Chapter 6: The Wedding
14 February 2028
At the family dinner on the second Saturday in December, Leon and Abby shared their plans with the family. They had chosen to get married on Valentines' Day in a civil ceremony. Abby had researched the options and that seemed to be the simplest and easiest. They had already put themselves on the Court calendar for that Monday at 0930.
Abby would have preferred to have all of the family present, but the kids had school. Leon had preauthorized the morning off for Jimmy, Abby, Ziva and any others who worked for NCIS. Tony told the couple that he would put in for the morning off first thing on Monday. Delilah said the same and Breena planned to take the time off if she could.
At the family dinner on 12 February at the McGee house, Delilah had to tell Leon and Abby that she could not make it to their wedding. She had an important video conference that she needed to attend on Monday, starting at 0700. While the family was eating, Jimmy got a call from Breena's stepmother. Ed had collapsed at dinner and was on the way to the hospital via ambulance. Jimmy and Breena quickly got ready to head to the ER; Gibbs offered to take the Palmer kids home with him for the night.
At 0830 on Monday, Tony, Ziva, Tim, and Gibbs met Abby and Leon on the courthouse steps. Tony and Tim had on their usual workday suits as both would be heading to their jobs after the ceremony. Gibbs had on his "weddings and funerals" black suit and tie. Ziva chose to wear a simple navy blue shirt dress, partly because it was one of Tony's favorites.
Leon had on one of his every day suits as he too would be headed to work after the ceremony. Abby removed her cape once inside and showed off her dress to the others. She had found a tea length, off white lace dress at a consignment shop in Alexandria. The lace had a spider web pattern. Instead of her usual pony tails, she had pulled her hair back into a single pony tail. Her boots were her usual type with the laces and buckles, but white instead of black. Her bouquet was small but tasteful with white and black roses and baby's breath. Ziva remarked that Abby's flowers were 'very Abby.'
When the group of six arrived at Courtroom B, Gibbs held the door for everyone to enter. They quickly took seats as a group as the bailiff was preparing for Judge Mazzio to enter. After the judge entered and seated the court, she had her clerk read the cases to be addressed that day. Abby squeezed Leon's hand in hers as the third item, "Vance and Sciuto, civil marriage," was read.
The first case was a name change for a widow who decided to revert to her maiden name. The judge asked her the standard questions; was she changing her name to avoid criminal charges, to avoid debt or other obligations; what was the purpose of the name change? The woman answered no to the first two questions and stated that she simply wanted to go back to her maiden name to avoid confusion with the late husband's first wife who had a similar name to her married name. The judge granted the request and called the next case, another wedding.
Abby and Leon barely paid attention to the marriage ceremony preceding theirs. Abby was too excited to pay attention and Leon was busy watching Abby. Gibbs noticed him watching her; he knew that Leon would be good for Abby just by the expression of love in his eyes.
Finally it was their turn before the judge. "Vance, Leon and Sciuto, Abigail," the clerk called out.
Abby jumped up, tugging Leon with her, "That's us! That's us!" The others smiled at Abby; she hadn't changed a bit.
"So Abby!" Tony whispered to Ziva, who nodded agreement. "I'm surprised she didn't squeal!"
"She would have scared everyone in the room if she had," Ziva whispered back.
The judge began the ceremony by directing Leon to recite his vows to Abby.
Leon clasped Abby's hands in his and began, "Abby, I pledge my love to you for the rest of my days. You have opened my heart to love again and you have shown me that it's okay to have fun in life again. I promise to be by your side in health and in sickness, in good times and rough times, for whatever life may bring us. I love you, Abigail Sciuto, with all of my heart." Leon wiped a tear from his eyes and kissed the back of Abby's hand in his.
Abby sniffled and smiled at Leon through her tears. "Leon, I will love you from now until forever as your wife, your other half and your best friend. I pledge to be by your side for all that life will put in our path together. I love you so much Leon Vance; I never knew it was possible to love another so much until I loved you."
The couple turned to face the judge as she spoke to them, "By joining hands, you are consenting to be bound together as husband and wife. You are promising to honor, love and support each other for the rest of your lives. By the authority vested in me by the laws of the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife." She rapped her gavel one time to make it official.
"You are now joined to each other by love and respect, two qualities you must always remember, even when times are difficult. I wish you the best of luck in your marriage, and it is my honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Leon Vance."
Abby and Leon turned around hand in hand. Ziva, Tony, Tim, and Gibbs hugged both of them as the rest of the people in the courtroom applauded. The other four followed the newlyweds out of the courtroom to a small courtyard with a gazebo just outside. Tim took pictures of the couple and then a few of Abby with Gibbs. He took several with Abby and Leon with Tony and Ziva, and then Tony took a few with Tim and the happy couple. A maintenance worker came by and offered to take pictures of the whole group.
Leon and Abby headed to NCIS, following Tim; Tony headed to Cheltenham after giving Ziva a kiss. Ziva and Gibbs headed back to the DiNozzo house. At the Navy Yard, after passing through the security check at the main entrance, Leon and Abby headed up to the squad room. Tim had arrived a few minutes before and alerted the others.
Abby and Leon stepped off the elevator to a shower of confetti and cheers. "Congratulations, Director and Mrs. Vance!" Ellie went over and hugged Abby and Leon. She led the pair to Tim's desk, where the MCRT had a small cake for the couple. Nick handed them a knife to cut the cake as Clay, Ellie, and Tim looked on. Abby put slices of cake on paper plates and handed them to Leon to distribute to the team. Clay brought out bottles of water for everyone and handed Abby a Caf-POW!
People from other teams went back to work, not much interested in all the fuss. The MCRT celebrated as they always had, since the first Team Gibbs had, as a family. After finishing the cake, Abby headed down to the lab and Leon went up the stairs to his office.
Thankfully, it was a quiet day, and a quiet week. Leon and Abby left on Friday night for a week long honeymoon at the DiNozzo's Rome apartment.
