Saba and Savta
Tony and Ziva have their two grandsons for the weekend; August 2039 (Levi – 25 months; Anthony IV - 17 months)
Chapter 1: Friday night
"Hi, Ima," LJ walked into the kitchen from the garage; he had just come home from his job at the rec center where he helped with the children's art programs for the summer. "What's for dinner?" He hugged his Ima and turned quickly when little arms wrapped around his legs.
"Unka Blue Jay!" Levi was excited to see his uncle; little Anthony was wrapped around his other leg. Both boys grinned up at their uncle.
Ziva smiled at her youngest with her grandsons; both little boys loved their Uncle LJ and usually ran to him when they visited. "We are having lasagna since both of them like that food. Remember that we have the boys for a long weekend."
LJ reached down to the two toddlers, ruffling their hair, "Three days with my favorite nephews! I'll bet they will like all of the things I've brought home for them." He turned to Ima, "I found some finger paints that are washable and not supposed to stain."
"We shall see," Ziva thought of the potential mess involved. "We will eat as soon as Abba gets home. You can help by getting the booster seats out for the boys."
"Papa!" Levi spotted his great-grandfather coming from the bedroom hallway. Both boys went running towards the old man. Ziva was just about to warn them about being careful around Gibbs when the front door opened.
"I'm home," Tony announced. The two boys turned and ran to their Saba.
"SABA!" Levi yelled as he ran and flung himself into his Saba's arms. Anthony was right behind his cousin and both boys were soon wrapped in Saba hugs, one in each arm. Tony scooped them up with a huge DiNozzo grin on his face. Ziva smiled at her husband with the grandkids.
"How are my big boys today?" Tony grinned at his grandsons and placed a soft kiss on top of each boy's head. "Are you ready to have fun with Saba for the WHOLE weekend?"
"Savta, too," Levi added. "And Unka Blue Jay and Papa!" Anthony just grinned at his Saba as Tony carried both little boys to the dining room.
LJ had placed the booster seats on chairs next to Ziva and to himself. Grandpa would have his usual seat at the end of the table. He put Levi in a seat as Tony put Anthony in the other one. Ziva carried in the pan of lasagna and set it near her place for serving. She went back to the kitchen to get the plates for the toddlers. She had already cut pieces for them and put the pieces on dishes to cool. She chopped the servings into bite-sized pieces for the kids.
Anthony spotted the food, "Me, me… eat!" He reached for his dish as Ziva placed it in front of him. No sooner had she put it down than both of the boy's hands were grabbing pieces of lasagna.
"Kid has DiNozzo food genes," Gibbs commented.
LJ grinned at his Grandpa, "It comes with the name, Grandpa. Especially if the kid has all three…"
Tony stuck his tongue out at his youngest, "And he should be proud to carry the name! Food genes and all." He ruffled the little boy's hair. Anthony stopped shoving food in his mouth and scowled at his Saba. Ziva laughed out loud at the toddler's expression.
Levi, meanwhile, had been using his spoon to shovel the lasagna into his mouth. His plate was almost empty already. "More, pweese, Savta," he spoke through a mouthful of food and held up his dish. LJ handed his Ima the dish and she placed another piece of lasagna on it and handed it back to LJ.
"Chop it up for him, please, motek." LJ chopped it into smaller bites for Levi and placed the dish in front of his nephew.
"Toda, Unka Blue Jay." Levi scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth. "Mmmm, good, mmmm."
After everyone had their fill of the lasagna, LJ helped his Ima clear the table while Tony wiped both little boys' faces and hands with a wet cloth. LJ took the ice cream container out of the freezer. Ziva grabbed bowls and the ice cream scoop. Both headed to the dining room.
Levi spotted the ice cream first, "ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM!" Ziva served all of the family their dessert as LJ and Levi high-fived for their favorite sweet food.
After dinner, Gibbs retired to his rooms to watch TV. LJ finished clearing the table and loaded the dishwasher. Ziva and Tony took both little ones to what had been the twins' room to get them ready for a bath. Tony ran the bath water as Ziva pulled clothes off the kids. Anthony had quite a bit of food on his neck and chest from dinner. Levi insisted that he could take his own clothes off, so Ziva let him do as much as he could by himself.
"Bath is ready," Tony scooped up a naked Anthony as Levi followed him to the bathroom. "In you go," he placed Anthony in the tub and then Levi. Anthony grabbed several of the plastic boats that his Saba had put in the water for the boys to play with. While they were playing with the toys, Ziva quickly washed both boys' hair and then had Tony help her rinse their heads. Levi was okay with it, but Anthony cried at first at having water run over his head.
Tears faded quickly when Tony showed Anthony how to splash Levi. Levi splashed back, getting both of his grandparents wet as well. Ziva gave her husband a glare. He grinned at her and she finally relented. "I guess a little bit of wet never hurt anyone."
LJ came in as the bath was almost over, "Do you need any help? Oh, just who took a bath?" He had spotted the wet clothes on his parents. Tony grinned at LJ and picked up Anthony, wrapping him in a hooded towel. Ziva picked up Levi and put a towel around him. Both little boys grinned at their uncle.
Tony put Anthony down on the carpet in the bedroom and turned to get his diaper and pajamas. Anthony dropped his towel and took off running down the hallway, laughing. "Hey!" Tony turned just in time to see Anthony's back going out the door. Ziva had put Levi down, and he took off the minute she took her hands off him, following his cousin out the door.
"I'll get them," LJ laughed and took off after the two naked little boys. As LJ walked out of the room, Ziva and Tony met gazes and both burst out laughing.
"We seem to have this thing for having kids take off unclothed on us," Ziva chuckled. "I think all five of ours did that at least once!"
Tony laughed back, "Some of them did it many times! The twins seemed to like running off naked when only one of us was giving them the bath."
LJ rounded up Levi in the hallway near the kitchen and then found Anthony in the family room. He balanced a boy on each hip and carried them back to the bedroom. "If you are good boys, we can have some story time and then get Saba and Savta to sing 'Numi, Numi' with Saba on the guitar. Would you like that?" Both toddlers nodded and grinned at their uncle. They already knew how soothing Savta's lullaby could be.
"Here we go, Ima and Abba. I promised them 'Numi, Numi' with both of you…" he handed a boy to each of his parents and then stood by the doorway in case of another escape attempt. Tony quickly put Anthony's diaper on and then his pajamas. Ziva helped Levi put on his sleep pull-ups and pajamas.
"Okay, let's get those teeth brushed," LJ led the boys to the sink as Tony went to get his guitar and Ziva put the towels on racks to dry. Five minutes later, both little boys were on either side of their Saba as he read them a story about Frog and Toad. Anthony started rubbing his eyes and Levi put his thumb in his mouth. Tony shifted so that he could get to the guitar and sat on the chair in the room. Ziva tucked each boy under the covers and nodded to her husband to start playing.
"Numi, numi, numi, nim…" she began singing as Tony played the chords and sang with her. LJ smiled from where he was sitting on the floor near the beds. He would never be too old to appreciate his Ima's lullaby.
Ziva sang the last notes as Tony strummed the final chords; both toddlers were asleep. Anthony was snoring softly and Levi had his thumb still in his mouth. Ziva kissed each of her grandson's heads, "Laila tov, motek." Tony put the guitar against the chair and softly kissed each little boy's head.
They exited the room quietly. LJ gave each of his nephews a good night kiss and then went through the shared bath to his room. Ima's magic still worked on him! He shook his head to wake himself enough to change to sleep clothes.