It's rare these days for the entire team to be together. In fact, it technically hasn't happened at all since the bombing, as McGee and Ducky are both homebound and have yet to see each other. Breaking the news, therefore, will be an affair involving a maximum of three stops and a minimum of two, depending on whether Tony and Ziva tell Gibbs alone or not. And that, really, is the ultimate question.

"If we tell him while we're all at McGee's, he can't kill us. There'll be witnesses," Tony says helpfully while they lounge in the living room.

Ziva narrows her eyes at him. "Tony."

"Okay, sorry. Uh. Oh, I got it: we tell Abby, and then let her blab it to everybody."

"Tony!"

He sees that she is actually growing aggravated and forces himself to wipe the smirk off his face. "Sorry," he repeats, meaning it this time. Scooting closer to her on the couch gives him a better view of her pinched, bothered expression. "Why are you afraid of Gibbs?"

"I am not afraid of Gibbs!" she snaps, drawing back from him. "I told you. It is… difficult for me to disobey him so blatantly, and I just want to make sure we do this the right way."

"Okay," Tony says slowly, holding up his hands in a 'whoa, Nellie' gesture. He isn't sure what set Ziva off, but her voice has become borderline hysterical and he feels that he should sedate her. (Which isn't actually an option here, unfortunately- it seems that he'll have to use good old-fashioned words.) "Okay. Look here. This is me, getting serious." He puts on an exaggeratedly somber face. "Now tell me what you want to do."

She stares at him, arms crossed and tongue literally in her cheek, for several seconds. Then her shoulders slump, and Tony breathes out in relief, because she is calming down. "I want you and me to get Gibbs alone and tell him first."

She really does want me to get head-slapped into Timbuktu, Tony thinks. There are many, many things he would rather do than look into those steely blue eyes and confess to breaking rule number twelve.

But what choice does he have?

0000000000

Night has fallen by the time they show up at Gibbs' house. Of course the door is unlocked; Ziva pushes it open and steps into the dark foyer, Tony right at her heels. They look around the still house for a second, and then she asks, "Was his car outside?"

"Yeah," he answers, already on his way to the basement. "Must be boat time."

Sure enough, as they huddle at the top of the stairwell, the sound of wood on sandpaper drifts up to them. It continues without ceasing for an immeasurable amount of time, and then it suddenly does. "Come on down, whoever's up there," Gibbs calls.

Tony and Ziva exchange a look.

"Still time to run," he mutters.

"No," she replies, taking his hand and threading her fingers through his. "There is not."

And it is she who leads the way as they descend the stairs, she who is going into it headfirst, she who is clutching his hand and refuses to let go, even when Gibbs' eyes settled on his two agents.

In that moment, Tony falls even more deeply in love with her. How could he have entertained the notion that when the time to tell Gibbs came, she would put an end to this thing between them? Ziva has not lied to him. Not once.

Their boss is silent. His sandpaper lays abandoned on a work table and he has his arms crossed over his stomach, seemingly waiting for something. Apparently it takes too long for Tony to begin the process of forming words, because he speaks instead. "Knew we'd be having this conversation someday."

Ziva lifts her chin- no, she definitely is not afraid of Gibbs She is only growing bolder. "We are not here for your blessing."

Gibbs shrugs. "I know. I know that if you've gotten this far, I can't stop you now."

The man is psychic, Tony realizes. All the shit he'd gotten in the hospital was Gibbs' attempt to slam the brakes on a speeding train.

Well, those brakes have given out.

"We did decide to tell you first," she says, "out of respect."

"Respect, huh?" He gets off his bench and pours another shot of bourbon. Ziva's fingers tighten around Tony's; Gibbs takes his sweet time consuming the alcohol. The boat frame behind him seems to tower over all three of them.

Finally, finally, Gibbs slides his glass away and says, "I'm not gonna sit here and tell you guys that you're making a mistake. It won't change anything, and hell- maybe you're not. I'm just gonna say that it's not the easiest thing I've ever done, dating my partner."

"We don't care if it isn't easy," Tony answers, and catches himself before saying that he, at least, is in love. Ziva deserves better than to hear that for the first time in front of their boss. Instead he continues with, "That's not what we're in this for."

Gibbs nods slowly.

Tony can't stand the wait any longer. "Are you firing us?"

"Nope. Only warning you."

"Uh… that you're gonna fire us?"

"DiNozzo, I'm not firing you," Gibbs sighs. "Either of you. I just want you to be aware of the problems this could cause, and be ready to deal with them, no matter what the fallout is."

Tony looks at Ziva out of the corner of his eye and finds her doing the same to him. An understanding passes between them: we are.

0000000000

Back in the car, Tony sighs deeply. "He didn't yell at us or fight us on it or anything… and I still feel like a kid who's been sent to the principal's office."

Ziva pinches the bridge of her nose, leans her head back. "Working with him in that tiny room is going to be awful."

"I wasn't expecting this," Tony admits. "I thought there was a good chance that he would be downright pissed. But he was like… almost… disappointed. And it was worse. Way, way worse."

Now it is she who sighs deeply. They are still parked on the street in front of Gibbs' house. It's not a smart place to loiter, but it feels as if they need some recovery time before they head back out. "I do not doubt for one second that he cares about us."

"I don't, either," he admits grudgingly.

"Perhaps this is his way of trying to protect us. He is not angry because it wasn't about the rules themselves in the first place. He is worried because he does not wish for either one of us to be hurt."

Tony purses his lips as he turns the key in the ignition. The car sputters to life, ready to take them away. And he is so ready to go away. "Maybe while he's doing that, he should make sure he isn't getting in the way of something good."

Her hand intercepts his when he reaches for the gear shift. He waits, expecting her to say something, but she appears to be going for silent comfort.

0000000000

There are two more stops to be made, and they make them the next day, after a very uncomfortable eight hours with Gibbs during which less than fifty words are spoken. Tony does frequently lift his head from his work to find his boss openly staring at him. Not glaring, just looking. It's very unsettling and makes Tony squirm, which is probably the point.

After this, he and Ziva are tempted to go home and just make phone calls, but they know that their being together is no small deal and that their other team members also deserve to hear about it in person. Besides, Palmer has already called to say that Ducky is feeling good today and is up for the company. They end up going to see him first and are surprised when Abby opens the door.

"What're you doing here?" Tony asks.

"Well, hello to you too," the scientist quips, stepping back to let them in. "I decided it was time for Ducky and McGee to be reunited!"

Ziva raises her eyebrows, impressed. "You got him over here by yourself?"

"Yep!" Abby simultaneously goes into a long explanation of how she managed it and leads them to the living room. Once they turn the corner, she is interrupted by Ducky.

"Ziva! Anthony! What a lovely surprise. Come in, come in. What brings you here today?"

"Just thought we'd drop by," Tony says carefully, catching Ziva's eye. She nods, and he proceeds to make small talk, asking about everyone's day and, to Palmer, "the missus". There is discussion of health and married life and what working at NCIS looks like these days, and then, during a lull in the conversation, he decides it is time. Clearing his throat, he says, "We, uh- me and Ziva- we have something to tell you guys."

It's an unexpected remark, which is fairly obvious when the others turn their heads at the exact same time; eight eyes are suddenly trained on Tony. When he doesn't say anything else- what should he say? They hadn't needed to use words with Gibbs- McGee furrows his brow and asks, "Is everything okay?"

"Of course," Ziva says with a smile, coming to stand beside Tony. He relaxes when he feels her hand on the small of his back. "We just want you to know that we have decided to be… together."

The announcement is met with wide eyes and open mouths, but not a word. That is, until Abby exclaims, "Oh!" and flings herself at Tony. He wraps his arms around her in a grip much looser than the one she has on him. When she pulls away, he is shocked to find tears in her eyes.

"What is wrong?" Ziva asks, concerned.

"I'm so happy for you guys," Abby sniffs. "You've been through so much, and you've always had each other's backs, and it's- I'm just so glad for you."

As she hugs Ziva ("Abby, careful, my arm") Tony sneaks a peek at the others. McGee looks befuddled (which, honestly, was to be expected), Palmer is beaming, and Ducky has the proud smile of one watching his grandchildren succeed.

He looks back at his partner- his girlfriend- and almost can't believe it when he sees moisture in her eyes, too.

Just so you guys know, there are four chapters left, and the last one is scheduled to be posted on September 25.

Thanks so much for reading!