A/N: I do not own Glee.

Chapter 10 – Christmas Surprise?

It was the day before Christmas and Quinn didn't know which place she was going to stay at. Brittany or Santana's? It was a few years ago that they her best friends decided she would stay the night before and be there in the morning to be around family in the morning. Quinn liked it she did, she liked the happy, home feeling and she wished her home had been the same way too.

But it never was and Quinn learned that all too early something no child should ever have to go through. It was something she promised herself when the time came. That her children would never feel what she felt. That empty feeling, the feeling of never being good enough. The feeling of pure rejection.

Then there was Rachel too. The brunette had told her that she was welcome along with her friends but how would her dads react? How would they perceive Quinn? It wasn't like her and Rachel hit off. It took Rachel basically upping her for the blonde to come to her senses. Then she knew, she knows Brittany will take one look at her and instantly notice the change in her.

Quinn was just a bit scared if she were to be honest with herself. She didn't know what this meant to her what so ever. Did this make her gay? Make her bisexual? She didn't really care about others. Her two best friends were together or she thinks they are, she hasn't talked them for a bit so she doesn't if there official or not yet.

Maybe it was just Rachel. Maybe it was just her and the way she was. Quinn was broken from her thoughts when she heard her bell ring from the front door. She sighed and slipped out of her bed.

But the person at the door was nothing she was expecting.

"I know weird right?"

"Very."

He shrugs "Thought we could talk, if that's okay. Haven't really done much of that."

"Yeah sure, come on in Puck."

If for nothing Quinn was not expecting him out of all people to be here.

"How are you?" Quinn asked they seated at her kitchen island

"She's pregnant. For sure, for sure." Puck bluntly says

"Have you told Rachel?"

At this Puck glances up and quirks a brow "Would you tell Rachel you had a one night stand and got pregnant?"

Quinn muses to herself as long as R-…..Quinn didn't even know she could blush so hard or that her train of thought could wander so far.

"I-I Would. Rachel is understanding and great."

Puck looks at Quinn for a long moment and just stares. He was sure a few weeks back the girl standing before him almost wanted to strangle his best friend. But now she stood there with a red face. Which he thought was odd because it wasn't that hot in the house. He knew how great Rachel was but she never played around with his future, always making sure to keep him on track.

"You know she warned me about this, knew how I was. Now I'm just afraid of disappointing her."

Quinn didn't know what to say so she passed a glass of water and waited for Puck to continue.

"Like fuck Quinn I'm going to be a dad. That kid is mine and Lauren is letting me be a part of its life. Well she kinda threated me too but I mean I was going to be there for it regardless. I mean I made a promise to you. And I least want to do something right by you too."

Quinn perked up at that and shook her head "Puck don't do right by me. Do right by your child. Do it because you want to."

"I do, I do. It's just scary you know?"

"It'll be okay, Puck."

The mohawked boy smiled and then furrowed his brow "Whoa. You totally cut your hair. Hot."

"Puckerman."

Puck put his arms up in a plea "Sorry, sorry."

"So why are you really here?" Quinn asked her eyebrow rising

At this Puck smiled but it wasn't just a regular smile. Not the smile he uses to get into someone pants. No this smile, the one he wore ever so often one that looked so similar to another brunette she knows. This was that Puckerman smile.

"My Jewish American Princess told me she invited you over for Christmas tomorrow."

"She did."

Puck nodded "She's letting you in you know."

"What?"

"Rachel. She doesn't let anyone come inside that house unless she has some sort of trust in you. I mean I've been catching up with her. So far it's only been her two other best friends and me."

"Really? But she sounds pretty popular?"

Puck scoffed and then stood up out of the stool "Quinn. You should know that being popular doesn't mean people know your life."

"Wow. Insightful much?"

"Totally, anyway just wanted to let you know that. But you should come or stay over for Christmas morning at Rachel's. I'll be there from tonight on. It'll be fun."

"Wait, No. Why did you really come here puck?"

"Puck does what he wants. No reasons needed." He smiled and with a short wave he walked out the door.

Quinn stood there for a minute or so mulling over what just happened. Thinking about what she would do, she looked down at her phone that was on the counter. Rachel and her had become much closer than she would have ever imagined but it was still staying over someone's house she had never been to before. At least with Brittany and Santana she knew what to expect.

Shaking her head she pulled up Santana's number and dialed, she was instantly met with a giggling Brittany that didn't surprise her very much. They talked for a bit and Quinn brought up the invitation of Rachel's. Without even finishing Brittany squealed yes and that was all that was needed for Santana's decision. They agreed they would be over at Rachel's in the afternoon and would spend the rest of the day there.

Quinn decided she would pack all that she needed now and head over to Santana's place and spend the night at her house since Brittany would already be there. I guess it slipped her mind that Santana didn't really have parents either. They weren't a drunk and fraud like hers but they were never really around. Brittany and Quinn had spent many holidays at Santana's for that very reason.

She spent the rest of the time packing everything she would need. Not like her father was around he was probably in some foreign country with god knows how many hookers. Frannie…well she didn't know how to feel about her sister. She would probably get the usual postcard and some apology scribbled on the front.

Nothing New.

But there was a soft knock on her door and Quinn froze because the only people in this his house was herself and her mother. Unless there was a ghost here to kill her which is highly unlikely. Again there was another soft knock and Quinn had to calm herself down. If there was a fight she could handle it. If words were thrown at her she could take it. If blames, insults and stories were yelled at her she could take it.

She was Quinn Fabray, she could do anything.

"Quinn? May I come in?"

Quinn felt her heart stop and for some reason she didn't know how to make it start again until her lungs were screaming at her to breathe before she died. She raked her eyes over her bed and her packed bags. She was going to leave in a few minutes anyway, might as well get it over with. With a shuddery breath she told her mother to come into her room, the one place that sort of felt like her own.

"I…I just wanted to talk."

Quinn straightened her back and kept her eyes void of anything "Okay."

Judy sighed and rubbed her hands together she wasn't sure how to start off "I don't know where to start but- but I need you to know that as of today I am making a change. For me. For…for you too."

Quinn felt that this was the most heart attack inducing thing she could ever go through. Her mother was standing before her, not drunk and completely sober in for what seemed liked years. No blood shot red eyes, no smell of whatever bottle was her choice. No swaying, no muttering and no anger. Quinn stood quiet because she had no idea what to say, what do you say to someone who has been absent for so long?

"There isn't much to say and I know that. And I know that you're leaving to go to Santana's right?" Judy shook her head "Anyway, I am going into rehab tomorrow morning and I won't be back for a bit. But I just wanted to let you know."

"What?" Quinn eyes widened and she felt too much at once

"I won't tell you how much I messed up that will come later but I just… God" Judy looked up to the ceiling trying stop the tears and then back down to her daughter. A daughter that practically raised herself. She shuffled in her pocket and took out a picture "It's been a long time, too long. And- And that's my fault but I want you to see me like this again at some point."

Quinn stood stock still as she felt the picture in her hand as her mother walked out of her room. Her mouth was agape and she was sure she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She peered down at the picture in her hand and silently more tears began to form.

It was years ago before the life she knew and what she was taught came crashing down. It was her and her mother and they weren't even looking at the photo and it was probably Frannie who took the picture. It was a sunny day and they were in the backyard, the swing set in the background in front of trees. Quinn was standing in front of her mother, wearing a yellow summer dress her hair flipping in the wind. Judy were a peach summer dress and was leaning over to little Quinn. In Judy's hands laid her prom queen crown and was placing it on Quinn's head. Quinn was looking up to her mother with a proud smile and beaming eyes. And the only thing that showed in Judy's eyes were happiness, unconditional love and pride.

A single tear slipped down Quinn's face as she whispered "I don't know if I can."

Quinn placed the photo inside her jacket and wiped her hand over the single tear that fell. She grabbed her bags and rushed out the door. She didn't want to cry, she didn't want to feel, not now, not before Christmas. She didn't know how to feel. She had dreamed and hoped for this for years and now that it is here it almost seems too good to be true.

Quinn didn't even realize she was at Santana's door until she felt herself knocking and waiting. In no less than a few seconds Santana was at her door and scowling at Quinn but that face was quickly wiped off when she saw Quinn. The stressed blonde looked up to her best friend and felt tears spring her eyes.

"I think I'm falling for Rachel Berry and I don't know what to think of that and Mother just told me she was going into rehab." Quinn stated through a cracking voice.

Santana's eyes widened because she was expecting many things but she wasn't expecting that. Her thoughts were stopped as she was slightly nudged with a running Brittany who picked up Quinn's bags and chucked them over to a not so prepared Santana. Said tall blonde pulled Quinn into a huge hug and shuffled her towards Santana's room.

Santana tried to clear her mind and Brittany kept sending her looks that said "Get it together now or no sexy times later on." Yeah, the Latina didn't want that, not anytime soon. She placed the bags on her floor and ran a hand through her hair and looked over to two of the most important people in her life.

"Q?" Santana asked

"Mom said she was going to rehab tomorrow something about being better for the both of us.." Quinn sighs "It's too good to be true…after all this time…it's going to be like all the other times."

"Why are you so afraid?" Brittany asks

Quinn shakes her head "Because I've gotten my hopes up way too many times before. To then just be met with shitty fights and things I don't ever want to hear again…"

Santana furrows her brow "You have never told us this before. What did she tell you?"

"Santana…"

"No. You better tell me now Lucy."

Quinn stops her breath and knows there is no stopping this talk "She was the one who made me want to lose all that weight. Called me a fat reject…" Quinn's eyes shine "She was the one who made want to cheat on Finn when she told me he would leave me just like…Russell did.." Quinn laughs humorously "Told me I was a mistake… Can we stop now?"

Brittany worriedly looks to her right and Santana is still, her one hand smoothly on top of Quinn's legs. The other is fisted in the sheets turning white from the death grip she has on the sheets all the while her ears and starting to turn.

"Well you know that bi- Judy. Has a lot of shit to make up for. Because you listen and listen good Fabray. That is bullshit because you are fucking amazing, all right? Finn was obsessed with you and Puck couldn't wait to get into your pants. Only people who got it, can be capable of that shit." Santana ranted her voice ranging from growling to a slight yell.

"What San really means to say is that Judy has some problems that she should had never taken out on you and that you are worth a lot. You're worth it Quinn."

Quinn nods and closes her eyes she knows this or she likes to think she knows. But what do you do when the only person in your life who is supposed to love unconditionally makes you want to run out of the house the minute you wake up?

"Hey, you said something about Rachel too." Brittany says

Quinn dejectedly looked up and it almost broke Santana with the pain she saw behind those eyes. If it was one thing she hated most it was seeing Quinn broken into shambles. Really, Quinn was strong and Santana admired that and wished the girl didn't have to be so strong. Having to hide, having to put up a front.

"I don't know what's wrong with me." Quinn whispered

Brittany confusingly looked at Santana who wore a similar expression their thoughts were answered when Quinn continued to talk.

"I'm falling for the girl I had tormented for a week. She doesn't need me for anything, she doesn't want me for anything. I'm not used to that but she doesn't make me feel…Gosh, she just makes me feel. So much…does this make me gay? I don't know…I just…" Quinn heaved in a breath "I'm falling for Rachel Berry San and I don't know what to do, Britt."

Brittany's chin was quivering because more than anything she wanted Quinn to be happy. She knows that Santana and Quinn try to hide things from her and she appreciates it she does but she wishes she would talk to them more because things like this happens and she doesn't know how to make it better sometimes. So she grabs Quinn once again laying her head on her lap and running her fingers through the head cheerios hair.

Santana on the other hand is going to go insane. Really, the one who was supposed to be all up Berry was her and instead her best friend is falling for a girl. Said girl helped her get Brittany and now this mess has happened. Santana shakes her head and walks over to the bed grabbing Quinn's legs and putting them on her lap.

"How do you know your falling for her, tell me that." Santana asks quietly.

Quinn swipes away some tears and nibbles on her lip "I always feel pressure. Like I could never be enough or could never do enough. Stupid I know-

"So not stupid. Don't say that." Brittany interjects

"Sorry Britt" Quinn mumbles and then continues "She makes me feel…free. No.. She makes me feel like If I were to fall and break that it wouldn't be the end. That it would be okay because being that is better than… never not doing it."

Brittany smiles down at Quinn because she is sure that Quinn doesn't notice how her face had lit up and was smiling as she talked about Rachel. Rachel might have told her that she was Rachel's light but Rachel is Quinn's light. Something Quinn has needed for a long time, something Santana and her had desperately tried to do but couldn't.

"She's more than you ever thought she could be huh?" Brittany asks.

Quinn nods her head because god that could not have been more true. All she thought of Rachel was someone who wanted the spotlight and popularity for herself but that's farthest from Rachel is. The girl is so much more and then some always doing something that catches Quinn off guard.

"I…Am I gay?" Quinn whispers more to herself than her two best friends.

Santana perks up at this "Do you think you are?"

Quinn huffs out "If I knew would I ask?"

Santana shakes her head "It's a lot harder than just asking yourself Q. Look what I went through.." Santana looks at Brittany and smiles gently "The person I loved was always in front of me and I almost lost her because I was afraid. I knew that I was gay and didn't want that…"

Brittany shakes her head "You don't need labels either Quinn. It could just be Rachel and who she is. Who knows, a guy could come along and you could fall for him too. Or you could be just be gay for Rachel that works too."

Santana and Quinn shared a wide eyed look because really leave it to Brittany to make them both speechless.

"I don't think it matters Q. Fuck it, you're falling for Rachel Berry. Who gives a shit?"

"Quinn. Have you ever noticed how much lighter you feel around Rachel? I feel that way with San."

Quinn furrows her brow "That's how I feel all the time, Britt."

Brittany then shrugs "Then you shouldn't worry. Rachel like lady parts, do something that makes you happy, okay? Me and San love you either way."

"Yeah so on a scale from one to ten how bad do you want to get into those Berries?"

Quinn blushes furiously "Santana!"

"I say about a nine." Brittany answers

This makes Santana and Quinn snap their neck to Brittany who just looks between them, bug blue eyes shifting.

"What? Rachel has it and if it weren't because I loved San I would have said ten but that wouldn't be fair. Santana can only ever be my ten. Quinn you're like a nine too."

"Thank you Britt." Quinn mumbles trying to control the heat on her face and then she laughs, purely laughs "I love you both. Thank you."

At that Santana puts her hand up and shoves Quinn feet off and walks to her T.V to see up their movie marathon. Brittany claps excitedly and rushes down the stairs to get the popcorn. Santana makes sure to get extra blankets because between them three they were major blanket hogs and Quinn was number one. It happened more than once were Santana kicked her because the Latina had woken up freezing with Quinn huddled under a damn cocoon.

After a few minutes they all huddled up against Santana headboard. A silent agreement between Santana and Brittany that Quinn would stay in the middle and they would just mush her between them both. They did this every year and then every year they would head to Brittany's house. Only this year after Brittany's they would spend it with Rachel and all three were excited to be there.

Almost every year Quinn would end up getting some kind of new Duck from the Pierce family. It had almost come to the point that Brittany wanted to get her a pet duck but Quinn was more of a cat person. So she had politely declined the thought of that but right now she is driving Rachel's house which is she so not nervous for.

Well maybe a little.

The most thoughtful thing she got was a friendship bracelet she had made with Santana and Brittany when they were just in elementary school. Turns out Brittany had kept them safe all these years and put each one of theirs in a picture frame with a little note on the back.

"Dear Quinnie,

Don't worry I won't let anyone I still call you that sometimes. This was around the start of one the greatest friendships ever made. I love you so much and you will totally be the godmother to me and San's children. But don't tell her that and don't tell her that I'm totally going to be the one to propose to her either. Oh and on the back of this, is the note you'll let San steel from you so she won't wonder what I wrote. Our secret?

Love,

Britt.

Quinn shook her head and then turned to Santana, her present was a future date to get a tattoo. Quinn is hesitant too because well it's a tattoo is permanent but if it's about their friendship than she would never think twice about it. She got hefty gift cards to one of her favorite bookstores. People can say whatever about Santana Lopez but Quinn knows that girl would do anything for her and for that she will always cherish her.

But she can't help but laugh as Santana scowls at her. Quinn Fabray must say that out of all these years the best thing was seeing the one and only Santana Lopez wearing a hideous Christmas sweater complete with Santa, Reindeer and ducks. Oh and it came with a hat but it had seemingly disappeared.

"Shut it, Fabray and drive."

So Quinn does and watches as Brittany looks at Santana with so much love. Someday Quinn hopes she can have that too. Someone who will look at her and just be happy. Happy to have her and what they have. That Quinn will never have to doubt herself or the relationship she is in.

One day, Quinn thinks to herself.

With what feels like seconds they end up at Rachel's house which is impressive to say the least. With a fairly big garage and driveway while parking Quinn can hear squeals mixed with laughter and it brings a smile to her face. No sooner than getting out of the car the door to the Berry's pops open and out comes Rachel and Blaine running getting chased by Puck and Dani with silly string.

Rachel looks up and smiles "Quinn you made it!" Rachel turns and sees that her two chasers will not be stopping and then she turns back to see she is going to collide with Quinn "Turn, turn!" Quinn feel herself spinning as Rachel grabs her and throws them both onto the snow below.

"Rach! What are you doing! Get up, get up!" Blaine yells picking up both girls

With swift moves Santana marches up to Puck and knees him right in the groin making the boy grunt loudly and fall to the floor immediately. Everyone then stops and looks to the situation, surprised.

"That was for Quinn." Santana shrugs and turns to everyone else "What? You can't tell me he didn't deserve that. He'll be fine. What's up Berries!"

Quinn only smiles because really its Christmas and its already maddening there shouldn't be anything bringing down this day. Brittany helps puck back up and Rachel takes them all inside the house.

Its feels like a home. A warm home filled with love. Is what Quinn notices first.

"Look we know it's Christmas and all but you four need to calm down! Animals Hiram! I'm telling you!" Leroy Berry yells oblivious to all the teens staring at him. "They are making my hair go grey sooner than I have ever wanted! Ki- Oh, hello." Leroy Berry stops in his tracks to be met with the teenagers he had been told would be here, just well, not right now.

"Honey maybe you should have looked up first, hm? Hello, you three must be Quinn, Santana and Brittany?" Hiram chides as he walks up to the girls.

"Hello, Mr. Berries." The three say at the same time earning laughs from the brunettes behind them.

"No, No don't make feel older, Its Leroy and Hiram, please." Leroy says shaking his head.

Quinn looks between both men and a different kind of warmth fills her heart as the one she sees as Leroy is carrying a white mug with a Santa hat on his head, the end bopping as he speaks. Hiram is dressed but the only thing sticking out is the shirt he is wearing under the cardigan he is wearing. It's a big reindeer that has seemed like it has crashes and the words read "Oh deer!"

"So we have presents for you!" Rachel says happily dragging them all to the living room.

The three cheerios look at each other in astonishment because they weren't expecting anything but of course they should have known better about the three in front of them, especially Rachel.

Nobody seemed happier than Santana when Rachel got the tall blonde dancer a baby duck, named daffy with a little blue bow tie wrapped around its neck. Quinn was relieved it wasn't her who got the pet duck but she was happy for Brittany who looked like a kid at the candy store.

"It was a rescue. The mother had been hurt by a car and the babies were sent to a shelter. I found out and told Rachel. Who thought it was the perfect gift for you and since you have a yard big enough. Well, like I said perfect." Blaine said cheerily

A teary Brittany cuddling her baby duck said thank you, over and over again.

"Oh and miss badass over here. Rachel thought with the way you always threaten everyone we would give you nun chucks and a pass to a shooting Range. Just so you can add those two things for your list of threats." Dani said handing over the pass to a wide eyed, gleeful Santana. Who suspiciously nodded thanks and walked quite quickly to the bathroom.

Puck was going to say something but the stare he got was enough from him to look back down and be done with that. Everyone started to chat among themselves when Quinn felt a hand on her wrist and she looked up to be met with Rachel. She followed the girl as they moved to a little secluded corner that they were still with everyone but had a little privacy too.

"This, Well this is for you."

Quinn watched in awe as a small present that was wrapped was handed to her. It was carefully wrapped and there was a neatly placed bow in the corner. Right smack in the middle was her name in a little sticky note, with a reindeer.

"You didn't have get me anything, Rach. Well more than you have."

Rachel scowled playfully "Just open it, Fabray."

Quinn bashfully smiled and with careful pulls and tears she opened the present. There was no surprise because the paper was only wrapped a brown cardboard box. Quinn sighed and then went on to cutting open the tape on each side. She was then met with tissue paper and foam pebbles. With her patience running thin she quickly took off the tissue and foam.

What stared back at her kept her in awe.

So much awe that she was frozen because out of all things for someone to get her, it was this. Something she had only dreamed about getting. Rachel could have gotten her some generic gift like perfume, clothes or even a gift card. But what was in her hands was far, far off anything she could ever imagined. That she can't even believe how the brunette before even got her hands on it.

"R-Rachel, how… how did you get this?" Quinn stammered out eyes still glued to her gift.

"Daddy knows some people, who know some people. Do you like it?"

Quinn shakes her head "I can't-I can't have this Rachel. This is so much. Maybe too much."

"You deserve it."

Quinn snaps her head up and all she sees is Rachel. Rachel with her soft smile, giggling at Quinn's antics. Her head titled to the side almost analyzing the blonde in front of her as the blonde is doing to the brunette in front of her. Quinn thinks this moment feels like when she would wake up as a kid on Christmas morning and the first thing she could think of is presents. So she runs down to see them all but then the best feeling comes when you're with your family and everything is perfect. The laughing, the jokes, the sound of paper being ripped that's accompanied by cheerful squeals.

"You got me a signed copy of Alice in wonderland."

"Yes I did."

So Quinn does the logical thing that comes to her mind and punches Rachel in the arm. Which gathers a few stares and bunched eyebrows. Then she launches forward and just impales Rachel with a hug because god, she just wants to keep this person in front of her forever. For some reason god decided she needed Rachel in her life. For some reason Quinn doesn't want to let her go. She doesn't want to let this moment go because for the first time in a long time Quinn feels loved.

Loved not in romantic way but just loved as a person. Of just who she is and what she can be. Loved by someone who doesn't even know how they are breaking down her walls day by day. So maybe that's the reason she's falling for Rachel Berry.

The moment is soon over when Puck decided to throw silly string at everyone causing Leroy to almost have aneurysm. The rest of the teenagers learn a little more of Puck then they would like when Leroy starts ranting about the mohawked boy when he was young. Which causes Rachel to jerk her head back and just crumble to the floor in laughter. Leaving a bewildered Quinn, Santana and Brittany.

The real reason Puck ended up with Mohawk was because of Rachel. She had wanted to cut his hair but did a little more than she liked. Then cried because she felt bad so Puck decided on that day to sport a Mohawk. The stories continued on like when Puck pushed Rachel into the pool by accident because a lizard had crawled onto his foot. Or when Rachel cleaned Pucks boo boo because he had fallen from a monkey bar trying to walk on top of it.

When Leroy was going onto his next story, Puck jumped out of nowhere and threw the rest of silly string at him. Making Hiram laugh in the process at a furious looking Leroy and a smirking Puck who quickly stopped and sat down when Leroy gave him the evil eye.

Quinn thought this what a family should be like no matter how odd or dysfunctional because for the people in front of her it worked. There was nothing but love within this house. It felt warm, inviting and open. That here anyone could be anything they wanted and they wouldn't be judged.

"Hey, blondie, can we talk?" Hiram said playfully nudging his head towards the kitchen.

Quinn nodded and started to get nervous as great as it felt within this house she had not forgotten what had happened in the beginning of the school year. Of course Rachel had told her Dad's, who wouldn't? So maybe this is where she gets the ninth degree because Quinn thinks she really does deserve it.

"Quinn Fabray, the beautiful girl who tormented my daughter for a week." Hiram said placing his arms across the island in the kitchen. "Or as Rachel liked to put it 'the most beautifully misunderstood girl, I will prove her wrong Dad's, I will.' She even gave us the evil eye."

Quinn stood still for a minute and just stared at the man before her. He and Rachel looked alike, the smile, the brown eyes even the completion of their skin. She got her humor from the man standing before her but Rachel got her stubbornness and strength from the man that was currently in the living room, Leroy. A perfect mix.

"I didn't know her, Mr. Berry and that was where I went wrong. I won't make excuses but I will forever regret thinking Rachel was a bad person. She is one of the best people I have in my life now."

Hiram smiled and Quinn noticed his eyes glossed over when he looked away and then back at the blonde before him. He laughed and laughed some more and then looked at Quinn again.

"Well, tell me Quinn, did she prove you wrong?"

"She proves me wrong every single day, Mr. Berry."

Hiram smiled and grunted his approval taking Quinn with him back into the living room with the others. He whispered in her ear that she should refer to him as Hiram or else she wouldn't be allowed in the house anymore, which earned a chuckle from him.

Coming into the room was more than comical, Rachel was evilly telling baby Puck stories to which the badass was trying to deny every chance he got. Blaine seemed to enjoy it and Dani was laughing along. Leroy was sitting with wide eyes and saw Hiram and instantly walked to the man mumbling something about hot chocolate, to which Hiram only scuttled Quinn into the room and walked off with his husband.

Quinn laughed as Rachel stopped her stories and gave the poor boy a break for once. They soon fell into an easy silence when Dani brought up the great idea to play Monopoly to which Blaine groaned and Rachel laughed. Puck ran up the stairs like a mad man and came back down with the game like a little kid who got the best candy.

"I'm totally the money bag cause I gots that." Santana said swiping the little player out of the box.

"I want to be the dog!"

"I'm the car!"

"Wheelbarrow!"

Quinn and Rachel looked at each other and shared a silent laugh as they watched their friends battle over everything. Then a few moments later Leroy and Hiram came out with two trays filled with big white mugs. Quinn watched amused as all teenagers quickly stilled leaving the unholy trinity befuddled.

"Oh so now you all calm down when you see your drug, Fascinating."

"Don't listen to Leroy, girls do you want some hot chocolate? Its Leroy's recipe." Hiram said placing the trays down and smacking Pucks hand as he tried to grab a mug.

"Totally." Brittany simply answered taking her mug cheerily.

"Well why don't you guys put off that game for a bit? We have the fire pit out back, it looks beautiful out." Leroy said taking the trays back.

"It's all up to you guys." Rachel said sipping her hot chocolate.

Everyone nodded and Leroy handed out some thick quilts to keep themselves warm. With some select few comments Puck earned himself a nice stay with Blaine. Dani refused to share and had her own quilt to herself and she was cozy smirking at a Puck who wanted to choke her. Brittany and Santana wanted to keep Quinn with them but the blonde had seen enough times what happens under blankets.

Scarring her eyes, that's what.

Rachel had shook her head and pulled Quinn down next to her and threw the blanket around them. It was warm, beautiful and festive. The Berry's house had been nothing but inviting the whole entire time and she couldn't think of a better way to spend Christmas. Santana and Quinn didn't have to feel out of place and Brittany's family wouldn't harass them about new organic things to try out. It was the happiest time Quinn has had in a long time and it was something she was genuinely proud to say.

"Thank you, Rachel." Quinn whispered through the soft chatter taking place

"Christmas is about giving Quinn. There's no need to say thank you."

Quinn chuckled "I know there's no need, it's a want. My want."

"Well then yo-"

"Jewbabe! You and Q are sitting under the mistletoe! Kiss!"

Quinn craned her head and scowled at Puck who was leering with his trademark smirk. She then looked over to Santana who looked smug as ever and then to a very happy Brittany. Dani was watching and Blaine was just shaking his head. The Mr. Berries were amused and Quinn could feel a flush leave her cheeks. But then, well…

"Hey Rachel?" Quinn whispered leaning to the right,

"Yes Quinn?"

"Look over there." Quinn said making the brunette turn her cheek to the left.

Quickly the blonde took in a deep breath through all the commotion and kissed Rachel right on the cheek making the brunette yelp. Quinn just laughed mostly out of nerves because she can't believe she really just did that. Looking up through her lashes she caught Santana mouthing "Prude."

Quinn looked over to Rachel who was just smiling widely and sticking her tongue out at a very disappointed Puck. Hiram and Leroy got everyone back to focusing and went on to tell embarrassing stories about Rachel, then Dani and when Blaine thought he was safe they broke the story when he thought super glue was his hair gel.

No one stood quiet for that one.

As the night went on Quinn didn't notice how she had leaned into Rachel or how Rachel had put an arm around her waist. It was so natural that no one really noticed. Eventually they went back inside to play monopoly but not after Blaine deiced to terrorize Hiram for the embarrassing story.

This is what Quinn missed. That feeling she used to get when she opened presents as a kid on Christmas morning. The laughter, the smiles and nonstop happy feeling. Right here and right now is what she felt tenfold

This day in itself was the best present she could have ever gotten.

A/N:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To all of you that celebrate it and surprise! This is my gift to you all, an extra chapter! A jumbo chapter at that but I didn't want to break them off in two. I tried my best to capture the feeling of Christmas in here. Not so much about the presents but the people around you and the memories. I hope everyone's day today goes happily and merrily.I'm festive. What can I say?

A lot happened here and I bet you guys were waiting for that kiss huh? Nope.

Ah, thank you gllover22! Thank you to everyone, really.

Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying.

Until next time!