O is for Old Friends
"What the hell, I thought we scared the carolers off the last time they came around!" Santana griped as the sound of singing in harmony arose from the hallway of their apartment, faint at first, but then gradually growing louder in volume, as though the offending singers were growing closer to their door. "Rachel, I swear, this is what happens when you VOLUNTEER us to go along, they think all of a sudden we don't completely hate them or something!"
"Those aren't the carolers from before, Santana, clearly," Kurt pointed out as he came up behind her towards the doorway, brow furrowed as he listened. "They actually know what they're doing…there are recognizable musical notes in this." He paused, listening, and frowned more deeply as the next few lines of singing continued. "In fact…"
But Santana was hearing it too now, and she stilled, eyes widening, before she turned hurriedly back towards Rachel, who was suspiciously silent just behind them, even as her brown eyes glowed with satisfaction. "Rachel…is that…did you…"
Rather than respond, Rachel brushed past her and opened the door, revealing Noah Puckerman, Tina Cohen-Chang, Blaine Anderson, Mike Chang, Quinn Fabray, Mercedes Jones, Sam Evans, Brittany Pierce, and Mr. Shuester standing behind it. As Kurt nearly squealed and moved forward to start flinging his arms around everyone, Santana hung back, smiling, for only a few seconds before moving forward too to join in the greetings. Later they would explain that they had raised money to spend a couple of days in New York City for the holiday break, that they would be touring the city and staying in a nearby hotel, but for now, no explanation mattered. They were here, and it seemed almost magical.