Title: A Decade of Decembers
Chapter: Christmas 8:Silent Night
Warning: Angst,
Spoilers: Season 6 – 2008 set during Silent Night
Characters/Pairings: Tony/Gibbs (obviously lol!) mentions of Gibbs/Jenny
Rating: PG to M
Genre/Category: Angst, Slash, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Family
Word Count: 782
Disclaimer: I do not own or am in any way affiliated with those that own NCIS, nor am I connected to the show's cast and crew. This is written out of pure enjoyment and absolutely no money is being made from it's creation. Please do not sue. Also do not own Silent Night or It's A Wonderful Life
Summary: When Gibbs finally makes it to MTAC for the screening of It's A Wonderful Life, both Tony and Gibbs take time to appreciate being back together at last.

Christmas Eight – Silent Night

"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace. "
Silent Night – Jim Reeves

Tony sat, slouched in his seat in the back row of MTAC; where he'd moved himself to after the first toilet break the team had taken during the movie; biting nervously on his thumbnail, unable to pay even the slightest bit of attention on his favorite holiday Film, a tradition which he held as close as going to church on Christmas eve.

If he was truly honest with himself, he was worried about Gibbs' absence; not so much that the older man had gotten into an accident in the snowy weather, though his lover getting hurt or worse was always at the back of his mind, especially since he had been blown up on a ship and almost drowned in a slowly sinking car, but that Gibbs had decided they weren't going to give their relationship another try, that the strained atmosphere they had had between them since Tony returned from his stint as agent afloat; after Tony got his lover's ex killed, had finally come to its conclusion.

That thought made him feel utterly alone, even in a room full of his closest friends.

He tried to hold back the pained gasp at the thought, not wanting his team to know anything was wrong, but it was like he suddenly couldn't breathe and he had to furiously swipe away the tears which welled up in his eyes.

This couldn't be the end of them could it? They had been through so much together, had fought so hard to make their relationship work; harder than most people because, seriously, who apart from him and Gibbs would have to deal with not only the odd terrorist and threat to national security, but one of them almost dying from the plague and the other suffering from amnesia, forgetting they were even together not even a year later?

Gibbs wouldn't break his heart during one of the few things from his childhood that made happy and that he still held onto, would he? He knew that the man claimed the second B stood for bastard but he couldn't be that callous could he?

The handfuls of caramel popcorn he had consumed earlier were making themselves known once again, turning in the pit of his stomach and he felt the acidic bile of the pre-vomit making its way up his throat, burning and searing the flesh painfully.

He couldn't take it any longer, he shot up in his seat and was about to silently bolt from the room when he felt the familiar weight of a hand on his shoulder pushing him back down into the seat.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow at him in concern.

The man had entered a few minutes earlier, pausing by the door a moment to observe the scene of his friends, his family, reunited at last, indulging in the scene where no one was hurt, there was no dead body lingering in the background and there was definitely no toothpick chewing director looming over them, waiting to strike and tear them apart once more.

It was as he made his way down to sit beside Tony that he noticed his younger lover was more than a little unsettled.

When Gibbs placed his hand on Tony's shoulder, the younger man looked up at him, a mixture of pain, fear and hope swirling in his green eyes, his vision not faltering as the older man slipped into the seat beside him.

Gibbs could have kicked himself for taking so long to return, knowing that things had been a bit strained between the two men.

Sliding his hand around Tony's like he had back on the first Christmas they shared he gave it a firm yet reassuring squeeze and he heard Tony let out a sigh, head falling onto the older man's shoulder as they both settled in to watch the movie.

In the darkness of the back row neither man released the other's grasp, knowing that while it may not always be easy that things would get better and Gibbs had no plans to abandon the man he loved with all his heart.

'It really is a wonderful life' The ex-marine chuckled softly at the cheesy thought, knowing Tony would have given him hell for it if he had spoken it out loud; but he couldn't help it, having him back was the only thing he had wanted and no one needed to know that he was getting a bit sappy in his old age.

Tomorrow's Song: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

Author's Note: Just wanted to wish all of you who celebrate a wonderful Christmas! I hope your day is full of love, laughter and happiness. I hope the day brings you everything you wish. Stay safe!

Thoughts?