Chapter 3 Mistletoe – (4 December 2021)

"C'mon, Tali and Anthony," Tony called out to his two oldest children. "We're going shopping while your sisters and brother nap. Give Ima a break and some time to herself."

"Where are we going Abba?" Tali tugged on her winter coat as Anthony waited for his Abba to tie his shoes.

Tony looked up at his daughter, "The Christmas tree farm, the home-improvement store, and the grocery store. We need to get mistletoe, staples for the big staple gun, and some things from the food store for Ima."

Ziva came from the hallway to the kids' bedrooms, "Just do not do a repeat of two years ago please. We had more than enough mistletoe around the house…"

"I promise Sweetcheeks; give me some credit… I remembered this year…" he stood up from tying the little boy's shoes.

Ziva patted his cheek, "Unlike last year when you had to go out on Christmas Eve to find whatever sprigs you could. I still am shocked that you found as much as you did."

"We were so busy with the twins and figuring out how to manage four kids plus the lockdowns from the pandemic; buying mistletoe sorta slipped my mind," he grinned. "When you asked me at 2300 on the twenty-third where was all the mistletoe, I had one of those 'oh sh…'" Ziva put a finger on his lips to remind her husband that little ears were listening.

Tony pulled up a list on his phone, "See? I listed all the places to hang a sprig, plus the three over the bed. Total of twenty-four sprigs of mistletoe needed. Two dozen is not overboard; at least not in my book."

"Well, I guess that is okay. It does average to about one per room, if you also count the garage," Ziva conceded. "Although, you do not put mistletoe in the children's rooms or bathrooms; or the hall half-bath."

He smirked at his wife, "I do not, but there are plenty of rooms that need more than one sprig. Plus, our room gets the intertwined three over the bed; that tradition will stand for as long as I live." He kissed Ziva and moved toward the door, "Let's go." Tali and Anthony followed their Abba to his truck as Ziva headed to the family room to read and have some quiet time while two-month-old LJ and twenty-two-month-old Rivka and Beth napped.

~Mistletoe~

"Each one of these is so I can kiss your Ima," Tony carried on a monologue to baby LJ in the infant sling on his chest as he hung sprigs of mistletoe around the house. "Not that I need any excuses to kiss her. But it's kinda fun to just lay one on her anywhere and anytime. Don't tell your Ima, but I kinda like kissing her. I've been addicted to her kisses from almost as long as I've known her as an adult. We had this undercover op way back in 2005, and, oh, the kisses… Why am I telling you this?" He glanced down at the sleeping baby boy. Kisses that had led to more, so much more… Kisses that had been a part of the creation of the five miracles in his life. His five greatest achievements ever; Tali, Anthony, Rivka, Beth, and the baby sleeping against his Abba's chest.

"Ani ohev otach, LJ," the father whispered to the newest DiNozzo. Their 'oops' baby, but Tony wouldn't ever admit that to anyone but Ziva. LJ opened his eyes and peered at his Abba. Tony grinned at the baby and the little one mirrored his father; a DiNozzo grin through and through.

"There you are," Ziva came up behind her husband in his office. "Everything good?"

Tony nodded, "Better than good. My wingman here is helping me hang the mistletoe. Isn't that right, LJ?" He grinned at the baby again and was rewarded with a huge smile from the infant. Ziva grinned at the sight of Tony and her youngest with matching smiles.

"You cannot deny he is your child; not with that grin," she teased.

"Uh-huh," Tony cooed at his boy. "He's the best of both of us, Zi. Have I told you lately that we make beautiful kids?"

Ziva nodded and put a kiss on LJ's head, then leaned in towards Tony to brush her lips on his. "You have; but that does not mean we need any more, neshama. We thought we were done when we had four…"

"We have a basketball team now… I'd have a dozen kids with you," he quipped.

"I do not think so… you do not have to carry the growing child inside you for nine months, my little hairy butt," she retorted. "Five is quite enough for me."

Just then, LJ let out a wail and squirmed in the sling. He turned his head so his face was towards his Abba's chest and started rutting.

"Someone needs his Ima," Tony loosened the sling so Ziva could remove the baby. "I'll finish hanging the mistletoe in our room while you feed him. I was gonna have to take the sling off to get on the ladder to hang the three intertwined sprigs over the bed anyhow."

Anthony came down the short hallway to his parents' offices. "I'm bored. The girls are playing with some baby dolls. Can I help you Abba?"

"Sure, you can be my wingman now that LJ wants to be fed," Tony replied as he removed the sling from his body. "When I get on the ladder, you can hand me the mistletoe. Deal?"

"Yeah!" Anthony grinned and followed his Abba to the master bedroom. He started singing one of the family's favorite silly songs, "I saw Ima kissing Abba Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night." Tony joined his son in singing. Father and son hung the rest of the mistletoe in record time.

A/N Christmas at the DiNozzo house must have mistletoe...