Fic: Hamburger Stuffing, Green Beans With Onion Rings, And Cranberry Sauce From A Can :) (1/1)
Title: Hamburger Stuffing, Green Beans With Onion Rings, And Cranberry Sauce From A Can :) (1/1)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters:: Kara/Lena, Brainy/Nia, Eliza, Esme, Alex/Kelly, J’onn/M’gann, Lillian (in flashbacks), James
Continuity: Supergirl (2015)
Genres: Fluff, Holiday, Slice-Of-Life
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: For Kara (6x20)
Summary: When the Super Friends gather for a traditional Thanksgiving, Lena holds out hope for a new beginning.
Date Of Completion: November 20, 2021
Date Of Posting: November 23, 2021
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1730
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The table is laid
With the bounty
Of the harvest
And thanks are given
With abundance.
Sarah Jean Ecklesford
“Poems For Thanksgiving”
1886 C.E.
The kitchen in Kara’s apartment was filled with laughter, bustle and the smells of good food cooking. Everyone seemed to weave in and out expertly as they prepared the Thanksgiving feast as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade played on TV in the background.
Lena was a bit overwhelmed but she pitched in and avoided an accident with Nia, who was carrying a bowl of Yukon Gold potatoes. Lena reached her corner of the kitchen and began making the stuffing.
The turkey had been cooking for quite awhile, so the stuffing would be cooked separately. She carefully read the instructions on the recipe card she had brought and got to work.
“Oh, that balloon is adorable,” said the female broadcaster.
“I agree. Who doesn’t love a Pokemon?” answered her male partner.
Lena chopped up onions and celery and mixed them in with the ground beef. There would be other ingredients, and a secret one. She smiled at the thought.
“Love to see your recipe shaping up,” Eliza said.
Kara and Alex’s mother was in her element, preparing Thanksgiving dinner for her family.
Lena smiled. “Love to make a contribution.”
“You always do, dear.”
Lena ducked her head and Eliza patted her shoulder. Eliza went over to Kara next.
Esme was working industriously as she sat at the coffee table, her little legs sticking out from under the table. She was working on place cards, drawing different leaves for each person, using red, yellow and orange colors but also blue and purple, ‘because I like those colors.’ Her mothers nodded approvingly. She was also watching the parade with J’onn.
“Yes, chop those up,” Eliza directed Kelly.
“Aunt Kara! Look!” Esme called.
Kara and a few others looked at the TV. Alex burst out laughing.
Lena turned and laughed, too. A giant Supergirl balloon bobbed down the New York street.
“You’re looking a little chubby,” Alex teased her sister.
“Guess you could say she is full of hot air,” smirked Lena.
“Hmph,” Kara sniffed.
Esme was delighted, giggling as the giant balloon filled the TV screen. Grins were on everyone’s faces except for Kara, who pretended great indignation. She vigorously mashed the potatoes.
“Supergirl is always a hit, Greg.”
“”You’re right, Melinda. And now with her secret identity revealed, we can also wish CatCo Editor-In-Chief Kara Danvers a Happy Thanksgiving.”
Lena quickly looked at Kara, but her friend did not react to the TV commentary. Lena added some sage to her stuffing mix.
The food preparation went smoothly, and Lena was ready to cook after adding her secret ingredient. As she watched the casserole dish baking, she said, “I see we have plenty of pie.”
Eliza smiled. “Pumpkin, apple and one mince, J’onn’s favorite.” Her tone grew wistful. “It was Jeremiah’s, too.”
Lena swallowed. “Homemade?”
Eliza brightened. “Oh, yes.” She checked on the yams and sweet potatoes.
“Delicious, I’m sure.”
“I certainly hope so.”
“Santa Claus!” Esme said.
The parade was drawing to a close and Santa’s arrival was a very big event as children in the street cheered and yelled to the jolly old man. Mrs. Claus also rode on the float, waving and dancing to cheerful Christmas music.
“Santa gives toys to good children, doesn’t he?”
“That’s right, Esme,” said J’onn.
“What a great deal!”
The adults laughed at Esme’s declaration.
“Kids always know,” J’onn said cheerfully. He ruffled Esme’s hair and she giggled.
Santa Claus was a big hit and Eliza checked the table for the last time. As the end credits rolled for the parade broadcast, she announced, “Dinner is served!” The TV was shut off and Esme quickly set out the place cards just in time as everyone searched their names.
Lena was pleased to see her name was next to Kara’s. As she helped set the various bowls and dishes on the table, she wondered if Esme had received instructions to place the cards that way, or the little girl had randomly set out the cards.
Or maybe not so random. Esme might have been inspired by her mothers’ wedding to do a little matchmaking.
The thought was both touching and amusing. Whatever the reason, Lena was glad of the seating arrangements.
When the food was all delivered and everyone sar at the round table, Eliza said a blessing and mentioned those not here with them today. Lena knew that the Danvers women were thinking of Jeremiah, beloved husband and father, now deceased.
Lena thought of her own biological mother, Elizabeth, long departed, and of her stepmother, Lillian, recently gone. Lillian had not been the ideal stepmother, but she had been delighted to welcome a daughter to the family, despite Lena being Lionel’s illegitimate child. There had been good times.
Lillian had taught Lena to make hamburger stuffing with a secret ingredient. “My mother taught me, and her mother taught her, and so on.” She insisted upon making the stuffing herself with Lena after the kitchen staff had gone home for the day. Lena had never divulged the secret ingredient to anyone. “We Luthors are red-meat people,” Lillian had laughed. “We love our secrets, too.” Her eyes sparkled with an inner glee. “Remember, dear, keep the spice in life.”
Yes, Mother.
It was sound advice. Lillian had never been boring, holding the mercurial Lionel’s interest for years.
Lillian had suddenly released her stepdaughter from the Luthor legacy just before she died, and Lena was grateful.
She looked around the table. She felt more comfortable this year than when attending past Thanksgivings with this group, probably because she was part of the team and knew Kara’s secret now. All the Super Friends were here plus James Olsen. M’gann had returned from her mission and was once more part of the team. She and J’onn sat together and M’gann lightly touched J’onn’s hand as she passed the yams.
Eliza had gone all out: in addition to the large turkey, there were yams, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green-bean-and-onion-rings casserole, salad, cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing, and Lena’s hamburger stuffing.
J’onn carved slices of the warm turkey, and chatter mixed with the clink of silverware. M’gann speared a bite of turkey and asked Kara, “So where did Cat Grant go for the holiday?”
“Paris. She’s meeting up with some old friends from the States and says they’ll all be expatriates together.”
“What did your Cousin Clark have to say when he called this morning?” Kelly asked as she picked up her glass of apple cider.
“That since it’s their first year in Smallville, they decided to spend the holiday at the farm, but they want to get together for Christmas.”
Brainy had heaped his plate with vegetables. “I am particularly fond of these green beans,” he told Eliza.
Esme giggled, looking at Brainy’s green skin.
“Ah, yes, vegetables,” said Kara, no doubt remembering her awkward PSA with Brainy about vegetables. Lena and Nia exchanged amused smiles.
“Hasn’t this green bean casserole been around since the ‘50s?” Nia asked.
“Yes, since 1955, in fact,” said Eliza. “Dorcas Reilly was head of Campbell Soup’s kitchen and came up with the recipe, combining green beans, onion rings and cream of mushroom soup. It took off, possibly due to its homey simplicity.”
“And good taste,” Brainy said, forking more beans.
“Does ‘homey simplicity’ apply to the cranberry sauce?” James teased.
The Danvers women laughed. The cranberry sauce consisted of round, jiggly slices out of an Ocean Spray can.
“There’s a story about that,” Alex said.
“Do tell,” James said.
“Well, Mom used to make cranberry sauce when I was little, but one year she simply didn’t have time so she used the canned sauce. The following year she made it from scratch again so I piped up and said, ‘Where’s the can?; “
Everyone laughed and James said, “That’s quite a story.”
“By the time Kara came to us, canned cranberry was established as our traditional dish.”
Esme poked at her sauce. “It’s shaped like a can!”
“That it is, honey.” Alex exchanged mirthful looks with Eliza and Kara.
Family memories and traditions were important, Lena thought.
“Hey, Lena, this stuffing is wonderful,” Nia said. “I can detect celery, onions and sage, but there’s another ingredient in here, isn’t there?”
“Yes.”
“C’mon, spill.”
“Can’t. It’s a secret.”
Nia accepted that, to Lena’s relief. She did not want to create any discord on such a harmonious occasion.
“It was several years before I realized that cranberry sauce wasn’t shaped like a can,” Kara said with a twinkle in her eye.
“But it is!” Esme insisted.
As jokes flew around the table, Lena observed Kara. She was sparkling, open and loving. Talking about her cousin’s family in Smallville had lit up her eyes.
Wait, does that mean Cousin Clark is...Superman?
She blinked at the thought. What did the Lane-Kents think about Kara’s new open identity policy?
She brushed away the notion for further reflection. Right now Kara was sitting right beside her in all her glorious flesh. Had she read the signals wrong? Kara had dated James and Mon-El, but no women. Was Alex the only lesbian in the family?
Lena’s old doubts resurfaced, even in the midst of all the Thanksgiving festivity. Why couldn’t she just enjoy the moment? Be grateful she had Kara’s friendship!
I guess there’s still some Luthor in me, Mother.
It was easy for Kara. Despite keeping a big secret for most of her life, she was open and happy. Would she thrive with this new reality? Would there be threats even Supergirl needed protection from? Could Luthor caution help with Kara’s openness?
Whatever you need, I’ll be there, Kara. My magical powers are at your disposal. Always.
“Here, Lena, how about more of your wonderful stuffing?”
Lena looked up from her plate to see Kara holding the bowl of warm hamburger stuffing. Her blue eyes were very bright and her smile sure and confident, but did Lena detect a faint hint of apprehension?
Lena took the bowl, her hands brushing against Kara’s. Her friend smiled like sunshine and Lena’s heart soared.
“Always up for some super-stuffing.”
Kara’s eyes danced with laughter. “It’s magical.”
“Oh, yes.”
Lena scooped out more stuffing onto her plate and passed the bowl along.
It was time for traditions and new beginnings, and she was thankful.
This story can also be read on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)