Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
A/N: Only one more chapter to go after this one!
The Blessing is a traditional one used by UU's.
Saturday
"Dave, are you up? David!" Mom had the decency to knock but didn't wait for a response before pushing open my door. Groaning, I burrowed into my covers and pulled a pillow over my head only to have it yanked away.
"Am now."
"Well, you're awake now at the very least." Mom laughed and gave me a couple very solid thwacks with the pillow. "Get up. Alex and company will be here in about three hours and I need your help?"
"Huh?" I rolled over and pried my eyes open. "No. Six. Dinner is at six."
"Yes, dinner was at six. But Anne called and asked if it would be possible to do lunch instead. She wants to take the kids to a movie tonight. So... I need you to get up and get dressed. Then I need you to clean your room and come help me in the kitchen."
"Okay. Yeah," I mumbled, closing my eyes and grabbing blindly for my pillow. "Gimme."
"Oh no you don't!" Mom grabbed the comforter, yanking it to the foot of the bed.
Instinctively, I rolled onto my side, knees jack-knifing towards my chest because there were some things that my mom just didn't need to see. "Mom! Okay. Okay. I'm up. I swear!" I added as she thumped me one last time with the pillow before tossing it behind me.
Still laughing, Mom left and closed the door behind her. My phone, sitting on the corner of my nightstand, went off just as I was about to roll out of bed and I lunged for it. I ended up in a sprawl between my bed and desk and decided to just lay there as I fumbled the little thing open. "Hello?"
"Good morning!"
"Hey, baby. Feeling better?" I shifted around until I could kick my feet up onto my mattress and tucked a hand under my head.
"Much. Well, except for the fact that I'm really nervous."
"Why?"
"Because we're doing the whole meet the family thing."
"Right but you've met Dad and I know Anne and the munchkins."
"Yeah and your dad doesn't think much of me at all and I'm not sure how your mom is going to react."
I could hear the rustle of fabric and the dull thunk of plastic hangers. Alex really was nervous – so nervous he was fidgeting. "Can't figure out what to wear?"
"How'd you know?" he asked, ending the question with that soft laugh that made me melt.
"Lucky guess. Hon, wear whatever. Seriously, just be yourself. Honestly, if my folks don't like you for who you are then they don't deserve to know you. But I have this weird feeling that that's not going to be a problem."
"What do you mean?"
I shifted the phone to my other ear and dropped my feet to the floor. "Well, I think she's happy because I'm happy. And despite everything that's been going on, Alex, I am happy. You make me happy," I said as I stood up.
"You make me happy too."
The soft way he said it made me smile. "Listen, I gotta shower and do some stuff around here. See you at noon, babe?"
"Yeah. See you at noon. Bye."
"Bye." Hanging up, I tossed the phone to my bed, grabbed the clothes I'd laid out last night before going to bed, and hit the shower.
Once I was presentable I headed back to my room, cleaned lightning quick then went downstairs.
I found Mom in the kitchen neatly cutting up celery and crept up behind her to give her a tight hug and a peck on the cheek. "Where's Dad?"
Sighing, Mom set down the knife, wiped her hands on a towel and turned to face me. My stomach started to do gymnastics when she cupped my face in her hands and feathered her thumbs along my temples. "He had to go into work. I'm so sorry, sweetie."
"Work? Dad never works on Saturday!" I blinked away a rush of tears and leaned into her warm hands.
Mom pressed a kiss to my forehead and turned back to the cutting board, shoulders tight. "He said that something came up. Something he couldn't avoid but he wouldn't give me details."
"He lied."
"I know, sweetie and I tried to call him on it. I did! He loves you, David. You know that, right? He does. He's just... Confused and scared and he doesn't understand."
"Do you?" I asked as I leaned against the counter and folded my arms around my middle.
"Not really but I know that you're happy. Happier then you have been in a very, very long time, Davie. And I know that Alex is a huge part of that. That's all that matters to me. I can't even try and wrap my head around what the Church teaches." She shrugged helplessly and it broke my heart.
"Anyway, we have company to get ready for." Mom forced a smile that made me love her more then ever. "Why don't you go start the grill. I'm going to finish up this veggie tray then get the hamburgers ready."
"Sure. Um, Mom. I love you, a lot. And I need you to know that I really, really like Alex and I hope to God that you like him too."
"If he's anything like his aunt then I'm going to love him just as much as you do, hon. Now go on. They'll be here in about an hour."
Nodding, I kissed her cheek again - just because - and headed outside.
The air was warmer then it ought to be this early in the spring but the wind was just cool enough to make me shiver as I lit the burners on Dad's slightly intimidating, massive, stainless steel and black iron state-of-the-art gas grill.
I closed the lid on the grill and deflated, settling on the concrete step with my knees drawn up high. It hurt. Dad taking off today hurt worse then almost anything I could remember but I really wasn't sure if the hurt I was feeling was for myself or for Alex.
Alex. He had made my life better in so many ways in just the short time I'd known him. He was sweet and gentle and sometimes shy – everything Hummel wasn't. He was perfect. For me at least.
Sniffing, I wiped a hand across my face, surprised when my palm came away damp. The floodgates opened and I started to sob. My shoulders shook with it as I hunched over my knees, pressing my knuckles hard against my closed eyes.
The screen door behind me opened with a low groan of protest. Flinching, I scrubbed tiredly at my eyes and face as a large hand dropped to my shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Dad sat down next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I felt so small sitting there, despite the fact that we were about the same size. Unsure what to say, I shrugged and glanced at him out of the corner of my eyes.
He looked sad. Confused. Old in a way that he hadn't at the beginning of the week.
"You came home."
"I shouldn't have left, David. It was selfish. I just don't know if I'm ready to deal with all of this."
"Huh, that's funny Dad." I laughed, the sound bitter and harsh. "All you have to do is accept that this is who I am. You don't have to deal with shit! You don't have to hear what people say. Didn't have to see the crap written across Alex's locker! All you have to do is be my dad. That's it."
"I know." He stood up with a sigh and squeezed my shoulder. "Now c'mon, David. Alex and his family will be here any minute. Go get cleaned up. I'll get the burgers on."
The doorbell rang about the time I finished washing my face. I dried it hurriedly and bolted for the stairs, freezing when I heard my Dad's voice.
"Hello, Alex."
"Hello, Mr. Karofsky. This is my Aunt Anne and the munchkins are Sarah and Eric."
"Its nice to meet you. Come on in," he said.
I flew down the steps, skidding to a stop just behind Dad, my eyes locking on Alex. "Hey," I said, smiling softly.
"Hey." He grinned, pushing Eric and Sarah ahead of him to the sound of tinkling bells.
Laughing, I reached around my dad and pulled a giggling Alex into a hug. "With bells on! I can't believe you did that."
"Told you I would." He squeezed me hard and pulled back, kissing my chin.
I met Dad's eyes over Alex's head; they were guarded. Disgusted. He looked away first, turning his attention to Anne. "Mary's in the kitchen," he said, voice tight. "This way."
Alex stiffened in my arms and I tightened my hold. Anne brushed a hand over his hair as she and the kids followed Dad through the living room and into the kitchen.
"He's still not comfortable," I said as I pressed a kiss to Alex's temple.
He drew back and feathered his fingers over my cheek, offering me a ghost of his usual smile. "I'm sorry, Dave."
"Not your fault. So don't. Okay?" I slid my hands down his back and cupped his hips, pressing my forehead to his.
"Okay." He nodded and I brushed a soft kiss across his lips as my mom's laughter rang out from the kitchen, accompanied by the wild jingling of little bells.
It made us laugh. I stepped back, took Alex's hand and pulled him into the kitchen.
Mom and Anne were standing by the sink, talking and smiling as they watched the bouncing, jingling twins eagerly lick a pair of chocolate-covered wooden spoons.
"Mom, I think they ended up with more batter then the cake," I said, reaching out to wipe a smudge off Sarah's cheek.
"Probably. But they gave me puppy dog eyes, Davie. You know I can't resist puppy dog eyes."
"Davie?" Alex giggled and bumped his shoulder into mine, tightening his fingers on my hand when I threatened to pull away.
"Don't you dare or I'll start calling you pookie."
He laughed, kissed my jaw and I felt my face flush as I cut my eyes to my mom who was watching us curiously. Her smile, which always lit up her eyes, never faltered.
"Burgers are done," Dad called as he stepped into the kitchen. He froze on the threshold, eyes flicking from Alex and I to Mom. She arched a brow at him – she does the Vulcan eyebrow thing even better then he does - and Dad got this majorly sheepish look on his face as he slunk off to the dining room with the burgers.
"I'm so sorry about that," Mom said.
I wasn't sure if she was talking to Alex and Anne or to me so I shrugged, offering her a small smile as I grabbed the veggie-laden serving plate.
Mom and Anne took turns ruffling my hair as they followed after Dad with the twins in tow.
"Your mom rocks," Alex whispered, beaming up at me.
I nodded and nudged him lightly to get him moving. "Yeah. She does."
Once everyone was settled - Alex next to me, Anne and the twins across from us, Dad on my left at the head of the table and Mom at the other end - there was this odd moment where nobody moved or said anything; even the twins were completely still.
I knew what my parents were unsure about and held out my hands. "Anne? I'm not sure if you guys say grace or not but would you mind?"
"Not at all. Would you like to hear the one we use," she asked, smiling as everyone joined hands.
Dad looked uncertain but he nodded and Anne's smile got wider.
"It is a blessing to be.
It is a blessing to be here.
It is a blessing to be here now.
It is a blessing to be here now together.
Amen and Blessed Be."
My parents said the traditional Amen and made the Sign of the Cross, looking at me a little funny when I ended the prayer the same way Anne, Alex and the twins had.
"That was... Different," Dad said, brows furrowing as he looked at Anne.
"Alex and I are Unitarian Universalists, or U.U.'s since the other is such a mouthful."
"I don't think I've ever heard of that church." Mom passed the condiments around and we all began building our perfect burgers.
"Oh no. Don't get her started Mrs. Karofsky!" Alex grinned and started piling veggies on his burger. "We may not leave the table until its time for church tomorrow!"
The twins, who seemed oblivious to the tension at the table, giggled at Alex's mock-horrified tone.
Dad cracked a smile and chuckled. I risked a glance in his direction; he was smiling and I felt like jumping for joy.
"Alex and I actually met at church, Dad. That's, uh... That's where I went last Sunday." I rolled my lips between my teeth.
Alex grabbed my hand beneath the table as we both turned our attention to Dad. His smile faded around the edges but he reached out and squeezed my shoulder.
"I guess it was a good thing, right? You seem happier, plus you met Alex there." He paused and sucked in a hard breath. "Though I think Mary and I would feel a little better if Anne would tell us a bit about it."
Mom nodded slowly and I relaxed, slumping in my chair.
"Well, the U.U. Church considers itself a liberal religious community which embraces a wide variety of theological ideals. We strive to welcome different beliefs and try to affirm the worth and dignity present in every person," Anne said. She met my parents' eyes as she spoke and her warm voice and kind smile made them relax by inches.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Dave but one of the reasons you visited us on Sunday was because we are a Welcoming Congregation."
"Yeah." I nodded. "Basically, Dad that's a congregation that welcomes everyone regardless of gender, creed, sexual identity or stuff like that."
"But the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong," Dad said around a mouthful of burger, frown pulling at his brows.
"I'm not a theologian, Paul but I have read the Bible and you're right, there are a handful of passages in the Old Testament that speak out against homosexuality but you have to take into account the prevailing culture as well as all of the socioeconomic factors of the time which would have influenced family dynamics and encouraged larger families.
Now having said that, let me remind you that we are a liberal tradition that, admittedly, sprang from Jewish and Christian roots. We've changed and adapted with the times, embraced other cultures and ideals."
"So, what? Anything goes?" Dad put down his burger and clenched his fists on either side of his plate.
"That's a common misconception," Alex said, leaning around me to look at my dad. "What the Church is is a loving, giving community that tries to provide a safe place for people to explore spirituality and beliefs. As a church we don't hold to any one dogma but encourage acceptance and exploration of all faiths and practices. Like my Aunt said, we believe that every person is inherently worthy and deserving of being treated with dignity."
"We also believe, very strongly, in the Democratic process. The whole church is run that way. Everyone has a say and on the whole our congregations work hard both locally and globally on issues involving human rights and social justice." Anne met first Mom, then Dad's eyes, smiling softly.
Mom still looked uncertain but Dad looked... Speculative. Thoughtful.
Alex squeezed my hand and I shifted in my chair to fully face Dad. "You guys could come with me tomorrow. See for yourself." I turned to look at Mom. "It would mean a lot to me."
"I don't know, Davie. I'm not sure I'm even comfortable with you going but I'm not going to stop you. We're not. Right, Paul?"
"Your mother is right, son. We won't stop you from going but I'm not sure if we can. No offense, Anne but our family is Catholic. Both our parents were Catholic."
"None taken, Paul. I was raised Catholic and I completely understand where you're coming from. I do."
Mom stood up and started clearing the table, despite the fact that no one was done eating.
"I think you guys need some time to think. Talk maybe," Anne said, standing. She started to pick up plates but my dad held out a hand.
"Don't worry about the dishes, Anne. We'll get them. But.. Thank you for coming. I'm sorry things turned so serious but maybe we can do this again. After we've had some time to... Digest."
"Take all the time you need. Give Mary my thanks and let her know she can call me at anytime. Even if she just wants to vent." Anne, gathered up the twins and they followed her to the door, asking about a million questions I couldn't follow.
"I'm gonna walk, Alex out, Dad," I said, standing slowly.
Alex hugged me tightly when we reached Anne's car and I pressed my face into his bi-colored hair. "Thanks for coming, babe," I whispered.
"Welcome. Don't worry about your parents, they'll come around. You still coming tomorrow?"
"Course I am." I kissed him chastely and pulled open the passenger side door. "See you then."
"Bye, Davie."
Snorting, I stuck my tongue out at him. "Bye, Pookie."
