A/N: Well hello there! Long time no see...Haha kidding I updated a few days ago. This is my longest chapter yet, and took me pretty much all day to write, so I hope you like it. I just want to thank everyone who has helped me get to a massive 41 reviews! Reading those reviews makes me feel like if I fail these exams because I'm writing fanfiction it will be totally worth it ;)

Just a few things before you read this chapter: First off, I normally try not to swear – I don't like to, but this chapter kind of called for it. Secondly, it's a little bit violent but nothing as major as some other fics out there. The violence takes place after the first line break if you want to skip it.

HOPE YOU ENJOY!

Disclaimer: Don't own Glee or a certain band mentioned in this chapter.

"I'm gay."

Alan couldn't help but sit and stare silently at his son.

"You're... gay."

Blaine nodded, swallowing nervously.

Alan leaned back, cocking an eyebrow at his son.

"Why do you look so worried?"

Blaine's eyes widened, "You mean, you're not going to kick me out? But I thought that you and Karen were -"

"I am a Christian, Blaine, but that doesn't mean I believe you have any less right to hold hands with a boy than Aleisha does, or if she likes girls that's fine too. Religion gets a bad name because of the extreme minorities."

Blaine exhaled in relief, unaware he had been holding his breath.

"Wait, but what about Karen? No offense, but she seems a little..."

"Extreme? Yeah, she was essentially raised by the Church. She reads the Bible a lot, but it's not like she's going to smite you where you stand just because you are attracted to people of the same gender."

Blaine nodded slowly, still a little uneasy with the concept of facing Karen.

"Blaine, I know we haven't exactly known each other that long, but if you ever feel like telling me about what happened when you got beaten up by those idiots at your last school, I am here to listen, alright?"

Blaine nodded. He had been thinking of telling Alan about his sexuality sooner rather than later, and the Sadie Hawkins dance was bound to come up in the discussion.

"Well..." He began nervously, glancing up at Alan, "No time like the present?"

Alan's eyes widened, "Only if you're ready."

"Max and I had been friends all through elementary school – we stuck together through everything. When we went on to middle school nothing changed. Except for the way people started looking at us.

Of course, we both sort of knew we were gay, but it had never really been a big deal. It shouldn't be when you're that young, y'know? Labels shouldn't be important."

Alan nodded, smiling sympathetically in agreeance and Blaine sighed before continuing.

"So middle school was interesting, and then we hit high school. That's when things really changed. Like, seriously.

At first noone knew, as such, and Max got a spot on the football team. I would have joined but I wanted to focus on academics. I supported the school's team though, went to every game.

Then one day it all just changed."

Alan touched Blaine's arm lightly in support, but Blaine smiled a very small, very quick smile.

"Not for me, for Max. Somehow people found out he was gay and his life became Hell. The guys who used to high five him as they passed in the corridors were now slamming him into lockers and calling him names. He was only a freshman, and he was getting pushed around by guys who were twice his size.

I didn't know what to do – I offered to "come out", so that Max wouldn't be alone, but he wouldn't have it. He was always so protective of me – he thought since he was the taller and physically stronger of the pair of us he would be safer. After the ... incident, I wanted to be able to protect myself more, so I started going to the gym. Mom and Peter agreed it might help, so I wouldn't look like such an "easy" target. Of course that isn't a problem at Dalton, but that's another story."

Blaine paused to sip at his water, before continuing.

"I decided I'd had enough of hiding who I was the week before the Sadie Hawkins dance. Max and I weren't going to go initially – we both agreed it had the potential to be awkward and end badly.

We were going to chill at my house together and watch the game that was on the television.

I changed my mind though – and I think Max had wanted to go all along."

Alan nodded in understanding – there was something compelling about that first high school dance.

"We went and hung out, didn't dance or anything, just went more to see what it was all like. To get the most of our 'high school experience'.

Max and I decided about halfway through that we were both bored and would much rather be at his house watching the game, so he called his dad to come and pick us up.

We were waiting out in the car park when a bunch of guys from the football team walked past, drunk and looking for trouble.

They found it.

Max and I were just sitting and talking about the game that we were missing, discussing how many points the Buckeyes would need to secure a spot in the final."

Blaine's gaze hardened, his jaw set.

"That's when Stephen Rutherford and his friends sauntered over to us. Stephen was a senior, and Max used to play on the football team with him when he came out."

Blaine swallowed, focussed solely on what had happened that night

"Oi, Carter! Why aren't you inside? I thought girls liked dancing?"

Max went red in anger, but Blaine held him down.

"They're drunk, just ignore them, they're idiots."

"That's right Carter, listen to your boyfriend. Ignore us like you ignored Coach's rules about no girls on the team."

Max stood up, determination hard in his eyes "You're mighty sure of yourself for someone who's never had a girlfriend."

Rutherford just laughed, "Whatever. I'm just glad we got you off the team – God knows what you would have done to one of us if we were left alone with you in the locker room."

Max's eyes brimmed with angry tears, "God damnit Rutherford, why are you so fucking stupid? None of you guys appeal to me at all."

Blaine could do nothing but sit helplessly and watch the two boys taunting each other – Rutherford relying on body language to make up for his lacking vocabulary.

"So is this your boyfriend then Carter?" One of Rutherford's burly friends asked snidely, walking over to where Blaine sat.

"Leave him alone MacDonald – Christ, you were one of my friends and now you're just following Rutherford because... because I'm gay?" Max asked incredulously.

"I don't have time for boys who perve on other boys in the locker room. It's creepy and I'm not having any of it."

Max rolled his eyes, "When will you guys get it through your thick, overcalcified skulls that I do not think any of you are attractive. You're all such neanderthals. I'm glad I got "kicked off" the team – it would be an embarrassment to lose against the Woodchucks."

Rutherford snarled, pushing Max back, "You watch what you say. The team's better off without you."

Stumbling a little, Max laughed, a hollow laugh. It sent chills down Blaine's spine to see and hear him acting this way.

"Yeah, keep telling yourselves that." He stated, pushing Rutherford with all his might.

"Max! For Christ's sake stop it!" Blaine stood up, eyes wide with fear. There were three other boys lurking – MacDonald one of them, all just watching the interaction.

Max turned to face Blaine, "It's alright, just a small misunder-"

THWACK

A shoddy punch to the ribs caused Max to topple to the ground, a dazed look on his face.

"What is your problem?" Blaine shouted at Rutherford, speeding to Max's side.

"Max, dude, are you okay?"

"Did I get him good? God I hope so – don't want to be seeing his fairy face around the school anymore."

The other boys snickered at Rutherford and Blaine's blood ran cold. How could people actually act like this?

It was something you only heard about on the television, it wasn't meant to happen to people like Max.

Humanity had been making Blaine spiteful and angry lately, and he didn't hold back.

"You're a complete bastard" He growled at the football player, not caring how much shorter he was, or how badly he was going to get hurt. Max was his best friend, and best friends stuck up for each other.

"At least I'm not going to die of AIDS" Rutherford snickered, and Blaine lost all sense of rationality.

He pushed Rutherford. Hard.

"Steve did he just push you?" One of the other boys asked mockingly.

"I think he did, Roger."

The boy named Roger walked over to Blaine, who was quick to bring his hands up, guarding his face. This didn't prevent him from getting winded from a punch to the stomach, and he collapsed next to Max.

Rolling over, he grabbed his friend's hand,"I hope you're okay buddy. Don't worry, we'll be laughing in twenty years time when they have to come out to their wives."

Blaine cried out as a boot struck his back, sending a sharp throb all the way up the right side of his body.

Tears sprung from his eyes and he tried to fight them back – thinking of something, anything he could do.

"Leave...Him...Alone" Max gasped between breaths. Blaine frowned, that dodgy punch mustn't have been so dodgy after all.

The four football players laughed, grinning down at where Blaine and Max lay in pain.

"Well, we could just walk away right now and leave them here" Rutherford said, "But they'd still be gay. Girls. Not boys."

The others nodded in agreement.

Rutherford grabbed one of Blaine's arms, dragging him up sharply.

"Now, you're gonna stand here, and learn how to be a man."

Blaine cowered, "Please, just leave us alone. We haven't done anything. You're being drunk and stupid."

Rutherford kicked Blaine's left thigh and he dropped to the ground again.

Harsh hands pulled him up again, and dusted him off mockingly.

"Let's try again."

Blaine stood, waiting for whatever it was that Rutherford had in mind.

"One thing you have to learn as a man is to expect the unexpected. Watch your back. Or there could be little poofs checking you out in the lockerroom."

Blaine rolled his eyes, nodding in mock-understanding.

"Watch your back Anderson."

Blaine nodded again, "You said that already Ruther-"

Blaine's sentence ended with a yelp as he tumbled again, one of the boys walking away from where they had struck down on his collarbone with a loud snap.

Blaine lay on the ground, shaking in pain.

"I think he learned that lesson."

"Shit, Steve, I think you broke something."

"That wasn't me Roger, you're the one who hit down on him with your elbow."

"Whatever, I'm out of here." Roger walked away swiftly without a backwards glance. The other two followed him, leaving just the three of them.

"Thanks fairies, now my friends have ditched me."

Max coughed quietly, trying to work up some moisture in his mouth, "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

There was a sharp crack as Rutherford's foot collided with something in Max's torso.

Max's head rolled to the side, unconscious from pain.

Furious and stupid as a result of the alcohol, Rutherford pulled Max up, sending him to the ground again with a sharp hit to the side of his head.

"You're a fucking monster!" Blaine snapped, turning away from Max who now lay bleeding and relatively still – his breathing quick and shallow.

Blaine cried out once more as a kick crashed into his stomach.

"You like that?" Rutherford snarled, kicking Blaine again and again.

Blaine tried to stand in an attempt to defend himself, struggling to breathe, only to be sent to the ground one final time, nose broken and unconsious next to his best friend.

Alan was shaking as Blaine recounted the more intense details of the Sadie Hawkins dance. He hadn't even told Kurt most of that stuff, but for some reason he felt it was alright to tell Alan.

"Max didn't make it." Blaine stated sadly, tears welling up in his eyes "It was a long battle, but he lost it. He had extensive internal bleeding, as well as bleeding in his brain. Rutherford was relentless that night – he made it look like he was holding back a little, but it turns out there were no holds barred."

Alan's mouth gaped. He had thought Blaine was a regular teenage boy, but this event in highschool had aged him – he was a man indeed. As sick as it was, the incident with Rutherford had done that in a sense.

"I was in hospital for about a month while everything got better – saw psychologists and I lost count of how many x-rays I had to get. Apparently Rutherford kept going when I had passed out.

It was lucky a teacher came outside to sneak a cigarette – they managed to stop Rutherford and call an ambulance. Otherwise I might not be here either."

Alan didn't know what to say. He wanted to hug his son, as he sat there, tears rolling down his face. But he didn't want to push boundaries. Alan appreciated what Blaine had gone through all over again just by telling the story.

"I always knew life was going to be more difficult, but I never imagined anything like that happening."

Alan gave up any worries of breaking boundaries and pulled Blaine in for a gentle hug. Blaine fell apart, allowing himself to be comforted by the man who had gained a place in his heart.

"Blaine, you are such a strong person. These past few days have shown that to me. I know you don't really want to leave Ohio to come to school here, but I want you to know you're more than welcome, anytime."

Blaine nodded against Alan's shoulder, drying his tears gingerly as they fell down his sore face.

"And if you do decide to come here for the rest of the year, I've talked to Karen and we are happy for you to decorate this room with a bit of paint and a proper bed."

Blaine let out a shaky sigh, "I don't know... It's not that I don't like you guys, because I do. If I did decide to stay I think I'd have to work on things with Karen because it feels like she doesn't like me."

Alan went to interject but Blaine stopped him, "I really like the school, and the people. But it's difficult – I miss"

"Your boyfriend."

Blaine nodded sadly, tears falling once more.

"I know it's only been a few days, and it's kinda stupid, but it just feels that much more difficult to be brave when Kurt's not around. God, I sound pathetic."

Alan shook his head, "You don't sound pathetic at all. Blaine, you've gone through a lot, especially today. It's not unusual for you to want the company of a person you love. Like you said, you like being here, and you like us but that doesn't compare at all to being in the company of people you're used to."

Blaine looked up at Alan, "You're not angry that I'd rather be at home?"

Alan laughed, "No buddy, why would I be? I'm just grateful you took the opportunity to check out the school. It'll still be here next year if you changed your mind."

Blaine nodded gratefully, "I'll have to see how things go. If I don't find a school soon I could well be back here after summer vacation."

"You and your boyfriend are, again, more than welcome to come here and stay in summer if that visit is still going ahead."

Blaine nodded, "That's only a couple of weeks away. I've still got to talk to Mom and Peter about it. I never knew much about you before this visit, Alan. You're a great guy, it's just a shame things don't always work out. I doubt Mom will have a big issue with me coming over again in the holidays now that she knows you're okay with me being who I am."

Alan smiled, "And we can show you Disneyland and take you up to Universal Studios and stuff too!"

Blaine grinned, "I'd like that."

"Me too. As much as I love Karen, she's not a fan of me being the big kid that I am." He chuckled, smiling fondly at Blaine.

"And like I said, Kurt is more than welcome to come along too. There's probably room for another bed in here, or one of you could go on the sofa downstairs or something."

Blaine zoned out of Alan's excited planning. He was just happy things had worked out. Granted, it had taken a breakdown to get him to come out to Alan, but he was relieved to be accepted.

Blaine had been contemplating how best to do it ever since the Church incident on Sunday. He'd had visions of Alan shouting at him, and Karen crying at the abomination that was her step-son.

How wrong he had been. Alan was a natural father. He wasn't Blaine's dad, but Blaine was happy enough to be able to say that he was related to this man. Karen would be completely different, he had no doubt about that. Alan seemed to believe she would be accepting, but Blaine couldn't help the niggling feeling at the back of his mind.

Whatever, everything would work out.

"So have you talked to Kurt about what's happened yet?"

Blaine looked at his watch. It was 5pm, which meant it would be 8 in Ohio.
"Could I borrow the phone to call him? I would Skype, but I don't want him to see how bad my face is – it looks a lot worse than what it feels."

Alan nodded understandingly and went to get a phone from downstairs.

"So what did Kurt have to say?" Alan poked his head around the door to where Blaine was sitting on his bed, staring at his feet.

"He's a little worried, but I've reassured him I'm okay now. He didn't know I've had such extreme repurcussions, and was upset I hadn't told him sooner. He understands that I find it difficult to talk about though."

Alan smiled, "He sounds like a wonderful person. You two must be very happy."

Blaine returned Alan's smile, "I have no doubt that Kurt is the best part of me."

Aleisha sat next to Blaine at the dinner table.

"Blainey do you want some beans?"

"Yes please."

Blaine chuckled as the young girl tried to spoon vegetables onto his plate for him. She had taken it upon herself to be Blaine's personal carer, pouring his water and was currently trying (rather unsuccessfully) to cut his meat for him.

Karen and Alan smiled at their daughter affectionately, sharing Blaine's quiet laugh when she gave up on his meat.

"You're a big boy, you can do it!" She encouraged, finally giving Blaine's plate back and patting him gently on the shoulder.

"Have you had a chance to talk to Simon yet?" Karen asked Blaine, smiling at him.

Blaine wondered what Alan had said to her – she was acting differently than she had been the past few days.

"Not yet. I was going to go over there after dinner."

Karen looked at Alan, before Blaine added hastily, "If that's okay with you two?"

Alan nodded, "Of course it is. He was really worried about you."

Blaine smiled, returning to cutting his meat.

"Simon! You've got a visitor!"

The youngest member of the Weckmann family, Emily, called out to her brother who yelled something indeterminable in response. Emily rolled her eyes – a beautiful deep brown that were so different to Simon's.

"He should be down soon. Alex and Joe are over too so they probably can't hear me above their fangirling over that stupid new computer game, 'Skyrim' or something."

Blaine chuckled, "I'm happy going up there, if you think that would be okay?"

Emily nodded, "Sure, and tell him their yelling before completely killed the Brendon Urie interview that was on the television."

Blaine grinned, "Panic! At the Disco fan too huh?"

Emily blushed, "Only for Brendon Urie... and maybe a couple of their songs."

Blaine grinned, "Me too" he winked, going up the stairs, leaving a very shocked Emily in his wake.

Blaine knocked on Simon's bedroom door.

"Emily, what do you want?" Simon exclaimed as he opened the door.

Blaine smirked, "Can I come in?"

Simon nodded, opening the door wider to reveal Joe and Alex lounging on the floor, poring over sheets of paper, scribbling things down in pen. They looked up as Blaine entered the room, wincing when they saw his face.

"How are you feeling?"

Blaine shrugged, "My nose hurts, and my teeth aren't quite patched up yet, but a lot better than I was. I just wanted to thank you guys for being there for me this morning."

He turned to Simon, "I can't really remember much of what happened – but apparently I punched you. Sorry."

"That's okay man, I know you weren't really... all there."

Blaine chuckled, "You've got that right. Um, I didn't want to interrupt a get together, but also just thought I'd let you guys know I'll be going home soon. I was meant to be staying here a bit longer, but it's hard to cope without my support systems."

The three boys nodded, "Don't get me wrong, you guys are great and I want to hang out more, but I'm just not ready to move here yet."

Alex stepped forward, "May I ask a question?"

Blaine smiled, sitting down.

"Are you... Gay?"

Blaine nodded, "Yeah I am. There are consequences of that which caused me to react the way I did today. I'm sorry you guys had to see that."

Simon cleared his throat and glanced at Blaine.

"I told them."

Blaine smiled, "Good on you. And I take it everything is okay?"

Alex and Joe nodded vigorously, "Simon knows we'd support him no matter what. As guys who love show choir, we got taunts at our old school, but Joe's nearly got himself a girlfriend – ouch!" Joe nudged Alex playfully in the ribs.

"Yeah, I've nearly got a girlfriend, and Alex just got out of a relationship."

Blaine smiled at the relief that was still evident on Simon's face.

"I'm not telling my parents yet though."

Blaine nodded in understanding. Although they were the ones who were meant to love you unconditionally, he found that coming out to his parents was more difficult than anyone else.

There was a knock on the door, and all four boys turned as it cracked open.

"Hey Dad."

Nathan Weckmann smiled at Blaine, before addressing his son.

"Dinner's going to be in about twenty minutes. You staying Blaine?"

Blaine shook his head, "No thank you sir, I had tea at home."

Nathan nodded, "Good, more for me. Even more of a bonus considering it's chicken parmigana. Guess I'll see you around then Blaine."

Simon's dad closed the door gently, leaving the four boys standing awkwardly.

"I should go home now" Blaine said, "I just wanted to let you know I was alright. And Simon?"

Simon smiled at Blaine, "Yeah?"

"None of this was your fault."

Simon nodded appreciatively, "Thank you, that means a lot."

Blaine chuckled, "Oh yeah, before I go. Emily said you guys need to be quieter – she couldn't hear Brendon Urie's interview."

Simon, Alex and Joe laughed, "Alright. I'm sure we'll hear all about it at dinner too."

They followed him down the stairs to the front door, Blaine turning to face them before heading back to the Wright household.

"Thanks again, you guys. I don't know if I'm coming back to school yet, but I've got Simon's number. Plus Kurt and I will hopefully be out in a few weeks for summer vacation."

They nodded, patting him on the back.

"See you around Blaine."

Blaine lay on his bed that night, deep in thought.

If he stayed in California, he'd have to come out all over again. He wouldn't have Kurt. He wouldn't have his parents.

He'd already made up his mind, but for some reason Blaine didn't feel quite right leaving either. He would have to find another school. This one, at least, wouldn't cost as much and would still get him the kind of education he wouldn't be able to get at a public school.

With a heavy sigh, he turned to his side. Attempting to ignore the dull ache from his nose, Blaine closed his eyes – eager for sleep to solve his problems.

A/N: thanks for reading guys! Much love to you all.