mixed || n.h

48

thanksgiving started off slow. alexa and luke went to the movies, bri and julius stayed in bed all day, chloe and zayn were doing god knows what, and niall and november helped maura cook.

louis and harry slept in, while liam also helped out with the cooking. it wasn't complicated, but since thanksgiving wasn't exactly a thing in the horan household, maura needed all the help she could get.

niall's family started coming around 7:30, and their early dinner was supposed to begin at 8:00. november called her mom the previous day, knowing if she called her while they were eating, it would be midnight or something for them.

nonetheless, mr. and mrs. rivera were upset that their daughter couldn't celebrate thanksgiving with them, but november promised she would make it up to them by having them come over when she got back.

"niall, sweetie, could you go into the backyard and get some firewood?" maura didn't look up from the mashed potatoes she was mashing.

"'course, mum."

niall kissed maura on the cheek before heading out of the kitchen, patting greg on the back on his way out. greg held theo close, rocking him back and forth. although he was two, he could walk (kind of), and talk (again, kind of), which was surprising to november, since the majority of her cousins started speaking and walking at the age of three.

"would you mind putting theo down for his nap? denise and i are going to run to the store really quick. we shouldn't be gone long," greg patted theo's back in an attempt to shush him.

"of course! maura, do you still need my help or are you and liam okay?"

maura waved her off and handed liam a knife to start cutting the carrots, so november grabbed theo from greg's arms and bounced him up and down lightly.

niall returned with the firewood and placed it in the fireplace, passing his cousins and other family members on the way. it was surprising to him that they actually showed up, but he was glad that they did.

"where should i put theo down? he's getting fussy," november smiled at niall who was fixing his shirt.

"in greg's old room. want me to show you where it is?"

"no, i know where it is. call me when dinner's ready."

the couple kissed lightly, making theo shriek in delight. niall chuckled and ruffled theo's hair before heading off to wake up louis and harry.

november carried theo into greg's room and placed him in his crib, humming softly to him. she shut the curtains and turned on his little radio that began playing nursery rhymes. theo yawned, but sat up and eyed november curiously.

"ma," he reached out of the crib bars and whined, so november picked him up and rocked him back and forth.

"your mom isn't here right now, theo. she'll be back soon," she paused, "how about i turn the tv on and put on peppa pig? would you like that?"

"peppa!"

"i'm taking that as a yes," november chuckled.

just as she turned on the television, niall walked into the room with theo's food in hand. he scooped theo up from november's arms and began to feed him, careful not to make a mess.

"is dinner ready yet? i'm starving," november twisted her hair between her fingers.

"almost. greg and denise are buying the drinks and i think mum is done with the cooking. we can't start dinner without them," niall fed the last of the baby food into theo's mouth.

just as november was about to say something, denise walked into the room and grabbed theo, pressing a light kiss to his cheek. it was cute, but november was hungry and wanted to eat.