Question 23: How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?
"You must be the famous, Blaine. Nice to finally meet you in person."
"It's nice to meet you too, sir."
Burt removed his hat and scratched his head while answering the boy:
"I've already told you to call me Burt, kiddo."
Kurt smiled at the interaction; Blaine had been so nervous about meeting his family. The next minute, Blaine was engulfed in a hug by Carole and Kurt thought he saw him let out a relaxed sigh.
"And I'm Carole, don't you dare call me ma'am."
"Yes, m… Carole. These are for you."
Carole took the flowers Blaine had handed Kurt while he was being hugged by the Hudmells. She stopped to smell them and winked at Kurt while Blaine was discussing the game of the afternoon with Burt. Carole called them all in, while Burt took care of the boys' luggage. Kurt took the opportunity to take Blaine's hand and squeeze it:
"They already love you."
Blaine's voice was a little emotional when he answered:
"I want them to; I know how important they are to you."
Kurt kissed his cheek. Blaine squeezed his hand back. Burt walked down the stairs pointing with his thumb behind his shoulder:
"Your bags are already in Kurt's room."
"Thanks dad."
Blaine was a little wide eyed:
"Thank you, Burt; but where am I going to sleep?"
Carole tried to suppress a chuckle while Kurt and Burt responded almost simultaneously:
"In my room."/"In Kurt's room."
The two of them looked at each other and smiled. Burt then proceeded to explain:
"Blaine, I no longer have the illusion that you two sleep in separated beds in New York. Even though I'd like to still believe it."
Kurt approached his boyfriend and touched his shoulder:
"Is everything alright?"
Blaine turned to him and smiled:
"It's just that our families are extremely different."
Carole walked near the boys and grabbed both their shoulders:
"I'm sure they'll like Kurt just as much as we already like you, sweetie."
She completed her sentiment with a kiss to Blaine's cheek.
"Enough about being sentimental now", she said, "those who are watching the game go to the living room and those who are making lunch follow me to the kitchen."
Blaine turned to Kurt for guidance. Kurt grinned at him:
"It's okay to watch the game and let me to help Carole. It won't be rude, I promise. Unless you are too scared to be alone with my dad…"
Blaine's eyes opened in shock:
"Should I be?"
Kurt smirked:
"Well, you are screwing his son and all."
Kurt went for a kiss full in the mouth to which Blaine didn't kiss back. He cupped Blaine's cheek:
"They really don't have a problem with us kissing."
"It's like you can read my mind."
"And, after all, we are alone in the hall."
This time Blaine initiated a chaste yet passionate kiss. Kurt smirked at him and winked on his way to the kitchen. Arriving there, Carole smirked at him:
"He really is the gentleman you told us about and you two seem to really like each other. But the video calls didn't show how handsome he actually is. Kudos."
Kurt blushed a little:
"Carole, as my mother, you shouldn't be this encouraging."
She took her hands to her heart and got all glossy eyed:
"You called me mother…"
Kurt went to hug her:
"You are good as one."
She kissed his cheek and then rubbed with her thumb to remove the lipstick mark she had left:
"Good God, I must have left a mark on Blaine too."
Kurt smiled fondly:
"I think you and dad left another kind of mark on him."
"Care to explain?"
He passed one finger in the dessert's frosting while pondering. He then liked said finger before answering:
"His family - mostly his dad, but his mother and brother too – weren't supportive of him when he came out. It didn't help that he was in an abusive relationship in high school. Anyhow, he feels alone and you and dad welcoming him makes him emotional."
"You two are really connected for such a short time relationship."
Kurt licked his bottom lip:
"It feels… right, you know? Not anything like with Adam. I think I was in love with him but didn't really love him. Does that make sense?"
Carole stopped stirring her pan to look at him in the eyes:
"You were in love with love, Kurt. You liked being liked and getting attention from a boy. Adam was nice for you for this, but he wasn't the right match for you. Well, in the end he said things I didn't like hearing. However, this boy Blaine… I have a feeling he's right for you. You are glowing, sweetie."
They got busy with lunch preparations and the conversation died naturally. Kurt was responsible for the dessert while Carole did the final touches on their meal. She asked her son to bring some snacks to the boys in the living room before they got cranky.
Kurt was still smiling while crossing the hall and heard his name being said by Blaine. He entered the room asking:
"What about me?"
Blaine blushed and said:
"Nothing."
"You are up to something."
Burt laughed:
"Come on, kiddo, your boyfriend and your father who just met are either talking about you or the game."
"Fair. Who's winning?"
Blaine responded in almost a whisper:
"My team."
Kurt sat by his side on the couch and placed the peanuts and pretzels in the coffee table:
"Interesting, you two don't support the same team? Now I have to pretend to care about two different football leagues?"
Burt chuckled:
"You stopped pretending to care about my team a long time ago."
"True, but Blaine didn't need to know that."
And stage whispering Kurt added:
"He still thinks I like football."
Blaine chuckled:
"I know you don't, honey. I know you only sit by my side when football is on because you like me."
Kurt smiled and pecked on Blaine's lips. They heard a flash sound and found Carole taking a picture of them on her phone.
"I'll send it to you, you two look so cute together."
Kurt passed his arm around Blaine's waist:
"I think so too."
Burt raised his beer in a toast:
"Welcome to the family, son."
Kurt thought he saw his father winking for Blaine, but when he asked what that was about, Blaine dismissed him. He really was up to something.