Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. But I proudly own all my own takes on the characters.

This is set a few years into the future, and is a Klaine and Puckleberry story. Although Christmas is over now, I hope you are still holiday spirit, and ready for some Christmas love!

Maybe there'll be an open door
Maybe the star that shined before
Will shine once more, ohhh

Kurt hurried around his apartment, haphazardly throwing clothes in his suitcase, the bag filled with Christmas gifts already waiting in the hallway. Normally he would have been ready and waiting downstairs well in advance, but he had run late at work today, the actors having a hard time concentrating in rehearsals this last day before the holidays. As he got ready he hummed along to Ron Sexsmith's "Maybe this Christmas" - one of the finest seasonal songs he knew, and a reminder that even though you don't believe in God and Jesus, you can enjoy the holiday and spend it surrounded by people you love.

His phone beeped and Rachel's name flashed across the screen to inform him that the cab was right around the corner.

And maybe this Christmas will find us at last
In heaven, at peace
Prayed for at least
For the love we've been shown in the past.

He heard the song winding down as he turned the radio off and left. Maybe this Christmas... No, he wasn't going there. It wasn't in the cards for him. He had his career and was happy with his life. After a few years in New York, struggling to get roles, he took his dad's advice and began writing his own stuff. His first play had received great reviews, and his second play was set to premiere in the middle of January. He had a small, but tight group of friends, among them Rachel, and he loved the city with all his heart. When the holidays came up, it was always nice to go back home though, and he was happy to know that he got to stay in Lima for ten whole days this time.

Rachel was her normal happy bundle of joy as Kurt joined her in the car, obviously filled with Christmas Spirit.

"Oh, Kurt. I just got off the phone with daddy, and it's snowing in Lima. This is going to be perfect!"

As much as Kurt was looking forward to going home, he would have thought that Rachel would be a little more apprehensive.

"Rachel, are you sure? Are you going to be okay? It must be hard for you to see Finn and Quinn happily living together..." Kurt carefully watched his best friend as he once again asked the question he had been pondering since he first heard his step brother had gotten back together with the blonde.

"Of course I'm going to be okay, Kurt. If you remember, I knew from the first time I set foot in this city that Finn wasn't my true love. Music and Broadway is my true love, and my other love, whoever he may be and wherever I may find him, will have to deal with that. Besides -" she cast a sideways glance at the boy, - no; the man, next to her, " - no matter what I may have thought in high school, Finn and I were never meant to be. Not like you and..." Before she could utter the name, Kurt's expression stopped her. She silently pleaded with him to finally go there. To finally talk to her about him. But as always, Kurt closed himself up. The rest of the ride to the airport was spent in silence, as Kurt stared out the window, refusing to let the tears fall, but failing as Rachel reached over to squeeze his hand.

Hours later, the pair stomped their feet free of snow before ringing the bell of the Hudson-Hummel house, - actually the Fabray-Hudson house now. Kurt still found it a bit weird, but it made sense that Finn and Quinn lived there since Burt and Carol spent most of the year in Washington because of Burt's political career. It was the night before Christmas Eve, and Finn and Quinn had invited the old gang to a Christmas Party.

"Hi. Come on in. Kurt, I've told you you don't have to ring the bell. It's still your house too," Finn said as he pulled his step brother in for a bear-hug. He hugged Rachel hello too, before ushering them inside. Kurt was watching them, and realized that he had worried for nothing. Finn and Rachel were perfectly happy with the situation.

The living room was in a frenzy. Puck was busy pouring champagne, and when Tina had declined, announcing that Mike and she were pregnant, everyone started talking at once and moving in to congratulate the couple. This was the scene the three walked in to, and although Kurt was thrilled to be home and back with his friends, it also meant that the old pang of loneliness would reappear along with the memories. The happy couples and being in familiar territory made his heart ache with longing for love. Longing for him...

Quinn had redecorated the house, but Kurt still remembered how Blaine and he had cuddled by the fireplace this time five years ago. He found himself standing by the entrance as the rest of the group began moving into the dining room. Then Brittany noticed one of her most favorite dolphins and pulled Santana with her to greet the newcomers, and Kurt didn't have time for more reminiscing.

Throughout dinner they caught up with everyone's lives. They made a point of staying in touch, but talking face to face was something totally different.

Quinn had been right years ago in that auditorium; she was a real estate agent, and Finn was in charge of Burt's shop, as he was otherwise occupied.

Brittany and Santana had moved back to Lima after college, Brittany working as a dance instructor and Santana having opened up her own psychiatric practice.

Tina worked as a costume designer in Hollywood, and shared the story of how Artie had yelled at the entire staff for letting the leading actress' dog chew on his favorite pair of shoes on the set of the latest movie they had worked on together, a movie Artie was busy finishing right now. Rachel, in true Berry-style, went on and on and on about Kurt's and her lives in NY, which suited Kurt just fine, as he was in no mood to talk. He wanted to ask Tina and Mike if they ever saw Blaine, but he didn't dare bring him up.

As a matter of fact, all around the room, Blaine Anderson's name hung like a great big elephant. Those who knew something didn't dare bring it up, and those who wondered didn't dare ask.

The most interesting story around the table was perhaps that of Mike and Puck. Mike had a master's degree in sociology, whereas Puck had pursued a career as a music teacher. Just last year they had founded an organization that helped underprivileged children find purpose through the arts. They held music and dance classes, and the organization had been so successful that they had to hire help to teach most of the classes, and they ended up doing more of the administrative work themselves. There were even rumors now that they would soon announce a celebrity honorary president. But neither of them let anything slip.

As the story was told, Kurt noticed some looks passing between Puck and Rachel which made him smile. He had always felt that those two would do each other good; Puck managing to pull Rachel down from her high horse from time to time (and Kurt would be the first to say that even though she was a brilliant singer, and the New York competitive scene had made her slightly more humble, she needed to be pulled down from that gigantic horse sometimes) and Rachel instilling this sense of purpose in Puck, although right now he seemed to have found that purpose on his own.

"Okay people, we have to hurry up if we're going to make it in time," Mike suddenly said as they were finishing dessert. "You will be the first people to know who our honorary president is. The cabs will be here in ten minutes to pick us up."

Then everyone began talking at once; all questions, no answers. The hall was buzzing with chatter as they wrapped themselves in scarves and gloves and warm winter jackets, no one but Puck and Mike having any clue as to where they were going.

When they began piling into the two cars waiting, Rachel held Puck back. Touching his arm and looking up at him with her big eyes, she said; "I'm proud of you, Noah." Simple as that. They both knew that she had always believed in him, and oh God, how he loved hearing his given name coming from her lips. It had always made him feel like a man. Smiling softly, he bent down to kiss her cheek before taking her hand and running with her to the car.

-.-

Peppermint Lounge. That's what the large sign said. It was a rather new establishment that Kurt and Rachel had never heard about, but Brittany clapped her hands in glee, claiming that this was the hippest place in town right now.

It was the poster next to the door that made Kurt freeze and begin backing away.

Peppermint Lounge proudly presents
for one night only

"The snowflakes start falling"
Blaine Anderson

-.-

To be continued...

-.-