LOVE WILL FIND A WAY…
And here is the thanksgiving chapter I hope you enjoy….still don't own either show just my insanity.
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Once again it seemed that Kurt Hummel managed to throw a brilliant gathering together in just a matter of days as Thanksgiving had now arrived and as Kristina and Artie looked around one of the massive rooms at the Lima country club they were in awe.
"You know," Artie whispered into Kristina's ear as they entered the room, "if Kurt doesn't cut it in law he'd make an amazing event planner."
"I'll pass the memo along," Kristina spoke as they made their way further into the room looking around at the long tables covered in autumnal colored cloths and accented with faux leaves and giant cornucopia shaped bread baskets. Around the tables were place cards denoting who sat where and some of the members of their extended New Directions family were already present and accounted for.
"You know," Molly said with a dreamy tinge in her voice as she held the hand of Blaine who once again had taken on the role of her date, "it's been almost a month and I still get chills seeing you walking, it's just so poetic. I'm so glad that for once in this god forsaken world the nice guy finished miles ahead of the pack."
Artie simply smiled at his girlfriend's kid sister as he made his way toward his seat at the massive table sandwiched between his girlfriend and Tina while he waited for the rest of the party, 25 in all to arrive.
As the group gathered there were various groups of chit chat filling the air when Burt, taking up the roll of patriarch because as he'd told a slightly objective Max Giambetti he was the oldest male in the room called the group to attention.
"As you know," Burt said in his calm yet eerily commanding tone, "this is the first time, in a long time that all of us have been together under one roof."
"So," Puck said, "I take it you're not counting Spoon Island then."
Burt looked to his son in law and shook his head.
"No, I wasn't counting the evening of my youngest son's birth as at the time most of us didn't know about…." He silently eyed Artie causing everyone to nod in agreement and the young man in question to slightly blush at being the center of attention, "but speaking of that night Alexis and I are pleased to announce that we've finally decided on god parents for Holden and we thought you kids would like to hear them.
It was hard to tell the reaction of the group of twenty something's at that comment however for Alexis the light that glistened in Kurt's eyes was answer enough.
"Alright," she said as she rocked the child in question in her arms, "Burt and I have thought long and hard as to who we wanted as god parents for little Holden and we've decided on Diane as his god mother and Jasper Jax as his god father."
Everyone except for the adults, Dani and the babies who were oblivious to the conversation, the Davis girls, Kurt, Puck, Michael and Quinn flashed a blank look at the youngest Hummel's godfather's name however it was Finn who spoke what everyone else was thinking.
"Who the hell is Jasper Jax?"
"My dad," Michael said, "well step dad…you've met him before he came to Nationals."
"Oh yea, that other Aussie dude," Finn said.
Alexis just nodded.
"He's my favorite ex-husband," Alexis said with a smile.
"Max here was my first choice," Burt said, "but try to argue with a lawyer….. It's a losing battle I tell ya."
There was a small round of laughter as it clicked in Rachel's head that Mr. Hummel had went off on a total tangent with the godparent thing and derailed his initial train of speaking and so going into full on team captain mode she stood up to take the floor.
"So, Burt was saying originally how this is the first time all of us have broken bread together since his nuptials to Alexis just before we went off to see the world and well as you can see we have so much to be thankful for."
Letting out a sigh Kurt tossed his scarf over his shoulder with the Diva like ferocity he had back at McKinley as he glared at his High School frienemy.
"Ok, if this is the part where we all hold hands and prey or whatever I'm so throwing the whole it's my party and I'm not into that card on the table."
"I wasn't suggesting a group prayer."
"Good."
"I mean clearly that would be hard because we all come from different realms of spiritual belief, no I was simply suggesting that we go around and say what we are thankful for…. I'll go first."
"Of course you will," Kurt spoke in a whisper only audible to Matt who simply shook his head at his boyfriend's comments as the Brunette went on.
"I'm thankful for the past few years in New York living my dream, albeit it wasn't the dream I initially thought I had. I mean I thought that by now I'd be a big star on Broadway en route to winning my first Tony Award however instead I'm honing my theatrical craft, gaining a new appreciation for the Bard and staring as Helena in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream….."
Eyes fell upon Rachel as to silently ask if she was finished when she piped up again.
"…. Finding love in Milo Giambetti, and just generally being in a happy place."
Silence filled the room.
"I am finished….so who's next."
Rachel looked to her current boyfriend seated to her left and her kind of sort of ex-boyfriend to her right and smiled.
"So, which one of you gentleman would like to be next."
Milo and Finn looked at each other shooting off adorable grins as neither guy was that big on making lengthy speeches however after about a minute of pin dropping silence Finn finally spoke up.
"I'm thankful that Tina drunk dialed me on Valentine's Day."
Tina rolled her eyes as there was no telling what Finn would say next and she hoped it wouldn't be something embarrassing in nature.
"What I mean is….well I'd never say I regret getting back together with Quinn Junior Year because I don't but there was always a part of my heart that wondered what If I waited for Tina to get back from Africa and made a move and now I know."
Tina turned to him and they proceeded to kiss, nay, passionately make out for all of three minutes before Max piped up.
"I remember those good old days when we'd never want to come up for air either."
As he spoke he winked to his wife who didn't seem to care about that moment of TMI at all as she watched the young couple finally pull themselves apart from one another.
"My turn," Tina said catching her breath before taking a sip of water that thankfully was in front of her, "well I-I guess I'm thankful I drunk dialed Finn too instead of finding myself in a room above Jake's with Matt Hunter."
"Oh he's a catch," Diane said as Max and Finn glared at her.
"What, he is… though not as flexible as you I'd wager," she said turning to her husband.
"And don't you know it."
Diane and Max and Finn and Tina now were making out for the umpteenth time while all focus fell on Artie now.
"What am I thankful for…. Hmm…."
Artie paused looking down at his lap.
"Well the fact that I can walk that's kind of a given now isn't it."
There was a small ringing of chuckles before he continued.
"Though even if I never had met Dr. Lewis and had my surgery I'd be content because there is one thing that matters more to me then weather I can walk or not and that thing is sitting right next to me. I'm thankful that I was able to fix my greatest regret of all. That I was able to be with Kristina again as she is my heart."
Kristina blushed and now she lent in to give Artie a kiss while mentally noticing a pattern.
"I know you all think I'm going to go into some sappy speech that I'm thankful that Artie is back in my life because he completes me."
Everyone nodded.
"However…."
"However," Artie repeated.
Kristina nodded.
"However, that I would think is an automatic given and so instead I want to look at a broader spectrum then my love life. I'm thankful for this….for being here with all of you. For my new baby brother Holden, for my new brother in law Noah, for all my family and friends whom are sitting here in the moment all happy and healthy."
"And god bless us, everyone," Blaine said flashing a dapper grin while he was met with a death glare from Kristina.
"So," he continued, "it's my turn, I guess I'm thankful to be accepted into this great big happy albeit rather unconventional family."
Molly smiled at the simplicity of Blaine's words.
"Well, like Kristina said, I'm thankful most of all that everyone here is happy and healthy. I'm also thankful for the fact that Sectionals is in a few weeks and we've already picked out a killer set that is sure to make us win."
"Wait," Mike said, "you already have a set Molly? We always were so indecisive until just days before competition."
"It's called evolution Chang, anyway not to sound overconfident or anything but the other day Mr. Schuster told us that he was in the process of looking into us possibly making an audition tape to qualify for an international showcase barring that it isn't a conflict of interest as far as competitions are concerned."
"International?" Rachel said muttering bitter comments under her breath causing Kurt to clap his hands.
"Ok, whose ready for some food," he asked as he went on about how he had the mean for the most part catered and how there were options to satisfy everyone's dietary palate.
As the food was being served however Molly continued to talk though it was clear she was done gloating about the current state of McKinley High's glee club and was now directing her attention toward her sister and Artie.
"Anyway, if things all work out think about it, springtime in Paris, the perfect setting for a wedding don't you think Krissy?"
"Um yea, except for two things, one being Artie hasn't proposed…well formally anyway yet and two being that I don't plan to get married until I graduate with AT LEAST my undergraduate degree."
Molly nodded as Mercedes now spoke.
"Besides, if any wedding should be talked about it should be mine and Mike's seeing as how our prier albeit surprise wedding was unceremoniously interrupted," she paused looking toward Alexis, "no offence."
Alexis nodded grinning at her son who was less than a month old.
"None taken."
"So," Molly said not turning to Mercedes, "have you thought of a date yet?"
Mercedes looked to Mike and grinned and soon Mike grinned his own wide grin and nodded.
"I know it's kind of short notice but Mercedes and I were thinking about possibly Christmas or New Year's Eve?"
Kurt clapped his hands.
"It's not short notice at all in fact when me and the gals are done without Black Friday mall crawl we should all get together over a plate of left overs and discuss venue and color scheme."
Mike and Mercedes nodded while Kristina let out a laugh.
"What's so funny sis?" Kurt asked.
"Nothing, it's just something Artie said."
"And what did he say?"
"Just that if law didn't work out for you that you'd make a great party planner."
"I would wouldn't I," Kurt said raising his eyebrow before looking over toward his step mother as to get her blessing.
"I wouldn't mind that career path," Alexis said.
Kurt nodded as he now had something to think about, well besides the next comment that sprung from Finn's mouth.
"Say Kurt, would it be too much of a challenge to make it a double wedding? That is if Mike and Mercedes don't mind."
Clearly not minding Mike, Mercedes and Kurt gave approving nodes while Tina looked over toward Finn.
"So, was that a proposal?"
"I guess, is that a yes?"
"I could say that no, it's a no as I deserve an actual proposal with an actual ring."
Finn began to pout.
"But…I love you too much to say no so yes, it's a yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes!"
Tina and Finn made out to yet another round of applause filled the air as the gang began to eat their dinner amidst more idle chatter.
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Soon they were stuffed though not stuffed enough that they couldn't have dessert which was said to be Kristina's famous cannoli which was why they took this moment to rest their stomachs and as some of the men were checking their phones to look up the football scores Sam made a coughing gesture to signify she wanted the floor.
"Ok, I know that nothing can top the proposal we just had but I'm thankful for realizing that I could settle down with a man and have a family without compromising my need for adventure."
She looked over toward Puck and Dani for a moment before looking at Artie and grinning.
"Anyway I don't know if it was seeing Artie walking again or seeing the father daughter bond between Puck and Dani, or perhaps it's the baby rabies going around town."
"Dianne, Mom, Mrs. Schuster," Molly said as to clarify.
"When?" Rachel asked.
"Recently, she's only like three or four months," Molly said, "anyway I was rude…Sam."
Sam nodded.
"I've been looking into some medical procedures and there is a good chance that I might be able to have a child with Puck without enlisting the help of a surrogate."
Some more chatter filled the air as Michael looked over to Quinn.
"This is so much better then Pizza," he spoke with a smirk as Quinn nodded.
"Are Holidays with your family always this eventful," Blaine meanwhile whispered to Molly.
"More so then not," she simply said before turning back to engage in more conversation.
TBC
Ok so I know this end sucked but I kind of wanted to update tonight seeing as how I've started stopped and re-written the beginning of this chapter more times than I can count, seriously I don't know why this chapter was so hard. Anyway I'm thinking one or two filler chapters then the Mike/Mercedes + Finn/Tina nuptials then maybe another filler chapter or two before my epic Artie/Kristina scene that I've had in my head for a while then an epilogue and then if the muse is willing I'll start on a next generation piece in this verse? Does this sound like a plan? Do you have any better ideas?