Title: A Time of Thanks Pairing: Ry/Col Rating: G Disclaimer: Don't own. Summary: I need to run out the door to a dinner, but I've had this little thought in my head all morning. They all sat around the big oak table, a feast set before them. The Stiles and Mochrie families, together for Thanksgiving again, as they were every year. Pat and Deb sat together, exchanging stories of their children, happily catching up on the past year. The children sat together, all thrilled that they were allowed to sit at the 'grow-up' table. They chattered, spending more time playing with their food than actually eating it, but enjoying every minute of it. Ryan and Colin both remained strangely silent, surveying the scene before them. Colin watched the children, thinking, as he did every year, that they should do this more often. Ryan, however, watched Colin, thinking of Thanksgiving's past, Thanksgiving's when there were no families, just Stiles and Mochrie. He thought of their first Thanksgiving, too poor to buy a turkey, instead settling for turkey tv dinners. But it hadn't mattered, they'd spent it together.....that's all that mattered. As he watched Colin, his mind returned to that first night, and he allowed himself to follow the memory. They had eaten and had more than their fair share of beer, and had retired to the couch, soft Sinatra playing in the background. Conversation had flowed freely, the two friends discussing their pasts, their present, and their futures. The conversation had deepened with discussion of the future and their dreams. Ryan remembered that night, when he told Colin that he couldn't imagine a future without him in it. He remembered the look on Colin's face, somewhere between awe and love, as his features softened and he leaned forward imperceptibly. Ryan had leaned in too, his eyes closing involuntarily. But his lips were never met. Colin had pulled away, simplying saying, "We can't do this." So many years had passed since then, their lives had changed so much, but through it all, they'd been together, and, he suspected, nothing had really changed at all. He watched Colin, sitting across the table, and thought of how different it all could have been. Just then, Colin looked up and caught his glance, deep brown eyes boring into his soul, and he smiled slightly, his eyes betraying just a hint of regret as he nodded his head. No, nothing had changed, love remained, unrequited.