Hola! Hola! I'm here! Happy to be updating so soon! Hopefully I can continue to update quickly like this because I have to stay on a certain track so that the Christmas stuff comes on Christmas eve or Christmas day….anyway I've said too much already. Enjoy little klainers. Klainebows and candy canes for all!
"Mom, I'm um….I'm gay."
The silence was heavy. Chris gripped Darren's arm.
And then Darren's laughter filled the room. It was a nervous chuckle, and Chris emulated a sigh of relief as Darren's hand released its tight grip. His smile lit up the room.
"I'm so glad, Mom. And yes, yes I'm very happy. Much happier than I ever was with Mia." Chris couldn't help it, he let out a small giggle. He felt like he had won. He had beaten Mia to the best prize anyone could ever ask for- Darren freaking Criss.
"Yeah sure I'm sure he'd love to talk to you." Chris froze in mid-laugh as the phone was handed to him, gulping as he stared blankly at it.
"Chris, baby, my mommy wants to talk to you."
Chris picked up the phone, his hands trembling. He didn't know why he was so nervous- he had met Mrs. Criss on several occasions before and she was always very nice to him. But back then he was just Darren's friend. Now, he had to confront her knowing she had just received the news that he was dating Darren. He was terrified she held him responsible for Darren's sudden change of sexuality- which, technically, he may have had something to do with. But still, it wasn't like he had changed Darren. It was Darren in the end that had made the decision that he felt something with Chris that he had never felt with Mia.
At least Darren's here. If needed, Darren can always explain.
"Um, hey Mrs. Criss."
"Hello, Chris Colfer. How are you?" Mrs. Criss's voice was warm and sticky. In a funny way, it reminded Chris of his days back in Clovis, eating honey straight out of the jar as the other kids tipped cows and mutton-busted. Chris could only describe her voice as thick and sweet, with a slight Philippine accent.
"I'm very good, ma'm. How are you?"
"Well, I'm a little shocked right now, Chris, to tell you the truth. But I'm very happy for Darren. I'm happy he's happy with you. I think you're a great person, Chris, and I'm glad Darren has found you. I think you'll be good for him. Just promise me one thing."
"Anything." Chris replied, voice slightly quivering.
Mrs. Criss laughed on the other end. "Don't sound so nervous, Chris, I just told you I think you're great. I'm not about to bite you through the phone."
Chris chuckled and relaxed slightly, but still gripped the phone to his hear.
"I was just going to say that I want you to treat my son well. I know you will. I trust you way more than I trusted Mia. She always seemed so nice to my face, but when Dar would tell me some of the stuff she'd say….sheesh. It's just…he's been through a tough relationship with her and I want his first relationship with a guy to be loving and new and exciting and fun. You see what I mean, don't you, Chris?"
"Of course, Mrs. Criss. Of course. I love Darren." Here Chris paused to look up at his boyfriend who had tears in his eyes. "I would never do anything to hurt him."
"Thank you, Chris, dearie. And please- call me mom. Or at least Cerina."
Chris thought about this. He wasn't sure how he felt about calling Darren's mom mom, but he figured he could at least start by calling her by her name. "Thanks….um…Cerina." He laughed nervously.
Mrs. Criss laughed. "I can already tell you'll be perfect for my Darren. Would you let me talk to him again?"
Chris said goodbye and handed the phone over to Darren, who took it and immediately started laughing at something his mother had said. After a few mumbles, Darren squeezed Chris's hand and asked bravely into the phone, "May I speak to Daddy? Is he there? I need to tell him the…news."
Upon saying this, Darren let go of Chris's hand and scooted further from him on the coach, hinting to Chris that he wanted to be alone to come out to his father. Chris got up politely, casting a big smile in Darren's direction. He mouthed, Good Luck! before standing up and walking into the kitchen of Darren's apartment. He heard Darren mumbling in the other room and resisted the strong urge to eavesdrop by setting a pot of milk on the stove and rummaging in the cupboards for some hot chocolate mix.
He was muttering to himself, strongly wishing he had Kurt's insane cooking abilities at the moment, when Darren walked in behind him, wrapping his strong arms around Kurt's torso and causing Kurt to drop the spoon he was holding onto the counter. Darren's torso was pressed against his back, and his breath was warm on Chris's neck. Chris hummed in delight and stepped back, moving his head back so that it fell on Darren's shoulder.
"So….need I ask how it went?" murmured Chris into Darren's ear.
"It went well. I love my parents. They were nothing but supportive. And I feel like…I feel like I had this huge weight on my shoulders and now, it's not gone, but, it's- it's lighter, you know?"
Chris grinned. "Yeah, baby, I know."
Darren pulled Chris in even closer and kissed his cheek. "So I'm gonna go change into my pj's and we can snuggle and drink up some of your delicious hot cocoa."
Chris looked down meekly at the steaming hot coca in the pot. "Um…I don't know about delicious…"
"Holy shit, Chris, it's burning! Turn off the burner!" laughed Darren as he jumped back.
"Fuck! I am! I am!" Chris flicked off the burner and crumpled to the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter that had hit him very suddenly. Maybe it was just everything that they had been through in the last week that caused Darren and Chris to roll on the floor, laughing so hard they were crying. The room had an elated feeling, as though it held the power of relieving stress.
Chris finally stood up, drying his eyes and pouring some of the burned hot chocolate into coffee mugs. "Mmmm…appetizing…" he muttered sarcastically, handing a cup to Darren.
The two boys filed into Darren's bedroom. Chris flopped down on the unmade bed and slid under the covers, trying desperately to avert his eyes when Darren changed into his pajamas, not because he though Darren would think it was strange if he watched him, but because he was terribly afraid he would get horribly turned on at the sight of his boyfriend practically naked. And he really didn't need to deal with that right now.
A few seconds later, Darren plopped down beside Chris handing him a clean pair of sweatpants.
"Come on, Chris. Be comfy and soft and cozy with me." pleaded Darren with puppy dog eyes.
Chris complied, kicking off his boots and shimmy-ing out of his tight jeans. Darren stared shamelessly the whole time. Chris pulled on the sweatpants quickly, feeling slightly ashamed of his body.
Darren grinned. "Don't hide from me, Colfer. You know I'm gonna have to see you naked one of these days." Chris blushed and got these butterflies in his stomach. "And besides, I may be biased, you know, considering I'm your boyfriend and everything, but I think you're pretty freaking hot.
Chris felt his face grow hot and he averted his eyes, but he couldn't help the smile that spread from cheek to cheek. He unbuttoned the nice shirt he had been wearing so that he was only in a wife beater and the sweatpants before sliding back under the covers next to his boyfriend. He took a few sips of his hot cocoa, which was surprisingly good considering it had been burnt, before setting it down and allowing himself to be pulled in tight to the older man's chest.
Darren sung something lightly, set down his cup of hot chocolate, and squirmed down, hugging Chris's head to his chest.
"Mom and Dad down, the rest of the world to go." He remarked into Chris's light brown hair.
"Don't worry, Dar. I'll be here every step of the way to help you."