It was years before everyone Kurt and Blaine considered family managed to show up for Christmas at their house all at once. They celebrated with family every year, but they considered so many disparate, far-flung people to be “family” that Christmas usually consisted of several different gatherings, often in two or even three states, and still sending regrets to others. It had taken so long for the set of coincidences that brought everyone together, not a single one of Kurt and Blaine’s kids still believed in Santa Claus. They had a house full of teenagers and tweens. Kurt looked around him and wondered where the time had gone.

His dad and Carole, both now retired. James and Anna Anderson, never missing an opportunity to see their grandkids even when the cute baby phase was long past. Cooper, still a struggling actor after all these years. Finn and his wife and kids. Rachel and Puck and their kids. Brittany and Maeve. Taylor and her husband and their kids. The new nanny, Abby. A few local friends they couldn’t imagine their lives without. Kurt tried to count, but people kept moving around and he got lost after thirty. It was a little overwhelming. He was glad this hadn’t happened when they’d still lived in the city.

Burt walked up behind Kurt and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Far cry from when Christmas was just you and me, kiddo.”

Carole spent the day kicking everyone but her Official Designated Helpers out of the kitchen repeatedly. Christmas movies and video games battled for time slots on the big TV in the den. Every Christmas song ever written was sung at least twice, and some Hanukkah songs too, and random favorites. (“Dad! Not Katy Perry again!”). The Christmas tree was hung with ornaments representing more than forty years of memories.

Blaine caught Kurt under the mistletoe after dinner and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Merry Christmas to the love of my life,” he said.

Kurt smiled. “You say that every year.”

“It’s always true.”