Warnings: None for this chapter, except some cheesy romance.

A/N: I fought with this chapter. Hope you still like it even if it's not up to my usual standards. Enjoy!

E- Proposal is here! Hope you like it :)

None- Always people that Tony is going to have to look out for. As for Tim, I guess it would depend on what job he was offered at the FBI if it is considered a demotion or not. I really just had Tony give him the card in case Tim needs help from a friend :)

Ducky had just finished the autopsy on their latest victim—a poor marine involved in a bar fight who had died from blunt force trauma—when his phone rang. Leaving Jimmy to deal with the clean up and the body, he tossed his gloves into a trashcan and answered. "This is Doctor Mallard."

"Oh good, Donald. Did I catch you at a bad time?" Doctor Elizabeth Hamilton asked. "I ordered those tests like you requested. Results came back today."

"No, this is not a bad time," Ducky replied, sitting down at his desk. "I just finished up what I was doing and was about to finalize a report… but that can wait. Tell me… is it what we feared, Doctor?"

Elizabeth sighed, heavily. "Yes. There is a decent sized tumor on her frontal lobe. It would explain the rash, often violent behavior certainly."

Ducky frowned. He hated it when his gut was right. "What is the recommended course of treatment?"

"The tumor will have to be removed. And then chemotherapy, probably for at least two rounds to make sure we get all the cancer cells," Elizabeth replied. "I've spoken with the U.S Attorney and he is going to have her psych evaluation moved up to today so the operation can happen immediately. I've read up on the case, Donald. I feel terrible that I did not catch onto this sooner… for your agent's sake."

"Believe me, Elizabeth there is nothing you could have done," Ducky assured her. "I see her everyday and I did not make the connection until a rather nasty outburst towards Agent DiNozzo where she claims to have done no wrong, even with all the evidence stacked against her. The important thing is that we try and help her now, before it gets to be worse and she hurts other people."

Elizabeth concurred. "Depending on the outcome of her psych evaluation, this might not get her out of jail."

Ducky sighed once again. "Yes. I am very well aware of that. But it might get her a lesser sentence." He thanked Elizabeth for the call and hung up. He looked up to see Jimmy glaring at him behind his glasses. "Something the matter Mister Palmer?"

Jimmy nodded. "Yes! Director Shepard almost got Tony killed! And then she didn't even help him when the FBI had him in custody for murder! She deserves to go to jail. I don't care if the brain tumor affected her judgment or not—she still murdered a man and she still put Tony, and Leah's lives in danger."

"If there had been no tumor there is a good chance she would not have done those things," Ducky pointed out.

"And there is also the chance that she still might have," Jimmy argued. "Either way… she was obsessed and her obsession hurt people."

"There doesn't seem to be an easy solution to any of this, Mister Palmer," Ducky said, sadly.

"Yeah," Jimmy breathed, "I guess not, and you know what—that really sucks, Doctor Mallard."

Ducky watched him walk away, sighing as the young man left, "Indeed it does, Mister Palmer. Indeed it does."

Gibbs was surprised when Sam Clark called and asked to see him. He met with the U.S Attorney downtown while his team continued to work on their case. "Is there something I can do for you, Mister Clark?"

Clark looked up from his lunch and gestured for Gibbs to sit down. "Jennifer Shepard had her psychological evaluation today. I had the pleasure of getting to listen in on it with the FBI. While the brain tumor certainly impaired her judgment and impacted her moral code… she clearly knows right from wrong."

He blinked, confused. Had he heard the younger man right? "Brain tumor?" Gibbs repeated.

"You didn't know?"

"No. Doctor Mallard had only theorized that it was a tumor the last time I checked."

Clark wiped the corners of his mouth with the cloth napkin on the table. "Her primary physician ordered tests. The scans came back with a moderate sized tumor on her frontal lobe. It would explain her irrational, impulsive behavior, could also explain why she has justified the killing of Rene Benoit and her treatment of Special Agent DiNozzo."

Gibbs winced thinking about what Tony had gone through in the last year, the last few months especially. "So what happens now? If she knew right from wrong then she's component to stand trial."

"Her lawyer has asked for the latest trial date as we can possibly get," Clark replied. "I had no objections. She'll go through inpatient treatment and when she's well enough the trial can begin. I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs," he said, when saw the pensive look that came over the agent's face, "I understand that this is not what you would want, but it is the best that I can do."

"What happens if she never is well enough to stand trial?" Gibbs asked. "Does she just get away with it, Mister Clark?"

Clark swallowed, nervously. "I'm hoping that once the tumor is removed she'll be a bit more rational and take a deal. Doctors tell me that she could return to normal brain function once the cancer has been treated."

Gibbs scoffed. What was normal brain function?

"I was hoping you could help me get in touch with Agent DiNozzo and let him know. I haven't had any luck."

"Tony's away. In Paris. He won't be back until next week."

"Well… it's not urgent…"

"Are we done here, Mister Clark? I have a case that needs my attention."

Clark shook his head. "I have nothing else for you. Just wanted to give you the heads up."

Gibbs grumbled and got to his feet. "Yeah, thanks for that," he mumbled before storming off.

Tony could not have asked for a more picture perfect day. It was sunny and warm; he had on a white polo shirt and jeans, showing off his brand new watch. They'd had lunch at the café he'd brought her to on the day they met, stopped at the very flower cart that he'd bought her lilies at when he first saw her, and now they were strolling along the river, hand in hand, making their way to the spot that he had kissed her for the very first time.

Leah looked radiant in a mint green sundress; her golden brown hair was pulled back in a loose, low ponytail, with a few wispy pieces at her temples and falling across her forehead. She had been incredibly relaxed in Paris. Smiling more, laughing more. The time away was just what she needed—what they both needed—to separate themselves from the trouble back home.

He was happy that he could give her this reprieve. Tony loved making her happy and he wanted to make her happy for the rest of his life. He just prayed that she would grant him the chance…

"Stop here for a second," Tony urged her, gently as they crossed a footbridge over the river. "Do you recognize this place, bella?"

"It's where you kissed me for the first time," Leah said, smiling at him lovingly. "How could I ever forget?"

"True, I have been told I'm an excellent kisser," Tony joked.

Leah giggled and stepped closer to him. "Are you going to kiss me now?"

Tony smiled at her, basking in the glow of her beauty. Gently he reached into his pocket and found the ring box. When he had proposed to Wendy he had gone all out—roses, tuxedo, candlelight—often times he wondered if that had been too much—this time he was going to make the proposal more meaningful and less showy. "I wanted to give you something first," he whispered, concealing the box in his hand.

She continued to smile at him. "But you already bought me flowers and paid for lunch and took me on a romantic get away to Paris—what more could you possible want to give me, Tony?"

He contemplated his answer for a moment. There were so many things that he wanted to give her besides the ring—safety, happiness, family—where did he even begin to tell her what he wanted to give her? His eyes rested on her face, his hand letting go of hers and brushing the stray pieces of hair out of her own eyes. "There are so many things I want to give you, Leah. Maybe we should start simple."

Leah was slightly confused. They had moved well beyond simple gifts and gestures a long time ago. "Simple?" she repeated, wanting to make sure she had heard him right.

Tony nodded his head. "Yes. Simple. First, I want to give you a safe place to come home to every night. And not just physically—I want to give you somewhere that you feel that you can just be you, that you can say what needs to be said without fearing the response. I want to give you happiness because above all else, you deserve to be happy, bella. I want to give you a home, filled with love and family."

"We have a home, Tony and we've made it ours. I'm confused… what exactly do you want to give me?"

"Leah… please stop making this difficult."

"Ok… so you want to give me a home… are we buying a house?"

He took a deep breath. It was hard enough getting through this and she wasn't making things any easier. "Leah, darling, please, please stop talking for a moment, okay?"

She looked at him, seriously, her smile faded. "Tony? Is everything okay?"

Tony gently grinned at her, to ease her worries. "Everything is perfect, Leah. In fact, it's beyond perfect. It has been for a while… except not being able to give you all those things I mentioned." When she opened her mouth to argue with him, he placed a finger on her lips. "Shh. I said no talking," he instructed her, chuckling when she rocked back on her heels a little and pouted. "But I figured out a way that I can give you all those things, Leah."

Carefully he opened the ring box and got down on one knee. Suddenly he could tell that Leah understood what was happening. Her eyes went wide and she dropped her lilies as she covered her mouth with her hand. Tony smiled at her. "Leah, let me give you all those things. Will you marry me?"

Her eyes filled with tears—happy tears— as a beaming smile crossed her face. Leah nodded her head, and she exclaimed, "Yes, Tony, yes."

His hand trembled slightly as he slipped the ring on her finger. Shoving the ring box back into his pocket, Tony stood, cupping her face between his hands and kissing her, hungrily. When he pulled back he wiped her tears away and whispered, "I love you," before kissing her again.

Leah's arms wrapped around his neck and she stepped closer to him, feeling and hearing the crunch of the flowers she crushed underneath her. "Oh no!" she cried, stepping back, "my flowers!"

Tony laughed and kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, bella, I'll buy you more. I'll buy you lots more. Are you happy?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Are you happy?"

"Oh yes," he said. "Very, very happy."

Later that afternoon, the scent of fresh lilies filling their hotel room, Tony opened his eyes. Leah was fast asleep underneath his arm, her hand resting on his chest as she laid on her side, curled up against him.

Tony ran his fingers softly through her hair. A year ago when he would wake up from late afternoon love making, he never imagined the relationship going this far. He knew back then that she was different, that she was special, but at that point a year ago he didn't realize just how special she was. It was a little surreal that she was going to become his wife, but there was proof of it on her finger in a sparkling blue diamond.

He kissed her hands, softly. He watched her eyes flutter, her lashes fanned out over her ivory cheeks. She was the first woman that he truly enjoyed waking up next too. "Bella, wake up."

She murmured and burrowed into the cotton sheets. Tony kissed her behind her ear, coaxing her to wake up. "Please, bella. I'd like to take my fiancée out for a nice, romantic dinner in Paris."

Leah slowly opened her eyes and smiled, sleepily at him. "Hi."

"Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty."

"How long did we sleep?"

"Couple of hours."

"And what was that about you wanting to take me to dinner?"

Tony laughed and tucked her hair behind her ears. "I think we need to celebrate properly."

Leah continued to grin at him, a sparkle in her eyes. "But I thought we did celebrate properly two hours ago?"

"Oh well… yes… we did… and it was a highly enjoyable experience," Tony quipped, pressing his lips to hers in a quick kiss. "But I want to show off my bride to be."

"Ah, since you put it that way," Leah teased. "How can I resist a night out on the town in Paris?"

Tony crawled out of the bed and held his hand out to her. "You know, Miss Dawson, if we decide to shower... it would go a lot faster if you would join me."

Leah took his hand and allowed him to pull her, gently, out of the bed and into his arms. "You know if we're going to shower… if I do it with you we'll never get out of this hotel room, and well… I'm kind of hungry. You work up quite the appetite in me."

"Do I now?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows and tickling her ribs.

"Anthony!" she giggled, "Stop! I want to go to that sweet little bistro… you remember don't you? The live music, the candlelight, how romantic it was? It gets packed quickly but it's the perfect place for us to go to celebrate...I think I fell in love with you there."

Tony kissed her cheek. He did remember that bistro. It was the first night that he realized that he could see himself falling in love with her. To know that the small café has special meaning to Leah too, warmed his heart. "You know something, bella," he whispered, giving her a kiss. "I think I fell in love with you there too."

Leah felt her heart flutter. She had been shocked when Tony had gotten down on one knee on that footbridge and proposed. But the answer had not been shocking. She'd known for a while now that they were meant to be together. It was just a matter of time until he gave her a ring. And she loved her ring. It was beautiful, it was perfect and it was from the love of her life. She would proudly wear that ring to let the whole world know that she was Tony's. "You know… we could always get room service…"

He chuckled. "Clever… but another time perhaps… can you sue a guy for wanting to show off his gorgeous girl?"

She smiled. "Ok, when you put it that way… I better go get ready."

Tony let her go, watched as she grabbed a dress from her garment bag and then disappeared into the bathroom. While she was getting ready he dressed in a black suit with a black tie and white dress shirt. He fastened his watch around his wrist, smiling at it with affection. He hadn't been devastated when he lost his other watch in the car explosion, that had been just an average, everyday watch… but this one… this one had been given to him with love. It would crush him if he ever lost it—it would crush him if he ever lost Leah. He wasn't one to believe in fate or destiny… however, it felt like this had been fate. And he was just happy that fate decided to intervene and push him in the right direction—to bring her into his life, because now he couldn't imagine a single day without her.

There will be more in Paris, but I hope this wasn't too cheesy for you :)