Title: My Heart Cries for you
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
ating: T (same as the show)
Disclaimer: I am remain poor and don't own NCIS it belongs to it's creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: The couple have their friends over. Things are starting to wind down, and loose ends are being tied up, thank you all sooo much for all the support it means soo much to me.

Tony had been home for about a month, his hair was starting to grow back, although it was a little darker than it had been. Since he was home he'd been bored and hated not getting to see everyone he worked enough so he'd invited them all for dinner. It had been a while since he'd made an Italian meal but once he got it started it all came back to him. He remembered being in the kitchen with his mom, standing on his stool helping her put things in the pot, and stirring. He couldn't help but let his mind wonder to what it might be like to watch Ziva with any children they might have in the kitchen together. Ziva was a much better cook than he was but he couldn't ask her to prepare a meal for everyone while she was working.

He had decided to make lasagna with salad and some garlic bread. He put the lasagna in the oven hoping he hadn't forgotten anything in either the sauce recipe or the one for the noodles it had been a long time since he'd used them. He was just putting the salad into the bowl when he heard the door open. He went to greet Ziva who laughed seeing him wearing a "kiss the cook" apron. He leaned in and kissed her but she pulled away a moment later in a fit of laughter.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"You in an apron Tony," she replied curling up into him, kissing him softly. "Something smells amazing though."

"I made lasagna. It's funny while I was making it I started to remember when I was little helping my mom in the kitchen. I used to love helping her, but Gran never cooked with me, she told me that men don't cook."

"She was old fashioned Tony, I think it is very sexy when a man can cook."

He laughed. "You're just trying to get me to cook more often."

"Maybe, do you need help with anything before everyone arrives?"

"No, I think I've got everything under control. I set the tables and I put out the red wine the white is still in the fridge. I got the salad together, and the bread is ready to go in the oven right before this is done."

She laughed. "Such a good house husband I have," she joked.

"Once the docs clear me I'm going back to work."

"And I am hanging up my gun."

He was about to kiss her again but someone needed to be buzzed up. He let them in not surprised that Gibbs was the first to arrive. McGee showed up next, without Delilah who was at physiotherapy and didn't want him to miss out on the evening. Ducky and Palmer arrived next, Breena stayed home with Celeste because the baby had a cold. Abby showed up last explaining she'd stopped to get cupcakes for everyone. It hadn't been easy to make room for everyone, and had to bring his poker table into the kitchen. Everyone made themselves comfortable and it wasn't long before dinner was on the table.

"Did you really make this Tony?" Abby asked.

"Why is everyone also so shocked to learn that I know how to cook?"

"Maybe because you always have take-out," McGee suggested.

"I have some time on my hands right now, although I might have a little less time for the next month or so."

"Why's that?" asked Palmer.

"Ziva and I decided to buy a house, so I'll be packing while she's working."

"That's great!" McGee exclaimed.

"You're only saying that cause you won the bet," Abby sighed.

"What bet?" asked Ziva.

"I said you invited us over cause you got a new place, she thought you were pregnant," McGee explained.

"We are not ready for that," laughed Ziva, uncertainly as they hadn't really talked about that they were focusing on adjusting to living together and keeping their marriage strong.

Tony laughed. "The next time we have everyone over we'll have the space for everyone and maybe some space for a few extras too, but I think we made it work for tonight."

"You did, everything's perfect," Abby assured him.

"Thanks Abs," he told her smiling.

They all sat down and Tony brought the salad to the table first. Everyone took what they wanted, but saving room of the lasagna they could all smell. He took it out of the oven and gave everyone a portion, and put the bread in basket in the middle of the table.

"Tony this is amazing!" Abby told him. "You really made it yourself?"

"I agree," Bishop told him. "This is the best lasagna I've ever had."

"Thanks, I made the noodles and the sauce I'm Italian it's in my blood, at least that's what my mom used to say."

"I do not believe I've ever had fresh pasta before," Ducky told them. "This is certainly a treat, and very tasty."

"Thanks Ducky, I was afraid I'd forgotten since it's been a while since I've made it," he explained.

"I'm impressed, Tony," McGee agreed. "This is amazing."

"Well done, DiNozzo," Gibbs agreed.

He found it funny that everyone was so shocked that he could cook. He was finding that it was helping him get his mind off of work while he was home. He liked that he was able to see his work family and cook for them. He had enjoyed having more people to cook for and decided he wanted to do it more often, even after he was back at work. He finally understood why both his grandmother and mother would get so happy when they got to host a family meal.

The whole team ended up staying later than any of them had expected just talking and enjoying getting to spend a quiet night together without the stresses of work weighing on them. They all knew they wanted to try to make something like this happen more often but it was so hard sometimes. Everyone had things to focus on outside of work but they knew with more space for everyone they would at least be able to try to include the people who were quickly becoming their extended family.

Notes: Hope you enjoyed this, there will be a baby discussion later hehe... Reviews are good for the soul. :D