Blaine had made a habit of waiting by the door. Actually, Kurt didn't know if he waited or just had really good hearing and could hear Kurt pull up outside and then ran to the door. Either way, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and now Thursday had consisted of Blaine stopping him at the door, too anxious to even let him properly inside first, and questioning him about how he was doing.
Kurt loved Blaine. Really, he did. But he had taken being a worry wart and over protective to an all new level ever since Monday when Kurt had attended his first classes since his hospital stay.
"And you're sure you feel better?"
"Yes, Blaine." Kurt said slowly.
"Now you've officially had your first full week of school. Are you sure it hasn't been too much for you to handle?" His older boyfriend asked worriedly, hazel eyes focusing on him.
"Yes, Blaine."
"And you promise you ate breakfast and lunch?"
"Yes, Blaine. I promise." Kurt reassured him. "Can I come in?"
Blaine barely heard his question, if at all, because he continued on with one of his own. "And you withdrew from those extra classes you planned on taking next semester?"
"I'll do that right now if you'll let me in the door."
"Oh." Blaine gave Kurt a sheepish smile, stepping aside. "Sorry."
"At least it's not raining like it was yesterday." Kurt laughed, making his way into the house.
Blaine put his arms on Kurt's waist, tugging him close. "Hello."
"Hi." Kurt said, smiling at him. "You got home a little early. I usually beat you on Thursdays at least."
"They didn't make me work today. They said they didn't need me." Blaine said cheerfully, hands still firmly on Kurt's waist. "And I thought that it would be an excellent idea if we…"
"Yes?" Kurt asked, still smiling.
"Went to Olive Garden…"
"Ooh." Kurt said interestedly.
"And then went to…" Blaine said, smiling adorably.
"Where? Where?" Kurt said, bouncing a little.
"The Cheesecake Factory."
"Oh God, I love you. Even if you are trying to fatten me up." Kurt said, kissing Blaine. A trip to Olive Garden (the only place both boys could wholeheartedly agree on without persuasion) and the Cheesecake Factory definitely made up for his daily incessant questioning.
Blaine grinned. "I figure you can pay since you still feel bad for being sick on my birthday."
"Oh-ho, do you?" Kurt rolled his eyes. "Fine, deal. Even though I still made you your fishie cake and still got you that Nook case you've been freaking out over since Christmas."
"And the credit for more books." Blaine said. "And a new cardigan."
"Yep. But, because I am a good boyfriend, I will still pay for your dinner and your cheesecake."
"My cheesecake? You'll scarf the whole thing down before I can even look at it." Blaine laughed. "We may as well get two full cheesecakes. Then there will be one piece for me and the rest for you."
Kurt scoffed. "You are horrible."
Blaine laughed again and kissed him, clearly excited. "I know, I know. So… can we go? Are you caught up enough for us to have a date night?"
"We don't have classes tomorrow and then it's the weekend, so I think we can." Kurt said, glad that he didn't even hesitate. He had been trying to take it slow—coming home straight from classes (sometimes after random chats with Alec, but he wasn't doing school work so it didn't count), not continuing to do catch-up work once he started to get tired, and taking several breaks. Taking it slow had worked wonders for his mood—or maybe that was the fact that he was regularly eating and sleeping again.
"Awesome. I've been dying for their salad for days." Blaine said, finally letting go of Kurt. "Let's go now!"
"Now?" Kurt asked.
"Yep. Before you change your mind." Blaine took Kurt's bag, set it on the couch, and then dragged Kurt out of the house without giving him a chance to speak.
…
"Alex is coming down when we go on the Michigan trip." Blaine said after swallowing some leftover cheesecake later that night, sitting on the couch next to Kurt with his legs tucked underneath him.
"Oh. Do you want to wait to go?" Kurt asked, taking another bite of his cheesecake and turning so that their knees were touching.
"No. He's coming to make sure they don't show up. He had to come eventually before the meeting, so he figured it worked out that way." Blaine said, rolling his eyes as Kreacher pranced in.
"Meeting?"
"About the inheritance." Blaine shrugged. "It's in September this year."
"Well if you have to go, I'm going with you. I don't trust you alone with your dad, even if Alex and other family members are there." Kurt said instantly, surprising Blaine.
"You would really go into a room full of several men just like my Dad?" Blaine asked, blinking at him.
"Yes." Kurt said simply.
Blaine leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for that, but you don't have to worry about it. Alex said I didn't have to go. He's just bringing me the papers to sign like last time… I don't think they want me there, really. I'm sure Dad's pissed that I know it's still my money."
"You didn't want to go, right?" Kurt asked. "Because if you want to go, your dad can just stuff a sock in it."
Blaine snorted loudly and took another bite of his cheesecake. "No. I don't want to go to that at all. I wouldn't want to see all of those people, mostly. But I went to one of the meetings when I was fourteen because mom couldn't watch me. It was so boring and confusing. It was just some lawyer listing off names, amounts of money, interest stuff… I wouldn't get what was going on, so it's not worth the drive. Alex can fill me in."
Kurt moved so he was sitting normally on the couch and rested his head on Blaine's shoulder. "Good. I don't want you around them."
"Aw, Kurt. You sound so protective." Blaine said, smiling adorably.
"I just don't want you around them… They upset you and I don't like you upset. If you ever have to be around them, I want to be there." Kurt shrugged. "Besides, I don't trust them. Just the thought of your dad… he gives me a bad vibe, Blaine. I don't like him."
"Bad vibe?" Blaine asked.
Kurt sighed a bit. "I wouldn't want him alone with you is all… I know the stuff he says to you and about you. I guess I'm worried he might take it to the next level some time. I know he pushed you down more than once and… I just don't trust him."
Blaine offered him a weak smile. "Deal. I won't be around my Dad without you."
"Okay." Kurt gave him a weak smile back. "Now, back to the topic at hand. Michigan. What were you saying?"
"Alex is staying longer than planned to make sure they don't make any impromptu visits to the house." Blaine resumed. "I don't know how long you'll want to stay, but we'll be going at the beginning of July—if that's okay with you. We'll leave and be back before Melody's birthday. I figured we could get there late Monday night and leave Saturday or Sunday. Unless you don't want to stay there that long. Then we'll—."
"I think we should plan to stay however long you want to stay. We'll come home when you're ready to leave." Kurt interrupted. "This is your trip, after all. This is your break."
"But I want you to have a nice vacation and enjoy it too." Blaine said.
"I'll enjoy it." Kurt assured him. "It will be nice. We can sit on the beach and eat that fudge you've been going on and on about. I hope it lives up to my expectations."
"Oh, it'll live up to your expectations. You'll get cravings for it, Kurt. Cravings. Worse than cheesecake ones." Blaine said confidently.
"I don't know if I believe that. I really like cheesecake." Kurt laughed. "And if it's true, should you really subject me to it?"
"Ah, but it's a delicious subjection." Blaine responded. "The best kind ever."
"Are we driving straight through?" Kurt asked, draping his arm around Blaine's thin waist.
"Yeah. I'm used to it. It won't be a problem."
"Well I can help drive too, you know... so we make it before the week is up." Kurt teased, not even bothering to hide his smirk.
"You say I'm horrible? Look what you do to me!" Blaine laughed. "You can help if you want, but there's no pressure."
"I want to." Kurt answered. "It's my gift to you, after all. You shouldn't have to do work to get there."
"If you insist." Blaine said, wrapping his own arm around Kurt and pulling him even closer, not really caring that their position wasn't exactly the most comfortable in the world. It was nice to be close to Kurt and not be sleeping for once.
"We are so easily distracted." Kurt laughed a bit, nuzzling him. "So we're driving straight through... are you sure you don't want to stay at a hotel and not risk anything with your parents?"
"They won't show up. I'm sure. It's fine." Blaine nodded. "I really want to see the house and my room again. It's the most comfortable bed ever, Kurt. And there are some pictures I'd like to take, and probably some more stuff I haven't even thought of yet. Trust me when I say that you are going to love the house and the view. The beach is only a two minute walk away... It's not the kind of beach you're probably thinking, though..."
"I expected it to be a smaller one... Are the ships interesting?"
Blaine laughed a bit.
"What?" Kurt asked, looking confused. "What'd I say?"
"Well, it's not really ships. It's mostly sail boats... every once in a while an actual ship will come, but it's usually not on purpose."
"Oh. Like... tiny sail boats? With one sail?"
Blaine laughed again. "Some of them look like that and some of them don't. There are some pretty big sail boats. You'd be surprised."
"Sorry I don't have an extensive knowledge of sail boats and ships." Kurt said, raising his hands dramatically. "The biggest ship I've ever seen is that one on Pirates of the Caribbean and God knows I wasn't exactly looking at the ship."
"Me neither." Blaine said thoughtfully. He had definitely spent most of the movie staring wide eyed at the actors. Especially Orlando Bloom.
"Anyway! Blaine, stop doing that!"
"Hey, you asked me the questions!" Blaine laughed.
"Yeah but now you're thinking about Orlando Bloom." Kurt huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"But he's incredibly sexy."
"Okay, okay. We're staying at the house until the weekend. What else?" Kurt said, trying his hardest to keep the conversation on track—even though he was clearly failing.
"That's it, I guess. We'll walk around, visit shops. We may venture out of Harbor Springs... see if we can find a nice shopping center for you that doesn't consist solely of a Payless and a pet store, because all the ones within fifty miles are pretty much... Payless and pet stores." Blaine said. "Although, the pet store nearest us does sell these alligators and even sharks. I tried to bring an alligator home once... but then I let slip that I live in Ohio and its apparently illegal here."
"I'm not surprised at all." Kurt laughed, leaning up and kissing Blaine's jaw.
"It's so nice to sit here and talk." Blaine let out a content little sigh, pulling Kurt even closer. "I've missed this so much. Just... being together. We don't even have to be talking, you know? Sitting with you, close like this... I could stay on this couch with you, like this, forever."
Kurt smiled and kissed Blaine's jaw again.
"Well, until I had to pee."
"You just ruined a perfectly good, heartwarming moment, Blaine Anderson." Kurt huffed, swatting his stomach.
"Sorry." Blaine said, not looking apologetic in the slightest. "At least I didn't go, 'Oh wait, I have to pee' and get up. Now that would have been worse."
"Oh God." Kurt buried his face in Blaine's side, gripping his other side tightly. "I don't know what makes me put up with you sometimes. You're such a boy."
"I'd hope so." Blaine laughed. "Seeing as you're, you know, gay... and I am, you know, also gay. Meaning we're both gay. Meaning we like boys. And we are boys."
"How much coffee did you have this morning, sweetie?" Kurt laughed too, pushing himself into a sitting position.
"Well I had the cup you made me this morning, I stopped for one at McDonald's near campus because I was bored and early, I got Starbucks between my last classes, I got coffee at the gas station on my way home because I was tired..."
Kurt's eyes widened. "Blaine! You're probably going to have a heart attack!"
Blaine decided he shouldn't add, 'And I had another before you got home,' instead he smiled sheepishly. "I like caffeine."
"Lay off of it, honey. You want to live to the age of thirty. That is four cups of coffee. And you always get huge cups, too." Kurt said.
"I've become used to it on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's part of the routine." Blaine shrugged.
"Did you do this last semester when you had school five days a week?"
"I'm not trying to put myself into a premature death, Kurt." Blaine said, raising his eyebrow at his younger boyfriend.
"Of course not." Kurt said, relaxing back against Blaine. "Did you have a good day at school?"
"Mmh, it was a day. We talked about Pluto not being a planet in my Brit Lit class... and then I brought up how depressed I was when they told me tomatoes were fruits when I spent my entire childhood thinking it was a vegetable." Blaine shrugged.
"You talked about this in your upper level English course?" Kurt asked slowly.
"Tons of people are always late, so we tend to spend the first ten minutes talking about nothing." Blaine laughed. "Then again, half the time people end up just not showing up... and then we get the spiel on how we shouldn't skip class since we pay for it... although he's telling those of us who attend class..."
"I love listening to you talk." Kurt said, letting out a happy sigh and sliding his hand up Blaine's shirt, gently stroking his side.
"I love listening to you talk too." Blaine said, smiling and scooting just a little closer to Kurt's touch. "How was your day?"
"It was okay... Alec has it in his brain that he has to make sure I eat, for some reason." Kurt said, sending a look at Blaine. "So he keeps taking me to this little shop type place. We get food and then walk to our next class."
"You mean he's making sure you eat?"
"Apparently someone told him that I forget to eat and get light headed, which is 'completely dangerous' since I drive such a long way to and from home." Kurt scoffed. "Besides, there's this creepy old guy who keeps hitting on him and there's safety in numbers... I guess I don't mind. It's kind of nice to finish the day not hungry and to have someone on campus to eat with."
"Yeah." Blaine nodded. "I used to meet Finn on Friday's for pizza before dinners, remember? And I meet up with some of the Kennedy's guys for lunch on campus. It's nice to have people to talk to outside of class."
"He's really nice, Blaine." Kurt said softly. "Alec is."
"He seemed nice enough." Blaine mumbled.
"He said you were adorable." Kurt laughed. "He wanted to know where I found you."
"Doesn't he have a boyfriend?" Blaine said, voice still coming out in mumbles.
"Yes." Kurt nodded. "They've been dating since he was fourteen. Isn't that cute?"
"I guess." Blaine shrugged. "He said something about his boyfriend being in pre-med."
"No. Med school. In Toledo, I think he said." Kurt said. "They stay together on the weekends and stuff... his boyfriend sounds a lot like you, actually. I don't know. When he talks about him, it just reminds me of you."
"Does he talk about him a lot?"
"Mhm." Kurt said, closing his eyes. "I talk about you more though."
"Really?" Blaine felt himself smile.
"Of course." Kurt nuzzled his stomach. "I love to talk about you."
"I talk about you a lot too." Blaine admitted. "All of the girls I work with want to meet you. I think they're hoping you'll come visit me at work and become their best friend. That's probably why they keep me around."
"No. I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with your personality." Kurt joked, fingers still stroking his side.
Blaine shuffled even closer, breathing in Kurt's scent.
Kurt moved his hand from under Blaine's shirt and smoothed down some of his curls, snorting loudly when he moved his hand and they curled right back up.
"Stop it, Kurt." Blaine said, raising up to eye him. "Two can play that game and I am much better at it than you."
"Fine." Kurt let out a dramatic sigh and slid his hand back up Blaine's shirt, stroking his side. "I know when to admit defeat."
Blaine instantly lowered himself again, snuggling close to Kurt.
"I really do need to start calling you my snuggle bunny." Kurt giggled. "You can't use the excuse that it's cold out anymore, Blaine."
"Why are you so mean to me?" Blaine whined halfheartedly.
"The fact that you're so short makes you an easy target." Kurt bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
"I hate you, Kurt."
"I love you too." Kurt grinned.
***WBUCT***
"Blaine! What are you doing here, hon? Is everything okay?" Carole asked worriedly as she opened the front door the following Wednesday to find an anxious Blaine standing on her doorstep.
"Uh, I'm fine. I just... Can we... talk?" Blaine asked, stepping in and looking nervous.
"Of course, sweetie. I just put Melody down for a nap. What's going on? Are you sure everything is okay?" Carole closed the door behind him and led him to the couch, looking extremely confused.
"I just..." Blaine sighed a bit, wondering if he had made a mistake in coming to talk to Carole. At the same time, though, they were close and he really felt like he needed to talk to her. He didn't know why, he just did. "Kurt's..."
"Are you two fighting again?"
"No! No, no." Blaine said quickly, shaking his head. "Everything is going really, really well. We've been great and he feels a lot better."
Carole let out a relieved sigh and nodded. "Well good. What's going on then?"
"It does kind of have something to do with the last fight..." Blaine bit his lip. "He's... I can tell that he misses coming here every week. I know I don't make him stay home. He can come home on Fridays because I just go and hang out with David and get pizza and stuff... but he doesn't want to, because he feels like he can't come here or I'll feel bad or something."
Carole nodded, listening carefully.
"He's sad... and I think the only way that he won't be is if things go back to normal. But I don't think they will." Blaine tucked one foot underneath him and took another deep breath. "I just feel so stupid."
"What for?" Carole asked, looking confused.
"Because I always thought he liked me."
"Sweetheart, Burt does like you." Carole put her hand on his leg and squeezed. "He likes you very much."
"I don't think he does. I don't know if he ever really did." Blaine admitted. "It's like... at that fight... it's like he was just waiting for the opportunity. He just barged in, said all his stuff, and left it at that. I don't think he ever would have apologized if you and Kurt hadn't made him. And I don't even think he thinks he was in the wrong. Because he still went back to the same stuff when Kurt was in the hospital-I don't take care of Kurt, it was my fault."
"Burt is just very protective with anything concerning Kurt... He has a bit of a temper too, and sometimes I don't think he's the best at controlling it— especially when Kurt is involved. He was completely in the wrong then and he even told you that night, on his own, that he was sorry... He just took his frustration out on you, hon. I'm not saying it was right... but I don't think you need to take anything that happened in the hospital to heart. We all know that you take excellent care of Kurt. You did everything you could when he was sick, honey. You came home, got him to a doctor, stayed up half the night when he was coughing and couldn't breathe properly, you cleaned up his vomit, got him food. Tell me you didn't take care of him."
Blaine sighed. "I know. But I think Burt thinks I should just lock him up and force feed him and force him to sleep every day until he dies. Otherwise, I'm not doing a good enough job."
Carole sighed this time. "It's hard for him. He's used to being the one there for Kurt and Kurt grew up on him. I'm sure your mom didn't take you going away to college well... before the Kurt thing. It was a lot farther away than Dalton."
"She didn't care." Blaine said, his voice quiet. He wished it didn't hurt to say that. He wished he didn't care.
"Hon, yes she-."
"No." Blaine interrupted. "She didn't. They wanted me to go farther away. They always wanted me far away."
"Blaine, they're your parents. I know what happened with Kurt was horrible but maybe... one day you three could make up..."
"You don't understand." Blaine whispered. "They've always acted like this. Until last fall, though, they had nothing 'bad enough' on me to kick me out without my grandmother getting on their case."
Carole looked at him.
"When I was twelve they started sending me to conversion camps during the summer. That's what they were talking about on the phone that one day last year. They sent me to camp every single summer. Desist."
"That terrible camp that was on the news last year?" Carole gasped. "Oh, Blaine…"
"And when I was fourteen, my parents sent me to Dalton. I had been bullied, I wanted to go... but they really sent me because it was election time, or nearing it, and they didn't want people finding out I was gay, because it was spreading around the school I went to like wildfire. So they sent me there, far on the other side of Westerville." Blaine continued. "And then, when I was fifteen, I did something really stupid and I got kicked out of the camp. My dad was furious, and w-well, at first he wouldn't talk to me. He wouldn't even be in the same room with me. So I started doing stupid things more because I was miserable and I just didn't care... and Dad found out about what I was doing and... and it g-got even worse. It was mostly just really bad yelling, but he said horrible things, and a few times it started to get physical..."
Carole stared at him, in complete shock.
"And then one day, I got home early from Wes' house a-and I heard him and my grandmother talking a-about..." Blaine stared ahead, no expression on his face. "About something I wasn't supposed to hear, and I dropped this bag I was holding. Wes' mom had made me food to bring home because I would skip meals a lot and just stay in my bedroom, but it was on a plate and they heard it. So I went to my room and after my grandmother left, my dad came up and we got into it worse than before. And he was trying to drag me somewhere, I don't know where, but we just kept yelling and yelling because what they're doing isn't right and it's not fair to anyone, and he almost pushed me down the stairs. I think he meant to, but I caught the banister."
"Blaine..." Carole whispered, horrified.
"So I left. I left; they kicked me out, I don't know which really. I left willingly, but I wasn't welcome back. But, see, my grandmother was afraid I would tell and said that they had to bring me home. And I went. David told me I should have stayed with him, but I wanted to hope that it would be different, like they said. But it wasn't different. They just said it to get me back there. It was worse. It was always worse. And I ended up leaving again and after that I very rarely came back. When I was coming back 'to see family' I was always staying with David or Wes. As long as I saw Mom once or twice a year, especially holidays, they would pay my Dalton tuition and UK tuition. It looked better that way, if I saw them occasionally. Otherwise people started to talk. So I would meet mom for lunch somewhere for less than an hour and go back to Wes or David's house. Not my own home. So, no, things won't settle down one day. And I don't want them to. I hate them. I really hate them; and even if they wanted me in their lives later on, I wouldn't do it." Blaine spoke quickly, barely pausing to take breaths. When he was done, he clenched his fist and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Does Kurt know all of this?" Carole asked, touching his cheek.
"Most. H-He knows most. He doesn't know the exact reason I left home. I didn't lie… I just left something out." Blaine frowned. "I don't even… just…"
"Honey, are you okay?" Carole asked, looking into his eyes.
"I haven't had a family since I was twelve." Blaine whimpered. "And that's why I'm so upset over this stuff. It's because I was stupid to think that Kurt's could be a fill in. I'm so angry with myself. I don't even know why I'm telling you. I just… after Kurt's accident, and you guys let me in, and I was around this real family… I felt like I belonged."
"Oh, honey," Carole repeated, still staring at him and looking heart-broken.
"I'm so stupid. You're so n-nice to me and Burt was always so nice until the fight and it just showed me how utterly and completely stupid I was to think that he might like me as anything besides his son's significant other. But we did stuff together. We talked a lot—especially when Kurt was in the hospital the first time. We went to the OSU football games together and got pizza with Finn after. I thought he was bonding with me because he liked me and that I was becoming a part of a family."
Carole moved her hand and squeezed his shoulder. "Not becoming, Blaine. You are a part of this family. Every single person positively adores you, sweetheart. Including Burt. He wants this thing to be done with… And I think you're here today because you want it over too, right?"
Blaine gave a small nod. "I'm upset about the fights, don't get me wrong… but I think I'm more upset about…" he trailed off.
"What?"
"I thought he liked me. I thought we were close, or at least getting close. It just sucks that I felt as if I had a place where I belonged¸ where I felt accepted for who I was… and… I wanted to belong here, and I feel like it's ruined. I think I'm more upset that… it was like waving a treat in front of me and then taking it away."
"Hon… talk to Burt." Carole said, squeezing his shoulder again. "He cares about you a whole lot. He's paying for UK. Would he do that if he didn't, hon?"
"I don't know." Blaine sighed heavily.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to check on Melody really fast." Carole stood and left the room, leaving Blaine to his thoughts. She came back in a few minutes later, a cup of coffee in each hand. "Here, sweetie."
"Thanks." Blaine took a sip and sat it on the table, not really in the mood for coffee—not in the mood for coffee.
"Why didn't you tell me about your parents, Blaine? I just assumed that things weren't bad before Kurt's accident. Of course, after they cut you off I knew they may not have been happy with your being gay, but I never thought it would have been that horrible for you."
"I don't like to talk about it. It's hard to even think about." Blaine chewed on his lip. "I'm better now. I'm with Kurt. He loves me."
"Of course he does." Carole said, offering him a small smile. "But, sweetie, you need to talk about these things. Do you and Kurt talk about it?"
"Sometimes." Blaine shrugged. "Usually only when it gets to be too much."
"I think you should talk with Kurt more, or maybe your friend David? He seems like he's got a good head on his shoulders."
"I bother David and Wes with everything." Blaine sighed and stood up. "I'm just going to go. I think I want to be home right now. Thanks for listening."
"Sweetie…" Carole stood. "I'm sorry you're parents treated you like that. It breaks my heart to know that someone as sweet as you…" she fell silent for several moments before speaking again. "I think it would be really good if you and Kurt came tonight for dinner or after dinner. I think you should talk to Burt about how you feel and why you feel that way."
"I'll think about it." Blaine said.
"Good. You really should consider it, hon." She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "Don't worry about your parents. That period of your life is over. I don't care if it was the fact that you were gay or whatever it was that you did when you were fifteen; you never deserved any of that."
"Thanks, Carole." Blaine said, returning the hug.
"Come tonight, Blaine. I think you'll feel better once you talk to Burt and get this settled. I know he wants this resolved too." Carole gave him a small smile.
"Maybe. I'll… I'll think about it." Blaine nodded and went to the door. "See you later."
"Be careful, sweetie. And cheer up. Everything will work out."
"I know." Blaine forced a smile back at her and then made his way to his car.
***WBUCT***
"I called Dad and told him you wanted to talk to him. He said he'd come here, though. He doesn't want to make us drive all the way out there. Apparently the weather's about to get nasty tonight." Kurt said the next evening, coming into the apartment and dropping his messenger bag to the ground.
Blaine took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright."
"I'm so glad you two are finally going to talk this out." Kurt threw himself over the couch, legs dangling over the armrest. "It's been months. You know I love you, Blaine, but you need someone to talk sports with. Just because I know the logistics doesn't mean I am particularly fond of carrying out entire conversations of how fast that Pipps guy can kick a ball."
"I can't sit on the arm rest but you can have your legs over it?" Blaine rolled his eyes. "You look like a kid. Especially in that shirt."
"Lay off the shirt. It's fabulous."
"It'd be more fabulous if it wasn't canary yellow." Blaine mumbled under his breath.
"I heard that, Blaine Anderson."
"You were mean tooo."
Kurt sighed and moved into a normal sitting position, clapping his hands together. "I'm tired."
"Tired?" Blaine asked, clapping his own hands mockingly.
"Soo tired." Kurt nodded. "I kept waking up last night because of Kreacher."
"What was he doing? He didn't wake me up."
"A freight train could tear through the house, sweetheart, and you'd sleep through it. I'm not surprised." Kurt laughed, waving Blaine over and then tugging him down by his arm as soon as he was within reach. Blaine sat down on the couch, leaning against Kurt. "He was playing with that stupid squeaking toy that Finn brought him last week. Any time I try to take it away he bites me."
To prove his point, Kurt raised his right arm which had very tiny nip marks and scratches.
"Kreacher did that?" Blaine gasped.
"Ran into a table corner at school with that one." Kurt said, pointing to the large one. "All others are your fault because you bought me the dog."
"We can give it away." Blaine said hopefully.
"We are not giving my child away." Kurt said sharply. "The scratches aren't even that noticeable."
"But think of the squeaky toy he won't let you get rid of. Think of how much more often we have to vacuum and wash sheets. Think of how you stepped in a puddle of dog pee in your comfy socks. Didn't that piss you off?" Blaine urged.
Kurt rolled his eyes again. "You are a horrible person, Blaine."
"You're starting to sound like David." Blaine laughed a bit, resting his head against Kurt's. "Are you sure I should do this?"
"Tell Dad why you're so upset? Yes." Kurt said. "It might help him to understand that it wasn't just the arguments… Besides, I do feel like he should know; especially now that you told Carole."
"I didn't tell her everything." Blaine said. "But I did tell her a lot."
Kurt ran his fingers through Blaine's curls. "Did she make you feel any better?"
"I don't know. Maybe." Blaine shrugged and sat up. "Do you think it's… I don't know… strange that I… I don't know… that I felt like I belonged?"
"You did. You do, Blaine." Kurt said, pulling him back down.
"Is it weird that I want to?"
"It's most certainly not weird." Kurt reassured him, pressing a kiss to the side of his face.
"Well do you think your dad is going to think I'm creepy?"
"You worry so much when it comes to anything family related." Kurt hugged him. "Dad won't think you're weird. If anything, he's going to feel like an absolute jerk for making you feel like you don't belong. It's always good when he feels guilty, Blaine. Use it to your advantage. I got half of my wardrobe that way."
Blaine gave a small laugh as the doorbell rang.
Kurt released his hold on Blaine and kissed the side of his face.
"Don't leave me alone with him." Blaine whispered, anxiety immediately evident on his face.
"I won't." Kurt promised, standing shaking his head with an almost amused smile on his face. When he reached the door he opened it and said, "Hey, Dad!" before hugging him.
Blaine took several short but deep breaths, waving when Burt made his way into the room enough so that he could see Blaine.
"Hey, bud." Burt said, a little awkwardly.
"Hello." Blaine responded quietly from the couch.
Kurt joined Blaine on the couch while Burt sat in an adjacent chair, watching them patiently.
"I don't even know what I'm supposed to say." Blaine said, looking down at his hands.
"It's not about what you're supposed to say. It's about what you want to say." Kurt said softly.
"I… I don't know. It's… I don't understand." Blaine said, almost helplessly. He turned his attention to Burt, deciding to not draw it out any longer. He was going to bite the bullet and just go for it. "I know we fought and I have apologized so many times to Kurt about it, but you never should have come to Cincinnati like you did. It was like you'd been just waiting for the opportunity to go off on me."
Burt said nothing, just kept his eyes on Blaine much like Carole had. In fact, Blaine had a suspicion that Carole had told him to sit silently until Blaine was done—and, if she had, he was grateful for that. It made it easier.
"I don't get it because… I thought things were finally different now."
Still, Burt said nothing but now he looked a little confused.
"It's like my whole life… my parents h-hated me because I was gay. My dad and I would get into such bad fights that, more than once, he would push me down."
Kurt's hand slid into Blaine's and he squeezed Blaine's hand tightly. Blaine saw anger flash through Burt's eyes quickly, and it didn't leave. "They sent me to a conversion camp and it was horrible. Then I'd come home and hear all the same stuff from my dad. I was run out of my school because of bullies —people that I'd played with on a team for years, who were supposed to be my friends, were the worst bullies of them all. Not long after that started to get worse, I was run out of my home by my grandmother, who couldn't have people finding out about her depressed, gay grandson."
Burt opened his mouth to speak, but Kurt shook his head, knowing that if Blaine stopped he wouldn't continue, and so Burt didn't speak.
"And when I was fifteen or s-sixteen m-my dad kicked me out o-of the house… b-because…" Blaine trailed off, finding it harder to talk.
"Because why?" Burt questioned, looking concerned. They were getting into rougher territory—his teenage promiscuity and, of course, the thing with his father that had really pushed everything over the edge—the thing Kurt didn't even know about. The thing DavidandWes didn't even really know about.
Blaine shook his head quickly. "And I went t-to stay with David and Wes' family off and on. They were nice and everything; they liked me and I liked them. They were welcoming… but I just always f-felt like this little stray puppy that their kids had to beg them to keep. They accepted me. Even though David's family is super religious and went to our church, they were always very k-kind. I felt accepted but I didn't feel like I belonged." Blaine took a deep breath.
Kurt stroked the back of Blaine's thumb with his own, urging him on silently. Knowing Kurt was there made him feel more at ease and he squeezed Kurt's hand tightly, trying to convey that without words.
"And you, Carole, and Finn were always so nice to me… even before we dated. And then after Kurt got hurt, and I came up. We both wanted the same thing. We wanted Kurt healthy, out of the hospital, able to move on… When my parents cut me off, you still let me stay with you and you even paid for me to go to school. Finn and I would hang out, Carole and I talked all the time, and you and I got along really well. We went to games together, we watched them together on the television, you stood up against my dad, you talked to me and… I'm not saying it was, like… I'm just…" He trailed off again.
"Kid."
"I felt like part of the family." Blaine said, voice a little louder than necessary. "And now I see how stupid that was. I'm not. I won't be."
"Blaine." Kurt whispered.
"I don't know what I did. Was I just imagining it? Or did I say something wrong? I didn't do anything to you apart from defend myself that one day. And every single time I see you, I just want to go in the opposite direction because I am so stupid to think that you ever would have... that anyone would have accepted me into a family as amazing as the one that you all have, when I come from a family like mine where the most happiness we get comes from leaving."
"Kid, stop it." Burt said, voice gruff and firm.
Blaine fell silent, but looked away.
"You are really good at making people feel guilty, you know that?" Burt attempted to joke.
"I'm just saying what I think. That's what you wanted." Blaine mumbled.
"Listen to me, and listen to me good, because I don't say anything I'm about to say lightly." Burt said, lowering his voice. "I've got a temper. A pretty bad one sometimes, especially when Kurt is involved. I'm not trying to excuse my actions… I tried to give you your space after that one in February because that's what Carole asked me to do. I never wanted things to be so on edge with us when you came to that last dinner, Blaine. Truth is, I do like you. A hell of a lot. There aren't many people who would stand up to their boyfriend's father's like you did in that hospital. Whether or not we see eye to eye on things, you've got Kurt's best interest at heart."
Blaine forced himself to look up at Burt.
"I respect you, Blaine. I didn't know you went through all that. I knew your parents weren't happy you dropped out for Kurt. I'm sorry that your parents and your family… Wow." Burt let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Look, bud… you're not stupid. And I never meant to make you feel that way."
"You're a part of the family." Kurt added, moving his hand and sliding his arm around Blaine's waist. "Unfortunately everyone in the family has to be subjected to Dad's temper once or twice… Just ask Finn. It's really kind of like being inducted into the family."
Blaine leaned against Kurt, not looking convinced.
"I never wanted you to feel like you didn't belong, Blaine. You do belong. You are extremely welcome in my house any time you want to be there. Truth is, I miss talking sports with you. I miss talking with you in general. Because I like you. I think we've both spent so long convinced we know what's better for Kurt when, maybe, we should have been more like a team… y'know, putting our ideas together or something. You're the college kid, after all. Maybe I could take some advice from you." Burt let out a chuckle, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Blaine opened his mouth but closed it again, not saying anything.
"I don't like the way things are." Burt said. "I want to work on them… and I'm very sorry for making you feel that way."
"It's okay." Blaine finally said, voice soft. "Thank you for apologizing."
Burt gave a small nod, making eye contact with him. "So you two will be at dinner tomorrow? And we'll maybe talk more?"
"Yeah." Blaine nodded, giving a weak smile.
"Good." Burt let out a sigh—sounding more relieved than aggravated, and stood. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Blaine."
"Alright." Blaine nodded again. "See you."
"I'm going to walk Dad out." Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand and then stood, following his dad out of the apartment. Blaine ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a deep sigh of relief. He knew the time would come when Burt would want to talk about Blaine's parents—at least, Blaine assumed it would.
Still, at least it looked like things were going to look up. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders¸ like he could breathe. He found himself hoping—praying—that things went back to exactly how they were. He knew Kurt's family wasn't technically his own, but it was the closest thing he had to family. It was just nice to feel like he belonged.
***WBUCT***
"OH MY GOD! SHE'S WALKING!" Kurt exclaimed the very next day as he made his way into his old living room, having let himself in instead of waiting for someone to come to the door. "SHE'S WALKING!"
"Walking tends to come soon after standing." Burt chuckled from the table.
"Act like you didn't say the same thing." Carole said from the stove once Kurt finally made it into the kitchen. "Hello, hon. You look so much better!"
"I feel better. Oh my God, Blaine, Melody is walking. Get in here faster!" Kurt called. "He had to use the bathroom."
"She's a walking machine by now. I'm sure he'll get to see it." Burt said as Melody attempted to run to Kurt. She almost made it but tripped over her feet, tumbling over and somehow landing on her butt.
"Act happy, act happy." Carole said quickly. "If you don't, she'll cry!"
Kurt bounced a bit and then bent down. "Uh oh!"
"Uuuh-ooo." Melody gurgled, an adorable smile spreading across her face.
"She said uh oh!" Kurt yelped excitedly and then repeated very slowly, "Uh oh!"
"Aw, she's not walking any more." Blaine said, making his way into the room. He looked a little anxious, but not near as bad as he had looked the last time he'd been in that kitchen.
"We had a spill in aisle three." Kurt informed him, scooping Melody up. "Didn't we, Mellie?"
"Uuuh-ooo." Melody reached her hand out at Blaine.
"Can we say Blaine, Melody? Blaine." Kurt cooed.
"We're kind of stuck on Dada and Mama, kid. Sometimes milk."
"Milk!" Melody began kicking her legs out. "Milk, milk, milk!"
"Oh my God, she's gotten so much bigger. It's only been, like, two weeks." Kurt gasped.
"Oh, it happens fast." Carole said, taking one pot off of the stove. "Well, she's been saying Dada for ages. But that's normal. I'm just happy Mama came so soon after."
"Mamamamama." Melody gurgled.
"Kurt." Kurt said. "Kurt. Big bubba Kurt?"
"Mamamamamamama."
"Kurt."
"It's no use, Kurt. It doesn't work that way." Burt said, laughing. "Besides, I have a feeling your name is going to be the hardest for her."
"I'll settle for bubba." Kurt said, nudging Blaine and then going to sit at the table. He put Melody on his lap. "Bubba."
"Oh, let him get excited." Carole said as Burt opened his mouth to tell Kurt it was no use.
"Mamamama." Melody ignored Kurt, instead turning her attention to Carole.
"Melody, Melody, Melody." Carole cooed right back, kissing Melody's chubby cheek. "Mama's girl is getting big, isn't she? Saying three words and walking all by herself."
"Mamamama." Melody waved at Blaine again.
"He's not Mama." Kurt laughed.
"I don't think she quite equates Mama with Carole yet." Blaine said, tickling her foot. "She's talking early, isn't she?"
"Starting to." Burt nodded. "Kurt started pretty early too though, just like Melody. He'd only say 'Dada' 'Mama' and 'Who's that?' for months."
"Who's that?" Carole questioned.
"Mine and Elizabeth's parents were constantly in and out. They would just walk in, so I'd always yell 'Who's that?'" Burt laughed. "Elizabeth called him my little parrot. Especially when he was older and I'd carry him on my shoulders."
Kurt just rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I think you make this stuff up, Dad."
"You think wrong, bud." Burt laughed as Melody continued to wave at Blaine, saying very clearly over and over again, "Mamamama. Mamamama."
Blaine waved back and tickled her stomach.
"Melody loves when you boys come and see her." Carole said happily. "Finn and Puck too. Oh, she loves Puck."
"Kid's good with her too." Burt said gruffly.
"I forgot all about my mission to get Quinn and Puck together again." Kurt suddenly gasped. "Is Finn coming to dinner? I need to get the latest status of Puck's feelings towards her. Has he seemed depressed lately?"
"Are you implying that would be a good thing?" Burt asked, eyeing him.
"No, but it would imply that the feelings are still there." Kurt said.
Melody reached back and put her tiny hand over his mouth. Kurt's blue eyes widened and Blaine covered his own mouth to attempt to stifle his laugh.
"Kurt's got a mute button now too." Carole laughed. "That's right, Melody. You tell him to mind his own business."
"Milk." Melody cooed, looking straight into Kurt's eyes.
Kurt moved his head and began to chew on her fingers.
"DADADADADADA!" she whined.
"Dad can't save you!" Kurt giggled, standing her up and giving her an Eskimo kiss. She reached her hand back and hit him gently on his ear.
"Melody, we don't hit." Burt said in a firm voice.
Melody's hand slowed on its second trip to his ear. She kept her eyes on her dad.
"Melody."
She lowered her hand and then reached for Blaine.
"I see how quickly you change your alliances." Kurt scoffed, passing her over. "It's okay. I have to go to the bathroom anyway."
Blaine smiled as Melody hugged him, grateful that Carole was in the room with he and Burt even if Kurt wasn't. "Hello there, pumpkin."
"How was school, hon?" Carole asked.
"Oh, I don't have school on Fridays." Blaine said, bouncing Melody as she chanted mama over and over. "I got started on a paper for my final. It's not due for a while, but soon they'll start piling up. I don't do well under essay pressure."
"It's smart to get started early, though." Carole said, smiling at him. "That way you're not under so much stress."
"And it keeps me occupied when Kurt isn't home." Blaine added. "But he doesn't have classes on Fridays either."
"So I hear UK did real good in the SEC." Burt said. "That Walker kid is amazing."
"He's in one of my classes." Blaine said quietly, trying to not feel nervous. They had talked. Things were going to be better, back to normal hopefully. There was nothing to be tense about. "He's almost seven feet tall."
"Seven?" Carole asked.
"Yeah. I had to work with him in a group for a project last week. It was kind of funny to see us standing in front of the class giving our presentation. It was us and two girls." Blaine laughed.
"Is he nice?" Carole asked.
"No." Blaine snorted. "None of them ever are. The ones at UK aren't at least. I don't know about other colleges."
"He's a damn good basketball player though." Burt said.
"Yeah, I'd like him more if he didn't dribble the ball in the hallways on the way to his classes." Blaine mumbled, making Burt chuckle a bit.
"I bet if you'd gone to do soccer, you'd have been just as sweet as you are now." Carole said, coming over and ruffling his hair.
"No. We've already discussed this." Kurt said, coming into the room and sitting next to Blaine again. "He'd have been a guy magnet."
"According to Kurt." Blaine added.
"Oh, come on. Look at your body now. If you were doing sports regularly, going to the gym..." Kurt just trailed off, an almost-dazed look on his face.
"I think he's hinting he wants me to work out." Blaine laughed.
"I said no such thing." Kurt said, snapping back to reality. "I'm just saying, guys would have been all over you."
"Guys aren't all over Finn." Carole said thoughtfully.
"Rachel makes him wear a ring." Kurt said, very seriously.
"Oh my God." Blaine quickly turned his laugh into a cough.
"Blaine, don't be rude." Kurt sighed.
"A ring?" Burt echoed. "Please say you meant he makes her wear one."
"No." Kurt shook his head. "She makes him wear a promise rin-Blaine, stop it!"
"I'm s-so-sorry." Blaine giggled immaturely.
"Are you saying you wouldn't wear a promise ring if I got you one?"
"First, you'd never get me one." Blaine pointed out. "So I don't even need a follow up to that."
"I think a promise ring is a romantic gesture." Carole said.
"Yeah." Blaine shrugged. "I mean, I can see Kurt wearing one. I can see Rachel wearing one. I just can't see Finn wearing one."
"I doubt he wears it." Carole said. "But I think he should if she got it for him. Don't you, Burt?"
"Isn't there a game on tonight, Blaine? Shouldn't we go see about that?" Burt answered, standing.
"Don't you dare. The last thing has to simmer a little longer and then we'll be able to eat." Carole threatened. "Besides, Melody hates when you have sports on the TV and Blaine's got her right now. You know how she is when people hand her off without her permission. She'll probably cry for the rest of the night."
"I would never hand my little pumpkin off." Blaine said, kissing Melody's cheek as she looked at Kurt. "Bubba? Is that bubba?"
"Yes!" Kurt said eagerly. "Bubba! I'm Bubba!"
"Mamamama!" she gurgled, turning and touching Blaine's nose.
"Hello, pretty." Blaine cooed, smiling.
"See? Isn't this nice? If Finn were here, we'd have the whole family." Carole said, looking happy. "He said he may come by a little later, if he could."
"I hope he can." Kurt said.
"Let it go, Kurt." Blaine sighed. "Quinn already told you a long time ago that she wanted you to butt out."
"That's what she said but not what she wants. Imagine if it were you and I, Blaine." Kurt said haughtily. "Besides, it's my second calling. I can't help that I'm a romantic."
"No, I suppose you can't." Blaine laughed. "And I also suppose that I'm going to have to live with you matching people up for the rest of my life."
"If you want my cooking, yep." Kurt said cheerfully. "But everyone knows the way to your heart is your stomach. As long as I have at least one arm to cook with, you'll stick around."
"This is probably true." Blaine teased.
"Melody, want Mama to get you some sweet potatoes?" Carole asked, smiling.
Melody's eyes lit up.
"I thought you might. But we're going to let Daddy feed you because Blaine has a nice shirt on today and you're a very messy little piggy."
"I picked that shirt out." Kurt said, holding a finger up. "Just so you all know. I put a lot of thought into it, as well. Doesn't the color make his eyes pop?"
"It sure does." Carole said as Burt grunted and Blaine rolled his 'popping' eyes. "You should wear that color more often, Blaine."
"You're just buttering Kurt up now because you want him to take you shopping." Burt said as Melody was passed to him.
"Shh, Burt!" Carole hissed.
"I would love to, Carole. Just as soon as this next week is done, I should have more time. I have some stuff to get caught up on, but most of the time now is geared towards our final projects."
"Oh, really?" Carole asked happily. "Thank you, hon. It seems like nothing looks as good as it used to since I had Melody."
"Don't even worry about it." Kurt said, waving his hand. "I'm excited. Really excited."
"Kurt's final project idea is really cool." Blaine said cheerfully, almost feeling as he used to before his and Burt's off-and-on fights had begun.
"Thanks, Blaine." Kurt smiled. "I run all of my ideas by him."
"How is the friend who you stayed with until Blaine picked you up? He another fashion design kid?"
"Yeah. Alec." Kurt nodded. "He's good. He's not even started planning his final project, but he's one of those people who just starts putting stuff together last minute and everything falls into place. I wish I were like that."
"I think how you work is fine." Blaine said, smiling. "And your stuff always looks really, really, really good, Kurt."
"Thanks, Blaine." Kurt smiled happily. "I'm glad you think so."
…
Two hours later, Carole sat on the couch next to Blaine and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Hey, hon."
"Hi." Blaine said, offering her a small smile.
"Burt's getting Melody put into bed. You holding up okay?"
"Yeah. It was kind of odd at first, but I'm fine now." Blaine said.
"Good. I was a little worried about you after you left on Wednesday… especially when you didn't come back. I hated to think you were sitting at home upset."
"No, I'm fine." Blaine gave her a smile. "Kurt and I talked about it.
"Oh, good." Carole let out a relieved sigh.
"I didn't want to worry or upset you, though. I'm sorry." Blaine said, feeling guilty.
"It does upset me." Carole ruffled his hair and then gave him a small squeeze. "You're such a sweet thing. You never deserved any of that. It breaks my heart to think about it, and those camps."
Blaine looked up, relieved to see Kurt walk in.
"Hello." Kurt waved.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Carole asked, giving Blaine another squeeze.
"No. I'm sure it'll turn up at the apartment." Kurt shrugged and sat on Blaine's other side. "What are we talking about?"
"We're talking about his parents." Carole answered.
"Blaine doesn't like to talk about it." Kurt said, leaning over and kissing his cheek. "Don't worry. He won't be around them ever again. Not if I have a say. And certainly not alone."
Blaine leaned against Kurt and smiled gratefully.
"I think this dinner went well. Dad and Blaine even talked about football. It almost felt like normal." Kurt said cheerfully to Carole.
"It did." Carole nodded. "I'm so glad. I've missed having you boys around every week. Melody just lights up whenever any of you three are in a room."
"It's because she's got all three of them wrapped around her finger." Burt said, coming into the room.
"It's true." Blaine sighed. "Kurt's already staking out Pottery Barn for $40 felt stack-able blocks."
"That is way too much." Carole said, eyes widening. "She's just a baby, hon. She doesn't need all that."
"She is my little sister and she deserves the best." Kurt said—the same thing he said to Blaine any time he found anything that cost 'way too much for a baby.' "Plus, I want to be the favorite brother. I probably don't see her as much as Finn. I need to compensate somehow."
Blaine shook his head and yawned, letting his head fall against Kurt's shoulder. "It's too bad Finn didn't show up. I haven't seen him in a while."
"He's exactly the same." Carole reassured him.
"I think we better get home before he falls asleep. He's impossible to wake up." Kurt said, nudging Blaine gently until he sat up. Kurt got up, hugging Carole. "Maybe next Friday we'll come early and then go clothes shopping?"
"Whenever you want, sweetie. I'm off work Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays." Carole smiled, hugging him back. "You stay healthy, hon. We don't want any more calls about you being sick, alright?"
"I'll do my best." Kurt promised her, moving to hug his dad.
"Take good care of yourself, kiddo." Burt said, pulling Kurt into a hug and patting the back of his head.
"I will, I will." Kurt answered, hugging his dad back tightly. "I'm doing a much better job of it."
"Well it's only been one week." Carole said gently. "You have to keep at it."
"I know. Blaine and I discuss this on a daily basis." Kurt said, moving towards his boyfriend. "Speaking of Blaine, I better get him home. He's probably about to crash from all the caffeine he had this morning."
"'M not crashing." Blaine yawned.
"I'm going to get you home anyway." Kurt rolled his eyes and grabbed Blaine's hands. "Tell the nice people bye-bye, Blaine."
"I hate you." Blaine said teasingly before waving goodbye to Carole and Burt.
"We'll see you next Friday?" Carole asked hopefully.
Blaine nodded and smiled. "Next Friday."