Title: A Christmas Wish – Chapter Three
Genre: NCIS – Romance
Pairing: Abby and Gibbs
Rating: M.
Timeline: Christmas, Season 10 A/U.
Spoilers: It's there, but you're gonna have to LOOK to see it.
Summery: Fulfilling one's desires.
Disclaimer: It's nice borrowing someone else's toys – I'll return them, very relaxed, I promise.
A/N: Missy decided to twist it at the last minute... Ha! Slight changes my… She got carried away with the touchy-feely stuff and doubled the word count– really have to have a look at what was in that water….
Written: December 2012.
Language: UK English – spelling and grammar.
Word Count: 5,727 – I told you she got carried away…

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WARNING: Not "Work Safe"

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Abby drifted from sleep the following morning. The comforting warmth and familiar scent surrounding her caused her to smile. She was not certain if he was awake yet: but his body was, pressing insistently against hers. She knew she should not make too much of it, because any man's body responded in such a way, especially one that has been deprived of physical contact for as long as his had. Yet she wished that it was her, that her presence did that to him, could stir him like that. That she could ignite his passions – for she so longed to discover that side of him. She had seen all the others: frustration, anger, aloofness, concern and she could handle them all. Okay maybe not all: his flirty was difficult – especially if it involved another woman. And his aloofness only served as a mask to cover up his pain, unhappiness, unease or any of the emotions he so often feels the need to suppress.

She wanted to discover what really lay behind that aloof façade he portrayed to the world. If he indeed felt the intense passion she sensed in him. A passion that always seemed to elude her. She wanted to feel it, have it scorch her, brand her as his…

Few men could sleep with a woman in their arms, and not attempt to push for more at some stage: but not Gibbs. Gibbs could quietly hold her for the whole night, whilst she slept, and not be tempted, even stirred to doing more than chastely holding her. Okay maybe he could not but his body could: if his arousal nudging against her buttocks was anything to go by.

She just knew he would not do it, would not take that next step. And with time, she had come to accept that he was not interested in her in such a way: possibly never was, and that they were destined to remain friends – close friends. People could say what they liked of Gibbs; but she knew him to be an extremely affectionate person, under the right circumstances. He has always been that with her: Affectionate, gentle and caring. In a way she was content with it, but there were always those moments…where she wanted more, craved it, would trade her soul for it.

Like right then:

She felt well-rested, and happy that he had decided to join her. Especially since she had purposely laid his favourite blanket on the bed, knowing he would not take it from her. He would rather freeze than do that. So, instead, he had wrapped her in a cocoon of warmth, enveloped her in his scent, and collectively lulled her into a blissful state of sleep.

Simply waking up next to him was enough to send her mood soaring. Yet, she knew that they would have to get up soon, that they had errands to run, responsibilities to fulfil, but she just wanted to bask in his presence for a bit longer. Also knowing that many of their interactions the previous day had alarmed him; and if she had not known him better, she would have mistaken some of his behaviours as rejection. But she knew him, and was willing to will give him the time and space he needed. She would allow for him feel his way through this: until he figured out what he wanted.

She felt him stir, and remained still. Her heart thumping as his hand moved up over her abdomen. Her breath hitched in anticipation of his touch, of his fingers caressing her breast… and nearly groaned her dissatisfaction when he suddenly stopped. His entire body stiffened as he carefully withdrew his arm from her. A heavy sensation settled around her heart as he pulled away from her. Once again confirming that she had hoped for too much: because there was definitely nothing wrong with his body's response to her… and that it was just her he did not want.

Her back instantly chilled as he moved from her. She swallowed against the sudden stabbing pain in her heart: only allowing a dejected whimper to escape her lips when she heard his footsteps move down the passage, then pursed her lips to try and contain the remainder of it. She swallowed several more times, in an attempt to contain her anguish, knowing it was futile to hope for more, to want more. However, there was just that little part of her that wanted more, that has always wanted him. She would remain reticent about it: let him think it's nothing, like the previous morning. They were on standby for the next few days, so he would call her if they needed to go in. She would go shopping, see to some stuff, possibly go round to the sisters. She would give him his space… would intrude on his hospitality more than was absolutely necessary.

She rose from his bed, shivering slightly as the cooler air hit her body, and dragged her clothing from her bag: checking its contents and confirming that she would need to go home to collect change of clothes, especially if they still have not yet finished the necessary repairs.

She waited for him to finish in the bathroom then got dressed, throwing all her clothes into her bag on her return to the bedroom. She would do her laundry whilst she was home, no need in letting it pile up. She remade his bed and swung her overnight bag over her shoulder, before making her way downstairs: halting dead in her tracks when Gibbs looked at her in surprise, before asking, 'Ya going home?' his voice gave credence to his alarm at the matter.

Abby took a deep breath, not wanting to make to much of his response, before replying, 'I need to do some laundry, and find out how far they are with the furnace. I also have some shopping to do and check in with the sisters to see if they…' she allowed her voice to trail off, watching as he nodded his head, before turning from her and making for the kitchen.

'Breakfast?' he enquired as she followed him, slightly confused.

'Sure,' she replied, not liking the sudden shift in his demeanour.

It was already well after dark, and Gibbs was starting to worry. Abby had not contacted him, and he was uncertain if he should call her. It was possible that they could have fixed the furnace in her building, but she would have let him know. He did not want to allow his thoughts to reason to the possibility that she could have asked one of team members if she could stay with them, and the most likely only reason for that would be that he had nearly crossed the line, had nearly given in to the desire to explore her body. It was the only reason he could think why she would pack up like that. Releasing a dejected sigh, he made his way upstairs.

He entered his bedroom and turned on the light. Smiling when he was his blanket neatly folded at the base of the bed; only for it to drop from his lips, replaced by a tightening sensation around his heart, when he noticed her Christmas gift still next to the bed: thinking she possibly did not want it. He moved to her side, his feet dragging, before suddenly halting. Just the concept that she had a side of the bed, after having only spent two consecutive nights, stunned him.

He noticed the journal she had been reading was still where he had placed it, and reached to pick it up. He read the cover, not having taken much interest in it the night before, and was just about to flip it open when he heard the front door open: the sound followed by the heavy clonking of her boots. A flash of relief coursed through him. Feeling like a sudden weight has been lifted from his chest, he quickly returned the journal to the nightstand and turned for the door.

He had just made it to the doorway, when she appeared at the top of the stairs.

'Gibbs,' she cheerfully greeted, obviously having had a good day. He envied her that, having spent most of the day down in the basement: beset by thoughts of her sleeping in his arms, whilst deriding himself for not taking the opportunity to familiarize himself with her body. Regretting that which he had not done… but he knew why he hadn't, he could never live with her rejection. Yes, he could see her admiration for him, has always seen it. But relationships were different, complicated, and he did not want to see the glimmer in her eyes fade when he was around, possibly to be replaced with regret… he could live with anything but that. Yet, relief coursed through him when he noticed her bag, knowing he would have her in his bed for another night.

'Still not sorted?' he asked indicating to her bag.

'No, so you're stuck with me for another night. My super said they'll come out and finish in the morning, they were working on it today but it was too much to finish.'

'You're always welcome, Abbs.' he replied indicating to the room.

'I did some shopping,' she said as she stepped past him, adding, 'I put the bags in the kitchen,' as she placed her bag on the floor.

'Thanks,' Gibbs replied, as she moved towards him, adding, 'I'll help you unpack them. Have you eaten yet?'

'I picked up some Chinese, I got enough for both of us. I didn't know if you've eaten yet,' she replied as she moved down the passage again, with Gibbs trailing.

'Chinese is fine,' Gibbs replied, once again thankful of her capability to smooth things over, and not asking awkward questions.

They had a pleasant dinner, and Gibbs felt calmed by her presence there, and was more settled when he returned to the basement to work on his boat. Leaving her to her forensics journal, knowing his resolve would be crushed if he spent too much time in her presence.

Abby brought him coffee some time later, having already gotten ready for bed, and calmly asked, 'you coming up later?' whilst handing him the mug.

His entire body stilled at her question. His heart shouted for him to say yes! However, his mind contested the gumption of such an action and pushed for him to decline it outright. In a way, he was both petrified and relieved that she had the guts to address the issue, to get it out of the way.

He looked at her, and thought about it, then smiled before answering, 'I'll be up in a bit.' He saw no reason to deny himself the opportunity to hold her again. It would, in all likelihood, be the last evening they spent together like that.

Abby nodded her head, before replying, 'I'll leave the light on your side on,' and retreated up the stairs, leaving him stunned at the simplicity of it. There was no need for conflicting emotions, it was settled. He was sharing his bed with her, preferably with her in his arms...

He founds himself becoming impatient, agitated. The temptation to pack up and join her was overwhelming. He wanted to give her enough time to settle, so that he did not seem too eager…however quickly relented to his desire, and found himself closing up and switching off the lights as he made his way upstairs.

He stepped into his room and felt his heart quicken at the sight of her seated in his bed, reading. She looked up from her journal, smiling warmly at him, causing his heart to flip in his chest. He swallowed against the lump that had suddenly lodged in his throat at yhe simplicity of it, how it represented everything he desired with her…

He gathered up his boxers and a sweatshirt, and retreated to the bathroom: later returning to his bedroom and moving to his side of the bed, before lifting the blankets to settle between the sheets. Again, she did not ask questions, although he had prepared answers, just in case. She book-marked the page, before closing the journal and placing it on the nightstand. Reaching out to switch off her lamp as he settled, then settled into position as he reached to switch off his lamp.

He settled on his back gazing up at the ceiling, his whole right side tingling with awareness, his body becoming restless with its desire to be closer to her. He turned his head towards her, swallowing at the lump in his throat before reaching out to touch her, whispering, 'Abbs,'

'Hmm,' she replied.

He thought of the best way to ask her what he wanted, but every angle sounded stupid to him. She finally turned more towards him, softly asking, 'What is it, Gibbs?'

Eventually, he blurted out the next thought, 'Wanna cuddle?' and immediately admonishing himself for it.

'Always,' Abby cheerfully answered, moving slightly towards him, settling her head on his shoulder. His arm came around her as her hand settled over his pounding heart. His other hand instinctively settled over hers, feeling content for the first time again since waking that morning.

'I sleep better with you here,' Abby mumbled, and his arm instinctively closed around her. Her leg moved slightly over his as she settled against him.

'So do I, Abbs,' he replied, before burrowing his nose in her hair: taking a deep breath, and allowing the serenity of the moment to take him, huskily whispering, 'Could get used to it.'

He felt the urge to grip her hand as it moved from his, but relented when her felt it slink around him, closing slightly before her whisper of, 'Night, Gibbs,' reached his ear.

His arm instinctively closed around her, before softly replying, 'Night, Abbs,'

It was her restless twitching against him, some time later, which woke him. His arm instinctively drew her closer to him as his other hand moved her hair from her face. He started soothing her, expecting it to be a nightmare and was about to wake her, wanting to ease her anguish, when a low moan escaped her lips. Her body heated as it pressed against him, grunting slightly.

The sounds sent a tremor down his spine, his manhood responding to the sounds any male, past puberty, could instinctively identify. His entire body stiffened in response to the situation, because he knew he could not do anything about it. If he woke her she would be embarrassed, and if he gave in to his desire, he would be taking advantage of the situation: God knew how badly he wanted to be that intimate with her, how many times he had dreamed of it, imagined it.

Within moments she became even more restless, eventually kicking at the blankets and pushing them from her rapidly heating flesh. His hands clasped into fists in an attempt to restrain himself. He did not even bother reaching for the blankets, for his own body was heating in response, his manhood already pulsing as it rose in anticipation.

She finally rolled away from him and onto her back, kicking her legs free of the blankets, and he closed his eyes at the slight reprieve, his heart thudding in his chest. However, his head snapped in her direction when a pleasurable squeak escaped her lips. He looked her over, as best he could in the dark, and groaned when he finally noticed that her hand had slipped under her pyjama pants, knowing that she was touching herself in a way he wanted to.

His jaw clenched as he turned towards her. He knew it would be awkward if she woke and found him watching her, but he just could not help it, could not pull away from her. He wanted to know what she sounded like, wanted to know how her body responded to stimulation – to learn what she liked.

He swallowed with difficultly as he watched her hand move. Whatever she was doing, he was not sure, but she found it immensely pleasurable. His heart sped up even more when an excited moan escaped her lips. He clenched his jaw as he felt his manhood harden further, pushing against the soft fabric of his boxers. He reached down to quell it, applying pressure in the hope of it dissipating slightly, but it pushed up against his hand as another moan escaped her lips, causing him to gasp. He set his jaw as he pulled his hand away, he could not afford to become fully aroused, because he knew there would be no way of tending to it without somehow waking or alerting her as to what he was doing – it possibly even involving her.

His hands itched to touch her, to discover how she would respond to his touch. He wanted to make her moan and grunt like that. Her body stiffened next to him, her breaths coming in short gasps. He could smell her arousal: the scent overwhelming. It drew him closer. The slight moans from her lips fed his need. He looked to see if she was awake, not wanting to chance her waking yet. Her eyes were still shut, and a slight sense of relief rushed over him.

He swallowed at the lump that had lodged in his throat, as he reached out a trembling hand towards her. His fingers grazed along her top, his touch caressing, as his hand moved lower, towards that place he wanted to explore, concur, loose himself in, and ultimately stake his claim of.

His hand slipped under her pyjama bottoms, inching lower still. His breath hitched in anticipation, expecting to brush against the courser hair protecting her sex, and nearly moaned when he only felt smooth skin. It was a discovery he was not certain he should have made, because he knew there was no way he was likely to ever forget it.

His fingers brushed against hers, as he shifted closer and huskily whispered, 'Let me, Abbs.'

Her body stiffened slightly, and he waited for her to wake, to bring it all to an awkward end, however her hand moved, allowing him access. His fingers brushed over her, immediately registering her heat and the moisture there. He stifled a grunt as the limitations imposed by her clothing frustrated him, he wanted to he able to explore her, freely.

He drew back his hand and she moaned in objection, her hips rising in search of his touch as his hand moved towards her far hip, pushing the offending fabric down, then quickly moving to repeat the movement over her other hip. Her body responded by lifting and allowing him to push her pants down, until her legs moved to kick them off. His hand ghosted over her smooth skin, his work-roughened fingers drew intricate patterns as they traced along it. His hands caressed up her thighs and her legs wantonly parted for him, her moans increasing in pitch as his fingers neared her sex. His mind focused on her skin. The texture of it, and how warm it felt under his touch. His hand brushed past her womanhood, eliciting a frustrated moan from her. His hands traced back down before returning and caressing up her inner thigh. Her legs parted even further for him, her hips rising as he neared her apex. He lightly brushed his fingers over her, and the slight whimper she made had his manhood once again pulse in his shorts. His fingers brushed, over her lips, teasing them apart, gathering some of the moisture there and brushing it up and over the sensitive nub. Her body jolted in response as an impatient grunt escaped her lips. Her body lifting towards his hands, seeking more contact as he teased her. His fingers finally dipped down and into her. The heat and moisture there caused him to moan as he slowly withdrew his fingers before plunging them back in: listening to her gasps.

His manhood was achingly hard, yearning to fill he space his fingers were occupying. His body stiffened, with his hips instinctively flexing as her pelvis twisted beneath his hand, causing his fingers to slip deeper still. A excited grunt escaped her lips as her body picked up the pace. He held his hand still, allowing her to set the pace, to establish how fast she liked it. His mind focused on the rhythm.

He chanced a glance to see if she had woken, and startled slightly when he noticed her eyes were slightly open. His body pulling back slightly in expectation of her rebuke. However his sense of self-awareness immediately dissipated when her hand settled over his, her body once again rising against it as she shamelessly moaned, 'Don't stop.'

He immediately moved closer to her, huskily replying, 'Couldn't if I wanted to.'

'Gibbs,' she gasped, as her hips started moving faster, her body heating even more.

He merely grunted in reply, as his own hips started adulating. For all his self-control, he was, after all, only human, and the sounds she was making would inevitably stir him, but he could not push for more, however much he wished he could – he would let her finish. Things would inevitably be awkward afterwards, but it would not cost him her friendship.

He closed his eyes in order to restrain himself. No matter how much he tried to distance himself from the act, his body demanded attention. It wanted a reprieve, and he vowed that as soon as she was done he would go tend to himself…

'Oh God! More,' she moaned.

Gibbs clenched his jaw in an attempt to restrain his body's response, finally grunting, 'Let go, Abbs, wanna see.'

'Want. More,' she gasped, suddenly turning, moving her one leg over his. His hand somehow managed to maintain its position as her hips continued to adulate against his hand. Her hand brushed down his torso, causing his breath to hitch, knowing he should stop her, that there was no way of telling what could happen if she touched him. His body jerked against her touch, his hips thrusting into her touch as a sharp hiss left his lips.

'Want more. Want you,' she huskily whispered as her hand brushed more firmly against his steely manhood.

The fabric of his boxers lessened the sensation as her hand closed round what it could. It was almost too much for him as his hips jerked towards her touch. He grunted her name, not certain if he wanted her to stop or to continue anymore: almost moaning in objection when she did move her hand from him…only to hitch when he felt her fingers slip under the elastic of his boxers, moments before wrapping round him.

'Abbs,' he sighed. He had meant for it to come out as a warning, that she should know that he was very close to loosing it, but instead it fell from his lips as a sigh, almost a plea for her to continue her delightful torture.

'Need this,' she moaned as her hand moved over him, squeezing him gently, adding, 'Inside.'

'Abby,' he moaned as the restraints on his resolve started snapping, desire coursed through his body, setting it alight in response to her invitation.

Her body again pushed closer to his, and a grunt escaped her lips as their bodies almost met, conveying her need, her desire for him.

She started tugging at his shorts, and he wanted to resist, but his body became unwilling to listen to his mind, and responded to her actions by shifting and lifting. The pleasurable sensation it experienced far outweighed the logic behind stopping. She only pushed his boxers down far enough to free his straining manhood, before her hand once again wrapped around it, moaning, 'It will feel good inside me. Hard, strong.'

His hand moved from her, and she grunted in objection, her hips adulating in search of his touch, allowing their lower bodies to finally connect.

The contact saw the last of his restraints shatter as his arm went round her to hold her close, and her leg pulled up more. Both gasped for air, as their lower bodies strained together.

It was impossible to resist such temptation, to resist taking what was so openly, willingly offered. He needed it, she wanted it, and he was not about to resist any longer and rolled them, coming to rest over her, hoarsely grunting, 'You want it, Abbs?'

'Yes, Gibbs,' she moaned in reply, her body pushing up against his.

Her response sent a jolt of relief through him, for he doubted that he would have been able to proceed if she had spoken another's name. He moved slightly, reaching down to line them up and swiftly drove into her.

The heat that instantly surrounded him caused his breath to hitch. Their bodies merged in one smooth movement, hers closing around his in welcome as she moaned her approval. He had barely settled within her when her arms and leg wrapped round him, clinging to him like he knew only Abby could, the way he had always thought she would.

He pushed down deeply, before pulling back. Her arms instinctively tightened further in response. However, his forward plunge drew an encouraging grunt from her. A low, 'Yes,' escaped her lips, and by the third thrust, they had synchronised, like they had done it a hundred times before. He set a steady pace, basking in the sensations that coursed over him as he moved within her, memorising every sound she made as their bodies strained together.

His hands tightened into fists as he fought his desire to simply ram into her as hard and fast as he possibly could. He knew he should think of it as simply sex, as the fulfilment of both of their needs. But sex has always been something profoundly intimate to him, and he knew he could never deem it casual with her, she was too important.

Her body pushed up against his, her hands reaching for his shoulders as he continued to thrust into her, wanting it to last forever. Her body rose against his, and before he had time to realize what was happening her lips pushed against his, causing his entire body to jolt to a halt: his whole focus shifting to where their lips met. His hands intuitively treaded through her dark hair as he took control of the kiss, plundering her lips: his entire being focused on their softness, her taste and response, whilst at the same time decanting his desire for her, for it to be more than a fleeting encounter between them.

He felt his resolve crumble, felt the walls come down, and it scared him. He did not want to allow someone in again, would not live through the pain if she was ever taken from him. Yet he could not help it, she had been such a substantial part of his life over the past few years, but he knew it was inevitable – as much as he had fought against it.

His hands reverently, possessively moved over her, before his hips pushed against hers. Breaking their kiss he rasped, 'This is it, Abbs. This is us,' as he plunged into her, lowering his head, grunting in her ear, 'Take what I've got. Wanted this for so long.'

'No,' she gasped, 'you never wanted me, not like this.'

His arms closed around her, as he pushed into her more fervently, grunting 'Always wanted you, never could have you, too many things prevented it.'

'Gibbs,' she grunted, and he felt her slight resistance, causing him to alter his strokes until she was grunting her approval, before husking, 'Feel that Abbs, Feel us.'

'Yes,' she husked in reply.

His head pushed into her neck, as he possessively growled, 'Mine, all mine. No other.'

'More, Gibbs,' she moaned as her body started bracing against his, tightening in response, 'Need all of you.'

'Always had it, Abbs,' he husked and started thrusting into her without restraint. Unexplainable sounds fell from her hips as her body pulled taught below him.

'So close,' she moaned. Gasping, 'Take me there. Gibbs!'

'That's it, Abbs. Feel it. Let go,' he gasped between thrusts, his body lifting slightly from hers as his hand moved down between them, applying pressure at just the right moment to have her jerk hard against him, her body closing around him as she screamed his name.

'Yes, Abbs,' he enthused as he lunged against her. 'Take what I got.' It only took a few more strokes before his body stiffened over her. A strangled 'Abbs,' escaped his lips as his body pulsed within hers, marking her as his.

He came to rest over her, his heart pounding and his breathing laboured. Her arms closed round him as her legs slid back down to the mattress. He braced on his arms, not yet ready to pull away from her. Yet, the enormity of what they had done quickly infringed on the moment, and he moved to kiss her along her neck, not wanting to allow any awkwardness to set in between them. He knew it was inevitable, but he just wanted to keep it at bay for a while longer as he claimed her lips.

Abby lazily responded, her hands moving down and eventually slipping under his sweatshirt, which clung to his heated skin.

He helped her draw it off, allowing only moments before tugging at her top, growing in frustration when it defied him. Together they finally managed to get it off her, and he stifled a moan as their upper bodies came together, skin brushing skin as his chest pressed against her breasts.

His hands once again started tracing over her, his one hand cupping her breast as he closed the distance between them, his lips once again plundering hers, nipping, tugging in an attempt to make her forget what they were doing, and just to let go, to let him continue.

His manhood started swelling not long after that, his need for her almost overwhelming. He moved slowly, his one hand drawing the sweat soaked tendrils from her forehead as he gazed down at her in the dark. For a moment wishing he had thought to turn on a light, so that he could watch her, could know what she looked like as he moved within her.

'Need you, Abbs,' he gruffly professed, as he started to steadily thrust into her, gasping, 'Need this.'

'Need. It. Too,' she gasped, her arms tightened around him, encouraging him to drop his head next to hers.

'Abbs,' he gasped as he moved.

'Gibbs,' She gasped in response.

'Oh god Abbs, you feel so good,' he gasped.

'You too,' she replied her hands moving to his hips, moments before her inner muscles closed around him, tightly.

His response was instant as he jerked against her, gasping, 'Abbs! You're gonna kill me doing that.'

'Can't die yet, Gibbs. Have to make me cum first,' she moaned in response.

'That a challenge, Abbs?' he asked, slowing his thrusts.

'Heard Marines make the best lovers,' she gasped in response.

'You're comparing?' he asked, his body jolting to a stop, as if someone had emptied a bucket of ice water over him.

'Only one Marine I want,' she professed her lower muscles again closing around him, adding, 'A silver haired one.'

He simply groaned, 'Good, I don't share,' before once again moving over her, gasping, 'Gonna make you scream, Abbs.'

His hands moved over her. Low grunts came from him with every thrust he made into her. Her body rose to meet him, stroke for stroke. It was not as frenzied as the first, yet it held all of the emotion he had been too scared let out before.

It was more than he had ever hoped for, to have her, to be deep inside her, with her holding onto him and begging him for more. She was softer, warmer than he had even chanced to imagine, her body responsive to his every move. The second time she tipped over, calling to him, his heart swelled even more. His body's response to hers was almost instant, as he pushed down once more to release his essence into her, gruffly growling his pleasure.

He finally dropped to the side. Both of them were hot and sticky, their bodies rapidly cooling. He skin started itching, and he moved to get up from the bed, disappearing down the passage and into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and returned to the bedroom, drawing her with him to the bathroom and into the shower. It was under the bathroom light that he for the first time took in her flushed appearance. His hands moved over her as the water cascaded over her body, intent on clearing the sweat from her skin. Its texture once again enthralling him, unable to come to terms with the fact that she had actually allowed him to make love to her, that her flushed state was from his loving.

She rested her head against his chest, and he held her to him, his hands smoothing the water over her skin, before reaching for the soap and a sponge. He washed her body and allowed her to return the favour, before shutting off the water and encouraging her to step from the cubicle. He allowed her to dry herself, and led her back to bed tugging the sheets back into position, halting her when she reached for her clothes, indicating for her to slip naked between the sheets. He settled behind her and pulled her closer to him, stroking her dam hair from her face, whispering, 'Sleep, Abbs.'

'You too, Gibbs,' she whispered in reply.

'I'm right behind you, Abbs,'

He felt her grow heavy, her body relaxing against his as sleep claimed her. His hands traced down her sides, memorizing her skin, they way it felt. Whatever the morning brought it could not take from him the elation he felt, having her this close.

He allowed her breathing to lull him to sleep. His body replete, his soul happy for the first time in years. He felt complete, like he had everything he needed.

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And here I though I was done… only for Missy to say there is one more chapter.
Abby has to have her say as well….
However I'm a bit bogged down at the moment, so I will only get round to writing it towards the end of the month.