A/N: And the fourth installment here! I've got the timeline established in this chapter because even I was getting confused. Christmas is about to get a lot more GLEEful (Oh god I hate it), so strap in for cheese with a side of elegant angst. And remember, Santa's watching, so you better be nice!

Chapter 4: Jingle Bell Rock (7 days to Christmas)

"You can't be serious !" Brittany whispered through the phone. She was sitting in bed, Santana sounds asleep beside her, very unhappy to have been awoken by her cell phone ringing. It was barely 9 am, and sure, the house had been a bustle again since the snow had cleared, but that didn't disturb her peaceful slumber as this did.

"Brittany, I can't help you if you don't help me!" sighed "Not only does Rachel think she's coming to town to be a star performer at the concert, but she's expecting every one of you to perform as well! And honestly, without the old glee club to draw people in, it's going to be a total flop."

" , you are so lucky I owe you, Santana is going to be pissed." Brittany hung up before could ask anything else of her and snuggled back into Santana.

"Why were you on the phone with the dumbest teacher at McKinley?" Santana asked, nuzzling Brittany's shoulder.

"He wants the whole Glee club to reunite for the newbies' performance to draw a crowd," Brittany said quietly. She felt Santana tense and braced herself for a Snixxplosion.

"Well, apparently I can keep a rep without being there." Santana smiled "It'll be good to see everyone, why are you so upset?"

"Rachel and Finn will both be there. Broken up, stealing the show, you know the usual drama?" Brittany sighed "I am so over their antics."

"Were ours much better?" Santana mumbled, "I mean I literally pretended to not love you for two whole years."

"You had a lot to be scared of. As much as you chalk it up to "saving face" and keeping a "reputation" we both know that has nothing to do with your fears." Brittany reminded "Finn and Rachel might not have been the school's favorite couple, but a little bit of ridicule is nothing in comparison to what we are still fighting."

"Yeah, but I'm not scared to walk down the halls holding your hand anymore." Santana intertwined her fingers with Brittany and kissed her shoulder softly. "I think it'll be really fun. It's a couple of days from now, yeah?"

"Mhm" Brittany turned to face Santana, whose dark brown eyes were barely open "Friday night, before Winter Break." the blonde pecked the Latina's nose.

"Do you have any plans for today?" Santana asked "I was hoping we could drive around and see Christmas Lights tonight."

"I never thought I'd see your Grinchy heart grow Santana Lopez, but you're really getting into the holiday spirit!" Brittany smiled "My evening is always free for you, my love."

"But that means you have the stuff to do DURING the day! Why are you sneaking off so much?" Santana pouted "Whatever you're doing with your time is draining your holiday cheer baby."

"It is?" Brittany asked, though admittedly she could barely detect the joy she felt at Christmas beneath the stress of the proposal.

"Yeah." Santana sat up, rubbing her eyes "It's worrying me a lot. I've never seen you so tired, and never this tense during the holidays."

"Santana, you know I would tell you if you could fix it right?" Brittany asked, and the Latina nodded. "Well, this you can't fix. But maybe my mom can help okay? I still have to go out for a little bit, but I'll have her help okay?"

"Brittany, whatever your planning for me, don't let it ruin your Christmas. You already won the bet. You can relax." Santana smiled "But I understand you have a plan, so you do your thing and I'll do mine."

"Oh, so you're planning something too?" Brittany nudged the shorter girl with her elbow.

"Well, I had to amend my plan a bit since we're in Lima." Santana smiled softly "But I've got an idea."

"You were planning something in New York? That's why you didn't want to come home?" Brittany asked.

"Well, I uh, yeah. I was, but um, it'll be special here too!" Santana assured "Trust me, I've got it all worked out. You just scurry off to Mercedes- yes, I know she's helping you since she's not helping me- and I'll stay here and work everything out okay?"

"I'm sorry I ruined your plan San…" Brittany said, "You sure it's okay?"

"Don't you worry darling? I've got it all worked out." Santana kissed a freckled cheek softly, before getting up to shower. Brittany sighed and got out of bed herself and followed Santana to the shower. After a very steamy shower, they both got to work on their surprises. Santana found Adam in his office, working from home during the snowier season so he didn't have to make the drive out of town.

"Hey Santana." he said, looking up at her "What's eating you?" he gestured to the chair in front of his desk, closing his laptop.

"Hi , I have something really important to ask you, and I need your honest answer." Santana swallowed hard "I, um, was hoping you'd um...well it'll seem awfully traditional to you but I'd like to propose to Brittany. If that's alright. With you."

"You didn't have to ask Santana, but since you did, the answer is yes, and I want to help!" Adam said happily "I mucked up my proposal to her mother, I can't let you propose to her in her childhood bedroom."

"Sir, I'm not sure I need any help." Santana admitted shyly "I've got a whole plan already."

"Well, tell me. Maybe I can spice it up?" Adam pleaded and Santana sighed. Damn those Pierce pouts.

"Okay, well, you know how Christmas morning the whole town gathers at the tree downtown at the park to sing that wretched Who song Brittany loves so much?" Santana asked.

"You really are a Grinch Santana But yes I do, continue." Adam waved his hand aimlessly.

"Right, well, I was hoping, once the song is done, to pop the question, Right there in the center of town." Santana admitted sheepishly "Is it terrible?"

"No, she'll absolutely love that!" Adam said happily.

"What will she love?" Beverly asked, coming in from the kitchen.

"Santana is going to propose!" Adam singsonged, and Whitney forced a smile, earning her a questioning look from Satana.

"Is something wrong ? If you don't approve I can wait I guess…" Santana trailed off.

"Oh no no, it's wonderful, uh, just when?" Beverly recovered slightly and Santana let it go.

"The Who song ceremony on Christmas." Santana smiled brightly "I know how much she loves that." Santana smiled.

"You're right, she sure does love it. That's a great idea. I'm going to make some lunch, do you want anything?" Beverly changed the subject.

"Sure, let me come help you. Thanks for your permission, I uh, well it means something to me." Santana smiled.

When Brittany got home that afternoon, having picked up Ashley from school, her little sister jumped straight into Santana's arms on the couch, sniffling lightly. Santana looked at Brittany, but her girlfriend shrugged, going to find her mom to hopefully help. Santana rubbed Ashley's back lightly, completely unsure of what to do.

"Hey Ma, Ash is kind of a mess." Brittany said as she came into the office, seeing a bunch of papers and phone numbers on her mom's desk startled her "What are you doing?'

"Close the door," Beverly said, and Brittany did "What time did you say you planned on proposing to Santana?"

"Christmas morning. After presents and whatever. Of and of course the annual Who Song! Right after that. It's right by the school, I thought we could just walk over there." Brittany smiled "Why?"

"Just wondering. You know what, stick to that plan. Sounds great." Beverly smiled.

"Right... So uh Ash is out there crying on Santana so could you maybe come help?" Brittany asked, looking at her mother suspiciously.

"Oh yeah, I'll be right there," Beverly said unconvincingly. Brittany left and came out to see Ashey now sat beside Santana, speaking softly.

"They said that I was, y'know, and it hurt my feelings really bad. And then Myron came and stood up for me, and they said he was and he said they were right and then they hit him." Ashley sniffled "And I said that's not nice, and that I would tell, and they made fun of me for being a tattletale. Myron was okay and told me not to bother, but his eye was really puffy. He stood up anyway though, and the kids said that maybe I could prove I wasn't like him. Said I should prove it."

"Ashley, you should've told." Brittany said coming into the room "What happened next?"

"I don't wanna tell you Brit, you wouldn't get it." Ashley crossed her arms "You were too perfect to be bullied. Besides, you had Santana to protect you."

"Your sister was bullied mercilessly even when I was there" Santana scolded "I was the lucky one. Everyone was scared of me, but after a while, they got to Brittany without me catching on."

"I still don't want to tell her." Ashley said "She still won't get it. She never had to stand up for someone else."

"As much as that isn't true, fine, don't tell me." Brittany left and stopped her mother too. Ashley would only talk to Santana.

"So tell me what happened" Santana sighed, seeing her girlfriend's shoulders slouch as she retreated.

"They made me, they told me, I had to kiss one of them. They pushed me up against the school building, two of them, while the other kissed me. And Myron pulled them off, and they pushed him down real hard. Said he was jealous. Then he kissed me again and he…" Ashley swallowed "Touched me."

"Ashley, that's a really serious allegation. Did you tell the teachers after that?" Santana prayed the girl had, but when Ashley shook her head, her heart shattered. "I have to tell someone. Ashley, this is seriously not okay. And how come they didn't notice Myron?"

"They did. He said he got elbowed on accident." Ashley shrugged "You can't tell Santana, you don't have to, please."

"Ashley, I'm sorry. Brittany, Beverly, stop eavesdropping," she called and the blondes came into the room sheepishly.

"You two listened to a private conversation?" Ashley shouted "I hate you, all three of you!" she ran upstairs and slammed her door. Santana put her head in her hands and Brittany put an arm around her. Something very similar had happened to her when she'd been outed, that was the day Brittany protected her.

"I'm calling the school. I think you should both go talk to her, even if you have to tell her through the door." Beverly said, and they nodded. Luckily, Ashley hadn't locked her door, so they were able to hug her while they told their story. Afterward, Ashley asked for a chance to speak to Santana alone, for real this time. Brittany let her this time, reminding Ashley she was there for her too.

"What is it, little sis?" Santana asked, letting the girl cuddled into her side.

"How'd y'know you liked girls?" Ashley asked shyly "Did you like to kiss one on a dare and fireworks?"

"Well, that happened, but that wasn't the clue. I fell in love with your sister " Santana said, "I never wanted to leave her side, her smile made me smile, I just loved her."

"But how'd you know you didn't like boys too?" Ashley quirked an eyebrow.

"Being with her was different than how I'd felt with Sam, or Puck or Finn. She made me happier, stronger, and braver." Santana explained, "Why the questions?"

"Well, I don't know, them asking just made me think, and hearing that Myron was well, I just thought maybe I was too since I had kinda had a crush on him." Ashley blushed.

"Want to know something funny?' Santana asked, and Ashley nodded "Our friend Mercedes had a crush on Kurt. Don't feel too bad. And don't worry. When you start dating, you'll figure things out." Santana hugged Ashley tight "Now what do you say we go see some Christmas lights?" Ashley smiled and Santana left her to get ready and found Brittany in her bedroom, looking at a picture of her and her sister when she was born. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Brittany wiped away a stray tear "I just remember when she'd come to me for everything. I taught her dance moves and Cheerios routines and how to ride a bike. I let her watch Mean Girls in my room when mom said no. We built forts in the living room and camped in the backyard."

"And she'll still come to you for stuff, I promise. She's going through a phase where anyone she went to when she was little is totally annoying. I went through it too." Santana smiled "So wipe that frown off your face and get yourself ready for some Christmas lights.

Downstairs, Beverly and Adam had finished up their discussion with the school. The boys had been suspended for the last two days of school and would not be allowed to participate in any of the Christmas activities either. With that matter covered, Beverly revealed Brittany's plan to Adam.

"Won't she be devastated if Santana beats her to it?" Adam sighed "We've got to trick them somehow!"

"Well see that's just the thing! If we let Santana do hers, we have to have a way for Brit to get to the school all cutesy. Or maybe, maybe she'll be okay with it?" Beverly asked.

"Wait, the trees literally a block from the school. Less than a minute's walk. I've got it! Call their friends. We've got this proposal in the bag!" The two parents high fived, they were total romance experts.

That night, they all got bundled up and drove around Lima to the best lights in town, though few houses matched up to Rockefeller Square in New York, it was the homegrown quality that made everything beautiful. Santana and Brittany shared more than a few kisses, pulling each other in by woven scarves. Ashley pointed out her favorite house on every block, and both sisters obsessed over every Rudolph decoration in town. They even found a house with a Grinch and forced Santana to pose like him. After a stressful day, laughter was the calm before the storm.

After a Thursday full of baking cookies for the Glee club fundraiser ( had offered to help Marley's mom) Friday came before the girls could catch their breath. At noon they gathered at the Lima Bean where the Glee Club was brought back together: Rachel, Blaine, Mike, and Kurt had landed that morning all on the same flight. Finn, Puck, Quinn, Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany all hugged them as they came in. Rachel gloated about how had personally called her in. Everyone indulged in her fantasy, along with wishing her a Happy Hanukkah when she complained about the lack of Hanukkah songs in the Christmas Concert. They spent a few hours reacquainting themselves with each other, Finn and Rachel saying very little to each other despite Kurt's best efforts. They had an hour before school left out when they excused themselves to get ready. On the way back to the Pierce house, Brittany sent out texts to everyone about her plan. Unbeknownst to her, Santana did the same as soon as they got home. Behind both girls' backs, Brittany's parents were already in the ears of the entire club. Ready to perform, the girls headed towards McKinley high school. Santana hesitated at the doors, grasping Brittany's hand tightly before strutting in as if they owned the place straight towards the choir room. The room was full with two generations of Glee clubs shoved together, but the music brought them all together as they rehearsed for the performance. The two hours before the concert was a blur, but when they stepped on stage they were ready. The new Glee club opened with Jingle Bells, and the concert went on as planned, Rachel even getting a whole song to herself. They closed out the performance with a reprise of Jingle Bells mashed up with Jingle Bell Rock sung by the graduates, accompanied by an impressive dance number.

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jingling' feet

That's the jingle bell rock

(5 days to Christmas)

A/N: I am still planning on 10 chapters, so from here on it a day will cover one chapter, excluding Christmas Day, which will span two. Stay merry, and I'll stay grinchy! -GEK