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

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth let out a soft laugh, ducking her head a bit. He was sweet, he really was.

"And now you're making me nervous," she teased, looking amused regardless. "Thank you. You know, I think this might be the first time I've been to one of these parties for this holiday."

[infamousdelsin]

"Me, too, actually," Delsin admits. "Where I'm from, Thanksgiving isn't big among us Natives. There's some bad blood between us and whites over it, considering what it actually signifies." He's not sure if Elizabeth knows the history. He's not sure he wants to tell her and ruin the day. "But, y'know, it doesn't mean that here. Emma and her family, they're not from where I am, so . . . there's no bad blood."

[cagedlamb]

People had said terrible things where she was from. Not about Delsin's people exactly, but the sentiment was the same. Seeing that museum made her glad she hadn't truly been part of the world she came from. She didn't even know the hurtful, terrible things she might've taken as truth.

"Of course," she nodded. "I do like the idea of a holiday about being thankful in general, at least. I'm thankful for you, you know."

She gently nudged his arm as she said it, a smile on her face. Was it a bit silly to say? Perhaps, but she didn't mind.

[infamousdelsin]

"For me?" he asks, maybe blushing a little. Or a lot. He clears his throat and tries not to duck his head. "I'm pretty thankful for you, too. You've been this— this rock for me, y'know? I know I'm not great at saying it, but . . ." He smiles, then lifts her hand to kiss the back of it.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth was blushing herself at that point, but she was glad he reciprocated what she'd been thinking. She didn't always know how to say what she was feeling herself, but she knew it was the sort of thing she needed him to understand.

"You and me both," she said with a soft laugh. "But yes, for you. I'm...not sure how well I could have gotten through things lately."

She hesitated then, wondering if she should bring up what she'd been mulling over before. In the end, she could think of no better person to talk to about it. "I was thinking of sending a message to Booker, right before you sat down. I don't know, though, it's probably a bad idea."

He certainly had made no attempts to contact her.

[infamousdelsin]

"Hey, no, no way," he says. "That's not a bad idea at all, Liz. You guys were close, you're from the same world. That's important." He rubs her back gently. "You should totally text him or, or something." Delsin knows how much she misses Booker, even though the pair of them had gotten off on the wrong foot. He's not going to stand between them making amends — but he's also definitely not breaking up with Liz just because Booker doesn't like him.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth still felt a little reluctant. If she was honest, she knew it was likely because she was afraid of him not responding at all. It'd been easy, really, ignoring what was a glaring problem for her. Now she was facing it and she wasn't really sure if she was ready for it.

"Maybe a little later, when it's quieter," she said, though she smiled at the encouragement, grateful he was so quick to give it. She twisted a bit so she could lean over and kiss his cheek. "Thank you."

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin leans into the kiss, then turns his head so he can catch her lips. He lifts a hand to just sort of cradle her cheek, touch light but warm. He brushes his thumb against her cheekbone, then nudges their noses together. "When you're ready," he agrees. "Just try not to put it off too long, okay? The longer you wait, the harder it'll be." And he knows that from experience.