AN: this is part of a personal challenge/project filling all the prompts of past Kadam weeks, and posting one every day from March 28 to May 8th, 7 prompts per year 5 previous rounds (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 last two managed by vcg73) the first week of May 2-8 will present to you the offering for the Kadam Week 2021 you can search for more on tumblr

This is the offering to Kadam Week 2013 prompt 4: Kadam in Lima

Kurt thought it was sort of funny how apparently he was the one who between the two was having the hardest time about going back home to meet his family.

Adam tried to reassure him "Kurt they are your family, they love you and you were the one who told me even some of your friends were able to see how much happier you've been since we got together."

Kurt nodded it was true, and he knew it, still he couldn't shake the worry that things might not end up as well as they both were hoping. "I know I know, but you don't know all that went down last time I went back there…"

Adam tilted his head frowning confused "Is there more to know about it? Besides of course your ex making a spectacularly public proposal to you, involving about a couple hundred people who you never even met, Staged in the same exact place when you two first met, with the most emotionally manipulative speech he was capable of. While you two not only had been broken up for months and weren't dating, but also at the same time while we were already together and had agreed on being exclusive?"

Kurt bit his lower lip and looked outside the window shivering, his nod was small and barely visible but he knew Adam had seen it from the sharp intake that followed it. He heard the questioning humming sound leaving Adam's lips before he articulated his question "But didn't you tell him about us?" Kurt sighed and took Adam's hand in his.

"I did, and I thought I was being clear with him, though I'll admit I don't recall if I managed to tell him your name, I was a little too worried about what the doctor would say about the treatment… But I told him I was in a relationship back in New York. And still, my dad drove me to the proposal. He still commented that I looked like I was going to face my execution, and that was because that was exactly what it felt like. When I asked him if he could give me his opinion on how I should handle that. And the only answer he had for me was telling how I should not waste time and be with the ones I love, how being given a choice meant that all I had to do was listen to Blaine and then give him my answer, picked between yes, no or maybe… When I asked if there was another option he simply pulled me out of the car and sent me in front of the firing squad… And you know perfectly what the result and fallout of that answer were."

Adam frowned and turned in his seat so he could be face to face with Kurt "Love why didn't you tell me this back then?"

Kurt was holding back tears "I just didn't want to think about it, I mean you were already picking up the pieces, and my dad had been my rock, all that was left of my family since mom died... I couldn't handle the thought he liked so much having Blane as a son that he would campaign so hard for us to get married. Especially not when just a year before he was downright against the idea of Finn and Rachel getting married soon after graduation..."

Adam took Kurt's face into his hands and rested his forehead against Kurt's "Maybe there is another reason. You said that at the time he had just finished a set of chemo, right? Could it have been that he was simply nostalgic and went into a misguided way to show you his support?"

Kurt hummed noncommittally and hid his face against Adam's neck, his voice was feeble when he finally answered "I hope you're right, but he has not really talked much to me since then, part of it was me being busy, but part was that as soon as I landed, before you arrived picking me up, he told me he was disappointed in me for how I dealt with the situation."

Kurt held back a sob and Adam wrapped his arms around Kurt's shoulders. He dearly hoped to be right, Adam hadn't yet the chance to meet with Burt Hummel, but all the stories he had been told before were about a man ready to tear the world apart in defence of his only son... And that man didn't sound the kind who'd be such an enabler.

At the same time, all those stories were of a time before the cancer and the following treatment. As sad as the reality of it was, certain things did change a person. For Kurt's own sake he hoped that was not the case, he hoped and prayed silently that Kurt's own fears had been whispering louder than a rational explanation.

So Adam kept silent, offering comforting touches while placing small kisses on the top of Kurt's head.

And if by any chance they'd discover that Kurt was indeed correct, well then Adam had no qualms at all about stepping in to protect and take care of his boyfriend, even if he had to fight his family to do so.

When their flight landed Kurt turned on his phone and once more a frown marred his face. Apparently there were no messages, no confirmation whether or not someone would come to pick them up, it stung but Kurt tried to shrug it off and not think too deeply about its meaning.

Adam smiled back and tried to make Kurt look at the positive side "If we're not to be taken to your house straight away we could rent a car here and take the time to explore Columbus a little before we head to Lima? Didn't you said there were a couple of museums you wished you had the time to check out?"

Adam offer brought back a smile on Kurt's face, who nodded and then he started to look around searchingly just as confused and as unsure as Adam himself. Which of course caused him to chuckle and Kurt to pout "Hey It's not exactly my fault, the few times I came to the airport either my dad drove me here or I would have driven here in my own car. I never had the need to get a rental before... Or are you telling me you used to rent a car back in your hometown?"

The question was thrown as a challenge and Adam chuckling transformed into a full belly laugh instead "Da'ling, I love when you start being so sassy with me, you know right that I barely had my driving in the UK when I moved to the US to attend Nyada?"

Kurt's eyes grew larger and looked confused, Adam simply shrugged "Back home we have to wait till we're eighteen to get a driving licence." Kurt scrunched his nose assuming a mockingly superior attitude and hissed teasingly "You Brit" Adam grinned as he threw back over his shoulder "Yankee" and they both started giggling at one another.

It took them both far longer than it should have to finally find out where a car rental was, and while Kurt made sure to check the condition of their car, Adam made an inquiry of his own "Just as a confirmation, in case it's needed does your company have a drop point in New York as well?" The clerk nodded "Yes Sir, we do at JFK, and for just an additional twenty dollars you're free to return your rental at any authorised drop points across the country." Adam nodded and went to talk with Kurt "da'ling I was wondering how does the chance to make a day excursion to the lake sound to you?"

Kurt looked at Adam suspiciously and then back at the car, before saying resolutely "If we consider adding some off road driving to our plans then this car is not the one I want us to drive in." Adam nodded and left Kurt discussing what other cars were available with the technical specification Kurt deemed appropriated and desirable.

Adam was perfectly happy and content, to allow his lover to take charge on details he had way more knowledge than Adam could ever dream of, it was a threat for him seeing this confident and self assured part of Kurt.

Once he cleared up the details for their rental with the clerk. Adam checked on his phone whether there were motels or hotels in Lima that would be comfortably in their budget.

He hoped it wouldn't be needed, but as his parents and the money management class had drilled in his head, he could hope for the best all he wanted as long as he took all the precautions to prepare for the worse. So he wanted to be ready just in case… If things went south, and Kurt reacted badly to something at his father's house, Adam wanted to be able to reach a place where they could be alone and regroup without needing Kurt's help to reach it.

Before Kurt returned, ready to get the keys of his chosen car, Adam made a couple of calls and got the confirmations that both places had en suite rooms with a bathtub in abundance at this time of the year, without needing a reservation.

They passed the day in Columbus acting like tourists, well technically speaking Adam really was a tourist, walking in those streets for the first time, but to Kurt the whole experience was almost surreal if not absolutely fantastic.

He never thought he could find anything exciting in old trite Columbus. But seeing things through Adam's eyes was a delightful surprise, and he wondered if Adam had ever felt the same way every time he dragged Kurt into one of their adventures, sharing places he had been to before and loved.

When it was late afternoon Kurt suggested they made their way toward Lima "It's about a couple of hours drive till dad's home, and we might want to eventually have the chance of going out and have dinner without being surrounded by the masses of high schooler out for a date."

Adam simply nodded and once they reached the car he asked seriously "Do you prefer to drive or you'd rather have the chance to test out how it feels when I drive?"

Kurt looked suspiciously at Adam before retorting with narrowed eyes "Adam Crawford are you planning something that would require me to simply sit and let you drive while we're in my own hometown?"

Adam simply grinned and shrugged "Nah I don't have any solid plans in motion Love, but I won't pretend that I'd prefer we knew in advance if the way I drive is something that bothers you. And not having to discover that when there is no other choice for you but suffer through it."

Kurt stopped and thought about it seriously, it was a valid point, and their time in New York meant that driving around wasn't really an activity they had shared. Kurt knew that if the car had been his own he probably wouldn't have had quite as an easy time to make his decision. After all, no one except his dad, and the guys at the garage, had ever been allowed to drive Kurt's baby... But then again there was no car that was legitimately his anymore.

And that meant he could surrender the keys without too much trouble or anxiety.

Adam on the other hand wanted to make sure that if things got too bad at the house, he could manage to drive Kurt away without upsetting his lover even more.
He was still able to remember the first time his older sister had driven her then boyfriend around, and how much the guy got upset because she was either going too fast, not fast enough or had chosen the longest route when taking that short cut he insisted he knew, would have been so much better.

Needless to say, the two didn't last much longer after that horrid drive, and Adam remained traumatised by the experience since that day. Adam just hoped it wouldn't happen the same to them, he was a tad nervous, but he had confidence that his relationship with Kurt could weather the issue should it prove to be a problem.

Luckily they discovered that nope, despite Adam clearly being a little on the rusty side, there was absolutely nothing wrong with his driving, and Kurt had nothing to add or complain about.

Once they arrived at the Hummel-Hudson residence, the worries that their adventure had kept at bay returned in full force to the forefront of Kurt's mind.
He didn't know what was going to wait for them inside, but at least they arrived with plenty of time before the traditional friday's family dinner.

Ringing the doorbell at what used to be his home was a weird feeling for Kurt, and he hated how much that felt like a foreboding omen, as if he no longer belonged there.

Having Finn opening the door was not completely unusual, at least not compared to stepping inside the house and hearing that his greeting was "Hey little bro I didn't know you were coming, but I guess that was the surprise Blaine was talking about, though from what he said I thought you were arriving tomorrow?"

Kurt looked disturbed frowning for a moment, before he asked Finn "what do you mean Blaine said? I sent messages to dad's phone and dad said I could come any time, and that we were welcome to spend the night here... and with we I meant me and my boyfriend Adam."

Finn looked past Kurt's shoulders noticing for the first time the blond man waiting a couple of steps behind... "Oh hi, I'm Finn" he reached for Adam's hand and shook it amiably before starting talking again "I feel a little confused though… Blaine has been coming to family dinners for months now, he said that you two got back together, after you apologised for the whole proposal fiasco, for which by the way dad was very much mopey and upset about... Though I don't get it, I thought you and Blaine were over since he cheated on you"

Kurt passed from scandalised to truly furious before nodding vehemently "We were and still are broken up, I never got back together with Blaine, I've been with steady with Adam since my return to New York after the Welma's wedding that wasn't back in february."

Finn looked once more between the two and nodded, "Hmmm then I think things are going to get uncomfortable, because Blaine is here and well, the way things were like early it sounded like he planned to spend the night here, as they were all planning a great surprise for you when they'll pick you up from the airport tomorrow… Which of course is bound to fail since you're here now…"

Kurt pressed his lips together and marched into the dining room like a man on a mission, unyielding and unforgiving. His voice sounding dangerously low as he almost hissed pointing at Blaine "What is he doing here?" Burt was the one looking up smiling brightly "Kurt kiddo, it's so good to see you at home, well honestly I thought you'd come tomorrow but I've arranged things as you wanted, and Blaine is going to stay the night here."

Kurt took a deep breath and hissed through his teeth, "I don't want him in our home" Sam was the first to raise in Blaine defence "Hey come on Kurt that's so not cool dude, Blaine is my friend and he has been coming here for months, it's not like you're even in here anymore, why should you be allowed to call the shots on who can stay or not?"

Burt looked confused not understanding what's wrong, so Carol was the next one to talk "Kurt sweetie, it's ok Blaine told us you planned on spending time together and were too shy to ask us for him to stay in your room

Adam was very much unimpressed with how things were playing out in front of him, and he saw Kurt's frustration and fury mounting with every new word being uttered.

So. at least for Adam, Kurt's next explosion was not surprising at all. Even if apparently he was the only one feeling that way, at least going by the looks that met Kurt's hissed words "I don't think so. I'm not with Blaine. I haven't been with Blaine for months. I deserve more than a cheater, and dad last time I came back to Lima I told you I was seeing someone back in New York, do you remember that? "

Burt blinked and nodded "Yeah Blaine explained that you two were trying again…" Kurt interrupted his father brusquely "No dad, I've been together with Adam," and hearing his name being mentioned, Adam took it as his cue to walk and stand behind Kurt, close enough for his lover to feel his presence. While he behaved respectfully enough to not start a pissing match with the other men in the room, probably excluded Finn, by not touch Kurt he simply quipped a steady "that's me" before allowing Kurt to continue "who is actually the only man I want in my life and in my bed, Blaine is neither wanted nor welcome anywhere near me."

Finn's reaction was immediate and almost comical as far as Adam was concerned, so he worked hard to maintain his neutral expression as Finn whined. "Gross man, that's just gross, it's almost like hearing about mom and dad wanting to make babies together. I thought we have a deal dude, I wouldn't bother you with images and detailed talks of me and my girl, and you wouldn't share details about your guy…"

Burt looked like he was going to be sick as he frowned, apparently unable to understand what was going down "Kurt? I don't get then why would you lead Blaine on if you intended to date someone else? Blaine told me that you asked for time when he proposed... I don't get it, when did you stop being the kid I raised?"

The words had barely left Burt's mouth when Kurt took a step back and crashed directly on Adam, who had steadied himself as soon as he heard the confused and questioning tone in the way Kurt's father pronounced Kurt's name.

Without allowing the other people in the room a chance to react, Adam wrapped his arms around Kurt who by the time Burt finished speaking, was so shocked that he almost became unresponsive.

Adam kissed Kurt's cheek then murmured in his ear "We could go and get a room somewhere away from here if you want?"

Sadly Adam wasn't surprised when Kurt's nod was barely perceptible, and one of his hands searched for Adam's before squeeze gently. Just like it happened when Berry and Lopez shouted and tore Kurt apart, and that because Kurt dared to give Blaine a negative answer after the grand spectacle that was the proposal at Dalton.

Just as it happened then Kurt had turned non verbal and sought out Adam for comfort, and just like that time Adam wrapped himself around Kurt to anchor him, he ignored the rest of the world and just made sure Kurt could feel him there and feel safe.

Adam took a brief moment to nod at Finn and said a quick and concise "It was a pleasure meeting you Finn, if you come to New York make sure to call us and drop for a visit" and then, still acting as a shield to protect Kurt, he directed them both out of the house and back into the car, feeling at the same time sad and relieved that not taking their suitcases from the car had been the right call.

Kurt managed to not let the silent tear fall until he was safely into the car and Adam had started driving away from the house.

While keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead, Adam took his right hand off the steering wheel and gently rested it on Kurt's leg.

Tonight they would regroup and find comfort in a hot bath and then in each other's arms, then coming morning they could decide over breakfast what to do next. They still had the next four days free and many options available, from trying again talking with Kurt's family to make a road trip back to New York.

And if things with Kurt's family, except Finn, fell through, well then in that case Adam was sure they could both share his own parents, as they had already expressed the desire to properly welcome Kurt into the Crawford clan and treat him like one of their children.