It was approaching twilight as Tessa, Noah and Faith made their way over to Sharon's on Thanksgiving day. It was short ride from the Newman mansion where they had spent the afternoon, eating too much turkey and roast vegetables smothered in gravy and sleepily lounging on the sofa. Nikki had made an appearance, turned out impeccably, as always, in a svelte navy dress. She and Tessa caught up less frequently now that she was no longer living in the mansion and Tessa had felt a flash of trepidation when she caught sigh of her, elegant, near the entrance steps but before her nerves could run away with her, Nikki had turned around and greeted her with a warm smile and a genuine hug.

They had chatted over coffee. Tessa had asked about her latest charity project, Nikki had asked about her music,

"I heard about your spot on The Hilary Hour." she said watching Tessa over the rim of her mug as she took a sip of herbal tea. "So naturally I had to watch the segment."

Tessa shifted uncomfortably, feeling heat rising into her cheeks. She pushed the sleeves of her dress up to her elbows.

"I hope you don't think that I... "

"That you're carrying on an affair with Noah's half sister?"

Tessa blushed properly now. Nikki observed her a moment longer before continuing, "Tessa, I know Hilary well enough to not take everything she decided to sensationalise at face value. I get the impression she doesn't like you too much."

Tessa let out a half laugh there, feeling like she escaped something significant. She liked Nikki so much, felt a genuine affection for her that wasn't just about how she'd been picked up and dusted off by her when she was desperate and at the end of her tether.

"That's an... accurate description of our relationship."

"Maybe next time you'll give her show a pass – or be better prepared."

The Hilary Incident, as Tessa had begun to think of it, had died down, as Priya had predicted. The speculation had continued for a few days but Devon must have given Hilary a sound telling off, because it hadn't been alluded to again and the message board had moved on to other things. It had bumped up her twitter followers by a few thousand, which she found both thrilling and overwhelming and though she still received the odd tweet tagging her and Mariah, even that was settling too.

"I have no intention of appearing on the Hilary Hour again, believe me!"

Next to her, Faith had snuggled up to Tessa's side and fallen asleep. She had shifted, settling her head onto Tessa's lap whose hand had risen and begun to stroke her hair. She had turned to Noah as he entered from the dining room and suggested they move on. They were due to be at Sharon's for a light supper shortly.

As the car rolled to a standstill, Tessa took a moment to check herself in the mirror, smoothing down her hair before taking a breath. She slid out of the door, her feet crunching on the driveway gravel and she took another breath before she rang the bell, Noah and Faith a few steps behind. Sharon answered the door with warm hellos and inviting them in. As Tessa turned back from hanging up her jacket on the hook by the door, she saw Mariah rise from the couch looking first to her and then to Noah as he was dragged by Faith towards her bedroom to be shown her latest horse drawing. He did not respond to her hello as he passed.

"I'll go grab you all some spiced mulled cider." Sharon was saying as she headed for the kitchen. The door flapped shut.

"Hi," Tessa said hanging back, her hands finding their way into her back pockets. There had been no communication since the Hilary Hour interview.

"Hi."

Tessa smiled at Mariah, a tentative searching smile.

"So, uh – spiced mulled cider, huh?" Tessa asked looking down at Mariah's half empty glass on the coffee table.

"It's better than it sounds, actually. Get's you drunk less quickly than mulled wine."

"Probably a good thing. I'm a bit of a lightweight."

"Yeah. I know."

Tessa flashed to shared bottles of wine on the couch, glasses empty and their laughter.

"Of course you do." she said and a silence fell upon them as they stared across the divide, interrupted a few moments later by Sharon as she pushed though the door, and handing her a drink from the tray she carried. She gestured for her to sit in the spot next to Mariah on the sofa before taking the armchiar. "I'm so glad you are here to celebrate with us."

Tessa sat down gingerly, her leg pressing up against the arm of the sofa, aware of Mariah a few inches away.

"I'm so grateful to be here."

"Well of course." Sharon said and raised her glass, "You're Noah's girlfriend."

They clinked their glasses together and then Tessa turned to Mariah, and they also clinked.

'Eyes, girls!" Sharon said. "You have to look into each other's eyes!"

Mariah gave a little laugh and pulled a face a her mother.

"Come one!"

Mariah gave a sigh and she shifted her gaze to Tessa's eyes. The moment was felt like a current of electricity zapping through the space between them. Tessa felt a little breathless and cleared her throat.

"Happy thanksgiving." she said, her voice uneven.

"Happy thanksgiving." Mariah murmured.

They sipped from their glasses as Noah and Faith came down the stairs. Mariah rose and indicated that he should have her spot next to Tessa and then used one of the throw cushions to sit on the ground, folding herself into a cross-legged position, Faith cuddling up against her. Noah took the spot without sparing her a thank-you and placed his arm possessively behind Tessa on the couch. Tessa observed this little exchange and she could see that Mariah was doing her best not appear upset at his repeated slights but the way she ran her hand through her hair gave it away. Tessa threw an annoyed look at Noah who frowned as if he didn't understand but she knew he did.

"It's so nice to have you all here!" Sharon was saying, "It's been far too long. Tell me, Noah, how are things going?"

XxXx

They had eaten and were laid out in the living room, squabbling lightheartedly over what movie to watch. In spite of the undercurrent between Noah, Mariah and Tessa, they dinner had been lovely. Nourishing. Cozy. The sort of thing Tessa had always dreamed for the day to be. It wasn't the leftover turkey form the diner that she and Crystal would eat, perched on cold metal stools under the florescent lights of the stainless steel kitchen not so long ago. It wasn't even the elegant, formality of the Newman event. This was more mellow and soft and Tessa felt it like an unwinding of the heart, where a coil she didn't even realise had been there had been bound around it so tightly and it was finally coming undone. It was so foreign to be held in the warmth of that familial space but something instinctive in her recognised it. She never wanted it to end.

They had narrowed the movie down to Moana (Faith's choice), Breakfast at Tiffany's (Sharron's choice) and Grumpy Old Men (at least make it a movie that includes thanksgiving, was Noah's argument). Mariah had dryly suggested Addam Family Values before slipping out the front door, saying she'd be back in a moment. Tessa had gamely stayed out of it and watched on as they each tried to make a case for their own choice. It was as Faith was making a passionate case for just how funny Moana was, with the chicken and, you know, that bit where he's screaming when the coconut bowl is taken off his head that Tessa realised she'd forgotten her phone in the car and she had been meaning to send a happy thanksgiving wish to Devon and Priya all day. She murmured her excuses and shivered as she slid into the dark crisp night, almost colliding with two forms standing only a few paces away from the door and... kissing?

"Oh, shit, I'm so sorry." Tessa mumbled, realising it was Mariah, her face turning red with embarrassment, her eyes averted. Her heart had plummeted into her shoes. She circumvented the pair, without properly looking to see who Mariah was wrapped up in and not really wanting to know.

"I'm sorry." she mumbled again and started down the steps to the drive way.

"Tessa!" Mariah said.

Tessa stopped and turned slowly around.

"This is Jess. Jess this is Tessa."

She looked up and blinked, looking at Jess properly. In the darkness she had perceived nothing more someone tall with short blond hair and she'd immediately assumed it was a man. But it quite obviously wasn't.

Mariah was looking at her with pinched look on her face as Jess casually slipped an arm around her waist and smiled.

"Hey." Jess said. "Mariah's told me about you."

"Hey."

"Jess and I have been, uh... dating for a couple of weeks."

"Oh." Tessa said, trying to gather herself but feeling like her lungs couldn't quite get enough oxygen. Or like she'd been punched in the stomach.. "Nice. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Same here." Jess said, "I saw your interview on the Hilary Hour. Love your music."

"Oh, yeah, uh, thanks." she said

"She was just dropping by to say a quick hello before heading over to a friends for dinner."

"Oh. That's, uh, that's great. Um.. I'm sorry, I just have to get my phone out of the car, I have to send a few messages..."

"Yeah, of course." Mariah said and Tessa turned and quickly crunched her way to the car. As she turned to come back, phone in hand, Jess and Mariah were standing close, Jess's hand casually placed on Mariah's hips , her head cocked to the side and staring at her in such as way that it was impossible not to see the intimacy of their exchange. And the way Mariah seemed to lean in made Tessa's heart twist uncomfortably. Jess gave Mariah a linger kiss before skipping down the steps with an 'I'll call you" and moving past Tessa who was rooted to the spot. The sound of the door opened and closed, the engine rumbled to life and the tires rolled over the gravel stone, the sound fading into the chilly night while Tessa looked at Mariah and Mariah looked back.

"She seems nice." Tessa said.

"Yeah. She is."

Mariah shifted on the spot and her eyes liquid in the porch light. Tessa could see how Mariah wanted her to say something more and she wanted to say she was happy for her but she couldn't bring herself to.

"I hope that... wasn't too weird for yo-"

"Oh no, it was fine. I mean I was surprised, but, you kno-"

"Okay, good. Good." Mariah said. "I guess... I mean I don't want you to think that..." Mariah trailed off her hands clasped in front of her stomach, wringing them together and eventually asked, "Did they figure out a movie?"

"Uh, no."

"Right. Well, we should probably go back in."

"Yeah, it's cold out here."

"See what we are reduced to, girls?" Sharon cried out as they entered. Faith and Noah were in the middle of a vigorous game of Paper, Scissors, Rock. Noah looked up momentarily, clocking them then turned his attention back to the game.

"I hope I'm still in the running with my most excellent option!" Mariah said. Tessa could see the shift from the Mariah that had stood on the porch seconds ago with the vulnerability the searching gaze to this smooth, jovial facade. She couldn't muster the ability to follow suit.

"Sharon. Would you mind if I go lie down for a bit. I think I drank too much of your cider."

"You can take my room!" Faith cried out as her fist bounced up and down finishing with a her palm flat and crowing with delight when Noah's remained fisted. "I win!"

"Thanks," Tessa said. She turned away lest her expression give her away and slipped up the stairs as she heard Mariah exclaim loudly that she still needed to play before any final decisions where made.