The Stone and the Water - A Yamada Thanksgiving

In the struggle between the stone and the water, in time, the water wins. - Japanese proverb

Sunday


Michael Reinhardt pulled up in front of the Yamada House and parked. He looks at the house and blinks. His first Thanksgiving with Stephanie's family. More due to the time of year that they had gotten together than anything, her family already wanted to meet him. Well, not meet him, as they all had long before he and Steph had gotten together. Just now it was different. He cared about Stephanie ... and Tristan was a really good kid, he already knew. He looks in the backseat at India. Ryan is beside him. "Ready?"

India Tor looks at the house and then at Michael. "You'll do fine. The last time I was here I threw up like a fool." she sighs and rests a hand on her still small belly. The morning sickness seemed to be over and she was now trying not to eat like ... well like she was eating for two. "I think Sakura will love you just because you can reach the top shelves without assistance, big boy. I know that's why I love you." she teases.

Ryan laughs at India "Yes Mike, you will forever be our shelf reacher. You can never move now. And if we move we'll have to rent you a room...right off the kitchen so Indy can call on you." He teases "And relax, it's just my folks and Garrett. they already like you. I hope you've been fasting because we're gonna be fed." Ryan opens the door for India after getting out and reaches to take her hand. His smile drops for a second and he stares at Michael like he's trying to figure something out while waiting for India. After she gets up he'll hold it as they walk to the house.

Tristan had been walking by the front entrance and yanked the door open when he heard the car. He was peeking in and out of the door and yelled "They're here!" as they got out of the car. Sakura walked up behind her grandson and waved madly "Come in come in!" The house smelled like a combination of Canadian Thanksgiving food and some Japanese dishes. Stephanie, Garrett and Hiro were tucked away in the kitchen.

Michael gets out of the car, carrying with him a bottle of dry wine. He waits for Ryan and India to get ahead of him, then follows. He's a little tense as he looks down at Sakura and Tristan by the door. "Ma'am." he greets Sakura as he toes off his shoes. It's what he's always called her. That or 'Mrs Yamada'. "Hey, Tristan." he smiles a bit. Then he sort of lingers. In his family, the men would congregate in the living room; the women in the kitchen. But in this family, he suspected things to be different.

India moves ahead of both men and hugs Sakura after she gets her shoes off. Then she sort of ruffles Tristan's hair with a giggle. Seeing Michael hesitate, the takes his hand and pulls all 6'4" of him into the kitchen, where she waits long enough to know her hugs won't kill anyone cooking and hugs Stephanie and then Hiro. She looks at the food all around. "OK, I'm not getting sick anymore. Bring it all on!" she giggles.

Michael is dragged into the kitchen, so he goes and once India has hugs people, he moves to Stephanie and leans in to kiss her on the corner of her mouth, then hands her the bottle of wine, belatedly wondering if he should have brought two. It is a good, quality wine. Then, if Hiro's hands aren't busy or a complete mess, offers the man his hand to shake, followed by Garrett. "Brought a little wine."

Stephanie gives Michael a little kiss back and a knowing smile and takes the wine "I knew you were good for more than just eye candy. I brought one two and they should go nicely together. Dry before and sweet after."

India's hugs are well received and returned warmly as if she's been a Yamada from birth herself. Sakura looks down at the baby bump and asks eagerly "Any kicks yet?"

Hiro shakes Michael's hand and smiles at him "Happy Thanksgiving!" Immediately after he steps to a cutting board and a big Nappa cabbage and slices through it with a clever like a guillotine.

Garrett shakes his hand next and teases him "Don't worry. He hasn't chopped at any of Steph's boyfriends over the years."

Ryan walks past the scene with wine glasses and chimes in "That we've found bodies for anyway." He seems to be kidding but his eyes dart at Michael with an unreadable expression on his face after.

Steph gets an uncomfortable look on her face and retorts dryly "I've got a short list if Dad changes his mind on that."

Tristan has flopped on the couch in the family room beside the kitchen and the sounds of his game boy can be heard. He pretended to fuss about the hair mussing from India but then had grinned at her afterwards.

Michael takes Steph in his arms for a short hug after she takes the wine. "Sounds like us." he quips a second before the cleaver kills the cabbage. He looks from cabbage to cleaver to father. "Stephanie will protect me." he predicts with confidence. "She's the strongest woman I've ever met." he realizes that this is true, and its a trait he loves in her, even though it does nothing to dilute his own protective instincts. he glances at Ryan. "Seriously? Your own partner? Man ... just ... man oh man. Yea. Steph ... get him." hes heard a bit more about Steph Torture and sounds like he'd like to hear more. But he doesn't really release Steph.

India shakes her head. "Not yet. Maybe when I stuff myself so full the baby will HAVE to move." she sees the cabbage murder and looks at the males. "Men.' she scoffs. "Ya'll better stop. My girl Steph got the good man. Don't be tryin to scare him off." she scoffs. She knows about Michael, but she also knows they both look good together and are happy in their relationship. Reaching between Hiro and Michael she takes the cabbage and pulls off a leaf, rolls it up and stuffs it in her mouth. "What else is to eat up in here?" she demands, scanning the kitchen as if looking for vital evidence.

Michael's arms around Steph seem to instantly sooth her discomfort and she giggles "I just need to show you the right spots on Ryan's inner arm to pinch."

Ryan gives a brief eyebrow wiggle and a smile that doesn't reach his eyes "See what you're in for if you cross her Mike?" He again seems to be teasing but there's and edge to him.

Stephanie frowns at him after like there's an unfinished something hanging in the air and Ryan immediately turns away and grabs a wine glass to fill.

Hiro is delighted by India's cabbage stealing and request for food and nudges Sakura "Quick, get the tempura out for snacks. Our grandchild is speaking through her!"

Sakura beams and pulls a plate of fresh made tempura veggies and sauce from the other counter, setting them right by India. Garrett follows, ready to steal one too.

Beginning to relax, Michael nuzzles her neck a bit. "I'd love to know." he tells her and then looks at Ryan, looking between his eyes and his smile. "Yea. I know. There's worse things." he watches Ryan fill his wine glass, curious.

India half looks at Ryan, but it immediately distracted by Hiro. "Yes! Feed me!" she giggles. Once the platter is seated she picks one up and then looks at Garrett. "You brave enough to try and take food from a pregnant woman?" she challenges with half a grin. "Do you have the guts?" her eyes twinkle as she bites into it.

Garrett smiles sheepishly at India and reaches for a battered mushroom "You wouldn't kill a chef would you?"

Sakura and Hiro watch with amusement to see India's reaction.

Ryan takes a sip of his wine and leans against the counter trying to look relaxed but he would fail every bluff in poker because the fact that something is eating at him is radiating from his entire being. He looks worriedly at Steph and then seems to try and belatedly follow the exchange between India and Garrett, laughing weakly and after the others.

Stephanie turns so she's not facing Ryan. It's intentional but subtle. She focuses on Michael but distractedly and asks a completely random question "What LC do you buy wine at?"

India looks at Garrett with a disbelieving face. "In a heartbeat..." she lets a little Ebonics through. "My brutha..." she chuckles as he takes a mushroom. "You lucky I like you." she takes another piece. "But if they let me eat some cooked seafood, you best to step off." the warns.

Michael chuckles at India and the whole scene, but also notices Ryan. When Stephanie turns, he keeps in physical contact with her. "There's a little place in North Delta I like. Stopped by there last night. Castillo's. Privately owned by this gay couple. They know their alcohol." he grins, but appears a bit guarded. Somethings up with Ryan, but to look at India it isn't coming from there.

The Yamada parents laugh at India and then both drift over to other food prep.

Garrett smiles and nods, looking like he may not have totally caught India's phrasing but the message was clear. He sees Ryan holding wine and looks for the bottle now too while offering to the room "Wine? Club soda or milk for the non wine drinkers?"

Tristan pipes in from the other room "Is it chocolate milk?"

Garrett snickers "Damn his Vulcan hearing. Steph can I put some syrup in his?"

Steph turns but stays connected to Michael physically "Yes but don't overdo it Gar And wine for me please." She sees the stage the meal prep is at and kisses Michael on the cheek "I'm going to go pitch in for a bit." She reluctantly steps away.

Ryan watches his sister move out of Michael's arms and then locks eyes with Michael giving him a brief but intense questioning look. He lets his eyes drift back down to his wine and slowly sips.

India also perks at the mention of chocolate milk. "My man, Tristan!" she proclaims and takes the tray of food in the direction of the youngest Yamada. "Garrett, make it three glasses. Hurry up, boy we ain't got all day!"

Michael takes the kiss to the cheek and nods. He looks at Ryan. "How bout me and you get out of the way?" he suggests. "Help me with something in my car?" he offers.

Garrett happily makes 3 chocolate milks and brings them to Tristan and India now in the other room.

Tristan starts to explain way more about his video game than anyone would EVER want to know "And then you have to use the grappling hook and then rappel down the wall.....and then...."

Stephanie and her parents start assembling chestnut rice together and speak in Japanese.

Ryan gives a non committal little shrug and a half nod and agrees "Ok man....let's go."


India plops down near Tristan and seems to be trying to understand while she eats tempura veggies and drinks chocolate milk like this is somehow perfectly normal.

Michael nods, and gives Steph a little 'if you need me you come get me' look and then heads out of the house and to his car, where he leans against the back of it and folds his arms, looking at Ryan. "What's up, man?" he asks. "I know something is."

Ryan folds his arms too and then just unloads the whole deal "I stopped in at the station at the end of my run because I forgot my travel mug and Angie told me Steph is a witness in the robbery at the pharmacy...and it was fucking Colin Rankin?!! I was going to dodge that with her until it was on the news....but she was dodging me...so were you. Why did neither of you tell me? Then I was going to call her and ask her when I heard both your voices at the top of the stairs as I came up to go home. I didn't want to interrupt but then it got real quiet so I started walking again and saw you guys making out like there was no tomorrow. What the HELL man?"

Michael starts to defend himself with "I was in a hurry to get home after I filed. I assumed you'd read my re...." and he stops mid-sentence when he mentions seeing him and Steph making out. Apparently their prolonged goodbye before he headed to work the next morning was witnessed ... by Steph's brother. He doesn't blush, but he does sigh. "That's between me and Steph, don't you think?" he is a private man and always has been, but he knows .... he and Steph might require a little explanation. But he wouldn't have been looking at them the way he was if he hadn't assumed or guessed at part of it. He waits, partially glad of the talk with his old friends he had the day before.


Ryan throws up his hands "Look I don't care if you guys are... I mean that's your choice yeah.. And hers. But if that is the deal, be sure it's what you want. She's been through a lot and now Colin shows up again. Mike I don't want to see either of you get hurt and whatever's going on...it's gotta be complicated. I'm worried about you both and she didn't want to talk about it."


Michael drops his hands. "Colin is history." he announces. "And now ... it's not like they're gonna get back together." he blows out a breath and runs his hand through his hair. "But ... it can be complicated. I thought ... all my life I never thought I'd ..." he blows out a breath. "I'm not out to hurt anyone, least of all Stephanie. My feelings should be simple and they aren't." he shrugs and looks around. "Ryan. I will not hurt your sister intentionally." he shrugs. "I only ..." he cuts himself off and shrugs. "I won't hurt her intentionally." he finishes, anxious about what he almost said and didn't.

Ryan looks concerned "Look Mike, I'm worried about you too. You are my partner and my friend, one of my best friends next to Adum. This seems like it's already hurting you. Talk to me man..."

Michael looks for a moment like he won't reply. Then he looks directly at his partner and friend. "This isn't about gay or straight." he blows out a breath. "I only ever felt like this with Harley, man."

Ryan says what Mike's not coming out with "You love her? Does she know?"
He gives him a little half smile "Looks like she's falling for you too. The instant calm after not talking about Colin the second you put your arms around her. I've never seen that before with her."

Michael sighs. "Yea. I guess I do, but no, I haven't told her." he arches his brows. "Seriously? She is?" he looks towards the house. Then he shakes his head. "I'm glad I can do that for her. This was so unexpected, but felt so right. I mean .. you know my history with women..."

Ryan chuckles a bit but this time the smile does reach his eyes "I'm sorry if I was an ass. I was confused, I know nothing like you but yeah..." He reaches out to shake Michael's hand.

Michael grins and takes the hand, shaking it firmly. "I don't blame you." he says. "Lets forget about it, okay." he straightens and claps Ryan on the shoulder. "Don't think about it. You'll go cross-eyed." he nods towards the house. "Can we go back inside before your woman eats all the food and then starts in on your relatives?" he teases.


Ryan laughs "Yeah. Don't worry, there will be lots of food. " He leads the way in and as he passes the stove Steph is just turning away from it and he stops in front of her. Steph sees Michael behind him and gives Ryan a sort of warning look as if to say "You better have been nice." Ryan looks contrite and pulls his sister into a big hug. She hesitates in surprise at first and then hugs him back hard with a relieved look at Michael.

Sakura and Hiro are in the dining room setting up the table. It's possible India and Garrett can see the hug through the door to the family room. Garrett appears to be watching Tristan play his game though.

Michael watches the siblings hug with a half smile on his face. When the hug is over, he steps in place to hug her too. But he thinks now is not the time to tell her his feelings. He'll do it in style ... like he did the last time he told someone he loved them.

India glances up from her phone when the men come back inside. The tempura is gone, mostly consumed by her. She gets half a smile on her face and glances down at her phone again, then stands and moves to the hugging trio. She slips under Ryans arm, but hands Michael her phone.

Michael glances at the phone once the hug is over and immediately hands it back. "Thanks but no thanks." he tells her. "I am OFF the market."

India arches a brow and looks at Steph, then smiles as she texts. "Message delivered. Now .... it's almost time to eat. I got my stomach back .. am I supposed to feel half starved?" she shakes her head and looks towards the table, wistfully.

Stephanie returns Michael's hug with a big squeeze. She lets go and raises a brow at India's phone and Michael's words. It sounds like a good thing but she gives him an "I'll ask you about that later" sort of glance before pulling on oven mitts and pulling out the chestnut rice to set on the table.

Ryan teases India "What are you showing him nearby Tinder options or something Indy? It's a family dinner Babe." He slides his hand over the baby bump and lightly caresses "You're growing our little person. You need to eat."

Garrett sees the movements of food to the dining room and pokes Tristan "Hey man, food time."

Tristan finger mashes the controls "I just have to finish....this....level..."

Sakura and Hiro and now standing in the dining room with Stephanie and Sakura calls the group "Please come and sit."

The table is leaden with a turkey, stuffing, gravy mashed potatoes, candies yams and green beans but there is also the traditional chestnut rice dish and a nappa cabbage sort of cole slaw with chopped apples and Japanese stile pickles.

Tristan starts walking into the room while still trying to beat his game and Stephanie says sternly "No game boy at the table. Pause or save."

Tristan grumbles a bit but hits a few buttons and sets the device down in the kitchen. Stephanie pulls out a chair for him and they will sit side by side with room for Michael on Stephanie's other side. The Sakura parents each take an end of the table leaving the other three chairs on the kitchen side for Ryan, India and Garrett.

Michael shrugs. "Just one of India's friends trying to see if I want to go out." he explains. "I don't." He pulls out his phone and powers it off and moves to look at the table, actually quite curious. He moves to the table and pulls out a chair for Stephanie without really thinking about it. Gentlemanly tendencies are pretty deeply bred into him.

India has a grin on her face as she, too, powers down her phone for dinner. "Well, then that's that, ain't it?" she looks between Michael and Stephanie with a grin. She turns to the table and looks at it, pretty curious herself. "I SO lucked out in the cultural foods department." she says, seating herself at the table and watching the goings on.

Stephanie notes the chivalry and sits, with a sweet look up at Michael as he speaks and then looks forward again catching India's grin and words. She blushes. Of course India figured them out, she's a smart lady.

Tristan sees his mother blush and looks a little confused, not upset, just not catching the subtleties of the situation.

The dishes are passed around for everyone to load up. Ryan looks visibly more relaxed. He watched Michael pull out a chair, Steph's reaction and was vaguely tuned into India's little text situation. He'd ask her more later for sure but Mike's reply relieved any worry, except the elephant in the room worry. Ryan looked at Tristan and sighed and then didn't looks at his parents. How and when were they going to discuss Colin Rankin?

Sakura and Hiroshi fussed about making sure everyone who needed a drink had one again and then settled in and as if to cue the others, began to eat with great enthusiasm. Garrett followed immediately too.

Michael samples a little of everything and finds he dislikes nothing, but he was never a fussy eater. One of his more endearing properties as a child.

India begins to eat and pauses now and again to sigh contentedly and eat a bit more. But soon enough ... maybe too soon ... she is near full and cleans her plate and relaxes with a smile on her face.

The plates are gathered and a light dessert of cut fruit and whipped cream is served. It's sweet enough but not so pants busting as pie after a big meal.

Tristan eyes his game boy on the counter through the doorway and blurts out "Can I be excused?"

Stephanie chuckles "Take the dessert dishes to the kitchen and then yes you may." She waits until he's gone through with a few mildly alarming clatters but not shattering sounds. His footsteps fade into the family room and there is a beeping of his device. Steph looks seriously around the table at her family "I have to tell you about something. Colin was in town."

Ryan nods knowingly and then adds "He's a suspect in an armed robbery and shooting, the one at the pharmacy. You'll see it in the news soon I'm sure if you haven't already."

Tristan gets a battery low warning on his game boy and scrambles to find his charge cord. He remembers it was plugged in in the kitchen before and starts to head there for it, stopping dead in his tracks just by the doorway to the dining room when he overhears the conversation.

Sakura quietly gasps and puts a hand over her mouth looking worried.

Garrett shakes his head slowly and looks down.

Hiro's face hardens and he gives Stephanie a steely look "What did he want with you? He didn't come for Tristan did he? Because he's going to have to go through me..."

India arches her brows and looks between Steph and Sakura. "I'm sure Tristan is safe." she assures them, looking at Ryan for confirmation.

Michael sits up straighter. "No, sir." he looks at Hiro. "Knowing what I know, I'd guess that Rankin came here to rob the pharmacy without knowing Stephanie was either in town or would be at the pharmacy. Probably in town." he pauses. "He hasn't shown any interest in Tristan before now, has he? In custody or visitation with him? Why would he all of a sudden want to play Daddy?"

Hiro swallowed, tensing his jaw and giving a minimal nod to Michael.

Ryan confirms what Michael is saying "It does seem to be random. For whatever role we knew him as before. He's chosen a life of crime now. There are a string of pharmaceutical related robberies all over the lower mainland. Of course we'll keep Tristan and Steph safe but Cedar Point was just a hit on their circuit I think."

Stephanie looks nervous "Well he knows I'm hear now...and I saw his face right after he shot the pharmacist. Hopefully he doesn't come back to chat about that."

Garrett rubs at the back of his neck anxiously and then runs a hand through his hair "Oh man.."

Sakura's eyes fill with frightened tears "Oh Stephanie, are you OK? Why didn't you call us?"

Steph reaches for her mother's hand "I'll be OK. Both my brother and my boyfriend are cops remember? I spent the night at Mike's after and Tristan was at Anna's. I knew Colin wouldn't be able to find either of us. Plus he's on the run now, a wanted man. I just don't know what to say to Tris if he sees or hears the news..."

The game runs out of batteries on the game boy and goes silent and the floor gives a little creak as Tristan tries to take a silent step back. He looks completely stunned and has of course heard it all.

India nods. "Damn right they will. I think I live in the safest town I've ever been in." she smiles to assure Sakura. She looks at Steph. "He'd be crazy to come back here ... like .. ever. If he was lucky, all he'd get is arrested." she figures if Ryan or Michael got their hands on Colin an arrest would be the least of the mans problems.

Michael nods, looking only slightly surprised that Stephanie would admit that she spent the night with him. "When he is caught, he'll be facing a prison term." he explains. "Of course, once he's out ... he can do as he pleases, but .... I can't imagine him coming back for Tristan." he pauses. "I think you should be honest with him. I know it isn't my place, but ... " he shrugs. "Forewarned is forearmed, Steph."

Stephanie sighs "I know you're right Mike....I just hate this. I wish his father was someone else. But I will find the words in the next little while..."

Tristan closes his eyes and then opens them and then steps right into the dining room "It's OK Mom. I already heard them."

All the Yamadas go quiet and just stare worriedly at Tristan and then back at Stephanie. She bursts into tears "Tris...I'm so sorry."

Tristan walks over to his mother and hugs her "I know. You didn't do it Mom. He did."

India watches as Tristan mans up and comes out to confess and the reaction. Then, for no other reasons than the touching moment and hormones, she too bursts into tears.

Michael shrugs slightly and begins to answer. "Good father figures will have to do...." and then Tristan comes out and he tenses, remembering his childhood. He would not have confessed before extensive fighting. When the boy says what he says, he is touched and impressed by the kid and clears his throat of all the sappy touchiness within.

Tristan and Stephanie hug for a long time and begin talking quietly to one another in their moment. He half sits on her lap, too big to really, but also not too old to need it right now.

Garrett gives Michael a curious look now after Stephanie admitted to spending the night with him and his mention of good father figures. He looks thoughtful but not negative and then starts gathering up the leftover fruit.

Sakura and Hiro exchange a look and then watch Stephanie and Tristan quietly with misty eyes and touched expressions too.

Ryan smiles sadly, watching them and then takes India's hand. His phone buzzes at that very moment. With his free hand he takes it out and glances, intending to ignore whomever it might be beyond reading what pops up. When he sees the beginning of the message he was planning to dismiss he can't help but grin, despite what's happening around him "Bout damned time..." he mutters and slides his phone to India discreetly.

India sniffs and looks at the phone, just barely calming down after mother/son happiness. She reads the message and bursts into fresh tears of happiness, burying her face in Ryan's side.

Michael watches them and then turns to Ryan. Before he can speak, India bursts into fresh tears and he arches his brows high. "What happened, partner?" he asks, his voice low and cautious.

Ryan gives Mike a one finger wait signal, watching Stephanie and Tristan pull out of a hug with smiles. A heaviness has been lifted in the whole room by need that has been met in facing the truth of Colin Rankin together. His parents feel it too and their worried faces soften. This is the perfect time for happy news now. He wraps one arm around India and rubs her back as he adds to the growing light and love "Adum and Megan got married tonight at their thanksgiving dinner. By the Mayor no less."

India sniffs again and moves her head left to right, drying her eyes on the father of her child. "We need to get them something." she considers. "Cruise, maybe? Did he mention a honeymoon? Oh! A nice long cruise." the potential cost of that doesn't even cross her mind.

Michael laughs. "Seriously? Cool. I've only met him once or twice .. seems like a good guy." he looks at India and shakes his head. "You can cry them the ocean." he teases her.