I know it's been donkey's years since I last updated - I'm sorry. RL has been rather cruel to me for quite a while.

But I'm back, and it's Christmas Eve -

I hope you enjoy it as much as the boys :-)

...

There was something rather wonderful about being awake in the middle of the night, being downstairs with wrapping paper and tape, playing Christmas music very quietly so as not to wake the little boy in the other room who was waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

'I love being Santa.' Blaine was beaming, his face ached but it seemed a shame to stop smiling.

Kurt rolled his eyes 'I know you do, Dear, I know.'

The laptop on the coffee table chuckled, Kurt twisted his neck to give it a conspiratorial grin, computer screen Burt winked at him and snipped the end off a piece of ribbon.

'Gonna be a good one.'

Kurt nodded 'I sure hope so.'

The room was in festive disarray – after much pleading from Blaine and his puppy-dog eyes Kurt had relented and allowed Finlay full charge of the Holiday Decorations. He'd managed to get lost in the little boy's excitement and find hearty pleasure in watching the apartment become smothered in red and green and gold. But still after it was done he was seriously considering erecting a sign assuring visitors and passers by that he had nothing to do with the colourful disaster that was their home.

Burt had immediately dissolved into laughter after popping up on the screen, much to Kurt's chagrin. Carole pronounced the Christmassy makeover 'Lovely' as she had been given the full tour by a proud Finlay carrying the computer through the flat like a plate in two hands oblivious to his Father's hovering around him ready to pounce if it looked like he might drop it.

It had been a fairytale sort of day, waking up to a face-full of tinsel should have been very annoying but it was Finlay so why would it bother Kurt? Even being disrupted in the bath wasn't a problem because Blaine looked too adorable in his reindeer antlers and Finlay was oh so complimentary with his "Dada makes the cookies! Dada's the bestest cookie-maker in the whole big world!"

Kurt had been granted some say over the decorations – the tree was adorned according to his exact instructions all except the topper, which was not a star or an angel but a multi coloured 'snowman' fashioned out of kitchen roll tube and pipe cleaners, and nobody would have guessed it was a snowman if Finlay hadn't made it known.

And Kurt hung a sprig of mistletoe in the doorway to the dining room and told Finlay all about the famous tradition which was perhaps not the best idea as it led to anyone who wished to pass through being forced to stand and wait until their significant other came to give them the necessary kiss.

There were many things that needed to be adjusted this year to suit the littlest man of the house. For previous Christmases he had either been too little to notice or to care. He objected emphatically to a real nickel being stuffed inside the Christmas pudding 'Wasting money Da! Nickels are not for eating, no!' so it was a chocolate coin that ended up buried in the dessert and the nickel was safely stashed in the jar on the mantelpiece labelled "For Adventures"

And one carrot was not enough, because there are nine reindeer and it was silly to think otherwise. Finlay said so. And really Kurt had never been more attracted to his husband than when he observed him slipping out into the wind and the torrential winter downpour without a word of dissent to retrieve the necessary eight extra carrots from the market, last minute. But that was just what Blaine was like, full of charity – which was astonishing considering what his parents were...

Dinner had to be homemade pizza, something light and simple to spare their stomachs for the feast tomorrow. Finlay had become very over-excited at the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa via Skype and had to be soothed by a warm glass of milk and a little Disney. There was enough time between eating and Finlay's bedtime for homemade eggnog, a sing-song round the fireplace complete with Finlay's original rendition of Jingle bells – with special appearances from Batman, Robin and the baby Jesus, rather ingenious if you asked Blaine, ever the lyricist.

There was also time for Rachel to call and assure them she was coming with a sackful of gifts to "'share in the magic of your Pseudo-Christian holiday" Kurt decided not to lecture her about political correctness and to keep the news from Finlay to save exciting him all over again.

After Blaine had fake-smiled his way through a phone-conversation with his parents and after Kurt and Carole wept in unison at the end of 'It's a wonderful life' Finlay extracted himself from Papa's bear hug and lovingly placed the cookies on Santa's tray. He pressed his little lips to the computer screen over and over again then accepted Kurt's piggy bag down the hallway to his room.

Kurt lay with Finlay until he fell asleep, he sang him carols about a story he didn't believe and engaged in serious technical discussion about the infamous Santa Claus. He pressed innumerable kisses to his baby's sweet little face and squeezed him to his chest like a teddy bear, warbling words of love until Finlay dissolved into giggles. When those golden eyes had shut and Finlay went floppy in is Father's arms Kurt slid gently from the bed, tucked the covers in around his son's ears and kissed the tip of his little nose.

'I love you Finnie.' He whispered and slunk away. Stopping a moment to check the pillow case was securely attached to the door and to smile once more at Blaine's brave attempt to paint a reindeer head in fabric ink.

It was nice to be adults again, having been firmly set in Parent Mode from the moment he woke up, and wrapping presents was fun too. Kurt liked getting things done.

They'd finished their wrapping by about midnight and settled on couches with glasses of wine.

Although it was hard to have separate conversations when the counterparts were funnelled through the same machine, Blaine and Burt talked politics, Kurt sat by the fireplace roasting Chestnuts in foil as Carole described him the Christmas hamper that had been tragically lost in the post.

Blaine snapped his fingers suddenly and jumped to his feet 'Damn. We've forgotten the stockings.'

Kurt gasped in mock horror 'Better go and sort it then, oh man of my life.'

He winked and Blaine tiptoed out of the room sack full of stocking fillers in his fist. Kurt rose from his crouch on the floor and gingerly tipped the chestnuts into a waiting bowl on the table.

'You alright kid?'

His Father's voice, Kurt sighed 'Not a kid, Dad.'

Burt chuckled 'Only kids say that…kid.'

Kurt made a brave attempt to frown, 'Why wouldn't I be alright?'

'Because we're not there.'

'You think a lot of yourself don't you?'

'Come on. First family Christmas without your old man, that's got to mean something.'

Kurt sat on the couch and sipped at Blaine's glass of wine 'I miss you. That doesn't mean I'm not alright.'

Burt snorted 'Fine. Have it your way.'

There was a significant silence, the kind that always came when Burt was steeling himself to say something big and emotional. Kurt fought down an inappropriate smile.

'What's up Dad?'

Burt took a deep breath 'It's Christmas.'

'….I know that'

'Yeah, and at Christmas you tell the truth…'

Now Kurt was concerned.

'Yes?'

'I have to be honest with you Kurt…' Burt shifted a bit on the couch, where had Carole gone? She was a tactful woman, she'd probably excused herself some time ago…

'I gotta be honest son, I had my doubts about this whole "two dads" business at the start…'

Kurt's eyes widened What?!

Burt hurried on 'Don't get me wrong, I love you…and I love Blaine, damn it he's family – but I just think…I've always though a Mom and a Dad has gotta be the best thing for a little kid…'

Kurt set down the wine glass, it rattled a bit. His hands were shaking, he pressed them together in his lap – this wasn't happening…

'No, I gotta be truthful with you buddy, I had my doubts…but…'

There was a 'but'

'But boy do I feel stupid now.' Burt grinned like a giddy child 'Finlay's an awesome kid…I know I'm biased but I dare anyone to say otherwise. He's clever, he's happy, he's kind, he's got great manners.' Burt eyes were curiously damp 'You done good, son. You done real good.'

Kurt felt something similar to a sob rise in his throat…no, it wasn't happening…

'I'm so proud of you Kurt. And I know better now, Fin doesn't need a mother – he just needs you.'

'And me!' Blaine's head popped around the door-frame, face framed by dark curls – he'd grown out of the overuse of hair gel.

Burt repeated himself 'I'm so proud. Of both of you.'

Kurt choked 'I'm so happy.' He murmured 'I'm so happy.'

Blaine took the couch at a running jump and wrapped his arms around Kurt's neck, pressing his face in his hair something he was well aware he would pay for later.

Burt smiled, his son was looked after, and so was his Grandson… it was Christmas Eve. Everyone was happy.

Blaine looked up from Kurt 'I love you Burt. Happy Christmas.'

Burt nodded 'Happy Christmas son.' He inclined his head 'You look after them.'

Kurt opened his mouth to protest that he could look after himself, he was a grown man for God's sake, he was perfectly capable, didn't Burt know that?

But he closed it without saying any of those things. He didn't even tell his Dad that he didn't want him to go – because he liked the mushy, sickly sweet, Holiday Movie note on which this night was ending.

Carole re-entered the screen 'We'll call again tomorrow, after you've opened your presents we can watch each other eat Christmas Lunch.'

'Sounds good.' Said Kurt

'Good night' said Blaine

'Love you' said Burt 'Sleep tight.' He wrapped an arm around Carole's waist 'Gonna go have old people sex now'

Kurt groaned 'Da-ad…'

Burt pressed his spare palm against the screen 'Love you Kurt.'

Kurt slipped from the couch and pressed his palm against the cold screen – against Burt's. 'Love you too, Dad.'

'I'm proud of you.' Burt assured him again 'And so is your Mom. Don't ask me how I know that…because I just do...'

That final statement stayed with Kurt throughout the night, through the faux wrestling match with Blaine that ended with him on his back on the sitting room carpet, Blaine's nose against his hot breath promising 'Now I can do whatever I want with you.' It stayed with him through the last glass of eggnog and the manful munching of the nine raw carrots.

It stayed with him the whole night, as usual he was awake for a while after Blaine. He lay in silence staring at the ceiling playing with Blaine's finger resting on his stomach, watching the way the light danced through the blinds and wondering what his Mom would really say about his little family if she could.

Even when his eyes fluttered closed he dreamed about her...sending beautiful Christmas hampers, counting Blaine as one of the family, kissing Finlay, telling him she'd never doubt him ever again…

Kurt didn't believe in God. But even so he couldn't deny the magic of Christmastime.

God, Batman, Santa, Jesus, Mrs. Elizabeth Hummel…maybe Finlay could compose a song involving them all…that would be nice.

Kurt muttered to himself as he drifted off.

'Gonna be a good one.' Well, naturally. It always was.

...

Happy Christmas readers 3

I wish you and your family love, laughter, blessings and joy.

(Perhaps you could leave me a review in lieu of a Christmas Present ;-)