Merry Christmas from the Price Residence
As soon as the first tiny bell jingles come through the TV speakers, Rachel’s head snaps to look at it. When she realizes that yes, it’s real, it’s happening, she springs to her feet in the middle of the living room.
Kate knows what’s coming, even if she’s never seen Rachel around Christmas before. There’s no way that Rachel isn’t going to -
“Ah-aaah-aah.”
This catches Max and Chloe’s attention, and Chloe sits up from Max’s lap. Back from the kitchen, Dana peaks her head around the corner to see what’s up.
“I don’t want a lot for Christmas~”
Rachel ignores the eyes on her, shutting her eyes and beginning to sway in rhythm. Still, she and Mariah could use some back-up.
Now, Rachel and Kate in unison: “There is just one thing I need.”
Dana’s got a smirk on her face that makes Kate blush, but it’s too late to stop now. Max and Chloe are watching, too, eyes wide, as if they still don’t get what’s happening.
“I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.”
Rachel opens one eye slyly to get a peak at Kate, but once she can see her singing, she closes her eyes again.
Max joins in, because she’s not a punk who pretends things aren’t good because they’re popular like her girlfriend.
“I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you~”
As soon as the instrumentation kicks in, Rachel starts to bob her head up and down to the beat, and swaps out her swaying for step-touching. Now even Joyce has stopped what she was doing in the kitchen.
Kate’s embarrassed, but it doesn’t stop her from belting out the next few lines. It doesn’t stop Dana or Chloe either.
Rachel’s eyes open as she begins to dance, pointing at Max and Chloe with every ‘All I want is you”.
It quickly descends into a din, and Kate is the only one who notices Taylor and Victoria getting back from their smoke break in the back yard. They just sit there, stunned for a second.
Then, unprompted, Taylor jumps alongside Rachel and just shouts: “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU!”
Victoria groans loud enough to be audible, but no one pays her any mind. Rachel darts forward, grabbing Max and Chloe’s hands and pulling them up alongside her and Taylor. Kate just keeps on singing along while Dana comes to the back of her seat, resting her elbows just behind Kate’s head. Kate has no idea if she’s on pitch - she can barely hear herself.
Just as Taylor is dragging Victoria into the mess, Dana taps Kate’s shoulder. When she looks, Dana nods her head towards the open space outside of the couches that isn’t absolutely filled with girls right now. Kate raises her eyebrows in question, but Dana just backs up, and she follows.
Dana grabs her hands, as if Kate should know what is happening. Wait. She does. It’s swing-
And then they’re going, Dana leading her in the most cramped west coast swing of her life.
But then it’s over, and Taylor groans in disappointment.
“FUCK YOU, IT’S NOT OVER!” Rachel shouts, grabbing the remote.
She taps a few buttons, and then, those little bells are there again.
This time, everyone is singing along. Kate can see a sullen David near the garage entrance, but she just ignores him.
Instead of resuming their swing dance as it hits the allegro, though, Dana just brings Kate’s hands to her hips and drapes her arms over her shoulders.
“I don’t want a lot-” Kate tries to keep singing, but Dana’s kissing her and she has to stop, just standing in the hall while Max trips and falls on the couch, then the floor.
They’re still kissing as Victoria and Rachel give their loudest is “BABY ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU!”