Ok, this next song is "Christmastime is Here" from Charlie Brown Christmas. God, I love that movie. c:

So just so we're clear, these stories will not be going in order, nor do they necessarily have to do with one another. So if one doesn't make sense with the last one, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO. I will not be referencing past stories. Also, not all of these stories will be about romance. Some of them, like this one, will just be friend-type moments. Sometimes, that's all you need.

Disclaimer: No ownage of Glee to be had here. Also, Vince Guaraldi composed the song, not me, although I do write songs, too. And not janky ones.

ON TO THE STORY.

There was something about winter that soothed Rachel Berry. Maybe it was how quiet and peaceful everything seemed with all the snow. Maybe it was the trip that her two gay dads always took her on during Winter Break. Maybe it was that anticipation for spring. However, Rachel was fairly certain that this year, it was Christmas.

This year, she had people—friends, she corrected herself—to give presents to. Her fathers were ecstatic when she broke her piggy bank, a sum totaling over $500, all the while babbling on and on about what she was getting who. She had managed to get everyone what she imagined they would love. For Artie, there was Guitar Masters Concert Series she had ordered online; for Kurt, two spa certificates and an Idina Menzel poster. Mercedes was getting a bedazzled handbag she had pointed out once on a shopping trip, Tina was getting 2 bottles of bleach and three boxes of hair color along with a scarf Rachel knitted herself. Brittany and Santana were admittedly more difficult to buy for, but eventually Rachel settled on amethyst earrings for Santana and an emerald necklace for Brittany. Matt and Mike weren't terribly difficult, they each got a $50 gift card that could be spent anywhere in the mall. The hardest were definitely Finn, Noah, and Quinn.

For Finn, Rachel had decided a two-part gift was appropriate; she managed to a live concert DVD of Journey, and an autographed Peyton Manning poster. Dad had told her he was a great football player, so she took his word for it. But Rachel was still wrestling with what to get Quinn and Noah. What would be an appropriate gift for an ex-boyfriend and sometimes friend? What do you get the girl who not only made your life miserable for two years, but whose relationship you ruined barely a month before?

Rachel decided to take a walk one night to clear her head. Maybe the frosty air would do her thought process wonders. She settled in on an icy bench next to the frozen pond down the road. The cold made her lungs burn, and within ten minutes she could no longer feel her face.

"What are you doing out here?" a familiar voice demanded.

She whipped around to see Noah Puckerman, his eyes hard and his breath coming out in large clouds in front of him. "I-I was just—"

"You were just invading my territory," he spat.

Affronted, Rachel stood up, drawing her shoulders back and stretching herself to her full height, which wasn't terribly intimidating. "I beg your pardon. I did not realize that you owned this bench or this pond. But if my presence is such a nuisance to you, I'll be on my way." They stared at each other for the longest time. The last time they had looked into the other's eyes, hers were saying sorry and his were telling her it was ok. This time, though, his eyes burned through her, putting as much distance between them as possible. Not even Finn could ever put so much power in one look.

She began to march off when she heard him sigh. "No, it's fine, Berry. You can stay."

Rachel considered leaving anyway, just because he made her feel so awkward. They had gone from hating each other, to indifferent acquaintance, to a relationship, and back to indifferent acquaintances in just a few short months. It was hard to decide what was appropriate and what was not. But something about his voice and his demeanor made her want to stay.

She slowly turned back around and headed back to the bench. To her immense surprise, he did, too. He plopped down next to her, sinking into his usual slumped position. The pair sat in silence for several moments before a light snow began to fall. They looked up at almost the exact same time. Rachel could feel herself beginning to smile as the soft flakes caressed her skin. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment. When she opened them, she saw Noah looking at her, a strange look on his face.

Rachel flushed and looked down at her gloved hands, embarrassed for forgetting herself. She heard Noah chuckle quietly on the side of her. She turned to look at him and demand to know what he found so funny, but stopped when she saw that he had his head thrown back with his eyes closed and mouth open. She bit her lip to keep from giggling; he looked like a toddler.

He opened his eyes and looked at her, his face sliding into that famous smirk. "Something funny, Berry?"

She just shook her head, and looked back down at her hands.

"I love snow," he said unexpectedly. Rachel returned her gaze to the boy sitting next to her. "It should snow all year round. Then things wouldn't seem so bad all the time."

Rachel knew exactly how he felt. Things just seemed more right when it snowed. "I agree," she replied. "It has a way of making even the most mundane things seem magical."

"Yeah," he said. They lapsed into silence once more.

"So how come you're out here all by yourself?" he asked suddenly.

Rachel shrugged. "I just needed to mull over a few Christmas predicaments. I find the cold air stimulating to my thought process, even if it is awful for my voice."

Noah nodded. "Yeah, I get that. Me, too."

"Is that why you're out here?" Rachel inquired. The fact that he was initiating conversation made her braver.

He let out a long breath. "Not really," he replied, his voice chillier than the icy bench they sat on. "It's my dad. He's back in the house, and my mom says he's staying at least until New Years. Merry effing Christmas."

Rachel had known before that he had problems with his father. It wasn't something she could relate to, and she could think of nothing to say besides, "I'm sorry."

Noah shrugged, feigning indifference. "It's whatever. She wants to let that asshole back in the house, that's her problem, not mine."

They fell back into their usual awkward silence, Rachel turning over in her mind what he had shared with her and Noah wondering why he said anything in the first place.

"It definitely doesn't feel like Christmas anymore," he mumbled under his breath.

Rachel felt that she was intruding on his moment. He needed the snow more than she did right now; this was the magic he needed. She got up from the bench, brushing herself off. "I think you may need this night more than I do, Noah. I'll head back home now."

Out of nowhere, he grabbed her gloved hand, tugging her back to the bench. "Stay awhile, Berry. I could use the company, or whatever."

Stunned that he was willingly prolonging her stay, she sat back down. They didn't speak again for a very long time. The pair sat, staring out at the frozen pond in front of him. Rachel had the insane urge to ice skate, something she hadn't done in years.

Finally, he stood up. "Come on, Berry," he said. "I'll walk you home."

More silence enveloped them as they strolled the few blocks to her house. There was nothing pushy or awkward about this silence, though. It was just him, her, and the snow, and nothing felt more right for the moment. It was so peaceful, she found herself whispering when she thanked him and told him goodnight. He simply nodded at her.

After shutting the door, it dawned on her. She suddenly knew what to get Noah Puckerman for Christmas, and she had to admit it was going to be her favorite present.

Several days later, Rachel passed out Christmas presents during Glee rehearsal. She smiled at the outpouring of thank-yous and the high-fives. She was especially pleased that Mr. Schuester was wearing the tie she bought him, this one conveniently devoid of gold stars. When Finn came up to her, hugged her, and told how much he loved his presents, she thought her knees would buckle. Rachel warily watched Quinn unwrap her gift with hard eyes, and her smile widened as Quinn's face slid into a look of grateful astonishment. Quinn slowly pulled the soft, pink, hand-knitted baby blanket from the paper and held it to her chest, tracing the cream-colored swirls with her fingers. She looked at Rachel and mouthed, "Thank you." For the first time, Rachel thought that maybe she and Quinn would be ok.

But the reaction she awaited most impatiently was Noah's. He defiantly stared down at the box she had placed in his hands, only opening it when Finn shoved him. Painstakingly slowly, he unwrapped the paper and opened the box. His face gave away nothing as he stared into the box, much to Rachel's disappointment. Before she had a chance to speak with him, Mr. Schuester called rehearsal to a start.

At the end of class, Rachel felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Noah standing there. In his hands, he held his gift. The snow globe had cost her a pretty penny, but she felt it was worth it. She had to specifically ask for the footballs to be carved into the base of the globe, as well as the bench and pond sitting inside the glass ball. She looked from him to the globe tentatively, wondering what was going to happen. There was no one else in the room, no witnesses. She stiffened as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her.

Noah Puckerman was hugging her. Sure they had dated, but this was new. Rachel wasn't quite sure how to react to this. She awkwardly wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the hug.

"Thank you, Rachel," he whispered in her ear.

"Merry Christmas, Noah, she answered, a smile forming on her face.