"Come on, Nick. What are you thankful for?"
A thousand things came to his mind as he considered the answer to his niece's question. Being freed from the glass box, the elated joy of being alive. The amazement he felt when he found that his feelings were returned by his unlikely crush. His lover's touch as he spilled out his sins, dreams, and truths. The feel of a warm body next to his, warding away nightmares, and keeping him safe through the night. Watching the light gleam off of golden rings that made a pleasant sound when clinked together. The feel of the hand currently resting on his thigh.
He turned to look at his lover, "David."
"Yes?"
"No. I meant; my answer is…David."
The women at the table "awwed", finding the answer romantic. His husband swallowed and smiled shyly, showing the person beneath the sarcasm and snark. His grandfather snorted and turned away, too old to get rid of ancient bigotry.
"You saved me."
David smiled secretively, "No, you saved me."
His eyes met David's with unbridled intensity, they both moved forward, breathing the same air. A chair slammed back and Nick pulled away to watch his disdainful relative leaving. Nick breathed deeply and closed his eyes against the sharp sting he felt.
His mother frowned as the old man mutter something about "damn queers," and cheerily said, "David, would you like to carve the turkey?"
He smiled as his lover began massacring --err, carving-- the bird. He ignored the pain he felt at his grandfather's disapproval, searching out David's hand to intertwine their fingers, and smile at the clink of gold meeting gold. Perfection.
Fin