Hey everyone! So, this ended up being different from the ideas I suggested in my last chapter, but I love writing Christmas chapters and I haven't written one in a while. Hope you guys enjoy it anyway. Thanks for all the support, and please review if you want me to continue! And if you can, I'd appreciate any nominations in the Glee fanfic awards!
Chapter 31: Best Christmas Ever
It was two days before Christmas, and Finn and Allie were sitting in their seats in the theatre, waiting for Phantom of the Opera to begin. Rachel's dads had come in for Christmas, and so had Burt and Carole. Shelby and Beth were also in the stands with them tonight.
"Mommy's so good!" Allie proudly told her grandparents. Finn proudly read over Rachel's bio in the program. He especially loved how it ended. "Sending my thanks and love to my friends from the New Directions, who had to put up with my solo hogging; my brothers-in-law Kurt and Blaine, two of my favorite singing partners and best friends; my dads Hiram and LeRoy, who got me into theatre; my mom Shelby, from whom I inherited my talent; my sister Beth, who always makes me smile; my beautiful daughter Allie, who I love so much and am so proud of; and my best friend, my soulmate, my favorite duet partner and my husband Finn, who's been there for me and supported me every step of the way."
"We know she is," Hiram said. "That's why we came to see her perform."
"It's too bad we couldn't make it sooner," LeRoy said.
"It's okay," Finn said. "Allie and I were here for opening night, and so were Kurt, Blaine, Brittany and Santana."
"Speaking of those four, how are they enjoying being parents?" Hiram asked.
"Oh, they're great parents," Finn said.
"I love it when they let me hold Bryan!" Allie said proudly.
"Allie is a great big cousin," Finn said.
"I'm sure she is," Burt said. "It's so exciting that we have two grandchildren now."
"Yeah, because of that, it's going to be a pretty big Christmas this year," Carole said. Blaine's, Santana's and Brittany's parents had come into New York as well to celebrate Christmas with their grandson.
The curtain went up, and it was time for the show to begin. Finn watched with pride every moment Rachel was on that stage. Even though she only had a small role, there was no doubt in his mind that she'd have a bigger one in the near future. She was so talented, and she stole every scene she was in.
After the show, Finn and Allie went to Rachel's dressing room to give her flowers, as they always did when they came to one of her shows. This time, they brought their parents and Beth along.
"You were incredible, baby," LeRoy said to Rachel.
Rachel smiled. "Thanks, Daddy."
"You were better than I was when I was in Phantom," Shelby added.
"I doubt that," Rachel said.
"Here's some flowers!" Allie said, happily handing flowers to her mom.
Rachel gave Allie a hug. "Thank you, Allie!"
"I love telling kids at school that my sister's on Broadway," Beth said.
"That's so sweet of you," Rachel told her sister.
"Should we get home now?" Finn asked. "It is past Allie's bedtime."
"Yeah, we should," Rachel said.
The walk home was really nice. Then again, there was nothing like Christmas time in New York. Everything was decorated to the maximum and the city looked great.
"Don't slip on the ice this time, Allie," Beth teased as they were walking back to the apartment.
"I don't want to break my arm again!" Allie said.
"Trust me, you won't," Rachel said.
"So Allie, what do you want for Christmas?" Carole asked.
"Another American Girl doll," Allie said proudly.
Finn and Rachel looked at each other. Even though the recommended age for American Girl dolls was eight, Burt and Carole had gotten her one for her fifth birthday, Kit, who was from the Great Depression era. Allie had been pretty good at taking care of Kit - not letting her limbs fall off or coloring on her like they'd heard other younger girls had done with their dolls - and had told her parents she wanted Kit to get a friend for Christmas. So Rachel had stopped at the American Girl store on fifth avenue on her way home from work a few weeks ago and bought one of their look alike dolls, one with brown hair and brown eyes like Allie.
"We'll see if Santa brings it," Finn said.
"So, you guys are going to Kurt and Blaine's apartment for Christmas dinner?" Hiram asked.
"Yeah, the six of us were talking, and we thought that would be the best place to have it," Finn said. "Though I'm sure Rachel would love her parents and sister to join us there."
"Of course we are!" LeRoy said.
As the group passed Central Park, Rachel nudged Finn. "Don't forget, we have to go ice skating tomorrow."
"I could never forget," Finn whispered back.
x
The next day was Christmas Eve. Finn and Rachel had their parents over for lunch, and then Burt and Carole went to Kurt and Blaine's for the afternoon to visit with Kurt, Blaine and Bryan, Shelby and Beth went to Connecticut to visit Puck, Quinn and Daniel, and Rachel's dads went to another show on Broadway. Finn decided that now would be a good time to go ice skating at Central Park - and this year, they decided that they should take Allie along.
"Where are we going?" Allie asked as they walked through the streets of New York.
"You'll find out soon," Finn told his daughter.
"I want to know now!" Allie protested.
"You'll find out soon, like your dad said," Rachel teased.
Allie pouted as they continued on their walk. Finally, they got to Central Park. "Allie, you know how Daddy and I have a tradition of going ice skating at Central Park on Christmas Eve?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Allie said.
"We were wondering if you'd like to skate with us this year," Finn said.
Allie perked up. "Yes! I love ice skating!"
"It is fun," Rachel said as she ordered the skates. She, Finn and Allie laced up their skates and then got on the ice.
"You guys are good skaters," Allie said as they skated laps around the rink.
"Well, we've been doing this every year since we moved to New York," Finn said.
In the center of the rink, Allie watched some of the more talented skaters do jumps and spins. "Do you guys know how to do that?" she asked her parents.
"No," Rachel laughed. "Those people are pretty special."
"I want to do that!" Allie said.
"Maybe we could get you lessons so you can learn how," Finn told his daughter.
"I want to!" Allie said again.
After ice skating, Finn, Rachel and Allie got some hot chocolate by the bonfire they had set up at Central Park. The bonfire was near the big tree, and every year, the tree was just incredible.
"We should get a tree that big for our apartment," Allie told her parents.
"I think our apartment's a little small for that!" Finn said.
"But it's so cool!" Allie said.
"It is, isn't it?" Rachel said. "And this hot chocolate is good, too, isn't it?"
"Yes!" Allie said. "Especially with whipped cream."
Finn and Rachel smiled at each other. Now that Allie was older, she was at the age where she could really enjoy how special the holiday season was.
x
"Wake up Mommy! Wake up Daddy! It's Christmas!"
Finn opened his eyes and looked in the doorway, where Allie was standing with a big smile on her face. He nudged Rachel, who then opened her eyes and looked up at their daughter. "Merry Christmas, Allie!"
"Merry Christmas Mommy! Merry Christmas Daddy!" Allie said. "Come on, let's go see what Santa brought."
Hand in hand, Finn and Rachel followed their daughter into the living room, where their beagle ran up to them. Allie gave him a hug. "Merry Christmas Coda!"
Finn and Rachel patted Coda as Allie went up to her rabbit's cage. "Merry Christmas Nibbles!"
Finally, she stopped in front of the tree and saw a big pile of presents. "Mommy! Daddy! Santa came!"
"Yes he did," Finn said, sitting on the couch next to Rachel after turning on the tree. They watched as Allie ripped the wrapping paper off new toys and books. Finally, only one present was left - the biggest box.
"What's this?" Allie asked, with excitement in her voice.
Finn and Rachel knew, but supposedly, it was from Santa. "You'd better open it and find out!" Finn said.
Allie ripped the paper off the package and screamed when she saw the American Girl doll that looked like her. "Mommy, Daddy, Santa brought me an American Girl doll!"
"She looks like you," Rachel said, trying to act surprised.
"She does!" Allie said, running to her room to get Kit.
x
Later that day, Finn, Rachel and Allie went to Kurt and Blaine's apartment for Christmas dinner with the extended family. Allie brought her new American girl doll to show the family. It was great to all be together, and Finn's parents were especially happy to celebrate their first Christmas with two grandchildren. After dinner, Rachel's dads suggested the six New Directions alumni sing a Christmas song. They decided to sing a mashup the New Directions had put together and asked Shelby to play it on the piano.
Finn, Kurt and Blaine: Fa la la la
Rachel, Santana and Brittany: Oh uh oh oh
Boys: Fa la la la
Girls: Oh uh ohh
Brittany: Deck the Halls
Boys: Fa la la la
Girls: Oh uh oh oh
Boys: Fa la la la
Girls: Oh uh ohh
Brittany: Deck the Halls
Santana: Deck the halls with boughs of holly
(Rachel, Finn, Kurt and Blaine: Fa la la la la la la la la la)
'Tis the season to be jolly
(Rachel, Finn, Kurt and Blaine: Fa la la la la la la la la la la la la la)
Santana: Don we now our gay apparel
(Rachel, Finn, Kurt and Blaine: Fa la la la la la la la la )
Troll the ancient yuletide carol
(Rachel, Finn, Kurt and Blaine: Fa la la la la la la la la)
Brittany: Deck the halls
Finn: Up on the rooftop, reindeer pause
Out jumps good ol' Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones Christmas joys (Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany: la la la)
Finn and Rachel: Ho ho ho
Rachel: Who wouldn't go?
Finn and Rachel: Ho ho ho
Kurt: Who wouldn't go?
Up on the rooftop
click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick
Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany: Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Boys: Fa la la la, Fa la la la
Kurt: First comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa, fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyes
Santana: Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la la la la la
Rachel: Troll the ancient yuletide carol
Fa la la la la la la la la
Girls: Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Deck the halls he's up on the rooftop
Boys Fa la la la, Fa la la la
Deck the Halls
Blaine: Up on the rooftop (Boys: Oh uh oh oh)
Up on the rooftop (Boys: Oh uh ohh)
Oh up on the rooftop (Boys: Oh uh oh oh)
Up on the rooftop (Boys: Oh uh ohh)
Finn: See the blazing Yule before us
Fa la la la la la la la la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa la la la la la la la la
Finn and Rachel: Follow me in merry measure
(Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany: Fa la la la la la la la la)
Sing we joyous, all together
(Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany: Fa la la la la la la la la)
Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany: Ho ho ho
Who wouldn't go?
Ho ho ho
Who wouldn't go?
Up on the rooftop
click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Hear the bells of Christmas calling
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la!
"You guys were great!" Allie said at the end of the song. "Best Christmas ever!"
Finn and Rachel knew their daughter was right. This really had been the best Christmas ever.
Chapter 32 preview: The New Directions alumni travel to LA for the Samcedes wedding. While in LA, three glee girls find out they are pregnant.