Here we are: the fifth story in "The Polygamy Project" series with the story that you guys wanted to see next - Tony's! This is a three-shot. Enjoy!:)

"Tony?"

There were footsteps coming down the basement steps of duplex three into the man cave, but Tony didn't really register what that meant as he stared off into the middle distance.

"Hey, Tony?"

This time there was a hand on the Italian's shoulder to accompany the voice, and it broke through Anthony DiNozzo's daze a little as his eyes flickered up to register McGee standing over him. "Hey," Tony replied softly, still distracted as he toyed with the can of sprite in his hands.

"Are you feeling okay?" McGee asked in concern, sliding onto the barstool beside Tony. "Ziva called; she and Ellie didn't know where you were and they seemed a little worried about you. They asked me to come over and check down here for them because of the no-girls-or-kids allowed rule."

Tony brushed him off a little gruffly. "I'm fine."

"You're sitting alone in a dark albeit cushy basement at four a.m. drinking a sprite," McGee pointed out. "That doesn't sound like 'fine' to me."

"I've heard that sprite is supposed to settle your stomach."

McGee nodded, looking over at him insightfully. The silence stretched between the two coworkers for a minute before Tim suggested slowly, "Are you sure that it's your stomach and not your mind that needs settling?"

"Why would you think that?" Tony asked, trying to pretend that he didn't know the exact answer to that question.

"Well, it was a pretty big deal to everyone, Ziva showing back up the way that she did – and right after you and Ellie had practically said that you were going to try your hand at a relationship."

"A fake relationship because of this dumb polygamy project," Tony corrected.

"Tony," McGee said, looking at him with a completely not-fooled expression. "First it was Kate, then it was Ziva – and it obviously still is – and now there's Ellie. I know what it looks like when you fall for your partner."

Tony sighed, muttering into the semi-darkness, "I'm in over my head, McGeek."

"You love them both."

It was a statement, not a question, and Tony knew better then to do anything but nod, keeping his gaze fastened on the can in his hands as he did so.

"Are both Ziva and Ellie aware of your all feelings within this entire situation?"

"What are my feelings, McGee?" Tony asked in exasperation, louder than he had meant to. He lowered his voice again when he said, "Okay, here's what I do know: for some reason, over the last week and a half that we've been here, Ziva and Ellie have taken it upon themselves to become pals, which is great, fine, it makes my part in this project a whole lot easier. I also know that you, Delilah, and Abby have decided to actually go the whole polygamy route permanently, and for you guys that's great. But here's the thing – and it's a thing that surprised me, make no mistake – this whole 'two wives' thing? It's hard!"

"Uh-huh," McGee nodded with a knowing smile. "What's your point?"

"That brings us to the things that I don't know, but thought I did. Item number one: that first day we came here, when I saw Ziva get out of that car… that was like nothing I had ever felt before; I determined then and there that I was going to convince her to stay here with me for good instead of leaving again, but then I got to spending more time with her – on a more personal, non-work-related level – and those original, small feelings for her blossomed. So now, where I thought I knew which one of them I wanted, I have no idea which one to choose. Although I guess there is a chance that I'm doing all of this worrying for nothing, since I haven't exactly just asked Ellie if she feels anything for me in return. I know we said that first day that we weren't actually going to get involved romantically – that anything we did would just be for the sake of the project – but, here's the thing: I think that the same thing that's been happening to me in relation to growing feelings for her has been happening to her too in relation to her getting feelings for me." Tony groaned, dropping his head onto the counter as he whined, "I don't know how to choose!"

"Tony, you know what I'm going to tell you, don't you?" McGee asked.

Tony's voice was muffled as he asked, "What?"

"Why choose between them? Why not choose both of them?"

"Because I'm Catholic, not FLDS."

"And I'm a Lutheran, Delilah's a Southern Baptist, and Abby has no religious affiliation whatsoever. Polygamy doesn't have to be a religious choice, Tony; it doesn't have anything to do with a faith. It sure doesn't for me and my wives. It's just about loving one another, Tony, and wanting to be a family. I love both Delilah and Abby, they both love me, and they've become each other's best friend. Yes, it's hard, and, yes, it takes work, but I really do think that it's going to be worth it at the end of the day.

"You're not the only one stumbling in the dark here, you know; nobody really knows what they're doing with this polygamy thing. We've each tried to find a rhythm and something that works for each family unit, but for some of us, it's just been harder to find that than others."

"It sure seemed easy for you," Tony snorted bitterly. "You and your two women just jumped right in with both feet."

"We decided that first day to try it, yes," McGee agreed before confessing, "But there's no way that I ever would have even thought about doing this long term were it not for Delilah and Abby; they were already talking about polygamy before we got word of this project, and their wanting to try it was the only reason that I agreed to do so."

"Really?" Tony asked in surprise. "Abs and Delilah were actually advocating sharing a husband?"

McGee nodded, suggesting carefully, "Maybe you ought to bring up the idea with Ziva and Ellie."

Hopefully you guys enjoyed this! Reviews are my new best friend if you feel inclined to drop me one! Thanks!:)