Title: Favourite Friend
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show, nothing explicitly naughty)
Disclaimer: I am an unmotived beauty consultant and frazzled barista who does not own NCIS, it belong to its creator, network, writers, actors, actresses and other people who bring it to life weekly, I make no money from having fun with these characters, just some much needed sanity. I also do not own the song which helped this fic to grow it belongs to Katie Rox, and likely SOCAN.
Summary: Tony goes to pick up Ziva from the airport after she buries her father, but she doesn't want to go home.
Notes: Tony goes to talk to Gibbs about his future with Ziva. Some of you smart cookies totally guessed, that, but I'm fine with that. Thank you for all the fuzzies guys it means a lot… things are looking up. I won't be around for the next couple days, but a friend will be updating for me, so if you don't get review replies that's why. See I keep my promises :D well… enjoy

"…You're my favourite friend…"

A few days after Senior's visit Tony showed up at Gibbs in need of advice, he was not surprised to find his boss in the basement, although he wasn't working on his boat, he was working on something else. After they greeted each other neither man said anything for a few long minutes. Tony wasn't sure he could talk to his boss about what he'd gone there to talk about. He knew if he told anyone what he was thinking it would become very real, and just wasn't sure their relationship was there yet.

"If you're going to stand there pick up a piece of sand paper and start sanding," Gibbs told him.

Tony picked up a piece of sandpaper, and started to sand it, not sure what exactly he was working on. "Boss, how did you know how to propose to your wife?" he asked, skittering around the true purpose of his visit.

Gibbs shook his head. "Which wife?"

"Any of them, all of them?" he asked with a shrug.

"With Diane I got swept away at a function and decided it was time to try to be married again, she deserved better than that. Wife three's father's threatened me at gun point so the next night I asked her in bed, which I don't recommend if you plan on telling the story of your engagement. With Stephanie I knew I wanted to ask her before I left so I asked her on tarmac, which she thought was incredibly romantic."

As much as he was glad that his boss was being honest with him, it was Gibbs' first wife he was most curious about. His father had admitted to him that he would still be married to his mother if she had lived, and he often thought that Gibbs would have been a one-time happily married man had his first wife not been killed as she had been. If he was thinking about marriage he knew he only wanted to try it once, and as much as it terrified and titillated him there was only one person who he would consider that with; the woman he was living with.

"What about-?" Dinozzo asked.

Gibbs took a swig of his bourbon. "I did everything Tony, but mostly I listened to my heart," he explained. "I talked to her parents, I even showed them the ring I had chosen for her. I took her to the restaurant I had brought her to on our first date but I knew that wasn't the right place. I didn't want her to feel forced in to agreeing to marry because we were in a crowded restaurant. I wanted her to agree because her heart told her to. After dinner, and acting like a nervous wreck all day I rented a boat, we stopped in the middle of a lake, and while she was looking up at the stars I asked her. Okay, so I didn't get down on one knee, I always thought that was a little too romance novel, and I was afraid I might tip the boat if I moved too suddenly. I just took her hand and at that moment I knew it was the best time to ask her. I didn't say anything corny, I just asked her, and somehow I knew she would be happy. Knowing when and what to ask was just a matter of listening to my gut, just like I did when I decided to buy the ring."

"All right, that makes a lot of sense Boss. Listen to your gut but there are so many other voices in my head."

"Dinozzo, you can't do it if you think it's what everyone else wants from you. You have to ask her because it's what you want, and think she will too. I know everyone thinks that's where this will lead but if you're happy then keep things as they are. Don't rock the boat."

"I know Boss. I think they're right though. When I think about asking her I relax a little bit, but I'm terrified too. Thing are good between us right now, this isn't rocking the boat it could tip the whole thing over."

"I know and I was terrified too, every time I asked, that's normal, but you don't want the story to be that she asked you."

Dinozzo laughed, knowing his boss, if he stalled too long Ziva was most certainly the kind of woman who would take matters into his own hands. As much as he thought it would be interesting for a woman to ask him to marry her, with Ziva he wanted it to be traditional. He wanted to be the one to ask her because that would mean more since she knew his whole past and a proposal would speak volumes about exactly what he wanted.

"I know Boss," he assured him. "I don't want it to come to that with her.

"You know she will if you take too long."

"I know she would. Hey what are you making? This doesn't look like anything that goes on a boat."

"It's a chuppah I thought it may be needed soon."

"You too, Boss?"

Gibbs laughed. "I was right, wasn't I?"

"You don't think we're rushing things?"

"No, I don't. It's not like you two just met, you've been co-workers and friends for years. People who meet you assume you are in a relationship it's not like any other couple who might decide to get married after dating a few months."

Tony nodded. "You're right. When did you know you were going to marry Shannon?"

"The moment I met her, with the others I knew after a few dates. It's not something that can be explained it's something you feel. Answer this for me, when you think about the future is she in it?"

He smiled foolishly. "I do, yes."

"Then I think you're making the right choice. Dinozzo why did you come talk to me?"

Tony shrugged. "I knew I wouldn't be able to talk to Senior about it, the only time we've been able to talk about my mom without it causing a fight was when Ziva was there. It just made more sense to ask you."

"Don't over sand that," he warned. "Have you picked a ring?"

"I have something in mind."

"I always thought that was the hardest thing to find. Everything else made sense with each woman, I knew what I wanted to, but finding the right ring seemed so important. Get something she doesn't actually like and you're sunk, the whole thing is dead in the water before it started."

"Me too, boss. I think she'll like the ring I have in mind."

They continued to work on sanding the pillars of chuppah was making, not really saying much to each other. Ziva was out with Abby for the afternoon, and he didn't see the need to rush home. Dinozzo liked to spend time outside of work with his boss and he didn't often get the chance. He decided he would keep this a secret from Ziva, figuring it was something Gibbs would want to show her himself.

End Part 16

Notes: Sorry if there was something on the show about how he actually proposed to his wives… I looked online but didn't find much… Hope you like it heart and hugz…If you don't hear from me til Monday it doesn't mean I don't appreciate you it's just i'm not sure how much I'll be on my computer... hehe road trippp after work!