Chapter 24, Retirement: Winter 2030 - 31

31 December 2030 was circled in red on every calendar in the house, the 'official' day that Tony and Ziva would retire. While they were looking forward to not having to work on a regular schedule, both were also a bit apprehensive at what came after. Neither one would be happy just doing nothing. Ziva still volunteered at the local public library and at the Women's Center. She and Tony both volunteered at the children's schools as well.

At the start of the school year, Anthony had played eighth grade football, and was planning to play basketball and baseball as well. Tony had volunteered with the teams, and the head coach had been impressed. He offered Tony a part-time coaching job early in December. Ziva encouraged Tony to take the job, knowing he would enjoy the work. Tony accepted the job, to start with the basketball season.

As the holidays neared, Tali was working more hours at her part time job at a music store. With basketball games on Thursday nights, Beth and Rivka's gymnastics on Mondays and Wednesdays, and LJ's art club on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the family rarely all sat down together for dinner during the week. Gibbs had volunteered with the art club, so he and LJ had dinner at Gibbs' house. Ziva was starting to think that the holiday decorations would not get put up that year. Chanukah started at sundown on 20 December, so she made sure the menorah was out in time. Until this year, the family had the tradition that Ziva did the first night's blessings, then the children each took a night, starting with LJ and ending with Tali, Tony did the seventh night, and they all shared the final night.

Tony had put up the Christmas tree one night, but no ornaments. He decided to put each person's box of ornaments on a table in the family room so that he or she could put them up when they had time. Slowly, the tree was decorated, with ornaments being hung when one of the DiNozzos had time at home. Tali had hers all on the tree first, but only because she had an afternoon off that the others were all busy. Gibbs and LJ had hung LJ's and the extended family ornaments when it was just the two of them in the house. Neither Tony nor Ziva had a chance to get ornaments hung.

The Sunday before Christmas, the whole family was home for the day by 1500. As the children hung ornaments and took wrapping paper, scissors and tape to their rooms to wrap gifts, Ziva and Tony sat in the kitchen. "I think this is the first time in over a month that all of us are in the house in the day time." Ziva looked at Tony and smiled, "And the first family dinner with all of us in at least three weeks."

She chopped vegetables for a stew, while Tony peeled potatoes. The meat was browning in a pot on the stove. Each put their pile of pieces in the stew pot and Ziva added stock and set it to simmer. Tony cleaned the knives and cutting boards. As he finished, he snaked his arms around Ziva's waist. She leaned back into him and purred. He kissed her neck and then turned her to face him and she kissed his lips. "So, Mr. DiNozzo, what are we going to do in two weeks when we do not have to go to work?" Tony kissed her, and commented, "I can think of lots of things to do, especially with an empty house."

Anthony walked into the kitchen at just that moment, "Ugh, permanently scarred for life here; get a room, Ima and Abba!" He smirked at them and grabbed an apple off the counter. "Outta here!"

Ziva laughed; Anthony was his father's son in so many ways. "Let's go hang our ornaments."

~TIVA~

Tony had accumulated vacation days that he needed to use, or lose, so he had off the entire week of Christmas and the days before New Years' Day. Ziva had one more work day on the Monday before Christmas. The younger DiNozzos were out of school on break for Christmas and New Years' weeks. Tali had work hours on Monday and on Tuesday morning, but did not have to work again until the Friday after Christmas. The family was looking forward to having two and one half days of time together.

Christmas dinner was at Gibbs house as usual. Ziva made a large pan of lasagna and four loaves of Italian bread for the main meal, and with Tony's help, twenty dozen Christmas cookies. Gibbs cooked a ham, Delilah made mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and apple pies. Breena and Jimmy brought ice cream, brownies, and all sorts of beverages. This year's group was smaller than usual. Clayton, Ellie, Savannah and Jason had flown to Oklahoma for the week. Nick and his wife were in New York with her family. Leon and Abby had flown to Spain to meet up with Kayla, her family, and Jared.

Tim set up the video cameras as he always did for family gatherings. One was in the living room to capture opening gifts, and one was in the dining room to record dinner. He also had a handheld camera to video other areas. It was the living room camera that captured Anthony giving Katie a bracelet that he had bought for her. She opened the box and smiled at Anthony. He took the bracelet out and put it on her wrist. After the clasp was fastened, he raised his head and they shared a kiss. Ziva happened to see the kiss from the doorway to the kitchen and motioned for Tony to come over quietly. "So our boy has had his first kiss!" Tony grinned and whispered in Ziva's ear. "I think we are looking at the second pairing from the new generation."

Tony found Tim, who was videoing Charles, Beth, John and Rivka setting the table, and nudged him. He just grinned at Tim and told him to check the video from the living room when he had a chance. Tim gave Tony a quizzical look, but Tony just grinned some more.

Gibbs had LJ call everyone to the table for dinner. The food was on a side table, buffet style, for easier serving. The family gathered around the table, holding hands, as Gibbs said a blessing. "This year we are not all at the same table for Christmas, so for those who are in other places, we ask safe travels and happy journeys. For all who are here, bless us and the food. Amen. Let's eat!"

After dinner and clean up, the family gathered in the living room to open gifts. They took turns opening a gift, with each person opening one, and then choosing another from under the tree to hand to someone else. They had let LJ start off opening gifts with his gift from Grandpa Gibbs. LJ gave his Grandpa a big hug after he opened a set of acrylic paints and brushes.

After several rounds, Tony was handed his gift from Tali. He opened it to find a set of John Wayne DVDs. "Thanks, Tali. I guess I'll have to take this off my amazon wish list!" The rest of the family laughed. Tony dug under the tree for his gift for Ziva. He took it over to her, and she looked at the large, wrapped box that he handed her.

She unwrapped the box and used her knife, "Rule 9, Abba Gibbs," to cut the tape across the top. She opened the flaps to another brightly wrapped box. Inside the second box was another wrapped box. After the sixth one, Ziva joked, "I guess Tony gave me the boxes for the body parts." The others snickered. The seventh box was also wrapped but in a velvet bag. Ziva opened the bag to take out the box. She opened the box to see a necklace, bracelet, and earrings set with all of the DiNozzo birthstones in an infinity-shaped white gold setting. "Tony, they are beautiful." She held up the jewelry for all to see, to oohs and aahs from the others.

A few rounds later, Ziva gave her gift to Tony. He held the small box in his hands and wondered out loud what it could be. "Open it, Abba," Beth and Rivka said together. Tony tore the wrapping paper off the box and held it up laughing. Ziva had put his gift in a Pop Tarts box! He opened the box to see another, smaller wrapped box inside. Ziva smirked; two could play this game!

Tony unwrapped the smaller box, and held it up. The box appeared to be from a jeweler. Tony opened the box and inside was a single key, with a Ferrari logo on it. Underneath was a piece of paper. Tony unfolded the paper to see round trip tickets for the two of them to Santiago, Chile for the week of 9 February 2031. Ziva explained that the key was for their house in Chile and she had just put the logo on it to tease him.

~TIVA~

After the gifts were opened, Tony put "It's a Wonderful Life" in the DVD player and the family relaxed in the living room to another of their traditions. Gibbs looked around at his kids and grandkids as the movie played. Tim and Delilah were snuggled together on the sofa. Tony and Ziva were wrapped together on the love seat, oblivious to the others. Jimmy and Breena were sharing a blanket on the second love seat. LJ was sitting next to Grandpa Gibbs. Tali and Tori were sitting on the floor by the Christmas tree, Tori showing Tali her Christmas gift from Jared. Anthony and Katie were on the other end of the sofa, trying to hide their interlocked hands. Charles, Beth, John and Rivka were all seated on the floor in front of the coffee table. Gibbs smiled and offered his silent toast to Ducky, as he did every year since Ducky had passed on.

~TIVA~

Tony and Ziva celebrated their anniversary, their retirement and New Years' Day with Gibbs, their children and the McGee family. Jimmy and Breena had headed south after Christmas to visit Breena's sister and her family.

In the new year, they settled into their new routine fairly quickly, with both parents continuing the volunteer work that they had been doing before and Tony coaching basketball.