AN: Okay, so this is a long chapter, but I hope you will enjoy it.
It is kinda sad at the beginning because it deals with loss. (No, not with a main character).


Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, what a holiday. Food, family, gatherings, food, family, more food, drink and being grateful…oh, was food mentioned?

Anyway, currently Frankie was watching as Quinn was cooking in the kitchen with Rachel, Rachel was making a tofurky for the vegans and vegetarians of the house, i.e. her and Maddie, as well as Hiram and Beth.

Quinn was making vegan mash potatoes that still tasted as good as the usual mash potatoes, and she was cooking turkey and vegetables in the oven.

"Mommy, Mommy, can I have turkey?" Alison asked as she ran up to Quinn and nearly banged into the blonde's legs.

"Hey, careful darling, we're cooking, you can't go running around like that," Quinn said.

"Oh, sorry, can I have turkey, I'm hungry,"

"Sorry darling, it's still cooking, why don't you go watch the parade on tv with your sister?"

"It's finished, I wanna go play outside, Frankie wanna go play? We can play with Razor,"

Frankie looked at the small child and waddled up to her and nudged her bottom.

"I think that's a yes," Quinn said with a smile.

"Okay, let's go Frankie," Alison said as she ran out the door, Frankie close behind.

"She's just like you Rachel," Quinn stated.

"How so?" Rachel asked.

"She has the energy and bounciness of an Energiser bunny,"

Rachel laughed at that before saying, "So, to change topics, I have the guest rooms all ready for everyone, Dad and Daddy are arriving soon with Mom, Mama and Beth are also on their way,"

"Yeah, I'm excited, I love Thanksgiving,"

"You love an excuse for eating a lot, and of course sleeping afterwards,"

"It makes up for me missing out during Lent,"

"Nice try honey, but I know you just like eating and sleeping,"

"Fine, yes, I love eating, food is good for the soul and sleep is rejuvenating,"

"Ali, come to the door with Frankie, quick," Maddie was heard yelling to her sister.

"OKAY!" Alison yelled back as she raced to the door with Frankie not too far behind her.

"GRANDMA," Alison and Maddie were soon heard yelling as they ran towards the door and pulled it open.

"Hi girls," Judy laughed as she hugged her granddaughters.

Frankie barked a hello as he waddled up to Judy and waited for her to pat his head.

"And hello Frankie, how are you?" Judy asked the sea lion and laughed at her own thought, 'This is becoming too normal, talking to a sea lion, oy vey…wait, since when was I Jewish? Do Jewish people even say that or is that just a stereotype?'

Frankie just barked at her.

"I'm assuming good" Judy finished.

"Where are my grandkids?" Hiram asked playfully as he entered the house not too long after Judy finished hugging the girls.

"Grandpa," the girls yelled happily as they jumped from Judy to Hiram.

"Looks like you have your arms full," LeRoy said as he walked into the house.

"Granddad," the girls yelled as they tried to jump from Hiram to LeRoy but couldn't this time as Hiram had a tight grip on them to stop them from falling over.

"Whoa," Hiram laughed as Maddie managed to get free and she hugged LeRoy.

"Where are your mothers?" LeRoy asked with a smile as he hugged Maddie and kissed Alison a hello.

"They're still in the kitchen cooking us yummy food," Maddie said.

"Ah I see,"

"Wanna go see?"

"Yes I do,"

The small family closed the front door behind them and entered the kitchen just as Rachel and Quinn kissed each other.

"EW!" Maddie said as Alison shut her eyes.

"I hope the food is still edible," LeRoy said with a raised eyebrow as Quinn turned a bit red.

"Dad, of course it is, we would not think to do such a thing like what you're thinking in a place where we make our food, that is completely unhygienic," Rachel said.

"Though not for the lack of trying," Quinn added as a joke as Rachel slapped her arm, "Ow,"

"Deserved it,"

Frankie waddled up to Quinn and placed his head on the counter.

"Yes Frankie?" Quinn said as she looked at the ever growing sea lion, she swore he grew larger in the last two months.

Frankie looked at her before going to the fridge.

"You just ate," Quinn said as Frankie huffed at her, "No you're not getting more fish right now,"

Frankie then did his usual pout.

"Nice try buddy, but that doesn't work on me anymore," Quinn said as everyone laughed.

"Frankie, let's go swim," Alison said as she ran out the door.

"Hey, put on your bathing suit," Quinn yelled out as Alison and Maddie were already out the door.

"On under our clothes Mommy," Maddie yelled back.

"They're prepared," LeRoy said.

"Yep, just like I would be," Rachel said, "When I was that young,"

"It's true," Hiram said.

"So, how's Frankie coping?" LeRoy asked.

"He's okay," Quinn said, "Razor is outside resting or is he playing now? And may join the girls later in the pool, poor pup,"

"What happened to Frankie and Razor?" Judy asked.

"Sunshine died of pneumonia last week, so we thought it best to bring Razor home so that Frankie could help look after him, the pup is adjusting,"

"I'm sorry to hear that,"

"Yeah, me too, Sunshine was the perfect example of how a wild animal could stay wild and co-exist with humans,"

"How is Frankie not that?"

"Well, Frankie is complicated because he had interactions with humans to start with, so it's debateable as to if he's actually a wild animal or a domesticated one,"

"I see,"

"Anyway, Razor wouldn't eat the first few days, it wasn't until Frankie literally had to push the food to the pup's mouth that the poor thing started eating again, and poor Frankie, he had to be so strong, losing his mate like that, he was understandably upset, he just lay there next to her for hours and wouldn't move, like he was waiting for her to wake up again, but he knew, I know he knew, he was just so sad, I know some scientists say that you can't put human emotions to animals, but sometimes I think that the emotions we experience are universal, you can see it, Frankie was mourning and so was Razor,"

"I know what you mean sweetie, but at least they're both on the mend, we can be thankful for that,"

"Yeah, I just didn't want the girls to learn what loss and death were for a while,"

"It's an unavoidable part of life I'm afraid, Quinny,"

"I know, but the two were so upset, I know that Sunshine didn't come home with Frankie at all, but when we were at the centre she'd be there and she was fine with interacting with them, especially if Frankie was around and she knew it was safe, she even let us play with Razor which is a feat in itself and shows that if you treat an animal right, it'll trust you with its most precious thing,"

"I know, and I'm sorry you had to go through that, why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know, guess I just didn't think,"

"Hey, I know that look, you're a great Marine Vet, don't doubt yourself for a second,"

"Thank you Mom," Quinn said as she hugged her mother.

Just then a loud yell broke the silence.

"Razor, no, that's mine, give it back," Maddie yelled as she started chasing the sea lion pup.

The adults looked out the window as they saw Razor running away with a plate that had a piece of food on it, giggling in his own little way, Frankie looking proudly at his boy and Alison laughing like crazy.

"Why does that look familiar?" Quinn muttered as everyone else started laughing.

"I got you now Razor," Maddie said as she thought she cornered the sea lion pup and pounced.

But just as she pounced, Razor waddled away making Maddie land on the ground, hard.

Maddie sat up and started crying because she had scrapped her elbows and banged her knee.

"Oh dear, just like her Mommy," Rachel said as she walked out the door.

"Except I didn't cry," Quinn said as she followed suit.

"But you whined a lot,"

"Can't argue with that,"

"Baby are you okay?" Rachel asked as she approached Maddie.

"You just scrapped your elbows, you'll be okay," Quinn said "C'mon, I've got stuff to put on it,"

"No, it'll hurt more," Maddie complained.

"Not that stuff, the nice stuff, that won't sting"

"Oh, okay," Maddie sniffed as Rachel picked her up.

Frankie felt bad as he picked Razor up by his neck and carried the pup over to Maddie to say sorry.

Razor did, the poor pup didn't mean to make his human aunt cry, or was she a sister? Either way, he didn't mean to.

"Look, Razor feels bad," Quinn said as she patted Razor on the head and Maddie just nodded at him but stayed with Rachel, hugging her mother around her neck.

"Naughty Razor," Alison said.

"Hey, no, not naughty Razor," Quinn said strongly, "He was doing what pups do and that's playing,"

"Sorry,"

"No tears now,"

Alison sniffed as she wiped her face and went up to Quinn so that the blonde could pick her up.


Later, when the food was ready, everyone was gathering around the table. Shelby and Beth had arrived by then, much to the joy of Alison and Maddie because the two loved playing with Beth and they loved hearing about the stories that were happening in New York for Shelby on Broadway as she was currently based there.

"Gran, do you think they'll ever do a show with a Sea Lion in it?" Alison asked.

"I don't know, maybe, you never know," Shelby said with a smile.

"Frankie can be in it, he's awesome,"

"I bet he is,"

"I don't think he'll like the cold," Quinn added.

"Oh yeah," Alison said.

"Gran, will you be in another Broadway production soon?" Maddie asked.

"Well, there is a project coming up, but I have to talk to your Mom first," Shelby answered.

"Really? Mom, did you hear? Something for you,"

Rachel laughed at her daughter's enthusiastic nature, "I heard baby, but we'll see, why don't we all go around and say what we're thankful for first?"

"Good idea, I'm hungry," Quinn said, "Mama, would you like to start?"

Shelby smiled at that, she liked being called Mama, it was the name that Quinn and Rachel started calling her as the family grew closer and more involved with each other.

"Well, I'm grateful to still be working, one show at a time and doing what I love, and I'm thankful for my family," Shelby said as everyone said cheers to that.

Judy was next, "I'm grateful for family, I wish we could be complete, but for now, I'm grateful for who we have,"

Quinn gave a small sad smile at that as everyone cheered. It was no secret to the adults that Frannie, her older sister, still hated her.

Beth was next, "I'm grateful that I finally have a boyfriend," she said as everyone laughed at that but said cheers anyway, "And since family has already been said, I'm grateful for good health,"

Hiram was next, "I'm grateful that I'm getting a job promotion,"

"Really Daddy?" Rachel said with joy.

"Yes, in fact, your Dad and I are moving here to start work, together,"

Rachel squealed as she got up and ran over to give Hiram a hug.

LeRoy laughed as he was next, "Well, that spoils my grateful then, and Judy, since we agreed that I'd say it because you said that if you did, you'd probably cry, I'm grateful that the three of us are all moving here, better jobs, better place,"

"Three of us?" Quinn asked.

"Yes, your mother is joining us, she's moving here too and will be living with us,"

"Oh my god, really?"

"Yes, I can't live without my gay boys, what would I do without their fashion sense?" Judy smiled in a joking and teasing way as she looked at the two men; and Hiram and LeRoy laughed at her playful comment.

"Oh that would be wonderful," Quinn said as she said as she hugged her mother.

When everyone settled down, it was Maddie's turn, "I'm grateful that Razor is okay now, or at least, he's getting better," she said as everyone cheered at that.

Alison then added, "I'm grateful that Frankie is a cool Daddy sea lion,"

Frankie let out a pleased and proud snort at that as Quinn laughed at him.

Razor was currently beside him and started to whine because he wanted to eat. One look from Frankie and the pup quieted down.

Just before Quinn could finish by saying what she was grateful for, the doorbell rang as everyone looked towards it.

"Expecting anyone?" Quinn asked Rachel.

"No, you?" Rachel asked.

"No,"

"Anyone expecting someone?" Rachel asked everyone else as the family members all shook their heads.

"I'll go look," Judy said as she got up and went to answer the door, "Oh my god,"

"Mom, are you okay?" Quinn asked as she got up and went to the door and froze at who was standing there.

"Quinn?" Rachel said as Frankie didn't like the silence and went to go look, everyone followed suit.

"Mommy, who's that?" Alison asked as she climbed into Quinn's arm, the blonde was still stunned.

"Frannie?" Judy finally said.

"Your sister?" Rachel asked in a whisper to Quinn who just nodded her head slowly.

"Hi, the kids and I were just in the neighbourhood and we, um, we just, we wanted to say hi and Happy Thanksgiving," Frannie said.

Judy gave her daughter a hug, "Hi Frannie, how have you been? It's been a long time,"

"Yeah, I know, I'm so sorry," Frannie said.

"Come in, we were just about to sit down for dinner," Quinn said as she finally got her voice back.

"We don't want to impose,"

"No, join us, there's room," Rachel said as she let them in.

"Mommy, they have a sea lion and it's baby," one of the boys said.

"Is that Joshua?" Quinn asked.

"Yes, Joshua, this is your Aunt Quinn, Quinn, Joshua, he's nine, that's Micah, he's six, and this is Lucy, she's two," Frannie said as the kids said hi.

"Hi," Quinn said, "Oh, these are our kids, Maddie, she's seven now, and this is Alison, we call her Ali, she's almost four, and that's Beth,"

"Wow, she's looks almost like you,"

"Good genes," Beth said with a wink and a smirk as everyone laughed.

Frankie barked loudly scaring Frannie's kids.

"He won't bite, he's just curious and when he wants to be included, he's loud," Quinn said, "Like Rachel sometimes,"

"HEY!" Rachel said as she playfully slapped Quinn's arm.

"Ow, stopping hitting me wo…"

"Quinn,"

"Wife, darling wife who I love so much with all I have,"

"Nice save,"

"Anyway, Frankie, that's my sister Frannie and her kids, and everyone, that's Frankie's pup Razor,"

"Where's the mommy sea lion?" Joshua asked.

"She died," Maddie said.

"Oh, that's sad, our Daddy died too, it's sad to lose a family member,"

"Joshua," Frannie started.

"Oh, sorry Mommy, but it's true,"

"Thomas passed away? When?" Judy asked as everyone sat down and Hiram and LeRoy went to get extra seats and cutlery for the family joining them.

"Last year, tour of duty, peace keeping gone wrong," Frannie said as everyone was finally seated, "I didn't want to talk about it, so I just went on living,"

"You should have called me, I would have come,"

"I wasn't sure especially after what I said about Quinn and shutting you out, I wasn't even sure if I could try and come visit because I wasn't sure if I'd be welcome,"

Quinn just looked at her then said, "Kids grow up Frannie, we're not kids anymore, and while there are things that will still hurt, we can work on it,"

Frannie just smiled at that, "I'd like to, by the way, even though I didn't approve back then, I just want to say, Frankie stealing your food was hilarious,"

"Shut up," Quinn said playfully, "Well, I know what I'm grateful for then, I'm grateful that my sister is back and that I get a chance to be with the family I could have had as a teenager,"

To that everyone smiled and said "Happy Thanksgiving," before they dug into their food.


AN 2: So, only two more chapters to go and these series of one-shots will be all over.