Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that he tries hard to make special for his girls. Even when Paula was alive, even when they were on the run, he would try to scrounge up a turkey, make some homemade mashed potatoes, and scare up some rolls to give them something like a "normal" holiday. If he was really lucky, he'd even be able to get them some pumpkin pie. Those days—those days when Jade would be a little less snarky, when Artemis's eyes would be so wide with hope—those were the days he used to convince himself that he wasn't a total failure as a father.
And the times he failed—the times he was rotting in jail or the heat from the law was so hot that he couldn't even get them a turkey sandwich—those were the times when he'd hate himself even more than normal.
This year he's not totally sure that Jade will show up. Speedy may be on the outs with the Arrow, but Black Canary's the closest thing he has to a mother and he can't imagine the boy will break her heart knowing what the holiday get together means to her. The bond between Speedy and his little girl is stronger every time he sees them—and he's not sure that this won't be the first year he doesn't have his family together.
It hurts.
It hurts but he tries his best not to let it show. Jade and Artemis need to lead their own lives—especially since the clock is ticking, and he knows that he's running out of time. The League had given him until Artemis finished high school to remain out of stir—once her life as an adult begins, his life is over. The more support they have when that time comes—the more people they have in their lives—the less it will hurt them when he's gone for good.
The first year after he lost Paula, it was just the girls and him. The second year—the second year he had invited Red Tornado to join them. "You're stuck with me most of the rest of the year; you might as well get a meal out of it."
"I don't eat."
"Then I'll make sure you have a can of oil and a plate of batteries. Come on, Reddy. It's a time for family."
"Do you consider me family, Sportsmaster?"
"You're my guard—who can be closer to a guy than that? And call me Lawrence. Or Larry. Or even 'Crusher.' But enough with the Sportsmaster. That part of my life is over."
"All right … 'Crusher.'"
Reddy had been a part of the Crock Family Thanksgiving ever since.
One of these days he might even learn how to make a decent pecan pie.
But Reddy won't be the only guest this year.
"Hey, kid? Superboy? Turkey isn't your Kryptonite, is it?"
"As far as I know, Kryptonite is my Kryptonite." The kid had been watching him talk to Reddy about Thanksgiving with an envy disguised only by teenage attitude.
"Good. You're coming to my house for Thanksgiving. Bring an appetite. I don't want to eat leftovers for the next two weeks."
The kid had nodded with something like a smile on his face—something that was about as rare as The Bat cracking a joke. "Can M'Gann come too?"
"If her uncle doesn't mind, it's fine by me. In fact, that gives me an idea."
He couldn't stop time. He couldn't slow it down. But he could make the most of what time he had.
"Kaldur, you're coming to my house for Thanksgiving."
"Thank you, Mr. Crock, but it's not my holiday."
"I know it's not, kid. But sometimes what we're celebrating isn't as important as who we're celebrating it with."
Aqualad had been easy compared to The Bat.
"Robin and I will be spending Thanksgiving together."
"Of course you will. I'm sure you've got the Batcave all decorated and the Bat-Turkey is in the Bat-Oven. But Robin needs this. His team needs this."
"I do not have a Bat-Oven."
"But the Bat-Turkey is totally legit, right? Don't go breaking my heart, Bats. He doesn't have to stay all night—he doesn't even have to eat that much—but it'll do him good to hang with his team. It'll do them all good."
"One hour. He'll be there for one hour." The Bat turned with an impressive swirl of his cape. "And Crock?"
"Yeah?"
"You're right. They need this."
In the end, the Manhunter had also agreed to let Miss Martian join them as well. Kid Flash had more or less invited himself—saying that he'd have no problem eating two Thanksgiving meals—Artemis had looked rather annoyed, but she also made sure that his seat was next to hers.
It's a lot of work. He's not the world's best cook, but he always makes everything himself because his girls deserve the best. He does allow Reddy to help with the serving, but he makes Artemis sit with their friends while the two of them get everything ready.
He likes listening to the team. Young laughter. Young voices filled with happiness and hope. It's a good sound. Especially Artemis's.
Finally, the table is set and he tells the kids to come eat.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Crock," Kaldur says with that curiously charming formality of his.
"Yes, thanks, Mr. Crock." Kid Flash's plate is twice as full as anyone else's even after he makes a sizable dent in its contents. "This is great!"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Twinkletoes!" Artemis slaps his hand, but there's a smile on her face that makes her resemble her mother so much that it causes his heart to ache.
Superboy and the Martian girl are obviously communicating telepathically because the boy occasionally breaks out laughing when no one else hears the joke and then turns red with embarrassment—as opposed to his normal "red with anger" look. "Everything is very good, sir."
"Don't call me sir, kid. I used to work for a living." He knows that he's grinning so much that his face aches, but even so there's a sadness in his heart as he keeps looking at the door.
Jade isn't there. She hasn't called to say she's not coming.
It's her life. She has a right to live it how she chooses. That's what Paula and he always did—and she's their daughter.
Robin makes the most of the hour The Bat gave him. He stuffs his face. He laughs with the others. He tells jokes. He takes pictures of his friends. And then he hugs everyone—even Crock himself—before leaving.
After the Boy Wonder makes a characteristically flamboyant departure—climbing out the window and somersaulting into the Batmobile that's there to pick him up precisely one hour after he arrived—Crock starts to gather the dishes up. The kids have eaten and Jade isn't coming, so there's no point in delaying.
But the team refuses to let him do the work.
"You prepared the meal, sir. The least we can do is take care of the dishes." Aqualad nods at Kid Flash who cleans the table up in less than a minute. "Why don't you relax?"
"Thanks, kid. Maybe I'll just go lie down. I'm feeling tired." He isn't, but he knows how much more the team will enjoy themselves without a grown-up around. Besides, he doesn't have heart to do anything else.
And then there's a knock at the door.
"I got it!" Artemis runs forward and opens the door. "I was afraid you weren't going to make it."
"You know better than that, little sister. I just ran into some traffic leaving Star City. Is the old man still up?"
Jade.
"I'm not as old as all that." He knows his voice is trembling, but he can't stop it. "You're just in time for some of Reddy's pecan pie."
"Damn. I was hoping my timing was better than that." Jade walked into the room as though it had not been weeks since he had last seen her. She was wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, and was carrying a motorcycle helmet. "There's always next year."
"Yes. There's always next year." He grins up at his daughter, wanting to hug her, but not sure he should. Not sure if that would be an intrusion on her newfound independence. He wants her to be strong—needs her to be strong.
And then Jade kneels beside his wheelchair and wraps her arms around his neck. "Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy."
He hugs her back tightly. "Happy Thanksgiving, little girl. Love you."
"Love you too, Daddy."
His time is running out. He can almost see the cell that's waiting for him. Nothing can change that.
But tonight … tonight his little girl came home—if only for a while—and there's nothing more he wants in life.
Tonight Lawrence Crock is thankful that his girls are home. That his girls are safe. That they are alive and they are with him.
Tonight Lawrence Crock is happy.