I know! I updated within a decent amount of time! What is this?!

Seb finally meets the family in this one! I love the Hudson-Hummels and I'm so excited their back in the story, even if it's just for this segment. They're so awesome, and so much fun to write. Especially writing about them during holidays. XD

Enjoy!

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Chapter 20

Sebastian slept soundly the whole plane ride. Even when the flight attendants screamed at each other across the aisle over giving a passenger extra juice boxes.

The plane was pleasantly cool, but Sebastian still managed to get cold. Luckily the flight provided blankets and pillows, so Kurt nabbed the previous from a non-screaming flight attendant and carefully draped it over Sebastian's long back and most of his legs. Even curled up, Sebastian was too long for the blanket, his feet hopelessly sticking out from under it.

The flight was short, not even two hours, and when they announced that they were about to land, Kurt wondered where the time went. He had stared out the window, played on his phone, and messed with Sebastian's hair for the whole flight. Wow; his mind was captivated in easy ways.

Since Sebastian's seat belt was buckled and he wasn't technically sleeping in a dangerous position, Kurt didn't bother to wake him up yet. He slept right through the plane's descent, but even someone who slept like the dead couldn't stay out of it during the shaky landing.

Kurt laughed at Sebastian's confused expression and sleep fogged eyes. Sebastian just yawned and ran a hand through his sleep mussed hair. "Did I sleep through the whole flight?"

Kurt nodded and turned his phone off airplane mode, the device immediately dinging with notifications. "Yep, and my parents are waiting for us at baggage claim."

Sebastian nodded and stretched out his stiff back and arms. "Crap, I forgot we were meeting them here." He dragged his hands over his face. "Not only are you going to be introducing your past tormentor, but you're going to be introducing a sleep deprived edition."

Kurt cringed. "We'll get more coffee before we see them. There is no such thing as too much caffeine."

Sebastian shook his head. "You're going to be hopping if you drink anymore coffee."

"Trust me on this Bas; three cups at an hour like this is nothing."

Sebastian just smiled and tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He had to be awake and alert when he met Kurt's family. He also had to prepare himself for rejection. He hoped it didn't get to that point, but he couldn't be positive and the higher his hopes, the harder the fall.

Since they were in the back, they were the last people off the plane. Kurt tried to yank their shared backpack from Sebastian, but he wasn't relenting. As much as he wished it wasn't true, Sebastian looked like the walking dead and Kurt didn't trust him not to drop it or put it down somewhere and forget it.

Since Sebastian was walking in front of him, Kurt took that time to try to see him through his family's eyes. Both he and Carole would know he looked unbelievably better than he had weeks ago. But all his father and Finn would see was a gaunt boy with circles under his eyes who used to make Kurt's life a living hell. They wouldn't see a victim of unspeakable crimes; they would see a villain who committed them.

They got coffee much quicker than they had in NYC; Ohio seemed so empty compared to the raging crowds of the city. Sebastian's hands shook slightly as he drank and Kurt tried to think of something comforting to say. But he didn't have anything.

He settled for running his hand over Seb's coiled arm –his whole body was tense- a few times before they reached the baggage claim.

Sebastian seemed to relax slightly, but he was still rigid and flighty. Kurt couldn't blame him; a weight was forming in his own stomach and he hoped to whatever was out there in the universe that everyone would get along.

They approached the escalator that led to the baggage claim and turned toward each other.

Kurt fixed Sebastian's hair even though it wasn't all that messy. It was more a nervous tick than anything else. "Just don't say the word 'sex' and we should be fine. Besides, Carole loves you."

Sebastian nodded, his attempt at masking his nervousness as translucent as the glass windows to their left, showing off the greenness of Ohio. "Got it."

Kurt took his hands briefly in his own, and relished the feeling. He wouldn't be able to do anything like this for days; his dad wasn't ready for the idea of him talking Sebastian, let alone liking him.

Kurt let go and stepped on the descending staircase.

As he had suspected, his stepbrother was easy to pick out of the crowd dwelling around the baggage claim for the flight from NYC. Most of the people waiting were not only shorter, but generally smaller. His dad and Carole were right next to him, the baseball cap both comforting and nerve racking.

"God," Sebastian whispered from behind him. "Finn's way bigger then I remember him."

Kurt turned back and gently took Sebastian's hand in his own when he saw the boy's pale pallor. They were half way down the escalator, so it took effort for Kurt to look up into Sebastian's eyes (the stair added a good half a foot), but he tried to offer a reassuring smile. "Relax. They are going to love you."

Sebastian just bit his lip in response.

They reached the bottom, and Kurt knew it was a matter of seconds before they were spotted so he dared to drop Bas's hand and shook out his own, trying to block out all the thoughts of how badly this could go.

"Kurt!"

He couldn't help smiling when he saw the excitement dancing in his stepmother's eyes. She ran toward them both and pulled Kurt into a hug before he could stop her.

She pulled back and placed her hands on his shoulders. "This is going to be one hell of a Thanksgiving."

Carole tried to mask her surprise when she saw Sebastian. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and the rings around them weren't as dark as they had been. He looked so much better without the bruises and cuts. What she really took in though was his weight. He had gained some, and she could tell he was making significant progress.

She grinned, reached up, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He flinched, but returned her embrace and she couldn't have felt any more elated. His arms were softly wrapped around her waist and she wondered for the umpteenth time how someone could hurt him.

"You look amazing, Sebastian," she gushed when she pulled back.

He smiled shyly in response, his cheeks reddening briefly. "Well, considering I slept the whole plane ride, that's questionable."

Burt was greatly confused. After all the stories Kurt had told him about the Smythe boy in high school, Burt figured he would be a loud, boisterous pain with no filter. He wasn't sure whether this was an act, or if Kurt was right, and Sebastian had completely changed. There weren't any parallels between the boy Burt saw in front of him now and the one he'd heard of the year before.

Once Carole finished speaking with him, Burt figured he would go first for introductions; Finn looked as confused as he felt and he was almost positive his stepson wasn't in the position to string together words in an intelligent way.

"I'm Kurt's father, Burt Hummel," he said and offered his hand to the tall, lanky boy, surprised when Sebastian met his eyes with an equally strong handshake. "But you can call me Burt."

Sebastian smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

Sebastian couldn't believe it; no one had tried to slit his throat and while Kurt's dad didn't seem to adore him, he also didn't seem to hate him. Which was more than he could have hoped for.

Kurt cleared his throat and motioned to Finn who looked caught between a combo of hatred and sincere bewilderment. "You already know Finn."

Sebastian nodded and offered a half smile, trying not to let the awkwardness prevail. But Finn was creeping him out. He was just staring, and Sebastian couldn't tell why.

Finn continued leering, and Burt indiscreetly coughed to break the silence. "How was the flight?"

Kurt shrugged. "Good. The flight attendants were at each other's throats the whole time, but it was peaceful besides that. Sebastian slept through the whole thing."

Carole rolled her eyes. "Burt does the same thing. He can fall asleep almost anywhere and stay that way."

Kurt smiled and tried to wrap his mind around what was going on. His dad was fine; he was genuinely smiling along with them. He knew his father would never forget what Sebastian had done in the past, neither of them would, but there seemed to be a real chance of his father actually liking Sebastian.

Finn was still silently staring at Sebastian. He had a look of shock that Kurt wished he could make a bit more subtle.

Once the baggage ring had started moving, and Sebastian and Carole went to the other side to grab his bag –it was one of the first ones out- Kurt turned on his brother to ask what his deal was.

"Finn!" Kurt hissed. "What is your problem?"

This snapped Finn out of it and he let his eyes land on Kurt's. "What happened to him?"

That hadn't been what Kurt expected. The confusion on Finn's face wasn't rude glaring and an attempt at malice; he was just as shocked as Kurt had been to see what little remained of the Sebastian Smythe they had known before. "It's not my right to tell you everything, but to say his ex-boyfriend put him through hell would be an understatement."

Finn's pallor drained another shade. "Carole told us he was a bad dude, but I didn't- I hadn't thought… He looks bad. Like he doesn't eat or sleep much."

Kurt grimaced, but didn't respond. He didn't want to tell his brother anything else; wasn't ready for him to know how on point he was. How right.

His father walked over and placed his hand on Kurt's shoulder. "I know I had been skeptical before, but you did the right thing kiddo."

Kurt wasn't sure how to take that. Sebastian didn't look great, but he wasn't that bad looking. His hair had been finger-combed during the walk over, the bags under his eyes weren't too dark, and he was only a little underweight compared to how he had been before. Maybe he just didn't notice the weight since Sebastian had been so emaciated a month ago, and so thin before. Since his father had never seen him before, either during high school or a few weeks ago, he looked much worse than he was in his eyes. Or maybe it was just that Kurt was growing blind to his condition.

Burt had been silent, and he cleared his throat. "God, the kid looks worse then you after your mother's death. Has he always been that thin? You lost some weight after your mom, but not that much."

Kurt felt his stomach pull at the thought of his mom. It had been over a decade, and he still couldn't think of her without a hint of sadness. "He's always been a stick, Dad. But no, he hasn't always been that thin. With Carole on him this weekend though, he'll be leaving the Hudson-Hummel's a few pounds heavier."

Burt tried to smile, but it came out more of a grimace. He wasn't going to admit it, but seeing Sebastian like this reminded him of when Karofsky had been harassing his boy. The timidness; like he was afraid if people got too close, they would hurt him. The weight loss and purple tinged eyes. He hadn't thought he would feel this way; honestly, he thought hatred would be the first emotion to blossom up in his chest when he saw the boy. But it was protectiveness. He didn't want to clock Sebastian like he had thought he would; he wanted to protect him.

"Good," he finally said.

Kurt's bag came out right after Sebastian's and Burt took both boys' luggage, even though Sebastian insisted he could carry them.

The airport was only a half hour from their house, but due to holiday traffic, it took an hour for them to get there.

All three of the boys had been shoved in the back seat, Kurt in the middle. Finn had looked out the window the whole ride, and Sebastian had done whatever it took to not fall back asleep. Kurt had to keep reminding himself that he couldn't just take Sebastian's hand or let him sleep on his shoulder. It was weird, and while Kurt knew none of those things were signs they were a couple, he did the same stuff with Rachel and Mercedes, his father and Carole might take them the wrong way. Not to mention Finn.

Carole looked in the review mirror and noticed the awkward state of the boys in the back. Finn looked like he did when doing math homework; confused and in pain. Kurt looked normal; and a little anxious. Sebastian looked exhausted.

It was most certainly going to be an awkward Thanksgiving.

When their driveway finally came into view, Kurt caught himself before he could vocally express his relief.

Finn got out first, making a beeline for the house, disappearing inside before Kurt could even process it.

Sebastian cringed. "Was it something I-"

Burt shook his head. "No, you didn't do anything."

Carole frowned. "I'll talk to him. Burt, help the boys get settled in before I start fattening them up."

Sebastian struggled to suppress the crimson glow that wanted to cover his face.

Burt led them through the front door and into a homey living room. The whole room was well decorated, but very obviously lived in. It was different from his own home. In his house, everything was perfect, but it looked more like a model house then someone's actual home.

They walked up the stairs and came to two doors. "This one's for you, Sebastian. And don't worry, Kurt; Carole hasn't let me touch your room since you last came."

Kurt tried to forget the time Carole had let him touch his stuff. His father plus interior designing; no thank you.

Burt set each of their bags in front of their doors and headed back downstairs.

"Come on, meerkat," Kurt opened Sebastian's door, "Let's unpack your stuff first so I can find out how much of it needs to be washed."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I can wash my own clothes."

Kurt laughed mockingly. "Yeah, that's hilarious."

He opened his mouth to defend himself, but he realized he probably couldn't wash his clothes, he had no idea how to use washers and dryers, so he settled for glaring at him.

Sebastian's stuff took less than a minute to unload since there was so little of it, and Kurt decided the only items needing wash were his running clothes. Even Seb could admit they smelled awful.

Kurt's bag, however, took forever. It turns out Princess brought enough clothes to fill up his wardrobe, because that was literally what he did.

Kurt noticed his amazed expression as he tried to figure out how all those clothes fit inside a medium suitcase. "It's called packing properly, Bas. It's not that hard."

"Says you. How many outfits did you not bring?"

Kurt shrugged. "I didn't count."

Once they finished and Kurt had filled a basket with all the clothes they needed washed, they dared to go downstairs, and heavenly smells were sent their way from the kitchen.

"We're just going to eat the whole time we're here aren't we?" Seb asked.

Kurt nodded and hoped that it wasn't going to be a problem. Sebastian was just starting to eat healthily and the amount of food his stepmother thrust on you was anything but. He didn't want it to counteract their progress.

He shook his head and realized how stupid that sounded. His stepmother had more experience with this kind of thing then he ever would. She would understand the dos and don'ts.

Sebastian leaned against the wall as Kurt started the load of laundry. "I think it's safe to say your brother doesn't like me."

Kurt bit his lip. "I don't think it's that. I think it's more-" how thin and sickly you look "-how weird it is to see you and I being nice to each other."

Sebastian thought about it for a moment. "I guess." He dragged a hand down his haggard face. "It's weird even when I think about it. A little over a month ago, we didn't care for each, a year ago we hated each other, and now…" He shrugged when the words wouldn't come to him. "We don't."

Kurt smiled. "Alright. Now that I don't have to worry about your disgusting clothes anymore, let's go find out what Carole is making, because it smells fabulous."

Sebastian looked anything but eager to go into the kitchen, but Kurt had the feeling it had less to do with food and more with the high probability that Finn was in there.

Luckily, he wasn't. But Burt and Carole were. Kurt caught them exchange one of those parental looks that conveyed things they didn't want either boy to know about. As soon as they noticed them, they both went back to looking at what they were doing and if Kurt hadn't caught that second before, he wouldn't have known they were aware of the other's presence.

"Is your room okay?" Carole asked Sebastian. "Were there enough pillows on the bed?"

While Kurt highly doubted Sebastian had counted the pillows on the bed, Sebastian nodded anyway. "Yes, it's perfect. Thanks so much for letting me stay with you both this week."

Burt shrugged. "Don't mention it, son. Kurt told us Rachel is gone all day and it would be a pretty boring Thanksgiving break to be in that apartment all by yourself."

Seb gave one of his genuine smiles, and Kurt had to stop himself from grinning dopily like a love drunk idiot. God, he had to work on that. He needed to quit acting like a cheesy tween girl around Sebastian if he hoped to keep even a scrap of his dignity.

As depressing as it was, Kurt quickly realized that while Carole was indeed cooking, it was at least two hours until lunch. He was famished.

Thankfully, at that exact moment, Bas's stomach made this almost humorous noise that caused his face to turn slightly pink. He hadn't known Sebastian's could blush this often. Until that night when Kurt confronted him, he hadn't known Sebastian could blush.

"Did you boys eat breakfast yet?"

They both glanced at the other and Kurt nodded. "We had coffee."

"Coffee isn't a meal, Kurt," his stepmom chastised. "Since this won't be done for a while, I'll put something together to fend off the hunger until then. There's baked ziti in the fridge if that works…"

Sebastian nodded eagerly. "That would be perfect. With Kurt and Rachel and their diets, we never have pasta."

Burt laughed. "You should've seen the weird stuff he ate in high school."

"Weirder then avocado and spinach in a milkshake?"

Even Carole grimaced.

Kurt groaned. "It was a smoothie. Besides, that's actually one of the more common beverages."

"Vegetables and dairy don't work together. Under any circumstances."

"Oh shut it, meerkat."

"Try me, Princess."

Burt and Carole looked slightly confused at the nicknames and Sebastian prayed to whatever the hell was out there that he didn't just seal the Hudson-Hummels' deep hatred of him.

As they sat down at the kitchen table while he and Kurt wolfed down warmed up ziti, he realized, they didn't.

He also realized he missed having a family. The parents telling embarrassing stories and everything.

But who knew; maybe this could be his new one.

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So? I hope I'm writing the characters somewhat well. Despite the amount of attention these characters get in fan fictions, they don't actually get that much canon. Which is depressing. Because Burt and Carole are one of the cutest couples by far on Glee. Seriously, they're so frickin' cute.

Let me know what you guys thought! My writing only gets better when you talk to me. :)

Thanks so much for reading reviewing!

~Ann