The Howard's house smells like cinnamon and turkey. 

And it's perfect. 

It's Thanksgiving, and the entire Howard family is racing around the house like wild animals. Little cousins playing tag on the steps, the Nolan and his uncle playing football on the lawn. All the women are huddled in the kitchen, aprons tied around their waists and their hair up in buns. 

It looks like a scene from a 1960s sitcom, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. The classic charm of the buzzing house is alive, and I feel right at home, cozy and warm. 

"Piper? Could you come help put some things in the fridge?" Mrs. H calls from the kitchen.

I eagerly wander over to the busy kitchen, my hair already in a bun. 

"At your service, m'am." I say, giving her a half-hearted salute. 

She chuckles and rolls her eyes playfully. She turns back to the counter, picking up a pan, and handing it to me carefully. 

"Here." She says, and I gulp. The pan is about as long as my wing-span. 

You got this, Piper. All you have to do is stick it in the fridge. 

"Alright." I say nervously, taking it into my hands. The smell of warm mashed potatoes wafts up my nose and I inhale deeply. Mrs. H has always been an amazing chef. 

I waddle over to their massive fridge in the corner of the kitchen, the massive steel doors looking terribly ominous. 

I take a deep breath and maneuver my arms, attempting to open one of the huge doors. 

"Here, let me help." 

I jump slightly at the sound of Nolan's whisper, as he gently moves me to the side and open the door. 

"Such a gentleman." I tease, and swiftly slide the pan onto one of the many shelves stacked high with Tupperware and other assorted foods. 

I turn around, stretching my arms slightly. Nolan is slightly sweaty, his dress shirt unbuttoned revealing a tight undershirt. 

"You look like a suburban husband." I giggle, fixing his shirt buttons in place for him. 

"Just what I was going for." He says, his voice low. It's probably so husky because he's been running around for about an hour with his uncles and older cousins. 

Nolan always had a huge family, something I was always extremely jealous of. It had always been my mom and I ever since the divorce, and Jerry had only just come into our lives with Jack. 

I sigh slightly, thinking of Jack's pudgy little face. He's the one I miss the most. 

I finish buttoning Nolan's shirt, and when I look up at his face, he has a sort of glint in his eye. 

"You alright?" I ask. 

"Yeah," He replies throatily, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. "Fine."

"You look beautiful, by the way." He says with his usual smile. I blush, looking down at my maroon collared dress with pale heels. With the added height, I gain a little more on him, but he still towers over me.

"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself."

There's a charged moment between us, but it is broken by the ringing of the doorbell. 

"I'll get it!" Nolan shouts to his mom, just like he would always do as a child. He grabs my hand and races towards the door like a kid, swinging it open. 

The smile on both of our faces drop quickly. 

"What are you doing here?" 

In front of me stands my mother, an extremely nervous smile on her lips, and Jack in her arms. And Jerry at her side. 

I'm frozen, as if all my bones have sealed together at the joints, refusing to budge. But Nolan isn't. 

"What the hell-" 

"Oh, Nolan." I hear Mrs. H's nervous laugh behind him. She pushes past him and opens the screen door to allow my mother and Jerry to enter. 

"Can I talk with you and Piper in the other room for a moment, just a little turkey logistics." Her smile is tight and forced and she grabs Nolan and I by our arms, dragging us into the powder room. 

"Look," She begins, but Nolan doesn't give her a chance to finish. 

"They're not coming into this house, mom."

"I totally forgot I invited them earlier this year, and with the whole family coming here this year I must have forgotten to cancel. I never thought they would show up, I'm sorry, Piper." She looks at me with true sorrow in her eyes. 

I can't stay mad at this woman, I never have. 

I sigh, forcing air in and out of my lungs. 

"It's alright, Mrs. H. Let them stay. But I don't want to go back-"

"And you're not." Nolan interjects yet again. I don't have the energy to reprimand him for his constant interruptions. 

"You are welcome to stay here as long as you need, honey." Mrs. H pulls me in for a strong hug, which I return gratefully. She has always been like a second mother to me, teaching me about boys and giving me shelter and food to eat whenever my mom wouldn't come home or I didn't want to go back. 

"Thank you." I whisper, and sniff softly, legging go. 

I straighten my spine and grab Nolan's hand instinctively, giving it a strong squeeze. He returns it immediately, and I look up to his jaw is tight and locked. 

I give him a look that says 'don't do anything stupid'. 

He nods at me, showing he understands. 

We exit the powder room, and there's Jerry, speaking to Nolan's dad. Nolan's father looks like an older version of him, with grey hair in place of blond, and wrinkles that make him look like George Clooney. 

His face, usually set into a proud smile, is flat as he stares at Jerry's whispering face. 

"Piper, I need to-" My mother begins but I put a hand in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. 

"Look, just because Mrs. Howard is letting you stay here for dinner, and him," I say, nodding my head towards Jerry. "Doesn't mean we want you here. I am not coming home anytime soon. Not until you get rid of him." 

She doesn't speak, Jack cooing in her hands. 

"Hi, Jacky." I whisper, giving him a kiss on his forehead. 

"Piper, listen to me, it's a lot more complicated than you think." My mom interjects. 

"No." I snap. "It's not. This isn't a lifetime movie where he suddenly changes after tossing you around. He's an asshole and an arrogant son of a bitch. And I'm not going to live in a home with that kind of person, when I have a home right here, with people that love me and people I love. I love you mom, but I won't subject myself to that.  And I never thought that you would subject yourself to it either." 

And I storm away, leaving her gaping at my words. 

~~

The table is laden with gold, red and caramel as the whole family (and mom and Jerry) settle in at the Howard's thanksgiving feast. 

But the energy of the room is anything but happy. 

Living in such a small town, everyone at the table knows about what Jerry did, and gathered that I had been living her because of it. 

Mrs. H, as the always perfect hostess, attempts to crack the tension by standing up slightly. 

"Before we begin our meal, I'd like to say grace." 

Everyone bows their heads, some grasping their spouse's hand, and the children squirming in their seat, licking their lips at the idea of Mrs. H's famous sweet potatoes. 

"Lord, we thank you for this meal and for the people sitting around this table, and for all the blessings you give us throughout the year. Amen."

"Amen." The room echoes. 

"Amen." A familiarly rude voice barks too late, and all heads turn to Jerry, whose tie has come a little loose. 

Nolan clears his throat and grasps my hand. 

"Alright, everyone, dig in." Mrs. H says nervously and everyone obeys, passing plates and gobbling up turkey. 

The room fills with chatter, which allows me to exhale, my nerves calming ever so slightly. 

"You okay?" Nolan's voice is at my ear and I nod. 

"I will be, once they leave." 

He squeezes my hand tightly. 

I begin to get into the motions of the feast, cutting the perfectly cooked turkey and pouring the artfully crafted gravy over my plate. 

Champagne is given to the adults and teenagers, while the children stick with apple cider, giggling as they pretend to swig it like liquor. 

"Remember when we were like that?" Nolan asks, pointing to a golden haired boy and a raven haired cousin across from us, as they sneakily try to steal food from each other's plates. 

"Yeah, I miss those days. They were so innocent and carefree." I sigh, taking another sip of champagne. 

I turn to look at Nolan, whose eyes are glowing from the golden lighting of the room. 

"Thank you for everything, Ducky." I whisper, and lightly kiss him on the cheek. His jaw tightens, but a smile grows on his face. 

"Anytime, Duchess." 

But our revelries are broken by the sound of silver on glass as someone stands to make a toast, their chair squeaking behind them. The clammer of the room goes silent as all eyes turn, to Jerry. 

Oh, god. 

His face is blotched and red, and he's quite blatantly drunk. 

"I would just like to say," He says with a slight burp. "That I, am thankful, for this food. But I am not thankful for you." He says, and his fork is pointed directly at me, quite sloppily. 

Oh, here we go.

"You, are ruining," another burp. "My li-fe. You couldn't just keep your bitch mouth closed." 

A gasp goes around the room as the children laugh slightly at the curse word used, mothers brandishing them and one places her hands over her child's ears. 

"Jerry, maybe it's time we leave." My mother says, grasping his arm with her hand. But he grunts, and throws her off, so violently she practically falls out of her chair. 

"Jerold, that's enough." Nolan's father barks, standing up so quickly from his seat that his chair almost falls over. 

"I'm not done talking, Eric." He slurs, brandishing his fork one again like a wand. "This little sslut, is staying in your house with your son. What do you think they're doing in his room, hm? Homework? I'm surprised she's not pregnant yet." 

"That's it." Nolan hisses under his breath and he's up, grabbing Jerry by the arm and practically dragging him away from the table. 

I get up quickly, following them down the hallway. 

Nolan is almost a half a foot taller than Jerry and much stronger, as he is able to basically rag doll him towards the door. 

"Get off me you bastard." Jerry hiccups and starts to wave the fork, still clutched in his white knuckled hand. 

"You are never stepping another foot into this house, and you are never going to speak or even look at Piper again. Do you understand me?" Nolan hisses at Jerry, holding a handful of his hair in a fist. 

"You can't tell me what to do." 

"I just did." Nolan snaps, and starts to push Jerry out of the door and shouts very slightly, clutching his arm. Jerry just stabbed him with a fucking fork. 

"Get out!" I shout, tears beginning to pour down my cheeks. Jerry stares at me for a moment and spits at my feet. 

"Gladly." He hiccups, and Nolan slams the door behind him. 

"Nolan, are you okay?" I whisper, running to him and softly grabbing his arm in my hand. Four small indentations sink into his forearm, bleeding slightly. 

"It's fine." He says breathlessly. His chest is heaving and he looks down at me, grabbing my face in both his hands. "Are you okay?" He whispers, wiping tears from his face. 

"No. But thank you for doing that." I whisper back, and wrap my arms around him in a tight embrace. 

Worst. Thanksgiving. Ever.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! This is an extra long chapter, 2000+ words! Hope you enjoy!  Comment what you're thankful for this year!