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! ♥]

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[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?

[triskehale]

He laughs when she raises an eyebrow, and then shrugs and takes the bite for himself. "More pie for me, then."

After a few more bites, he sets his fork down and looks over at her with a fond expression, leaning into her a bit. "Thanks for all your help today, even if you spent half the time snickering at us men in the kitchen."

[light_of_the_world]

Hild might have pouted, but it was a slight, momentary thing that disappeared quickly, more for show than an expression of any true feelings.

When Derek abandoned his fork, she moved her hand under the table, subtly creeping closer to grab it for herself. She bobbed her head in a gracious nod, happy to have helped.

She leaned closer, her head resting on the back of the booth, nearly on his shoulder. "Thank you," she murmured, words whisper soft. "For this."

[triskehale]

Derek notices her hand creeping over and he smiles, nudging the plate closer to her as she leans against him. He curls his arm around her, brushing her hair back to tuck it behind her ear as he leans down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "Anytime."

[light_of_the_world]

She smirked when he pushed the plate closer, but tilted her head up to offer him a grateful smile. She could be silly and stubborn, at times, but he still cared for her.

Snuggling into the crook of his arm, her body pressing against his warmth, she helped herself to a small bite of pie with a contented sigh.