a/n:- Did you see Tobias naked the other day? No? Yeah, me neither. That's how you can tell I still own nothing...*sigh*
Tony groaned as his alarm started beeping on the bedside table. Reaching over, he knocked it off and was about to stretch and get out of the warm bed when a strong arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him back.
Grinning as soft lips caressed across his broad shoulders, he sighed and relaxed into the embrace for a moment before attempting to get up again. A muffled voice sent hot puffs of air against his back.
"It's cold out there. Stay here with me, baby."
For about half a second, Tony considered that as a viable option before a grin spread over his face.
"Sure I will, Toby. Tell ya what, I'll snuggle in and go back to sleep... You can call Dad and tell him I won't be in today... In the middle of a case... With two suspects still out there... And a Marine still missing..."
Tobias groaned, pushing softly on Tony's back.
"Go get your Marine back so you can get that damn fine ass back into bed!"
Tony swung his legs over the side of the bed, smiling to himself when the bedroom door suddenly opened and he let out a manly squeak as he grabbed the covers and pulled them over his naked lap.
Tobias sat up in the bed at the intrusion and frowned at his daughter!
"Emily Grace Fornell! Now I know for a fact that you have been told about knocking!"
Emily looked slightly abashed for a moment before her typical 13 year old enthusiasm returned full force.
"I'm sorry Daddy, Tony. But you've gotta turn on the tv now!"
The two men looked at each other for a second before simultaneously reaching for their cell phones. As they were both senior federal agents, they both expected to be informed instantly of any major incident. Seeing as neither had any missed calls or messages, they looked to each other and shrugged before turning back to an increasingly impatient Emily.
Sighing, the young girl grabbed the tv remote and flicked on ZNN. There on the screen, were two women being interviewed on the steps of the DC courthouse. Watching for a moment, realisation dawned on both men at the same time. The ticker at the bottom of the screen read words that made their hearts stop. ***Same sex marriage legal as of today in Washington DC.*** Emily squealed.
"Are ya gonna?"
At 1245 the elevator doors opened and a wide grin spread over Tony's face at the sight of his lover in the dark blue suit that made the man's eyes pop.
He couldn't help the small sigh that passed his lips as Toby walked directly to his desk, something Tony still couldn't believe he was lucky enough to see.
"You ready to go, honey?" Toby smiled down at him.
Thanking all the different Gods he could think of that their case had been cracked and closed by noon, Tony smiled back.
Grabbing his coat, he went around his desk. Fixing the rest of his team with the lovestruck smile that Ziva termed endearing, Tim called annoying and Gibbs mostly just chose to ignore, he hoisted his pack.
"Can I bring anything back for anyone?"
Ziva smiled back at him.
"Thank you, Tony, but Tim and I will be eating with Ducky, Abby and Jimmy soon. A celebration, Abby claims."
"Boss?" Tony called over. "Anything for you?"
Gibbs didn't look up.
"Coffee, if you have time."
"Sure thing, Boss. See you in an hour."
The line outside the courthouse had gone down somewhat by the time they arrived. TV camera's were still dotted here and there but the general atmosphere had dulled to a mellow celebratory mood.
Taking hold of Toby's hand, Tony snuggled into his side.
"You think maybe we were being a bit mean, keeping Emily in the dark like that?"
Toby grinned up at him.
"Yeah, but picture her face when we tell her where we were today."
Tony's smile turned into a frown.
"And how did Diane take the news?"
Toby grunted.
"Well, when she'd finished laughing, she asked if Jethro was going to be at the wedding. I just gave her my most innocent look and told her he was going to be my best man. I think she nearly choked on her drink."
A sudden thought flitted in Toby's mind.
"Hey, honey? Is it okay that I want Jethro? I'll understand if you wanted to ask him yourself."
Tony squeezed the smaller man closer to him.
"It's fine. I was actually thinking you'd ask Dad. I was gonna ask someone else."
Toby looked up at him.
"Gonna tell me who?"
The brunette leaned down and whispered in his ear. Toby's eyes crinkled.
"That sounds perfect, honey."
An hour later, the elevator dinged in the bull pen. Without looking up, Gibbs held out his hand for his coffee. When it wasn't instantly placed in his hand, he finally averted his eyes from the stack of reports he was sifting through and straight into those of his best friend.
Looking behind the man and seeing no sign of his senior field agent, he cocked an eyebrow. Pulling over Tim's empty chair, Toby sat down and leaned his elbows on Gibbs' desk.
"There's something I need to ask you, Jethro."
When Gibbs only continued to stare, Toby carried on.
"Look, the past year has been great for me and Tony, and I'm not stupid enough to not realise that a lot of that has to do with you and your support. So with that in mind, I have two questions for you."
Taking a long sip of the coffee Toby had brought him, he gestured for his friend to go on. Toby took a deep breath.
"Okay, here goes. Jethro, I'd like to officially ask you for your son's hand in marriage."
Comically, Gibbs began to choke on his coffee. It was the first time Toby had ever seen his friend flustered by anything. Turning round and grabbing the box of tissues from Tim's desk, the FBI agent began clearing up the spill while nervously glancing at his hopefully soon to be father-in-law.
Eventually, Gibbs calmed his breathing and stared incredulously at Toby.
"You're seriously asking me that, Fornell? I mean, you do realise Tony's not ACTUALLY my son?"
Toby shrugged.
"For the last year, you've been more of a father to the kid than he's ever had in his life. I know I went about it the wrong way round when I asked Tony first, but to him, this is a deal breaker. Your acceptance of this means the world to him."
Gibbs took a deep breath before reaching out and slapping Toby on the shoulder.
"Can I call ya 'son'?" he asked with a mischievous grin.
Toby smiled back at him.
"If you say yes, you can call me what you like."
Gibbs face turned serious again.
"Damnit, Tobias! You know the answer is yes! You're the best thing that ever happened to Tony, and I'm proud my son chose you to marry. Now... You said you had two questions?"
Toby shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"Yeah... Erm... Jethro, will you be my best man?"
Once again, Gibbs sported a huge grin on his face.
"I'd be honoured, Tobias! You set a date yet?"
Toby grinned with happiness.
"Two months on saturday. We were down at the courthouse this lunchtime."
Picking up his coffee cup again, Gibbs thought for a moment.
"Where's the ceremony gonna be? Who's gonna be Tony's best man? Is it gonna be a big wedding?"
Toby couldn't help but smile at Gibbs' enthusiasm.
"Actually, Tony's downstairs now asking Ducky if we can have the ceremony out at Reston. I think since the first time he saw Ducky's garden he wanted to get married there. We're hoping for just close friends and family and Ducky's place is big enough for who we wanna invite. As for Tony's best man..."
The doors to autopsy opened with a slight woosh causing Ducky to look up from the paperwork he was going over with Palmer.
"Ah, Anthony, dear boy!" he exclaimed. "Mr Palmer and I were just discussing the fine restaurant we lunched in today. Such a shame you couldn't make it. Maybe next time, you and Tobias would be inclined to join us? You know, it reminded me of a small cafe my friends and I used to take luncheons at in Edinburgh..."
Tony cut off the doctor's rambling before he could be waylaid further.
"Actually, about lunch, Duck. There was a reason Toby and I couldn't join you. I don't know if you saw on the news today, or if you've heard, but same sex marriages are now legal in DC. Toby and I... Well, we were at the courthouse picking up a licence."
Jimmy was the first to react, jumping up from his stool and engulfing Tony in a brotherly hug.
"Wow, Tony!" he gushed. "Congratulations! That's fabulous news!"
Tony hugged back briefly before letting go and instantly being engulfed in another set of arms.
"Anthony..." Ducky whispered in hushed reverent tones. "Why, I'm so happy for you and Tobias! You must let me know if there is anything Gerald and I can do for you both."
Leading both men to sit back down, Tony looked at them seriously.
"Actually, that's kinda why I came down here. Toby and I... Well, me, really... Toby just... Erm... Duck, can we have the ceremony at Reston House?"
The elderly ME's eyes filled as he reached out and grasped Tony's hand.
"My dear boy! That is the most wonderful request! Of course you may, I would be beyond honoured to host the wedding of my grandson. Oh, how I wish mother would be alive to see it. You know, she always had a soft spot for her Italian gigalo! Do you have a date in mind?"
Tony let out the breath he hadn't been aware of holding.
"Two months this coming saturday, if that isn't too early for you? It coincides with Emily's school vacation and of course we need her to be there."
Ducky nodded thoughtfully.
"I think two months will be the perfect amount of time for preparation. Gerald and I shall have the family over for dinner this weekend and we can start plotting."
Smiling broadly, Tony nodded.
"That would be great. Thanks, Duck."
Turning to face the young autopsy assistant, his face once again turned serious.
"I have a question for you too, Jimmy. Would you do me the honour of being my best man?"
Before he could stop it, Jimmy was out of his seat and hugging Tony once again.
"Tony... Man! Seriously? The honour would be all mine. You want me? Really?"
Tony shrugged.
"You're my best friend, Jimmy. The first REAL friend I ever had! It couldn't be anyone else!"
Pulling back, Jimmy clapped a hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Just one question. Who's gonna tell Abby?"