For Keeps

56. Family Christmas hoo-ha. (The happy ending)

{Kurt}

Kurt kept Jon in arms' reach all day, sensing a huge swell of sadness under his partner's unruffled surface. A touch on Jon's freckled hand, a brush of his flannel-shirted shoulders, a swift, soft glance, reassured Kurt that Jon was staying with him today in spite of the loss he was carrying.

Pete greeted them at the door of the White family homestead. Jon's dad was more jolly than Kurt had ever seen him--eyes crinkling in his broad grin at their arrival, hugging Kurt firmly and clapping his shoulders.

"Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas," Pete said. "We have coffee and apple streusel cake and seven Festive Specials coming from Swiss Chalet for lunch."

"No one wants to eat turkey after I've roasted it to death," Mel said, laughing. She put her hands out to Jon first, folding him into a hug that lasted longer than Kurt expected. Jon kissed her cheek, touching the greying pony tail spilling over her shoulder as he let her go.

"Merry Christmas, mom," Jon said softly. "We made it." She smiled a warm smile just for him.

"We did," Mel said. "And now we have you, Kurt!" Mel turned to him.

"You bet you do," Kurt drawled, leaning down to put his arms around her. Mel had draped the thundercloud scarf over her grey turtleneck, to dress up her casual mom-jeans. "Couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

No one in the White family could believe it when they went back three times to unload all the gifts from the van--and returned the fourth time with Greta on a leash, black curly tail waving as she stood alertly next to Cary's leg in the living room.

Tabitha May was entranced by the arrival of their newest furry family member, dropping to a crouch in front of Greta to admire her soft ears and elegant face. "Oh she's beautiful," she said, smiling up at Cary. With her sleek high ponytail, and her own long legs in white Lulu Lemon joggers, slightly worn but impeccably clean and bright, Kurt thought the young woman looked like the yin to Greta's yang. "What is she?" she asked.

Cary stuck a thumb at Kurt, who had made himself at home on the corner of the couch next to the Christmas tree, with Jon tucked under his arm. "You'll have to ask Kurt. Greta was his scheme and I'm pretty sure if you asked her, Greta would say she's as much his as mine."

Tabitha May straightened, eyeing Kurt. He felt like rolling his eyes--Hi, yup I'm still here, still queer, still sleepin' in your brother's bed. Can we move past this yet?

Jon answered for Kurt. "She's a four year old standard poodle."

Tabitha May's eyes widened. "Like--" she gestured a big puffy mane around her head, and Kurt smirked.

"Yup," Kurt said. "She's clipped short now but when her hair grows out we'll take her to a groomer and give her a whole floofy poodle style."

Cary shot him a look. "Uh--no," he said flatly.

"She'll be gorgeous--you'll love her even more," Kurt coaxed. He folded his fingers under his chin, batting his eyes at Cary. "Just one time? Just to see how she looks?"

Unexpectedly, Tabitha May leaned towards him, pointing a shell-pink tipped finger his way. "I'm with Kurt," she said to Cary. "She'll be gorgeous. You have to try it at least once."

Cary snorted. "It's too cold for a silly poodle hair cut. In summer...maybe."

Tabitha May shot Kurt a giddy look and for one second they were 100% on the same page.

Kurt had both apple streusal cake and gluten free cinnamon buns, surreptitiously licking his fingers while their mom read the story of baby Jesus being born from her well-worn leather Bible.