In the apartment, Robin, EJ, Ben, and Ted sat comfortably on the couch as Lily emerged from the bathroom, looking a bit pale.

"Well, I just ralphed," Lily announced, still slightly green around the gills.

"How much did you guys drink last night?" Robin asked, eyebrows raised.

"Too much. Way too much," Ben groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Not how much? What," Ted added, still visibly hungover.

EJ winced at the memory. "Can we not relive it? Please?"

Last night

Ted, EJ, Ben, Barney, Lily, and Marshall were seated at their usual booth. Barney was about to fo introduce them to a new drink he "created".

"The Thankstini," Barney proclaimed proudly, holding up his concoction. "A fun and delicious new novelty drink I invented. Cranberry juice, potato vodka, and a bouillon cube. Tastes just like a turkey dinner."

Barney dropped a bouillon cube into each of their drinks, and Marshall took a brave sip of his.

"It's like Thanksgiving in my mouth," Marshall declared, slightly horrified yet intrigued.

It was horrifying.

Present

Ted chuckled. "You want a good holiday drink, try his Kwanzaapolitan."

Ben groaned, holding himself upwards, "Shut up, Ted. Stop being so loud."

A horn honked outside, and Marshall dashed from his bedroom to the window. "The shuttle's here!"

He hurried back into his bedroom, and Lily began to gather her things. EJ turned to her, smirking. "So, Lil, Marshall's family. Whole weekend with the future in-laws, you excited?"

"Yeah, no, it'll be fun," Lily said, though her tone lacked enthusiasm.

Robin caught the contradiction. "Lily, you just said, 'yeah, no.'"

Lily paused. "Did I? No, I love Marshall's family."

Ben laughed. "You just said it again."

"Yeah, no, shut up," Lily snapped, flustered.

Robin turned to Ted. "Wait, so you're not going home for Thanksgiving?"

Ted shook his head. "No, I have to work on Friday. You?"

Robin shrugged. "I'm Canadian, remember? We celebrate Thanksgiving in October."

Ted grinned. "Oh, right. I forgot you guys are weird. You pronounce 'out' like 'oat.'"

EJ laughed. "Haha, 'oat.'"

Robin shot back, "You guys are the world's leader in handgun violence, your healthcare system is bankrupt, and your country is deeply divided on almost every important issue."

EJ chuckled. "Your cops are called Mounties."

Robin rolled her eyes playfully. "So, probably hanging out with Barney then?"

Ted shook his head. "No, Barney's got his own Thanksgiving tradition."

Before

Barney, ever the provocateur, announced enthusiastically, "Thanksgiving in a strip club, who's in? The Lusty Leopard has a surprisingly good Thanksgiving buffet. Plus, they do this thing. Heather dresses up as a pilgrim and Misty dresses up as an Indian, and they share a meal."

Lily sighed. "Oh, Barney."

Barney corrected himself hastily, "I'm sorry, Native American."

Present

Robin turned to EJ, curious. "What about you?"

2030

EJ sat with Shea, reminiscing about past Thanksgivings.

"So, my family usually either hosts Thanksgiving at my parents' penthouse or at Brooke's mansion on Long Island. But this year, Brooke's ex-husband was using the house for some reason, and the penthouse was being renovated," EJ explained.

"So guess who had to host Thanksgiving for his entire family? Me."

"Your Uncle Ben and I had a pretty big apartment because he was now starting on the hit show 'Supernatural,' which was big at the time, and I had just made a ton of commission on a few houses outside the city," EJ said. "So it's not like we didn't have the space, but my parents aren't exactly aware of everything about the lifestyle Ben and I live."

The scene shifted to EJ and Ben lounging in the apartment, playing Super Mario while smoking a lot of weed. A girl walked out of Ben's room, looking a bit disheveled.

So yeah, this was going to be something.

2005

Ted, Robin, EJ, Ben, and Lily are seated on the couch.

"I think I'm gonna go to a homeless shelter, serve food," Ted announced.

"That's awesome," Robin responded, genuinely impressed.

EJ nodded approvingly. "Look at you, man, serving the people in need."

Ted shrugged modestly. "Yeah, I thought I'd just spend the day giving back, you know, doing some good."

Barney chimed in with a smirk. "Canceling out Barney."

Ted grinned. "Exactly."

Ben turned to EJ, lowering his voice. "I swear to God, when I'm gone, Rachel better not steal from my stash."

EJ chuckled. "Dude, you don't have to worry about Rachel. My little nephew is coming too, and he can't get into that shit."

Realizing the potential disaster, Ben's eyes widened. "Oh, crap." He rushed out to their apartment to clean up anything that Max might find and probably eat.

Like any other clueless three year old boy would do.

——

Ben slung the duffel bag over his shoulder and walked to the door. "Thanksgiving back home, and one month of filming, can't freaking wait. Try not to let your family drive you too crazy."

EJ laughed, clapping Ben on the back. "I'll do my best. Travel safe, man."

"Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving, EJ."

"Happy Thanksgiving, Ben."

With a final wave, Ben stepped out of the apartment, leaving EJ alone to face the impending storm. He sighed, turning back to the living room and picking up a stray sock that had somehow missed the laundry basket. The buzzer rang just as he was about to toss it into the hamper.

"Great timing," EJ muttered, heading to the intercom. He pressed the button and spoke into it. "Yeah?"

"It's Grace and Josh," came the familiar voice of his sister.

EJ pressed the intercom button. "Hey, Grace. Come on up."

The door buzzed, and moments later, Grace and Josh entered the apartment. Grace looked as stylish and put-together as ever, her hair perfectly styled, while Josh sauntered in with an air of arrogance that EJ always found irritating.

"Hey, big bro!" Grace greeted, giving EJ a hug.

"Hey, Grace. Josh," EJ nodded at her boyfriend, who barely acknowledged him with a grunt.

"Nice place," Josh commented, looking around with a smirk that suggested he didn't mean it.

"Thanks," EJ replied, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. "Make yourselves comfortable."

As they settled in, the next wave of family arrived. Brooke, walking in with little Max, who immediately ran to EJ with a big grin.

"Uncle EJ!" Max shouted, hugging his legs.

"Hey, buddy!" EJ laughed, ruffling Max's hair. "Been staying out of trouble?"

"Mostly," Brooke answered for him, giving EJ a hug. "Thanks for hosting."

"No problem," EJ said, smiling at her. "And no worries, Ben cleaned his room."

"He better have," Brooke muttered, glancing around the apartment with a critical eye.

Rachel sauntered in, her boyfriend following with an armful of bags. "EJ, this is Nate. Nate, this is my big bro, EJ."

EJ shook Nate's hand, noticing the slight glaze in Rachel's eyes. "Nice to meet you, Nate."

Sam, looking tired but happy, dropped her books on the floor and gave EJ a quick hug. "Hey, EJ."

The last to arrive were EJ's parents. Like clockwork, Karen immediately started fussing over the state of the apartment.

"EJ, you should've used more polish on the furniture. And did you even dust the bookshelves?" she said, her eyes scanning every corner.

EJ sighed. "Mom, I cleaned this place four times."

Luke, his dad, put a hand on EJ's shoulder. "Don't engage, son. You know how she is."

EJ just nodded, watching as his mom moved through the apartment, straightening already straightened items.

The family piled into the living room, making themselves comfortable. EJ felt a wave of relief wash over him. Despite the chaos, it was good to have everyone together, even if it was just for a short while.

Grace and Josh claimed the couch, Josh immediately turning on the TV and flipping through channels. Brooke set Max up with some toys in the corner, while Sam stretched out on an armchair, looking like she was about to fall asleep. Rachel and her boyfriend disappeared into the kitchen, probably searching for snacks.

Karen was still muttering about the state of the apartment, picking up invisible specks of dust, while Luke settled into a chair with a sigh, happy to finally relax.

"So," Luke said, looking up from his seat, "what's the plan for tonight?"

"Well," EJ began, "most of you are sleeping here, so I guess we just get comfortable and maybe watch a movie or something."

"Sounds good to me," Sam called from the kitchen, mouth full of whatever snack she could find.

EJ smiled at his younger brother. "So, Sam, how's college treating you?"

Sam shrugged, taking another handful of chips. "It's alright. Classes are tough, but I'm managing. Hey, speaking of managing, how's Robin?"

EJ shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Luke who was observing the conversation with mild interest. "She's good," EJ replied casually. "We're just friends, though."

Sam raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Shame."

——

The next morning dawned with a bustling energy in EJ's apartment. The aroma of brewing coffee mingled with the savory scents of roasting turkey and simmering gravy, filling the air with a comforting warmth. In the living room, Luke, Josh, Nate, and Rachel were engrossed in a football game, Max adding occasional cheers and giggles as he played with his toys.

Luke leaned forward, eyes fixed on the screen. "Come on, you gotta catch that!"

Josh nodded in agreement, a bowl of chips balanced precariously on his lap. "Seriously, how did he drop that?"

Nate chuckled, shaking his head. "It's all about focus, man."

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, EJ was deep into meal preparations, with Brooke, Grace, and Karen bustling around him. Karen, in her element as the matriarch, was directing operations with military precision.

"Stir that sauce, EJ," Karen instructed, pointing at a pot on the stove. "And don't forget to baste the turkey every half hour. We want it golden brown and juicy."

EJ nodded obediently, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Yes, ma'am," he replied with mock solemnity.

Grace, chopping vegetables at the counter, couldn't resist teasing. "Mom's in full Thanksgiving drill sergeant mode."

Brooke laughed, her hands expertly peeling potatoes. "She's just making sure everything's perfect. You know how she gets."

Karen shot them a mock glare, which only made them laugh harder. "I heard that!" she called from across the kitchen.

In the living room, Max suddenly jumped up, waving a toy in the air. "Touchdown!" he exclaimed proudly, his face lit up with excitement.

Luke chuckled, ruffling Max's hair. "That's my boy!"

"EJ, don't forget to check the stuffing," Karen called out, her tone a mix of maternal concern and culinary expertise.

Sam was setting the table in the living room. "Everything looks fine, EJ," she reassured him, flashing him a supportive smile.

"Thanks sis," he replied, wondering why the hell he decided to host Thanksgiving this year.

But still, it was pretty cool seeing everyone around.

——

The family gathered around the large table now set up in the living room, the delicious aromas of the Thanksgiving feast wafting through the apartment. Karen scolded the men for being glued to the football game, her voice carrying a mix of sternness and affection.

"Honestly, you guys, it's Thanksgiving. The game can wait," Karen chided, hands on her hips.

Reluctantly, Luke, Josh, Nate, and Rachel turned off the TV and joined the rest of the family at the table. As they settled into their seats, Karen's eyes fell upon the Iron Man helmet on EJ's coffee table.

"EJ, why on earth do you have that thing out here?" she asked, exasperated.

EJ grinned, unfazed. "It's a collector's item, Mom. It's staying on the table."

Karen shook her head but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Well, it's certainly... unique."

Just as everyone was getting ready to eat, a knock sounded at the door. EJ excused himself, curious about who it could be.

"I'll get that," EJ said, heading to the door. To his surprise, it was Robin.

"Robin?" EJ blinked in surprise.

"Hey, are you busy?" Robin asked, her breath visible in the chilly air.

EJ glanced back at his family, then stepped outside to talk to Robin, closing the door behind him. "I kinda have my family in there, so it'll probably need to be quick."

As he overheard Karen and Luke praising Brooke, the favored child, EJ made a quick decision.

"You know what? I can take a little bit," he whispered to Robin, closing the door partially behind him.

Inside, confusion spread among the family members as EJ and Robin stepped outside. Karen, ever the organizer, pulled Max aside.

"Max, sweetie, I need you to do me a little favor," Karen whispered. "Go see who Uncle EJ is talking to."

Max's eyes lit up mischievously. "Okay, Grandma," he whispered back, sneaking out of the room and tiptoeing towards the door. He cracked it open just enough to peer through.

"Barney volunteering at a homeless shelter? He's basically the Antichrist," EJ said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Right? Ted and I were going to volunteer, but it's so hard to find charity work," Robin added, rolling her eyes.

"I have never once heard someone say that sentence."

They shared a laugh, the camaraderie evident in their banter. The one thing they didn't know, was Max creeping up on the two of them.

He continued to eavesdrop until EJ spotted him. "Hey, Max, what are you doing here?"

Max quickly lied. "Just looking."

Robin smiled awkwardly. "Who's this?"

"This is my little nephew, Max. Max, this is my friend Robin."

"Wobin," Max said, trying to pronounce her name.

Robin, not particularly comfortable around kids, gave a tentative smile. "Hi, Max."

EJ grinned at Robin's awkwardness. "Oh my God, you are scared of babies."

"I am not! I just... don't like them?" Robin retorted.

"You are scared of children," EJ teased.

"Shut up!" Robin snapped back playfully.

"Max is harmless, he wouldn't hurt anyone. He's three," EJ assured her.

"Yeah, well, he's got that look in his eye," Robin said, making a funny face that had EJ laughing.

Max, with his new information, scurried back inside. The family turned to him eagerly.

"So what did you find out, sweetie?" Karen asked, everyone now curious.

Max proudly announced to his grandmother, "It's someone named Wobin."

The room fell into a puzzled silence.

"Wobin?" Luke echoed, brow furrowed.

"Who the hell is Wobin?" Rachel asked, looking around for answers.

Brooke's eyes lit up in realization. "Robin! That's who he's talking about."

"Is that the woman he's talking to?" Luke asked, curiosity piqued.

Karen's eyes widened with recognition. "Robin? Oh, I need to meet her." She moved towards the door with determination.

In the hallway, EJ and Robin were still deep in conversation, laughing at something EJ had said.

"Robin," Karen greeted warmly, interrupting them.

"Mom," EJ sighed. "Yes, this is Robin."

Robin smiled awkwardly. "So you talk about me?"

EJ shrugged. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

Karen's eyes sparkled. "I watch Metro News One sometimes. Just wanted to see if Robin Scherbatsky really existed. You're even prettier in person."

Robin, clearly uncomfortable, muttered a thanks.

Karen smiled. "Why don't you join us for dinner?"

Robin shook her head. "I couldn't impose."

EJ interjected. "Mom, Robin has plans. She was just stopping by."

Karen ignored him. "She has plans with us now." She gently ushered Robin inside.

EJ sighed. "Guess you're invited to dinner now."

Robin sighed but smiled. "Well, as long as I don't have to do the dishes."

As they re-entered the apartment, EJ noticed Max peeking around the corner. "You little sneak," he said, shaking his head affectionately.

——

EJ pulled out a chair for Robin and took his seat beside her. Robin discreetly texted Ted, letting him know he'd have to handle the volunteer work at the homeless shelter alone. She slid her phone back into her purse, glancing around at the unfamiliar faces.

The atmosphere was initially tense, with everyone sneaking curious glances at Robin. She recognized Sam from the other night at the club and offered a friendly nod. Grace, however, kept quiet, her expression unreadable as she remembered their encounter.

Brooke, always the inquisitive one, started the interrogation. "So, Robin, what do you do?"

Robin took a sip of her drink, preparing herself for the barrage of questions. "I'm a reporter at Metro News One. I do the little fluff pieces at the end of the News."

Rachel, always blunt, asked, "Is it true you fell in horse crap on live TV?"

Robin chuckled, unembarrassed. "I did. Occupational hazard, I guess."

Karen scolded Rachel. "Rachel, manners!"

Josh, seated next to Grace, started making subtle advances towards Robin. "You must be pretty brave, facing the camera every day. It's impressive. And you look great on TV."

EJ noticed Josh's behavior and subtly moved his chair closer to Robin's, creating a buffer. "Josh, shouldn't you be paying attention to Grace?" he said, his tone light but firm.

Josh looked momentarily taken aback, then smirked. "Just making conversation, EJ. No harm in that."

Luke, sitting at the head of the table, cleared his throat and fixed his eyes on Robin. "So, Robin, what made you choose journalism?"

EJ sighed. "Dad, seriously?"

Luke held up his hands. "I just want to know your friend, that's it."

EJ leaned back in his chair. "You know I can easily kick you out, right? It's my apartment."

Robin raised her hand slightly, a confident smile on her face. "It's okay, EJ. I got this." She turned to Luke. "I chose journalism because I love telling stories. I love getting to the bottom of things, exposing the truth. It's a tough job, but it's rewarding. I haven't gotten the chance to do something like that yet, but I hope too at some point."

Luke nodded, still in interrogation mode. "And how do you handle the dangers that come with the job?"

Robin didn't miss a beat. "I prepare as best as I can. I've learned self-defense, and I always stay aware of my surroundings."

Josh leaned in again, his voice low. "Yeah, you must have some crazy stories, Robin. Ever had to deal with any real danger?"

Robin met his gaze head-on. "Plenty. But I'm still here, aren't I?"

Luke continued the interrogation. "So, Robin, tell us more about yourself. Where are you from? What are your plans?"

Robin, sensing the challenge, met Luke's gaze with confidence. "I'm from Vancouver. Moved here for work. Plans? Not much beyond my job. I like to keep busy. And yes, I know how to handle a gun, and no, I don't have kids. Also, I have an affinity for scotch and cigars. Anything else?"

Luke blinked, taken aback by her straightforwardness. Then he smiled. "I like her."

EJ let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. This was definitely not the Thanksgiving he envisioned, but it was turning out to be memorable.

After dinner, as everyone was hanging out in the living room, Robin and EJ stepped aside near the door.

Robin sighed. "I haven't had this kind of family gathering in a long time. It was...nice. Except for Josh hitting on me."

EJ rolled his eyes. "He's harmless but annoying, Grace could do better."

Robin nodded. "Yeah, she really could."

EJ smiled softly. "I'm glad you stayed. It made this chaos a bit more bearable."

Robin grinned. "Happy to help. Plus, your family is kind of fun in a chaotic way."

EJ laughed. "Yeah, they are. Let's get back before they think we eloped."

Max, who had been spying from a distance, ran back inside and declared, "Wobin is nice!"

Karen smiled at her grandson. "Robin, actually."

Everyone laughed, and EJ ruffled Max's hair. "You little sneak."

Robin grinned. "He's got potential."

——

EJ handed over the bowl, trying to keep up with his mother's pace. "Mom, I've cleaned this place four times. It's spotless."

Karen shook her head, not convinced. "There's always room for improvement."

Brooke chuckled. "She's never satisfied, EJ. You should know that by now."

Rachel, rummaging through the fridge, pulled out a can of soda and popped it open. "So, Robin, ever had a Thanksgiving like this?"

Robin smiled, feeling more at ease. "Not really. Most of my Thanksgivings have been pretty quiet."

Karen glanced over. "Well, you're welcome to join us anytime. We love having guests."

Sam, leaning against the counter, grinned. "Robin, you're brave. Most people would be scared off by now."

Robin smirked. "I've faced worse, trust me."

As they finished cleaning up, EJ noticed Josh's lingering gaze on Robin. He felt a pang of jealousy and decided to intervene.

"Josh, can you help me back here?" EJ asked, trying to steer him away from Robin.

Josh shrugged, clearly uninterested in helping. "Sure, whatever."

They moved to the kitchen, and EJ shot him a look. "Cut it out with Robin, alright? Grace is right here."

Josh smirked, unaffected. "Relax, man. Just being friendly. You're not jealous, are you?"

EJ clenched his jaw but let it go, knowing it wasn't worth the fight.

——

As the evening wound down, Robin stood up, preparing to leave. She turned to EJ with a smile. "Thanks for inviting me, EJ. It was... interesting."

EJ chuckled. "That's one way to put it. Glad you could join us."

Robin grinned. "See you around?"

"Definitely," EJ replied, holding the door open for her.

Just before stepping out, Robin turned back, a playful glint in her eye. "By the way, if Brooke ever needs a babysitter for Max, tell her don't call me."

EJ laughed. "Noted. See you, Robin."

"See you," she said, waving as she left.

EJ closed the door and turned to see his family gathering their things. Karen approached him with a knowing smile. "She's lovely, EJ. You two looked good together."

EJ shook his head, grinning. "Mom, you know where I stand on that right now."

Luke joined in, clapping EJ on the shoulder. "Just saying, she'd make a great daughter-in-law."

EJ groaned. "Dad..."

Karen laughed. "Alright, we'll stop. For now. But seriously, she's a keeper."

The rest of the family started saying their goodbyes. Grace gave EJ a quick hug, while Josh, still slightly tipsy, patted him on the back. "Nice dinner, man."

Rachel, looking a bit more coherent than earlier, gave EJ a peck on the cheek. "See you later, big brother."

Brooke, ever the favorite, gave him a tight hug. "Take care, EJ."

Sam, munching on some leftover pie, waved. "Thanks for the food, bro."

Luke gave his son a firm handshake. "Proud of you, EJ. Happy Thanksgiving."

Karen hugged EJ one last time. "Love you, sweetie. Call us if you need anything."

"Love you too, Mom. Drive safe, everyone," EJ said, watching them all file out of the apartment.

Finally, the door closed behind them, and EJ let out a long sigh of relief. The apartment was his again. He took a moment to soak in the silence, then his phone buzzed. It was Barney.

"Hey, Barney. What's up?"

"Bro, you won't believe this," Barney started, his voice animated. "I got fired from being a volunteer."

EJ's eyes widened. "No way. You actually volunteered? I thought Robin was joking."

Barney sounded offended. "Surprised? Why would you be? I'm awesome. But yeah, fired. I had 40 hours left on my community service!"

EJ shook his head, chuckling. "Only you could get fired for being a volunteer, Barney."

"Anyway, back to my original point. You wanna hit up the strip club with Ted and I?"

EJ glanced around his now quiet apartment and shrugged. "Sure, what the hell? My family's gone. I could use a night out."

"Awesome. Meet us there in an hour, and suit up!"
Barney said, and the call ended.