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

[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.