"Oh my God."
Kurt looked up from his science worksheet, confused. They were both seated at the kitchen table and silently working on homework a week before Blaine's birthday. Blaine's leg was tangled in-between Kurt's, although Kurt didn't quite remember how exactly they had ended up that way. He wasn't complaining, though. Not at all. "Huh?"
"Oh my God." His boyfriend repeated, covering his mouth. He leaned closer to his computer, face scrunched up in confusion, and then leaned back. "Oh. My. Fucking. God. Does it ever end? No, really. Does it ever end?"
Kurt got up from his seat and went to stand behind Blaine, leaning over him to see the screen. His UK email address, which he still used to keep in touch with people, was open.
Blaine, forget a career in law. You need to go into the CIA or something because you were damn near impossible to find. I've been trying to find you for, like, three months. It's Alex and we need to talk. We just had that annual meeting about the inheritance and all. I don't want to go into it over the internet, but the most information I could get out of your little hyper Asian friend was your email to look you up. I found him on Facebook through the Dalton network. Gay? Really? You're gay? I wish I'd been there to see Dad's face when you told him that. I also wish I'd been there to stop you because, really, that was probably the stupidest thing you'll ever do in your life. I freaked out a little when Dad told me that earlier today. I had known something went down in October, but they weren't saying much. Your friend said you were living with your boyfriend? And Dad said you dropped out of school? I know we don't know each other that well but, Blaine, that isn't you at all. You're too smart to not go to school. I really hope there is more to the story and, knowing Mom and Dad, there probably is. Are you okay, though? They seriously cut you off? That is fucked up. I hope you're alright. I know that we don't talk all that much but you're still my brother and, believe it or not, I still care even if our shitty parents don't. We've got to talk, Blaine... Answer me over here and I'll give you my phone number or something. I'll be down in Lima in a few days to visit Mom and Dad again (sounds fun, doesn't it?) before heading back to Italy and maybe we can meet and get dinner or something. Without mom and dad of course. I'll bring the baby. You'll think he's adorable. He's got your hair. But, really. We have to talk. It's about your inheritance. I really can't say it over the internet because who knows who is hacking into our computers or some shit (is that possible? Mom says it is I've never been too great with technology though). Trust me though, brother, you'll want to hear this. So do not cue your drama stuff. Just answer the email, okay? Preferably sooner rather than later. Holding onto this shit is making me nervous.
Alex
"Woah." Kurt said, eyes wide. "Your brother's been trying to find you?"
"I can't do this." Blaine shut the laptop. "I'm not answering it. How could Wes give him my email? There is a reason I made it so people cannot look me up on Facebook anymore and this is it. So my family can't find me and pull some stupid shit like this!"
"Blaine… the email sounded sincere." The younger boy said quietly, reaching to grab his hand. While he had definitely heard several bad things about Blaine's parents, he had honestly never heard anything bad about his brother. He just knew that there was a twenty year age difference and that the man lived in Italy with "some floozy." The way he sounded in the email did not line up with the way that his brother had been portrayed, at least not in Kurt's mind. The man really did sound concerned for Blaine's wellbeing, too. He sounded worried and that message had a definite tone of urgency to it.
Blaine quickly pulled his hand away and stood. "Of course it does! Of course it sounds that way, Kurt! Don't those nice family pictures plastered at campaign times look sincere too? Well, they aren't! Everything in my family is about putting up a front!"
"Don't yell at me and don't get upset." Kurt put his hands on Blaine's shoulders and looked him in the eyes, trying his hardest to offer some sort of comfort. He didn't know how to though. It was hard to get through to Blaine, though, when he worked himself up like is. Very hard. And he had worked himself up so quickly. He had literally gone from 0 to 100 in one second flat. "Calmly talk to me so I can help you and so I can understand, okay?"
The distressed looked on Blaine's face tugged at Kurt's heartstrings. The older boy seemed to have calmed himself down and he moaned, "This is just bullshit."
"No, that is not helping me understand anything, Blaine. Why are you so upset? It's not like he's your mom or dad."
"Because they're all the same." Blaine said miserably. "I don't know why they would even try to pull him into this. Why? We… We barely even know each other! Why would he even want to be involved?What is their motive now? Can't they just leave me alone?"
"Babe… if you barely even know each other, then… then maybe he's not been pulled into anything. From that email, it sounds like there are a lot of gaps in the story he has. I don't think you should write that email off as an attempt to 'pull shit.' I think—."
"Absolutely not. I'm not answering." Blaine cut him off, covering his face and sighing. "No."
"Blaine, I think you're freaking out a bit and overreacting…"
"No, Kurt. You're not listening to me. You don't know what my family is like. They're not good people and you're being incredibly naïve to think that anything good will come from answering that email. I should block the email address, delete the email so I can't ever answer it, and then change my email."
Yes. Blaine was approaching a freak out. Very quickly approaching it, too. "Baby, sit down. Come on, let's sit down."
"I don't want to sit down, Kurt."
"Fine. I'll sit you down then." Kurt scooted Blaine back to his chair and pushed him gently into it. Blaine moved to get up, but Kurt sat on his lap and turned so he was facing Blaine, his leg dandling on either side of Blaine's.
Blaine hung his head. "My parents were awful, Kurt. I don't know why you want to make me get involved with them again. I don't understand why you don't understand."
"I know that your parents are awful, Blaine. Don't I have a scar on my side to prove that? I want you to make me understand why your brother is awful." The younger boy whispered, tilting his chin up so they were looking into each other's eyes.
"He just is."
Kurt stroked Blaine's warm cheek with the back of his hand and pressed their foreheads together. "I think you should answer that email, Blaine. I think we should go meet him—we'll take my Dad, too—and we'll go see what he has to say. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, we'll get right up and leave… He already said your parents wouldn't come."
"If they find out, they'll try." Blaine protested.
"Get his phone number and call him." Kurt moved his hand to Blaine's messy hair. "Make sure that he knows your parents are to not find out, that way they can't come and bother you. My dad won't let anything happen to you, Blaine. We'll make sure that he goes with us."
"Kurt, I haven't seen my brother in years. I don't know how I feel about this."
Kurt turned so he was facing the laptop and opened it and spoke gently. "Answer him now. The worst thing that can happen is we turn around and leave, right?"
"Or he could give me a summons to court for UK's tuition." Blaine muttered.
"And then I'll sue your dad's ass for my surgery and hospital stay. Blaine, we've got the upper hand here. Don't you see that? You could run that entire family into the ground if you came out and let slip to someone about what they put you through. If any Anderson in the family needs to worry, it is your grandmother for covering things up and your father for abusing you and sending you to that awful camp. And that is the exact reason they haven't cut off your phone or your insurance or argued for that money back. They know that you are in a position of power right now. You've got more power than a woman running for Senate, Blaine."
"I would never do that though, Kurt."
Kurt scoffed. "Because you're too nice. Their problem is they don't know you enough to know that. Babe, they aren't going to try to pull anything because you could turn their life upside down with just two sentences. I don't think your brother is here to try to do anything to you, Blaine. I think he's doing this because he, like he said, really does have something important to talk to you about. And I don't know about you, but if there was a possibility of how many million dollars on the line? I'd be down there finding out what he knows within ten minutes."
"I don't want that money. It's stupid money. It's just stupid money." Blaine glared at the computer screen. "I hate money, Kurt. I hate it. It's just stupid money."
"But it's your stupid money." The younger boy pointed out. "Don't let your family take something else from you, Blaine. Haven't they taken enough?"
Kurt had a point.
***WBUCT***
"Think he's going to not show up?" Burt asked gruffly, looking around the nearly empty restaurant. He didn't exactly know what was going on. Blaine had just stared into space while Kurt explained that his brother needed to get into touch with him and that there were concerns that things could turn foul. He had, of course, agreed to go with the boys. After the last Anderson family confrontation, he was a little wary of Blaine seeing any of them at all. He wasn't the only one though because his son's boyfriend seemed nervous about the situation as well.
"He's always late." Blaine sighed, sipping on the soda that Kurt had bought for him. It was a distraction, at least, from the anxiety attack he felt like he was about to have. He'd never had one before but his chest was pounding, his palms were sweating, and it nearly hurt to breathe.
The door opened and a man that was just a little taller than Blaine came in, balancing a chubby baby boy with curly black hair on his hip. He looked around, saw Blaine at the table, and immediately headed over. "You look the same as you did 3 years ago, Blaine."
Blaine kind of stared at him, not knowing what to say. His brother looked the same too. Alex had taken after his mother, and his skin was much darker. His hair was straighter naturally, but it was cut very short. What surprised Kurt the most, though, was that he was just in jeans and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt. He had been under the impression that everyone in Blaine's family was always neatly dressed. The baby waved happily, squealing, and then put his fat first into his mouth. He was positively adorable, Blaine had to admit.
"No, Danny. No." Alex reached down and tugged the hand out. "It is so hard to keep him from doing that. I don't understand the appeal. Are you going to at least say hello or just stare at me like a fish the whole time?"
"Uh hi." Blaine said awkwardly. He felt Kurt's hand slide into his under the table, squeezing gently. He felt a big rush of gratitude sweep over him and he gave Kurt a small smile. Kurt smiled back, squeezing Blaine's hand again.
Alex introduced himself to both Burt and Kurt, shaking their hands, and sat down with his baby on his lap. "First, why weren't you at the meeting? You know you're supposed to be present at each meeting after you turn eighteen, Blaine. I had to sign for you, but you need to call Jake so he can forward your stuff on."
"W-What?"
His brother focused on him, looking shocked. "When you turn 18, you start to receive 10% of the interest quarterly. Didn't our father tell you? Danny, put that napkin down. Now. Or just put it in your mouth, okay."
"Dad told me that I was cut off." Blaine answered quietly, not really sure why he would have to go to any meetings considering he wasn't getting any money. His eyes trailed to the baby, who Alex kept calling Danny. Danny banged one chubby fist on the table and pointed straight at Kurt with his other hand, face lighting up.
Kurt smiled and leaned over, but did not let go of Blaine's hand. "Hello there, Danny."
The baby let out a loud squeal and jerked back happily.
"I think he likes you." Alex laughed, turning his attention to Kurt. "Well, he likes everyone. But he doesn't usually get this excited. Would you like to hold him?"
"Can I?" Kurt asked eagerly, eyes lighting up in a way that would have melted Blaine's heart if he hadn't been so nervous. He would have to remember to think about it later, when he could straight two thoughts together properly.
"Yeah, sure! Just keep a tight hold on him. He likes to try to crawl away. I can't tell you how many times he's crawled off of someone's lap and right into the floor when they looked away for two seconds. He's very mischievous." Alex handed his son over.
Kurt immediately began bouncing the baby on his lap and cooing over his curly hair. Blaine really wished, though, that Kurt was still holding his hand. It had made him feel better. He was incredibly nervous about this meeting. He hadn't seen his brother in years, barely knew the guy, and when you looked at the rest of Blaine's family it was easy to see why he would be so hesitant.
"I bet he's a handful." Burt chuckled.
"Oh, you have no idea. I don't know where all the energy comes from, either. He just sits up in his room all night and makes loud noises." Alex sighed and looked at Blaine. "Dad said what now, Blaine?"
"He told me that if I didn't go home with him that I was cut off and wouldn't get my inheritance. I didn't go home." He bit his lip anxiously and looked around the table, briefly meeting Burt's eyes. The man gave him a small nod, but Blaine wasn't really sure what it meant. He assumed it was meant to be comforting though and he relaxed a little.
"Just try to think this through for a few minutes, Blaine. You're a smart kid, it'll come to you. That inheritance is in whose name?" Alex asked calmly, eyeing him.
"Well… mine, but…" Blaine spoke slowly. He wasn't in a position to really think anything through at the moment. Here he was talking to his brother who he hadn't seen in years while his boyfriend bounced a tiny little baby up and down, cooing. Not only that, but he felt extremely sick to his stomach. He was past the point of logical thinking; he kept waiting for proof that he'd been right in not wanting to come. This was going too smoothly and he'd said more in five minutes than he'd said to his brother in seven years.
"If it is yours, Blaine, how can he touch it?" he opened his diaper bag and pulled out a big folder. "Here. I got this for you from Jake."
"What is it?" Blaine took it, opening it up.
Alex moved his seat over so he was at the edge of the table, closer to Blaine, and set it down flat on the table. "These are the papers stating that the interest on your inheritance will be sent out to you quarterly. That's why it was so important that I see you. You need to get an account for this or send Jake your current bank account numbers. As of now, the money is just going right back into the inheritance. But… but it sounds like you might need it." He explained. "There's some stuff for you to sign. Jake highlighted it all for you, though. You need to get it in soon, Blaine. The next interest payment will be in mid May. If you get it in too late, you won't get anything in until September."
"No. Dad cut me off. How can I make interest on something that isn't mine anymore?"
"What I'm saying to you, Blaine, is that money isn't Dad's to take back. It's a family inheritance. See, this is why you should have come with us last year to the meeting. It would make more sense. It is split down evenly among family members. That's how it was written up in the will."
"But grandma—."
"It is the Anderson family inheritance. Grandma isn't even technically an Anderson, she married into the family. When Grandpa died… I mean, his account transferred to her name, yes. But while his name was on ours, those accounts are still ours. Only Grandpa could change it. Grandma can't change where that money goes. It's been in the family for years. Look, your name is on these papers. Blaine Wyatt Anderson. The full 4.7 million—."
Burt let out a low whistle, eyes widening.
"Won't be released to us until she dies. The second you've got a death certificate, though, you can go to the nearest PNC Bank and cash out the whole thing if you want. But the interest you'll get now… you can easily live off that until the old lady croaks..." Alex continued. "I mean, I'm not saying you should go willy nilly and buy everything you want. Really, it won't even be enough interest to do too much unless you save it for a few years. But… if you wanted to move out, it'd help you out with rent and shit."
"Wait, you're saying that they can't take my inheritance away after Grandma dies? It won't go into Dad's name?" Blaine stared at the folder blankly, in shock. He hadn't known, before his father had shouted over the phone all those months ago, how much money he would have gotten. Blaine hadn't let it bother him that he'd lost out on 4.7 million dollars because he hadn't had it to miss before that. But now, knowing he was going to get something like that, he just couldn't even comprehend it. 4.7 million dollars?
"You're 18, Blaine. When she croaks, that money is yours and no one else's. The only way you don't get that money is if you sign a paper saying you don't want it." His brother nodded and sighed. "Why did they cut you off? How long ago did this happen? They told me after New Years that you dropped out and ran off to have tons of sex with some gay boy. I didn't even know you were gay, Blaine."
Blaine took a deep breath. "Kurt… got beat up pretty bad. He needed someone to take care of him. So I was taking a semester off. They… didn't take it well."
"Of course they didn't." he sighed again and shook his head. "So you're living with them? Are you okay with that, Blaine? You can come home with me if you want. I—."
"No." Blaine said quickly, voice raising a few notches. He realized this and lowered it, continuing. "I'm fine where I'm at. I'm doing a semester at OSU and next semester I'm going back to UK. Well, I'm taking some summer classes too. We're moving out together in June. And I… really like his family." He felt himself blush a tiny bit and made sure to not look at Burt.
"Wow." His brother leaned back. "That's… crazy. That you're getting so old and about to be living on your own."
Blaine chose to not mention that he'd been living on his own for a very long time, since he'd started at Dalton after the bullying escalated and his depression set in. His brother didn't know about anything, really. Blaine had figured the boy knew he was gay, though. It was sad that his parents even hid the fact that he was gay from his own brother. Not that Alex knowing would have made a difference. They just didn't talk. That was their relationship. He doubted he'd ever talk to Alex again after this.
Kurt put his hand on his leg and squeezed, just like Blaine had done for him so many times. Danny crawled onto Blaine's lap and sat down, or rather plopped in an attempt to sit, and clapped. Everyone fell into an awkward silence, bar Danny's occasional loud squeals. Eventually Alex stood. "I better get back. Look, I'm going to give you this." He pulled out his wallet and then pulled out a credit card. "Use it if you need anything, Blaine. Mom and Dad might be fine throwing you out without anything, but I'm not. Family is family, no matter how you look at it. I'll try to set it up so some of my checks can be sent to you here. I mean, I don't have enough to pay for your tuition or anything like that but… anything helps, right?"
"You don't have to do that." Blaine said hastily, pushing the card back at him. He hadn't wanted his brother to feel bad for him and gave him money. He was going to have two jobs once school started back. He hated relying on other people. "I'm fine. Really."
"Blaine, you're not even 19 yet, you're not working, you're about to move out, and you're about to go to school. You need money. I've got enough to help, Mia and I will be fine. School and working will be hard. Just let me do this, okay? I haven't been the best brother. I should have kept into contact with you. Maybe if I had you wouldn't be in such a mess right now." He handed the card to Kurt. "He will keep it. And I'll find a way to get some more money to you. It's ridiculous that you should be cut off like this anyway."
"I… You… Thanks." He finally sighed, looking down.
"You're welcome, Blaine. Don't delete my phone number, okay? I want to keep in touch and make sure you're doing okay." The older brother bent down and held his arms out to Danny. "Tell Uncle Blaine byebye."
"Ababa!" Danny waved.
"Bye, Danny." Blaine felt himself smile a bit as he passed over the baby.
"Keep in touch, Blaine. And call me if you have any questions about those papers. Don't put it off. You should read through them tonight and send them off tomorrow." Alex picked up the diaper bag and turned to both Burt and Kurt. "It was very nice to meet both of you. Thanks for taking care of him."
"It's no problem." Burt said gruffly, nodding. "We'll make sure he gets that paperwork in."
Kurt tickled Danny's tummy, smiling. "It was nice to meet you too. And especially you, Danny!"
Danny gurgled and smiled.
Alex put a hand on Blaine's shoulder, sighed, and then quickly left the restaurant. Blaine put his hands flat on the table, staring down at them. He paid close attention to the coffee stain that was right between his hands.
Kurt put a hand on his back and moved it in small circles. "Are you okay, Blaine?"
"I just… I…" Blaine trailed off, unable to find words to describe what he was feeling. He was angry at his parents, he was sad that he knew his brother so little when the guy had actually seemed likeable, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief that there was someone in his family that cared. His brother cared what happened to him, had essentially promised to help him financially, and had even offered to take Blaine home with him if he had wanted. This was strange, as his parents were usually finding every way possible to shut him away—sending him to Dalton, sending him to Conversion Camps, sending him to summer camps when they stayed in Michigan over the summer. He also felt a huge rush of gratitude towards Burt for having taken him in for the first place and having really given him a family. And Kurt… he was just in love with Kurt. Kurt had been right. It was very good that they had come. And the money… he just couldn't even wrap his thoughts around that because there was so much more important things going through them right now. It wouldn't be any time soon, but he'd be able to pay Burt back for UK's tuition.
"A little shocked?" Kurt's hand moved to his hair, stroking the soft curls.
Blaine nodded and leaned against Kurt. "More than a little."
"Is your family in the Mafia or something with that much money going around?" Burt asked, standing.
"No. My grandfather just… was a really good investor. His father was too. It's just kind of added up over a few generations." Blaine muttered. "I didn't know we had that much… I didn't… wow."
Kurt put a hand under his elbow and gently pulled him up. "Let's get home, sweetie. We'll get into bed and watch some TV until dinner. Does that sound good?"
TV watching and laying down didn't require a whole lot of thinking, and that was exactly what he needed. He linked hands with Kurt as they walked out, saying, "As long as you let me pick what we watch and let me eat ice cream."
"As much ice cream as you want, sweetie." Kurt kissed his cheek.
"And no calling me fat?" Blaine looked at him with what he hoped were big, pitiful eyes.
"If you get to five bowls, I reserve the right to commence with the teasing."
"Are we talking small bowls or big ones?"
***WBUCT***
"Kurt, for the love of God, there is only so much shopping a human can do in one day!" Blaine moaned dramatically, hunched over a shopping cart with his head so far down that it was almost inside the front section where children usually sat.
"You're gay, Blaine. You're supposed to like this." Kurt said impatiently. "Do you like the white one or the black one?"
"Okay, I was fine for the first five hours but now it has been eight and my feet hurt and I'm hungry and I've looked at so much baby nursery stuff and apartment stuff that my brains are about to melt and come out through my ears." He ranted, head still down in the cart, and then looked up at the container. "Black, of course. What kind of question is that?"
"Well I happen to like the white."
"Then get the white, Kurt." Blaine put one foot on the bar that connected to the wheels and lifted the car so that the front two wheels were up, sending everything in the cart skidding to the back.
"Blaine, acting like a child will not make me go any faster." Kurt chastised. "I don't want to get the white one if you like the black one."
"I could care less what color the wire thing you want to put plastic spoons is." He said grumpily, letting the other wheels of the cart meet the floor once more. "My feet hurt. And it's my birthday. I want to go home. I know you're just keeping me here for so long because you all are planning something. We've been down every aisle five times. If we can't go home, can we please just check out and sit in the car?"
"What do you mean, planning something?" Kurt scoffed, but did not make eye contact.
"Because you keep texting Wes."
"Damn you and your perfect eyesight." The younger boy pouted and tossed the black container into the cart carelessly. "How can you see from that far away?"
"I don't know. You're just not very sneaky. Half of the time you mouth what you text, you know? Either you're planning something or you and Wes are having an affair." He sighed. "Please. Come on. If my feet hurt and I'm in tennis shoes, I can only imagine how much yours hurt. We'll sit in the car."
Kurt gave in, letting out a relieved sigh. "Thank God you're so smart. I've been coming up with different ways to stand still in an aisle for the last two hours because they hurt so badly. I don't know how on Earth I'll be able to drive home. My feet might fall off."
Blaine pushed the cart to the register, complaining about how it was too far away. They had managed to buy tons of baby stuff for the nursery that Kurt would be painting later that week (he still hadn't decided what color to use yet and had several sample cards tacked to the wall of the guest room), but hadn't gotten anything for the apartment unless you counted the black container and a tooth brush holder that was filled with water and had "fishies" that Blaine may have begged for over the span of an entire ten minutes. He had then spent twenty minutes naming the five fish while Kurt looked at baby blankets (the verdicts: George, Eric, Aiden, Craig, and Josh and a light purple and white blanket).
Kurt pulled out his wallet and paid while Blaine loaded the bags into the cart, grumbling about not supposed to have to work on his birthday. As soon as they got out of the store though he cheered up considerably and chirped, "Can we use my toothbrush holder now, Kurt?"
"No. It's for the apartment." Kurt laughed, helping him load bags into the back seat of his Navigator.
"But I can't wait."
"We made an agreement that anything we bought we couldn't use until we moved."
"That was an unfair agreement. Of course you won't want to use a dumb spoon holder container thingy. My toothbrush holder is practical and provides happiness." As Kurt pushed the cart Blaine dug through the bags until he found it. "See, George and Josh are best friends. Eric and Aiden are gay, but it's on the down low. And Craig is the slut. But they don't know that yet. He just moved into the cup from Tennessee. He used to live in a tank at a doctor's office." He pointed out the fish as he listed the names and their back stories off.
" If you knew that we were just planning something, why didn't you say something so we didn't have to walk around for eight hours?"
"I didn't think you were going to keep me out for eight hours. At first I thought it was cute, you trying to plan a surprise. But I went along with it. Plus, Wes made a Facebook status about 'heading back to Ohio where the girls aren't orange and it's easier to get laid!' Why else would he come down this weekend?"
"Your friend is repulsive." Kurt sighed, opening the passenger door for Blaine. "He really is."
Blaine leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Only sometimes." He then added pointedly, "You can't blame him for wanting to get laid."
His younger boyfriend instantly became flustered. "It's not my fault Finn decided to walk in before we—you know what, I'm not discussing this again. I think all three of us should be too embarrassed to talk about it for at least two weeks."
"What? Our pants were on."
"Yeah but your hand was pretty unmistakably in the back of mine, Blaine. We should just be very thankful that it wasn't Dad that walked in." Kurt grumbled. "I don't know why Finn doesn't know how to knock. He's walked in on us making out so many times that I'm starting to think he just wants to walk in on something."
"You really think he saw my hand?" Blaine cringed, getting into the car. He had been hoping that had gone unnoticed by Kurt's older brother.
"He's dumb, not blind." Kurt carefully closed the door and then got into the driver seat.
"Well he seemed normal this morning…"
"I passed him in the hallway before we left and he was saying over and over 'It's okay, they don't have sex. It's okay, they don't have sex. Oh god, do they have sex? No, they don't have sex.'" The younger boy started the car.
"He really thinks we don't have sex, and yet your dad does?" Blaine questioned doubtfully, staring at his boyfriend. There was no way Finn was that oblivious. It was not possible. They shared a bedroom. Did Finn think that gay people just lived without sex? No. There was no way.
"I'm telling you, Blaine. Finn thinks we do not have sex." Kurt leaned back against the seat and kicked off his shoes.
"How much longer are they going to take?" Blaine moaned.
"We can go now. My feet just hurt."
He rolled his eyes. "I'll drive, you big baby. Come on."
"You are not driving my car, Blaine Anderson. You'll get it rear-ended because you drive so slow and stop for every yellow light."
"The yellow light does not mean speed up, Kurt Hummel. It means slow down." Blaine pointed out. "It even says that on the driving manual back cover."
"You say tomato, I say to-maht-oh." Kurt waved his hand in the air and grabbed his iPod.
Oh god. I cannot handle listening to Lady Gaga for the whole ride home again, Blaine instantly thought the second Kurt clicked the power button. "Okay, can I be honest with you Kurt? This is very serious."
Kurt set it down on his leg instantly and looked up at him, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"
The look on Kurt's face made his heart melt, and almost made him feel bad, but he really couldn't put it off any longer. He had to lay it out there. After all, starting next week they would have officially been dating for a year. He really couldn't put it off much longer. "Lady Gaga. Please don't put it on Lady Gaga. I'm sorry to tell you this, but I can't stand her." His boyfriend got a look on his face and Blaine couldn't tell whether it was disbelief or amusement. "No, like, I have nightmares about her."
Kurt seemed to finally realize that it was not a joke. His eyes widened and he practically shrieked, "You don't like Lady Gaga?"
"It's my birthday, don't yell at me! No, I don't! She's just weird, Kurt! Okay? She travels around in eggs and, and, she wears dresses of meat, and she just… she's just weird!" Blaine said quickly.
"No, you don't like Lady Gaga? Were you dropped on your head? First Wicked, and now Lady Gaga? What next? You don't like Patti LuPone? Do you hate Vogue magazine?"
"I love Patti LuPone and Vogue! I told you that when we first met. I just hate Lady Gaga. And Britney Spears. She's white trash!"
"Oh my God." Kurt sat up straight. "My boyfriend hates Wicked, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears? Blaine, you are the Top 40 guru. How can you hate Lady Gaga and Britney Spears? Lady Gaga is fabulous!"
"You say how can I hate it, but how can you like it? I think you just like anything that catches attention. Britney Spears is a train wreck and Lady Gaga is just a… freak."
"That's what makes her fabulous! How can you call yourself gay? I think I just need a few minutes."
Blaine let out a loud laugh. "You need a few minutes because I don't like Lady Gaga, Kurt?"
"This is all so shocking." Kurt shook his head, as if he had just found out Blaine was going off to war the next morning or something.
"You're so adorable." Blaine reached over and grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry I don't like your stereotypical gay things, Kurt. Are you going to break up with me over it?"
"I haven't decided yet." Kurt muttered, but he smiled a bit. "Lady Gaga? Seriously? You don't like Gaga?"
"Hate her, Kurt. Cannot stand her. I've had nightmares about that egg ever since last year during that award ceremony. In my dream, she comes out and then all these little werewolves run out after her and they howl a lot while she sings about corndogs. It's very disturbing."
His boyfriend stared at him, barely blinking, for several seconds and then burst into laughter. "W-W-What?"
"You heard me! Don't make me say it again! It's recurring and disturbing!" Blaine crossed his arms over his chest, rather upset that Kurt was not seeing the seriousness of the situation at hand. "And I generally have it whenever you decide to drive and put on that woman. So I'd appreciate it if Lady Gaga could be cut from your car. At least whenever I am in it."
He immediately stopped laughing, looking horrified. "But what about when we move out and I have the stereo on?"
"I think the fair thing to do would be to give ample warning so I can decide to go for an impromptu run. This is what I want for my birthday. A Gaga-free life." The older boy spoke very seriously. "Is that really too much to ask considering I rub your back every night until you fall asleep?"
"I cannot believe I'm in love with someone who doesn't like Wicked, Gaga, or Britney. Where did I go wrong in life, Blaine?" Kurt muttered, sliding his shoes onto his aching feet. "Fine. I will make a separate Car playlist that is Gaga-free for whenever you are in the car. But I hope you realize what a sacrifice I'm making for you. And I hope you know that you owe me one very amazing blow job tonight."
"But it's my birthday."
"Fine. I'll give you one first." Kurt gave him a sweet smile and then backed out of the parking lot. "But I will have one."
…
"BLAINE, MY LOVE!"
"BLAINE, MY LIFE!"
Blaine had barely made it into the house when both Wes and David ran at him, practically knocking him down. "Oh my God, I am so surprised!" Blaine grunted. He tried to sound shocked at the sight of his best friends, but the fact that he couldn't breathe hampered his acting abilities a bit.
"Told you he'd figure it out." David frowned. "We suck."
"We do suck. I should go make a Facebook status about our suckage." Wes agreed.
"Maybe if you made a few less statuses, a surprise birthday party would be a little easier, Wes." Kurt said, pointing a hand at his boyfriend's Asian friend. "If I get a blister for all the walking that I had to do today, I'm going to delete every girl's phone number from your phone. That, or I'll change every name in your phone to characters from musicals."
"Wes, you're stupid!" David hit him upside the head.
"I'm stupid? He's going to kill you when he hears you told Kurt's pop about the time you got arrested." Wes glared, rubbing his head.
"You what?" Blaine's eyes widened in horror.
"Just kidding." Wes snickered, and narrowly missed a punch from Blaine.
"Arrested?" Kurt's eyebrow arched as he stared between the three boys.
"I'll fill you in on all of the juicy details later, Kurtsie. And believe me. It is well worth the wait. I've got some stories about Belle that would make even you're gelled hair curl." Wes grinned and slid an arm around Kurt's thin waist. "Come on, friend. I think we should break into the amazing smelling cake you made for Blaine. I've been craving some ever since we brought Belle back to your house in February."
"Aw, you made me a cake?" Blaine got a goofy smile on his face, feeling his heart flutter. He then added, "And don't call me Belle. And don't put your arms around my boyfriend either, Wesley."
"Of course I did. After you fell asleep last night." Kurt responded, attempting to shrug Wes off of him with no luck.
"I didn't go to sleep until two in the morning!" he exclaimed, eyes widening. Kurt was really too good for him. Who else but Kurt Hummel would stay up all night until he fell asleep, and then bake him a birthday cake? No one else. Because Kurt was the best boyfriend ever.
"Wes, let him go." David laughed. "We've got some pretty embarrassing stories about you, too, you know? I wouldn't push your luck with Belle here."
"My name is not Belle!"
Kurt finally broke free of Wes' grasp and turned back, grabbing Blaine's hand. "Carole made your favorite dinner, dad and Finn worked together to get you a gift that I hate but you will love, and Grammy insisted on coming. I don't think Paige is here, but if she is, don't feel awkward or anything. Dad really tried to do something nice for you. It was all his idea. I told him you didn't want to do anything but that's like telling Santa that he can't hand out toys, apparently."
"Cake, cake, cake!" Wes chanted, pushing them towards the door.
"Wes ruined it." David declared to Burt, Carole, Finn, and Kurt's grandmother as the shortest boys were pushed into the room. "Via Facebook."
"Dude, that sucks!" Finn frowned. "Happy Birthday though!"
"You made a status about it too." Blaine said cheerfully. "About to head to Blaine's Surprise Birthday Party. Be back later with food!"
"Finn!" Carole reached over the table and gently hit his shoulder, her other hand rested on her stomach. She stood and went to hug Blaine. "Happy Birthday, sweetie."
"Sorry it's not much, kid." Burt said from the table in a gruff voice, but he smiled and took his baseball cap off.
"Nonsense, it will be amazing because we are all amazing people." Kurt's grandmother went over to hug Blaine as well. "Carole, you should really not be up on your feet too much or they'll hurt."
"Oh, they always hurt anyway." Carole waved her hand and ruffled Blaine's hair. "It's part of being pregnant. For me, at least. They always hurt and grow. They grew two sizes when I was pregnant with Finn. Luckily they've not grown any this time around. Yet."
"Now have you had Kurt's cake before, Blaine?" Kurt's grandmother asked, pulling him into a hug. "No?" she gasped as he shook his head. "Well it is so amazing that we don't buy store cakes. We just don't do it. The only person that gets a store bought cake on their birthday is Kurt. The silly thing always gets a Disney cake too. He used to collect the toppers. But he's the only one to not get a homemade cake because you just can't make your own birthday cake and besides, after the red velvet cake incident when he was younger, well, he gets what he wants. Burt's never handled his fits very well. That's why the boy is so spoiled. You will die when you taste it though, rest assured. It will be a beautiful death though."
"Is it really that good?" Blaine asked, looking between everybody.
"Dreams about it, man. I'm telling you. You should have had some of Finn's." Wes said, eyes practically rolling into the back of his head. "By the way, Kurt, I'm practically family and you should know I am the only human to have a birthday every week."
Carole laughed and smiled at Blaine. "I like him. He's very funny. And David is very sweet. I like your friends, hon."
"David is the father figure." Wes said cheerfully. "He always gets us out of sticky situations. You know, stealing cars and public nudity, alien invasions, that sort of stuff."
"I have never participated in anything like that." Blaine said, reaching to punch him.
"Of course you haven't, sweetie." Carole ruffled his hair again. "Now everybody sit down so we can eat—."
"Cake?"
"Wes, sit down. Dinner comes first." David sighed, pushing him towards a seat. "Don't make me pull out duct tape and make a box for you to sit in again."
"That was Blaine you had to do that for, not me. When he was listening to California Girls on repeat." Wes corrected, taking a seat by Burt. "You should know, Blaine fangirls over you. Shut up, Blaine, you're gay so I can call it fangirling. No, really. He loves the Buckeyes. He's obsessed. Every Thanksgiving he eats dinner while watching them play. He doesn't tear his eyes away from the screen for a minute. He was all 'OMG, Wes, my BF Kurt's parental unit was on the Buckeyes WTFmate.'"
Blaine took a seat on the stool between Kurt and Finn, staring at Wes. He kept waiting for Wes to make eye contact so he could throw a roll at him or send him a nasty look but Wes knew better than to look at Blaine.
David rolled his eyes. "You'll have to ignore him. His goal in life is to embarrass Blaine. Half of the stuff he says isn't true. Besides, Wes, that was a crappy lie because Blaine hates texting lingo."
"Just because it isn't factual doesn't mean it's a lie. Just ask Blaine, his family is full of politicians." Wes retorted. "By the way, I saw your grandmother at the gas station when I got into Columbus. She always yells at me in really slow broken English. It is so annoying. Hell-oh Wes-luh-ee. How are you? I luh-ike yo-or ha-air. Does she really think if I didn't know English, drawing out each sound would make me understand her more?"
"Yes. Yes, she does." Blaine cringed. His grandmother was so ignorant. It was a wonder she'd made it as far in the political system as she had and he dreaded the day she made it into Congress where her ignorance could be dangerous. Sure, Wes and David found it funny to make fun of the way that she acted. But it was really just prejudice and ignorance on her part and Blaine did not find it funny at all.
"Let's talk about something else!" Carole said as she sat down. "And everybody eat plenty, because we'll have tons left over."
"I'll take it home." Wes stated.
"Oh God. You are so rude." Blaine moaned, rubbing his forehead. "Your mom would die if she saw you right now, Wes."
"Well your grandmother would die if she knew you've found the boy you're going to run off and marry." Wes retorted. "As would your mother and your father. At least I've only killed one family member."
"Don't go giving them any ideas to run off now." Kurt's grandmother said cheerfully. "Although I do think when they choose to get married in thirty years that it will be a joyous and wonderful event."
"Thirty years?" Kurt questioned. "I am not going to be almost fifty when I get married, thank you very much." He sent a look towards Blaine. "Twenty-six at the latest."
"Let's find some more topics to make Blaine uncomfortable." David grinned.
"Isn't this supposed to be a nice birthday party? Can't we talk about how amazing my voice is or how you miss me? How there is a big hole empty in your heart now that you don't see me daily?" Blaine whined. He said it in a joking tone, but he really was kind of displeased. They had gone from talking about his family to talking about marriage. Besides, whenever David got that grin on his face it usually led to Undapper Blaine stories and he didn't think Burt would like him quite as much if he found out about some of the things he'd done when he was younger.
"Miss you? You took over my kitchen, couch, and TV for three weeks, Blaine. I've moved on from missing you."
"David, I had to bribe a 70 year old lady by practically taking my shirt off so you could have the last turkey after you forgot to pick one up. I think we're even."
"He has to get turkeys for our families a lot. He'd make a lovely prostitute." Wes chirped. "I burnt my family's turkey once and he paid some old lady $100 for it."
"I think Blaine is right." Burt cut in gruffly as he began cutting his chicken into smaller pieces. "Well, we don't have to talk about your voice. I got that with Kurt enough when he was younger. And we don't miss you 'cause you're always around. Which we like. But I think we should talk about what he wants to talk about. You boys can continue your harassment after midnight if you're still here when it's not his birthday."
David frowned. "Drats. I had a good story too. Next time, Kurt, remind me. Just say skinny jeans and I'll know exactly what you're talking about."
Blaine covered his face, and his hand remained plastered there until Wes, David, and Finn headed into the living room after finishing their food an agonizingly long ten minutes later. Kurt's hand rested on his leg, squeezing gently. "Oh God. Shoot me now. I am so sorry."
"Kiddo, have you seen some of Finn's friends? That was nothing." Burt laughed.
"So, Blaine," Kurt's grandmother leaned over and sat where Finn had been seated next to him. "The last two times I've seen you I haven't even gotten to really know you. Burt told me you left UK to take care of Kurt?"
Blaine said a quiet thank you to Carole as she took his empty plate and nodded. "Yeah, but I'm starting back this summer. We're going to live in Cincinnati and I'm going to commute."
She nodded. "UK is a very, very good school. What do you study?"
"I'm majoring in English." He said, very glad to be talking about something that interested him and was not aimed at embarrassing him. He loved his friends but thought that, sometimes, they should not be allowed out in public. "I may double major though. I'll have a lot of empty spaces I need filled and stuff."
"That sounds really stressful! Are you going to teach? I think you'd be a very good teacher." She smiled. "Kurt, I like him. Don't you two ever break up."
Kurt laughed as Blaine blushed a bit. "He's going to law school, Grammy. He wants to be a lawyer."
"That sounds even more stressful. You know when I wanted to go to college, my father did not want me to? Girls didn't go a whole lot back then. But it's how I met Burt and Paige's father." She put her hand over Blaine's and patted it in an affectionate way. Blaine couldn't help but think that this was how a grandmother was supposed to act. Not hard and cold like his grandmother who always put on a front for everyone she met—family included. Kurt's grandmother, he could tell, was genuinely a nice person. And it was clear Kurt looked up to her. Blaine could see why.
"Oh?" Blaine asked.
"Yes. I met him in the beginning of my second year. In August." She said thoughtfully. "We actually lived in Kentucky at the time, believe it or not. I went to UK too. So did he. Well, my family lived in Shelbyville. It's not too far from Lexington. See, my father loved Andrew because he would drive me home on the weekends. My father wouldn't let me drive."
Blaine listened interestedly. Kurt leaned against him, head resting on Blaine's shoulder, although Blaine was sure he'd probably heard the story a million times. Kurt was a hopeless romantic, though, and had told Blaine several times that his grandmother told amazing stories.
"Well, Andrew was finishing up a degree in… what was it in, Burt?" she turned to look at Burt who still eating and only half listening.
"Business, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Business! He was in his last semester though when we met. He had to go an extra one because he partied all the time. And still does." She rolled her eyes and patted his hand again. "And he graduated and you know what I made him do?"
"What?" he asked curiously.
"I told him he had to marry me! We'd only been dating four months! It was the craziest thing!" she exclaimed as Burt rolled his eyes and shook his head. Carole was listening while she washed dishes and, at hearing that, looked like she might cry. "Well, he about died. I thought he was going to pass out. But the next day he proposed! Right in front of my sorority sisters and everything! It was so romantic. So I dropped out of school, we rented a little cottage for a year in… in Richmond, I think. It was gorgeous. And we got married. We'd known each other not even six months when actually we got married. And we stayed together. For forty six years."
Blaine smiled as Kurt let out a dreamy sort of sigh, nuzzling his shoulder. "That's great."
"Oh, he drives me crazy." She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Absolutely crazy. He's gotten very senile."
"He doesn't really like to leave home." Burt laughed. "Especially when any sort of fighting is going on."
"Well if you and Paige didn't constantly bicker it would help." She turned and glared at her son. "You know, you two could take some lessons from Finn and Kurt."
"Oh, they bicker, Annie." Carole said, taking her seat beside Burt. "Constantly."
"Well he's annoying." Kurt said in a haughty voice.
Kurt's grandmother rolled her eyes. "Blaine, good luck living with this thing. You must have some real patience to put up with him."
"It's because he loves me." Kurt said, arms going around Blaine from behind.
"I do." Blaine turned his head to face Kurt. He was a bit shocked when Kurt leaned down and pressed their lips together in a gentle kiss in front of all of the adults. When he pulled away, Kurt gave him an impish smile, arms tightening around him.
"They're so cute." His grandmother said, sighing in the same way that Kurt had. He had clearly picked up his romanticism from his grandmother, and probably a great deal of his fashion sense as well. Every time Blaine had seen the woman she'd been dressed extremely nicely. "You know, I really wish Paige and Taylor had been able to work things out. It's so sad. Fifteen years."
Blaine felt Kurt nuzzle his shoulder and he leaned back into his boyfriend's arms. Kurt's thumb moved up and down on his side in a way that almost made him want to close his eyes and just fall asleep right there and never wake up. Holding Kurt was amazing, but when Kurt held him, it was something else entirely. When Kurt's arms were around him like that, he was completely happy. Nothing could come in-between them, nothing mattered but them, he was completely at ease with everything, and all was right in the world. It was an amazing feeling to be in Kurt's arms. Nothing could top it.
"They've split up before. For three years. They could get back together." Burt said awkwardly and in a low, rough sort of voice.
"It's just awful. They love each other so much. I guess I understand both sides, but… it's just awful. And your father is extremely upset. You know how Taylor made him laugh."
"Taylor makes everyone laugh." Kurt said quietly, still not loosening his hold on Blaine.
"If there is one thing I can say, it is that my babies and grandbaby have always gotten into good relationships." She patted Blaine's hand again and then turned to Carole. "Carole, you won't believe what I heard in the store the other day. I didn't know whether to laugh or get mad."
"What was it?" Carole laughed, rubbing her stomach. She was beginning to look tired and Blaine felt a little guilty that his small birthday party was keeping her away. She did look happy, though, so that eased his guilt a little bit. It was nice to see her happy when, lately, she'd been bursting into random fits of tears because of her hormones.
"Well I was in the store and I passed this little boy on a cell phone and he said, 'I'm probably not going to even have a job when I grow up!' Isn't that ridiculous, to raise your little kid that way?"
"At least they're teaching them to be realistic these days." Burt snorted and then laughed at himself.
Kurt kissed his shoulder and whispered, "Let's go in the living room with Finn, Wes and David while we wait to eat cake."
"Alright." He nodded and stood up with Kurt, leaving the adults to chat. As they made it into the hallway he paused, turned to Kurt and whispered, "Thank you."
"What?" Kurt squeezed his hand.
"This party… the extent of anything fun on a birthday I've had is David giving me a cupcake with a candle at Dalton and watching Disney movies."
"You've never had a birthday party, Blaine?"
He'd had them. Plenty of them. Twelve, to be exact. Of the twelve that he could remember, they had always been fun. Trips to King's Island or to the Newport Aquarium, sometimes even the zoo. A few times, when he was around 8 and 9, his parents had rented out an ice skating rink and he'd twirled around happily on the ice with his mom. That was all, of course, before he started acting just a little abnormal and most definitely before he came out to his father. After that, everything had changed. He got a cheap birthday card that was only signed by his mom. Sometimes they sent money and he would be able to buy a game he wanted or a shirt he liked. Mostly he just put the money into savings, though, because any time he did buy anything he ended up hating it because it would make him sad when he remembered why he had had the money to buy it. But it was hard to explain all that, and it would probably have made him more upset to say it out loud, so he just sort of shrugged.
Kurt looked at him with sad blue eyes and Blaine got the feeling that he just knew, that he understood that it hadn't always been that way. Then Kurt's arms went around his waist and the smaller boy pulled him closer, nuzzling the crook of his neck and whispering in his ear. "I love you so much, Blaine. So, so much." One hand went up to his hair, stroking the soft and familiar curls.
"I know. I love you too." Blaine whispered back. "I'm just… It was really nice of you all to do this for me. Really nice… I… I really appreciate it and, I just…" He couldn't find the right words so he just mouthed wordlessly.
Kurt backed away from the hug, meeting his hazel eyes with his own. He gave him a sad smile. "I know, Blaine. I know."
"How do you know what I'm trying to say when I don't?" Blaine reached up and wiped his eyes, feeling tears welling in them but determined to not let them fall.
Kurt got a smug sort of smile and said, "'Cause I know you, Blaine. I know you."
Blaine rolled his eyes and grasped his hand tightly. "I love you, Kurt."
The smug smile left his face and it was replaced with a very small and loving smile. "I love you too, Blaine. Let's go see what havoc your friends and my brother are causing now, shall we?"