mylandmyrules | Thanksgiving at 43 Unicorn

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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"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."

"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."

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

"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...."

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

"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."

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

"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?"

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."

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."

"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."

Thanksgiving at 43 Unicorn

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