Ok, here we are a new chapter. And I was determined to finish this story, and as you all know have been going through some issues. This is just pure fluff, slice of life and Yondu coming to a realisation. And here we go xx

Chapter 4

As soon as he was seated, almost immediately the crew begin to tuck into their feast, as Yondu noticed that all of them were on their best behaviour, sharing the platters between themselves as an air of enjoyment and revelry was on every face.

Even the most hardened Ravagers, were enjoying themselves, and it was easy to see those who had celebrated the holiday in their youth to those who were new to the experience. Faces just beamed with happiness, with some vocally reminiscing on their childhoods, with Horuz proclaiming the roast beasts to be as good as his Mothers, one of the biggest complement a Xandarian could ever declare.

"To Iztel," someone eventually proclaimed as everyone rose their glasses to the "founder of their feasts," which caused a blue flush under the Xandarian cheek.

Peter was finishing his roast beasts, and Yondu noticed with approval all of his vegetables when he looked up suddenly.

"Iztel, what are you thankful for?"

The older Ravager looked like he was deep in thought for a moment and leaned back in his chair. "Well I'm thankful for a lot of things, I'm thankful that we've had a good year, I'm thankful that you're still heathy and very smart."

Peter beamed at that statement whole Iztel continued, "And I've very thankful for finally having an assistant". Gesturing to Proctom to his left, who immediately blushed art the statement. "So, I've had a very good year…what about you Proctom?

Perhaps it was the thought of being put on the spot, but Proctom seemed very uncomfortable and was picking his words carefully. Something Yondu, Kraglin, and Iztel understood. Even though it had been a few months since the mutiny and Proctom's brain trauma.

The young Xandarian still could t shake off his anxiety even though Iztel had taken him under his wing, and was giving the boy an education and some tender care. Something that the Ravager couldn't believe was happening to him some days.

"Well, I'm getting better, so I've very thankful for that," shooting Iztel a small smile to let him know how thankful he really was, which the older Ravager returned.

Further down the table, Horuz was sitting next to the Vonspears who were trying not to advertise this was their first Day of Thanks as a married couple and were thoroughly enjoying the roasts beasts in front of them, who heard Horuz's whisper almost to himself "I'm thankful for Peter,"

Neither of them was really surprised by all this, even though Horus had always been dismissive of Peter, referring to him as "cargo", naturally when both Yondu and Kraglin were nowhere in the veracity. Even though he was Second Mate, there would be a vacancy for the job if he ever admitted it out loud. But everyone had a soft spot for the boy, even if they tried to deny it.

"Yeah," all Gunnsen said in response, his own way of acknowledgment as further down the table, more of the delicious food was being consumed. Peter having consumed is second helping of roast beast, was looking contented admits the chatter, but was declaring that he wasn't full enough for pudding. Since the first meal was finished, even though there would be leftovers to last at least a couple of days, maintained Iztel and the desserts were brought out.

Silence was a concept that never existed on the Elector, but this was one of the rare moments, as everyone savoured the dishes that were being brought out.

Iztel had done his homework, studying the dishes of everyone's home world. There was Xandarian sweet dishes, Darbien puddings. For Kraglin whose mouth immediately begun to water was a soft, sticky dish dessert you could only get in Hrax, his birth planet.

For Yondu, sweet dishes on his world were rare, but there was one. Made from the nuts of the Samxerian tree, which he used to climb in his childhood and devour the sweetest nuts on the tallest branches, he was instantly catapulted back to his youth at the sight of it.

But Iztel hadn't just made individual dishes for the individual crew. Instead, it was a large selection for everyone to try. If the meal was enough to get the crew nostalgic and reminisces at their past, these dishes nailed it.

Yondu did everything he could to keep his face impassive as he tucked into the dish from his childhood, which was ripped from him too soon. But felt Kraglin squeeze his hand under the table, his actions saying more than anyone could say.

As the crew ate their desserts, there was exchanges, the memoirs of eating these dishes in their youths, or for the Vonspears, Proctom and so many others who had grown up as slaves, a moment of getting back what had been denied to them.

Yondu was sure that even though there would be leftovers for the main course, these stood no change, as he let the flavours of his youth wash over him, mentally reminding himself to ask Iztel to make this again and again.

As everyone tucked in, Yondu noticing Peter as trying and loving everything, he realised there was something he hadn't asked his son.

"So Peter," Yondu said, while his son demolished a Darbien sweet pudding. "What are you thankful for."

Peter swallowed, and was all too eager to reply.

"I'm thankful for lots of things, I have this wonderful food, and my daddies who love me, and I love all the Ravagers. And I get lots of cuddles and nice things….and one day I'm going to get my own M-Ship". Peter declared in a loud voice. "So I'm lucky because I'm really, really loved."

Peter finished while both Yondu and Kraglin tried to hide the stab of emotion they felt at this declaration since they were both proud of their son and what they had accomplished over the past few years after they had kept him. In fact, Yondu was trying to hold it together as Kraglin cleared his throat.

"So Peter, what do we do after pudding?"

And Peter didn't need to be asked twice.

"Well, everyone sits round and swap presents and loves each other," Peter declared in a loud voice while Kraglin could only chuckle. Loving each other was a stranger concept than the entire day had been, but with a summons from Yondu, the plates were put away, the desserts finished and savoured.

The tables were moved to the other side, and all the chairs positioned so that everyone was surrounding the tree in which Peter was currently sitting next too. A look of expectation on his face.

He knew none of the presents were for him, his parents had made that clear that this day, would be for the Ravagers only. Yet, but Peter was just happy to be there as he began to read off the names and pass the gifts to the Ravagers.

From their vantage point, sitting on a chair next to their son, both Yondu and Kraglin saw the looks and reaction on the crews faces. Even though Yondu had grown up in slavery, from a young age, he was both into a home with love, the same with Kraglin, who had grown up deep beneath in the ground and had to forage for a living, with parents until their untimely deaths.

But compared to the Ravagers, this was a luxury so many of them had never had, as with no hesitation they stroked the wrapped paper on no doubt the first real gift they had ever been given in their entire lives before ripping open the expert wrapping.

True to their nature, some of them had been given gifts relating to their lives as Ravagers which would benefit them in the future, with a mix of weapons, blades and blasters, but for most of them it was something more personal.

Warm clothing to wear under the red jacket, Horuz received a very expensive bottle of aftershave called Night Mist, something he had worn years before and it was now impossible to get, which Kraglin had managed to track down, having pulled his name from the list. Horuz had received Yarovesky from the list, who couldn't hide his glee at opening the new ornate dagger.

"Oh, that looks nice. Can I hold it?" Peter asked the Ravager, giving him that "I'm so cute" look, which never failed to stop him getting what he wanted.

"Ok, sure. But be careful, I don't want you to cut your cheek". Yarovesky stated, as Peter studied the blade carefully, a look of delight on his face. "can I have it one day?"

"When you're old enough, I'll get you your own blade" Yarovesky promised, sheathing the blade and Peter turned his attention back to the presents and watched Jamsean opening a brand new art set whole Gunnsen was almost in glee at his bottle of Darbien High-Grade Scotch, in which one shot could get you wasted.

Booze was one thing, but the sight of one of the hardest Ravagers getting pencils and paint did draw the attention, which Jamsean just brushed off. "What, been doing some art with the boy…any issues?"

"No, none" everyone stated, and turned their attention to Yondu and Kraglin, who were unveiling their gifts. Giving presents to their crewmates was fine, but for the ones who ruled the ship this took a lot of thought, in which Proctom to his fear had been the one to pull the Captain name out.

Yondu just looked at the gift for a second, all carefully decorated, before slowly tearing the paper open. And was amazed at what he saw. It was no secret that Yondu loves his desk figures, but this was an exception to anything he had.

It was made from the wood from the Plysa Forest of Centauri IV, Yondu's homeworld. Like many of his people, they were skilled carvers. The figurine, which was the size of his hand showing a family setting, were only made by Centaurian hands. The hands of Yondu's people, he had had one in his youth, but like so many things had been dismissed when his surviving tribe were captured by the Badoon and sold into slavery.

It wasn't detailed like some replicas, this was made by hand, this was the real thing. Willing his face to be impassive he just looked up at Proctom, who just looked relieved, having drawn the name and having been stressing about it ever since.

Yondu kept his face still, but just gave a nod of appreciation, while Kraglin gasped next to him having unwrapped from Yarovesky a bottle of extremely expensive whisky from Hrax, something he had only hear of, but never had the opportunity to drink. "This is perfect," Kraglin beamed, while Peter was passing up the next present, which was intended for Proctom.

The young Xandarian just held it for a second, less than a year earlier he had been in exile for his crimes against Peter when he was still a baby. Now here he was accepted, cared for and now given gifts.

With a shaky breath, he unwrapped the gift carefully, that hadn't been wrapped by his hands and unveiled the leather book. Proctom, after all, had only just begun to learn to read, as he flicked through the thick page, the leather smelled new and expensive.

"Well, that will be fun to read. "The History of Xander," well you need to learn about your culture too" chimed in Iztel while Proctom just blinked.

"The words are too long, it will take years to read this," Proctom stated more to himself.

"Then you have something to aim for." Iztel claimed, while Proctom understood why the older Ravager had given him the gift, and managed contain the emotion he felt from his first gift in his entire life.

"Ok, next one up" Peter read out, his hands going through the dwindled supply of gifts "Is for Peter…this is for me."

Yes, I did have to cut it for word length, but next one and final one will be up soon

Please review and I love you all xxx