If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. [Thanksgiving Day in the City]

[gloriouscurse]

Never had Regina had an abundance to be thankful for. Henry, of course, she was glad every day for him. Under the curse they'd had this holiday together, though it had always been just them, and after it broke the holidays had fallen to the wayside as event after event happened in Storybrooke. Then there was the year spent back in the forest, and though everyone knew what it was, there hadn't been much to celebrate. Or if anyone had, Regina certainly hadn't taken part in the festivities. She'd had nothing but newfound vengeance. In her life before, there was no such thing as 'Thanksgiving' and the last large meal she'd had, the last grand gathering, had been the king's birthday and she couldn't have cared less if she tried.

This year is different. This year there's family and friends of the family and things to celebrate. There's Henry getting to have a holiday with all three of his parents, there's Robin and Roland and a happiness that has managed to settle into Regina's belly and slowly allow her to relax. She hasn't had a terrible dream in weeks, and maybe she's started to let herself believe that this could be how her life is. She finds herself wanting it, the warmth Cora's home never allowed for, the laughter she's denied herself, and so she works hard at it, cooking and baking. Henry's with her in the kitchen in the morning after spending the day before hunting wild turkey with Robin. There are appetizers out by eleven: parmesan and cream cheese pumpkin puffs, deviled eggs and veggies with homemade dip. The wine and drinks are flowing by noon, and at three, dinner is served with traditional fare: turkey and stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, real cranberry sauce and everything in between. She'd urged her guests to bring food they enjoyed too. Dessert is during mid-cleanup and includes Henry's no-bake pumpkin pie, an apple pie, pecan, and sweet potato.

The dull chatter in the room, the occasional laughter and the noise of whatever people watched on television during Thanksgiving all lended itself to make her step back and watch for a moment, eyes suspiciously damp. She's truly thankful, because she never thought she'd have this.

[ooc: Treat as gathering! Lots of mingling and tagging one another.]

Comments

[imcoraline]

Coraline hesitated at the door before finally entering. Smiling nervously as she looked around, she looked out for Emma and Henry and Regina before spotting newer faces she knew like Henry's dad. Looking to hand off the- very burnt- cake to someone, Coraline stuck to the outer edges of the gathering. Wishing for a very long moment that her family was here but grateful for the friends she at least had. Maybe she'd text Malia.

[storybrooke_savior]

"Hey, you're all tall again," Emma remarked as she accepted the cake (which looked about like something Emma would've baked, which unfortunately was not complimentary, but ah well) from Coraline.

[imcoraline]

"I can reach my own cupboards and everything," Coraline said. Pressing her lips together, she tucked her hair behind her ear before shrugging her shoulders. "Sorry about... um, probably everything. I was a lot... kid when I was younger. It was kind of nice though, not having to worry about anything."

Not feeling sad.

[storybrooke_savior]

"You don't have to apologize," Emma assured her, laying a hand lightly on her back between her shoulder blades and steering her further into the house. "I've been there myself. I was four years old for a week. And besides, it was kinda fun."

Carrying the cake over to the already overflowing dessert table, Emma re-arranged some pies to make room. "Want something to drink?" she offered. "There's sodas, and eggnog--a non-alcoholic version, I'm afraid."

[gloriouscurse]

Regina knew how Coraline felt about her, that she saw her mother when she looked at her, and there was something about wanting to make her feel okay that had her walking over. She stopped just short of putting an arm around her shoulder, though there was the definite urge to do so.

"You certainly didn't have to bring anything," she said by way of greeting, taking the cake and wondering if she could salvage it at least.

[imcoraline]

"No, you mean you wish I didn't bring anything. I'm um- I'm a terrible cook, I'm good at microwaving things or serving things just not making food stuff." Coraline said, letting Regina take the cake and wishing she'd just throw it in the bin. What if she gave someone food poisoning with it? "Thanks for letting me come."

[gloriouscurse]

"I mean - you didn't have to take the time to feel like this was important enough to make something. But you did, and that's what means more to me. Not the actual condition of the cake. Emma Swan could burn water, so you're hardly the worst cook I've ever met."

She guided Coraline to the kitchen, and putting the cake down, hoped the girl wouldn't be offended when her hand passed over it, white light appearing and fading as the cake transformed just enough; still obviously the cake Coraline brought, but looking less like it might cave in on itself.

"There. Fixed and no one has to know but us."

[imcoraline]

"I think I probably have burnt water before. I never had to cook at home, I tried but I'm not good at it. Microwaving stuff I'm okay at that but cooking, nope." Coraline said, following Regina to the kitchen. Her eyes lit up in wonder and amazement as the cake transformed by magic into a less-awful looking cake. "Does that- does that change the taste? The actual cake itself or is it a glamour? That's brilliant."

Coraline reached into her pocket, pulling out the stone of seeing she looked through the hole in the center to look at the cake itself. It looked just the same. That was good.

[gloriouscurse]

"You still put in all the work I just...righted it a little. And it's something we wouldn't have had otherwise, so thank you very much. And...if you wanted to learn how to do other things, I could always help," she offered.