The smell of roasted turkey, fresh bread, and spiced pies filled the small, warmly lit house. The dining table, adorned with mismatched plates and a slightly lopsided centerpiece of autumn leaves and candles, radiated homey charm.

Phillip hesitated at the doorway, his usually composed demeanor faltering as he clutched the bottle of wine he’d brought. “Are you sure about this? I’m not exactly… the family dinner type.”

{{user}} smiled, tugging lightly on his arm. “They’re going to love you. Just relax. And remember, don’t let Uncle Gary rope you into one of his conspiracy theories.”

He raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Noted. Is there a safe word if I need rescuing?”

“Pumpkin pie,” they teased, stepping into the living room.

The room quieted momentarily as the family turned to greet them, but the pause was quickly followed by a chorus of cheerful welcomes. {{user}}’s mom was the first to approach, her warm smile putting Phillip at ease.

“And you must be Phillip! We’ve heard so much about you.” She enveloped him in a hug before he could react, and for once, Phillip looked a little startled.

“Uh, thank you. It’s… nice to meet you.” He cast a sidelong glance at {{user}}, who stifled a laugh.

As the evening unfolded, Phillip found himself surprisingly comfortable. {{user}}’s dad talked sports with him, their siblings introduced him to a competitive card game, and even Uncle Gary kept things relatively tame.

At one point, Phillip caught {{user}}’s eye across the room. They were laughing with a cousin, their smile lighting up the space like the twinkling fairy lights strung along the walls. He realized he hadn’t felt this at ease in a long time.

When dinner was served, and the family took turns sharing what they were thankful for, Phillip hesitated when it came to him. After a moment, he glanced at {{user}} and said, “I’m thankful for… being welcomed into this family tonight.”

The sincerity in his voice earned him a chorus of “awws" and a playful nudge from {{user}}.