Chapter 53: Thanksgiving

*I don't think I really need to explain much, it's Thanksgiving Day*

I look at myself in the mirror for the umpteenth time within the last hour. I smooth out my forest green button up and fix my hair, releasing an exasperated breath. It's just dinner Sawyer, I tell myself, looking at my reflection, get over yourself before you're late. I walk back to my bedroom, slipping on my tall, tan boots and grab a creme scarf from my coat rack.

Peter texted me last night, after another couple weeks of not talking, and invited me Thanksgiving dinner with him and May. And for some God damn reason I feel the need to impress both of them as if I'm meeting the two for the first time. I shake my head, dispelling any anxious thoughts and walk through my apartment. I grab my phone off the couch , seeing a text from Peter.

May says you can come over whenever. Dinner's at 3.

I look at the clock and see it's a little after noon. I'll head over now, why so early?

Idk, people just want time to gorge themselves today I guess.

I look out the window seeing the clouds predicted for this afternoon's storm are rolling in. Walking towards my door, I grab a jacket and a beanie, closing the door behind me. I half expected Collin to be coincidentally leaving at the same time, but quickly remember him telling me he was flying back to Boston to see his family. Collin's actually been the one person I've really talked to these past few weeks. He's been a wonderful friend to console in. I told him that Peter and I "broke up," which is why I was back at my apartment. I, of course, had to lie and say that it was mutual and that we would still try to be friends. He made a quip about he he's grateful he and I never go together. That my love life sounded like, and I quote, "A dick, you know? Sometimes it just gets hard for no reason." He and I talked so much I even revealed that LUc was my first, well, everything. Collin looked so relaxed and wise, leaning back on my couch, propping his feet up on my coffee table and taking a swig from his beer, when he said, "Nobody dies a virgin, life fucks us all." I think stepping back from all this superhero business was the best thing I could've done for myself.

*1 subway ride later*

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my jacket, expelling a cold cloudy breath after knocking on the door. Seconds later, May swings the door open, donning a red and white checkered apron.

"Oh Jade, sweetheart, come on in." She said stepping aside.

"Thank you," I say, "it smell amazing."

"Thank you dear, why don't you make yourself at home. Peter should be back soon, I had him run out and get some more milk for the potatoes."

"Oh, okay, well do you need any help? I've never really celebrated Thanksgiving, but I'm pretty handy in the kitchen." I say, taking off my jacket and hat.

"That would be lovely, now why on earth have you never celebrated Thanksgiving> Peter said something about your family being overseas, so you've been by yourself the past few years." May said as we walked to the kitchen.

"Oh um, yeah, neither of my parents were from America, so growing up, it was just silly to celebrate and then yeah, I moved to America and didn't really know anyone. And my father was a general in the army and British Commandos, so we traveled a lot." Despite what you've witnessed thus far, I really do hate lying and think it's a terrible habit.

"I didn't know your parents aren't from America." May said as I washed my hands and roller up my sleeves.

"My father was born in Westchester, London and my mother in Bordeaux, France." At least that's true.

"So I suppose you grew up mainly in Europe?"

"France mostly, but once I moved to the states, the American accent kinda took over." I say starting to peel potatoes.

"Have you celebrated Christmas alone too then?" May asks. I think back on my last few Christmas' before answering. Last year I was on a mission to rescue a drug lord's daughter. A rival gang had kidnapped her and I was hired to get her back. I spent Christmas with a bratty teenager who wouldn't shut up about her father sending a woman to save her, rather than a "knight in shining armor." To say I was tempted to show up empty handed to her father is an understatement. But, you know, Christmas spirit, or whatever.

"Um, well, I'm not as religious as my mother would hope I am," I say with a chuckle. And as if a fire was sparked in my brain, I remember a time before I was Viper. "I actually volunteer a lot this time of a year." Granted at the time, I was homeless myself and didn't exactly have anything else to do.

"Jade that's wonderful!" May says, beaming at me. "But, have you considered flying out to see your parents? Because if money's an issue-"

"Oh no, no May. Believe me, I would love to spend the holidays with my parents, but um... Well I guess Peter didn't tell you..." I cut May off, remembering what I've told everyone else who's asked about my parents.

"I didn't tell her what?" Peter walks into the kitchen setting a grocery bag on the counter. His nose and cheeks are bright red from the cold and I almost walk over and give him a hug and a kiss on cheek, like I would have done any other time. But I could see he was dreading this dinner.

"My parents," I fill in. Looking back at May, I continue. "My father died in the line of battle when I was a 17 and my mother was diagnosed with hepatic cancer when I was 15. She passed away about 4 years ago." In reality, I have no idea what happened to my parents. What I like to believe is that they were executed shortly after we were captured and separated. Lord knows I couldn't handle knowing they faced similar fates to mine.

"Oh Jade..." May hushes, wrapping me in a hug. I look over her shoulder at Peter, releasing a heavy breath. If this woman knew what really happened to me, she'd have a heart attack. So really, I'd be a asshole if I told her the truth. "Well you're always welcomed here." May says, releasing me from her hug and rubbing my back.

"Thank you May," I respond.

"Well, back to work, huh? Peter, care to join us?"

"Yeah, sure," Peter says, taking off his jacket, "Jade do you mind helping me with something first?"

"Sure." I say following him out of the kitchen. Oh boy... Peter opens his old bedroom door for me and closes it quietly. The look he gave me made me want to fake an illness so I could miss dinner.

Peter sighed, his hands on his hips. Seriously, if the floor were to collapse right now, I'd tank it for swallowing me and saving me from whatever dreadful conversation Peter wants to have. What on Earth could he want to talk about? Maybe he'll ask me to make up some emergency cause he doesn't want me here either. Or maybe he's upset with me for lying to May. He's probably just upset with me in general, I would - "Jade!" I look up from the ground, Peter's wide eyes staring into mine, his hands on my shoulders. "What? Yeah, sorry..." I mumble, looking back at the ground.

"Wha... Jade, are you okay? You haven't spaced out like that in a while." Peter asks his hands traveling down my arms and holding mine.

"Mhm." I hum, unconvincingly, nodding. What the hell Sawyer? Your profession is to lie and fake people out. So what the fucks with the vulnerability?

"Jade, why don't you sit down? You haven't thought aloud, really acted like this in over a month." Peter says, pulling me towards his bed.

How would you know, you haven't been talking to me for almost a month. I wanted to snap, but thankfully I caught myself. "What, no, I'm fine." I say, coming out of my daze and pulling my hands out of Peter's grasp.

"Jade, come on, you don't have to put up this facade with me. Don't shut me out." Peter says softly.

"Why? You don't want me around, it's easier this way," I say defensively. Peter shakes his head, frustrated, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'm sorry Peter. I shouldn't have come, I'll just go, I'm sorry." I say, turning. Before I even lift my foot, Peter grabs my hand and spins me back to him. I'm engulfed in his hug, as he holds me against him.

"God, you're so stubborn," he says with a sigh. "It's not that I didn't want you around, I just... I needed time to work things out for myself. Rejection really fucking sucks and being around you, it made me feel weak and helpless." Peter explains. My hands were pressed against his chest, but I clamp one over my mouth to contain a sob. I've done a lot of messed up shit, but fuck me in the ass if hurting someone I love isn't what fucks me over most. Tears prick my eyes, my hand tightening over my mouth, as the other one grips Peter's shirt. "Please Jade, you can be vulnerable with me." I squeeze my eyes shut, releasing the damned tears and shake my head.

"I'm so sorry Peter," I choke, my voice cracking with another sob. "I never meant to hurt you." He tightens his arms around me. "I don't want to feel like this around you anymore, I want things to go back to how they used to be." I say in an almost child-like manner.

"It will. Eventually." I didn't stop crying, my hand muffling my gasps for air. "Shhh..." Peter hushed gently, one of his hands moving to my head. I pressed my forehead against his chest, willing myself to calm down. Taking a deep breath, I turn my head listening to Peter's rhythmic heart beat. "I'm worried Jade." Peter says, pulling me back to look at me. He holds my face, wiping away the stray tears. "You haven't been caught up in your head for over a month. Despite how cute your thinking aloud is sometimes, what just happened scared me. It was like you disappeared from me for 10 minutes."

I sniffle, furrowing my brow and looking back at Peter. "10 minutes?" I ask, confused and astonished myself. "I didn't even realize..."

"Jade, is it because of me?" Peter asks meekly. "Because I wasn't talking to you? Did I stress you out that much?"

"No, not at all." I rush out, not wanting Peter to blame himself for my own mentality. Or lack thereof. "I was stressed yeah, but I just didn't want to lose you. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells just right now."

"Jade, you're never gonna lose me." eter says pulling me back to him. I wrap my arms around him, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." I mumble.

"For what?"

"I started this mess, I hurt you and I can't fix it."

"You don't have to. Sometimes things happen in life that are out of our control and you just have to let things take their course." I blow out another breath, my tear ducts finally coming to a stop. "C'mon." Peter says guiding me to the bathroom. I clean myself up, sighing at my pathetic reflection while Peter leans on the door frame behind me. "You're still upset." Peter states, walking behind me and and looking at me through the mirror.

I chuckle at his bluntness. "What gave it away, my exasperated expression or am I just radiating that I want a black hole to open up and suck me away from my life?" I say looking down at the sink. "I wish I could be with you Peter, but" I look back up at his reflection, meeting his eyes. "You deserve someone who will better you. These past months, I've just caused you trouble."

"Nah, that's just part of your charm." I turn around shaking my head and looking up at Peter before he pulls me into a hug. I hold onto him loosely.

"You'll find someone amazing, who will love you more than life and who's better than me by light years." I say, my head pressed against his chest.

"There's no use in arguing, is there?" Peter says, pulling back and looking at me.

"Nope." I say, popping the "P." I walk out of the bathroom, wiping my face again and turning to face Peter before exiting. "Well, let's go celebrate my first Thanksgiving." I say, trying to sound cheerful. I open the door as Peter slowly follows.

Before we exit the hallway, Petr says, "Hey Jade," I turn to face him behind me. "I love you." He says with a stupid smirk. I smile, jumping to tackle him in a hug.

"I love you too, Tigré." He laughs, holding me up.

"Alright Trouble," Peter says dropping me, "It's turkey time!"

*6 hours later*

"Man, May can drink," I say, the cold air encasing my words in a white mist, as Peter and I walk down the street. "Are you sure it's okay to leave her alone?"

"Oh yeah, we cleaned up and she'll probably fall asleep soon anyway." Peter says, laughing along with me. We continue walking down the street, our arms interlocked. Tony had texted me about an hour ago, asking if I was planning on stopping by the tower. So Peter and I finished up at May's considering she had downed an entire bottle of wine herself, and now we're making our way to the tower. As we walked in silence, snow began to fall and Peter let out a sound of discomfort.

"Okay Jade, I know you and your grandma heart enjoy going on walks, but pretty soon i'm gonna freeze my nads off." He says disconnecting our arms and pulling his hood up. He stands expectantly in front of me and says, "Well? I wasn't joking about my testicles." I laugh, walking to him and wrapping my arms around his neck. We weren't too worried about civilians seeing us; it's night and most people are probably watching football, getting drunk, or both. Peter wraps an arm securely around my waist and thwips up to a building. Normally the flying sensation would be exciting, but dear God, the cold air is only more intense as it nips at my face and neck. I turn and hide my face into Peter's neck, inhaling sharply. Before I can make a snappy comment about the cold, I feel solid ground beneath my feet. Peter rests his hands on my waist looking down at me. "Okay, 10 times worse than walking, but so much quicker." Peter says. I shiver, looking up at him and drawing my arms around myself. Before I can make a bitter comment about how my grandma heart and I would have preferred walking, there's a click and a door opening from the balcony. We look over and see Clint waiting for us. Both Peter and I rush over and I release a heavy breath as the warm air inside smacks me in the face. I behin unzipping my jacket as Peter hurries to the kitchen, his attention capture by several pies on the counter.

"So I take it you two worked things out?" clint asks behind me and helping me with my jacket.

"Yeah, we're good now." I ay, smiling. Clint places my jacket over the back of the couch as we go back to join everyone, while Peter, Steve and Thor begin slicing into the pies.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Tiny Dancer. This is your first one, right?" Tony asks, gesturing to me with the glass of whiskey in his hand.

"Happy Thanksgiving," I respond, making my way to the kitchen as well. "And yes, I've never had reason to celebrate. Do you have vanilla ice cream? And whipped cream?" I open the fridge and freezer, answering my own questions.

"Now this woman's got her head in the right mindset." Natasha says entering the kitchen and grabbing an ice cream scoop. She hands it to me along with 2 plates. I plop a scoop onto hers and she turns towards the pie. Steve and Thor standing beside her, devouring their servings. Peter walks up to me, holding out his plate with a slice of pumpkin pie on it.

"You had like three slices at your aunt's house," I say looking at him shocked.

"I have a fast metabolism!" He complains.

"Whatever..."

I give him some ice cream and he perks up with a bright, "Thank you!"

I chuckle at his giddiness, "De rien." (You're welcome.) As I prepare my own plate, I ask, "Thor, this is your first Thanksgiving too, right?"

"Yes, but almost every feast held in Asgard is similar." He answers, not looking up from his pie. I gently place a slice of apple pie on my plate and top it off with whip cream.

"How was your first Thanksgiving Jade?" Steve asks leaning against the counter next to the fridge and eating his own slice of apple pie.

"Lovely, except cooking wi-" I stop mid-sentence, noticing the mess Steve has made on his face. I put my plate down, "Second oldest here and you still eat like a child." I mumble to him wiping the cream off his face. I lick my own thumb as Steve swallows.

"Thanks Jade," He says, grinning. I smile back, picking up my plate and walking to the couches.

"So mademoiselle, do you think you'll be moving back in anytime soon?" Bruce asks me as I sit next to him.

I swallow before answering, "I can. Would anyone mind?"

"Of course not." Clint answers.

"Alright then, I might as well stay tonight, the weather looks dreadful." I say crossing my legs.

"Yep and it looks like Fury still wants us all to come in." Natasha says walking over to the couches, looking at her phone.

"What?" Tony asks.

"He just said he has to talk to us. He wants us at the New York facility, now." Natasha continues. I finish my last bite and stand. "Oh, not you Jade." She adds.

"Well it's clearly something about me." I say before walking to the kitchen. I place my plate in the sink as well as taking Steve's, Thor's and Peter's.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry over Jade." Thor reassures me. "Unless you've done something, wait, you haven't done anything over your hiatus with us, yes?" I laugh turning away from the sick.

"No, I've been good." I begin cleaning up the kitchen while everyone gets ready to leave. Peter's handing me the leftover pie as I put it in the fridge.

"I'm sure it's just a quick check in; to see how you've been doing." He says.

"Maybe, but I'm pretty sure something like that could wait until after Thanksgiving or at least until the weather had cleared up." I say closing the fridge and leaning against it.

"Well it can't be anything bad." Peter tries again. I smile weakly at him as everyone returns to the living room, now all bundled up.

"And you'll be here when we get back, right sweetheart?"

"Yes, honeybuns." I say back to Tony, walking towards him.

"Good, alright mystery gang, shall we?" Everyone nods as the Avenjet emerges from the building, letting the cold air in. I wrap my arms around myself while everyone files in. Steve smiles at me, him being the last one on the jet. I wave them off like a mother sending her kids off on their first day of school. The jet leaves and the warmth returns back to my body as I begin cleaning the kitchen.

"Miss, if I may, there's no need for you to clean." Jarvis says to me.

"It's no problem J, plus, this will me busy until the others return."

"Very well, perhaps you'd enjoy something to then?"

"You know me too well, J-Man. Let's do something calming, how about Elton John?" Without a response, Your Song, begins playing. I quickly finish cleaning the kitchen and living room.

https://youtu.be/lGUYhfcwDso

I pour myself a glass of wine, one of Tony's better labels, doubt he'll notice, and walk to my room. Sitting on my bed, I realize just how sparse the place is. I know I don't like here permanently, but it'd be nice if my touch was somewhere. I get up and leave the room, planning to just go watch tv, but am stopped by Steve's door. I've only been in there a couple times, but he won't mind, right? I really just want a book or something to keep me occupied. I creak the door open, fondling the wall for a light switch. I flick it on, looking around the pristine room. 

He has dark walls with a grand window along the back that his bed is in front of. Along the window sills of each pane, there's an extension used for shelving, each full with nostalgic looking pictures and trinkets. His bed is a large, silver pipe frame with grey sheets. There's a large bookshelf along the wall next to his bed and a rather cluttered side table. I walk to the bookshelf, examining it. There's really no order to it, just dusty old book after another. I skim the shelf that is eye level with me, my eyes stopping on a familiar title. The Fall of the House of Usher, one of my father's favorites. Before I leave, I notice an unlatched chest beside the bookshelf, with a very cozy looking blanket peeking out of it. I grab it, wrapping it around myself and look around Steve's room once more. The pictures above his bed seem to be of a handful of people from his past, but there are still some of the team and others of scenes of Brooklyn. I look back at the messy side table and move some of the papers to see a black sketch book as well as several scrap pieces of paper with doodles on them. They're actually quite good, there's even one of a snake head with bright blue eyes, rather similar moi's. I smirk looking at more of the drawings, the new information of Steve's talent intriguing me. After several more minutes of invading Steve's privacy, I decide to leave before I really do go too far with my snooping. I switch the light back off and click the door shut, walking to the couches and plopping down on one, placing my glass on the coffee table and getting comfortable.

Cracking open the thin book, I sit back and relax. During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.

***

"If I didn't know how deadly she was, this might actually be cute."

"How do you think we should wake her?"

"Ooo! I'll go get a glass of water!"

"Do you want to lose a hand tonight, Stark?"

"Steve, isn't that your stuff?"

"Okay, we still have the matter of waking her."

"How about incessantly chattering above her sleeping form?" I mumble, pulling my blanket higher and turning towards the back of the couch.

"Alright, Sunshine, get up. We have some exciting news for you." I creak my eyes open, glaring at Tony.

"Can't it wait until morning?" I whine like a child, laying on my back and looking up at the 6 of them. Wait, six... "Where's Peter?"

"Said he wanted to go check on his aunt." Natasha answers.

"Okay then, what's the big news?" I sit up, crossing my legs and picking up my book off the floor where it must have landed after I fell asleep.

"Well, Agent Sawyer, you are now officially a level 6 Agent of SHIELD." My eyes widen at Clint's dramatic words.

"Are you serious?" I ask, standing, letting the blanket glide off of me.

"Congratulations," Clint says. A wide grin breaks out on my face as I hug Clint.

"And this is official, right?" I pull away looking at him.

"Welcome to the superhero club." Tony says placing a hand on my shoulder. I turn around and hug him too.

"Merci, merci à tous! Je ne savais pas combien je voulais, mais merci de m'avoir aidé à devenir une meilleure personne!" (Thank you, thank you all! I didn't know how much I wanted this, but thank you for helping me become a better person!)

"Woah, Antionette, not all of us speak French as fluently as you." Tony says. I blush, realizing I had slipped back into my native tongue.

"Sorry, thank you all. I didn't know how badly I wanted this, but now that I have it, it's wonderful."

Thor lets out a joyous laugh, wrapping his arms around me in a hug and lifting me off the ground. I laugh with him as he sets me down. "The highest of gratitudes, Jade!"
"Well thanks, big guy." I say.

"Yes, congrats Jade, here's to your great success. I wish we could celebrate, but I think we're all rather tired." Natasha says.

"Of course, thank you all again. Now go get some sleep." I usher everyone towards the elevator, Tony going to his room. As everyone leaves, I turn back to the couch, picking up the blanket and book.

"So Jade, would you like to borrow a book and blanket?" Steve asks.

"Sorry..." I say walking up to him and holding out the two items.

"Keep them."

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, until you finish the book."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, Poe is one of my favorite authors, do you like Usher so far?" Steve asks.

"Yeah, my dad really liked it too, it's been awhile since I've read it, but it's lovely. You like Edgar Allan Poe? I didn't peg you as a gothic kind of guy." Steve smiles down at me.

"Are you kidding? I remember reading this in school, I thought the darkness to it was ridiculous, but The Raven is one of my favorite stories."

I smile, who knew I would learn so much about this man tonight? "Um, yeah, Poe's fantastic, but I'll get this back to you in the morning, it's not that long."

"Alright, Jade, have a good night." He turns and opens his door.

"You too, Steve." 

A/N: Surprise! Two updates in a row! Just a way for me to say sorry for taking forever to update. Hopefully two chapters hold you all over until I finish this next one, which is half way done, but will take me a little longer, just because there are quite a handful of facts I need to double check as I write. But, next chapter will be worth the wait, I promise. 

The video is just the audio of the song Jade listens to while cleaning, Elton John's, Your Song. It felt fitting because one of Jade's nicknames also happens to be one of his songs. 

The picture is Steve's room, can't remember if I've already attached that picture in a previous chapter, but if you don't know what his room looks like, there you go. In fact, if you don't know what any of the Avengers rooms, or Jade's, look like, you can check out my pinterest where I have a folder specifically for Viper. 

Anywhoo, what do you think?!?! How many people are upset Peter and Jade aren't together?? Who else likes Edgar Allan Poe as much as I do??? Who else hates that I'm writing about Thanksgiving in June???? I love feedback from you guys, and I've been in a funk lately so I would love some comments to cheer me up! Thank you all for reading! I promise I'll try to will myself to write and type and edit and all that good stuff. 

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