Here we go! Chapter 21! Enjoy :-)
I DO NOT own NCIS or anything related to it…
It had been three weeks since Kate was released from the hospital. The contusion on her lung had completely healed, no longer causing her breathing problems but the broken ribs were a different story. The pain in her side was starting to become more tolerable but was still a nuisance when it came to doing everyday activities.
Tony took it upon himself to return his family back to life as it was before his father entered and turned everything upside down. Every morning, he single handedly tended to the kids, paying extra attention to Arissa, who like Kate was finding it hard to do normal activities with her broken arm. Kate would wake up and try to pitch in where she could but after numerous scoldings from Tony about her letting him handle things and her resting as instructed, Kate found herself sleeping in until one of her children woke her up to join them for breakfast. After making sure that Kate was comfortable and had everything that she needed for the day, Tony took their kids to school and headed to work, calling Kate what seemed like every hour to make sure she was okay. One to usually work through lunch, Tony would take his lunch hour to go home and check on Kate, bringing her lunch for her favorite restaurants and often flowers and other little gifts just to make her smile. In the evenings, he'd help Arissa with her homework while he made dinner for his family.
Things were returning to normal, just in time for the Christmas holiday. It was Christmas Eve and Kate and Arissa busied themselves in the kitchen gathering up ingredients to make holiday treats. Her back turned as she rummaged through the refrigerator, Kate didn't notice Alex innocently walking into the kitchen, his body covered in multicolored Christmas bows followed by Aiden, completely wrapped in bright red gift wrap.
Arissa pointed at her little brothers, laughing. "Mommy, look what the Monkeys did!"
Kate couldn't help be smile at the sight of her twins. "I see you two found the gift wrap!"
"Merry Christmas, Mommy!" smiled Alex.
"Merry Christmas, Alex."
Tony entered the kitchen, catching sight of his sons. "Hey, I thought we couldn't open presents until tomorrow?"
Aiden laughed. "We no presents, Daddy!"
"You sure? Because you look like you belong under the tree with the rest of the gifts!"
"Come here! Let's get this off of you! I might need this wrapping paper later!" Kate began to unwrap Aiden as Alex peeled of the various bows unable to resist the urge to place one on his mother's head.
"Did you finish the tree, Daddy?" asked Arissa.
"Yep, I was just about to light it if you guys want to watch?"
"I want to watch!" shouted Aiden.
"Aiden, wait…" The sound of ripping wrapping paper filled the room as Aiden took off for the family room to see Tony light the tree. Kate sighed, "Guess, I won't be reusing that wrapping paper!"
Tony just laughed.
Kate huddled together with Arissa and the twins on the sofa as Tony shut off the lights in the family room.
"I no can see!" yelled Alex, in the darkness.
"That's because the lights are off, genius!" replied Arissa.
"Mommy, Rissy call me a genius!"
"Take it as a compliment, Alex," retorted Kate just at the room was lit up with the various colors from the lights of the Christmas tree.
"Wow!" gasped Aiden, mesmerized by the glow of the lights. "Mommy, look at the tree!"
"I see it, baby. Daddy did a good job!"
"Thanks," replied Tony, basking in the success of his handywork.
"When Santa coming?" asked Alex.
"Santa doesn't come until after you three are asleep tonight!"
"Can we go to sleep now so he can come?"
Kate laughed. "Alex, its only 6:30. It's a bit too early to go to sleep!"
"But I want Santa to come now so we can open presents!"
"Santa will come soon enough. Why don't you two come and help me and Rissa make some cookies for when Santa comes?"
"Yeah! I want to make Santa cookies!" interjected Aiden, jumping up and running into the kitchen followed by his siblings.
Kate assisted the kids in making some Christmas cookies for Santa, before it was time for them to take their baths and get ready for bed. Overflowing with excitement for Christmas morning, Alex, Aiden nor Arissa were very eager to go to bed. But after each enjoyed a glass of warm milk and an extra-long bedtime story from Kate, the three were sound asleep.
Kate lounged against the sofa, sipping a cup of hot chocolate as she watched her husband put the final touches on their children's Christmas gifts.
"I hope the boys enjoy these Power Wheels cars? I had to sneak out of work and drive all the way to Baltimore to get them," said Tony, as he attempted to piece together the toys cars.
"You got the kids some really nice stuff!" replied Kate.
"Given all they went through over Thanksgiving, they deserve to have a great Christmas. Just wish I could have gotten that dollhouse for Rissa. I went to five different stores but they didn't have one! So I ordered her a pink Nintendo DS with her name engraved on it? You think she will let Santa slide with that?"
"Arissa is an easy going girl. You got her so many other things she probably won't notice."
"I can't wait to see their faces in the morning! Never thought Christmas would become my favorite holiday."
"I didn't know you didn't like Christmas."
"Christmas is a family holiday. When you don't have a family, there isn't much to look forward to other than watching the yule log on TV and eating a TV dinner alone! Now, I can't wait for Christmas to come!"
"Because you're not by yourself anymore? And you have a family to celebrate the holiday with?"
"No! Now I actually get a real dinner on Christmas!" joked Tony.
Kate rolled her eyes, sipping her beverage. "So you were able to get the kids all these nice things, what did you get me?"
Tony flashed a flirty smile. "Let me finish putting these toys together and I'll take you upstairs and show you!"
"I remember Tony, only the good boys get gifts on Christmas!"
"I think Santa will forgive me for being naughty just this one time!" Tony leaned back and kissed Kate.
The couple stayed up well into the night getting things prepared for Christmas. The next morning, Tony and Kate watched their three kids beam in excitement from the gifts Santa had brought them.
"Santa bought me a car like I wanted!" shouted Aiden, as he pretended to steer the toy Audi Spyder.
"He bought me a truck!" exclaimed Alex from inside the toy Cadillac Escalade. "Can we ride them outside?"
"It's a bit too cold out right now, maybe later!" replied Kate.
"Mommy, look! I got a DS!" smiled Arissa, showing Kate the game system. "And it pink!"
"Do you like the gifts Santa bought you?" asked Tony.
"Yeah! I really like my new stuffed animals! Mr. Snuggles has new friend to play with!"
Aiden ran up to his parents. "Can I open my Iron Man?"
"Sure," Tony opened the action figure for his son and watched as he pretended to make it fly.
"Mommy what did Santa give you for Christmas?" asked Alex, bouncing his new Buzz Lightyear toy on Kate's knee.
Tony raised his eyebrow at Kate who was unable to formulate an answer.
"Hey, look Santa got you a Captain America action figure!" pointed out Kate, changing the subject.
Tony's cellphone began to ring. "Who could that be?"
"Please don't tell me that's Gibbs?"
"Can't be! He and Jenny went to Stillwater for the holiday," Tony picked up the phone and read the display. "216? That's a Cleveland area code." Tony thought for a minute before he quickly hung up the phone.
"What?"
"The only person I knew in Cleveland is my father!"
"Maybe he's calling to wish you Merry Christmas?"
"Doubt it!"
"Tony, I know you are still upset with your Dad but its Christmas. I think you should talk to him."
Kate was unaware of the conversation Tony had with his father while she was in the hospital and that Tony had banished his father from his life and wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.
The phone began to ring again, and Tony quickly put the phone on silent. "Maybe I'll talk to him later."
There was a knock at the door.
"I get it!" shouted Alex.
"No, Alex! I got it!" replied Tony, getting up and slowly making his way to the front door. Ever since the attack, Tony had become a bit paranoid. Though Amber and Gerald were behind bars, the idea of strangers coming into his home and attacking his family, didn't sit while with Tony.
"DiNozzo, open up! It's us!" came Gibbs' voice from the other side of the door.
Tony opened the door as Gibbs and Jenny greeted him with warm smiles. "Merry Christmas!"
"Hey! I thought you two were spending the holiday in Stillwater?"
"We're heading up there. We just wanted to bring over some gifts for the kids first. You mind?" asked Gibbs.
"No, come on in!" Tony stepped aside and let the pair enter the house. Jenny carried two medium gift boxes while Gibbs carried one larger box. "Arissa, Alex, Aiden, Grandpa Gibbs is here!"
The children ran down the hallway wrapping themselves around Gibbs.
"Merry Christmas, Grandpa!" exclaimed Aiden.
"Merry Christmas to you too!" smiled Gibbs.
"Merry Christmas, Ms. Jenny!" said Arissa, giving Jenny a warm hug.
"Thank you, Arissa!" replied Jenny, as she exchanged a loving look with Gibbs. "We got some gifts for you, guys! Here's one for you, Alex and one for you, Aiden!" Jenny handed each of the boys a box.
"Thank you!" said the twins before they scurried off to the family room to open their gifts.
"Who's that box for, Grandpa?" asked Arissa.
"This is for you!" Gibbs walked into the family room and sat the box on the floor for Arissa to open.
"Look, Grandpa got us boats!" exclaimed Aiden, holding up the woodened, hand painted toy boat with his name written in script on the side.
"They are just like the boat I'm working on now. You can play with them in the water too," said Gibbs.
"What you get, Rissy?" asked Alex, holding his toy boat tightly in his arms.
Arissa opened the large box and her mouth dropped open. Gibbs laughed to himself as he lifted the very large, wooden, realistic dollhouse out of the box and placed it on the floor.
"Wow, Gibbs! You made that?" asked Kate, amazed by the gift.
"Yeah, I knew Munchkin wanted a dollhouse for Christmas so..."
Arissa said nothing as she examined the dollhouse and all the small, intricate details that Gibbs had put into it, right down to her name craved into the headboard of the tiny bedroom set. "You made this for me?"
"You like it? I knew it's not exactly the Barbie pink and pretty house but I did my best!"
Arissa smiled as she hugged Gibbs. "I love it! This is way better than Barbie's house! Thank you, Grandpa!"
"You're welcome! It's nice to be able to build things for someone other than yourself."
Arissa took Kate by the hand. "Mommy come look at the pretty house!"
There was another knock at the door. Tony again approached the door with caution before opening the door to reveal Abby standing on the other side.
Abby wrapped Tony in a hug. "Merry Christmas, Tony!"
"Merry Christmas, Abbs!"
Abby smiled big as she let go of Tony and picked up a large box off the ground before entering into the house.
"Merry Christmas, Auntie Abby!" shouted Aiden, throwing his arms in the air as Abby entered the room.
"Merry Christmas, guys!" said Abby placing the box on the floor. She went around the room giving everyone hugs, even Jenny. When she got to Kate, she made sure she to hold on extra-long.
"I missed you too, Abby. But my ribs are still broken!" said Kate fighting back pain.
"Sorry! Just so glad to see you!"
"What is it?" asked Alex as he kneeled in front of the box.
"I brought you guys a gift! It's super cool! You especially are going to love it, Alex!"
Alex jumped as the box started to move. "The box moved!"
A high pitch yelp came from the box getting everyone's attention.
"Oh boy!" sighed Tony.
The box tipped over and out walked a fuzzy, little chocolate brown puppy with tan paws and floppy ears.
"A puppy!" shouted Alex, as the little puppy jumped into his lap licking him on the face. "I always wanted a puppy!"
"You was telling me how much you wanted a puppy so I had the people at Rescue Dogs help me look for you one! Isn't he cute? He's a three month old Chocolate Lab, German Shepherd Mix! When I saw him I knew he would fit right in with you guys!"
"Is it because him and Kate have the same color hair!" joked Tony.
Kate elbowed her husband. "We're not keeping him!"
"Why Mommy?" questioned Aiden.
"Puppies are a lot of work!"
"But I like the puppy!"
Kate looked at Tony.
"Alex did ask for a dog for Christmas? Aiden got his car and Rissa her dollhouse," said Tony.
"Yeah Mommy! They got what they wanted why can't I?"
"Because I don't have to take care of Aiden and Arissa's gifts! I have to take care this!"
"Peas Mommy? I really want the puppy," begged Alex as he picked up the puppy in his arms, his tiny lower body dangling as Alex walked over and placed the puppy in Kate's lap.
Letting out a tiny yelp, the puppy playful raised his paw to Kate, bobbing his head up and down, as if he was begging her to let him stay.
"Look at him, Kate! How can you say no to that?" asked Abby.
Kate gave up. "Fine! You can keep him!"
Before any human could answer, the tiny puppy rested his paws on chest, licking her in the face.
"Aww, it's love!" sighed Abby.
"Love hurts!" groaned Kate, feeling the pain building in her chest. "Can you move him, please?"
Tony took the puppy off of Kate, allowing him to run around the living room with the kids.
Kate sighed. "We don't have anything for a puppy!"
"Don't worry, I got you all a starter kit. Food, bowl, leash, collar, bed! You're all set!" replied Abby.
"What's his name, Auntie Abby?" asked Arissa, gentle nudging the new puppy with her good arm trying to stop him from messing up her new dollhouse that he was more than determined to get to.
"He doesn't have a name yet! You guys can give him one you like!"
The puppy playfully grabbed hold of Arissa's night shirt, togging at her trying to gain access to the dollhouse. "We should name him after Alex cause he acts just like him! Let go of my shirt, puppy!"
"Rissa, you can't name a dog after your brother!" retorted Kate.
"You named your dog after me!" interjected Tony.
"And what was the name of that mangy Shih-Tzu you lost in the woods?"
"And with that we better get going!" laughed Gibbs.
"Thanks for coming by and bring the kids such lovely gifts!" said Kate, unable to take her eyes off the tiny brown puppy that ran around their family room.
Gibbs, Jenny and Abby left leaving the DiNozzo family alone with their new addition.
"You put Abby up to this, didn't you?" spat Kate.
Tony threw his hands in the air. "I had nothing to do with that or with Gibbs making Rissa the dollhouse!"
"The dollhouse I'm fine with, it's the puppy that I have a problem with!"
"I won't be that bad! I mean looked at him, he fits right in!"
Laughter filled the room as Kate looked over to see Alex and Aiden rolling on the floor as the puppy pounced on top of them.
"If he eats any of my shoes, I will kill you!"
Tony laughed as he laid back on the sofa, pulling Kate into his arms. "Merry Christmas, Kate!
"Merry Christmas, Tony."
What should have been a beautiful family moment was interrupted by the ringing of Tony's phone. "Would he please stop calling!"
"Maybe if you answered he would stop calling?"
Tony silenced his phone. "Nope!"
There was silence for a moment before the ringing stared again.
Kate snatched the phone from Tony. "I'll answer it!"
"Kate, no! Just ignore him!"
Kate answered the phone. "Hello...No, this is Kate, Tony's wife. Is there something I can help you with?" Kate was quiet as she listened to the other line. Kate gave Tony a funny look. "I'll gave him the message and have him contact you as soon as possible." Kate hung up the phone.
"Let me guess, he was calling to inform me that he had taken me out of the inheritance?"
"No, that wasn't your dad. It was Cleveland General Hospital."
"Why is a hospital calling me?"
Kate hesitated. "Senior was in a car accident this morning."
"Okay, I'm not going to see him! It's Christmas day and I'm spending to with right here with you guys!"
"Tony, Senior died."
Oh no! The family was having such a great Christmas and now this! What do you think? Review and comments are welcomed and an update is coming soon :-)