Christmas Countdown a la DiNozzo

Twenty-five days of short one-shots for the holidays.

Chapter 1: Countdown Calendars – 2024

Tony laid the five Christmas count-down calendars on the table after the family had finished dinner on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Ziva had used the leftover turkey, vegetables, gravy, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to make a shepherd's pie. Everyone had seconds and large casserole was gone in no time flat.

"These are count-down to Christmas calendars; you open one door each day starting on December first. That's tomorrow," Tony explained to the children. "I have some fond memories of opening a count-down calendar when I was young. My mom always bought me one that had candies in the doors. It was fun to see what candy each day held.

"These have both candy and small toys behind the doors. I don't know what each day holds, just the theme for each calendar. Tali, yours has a musical theme; Anthony, you have a sports theme. Riv and Beth, you both have princess doll themed calendars. And LJ, your calendar has miniature animals."

"Cool!" Beth reached for hers. "When can we open these?" Rivka and Beth compared the pictures on their calendars; the images were identical except for primary colors. Riv's was mostly blue and purple while Beth's was mostly red and pink.

"Tomorrow," Ziva pointed to the numbered doors. "See, here is your number one door to open tomorrow. Then door number two on Monday and so on."

Anthony inspected his calendar; it had a Christmas tree decorated with sports balls and other equipment. He held it up to the light and shook it as well.

"NO peeking, Anthony!" Tali scolded her brother. "You have to wait to see just like the rest of us do." She really liked the picture on her calendar; it had musical instruments and symbols on the Christmas tree drawing. There was also an orange cat curled under the tree. "Abba, that cat looks like Simba!"

Ziva smiled at her eldest, "That is one reason we chose that calendar for you. Also, for the music theme. Abba said that the cat reminded him of your Simba."

She glanced over at her baby; LJ had been unusually quiet while the others compared and admired their calendars, "What are you doing, LJ?"

The little boy looked up quickly when he heard his name and put his hand over a section of his calendar. "Um… nothin', Ima."

"He opened his doors!" Riv tattled on her little brother.

"Did not!" LJ shot back.

"Then why are there open doors on your calendar?" she retorted.

LJ moved his hand as his mother glared at him; he knew better than to ignore the Ima glare. "I didn't open them. They were already part-way open…"

Ziva scowled at her son, "So you decided to open them all the way."

"No… um… yes…" LJ looked to his Abba for help.

Tony shrugged, "Sorry, kid, you are on your own with this one. But… I will suggest that you find a way to close those doors again; do you want me to help?"

"Please, Abba. Sorry, Ima. My brain wanted to know what was inside," he looked at his mother with his best puppy eyes.

Ziva walked around to where the little boy was sitting; she put an arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug, "I forgive you. Just remember that you will be opening only one door per day until Christmas." He is his father's child, she noted to herself.