Thanksgiving brought Chris and Denise's little family back to his big family in Boston. The holiday schedule was worked out a while back, after the couple had to spend three big holidays apart. Because last Thanksgiving was spent in LA, this year's would be spent in Boston. Denise's parents were a little bummed they weren't going to be there for Jack's first Thanksgiving, but seeing as they had Jack for his first Christmas- they couldn't really complain. Lisa did invite them out to Boston too, but her invitation was politely declined as the rest of Denise's family would've gotten upset if her parents weren't around to host their annual Thanksgiving dinner party.

Denise agreed to FaceTime her parents before dinner so her extended family could see Jack; not everyone in her family had met Jack yet, so the video call was highly sought after. Denise had also promised to call the Stans so they could exchange holiday pleasantries. It'd been a long time since they last saw each other, in person that was. They scheduled a FaceTime call at least once a week so the babies could familiarize themselves with their godparents and each other.

The couple, their son, and their dog flew into Boston on a Friday afternoon. Scott picked them up at the airport and took them back to Lisa's where they settled in Chris' childhood bedroom as the house he'd bought thirty-four minutes away was still unfurnished. They celebrated Thanksgiving on the Saturday with Chris' family and friends. Lisa threw a huge dinner party that really started at lunch time, giving Chris and Denise a chance to introduce Jack to everyone who was yet to meet him.

The crowd was slightly overwhelming for their little one. Halfway through being passed from Uncle Scott to Uncle Matt, he started bawling, forcing Chris and Denise to take him and hide out in the bedroom for a while. Dodger padded after them because everywhere Jack went, he followed. Chris had to pace the room for a good ten minutes before Jack calmed down and dozed off. They stayed and made sure Jack was off in dreamland before rejoining the party, and Dodger stayed even after Chris asked him to follow. Chris pouted as he and Denise made their way downstairs, grumbling "looks like he's found himself a new best friend." Denise laughed and gave his hand a squeeze.

Sunday was spent at Carly's. Denise and Jack hung out inside with Shanna, Carly, and Lisa; Chris and Dodger ran wild outside with the boys and men, tossing a football around. All the while Chris was running around with Miles and Ethan, getting tackled by them- he thought about Jack and how it wouldn't be long until his son was going to be able to join in on the fun. He was excited, like really excited. It was trivial, but it was also a right of passage for every father and son so who could blame him? He got excited every time football Sunday came around and Jack wore his little Patriots jersey. He would take a dozen photos while rambling on about how great it would be when Jack was old enough to attend the Super Bowl with him. Those photos were added to the scrapbook labeled 'Jackson Christopher Evans', along with mementos. Basically anything and everything involving Jack was added to the scrapbook. Both iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks were also chock full of Jack's photographs. Why wouldn't they? Chris and Denise were first time parents who had a ridiculously adorable son.

There were many things to get excited about when it came to Jack and his milestones, like his first word: 'dada.' He was eight and a half months now, learning to repeat sounds Chris and Denise made. He didn't know what he was saying, but it didn't stop what came out of his mouth from melting their hearts. Chris cried when Jack sounded something close to 'daddy,' and Denise cried because she clearly didn't spend enough time with him to let his first word be associated with any variation of the word 'mother.' Chris felt so bad that he spent the two weeks after Jack said 'dada,' trying to teach him 'mama.' It was so sweet that she got over not being Jack's first word. It wasn't like Jack knew what he was saying anyway, and even if he did- Chris deserved being Jack's first word as he was the one putting in the time while she was busy at work.

Monday was their last night in Boston before they flew home Tuesday afternoon. Chris asked Lisa to watch Jack and Dodger so he could take Denise on a date night. Since Jack was born, he and Denise had barely had any time alone; date nights did not exist, especially after she started work. The idea of date night became completely nonexistent after she signed the contract making her director. So no, Chris had not had time to celebrate her and her acceptance of an amazing offer. The best he'd done so far was on that same Sunday she signed the contract, after she put Jack down. He made lasagna, she made tiramisu, and they shared a bottle of Denise's favorite white wine in front of the fireplace. It was nice; they just sat and talked. But Chris felt like he could do one better, which was what he was intending to do tonight.

"Ooo," Denise sniffed the air, "do I smell pizza?"

"God damn, you are like a dog with that nose of yours."

"Shut up," she giggled. "Can I take the blindfold off now?"

"Just a second." Denise heard the door close behind her and felt Chris take her hand again, leading her. The heels of her boots clicked against the hardwood floor as she followed Chris; she stopped when he did. "Okay, now." He said, helping her take the blindfold off. She smiled when she realized where they were, and that smile widened when she saw the superbly romantic scene Chris had setup in the unfurnished living room of their Boston house. "Fun fact, Scott and I used to camp out in the backyard in that tent."

Chris had snuck out while Denise was still asleep to prepare for tonight. He got his old tent, blankets, pillows, candles, roses, and a burner so that s'mores could be made. He got wine, and also ordered pizza from Leone's that was prepaid and delivered moments before he and Denise arrived at the house. Chris would've taken Denise camping properly except he did that before and it didn't sit well with her. She gave it her best effort, but it was obvious it wasn't her thing. He knew this, there was proof of it not being her thing even as a child. He'd tease her every time they watched home movies of her childhood, calling her a princess. The one of her family camping out at the beach when she was two was his favorite. His father-in-law was filming her and she was begging him to pick her up because she claimed the sand was dirty.

"No way," Denise gasped dramatically and Chris laughed, pulling her into his arms; he knew what was coming. "I must be dreaming." She hugged him back as she teased him. "You're telling me I'm going to get to sleep in the same tent Chris Evans slept in as a child?" She giggled and squirmed when Chris tickled her sides.

"You can never just say something sweet, can you?"

"I wouldn't be me if I just say something sweet, would I?"

"No you would not," he released her with a smile. "C'mere," he beckoned her to follow him as he walked over to the tent. He kicked his shoes off the same time she removed her boots, settling on the ground. He shuffled the cushions and reached for the folded blankets inside the tent, unfolding one to cover his legs. The other remain folded until she curled up on the ground with her head on his lap; he flipped it, covering her. "Jack and Diane, back at it."

"If you want me to focus on us, you probably shouldn't mention our son's name." She said then giggled, patting his smiling face. "Where's the pizza?" She asked and he leaned forward, reaching for the box and flipping the lid open. "Gimme!" She grinned, grabbing the slice he was holding out for her and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Maybe you should sit up," Chris chuckled, pulling a strand of her hair out of her mouth. "I don't want you to choke." She took another bite as she sat up. "Still the best pizza ever, right?" He quizzed as he pulled a slice out for himself, taking a bite. "I could easily have Leone's all day every day when we move back to Boston."

"All day every day might be a bit much," Denise disagreed. "But once a week, maybe." He nodded in agreement. "Hey," she lowered her slice onto the lid of the box, sweeping the crumbs off her hands. "If you're saying that, does that mean we're open to talking about moving to Boston again?" The last time being when she was still pregnant; it didn't go well then, she was hoping it would go better now.

"You want to talk moving to Boston when you've got a movie to direct in LA?"

"I'm not saying we move right away, I'm just- I'd like a timeline," she told him and he sighed. "I'll take that as a 'no' to my earlier question then." He chuckled, nodding as he took another bite of his slice. "Just out of curiosity, is it still because you're worried I can't handle being a mom in a new place?"

"No, darling," he shook his head, smiling. "You're a natural when it comes to parenthood, I don't think location will affect that. This has nothing to do with that, this is more wanting to be where Hollywood needs us. LA is home base for many studios and production companies. I travel when I need to film, but everything else is held in LA. It's just smarter if we stay here for now, it'll save us traveling back and forth and give us more time with Jack. I'd give you a timeline, but I don't know."

"Well let me know when you know."

"Trust me, you'll be the first person I tell." He winked and she smiled, picking her pizza up for another bite. "So how's pre-production coming along?" He asked and she scrunched her nose, making him laugh. "That bad, huh?" He poured her both a glass of wine. "Pre-production's always like that. Once you start filming, it'll get better."

"I'd agree, but I have to wear a beret the whole time so..."

"Right, the beret," he laughed, slapping his knee. "You look so cute in berets though."

"I know I look cute in berets, but I don't like wearing your beret because it reminds me of the bet I lost." She said and he laughed louder, throwing his head back. She tried not to laugh herself as she took a sip of her wine. "Thank you though," she lowered her glass and he raised a brow at her. "For pushing me to direct, for believing in me the way you do."

"Are you kidding me?" He pressed one hand against her cheek, brushing her supple skin with the pad of his thumb. "Of course. But hey, it's not just me. I can only do so much, you're so stubborn that unless you want to do something- you won't. So don't just thank me, you got yourself here too." Denise smiled, making Chris smile too. "I am so proud of you, Denise. And not just because you're finally doing what you said you'd do. I'm proud of you and how much you've grown in three years, hell- since Jack was born. Looking at you now, a wife, a mom, a director. It's hard to believe three years ago you were just a nineteen year old student writing fan fiction in an airport Starbucks."

"It's unbelievable, yes," she nodded, chuckling. "You gotta blame that Chris Evans, he was the one who started all this." She joked and he laughed, shaking his head. "Three years, wow. Time really flies, doesn't it?"

"Only when you're having fun," he whispered as he leaned in.

"I must be having a ball with you then." She whispered back, inches away from his lips.

"I love you so much," he smiled, flashing his pearly whites.

"I love you too," she grinned back then met his lips.