Chapter 15: A Houseful – 2040
"All I'm saying, Zi, is that we've had our DiNozzo holiday mishap already this year," Tony was explaining why he thought Christmas would be uneventful in 2040 as the couple walked from their bedroom to the kitchen.
"I would hardly call the arrival of Katie and Anthony's twins on Thanksgiving night and early the next morning a mishap," she argued. "Katie's water breaking is a natural part of childbirth."
"But in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner?" he smirked at her. "They ARE DiNozzos, you understand."
"Mornin'," Gibbs was sipping his morning coffee and eating his oatmeal at the table in the breakfast nook. His walker was against the wall behind his chair. "Gonna snow; knees say so."
"You sure, Boss?" Tony knew that snow was not in the forecast for the holidays.
"Not your Boss anymore, Tony. Knees don't lie."
"Uh, okay, Dad." He turned to Ziva who was making French toast for their Sunday breakfast. Just as he was about to ask her if she wanted tea or coffee with her breakfast, LJ came into the kitchen
"Morning, everyone," the twenty-year-old stretched his six foot four inch frame and yawned. "Hi, Grandpa. Ima, what's for breakfast; I'm starved!"
"French toast with cinnamon," she replied as Tony gave his youngest a hurt puppy look.
LJ smirked at his Abba, "Oh, hello, Abba…" He ducked as Tony tried to swat the back of his head and poured himself a mug of coffee. There was only a small amount left in the pot, so he topped off his grandfather's mug and started a new pot brewing.
Ziva flipped the French toast slices on the griddle; her phone rang just as she turned the last of the slices. "Shalom, yaldati." She listened for about thirty seconds and then said "good bye."
She turned to the others, "That was Beth; John and Riv got in from Atlanta last night. They are all going to go to out for breakfast and then head this way." Beth and Charles, and John and Rivka were staying at the Palmer house. Jimmy and Breena had flown to Okinawa to be with Jared and Tori and their kids for the holidays. Little Jackie was almost four and baby Patrick was almost nine months.
Tony poured coffee into a mug for himself and poured the hot water into Ziva's mug for her tea as she put slices of French toast on plates for the three DiNozzos. LJ grabbed the maple syrup out of the fridge and they joined Gibbs at the breakfast nook table.
After breakfast, Gibbs went back to his room, LJ cleaned up from breakfast and Ziva and Tony made a shopping list of last minute items for the next three days. Tony reminded Ziva to put cellophane tape (lots of it) on the list saying they could never have too much for wrapping presents for the five grandkids. She added goldfish crackers to the list; Levi and Anthony IV loved the small crackers, especially the cheddar cheese flavored ones. One-year-old Elijah was also showing a fondness for the popular snack.
LJ headed to his room to paint an acrylic landscape he'd started back in October. Ziva and Tony prepared to head out to the local superstore before the crowds.
"LJ," Ziva stood in his doorway. "Abba and I are going to make a final superstore run before the crowds get awful. Do you need anything?"
"No thanks Ima."
"Please listen for your sisters; I am not sure we will be back before they get here. Tali and Chaim will not be over today; they are making a video call to Chaim's parents in Tel Aviv. Anthony and Katie are busy with the twins; I think Aunt Dee and Uncle Tim are spending part of the day with them to help out. If you get hungry, there is leftover chicken Alfredo and two or three slices of pizza in the refrigerator."
"Got it," LJ was concentrating on getting the reflection of the moon on the water in his painting just right.
At the store, the couple quickly found all the items on their list. The last stop had been to the dairy department to pick up milk for the boys to have with the meals. As they headed down the main aisle to check out, Ziva spotted a display of multi-packs of onesies and sleepers. It was a terrific deal so she put two packages of each in newborn, three months, and six months sizes in the cart. Tony wandered over to a display of Christmas outfits for babies. He picked two similar outfits in 0 – 3 months size and held them up for Ziva to see.
"Wouldn't the girls look adorable in these?" he grinned at her, knowing she would not say no to buying the little dresses with leggings and a headband for each granddaughter. As she nodded and grinned back at him, he placed the two outfits in the cart.
"My little princesses will be the best-dressed babies in the DC area," their proud Saba declared as the pair walked to the checkout area. "I love my grandsons, but I'm glad we have granddaughters now too."
As they waited to check out, he put an arm around his wife and nibbled her earlobe. He leaned in and kissed Ziva just because he felt like doing so. "And they have the sexiest Savta in the world," he whispered in her ear.
She stepped back and gave him the once over elevator eyes, "Not too shabby yourself, Saba."
Back at home, Rivka, John, Beth, and Charles had arrived about fifteen minutes before their parents returned from shopping. They were all visiting with Grandpa in the family room. LJ heard the garage door open and went to the kitchen entrance to the garage to see if his parents needed any extra hands. He opened the door to the sound of his parents; apparently Ima was scolding Abba.
"You did not need to carry all eight of the remaining bags, Tony. We could have made a second trip out to the truck or had LJ go get the remaining bags," Ziva had one bag in her left hand and two bags in her right.
"Efficiency, Zi; four bags on one arm, four on the other," he smirked at her and held up his arms. "Saves steps and time."
"You are lucky I grabbed the milk; I know you'd be complaining if you had a gallon of milk hanging off your arm. Thank you, LJ," she stepped through the door he held open for his parents.
LJ shook his head as he followed Abba inside. Only his parents! "I can help put things away," he offered.
Ziva glared at her husband as he tried to figure out how to put the two bags of food down on the counter so that he could take the rest of the bags to their room. All were filled with last minute gifts for the grandkids. "Please help your Abba before he drops something," she huffed.
LJ took the two bags of food from his father's arms and put them on the counter. He helped his Ima put the groceries away while Tony took the gifts to the master bedroom. He and Ziva would be wrapping presents late at night again.
LJ went back to the family room; Ziva sat on one of the barstools at the counter. She slipped on the reading glasses that she and Tony shared to check over the receipt. She felt arms wrap around her from behind as Tony pulled her to him. He nuzzled into her neck and spun her around on the stool. When she was facing him, he leaned in and put his lips on hers.
"Mistletoe!" he pointed above her head as he pulled away slightly. She swatted his chest playfully and then grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss.
"Mistletoe!" she grinned at him as Rivka entered the kitchen. "Yaldati!" Mother and daughter hugged; they had not seen each other in person since 4th of July week. Rivka then hugged her Abba.
The three went into the family room to visit with the others. Ziva hugged Beth and John, and shook Charles' hand. She remembered that he was not a hugger. Tony hugged his daughter, and started to shake hands with John, but drew the young man into a guy hug. He shook Charles' hand remembering that the Gremlin's offspring was not a hugger.
The four young adults stayed for a late lunch and then they and LJ left to go to a concert at Capital One Arena, home of the NHL hockey franchise for DC. Gibbs was in his room sleeping, and Ziva and Tony were wrapping gifts in their offices when LJ came home at 2330. He peeked into the offices to say good night to his parents.
Christmas Eve dawned with sunny skies and colder temperatures. Ziva and Tony were up before the sun to get the turkey for the late afternoon family dinner in the oven and prepare other dishes for heating later in the day. Tony happened to look outside and noticed the bright pinks, oranges and magentas in the sky. Perhaps Gibbs' knees were correct about the snow. The couple paused to enjoy the natural show and beauty, arms wrapped around each other.
By 1300, the house was full of family; Tim and Delilah; Tali, Chaim, Levi, and Elijah; Anthony, Katie, Anthony, Kelly, and Shannon; Rivka and John; and Beth and Charles, plus Ziva, Tony, LJ, and Gibbs. They feasted on a turkey dinner with all the fixings, including mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, peas and carrots, dressing, red cabbage, and rolls.
The younger generation, except for LJ, all headed out for home shortly after sunset with promises to be back the next morning. Gibbs soon grew tired and said good night, leaving just Tony, Ziva, LJ, Tim, and Dee to watch It's a Wonderful Life. The McGees left about 2200, LJ went to his room to paint, and the DiNozzo grandparents returned to offices to finish wrapping gifts. By the time the gifts were all wrapped and placed under the tree it was close to 0200.
Ziva could see that Tony's back was hurting from carrying piles of gifts and bending to put them under the tree. As he stood up after placing the final pile, she slid her hands to his lower back and gently massaged his sore muscles.
"Feels so good Sweetcheeks," he sighed and leaned into her touch. "Toda raba."
"Making up for being snitchy earlier," she replied. He turned his head and gave her a questioning look over his shoulder as she continued to knead his lower back. She grinned at him, "Snippy and bitchy…"
He turned to face her, cupping her face in his hands, "Never, my love… you were right you know; I shouldn't have carried all those bags at once."
"Aha! You admit that I was correct," she grinned at him. He stroked her face with his thumbs and fused his lips to hers.
When they broke for air, he quipped, "Mistletoe! Somewhere."
On Christmas morning, the pair rose early again to prepare the pans of lasagna for the family meal later in the day. Riv, John. Beth, and Charles arrived by 0830 after they had been promised Abba's chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Even Gibbs ate pancakes, foregoing his usual oatmeal. Tony figured he made close to forty pancakes by the time everyone was full.
Tali and her family arrived about 1030, followed by Tim and Dee fifteen minutes later. Anthony and his family 'moved in,' as Tony joked, a bit after 1100. LJ played Santa, handing gifts to each person; most of them were opened by Levi and Anthony IV who delighted in tearing the wrapping paper. Both giggled hysterically each time one made a long tearing sound. The adults were soon laughing with the boys and Elijah imitated his brother and cousin. Tim and Tony took pictures and video of it all; including the sea of torn paper in the family room when all the gifts were opened.
While Ziva and Tali started putting pans of lasagna into the ovens, the other adults began collecting trash or stacking gifts out of the way. Tony counted seven bags of trash when the family room was finally somewhat tidy again.
Both Ziva and Tony noticed Gibbs rubbing his knees; when time came to eat, he moved slowly into the dining room even with his walker. The family demolished the four pans of lasagna, salad, Italian bread, and garlic bread. Once the meal was finished, Katie went into the twins' old room to nurse the babies. Tali took Elijah to her Ima's office to get him settled for a nap.
Levi and Anthony played with their new toys while Gibbs watched from his recliner. Levi looked out the deck door and jumped up and down excitedly.
"Papa, it's snowing!" he yelled. "IT'S SNOWING!" he yelled even louder and ran into the kitchen.
Anthony IV followed behind his cousin yelling as well, "SNOW, SNOW!"