Thanksgiving Day was here. I looked back at how my life had changed since the first of the year and could barely wrap my head around the fact that I was getting ready to celebrate my first real holiday with someone I cared about. I was a little nervous whenever I thought about walking into Regina's parents home and meeting her family for the first time but that thought was quickly eradicated when I pictured that gorgeous smile lighting up the room.

The day before, I had double checked with Nelson to make sure it was still ok for us to be gone for an extended lunch break and was met with an exaggerated sigh and an intense stare. I had backed away with my palms up saying, "Ok, ok, ok. Yes sir!"

I had spoken with Cora once more earlier in the week to ask her how long it would take for Regina and I to drive to their home and she had said a good half an hour if traffic was light. With driving time, that gave us a good hour to eat. I had confirmed a 3pm early dinner and gotten the first part of the driving instructions before saying goodbye.

Once 2:30 rolled around, I headed back to the breakroom to grab our jackets and headed up front. Regina was busy giving one of the cashiers change for $100 so I waited by her office door. She saw me, smiled, and held up one finger for me to wait for her. When she was finished, we both headed into her office. I waited for her to put the money away and lock the safe before walking up to her. She started to say something and I put my finger on her lips to shush her.

I put my arms around her waist and started unbuckling the strap on the back of the apron. Her eyes were quizzical but I just winked before pulling the top strap over her head and laying both of our aprons on her desk. I grabbed her jacket that I had laid over her chair and helped her into it. I opened the office door and motioned for her to walk out in front of me and then put my hand on the small of her back to steer her towards the Exit.

As the door opened and we headed towards my car, little bits of snow flurries started hitting our faces. My leather jacket was doing nothing to stop the chill of the wind as it blew against us. Regina was walking to my left when I saw her stumble a bit on a puddle of water that had turned to ice because of the weather. Without thinking, my arm shot out to steady her and after she regained her balance, I reached down and entwined our fingers together. I told myself I did this to make sure she had something to hold onto and that it had nothing to do with how warm my entire body seemed to get from that contact. It also did not make me happy as a lark when I felt her tighten her grip. It was just for safety. Nothing else.

I held the door to my yellow VW bug open for her and I saw the doubt written all over her face but she didn't say a word as I shut the door and then went around to climb in myself. As a matter of fact, she didn't say one word until we had hit the road heading towards her parents house.

"You're kidnapping me on Thanksgiving? Dear, you do realize it would be a more effective kidnapping if you blindfolded me?"

"Nah. You'd enjoy that too much. I figured I'd give you a few guesses before letting the cat outta the bag. What's guess number one?" I tried to distract her while fiddling with the heat praying it would kick on before we froze to death.

"Well, let's see, by process of elimination I would say El Rodeo? There aren't many places open today."

"Nope. Strike one, Reggie. Next guess?"

"Don't call me that. We're not doing that."

"We're not doing what?" I asked just as the warm air blew through the vent and hit my frozen fingertips.

"Cute little nicknames. We don't do that sort of thing. Second guess would be China Garden?"

I knew if I turned to look her nose would be crinkled up in confusion. I grinned. "Nope. Last chance. Wanna hint?"

"No, I most certainly do not want a hint. I'm more than capable of guessing our destination on a day where 90% of the restaurants in this town are closed." She huffed.

"Aight. Just a word of warning. I never said it was a restaurant."

She sat in her corner of the car as quiet as a church mouse though I knew the gerbil in her head was exhausted at all of the spinning it was having to do on that wheel inside her brain.

I heard her murmuring to herself as she tried to figure it out, "We're going to eat, but not at a restaurant, on Thanksgiving, in the snow."

"Emma, I...the only thing I can figure out is either we're going through the drive-thru somewhere or we're going to someone's house but I have no idea whose house it would be. The only place I would even want to go on Thanksgiving is my moms."

She turned to look at me and I eased off the accelerator to look at her and touch my finger to the tip of my nose.

"My moms? We're going to my parents? How...how did you...who did you talk...we're really going? Please don't tease because that would not be funny."

The hopefulness and pleading in her voice was breaking my heart. I couldn't stand her not knowing any longer and besides I was busting at the seams after keeping this to myself for as long as I had.

"Long story short is-Nelson is letting us take an extended lunch so you can see Henry and the rest of your family for Thanksgiving. Your mom scheduled an early dinner for 3pm so you need to keep an eye out and make sure you tell me where to turn because I have no idea where I'm going."

The next thing I knew, this normally composed woman had thrown her hands around my neck nearly choking me as I drove and had planted a kiss on my cheek that was wet from tears of joy. I could have melted Mount Everest with the amount of warmth I had flowing through me. I had never had anyone in my life that made me want to do things for them. But, Regina? She was the exception.

"Alright, alright. Enough with the crying. We're getting close to where my directions run out so you need to guide me."

Within a few minutes, we were turning into the driveway to a two-story house that had curious faces peeking from behind the curtains. I handed Regina a tissue to blow her nose before jumping out to get the door for her. We made our way towards the front door with her holding onto my forearm. We weren't even on the porch before the door flew open and Regina was attacked by two younger women. I assumed they were her sisters and that was confirmed once introductions were made.

We all stepped inside with me bringing up the rear and the house smelled like what I imagined a house from the 17th century would smell like. Baked goods, turkey, and fresh bread. It smelled like home. I stood awkwardly in the door as the three women in front of me were talking a mile a minute. Off to my right, I saw a smaller, rotund fella heading my way. He stuck out his hand and shook mine while introducing himself as Regina's father, Henry Sr.

I was in the process of telling him how nice it was to finally meet him when from somewhere across the room I heard a shriek that could only have come from one very excited Momma Cora, "Henry Mills! Don't you dare greet that girl with a handshake. She's family! You drop that hand and give her a hug right this instant!"

I turned to face the older Mills man and he rubbed the back of his neck much the same way I did when I was unsure of what to do. Before either one of us could react, Cora came huffing towards me, pushed Henry aside, and enveloped me in one of the strongest hugs I had ever received. I felt like my eyes were going to bulge out of my head as she practically lifted me off of the floor.

I looked up to see Regina grinning and biting her lip and mouthed "Help me" but her and her sisters shook their heads and doubled over laughing. It was then I knew I was on my own.

Cora released me long enough to hug Regina and pinch her cheeks before grabbing my hand and dragging me off to the kitchen. Apparently somewhere along the way, Regina had mentioned my love for sweet potato casserole with pecans and tiny marshmallows on top. So, of course Cora knowing what I had planned for her daughter decided to make me feel like I was included by making my favorite dish. She said each holiday she let each of her girls choose a favorite for her to make and I was no exception.

Being included this quickly by someone who had just met me made me feel uneasy and grateful all at the same time. It was all a little overwhelming though. I had never been to a family meal like this so I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. About that time, almost as if she sensed my moment of panic, Regina sauntered into the kitchen and swatted me towards the bathroom telling me to wash up. I flashed her a quick smile of thanks before heading off to find some soap and water.

The house looked small on the outside but once you got inside, there were all sorts of rooms and hallways. I kinda got lost looking for the washroom. I was standing in the middle of one hallway, looking to my left, then right, then left again trying to debate which direction held a better chance for me finding some sort of sink with soap when from behind me I heard "Can you fix my dragon?"

I whirled around to find the master of the house staring up at me with a sad expression holding a plastic dragon in one hand and what I can only assume was its tail in the other. I walked slowly towards him and knelt down to keep from intimidating him.

"What's wrong with it, buddy?"

"It's his tail. It broked off. Can you fix it?" The small brown-haired boy asked.

"Ohhhh. I see. It 'broked', did it? Well, let's see if we can find some tape or glue around here somewhere and we'll patch him up good as new. Whaddya say?"

This huge smile broke out on his face and I could instantly see the Regina in him. Of course if I wasn't sure who he was, that was confirmed at what he did next.

"My name's Henry Daniel Mills and I'm four years old." He reiterated that fact by holding up four tiny fingers. "Are you my mom's friend?"

"Yep. I'm Emma Swan. And I'm...well, I don't have enough fingers to tell you how many I am but I'm pleased to meet you, Henry."

I held out my hand for him to give me the toy and after looking back and forth from me to the dragon a few times, he reluctantly handed it to me and told me to be very careful with it. So, off we went, rummaging around the back part of the house looking for something to put this 'broked' animal back together. I finally lucked out by finding tape in one of the many drawers we opened and wasted no time in wrapping it around the body and tail of the dark green dragon in my hand.

Once it was mended, I handed it back to Henry and was rewarded with a big grin before he rushed off to find his mom. I found my way back to the kitchen and saw Regina carrying on a secret conversation with the small boy who was now resting on her hip showing her his fixed dragon. I felt my heart go flip-flop at the sight of the two of them but didn't have time to dwell on it because Regina tucked her hair behind her ear and cocked her head to the side before motioning for me to come over to the two of them.

"Should I tell her, Henry?" She stage whispered to him.

He giggled and nodded vehemently before they both turned to look at me.

Regina continued her stage whispering,"Henry said he met my friend and that she fixed his dragon. Apparently your new name is Bob the Builder."

I looked from one set of brown eyes to another set with a puzzled expression before Regina figured out I had no idea what that meant. She leaned toward me before whispering in my ear, "Bob the Builder's motto is 'Can we fix it? Yes, we can! Henry now believes you can fix anything."

I tried to ignore the feel of her warm breath against my ear and focus on the words. It was kindof cute when you think about it. The kid now thought I could do anything. It literally made my day. I wasn't the best with kids and knowing Regina's had taken to me immediately made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

She set him down and he promptly grabbed my finger and started leading me towards the table telling me I was going to sit beside of him. I looked back at Regina helplessly and she waved me off telling me she would fix my plate and bring it to me. So, off I went hand in finger with this bundle of excitement that was the kid of the woman I worshipped.

I sat down and listened to him tell me about all the things about Thanksgiving that he liked and only heard him pause when the lights got dimmed. Henry Sr was bringing out the turkey to set at the head of the table before he carved it. Regina had come into the dining room carrying a plate for me and Henry before disappearing back into the kitchen to grab her own. Once we were all seated around the table, her dad asked each of us to share something we were thankful with before he sliced into a perfectly golden bird.

As the chatter started back up, I sat there staring down at my plate which held all the things I would eat and not one that I despised. It seemed I wasn't the only one who paid attention to what we ate during our lunches. Sitting in the corner of the rectangular divided plate was a generous helping of sweet potato casserole complete with pecans and toasted marshmallow topping.

I looked up to scan the now familiar faces around the table and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was part of a family. A real, honest to goodness family. I was trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to be made known. Sharing a meal with wonderful people shouldn't make me want to cry but for some reason, all of this felt so good I could feel myself getting emotional. I tried to distract myself.

I could see a plastic dragon sitting between mine and Henry's plate and heard Henry on my right chatting away about why turkey was better than ham but how he couldn't wait to have ham for Christmas. I could hear Cora near the head of the table asking Carla about her morning sickness. I heard Tanya and Henry Sr discussing her Senior trip from somewhere near me. But it was the movement on my left that made me smile. A soft hand squeezing my thigh in silent reassurance. Thanksgiving was traditionally a holiday about family and as much as I was trying to fight back the feelings, it seemed like I had found mine.

A/N: I wanted to take my time with this chapter to get it just right. It's alot, right? Meeting the family and Henry. Love it/dislike it? Lemme know! Still no thoughts on the easter eggs? Hmmm...

Thank you in advance to everyone who takes the time to drop a pm and review. It's good for the soul. Oh, and these ten fingers that plow through their cramping ;)