"Ducky's older Kate, he's not dead." – Gibbs
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"Happy for ya Duck…just don't come to me for marriage advice…" Gibbs held out his hand and they pulled each other into a tight hug.
"I'll remember that Jethro."
"You can however, come to me for a drink when you need one…and believe me, you'll need one."
"I'd imagine, when things go hay wire, you'll naturally be the first one I call."
Gibbs nodded. "As is this case with every one else." He smiled and turned to see Abby racing off the elevator, half laughing and half squealing.
"Ohhhh Duck man," she leaped into his arms, just as Ducky turned towards the unusual sound. "You're tying the knot…how sweet." She rocked him side to side as they embraced, and Ducky wasn't sure who was more excited, him or her. "So tell me, tell me…how'd you do it?"
"It?" He questioned, regaining his equilibrium from the recent hug.
"You know, proposed…I hear you Englishmen can really wine and dine, if you know what I mean." She sarcastically winked at him and took a seat on the edge of Gibbs desk, but only for a moment…
"Abby, off." Gibbs pointed, and she sighed in return.
"Aww come on Gibbs, its story time."
He shooed her with his hand. "Then go sit on the carpet in the corner, and off my desk."
She stood up pouting. "Fine." She grabbed Ducky's arm and pulled him a few feet away. "Okay, spill it…"
He laughed softly. "Well…it all started when I was twelve year old…or was I thirteen?...No matter…
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Flashback
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"Father, can I bother you for a moment?" The young Donald Mallard peered into the study where his Father sat, his nose in a book.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Not to interrupt me while I'm reading."
He nodded. "Sorry, I just…well…I'm really quite troubled, and was hoping, perhaps you could…"
He marked his place and closed the book abruptly. "What is it my boy?"
He blushed slightly and his Father waved him over. "Don't tell me? The four letter word?"
Donald shrugged. "How'd you know?"
"I can see it in your eyes, you're in love aren't you Donnie?"
"But, how'd you know?"
"Come, sit…let me tell you a story…"
Donald curled his legs up underneath himself and sat in front of his Father, for yet another spell binding Mallard tale. He adored all of his Father's stories, even though it bothered his Mother so. He loved everything about them, from the suspense to the down right well of knowledge his Father had. He only hoped he would one day live a life worthy of sharing such tales at the drop of a hat or whenever the situation called for it. And this was one of those times.
"I met your Mother when I was fourteen, and I will tell you it was love at first sight. Most people will tell you that no such thing exists, but I would tell them to speak for themselves." He stopped and laughed a bit. "There was something unique about her, just as I'm sure there is about the girl you are fancying…just promise yourself that no matter what, you will be nothing more and nothing less than who you are…you will find something special in every woman you meet…but it's the one that sees you the same way…that you will give your whole heart to…"
He looked up at his Father in awe. "Dad…just one more thing?"
"What's that my boy?"
"How'd you do it?"
"It?" He questioned.
"Propose to Mother?"
He adjusted himself in his chair and sighed. "Now there's a tale, I don't tell often enough…"
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"So naturally, as soon as she stumbled a bit on the ice, I reached to catch her and ended up on one knee…looking into the most gorgeous eyes, this man has ever seen…"
Abby grinned. "So that's how you knew…you saw it in her eyes?"
He nodded. "Why yes. If there was ever a women who loved me for every ounce of who I am…it's her. Not to mention, she just cant get enough of you my dear."
Abby blushed a bit.
"Well what's not to love Duck?" Gibbs added as he approached the two of them.
She smiled but only for a moment. "Don't try to make nice after evicting me off your desk earlier."
He shrugged. "Abs, do I come into your lab, and sit on your lab tables?"
"You're Gibbs…if you want to sit on my mass spectrometer, you can do it."
He glared at her and grinned. "Speaking of that thing…shouldn't you be working?"
"I'm getting a history lesson here Gibbs…"
"Is that right?" He added a sarcastic tone as he peered at Ducky.
"Quite, perhaps you'd like to sit on the carpet and listen in Jethro?"
He sipped his coffee. "I've heard 'em all Duck."
But before the conversation ended, an hour had passed, and now sat, Anthony DiNozzo, Timothy McGee, Ziva David and Abby Scuito, comfortably on the floor with their legs curled under each other and their chins resting on their hands. Jethro Gibbs, however, sat comfortably on his desk chair, finishing his third cup of coffee.
"And so, Lord willing, we shall both live happily ever after…"
Abby took to clapping as she sat up and applauded him. "That was so sweet Duck man."
Tony stood up and shook his hand. "I'm impressed Doctor, if I ever need pointers on chicks, you'll for sure be the first one I come to."
McGee chuckled. "You planning on tying the knot soon Tony? That's rich."
"Back up off Probie, I'll settle down one of these days."
Gibbs chimed in. "Yeah, just give me warning so I can make sure my spare bed has clean sheets DiNozzo."
Ziva stood up in his defense. "Come on guys, ease down, I'm sure Tony will find the woman of his dreams one day…and we'll all be digesting our words."
Tony almost took a step back at her standing up for him and shrugged. "You know Ziva, besides butchering two English colloquialisms…that was pretty darn nice. Thank you."
She smiled. "You are very welcome."
It wasn't long before a Gibbs stare cleared the bull pen out, leaving Ducky and Gibbs with a moment of silence as it were.
"Hell of a story Duck."
He shrugged. "My Father groomed me to be a master of story telling."
"My Father groomed me to be a sniper." He said with a smile.
Ducky returned the smile. "And quite the gentleman as well."
"Tell that to my ex wives."
Ducky shrugged. "Let's just hope you never have to tell it to mine, Jethro."
Gibbs tossed his arm around his friends shoulder. "I wouldn't worry about that …"
"How can you know for sure?"
"Because, you're a happily ever after kinda guy Duck..."
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AN: Aww, just thought I'd toss in…a little romance, fun, and how ducky became the wonderful story teller he is today… Thank you for reviewing.
