"Abigail! Jethro! Mother will be so pleased to see you both. Especially you, my dear. You look absolutely exquisite, doesn't she Jethro?"

"Thank you, Ducky! Oh, but don't ask Gibbs, he doesn't seem to like it. Are Tony and Ziva here yet?"

"I highly doubt that, but yes, they are in with Mother at the table. Mr. Palmer and Agent Lee are here as well. Did you know they are an item?"

Laughing "Oh, Ducky! I'll see you in there. Gibbs."

Abby walked to the dinning room, not noticing Gibbs intense stare on the sway of her hips.

"Good god, man! You said you didn't like what she was wearing?"

"No! I just, when she came out I couldn't…and then she said she wanted to dress more conservately, and I asked, 'so you chose that'."

"Oh, Jethro. Will you never learn? Come on then, let's join the others."

"What?"

Ducky just shook his head at the ignorance of his best friend. It was obvious Gibbs couldn't take his eyes off of Abby. He just hoped they would realize it soon and preferably before they destroyed each other.

"WOW, Abby! You look HOT!"

"Yes, Abby, I must say you look very detestable."

"Desirable, Ziva. She meant Desirable."

"Aww, thanks you guys! Gibbs didn't like it. Mrs. Mallard! How are you?"

"Who are you?"

"It's Abby…Scuito. I work with Ducky. We've met before, a number of times, actually."

"Mother, you remember Abigail. She works in the lab and has that hippo you talk about."

"Oh yes. But where is your dog collar, my dear?"

"I decided to trade it in for the night. Hey Jimmy…Michelle."

"Hey Abby."

Agent Lee then smacks Palmer on the back of his head for staring at Abby and they all laugh.

Not long afterwards, McGee arrived with Director Jenny Shepard as his guest, stating that his internet date stood him up. Ducky apologized for not requesting Jenny join them for the evening (he thought she had had plans); however, she quickly dismissed it and said that her plans for dinner had also been cancelled therefore she ended up free.

An hour later, they all sat around the table eating and trying to avoid bringing both Abby and Gibbs into a conversation. It was obvious they had some sort of fight on the way there…though none of them knew the real reason they were fighting, which was so they could avoid tearing off each other's clothes. Everyone but Gibbs had complimented Abby; Tony, McGee and Palmer couldn't stop staring, which led to Ziva and Agent Lee becoming jealous. Although Michelle and Ziva had to agree Abby deserved the looks, and weren't really jealous of her, but that Tony and Palmer weren't paying attention to them.

(Planning on adding in some TIVA later )

"Well, this was fun and delicious, thank you for inviting us Dr. Mallard and Mrs. Mallard. Jimmy, are you ready to go?"

"Oh, uh…sure, Michelle. I'll see you tomorrow Dr. Mallard. Mrs. Mallard, thank you for inviting us."

"I'm still waiting on my drink, boy! Go and fetch it for me, will you?"

"Um, sure…"

"Not that one, Mr. Palmer! I swear!"

Ducky got up to follow Palmer into the kitchen while Agent Lee whispered to Abby.

"Have sex, already!"

"What?!"

"Jim, wait on us leaving…Ziva, would you and Abby mind helping me with something?"

"Michelle?"

"Just a girl problem, Jimmy. Go help Dr. Mallard."

Ziva, Agent Lee and Abby left the table in search of the restroom. It wasn't uncommon for the girls to leave for a quick chat; however, usually it was done with more finesse.

"Why do you require my help, Agent Lee?"

"Not for me, Ziva…for Abby!"

"Oh, well hers is not a problem to which I can assist with. No offense Abby, but you and Gibbs are not exactly my type."

"What?! Ziva, what are you talking about?"

"It is obvious, yes? You both are fighting for control over your desire for each other."

"That's what I was talking about, Abby. Just have sex already. The tension in there is so thick even Ducky's Mom could tell."

"Guys, you are nuts. We are friends. That's it!"

"Uh huh, so why are you refusing to look at him?"

"Well, Michelle, I…it's really that…oh hell."

"You want to have sexual intercourse with him, it is ok to admit it, Abby."

"No! No, it's not ok to admit it, Ziva. He and I…we agreed. Just friends."

"Well, I for one do not wish to continue with this tension."

"Ok, I'll talk to Gibbs about it. Good enough?"

"Ok."

"Sure."

Three hours and two bottle of wine later, everyone began to file out. Tony took Ziva home, McGee drove Jenny, and Gibbs left with Abby.

"Gibbs? Um…can we talk?"

"I've always hated that phrase."

"Pretty cliché, huh?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Not while you're driving."

"Well, then…my place is closer than yours."

"Ok."