Thanksgiving at 43 Unicorn

[mylandmyrules]

Nell had been busy cooking and baking for the past few days. All right, maybe it was just going to be herself and Gladio, but she wanted to make an extra pie for Steven and the Detective, and something for Lana, and extras to send home with Gladio for Ignis, and another pie for Liliana, and a mini feast to leave for Eleanor, and a pie for Box, and... These things took time!

Besides, it was fun to do.

They'd thought about going to Hannibal's big feast, but ultimately decided that a quiet cozy day at home was what they both wanted. Her food definitely wouldn't be anywhere near as fancy as Hannibal's, but it would be delicious and there'd be more than enough to share later. So here they'd stay.

The house was filled with delicious smells and the kittens were dozing with full tummies from the extra little treats Nell dropped in their bowls as she was cooking. Everything was set to go with just a few last minute touches, so Nell settled herself down for a cup of tea by the gas fireplace to relax for a few moments.

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[sword_chocobro]

And Gladio,grateful that Nell hadn't just kicked him out after his umpteenth time of teasing her about if she was sure it was okay that he helped with this, that, or the other thing around the kitchen after last weekend's Oatmeal Incident, had grabbed a mug of his own and dropped a kiss on the top of her head before settling down beside her with an exaggerate groan as he did.

"Well," he declared ironically, "that was easy, I don't see what all the fuss is about, really."

[mylandmyrules]

"See," she said fondly, "Easy as pie. And now we rest till the turkey's ready to come out of the oven."

Oh, she had a plan to part him back for the teasing, never you fear, but for now, she just leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for all your help."

Even if some things might've got done a lot quicker on her own, she wouldn't have missed his help for anything.

[sword_chocobro]

Done quicker, sure, but why rush the journey when you were having such a good time on it, right?

"Is that where that phrase comes from," Gladio mused with a chuckle, and a fond smile at that kiss on his cheek. "And thank you for letting me help, I know that kinda thing is practically illegal in some parts, so...."

Look, he said he was done with the teasing,but if she kept handing it to him like that, what other choice did he have?

[mylandmyrules]

She nudged him good-naturedly. "It is, but since pie isn't particularly easy I've always wondered why they said it. Maybe they meant as easy as eating pie."

She wouldn't have traded the time with him for anything, whether it took longer or not.

"Just don't you'un go 'round telling people I let you help and we'll be fine," she teased.

[sword_chocobro]

"Oh," Gladio warned her, "I'm gonna go tell everybody."

So much so that he lifted a hand to start counting it off on his fingers as he listed them.

"I'm gonna tell Iggy," he said, "I'm gonna tell Prompto. I'm definitely going to tell Noctra. Just imagine how scandalized she's going to be. She'll never be able to look at you the same way again.

"You're lucky Cygnus and Rigel are asleep right now, or else I'd be telling them, too!"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell was laughing so hard that she had to wipe her eyes. "Oh no, not Cygnus and Rigel!"

She sat straighter though after a moment. "But Noctra is never going to think she's gotta wait on nobody hand and foot!"

[sword_chocobro]

"Oh," Gladio's snort was an emphatic agreement, "no way. If anything, that kid's gonna expect everyone to wait on her."

He said it fondly, though, with an amused shake of his head.

"Good thing she's got her uncles to keep her in line," he said.

[mylandmyrules]

"Much better," Nell said.

She nudged him again. "And she's awful lucky to have the three of you. To watch out for her and make sure she has everything she needs "

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah, well," Gladio nudged Nell lightly back, but he didn't stop there, figuring all that nudging called for moving his arm to go over her shoulders and pull her in a little closer. Let's see her keep nudging if she was too busy snuggling in. Ha. "Prompto needs all the help he can get, really."

But there was a small, thoughtful pause, especially if Nell did get all good and settled in, at least until the last of the food was ready.

"You're right, though," he added, "especially since things could've easily have gone a lot differently, you know?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell was more than happy to get all good and snuggled in. Though make no mistake, she was perfectly capable of nudging from here.

"It could have," she said quietly. "That was a rough time for Liz. We all would have been here for her and the baby, but it would never have been the same."

[sword_chocobro]

That response had Gladio squeezing Nell a little with that arm around her shoulders.

"She'd have done great around here, regardless," he said, "but, yeah, definitely better this way. Lots better. And today's all about being thnakful, right? So there's something right there, how all this weird island stuff works out so that we could've been here when it counted."

[mylandmyrules]

"It is," Nell said. "And I find I'm often thankful for the weirdness of this island - even when it doesn't seem like something to be thankful for at the time. And I'm very thankful Prompto came back. And Ignis. He's such a good support. And he'd never have met Liliana otherwise and I think she's good for him."

Was she leaving someone out? Huh... Was there a little twinkle in her eye maybe? Why could say?

[sword_chocobro]

"Eh," Gladio shrugged a little, as best he could without disturbing Nell too much in doing some, "that's still up in the air, if you ask me..."

He trailed off with it a little, just enough to give it a little bit of a pause like she might be getting away with any particular omissions, before quirking an eyebrow as he looked down at her.

"Just Prompto and Iggy, huh?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Well," she said slowly. "I mean, there is this one other person that's pretty important to me... So I guess I'd have to say that I'm awful thankful that you're here."

Even if a part of her would always feel bad that he'd lost his world and his sister.

"Yep. I'm awful glad to have you in my life and you wouldn't be without fandom weirdness."

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah," Gladio was just going to grin at that answer, slightly lopsided and definitely self-indulgent, "guess it really isn't that bad, the weirdness. It's definitely made up for a lot of the crap it put me through in bringing me back in the first place..."

The more he spoke, the more his smile seemed to soften, melting a little, even as he looked over at Nell and just seemed to sort of take it all in.

"Definitely thankful that you're here, too," he told her. Which he felt was pretty evident and went without saying, but that didn't mean it wouldn't still be nice to hear it. "For a lot of reasons, too, not just the fact that I lucked out in having that here include being right next to me."

[mylandmyrules]

"Love you, Tall Man," Nell said and leaned over to kiss him. "Wouldn't want anyone else here with me."

[sword_chocobro]

"Love you, too," Gladio said, grinning into the kiss, "...Short..." He now snorted a bit into it, since he wasn't planning on pulling away any time soon, though he was half-expecting Nell to push him away, now, "...Woman. Doesn't quite ring as well. Maybe Bossy Woman...."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed against his lips. "Wouldn't be far wrong," she admitted. "I can be more than a mite bossy at times."

[sword_chocobro]

"Yeah," Gladio agreed fondly, "but I like that about you. Well, there's a lot of things I like about you, but that's definitely up there."

[mylandmyrules]

"You like me being bossy?" Nell said with a grin. "Why on earth is that?"

[sword_chocobro]

"Because," Gladio said, and there was a slight pause there, maybe for a little bit of dramatic tension, but mostly so he could tilt his head a little thoughtfully as he looked Nell over and tried to think of what might be the best way to really explain it, "it means you know what you want, how you want it, and you're not gonna let anyone else tell you otherwise. Well, you might, but not without a fight, that other person's gonna have to earn it. And, let's be honest, Nell, the way you grew up, I'm sure they took every chance they had to try and break you of that, but you clearly weren't having it. Every time you're bossy, that's you asserting yourself in ways that most people'd just take for granted, and how can I do anything but love you for that?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell watched him as he spoke and listened, really listened, feeling her throat get choked up and her eyes maybe get a little damp. "Ain't..." she had to swallow hard before she could get the words out. "Ain't nobody ever loved me 'cause I was bossy or stood up for myself. You're right, people just wanted me to shut up and do as I was told and when I didn't there were consequences, but I just couldn't let things lie. I was kinda proud of myself that I won my battles in court and got myself free even if the consequences were hard to live with. But I never could've imagined someone else feeling that way about what I done."

She ducked her head and was quiet for a moment. "God's truth is I'm not sure anybody ever really loved me before. I mean, my Mama maybe, but not enough to really stand up for me. And I think John loved me much as he was able, but it was all mostly because I did the things I had to do and not because of who I was. Which makes this, us, doubly, triply special and so almost sacred to me."

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio smiled gently, taking a moment brush back any hair that might've tumbled forward when Nell ducked her head like that, though it was mostly just an excuse to sort of offer some kind of soft gesture, and see her face a little bit better, especially since he was just gazing at it fondly now, before leaning in to offer a light kiss.

"Anyone who sees who you are and doesn't love you for it," he said, "doesn't know what they're missing. And it's definitely not something I'm going to take for granted, either."

[mylandmyrules]

"Wouldn't expect you would, Tall Man." She tried to speak lightly, but his words... they touched something deep inside and broke it wide open.

She tried to kiss him back, but had to stop and wrap her arms around him and burrow her face into his neck, getting as close to him as she could. "Wouldn't expect you would."