waited for a while but when she didn't say anything more, he moved to the door, saying, "Well, this was nice. We should do it again sometime."

"Tony," she said, placing a hand on his arm to stop him. He looked down at the hand and she removed it. "I think I may owe you an apology."

"For what, Ziva?"

"I think I may not have been entirely tactful when I met your ... when I met Sophie. I hope she is not upset."

"Do you?" asked Tony,

"Of course," said Ziva.

"Then why did you think it was a good idea to talk about my previous relationships with my fiancée?"

"I was trying to make light conversation. I may have got it wrong. I sometimes misunderstand your American customs."

"They're your American customs as well now, Ziva and I think you're pretty well acclimated after all time."

"Is it wrong of me to be concerned about you?" demanded Ziva.

"No, it isn't but I don't understand why you said what you did. The only explanation I can think of is that you're jealous."

"Me? Jealous of you?" laughed Ziva.

"It does seem unlikely, doesn't it?" said Tony, "but I used to be an investigator and that seems to be where the evidence leads."

"You are wrong, I am not jealous. I ..."

"You're mad that I didn't ask your permission."

"That is ridiculous, Tony, you do not need my permission to get involved with a woman."

"Oh, believe me, I know that. But somehow you're angry that you didn't know what was going on; that you didn't get a chance to be in control of it."

"Tony," said Ziva, in an overly patient voice, "I came in here to apologise if I accidentally upset your girlfriend. I am not jealous. That would be ridiculous, that would imply that I thought there was something between us."

Tony looked at her thoughtfully for a moment or two. Ziva couldn't quite interpret the expression in his eyes. He seemed to reach a decision, he smiled and said,

"Apology accepted, Ziva. Just so you know, Sophie wasn't upset, she found it rather amusing; but then she is an elementary school teacher – she's used to children". And he left.

Ziva stood staring at the door. For a second or two she thought that the look in Tony's eyes had been one of pity but she dismissed that idea almost immediately. It was just coincidence that the door slammed rather hard behind her when she left.

NCISNCIS

The movie theater re-opened and, with it, the coffee bar. About a week after the re-opening, McGee paid a visit and found Tony absorbed in a pile of paper work.

"Hi, Tony, that looks interesting!"

"Don't mock me, Hemingway, otherwise if 'Deep Six' ever gets made into a film I won't let you have the premiere here."

"No fear of that," said McGee a little ruefully, "it'd be impossible to cast. Who would you have playing Gibbs? No, don't answer that," he hastened to say, as he could see Tony about to make suggestions. "And you'd never let me hear the end of it if you didn't like who was cast as Tommy. Anyway, my novelist days are over ... at least while I'm working for Gibbs. I never have any time now."

"Well, if you go back to writing poetry with finger snaps," said Tony, "we're thinking of having a monthly poetry recital in here. You might meet some potential mates ... sensitive people of all persuasions like poetry."

"Please don't tell me that you're going to run poetry evenings just to find me a girlfriend?"

"What can I say, McRomeo. When one is in love, one wants everyone to be happy. I'm just a giving sort of guy. And these poetry types drink a lot of coffee, it would be very profitable."

"That's the Tony we know and love," smiled Tim, "and talking of love, where's Sophie?"

"She's gone to New York for a few days."

"You do know, don't you, that Abby is itching for you to name a date. She's got so many plans and ideas that she's going to burst soon."

Tony winced, "you can tell her we're working on it. Anyway, you didn't come here just to tell me to set a wedding date. You didn't, did you?"

"No. I came to tell you that I was talking to a couple of probies today and they were saying how great your 'court sessions' are. Everyone is saying what a difference they've made."

"Fornell wants me to do something similar for the FBI," said Tony casually.

"Are you going to do it?" gasped Tim.

"Not sure, it would be a bit like going over to the dark side."

"You know, Tony, I half expected you to come and tell me that Vance had asked you to do those sessions?"

"What, to get your 'permission'?" asked Tony.

"Not exactly," protested Tim.

"I thought about it," admitted Tony, "but then I decided that Timmy had grown up enough to put up with me being back at NCIS and if you hadn't, well, there wasn't much I could do about it."

"Well, if you had come, I would have told you that you should do what you wanted to and that I would be fine with it. Although, I do think you owe me a thank you."

"For what?" asked a puzzled Tony.

"For making you go away for a year and meet Sophie. I reckon that deserves something."

"You're right," said Tony, "have a coffee on the house. A small one."

NCISNCIS

Abby continued to fret about the wedding, or lack of it but a few days was delighted to receive an invitation to a party at the movie theater. She ran into the squad room at the Navy Yard flourishing her invitation,

"Yay, this must be the engagement party. They're going to announce the date. I'm so excited – I've got so many ideas! Oh, you have all got invitations too, haven't you."

Gibbs, McGee and Ziva dutifully waved their invitations.

"And you are all going, aren't you?" pressed Abby, "including you, Gibbs."

They all nodded.

"I am looking forward to it," said Ziva. Gibbs looked at her approvingly; Ziva had made an effort to get to know Sophie and there was the beginning of a real friendship between them.

Gibbs pulled enough strings that the team plus Jimmy and Ducky could be free for the evening of the party and they all arrived together. The theater had been closed for the evening so that the guests could have the coffee bar to themselves. Radhika had prepared a buffet which Gibbs ignored in favour of getting her to make him a cup of coffee instead. He then retreated to a corner nursing the drink. Ducky saw Archie in another corner and went to talk to him. The others applied themselves to the food.

After a few minutes, Tony called for attention,

"Thank you for coming this evening. I'll let you get back to the food in a few minutes but we have something to tell you."

"We know that some of you," said Sophie, looking at Abby, "have been eager to know when we are getting married."

"YES!" said Abby, "I can't wait."

"So," said Tony, "we're going to tell you tonight."

Abby skipped up and down in glee and clapped her hands excitedly.

"Um," hesitated Tony, "well ...", he looked at Sophie and they seemed to do a mental countdown and then said together,

"We got married at the weekend in New York."

There was a deathly hush.

"You're married?" said Abby, "without us? You got married without us? ... Oh."

"We decided that we just wanted to get married quietly, without any fuss," said Tony.

"It seemed that we either had to have an enormous wedding or a tiny one," explained Sophie.

"And so we went for the tiny one," said Tony.

"My uncle is a minister at a church near where we lived when I was a child," continued Sophie, " so he married us. My parents and Tony's Dad were there but nobody else."

"And afterwards, we went for a picnic in the park," said Tony.

Everyone was silent, staring at the new husband and wife who began to feel a bit uncomfortable under their gaze. The quiet was broken by Ziva,

"It sounds very romantic. Congratulations!" and she went forward to kiss them both.

"It's lovely," wailed Abby, "did you take lots of pictures?"

Ziva and Abby had broken the ice and everyone surged forward to add their good wishes. Sophie and Tony breathed a sigh of relief that all seemed to have gone well. Ducky called for a toast and managed a speech of less than ten minutes. When the hubbub had died down, Gibbs cornered Tony,

"Congratulations, Tony. I should have known something was up when Sophie paid that sudden visit to New York."

"Sorry, Boss, we would have liked everyone to be there but we wanted it to be quiet and let's face it, it wasn't going to be quiet with this lot, was it?"

"And you saved a lot of money too," pointed out Gibbs.

Tony blushed, "How did you know?"

"I didn't," said Gibbs smugly, "until now."

"Busted," said Tony as Sophie came to join him, "Gibbs guessed," he said to his new wife.

"A big wedding seemed so extravagant, Jethro," she said, "and we knew a really good charity which could do with a donation. And, you know, it was lovely."

"And Senior turned up," said Tony, "which was interesting. Hey, I just want a word with Tim. There's a poet I want to introduce him to."

"Tony was pleased that his Dad came," said Sophie, "although he tried to hide it. And he only invited him after he'd made sure my parents aren't rich enough to tempt him! You're not mad, are you, Jethro."

"No," said Gibbs, "I'm proud of you both."

EPILOGUE

About a year later, Gibbs was sitting rather tiredly in his basement. He and the team had been in Norfolk for a week tracking down a gang who was stealing supplies. He had got back a couple of hours before and was now looking forward to some quiet time alone with his latest project. He sighed when he heard the front door open and shut and then familiar footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Hey, Boss," said Tony.

Gibbs stared at him. Tony was holding a small bundle wrapped in a pink blanket.

"She arrived?" asked Gibbs.

"Two weeks early," said Tony proudly, "but she's doing fine". He looked down and touched his daughter's cheek gently. "Gibbs, meet Queenie ..."

Gibbs stared at him.

"... Brazillianna,"

The stare turned into a glare,

"...DiNozzo!"

"...Dolcelatte ..."

"DiNozzo, do you mean to tell me that you've called your daughter after an Italian cheese!"

Tony laughed, "Sophie didn't think you'd fall for it but she was wrong!"

He handed the sleeping baby to Gibbs,

"Gibbs, meet Rose Elizabeth Bailey DiNozzo. Rosie, meet Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who I hope is going to be a big part of your life."

Gibbs cradled the baby's head gently with his hand, it was almost like a head slap,

"Good job, Tony, good job."

AN: thank you to everyone who has followed this story. We'll leave them in peace now ...