Drabble 15: Thanks for the Memories

A/N: Hey guys. I wanted to thank you for all the support this series of drabbles has gotten. Keep it up! I was feeling festive today, so this drabble is about Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Anyway, enjoy, and leave a review!

"Thank you all for coming here tonight. I'm glad everyone could make it, as I know your schedules are busy."

Coulson stood in the front of the dining room, holding up a wine glass to toast everyone.

"We live here." Skye said. "And you lead our team. We didn't have to come very far."

Simmons looked at her. "He's trying to make this a formal occasion, Skye. Maybe we should just go along with it." She smiled at her. "It could be fun."

Skye softened her gaze and nodded. "Alright. Continue, Mr. Coulson."

Coulson grinned. "Thanks. But that's all the formality I have for a while." He set down his wine glass. "Are we ready to carve the turkey?"

Ward stood and picked up the carving knife. "I can do that."

"Whoa. Hold on there, S.O." Skye put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Maybe Coulson's done with his speech, but we're not ready to eat yet."

"Why not?" Fitz asked.

"This is the biggest Thanksgiving I've ever had. It's also kind of the first one I've spent with people I consider family."

Simmons smiled at her. "Oh, Skye. That's so sweet."

"Don't make this more emotional than it has to be." Skye said warningly. But she smiled at Simmons to let her know she appreciated it. "I don't want to drive away Ward by getting too mushy."

Simmons nodded, and Ward rolled his eyes.

"Anyway," Skye said, "since this is such a special day, I wanted to tell you guys how happy I am to be part of this team." She shrugged. "I finally found a place I belong."

Coulson walked over to Skye and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad you said that." Then he walked to his seat at the head of the table and sat down. "It makes it easier for me to do this. I want everyone to share something, just like Skye did. Something about your experience with this team."

Ward groaned, Fitz smiled at Simmons, Skye laughed, and May raised an eyebrow at Coulson.

Coulson met all of it with a confident look. "I don't really care if you want to or not. Skye reminded me of a tradition I had when I was a kid, where everyone in my family had to share something they liked about the past year."

"Do we really have to sir?" Ward asked.

"Absolutely." Coulson replied. "It'll be good for you. We need to act like a real family sometimes." He looked around the table. He was at one end, May the other. Skye and Ward sat to his right, and Fitz and Simmons were on the left. The table was covered with a white cloth, and plates lay in front of each person, waiting to be filled. There was turkey and mashed potatoes, corn and carrots, stuffing and cranberry sauce. And there was an apple pie on a side table, ready for after the feast. "I know everyone's hungry, so just think quickly. Who's going first?"

"I'll go." Simmons said. She looked at everyone as she thought of something, her eyes resting on them for a moment. "When I heard that I could work in the field, I knew I had to do it. I wanted to see the world, and now I can. I am. But I'm also still able to do the work I love, with the best lab partner I've ever had." She smiled at Fitz. "That's something I'm thankful for."

Coulson smiled. "Glad to hear it. Fitz, you're up."

Fitz cleared his throat. "I second what Simmons said."

Simmons laughed. "You do not! I practically had to drag you out of the lab when we received this opportunity!"

Skye covered her mouth to try not to laugh. Even Ward chuckled.

Fitz's cheeks reddened a bit. "So? I meant the last part, about working with people you love. Maybe I didn't want to leave the safety of our old lab, and you did have to convince me to join this team. But now that we're here I wouldn't leave for anything." He looked down, his cheeks still pink. "There. I said it."

Simmons placed a comforting hand on his arm. "And I'm glad you did." She looked to Ward. "If you're planning on trying to get out of this, don't. Look at what Fitz just said! You can think of something good to say."

"You know we're not the same person." Ward said to her. "Fitz is better at that stuff than me. Now give me a weapon, and I'll show you something impressive. Heartfelt speeches? I'd rather not."

Simmons stared him down, and Fitz looked at him and mouthed "come on". Skye glared at him pointedly, and finally Ward sighed. "Fine. I'm glad everyone on this team feels to close to each other. Whenever one of us needs something, any member can help, not just one. I like that."

They were quiet for a minute. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" Skye asked with feigned innocence.

Ward chuckled, and Fitz and Simmons smiled.

"No Skye, it wasn't so hard." Ward said. "But that's all you people are getting from me. I have a reputation to uphold."

Skye looked up from her lap. "Oh, you mean you didn't want that posted online?" She held up her empty hands after a minute and grinned mischievously.

Ward met her joke with a glint in his eyes. "Just remember that when we train tomorrow."

That made her smile fade. "Alright, who's next?"

Ward smirked.

"Me." May said. "I've enjoyed having a team that works well with each other. No one needs to deal with things alone."

"Short but sweet." Coulson said. "I agree with all of you, but there's one thing I'm really grateful for. This team is strange, and a lot of people think it shouldn't work, but it does. We complement each other. We may not be as well-known as the Avengers, or as organized as we should be, but we get the job done, and we do it well."

Ward raised his glass. "I'll drink to that."

"Cheers!" Everyone cried.

Glasses were clinked together, drinks were sipped, and then Ward stood up. "Are we ready now?"

Coulson looked around the table. No one had any objections, so he nodded. "Go ahead and carve, Ward."

Ward took up the carving knife again, and everyone began to talk freely.

"Happy Thanksgiving, guys." Skye said. "Wait, do you and Fitz actually call it Thanksgiving?"

Fitz smiled. "Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but it is celebrated in the U.K."

"And besides," Simmons said. "We're in America now. So yes, Skye, we do call it Thanksgiving."

Skye looked down for a moment. "I just wanted to check…" she muttered.

Simmons laughed. "I'm not offended! I think it's sweet that you asked!"

Skye looked relieved, and the talk became stress-free again.

"Happy Thanksgiving Jemma." Fitz whispered to her before the end of the meal.

She grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it. "Happy Thanksgiving Fitz."

Every person gathered around that table named something they were thankful for out loud. And later, every person silently gave thanks for something else: the memories they were making.