Song for this chapter: Suriel Hess - Little Bit More on the multimedia

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Thanksgiving felt different this year, but in the best way possible. Linc, Ivy, and I had traveled here in Washington D.C. to spend the holiday with his mom, Karen, at her cozy home, where Linc had grown up. The air was crisp, and the leaves had turned a rich shade of gold, making the city look like something out of a painting. We had gathered with just our small family, but it felt perfect. Karen's warmth radiated from the house, and the smell of roasted turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie filled every corner.

Inside, laughter and chatter filled the living room. Ivy was seated on Linc's lap, the two of them engrossed in a playful conversation. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them bond. Linc had always been so good with her. It made my heart swell.

"Daddy, why do you always eat so much turkey on Thanksgiving? Karen told me about it," Ivy asked, her big eyes wide with curiosity.

Linc laughed, ruffling her hair. "Because it's the only day I can eat as much as I want without anyone judging me," he teased, giving me a cheeky grin.

I rolled my eyes but laughed along with them. "He's not wrong, Ivy. Thanksgiving is about family, gratitude, and apparently... eating too much."

Ivy giggled, her little hands playing with Linc's fingers. "I think I'll eat a lot too then!"

"You've got the right idea," Linc said, giving her a proud nod. "But make sure you leave room for pie. Lots of pie."

Karen, who had been setting the table with Noah, her boyfriend, chimed in from the kitchen. "And Ivy, remember, we've got extra whipped cream for the pumpkin pie. I know how much you love that."

Ivy's eyes lit up. "Yay! Thank you, Grandma!"

Karen beamed, her joy evident as she shared a look with Linc. It was a special kind of happiness to see her so content. After so many years of being on her own, it was nice that she had finally found love again. Noah seemed to be a calming presence for her, always by her side, offering a gentle smile and kind words.

Linc nudged me playfully. "What do you think, Sign? Are you going to let Ivy win the whipped cream battle?"

I raised an eyebrow, smirking at him. "Oh, I've been training. This year, I'm taking her down."

Ivy burst into laughter, throwing her arms around Linc's neck. "No way, Mommy! I'm the whipped cream queen!"

Linc grinned, looking at me with mock seriousness. "Looks like we've got a real competition on our hands. You'd better be ready."

We all laughed, the easygoing banter filling the room with a sense of comfort. It felt so right being here, just the five of us, with no grand expectations or complicated plans. Just family. Just us.

After a while, the dinner table was set, and Karen called us over. "Everyone, come sit! Everything's ready."

Noah helped Karen bring the final dishes to the table while Linc carried Ivy over to her seat. I took a deep breath as we all settled down, feeling the warmth of the moment wrap around me like a blanket.

Karen smiled at us, her eyes soft with affection. "I'm so glad you're all here. It's been a while since I've had such a full house for Thanksgiving."

Linc reached over and squeezed her hand. "It's good to be back, Mom. I missed this place."

Karen gave him a loving look before turning to Noah, who sat beside her. I could see the way they glanced at each other, the kind of quiet affection that only came from understanding and time. It was strange, seeing Karen in love again after so long, but in a beautiful way.

As the meal began, I leaned over to Linc, whispering, "She looks happy, doesn't she?"

He nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at his mom. "Yeah, she does. I'm happy for her. It took a long time for her to let someone in."

I smiled, watching as Karen laughed at something Noah said. "It's good to see her like this. She deserves it."

Linc's arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me a little closer. "Yeah, she does. It's nice not worrying about her being alone."

As we ate, I noticed the absence of someone else usually at Linc's side during these moments. "Where's Travis this year? Isn't this the first time you two haven't spent Thanksgiving together?"

Linc chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it is. But I guess that's what happens when he's dating your co-star."

I blinked, then laughed. "Right, I keep forgetting! Nat! How's that going?"

Linc leaned back in his chair, a playful grin on his face. "Apparently, he's spending Thanksgiving with Nat, Grachel, and her family. Travis texted me earlier. He's handling the chaos of Grachel's family dinners."

I smiled, imagining Travis trying to navigate Nat's manager's fiery personality. "Poor Travis. But it's nice he's with her. They seem happy together."

"They are. It's weird, though. I'm used to having him around during the holidays, but... I guess things change."

I nodded, my gaze drifting back to Ivy, who was now whispering something to Karen, both of them giggling like conspirators. "Well, we're all starting new chapters, aren't we?"

Linc smiled at me, his thumb brushing my shoulder affectionately. "Yeah. New chapters."

The dinner continued, filled with laughter, stories, and the comfort of being surrounded by the people we loved most. Ivy was practically glued to Linc's side, always asking him questions or showing him little drawings she made on her napkin. They were like two peas in a pod, and I could see how much Ivy adored him.

Later, as we all gathered around the fireplace with cups of warm cider, Ivy climbed onto Linc's lap again, curling up against him. "Daddy," she said softly, "this was the best Thanksgiving ever."

Linc smiled, kissing the top of her head. "You know what, Ivy? I think you're right. It's the best Thanksgiving ever."

I glanced at them, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this moment.

As we all sat around the fireplace, enjoying the warmth and the quiet moments that come after a big Thanksgiving meal, Ivy stirred in Linc's lap. She looked up at him, her little voice soft but curious.

"Daddy, is it okay if I call Uncle Juls? I wanna say Happy Thanksgiving to him and his friends."

Linc smiled down at her, gently brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Of course, sweetheart. You can definitely do that."

Ivy beamed, her excitement lighting up the room. I couldn't help but smile too, loving how thoughtful she was. Ivy had always had this sweet connection with Juls, ever since she was little. She loved him like family.

Linc turned to me, his hand resting on my arm. "Hey, Sign, do you mind making the call for her? She's pretty excited."

"Not at all," I said, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I found Juls' contact and hit the video call button, waiting for it to connect.

The screen buzzed a few times before Juls' face appeared, a big grin on his face. He was surrounded by his friends, and I could hear the chatter and clinking of glasses in the background.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Uncle Juls!" Ivy squealed, her voice filled with joy as she waved at the screen.

Juls' grin widened, his eyes softening when he saw Ivy. "Hey, my little Ivy! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! How's my favorite girl?"

"I'm good! I had lots of whipped cream today. Grandma Karen made extra just for me!" Ivy giggled, leaning closer to the phone as if she could be any closer to Juls through the screen.

Juls laughed, shaking his head. "Of course she did! Lucky you."

I passed the phone to Linc, who angled the camera so Ivy could continue chatting with Juls. I could see Tony in the background, already pulling faces behind Juls' back, trying to make Ivy laugh. She burst out laughing as soon as she saw him.

"Hi, Tony!" she shouted through giggles.

"Hey, Ivy! Look who's here too," Tony said, panning the camera over to reveal Borj, Bea, Sasha, and the rest of the Sapphire Haven crew.

Everyone waved and wished Ivy a Happy Thanksgiving, their voices overlapping in a chorus of well wishes.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Ivy!" Sasha called out, her voice filled with affection. "We miss you here!"

Ivy waved excitedly. "I miss you too! We'll come visit soon, right Daddy?" she turned to Linc, who smiled and nodded.

"That's right, Ivy. We'll visit Uncle Juls and everyone real soon," Linc promised.

Ivy turned back to the phone, her smile growing. "Uncle Juls, I hope you're eating lots of turkey like Daddy!"

Juls laughed. "Oh, don't worry, I am! And we're saving some pie for you too."

"Yay! I love pie!" Ivy said, clapping her hands.

I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment as I watched them all interact. It was moments like this that reminded me how lucky we were to have such a close-knit family and friends, even if we were miles apart.

After a few more minutes of Ivy chatting with Juls and his friends, Linc took the phone back and smiled at the screen. "Take care of yourselves, guys. We'll see you soon."

"You too, Linc," Juls said, a knowing smile on his face. "Happy Thanksgiving, brother."

"Same to you," Linc replied, his voice full of sincerity.

After Ivy's cheerful video call with Juls, the room settled into a cozy quietness. Karen was sitting by the fire with Noah, the soft murmur of their conversation filling the space. Linc had his arm around me as we sat together on the couch, basking in the warmth of the evening.

Ivy, still bouncing with energy from the call, wandered around the living room, her sharp little eyes noticing everything. She was about to come back to us when she suddenly stopped in front of the large clock that hung on the wall.

"Mommy, Daddy," she called, her voice curious. "The clock's not moving."

Linc and I exchanged glances before looking over to where she was standing, staring up at the old-fashioned clock with wide eyes. I hadn't noticed it before, but Ivy was right—the big, ornate clock had stopped. It was already evening, but the hands of the clock seemed frozen at 11:11 in the morning.

Linc frowned slightly and stood up, walking over to inspect it. "Huh, that's strange. Must've stopped earlier today."

I joined him, standing beside Ivy. "Has it been like this all day?" I asked, surprised that none of us had noticed until now.

Karen glanced over from her spot by the fireplace, realizing what we were talking about. "Oh, that clock's been in the family for years. I wouldn't be surprised if it's finally given out. Noah and I have been meaning to fix it."

Ivy looked up at Linc with wide eyes, clearly fascinated by the idea of the clock stopping. "But why did it stop at 11:11?"

Linc knelt down beside her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I don't know, princess. Maybe it's a magic number."

"Magic?" Ivy whispered, her eyes lighting up.

"Some people think 11:11 is a special number," I said, kneeling beside them. "It's supposed to be a sign of something good, like making a wish."

Ivy's face brightened with excitement. "Can I make a wish, then?"

Linc grinned and ruffled her hair. "Of course you can."

Ivy closed her eyes, pressing her little hands together as if she were holding onto the wish with all her might. After a few seconds, she opened them and looked at us with a shy smile. "I made my wish."

Linc and I exchanged smiles, our hearts swelling at how adorable she was. I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "I bet your wish is going to come true."

Karen, watching from across the room, chuckled softly. "You know, that clock stopping at 11:11—it's kind of perfect for today. A little reminder to be thankful for the moments we have."

I nodded, feeling the warmth of the moment settle in. Maybe it was just a coincidence that the clock had stopped at that exact time, or maybe it was something more—a small, magical reminder that time was precious, and that we had so much to be thankful for.

As the evening continued, the stopped clock became part of the charm of the night, its frozen hands marking the moment we all paused to appreciate the love and family around us.

Ivy shifted in Linc's lap, her tiny arms wrapping around him in a tight hug. She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled but full of emotion as she spoke.

"Thank you for being my dad, Daddy."

Linc blinked, his expression softening as he looked down at her. "You don't have to thank me, Ivy," he said, his voice tender as he hugged her back. "I'm the lucky one to be your dad."

Ivy pulled back just enough to look up at him, her big, innocent eyes shining with happiness. "But I do, 'cause it's special. It's always been just me and Mommy for Thanksgiving, and it's the first time I get to have you too."

Linc's gaze softened even more, and he glanced over at me, a warmth spreading between us. There was something so pure about the way Ivy expressed herself, and I could tell how much it meant to Linc to hear those words from her.

"I'm really happy, Daddy. This is the best Thanksgiving ever," Ivy added, her voice filled with sincerity.

Linc smiled, his hand gently rubbing her back. "It's the best Thanksgiving for me too, sweetheart."

I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat as I watched them, my heart swelling with pride and love for the little family we had built. This Thanksgiving was so much more than just a holiday; it was the first of many where Ivy wouldn't feel like something was missing, and that filled me with a sense of peace.

Leaning in, I placed a hand on Linc's shoulder, and he looked at me, his eyes filled with the same gratitude that I felt. "We're all really lucky to have each other," I said softly.

Ivy nodded, still clinging to Linc. "Yeah, we are."

In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of the fireplace and the love of our little family, I realized just how far we had come. It wasn't just a Thanksgiving dinner—it was a celebration of the life we had built together, and it was everything I had ever wanted for Ivy.