Note: Just a reminder that I'm not taking requests anymore

Here's the information for this story:

Username: Truth
Couple: Chad & Taylor
Rating: M
Quote: "I'll show you how to be really thankful"
Setting/Event: Thanksgiving
Random Stuff:
- A red rose
- a tennis ball
- lacy bra

Okay here is the second Thanksgiving for you guys! Right now I'm watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and about twenty minutes or so ago I saw Corbin Bleu's Guitar Hero commercial... hehe I love that commercial :-D But anyway, I have a few last minute things to do before I leave in an hour and a half so I want to wish you guys a very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you enjoy the story.

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A NYC Thanksgiving

If everybody knows that you don't bring the girl with you after high school, then why couldn't Chad Danforth get Taylor McKessie out of his head? She was where ever he went-not physically of course, seeing as she was 2,095 miles away at Yale University. He heard her laughter in the wind, saw her twinkling eyes in the stars and had to start his mornings with cold showers.

It wasn't supposed to be this way, at least not according his brother Travis. Travis was five years older than Chad and had been as equally involved in sports as Chad, but had taken the football route when it came to college. Travis had advised then 14-year-old Chad to stay single in high school or not to have a serious relationship so he could go to college and be free to date and sleep with anybody he wanted to.

Chad had never planned to be in a relationship, let alone have a girl that everyone including himself and her referred to as his girlfriend. He was a very social guy and he liked to go out on dates as long as they didn't interfere with basketball or baseball. But then Taylor entered his life-or should he say that Taylor's best friend Gabriella Montez entered his best friend Troy Bolton's life and through them he met Taylor.

He had been pleasantly surprised how easily and naturally his and Taylor's friendship evolved until it became a full on relationship. Taylor was a very headstrong girl, but he was headstrong too and while they had some pretty crazy arguments-like who was going to pay for dinner and why he wouldn't walk through a door that she held open for him-they got each other.

Following his brother's advice, Chad had suggested to Taylor that since they were going to be so far apart for college that maybe it would be better if they ended things as friends instead of letting the distance ruin their relationship and possibly their friendship. She had been offended by the suggestion at first, but after talking to her older sister Tiffany-who agreed with Chad's reasoning-she decided that Chad was right.

Yet after she left for school in the middle of July, Chad felt like she had taken a piece of his heart with her. He couldn't explain the feelings that rose up whenever Troy or Gabriella mentioned her name, but he attempted to ignore them.

Ignoring his feelings for Taylor only worked as long as Troy was around to hang out with and when Troy left to join Gabriella in California, everything Chad was trying to suppress started to bubble up. Sure he still had his friends Jason Cross and Zeke Baylor to hang out with at school, but they didn't know him like Troy knew him or even how Taylor knew him.

Chad wasn't sure how it happened but when school started he didn't feel like doing any of the things Travis had told him and Troy about during his school breaks. The wild parties where college chicks got drunk and started fucking anybody held no interest to him-even less when he had to hear all about them when Jason and Zeke got back to their dorm room completely plastered off their asses.

The only highlight of his week was the hour that he, Taylor, Troy and Gabriella all set aside to get online and chat. It was the cheapest way for him to stay in touch with his friends, but at the same time, he wished that Troy and Gabriella would be busy one time so he could have Taylor's attention all to himself. He could picture her sitting in her dorm room sitting on her bed, her laptop in her lap, sipping on her raspberry tea listening to the classical music she loved.

2,095 miles away, Taylor McKessie sat just as Chad pictured her, except instead of listening to classical music she was listening to the R&B / Hip Hop playlist Chad had put together. She hadn't liked the music at first, but it was growing on her. Besides, every time she listened to the music she could see him dancing on the hardwood floor in his parents' house in a pair of white tube socks and his favorite basketball shorts.

Truth be told, she missed her curly haired friend and wished that she had the guts to call him up and tell him how she truly felt about him. But something stopped her every time she picked up her phone and started to dial his number. She couldn't explain it, but something in her heart told her to wait and see what would happen.

Her roommate, Stephanie, had encouraged her to move on from Chad, to leave her high school sweetheart in the past. But no matter how many guys asked her out or gave her their phone number, she couldn't let go of Chad. She hadn't wanted to break up with him; in fact, until he suggested that they break up, she had toyed with the idea of staying in Albuquerque for college, though she hadn't expressed that idea to anybody.

When ever she was feeling lonely or homesick, she would go to his MySpace page and click through his pictures and every time she saw his smiling face, she felt better. But there was one thing she had been noticing lately about his pictures, not so much the ones he put up, but more so the ones that Zeke and Jason put up of him-he didn't look happy and he didn't smile. It was like something had died in him.

She expressed her concern to Gabriella-the one person who knew how she truly felt about Chad-and Gabriella promised to pass on her concerns to Troy. It shook Taylor to the core when Gabriella mentioned that she wasn't the first to express concern about Chad's current mental state.

In mid-October Troy came home for a weekend to celebrate his mom's birthday, but also to find out what was eating at his best friend. Having arranged things before hand with Zeke and Jason, he planned to stay in the dorm room they shared with Chad and they would go stay with their parents.

Chad had been in the middle of reading for his history class when Troy knocked on the door and had been surprised to see his best friend.

"What are you doing here?" He asked after letting Troy into the room.

"Well, my mom's birthday is tomorrow so we're doing the family thing," Troy said as he dropped his duffle bag on the closest bed. "But I'm also here to figure out what's going on with you."

"What do you mean? I'm fine."

"You're fine? Then explain why I've gotten phone calls from everybody."

"Everybody? Define everybody."

"Your mom, my mom, your dad, my dad, Jason, Zeke and Taylor."

"You talked to Taylor about me?"

"No, Gabriella did. Apparently, Taylor thinks you look depressed in your MySpace pictures," Troy stated. "And judging by your scruffy appearance in person, I'm think I'm going to have to agree with her. What's up man?"

"College just isn't what I thought it would be," Chad shrugged.

"The college part or the being away from Taylor part?" Troy asked him. Chad looked at his hands and twisted his class ring. "Travis wasn't right, you know." Chad looked up. "About the whole leaving the girl behind thing, I mean for some people it's a good thing, but for couples that are in love it's a completely different thing."

"Like you and Gabriella."

"Well, ya, but I was talking about you and Taylor."

"You think I love Taylor?"

"Do you?"

"I don't know. How do you know you're in love?"

"You just know."

"How did you know?"

"I just did."

"If you're trying to help, you're not."

"Alright, I'll try to explain it," Troy sighed. "The first time I realized I was in love with her was after the whole fiasco at Lava Springs, I missed her so much when we were broken up and when I held her in the my arms after the show I knew I never wanted to let her go. Then when she got the Stanford thing I knew I had to let her go so she could be the best that she could be.

"But at the same time, she took a piece of my heart with her and I tried so hard to be strong for the both of us since I knew it was tearing her up just as much as it was me. Then I drove there and saw her and once she was in my arms again, I knew I would never let her go again. Does that make sense?"

"I guess…"

"How did you feel after Taylor hugged you goodbye then disappeared through airport security?"

Chad looked at his hands again and remembered the way it had felt to have her body pressed closely to his. For a brief moment they were all each other had in the world and for a brief second his arms refused to let her go, but ultimately they had and she had left.

"That's what I thought."

Chad looked up and saw Troy giving him a knowing smile.

"You my friend are in love with the girl you never should have broken up with in the first place. Congrats."

"Congrats? What the hell am I supposed to do with the fact that I'm in love with a girl who is on the other side of the country?"

"Um, I dunno… but here's an idea, you could tell her."

"How am I supposed to tell her, Troy, it's not exactly something you should say for the first time over the phone."

"So tell her when she's home for Thanksgiving."

Chad's face visibly brightened at the idea. "That's a good idea," he nodded. Then his face fell. "But that's over a month away."

"Just means that you can do some planning," Troy clapped his best friend on the back. "Gabriella will be happ-"

"Oh no, you can't tell Gabriella," Chad stated. "If you tell Gabriella, she'll tell Taylor and then-"

"Ok, ok, I won't say anything," Troy said holding up his hands defensively.

Troy returned to California Sunday evening and was met by a grinning Gabriella. She leapt into his arms and gave him a big smooch.

"Don't you ever leave for the weekend without me again," she told him as he set her back on the ground.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied.

"So, how's Chad?" She asked. "Did you find out what's bugging him?"

"Yes, Chad and I got to the root of the problem."

"And?"

"I can't tell you, but you'll understand why when we're all home for Thanksgiving break."

"But we won't all be home."

"What do you mean?"

"Taylor isn't coming home for Thanksgiving, she decided the flight was too long so she's taking a train to New York City to spend the weekend with Kelsi and Ryan," Gabriella replied, speaking of two of their high school friend Kelsi Nielsen and Ryan Evans who were in New York City going to school at Julliard.

Troy had passed the information on to his best friend and Chad's end of the line was quiet as he digested the news.

"I'm sorry, man," Troy said. "But hey, she'll be home for Christmas a few weeks after."

"It's not your fault," Chad replied. "Maybe it just isn't meant to be with me and Taylor."

"Don't say that, man, embrace the fact that you're in love with her," Troy encouraged. "Don't let this bump keep you from telling her how you feel."

Chad hung up the phone and felt slightly defeated as he logged on for the weekly chat, but was surprised to find out that due to Troy's trip he and Gabriella wouldn't be involved that night. He finally had Taylor to himself, but instead of diving in head first, he claimed he was sick and went to be early. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off by telling her he loved her in any manner other than face to face.

The month and a half passed quickly and the day before Thanksgiving, Chad found himself standing in the airport waiting for Troy and Gabriella to meet him. Ten minutes after their flight was to have landed, he got a phone call from Troy.

"Where are you guys?" He asked his best friend.

"There's been a change of plans," Troy stated.

"Your plane was delayed?"

"Not exactly…"

"Then what?"

"Gabriella and I decided that we would spend Thanksgiving in California this year."

"And you couldn't do this before I left for the airport? Do you know how busy it is in here, Troy?"

"I do, but I can't tell you until you ask why we decided to stay here."

Chad rolled his eyes as he asked, "Why are you guys staying in California?"

"Funny thing you should ask," Troy stated. "We traded in our two plane tickets to get you a flight to New York City so you could spend Thanksgiving with Taylor."

"You did what, but I don't have anything with me."

"Which is why if you turn around, you'll see Zeke and Jason."

Chad turned around and saw his roommates waving at him.

"I'll let you go, but they have your stuff and a note that explains everything. But don't stop and think this through, Chad, your flight leaves in 45 minutes. Good luck man!"

Chad closed his phone and Zeke and Jason took that as a sign that he was ready to go. They gave him a duffle bag, a plane ticket and everything else he would need before taking his keys. Then they left as he went through check-in, followed by a pass through security and a mad dash to the right gate.

It wasn't until the plane was in the air that Chad remembered the note Troy mentioned. He pulled it out of his pocket and read it.

Chad,

I want to start by saying that Gabriella and I are routing for you. I know you told me not to tell her about you being in love with Taylor, but I caved man, and when it comes to keeping things from the woman you love it's really, really hard. But anyway, back to the subject at hand. Taylor doesn't know you're going to New York City, Ryan, however, does. He will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel you guys are all staying at this weekend. Then it's all up to you man, good luck.

Troy

It was nearly eight o'clock when Chad made his way through the airport and found Ryan waiting for him. The two friends hugged then Ryan rushed Chad out of the airport and into a waiting cab. Ryan took the front seat and Chad slid into the backseat next to Kelsi. She gave him a hug then handed him a single red rose.

"Ah shucks, Kelsi, I didn't get you anything," Chad said as he looked at the flower.

"It's not for you, Chad, it's for Taylor," Kelsi rolled her eyes. "We're meeting her at Grand Central."

"What? Now?"

"Well, it'll take us like an hour to get there because of traffic, but yeah, now," Kelsi smiled and patted his knee. "You like fine."

"Are you sure?" Chad looked down at his faded jeans, his plain black shirt and his brown leather jacket. "I really hadn't planned on doing more than picking up Troy and Gabriella when I left the dorm this morning."

"I don't think Taylor will care how you're dressed," Ryan stated from up front. "I think she'll be more caught up in the fact that you're here."

Chad leaned back in his seat and looked out the window, just as Taylor was doing on the train, except the scenery she was passing was going by faster than Chad's. The child in the seat next to her leaned over to look outside only to be yanked back into their seat by their mother.

"Sorry," the woman said to Taylor as she grabbed the tennis ball her other child was bouncing against the roof of the train car. It was going to be a long train ride.

Forty-five minutes later, Taylor stepped off the train with her rolling suitcase behind her. She scanned the crowd seeing strangers, Chad and more strangers. Chad?! Her eyes snapped back to her ex-boyfriend and a smile registered on his face when he saw that she had seen him. Pulling her suitcase quickly, she dodged in and out of other passengers until she was standing just two inches from him.

He initiated their contact by putting his hand on the small of her back and pulling him to her. Her brown eyes looked up into his then fluttered closed as brought his lips down to hers; kissing her with so much passion it made her legs feel like Jello.

She whimpered when he pulled his lips away from hers and moved his mouth to her left ear.

"I love you Taylor Hope McKessie," he whispered. Her eyes shot open and she stared at him. "It's true, Tay, I was an idiot for thinking I could live without you. Please take me back?"

"Yes!" She squealed as she threw her arms around his neck. "And I love you too Chad Danforth."

"And I thought Sharpay was dramatic," Taylor heard a voice say. She let go of Chad and turned around to find Ryan and Kelsi. "Why didn't you tell me he was coming?"

"I didn't know either until this morning," Kelsi said hugging her friend. "Ryan, Troy and Gabriella have been planning this for a couple weeks."

"Wait, Ryan, Troy and Gabriella?" Taylor asked after hugging Ryan. "You didn't know either, Chad?"

"I found out about seven hours ago," Chad said as he took Taylor's hand while Ryan grabbed her suitcase and Kelsi carried Chad's duffle bag. "Oh, this is for you." He handed Taylor the rose and she brought it to her nose to smell it.

"It's beautiful, Chad," she smiled.

As they took the subway to the hotel they were staying in for the weekend, Chad filled Taylor in on realizing he was in love with her and planning to tell her over Thanksgiving break, to finding out that she wasn't coming home and Troy giving up a chance to be with his family so Chad and Taylor could be together.

By the time they got to their suite is was nearly midnight and Chad barely made it into the room he and Taylor were going to share before he fell asleep on the bed. Taylor woke him up for a few seconds to help him get his shoes, jeans and leather jacket off before she excused herself from the room to call Gabriella.

"Thank you," she told her friend the second Gabriella answered.

"It's what friends are for," Gabriella replied. "Did you tell him yet?"

"Yeah, right after he told me in the middle of Grand Central," Taylor swooned. "And just so you know, he and I are officially back together."

"Congrats," Gabriella laughed. "So, where is prince charming?"

"Passed out," Taylor said. "I should probably get to bed too, we're making our own Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow… it will be an adventure."

"Have fun and have a great Thanksgiving, Tay," Gabriella said.

Taylor said goodbye then headed back to her and Chad's room. She changed into a pair of sweats and one of Chad's old basketball sweatshirts before she climbed in bed next to him. She snuggled up against his side and kissed his cheek before closing her eyes.

Thanksgiving morning came way too early for Chad's liking, especially since Ryan came into their room five minutes to six telling them to get up so they could go find seats along the parade route.

"What parade?" Chad asked his brain to groggy to think.

"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," Ryan replied. "We're leaving in thirty minutes."

"Go take a shower," Taylor told him. "It'll help. I'll find something for you to wear."

He nodded too tired to argue and was in the middle of a hot shower when Taylor came into the room.

"Who did you say packed your clothes?" She asked.

"Zeke or Jason, why?" Chad asked poking his head around the shower curtain.

"They did pack anything warm for you to wear," she stated. "There's no way you can go outside and sit in the cold November air for a few hours and not get sick."

"Oh," he frowned.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out," she assured him before leaving the bathroom.

When he came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, he found Taylor dressed in a pair of jeans, a knitted sweater and a pair of boots.

"So what am I wearing?" He asked her.

"Ryan said there is a little store by where we're planning to sit and you might be able to buy something there," Taylor told him. "So just wear what you wore here and we'll take extra blankets."

"Do you think it'll really be that cold?" Chad asked her. "It's not like we have overly high temperatures in the winter back home."

"You have to prepare for the worst," Taylor smiled. She gave him a kiss on the cheek then left the room so he could get dressed.

When he exited the room a few minutes later, Taylor handed him a travel mug of coffee just the way he liked it.

Then the foursome headed to the spot that Ryan had planned to meet up with some friends from school, stopping at that store only to find it closed on the way there.

"Oh well," Chad shrugged. "It's not really that cold right now anyway and it's seven."

"You'll get cold as we stand out here," Taylor stated.

"Then I guess you'll just have to warm me up," Chad grinned as he slipped his gloved hand into hers.

"Keep it PG," Kelsi grinned at the happy couple.

"You two, too," Taylor tossed back as Ryan took Kelsi's hand.

Taylor had always loved parades, especially the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and seeing it live in person with all the bright colors the floats and balloons made her feel like a kid. Chad didn't pay much attention to the parade as his eyes were locked on his girlfriend. Watching her enjoy the parade made him happy.

When the parade ended, the foursome returned to their hotel suite and started making dinner. Since none of them had been brave enough to attempt cooking a turkey, they had settled on having ham for their main dish.

While they waited for the main dish to cook, they each went into a separate corner of the suite to call their respective families and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. Chad and Taylor's parents had been absolutely thrilled to learn that they were back together and Chad got a startling comment from his older brother.

"I'm glad you finally realized you were stupid for letting her go," Travis said.

"That makes two of us," Chad stated.

"Three," Taylor added.

They laughed and Chad said goodbye to his brother before he hung up. He wrapped his arm around her waist and was pulling in her for a kiss when Ryan knocked on the door.

"Come on, we gotta make the side dishes," their friend called.

Chad groaned and Taylor gave his lips a quick peck before she led him out of the room.

When they sat down for dinner an hour later their meal of baked ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and green been casserole looked like the feast Chad's mom made every year.

"Before we eat, I think it would be cool if we went around the table and said what we're thankful for," Kelsi said. "I know it sounds lame but it's what my family does at home."

"It's not lame," Ryan smiled. "We do it at our house too, why don't you start Chad."

"Okay, I'm thankful for great friends," Chad said. "Without you all, I wouldn't be here right now."

"I'm thankful for friends, too," Taylor said.

"I'm thankful for friends, too, but to be different I'll say family," Ryan stated. "Even though I can't be with them today, unless…"

"Unless, what?" Kelsi asked, looking at her boyfriend. Her eyes got wide as she saw Ryan push back his chair and get down one knee in front of her. "Oh my god."

"Kelsi Nielsen, will you marry me?" He asked, taking her hand.

"Yes!" She squeaked as tears formed in her eyes. They stood up and kissed, sealing the deal.

"Come on now, keep it PG," Taylor teased when it appeared that Kelsi and Ryan had forgotten about her and Chad's presence. The blush that spread across Kelsi's face told her that they had indeed been forgotten. "What are you thankful for, Kelsi?"

"Being in love and engaged. Engaged!!" Her friend smiled.

"And with that I think it's time to eat," Chad said. He picked up his glass of sparkling cider. "I want to propose a toast. To a Happy Thanksgiving, to being in love and to Ryan and Kelsi."

"Cheers," they all said clanking their glasses together.

After dinner the foursome worked together to clean up dinner and put away the leftovers. Which lead to a water war between Taylor and Chad that resulted in him being soaked from head to toe.

"We were invited to an after dinner thing at a friend's apartment," Ryan told Taylor while Chad was changing. "Do you guys want to go?"

"I think we'll pass," Taylor replied. "You guys have a good time."

"Alright, have fun," Ryan said before he and Kelsi left the suite.

"Where are they going?" Chad asked as he came into the main room dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a t-shirt that said 'are we there yet?'

"They're going to a friend's place for a little while," Taylor replied. "Ryan invited us but I said we'd pass."

"Ok, then what are we gonna do while they're gone?"

"I don't know, sit around, watch TV and be thankful we have each other?"

"I have a better idea," Chad said as a grin spread across his face. Taylor knew what he was suggesting but played along and waited for him to say it. "I'll show you how to be really thankful."

"I think that could be arranged," she grinned as she started to stand up, but Chad grabbed her hand and pulled her backwards into his lap. "Chad! We can't do this out here!"

"Why not? You said they were gone for awhile," he replied.

"Awhile isn't a set period of time," Taylor argued. "It is anywhere from 15 minutes to like three ho-"

Chad cut her off by pushing his lips against hers. He had been too tired the night before to give Taylor a proper hello and now that he had the chance he wasn't about to let it slip by. One of his hands rested on the back of her neck while the other rested on the small of her back. They weren't in the optimum position for making out with her across his lap in a diagonal stance so a few minutes into their first make out session as Chaylor Part 2 she pulled away and repositioned her body so she was sitting on his lap facing him.

As they kissed and her hands weaved through his hair, Chad felt himself becoming more and more turned on. He and Taylor had had sex one time before and that had been prom night, it hadn't been as good as he imagined it would be, but he knew he wanted to try it again especially since Taylor was back in his arms.

"Ok, baby, time to take this in the bedroom," Taylor said, pulling away from him. She climbed off his lap and held a hand out to him to pull him up, but instead he tried to pull her back into his lap, but she held her ground. "Nope, Chad, bedroom."

"I want you right here right now."

"You can have yourself right here right now, but I will be in the bedroom." She started towards the door and peeled off layers of clothing as she walked, so by the time she reached their door, she was only in a lacy black bra.

Entering the room, she tossed her shirts on her suitcase and grinned when she felt his arms circle her waist.

"I knew you would change your mind," she whispered as he nuzzled her neck, taking in the sweet scent of her vanilla shampoo.

"Let me make love to you," he whispered in her ear. She turned in his arms so she was facing him and saw the serious look on his face. "Let me show you how much I love you." She nodded and then instead of getting on the bed like she had thought, Chad started to sway them to a imaginary song and as they moved, Taylor began to hear the song.

Then piece by piece their remaining clothing was taken off and they found themselves on the bed, his condom covered manhood throbbing and her sex hot. Lowering his body over her, he pushed into her slowly then began the movements that were synonymous with the art of sex. His movements were slow and he kissed her all over her body, making her feel loved and even more turned on.

When they finally came together, Chad pulled out of her, disposed of the condom then laid back on the bed with Taylor pressed up against his side. He wished they could stay like this forever, but eventually he would have to go back home and she would have to go back to school, but right now all he wanted to think about was the woman at his side that he loved with every inch of his heart. They'd figure everything else out tomorrow.