For the past few days, Sophie woke to the clattering of dishes and the smell of a Thanksgiving feast being put together but she didn't excitedly rush into the kitchen as she had in years past. She instead quietly sat up, got dressed, and put on a movie.

Her room at her grandparent's house was a cherry, sunshine yellow, a tea party theme throughout. Her twin-size bed with the woodland animal comforter faced the old TV with the VCR, in the cabinet below were all her movies. Out of all of them, she picked the same one time and time again. By the time the credits rolled, her father would announce breakfast was ready before picking her up and carrying her to the breakfast table.

Today, however, was different. There was no clatter, no hustle and bustle in the kitchen when she woke. Sophie though confused did what she had done every morning. Changing from her flower print pajamas to a tinker bell top and glittery skirt before rewinding the Sleeping Beauty tape.

"Sophie?" her daddy opened the door earlier than usual, "Do you like, know what day it is?"

Sophie shrugged.

"It's Thanksgiving, like, don't you want to watch the parade?"

"No thank you, Daddy, I want to watch this instead"

"But you like, love the parade!"

"I'll watch it later"

"How about breakfast then?"

"Later, please"

…...


Shaggy closed the door confusedly returning to the kitchen where his family was waiting.

"Where's little miss sunshine?" Sam looked up from his newspaper.

"She wasn't hungry"

Stacy dropped her coffee mug in surprise, "Is she sick?!"

"I think she misses Christina," Sugie observed, taking a long sip from her glass of milk.

"Like, I think so too"

"Where is she?" Sam asked, "I thought she'd be coming with you?"

"She went home to spend time with her grandmother"

"Oh"

…...


When the credits rolled, Sophie returned the tape to its case, leaving her room just in time for the first of the relatives to arrive. As was usual they wanted hugs and uncomfortable kisses which she barely squirmed out of.

"Hey, Sunshine"

"Hi, Grandpop," Sophie climbed onto Sam's lap.

"Hungry?" Stacy swept into the room with jellied toast.

"Yes, please," Sophie gratefully accepted the meal.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, Grandma, I just miss Mommy"

"Mommy?" Sophie's great-great-grandmother asked, eyes narrowing, "Where is she? I'll tear her a new one"

Shaggy overheard, abandoning the turkey in time to see his daughter in tears while his great grandmother continued to spew things that weren't to be said in front of a child so little.

"Nona, Sophie isn't talking about Googie," Shaggy said frantically.

But the damage had been done, Sophie ran back to her room, shutting the door.

…...


Sophie didn't come out of her room, didn't even talk to those who came to her door. She remained firmly planted in front of her TV watching Sleeping Beauty, only Sleeping Beauty. Over and over and over again. Rewinding her favorite scene over and over again.

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream

I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem

But if I know you, I know what you'll do

You'll love me at once

The way you did once upon a dream"

With a gasp, Sophie spun, "MOMMY!"

"Miss me, Sophie?"

"Wait, I'm not dreaming am I?" Sophie asked, "I'm not asleep, right?"

"Let's see," Christina pinched Sophie's arm.

"Ouch"

"Nope, you aren't dreaming"

"I missed you!"

"I missed you too Sophie," Christina picked the happy girl up, "Grandmother insisted I come"

"I thought you said she'd be lonely?"

"I thought so too but she said I had to go," Christina explained, "Want to surprise your Daddy?"

"Yes, please!"

Christina set Sophie down watching with a grin as the bubbly blonde child ran from the room yelling, "Daddy, daddy, daddy!"

A few moments later, Sophie returned dragging Shaggy by the arm.

"What is it, Sophie? What's the-CHRISTINA!"

"Hi, Shaggy-whoa" Christina yelped, Shaggy had lifted her from the ground, spinning her around, reminding her of a movie cliche.

"You're here!"

"I see that," the hybrid giggled, "Please put me down"

Shaggy did so at once, grabbing Christina for a kiss which she returned.

"Yucky!" Sophie clamped her hands over her eyes.

Laughing Christina separated from Shaggy before kneeling in front of Sophie, "I have a gift for you, Sophie"

Pulling her messenger bag from her shoulder, Christina made a show of reaching within, feeling around, before pulling out a book.

"That looks like the book from the Sleeping Beauty movie!" Sophie gasped yet again, eyes sparkling in wonderment.

"Do you want to know a secret?"

Sophie nodded eagerly. Who was she to pass up a secret?

"That Is the book"

"Really? How did you get it?"

"It was given to me by my aunt"

"I thought you said your aunt was mean?"

"I have another aunt," Christina smiled sneakily, "She's much nicer, you'd like her"

"Could I meet her?"

"We could go say hello if your daddy agrees"

"Please, Daddy?" Sophie asked hopefully.

"Sure," Shaggy nodded, "Like, I've got some things to finish in the kitchen"

"I'll have her back in time to eat," Christina smiled, wrapping her hand around Sophie's, "Ready?" she asked softly.

"YES!"

"Hang on then"

…...


Sophie clung tightly to Christina, squealing when her stomach dropped. The conversations of many relatives were replaced by the chirping of birds prompting her to open her eyes.

"Wow, your aunt lives in a castle?" Sophie craned her neck to look at the towers.

"Yeah, do you want to go inside?"

"We can?"

"Of course we can," Christina laughed, "C'mon"

Up the many slender stone steps, past the heavy wooden double doors and through a front hall filled with tapestries they went before being seated in a sun-filled parlor with many overstuffed chairs. While they waited, Sophie watched the birds outside the window while Christina smiled with the joy of a secret. Sophie only turned from the window when the door opposite the one they'd entered from started to open. Christina's aunt stepping into the room.

"You're-you-re Sleeping Beauty," Sophie just about fainted with surprise.

"I was, once" Aurora smiled gently, kneeling to meet Sophie's eyes, "Now they call me Aurora"

"She's your auntie?" Sophie questioned the grinning Christina.

"Yes, she is," Christina nodded, "Aunt Aurora, this is your biggest fan, Sophie"

"Hello, Sophie, Christina's told me about you, did you like your gift?"

"The book was from you?"

"Yes, it was mine after all"

"Wow"

"I think Sophie would love to see your dress,"

"I thought she might"

The door opened once again a servant entered carrying Aurora's iconic color-changing gown which after so many brushes with the fairies magic still faded from blue to pink and back again.

"It's alright, go have a look"

Sophie hopped down from Christina's lap, slowly nearing the dress. Shakily she reached out a hand to touch it only to look back hesitantly.

"Go on," Aurora smiled, kindly.

"Wow," Sophie whispered, running her hand along the skirt, "It's all real"

"Yes, Sophie, it is," Christina nodded before checking the time, "We should get back to your daddy, he'll wonder"

"Can we come back and visit?"

"You bet"

…...


Once back in her grandparent's home, Sophie ran to excitedly tell her daddy everything, pulling Christina by the arm.

"Like, just in time," Shaggy beamed, "We were just about to"

"Mommy knows Sleeping Beauty!" Sophie cut him off, "That's her auntie!"

"What?" Shaggy looked to Christina for an explanation.

"Mom was Aurora's older sister which makes her-"

"Your aunt," Shaggy finished, "Are you like, related to anyone else I should know about?"

"Elvira," Christina shrugged.

Shaggy had begun fixing his plate, which he subsequently dropped, "As in-"

"Mistress of the dark? Yeah, that's her, she's Aunt Vana's older sister"

"You like, have one famous family"

"I guess you could say that," Christina smiled, "Well, I better be going-"

"Why?"

"I only stopped by to say hello, I don't want to disrupt your celebration"

Sophie gad now wrapped herself around Christina's leg, "Don't go"

"I like, second that," Shaggy grabbed her arm, "Like, I know it took my parents a little to warm up to you but they like, will be sad if you leave"

"Please, stay Mommy"

"Okay, you two win, I'll stay"

Sophie cheered.

"Well," Sam stepped into the kitchen, "That's the happiest my Sunshine's seemed in days"

"Mommy's here," Sophie bounced on her heels, "See? See?"

"Yes, Sunshine, I see her, hello, Christina"

"Hello, I'm sorry to drop in uninvited"

"Ah, you've made Sophie smile, you're welcome any time"

"Are we going to eat?" Stacy questioned from the doorway.

"Let's dig in!"

…...


Hours later, when everyone had eaten and the extended family had left Sophie curled up on Christina's lap, sleeping off her meal while Shaggy and Christina talked.

"I thought you were spending the holiday with your grandmother?"

"I was but I missed you and Sophie, once she figured that out, Grandmother all bu ordered me to visit you guys"

"I'm glad you came"

"I am too"

"If you're like, up for it maybe we can go on another date tomorrow?"

"I'd love to"

…...


That has to be the most wholesome/adorable thing I've written in a while. This whole chapter makes me smile. I hope it did the same for you!