triskehale (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
triskehale) wrote2015-11-24 01:14 am
triskehale) wrote2015-11-24 01:14 am
thanksgiving is, after all, a word of action [set on 11/26]
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! ♥]
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! ♥]
no subject
"You have no idea man." Maybe he does. I'm not judging. But I think about all the shit I put Alison through, in all our different incarnations and I look at Helen and I'm fucking astounded that I haven't screwed up yet. I mean, shit, have you met me?
And before anyone in the peanut gallery chimes up, you don't fucking count, okay? Everything was as much your fault as mine. Ours. The Director's. Shit, all of us, okay?
"By the way, I ever hurt her, you've got my permission to kick my ass. I'll probably deserve it."
no subject
And he isn't. Church makes her happy, and he's sticking around to do right by her and the kids. They all seem happy, and well on their way to becoming a family, so Derek is happy for them. He reaches out to clap Church on the shoulder. "You're doing fine, man."
no subject
"I might have suspected that, but permission given anyways." I'm pretty sure there will be a line if I ever hurt Helen. She's that kinda lady, lots of friends, all happy to kick ass on her behalf.
Should that bother me? It probably should.
"Any advice, you seem great with the kids?"
no subject
"I've found that a good approach is to treat babies like tiny drunk humans," Derek says with a laugh, shrugging one shoulder. "I was just always around them. I suppose I'm a natural."
He feels a brief pang of grief for all those innocent little lives lost, and he gives Church a wistful smile. "You're doing fine, man. Everyone is happy and cared for. That's the important thing."
no subject
"Thanks, man." And I mean it. Because if there's anything I don't want to fuck up, it's this. I admit, I've screwed up a lot. Tucker would probably be the first to agree. But these are kids. I don't want to put my crappy issues on kids. It's just not fair.
"Drunk humans, huh?" Makes sense. The way they wander along with absolutely no regard to what's around them. And the puking. My god, babies are fucking messy, man.