Author's Note:

Sorry this installment has taken so long. Outside life intruding on creativity, I'm afraid. Hopefully the next one won't take as long as this one.

Okay enough from me ... on with the show!

Don't know anything, don't know anyone, and certainly don't own anything. (I wish though!) Please feel free to review with constructive criticism, etc.

12 - Issues

Dave, Blaine and Kurt walked around the auditorium. The four boys were supposed to meet before they met their parents for the combined parent-student meeting that Dan had arranged, but Sam was nowhere to be found. As the three of them made their way backstage they heard what they assumed was a conversation, but the language ... was it English or wasn't it? They finally rounded a corner to find Sam sitting on a backwards chair, his arms crossed over its back and his jaw slack as he looked on at the two people in the conversation.

"Sam, you okay?" Dave asked.

Sam merely looked at him then looked back to the conversation. The others followed his gaze to find Bryce speaking to the new exchange student Rory. Having classes with Rory for months now, they were used to his Irish brogue for the most part, but now as he spoke to Bryce it was thicker, barely recognizable as English. Bryce's own Scots accent had also slipped out; it was as thick if not thicker than when his family was over from Scotland for his and Derrick's ceremony.

"Oh, hiya lads," Bryce said finally realizing that they were there, his accent still as thick as ever.

"Bryce," they all said nodding toward him wide eyed.

"Are ye okay?" Bryce said.

"It ... was ... like ... being ... hypnotized," Sam said. "Couldn't stop staring."

"I'm sorry?" Rory said.

"The accent," Sam said. "I was with you until about ... the boot or the butte near the blarney of kill-army something. I didn't want to interrupt ... not sure I could have if I'd wanted to."

Bryce laughed and came over to hug him.

"We were hoping that one of you guys would make it," Blaine said as Bryce went around hugging each of them.

"Yeah, Rick had a shoot to go on and I wasn't sure if I could make it either so we decided to keep it low key until I was sure," Bryce said.

"Glad you made it," Dave said.

"So you all know each other then," Rory said.

"Ah yes, we're old and dear friends," Kurt said adding his own imitation combination Irish-Scot accent, "though we never knew he existed until he fell from behind a potted plant in New York..." Bryce smiled at him chuckling.

Rory gave him an "ah-ha" look, which quickly dissolved into one of confusion. "Excuse me, I don't believe I follow."

"I thought we'd agreed that was my lovely husband's clueless streak," Bryce said.

"Perhaps," Kurt said, "but you have to admit it is funny."

"Perhaps," Bryce said. "Blaine can't you take care of your man?"

"I can, just not like that," Blaine said, "cause if I take care of him like that, he refuses to take care of me any other way."

"Ah, you've yet to master that one," Bryce said.

"Which one?" Blaine said.

"You take care of him, by making sure that he knows that if he doesn't take care, you won't take care of him either, thus you each take care to be sure that you're both taken care of," Bryce said. "Of course you eventually get to the point that being taken care of becomes a mutual thing so the need to take care gets taken of the table because you're each going to be taken care of regardless, so then the point becomes moot."

Blaine looked at him, his eyes squinting. "Okay that's starting to give me a headache."

Dave chuckled as Bryce merely smiled.

"You got that?" Sam asked Dave.

"Yep, so I guess you better watch out," Dave, said before kissing him on the forehead.

Sam looked around Dave to Bryce. "You know, I was actually hoping you'd get to come. Now I'm not so sure."

"You know you love me," Bryce said. He was met by various "yeah, rights" and "mm hmms".

"Okay now," Dan said rounding one of the stage curtains. "Stop picking on my students or the offer of hospitality is withdrawn."

"Okay, but for the record, they started it," Bryce said before hugging Dan.

"I know, they usually do," Dan said. "As the elder though, your choice of retaliations is limited."

"Ah, I see," Bryce, said.

"Gentlemen, I think we're being talked down to, or at least about," Blaine said.

"I concur," Kurt said as the other two nodded.

"You know we love you though," Dan said and they all laughed. "Why don't you guys go make sure your folks get in and find seats? Oh, Kurt, what was the verdict from your folks?"

"Dad had meetings this week in Columbus," Kurt said. "He has another one tomorrow so he's not going to be able to make it. Carole made sure to be back though and she's going to be here."

"Oh that's right," Bryce said. "We heard that he'd won the seat; make sure to tell him congratulations from both of us."

"Will do," Kurt said with a smile before the boys headed for the front of house.

Paul and Julie Karofsky stood in the hallway outside the school auditorium as Carole walked up. They had just exchanged greetings as Trish walked up with her husband.

"Trish ... great to see you again," Carole said as they joined them, her eyes locked on the man approaching them.

"Hi Carole," Trish said as the two hugged. "Julie, Paul, nice to see you both again as well." They both said hello as all three turned to Trish's husband. "Oh, I'd like the three of you to meet my husband Edward." The four of them exchanged "hellos".

Carole looked questioningly at Trish, so after a moment of pleasantries, the two politely excused themselves as they let the other three chat.

"I know," Trish said. "He has been making a fairly decent effort. He actually surprised me when he asked me if he could come."

"I'm impressed, even if it's just for Blaine's sake," Carole said.

"Where's Burt?" Trish asked.

"He wanted to be here, but he had meetings at the State Capitol this week in preparation to head off to Washington," Carole said.

"How's he holding up?" Trish said giving her a concerned look.

"Oh he's managing ... barely," Carole, said giggling. "He's already had Kurt brief him on fashions that don't involve ball caps. Blaine has helped him with some more etiquette tips and tricks and the two of them have given him a whole list of conversation dos and don'ts as well as various topics to use and those to avoid." Trish laughed. "Kurt and I have also agreed that I'll forward all of the resumes for personal assistants to him so that he can help us choose and he's also given me some choice questions to help me weed my way through the candidates. Heaven knows we're going to need all the help we can get."

"I'm sure he'll do fine," Trish said smiling. "His heart is in the right place and he has a good head on his shoulders."

"Oh we're not worried about the decisions he'll have to make," Carole said. "He's just afraid he'll get the procedure wrong or something and get kicked off the House floor or something."

Trish gave her another sympathetic smile as the boys exited one of the auditorium doors. They all smiled as they jogged over.

"Hi Mom," Blaine said as he reached them. He hugged her before trading places with Kurt to hug Carole.

"Davey," Julie said as they all made their way over. Dave hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Sam," Paul said shaking his hand.

"Dad!" Blaine said seeing his father. Kurt spun around, a single eyebrow arched. Blaine went over and hugged his father. "Glad you could make it," Blaine said.

"I told you I was going to try to understand more," Mr. Anderson said.

"Well this is the place to do it," Blaine said. "Oh, these are my friends Dave and Sam," Blaine said indicating each of them. They both shook his hand. "Looks like you've met Dave's parents." They both nodded. "Dad, this is Kurt," Blaine said taking Kurt's hand and pulling him over.

Everyone stood about as the pregnant and rather uncomfortable pause overtook them. Mr. Anderson stretched out his hand to Kurt. "It's a pleasure to meet you Kurt."

Kurt looked at the hand for a moment before he reached and took it. "It's nice to meet you too," Kurt said rather coolly.

Anderson nodded as he released the hand. It seemed a collected breath of relief came over the party, after all, they'd shaken hands and there was no explosion and neither was struck by lightning. Sensing the remaining tension Blaine said, "So, has anyone seen Sam's folks?"

"No not yet, honey," Trish, said.

"Well they are heading up from Dayton, so it may take them a while," Sam said. "Why don't we all go on in and find seats?"

"Good idea," Dave said. "We can make sure to save them seats."

They all nodded and started inside. Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand and stopped him. Carole smiled at them and patted Kurt on the shoulder before following the others in. "Are you alright?" Blaine asked Kurt once the others were inside.

"Sure," Kurt said, the answer entirely too fast.

Blaine sighed. "I know."

"You know what?" Kurt said that familiar high-pitched inflection to his voice.

"I know what he's done," Blaine said. "I know he's an ass. I know you don't like the way he's treated me. I know you're right. And I also know that he's my father ... and that he's trying."

Kurt pursed his lips.

"I know I love you, too," Blaine said leaning over and kissing him. "And I love you for ... still not liking him. And I love you for trying, too, just to make me happy even though you're still pissed as hell." Blaine smirked at him as he stared up into his piercing blue eyes.

Kurt melted as he stared back into hazel. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Blaine said. "You have every right to be upset. I haven't forgotten anything, but he is my father, so he gets the chance to try and make it right."

"Being your father is exactly why he shouldn't get the chance," Kurt mumbled.

Blaine lifted onto his tiptoes so that he could bring their foreheads together. "I know that too, but ... fourteen years of good have to count for something over four years of ... stupidity. I have to give him a chance, because it won't be me who throws it all away."

Kurt sighed and nodded. "For you ... and only for you."

"Come on," Blaine said with a smirk, "you'd do it at least a little for my Mom. You know you would, she loves you."

"Okay, maybe a little for your Mom," Kurt said smirking back. "If only because I know she'd help me tear him a new one if he hurts you again."

Blaine laughed. "I think you're right."

"You know I'm right," Kurt said grinning at him.

As they broke apart and reached for the auditorium door, they heard the outer doors at the end of the hall open. They looked toward them to find the Evans' entering so they waited.

"Hey boys," Anne said as she reached them.

"Hi Mrs. Evans, Mr. Evans," they said. "The others just went in to get seats so we could make sure to save yours."

"Bless their hearts," Anne said.

"Where are the ... munchkins?" Kurt said looking at Blaine who nodded.

"We left them with the family we were living beside before we moved," Max said.

"They loved going over to their place to play with them so we thought it would be fun for all of them," Anne said.

"Well let's go join the others," Blaine said opening the door for them all.

The four had joined the others and had just enough time to exchange greetings and have a brief catch up session before Dan came out on stage.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Dan said into the microphone. "And yes I'm talking to you too Noah, I know you all have it in you." Puck lowered his hand looking rather miffed that his attempt at a joke had backfired. Dan shook his head and continued, "I'd like to thank you all for coming together like this. I've had the pleasure to meet most of you through our separate student and parent groups, but I thought I would be nice for all of us to get together to try and learn from each other.

"I've also asked a few guests to join us tonight because, while we all share similar things, most of us are only beginning our journey through life and all it entails and I felt it might be advantageous to hear from a few people who were further along that path than the rest of us. First, I'd like to introduce to you a couple of ladies who it was my absolute pleasure to meet a few months ago, Ms Chelle Rae and her partner Nancy Bourne. Chelle and Nancy are both partners in a very successful photography studio in New York City, and are partners in life as well."

The two came out to applause and waved to everyone as they came to stand at the edge of the stage. Sam and Dave both recognized Nancy as Chelle's chief assistant, the one that had handled all of their paperwork at the photo shoot in New York.

"I'd also like to welcome a gentleman who many of you have already met, but for those of you who haven't had the pleasure this is Mr. Bryce Forbes and he also happens to be my brother in law and yes, that makes him my second brother."

Bryce laughed and shook his head as he joined the ladies at the edge of the stage.

"Now we plan to keep this very friendly and informal so if you'll indulge us we'll all just sit here on the edge of the stage," Dan said. "So what do you say we just go around and let each of you introduce yourselves a little more in-depth than I did and then we'll just open the floor up for questions?

The other three nodded and did as he suggested. Chelle started, giving them a little bit of her background: where she'd grown up, where she'd gone to school, when she'd realized that she preferred women and when she's met Nancy.

After Chelle was done, Nancy followed with much the same information. Nancy as it turned out, had more in common with Sam than the others did, as she had no preference of one sex over the other. She spoke of dating both men and women before finding Chelle and the two of them becoming more permanent.

Bryce followed the ladies with his story. He spoke of his American family and friends and his Scots one, telling of their different reactions to his news. He also spoke of other men he'd been involved with, how he'd learned from each experience so that he'd recognized what he had when he finally met Derrick.

Once all three were done, they opened the floor for questions. Surprisingly Edward Anderson was the first to speak.

"Excuse me, Mr. Forbes," Anderson said.

"Please, call me Bryce," he said.

"Bryce," Anderson nodded. "I'm not exactly sure how to put this ... I'm kind of new to it all. I was just curious ... Mr. Deen called you his brother-in-law, and you referred to your partner as your husband, I was just wondering if those were accurate or if they were just terms. I wasn't exactly invited, but I did see a part of your ceremony and I just wondered if it was the same as any other wedding."

"Actually, that is a very good question," Bryce said. "Unfortunately it is a more complicated answer than one would hope. No the ceremony here in Ohio was not an actual wedding ... we like to call it a joining of families. Ohio is one of the many states that still doesn't allow same sex marriages; however, Derrick and I are legally married. I legally reside in the state of New York, which has legalized same sex marriages. Derrick and I were married there by a judge in front of witnesses." Dan, Chelle and Nancy all raised their hands as Bryce laughed. "Yes these were the three. So, no, the ceremony you saw here in Ohio wasn't actually a wedding, but we are married and it is recognized by other states and the federal government, so this year we'll have to pay our taxes just like you and we can even file them married filing joint just like you." The adults all laughed.

"Thank you," Anderson said smiling.

Several more topics came up as they fielded more questions. Everything from family and friend reactions, bullying, high school and college life, all the way to children and how it was done when both partners were the same sex.

They had a wonderful discussion with many insightful answers to some very well thought out questions until...

"What do you say to those who call it a choice?" said a man seated in one of the front rows.

"Did you have a choice in being straight?" Nancy asked shrugging. "Or choose to fall in love with your wife?"

"You know, I fought with myself, every time I thought about being gay," Dave said. They all turned to look back at him. "People told me it was wrong so many times that I hated myself for the very thoughts I was having. I acted out so many times praying that someone would find me out and put me out of my misery, because I knew that's what should happen. It's not a choice. Not one that any sane person would purposefully choose."

Beside him, Sam tensed as he closed his eyes. Knowing that Dave had dealt with his feelings still did nothing to deaden the sting as he heard that Dave had wanted it to end. His eyes snapped back open as he heard Josh.

Josh was standing beside the man who had originally asked the question. "You don't get to choose who you love or how you love. You only get to choose to accept or condemn. Maybe if you'd been a little more accepting Justin would still be here!" Josh leapt over the row of seats in front of him and ran through the side door of the auditorium.

Chris jumped up from his seat in the row behind where Josh had been sitting and ran after him yelling, "Josh, wait!"

On the stage, Dan leaned over and said something to Bryce before jumping down to follow the two out the door. Miss Pillsbury followed them as she made her way from her seat further up the auditorium. "Well, does anyone else have any other questions?" Bryce asked. He waited and received only "no's" and shaking heads. "Okay, if not, I understand the kids have graciously provided some refreshments in the choir room."

"Yes," Schuester said. "Finn, if you and Rachel will show everyone out to the choir room we'll all join you there."

"Sure thing Mr. Schue," Finn said as he hopped up and headed for the opposite door, acting as an usher.

"If you'd all just follow us," Rachel said. "Come along daddies." She led her fathers to the door giving Finn a nod as he held the door for them.

"You okay?" Dave asked Sam, noting the far off look and his glassy eyes.

"Yeah," Sam said shaking his head. "I was just thinking about something that Blaine and I were talking about the other day."

Blaine reached over the seat and grasped Sam's shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. He leaned down to Sam's ear and said, "That was in a different tense."

"I know," Sam said. "It still feels like a kick in the gut though."

"I take it we're missing something?" Mr. Anderson said.

"That kid, Josh," Sam said. "His brother was the one who was gay."

"Was?" Anne said.

"When his parents found out," Kurt said, "he ran his car off the road rather than face them."

"Are you sure it wasn't just an accident?" Mr. Anderson said.

"Josh had driven by the accident site," Blaine said. "There were no skid marks, and later Justin's boyfriend Chris finally showed him the note that he'd left him that day. It was a good bye, not a see you later."

The boys and their parents stood about somberly as Santana and her family approached. "Hey Cubby," Santana said smiling at Dave.

"Hey chica," Dave said smiling back at her.

"You guys okay?" she asked hugging him.

"Just worried about Josh," Dave said. She nodded at him. "Nice to see your family made it. I heard about your abuela, how you holding up?"

"It's fine, stung like hell, but the rest of the family is dealing, so that's something," she said. "My tía even hopped on the bandwagon and let me know that I have a few cousins who play for the opposite teams too. Have you met her?"

"No, don't think I've had the pleasure," Dave said as Santana pulled her over.

"Cubby, this is my Tía Sophia," Santana said.

"Is great to meet you, Cubby," Sophia said. "Aye Mija," she said in an overt, yet failed attempt at discretion. "I shouldn't have let you drag me with you."

"Why? Didn't you have a good time Tía?" Santana asked.

"Si, but I know him," Sophia said. "The teacher's brother-in-law. I saw him in that Gillette ad and then went right out and bought your tío some. It didn't work, though. To know that he's off the menu ... is just too much to know!"

"Well that's nothing; his husband is Paris Hilton's pool boy!" Santana said rolling her eyes.

"No!" Sophia said.

"Si, in the Guess ads," Santana said. "It's a damn shame."

"Aye," Sophia said. "Hey, but the teacher is with us right?"

"Well he's with you," Santana said.

"Si, there is hope!" Sophia said heading for the door.

"What about tío?" Santana yelled after her.

Sophia waved her off as she trotted for the door.

"Aye Dios mío," said Santana's mother as she excused herself and followed her sister. "Sophia, get back here!"

"Hey wait, what about Paris Hilton's pool boy?" Puck said walking over. "We all know I'm the resident pool boy, I have a no competition clause!"

"Don't worry, Derrick's not competing," Blaine said.

"Wait seriously; he's Paris' pool boy?" Puck said.

"No, he was the model in that Guess shoot with her," Dave said.

"Oh! Never really noticed him," Puck said, "too busy looking at her. Something about that's just not right, all that hotness wasted." Puck shook his head as the others laughed.

"Wait, why would you worry about his hotness being wasted on her?" Kurt asked.

"What?" Puck said. "Oh, no. I mean, why does he get to clean her pool and watch her tan all day? Such a waste!"

The boys rolled their eyes and their parents laughed as they all headed for the refreshments in the choir room.

End note:

Okay, admittedly this one feels a little disjointed, but everyone was talking at once and it didn't necessarily flow as well as it should have. Hope you all enjoyed at any rate. Until the next!