Kurt looks like a startled rabbit but lets Blaine tug him toward the house. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he nods his certainty. "And anyway, you're all wet. I've got clothes you can wear." He laughs when he notices Kurt eyeing his legs warily. "I might have been wearing your yoga pants when I flew out," he admits with a blush.

"Oh might you?"

"Yeah, but they were washed yesterday, so they're clean," he adds quickly.

"Blaine?"

Kurt's gentle tug on his arm has him stopping at the bottom of the driveway. "Yeah?"

"Um... Don't tell them yet," he says, eyes flicking toward the house.

"What?"

"Just...let me meet them first. We've been through enough these past few days. There's no rush to go in there and bring everything crashing down."

"But I..."

"I know," Kurt says kindly, grazing their fingers together briefly. "I know you've been building to this, and because I know you, I know you will have planned what to say but... Just let it be, for now. We'll know when the time is right."

Blaine looks up, his voice firm. "I'm not ashamed of you."

"I know that," Kurt nods. "Despite what happened yesterday morning, I know you're proud to be with me."

"Prouder still to call you my husband."

"And that's wonderful. But right now, just an introduction as your friend will suffice. You and I both know the truth and really, that's all that matters. Here," he says quietly, slipping the ring from his finger and pressing it into Blaine's palm. "You can give it back to me later."

They enter the house and Blaine leans in, dropping a featherlight kiss to Kurt's cheek as they kick off their shoes. "I love you," he whispers, before leading him into the living room where his mom and dad sit quietly, waiting for their son's return.

"Ah, you're back," Brian says, perhaps a little too brightly as his eyes flick to Kurt hovering nervously at his son's shoulder.

"Yeah. Uh... Mom, dad, this is Kurt. Kurt, meet Brian and Mary, my parents."

Kurt offers a timid wave, which makes Blaine want to smile and kiss his neck, but he settles for plunging his hands in the pockets of his sweats. "Hi. Nice to meet you...properly," Kurt says.

"You too, dear," Mary smiles. "You ran away yesterday."

"Yes, thank you," Blaine cuts her off. "We got wet in the snow so I'm loaning Kurt some clothes. We're going upstairs to change."

"I'll make you both some coffee," Brian says as he stands and walks toward the kitchen. "Kurt, have you eaten any breakfast?"

"Uh...no, I haven't."

"Would you like something? Cereal? Toast?"

"Oh, um...toast. Yeah. Some toast would be great, thank you," he says politely while Blaine stares at his dad.

"Okay. You boys go ahead, I'll bring it up when it's done."

Baffled, Blaine still stares at the now empty space where his dad was standing, before shaking his head in confusion and leading Kurt up the stairs to his room. "He's all weird. My dad is never that nice," he whispers. "Something's up."

"I don't think so," Kurt says, following him into his room. "I think he was just trying to make me feel welcome."

"No. He has a hidden agenda, I'm sure of it," Blaine mutters.

"I really don't think that's the case, but anyway," Kurt says brightly. "This is your room? From when you were a kid?"

"Kinda," he shrugs. "But I boarded, remember, so it's not really my room, more a place I stayed in when I had to come home for the holidays."

"Still...it's nice."

"Thanks." He busies himself with rummaging around to find Kurt's yoga pants and his warmest hoodie, handing them to him with what he hopes is a seductive smile. "Shower?"

"Ha! Not with you," Kurt laughs. "Not now, anyway."

Blaine pouts but then brightens, backing Kurt against the wall and bringing one hand up to wrap around his waist. "Kiss me then," he breathes, his lips inches from Kurt's. "Please. I really want to be with you."

"Your dad will be up in a minute," Kurt warns, though in reality he'd quite like to be engaging in a hot make out session.

"So?" Blaine murmurs as he begins trailing his lips along Kurt's jaw. "I don't care."

"You do," Kurt says, pushing gently until Blaine gives in and steps back. "You wouldn't want him to find out like that. And anyway," he says, walking his fingers up Blaine's chest. "We have the rest of our lives."

Blaine attempts to pout again but ends up grinning. "I know. Gosh, that sounds good."

"It does." Kurt grins back, pressing their foreheads together before giving in and kissing him as chastely as he can muster.

"Food!"

They pull apart at the sound of Brian outside the door. "I can't knock," he calls, "I'm carrying a tray. And Blaine, your door is supposed to be open."

"We're getting changed," he snaps as his dad comes into the room.

"You're not. You're still dressed exactly as you were."

Blaine glares but says nothing, taking the tray and setting it down on his desk.

"So...what are your plans for the day?" Brian asks, a little awkward and uncomfortable but trying nonetheless.

"Spending it with Kurt," Blaine barks. Kurt raises his eyebrows at Blaine's sharp tone and sits quietly on the end of the bed, hands folded in his lap. "Cooper said he would call in after work too."

"Right. Well... I'm going to the church to help with the soup kitchen and food drive this morning, if you boys wanted to join?"

"No we do not."

"What..." Kurt pipes up nervously. "Uh... Can I ask, what is that?"

"Oh." Brian is surprised, and glances at Blaine who huffs and rolls his eyes, but then he turns his attentions back to Kurt. "Well, I don't know if Blaine told you, but I'm a minister."

"Yes, he did."

"Really? He told you? Huh. Right. Well, our church has been collecting donations of blankets and canned food to hand out to the poor in the community, only now, with the weather so cold, the shelters are overrun. So we're also operating a soup kitchen today, and keeping the church open around the clock for people to come in and get warm. They leave with clean clothes and warm blankets," he adds. "Not much, I guess, but it's something, at least. We also give them a pamphlet," he adds, and Kurt notices he looks almost fearfully at Blaine for his reaction. "Though I expect most get thrown away."

"Still, if one person reads it and takes note, that's something, right?" Kurt asks.

"It is," Brian nods, smiling, both of them oblivious to the incredulous look on Blaine's face. "Kurt, can I ask, are you...do you believe...at all?"

"No," he answers honestly. "Not in god, anyhow. But I do believe in tolerance and acceptance, and I think everyone should be entitled to live their lives the way they see fit, as long as it's not harmful to others."

Brian ponders for a second, nodding slowly. "Wise words, young man," he says eventually. "I think I know a lot of people who could use that advice. Myself included, I guess. Anyway." Clapping his hands together, he seems suddenly awkward once more. "I'll leave you to it. Have a nice day."

"We'll come with you," Kurt calls.

Brian and Blaine turn simultaneously. "What?" they both cry. "No," Blaine adds. "No we will not."

"Why not?" Kurt asks. "It's a very noble cause, Blaine, and I'm sure your dad could use the help. We can come back this afternoon to see Cooper before I drive home."

"It's true," Brian says, not wanting to sound too enthusiastic. "I could use the assistance, if you're not too busy."

"Great. When are you leaving?"

"In about a half hour?"

"Okay," Kurt smiles. "We'll eat, get changed and meet you downstairs."

Brian backs slowly out of the room, as if not quite believing what's just happened, but he closes the door behind him, much to a mutinous Blaine's relief. "Seriously Kurt, what the hell?"

Kurt shrugs, walking over to the desk chair to straddle Blaine's lap. "I want to get to know your parents, your dad could use some help and you," he says with a bop to Blaine's nose, "Need to stop behaving like a petulant five year old."

"What? I don't wanna go," he mutters angrily, folding his arms and staring down at his chest. "And you can't make me."

"You had better be joking with this act, Blaine," Kurt says, unsure. "If I have to treat you like a child, then I will," he declares. "You are going, and that's final. You know, Santana warned me about this."

"Great."

"Your dad seems perfectly nice. In fact, it seems to me like he's trying to reach out to you, but you won't let him."

"He's not."

"Do you know he looks genuinely terrified of upsetting you? The entire time we were talking I can see his eyes flicking across to you, sitting here. He's terrified of your reaction, Blaine, and yet he was only saying we could go help if we wanted to. He wasn't demanding our presence."

"No, he was storing everything up so that when your not here he can barrage me with a long list of my shortcomings. Do you know how often he's been in here these last few days? Asking to pray with me? And then, when I refused to tell him what was wrong, he tells me he's disappointed in my attitude."

"To be honest, so am I, right now," Kurt sighs. "It's a canned food drive Blaine, not a lifelong conversion to Christianity."

"But the house will be empty," Blaine implores. "You know what that means."

"Before I left New York, " Kurt starts, letting his fingers run beguilingly into Blaine's hair. "I told you that if we were thinking of having a future together, then we had to start facing reality and not hiding away in a locked room all the time. Now we're not only thinking about it, we're actively doing it, Blaine. I told you, we have the rest of our lives together. I love being with you like that, but this relationship with your parents is important to me, and I think- no, I know- that if you put just a little more effort in, you will get a hell of a lot more out of it. Stop judging them before they've even begun and give them a chance. Find out what they're really like, Blaine, because I've a feeling you've forgotten... And stay at my place tonight so we can have loads of sex."

Blaine laughs, eyes crinkling as he looks up and lets Kurt's lips find his own. "Okay," he breathes happily. "It's a deal."

"If you ever tell anyone I assisted in a soup kitchen wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, I will deny all knowledge," Kurt tells Blaine as they haul boxes of food from the trunk of Brian's car.

Blaine wedges his foot in the door to the church, waiting for Kurt to pass. "I offered to lend you some pants."

"Yeah," Kurt laughs. "But you buy pants which are ankle length on you- meaning knee length on me."

"Ooh. Ouch!" Blaine laughs, nudging Kurt affectionately. They deposit the boxes in the kitchen then leave to collect more, and Blaine blushes pink as he hears Mrs. Cartwright asking his mom if that's really Blaine? And hasn't he grown?

"Anyway," Blaine says, hurrying to catch Kurt up and lowering his voice to a whisper. "I still think you look beautiful."

Kurt's face glows with pleasure, and he ducks his head, biting his lip to keep from kissing Blaine there and then. "And I'm happy to see you in a bow tie again," he says quietly. "It's a part of you, and I feel all at sea when you're not wearing one."

"How are we doing, boys?" Brian asks as he arrives at the car. "Are these the last boxes?"

"Yep," Kurt smiles. "I was thinking I'd go help Mary with the soup, if that's okay? Maybe Blaine could go with you to hand out the blankets."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Brian agrees, slinging an arm about Blaine's shoulder which has them both staring at it before he awkwardly removes it. "Uh..."

"Have fun," Kurt says, laughing when Blaine sticks his tongue out at him behind Brian's back.

To Blaine's surprise, it's relatively easy to keep up light conversation with his dad in between welcoming people into the church and handing out packs of blankets and donated clothes. His dad's church is located in a smart area of town, meaning a lot of the recipients are bussed in from further out, and Blaine finds himself remembered and welcomed warmly by every volunteer driver as they pull up, and the soup kitchen ladies fuss and coo over him when he goes in to help serve, and tell him at every available opportunity that they miss seeing him at church. Kurt is in his element, taking great delight in teasing Blaine when a particularly effusive woman reminds him repeatedly that Jessalyn, her daughter, lives in New York and is single. Did she mention she's single? She's single.

He blushes red and returns to his dad's side, and finds himself actually wanting to share the story with him, feeling unexpected warmth at hearing him laugh. "Yes," he smiles. "Mrs. Myer is often asking after you," Brian confirms. "But I don't think Jessalyn would be your type." Looking over his shoulder briefly, he leans back in conspiratorially. "She has terrible teeth."

"Dad!" Blaine laughs. "You can't say things like that!"

"I just did."

They return home in the afternoon, and Cooper arrives as promised, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline when he sees Kurt sitting at the kitchen table, but frantic hand signals from Blaine tell him they will talk later.

"Wanna build a snowman?" Cooper asks with a pointed glance at his brother.

"What are you, in a film?"

"Funny. C'mon. Both of you. Outside."

"I thought you said our snow wasn't good enough," Mary says in confusion.

"It looks perfect today," Cooper says with a knowing smile. "Everything looks perfect."

"So..." he says, stepping out onto the back porch.

"Yes."

"Yes what?" he asks in confusion, trailing Blaine into the yard as Kurt follows. "Not yes you've told them, because they're clearly still breathing, and not yes you've done the papers either, because Jim called and asked if you still wanted to go ahead with it."

"Yes, Kurt and I are together."

Cooper swallows and nods as he starts to pile snow into a mound. "Good. Yeah."

"Do you mean that?" Blaine asks.

"I do." He stops moving snow and straightens up, looking between them both. "I won't pretend it doesn't seem weird, looking at you two and knowing you're lovers not friends but... But you both look stupidly happy, and I can't really argue with that, I suppose."

"Good, because we're not just lovers," Blaine says, sharing a shy smile with Kurt. "We're husbands."

"I know, and we have to get that sorted."

"No, we don't," Blaine says calmly. "We're going to stay married. Make a real go of it."

"Oh fuck."

"No need to..." Blaine starts, but Cooper cuts him off.

"Yes there is. I knew this would happen. I knew. Oh shit. Mom and dad will blame me for this."

"No they won't," Kurt chips in. "Because they're not going to know that an annulment was ever on the cards."

Blaine stops and stares. "Huh?"

"When you tell them, I don't want any of this to be mentioned. That you didn't tell me we were married, all of that. There's no need. It's enough to tell them you're gay, then who you're with and then that we're married. Why add all that in when all it does is paint you in a bad light? I don't want them to see you like that, as someone who isn't truthful, because you are, and you just made a mistake, that's all. So I don't want any of that mentioned. If they ask what's been happening we can just say we had a fight but have now made up."

"But you..."

"Can do what I want because I'm totally awesome? Yeah, I know," Kurt smirks. "Now be quiet, husband, and let's get this snowman done."

"You're married. You got married on a drunken night out and now you're deciding to stay married," Cooper mutters, to himself more than anything. "This is for life, you two do realize that, right?"

Kurt stops, a pile of snow on his shovel. "So are dolphin tattoos."

"Oh!" Cooper's eyes go wide as he points at his brother, then at Kurt, then back to Blaine. "Oh! You did not!"

"I kinda did tell him...a little bit," Blaine admits sheepishly. "But I didn't tell mom and dad."

"Can I see?" Kurt asks, and Cooper stares at him before nodding reluctantly.

"Round the side of the house though, so mom and dad don't see."

Blaine knows from the wild cackling the second that Kurt sees the tattoo, and he ducks behind the half completed snowman to wait for them to come into sight, pelting them with snowballs as they both cry out.

Inside, the noise draws Mary and Brian to the window, who watch as a wild snowball fight ensues between the three of them, with Cooper seeming to take the most hits until he tackles Kurt around the waist and pins him to the floor, only for Blaine to shove snow down his coat, making him scream and climb off Kurt to chase him across the yard.

"They're nineteen and thirty years old," Mary says in disbelief.

"I know. But Blaine looks so happy."

"He does," she agrees. "Which is nice. I haven't seen him this way in...well, I can't remember, actually," she realizes sadly. "I feel like he's such a complicated character. I don't know where it all went wrong. He seems to find it so hard to let go and just be himself."

"He gets it from you," Brian says quietly, with a gentle hand on her shoulder, but she doesn't disagree.

"I'm always worried I'll get hurt, if I delve too deep, get too involved. If I can't control things then I panic. I fear the unknown."

"Have I ever hurt you?"

"No," she says, smiling up at him. "Thirty five years of marriage and no, you've never hurt me. Because you have the key to my heart and soul. I think that's what Blaine needs to find. Someone who loves him wholeheartedly for who he is, and then he'll maybe find it easier once again."

"I like Kurt," Brian says, changing the subject.

"He seems nice. And I'm glad he has a friend other than Santana. I mean, she's a nice girl, but Blaine needs male friends too."

They watch together in silence as Cooper throws a barrage of snowballs at Kurt, who takes Blaine's hand and runs to the far end of the large yard and ducks out of sight behind a tree. "Ah," Mary sighs. "Boys will be boys."

Kurt pants hard, face glowing with the exhilaration of his first snowball fight for years. Pinning Blaine against the tree, he leans close, breath puffing out in front of him. "You are so beautiful," he whispers, grazing their lips together then pulling back for a split second before going back in for more.

"Saw that."

They leap apart quickly as if burned, and Kurt blushes fiercely when he finds Cooper leaning against the tree, watching them. "Sorry."

"Don't be," Cooper says, face breaking out into a huge grin as he smooshes snow in both their faces. "Really, don't be." He runs away laughing, and Blaine and Kurt catch up with him on the porch steps, shaking snow from their hair.

"You will pay," Blaine warns, "but right now I can't feel my toes, so let's go inside."

They drink hot chocolate in the den, and Kurt enjoys hearing tales of a childhood Blaine from Cooper, what he can remember anyhow, and he looks sad as he struggles to admit to not having been around much.

"You're eleven years older," Blaine says kindly. "You had a life of your own before I was even out of diapers. Don't feel bad. Seriously Cooper, these last few days have made up for any shortcomings."

From the other end of the couch, Kurt snorts. Hiding his mouth behind his hand, he avoids eye contact and suddenly studies the picture on the wall of the last supper in depth.

"Hummel?" Blaine's voice is low, but Kurt can tell without turning around that he's suppressing his own smile.

"Hmm?"

"Are you laughing because I used the word shortcomings, when I am myself, slightly vertically challenged?"

"So..." Kurt sing songs, still staring at the picture. "Which one is Jesus?"

"You should be nice to me," Blaine tells him, stretching his leg out to dig his toe into Kurt's thigh. "It's your birthday in a week."

Kurt turns back as Cooper watches them affectionately and he slides closer to Blaine on the couch, who smiles and takes his hand. "It's my birthday in ten days," he corrects. "And if you're lucky, I'll let you be nice to me on my birthday. For an entire day."

"Oh really?" Blaine asks flirtatiously. "What have you got planned?"

"Hmm, breakfast in bed? Dinner in a fancy restaurant? Showering me with gifts? Just me, me, me," Kurt laughs.

"I'll allow it," Blaine concedes.

Brian bustles in, looking awkward and uncomfortable. "Uh... Cooper? Are you staying for dinner?"

"No thanks dad," Cooper says, looking at his watch and standing. "I'd better get back- got a ton of case notes to write up. Talk tomorrow, Blaine. Bye, Kurt."

"Bye," he calls. "Thanks for throwing snow at me all afternoon!"

"Welcome!"

"So...uh...Kurt," Brian says once the front door is shut. "Would you maybe like to have dinner with us? You don't have to, of course. You might have plans with your own parents but..."

"Uh, no...no I don't," he says, and a quick glance to Blaine gives him a nod of confirmation. "Thank you, yes, I'd like to have dinner."

"Okay...well...I'll just..."

"Dad?"

Brian stops, almost relieved. "Yes Blaine?"

"Um...Could I possibly sleepover at Kurt's tonight?" he asks, his voice high and wavering.

His dad opens his mouth as if to question it, but nods curtly instead. "Yes. Yes you can. Thank you for asking permission," he says briskly, and is gone.

Blaine stands, stretching high above his head and releasing a deep breath. "This is it, isn't it?"

Kurt goes to him, cupping his cheek and smiling softly when Blaine leans into the touch. "Only if you want it to be."

Bringing his hand up to grip Kurt's tightly, Blaine looks him in the eye. "Then it is."

"Why did you say Kurt could stay, Brian?" Mary hisses vehemently when he walks wearily into the kitchen. "We're only having leftover pot roast! I dont even know if there's enough to go around. You'll have to have a smaller portion and...ugh!" she cries, throwing her hands up in despair. "Why?"

"Because I think Blaine is about to tell us he's in love with him," Brian says in a voice that sounds so calm he's pretty sure it doesn't belong to him.

Mary stops dead, hands in the oven mitt as she stares at her husband, and stares some more. "Excuse me?"

"I think Blaine and Kurt are in love with each other."

"Brian..." Mary starts slowly. "I think you must be misled. Maybe you've been watching too much netflix."

"Oh come on, Mary," he sighs, moving closer to lower his voice in case he's overheard. "Think about it. Yesterday, when Kurt turned up here? Blaine said he was someone from New York. A friend, he later clarified. Tell me, what kind of friendship has you running down the snow covered street in your socks, chasing their car and yelling for them to please come back, then falling down sobbing when the car turns out of sight? What kind of friendship has him locked in his room, phone glued to his ear, only to emerge the next morning, eyes red from crying to announce he's going out? And then, when he returned with Kurt in tow? You saw him, Mary. You saw how happy he was. How happy he's been all day."

"That doesn't mean there's something going on, something...like...that," she says, two high spots of indignant color appearing on her cheeks as she begins to serve the dinner. "Our son isn't... We can't have a son who's..."

"Gay?" Brian whispers as he hears footsteps in the hallway. "I'm pretty sure we have, my dear. And I'm also quite certain that if you're honest with yourself, you'll realize you've known all along, too."

*
Kurt raises an eyebrow but bows his head while grace is said, and politely thanks Mary for inviting him to dinner, who smiles weakly and tries hard to swallow her food. The atmosphere is tense, so much unsaid as Blaine pushes his food around aimlessly and Brian stares at his plate until Blaine sets his knife and fork down with a clatter and looks up.

"I uh...I have something to tell you."

"Oh no, Blaine, not now," his mom says with a polite smile in Kurt's direction. "Not at the dinner table. We have guests."

"Um...no," he says boldly, ignoring the shocked look on his moms face. "I have something that needs to be said. And I'd ask you to listen, please. And uh...hear...hear me out. All the way to the end."

Blaine keeps his eyes locked on Kurt's as he speaks, his voice high and thin with worry, but he is reassured and urged on by those blue eyes, calm, steady and silently cheering for him. His dad clears his throat, pushing his untouched dinner to one side. "Go on," he says with a nod. "We're listening."

"Okay. Well..." He pauses, sucking in a deep breath as he realizes this is it. No going back. His confession now will ultimately change the shape of his family dynamic forever. "Kurt and I," he mumbles, looking down at his hands before he stops himself.

No.

Proud.

He's proud. Proud to be Kurt's. Proud to love him. Proud to be his husband. Proud that Kurt loves him back. He looks up, and smiles a smile so heartbreakingly, genuinely happy that Kurt beams right back through tear filled eyes as he understands Blaine's thoughts exactly. No more hiding.

"Kurt and I are in love," Blaine says clearly and concisely.

"Oh dear Lord and Father, help us," Mary mumbles, her eyes cast heavenward, but Brian is quick to shush her.

"Carry on, Blaine."

"Kurt and I are in love," he repeats. "We have been for a while. We uh...well, we officially started dating back at the end of May," he says with a shy smile across the table. "But we actually met in April- in Vegas."

Mary doesn't even try to hide her whimper, but Blaine is on a roll now and continues strongly. "I'm gay," he says- continuing to speak directly to Kurt as he finds it the easiest way to speak his mind. "I don't know if you know that about me, if you had any idea at all, but I am. I've known for years. People around me, well...Santana...has known since I was fifteen, and in New York I've never hidden it. All the friends I've made, they know I'm gay. And Um...obviously Kurt does. I know this doesn't fit with your plans. I know I'm a bigger disappointment to you now than I ever was but...but know this. I am Kurt's one and only," he says proudly. "As he is mine. I might not have followed your religious beliefs, but you did teach me to respect others, and to respect myself. And I thank you for that, really."

"Blaine, you can't..."

"There's more, mom," Blaine says firmly, staring right ahead at Kurt who smiles encouragingly. "The thing is...I hope you know that I'm not a rebel. I don't seek to cause trouble, or make any kind of disturbance at all, really," he adds with a small laugh. "But in Vegas I did something. Something which could probably be perceived as rather stupid."

"I sincerely hope you didn't get a tattoo," his mother whispers, horrified.

"I got married." Blaine says, unable to keep from grinning. "To Kurt."

"You what?!" Mary shrieks as Brian turns white.

"Please hear me out. It was dumb, I know. I wish I could tell you what either one of us was thinking, but I can't, because we neither of us can remember a thing. What I do know, however, is that we were lucky enough to fall in love, and that Kurt makes me happier than I can ever remember being. I feel so lucky to have made what some would think to be a stupid mistake but which has actually turned out to be the best thing I've ever done. We would have married anyway," he says as Kurt nods emphatically. "It's perhaps not as we planned, but we will make a damn good go of this. We will make it work, because we love each other enough to want it to. So that's it," he says, reaching for Kurt's hands. "That's me. Us. That's us. In love. Married. Together."

There is a long silence, during which Kurt and Blaine continue to gaze at one another, Brian studies his son and Mary studies her husband. Eventually, Brian clears his throat and leans back in his chair. "Can I ask, Blaine, what you expect from us in all of this?"

"Nothing," Blaine shrugs. "I've learned not to expect or hope for anything from either of you, because I only end up disappointed."

"So you have no expectations whatsoever?" he asks, throwing his arms wide.

"Well...maybe a few," Blaine concedes. "I'm expecting the whole talk about how I'm going against nature, and god's intentions. I know you'll tell me how abhorrent I am, how disappointed you are in me, and I'm fully expecting you to tell me and Kurt to leave and never return so yes, I guess I do have expectations."

"And what if I tell you I've known for...ooh...three years at least, that you might be gay? What then, huh?" his dad snaps as a sea of astounded faces stare back at him. "Because I have, you see," he nods to himself. "Yes. I guessed when you asked to board at Dalton. Not because I felt you were up to anything, but because I just had this feeling...a parents intuition, maybe. And my biggest fear was having to have this conversation," he admits. "Having to sit and listen to you tell me that you like men the way you should like women. And then I realized something, as time went on. I realized that whatever I might think about the rights or wrongs of the bible, or homosexuality, I didn't want to shy away from this discussion. Far from it. I wanted to have it. I wanted to hear you say it. Because however hard it might be for your mom and I to hear; to you, it means you're being yourself. You're staking a claim over your life and declaring that this is who you are. And not only that, you're also telling us that you've found happiness... And that's all I've ever wanted for you."

Taking a sip of water, he clears his throat and continues. "Blaine, over the years I've watched as you've withdrawn more and more into yourself. I know I've been harsh, I know I've not been entirely fair and I know I've focused much more on your failures when I should be focusing on your achievements and successes- of which there's been many. But I also feel that at times you have judged us, tarnished us with a brush which has been unfair, uncalled for and hurtful. You've pulled away from us both physically and emotionally and I have to say that's hurt me more than any confession of sexual orientation ever could. You know my thoughts on homosexuality, and I can't pretend to think otherwise or to be suddenly okay with all this. But my God teaches me about love, Blaine. He teaches me that a father should love his son, care for him, protect and provide for him and whatever you may think of me," he says as his voice begins to crack. "Whatever you think of me, I have loved you, always. And I always will, no matter who you choose to love."

A resounding silence ensues. Kurt lets go of Blaine's hand but takes to rubbing his foot reassuringly up the inside of his leg, letting him know silently 'I'm here.' Brian swallows hard and blinks, staring at Blaine who folds his arms across his body, hugging himself tight as he cries and Mary reaches across with a tentative hand to pat his shoulder.

"My darling boy," she says softly. "Oh, my boy."

Blaine shakes his head, hugging himself tighter.

"Why do you look so small?" Brian asks suddenly.

"Because I didn't grow much!" Blaine snaps, looking up with tears rolling down his face. "Another disappointment."

"I didn't mean that, you fool," Brian tells him, smiling in spite of his emotional state. "I mean why are you hunched in on yourself? Like you're ashamed? You've just found the courage to sit there and tell us that you're gay, in love and...it would appear...married. Be proud, Blaine. Be proud of who you are."

"I can't though," he cries desperately. "I can't because you're always saying how much I disappoint you, how I've let you down and I know this is the worst of all!"

"No." Brian's voice is sharp. "This is not the worst of all. The worst of all is me, sitting here, watching you crying and feeling too scared to hug you for fear of your inevitable rebuff. This is what's been wrong, isn't it? All these years, when you've been pulling away from us... It's because you thought we wouldn't love you if you were yourself, am I right?"

"Yes," Blaine says quietly. "Because you think it's wrong."

"I think disowning your child because of how they choose to live their life is wrong," Brian corrects. "I'm so sorry, Blaine. I'm sorry if the way I am led you to believe that would be my reaction. I don't think it's for me to decide what is wrong and what is right, but it is for me to tell you that we do love you, and you will always be welcome here. You too, Kurt."

Kurt nods, swiping at tears. "Thank you."

"As for the marriage thing...well. You don't need me to tell you how stupid that was, because you've admitted that yourself. But I'm much...happier...I guess, to hear that you're giving it a go rather than getting a quickie divorce and brushing it all under the carpet. Marriage is a very serious commitment, boys, and it won't always be easy. You will have to work to make it happen, strive to achieve happiness for yourselves. And if I could offer you one piece of advice, it would be this: Above all, be kind to one another, always."

"A divorce was never on the cards for us," Kurt says, smiling softly at Blaine, who rubs his eyes and smiles back. "It's never even been considered."

"Are you sure?" Mary asks, "I thought when you came here first, that maybe you were fighting."

"We were," Kurt admits. "Our first fight. And we didn't know how to handle it, I guess. And it resulted in me flying home and Blaine following. But...we've talked. A lot," he adds, reaching for Blaine's hand again. "And we're gonna be better than ever."

"I'm impressed," Brian admits. "You didn't handle it well at first maybe, but you'll know for next time. And there will be a next time," he says, looking between them both. "I don't mean to be all doom and gloom, but there will be petty fights over whose turn it is to do the dishes, and heated arguments over money which rage long into the night. But if you know how to get past that, if you can work together and keep kindness at the centre of all you do, then I've a feeling you'll be just fine."

He is almost knocked from his chair as Blaine stumbles over to him, blinded by tears of gratitude and relief, but he accepts his son into his arms readily, hugging him tight as he breaks down.

"I'm so sorry," Blaine sobs. "I judged you unfairly and I'm so sorry. Please love me."

"I do," his dad says thickly through tears of his own. "We both do."

Mary joins them, smoothing Blaine's hair and leaning down to kiss at his cheek. "Blaine, we believe what we believe. It doesn't mean we don't think others are entitled to make up their own minds. And for what it's worth, if you had to get married to a man, I think you made a good choice."

Blaine pulls back, looking at Kurt who is sitting on his hands and trying not to look uncomfortable. "I love you," Blaine says quietly, releasing his dad to go kneel at Kurt's side. "I made the best choice in the world, and I will love you forever."

"Maybe you should get drunk more often," Kurt teases, his voice hoarse.

Mary clears her throat. "I don't think that will be necessary," she says primly, making them all laugh.

"You can put your ring back on now," Blaine says, and he rummages in his pocket and produces the band. "There." He smiles happily down at the band.

"Uh...I think your mom and I will..." Brian says, awkward once again at this intimate display of affection.

"Did you know?" Blaine asks, suddenly turning. "Did you know about us?"

"I had my suspicions," Brian admits. "Especially after watching you two together all day. But then I came to ask about dinner and I heard Kurt asking you to make him breakfast in bed on his birthday."

Kurt and Blaine both blush, and Brian gathers the plates. "Don't worry about it," Brian says as stoically as he can muster. "I'm not dumb. I take it Cooper knows everything?"

"Yes," Blaine whispers.

"Okay. Well... No more secrets I guess," he offers with a small smile. "Anyway, it's my turn to do the dishes, if you'll excuse me."

"What will you say?" Blaine asks as he gets to his feet. "If anyone asks what I'm doing now, I mean. At church."

"I'll tell them you're married and living in New York," Brian says and Blaine nods meekly and looks away. "...And I'll tell them I've met your husband, and I approve of your choice," he adds, before spinning on his heel and heading to the kitchen.

"Jesus Christ," Kurt exhales, falling back limply in his chair. "I think all words have left me right now."

Blaine falls to the floor, resting his head weakly in Kurt's lap. "Same. I...I can't really get my head around all that's just happened."

"You look like you've just seen a ghost," Kurt laughs, stroking Blaine's hair back from his pale and clammy face.

"They're not ashamed of me," Blaine whispers happily, his fingers digging into Kurt's thigh. "They love me no matter what."

"Well you are pretty loveable, so..."

He leans down, kissing Blaine's lips lightly before he resumes stroking his hair and Blaine stays there, content to be held as he tries to absorb it all, while out in the kitchen, Brian and Mary hug each other tight and cry with happiness for the return of their lost little boy.