The women watch as Tony skillfully guides Mrs. Mallard around the patio, his step sure as he leads her through the waltz. Mrs. Mallard on her part looks radiant as she looks at her gigolo, or as she sometimes calls him her Italian furniture mover. The smile on her face is beautiful.
"She must be remembering her husband." Penelope says quietly to Gillian.
"I feel bad for her, and I hate that Alzheimer's is robbing her of everything and leaving just the shell of her former self." Gillian tells her angrily.
Penelope looks at her friend and frowns. "Who?"
"My mother, early onset she died last year."
"I am so sorry about that." She turns her attention back to the patio watching Tim dance with Abby and Palmer with Ziva.
Turning her head slightly she can see Gibbs and Ducky drinking their respective drinks of choice off to the side in quiet conversation.
"I'm sorry that Glen couldn't make it, But somehow he found himself on duty and he was sure he ha the night off." Gillian explains.
"It happens he could have read the schedule wrong." Penelope suggests with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Right, I told Tony not to try and set you up with anyone." Gillian says leaving the rest unsaid.
"So you guys are good?"
"More than good." Gillian says with a smile. "We're getting an apartment together, someplace in between our two jobs."
"OH! I'm so happy for you both. Let me know when I can help you move."
Gillian smiles slightly at her friend. " I wanted to be the one to tell you about us moving in together. I want you to know this doesn't change things between you two, you still get him Sunday afternoons."
"Maybe once in a while after you're settled into your new home."
"He cares for you, you know."
"I know. I care for him too. But you can give him everything that he needs. I can't."
"I have my guy now we need to find yours." Gillian tells her firmly.
Penelope turns and looks at her friend. "I'm happy the way I am right now. Some people just aren't lucky that way. I dated a guy for four years and when he was getting ready to pop the question I told him I wasn't ready. In fact I don't think I'll ever settle down. Now I only date when I'm browbeat into going on a blind date."
"Like on the night you met Tony?"
"Yup, He was sweet and overly protective right from the start. He brought me to my apartment and took care of me even though he didn't have to.
"I love when he washes my hair too, it's so relaxing. To bad he's not gay he could make a bundle working in an upscale salon for the wives of the political elite."
"Don't mention it to Gibbs he might just keep it in mind for undercover work." Penelope tells her friend as she giggles.
"Seriously Penelope you know Tony isn't going to leave it alone until he finds you someone you like. He had a ton of friends unis and detectives."
"I tell you something that I've figured out. The best agents that I've ever come across, the ones that excel in their jobs, are the ones that strive to make life better for everyone around them. You want to know why?" When Penelope sees her nod her head she continues. "They're all damaged in one way or another, something happened to them along the way. They were hurt, emotionally, physically or mentally. So now they work to protect others so no one else has to feel the pain they did. And if they're too late they try to make sure that the person responsible can't hurt anyone else."
"And you, Penelope, who hurt you ?"
"Ah, I'm not an agent. I'm a hired geek." She answers as she looks up from her cell phone.
Gillian knows that Penelope's response was non answer but she lets it slide "Not hardly, Tony told me that you found some things that he needed for a case that McGee couldn't."
"I have a larger data base that's all." She answers with a shrug.
"I have to agree with Tony, you really do downplay yourself don't you."
"I know who I am, Gillian. I'm the buddy, the pal, even the best friend. I'm not the girl that you bring home to mom. I've always known that, I'm fine with that, you see if I always know where I stand then I can't get hurt. I'm grateful that Tony is my friend and now I'm doubly blessed that you are too. Friends are like chocolate you can never have too many of them."
"I think you're wrong you just haven't met the right guy yet the one that will make feel like the most important person in the world."
Penelope smiles and points. "Look they're bring out the cake for Mrs. Mallard." Gibbs makes his way to the large table just as he is putting the cake down, the cell phones in the pockets of the guests start to play happy birthday in unison. No one needed to say anything, everyone knew that Penelope was the one who had hacked the cell phones and programmed the impromptu concert
Mrs. Mallard claps her hands together in glee and the smile on her face soon made the nights festivities worth while.
TPTPTP
It was the knocking on her door that made turn off the water and put the tea kettle down. Looking through the peep hole she smiles then unlocks the door letting Tony into her apartment.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's Sunday! We go out on Sundays remember? Brunch, a movie, or a play we even go to the arcade. Well this time we are going to a craft show. I want to get Gillian a quilt. After that I have a surprise for you? Moneypenny."
"What surprise? Wouldn't you rather take Gillian to let her pick her own quilt?"
"No I want to pick it. Go get ready I'm hungry. And I'm not telling you what the surprise is so don't ask again."
Okay." she says quietly.
He opens the fridge and pours him self some juice. After drinking the small glass he calls out to her. "Gillian told me what you said after we dropped you off. So let me make things perfectly clear to you. Sundays are ours and if Gillian and I get married and have kids then Sundays will still be our only then you'll be auntie Moneypenny. Got it?"
She comes into the kitchen and purses her lips together. "Do I get a say in this?"
"No, not now, not ever." he says as he takes her elbow and leads her out the door.
"Know tell me what is it exactly that you are looking for in a man. Think of me as Tony's dating service, I aim to please. And if the bastard hurts you, I can shoot him." He tells her smiling as his eyes twinkle with merriment.
