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

[hitsuzensei]

"How are things with Barbara? That's the name of your guardian, yes?" Yuuko asks, reaching for a knife to cut the piece of cornbread judiciously in half, one to eat plain, the other to enjoy with butter. It's still warm enough to slowly melt the better that Yuuko's spread on top, and Yuuko doesn't doubt that she'll enjoy the food a great deal.

"This smells wonderful," she murmurs, lifting it up to take a small bite. "And tastes twice as good."

[ghost_holder]

"She's good," Aggie says comfortably. She leans over and points out the back of Barbara's head, in case Yuuko wants to say hello.

"Thank you. I made it from a real pilgrim recipe...only I made it taste good."

[hitsuzensei]

The ease with which Aggie speaks of Yuuko sounds indicative of a fair degree of trust between the two of them. It's good stability for someone like Aggie to have. A calm in the storm, a supportive relationship, after so many years of turmoil and of being wholly shunned for being different. Yuuko's eyes rest on Barbara for a brief while, wondering what the experiences were that enable Barbara to be such a good guardian.

But of course, a glance alone won't tell her much.

"You should do that with all pilgrim recipes. You could even open a restaurant, at this rate," Yuuko compliments Aggie, taking another bite of the cornbread. It is good. Substantial and not too dry.