It was finally Thanksgiving and a large family were gathering around the Jones household in a couple of hours time.

The cooking started at 11am, Sally was kneading the dough to make pigs in blankets while Adrian was given the easy task of making the cranberry sauce.

"What time are people meant to be coming round?" Adrian asked.

"I told everyone that they should start arriving at around 2, we have more appetisers ready for when they arrive and we can enjoy some family time together."

Their conversation was abruptly ended when Adam began video calling Adrian. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving!" Adam cheered, "What you up to?"

Adrian showed Adam around the kitchen and let him observe all of the food that was being prepared by them.

"We can't talk for long because we're about to head down to my cousin's now, but we just wanted to wish you both a happy Thanksgiving. And we were hoping you could save some extra food for us again please?"

Sally laughed as she got inside the frame. "Of course sweetie, I never forget."

"We?" Adrian asked.

Ashley came into view and waved at them both. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving," Adrian happily replied back, "I thought you were volunteering?"

Ashley explained that because the holidays are when more people become generous and volunteer, there were too many people there. And since they arrived last, they were the first to be sent home.

"Is Brody not with you?"

Ashley shook her head. "When our plans got cancelled, Adam invited us over. Brody didn't feel comfortable with the idea but still said I should go anyway since we're dating, and that would make more sense than him coming."

The conversation ended shortly after they bid farewell to each other and Adrian assumed that Brody was alone on the holidays. He was peeling some vegetables when a thought popped into his head.

"Hey mom, do you think we could invite Brody over?"

Sally had finished rolling the pigs into their blankets and wrapped it with bacon before she turned to Adrian. "I thought he had plans?"

"They kind of fell through, and now he's at home all alone. I just thought it would be nice and everything if he can come here for Thanksgiving."

Sally didn't need to deliberate on the decision any longer. "Of course, the more the merrier. Actually, we've made more progress than I first imagined, so you can go away for 30 minutes if you want to talk to him about it."

Adrian smiled after that, he washed his hands before he decided to go to Brody's house and deliver the invitation in person.

"Be back soon."

~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian had called Brody when he was outside his apartment. Brody opened the door with a smile on his face and a quick kiss at the door.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Adrian closed the door behind him as he walked inside. "I heard about how your plans fell through, so I came round here to personally invite you over for Thanksgiving."

"Is your mom okay with that, I mean there is a lot of your family over there and I'm just a stranger to them all." Brody answered honestly.

"Well right now you mean more to me than some cousins I talk to for about once a year. Plus we would both really like for you to be there today."

Brody walked forward and sweetly wrapped his arms around Adrian. "With an invitation like that, how can I resist?"

Brody kissed the tip of Adrian's nose as he accepted the invite.

"Great, you can help cook too. There's a lot of food to do and I think my mom did too much."

Brody smiled to himself after hearing how he suddenly got roped into helping out, "So am I cook or a guest?"

Adrian looked back at Brody with his own smile. "Both! Now get dressed up just a teeny bit more and we can go back, my moms waiting for our help."

"Want to help me get dressed?" Brody winked.

Adrian held Brody's hand as he dragged him into the bedroom. "Like you even have to ask."

~~~~~~~~~~~

The trio were still busy in the kitchen as the guests were very soon arriving.

Adrian had placed some of the the appetisers in the oven, the potato skins going in first since they took the longest. On the sidelines were the pigs in blankets that were all ready to be cooked, and vegetable samosas as well.

Sally was removing the giblets out of the turkey, making Adrian revolt at the sight of the organs being pulled out.

And Brody was peeling potatoes that were going to be used for mashed potatoes.

They were quite the team, and comfortable chatter was amongst the group.

With time closing in on them, Sally sent Adrian upstairs to get changed into 'nicer' clothes while Brody stuck around to help mash the potatoes.

"I just wanted to say thanks again, for inviting me over for the holidays. It's been a while since I've been part of a big family celebration."

Sally went round to place a motherly, loving kiss to her son's boyfriend's cheek. "You're welcome here anytime sweetie, you should know that by now."

The day was going so well so far, everyone was happy and they were on track to get all of the food sorted for dinner.

But the tide started to change when Sally got a phone call from her father in law. She had stopped working on the turkey so she could answer the phone.

Brody observed how her facial expressions were stoic, being accompanied by nods and hums of agreement before the phone call eventually ended.

"Who was that?" Adrian asked as he came back downstairs.

"That was your other grandad, grandad Julian. He kind of invited your grandma and himself over for Thanksgiving today."

Adrian was confused to see the glum expression on his mother's face. There seemed to be a disconnect because he didn't understand the big deal yet. "Did I miss something that's going on?"

Sally was hesitant to explain herself to her son. "Yes and no?"

Adrian wanted her to carry on as he waved his hand around, indicating for her to continue informing him on why there was a problem.

"Grandma Sylvia is pleasant enough with me, but your Grandma Julian doesn't like me because of, reasons."

Adrian slowly nodded his head as if he understood everything. He didn't have many memories of his grandparents, but if his mom wasn't keen then there was something more going on.

"Your grandad is also a very traditional person, if you know what I mean." Sally tried to put it lightly, because she didn't want to disrespect her dead husband's father.

"He can be very passive aggressive sometimes, and he's very opinionated about certain topics." Sally added.

"Like what?"

"Obviously politics are a no go topic for today, but it's also best to try avoid slang and pop culture references. Don't talk about anything that isn't suitable over the dinner table, and he really doesn't like puns, silly little jokes, and pranks."

"Sounds like a delight." Brody whispered to himself quietly.

Sally began hitting the utensils together to distract herself from the anxiety that was coming up. "And also, sexuality."

Both Adrian and Brody were left silent, not sure what they could say back to that.

"He's from a very different generation, and that was the way he was brought up. But for the night to go as smoothly as possible..." Sally looked very apologetic for what she was going to ask to the people in front of her.

"You know I'm very happy and supportive of you both, and I couldn't be any more prouder of you Adrian..."

"But..."

Sally hated herself for what she was going to ask. She's had years of dealing with Julian's negative attitude, and she was tired of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. "Can you two just be close friends for today?"

Brody was left uncomfortable in the spot he was standing in. The family involved wasn't his so he didn't know what to do. He's never had to hide himself before, Brody was always carefree about his sexuality.

But this wasn't about him, it was about another family - his boyfriend's family.

It took a while for Adrian to speak up, who was silent throughout the whole time Sally was talking. Finally deciding on how he should respond to her. "Fine."

When the doorbell rang, Sally took her apron off and hugged her son. "I really am sorry Adrian, you have to believe me that I don't want this either."

With a kiss on his cheek, Sally left the boys in the kitchen. Adrian was still frozen on the spot as his mind was contemplating a lot of things.

Brody saw the tension all over Adrian's body, and walked up to him to try and engage what was going on inside his mind.

"I feel like you aren't really okay with this, are you?"

Adrian shook his head, disappointed that they had to be 'just friend' for Thanksgiving. "I hate it, it's not right that we have to hide because some people are just ignorant. But if it makes my mom's life easier, then I'll do whatever I have to, to make her life easier - for my mom."

"Just for 1 day," Brody repeated, "1 day won't be so hard."

Whilst no one else was around, Adrian gave Brody a quick kiss before setting distance between themselves, as more people started coming into the household.

~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone had arrived at the Jones household. The atmosphere inside the house was alive, energetic and merry.

A food platter was m placed on the coffee table. Pigs in blankets, vegetable samosas, potato skins, cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks with hummus were beautifully distributed as everyone munched away on the appetisers.

Grandma Sylvia was happily chatting with Grandad Abraham and Grandma June in the dining room. They've only met once, at Sally's wedding, and the pleasantries during that time and today was nice enough.

Aunty Susie was talking with her eldest daughter, Crystal, about her time studying medicine at university.

Grandad Julian was on the couch, a scotch in his hand as he watched the parade live on the TV.

Adrian was introducing the twins, Danny and Cara, to Ollie. The energetic creature was happy at having new friends to play with, and Adrian was glad that Ollie didn't seem scared or intimidated because of the new people in his home.

Sally was smothering the turkey with butter, a bit of salt, and other herbs and spices for a delicious taste.

Brody had finished placing the chips and dip onto the plate before he went round and offered to host a little bit. He smiled back politely when Crystal's eyes lasted on his for a little longer than expected. June was very appreciative of the stranger's good manners, and the twins were happy to stuff more food into their mouths.

"Chips?" Brody asked as he passed them in front of the older man on the couch.

Julian did a double take when he looked at the person who was serving him. "Who are you?"

"I'm a close friend of Adrian. My name's Brody."

"Julian." He said as he held his hand out to shake Brody's. "Very nice handshake son. Firm, not sweaty and making eye contact."

Brody ducked his head as he accepted the praise. "Mind if I sit with you?"

Julian nodded his head as he gestured to the seat next to him. "So how do you know my grandson?"

"We met back at his school, we kind of play hockey together and we also study together. From there, we just kind of got along I guess."

'And more...' Brody thought to himself, not daring to say it out loud though.

"Oh does he help you study?" Julian innocently asked.

Brody accidentally laughed out loud before he had to correct himself. "I actually help him more than the other way around."

Julian nodded as he listened. "And you say you play hockey? When I was young, I used to be on the football varsity team, and I was the valedictorian."

Brody smiled back at the things in common they seemed to share. "That's where I'm aiming next. I'm the star player in my team, and I am currently in the top 5% at my school."

Julian was also ecstatic about sharing the striking similarities he had with the young boy in front of him. "Brains, brawn, handsome looks and good manners. Very impressive young man."

Brody felt good about the progress he was making with his boyfriend's family. "Can I get you another drink?"

Julian looked at his glass and swirled the liquid inside a little bit. "Not right now, but thanks anyway son."

~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the kitchen, Adrian came back in time to see the turkey be put into the oven. "Ollie seems to be a good hit with everyone, even Grandad Abraham seems to like Ollie."

Sally was creating the vegetable casserole as she began boiling all of the different vegetables in a deep pot, and sprinkling seasoning inside to add some flavour. "Of course Ollie's puppy dog eyes works on Mr Grumpy in there." She joked about her father.

Adrian was filling up the bread basket when he saw Brody come into the room. "Hey, how are things out there?"

Brody put the empty scotch glass down so he could pour another one for Julian. "Good so far, I think your other Grandad seems to be liking me so far. And maybe Crystal too."

Adrian laughed at hearing that. "Just because we are only friends for today, doesn't mean you can hit on my cousin."

Brody grinned back at Adrian. "Scout's honour, babe."

Julian soon entered the kitchen afterwards, looking for the scotch that he was waiting for. Once he took a sip from his glass, he saw his grandson also in the kitchen.

"There's my only grandson, come give grandad a hug." Julian held his arms out to welcome Adrian, to who he hasn't seen for a very long time.

Adrian obliged as he hugged his grandad, remaining civil for the sake of his mom, even though he has heard horrible, vague things about him from his mother recently.

"Wow, you remind me so much of your father. I can't even remember the last time your mother let me see you."

Sally bit her cheeks as she held back her tongue from calling him out. Today was the holidays, and things were going to remain smooth, even if she still didn't like her father in law.

"Sorry grandad, it's just been really busy with school and everything going on lately." Adrian kept his head low so he would look like he was being sincere.

"Yes I heard about your attack! Your mother should have been taking better care of you Adrian."

Sally began stirring the vegetables more vigorously as she had to hold her breath.

"My mom's doing an amazing job grandad, really. And I'm all better now." Adrian explained as he defended his mother at the same time.

Julian wasn't taking anything back as he drank from his glass again. "Well she should be doing better."

Brody finally decided to intervene as he grew extremely uncomfortable at the tension in the room. "Julian, sir, why don't we go back to the living room and you can tell me about your time at university. I would love to know anything you can teach me about football."

Julian seemed to be ecstatic about being able to share his knowledge and wisdom. "Sure thing son, let's go."

He grabbed the bottle of scotch before he left. "I need this to wash the taste from those awful pigs in blankets anyway."

Adrian ignored how is own eye twitched slightly, and the ragged breath that was being held in at the moment. When Brody looked back at Adrian, displeased also, Adrian mouthed a 'thank you' for occupying him.

Turning back to his mother, Adrian saw how her shoulders seemed to sag, with the world crushing her shoulders as she autonomously continued cooking.

"Mom?"

Sally let out another sniffle while she continued cooking. "It's fine sweetie."

"Why is he still here?" Adrian asked, wanting to ask how she could even tolerate him and his treatment towards her.

"It's what your father would have wanted. Your dad knew how he always resented me, but family is still family. I'm so grateful he turned out nothing like that horrible man out there. But today is also to honour your father's memory who couldn't be here, and so we both have to bite our tongue and wait for the day to be over."

Adrian walked up to his mom and hugged her tightly. "You're doing amazing mom, never forget that."

"Love you too sweetie."

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Author's note: Part 2 will be updated in tomorrow's update.

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