When they were back in the kitchen Darren's mum already started cooking.

She smiled widely at the young men, turning away to go back to chopping vegetables.

Chris looked at Darren.

His face was relaxed, so were his shoulders and he could finally smile again.

He wouldn't move away whenever the other man's arm brushed his, he would just let it happen, smiling at his boyfriend softly and Chris couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Darren like this.

He seemed so free and lighthearted and the younger man couldn't help but feel like crying.

The way Darren's eyes sparkled again, golden and warm, the way he would laugh.

"Excuse me boys, I forgot to buy enough eggs...I'll just go get some from the neighbors, I'll be back in no time.", she left the room and Chris immediately pulled Darren into a tight embrace.

"I missed you so much, so fucking much Darren I just...it's so good to see you like this again. It broke my heart but I'm just so glad I have you back again!", he blurted out.

"You had me all the time Chris, what do you mean?", Darren chuckled softly, kissing Chris's hair.

"I hadn't...I had a Darren yes. But not you. Don't you notice how different you act now? You're finally back again. You're goofy again and dorky and your laugh Darren...I missed your laugh so much and your smile and the way your eyes always look so soft.", his voice was nothing more than a whisper anymore.

Darren cupped his cheek gently, caressing it with his calloused thumb.

"Look at me Chris...", he said, his eyes meeting Chris's ocean blues.

"However strange I act and whatever words I say don't ever think it's because of you ok? I know I've been strange lately, fuck I was so messed up I'd have let you go...! I know I did things that weren't me at all and I know I was very tense but I love you and I'm just so relieved right now...I'm so happy I can finally bring you around here without acting weird or feeling guilty and you have no idea how thankful I am. I mean...I honestly didn't expect you to take me back after what I said but you did and...just thank you Chris, you are an amazing, amazing beautiful person and I can't believe you're with me..."
"I love you Darren. No matter what...I can't hate you and I finally see how broken you really were and now I'm sorry I...I said those things too. I should've noticed.", he mumbled.

"No! No you shouldn't have because you couldn't! I never told you what I was feeling and in return I made you feel like shit and I'm so sorry about that."
"It's fine Dare...really..."

"No it's not! This will never be 'fine' because it was just plain wrong...and I know you can't forgive me yet...I can feel it Chris...you're not 100% over this and I understand that. I'll give you all the time you need to trust me again.", Darren swallowed hard.

"I do trust you...probably more than I should.", Chris whispered against his lips, kissing him softly.

"You can...please believe me."
"I do and that's the point...", they kissed again, more desperately this time, Darren's hands were grasping at Chris's shirt, pulling him in closer and Chris let him, crashing his lips into the other man's.

They pulled back, still out of breath and cheeks flushed.

"We should save that for later...", Chris muttered, giving Darren a last small peck before going back to preparing dinner.

"You're right...gosh I've missed you so much.", he said again, earning a loving smile from Chris.

The evening went perfectly.

Dinner was ready in time and Chris noticed Darren tensed a bit again when his dad came back from work.

Darren's mum must've noticed too because she leaned over to him, taking his face in her hands softly.

"He already knows honey. So don't look at me like a frightened little puppy ok?", she laughed, shaking her head at her son.

"Always worrying about nonsense.", she muttered and Chris couldn't help but smile.

"Hey you guys!", the young men jumped at the deep voice that belonged to Darren's father.

"Darren! C'mere give your old man a hug!", he stood in the door, grinning widely.

Darren approached him, hugging him, patting his back.

"Oh hey Chris! So good to see you again! Did you have another grow spurt?", he asked, walking to the table, squeezing the younger man's shoulder.

"I have, yeah.", he chuckled softly at Darren's evil glare.

"Oh come on, maybe you'll grow a bit too one day.", Chris laughed at his boyfriend's fake pissed face.

"Don't be so mean! I know I'm a hobbit ok? No need for you giants to pick on me! Especially not you!", he snapped back.

"Finally acting like boyfriends.", Darren's mum couldn't stop laughing.

"Did he finally come out?"

Darren's eyes widened, he facepalmed at his father's excited face.

"Oh god...", he muttered.

Chris just laughed.

"Well hello then almost-son-in-law.", Darren's dad walked up to Chris, shaking his hand.
"What took you so long though?", he asked.

"I'll explain it to you later, let's just eat before it gets cold ok?", Darren's mum saved the hazel-eyed from having to tell the whole story again.

"I'm just glad you too won't behave that awkward anymore. Sometimes it was making me really uncomfortable.", Darren's father confessed and Chris chuckled, whispering into Darren's ear, "And you were worried he'd feel uncomfortable with you and me acting like a couple."
"Shut up.", Darren laughed now too.

It was a relieved and honest to god laugh.

Darren's dad shook his head.
"You know all I need is to see you happy. And you're a really good guy Chris, it's nice that my son has found his match. You seem like you're good for each other. You know, good for you! I'm glad."
"Thanks dad.", Darren said, smiling at his father.

"There's nothing to thank me for. I'm just being honest, after all the strange ladies you brought here..."
"Dad! Can we please not talk about this?", Darren begged his father.

"Sure, sorry. I'm just really happy it's Chris."
"Thank you Sir.", Chris said, blushing a bit at the kind words.

"Did you really just call me Sir? Young man, just because I'm older than you and you're dating my son doesn't mean you have to behave any differently, just call me Will for god's sake."

"Ok, thanks.", Chris smiled widely.

"You're welcome.", Darren's dad smiled back contently.

They finished dinner and Darren and Chris stayed a bit to help clean up.

"Thank you so much boys but you must be exhausted. You can leave if you want to."
"I actually am kinda tired and we still have to drive a bit so...I guess we'll leave.", Darren said, holding back a yawn.
"Yeah, but thank you Mrs. Criss - Cerina...sorry I still have to get used to this.", Chris laughed awkwardly and continued, "It's been a beautiful evening...I really enjoy being here."

"Oh honey, we love having you here. So make sure you boys come visit us every now and then yes? And be careful.", she said, hugging each man tightly.

"Goodbye boys!"

"Bye mum."
"Bye!"

They left.

Darren walked close by Chris, sliding his hand in his, intertwining their fingers.

He pulled the younger man closer as they stood by the car, kissing his cheek softly.

"Thank you.", he simply whispered.

"For what Darren? It was a very nice day for a change...so thank you.", he whispered against Darren's lips, kissing him softly.

"No. Thank you.", Darren repeated, "Just for all of this...I mean...you see how it went. It was perfect and I didn't think I could love my parents any more but...I would've never told them if it wasn't for you. So thank you Chris...maybe this was what I needed...just seeing how easy it can be you know."
"You know this is nothing like coming out publicly?", Chris raised his eyebrow at his boyfriend.

"I know...I know...but...these are my first baby steps...I already came out to my family, now there are our friends, the cast, the crew and then we'll see."
"I just want you to know that there is no pressure ok? All I wanted from you was to come out to your family. That's all. Your friends can wait...and so does the public. I just want you to be happy...I need you to be happy Darren...it kills me to see you broken like that and tonight was just so beautiful because I could see you smile so much and the way you kissed me was different and you wouldn't flinch every time I touched you...so I guess you needed that...we needed that.", Chris nuzzled his nose into the warm crook of Darren's neck, his hands were buried in the pockets of Darren's coat.

"We did...I love you so fucking much Chris Colfer and now let's get going...we have to drive a bit..."
"Can't we just crash in a hotel?", Chris smiled at Darren and he knew he couldn't say no.

"Yeah...that sounds awesome actually...wasn't there some unfinished business earlier?", Darren grinned cheekily.

"See? I'm thinking ahead. And you're welcome!", Chris chuckled, placing a kiss on Darren's lips again.

"Get in the car then!", Darren said, moving away from Chris who shivered slightly when the cold air hit his body.

Darren held the door open.

"Always the gentleman.", he muttered, sitting into the car.

"Only for you.", Darren said back, closing the door and placing himself in the car as well.

Darren started driving, his free hand meeting Chris's, squeezing it.

"Oh and Darren...I love you too."