November 27th, 2003

Sam leaned down and glanced in the stove. The turkey was turning golden brown. This was her third attempt ever to make a turkey and it seemed that it was going to turn out okay this time. Alex wanted a very traditional thanksgiving dinner this year. Turkey, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, everything.

"Alex, are you dressed?" Sam called out. Alex stood in the doorway.

"I look good." Alex ran his hand over his shirt. Sam chuckled looking at her son. He did look good in Khaki pants and blue buttoned shirt.

"Yes you do." Sam smiled, "Is your friend's mother coming?"

"I said he had no family. That means no mom." Alex said.

"Don't be a smart-ass." Sam smiled as she grabbed three plates out of the cupboard. Alex looked his mother up and down.

"Are you going to run a brush through your hair?" Alex asked. Sam narrowed her eyes.

"Set the table." She handed him the plates. Sam glanced at her reflection in the window. She looked fine. The door rang through out the apartment, "Let your friend in."

"Okay." Alex ran to the door. Sam grabbed a pot and put it on the stove. It was time to make the stuffing.

"Alex, ask him what he wants to drink for dinner." Sam called out.
"Well, I brought wine." Sam spun around and saw Luka standing there.

"Luka!" Her eyes were wide, "What the hell are you doing here?" Luka glanced at Alex.

"Alex said you invited me over for dinner." Luka cleared his throat putting the wine bottle on the counter. Sam looked at Alex.

"This is your friend?" She asked him. Alex chuckled.

"Yup." He turned and left the room. Luka sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I thought you invited me." Luka said.

"It's all right. I suppose I did in a way." Sam leaned against the counter, "I hope he didn't promise you anything."

"Just pumpkin pie." Luka smiled.

"Sugar free pumpkin pie, but it's good." She said.

"I'm sure it is. Look, if you want me to go, I will." he told her.

"No. Stay." Sam said, "I cooked enough food. It'll all go to waste if you leave." Luka smiled softly.

"Great. I've never really celebrated thanksgiving before." he said.
"You're not a virgin anymore then." Sam snickered.

"Hey, Luka," Alex ran back into the kitchen, "Do you like rats?"

"Ahh..." Luka rubbed his neck.

"How about snakes?" Alex smiled. Luka chuckled.

"Why?" He asked.

"Cause my rats had babies yesterday and my snake had babies last week." Alex said. Luka looked at Sam.

"That's my son." She chuckled, "Why don't you go show Luka all your animals while I put the food on the table."

"Come on. The baby rats look like their insides are on the outside." Alex led Luka to his room. Sam groaned loudly. Why did it have to be Luka? Anyone but Luka...Okay he was a lot better than Tripod Romano was.

* * *

"This looks delicious." Luka said putting his napkin on his lap.

"I hope it tastes delicious." Sam smiled, "Dig in." She put some turkey on Alex's plate. "So, Luka, do you really have no family here?" He shook his head.

"No. They're all in Croatia still." Luka said. What about you?"

"It's just Alex and I." Sam said.

"What about his father?" Luka asked.

"That's none of your damn business." Sam said without batting an eyelash. Luka glanced at Alex who seemed to be happy that his mother said damn.

"I'm sorry." Luka said as he began to eat.

"My dad lives in New York City." he said.

"Alex!" Sam shot him a look. he ignored her.

"He's in a band." He told Luka.

"Alexander!!" Sam snapped, "All this talking means your mouth is empty. Shovel some food in it and eat." Alex rolled his eyes and began to eat.

"Children never like eating." Luka chuckled.

"How would you know?" Sam asked. Luka looked at her seriously. She didn't deserve to know about his kids.

"I'm not an idiot. I do have some experience." Luka said. Alex shifted in his seat.

"Do you like baseball?" Alex asked. Luka smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Who doesn't?" He asked.

"An idiot." Alex said, "Maybe we can play sometime."

"Alex, Luka had a life. He wouldn't want to give up his free time to spend it with a little boy." Sam said. Alex nodded.

"Ooh...He needs to entertain the ladies." Alex said. Luka let out a loud laugh.

"That is certainly not the case." Luka smiled, "it's too cold outside to play baseball right now. When it warms up I promise we can go to the park and play some baseball." Alex's face brightened up.

"Awesome!" He exclaimed. Sam took in a deep breath.

"Alex, please go get the Pepsi for me." She said. Alex nodded and left the room, "What do you think you're doing?"

"What?" Luka said at her.

"Don't you dare promise him something you sure as hell know you're not going to fulfill." Sam said.

""How do you know I'm not going to? I have every intention of going to the park with him." Luka said. Sam rolled her eyes.

"Typical. Typical man." She said. You're going to break his heart and I'm not going to stand for it."

"Look Sam, I don't know what's gone down in your and Alex's past. That's none of my business, but I'm not some...some monster." Luka said, "I like Alex a lot but if you want me to keep my distance I will, but it wouldn't be my who was hurting him." Sam stared at Luka. God, why did he have to say that?

"Here." Alex handed Sam some Pepsi.

"Thanks. Why don't you say bye to Luka?" Sam said. Alex frowned and looked at Luka. He sighed softly.

"Yeah, Buddy." He said pushing his chair back, "I have work stuff. You know blood and guts." Alex smiled softly.

"I'll eat your piece of pie for you." He said.
"Thanks." Luka smiled, "I'll see you later."

"Thank you for the wine, Luka." Sam said.

"Right." Luka went to the front door. Sam sighed.

"Sit and eat, Alex." Sam got up and stepped into the hallway, "Luka, I'm sorry, okay? Alex is my life and he comes before anything. As long as you're not a pedophile you can hang with him."

"I'm not a pedophile I just like kids." Luka said. Sam smiled softly.
"Don't hurt him." With that, Sam went back inside the apartment. Both of them sighed heavily on opposite sides of the door. Overprotection was a horrible thing and Sam was determines to not let her walls of protection down.