The Proposal –
Jared Booth sat in Piccolo Ristorante, on of the best Italian restaurants in the 90210 district. Tonight he was planning on asking his girlfriend of three years, Tonia, to be his wife. As usual she was late, but tonight to his advantage he took the time to replay all the good and bad times they have been through as a couple over the past three years. They were both Italian and it was custom to ask the father of the bride for permission before proposing. This however was not possible because of her strained relationship with her family both here in the U.S. and those back home in Italy. She did however speak to a cousin, one Anthony DiNozzo every other Sunday but he had no way of getting in contact with Anthony to ask permission as he lived all the way in D.C. Just then an idea struck him, he could call his older brother Seeley who lived in D.C. and ask him to use his F.B.I. resources to get in contact with Anthony. Just as Jaded began to dial his brother her was distracted by the voice of his girlfriend and hopefully soon to be fiancée …
"Jared honey, who are you calling?" the Italian beauty asked as her boyfriend got up to pull out her seat.
"Umm.. was just gonna call and see if you ditched me for work again" he replied, lying through his teeth.
"I would never ditch you honey… I was just finishing up some business, nothing to worry about" she assured her boyfriend.
Truth be told, she was sitting at home contemplating whether or not to go out to dinner with Jared tonight. She had an idea that he would be proposing tonight; he was all of a sudden nervous and even before her invited her out to dinner, the most exquisite Italian restaurant on the South Beach Side of the 90210 zip code, called to confirm the dinner reservation, which was weird because they would usually go to a Pizzeria for dinner. So tonight was not doubt, a big night.
The waiter came over and took their orders. Jared decided that to get Tonia into seeing how perfect they were for each other; he began reminding her of times when they were all each other had and how special and meaningful those times were, while they enjoyed their meal. As they waited for their dessert, Antonia began wondering if she had read the signs wrong and if tonight was only just another date but only in a fancier restaurant. She decided that if he did not propose tonight she'd tell him her big news on the way home and if he did propose she'd tell him with her answer. Their dessert finally arrived and while eating her cake, Antonia's fork hit something hard and right there and then she saw that it was her soon to be engagement rick was hidden in her slice of cake…
"now you see, this is the reason why I'm in fashion designing and you're in Law Enforcement" Antonia stated curtly.
"What?" Jared asked, curious to the reason for her random outburst.
"Remind me when we have our kids and grandkids, to tell them how unoriginal your wedding proposal was" Antonia stated as she used her finger to remove the ring from the cake and dangled it across his face.
"Should I take that as a yes, Ms. Antonia DiNozzo?" he asked in a teasing tone.
"That's not what you are supposed to ask, moron!" she exclaimed
"Well then …" he said as he took the ring out of her hand and got down on one knee. "Antonia DiNozzo, will you marry me?" he asked cautiously.
"Umm… that depends, do you agree to be my baby daddy?" she asked sheepishly as she rubbed her tummy.
"What?" he asked. "You're pregnant?"
"No Jared, we're pregnant and quite frankly, I would love nothing more than to be you wife, and baby mamma Mr. Jared Booth"
The other patrons in the restaurant, seemingly aware of what was happening began cheering and hooting. Content with the nights proceedings the couple left the restaurant hand in had with the biggest smiles on their faces.
Temperance Brennan sat in her office at the Jeffersonian Building, trying to focus on anything other than the pile of mail in front of her. She had applied to accompany a group of Archaeologists and Anthropologists on an excavation dig in Argentina and was unsure of their decision. Finally deciding that it was now or never, Tempe retrieved the parcels and began going through them. One parcel in particular caught her eye; it was addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Temperance and Seeley Booth". Why do people always assume that Booth and I are in some kind of relationship? Tempe asked herself as she felt her cheeks redden at the thought of her and Booth being married. Curious as to who would make such a mistake Brennan opened the letter and began reading. The letter read:
Mr. Seeley Booth and Mrs. Temperance Booth (lol)
You are cordially invited to celebrate the joining in holy matrimony
of Mr. Jared Booth and Ms Antonia DiNozzo at the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church at 505 N. Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills California
on May 25.
Your Bride and Groom
Tonia and Jared.
This was not ordinary letter, this was an invite to Jared's wedding; Jared, Booth's baby brother. She hastily rummaged through her cluttered handbag for her cell phone and hit speed dial 1 he answered on the third ring
"Aww.. Bones, miss me already?"
"No Booth"
"Ok then, what'd ya want?" he asked dryly
"Where you aware that Jared was getting married?"
"Are you kidding me Bones? Jared Booth 'Playa of the year' married?"
"Well not yet. He's getting married on May 25th"
"Jeez Bones, I know that you're all squinty and smart and all but do you mind telling me how do you know this?"
"Jared and his fiancée Antonia told me" Tempe replied curtly
"And when did Jared and Antonia supposedly tell you this?"
"Well they didn't really tell me… they (or rather Jared) told Mrs. Temperance Booth with a title behind the name, 'lol' ring a bell? Because I am not familiar with it."
"Are you kidding me Bones? Here's what; after I drop off parker at Rebecca's, I'll come over and we'll discuss it, ok"
"Fine, but just so you know IF we were ever supposed to get married I would not change my maiden name or take on your surname for that matter … not that I believe in marriage."
"You know what Bones you're right, you couldn't pass for a Booth" and with that he hung up.
Washington Navy Yard
N.C.I.S. Headquarters
Ziva walked into the bullpen at 0600 hrs. She decided that, being the first to arrive, she would start the day by cleaning her gun; the most efficient way of easing her mind. After completing this task she lifted her legs to her desk and relaxed as other persons began entering the building, arriving for work. Her eyes lazily roamed the bullpen and an envelope on Tony's desk caught her eyes. Just then the elevator dinged and Gibbs emerged with coffee in hand. Instead of going past her and to his desk he headed up the stairs to the Director's office. When sure that he was out of sight, Ziva went to Tony's desk and began reading the letter. The letter read:
Hey Tony,
Guess what? I'm getting married. Remember my boyfriend Jared? Well he popped the question earlier this week and I said yes. Tony you'll just love him and that why I need you to be my give away cousin at the wedding because we both know that my father will never consent although Jared is Italian. Enclosed is and invitation for you and you're special someone, preferably that Ziva girl you talk so much about and not some bimbo like you took to cousin David's wedding. I am really looking forward to meeting this Ziva girl though; you seem to like her a lot. Can't wait to see you both and no need for RSVP because I know that you wouldn't miss it for the world. I love you Tony. Call when you get this.
Love Tonia
Just as Ziva was retuning to her seat, the elevator dinged and produced Tony and McGee. Tony walk into the bullpen jovially.
"Good morning Zee' Vah" Tony announced upon arrival.
"Hot Date last night, yes?" Ziva replied knowing that tony would be soon dishing out the irrelevant details of his date to her.
"Why yes Ziva. I actuall …."
Tony's eye caught the envelope on his desk. He picked it up and strode over to Ziva's desk.
"These my Israeli Ninja are front row tickets to the OSU vs. Penn. State Finals" he then closed his eyes and inhaled softly "Heaven on Earth"
"I think not" Ziva replied, knowing the exact contents of the letter
"And you know this because…."
"in Mossad they train us to know these things, that envelop is jut too large" Tony eyed her mischievously "How much?" she asked
"five bucks, deal?"
"deal"
Tony opened the envelope and frowned as he read the letter as he had just lost five dollars to Ziva in a bet. His face soon turned red, and Ziva assumed that this was at the mention of her name.
"What's wrong tony, lost the bet I assume" Ziva teased
"Umm… I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"Yes" Ziva chirped, oblivious to how excited she sounded to Tony request
"okkk then… well my baby cousin Antonia is getting married and I need a date"
"Anthony DiNozzo having trouble finding a date? That, I must say, is a first"
"See that's the problem, not just any date. One day Tonia was questioning me as usual about my girlfriend and that was just after Jeanne and I was so tired of describing a new girl every two week so I described you and she fell in love you and is expecting someone like you to be my date to her wedding"
"So Tony, are you asking me to help you find a replica of myself to accompany you or are you asking me to accompany you myself" Ziva asked slightly confused
"That depends, Ziva. Are you offering?" tony teased
"No. not unless you are asking" Ziva teased back
Their conversation was interrupted by Gibbs brushing past them.
"Ziva, accompany Tony to the wedding, and that an order, no more wedding talk in my presence, got it?"
"Grab you're gear female petty officer dead outside Quantico" Gibbs barked as the holstered his gun and made his way to the elevator.