He came awake slowly when he heard the pelting sounds of icy rain against the bedroom window. He shifted slightly and refused to open his eyes. It was cozy and warm under the sheets and down comforter on their bed. They were spooned against one another, her back nestled against his chest, her hips pressed into his. He settled his chin gently against the top of her head and drew in a slow breath so as not to waken her. His hand was resting in the familiar place over her rounding lower belly under the cami she wore to sleep. The tips of his fingers dipped just barely under the elastic of her pajama pants. A slow smile began to creep across his face as he tried to match her rhythmic breathing and felt her heart beating against his bare chest. This was bliss. Pure and unadulterated bliss. For that he was thankful.

Luka's eyes opened as he heard the bedroom door opening. A tiny sprite in a purple sleeper stood there with her feet crossed, one hand on the door knob and the other on her hip. He lifted his head and held up the comforter a bit, an invitation their three year old daughter usually relished. It was his opportunity for a few more minutes of sleep as they snuggled together in the morning - the three of them. Today, however, she shook her head and frowned.

"Hungry, Tata," she wheedled. "I eat now?" Luka grumbled a bit and then eased himself out of his warm cocoon and tucked the sheets against his wife's back. He slipped into the robe that had been tossed on the bed post the night before and circled the end of the bed.

"Okay, baby," he sighed. "Pancakes today….orange juice and maybe some eggs and bacon?"

"Kitty cat pancakes!" Lauren cried happily as she jumped up and down. There was moan from the bed and the covers were swept aside. Luka scooped the little girl to safety in his arms as Abby pushed past and raced toward the bathroom. He grimaced as he heard the toilet seat slam and the wretching that quickly followed. He glanced at Lauren's wide eyes and the finger that had made its way into her mouth. He grinned and pressed a mushy kiss to her cheek and jostled her until she giggled. He carried her to the bathroom door and grimaced again as Abby vomited once more.

"Anything I can do?" he asked. She didn't lift her head from the toilet and waved them away with her hand.

"Okay," he said apologetically. "I'll make you some tea." With that he turned in the hall and headed down the stairs bouncing his daughter in his arms and humphing a cheerful Croatian song.

Abby waited a while and then stood up from the floor where she had been resting. She cleaned and flushed the toilet bowl and then brushed her teeth. She stared at herself in the mirror for a long moment and then turned to survey her profile. She lifted her cami and lowered the pajama pants to study the rounding of her belly. Damn. It was true. She was much bigger than she had been the first time at this point. She wouldn't be able to avoid the maternity jeans in the bottom of her closet much longer. Damn. She made her way wearily back into the bedroom and crept into the mustled mass of sheets and comforter. She eased her pounding head back onto the pillow and sighed. What in the name of heaven would make anyone willingly want to put her body through this again? Her eyes drifted shut as she dozed off into a wary sleep but only for a moment. She opened one eye and then the other and grinned slightly at the worried little face that peered over the edge of the mattress at her. Straight dark brows were drawn together over thickly lashed brown eyes. The pert little nose had the slightest hint of an upturn at the end and the rosebud of a mouth was covered in sticky jam. The loose pony tail that had been put in the night before to keep morning snarls at bay hung at a crazy cockeyed angle. Lauren lifted her sticky fingers and pushed a crumbling cracker toward her mother.

"Feel bettah, Mom?" the little girl asked softly. Abby smiled.

"I do now, sweetie," she said and took the cracker. Lauren watched her sternly as she chewed on it and then smiled happily as Abby lifted the blankets so she could crawl in beside her. Abby pulled her close and Lauren squirmed around until they were spooned and comfortably tucked under the covers. Abby took a deep breath and reveled in the smell of blueberry shampoo and hint of raspberry jam that permeated her nose. She could feel the little girl relaxing and then snoring softly. She had just begun to drift off again herself when Luka sat carefully on the edge of the bed. She opened her eyes and watched as he set a mug of steaming tea on the bedside table and then turned to look down at them. He reached over and smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and pressed cool fingers against her forehead.

"Better?" he asked. She smiled and nodded as she drew the little girl closer to her.

"I have the turkey out of the refrigerator and ready to stuff with stuffing," he said. "And there's a bean casser….." He stopped when Abby grimaced and held up her hand.

"Not that much better…." she warned. Luka laughed and bent to press a kiss to his sleeping daughter's forehead and then to her lips.

"Go back to sleep," he said. "I'll take care of it." Abby watched him quietly slip into a pair of jeans and tee shirt and then exchanged grins as he left them. She closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

Lauren was gone when she woke again. Abby could hear voices and the television going downstairs. She looked at her alarm clock and shook her head. She had been sleeping way too long. She sat up and waited for the wave of nausea and was pleasantly surprised when there was none. She picked up her robe and headed for the bathroom again – this time for a shower.

They were all sitting at the big dining room table they had splurged on. Luka had already put in the extensions so it would be big enough for all of them. Luka and Susie were in a hot debate about sweet potato recipes when she made her way down the stairs. Lauren and Cosmo were busy coloring turkeys. Lauren climbed down from her chair for a hug. Luka stopped arguing long enough to accept a kiss from her and then went back to arguing and chopping pecans. She sat down at the table and held Lauren on her lap.

"Lauren can read now," Cosmo said as he searched through the tub of crayons for the color he wanted. Abby studied her daughter in surprise and Lauren smiled as she nodded.

"Can she now?" Cosmo dropped his crayon and slid a handmade book toward Lauren. He got down and circled the end of the table and opened the little book. The first page had a picture of a turkey that had been made with his handprint. The word 'turkey' was written underneath.

"What's this word, Lauren?" he asked as his finger traced under the letters.

"Turkey……" Lauren replied obediently. She grinned at Abby as Cosmo turned the page.

"And this one?" Lauren studied the picture.

"Corn….." she drawled. She grinned again and then watched Cosmo turn to the last page in the little book.

"Turkey inna corn!" she crowed. Abby laughed and hugged her close and then drew Cosmo into their hug as well.

"You keep this up and we won't have to send her to Kindergarten," Abby laughed. Cosmo batted his eyes proudly and went back to his seat.

"He worked on that book all morning," Susie said with a smile. "And he made hats for all of us to wear too."

"Nice," Abby nodded. 'No prodding from you, eh?" Susie grinned.

"Well, maybe a little," she said. "Had to keep him busy after Aunt Susan left for work."

"What time does her shift end?"

"Just in time for dinner," Luka said as he carried the bowl of chopped pecans to the kitchen. "She's picking up some ice cream on her way home."

"Ice cream?" Abby grimaced and played with the French braid that trailed down Lauren's back. Susie must have dressed her. Everything matched. "On Thanksgiving?"

"Peppermint," he said as he stuck his head out of the kitchen and smiled. "Thought it might help settle your stomach." He glanced back into the kitchen.

"Get those marshmallows away from my sweet potatos!" he barked and disappeared after Susie. Abby grinned and turned back to the children at the table.

By the time Susan opened the door the table was set with gleaming silverware and china. Her dad was ensconced with Luka on the couch with beers in hand engrossed in the end of a football game. Cosmo and Lauren raced toward her with a construction paper headband and feathers. She stepped aside and let David into the house.

"Can we set another plate?" she asked. "I would have phoned but my cell battery died."

"Hey Coach!" Susie waved from the kitchen door. Henry Lewis looked up from his seat and then straightened when he saw the man with his daughter.

"Oh, sit back down, Dad," Susan said as she slipped her coat off and took David's from him. "It's just Cosmo's PE teacher…..a friend." She dropped their coats onto the staircase and knelt down to kiss Cosmo and Lauren and wait for them to settle the headband on her.

"David, that's my dad, Henry Lewis," she said. "And that's Luka…and you've met Abby." David nodded in Abby's direction and reached to shake hands with Luka and Henry. Cosmo looked up at him and frowned slightly.

"We need another hat," he said. He thought for a moment and then took the black pilgrim hat from his head. "You can wear mine."

"No…mine!" Lauren crowed as she pulled the boxy gray and white 'girl hat' from her head. Abby and Susan watched as David crouched down and carefully surveyed the two offerings.

"Hmmm…." he said. "Sorry Cosmo, but this one is more my style." He took Lauren's hat and settled it on his head. He grinned as the two of them burst into giggles. They took his hands and dragged him around the end of the couch so he could sit in the available chair. Susan's eyes met Abby's and she took a deep breath.

"Need some help?" she asked as she shifted the bag with ice cream in her hands. Abby nodded as her eyes narrowed.

"Definitely…." she said. Susan followed her into the kitchen where Susie was retrieving another plate and place setting.

"Helping out, kiddo?" Susan asked as she kissed Susie's cheek.

"Always," Susie muttered happily and went into the dining room. Susan opened the freezer and put the ice cream inside. She turned around. Abby stood with her hands on her hips at the sink.

"How did this happen?" she whispered. Susan rolled her eyes and moved closer.

"He was at the market," she said. "I stopped to get ice cream and he was trying to choose a frozen dinner. Now how pathetic is that?"

"Pathetic that you fell for it," Abby chuckled softly. "Do you think that he staked out the grocery store waiting for someone to go in?" Susan's mouth dropped open. She moved to glance through the door where David was playing with Cosmo and Lauren as he tried to watch the game.

"You mean like…stalking? Ewww," she asked incredulously. Abby shrugged.

"Well…maybe in a good way," she whispered. "He likes you…..and you like him. I didn't even know he lived near here. Why would he be at THAT market?"

"God…Abby," Susan groaned. "You have the creepiest mind going."

"Well, it fits," she chuckled. Susan glanced from her to the living room again.

"Oh my god….Abby," Susan groaned again. Abby giggled and looped her arm through Susan's as she handed her a pitcher of milk.

"Come on, dinner's ready," Susie was adding the extra plate to the table and Luka pushed the rolling computer chair to the table. He waited for Abby to sit in it and then pushed her to a spot. He lifted Lauren next to her and sat on the other side. Abby slipped her paper hat to Lauren's head and took her hand. She looked around the table as everyone settled into a chair. It was nice. She slipped a hand under the table to her belly and grinned. Her eyes met Luka's and he smiled and nodded.

'Happy Thanksgiving," he said silently. She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.