Title: Happy Endings

Author: KaraLee713

Summary: Yet another post-Twilight story. One-shot, kinda fluffy. TATE

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, they belong to the people at CBS.

Author's Note: (sigh) I think I'm better at writing post-Twilight stories than pre-Twilight ones. This is my second story, probably my last one for a while in the NCIS category (I have a few WIP's, but they don't seem to be going anywhere) Anyway, this one takes place in my own little fantasy world where Kate and Tony had been living together for several months prior to Twilight. It's pretty much pure fluff in the beginning. Please enjoy and please review!

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Kate was lying on her stomach, her head down by the foot of the bed, her chin resting on her folded arms. She had her eyes glued to the TV that was currently showing a rerun of The X-Files. She had been watching for about fifteen minutes when the door to the bedroom opened. Tony walked in, kicked off his shoes and threw his suit jacket over a chair. Without taking her eyes off the TV, Kate said, "Tony, it's a very simple process. Put the shoes in the closet, hang the jacket up."

"Nag nag nag," he said, smiling. "Ooh! The X-Files!" He dropped the shoes he had just bent to pick up and threw himself onto the bed. He landed squarely next to Kate, bouncing her in the air. She shot a mock-annoyed glance in his direction, and turned back to the TV.

Tony had rolled over onto his back and was hanging his head off the end of the bed. Gesturing towards the television, he said, "Don't you wish our jobs were like that, Kate?" He grinned up at her. She smiled and rolled her eyes.

"They're already almost the same. The only difference is everyone calls you Pervert instead of Spooky."

"That hurts, Kate. That really hurts." He was hoping to get a response out of her, but she was absorbed in the show. He sighed, still on his back, and then rolled over onto his stomach.

"Tony!" Kate yelled. Tony had been right next to her, and when he rolled over, he rolled over on top of her. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his face into her hair. "You smell good," he muttered.

She laughed as his breath tickled the back of her neck. "Tony!" she repeated, still laughing. "I'm trying to watch!"

"Don't worry," he said, his face still in her hair. "They catch the monster and everybody's happy."

She rolled over in his arms so she was looking up at him. "And how do you know?" she teased.

"Because," he said indignantly, "it always works out in the end." He planted a kiss on her forehead.

She laced her fingers through his hair and kissed him deeply on the lips. When they broke apart, she asked, "Is that so?"

"Yep," he said, "there's always a happy ending."

"Well," she said, "I'm a sucker for happy endings." He smiled down at her and leaned in to kiss her again.

-

Tony woke up smiling. He turned over in the bed to pull Kate up against him, and he abruptly froze, his arm still reaching out. Where Kate should have been, there was empty space. He immediately remembered the events of that day, two weeks ago, when his life had come crashing down.

He stared for a moment, trying to get control of his emotions. Grabbing the pillow she had used and hugging it to his body, he inhaled her lingering scent. A tear rolled down his cheek, and he cried himself to sleep.

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The end. (sigh) (again) This is the worst thing that's ever happened to TV ever. (except for reality TV) Please review!