Burt's never been all that into Christmas, especially not since Kurt's mom died. People always say that the first Christmas after a death is the hardest, Burt's decided that that doesn't make the next Christmases any easier. It's good having a full house, though, not to distract him from the loss, but to remind himself of how much he still has in his life.

Sam's decided to go home to Kentucky for Christmas, and Burt makes a point of letting him know that while they want him to be able to be home with his family, he would absolutely have been happy to include them in the celebration.

In spite of Burt's lack of the Christmas spirit, he makes sure to watch the Glee kids' Christmas special when it airs on TV. It's fun and light-hearted and Burt enjoys it, but he feels a little pang of sadness when Kurt and Blaine hesitantly refer to themselves as "best friends and holiday roommates." Even when they are playing themselves, the boys aren't allowed to actually be themselves. There are a few lines that seem, well, sexual, but Burt decides he's just reading too much into it, and does everything he can to forget the suggestive smirk on Blaine's face.

A few days after school finishes, Burt goes to ask Kurt a question in his room. He knocks on the door and opens it after being told to come in. What he sees surprises him: Kurt is lying on his stomach on his bed, his legs crossed at the ankles, staring dreamily at an open ring box. Burt leans against the door frame to support his suddenly weak legs.

"Kurt, what is that?" Burt asks, trying and failing to keep his voice casual.

"Oh, this?" Kurt says, snapping out of his daze and looking slightly guilty. "Oh, nothing. Just a present from Blaine."

Kurt snaps the box closed and sits up on his bed, hiding the ring behind him.

"Is that a ring?" Burt asks.

"It's a promise ring, Dad." Kurt says, having realized that he can't redirect Burt from the topic.

Okay, so it's not an engagement ring. Burt starts to breathe a little easier.

"What does that mean?" Burt asks, hoping Kurt will just say something vague about promising to have a movie night.

"It was just the sweetest thing ever, Dad." Kurt replies, the dreaminess returning to his voice. "I asked him what he was promising, and he said that he'd always love me, that he'd defend me, that he'd try to surprise me and he'd answer his phone no matter when I called. Things like that. Isn't that nice?"

Kurt looks up at his dad, and Burt swears Kurt's pupils have been replaced with hearts. Burt just grunts out an affirming noise.

"Yup, that's real nice Kurt. I'm just gonna… leave you to it then." Burt gets up leaves the room. The past few minutes have launched his brain into warp speed. He heads downstairs, sits in his chair with his beer, and all at once, he sees it. He sees Blaine coming to him, asking for permission to marry Kurt. He sees Kurt whispering that he's going to propose to Blaine and that he's just so nervous and excited. He sees himself shopping for a tux and helping Carole decorate the hall for the wedding. He sees the boys exchanging vows in the front of the chapel, vows identical to the promises Blaine had just made to Kurt.

And then, he sees himself with grandkids. Kurt and Blaine playing in the park with a little girl and a little boy. Running around a playground, helping a little one down a slide. Burt can see it so clearly, and he's sure the boys can, too. It's completely overwhelming, and actually brings Burt to tears. It's everything that a man could ever want for his son, for him to be healthy, happy and loved. It's much too soon, but isn't everything these days?

The next time Blaine comes over, Burt gives him an extra hug and pat on the back. He overhears Kurt telling Blaine about how Burt had seen the ring and totally freaked out, but Blaine doesn't sound concerned. Despite all his insecurities, Blaine has never seemed to doubt that Burt wants Blaine in his son's life.

The boys go to Blaine's house for his parents' annual Christmas Eve party. They're home in the late evening, Blaine's parents having agreed to let him stay the night and go back to their house for Christmas dinner. Kurt and Blaine seem glad to be home, but neither says anything about the party itself. Burt decides not to pry: it is Christmas after all.

It comes time for the traditional opening of a present before bed and Blaine is delighted to see that there are presents for him under the tree, too. The five family members, albeit missing Sam a little, were the picture of a cozy family, in spite of being quite abnormal. There's a man and his son, a woman and her son, and a boy. The man and woman married, and the other boy practically engaged to the man's son. It was highly unconventional, but as Burt sat on the couch watching his family, he realized he couldn't love them more.