After Thanksgiving Tony was back to his quiet withdrawn self. He did a lot of thinking about what Anthony and Jonathan told him and how he felt about Charlie. They had done it to get a rise out of Anthony but that didn't mean they didn't have feelings but Tony didn't know what he wanted. Ruth and David invited him to spend the week before Christmas with them and then they would go with him to Stillwater so Gibbs tried to help him get ready for the trip.
"What else do you need to get Tony? How many people do you need to buy for?"
"There's Nonie and Poppy, Uncle Connor, Aunt Michelle and their four kids. Jack's Jimmy's age and I got them both building block sets I know Jimmy wants. Carlos is a little older than Kelly and into building model cars but I'm going to look for those robots like Grandpa got me for my birthday."
"What about the other two?"
"Manny and Pauly … they're my age but I doubt they'll like anything I get them. They're really competitive with everything I do or did … grades, attention good or bad, wanting the best toys. They might've changed but I doubt it."
"Well Ruth asked you what you wanted for Christmas right. I heard something about a VCR though we would've gotten you that."
"I didn't want to ask. I know you paid back Anthony all the money he spent on me and …"
"No I didn't after all. He insisted I keep it but I think his mom guilt tripped him into it. She said if you needed anything to let her know and she'll make sure you got it."
"She was always nicer than Anthony and Grandfather. I want to get her something but I don't know what. Nonie said she invited them for the holiday meal."
"Yeah she told me too. What about some nice pictures of you guys? I know dad would like some too and we can get some frames for them. You can get them something else but Ruth mentioned she didn't have recent ones of you and none of Kelly."
"Yeah … Charlie was saying Aunt Camille said the same thing about him and Jimmy."
"Let's try and get the four of you to the mall Saturday and get the pictures done. There's a new place that promises pictures the same day. How long depends on how many you order. We'll take the pictures and then finish shopping."
"That sounds like fun." Charlie agreed so Gibbs got all of them matching sweaters. Tony and Kelly's matched and so did Charlie and Jimmy's though they all went together too for a group shot. After making sure Jimmy knew it was a secret they took the pictures and then went shopping. After talking to Ruth she found something Tony could get Manny and Pauly that they wanted and put the money in Tony's account for him to cover 4 of them.
"Wow, this is great. Your cousins want these?"
"According to Nonie, I'm not sure why though. She says I can get myself on too but she knows they are very picky and want to compete with me over everything. I can expect a few things from Nonie and Poppy but probably nothing from them."
"But you're buying for them."
"Mama taught me better. Said not to let them bother me. The only thing that's going to bug me is about the grades thing. Poppy's always given money for grades which I don't care about but not having them …" Gibbs cuts in.
"You're home schooled and they give them out the same. I have your grades and you can take them as proof."
"Really? Does it show the classes we're taking?"
"Yes which makes a difference even if they get the same grades you're taking advanced classes."
"Yeah I doubt they would ever take advance classes. You have to pull a C or above to get money and they barely scraped by with those." Tony quickly found the rest of the gifts though Jimmy was jealous of the building set not realizing Tony already got him one.
"Okay so tonight we're having dinner with Charlie's family then tomorrow the car's coming to pick you up to go to New York and I'm driving Kelly to dad's."
"Are we still going out to eat?"
"Yeah so no one gets stuck with the cooking and clean up. Are you ready to go? Do you have everything packed?"
"I think so. Nonie and Poppy will get me anything I forgot. Nonie's been fixing my bedroom up from what she says."
"You have a bedroom there?"
"Whenever Mama and Anthony would travel I would stay with them. That's why Manny and Pauly hated me because they favored me but … it didn't really matter."
"Okay well you're only going to be there a week. Just be careful if you decide to go ice skating or something. You're still not that stable and I don't want you to get hurt."
"I thought I couldn't go … you said I have to be cautious and everything."
"Yes but it sounds like they're going to egg you on either way so just be careful."
"I can roller skate; Chris had me working on that for the reason to ice skate. He said there's no fun in winter if I can't enjoy other activities."
"That's good and I do have one more stop before we go home."
"Really? I thought we finished shopping."
"We did but we're going to the DMV so you can get drivers manual to start learning it. After the new year I'll bring you back for your permit."
"Why can't I get it now? I mean I know I can't drive but I've been studying the manual. Chris asked about my goals and I said driving was one of them so he got me the manual."
"He said you would be able to get your permit but he didn't say you were studying. We can go get it now if that's what you want." When they went to dinner Tony had his permit and drove them to the restaurant.
"What did you do? I know you're not ready for your license yet."
"I got my permit today; dad said I could drive with him or Grandpa."
"Congratulations Tony. I know Charlie can't wait to get his but we're signing him up for drivers ED too." Gibbs nods,
"I plan to put Tony in it but that starts in April for 6 weeks until right before his birthday." When they gave Camille and Arthur the pictures they loved them.
"These are great pictures and when did you take them? I've never seen these sweaters." Jimmy giggles,
"Today when we went with Uncle Gibbs to the mall."
"Tony was looking for something for the Paddington's and they told me they didn't have recent pictures of him. Charlie said you didn't have any of him so we thought this would be a good gift."
"It's great and thank you. We would like a copy of the one of Tony and Kelly too if it's not too much trouble."
"We have a set for you at the house." All four kids got small token gifts mostly homemade stuff Camille made like personalized hats, scarves and mittens. Then Tony got a lap desk for long car rides since the drive to New York was 5 hours or so depending on traffic. Kelly got a books she wanted, Charlie a walkman and Jimmy got a bunch of stuff for the car trip.
"Thank you, this is perfect. I always read or something during car trips."
"I remember and at least if you want to write or something you can use this on you lap."
"I love it." Later when Kelly was asleep Tony was packing some snacks for the trip when Gibbs joins him.
"Are you ready for the trip tomorrow?"
"Yeah, just getting some stuff to eat during the trip. The drivers usually don't like making stops so it's easier this way. I'm getting up early to eat something before I go and then I'm sure Nonie will make sure I have something to eat when I get there."
"I have something else for you."
"I thought the rest of the gifts were waiting for Christmas."
"I know but this was supposed to be your gift at dinner tonight. The laptop desk was for your trip and separate. I just misplaced this and didn't want to go with nothing." Gibbs hands Tony a walkman like Charlie's. "I thought you might want one to listen to your own music on the trip."
"Thanks dad and I love it. I love the lap desk too; I tend to get bored if I don't take anything with me.:"
"Kelly's the same way." Tony went to sleep after tucking the walkman into his backpack. Gibbs was up early in the morning to make breakfast when he found Ruth and David there waiting for them on the porch. "What are you guys doing here? It's freezing out here."
"We haven't been here long and we came to pick up Tonio. I know we said we'd send a car but I know he'd probably get lonely and bored during the trip not to mention starve they don't stopping when they're driving minors. We thought we'd come early enough to take him to breakfast first."
"He's still sleeping but I got up to make a big breakfast for all of us. Come in he'll be happy to see you guys."
"Why don't we take everyone out to breakfast that way we can all get a start without leaving a mess?"
"The kids are going to want the pancake house."
"Whatever they want. Christmas is about children right?" Tony and Kelly were excited to see them and got ready quickly. "So are you going to stay in Stillwater all week Jethro?"
"No, I'm returning tomorrow because I have to work. Camille is my backup babysitter but they're also going to New York until Christmas Eve then they'll meet us in Stillwater. I figured Kelly would have more fun in Stillwater than at the day camp her school has set up over school breaks."
"Are you sure it's okay for Tony to come to New York? I mean if he takes care of Kelly …"
"There are more than enough people to keep an eye on Kelly in Stillwater. They're both family there and Tony's been looking forward to spending time in New York."
"Okay we don't want to disrupt anything you have planned."
"We've had it worked out since Thanksgiving. He needs a bit more fun in his life." After they leave Kelly hugs Tony.
"Be careful okay Tony?"
"I'm going to be fine I'm just going to be going to New York, nothing bad can happen." Gibbs gives him a look and they laugh. "I'll be careful Kel. You be careful too. Tell Josh that I can't wait to see him."
"Okay," They leave and Tony thinks about the shopping he still had to do and wanted to do in New York. He didn't know what would happen with his cousins but he was determined not to let them ruin his Christmas vacation. Ruth and David talked about the plans for the weeks including shopping, a Broadway show, ice skating and more.