Summary: Connor goes with Jude and his moms to a gay pride parade, much to the chagrin of his dad. What will his dad do when he finds out that Connor went against his wishes, since he never actually forbid Connor from going. And who will Connor find as an unlikely ally as he fights to stay at the parade with Jude?


Connor stood staring at the various pieces of rainbow clothing laid out on his bed. He took a deep breath. Was he really going to do this? His dad had been clear he didn't want him going to the pride parade. But Jude seemed so excited when he asked Connor to go with him and his moms. He just couldn't say no. It was that voice Connor was hearing in his head now, so he shoved his clothes in his bag, tossing it over his shoulder and sprinting out of the house.


"Hey Connor!" Lena said cheerfully as she answered the door.

"Hi." Connor mumbled, walking inside and heading straight for Jude's room.

"Wonder what that was about?" Stef asked, having heard the exchange from the living room

"I really don't know. Maybe it has something to do with his dad. He couldn't have been happy about Connor going with us." Lena mused.

"You think he even told him?" Stef said, giving Lena a questioning look.

"I hope he did." Lena sighed, but said nothing further.


"Wait you're actually wearing that?" Connor exclaimed, staring the t-shirt Jude was wearing. It was the shirt he had gotten Jude prior to the LGBTQ+ prom. I'm Not Gay, But My Boyfriend Is it read. Jude laughed at Connor's reaction.

"Yeah it is. But I hope that's not what you're wearing Connor. I mean it is a pride parade. Shouldn't you be wearing at least something rainbow?" Jude questioned his boyfriend.

"You're not wearing anything rainbow!" Connor argued.

"Yeah, but look at what the shirt says." Jude shot back.

"Alright fine I'll give you that. But no this is not what I'm wearing. Everything's in here, I just gotta change." Connor replied, pointing to his bag.

"Wait did you not tell your dad again?" Jude inquired, recalling the LGBTQ+ prom they had gone to a few months ago. Connor just nodded, leaving out the detail that his dad had actually told him not to go. Jude gave Connor a raised eyebrow, but said nothing more, so Connor stepped into the bathroom to change. When he came back out, Jude doubled over in laughter. Connor had managed to find a rainbow shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes, not to mention the rainbow flag that he was wearing over his shoulder like a cape. Connor grinned at Jude.

"So?" he asked. "How do I look now?"

"Trust me, you'll blend right in." Jude answered, still cackling. He walked over to Connor, wrapping his arms around him and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "Look at my proud, oh so homosexual boyfriend. Crazy how far you've come, huh?"

"Yeah." Connor mumbled quietly, thinking about how his dad still wasn't proud to have a gay son. He looked at Connor's sexuality like some dirty secret.

"Hey, Connor. He'll come around. I promise." Jude said, trying to comfort Connor. Outwardly, Connor nodded. Internally he thought I'm not so sure about that. But he decided to put it aside, determined to enjoy the day with his boyfriend, and not let his dad, who wasn't even there, ruin it.

They headed down the stairs, hand in hand, Jude still quietly chortling to himself over Connor's outfit. Stef and Lena both began cackling as they viewed the two. They were quite the odd pair, Jude with his shirt and Connor with his total rainbow look. But then again, they were always kind of an odd pair, Lena thought, but it worked. Odd as it may be, they were perfect for each other. The last few months had proved that beyond any doubt.

"You don't do anything half way, do you Connor?" Stef finally said, being the first to recover her voice.

"Nope!" Connor said, grinning.

"It's actually one of my favorite things about him." Jude commented.

"Aww, babe." Connor replied, resting his head on Jude's shoulder for a moment.

"Alright, well we better get moving if we actually want to be able to see anything." Lena said, breaking the spell of the moment. They all headed out to the car, Jude and Connor still tightly gripping each other's hands.


"Okay boys, we trust that you'll be able to handle yourselves. This isn't that big so we're not too worried about you. Go ahead and do whatever you want, we'll meet back here at the car at five." Lena explained to the boys.

"Oh and call if you need anything and we'll find you." Stef added. Jude smiled. A whole day, just him and his boyfriend at pride. He could hold Connor's hand; even kiss him without having to be scared. It was going to be a perfect day.

"Come on Connor, let's go find a spot to watch the parade." Jude said, tugging on Connor's arm. Connor grinned at his boyfriend's eagerness, happily following him. Along the way though, Connor spotted a familiar face, and apparently Jude did too, because he stopped, his grip tightening on Connor's hand. It was Mr. Pink Shirt, from the LGBTQ+ Prom (Connor didn't remember his name, just the color of shirt he was wearing). Connor remembered the things he had said, how he had trusted him and almost stupidly broken up with Jude.

"I'm gonna go talk to him for a second, Jude. I'll be right back." Connor said through gritted teeth. He wanted to give the guy a piece of his mind.

"Okay, Connor." Jude said cautiously. "Just don't do anything stupid." he warned Connor.

"No guarantees." Connor muttered, not loud enough for Jude to hear. The boy saw Connor coming, a smile forming on his face as he waved.

"Hey there! Connor right?" he asked cheerfully.

"Yeah, look I'm not really here to chit-chat, I just had something I wanted to get off my chest. That stuff you said at the prom, you thought you were doing me a favor, but honestly I almost broke up with him that night which would've been the worst mistake of my life. So the next time you feel like giving somebody that kind of 'advice', why don't you keep your mouth shut? My boyfriend doesn't have to label himself as anything. He's super gay for me, and that's all that matters." Connor said angrily, adding "Enjoy the parade," before walking away.

"What was that about?" Jude asked Connor, seeing the anger written all over his face.

"Just wanted to tell him to stop giving advice. I almost broke up with you at the prom on his advice, as you can imagine how brilliant of advice that actually was." Connor growled.

"Well you didn't though, so that's the important thing." Jude said simply.

"Yeah, well I just hated how everyone there wanted to label you or tell me how that was a bad thing. It wasn't their place, and they were all dead wrong." Connor answered.

"I really love you standing up for me Connor, but that's all in the past. Come on, let's go enjoy the parade." Jude placed a kiss on Connor's cheek, taking back his hand and leading him away to watch the parade.

Connor was having a great time. The parade maybe wasn't really all that special, but there was something amazing about being in a place where he felt 100% accepted, where he didn't feel judged and he didn't have to be scared. But all of that was shattered in an instant

"Connor!" he heard a gruff voice from behind him. Shit. His dad. What was he doing here?

"Wait, dad how did you-"

"I came home from lunch and when I saw you weren't home, I knew that you were here. Connor, what the hell? I told you I didn't want you coming to this." Adam spat. Normally Connor would never have stood up to his dad, but something about being here gave him courage that he didn't usually have.

"Yeah, but you never told me I couldn't come. You just said you didn't want me to." Connor said calmly.

"Which you were supposed to know meant no, Connor! Now come on, we're going."

"No, dad, I'm not leaving." Connor answered, Jude squeezing his hand to support him.

"What did you say to me?" Adam asked threateningly.

"Hey, man you got a problem?" Mr. Pink Shirt said, stepping in between Connor and his dad. Adam angrily shoved his hands in his pockets, not in the mood for involving anyone else into the situation with his son.

"Alright, fine Connor, you can stay. But this isn't over." Adam growled, turning and walking away.

"Hey, um, thanks." Connor murmured.

"No problem. We gotta look out for each other, gurl. No hard feelings?" he said, extending his hand.

"Yeah." Connor said with a smile, returning the handshake.

"I'm really sorry about your dad, Connor." Jude said softly.

"It's alright, Jude. I'm actually happy that I came here. It feels so great to be in a place where everyone accepts you. I—I don't get that very often." Connor replied, placing his arm around Jude and leaning his head against Jude's.

"Look, I'll have my moms talk to him. You know, so you aren't in so much trouble."

"Thanks." Connor mumbled, trying hard not to think about what would be ahead that night.