Three years later.
Special Agent McGee looked down on the bed, not believing the vision that was lying there. Special Agent McGee watched the scene from the doorway, feeling nothing but love at that moment.
"Tim, you going to get your son dressed?" Cassie asked, not wishing to disturb father and son, both of whom loved nothing more than to stare at each other.
"Do I have to?" Tim wished he had said no, but Cassie had told him in no uncertain terms to take the job. "Can't we just stay here forever?"
"You going to tell her "no", then, because I am not being the bearer of that bad news." Cassie looked around at their home, the house Tim had bought for the two of them three years ago. "Come on, get Todd dressed, and yourself. I'll have the coffee ready for when you come down." Cassie made her way out of the bedroom, thinking back on the last three years, the engagement, the wedding, the pregnancy, Zivas wedding, the birth of Tims goddaughter, Jennifer Tali Werth. She remembered the bachelorette party for Bryn six months ago, now the new Mrs Dr James Palmer. Unlike Cassie, Bryn kept her own surname when she was at work.
Flashback
"Tim, we haven't been here for eighteen months, how did you get a table?"
"I booked it months ago, on the off chance we got the weekend off. Trust me, I'm still remembered. Plus, Marcus keeps bringing any new authors here when they are on book tours." Marcus Coleman had brought many authors, as well as his wife, to Bistro Aix over the years, never visiting any other restaurant when he was in Jacksonville. "Trust me, William was more than happy for us to eat here."
As the two of them walked through the doors, they were both hit with waves of nostalgia, the last time had been the night everything had changed, the night of their first kiss. Cassie remembered that night perfectly, including the very bad ending it had. She only hoped this night went better.
"Mr McGee, Miss Yates, it is a delight to have you with us, once more. You both look very well, your new jobs must suit you. Shall I show you to your table?"
"Not just yet," Cassie said, shocking Tim. "We will be at the bar, if thats alright?"
"Of course, Miss Yates. Let me know when you are ready, your table will be waiting." If any other customers had said this, William would have let his displeasure show. When it came to these specific customers, it would take a lot to upset him.
"Cass, what you doing?" Tim wondered, knowing she never drank before dinner.
"Letting my hair down, or rather yours." When Cassie got to the bar, she immediately got the attention of the barman. "A Corona, two slices of lime, and a glass of the Plumpjack Chardonnay, please."
"What are you doing?" Tim had no idea what had gotten into his girlfriend.
"Reliving the moment, with a few adjustments." Cassie smiled at him, remembering seeing Tim sat at the bar a year and a half ago. "I know you, Tim, that's why we are here tonight. We are on our first date, again."
"Technically, it wasn't the first date, as I hadn't asked you out." Tim was adamant their first date had been the late night surprise picnic when he had returned from Washington, with the news he was moving back with her.
"Whatever, you have your first date, I'll have mine." Cassie knew it wasn't their first date, but it was the first day of the best years of her life. When the barman returned with the drinks, Cassie had them put on the bill, her and Tim sitting in silence, smiling at each other, enjoying being back in the city and with each other.
"You think of coming back here? I mean, permanently?" Cassie asked Tim, knowing he loved the city more than he did Washington.
"Yeah, one day. Think I could retire here, come down for holidays. To move here, with you, I'm not sure." Tim admitted.
"Could you do it? Give up NCIS, move here, raise a family?"
"If it's with you, I could move anywhere, do any job. NCIS is my job, my career, but you are my life. If and when you want children, I am more than happy to raise all of them." Tim would love a family, to raise his and Cassies kids the way his parents had raised him.
"Well, I'm not saying we can start on a family right now, but we can certainly practice tonight," Cassie offered suggestively.
"Let's eat first, though. Think I might need my energy," Tim was doing his best to stop the blush he felt creeping up his cheeks. Turning away from Cassie, he spotted the bartender, gaining his attention. "Could you tell William we are ready to be seated, please?"
"Of course, Mr McGee." Walking off, Tim was amazed. The bartender was new, yet was aware of who he was. Tim had already phoned ahead to confirm the booking, and had been told that Marcell would be working and had prepared a special menu for them tonight. Tim didn't have the heart to tell Cassie.
"Do you think our seat is still there?" Cassie asked, peering through the restaurant to the French-style patio doors at the rear of the dining area.
"Most probably, we can go check it out after our set menu." Tim dropped the bombshell now, hoping Cassie would overlook it.
"What set menu?" Tim was wrong, she heard him perfectly.
"Marcell found out we were coming, and has prepared a special menu, just for the two of us." Tim hoped she was just as touched as he had been.
"Are you going to tell me what's on it? Or am I go into the kitchen and beat it out of the man?" Cassie was not happy with this development.
"I don't know, William wouldn't tell me, and I asked, several times." Tim wondered of the offer for family planning had been taken away.
"If this goes wrong, McGee, you are in big trouble." Yeah, Cassie was not happy, Tim thought.
"Cass, Marcell has never served food we didn't like. Any money it's food we have already had, but with his extra flair."
"It better be." Cassie had been looking forward to the crispy calamari, and she had never had such good risotto anywhere else other than this restaurant.
"Miss Yates, Mr McGee, your table is ready. Please," William had prepared their table personally, sealing off the fountain garden for his favourite customer and his guest. As they began moving through the restaurant, Cassie wondered where they were going, as William was not taking them to their usual table. When he opened the doors, he stood back to allow Cassie and Tim through. Cassie was blown away by the garden.
Hanging lights were everywhere, in the trees, around the flowers, suspended from somewhere, hanging in a circle around a table set for two. Cassie looked at Tim, seeing him stood next to her, his mouth hanging open.
"Please, be seated. Your first course will be out momentarily." With that, William closed the door behind them, placing a rope across the door, indicating to all other guests that the garden was closed for the evening.
"Tim, please tell me you had something to do with this?" Cassie wondered what William was doing.
"I had no idea this had been planned. I'd asked for a table for two and some extra privacy. I didn't expect this." Tim began thinking that William knew what was happening that night. "But I'm not complaining. They have the wine, the privacy. Can you hear music?" Tim didn't know if the music was real or his imagination.
"No, I hear it." Cassie was floored by this, her anger about the special menu having faded to nothing. "Come on, they won't serve us until we sit down." Tim pulled Cassies chair out for her, as he always did, sitting his own, next to her. While most people preferred to sit across from each other, Cassie and Tim always sat next to each other, leaving a space next to them open. This way so they could have a quiet conversation and weren't leaning over the table. Tim saw movement out of the corner of his eye, seeing two waiters approaching them. He wondered what this menu was. The two plates were set down, the silver dome covers lifted to reveal something amazing.
"Lemon and parsley deep fried calamari, served with tartar sauce," Marcell announced, neither Tim nor Cassie had seen him approach, too ensnared by the food. "Enjoy." Walking off, Marcell heard Miss Yates' comment of "I intend to." Smiling to himself, all of the staff were hoping this night was as special as the last time they had been there.
"The next time we come here, Marcell better have food as good as this again," Tim said, having tried a piece of the calamari.
"Marcell is coming with us. You are a good cook, Tim, but he beats you." Cassie couldn't believe the flavour of the squid she was eating.
"No arguments here." Conversation during the starter was almost nonexistant, exxcept to praise the food and the chef. When they were finished, the two waiters appeared once more, taking the empty plates away.
"If that was the starter, God help us on the main." Cassie was dreading the dessert, wondering how many hours in the gym she would have to spend to avoid any extra weight gain.
"I have no idea. You want me to see if it's too late to order the risotto for you?" Tim smirked at his girlfriend. Cassie didn't answer him with words. Instead, she shot a sideways glance at him, her eyes promising pain if he carried on. "OK, no more jokes." The glance remained. "I love you." Cassie smiled at him, leaning in to share a kiss with the man she loved. They heard a door open somewhere, the waiters returning with two more plates. Once the dishes were revealed, Cassie gasped in astonishment.
"For Miss Yates, we have Duck Leg Confit, served with a red wine jus, french beans and gratin dauphinois. For Mr McGee, we have Fillet of Beef 'Rossini', accompanied with roasted tomatoes and peppers, smoked eggplant, crispy pommes dauphines, served with an au Poivre sauce. Please, enjoy." Marcell heard no words as he walked away, hoping his dessert left them just as speechless. As Tim and Cassie took their first mouthful, they looked at each other. Tim was the first to swallow, and the first to speak.
"I'm employing Marcell, I'm never cooking again." Tim was amazed at the chefs skills, knowing these dishes were not on the menu.
"I'm never leaving," Cassie said, preparing her next forkful of food. "Either we move back, or he moves to Washington. Think we can bribe him?"
"Blackmail is illegal, but I think I can ignore that if we can get him to move." Tim believed he was eating the best meal of his life.
Tim and Cassie made small talk over the meal, mostly comparing it to the food they had in Washington. Both agreed this food was the best, Cassie knowing she would have to get Marcell to send Tim the recipe for the calamari. When they had both finished, they looked at each other.
"I don't know if my taste buds can handle dessert," Cassie admitted, her mouth still salivating from the flavours of the duck.
"Tell me about it," Tim said standing, wondering if he would still get into his clothes in the morning. "So, do you really want to hire Marcell?" Tim asked, semi seriously.
"Given half a chance and a bigger bank balance, absolutley!" Cassie took the time to look around the garden, noticing a few newer fountains had been included since they had last been there.
"Well, we could always hire him just for the wedding," Tim said, his voice coming up to her, rather than down. Turning, Cassie saw Tim on one knee, a box open in his hand.
"Cassandra Beatrice Yates, I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?" He had only told his father what he was planning, Cassies father had disapproved of him at their first meeting, and had not changed his mind yet. Tim looked into Cassies eyes as he said this, keeping it simple, the way they kept their relationship.
"YES! YES! YES!" Cassie couldn't believe it, she had hoped Tim would ask her soon, but didn't realise it would happen that night. She watched as he placed the ring on her finger, the light catching the diamond. Cassie reached for Tims face, her lips finding his. She felt her love for him, spreading through her body. She knew she would soon be Mrs McGee, and she couldn't be happier.
Marcell had been hoping the shared dessert of warm blueberry tarte served with salted caramel ice cream would have been the piece de resistance, but had not counted on Mr McGee proposing this early.
End Flashback.
As Cassie looked down at the round diamond cluster engagement ring, and the white gold wedding band, the one that matched Tims own, she hoped they would be as happy in their new home as they had been here. She heard Tim come into the kitchen, he and Todd both dressed. As Tim placed Todd in his chair, Cassie passed him his coffee.
"Are you all set?" Cassie asked.
"Are you?" Tim countered. "It's not just me and you anymore. There's Sailor to think of, and hopefully, Airman and Marine to come." Tim had given his son the nickname when Cassie was pregnant, neither wanting to know. Cassie had added the other two names for their children yet to be born. "Is this the right thing to do for him?" Tim was still worried about the move, both in terms of location and career.
"Tim, you've done this before, and look how you turned out. You're pretty amazing."
"I know, but still…" Tim couldn't shake away the doubt.
"Tim, the President asked, you agreed. I agreed to this, your parents and sister agreed, even my dad thinks it's a good idea. That alone is worth the hassle of moving." Cassie was thrilled when her dad seemed happy with Tims new job, knowing it would get him out of the firing line in Washington, knowing he was going somewhere safer, marginally, but still safer.
"I know, but I can't help but wonder if this was part of the mission." Tim had told Cassie about Jenny Shepards plan three years ago. Cassie knew Tim would make an outstanding NCIS director, but Tim had to get there his way. She hoped this new job helped him get there, because Cassie couldn't wait to see her husband standing on the catwalk, looking down over the bullpen, pride on his face, and hopefully, three kids running around him.
Tims new job will be revealed soon.