A/N - No Blaine in this chapter, sorry, but there's some family fun with the Hummel-Hudsons.

Four: A Happy Hummel Family Holiday

It was Christmas Eve. Finn was relaxing and watching his favourite show on his laptop in his room. Then Lexi burst into his room wearing all black except for a blue and bronze tie with an eagle on it and holding a stick. She was also wearing her elbow-length brown hair down, something Finn had never seen before.

"Finn! Do you have any good hiding spots in your room?" Lexi asked breathlessly.

"I… uh… not really. Actually I don't know, I've never tried to hide in here. What's going on?" Finn replied.

"Christmas tradition," said Lexi as she ducked behind Finn. Kurt exploded into the room, dressed the same way Lexi was, except he was wearing a red and gold tie with a lion on it.

"Alexa! Show yourself!" said Kurt.

"Impedimenta!" shouted Lexi, pointing the piece of wood she was holding at Kurt and he froze. Finn still didn't understand what was going on.

Lexi, who was apparently left-handed, darted out the door and down the hall. Kurt stayed frozen in Finn's room, however. "Uh, dude, what's happening? Why are you guys waving sticks at each other?" asked Finn.

"I don't have much time to talk – Lex'll be back any moment. Or maybe it'll be Danny, I don't know. But basically, every year since we were about 7, Lex, Dan and I run around the house and wizard duel. It's a geeky thing to do, but it's a tradition," Kurt explained. Apparently, he'd stayed still a minute too long, because Danny burst into the room.

Danny exclaimed, "Stupefy!" and Kurt collapsed. Finn was utterly confused. It must have shown on his face, because before he ran off out the door, Danny said, "Finn, don't question it. It's a tradition; it doesn't have to make sense!"

"I only have one question. Why are you all wearing ties?"

"They're Hogwarts house ties, like from Harry Potter," Danny said.

"I never saw those movies," Finn replied.

"They were books first," Danny said. "I'm a Hufflepuff, because Lex and Kurt think I'm hardworking, loyal and a good finder. So I have a Hufflepuff tie," he pointed to the yellow and black tie he was wearing. "On the other hand, Lex is a genius, so she's in Ravenclaw, and has a Ravenclaw tie. Kurt's incredibly brave and all that jazz, so he's a Gryffindor and has a Gryffindor tie."

"Alrightie then. You get back to whatever you were doing, then. I won't get in your way," said Finn. Danny ran out the door, turning the direction that Lexi had gone, only to be hit by a 'curse' from Lexi.

"Aw, are they both knocked out by spells?" Lexi asked disappointedly as she stepped into Finn's room. Finn nodded. She knelt down next to Kurt and whispered, "rennervate. Kurt, you owe me."

Kurt sat up. "Why'd you do that?"

"We've got a good half an hour left before dinner and you two were both stunned. What fun is that for me?" Lexi explained. Kurt shrugged. Simultaneously, they hopped up and started running around the house again. It wasn't until Lexi tripped over Danny in the hallway that they even remembered Finn was there, because he was the first one to see if she was alright.

When dinner finally arrived, Lexi, Kurt and Danny were very tired. Kurt was used to this – pretending to duel was exhausting. It was probably their geekiest tradition, but he loved it. After dinner, they watched Holiday Inn, and then Lexi and Danny put on their matching Christmas pajamas and curled up on the couch facing the Christmas tree and went to sleep. Finn seemed perplexed by this childlike act. Kurt explained, "They've been doing this since we were kids – little kids, I mean, probably 3 or 4. All three of us did, actually. The only reason they still do is that it's tradition – and that means a lot to Lex. She's not keen on giving up her childhood. When we were little was when she was happiest, and a lot of people tried to make her grow up too soon. I love most of the traditions that the three of us have – in fact the only reason that I don't still participate in this one is that I've outgrown sharing the couch." Kurt paused here. "We should go change; Lex will have us up bright and early tomorrow morning."

Finn walked upstairs, but Kurt stayed for an extra minute or two. He looked around the room, taking in the lit up tree that Lexi had decorated almost entirely singlehandedly, the pile of presents beneath it and the fact that asleep, Lexi still looked like a little child. She was curled up and under a blanket with her head on a couch pillow. Her hair had been rebraided. Kurt smiled a small smile, then went upstairs to put on his red and green Christmas pajamas that matched Lexi's and Danny's. He drifted off to sleep and dreamed of Blaine – only in the dream, he called Blaine 'Blainie', like Lexi, and Blaine didn't mind. He actually seemed to think it was cute.

The next morning, Kurt woke to Lexi bouncing on the end of his bed. "WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP! Kurtsie! Come on! Wake up! It's CHRISTMAS, Lou!"

"Okay, 'Gitta, I'm up," Kurt said, smiling. He followed her downstairs. Finn did not look excited to be up so early on Christmas day, but he brightened at the sight of the stack of presents under the tree. As soon as Burt and Carole were awake, the family opened presents. From Lexi, Kurt had received a Gryffindor hat and scarf.

"I know they don't go with most of the stuff you wear, but I don't know anybody who deserves to wear Gryffindor colours more than you," she said.

He gave her a hug. "Thanks, Lex."

Danny had given him a bunch of posters for his favourite shows. He'd gotten a bunch of assorted gifts from his parents and Finn. Finn's face when he opened his gift from Lexi (a pair of bright pink sunglasses) was absolutely priceless. Kurt gave Lexi the Sound of Music special edition DVD. When she saw it, her face lit up and she attack hugged her cousin. Kurt had been hoping for a reaction like that, although he wasn't expecting the bone-crushing hug. They opened their presents from Danny's family, then Danny and Lexi called Danny's mom.

"Happy Christmas, Mrs. Baker!" exclaimed Lexi, once Danny had put the phone on speaker.

"Merry Christmas, Lexi," replied Mrs. Baker through the phone. "Merry Christmas, Danny."

"Happy Christmas, Mom. How are Annie and Mitchell? Did they like their presents from us and the Hummels?" Danny asked.

"They're very excited about the tickets to Wicked. And they're excited to see you both after New Year's. Annie said something about practicing her attack hugs," answered Mrs. Baker.

"Can I talk to Annie, Mrs. Baker?" Lexi requested.

"Alright," replied Mrs. Baker. There was a pause as she handed the phone to Danny's little sister.

"Hi Lexi!" Annie exclaimed.

"Hi Annie! How's your Christmas going?" Lexi asked.

"Oh, it's been pretty fun so far. I like it better when we're all together, though. Thanks so much for the tickets to Wicked, though!"

Danny replied, "I like when we're all together, too. But it's not so bad. Lexi and I will send you guys pictures, okay? And then you guys can send us some pictures, too."

"Sure! Oh, Mitchell wants to talk to you guys, too," replied Annie. She handed the phone to the 6 year old.

"Merry Christmas, Ali! Merry Christmas Danny!" said Mitchell.

"Merry Christmas, Mitchell," chorused Danny and Lexi.

Lexi continued, "Mitchell, the note said that you picked out my new tea cozy hat. Thank you so much!"

"I knew you would like it. It's just like Dobby's in Goblet of Fire," replied Danny's six-year-old brother.

"Mhm, good job remembering!"

"And that one's your favourite book, so I told Mommy that you'd like a tea cozy hat with the Hogwarts crest on it."

"Awww," said Kurt. "That's adorable!"

"Who was that?" asked Mitchell.

"That was Kurt. You remember Kurt, don't you?" answered Danny.

"Yeah! Hi Kurt! Happy Christmas!" Mitchell exclaimed. "Oh, Mommy says that it's time for breakfast. Buh-'bye!"

"'Bye Mitchell!" chorused Kurt, Lexi and Danny. The six-year-old hung up the phone. Lexi, Danny, Kurt and Finn all ate breakfast and spent the rest of Christmas day watching Christmas movies and (as Lexi put it) "Christmas-ing".