AN: And here's the last chapter. Hope you like it.
Almost a month had passed since that Halloween night, and it was now almost Thanksgiving. The Bohemians were once again in the Loft, with everyone doing their own thing. Mark was fiddling with his camera while Roger was on the couch, tuning his guitar with Mimi sitting next to him, trying out a new hairstyle on Penny. Emily was at the table, going over her grocery list and budget for ingredients for the Thanksgiving dinner she'd be preparing, living up to her status of, as Maureen would put it, the Bohemians 'personal gourmet'.
"Okay, I think I got it," Emily announced. "I just want to know one thing. Do you want traditional herb stuffing, or cornbread stuffing?"
"Traditional," the decision came back unanimously. As Emily went back to her mapped out plan, Collins walked in.
"Well, Thanksgiving Break at NYU has officially begun," he announced. "I can sleep late tomorrow. How's the feast planning coming along Emily?"
"Fine," Emily replied with a smile. "But you do realize that this is the first time I'd be preparing a Thanksgiving meal with Tofurky. To avoid 'cross-contamination' between the Butterball turkey and your vegetarian substitute, I'm going to have to be running back and forth between this oven and the one in my apartment. I just want you to appreciate that."
"Believe me, I do."
"I just realized," Mimi spoke up. "This is going to be the first Thanksgiving I share with you guys! Last year, I didn't have much too really be thankful for, considering…."
"Hey, that just makes this year more special," Roger pointed out, sliding closer to her to gently stroke her back. "You know, guys. Maybe we should stop and visit Angel after the dinner. It's a family holiday, after all."
"Sounds good," Mark agreed before noticing Emily's face starting to fall again. The filmmaker smiled gently. "Hey, Emily! You want to come with us?"
"Me?" Emily looked up in shock.
"Sure. Like Roger said. Thanksgiving's a family holiday. That includes you and Penny. Besides, Angel would have wanted you to come. I think she'd have liked you." Emily's face broke into a wide smile.
"Yeah!" Emily replied enthusiastically. "Yeah, I'd like that! I'd like that a lot." Emily sent them one last smile before deciding to head out to pick up the things for the Thanksgiving dinner.
"Want some company?" Collins offered. Once again, Emily smiled broadly, accepting the company of her friends.
As the six friends began the trip to the local grocery store, Mark secretly glanced over at Emily, who looked as cheerful as ever, remembering what had happened when they had seen her contribution to Angel's Dedication. Angel had been the very glue that had held everyone together. On that night, that glue seemed to have died, like Angel. But Emily's words had somehow restored the bonds that were unraveling once again. It was in that moment, he wondered if it was possible that the torch of being the Bohemian Family's binding glue had somehow been passed to Emily by Angel, by means of their fallen friend's memory.
AN: So, how'd you like this story? Next one's gong to be humor: Prank War. Stay tuned. Until then, this is Data Girl 3, signing off.