thanksgiving is, after all, a word of action [set on 11/26]

[triskehale]

Thanksgivings in the Hale house used to be quite the big deal. Feeding over a dozen werewolves, many of them teenagers was no easy feat. Derek loved all the chaos, and he helped out in the kitchen since he was old enough to stand on a step stool and reach the counter.

The first year after everyone died, he and Laura each got a rotisserie chicken and some biscuits, trying to hang on to some semblance of tradition, but the food tasted like ash. Laura went to bed early, and Derek pretended not to hear her cry. They stopped trying to do anything for the holiday after that.

It's been almost a decade since that disastrous attempt, and a few months ago Derek decided that he wanted to try again. While Laura and the rest of his family will always be the cause of this gnawing ache in his heart, Derek has a new family here in Darrow. He has so many people that matter to him, and care about him. It's more than Derek deserves, or ever thought that he would get, but he's grateful. He's thankful.

So he decides that he's going to do his best to put on a Thanksgiving of his own, and invite his new ragtag sort of pack. His new family.

The invitations go out and on the big day, Derek arrives at Semele's just after dawn. He puts two giant turkeys in the oven and quickly sets up the long table and chairs in the middle of the bar. With each chair he places, Derek marvels over just how many people he has in his life. It's astounding to him, and it's the perfect day to show his gratitude.

And then, all that's left to do is cook. And cook, and cook some more. If he's lucky, he'll have time to go shower and put on something nice before all his guests arrive.


[Hale pack Thanksgiving! Treat this as a gathering post. Tag in, tag around, give thanks! ♥]

Comments

[triskehale]

Derek might have gone a bit overboard with the food. There's a huge spread with two turkeys and giant bowls of sides. There are mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, green bean casserole, and all the staples. The tables are straining under the weight, and Derek has to smile a little. His mother would be proud of the spread he put out, and he hopes everyone likes it.

He had enough help getting everything ready that he had enough time to run to Dimera and take a quick shower and change into something a little nicer. People seem to be enjoying themselves and each other, and that's all that Derek could have asked for. The food is good, the company is better, and for the first time in awhile, Derek feels utterly content.

[Catch Derek before, during, or after dinner!]

[myfavoritedream]

"Wow," I said, cutting him a sideways look as I stepped up beside him. The place was done up, there was a spread like I'd never seen before, and he looked... good.

It was easy to pretend like I was talking about just the food.

I'd put on a shirt with buttons and I was wearing a new pair of jeans, but I hadn't known what to bring, so I brought nothing. It was probably poor etiquette but I didn't think he'd care much.

[triskehale]

"At least no one will go hungry," Derek says with a small huff of laughter. He reaches out to wrap his arm around Neil from the side, squeezing briefly before letting go. "I'm used to Thanksgiving with a dozen or so werewolves."

He looks over at Neil with a smile, trying to focus on his new family instead of the one that isn't here. "I'm glad you could make it."

[myfavoritedream]

"Where the hell else would I have gone?" I said, cutting him a look, even as I returned the one-armed hug.

I didn't want to say as much, not to a room full of people, especially when I could hardly admit it to myself, but he was my best friend. My alpha, in whatever sense he could be for me. I wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere, that day, where he wasn't.

[triskehale]

"Oh, so I'm a last resort," Derek teases, knowing full well that isn't the case. He pulls Neil closer, practically tugging him off of his feet, and turns his head to press a sloppy kiss to his temple. Derek is feeling good, better than he has in weeks, and it's because he's let himself be surrounded by people that are important. "You put on a fancy shirt and everything."

[myfavoritedream]

Barking out a laugh, I made a face when he slobbered against my cheek, but before he could pull away, I turned and caught the corner of his lips with my own.

"I already had a shirt with buttons. I didn't have to buy it special."

[godless_son]

Castiel knows that Derek understood the choices he had to make in that other place. Castiel also knows Derek's understanding was likely motivated by terrible self esteem and guilt but regardless...

It is the least he can do to contribute a pie and some liquor considering he is certain Dean is likely to make off with the majority of both.

"Hello, Derek. Do you want to exchange declarations of thankfulness, as is custom?" he says, clutching a pecan pie.

[triskehale]

Derek hasn't seen Castiel since they were stuck in that other Darrow, and Castiel left him while one of those monsters had its claws in Derek's chest. Derek understands why Castiel did it; he knows that he ranks far below Dean, as he should. Still, he tenses for just a second as he turns to face Castiel.

The tension dissipates at Castiel's words, and he smiles a little as he reaches out to take the pie. "Thanks, Cas. I'm surprised Dean let a pie get out of the house unscathed." He huffs out a laugh and nods. "Sure. What are you thankful for?"

[godless_son]

"Yes, well, I had to bake him his own personal pie," he mutters, gesturing to Dean hunkered by himself in a nearby booth. "He's angry with me because I made a tofurky and made him sit near it in the car."

He hands over the pie, fidgeting a little without something to clutch. "I am primarily thankful for the forgiveness of my friends, this year. And their importance in my life despite all appearances to the contrary."

[triskehale]

"You didn't bring that thing in here, did you?" Derek asks, wrinkling his nose. He fully understands Dean's revulsion. He takes the pie and smiles softly as Castiel speaks, hearing fully what he's saying. He switches the pie to one hand and nods, reaching out to squeeze Castiel's shoulder. "I'm thankful for all that too, Cas."

[godless_son]

"Tofu is an excellent source of protein and does not harm animals," Castiel huffs, quite certain he can get at least one person at this gathering to try it.

He nods, not wanting to make the interaction 'weird', as Dean would say, with a drawn out apology. "You seem to be in fairly good spirits. Is that a correct assumption or a facade you are putting on for the guests?"

[everyonetakes]

"Help," Kate says, dramatically draping herself over Derek's shoulder when she joins him. "Help me, I ate way too much and now I'm in danger of actually just exploding."

That's how she feels anyway, like she's a gigantic, waddling excuse for a human being. Thanksgiving has always been like this for her, especially at home with her family, and it's been years since she's had anything like this, a gathering with so many people. In a lot of way it's better, since her asshole grandparents aren't here and there's no real danger of anyone punching the turkey.

[triskehale]

"You're not going to explode," Derek says with a laugh, rolling his eyes in fond exasperation as he reaches up to pat her cheek. Derek himself is on his third plate, and showing no real signs of slowing. "You need one of these werewolf metabolisms."

Derek turns his head to grin up at her, so glad that she's here. "I'm going to eat at least two whole pies later."

[everyonetakes]

"Hey, you don't know if I'm going to explode. Don't tell me how I feel," Kate answers, totally indignant and yet somehow not at all, all at the same time. She flops down into a nearby chair and lets out a huge exhale and although she definitely doesn't want to be a werewolf, because seriously, there's enough hair a girl has to get rid of to begin with, she has to admit that a werewolf metabolism sounds pretty great.

"Oh my god, two whole pies," she echoes, looking at him with her eyebrows arched. "I mean, you should, given that your cute little friend totally made them to impress you."

[triskehale]

"Bitty? He's just good at what he does," Derek tells her, turning to face her with a furrowed brow. He doesn't quite get the look on her face, but he feels a little turkey drunk. He had about half of one all by himself. "His pies are always incredible. It's why I asked him to make them."

[everyonetakes]

"Uh-huh," Kate says, making it clear she doesn't entirely believe that. The pies are good, he's right about that, but Bitty likes Derek, she could see it that day they met him while shopping.

"Do you just like, purposely miss the moon eyes he makes at you?" she asks. "And do you ask everyone to gaze into your eyes so they can tell what colour they are while shopping? I'll answer for you. You do not, because you've never once done that to me."

[light_of_the_world]

Hild had already spent much of the morning in Derek's company, helping with the others to prepare for the feast, but still she gravitated to him. She was careful not to cling too much. He was host and all the people here were his friends to some degree. He had to greet and speak with them all, make sure they felt comfortable. But even two weeks removed from that dark place, Hild still felt safest near Derek.

She snuck quietly to his side when he was free, knowing he would sense her despite her attempt at being unobtrusive. Hild slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze.

[triskehale]

Derek smells Hild as she approaches, and threads his fingers through hers when she takes his hand. She still isn't speaking, and while Derek knows she can't do this forever, and while he misses the sound of her voice and the way she talks, he knows what it's like to need space. He doesn't push her, and she just squeezes her hand and smiles over at her.

"I like the jacket," Derek tells her, wondering vaguely if he influenced that particular wardrobe choice at all. He leans over to kiss her temple and then pulls back to look at her. "Did you get enough to eat?"

[light_of_the_world]

She gave him a wry smirk in return for the compliment on her jacket. She had not specifically had Derek in mind when she had plucked it from a hanger to buy, but it was warm and soft and tough like him, and she had thought of him when she put it on today.

His question was answered with a roll of her eyes and weak groan. It was hardly the first feast that she had attended. If she thought hard, she could remember times when she had eaten more. But she was just shy of being uncomfortably full and was happy with that.

[triskehale]

"No room for pie?" He asks with a laugh, squeezing her hand and drawing her closer. He's asking yes or no questions on purpose, not wanting to put any pressure on her to speak if she doesn't want to.

He leads her over to a quieter booth in the corner, waiting for her to get in before sliding in next to her. He sets his own pie down and grabs his fork, creating a calm barrier of sorts between her and the rest of the bar. He cuts off a piece of pecan pie and then holds his fork up to her lips, raising an amused eyebrow.

[light_of_the_world]

She followed, like some meek thing, but the sharpness of her gaze and the curve of her lips told otherwise. She knew what was coming, but she went along with it without protest, pleased with Derek's attention and happy to amuse him, even if only a little.

When he attempted to feed her, Hild pursed her lips and gave him a look, playful but challenging, and lifted a brow in question. Was she a child that she needed to be fed so?

[puckandpie]

I honestly hadn't intended to drink as much as I have. Though I don't really know how many drinks it's been at this point, I just know that everything is a little fuzzy and walking is not as easy as it should be, particularly while carrying plate after plate to the kitchen.

It does make the clean-up process a little more enjoyable though. Not that I ever particularly mind it, especially since Derek's still here. I don't know if I've seen him smile for this long without stopping and it's making my chest feel all full and warm. Maybe now he'll have an easier time believing how much people care for him. And, if not, I can at least use it as proof when he has his rougher moments.

Once the dishes are all clean and the tables have been wiped free of grease and food crumbs, I tuck the last chair back into place and then collapse into a booth.

"Leave me here," I call out to Derek as I stretch out against the seat, hands rested on my chest and my eyes slipping shut. My feet are throbbing and everything is blurry, but I feel good. I feel really, really good. But sleep sounds nice. "Just... turn off the lights when you go. I'll be out by morning, I swear."

[triskehale]

"I would have thought you ate enough to soak up all that alcohol," Derek says with a laugh, watching as Bitty moves around the kitchen a little less gracefully than usual. He had told Bitty that he could handle the clean up, but Bitty had insisted. It does make the work a bit more enjoyable, even if he does have to use his speed to catch a few glasses when Bitty's tipsy elbows knock them off of the counter.

But nothing is broken, everything is clean, and all the food is put away. He has two an a half pies and a few containers of tupperware that he plans on taking home for breakfast, and he sets it down on the bar when he comes out to see Bitty all but collapsed into a booth

"Now, you know I can't do that," Derek says fondly, slipping in next to him and pressing their shoulders together. "But I can walk you home."

[puckandpie]

Derek slips into the booth next to me and I feel that familiar swoop in my belly. It's nice though, kind of muted with the alcohol, and I have no qualms about leaning into him, head on his shoulder as I settle my hand on his thighs, fingers curling to pet him lightly. Goodness, he has quite a lot of muscle there. No wonder he's pretty good on skates.

"But that requires walking," I point out, letting my eyes slip shut again as I let out a soft breath. "And I'm so comfortable right here. You're comfortable. Just stay, I promise I won't snore or anything."

[triskehale]

"I'm not leaving you in the bar, Bitty," Derek says with a laugh, reaching out to pat his hand where it's resting on his thigh. He leaves it there for a moment, but something makes him pull it away.

He tugs on Bitty's shoulder and slides out of the booth, pulling his keys out of his pocket. "I know walking is hard, but think of how happy you'll be when you're in your own bed."

There's a few tote bags on the bar and Derek goes over to grab them, and then smirks fondly at the picture Bitty makes, all tousled and sleepy. "Come on. Alpha's orders."