Chapter 3: Chocolate 2027

Tony unpacked the order from the chocolate shop that he'd placed a few days earlier. Since it was his turn to fill the kids' countdown baskets, he decided to give Christmas chocolates to each person. The kids always looked forward to receiving their favorite candies as stocking stuffers and countdown favors.

Since the McGee family would be having dinner with them that afternoon, Tony ordered chocolates for them as well. What he didn't tell anyone, not even Ziva, is that he also included the adults in the chocolate countdown day.

It worked out perfectly that Ziva and Delilah decided to take the kids to see an early afternoon performance of The Nutcracker at the local Arts Center especially designed for children. They'd gone for brunch beforehand giving Tony plenty of time to get the chocolate gifts into the reusable gift bags and sorted into the correct baskets for everyone. Tim had passed on the ballet, using finishing the paperwork on a newly wrapped up case as an excuse.

He dug through the box in Ziva's office to find more gift bags for the adults and McGee kids. They'd lucked out three years ago at an after-Christmas sale and bought thirty-eight Christmas-themed, reusable, fabric gift bags with drawstring closures at eighty percent off the original price. Five of them became the go-to for wrapping the small gifts and food for the kids' countdown to Christmas each year. Each DiNozzo had a basket that was placed on the kitchen counter by a wooden calendar to which each number was added as the day began.

He added the number three to the first slot in the second week on the blank calendar. Then he placed the colorful bags with their chocolate surprises in each of his offspring's baskets. He added the additional six bags for the McGee family and for Ziva and himself to the end of the line, giving a satisfied smirk at his handiwork.

He sat down at his computer to place an order for one of Ziva's gifts online and browsed the website for things to add to his own wish list. When Tony's phone chimed with the reminder to put the two casseroles in the oven for dinner, he closed the browser and headed to the kitchen from his office. He'd just put the second pan in the oven when Tim came in the front door.

"Hey, Tim," Tony placed the oven mitts on the counter next to the ovens and greeted his brother. "Want to watch the OSU game while we wait for everyone?"

"Hi, Tony; yeah, that works for me," the younger man replied. He noticed the full baskets and the extra bags on the counter by the bar stools. "Wow! Your kids actually left their countdown gifts unopened?"

"Nope, I didn't put them out until after they left," Tony grinned. "I figured that way Ziva could get them all out for their brunch faster than if we had to shoo them away from their goodies."

Tim pointed to the extra bags and gave his brother a questioning look.

"Everyone gets a present today; even you… but no peeking!" A full on DiNozzo grin accompanied the playful warning. "We'll all open them together later on."

Tim shrugged and followed Tony to the family room to watch the game and wait for the women and children to arrive home. The game went to half-time at about the same time the front door opened, and the seven kids ran inside with Ziva and Delilah behind them.

"Abba, we saw the giant nutcracker," LJ ran into the family room still in his winter jacket. "I got to move his lever and he gave me a chocolate coin." LJ held up the shiny coin that looked suspiciously like the Chanukah gelt that Ziva bought at the membership warehouse shopping each December.

"LJ, please go hang your jacket on your hook by the front door," Ziva reminded her youngest before she brushed her lips on Tony's. "You should have come; it was very well done."

"I did some things around the house," he returned the kiss and reminded his better half that he finished their weekend chores.

"Abba, can we open our countdown presents now?" Rivka called from the kitchen where she, Beth, Anthony, John, and Katie were eying the line of bags on the counter.

"Is everyone ready? Where's Tali?" Tony entered the kitchen followed by Ziva and Tim. "Where is Dee?"

"Here I am," Delilah rolled into the kitchen from the hallway. "Tali went to her room to change her shirt. Someone bumped into her when we had the cookies and punch after The Nutcracker; she spilled her punch on her top."

Tony turned to the other six kids, "As soon as Tali gets in the kitchen we will all open our gifts." While they waited, Ziva checked the casseroles and noted the amount of time left on the timer that Tony had set when he put them into the oven. She slid the tray of rolls into the second oven to warm them.

"Hurry up, Tali!" Beth ran to the hallway to the children's rooms to check on her big sister. "We are waiting for you so we can open countdown gifts!"

Tali opened her bedroom door and took her time walking to the kitchen; at thirteen, getting excited about countdown gifts was not cool. "Chill, little sister; it's not like the bags with our gifts are going to disappear…" She cut off the rest of what she was about to say when she noticed the 'Ima glare' coming her way.

LJ jumped up from the chair in the breakfast nook excitedly, "Yeah! Everybody is here so now we can open the gifts, right Ima?" His hand reached for his bag with the image of a lion and a lamb under a shiny star.

"Slow down, mister impatient; we need to give our guests their bags before anyone opens anything," Tony reminded the six-year-old. "Please take this one to Aunt Dee," he handed LJ the forest green bag with white stenciled Christmas trees on the sides.

LJ grabbed the bag and skipped over to his aunt, "This one is for you." He handed it to her with a signature DiNozzo grin.

"Thank you, LJ."

Tony had Anthony give Katie her dark and light pink striped bag with a princess crown appliqued on one side. Rivka gave John the bright blue bag with R2-D2 printed on one side. Tony handed the bag that looked like a laptop computer to Tim and the one with the Star of David and an outline of Israel to Ziva. Beth picked up the final loose bag, black with a white stenciled camera and movie reel, and held it out to her Abba with her left hand while holding her own red and panda-themed bag in the other hand.

Once Rivka had her blue bag with Winnie the Pooh embroidered on one side, Anthony had his that resembled an orange basketball, and Tali had her bag that had a black and white musical theme, Tony signaled for everyone to open their bags.

"Thank you, Uncle Tony! How did you know that Snickers are my favorite of all?" Katie hugged her uncle with a huge smile.

"Yeah, thanks Uncle Tony," John held up the package of chocolate-covered gummy robot shapes for everyone to see. "I love gummies and I love chocolate; this is the best ever."

LJ held out the package of his favorites, the caramel patties with dark chocolate. "My favorite!" He started tearing the bag open only to be stopped by Ziva.

"After dinner, LJ," she reminded him. "We have loaded mac-and-cheese and chicken and rice casseroles in the oven for dinner, plus your favorite potato dinner rolls."

"Let's eat now so I can have my candy," he replied with a smile. "What did you get, Tali?"

Tali showed her brother the milk chocolate flavored with orange and formed into a ball shape that resembled the fruit, "Abba knows my favorite! Toda, Abba." The teen hugged her father tightly; memories from Christmases past filled both of their minds. Their first Christmas together had been Tali's introduction to the seasonal favorite; Tony bought one for his daughter on impulse two days before the holiday and it had been scarfed up by all of them within a day.

"Yes! Semi-sweet dark with almonds and raisins," Anthony fist-pumped as he opened his treat. "I know I won't have to share with anyone, well, maybe just Ima…"

"White chocolate peppermint bark! Thank you, Abba," Riv ran over to hug her father with a huge grin on her face. "I can't wait to have some for dessert." She looked over at her twin, "Did you get your favorite too?"

Beth nodded and grinned as she held up her package of milk chocolate fudge covered with mini-marshmallows and colored sprinkles. "Abba is so smart 'cause he remembers everyone's favorites. Thanks, Abba."

"Oh. My. God!" Tim laughed out loud when he tugged the package of milk chocolate covered Nutter Butters from his bag. "I didn't even know they made such a thing; these look awesome. I am going to have to pace myself so I can savor them. Thanks, Tony!"

Delilah grinned as she realized the contents of her bag, "Ooh, thank you, Tony. I love Milky Way Midnight bars!"

Tony shared a look with Tim and grinned, "I know; Timmy boy told me the story of going out at three in the morning looking for them when you had a pregnancy craving." He glanced over at Ziva; she was just opening her gift bag.

"Tony; you didn't…" Ziva grinned and pulled him to her for a kiss as she held up the package of mixed chocolate candies with a variety of fillings. On the front of the box read: 'For the chocoholic who can't decide…'

"It is so you," he grinned. "As soon as I saw it, I knew it was meant for you."

"So, what did you get for yourself?" Tim queried his brother.

"You need to ask, McBrother? Of course, I got my favorite; the milk chocolate with toffee chips," Tony replied as the oven timers sounded. "Let's eat dinner so we can all pig out on chocolate!"