A/N: Now I did my research, so I know the date for this is correct. I didn't just pull one out of my ass.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of its characters and affiliates.

~Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving~ - W.T. Purkiser

November 23, 1989

Thanksgiving.

The one holiday JJ and James usually loved, if only for the incredible amount of food they could both get away with eating in one day. When she was alive, Rosaline had never been a big eater, and had been both disgusted and amused at the large helpings her little sister had shovelled down.

It was going to be a little different this year, but nonetheless, Sandy wanted to work hard to make it as normal and as enjoyable as possible.

Michael had taken JJ to the hospital for her round of radiation that morning. JJ had also been topped up on her chemo; Carboplatin, a milder drug that wasn't likely to make her as sick. In the meantime, Sandy and James had cooked up a storm of dishes for them to enjoy that evening.

James had enjoyed cooking with his mom. It was the happiest he'd seen her in a long time. He'd laughed with her as she danced around the kitchen, savouring the feeling of normality such a simple thing gave them.

He was holding onto the hope that next year would be better. JJ would be better.

He prayed for it every single night.

Setting a covered dish down on the table, Sandy looked up to see her husband entering the room. Smiling at him, she set the dish towel down, moving into his arms and resting her head against his chest.

"How did she go?" she asked softly, looking up into her husband's eyes.

"She went well. Her throat's really hurting though," Michael replied, pressing a kiss to his wife's temple. "Dr Edmonds is happy with how she's progressing"

"I hate seeing her so sick...but I know she has to be this sick to get better," Sandy said softly, lifting her arms up around his neck. "But today...let's try and keep today as normal as possible"

Michael smiled, giving his wife a quick kiss. "I'll try my hardest"

Sitting on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, JJ watched sadly as her family sat around the table to eat their Thanksgiving meal.

Not only were they without Rosaline this year, JJ couldn't enjoy the meal with them.

Despite that, JJ felt a warm feeling in her heart. She hated being sick, and the thought that she actually had cancer was a thought that scared her. But without her diagnosis, her family would've been too shattered from Rosaline's death to be able to come together for Thanksgiving and be appreciative of what they still had.

"Peanut, you wanna help me carve the turkey?" Michael called gently, holding a hand out to his little girl.

JJ shook her head, pulling the blanket around her tighter.

"I know you can't eat, Jaybird, but we still want you to join us. I want you to help me carve the turkey. I don't think I can do it by myself," Michael said lightly, a smile playing on the corner of his mouth.

JJ rolled her eyes, a soft smile crossing her face as she pulled herself up off the couch and dragged herself over to her dad. She stumbled slightly, almost losing her balance, and suddenly James was right by her side, supporting her as she took the last few steps to her father.

Michael moved so that JJ was between his arms, holding the knife in front of her and smiling when she wrapped her hand over his.

Moving carefully and slowly, he began to carve the first piece of meat from the turkey, JJ's thin little hand gripping his tightly.

"I could blend some up and put it down your tube Jaybird," he said with a laugh as he moved onto the second piece of meat.

James and JJ laughed while Sandy scowled at her husband, her face reading shock and amusement.

"Michael Steven Jareau, that's disgusting," she scolded, but her expression was softening as she watched JJ giggle at her father.

"What about cranberry sauce?" James suggested.

Michael put on a huge grin as he moved slightly to look down at JJ. "You want some cranberry sauce?"

JJ giggled hysterically, shaking her head at her dad as she let go of his hand and moved around the table into her mom's lap.

Sandy smiled at the antics of her family, wrapping her arms around JJ as JJ laid her head against her mom's shoulder.

"You ok?" she asked softly, just whispering it in JJ's ear as her husband and son laughed together.

"Yep," JJ replied, popping the p. "Just tired"

"I know. After we watch the parade, you can sleep. You could even sleep through the parade if you like?" Sandy suggested with a smile.

JJ shook her head. "I wanna see the parade"

Kissing JJ's temple, Sandy smiled lovingly as she tightened her hold on her daughter. "I know you do monkey"

As he finished carving enough meat to feed their little family, Michael noticed JJ looking longingly at the food they all knew would probably make her sick.

"Do you want to try and eat a little, Jaybird? I know your throat's sore, but maybe you want some mashed potatoes?" he said gently. "If you get sick later, it won't be so nasty"

JJ thought for a minute, looking over to her mom as though asking permission.

Sandy gave JJ a look that said 'it's up to you'.

"If you want to try and eat Jen, you can. It's your choice," she said gently, squeezing JJ's hand and tightening her embrace slightly.

JJ remained silent, sliding out of her mom's embrace and moving into the adjacent chair. Reaching out, she pulled the plate her brother had brought out just in case closer to her.

Looking up, she smiled at her dad. "Can I have some potatoes, and a little bit of turkey? Like a tiny bit," she asked sweetly, holding her thumb and forefinger slightly apart as she made her request.

Michael grinned, carving off a little bit of turkey as James scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes onto JJ's plate. Pretty soon, the turkey joined it, and once everyone had helpings of food on their plate, they began to eat.

JJ ate tiny mouthfuls at a time; when she had the mash, she had a tiny pile perched right on the end of the fork. With the turkey, it was a few flakes of the meat at a time. She struggled a little bit with the fork, but managed on her own nonetheless. As slow as she was going, her parents were ecstatic to see her getting nutrition by mouth for what felt like the first time in months.

And just like that, their Thanksgiving got a whole lot better.

Pumpkin pie had been a straight up no for JJ when it came time for dessert. She had never liked pumpkin before getting sick, but the thought of eating the dessert that she normally managed a tiny piece of was enough to make her want to throw up her dinner.

Instead, Michael had made her the hot chocolate she loved so much. She had sat at the table with them, drinking it slowly while her family ate their dessert.

Afterwards, they had moved to the lounge room, a sleepy JJ curling up in her dad's lap as they watched the Macy's Parade.

About halfway through the parade, Sandy looked over to see that JJ had fallen asleep in her dad's arms, her head tucked into the crook of his neck, her blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

She watched with a soft smile as Michael lovingly pressed a kiss to the top of his daughter's head, careful to avoid the radiation burn that had cropped up there just the week earlier.

JJ shifted, cuddling closer as her dad tightened his arms around her.

"Love you Jaybird," Michael whispered in her ear, barely loud enough for Sandy to hear. When his words reached her ears, she had to smile.

Moments like this would make the dark days seem few and far between.