It was the Friday afternoon of Columbus Day weekend; after the joining of the American by birth-Canadian at heart Dave to their family, they'd begun to observe the holiday as their own Thanksgiving since the majority of the cops ended up being needed for the holiday shifts. Plus, as both Alexis and Shane had separately learned, it was a good way to ensure that the request for four whole days of Christmas vacation would be met with a positive answer.

This year, there would be a new addition to the festivities other than the newborn Petra - as they were in the process of transitioning their lives from the Netherlands and Israel, Chaim and Shir had decided to tag along as part of their trip to Manhattan.

'I still can't believe your dad is selling the business, Shane,' Alexis said as she packed fresh diapers into Petra's overnight bag and Shane finished dressing Petra into her party dress, complete with little white stockings. 'It's been in the Weaver family for like what five generations?'

'Six, but my dad has been training his brother's grandson as his apprentice for like three years now and Markus handles most of the business as it is now.'

At this Alexis snickered. 'Your cousin's name is Markus Muyskins?'

'No, it's Booerman, and nice job remembering my family's original Dutch name. Looks like that pregnancy brain is finally worn off, huh?'

'Looks like. Oh, Petra, you are so cute my little gem!'

Shane grinned with pride - he'd picked out a pretty russet coloured dress that nearly matched Petra's dark red hair; it was decorated with thin white outlines of fall leaves which gave the dress an almost kimono feel. He'd left her little head clear of any hair-bands as he'd always thought those things looked absolutely ridiculously out of place on newborns and his little girl was the most styling baby of them all.

'She says, Mumum, I'm so pretty just like you and we're gonna have fun this weekend!' Shane chirped in a falsetto that made Alexis laugh more. 'Just make sure I can have some of RJ's cookies before he gives them all to Trini, okay?'

'I'll make sure he saves you one.' Alexis kissed Petra's cheek, glanced at her watch. 'What time are Chaim and Shir arriving?'

'Any moment now. Do you have our suitcase?'

'Yep. Funny how we only need one and the smallest of us all needs two.'

'It's a girl thing.' Alexis shouldered the replenished baby bag, gave it a loving little pat. 'This is Petra's purse.'

'Oh clever girl.'

The intercom buzzed then, and Shane took Petra with him to answer it. 'Who is that coming to visit us, baby girl?' he murmured to her before pressing the button. 'Hello.'

'Scheine, it's us!'

'Come on up.'

A few moments later there was the knock on the door and when Shane opened it, he was met with the wall of noise only Chaim and Shir could produce.

'Ahh, there she is, my little apple dumpling!' Shir crowed, holding out her arms to scoop up Petra. 'Oh, my little darling, you are so sweet, yes you are, and you and Bubbe are going to have so much fun!'

'Don't forget Opa either,' Chaim added, his blue eyes twinkling merrily as he hugged his son. 'She is beautiful Scheine, another shani for you to love. Where is the original one?'

'Getting our suitcase from the bedroom.'

'Peh, you let me take the valise when it's time to go.' Chaim drew his pocket-watch from the slit pocket in his trousers. 'When it is we are supposed to be at the house in Hampton?'

'Around one,' Alexis replied, appearing with the luggage on wheels in tow. 'We're going early to help get the food ready and so Petra can have a little nap before the party gets underway.'

'She's such a good baby. Here, shani I'll take that.'

'Oh thanks, Chaim.' Alexis gladly relented when Chaim came over to help her with the luggage. 'Are you excited for Canadian Thanksgiving?'

'Any time there is food and family and wine, I'm happy. What kinds of delicious treats do we get to try?'

'Plenty of time to talk about that on the drive up, Chaim,' Shir reminded him, giving him a sharp look. 'We need to get on the road.'

'What? Oh, yes of course. Going on the road,' he echoed, which had Alexis arching an eyebrow. It was unusual for them to speak like that to each other; she wondered what kind of tricks they had up their sleeves. 'Shiri, you take the baby bag and the pram. Alexis you take the baby, Scheine you get the doors.'

Shane was tempted to say Jawohl to his father but he knew he'd get that look once more from his mother so he did as he was told and made sure the doors were open while Alexis and Shir marched ahead of him downstairs to the sidewalk. Once there, he could see what the big deal was about getting on the road - his parents had scored a Tesla XE hybrid car as their rental for the week they'd been in New York. Chaim, being a gadgety person by nature, was always interested in trying out the latest in auto-technology.

'Nice wheels, Papa,' he said in approval, stroking fingers over the shiny emerald green door. 'This gets what, fifty miles a gallon?'

'Fifty-six actually. Very efficient for in the city and traveling as you two do.'

'Traveling?'

'Well visiting to your baseball games and the house in Hampton Town-'

'Village, Chaim,' Shir corrected him absently.

'Yes, Shiri, and of course getting a Christmas tree with your gentile in-laws.'

'Wait, wait, wait.' Alexis may have been sleep deprived but she was certain a step had been left out. She gestured back and forth, trying to compute it. 'This is your rental car. Why would we have it two months from now?'

'Because it is actually yours.' Shir grinned proudly, held out the keys. 'Surprise.'