Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

By midweek the entire team was willing to wait in line to kill Tony with Gibbs at the front of the line. Tony's body was practically vibrating with energy as he waited for Friday to roll around. He had the whole evening planned and was just praying that they didn't snag a case to throw a monkey wrench into his plans.

Finally it was Friday at about four-thirty in the afternoon and Tony was impatiently trying to countdown the remaining minutes until he could leave. He was driving everyone in the bullpen mad with his constant stream of inane babble. And Gibbs had had enough.

"DiNozzo."

"Yes Boss."

"Do you have any comp time accumulated?"

"About a hundred hours or so at last count, Boss."

"Good then spend thirty minutes of it and get the hell out of here before Ducky has you on a slab in the very near future."

Tony was stunned, Gibbs was not known for letting anyone leave early. Little did Tony know however that Gibbs had gone to lunch with Laura on Tuesday to find out what had transpired between them after Tony had started acting so strangely at the office. Gibbs' friendship with Laura was a rarity and it was something he was coming to value more and more. And he was happy that she and Tony had finally sorted things out and admitted their real feelings for each other. But he still felt protective of her.

Tony had quickly grabbed his stuff to head out and was surprised when Gibbs joined him in the elevator. And was even more surprised when he hit the emergency stop switch. He looked at Gibbs questioningly, "Boss?"

Gibbs didn't even turn around just said in a very matter of fact way, "Just keep in mind DiNozzo, that I know how to get rid of a body. Do not hurt her." And he flipped the switch to get the elevator moving again.

Tony heard the meaning in Gibbs' words but had to reply flippantly, "Gotcha Boss. But just keep in mind that that's my redhead you're getting overprotective of."

Gibbs couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he looked sideways at Tony. And the two of them were chuckling as Tony exited the elevator.

----------

He had told her to dress formally, and that piqued her curiosity. Not that they hadn't gone out in formal wear before, they had for a couple of weddings and special events, but they hadn't really dressed up for just a night out. She wondered what he was up to.

She was just putting her lipstick in her evening bag when the doorbell rang. Looking out the peephole brought a smile to her face that grew wider when she opened the door. Tony was looking very suave standing there decked out in his black tuxedo and holding a single red rose.

When she opened the door Tony's mouth fell open. He had seen her dressed up before but this was different, she was dressed up for him and she was exquisite. She wore a very classy plum colored crepe sheath dress with a slit up one side to her mid thigh. Its neckline ensured that he would be a little distracted all night. Her hair was pinned up loosely and she had little errant curls escaping here and there. Her makeup was perfect and made her creamy skin flawless and the dramatic eye makeup made her eyes seem to glow.

What gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling though was the silver filigree butterfly necklace she had on. A few months earlier the library had held a craft fair fundraiser and Tony had surprised her by showing up. They spent some time together walking through the vendors and she had spotted the necklace and had picked it up admiring it. As they walked away with Laura in the lead Tony mouthed to the vendor to hold the necklace. And when Laura was distracted by something he had gone back and paid for it and hid it in his pocket. He left a while later but it meant a lot to Laura that he had shown up. And later that night when she got home she found a gaily wrapped little box with a big bow in the middle of her coffee table with a note that read, "Nice job on the craft fair, Madam Director", and when she opened the gift and saw the butterfly she laughed. It had become one of her favorite pieces of jewelry and she looked for excuses to wear it. And when she got dressed for the evening there wasn't even a question as to what necklace she would wear.

When his brain finally caught up with his eyes he told her, "You look amazing." And he nervously leaned in and gave her a little kiss on the cheek that she thought was incredibly sweet, not so much the kiss itself but the fact that he was nervous about doing it.

Laura laughed that playful laugh he loved so much and teased, "Thank you. But you have seen me dressed up before, Tony."

"Yeah, but tonight I can gawk and get away with it." He quipped back with a suggestive wag of his eyebrows.

Tony had called in several favors for his special date with Laura. And when they pulled up to a little theater in an older part of town she had no idea what he was up to. Formal wear for a movie? Then she realized the theater had a sign hanging in the door, ‘Closed for Vacation'. So she thought it was a little bizarre when they walked up to the doors that they were met by an usher in full old-time regalia, the bright gold-trimmed red suit and hat and wearing white gloves.

"Welcome Mr. DiNozzo, your seats are right this way." Tony didn't give anything away to Laura, he just offered her his arm and they followed the usher.

He led them into the theater and Laura was surprised to see a small table elegantly set for two in the middle of the theater's wide aisle, at the perfect viewing distance from the screen. The usher held her chair out for her and she sat down looking around in awe at the old theater. The usher left them giving Laura a little wink as he left.

"What is all this, Tony?" she asked with a big smile.

"Nothing." But he couldn't contain his grin as he poured them each a glass of their favorite Chardonnay. He raised his glass in toast, "Here's to the last first date you and I will ever go on."

"Now you've jinxed it, you know how my first dates generally go." She teased.

"Yeah, but I get why you'd want to see The King and I a hundred and fifty times."

She laughed, "It's only a hundred and forty-nine by the way."

He didn't say anything but gave her a knowing grin as he sipped his wine. The usher returned with the first of many courses and they shared a delightful dinner. When the last of the plates were removed Tony edged his chair a bit closer to her and gave a little wave to the projection booth.

He looked at Laura and with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes said, "On with the show."

The lights dimmed and her eyes grew huge as the movie started, it was her beloved The King and I in all its glory on the big screen.

He leaned over and teased, "By my count this should be a hundred and fifty."

She turned to meet his eyes and he saw that she was biting her lip trying not to cry, and he said softly, "Hey no crying now."

She smiled and sniffed, "I can't help it. This is the sweetest most romantic thing ever."

He rolled his eyes and teased some more, "Women."

She took his face gently in her hands and kissed him. And they both got lost in it, full of promise and anticipation it sealed what they both wanted, each other.

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Tony woke to have one of his little fantasies come true, the sun was gently streaming through the curtains and Laura was curled up next to him with her hair spread out over him and the pillow. He squeezed her a little closer and rubbed his cheek in her hair, and thanked whatever deity decided that he deserved her. Last night, from start to glorious finish, had been perfect. And now this morning he was right where he wanted to be. He was lost in his thoughts of the future when Laura lifted her head with one eye opened and teased, "You're thinking too loud."

He chuckled and teased back, "You are so not a morning person are you?"

She sort of grunted in response and kissed his chest then snuggled back in against him to go back to sleep.

Perfect he thought as he drifted back to sleep, everything was just perfect.

----------

All the paperwork finalizing the sale of the house to Laura was completed just a couple of weeks before Christmas. And Tony met her at the house following her meeting with the attorneys. They were walking through the house talking about paint colors and who they knew with a truck that could be bribed into helping her move. They plunked down on the bare floor in the living room in front of the fireplace and talked about the best location for the entertainment center. Tony was off on one of his animated verbal romps and Laura sat there, enjoying just listening to him. She knew he liked the house almost as much as she did, and it was a good thing given what she was about to do.

Reaching into her purse she pulled out a little box wrapped in festive holiday paper with a red bow on top, "Merry Christmas, Tony."

"Starting early, Laura? Christmas isn't for a couple weeks yet."

"So it will be the fourteen days of Christmas. Just open it."

He smirked and gave her a questioning eyebrow as he opened the gift. He pulled out a silver keychain with a single key hanging from it. He looked at it and then met her eyes, "Laur?"

"I want this to be your home too." She said biting her lip nervously.

It really wouldn't be a stretch for them, he practically lived at her apartment anyway. Half his clothes and movies were there and he got so many telephone calls that she finally put his name on the answering machine. But making it official was just huge, for both of them.

He stared at the keychain with his breath being held captive by her words, your home. He gently ran his finger over the key. A home. A home with Laura. A real home. A home with love and laughter.

"Tony?" she said quietly when he had been quiet for a long time.

She suddenly found herself dragged into his lap in a tight embrace and he whispered in her ear, "I love you. This is the best present I ever got."

----------

Laura gave Gibbs the grand tour the next day over a long lunch. It was a sturdy, well laid out house and he approved with a craftsman's eye the quality of workmanship. She was babbling a mile a minute and he had known her long enough to know that she had something important to tell him.

They were in the kitchen leaning on opposite counter when she caught the little smirk on his face, "I'm babbling aren't I?"

"Yep."

"You are a very patient man Jethro, has anyone ever told you that?"

"My divorce attorney." he replied with a chuckle.

She smiled and shook her head gently. There were times like this that she wished with all her heart that that he would find someone to love, to share his life with. He was her friend and she wanted to see him happy, and to never see that haunted look that was in his eyes at times.

"Tony is moving in here with me." she said simply.

His smirk returned and he nodded, "That's a big step for you two."

"It's the right step."

"I know."

----------

Laura and Tony spent their evenings painting and getting the house ready to move in and were almost finished. They had grabbed some Chinese on the way to the house to finally finish painting and found a surprise when they went into the living room. Propped up against the fireplace was a large rectangular gift-wrapped object. Laura looked at Tony who threw his hands up and said, "Don't look at me."

She went over to it and took the little card tucked into the ribbon, and in Jethro's familiar handwriting she read, "It remembers what I said, make sure you do." She gently ripped off the paper to find the exquisite mirror from Jethro's basement.

Tony ran an appreciative hand over the frame, "Its beautiful Laur, who's it from?"

A little lost in her thoughts of what had transpired in his basement it took her a moment before replying, "Jethro".

"Nice housewarming present, Boss." Tony said with a chuckle to a suddenly empty room. He hadn't realized that she had left the room. He found her in the kitchen staring out the back door into the yard.

He walked over to stand behind her and put his hands gently on her shoulders, "Laur, you okay?"

She had no secrets from Tony. She didn't want to have any secrets from Tony. He knew the gist of what had transpired between her and Jethro but not exactly what was said. She handed him the card to read.

He knew that there was a bond between her and Gibbs, something that transcended friendship but that he couldn't name. And he knew that something important, and private had happened the night she spent over there, he knew the basics but sensed that there was something deeper. "Laura, if you don't want to tell me its okay, but what did he say that he wants you to remember?"

She hesitated for a moment then told him something that even Jethro didn't know, "We were standing in front of the mirror and he told me I was beautiful. And....um, it was the first time in my life that a man had ever said that to me."

He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, "He's right you know. You are beautiful."

She reached up and rubbed one of his arms, "I'm starting to believe it the more you say it."

"That wasn't all he said was it?"

"No."

"Will you tell me?"

"Someday."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

----------

Laura and Tony settled into a semblance of domestic bliss as the months went by. They got the house situated and the eclectic blend of their furniture and belongings gave the house a homey, lived in feel that they both enjoyed and it made their friends and co-workers feel welcome. Work was crazy as ever for the both of them and their home became a sanctuary for them both. The folks that knew them best saw that they were happy and relaxed. It was as if all of their pieces had finally come together.

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Laura stood over Daniel's grave on the one-year anniversary of his death. She had laid the red roses near his headstone and thought about the past year. So many things had changed. Some good some horrible. Lost in her thoughts she didn't hear him approach behind her. It was the faintest wisp of sawdust that caught her nose that gave him away.

"Hi, Jethro."

He stepped to her side and looked sideways at her, "You okay?"

"Just thinking. It's hard to believe it's been a year already."

"It has gone by fast."

"Tony tell you I was coming here?"

"Yeah. I figured I would check on you."

She looked back to Daniel's headstone, "It's not fair Jethro, he had his whole life ahead of him. He worked so hard. He could have ended up just being another statistic, another juvenile delinquent, but he didn't. He wanted a life to be proud of. And it was stolen from him."

He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close and said softly, "I know, Laura. I know."

They stood there for a long time lost in their own thoughts, she didn't cry, and Jethro saw that inner strength Daniel had admired.

----------

Tony was a very content man. It was the only word he could use to describe himself. Work was work, and it was crazy and stressful, but now he had someone there for him when he went home. Someone that cared if he was stressed, someone that cared if he ate real dinners, someone that would hash things out with him if he couldn't turn his brain off, and someone that would just hold him if he needed to cry or stare at the carpet to get a case out of his head.

He would chuckle to himself when he thought about the few arguments they actually had, it was generally over some petty insignificant thing, but it generally meant they weren't paying enough attention to each other and it called for a night of snuggling on the couch watching a movie with the phones turned off.

He loved waking up next to her every morning and he finally understood what people were talking about when they said there was a difference between having sex and making love. When they came together it was as if they were the only two people on the planet, and every touch, every whisper, and every gaze meant something. It brought them closer and intertwined their souls a little bit more. And they were so entwined at this point he almost didn't know where his started and hers began, and he decided in a moment of clarity that he never wanted to.

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If Laura had thought her social life was busy before, it seemed to reach new heights once the word got out that she and Tony were officially (and finally) a couple. Laura found herself looking forward to the warm spring weather, she wanted to host a party, something fun and festive, for all the people that had so generously taken her into their inner circle. One of the biggest selling features of the house for Laura was the wonderful backyard and its deck and landscaping. It was perfect for entertaining. And as soon as the weather broke she started planning. So did Tony.

----------

The party was in full swing in Laura's backyard. She had been looking forward to it for weeks. There were tiki torches burning and she had strung little white lights into the shrubs. The food was great and Jimmy Buffett was playing on the stereo. All of her favorite people on the planet were in attendance. There was a lot of laughter and teasing and just a great atmosphere.

Tony was mingling and trying to help Laura when she needed him, he was getting a kick out of watching her play hostess. It came naturally to her and she enjoyed it. Tony was standing with Bruce O'Neill, his wife Helen and Laura had become the best of friends and the two men found themselves often in each other's company. Tony liked the man, he was a good Marine, and had a great sense of humor. At the moment they were watching Helen and Laura dance with a couple of Bruce's Marines. Bruce took in the look on Tony's face as he watched Laura and said casually, "You know, Tony, I'm not one to give advice about women but you really should marry that one. The good ones are hard to find."

Tony turned to Bruce who was waiting for a smart remark in return, and was surprised when Tony laughed and said, "You know I've been thinking the same thing myself." And he walked off towards Laura leaving Bruce standing there with a very confused look.

He fiddled with the stereo for a minute then walked up to the enormous Marine dancing with Laura asked to cut in. The Marine bowed out gracefully knowing who Tony was to Laura, everyone knew who Tony was to Laura.

When the song changed it wasn't the next Jimmy Buffett cd that she had originally cued up, instead the soft chords of an old Dan Fogelberg song, Longer, one of Laura's favorites, filled the backyard. Tony pulled her close and danced very slowly with her. She whispered in his ear, "And just what are you up to now, Tony?"

"Nothing." But she could sense the grin on his face.

They finished dancing to the song and when the same song started back up again she really knew he was up to something, and he didn't disappoint.

He pulled back to arm's length holding her hand and fished in his pocket. And it all made sense when he actually went down on one knee and held out the engagement ring. Neither spoke for a long moment and then he found his voice and asked, "Let me take you to Tuscany?"

She couldn't speak. She just bit her bottom lip to keep from crying and nodded.

He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up and was immediately latched onto by Laura.

The crowd of people at the party all gathered around Laura and Tony to offer congratulations. Hugs and happy backslapping abounded.

Things were so crazy that no one noticed Jethro had arrived late, well, late for the start of the party but just in time to see Tony propose. He watched from the corner of the house, never coming all the way in to the back yard.

He watched with mixed emotions. He was honestly happy for them and said under his breath, "Nice job, DiNozzo". But there was another part of him that wanted to throw something. It was the part of him that had so freely flirted with her when they first met. It was the part of him that had kissed her in his basement knowing full well that she was in love with another man, hoping to change her mind. It was the part of him that still got overprotective and the part of him that tortured himself by staying close to her under the guise of friendship. He hated this part of himself.

He watched Tony and Laura for a minute, both beaming and never happier, and he turned and left.

----------

Laura had managed to convince Tony to inform his father about their engagement. She knew they had a very strained relationship but she at least wanted to meet the man that would be her father-in-law. Anthony DiNozzo, Senior took the news fairly well over the phone but didn't give Tony any indication as to whether or not he was happy for him.

They planned to take a shuttle flight up to New York and meet him over Tony's next stand-down weekend.

In the cab Tony could see that Laura was nervous, she was quiet and kept fidgeting with her clothes. Clothes that were the tenth or eleventh choice, Tony had lost track as she had flung things around their bedroom. She had finally decided on an old standby, her favorite hunter green wool jacket with a pair of black wool dress pants and a snowy white silk blouse. The ocean print scarf he had given her accented it nicely. She looked very put together and classy. He smiled as she retied her scarf for the hundredth time, "Laura you look perfect." She flashed him a wane smile but kept fidgeting.

Laura was trying to figure out why exactly she was so nervous. She was a woman with two degrees and held a fairly prestigious position in her affluent community, she regularly had lunch with the mayor and was on a first name basis with several Senator's and Congressmen, and she counted many Marine and Naval officers as friends. And the handsome man sitting next to her loved her to distraction. So why did meeting Tony's father intimidate her so much?

Tony knew. The beginning of the end of her last engagement started with Marcus' parents not liking her. He had tried reassuring her last night as he saw the insecurity creeping into her. He had seen her barely pick at her dinner and seemed a thousand miles away. She mumbled something about taking a bath and left him to his own devices. And an inspired Tony had taken the opportunity to turn off the lights and light candles throughout the house. He put on some soft music and waited for her to get out of the tub. And when she walked out of the bathroom with her hair in a clip and wearing just an NCIS t-shirt she saw him standing there waiting for her. And when he opened his arms she willingly folded herself into his embrace. And he told her that his father didn't matter, that she was his future. He told her not only with words but with his eyes, and then he burned it into her skin as he told it to her with his touch.

The cab pulled up to the restaurant and he squeezed her hand and quipped, "If he's a jerk we'll bail and go to little Italy."

That got him a real smile, "You'd do it too wouldn't you?"

"Yep."

They were laughing as they got out of the cab and headed into the upscale restaurant.

Tony gave their name to the hostess and she informed them that his father was already seated. They were escorted to the table and Laura was able to see the older man for the first time. He was impeccably dressed, not that she expected anything less, she saw parts of this man in Tony but he favored his mother more. The older man looked tired, and she suspected that the flush on his face wasn't caused by the sun but most likely by many years of single-malt scotch. She put on her best politicking smile and heard Tony introduce her.

They sat and no one said anything for what seemed like a very long time. And the elder DiNozzo just stared at Laura. It was very discerning. Finally he spoke, "So Miss Paquette, you are going to marry my son."

Laura had a flash of making love to Tony the night before and him planting little butterfly kisses all over her repeating "Mine." between each feathery kiss. And suddenly she got it. He was just as afraid of losing her as she was of losing him. And he really did mean it when he said his father didn't matter. The thought gave her a little steel for her backbone and permission to just be herself.

"That is the plan, Mr. DiNozzo." She said with a little smile as she sipped her white wine.

He regarded the woman sitting in front of him. His private investigator had put together a very thorough file on her and although her family was working class she had worked hard to become a well-respected and valuable member of the community. Her education was top-notch and her personal life was squeaky clean. He might have wished that Tony would have married someone from a more affluent or influential family but Laura certainly wouldn't bring any shame to the DiNozzo name. He was surprised though, she was not the type of woman he had heard his son associated with, she was grounded and intelligent and not just a piece of fashion fluff. It intrigued him.

Tony was watching with his stomach tied in knots worried about Laura, and then with that one little half-flippant remark she managed to put him at ease and totally disarm his father. He watched in amazement as the two of them spoke of many things, from her work at the library to her family. She also asked his father as many questions as she answered and Tony found himself learning things about his father and his family that he didn't know.

Halfway through dinner Tony felt confident enough with how things were going between Laura and his father to leave them alone while he visited the men's room. When he left the table Laura could sense a change in the elder Anthony and waited, knowing there would be an uncomfortable question coming. And it did, "Miss Paquette, do you love my son?"

Somehow it wasn't the question she was expecting, she had expected something about trust funds and inheritance or some other money related nonsense that she could give two figs about.

She answered honestly, "More than he knows."

"Laura, I think I like you. And I think you are good for my son."

"We're good for each other, Mr. DiNozzo."

He gave her a nod and saluted her with his wineglass.

Tony sensed something important had transpired in his absence but didn't know what exactly. But Laura was still okay and in fact had given him a warm smile when he returned to the table.

Anthony let out a dry chuckle when he asked, "So have you given any thought to the wedding?" and got deer in the headlights looks from both of them.

It was a question Tony was dreading, not because he didn't want to think about his wedding but because he didn't want to think about the type of society wedding his father would want him to have. He hadn't even thought to warn Laura.

Thankfully Laura diffused the situation again, "Ah, well, the honeymoon is sorted out. We just haven't even started thinking about the wedding yet, Mr. DiNozzo."

Tony replied to his father's raised eyebrow, "We're going to Tuscany, Dad. Laura's always wanted to go."

Anthony looked at Laura and laughed, "I knew I liked you."

Later that evening Tony treated Laura to something she had never done before, a trip around Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage. She snuggled next to him under his arm and they tried to make sense out of the day. "So is that how your father normally acts? Or was he putting on a show for me? And what was with the look on your face when he offered us a week at his house in the Hamptons? Don't you go there?"

"I don't know how to answer that. He wasn't putting on a show, I think he was sincere. But I wouldn't call it normal. I think he really likes you. I mean really likes you. And for the record he hasn't invited me out to the house in the Hamptons since I was in high school so him giving it to us for a week sorta blew me away. I think you reeled him in."

---------

Tony got home from work actually on time for a change and wanted to take Laura out to dinner, their schedules had been a bit hectic the past couple of weeks and they hadn't really had any down time. He was surprised when he got home to see current issues of all the bridal magazines strewn on the coffee table with Laura no where to be seen. He popped into the kitchen, no Laura but an open bottle of wine sat on the counter, he paused and poured himself one then grinned and headed for their bathroom. Sure enough there was Laura up to her pretty neck in a bubble bath with a washcloth over her eyes and glass of wine at hand.

She heard him come in and smiled.

"Want some company?" he asked.

"Love some."

He stripped quickly and stepped carefully into the tub. The tub was one of the few changes they had made to the house. The old tub was just old and small, and the new oversized clawfoot was heavenly and they both enjoyed it.

"So what brought this on?" he asked lightly trying to remember if he had done or said anything stupid in the last few days.

"Helen stopped by, did you see the coffee table?" she said wearily.

"Ah." He wanted to be as far away from the wedding planning as humanly possible without annoying Laura.

"Your father's assistant called yesterday with the names of several wedding planners he would be happy to pay for."

"Ah."

"Actually he wants to pay for the whole wedding. Whatever we want he said."

"Ah."

Laura lifted one corner of her washcloth and saw him at the other end of the tub biting his lip trying not to laugh.

"I'm giving serious consideration to you, me and an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas."

Tony couldn't help it, he just started laughing, "Can you picture the society page now? My dad would have an aneurysm."

"Yeah, he would, considering his guest list is three hundred people give or take that reads like a Who's Who."

That brought Tony up short, "Three hundred? Are you serious?"

She lifted the cloth, "Do I look like I'm kidding?"

He got a little serious, "You know we never talked about this. What do you want for the wedding? Forget my father, forget work, just think about you and me."

She took the cloth off her eyes and studied him for a moment. "I can't think of anything nicer than being surrounded by our family and friends. I just don't want a big fuss."

"Yeah me too. We'll figure it out, I promise. Just not tonight. I have other plans for you tonight."

She arched an eyebrow, "Really. Lascivious plans?"

"Hmm well I was going to feed you first but if you insist we can move right on to dessert." He teased with a suggestive grin.

----------

NCIS was fortunately having a slow week and the team found themselves able to work on some old cold case files. Tony found himself having to fly to Chicago to conduct a follow up interview leaving Laura to fend for herself for a couple of days.

Gibbs rolled his eyes when Tony told him to watch out for Laura while he was gone, "DiNozzo you are going to be gone one night. I'm sure she's not going to pine away."

"I know Boss it's just that this is the first time I've had to travel for the job since..."

He silenced Tony by hitting a speed dial on his cell, "Laura, I've been informed that you need a babysitter tonight."

Tony could only hear one side of the conversation but he cringed, he would get an earful about this when he got back from Chicago he was sure. And Gibbs had Laura's number as a speed dial?

He heard Gibbs tell her he would pick her up for dinner and he hung up.

"Satisfied, DiNozzo?"

Tony grimaced, "Yes. And no. On so many levels, Boss. Thanks."

Gibbs just snickered as Tony headed for the elevator.

----------

When Gibbs arrived to pick Laura up for dinner she was on the phone. And he caught part of what he suspected was a conversation she had had before and wasn't enjoying. She wrapped it up and hanging up dropped her head to the doorjamb.

"My future father-in-law." She said in a tired voice turning her head towards him with a little grin.

"Ah." He said sympathetically and nodded.

He took her to his favorite sushi restaurant, shocked that she had never had sushi before. They enjoyed their dinner immensely. They hadn't been out just the two of them since Tony proposed. Not even for their normal lunches or coffee. And they missed each other.

They got some coffee and walked for a bit, enjoying the night.

"So is there a particular reason Tony decided I needed a keeper tonight, something I don't know?" she asked.

"It really is just a witness interview Laura, nothing dangerous. I promise." He replied hearing the concern in her voice.

They walked a bit further, in a companionable silence. One of the things they liked about spending time together was the fact that neither felt the need to fill in the quiet breaks with chatter.

When he brought her home and walked her inside, he was quiet. He gave her an odd look and smiled.

"Oh, now I'm curious. What's that grin for?"

"I was just thinking that Shannon would have really liked you." He said with a grin and a faraway look.

She pulled him into the living room and pushed him into sitting on the couch. She curled up on the other end and prodded, "Tell me about her." She knew about Shannon and Kelly. And the three ex-wives that came after. But he never said anything like that about Shannon before and she was intrigued.

"You're a lot alike. Smart, funny. She could laugh at anything. Me especially." Once he started talking it was like a floodgate of happy memories had been opened for him. They talked for a long time and when they were talked out and she walked him to the door she impulsively gave him a hug, sensing he needed one although his mood was light and cheerful. He gave her a tight squeeze and said in a low voice, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Just being you."

"Don't know how to be anybody else, Jethro."

After he left she again wished for someone to help patch the huge holes in Jethro's heart. A more deserving person she had never met.

Tony called from his hotel as she was getting ready for bed.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Miss me?" he teased.

"No."

"No?"

He sounded so honestly hurt at that remark that she took pity on him, "Well maybe a little. You sound tired."

"I have literally been running all day. I hate Chicago. Officially."

"You shouldn't have any trouble sleeping."

"Can say that again. I barely had the energy to take a shower."

"It was a long day."

"You and Gibbs have fun?"

"Yeah. We went for sushi, which the jury is still out on by the way, and talked for a while just getting caught up. I haven't seen him much lately."

He knew. And that was why he prodded Gibbs earlier, knowing that neither of them would take the initiative. "I know."

"I talked to your dad about the wedding."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. But I had a brainstorm earlier that I want to check out this weekend if you end up not working."

"Anything for you." He murmured sleepily.

"Tony?"

"Mmm."

"Go to sleep. I love you."

"Love you too, you know."

"I know."

----------

They went that weekend and looked at the location Laura had in mind for the wedding and they both loved it. With that cemented, Laura completely took control over their wedding telling Tony, "If I can run an entire town department and organize black-tie fundraisers I should be qualified to handle a wedding."

Tony had been sharing stories about it at the office and to hear him tell it she was like a General getting ready to storm the beaches at Normandy. Truth be told, Laura was tired.

He stood in her office door taking in the comical scene before him. Laura was on the phone arguing with what sounded like one of the bean-counters in the town hall but she had her eyes closed and her forehead on the blotter of her desk. Hanging up the phone she put the handset back in the cradle without lifting her head.

Laura caught a whiff of sawdust and coffee and knew that she had company, "Hello, Jethro."

He chuckled, "You look like you need this," he said as he put a coffee down on the desk.

She sat up and opened the coffee with a look of surrender to her addiction. "So, to what do I owe this honor?"

"Can't a guy just buy you a cup of coffee?"

"Depends on the guy. Some guys I know used to visit all the time, now not so much." She chastised lightly.

He dropped his eyes down to his own cup, "Yeah. I know."

"Sorry. I'm just..." she waved her hand in a vague gesture and shook her head. "Anyway, what brings you here Jethro?"

"Tony asked me to be his best man."

"You sound surprised." She teased as she sipped her coffee.

"It wasn't something I expected."

"Since when has Tony ever done the expected?"

He laughed, "Good point." He stood to leave and said, "About the not stopping by thing..."

Her eyes grew soft and she said gently, "I know Jethro, I know."

And she knew, or at least she thought she did, thinking that the reason he was distancing himself was that she reminded him too much of Shannon. And part of her wondered if that semblance of the personality of his first wife was what drew him to her in the first place and kept him coming back. What she didn't know was exactly how wrong she was in that assumption.

----------

Laura sensed that something was a little out of kilter with Tony. He was watching an old John Wayne western but he didn't seem to be paying attention to it. She curled up next to him on the couch and prodded, "You're awfully quiet, normally you quote right along with the Duke."

"I talked to Troy and Rob earlier."

Laura knew that Gibbs had happily turned over the planning of Tony's bachelor party to Tony's two frat brothers, "Are they tormenting you?"

He looked at her with a halfhearted little grin, "Why? Would you beat them up for me?"

"Hey, I spar with Marines, think I can't take two frat boys?" she teased with a giggle.

He got serious again, "They want to plan something obnoxious."

"By obnoxious you mean a lot of booze and a bunch of strippers?"

"Yeah, how'd you guess?"

"I have seen the movie." She tried teasing again.

"I just don't want to do anything stupid."

"So don't."

"Laur..."

"Well what do you want me to say? You are a grown man who makes his own decisions. If you don't want to do anything stupid then don't put yourself in the position to do anything stupid. Make them take you out on the town instead of a party if it bothers you that much."

He looked at her with a furrowed brow for a long moment then smiled, "You are a genius."

"Really? Because I reminded you that you possess free will?"

"No. Going out on the town instead. That would satisfy the heathens."

Laura laughed, rolling her eyes and shook her head.

He frowned again but didn't say anything.

"What?"

He sighed, "They're still going to want to see strippers."

"Um. Okay. And the problem with that is?"

He looked at her like she had four heads, "You don't have a problem with that?"

"Tony I know my self-esteem isn't always the highest but you going out with the guys to a strip club to see a bunch of naked twenty year olds doesn't really phase me."

He sat there with his mouth hanging open, not knowing what to say.

"Close your mouth it's catching flies."

"Laur, are you serious?"

"Have I ever said anything I don't mean?"

"No."

"Well then, there's your answer."

"I still don't want to do anything stupid."

"Didn't we cover this already?"

"I've just seen guys do stuff at their bachelor parties that they would never have done any other time. And I would rather not have one if it means I hurt you."

She stood up and took his hand and dragged him off the couch, "C'mere."

They went to the entranceway of the house where the mirror Gibbs gave her was hanging. She stood in front of it with Tony behind her. Placing her hand on her cheek she said, "He told me I was beautiful here," and she placed her hand over her heart, "and in here. And that any man that didn't see that didn't deserve me." She locked eyes with him in the mirror, "I'm not worried about you doing anything stupid because you love me, all of me, inside and out. And I trust you. And the fact that you are worrying about this makes me love you even more."

Tony put his arms around her and pulled her tight against his chest, "You are beautiful."

She got a little whimsical grin on her face and teased, "I know."

He laughed, "You know? How do you know?"

She reached up and stroked his cheek, "Because your eyes don't lie."

---------

Tony's emotions were running hot and cold from nervous to excited. Excited because tonight was after all his bachelor party and nervous because tonight was his bachelor party and he didn't want to do anything that would hurt Laura. He had seen too many of his college buddies do things at their bachelor parties that they really shouldn't have.

He was glad they decided to make it a night on the town instead of a party somewhere, less chance to get into trouble in public. And he smiled knowing the girls were taking his girl out on the town too.

And then it hit him, he, Tony DiNozzo, was getting married a week from tomorrow. After that he would be referred to by his college friends as "one of my married buddies". He actually liked the sound of that.

The girls had informed the guys that if by any chance they ended up at the same bar that they were going to pretend like they didn't even know them. Tony thought this had some great potential as a couple of his college friends flying in hadn't met Laura and he could really pull one over on them.

He was getting dressed when Gibbs arrived to pick him up. They were meeting the rest of the guys at a steakhouse for dinner to start things off. Laura had let him in and was laughing in the living room with him when Tony came out of the bedroom.

He saw her standing next to Gibbs and for the umpteenth time since she had walked into NCIS thought about how well suited for each other she and Gibbs were. And he knew that they had an unusual friendship, and he knew that they had kissed and almost slept together, and he knew that Gibbs would personally kill him if he hurt Laura, and he suspected that Gibbs was at least half-way in love with Laura. And all that made her loving and choosing him even more precious to Tony.

She kissed him goodbye and told him to have fun and the two men left.

It was at the steakhouse when the guys were waiting for their food that Gibbs pulled out a small gift wrapped in black paper with a black bow and handed it to Tony.

Tony looked at it and smirked, "Gee thanks Boss, you shouldn't have."

"I didn't. It's from Laura." He grinned back when Tony's eyebrow shot up in question.

There where hoots and catcalls from the rest of the men telling him to open it so he did, and blushed. Inside the box was a neat stack of dollar bills topped off by a card that was good for one lap dance at the high price strip club the guys had planned on visiting. Laura also included a note,

Tony,
#1 -Okay, close your mouth it's catching flies.
#2 -Have fun tonight, I mean it.
#3 -Use the card, but stay away from blondes please
#4 -Remember I love you
#5 -See #4
Laura

He sat there shaking his head, only Laura he thought. Only Laura. He tucked the note away safely in his wallet. The whistles and teasing began in earnest and laughed along with them but his thoughts were on a conversation he had with her.

Their next stop was a cigar bar where they enjoyed some fine cigars and cognac, this was a treat from Tony's father who didn't feel comfortable attending but wanted to do something for Tony. Then it was on to the strip club. Tony was working very hard at staying out of trouble. He was gawking as much as the rest of them but he turned down many offers of more than looking. He wondered if the Vice squad watched this place because they really should.

They were all feeling very loose as the evening continued and Tony insisted that they head for the small out of the way bar that had been such an unmitigated disaster for him all those months back. He knew the girls were ending their night there and he wanted to play.

Sure enough when they got there the women were already there and well ensconced at a tall table, and had already collected some admirers. He watched as they all headed off for the small dance floor, except for Laura. She headed for the restroom. And when Tony saw what she was wearing, he and certain other parts of his anatomy were instantly interested. She had on a pair of skin tight black pants and high heeled black boots with a low cut black knit top that clung to all her curves. He had never seen her wear anything like that. Where was his librarian? As she walked to the restroom she looked their way and gave the group a shy little grin.

Tony's two college buddies that didn't know that she was Tony's fiancée were instantly making typical drunk guy comments about her and who could snag her. Gibbs shook his head and looked at Tony who gave him a little smirk and said to his friends, "Okay wise guys, twenty bucks from each of us for the first guy to get her to dance, fifty from each to the one that gets a real phone number, and a hundred from each if you get her to play tonsil hockey. Deal?"

They all agreed and Gibbs leaned in close to Tony and whispered, "She's going to kill you you know."

Laura returned from the restroom and seeing her companions still dancing stopped and climbed up on a stool at the end of the bar to watch. She glanced occasionally over to the other end of the bar where the guys were hanging out. She smiled; they looked like they were having fun.

Suddenly there was one of Tony's friends in front of her, Rob or Troy. She thought it must Rob but she wasn't positive, she hadn't met a couple of them yet. He was drunk and leering at her chest. And trying to be cute and charming but it just wasn't working. For Tony that flirting thing came naturally, this guy just didn't have it. When he asked her to dance she politely declined. And when a tall blonde passed them that smiled at him he followed her and left Laura to her own devices. She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a laugh. She didn't see the gales of laughter this exchange caused at the end of the bar.

A few minutes later Gibbs decided it was time to play too and stood up, "Hitting the head." He told the guys. And Tony honestly thought that's what he was doing, because Gibbs didn't play, didn't have a frat boy sense of humor. Boy did he realize he was he wrong when Gibbs sat down on the empty stool next to Laura. The groans from Rob and Troy rang out behind him. Tony egged them on by saying, "Sorry guys, he never loses with red heads."

Laura looked over at Jethro when he sat down and teased, "Hey sailor, come here often?"

He looked at her with a little sideways glance and grin, "I would if I knew you put into port here."

She laughed, "Should we stop with the cheesy lines now?"

He smiled, "Ah yeah."

He waved the bartender over and ordered two top shelf sipping bourbons, as they sat there sipping their drinks she could see Tony and friends watching them intently and she realized that they were up to something, something sophomoric without a doubt. "Okay Jethro spill it, what are they up to." She taunted with a grin.

He looked at her and laughed, he knew she was too perceptive to miss the obvious so he told her about the bet.

"Oh its time to play, Jethro, its too good an opportunity to pass up. Ask me to dance."

"Would you like to dance, Miss Paquette?"

"Love to, Gunny." And she hopped off the stool. Gibbs stood up and raised his glass in salute to the guys and took her hand and led the way to the dance floor. Tony groaned along with Rob and Troy. But a part of him wondered how far Gibbs intended to take the bet. Phone number he could have but he wouldn't dare go for the kiss would he? Would she? Nah. He trusted them both. But then again they had been there and done that before. And Laura still had the t-shirt. Ugh.

The girls all laughed when they saw Laura dancing with Gibbs. The guys kept groaning. And it got worse the more they drank. After the song ended he led her back to her spot at the bar and they finished their drinks. And then he headed back over to the guys. And when he got there twenties got slapped in front of him on the bar with much complaining.

The girls came and dragged Laura back out on the dance floor and Tony was enjoying watching Laura have fun and didn't immediately notice the blonde that insinuated herself between Tony and his friend Troy. It wasn't until he felt hot breath purring in his ear that he turned to see her. He politely told her he wasn't interested and that she really should talk to Troy and he turned to see Gibbs smirking at him.

Gibbs saw Laura a little while later standing alone at the jukebox picking out songs he walked over to her, he wanted to let her know about the blonde and Tony's brush off, he had seen her face when she caught the exchange from her spot on the dance floor.

He leaned down and said in a voice heavy with southern twang, "Pick something slow and country so I can dance with you properly."

She laughed and shook her head and picked a couple of songs. Rob and Troy saw them at the jukebox and teased Tony about crashing and burning and wondering if he had lost his touch.

They danced a slow two-step which made Tony scratch his head, Laura knew how to two-step?

Jethro explained about the blond and she said she was okay with it because she saw the blonde's disappointed expression when she walked away. When their song finished he went back to the guys who teased him about not getting a number to which he replied, "Actually, she said that Tony here was more her type." and clapped him on the shoulder.

With a little prodding from his friends Tony made his way over to Laura and asked her to dance. And once they were out on the dance floor he asked, "Since when do you know how to two-step?"

"About a year, I was invited to some party on base and they all two-stepped and taught me." She giggled.

He gave her a wide smile. He learned something new about her every day and he hoped it never changed, "Have I told you how amazing you look tonight?"

She pretended to think for a second and teased, "No, do tell."

They danced and laughed and Tony was glad that he insisted on coming to the bar, this was much more fun than strippers. They danced a few songs, some slow some fast. And all the while his buddies gawked from the sidelines. They walked over to edge of the dance floor and she asked with a grin, "So how much is my phone number worth, DiNozzo?"

He gulped, "Laura, I can explain."

She laughed, "Half."

"Half?"

"My cut. I want half." She made a show of brushing lint off his shoulder and running a finger under his lapel for the male audience at the bar. And when she slid her hand down his chest and under his jacket to his waist he wasn't exactly sure what she was up to, until she came up with his cell phone. She made another show out of programming in a number and handing his phone back to him. "All set, just look for ‘Red' in your phonebook, I think you'll get a kick out of it." She gave him a wink and walked back over to the girls leaving Tony standing there with his mouth hanging open.

He headed back to the guys and submitted to their abuse. He took a sip of his drink while he was scrolling through his cell's phone book and almost spewed it when he saw that she had reprogrammed in her cell phone number to a particularly suggestive speed dial number. Rob and Troy went into more gales of laughter and ponied up the cash. Gibbs just shook his head and said, "I think you've finally met your match, DiNozzo."

He hit the send button and she picked up her cell across the bar. "Hi, Red. Nice speed dial"

"Like that?"

"I don't know how to answer that. Could get me in trouble."

"Oh, I think you're already in trouble."

"Not me. I've been good all night." Rob and Troy were dying in the background still clueless that she was Tony's fiancée.

"Good at what?"

He had never had Laura be this playful and forward and it was a trip and he made mental note to take her out and get her liquored up more often, "I'm good at a lot of things, Red."

"I know and aren't I the lucky girl. Well I'm going to let you go back to playing with the boys. Tell Jethro that there is another slow two-step coming up in two songs and my dance card has his name on it."

Rob and Troy pestered him over what she said and he teased, "A gentleman never tells." They rolled their eyes at him and abandoned him to go visit a table of girls working on their second pitcher of margaritas.

He said to Gibbs as they sat there sipping their drinks, "I'm checking for pods when I get home. I don't know who that woman is but she's not Laura. Oh by the way she told me to tell you that two songs from now you're on her dance card. Sounded like a command performance Boss."

"I told you that you met your match, DiNozzo. Redheads keep you on your toes. Better get used to it."

Tony turned around on his stool so he could watch Laura at the table with the girls, they seemed to be having a great time. The second song was winding down and Jethro stood up to make his way over to Laura, and got her on the dance floor just as the slow song was starting. Tony made a mental note to call the band for the wedding reception and make sure they had at least a couple of country slows songs. He knew Laura and Gibbs would dance at least once or twice, and he had never seen the boss look so relaxed as he was out there with Laura.

The evening was starting to wind down and everyone was feeling their drinks, Tony weaved his way to the restroom and was surprised to see Laura leaning up against the hallway wall waiting for him. It was déjà vu.

He took a place opposite her and smiled, "Hi, fancy meeting you here."

She grinned, "Do you know why I made sure we all ended up here tonight?"

"Not a clue."

"Well this is a fun place and our last memories of it were horrible. So I figured we should make some better memories."

"Is it working?"

"Yeah I think so. But there's one more part to overwrite." And she pointedly looked around the hallway with her eyes settling back to meet his.

He grimaced, "Yeah, definitely not one of my more stellar moments."

"Or mine."

He grinned, "I'm so glad we've gotten past all that." He took the two steps that put him in front of her and reached up and stroked her cheek, "Wanna make a new memory?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

And with that his hands found their way into her hair and his lips pressed gently to hers. This kiss was gentle and romantic, it was soul-searing, and it definitely made her curl her toes. There was a still hint of longing and possession but it came from both of them this time and that made it okay.

The sound of someone clearing their throat broke the moment and they both looked over to see Gibbs standing there flanked by Rob and Troy. His two friends' mouths were hanging open as they took in the scene of Tony making out with Laura. Gibbs just smirked and shook his head, "DiNozzo, aren't you supposed to be staying out of trouble?"

Tony grinned wickedly and cocked his head towards Laura, "But, BOSS."

Gibbs just glared at him and Tony looked back to Laura and gave her a wink, "Coming, Boss."

Tony let Rob and Troy lead him back to their place at the bar and Jethro stood at the entrance to the hallway watching Laura recover from the fit of laughing that started when Tony winked at her. Jethro just shook his head and wagged a finger at her and smiled, "What has gotten into you tonight?"

"Just in the mood to play, Jethro."

He chuckled again and headed over to the guys. Rob and Troy had paid off the bet but were scolding Tony about the fact that he was getting married in a week. And they were rattling off divorce statistics of other college friends as it related to their bachelor parties. Tony tried to explain to them that it really was okay and that Laura wouldn't mind. They weren't buying it. He started to zone out and went back to watching the girls.

The opening notes of another slow ballad started playing and Tony decided he wanted to dance with his bride-to-be. He walked towards the dance floor and knowing Laura was watching him just as he had been watching her, he crooked his finger and she rolled her eyes and laughed and met him on the dance floor.

They danced very close and after the song ended Tony pulled her over to where the guys were hanging out at the bar and broke the news to Rob and Troy that Laura was in fact his fiancée. They almost didn't believe him but the sight of Gibbs nodding his head put their doubts to rest.

It took the drunken men a few minutes to realize that they had been had. And then the teasing and complaining started in earnest and they all shared a good laugh. Very pleased with how the evening turned out Tony announced he was taking Laura home, which of course brought another round of catcalling and teasing from the guys.

Tony realized in the cab on the way home that Gibbs was right about meeting his match when Laura turned to him with an evil gleam in her eye and extending her hand palm up teased, "Where's my cut?"

---------

Tony was getting nervous. Laura hadn't asked him yet. Hadn't asked him even once.

They had decided to go with a very simple wedding service with simple vows to be said and rings to exchange. But they both wanted to be able to say something and had added that to the service. This left them both needing to write something. Tony had expected Laura to tease him about getting it done non-stop. But she hadn't. Not at all. Not even once.

This in reality was probably a good thing since he had nothing written. Oh, he tried. But everything sounded too sappy or too trite. He needed some inspiration.

The Sunday before the wedding Tony found himself up and out of bed early, chuckling to himself as Laura curled up around his pillow as he slipped out of bed. She was not a morning person. He made some coffee and went and sat out on the deck with a notepad, hoping to be inspired. When the coffee finished perking he went back in and poured himself some, and spied Laura's mp3 player sitting on the counter. He wondered what she had been listening to lately, she had such eclectic taste in music he could never be sure.

Heading back outside, he stretched out on the lounger and hit play, and almost laughed out loud as the 1812 Overture blasted his ears. He knew she was a General in disguise. He flipped through song after song, some he listened to and some he passed over. It was like a record store had exploded, she had tracks from all over the place and from all eras. He was enjoying himself so much that he didn't see Laura standing in the doorway.

Laura walked over to Tony and sat down; situating herself between his legs on the lounger she leaned back against his chest. She stole one of the ear buds so she could listen too as she sipped her coffee.

"Having fun?" she teased.

"Oh, yeah. It's been a fascinating trip into your psyche."

Her teasing little, "Be nice," got her a deep chuckle from Tony.

She noticed the notepad on the armrest of the chair and put two and two together, "You haven't written your vows yet have you?"

Tony grimaced behind her but decided not to fib, "Working on it, Laur."

It was her turn to chuckle, "Yeah, me too."

He stuck his chin on her shoulder, "Everything I put on paper just sounds so..."

"I know. Sort of like a bad romance novel or something."

"Yeah."

"Part of me wonders if it's so hard because we've already said everything that's important."

Tony ran that statement over in his mind and suddenly knew exactly what his vows were going to be. It was so simple.

----------

Late Tuesday afternoon they had an appointment with an attorney that was a local associate of Anthony DiNozzo, Senior's attorney. Anthony wouldn't tell them why he wanted them to meet with the attorney.

Both of them were coming directly from work, and they met at the attorney's office. Laura looked polished and professional in a very flattering creme colored suit and Tony was in what Laura lovingly called his Federal Agent Poster Boy look, a designer navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt and tie. They looked like two people that had the whole world at their feet, and they did.

As they waited in the lobby of the law firm Laura almost snickered to herself as she watched the young receptionist try to subtly gawk at Tony. She had also caught the flash of envy from the girl when Tony reached over and took Laura's hand. And that's where they were when another woman entered from behind a closed door and led them to a conference room.

There were two men in suits in the conference room when they were shown in. One was a grey haired older man that upon seeing him Tony immediately broke into a wide smile and shook his hand, "Charles! It's great to see you. Is Dad still making you fly around the globe?"

Charles smiled fondly at Tony, "No, Tony. I only handle the important things these days. This is my old friend Donald Egan's office that I am imposing on for this meeting."

Tony introduced Laura to Charles, who turned out to be Anthony's long time friend and attorney. He was very warm and pleasant man and she liked him instantly.

The other man in the room had been all but forgotten but upon hearing Laura introduced to Charles he started choking. Three sets of eyes turned towards him and Laura's mouth fell open in shock, "Marcus?"

"Laura?"

Laura was in shock, time had apparently not been kind to Marcus. He had lost a good portion of his hair to typical male pattern baldness, and he was just enormous. He had always been a big man, but fit and trim. This person in front of her was so far removed from her memories of him that she almost didn't recognize him.

Laura looked to Charles, "I don't understand."

Charles looked at Marcus then back to Laura, "Marcus is an attorney in this firm Laura, Donald offered his services in case we needed anything. Are you two acquainted?"

Tony piped up wryly, "Yeah. You could say that Charles."

Tony could almost sense when Laura clicked over into what she called politicking mode, she used it when she was in situations where she had to deal with people diplomatically that she really didn't care for. She needed this confrontation four days before their wedding like a hole in the head. He subtly moved closer to her and put his hand on the small of her back possessively. The other he extended to Marcus, "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. I work for NCIS. I'm Laura's fiancée."

Marcus looked at the two of them and down to Tony's extended hand, after only the briefest of pauses he shook it, "Attorney Marcus Bastina. It's nice to meet you." Marcus just couldn't believe that this man was marrying Laura, what could they possibly have in common? And she was marrying a DiNozzo? This was Laura who tutored for cash to pay for college, marrying into a ridiculously wealthy New England family. He was floored.

He looked to Laura, "You look great Laura, and I guess um, congratulations are in order."

She replied coolly, "Thank you, Marcus." Turning to Charles she smiled, "So why are we here, Charles?"

He held out a chair for Laura and chuckled, "That my dear, is an interesting story. Tony, I am sure you remember your grandmother on your mother's side?"

Tony grinned, "Yeah. Big hats, lots of funky jewelry, laughed at everything, she was great. But then again I was only four when she died, so my perspective might be off."

"Actually as someone that knew her a long time I would say that description fits her pretty well. She had a certain zest for life. Well to make a long story short, she had established a small trust for you to be released upon your marriage. And we are here to go over the details."

Tony and Laura just looked at each other not saying a word. Then Tony just smirked and gave her a little head tilt. She shook her head with a grin and they turned their attention back to Charles.

He gave them the details of the financial end of the trust and when he was finished he carefully slid a large wooden box in front of Laura, "This is her gift to Tony's bride. He remembers her jewelry, but what he is probably not aware of is that all of her ‘funky jewelry' was in fact real, and most of it designed just for her. She had hoped that his bride would find some pleasure in it."

Laura tentatively opened the box to see a myriad of jewelry. Beautiful stones of every color flashed out at her and she was awed. Something in particular caught her eye and she lifted them carefully out of the box, it was a set of exquisite hair combs made out of silver and adorned with butterflies made out of sapphires. She ran a gentle finger over them and looked at Tony, "I think I found my something blue."

He nodded and she put them carefully back in the box and closed it. Charles had finished what he had come here to do and was just answering any questions they had when Marcus interjected, "If you tell me the name of your attorney, we can provide him this information so the trust can be added to your pre-nuptial agreement."

Both Tony and Laura looked at him blankly, they didn't have a pre-nuptial agreement, had not even considered one. Charles just chuckled; he had done his homework before coming here and was well aware that they did not have one. When they both looked at Charles he just spread his hand out in mock surrender and said, "It's your decision."

Tony composed himself first, not wanting to let Marcus see them uncomfortable, "Okay then, we'll discuss it, Charles, and let you know."

They all rose to leave and Marcus asked quietly, "Laura, can I have moment?" She looked at Tony briefly and nodded at Marcus. The other two men left the room and Marcus quietly closed the door.

"Laura, I just wanted to say that I meant what I said earlier, you really do look great. And you seem happy."

"Why do you seem so surprised by that, Marcus?"

"I just wouldn't have expected you to marry a DiNozzo."

"No, Marcus, say it how you really mean it, you wouldn't have expected a DiNozzo to marry me."

"Laura."

"Well its true isn't it? That's what you're thinking."

He didn't answer her, because it was exactly what he was thinking. And she took that as a victory. She had finally realized how petty a person he really was, and breathed a silent sigh of relief that she hadn't married him after all.

"Goodbye, Marcus." She said and left the room.

She found Tony and Charles standing in the hallway waiting for her, and she smiled. And when she reached the two men Tony took her hand and squeezed and she looked over and gave him a little wink to let him know she was okay.

Tony insisted on taking Charles out to dinner and the three of them had a wonderful time. And later that night as they got ready for bed Tony finally brought up the subject of Marcus, "So that was, Marcus?"

"Yeah. Sort of. He hasn't aged well. I think he needs to lay off the gin and tonics."

"You okay with seeing him?"

"Better than okay actually, I guess I never realized how ugly a person he was on the inside."

"He just kept staring at you and me, like we were a freak show or something."

"Marcus just can't believe that a DiNozzo would want to marry me."

Tony pulled her into a tight embrace, "Not just any DiNozzo, this DiNozzo."

----------

He cracked an eye and instantly knew he was alone in bed. Squinting over at the clock he groaned when he saw that it was four-thirty in the morning. Where was Laura?

He got up and stretched then padded out of the bedroom. He found her in the office hunched over her laptop. "Hey. You're up early." He stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Yeah. Something was bugging me from yesterday. I needed to do some research."

"It's four-thirty, Laur."

"Sorry I woke you."

He leaned down to look over her shoulder to see what she was looking up and when it registered in his half-asleep brain, he frowned. Pre-nuptial Agreements.

"You're not serious, Laura."

She spun the desk chair around to face him. "Tony, you have trust funds and god knows whatever other inheritance we don't know about. Isn't a pre-nup the smart, responsible thing to do?"

"You've really been hanging out with Gibbs too much if you're planning our divorce before we even get married." He said grumpily.

"Tony."

"Oh come on, Laura."

"You don't think this is important?"

"I didn't say that."

"Why haven't we talked about this?"

Tony just shrugged.

"I would have thought you..." she caught herself and stopped. She suspected that this conversation was about to turn into an argument and that wasn't what she wanted.

"Thought what? That I would know all about pre-nup's because of who my family is? Or because half my buddies have been married and divorced three times?" Tony was annoyed now, and he really couldn't put all the blame on Laura. Marcus had lit the fuse yesterday.

"No. Yes. I don't know. I just don't know why we haven't thought about this."

"I did think about it." He said flatly.

"What?"

"I did think about it, weeks ago actually. Even broke down and called my dad for advice."

"Why didn't you say anything?" her voice creeping up an octave.

"Because it's not an issue."

"So you get to decide what's an issue and what's not?"

Tony rubbed his face roughly, "That's not what I meant."

Laura took a deep breath and tried to not get angry. They had never had a serious argument before, and this was shaping up to be one.

"So what did you mean, Tony?"

"Laura, it's four-thirty in the morning. Can we talk about this later?"

"Why? What's the point? You've already decided it's not an issue." She said angrily and left the room.

Tony sat down wearily in the chair that she just vacated and tried to figure out how to sort this all out. She was right; he should have talked to her about it. And he could see how she thought it was high-handed of him to make that decision without her, but that wasn't his thinking and he just needed to show her that.

He found her a short while later in the kitchen, mug of coffee in hand, just staring out into the dawn breaking over the backyard. He stood beside her and handed her a piece of paper.

She eyed him warily and looked down to read the single typed sentence,

In the event of a divorce, I, Anthony DiNozzo, Junior, want my wife, Laura DiNozzo, to have everything.

He had signed it with a flourish. She looked over at him and went to say something, but before she could he placed a gentle finger on her lips, "Laura, I meant that the pre-nup wasn't an issue because if I don't have you, I don't have anything anyway. I'm sorry. I should have talked to you about it."

Why was it so hard to stay mad at him when he was sincere? Laura tried to glare at him and be mad, but it wasn't working. "I just wish you had talked to me about it, Tony. I'm sorry for how I reacted."

He took the paper and the mug out of her hands, putting them on the table, and pulled her into a hug. "I promise I won't do something like that again. We're supposed to be a team, you and me. And I won't forget it again. Deal?"

She looked up at him and grinned, "Deal."

"Now since it only a little after five can we go back to bed?"

"You go ahead, I've already had coffee. I'm awake now and won't be able to go back to sleep."

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck working his way up to say huskily in her ear, "Who said anything about sleep? I'm going for makeup sex."

----------

Friday night arrived and the rehearsal for the wedding went off well. There was a lot of humor and teasing and friendship. After taking a poll of all those involved with the rehearsal weeks ago, they held the dinner itself at a favorite pizza place, opting for fun and simple rather than fancy and extravagant.

On the way home Tony took a detour and drove them to their favorite beach spot. It was a beautiful night and a gentle breeze blew across the lapping waves. Tony replied to Laura's questioning eyebrow, "I just figured we're not going to have five minutes alone tomorrow and I just want you all to myself for a while." He put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, her arm circling his waist.

"Are you nervous?"

"About marrying you? No. About the circus tomorrow? Yeah." He replied with a chuckle.

"Me too. We could still go to Vegas."

They shared a warm laugh and kept walking. "So are you finally going to tell me what your dress looks like?"

"Nope. But I will tell you it's not white. Think ivory."

"That's not much of a clue, Laur."

"It's the only clue you're getting. So are you finally going to tell me what our wedding song is?"

"Nope. But I will tell you that it's from a movie, and came out in our lifetime."

"That's helpful."

"I do my best."

They spent a little time walking and talking quietly, nothing serious, it was more of an emotional check-in with each other. It had been an emotional and stressful week for both of them.

"You realize that this time tomorrow you'll be Mrs. DiNozzo?"

"We'll be an old married couple."

"Yep. And once this whole wedding thing is done we can start working on something else that‘s important."

Laura looked at him suspiciously, "Such as?"

Tony rubbed his hands together gleefully, "Making little DiNozzos of course."

---------

Standing in the kitchen with a mug of coffee Tony was admiring the beautiful day that had dawned outside. As if the weather would go against General Laura on her wedding day. He chuckled to himself thinking about that.

Gibbs was picking him up in a few minutes to start the day at the barber then it was off to the beautiful historical mansion where the wedding and reception was to take place. Laura had found it almost by accident. She had been invited to a speaker luncheon that was held in the gorgeous garden on the grounds of the mansion. She had been ecstatic when she found out that the site was available for weddings, and a festive garden wedding definitely suited their tastes better than a stuffy formal setting.

He felt her arms circle his waist from behind as she yawned, "Good morning."

"Wake up sleepyhead, lots to do today." He teased.

"Mmmmm." She moaned into his back. She needed coffee and broke away from Tony to pour some. She took a big sip and sighed with pleasure. "So you order this beautiful weather?"

"Let me see. I was in charge of the music, the cake, and the honeymoon. I don't remember the weather being on my list."

"You sure?"

"Positive. Maybe it was on Gibbs' list." They both laughed.

His ears must have been burning, because at that moment Gibbs pulled in the driveway. Laura instinctively poured another mug of coffee. Tony answered the door and led Gibbs back to the kitchen. Laura handed him the coffee and gave him a peck on the cheek, "Good morning, Jethro."

He took in her just out of bed appearance, with her baggy sweats and hair sticking up in all directions and chuckled, "There's a picture for the album."

Tony snorted then bit off his laughter at the scowl that Laura shot both men. He beat a hasty retreat out of the room, "I'll just go get my stuff."

"It isn't nice to pick on me before I've finished my first cup of coffee, Jethro."

"But you're so cute in the morning, Laura."

A blinding flash from the doorway startled both of them and Laura almost murdered Tony where he stood when she realized that he had snapped a picture of her. "I heard that, Boss."

Gibbs just chuckled and sipped his coffee.

Laura looked over to Tony, "Got it?"

"All set."

"Come into the living room, Jethro." She said taking his hand.

He allowed himself to be dragged into the living room and pushed into sitting in the middle of the couch. He saw a gift-wrapped package on the coffee table and suddenly knew what they were up to. At the rehearsal dinner last night, Tony and Laura had given out gifts to the wedding party but Laura had whispered to him that he was getting his the next day.

Tony picked up the gift and handed it to Gibbs with a cocky little grin.

Gibbs smiled and shook his head at the two of them sitting on either side of him. He opened the gift to find a large brass bell for his boat. It was beautiful and he ran a gentle finger over what they had engraved on it:

Leroy Jethro Gibbs
The Best Friend Any Two People Could Ever Ask For
Semper Fi
Tony & Laura DiNozzo

"We just wanted to say thanks, Boss. For everything." Tony said sincerely.

----------

Laura stood near the window lost in her thoughts as she looked down at two photos. She had asked everyone to give her a couple of minutes alone and the room was quiet although she could hear the muffled music outside. She didn't hear the door open.

"Now there's a picture for the album."

She smiled a little but didn't look up from her pictures.

"Who's babysitting my groom, Jethro?"

"His father."

"Oh boy."

He had crossed the room and was standing near her shoulder and could see the photos she held. One was of her parents, the other of Daniel.

"You know they're here with you, Laura." He said gently.

"I know." She said as she looked up to meet his eyes with a real smile this time.

He stepped back and made a show of looking her up and down, "You are a beautiful bride, Laura."

She blushed and looked down at her gown and teased, "What? This old thing?"

Laura had been adamant that she did not want a lavish gown. She and Anthony had a wonderful argument about it. But she held her ground that she refused to buy a gown that cost more than a lot of people earn in a year. She and Helen had finally found the perfect gown in a reasonable price range. The ivory crepe dress hung beautifully to her curves and its modest lace and embroidery embellishments made her feel very feminine and its long train could be pinned up allowing her to move and dance.

----------

Tony's father had stepped out giving Tony a minute alone, something he found he needed at the moment. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the note he had found there earlier. Laura was always doing that, tucking little notes for him here and there. Sometimes they held little jokes, or naughty cartoons, but mostly they were just a sentence or two reminding him that she loved him and was thinking about him. She didn't know it but he saved every single one.

Today's note was simple, "Nervous? Me too. I love you! -Laura".

He chuckled to himself as he re-read it for the tenth time. He heard the door open behind him and looked up to see Gibbs walk in.

"How's Laura holding up?"

"You mean the General?" Gibbs teased.

Tony cringed, "Um, you're not planning on telling her that I call her that are you, Boss?"

Gibbs just laughed.

Tony thought of something else and pestered Gibbs, "So what's her dress look like?"

He got a playful Gibbs' glare in response, "She told me to tell you that it's a wedding gown and it is ivory. You'll just have to wait and see, DiNozzo."

"You're killing me, Boss."

---------

Laura was nervously awaiting her turn to step through the French doors and out into the garden. It wasn't getting married that had her nervous. It was worrying that she would pull one of her more graceful maneuvers and trip in front of the three hundred and fifty plus guests waiting patiently for her arrival.

Helen tweaked her train a final time and kissed her cheek as she took her turn through the doors.

Laura was walking herself down the aisle. Anthony, Gibbs, and Bruce had all offered but she declined. For her it was symbolic. She had started out this relationship with Tony alone, and on her own. And once she took that final walk alone she would be joining her life with Tony's and wouldn't be alone again.

She heard the music pause and the gentle strains of Peter, Paul, and Mary's The Wedding Song started. She smiled, she loved the soft sounds of folk music and Tony had readily agreed that this would perfect to replace the traditional bridal march.

She took a deep breath and stepped out the doors.

----------

Tony stood next to Gibbs, looking out at the sea of people sitting. He was smiling but managed to hiss to Gibbs through his teeth, "Almost four hundred people, Boss. It's not a wedding it's a circus."

"Suck it up, DiNozzo. In a minute nobody's going to be looking at you anyway."

"Hey, here comes Kate." Tony smiled genuinely this time. When he and Laura had talked about the wedding party he requested that his teammates be included, he was closer to them than anyone. They were his family.

He probably broke a hundred wedding etiquette rules but he didn't care. When Kate reached them he took her hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek before she went to her designated spot to stand.

The next person that walked down that aisle caused a stir among the more conservative guests. Abby looked stunning, but she was Abby. The deep burnt red halter dresses that Laura had selected for the bridesmaids kept with their fun and festive theme and looked beautiful on her. And she had a beautiful smile for Tony as she reached him. He gave her a wink and a kiss and she went to her spot.

Helen looked equally as beautiful as she made her way down. Tony was glad that she and Laura had become such good friends. Everyone needed at least one partner in crime. Helen also got a kiss on the cheek and she stepped to the side.

When the music changed Gibbs stepped up to Tony and whispered, "Breathe, Tony. The General won't forgive you if you pass out."

Tony stole a quick glance at Gibbs and chuckled, "Speaking from experience, Boss?" He almost flinched waiting for a head smack.

He turned to back down the aisle, and forgot to breathe.

Laura was exquisite. And she was his.

They locked eyes and held the gaze for her excruciatingly slow trip up the aisle. When she finally reached him he took her hand and his eyes took in every line of her face. His eyes were soft and his expression was one of awe. He whispered softly, just for her to hear, "God, you are so beautiful."

There was just no way that Laura was going to make it through the ceremony without crying when he said things like that.

The officiant started the ceremony, although neither of them would ever remember what he actually said. It was now Laura's turn to say her piece, and like anything else Laura did when she finally put her mind to something, it came out clear and strong.

"I started falling in love with you on one of my darkest days. You stood there with my coat and purse and a folded flag and asked me if I needed a ride home. You took care of me that day and so many since then. You've always known what I needed, even if I didn't. Or didn't want to admit it. You are the most persistent man I know. And I am so grateful for that, because we wouldn't be here if you hadn't been. You make me feel beautiful and special every single day. And I love you for that and everything else."

She slipped the ring on his finger and squeezed her hand around his. Her eyes were glistening with tears that threatened to fall, and when a single tear escaped, Tony gently brushed it away with his thumb. She had caused a huge lump to form in his throat and he took a moment to clear his throat gently.

"When we were both having trouble figuring out what to say you told me that maybe it was because we had already said everything that was important. And like about so many other things, you were right. I told you a long time ago that I had decided that it hurt too much to really care about anybody. So I didn't and I wouldn't let anyone in. But I wanted to find someone who would care about me. Just me. I wanted someone I could laugh with, and cry with, and someone who needs me just as much as I need them. And I had been alone for so long Laura, waiting for you. Because you're it for me. You're everything I want, everything I need. I love you."

He gently place the ring on her finger and sniffled. They heard the officiant pronounce them husband and wife and Tony couldn't help himself and interrupted, "I can handle the next part." As he took Laura's face in his hands and kissed her deeply.

----------

They survived the receiving line, barely. Greeting almost four hundred people took a while and Laura thought for sure that her face was going be permanently frozen in a smile. When the last person had been greeted Gibbs looked around and whispered to them, "If you two want a couple minutes now would be the time."

Without hesitation Tony took Laura's hand and dragged her off to a hidden alcove in the garden. "So, Mrs. DiNozzo, about that little speech of yours..."

Laura put on her best angelic face, "Yes, what about it?"

"That long, Laur? Honestly?" He entwined his fingers with hers admiring the shiny bands of gold adorning both their hands.

"Honest. Actually I think it started the night I got out of the hospital, but I refused to think about it until Daniel's funeral."

"We sure took the long way to get here didn't we?"

"My fault." She laughed.

"Nah, you're too cute to blame. So shall we go get the party started?"

----------

The spread of food was enormous, they had opted to do a lavish Tuscany oriented buffet instead of a sit-down dinner. The band was playing some soft background music, setting the mood. They mingled for a while until Tony finally took her by the hand and led her onto the dance floor. He accepted a microphone from the band leader and gently cleared his throat into it to get everyone's attention.

"When we started planning this wedding my wife," he chuckled then continued, "Guess I've got to get used to saying that. Anyway, my wife put me in charge of the band, and I got to pick our song which I've managed to keep a secret from her all this time. All I told her was that it came from a movie that was released in our lifetime. Now you all know that we are not the two most serious people you'll ever meet and I think this fits us."

He handed the microphone back and stepped over to Laura, the band took the cue and started playing. It took a second for what song it was to sink in, but when it did Laura laughed and shook her head as Tony pulled her in to dance with a big grin. The sounds of Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now surrounded them.

"So am I sleeping on the couch tonight, Laur?" Tony teased as they danced.

She giggled, "No. It's perfect. Just perfect."

Gibbs watched them dancing. The song was well, different, he thought. Definitely not what he expected for their wedding song, but then again as Laura had pointed out, since when had Tony done the expected.

----------

It was a festive day. Everyone ate and drank, and danced and laughed. The cutting of the cake went off without incident and the happy couple delicately fed each other slivers among the ohh's and ahh's of the guests. And they mingled and danced with their guests.

Laura was standing near Tony and the O'Neill's when the band started a slow country song. "Oh, I love this song." She said.

"I know. That's why I put it on the band's playlist." Tony teased. "Besides, you need something to dance with Gibbs to." He winked and indicated his Boss standing off to the side speaking with another guest.

"You're right." She gave Tony a little peck and headed off towards Gibbs.

She walked up behind him and slipped her arm in his. When he looked down she said, "Dance with me, Gunny?"

He said with a twinkle in his eye, "Thought you'd never ask."

Tony, watched them dancing from the sidelines, smiled. He remembered her walking off that elevator the first time they met, and remembered wanting desperately to get to know her. And now here they were, married. He thought about the young man he had never met that brought them together and made a silent promise to Daniel that he would always take care of Laura.

----------

The day finally wore down and the happy couple made their getaway to the suite they reserved at the airport hotel. Their flight to Italy left the next afternoon. The suite was well prepared for the newlyweds, complete with champagne and strawberries.

Laura was still trying to get over the giggles that had set in when Tony actually carried her over the room's threshold. She slipped her high heels off with a sigh of bliss as Tony opened the champagne. He had managed to find the remote control to the stereo and put on some soft music. He had taken off his jacket and tie and had unbuttoned a couple buttons. And as he handed her a glass of champagne with one of his patented grins the light reflected off of his wedding band and Laura thought the man had never looked sexier.

Tony recognized the look on Laura's face and teased, "Mrs. DiNozzo, are you dragging me through the gutter of your mind?"

She teased back, "And if I am?"

He leaned in and stole a kiss, "Then we should compare notes."

----------

Gibbs arrived at their hotel around eleven the next morning. He was picking up Tony's tux and Laura's dress and anything else they weren't taking to Italy.

Their room was controlled chaos when he arrived. And the teasing was flying back and forth between them. The main theme of which was that Tony had more suitcases than Laura.

He accompanied them to the lobby as they checked out. Tony went to oversee the transfer of the luggage to the airport giving Gibbs and Laura a moment alone.

Laura was standing next to Gibbs but her eyes were on Tony. She smiled gently and said, "You know Jethro, I was very wrong about something."

"What's that?"

"He is the kind of man to end up happily ever after with a frumpy, weird, almost middle-aged, librarian." She said turning to face him.

He shook his head and smiled.

He knew.

------------
the end.