Thanksgiving Day in the Moonbase, Numbuh 5 was sitting around watching the news while holding the letter to her from Hoagie. This was the first Thanksgiving since the war had kicked off, so she wasn't happy that she couldn't be with any of her family. Her father was working in the hospital, not unusual for him to do so. Her mother never celebrated Thanksgiving, because she was French and never embraced the idea. Cree was still nowhere to be found ever since she put Hoagie in the hospital.
"Happy Thanksgiving, baby." She says as she kisses the photograph. As she holds it close to her chest, Numbuh 86 walks in.
"Numbuh 5, can I talk to you?" She asks.
"What's up, 86? Is something new developing?" She asks.
"Well no. But I was talking with the other officers and Sector W. We have something for you." Fanny answers.
"What are you getting at, Fan?" Abby asks curiously.
"Well, we know that you're not with your family for Thanksgiving, but we don't want you spending the holiday alone." Fanny answers.
"You… guys made me dinner?" Abby asks.
"We did. Come see it." Fanny leads her to the dining room where everyone is waiting.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Numbuh 5! Got me mum's recipe for this stuff." Wally puts a tray of baked Mac and Cheese on the table.
Abby begins to cry to tears of joy at the sight of the dinner they prepared.
"Do you like it Numbuh 5?" Sonia asks. "I made the stuffing myself."
"It looks amazing Numbuh 83." Abby replies. Wally and Kuki hug Abby and she hugs them back.
"We wanted you to be happy and take a break from all this." Kuki says.
"Yeah with everything going our way for now, we wanted to have a day of no fighting." Wally says.
They see Sector W walk in with the turkey. Though Harvey doesn't seem as happy as Paddy and Shaunie.
"What's Thanksgiving without a turkey." Paddy says.
"Good job boys." Fanny says. "Put it right in the center." They place it on the table and everyone sits down to eat.
"Wait. Before y'all start stuffin' ya faces, Numbuh 5 wants to say a few words. First of all thanks to Numbuh 86 for bein' a good second in command during these crazy times. You're an incredible asset and you've really grown as a person since this whole thing started. To Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4, you guys managed to prove me wrong about your leadership skills. Leading the charge in Australia over the past month is beyond admirable, and I'm glad to call you both my friends. Numbuh 83 and Numbuh 84, y'all are amazing at how well you fit into your roles in Global Command. Seeing kids like you rise through the ranks so quickly makes me proud that I chose you. And finally to Sector W. You three boys have done a good job adapting to your roles as the main intelligence Sector." Abby says to all of them.
They all raise their glasses of soda to those words as they dig in. Abby watches as she takes in what she can about her fellow operatives. She sees Wally and Kuki being sweet on one another and sharing food, for the first time in a long time acting like a couple. She notices Sonia and Lee holding hands under the table, though she doesn't call them out. She sees Fanny laughing with her brothers, happy that she is having a good moment with her family. The only one who they can't seem to cheer up is Harvey, who is slowly eating his food and sulking.
"What's the matter Numbuh 363?" Abby asks.
"What do you think?" He asks sarcastically. "I get why they can be happy. But I'm not happy."
"Oh come on, take a break, Harv. You worry too much about all this." Paddy says.
"You don't get it, Paddy! You and Shaunie have what I don't!" Harvey shouts before he storms off.
Everyone stares at each other before Abby and Fanny stand up.
"Y'all stay here and keep eating. We'll be right back." Abby says as she and Fanny go to find Harvey.
Finding him in Abby's office, he is holding a picture of him and Rachel from when they were younger. He is also crying.
"You good, little man?" Abby asks.
"I want my sister back! She abandoned me! And you won't let her come back!" He cries out.
"I know you feel-"
"Don't! How do you know how I feel?!" Harvey interrupts.
"Because I don't have my sister around either! She disappeared out of the blue and she's been evil since she was a teenager! She had no genuine love in her heart. Your sister did her mission to keep you and the whole damn planet. She wanted me and Fanny to make sure that you were safe. You're not alone, Harvey, you never will be. And you will see your sister again one day." Abby reassures him.
"Is that why you always check on me, Numbuh 86? Because you were ordered to?" Harvey asks.
"Well no, I promised your sister I would keep you safe because I felt I needed to make it up to her and Numbuh 1. I volunteered to keep you safe, Harvey. I'll protect you the same way I do me brothers." Fanny says.
"Thank you. Listen… Can I have a hug?" Harvey asks.
"Sure thing little man." Abby says.
Both girls give him a hug and he hugs them back, giving Fanny a bigger one. Fanny and Abby both notice this but merely chuckle.
"Alright little man. How about we finish dinner and watch a Christmas movie. Numbuh 4 said he brought the greatest Christmas movie ever." Fanny says.
"Ooh, Die Hard?" Harvey asks.
"You know it." Abby says.
They rejoin their friends and finish the meal. After they have cleaned up, they all sit down to watch the movie. By the end of the movie, Kuki and Sonia have fallen asleep on top of Wally and Lee, respectively. Not that either of them mind being cuddled up to. Harvey had fallen asleep while cuddling up in Fanny's lap. Fanny begins stroking his hair. As Paddy and Shaunie laugh, Fanny sticks her tongue out at them.
"Ha, that looks kinda cute Fanny. He's like your own personal teddy bear." Abby says, causing Fanny to blush a little. "Anyway, why don't you all crash here? No sense in getting from our spots if we're already comfortable." Abby says. She then turns off the TV and the lights. Moments after she does, the remainder of kids awake after the movie ended fall asleep as well.
A bittersweet chapter to write, but it feels very real in these times for people who can't be with all their loved ones. But we should still take joy in the people that we are around. Be thankful for what you have for the moment, instead of depressed about what you don't have.
PS, Die Hard is in fact the greatest Christmas movie of all time.