Dess spent most of the early morning getting everything ready for their feast and she was happy to have Andy’s help. He had gotten up shortly after Dess had started working in the kitchen, appearing in the doorway in a dark pair of skinny jeans and a tight dark red sweater. He moved behind her as she stood at the sink, kissing her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist and watched as she scrubbed at the potatoes. Without a word being spoken, Andy took over her job and Dess was able to move on to finish making the dough for her rolls. Soon everyone appeared, even Kit got up pretty early after their girl session mere hours before. The kitchen got loud as everyone gathered to get coffee and breakfast and it made Dess smile to have such a full house again.

Soon Dess, Andy, Sammi, Ella and Amy were all in the kitchen, moving around one another almost as if it had been choreographed as they moved around easily. Dess laughed as Andy got frustrated with her because she told him that his potatoes weren’t cut up enough and she sent him on his way with a soft kiss on the nose. The guys were in the living room, a football game on the television but Dess knew none of them were really watching it. She could hear raucous laughter and cheering coming from the room beside them and all Dess could do was smirk.

There was a point where Dess was able to go upstairs and shower quickly and then change into something nicer than an old ratty pair of Andy’s basketball shorts. Her hair was slightly curly-a style she was trying to see if she liked and Dess had left her makeup minimal as it was just family today. She had pulled on a tight dark purple sweater and a pair of black skinny jeans before tugging on her favorite mid-calf boots. As she reentered the kitchen, Dess was happy to see that everything was almost ready and that they were only twenty minutes behind. Ella and Sammi were setting the dining room table, Amy and Kit-who had retreated to the kitchen from the livingroom- were pulling things out of the oven.


“Smells really good in here ladies…” Chris appeared in the doorway, smiling at Dess as he moved over to kiss his wife on the top of her head as his eyes landed on the steaming bird.

“Thank you so much Chris…” Dess said as she pulled out a carving knife and passed it to him. He took the knife from her, setting it down next to the bird as Chris Biersack moved over to where Dess stood and hugged her tightly.

“Call me dad Dess…you’re practically family at this point and you’ll be my daughter in no time…” Dess felt her heart swell at this affection and she only looked up at him and nodded.

“Rally the troops?” Dess turned to Kit who only smirked evilly and sauntered off towards the living room.


Dess moved to grab the large bowl of Mac and Cheese, placing a serving spoon in it as she walked off towards the dining room. As she entered, Dess smiled at Sammi and Ella as the two girls finished setting things up and all three of them took the room in. Dess had decorated it in burnt orange, red and yellow colors for the holiday and the huge oak table gleamed under the soft glow of the low hanging chandelier. Dess moved to set the bowl on the serving table that lined one room and took count of everything. Mac and Cheese, Corn Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Rolls-the only thing missing was the turkey and the pies. Dess jumped as there was a loud shout that broke the silence and then she smirked as Kit came running into the room, Andy hot on her heels.

“Dammit Kat!” Andy laughed loudly, his hands reaching behind him as he tried to fluff his sweater away from his lanky frame.

“What did she do?” Dess asked as she came up from behind Andy and helped him shake his shirt out. Ice littered the floor as it fell from his shirt and Andy yowled as the cold hit his warm back.

“Put ice down my shirt to get me in here…”He grumbled as Dess just smiled and leaned around Andy to face Kit. ‘Good job’ she mouthed and Kit could only laugh loudly as everyone began to filter into the room.

“Here comes the bird!” Chris announced from the doorway and the entire room fell into silence as Chris set the large bird on the table and Dess motioned for everyone to grab a plate.


Everything was quiet as the group lined up and slowly they all snaked their way around the room, stopping by the turkey and then moving on to the serving table. Andy had the hugest smile on his face and Dess laughed as she noticed he had a huge helping of the mashed potatoes that he helped to make and also he had a very large portion of her corn casserole on his plate. She never knew he loved it so much and apparently it was something he had never had before until his first Thanksgiving with the Montgomery family. Everyone took a seat and the room was quiet, except for the occasional groan or moan of appreciation.

Dess dug in, not even realizing how hungry she was until she got her food in front of her and began to shovel food into her mouth. Andy sat beside her, eating quietly as Dess looked around the room and smiled. Chris was at the head of the table, Amy on his right and Andy on his left-Dess was next to Andy, with Sammi and Jinxx sitting quietly beside her. CC was at the opposite end of the table, Ashley next to him, then Kit and finally Jake and Ella. Dess smiled softly, but her mouth felt dry as she realized that this was her first Thanksgiving without Moira. Andy must’ve noticed her sadness as he had stopped eating and had taken one of her hands in his.


“So before everyone starts to get up to get seconds-I think we should all go around the table and say what we’re thankful for this year.” Andy said, squeezing her hand gently as Dess smiled at him and then looked around the table.

“I think that’s a lovely idea dear…” Amy said from across the table and Dess smiled at the older woman.

“Yeah Biersack…how very sensitive of you…” Ashley laughed from down the table and Dess just smirked and rolled her eyes at the bassist.

“I’ll go first-I am thankful first and foremost to my wife Amy for being with me through rough times and good times. Also I am thankful for my son Andy and am proud of him for working hard to achieve his goals in life.” Chris smiled around the table as Amy moved to speak next.

“I’m thankful for my son Andy and I’m also thankful for all of his bandmates. Ashley, Jake, CC Jinxx-you boys have grown to be like sons to me and I am so proud of you. Chris-I’m thankful to have such a wonderful husband like you and I can only hope that things will continue to get better.” Dess felt her eyes well up as she looked to the older couple and silently hoped that she and Andy could be like that some day.


They all went around the table and the guys all pretty much said the same thing: they were thankful for their families and for the record that they were about to put out. Ashley, of course, was thankful to all of the chicks in his life which elicited an eye roll from Sammi, Ella, Dess and Kit. CC was thankful for the band and of course he hoped that they could all continue to take it to the next level. Jake and Ella were thankful for one another and their respective careers and Jinxx and Sammi shared that same sentiment. Finally it was Kit’s turn and Dess had to struggle to keep the smirk off of her lips as her best friend thought silently for a moment.


“First-I want to say that I am thankful to the wonderful band that I manage and it’s because of them I get to do what I love every day. Mostly I am thankful for my best friend Dess. I know things can get intense between you and I, but I can’t imagine how I would have gotten through life without you in it. I love you D…” Dess could only sit there in shock. She had expected Kit to make some smart ass remark because that’s how Kit was, but she had shocked all of them with her heartfelt admission.

“Aww Kit Kat. My turn I guess-I am thankful for everyone in this room…you all have been with me through the hardest year of my life and I don’t know if I would have survived without you. CC-you kept me laughing even when all I wanted to do was cry. Ash-your backstage antics made me see that you always have to live life to the fullest. Jake-your beautiful words in my times of need helped more than you will ever know. Jinxx-you were my companion when I felt more alone than I thought was imaginable. Kit-we’ve been together for ten years and I love talking to you every day, you make me laugh and smile even when I felt like that was impossible…” Dess had to stop as she looked next to her and saw that Andy was smiling at her softly.

“Andy…I can’t imagine where I would be without you. You have been the most patient and loving person through all of this and for that I am more than thankful. I remember when I first met you-it seemed impossible to me that someone with your fame and status could be so giving and loving, but you proved me wrong time and again. I pushed you away for so long because I was scared of losing you, but now I can’t imagine never having had you at all. I love you and I can’t wait to start our life together…” Andy smiled as he leaned in, placing a soft kiss to her lips as Dess felt the tears run down her cheeks softly.

“I am thankful for so many things in my life it’s hard to list them all without us being here all day. Guys-thank you all so much for hanging in there with me…I know it was hard in the beginning and we had a lot of hungry nights, but we’re finally where we want to be and there’s nowhere to go but up. Mom, Dad-thank you for always letting me live my dream, even when you thought I was crazy and that it wouldn’t work…” Andy stopped as his eyes scanned over the table and came to rest on Kit. The room inhaled deeply, all of them afraid of what was to come.

“Kat-I know we’ve had our differences, but I really am thankful for you. Dess wouldn’t be the loving person she is if it weren’t for you and I’m happy that she has a best friend like you in her life.” Kit’s mouth dropped open at his admission and Dess felt her heart start beating again once Andy turned to her, taking her hands in his before speaking.

“Odessa, love of my life, I’m thankful for you for a lot of reasons…too many to list in one night. I love that you put up with me and that by doing so you don’t put up with my bullshit. I have loved you for a long time and I always felt alone in this world-until one July day when you bumped into my universe and I can’t imagine never looking into your eyes again. I love you and I can’t wait to love you for the rest of my life.” There was collective aww from around the table as the couple embraced quickly once again.


The group all got up for seconds, eating loudly as they all laughed and joked. Andy, Ashley, Jinxx and Jake all offered to clean up since the girls got everything going and Dess wasn’t going to argue. She sat silently at the bar in the kitchen, a small smirk on her face as she watched the boys run around the kitchen, cleaning and trying to get leftovers in order. Andy turned to her at one point, a huge smile gracing his lips as they shared in a moment and seemed to be thinking the same thing. This dinner, while off to a rocky start, had been fun and exciting and they both couldn’t wait until they had a family of their own to do this with. Finally after two hours and CC having to change his clothes because he had gotten soaked while washing dishes, everything was clean and they were all sitting around the table once again.

Dess had served the pies with whipped cream and coffee and there was great discussion as they all ate as to what would be done with the rest of the day. It was decided that there would be a small football game in the backyard-girls vs. boys. Dess knew that the guys were very far from being athletic and she laughed as they fumbled around the backyard to get things settled. Everything seemed to be falling into place and as they all laughed and joked, Dess could only feel a little sad that Moira wasn’t here to share in the fun.

She knew her little sister was watching from above and she hoped that Moira was enjoying herself as much as Dess was.

Notes

It's Thanksgiving with Black Veil Brides! ...just imagine that in your mind for a minute. ; )
So I won't be able to update the tumblr for this chapter until tomorrow because my account is maxed out on my daily post limit. Also! If you check the black veil brides tag on tumblr-a lot of people have posted videos and photos from Halloween night! There are a few where Andy is reading 50 Shades of Grey and there is also one that is special to me-where Andy and all of us in the crowd started to sing Savior. So yeah...hope this update made you smile and I will hopefully have everything updated tomorrow!

What It Is To Burn