Hello party people! Okay so I'm just sending out a bit of a warning now about my updating habits. I will try to update as quickly as I write. But I live in Japan and due to the need to conserve power we are having lots of rolling blackouts...So like I said I will update as quickly as TEPCO and my brain allow me. Reviews are wonderful and help me write faster. I know these first two chapters are a bit slow but things will get much more interesting starting in the third. Enjoy!


Chapter 2 - Hometown Glory

Kurt sat in his room wondering if it was safe to go down stairs yet. He fingered his cell phone nervously, wanting to message Blaine. Really, he wanted to call Blaine and just listen to his voice. Kurt knew that he also needed to message Dave and let him know that Kurt's family knew about them talking. Maybe Blaine would be able to give Kurt some advice about how to approach the current reason for the unrest in the Hummel-Hudson house... And yet...maybe not. As much as Kurt adored Blaine, he sometimes gave horrible advice. Absolutely the worst; and this was a topic that would need to be dealt with very carefully. Kurt stopped fidgeting with the iphone and listened...At least it sounded a bit calmer now. He couldn't hear this father's raised voice anymore. Kurt guessed that whatever Carol had been doing was working.

The atmosphere had been tense in the house for the last hour.

AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES AGO...

Kurt should have known something was up when Burt had called him into the family room. Finn was already parked on the couch, hands on his knees, looking uncomfortable. Finn glanced up at Kurt and gave him a trapped animal look that screamed RUN! RUN WHILE YOU CAN! But Kurt had just looked to Carol and then to his dad and asked, "What's going on?"

Burt put a hand on Carol's shoulder the two looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Kurt, "This is an experiment."

"An experiment?" Kurt raised an eyebrow.

"Family talk time!" Carol said with a big smile.

"I beg your pardon?" Kurt confusedly looked from one to the other.

"Well, it just came to our attention that we hadn't been spending very much time as a family unit lately. Because with everything that has been going on we've let that slip. But since you are going back to McKinely Carol and I wanted to start a tradition to have a time where we can come to talk about things as a family. So, take a seat next to Finn, Kurt and let's get started."

"Okay." Kurt moved to the couch and folded his hands together in his lap. Heart in the right place. Heart in the right place. Kurt said over and over in his head like a mantra.

Carol and Burt started off talking about their days. Pretty normal dinner table conversation stuff. At about twenty minutes in, while Kurt was wishing he hadn't put off calling Blaine tonight, Burt turned to the boys, "So, who wants to go first?"

Kurt gave a quizzical look toward Finn, who just looked back and shrugged his shoulders. Yes, Finn, very helpful. Kurt couldn't help thinking. Kurt sighed and said, "I guess I can."

"Great!" Carol said. She seemed to be really happy that things were going well so far.

Kurt returned her encouraging smile. He really liked Carol, she was sweet and fun. Kurt would try and make this work for his father and for her. "What should I talk about? How about the new scarf I saw in Vogue? I also saw this really nice messenger bag online."

Burt cleared his throat a bit, "Well, I was hoping we could talk about how you feel about transferring back."

"I feel fine about it. I mean I get to go back to school with all my friends. I really liked Dalton but times being what they are I'm pretty positive about everything."

"You're not scarred at all?"

"Why would I be scarred?" After the words left his mouth he realized his mistake. And even if he hadn't caught it the looks he was being given by all three other people in the room would've been enough.

Finn was, amazingly, the one that recovered the quickest. "Uh, man, what about Karofsky? Aren't you worried about him?"

Kurt looked around the family room. His father was holding Carol's hand as they looked at him with concern and worry. Finn's brow was drawn together like it always was when he was thinking too hard, or watching How Stuff Works on the Discovery Channel. Kurt knew it was time to let them know what was going on.

"I don't think he will be a problem for me anymore."

Burt's eyes narrowed, "You seem pretty certain of that. We could always see if we could get the teachers to be sure that he stays away from you. We could even get a restraining order."

"Dad, don't those things cost money and take forever? I don't think I need to get a restraining order against Dave anyway." Kurt was trying to sound practical and detached.

"Yeah," Finn chimed in, "You don't need to worry Burt. This time the Glee club will be like super ninja bodyguards for you. I won't let anything happen to you man. Not from an ass-hat like Karofs...did you just call him Dave?"

"Finn, language!" Carol remonstrated.

Kurt chose not to answer Finn's rather disturbingly perceptive final question. He turned back to his dad and putting his fingers to his temple said, "I have to tell you all something. Dave contacted me about a month or so ago..." Kurt had to pause at the angry outburst from both Finn and Burt who had risen to their feet.

"When was this?"

"What did he say?"

"I'll kick his ass!"

"I thought your number was unlisted?"

Kurt calmly waited until they had both stopped speaking before he continued, "Like I said, it was a little over a month ago. During McKinely's alcohol awareness week. Dave got suspended for getting caught drunk at school. I'm pretty sure he got my number off of Facebook. Or it might still be written in the 2nd floor boys bathroom under the slogan for a good time call. But I'm pretty sure the janitor got rid of that."

Burt was, walking back and forth arms crossed, "So, what happened?"

A lot. For the sake of brevity Kurt kept it short."He apologized."

Finn looked dubious, "And you believed him?"

Kurt couldn't keep his bitch face from coming out as he settled his eyes on his step-brother, "Yes, Finn. I believe him. He had no reason to call me. He had nothing to gain from it. Not to mention he said it was your idea in the first place."

Finn shrank away under the look Burt was giving him. "Yeah, I might have suggested that Karofsky apologize to Kurt. But that was a long time ago. After the Championship game. I wanted us to go together, so I would be there. But he blew me off. I thought..." Finn trailed off as the 'to many difficult thoughts' look came back to his face.

Burt stood in front of Kurt, not so upset but arms still folded, "While I do appreciate that this boy apologized to you Kurt I don't know if you can take one phone call as proof positive that someone like that has changed."

"I know that dad. But..." Kurt paused, "But there are other reasons why I believe him."

Burt put his palms up and said, "And those would be?"

"Just from the things he said...and that…I met him for dinner two days later and he returned the cake topper he stole from me. And as you can see I'm totally fine."

"You met with him? The kid that threatened to kill you? And you didn't tell any of us? Kurt, what were you thinking? Do you know what could have happened to you?"

"Nothing was going to happen to me..."

"Kurt you don't know that! You want to believe in the good in people. And that's great but sometimes some people can't be helped."

Kurt didn't want to fight with his dad. He didn't want Burt upset but Kurt couldn't stop the words, "He's getting help now! He's working on his issues. He's come a long ways since we started..." Kurt stopped speaking, eyes wide as he looked up at his dad.

Burt's voice was dangerously low, "Since you started what?" Kurt watched his dad's thought process and knew what was coming. "Started talking…..Started seeing each other?"

Finn made a weird noise as Kurt's face went red with embarrassment and anger. He hadn't wanted to out Dave to his father, Carol and especially not to Finn. But he didn't want to lie to his father either. Kurt balled his hands into fists and tried to think. He turned pleading eyes over t Carol but she sat in her chair a look of worry in her face. "Go on honey."

Kurt took another deep breath. "Dave and I aren't seeing each other. That's ridiculous. He just really needed someone to talk to. And that's what we've been doing. Talking!"

"I understand that sometimes people reach out Kurt. But why didn't you tell me about this? You had to think that something about what you were doing was wrong if you didn't want to tell me."

"No, Dad. I just...it was Dave's personal stuff and I didn't think it was my place to share it. Even with you."

Carol stood up and walked over to Burt, rubbing his arm trying to relax the situation. "I think that your father and I are just worried about your safety Kurt."

Burt shook his head, "I thought you were smarter than this Kurt. Bad people can take advantage of people like...people like you."

"Gay people?" Kurt said dryly.

"Young. Inexperienced. Too willing to help someone out that says they need it."

"Dad. Dave isn't trying to get me alone to do something bad to me. I've met with him and he was so nervous he could barely hand me money for dinner!" Except for that one brief moment where Dave had taken Kurt's hand. "He has been nothing but respectful of my personal space. And before it's brought up, I'm not looking for a pet project to feel needed or wanted. I already have a boyfriend that does that very well!" He hadn't told anyone except Rachel and Mercedes about him and Blaine going public yet. And of all the ways he had wanted to break it to his father this had not been one of them...

From there things had deteriorated rather quickly. Burt asking what else Kurt had decided that his father hadn't needed to know about? When Finn took Burt's side things really started heating up. Kurt knew what he was doing! Kurt had handled everything; everyone else was coming in at the end of the show. Why couldn't they just see that? Carol did her best to diffuse the whole ordeal. When she finally had had enough she sent Finn to his room. Kurt followed quickly after; deciding that he had been yelled at enough...And had been there ever since.

CURRENT TIME

Kurt loved his dad, and what killed him was that he understood exactly why his dad was upset. Kurt knew he should have been more upfront about everything. But Kurt knew that what passed between him and Dave was very personal stuff. Stuff that Kurt knew Dave wouldn't want him to talk about with other people. Sometimes having the most wonderful, caring dad on the planet really sucks. But even as Kurt thought the words he knew he would have wanted anyone different.

Kurt heard the message noise and looked down at his phone, he had 2 texts from Blaine and 1 from Dave. How long had those been there? He clicked them...

BLAINE: hey babe! 3 So I think I finally have the clothes problem thing worked out. You were so right about the olive sweater...

BLAINE: oh! Almost forgot! :* - That's a kiss for you btw! Call me later.

Kurt couldn't keep the cute-happy-giddy-grin off his face. Blaine had said he wasn't good at romance, which, Kurt was finding out was a total lie. Kurt had decided that his boyfriend probably had pixie-sticks for blood since Blaine was so sweet. He let out a little contented sigh as he clicked on the next message.

DAVE: Yo, So Im joinin glee. C U nxt Mon.

Kurt could feel that his mouth was hanging open at, what was probably, a very unflattering angel. Kurt reread the message just to be sure he'd read it right. Dave Karofsky was joining Glee club? Kurt knew Dave could sing and had moves but whenever they had talked about it Dave had flat out refused to try out. Well what Dave had really said was, "I don't want to try out for a group of people that hate my guts and who think I'm a fuck-tard homophobe." And honestly Kurt couldn't blame him. Kurt wondered if Dave had finally decided on it because Kurt was coming back. Maybe that was all Dave had needed? Knowing that he'd have someone there that didn't despise him. Kurt wanted to text back but stopped when he heard the knock on his door.

"Come in." Kurt said putting the phone down.

Burt poked his head in, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Kurt turned to face his father, "Of course."

Burt closed the door behind him, "Look Kurt. I'm sorry about getting so upset. I just...I love you and I worry. Because I know how caring you are. Just like your mom. She could never stop from helping someone who she felt reached out to her either. It was one of her many amazing qualities. I just don't want you to get hurt. It's a father thing."

Kurt nodded and standing up said, "I know. I love you too dad. I should've told you about the call and the dinner. I'm really sorry I didn't. I want you to trust me. So I'm sorry for making you worry." He reached out and Burt brought Kurt to him in a hug.

Once they pulled away Burt said, "I do trust you Kurt. I know you have a good head on your shoulders."

Burt turned to leave but stopped as he opened the door, "So, Blaine is your boyfriend now?"

Kurt shifted a bit, "Yes dad."

"Okay. He seems like an okay kid. But you invite him over for dinner. I want to officially meet him as your boyfriend."

Kurt smiled, "Okay dad. I think I can do that."