A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate today. Belated good wishes to my Canadian friends. This is a special holiday post. Saturday will see my first Avengers Christmas Song of the season. Happy holidays!
Absent Friends
"I'm thankful I can walk to the Thanksgiving table this year," James Rhodes said. Wearing his Stark Automobility Leg Braces, Rhodey's progress was an awkward combination of hobble and lurch, but it was progress on his own two feet. He triumphantly eased himself into his seat at the table next to Vision and across from Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. "Thanks, Tony. Thanks for everything," Rhodey said with honest gratitude.
"Least I could do, Honeybear. All things considered," Tony said gloomily.
Pepper tapped his hand in mild chastisement. They'd agreed to try keep things lighter, to enjoy the holiday without regrets or recriminations. But it was hard because Thanksgiving was all about family and the Avengers' family had been shattered.
Pepper looked across the small dining table, loaded with all the Thanksgiving favorites: roasted turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and green beans (not in casserole). Two kinds of pies were waiting in the kitchen.
"I'm thankful for the kitchen staff who prepared this wonderful feast and I'm thankful we have enough to share, so all the Avengers' staff members have the same feast to eat here or take home to their families. What are you thankful for, Vision?"
The android answered, "I am thankful to be alive and to have a chance to make up for past mistakes."
Vision was thinking of Rhodes and Wanda Maximoff, but his words made Tony think of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. As angry as he had been — still was, sometimes — he hoped the men out of time were all right.
"Mr. Stark?"
Vision's voice woke Tony from his musing.
"Huh?"
"What are you thankful for?" Vision prompted.
"Forgiveness," Tony blurted the honest truth. He looked at his three table companions, all of whom he had wronged at some point, in some way. "I'm thankful to have friends who will forgive me for my many mistakes — both at this table and elsewhere," he finished, thinking of that darned flip phone and Steve's message of reconciliation.
Tony raised his wine glass. "To friends near and far."
"To friends," the others answered.
Though the old homestead had seemed undiscovered, Clint Barton chose to move his family to another off-the-books property — better safe than sorry. The new farm was large, giving the kids room to play and Clint room for advanced surveillance equipment.
Because the Barton family in the Midwest held their holiday feast at suppertime instead of dinnertime, they were sitting down at just about the same time as the group in New York.
A larger group had gathered at the Bartons'. The family, including "Cousin Wanda" and "Auntie Nat," was joined by Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson and Sharon Carter. Everyone worked together to prepare the feast. Even Cooper and Lila helped, tearing up bread for the dressing and decorating cookies. There was good conversation and lots of laughter throughout the day, culminating in a satisfying meal.
"To your first Thanksgiving on the run!" Clint toasted with a coffee cup, after the children had gone to watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
"Not mine," Natasha said and reminded him of that time in Bratislava.
"Not mine either," Steve said, surprising the others. He shrugged. "The Nazis had us on the run one year. We didn't have Thanksgiving dinner until December 3rd."
"I was undercover one year, escaping from a gang of gunrunners," Sharon volunteered. "I didn't even realize it was Thanksgiving until the next day. I had a Snickers bar and a Coke from a vending machine for my holiday meal."
"Does being in a war zone count as 'on the run'?" Sam asked. "Riley and I rescued a downed pilot and escaped after a firefight. But we did get back to base in time for turkey."
"I think war zones count," Wanda said. "I have only celebrated American Thanksgiving once, last year, but Pietro and I lived in a war zone for many Sokovian holidays. We were always ducking and hiding."
"I withdraw my toast," Clint said, pulling his cup back to his chest. Everyone chuckled, then Wanda sighed.
"I remember my first Thanksgiving last year. Stark and I came to an understanding and reconciled with each other — and now we are at odds with each other again."
Sam poked at the remains of the mashed potatoes on his plate. "I wonder how they're doing — Rhodey and Tony."
"And Vision," Wanda added sadly.
"Just because you're arguing, doesn't mean you're not still friends," Laura said in true Mom fashion. "Earth's mightiest heroes can't sulk like kids on a playground."
"Not sulking," Clint sulked.
Laura punched him and he laughed.
"The Avengers are not my enemies," Steve said firmly. "I hope they're having a happy Thanksgiving." He lifted his coffee cup in a toast, "To absent friends!"
"To absent friends!" the others saluted.
"And God bless us every one," Clint added with a smart aleck smirk.
A/N: The Thanksgiving Wanda mentions is Chapter 14 of my story "The Back Porch."