Quinn passed tiptoed through the upper floor, making no noise, feeling almost translucent. As she walked by her parents' room, she stopped. Her father was hissing into this phone, his back turned against her. Her father never hissed. He shouted and screamed and ordered people around, but never hissed. He wasn't that type of a person.

"Katherine Fabray, get in that car now."

Quinn leaned against the wall next to the door. She couldn't hear her sister's reply, but evidently it didn't make Russell happy.

"No, I will not accept that. No. Your grandparents flew in to meet you, you can't stay at school during Christmas."

Katie didn't want to come home. Or didn't have time. Quinn shook her head to herself. Katie was an expert on avoiding things. During Quinn's pregnancy, her being kicked out and their parents temporary separation, Katie hadn't visited at all. She had stayed at her university in Idaho during the summer, working at some coffee shop, serving summer students decaf lattes. Quinn hadn't seen her sister in the flesh in more than two years.

"Katherine, this isn't a discussion. If you don't get your ass here before Christmas eve, I will cancel my payments for your education."

That would be a catastrophe for her. Where would she hide if she didn't have the money for school?

"Yes, that will fine. Yes, yes. Good-bye."

Russell hung up. Quinn tiptoed away. Katie was coming home, for real this time. The Fabray sister's had never been close. They were too different. But Quinn felt that Katie, who was open and funny and social, could only contribute to making Christmas a bit more survivable.

Puck went Christmas shopping with Santana. He had no idea why. Or maybe he had. He needed something to do so that he wouldn't have to worry about spending Christmas with the Fabray clan.

"What about this?" Santana asked him.

He was hot. God. The mall was full of late Christmas shoppers, crying babies and people trying to make him smell some random perfume.

"What?" he muttered.

She held up some kind of blender.

"Pretty."

She rolled her eyes at him and put the blender under her arm. He was already carrying two large bowls (present for Nana Lopez) and patterned tea towels (whatever that was).

"Can we just get out of this store?" he muttered.

"Fine."

She snatched the presents from his arm and headed for the register. He wandered out of store. The mall's ceiling was glass and he could see that it was still snowing outside. He longed for the cold. He felt like he was burning up.

"Now I just have to get something for Brittany and Quinn" Santana told him as she joined him outside.

She carried three large shopping bags. He took two from her (who said chivalry was dead?) and followed her into some jewelry store. Inside, he didn't dare to move. The cashier was watching him suspiciously. Apparently, sporting a Mohawk, a leather jacket and looking hung over made you a possible shop lifter. Good to know.

"Why are you standing over there?" Santana whined. "Help me!"

He made himself over to her, knocking down some cheap bracelets from a hanger on the way. Santana looked into a glass case. Her hot fingers left condensation on the glass.

"I don't know anything about this shit" he muttered.

"How about that for Brit?" she said, ignoring him and pointing at a silver necklace with a music note pendant.

"Perfect" he informed her sarcastically.

"And those ear rings for Quinn" she nodded.

"Absolutely."

The cashier opened the case and took out the jewelry. Santana inspected them and then nodded.

"Yes, they're perfect."

"Anything else?" the cashier asked.

She looked exhausted.

"You should get Quinn something."

"Why?"

"Because you're celebrating Christmas with her family."

"I'm Jewish."

She rolled her eyes

"You don't say."

"Are you celebrating Christmas with your girlfriend?" the cashier asked. "A necklace is always a good Christmas gift."

"No" Puck said, shaking his head. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Oh."

"Buy something so that you're prepared. If the grandmother asks you to give your gift and you have none, Quinn will kill you" Santana yawned.

Puck sighed heavily.

"I'm not rich" he muttered.

"Make her pay for it, it's a job, remember?"

He stared into the glass case again. Bracelets and earrings and necklaces lay on red cushion. He wasn't a romantic guy, not the type of guy that knew what kind of jewelry matched a girl's eyes. He just didn't get it. But as he scanned the content, his eyes fell on a necklace. It was silver, or some kind of imitation of silver, and on it hung a cross. Not huge, but bigger than the one she used to wear.

"That one" he said, pointing at it.

"It's white gold" the cashier informed him.

"Oh."

She showed him the price tag. He always let out a gasp. But then again, he would make Quinn pay for it.

"Can you wrap it up?" he asked.

"It's pretty" Santana told him during the car ride home. "The necklace."

"Yeah, I guess."

The radio was playing Christmas songs. The snow lay white on the streets. It was almost dark.

"I never would have thought that you would have picked a cross" Santana went on.

"I suppose the grandparents will like it."

"She will too."

"Maybe."

He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, suddenly feeling restless.

"You have any beer left?" he asked.

"You want to get drunk again? Should I be worried?"

"Just asking."

"You probably shouldn't be hung over tomorrow."

"Probably not."

Neither of them said anything. The streets of Lima were empty. Puck wanted to tell her something, but he didn't know what. He stopped outside her house. She didn't get out.

"Call me tomorrow night and tell me how it went" she told him.

He nodded.

"Sure."

"Merry Christmas, then."

He smiled.

"Yeah, you too."

She looked at him for a long time. Maybe she wanted to tell him something too.

"Bye."

"Bye."

Katherine Fabray arrived early in the morning. Like some weird welcome committee they all greeted her in the hall. Quinn met her sister's eyes for the first time in years. She had gained maybe ten pounds and her hair was long and brown. She wore a thick coat and red leggings and red bow in her hair. Katie might an avoider, but in person, she was a delight. Everyone had always thought so. She was pretty, but not pretty enough for people to think that she was stupid. She had a broad smile and a laugh that made you giggle. She could lighten up any room. Everyone loved her. Always.

"Katherine" her grandfather murmured, kissing her cheek. "It's been too long."

Katie nodded.

"I've been very busy at school."

"And you should be" Claire said, nodding. "If you want to be anything, you have to work for it."

Katie kissed her cheek too. Quinn was next. Her older sister embraced her and they hugged, for a few awkward seconds. They have never been close, but not talking for two years hadn't helped either.

"Hey Quinny."

"Hey Katie."

Quinn licked her lips. She swallowed hard. Russell took Katie's bag.

"You must be hungry, dear" Judy cooed. "I made some special oatmeal for you. Just like you like it."

"Thanks mom."

They all followed her into the kitchen. Quinn hovered by the fridge, feeling out of place.

"So, what's up with you guys?" Katie asked, taking her first spoon of oatmeal.

"Nothing major."

"We bought up Kohulund INC" Joseph told her.

She nodded.

"And you, Quinn?"

Oh. Nothing. Just got knocked up by my boyfriend's best friend. Had a baby. Gave it away. Felt like shit for a year. Nothing major. Thanks for asking.

"Nothing" she answered.

Katie nodded. As the grandparents asked her older sister questions about everything, Quinn slipped away. No one noticed.

"Merry Christmas" Puck told her.

A slight smile curved her lips. It was the first one he had seen in a long time.

"Merry Christmas" she replied.

Her fingers brushed his as she took the leather jacket from him. He was cold, but her skin was colder.

"Thanks for coming" she whispered, leaning closer to him.

"Sure."

She bit her lip.

"They're not convinced, though."

"That we're a couple?"

She nodded. He wanted to ask her why it mattered. Claire seemed to despise him anyway.

"I'll act better" he smiled.

She smiled back. Every smile felt like a victory. He didn't know why.

"Come on" she said, taking hold of his sleeve and dragging him into the living room.

He had expected to see aunts and uncles and cousin, but the room was empty, well, almost. Katherine Fabray sat in an arm chair, reading a book. Puck hadn't seen her years. If he had met her on the street, he would probably not have been able to place her. She looked nothing like Quinn. And if Puck remembered correctly, she wasn't anything like her either.

"You're the boyfriend?" Katie said.

Puck met Quinn's eyes for a fraction of second. Surely they would tell Katie the truth?

"Yes" Quinn said, looking away from him.

"Wow" Katie smiled. "Wouldn't have guessed in a million years. Weren't you kind of teen delinquent?"

"Yep."

"Well, don't we all love the bad boys?"

She carefully gave him a hug. She didn't smell anything like Quinn either.

"You're back, then?" he asked her. "Haven't seen you around here lately."

"Dad threatened her with stop paying for school" Quinn told him.

There was an edge to her voice. A bitchy edge. It made him feel better. Apathetic Quinn scared him.

"You heard that?" Katie asked.

Quinn shrugged. She had a defiant look in her eyes.

"That's tough" Puck commented lamely.

Katie nodded. The three of them stood quietly for minute. Then Judy called for Quinn and she left to help with something.

"So, I hear you knocked up my sister" Katie yawned.

Puck was surprised by the comment, but didn't blink. He had expected this from someone in this family.

"I guess I did."

"What a sin."

"Yes."

Katie grinned. She was easygoing. Puck remembered that. She used to be the game leader on Quinn's birthday parties when they were kids.

"I bet everyone in his house hates you."

"Pretty much."

"Except Quinn."

Puck hesitated. Why were they lying to Katie? Judy and Russell knew that Puck was a fake boyfriend.

"Seems like it."

"No offense, but I would have never guessed she would be with you. Even if she liked you. I mean, Quinn Fabray cares too much about her reputation to date a Jewish criminal."

Her words were harsh, but her tone was light. He didn't care that she insulted him. He was a Jewish criminal (sort of).

"She's not like that anymore."

"Really?"

Katie raised her eyebrows.

"Really. Maybe you would know that if you came home and saw her then and again."

She snorted.

"Don't try to guilt-trip me, Puckerman. Quinn and I, we never got along. I wouldn't have been able to help her deal with the baby thing."

"Well, she needed someone."

"She had you."

Their eyes met. Katie's were blue. Not hazel like Quinn's. She smiled, but it seemed unsympathetic.

"I'll go see if they need help in the kitchen" Puck muttered.

Christmas dinner was an absurd affair. Everybody ignored him. They didn't ask him anything. He just ate in silence. Quinn was quiet too. All questions went to Katie. What was school like? How did she like her new apartment? Was she going to graduate early? Katie seemed to love the attention. She smiled and laughed. Joseph, the grandfather, asked her the most. He never took her eyes off her. Puck wanted to take Quinn's hand under table, to comfort her, but he didn't dare. Instead, he poured her some wine when no one looked. She drained her glass in one gulp.

"Thanks" she whispered.

She looked pale. Almost translucent. Ill. He inspected her plate. She hadn't eaten anything.

"Eat" he muttered.

She gave him a confused look.

"I have."

He shook her head. She rolled her eyes, lifted her fork and popped a potato into her mouth.

"Look, I'm eating" she mumbled.

"More" he demanded, smiling.

She shook her head in disbelief and smiled back.

"Excuse me" Claire interrupted their little game. "We're talking about Katie's future. Maybe you two should pay attention."

Quinn put down her fork. She didn't meet his eyes again.

Quinn felt ready to scream when the presents were being handed out. She hated this. She hated this family. She couldn't breathe. Katie laughed and smiled and thanked everyone for their gifts. Quinn could hardly master a smile. She was tired. Weak. Puck sat next to her. She wanted to seek comfort in him, but that wasn't fair. She had rejected him long ago. She had burned that bridge. Now, he was someone that she used to know. Now, she was all alone. It killed her. Why was Katie so happy? They had the same crappy family. They had both grown up in this mess. Quinn hated her for smiling so much. For being a better daughter, a better granddaughter. I should feel sorry for her, but I can't.

...

"I'm letting you off the hook" she said.

Puck looked down at her. She was walking him to the gate. It was cold. She hadn't bothered putting on a jacket.

"What?"
"Let's just stop this" she said. "There's no point."

"I thought you said it would be better if it looked like we were dating…"

"I thought so, but it doesn't matter. Everything is fucked."

She rarely swore. Not like that. Puck looked a bit stunned.

"Look, Quinn…"
"I'll pay you soon. I don't have the cash right now."

"Can't you just tell me what's going on? Why are you pale? Why don't you eat?"

She smiled sarcastically.

"We're not friends."

"We used to be."

She shook her head. Damn, it was cold.

"No, we were never friends. Not really."

"We could be, though."

She hesitated, but then shook her head.

"It wouldn't make a difference."

"Okay" he said slowly.

"Okay."

He met her eyes. His face was soft tonight. He looked like someone she could trust. If that wasn't screwed. If she wasn't screwed.

"I got you something" he mumbled and began digging inside his coat pocket.

He pulled out a tiny, blue parcel.

"Merry Christmas" he said.

"Why did you get me this?"
"I thought that a boy should have Christmas present for his girlfriend. Or I thought that your grandmother might think so."

She almost smiled.

"Just return it" she said, handing it back.

He wouldn't take it.

"Open it."

She did. Her numb fingers tore apart the paper. Inside was a box. She opened it too. She held up the necklace against the moon light.

"Wow."

"You like it?"

She nodded. He smiled.

"Good."

She put it back in the box.

"Thank you."

"Sure."

She watched him walk away. Suddenly, everything felt a bit better.