After a long time of no inspiration, I just got a slew of it! So, here's so daily updates for awhile. Or well... after this one, I have another to write. Thanks for reading. Reviews, please? :) Can you tell me what your favorite part was? I would love that.

On a Sunday and right before she was planning on leaving to go home for Thanksgiving Break her freshman year, Natalie's cell phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetheart!" Henry said. "How are you?"

"I'm good- just finishing up a paper for my business class."

"Didn't you tell me that was due at the end of the semester?"

Natalie stacked some of her books onto her desk, trying to determine which ones she would need during the week off. She balanced her phone int he crook of her neck and shoulder. "Yes."

"So why are you finishing it now?"

"So I can enjoy the feeling knowing I am done with something that everyone else is still griping over. Anyway. What's up with you?"

"I just got home today, and I was calling to see if you wanted to have Thanksgiving dinner with my mom and I. I think my grandma is coming, too. It shouldn't be too threatening."

Natalie thought about it, and it sounded ok. Henry's family was pretty low-key. They lived in a tiny house on the other side of town from Natalie, just he and his mom and his sister, though his mom lived alone now that he was in school. His sister had moved to Colorado after graduation though, and seldom came home. She'd recently started dating again, but was very quiet about it. They really didn't have any money, but she was so dignified and high-class that you never would guess. And it gave Henry a work ethic and an appreciation for things that other kids just didn't have.

"I'll have to talk to my dad. What time are you planning on having dinner?"

"In the evening- I can pick you up around five."

"Well, we usually have this awkward Thanksgiving lunch thing at one with my dad's parents, so it should be fine. Sounds great! I'll call you when I get some more details."

"Sure- see you soon. Love you and have a safe drive home. Don't roll down the window for any car jackers or rapists."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks. Love you too."

On Thanksgiving, she dressed in a simple, nice-looking but casual dark blue dress. Everything with her dad had gone fine- she'd eaten with her family, and Henry was coming to pick her up. When he pulled up into the driveway, she ran out. They'd already seen each other that week, so there was no huge meeting scene, but Natalie was still happy to see him.

"Hi!" she said, jumping into the car and leaning over to kiss him. She was surprised when he looked less-than excited to see her. "What's wrong?"

"So my dad called this morning and blew up at my mom because he said that he never gets to see me anymore, and demanded that I eat dinner with him. I got on the phone and told him not to take this out on her, because I'm eighteen now and it's my business who I spend my holidays with. But he wouldn't give it up and, long story short, he's going to be here tonight. At my mom's house, eating with us."

"Ok," Natalie said. "Just relax. I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think."

"You've only seen my dad a couple times- you don't know how he gets. Sometimes he can be cool and everything, but when he doesn't get his way, he turns into a complete asshole. And my mom turns into a bitch when she gets around him- not that I blame her. He walked out on us when I was six-"

"Henry," Natalie said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I know. I know what it's like to have sucky parents, and have their problems take over everything. Especially holidays. They're always the worst. But I'm sure it'll be ok."

"You say that now..." he grumbled. "I just wanted this to be nice. You know? And now, my grandma's not coming. She's spending Thanksgiving at my aunt's house. She dumped us."

Natalie laughed. "It's not so bad. Look, if it sucks, we'll just go get a milkshake somewhere, ok?"

They reached Henry's house soon afterwards, and got out of the car. A shiny black BMW was in the driveway in front of the little brick house, the porch slightly sunken in, the wood damaged. It was modest, that was for sure, but Nat loved that Henry didn't ever look ashamed of what he and his mom had- or didn't have. He'd always said that he'd respect her more for raising him than he'd ever respect his dad, however much money the man had.

They entered the house then. "Hi!" Henry called. "Natalie and I are here."

"Natalie!" she heard Henry's mom say, looking a little strained as she came out of the kitchen, a dishtowel tucked into her skirt. She hugged Nat and smiled at her. "It's so good to see you again. How are you?"

"I'm fine," Natalie said. "Thanks so much for having me. Here, I brought cookies," she said, handing Henry's mom the platter.

"Oh, you're so sweet. I'll put them in the kitchen."

"Do you need any help?" Henry asked.

"Nope, we're just about set here. Thanks honey." She retreated back into the kitchen.

To the right was the living room, and Henry and Natalie walked into it. A large man was sitting on the couch, and he rose to meet them. Right behind him was a slight thirty-something woman with a well-cut red dress on and sleek hair.

"Hi, dad," Henry said warily. Then he stepped forward, obviously unsure of whether to give a handshake or a hug. His dad drew him into a gruff embrace, slapping him on the back a few times.

"And your lovely lady," he said, extending his hand to Natalie. "Nice to see you again. This is Bridgett, my girlfriend," he said, putting a hand on the lower back of the woman. She smiled very warmly at them both.

"It's so nice to finally meet you!" she said, and shook both their hands. Natalie chanced a glance at Henry, who's face was pale. They sat down on the couch, and the two of them were grilled about college for awhile then.

"So, Yale, huh?" Henry's dad said. "Wow! Henry- you never told us she was so smart!"

"You never asked," Henry muttered.

"Music and business, huh? Now that's marketable. Henry- think of what she could do! That's a moneymaker. A business degree is always a good place to start. Now, music education- that's important too, I suppose. But in the long run, well, we'll see who ends up making more money!" He sounded so condescending- as though Henry wouldn't even make a living, and also that it would be ridiculous for Natalie to make more money than her boyfriend. She was offended on both counts.

"Some of my music teachers have made the biggest impact on my life," she said bravely. "I don't know where I'd be without music."

"Huh," Henry's dad said, not really interested.

Nat looked at Henry, who was looking very uncomfortable.

"I'm going to see if your mom needs help, Henry- want to join me?"

"Yes," he said, hopping up as though he were burned. "We'll, er, be back," he said to his dad.

When they reached the kitchen, Natalie turned to Henry.

"You didn't know he had a girlfriend, did you?"

"No idea!" He said. "I've never heard anything about her before. Not that I talk to him much. And did you hear him in there? 'Something marketable, Henry, money, Henry, business, Henry!' God!"

"OK. Just take a deep breath." Natalie turned and smiled at Henry's mom, who had an understanding look on her face. "Can we please do something to help? Like, anything?"

"Why don't you pour water into the glasses," she said to Natalie, "and you can open the wine."

"Good idea. Thanks," he said.

Dinner went reasonably well, though it was awkward. Henry's dad made many a passive aggressive comment about his major, and ignored Henry's mom altogether. When Natalie tried to talk, she was talked over. When Henry tried to bring his mother into the conversation, she didn't want to say anything. Meanwhile, Bridgett sat there looking as though she wished she'd never come. Natalie couldn't say she blamed her. She was going through the same thing, although at least she could say she was not with the one causing the problems of the evening.

It wasn't until after dinner that the problems started. Natalie was helping Henry's mom with the dishes, and Bridgett, Henry, and his dad were in the living room. Nat could hear his dad's booming voice coming through.

"I'm just trying to say that you're not ever going to make any money. Do you want to live like thisforever? In a shithole of a house without any money?" he said.

"Well I sure as hell don't want to live like you!"

"Jesus Christ... And that girlfriend of yours-" Natalie flinched. "- do you really think she's gonna stick with a screw-up like you? Music education- what the hell is that? If I were her I'd have gone off long ago- so maybe she isn't as smart as she looks. Does she know you're not going anywhere? Not too surprising- failed classes in high school, it's only a matter of time before you start blowing off college, too..."

This continued for a few minutes, until Henry stormed into the kitchen, obviously wanting out. But his dad followed, now directing his arguments to his ex-wife.

"And are you paying for all this? For him to waste his time?"

"That's none of your business," she said, her back straight and her chin high. "I'm sure not getting any help from you, despite your Big Company."

"What in the hell?" he said. "I sent money every month until-"

"Like hell you did!" she said, drying her hands on a dishrag and throwing it onto the counter. "I had to scrape for everything for twelve years- but I don't regret any of it. I'm just glad I didn't rely on you for anything, because you never came through for any of it!"

"You're just the same as you always were," he spat at her. "Self-riotous! You never did anything wrong, did you? You were perfect, weren't you? Perfect, my ass! You were a bitch-"

"Dad!" Henry yelled, cutting through the argument and looking far angrier than Natalie had ever seen him. "Shut the fuck up and get out!"

"Don't you dare talk to me like that-"

"You don't have any right to be here, ok? Don't barge in here and start giving everybody advice, because no one wants to hear it. Just... leave."

Henry looked him seethingly in the eyes for a minute, and then stepped back, taking Natalie's hand. She squeezed it, wishing with everything in her to disappear at the moment. It was obvious she wasn't supposed to see this.

A minute later, Henry's dad was leaving. His date or girlfriend or whatever slinked out the door after them. I bet that relationship lasts about as long as it takes for him to drive her home, Natalie thought.

Once they were gone, Henry's mom dissolved into tears.

"That man is so... cruel!" she said, wiping her cheeks. "He thinks that he can just tell everyone what to do, and that the things he says don't hurt anybody. It's just... it's awful."

"Mom, it's ok. He's just an asshole, and that's it-"

"I feel sorry you never had a good father, Henry. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry you were raised the way you were."

"Mom- I had you. And so I made it through ok," he said, smiling at her. It was one of those moments that made Natalie really, really glad she had someone like him.

His mom turned to her. "I'm so sorry, Natalie sweetheart. I didn't mean for it to be like this- I just thought it would be nice to see you... and you're as much as part of our family now as anyone. Though, I don't know if you'd want to be, after tonight."

Natalie stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder, then reached forward to hug her. "It's nothing I haven't seen before. Or... well... I've been through my own crap. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Just be glad you're not part of the Goodman Family Christmas."

Henry's mom laughed.

"I should take you home," Henry said.

"Thanks for everything," Natalie said once again, and then they were leaving.

"I'm so, so sorry," Henry said once they were out the door. "Jesus Christ- that was horrible. The worst Thanksgiving ever."

"It's ok," Natalie said.

"I guess you can see now- my family is as fucked up as yours. We're even."

She laughed grimly. "We've both got one stable parent, deserted by the other... your mom, my dad..."

Then her eyes widened, and a thought came into her mind- Henry's mom, her dad, single stable people...

"No!" Henry cried. "Eew! That would be too weird-just- no. No, no, no. That would make us some weirdass incestuous step-siblings or something. Gross!"

"I didn't suggest anything," Natalie said, throwing up her hands innocently. "Besides, I don't think they'd get along to well anyway. Your mom might have started dating again, but I think it'll be awhile before my dad does."

"He's still not over her?" Henry asked sadly. Nat shook her head.

"Well... if he feels for your mom anywhere near they way I feel about you, then that's understandable."

Natalie smiled sadly. "I love you, you know that?"

"That's all I ask," he said innocently.