I apologize, November and December are difficult times for me, I promise I will try and update quicker.
"Hi." Kate smiled at her siblings.
"I brought wine." Rachel held up a bottle.
"I brought beer." Danny held up a six pack of bottles.
"You didn't have to bring anything." Kate shook her head taking both their coats and hanging them up.
"It was the one thing they taught us that stuck with us." Danny laughed letting Rachel take the beer, she seemed to know her way around, Danny assumed she was going to the kitchen.
Walking down the stairs Gibbs smiled at the group before slipping his hand to Kate's waist so he could pull her close for a quick kiss on the cheek. "Gibbs." he introduced himself to the man in front of him.
"Danny." he extended his hand to Gibbs "You have a lovely home."
"Thanks." shaking Danny's hand Gibbs gestured to the living room. "We have a few minutes before dinner."
"Just waiting on the rolls." Kate said following them to the living room. "Danny this is Doctor Mallard, Ducky to his friends."
Standing up Ducky extended his hand to the younger man "Ah, the brother. Hello young man pleasure to meet you, will you be here for Thanksgiving?" Kate chuckled.
"Yes." he nodded shaking Ducky's hand.
"Wonderful, you must join your sisters at my house."
"Told you." Kate smirked.
"Everyone brings a side dish or dessert, but as you are new you needn't have to worry." Ducky said sitting down.
"Danny loves to cook." Rachel said joining them. "Katie the rolls are finished I've taken them from the oven."
"Thank you." Kate headed for the kitchen.
"What are your favorite dishes?"
"To make or to eat?" Danny asked.
"Both?"
"Simple meals to cook and eat, why over complicate things." Danny said "When I began taking classes the chef explained too many ingredients bog down flavor so keep it simple."
"Good advice." Ducky agreed.
"You should make the carrot thing." Rachel suggested.
"Carrot thing?" Gibbs asked.
"Oven roasted rainbow carrots," Danny explained. "I made it last time Rachel came to visit, they have a little more flavor then regular carrots."
"That would be fine." Ducky agreed.
"Dinner's ready." Kate smiled from the archway.
Grabbing his beer and Kate's wine glass Gibbs waited for the others to head to the dining room first before following, Kate was waiting for him, kissing his cheek she took her glass.
The rolls and beef stew were on the table as well as the dishes, Ducky, gentleman that he was, held Rachel's seat for her.
"Thank you Ducky."
"You are quite welcome my dear, Jordan is looking forward to meeting you at Thanksgiving."
"Jordan?" Danny asked "Trying to set my sister up?"
"Oh heaven's no." Ducky chuckled.
"Jordan is Ducky's girlfriend, we've tried to meet up a few times but our work keeps getting in the way." Rachel explained with a chuckle.
"Oh."
"Although, if you would like, she knows a few fellows." Ducky said taking his own seat after Kate nodded for him to sit.
"Not quite yet." Rachel chuckled "Maybe she can find someone for Danny."
"No thank you." Danny shook his head "I'm not looking for anything at the moment." Danny shot his sister a quick glare.
"It takes its toll being the first born son," Ducky nodded "all the expectations and dreams put upon you by your parents."
"They wanted me to be a lawyer, like dad" Danny admitted "and I was with my brothers in our dad's law firm." Gibbs had learned as much from Kate, their father had wanted all the children to join him in the family business while their mom wanted the girls to be housewives. "I just couldn't keep going, the cases were not ones that I wanted to take, defending someone who is guilty of..." Danny shook his head "I thought I would come here for a new start." he smiled at his sisters "I don't think I want to start a restaurant or a bakery but cooking and baking relaxes me."
"Jordan and I take a cooking class that's offered once a month, a nice boy, he traveled as a youth his mother was military so he offers many styles of cuisine. I will give you his card, it's also a nice place to meet other young people." Ducky offered as he took the bowl of stew from Kate.
"We're not that young Ducky." Rachel reminded with a light laugh, she was near in age to Gibbs
"Thank you."
Once dinner was served and everyone settled they began talking about getting Danny's things set up in Kate's old house. "I'm going to make breakfast, a thank you for helping."
"French toast." Rachel smirked when Kate rolled her eyes.
"You dragged me to museums but you fed her?" Kate asked her older brother.
"You're an art nerd and she likes food." Danny chuckled, Kate pointed her fork at him getting another chuckle. "I will make you dinner sometime this week." he promised.
"I assume, like your sisters you will not be returning to Ohio for Christmas so please join them at the Mallard house for Christmas dinner."
"Thank you Ducky." Danny smiled. Danny wasn't ready to out himself to Kate's friends but then she said they would accept him no matter what, so he didn't think waiting would be a bad thing. "Will it be like Thanksgiving, everyone brings a dish?"
"Yes." he nodded.