Chapter 11

October – Age 17 – Junior year

It was 7:00 pm on a Saturday night when Finn heard a knock on their front door. Carol was giving Charlotte her bath and going to put her to bed. Finn was about to sit on the couch and do his homework while the game was on. Dave Karofsky was at the front door, looking really nervous.

Now, it wasn't unusual for Dave to drop by. They truly had become friends since Finn broke down and told him about Charlotte. Dave was the only non-glee football player that had stuck by Finn last year when the news got out. He was Finn's math tutor when necessary. But what shocked Finn the most was when Dave decided to join the glee club this year. His excuse for everyone else was that he needed some performing arts credits to graduate, but Finn knew the truth. Dave could sing. And the better thing was that he liked to, but he didn't want to seem like the nerd that joined glee club. But once he hung around with the glee kids, he didn't really mind being seen with them. He was a bit of a country singer, but he had nothing on the new kid, Sam Evans, that kid was a whole lot of country, and the new starting quarter back.

"What's up dude?" Finn asked worriedly. "You alright?"

"I'm not sure really," Dave admitted. "I need to get something off my chest. I figured you were the person to tell."

"You wanna come in?" Finn offered. Dave nodded silently. They walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. "You didn't get anyone pregnant right?"

"Nah," Dave chuckled. He was fiddling with his hands in his lap, looking down. "Couldn't if I wanted to."

"What?" Finn questioned. "Are you sick or something?"

"No, not really," Dave replied. "But keeping this secret in is making me feel awful sick."

"Well, what is it?"

"I'm gay." The room was quiet for a moment before Dave began to chuckle. "That feels so much better."

"You're gay?" Finn confirmed. Dave nodded. "So do I have to worry about you hitting on me?"

"Nah, you're not my type."

"So you have a type?" Finn ribbed. Dave got red around his ears. "Come on, you let the cat out of the bag. Now I'm entitled to a bit of questioning."

"Fine, I have a type, and it's not a jock," Dave admitted. "You're okay with this?"

"Are you okay with it?" Finn asked right back.

"Well, I've been trying to figure this out since last year," Dave sighed. "You told me your secret, I thought I would return the favor."

"I think it's brave," Finn said honestly. "I'm glad you told me."

"We're still friends right?" Dave asked smally.

"Of course, dude," Finn said. "Char still needs her Uncle Dave." At this sentiment, tears began to fall from Dave's face. "Awe man, you don't need to cry."

"I've been making myself sick about telling you this for so long. You're my best friend," Dave explained through his tears. "I could have lost my best friend I could have lost my niece."

Carol Hudson walked into the room when Dave was talking. "Oh sweetheart, what's the matter?" She came around the couch and put her arm around Dave, looking concerned.

"I've been keeping a secret and I just realized how much it really doesn't matter," Dave said. "Ms. Hudson, I'm gay."

Carol let out a sigh of relief. "The way you were going on. I thought you had cancer or were dying or something."

"Sometimes that's how I felt when I didn't tell anyone," Dave admitted. "I told my parents last night. They are kinda wigged. But I think they might be okay with it… eventually."

"Well it's not much, but we have a trundle bed, you could stay here if you need to," Carol said.

"Thanks, I think I'm going to start telling people soon, but if you guys could keep this under wraps for now, that would be sweet."

Carol kissed Dave's forehead and smiled. "Of course dear, but a word of advice… tell the Hummel's next."

"Why?" Dave asked, confused.

"Because you should tell the boy whose ass you're always staring at," she smirked and made her exit from the room.

"Your mom really notices too much," Dave said. "Did you?"

"In hind sight, I guess so," Finn shrugged, rubbing his face. "But I agree with mom, you need to tell Kurt next, and Burt."

"I know," Dave sighed. "It's just hard."

"You told me," Finn pointed out.

"Yeah, but I'm not crushing on you," Dave pointed out.

"True, but I get the feeling that he would understand, probably best out of all of us," Finn said.

"I know," he sighed. "Could I convince you to come with me?"

"Well, you could come tell him when he comes over to visit on Tuesday," Finn suggested.

"He come every Tuesday?"

"Typically every Tuesday and Thursday. And he and Burt come for dinner, but I could convince mom and Burt to go out on a date if that makes it easier."

"Yeah, can I come Tuesday?" Dave asked. "Sooner the better."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sunday was a "family day". Carol, Finn, and Charlotte all went to church. They sat next to Mercedes and her family. Finn and Mercedes got up to sing. They would all head to the Hummel's, where Kurt would steal his goddaughter. They would spend lunch with them.

After 3:00pm, the Jones would tend to go home, leaving the Hummel's and Hudson's alone. "Hey Finn, Kurt," Carol said. "Could we speak with you about something?" Kurt came in from the kitchen. Burt was bouncing Charlotte up and down behind the couch. Finn was already lounging on the couch.

"What's the matter Carol?" Kurt asked.

"We wanted to discuss something with the two of you as adults," Burt said. "Can you handle it?"

"I'm sure we can manage," Finn said with a chuckle.

"Carol and I have been talking of this for a few weeks," Burt began. "We would like to consider having the Hudson's move in here."

"Move in here?" Kurt asked.

"Well, this house is bigger, and I really don't see Carol and I breaking up any time in the near or distant future."

"So how would that work?" Kurt asked.

"We figured that you could have the choice of having your rooms, or going to the basement, Finn would get the other room."

"Can Kurt and I talk about this for a bit?" Finn asked quietly. Carol and Burt nodded and took Charlotte out back for a bit of fresh air. "Kurt, what's going through that head of yours?"

"I'm not really sure," Kurt said. He moved Finn's legs down from the couch and sat next to him. "I knew things might progress, but this is quick."

"I know, but I can see their point," Finn said. "We are going to be leaving to go to college, and even if we don't, they would logically want to move in with each other."

"I know," Kurt sighed. "So what do you want to do about rooms?"

"Well, I can work with whatever," Finn shrugged.

"Well, it would probably be best if you took the upstairs room, and the guest room for Charlotte," Kurt mused. "And I could design a totally new space downstairs."

"That's fine," Finn said. "Thanks for thinking of Charlotte."

"I can't not think of her," Kurt shrugged. "This all feels a bit surreal though."

"True. Should we tell them to come back in?"

"I'll get 'em," Kurt replied. He went out back to steal his goddaughter and invite the parents back inside.

"So did you two make a decision?" Carol asked.

"Yeah," Finn said. "Kurt is in agreement that Charlotte needs her own room so I'll be taking the upstairs while Kurt is eager to take on the basement."

"You okay with this Kurt?" Burt asked. "I know this is fast."

"I think I am," Kurt replied honestly. "Finn and I talked about it and it's going to be nice having all of us in the same house."

"I'm glad you two boys are mature enough to make that decision," Burt said. "We can start the process next week. Kurt, I know you are going to be designing the rooms, but please bear in mind that Finn isn't like you, so his room needs to have his input."

"I know dad," Kurt groaned. "I'll keep up with Finn throughout the process."