THE NEXT MORNING

"Bon matin, Tony! (Good morning, Tony!)" Maria said cheerfully as she bounded into the kitchen.

"Morning, Maria." Tony stopped writing on the invitation he was currently on. "Vous parlez Français? (You speak French?)"

"Mais oui, mon copin. (But yes, my friend.)" She sat down at the table beside him. "You're doing the invitations? Who's being invited?"

Tony flicked through the cards he had already done. "Gibbs, McGee, Abby, the Vances, Ducky, Palmer, Matt & Rebecca, the Alchels, the Buxtons, the Farrahs… who else are we meant to invite?"

"Looks like you've invited everyone." She looked over all the cards. "Cool invites."

"Thanks." Tony finished writing the last invite – which was for the Farrahs – and collected the invites into one pile. "Now I just have to deliver them."

"You can deliver the ones to your co-workers at work and then visit the hospital at lunch to hand the others to your frat brothers?"

Tony thought about it. "That's a great idea! Why didn't I think of it before?"

"Because it's you, Tony. You never think that much."

"Not true!"

"Prove it."

"Well there was this one time I…"

"Hmm?"

"And then that time I…"

"Uh-huh?"

"Well, uh…"

"Just save yourself a headslap and get ready for work."

Tony whistled as he walked into the bullpen that morning. He placed his bag on his desk and opened it, taking out six invitations and sealing the bag again. He put one invitation on McGee's desk and one on Gibbs' before heading down to Autopsy.

"Where do you think you're going, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked from the stairs. Tony winced when he heard Gibbs' voice.

"I need to talk to Ducky, boss."

"You better be quick, DiNozzo, because I'm not waiting for anyone if we've got a case."

Tony smiled. "Thanks boss." He got into the elevator and pressed the button for Autopsy, and waited for the elevator doors to close before getting out the next pair of invitations out.

"Ducky, and Palmer," said to himself as the doors opened again, but in Autopsy. He stepped out of the elevator and into Autopsy, where Ducky seemed to be telling Palmer one of his 'amazing' stories. Ducky turned and smiled as Tony walked in.

"Ah, Anthony. What brings you down here to Autopsy?" he asked as he headed towards him. Tony smiled.

"I just wanted to give something to you and Palmer," he explained as he held out the thanksgiving invites. Ducky took the invites and read them quickly, smiling as he did so.

"Anthony, it would be my pleasure to attend, and I'm sure Mr Palmer would love to."

"Love to do what, Doctor?" Jimmy asked as he came towards them. He took the invitation that Ducky handed him.

"I'll come," he answered with a smile.

Tony smiled back. "Thanks. It would be great for Ziva to see you all again." He turned and headed for Forensics.

"Do you think it's changed him?" Jimmy asked when Tony had left Autopsy.

"Do I think what has changed him?" Ducky asked.

"This whole situation. Do you think Tony's gone soft?"

"I think that his fatherly instincts have just taken over, not that he's gone soft. It's the way every new father acts, and he will become more like his original self with time. I have seen it many times before." Ducky turned to sit back in his seat.

"I personally don't think it's just his fatherly side, Doctor."

"Really? Could there be something else that is affecting the way he acts?"

Jimmy gave him a pointed look, and Ducky immediately understood.

"Ah, that."

"So, Dr Mallard, where were you with your story?" Jimmy asked as he leaned against an Autopsy table.

"Let me see… ah yes! So I was standing in the room, not knowing anything about my surroundings at all…"

Tony walked into the lab, covering his ears to protect them from the blaring music. Abby was dancing around her lab to the music, swinging Bert around her lab equipment.

"Abby!" He watched as she turned to face him, before lowering the volume on her music.

"Tony! What brings you to my lab today?" she asked cheerfully. He held out the invitation, and she snatched it out of his hand.

"Ooh, a party! I'm so gonna be there!" She hugged him tightly and Tony returned it.

"That's great. Now I just need to talk to the Director."

Abby stepped back from him. "If you're gonna ask for any of my help, you're not getting it. Good luck, Tony."

Tony frowned playfully as he walked out of Forensics, dragging his feet as he did so. Abby smiled at his behavior.

"Good old Tony."

Tony entered director's office to find him arguing with two children. He stood at the door and watched them argue with interest.

"But dad! I'm bored!" the older one of the children said. She was clearly upset and wanted whatever Vance was saying no about.

"No. I promised your mother that you would stay safe and not get too involved in my work. That means you will not get anywhere near my employees."

"Not even Special Agent DiNozzo?" the younger one asked. He seemed a little calmer, not as angry as his older sister.

"Especially not Agent DiNozzo. His immature attitude is not appropriate for my children."

"What's wrong with my attitude, Director?" Tony asked. The children laughed at their father's embarrassed expression when he realized Tony had been listening.

"Special Agent DiNozzo, I…"

"No need to explain, Director." He handed Vance the invite and stepped towards the kids. "Kayla, Jared."

"DiNozzo," they said. Tony smiled at them.

"I'll consider it," Vance said as he put the invite into his pocket, "but I'm sure the Mrs would love to attend."

"I'm sure the kids would have a great time with Maria," Tony added. Vance nodded.

"I guess it's a yes then."

Tony smiled as he exited the office. He just hoped the party would be a good one.