Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS. Enough said.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – The Talk

Tuesday October 19th – Week 15, Month 4

"I'm fine. Will everyone stop fussing?" Kate snapped, as Tony, Abby, McGee and Ducky almost fell over each other attempting to help her through the front door of her apartment. However none of them seemed to hear her, as they argued between themselves over who got to do what once they got inside.

A loud whistle shut them up and Kate sent a grateful smile to Gibbs who had been standing watching the group with an amused smile. The two agents, lab tech and the good doctor moved aside as their boss made his way through, taking Kate's house keys off Tony and unlocking the door, allowing Kate to enter her home.

Giving the others a look Gibbs followed her before allowing the others to fight over who got to enter next. Abby won followed by Tony, Ducky and McGee.

"I'll put some tea on." Abby stated, heading to the kitchen, as Kate sat down on the couch, resting her feet on the coffee table.

"Thanks Abby." Kate said gratefully.

Abby began making the tea, while the others seated themselves around Kate's living room. "Is there anything you need Caitlyn?" Ducky asked gently.

Kate smiled at the ME. "I'm good at the moment Ducky." She answered.

"How about a pillow?" McGee asked.

"Or slippers?" Tony put in.

Kate rolled her eyes as Gibbs shook his head. "She's good McGee, DiNozzo." He said, giving them a look.

Both men let it go and sat back waiting til Abby came out with the tea, listening as Ducky and Kate made light conversation.

"The doctors say you can return to work as soon as the beginning of November." Ducky informed Kate.

"Desk work of course." Tony added quickly.

Kate gave Tony a look. "Of course." She agreed sullenly.

Abby changed the subject, going on about a new tattoo she was planning on getting. The conversation kept on, pausing to order Chinese food for dinner, before everyone baring Tony had left.

He was in the kitchen drying up the dishes used for dinner. Kate was in front of the TV which was turned down low, as she watched Tony feeling oddly calm. This felt totally normal.

"Tony." Kate said, as Tony put away the last cup. He glanced at her.

"Did you need something Kate?" he asked.

Kate took a deep breath, knowing now was the time to talk about them, the babies, the future, everything. She turned the TV off. "I think it's time we talked." She said softly, looking at him steadily.

She saw him sigh, before nodding. "You're right." He agreed and hung the dish towel up before making his way to sit beside Kate on the couch.

They sat in silence for a moment before Kate spoke. "I am so sorry Tony. For everything; for what I said, for not telling you about the baby err...babies. I'm sorry."

Tony swallowed, hesitating a moment before reaching out to take her smaller hand in his much larger one. "It's ok Kate." He said gently.

Kate shook her head, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. "No its not." She told him. "You're my partner Tony. I trust you with my life. I should have trusted you with this."

Tony gave a small smile. "I'm not exactly the poster boy for commitment." He said. "I don't blame you for not telling me. I know you would have eventually." He sighed and let go of her hand, sitting back on the couch.

Kate gave a small laugh. "You would have noticed when I got bigger." She said and Tony smiled.

"True."

They sat in silence. "So, what are we going to do?" Tony asked.

Kate shrugged her good shoulder. "I don't know." She answered.

Silence overtook them again before Tony broke it, speaking quietly as if afraid of something. "I don't regret Vegas." Kate looked at him in surprise. "But I never wanted our first time to be a drunken haze." Kate gave a laugh, but stopped at the serious look on Tony's face.

"You've thought about us together." She asked. Tony nodded, staring hard at the floor. She paused for a second waiting to see if he would say anything. "So...how did you imagine our first time?"

Tony was silent for a moment, before he answered, still staring at the floor. "We'd been going out for a while." He began slowly. Kate's eyes widened in surprise and kept her mouth shut, wanting desperately to hear what else Tony had to say "We had dinner at my place. I made lasagne." He coughed. "Uh...it had all that romantic stuff...you know candles...rose petals."

Kate just stared at him. Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it wasn't that. She hadn't been surprised when he said he'd imagined them together, but...she trailed off not able to think clearly.

"That sounds...perfect." Kate said softly after a moment.

Tony looked up and shyly smiled at her. "I've never put you in the same category as all the other women I've been with Kate." He told her, his tone of voice strong. "You mean more to me then all of them put together."

Their eyes met and Tony finally gave into what he had wanted to do for over a year. He slowly leant in, giving Kate time to back away, before his lips met hers. Kate's stomach fluttered as Tony kissed her ever so gently, before pulling away to look her in the eye. "I love you Kate." He whispered.

Her breath caught in her throat as he said the three words she had been longing to hear for months. "You do?" she whispered back.

He nodded and swallowed. "The reason I didn't sign the divorce papers was because I wanted to be married to you."

Kate just stared at him, tears shining in her eyes. All her dreams were coming true. Tony loved her. Tony wanted to be her husband. Taking a deep breath, she decided his grand gesture needed a response. "I love you too."

The famous DiNozzo smile spread across his face and he leant in to kiss her again, gently not wanting to risk hurting her. When they pulled apart Kate was wearing a smile that rivalled Tony's.

"So I guess I won't be needing those divorce papers then." Kate laughed. Tony laughed as well.

"Nope. Because I don't plan on ever letting you get away from me Caitlyn DiNozzo." He said still smiling widely.

Kate smiled and sat back. "Caitlyn DiNozzo." She repeated. "I like it."

Tony laughed. "Of course you don't have to take my name if you want to go all modern women on me." He informed.

"How kind of you." She said. "I'll think about it." She took a deep breath. "So, we're going to do this whole marriage thing properly then?"

Tony nodded. "If you want to." He said.

"So then, what's the first step?" she asked.

Tony shrugged. "Maybe we should move in together." He suggested. "You're going to need some help getting around, what with the shoulder and being four months pregnant with twins."

Kate nodded, thinking this over. "I think that's a great idea." She frowned. "Where are we going to live?"

Tony looked around the living room. "Your place is bigger than mine and it has an extra room." He told her. "So maybe I should move in here."

"Good." Kate said with a smile. "Cos I really like this apartment."

Tony returned the smile. "Good, then its decided. When should I move in?"

((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))

A/N: OMG! Two chapters in one month. Am I redeeming myself for taking a year off? This chapter turned out different from what I expected and better as well.

Next chapter: The Bone Yard. Kate returns to work supposedly on desk duty and Tony moves in.

Thanks to Megsw97, books-n-cookies, helen and Pragathi for your reviews. Also thanks to all those who added story alerts, fav stories and all that jazz.