New York || Damon Salvatore [1]

Chapter Eight

1976 — Provincetown, Massachusetts

   The Thanksgiving table was set in a barn behind the house. Although the outside was cold, the inside felt warm with the few fires Arthur and Uncle Bran created. The table, which was five large wooden tables pushed together, was covered in a soft orange cover, candles and flowers in the centre accompanying the food. Damon was surprised at the large majority that covered the centre: two large turkeys in each corner, bread rolls, maple roasted vegetables, homemade blueberry sauce in a mason jar in the centre, garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry and walnut salad. There was an array of food that he would have never imagined seeing at a table he would sit at. 

   Someone served Damon a bit of everything, and his mouth salivated for the homemade food that surrounded him. The last time he ever had homemade food was when he was human, when the cook served him wonderful breakfast of eggs and bacon and bread. But, now, looking at the amount of food in front of him, he thought that it was best for him to eat everything that was served in his plate. Vampire or not, he wanted to soften the appetite with something delicious, something that wasn't blood. 

   He sat to the left corner of the table, besides Frederick in one side and Rohan in the other. In front of him sat Freya, and she glanced at him with a small smirk as she ate. Damon couldn't help but glance back, returning the small smirk with one of his own and a wink. When Arthur, who sat at the end of the table with Frederick in one side and Ioanna on the other, cleared his throat, Damon stopped looking at Freya and looked at the man that stood with a grin and a glass of red wine.

   "It has been yet another great year," he said, his eyes darting to each person. "I was worried that this year would have been bad, that no one would have come for Thanksgiving. All of our children have moved out of the house: Freya and Frederick are in New York, and Rohan spends more time in Pennsylvania more than in her apartment downtown." He chuckled and glanced down at his glass of wine, letting out a breath. "I thought this year it would have been Ioanna and I, maybe Helena, too. But, this year, this meal, has been greater than the rest of the years. We have new members added into our family, making it grow. We have Thomas Howell and Damon Salvatore, who both should know that I will kick their asses if they hurt my little girls."

   "Daaad!" groaned Freya, covering her face a bit. The family chuckled, amused. Damon, on the other hand, couldn't help but frown. He knew that he would hurt her, one way or the other.

   "I won't hesitate," Arthur added, a smile forming after. "It's strange, this year, but it also feels good, doesn't it?"

   "It's the global warming," commented Uncle Bran with a chuckle.

   "Shut up, Bran," groaned Uncle Jasen. "Stop with them darn theories of yours."

   Arthur cleared his throat. "I hope that we continue to have a much more enjoyable rest of the year. Although I would say until next year, but we still have Christmas. Since it's our turn to host Christmas this year, we are all expecting you to arrive three days early. I'm looking at you, Dobri."

   Dobri Petrov, who was married to Mila Beauchene, raised his glass of wine with a roll of his eyes and a small smile. "I arrived early this year, Arthur."

   "Yes, just before dinner began," added Uncle Reggie with a laugh, causing the rest of the family to laugh as well.

   "I still arrived," Dobri shrugged. 

   Arthur cleared his throat once again and raised his glass. "Until Christmas!"

   "Until Christmas!" the rest of the family echoed.

   The meal continued with happy grins and laughs, talker of what would be happening for the rest of the year. Damon found out that Uncle Reggie was opening another furniture store in Worcester, Uncle Jasen would be moving to Boston for a new job, and Great Aunt Madeline decided to give a bit of everything she owned to everyone in her family on her will. The old woman even joked about leaving a little something for Damon, just because he was handsome. Damon chuckled, shook his head, and told her that it'd be best not to tease about leaving something for him on her will. She threw her head back and laughed, almost as if she were a teenager being told that she was pretty.