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

[puckandpie]

"Oh, bowling is a good idea," I agree, not quite able to stop myself from wondering if Derek taking Thomas had been an attempt at a date even if he hadn't called it that. It's not difficult now to picture Derek letting loose now as often as I've seen it and it's nice to know he could do that around Thomas. Of course, there's still that ache in my chest, that stupid little ball of jealousy centered around the knowledge that Derek would never want that with me, but it's easier to rationalize with Thomas for some reason. It makes complete sense that Derek is attracted to him given that he's the identical twin to the person he fell in love with, and might still be in love with.

I'll never be that. I never could be that. And that's okay, I guess.

"I haven't been bowling myself in years," I continue, trying to shove thoughts of Derek aside. "I wonder if Simon ever has. He might have an advantage what with being a wizard, but it'd still be fun, I think." Either that or he'll accidentally melt the bowling ball. Which might also be funny. "That's a really good idea, thank you! You know, you say you're not good at this sorta stuff, but I think evidence is proving the opposite," I tell him with a teasing wink.

[shuck_you]

Snickering, Thomas said, "I think I got lucky with that because it's pretty much been the only thing, besides skating with you, that I've done that's just for fun. Everything else I've been doing has a reason, an aim. Bowling was just because I saw it one day and dragged Derek along with me."

Derek hadn't been that excited to go but Thomas thought he'd ended up having a good time. He'd loosened up, teased, and laughed so Thomas had considered the trip to the bowling idea a success even if he'd been terrible at the actual act of bowling. He was never going to win any tournaments or trophies.

"And even if you're bad or he's bad, it's still fun to laugh at each other," Thomas shared. "That's what Derek did with me. Just teased me and let me tease him back until we eventually just gave up and had food."

[puckandpie]

It's weird maybe, but there's something about that I like, that Thomas enjoys going skating just for fun, that it doesn't have to be something with any particular goal in mind. Not that goals aren't good to have, but sometimes it's nice just to relax and have fun and I'm so so glad I can be a part of that.

"Derek's never mentioned that you did that," I say, though it's not really any revelation. There's plenty Derek's never told me and it doesn't mean anything. "That sounds really nice though. And fun. For both of you. Have you, uhm." I hesitate a second and it's probably only the two beers I've had that give me the courage to ask, "Have you ever thought of... of something with him? I know you said before that you're not really sure the type of person you like and I'm sorry if I'm being really nosy. You can tell me to shut up, you won't be the first person to say that to me ever. I'm just curious. I think-- I think he could really like you."

[shuck_you]

"Something with Derek?" Thomas repeated, glancing over and finding Derek in the crowd. Thomas had thought about a lot of things when it came to Derek but his feelings were a general mess and he didn't really know what he wanted and how to go about getting it.

"I -- maybe not something but I've noticed him," Thomas said, not sure if that was the right thing to say or even if it was true. Maybe he had thought of something more but just hadn't acted on it because of everything else that took precedence.

"I'm not really someone who should be doing that, though," he insisted with a shake of his head. "I've just stopped thinking I'm gonna die. I wouldn't want to put that on him. I wouldn't want to put that on anyone until I know what I'm doing. I've got some other things I should take care of first."

[puckandpie]

I'm still not really sure how Thomas would describe his sexuality. But even if he's only mostly straight, Derek Hale is the type of pers to make even the straightest guy gay. Maybe I'm biased, but it's difficult for me to imagine anyone not wanting him.

So I'm not surprised by his answer at all. Who doesn't notice Derek?

Ignoring the twist of my stomach, I frown a little, watching Thomas carefully. "Put what on him? And what do you need to take care of?"

[shuck_you]

Thomas started to answer but stopped, fixing Bitty with an appraising look. He hadn't really expected so many questions about Derek especially from Bitty.

"Why does this matter so much, Bitty?" Thomas asked, deciding against saying anything else for the moment. He could have listed any number of things that he wanted to come to grips with before saddling anyone with his myriad of issues and insecurities.

"I'm just not ready to take something like that on with anyone," he said, shaking his head. The closest he'd gotten was with Krem and even that seemed like a memory after their time spent in the other city. "I want to enjoy not dying first."

[puckandpie]

That's not a look I've seen often from Thomas and I immediately feel a sinking weight of guilt. I duck my head against it, frowning down at my hands.

"It doesn't, I guess," I tell him before giving a shrug with one shoulder. "I just. I want to see you both happy. And I know Derek... He's told you about Stiles, right? And you look just like him." It's probably an unfair thing to put on someone and, if I'm perfectly honest, I wish so, so much that maybe I looked like Stiles so I might have a chance. But I don't and I never will and if I can't make Derek happy, then someone should.

But it doesn't have to be Thomas. Especially if it won't make Thomas happy. "Do you think you'll ever really be used to it?" I ask instead, still frowning and wringing my hands a little when I look up at him again. "To not dying, I mean."

[shuck_you]

"He's told me about Stiles. I've seen Stiles," Thomas answered, shaking his head sharply. He didn't know if he really liked what Bitty was trying to imply but he wasn't sure if it was intentional or just born out of a sense of Bitty wanting Derek to be happy.

Still, it rankled slightly and Thomas rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at his feet to try and get his irritation in check.

"Maybe," Thomas said once he thought he could talk without sounding pointed and harsh. "I just learned about it and then I ended up in to that other city, surrounded by reminders of what happens when you get past the Gone. With Newt here, the Flare's still around. It's just not in me."

[puckandpie]

It's obvious I've upset him and I can only assume it's because of what I've said about Derek, like I'm equating him with Stiles when they're obviously two completely different people. I don't even know why I'm pushing it if I'm honest. I want Derek happy and I want Thomas happy too and I guess, somewhere in my head, there's some part of me that thinks they'd be happy together.

That's stupid, though. I can't make assumptions and neither one of them have implied they'd be happy with the other.

So I stay quiet, nodding as he speaks and then staying silent for a long moment before finally nodding. "It's not in you," I repeat, a little firmer. "That means you should be okay, right? Or at least as okay as the rest of us. Do you just think you're not allowed to be happy?"

[shuck_you]

"It's not in me but it's in Newt and I have to make sure I'm around so I can keep him well," Thomas explained quietly, not wanting to let Newt's business out to people he didn't even know. If Newt wanted to share, he could, but Thomas wasn't going to broadcast it to so many people.

"I'm fine with how things are," he continued with a nod. "This is more freedom than I can ever remember having. I'm enjoying just getting used to not having WICKED over my shoulder and not worrying about dying. I'm not gonna try and do that by taking someone else's place, either."

He looked like Stiles but he wasn't Stiles and he wasn't going to pretend to be Stiles.

"I just want to do things on my own time and when I'm ready."

[puckandpie]

Even after having met Newt, I hadn't realized the virus was still in him. He seemed okay when we spoke, definitely in good spirits and I remember him saying what Thomas had done for him, but I suppose I'd been naive in just assuming that'd be the end of it. Given everything else Thomas has told me of his world, not to mention what I've actually seen now, it makes a certain sick sort of sense that this will linger for him. Always.

A growing guilt gnaws at my belly and I nod again, frowning as I look up at him. "I'm sorry," I tell him, fidgeting at the cuffs of his shirt. "It's not good of me to presume what anyone wants and I don't even know why..." I trail off, shaking my head again. "I'm really sorry."

[shuck_you]

"It's fine, it's all right," Thomas said and shook his head. Thomas didn't want to spend the day irritated so he tried to push it down and away so he could deal with it later. Bitty's intentions were good, Thomas knew, and he only wanted Thomas to be happy but it was hard to just completely let it go.

"I'm sure one day I will get to a place where I do want to start exploring something like that," he went on, rubbing his chin. "I just don't know if I'm there yet. You're not the first person to ask me about it and I just -- I don't know. I just want to do it at my pace."

[puckandpie]

"And if you don't, that's okay, too," I tell him, still frowning down at my hands. "I'm probably just projecting or whatever that's called. I'm really sorry," I say again before wincing slightly. He's probably tired of hearing that by now and he did say it's okay. Even if I'm not sure it really is.

Thomas is one of my absolute closest friends here and I've managed to upset him. On Thanksgiving, no less. Goodness, what timing.

"You shouldn't feel pressured into anything at all. Nobody should." Glancing up, I notice a few abandoned plates on the table and see my out, keeping my head ducked as I stand. "I'm gonna go get a head start on cleaning up, I think. Those dishes are definitely not gonna wash themselves."

[shuck_you]

"It's okay," Thomas said, watching as he stood. He knew a retreat when he saw one and he couldn't say he blamed Bitty. If the situations had been reversed, he might have done the same thing. Leaving wouldn't solve anything in the long run but it was a temporary balm and Thomas knew all about those. In the absence of being able to solve everything and to rid himself of his guilt, he searched for ways of escape just to alleviate the pain even for a few minutes.

He nodded up at Bitty. "Don't work too hard. You deserve to relax too."

[puckandpie]

I'll have plenty of time to relax before my shift at Enchanted Forest tomorrow, but I keep that to myself, instead giving Thomas a small, strained sort of smile and a nod and head quickly for the table.

Later, I'll have to find some way to apologize. Maybe I'll bring him a pie or a new casserole. Thomas doesn't seem the type to hold a grudge so if I explain how sorry I am and that I'll never bring it up again, I think he'll forgive me.

For now though, I have quite a mess to focus on cleaning.