Warnings: Spoilers for "Blood Brothers"

A/N: I thought that this was EW's best performance to date. She was great, especially that scene with the inmate at the end, convincing him to donate the bone marrow. Ellie comes off as much more approachable and likable than Ziva or Kate. And thank you, writers, for giving her a NORMAL family background that was refreshing. Especially loved her relationship with her big brother.

Few thoughts on Tony post "Saviors": he seems different to me, not in a bad way, but definitely more chummy with McGee, I mean he willing did those reports for Tim... looks like things are over with Zoe... and the predictable Tony getting back together with Jeanne is going to happen, otherwise why would Tobias say a thing about the Sudan other than to foreshadow what's coming?

Enough with my cranky rants, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"You Shouldn't Be Alone"

Emily Fornell had sent him home with some leftovers, which he had thrown in the trash, but bless her—she had really tried to cook for them.

Tony had been all right with the idea of spending Thanksgiving alone until the actual day, regretting that he'd let Leah and Jack go to Boston without him when his wife volunteered to cook dinner at home for the two of them. He thought the alone time would do him so good, but that morning on his way into NCIS he'd found a twenty four liquor store and picked up a bottle of wine intending to stop by Ducky's later. Fornell had been nice enough to invite him over and since Tony wanted to pick the FBI agent's brain about Gibbs...

Keys jingled in the lock and Tony looked up startled. Leah was not due to be home until Sunday. Did I really sleep through the entire weekend? He thought as he watched the door open and Leah shuffle in carrying her luggage, Tim behind her with the baby. "I thought you were staying in Boston until Sunday?"

"You shouldn't be spending the entire weekend alone," Leah said with a sad smile.

"Yeah, who knows what kind of trouble you'll get into," Tim quipped with a grin. "Besides we had so much food left over yesterday..."

"Where's Delilah?" Tony asked.

"On her way up. Bert and Abby were helping with the food," Tim replied.

Leah put her luggage down and then took the baby from McGee. She eased Jack out of his jacket and winter hat, then she unbuckled him, gently taking him out of the carrier and tucking him in her arms. "I'm going to go change Jack. He wasn't a fan of the airport bathroom. Too cold I think."

Tony got up from the sofa and placed his beer on the coffee table. He grabbed his wife's luggage and moved it out of the way. "You know, you guys didn't have to come over and check on me."

Tim feigned confusion. "What are you talking about? Leah called and said she came home early and wanted us to all have a Thanksgiving meal together."

"And it just so happened that all four of you were free?" Tony questioned, with a slight smile.

"Okay, fine, we felt terrible yesterday that you were alone," Tim confessed. "When we got here Leah was getting out of the cab. Happy coincidence."

Tony smiled at him and went to find a bottle of wine. He poured everyone—minus his breastfeeding wife—a glass and set them down at the table. It didn't take long for the apartment to soon fill with chatter and the smells of leftovers cooking and Tony suddenly was hit with how lonely he'd been with no one there. While Abby and Delilah were entertaining the baby, Tim and Bert flipping through the channels to find something to watch, Tony snuck into the kitchen with his wife and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I'm glad you came home early."

Leah smiled and turned her head towards him and kissed him. "I know the last few weeks have been rough for you and that you needed space. Just made me sad that you were alone on Thanksgiving while Jack and I were in Boston having a good time."

"Guess I'm not alone," Tony quipped, "Or have people in my life that are not going to let me be alone."

"Are you okay with that?" Leah asked him honestly, "Because Jack and I can go stay with Norah for the weekend."

"You really want to spend the weekend with Norah and her new boyfriend?" Tony inquired, laughing silently.

"If you still need to be alone—yes."

"I don't need to be alone."

Leah searched his eyes. Tony smiled at her, softly. She eased in his arms and kissed him once more. "Happy Thanksgiving, honey."

Tony hugged her, tightly, pressed a kiss to her temple, and sighed, "Happy Thanksgiving, bella."

She gave him a beaming smile, the one that he absolutely loved and missed when she was gone. What had he been thinking when he said he needed to spend the holiday alone? Having her around, cooking for him, even if it was just leftovers, was much better than the take out he was going to pick up later after his workout.

He let go of her and grabbed her hand, leading her out into the living room. Tony might have thought what he really needed was alone time, but the truth was far from it. He needed time with his friends and family, to remind him that he wasn't alone. Pulling Leah closer to him on the easy chair they had squeezed into, he gave her another kiss on the temple. Being with his wife, his son, and his friends was definitely better than being alone.