I've finally got chapter four for you! This is the longest chapter yet, and I really hope you like it. I promise it gets to Kurt and also clears up some of the questions you guys have asked me. I hope everyone LOVED the Klaine scene we got in last night's finale (I know I did!), and even though it doesn't really work with this story (yet!)... well, I hope you still enjoy what I'm writing! I AM going to incorporate that scene into future chapters, I promise! Also, I know there was nothing in the finale about Carole being with them in New York, but that was "supposed" to be part of the episode. So, maybe they just cut it out or it was one of those fake spoilers to mess with all the fans! Anyway, keep believing that Carole was there in terms of this fic, please. :)

And I promise that in the next chapter Carole, Finn, and Kurt will return from New York!

Enjoy, and I can't wait to hear your feedback!

The house was almost a mansion.

Kurt had never told me how wealthy Blaine's family was. I mean, I knew they had enough for the steep tuition at Dalton, but I had no idea they had anything like that.

As I pulled my truck into the driveway, I felt like I'd just shown up at a wedding in swim trunks.

It was all planned perfectly. Blaine had assured me there'd be no chance his father would be home, so he'd be able to grab everything he needed without any difficulty.

I'd talked to the man that morning. I knew that one phone call wouldn't be the end all confrontation, but I had to start somewhere. I talked to the man as calmly as I could, hoping that my restraint might make things slightly easier for the kid, and I could almost hear him cowering in fear over the phone. I talked to him for over an hour, and every time I started screaming, I could hear Kurt's voice in my ear, urging me to think of my heart and calm the hell down. I'd take a deep breath, and we'd keep talking. In the end, I gave him two options: let me break both of his legs and spend a great deal of his life in prison or do exactly as I said.

Judging by the house and the overwhelming evidence against him, I understood why he'd chosen the latter, materialistically at least.

We were still driving toward his house when I first told Blaine about my conversation with his father.

He was surprised at how simple it all seemed, and, regardless of everything he'd been through, a part of him was almost disappointed.

"He gave up that easily?"

A part of me didn't really understand the question.

"I just mean... he didn't fight for me at all?" he asked quietly.

I couldn't believe I hadn't thought about that for even a moment. Of course. He'd been abandoned once before, and now it was just another parent who was perfectly fine without him. How did I not realize that'd upset him? My huge mistake was clear in my face, and he noticed.

"No, no, you're right. I'm... being stupid. Take the next left."

"Son, you have every right to be upset. I don't want you holding in all these emotions, alright? You know they'll drive you crazy one day."

"Thank you, but... I'm fine, really."

I was terrible with avoidance issues, and I had no idea how Kurt and Blaine worked so well together when both of them were constantly covering up their feelings. Maybe I just didn't get it. Maybe they talked to each other about their deep feelings all the time, and those things just weren't in my ballpark. I liked to think that was true. He'd just have to hold it in for a little bit longer, just until Kurt got home.

We spent the rest of the ride in silence, and I tried to hide my awe at the sheer enormity of the house so as not to make him feel even worse about what he was leaving behind.

He let me in and went straight to his room. He immediately started piling his belongings into suitcases, and I immediately felt like a severely unwanted guest in that cold, enormous house.

I silently wondered if Blaine always felt that way.

His room was similar to Kurt's only in that it looked like it had been taken directly from a catalogue, but it was almost as if Blaine didn't really want it to look that way. The only thing that really looked like Blaine was a bulletin board of photos ranging from Kurt to Dalton and even a few from his old school.

I realized that I didn't really know much about Blaine from before his time at Dalton. I knew he'd been bullied out of public school, but I wondered why his father had even bothered with private school. What was the point of saving your son from getting the crap beaten out of him at school if you're just going to beat the crap out of him at home?

"Hey, kid, can I ask you something?" I asked as I helped him fold his clothes.

"Shoot."

"Dalton. What happened to get you there?"

He was silent. That was probably a mistake on my part, but if this was going to work, I couldn't deal with random bombshells in the future. Get them all out, and leave the memories behind in that house.

"I thought Kurt told you about the Sadie Hawkins dance."

"He did."

He looked puzzled but continued.

"Well, I was in the hospital for a couple of days, and I just couldn't go back. Dalton was actually my dad's alma mater. He'd been trying to convince me to go there before the bullying even started, but I didn't want to leave my friends or my fake girlfriend at the time, and, well... he respected that. But that... that attack had to be the end of the fight for me. I'd just come out, and though he wasn't pleased with it, well... I guess he just figured that I'd get all of the gay out at school, and I could come home and be more like who he wanted me to be."

He almost laughed. "Obviously, it didn't quite work out that way."

He paused, clearly with the intent to say something else. I remained quiet.

"You know, a part of me is actually looking forward to going to McKinley."

That wasn't even close to what I thought he would say, but I went along with it.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?"

"I don't really know, exactly. There's a certain... freedom in New Directions that you just don't get with the Warblers. They all really listen to each other, and individuality is huge. It took me months just to remember all of the Warblers' names. They all sort of... look a like at first, you know?"

"Yeah... I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that."

He smiled.

"Plus, I'll be there to protect Kurt."

I had always assumed that Blaine would be the one who needed protecting, but he clearly thought differently. I was glad the boy was so protective of my son, but I didn't want him getting himself into fights he had no chance of winning. Let Finn and the football guys take care of the Karofsky's of Lima.

Kurt had always described Blaine as his rock. He'd been there for him in ways that no one else could, and he stepped up at prom to dance with my son in front of that whole school. He'd fought his own demons, and as a result was the only reason Kurt was able to find the strength to fight his. However strong Blaine was for Kurt, I could see the cracks forming. He wasn't the "Blaine superhero" Kurt always said he was. He was just as broken as Kurt, and he was just as scared.

But a part of him was also right. I needed to stop thinking of Kurt and Blaine as victims. They were men, and they could fight their own battles. It was just that I'd always seen my son as the little boy who'd served me cupcakes at our tea parties, who'd asked for a sensible pair of heels, and who'd been coordinating colors since before he could talk.

Kurt was all grown up, and so was Blaine. I'd have a lot of trouble accepting that in the years to come.

"... and that's why Marion Cotillard's Vogue cover is undoubtedly the best of the year." He paused. "Um, Burt? Mr. Hummel... are you alright?"

"Hm, what?"

"You were kind of in a daze."

I looked around the room, and most of Blaine's things had already been completely packed.

"Sorry about that. Just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"That, uh... that Vogue cover. Keep going."

I let him talk me to death about all of the things I felt like I'd heard from Kurt already but knew Blaine had never talked about with anyone but Kurt.

I packed all of his stuff in the back of my truck and let him have a few minutes to get one last look at the house. I didn't even let myself begin to relate to how he was feeling. Anything I could feel would only be maximized ten times over for him.

When I loaded the last of the stuff, I cranked the ignition as a cue for him to join me for the long drive home.

He brought out two sodas and plopped down in the passenger seat with his phony smile plastered across his face.

"One for the road," he said as he handed me the drink.

"Thanks."

He opened his soda, and I turned the car off.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Blaine, I need you to be straight with me. Are you alright?" I paused. "And tell me the truth."

The smile slid from his features, but I knew it was for the best. We had to do this eventually, and I wasn't going to sit in this car with an elephant between us the whole ride home.

He was quiet.

"No, no, not really," he hesitated. "But I will be. It's just going to... to take some getting used to. I promise you I'll be alright. Really. I just need some time."

I sighed.

"Take all the time you need, okay?"

He nodded, and we spent the rest of the car ride listening to the NBA coverage. It felt so easy. I knew it would be nothing but the opposite, but I've learned that sometimes you've just got to be in denial about certain things to make life a little bit more bearable. Blaine taught me that.

When we got back to the house, it was already dark. Over another one of Carole's meals, Blaine and I decided that it was time to talk to Kurt. I told him all about my discussion with Carole the night before and how she was determined to do anything and everything it took to make him feel at home and had also promised not to say anything to her stepson or son.

We agreed that I'd talk to him first to deal with the initial shock, and then I'd hand the reigns over to Blaine for both of them to get all of the major emotions out. Kurt would need to coo, and Blaine needed someone who really got his situation to just listen and tell him everything was going to be alright. As much as I wished that person could be me, that I could make all the kid's problems disappear, I knew that was much better suited for Kurt.

As I dialed the phone, I could feel my heart beating out of my chest. Blaine was sitting in the living room, and I had retreated to my bedroom to have Kurt to myself.

"Hey, Dad. How's holding down the fort? I have so much to tell you. You're never going to believe this. Rachel and I-"

"Kurt, buddy, I'm gonna have to cut you off. There's something I need to talk to you about."

"Oh my God. Is it Aunt Mildred?"

"What? Aunt Mildred, no. Look, I don't really know how to put this other than, well, uh... it's a boy!"

He was silent.

"Dad, I don't think I follow."

I sighed. "Blaine's here."

"Blaine's at the house?"

"Blaine's moved in."

Silence.

"To... our house."

More silence.

"Kurt?"

I heard him try to muffle a sob through the receiver, and I knew then that Blaine's situation wasn't news to him.

"It's his dad, isn't it? God, I... I wanted to tell you. I'm so sorry. I should have told you so much sooner. This is all my fault. Is he okay? Is he hurt? Can I talk to him, please?"

"Calm down, buddy. He's alright. He's just a little bruised up, and you can talk to him in a few minutes. I just need to say a couple of things first."

I heard him sit down and imagined him nodding through the phone.

"First, are you okay with this? I know this is huge for your... relationship. And I'm serious, Kurt, if you're going to be uncomfortable, we will figure something else out."

"What? No, no, of course I'm okay with it. This is Blaine we're talking about, Dad."

"Hey, just checking. Next, I've gotta know, have you ever actually met Blaine's dad? Is there anything you haven't told me that I need to know?"

"No, I've never met him. Blaine only even told me about the... you know... last week when we were- well, when I noticed a bruise, and he totally broke down. He made me promise that I wouldn't tell anyone about it as long as he promised me that he'd be the one to do it. But I never imagined he'd come to you. How did you find out?"

I sighed.

"That's a story I'll save for when you're home. Kurt, I need you to be strong here, alright? Blaine's all smiles and charm, but underneath, he is a seriously fragile kid. Just listen to him, hear him out. That's what he really needs right now."

"Thank you for the tips, Dad, but I do know my boyfriend. Can I talk to him now?"

"Yeah, yeah, just call him on his cell, and he'll answer. He's waiting for you."

"And Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For just," he sighed, "for always being there for me, and accepting me and my boyfriend. You know... for being the best dad ever and everything."

My kid, the best kid in the world.

"Don't sweat it, Kurt. Just give Blaine a call, and I'll talk to you again tomorrow, okay? Don't stay up too late, and tell Blaine all about what happened with you and Rachel. I'm sure he'll love to hear it."

"Oh, he will. It's very... Blaine."

I laughed, "Alright, goodnight, kiddo."

"Goodnight, Dad. I love you."

"I love you too."

I hung up the phone and waited. I tried to deter my thoughts from whatever the two of them might be talking about, but my mind always travelled back to it. Their relationship was so unique, so special. Kurt needed Blaine just as much as Blaine needed Kurt, and if all of this somehow tore them apart, I didn't know what I'd do with myself. The last thing Kurt needed was to be completely alone again for his senior year, and the last thing Blaine needed was to be homeless for his senior year. In my mind, those two needed to stay together forever. I stopped myself from even thinking about what would happen in the future. There was just too much going on in the present.

Hours later, I heard footsteps outside my door. With a slight knock, Blaine let himself in.

"How'd it go?"

He looked exhausted and like he'd been crying for some time. I wondered how Kurt was managing.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Harder than I'd expected, but it all needed to be said. I actually feel better than I did before I talked to him. You've raised an amazing son, Mr. Hummel."

"Burt."

"Burt. I promise I'm going to get that right eventually," he said with a laugh.

I smiled, and I knew he'd be alright. He was right, it'd take some time, but he was one step closer. I was the happiest I'd been since he showed up in my shop.

"Well, I think we both need to get some rest. How 'bout it?"

"That I can get on board with. Goodnight, Burt."

"Goodnight."

As he was leaving, he accidentally bumped into the dresser. I saw him wince and grab his chest at the contact.

I made a note to call Mike the next day.

"Hey, you alright? How's the pain? Is that medicine helping?"

"Yeah, it really doesn't hurt anymore."

"None of it?"

"None of it."

Thanks for reading!