A/N: Gah, I hate not updating for so long. I feel like I let all of you down and it makes me feel like utter crap because I know how supportive you all are. I'm so sorry. I just... there was absolutely no spark lately. I felt like I had written myself into a corner. I considered scrapping the whole thing all together but refused. I can't do that to you.
I actually finished the final chapter and am planning on a sequel for this tale after this one. I have the next two chapters planned, and then after that is still up in the air. I swear, the little elves that live in my head and give me all my material are mutinous little bastards sometimes.
Anyways, I hope you like this chapter, and know that our boys will be reunited in the next chapter, which should be up this week. I owe you guys and gals big time. :)
Ti adoro con tutto il cuore, tesoro mio.
Blaine felt his tense and sore muscles fall and melt into relaxation as he read and reread Kurt's text before sending him one back, his face stretching into a huge grin as he pictured Kurt's beautiful smile as he read it. Though he hadn't forgotten that he was still forbidden to see Kurt, at least at his home, and was threatened with arrest, the knowledge that Kurt hadn't lost hope, hadn't given up on Blaine, made him feel like the sun had risen. Though not even an entire day had passed since having been effectively thrown out of Kurt's home, Blaine felt like weeks had gone by since he saw him and his mind immediately began going through his memory of all the romantic book and movie scenes he'd ever seen in his need to make Kurt realize his love for him.
Whoa, whoa, slow down, crazy, Blaine's practical superego interrupted suddenly. There was one problem.
Burt.
Though Blaine knew he'd risk his life for Kurt at this point, what sense would it make for him to go to Kurt's home and be arrested, thus separating him from his lover indefinitely? No, he had to go about this wisely. There was no way he'd make Kurt drive to him, as it was too far and he was sure Burt would only allow that when hell effectively froze over. He had to go back to Lima. And he had to talk to Burt, alone. As much as the thought terrified him, he needed to make him see that he wouldn't do anything to ever cause Kurt any harm or force him into anything he didn't want to do and most importantly, that he loved him with every single fiber of his being. If Burt couldn't be convinced then, well, he'd scale that mountain when he got to it.
He thought it would be unwise to approach Burt this soon after what had happened, and though it killed him to put more time between the next time he could see Kurt, he resolved to give himself some time to work out what he wanted to say. He had an ever-growing intuition that Burt could one day become someone very important to him, and the last thing he wanted to do was screw this up.
Encouraged by his zeal, he stepped into the shower and washed away the tear tracks that had painted themselves onto his face as he slept.
A few days later…
Kurt had never felt so much love and appreciation for his stepbrother since their early morning conversation. Though he couldn't begin to figure out why, he was touched that Finn was helping him save his relationship with Blaine.
It was as though Finn was living vicariously through Kurt and was doing everything in his limited power to ensure Kurt had a few moments each day to talk to Blaine without constantly peering around the corner for fear of Burt's furious gaze. Kurt knew he'd have to make it up to Finn one day.
He and Blaine had been sending each other sweet messages for the last few days, letting each other know that the other was on his mind, and though Kurt felt as though he and Blaine were being a tad too dramatic, he had to admit that it was well suited to the epic love story his life had recently become. All that appeared to be missing was a sweeping orchestral overture.
He had been avoiding his dad since his epic telling off of a few mornings before but knew that in order for his plan of seeing Blaine again were to work, he needed to put on his best "I'm heartbrokenly sorry" face and speak to him. He felt the now familiar dull stab of guilt creep into his chest as he planned to defy his father again, but he couldn't help it. Blaine made him do crazy things, and now that Finn was on his side, if he were to get caught, at least the blame wouldn't have to fall on just him.
Burt sat in the living room, his large, booted feet propped up against the leather ottoman as he skimmed the sport's section. The house was quiet, save for the low rumble of the dryer and the excitable voice of a sport's announcer on the television. Kurt was standing in the hall, watching his father, Finn's incredibly tall shadow cast behind him, as Finn gave him an encouraging smile as if to say, "I got your back, man." As much as Kurt loved to hold a grudge, he resolved himself to his plan and stepped tentatively into the living room, the wooden floorboards creaking under his designer shoes.
"Umm, Dad?" he started, cursing himself for letting his voice crack a bit. He could always talk to his dad, and loved him more than anything, but he couldn't help but feel as though their seemingly perfect father-son relationship had become somewhat strained after their fight.
Surprised by his son's interruption, he lowered the paper a bit, revealing only his eyes and the top of his baseball capped head. He fought to remain stern with his son, still unhappy with the whole situation, but felt himself soften when he saw just how exhausted and miserable his son looked, the dark circles under his eyes stark against his pallid skin.
"Dad, I know you're still angry with me and I understand. I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry and that I shouldn't have gone behind your back," Kurt continued, his eyes glued to the floor as he recited his apology that he'd practiced a few times in his room that morning. Raising his eyebrows in interest, Burt lowered the paper, his face less stony than before but still unreadable.
"I know you probably don't trust me as much as you did anymore and that you'll probably say no to this, but is it okay if I slept over at Mercedes' tonight? I just feel like I need some time with the girls after losing Bl-," he willed tears into the corners of his eyes and pretended to get choked up at the name, feeling ridiculous but slightly triumphant as he watched his father's features soften a bit more as he continued to speak.
"Kurt," Burt's gruff voice called out, and Kurt looked up to see his father gesturing for him to sit next to him on the couch. He settled himself at the edge of the cushions, his back straight and his legs crossed at the ankles. "I accept your apology. Yes, I am still mad, but it doesn't mean I haven't thought about what you said yesterday. About why you started modeling. I guess what I'm most upset about is why you didn't come talk to me about what you were feeling and about how people were treating you at school. I've told you before—nobody pushes the Hummels around. Especially not my son."
Well, Kurt wasn't expecting this.
His dad continued. "And while I don't want to ever have to worry about you not coming home again, yes, you can go to Mercedes' house. And only to her house. I want you back home by ten tomorrow morning, not a minute later. And you're not taking your car. Finn!" Burt called, and was surprised when Finn's head popped up from behind the doorframe a second later. He suspected that Finn must've been standing there during his entire conversation with Kurt, but he was too tired to scold him for eavesdropping.
"Finn, can you take your brother to Mercedes' tonight? I don't trust him not to take off for Westerville to see that guy, so I need you to drive him. And to pick him up and have him home by ten tomorrow," Burt said.
Though Kurt's face showed hurt and defeat that his father didn't trust him, internally, he was thankful that he knew his father as well as he did. This is exactly what he and Finn had been hoping for, that Burt would make Finn drive him. He had no intention of going to Mercedes', though he had called her and told her the entire story just in case Burt felt the need to check up on him. And while Mercedes was livid that Kurt had been keeping her in the dark about not only Blaine and their epic romance, but also over a year of mysteriously disappearing to "tutor," she was impressed at his newfound "badassery," as she called it, and was thrilled that he had found someone who sounded, almost, too good to be true, so she agreed to cover for him if need be.
"Umm, yeah, sure," Finn said, stealing a glance at Kurt, who shot him a glare while his father wasn't looking, as though to say, "Please, don't screw this up!"
"I, uh, was planning on staying over at Puck's tonight anyway, so I'll drop him off on my way there," Finn said, remembering everything Kurt had told him to say. He was aware of the risk he was taking on Kurt's behalf, and that if he got caught, he'd be in deep shit with his stepdad. He still didn't really know why he was so keen on helping Kurt like this, but he couldn't bear to see him so broken as he had been when Blaine was forced to leave. He didn't even know Blaine and yet, from everything Kurt had confessed, he seemed to make up for every bit of pain Kurt had ever suffered in his life. And what kind of brother would he be if he denied Kurt his happiness?
Rising his eyebrow in suspicion of Finn's agreeableness and Kurt' lack of arguing, Burt responded, "I mean it, both of you. To Mercedes' house and back by 10."
Nodding, Kurt got up from his seat on the couch and wrapped his arms around his father, who stiffened at the suddenness of the gesture before reciprocating it, his arms wrapping around his son tightly, and a small smile breaking across his face.
"I love you, son," Burt said gruffly, looking into Kurt's eyes.
"I love you, too, Dad."
As Kurt walked to his room to pack some clothes, he felt the quiet stab of guilt begin to grow in severity. Swallowing, he willed it to the back of his mind as he allowed his imagination to wander to Blaine's dazzling smile and glowing eyes.
Don't know about you, but I'm kinda liking defiant Kurt; it's kinda sexy. No? Maybe it's just me. Wish I was that gutsy sometimes, though...
