A/N: Thanks to all who read and review - get ready for Christmas spirit in the middle of summer. Stay safe!
"So are you guys back together or not?" Rachel asked once more as the cab pulled in front of the Hudson-Hummel house. Rather than meet everyone at the train station, Rachel and Kurt took a cab for a week and a half long Christmas break at home. Part of winter break had been unpacking sections of the apartment and finishing school and work responsibilities. The plan was to stay till just after New Year's and head back to the city early before school started back up.
"I don't even know anymore," Kurt explained as they sorted their luggage out of the trunk of the cab. "We talked after the showcase – we both miss speaking to each other regardless of what happened. I can't cut him out of my life."
"Well that's progress I guess."
Hiram and Leroy came out to greet Rachel and Kurt.
"We missed you both so much," Hiram said, pulling his daughter in for a hug.
"Burt's staying late tonight at the shop so that he can be here for most of the break," Leroy promised, helping Kurt bring in the bags.
"This year Christmas break includes my birthday!" Rachel sang out with glee, kicking one foot in the air. "December 18th is in three days."
"We've got a countdown at the house all ready to go," Leroy assured her, squeezing her shoulder.
"Any word on whether Finn got leave for break?" Kurt asked.
Rachel slid into the car. "If he's off for break, it'll be after the 18th. I am hopeful for a phone call though."
"It's good to be optimistic," Hiram assured her.
Leroy merged onto the street. "You know your Dad and I have big plans for your birthday – we were hoping to keep you at least part of the day for ourselves."
"There's plenty of me to go around," Rachel assured everyone primly.
Kurt struggled to keep himself in check, squeezed next to two weeks of luggage. Reaching for his phone, he noticed a new notification from Blaine.
School's out for New Directions. I know that we all met in New York for Rachel's showcase, but how about another former and current New Direction meet up? Maybe at Breadstix?
Kurt typed out a reply, pleased for a respite from the Berry family reunion.
Sounds good – count me and Rachel in.
Kurt wanted to say more, to ask how finals went, or if he was staying in touch with the Warblers, but he opted not to. Baby steps he reminded himself.
"Casa Hudson/Hummel," Leroy called out as Hiram helped Kurt with his bags.
Rachel grabbed Kurt's arm. "You want to stay with us until Burt and Carole get home?"
Kurt shook his head, thanking Rachel for the offer. "Start spending some quality time with your Dads while you can," he suggested, both knowing that winter break was going to be shorter than they wanted.
Rachel turned her attention to her phone as Leroy drove down to the family road on Birch Hill Road. Scanning through her texts and notifications, she found a new update from Brody and Finn. Biting her lip, she opted for Brody's first, in an effort to get it out of the way.
Everyone's raving over your performance last week; good thing you're not here or your head would get bigger than it already is – j/k miss you.
A smile formed on her mouth, she couldn't quite tell if it was from the praise from the performance or the fact that Brody was still thinking of her.
"Reading a love text from Finn?" Hiram asked from the front passenger seat.
Rachel froze in her seat, hoping to mask her momentary joy. Her dads knew very little about Brody Weston, having already given her multiple speeches about not wasting her God-given talent on the opposite sex.
"We're here!" Leroy called out, breaking the tension. Hiram grabbed the bags as Leroy pulled Rachel in for a hug. "There's a letter on the counter from your betrothed," he whispered, ignoring the scene in the car with the phone.
Rachel stepped into the house that she had grown up in, inhaling the familiar smells. Finn's letter was in a crisp white envelope on the kitchen table, postdated a few days before. Wanting to avoid a conversation with her dads, Rachel quickly went upstairs.