Christmas Eve was a small, family event. Burt, Carole, Finn, Kurt, and Blaine, with no outside guests. In accordance with Hummel family tradition, each of them chose one gift to open after dinner, before the mad rush of Christmas morning.

Burt opened a small envelope from Carole, which turned out to be plane tickets for a romantic weekend getaway in the mountains a few weeks later. He was thrilled, but Kurt and Finn both tried not to think too hard about their parents going on a romantic weekend getaway.

Carole opened a brightly colored gift bag from Kurt and found a pair of designer oven mitts. "I love them!" she said, stroking the luscious fabric. "They're so pretty I think I'll be afraid to use them!"

Finn ripped the wrapping paper off a box from Burt and found a handful of new video games. He seemed happy, but a bit distracted. "Kurt, your turn," he said quickly.

Kurt chose a small box from Blaine. It was too small to contain anything but jewelry, and he thought it might be something he could wear to the larger Christmas party tomorrow night. His suspicions proved correct – it was a lovely gold brooch in the shape of a pine tree. It would look excellent with his forest green button-down. He kissed Blaine lightly on the cheek in thanks.

For some reason, Finn looked disappointed. Kurt brushed it off. Finn had never been fond of his accessorizing anyway.

Blaine loved the scarf that Carole had knitted for him, too.

------------------------------

There was a New Directions reunion party on the night of Christmas Day, also held at the Hummel house. It was the most natural location, since three of the returning members lived there already, and Rachel treated it as practically her second home, and Sam had lived there once before and still hung out there all the time. All of the graduates were there, and some of the new kids as well, and Will and Emma came to catch up with their former students, too.

Kurt was having a great time seeing all his old friends, but something seemed off. He managed to catch Blaine alone for a moment. "Have you noticed people looking at you strangely?" he asked quietly.

Blaine's forehead wrinkled as he thought about it. "No? Not really. Strangely how?"

Kurt shook his head, not really sure what he meant. "Expectantly, maybe? Like there's something they're waiting for, or something they want to say but can't? I'm not sure exactly."

"Everyone, or just some of them?" Blaine asked.

Kurt glanced around the room, intending to jog his memory of past conversations by looking at his friends surreptitiously. Except that the moment he took his eyes off Blaine, he noticed that everyone was staring at them. It was seriously weird.

"What?" Kurt asked the room at large.

"We're just happy to see you!" Rachel said quickly, and everyone awkwardly turned back to their conversations.

"Yes," Blaine said quietly. "I think they are acting a little strange."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Thanks, that's very helpful."

------------------------------

No explanation was forthcoming. They saw everyone again a week later, at Rachel's New Year's Eve party. Her dads were home, and most people were driving or flying home the next morning, so there was no alcohol to be found. But they were all happy to have this one last opportunity to be together as a group, so nobody really minded.

At the stroke of midnight, Blaine kissed Kurt sweetly on the lips. "Happy new year, my love," he said after they broke apart.

"Aww, that's so sweet!" Brittany said.

"That's easy for you to say," Sam grumbled. "You didn't just lose your chance at the fifty bucks."

"Sam!" Tina shouted.

Santana groaned.

"Okay, what is going on here?" Kurt demanded.

"Seriously, when are you two going to get engaged?" Sam asked angrily.

"Did you ... have a betting pool on when we were going to get engaged?" Blaine asked.

"Thanks for ruining everything, Trouty McLoudmouth," Santana said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"I cannot believe this," Kurt said.

"Calm down, everyone," Rachel said. "It's not anything to get mad over, Kurt. It's just, you and Blaine have been acting like an old married couple forever, and we figured now that you've both graduated from high school and you're living together being all domestic and grown-up and everything, there was a good chance that you'd get engaged at some point this year. And people had guesses about when, and then somehow that ended up getting backed up with money, and ... I don't know, it was just a cute thing at the time."

"Well, who are we to spoil your fun," Blaine said.

"What?" Kurt said, turning to look at him.

"Kurt," Blaine said in a serious tone. "I love you, and I will love you forever. Will you marry me?"

"But ... but ... I thought we agreed on Valentine's Day!" Kurt stammered.

"Wait!" Santana screeched. "That was my day in the betting pool! I knew Warbler Boy was a sucker for stupid romantic holidays, I knew it!"

"You pre-arranged when you would get engaged?" Tina said angrily. "That's ridiculous. Why would you do something like that?"

"Are you saying yes, Kurt? Because if you do, I win the money," Sam said.

"No way," Santana yelled. "If the plan was Valentine's Day, that's the winning day. You don't win just because you spilled our secret and made them change their plans. That's totally cheating."

"Guys, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to call the bets off," Puck said. "I'll give back everyone's money that they paid in, prorated."

"Prorated?" Santana said, snapping her head around so she was facing him. "Did you spend our betting pool money?"

"I knew we shouldn't have let him be in charge," Rachel said.

While Puck was the center of everyone's outraged attention, Kurt and Blaine snuck out of Rachel's house and drove back to Kurt's.

"I cannot believe them," Kurt said, fuming, as he slid under the covers of the bed.

"It's pretty hilarious, though," Blaine said, scooting in behind him. "But you never answered my question. Will you marry me, Kurt Hummel?"

Kurt swatted playfully at his shoulder. "I'm already married to you, you silly idiot."

"Yes, but will you."

Kurt laughed, all traces of anger gone now. "Of course I will marry you, husband."

Blaine beamed. "I love you, baby."

"Love you, too."