Title: Sweet Gestures by rose_malmaison
Rating: FRAO, Genre: Slash, Christmas story
Pairing: DiNozzo/Gibbs, slash, existing relationship
Disclaimer: Borrowing the characters for further exploration. Spoilers: none
Summary: Giving gifts takes on a new meaning for the people at NCIS
Length: 12 chapters, 30,000 words, complete, originally written as a WIP in a big hurry!
A/N: I really enjoy reading feedback, comments and critiques. You'd be surprised how many ideas I get from reading your comments.

Sweet Gestures by rose malmaison

Merry Christmas, Baby.
Babe you sure did treat me nice.
Yeah! Merry, merry, merry Christmas, Baby.
Babe you sure did treat me nice.
Gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
And now I'm living in paradise.

Songwriters: Lou Baxter, Johnny Moore

Chapter 1

It was late and everyone except Gibbs was present in the bullpen, waiting for the boss to appear so they could finally go home. What with one case coming in on top of another there had been no relief or downtime for over a month and the entire team was running on empty. Now that it was nearing the end of December they were all looking forward to a week off starting on Christmas Eve.

"Remember," Abby warned the team with a dangerous glint in her eye. "We agreed."

Tony, not wanting to encounter the wrath of Abby, nodded dutifully. "Count me in."

She looked hard at McGee, Jimmy and Ducky to make sure they understood the terms she'd outlined.

McGee pulled a face and protested, "But I've already bookmarked the gifts I want to buy everyone online. It's so much easier that way. And fast, too."

Ducky looked askance at Tim. "My dear young man, to say I am appalled is an understatement. Christmas should not be so remote. It is the gesture that counts, after all."

"Just because I'm clicking to buy instead of spending endless hours shopping in overcrowded department stores doesn't mean my choices aren't from the heart," Tim said, a little affronted that Ducky would feel he was cavalier about gift giving.

"Oh, Timmy, you're always thoughtful," Abby agreed, standing behind him and hugging him around his neck. "But it will be so much more personal if we do it this way."

"Yeah, McEbenezer," Tony said with a grin. "Next thing you'll be baking us all virtual Christmas cookies."

Ducky eyed the young people gathered around. "Many people mistakenly believe that the twelve days precede Christmas Day instead as a countdown. In actuality the twelve days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and end on the morning of the Epiphany, on January 6th. In Scotland, early in the 19th century, the lyrics were, 'The king sent his lady on the first Yule day, A popingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?' The other gifts included plovers, goldspinks, a bull that was brown, three ducks a-merry laying, and even an Arabian baboon. Why-."

"Well, I'm not waiting. We're going to start giving our gifts any time now up to Christmas Day, Ducky," Abby interrupted. "It's such an exciting time of year! I love it - making people happy, sharing memories of Christmases gone by, snowball fights!" She released Tim from the hold she had around his neck and stood on her toes. She rotated 360 degrees, seeking Gibbs' whereabouts over the bullpen's divider walls. "Where's the Bossman? I don't want him to miss this meeting. Not that he's big on buying gifts for everyone, or anyone, as we all know. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say he hasn't actually bought anyone anything, not even for the secret Santa, but we can't leave him out this year. He has to join in."

"I'm just glad we at NCIS aren't doing secret Santa any more," Jimmy said. "It's so hard to find the right gift for someone you hardly know. Not that I can claim to know Jerry down in accounting, but that light-up Star Trek calculator I got him last year was a success only by chance. Abby's idea makes a whole lot more sense."

"And we have such a diverse group of people of so many faiths here at NCIS that it would be impossible to correctly celebrate all of their holidays," Ziva pointed out.

Tony closed down his computer and leaned back in his chair. "I agree with Palmer. No way can I cap what I now think of as my 'Delores breakthrough moment.'" He smiled at the memory.

Gibbs strode into the bullpen, coffee in hand. "Not buying any more Cherry Pie dolls, DiNozzo?"

Sitting up at attention, Tony replied quickly, "No, Boss. No more dolls. The decree from the top is now no gift giving between colleagues for Christmas, Hanukkuh, Kwanzaa, National Pawnbroker's Day, or Dewey Decimal System Day. Though you might want to keep the 21st open for Crossword Puzzle Day, Boss."

Ziva closed down her computer with a flourish and smiled. "Well I, for one, I will still be celebrating International Human Solidarity Day on the 20th, with a simple candle-lighting."

"And I'm not giving up National Chocolate-covered Anything Day," Abby said with a wide smile. "My personal favorite."

Tim finished his work and powered down, casting a sideways smirk at Tony. "You still celebrating Underdog Day, Tony?"

"Better than your personal favorite, McKitty: Cat-herding Day on the 15th," Tony snapped back with a grin.

"If you don't all go home soon it'll be Festivus, and we'll have to perform Feats of Strength," Gibbs said as he clipped his holster to his belt. "DiNozzo, with me."

Tony scrambled to his feet, a look of astonishment on his face. "Boss, you've been holding out on us. Since when do you watch Seinfeld?"

Gibbs' reply was a glare. "Home, and that means everyone."

As the team excited the elevator and made their way to their respective cars, Abby reminded them once more, calling out, "Remember, we all agreed!"

Finally home, Gibbs shut the door behind him and locked it then turned to find Tony standing only a couple of feet away. Neither man said anything for a minute and then Gibbs asked wearily, "Food or shower?"

Instead of replying Tony stepped forward and gathered him into his arms, resting his head on Gibbs' shoulder. He let out a big sigh.

Gibbs gave a small laugh and patted Tony on the back. "Only two more weeks."

"Won't make it," came the muffled reply.

"C'mon, you need food."

"I need a vacation."

"Sun. Sand. Palm trees. Hold onto that picture," Gibbs suggested, giving Tony a kiss on his temple.

"I can just see it now," Tony said. "You lying next to me on the beach. Hot sun, surf, bikinis, cocktails at sunset." He raised his head and smiled at Gibbs. "Yeah, I can hold onto that picture. How'd you get to be so smart?"

Gibbs sent Tony a menacing look. "Bikinis? What bikinis?"

"Hey, I think I have that bikini somewhere around here that I bought Kate back in Puerto Rico...I figure you'd look hot in it but if you prefer we can just go for the Speedo instead. Wrrrrow!"

"Huh. Apparently brains come with age. You'll get there some day, Tony."

"How can I get there, if you keep fucking my brains out?"

Gibbs laughed and kissed Tony affectionately and when the younger man slanted his head, deepening the kiss, Gibbs pulled him close and reciprocated. Every day he thanked the powers above that he'd come to his senses and finally accepted Tony's love as being the right thing for both of them. It would be a year on Christmas Eve, and in that time together they'd managed to overcome some significant hurdles.

They had managed to find just the right balance so they could work together without their personal life intruding too much. They'd figured out how to date in a way they were both comfortable with, because Tony liked to go to concerts, and to eat out and shop with Gibbs by his side. Gibbs liked to watch Tony in action at any time, whether he was buying clothes or window-shopping, but he drew the line at carrying his shopping bags. Both men had found ways to accommodate, and learned to give each other plenty of space when needed. Working together for nearly a decade had its advantages.

They'd squabbled far less than Gibbs had expected, although only one month into their relationship they had one hell of a fight resulting in sharp words and slammed doors. Not that Gibbs had actually said much of anything aloud. They suffered for a week without talking to each other, except for the bare minimum of communication required at work. Tony had retreated to his apartment, and Gibbs to his house only a few miles away. Due to the seemingly insurmountable rift, the distance felt a lot greater than it was. It was only with perseverance and a whole lot of compromise, from both of them, that they were able to make up. The entire experience had been so unsettling that Gibbs swore it would never be repeated if he had anything to say about it.

They'd had sex in positions and places Gibbs had never imagined would be possible, but then Tony was pretty adventurous. He found he even liked it that sometimes Tony took the lead. It was Tony who had brought up the question of what to actually call their relationship. Gibbs couldn't care less what it was called - all he knew was that he was so deeply involved with the younger man that he couldn't bear to think what life would be like without him. They'd agreed, after way too much discussion as far as Gibbs was concerned, to call their union a partnership. The word seemed somehow inadequate.

Within two months of their first kiss, Tony was spending every weekend and most weeknights at Gibbs' place. By three months a huge flat-screen tv had taken up permanent residence in the living room, and at four months they bought a new mattress together. And then, five months into their partnership, after Gibbs dropped subtle hints and then a more direct invitation, Tony moved into Gibbs' home, and into his heart permanently.

* end chapter 1*