Author's Note:
Here we go, the wedding is over and schools getting ready to start back. While I'm here, did anyone notice the guy behind the bushes? I caught a glimpse, but not well enough to tell who it was. [shrug]
Okay, enough from me ... let's finish 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.
26 - That I May See
It was the week following the wedding. Bryce and Derrick had already left and Dan had gone to his parents' place to help pack up their wedding gifts to send them out to them in LA. Blaine had decided to have the boys over for a decompression session after the ceremony.
"Well, I don't care, I thought it went pretty well," Dave said. "I mean, everyone loved it, especially Bryce's family so..."
"Yeah, he's right," Sam, said. "As long as Bryce and his family liked it, I'm gonna call it a win."
"I know," Finn said. "Rachel just keeps waffling on it. You know if even one of the adults says something she just goes to pieces, doubting herself left and right." He shook his head. "You know, I love her to death, and I know she's talented as hell, but her skin seems pretty thin to really go into show business. I mean, I know she can do it, but I'm beginning to wonder if she does."
"I should tell," Kurt, said shaking a finger at him.
"Come on, bro, you know I'm right," Finn said.
Kurt shrugged and nodded. "Yes, she is far too critical of herself."
"I'm with Dave and Sam," Blaine said. "I mean the song was for Bryce and Derrick and as long as they liked it, so I'm gonna say it was a success."
"Exactly," Dave said.
"Well, how about that party?" Finn said. "I thought it was pretty cool. It was neat seeing all of those colorful tartans and them marching in with that haggis stuff was pretty cool, even if the stuff was rank."
"Yeah, well you didn't say much until after you found out what it actually was," Dave said.
"Rachel did tell you that it was best not to ask," Kurt reminded him.
"Yeah, we'll intestine is not my all time favorite of foods," Finn said with a frown.
"I don't know, chittlin's ain't too bad," Sam said, "as long as you 'cook the shit out of them' as my Aunt Peggy would say."
"And I kiss that mouth," Dave said looking at him and sneering.
"You never complained about it before," Sam said giving him an impish look.
"It's not intestines anyway," Blaine said. "That's just the 'wrapper' it's really just sausage and oatmeal."
"Um, hmm," Kurt said. "What kind of sausage though?"
"I don't care, I liked it especially when you mixed it with the potatoes and neeps," Blaine said. "And with that gravy, it was pretty good."
"That's another thing," Dave said. "Those were not turnips."
"No, they were more like rutabagas," Sam said.
"Well that's easy," Blaine said. "Bryce said they called them different things. They are more like what we call rutabagas."
"Told ya," Sam said.
"Yeah, well you are Pinoy, so you like foreign food anyway," Kurt said.
"Technically, it's not foreign food though is it?" Blaine said with a smirk.
"No, dear, it's not," Kurt said. "It's home cooking, I'm sorry."
Blaine smiled at him, then leaned over and kissed him.
"So are you staying for the movie Finn?" Kurt asked.
"I should go on over and see Rachel," he said. "But she'll just start asking about that performance and..." He sighed. "Yeah, I think I will."
The other boys laughed. "Welcome to the party, bro," Blaine said smiling.
"Oh, hey, Sam," Kurt said. "What was that web address to the site that they were making up for the wedding?"
"Uh, it was ht tp:/sites. google. com/site/deenforbeswedding/, but I don't know if it's finished yet or not."
"Thanks I just wanted to be able to check it later," Kurt said. "Bryce said he'd leave me some close up shots of the stuff he wore. Thanks man."
The next morning Kurt's cell rang as he walked into the kitchen. He pulled it out and smiled as he looked at the ID. "Hey baby," he said as he clicked it on and held it to his ear.
"Good morning gorgeous," Blaine said grinning.
"Now I like these good mornings," Kurt said smiling.
"Well, Dan just called and said he wasn't going to be back until later tonight," Blaine said. "And I just don't know what to do in this huge house all alone."
"You've been in that huge house all alone before," Kurt said sitting on a stool and kicking his leg.
"Yeah, but I have all these things that would make a spectacular brunch and no one to share them with. Can you think of anyone I could call?"
Kurt smiled. "Well, I was about to make myself something, but you're in luck. I haven't started yet, and I believe I'm available."
"You're sure Finn wouldn't be more appreciative?" Blaine asked grinning.
Kurt arched an eyebrow. "Well, I don't know, I could ask him."
Blaine grinned wider. "You know I'm kidding, I was wondering if you wanted to come over."
"Well ... I suppose you're in luck, I am available," Kurt said. "Besides, you missed Finn; he ate earlier and took the early shift at the garage."
"How's he doing there?" Blaine asked more seriously. "He seems like he likes it, does he?"
"Yeah, he seems pleased," Kurt, said. "I mean he's really good at it, and he and dad are getting along great."
"That's cool," Blaine said. "So are you coming over or not?"
"Let me think about it," Kurt said.
"Kurt ... babe," Blaine said with a pout.
"Oh, alright," Kurt said. "I'll be over in a few."
Blaine smiled. "Love you babe, see you when you get here."
The two enjoyed a lovely brunch and then cleaned up the kitchen together.
"I like this," Blaine said as they finished up.
"What?" Kurt asked as he put away the last dish.
"Just being together like this," Blaine said drying his hands on the dishtowel and the placing it across the sink to dry. "I mean it's like having our own place and ... I don't know."
"I know what you mean," Kurt said. "I feel ever so domestic."
Blaine smiled at him and offered him his hand. Kurt took it and Blaine led him back to his room. The two lay down on the bed and began to cuddle.
"I'm going to miss this when school starts back," Blaine said.
"Well we can still cuddle," Kurt said.
"You know what I mean," Blaine said.
"Yeah, I do," Kurt, said. "We should still have at least some time together."
"Yeah," Blaine said then leaned over and kissed him.
"I might miss this," Kurt said between kisses.
"I'll try to make sure that you don't," Blaine said. He grinned as he started on the buttons of Kurt's shirt. "You're okay with this, right?"
Kurt leaned up and glared at him.
Blaine smiled at him as he continued on the buttons. He then began to kiss Kurt's chest. Once his shirt was opened fully Blaine took the time to lavish both his nipples before kissing his way down his belly. He let his tongue delve into Kurt's navel as he began on his pants.
Kurt just lay back on the pillow and let Blaine have his way with him. He writhed as Blaine opened his pants and then pulled down his briefs. Kurt moaned as Blaine removed his member, stroking it gently and lovingly. He then gasped as Blaine laved his balls and then licked his way up his shaft.
Blaine took Kurt in his mouth and felt Kurt lace his hands through his hair, playing with it lightly as Blaine slowly bobbed up and down on his shaft. Blaine rolled Kurt's balls gently between his fingers as Kurt moaned.
Soon, Kurt carefully pulled Blaine from his shaft. Blaine moaned. It came out almost a whine. "We'll get back to that," Kurt said. "But I want some first."
Blaine smiled as Kurt leaned up and began to unbutton his shirt. Kurt decided to go a bit faster than Blaine had and went straight from the shirt to the pants. Once Blaine was undone, Kurt pushed him over, guiding his pants and briefs down as he went over. Kurt crawled up him and began to kiss him deeply.
Blaine slid Kurt's pants and briefs over his hips and managed to slide them down and off his legs, also managing to remove his own in the process. Kurt moved down to his nipples and both licked and bit them. "You like that don't you baby?" Kurt said with a smile.
"I love it, just like I love you," Blaine said.
Kurt's only answer was to lean back down, nipping at each of them again. Blaine moaned as he writhed beneath him. His back arched off of the bed as he gave in to the feeling. Kurt moved down, kissing Blaine's abs, before making his way to his manhood. He gently caressed first his balls and then his shaft as he kissed his hipbone. Blaine gasped as Kurt took him in.
Kurt had grown so much more confident since the first time they'd been together in New York. From the young man who was almost in tears to a master who kept Blaine writing in ecstasy. There was no more tentative timidity; instead, it was replaced by the fearlessness of a man who knew what he wanted and knew how to get it.
"Kurt, oh God," Blaine said. "Kurt..."
"Hmm?" Kurt said, still with his mouth around Blaine's shaft.
"Oh, my God!" Blaine exclaimed. "Babe, wait..."
"Are you okay?" Kurt said finally stopping his ministrations.
"I wanted to ask you something," Blaine said.
Kurt looked at him and arched an eyebrow. "You wanted to ask something, now?"
Blaine smiled. "Yes, now," Blaine said with a chuckle. His face grew more serious. "You remember what we did earlier, going further?"
"You want to do that again?" Kurt said smiling. "I'm up for it."
"Actually, I was thinking of the other way around," Blaine said raising his eyebrows.
"Oh?" Kurt said.
"Well, you seemed to enjoy it," Blaine said.
"Are you sure?" Kurt said. "I mean it wasn't without some pain."
"Well, you took it," Blaine said, "and didn't seem to mind too much."
Kurt nodded. "We have to go slow though," he said. Blaine nodded and leaned over to the night table and pulled out the condoms and lube. "Just let me do the work, okay baby," Kurt said and Blaine nodded at him.
Kurt pushed Blaine's farther leg up, and then opened the tube of lube. He took Blaine's member into his mouth and began bobbing as he began to massage around Blaine's sphincter. Blaine's eyes rolled back in his head as he gave in to Kurt's attention. After a while, Kurt added some lube to his finger and gently began pressing against the opening. He felt Blaine's manhood throb and the rest of his muscles tense as his finger pushed inside. He froze a moment with his finger deep inside and waited for Blaine to relax before beginning to move his finger in and out.
Blaine moaned and Kurt added more lube and began moving two fingers about his opening, first in a circular motion around the hole and then teasingly pushing on it. Eventually he managed to push the two fingers in. Blaine had less of an adverse reaction this time so Kurt began to alternately move the fingers in and out and move them in a scissor motion, stretching his sphincter.
Blaine's hand found his way to Kurt's hair and slowly began running through it, begging him to take him in farther. Kurt eventually added more lube and slowly pushed in a third finger. This time instead of a bad reaction, Blaine groaned and pushed him down farther on his shaft. Kurt smiled around his shaft as he tried to widen his opening.
Kurt slid his fingers out and slid his mouth from Blaine's shaft, licking at the slit at the end as he did so. Blaine shuddered and he smiled. "Are you ready?" Kurt asked.
Blaine nodded. He rolled over and got up onto his knees. "Take me, please," Blaine, said his voice deep and husky.
Kurt grabbed out a condom and unrolled it onto his swollen shaft. He added a generous amount of lube and moved up behind Blaine. He quickly lined himself up with Blaine and pressed against him. He slowly began to press, hoping to go slow enough not to hurt him. Kurt was just beginning to feel himself enter when Blaine took the choice from him and shoved back impaling himself.
Blaine screamed as he felt himself stretch. "Baby are you okay?" Kurt said quickly.
Blaine moaned. "Oh, God," Blaine said as he panted. He stayed there for a few moments and then pulled himself back off and pushed back. Kurt froze allowing Blaine to set his own rhythm. Eventually the rhythm was set and Kurt began to thrust himself into Blaine. "Oh, God!" Blaine said as he moaned.
"Oh God you're so tight baby!" Kurt said.
"Harder!" Blaine said. He suddenly screamed as his back arched. "Oh my God!"
Kurt's first reaction was to stop and ask him if he were okay, but he suddenly realized what he had done. He then actively tried to repeat it and he did. Blaine screamed again as Kurt hit his prostrate once more. One of Kurt's hands rested on Blaine's hip as the other ran up his back.
"Oh, God babe," Blaine moaned. "Please don't stop!"
Kurt smiled as he continued his thrusts. He could feel himself getting closer to release. "Baby ... I don't know ... how much longer..."
Blaine panted. "Just ... a little ... more."
Kurt managed once more to hit Blaine's prostrate and then it happened. Blaine screamed and Kurt felt his sphincter begin to spasm around him and he fell over the precipice. He too screamed as they both came together. They were locked together as they both shuddered. Blaine felt his arms and legs growing shaky and soon he collapsed onto his side pulling Kurt with him. Kurt landed on Blaine's side, as they both lay panting and sweating.
Kurt smiled as he ran his hand up Blaine's stomach and chest and felt the semen that coated it. "Did I do that?" Kurt said grinning.
"Oh yeah," Blaine said. He pulled Kurt to him as he leaned down; they met in a passionate kiss. "Oh my God, babe, I have never felt anything like that before in my life." He then began to giggle.
"What's wrong?" Kurt asked.
"Nothing," he said as he continued to giggle.
"No, tell me," Kurt said.
"Oh, sweet mystery of life at last I've found you!" Blaine sang with a German accent. "At last, I know the secret of it all!"
Kurt laughed smacking him in the arm. "Okay, I guess that's the way I felt too," Kurt said giggling.
"Shall we go take a shower?" Blaine asked.
"A few more minutes like this first?" Kurt said.
"Sure babe," Blaine said and he slid over a bit and let Kurt land on the mattress beside him, Blaine's arm wrapped around him.
A few days later, the bell rang and Dan walked to answer the door. Opening it, he discovered Ed Anderson. He had a rather worn appearance about him, not slovenly, but unkempt and off his game.
"Can I help you?" Dan said stepping outside the house and closing the door behind him.
Anderson breathed out and lowered his head, knowing the reason for the action. "I ... need to talk to my son," Anderson said without looking up.
"Is there a reason he'd want to see you?" Dan said.
"Not really," Anderson said. Dan examined him. In addition to the unkempt appearance, he seemed like he hadn't been getting much sleep. "Look I don't expect you to believe me, but ... I miss them."
"Them?" Dan asked.
Anderson sighed. "We've been married for twenty years, and he's been with us for eighteen of that," he said. "It's just not the same without them."
Dan wrinkled his brows and then one of his brow arched. "You certainly did seem to feel the same the last time we met."
"I..." Anderson paused. "I owe you an apology."
"It's not me who deserves the apology," Dan said.
"You do," Anderson said. "I said some very hurtful things, and they were all unfounded. You did nothing but take him in and make sure he was safe and healthy. Look, I don't expect him to forgive me. I don't really expect much at all, especially considering the way that I treated him, but I need to try." He sighed again. "At first I thought I just missed Trish, like I said, we've been together for twenty years, but it's more than that. I miss ... him. I miss hearing him humming and singing around the house, I miss the ballgames, hell I even miss getting dirty under the hood of that damn car."
Dan couldn't help but allow a half smile to escape.
"I know there's no way that I can get either of them back without making things right with him first," he said. "I'm not that stupid. I'm also not stupid enough to think that I could even broach the subject with her without talking to him first. I know I'm not ever going to make it up to him, he's never going to forgive me for the way I treated him..." He shook his head. "May I ask you a question?" he asked finally looking up.
Dan shrugged and nodded.
"Your brother, how did you take it when he told you?"
"I can't say that I was surprised," Dan said. "I saw the signs if you want to call it that."
"Did he dress differently than you?" Anderson asked. "Was he 'girly' or anything?"
"No, of course not," Dan said, resisting the urge to scoff. "He's still a guy just like me."
"I don't get it," Anderson said. "They're gay ... they're different..."
"My turn to ask you something," Dan said.
Anderson nodded.
"Have you ever talked to Blaine?" Dan asked.
"Of course I have," Anderson said confused.
"I mean have you ever asked him about being gay?" Dan said. Anderson stood, still confused. "Have you ever had a real honest to God sit down, and talked with him and asked him about it."
"I ... no. No, I guess not," he said. "It usually ends up going badly, I... I just really don't get it; he seems like a guy, a regular man's man ... guy. He likes ballgames; he loves working on that car. But he likes guys, wants to sleep with them ... but that's what women do."
"You really need to talk with him," Dan said. "And I mean with him. You need to figure out your questions, your ideas about what you think it is about being gay ... and ask him. Then listen to what he says."
"You and your brother are pretty close?" Anderson asked.
"Yes," Dan said nodding.
"I ... I followed Trish to your brother's ceremony," Anderson said. Dan's eyebrow again arched. "I know I wasn't supposed to, but I miss her. I ... hid in the bushes during the ceremony ... it was beautiful. So many people there to celebrate the two of them ... that were behind them ... that accepted them. I always figured we be laughing stocks when everyone found out."
"There'll always be people who won't take it well," Dan said, "but that's going to be true of anything. It could be the same if he fell in love with a girl of color or from a foreign country. There's always going to be someone who can't handle something. Did everyone in your family just accept it when they found out that Trish is Filipino?"
"Well no, not at first ... but they came to accept it."
Dan shrugged.
"At the reception all their friends seemed to have no problems with them?"
"Who, the boys?" Dan asked. Anderson nodded. "Of course not, they're their friends."
"And the other two boys at the table with their parents, they're gay too?" Anderson asked.
"Yeah," Dan said.
"All of their parents had no problem with them being gay?"
"Honestly, they had more problems with them before they knew they were gay," Dan told him.
Anderson wrinkled his brows as he tipped his head. The two stood there for a while silently as Anderson thought. "I know I have no right to ask, but do you think he'll see me?" Anderson asked.
"All I can do is ask him," Dan said. "He's not here right now though; he's out with his friends school shopping.
Anderson nodded.
"How about you give me your number and I'll speak to him and call you and let you know," Dan offered.
Anderson nodded and removed a business card from his wallet and handed it to him. "Thank you," he said.
Dan nodded and watched him leave.
The boys returned from shopping and we're all discussing their buys and supposing about their upcoming classes. There were the eventual queries of Dan about his class and what they could all expect and he let them know what they wanted to know. He even gave them some information about the way other teachers handled their classes.
Later the boys all cooked dinner. Dan had to admit that he really enjoyed this part of the bargain, Blaine loved to cook and at least once a week he and the others made a meal. It was a long cry from his days of bachelor hood and nuking dinner. The boys also tended to clean up after themselves as well, a good meal and no responsibilities at all, a great deal for a bachelor.
Dan waited until the others had all gone and then joined Blaine on the couch.
"Hey, Blaine, can we talk?" Dan said turning toward him.
"Yeah, sure," Blaine said. "Is this about our arrangement? You said that we may have to reexamine it when school started back."
"No," Dan said smiling at him. "It's a joy having you here, it's nothing like that."
Blaine smiled. "Okay, that's good. I think it's been pretty cool living here with you, too."
"Blaine," Dan started again and then paused to think about how he wanted to put it. "Blaine, your father stopped by today."
Blaine's face fell. "What? Why? I mean he didn't cause another problem did he?"
"No, nothing like that," Dan said. "He ... actually wanted to talk to you."
Blaine sat there for the longest time just thinking about it and Dan just sat and let him. "He just said he wanted to talk?"
"Yeah," Dan said. "He seemed serious, if that means anything. He said he misses you and your mom."
Blaine laughed. "Fine time now, huh?"
"I told him that I'd let you know, and then let him know what you decided," Dan said. "Look, I know it's none of my business, any of it, but I do think that the two of you need to talk. Not by yourselves, I don't really want you out of reach in case it doesn't go well, but he really doesn't seem to get it. It might help to let him know the truth about how you feel especially if you're to have any kind of chance of ever having a relationship of any kind."
"I ... I'll think about it and let you know," Blaine said.
Dan nodded. "Well, I'm going to turn in. Take all the time you need, then just let me know what you decide. Okay?" He gently squeezed his shoulder and then got up.
Blaine nodded and waved a goodnight. He sat there for a while and then grabbed his keys and left.
A short time later, he stood at the Hudson-Hummel's front door. He took a deep breath and rang the bell.
Shortly, Burt came to the door. "Hey kiddo, Do you know what time it is?"
"Yes, sir," Blaine said nodding. "I know it's late, but I need to talk to Kurt for minute or two. It's kind of important."
"I can kind of tell that," Burt said with a compassionate smile. "You just saw him a little while ago and here you are." Burt stepped aside and let him enter. "Kurt, some to see you," he yelled up the stairs.
"Thanks, Mr. Hummel," Blaine said as he walked into the living room.
Kurt came jogging down the stairs. "Someone for me, this late?" he said entering the living room. "Blaine? Are you okay baby?" Kurt asked as he saw him.
"Yeah," Blaine said smiling weakly. "I just needed to talk for a few."
Kurt looked at his father, and then said, "Is it okay if we head up to my room?"
Burt shrugged, and then nodded. "Sure kiddo."
Kurt took Blaine's hand and led him up to his room. "Baby, what's going on?" Kurt asked as they entered the room and he closed the door.
"It's okay, I just needed to talk."
"Baby we were just together, and if you 'just needed to talk', you could have phoned," Kurt said. "Now what's going on?"
"Dan said my father stopped by today," Blaine said.
"Oh no, did he start another scene?" Kurt asked.
"No, he just ... he said he wanted to talk," Blaine said.
"Oh. Well, are you okay with that?" Kurt said.
"I don't know," Blaine said sitting on the side of the bed. Tears started to flow. "They left it up to me. He said he missed me, but ... he called me a faggot. Right to my face."
"Oh, Gaga, baby," Kurt said sitting beside him and hugging him.
"He called me a faggot, and he told me my mom wanted nothing to do with me ... but God help me ... I still love him," Blaine said. "He's my dad."
Kurt pulled him over and gently brushed his fingers through his hair. "I know baby."
"I miss him," Blaine said. "I don't even know why, but I do."
"You said it baby, he's your dad. I mean I don't know what I'd do if my dad weren't around. Saying what he did doesn't really garner any points, but I know what you mean."
"Dan said he left it up to me," he told Kurt. "It's in my court, just to tell him yes or no and he'd tell my father."
"Okay," Kurt said. "You know I'm behind you whatever you decide. Dan is a pretty good judge, I mean he nailed Bryce as a good find just meeting him that first few days, so I don't really think he'd have mentioned it if he didn't think it would be alright."
"That's true," Blaine, said wiping at the tears.
"Here," Kurt said as he reached over for a box of tissues.
"I just, I needed a second opinion," Blaine said. "And..."
"I know," Kurt, said hugging him close once more.
"I should go, it's late," Blaine said. "I wish I could stay and us just hold one another."
"I know, baby," Kurt told him. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I just needed to talk to you ... face to face. Actually, I think I really just needed to feel you." Blaine gave him a smile.
Kurt leaned over and kissed him. "You can have that anytime," Kurt said smiling at him.
"I should go," Blaine said. "Thank you."
"You know you don't have to ask," Kurt said kissing him again.
Kurt led him down stairs and showed him out. He paused and leaned his head against the door before turning to walk back through the living room toward the stairs.
"Everything okay kiddo?" Burt asked from his chair in the living room. Carole also turned a questioning glance his way.
"Yeah," Kurt said.
"He seemed upset," Carole said. "Are you sure everything's okay?"
Kurt came in and sat on the end of the couch. "Yeah, his dad came by today while we were at the store. I guess Mr. D waited until after we left to tell him. He just wanted to talk."
"Well, we're behind him too honey, whatever his decision," Carole said.
"Yeah kid," Burt said. "Speaking as a parent, I'd have a hell of a time if anything happened and I didn't have you around. No matter how much of a headache you might seem to be..."
Kurt smiled at him and then stood and gave them both hugs. "Night guys. I'll be sure to tell him that you have his back too."
"We have his back?" Burt said.
"It's a good thing dear," Carole, said patting his forearm.
Kurt nodded and winked at him before heading back upstairs.
The next day Dan sat in the living room, his feet on the coffee table as he went over lesson plans on the computer on his lap. Blaine came in and sat near him on the couch.
"You doing okay?" Dan asked. "I heard you leave and come back last night. I figured you needed some time to think."
"Yeah," Blaine said smiling at him. "I just needed some time. I have a few questions though."
Dan hit save on his work and then set the computer to hibernate and put it on the table. He leaned forward, turning toward Blaine. "Okay, shoot."
"Kurt pointed out something that ... I think I just needed someone else to say," Blaine said. "You're a pretty good judge of character... When you talked to him ... my dad ... did he seem sincere?"
Dan nodded. "I know he said some really hurtful things to you, on more than one occasion, but yeah he seemed sincere when he came by. The best I can tell, he just doesn't get it. I mean, it could be that he was brought up in a different generation with different values and..."
"But Kurt's dad and all the other guys' parents were brought up then too, and they seem okay with them," Blaine said.
"I didn't say that's what it was, or that it was right," Dan said. "What he said to you was wrong and so damn uncalled for ... but talking to him... He just honestly doesn't seem to get it."
Blaine nodded. "Do you think I should give him a chance?"
"I can't tell you that one way or another," Dan said. "You've both got to be ready for it."
"Don't get me wrong, I know you can't tell me what to do here," Blaine said. "I just ... if I had my way it never would have happened in the first place. I was hoping against hope that someday he'd finally get it." Dan nodded. "You talked to him though. Do you really think that he'd listen?"
Dan smiled at him. "You know, that's what I told him."
"What?"
"I asked him if you'd ever talked and if he'd ever really listened," Dan said. "I actually told him that he should think of what he thinks he knows about what it's like and what it means to be gay, and about what he'd like to ask you and then actually ask you and listen to what you have to say."
Blaine smiled and then nodded. He took a deep breath and let it out. "Call him ... if you would, please. If it's going to end, I won't let it be me."
Dan nodded. "I'll call him in a bit and see if he'd like to come over tonight?"
Blaine nodded.
The bell rang and Dan went to get it. He opened the door and greeted Mr. Anderson. "Come on in," Dan said. "Blaine's in the living room." Anderson followed him into the living room and Blaine stood up.
"Hello, Blaine," Anderson said.
"Hi dad," Blaine answered.
"I think I'll leave you two alone to talk," Dan said. "I'll be just down the hall if you need me Blaine." He looked at Blaine with a look that said volumes.
Blaine smiled and nodded at him. "Thanks Dan."
They waited until he left and then Blaine told his father to have a seat. They sat there for quite a while in silence.
"So ... umm," Blaine said.
"Blaine ... I'm sorry," Mr. Anderson said.
"You could have fooled me," Blaine said. He sighed. "Okay that was uncalled for. I promised myself I wouldn't do that."
"What?" Anderson said.
"I want to give us the chance," Blaine said. "I know you hate me but..."
"I don't," Anderson said.
"Don't what?" Blaine asked.
"I don't hate you," Anderson said. "I never did ... I ... I just hate what you became."
"What did I become?" Blaine asked. "Aren't I the same kid that you raised?"
Anderson sighed. "I hated what I thought you became. To me gay just isn't ... natural."
"I can't believe..." Blaine said. He took a deep breath. "No, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to just freak out, I'm above that." He thought a moment and then continued. "Dan said that he suggested that you come up with what you think being gay is and then have me tell you what it's really like. How about we start there."
His father nodded and then started to tell Blaine how he felt and what he thought.
Dan sat at his desk doing nothing in particular. He didn't want to get into anything should Blaine need him. He hoped that Blaine's meeting with his father would go well, but he knew their history and he remembered what happened the last time they'd met. "Hope for the best but plan for the worst," his mother always said.
Eventually there was a knock at his partially closed door and Blaine poked his head in. "Come on in," Dan said. "How'd it go?"
Blaine took a deep breath and nodded. "It's going to take a while," he said, "but we managed not to kill each other and it didn't end in a yelling match."
Dan nodded. "So would you call a good one or a bad one?"
"All in all," Blaine said, "I think I'd call it ... okay."
Dan smiled. "I guess okay is better than nothing."
"Yeah," Blaine said with a little chuckle. He entered the room the rest of the way and sat on the side of the bed as Dan turned in his chair to face him. "He really did have some fucked up views of what it was like."
"I kind of figured as much," Dan said with a frown.
"I think I knew ... deep down," Blaine said. He just never seemed able to get that I could be gay and still be a ... regular guy." He shook his head. "You know, I think he might have had an easier time if I had been flaming." He let out a little laugh. "What do you think; do I make a better Albert or Agador?"
Dan thought for a second. "Oh..." he said as the reference finally registered. "Honestly, you remind me more of Val, but I'll say Armand considering the truth of the matter."
Blaine laughed. "Derrick has you trained well; most straight men wouldn't have gotten that one."
Dan bowed slightly.
"Thank you," Blaine said.
"For what?" Dan asked.
Blaine shrugged. "For believing, for accepting, for understanding, for ... keeping me sane."
Dan smiled at him.
"I don't know what I'd have done had you not found me that night," Blaine said. "I was really ready to run." He brushed away a tear. "I don't know where I would have run," he laughed. "I'd have lost Kurt, my mom, the other guys ... this chance with my dad. I needed this break, this time to pull myself together so that I could rise above it. Get my head together. You really have been a brother to me," Blaine said, as he wiped at another tear. "I just ... thank you."
Dan stood and walked over to him. Blaine stood as well and Dan reached over and they hugged each other tightly.
Dan took a deep breath. "You're not Derrick ... thank God," Dan said with a smirk. "You're a little more tolerable." He winked at him. "I don't know what everyone would have done without you. You know it's like all those beautiful tartans, all the different colors woven into something that together is so much more beautiful than the threads themselves. Each of us is one of the colors in the weave and if any of us were missing, you might not miss it at first, but it just wouldn't be the same."
Blaine smiled. "That was sappy."
"Yeah, well I'm straight trying to live in a gay man's world. Give me a break!"
They both laughed.
"How about some dinner?" Dan asked.
"I could eat," Blaine, said nodding.
"Okay let's go," Dan, said ushering him out and down the hall.
"I'm cooking," Blaine said. "You can make the tea."
"What? You don't like my cooking?" Dan said scoffing.
Blaine took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Let's just say ... you're a straight man, trying to live in a gay man's world."
It started slowly, and then they both burst out laughing.
Finally composing himself a bit Dan elbowed him. "We'll just see how well that lucky tie works the next time Kurt comes over."
"Hmm, I think we could experiment with a little exhibitionism..."
Dan's eyebrow arched as his head tipped. On second thought..."
End note:
Well, there it is. Not quite auspicious or riveting, but I think it will suffice. As I mentioned before, this is the end for Rise Above, but don't forget to set me to "Author Alert" so that you don't miss the start of the next in the series. It's already underway, though it's yet to receive a name.
Take care all, and I expect some reviews to let me know what you all think. If you don't, either you'll get more of the same or I'll go in a completely different direction.
LET ME KNOW HOW YOU LIKE IT! Or forever enjoy your X-Factor... :P
EDIT - Just adding the name for the sequel so you can keep your eye out for it: Something Like You. Don't forget to check it out!