A/N: This is a shorter chapter, but I felt like it should stand alone, so here it is. TW for slurs and (not very graphic) physical assault.

"You're sure you want to do this?" Kurt asks, giving Blaine's hand a squeeze as they sit in his car and stare ahead at the large house in front of them.

"I'm sure. I think I need to."

"Okay."

The two boys get out of the car, join hands, and head toward the front steps of Blaine's parents' house. Blaine hasn't spoken to his parents since he and Burt came to pick up his things in the summer. Burt had discussed financials with Blaine's mother before Blaine moved to New York, and the money he needed was being transferred into his account each month, so he hadn't needed to get in touch with them. He hadn't even called to make sure they'd be home now; just showed up and hoped they would be. It's a Wednesday evening, and Blaine had figured there was a good chance they wouldn't have any events to be at this evening; and he seems to be right, since both cars are parked out front.

They climb the stairs, and Blaine reaches forward to ring the doorbell. The two boys stand there silently, waiting. Kurt gives Blaine's hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze as they hear footsteps approaching from inside and a woman's voice, Kurt thinks he recognizes it as Blaine's mother, call out that she's coming.

A moment later, the door is opening, and Blaine's mother is standing there, a look of surprise on her face when she realizes who exactly is standing on her front step. The three of them stand there for a moment, staring at each other, before Blaine's mother is reaching forward, wrapping Blaine in a hug and pulling him away from Kurt.

"Blaine, sweetheart," she says, holding Blaine tightly, "you should have told us you were coming! We've missed you so much, we've been so worried."

She pulls back, grabs Blaine's hand and pulls him into the house. Kurt follows behind, a little awkwardly, but he supposes not being acknowledged is better than being yelled at, and she seems happy that Blaine is here, so he doesn't say anything. He knows when it's better to keep his mouth shut, and this is one of those times.

"Who's there?" Blaine's father's voice calls from upstairs.

"Honey, it's Blaine!" his mother calls back. "Oh, your father will be so happy to see you," she says to Blaine, cupping his cheek with her hand. She chances a quick glance at Kurt, and he sees a brief flash of uncertainty and possibly disappointment in her eyes, but then they're all focusing on Thomas Anderson as he comes down the stairs and into the room, and he tries to put those thoughts out of his mind. He's here for Blaine.

"Blaine?" his father asks, voice a little confused.

"Hi, dad," Blaine responds quietly.

"I didn't realize you were back in the state."

"Yeah, I uh... for Christmas. I'm, um, staying with Kurt," he says, gesturing back toward Kurt, and then Thomas' eyes focus on him, his face hardening.

"Why are you here, Blaine," his father asks, brushing past Blaine on his way to the cupboard where he refills the glass in his hand, "and why would you bring him into this house?"

"He has a name," Blaine says, "his name is Kurt. He's here because he's my boyfriend. And I'm here before I'm your son."

Thomas takes a sip of his drink, then slams it down on the counter and walks toward Blaine. "No faggot like him is welcome in my house," he says with a look of disgust as he eyes Kurt over Blaine's shoulder. Kurt flinches a little at the word, but stays quiet.

"You don't talk about him like that!" Blaine says, voice raised, angry.

"Don't you yell at me, boy," his father warns.

"Don't talk about my boyfriend that way," Blaine counters.

"You bring a queer like that in my house and I'll talk about his fucking faggot ass any way I like. He's not welcome here."

"I said don't talk to him like that!" Blaine says, yelling now, and he closes the small distance remaining between himself and his father, then gives his father a shove. Thomas stumbles back a few steps before catching his balance.

"Blaine!" Kurt gasps, anxious, taking a step forward.

"You stay back there," Blaine's father warns, glaring at Kurt, and Kurt freezes in place.

"You listen here, boy," Thomas says, voice low, walking up to Blaine again and gripping his bicep tight, and Kurt notices the slightest wobble in Blaine's father's steps and wonders how much Thomas has had to drink this evening, "you do not want to start this."

"I didn't start anything, dad, you did," Blaine argues, voice lower but Kurt can tell he's having a hard time controlling it.

"I'm not the one walking around telling people I'm a faggot, that's all you. And not only that, but with this fairy? It's disgusting."

"I said don't talk about him like that," Blaine raises his voice again, moving to shove his father but this time Thomas is expecting it and grabs Blaine's arms.

"I don't know when you're going to grow out of this phase, Blaine, but it had better be soon."

"It's not a phase, dad. I like boys. I love Kurt."

"You don't love him, don't be ridiculous. It's not natural. This is some sick perversion that got in your head. I knew we should have sent you to one of those camps when you were younger, but your mother wouldn't let me."

"Right, like some conversion therapy was going to make me want to suck dick any less," Blaine counters, and Kurt would have really appreciated the comeback, but then Blaine's father is hauling off and punching him square in the jaw and there's no time to appreciate Blaine's wit.

"Blaine!" Kurt cries, running forward to grab his boyfriend and pull him backward, away from the man who'd just punched him in the face.

"You get out of my house," Thomas spits at them, glaring darkly at the two boys.

Blaine rubs at his jaw, looking helplessly between his father and his mother, who is simply standing off to the side and staring between them, a hand covering her mouth.

"Come on, Bee," Kurt whispers, tugging on Blaine's arm, "we should go."

Blaine nods dumbly, seemingly in a bit of a daze, but allows Kurt to pull him down the hallway and out of the house, back to the car. They get in and Kurt starts it and drives away, not wanting to give Blaine's father a chance to follow them out into the driveway.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asks quietly, finding Blaine's hand and giving it a little squeeze. Blaine doesn't squeeze back.

"I don't know," Blaine says simply, barely a whisper.

"I'm so sorry, Bee."

Blaine doesn't reply, and they spend the rest of the drive back to the house in silence.