Slightly shorter today, but there will be another chapter up tomorrow.
XXII. Happy Is the Man Who Finds a True Friend, And Far Happier Is He Who Finds That True Friend In His Wife.
"Jethro, why have you called this clandestine meeting in your basement?" Ducky asked as he descended the stairs.
"Nothing clandestine about it, Duck." He said, flicking the light on.
"Then why's it just us three?" Abby asked, frowning at the severe lack of boat. "What did you do to your boat?"
"Finished it." He placed a pile of papers on the worktop in front of them.
"What's all this in aid of, Jethro?"
"Before we start, I want you to know that this secret is to be guarded with your life. Understand, Abby?"
"Yes, sir." She saluted.
"I'm building the furniture for Tony and Ziva's babies." He said. "These are the blueprints." He tapped the drawings in front of him. "I need you two to help, seeing as I have more to build now."
"Gibbs, I broke your boat the last time I did anything down here." Abby said quietly.
"That's why you're decorating them. They are going to be white with pastel colours, Abs. No black or red."
"What about me?"
"You, Duck, are gonna help me build them." He placed a pile of hand tools in front of him.
Abby woke up to the smell of sawdust. She blinked her eyes and stretched, looking around Gibbs' basement. He was sat carving detail into a block of wood. "Where'd Ducky go?" She asked, pulling the rough wool blanket tighter around her shoulders to keep out the chill.
"Home." Gibbs didn't look up from the teddy bear design he was carving into the corner post of one of the cribs.
"What time is it?"
"'Bout 0400." He said, looking at his watch. "I didn't mean to keep you here last night."
"What happens when they go out and buy a whole set of furniture because they don't know that we've built this?"
"I'll get McGee to work something out."
"I thought that no-one was to know under any circumstances?" Abby walked over.
"McGee won't know 'til I tell him." Gibbs looked at her.
"I promise I won't tell anyone." She nodded. "I'm gonna take a shower." She grinned and skipped up the stairs. Gibbs shook his head. He didn't know if it was a mistake telling Abby. She wasn't the best with secrets, but she was by far the best with paint.
"Wow, nice decorating Abby." Tony looked around the Christmassy lab.
"It's only seven days until Christmas - I need to be ready. What to do want?"
"What, can't I just come and see my friend?"
"I meant what do you want for Christmas." She looked at him. "You seem nervous."
"I want to propose to Ziva, but I don't know how."
"Oh, Tony, that's brilliant!" She hugged him, her pigtails bouncing. "Not you not knowing how, but you two getting married."
"Yeah, well. I was thinking proposing on Christmas morning, but she doesn't celebrate Christmas."
"Well then it will make the day special for her as well as you." Abby grinned. "Tony, I don't think Ziva will care about when you propose or how you propose or where you propose. I think it just matters that you mean it and that it makes her happy."
"I guess you're right." He nodded.
"So have you thought about rings yet?"
"Done more than thought about." He placed a small black box on the counter.
"Can I see?" She grew excited, jumping up and down. He shook his head slowly, snapping the box into his hand and slipping it into his jacket pocket.
"You have to wait. It's only seven days, Abby." He shook his head. "Thanks for the advice."
"You're welcome." She beamed.
"This is a secret, Abby. No-one else knows." He looked at her with raised eyebrows, hoping he hadn't made a mistake telling his Goth friend.
"What is it with everybody and secrets?" She muttered, turning away from him.
"What'd you say?"
"Nothing." She replied too quickly.
"You said something about secrets."
"I was just saying that everybody's wanting me to keep so many secrets these days."
"Like what?" Tony asked, walking closer, a grin spreading across his face.
"Well…there was Ziva and the babies, now there's you and the proposal. It's just so tricky. I'm not very good at this."
"That's an understatement. If anyone finds out about this, I will restrict all Caf-Pow traffic into this lab. And, you won't be invited to the wedding." He threatened her.
"My lips are sealed."
"They better be." Tony said, his brow furrowed as he walked out of her lab. She breathed a sigh of relief and picked Bert up, squeezing him.
