The Odds in Our Favor (WLW)

TWENTY-FIVE

A/N: This is another long one. 3900 words. 29 pages on doc vers.

♥Lucille♥

Kiara and I stand from where we were seated at the table, about to re-enter the kitchen to get a plate of food when Dad walks into the dining room. He is holding a bowl of presumably cool water, his burnt hand inside.

Quite literally every year since I was a kid we've hosted thanksgiving, my Dad as the leading chef. And quite literally every other year, he ends up burning or cutting or injuring himself some way. You'd think after 18 years he'd be a little more careful.

"Can you two round everyone up?" he asks. "Preferably the children last since I'm pretty sure they just want the chicken nuggets and they'd be in the way."

We agree and head out of the dining room. It won't be a hard task since the upstairs is off limits due to The Panda Incident.

"And that is?" Kiara asks when I tell her.

"A nine years ago, the evil little brats that are my little cousins snuck into my room and destroyed my prized panda stuffed animal. Like scissors to all her fabric and everything. A part of me died that day.." I explain.

"Wow. I'm assuming the part that died was your ability to not care about small things?" She teases as we're about to enter the living room.

"Oh shut up." I shove her arm playfully.

The adults are chatting amongst themselves. Unlike actual Thanksgiving, they don't have a football game to watch. Thank god.

"Dinners ready!" I call, and almost simultaneously, they all get up.

As I lead Kiara down into the study, which is often used for a calmer hangout zone—more so, to take a break from my mom's lively family when they're here—I also tell her of The Fruit Punch Incident.

"We also used to have carpet in the bedrooms upstairs, however a couple years ago fruit punch was spilled—intentionally—onto the carpets in my room, my parent's room, and just about every room upstairs." Also onto Louis' old bed sheets. I'd never seen my dad so angry.

"Your cousins are actually diabolical."

"They really are..." I agree "Both incidents were technically committed by both sides of the family, but I'm pretty sure it was my mom's who came up with the plan. Just wait until you hear about The Tradition. They're all insane."

We enter the study. It's a warm atmosphere and much quieter than the rest of the house right now. It's just my dad's sister, Morgan, and brother, Marcus. They're a couple years younger than him and twins. They'd be my aunt and uncle, but I just call them by name

They're a lot like my dad, so I'm definitely fond of them. I'm also about 90% sure Morgan is a lesbian, but she hasn't said anything to anyone. I'll have to get Kiara's take. I'm sure she has a stronger lesbiandar than me.

"Hey, dinners ready." I inform them.

Marcus stands with a stretch from where he sat on the small sofa. "Alright." he says, and then leaves the study.

Morgan stays put. "I'll be out there in a few minutes. I like waiting until the kitchen isn't chaos." She explains.

"Fair." I agree. When Mom's side comes to Thanksgiving, it gets pretty cutthroat when it comes to preparing your plate. Having gotten used to this, my dad's family is just as intense when it's just them. "I don't think you met Kiara yet, right?" I was able to briefly introduce Kiara to Marcus earlier, but I think Morgan has been in here the whole time.