Starts in the middle of episode 2.10...
"Christmas came anyway, coach!"
Sue Sylvester didn't respond as every single one of the teachers came over and handed money to the Glee club. For once, all these singing children with outrageously big smiles on their faces weren't irritating the crap out of her. Maybe it was the fact that she was the one who had caused this to happen or the fact that they didn't actually sound that bad, or maybe it was even-gasp!-the Christmas spirit kicking in.
Nah, that couldn't be it.
"Isn't this the part where we return everything?" said Becky.
"Why the hell would we do that?" said Sue, although she was almost thinking that it was a good idea.
"Haven't you seen the movie?" asked Becky.
"What movie?" said Sue. "Fine, go get the wagon out of my closet."
"Yes, coach," said Becky.
A few minutes later when she came back with the wagon, the Glee kids were done singing and everyone was hugging and smiling. "Now bring it in there," said Sue.
"But coach," said Becky. "You're supposed to do it."
Sue was about to ask why, then realized it was obviously because of the movie. "Fine," she said grudgingly. Sue grabbed the handle of the wagon and threw open the door of the teacher's lounge, causing everyone to jump. It was always fun to do that. Then she walked over to where Will and the kids were standing, threw the handle of the wagon down in front of them, causing it to clang as it hit the tile, and marched out of the room followed by the sound of sudden explosive cheers. She slammed the door to the teacher's lounge again on the way out.
"Did your heart grow three sizes?" asked Becky.
"Eh, maybe half a size," said Sue.
All the Glee club members made their way back to the choir room pulling the wagon full of donations. Finn and Quinn walked hand and hand, Quinn looking on suspiciously as Mr. Schu whispered something to every member of the class except for them. By the time they reached the room she was almost ready to demand to know what's going on. "This is awesome," said Finn. "Now we can donate the money and all this stuff."
"Actually, Finn," said Mr. Schu. "The Glee club has something they'd like to say to you and Quinn."
Smiling, Mercedes stepped over. "We'd like to give all the money we just got to you guys-for Lily."
"We know you guys are doing alright paying for bottles and diapers and everything else she needs," said Artie. "But we want her to have something nice for Christmas, too."
"Yeah, come on," said Mike. "Buy her a pony or something."
"Well maybe it wasn't that much money," said Sunshine.
"Okay, a rocking horse then," said Mike.
"Really? She's only seven months old," said Santana.
"It's okay, guys," said Brittany. "We don't need to buy Lily any toys. Santa's going to do it!"
Mr. Schu clapped his hands. "Come on, guys," he said to Finn and Quinn. "What do you say?"
Finn looked at Quinn. She nodded, then he nodded. "We accept." Everyone cheered. "Thanks so much guys!" He and Quinn pulled all of their friends into a group hug. Puck stepped back a couple of feet as he watched all of his friends embrace the couple who had taken his daughter away from him. "Aww, Puck, get in here!" said Sunshine, innocently putting her arm around him and pulling him in. It suddenly occurred to him that she must've never been told either. Puck grudgingly put his arm around Quinn and gave her a quick hug. Lauren glanced at him and rolled her eyes. Then she broke free from the group and left the choir room. Irritated, Puck followed behind
"Why are you following me?" asked Lauren when they got partway down the hall.
"I don't know, why are you judging me?" snapped Puck.
"Because every time something comes up about Lily you get all pouty even though you're not willing to do anything about it," said Lauren.
"Do what?" said Puck. "Walk in there and tell my best friend the last thing he wants to hear in a roomful of people who will deny it until the cows come home? It won't work."
"But you're not even willing to try," said Lauren. "A real man would either make the choice to accept what's happening and move on, or walk in there and take back what's his."
"Hey you know what?" shouted Puck. "I am seriously sick and tired of your attitude right now. How the hell can you know what a "real man" would do in this situation? You don't know what it's like at all! And I'll be honest, this constant judgment is really making me really regret getting you into Glee club. If you don't knock it off I swear I will make every single kid at this school audition until I can find somebody good enough to replace you, it'll be a pain in the ass, but trust me, I can do it!"
Lauren smiled. "You know what?"
"What?" said Puck.
"I kinda like this side of you," said Lauren. Then before Puck could do anything to stop it, she yanked him into a kiss
In the evening on Christmas Day, Rachel and Jesse went out caroling with some of the other members of Vocal Adrenaline. "Are you sure this is right?" asked one member. "We're not really out caroling to spread Christmas cheer, we're looking for support. Aren't we supposed to be selfless today?"
"We'll stop by the homeless shelter on the way home and sing there too, that way we'll have done one selfless thing, how's that?" said Jesse.
"Excellent," said Rachel. "Let's do two more blocks before that and then call it a night."
"Sounds like a plan," said Jesse. Walking at the head of the pack, he put his arm around Rachel and pulled her close to him. Then he leaned over and whispered "You're sure that Shelby won't mind you coming over tonight?"
"Of course not," said Rachel. "I've spent most of the day with her already."
In response Jesse smiled and began singing. "Outside the snow is falling and our friends are a-calling yoo hoo."
Rachel and all he other members joined in as they made their way up to someone's porch. "Come on, it's lovely whether for a sleigh-ride together with you!"
It was then that Rachel happened to glance across the street and realized that she was looking at Burt and Carole's house. "I'm gonna go see if those people are home," she whispered, kissing Jesse on the cheek. Then she ran across the street over to the house hoping Kurt was there and she could wish him a merry Christmas. Secretly she wished she could ask him to join them, but Jesse and the others would never go for that.
Quietly, Rachel dashed up the walk to her friend's house through the snow, but she froze when she got close. She could see them all together in the living room through a large window. Burt and Carole were snuggled together on the sofa in front of the fireplace with a beautiful Christmas tree nearby. Finn and Quinn both sat right by the Christmas tree, Finn unwrapping a massive present and Quinn with Lily on her lap. When Finn pulled aside enough of the wrapping paper to reveal a large baby bouncer, Quinn's face lit up as she clapped Lily's tiny hands together. Then Kurt stepped into view, knelt down, and started talking pictures of them with the present and then another two of just Finn, Quinn, and Lily laughing and smiling together. Then Kurt said something and Finn and Quinn nodded and stood up. Quinn walked over to the sofa and set Lily down in Carole's lap to grope, pull, and chew the large buttons on her sweater. Burt stroked Lily's fuzzy black hair with one hand while keeping his other arm around Carole. Meanwhile Quinn walked over to Finn and he pulled her into a sweet kiss under the mistletoe as Kurt snapped another picture.
Blinking tears back form her eyes, Rachel bolted from the yard before anyone could see her. A million thoughts ran through her head. Why her? Of all the girls Finn had to end up with…why Quinn Fabray? I mean, I know it's because he thinks he's Lily's father, but how does he love her…that slut, enough to believe such a ridiculous story? Was it just because she's so much prettier than I am? Or am I really that horrible? I don't think I ever did anything to him.
"Are they home?" asked Jesse as she got closer.
Rachel shook her head. "Nope," she said, forcing a smile. The show must go on. Then she took Jesse's hand. "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, and the very next day…"
"You gave it away," said Jesse.
"This year, to save me from tears," they sang together. "I'll give it to someone special."
On the last two words, Rachel couldn't help but glance over at the house she knew Finn and Quinn were with their perfect family and "their" perfect baby. Forget it, Rachel, she told herself. He doesn't want me. I'll bet he even knows now that Lily isn't his and doesn't care. He loves Quinn too much.
And she sang the rest of the some more passionately than ever, forcing herself to make Jesse her someone special. After they finished their caroling, she went over to his house and they snuggled on the couch watching It's A Wonderful Life and drinking hot cocoa. Then they spent fifteen minutes making out until they heard Jesse's dad's car pull up in the driveway and finally kissed goodnight. Rachel snuck out the back door and walked home, part of her wishing that she had never even met Finn Hudson, because she knew that her evening would have been a lot more perfect than it was if she hasn't.