Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day when we give thanks for what we have.  All over the world people are beginning to celebrate, people are getting into a festive holiday mood in preparation to spend time with family and friends.  Thanksgiving is a time of the year for many families to reconnect, but it can also be a stressful time as well.  Just because the entire family shows up with bells on, so to speak, with their brightest of smiles and joy and cheer all over doesn’t mean that it’s true.  That joy and cheer, that big smile, many times it’s a façade, it’s a front to hide the truth behind very real issues going on behind the scenes with the family.

The Powers Family, like most families, has its rough periods.  Since last Thanksgiving, Aubrianna and her older brother Steve were locked in a bitter feud with their other older brother Derek Powers.  But this year things are different.  This year Aubrianna, Derek, and Steve stand united.  Both Derek and Aubrianna are successful in their own individual wrestling careers; Derek as GCW Heritage Champion and Aubrianna as Underground’s Tapout Champion and most recently the GCW Global Champion, her first world championship in her career, a career that hasn’t even been two full years yet.

It’s been a whirl wind ride for Aubrianna Powers, that much is true.  But her wrestling career isn’t the only thing she’s thankful for.  She’s also thankful for her boyfriend, wrestling journalist Dexter Russell.

Few people get to know the true person deep down inside.  Even Aubrianna’s brothers, Steve and Derek Powers, do not quite grasp the true nature of their youngest sibling.  Dexter Russell is one of the few who has the opportunity to see the true Aubrianna Powers.  Russell and Aubrianna used to be involved in a relationship.  They were close, and Dexter, in fact, considered her his girlfriend. Therein lies the problem.  Aubrianna felt they were getting a bit too close and she didn’t feel comfortable in a relationship, not with Dexter at least, despite the fact that she liked him.  So she broke things off.

It’s funny how fate works though; it’s been a little over a year since they got back together, since the two have rediscovered one another and they have picked up right where they left off…right where Aubrianna was afraid to go…

…intimacy.

So much so that Aubrianna has begun to think about the future of their relationship.  Where does she and Dexter go from here?  It’s a question she’s been pondering for quite awhile.  Unfortunately, she isn’t completely sure that Dexter is as concerned about it as she is.

Thus the stage is set for a Powers family Thanksgiving.  Derek, Steve, and Aubrianna may be stars of the squared circle, on this day in this household the real star is the food. Tables laden with delicacies line the walls. Everything you can think of, and things you have never dreamed of, lie in wait. Whole roasted cows and pigs and goats still turning on spits. Huge platters of fowl stuffed with savoury fruit and nuts. Ocean creatures drizzled in sauces or begging to be dipped in spicy concoctions. Countless cheeses, breads, vegetables, sweets, waterfalls of wine, and streams of spirits that flicker with flames.

Aubrianna Powers, the blonde haired youngest sibling, stares longingly at the food.  The Tapout and Global Champion considers reaching in and taking a little early snack but this is put to an abrupt halt when her boyfriend, Dexter Russell, walks in and swats his hand away.

“Wait.”

“Wait?!”

“Yes, wait.  You can be patient and wait like a good girl until your mom gets here.”

“They’re always late.” Aubrianna complains with a pouty look on her face.

“That may be true but think of what would happen if you did start early, before your mom and dad, before your brothers even.” Dexter suggests.

“Yeah, you’re right.  I’d never hear the end of it.  Steve and Derek are always whiny about wanting to be first in line.  Boys…”

“I resemble that remark.” Dexter winks.

“…and I’d never hear the end of it from mom and dad if we start a tradition of eating without them.  Remember when we decided not to get a fucking turkey for thanksgiving?  Dad bitched about it all year.”

Dexter chuckles under his breath. “Yeah, I remember you telling me about that.”

Aubrianna reaches out and embraces Dexter in a tight hug. “I’m glad you could come to Thanksgiving with us this year, Dex.”

 “I wouldn’t miss it, or you, for the world.” He kisses her on the lips. “Besides, I’m really starting to feel like one of the family now.  I think your brothers actually respect me.”

“You’re right.” She nods her head. “They’ll never admit it, their egos will never let them admit it, but they do respect you more now than when we last dated.”

“I can understand; I wouldn’t respect me, either, looking back.  I allowed myself to get pushed around and bullied backstage at wrestling events by everyone, from the men and women wrestlers and even referees.  It is a sad state of affairs when a guy has to have his girlfriend fight his battles for him.”

“Dex, babe, we already talked about this…”

“I know, but you had every right to dump me back then.  I needed to get myself straightened out because I couldn’t take care of you.  Now I can stick up for myself and take care of you if need be.”

“Oh you poor fool.” She hugs him tightly. “You don’t need to take care of me.”

Aubrianna and Dexter share another passionate, romantic kiss.  Dexter takes her by her arm and they walk, arm in arm, out of the kitchen.  Dexter leads her into the living room where they immediately find comfort on a plush sofa.  Dexter sits down in the center and Aubrianna sits in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek.

“Thanksgiving itself is dumb, but you know what?  I got to admit that I am thankful for a lot of things this year.”

“What’s that, Aubrey?”

“God given natural talent and the luck bestowed upon me to have such a great career.   I’m still in my second year as a pro and I’ve already held four championships, one of which is my first ever world title.  So yeah, I have a lot to be thankful for.”

Dexter nods his head.  “It is Thanksgiving, Aubrey, and you want to know what I’m thankful for?”

“What?”

“Having you back in my life.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet…” Aubrianna’s voice trails off.  Dexter takes note of the slight hesitation in her voice and it concerns him.  He arches a brow out of curiosity.

“What’s wrong, Aubrey?”

“Nothing.  It’s just…” she considers speaking but then shakes her head “…nothing.”

“Spill it.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.  Tell me.”

“It’s just that, Amber Sloane is getting married.”

“Yeah, I remember humiliating you on twitter last night about that.” Dexter grins devilishly.

“Yeah and we’ll talk about that later too, but first I need to say that, as happy as I am for Amber, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious.  Kellen Jeffries proposed to her but my boyfriend hasn’t proposed to me yet.”

“Aubrey…” Dexter’s voice trails off as Aubrianna interrupts him.

“Noticing something missing?” She displays her hand, specifically her ring finger. “It’s missing a diamond, babe!”

“Aubrey, I want you to know right now that I love you.”

“Then put a diamond on my ring and propose, dummy!”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?!”

“I almost lost you once, Aubrey.  I don’t want to lose you again because I was reckless and rushed into things.  When I propose, and trust me I will, I want it to be right.  And we’re not going to rush things, either.  We can and should take as long as necessary to make sure we get it right.  You’re the best thing to happen to me, Aubrey, and I don’t want to risk losing you again.”

“I guess I can understand.” Aubrianna sighs. “Truthfully, you are more than just the best thing to happen to me.  You bring out the best in me.  You’re there to rein me back in and make sure I’m an honest, good person, and that I don’t go too far.  I couldn’t imagine life without you, Dex.”

“Then let’s take things slow.  It’s only been a year since we got back together.  Let’s continue our intimate relationship as long as necessary before we decide it’s time to tie the knot. We’re both young.  We have plenty of time.”

“That’s right,” Powers says with a grin on her face “plenty of time.”

They lean in and kiss yet again.