Hey there fan friends! Before we get any farther, this fic requires a little bit of back-story.

About a month ago, my dear friend Hunger4Righteousness and I decided it would be fun set a challenge for ourselves; not in the spirit of competition but to have fun working on a story together to see what we come up with.

We started off with a short prompt… just a quick bit of dialogue, and we were going to pass the story back and forth to see where it ended up. Before we got started we needed to agree on a basic storyline, but we both came up with our own ideas that we just didn't want to let go of. In the end, we decided the best way to go would be for each of us to write our own story based on that one prompt, and to have as much fun with it and entertain each other as much as possible.

Our stories were supposed to be uploaded in time for Thanksgiving, but both Hunger and I have busy families and very full plates, and in the process of working on this project, real-life hit us both pretty hard and pulled us away. So yeah; we're late… but hey, it's still the holidays so these fics should fit in nicely!

There are a few things you'll find as you read that'll be veeeery similar about our stories. The prompt (of course), a kidnapping, and something we both agreed any good Thanksgiving story just has to have… some sort of food fight.

Since I'm so long winded, this story that was intended to be a one-shot has once again turned into a multi-chapter story, so I'll be updating one chapter a week… hope you'll keep your eyes out for it! ;)

Megamind sat in the dim, cavernous space of his control room, slouching in his chair and spinning in slow, lazy, deliberate circles as his fingers drummed irritably on the black leather of the arm rest. Behind him, the wall of monitors he used to keep tabs on the city he loved to terrorize were ablaze with warm, cozy scenes of holiday cheer, but the blue villain was too busy brooding to notice.

Normally, Thanksgiving weekend was a welcome respite for Metro City's dreaded blue menace; even villains had to enjoy a little Turkey Day, and this particular villain had developed quite a fondness for this holiday and all its delicious trappings. Well, a fondness despite the fact that because he had adopted the tradition of giving Roxanne the weekend off from forced participation in his schemes, it usually proved to be rather lonely for him as he sat all alone in the lair with no one but Minion and an assortment of his wicked looking, spike encrusted creations to celebrate with.

This Thanksgiving however, seemed to be sticking in his craw.

"Predictable!" snorted the increasingly irate alien to himself for the fifth time as he suddenly planted his feet firmly on the concrete floor to stop the movement of his chair. Then sitting up stock straight, he pounded his fist temperamentally on the armrest. "I still can't believe she thinks I'm predictable!"

"Oh now, come on Sir," called a cheerful voice, "You know she didn't mean anything by it. She's just trying to get to you!"

Over the last few weeks, his lovely, yet irritating victim had taken to using that terrible word to describe his incredibly well thought out and shockingly evil schemes. The first time he had heard it fly from her mouth, the prideful profligate was so taken aback, it completely threw him off his game for the remainder of his sparring match with Mr. Perfect.

Apparently, the snarky reporter found his consternation incredibly amusing; since that day she had pulled that awful word from her bag of insults regularly to hurl at him in the heat of their banter. Over the years that they had been at odds, she had used a wide variety of disparaging comments to try and get a reaction out of him, all with varying degrees of success; but that word... for some odd reason he simply could not understand, that particular word infuriated him like no other.

Predictable... what an insult! Hearing that word used to describe him would have been humbling coming from anyone, but it especially stung coming from her.

Turning toward his approaching sidekick with a pout, he ranted, "How could she possibly think I'm predictable? I mean, look at the stuff I come up with! Who else would think of the Double-R Destructo-Rocket, or the Pachyderms of Peril? I'll tell you Minion... no one, that's who! No one but me!"

"Of course not, Sir," soothed the fish in a nurturing tone. "Don't let it bother you; without a doubt you're still the most creative villain around and Miss Ritchi should be proud to call herself your victim!"

Megamind watched his number-one-fish as he scurried around the control room, rounding up the better behaved brainbots and giving instructions about how to help with the preparation and set up of the boss' favorite holiday. "Of course we know she should be proud to be my victim... she should thank me for heaven's sake! She gets a front row seat to every one of my plans and gets to watch that ridiculous boyfriend of hers making a fool out of himself up close and personal. And then she gets all the credit for reporting about it when it's all over with!"

Megamind slouched back into his chair with a huff as he shook his head and rested his chin on his fist, glaring off into the distance as his incredible mind rolled that dreaded word around again with distaste. Finally glancing at his best friend as he passed along in front of him on his way back to the kitchen to continue on with his preparations, he asked in a feeble tone, "Minion, you don't think I've become predictable... do you?"

"Not a chance! Like I said Sir, there isn't a more industrious or creative villain anywhere. Just look at the way the citizens start to panic the second you show up with one of your evil inventions... you don't even have to do anything and they fall all over themselves to get out of your way! Hehe! Yep, if that doesn't tell you you're doing something right, then I don't know what does... "

The second the spacefish completed his sentence, he stopped in his tracks and turned to face his boss, a look of mild confusion in his big brown eyes, and raising his robotic index finger to tap his bowl thoughtfully, he went on, " ...Or would it be doing something wrong? Hmmm... Well... anyhoo, whatever it is you're doing, keep it up because you have this city eating out of your hand! And speaking of eating, do you smell that?"

Megamind looked at his henchman blankly in response the question posed to him, but within moments he belatedly began to notice the scrumptious aroma wafting throughout the lair. With disappointment he realized he had been so distracted by his thoughts of Roxanne's rudeness, he had completely missed out on one of his favorite parts of the holiday; savoring the delicious smells of the upcoming feast and enjoying the anticipation of that first fabulous bite.

"Oh, yes... it smells good Minion." the dejected villain said halfheartedly with a subdued wave of his hand. "You must really be outdoing yourself this year."

"Good? What do you mean good? It smells fantastic! I'll tell you, my olfactory sensors are really in overdrive right now; this is gonna be great!"

As Minion stood there excitedly waiting for him to respond, he watched as his boss continued to sit temperamentally in his chair, the pout on his face developing startlingly beneath his dark, heavy brows. It was obvious he was still brooding over the most recent and highly successful weapon in Miss Ritchi's arsenal of banter.

The fish's cheerful expression melted into a frown of concern as he realized the depth of his friend's reaction to the acerbic reporter's teasing. He hadn't known that Megamind had taken it so hard, and was at a loss to understand why it bothered him so much. After all, cheap shots and a bit of name calling was all part of her role in the game, right? She was their victim; wasn't that what she was supposed to do?

The doting fish hated to see his friend in a funk like this, especially on a day like that one. Poor Sir had never had a real holiday growing up, and as soon as they had broken out on their own and found a permanent place to settle in, it had become one of Minion's goals to do his best to at least make this holiday special for him.

Well, the faithful henchfish thought to himself, I'm just gonna have to do whatever I can to lift his spirits!

"Come on Sir, cheer up! It's Thanksgiving! Your favorite holiday?" he piped up with a grin. "You know, I'm so glad you decided to give Miss Ritchi this weekend off every year as one of the perks in her 'Kidnapping Package' when you chose her to be your victim. You both deserve a little time off, and this year it seems to be especially called for... you know, with all this tension between the two of you. A break is definitely in order, and I'm sure with a little rest and a lot of turkey, you'll be feeling as bad as new in no time!"

Megamind barely glanced up from his brooding stare at the bank of controls, and answered with a sigh, "Yes, I suppose you're right. A couple of days off to regroup might give me a new perspective on the whole thing."

Kidnapping Package, Thanksgiving weekend off every year... ugh, she's right! If that isn't predictable then... Wait a minute...

As Minion watched his boss, a strange and very sudden change began to overtake him. The dejected pout that had concerned the fish so much suddenly vanished and was instantly replaced with a wide and rather unsettling grin.

"Minion, how long did you say before dinner would be ready?" asked the blue troublemaker in a suspiciously scheming tone.

Now it was Minion's turn to change expressions in an instant. The cheerful grin that had comfortably settled itself across his fang-filled mouth disappeared in favor of a quizzical scowl, and casting his boss a sidelong glance, he answered, "About four hours until the turkey's ready, a little longer before we actually sit down to eat... why? What are you doing?"

Ignoring his friend's wary question, Megamind went on with increasing excitement, "So, are you at a point that you might be able to step away from the kitchen for a while?"

"Well, not right now, but I think in a couple of hours or so I might be able to step away for a little bit."

Oooh, can't take him away from making the turkey, that's too important... "Ah, well I guess I'll have to make due on my own until you're available."

"Make due? Sir, can I ask what this is all about?" asked the fish in an apprehensive tone.

"Oh, it's nothing really." the blue schemer responded quickly in a tone that shut down his friend's line of questioning in an instant. He thought it best to keep his developing plans to himself for the time being, so as not to distract his personal aquatic caterer from the necessary task of preparing the all-important feast. "It's just a little something I thought of that I might need some help with later on. You'll see."

Minion watched his boss as he sat in his chair, his expression developing into the unmistakable countenance of a villain in the throes of formulating a plan. Oh no, I hope he's not doing what I think he's doing... "Sir, just don't forget what day this is... I've got all that food and it would be a shame to... "

"Yes, yes! All right Minion, I know, it's Thanksgiving... as if I didn't already know that! Now hurry up, back to work! That food's not going to cook itself you know!"

Minion's mouth snapped shut in an instant, and with a final suspicious glance at his preoccupied master, he turned with a sigh to continue on with the preparations for the holiday feast he was suddenly beginning to wonder whether or not they would actually get to eat at all.

"Predictable, Miss Ritchi?" said Megamind quietly to himself in his most devious tone of voice when he was left alone, his narrowed eyes locked on her empty chair as it sat in the center of the room. Raising his hands to rub them together with maniacal anticipation, he went on as he began to chuckle evilly. "Oh really? Well, my rude little reporter, you're about to find out just how UN-predictable this mad genius really is!"

Roxanne stood uncomfortably in her living room, listening to the voice on the other end of the line. She'd been dreading making this phone call since she'd come to the decision earlier that morning that, despite feeling a bit guilty about it, this was without a doubt what she wanted to do.

"Yeah… about that. Um, look, Wayne. I think I'll pass on Thanksgiving this year." She cringed as she clutched the phone, half expecting him to give her a hard time and refuse to take no for an answer.

There was a momentary pause on the other end of the line, and then Wayne asked in a knowing tone, "My mom's really starting to get to you, isn't she?"

Oh wow. Is it that obvious? Walking into the kitchen, she grabbed the refrigerator door handle. "Well…"

"I know," the voice conceded flatly, "I know how she is, and honestly, I can't blame you."

"Hey, don't get me wrong!" Roxanne piped up as she leaned down to peer at the sparse pickings. "She's… she's a sweetheart, she really is! But the Brides magazines she always leaves on the coffee table?" She rolled her eyes. "That's getting to be a little much. And does she always have to ask me when I'm going to grow my hair out longer?"

"Hey, look. It's fine, Roxie."

Great, nothing to eat in there, and I'm starving. I knew I should have gone to the store, and now it'll be a madhouse! She straightened up again, immensely relieved that her apparent boyfriend understood. Even his parents believed they were an item.

"But, what should I tell them? You know she's going to be worried sick about where you're having Thanksgiving this year."

"Well, just tell her I'm going home for Thanksgiving."

"Are you?" asked the curious hero, a touch of disbelief in his voice.

"Phfft... No! You think your mom's bad? My mother would eat yours in two bites. Ugh, always talking about my biological clock and stuff! I mean, come on! Who wants to hear that?"

She opened the freezer door to peer inside, hopeful that she might uncover some hidden treasure. Oh, come on! This is pathetic... "No, I'll just stay home... here home. You know Megamind always takes the weekend off for Thanksgiving. It's about time I had a good, lazy, stay at home, shuffle around in my slippers kind of day."

"What, no turkey?" Wayne inquired, apparently astonished that anyone would even consider spending Thanksgiving Day turkey-free.

She reached into the freezer and extracted a long forgotten frozen pot pie. Ah, score!

"Oh, yeah... " Roxanne reassured him cheerfully as she flipped the box over to find the expiration date. "Yeah, don't worry about me! I'll make myself a little feast right here and celebrate."

"You're sure?"

"Yep! Veeery sure." guaranteed the relieved brunette as she preheated the oven and went to her pantry to see what she could rustle up for a suitable holiday side dish. Hmmm, let's see... canned cranberries; eh, maybe... Ugh, dehydrated mashed potatoes? Why do I even have these? Geez, I wish I had some pumpkin pie...

"Ok, then. Well you have a good one, and I'll see ya next week." responded her muscle-bound friend, interrupting her meal planning process.

Roxanne snorted a quick laugh. She could practically set her watch to the fact that Megamind would be there bright and early Monday morning, ready to waylay her so he could make up for all the time they lost over the long, abduction-free weekend. "Yeah, I'm sure you will. Happy Thanksgiving, Wayne!"

"Happy Thanksgiving, Roxie."

Closing her phone and tossing it on the counter, she turned to refocus her attention on scraping up what she could find to incorporate into her meager feast. What can I do instead of pumpkin pie...? "Oh, brownies!" she said aloud, reaching to the back of her cabinet to pull out a box of the fudgy mix. "I guess this'll have to do... "

As she leaned against the pantry door frame and read the package directions, mentally taking stock of the necessary ingredients to make sure she had what was called for, a sudden rustling sound from somewhere behind her caught her attention. Being a seasoned abductee, she instinctively froze, her spine stiffening and her blue eyes snapping up to look straight ahead of her as her ears strained to catch another hint of the suspicious noise.

Standing as still and as quietly as possible, she waited for any sign of impending attack, ready to wing the box of brownie mix she clutched in her hand at the big blue head she was suddenly certain had to be lurking somewhere behind her, and thankful she was standing so close to the stock of heavy canned goods that she could use for ammunition in a pinch. But after several seconds of silence passed by without a blast in the face of the musty smelling spray or that smelly bag they loved to pop over her head at the moment of capture, Roxanne began to wonder if she had imagined the sound that she had been so certain she'd heard a moment ago.

After all, it was Thanksgiving. In all the years he'd been pestering her, he had never shown up to kidnap her over that particular holiday weekend. Then, like a light flickering out of the darkness, a vague memory came to mind of him mentioning something ages ago about a "Kidnapping Package", and the idea of her getting that "weekend off". It was almost as though he thought of her victim status as a job, complete with benefits and perks.

Rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the ridiculous idea, she sighed as she thought to herself, Ugh, relax Roxanne; you know he's not going to show up today! I think I might need a glass of wine to take the edge off and help get me into the holiday spirit...

Taking a deep breath and forcing herself to simmer down, she allowed her brownie-equipped arm to drop slowly as she cautiously turned to examine her kitchen. She had to be absolutely certain there was no sign of the annoying blue intruder or his aquatic henchman before she could continue on with her makeshift celebration.

At first glance, all seemed clear... sweeping her eyes slowly from right to left, she saw no sign of the irritating alien. Kitchen... clear. Dining room... empty. Living room... no one in sight.

The sound she had heard seemed to have been directly behind her; there was no way he could have dashed up the stairs that quickly to avoid being seen without making a massive racket. In fact, it would have been incredibly difficult for him to run anywhere to hide that quickly in her wide open apartment without making some sort of commotion. The only thing that made sense was that the noise she'd thought she heard had come from the apartment above hers... those neighbors tended to be noisy anyway.

When she had thoroughly convinced herself that she was in fact alone in her apartment and safe from the prospect of being snatched up as bait on her day off, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. Grabbing the bottle of cooking oil from the pantry shelf and kicking the door shut as she walked away, she looked back at the box of brownie mix to finish perusing the instructions, ready to begin preparing her private celebration.

Just as she reached the counter and set down her baking supplies, she heard another quiet rustling sound coming from behind her, this time accompanied by what sounded like the soft creak of leather. Her blue eyes once again popped wide open and her heart skipped a beat. Oh no...

Spinning as quickly as she could, she just barely had time to see a flash of blue and hear a wickedly familiar voice say, "Happy Thanksgiving, my cheeky little journalist... " before the lights went out.

Thanks so much for reading! Please keep your eyes out for the next update coming sometime next week. :)

Reviews mean a lot to me, so I hope you'll leave me some sort of quick comment to tell me you LOVED my story, or liked it, or thought it was ok, or even if you hated it. Well, maybe not if you hated it; that might hurt my feelings and make me cry, and I definitely don't need to cry right now.

Hope to see you all back next week and that you all have a lovely start to your Holiday season! :)