A/N: Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews :)

Chapter 5 – The Melding of Hearts

When Abby woke the next morning she was wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, strong arms encircling her waist from behind and a solid masculine body molded around her figure. She listened to his soft deep breathing and smiled, leaving her eyes closed as she let all of her other senses waken and take his presence in.

Although she'd woken beside him during the last several months she'd been force to try and fight off the temptation to believe this could ever be a regular thing in the years to come. But now she didn't have to, Gibbs had made it clear he wanted them to be together and she wanted that more than anything too.

Trying to snuggle back into him more, even though their naked bodies were as close as they could be, Abby felt Gibbs' arms tighten around her.

"Think I like waking up next to you better without clothes," he mumbled sleepily into the back of her neck, his fingers lightly caressing over her stomach.

Since she'd been sleeping in his bed they had always woken up in each other's arms, but this time it was much different, apart from their lack of clothing, there was no longer anything holding them back.

Abby smiled and began to tenderly run her hand along his arms. "Me too, you're even warmer naked than you are with clothes on."

Gibbs lazily kissed across the skin of her neck, his nose burrowing into her hair. "You just want me for my body heat, is that it?"

"Well it is winter after all," she teased, finally opening her eyes. "Sometimes a girl needs more than just pajamas in bed."

"Maybe I should get you another blanket then..." Gibbs suggested, starting to roll away from her.

"Don't you dare," Abby giggled, turning over and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Gibbs returned her grin as she settled the front of her body along the length of his. She sighed when he lifted one of his hands to trail his fingers over her forehead and down her cheek, his blue eyes radiating nothing but love as he studied the features of her face.

If they had been alone in the cabin Abby would've been content to stay in bed with him all day, but since they weren't, she was determined to make the most of the moments they had and lose herself in him.

Leaning forward Gibbs gently pressed his lips to hers, taking his time to draw her into something deeper. Abby's soft whimper turned into a moan when his tongue slid over her bottom lip, her restraint breaking as the kiss became more desperate. After waiting what felt like a lifetime to kiss him, she didn't want to stop. The softness of his lips, the feel of his tongue sliding with hers had her so entranced she felt like she was drugged.

When the demands of her lungs eventually won out Abby ended the kiss, her lips still brushing over his intermittently while they both tried to catch their breath.

Gibbs nudged her nose with his. "Merry Christmas, Abbs."

Abby had almost forgotten it was Christmas, her mind instead focused on the man lying next to her. It was going to be a special Christmas for them all for a number of reasons, but now she and Gibbs had one more reason to be grateful; it would be their first together as a couple.

"Merry Christmas, Gibbs...I must've been a really good girl this year to wake up in bed with a sexy blue-eyed Marine."

"Or maybe you've been really naughty," he teased.

"I can be," she grinned at him, removing her arms from around him, pushing him onto his back and climbing on top of him. "Either works for me."

"Me too," Gibbs groaned out as Abby slid down his body, her mouth leaving a pathway of kisses down the center of his chest and slowly moving south.

She followed the trail of hair over his stomach, her tongue licking into his belly button as her fingers caressed his sides.

Gibbs' hands smoothed across her shoulders as she moved lower, taking the bed covers with her. Knowing exactly where she was heading had him hardening quickly, his breath catching at the thought of how her warm mouth would feel encasing him.

Suddenly the sound of something smashing downstairs made them both jump and Abby nervously looked at Gibbs as they both listened for voices. Her natural instincts told her it was just one of her friends dropping something, but since the events with Harper Dearing, Abby hadn't completely gotten over the tendency to jump to conclusions that something was wrong.

"You think that's Ziva or Ducky?" she asked quietly, moving off Gibbs and taking his hand as she sat beside him.

Gibbs sat up and reached over to look at his watch on the bedside table, his eyes widening at the time. "It's nearly nine o'clock, could be anyone."

"Okay," she breathed out unsteadily. "Just as long as none of the local wildlife has broken in."

Pulling her into his side, Gibbs wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure it's fine...I'll keep you safe."

Abby snorted. "I can just imagine you running around in the buff trying to herd out some rebellious squirrel. It's probably the one from yesterday, coming back to taunt us after we let Jethro loose on it."

Gibbs chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Guess this is gonna have to wait 'til later...as much as I wanna stay in bed with you all day I suppose we should get up."

Abby sighed. "I guess...and whoever's down there will be wondering why you're still asleep."

"They're all gonna know about us anyway, not worried about that...just want you to have the Christmas you've been waiting for, with everyone around."

Abby leaned over to kiss him, her hands holding his face in place as she swept her lips repeatedly over his. "I love you," she whispered.

"Love you too," he leaned down to kiss her shoulder before shuffling to the edge of the bed. "C'mon, get dressed, got something I wanna give you before we go downstairs."

She watched as Gibbs stood up, her eyes taking in every inch of his naked body from her place on the bed. When he slipped on his boxers and t-shirt Abby made a move to get dressed herself, slipping on her underwear as Gibbs put on some jeans.

"Just gonna use the bathroom, back in a minute."

Abby nodded, grateful that he was coming back rather than just going straight downstairs. Not that she was too concerned about what their friends might say, she just wanted to take this next step with Gibbs by her side.

By the time Gibbs came back she'd finished collecting her sleepwear from around the room and dressed.

"Who's down there?" she asked when he closed the door behind him.

"Looks like everyone."

Abby nodded and shifted awkwardly on her feet. "You'll wait here while I use the bathroom then?"

Gibbs smiled and pulled her into his arms. "If you don't wanna say anything we don't have to. We can just pretend all we did was sleep, no-one's gonna question it."

"It's not that I don't want to...I guess maybe I'm a bit nervous...not about you or us...I dunno..."

"It's okay, Abbs, I understand." He rubbed her back lightly, trying to calm her. "I'll wait here."

Once she'd left the room Gibbs went to his bag to get out the two presents he'd gotten for her. As a group they'd agreed to do secret santa, but Gibbs had gotten Abby something as well, he wanted her to know how important she was to him and when he'd bought them had hoped the trip would play a part in bringing them closer together.

"Okay, all ready," Abby smiled as she walked in the room.

"C'mere for a minute." Gibbs closed the door behind her and took her hand to lead her over to the bed. "Got you something, wanted to give it to you while we're alone."

Abby sat down on the bed and watched as Gibbs picked up the two parcels on the bedside table and handed them to her.

"Not sure that they do my feelings for you justice, but I hope you like 'em." He kissed her on the cheek and sat down beside her, picking up the smaller parcel that rested on top of a larger one.

"I got you something too, it's in the other room though...guess we were both more than ready for this to happen."

Gibbs smiled and kissed her again, this time on the lips. "Guess we were."

Looking down at the gifts on her lap Abby picked up the small one and began unwrapping it to reveal the long narrow box. She lifted her eyes to meet his expectant gaze before returning her attention in front of her again.

When she lifted the lid, revealed underneath was a velvet choker with a double heart shaped ruby pendant hanging from the center. Abby's fingers traveled over the silver that surrounded the gemstones, its outline giving the impression that the two hearts were melding into one.

"Gibbs..."

"Do you like it? Cos I can exchange it if you don't..."

"I love it," she answered, turning to face him. "You got it cos these signify our hearts?"

"Kinda hoped they would..."

When he'd bought it Gibbs knew he would be taking a big risk if he gave it to her before he told her how he felt, but then he was aware there was always going to be a risk no matter when he told her. He'd been certain at the time that he would tell her though, he knew he couldn't wait any longer and he'd wanted something that would signify just how much he cared for her.

"How could you think it wouldn't do your feelings for me justice?" Abby bit her bottom lip to try and hold back the emotions that threatened to overcome her. "It's beautiful, and the thought behind it is too..."

Unable to verbalize her own feelings Abby placed her presents down on the bed and threw her arms around him to hold him as tightly as she could. They'd been together less than twenty-four hours and already he'd turned her world upside down in the best possible way.

When she loosened her hold on him and pulled back slightly Gibbs rubbed his cheek gently against hers. "Glad you like it...the other one isn't as fancy as that."

Abby smiled and picked up the unopened gift; it was a lot bulkier and softer than the first one, leaving her wondering what it was. She slowly ripped off a piece of the paper, her grin widening when she realized what it was.

"You got me a red hoodie like yours?" She laughed.

"Think maybe I know why you wear mine so much...but we can share both of 'em if you like. I got the same size for you."

"I wear yours cos it smells and feels like you," Abby answered. "Though I like the idea of you warming this one up for me a bit first before I put it on...and this way I'll always have one I can wear."

Leaning into him she nuzzled her face into his neck and pressed several light kisses to his skin. "Thank you."

They sat in silence for a few moments, content to just be together and not wanting to break contact.

"I should go and get your presents," Abby said, starting to pull away from him.

"We can do that later, after breakfast...let's go get some coffee and something to eat."

"Okay."

Gibbs took her hand in his as they left the room, their fingers staying linked together as they descended the stairs with Gibbs walking in front. Abby felt him squeeze her hand when Ziva looked up from her toast, a faint smile crossing her lips when she saw their entwined fingers.

Abby knew that Ziva would've most likely figured out where she was when she had woken up and found Abby missing from her own bed, her presence also absent from the couch.

Tony and McGee followed Ziva's gaze as the couple neared them, Jimmy and Breena also sensing their appearance as they looked over from where they were preparing some of the food for their lunch in a few hours.

"Ah, there you both are," Ducky said cheerfully after swallowing his mouthful of tea. "I apologize if we woke you...I dropped a plate in my haste to get out of Tony's way before he started gnawing on someone's arm."

"Hey, you have no idea how draining it is sharing a room with McBoyscout, Ducky, I need to replenish my strength."

Ducky rolled his eyes at Tony and got up from where he sat at the table to walk over to Gibbs and Abby. She noticed the way he glanced down at their hands, Gibbs' larger one now surrounded by both of hers as she held them against her leg.

Ducky's smile lit up the room and instantly put Abby at ease. She loved all her friends and knew they wouldn't do anything to upset her; all she'd hoped was that they would be happy for her and Gibbs.

"Merry Christmas, my dear," he beamed, holding his arms out to hug her.

Abby let go of Gibbs to wrap her arms around the older man, holding him tightly and sighing with relief that he'd made it through his ordeal to enjoy the day with them. "Merry Christmas, Ducky."

Abby drew each of them into a hug, accepting the Christmas wishes and warm smiles they offered as reassurance, Tony holding onto her a little longer than the others. None of them said anything about her and Gibbs but she knew it would eventually come up, for now they were all content to spend some time together and prepare their lunch.

When Abby joined Gibbs again he was pouring them both a coffee, everyone else had wandered off to get their secret santa presents. She moved up beside him, one hand moving to his lower back while the other slid across his stomach.

"See, nothin' to worry about," Gibbs smiled at her, passing her a cup of coffee.

She took the cup and kissed him briefly on the lips. "I know...though I'm sure they're still getting used to it, like we are...and Tony's gonna start with the wisecracks any second."

"I'll prepare myself to dish out head slaps then," he smirked. "You want me to get your present while I'm getting mine?"

"I'll get them both, you stay here...there's something in my bag I don't want you to see," she teased, walking away from him. "I guess you could say it's a present for us both like the hoodie was...though this is a tad more revealing."

Abby chuckled when Gibbs almost choked on his coffee, his eyes following her as she approached him again. "That should give you something to think about until we're alone again."

"I'm never not thinking about you Abbs."

With one last kiss to his lips Abby retreated up the stairs, feeling extremely fortunate to have the people she cared about around her, happy and safe. But more than anything she was grateful that the man she loved more than life itself was by her side and willing to go through anything with her.

TBC...