A/N: Here's the chapter you guys have been waiting for! It's always nice to see our couple make up, right? Anyways, I'm sorry to say this will be the last update until Monday night. I'm out of town for a conference all weekend and have no access to my computer :( But hopefully once I'm back updates will continue to be regular through to the end of the month. Then my schedule at work changes and I don't know what my free time is going to look like.
Thanks so much for all your reviews and comments, I enjoy every one and you guys make me so happy. Have a great weekend all! :) ~ Aliyah
Jenny was making coffee when suddenly Gibbs' arms slid around her waist from behind. She jumped, not expecting the contact, and then tensed, remembering why they weren't touching or talking. For a moment Gibbs held her tightly to his chest, then whispered in a choked voice in her ear.
"No matter what."
The words took a moment to register but when they did, so did their significance. Jenny sagged against her husband, trying not to cry. He'd figured out how to mean them and that was all she needed. Slowly, she turned in his arms and the look in his eyes, the depth of the emotion, nearly took her breath away.
She brushed her fingers down his face and Gibbs took her hand, kissing the palm. Jenny closed her eyes and felt his breath on her lips before Gibbs' mouth covered hers and his hands came up to frame her face, fingers getting tangled in her loose hair. It was a gentle, tentative kiss, like he wasn't sure if she'd let him do even that. But Jenny welcomed the caress and leaned into him a little, letting their kiss deepen. She just wanted to feel him.
Pulling back, Gibbs tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and said roughly, "I'm sorry Jen. I love you." Then he presented her with a single red rose, repeating the declaration without a word. And this time Jenny did cry, though she swore they were happy tears even as he wiped them away.
"Me too," she said quietly, knowing he wasn't the only one who needed to apologize.
Holding onto her flower, Jenny laid her head on Gibbs' shoulder and just let him hold her. He'd never been so glad to have permission to touch his wife and cradled her closely, willing to stand there forever if they could just freeze this moment and never let go. But he had one more surprise and they didn't want to try to explain being late for work to the team, whose imaginations would just take them dangerous places.
Looking into her eyes, Gibbs saw Jenny's joy and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Come with me," he whispered, "I want to show you something." Grabbing his jacket, Gibbs draped it over her shoulders and lead her out the back door to the workshop.
Intrigued to see what he'd been working on that had been such a secret, Jenny stepped inside, shivering a bit from the cold air. Gibbs put his hands on her arms and turned her towards the corner. Jenny gasped. "Oh Jethro." Walking forward, she ran her hands lightly over the smooth wood, taking in all the details. With tears in her eyes Jenny turned to look at her husband. "It's beautiful honey. I can't believe you made this in only a month."
Gibbs kept his hands on her, not wanting to stop touching her, not yet. He kissed the back of her head. "I wanted to make something special for our baby." Gibbs sighed. "You get to experience it all because you're the one who's carrying him or her. But I can't do anything. I'm feeling left out," he admitted.
Jenny leaned back into Gibbs and took his hand. After a minute she decided to share the newest development. Lifting up her shirt, she placed his hand against her skin and ran it gently across her abdomen. "Do you feel it?" she said in a hushed tone.
Closing his eyes, Gibbs focused on his wife's body, which he knew so well. He moved his hand again and there it was, the slightest bit of roundness announcing that there was indeed a baby growing in her womb. Overcome with emotion after two days of not speaking, being forced to face losing everything, and now another indication, finally, that made Jenny's pregnancy feel real, Gibbs moved in front of his wife and kissed her softly, tenderly, and with all the love he possessed.
They stayed in that embrace for awhile before Jenny stepped back and broke the spell. "I think we better get ready for work," she said softly, bringing reality back into the little bubble of them.
Gibbs nodded, searching her eyes. "Drive in with me?" He'd missed the little moments this week.
Jenny agreed and he caught her hand as they went back inside. He'd apologized and with love she'd forgiven him, but there was still the knowledge that a kiss and a flower wouldn't make it all better right away. Gibbs knew he needed to prove himself now and he already had an idea in mind. All it required was a phone call and a little help from family.
NCIS
McGee got in early and sat down at his desk, immediately pulling open every drawer and rifling through them. After last night and the date he and Abby had gone on to make up for missing New Year's, he'd officially run out of patience. Now he needed to find that piece of paper. But after tearing through the entire desk, Tim still hadn't come across it. Just as he was thinking he might need to come up with a reason to leave and take a quick trip to Silver Spring, Ziva walked in, thankfully without Tony.
"Ziva!" McGee stood up quickly.
She looked at him warily. "Good morning McGee. What happened to your desk? It looks like a tomato hit it."
"Morning." He didn't have time for pleasantries today. "Do you happen to know Abram's number off by heart? I misplaced that paper you gave me."
A slight smile curved Ziva's lips. "Is it hard to wait McGee?"
The junior agent groaned and slumped into his chair. "You have no idea."
Taking pity on him, Ziva grabbed one of her cards and scribbled the number on the back. "Be polite when you ask," she warned her friend, "he does not like to be rushed."
McGee nodded. He had no intention of getting on Abram's bad side. "Thanks."
It was almost lunchtime before Tim found a moment to call. The bullpen was empty and quiet, so McGee took out his phone and Ziva's card and dialed the number.
"Shalom. This is Chosen Expressions. I am Miriam. How can I help you?"
"Hello," McGee managed, having not expected another person to answer. "Is Abram available please?"
"May I ask who is calling?"
"Special Agent Timothy McGee," he said out of habit.
"Of course. One moment please."
Beautiful foreign music began playing and Tim tried to relax. Less than a minute later the older man's voice came on the phone.
"Yes Mr. McGee, what can I do for you?"
McGee swallowed. "Hello Abram. I was just wondering if you could tell me how much longer it might be before my ...order is ready." In case anyone else happened to walk in and overhear, he had to keep the conversation sounding innocuous.
Abram chuckled. "Is it not easy to be patient when you have found the right woman. Nevertheless my friend, I was about to call you." He cleared his throat and Tim feared the worst. "I experienced some difficulty acquiring the center stone from my supplier, so it is taking longer than usual to finish your ring. Now everything is in place and I am just finishing the detail work you requested. I know that initially I said eight weeks, but I promise you will have it before the end of next week."
McGee's heart sank but he strove to continue being polite. "I appreciate the work you've put into this Abram. When I bring her in to meet you, you'll know it was worth the effort."
Abram smiled. "Love is always worth the effort Mr. McGee. Thank you for your graciousness. I will see you next week. My wife will call when the ring is ready."
"Your wife?" McGee asked, curious.
"Yes, Miriam. You just spoke with her."
"I didn't realize it was a family business." He'd been a little one track minded last time he was there.
"It is," Abram explained proudly. "My daughters Esther, Ruth, and Naomi also work with us."
"Maybe I'll meet them next time," Tim remarked. "Thank you Abram."
"Shalom," he said, ending their conversation.
McGee had barely flipped his phone closed before a pair of hands slid across his eyes and a voice he'd know anywhere giggled, "Guess who?"
While his heart hammered wondering how long she'd been standing there and what she heard, Tim played along. "Ziva!" he exclaimed. "I thought Gibbs told you to stop sneaking up on people?"
Behind him, Abby grinned and shook her head. "Nope."
"Director, aren't you above playing such games?" McGee continued. His choices for women he worked with were rather limited.
Abby leaned in and kissed the back of his neck. "Last guess Timmy."
He pulled her hands from his face and turned around. "Well, in that case it must be my beautiful girlfriend come to grace me with her presence."
She dragged him to his feet so she could hug him tightly. Then Abby checked the area for people, specifically Gibbs-type people, and quickly kissed his lips. "Right answer."
McGee drew her back against him. "I love you Abby, have I told you that recently?"
Abby bit her lip and shrugged, looking very mischievous. "Probably. But I'm never going to complain about hearing it again."
He fingered the bottom of one of her braids and looked deep into her eyes. "I can't wait to ask you," he whispered and Abby's eyes widened. Lately he'd tried to stay away from the engagement topic and she got the feeling he was as frustrated with the delay as she was. Tim picked up her hand and kissed her empty ring finger, longing for the day she'd wear a declaration of his love, something that said she was his. "I just need one more thing."
Hopeful, overjoyed, and suddenly without words, Abby pressed her lips to his. Forgetting they were at work and people might see, McGee wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and Abby melted into him, pouring love and longing into the kiss.
They were fully absorbed in each other when Tony and Ziva walked into the bullpen a moment later, stopping short at the sight of their friends making out. If Ziva didn't know McGee was still waiting for Abby's ring, she would assume congratulations were in order for their engagement. Tony's mouth fell open and he and Ziva exchanged awkward glances. What they'd walked in on was...intense.
She looked over her shoulder at the elevator and Tony understood. Trying to figure out why he was saving McGee's butt, the senior field agent balled up a piece of paper and aimed at his friend's head. "Probie!" he hissed. Surprised and annoyed, McGee let go of Abby enough to glare at him. Tony jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Gibbs in 5...4..."
As the countdown registered, McGee squeezed Abby's hand and watched her rush away. Sitting down, he started organizing his desk. Ziva cleared her throat and wiped her lips and cheek when he looked up. Shooting her a grateful smile, Tim rubbed the remnants of Abby's lipstick from his face just as Tony's countdown hit zero and Gibbs strode in holding a cup of coffee.
Casting a suspicious glance at the three of them, their boss sat down and proceeded to ignore everyone else in the room. McGee breathed a sigh of relief until his instant messenger program popped up with a new message from TheGreatAD. You owe me big.
Rolling his eyes, McGee nodded slightly, aware that Tony would hold this over his head for the foreseeable future. But thinking back to the feel of Abby in his arms and how her lips moved with his, Tim decided it was probably worth it.