Episode 9, Chapter 2:

Kurt texted Blaine when he went to his room. He kicked his feet in the air as he thought up something sweet that would make his boyfriend laugh or blush or both. 'This year's Alexander McQueen fall collection caught my attention, but you stole my heart.' 'Out of all the fabulous fashion magazines and designers, I'm most thankful for you.' He sent the first, waited a bit and then sent the next. He was proud of himself at first, but when Blaine didn't respond, Kurt pouted and checked on Snap Chat. Blaine added three new pictures to his 'Story' in the last 6 minutes, but he hadn't replied back to Kurt.

And all three pictures had Tina in them.

Kurt didn't want to feel jealous. Tina had been in Blaine's life for a long time so it made sense that she would come to the Anderson's home for the holiday. She was like family. The only problem was that he didn't know her. Blaine's parents loved her, and they didn't know him. All of those elements put together made him anxious, even if he had no need to be. He called Blaine, but on the first try, he didn't answer. He didn't text him because he didn't want to leave a chain of annoying messages that would just scare him away. He didn't answer on the second dial, but he posted another picture with his whole family and Tina 5 minutes later.

That was the final straw. He knocked on his brother's door and yelled before opening in case he was indisposed—he'd caught Finn in some compromising positions the last time he wasn't so careful. He opened the door after he got a safe response.

"You want to go see Rachel?"


Rachel lost her second game, and right now, she wasn't exactly loving her family. She took a bag of veggie chips out of the pantry and ate a bunch before she heard the bell ring. Because she was closest, she went to get the door. On the way she dipped a chip into the spinach dip, which was her favorite. She just started licking the salt off her finger when she opened the door and almost choked on the bite of food.

"Finn, what are you doing here?"

"We came to crash your Thanksgiving. Hope you don't mind," he said carrying a pumpkin. He was dressed in a burgundy Rag & Bone Avery shawl collar cardigan. [Thanksgiving] Rachel hugged him and clung to his side. She panicked suddenly when she looked to her parents who'd both turned to the door. Now they knew something was up and she wasn't about to turn her boyfriend away… "Mom, dad, this is Finn."

From where he sat, Blaine smiled. At least Finn had the courage to come to their home and get introduced to the parents. His smile drooped and then grew brighter when he saw who else walked in the door behind him.

"Kurt?!" he got up shaking the pieces on the board as he rushed to his boyfriend. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to stop by. You haven't answered my texts. I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving in person…and drop off the pumpkin, I guess, but that was Finn's idea."

"Come in, you haven't properly met my parents," he placed his hand in Kurt's and showed him off. Shelby smirked and Burt gave him the once-over grimace.

"You've been here a bunch of times, but never long enough for us to talk," he held out his hand, and Kurt shook it nervously.

"Stop intimidating him, Burt," Shelby discouraged. Once everyone was greeted, Rachel let go of Finn and stood up from the couch.

"I suggest that Finn and Kurt play one game with us."

"No, we couldn't," they said at the same time like true brothers.

"Yes, you could. Come, play, take my spot," Shelby said.

"You can play for me Kurt," Blaine smiled. The taller boy had to wonder if Blaine knew about the things that he'd sent him. He took out his phone to check his messages before he sat down. Burt tutted.

"No phones today, Kurt. Two days a year we turn them off." Kurt froze.

"Blaine added some pictures on social media so I guess I-I didn't think," he said.

"He must have snuck those in," Burt gave his son a reprimanding look.

"It was just a couple of pictures dad," he said. Kurt mouthed 'sorry,' and Blaine pursed his lips and moved his head subtly from side to side. When Finn needed the bathroom, the game paused. He didn't want to be whiny, but he had to ask his boyfriend about the messages.

"Did you get my texts or calls?" Blaine shook his head.

"I didn't look. I was on and off my phone as fast as possible. Why? Did you warn me you were coming?" he smirked.

"No," Kurt sighed. He turned his head to Tina whom he hadn't really acknowledged the whole time she was playing across from him. Blaine leaned his head back as he momentarily was captivated by the sugar cookie he'd made.

"You know the feeling of when you cook something and can't believe how delicious it is? That's how I'm feeling right now!" he grinned. When he sat up again, he saw Tina and Kurt just staring at each other.

"You guys don't really know each other, but you should. I'm sure you'd have a lot that you don't already know in common. I mean there's me, for example. We're friends, which by default means that you two must be friends," he tried to cheer them up, but he could tell it didn't work. He tried a little harder comparing the things they like, but nothing stuck and Blaine gave up. As long as they were civil, they would have a fighting chance for the future.


After Finn won, Kurt was ready to pack up and leave. Rachel asked them what they were doing for the holiday as they made it to the door.

"Nothing really this year. We were supposed to go to Quinn's but she gave us the boot. We're ordering room service," Finn explained. Kurt wished they'd come up with something better to tell them instead.

"What? You can't spend the holiday like that. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

"It's nice that you invited us Rachel, but we won't impose on your family," Kurt said.

"But you are family, sort of. You two are brothers, and you are dating us," Rachel gestured to her and her brother. "I want you to stay. We have enough food. Invite your mom over too."

"We'd have to ask her if she wants to come…"

"Please do. She's right. Invite your mother over. I'd love to meet her," Shelby said and Burt, who had not been paying attention for the last thirty minutes, popped his head up finally. He did not look comfortable with the idea.

With some convincing, they managed to convince their mother to take the car to Brooklyn. She didn't seem too turned off by the idea of coming out there. She asked a lot of questions about the others teens' mom though. When she walked in the apartment, it was obvious by the look they shared that they knew each other from somewhere.


Quinn didn't feel hungry at the table. All the food in the world and nothing could satisfy her stomach. There was a time when this was her favorite time of year, but eating around strangers rather than family really could take your hunger away. Her father hadn't gotten in touch with her, and she didn't expect him to make any miraculous calls either. She only had Santana who she had to drag from her Thanksgiving party, which must have been a real good time because she arrived in teal green, short GUESS Cap Sleeve Tulip hem dress. [Thanksgiving] Even her mother seemed far away.


Sam similarly couldn't be farther from his family. They hadn't gotten any invitations for dinner since those usually came the week before the meal, and this week, their name had been all over the newspapers. No one wanted anything to do with them. Sam would have gone to Puck's if April hadn't insisted that they get through dinner together. While he would have guessed she would crack first, he was surprised Sandy was the first to go.

"None of this is my fault, and I don't appreciate you pointing your finger at me. Calling me the cause of all your troubles… you think it's been easy for me? Well it hasn't," Sandy cried out pitifully.

"I think it's pretty clear it hasn't been easy. How else could you have done what you've done and still believe you have nothing to do with it?"

"If you can't say anything nice, I suggest you not say anything at all."

"Dad, you're out of your mind. Right now, after everything—what are you on? Who would give it to you? You need help!"

"Sam, don't yell me. Why are you yelling at me? What gives you the right? I'm the father. Now your mother and I plan to have a nice meal. It's very nice to be out of jail and eating with family, but if you don't want to be here, you're free to leave. Don't come back either if that's the way you want it."

"You're serious. You want to—what do you call it?—disown me? You would do that after I tried to help you."

"Does it really seem like you helped me? Our family is being looked into by the authorities. Your mother's been kicked off the board for events at your school. This has been hard for her. You can't blame me for what you've done."

Sam slid his seat out, scratching the floor like nails. He was so tired of hearing this. His father would likely be taken back into custody when they found something more solid under him to bring him in. If they did, then good riddance! He was going to Puck's house where Sam knew he spent the day watching horror movies in remembrance of all the blood shed cast on the Native Indians by the white man. It was slightly ritualistic and mostly savage, but the better rated R movies had boob-action, which was something Sam could get behind.

Halfway to his destination, there was someone he wanted to talk to whom he hadn't talked to in a while. At her dinner table, Quinn shot awake when her phone started playing 'Calypso'. That was Sam's signature calling ringtone, he set it up as joke the last time they happily watched Pirates of the Caribbean together. He never called her so it took her by surprise. She excused herself from some story about golf in the Virgin Islands.

"Sam, why are you calling me?"

"It's nice to hear your voice," Sam began momentarily distracted. He loved that rumble in her voice. When she was angry, it came out more.

"Sam, what is it?"

"I'm sorry I missed your birthday. Puck told you what happened that night, right? I'm sorry I couldn't stay. I know that we're over, and it's probably better that way, but I just want you to know that I hope we can be friends. You were always there for me and listened to my stress. I have got a lot of that now so whenever you stop hating me, if that is what you're feeling, I hope we can go back to being friends."

"I don't hate you. I want us to talk some more, but I don't know if I can handle being friends yet. That still hurts too much."

"We'll go slow…Happy Thanksgiving! I should have started with that. You are having a big Fabray party, I guess?"

"I wouldn't call it a party. Nobody I actually like is here—well except Santana, and you know how she can be," Quinn paused. Sam didn't ask about Kurt, and though she didn't feel like bringing him up, it would make the conversation more normal and on track to friendship if she didn't shy away from him. "Kurt's not coming over because we had a fight. I don't know what he's up to."

"I had a fight with my parents. I think my dad would rather disown me than admit he didn't anything wrong. His hubrits tells him he's right."

"You mean, hubris?" Quinn smiled at her reflection. She'd locked herself in the bathroom, and she couldn't help fix her hair absentmindedly.

"Right! You always correct me, but I don't mind it. You're smart like that."

"So, what are you doing for the holiday?"

"If you're inviting me over solo, I'll have to pass to maybe Christmas because I'm going to Puck's house now. I'll be there in 5."

"Oh, really?" Quinn gulped even though she had no reason to.

"Yeah, he's watching movies. We don't like the teams playing football today. He's sticking to tradition. I haven't spent Thanksgiving with him in years."

"Oh, okay. Have fun… And Sam, thanks for calling me," she said waiting to hear what he would say before they hung up. She didn't know how to define their conversation just now. She didn't want to forgive him so easily, but then she had to because he had so much going on. He really needed a friend. He was around when her parents got divorced. He didn't respond or say goodbye after enough time had gone by in silence; he simply hung up.

Sam smiled anxiously. He thought he had an opportunity to do something to turn it around just then or leave something to be gained the next time they spoke, but Sam couldn't think of the words. He wasn't all that quick, and he knew that. He might not go to college. No school will want him anyway and his legacy will probably be nullified. He should just head to Los Angeles like the model he always wanted to be. At least, he thought, he'd have his dignity.


~A.N. Big revelations in the next chapter about Burt and Carole!