Chapter 5 – DiNozzo and McGee kids

The family dinner on the Saturday before Christmas ended up being just DiNozzos and McGees. The Palmers were at Breena's father's house; Abby was with her brothers, Luca and Kyle; Leon had both Kayla and Jared home for the holidays and was spending the evening with just the three of them. Gibbs, Nick, Ellie, and Clay were winding up a case that had taken them to South Carolina. Tim did not go along as the case was tied to an old case of Gibbs' from twenty-five years ago and he was needed to do research into old files, which he could do best from the DC office, rather than in the field.

Ziva and Delilah kept the meal simple, using a family favorite beef stew made by Ziva. Dee brought homemade rolls, a salad, and dessert for the eleven to enjoy. LJ's eyes brightened when he spotted the gallon tubs of ice cream as Tim carried them in.

"Chocolate, mint chocolate chip, and vanilla," Tim told the little boy as he placed the containers in the indoor freezer in the DiNozzo kitchen. LJ gave his uncle a huge grin and a thumbs' up; as long as anyone had chocolate ice cream to share with him, the child was happy.

The kids chatted excitedly about the upcoming visit from Santa, and the presents that would be opened at home and at family members' houses. All were looking forward to the family gathering at Gibbs' house for Christmas day.

At a lull in the chatter, Tali spoke up, "I've been thinking. We had to write an essay about what one or two things we had to have to make it feel like Christmas as the final assignment for the year. I had too many things to add to my 'must-have' list that I had a hard time writing my essay. What do you all think are the must-haves?"

"Ugiyott qinamonn and mistletoe," Tony jumped right in with his Christmas 'gotta-haves.'

Both Beth and Rivka added, "Presents!" simultaneously. "And candy canes!"

"Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes," Ziva grinned. "And, yes, we have some for dessert tonight with the ice cream!"

All seven kids cheered; they knew that Ziva did not mind sharing her favorite Christmas snack, but that she also doled them out sparingly.

"Terry's Chocolate Oranges," John licked his lips as the thought of one of his favorite finds in the Christmas stocking. "Milk chocolate for me."

"Oh, yeah, I love those, but I prefer the dark chocolate ones," Tali nodded. "Yummy!"

Dee grinned, "Christmas coal… you better watch out if you've been naughty at all this year…" She and Ziva shared a smile and both then looked over at Tony, grinning.

"What?" he shrugged. "I've been good, I swear."

"Abba, you did use a swear word when you hung up the mistletoe," Anthony reminded his father. "You said, 'La'azazel' when you dropped the pushpin and then stepped on it with your bare foot."

Tony made a cutting motion to let his mini-me know it was time to be silent about that little incident. "What is your Christmas must-have, Anthony?" he attempted to redirect the conversation back to a 'safe' topic.

The boy thought for a minute, "That's a tough one. I have a bunch of them, like Tali. If I had to choose, let's see… Ima's lasagna… or all the Christmas cookies… or Grandpa's apple pies…"

Katie ribbed her best friend, "Food… always food with you! I think my must-have is the fun things we do as a family every year, like It's A Wonderful Life' or helping decorate the tree at Grandpa's house."

Tim reached over and gave a slight push on the vanes of the angel-abra on the side table in the DiNozzo dining room. "The angel chimes are my must-have. It brings back memories from when I was little, and also the shadows are so mesmerizing. It's fun to watch my kids enjoy them as much as I do."

"True, we all like lighting the candles and watching the angels spin around to make the chimes sing. And I agree, the shadows are way cool," Tony smiled. "Like with Tim, there are memories from long ago associated with the angel-abra chimes."

Tim lifted the two sets, one large and one small from the sideboard and placed them in the center of the table. Tony retrieved the small lighter from the kitchen and lit the eight candles. Ziva dimmed the lights as the two families continued the conversation while watching the chimes spin and create interesting patterns on the walls and ceiling.

"Hey, LJ hasn't added his favorite yet," Tali observed. "What do you think, LJ? What is your Christmas must-have?"

"Ice cweam!" the little boy grinned his best DiNozzo grin and got a laugh from the others. Then he put a serious look on his face and started pointing to the others, naming them one by one, "Abba, Ima, John, Wiv, Bef, An' Dee, Unka Tim, Tali, Anthony, Katie, and ME! And Gwanpa, and Unka Jimmy, and An' Bweena, and Towi, and Chawls, and An' Ellie, and Unka Clay, and Unka Nick, and Unka Lion, and An' Abby.. and fam-lee. ALL DA FAM-LEE!"

"LJ that is awesome, kiddo, but please remember to use your inside voice," Tony ruffled the little one's hair eliciting a scowl from the boy. "Family is definitely a must-have for the holidays."

"Yup!"

Dee smiled at her smallest nephew, "I think LJ is on to something here. Family is the number one must-have. The family that we choose is what is the most important gift of all each and every day. I'm glad that I have each one of you in my family."

"I second that," Tim squeezed his wife's hand. "Family is the connection of the heart that we share. That's what makes us family, not bloodlines. We care about each other, we love each other, and we are all looking out for each other. I wouldn't choose any other family. You all are the best!"

Tali looked around at the others and smiled at each one, "I love our family. We have lots of memories already and we'll have many more to come."

"Well said, Tali-bean," Tony chimed in. "This is my family. I don't have either of my parents anymore, and I never met my sister. My family by choice of the heart…" he reached over for Ziva's hand and they intertwined their fingers. "My everything," he locked gazes with his better half.

Ziva felt her eyes getting misty, "My family is my home. I am so grateful for my little family with Tony, our children, and pets; each one of our extended family of the heart. You are my heart's home!"

One by one, the eleven DiNozzos and McGees around the table joined hands in a circle of love and family, a bond that cannot be broken despite distance or time.

"Merry Christmas to all!" Ziva whispered as they watched the candles burn brightly, the angel chimes turning and singing their chimes, mesmerizing each of them…