A/N: This was my Thanksgiving 2024 fic.

Deeks dumped the boiling water from a massive stock pot into the sink, recoiling from the rush of stem billowing up towards him. When most of the water was drained, he set the pot to the side, and added several tablespoons of butter.

"Rosalie, how's it going?" he asked, joining her at the counter where she had cutting boards, bowls of ingredients, and a large platter spread out in front of her.

"The fiambre is almost ready," Rosa said, delicately placing folded pieces of ham atop a very colorful salad. It contained a truly impressive number of vegetables, cheese, meat and other ingredients that somehow worked together.

"It looks fantastic." She smiled at the compliment, offering him an olive. Deeks accepted it, chewing as he looked around the busy kitchen.

"The potatoes are ready to mash, and Mama Deeks is basting the turkey for the last time. Do you need any help?" he asked. "I could cut some more radish roses.

"No, I think I have everything. Thank you, though."

"Mama?"

Roberta huffed from her spot by the oven, looking over her shoulder. "Marty, you know I can cook a turkey in my sleep," she said dismissively.

"Yeah, let's not have a repeat of that, please," he requested.

Rosa raised an eyebrow, tilting her head at him, and he shook his head quickly mouthing, "Don't ask."

Rosa shook her head, continuing with layering her salad. He expected that story would come up sometime tonight. The Thanksgiving they'd eaten pizza for dinner because Roberta slept through an alarm was hardly the most scandalous story she'd shared.

Leaving Rosa and Roberta to their devices, he walked out into the living room and right into some twin shenanigans.

"Hey Kiddo, where you think you're going?"

Caleb, in the process of pulling himself up from a chair onto the dining room table, which had been opened up and set to accommodate their guests. He jumped, spinning around with a startled look. Grabbing him under the armpits, Deeks swung him down into the floor. He turned to Sophia, who clung to one of the table legs.

"And what are you up to, Miss Sophie?"

She offered him a wide, innocent smile that spelled nothing but trouble.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he said. Picking them both up around the waist, he deposited a kiss on each of their heads. "C'mon, let's get some of your toys."

Deeks had just got them set up in the front room with piles of blocks when Kensi came rushing out of the bedroom.

"Caleb, Sophia!"

"They're in here, baby!" Deeks said, leaning over so she could see him around the table.

"Oh, thank goodness. I left them in the bedroom while I went to the bathroom," she explained, regarding the twins with fond exasperation. "I thought they'd be ok for a couple minutes, but apparently someone figured out how to open the door."

Wado," Caleb replied with a grin.

"Of course you'd say that," Kensi replied, and bent to kiss him. She sat down opposite Deeks, settling Sophia between her legs. "How's everything in the kitchen? I didn't hear any shouting."

"Everything's almost ready. We should probably go check if there's anything else we can help with before everyone else gets here."

"Ok. Come on Sophie. Let's make sure Grandma Deeks doesn't spike the cranberries again." Kensi settled Sophia on her hip.

"Oh, I already hid the vodka, bourbon, and scotch," Deeks told her. He poked his head through the kitchen door, smiling at what he saw.

Roberta and Rosa's head were bent over a saucepan. She offered a spoon of the contents to Rosa, who tasted it and tilted her head.

"Hm, it might need a little more pepper."

"Yeah, you might be right, kiddo. You got good taste," Roberta replied, giving her an approving pat on the shoulder.

"It's a lot different than our first Thanksgiving together, isn't it?" Deeks murmured. He didn't want to interrupt the moment between the two.

"You mean when our moms were ready to battle it out to cook dinner?" Kensi asked wryly.

"Yeah. Not to mention the three kids." He watched Rosa and his mom for a few more moments. "Is it cheesy to say this is what I'm thankful for?"

"Mm, yeah. But I feel the same way." Sighing contentedly, Kensi leaned her head against his.

Yeah, grateful didn't even begin to cover it.

A/N: Based on a little research, fiambre is a common Thanksgiving/holiday dish served in Guatemalan families.