A/N: I edited Ch. 25 slightly and added this, just because it's almost Thanksgiving and I want to extend it a little. I hope you like it.

Ch. 26

No one knew how it happened. Perhaps it was magic. The dinner turned out to be a picture-perfect Thanksgiving anyhow, despite all the anxiety, surprises, and pain. It was neither the food, the wine, nor the music; but the familiar faces around the table that mattered.

"Mommy, can we take a picture together?" Asha suddenly recalled her teacher's suggestion.

Everyone smiled at the idea as Burke went to fetch the camera and the tripod.

"Daddy, look at grandpa and grandma. You should hold Mommy that way as well!" Asha exclaimed with enthusiasm when she turned back to look at everyone on the sofa.

Cristina blushed as her husband pulled her closer to him. It was the sort of intimacy she could lose herself in.

Wrapping his hand around Cristina's firmly, Burke joined in the joyous exchange of Happy Thanksgiving and kisses that dissolved the bleakness once occupying their home.

Many years from now, Asha would talk about everyone in that photo with pride.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stroking his daughter's hair as he tucked the comforter under her chin, Burke squeezed the hand of the woman beside him.

"Thank you for making this happen," Burke whispered into her ear.

"Thank you for being patient with me," Cristina whispered back and allowed her head to rest on his chest.

Strolling along the corridor in silence, the couple paused outside the room of Burke's parents. Rose was holding Samuel's hand close to her face while the man slept in peace. There was so much love in the woman's eyes that it amazed the younger couple.

Preston Burke knew there would always be a part in him that could not forgive his father, and even if they still had a day or two to really communicate and understand each other, it would never be sufficient.

He felt the same about his relationship with his wife. He knew they had a solid relationship, but he would always desire more from her.

At the same time, he also knew how easy it was for family members to find fault in one another. In fact, Burke knew it could happen every other day in all relationships, if not every day.

But in the end, whether we like it or not, our family was what brought us life and glued us together. That alone would always be something to be thankful for.

-THE END-