Christmas was a pretty sucky holiday, Tony had come to find. His father rarely came to see him and Tony wasn't exactly invested enough to go out of his way to New York. Without much other family, especially not any in the D.C. area, it was often spent alone, in a Chinese restaurant, scarfing down lo mein and going over cold case files. Sometimes, he'd go to the Christmas Eve service the night before, feeling obligated to partake in the twice a year Catholicism he subscribed to. When he'd figured out that Tim had had plans, Gibbs was going to Pennsylvania, and Ziva was spending Hanukkah with actual other Jewish people rather than deciding to partake in the festivities of Christmukkah instead, it turned into one of those years.
Sitting in the church pew, he watched as the number of other attendees filed into their own seats. The church was more packed than it probably ever was any other time of year - except for, of course, Easter - and Tony couldn't help but tug on his collar. It was a tight squeeze and a little overwhelming and he was convinced he was going to get stuck next to some whiney child with sticky fingers who would attempt to ruin his designer suit. He'd been half way through forming an escape plan when he felt someone's hand brush against his shoulder as they took a seat next to him. He jumped slightly, immediately going for the first excuse he could think of."
"I'm sorry, this seat is t-" The familiar smile, sparkling green eyes, and jet black hair cut him off. Tony couldn't help the grin that spread across his face at the sight of her sitting beside him, and let out an elated; "Abbs!" before he was immediately pulled into a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"
"You're not the only Catholic in the office, Tony," she said with a smile, pulling back. "I knew this was the closest service to your apartment so I thought I'd stop by and see if you needed some company this year. Figured if you weren't here, I'd at least get to see a new take on mass. Except they don't really do new takes, do they? Kind of the same story every year."
"That's Christmas, for you. Very predictable. I keep saying they should add in some twists to the nativity scene, maybe a musical number, but no one ever listens to me." He could feel the glare of the old lady sitting behind him, likely furious for such blasphemous sounding words on a holy day like Christmas, but the laugh that Abby gave made it so he couldn't really be bothered to apologize. He liked being able to make her laugh. True, it was pretty easy to do, but the way her face lit up, the way the laugh seemed to take over her entire being when she gave it, always made him feel... nice.
As it was clear the service was beginning, they both quieted themselves quickly, going to sit forward and be the good church attenders they'd both been raised to be. Still, Tony glanced over at her out of the corner of his eyes, a warmth spreading into him knowing that she had come here just for him. Smiling softly, he reached over to her, lacing his fingers with hers, and giving her hand a squeeze.
Maybe Christmas wasn't so sucky after all.