Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or rights to NCIS. After watching the Christmas episode
Although Gibbs had invited his Dad every year for Christmas on the request of 'his girl' he was still surprised when Jackson actually showed up this year.
"That's your bed." Gibbs said to his father as he pointed to the sofa.
"What happened to the guest room?"
"Not a guest room anymore, cupboards not completely empty" Gibbs replied nodding towards the kitchen, please don't ask about the guest room he though to himself
"How come?" Jackson asked.
"How come what?"
"How come the guest rooms not a guest room anymore" the older of the two gentlemen asked. Gibbs couldn't help the smile that slowly spread across his face "It's complicated".
How was he was going to tell his dad about his new house guest, turn out he didn't have to. As if on cue the front door flew open as Abby walked through laden with grocery bags. Immediately Gibbs walked over shut the door with his foot and helped Abby carry the bag to the kitchen, "Thanks Gibbs, I thought I was going to drop all this ".
"Now I see Leroy" Jackson smiled
"See what, Dad"
"Why I get the coach"
"As I said it complicated"
Abby came bounding out of the kitchen, after putting the groceries away, "Hey Jackson" she said as she gave him a big hug, "it's great to see you again". "So, you're the reason I get the sofa?" Jackson said smiling.
Jackson Gibbs really did like Abby she was a little unusual he would go so far as to say strange especially compared to the people of Still Water. That didn't matter to him and it certainly didn't seem to bother his son, if Abby was the reason Leroy Jethro Gibbs was smiling again then that was fine with him.
"You are more than welcome to my bed if you want it, I always have my coffin"
"Excuse me, a Coffin?"
"Sure, why not?" Abby being Abby just didn't get why some people though her sleeping in a coffin was an odd thing.
"Abby, you know I don't like you sleeping in that thing especially in this house. Dad you can have my bed if you like I don't mind the sofa"
"Gibbs its sweet to offer your Dad your bed but you know what that sofa does to your back, beside my beds big enough for two. We can share"
"I think I'll go get a beer let you two love birds talk this out" Jackson said with a smile as he walked towards the kitchen
"Abby" Gibbs began trying to hide the tremor in his voice "You sure about this?"
Abby took a step closer to Gibbs and placed a hand on his arm "We're both adults Gibbs and besides it not like we haven't shared a bed before" her mind flashed back to the Landon case and the few nights that followed that. Their relationship had changed a lot since then but they were taking things nice and slowly as they both wanted this to work. "Beside you know you're grumpy when you sleep on that thing"
"Fine Abbs you win, this time" He said giving her a kiss on the cheek. He hated to admit it but he really did hate sleeping on the coach.
"So now that's all settled do I get to know why your living with my son" Jackson asked trying to sound all fatherly when in fact he was very pleased for them.
"It's a long story, I stayed after a bad guy came after me but Gibbs and the team caught him. Then my apartment needed fumigating, again, and I just sort of haven't got around to going back"
"Abbs I told you before you're not going back to that place. You can stay here as long as you need"
Abby laced her arm through his "I know and that is just of the many reasons I love you"
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Gibbs wasn't that keen on his Dad being in the office with him. So he thought of a good way to keep him occupied and hopefully out of trouble.
"You're building toys?"
"No. We're building toys"
"When did you get in to the spirit?" asked Jackson Gibbs. He knew his son had lost the spirit of Christmas shortly after his first wife and daughter had passed away. Yet he had married again (several times in fact) but none of them seemed to be able to completely pull him, the younger Gibbs, out of himself. Jackson had a good feeling he knew why this year was different but he wanted his son to tell him.
Gibbs could say so many things "It keeps my hands busy" was the best thing he could come up with.
"I know you, there's something you're not telling me son"
"A lot of things have changed around here, Dad"
"I can see that"
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, you've smiled more this afternoon than you have done all year. The last time I saw you this happy was with Shannon"
"As I said earlier it's complicated"
"Love is complicated, son, but worth it for the right woman and that Abby is one hell of a woman"
"I never said anything being in love with her" Gibbs replied trying so hard to hide his true feelings from his father. The age difference between him and Abby never really bothered them but he wasn't certain about what his Dad would think.
"You didn't need to say anything, it's written all over your face, hers too"
There was silence
"There's a steak in the fridge; we'll talk when I get back" and with that Gibbs left, leaving Jackson to start on the toys.
"Yeah Yea"
"Hey Dad, I mean that"
"OK"
And with that Gibbs left for work, again.
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Gibbs passed a beer to his father and they began the talk they had promised each other earlier on in the day. Jackson began to describe the events in his shop that ending in him taking a boy's life.
"How'd you do it all these years son. I need to know"
"This why you came?"
"That, and because it's Christmas"
"It's not supposed to be easy"
"Nobody said it would be huh"
Shaking his head Gibbs replied "no"
They heard footsteps on the stairs then Abby appeared wearing a very short 'Mrs Clause' outfit "Hey don't you two have some present to deliver?"
"Wow."
"So you like it? I wanted something extra Christmassy for this year"
"Yeah Abbs I like it, very much" Gibbs replied trying hard to keep his voice and body under control.
"Dad you ready?"
"Sure am"
And with that the two Gibbs men left to play 'Santa'
'Right' Abby thought to herself 'time to decorate'. Christmas was one of her favourite times of year and as much as she liked decorating, really liked decorating for Christmas she hadn't had time to do Gibbs house yet. The bull pen and her lab had been easy she spent a lot of time there. There had been a busy couple of cases and by the time she came home She was to tired. Wait, since when had she started calling Gibbs place home?
Ok Jackson had got the Christmas tree; it just needed a few finishing touches. Gibbs' Christmas lights looked very dated so that needed sorting. Abby started to make a note of what was needed and then she grabbed her keys and headed to her old apartment building. Technically it was still hers, but after spending a while with Gibbs at his place that felt more like home than this small apartment.
Arriving at her apartment complex she made her way to the basement where each resident had a secure area for things they didn't really use. Abby let herself in to her 'cage' and found the boxes she was after. Gibbs and Jackson wouldn't now know what hit them. She piled the boxes in to her car and made her way back home. There it was again, she called Gibbs place home, again, she really should stop that. It wasn't her home not really, but Gibbs had said she could stay as long as she liked and he didn't seem in any hurry to get rid of her.
She knew that once she got back to Gibbs' she had very little time to do all she wanted to do. She had a mental list of everything she needed to do and in what order things needed to be done. In no time at all the dinner was started and smelled really good the tree looked a million times better and a Christmas wreath was attached to the front door. She placed presents under the tree and started to lay the table. She had picked a red table cloth with a gold runner and matching placemats. She placed a red and gold candle centre piece in the middle of the table and finished the table with cutlery and glasses. This was going to be the best Christmas Gibbs had had in years she was certain of that. As she headed for the kitchen to put the finishing touched to the food the front door opened and the sounds of a laughing Gibbs filled the house.
"Abby?"
"Yay you're back. Right on time, but then again you always know when I need you"
"What did you do to my house?"
"Don't you like it" Abby asked a little worried that she had gone overboard.
"I love it Abbs, I just wanted to say thank you" and with that he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "You did miss one thing though"
"What's that?" Abby said as she spun around trying to think of what she had forgotten.
"This" Gibbs said as he pulled a piece of fresh mistletoe out of his coat packet and hung it in the arch way between the living and dining rooms.
As Gibbs was hanging it up Abby placed a kiss on his cheek, to which Gibbs smiled.
"Abby my dear you certainly know how to make a place feel like home" Jackson said giving her a quick hug.
"If you two want to sit down I can dish dinner. Gibbs you sit here" she said indicating that Gibbs should sit at the head of the table.
"Well Leroy you certainly got yourself an amazing woman there"
"She's not mine Dad, Abby belongs to Abby." He still didn't quite know how to define there relationship
"No? You could have fooled me"
The dinner was wonderful Abby had certainly outdone herself. Leroy Jethro Gibbs house had not been filled with this much love and laughter in a long time. He felt contented and happy; know he just hoped that Abby liked the gift he had got her. He just hoped that what he was going to do tomorrow was what she wanted aswell.
After the meal had been eaten and the wine had been drunk and the dish washer loaded, everyone was pretty tired. "Well I don't know about you young ones but I am exhausted. Night Abby night Leroy sleep well" Jackson said with a smile as he walked upstairs to his son's bedroom.
"Abby you sure about this, I can still take the sofa?"
"You know that sofa hurts your back then you get grumpy and you can't be grumpy tomorrow because it's Christmas"
"Come on then let's go to bed" I could get used to saying that Gibbs thought to himself
"Yes Leo" Abby said with a smile as she took his hand. It was her pet name for him even though most of the time she still called him Gibbs.
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The morning sun shone through the curtains, warmly illuminating the couple that lay in each other's arms. If it wasn't for the smell of coffee wafting up from the kitchen they probably would have stayed like that. As Gibbs stirred from his sleep he realised that his arm was draped over something warm. It was Abby. How had this happened he promised himself that he wouldn't go to sleep he would stay awake as not to embarrass himself. He had failed. He felt Abby stir, should he move his arm, should he tell her he was awake? For the first time in a long time he was second guessing his gut. Should he stay were he was with this wonderful woman in his arms or move before she woke up and pretend nothing happened.
Abby could tell Gibbs was awake, she had felt him stir a little while ago. Ok if she was going to make Gibbs truly understand what he meant to her she had to do something now. She laced her fingers in his, wiggled back slightly so she could feel his chest against her back and whispered "Happy Christmas Leo".
Abby had made the decision for him "Morning Abbs, happy Christmas." He placed a soft kiss on the back of her head and whispered "Why don't you call me Leo all day?"
"mmm I'd like that. What about when we go to Duckys for dinner"
"Well I suppose the team will find out about our relationship at some point, right?"
"Our relationship is that what we have Gibbs?"
Oh crap, thought Gibbs I miss read everything, I was wrong "If that's what you want to call this?"
"YES, Gibbs I want everyone to know the hottest man at NCIS is mine, well not mine cos people don't really belong to other people but, mine in a…"
Gibbs placed a finger on Abby still moving lips "Abbs, your babbling"
"Oh"
"So, is that a yes to letting to day takes it course"
"If it's ok with you then it's definitely ok with me, lets do it"
"Come on let's get dressed, smells like Dads already put the coffee on"
"But I want to stay here. I like it here with you."
"I know Abbs me to, but we really should get dressed"
"It's Christmas Gibbs we don't get dressed until after the breakfast and presents."
"Why do I let you talk me into these things" Gibbs said as he grabbed is bath robe.
"Because you love me" Abby replied as she grabbed a jumper to go over her pyjamas.
Abby and Gibbs walked down the stairs hand in hand. This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
"Morning you two, coffee is on"
"Happy Christmas Jackson!" Abby said as she gave him a bit hug "Who wants presents?"
"Can I at least get a coffee?"
"Oh yay coffee for me to please, Leo" Abby replied with a big smile
"Leo? Let me guess it's another long story"
"Something like that" Gibbs said
Once they were all sitting in the living room with Abby near the tree the festivities began.
"Jackson this one's for you"
"You shouldn't have, but thank you".
"Well open it I want to know if you like it"
Jackson opened his present with care, it was a very fine crystal bourbon glass etched with his name and the date
"Thank you Abby this is very thoughtful of you"
Next she passed a beautifully wrapped gift to Gibbs.
Gibbs knew that Abby hated to be kept waiting so he opened his gift straight away. It was a framed picture of the 'Kelly'. Abby had taken it before she was forced to take the boat apart.
"Abby this is wonderful, thank you"
"I couldn't just cut her up I know what she meant to you I wanted you to have something to remember her by"
"Ok Abby your turn" Gibbs said giving her a small and quite plain looking box "It's not a lot but I hope you like it"
Abby opened the box slowly to find a key. Gibbs must have seen the confused look on her face "I want you to stay Abby. Stop looking for some other place and stay here, with me, if you want to of course?"
"oh Gibbs I would love to!"
Again they embraced and Abby whispered "I love you" in to Gibbs ear. Gibbs placed his hand on Abby face and for the first time in front of anybody else he declared his love for her then kissed her right there and then on the lips.
"I knew there was more to you two than you let on. Before you say anything I'm happy for you, both of you."
"This is the BEST Christmas EVER" declared Abby with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye.