Hi, Gleeks! Back from la bella Louisiane, and prepped with a new chapter for you! It's a pretty standard Thanksgiving tradition-in grade schools, at least-to discuss what you are thankful for. Tina never was the verbose type.

On a personal note, I'm a little sad that this fic is almost over, but I've already started on my next project. See the end of this fic for an update.


Give Thanks with Grateful Hearts

Mr. Sullivan gave up sometime around third period. It was the day before the long Thanksgiving weekend, and his students had lost their focus before they even left their houses this morning. Now, with one class period left to go before dismissal, pumpkin pie and doorbuster sales, Mr. Sullivan had resigned himself to the fact that his 11th grade American Lit. class was not going to be in any mood to discuss The Scarlet Letter.

"Okay, class," he said dully as the students filed in, joyfully discussing their holiday plans with their friends and dragging their feet to their seats. Eventually, enough of them had directed their eyes to the front of the room for their teacher to decide that he could continue.

"Listen, you don't want to do work today. I can tell. I don't even want to do work today. In an hour, I'll be on a flight to Atlanta, to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter. In the spirit of the holiday, how about you make a list of the things you're thankful for?"

"Why?" shouted a football player from the back.

"Because it's traditional in most American families to use Thanksgiving as a time to reflect on life's bounty, on the blessings we've been granted and on the things in our lives we're most grateful for," quipped Rachel Berry in the front row.

"Because I'll dismiss you ten minutes early," replied Mr. Sullivan.

"Done! Awesome," crowed the football player, high-fiving one of his friends, who was sitting beside him adjusting the aerodynamic perfection of a paper airplane.

Seated all the way off to the side of the classroom, right beside a chart of the characters in A Tale of Two Cities that had been designed by one of the sophomores in lieu of writing a paper, Tina pulled a fresh piece of looseleaf from her binder. Things I'm Thankful For, she wrote, neatly across the top of the page. Then she stopped to think, absentmindedly chewing on the cap of her ballpoint pen.

Things I'm Thankful For

My health

Ugh, boring, thought Tina. I sound like a senior citizen…

My family

When they're home and can spare me a minute or two…

Our home

Food

Tina froze. This list was worse than one she could've written as a kindergartener. She turned around and looked out the window, thinking hard, letting happy feelings wash over her in hopes that this would bring the things she was really thankful for to mind. Grinning as images popped up in her mind's eye, Tina put pen to paper yet again.

The way I feel when I perform with Glee club.

All my friends, the way they don't judge or let what other people think bother them.

The way Artie looks at me, like I'm the only girl in the room…even though I'm sitting in the company of Rachel, Mercedes, Quinn and two smoking-hot Cheerios!

His smile, which lights up his eyes like Christmas lights

The butterflies I get in my stomach when he holds my hand

The way his kisses make me feel lightheaded

The way he always thinks about what kind of flowers best express his feelings

The way he tries to 'defend my honor'

My love for him

Love? Was that what it was? Tina put down her pen and re-read her list. Somewhere along the line, it had changed from a typical "things-I'm-thankful-for" list into a love-letter. Tina felt herself blushing.

"Okay, class, we've got ten minutes left to the period…if you want to get going, be my guest…"

Tina was surrounded by the sounds of binders being stashed in schoolbags, coats being zipped, excited chatter and footsteps running out to lockers. Hurriedly gathering up her books and shoving the list into her binder, Tina got to her feet and followed the crowd out of the room.

After retrieving her coat and hat from her locker, Tina directed her steps toward Artie's locker to wait for him so they could walk home together. Her wait was rewarded within ten minutes when Artie rolled up behind her.

"Tee! I see you're all ready to go?"

"Ready and waiting, slowpoke."

"What's that?" Artie made to pull out the List, which was sticking precariously out of Tina's binder. Tina grabbed it away from him, suspiciously fast, a dull flush mounting in her cheeks.

"Nothing," she stammered. Artie's smile widened.

"Come on, Tee…what is it? Is it a secret?" he chided. Tina felt the heat radiating from her face, cursing herself. Damn it, stop blushing. Stop it!

"Just some stupid thing Sullivan made us do last period. 'What We're Thankful For,' like we used to do in grade school."

Artie raised an eyebrow in an irresistible fashion. Tina tried, unsuccessfully, to look away.

"So…what are you thankful for?"

"None of your business."

"Am I on the list?"

"None of your business?"

"Am I Number One on the list?"

"Artie Abrams, you really think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?"

He smirked. "That's not an answer to my question. Am I or am I not Number One on the list?"

Tina smirked back. "Nope. Not even close," she taunted, crumpling the list up tightly in her fist and cramming it as deeply into her messenger bag as possible.

"So I'm Number Two?"

"Try again, friend."

"Three?"

"Three strikes, you're out!" Eyeing the horrified look on Artie's face, Tina acquiesced. "You're number seven," she conceded.

Artie looked thoroughly put out. "Seven? Seven! Honestly, Tee, I know we've had our…issues, that it hasn't been easy at all, but I thought what we shared was really something special, and—"

Tina sighed, amused by his adorable indignation. "You're also numbers eight, nine, ten and eleven through thirteen."

Artie's smile reappeared so quickly, it could've been zapped their by magic. "Really?"

Tina hesitated. Should I get all mushy, or just brush him off with a joke?

"So…speaking of Thanksgiving, how are you spending the holiday?"

And as they walked home, Tina listening to Artie go on and on about how he was going to spend three hours in the van sandwiched between Brooke and a fruit basket while Molly and Joe argued over which dessert was sure to be the best in the back seat, before finally arriving at his grandparents' house to battle the cousins for the best sleeping spots, her thoughts strayed back to The List.

It doesn't matter if you're number one or seven hundred on my list, she mused. You're the most important thing I have, and I don't need a special day to realize that.


Well? I really hope you all enjoyed this update. December is next; since it's the last chapter, this is (sob) the last time I shall ask you for your suggestions as to what should take place.

Don't worry, I won't disappear after this fic is done. My next project is a series of twelve one-shots inspired by the signs of the zodiac. Each sign shall be represented by a character from Glee. Keep an eye out for the first entry, or subscribe to Author Alerts...since they won't be contained in one story (being all different characters and ratings), that's the only way I could guarantee you not missing one.

Don't Stop Reviewin',

Delilah