Thanksgiving Day, Cameron, Massachusetts...

"I've asked sixteen times. Could someone please pass the potatoes?" Skye.

"You could have asked a bit nicer, you know." Jane.

"Maybe the first time, but not the seventeenth."

"To repeat takes character."

"Nathaniel! You're not helping!"

Jeffrey was grinning at the scene before him. All nine of the nearby Penderwicks, Rosy was still in Africa, were seated around the kitchen table, gathered to say thanks for their lives. How were they doing this? By bickering.

Jeffrey had to readjust his head count as Jane yet again turned rather green and rushed from the table, Nathaniel right on her heels. She was one month pregnant, and was in the throws of morning, noon, and nighttime, sickness. Jeffrey chuckled as he remembered the conversation that had occurred last month.

"Skye? Can you keep a secret?"

"No."

"Well, I'm going to tell you anyways. Nathaniel and I are going to have a baby."

"What?! You've only known him for 3 weeks, Jane, and now you're having his baby?"

"Yes! Isn't it romantic?"

"How far along are you?"

"Just a few days."

"Well, that makes a bit more sense, but still!"

Jeffrey was drawn out of his flashback by a slight tug on his teeshirt.

"Do you want to meet our new pet, Jeffrey?" He looked down at Grace and Hope, now eight years old, who under the table.

"Aright. Where is it?"

Smiling, he winked at Skye from across the table, and took another bite of turkey. Mr Penderwick and Aunt Claire, being the only ones who weren't dangerous in the kitchen, had cooked the meal to perfection.

"This is Peter, Jeffrey. We got him this morning."

Jeffrey peered under the table, and choked on his mouthful. There, sitting next to the twins, was the biggest turkey he had ever seen. Quickly swallowing, fighting down the nausea that was threatening to overtake him, he stared at Skye, horrified. She just laughed. Glancing back down to his youngest sisters-in-law, he smiled weakly.

"Cool. Where did you get him?"

"From the man where Daddy got tonight's dinner. He said that we could have him. Isn't that nice?"

He swallowed again, feeling very guilty as he looked at Peter, knowing that he had just eaten one of his brothers. Skye, who didn't seem to be at all phased, was enjoying his discomfort immensely. Feeling very tempted to join Jane in her current occupation, he put down his fork and tried in vain not to stare at the bird caracas in front of him. Needless to say, he was very relieved when his cell phone rang and he had an excuse to leave the table.

"Hello?" He closed the door behind him as he stepped out into the backyard. It was a beautiful fall day, and there was just a slight nip in the air.

"Hello, Jeffrey? It's Rosalind!"

"Rosy! How are you? How's Africa?" Neither he nor Skye had talked to her since she left, but he knew that she and Jane had been in contact.

"It's amazing. Look, Jeffrey, I hate to be so blunt, but it's long distance. Are you in Cameron?"

"Yeah, Skye and I drove up last night."

"Are you alone right now?"

"Umm, yes?"

"Good, look, I want everyone to know, but I just don't want to have to spend the time telling everyone. Especially not long distance."

"Okay?"

"Will you tell them for me?"

"Tell them what, exactly?"

"I'm engaged."

Jeffrey blinked. "Really? Who is he?"

"Charles Brighton. He's a doctor who I work with over here. His family's in Pennsylvania. Oh, Jeffrey, he's amazing. He is so handsome and so smart and so funny. He's 25 years old, and he's already got his M.D. We were in training together, and then we were stationed at the same place, and he proposed yesterday. We're going to get married in the spring, when we have a leave."

"That's wonderful, Rosy. I'm really happy for you."

"Yeah, well, I have to go now, Jeffrey, please give my love to everyone, and hug Skye for me."

He smirked. "I'll do more than that to her..."

"Oh, please don't tell me that. I like to live in blissful ignorance about what you and my sister do in your spare time."

He laughed. "Okay then, but it won't change anything. Hey look, tell this fellow that he had better take good care of you, or I will gladly step in for the role of overprotective older brother."

"You're younger than me."

"A small technicality."

She was laughing. "Aright, I will. Bye!"

"Bye!" Shaking his head, he hung up. What had made him the official bearer of good tidings?

5 minutes later...

"She's what?"

"Engaged."

In the pandemonium that followed, Jeffrey took the opportunity to write his cell phone number on a scrap of paper and hand it to Batty. She looked at him, very confused.

He smiled. "In case you suddenly feel the desire to call me and tell me that you, too, are getting married."

She laughed. "Well, seeing as I'm only 17, I think you're safe for a while. But believe me, you'll be the first to know."

They were cut off by a petrified screech. "This is TURKEY?!" Hope was sitting, her fork in midair, staring in horror at her older brother. Ben nodded. "TURKEY? As in Peter?" He nodded again, this time rather reluctantly.

As sobbing, gagging, and laughter filled the air, Jeffrey said a silent thank you for letting him be part of this family. He wouldn't want to be in any other.

There it is! Sorry it's been a while, but these last few days have been nutty. :-) As usual, PLEASE REVIEW!

Randomsarcasm42 - You might consider starting a new account... Just a thought. :-) Well, I guess you can have it, on one condition. I want to read what you write. :-) I couldn't miss a good story like that. Thanks!

Guest - Awww. Thank you so much! It's reviewers like you that keep people updating... :-)

Smiles - Thank you! Being IC is one of the things I try hardest on. :-) Not to say that I always succeed, though.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. The mean a lot.