A/N: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here's my Thanksgiving story! This takes place somewhere after the boar hunt in year 1 or 2 of Will's apprenticeship. And lets just pretend they had Thanksgiving back then 'cuz why not? SPOILERS! And warning, cursing. 'Cuz he's Halt, and let's face it, Flanagan dose it excessively by the 8th or 9th books so... I think I'm justified. Anyway, enjoy!

"Halt..."

"What."

"Halllttt..."

"What!"

Will looked at him expectantly. "It's Thanksgiving!"

Halt cursed mentally while he shrugged. He's going to ask for the day off and he'll forget half of what I've taught and-Pauline! What am I going to do for her?! "So?"

"I want the day off! Jen is making some pies and Alyss promised to teach me some... stuff, and I want to see George and Horace and... PLEASE!" Will gave his signature puppy eyes.

"Fine. You'll most likely have to redo the whole year." At least I can think in peace without a million questions or the cabin burning down.

"YAY!" He raced out of the room.

Halt sat back with his head in his hands. What am I going to do... Suddenly the door burst open.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Halt!" A certain cheerful red-head sauntered in, ducking beneath the low door frame.

"Gilan.", he said without expression.

The red-head flashed his signature smile. "Aww, come on Halt! You can't be so grim today! It's Thanksgiving."

"You just said that. And what are you doing here anyway?"

Gilan shook his head dismissively. "Crowley let me off with the promise that I make you go to the Ball tonight."

"WHAT!?"

He smiled happily. "Yep! And he said if you didn't go, he'd make it public knowledge your the true King of Hibernia."

Halt cursed. "The bastard!"

Gilan snorted. "He just wanted you to be more... social, that's all. Better get your tie!" And he strolled out.

Halt slammed his coffee mug on the table. "Damn it Gilan! Look what you've gotten me into!"

Sometime later...

Will came in, covered head-to-toe in snow. He hung up his cloak and shook his head in a rather dog-like fashion, scattering a thin layer of snow onto the floor. Halt didn't look up from his reports.

"Clean that up." He seemed grimmer than usual, or was that just his imagination?

"Yes sir."

Halt looked up. "I have some business tonight at the castle. You will stay here.", he said gruffly.

Will walk into his room to change out of his snow-filled clothes, giggling about something.

Later still...

The smell of turkey and rich foods wafted down the hall. A figure in a mottled cloak slipped silently into the ballroom.

In the ballroom, food was being served as a reenactment of the first Thanksgiving was going on in the main floor. Halt slipped to one of the tables near the back where he was hidden in shadow. A young blonde serving food saw him and gasped. He snatched some bread off the platter, and hissed. "Not a word of this to anyone." She nodded frightfully and scurried away.

/\/\/\

The three mottled figures were shaking with silent laughter. The grim, unsociable, Ranger Halt was lead onto the dance floor by the beautiful Lady Pauline.

"I knew he'd do it!", Will said.

Gilan nodded. "Only for her."

"Aye.", said Crowley, a small smile on his face.

When the dancers turned, Pauline caught Crowley's eye. Thank you, she mouthed.

Crowley nodded, smiling even broader.