I'm in total Twilight denial mode here. This fic is set post SWAK but before the evilness of the seasonfinale.

Eventual TATE.

After working all weekend, even missing Superbowl Sunday, to make sure his apartment was suitable for company, Tony went to the store to stock up on all the specialty foods he knew he would need for the following two weeks. He wasn't sure if what he could find was enough or if he would get himself into some serious trouble for not being a good Italian boy but he had driven all over DC to get some ingredients for foods that he felt were more than bordering on cliché.

Once his food was stored Tony did one final check over the apartment before flopping on the couch and sleeping until the alarm clock in the bedroom woke him up at six the next morning.

Wearing a suit was a rare thing for Tony, but he knew he wouldn't have time to change before going to the airport and his usual sweater and casual pants would not be welcomed, so he made sure he tied his tie tightly and combed his hair neatly before stepping foot outside the door.

"Hot lunch date, Tony?" Kate asked in lieu of a greeting as he passed her desk to reach his own.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tony said, not exactly sure how he was going to explain the fact that he was wearing a suit that he normally reserved for court dates when paperwork was the order of the day. "Gibbs in yet?"

"Haven't seen him, but I've been down with Abby for a while," Kate replied as she shifted some files around on her desk. "Seriously, Tony, why did you get all dressed up for the office? We don't have to be in court until tomorrow on the Miller case."

"I know," Tony said. "I just won't have time to change after work," he said as he booted up his computer.

Kate frowned but didn't question it. She assumed he probably had a date with someone who he didn't meet in a bar and needed to dress up for the woman. Thinking about Tony and his endless string of women stung, like always, but Kate didn't let it show.

"So, how was your weekend?" Tony asked, using the time before Gibbs showed up to talk to one of his favourite people in the world.

"Average. Did my laundry, paid my bills, watched some football… you owe me two hundred bucks, you know."

"Damn it, Kate, I told you I wasn't going to have time to watch the game," Tony groaned, thinking about the tape that was sitting in his VCR waiting for him to find a few extra hours. He had made the bet with Kate long before he knew about his incoming visitor, and he should have known that telling her that he wouldn't be able to watch the game would make her want to run her team winning in his face even more if he lost. Which, evidently, he had.

"I know," Kate grinned. "Pay up, partner. I've got a pair of shoes waiting for me to give them a home and you're buying."

Tony groaned. "I'll hit an ATM at lunch, okay?" he said.

Kate seemed appeased by this and let her hand, that had been held out waiting for her money, drop to her desk. "So what was so important that you missed the Superbowl, anyway?" Kate asked.

"I just had a lot of work to do. House stuff," Tony said. Kate shot him an 'I'm not buying it' look and he shrugged. "The maid quit a few months back and I haven't had time to find a new one. Chores got a little pushed to the side. I spent most of the weekend cleaning."

"How cute. Tony does domesticity," Kate teased. Tony rolled his eyes and bit back a retort when he spotted Gibbs heading their way. He motioned toward their boss so Kate wouldn't get caught either, a personal curtsey he had extended for the past few months since realizing that being the jackass partner wasn't getting him anywhere with Kate, and they immediately turned their eyes to their respective projects. Kate found a pen and signed off on her report while Tony pulled up a file and started pecking away at the keyboard in the way that always made McGee cringe.

Later that day, just before they were all about to get ready to head out for the night, the four members of the team gathered in Abby's lab, enjoying the Gibbs-free day they had been allowed since Gibbs had been forced to spend the day at Bethesda getting a physical in order to keep up his field status. He had tried to avoid it by coming into the office in hopes of getting a case but hadn't found any joy there so he had taken his coffee and headed to Bethesda shortly after arriving at NCIS.

"Anyone want to get dinner?" Kate asked.

"I'm in," Abby said without looking away from the computer screen she was staring at. She and McGee were battling it out on a video game of some kind and a moment later she raised her arms in victory and cheered for herself briefly. "And McGee's buying," she added, swivelling her chair around to face Kate who had a smirk on her face.

"What about you, Tony?" Kate asked, looking over at her partner.

"I've got plans," Tony said, glancing at his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes.

Kate frowned. "Okay, what's up with you today. You usually only count the seconds until you can leave when Gibbs is forcing paperwork on you."

"Yeah," Abby agreed. "You didn't even notice me thrashing McGee."

"Sorry, Abby. I'm just a little distracted," Tony said. "I can't be late tonight."

"Whoever she is she'd better be damned special," Abby said as she started turning machines off and tidying up around her lab.

Tony picked up his backpack from the chair he had plopped it down on when he and Kate made their way down to the lab to see Abby and McGee about an hour earlier. "She is," he said before waving at the group and heading for the door.

There was little speculation on who Tony was so eager to see. With his laundry list of lovers it was easier to just smile and nod, roll your eyes at his comments, and let whatever he said go in one ear and out the other. The three remaining members of the team grabbed their things and got into Kate's car, heading for a restaurant that they all agreed on while Tony sped toward Dulles airport.

I know it doesn't seem like much of a story now, but there's more coming.

M