Chapter 24: Silent Night - 2029

"Hurry up, Anthony," Beth urged her older brother to walk faster as the two siblings delivered Christmas cookies to the neighbors. "If we are too slow, everybody will be eating dinner before we get back."

Anthony sighed, "Ima said that she would wait to serve the food until we got back home." He lugged the large wagon to the next house; they had seven large baskets of cookies to deliver in all with invitations to the DiNozzo house for later that evening. There were two more in the wagon before they headed home plus a disposable cooler with prepared meals.

Beth rang the doorbell at Mrs. Dooley's house. Anthony lifted the styrofoam cooler out of the wagon as the woman answered the door.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Dooley," Beth handed the neighbor a tin of cookies. "Ima made your favorites, plus all of the others she always makes for Christmas."

Anthony grinned, "Ima sent over some food for you as well. I know she packed some lasagna, some of her beef stew, and I think some chicken casserole for you. I'll put the cooler in your kitchen. Abba says to keep the cooler if you want."

"Thank you," she led Anthony to the kitchen where he placed the cooler on the counter by the refrigerator. "I have some homemade candies for you to take home for the family." She handed a box to Anthony with a smile.

"Abba said to tell you It's a Wonderful Life will start at 7:30 if you want to come over. Merry Christmas, Mrs. D." the DiNozzos waved to their friend as the two headed to the last house to make the cookie delivery. Anthony rang the bell at Mr. Jenson's house and when the old man opened the door, he handed the cookies to the neighbor and invited him to come watch the film.

Back at home, Beth punched the code into the garage door opener on the door frame; Anthony pulled the wagon inside and then closed the door as the two entered the house via the door to the kitchen. He handed his Ima the candies from Mrs. Dooley.

"Mrs. Dooley sent candy," he gave Ziva the box. "I hope she put in the same fudge that she made last year!"

Ziva took the box from her son, "All of her candy is delicious. Dinner is in about twenty minutes, as soon as the McGees arrive. They are on the way now."

Both children headed to the front entry foyer to hang their coats on the pegs by the door. As they were doing so, the front door opened as the McGee family arrived. Anthony helped Katie with her coat, hanging it on the same peg as his own. Beth took Aunt Delilah's jacket to hang on the coat tree for her.

"Smells good," Tim commented. "Did your mother make her beef stew?"

"Yep," Anthony affirmed. "I think that's everyone's favorite; Abba made biscuits too."

Delilah rolled to the kitchen, "I brought dessert; three dozen red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing." She placed the carrier on the counter and hugged Ziva. "What can I do to help?"

"I think everything is ready," Ziva smiled. "Tony is taking the biscuits from the oven now and I just have to carry the stew pot to the table for serving." She lifted the large pot from the stove to place on the hot pad on the dining room table. "Dinner is ready," she called to the others in the family room.

DiNozzos and McGees enjoyed the hearty dinner of beef stew, biscuits with butter, and assorted beverages. Delilah, Tali, and Ziva had just finished cleaning up in the kitchen and started getting the popcorn ready when the doorbell rang.

Anthony greeted several neighbors, including Mrs. Dooley, and Mr. Jensen. The Palmer family arrived as the others were entering the house, with the Reeves family behind them. Tony set up the DVD for the traditional holiday film in the family room as Tim and John moved chairs from the dining room and kitchen into the family room.

The mulled cider was heating in a large crockpot as Tali filled bowls with popcorn and potato chips. Delilah put the red velvet cupcakes on the kitchen table with the other snacks. Rivka and Beth set out paper plates, cups, and napkins for their guests. LJ made sure everyone's coats were hung on the coat tree or the pegs by the front door. He also kept watch for Grandpa to arrive.

Tony stood in front of the large screen television and greeted the crowd of thirty, "Welcome to the annual screening of It's a Wonderful Life, a DiNozzo family tradition since 1971. Sit back, enjoy the cider, popcorn, and snacks." He pressed the play button on the remote and sat with Ziva on the loveseat. He wrapped an arm around his wife as she leaned against him.

After the movie ended, Tali played Christmas carols on the piano. Tony brought out his guitar and the DiNozzo family led the singing of many favorites. As the evening wound down, Ziva announced the final carol of the night.

"To end our celebration, our family will sing Stille Nacht also known as Silent Night. We will sing in the original German, but feel free to join in with English," she announced. She signaled to Tali and Tony to begin.

After the caroling, Tali, Anthony, John, Tim, and Tony walked the elderly neighbors to their homes as the Palmer and Reeves families loaded into vehicles to head to their homes. Ziva, Rivka, Beth, Delilah, Katie, and LJ cleaned up the remnants of the snack and Gibbs took trash out.

"Good night everyone," McGees and Gibbs headed out as DiNozzos headed to get ready for bed. "Merry Christmas!"