Disclaimer- They are not mine!! There are so many reasons as to why but here is the main two; If they were mine all of the lovely bills that seem to constantly be arriving in my mailbox would be paid the same day they arrived! And second we would have Jenny still along with a little Tiva baby on the way!! But I'm allowed to dream right?!

A/N- So I had a million and two christmas ideas running around my very overworked brain but nothing stuck as much as this did (Also once I had the first part written it wrote itself basically) So NickyK you were my secret santa person and I read over your stories (Which rock Btw!) and some of the ones on your fav list and thought that you would like this, I hope you do. Merry Christmas everyone :D

The art of Christmas pudding.

by Jennyngibbsbelong2getha

for NickyK

Earlier in the week:

Abby had come bouncing out of the lift carrying what looked like one of Ducky's specimen trays filled with ripped up white pieces of paper, When she saw that all of the team including Jen were in the bullpen she smiled and hurried over creating so much noise in her platform boots that by the time she had reached the middle of the bullpen seconds later she already had everyone looking at her. Gibbs and Jen had stopped mid conversation coffee cups held in mid sip and were both looking at her with mild concern and amusement. Tony was just looking at her wondering how many Caf-Pows she had managed to knock back this morning alone. Ziva kept well out of Abby's way knowing if she said anything Abby would most likely launch herself at Ziva for a hug that could even make the assassin wince, McGee who knew Abby the best clearly wasn't thinking as he stood up and asked the obvious question, "Abs what are you doing with that?" He asked motioning to the tray.

She rolled her eyes impatiently "It's got all of the jobs that need to be done for Christmas dinner" She explained quickly not bothering to breathe between words.

McGee raised on eyebrow and asked in his slow calm tone that was usually reserved for Abby when she was on such caffeine highs as this "Why...?"

She pushed McGee out of the way and shoved the tray to Jenny and Gibbs mouthing 'Pick one' To them both before she turned around to look at McGee "Cause McGee this year Ducky can't cook like he usually does and this is just a really cool way of dividing up the jobs" She explained

When Jenny heard the word cooking she almost choked on the breathe she was taking and shot a look at Gibbs suddenly hoping that the small piece of paper in her hand said anything even decorations instead of cooking.

"Oook Abs this sounds like fun bring that tray over here and let me pick one!" Tony exclaimed rubbing his hands together crossing his fingers that he would be in charge of photos or music 'The possibilities' He mused to himself studying carefully the pieces of paper sitting in the silver tray finally picking one when Abby started to whine "Tooony come on, Ziva and McGee still have to pick there ones!"

"Damm" He exclaimed when he saw his job.

Ziva raised her eyebrows smirking at Tony's obvious dislike of the job he had been given "Problem Tony?" She teased

He shot her an evil look "No Ziva, Every thing's fine" He shot back

She smiled and nodding knowingly glancing at the piece of paper that she had just picked smiling to herself when she saw the option that she had chosen.

Abby bounced her way back to McGee waving the tray with the last remaining piece of paper to him "All yours Timmy" She told him happily smiling expectantly as she watched him pick up the paper and groan slightly as he read it wondering if it was somehow possible for Abby to have rigged who picked what.

"Who's idea was this again Abs?" He half moaned

"Well...I was talking to Ducky about how it wasn't gonna be the same without him cooking, and that Ziva makes really good meals but not good dessert, No offense Ziva" She quickly threw over her shoulder not wanting to upset of offend the assassin.

Ziva simply nodded knowing it was true. Tony smirked at her and mouthed something, Ziva scowled at him and threw her hole punch in his direction. "ZIVA!" Tony yelped rubbing his upper arm where the hole punch had hit.

"Dinozzo! David" Gibbs yelled wanting to hear Abby and wondering if he should be considering killing Ducky for this idea or restricting Abby's Caf-Pow intake for the next few weeks and trying to ignore his two agents bickering.

"Sorry Boss" They both mumbled shutting up and turning to look at Abby as she continued to explain

Abby continued ignoring Tony and Ziva's bickering "And then Ducky said that we should divide all the jobs up between us, but then we realized that some jobs people wouldn't want so then Ducky suggested a kinda Secret Santa way of dividing up the jobs and it was really cool and yea" She finished taking a much needed deep breath.

She then looked at the clock on the wall, "Whoa I better get going my babies will be ready to talk soon!" She exclaimed hurrying off to the lift.

Gibbs turned to look at his team and asked the question they were all wanting to "So what is everyone's job then?" He asked

Ziva held up her paper first "I'm cooking the main meal" She offered

Tony went next "I have to get the tree" He moaned slumping down slightly in his seat. Ziva smirked when she heard this "I'm sure you can handle carrying a little Christmas tree Tony" She teased him. Tony opened his mouth to shoot something back but Gibbs stopped him with a famous Gibbs glare.

McGee then piped up with "I'm in charge of taking all the photos"

Ziva nodded knowing that Abby must have somehow set this up cause she was always telling Ziva how much she loved the photos McGee took and how she thought he should take it more seriously.

"Jen?" Gibbs asked searching her face to see why she looked so annoyed when the main meal had already been assigned to Ziva.

"Dessert" She said shortly her tone leaving no room for questions. He nodded in understanding, He remembered all of Jen's previous attempts at cooking and none had been successful. He looked at her assuring her it would be ok, that he could help her if she wanted.

"What about you Boss?" Tony asked breaking the silent conversation that Gibbs and Jen were having with their eyes.

Gibbs glanced down at the piece of paper still folded in his hand and opened it smiling as he read it "My job is to make sure my living room is clear because we will be having Christmas dinner and exchanging presents at my place" He told them team.

They all then sat in the bullpen in silence wondering how Abby had managed to somehow get them all to pick jobs that fitted them well.

Ducky came up a few minutes later smiling at the silence of the usually loud and busy bullpen.

"I take it Abigail has been up and you have all been given jobs" He guessed breaking the almost gloomy silence.

Gibbs mock glared at Ducky then nodded "Yep she did Duck"

Ducky nodded "Did you all get jobs you hate?" He guessed trying to pin point what had the team so gloomy.

"I have to go get the tree!" Tony complained hoping for some sympathy.

But Ducky just smiled

"What is your job Ducky?" McGee asked

Ducky smiled his knowing smile "I am in charge of sorting out the music Timothy"

McGee nodded

"What about Palmer?" Tony asked crossing his fingers that the autopsy gremlin had a awful job also.

"Mr Palmer is in charge of bringing the Christmas crackers, along with party hats"

December 23rd.

She had just pulled another folder of the slowly shrinking pile that sat on her study desk, She had taken her work home since it was Friday and she figured if she got this done then she could have one day to attempt making a dessert and if it didn't work out she would still have time to arrange for Noemi to make something or to buy something from the bakery for the Christmas meal that the whole team would be having at Gibbs house. Her cellphone vibrated on her desk and she sighed rubbing her temples thoughts of killing the person that dare ruin what precious time she had off running through her mind before she even looked at the call display screen to see who was calling her. She sighed once more glaring at the screen, before reaching out and picking up her phone when she saw it was a text message her eyebrows shot up especially when she saw the name Jethro pop up. 'When did he learn what a text message was, let alone how to type one' She thought to herself flipping open her phone and pressing the read button. As the message opened she tried to think why he would be texting her instead of ringing her but then she saw the message and realized that he was a smart man, smarter than she gave him credit for. If he had rung her suggesting what he had text her she would have yelled then hung up on him but she couldn't do that through text, The message said;

'I'll be at yours in 15, We are going to make dessert TOGETHER'

'Trust Abby to show him how to use capitals also' she thought grumpily to herself, Crossing her arms even though he wasn't there to see her anger she knew he would know her reaction without being there to see it. He knew she couldn't cook, Dessert may not be the same as main meals but it still involved mixing ingredients and using the oven in some cases. Her doorbell ringing pulled her away from her childish thoughts of revenge on him which did include getting him terribly drunk and doing things to his precious boat. The bell rang again and she sighed deeply wondering what he would do if she left him standing out in the cold but then thoughts of a earlier conversation of how he wouldn't be above kicking her door in made her stand and hurry towards the front door calling out that she was coming as he banged on it again and called out "Jen if you don't let me in, I will break this door down!

"I'm coming Jethro!" She exclaimed as she pulled the door open and stood starring at him arms crossed, eyebrows raised ready to fight but he wasn't willing to even engage in her childish urge for a fight instead he pushed the rather large but very beautiful bouquet of roses and lilies all linked and twisted around each other into her arms as he stepped into her house heading straight for the kitchen calling after him "Are you going to come Jen? Or do you want to stand at your door all night?"

She rolled her eyes and pushed closed her front door and padded down the hallway towards the kitchen. She raised her eyes at him then the roses and lilies looking at him asking why without saying a word. He shrugged his shoulders, "Thought you might need some cheering up after the damage you did to your poor door the other day Jen" He teased her.

"You're the one that damages my 'Poor door' Jethro, not me" She told him trying not to smile cause he really was cheering her up and she was more than willing to forgive him the second she saw the flowers he had bought for her but at the same time she wasn't going to let him off the hook that easy.

She then placed the bouquet on her bench and walked around Gibbs pulling open the cupboard beneath her sink and crawled almost all the way in searching for the vase she wanted to place the roses in

"You lost or something in that cupboard Jen?" He asked her starring at her ass that was now wriggling further into the cupboard as she searched in the very back for something.

She could feel his eyes on her and smirked to herself "Stop starring at me Jethro and help me with this" She told him trying to pull out the large heavy vase that used to always sit in the foyer full of flowers when she was a young girl.

Between them they managed to get it up onto the bench. Jen stood with her hands on her hips frowning at the vase as she tried to figure out if it was best to fill it then move it or move it first. Gibbs couldn't help but laugh at the look upon her face, Hearing his laughter she spun around glaring at him "And what is so funny Jethro?" She shot at him.

He held his hands up shaking his head trying to hold the laughter in now "Nothing Jen, Now are you going to put them in some water so we can get started or what?" He asked her motioning to the flowers he had bought deciding it was better to distract her entirely from him laughing at her.

"Mmmm, I can't decide where to put them though" She admitted to him

He rolled his eyes at her smiling at the same time "Gee Jen if I had known how much of a problem the flowers would cause I wouldn't have bought them, I would have gone with a bottle of bourbon at least you don't have to think about where you would put it"

Now she rolled her eyes and shot back at him "I was just wondering the same thing myself Jethro!"

After a few more minutes of good natured fighting and teasing between the two of them and then Gibbs walked over to the bags that he had bought with him and pulled out a thick recipe book along with cream, yogurt, marshmallows and boysenberries so many more things that soon Jen's whole bench space was covered in ingredients.

She looked wide eyed at the large range of ingredients that he was pulling out of the bags.

"Why do we need so many?" She asked him worried about his answer

He looked up at her after pulling the last bag of icing sugar out of the bag and couldn't help but laugh at her wide eyed expression of shock, amazement and fear.

"Cause we are making Ambrosia Jen and we need yoghurt, cream, boysenberries and marshmallows" He explained holding up each item as he said it before placing it back down. He then bent down and bought a huge glass dish onto her bench top.

"And what is that for?" She asked him her hands on her hips looking at the bowl.

"It is for the ambrosia to be put into Jenny" He told her a smile tugging on his lips at the expression on her face.

"And what is wrong with one of my bowls?" She demanded sweeping one hand to the cabinets behind her that held many bowls just like the one that he had bought.

"Nothing is wrong with them Jen, but this is a special one" He told her moving around till he was at her side.

She opened her mouth to argue the point but when she saw the look in his eyes she knew better than to push it.

"Ok. So what do we do first?" She asked him pulling her hair up into a ponytail and folding back her sleeves to her elbows.

He smiled at her excitement and picked up the cream "We whip this up. Do you have a mixing bowl and a beater?" He asked her.

"Ahhh..." She trailed off as she spun around to the cupboards above the bench and a few minutes later had everything that he had asked for set out in front of them.

Gibbs poured the cream in and set up the beater then held it out for Jen. She looked at him with wide eyes, "Jethro when I said I don't bake I wasn't joking I have never even used that thing before!" She exclaimed pointing to the beater as she looked between him and it. He smiled softly "The Director of NCIS scared by a hand held beater Jen?" He teased her.

She shot him and a death look and through narrowed eyes reached for the beater "I am not scared Jethro more...concerned that I may break it" She told him wiggling her fingers impatiently for the beater now wanting nothing more than to show him that she could use it. He shook his head though and moved behind her placing the beater in the bowl the grabbing her hands gently and placing them beneath his on the beater he turned it on a low setting at first and couldn't help but laugh softly as she jumped when it first started to mix.

"All done Jen" He told her turning the beater off but still not letting go of her hands. She turned slightly so she could look at him and smiled. "That was a lot easier than I thought" She admitted. He nodded then said to her,

"Now we add the yoghurt"

She reached for the large 2 liter pottle of boysenberry yoghurt and handed it to him. He shook his head and handed it back. "Dessert is your job Jen, I'm just helping you add it in" He told her.

She knew he was right and popped the plastic lid off and soon the yoghurt was added to the cream. She looked at him and without having to ask he silently handed her the marshmallows that he had been chopping up and she added them by the time she was done he then added the drained boysenberries and handed her a spatula "Now you mix" He explained.

She nodded and slowly moved the spatula around trying to get everything mixed in. After a few minutes of trying she knew that she was failing and glanced over in Gibbs direction once again without having to speak out loud she found him wrapping his arms around her and helping her stir the spatula through. Once they were done he pulled back and moved the bowl to the fridge. "See how easy that was?" He said to her.

She nodded "Thank you Jethro, I was just planning to get Noemi to make something or I was going to buy something. But this is much better" She told him smiling.

"Ah thats ok Jen, I thought you might need some help plus Abby did mention something about how daddy should help mummy out more"

She couldn't help but smile at the terms that Abby used for her and Jethro. "Still thank you, You didn't have to and the flowers really are beautiful" She told him.

Walking towards him meaning to kiss his cheek, She wasn't sure who moved him or her but she didn't care because when she felt his lips against hers nothing else mattered.

She bought his eyes to his and said softly her voice laced heavily with desire for him "Jethro" She half begged half teased him winding her arms around his neck and pulling his lips down to hers for a heart stopping kiss.

As they both pulled away breathless he leant his forehead against hers and looked into her own smoldering emerald eyes he leant down and whispered into her ear "I love you Jen" He told her pulling her in for another kiss and pushing her gently towards the wall but she pulled him towards the stairs.

Christmas Day:

Ding Dong, Ding Dong

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, One of his hands was tangled in her hair the other around her waist pulling her flush against him. Just as she brushed her tongue along his bottom lip. The bell rang breaking the silent spell that was cast upon them as it sounded again they jumped away from each other as if the people behind the solid wood door could somehow see what they had been doing.

"Trust them to be on time for once" Gibbs half growled to Jen resting his forehead against her missing the taste and touch of her instantly.

She smiled closing her eyes as he rested his forehead against hers "Its only cause Abby has been counting down for this since November" She reminded him gently as she pulled away and walked into the hallway heading for the front door to let the team in.

Tony wrestled in the rather large pine Christmas tree with the help of Abby, McGee followed through the doorway with his camera bag slung over one wrist and oven mitts covered his hands for he was carrying a large heated pot that contained one part of Ziva's meal, Ziva followed carrying a plate of lemon crunchy potatoes behind her trailed Ducky with his CDs in hand and last of all was Palmer carrying two rather large Christmas bags filled with Christmas crackers and the other was Abby's decorations.

"Where do you want the tree boss?" Tony called out from the lounge

"Anywhere you want DiNozzo, you're in charge of it remember" Gibbs answered him from the kitchen where he was helping Ziva put things into the oven.

Tony and Abby soon had the tree up and decorated, As did Ducky with the soft Christmas music that soon filled the room. McGee had been taking photos during the whole tree setting up process and was now sitting beside Abby listening as she told him about a Christmas party that she had been at the previous day.

Jenny came through and helped Abby set the presents under the tree as the men apart from Ducky helped Ziva carry everything from the kitchen onto the huge table that was already set up. Soon everything was in place and Ducky was carving the turkey as Jenny passed around the large platter of lemon crunchy potatoes Abby passed around the peas.

"Whoa Ziva! If I had known you could cook like this..." Tony said to her winking as she dug into yet another potato.

Ziva raised her eyebrows at him and casually played with her fork, Tony swallowed 'If she can kill me 18 different ways with a paper clip I wonder how many she can with a fork?' He mused to himself.

Once everyone had eaten it was time for dessert. Jenny nervously went into the kitchen and bought out the large glass bowl and set it down on the table, She handed the serving spoon to Ducky before sitting back down.

"This is really good Jenny!" Ziva said as she handed her bowl back to Ducky for a second serving.

Jenny blushed "Thank you Ziva"

"Where did you get the recipe?" Abby piped up "Cause McGee makes really yummy ambrosia but this is way better!"

McGee blushed as did Jenny.

"Ahh I had some help" She explained to Abby, who nodded happily as she cleaned her spoon.

"McGoo you big girl!" Tony exclaimed "You make pink puddings for our mistress of the dark?"

McGee blushed more "Its not like that Tony" He muttered.

"What is it like Problicious?" Tony asked the grin on his face huge.

McGee opened his mouth to protest but Gibbs cut him off.

"Present time" He announced not wanting to hear whatever reason McGee had.

McGee smiled gratefully at Gibbs as Abby bounced over to the tree followed by a very excited Tony.

Late Christmas night:

All the presents had been opened and Abby was curled into McGee's side in what looked like a very uncomfortable position, his arms around wrapped around her holding her so she didn't fall from the couch. Even Tony and Ziva were looking wiped out, Ducky had long gone home to his mother as had Palmer to his girlfriend. As Tony yawned loudly again Ziva shot him a death glare and Gibbs warned "DiNozzo"

"Sorry boss, I am just...yawn..."

"Tired, We know Tony you have been yawning for hours now" Ziva said annoyed with him.

Gibbs could sense that if someone didn't step in Tony would end up with a serving fork or worse through his arm.

"There are spare bedrooms upstairs, McGee are you ok to carry Abby up the stairs?" Gibbs asked the younger agent.

McGee nodded "Yep boss, I have done it heaps before....I ahhh mean..." He tried to finish realizing his mistake to late.

Gibbs cut him off "Tonight rule 12 doesn't matter McGee, Just take her up before she does permeant damage to her spine"

McGee nodded and picked Abby up and headed for the stairs. Gibbs then turned to Tony and Ziva, "I trust you two can find your way up without any help?"

They both nodded and stood up heading for the stairs once the room was empty apart from them, Jenny leant into Gibbs.

"Do you think they knew how this was going to end when they thought up this latest plan?" She asked him softly as they sat on the floor of his lounge both starring into the embers that were once a roaring fire. He pulled her closer to him breathing her scent in.

"Jen it was Abby and Ducky behind the whole thing what do you think?" He teased her gently smiling.

She smiled back at him and scrunched up her nose, "I think that we should stop thinking about it and that you should kiss me" She told him her eyes glittering

He rose his eyebrows "Is that an offer Jen?"

She shook her head and laughed "It isn't an offer its an order Jethro!"

"You know Jen, I have never been very good at following.....

She cut him off by reaching up and placing her hand over his mouth "Shut up" She told him then removed her hand and quickly silence his protests by crashing her lips onto his fighting him for control as he gently pushed her onto the rug and settled his body over her own.

The End.

I hope you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas everyone :D xx