Hey there! In honor of Thanksgiving in the states, can you tell us three things your MC is grateful for this year? What about their LI?

And if you want to tell us three things you are thankful for too, go for it!

I know I am pretty late but I didn't want to let this one be in my WIP till next year...

Thank you @jerzwriter for this ask. I have taken the liberty to write for my OTP whom I consider my MC and their LI. Here it goes....

Book: TRR AU

Pairing: Drake x Olivia.

Word count: 1,177

Disclaimer: All characters belong to pixelberry.

Rating: teens

Warning: fluff

Prompt: prompt 7 by

@choicesdecemberchallenge2022 @peonierose

Drake parked his truck and moved out. He pulled on his jacket a bit more tightly as he felt the Lythikan chill. He took a moment to look at the serene white mountains around him. A smile played on his lips, unknowingly. ‘How did he get here? Loving the snow and falling in love with the snow queen.’

A soft breeze kissed his cheeks. ‘Just like her red lips do.’ He blushed at her thought. His life had taken a new turn when she expressed herself. ‘Olivia? Lady Olivia Nevrakis loves me?’ He had questioned himself aloud.

He shook his head and turned to walk into the Nevrakis chateau. Surprisingly, it was very quiet.

‘May be Olivia sent away the staff to spend a quiet evening with me.’ He chuckled at the thought and pushed at the main entrance. The heavy ornate doors opened with a slight creek.

‘This one needs some grease.’ He made a mental note. Olivia’s house had become his home away from home and he enjoyed being her handyman even when she had an army of men to work for her.

As soon as he stepped in, he covered his nose. ‘What an awful smell! Burnt meat.’ He assessed. The hall stood still and so did the staircase, the parlour, the library. He went to the kitchen, where the waft came from. The scene was a mess. Flour on the island and on the floor, the oven was all black and simmering though switched off. But no one in sight.

Drake’s brows furrowed. He called out with a worried note, “Livy?”

No response.

“Livy...” he raised his voice.

Still nothing. He hurried through the back exit. “Olivia?” he yelled into the backyard. He scurried to the left and then to the right side. He slowed down when he finally saw her crouched down on a rock. She had her knees to her chest, her arms curled around and head hung low on her hands.

He trudged slowly, “Livy?”

She raised her head and looked at him, her eyes red and welled up. Her cheeks showed stains of the dried-up tears. She was wearing just a sleeveless frock. He quickly removed his jacket to cover her bare arms. “How long have you been here like this?” He cradled her in his arms in an attempt to give her some warmth.

She rested her cheek on his arm as a silent sob escaped her lips. He patted on her red head wondering what went wrong. “Let’s get you in, first.” He pulled her up and they walked back into the kitchen.

He helped her settle down in a chair. She looked at Drake and then her eyes fell on something behind him. She winced at the sight.

He got up to check out where her gaze had rested. That’s when he noticed all the food spread out on the kitchen island, platform and table.

He snickered, trying to control his laughter, now that realisation hit him of hat brought the meltdown to his headstrong girl. He moved the ladle into a bowlful of gooey mix. He dipped his finger in and licked it.

“Why does this taste like salted syrup?”

Olivia covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. He heard her muffled reply, “I was trying to make pie.”

“And you mixed up between salt and sugar.” He stated. His eyes fell on the baking tray nearby. “Ah! you made the crust as well.” He tried to take a piece off the baked crust of pie but he couldn’t break it. “Hey Livy, this crust is as tough as you.”

Olivia gave out a wailing cry, still hiding her face. Drake was smiling. He knew he was on the right track and he moved to where the burnt turkey laid. “Oh boy! It seems this turkey couldn’t tolerate the Nevrakis cooking. Look he committed suicide.”

Olivia peeped through her fingers and saw Drake standing there and guffawing at her. She ran to him and playfully pounded on his chest. He encircled his arms and embraced her, now laughing out loudly and soon she joined in.

She relaxed in his arms. He knew how to diffuse the situation. He knew how to make her smile through tears. As she calmed down, he placed a kiss on her head, “Why did you put yourself through all this?” he asked.

Her lips thinned out in a line, “I wanted to do something from your tradition for you.”

“Hmm, well that can be managed.”

“How?” she fanned out her hand at all the wasted food.

He beamed at her, “Come with me.” He held her hand and walked her out to his truck. He uncovered the cargo bed to reveal the large vessel full of food.

Olivia gasped. “What? You made all of this?”

He nodded bemused with her reaction.

“Why?” she looked at him confused.

“Because I wanted to share my tradition with you.”

She gave him a side hug and he took the opportunity to leave a peck on her temple. “Now, where do you want me to put this so that we can enjoy a happy meal?”

“Anywhere but my kitchen.” She scrunched her nose at the thought of the mess she had left behind.

“Okay, as you say. We can deal with your kitchen later.”

Drake carried the food as she guided him to the terrace. They ate and sat their, enjoying the view of the mountains around.

After a scrumptious meal, the duo headed to her room to catch up on their favourite show. Olivia sat on the couch and Drake made himself comfortable laying down, resting his head in her lap. He loved the feel of her fingers raking through his chestnut hair. He had closed his eyes, relaxing, when she asked him, “Drake?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you grateful for?”

He opened his eyes and gave her a puzzled look. “Where does this come from now?”

“Isn’t this what is supposed to be said after the meals on Thanksgiving?” she questioned back.

“Sort of...” he shrugged.

“So, what is your answer?

He started counting on his fingers, “The first thing I am grateful for is having Liam in my life.”

“And?”

“Having a loving nephew.”

“And?”

“Being able to survive amongst the pretentious nobles.”

“And?”

He deliberately kept avoiding what she wanted to hear.

“I thank God that I know how to cook food without burning it to ashes.” He said teasing her.

She slapped him on his shoulder. He doubled up in exaggeration. “Ouch, ouch, ouch! That hurt.”

She tried to push him away when he turned and held her by her arms. His brown eyes steadily gazing into her green ones. “You. Your love. That is the best thing I could ask for. I am grateful to God for giving me these moments that I get to share with you, the happiness that you bring to me, the way you take away all my worries and pain, the fact that you love me... I am grateful that I get to love you, Olivia.”

And he sealed it with a kiss.

Tags: @3pawandme @alj4890 @angelasscribbles @bascmve01 @bebepac @busywoman @dcbbw @gkittylove99 @harleybeaumont @iaminlovewithtrr @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @neotericthemis @mom2000aggie @phoenixrising308 @princess-geek @riseandshinelittleblossom @secretaryunpaid @sfb123 @sillydg @tessa-liam @tinkie1973 @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @yourmajesty09 @flowerpowell (if u r interested in a Drake fic) @lovealexhunt (for the photo edit)