A/N: Well,I wanted this to be done by today, but it's not... ::sigh:: Oh well... It could very well continue for awhile. It all depends on how inspired I am. And guess what? Reviews inspire me. So, if you ever want to see Kate and Tony, you're going to have to convince me to write Gibbs' New Year's Eve Party. And after that, there's still plenty of time (almost a whole week) to follow either couple home... Provided that I get enough reviews to continue, of course... I love you guys...

Happy Christmas
Jenni

Gibbs couldn't believe the moods that Abby had been in today. First she had been shocked when he arrived on Ducky's doorstep; then she had been sassy when he just stood there; then she had been sarcastic and called him a slave driver; then she had been guilty and had apologized; then she had been cheeky and tried to make him build a snowman; then she had been crafty and gone outside with just Ducky- only to come inside with a snowball just for him; then she had been cunning and gotten herself away from him- several times; then she had been panicked because she couldn't find Ducky; then she had cried because she was worried. And now she was apparently throwing snowballs at him. He turned around, a puzzled expression on his face.

Abby grinned at him. "Fooled you, didn't I?"

"Uh-oh… Abbs, what on earth did you do?"

"Ducky's fine… We were just trying to send you on a guilt trip for not coming outside to play with us."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Where is the Duck-man?"

Abby shrugged. "Hiding… Actually, he's in the kitchen, getting dinner ready." Abby hurried up the stairs and opened the door. "Oh, and by the way, you're not allowed to come in unless you agree to build a snowman with me…" she called, almost as an after thought.

Gibbs stared after her in disbelief. What exactly had just happened? He sighed and walked up the steps. He tried the door, only to discover that, indeed, it was locked. Abby face peered out at him through the window.

"If you want to come in, you're going to have to build a snowman with me, okay?"

"Abby, did I ever put snow down your shirt?"

"No, but what does that have to do with the price of bread?"

"Well, what does the price of bread have to do with our conversation about snow?"

"Gibbs, that's the whole point… Okay, honestly? I don't know, my mother used to always say that when I said something completely random."

"It wasn't random- why should I build a snowman with you when you put snow in my shirt and I never did it back to you?"

"Because you love me?" she tried hopefully.

He sighed. "Abigail, I swear, if word gets out that I was building snowmen, I'm going to fire your ass, got it?"

She shrugged and opened the door for him. "Who would I tell?"

"I haven't got a clue, other than Kate and Tony…" He stepped inside and shut the door behind them, then followed Abby to the dining room.

"Like I said- who would I tell? You can't really think that I'm mean enough to ruin your reputation with your employees, can you?"

"You're right, as usual…"

Spread across the table was the customary turkey, as well as ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, Brussel sprouts, corn, roasted potatoes, deformed looking bread roll things, dark brown gravy, odd looking stuffing, and many other things he either couldn't pronounce or didn't know what they were. Plates were stacked at one end and Ducky was waiting for the two of them.

"Roasted potatoes, Ducky? Is that some sort of English thing?"

"Yes, actually. It dates back to the-" He stopped and studied Gibbs carefully. "For that Jethro, you can say the blessing."

Abby bit back a grin. This would be good…

Ducky held out both hands, waiting for the other two to participate. He sighed. "In England, we also hold hands while saying the blessing…" He looked at them pointedly.

"Ducky, I know this may come as a shock to you, but we're not in England…"

He smiled. "True, but as I am English, and Jethro and I usually have a traditional American dinner, I decided that this year, as there's one more joining us, we'd do things differently- properly."

Abby shrugged and grabbed Ducky's proffered hand and then grabbed Gibbs' before he could object. "You're the boss Duck-man…"

Ducky smiled at her. "Jethro…" he warned. Gibbs sighed and took Ducky's hand in his own. "There, was that really so difficult? Now, before you say the blessing, I would like for us all to go around and say what we're most grateful for."

"Ducky, you're mixing up your holidays. That's what we do at Thanksgiving…"

"In England, we do it at Christmas… I'll start." He smiled. "I'm grateful for all of us being here, for another year together and for the wonders of friendship. Okay Jethro- your turn."

He looked around helplessly. "I'm grateful that I don't live in England where they have all kinds of weird holiday traditions…" he muttered.

"Gibbs, do something proper!" objected Abby.

"Okay, okay… I'm grateful that our little holiday group is finally growing…" He looked at Abby and grinned. "Better?"

She nodded. "Much better, thank you." She squeezed his hand. "I'm grateful that you guys let me spend Christmas with you… Oh, and I'm also grateful for snow… It never snows for Christmas in Georgia, and it's very sad…"

Ducky and Gibbs chuckled softly. "Okay Jethro, say the blessing."

He pulled a face, but bowed his head anyways. "Lord, I thank you that we have Abby here with us. I thank you for her bright personality and her cheerful attitude. I thank you for Ducky and his English habits. I also thank you for those who are not with us- Kate and Tony. Please bless them and keep them safe for what's left of this year and so many more to come. I pray that you would bless this food we are about to eat, as well as the hands that prepared it. And now, if you'll forgive me for being blunt, I'm starving, so let's eat…"

As they released each other's hands, Abby finally let out the giggle she had suppressed since before Ducky's 'English habits'. "Ducky, I think next year maybe you should say the blessing."

"Hey, I asked God to forgive me for being blunt!" objected Gibbs.

"Abigail, it was a very nice prayer, no matter how unorthodox… I was very impressed at his mentioning everyone by name…"

"Gibbs, I was just kidding. It was very sweet…"

"Great," he muttered as he took a plate and began piling it with food. "Just what I need everyone to know- I can pray a 'sweet' prayer…"

"Okay then, it was a crappy prayer… Better?"

But he wasn't listening anymore. Suddenly the food was the most important thing in the world. Of course, she was pretty hungry too, so she didn't even notice.

"Ducky, what the hell is this?" asked Gibbs as he picked up one of the deformed looking bread roll things.

"That, Jethro, would be a Yorkshire pudding… It's sort of like a bread roll… They're very good."

He shrugged and put two on his plate, as did Abby. Their hands brushed against each other and she smiled at him.

When their plates could hold no more, they went and sat at the table. Everyone ate to their heart's content, but there was still a mountain of food left. They all had several glasses of champagne, but Abby was probably the only one who showed it.