Christmas lights glistened all over the Lima neighborhoods—with the exception of a few not-so-nice places, such as Lima Heights Adjacent. At McKinley, on the last week before winter break, the school was already flooded with decorations.
"What's all this?" asked Will as he skated through the hallway. He was tired from having to get up countless times to comfort a crying baby Daniel, so he hadn't noticed the decorations until he entered his classroom.
"Principal Sylvester said something about making changes as the semester nears to a close," said Dan, shrugging as he and Amity took their seats for first period History. "Apparently one of them is making the school more festive."
Mr. Schue began his lesson with confusion. That made absolutely no sense. Sue was the exact person who had been a Grinch to every Christmas he'd spent since being at McKinley.
"Well, William, that was when I was cheerleading coach," she said later that day when he questioned her in the teacher's lounge. "Now I'm Principal and I have to do things that are in the school's best interest, not mine."
Mr. Schue took these words and suddenly came up with an idea for glee club. He had been back for less than two weeks, since going to New York for Rachel's opening night weekend, and now he was back home, awaiting the return of his old students for the holidays and trying to find a way to send off his current students into theirs.
"Generosity," he said as he wrote the word on the board. Bree immediately rolled her eyes and Kitty pursed her lips.
"That's the assignment," asked Rachel from the doorway. "That's the best you could do, Schuester?" Will turned to the door at the sound of her voice and rushed over to hug her.
"Rachel!" he exclaimed. "So lovely to have you back in this room again." He turned to everyone else and said, "Miss Rachel Berry, everybody, star of Broadway's Funny Girl."
The room filled with applause. Julie, who was the most enthusiastic Broadway fan in the room—everyone else was much more into the Hollywood and radio music of the west coast than New York's charming musical theatre—clapped the loudest as her mentor blushed at the positive feedback she was getting from the glee club.
"I'm just going to go sit down and pretend I'm still a member of the club," she said as she went over to sit down. She got to the Rachel chair, which was currently occupied by Shana, and was thrilled when, without needing to be told, Shana stood and gave up the chair. Julie, who was sitting next to Rachel now, beamed with excitement and the latter gave her a quick side hug. While in reality Julie was not very similar to Rachel, her mentor liked to think that she was breeding a mini-me in her, and was thankful for any opportunity to continue to coach her.
"Okay, so generosity," Mr. Schue went on. "It's Christmas in about a week. And what's Christmas about, from a non-religious view?"
"Gifts!" Sugar exclaimed.
"I was actually thinking about giving," Mr. Schue said as he looked at her. To everyone else he said, "So what are you guys willing to give this week? What cause will you fight for during this holiday break? We're used to Christmas cheeriness and singing songs to each other and calling it a day, but if there was something the alumni taught me is that the holidays are best spent giving back. In fact, it was Rory and Sam who made that lesson clear two years ago, when they insisted on appreciating the sadness in Christmas as well as the merriness... And along with Quinn and a few others convinced the club to help out around the community."
"So what?" asked Kitty, confused. "You want us to go volunteer at a homeless shelter or something?"
"Sure," said Mr. Schue. "Or maybe at a soup kitchen. Or with a neighbor. Or someone in this room in need of help. It doesn't matter how big you go. It's the effort you put into making someone else's Christmas, with no selfish motive whatsoever, a great Christmas that will in turn make Christmas worthwhile. That is the assignment."
"Do we have to sing?" asked Marley.
"Out there, not necessarily," Will said. "But music is a powerful tool. Rachel. Since you know that better than anyone in here, including myself, why not lead us into our first official, glee club Christmas song?"
"Oh," said Rachel, smiling. "Sure. What song?"
"Your choice," he told her. "It can be about Christmas or about giving." She stood from her chair, walked over to the band, and whispered something to them, unintelligible to the rest of the glee club. The music started and Rachel took a deep breath.
["Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber.]
Rachel: It's the most beautiful time of the year. Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer. I should be playing in the winter snow. But I'mma be under the mistletoe...
To everyone's surprise, Jesse St. James walked through the door and joined her.
Jesse: I don't wanna miss out on the holiday. But I can't stop staring at your face. I should be playing in the winter snow. But I'mma be under the mistletoe...
Rachel: With you...
Jesse: Shawty with you
Rachel: With you...
Jesse: Shawty with you
Rachel: With you...
Jesse: Shawty with you
Rachel and Jesse: With you under the mistletoe...
Julie turned to Bree, who gave her a look. Rachel and Jesse seemed closer. The performance got even better when Blaine and Kurt walked through the door as well, their bright faces smiling at everyone.
Blaine: Everyone's gathering around the fire. Chestnuts roasting like a hot July.
Kurt: I should be chilling with my folks, I know. But I'mma be under the mistletoe.
And after them, Puck and Quinn also entered.
Puck: Word on the street Santa's coming tonight. Reindeer's flying through the sky so high.
Quinn: I should be making a list, I know. But I'mma be under the mistletoe.
Blaine: With you...
Kurt: Shawty with you...
Blaine: With you...
Kurt: Shawty with you...
Blaine: With you...
Blaine and Kurt: Under the mistletoe...
Quinn: With you...
Puck: Shawty with you...
Quinn: With you...
Puck: Shawty with you...
Quinn: With you...
Quinn and Puck: Under the mistletoe...
The three pairs walked over to us and pulled a few of them up with them. Quinn grabbed Kitty, Puck reached for Jake, Rachel grabbed Julie, Jesse pulled up John, Blaine grabbed Dan and Kurt pointed at Amity. So the six got up and sang. First, Rachel and Jesse put their arms around Julie and John.
John and Jesse: Aye, love,
John: The wise men followed the star. The way I followed my heart and it led me to a miracle.
Julie and Rachel: Aye, love,
Julie: Don't you buy me nothing. 'Cause I am feeling one thing, your lips on my lips. That's a merry, merry Christmas
Then Kurt and Blaine pushed Dan and Amity forward and Alex felt a tinge of jealousy as blush spread across Amity's face.
Amity: It's the most beautiful time of the year. Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer.
Dan: I should be playing in the winter snow. But I'mma be under the mistletoe.
Quinn and Puck were hugging and had Kitty and Jake on their other arms, respectively, as they indicated for them to sing, too.
Kitty: I don't wanna miss out on the holiday. But I can't stop staring at your face.
Jake: I should be playing in the winter snow. But I'mma be under the mistletoe.
Rachel and Julie: With you...
John and Jesse: Shawty with you.
Blaine and Amity: With you...
Dan and Kurt: Shawty with you.
Rachel and Jesse: With you under the mistletoe
Quinn and Kitty: With you...
Puck and Jake: Shawty with you.
Blaine and Amity: With you...
Jesse and John: Shawty with you.
Qunn and Puck: With you under the mistletoe
Blaine and Kurt: Under the mistletoe
The six glee kids skitted back to their seats as the six alumni gathered into one line for the last part of the song.
Jesse: Kiss me underneath the mistletoe
Blaine: Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh
Puck: Oh, oh, ohhh
Rachel: Kiss me underneath the mistletoe
Kurt: Show me baby that you love me so-oh-oh
Quinn: Oh, oh, ohhh...
The glee club erupted with so much cheer that they didn't even realize Mercedes, Finn and Artie entering the room. "Oh I know, y'all didn't just sing without us!" Mercedes exclaimed with a smile as Finn looked at Rachel and Jesse, still hugging, and prompted them to put distance between each other.
"Welcome back, guys!" Mr. Schue exclaimed as he greeted them all more properly.
***
When Julie walked into choir room the next day after school, she was immediately greeted with the start of music and clapping. She watched as Jake, Dan, John and Alex began a performance of Big Time Rush's "Beautiful Christmas." They handed out candy canes and other small little gifts and cards during the first half and joined together for a choreographed second half performance.
"Our gift to the glee club," said Jake when the song was over, "is that we are going to try to get along." He and Dan stood on one side, looking at John and Alex. They didn't seem too thrilled about the idea of playing nice but the others loved it.
"Hey, where's Joe?" asked Sugar.
"Yeah, Kitty and Amity aren't in here either," Rory noted.
"Amity said there was an emergency Christian Club meeting," Dan explained. He really wanted to join.
"I heard Principal Sylvester was involved," Alex added, giving Dan a look that said he wasn't actually planning on getting along with him.
"I hope it's nothing serious," said Bree, and she really did mean this. In fact, everyone hoped for the best, for they cared deeply about at least one of the three. For Julie, who held all three in a really good light, there were other things clouding her mind.