The Real Mrs Claus

Rating: T

Authors: Bamacrush and Gosgirl

Just a small something written as a thank you to ncislove for organising the Gabby Shipper Forum SeSa.

"Abby, pleeeaaase can we go see Santa again?! Oh please, please, please? Uncle Gibbs?! You'll take me to see him, won't you? Please say yes!"

Abby couldn't suppress a smile at the sight of the large Marine trying to stand firm in the face of her six year old niece's pleas and failing miserably.

Lara peered up from her diminutive height at the tall figure of Gibbs, clinging to his hand and tilting her head to one side, making her blonde pigtails bounce as she gazed at him with bright blue eyes which reminded Abby so much of her brother Luca.

"If Abby's okay with it, sure." Gibbs shot her a rueful glance and Abby was unable to stop her smile widening at the familiar eyeroll.

"Abby's totally fine with it, especially if she's not the one standing in line again. And I've still got some presents to buy so you two go off and have some fun."

Gibbs looked down at the small girl. "What say we let Abby finish and maybe pick up a present for her from Santa too?"

"Yay! Come on… let's go." Lara started backing up, tugging on Gibbs' hand.

"Hold on there." Gibbs grinned, standing his ground as he looked over to Abby. "We'll come find you?"

Abby nodded. "Sure, I shouldn't be long. I know what I'm going to get. Oh… and nice holding out there, Gibbs. Remind me to give Tony and McGee a few pointers on how to turn you into Agent Marshmallow and get what they want."

"It was the please that did it."

Abby giggled. "Of course it was but if you're not careful, your hard-nosed Marine reputation will be toast."

Gibbs chuckled, before leaning in to brush a soft kiss against her cheek, lingering to murmur in her ear. "Never could resist a Scuito in pigtails."

Abby shivered, closing her eyes briefly at his low voice against her skin. "Good to know."

The crooked half grin Gibbs gave as he pulled back didn't help her calm down either, nor did the large hand reaching up and brushing across the tinsel in her pigtails as he adjusted her black Santa hood. She'd worn a Mrs. Claus outfit in honour of the holiday season and of course, hers was black with white fur-trim.

It had been worth it to see the appreciative gleam in Gibbs' eyes as he'd looked her over when he'd picked the two of them up earlier.

Abby watched the two of them walking away, Lara chattering away constantly as she held onto Gibbs' hand, a surge of affection rising up for both of them.

Her niece had been staying for a few days while her brother was on business in the area. Luca was due to pick up his daughter tomorrow and take her back to New Orleans for the Christmas holidays, but Abby had enjoyed spoiling her niece while she was here, ably assisted by Gibbs, who Lara adored.

The team had the holidays off rotation for the first time in years and even her workload was lighter than usual. She'd received a surprise invite to spend Christmas with Gibbs… an invitation she'd accepted eagerly.

Abby wanted this to be the holiday she finally found out if Gibbs reciprocated her feelings.

And if he didn't, then she needed to find a way of moving on.

They'd been drifting closer for months now, ever since the bombing at the Navy Yard. Spending even more time together outside work, their flirting had taken on an extra edge and several times Gibbs had seemed on the verge of crossing that line, when she thought she'd read something more than affection in his gaze.

Times when it would only have taken a small move by either of them to close the distance… but she hadn't been able to find the courage herself to do it.

But Abby was beginning to hope that Gibbs might be ready to develop their relationship further. For her, it was much more than just an attraction.

She was in love with him.

But she'd had enough of this limbo of not knowing how Gibbs felt. She'd rather know for sure, even if it wasn't the answer she hoped for and broke her heart in the process.

Although maybe she could guess the answer now?

Emerging later from the store laden down with her final purchases, Abby stopped in her tracks as she looked over at the Santa Claus village.

Lara was perched on Santa's knee, laughing up at him as he handed her a present, but that wasn't what held Abby's attention.

Gibbs was standing to one side talking to Mrs. Claus… a Mrs. Claus with curves, long shapely legs and a bright smile, and what looked suspiciously like red hair poking out from under her fur trimmed hood… which may explain why the line waiting to see Santa held a lot more male adults than females.

Oh, that's just peachy…

Mrs. Claus was currently smiling up at Gibbs as she spoke, her hand resting on his arm and standing way too close for Abby's liking.

Although the man himself didn't seem to be objecting as he gave the woman his full attention, even going so far as to grace her with that sideways head duck and shy smile which always melted Abby's underwear, so she could only imagine how Mrs. Claus was reacting.

After all, most red-blooded females looked at Gibbs like lunch had just arrived.

As her hands tightened on her shopping bags and she fought the urge to start growling, Abby settled for glaring, hoping the woman would feel the weight of it from a distance but no such luck. She watched helplessly as Mrs. Claus finished scribbling something on a piece of paper and slipped it into Gibbs' coat pocket.

As the front door to Gibbs' house closed behind her, Abby dropped the shopping bags in the hallway with a sigh of relief, aware of Gibbs' eyes on her as he followed her in.

He'd been throwing curious glances in her direction all the way home in the truck and Abby figured he was puzzled about her uncharacteristic silence and the way she avoided eye contact as he drove. Her niece had been perched on the seat between them, oblivious of the sudden tension between the two adults.

She'd not mentioned to Gibbs that she'd seen him with Mrs. Claus but she'd been unable to hide her disquiet and Gibbs had inevitably picked up on her mood. His initial puzzlement had swiftly turned to barely veiled annoyance as she rebuffed his brief attempts to talk and he'd quickly fallen into a charged silence which nevertheless filled the truck as effectively as his imposing presence.

Abby risked a quick glance over her shoulder as Gibbs entered the house, carrying Lara who'd wrapped her arms round his neck, her face buried in his shoulder. Her niece was nearly asleep, worn out by the excitement and length of the day.

Lara raised her head, blinking sleepily at Gibbs as the door closed. Abby watched the annoyance Gibbs obviously felt with her fade from his face as he smiled at the drowsy child.

"C'mon, sleepyhead. Time you had a nap." Gibbs glanced over at Abby. "I'll take her up, if you like?"

"Noooo… don't wanna go," mumbled Lara, clinging onto Gibbs' neck.

Abby nodded, smiling gratefully. "Please, Gibbs." She came over to stroke Lara's hair, conscious of Gibbs' gaze burning into her. "C'mon, sweetie, if you don't rest now, you'll fall asleep over for dinner."

"Do I have to?" Lara continued to protest, gazing pleadingly at Gibbs.

"Yup. Sleep now. I'll read you a story later," Gibbs promised, hoisting Lara up onto his hip and heading for the stairs.

As unsettled as she was, Abby felt something inside her ache as she watched the tender care Gibbs showed as he carried the small child upstairs.

Abby shed her coat and retreated into the kitchen where she set about preparing dinner, determined to try and pull herself out of her bad mood.

It wasn't his fault.

Well, it was in a way as he had responded to Mrs Claus' flirting or so it seemed from a distance.

But Abby's jealous reaction wasn't his fault and if she wasn't going to ruin the entire evening and the whole weekend, then she needed to get a grip. If she continued to piss Gibbs off, he'd just retreat to the basement and tomorrow would be… difficult.

"You gonna tell me what's eating you. What I've done to piss you off?"

His low voice from the doorway made her jump at his sudden reappearance.

Abby resolutely stayed facing away from him as she chopped vegetables. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Sure didn't look like it earlier."

"It's nothing. I'm just being… silly. It's nothing."

Abby tensed as Gibbs approached, merely folding his arms and standing silently beside her. She risked a glance at him, taking in the usual expression he used in her lab when he was waiting her out and wasn't about to move until she caved and told him what was wrong.

Bowing to the inevitable, Abby sighed and braced her hands on the counter top. "Okay… okay. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain this without totally screwing things up but I'll try… but promise you won't be mad at me. Just let me get it all out before you say anything." Abby started pacing. "I came out of the store and I know I shouldn't react like this… I had no right to react like I did to what I saw but I just couldn't help it when I saw what I saw…"

Gibbs frowned. "Abby…"

Abby saw his puzzlement and sighed, stopping in her tracks. "Okay. Just… wait there."

Abby marched out to the hallway and rummaged in the pocket of his long black coat till she found what she was looking for. Returning to the kitchen, aware of his curious gaze, she walked up to him, slapping the paper on his chest.

"I thought maybe you might have a phone call to make?"

Gibbs frowned as he examined the paper but then his face cleared. "This? This is what's wrong?"

"Damn straight," Abby shot back, annoyance rising as she saw the flash of amusement in his eyes.

Gibbs examined her eyes, straightening up from the counter, something else simmering in his expression which made her throat tighten. "You're jealous."

"Too right I am. You're mine."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Abby froze, cursing how she'd put her foot in it so spectacularly. She dropped her gaze, mumbling into the prolonged silence. "At least… I hoped one day you'd… that is, you might think about… aw hell… wanted you to be mine, even though you probably… don't," she finished softly, holding her breath.

Gibbs didn't reply immediately but stepped closer and she backed up till she could go no further as he crowded into her space. His hand gently cupped her chin and tilted it up. Abby swallowed hard at the expression in his mesmerising blue eyes… amusement, concern, heat.

His mouth was mere inches away and she ached to lean in and taste him… to snuggle into that neck, press her face against his warm skin and just soak him up.

She saw his eyes flick between her eyes and mouth and he was so close as he pinned her against the wall... too close for her to think straight, his nearness intoxicating.

"No intention of ringing her."

"You don't?"

"Only one Mrs. Claus I'm interested in."

Gibbs held her gaze as he ripped the paper up and threw the pieces over his shoulder. Before she could say a word, he'd dipped his head and covered her lips in an open-mouthed kiss.

The sudden surge of lust was blinding as she leaned into his kiss, sliding her arms round his neck and her fingers into the short silver hairs at the nape of his neck as his own arms wrapped round her.

His kiss was hungry, dominating and she sagged against him, letting out a ragged moan as his hands slid over her ass, pulling her tightly against him and she felt his body's reaction.

Abby gasped his name as his mouth left hers and moved to her neck, his lips and tongue tracing her spider web tattoo, her hands clutching his broad shoulders as she clung to him, her senses spinning.

She drew in long shuddering breaths as her mind tried to catch up with the possibility she was going to get everything she'd ever wanted… and not just for Christmas.

When Gibbs raised his head from her neck, her breath hitched as she saw his eyes darkened with need, his hair tousled and his voice a gravelly husk… and quite the sexiest sight she'd ever seen.

"Satisfied?"

Abby curled her fingers into the front of his sweatshirt, pulling him close again and murmuring against his mouth.

"Not yet." She nipped his lower lip. "But by morning, I intend to be… several times."

And she was.

The end.