Snow tries her very best to be happy and hopeful. She tries to hide how positively miserable she is without David with false positivity. What else can she do? It's Thanksgiving after all.
The loft is festive. Snow started putting up a few fall decorations and the next time she woke up, David had finished. The table is set and the smell of freshly baked pumpkin, pecan, and lemon pies linger nicely. The family decided against Regina's offer to bring an apple pie as well.
Despite all that, Snow and the loft feels empty. Something is missing. Snow knows that the missing element is family, and she knows that Emma, Killian, Henry, and Regina are one their way. Even then, she suspects that she won't feel half of her is missing, nothing seems complete.
"Hi, Mom," Emma says giving Snow a quick hug and placing the sweet potatoes on the table.
"Hi, Grandma," Henry says.
"Hello, Henry," Snow replies, and Killian follows him through the door.
"Hey, Mom," Henry says as his other mom walks in a moment later.
"Well, then, I guess we can all get seated," Snow says and the family takes a seat.
Snow always insists that the family goes around the table saying what they are thankful for before they eat. Henry remembers the tradition and volunteers to go first.
"I'm thankful that our family never gives up," Henry says.
Regina sits to the right of him.
"I'm thankful for forgiveness," she says.
"I am thankful for a second chance at a family and for each and every person who has welcomed me into their own," Killian says and his gaze stopping at Henry for a moment.
"I'm just so thankful for my family," Emma says.
"Oh, Emma, we are thankful for and cherish every moment we have with you, right, Dav-" Snow stops abruptly. She hadn't been thinking.
"Let's eat," Snow says to break the silence. Snow picks at her plate. Earlier than she had intended, she says she is going to wake David.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but I just can't do this," she says.
Snow kneels by her bed and writes him a note. She whispers it to him as she writes as if he can hear her.
"I am thankful for you, my Prince Charming. I am so thankful that even when we can't be together, you bring me comfort. I am thankful for our daughter and our son, but I just wish we could be thankful for them together," her voice breaks, "I don't know if I can keep doing this."
Snow wipes away her tears and kisses David. He wakes up and reads her note. It kills him that he can't comfort her.
"Hey, Dad," Emma says tentatively.
"Hi, Emma," David says and gives his daughter a hug. He walks to the table and frowns at Snow's uneaten plate.
"I am thankful for everyone's support throughout this curse," David says.
Henry and Emma keep the conversation light and soon David is joining in, but no one misses his many glances back to his wife.
When the meal is over, Emma and Killian stay to help David clean up.
"Bye, Grandpa," Henry says, "Your curse is only temporary. Beating the Evil Queen is what you do best," he reminds him.
"I hope so, Henry," David agrees.
As Henry and Regina leave the loft, Henry tells Regina one more thing he is thankful for.
"Mom, I'm also thankful that Violet is coming to our house for her first Thanksgiving, and especially for the fact that you won't embarrass me, right?" he says.
"How could I ever embarrass my son?" Regina asks and Henry groans.
