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: My friend did a double update for me while I was away, and I didn't have access to my laptop. But I hope you liked it... Onward we go... time to tell their friends. Had super awesome weekend... keep the fuzzies coming.

Tony and Ziva had invited their friends, as well as Tony's father over for a dinner party wanting to share their recent news with them. They knew that their friends would likely guess why they were invited but the couple still wanted to officially tell them about their engagement. The universe was clearly smiling on the plan, since Ziva's ring was back from the jeweler, and fit her properly. She couldn't wait to show everyone the antique ring, which meant more to her than anything Tony could have chosen himself.

Ziva was just putting the main dish into the oven as Tony set the table. They had told their friends they wanted to make a proper kosher celebration meal for them, and the first of their guests were now buzzing up to the apartment. Neither was surprised that Gibbs was the first to arrive, followed closely by Ducky, who had a bottle of wine in his hand. Abby and McGee showed up next, together, which made the small gathering suspicious, then Palmer arrived with his wife Brenna. Of course Tony's father was the last to show up, but he wasn't as late as they expected him to be.

When everyone was there they all took seats at the set table, and Tony began to fill up all of their glasses while Ziva checked on the food. She hadn't let him touch anything, fearing he would ruin it. It wouldn't be much longer for the meal and she came out of the kitchen, drying her hands with a towel, to hide the ring, even though the couple was sure their friends had already guessed what the dinner party was really about.

"I'm sure you can all guess why we invited you here," Tony told his friends after he had filled all their glasses.

"Spill it," Abby told him.

"We are engaged," Ziva told them, smiling.

"That's awesome!" Abby exclaimed hugging Ziva. "I get to be a bridesmaid, right?"

"You are going to be my maid of honour," Ziva assured her, hugging her back.

"I've been researching Jewish wedding traditions."

"We have not decided yet what kind of ceremony we want. But we would like Ducky to officiate," Ziva explained.

"It's been a long time since I have officiated a wedding ceremony, and I don't know Hebrew, my dear," Ducky told her.

"If we want any Hebrew prayers I can lead them," she assured him. "We would like you to marry us."

"How can I say no to you?" he kissed her cheek. "That's a beautiful ring it looks like it's an antique."

"It was my mother's."

Breena Palmer move closer to look at the ring. Ziva smiled at her, glad she had come as well. Palmer came over as well looking at the ring. Everyone ended up taking a turn looking at the ring, none of them wanting to ask the obvious question and risk turning the evening from something about celebrating into mourning. No one seemed to notice that McGee and Dinozzo had gone into the other room.

"McGee," Dinozzo said to the agent he often teased.

"Yeah, what's up? Did you want me to look at your computer again?" McGee asked.

"No, none of that geek stuff tonight. I know that Abby kind of called being in the wedding party, but you know you're the best man, right?"

"I am?"

"Of course you are. I wouldn't want anyone else up there with me when I marry Ziva. Don't make my get all chick flick lead okay?"

"Does this mean I need to plan a bachelor party?"

Dinozzo shrugged. "I'd be okay with just a poker night. I don't need to get out my wild side, I've been there done that, have several t-shirts."

"Good, I have never understood the tradition of going to see strippers."

Tony laughed. "It's so you can traumatize your son when he sneaks into a strip club the first time. My father still brags about the fact he got a lap dance from every stripper at the club the night before he was married."

"There was a point where you would have done the same thing."

Dinozzo shrugged. "I guess so, and that's why I don't want anyone else to be my best man or want a wedding party. I trust you McGee, you're my best buddy."

McGee laughed. "Okay we're boarding on chick flick."

"Let's go eat?"

In his own way Tony was admitting to how much he had grown up in the past few years, as well as how much respect he had for Ziva. They went back into the kitchen a few minutes later, to help serve the meal. As they ate everyone was sharing stories about weddings, and former loves. It was a refreshing change for the team to talk about something so happy. They also talked about who else was going to be invited, and realised just how short the list was.

The night ended up later than they had expected, but everyone was having so much fun the couple couldn't ask them to leave. When Ziva finally locked the door Tony could tell she was exhausted as she looked at the state of the apartment. Tony looked around, still running on the adrainline of telling everyone. He never thought he would get married, other than as one drunk night in Las Vegas, so his mind was still going a million miles a minute, and he needed to quiet it.

"Go to bed," Tony assured her, kissing her cheek. "I'll be in as soon as I can."

"You do not have to do that," she tried to argue.

"You made the meal, I can clean up, that's how this work. Go to bed Ziva, I'm spun you don't want me in there with you right now."

She laughed. "Goodnight Tony."

He kissed her softly. "Sweet dreams."

She didn't fight with him anymore and disappeared down the hallway. As Tony washed the dishes he realised something; in his heart he was already married to her, he was the moment she said yes, everything else was just going to be done for the traditions. They knew it wasn't going to be a large wedding, and he was glad about that. He had been to many large weddings before and he'd always felt out of place. He knew he would be just as happy to elope with Ziva, but he wanted to see her in a wedding dress.

Tony dried the last of the dishes and went into the bedroom. He stood in the doorway for a long moment, watching her sleep. He stripped down to his boxers and climbed into the bed. He pulled her close and kissed her cheek. He didn't want to wake her up, but he needed her to know he was there.

"I love you," he whispered.

She curled up to him still half asleep. "I love you too."

He smiled when he realised she had fallen asleep again. It didn't take long for sleep to take him as well. The whole evening had been great, but he was exhausted. He could only hope that the same thing wouldn't happen on their wedding night, because he already had all kinds of dirty thoughts floating around in his head about how that would go.

End Part 19

Notes: I started to put the grown up companion piece on paper on the way home from my road trip today... Not sure if I will get it to a point I like it, but I'm optimistic. Well let me know what you think going to review reply shortly THANK for having reviews for me to come home too. Thanks again Jen for updating for me...