Chapter Text
Feyre and Rhys had finalized their Thanksgiving plans: Feyre would fly to Velaris Wednesday afternoon and return to Adriata Sunday evening.
“I'll arrive while you're working and cab into town,” Feyre told him in a call. “I still have the key you loaned me, so I'll greet you with a sound kiss when you get home. You can't see me smirking.”
“Why don't you meet me on the bottom stair of the staircase and I'll take you upstairs on my way up after your sound kiss? You can help me change clothes. You can't see my eyebrows wiggling,” Rhys responded.
“I'll consider it, Prick, but it's not a safe enough bet for you to risk money on it. I've got to go and start getting organized and packed—I'm working for a few hours before my flight, so tonight's the time to do it. What's the dress code for Thanksgiving dinner?”
“Mor always likes Thanksgiving and Solstice dinners to be fairly dressy. Not formal, but if you have a semi-formal or long dress, that would be really great. If you don't, don't worry about it,” Rhys said.
“Oh, no, I have some outfits that will work; I just needed to know. One of them—not the Night Triumphant dress, so relax, might even meet with Mor's approval. I guess we'll see on Thursday.”
“I'll see you tomorrow, then, love. I can't wait!,” said Rhys. “I love you; sleep well.”
“I love you, too, Rhys; sweet dreams,” Feyre responded and they ended the call.
Feyre found what she needed for the trip, packing for an early winter trip to Velaris this time. All that she wanted to take fit in her suitcase nicely and she would just need to add in her makeup and toiletries tomorrow to finish the job.
She went downstairs and picked up the townhouse, finished her laundry, and cleaned the kitchen before going to bed. She was really looking forward to a few days with Rhys and his family.
Wednesday morning, she closed up the townhouse for the trip and cabbed to work with her suitcase. She arrived early as she planned to leave at ten-thirty to get to the airport on time to allow for the likely crowds in security. She brewed coffee for herself and Alis and prepped Alis' calendar and day, though it would be a short day for her, as well. Feyre had all that completed and was busy with her research when Alis arrived at nine o'clock.
“Good morning, Feyre. Are you all ready to go?”
“I am, thanks. I'm looking forward to it; it sounds like we'll be with Rhys' family for much of it. It'll be nice to get to know them better. I know Mor and Andi pretty well, but I don't know the others well at all.”
“It sounds exciting for you. I hope you have a really good time,” Alis commented.
Feyre got Alis' coffee and took it into her office. “Are you and the boys going to your friend's house for the holiday?,” Feyre asked. Alis was raising her two nephews following the untimely deaths of her sister and brother-in-law.
“Yes; I said I would bring dessert, so I'm going to be baking this afternoon. Wish me luck,” Alis smiled.
“You have my best wishes; since I can't cook at all, that's about all I can give you. I know you'll do fine, though, and just remember, it's not a crime to let a bakery do your baking for you,” Feyre grinned.
“Don't laugh—I plan to try the baking early enough that I can still get to a bakery tonight if I fail miserably. The boys want to help, though, so I need to give it a chance.”
“I know you'll have a wonderful time baking with the boys and at your friend's place as well,” Feyre said, leaving the office to return to her desk.
She went to check with Landri and Josef, the two administrative assistants who reported to her, and make sure they had no questions and were proceeding with their projects. All was fine with them, so she wished them both a Happy Thanksgiving and returned to her desk and her own work. She called for a cab to meet her at her office building's front door at ten-thirty, then worked until she had to meet the cab. Her goodbyes to Alis and her admins were quick but sincere, and she was soon at the airport,
As she expected, it was crowded with holiday travelers, but security was moving smoothly, so she was at her gate with plenty of time before her flight would board. She texted Rhys to let him know that all was still on schedule so he should prepare for his sound kiss.
A response came immediately: 'Sadly, I have a meeting when you are due to arrive, so I can't allow myself to prepare, Feyre Darling. It's first on the list of things to do the instant the meeting ends; count on it!'
Feyre laughed as she locked her phone and put it on a charger to top it off. She pulled her book from her purse and read until her flight boarded. After an enjoyable flight to Velaris, she collected her suitcase from the baggage carousel, put her purse over over her shoulder and walked out of the exit that would lead her to a waiting cab.
She found a waiting Mor, instead, and walked into a bear hug. “Feyre!”, cried Mor. “It's so good to see you! When Rhys said you were cabbing in, I told him that friends don't let friends cab in from the airport and that I happened to be free to pick you up. I hope it's okay with you.”
“It's wonderful of you,” Feyre replied, “but I didn't want to trouble anyone. Thank you so much, and it's great to see you, too. How are you and Andi?”
“We're both doing well, thanks, and so glad you'll be here for this Thanksgiving. Rhys and Cassian are doing a traditional Illyrian Thanksgiving dinner this time, so we're all in for a treat. It also means that only Rhys, Cassian, or Sevenda could possibly cook it, so the rest of us are off the hook and just have to show up with little things, eat a lot, and tell them how good it is,” Mor cackled.
“Sounds good to me,” Feyre laughed. “I can wash dishes very well, though, so maybe I can help that way. It'll be a little harder for me to just show up and eat when I'm staying in the same house.”
“True,” Mor replied. “Talk my cousin into letting you sleep over at our place tonight and we can save you from dishes that way.”
“Um, no. Just no,” Feyre responded instantly. “I know he's your cousin so you'll be all 'Ewww' about what I say, but sleeping at your cousin's house is a reason for my visiting Velaris...”
“Fine; you can wash dishes, and I'll help you after dinner. How's that?”
“Much better,” Feyre laughed again, “but thanks for looking out for me.”
By now the two females were at Mor's car. Mor told Feyre that Rhys was in a meeting with some people from Kallias Insurance about the roll out of the software they had purchased from Starr Technologies that was scheduled to begin just after the new year began. She thought Rhys planned to leave shortly after the meeting ended, but wasn't sure. At any rate, they had time to get a coffee if Feyre would like.
“Sure; I really would like to be at Rhys' place before he arrives so I can clean up and get settled, but if you think there's enough time for coffee, I'd love to.”
They were on the freeway into town and soon at the pastry shop near Rhys' home having coffee and some decadent pastries Mor insisted that Feyre try. Feyre texted Rhys that she had arrived and was with Mor, then enjoyed her food and visit with her friend.
“Are we on for Saturday night?,” Feyre asked.
“Yep; The cupcakes will be ready for Andi and I to pick them up Saturday afternoon. The pizza order is placed and it will be delivered at seven o'clock. Cassian already has the beer and wine. Your box arrived early this week, as I told you. We didn't open it, but the box was in perfect condition so we just wrapped it as is.”
“Thanks so much for all your help with this, Mor. I couldn't have done it without all of you. Azriel has made arrangements for us to be gone until sometime Saturday evening; we'd be leaving in the afternoon, he said. Will that work? Did I send enough money? I want to pay for it all.”
“You sent plenty of money, so don't worry. The time frame should do nicely,” Mor responded. “One of these times, one of you people is going to want your party to be at Rita's. It's a perfect place for it!”
“One of these years, we'll do one for you there; how's that?,” Feyre asked.
“I won't hold my breath waiting,” Mor responded, “but I will say that I'd be happy,” she said as she winked.
When they'd caught up with each other's news, they went on to Rhys' house where Feyre thanked Mor again for coming out to the airport for her and for the coffee and pastries, and said she'd see her tomorrow. Mor gave her another hug, this one from Andi, and left with a smile and a wave.
Feyre entered the house and closed and locked the door and reset the alarm system, then took her suitcase upstairs and freshened up. She had hung her dress for Thanksgiving dinner in Rhys' closet, then went back downstairs to wait for Rhys. She grabbed her phone and book from her purse and went into the living room to read. It wasn't long, though, before she heard a key in the front door and rose to go to the doorway to greet him with his promised sound kiss. She didn't get to deliver it right away, though, because he put down his computer bag and enveloped her in her second bear hug of the day, delivering his own sound kiss to her.
“Gods, I missed you,” they both said at the same time, and laughed.
“Jinx,” Feyre managed to say first. “How was your day?”
“Wonderful, now that I'm with you, Feyre Darling. Before now, it was only very good,” Rhys smirked.
“Your meeting with the Kallias Insurance people went well?,” Feyre asked.
“Yes, but I figured that it would,” Rhys said. “There are a few small contract details to finalize over the next few weeks, but they should be no problem and the roll out can begin in January once the contract is signed. Both companies are planning on that time frame, anyway.
“Did you have a good time with Mor?,” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” Feyre answered, “we settled all the problems of the world over coffee and pastries at that shop near here that you and I went to in September. It was very nice to catch up with her and very nice that she met me. I hadn't been expecting anyone, so she surprised me with a stealth bear hug when I came out of Baggage Claim,” Feyre smiled.
“That's our Mor, all right. She was mildly upset to hear you weren't being properly greeted at the airport as befits your royal status and she had a light day today, so she stood in for me. I hope it was okay with you. We didn't arrange it until after you had left, so I didn't text you.”
“That's perfectly fine, Rhys. I really enjoyed it. Do you want to get changed? I need to change in case I'm going to need this dress for anything while I'm here. By the way, I hung my coat in your coat closet and my dress for tomorrow in your bedroom closet, it that's okay with you.”
“Certainly, love. You know that this place is yours. Let's go up and help each other change,” Rhys said, wiggling his eyebrows.
They went upstairs and eventually did change clothes, after loving each other for a proper greeting.
Some time later, they emerged from the bedroom and made dinner, while talking over the dinner tomorrow. “Mor said you and Cassian are making a traditional Illyrian Thanksgiving dinner. What does that involve? I'd like to help, if I can, but I can always wash dishes, of course.”
“I'm going to make a roast chicken and a beef oven roast, plus stuffing and gravy. What will make it different than what you're used to will be the Illyrian spices I use to season all of that. Cassian is doing the potatoes, rice with Illyrian spices like Sevenda makes it, and vegetables. Amren is bringing the rolls and Mor will be bringing desserts. Those may or may not be Illyrian—that depends on if they go to an Illyrian bakery, and they might, but we aren't that strict about the menu.”
“So, if I go to one of the little stores near your arboretum, I can get some fruits, vegetables, and cheeses to cut up for us to have for hors d'oeuvres and maybe some dip. Are we going to have sodas or wines, anything like that?”
“That will likely come out of what passes for my wine cellar,” said Rhys. “You'll see how badly they treat my hospitality tomorrow when you see how many bottles they go through,” he said, shaking his head mournfully. "Other than that, I'm pretty well stocked on soda, beer, and whiskey—and coffee.”
“Okay. I'll get going after dinner and get some things, then—it won't take much more than an hour and a half,” said Feyre.
“Can I go too or is this a solo project?,” asked Rhys.
“Of course you can go; I'd welcome your company. I didn't want to ask you to go since you worked most of the day. Making the hors d'oeuvres plate is my personal contribution, so I do that part all by myself,” she said, sticking her tongue out.
Rhys pulled her close and clamped his lips to hers before she'd pulled her tongue back in, joining his tongue with hers as they kissed. “Mmmm,” he said. “You are delicious, I must say. Catching you with your magical tongue out has been a personal goal of mine for months. This is now a spectacular day!”
Feyre rolled her eyes and flipped him off. “I'm setting the dinner table now, Prick, and you're in my way. Move over to the stove and stir something or whatever it is that you're doing over there.”
Rhys laughed and finished cooking their dinner. After they'd cleaned the kitchen, they set off for the little stores to get what Feyre needed for her fruit and vegetable plate and also stopped at the nearby bakery to get breads they both liked to have during Feyre's stay.
As they were going up to bed later that evening, Feyre thought to ask Rhys what time Cassian would be arriving tomorrow. “If it's early, I brought a flannel nightgown to wear so I'll be decent for it,” she joked.
“Gods of the Cauldron, have mercy on me, no!,” he exclaimed. “Cassian has been told that he's to stay downstairs and to eat breakfast and/or lunch before he comes because I don't want that interfering with cooking for dinner. You won't need your flannel gown, because I'll keep you good and warm, but I will share my robe with you in case it is needed,” Rhys said magnanimously. “You can even keep it by your side of the bed.”
Feyre laughed. “I wondered how the flannel nightgown would go over. I guessed right,” she smirked. “No matter what you told Cassian, I want the robe, just in case he forgets.”
Rhys got the robe from its hook on the door to the bath and carefully deposited it beside Feyre's side of the bed. “Is this what you had in mind, Feyre Darling” he asked her solicitously, completely deadpan.
Feyre burst out laughing. “Yes, Prick. You did a magnificent job, thank you. I couldn't have asked for a better one. Now, come here and get your reward for a job well done and done over and above the call of duty.” He walked into her waiting arms and steered them to the bed and a night of lovemaking.