Finn Hudson (finner) wrote in mckinley_high, @ 2010-12-13 20:25:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! thread, # character: burt hummel, # character: finn hudson, * status: complete |
Who: Burt and Finn
Where: Christmas tree lot
What: Shopping for a Christmas tree!
When: Thursday, December 9th
Rating: SFW
Thursday night was cold and clear, and Burt decided it was the perfect night. It would be weird, doing this without Kurt for the first time since he was tiny, but it could not be put off any longer, and Kurt had said he didn’t want to come home before Christmas. So as soon as he got home from the shop, he went looking for Finn. It was time to select the Hummel household’s Christmas tree. And it was always at least a two-man job.
“Finn?” he called. “You here?” The Volvo was in the driveway, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything, Burt knew. He started up the stairs. “Finn?”
Finn had been working hard on getting into the holiday spirit but he was sort of grouchy lately with everything that was going on with Rachel, which caused him to hermit up in his room. It wasn’t an effective way of feeling better but he was too lazy to drive over to the other house to play drums again. Instead he settled on tapping his pencils against his desk as he did his homework. Well, at least tried to do his homework. The moment he heard Burt calling his name was a good excuse to stop that so and he tossed his pencil on the desk, got up, and poked his head out his door. “Uh, yeah? Hi. Um, what’s up?”
“Oh, hey.” Burt looked up the stairs at him and grinned. This was one of his favorite family traditions, and while it still felt strange to be doing it without Kurt, it would be good for him and Finn to do together. “You real busy?”
“Nope, not at all,” Finn replied immediately. Homework was overrated anyway. “Why, what’s up?”
“Thought tonight would be a good night to pick out the tree.” Burt said. “Usually the Hummel family tradition is to pick one out the Friday after Thanksgiving, but it’s really been a crazy couple of weeks. I don’t want to leave it any longer, though.”
Finn nodded along as Burt spoke. He and his mom didn’t have a specific tradition about trees, though he did love picking them out. And it always truly felt like Christmas once there was a tree. Maybe this was just what he needed to get out of his depression or whatever this was and get into the holiday cheer. “Yeah, that sounds awesome. Uh, I’m ready now if you want to go now.”
“That’s what I was hoping,” Burt told him. “Get your coat, I’ll get the cord to tie it to the roof.”
Being more of a sweater and vest guy, Finn grabbed that instead, pulled on his shoes and grabbed some gloves as well before going outside to the car to meet Burt. Now that they were going to get a Christmas tree he could already feel his mood lightening. “So, uh, what kind of tree do you usually like to get?” He asked conversationally. It was a little strange for it to be just them, but then again, Finn really liked Burt so maybe this was a good opportunity to get to know each other. They were family not after all.
“We usually go for a Fraser,” Burt said seriously as he unlocked the doors of his car. “They smell the best. What kind do you like best?”
Sliding in the passenger seat, Finn buckled up and pondered Burt’s question very seriously before answering. “Frasers are pretty good. I’m also a big fan of the Douglas fir. The needles seem a little nicer so you don’t hurt your hand as much when you’re putting on the lights.”
“Good point,” Burt acknowledged. “And they are beautiful, but the branches can be a little tight. We have some good-sized ornaments.” He headed into the quiet streets. Tradition decreed a stop first for hot chocolate and a gingerbread man cookie from his favorite diner though, so that was where he headed first automatically.
“Yeah, I guess we’ll just have to get there and see what is looking the best,” Finn said as he looked out the window.
Burt parked in the diner lot, and flashed Finn a grin. “Another family tradition. You like gingerbread?”
Finn had just been about to ask where they were going when they pulled into the diner. “Oh. Uh, yeah. I like just about everything,” he admitted with a sheepish grin then got out of the car. “This is a good idea. You know, get some energy food before all the heavy lifting!”
Burt laughed. “Right. Come on in, we’ll get some hot chocolate to bring with us.” This year, Burt figured, his would have skim milk, and no sugar, but it was close enough for tradition. Besides, it was really cold out tonight.
“Yeah, I love hot chocolate. Especially with marshmallows in it. I mean, I don’t know if you’re allowed to have those though. So if you aren’t I won’t either because that would be kind of mean,” he babbled as he got out of the car and shivered slightly at the brisk air before hurrying himself into the diner.
“No, you have to have the marshmallows if you like them, it’s a rule,” Burt told him solemnly, before breaking into a grin again. This part of the traditional Christmas tree search had been odd for the last few years with Kurt, since the younger Hummel had become so careful about what he ate. “Don’t worry about me, I don’t like them anyway.”
The gingerbread cookies were as big as Finn’s hand, and Burt bought half-a dozen to bring home for Carole, and so he could take one up to Dalton for Kurt on Friday. Kurt probably wouldn’t eat it, and would scold him for eating his own, but... it was tradition. He broke off a foot before starting the car again and handed the rest to Finn. “Hang onto that while I drive, Ok?”
Finn’s eyes widened at the size of the cookies. His hands were pretty big after all. With a grin he accepted the bag and nodded. “Sure thing,” he said with another smile then took out a cookie for himself and began munching. “These are really good. I’d never been to that place. Which is weird since I’ve lived here my whole life.”
Burt nodded. “It’s kind of a hole-in-the-wall, and they only do the cookies this time of the year for, like, three weeks. Kurt’s mom found them the year we got married.” He sipped at his hot chocolate; too hot, and it tasted... weird.... but, he’d get used to it.
The Christmas tree lot was only a couple of blocks away, rows and rows of trees lit with bare bulbs hanging from wires over head, looking the same as it had every year as far back as Burt could remember. Even just opening the car door brought a strong scent of pine and a flood of memories. He grinned at Finn. “I love this part.”
Nodding a little sadly at the mention of Kurt’s mom, Finn sipped his own hot chocolate as well. His mom wasn’t married to his dad that long before he died. And Finn certainly hadn’t grown up enough to know the guy. He didn’t have those family traditions, which made him a little sad. He didn’t want to be a total downer though. It was Christmas! The happiest time of the year! His favorite holiday! Taking another sip of cocoa and another bite of gingerbread man, he set the food down and joined Burt outside, inhaling deeply. “Best smell ever. It should be Christmas all the time so it can always smell like this. Or I could just go live in a forest. I think I would get bored though.”
Burt nodded. “We could go camping though. Or... Sometimes I go hunting with the Reeses. If you want, we can do that sometime over break. Bring your drink if you like, I’m going to, it’s cold out here.” He had noticed how Finn’s face had fallen for a moment... he couldn’t change the kid’s past, but he could at least share the traditions he loved with Finn. And as a new family, they might even create a few of their own. “Let’s look at the Douglas’ first, they’re over that way.“ Grabbing his hot chocolate from the cupholder, he checked to make sure he had his tape measure, just in case, and locked the car doors.
“I haven’t been camping in forever. I mean, I went with cub scouts when I was a kid but after that I didn’t anymore. That’s probably better than hunting. I don’t know if I could kill something...” He trailed off before grabbing his hot chocolate and taking a sip. It really did help fight off the chills.
Following Burt down the aisle, Finn stopped and smelled a few of the trees, grinning. Definitely not Christmas until there was a tree. “You know, it’s funny that the trees have names, like they’re people.” He wondered if trees could talk what kind of personalities they would have. Except that was kind of silly since obviously trees couldn’t talk. Unless it was like Middle Earth and they were giant Ent trees or something.
“It kinda is, isn’t it?” Burt chuckled. “We hunt, we just never seem to hit anything much,” he admitted. “Or, at least I don’t. But just camping is great, too. Maybe the spring, though, since cold-weather camping is kinda rough on first-timers. Or we could rent a cabin, I guess. I wonder if your mom would enjoy doing that?” He studied one of the trees critically. “What do you think of this one?”
“Yeah, winter camping is cold. And like, only people who climb mountains do that anyway,” Finn said, shivering slightly at the thought. Those guys got frostbite and lost toes and fingers all the time. He couldn’t do that if he wanted to keep playing football. “Mom would probably like a cabin better. I’m good with whatever though. You know, as long as there is fishing and hiking and swimming and stuff. That’s what camping is really about.”
“Now, fishing, I’m good at,” Burt said, nodding. “Maybe we could do that for a weekend over your Christmas break.” He wasn’t sure how Kurt would feel about it, but... it would be good for all of them, right? They had never yet had any length of time together as a family without the wonderful craziness of the wedding and then the school situation.
“You don’t think the lakes will be frozen over?” Finn asked as he leaned in to look at one of the trees Burt had pointed out. “This one is a little thin on the side, though we could make that the back of the tree,” he said as he looked at it a few more moments before continuing to walk again.
“No, We’ll find a better one, then.” Burt followed, content to let Finn take the lead. “Yeah, they will. We could wait until spring, really.” He took a deep breath of the pine scent. “We can pick up a wreath, too.”
“Spring sounds good for fishing. I don’t like ice fishing that much. You just sit there and it’s cold and stuff,” Finn said with a shrug as he walked over to another tree. “This one looks pretty good. And it’s not all thin on the side like the other one.” He circled around the tree before grinning. “This is a good option!”
“All right! Here,” he handed Finn the tape measure. “It can’t be much taller than six, six and a half feet and still leave room for a topper and the base, and measuring takes two.” He finished the hot chocolate and tossed the cup into the trash. He knelt to check the base of the tree and gestured to Finn to give him the end of the tape; Finn was taller, so it made sense to have him hold the top.
Finn nodded at Burt as he got a better hold on the tape measure. The tree was about as tall as him, just a bit taller, so it wasn’t hard for him to measure it. “Six feet and three inches,” he reported before lowering his arm. “Is that a good height? I mean, house ceilings are usually eight feet, so we should have room for all the stuff on top.”
“That’s just about perfect, I think,” Burt said. “Too much taller is cutting it close; the base we’ve got is about six inches, too.” He signalled to the sales guy, who’d been hovering. “We’ll take this one,” he told him. While the guy got to work on wrapping the tree, Burt turned back to the tall teen beside him. “Wanted to ask you... You interested in putting in a few hours a week at the shop? Learning the ropes at the family business?”
Watching the salesman who was wrapping up the tree just to make sure he was doing it right (he couldn’t have a damaged tree!), he took a moment to look over at Burt. “Really?” He wasn’t sure what he was questioning -- the fact that he was being asked to do something that required responsibility or the fact that Burt considered Finn part of the family -- but he took another moment before nodding. “Yeah, sure. That would be, uh, cool.”
“Really,” Burt assured him. “Kind of the point of the whole marriage thing, in a lot of ways... making us a family,” he continued in a quiet, serious tone. “I know that it’s kinda new for all of us. But... we’re a family of four now.” He gave Finn an apologetic look. “There’s no way to say it that isn’t cheesy, but I’m real glad to be able to call you both my sons. You’re both becoming men I am proud of.”
Finn looked down bashfully and kicked at a patch of black ice on the ground before looking up again. “Thanks, Burt. I’m glad my mom has you. And that we’re a... family now.” It was a little hard to say, but it was true. He of course wished none of the bad things had happened to either of their families, but maybe that was why their joining worked so well.
Burt nodded. He didn’t want to push things too much; this was all a lot to handle, but he had wanted to make sure Finn knew that Burt thought of him as his son, too. “I know after school is tough for you, but would you want to do a few hours on Saturday mornings? We do start kinda early, but that way you have most of the day to yourself for whatever.”
It would probably be rough at first waking up on Saturday mornings, but he figured he could always sleep in on Sundays. Or nap. Naps were awesome. “Yeah, that sounds good. What time should I, uh, report for duty?” He asked with a slight chuckle.
Burt laughed, too. “Well, I leave the house at seven but we don’t open until 8. I just like to be there real early to see what’s on the schedule for the day and make sure we have the parts we need. And to start the coffee; my guys need their coffee. How does eight to noon sound to start? We can add more if you want to later, but I figured that between Glee and sports, you won’t have a lot of free time.”
“That sounds good,” Finn replied and grinned again. A few moments later though he asked, “What exactly am I going to be doing?” Maybe that was the first thing he should have asked...
The tree was wrapped and ready, and the salesman was waiting, so Burt pointed to their car and started that way himself. “Well, at first, it’ll be mostly running errands, fetching parts and running the register a little bit. But we’ll train you on the other stuff, too. Have you ever changed your own oil yet?’
Finn followed Burt back to the car and nodded. “Yeah, I did it once. It was a little messy but obviously my car still works. So...” He trailed off with a sheepish grin. “But that sounds cool. It will be nice.”
“Good, that’s a start.” Burt said as he stopped for a moment and selected a wreath for the front door, and handed the attendant who’d carried the tree to the car the money for the two items. “So... “ he said as he unlocked the doors. “Let’s get this loaded onto the car.” He pulled the twine from his pocket as the attendant headed off to make another sale. Burt put the wreath into the back seat.
Finn nodded and bent down to pick up the tree. “Okay on three... two... one...” he said before lifting to get it on the roof. Once he was sure it was secure he stepped back and called over the car to Burt, “I’m ready. Throw the twine over.”
Burt had to admit that he missed the days when heaving the tree up to the roof of the car had been that effortless. If he were to try that now, his lower back would ache for days. He tossed the twine over and got to work tying the tree down securely. As soon as it was, he slid into the car and turned up the heat, holding his hands over the vent as he waited for Finn to get settled.
Finn checked everything over once more before hopping into the passenger seat and mimicking Burt’s actions and putting his hands in front of the heater. “Awesome. It’s, like, really Christmas time now that we have a tree.”
“Yeah, it feels that way,” Burt said, but his look was more thoughtful as he put the car into gear. He drove for a few moments, listening to the carols playing on the radio, then finally asked, “So... you doin’ ok? I mean, there’s been a lot going on.”
Thinking that they were going to get through the night without that question being asked, Finn’s face fell a little when he heard Burt’s words. “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s nothing. Just... the usual, you know?” He said, trying to sound casual.
Burt sighed. “Look, I... just want to know if I can help. To let you know.... I’m here.”
“Nah, it’s just... girl troubles,” Finn mumbled out before shrugging. “It’s whatever. Girls are stupid anyway.”
Burt didn’t, quite, smile, but he did nod in understanding. At least girl trouble made sense to him, usually.... as much as it did to any man. (Well, relationship trouble, romantic stuff, because, really, that wasn’t so different with Kurt’s romantic tangle, even if it was three guys. Romantic troubles were pretty much universal in high school, gender aside.) It was all the other stuff, the cliques and the friendship issues, that got complicated.
Sometimes sympathy was better than... prying too much. It might encourage Finn to open up a little bit. He was starting to remember though that the tendency to not talk about stuff was also a normal teenage boy thing, not just a Kurt-is-really-stubborn-about-not-tellin
“It’s just that Rachel is mad at me because of--” Finn stopped himself short. How embarrassing would it be to admit your sex life to your step dad?! “Because of something I did. So she went out and did something on purpose just to piss me off. And. It was really low. Like, the worst thing she could have done. And now she wants me to forgive her, but I just can’t.” He hadn’t meant to blurt that out but there it was. He fidgeted in his seat slightly, waiting for Burt’s reaction.
Burt grimaced; sounded like whatever had happened had hurt. A lot. He nodded slowly. “Some things just change the game completely, don’t they.” It was too bad, really; Burt liked Rachel. “I mean, we all do stupid things for stupid reasons when we’re mad, or hurt. And sometimes we wreck things that way. Too much to fix, or at least, to get back to what we might have had.” He paused, uncertain. This relationship, him and Finn, was so new, and more than a little fragile; he was a little afraid of pushing too far, too fast.
“Yeah,” Finn agreed rather morosely. He wasn’t sure how he could trust Rachel again after that. She had been the one to tell him about how Quinn was lying to him in the first place so he didn’t get how she could just flip 180 degrees on him like that. “Maybe eventually it will be okay. But... not right now.” His Christmas spirit high was wearing off and now he was just kind of depressed again. He really needed to snap out of it. And not let Burt see how upset he was. Forcing a shrug, he added, “At least we got a really awesome Christmas tree. I think Mom’s really going to like it.”
“Sometimes it just takes time, “Burt agreed. He was sorry to see Finn’s mood deflate so fast. And maybe he was pushing to hard; he and Finn understood each other on a lot of levels, but the emotional stuff was real hard, and had to be built up slowly. “So, what’s your favorite thing about Christmas? I think mine at your age was getting the tree, really. And Christmas cookies.” He chuckled. “Well, all of it, really, I guess.”
At the talk of Christmas again, Finn grinned a bit and shrugged. “Yeah, it’s all pretty great. I love picking out the right tree though. Then you take it home and then there is that constant reminder that it’s Christmas every time you look at it. The Christmas cookies are pretty awesome too though. And I like the snow. Hopefully we get a snow day this year. Or a couple. That would be awesome,” he said, grinning some more.
Finn’s returning Christmas cheer bolstered Burt’s mood as well, and he pulled into the driveway grinning. “I don’t even mind shoveling the stuff... at least the first snow. Let’s see if we can get this tree up and lit before your mom gets home, all right? It’ll be a nice surprise.”
Finn nodded and grinned some then got out of the car to get the tree off the car. So excited about new Christmas spirit, he could at least forget about Rachel and all the drama, at least for a while.