Hi, this bit is a little random and I found it really hard to write practically all the characters in one section! I really needed a light chapter (which is actually going to be two chapts now) inbetween the last couple of chapters and what's coming up in the next few! it sort of expanded as I wrote it and was only meant to be short so it might feel a little stretched out! Anyway let me know what you think and thank you sooooooooo much for all the reviews they're fantastic!!
Tony sighed and pushed his clean plate to the side,
"Well girls, I think we can all agree that that was DELICIOUS," he grinned around the table and licked his lips in satisfaction
"It was very good," Leora said causing his smile to widen, "Much better than I expected."
"Hey!" his smile disappeared, frowning at her in annoyance.
"It was lovely Tony, really." Ziva cut in to prevent his inevitable whining,
"Oooh, lovely huh?"
"Mmmmm"
"Better than yours?" Ziva snorted into her wine,
"Well, I would not say that,"
"Well that's alright Ziva, I know it's har for you to admit that I cook better than you. My amaaaazing arrabiata just knocked your cheffing crown right off your pretty head!"
"Ha! You make one meal and you think you are the kitchen genius!"
"Hey I have cooked plenty of meals, besides I don't need practice- I'm Italian, it's in my blood!" he smirked at her across the table.
"I said that your food was good, just not that good."
"Oh really," he leant forward and stared at her intensely holding her gaze for several seconds before suddenly switching his eyes to Leora, "You're our impartial judge Leo, who cooks better?" she swallowed flicked her eyes between him and Ziva.
"Well . . . This was delicious" Ziva raised an eyebrow at her causing the girl to swallow nervously, "But Ziva, your food is always amazing." her voice faded away towards the end of her statement and before picking up her glass and took a long slurp out of it.
"That's not an answer!"
"Tony! Leave the girl alone, she said your pasta was delicious. Which was very generous." she flashed a smirk of her own at him before standing up to start clear the table.
"Fine, you know what we'll do to settle this . . ."
"Settle what Tony? There is nothing to settle we both cook well where is the problem?"
"Would you let me finish! We need to have a cook off!"
"A what?" she sighed,
"Uh, I cook, you cook then we get a group of people to choose the winner!"
"Why would we do that?"
"For fun Ziva! Fun!" she turned to face him,
"It seems like a bit of a waste of time Tony,"
"Why, cause you know you'll lose?" she narrowed her eyes at him,
"Fine, we will have a cook off! I was just trying to spare your feelings, you don't deal well with LOOSING." she emphasised the last word to rile him up.
"Ha oh really?"
"Yes, really."
"oh reeeeeaaaaaally?"
"Yes."
"Ha I don't think so, I think you're going down David!" Tony stared up at her but she just chuckled and walked towards the kitchen.
"We shall see Tony."
"Yeah we will! How about Friday?
"Fine by me" he settled back into his chair and smiled at Leo, "It's alright she's gone you can admit that I'm better now." the girl just stared at him for a few seconds,
"You are ridiculous. Both of you." she replied simply while a smile played across her lips.
Early on Friday evening they were busy getting ready for their guests' arrival. They had set up a couple of cold dishes on the table while the rest of their buffet was cooking. Tony was busy stirring a pot of sauce
"Are you almost ready Tony? They will be here soon."
"Yep smells good doesn't it?"
"Well you I cannot tell over the delicious smell coming from my pan."
"Sure, we'll just wait and see, let them be the judge of that." he was just about to make a snaky reply when the door buzzer went. Ziva placed her glass down before walking over to let them up and Tony turned down the hob before following her across the room.
"Last chance Ziva, we've not told them why they're coming round, just forfeit and then we can all have a nice, relaxed evening enjoying my exquisite gourmet creations and your . . . food."
"Ha, you are just trying to avoid loosing to me Tony!" she laughed and pulled the door open just as Abby raised her hand to knock. Her hand was hovering in the air but she immediately squealed and threw her arms around Ziva.
"This is so exciting!" she screeched and squeezed hard.
"It is?"
"Yes! It's your first dinner party!"
"No it is not, I have had many dinner parties before." A confused Ziva replied,
"No." Abby stepped away but kept her hands on her shoulders, "It's your's and Tony's first dinner party!" she grinned widely and then caught Tony's eye, "Tony!" she squealed again, launching herself at him instead, "I bet you're excited!"
"Uhm, yeah Abs, very." he grunted after having all the wind knocked out of his stomach by her exuberant hug. Ziva smiled and shook her head, turning to greet McGee who was still standing in the hallway.
"McGee, come in." she stepped back to allow him space to enter.
"Hey, I brought some wine, didn't know which colour would be better so I took both." she took the bottles from him,
"Ah trying to get me drunk McGee?"
"What? No, no I just took a selection!" Ziva laughed at how flustered he had become,
"I am joking," she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you." She turned away and took the bottles through to the kitchen leaving the three of them standing by the door.
"Well, shall we?" Tony wrapped an arm around Abby's shoulder and led her across to the living room while McGee followed behind them. Just as they reached it Leora appeared in front of them, "Ah, Abs, McGee, this is Leo." he dragged her gently forwards,
"Hello," she smiled,
"Leo! Hi! Wow you look just like I imagined!" Abby grinned widely, "Ziva and Tony speak about you all the time!"
"Awww I wouldn't worry about that Abby, she's not as bad as all that once you get to know her." Tony said seriously,
"Hey!" Leo elbowed him in the stomach, "What have you been saying about me!"
"Ow!" he slapped her arm away, "I just tell them what a ray of sunshine you are in my life," he replied sarcastically as he rubbed his stomach gently.
"Honestly, he only ever says nice things about you." said McGee, "But, what would say about him? He's annoying right? Bet he has a lot of annoying and weird habits? . . ."
"Wait a minute, I didn't invite you here to pump her for information! Anyway, nothing I do is as embarrassing as your hobbies . . . Elflord!" McGee kept his face completely straight and stared at Tony for a few seconds before moving his eyes bck to Leo,
"You know one annoying thing about Tony, he remembers every stupid nickname and then will keep bringing it up for years." he glowered while Tony grinned cheekily,
"Awww probie . . ."
"Tony, something is burning in here." Ziva called out,
"What? My sauce!" he ran round the breakfast bar to the hob, "AH! Would it have killed you to stir it?" Ziva shrugged,
"I thought that you knew what were you doing." she said sweetly before heading out of the kitchen, "I will take your coats," she held out her arms for Abby and McGee dropped their jackets onto them. "Thank you," she said and then disappeared into Tony's bedroom.
"Seriously, you can tell us anything, Tony'll never know it came from you." McGee whispered conspiratorially, Leo smiled and opened her mouth to answer when the door buzzer went again,
"Get the door Leo!" Tony shouted so she smiled at McGee and went over to answer it. This time it was Ducky and Gibbs waiting on the other side,
"Ah! You must be Leo, call me Ducky," Ducky peered around the giant bunch of flowers he was carrying and held out his free hand and shook hers warmly.
"Hello Ducky," she smiled at him before glancing at the other man, "Well then, you are Gibbs then, yes?"
"Yeah," His lips flicked up into the briefest of smiles.
"Gibbs! Ducky! Come in!" Abby shouted across to them, waving wildly.
"Coming! Here you are my dear, why don't you take these from me?" Ducky thrust the monstrous bouquet into Leo's arms before heading towards the others along with Gibbs, "My, it smells delicious in here! Do we know what's on the menu tonight or does it remain a mystery?"
"They still haven't told us Ducky, well actually we forgot to ask but it smells good right? Let's guess! I'm smelling . . . Actually I'm smelling a bit of smokeyness, I think it's something Tony's making." she whispered just as Tony came out of the kitchen.
"Yeah well everything's under control no need to go spreading rumours Abs!" he hissed before turning to greet Ducky and Gibbs, "You made it boss!"
"Yeah,"
"Well y'know, it's just that you don't usually accept invitations or y'know, leave your basement outside work hours." Gibbs raised his eyebrows at him causing Tony to gulp, "Not that there's anything wrong with that . . ."
"Well I had to come DiNozzo, to see what kind of a job you're doin over here."
"Job what kind of job? With the girls? We're doing just fine . . . Right Leo?" he glanced over his shoulder nervously, hoping she'd back him up under Gibbs' icy stare, "Leo?" he asked again but she had disappeared with the flowers. Gibbs suddenly held up a six pack of beer,
"Relax Tony, I just came to eat." Tony sighed in relief and reached out for the beers,
"Thanks Boss, you want one of these now?" Gibbs nodded and went over to sit on the couch, Ducky smiled at Tony,
"I wonder how long it will take before you become used to Jethro's rather unique sense of humour?"
"He has a sense of humour?" Tony whispered back, causing Ducky to chuckle as he went over to join Gibbs. Moments after he sat down Ziva returned followed closely by Zippy,
"Gibbs, Ducky, good evening!" she turned and placed her hand gently behind Zippy's head, encouraging her to step forwards, "This is Zippy," the little girl stood close to her, curling one hand behind Ziva's knee as she shyly looked round all the new faces. "Say hello," Zippy raised her other hand and waved,
"Hello,"
"Hi! Awww she's sooooo adorable!" Abby waved back excitedly while everyone else also greeted her
warmly. She smiled widely but stayed where she was, clutching Ziva's leg
"Well then, what would everyone like to drink?" she asked to draw attention away from Zipporah and give her a chance to get used to all their new visitors.
"Well I think I shall start the night with a nice glass of red, if that's ok?"
"Of course Ducky," she smiled at the Doctor, "Any preferences? I could tell you what bottles we have?"
"Oh no, no it's fine dear, I am quite sure that you both have excellent tastes."
"I'll have the same please Ziva." Abby butted leaving only McGee,
"Could I have some white?"
"Of course," she turned to leave,
"But, could you maybe put some lemonade in with it?" he added quickly. Tony, who was in the middle of handing Gibbs a beer, stopped and spun slowly round.
"Wait a minute, did I just hear you ask for a white wine spritzer? Well actually, not even a real white . . ."
"Well, I have to drive Tony, I'm just trying . . ."
"Hey, I'm not here to judge but you know, if you've got something to tell us then . . ." he raised his eyebrows meaningfully.
"You're such a bigot Tony, I order a spritzer so then I must be gay is that right? Hilarious!"
"Woah McCloseted it's ok, you're among friends. This is a safe place."
"Oh Tony stop teasing him," Ziva frowned at him, "Of course you can have a spritzer McGee." she smiled before leaving to fetch the drinks while Tony chuckled and finally gave Gibbs his drink.
"So what you cooking DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he took his bottle,
"Well, it's gonna be a little different, it's kind of a competition. Ziva and I have both made several dishes but we're not going to tell you who made what and then later you're going to vote for the best ones and then we'll count you're votes and declare one of us the winner and the better cook!"
"You're having a cook off!" Abby squealed,
"This was you're idea wasn't it?" McGee sighed and tilted his head at Tony.
"Of course it was." Ziva said as she walked over with his drink, "Here's your spritzer," Tony snorted behind her,
"Well thank you Ziva, you can count on my vote,"
"Didn't you listen to the rules? You won't know which one's Ziva made."
"Oh I'll be able to tell."
"Oh yeah, how?"
"Cause Ziva's cooking's good." McGee smirked at him, Tony narrowed his eyes and screwed up his face.
"Cause Ziva's cooking's good." imitated him in a mocking high pitched tone before frowning and crossing his arms,
"Well I think it's a wonderful idea! An excellent way to make a pleasant evening even more interesting!" Ducky grinned excitedly.
"Thanks Ducky, I think so too but others weren't so enthusiastic," he glanced pointedly at Ziva, "But she couldn't accept that I'm a better cook! Anyway, dinner will be served in about half an hour and then we'll know who's the best! (me)"