A/N: Hey guys, long time no write! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this kooky chapter, because I have more stuff planned, and it's gonna be fun.

As a random-yet-related thing to bring up: What the deal with the rumors I keep hearing regarding the Super Bowl episode of Glee set to air the 6th of February? I read the Wiki page about it, but everything I see that's more fan-oriented is talking about another Kurt-and-Dave confrontation, and I'm nervous, almost as much as I was when all of the Furt theories and rumors were going around.
Any thoughts? Please PM me (save your reviews for stuff about this story, LoL). ;D

Chapter 16.

By the end of the visit with Kurt's parents, Dave feels better about confronting his own. On their way back to college, the athlete is actually smiling.

"You know, maybe we should do another trip like this and go see my own parents," he remarks optimistically, which is a new thing for Dave. "I mean, after I tell my mom on the phone or in person at Thanksgiving or something. Because seeing how cool your parents were about us being together… it gives me hope, you know? That weird, fluttery, it-gets-better sort of hope."

"I'm so happy you feel that way, Dave," Kurt beams.

XXX

Days turn into weeks, and suddenly it's the second week of December, and Kurt is having a miniature-meltdown because he needs to come up with fabulous gifts for all of his high school pals and his new boyfriend and new friend, and he needs all of this to happen fast. He's been hanging out with Alyssa a lot, getting to know her, adapting to her quirky, bizarre traits, and figuring out her likes and dislikes. He thinks he knows what to get her, and he's debating whether or not to get Blaine anything, since the guy rarely texts anymore, all too preoccupied with spending his last moments with his sweet Jason before the guy transfers back to Ireland over the winter break.

It's all so overwhelming, and really, Kurt just wants Christmas to be over a done with, since he hardly believes in a higher power to start with and he definitely finds certain Christmas traditions to be utterly silly. Like mistletoe, which Dave seems to love cornering Kurt with by placing the damn plant in random places in their dormitory room, once going so far as to sprinkle it all over their joined twin bed (which they do make an effort to separate if they know someone is going to be seeing their room at a given point in time). It was a mess; romantic and nice-smelling, but so messy.

Sighing, Kurt flops down onto the bed, lying spread-eagle, his arms and legs splayed open. He stares up at the bland ceiling for a while, lost in thought. Dave enters the room, tossing down his hockey gear, and once he spots Kurt, he doesn't hesitate to step over to the bed, sit down, and pick up one of Kurt's socked feet.

"…Uh, Dave?"

"Yes?"

"…What, exactly, are you doing?"

"Giving you a massage. You look like you could use one. The holidays really stress you out, huh?" the jock remarks as he keeps his gaze locked on Kurt's foot in his hands as he works the muscles through the fabric.

Kurt groans. "They really do, Dave, and I hate it. I mean, I love the happy-fuzzy-warm feeling of Christmastime, but I detest all the 'searching for the right gift' and 'hoping they like it' and the 'rushing around the stores;' it's all so noisy and crowded and not at all like the shopping I'm used to: the kind that is done on off-days with great sales and all of the proceeds going to me."

Dave chuckles to himself as he switches to Kurt's other foot, acting like this ritual of theirs is wholly normal, when it in fact is the first time either of them have done this. Dave kind of likes it, though; it feels homey and casual, like how his parents usually behave.

And did Dave really just relate his and Kurt's relationship to the Karofsky couple? Freaking trippy…

Clearing his head, Dave listens as Kurt continues venting his holiday woes.

"So here I am, trying to prepare myself for the Christmas party me and all of the gleek are going to have in Lima over winter break from our colleges, doing all of the planning with Rachel over the phone, and it's frustrating because Finn isn't sure that he wants to go, and I'm sure you aren't either, but both of you have to and it's going to get awkward, I just know it. It'll be like an episode of Friends, except Rachel is crazier than Monica and you and I are like the gay versions of Joey and Chandler."

The jock is only half-listening, but as soon as the realization dawns on him that he's going to be attending a party in his hometown with all of the people he once harassed for being in the club they all bonded due to, it makes him feel just a little dizzy.

Dave topples sideways with a groan, his head nearly parallel to Kurt's. "Dammit, Kurt, why didn't you warn me about his sooner?"

Kurt's face shifts to glance at his roommate. "I tried to," Kurt reminds with a slightly offended sniff, "But you were too busy this past week when it got brought up and planned; remember? You've had hockey and your mom calling you every day to talk about you coming out to her on Thanksgiving."

"Oh. Right," Dave grumbles, and rolls onto his back to stare up at the ceiling like Kurt had been doing. It's been stressful for him, too. Paul Karofsky is extremely supportive, now, in that softly-firm-yet-caring way of his. Clara Karofsky, on the other hand, is taking her sweet time adjusting, but that suits Dave well enough, because at least she's trying through all of her wig-outs and bouts of being disgusted. She's coming around, and that's all Dave cares about, because she repeatedly says how she can't help but feel like she's always wondered in the pit of her stomach about her son since he never seemed to care about the girls he was with in the past.

Feeling like they both need a pick-me-up, Dave rolls onto his side and props himself up on one elbow as he skims the side of Kurt's face with his hand prior to kissing him square on the mouth.

Kurt hums his approval and has a hand raised to grip the hair at the nape of Dave's neck when he suddenly hears the door open and a chipper voice make half a word before squeaking like a startled mouse.

Dave jumps in retaliation of the sound, so alarmed that he rolls right off the combined beds and lands with a thump on the floor. "What the fu–?"

"Ohmigod, ohmigod, I'm so sorry I just walked in like that, but I wanted to surprise Kurt with an early Christmas present, and – and…" Alyssa runs her mouth, but there is a broad smile there that just about suffocates her words. Her cheeks must hurt from grinning so much, Dave thinks with an outward grunt of disapproval of her interruption. "Oh my God, I just can't – I mean, Kurt sometimes talks about a boyfriend, but he never mentions who or where the guy attends and, and…! Oh. My. God!" And she squeals again, this time less out of shock and more out of pure jubilee. "Eeek, I'm so happy! Seriously, you don't know how happy you two just made me. Kurt, don't even get me anything for Christmas, okay? Like, seriously. The mental image of you two kissing has been forever photographed into my memory, and it's like crack to me."

"Alyssa…" Kurt sighs, sliding off of the bed and stepping over to her to shut the door and grab her by the shoulders. "I'm sure you just became the happiest fangirl on the planet, but you do realize that I kept mine and Dave's relationship a secret for a reason, don't you?"

She nods briskly, her eyes large. "Oh, of course I do! I mean, it's totally obvious, now: I thought Dave was straight, but he's actually a closet-case because of his sports team. It all makes sense. Like, sports and homosexuality is taboo, and I totally get that, even though I'm a fan of both. So, like, don't even worry about it, okay? Your secret is safe with me! Well, I can't promise I won't mention in passing to another gay-fan friend of mine that I know a real-life couple, but I'll totally keep your names out of it and she's in Illinois anyway, so it doesn't matter. But ohhh, you two are just so cuuuute! I knew you'd be great together, and I wasn't wrong!" and she giggles again.

Kurt smacks his palm into his forehead, and Dave appears to be two seconds from either punching Alyssa or leaving the room entirely. In place of either of those options, Dave simply clenches his hands into fists and gets up in Alyssa's face. "You better keep good on that promise, girlie, because I won't be kicked off the team because of you."

"Oh, gosh, no! Davey-dear –"

"Call me that again and I swear I'm socking you one, girl or not."

"Um… David, then," Alyssa giggles nervously, choosing something more respectful to call the much, much taller and broader male. "David, I wouldn't dream of outing you. That's beyond cruel, and besides, I love how you keep making our team win no matter which position you play in! So no worries. My chapped lips are sealed." And to prove it, the chocolate-eyed girl takes out her lip balm and runs it over her mouth before clasping the muscles together tightly.

"Thanks, Alyssa," Kurt smiles, patting her gently on the shoulder. "We appreciate it."

She nods quietly, but then takes out of her coat pocket a neatly wrapped gift in a blue-green paper that oddly coordinates with her gay friend's eyes. "Like I said, I initially came not to catch you two kissing –" and she smiles at this, "– But to give you your Christmas present, Kurtie. I have to be in Wisconsin and you upstate for the holidays, so I thought, why not give it to him now?" She glances down at her colorful shoes while Kurt takes it in his hands and shakes the box. "It's not something you'd normally get in to, I know, but I think you'll like it. It's one of my favorites." And she glances up again, offering a smile.

Kurt shrugs and peels open the wrapping. Inside there is a small box set of DVDs with two artistically drawn men on the cover. The title reads in English, "Descendants of Darkness," with the added title beneath it in small print, "Yami No Matsuei."

"See? It's a boy-love anime, a short one, only about fourteen episodes long. But the plot is complicated and interesting and the love is sweet and accidental and there's even this stalker-character after one of the main boys." Alyssa smiles. "I recommend watching it in Japanese with English subtitles, since the English voices aren't as pretty and emotional-sounding." She bites her lip. "Is it too weird?"

"No, actually," Kurt says slowly, a smile gradually lifting the corners of his lips. "I think it's very thoughtful of you, and I'm curious about why you're so addicted to things like this. Thanks, Alyssa. I really like it." And for good measure, he gives her a hug. "I'll watch it over break, okay? And even though it's Japanese, it's not… explicit, is it?"

"Goodness, no! You're so not ready for that, and so not the type! Animes like that aren't sold in DVD-form in the U.S., I don't think." She shrugs, smiling again. "I wonder if the ending will make you cry. It made me cry, anyway."

Kurt laughs a little. "We'll see. But my tears are easily triggered, so it most likely will make me cry." And he hugs her again. "You're the best, Alyssa. You gave me two gifts today."

"Did I?" she poses sincerely.

"Yup. This anime series… and your promise to keep Dave's secret. That means oodles to me."

Dave rolls his eyes, but Alyssa looks genuinely touched. "I'm glad," she remarks softly. Then, suddenly, she turns to the hockey player of the small group. "You know, I got you a gift, too. It's not like Kurt's, but I think you'll like it anyway."

She takes something smaller out of her pocket and hands it over to Dave.

It's a classic metal Slinky with a red bow stuck to it, and it's big enough to slip over Dave's large hand and fit around his wrist if he wanted it to.

"Wh… Where did you get this? I've been looking for one of these for ages! I loved Slinkies when I was a kid," Dave remarks with sullen awe, some of his irritation toward the girl ebbing away. "And it's brand new, still perfectly coiled and everything! Before, I only had the wimpy plastic ones that would snap or stretch out…"

Alyssa smiles softly, her lips together as she stuffs her hands in her coat pocket. "Kurt told me that you've been scouring the stores for one of those bad boys for a couple weeks now when I asked him what I might get you for Christmas, since I felt bad getting something for Kurt but not his roommate. It didn't seem fair," she relays with the slightest hint of bashfulness. "So… you don't think I'm dorky for getting you a toy?"

"As my old friend Az would say, 'Hellz to the no!'" Dave laughs heartily. "This is fuckin' awesome! I can't wait to watch it step down the stairs of this stupid dormitory."

"The big ones work best on stairs," Alyssa beams, and she looks completely giddy that both of her gifts were well-received. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to do. I'll leave you two to your make-out session now," she winks, turning and heading out the door with a brief wave, all before Kurt and Dave can correct her and insist that they weren't making out (yet). But she's gone, and as the pair of college boys glance over at one another, they can't help themselves from bursting into hysteric laughter, the reason unknown to them, but it feels so good to let it bubble out that they simply let the laughter flow and fill the room.

XXX

Dave drives this time around, Kurt relaxing in the passenger seat beside him. The singer idly sips on a cherry-flavored Coke Zero as he props his feet daintily up on the dashboard.

Dave glances over at his roommate before returning his eyes to the highway. "You know, if we get in a car crash, you're going to snap clean in half because of how you're sitting. You do know that there's an airbag under your calves, right?"

"I trust your driving not to get us into a crash," Kurt replies flippantly. He takes another sip before setting the can down between them in an empty cup holder. He reclines his chair further and snatches the baseball cap off of Dave's head to cover his eyes.

"Hey! I was wearing that," Dave remarks, now squinting into the sunlight. He lowers the eye protector from the ceiling of the car, but his hat was so much better.

"And now I am," Kurt tosses back with a short smile. "Baseball caps are tacky and never match my clothes except for the one time I tried to look butch, but right now, it's very convenient for a nap. Wake me when we are within fifteen minutes of reaching Lima, would you?"

"What? No! Sit back up and talk to me, Kurt! I get bored during car rides," Dave protests.

"Then play some music softly; but let me sleep, please. I didn't get my full eight hours of beauty rest last night," Kurt complains with his best puppy dog pout. Dave takes one look at him and can't help but roll his eyes and consent with a groan.

"Fine. But only because you're an irresistibly adorable brat," Dave grumbles affectionately, and turns on the radio in the background, listening to some local station play Owl City before he switches it to a CD; some old Linkin Park.

Pretty soon, whenever Dave glances over at Kurt, he can't help but smile. The smaller boy is asleep, his chest rising and falling softly and slowly, Dave's hat covering all but the tip of his slender nose and his full lips and cleft chin. It's absurd how much love is rushing like sunshine from an inner heat source within Dave's body. It's ludicrous how much Dave enjoys the feeling.

And oddly enough, Dave doesn't mind the lack of conversation in the car for the remainder of the ride.

XXX

They all choose to meet at Noah Puckerman's apartment, because, apparently, his pool-cleaning business blossomed recently into a full lawn-care business that's begun to spread throughout their cow-town hometown. And with the sudden boom of people getting more pools and need for better-looking lawns as more stores and things were built onto the Lima city limits, Puck made more and more money, enough to own a nice place to host "the party of the century" for himself and all his Glee Clubber pals.

By now, the news has spread to each gleek about Dave, and luckily it comes as no surprise when he shows up with Kurt the day of the party, the two of them having slept in a hotel room the previous night when they arrived in Lima.

When they come to the door, Puck is all smirks and casual chuckles as he steps aside to let the pair in, offering them each something alcoholic to drink (despite being under-aged). Kurt declines but Dave accepts, and soon, they're being ushered in to a crowd of familiar faces.

"Kurt! It's been too long," Rachel Berry is the first to announce with that perkiness from high school that Kurt remembers all too well. He smiles a tad awkwardly and hugs the girl he hasn't seen in months. She clasps his hands after the hug and swings them idly between them. "How's Cincinnati? You know, I've been meaning to go there for a while to pay and visit and get a taste of a larger city, but I've been just so busy! I've been doing a few commercials, just for the publicity, and I'm sure you know that I've been attending a school in New York with a huge theatrical arts program. Who knows? Maybe I'll wind up on Broadway! It's been my dream since I was a little girl, and –"

Dave feels the need to interject and cease the eccentric girl's rambling. He places a hand on Kurt's shoulder, peers over at Rachel, and offers a gently smile. "Hey, Berry. How's it goin'?"

"Dave Karofsky," she states, but there's a smile on her thick, glossed pink lips. She immediately disconnects her hands from Kurt's and uses them to shake one of Dave's hands. "It's so nice to see you without a slushie in hand! You seem so… relaxed, now. No longer angry or scared or self-conscious. Which is a very, very good thing, because I always thought that people like you could actually excel in life if you just put your mind to it like I do." And she grins, laughs a little, and moves on.

Rachel turns to Kurt, saying something about finding his stepbrother for him before dashing off.

Dave shakes his head. "She's crazy, and a little irritating, but actually not a bad gal."

His boyfriend makes a scoffing noise, but is soon smiling. "I always thought so. I mean, I disliked her from time to time – especially in sophomore year when we both liked the same guy – but she grew on me. I think that's how someone has to handle Rachel Berry: they have to give her a chance to warm up and feel less of a need to be extravagant, since she's actually quite tame and vulnerable once you get to know her."

The hockey player nods, because it makes sense. Soon, he and Kurt bump into Santana and Brittany, who seemed to have been locked in a drunken kiss seconds ago, but really, who can tell with those two?

"Oh. It's you, Kurt," Santana mutters tartly, and forces a small smile. "And you, Karofsky. Who in their right mind would have thought you two would end up together?"

"It's like that movie my mom likes with the hot rich guy and the girl-who-could-use-a-makeover that doesn't want to marry him," Brittany mumbles with an off smile.

Kurt raises an eyebrow. "Pride and Prejudice?" he offers, trying to guess by the blonde's vague description.

Brittany looks lost. "Is that, like, a rock band? It sounds hardcore," she answers before shrugging and flitting off in another direction, Santana's pinky in hers.

Kurt shakes the encounter off and turns around, headed to the kitchen for something non-alcoholic to drink when Rachel pops up again.

"Holy shit!" Dave sputters, a hand flying to his chest. "Dammit, Berry, don't startle me like that!"

Kurt blinks, also waiting for the startled feeling to wear off when he notices Finn's arm in Rachel's grasp. "I found him!" the brunette states happily.

Finn gives one of his best lopsided smiles. "Hey, bro," he says to Kurt over the music. His eyes flicker over to Dave. "Hey, dude."

The shortest male between the three wags a scolding finger in the air. "Now, Finn, is that any way to greet your stepbrother after months of being apart? Give me a hug, you Frankenteen!"

Finn laughs meekly at the nickname – it's become a normal one for him, it seems, even though he's nearly out of his teens – and slips out of Rachel's grasp to bring Kurt into his arms. They give each other a quick pat on the back before stepping out of the embrace.

"Merry Christmas, man," Finn remarks with a gleeful smile. "And whatever you do, don't drink Puck's eggnog. It's laced with Brandy."

"I'll try to resist," Kurt laughs. He suddenly nudges Dave with his elbow, causing the thicker man to stumble forward.

Dave clears his throat and offers a hand to Finn. "Uh… Merry Christmas to you, too, Hudson. I know it must be weird, since you and I don't have the best history…"

Finn waves it aside. "Man, I'm over that. I'm trying not to hold grudges anymore, you know? And besides, between you and me…" he murmurs as he shakes Dave's hand and uses it to yank the shorter man forward, "I've never seen Kurt this happy before. And if you're the cause, I'm willing to forget all the shit between us, because seeing him happy is something I've been waiting to see for a while." He releases the puck-head and takes a step back, nodding mostly to himself, his brows puckered seriously.

Dave swallows a bit and nods, fighting down a blush rising up from his neck to burn his ears. He never knew Hudson felt so protective of Kurt's well being, and he didn't realize that he'd been secretly seeking the approval of Kurt's close-friend-and-stepbrother until he received it.

"Er, uh… you're welcome, I guess?" Dave replies unsurely. He laughs a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, I try. To, you know, keep him happy," he says softly, only heard over the music because Finn leans in to hear him.

Finn shakes his head and waves it aside, smiling. "I do the same thing with Rachel. And most everybody else. My mom calls me a people-pleaser, says I give in to peer pressure a lot. I kind of do, and I think you do a lot, too. There's nothing wrong with it, though. It helps most times," he says, and it's probably one of the few non-confused, intellectual things Finn has ever uttered. It makes Dave smile, and as he glances beside him at Kurt, he notes that Kurt must have heard it as well, because the soprano is smiling up at his stepbrother with agreement in his blue eyes.

Puck suddenly rolls on by; Artie's wheelchair handles in his hands. He stops the handicapable boy and stands up straight to grin at his guests. "Everybody havin' a rockin' time so far? Almost all the people I invited are here or on the way, and soon the good times can begin."

"'Good times?'" Kurt quotes, laughing. "And what, Puck, do you have in mind as 'good times?'"

"Karaoke, of course! I mean, it's a little stupid, but we're all singers here and fuck, I've missed singing with you guys! So I rented this machine from my cousin, and looted a sweet stereo system that you are all enjoying the effects of as we speak – Oh, don't give me that look, Rache, I totally got the stereo from an estate sale. The guy was dead, okay? Like he was going to use it anymore! And it's not much worse than when we took those decorations for our choir room Christmas tree our junior year." He pushes her shoulder playfully. "So lighten up. Anyway, it's gonna be sick, so as soon as Mercedes and Tina get here, we can fire it up and crank out some deafening beats." And he winks.

Artie, throughout this bragging ramble from the guy behind him, is nodding and making gangster-gestures to go along with Puck's words. Then, once the self-proclaimed bad-boy is through, the spectacled boy pipes up as he glances knowingly between Kurt and Dave, "So… you two are an item, eh? I gotta say, I'm a little jealous; wish I had the convenience of living in the same room as the person I'm dating." And he wriggles his eyebrows suggestively, causing Kurt to blush and Dave to shoot him a glare.

"Artie…" Kurt grumbles embarrassedly. He smacks a palm to his forehead. "Must you go there? I mean, it's not all sunshine and lollipops; sometimes Dave and I are at each other's throats because we can't stand one another."

Artie laughs. "I'm just teasing, Kurt. Seriously, I think it's wicked awesome that you two somehow got past all your weirdness and hooked up." His smile turns surprisingly sincere. "And hey, I can't wait to hear a duet for the karaoke."

Kurt grins. "Oh, I have something planned for that, actually." He winks at Puck. "Thanks for the opportunity, Puckerman."

"Always happy to oblige," Puck retorts smugly. He suddenly looks puzzled. "Wait, 'obliged' is the word, right?"

Finn frowns from where he still stands next to Rachel in the circle. "God, dude, I dunno; I'm not really an expert on fancy words…"

Rachel nods. "He's not. I'm trying to school him into having a broader vocabulary, because I insist that not only should the man I love and plan to marry have an extensive list of words in his arsenal, but that he should also understand better the complexity of the dialogue and poetry used in the scripts in plan on forcing him to learn with me so that we can audition together." She smiles brightly. "But to answers your question, Puck: yes, that's the proper word to use."

"Hey, ya'll!" Mercedes suddenly bursts in to the circle. Mike and Tina stand behind her, chatting it up with Quinn and Sam. The foxy black mama rushes over to Kurt's side, ignoring everyone else completely, as she gives him a ferocious hug. "Ooh, white boy, I've missed you so much!" As she pulls out of the embrace to give share a perfectly synced mirroring peck on the cheek, she turns to her best friend's boyfriend. "And you, mister, are in big trouble."

The hockey player frowns, his voice falling flat. "What? Why? Just what did I do?"

Mercedes throws him off with a wicked grin on her full, charming face. "You've been keeping my Kurt too preoccupied lately! He doesn't call or text me nearly as often as he used to because of you. I have half a mind to snatch him away from you, Karofsky," she states in a mocking serious tone, a smile still playing on her features.

Dave bursts into laughter. "Sorry. If I had known I took up so much of his precious time from you, I wouldn't have started dating him."

"Damn right you better apologize," Mercedes retorts with a hoot of laughter. She slaps Dave on the arm and shakes her head. "Naw, I'm just messin'. I think a tough guy like you might be good for my baby. He needs someone to balance him out. Ain't that right, Kurt?"

And the milky-skinned boy doesn't know quite what to say, so he simply shrugs and offers a small close-lipped smile and suggests mildly, "About that karaoke?"

And Puck just grins and rubs his hands together, announcing that he'll get right on it as he struts his buzzed self over to the stereo system and grabs the microphone. "Hey! Listen up, e'rybody! It's time to have ourselves a little singing competition! I want all of you to buddy up or go it alone, shift through this song list I got in a book over here, and then write your names down. First come first serve, got it? And no fighting, or else I'll have to go all mofo on your asses!"

And so it begins.