"I'm just saying, I don't think you should be alone for Christmas."

"I'm not going to be alone, mother." Blaine replied as he drove to AJ's school, braving the snow-packed roads and frigid temperatures. "I've got AJ."

"And do you honestly think that that's going to be enough, Blaine?" Lucille Anderson asked skeptically, staring at her nails and scrutinizing every imperfection with a designer's eye. "Don't you think that he needs more family around? What about his other dad, hmm?"

"It's not like Kurt can just come home, mom, we've been over thi—"

"Blaine Anderson, there's a little thing called respect, and I will be treated with it."

"Sorry, mother."

"That's better." She told him sternly, clucking her tongue at his laziness. "Now, what were you saying?"

"I was saying that it's not like Kurt can just come home. If he could, I'm sure he would. He's overseas right now, and it wouldn't be fair to the produ—"

"That's your problem right there, Blaine Anderson—"

"It's Blaine Hummel -Anderson, mother. I wish you would acknowledge that more often!" He expressed sharply, his voice rising.

"Well, son, I wish you would acknowledge the fact that you can't always do everything by yourself. You're good at a lot of things, but no one can do everything."

"So, what are you implying?" Skepticism was nearly seeping through his thin tone.

Lucille seemed to have many years of practice to rely on when these types of situations would arise. "I'm saying that you should be near family during the holidays. It's not fair to you or August James to be alone during the holidays."

"We're not alone!"

"You're more alone than you were, son!" Lucille cried passionately, her inner lawyer digging a hole through to the surface. "You simply need to acknowledge that fact! That's all I'm asking!"

Blaine nearly scowled as traffic inched by, a heavy sheet of snow spinning through the brisk winter air. "Well, it's not like you and dad are available for the holidays."

"No, and we should be allowed to take a vacation. If I'm not mistaken, you just did a few weeks ago, am I correct?"

"Yes." He replied grudgingly, trying to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

"Well, then, I see no reason why I shouldn't be allowed to do the same. All I'm suggesting is that you see what Burt and Carol are doing for the holidays, or maybe Finn and Rachel. What about David? Or Wes?"

"Burt and Carol are in Hawaii, and David is going to visit his parents… Wes, I think he mentioned something about another girlfriend."

"So what about Finn and Rachel? You like Finn well enough, right?"

"Of course I like them, mother, they're family, after all."

"Just because they're family doesn't mean you have to like them." Lucille mentioned bitterly, directing the sentence at nobody in particular; however, her statement seemed like a kick below the waist, and Blaine could feel it. It brought him back to his high school days, to his coming out days and the disapproval that was so prudent, that stuck with him until his early adult years, that was probably still labeled across his name in his mother's eyes.

"Well, mom, I've got to go, I'm picking AJ up right now. Talk to you later. Bye." He hung up the phone quickly, not waiting to receive a response. His anger was mixed with an instant regret; it clung to him like a leech; it wasn't ready to leave and probably wasn't going to leave any time soon.

The door suddenly opened; the heated car was exposed to a blast of 22 frigid degrees, along with a bundled second grader who was red all the way from his cheeks to his new coat to his snow boots. "Hey, Daddy B!" He exclaimed through chattering teeth.

"Hello, August James." Blaine replied, trying to disguise his voice as upbeat from its original tone of boring. "How was your day at school today?"

"It was pretty good. We spent the whole class of choir practicing for our concert tomorrow! Did you know that tomorrow, there are only three more days until Christmas?"

"Wait a second…" Blaine suddenly remarked, staring at his excited second grader through his rear view mirror. "Does that mean that Santa Claus is coming?"

"YEAH!"

"Well, that's a shame. He only comes to boys' and girls' houses that have been good. I guess he'll only be leaving presents for me this year."

"Daddy B!" AJ gasped, removing his hat; his curls tumbled out as a toothy grin appeared on his face. "You're kidding! I've been a good little boy all year long, and you know that!"

"I do know that, precious boy." Blaine replied quietly, staring off into the drifting snow as he carefully maneuvered through the bustling New York streets.

~X~x~X~

The two Hummel-Andersons pulled into their driveway to find another car parked there; it had been there for at least a couple hours; the snow was sitting in a nice pile on top of the car; its tracks that lead into the driveway were nearly covered. "Who is that, Daddy B?" AJ asked curiously, grabbing his daddy's mittened hand as the two ambled carefully to the front door.

"That's a very good question." Blaine replied, reaching for the key to unlock the door. Instead, it was opened for him, and soon he was being pulled into his house by strangers. Soon, they were embracing him, and stuffing a warm cup of hot coco into his hands.

"Shh, don't tell Kurt, but there's real sugar in there. Yes, I did my research, Blaine Hummel-Anderson, and am well aware that dark chocolate is much better for your whole body and its rejuvenation process—plus, sugar will sweeten you up, it looks like you've had a rough day. Is everything alright? Are there issues between you and Kurt?"

"Rachel, let him breath." Finn placed one of his hands on her shoulder, the other on her protruding baby bump.

"Of course, I was just informing him on the health benefits of coc—AJ!" She squealed, hugging her nephew and soaking the front of her sweater with his snow-covered jacket.

"Aunt Rachel! Hey, Aunt Rachel, can I listen?"

"What? Oh—sure, August, let's get you out of those boots and—oooh, I can tell who picked out your Dior coat!" He shimmed out of his coat, sticking his ear eagerly up to her belly.

"Sorry for just showing up here." Finn dug his hands into his jean pockets, watching as Blaine unwrapped his scarf and untied his boots, all the while hiding his surprised face. "Your mom just called and said that you were feeling really lonely, and stuff, and Rachel said it was about time for a visit."

"Well, it's not a problem at all." Blaine replied, hanging his coat on the rack and placing his hat on top, like the finishing cherry on a mountain of whip cream in a heaping bowl of vanilla ice cream. "It's always good to have company during the holidays—and, you're just in time for AJ's Christmas concert."

Rachel squealed excitedly, her face nearly glowing with excitement. "August James, you're going to be the best performer up there. "

"Really, Auntie Rachel?" AJ beamed, taking a seat next to her on the hearth.

"I hope you don't mind." Finn mumbled, his face glowing like embers.

"Of course not." Blaine told him, revealing his face for the first time. "You're always welcome here. Oh—if you'll excuse me, Kurt's buzzing in—go ahead and make yourself at home, that's strange, it's nearly two in the morning there…"

Blaine excused himself into the other room, answering the phone with a curious, "Hello?"

"Blaine, I can't sleep."

He nearly sighed, plopping down on the loveseat in the formal living room and staring out the window to the near blank sky; it looked like a piece of drawing paper, minus the artistic scribbles. "Late night, babe?"

"Yeah. Are you free right now? I could really use some cheering up, because I'm suffering from a terrible case of homesickness."

"Well, you'll never believe who was at my house when AJ and I arrived home. Uncle Finn and Auntie Rachel are here."

"Rachel Berry? At our house? At Christmas? Oh, why can't I be there to take in the Broadway talk and obsessive baby chat of a star who is settling down? Oh, babe, don't have too much fun without me."

"Even when you're exhausted, you always manage to work sarcasm into your sentences. I'm quite impressed."

"So I take it you don't have time to tell me a story? It's alright if you don't." Kurt mumbled, his tone dropping much like how it was suddenly darkening outside. "You should get back to your company; it's only the polite thing to do."

"Call me when you wake up."

Kurt bit his lip. "It will be around 1 in the morning for you, though."

"I know. I promise you I'll tell you a story then. And all of the lovely chats we'll have with Auntie Rachel and Uncle Finn."

"Don't have too much fun."

"I'll try my best." Blaine responded, rubbing his eyes as he bayed his husband goodbye.

~X~x~X~

"You were simply spectacular as that shepherd!" Rachel crooned, tussling AJ's curls and grabbing his hand. "What did you do to prepare for the role? Did you gargle warm water with lemon extract before hand? Y'know, that's how professionals warm up their voices before every performance; I find it gives you that little extra power you need to belt out those power notes, and you did just that on your solo in 'Happy Holidays'."

"Thanks, Auntie Rachel!" AJ grinned.

"Yeah, kiddo, you did a really nice job! It was priceless to see little kids in beards."

"Yes, Finn, that's nice and all, but I think we need to focus on how he prepares for his roles, because as he gets older, it's not all going to be fun and games—"

"Rachel, he's seven. He has plenty of time to rehearse." Finn replied. "Besides, I'm sure our child will be the most prepared one up there."

"Oh, Finn!" Rachel gushed, kissing him lightly on the cheek as Blaine came up behind AJ and gave him a tight hug and congratulations. "Aren't you excited? This is going to be us, soon. We're going to be going to concerts, and then before we know it it will be high school graduation and then college and we'll be sitting in rockers outside of our house reminiscing about our glory days!"

~X~x~X~

December 24th arrived in a blustery state; the three sat around the dancing fire, the laptop centered on the group. Kurt's face appeared on the screen for a near three minutes before he was whisked off for yet another rehearsal.

"I'm sure Auntie Rachel would love to finish the story, AJ. I bet if you asked her real nicely, she'll give in."

"Well, no one can resist that cute little face!" Rachel squealed; she patted the couch space next to her, and soon the two were enthralled in The Night Before Christmas.

Blaine motioned for Finn to come with him, and soon the two were preparing for the next morning, arranging presents around the tree and stuffing stockings ("Do you do this every year?" "Yes, Finn. I guess for some, the magic never wears off.")

The two reentered the room, only to find Rachel and AJ asleep, their heads on each others' shoulders.

~X~x~X~

I could positively kill Jacob 4 making me leave. Something that should have taken five minutes turned into five hours. It's Christmas Eve, has he ever heard of a little thing called a holiday? Missing you~ xxoo K.

Auntie Rachel came 2 the rescue. We'll definitely need to Skype before your evening performance tomorrow. AJ did gr8 in the concert. xxoo B

Will do. Merry Christmas, Darling. xxoo K

I love you more than words can explain right now. I wish you were here so I could give you a kiss under the mistletoe. xxoo B

You wish I was there so you could do more than just that. xxoo K

I'm trying not to get my hopes up. xxoo B

~X~x~X~

"Daddy B, Daddy B, wake up, it's Christmas!" AJ squealed, jumping up and down on Blaine's bed in his spaceship pajamas. "C'mon, Daddy B, let's go see what Santa Claus left us!"

Soon, second grader hands were shaking him awake; Blaine pulled on a pair of sweats, one of Kurt's old t-shirts, and his glasses, dragging his feet down the stairs towards the den. Once arriving, he greeted Rachel and Finn, who were eagerly watching AJ's gleeful reaction to all of the presents. "Look what Santa left in your stocking!"

"DADDY K!" AJ cried, staring at the laptop and pressing his face up to it.

"Merry Christmas, darling boy!"

"Oh, Daddy K, I wish you could be here! Look at what Santa left me!"

"I see!" Kurt grinned, wanting so badly to reach through the screen and embrace his darling son; Blaine crawled on the floor next to AJ, smiling sleepily and waving. "Now, enough talk; start opening some of your presents!"

The present haul was once again quite extravagant, including a new remote-controlled rocket ship red go cart, a new Hot Wheels set and racetrack, some 'How To Draw Dinosaurs' books, a few G.I. Joe dolls, a new Nerf gun and pistol refill kit, a gift card to Toys-R-Us, and some new clothes.

Kurt couldn't help but beam at his husband's reaction to his gift (a set of tickets for him and AJ to fly to Tokyo, Japan for the final performance; "We can take a mini vacation in Japan—think how culturally exposed that will make AJ! Plus, there are some pretty steamy hot springs we'll have to visit—Gerry is staying for a little while after and offered to take AJ for a day. ;-)".

Rachel received many baby gifts ("They're not Christmas gifts, they're merely gifts that my Christian husband gave his Jewish wife because he loves her".), as their child was due around the middle of February ("Wouldn't it be amazing if she was a Valentine's Day baby, Finn?")

Finn's highlight gifts were season tickets to The Chicago Bear's games; there were two in case Rachel wanted to go; Burt was a definite backup.

"This Christmas has been TOTALLY AWESOME!" AJ squealed; nearly five minutes later, he was passed out under the tree, asleep. Kurt merely smiled, shaking his head as small little tears welled in his eyes. "I wish I could be there with all of you."

"We understand, Kurt." Finn told him, apparently unsure of where the camera was, because he stuck his nose right at it. Rachel moved him away quickly, grinning at him apologetically.

"We wish you were here, too. We're definitely going to have to get together again when you get back."

"Yeah." Finn added, seeming to have successfully found the camera.

"Hey, Blaine?" Kurt asked softly, motioning with his finger for Blaine to come closer.

"Yeah?"

"Merry Christmas, darling."

~X~x~X~

Bahh, Blaine's mom makes me angry. :P

I give you chapter ten… I find it ironic that it's been one of the coldest days of summer here and I just so happen to be writing about frigid weather. P: Anyways, thank you so much for following this~ I sincerely appreciate it. I don't own Glee, though bow down to the brilliant writers. Thank you for all that you do.