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

[myfavoritedream]

"You're looking sharp," I said, dropping into an empty chair beside him, a plate of mashed potatoes and stuffing, with extra gravy, in one hand, and a beer in the other.

"I like this." I gestured vaguely to the waistcoat. I didn't tell him that he looked sort of like a valet.

[puckandpie]

Neil drops down into the chair next to mine, his plate full of mashed potatoes and stuffing and I grin wide at him and then glance down at myself at the wave of his hand.

"Thanks," I tell him before nodding at his own button-up shirt. "You look quite nice yourself outside of your typical t-shirt. Almost didn't recognize you."

[myfavoritedream]

"Yeah, buttons and everything," I said, smirking around my fork. "Are you trying to say I don't usually look nice?"

He wasn't, not really, and I didn't care either way, but he was easy to tease, as long as I didn't push it too far.

[puckandpie]

He's chirping me, I know, and it's easy to fall into it, my smile unwavering as he eats his mashed potatoes.

"You know darn well that's not what I'm sayin'," I tell him, taking a bite of my green beans as I knock my knee against his lightly. "I'm glad you could make it. Are you having a nice time so far?"

[myfavoritedream]

"The food's good," I said, like that was the only reason I might've been enjoying myself. I knocked my knee against his, returning the gesture absently, and it struck me, how comfortable he was there. Like he belonged. I knew, without asking, that he'd gotten there early. He'd worked in the kitchen, he'd probably helped to set up.

I wondered if I should be jealous that he'd settled seamlessly into being a part of Derek's pack, when I'd always felt like a part of me was fighting against it. But I wasn't. It was just the way things were. Bitty and I were different, and it made sense that we'd fill different spaces in Derek's life.

[puckandpie]

"Isn't it?" I agree, spearing another few green beans with my fork. "The turkey is amazing. I thought I was liable to die in the kitchen earlier with how good it smelled. If this dinner had been scheduled any later, there's a good chance I would've eaten one of them all by myself."

I pop the green beans into my mouth, smiling as I chew, and wipe at my mouth with the corner of my napkin. "You gonna hang around and help us clean up after?" I ask, mostly teasing as I give him a quick wink.

[myfavoritedream]

"You gonna drag me in the kitchen and chain me to the sink?" I asked, like that was the only way he'd get me to help out.

That wasn't strictly true, but I hadn't been planning to stick around after the meal. It didn't sound so bad, though.

[puckandpie]

"Would that actually work?" I ask him with a laugh. I'd only been joking of course, but we're definitely going to need any help we can get when it comes to cleaning up.

I should probably stop using we inside my head. It's Derek's Thanksgiving; I'm only doing the pies and helping where he needs me. It's not like it's ours.

[myfavoritedream]

"Probably not," I admitted with a shrug and a snort of laughter. "I don't know, I might stick around."

I took another bite of my food, but I tapped my shoe against his again, wordlessly letting him know I didn't want him to leave just yet.

[puckandpie]

"What if I say there's an extra slice of pie in it for you?" I tell him, still grinning. I'm not actually sure why I'm trying to bribe him into staying. We really will be okay to get it all done ourselves and I know Neil has a number of other places he'd really rather be.

Maybe it's just fun to tease. Plus, the tap of his foot against mine is nice and strangely comforting.