Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight or any of its characters.
Characters: Mick, Beth, Josef and an OC.
Rated G
Thank you Barnabas for the perfect story banner!
Previously in Follow That Freshie...
Mick had removed his apron and was in the process of tying it around Josef’s waist. In a low voice, Josef growled, “I’ll get you for this, St. John. I feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy!”
“Smile, Josef. Remember to smile,” Mick replied, enjoying every second.
Chapter 6 - Final
Back at the mansion, Josef poured scotch into four glasses on an ornate tray as his guests sat down and propped their feet up. “You know Mick, I’m not sure I should even have to pay you for your investigative work. Father Ambrose told me everything.” Josef carried the tray to Mick and Beth seated together on the couch, and to Kylie in one of his chairs.
“Of course you have to pay me!” Mick said indignantly, as he took his glass. “First, you wouldn’t even have met Father Ambrose if it hadn’t been for my diligent and excellent investigative skills which led you there.” Beth chuckled and elbowed him in the ribs. Mick laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. “And second, I’m now one of your Vice Presidents. I should be drawing a salary every week.”
Josef guffawed as he took his own drink and sat down on the arm of Kylie’s chair. “That’ll be the day!”
Mick took a sip of scotch and continued in a more serious tone. “Besides, Father Ambrose didn’t tell you everything. You still don’t know why Kylie serves at the mission every weekend.”
Josef turned to Kylie. “He’s right, I don’t. What’s that all about?”
Kylie looked down at the drink in her hands. She looked at Mick for encouragement, and he nodded. She saw Beth, smiling warmly at her. Kylie sighed, and looked up at Josef as she broke the awkward silence.
“Josef, my real name is Judy Warden. My mother and I had to sell our farm in northern California when my father died because we couldn’t keep it going. We bought a small house in town, but the bank foreclosed on it when my mom lost her job and we missed the payments.” She looked down at her lap again, her voice growing softer. “We had to move into a homeless shelter. It was so humiliating. I changed my name and used the last money we had to buy a bus ticket to LA so I could make my way as an actress.” Kylie took a sip of her drink. The burn gave her courage to continue. “I vowed if I ever had the means, I would help others who are going through what I went through. So I volunteer at the shelter once a week. Since I’ve worked for you, I send most of my money home to my mother.” Kylie looked up and smiled, her eyes dancing. “She has a little apartment now!”
Josef cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. “Why didn’t you feel you could tell me?”
She pulled her head away from Josef and looked down again. “It was too embarrassing. I changed my name to leave my old life behind. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Josef took a drink and said brightly, “Well, we all know now and no one seems to mind. I don’t see any reason why you can’t continue to serve there once a week. Maybe take one of the other girls with you so you aren’t alone.”
“Really Josef?” Kylie said, smiling at him.
Mick cleared his throat. Kylie looked over at him silently pleading, but she knew he wouldn’t let her off the hook. Her smile faded, and she hung her head again.
“Um, Josef? There is something else I need to tell you.”
“I’m listening.” Seeing her forlorn expression, he added, “Come on, it can’t be as bad as all that?”
“Josef, I’ve been taking food from the kitchen and giving it to the shelter.” Josef sat in stunned silence.
“Why, Kylie?”
“It was just going to waste! The other girls eat like birds. They’re always worrying about their figures.” Kylie hadn’t realized she had raised her voice. She blushed. “When you have to go without, you come to abhor wastefulness.” Her voice grew animated again. “There was hardly anything wrong with the items your chef was disposing of, and the cooks at the shelter can do so much with even a small amount! So, well, I took the food and gave it to the mission.” When she glanced around the room and noticed everyone staring at her, she became defensive. “I never took anything that was needed or wanted. No one went without. Chef told me you only wanted the best of everything, and when the potatoes would get a few sprouts or the apples started getting a few bruises, he would just throw them away. I was shocked! But he told me tonight that from now on, before he threw anything away, he would ask me first if I could use it.” She looked up at Josef hopefully. “Would that be alright?”
Josef looked at this fresh faced young spitfire of a woman and smiled. Leaning over he put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Kylie my dear, you may have all the leftover food you want for your mission. In fact, in addition to that I will make a donation of fresh food once a month to the shelter. I will also begin making a monthly monetary donation to the cause, in your honor. I’ll call it the ‘Kylie Jenkins Fund’.”
Kylie jumped up and hugged Josef, pulling him to his feet. “Oh Josef! Really and truly?”
He laughed at the excited freshie hugging the stuffing out of him. “Yes, Kylie, really and truly.”
“And you’re not angry? About my sneaking off? And taking the food?”
“No, I’m not angry,” he said, looking into her eyes. “A little disappointed maybe. I wish you felt you could have come to me.” Josef turned towards the others in the room and cast his eyes down as he swirled his drink. “You know, it was a humbling experience for me tonight. It has been a long time, centuries in fact, since I have had to do without the extravagances of living I have come to know and love, let alone go without the bare necessities of existence.” He raised his glass in a toast. “And so, while I don’t give a damn about turkey, dressing and cranberries, I am thankful for the friends and those I consider family,” he looked directly at Mick and Beth, “here in this room tonight who make my eternal life worth living. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving!” the rest said in unison and they all took a drink.
“And if one word of that speech leaves this room, or if anyone ever mentions ‘Pillsbury Doughboy’ in my presence, the tarpits will be too good for you,” he said in a menacing voice, baring his fangs.
Kylie giggled, and gently nudged the vampire. “Oh, Josef! You old softie!” The whole room erupted in laughter. “There is one thing, though,” she said hesitantly when the laughter died down. Josef looked at her expectantly.
“And what might that be?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful, but…well, could we name your donation the ‘Martha Warden Fund’ instead? After my mother?”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!” Beth exclaimed.
“Of course we can, Kylie. Whatever you want.”
Kylie hugged Josef again. “Thank you, Josef. For everything. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Kylie.”
The End.
Lorig and I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoyed our little tale and we thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Just a little fluff piece for the holiday and I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was my first attempt at writing Josef. He was a good sport about it! 
