2 1/2 years later

Tony stood in front of his mirror getting ready to go to his graduation. It had a been a long time coming and he was excited. His wife and daughter were going to watch him graduate today. Wife and daughter, what a thought. Tony gazed into the mirror and thought about the last two years.

2 1/2 years earlier

Alex and Tony had walked out of the bullpen and into the elevator. "You know that everyone now knows we are together, right?" Alex asked with a smile on her face. Tony just chuckled and nodded his head yes.

"Yes, I know," Tony said. "We were coming out anyway, this just made it easier." Tony leaned agains the elevator wall holding Alex's hand. He was so tired his body hurt. He could feed the different bruises. Alex was watching him and asked the question she knew that he wouldn't like to ask.

"Are you doing ok? How are you feeling?"

"Ok." Tony grinned at Alex again. "Sore as hell, but doc said I was fine. Just need to push the liquids." Tony paused. "Got a little dehydrated in the desert."

The elevator reached the parking level and they moved together toward Alex's car. As they left, a guard ran toward them. "Agent DiNozzo, Agent DiNozzo." Tony turned toward the guard to find out what he wanted.

"I hope I don't have to go back." Tony mumbled. The guard stopped before Tony.

"I have a message for you Sir. Director Vance wanted me to let you know that you don't have to be back to work until Monday and if you needed more time to just call." The guard smiled as he said that. "Welcome home Agent DiNozzo and great job."

Tony smiled at the guard. "Thanks George. Have a great weekend." Tony took Alex's hand again and walked toward her car. "Ready to go home?" Alex smiled at Tony and they headed home.

Once they reached Tony's apartment, Alex told Tony to go take a shower, put on fresh clothes, she would fix him something to eat. As Alex puttered around the kitchen, all she could do was be extremely grateful that they, and Tony, was home. That they all came home safely. She was surprised to see Ziva there so she figured she would get the answers from Tony. Alex looked up as she heard Tony walk into the kitchen.

Tony looked at Alex. "I guess you want a sit-rep." Alex tilted her head and smiled. Tony picked up bowl of soup and walked over to the dining table. Alex picked up her bowl and the two bottles of water and sat down next to him.

"Ok, it went as planned, we found Saleem and we were captured, Gibbs had the kill shot, the only difference was that we found Ziva alive. That was part of the plan we didn't expect." Tony looked at Alex. "What is going to happen to her?"

Alex looked down at her soup then up at Tony. "I don't know. She could be facing charges on what happened before she left for Israel. Rivkin killed an ICE agent and she knew, even if she wanted to say she had no knowledge. I honestly don't know what is going to happen."

Tony closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He picked up his spoon and started eating again. Alex kept glancing up at him as she also started eating. She watched as he finally put down his spoon.

Tony look at Alex. "Wouldyoumarrymeplease?"

Alex eyes widen as she looked at Tony. "I'm sorry. Would you repeat that? I didn't quite understand." Alex started giggling as she asked the question. She heard what he had said.

Tony closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened his eyes back up and repeated his question. "Will you please marry me?" Tony held his breath as he waited for her answer.

Six months later they were married. Alex and Tony wanted a small wedding, to the point they were married by a judge that they both knew and liked. They didn't tell anyone they were married until after the ceremony. They didn't need anything and they just wanted to celebrate their lives together. Another six months passed when Alex found out she was pregnant. Eight months later she delivered a beautiful baby girl.

Present Day

Tony looked down at his hand again and saw the ring. They still had challenges in his life as Alex was still sent away for a time working for JAG. Admiral Rabb had really cut down on her travel, especially after the baby was born and into her first year of life. Tony had finished his dissertation when he was on paternity leave. The Admiral had hinted that as time passed Alex would most likely be offered the JAG position when he was ready to retire.

Alex called up the stairs. "Tony, we need to leave or we are going to be late."

"I'm coming." He called down. As he walked down the stairs he saw his beautiful wife and daughter waving to him. They loaded everyone into the car and started to the school. Tony was starting to fidget as he drove.

Alex looked over at him and started to smile. "It's going to be fine. You did great."

"I know. It's actually not the degree that's making me nervous. It's what happening after." He smiled at Alex.

They reached the school and Tony took his place with his class. He watched Alex and his daughter walk to their seats. He hadn't told anyone at work what was going on. He still didn't share a lot of his life even after all this time. As he looked around the crowd and saw Gibbs join Alex.

"Gibbs." Alex greeted him.

"Alex, how are you both?"

"Great, so proud of Tony." Gibbs grinned and took the baby from Alex. "How are you my sweet?"

The baby giggled at Gibbs. He was one of her favorite people. He made her the greatest wooden toys. Gibbs had finally retired from NCIS. He was still doing consulting work, mostly training new recruits. No one was better; no one except for the man receiving his doctorate today.

"He is going to take the job, isn't he?" Gibbs asked Alex.

Alex looked over at Gibbs and just smiled. Tony had been offered a deputy director position that included the recruitment, training and continuing education of NCIS agents. It would also include teaching them how to be undercover operatives. Tony had proven over and over how good he was at that particular endeavor.

"Yes he is. I am so proud of him. He deserves it. The best thing is that is regular hours and he won't be gone as much. We need him at home."

Gibbs smiled again at Alex and bounced the baby on his knee. "See your daddy up there, Kelly Elizabeth? You should be very proud of him, I am."

Tony heard his name called and he walked up to receive his diploma. He shook hands with the dean, heard the congratulations and looked out into the crowd. He saw his wife, his daughter and Gibbs. All three were smiling at him. Kelly was waving. How far he had come. His future was set. He had a family.

NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS NCIS

First I have to thank everyone who has stayed with me in regards to this story. With work and muse taking a holiday I couldn't figure out how I wanted to end it. I left Ziva's ending open. I figured you would make up her own ending. I did promise myself that I won't be posting again until I write a complete story. I know that I don't like it when someone leaves me hanging and I don't want to do that again so it may be a while before I post.

So thank you again for all the reviews, follows and favorites. For a first story I was so excited to see how many people liked this story.