Only three more days and she would be home. They had been apart for two very long months. After a week of emails they had progressed to texting. It was just as effective and often allowed for a quicker response time. She had sent him several pictures and a few videos. He didn't know how to view the videos so he called her. She answered on the first ring and walked him through downloading and viewing the video. After that call, he began calling her every night. They talked for hours and he was amazed at how easy it had been to actually open up and talk to her. They were open and honest about everything. He just hoped that the ease in which they were communicating continued in person. He was more than ready for the opportunity to try. He was definitely past ready for her return.

When Gibbs got to the office things were quiet so he decided to corner Tony.

Gibbs looked over at his senior field agent. "Dinozzo."

"Yea boss?"

"What are you guys planning for Abby?"

"Not sure yet. We were thinking of a little party at the bar or at Ducky's, but nothing final yet."

"How many people are you inviting?"

"Just us, Ducky, and Palmer. Tim and Palmer will probably bring their girlfriends. Want to keep it just the family."

"Keep it simple. Cookout at my house on Saturday. Should work since were off call." Gibbs bit back a smile at the shocked look on Tony's face. He had always had an open door policy at his house but he had never actually invited people over. Allowing his team to use his place for a party had to fall along the lines of Hell freezing over.

"You gonna let us set up a stereo for dancing and let us decorate?"

He nodded. "Just keep it simple and find music that us old people can tolerate. Stuff you can actually dance to."

"Sure thing, I'll have Ziva and Tim help me get everything planned and set up."

"Sounds good. I'll organize food with ducky. Simple but nice Tony. Want Abby to know how much we all missed her."

"Got it boss." Tony's mind clicked into party planning mode as he turned back to his computer

Gibbs opened up some cold case files to keep them busy for the day. Shortly after noon his phone beeped at him. It said he had a message with an attachment. He opened the attachment and smiled. It was a video clip of Abby and her four year old niece posing in black boots, matching red bikinis, and black parasols. The girls were both laughing and he could hear her brother Luca on audio.

'Is there a reason you are wearing combat boots with your bikini Abs?'

'She has to daddy the rules say all beauty pageant contestants have to wear shoes even when modeling swim wear. I was going to wear my high heals but I wanted to be twins with Auntie.'

'Go figure.'

'Auntie let's show daddy our walk.' Abby grabbed her hand and they did a pretty good version of a model runway walk. The video ended with both girls bowing, and then Abby came back on signed I love you Gibbs and blew him a kiss.

Gibbs sat back in his chair with a big smile on his face and sent her a text. 'I love the bikini but I love you more. Is that a tat on your hip?'

Her response was instant. 'Yes, it's the one I got when Kate got hers. It's the last one I had done. If you ask real nice I just might show it to you when I get home.'

They continued to text back and forth for a few minutes before Gibbs told her he had to get busy. They caught a lead a few hours later and it kept them busy for the rest of the day and well into the next. They had solved the case just before noon so Gibbs let them take a long lunch before returning to finish their paper work. It was still fairly early when he sent them home.

He stayed long enough to finish reviewing the reports then headed home himself.

After a quick shower he threw on a pair of jeans and an old USMC t-shirt and headed out back. He spent a couple of hours cleaning the patio pulling out tables and chairs. When he finished he headed inside to tackle the bedrooms.

The guest room just needed clean sheets. He usually kept it made up for company. Anyone that stayed over generally used it. Most often it was Abby or Tony. On rare occasions Fornell, Mike, or his dad used the room. He had only used the master bedroom a few times since his last divorce and he hadn't used it at all since Mexico. The mattresses had been purchased after Stephanie moved out. The bed was currently stacked full of boxes. He took his time going through the boxes. Most of the contents were repacked and placed in the attic. Once the boxes were gone he made sure everything was clean and made the bed. He put fresh towels in the bathrooms and then double checked to make sure everything was ready.

He wanted to share this room with Abby. Wanted it to be their room, he wanted it to be their house.

He opened the door to the third bedroom. It had been Kelly's room. He had packed all of her personal things into boxes that he had stacked in the corner of the room. The furniture was all the same as it had been when she was still alive. The twin size bed made up with Strawberry Shortcake bedding sat against the far wall. Opposite the bed was a white dresser with a large mirror. A small white desk and matching book case took up most of the other wall.

Gibbs sat on the edge of the bed and waited for the familiar overwhelming sense of despair he had always felt any time he had ever thought of clearing out this room. To his surprise it didn't come. Maybe it was finally time. This room had caused a lot of fights with Diane and more than a couple with Stephanie. Diane had wanted to make an office out of it and had fought him tooth and nail.

He didn't know if Abby would want to use the space but he wanted her to have it if she needed it. He was determined to make her the final Mrs. Gibbs. This time he was going all in. No more hanging on to ghosts. Shannon and Kelly would always be a part of him but it was past time for him to let go. They lived in his heart, not in this house. His future was with Abby and he was looking forward to it.

With that future in mind he spent several hours taking apart furniture and placing it along with the boxes in the attic beside the ones that had come from his room. Once he was done he felt a sense of peace and happiness settle over him. He could picture his girls, both of them smiling at him. And he could of swore he heard Shannon saying, 'It's about time Jethro. Take care of each other and don't forget to say the words.'

With a smile on his face he headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He pulled his phone out and called Abby. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey Gibbs, perfect timing. I just got done putting Lainey to bed."

"Did you have fun at the zoo today?" Full cup in hand Gibbs settled himself on the sofa.

"It was so much fun. I think I enjoyed it more than she did. We picked a good day. The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded. It was a great way to spend my last day here."

"Glad you had a good time. You ready to head home?"

"Yea, got my bags all packed. It's just a matter of getting all of them to the airport in the morning."

"I'll be there to get ya from the airport when you get in."

"That will be good. I would like that."

They spent several hours talking about anything and everything. It was well past midnight when they finally said their goodbyes and he sacked out on the couch.

The work day passed quickly on Friday. With no new cases they all left the yard around three. Tony, Ziva, and McGee headed to Gibbs to decorate and get the patio ready for Saturday. Gibbs headed for the store to get the food. Ducky, Ziva, and Brenna were taking care of everything except for the meat. They were leaving that as Gibbs job. When he got back to his house he found the boys hanging lights to an area they had set up as a dance floor.

"Looks good."

"Thanks boss."

He ordered take out while they finished decorating and they all sat around his living room talking and eating until it was time for him to pick up Abby.

He ushered them out ahead of him telling them he'd see them tomorrow. As he climbed into his car, he wondered if it was normal for a man his age to feel butterflies in his stomach. He tried to find a word to describe what he was feeling and cringed when the first word that popped into his head was giddy. Only girls felt giddy, he was a Marine for God sake.

GABBY_GABBY_GABBY

Abby wasted no time exiting the plane. She was excited past the point of being giddy. She missed being home, but more than that she missed Gibbs and the rest of her family.

She was also nervous. Things had changed between her and Gibbs and the close friendship that they had always shared had grown stronger the past few weeks. She had been shocked by the emails he had sent her. He had really opened himself up to her. She had always understood that he was a man of few words, only talking when there was something important to say. He had talked to her more than most over the years but his openness in the emails and even over the phone was amazing. Their conversation last night had been about their favorite things. They had learned quite a few new things about each other. She just hoped that he would be able to be as open face to face.

The moment they spotted each other she ran towards him. He opened his arms and caught her mid leap. His arms tightened around her and his mouth closed on hers. They broke apart when they needed oxygen.

"I missed you Gibbs. Never again. That was too long."

"I know. Missed you to Abs. Not lettin you go without me. Been two months and three days. Way too long." He gave her a quick kiss and a smile before pulling back.

Grabbing her luggage from the baggage claim he then led her to his car and drove them to her apartment.

"Went by and aired out your apartment yesterday." He laced his fingers with hers and kissed her knuckles before resting their hands on his knee.

She couldn't help but smile at his tender gesture. "Thanks, I'm sure it needed it."

"There was a note taped to your door. Fumigating next week." He could tell by the look on her face that she was aggravated.

"Great, guess I'll be looking for a place to stay."

"Gotta place, no need to look." The smile she gave him was contagious.

"You are the best Gibbs." Abby started bouncing excitedly in her seat. Stopping suddenly she threw her hand over her mouth.

"You ok Abs?" He gave her a worried look.

She took several small steady breaths before she felt that it was safe to speak. "I'm fine Gibbs. I've just been feeling a little off lately."

"For how long?"

"A few weeks, it started my last week in Paris. I thought it was something I ate at first but then it lingered for a few days. I figured I might have picked up a bug or something. Doesn't get to bad, just some occasional nausea. I have an appointment on Monday."

"Any other symptoms?"

"No." Her answer came too fast. And she was chewing on her lip.

He pulled into the parking lot of her building and led her upstairs putting her suitcases down in the living room as she shut the door.

"Talk to me Abs. Something's bothering you."

"It's just I don't want to jump to conclusions. Don't want to hurt you. This thing between us is new and I just don't want to mess it up but I'm afraid that we already did. I was going to see Lucas doctor while I was there but decided to wait. I'm scared Gibbs."

"Slow down Abby. What are you talking about? What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid of being right, afraid of you being upset. I'm afraid that I might lose you when I just got you. I didn't even think about it Gibbs. It didn't even register until last week."

He watched her hands signing as she rambled. Her movements were fast and jerky and he was having a hard time fallowing. A sign she made was clear enough to finally catch his attention. He felt as if he had just been sucker punched. It took him a minute to get his breath.

"I didn't use protection. I'm sorry Abby. I didn't even think."

"We Gibbs, we didn't use protection. I have never had sex without a condom and I was on birth control until eight months ago. I had to go off of them because they were screwing with my hormones."

"I've always used condoms. Except with Shannon, when we were trying. Not sure how I forgot Abs, I have never forgotten. Well, until now." They were both quiet for a while. Gibbs was the first to speak. "Let me go get a test. Don't think either one of us will be able to wait until Monday Abs."

"Ok then, let's do a test." He pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek before heading out the door.

Five minutes and two glasses of water later Gibbs was back with the test. Before she could take it from him he stopped her.

"Abby, I just realized that I don't want to do this here."

Her eyes were wide and she looked worried. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted to do the test."

"I do, I just ... Can we go to the house? I want to do this there. I know we didn't plan this but if this test is positive and I am going to be a dad again, I want to find out in the house we are going to raise our kids in. I was in Iraq the first time and missed out on this with Kelly. I want us to do the test in our house."

"Our house?"

"Yea Abs, ours."

She jumped up and grabbed her purse and keys. "What are you waiting on?"

They grabbed her suitcases and headed out the door.

He made the drive in less than 10 minutes. Grabbing her bags he carried them up to the master bedroom.

Setting the bags down, and picked up the test kit. "Want to do it here Abby, in our bedroom." He watched her quietly as she looked around the room.

The transformation was amazing. The last time Abby had seen this room it had resembled a storage locker. The room had been cold and empty despite the boxes that occupied every flat surface. Now it felt warm and inviting. The bed spread and curtains were all earthy tones that accented the rich natural color of the wooden headboard and hardwood floors. There was a large matching area rug in the middle of the room. There was a vase filled with wild flowers on the dresser. She couldn't help but think that it felt like home.

"Wow Gibbs. What did you do with all the boxes?"

"Attic."

"You didn't have to do all this. I know you don't like using this room."

"Did it for us Abs. Want you here in this house, in this room. Got the bed after the last ex left. Never shared it with anyone, wanna share it with you."

He smiled and handed her the test then nudged her toward the master bath.

Abby emerged a few minutes later and sat beside him. "Three minutes and we will know."

"What are ya thinking about?"

"Us, you, I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Good dream or bad?"

"Good. I'm afraid, but not for the reasons you would think. I'm sitting here wanting things I never thought I would. I want it to be positive. I want to have a baby with you. I want it all with you. But I don't want you to feel like ..." Her voice trailed off.

"I'm afraid you'll change your mind when the second B flares up. Not an easy man Abs."

"Gibbs, I am well aware of your bourbon drinking, boat building, bastardly ways. I know all about the job. Just because they didn't understand doesn't mean that I don't. That focus and determination, the drive and dedication, the need for solitude and sanctuary, I get it. I get you. Those are all things that attract me to you."

He pulled her into his arm and held her tight. "You're gonna marry me."

"Was that an order or a question?" She smiled up at him.

"It's a fact. And before you ask it has nothing to do with the results of that test. Although, I am a tad old fashioned and believe we should be married before we have kids. But when I was thinking about our relationship and commitment and remembered you saying you were never getting married ... It made me realize that I would do everything I possibly could to get you to marry me."

She laughed. "You missed the rest of the conversation. Tony and Tim were shocked that I was so against marriage. But Ziva said you may change your mind someday. I said the only way I will ever change my mind is if it's Leroy Jethro Gibbs that's asking. They thought that I was being funny. It may have seemed that way but I was telling the truth. You are the only man I have ever or would ever want to marry."

He lowered his lips to hers in a gentle caress. A beeping sound interrupted the kiss. "It's time. You ready?" He pulled her up with him and they made their way arm in arm into the bathroom.

Pulling her in front of him and wrapping her in his arms, they looked at the stick sitting on the counter.

Tapping her on the head she looked up and their tear filled eyes met in the mirror.

He smiled at her. "Hi mommy."

Returning his watery smile she turned around and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you Gibbs."

"Love you Abs." He covered her lips with his in a tender kiss full of love and promise.