She steps into her apartment. She finds dinner sitting on the table. She looks at her partner, in extreme confusion.
"Where's Max? I thought that you were going to pick him up."
"He's with Abby."
"Why?"
He just smiles, and lights the candles in the center of the table.
"You cooked?"
"Yep."
"What's the occasion?"
"Can't I just cook dinner for my partner, and the mother of my child?"
"No, not without an ulterior motive."
"I don't have an ulterior motive."
"You want sex?" she guesses.
"Always, that's not why I'm being so thoughtful."
"Why are you being so thoughtful?"
"Have a seat."
"No. What's going on?"
"Please, just have a seat. You're going to ruin it."
"Ruin what?"
"Sit!" he barks.
She takes a seat. He smiles, and pours her a glass of champagne. He sits the bottle down, and drops to his knees, beside her.
She furrows her brow, "What are you doing? Get off the floor. Tony, why are you down there?"
He smiles devilishly. The smile reminds her of Max's. He reaches for her hand.
"What are you doing?"
He reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a box. He pops it open, and holds it out for her to see.
"Will you marry me, and make me the second happiest guy in the whole world."
"Second happiest?"
"Second to Max," he clarifies.
"No," she shakes her head.
"No? You won't marry me? That's not what I expected you to say."
"No. If you're going to do this, it needs to be done right. I may not..."
"I did. I did everything by the book. I swear."
"No. The answer is no."
"Why not?"
"You have to ask my father first. I know that I..."
He cuts her off, "I did."
"You did?"
"Yes," he nods.
"What did he say?"
"That you are a grown woman, and that you can make your own decisions. He said that you stopped asking for his blessing a long time ago, and that all he wants is for you to be happy."
"I don't buy it."
"Would you like to call him, and ask him?"
"Why are you asking me this?"
"Because I want to marry you."
"You don't believe in marriage."
"No," he smiles, "but I believe in you. And, that's enough for me."
"Are you feeling alright? Did you hit your head, or something?"
"No."
"This is kind of out of the blue," she points out.
"Not really. In fact I'm surprised that you didn't know."
"How would I know?"
"I've been planning it for months. Max has known for weeks. He helped pick out the ring."
"Why do you want to get married."
"I don't want to lose you."
"I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to marry me."
"I want to marry you."
"But."
"Max wants us to get married."
"That isn't a good enough reason."
"I thought that you would do anything for him."
"I would."
"But you don't want to marry me?"
"No," she shakes her head.
"You're seriously turning me down? You don't want to get married?"
"I do, but I don't think that you do."
"I wouldn't ask you, if I didn't want to get married."
"You're not ready."
"Yes, I am. I am asking you, to marry me. Let's get married, and live happily ever after."
"There is no such thing as happily ever after."
"But we could try."
"No."
"I'm just going to keep asking, until you say yes."
"You'll stop asking."
"No, I won't."
"Does Gibbs know about this?"
"He told me where to go to get a ring. He even hooked me up with a discount. They know him pretty well."
"A discount ring?"
"Not really a discount. Only the best for you."
"There is no way that you're being serious."
"I am."
"There is no way that ring is real."
"Why?"
"The stone is huge. You can't afford something like that."
"Test it, and see. I guarantee that it's a real stone."
"No."
"Go ahead," he hands her the ring.
She inspects it closely. She locks eyes with him.
"It's only three carats. I thought that five carats was a little bit too big."
"You're kidding, right? How much did it cost?"
"How much does college tuition cost?"
"Tony..."
"So you'll marry me, then?"
"No," she shakes her head.