The station was the same as always. Dark room, music blaring- if it weren't for the miniature Christmas tree on the No Sex Desk people wouldn't have even thought it was the holidays.

Station manager Luke had rebelled against the playing of Christmas carols on the radio. But that was not going to stop Jesse Swanson humming 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and a selection of other holiday classics.

But he snapped his jaw shut when Beca Mitchell marched through the door.

"Hey there Becs", he said carefully, as the tiny brunette tossed her backpack down, her jacket quickly following. "How was Bellas practice?"

Her eyes darkened, and he took a step back (obviously he was just too cheerful for her existence). "You're feliz navidead to me".

Jesse held his hands up. "Whoa!"

"Sorry", she mumbled, picking up a stack of CDs. "do you want to know what Aubrey had us rehearsing today?"

"I'd love to know".

"'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. That was the singular song we sang for three hours straight. In her death trap shoes, and- you'll like this- Rudolph noses. And she yelled at us when we sounded all stuffy, because the stupid foam blocked off our airways".

He would have laughed, but if he had laughed, she probably would have killed him with the death trap seven inch heels she had stowed away in her backpack (because despite sprinting cross- campus wearing them once, she had not made a habit out of it).

"Aw, Bec", he said instead, offering her a juice pouch (strawberry kiwi. Her favourite).

"Thanks", she said instead.

They worked in silence for a few moments, before she spoke up again.

"It's not that I'm a Grinch", she said suddenly. "I love Christmas. Just, you know not the commercial, Rudolph nose and antler wearing side of it. Christmas is actually my favourite holiday".

(The week before she had informed him it was Easter, but he'd let it slide.)

"Really?" he tried. "What do you do for Christmas?"

"Eat turkey with my mother and grandparents". She shrugged. "Except this year. This year I'm spending it here, with Dad and the stepmonster".

(That was probably adding to her bad mood.)

"You could always come to New York with me", he shrugged, and she froze for a moment.

"Aubrey would have a field day", she almost chuckled.

(The Oath. He remembered.)

"So, are the Bellas doing a secret Santa?" he questioned instead.

"Yep. I got Stacie. I'm thinking a box of condoms". She nodded thoughtfully, and Jesse spluttered with laughter (because he had met Stacie and that was probably all she needed). "Why, are the Trebles?"

He sighed heavily. "I got Bumper Allan. What do you get the douche who's got his own line of sports sandals?"

(Bumper Allan was the biggest douche that Beca had ever met. And that was saying something.)

She just chuckled. "Absolutely no idea".

When she saw Jesse wearing a red and green Christmas sweater, she started to laugh. And it wasn't just the little titter that Jesse had heard before (that was so not a laugh); this was a proper belly laugh that rang through the whole studio.

"What are you wearing?" she gasped hysterically.

His grin was ear to ear. "You like it?" he questioned. "Grandma made it for me. I can ask her to make you one too!"

Even the thought of wearing one of those monstrosities wasn't enough to quiet Beca. She laughed until her stomach ached and she thought she was going to be sick, leaning against the No Sex Desk.

(He could totally get used to this. He could make her laugh; he just needed to get out his Christmas sweaters. He had a whole bunch.)

"This is the first year we've had a Christmas riff off", Beca complained. "and Aubrey's insisting we rehearse. She's actually insane".

"She is", Jesse agreed with a nod. "So, tell me, is she making you wear your red noses?"

"I fought that. I am fighting that until I'm blue in the face, I am not wearing a red nose".

(The cold in the empty pool had tinged their noses pink that afternoon, Fat Amy had argued that was good enough. And then again, Fat Amy had asked if she could wear a Santa Claus suit.)

"Maybe she'll paint it on", Jesse suggested, and Beca paled at the thought.

"Sweet Jesus", she breathed.

"Merry Christmas weirdo", Jesse said, on their last shift together before their Christmas break.

"Merry Christmas nerd", she shot back, a smile creeping onto her face.

When Luke saw two presents under the mini Christmas tree on the No Sex Desk upon their departure, he grinned. But when he saw the nametags, he frowned.

"Damn interns", he grumbled.

(He hoped that they wouldn't finally realise their feelings for each other on his desk.)