Title:Nothing's So Heavy as a Secret

Main Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, Rachel/Finn

Summary: Blaine has secrets. Kurt knows that Blaine has secrets. And those secrets are revealed when Rachel receives some exciting news from her fathers. Will the life Blaine has built come crumbling down when she finds out, or will the Berry's be able to help him? And what will happen when Kurt finds out? Sometimes, one secret getting out is all it takes to break someone.

Rating: T, mostly for language. Not in this chapter, I don't think, but as the story goes on.

Word Count: 4,588 words according to fanfiction... word says 4,571 *shrugs*

Disclaimer: Glee is created by Ryan Murphy, I don't own it, it's on Fox, blah blah blah. I mean, why would I be writing fan fiction if I owned it? The only things I suppose I own are the people who have not been on Glee that show up - like Michael. But yeah, Glee, not mine.

Beta'd By: themuse19

Authors Note: Wow. I have not uploaded anything in a really long time... just haven't been in a very writty-mood lately. And I'm behind on school work...

But, anyways, I got this idea the other night while reading threw all those Anderberry!sibling fics. I originally wasn't going to write it, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head. So, I jotted it down. I haven't actually proof-read it yet, so if something doesn't make sense, let me know. I'm kinda sick and out of it, so I'm sorry if something's confusing... I'll read over it tomorrow and edit it.

So, this is a different take on Rachel and Blaine being siblings, in which seasons 1 and 2 are Cannon. Well, as far as I can remember they're cannon. It starts during the summer before Rachel's senior year, and goes on through season 3, which will obviously not be cannon... well, fully cannon. Loosely based on cannon.

I'll do my best to update as soon as I can. I'll try and write ahead on it so I can get out regular updates, but for right now this is all I have. I wanted to get it out before I forgot. And I'll edit it and fix it tomorrow afternoon, so please let me know if you see anything that I should fix, whether spelling, grammar, or an overly OOC section. And I have never really written a lot of Rachel before... so I did my best.

Also, since season 3, I've been seeing Blaine differently. He's not as dapper as people make him out to be all the time. I mean, he's snapped plenty of times. He also cares about his image a lot. He sort of is a lot like Rachel, and yet different at the same time. So I'm going to try and incorporate that in here. So he may seem angry more often than what would be seen in character, but considering the circumstances, I see it as in character...

Anyways, I'll let you read now... if you haven't just skipped this. I hope it makes sense and that you enjoy it, and I'll be sure to update it soon~

EDIT: The wonderful themuse19 has now edited this :3 I'm also 2,000 words into the next chapter, so I'll be sure to have it up on Christmas Day at the latest. Thank you for reading!

"Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret."

-Jean De La Fontaine

"Rachel, could we speak to you for a second?"

Said brunette spun around quickly, just before she was about to make her way upstairs. Her dads were sitting together at the kitchen table, smiling at her, their hands clasped over the table. She grinned at her parents before placing her bags at the bottom of the stairs and walking over to them with a small skip in her step.

Summer vacation was now half over, and Rachel was very excited to get ready for her senior year. She had the greatest guy in the world as her boyfriend, and she and Kurt had gotten to be even closer since he'd been spending much more time at the Hummel/Hudson household. In fact, the two had spent the entire day shopping – Kurt claiming that he wanted to try and make her 'fashionably acceptable' for their last year of high school. And who was she to complain? She wanted to go out with a big bang after all; why not let Kurt help her with her clothes? And they did look nice on her… Not to mention, Kurt said Finn would like it. Although, thinking of when he said that their Sophomore year… oh well, they were friends now, she trusted him.

"Yes, daddies?" she asked with a smile. When Hiram motioned for her to sit down, she quickly did so, her fathers smiling at each other before turning to face her.

"Well, since this year is going to be your senior year and all…" Hiram started, glancing at his husband lovingly. It still amazed Rachel how much her fathers still acted like love-struck teenagers, and even though it was at times embarrassing or slightly gross and disturbing, she had to admit that it was sweet. She wondered if she and Finn would ever be able to be like that – that is, if she and Finn managed to find a way to stay together when she went to New York of course.

"We were thinking that it might be a good time to… adopt another child," Leroy finished, snapping Rachel from her thoughts.

"A-another kid?" she stuttered, slightly stunned. She'd always been an only child, getting all of her fathers' attention. She liked it that way. But, maybe if she had a little brother or sister, she'd be able to teach them all about how to be a star, and she knew she'd be a great role model. Her shocked face spread into a grin. "You know, that actually sounds like a pretty good idea!"

"We're glad you think so, Rachel," Leroy grinned in relief, turning his gaze from his husband to his daughter. "We were thinking that maybe you would want to come with us when we go and meet him. Your papa and I have been thinking about this for a little while, sweetheart, and the social worker told us about a little boy that may fit well in our family. His name is Michael; he's six years old. He's in a boys' home not too far from here – we were thinking of going tomorrow?"

"Not to adopt him yet or anything," Hiram added quickly. "Just to meet him. It wouldn't be very fair of us to take him home if he didn't even know us. He must've gone through enough already. We already called the social worker and she said that it was okay for us to go visit. We just wanted to check with you first, because we wouldn't ever want to do something so drastic as this without making sure you were okay with it."

"Sounds perfect!" exclaimed Rachel. The more she thought about it, the more excited she was at the thought. "Just let me call Kurt and Finn. We were supposed to meet up with the rest of New Directions for a movie, but I'm sure they'll understand." Hopping up from her seat, she walked over to the other side of the table, giving each of her fathers a kiss on the cheek before going back to the stairs and grabbing her bags. She flashed them another grin before running up the stairs and into her room. She heard her papa call out that they were leaving around noon tomorrow, and grinned. Not long to wait then. Placing the bags beside her bed, she fell backwards and onto her bed with her cell phone up to her ear.

"Hi, Kurt!" she called happily when the countertenor picked up the phone with a tired 'hello'.

"Oh, hi Rachel. What's going on?" She heard Kurt yawn slightly and turned to look at the clock. Hmm, it was only six thirty, meaning he'd gotten back about a half hour ago, herself only about fifteen minutes ago. She never thought she'd see the day where shopping actually resulted in Kurt being tired.

"I just called to let you guys know I can't make it to the movies today," she answered, her voice still sounding happy and cheery. Her smile faltered slightly when she heard a sigh on the other end, but refused to go away.

"Oh great, you and Blaine both!" he moaned into the receiver.

"Blaine can't make it?" she asked. "I thought he said he could."

"Yeah, but he said his parents needed him to help out with something at home, and he couldn't get out of it. He wouldn't tell me what though. I swear, sometimes I think I hardly know him. It's like every day I learn that I just know one less thing about him. I've never even been to his house, or met his parents. I mean, sure, he's always at Dalton during the school year, but in all this time during the summer… still, never. All I know is what he told my dad – that his dad isn't entirely supportive of his sexuality."

Rachel blinked as Kurt finished up his small, miniature rant. She always thought Kurt and Blaine knew everything about each other. They always seemed like the perfect couple, no secrets.

"I'm sure he has a reason, Kurt," she offered softly. Blaine didn't seem like the type of person to play Kurt or anything, and plus, she'd seen the way he'd look at Kurt. Hell, he'd even come along to some things Rachel could tell he didn't like, just to hang out with Kurt and follow him around like a brown-eyed puppy. "It's Blaine we're talking about – he loves you."

"Oh, I know. Still, it's just… somewhat annoying sometimes. But hey, everyone has their secrets, and I trust him no matter how irritated I may get. Well, anyways, changing the topic away from my miniscule relationship issues, why can't you go?"

Rachel grinned once again. "Oh, nothing. Just… family business to attend to, you know."

"Oh, c'mon Rachel! Just tell me!" Rachel laughed at Kurt's slightly whiny voice.

"Okay, okay. But you can't tell anyone else, except for Finn of course." When she received an affirmative she quickly exclaimed, "My dads are taking me to meet my new baby brother!"

"Wait, what?" he nearly yelled. Rachel pulled the phone back slightly for a second. "They're adopting a kid? Right before senior year? Wow, talk about an age gap." He muttered the last part, making Rachel laugh again.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Well, he's six, so it's only an eleven-year gap, not seventeen. His name is Michael, and we're going to go and see him tomorrow at that boys' home not too far from where I live; that's why I can't go."

"Well, call either me or Finn when you get back! And see if you can get a picture of him," Kurt requested, and she could practically hear the other boy smile over the phone. So, Kurt liked kids. Well, that was news to her. Who would've thought….

"Will do Kurt!"

The two said their good nights after talking for a bit longer, Rachel dropping the phone next to her bed afterwards. She smiled as changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and combed her hair, as she did every night. When she crawled back into bed, she glanced at her phone one more time, seeing one new text.

From: x Finn x

Sweet dreams Rach! Kurt told me bout the bby bruther, sounds awsme! Love you.

Rachel smiled softly at the message, holding her phone next to her as she drifted into sleep.

"Rachel, honey, time to go!" Rachel stopped her daily vocal exercises as she heard her papa call up the stairs to her. She grinned, calling back a 'coming' as she raced down the stairs, pocketing her cell phone. She did promise Kurt a picture.

Climbing into the backseat of the family car, she leaned her head forward between the two front seats, both of her dads smiling at her before turning to face the road. The car ride only took about fifteen minutes, Rachel singing along to the Broadway classics her dad had put on a travel CD for her. She kept fidgeting whenever she wasn't singing, and quickly hopped out of the car once they parked in the driveway of a house a bit smaller than her own.

"Calm down, honey!" Hiram chuckled. "He's not going anywhere." She slowed down, waiting for her dads to ring the doorbell. After a moment, she heard the call of 'coming' shortly followed by the shouts of children. After around half a minute, the door opened up, and a woman with blond hair stuck her head out.

"Ahh, you must be the Berry family! My name's Katherine Greenwell. Michael's just in the other room – the boys are all just finishing up their lunch now. Come on in." She stepped back from the door, opening it up all the way for the family of three to make their way in. Rachel looked around the room, hearing a large number of voices and even some laughter coming from the other room. They weren't just the high voices of children either; no, some of the voices were deeper. It must have been a boys' home for all ages, not just younger ones.

"If you'd just wait here for one second," Mrs. Greenwell said, walking into the other room, calling out a name Rachel couldn't make out over the sounds of laughter and what seemed like arguing. Looking around at the mostly-blank walls (some pictures had been tapped up to one of the walls on the far side of the room – photographs, crayon drawings, and even a few letters) Rachel was glad to see that it didn't seem like one of those depressing buildings that she'd read about in stories. It seemed fairly nice, in fact. Not as good as having your own home, of course, but good considering.

"Come on, Michael." Rachel looked up at the sound of that voice. She knew that voice. "They just want to meet-." The voice stopped when the source looked up at the family in front of him, brown eyes wide and even a bit… scared, if Rachel was reading him right.

"B-blaine? What are you doing here?" she asked, completely shocked. The boy with him – 'he must be Michael'– clung to the seventeen-year-old's leg that he was hiding behind, not seeming to ever want to let go.

"Uh, hi Rach." He smiled what was obviously a nervous smile at her, his voice just a bit higher and softer than usual. Not enough that people who didn't know him would be able to notice, but Rachel had seen a lot of him over the summer, seeing as she was with Kurt most times that she wasn't with Finn. She just continued to look at him with wide eyes, Leroy and Hiram glancing between the two in confusion.

"Dads, this is Kurt's boyfriend, Blaine," she informed them, not once taking her questioning gaze off of her friend. "Blaine, these are my dads, Leroy and Hiram." She waved in the general direction of them, and watched Blaine nod quickly at the two. He then crouched down and whispered a few words in the six-year-old's ear before picking him up gently.

"Mikey, these are the Berrys. They're very nice people. Can you say hello to them for me?" Blaine asked softly, pointing in the direction of the family a few feet away from him with his left hand, holding Michael up with his right. The six-year-old picked his head up from Blaine's neck – where he had buried it the moment Blaine picked him up – and turned his head shyly towards them.

Rachel forgot about Blaine for a moment as she smiled at the little boy and waved softly. He looked so adorable. He had shaggy, dark brown hair with big, blue eyes. He seemed small for six years, and from the expression on his face and the way he reacted to seeing them, Rachel knew almost certainly that he was very shy. Well, she'd be able to fix that, of course. He'd be set to perform in no time!

"Hi," he whispered quietly, looking down at the ground, one of his small hands gripping at Blaine's left tightly. She watched Blaine smile and take a few more steps towards them. Whispering a few more quiet words to the boy in his arms, Blaine managed to pry his left hand free, and hand Michael over to Leroy with Hiram standing right behind his husband, hand placed lovingly on his husband's shoulders.

Blaine smiled, and turned to walk back into what must have been the kitchen when Rachel called back out to him.

"Blaine, wait!" Cursing silently, he turned around and placed a tired smile on his face.

"Yes Rachel?"

"It's just… why are you here?" Her voice was quiet, concerned. Motherly, even. She watched Blaine's gaze move towards his feet, one hand holding his other arm, and took in his appearance. He looked so… tired. His clothes looked worn and his hair wasn't gelled over like normal, the curls framing his face softly. He had bags under his eyes, and he just looked… small. Well, not height-small, because she already knew he was, but metaphorically small. He also seemed younger. Originally, Rachel had found it hard to believe that Blaine was only going to be a junior. In fact, she had thought he was a senior last year. But looking at him now, she didn't find it so hard to believe.

"I live here, Rachel."

Rachel glanced back at Blaine's face as he spoke. His voice was so soft, quiet and… somewhat weak if she were to be honest with herself. She glanced back at her fathers, who were talking softly to Michael, who was now smiling softly even though he was still avoiding their gazes. Mrs. Greenwell had returned, and was looking at Rachel and Blaine curiously.

Turning back to Blaine, she asked, "do you think we could go for a walk?" Blaine turned to Mrs. Greenwell. She nodded, and Blaine nervously smiled at Rachel before grabbing her wrist and pulling her outside.

The two were silent for as they walked a few blocks toward the park Rachel had seen on the way over. After a while, Rachel finally spoke up.

"What did you mean when you said that you live there?" she asked, softly.

"I mean, Rachel, that I live there in every sense of the word. I live in a boys' home. That's where I sleep, where I wake up, where I eat. It's where I am when I'm not with Kurt, the Warblers, or at Dalton. That's what I mean." His voice was harsh and cold, shocking Rachel. She'd rarely ever seen Blaine not acting dapper and charming, but she knew from Kurt that there were a few times when Blaine would get upset. But Kurt had never told her of a time when his voice ever sounded so… cold.

"So, are you an… orphan or something?" Rachel bit her lip after the words came out. She didn't mean to be so rude, but she just didn't get it and she just had to. She didn't like not knowing things. And hadn't Kurt said Blaine had a family thing to do?

"No. Well, in a sense, yes." She looked at Blaine, who was looking straight ahead as he walked a few more paces before sitting down at a bench on the outskirts of the park. He glanced at her and motioned her over with a – very unenthusiastic, might she add – wave of his hand. Slightly hesitant, she sat down next to Blaine, placing a hand comfortingly over his. Blaine turned from where he was glancing off at the distance again to smile weakly at Rachel for a moment for turning back.

"It was when I was in the eighth grade… just three weeks before my fourteenth birthday, in fact. I… I came out to my parents," Blaine started. His voice was soft, like one of a child afraid to tell an adult about something that scared them. "I knew that they didn't like anything homosexual. They didn't let me dress in what they thought was a 'gay' way, they didn't let me do anything they considered 'feminine'… and they were likely some of the most homophobic people I'd ever had the displeasure of knowing." He let out a shaky breath and a short, soulless laugh. Rachel squeezed his hand softly in encouragement, a sad smile on her face. She had a feeling where this was going, and figured that they would both be crying by the time his story was done, not just Blaine, who already seemed close to tears.

"I told them at the end of dinner one night. I'd been tr-ying to for weeks, but didn't know when, or how." As he spoke, his voice cracked and he squeezed his eyes shut. "I just… blurted it out when my mom got up to clean the table. Just said 'I'm gay'. My mom dropped the plate in her hand onto the floor, and the pieces just shattered, no one making a move to clean it. It felt like they were staring at me for hours. It's stupid, but I felt like the shattering of the plate was about to be a metaphor for my life, whether they killed me or just made it miserable. My mom was the first to speak. She started whispering to me that I didn't know, that I probably just didn't like any of the girls at my school. But my dad just told me to get out.

"I spent that night sleeping outside in the backyard. It was cold seeing as it was only November, but I didn't have any friends' houses to go to – the school knew I was gay, even if I'd never said it. And they hated me for it. And so, the next morning, I found out that my parents had called a social worker. Told them that they refused to have a… a fag," he spat the word out like venom, "for a son.

"He tried to convince my parents that it wasn't something they could change their mind about, and that it was likely a terrible mistake that they would always regret making, but they wouldn't hear it. And I knew that they wouldn't regret it, no matter how much I wanted them to. When I think about that day, I just… I keep seeing what their faces looked like right before I climbed into the social worker's car. My mom had tears running down her face. But she wasn't sad that I was leaving. No, she was upset about the fact that she didn't know where she'd gone wrong, how I'd ended up the way I did. How much it would affect her social standings when people found out that their son – or, ex-son I guess – was gay.

"But my dad… he was just glaring at me. His eyes were so… cold… and they actually made me feel scared. I mean, yeah, he'd never hit me before. But at that moment, I wasn't sure what he would have done if the social worker wasn't around. And the thought of what he still could do horrified me. They'd packed most of my stuff up into two suitcases, and I got in the car. I was taken to a boys' home, and moved to this one when I got a scholarship to Dalton the summer before my freshman year."

"I didn't think Dalton gave scholarships," Rachel muttered to herself, but Blaine heard and laughed a broken laugh.

"They don't normally. It's more of a charity thing – give unfortunate souls the chance at a great education to prevent them from turning into druggies and criminals," he spat out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Tears were streaming down his face now, and Rachel felt her own falling too. "I wouldn't even be there if it wouldn't help me later. Because, Dalton's a great school, good on a college application….

"I've only got two more years, though. After my senior year, I can find my own place. Join you and Kurt in New York, just like we planned." He turned to Rachel, smiling weakly. "I took up a job after school at Dalton when I first started there, and I only stopped just a few weeks before I met Kurt. Sometimes Mrs. Greenwell pays me to do some extra chores around the house too. I've also had a few other part-time jobs over the year. The money's not enough to pay for a full tuition... but Dalton's good on a college application, so maybe I can get a scholarship…"

By now, Blaine was looking back out at the park, the sound of children's laughter making him smile softly. But as he spoke, it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself rather than Rachel. "I can get there, Rachel. And this part of my life won't matter anymore. I'll work hard, get a scholarship to any school in New York, I don't care which one. I don't even care what I'd have to major in, if it's for music, Performing Arts, hell, I'd go to one and major in Literature if I have to. But I'm goingto New York, Rachel. This changes nothing."

His voice was cold again, and Rachel just sat there, stunned. Never had she expected this to be how Blaine's life was. She had just figured Blaine was pretty well off… Kurt had told him his father wasn't the most accepting, but she'd always thought he was well-off. After all, most people who went to Dalton were pretty rich and had fairly good lives. But…

"Does Kurt know, Blaine?"

Blaine froze up at that, and she instantly had her answer. "You have to tell him, Blaine. He loves you. It's not right to hide something like this from him. Maybe he can find a way to help-"

"I don't want help Rachel!" Blaine shouted, standing up. A few parents turned to look at them briefly, before turning back to their kids when they saw nothing dangerous or violent happening. "You don't get it! I didn't tell him – I didn't tell anyone because I don't want them to treat me like a… like a charity case! Do you know how hard it was for me to accept that scholarship to Dalton? It made me feel like I couldn't do anything without the help of others. Like I need to rely on free things I get from people. But I don't, and I'm sick of people thinking I do. Sometimes I want to get through things on my own.

"I live in a boys' home. Oh well. It doesn't change who I am," he finished, sitting back down and sighing. Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling it back when he stiffened.

"Exactly. It doesn't change who you are. And Kurt will know that, Blaine. I know that, and I don't even know you nearly as well. He loves you, Blaine. As much as you love him, hell, maybe more! He wouldn't care about this," she smiled softly before her voice changed from soft and comforting to firm and instructing. "But you're lying to him right now, Blaine. You told him you had to do something with your family toda-"

"They are my family, Rachel," he said softly, his forehead in his hands. "Maybe not by blood, but they're my family. Sure, they don't stick around forever, but they're still my family. I care about them like a family. I'm the oldest one there, Rachel. It's my job to take care of them. And I couldn't go to the movies today because Mr. Greenwell had to go out of town for the day, and asked me to help his wife watch over the others. I wasn't lying." His voice was cold as steel, and yet full of emotion at the same time. Rachel softened slightly before sighing.

"But you're not telling the whole truth, either."

Blaine stayed silent at that, and Rachel patted his shoulder before standing up. "C'mon, we'd better get back. I want to have a chance to meet Michael before we have to leave." Blaine smiled softly at her, his eyes red-rimmed and face puffy, but the small smile didn't seem fake to her, at least.

"He's a good kid, Michael," he muttered so softly Rachel almost hadn't heard him. "He lost his parents a year ago, and he never really talks much. But he's sweet, likes to draw a lot. He used to try to eat the crayons, though." He laughed at the memory, shaking his head. "He was supposed to go to kindergarten last year, but the school year started only a month after his parents died. He didn't ever talk then. So now he has to be a year behind in school. But he's smart, really smart. I don't doubt that he'll be able to skip a grade one day, catch back up to the people his own age."

"You really know those kids, don't you?" she asked softly, voice full of affection.

"I told you, they're my family. When I'm not with Kurt or the Warblers, I'm with them. I make it my place to learn everything about them, because a lot of them have problems, Rachel. They're not bad, but most of them have been through traumatic experiences. Like Jake, Jake has PTSD, and he gets flashbacks a lot when they start roughhousing. And Louis, he's got pretty bad anger management problems. I have to know them, I have to know how to calm them down. How to help them. Because it hurts to see them in pain. They're my family, the only one I've got, and I'm not going to just take that for granted."

Rachel didn't say anything, just smiled and squeezed Blaine's hand as they arrived at the door to the boys' home. Blaine walked up the steps and opened the door, walking in with Rachel not far behind. She immediately walked over to her dads, Blaine making his way back down a hallway that she guessed led to his room, hands tucked into his pocket. Leroy was sitting on an old, faded couch, Michael having fallen asleep in his lap. Hiram stood up from his place beside him, and put a finger to his lips as he walked over to Rachel and whispered quietly.

"Rachel, we need to talk to you."

Authors Note: Well then. That's likely the longest chapter I've ever written. But the only place I would've been able to split it was when Rachel saw Blaine... and that would've made it short. Plus, I'm aiming to write longer chapters now. I mean, I did this in a good 2-3 hours of straight typing. So with any luck, it won't be too hard to make them longer.

Anyways, lemme know what you think, because I honestly very much appreciate constructional criticism~ You can't improve if no one tells you what you're doing wrong. Or, what you're doing that could be improved.

EDIT: Heh. I added like, 500-600 words to that. Didn't mean to. I didn't change any information though, just changed detail and I think I got most of the grammatical errors. If not, let me know anything you see, and I'll fix it.

~Josh