Haley groaned as she rolled over. She buried her face into her pillow, wishing she could stay in bed forever. Her baby fluttered lightly inside her and she sighed.

"Don't start, you", she warned it in a hushed tone.

The baby ignored her, kicking harder. She almost chuckled. Stubborn just like its father.

"Please", she begged and the movements ceased almost instantly.

She rolled back over, hoping to slip back into a deeper sleep. It was just another boring, miserable, cold day as far as she was concerned. Never mind that it was Thanksgiving. Never mind that it was holiday tradition for her to start off the day riding in the float of the Macy's Parade. Then she would spend the remainder at a shelter, helping to serve meals for the homeless and less fortunate.

This year she wasn't up to it. She wasn't feeling charitable or in any kind of festive mood. She didn't want to eat turkey or ride for hours on some homemade float in the blistering weather. Still a piece of her felt guilty so she had whipped out her checkbook and the day before had written one for three grand to contribute towards the purchase of some of the food. It eased her conscience enough so that she could wilt away in bed all day. Just as she found herself drifting away again, her ultra sensitive pregnancy nose caught a whiff of the smell.

Not just any smell but smoke. And not cigarette smoke. The other kind. The kind that said something was burning. Haley sat straight up. Oh God! The kitchen was on fire! The apartment was on fire! No, the whole building! How was she going to get out? And what about Taylor?

Breathing heavily, she opened her door and grabbed the fire extinguisher that was kept in the hallway closet. She took a deep breath and bounded towards the kitchen. But there was no smoke. There was no fire.

"Sis, what the hell are you doing?"

"Tay!"

"Were you watching Ladder 49 again? Look, it's totally cool if you're into Joaquin Phoenix but newsflash, he just lives down the block."

"Taylor…"

"If you're going for the lasting impression, I'd say hair pulled up, no make up, teeth not brushed, and a Buddha belly in a moo moo while banishing a fire extinguisher would definitely get his attention."

Haley rolled her eyes and stomped her small foot.

"Dammitt, Taylor. I thought the kitchen was on fire."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because something smelled like it was burning."

Taylor's eyes grew wide.

"Oh shit! My sweet potato pie!"

She opened the stove and a rush of smoke filtered out, causing both girls to cough as the smoke detector erupted in noise. Haley grabbed a broom and poked at it until it stopped. She opened a few windows as what was left of what one could only assume had been a pie once upon a time.

"Pie? Taylor, what the hell are you doing?"

Taylor shrugged as she wiped some flour that had landed on her forehead.

"Today is Thanksgiving, hel-lo! And usually people eat a Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day but not in this house apparently, thanks to you my depressed, mopey, evil, little sister. And you're the chef of the family and since it was obvious you weren't gonna get off your lazy, unhappy ass and cook, I took it upon myself."

Haley folded her arms and smiled.

"You're cooking Thanksgiving dinner?"

"Yeah…or at least trying. Here", Taylor shoved a list at her. "This is my menu. Turkey, of course with giblet gravy, oyster stuffing, homemade cornbread, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, turnips and sweet potato pie."

Haley couldn't help but be impressed as she examined the hand written list Taylor had put together. It hadn't turned out like planned but she would give her an A+ for effort and the sheer fact that she had done something for someone other than herself for once.

"Wow", was all Haley could muster.

"Okay, okay. I know I'm no Julia Childs but what do you think so far?"

Haley surveyed the kitchen. The gravy was too lumpy, the stuffing was too runny and the cornbread could have stood another ten or so minutes inside the oven. The cranberry sauce looked like the leaning tower of Pisa and the mashed potatoes looked more like mashed clay. The pie spoke for itself and Haley dared to peer into the pot where the turnips were cooking as they hadn't been washed properly and were now swimming in a stew of little black bugs. Opening the stove was a gorgeous, fat, golden brown, juicy, simmering turkey roasted to perfection. Haley stuck a knife in the center. Just as she had suspected…the bird was frozen solid in the middle.

The place was a disaster and the food wasn't edible for a pet but Taylor keeping herself busy and looking semi hopeful, well, there was no way Haley could hurt her feelings.

"Looks…interesting. I mean, great, Tay. Good job."

"Really?"

"Really. Now you keep up the fine work and I'm gonna go back to bed."

"Okay. I'll wake you when supper is ready, Hay."

Haley cringed.

"Please don't…I mean, okay but I doubt I'll be hungry."

"Okay but at least you can come out and sit with me. Chris was supposed to come over but you really pissed him off last time so who knows about that now?"

"I don't know…"

"You're gonna make me eat all alone?"

"You have friends…"

"But you're my family."

Haley sighed with frustration. Where the hell was her sister and who was the alien standing in front of her? Taylor had never given a shit about family and togetherness before?

"Tay, don't take it personal but I just don't feel like celebrating today, okay? Now, I'm going back to bed. If you'll excuse me…"

Loud banging on the door halted her mid sentence. Haley cursed out loud. Who could that be?

"You expecting someone, Taylor?"

The older girl shook her head as Haley opened the door.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Haley bub", he rubbed her stomach. "Looks like someone ate their butterball a little early."

She sighed.

"Hey, Dad. Hi, Mom. What a surprise."

"You know how we are", Lydia kissed her. "We admire and cherish the beauty of a sneak attack."

"And we couldn't resist visiting our girls, right, Lyd?" Jim asked. "And…damn! What in the devil is that odor?"

"Daddy!" Taylor protested, hands on her hips. "It's an aroma, not an odor. I'm cooking dinner."

Jim peered into the kitchen area.

"Holy smokes! Someone call the governor to declare a state of emergency!"

"Dad!"

"Haley, care to explain this little sisterly role reversal?" Lydia teased, hands on her hips.

"I…"

"I can explain", Taylor volunteered. "I'm cooking so we won't go hungry today because Little Miss 'I'm Depressed And My Life Sucks So Bad And I Hate The World' didn't want to."

"Shut up, Taylor."

"You shut up, Hay! I'm doing you a favor. This is all for you."

"Then God save me!"

"Look", Taylor threatened, a pile of potatoes positioned on a large spoon in perfect sling shot position.

"Okay, girls. You know the drill. Opposite corners", Lydia instructed. "Now tell me what's really going on. One at a time, please."

Haley started.

"I am not in a celebratory mood today and I didn't feel like cooking so my psycho sister here decided to do it, which is fine but now she's all hot and bothered because I don't feel like eating with her."

"Taylor?" Jim asked.

"It's not about dinner but the fact that I bust my ass to help out my ungrateful, pouting, bitch of a little sister who likes to lay around the apartment and piss and moan 24 hours a day. Frankly, I'm sick of it. Can't you just be unselfish for one day and pretend to enjoy the holidays, Hay?"

"Excuse me, Taylor if I'm not feeling very thankful. Not all of us have as many blessings to count as you being that you really lucked out with that whole Coyote dream job. Nice going, kiddo!"

"I hate you!"

"I hate you more!"

"Fine! I'm moving out!"

"Good riddance!"

"Okay, okay", Jim intervened. "Everyone calm down. Let's resolve this like the dysfunctional, crazy brood we are."

"Rock, paper, scissors, Daddy?" the sisters frowned in unison.

Jim rolled his eyes.

"No. We're going to talk it out like rational adults. Haley, your sister does have a point. She has been helping you out and she did work hard to do something nice for you. It's kind of rude to just dismiss that."

"Sure. Take her side", Haley scoffed.

"Your father is not taking sides, Haley", Lydia assured her. "Now you are pregnant and your body is going through all sorts of crazy changes so it's normal to be tired or to not be in a good mood all the time."

"Thank you, Mother", Haley smiled, satisfied.

"She's pregnant, not handicapped", Taylor protested. "And there's a cure for that disease…it's called keeping your legs closed."

"And you're just a poster child for that one!"

"Who got knocked up, Miss Perfect?"

"Girls!" Lydia stopped them. "Come on. Both of you have a little respect for what the other is feeling. Taylor, you did a good thing here and you should be proud and if Haley doesn't want to participate, your father and I will. And Haley, if you don't feel up to the holidays, that's perfectly understandable but don't ever sit here and say you have nothing to be thankful for."

"But…"

"But nothing", Jim continued. "You have a roof over your head and a comfortable bank account. You have food to eat. And God blessed you with a really special talent that has brought joy to fans all over the world who adore you."

"And you have a beautiful heart and an intelligent mind", Lydia smiled. "You have great friends and you have us. No matter how cuckoo we are or how much we get on your nerves, we're here. Dad and I love you more than anything and so do your brothers and sisters, even the one that is cooking impaired."

Haley managed a small smile.

"And you've got something more special and beautiful and magical that I could ever imagine", Taylor said softly. "It's going on inside your belly right now."

Haley looked away, embarrassed.

"I know it's supposed to be a blessing…but it doesn't feel that way sometimes. I know that's a horrible thing to say and I must be a horrible person…"

"You're not horrible", Lydia whispered. "You're just human. You're going to be okay, Haley. Even if you can't see it now. We love you and we're all here for you. And pretty soon, you'll have someone else here for you. You're about to give birth to your best friend."

Haley wiped away at tears.

"Mom, Dad, Tay…I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize", Jim winked.

"It's okay, Haley bub", Taylor said. "I forgive you."

"Thanks."

"Oh and all that stuff I said about moving out?"

"Yeah?" Haley asked amused.

"Just forget it. I was just kidding."

Haley nodded and chuckled.

"You still want to go lie down?" Lydia asked.

"For a little while, Mom. Just one thing…"

"Anything, baby."

"Will you come lie with me, Mom? Please?"

How could Lydia resist?

"Of course. Jimbo, Haley bub and I are going to have some girlie time, you and Tay try to make something edible out of this."

Jim winked.

"Sure thing, babe. Anything for my girls. We still eating at six?"

The three of them looked at Haley who sighed and smiled at her family.

"Six", she smiled finally. "Just like always."