Ok, so good things (or is it bad things…?) come in threes…. I decided to come up with a third and final installment for this little ficlet. Sorta a little past/present/future thing…. The whole 'they'd simply be' is just them looking ahead… (not like planning, but that they'll be together… I hope that comes across). Anyway, enjoy 3

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Abby struggled against the harsh sunlight that washed over her. No matter how she shifted, the sun always seemed to find her eyes.

Losing the battle of trying to drift off again, Abby sank back against the warm body behind her. She smiled to herself as a heavy arm tightened around her waist, reminding her where she belonged.

When she was certain she wasn't going to fall back asleep, Abby turned in the circle of Gibbs arms to nuzzle her face against his chest. His normal scent of sawdust and soap had an added element… of gunpowder, of her.

While snaking a leg between Gibbs', Abby pressed her lips against his chest in a soft kiss.

"Mmm… Abby." Gibbs shifted slightly, tightening his arms around her in his sleep.

Abby was content to lie in his arms, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat while he slept. It was the eventual need to use the bathroom that had her easing out of his arms and off the bed. The clothes he had been wearing the night before lay strewn across the floor, and Abby bent to grab his shirt, slipping it over her head as she crossed the hall to the bathroom.

She returned to his bedroom to find him still sleeping, a peaceful half-smile playing on his lips. Abby bit her lower lip to prevent a giggle from escaping, and crawled back under the blankets, curling up to Gibbs side.

"Too many clothes." Gibbs tugged playfully on the shirt she had put on as he rolled to his side to face her.

"You're awake."

"Mm hmm."

"What are we…? I mean, I'm not asking for a ring or anything, but I don't know if this can be some sort of casual thing for me. I just… I just love you too much for that." Abby pressed her face against his chest to avoid having to look at his face.

The soft chuckle that escaped his mouth put her at ease. "You certainly know how to wake a guy up, but yeah, let's talk about what we are. But I repeat my earlier statement, too many clothes." He tugged at her sleeve.

"Gibbs, I can't lay naked next to you while we have this conversation." She pulled back and gave him a stern look that slowly faded to a soft smile.

Gibbs ran his hand up her thigh to give a little tug at the waistband of her thong. "You won't be naked, you'll still have this on."

"Fine." In one fluid motion Abby had the shirt up and over her head and was settling back under the blankets.

"Much better…" Gibbs ran a rough finger along her bare arm and studied Abby's face. "I don't know what we are, Abbs. I just know that I love you and I want to be with you for as long as you'll be with me."

"I've always been with you… maybe not like this exactly, in your bed, but I've always been yours."

Gibbs stroked her hair softly, before titling her face to look at him. "You know, you're the one woman who has stuck with me the longest since… even if we haven't been 'together', you've never given up on me. That's what tells me that this, whatever this is, will work."

"I won't give up on up, ever."

"I don't know what words to put to us Abby, I can't promise that there will ever be a ring involved, but I can promise that I'll always be here for you."

"We can just be together."

"I like that." Gibbs rolled her over, covering her with his body. "I like that a lot."

Abby laughed at his obvious enthusiasm for being together. Unlike the night before, their morning was playful and light-hearted. It was less about memorizing, more about teasing. Abby's teasing nips and nibbles were met with a playful swat.

They agreed.

They'd simply be.

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End.