"A Very Glee Christmas", though lovely, turned out to be completely missing the Hudmel family bonding I had been hoping for, and obviously their school schedule does not match my imagined one at all, so I guess this story is a little bit AU. The chapters alternate POV between Kurt and Finn. Kurt has the odd chapters, Finn has the even.

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The trip from Westerville to Lima took just under two hours, on a good day. So, naturally, it took just over three on days when a person happened to be in a hurry to get there.

Kurt drummed impatiently on his steering wheel as he waited for the crawling freeway traffic on I-75 to inch along towards his exit. Christmas carols played on the radio and he frequently sang along with snippets of various songs. He honestly thought that those sweet happy carols might have been the only thing that got him through this trip!

It had only been a month since he had transferred to Dalton Academy, but it felt like forever. He had originally assumed that he would be able to make it home most every weekend, so boarding in the dormitories at school during the week wouldn't be so bad. Unfortunately, that had not worked out at all.

The first weekend had been the Sectionals competition and Kurt had been furiously working right up until the last moment before the bus left to learn the Warblers choreography and perfect his backup vocals. He still held the uncomfortable feeling that his visible nerves and clearly uncertain dancing had cost Dalton a few points on the judging sheets. Not that he had honestly wanted to beat New Directions, a tie was very good for him, but the other guys had been working hard for weeks on that routine and Kurt worried that his last-minute insertion into the group might have cost them. Not that they had held the result against him. On the contrary, the Warblers had been delighted to place in what he later learned was their first inter-choral competition in several years.

The next two weekends, Kurt had stayed at Dalton because his parents (How he loved being able to use that phrase!) had taken off on a week-long honeymoon to the Great Lakes. A far cry from the island paradise of Waikiki, but they had sounded extremely happy on the phone and he supposed it was probably the company that mattered more than the destination anyway. Finn had spent that 10 day period they were gone at various friends' houses. He could have stayed home and played bachelor pad, but his untimely breakup with Rachel Berry had left Finn craving company and distraction so he had crashed with Puck, Mike and Artie and video-gamed his brains out instead.

The final weekend had been exactly that; a Finals preparation weekend. Dalton had a three week winter holiday instead of the two that Kurt had been used to in his former school district, the break extending an extra week into the new year, and thus held winter Finals right before everyone left. Having just started in several of the classes he was now taking and being in a completely new place in the study curriculum for the rest, Kurt had panicked and studied himself into near-exhaustion. Not even Blaine, whom he counted as his very best friend at Dalton, had been able to coax him into taking breaks for longer than it took to cram down a meal or get a little sleep. At least all that anxiety had paid off. Grades had been posted yesterday afternoon and he had not earned lower than a B minus on a single one of his tests.

And now he was free! Three glorious weeks of vacation stretched out in front of him. There was Christmas to look forward to, a visit or two with his friends from New Directions, shopping and gossiping and laughter with his girls, and lots of time with Dad and the rest of their new family.

It was that last part that he was looking forward to the most. As unexpectedly difficult as it had been to say goodbye to Blaine this morning – neither one quite knowing if they should shake hands, hug, or perhaps kiss, but eventually settling on a friendly embrace and kiss on the cheek – Kurt's eagerness to go home had soothed the sting of that departure very nicely.

He smiled, a relieved sigh gusting from his lungs when the heavy clog of cars finally began inching forward again and he was able to get off the freeway at last. He could feel his heart thumping in anticipation as each mile drew him along the familiar streets of Lima and just that much closer to home.

In spite of the endless commute, it was only a few minutes past eleven a.m. on Saturday morning and the streets were bustling with human and vehicular traffic as everyone scurried about on daily errands and Christmas shopping trips. Kurt had told his family that he would be home around noon, having intended to stop for lunch and a bit of light shopping on the way, but he found that he could not wait any longer.

Dad and Carole were still looking for the perfect 4-person home, something close to everyone's work and their . . . no, Finn's school. Lima's strict zoning policy for residents and schools was part of the reason Kurt had not simply transferred to one of the town's other three high schools when his bullying problem had erupted. If the family had moved to another district for him, then Finn would have had to move too, and that just would not have been fair. Last time Kurt had talked to his father, Burt had told him that he and Carole had found a house they thought would be perfect, but that he wanted to wait until Kurt came home so everyone would have a say before any papers were signed.

Kurt was glad they had waited. He would never say so, he would not risk hurting Carole's feelings for the world, but he had really wanted to spend one last Christmas in the home he had shared with his mom and dad.

People might think it was a little weird for a boy who believed in neither God nor Santa Claus to love celebrating Christmas, but he did. He loved all of the wonderful secular traditions of it. Shopping and wrapping gifts that one had to hide from their impatiently peeking father. Cooking and baking all manner of sugary, fattening, wonderful treats that he would barely touch during the entire rest of the year. Decorating Christmas trees and putting up wreaths and holiday knick-knacks and enough outdoor lights to satisfy his not-so-secret love of bright, colorful, slightly gaudy things. Charity drives, holiday parades, and displays of unusual kindness to perfect strangers. Giving in to the urge to burst into loud and clear song any old time he felt like it and having nobody look at him strangely for it. That might just be the best thing of all, Kurt thought. He didn't even care that he was singing about spiritual things, he just loved the way people would smile and nod and occasionally start singing along. He wished the entire year could be like that.

As all these thoughts raced through his mind, Kurt's smile grew bigger and happier. By the time he pulled into his own familiar street and parked in his usual spot in the driveway, he was nearly giddy with excitement.

"I'm home!" he crowed, bursting in through the front door and looking around with happy eyes. Nobody answered, but he did not feel disappointed. There had been no other cars in the drive or on the street in front of the house so he had not really expected anyone. He had just wanted to say it. In fact, he wanted to say it again! Dropping his two suitcases in front of his basement door, Kurt moved into the very center of the living room and yelled as loud as he could, "I'm home!"

A giggle broke free as the words died out. It had been a silly thing to do, but it felt so good to just let go and make noise and not have anyone give him that patented Dalton frown of quiet disapproval. For three weeks, he would be able to say and do whatever he liked (within reason) and wear whatever he wanted to. Kurt sighed happily at that thought, crossing his arms and running his hands along the sleeves of his green and white cashmere sweater, then glancing down in satisfaction at the black skinny jeans and studded vintage combat boots he wore with it. How nice it had been to get up this morning and not have to put on any of the dozen or so depressingly-identical uniforms hanging in his closet!

It was not that he did not like Dalton. On the contrary, there was much to love about the place, and he was starting to find his niche among the students and society there, but the many rules and restrictions were stifling. Sometimes he felt that if he could not break away and be himself for a while, he would scream.

Glancing at his luggage, Kurt grabbed it up and practically danced down the stairs to his bedroom. Since he was away at boarding school, Finn had moved back in down here and there were signs of his presence everywhere. Finn's half of the room was clearly delineated with posters, plaques, video game controllers, backpacks, schoolbooks, loosely discarded shoes and clothing and all sorts of other clutter, his bed unmade. Kurt's, by contrast, was extremely tidy and a little Spartan. A couple of photographs, a large, neatly filed collection of books, music and movies in the cabinet next to the television, his vanity table with grooming products neatly aligned. Bed neatly and freshly made up and his immense collection of shoes and clothes neatly hidden away in appropriate drawers and closet space.

Kurt frowned a bit as he compared the two sides of the room. His habitual tidiness had made it easy to adapt to Dalton standards. He had never failed a single room inspection. Suddenly, he wished that he had, maybe just once. Surely it wasn't normal for a seventeen-year-old boy to be such a neat freak.

Just to show himself that he could, he tossed a suitcase onto his bed and opened it wide, leaving it there as he began removing his small cache of personal clothing and toiletries and putting them away. It felt good to see his toothbrush on the familiar holder next to Finn's and to have his favorite varieties of soap, shampoo and conditioner taking up space in the shower. He smiled to see that his favorite set of towels had already been placed on the rack for him. It made the slightly lonely sensation of knowing that life had gone on without him feel a little less sharp.

Back in his room, Kurt quickly emptied the second suitcase. This one was full of presents he had picked up in Westerville, already wrapped up safely against the possibility of prying eyes. He had every intention of doing the majority of his shopping in his favorite stores at the Lima mall – hopefully with Mercedes and some of the other girls in tow - but a few things had called out to him during explorations of his new temporary home-town.

Kurt had left the basement door open and the sound of the front door knob rattling upstairs had his head perking up like a hound on a fresh trail. Abandoning his suitcases, Kurt charged eagerly up the steps to greet the new arrival.

He jumped and clapped his hands before he could stop himself when he caught sight of the huge fluffy pine tree being manhandled into the living room by Burt and Finn. "You got the tree!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Oh, it's a beauty!"

Setting the tree against the wall, Burt hurried over and embraced his son. Both Hummels laughed and snuffled a little wetly as they held each other close, Kurt closing his eyes and just breathing in the familiar mixture of motor oil and Old Spice, with just a hint of pine from Burt's recent chore. "I missed you, Dad," he sighed. "It's so good to be home."

"It's good to have you home. The place isn't the same without you," he replied, releasing Kurt reluctantly as he pulled back to get a good look at the boy. Burt shook his head. "Don't they ever feed you at that fancy schmanzy school of yours?"

He smiled. "Sure they do. I just seem to burn it up faster than I can eat it. Think Carole would be willing to fatten me up while I'm home?"

"Just try to stop her," he chuckled, hugging him again.

Finn was bouncing on his toes and grinning like a maniac as he waited for his turn. Kurt returned the look and held out his arms. "Merry Christmas, Brother!"

With a whoop, Finn charged forward, lifting Kurt clean off his feet and drawing forth a wild, delighted laugh as he spun him around in a circle.

"Put me down, you big gorilla," Kurt ordered, in spite of the fact that he was hugging back just as hard.

"Man, Kurt, it feels like forever since I've seen you, even though it's only been a few weeks since Sectionals."

He nodded, blue eyes shining with happiness as Finn set him gently down and he drew back to take in the much-missed sight of these two men he loved so much. "I was thinking the same thing as I drove home. This month has been super-fast and yet it feels like I haven't been here in a year. Where's Carole?"

"She had to work for a few hours," Burt explained, happily reaching out to ruffle Kurt's bangs. "She'll be home in a little while. Finn and I were hoping we could get the tree home and set up for decorating before you got here but we had a little trouble finding the perfect one."

Kurt grinned. "In that case, can I help?"

"Sure!" Finn agreed, beaming. "Want to help me put up some lights on the house afterward? Burt says you're really into that and I've never done it before."

"Never?" he said in surprise.

Finn shrugged. "I tried one year and almost electrocuted myself, so Mom wouldn't let me do it by myself anymore. She was usually working extra hours right before Christmas so we just stuck with the tree and a wreath for the front door."

Delight coursed through Kurt at the thought of sharing a few holiday traditions with his brand new family. He had been a little bit afraid that jealousy might overtake him again when Finn and Carole were fit into their celebration, but instead he felt joyful.

"Are you sure you don't want to rest up awhile, son?" Burt asked him as Kurt grabbed a stack of newspapers and began spreading them on the floor to catch needles and sap that might fall as the tree was trimmed to fit into the Christmas tree stand. "You been driving all morning."

"This is rest, Dad," he countered with a grin. "You have no idea how amazing it feels to do something fun and messy and Christmassy with you guys."

Burt grinned back and took off his cap, plunking it onto his son's head. "Here, put that on so you don't get sap in your hair. You about yelled my ears off when that happened last year."

Straightening the hat, he happily left it in place, not even caring how badly he knew the red and blue trucker cap clashed with his outfit. "Thanks. Hand me your Swiss army knife, will you? I'll cut these little branches away from the base."

A few minutes into the chore, Finn started humming and soon the three of them were belting out a laughter-punctuated rendition of "Frosty the Snowman" loud enough to wake the dead.

Just as they got the tree securely upright in its stand, the door opened and Carole's voice called out, "It sounds like Christmas in here!"

"Hi, Mom," Finn greeted. "We got the tree. Isn't it awesome? And look, Kurt's here!"

Kurt climbed out from behind the tree, automatically removing his dad's cap and smoothing his hair before he stepped forward into Carole's welcoming embrace.

"Oh, honey, I've missed you so much!" she cooed, hugging him tightly. "How is Dalton? Did you have a good drive in? Have you eaten yet? My goodness, I think you've been growing again! You're going to be giving Finn some competition soon if you're not careful."

She continued to fire off questions and observations, not really waiting for any answers as she took off her coat and kissed her husband and son hello, and Kurt grinned and shrugged at his dad and Finn as he willingly allowed himself to be led off into the kitchen.

"I'll help you with the lights after lunch," he told Finn. "Okay?"

"Lunch sounds good," he agreed, following along like a big friendly puppy as the prospect of food resorted his priorities.

Burt grinned happily and walked the Christmas tree over to its accustomed corner and began to clean up the mess. Kurt caught sight of him and popped his head back into the living room. "Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I'll get that stuff."

"I got it. You go ahead and talk to Carole. She's been counting down the hours until you got home."

"Did you?" he asked with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes.

Burt made a face. "Nah, I barely even remembered you were coming."

Kurt laughed. "Liar."

Stuffing the paper and pine boughs into a sack that Finn had brought out, Burt paused on his way out to the recycling cart and grabbed Kurt in a quick hug. "You know it, kid. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad."

Kurt reentered the kitchen and his eyes lit up at the sight of the impressively large hero sandwich Carole had just cut in two and divided onto two plates. She added a pickle and a bag of chips – Sun Chips for him and Doritos for Finn – to each plate and handed them over. "There are some cookies in the jar if you want them after," she advised, starting on a pair of much smaller and less calorie packed sandwiches for herself and Burt. As the two teens dove hungrily into their lunch, she smiled. "Now, tell us all about your school, Kurt. I want to hear everything."