OK, I got this idea for this story from Bones "The Baby in the Bough" (Season 3 Episode 12). Kate had said she always wanted to be a mother someday but unfortunately she never got to. So, this is to Kate who would've made a great mom! TATE all the way!

I don't own NCIS or Bones

Tony Dinozzo made his way down the crowded streets of Georgetown to his favorite coffee shop. It was a beautiful spring day and Tony was one to take advantage of the warm April day. He carried his bag over one shoulder while balancing a case folder in the other hand. Using his federal agent training, he weaved in and out of the busy crowds till at last he made it to Ernie's Coffee House. He stepped inside and took a deep whiff of the scent of freshly brewed coffee and just-out-of-the-oven pastries. Smiling to himself, he stepped up to the counter and made his order. After digging out his wallet, he noticed a familiar brunette woman sitting by herself reviewing a case folder. The same case folder he was reviewing. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, Tony snuck up behind the young woman.

"Take one more step and you're dead." Kate Todd said calmly not even looking up from her folder. Tony dramatically let out a low hiss as he plopped down across from his coworker. "How did you know it was me, Katie?" he whined. Kate's head snapped up and she glared at Tony. "First of all, call me Katie again and I'll shoot you and second I can smell your cologne." She smirked. Tony shot Kate a dazzling smile and said, "So, you recognize my cologne Kate. That's so cute." Kate rolled her eyes and replied, "Yes, it gives me an outrageous headache." She smiled as Tony's grin disappeared and she watched him sniff himself self –consciously. Kate closed the case folder and looked up at the charming agent sitting in front of her. Their relationship was complicated. At work, they teased, bickered and competed against each other in everything. Both were stubborn and worked hard for their boss' approval. But it made them both damn good agents. But both hid behind a mask. Kate used sarcasm and wittiness to shield her emotions and Tony used obnoxiousness and immaturity. Both Tony and Kate were madly in love with each other but both were too hard-headed and stubborn to admit it to each other and even to themselves. Tony told himself that Kate was too good for him and deserved someone much better than him. Even though Kate didn't want to admit it, she knew Tony was a wonderful man, capable of everything and anything he put his mind to. But she told herself that there was a woman out there capable of breaking past his insecurities to the sweet, smart, brave and loving man and that woman was so much better and more deserving than her. So Tony and Kate kept up their masks and danced around their mixed-up assumptions and emotions.

Kate shook her head of her thoughts and focused on what Tony was talking to her about. He was babbling something about his plans consisting of superglue and McGee's face… She forced herself to listen to his plans so he couldn't tell her mind was elsewhere. Kate smiled at him as he ran her through his plans once more. Just when she was about to ask him where Gibbs was supposed to be while she was going to distracting McGee long enough for Tony to spread the superglue on his desk, her phone rang. Glancing down, she saw Gibbs' name on the caller ID. "Come on Troublemaker! The boss is calling." She interrupted him as they gathered their folders and coffee off the table. Tony was slightly upset that Gibbs' call interrupted his plans to torture the insecure Probie but noticing Kate's beautiful smile made up for it. He loved it when she smiled. Her sweet lips curved up in a gentle smile making her hazel eyes indescribably breathtaking. He opened the door for her as she reassured Gibbs that she and Tony were on their way in right now. He slung his bag over his shoulder and hurried to catch up with Kate. They noticed a group of motorcycle riders who whistled and leered at Kate.

"Hey sweetheart, you wanna take a hard and fast ride with us?" one of the men asked Kate as they passed. He reached out a grabbed Kate's butt. Kate yelped in surprise and Tony felt his blood boil. Dropping his stuff, he lunged at the man and threw him into the brick wall behind him. "Tony! Stop it!" Kate yelled. But he ignored her. Instead he pulled out his gun and held it to the back of the man's head. Tony leaned over and growled "I swear to God, if you EVER lay a hand on her again I will find you and I will shoot you. I won't think twice. But I'm not going to kill you now. Not in front of the lady." Tony didn't tell him that Kate probably wouldn't mind it and in their line of work, she's killed more people than he had. He just didn't want to do the paperwork that would come if he killed him now with so many witnesses. The man nodded and said, "I'll never come near her again." Tony released him and watched as the men got on their bikes and rode away. Tony put his weapon away and turned to see Kate standing there looking at him with an odd look on her face. "What?" Tony asked as if threatening motorcycle men with a gun was just part of his daily routine. Kate slowly shook her head. "Nothing." She gently linked her arm through Tony's and led him down the street to the Navy Yard. Tony glanced over at Kate and say her brows furrowed and she was chewing lightly on her lower lip, a habit Tony knew she did when she wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. It was a habit that drove him crazy, he wanted to take her sweet lips in his and…

Tony shook his head to dismiss that thought and instead stopped her just as they were about to enter the NCIS building. Tony put one finger under her chin and tilted her head up so she was looking directly into his eyes. He paused as those big beautiful eyes gazed at him, wide and full of curiosity. It took every ounce of self-restraint not to kiss her there. Oh but he wanted to… Instead he said, "Kate, you do realize that I know you. And I know that when you say nothing's wrong that something is most definitely wrong. What's on your mind?" Kate opened her mouth but closed it immediately. She swallowed nervously as she realized how close they were, how many inches their mouths were away from each other's. All she had to do was lean in slightly and Tony's strong lips would be pressed to hers, his arms wrapped securely around her body. But she closed her eyes against such thoughts and focused on the question. "I just… I've never seen you so protective. I mean, I know you know that I don't need protection but it was… nice. I felt safe and… protected…" she whispered. "And I liked that feeling." She admitted. She waited for Tony to laugh at her or call her weak. But he didn't. Instead he smiled gently down at the beautiful woman in his arms and told her, "I will always keep you safe and protect you from any harm that would ever dare try to harm you." He promised. "As long as you'll let me." Kate searched his eyes for any lies and after concluding that he was telling her the truth, she gently pulled his face to hers and softly kissed his cheek. "I'd like that." She whispered to Tony before turning and heading into the NCIS building.

They held hands in the elevator but as soon as the door opened, Kate let go of his hand. If they wanted this to work out between them they had to act professional on the job. Tony followed Kate as they sat down at their desks. "Morning Boss!" Tony greeted Gibbs who grunted an unintelligent response. Kate glanced over at McGee who was already working hard at his reports. She booted up her computer and copied the young Agent. For the next hour, the team worked hard on their reports. But the whole time Tony was thinking about how it felt holding Kate in his arms this morning. Her body curved and molded to perfection to his body like she belonged there, safe in his arms. 'She does belong in my arms.' He thought to himself as he sneaked a glance at the gorgeous woman sitting in front of him. She was concentrating hard on her reports. The focused look in her eyes made him smile. Everything she did she always put in 110% effort. She turned to look over at him and he quickly averted his eyes, pretending to be working hard. Kate smiled to herself when she caught Tony watching her. She was flattered and slightly embarrassed that he found her beautiful. She watched him bite his tongue between his teeth as he concentrated hard on typing up his reports. His sandy brown hair was sticking up in a million directions, a look she found incredibly hot. The way his green button-down shirt hugged his broad shoulders, revealing his muscular arms… she took a deep breath and turned back to her computer. She had to stop fantasizing about Tony. It was most definitely not professional behavior. Fortunately, her phone rang and she answered it, grateful for the distraction. It was the local police. They had a case that fell into NCIS's jurisdiction. "There's a dead petty officer in Alexandria. The police want us on the scene." She told Gibbs. "Gear up." Gibbs commanded to his team and made his way to the elevator followed by his team.

"That's really gross." McGee muttered to Kate as they looked down at the dead man with his head blown off by a rifle. Kate looked down at the petty officer and winced. It was not a sight that she welcomed but it was a sight they unfortunately saw quite a bit of in their line of work. Tony came up behind Kate and gently laid a hand on her lower back. "I wish we didn't have to see this sight so often." He said softly as if he could read her thoughts. She swallowed and took several pictures while Tony sketched out the crime scene and McGee gathered evidence. Gibbs was coming over to them when he stopped. "What is it?" Kate asked him. He didn't answer at first but after a minute he looked around. "You hear that?" he asked them. They all paused and listened. There was silence and then a little hiccupping sound. Tony stood up and looked around. But it was Kate who found the source of the noises. "There!" she said. They all looked up to see a baby car seat wedged between two branches of the tree above them. "Get a ladder over here!" Gibbs yelled at the crime scene technicians. He climbed up and was met with a big surprise. There all covered up in a pink fuzzy blanket was a baby girl who looked only a couple months old. Gently, Gibbs grasped the handle of the car seat and brought the little baby down. Everyone gathered around to look inside. Kate felt her heart gather in the throat as she gazed at the little baby girl. She had her big blue eyes open and was gazing back at them with her mouth in an "O" shape, her hands flinging around. The little baby gurgled happily at the team. Tony glanced at Kate and froze at what he saw. He watched as Kate gazed lovingly into the baby's eyes. He knew Kate had always wanted to be a mother and maybe her maternal instincts were just kicking in at the sight of the helpless little girl. Gibbs looked up at his team. McGee was looking at her with a look of utter confusion. But it was Tony and Kate's reactions that sparked an interest in the older Agent. Tony was looking at Kate with a mixture of concern and awe and Kate was cooing gently at the baby girl. Her eyes were filled with love and tenderness as she gently stroked the baby's head.

"Can I hold her?" she asked Gibbs who nodded. He watched as Kate picked her up and cradled her to her chest. Tony held his breath. He had never seen Kate with a baby but it was definitely a sight he wasn't going to get out of his head for a while. She looked utterly beautiful. Her face had softened and her arms held the baby protectively close to her. Kate closed her eyes and let the baby curl up on her chest, making gurgling noises and blowing little spit bubbles on her shirt. "How do you think she got there?" McGee asked oblivious to the emotional roller coaster Kate was on. No one answered him. Tony and Gibbs were watching Kate rock the baby to sleep. Gibbs had a feeling this little baby was going to change things around his team for a while. He could feel it in his gut.