"Look how much you've grown! Last I saw you, you were just a little bam bino." The old woman squealed as Jacob helped her out of the car. Great Nana Gallo everyone called her. Alex's grandmother. She had a thick Italian accent and her black hair was faded to a salt and pepper colour. Jacob wasn't surewhat bam bino meant, but he figured it was Italian. She was the only Great grandparent Jacob had left that was living.

"I have grown a bit since then, haven't I." Jacob teased. She gave him a grin and patted his hand. He helped her with her walker and led her into the house, where almost all of the family had gathered. The smell of roasting turkey permeated the air as they walked over the threshold. Little kids were running around chasing each other and screaming. It was the biggest Thanksgiving Jacob had ever been too. All of his life it had just been the three of them. Suddenly it was now over thirty people gathered at their house for the occasion. Brook had called earlier saying she had around fifteen people at her house.

"Nana Gallo!" Jacob's siblings and cousins rushed to the old woman's side, hugging and giving her kisses. James took over and led her to the dining room, where the adults were gathered. Alex and Jacob's aunts were all in the kitchen, preparing the turkey, potatoes, yams, and anything else they had concocted. One of David's sisters had brought something with marshmallows in it, which Jacob was going to avoid.

"Alright everyone! It's ready!" Alex yelled. The little kids came running into the dining room, jumping in their chairs next to their parents. Jacob a little bit jealous as his grandmother sat in his normal seat around the table. It wasn't that he coveted the seat, it was that it was placed next to Lucy's highchair. Lucy was strapped in and eating sliced peaches to pass the time. Jacob wanted to sit next to his sister, since it was their first thanksgiving as siblings.

He grudgingly sat between James and Peter, who had returned home from college on a break.

"Has anyone seen Ginny and Shawn?" David asked. Headed turned and they searched for the missing people.

"I sure their just visiting the twins real quick. You can't expect them not to spend their first thanksgiving together." Alex reassured him. David agreed and they said a prayer blessing the food before the feast began.

Jacob couldn't help but glance at Lucy every five seconds. She would pick up mash potatoes and put them on her head, and gravy covered her face as she giggled.

"Jake, clam down. Grandma hasn't seen Luce since she came to live with us." James said. "Enjoy the food!" Jacob let out a sigh and nodded.

"I guess you're right." He said hesitantly. He turned back to his food. After a few minutes, Lucy's cries could be heard over the loud chattering of the Maxwell and Gallo family. Alex stood to calm Lucy down but she continued to cry, looking Jacob's way. Harley, Jacob's older cousin, rushed to them, taking Lucy from Alex. All of Jacob's girl cousins were obessed with his baby sister. Jacob noticed James and Peter staring at Jacob, as if waiting for something. Finally Jacob couldn't handle it. He stood and ran to Harley, taking his sister from her. Lucy quieted down almost immediately after she was in the safety of her brothers arms. His aunts began to coo at how cute the sight was. Jacob took Lucy back to his seat and set her on his lap, feeding her bits of bread. Peter grudgingly slipped James a ten dollar bill and Jacob rose an eyebrow.

"You bet on me?" He asked.

"Just on how long it would take for you to get Lucy." James said smirking. "Peter guessed the whole night. I guessed within the hour." Jacob rolled his eyes and stood, setting Lucy on his hip and heading out the front row, leaving all the noise behind him. Gosh he had a noisy family. He stood on the porch, rocking Lucy side to side as she giggled. He sat down on a bench and set her down on his lap, facing him.

"You're lucky you have all this family from the beginning, Luce." He said. She grinned again, showing off her new teeth. "But I do wish Dad and Hayley were here." She gave him a blank look. He didn't expect her to answer. He didn't plan on telling Lucy about her parents till she was old enough to understand, so her childhood wasn't as bad as his. Alex and David could be the parents to Lucy the Jacob never had. That's all he asked for his little sister.

  They sat out there for a while, until Ginny and Shawns car pulled up into the drive. Ginny stepped out of the passenger seat grinning madly.

"You're late." Jacob said. She smiled again.

"We have good reasons." She went to the back door and Shawn did also, and they pulled out two car seats.

"The twins!" Jacob jumped to his feet, taking Lucy with his as he hurried off the porch.

"They were released today!" Ginny said. "Now let's hurry inside. The last thing they need is a cold from this weather."

The family was ecstatic at the news of the twins release from the hospital. It just made everyone louder. After everyone was almost finished, David had everyone quiet down.

"Today is about giving thanks for the year, and there is a lot to be thankful for this year. We have had serious heart aches and trials, but we have also had fantastic new additions to our family. Jacob, Lucy, Shawn, Anthony, and Charlotte. Yes it has been a hard year, but we have pulled through, as a family. So a toast! To family!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank. Across the table the sound of little kids clinking their glasses together could be heard as they tried to be proper, clearly failing. Jacob surveyed the table, looking at each and everyone, right down to little Charlie and Tony. They were his family members, and he couldn't ask for a better family. For people to be at his side at the hardest time in his life. He truly was grateful for them, and wouldn't have made it through the year without them.

***

I know it's short and it's been forever! Next chapter is the last! Please comment and vote!

~Avis