After almost a whole month, Thanksgiving finally had arrived and the weather started getting colder.

Brianna did felt guilty for leaving me alone on the holiday for a whole week but I did reassure her that I would be ok.

Brianna and I found ourselves packing, with my assistance. She just needed to pack a few other essentials before she had to leave in a few hours.

"Hey, can you go check to see if my casserole is done yet?" Brianna was trying to untangle all her cords.

"Yeah, sure!"

Trotting into the kitchen, I slightly opened the oven, the casserole wasn't done yet.

Brianna's phone then started ringing, she left it on the countertop so I decided to answer it for her.

I smiled at the caller ID, unlocking her phone and accepting the call, "Hey Jake! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving Syd! How are you?"

"I'm well, how about you?"

"I'm feeling extra cheerful for some odd reason, but, hey, is Bri there by chance?"

"Um she's trying to pack up her things but I can take a message."

"Ok, please let her know that I'm gonna call her over the holiday."

"Alrighty, please drive safe Jake."

"Thanks and please, the both of you, be safe also."

"Thanks, Jakey, Happy Thanksgiving, again."

"Happy Thanksgiving to you too."

After saying our goodbyes, I took Bri's phone into her room, "Hey, Jakey just called and wanted me to tell you that he's gonna be calling ya over the holiday."

"Wait! Really?!" She basically flew up from her spot on the floor.

"Yeah," Bri still didn't have her cords untangled so I decided to take matters into my own hands. "Gimme these, and the casserole isn't done just yet. Maybe a few more minutes."

"K," In a few seconds I was able to untangle the cords, giving them back to Bri, who was shocked, mouth hanging wide open, "I still dunno how you do that in only a few seconds."

"To be honest, I dunno either half of the time." Then my phone started buzzing in the pocket of my sweatpants.

"Who is it?" Bri raised a brow.

Looking between Bri sitting on the floor and my phone in my hand, "It's Sid, wonder why he's calling me," I then accepted the call, "Hey Sid!"

"Hey Syd, Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving to you too!" I smiled.

"Hey, I was wondering if you had any plans today?"

"Well," I dragged, ruffling the one side of my hair before taking a seat on the bed. "Bri is getting packed right now so she can leave to go to her parents for the holiday, so I'm free."

"Well, I was hoping you'd be my plus one for tonight since Kathy isn't really "with me" anymore."

"Plus one, plus one? To where?" I scrunched my face in confusion.

"Mario's."

"Uh, Nathalie told me one of the kids hosts Thanksgiving."

"Mario called me yesterday and told me that Lauren couldn't host this year and Austin is still in college."

"Ah, ok," Nodding my head, I then saw Brianna mouthing something to me.

"JUST SAY YES!" She mouthed, shooing me with her hands.

"I'd love to come! But do I have to bring anything?"

"Um I don't think so but I'll text Nathalie real quick, gimme a sec," I could hear Sid tapping on his phone, texting Nathalie. "Uh, she said you don't have to bring anything."

"We'll ask her if she has any rolls."

A minute went by and Sid finally gave me an answer, "She said no, the ones she made turned out flat so she's not serving them and she insisted that you don't have to bring anything."

"Ok, what times dinner?"

"5 but I'll be picking you up around 4:20, 4:30ish."

"Mk, see you then Sid."

"Yup, bye Syd."

"Bye." After hanging up the phone, Bri had all of her things packed up and organized in a pile near her.

"So, someone's gonna be having dinner with Captain Crosby tonight." She teased.

"Oh, Lord." I rolled my eyes playfully, walking out of her bedroom to get the rolls out and by one of the vents to help rise faster.

After I sat the rolls by a vent in the living room, Bri had come out, changed in a different outfit, duffle bag on her shoulder, and dragging her two suitcases behind her.

Her hair, done up in a messy bun, gold hoop earrings, a baggy white sweater, a rose gold scarf with white stripes paired with black jeans, and tan block heel ankle boots to complete her ensemble.

"Looks like I'm heading out, weather predicts a snowstorm by noon." Bri let out a loud huff before dropping her duffle bag in the kitchen area

"Aww," I threw my arms in the air, wagging my hands back and forth, "Please drive carefully." We embraced each other.

"Yes, I promise I will!"

"And please video call me when you get there."

"Yes, I will, I promise." She smiled before grabbing her duffle bag, but I was quicker, throwing the straps around my arm, Bri just grabbed her suitcases as we went downstairs to load her baggage in her car.

I then waved her off, "Love you!"

"Love you too!" She screamed outside the window while driving away.

The cold chill made my whole body tingle and shiver as I ran back upstairs to our apartment to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my time.

I figured I'd look up places to go get Christmas trees at since I was already wanting Christmas to come.

I had found a few nice places as to where to get trees but I really wanted it to be like how it was when I was in my teens. Nice little cut your own tree places but I knew I had to do some more digging later.

As Bri said the weather had predicted, a snowstorm did come as planned, and thankfully a good snuggle on the couch while watching a few movies with Juno killed some time before I had to put the rolls into the oven and get ready for Sid to pick me up.

I decided to pick out a short dress with black and white stripes and long sleeves. The skirt was poofy which is what I enjoyed about it. I parked the dress with black stockings, black pumps with an ankle strap, my great grandmother's pearl necklace, and a matching black beret with tiny little pearls attached.

To be honest, I never wanted to wear a sweater nor a sweater dress for Thanksgiving, just something cute to make up for my bad impression I had made for Mario and Nathalie especially since now I was meeting all four of their children and maybe they're spouses tonight.

I also wanted to look nice for Sid too. I always dressed nice when I went to work but that's different. I wanted to look nice and somewhat formal for him so I wouldn't embarrass him for looking like a slob or a country bumpkin.

My heels clicked on the floor as I adjusted my earrings, walking into my bedroom to grab my nice lone winter dress coat I would wear to church.

Taking it out of my closet, I put it on, lightly placing my beret on my head, trying not to ruin my hair, before grabbing my Michael Kors purse, placing my phone inside.

Juno was eating from his bowl when I walked in to take the rolls out of the oven. I was right on time, 20 minutes until Sid would arrive at the apartment to come and pick me up.

Taking the rolls from the oven with the oven mitts, I gently set the tray down on the stovetop before closing the door.

My phone started ringing in my purse, I hoped it was Bri video calling me when she arrived at her parents, pulling out my phone, it was Bri, so I answered.

"Hi, Bri! How was the drive up there?"

"Hey, Syd! It wasn't too bad but when I got in town it started to really pick up, anyway, I got home a few hours ago, I wanted to get settled in, and then my parents had me do stuff, just exhausting." She shook her head, sitting in her old bedroom with her aesthetic lights turned on.

"I can imagine tho," I nodded, before fixing my hat on my head. "I think I'm gonna go get the tree tomorrow since it's Black Friday and the holiday crowds will be mainly at the stores."

She gasped slightly, "Oh no! I'm gonna miss picking out the tree!"

"Don't worry! I'm gonna pick out a very good tree, I promise and I'll call you once I pick it out."

"Ok, but I'm decorating it with you." She pointed at her phone.

"I know! I would never do that without you." I teased.

"So you looked "nice"." She quoted, looking at what was on screen.

"Oh yeah, I didn't feel like wearing a sweater or a sweater dress for dinner."

"Well lemme see what ya have on at least!" She chuckled.

I propped up my phone on the countertop in the kitchen, taking off my coat, also setting it on the counter, and stepping back for Bri to see.

"Ooh-La-La, that is so cute!" Bri clapped her hands. "You look amazing Syd, I dunno how anyone could compete with your outfits."

I turned to the side, popping up my one leg, "Aww, thanks Bri, I also paired them with the black pumps I have." Pointing to my shoe.

Someone then knocked on the door, and I squeaked. Bri also squeaked too, "Sid's here!"

Opening the door, Sid was also wearing a long black dress coat with a white dress shirt, black dress pants, and dress shoes. His top two buttons on his shirt were undone.

"Hey! Come on in for a sec." I smiled, opening the door wider for him.

"Hey! Don't forget about me!" Bri waved her hands on screen.

"Bri?" Sid walked into the kitchen, seeing Bri on a video call with me. "Bri! Hey! How was the drive?" He smiled, slightly bending down.

"Good but when I was getting into town it started picking up."

"Well, I'm glad you made it safely." Sid smiled before I closed the door again, walking over to the kitchen.

The two of us squeezed into the picture, standing back slightly so she could see us both, "So how do we look?" I smiled, then smoothed out the skirt of my dress.

"Like a couple," Bri nodded making us freeze and look at each other with shocked expressions. "Just kidding! Just kidding!" She laughed, making the both of us laugh.

"Ok, I'm gonna go, help the family get ready for dinner."

"K Bri, say hi to the family for me and keep your phone on you, I might have a surprise for you later."

"Ok!" She sang. "Say hi to Nathalie and Mario for me too!"

"We will." The two of us said in unison.

"Bye."

After ending the chat, Sid kindly got my rolls out of the oven for me, "Nathalie said you didn't have to bring anything."

"Well, I'm going to anyway." Crouching down to get the sticky wrap to put over the glass pan.

"They do smell good though."

I then ripped off a good amount to cover the pan, "Thanks." The two of us stared at each other, smiling.

Sidney gestured to the sticky wrap container in my hands, "Um I can put that away."

"Oh! Yeah! Thanks!" Smiling, I handed it over, then securing the piece over the pan. Sid was bent down by me putting the wrap away,

After Sid put the wrap away, like a gentleman he was, he helped me get on my coat before we left.

He opened my apartment door for me, locking it with my keys I gave him.

When getting outside, there was a little bit of snow on the ground, "Oop, here, don't want you to break an ankle or drop the rolls." He offered me his arm, and I readjusted myself so my rolls were under my one arm and my other was linked with Sid's.

He then opened his car door for me, "Thank you." I blushed and kicked my feet inside the charm setting the rolls on my lap, buckling up, then pulling down the visor to look in the mirror and fix my beret on my head.

Sid tapped off his feet before kicking them inside, "Stop it." His tone sounded harsh and serious.

"Why? What?" I was a bit worried about his tone.

His face finally softened, "You look perfect." He beamed.

We just sat in a cute silence, smiling at each other, I was blushing like crazy.

The whole ride over, I was chattering about how excited I was to meet Mario and Nathalie's four children and Lauren's husband.

Arriving at the house, there were multiple cars in the driveway and multiple lights could be seen from outside the house when we arrived.

Sid then helped me out of the car and opened the front door for me while I carried the rolls inside, "We're here!" Sid yelled, once again, into the house, shutting the door behind me, and helping take my coat off.

"Thanks," I mumbled, Sid also took his coat off, also taking mine in his arms.

Footsteps could be heard coming this way and soon the whole gang showed up in the foyer.

Nathalie, screeched in happiness, rushing over to greet us, "There you two are! I'm so happy you came Sydney!" She clapped her hands before Sid and Nathalie kissed each other's cheeks, Nathalie did the same with me.

"Awe, thank you for letting me come! I also brought a peace offering." Smiling, I held up the glass pan with rolls.

"Honey you didn't have to! Your too much!" She smiled, once again kissing my cheeks before taking them from my hands.

"I'm sorry I made rolls, they are like the easiest thing." I scoffed.

"Oh no, anything to do with bread is not easy." She emphasized, shaking her head.

While Nathalie and I were talking, Sid and Mario were also chatting before they noticed me looking, Mario came over, we kissed each other's cheeks, "Sydney, you look radiant."

"Thank you, Mario, your too kind." Smiling, I fix my beret on my head.

"Um, Sydney, I'd like you to meet our children," Nathalie interrupted and gestured to her children patiently standing in the background. They all resembled Mario a lot. "This is our oldest, Lauren, and her husband, David," Nathalie guided me over to Lauren and David.

Lauren had her father's smile and eyebrows, oval face but soft eyes, and long brown hair with a mix of shades.

I shook hands with Lauren and David, "It's so nice to meet you."

"Likewise!" She smiled, "I love your outfit, it's so cute."

I played with the skirt for a minute, "Awe thank you!"

"And then this is Stephanie,"

Stephanie was a bit taller than her two sisters but she was probably the same height as me, dark brown hair just like Mario, defined brows, and again Mario's smile.

"Wow, your just like how mother and father described you as." Stephanie smiled, all while shaking my hand.

"Thank you."

"And this is Austin and Alexa."

"Hi, I'm Alexa! You're prettier than I expected." She radiated happiness, shaking my hand which was full of electricity.

Alexa was the youngest and she had the face structure of her mother but everything else was Mario, including her dirty blonde curled locks.

"Thank you, Alexa, I'm flattered."

Austin coughed, "Well she isn't wrong, I'm Austin."

Austin was completely his father's boy, he was almost an identical twin to his father, clearly taller than me.

"I've heard a bit about you Austin."

"Well, who hasn't!" Everyone in the room laughed at Austin's remark.

"Let's all come into the living room, dinners almost ready," Nathalie instructed us all to come into the living room to sit.

"So Sid, is this your new girlfriend?" Lauren asked while sitting on one of the sofas before picking up her glass of wine while her husband sat down next to her.

"Oh! No! No!" The two of us stammered.

"I'm just his photographer."

"She's just my photographer." We spoke together in unison.

"What happened to Kathy?" Austin sat in one of the armchairs near us while we sat on a sofa near the fireplace.

Sid's face dropped, "It's a long story." He frowned.

"Well, how did the two of you meet?" Stephanie crossed her legs, obviously seeing that Sid was upset about the subject.

I stifled a laugh under my breath, "Uh, well that's actually a much better topic."

Sidney looked at me and laughed, "It really is," Then he looked at everyone. "I was going back to my car,"

"And I was going to the locker room on my first day,"

"We happened to round the corner at the same time and we ran into each other."

"I spilled my papers all over the place and accidentally insulted him for how he says 'Sorry' then I looked at him and realized I insulted 'Thee Sidney Crosby'!"

The five of them laughed, "That is so adorable!" Alexa smiled. "I wish you two were together."

"Right! You'd make such an amazing couple!" Lauren smiled.

"Your too funny," I scoffed playfully, again fixing the beret on my head. "He's way too out of my league and I wouldn't make a good Hockey Girlfriend."

Nathalie stepped into the room just in time, "Dinners ready."

We all oohed and ahhed as we made our way to the dining room, "Sydney how about you sit here," Nathalie patted the back of one of the chairs on Mario's right. "And Sid how about you sit here, across from Sydney."

"That's not confusing at all." Stephanie teased, making all of us laugh as we all took our seats.

Nathalie sat at the other end of the table while her husband remained standing with the knives, preparing to cut the turkey.

"Another Thanksgiving, another time with my beautiful girls and my successful son," Mario gestured to his daughters. Stephanie and Alexa sat next to each other so they gave a quick side hug. "Another day seeing my amazing son-in-law treat my precious Lauren the way she deserves to be and another day seeing my prodigy, following in my steps towards greatness and perhaps another Cup,"

"Well, I can definitely make that happen." Sid chuckled before getting up with the wine bottle in his hand, coming over to my side to pour some in my empty glass.

"Thanks." I smiled lightly, Sid then walked back to his seat across from me.

Mario then turned to me, "And another day of meeting someone new, welcoming into our family," I smiled at his kind thoughtful words, "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving." Together we spoke in unison, raising our glasses, making a toast.

I then tapped my wine glass lightly with my fork, while standing up, "I don't mean to be a bother but in my family, before we eat, we say grace."

"Oh no, we don't mind at all." Nathalie smiled.

I then sat back down, and we all folded our hands, "Our hands we fold," We spoke out loud, everyone else second behind me, "Our heads we bow, for food and drink we ask thee now, Amen."

"Amen." Everyone spoke at different times before Mario cut the turkey,

We all applauded the first cut. Mario had insisted that I'd get the first slice and we all passed around bowls and plates filled with delicious food.

Mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, corn, stuffing, my rolls with butter, gravy, cranberries, and orange Jello.

"I hope and pray the stuffing tastes good, some parts are probably a bit crispy cause I left it in the oven too long." Stephanie passed the Jello to me so I could put some on my plate.

Scooping some onto my plate, I passed the bowl to Mario, then taking a bite of Stephanie's stuffing, "Oh my God, Steph!" I said with a mouthful, covering my mouth with my hand while chewing. "This is so good, shut up."

Everyone then started tasting Stephanie's stuffing, Sid moaned in pleasure of the stuffing, "Steph, this is amazing, why are you saying otherwise?"

"I agree Steph, you did a wonderful job, honey." Nathalie smiled at her daughter.

"It's absolutely delicious." Mario smiled at his daughter,

"Thank you, daddy." Stephanie smiled out of appreciation from her father's compliment.

"I'm just so bummed about my rolls," Nathalie dropped her fork out of frustration. "This is the first time this has happened."

"Honey, it's just the first time," Mario reassured his wife at the other end of the table.

"And that's why I brought and made some, and I apologize beforehand, the rolls may be a bit doughy.

"I'm serious about this," Austin paused, holding up a roll in his hand. "These are the best rolls I've ever had."

"I second that!" Alexa stuck her index finger in the air.

"So, Sydney, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Mario spoke up, cutting a piece of his turkey on his plate.

After taking a sip of my wine, I put it down, "Well, another family tradition I have is getting the Christmas tree on Black Friday."

"That's actually a smart idea, to be honest," Lauren spoke up.

"I mean it really is," I turned my head slightly to look at Lauren sitting next to Sid. "If you think about it, people go to store because of the Black Friday deals, the crowds are small at tree farms because they're all at the stores, and you can get the best tree too!"

"Maybe we'll have to think about that for next year," Nathalie spoke to her husband at the other end of the table.

"All I need tomorrow is for someone to cut the tree down for me tomorrow."

Everyone looked at me really confused, "What do ya mean, cut the tree down? It's already cut?" Stephanie sat her glass of wine down while speaking.

"Oh! I don't go to a lot! To chop down the tree!" I smiled.

"Oh, I see!" Stephanie smiled.

"You guys all must get your trees on lots."

"Yeah, but where's there a farm in town?" Sid looked around for an answer.

There was a silence in the room before I spoke up to give an answer, "Well there's not one IN town but I'm going 45 minutes outside town near the state line to get one tomorrow."

"Well I wish you the best and we hope it snows for you." Mario gave a curt nod before looking at everyone at the table.

"Thank you."

After dinner, I assisted Nathalie with clearing the table and getting things into containers and bowls to be stored away in the fridge. The girls decided to clear the table, rinse everything off while me and Nathalie put everything away.

The boys were in the living room with the TV on, still drinking.

I had offered to make hot cocoa Baileys for everyone and surprisingly, no one has had one before.

Alexa and Sid had offered to help me make them out of interest.

I had Sid chopping up a candy bar and Lauren watching the hot cocoa in the pot while I poured in the Baileys and decorated the cups, Sid sprinkling on the chopped chocolate on top of the whipped cream.

Each of us took 2 glasses, giving them to everyone in the living room, then going into the kitchen to get my glass. Everyone was already taking sips from their drinks.

"Syd, this is amazing." Sid beamed, taking another sip from his straw.

Smiling, I played with my straw, "Thank you, thank you."

Since dinner was over, Nathalie let Rocks and Bo out from her bedroom, and automatically came bounding over to Sid and I on the couch, licking our faces, Rocks was getting all excited seeing me again. While Bo said hello to Sid and made his way around the room. Then Rocks eventually made his way around the room and the two laid by the fire.

The seven of us chatted for a while before Lauren and David decided to go to bed early. We wished them a good night before me and Sid decided to step out on to the patio together with our drinks.

The night air was cold but the atmosphere felt warm and comforting.

"Thanks for thinking of me."

Sid and I sat down on one of the outdoor chairs across from each other, "I didn't want ya to be alone on Thanksgiving." He smiled.

"Well, now it's time for me to repay the favor," I started, taking a sip of my hot cocoa Baileys, "Would you like to come with me tomorrow? To get my tree? And maybes you can get yours too."

"I'd love to come with you! It'll be a different, but memorable experience."

"Well, I hope it's a good type of memorable." Teasing before I took another drink.

"What time were you thinking about leaving?"

I sat my drink down, thinking about my plan, "Well I was thinking, I drive to your house, meet up at maybe 7 to be there by 8, and you follow me to the farm," I then paused, "I'll call you when I'm on my way." Reassuring Sid, his face just became relieved slightly.

"Ok, here's to different," He emphasized, raising his glass, "New memories."

My eyes felt like had stars in them as I hear him make cheers, "New memories." We clinked glasses together, staying outside for a bit to enjoy each others of company.