DISCLAIMER: NCIS and its characters are the property of DPB and CBS. This story was written for entertainment purposes. No money involved what so ever. No copyright infringement is intended.
TITLE: Christmas Magic
AUTHOR: bbfan
SUMMARY: After Abby's Christmas plans fall through, Gibbs invites her to spend Christmas with him in Stillwater. This was written for the Gibbs/Abby Shipper Forum's Secret Santa.
CATEGORY: Romance
SPOILERS: Season 8 and Season 9
PAIRING: Gibbs/Abby
RATING: M
WARNINGS: Language, Sexual Situations
AUTHORS NOTES: I hope I did this justice. I'm not totally sure this is what my Secret Santa person wanted… Hope so! Merry Christmas everyone!

Chapter 1- A Change of Plans

Gibbs was suddenly flat on his back, his breath coming in short puffs as Abby had landed on top of him. Her face was flushed, her lips a mere inch from his own. Their watery eyes locked. Time seemed to stand still. All the old clichés came to mind as his gaze traveled down to her lips that were begging to be kissed. He couldn't help but wonder if this was fate or did something or someone magical propel this along. After all this was the magical season of the year.

48 Hours Earlier

Gibbs pulled up into his driveway, glad that he had shoveled the snow before he'd taken Ducky, DiNozzo and Ziva to the airport for their shared Christmas holiday in Scotland and McGee, so he could go home and see his father for the first time in years. Three more inches of snow had fallen since, with another four expected overnight.

He had called Jack and told him not to expect him until later tomorrow evening. He wanted the snow removal trucks to hit the roads before he ventured out. Of course Jack made a joke about letting a little snow slow him down, but Gibbs wasn't going to take any chances. Jack had no clue he'd have precious cargo on board. Abby was coming with him, and he wanted it to be a surprise.

When he'd found out that Luca had cancelled their planned Christmas together because the twins had come down with the chicken pox, he invited Abby to spend Christmas with him and his dad. There was no way he was going to leave her here to celebrate Christmas alone, especially with her feeling like she didn't have a true family anymore. This adoption stuff had really thrown her for a loop and he told her no matter what, he'd be there for her.

Although Abby put on a brave front during her favorite holiday, he knew it was a tough month for her. Hell, it was tough on both of them. The anniversary of her father's passing and the fact that it's the twentieth year without Shannon and Kelly, it was going to make for a difficult Christmas season. Taking her to Stillwater, giving her an old fashioned Christmas and having his dad work his magic on her, he hoped Jack would help her feel wanted, needed and cherished by a father figure. The feelings he had for Abby no way mimicked what a father felt for a daughter. Far from it. Although Jack wasn't the best father, he knew Jack cared for her very much and would do in a pinch.

Abby and Jack had really become close during the four months that Jack spent with him while they hunted down Paloma Reynosa. There was nothing like having Abby to help keep them on their toes and away from arguing about everything and nothing. If she had said no when he'd asked her to come with, he probably would be spending yet another Christmas alone and to be truthful about it, he really was getting tired of doing that.

Carefully, Gibbs walked through the snow towards his front door. On his way home from the airport he'd stopped at Jenkins Jewelers and bought Abby a crystal bell with her parents names etched on it for Christmas. He didn't want to slip and break it. As he made his way towards the house, it was then he noticed the shoe prints. They disappeared as if someone had walked into his house. Reaching for his gun, he quickly made his way through the snow to his front door. As he started up the steps, he slipped and almost fell.

"Damn it…" he hissed under his breath as he almost dropped her gift.

As he got closer to the door, he began to relax. The Christmas music emanating from inside gave him his first clue as to who occupied his house. The second was the note she had left on the door.

'It's just me, Gibbs. Don't come in with weapon drawn.'

Abby.

Holstering his gun, Gibbs looked back towards where she would've parked her car. It wasn't there. She must've taken a cab. He smiled, tore the note down, entered the house and was welcomed by the most wonderful aroma of something that smelled suspiciously like cookies being baked in the oven and a rendition of 'Let It Snow' on the radio. His stomach growled at the anticipation of having Abby's special Christmas cookies and some coffee.

Placing the package on the entry table, he stomped his feet to remove the snow from his boots and leaned against the wall to remove them. "Abby?" he called out, hopeful she heard him. He didn't want to scare her.

"In the kitchen," she answered back.

Gibbs put his gun in the safe, hid the package behind the couch, walked around the five suitcases she had left on the floor and into the kitchen where he was shocked beyond words at the sight before him. There was Abby literally covered in flour, her pig-tails skewed, making her way towards him with her arms out stretched. She was beautiful and she wanted to give him one of her signature hugs, which he would've taken gladly, but not with her covered in flour.

Gibbs caught her by the shoulders holding her at arms length. "Whoa, Abbs. Not gonna happen."

The disappointment on her face not with standing, he wasn't backing down. He watched as she turned away and made her way towards the counter. Grabbing something, she tossed it to him.

Gibbs caught it and held it up. It was a frilly, red and green apron with ruffles. He laughed. "I'm not putting that on. You're hug is just going to have to wait." He threw the apron back at her.

"Come on, Gibbs. It's not as if someone is going to just pop in," she whined.

She had a point. Everyone was gone. Besides, the hurtful look on her face cut straight to his heart. As always, he relented. Walking up to her he held out his hand. Abby handed him the apron and smiled. Gibbs rolled his eyes and shook his head. There was no denying her of anything. He put the silly thing on and took her in his arms and placed a well aimed kiss to the side of her head.

It was established long ago that she was his favorite, but it wasn't until just recently that he had finally come to terms that his feelings for her was so much more than just the friendship they had built over the last twelve years. Now that there were no more secrets in his life that he needed to protect, it was time to move on. The love that he had felt for her was so profound and deep that it literally scared him, but he finally let himself recognize it for what it was. Although he'd been married three times since Shannon, he had only felt this way one other time in his life. He was totally head over heels in love with her, but with the fact that she was in such a vulnerable state of mind right now with the news that she was adopted, there was no way he was going to take advantage of it and add to her confusion.

Breaking away before he did something stupid like pinning her to the counter and kissing her senseless, he went over to where the coffee machine was and started a fresh pot.

"Whatcha bakin' Abbs?" he asked, hoping she hadn't sensed his apprehension.

"Sugar cookies. It's the least I can do. I don't think I should go to Stillwater empty handed," she answered, her voice shaking a little. He noticed how fast she turned around to face the oven. She didn't want him to see that she was still upset that he had to change his plans and include her in on his holiday. Her words still echoed in his mind.

"Gibbs, I can't intrude! You and Jack need this time to be together… work through a few things. You didn't get the chance to do that last year when he was staying with you. I can stay with Sister Rosita and the Nuns. Besides, I'd just be a burden. I'm so… not myself…"

It was then that he'd cut her off. Gibbs sighed and walked up behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders, leaned in and kissed the back of her head.

"Hey, we've been over this. You're not a burden, Abby. I want you here," he said.

Abby just nodded her head and reached for her skull and bones oven gloves. Grabbing the oven door, she opened it up and took out the first batch of cookies. The smell was heavenly and went straight to his stomach, making it grumble.

Gibbs tried to reach around her for one, but Abby slapped his hand, hard.

"Hey!" he grumbled, backing away, feigning to be hurt.

Just as he said that, a deep voice and a high pitched giggle filled the kitchen.

"Come on, Gibbs. You of all people should know that making yourself a nuisance in the kitchen will get you no where," Fornell said, laughing.

Emily was with him and started to giggle even louder when Gibbs and Abby turned towards their unexpected company. Gibbs knew they must've been a sight. Him in the ridiculous apron and Abby still covered with flour.

Gibbs couldn't help but smile at the young girl on the cusp of teenage hood. She was going to be a beauty. He watched as she quickly snapped a picture of them with her cell phone. Walking over to her, he stooped down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, kiddo," he said, as he quickly grabbed her phone, hugged her to him and took a picture of both of them. Emily squealed with delight.

Abby hurried to put the last batch of cookies in the oven, washed up, removed her apron and joined them at the table. She gave Tobias and Emily a hug.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said. "You can help us decorate the cookies."

Emily clapped her hands and looked up at Tobias. "Can we, Daddy?" she begged.

Gibbs snorted. Looking at Emily's smiling face, he turned towards Fornell and said, "Try and say no to that."

"Never could, why start now," Fornell said, laughing.

A/N - Had to fit our favorite FBI Agent and his sweet daughter in there somehow. Hope you're enjoying the story so far.