Ziva: I'm sorry Abby, I could never eat you.
Gibbs: I'll take one to go, for my dad.
Abby: Aw.
--
Gibbs was up and on his third cup of coffee before Abby arrived at the entrance to his kitchen.
"Is Papa G, up yet?"
"Papa G?"
"Yeah you know…Papa Gibbs…"
"Yeah, I know what it stands for Abs."
"Then why'd you ask?" She gave a quick shrug of her shoulders before setting down an array of Christmas cookies and bags of unopened presents. "What time is he gonna be up?"
"I'm not my Father's keeper."
"Well technically you are…after all, you are keeping him here."
"Abs…"
"So I hope you don't mind, but I invited Ziva, Tony, McGee over for breakfast too."
"Is that all?"
"Well I asked Palmer but he went home for the weekend…and the Duck man is with his Mom."
Gibbs gave up and glanced down at the gifts. "What happened to the no present rule?"
"Is it one of your rules?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Then it's breakable," she smiled. "Besides, Christmas isn't Christmas without presents. Duh!"
Just as he opened his mouth to respond his front door opened, and instead of seeing Tony or McGee he saw the tip of a Christmas tree.
"Slow down Arnold…not all of us have been hitting the gym like you." Tony hollered back at his partner who was pushing faster than he would've liked.
"Quit whining and turn to the left…I cant carry more than half the weight of this forever."
"Easy Probie…or your head won't fit through the doorway…"
Tony caught Gibbs stare and smiled. "Oh hey boss…Merry Christmas!"
Gibbs glared. "I have a tree."
Abby spoke up quickly. "Well yeah, but this is a real tree…because Christmas isn't Christmas without a real Christmas tree."
Tony and McGee continued their bickering until they finally settled the tree in its place. Ziva was not far behind.
"I am glad to see you did not kill each other in the process."
"The mornings not over." Tim spouted before catching his breath and extending his Merry Christmas to everyone.
Tony took the plunge and helped Gibbs in the kitchen while the rest of his team decorated the tree. Although it wasn't long before Tony was kicked out of the kitchen to join them. Abby's eye kept catching a particular bicycle tucked away in the corner just as Jackson made his appearance.
"Just in time for the food eh?"
Abby greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas Papa G!!"
"Do you get this kind of treatment at work too Jethro?"
He ignored the comment. "Morning Dad."
"I'll get you some coffee sir," Tony offered, but was soon sat back down by Gibbs glare. "Then again, no one makes a cup of coffee like your son does…"
One hour, and many pancakes later the group was gathered around the tree for presents and sweet conversation. One by one each of them left to their respective Christmas Day plans…but one in particular lingered longer than the others…
"I'll start the dishes son."
Abby smiled at him as he walked away. "So are you happy Gibbs?"
He was taken aback by the question. "Yeah…I'm happy Abs."
"You know you can't lie to me right? Cuz I don't lie to you…not ever ever."
He smiled at her. "I know that."
"So you're happy? Even without…"
He followed her gaze to the bike in the corner and pulled her into an embrace to assure her. "I'm fine Abs…besides…Christmas isn't Christmas, without memories."