BREAKING WITH TRADITION
By
Ashleigh Anpilova
Ducky decides he wants to do something different for Christmas.
An established relationship story.
Written: December 2012. Word count: 500.
LATE NOVEMBER 2012
It was Sunday and neither Gibbs nor Ducky needed to be at work, so for the first time in months they were having a lie in.
"Penny for them, Duck?" Gibbs said, pushing himself up onto one elbow and gazing down at his pensive lover.
Ducky gazed up at Gibbs. "It's just that I have reached a decision, my dear, but I am not entirely certain you'll approve."
Gibbs frowned a little and brushed Ducky's hair off of his forehead as he tried to think what it could be. He wondered if Ducky had decided to retire after all. It had been a very tough year and while Ducky wasn't old, the heart attack he'd suffered six months ago had taken its toll and even now Ducky hadn't completely recovered.
He objected far less these days than he used to do to Gibbs's suggestion they get a carry-out or that when he did insist on cooking he sit down and put his feet up and let Gibbs fill the dishwasher and wash the things than couldn't go in it. And he was limping more and Gibbs knew he was sitting down more often during the day as well as letting Palmer do more. Maybe he'd decided that the long hours, especially when they were called out in the night, were too much.
"What's the decision, you've reached, Duck?"
Ducky sighed softly and took Gibbs's hand. "Well, my dear," he said, "I have decided to break with tradition this year as far as Christmas goes."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Ducky nodded. "Yes. I have decided that this year we will not be inviting the children to join us for Christmas lunch as they have done for the past few years. I wish to spend Christmas with just you this year, Jethro."
Gibbs forced back the sigh of relief. He'd spent the last few weeks trying to figure out a way to suggest that very thing to Ducky as he feared his lover would do too much and make himself ill. In fact he had already told the kids there'd be a change in plan from previous years and he'd been damn proud of all of them when each and every one had said they understood.
"You know what, Duck?" he said gently, bending his head and kissing Ducky's nose. "I reckon it's a darn good idea."
Ducky looked surprised. "You do?"
Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, Duck. I do. I know how much you enjoy having the kids here, but it's a hell of a lot of work for you and this year's been a particularly tough one and I think this is the right thing."
"Oh, Jethro, my dear, dear Jethro, I am so relieved to hear you say that. But
will the children mind, do you think?"
"Nah," Gibbs said. "They won't, they'll understand; know they will."
Ducky beamed. "Oh, good," he said and offered Gibbs his mouth to kiss.
They didn't get up for another hour and a half.
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