I don't own Criminal Minds, and I'm sorry I forgot the beginning quote, so it's going with the Main Course XD

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." ~ Charles Dickens

At the appointed time, Reid pulled up outside Rossi's mansion. Morgan had decided that they would all meet at Rossi's to cook all together. Hotch, Prentiss, and Morgan's cars were already outside. He nervously shifted his messenger bag on his shoulder and made his way to the front door. The door swung open before he had the chance to knock.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" Garcia cried and pulled him in with a hug. Her bright orange eye shadow was accented by the orange hair extensions she had added for the holiday. "You're right on time; Morgan's just pulling out the turkey," she smiled.

She led Reid into the kitchen where everyone had gathered. Rossi was washing mushrooms in the sink, Prentiss was sitting on a barstool at the island in the middle of the kitchen, enjoying a glass of wine. Reid could hear Hotch and Jack laughing in the next room, something about a parade.

"Right on time," Morgan said from his post at the island. A huge turkey laid before him, herb butter, pepper, salt, and other spices within easy reach. "Come over here. It's time to learn."

Reid sidled over, still gripping his bag nervously.

"Drop the bag," Morgan ordered. "I swear nothing will happen to it. You're going to need both hands for this."

Reid slowly let the bag slide to the ground, very worried by Morgan's evil grin. He washed his hands as Morgan directed.

"Now the trick to a good turkey is in the seasoning. Now, this here is my special mix. Don't ask, I'm not tellin'." Morgan picked up the seasoning and handed it to Reid. "I'll hold the turkey up, and you spread the seasoning inside."

"What?"

"You heard me. Now start spreadin'." Morgan moved the turkey so the opening was facing Reid.

With a shiver at what he thought was disgusting, Reid dumped the appropriate amount of seasoning into the cavity and hesitantly stuck his hand in.

"That's it, spread it all around. Don't be afraid to get down and dirty."

"Shouldn't I have at least taken it out to dinner first," Reid joked as another shiver passed through his body.

Prentiss laughed into her hand, whether because of Reid's joke or how awkward the boy genius looked was unknown.

"Okay, that's enough of that." Morgan stepped in and stuffed the turkey with some vegetables before tying the feet. "Next we spread some butter under the skin."

"Under the skin?"

"Under the skin," Morgan confirmed as he used a spatula to create space between the turkey breast and the skin. "Two spoonfuls of butter," Morgan narrated. "And smooth it down from the outside like so."

"Couldn't I have done that part?"

"I got it. The next part is all yours. Spread the rest of this butter all over the outside. Go on."

Reid sighed but did as he was told, thinking to himself that the sooner it was over the better his life would be. He continued to sprinkle salt, pepper, and some more of Morgan's special spices on the turkey.

"The boy can be taught!" Prentiss laughed as Morgan finished up by positioning the wings and sticking the turkey in the preheated oven.

"Now we wait about four hours, then it's turkey time," Morgan smiled.

"What do we do for four hours?" Reid asked.

"Make more food!" Prentiss exclaimed.

"Or watch the parade!" Garcia added.

"Parade?" Reid questioned.

Silence filled the room.

"You've never seen the parade?" Garcia asked.

"What parade?" Reid was really perplexed now.

"The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!" Garcia said, already pulling Reid toward the living room.

Hotch and Jack looked up as the two hurried into the room.

"Our boy has never seen the parade," Garcia explained.

Hotch raised an eyebrow, his normally stone face smiling and full of life. "Well, it's just about to start. Have a seat."

Garcia forced Reid into the nearby armchair. "You are not allowed to leave until you see Santa!" she ordered.

"What about the food?"

"We will take care of the rest of it, don't you worry. This is how it's supposed to work, the kids watch the parade and the adults fix the food."

Reid's protest at being called a kid yet again was lost as Garcia disappeared back into the kitchen.

"Look! It's Snoopy!" Jack laughed as a preview of the coming parade flashed across the screen.

"That's right." Hotch smiled with his son.

The change in Hotch from his work self to how he was with his son was amazing. The Hotch who never smiled had become a father who wrestled with his son during commercial breaks and played connect four whenever called upon.

Reid didn't know which show he should watch: the parade he's never seen, or the father/son relationship he'd never had.

Hi all! I hope you like this. It's sooo fun to write a fun story compared to the much more depressing story I'm writing at the moment, Ghosts.

I'll have Dessert up tomorrow! Er... Later today my time…

Happy Turkey Day! #:~=O (That's a Turkey)

And thanks to everyone for the reviews. I love getting them. I hope that everyone enjoys the story, even if they don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

Reid and Review :]

~MyDarkAngel710