Late in the morning on December 29th, Kurt woke up feeling as cheerful as ever. He sat up excitedly in his crib and peered through the bars at his Christmas presents. They sat in a pile by his dresser, having been left by Santa Claus himself only a few nights before. Christmas had been wonderful. Kurt sat in warm jammies and watched Rudolf with Trent and Sebastian and even Brittany while drinking warm cocoa out of baby bottles and nibbling on tree-shaped sugar cookies. Then, Daddy had carried him home and changed him. He carried him around the house with all the lights off so that only the soft glow of the Christmas tree remained. Then, while snow fell outside, Daddy sang Silent Night to him in his warm, tenor voice until he had dozed off in Daddy's arms. The next morning he woke up in his crib, which had been left unlocked so that he wouldn't have to wait for Daddy, and quickly toddled to the living room.

After a quick diaper change and an even quicker breakfast, Kurt and Daddy sat around the tree, opening presents. Kurt had been thrilled his mountain of toys and cute outfits, and Daddy got really quiet when he got the book Kurt had made for him, each page a day of their lives since Kurt had been chosen, but that must have meant he was happy, right?

Anyway, once Daddy had gotten him dressed for the day, he was allowed to select one toy to show Trent and Sebastian before being carried out of their apartment and into the Sterling-Duval's. However, the second they stepped over the threshold, Kurt knew something was off. There was not a single toy to be found and the large playpen that was usually right smack in the center of the room had disappeared from sight. Even the air in the apartment seemed stiff and tense.

"Hello?" Daddy called, and almost immediately Jeff appeared in the room.

"Hey, this really isn't a good time." He whispered, wincing at the sound of something breaking in the kitchen.

"What's going on?" Daddy asked, setting Kurt down on the couch with Trent, who was dressed in sweat pants and a rather average looking t-shirts.

"Why are you dressed funny?" Kurt asked curiously, surveying the bland outfit.

"It's a secret." Trent replied.

"What? Why?" Kurt frowned. "Why is everyone so unhappy?"

"Again, it's secret." Trent replied.

"Tell me." The younger boy demanded.

"If I tell you, it won't be a secret." He huffed.

"Tell me or I won't let you play with my new car." Kurt stated.

"So?" Trent scoffed.

Kurt's eyes narrowed. "It's remote control."

Trent bit his lip and sighed. "Fine, fine, some of Bassy's family is coming to visit and everyone's really upset."

"What? Why? Families love you." Kurt frowned in confusion.

"Nuh uh, Bassy's family is super mean and scary and they don't like him anymore." Trent explained.

Kurt was taken aback by this piece of news. A family hating their son? What sort of messed up family was this? Families are nice and nurturing and warm and comforting! Nobody can just stop like their family! It doesn't work like that!

He was even more surprised when Sebastian entered the room in an uncomfortable looking black suit. It was completely black: from the shirt to the jacket to the pants, even the tie. He had never seen such a thing in his whole life and it looked even stranger yet oddly appropriate on Sebastian's thin form.

"Please, Sebastian! Just put the diaper on!" Nick pleaded, following after him with the very object in his hand. "At least until they arrive."

Sebastian brushed him off. "I already told you no." He said a bit tensely and Kurt's mouth dropped open. Telling a Daddy no? In that tone? How was Bassy not being pulled over Nick's lap?

"It's been so long, Sebastian. Do you really think you have the control you used to?" Nick questioned.

This time, Sebastian ignored him completely, turning to look at Kurt with a look of distaste that he'd never seen on the older boy's face before. "What is he doing here?"

"He's here to say hi. Stop being so mean." Trent scowled up at him.

"Ugh! You two are going to ruin absolutely everything!" Sebastian snapped angrily. He whirled around to face Jeff. "Get them out of here!"

"Now hold on a second, Sebastian, they live here too…" The blond started but he was quickly cut off.

"Do you think I care?" He nearly yelled, making Kurt sink back into the couch. This display was frightening. He had never, ever, in his entire life see a baby act in such a horrible manner before. What was going on?

"Shh, please calm down Sebastian." Nick pleaded softly, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Everything will be okay."

"No, it won't." Sebastian snapped. "It wasn't okay in school and it's not going to be okay now! So if everyone would kindly shut up and get out of the way, that would be great!" He growled before storming out of the room. Jeff had an angry look on his face and started to open his mouth to stay something, but Nick simply placed a hand on the man's chest and shook his head to stop him.

"Don't push him any further." The brunet sighed. "You know how his parents are."

"His parents? They're coming here?" Blaine asked, his eyes wide.

"A miracle." Jeff huffed darkly.

"His cousin, I met her one time, I guess she convinced them to come for a visit." Nick scowled. "Despite the fact she won't come see him herself."

"He's been up since four this morning." Jeff added. "He prepared this whole lunch, hens, mashed potatoes, veggies and rolls and muffins and stuffing and pie and everything else."

"He hid all of the toys and stuff in the nursery and he's refusing to wear protection of any kind. Not even pull-ups and he's already had an accident in the kitchen this morning and I'm worried about him." Nick blurted out, biting his lip nervously as Jeff wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"Hey, the fact that they're coming over already proves that they want to rekindle their relationship with Sebastian. Just let him do what he needs to do. I'm sure everything will be alright." Blaine assured them.

"I don't know. Sebastian's family leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Always has." Nick replied. "I wish this whole day was over already."

"What time are they coming?" Blaine asked.

"They're supposed to be here at noon sharp." Nick sighed. "Sebastian wasn't too bad earlier this morning but now that it's the final hour he's really breaking down."

"Nick! Where are our nice glasses?" Sebastian yelled from the kitchen. "There is no way I am serving my parents wine in plastic cups!"

"They're on the top shelf, please let me get them. I don't need you getting hurt." He said, excusing himself before rushing into the kitchen.

"Is it just his parents coming or is it…everyone?" Blaine made a face. He would never forget Sebastian's disgusting trio of cousins.

"Just them. I don't want to think of what would happen if we got the whole Smythe clan here." Jeff shuddered.

"You know what I don't want to think about? What my parents are going to say if one of them breaks an ankle on the pacifiers that are lying virtually everywhere!" Sebastian snapped. "I thought I told you to get rid of all this stuff!" His eyes flickered over to the coffee table which was littered with coloring books, sippy cups left over from breakfast, pacifiers, and spare diapers and cast a dirty look at Trent. "And you! Didn't I tell you to clean up all of your crap? Get it out of here!"

Trent looked at him in surprise and his lip wobbled a little at the harsh words and shrunk into himself. "M sorry." He whimpered.

Jeff stepped forward and grabbed Sebastian's wrist. "Hey! I understand that you're under a lot of stress right now but your behavior right now is unacceptable!"

Sebastian turned to meet his stern gaze and what Jeff saw nearly made him back up. There was a look of pure fear and hatred and shame in his eyes that Jeff hadn't seen since high school. There was a thick silence between them and Jeff slowly released his wrist before taking a step back as the room's other occupants looked back and forth between them in immense concern. Jeff never looked away from Sebastian, and he the same until a timer went off in the kitchen and the younger man went to go tend to it.

At a quarter to twelve, Kurt and Blaine went back to their own apartment. Jeff helped change Trent into a pull-up and his only nice suit, then Jeff and Nick got dressed as well. The three sat down to watch TV while Sebastian put the finishing touches on his rather impressive meal. He lit candles and brought out the nice crystal glasses, the best polished silverware, the good dishes and positioned everything on a pristine white tablecloth until he deemed it good enough for his parents. He filled two glasses with the white Chardonnay that his mother and father absolutely loved and placed the bottle back in the fridge for later.

At twelve, he paced back and forth in front of the door, peeking out every time he heard footsteps in the hallway.

At twelve fifteen, he went downstairs to see if they were having trouble finding a parking spot.

At twelve thirty, he returned upstairs and gave them a call to make sure they had the right directions.

At one, Sebastian called Jasmine, wondering if something had happened to his parents.

At two, Sebastian searched the entire building, wondering if maybe they were lost.

At two thirty, Sebastian tried calling them again and Jeff put Trent down for his nap.

At three, Sebastian sat down in front of the door and buried his face in his knees.

At four, Sebastian left three messages on his parent's voicemail.

At four forty, the candles went out.

At five, Nick and Jeff silently put the food away.

At six thirty, Sebastian got up from his spot on the floor and quietly walked out of the room.

At six thirty-one, Nick followed after him, finding him curled up on his and Jeff's bed.

At six thirty-two, Nick lied down next to him and pulled the younger man to his chest because even though nothing would stop his tears now, anything was better than crying alone.