Notes: Written for anteffy, and the prompt, 'Tony and Kate elope'.

To Elope Or Not To Elope

"We should just elope," she tells him. She peers at him from behind a wedding magazine; close to twenty similar looking magazines and leaflets are scattered on the desk in front of her. She's wearing a serious look but he can't be sure if she is actually being serious or not.

"For real? I thought every girls' dream was for a big wedding!" He places his own magazine - with a strategically placed comic in it's pages - down and drags a hand through his hair. "You know. Big white dress."

"Big?"

"Every single person who has met the bride in her lifetime, if only for a minute, on the guest list," he continues. "Not to mention the reception, the food, the jealous ex-es, the flowers and decorations and all that other time consuming, family, money wasting stuff." He nods once.

"Is that a yes?" There's a touch of amusement in her voice.

He rolls his shoulders back. Inhales. Exhales. "It'd certainly be cheaper," he admits. "And there would be less parental fun to contend with."

"Tony-"

He grins at her and shoves the wedding magazine along with his hidden comic book further away from him to prove his point. The corner of the comic peeks out from the magazine and she frowns slightly.

"I'm in," he says before she can comment.

For a moment she stares at him, open-mouthed. "Really? Tony, are you sure?"

"Are you sure?" he returns easily. "I'm happy to go either way. We can still do the reception with family and friends."

"I..." She shakes her head in disbelief.

"It was your idea," he reminds her, earning himself a glare. "Just sayin'."

"Yes," she says finally. "I'm sure." She runs her tongue over her teeth and then swallows.

"Great." He claps his hands together and winks at her as he makes his way over to her. Putting his arms around her from behind, he presses a kiss to her shoulder. "I'll ask Gibbs if he has any tips. I mean, he's married how many times now? He must have eloped somewhere along the line."

"Ha. Funny." She tilts her head up to look at him. "We're really doing this." It's more of a question than a statement.

He turns her to face him, gently pushing hair behind her ears and then leaning in to kiss her. "We're really doing this," he confirms when he pulls back.

She smiles. "All right then. You're telling our parents."

"What? No! But I-" He stares after her retreating form. "Cruel, Kate. That's just cruel!"

fin.