It was orgasmic.

No really, it was good. The scent of it all was intoxicating. Mashed potatoes, yams, turkey, roasting in the oven. Pies, rolls, casseroles. More food than they would ever be able to eat in one sitting, and more calories than they'd ever need. It was excesses like these that really made it memorable, that Great American Holy Day, Thanksgiving.

Aurum moved a casserole dish to cool on the counter, somehow finding a spot in the mess that was Kealey's kitchen.

He'd been surprised when they'd been surprised that he had asked them if they were alright with him cooking them a lavished Thanksgiving meal. Not bad shocked, but good shocked. It was always a boost to his ego when they were practically forcing him up the stairs and through the door into the kitchen, shouting 'cook, cook'.

Luckily, Kealey'd had things. When she hadn't had things, Aurum had supplied them. Things were important, on Thanksgiving, and he had them. Pots big enough, bird bags, fixings, meat drippings for gravy, et cetera.

It hadn't taken long the day before Thanksgiving to gather them.

Now, everything was basically ready. Hot, good, and delicious. He took off his oven mitts and looked towards the dining area where Shin and Kealey were camped out, forks and knives in their hands ready to be pounded against the table top, impatience both a virtue and a curse.

He shook his head with a small chuckle. Kids, honestly.

It was a good thing he'd already dropped off one of his pies to Sebastian and Ghost downstairs. He had a ton of food. It was unlikely it would all escape Kealey's apartment. He had a feeling, and he always trusted the beating of his heart. He'd invited Sebastian, Jude, and Ghost while he'd been there. Who hadn't he invited?

Ami.

She'd invited herself. Luckily, she had two hands, two arms, and two legs.

"Can you help me move this to the table, Ami?"

"Sure."

Thank goodness for family-based slave labor. "Where would I be without you?"

"Dead. Shin and Kealey'd murder you for making preparation take too long." Ami smiled as she walked out the doorway to the table with Kealey and Shin, casserole in-hand.

When Kealey had grown up there hadn’t been talk of pilgrams and Indians. No hand-turkeys, no school plays about sharing food and learning how to plant corn. Thanksgiving was an American holiday, and Kealey wasn’t American. She’d been in the States for a few years now, and was still shocked with the vigor with which holidays were celebrated. It made her smile. People were different this time of year, even in New York.

To be honest, she and Shin hadn’t even talked about celebrating Thanksgiving. They’d heard about the dinner being served that night at the Mansion and had tossed around the idea of going, but it hadn’t been a priority. Then Aurum had offered to cook.

Aurum offering to cook made Thanksgiving into something else entirely. Kealey still didn’t completely understand, she didn’t know if she could. She just knew that it was important for Aurum to make a feast and that he’d asked her if he could use her kitchen to do it. Kealey had immediately accepted, likening it to a master musician asking to borrow your instrument. Aurum could cook. Aurum could really cook. They’d spent the day before preparing, Aurum in the kitchen, Kealey in the rest of the apartment. Shin had helped when he could, and everything had really come together.

The space was small, but there weren’t all that many of them. Furniture had been moved, tables had been set up, and with all the table cloths on top of them, they looked like one huge table. Kealey had whipped together some appropriate center pieces, and now they sat and waited. Kealey looked up and down the set up, maybe it was too big, too much, but it was their first real Thanksgiving.

Food was close. Kealey could smell it. Aurum’s sister had shown up, and Kealey couldn’t have been happier. This was going to be great. She smiled at Shin, they’d both been forced out of the kitchen after they’d hovered too much. There were potatoes, and turkey, and rolls, and pies, and green bean casserole. Things that Kealey hadn’t eaten before, but things that looked so good she couldn’t wait to try them. The emotions in the room were high with anticipation, eagerness, happiness. This was already a great day.

”This is going to be so awesome.” she said, grinning at Shin, ”So. Awesome. I think Thanksgiving is a great holiday.”

Ami came out the door with food, and Kealey actually squirmed in her seat.

”So awesome.”

So awesome.

Food, and Kealey, and friends, and Kealey, and Kealey. Today was gonna rock. Kealey was happy. That made Shin happy. Exorbitant amounts of excellent foodstuffs were just the bonus. Yeah... it was just something about the way she smiled that made him forget... stomach gurgling, what?

Oh, right! The food. He shook off the lovey-dovey haze that had overshadowed him, grinning at Aurum's sister as she brought in some food. "I'm starving." He emphasized, gripping his cutlery tighter.

Ami shrugged. "It'll get on the table faster if you help. Don't think bro'll care about hovering now that he needs manual labor. Less work for me." She turned back towards the kitchen and slipped away.

Shin looked at Kealey. Their eyes met. His chair scooted back. "Coming!" The pair stampeded into the kitchen, ready and willing to serve.

"Good." Aurum turned to Kealey and Shin, heavy-looking platter of food in hand. "Just who I was hoping to see. Slave 1 and Slave 2. Take this." He handed Shin the platter of sliced turkey meat.

Shin held it, nearly wobbling. His eyes rose up towards the heavens as he took in the smell. This was what Good smelled like, wasn't it?

Aurum turned, picked up something for Kealey, and held it out. "You too."

The kitchen-to-dining-room caravan came and went. Eventually, everything but dessert was on the table for consumption. Shin plopped back in his chair and took a breather.

Aurum seated himself professionally at the table. He folded his hands. "Time to give thanks." He said.

Ami set down her forkful of turkey. She stared at him, mid-chew. "Wot?"

Aurum swatted Shin's hand away from the rolls. "We have to give thanks before we begin."

Shin pulled his hand away gingerly, cradling it. He stuck a tongue out at Aurum playfully. "Okay, okay." Sheesh.

knock, knock, knock. It was a timid little rapping on the door followed by a lot less timid WHACK, THUMP, KNOCK.

"I'm pretty sure they heard." A sort of hollow, metallic bop sounded clearly through the door.

On the other side of that door?

"'Appy Turkey Day!"
"Thanks for the invite, Aurum. Sebastian may pop in later. And... I brought salad. Just-uh... in case."

The salad in her hands was in a large silvery bowl and only a small bit had escaped when she'd playfully bonked Jude for maiming the front entrance. There was some kind of nut and cranberry mixed in with the greens. If there was anything Ghost had perfected in her time married to a strict vegetarian, it was how to make a salad.

Was it bad manners to bring textbooks to Thanksgiving dinner?

Sebastian couldn't decide. He wasn't exactly well versed on the American holiday traditions. Last Thanksgiving they hadn't even been in America.

Probably it would be rude to ignore everyone's company and spend the entire holiday with his nose in a book. Test on Monday or not, the textbooks would be staying behind.

Maybe for one day he would just be able to enjoy being with his family and friends rather than stressing about work or school or the possibility that his wife would slip away unless he managed to find a miracle cure.

The unicorn man physically shook his head to clear the worries away. No, he wouldn't think about it today.

Ghost and Jude had left a few moments ago, leaving him deliberating over his medical textbook. If he hurried, he may catch up to them.

Without a glance back at his book, Sebastian trotted after his family and caught up just Jude exclaimed his wishes for a happy...

“Turkey Day?” Sebastian thought it was Thanksgiving today.

Happy, happy, happy. Kealey wondered how much happy a person could be expected to handle. Was that the point of a holiday like this? Christmas had always been a happy affair when she’d been young, but it had also been a serious religious holiday. The same with Easter and any of the Saint’s days they’d been able to celebrate. This felt different somehow. Then again, Kealey hadn’t been able to feel all the emotions at that point. Maybe this was why people went so crazy about holidays.

Kealey realized she was staring at Shin and smiled, just as Aurum’s sister commented that her brother needed some help carrying food to the table. It didn’t take long for the decision to be made and the stampede to take place. Aurum’s food was worth it. Seriously. Shin got the turkey, and Kealey was so busy following the sight and smell of the meat with her eyes that she nearly dropped the green bean casserole when it was deposited in her arms.

The bowl was heavy, but Kealey managed it just fine, setting it on the table before returning to her seat next to Shin. Aurum followed, as well as Ami, then when they were all seated and people were starting to dig into food, it was announced that it was time to give thanks.

Aurum was right. Kealey was suddenly glad that she hadn’t started dishing or eating. She looked around the table at each person in turn. Everyone was so happy, so content, so…good. Uh oh. Too many good feelings were almost as bad as too many bad feelings sometimes and….

Kealey burst into tears. Happy tears…but tears all the same.

”I’m sorry….” she said between sniffles, smile firmly on her face in spite of the tears welling and rolling. ”I’m just so happy…and everyone is so happy…”

She sniffled, ”This is a wonderful holiday. I’m thankful for…for…too much to even explain right now.” She was looking at Shin while she said it, but quickly swung her eyes to Aurum and Ami, ”So…yeah.”

Then there was knocking, and voices, and Kealey recognized them. A teary giggle escaped her as the door opened, ”Happy Thanksgiving!”

Kealey certainly was a strange one. Aurum smiled understandingly. "It's okay. My food tends to have that effect on people."

There was a loud knock preceded by a couple smaller raps. Aurum looked towards the sound. "Now, who could that be?" He asked. He knew. Aurum made his way to the door and opened it quickly, letting Ghost and company flow in. He smiled at them all.

"I'm glad you could make it. And thanks. Put the salad," He pointed to the table. Shin cleared a spot "There." Aurum decided. He stepped aside, giving the two of them plenty of room to sneak in. Then, he greeted Sebastian. "Hey. I, uh, made some Vegetarian options too. Have a seat."

Aurum made his way back to the table after shutting the door behind Sebastian. He addressed everyone at the group. "We were just about to say a little prayer and say what we're thankful for. So, without further ado..." Aurum said a short 'thanks'. "Now. What all is everyone thankful for? We can go clockwise around the table." So, that'd be Shin, Kealey, Ghost, Sebastian, Jude, then Ami, and then him. "Shin, you can start."

Well, of course Shin had plenty of things to be thankful for. "Just one?" He asked. "Hmm... this is a tough one." He took a moment to think on it. Kealey came to mind right off the bat. Then, Aurum's food, and his family situation, and all he had to look forward to coming in the following months.

Aurum's sister cleared her throat impatiently. Shin decided. "I'm thankful for all the company that's here with us today!" He said hurriedly. "And the food, and especially the food. Did I mention the food? Wait, that's three things. I'm thankful I didn't make it four."

Aurum shook his head with a light laugh. Ami looked pleased the entire thing was moving on finally.

"Next?" Aurum asked.

Oh lord. This was really starting to get bad. The newcomers bustled in, and even though Kealey was pleased to see that it was Ghost and Sebastian and not someone unused to her strange behavior, it was still embarrassing to be sitting at a dinner table and crying. This was supposed to be a happy occasion!
Aurum directed everything like a finely tuned orchestra, and soon they were all settled around the table and ready to eat. By this point, Kealey had managed to pull herself together at least a little...at least until Aurum announced that after they prayed, they were all going to say what they were thankful for. That meant…more thankful feelings. Kealey gulped, she was going to hold it together. She took a deep breath. Aurum gave thanks, and then it was on to the hard part.

Shin spoke quickly, and Kealey had to smile (a little tearily) at the way he said his piece. Her mind frantically rambled though, trying to find the words to put to the feelings inside her. There were so many, and they were so…so…she had it. It was her turn now, and Kealey smiled in turn at everyone at the table with her. When she spoke, her voice only quivered a little, smile still firmly in place.

”I’m doing two….because well…I want to.” she announced, then smiled and continued ”I’m thankful for everything I have here…who would have thought that home would be so far away from where I was born?” That was the first…as to the second, ”And I’m thankful that I get to share all these feelings with you all. I don’t want to start crying again…but you can’t imagine how it feels to be surrounded by this much good feeling…” she sniffled, dangerously close to tears again. ”So yeah…that’s it.”

She was crying. A woman... was crying. Jude paused, stiff as a board in the doorway. He did not like women crying. Ghost shuffled Jude forward. Once he started moving, he moved as if sneaking past Kealey and then... just as suddenly he bolted and stole the seat next to Kealey on the other side of Shin.

His napkin was a hanky worth sharing. He needed it not when Kealey needed it more.

Ghost put the salad where Aurum pointed and then proceeded to orbit around Sebastian as a small moon. She didn't always get to see him and she never got to relax with him.

Before she knew it, it was her turn. "Closer than just blood family!" There was so much binding the group here. Kealey, a friend. Jude, the son. Sebastian, the husband. Aurum, the confidant and savior. Shin, brother. Not a lick of them were related by blood. Well, excepting Ami the mischievous little sister.

"You guys are why I get up in the morning. If I didn't have you, I don't know where I'd have ended up." Dead at the Full Circle. Dead in an alleyway. Dead in Romania. She tried not to think about that one too long as she slipped her cool hand into Sebastian's.

He wasn't using it anyway.

A wave of overwhelming happiness swept outward from the little apartment. Kealey, of course, absorbing and magnifying the emotions of the day. They were happy emotions today, though 'happy' didn't really describe it fully. There was love and joy and contentment and swirls of other emotions that didn't even have names in English.

Sebastian smiled at Kealey and patted her shoulder gently on his way to his own seat.

His other hand found itself to be entwined with his wife's. Her fingers fit so nicely between his, like they were made for each other.

Maybe it was because their emotionmancer friend had started crying first, or maybe it was his own sentimentality that caused a tear or two to find their way onto the unicorn man's cheeks.

When his turn came around the table, he was ready to share. “I'm thankful for this moment, that fate or fortune or whatever else may manipulate our lives has seen fit to draw all of us together like this. I'm thankful for all the love in this room, for love is truly the one thing worth living for.” He gave Ghost's hand a short, gentle squeeze.

Ami endured, through it all. All the thankfulness, all the out-of-place tears, the happy-happiness. She waited, patiently, for it to come to her turn, then for food. She may have smiled at one or two of the 'I'm thankful for' comments, true. But hunger far outweighed cheery cheer for her.

Well, okay. Maybe it didn't. But it smelled good, dammit, and that counted for a lot. It was a bouncing impatience, not an angry one!

They'd skipped Jude. Now, it was her turn.

"I'm thankful," Ami began, aiming a searching look Aurum's way for approval. "That now, we're done sharing all these 'I'm thankfuls', so now, we can eat!"

Aurum nodded. Ami's face lit up. Down, went the serving fork into the turkey platter's contents. Up went a couple speared slices of meat.

The nice pastry chef of Full Circe followed suit, starting his own bowl of food 'round the table. Everything started moving, counter-clockwise.

Things were ridiculously happy. The food was ridiculously good. He helped himself as he helped himself, eating before he'd gotten everything.

Shin was in heaven. Heaven had Kealey and good food. Today was beyond good. Turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potato crater, like a fumarole, filled with molten gravy. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, serenity.

He somehow broke free of the loving hold of warm togetherness and food to look to Ghost.

"That reminds me. I need to talk to you about getting a month off in December. Kealey and I are going to Japan to meet my parents." Shin said.