A/N: I'm so sorry for not posting a new chapter last night. I was typing it, then my computer died, and I couldn't be bothered with plugging it in. I made this chapter a little longer to make up for it. I'd like to thank everyone who's following this story, and reviewing. It means a lot. Happy Holidays!
Dave followed Mr. Berry to a quiet street lit with many festive decorations. Everywhere you looked, snowmen, santas, reindeer, bright lights and candy canes covered the lawns and houses. On the corner of Lilac Grove, was a single house decorated very simply with white lights trimming the house and yard. What stood out about this house was that in the front window stood a curious object. To Dave, it looked like a fancy candle holder, but it only had half of the candles lit.
He departed his car, and followed Mr. Berry up the front porch steps.
"Mr. Berry, why is your yard so plain? I thought gays loved color?" asked Dave, genuinely confused.
"Well Dave, our family is Jewish, therefore, we don't celebrate Christmas. The only reason Peter and I put up these white lights is because our home owner's association requires that we decorate for the holiday season with at least 10,000 lights." Daniel replied.
"Oh...that makes sense, I guess." said Dave.
Mr. Berry opened the door for Dave, helping him with his bags. A tall African-American man came through a doorway, and kissed Daniel on the cheek before helping Dave off with his coat.
"Come on in you two. You must be freezing!" he exclaimed as he hurried in bringing out a tray with some cups and a pitcher that was steaming.
"I uh, texted in and told Peter you were coming. He has the guest room ready for you." whispered Daniel.
"HI! I'm Peter." said the black man. "Danny can't text as fast as Rachel and I can, but I figured you were in some sort of predicament. Won't you come in and tell us about it?" Peter asked.
At that moment, Rachel came down the stairs in one of her classic plaid skirts and sweater-vests. She saw Dave and immediately screamed. The color drained from Dave's face as she wailed as if she were being accosted by a stranger in a dark alley. Daniel and Peter rushed back into the foyer.
"Rachel sweetie. Calm down." said Daniel in a soothing voice.
"Come on down here princess." Peter asked. "We all need to talk."
They had all gathered around the stylish coffee table in the living room. Peter passed around cups and poured a spicy sweet smelling drink from the pitcher. Cinnamon...cloves...and pineapple? Dave couldn't quite place what was in his cup at the moment, but it smelled pretty good.
"So...What seems to be the problem Dave?" asked Peter.
Dave looked at the Berry family, eyes full of concern. Rachel's face held something more. Everyone knew Rachel Berry couldn't keep a secret, and if she stood to gain something from any given situation, she would take full advantage of it.
"I want Rachel's promise that whatever I say here will stay here." Dave said quite pointedly.
Rachel looked slightly offended by the slight insinuation that she would tell Dave's business to all of McKinley High.
"I promise Dave. However horrible you've been to myself and the rest of the glee club, it's not my place to spread gossip." retorted Rachel.
Dave looked ever so slightly relieved. "The long and short of it is..." he began. The Berrys especially Rachel hanging on the edge of her seat.
"I'm gay. My parents found out, kicked me out, and I have no where else to go."
Daniel and Peter's faces showed that they completely understood. Rachel however was flabbergasted. A dozen thoughts whizzed around her head. She tried to form a coherent thought, but all she could think of was 'Two plus two equals waffles'. Things just were not computing.
Dave sipped his drink. It slid down his throat, warming him from the inside out. This took his mind off the fact that in that room, you could hear a pin drop. Daniel and Peter excused themselves to the kitchen, leaving Dave and Rachel alone.
"What is this stuff?" Dave asked, gesturing to his cup.
"Its called Wassail," replied Rachel in her usual 'holier-than-thou' tone; "Its a mixture of apple cider and pineapple juice spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and oranges. We make it every year at Hanukkah."
Dave sat quietly, trying to sort his feelings and thoughts. Rachel sat across from him, just staring. Dave found this odd, then distracting, then annoying, there downright irritating.
"Would you stop looking at me please? I hate being watched." he snapped.
"Those are pretty bold words for a man who is grovelling in my living room for a place to stay. After all you put us through, I'm sure you'll only be here a few more minutes. If you're really gay anyway, why didn't you just tell Kurt. I'm sure he would have understood. He was the best chance at a friend you had until you scared him off." Rachel raged.
Dave simply sat there taking the abuse. He knew he deserved it, for all the pain he had subjected everyone in the glee club to. For every slushie, swirlie, and dumpster toss; especially for every time he shoved Kurt into a locker. Rachel's words cut him deep like knives.
"...And besides Dave, hundreds of kids go through what you're going through everyday and they don't go around tormenting people. HEY, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?" the brunette yelled. "I"M TALKING TO YOU!"
"I"M SORRY!" Dave shouted. "I"M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING RACHEL! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE" he was in tears. "TO WANT SOMETHING SO BAD AND TO KNOW YOU CAN NEVER HAVE IT."
Rachel again, was at a loss for words.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to be Kurt's friend...more than a friend. I hated myself everyday for hurting him...you...everyone in glee. Do you know why I always wear ththat stupid jacket? Or when I'm not wearing it, why I'm always wearing long sleeves?" he demanded.
Dave slowly pulled up the sleeves on his shirt, revealing many red cut marks on his arm and wrists. The upper part of his forearm revealed much older scars that had since healed, but left their ghastly mark on his soft skin.
Rachel gasped.
"You don't know Rachel, how truly sorry I am for everything. Words certainly can't explain it. But maybe this will give you some idea." muttered Dave.
Rachel could speak. Her lips would not allow it. She simply stood, crossed the room, and sat next to the weeping Dave. She put her much smaller arms around him, and pulled him into a warm hug. Dave kept sobbing into Rachel; needing nothing more than to cry.
Daniel and Peter returned a few moments later. Dave had stopped crying enough to listen to what they had to say.
"Dave, we know what you're going through is very difficult," Daniel started. "Peter here is a psychiatrist, and he's agreed to help you start sorting through your issues free of charge."
"You're also welcome to stay here for as long as it takes for you to get better" said Peter, putting his arm around Daniel's waist. "We know coming to terms with all of this is going to take you time, and possibly more time for your parents, but We'll do the best we can to help."
"Thank you..." said Dave "Mr. Berry...what exactly did you mean when you said that this was the Hanukkah miracle I needed?"
"Well Dave, do you know the story of Hanukkah?" asked Daniel.
"No...my family is Catholic." replied Dave.
"Well, lets all listen while Rachel tells the story. She's always had a flair for the dramatic." said Peter.
"Long ago," Started Rachel, "in Israel lived the original Jews. They lived peacefully until one day they were invaded by the Greeks. The Greeks stole their temple, and made it into a place to worship Zeus. The Greek leader even made practicing Judaism illegal. He made the Jews sacrifice pigs, and worship the Greek gods. Both of these were forbidden by Jewish law."
"What exactly does this have to do with me?" interrupted Dave.
Rachel, with an impatient look on her face said, "Please don't interrupt Dave. You'll get the idea. ANYWAY," she continued.
"Finally, the Jews couldn't take the oppression anymore," she said flourishing her hands, acting out the story.
"They fought the Greeks, and took back their temple. They realized they couldn't worship in the temple for the Greeks had spiritually defiled it by sacrificing swine and worshiping foreign gods in it. They decided to purify it by burning ritual oil in it for eight days. But, to their dismay, they only had enough oil to last for one day. They lit the Menorah anyway, and to their amazement, the oil lasted all eight days."
"This is the miracle of Hanukkah Dave," said Daniel. "re-dedication. It was through the lasting of the oil that the Jews were able to re-dedicate their temple and themselves to God."
"I still don't get it..." frowned Dave. "What does it have to do with me?"
Peter chuckled, "Well Dave, maybe you need to dedicate yourself. To taking care of you and not worrying about what others think. Dedicate yourself to repairing the bridges you've broken over the last few months.
"Oh...that makes sense." said Dave. "How can I do that?" he asked.
"We think you've made a beautiful start by standing up for yourself to your parents. You've taken the first steps to self-acceptance." said Daniel.
Dave simply smiled. Maybe he had found a Hanukkah miracle. He certainly felt a lot better than he had a few hours ago.
Rachel stood, and crossed the room to the window. She pulled back the curtain to reveal the pretty candle holder Dave had seen from outside.
"Dave," said Rachel, "It was supposed to be my turn to light tonight's candle on the menorah, but I think you should do it. Every year, we take turns lighting the candles, and each one of us gives thanks for what we have to be thankful for, and chooses something to dedicate ourselves to for the coming year...sort of a family tradition."
"Wow...Rachel, that's really cool." he stood, and moved to stand with her. He hugged her tightly, and turned to the menorah. With match in hand, he thought of all the things he had to be grateful for. His health, the Berry family, that was really all he had going for him. He thought of what he was going to dedicate himself to this year. Nothing he thought of could compare to healing the damage he had done...to Kurt...to the glee club. He lit the candle and stood with Rachel, watching the flames dance.
The foursome retired to the dining room for Dave's first Hanukkah dinner. Dave's heart lighter than it had been in a long time.