I know, I know ... it's been forever. Sorry! I was finishing off my story "Cable and the Convention" to be able to give me more time to fully focus on "Echoes" and this story. I have not abandoned this one (I already have the next chapter prepared) but I am also trying to build up a reserve of chapters as I am doing a NaNoWriMo camp in July and I will want to focus mostly on my chapter during that time (although I will not forget you, my friends!).

Thanks to the reviewers - Troubled-Angel-26, Sarai, Loads of Randomness, Hetwaszoietsals, his-red-head, MissShephardGibbs, DS2010, KrisShannon, Suzy Q1068, Fan, Fashionista-girl, and Guest.

Have a wonderful day. And now ... you'll finally find out what made Tony so nervous in the last chapter ...

...

Abby had been taking pictures of herself and Ziva together - lots and lots of silly faces! - and was now sending them to Tony, Kate, Tim, Ducky, Jimmy, and anyone else that she could think of who might possibly enjoy them. Oh, the nuns from the bowling team! She kept sending the adorable photos, certain that they would melt everyone else's hearts the same as they were doing with her.

Ziva cuddled up in Abby's lap and looked up at her babysitter adoringly. Abby was nice. Even though Ziva was in her favourite pajamas, Abby had not done anything else toward getting her in bed. Mama usually continued right along the schedule. Abby had taken lots of pictures. Even though she would not let Ziva run around and play with her toys - instead cuddling her and showing her how to make finger puppets dance along the wall - Abby seemed in no hurry to push Ziva through the bedtime routine. Now this was how it was supposed to be!

And since there was no pressure and she was feeling so happy and relaxed and because story time was her favourite part of bedtime, Ziva's busy little mind - possibly unknowingly slowing down in preparation for sleep - turned toward her favourite book.

"You wead stowy?" she asked charmingly.

Abby, looking down at the dimpled face still moist from bath time, knew that it was impossible to say "no" - not that she would have wanted to anyway.

"Of course we will read your story, baby."

"Me not baby! Me big!"

"Of course, big girl. You scamper off and get your story book and we'll read it together, okay?"

Abby watched Ziva disappear in search of her book, smiling amusedly behind the toddler's back. Someone was going along with her bedtime routine without a single whimper!

Now who was the best babysitter in the world?!

...

Tony waited until the dessert had arrived but he could not take a bite with how nervous he was.

"Tony?" Kate asked questioningly as he stood up. Then she sort of gasped "Tony?!" with a mixture of confusion and delight as he knelt next to her seat and pulled out the ring box.

"Caitlin Todd, will you do me the immense pleasure of allowing me to officially love you forever as my wife?" He flipped open the lid of the engagement ring - just like he had practiced - revealing the ring that he had chosen for the love of his life. Several agonizing seconds passed as he waited to see whether or not she liked it.

Tony relaxed immensely as Kate beamed. She had slightly teared up the first time that he had asked. It had been an intimate moment of conversation and it had felt right for him to ask her then, alone in that flower garden that evening. That would always be the original. But this would be the official one. It felt just as right for this proposal to be public, a declaration of their love laid open to the strangers all around them.

"Yes, Anthony DiNozzo, Jr., I want to be yours and I want you to be mind for the rest of our lives."

Kate held out her hand expectantly. Tony hurriedly removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger, kissing it once he got it on all the way. He looked up at her face again. It looked like heaven was being reflected from her eyes. Her smile - was there anything better than that smile?!

She tugged him to his feet and stood to embrace him, lifting her face to kiss him.

Somewhere nearby but simultaneously an entire world away they could hear the other restaurant guests clapping for them in honour of their engagement.

All that Tony and Kate knew in the moment was their kiss, their hold, their love.

...

"I wonder what's going on over there," Jenny wondered curiously as they heard other guests clapping.

"Tony and Kate got engaged," Gibbs said calmly before taking another bite of his dessert.

"Excuse me?" Jenny asked, looking at him in shock. "Tony and Kate - as in your team members? Engaged?!"

"Oh, they've been dating quietly for months now. Been engaged for a few weeks too. Must be making it official now," Gibbs said in explanation before taking another swig of coffee.

"I cannot see them from here," Jenny said ruefully.

"Me either."

"Then how do you know it really is them? It could be any couple, Jethro."

"Saw Tony's car on the way in. You really need to brush up on your observation skills there, Jen."

"But ... it might not be them," Jenny said, still in disbelief.

"Why? Can't see them getting married?"

Jenny shook her head gently, still in shock. "I mean ... I thought that they were fighting all the time."

"Yeah. That's how they work things out. They both have tough skin. Once they get things worked out, you can't get a better team ... at least not with younger agents," he said. It might have had an implied meaning.

"Well, I will wish them the very best - although there is no way that they will be able to stay on the same team together. That is far too risky."

Gibbs shrugged. He had expected that, even if he did not like. "They'll figure it out."

"It will also have to be 'figured out' officially too."

Gibbs smirked. Jenny rolled her eyes.

"It will, Jethro!"

"I'll leave that part to you then. I hate the paperwork."

I could have seen that coming.

Gibbs, apparently slightly more talkative on the topic than on others, added, "They balance each other good. They've been partners successfully for several years now. Neither one has taken off on the other when they had the chance. I don't think they ever will."

Jenny looked down for a moment. She knew exactly what he was saying.

And she hated it.

...

Gibbs flagged down a waiter.

"I want to cover the bill for the couple that got engaged," he said softly, trying to hide his good deed even from Jenny. He was hard on his team but that did not mean that he could not do something nice for them every now and then - especially when they went and got engaged!

Jenny smiled weakly at him as he turned back to her. He could detect the fresh anxiety in her eyes behind the happy facade. It had been wrong to bring up her abandoning him tonight. He began to silently berate himself.

Stop sabotaging yourself! Every time you start thinking of the future, you just have to bring up the past, don't you?! You both made lots of mistakes. You're both different people now. You loved that Jenny but this one is more mature and even more beautiful and precious. Stop hurting her! Every time you do it, you hurt yourself too.

"I've heard that forgiveness and starting fresh can be beneficial for relationships," Jenny finally said meaningfully.

"My team's been ... helping me learn that over the last few years," he admitted.

"And are you a good learner?"

"I'm ... trying."

The anxiety faded from her eyes and she nodded in satisfaction.

"So am I. I'm also a lot more stubborn."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I'm much better at persevering through problems. My communication skills have also grown exponentially."

"Stubbornness can be good," he commented with a small smile.

"It certainly can," she said with matching happiness and hope.

...

Abby sat back in her chair after a quick clean-up of the house (playtime had been a little rambunctious). Ziva was upstairs in her bed, fast asleep. Of course, it had taken three stories (one being read twice in a row) but finally the toddler had been unable to withstand dreamland. Now Abby settled back to reply to all the texts about the pictures of her and Ziva. She realized that she still had not received an answer from Tony or Kate - what was up with those two?!

...

Hope that you enjoyed! Was the proposal a bit of a surprise to anyone?

I am thinking that this story might be another five or so chapters. If there is anything that you are desperate to see, please let me know! :D