Fic: Being a Brother is Better than Being a Superhero
Anya and Rikki stayed home alone.
"It will be our last Thanksgiving just the two of us!"
Rikki raised an amused eyebrow. “I'm pretty sure it will be our first Thanksgiving just the two of us.”
“Semantics.”
“Not really?” Rikki spoke lightly and her expression remained amused but Anya was unimpressed and characteristically flew off the handle.
“What is your point? Where do you want to go?” Rikki knew better than to try answering. “I'd feel weird with the Barneses and I'd also feel weird with the Parkers because I'd be worrying about you.” Rikki believed pretty firmly there was no reason for either of them to feel weird. “And yes, I know you wouldn't feel weird because you're you but that wouldn't stop me from feeling weird. Because hormones!”
“Because hormones?” Rikki hid her smile at Anya’s reaction. She raised her hands, palms open wide. “I surrender! Just the two of us sounds perfect.”
Anya tutted, but accepted and her stress dropped away some. Rikki kissed her neck. “Mmmm.” Anya smiled. They were okay. She gave Rikki’s shoulder a squeeze. “I'm going to work on the newsletter.”
What is Thanksgiving?
The Wonder Twins hadn't celebrated Thanksgiving since they were small children, and even then it wasn't a family dinner so much as the exhibition of a family dinner. One year they literally took over the set of the sitcom their mother was starring in. It was struggling in the ratings, likely to be cancelled midseason, and some public relations genius decided a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner with Moira the single mother and her adorable children would win them sympathy. The special included an expose about Simon, the failed actor, failed superhero, and dead beat dad, because nothing says "loving family" like making five year olds tell the cameras they miss their father.
By the time they were ten, they'd stopped pretending, even for the cameras. And by the time they were fifteen, they'd divorced their parents. If they didn't have a job Winona and Teddy went away for Thanksgiving, or the whole traditional holiday season. Far away, somewhere warm, somewhere they didn't celebrate. That was Winona's gift to the only family she had.
But this year, as the time to flee the country approached, she realized she wanted to stay. She realized, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, she was thankful. She realized she finally had what she'd always wanted -- a family. A family big enough to have a meaningful family dinner. And quite suddenly and unexpectedly, she wanted that too.
Winona went about her family gathering in typical Winona fashion. She bothered everyone to determine their plans for Thanksgiving and if they had none, or showed signs that they wished they had none, she invited them to her place.
Thanksgiving is a time for family
In the Avengers family most gatherings were large. But the large gatherings brought large dramas along with the crowds and this Thanksgiving most of them opted for something simpler.
Lil closed the Coyote only two days a year: Thanksgiving and Nate’s birthday. They ate in a booth, surrounded by dim lights, twelve year old stickers, and twenty year old scotch. It was a simple meal, vegetarian, organic, home cooked. They talked about the weather and the New Year’s Eve schedule and Bianca’s hair. In the evening Nate went to Winona’s and Lil went to the reservation to catch Nate’s father up, like she did every year since he was ten.
Dario had no memory of a Thanksgiving dinner as part of his childhood. Maybe before he was seven they had some kind of traditional meal, but what he remembered was hanging out under his mother’s desk on the helicarrier because everyone else had the day off. Last year they’d gone to the White House dinner but that hardly counted as traditional or family. Not that this year’s sit down with Clay and Tess really did, either. But it was closer. It was probably as close as he was ever gonna get, at least until he had a family of his own and that was no time soon, if ever. It was weird, a sit down dinner, complete with actual turkey and actual stuffing and actual pumpkin pie. With Clay, his mom’s not boyfriend and Tess, Clay’s not girlfriend. It was weird. But not bad. And close enough to family if it came to that. In a way, it was an actual Thanksgiving, and Dario was actually thankful.
Bianca loved Thanksgiving when she a child. It was her father’s favorite holiday. No matter what he made it a good day for her, starting with the parade, and then cooking together, and falling asleep watching holiday movies because she always wanted to watch them all right away.
It was sad without him. But she felt closer to him today than any other day. And her mother, too. Now it was Bianca’s favorite holiday.
Jimmy and Ching don’t have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. They have duck. And they set the table for four even though it is always just the two of them. “Thanksgiving is a celebration of family,” San Ching said. “This is your family.”
Jimmy doesn’t remember his parents, they died before he was three. His grandmother raised him, in America, where her Chinese daughter met and married his Japanese father. Jimmy was their dream.
Every year Ching cooks enough for a family of eight. “You are a growing boy!” she said. And it’s true, Jimmy likes to eat. But they had leftovers for days. Always. Jimmy suggested this year he could bring some of their meal to Winona’s, after dinner. San Ching said he could go to Winona’s instead of dinner. “Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, Nai Nai,” Jimmy said. “This is my family.”
A time for coming together
Henry and Becky usually spent Thanksgiving hosting the homeless, but this year they were hosting the displaced Asgardians. They’d been in New York about three months, and for the most part were acclimating well. All of the Asgardians had a home in Stark Tower, and a job under the direction of an Avenger, and while homesick, they were a race of adventurers, and this was a grand adventure. They were also quite well versed in feasting and found the holiday much to their liking.
They feasted, they wined, they toasted, and they whined. Halfway through the meal, Henry stood to make his annual speech about all the gifts he was thankful for over the year. Becky rolled her eyes and giggled and generally fit in quite well with the Asgardians, but Thor liked the speech and the idea.
“We will all say what we are thankful for!” he decreed and nodded for Erp to begin. Each Asgardian stood in turn and when they finished everyone took a drink. In short order Henry was the only sober one left, or at least the only one not drunk on wine. They were all high on thanks.
And coming home
“Eat.”
Jake wasn’t hungry but he didn’t argue. He knew encouraging him to eat was his mother’s way of expressing her affection. “Thank you, Mother.”
The table fell quiet again. Jamie was the only extrovert in the room and she was in no mood to keep the chatter going.
“This is nice,” Sharon said into the silence.
“What is?”
Sharon raised an eyebrow at her daughter’s tone. “This. Just the seven of us. It’s nice.”
Jamie’s eyes flashed with irritation, and Jake’s with pain. A split second of emotion in both cases, but enough to catch Anthony’s attention and he scowled at his mother. They exchanged looks across the table as the silence grew again.
“I agree,” said James, and he raised a glass to Sharon. She gave him a small smile. Jamie rolled her eyes. Natasha dropped a spoonful of spinach on Jamie’s plate.
“Eat.”
“I don’t want that,” she argued. At Steve’s glance she took a breath. “I mean... no, thank you.”
Natasha shrugged. “It’s good for you.”
“Maybe try a bite,” suggested Sharon.
“What am I five?” snapped Jamie. “I don’t like spinach.”
Everything was completely still a moment.
Jamie sat back in her chair, blushing, but still annoyed.
“I’ll eat it,” said Anthony and exchanged plates with his sister.
The silence grew again.
“May I be excused?” asked Jake.
“No,” said James, because no one else was finished and he expected his son to be polite.
“No,” said Natasha, because Jake had only come for the day, and he was hurting and too isolated already.
“No!” said Jamie, because if she had to be at this dinner table then all of them did.
“Yes,” said Sharon, because it was her table, and he was a guest.
“Yes, said Steve, because he understood wanting to be alone, and not in a fishbowl, to deal with grief.
“Yes,” said Anthony, because he was on Jake’s side, no matter what.
Jake blinked, and deferred to his parents.
“I made dessert.” James retrieved an apple cake from the kitchen and enlisted Jake’s help in passing it around.
“This is excellent, James.” Sharon gestured with her fork. “It reminds me of growing up.”
“It reminds me of the orchard we go to upstate,” added Steve. “We haven’t done that in years.”
“Jake and I went last Fall,” said Anthony. Jake nodded.
“When you were small we went all the time.” Natasha smiled at the memory.
“I’m so proud of you kids,” Steve said suddenly. Anthony and Jake looked surprised. Jamie looked almost disturbed. Steve put his fork down. “You know, when you were kids, there were so many expectations on you all. We tried -- Nat used to have the reputation that she’d probably cook anyone who crossed her son--”
“What do you mean used to?”
The room laughed. Steve raised his hands. “We all tried to protect you from it. But I know how hard it’s been to grow up with all this.” He indicated the mansion, the Avengers, the mantle. “I hope you always know how proud we are... to even know you, never mind to have had a hand in raising you.”
Jamie’s lip trembled; she threw herself into her father’s embrace before anyone could see her cry. But Anthony knew, and smiled.
Jake wished Amelia could have heard the speech. He wished he could relay it to her. He focused on the smell of the apple cake, to remind him, so he could repeat it to her when... when he could. It was a trick him mother taught him, when he was very small.
No matter how far we may wander
No one on the outside would call Tony Stark a family man. But when Ginny, and Trick, elected not to spend Thanksgiving on Long Island, he cancelled Thanksgiving on Long Island and made arrangements to bring their whole families to Biak.
“It’s an island,” he explained to Pepper. “It will be exactly the same, only warmer.”
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
Bobby was sulky, Bobbi was stressy, Jess Drew was testy, Susy Morse was tickled. Tony was right; it was exactly the same, only warmer.
“They don’t even celebrate here,” Ginny argued half-heartedly.
Her father shook his finger at her. “Don’t be negative, Virginia. Do you know all it takes for a celebration?” Ginny pursed her lips. “That’s right. Tony Stark.”
“This is lovely,” said Susy, nodding at what she took for a gazebo. “Where’s your bedroom? I want to freshen up.” It had been a long flight.
“This is our bedroom,” said Ginny huffily.
“That path’ll take you to a stream, Grandma,” said Trick helpfully.
Susy mouthed ‘Oh’ and allowed her daughter to help her down to the stream.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“Where’s the kitchen?” asked Bobby. “I’m hungry.” It had been a long flight.
“There isn’t a kitchen,” said Ginny huffily.
“There’s some fruit under that basket,” said Trick helpfully.
Bobby harrumphed and kicked the basket to uncover the fruit.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“If there’s no kitchen, where’s the stove?” asked Jess Drew, holding out the fifteen pound turkey she’d been saddled with since they landed. Everyone should count their blessing she hadn’t hurled it at Clint yet. It had been a long flight.
“There isn’t a stove!” said Ginny, nearly hysterically.
“There’s a fire pit on the beach,” said Trick helpfully.
Jess grunted and made her way to the beach with the turkey.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“Why do you keep saying that?” demanded Ginny.
“No one’s told me to stop,” answered Clint.
“Let’s set the beach, princess.” Ginny pursed her lips. Tony kissed her on the head. “Where are the plates?”
“There aren’t any plates,” said Ginny with resignation. Trick handed him a large banana leaf. Tony grinned.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“Stop!” Ginny shouted. Clint bowed to her, grinning.
Or how alone we sometimes feel
“You must be Amy’s dad.” Nic was so pretty Peter wondered if god-like-looks was his superability. He was smiling with perfect teeth and blue eyes twinkled as he pressed Peter’s hand with the ideal amount of pressure.
“Don’t act like you don’t know who Spider-Man is.” Llewellyn swatted at Nic as she ushered the Parker-Danvers trio into the apartment.
“This here’s a no code name zone for the next twelve hours Lew.”
“This here’s my home, Nicolas Warner.”
“Yes’m.” Nic tipped an imaginary hat and winked at Carol as he took her coat. “I thought Amy had a brother."
There was something charmingly amateur about the line. Or maybe it was the slight Southern drawl. Regardless, Carol smiled instead of rolling her eyes, though Peter and Llewellyn took up that mantle for her. “Ben.” She nodded to her son and Nic obligingly took his coat as well.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Uh. Thanks...”
“Nic,” he supplied.
“Right,” Ben nodded. “Hi.”
“Carol,” she added, and knocked Peter gently.
“Peter.” Nic waved. “And you’re right, today we’re just Amelia’s family.”
“Must be nice.”
Peter turned to find a young woman with brightly hued hair and a scowl darker than he’d ever seen on his daughter. “What?”
“Must be nice to be able to turn it on and off like that.”
Peter shook his head and sent a silent thank you to whoever might be listening that the angry young woman in front of him was not Amelia.
“Don’t mind Luna,” Nic explained. “She has a chip on her shoulder about bein’ related to terrorists.” Luna’s scowl turned somehow darker.
“All right, all right.” Llewellyn plucked Ben’s and Carol’s coats out of Nic’s hands and handed them to Luna along with Peter’s. “Luna, put these in the back room.” Luna made a face but nodded and walked off. Llewellyn turned to Nic. “You make yourself useful and tell Amelia her family’s arrived.”
Nic turned toward the back of the room and shouted “AMY! YOUR FOLKS ARE HERE!” Llewellyn closed her eyes, counted to five, and gestured for the Parker-Danverses to make themselves comfortable in the living area. Carol swallowed a sigh. Peter scowled in Nic’s general direction. Ben wondered if it was too late to leave this party for Winona’s.
The team of superheroes assigned to Washington DC was one of the smallest in SHIELD’s network. The capital city was populated by Very Important People, but with FBI, CIA, Secret Service, Homeland Security, and military headquartered nearby, the VIPs were on record for not wanting any Avengers added into the mix. But Nick Fury focused on needs, not wants, and considered the DC team a small but vital component of national security. Not that he’d ever let any of them know it.
Amelia fit in with Llewellyn’s team better than anyone had anticipated. She was as idealistic as Nic, as stubborn as Luna, as persistent as Lew, and she treated P.H.I.L 16 like a person, like an uncle even. Carol spent the majority of dinner composing a letter to Fury to ask him his secrets.
Peter spent the majority of dinner glowering because Nic spent the majority of dinner flirting with Amelia and Carol. And sometimes Llewellyn, but never Luna because she likes girls, as he explained to Ben.
Ben was quiet. He felt a lot older than his almost twenty years lately. His parents had explained the new family counseling plan on their way down from New York. It made him feel better for his sister, but he worried about his mother and how that would affect Amelia. Everything had gotten so complicated.
Amelia was hyper. She hadn’t slept well in weeks and babbled even more than usual. By evening she was wilting. Nic found her curled up on the sofa, eyes half closed but far too tense to be asleep. She was fidgeting with the top button of her sweater, or maybe the chain she wore beneath it.
“You look like you could use a drink.” He held out a tumbler of some amber liquid over ice.
Amelia met his eyes over the glass. “Are you trying to alienate my family?”
“No.” He smiled. “I’m trying to be your friend.”
Amelia pulled her lips in over her teeth. Nic swayed slightly, waiting.
“I don’t need a drink. But I could use a friend.”
He nodded, placed the glass on the coffee table, and sat beside her. “So, what’s your favorite movie?”
Thanksgiving reminds us what’s most important
Teddy’s Thanksgiving started with the parade. Usually he liked to be street side, or on a rooftop. But this year they watched out the picture window, as well as having it on their largest television in the main sitting room. Winona was up before dawn and set the table three different ways before the pre-show began, and their guests started to arrive. The caterers were expected at 2pm, but the twins told their friends to come over whenever they wanted before then.
The Osborns arrived first, before eleven. Emily was aloof, as always, but she loved the parade almost as much as Teddy. Norma was a bundle of nervous energy for no discernable reason but set to filming the event as soon as she arrived. Cooper shook her head to see Winona in full whirling dervish mode already and then laughed at herself for being surprised.
Kit came by himself because he wasn’t up to the Stark-Barton-Morse-Drew extravaganza. A Winona Extravaganza was much more his style.
Last year, Lindy had celebrated with both her parents, and their families, and the Parker-Danvers clan. But this year they were all separated and she didn’t know where she fit in. So she chose Winona, and the family she’d found here. Julia came along and at Teddy’s urging they brought Ben’s dog.
Likewise Henry and Rose brought Amelia’s cat. Rose, who’d been isolated in a decaying town for somewhere between one and five years -- time moved differently, they may never know for sure -- was bouncy and determined to see and do everything there was to do and see. Vincent, who popped in, like he always did, after breakfast with his boyfriend, was more than happy to bounce along with her. Henry was quieter than either, but he loosened up as the day went on.
After dinner others trickled in. Jimmy, with a box full of Chinese Thanksgiving. Nate, with a few bottles from the bar. Bianca, with her cat to run around with Chewie and Buttons and Teddy’s menagerie. They had a selection of desserts larger than the number of guests because Winona couldn’t decide and just ordered everything. They tried to play Scrabble but Amelia’s cat kept pouncing on the board. Winona picked at everyone to make sure they wanted for nothing until Cooper convinced her to calm down, she was the perfect host, don’t worry.
Julia had cranberry sauce for the first time. Nate and Bianca made out on the balcony. Rose opened up to Lindy. Emily played piano.
Nothing spectacular happened.
Everyone had a good day.
Thank you for being my family
It took almost forty minutes for the group to choose something to watch but eventually Luna got her way. It helped that The Princess Bride was one of Peter’s favorite films and considered a family favorite by even Nic. Amelia made it a third of the way through the movie. But the endless discussion of true love got to her and she excused herself. Ben followed her to her room, where he found her fighting tears. “I'm sorry.”
“How much do you owe Dad?”
Ben ducked as she threw a pillow at his head. “I didn't want to cry today!”
“You did great.” He sat on the bed, calmly.
Amelia glared over arms crossed tight across her chest. “I had to.”
“Why?”
She deflated in the face of his calm. He shifted in invitation and she reluctantly sat beside him. “Everyone else I know is mad at me.” Her friends, her parents’ friends, the entire Maryland cheer team.
“I’m not.” She shot him a look that clearly said ‘you’re here, you’re my brother, and you don’t count’. “Vincent’s not.” He nodded to the three-headed stuffed dog on her bed, a gift from her friend to help her sleep, or keep her company when she couldn’t. “Vincent and Winona had a party for Rose last week.”
“I know.” Ben waited, knowing she would fill the silence with justification. “I couldn't come. It was a school night and home is ten hours away.”
“And Vincent could get you there by walking across a room.”
Amelia frowned. Ben hated magic and only really tolerated Vincent most of the time. And she’d imagined he’d want her to stay away from a party. She was safe in Washington.
Ben reached a hand out to tug her hair. “Everyone who was at that party is your friend,” he explained. “Still.”
Amelia knocked his arm away. “Was Lindy there?”
Ben sat back. “Lindy loves you.” Disbelief and hope warred in her eyes. “And Jake. She doesn't pick sides. She's not mad at me because of you.”
She picked up the toy dog and hugged it to her chest. “That's not true about everybody.”
“You're right. But it's not your responsibility.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but she didn’t have it in her.
“Nobody who cares about you can be mad at you forever. Not for doing what you need to do to get better.”
Amelia hated that she had to do anything to get better. She hated the whole idea of better. She hated everything.
“Did Henry ask about me?”
Ben sighed inwardly. "Yes." She bit her lip. “How are you sleeping?” She called him a few times, when it got to be too much.
“It’s fine.” He waited, knowing she would fill the silence with justification. “I just don’t like sleeping alone.” She shrugged and looked at the floor, but Ben knew better. He’d seen the haunted look in her eyes before she turned away. He’d seen it at the edge of her eyes all afternoon.
“You should come with us to the hotel.” He kept his voice light, welcoming, comforting. “You know Mom and Dad want you to.”
“I guess.” She raised her eyes. Ben sighed again.
“Henry said nightmares are a side-effect of the sleeping curse.” He’d given Ben a necklace to pass on to Amelia, a magic charm that he’d said would protect her. Ben didn’t want anything magic anywhere near his sister, but maybe the lesson would help. “The dream is real enough to hurt you...but you can control it.”
“Control what?”
“Control what happens.” He tried to remember the words Henry had used. “If you can control your fear, it can’t reach you anymore.”
Amelia frowned. She’d associated her dreams with the break-up, and her emotional distress, not what had preceded it. “How?”
Ben shook his head. “I think it’s something you have to do yourself.” Tears rushed to fill her eyes again. He knew she was panicked, and fighting it. “Henry gave me something for you. To help.” They took a breath in unplanned unison. “I didn't want to tell you because I don't trust him. But I trust you.”
Her eyes were wide as she waited.
Ben wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could. Amelia’s face was buried against his chest but he heard her muffled “Huh?” followed by “...Oh!” and she hugged him back. Ben knew their faith in her would have a stronger effect than any magic. He hated the lie but he loved her more and he’d do whatever he had to to protect her. As they drew apart he focused on her smile.
“I’d like to call Lindy.”
Amelia nodded. “Of course.” She felt better enough to face the movie crew, and he deserved privacy. “Tell her happy Thanksgiving for me.” She kissed his cheek and made her way out.
Vincent's definition of family had always been his friends. He’d looked forward to Winona's Thanksgiving more than any he'd been a part of prior to now. The year had been hard on friendships and some of the longest standing ones were presently precarious. Vincent trusted that things would work out, but he appreciated the chance to celebrate friendships while he waited.
It was late, long past dinner. They were splayed out across the room watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to kick off the holiday season. It was Teddy’s suggestion and he sat in the middle of the sofa surrounded by pillows, animals, and friends. Cooper, Norma, Jimmy, Nate and Bianca were all smooshed on the sofa with him. Emily and Julia were playing chess on the wine service. Lindy was curled up in the window seat, speaking on the phone. Winona had finally stopped bouncing from person to person and relaxed by her feet with a glass of wine in one hand, a cup of cocoa in the other, and Kit’s head on her lap. Vincent, Rose, and Henry were seated on the floor to watch the film. Vincent sang along, but neither of the Millses had ever seen it.
Henry’s phone chirped. Rose, being a nosy little sister, tried to read the message over his shoulder but he moved away from her with an affectionate ‘Hmph’. Vincent, being Vincent, succeeded in reading the message in the mirror over the fireplace. Just two words, from Amelia.
Thank you.
"It will be our last Thanksgiving just the two of us!"
Rikki raised an amused eyebrow. “I'm pretty sure it will be our first Thanksgiving just the two of us.”
“Semantics.”
“Not really?” Rikki spoke lightly and her expression remained amused but Anya was unimpressed and characteristically flew off the handle.
“What is your point? Where do you want to go?” Rikki knew better than to try answering. “I'd feel weird with the Barneses and I'd also feel weird with the Parkers because I'd be worrying about you.” Rikki believed pretty firmly there was no reason for either of them to feel weird. “And yes, I know you wouldn't feel weird because you're you but that wouldn't stop me from feeling weird. Because hormones!”
“Because hormones?” Rikki hid her smile at Anya’s reaction. She raised her hands, palms open wide. “I surrender! Just the two of us sounds perfect.”
Anya tutted, but accepted and her stress dropped away some. Rikki kissed her neck. “Mmmm.” Anya smiled. They were okay. She gave Rikki’s shoulder a squeeze. “I'm going to work on the newsletter.”
What is Thanksgiving?
The Wonder Twins hadn't celebrated Thanksgiving since they were small children, and even then it wasn't a family dinner so much as the exhibition of a family dinner. One year they literally took over the set of the sitcom their mother was starring in. It was struggling in the ratings, likely to be cancelled midseason, and some public relations genius decided a "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner with Moira the single mother and her adorable children would win them sympathy. The special included an expose about Simon, the failed actor, failed superhero, and dead beat dad, because nothing says "loving family" like making five year olds tell the cameras they miss their father.
By the time they were ten, they'd stopped pretending, even for the cameras. And by the time they were fifteen, they'd divorced their parents. If they didn't have a job Winona and Teddy went away for Thanksgiving, or the whole traditional holiday season. Far away, somewhere warm, somewhere they didn't celebrate. That was Winona's gift to the only family she had.
But this year, as the time to flee the country approached, she realized she wanted to stay. She realized, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, she was thankful. She realized she finally had what she'd always wanted -- a family. A family big enough to have a meaningful family dinner. And quite suddenly and unexpectedly, she wanted that too.
Winona went about her family gathering in typical Winona fashion. She bothered everyone to determine their plans for Thanksgiving and if they had none, or showed signs that they wished they had none, she invited them to her place.
Thanksgiving is a time for family
In the Avengers family most gatherings were large. But the large gatherings brought large dramas along with the crowds and this Thanksgiving most of them opted for something simpler.
Lil closed the Coyote only two days a year: Thanksgiving and Nate’s birthday. They ate in a booth, surrounded by dim lights, twelve year old stickers, and twenty year old scotch. It was a simple meal, vegetarian, organic, home cooked. They talked about the weather and the New Year’s Eve schedule and Bianca’s hair. In the evening Nate went to Winona’s and Lil went to the reservation to catch Nate’s father up, like she did every year since he was ten.
Dario had no memory of a Thanksgiving dinner as part of his childhood. Maybe before he was seven they had some kind of traditional meal, but what he remembered was hanging out under his mother’s desk on the helicarrier because everyone else had the day off. Last year they’d gone to the White House dinner but that hardly counted as traditional or family. Not that this year’s sit down with Clay and Tess really did, either. But it was closer. It was probably as close as he was ever gonna get, at least until he had a family of his own and that was no time soon, if ever. It was weird, a sit down dinner, complete with actual turkey and actual stuffing and actual pumpkin pie. With Clay, his mom’s not boyfriend and Tess, Clay’s not girlfriend. It was weird. But not bad. And close enough to family if it came to that. In a way, it was an actual Thanksgiving, and Dario was actually thankful.
Bianca loved Thanksgiving when she a child. It was her father’s favorite holiday. No matter what he made it a good day for her, starting with the parade, and then cooking together, and falling asleep watching holiday movies because she always wanted to watch them all right away.
It was sad without him. But she felt closer to him today than any other day. And her mother, too. Now it was Bianca’s favorite holiday.
Jimmy and Ching don’t have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. They have duck. And they set the table for four even though it is always just the two of them. “Thanksgiving is a celebration of family,” San Ching said. “This is your family.”
Jimmy doesn’t remember his parents, they died before he was three. His grandmother raised him, in America, where her Chinese daughter met and married his Japanese father. Jimmy was their dream.
Every year Ching cooks enough for a family of eight. “You are a growing boy!” she said. And it’s true, Jimmy likes to eat. But they had leftovers for days. Always. Jimmy suggested this year he could bring some of their meal to Winona’s, after dinner. San Ching said he could go to Winona’s instead of dinner. “Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, Nai Nai,” Jimmy said. “This is my family.”
A time for coming together
Henry and Becky usually spent Thanksgiving hosting the homeless, but this year they were hosting the displaced Asgardians. They’d been in New York about three months, and for the most part were acclimating well. All of the Asgardians had a home in Stark Tower, and a job under the direction of an Avenger, and while homesick, they were a race of adventurers, and this was a grand adventure. They were also quite well versed in feasting and found the holiday much to their liking.
They feasted, they wined, they toasted, and they whined. Halfway through the meal, Henry stood to make his annual speech about all the gifts he was thankful for over the year. Becky rolled her eyes and giggled and generally fit in quite well with the Asgardians, but Thor liked the speech and the idea.
“We will all say what we are thankful for!” he decreed and nodded for Erp to begin. Each Asgardian stood in turn and when they finished everyone took a drink. In short order Henry was the only sober one left, or at least the only one not drunk on wine. They were all high on thanks.
And coming home
“Eat.”
Jake wasn’t hungry but he didn’t argue. He knew encouraging him to eat was his mother’s way of expressing her affection. “Thank you, Mother.”
The table fell quiet again. Jamie was the only extrovert in the room and she was in no mood to keep the chatter going.
“This is nice,” Sharon said into the silence.
“What is?”
Sharon raised an eyebrow at her daughter’s tone. “This. Just the seven of us. It’s nice.”
Jamie’s eyes flashed with irritation, and Jake’s with pain. A split second of emotion in both cases, but enough to catch Anthony’s attention and he scowled at his mother. They exchanged looks across the table as the silence grew again.
“I agree,” said James, and he raised a glass to Sharon. She gave him a small smile. Jamie rolled her eyes. Natasha dropped a spoonful of spinach on Jamie’s plate.
“Eat.”
“I don’t want that,” she argued. At Steve’s glance she took a breath. “I mean... no, thank you.”
Natasha shrugged. “It’s good for you.”
“Maybe try a bite,” suggested Sharon.
“What am I five?” snapped Jamie. “I don’t like spinach.”
Everything was completely still a moment.
Jamie sat back in her chair, blushing, but still annoyed.
“I’ll eat it,” said Anthony and exchanged plates with his sister.
The silence grew again.
“May I be excused?” asked Jake.
“No,” said James, because no one else was finished and he expected his son to be polite.
“No,” said Natasha, because Jake had only come for the day, and he was hurting and too isolated already.
“No!” said Jamie, because if she had to be at this dinner table then all of them did.
“Yes,” said Sharon, because it was her table, and he was a guest.
“Yes, said Steve, because he understood wanting to be alone, and not in a fishbowl, to deal with grief.
“Yes,” said Anthony, because he was on Jake’s side, no matter what.
Jake blinked, and deferred to his parents.
“I made dessert.” James retrieved an apple cake from the kitchen and enlisted Jake’s help in passing it around.
“This is excellent, James.” Sharon gestured with her fork. “It reminds me of growing up.”
“It reminds me of the orchard we go to upstate,” added Steve. “We haven’t done that in years.”
“Jake and I went last Fall,” said Anthony. Jake nodded.
“When you were small we went all the time.” Natasha smiled at the memory.
“I’m so proud of you kids,” Steve said suddenly. Anthony and Jake looked surprised. Jamie looked almost disturbed. Steve put his fork down. “You know, when you were kids, there were so many expectations on you all. We tried -- Nat used to have the reputation that she’d probably cook anyone who crossed her son--”
“What do you mean used to?”
The room laughed. Steve raised his hands. “We all tried to protect you from it. But I know how hard it’s been to grow up with all this.” He indicated the mansion, the Avengers, the mantle. “I hope you always know how proud we are... to even know you, never mind to have had a hand in raising you.”
Jamie’s lip trembled; she threw herself into her father’s embrace before anyone could see her cry. But Anthony knew, and smiled.
Jake wished Amelia could have heard the speech. He wished he could relay it to her. He focused on the smell of the apple cake, to remind him, so he could repeat it to her when... when he could. It was a trick him mother taught him, when he was very small.
No matter how far we may wander
No one on the outside would call Tony Stark a family man. But when Ginny, and Trick, elected not to spend Thanksgiving on Long Island, he cancelled Thanksgiving on Long Island and made arrangements to bring their whole families to Biak.
“It’s an island,” he explained to Pepper. “It will be exactly the same, only warmer.”
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
Bobby was sulky, Bobbi was stressy, Jess Drew was testy, Susy Morse was tickled. Tony was right; it was exactly the same, only warmer.
“They don’t even celebrate here,” Ginny argued half-heartedly.
Her father shook his finger at her. “Don’t be negative, Virginia. Do you know all it takes for a celebration?” Ginny pursed her lips. “That’s right. Tony Stark.”
“This is lovely,” said Susy, nodding at what she took for a gazebo. “Where’s your bedroom? I want to freshen up.” It had been a long flight.
“This is our bedroom,” said Ginny huffily.
“That path’ll take you to a stream, Grandma,” said Trick helpfully.
Susy mouthed ‘Oh’ and allowed her daughter to help her down to the stream.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“Where’s the kitchen?” asked Bobby. “I’m hungry.” It had been a long flight.
“There isn’t a kitchen,” said Ginny huffily.
“There’s some fruit under that basket,” said Trick helpfully.
Bobby harrumphed and kicked the basket to uncover the fruit.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“If there’s no kitchen, where’s the stove?” asked Jess Drew, holding out the fifteen pound turkey she’d been saddled with since they landed. Everyone should count their blessing she hadn’t hurled it at Clint yet. It had been a long flight.
“There isn’t a stove!” said Ginny, nearly hysterically.
“There’s a fire pit on the beach,” said Trick helpfully.
Jess grunted and made her way to the beach with the turkey.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“I am, yes,” said Clint.
“Why do you keep saying that?” demanded Ginny.
“No one’s told me to stop,” answered Clint.
“Let’s set the beach, princess.” Ginny pursed her lips. Tony kissed her on the head. “Where are the plates?”
“There aren’t any plates,” said Ginny with resignation. Trick handed him a large banana leaf. Tony grinned.
“Charming,” said Pepper.
“Stop!” Ginny shouted. Clint bowed to her, grinning.
Or how alone we sometimes feel
“You must be Amy’s dad.” Nic was so pretty Peter wondered if god-like-looks was his superability. He was smiling with perfect teeth and blue eyes twinkled as he pressed Peter’s hand with the ideal amount of pressure.
“Don’t act like you don’t know who Spider-Man is.” Llewellyn swatted at Nic as she ushered the Parker-Danvers trio into the apartment.
“This here’s a no code name zone for the next twelve hours Lew.”
“This here’s my home, Nicolas Warner.”
“Yes’m.” Nic tipped an imaginary hat and winked at Carol as he took her coat. “I thought Amy had a brother."
There was something charmingly amateur about the line. Or maybe it was the slight Southern drawl. Regardless, Carol smiled instead of rolling her eyes, though Peter and Llewellyn took up that mantle for her. “Ben.” She nodded to her son and Nic obligingly took his coat as well.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Uh. Thanks...”
“Nic,” he supplied.
“Right,” Ben nodded. “Hi.”
“Carol,” she added, and knocked Peter gently.
“Peter.” Nic waved. “And you’re right, today we’re just Amelia’s family.”
“Must be nice.”
Peter turned to find a young woman with brightly hued hair and a scowl darker than he’d ever seen on his daughter. “What?”
“Must be nice to be able to turn it on and off like that.”
Peter shook his head and sent a silent thank you to whoever might be listening that the angry young woman in front of him was not Amelia.
“Don’t mind Luna,” Nic explained. “She has a chip on her shoulder about bein’ related to terrorists.” Luna’s scowl turned somehow darker.
“All right, all right.” Llewellyn plucked Ben’s and Carol’s coats out of Nic’s hands and handed them to Luna along with Peter’s. “Luna, put these in the back room.” Luna made a face but nodded and walked off. Llewellyn turned to Nic. “You make yourself useful and tell Amelia her family’s arrived.”
Nic turned toward the back of the room and shouted “AMY! YOUR FOLKS ARE HERE!” Llewellyn closed her eyes, counted to five, and gestured for the Parker-Danverses to make themselves comfortable in the living area. Carol swallowed a sigh. Peter scowled in Nic’s general direction. Ben wondered if it was too late to leave this party for Winona’s.
The team of superheroes assigned to Washington DC was one of the smallest in SHIELD’s network. The capital city was populated by Very Important People, but with FBI, CIA, Secret Service, Homeland Security, and military headquartered nearby, the VIPs were on record for not wanting any Avengers added into the mix. But Nick Fury focused on needs, not wants, and considered the DC team a small but vital component of national security. Not that he’d ever let any of them know it.
Amelia fit in with Llewellyn’s team better than anyone had anticipated. She was as idealistic as Nic, as stubborn as Luna, as persistent as Lew, and she treated P.H.I.L 16 like a person, like an uncle even. Carol spent the majority of dinner composing a letter to Fury to ask him his secrets.
Peter spent the majority of dinner glowering because Nic spent the majority of dinner flirting with Amelia and Carol. And sometimes Llewellyn, but never Luna because she likes girls, as he explained to Ben.
Ben was quiet. He felt a lot older than his almost twenty years lately. His parents had explained the new family counseling plan on their way down from New York. It made him feel better for his sister, but he worried about his mother and how that would affect Amelia. Everything had gotten so complicated.
Amelia was hyper. She hadn’t slept well in weeks and babbled even more than usual. By evening she was wilting. Nic found her curled up on the sofa, eyes half closed but far too tense to be asleep. She was fidgeting with the top button of her sweater, or maybe the chain she wore beneath it.
“You look like you could use a drink.” He held out a tumbler of some amber liquid over ice.
Amelia met his eyes over the glass. “Are you trying to alienate my family?”
“No.” He smiled. “I’m trying to be your friend.”
Amelia pulled her lips in over her teeth. Nic swayed slightly, waiting.
“I don’t need a drink. But I could use a friend.”
He nodded, placed the glass on the coffee table, and sat beside her. “So, what’s your favorite movie?”
Thanksgiving reminds us what’s most important
Teddy’s Thanksgiving started with the parade. Usually he liked to be street side, or on a rooftop. But this year they watched out the picture window, as well as having it on their largest television in the main sitting room. Winona was up before dawn and set the table three different ways before the pre-show began, and their guests started to arrive. The caterers were expected at 2pm, but the twins told their friends to come over whenever they wanted before then.
The Osborns arrived first, before eleven. Emily was aloof, as always, but she loved the parade almost as much as Teddy. Norma was a bundle of nervous energy for no discernable reason but set to filming the event as soon as she arrived. Cooper shook her head to see Winona in full whirling dervish mode already and then laughed at herself for being surprised.
Kit came by himself because he wasn’t up to the Stark-Barton-Morse-Drew extravaganza. A Winona Extravaganza was much more his style.
Last year, Lindy had celebrated with both her parents, and their families, and the Parker-Danvers clan. But this year they were all separated and she didn’t know where she fit in. So she chose Winona, and the family she’d found here. Julia came along and at Teddy’s urging they brought Ben’s dog.
Likewise Henry and Rose brought Amelia’s cat. Rose, who’d been isolated in a decaying town for somewhere between one and five years -- time moved differently, they may never know for sure -- was bouncy and determined to see and do everything there was to do and see. Vincent, who popped in, like he always did, after breakfast with his boyfriend, was more than happy to bounce along with her. Henry was quieter than either, but he loosened up as the day went on.
After dinner others trickled in. Jimmy, with a box full of Chinese Thanksgiving. Nate, with a few bottles from the bar. Bianca, with her cat to run around with Chewie and Buttons and Teddy’s menagerie. They had a selection of desserts larger than the number of guests because Winona couldn’t decide and just ordered everything. They tried to play Scrabble but Amelia’s cat kept pouncing on the board. Winona picked at everyone to make sure they wanted for nothing until Cooper convinced her to calm down, she was the perfect host, don’t worry.
Julia had cranberry sauce for the first time. Nate and Bianca made out on the balcony. Rose opened up to Lindy. Emily played piano.
Nothing spectacular happened.
Everyone had a good day.
Thank you for being my family
It took almost forty minutes for the group to choose something to watch but eventually Luna got her way. It helped that The Princess Bride was one of Peter’s favorite films and considered a family favorite by even Nic. Amelia made it a third of the way through the movie. But the endless discussion of true love got to her and she excused herself. Ben followed her to her room, where he found her fighting tears. “I'm sorry.”
“How much do you owe Dad?”
Ben ducked as she threw a pillow at his head. “I didn't want to cry today!”
“You did great.” He sat on the bed, calmly.
Amelia glared over arms crossed tight across her chest. “I had to.”
“Why?”
She deflated in the face of his calm. He shifted in invitation and she reluctantly sat beside him. “Everyone else I know is mad at me.” Her friends, her parents’ friends, the entire Maryland cheer team.
“I’m not.” She shot him a look that clearly said ‘you’re here, you’re my brother, and you don’t count’. “Vincent’s not.” He nodded to the three-headed stuffed dog on her bed, a gift from her friend to help her sleep, or keep her company when she couldn’t. “Vincent and Winona had a party for Rose last week.”
“I know.” Ben waited, knowing she would fill the silence with justification. “I couldn't come. It was a school night and home is ten hours away.”
“And Vincent could get you there by walking across a room.”
Amelia frowned. Ben hated magic and only really tolerated Vincent most of the time. And she’d imagined he’d want her to stay away from a party. She was safe in Washington.
Ben reached a hand out to tug her hair. “Everyone who was at that party is your friend,” he explained. “Still.”
Amelia knocked his arm away. “Was Lindy there?”
Ben sat back. “Lindy loves you.” Disbelief and hope warred in her eyes. “And Jake. She doesn't pick sides. She's not mad at me because of you.”
She picked up the toy dog and hugged it to her chest. “That's not true about everybody.”
“You're right. But it's not your responsibility.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but she didn’t have it in her.
“Nobody who cares about you can be mad at you forever. Not for doing what you need to do to get better.”
Amelia hated that she had to do anything to get better. She hated the whole idea of better. She hated everything.
“Did Henry ask about me?”
Ben sighed inwardly. "Yes." She bit her lip. “How are you sleeping?” She called him a few times, when it got to be too much.
“It’s fine.” He waited, knowing she would fill the silence with justification. “I just don’t like sleeping alone.” She shrugged and looked at the floor, but Ben knew better. He’d seen the haunted look in her eyes before she turned away. He’d seen it at the edge of her eyes all afternoon.
“You should come with us to the hotel.” He kept his voice light, welcoming, comforting. “You know Mom and Dad want you to.”
“I guess.” She raised her eyes. Ben sighed again.
“Henry said nightmares are a side-effect of the sleeping curse.” He’d given Ben a necklace to pass on to Amelia, a magic charm that he’d said would protect her. Ben didn’t want anything magic anywhere near his sister, but maybe the lesson would help. “The dream is real enough to hurt you...but you can control it.”
“Control what?”
“Control what happens.” He tried to remember the words Henry had used. “If you can control your fear, it can’t reach you anymore.”
Amelia frowned. She’d associated her dreams with the break-up, and her emotional distress, not what had preceded it. “How?”
Ben shook his head. “I think it’s something you have to do yourself.” Tears rushed to fill her eyes again. He knew she was panicked, and fighting it. “Henry gave me something for you. To help.” They took a breath in unplanned unison. “I didn't want to tell you because I don't trust him. But I trust you.”
Her eyes were wide as she waited.
Ben wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could. Amelia’s face was buried against his chest but he heard her muffled “Huh?” followed by “...Oh!” and she hugged him back. Ben knew their faith in her would have a stronger effect than any magic. He hated the lie but he loved her more and he’d do whatever he had to to protect her. As they drew apart he focused on her smile.
“I’d like to call Lindy.”
Amelia nodded. “Of course.” She felt better enough to face the movie crew, and he deserved privacy. “Tell her happy Thanksgiving for me.” She kissed his cheek and made her way out.
Vincent's definition of family had always been his friends. He’d looked forward to Winona's Thanksgiving more than any he'd been a part of prior to now. The year had been hard on friendships and some of the longest standing ones were presently precarious. Vincent trusted that things would work out, but he appreciated the chance to celebrate friendships while he waited.
It was late, long past dinner. They were splayed out across the room watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to kick off the holiday season. It was Teddy’s suggestion and he sat in the middle of the sofa surrounded by pillows, animals, and friends. Cooper, Norma, Jimmy, Nate and Bianca were all smooshed on the sofa with him. Emily and Julia were playing chess on the wine service. Lindy was curled up in the window seat, speaking on the phone. Winona had finally stopped bouncing from person to person and relaxed by her feet with a glass of wine in one hand, a cup of cocoa in the other, and Kit’s head on her lap. Vincent, Rose, and Henry were seated on the floor to watch the film. Vincent sang along, but neither of the Millses had ever seen it.
Henry’s phone chirped. Rose, being a nosy little sister, tried to read the message over his shoulder but he moved away from her with an affectionate ‘Hmph’. Vincent, being Vincent, succeeded in reading the message in the mirror over the fireplace. Just two words, from Amelia.
Thank you.