What Mrs. Mallard Said -- 2
Author: GataChica
Rating: M for later chapters
Spoilers: Untouchable
Disclaimer: My writing is not-for-profit and I don't own the characters or anything else besides my ideas.
They were all off the next day, having solved the case of the Pentagon mole the previous day. Abby woke up feeling excited, with tingly feelings in various parts of her body. She could barely contain herself as she ate breakfast, showered, and dressed – she felt she was coming out of her skin. But she managed to stay calm enough not to break anything or make a foolish mistake.
She tried to think about how to approach Ducky, but that was too much for her. It took all her concentration to focus on what she was doing and do it right.
Finally she was ready. She took a deep breath and picked up her cell phone, pressing Ducky's number on the speed dial.
"Mallard residence," he answered absently.
"Hi, Ducky, this is Abby!" She couldn't keep the enthusiasm out of her voice.
"Hello, my dear Abigail. How are you this morning?" Anyone else would have thought he was speaking smoothly, but Abby recognized a small hesitation after "Hello."
"I'm great. It's a nice day, isn't it? I looked outside and there were only a few clouds, so I think it will be warm today. The trees are starting to bloom everywhere and the blossoms are really beautiful. I –"
"As are you, my little lotus blossom."
Abby could hear the tenderness in his voice, and she blushed. "Thank you, Ducky, that's so sweet of you. Um –" she hesitated a moment. "Do you have plans for lunch?"
"Not yet."
"Would you like to have a picnic?" She held her breath, hoping he would say 'yes.' She didn't have to wait long.
"I'd love to have a picnic, Abby. Where and when?"
"How about Great Falls Park, Overlook 2?"
"That sounds wonderful. I'll meet you there at –" there was a pause while he checked the clock "—1 o'clock. Will that be all right?"
It was all she could do not to squeal with delight. "Definitely! Why don't we both bring food then we'll share?"
Ducky agreed and they hung up. Abby found that her heart was pounding in her chest. She had never realized – why hadn't she realized ? – that she felt this way about Ducky. She had put him into a special compartment in her mind labeled "Love like a family member." She had never allowed herself to think of him as a virile man who could inflame her desires. She felt as though someone had slapped her silly, and she had finally become completely conscious of the world around her.
And it was about time, too.
Abby spent three hours making decisions: what to wear, what kind of food to take, and so forth. Her mind was racing, in spite of many attempts to rein it in. Finally she was dressed, having chosen a vintage black mini swing dress with wide shoulder straps and a red petticoat. She put her hair up in a quick bun with ringlets hanging down. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled. 'I look good,' she thought.
Next came the picnic basket….
Ducky was already waiting when she arrived at Overlook 2. He had found a spot for their picnic and had spread a large tartan blanket on the ground. He was sitting on a short stool unloading his cooler with his back to her, but turned at the sound of her car door.
"Ducky!" she cried, running up to him for a hug.
"My dear, you look absolutely stunning. What a lovely dress. Come over here and sit down beside me on the blanket." He gestured to the stool. "I'm afraid my old joints no longer allow me to sit on the ground."
She smiled at him as she sat down and spread her skirt out around her. "That's okay, Duckman. You're not really old unless you think you're old."
"Tell that to my knees."
Abby chuckled. "What did you bring? Mmm, it looks delicious."
"I didn't know if you had ever sampled traditional Scottish dishes, so I brought several." He took items out of the cooler as he named them. "Scotch eggs, salmon cakes, warm leek soup, and scones for dessert."
She looked at him, amused. "No haggis?"
"I brought some for myself but I didn't think you'd want it."
"Oh, I eat all sorts of things, Ducky. Never assume." She opened her picnic basket to take out her own food.
"What do you have, Abigail?" he asked curiously.
"I had the same idea as you did, so I took some food I brought back from home out of the freezer. It should be thawed by now." She picked up the first package. "Crawfish." She could see that he was interested. "Boudin. It's like haggis in a way. Here's a container of peas, and I have cornbread to go with them. I brought pecan pie for dessert." She looked expectantly at him.
He smiled and ran his hand down her arm. "By all means, let's begin!"
They talked of work and biochemistry and anatomy and the foibles of their co-workers, leisurely eating from the feast before them. Abby changed positions several times, eventually resting against Ducky with her legs out to the side.
"Wow," she said, leaning back. "That was great."
"Yes, indeed it was. But the food can't compare with the company." After that compliment, she felt it was time to bring up the purpose of the meal.
She threw her head back and rested it in his lap, looking at him upside down. "Ducky?"
"Yes, my dear?"
She could barely hear his voice, and it sounded a bit choked, so she sat up straight and turned towards him, alarmed. But the expression on his face was so full of love and longing that she didn't stop to answer. Instead, she leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. She started to pull back, but he took her face in his hands and kissed her again, this time more thoroughly. The kiss was passionate, although he didn't let her deepen it. When they finally broke apart her eyes were wide with surprise. "Ducky – why didn't you say anything?"
"I thought you might change your mind, and I didn't want you to feel any pressure."
"You knew? But how – wait, did Gibbs call you?"
He nodded, the ghost of a smile on his lips.
"Why did he do that?" she demanded, rising to her knees. "I didn't tell him to do that. He should have kept it secret."
"Dear Abigail, he only did it to protect you."
"Protect me? From you?"
"Yes, he was afraid you would be hurt if I turned you down harshly."
"Oh." She paused to think. "What did you say?"
"I said I had no intention of turning you down at all." This time he smiled fully. "If you were willing to take me as I am, I certainly would not turn down a woman as beautiful as you are, both inside and out."
His words warmed her heart, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against him. "Ducky," she said fervently, "I love you."
He placed a finger under her chin, and raised her face to meet his. "There is no way I can tell you how much I love you, Abigail," he murmured.
"How long?"
"Years, my dear. But I never thought you would want someone as old as I am, not at your age." He stopped for a moment, then forced himself to ask the question that was foremost on his mind. "Abby, are you doing this just because of what my mother said? You do know that she is senile, correct? She may not even realize she has a grandchild."
Abby smiled. "I know, Ducky. She just put the idea in my head, and I realized that that was what I wanted."
He hesitated, then asked, "When, my love?"
"Uh…" she made a mental calculation. "If I stop taking the Pill today, then it will be about 6 weeks. Although we could try in 2 weeks," she added.
"What do I need to do?"
She stared at him, unsure whether or not he was serious. "Ducky, surely by now you know where babies come from?"
"Oh," he said, looking embarrassed. "I thought –"
"No, not at all," she replied, shaking her head. They both laughed, and he took her hands in his.
"I'm afraid I'm a bit rusty in that department."
"It'll come back to you, I'm sure," she said confidently.
He thought to himself that she was probably right; already he could feel the warmth spreading through his body and straight to his arousal. He hoped she couldn't tell… then realized that it didn't matter if she could. In fact, she would probably be happy.
Abby sat for a moment, watching the slight flush appear on his cheeks. She grasped his hands and pulled gently. "Come down here with me, Ducky," she encouraged, guiding him to lie down with her on the blanket.
He didn't resist, although he did protest. "Don't you think we are a little – um – exposed here, Abigail?"
She laughed. "We can just make out. No one will care about that. Unless you think you won't be able to resist me," she teased.
"It could happen," he mumbled.
"What?"
"Never mind." He embraced her tightly and kissed her, this time not waiting long before he ran his tongue along her lips, asking for entrance. With a little sound of delight, she gladly opened her lips to him and ecstatically he began to explore her mouth.
