People back in Lima, Ohio probably don't get a lot of chances to make their dreams come true. Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel, however, that's a different story.

About five years ago, they didn't like each other. Let alone they didn't agree with each other and always wanted to be better than the other. And somehow almost every time Rachel strides in that choir room to request to the Glee club director, Will Schuester, about yet another lead role in a musical that would suit her liking and abilities, Kurt had the need to always compete against her. If they weren't best friends now and were still in that choir room, Kurt would have another chance to not only get the starring role and outshine the Jewish girl, but to perfect at Defying Gravity. Singing it in his freshman year was not the best singing moment Kurt has had.

All of that was in the past, though. Totally ancient history. Now they made friends through almost the most hopeless journey, and living life in the city of New York City. Yes, New York City: the place Rachel literally obsessed over throughout her whole high school experience, and imagined singing at before the day she died. It was a glorious place, and had lights shining everywhere in the busy city you went. It was like Christmas never ended.

The New York-bound college students now lived together in a loft Kurt had found shortly after he arrived. Rachel was glad to see her best friend, for she was stressed out and alone while she was fulfilling her term in the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, known as NYADA, and dancing her ass off under the direction of strict dance teacher, Cassandra July.

Yes, Cassandra July. She was one of the best dance teachers at that school. She may have had fallen dreams going down the shoot straight to the burning flames of hell, but she still kept up with inspiring and influencing others, and keeping her body in tip-top shape. However, she was hard on her students. She yelled at them until their ears bled. She made them dance until their toes broke off and the sweat made puddles on the floor.

Kurt was pretty terrified of the woman when he first met her in person. Back then, though, she seemed pretty different than she was when he witnessed her in a YouTube video that was posted a few years back. Kurt was glad he wasn't actually there, texting something to his bowtie-addicted boyfriend about going to Carnegie Hall or something like that during Spring Break. The tune to Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go would probably start playing, and everyone – even the NYADA Bitch In Charge, Cassie July – would get distracted.

With the exception of the blonde woman at Rachel's new school, the two friends wanted to have a wonderful time together in New York, starting with getting back the Christmas spirit they seemed to miss last year. Sure, they loved the time and effort Artie Abrams put into the Christmas special, but they wanted a special Christmas of their own to celebrate.

A while ago, Kurt had suggested that he and Rachel should have a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed Christmas, similar to the the funeral New Directions put on for Sue's sister, Jean. The only difference would be that everything was happier and not full of grief, and they'd get a bunch of red, green, gold, and white things, along with some chocolate-covered cherries, and singing both of their Christmas repertoires. While Rachel loved that idea, she assumed that he was thinking too much of the winter ball back two Christmases ago.

Rachel herself wasn't sure what she wanted to do. New York was a big city, and she could do so much there. Looking at the sights wasn't a good option, although it was still an option. She could do that any day of the week. Perhaps maybe a cruise in Hawaii or something, but that costs a lot of money, and she's already trying to get a part-time job to pay for the rent in the place she lived.

The New York divas were in the loft on Saturday afternoon, decorating the house with all of the Christmas decorations they had brought with them to New York. They didn't have much with them. They had lights to hand on the walls and windows, some Christmas bells, a table decoration in the shape of Frosty the Snowman, and a couple of framed photographs from previous Christmas moments. They could've brought more, like the tall lamp in the shape of a Christmas tree Kurt had, but it was too much along with his luggage to bring.

They continued decorating the place with what they had, sharing friendly glances at each other as one of their favorite all-time Christmas tunes started playing on the radio. And as always, Rachel would want to drag Kurt along and ask for the favor to sing along.

Rachel
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the 5 and 10
It's glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes that glow

She extends her hand out to Kurt, who was opening a box of CDs and DVDs for them to watch when they were not busy over the weekend. So many times, Kurt requested for them to watch Funny Girl or the Christmas classic Love, Actually so many times and waited for this moment to get in the mood and kick back with his glass of grapefruit juice. While Rachel agreed, she decided that they didn't have to lounge around so much; she just wanted to get up and move around with her fabulous gay buddy.

Kurt wasn't denying Rachel's request, either, for he had taken her hand and skipped along the floor with the short brunette.

Kurt
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store
But the prettiest sight to see
Is the holly that will be
On your own front door

Rachel and Kurt
A pair of hop-along boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
Dolls that will talk and go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen
Mom and Dad could hardly wait for school to start again

They twirled all over the room, different-colored tinsel in their arms and swinging each other around. Rachel discarded her share of tinsel to the wooden floor, and skipped into the kitchen where turkey was cooking in the oven, and Kurt's famous Christmas cookies were cooling off on the counter. She took a bite of one that was in the shape of a snowflake, cheeks blushing and her smile widening.

Kurt smirked just looking at her. He'll admit that he's a mad-ass cook, and he can make any recipe that'll bring on that huge Rachel Berry grin.

Rachel
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Kurt
Toys in every store

Before he knew it, he had Rachel's right hand, dancing around with her again. Usually he would do this with Blaine in his warm house with the macaroni and cheese cooking in the oven and red, white, and green light bulbs in the lamps and stuff. Then they would end their duet under the mistletoe where they share a five-minute make-out session – only if Kurt's parents and his stepbrother, Finn wasn't around.

Actually, this seemed pretty much like the same thing. Except they didn't have multi-colored light bulbs, and making out with Rachel Berry was the last thing she wanted to do with her as opposed to have the friendship kind of relationship. Plus, that wouldn't really help his problems with the break-up between him and Blaine anyway.

Rachel and Kurt
But the prettiest sight to see
Is the holly that will be
On your own front door
Sure, it's Christmas
Once more

Kurt had twirled Rachel around like a ballerina in a music box right around when the song started to end, sharing a laugh with her and giving her a high-five for her bold, undeniable voice. Rachel sat in the comfy lounge chair by the fire place to take a break from the little dancing they did.

Rachel, resting from the wonderful dance break she had with Kurt, found the taste of his famous cookies in her mouth. The frosting especially almost made her want to drool. "You know, Betty Crocker has a stellar taste in pastries," she told her best friend, "but they're almost nothing compared to your specialties."

Kurt was at the dinner table setting the plates for their early dinner. He turned to the short brunette girl with another smirk on his face. "That's because she doesn't have my charm."

"And your secret ingredients," Rachel commented as she got up and made her way back into the kitchen for another cookie. "What did you put in these?" She took the Christmas tree-shaped one and took a bite.

"Not telling." Kurt placed some cinnamon-flavored pine cones on the dresser for decoration.

"Kurt, it has been since last year since I found out you could make something as mouth-watering as this, and you're still not going to tell me?"

"Then it won't be so much of a secret ingredient, Rachel."

Rachel shrugged reluctantly, taking another bite into her cookie. "I guess not," she admitted, leaning against the counter and watching Kurt step over. She took a sniff of the last bit of her cookie before eating the rest. "It's almost Christmas time," she finally said. "What are we going to do? You got any plans or –"

Kurt shook his head. "Not much for me to do, really," he explained. "Ever since Blaine and I broke up, we don't really spend much time together. As of my dad, he's probably doing something with Finn's mom right now."

"What about Finn?"

"Stuck trying to figure out a strategy for New Directions since their downfall."

Rachel nodded understandably, thinking about the former football jock. She missed him, she really did. The last time she spoke with him was when she won the Winter Showcase. That didn't seem like a long way away, but it was very close to it. She hadn't seen in his face in a while, though. Rachel wondered how he was holding up with New Directions. She hadn't seen Tina, Sam, and Artie in a while, either. She loved them in Grease, but that was a month ago.

She missed everything. She loved New York, but she missed everything. She wished she could have the present, but also keep the past with her, too. Finn, especially, since he was everything to her. However, she couldn't change anything that happened in the past, like Quinn told her. Plus, Finn was a complete ass before the break-up.

Rachel snapped out of her thoughts. It was a few more days until Christmas. Thinking about depressing stuff such as she and Finn breaking up was not a part of the to-do list for the holidays. She planned on having fun this year. She was going to make this happen.

Out of nowhere, they hear a beep coming from Rachel's phone on the counter. She retrieves it to check the messages she got from the person on the other end. Surprisingly, it was Tina Cohen-Chang, the girl who confidently knew she was going to be "the new Rachel" once Rachel graduated from McKinley. Unfortunately, thanks to some minor setbacks, Blaine ended up taking that spot.

That was such a poor day for Tina.

"Who is it?" Kurt asked, retrieving some eggnog from the fridge.

"It's Tina," she told him.

Kurt's eyebrows raised, impressed. "Tina, eh? I hardly talk with her as much as I used to."

"Maybe she's getting over the fact that New Directions lost. Or maybe her and Mike Chang's break-up. I'm not sure, but she does seem pretty distant from us."

"She talked with us before the production of Grease."

"That wasn't much of a conversation, Kurt." Rachel pointed to her phone screen. "This isn't, either."

Kurt shrugged, getting ready to drink his eggnog. "She hardly talks much."

"That's true."

Rachel pressed the Okay button on her phone, and checked the message that was sent to her. The first thing she saw was a picture of a Christmas invitation with a whole bunch of glittery decorations on it. Rachel gazed upon the message that went along with it.

Christmas extravaganza at the J. Carlson Grande Dining Hall on Saturday at 6:30, hosted by McKinley sophomore Kitty Wilde. Bring any additional friends and enjoy a night of magic. – Tina Cohen-Chang

Rachel nodded, impressed. She had no idea who Kitty was – maybe somebody in New Directions – but the thought of an extravaganza seemed to lighten her spirits.

"Rach, what did it say?" Kurt asked.

"Tina says that there's a Christmas extravaganza hosted by someone named Kitty Wilde, and –"

Kurt's eyebrows furrowed. "Is that the porn star?"

"Sophomore, actually." Kurt nodded. "She's hosting the extravaganza at the J. Carlson Grande Dining Hall tonight, and Tina wants to know if we could come."

"Tina's inviting us?" Kurt asked, turning over to Rachel, and she nods. "Sounds pretty intriguing." However, there were seconds of doubt after Kurt had said that. "Should we go? I mean, we're trying to come up with Christmas plans ourselves, but –"

"We might as well. We have nothing planned anyway."

Kurt grinned. "Okay then, I'll go find my best elf-esque suit." He strode on out of the kitchen area with a grin on his face, heading on into his room to find his best Christmas clothes. Sure, it was only a party planned by a young sophomore girl, but he still had that Christmas spirit in him and he was willing to have this to be the best, regardless of a little break-up.

Rachel, however, was protective of Kurt. And she wouldn't want him to embarrass himself at a high school Christmas party.

"Kurt," she called. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"What? I hadn't worn it since I had gone to a party with Blaine two years ago. It's still nearly new."

"You're gonna be the shameful center of attention, is what I mean," Rachel teased, not getting rid of the memory of him in a kilt at their junior prom, and Kurt was elected Prom Queen of 2011. That was probably the worst night ever for him, which made Rachel feel guilty. But the outfit was too much.

"You're one to talk. You wore a bunch of stuffed animals stapled together for Gaga week," Kurt said. "And that Britney outfit that almost showed off your boobs." He almost got disgusted at the thought of Rachel's breasts.

Rachel smirked, retrieving some eggnog from the fridge. "Whatever."


Author's Note: Well, there's Hummelberry for you. Guess they'll be attending the party - er, extravaganza - after all, right?

Featured Song:
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" by Michael Buble. Sung by Rachel and Kurt.