Author's Note # 1: Sorry about the bold type guys, I am vision impaired and so the bold type actually helps me to see it. I will try to remember to publish without the bold. As to the punctuation comment, I thought I was doing good on that, I am not having this story betaed so please bear with any mistakes. I will try and do a better job of proofing before posting. Thanks to all of you who commented and please keep reading and commenting.

Author's Note #2: The first section of this story was told mostly from Gibbs point of view so I felt compelled to write it from Abby's as well.

Author's Note #3: If you would like to see a picture of the gown Abby was wearing, go to this URL .

When Abby arrived at the hotel, she looked around for Gibbs hoping that they could go in together. When she didn't see him, she figured he had already arrived and gone inside considering the time and so she made her way to the ballroom.

Stopping at the entrance, Abby looked around the room and spotted Gibbs talking with a distinguished looking man dressed in his formal Marine Dress Uniform. However, the man in uniform only got a glance from Abby. Her eyes were riveted to Gibbs.

His tux sat on his frame perfectly and accentuated the strength in his broad shoulders. As she gave him the once over appreciating the sight of him as she did every time she looked at him, her heart became a little more his as he stood there unaware of her gaze. As she watched them, Gibbs turned to look in her direction and she saw his eyes take on an unfamiliar look. Filing the look away to think about later, she headed towards the two men.

Ignoring the look of surprise on the man in uniform's face, Abby wrapped her arms around Gibbs in a hug of greeting, taking comfort as always in his warm embrace.

"Sorry I'm late Gibbs, I couldn't decide what to wear, I didn't want to freak anybody out but I didn't want to compromise my style either ya know and about the time I decided to give up and call Ziva for a loan, I found this," she rambled noticing the amused glint in Gibbs eyes at her nonstop flow of words.

"It's okay Abbs; you're not that late, I'm just glad you're here. I want you to meet the guest of honor for tonight. Jerry this is Abigail Sciuto. Abby this is Sergeant Major Jerry Tennison," Gibbs told her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Sciuto," Jerry said holding his hand out for Abby to shake, but instead she hugged him. Any friend of Gibbs was a friend of hers and she much preferred hugs to handshakes.

"It's nice to meet you too Jerry and please call me Abby," she told him with a smile and turned wrapping both her arms around one of Gibbs.

"Guess I'd better go find my place before this thing gets started," Jerry said and Abby noticed the look that passed between the two men.

"I'll see you later Jethro," Jerry said and patted Gibbs on the shoulder before moving off.

"Talk to you later Jerry and congratulations," Gibbs replied and then turned to Abby.

As they headed toward their table Gibbs was quiet and Abby remembered the look in Gibbs eyes when he had spotted her and also the look the two men had exchanged when they parted company.

"He seems to be a nice guy," Abby commented.

"Uh hmm," Gibbs responded and Abby looked up at him.

"Something wrong Gibbs?" Abby asked tightening her arms around his hoping she hadn't done or said something to embarrass him.

"Nope, nothing wrong Abbs, why?"

"Well you seem a little distracted so I thought something might have happened," she replied hoping he couldn't hear the uncertainty in her voice.

"Everything is fine Abbs, just thinking," Gibbs answered but Abby still felt a little uneasy.

"Promise?" she asked, not able to stop herself from asking and saw one side of his mouth lift slightly.

"I promise Abbs," he replied and Abby sighed inwardly in relief.

"Good, now let's enjoy our night out," she said happily.

"I fully intend to Abbs, I fully intend to."