W00t! We're about to change history here! Well, change it more. I haven't seen any reviews, but I'm doing this so fast that I'm not totally surprised. Anyway, Here's another chapter.

This story there will not have any new songs.

Redemption


"Hey Kurt, you're gonna tear up that vest if you scrub anymore," Finn said as he passed the laundry room again.

"I've been telling him that for twenty minutes," Blaine replied as he tried to tear his friend from the garments. "Kurt, just stop," he continued as he dumped the clothes into the washer, added some detergent and changed the cycle to 'delicate' and the water to 'cold/cold.'

"You're both right," Kurt resigned and went into the living room, plopping on the recliner. Finn frowned. He knew something was bothering his brother. "I just can't make sense of today so far."

Blaine's phone beeped, and after checking it took a seat and motioned for Finn to do the same. He grabbed a coaster and set his Pepsi on it. "We got the green light Kurt."

"Do we have to do this?" he whined knowing what the answer would be 'yes.'

"What happened? Did you get slusheed somewhere?" Finn asked, having no idea what was going on.

"You know how we all have our own places, where we go to get away from people?" Blaine started, getting a nod from Finn. "Well, we kinda lost that today."

"Karofsky and Azimio... Dave and Azimio showed up at the Lima Bean this morning," Kurt let out. "Dave was there and was going to politely wait across the street until we left."

Finn, after recovering from looking like he just saw his step-dad try drag, was furious. "Did he that to your clothes?"

"No, that happened before," Blaine responded. "Um... Dave was there to meet up with Azimio and..." he looks to Kurt, who looks like a kid who just got caught hiding his vegetables, so he continues. "Huh. Well, Dave's gay. He was waiting to meet his first boyfriend who he thought was dead."

While waiting for Finn to respond Kurt fired a text to Dave asking for the picture that he showed him at the cafe. It came when Finn had finally pulled it together. Kurt opened it and tossed the phone to his brother. "You remember some of the pictures from the scrapbook I showed Carol, right?" When Finn nodded Kurt finished with "Who does that remind you of?"

Finn furrowed his brow, blinked at the picture, and tossed the phone back. "When did you dye your hair? Isn't that damaging or something?"

"I didn't. That's a picture of Dave's boyfriend when he was 10. Just before they were beaten and..." Kurt just couldn't say those last words. Would the guy who locker-checked me and made my life hell have done that to me?

"I... see. So, Karofsky thought that he could not be gay if he hazed you? That doesn't make sense," Finn replied, wondering if his jump to conclusions was right about the unsaid words being 'raped to death.' I'm right. Kurt can't say any words relating to any kind of sex. Or violence.

"It happens all the time," Blaine said, looking right at Finn. "One of the guys who beat me up ended up getting outed by getting caught in the 'act' at a park."

Finn made a faux BJ motion and Blaine just nodded, then looked at Kurt blushing like he just walked in on an orgy. "Sorry Kurt. It's a straight-guy thing."

"That's fine. Umm, remember how I told Principal Sylvester and dad that Dave threatened to kill me if I told about the bullying? That wasn't what he threatened me for..."

Finn nodded while he willed his face to not turn red with building rage. "Kurt, did he force himself' on you?"

"The one time I got in his face, after checking up on Dalton, he was about to pound my face in... and instead, he kissed me -"

"- Asshole! I'm going to -" Finn had jumped almost to the front door when Kurt spun him around, almost tearing his shoulder out of socket.

"Finn he stopped when I pushed him away. He was crying when he punched the lockers and ran out."

"Kurt told me about how much flak you got when first joined the glee club. That's a lot different than a way you're born Finn," Blaine said while placing a hand on his shoulder. "You have to understand that now that you're living with Kurt."

"Actually I do get it Blaine. I'm not the total moron people assume I am because I don't get things like girls or dancing or not washing whites and colors together in hot water ," Finn said, smirking a bit. "Puck stayed out of glee club because he didn't want to get bullied even though he knew it was the perfect way to get MILFs."

"You can repress something that you can do without it doing much to you, but when you do it with something you are, it makes some people just SNAP!" Kurt said with more force than he intended. He blushed when his brother and friend jumped.

"So, what does Karofsky want then? Beg for our forgiveness on bended knee?"

"Actually... he wants to apologize and tell us everything he's done. He doesn't believe any of it can be forgiven," Kurt said, letting out a little tremble of disappointment.

"Look, Kurt, he's doing this in stages. It isn't like you need to save him, just be a friend - if that's possible," Blaine replied in a comforting tone. "I know you like happy endings and uplifting finales, but sometimes that takes time."

"And it isn't like he's expecting us to do anything other than listen, right?" Finn added. With confidence he finished as he gathered his snacks to go play some more Xbox "I won't hurt the guy as long as he behaves. One uncalled-for swing and bets are off, okay?"

"Define 'uncalled-for swings?'" Kurt asked, hoping to avoid any possible cleanups.

"If he lunges at you or takes a swing at dad, not cool. If he tries to shove dad off of him to prevent being strangled, it's called for. Those are reasonable rules, right?"

Not being able to see his brother Kurt throws a "Sure, that works Finn" at the stairway. He then looks at Blaine as he runs the morning over in his mind again. He sighs and plops back into the recliner. Blaine sits next to him and puts his hand on Kurt's shoulder.

"I don't get it Blaine. How can I feel so... conflicted... about this? I know he doesn't deserve to be punished any more than he's punished himself already, but there's a part of me that wants to see him suffer..." Kurt says with a voice that's breaking.

"Look, Kurt, this is a perfectly normal reaction. Not only is he changing into someone that's new to you, but he seems to be getting something you want too - someone to love who loves him back," Blaine says as he nudges Kurt over so the two slender boys can share the seat. "And they already have a history together, so now they figure out if they still belong in each other's lives."

"This is just so confusing. One month I'm being terrorized by him, then I'm having Brunch with the same guy but different." He's exhausted. Maybe I was scrubbing too much today.

"Do you maybe think you're jealous?" Blaine jokes while playfully ribbing his friend.

"No way! He's too hairy, both of them!" Kurt ribs back. Just then there's a honk from outside. Blaine's phone beeps again. He glances at it and pouts for a second.

"That's my dad. It's been an interesting day Kurt," he says as he helps him out of the chair and gives him a hug. As Kurt lets him out of the door Blaine turns around and says "So, you like smooth guys... Huh," as he raises his eyebrows and saunters off to the Pathfinder waiting in front of the mailbox. No one notices that Kurt's face is now a near-crimson red.

...

Fortunately for the new couple they were waiting for paintball equipment in their sizes when the texts came in. They weren't really hiding it, but they weren't being obvious about it either. They held most of their conversations between 'themselves,' which got a few stares. But that was ok. After an awesome session where Dylan proved, in fact, he had near perfect aim (his card said his accuracy was 90%) they went for a walk in a park.

This is so cliché Dylan.

Wasn't this your idea?

Well, yeah, but...

But yourself dork! As Dylan nudges Dave and briefly hugs his hip.

"I can't remember when I've been this... centered. I like it," Dave says as he smiles.

"Well, at the moment..." he sneaks in a quick peck on the cheek, "you're not hiding anything. It takes a lot of energy to hold walls up."

"And you don't have any?"

"Well, not normally. I prefer to have rail-gun turrets rather than walls," Dylan smirks as he catches the playfullness in Dave's eyes.

Dave snorts. "Figures you'd say that freak-o!" as he slides behind Dylan and picks him up in a bear hug. I really do love you though.

"I -" Dylan starts to say, then catches himself. I love you too.

Dave just freezes, which causes Dylan to fall. Dylan turns to his mate and sees a look of confused tension.

"Davy, I'm sorry. It's prolly too soon."

"No, it's not that..." he spaces for a few seconds. "You... you're the only one who's ever said that to me. You know, that way."

Dylan looks down for a second. There's snow on the ground, but he's not cold in the slightest. "I mean it though. You know why I got like this?" he continues as he takes off the jacket-shirt and flexes. "I did it so when I found you again, I could protect us and not have to leave again. I didn't want anyone before I could try being with you."

"Then what was with Janet? I mean, you banged her rotten!" he said, his voice dripping with hurt and jealousy.

"That, I don't know. I guess to make sure," Dylan said. "I haven't really thought about it, at all. I mean, if I were straight, I'd definitely be into her. But I'm not."

"You were in her for about four hours from what you told us at the cafe," David was about to lose it.

"It didn't have any emotion..." Dylan put a finger to his lips. Uh oh!

What is it?

Which park is this? Bronson?

Yeah, why?

Shit! This is the cruising area. We gotta cheese it, NOW!I

Both teens ran out and got about a half kilometer from the entrance, turned around and made it look like they were on a bench the whole time. Just as Dylan took his phone out there were some cries coming from where they just were and people were running out, all guys, some of whom were 'hiding their shame' through falling pants. One of the guys looked familiar.

Holy Zombie McCain, that's Scott Cooper, Dylan thought.

"Huh? Hey, it is," Dave smirked. He saw Dylan take a pic of Scott and a video of the hockey asshole running with his belt unbuckled and jeans unzipped. There were three vice cops chasing him, not paying attention to Dylan and Dave.

I knew it! He would've kissed me if Colonel Daniels hadn't barged into the cafeteria.

"Wait what? You were gonna kiss him?" That's it, I'm PISSED!

"Don't get your jock in a pinch. I was making it look like I would when he got on me for being gay." Dylan tried to push the memory into Dave's head, to show him the look of humiliated terror on the Neanderthal-Foreheaded douche.

Dave almost fell over laughing, kept from falling to the frozen ground by Dylan's strong grasp. "Oh holy Gretzky that's rich!" he bellowed as he forgot where he was.

"David Allen Karofsky, I am only interested in being with YOU! No one else, just you."

"Really?"

"Snookums," Dylan replied as he leaned in for a kiss. David gave a glance-over and pressed his lips across Dylan's. They kept contact for about a minute, then pulled away.

"So, what now? Home?" Dave asked, not sure what to do.

"Can you trust yourself if we went to my place? Not, that I'd mind if we..." Dylan trailed off with a knowing smirk on his face.

"I don't know," Dave replied, using his index finger to trace a line down from Dylan's neck to his belly button. "Do I have to behave?"

"Not really," Dylan said, putting a hand on Dave's thigh. "I'd kinda like to see you go crazy, if you can handle letting go..."

Dave went in for a kiss, but was interrupted by some screaming. "Well we sure as hell can't fool around here!" he cried in frustration. "Let's go," as he grabbed Dylan's hand and quickly walked to his truck. Once there he completed his kiss, deeply and with abandon. Dylan desperately tried to not let his hand go above Dave's thigh, but it went there.

"Damn," Dylan said as he pulled away from the kiss. "I wanted to be a respectful guy with this."

"I'll respect you after. I mean, I love you Dylan," David said with no hint of hesitation or embarrassment.

"I love you too David," he replied as he placed a hand on the side of Dave's cheek. His hands were cold, but it didn't matter to Dave. Hot, cold, sick, healthy, this was his man, and no one would say he couldn't have him...

...

"I'm in the middle of something Kurt. Could you call my cel so I can use my hands free?" Rachel replied, annoyed that yet again her Pilates were interrupted by someone. Daddy Leroy didn't really know because I'm usually done by now," she thought as she paired her headset. When the call came through she continued with her exercises.

"Hey Rach, you might want to sit down for this one, and you might need to conference in the house line," Kurt said in both a horrified and excited tone.

"Kurt, there is no way that Lady Gaga, Babs, or Tim Hamilton are coming here or anywhere near Ohio, so what's gotten you all Britney'd up?" Seriously, what could be so important?

"Someone needs your help... and your dad's," Kurt said, deciding to break it into Rachel-manageable pieces.

"Kurt, you know you're welcome to come over whenever you want, but since you don't like Chinese you need your own take-out," she said as she got into the most balance-intensive position.

"Um... it's not me that needs the help. It's Dave Karofsky," Kurt regretted that as soon as it came out of his mouth. He could hear the young Hebrew Diva almost snap her neck as she fell off of something.

"Ouch, dammit!" she exclaimed as she rubbed her head and neck. "Did you say frickin' Dave Karofsky? Why in the hell would I help that homophobic bully?" she yelled at such volume and fierceness that her dad's came in to check on her. Rachel shushed Kurt as she spoke to her dads.

"That homophobe that bullied Kurt right out of school after threatening to kill him? He's gay and asking for our help? Can you believe that?"

"Rachel, could you conference us in?" Hiram asked as Leroy handed his daughter an ice pack.

"Let's at least hear what he wants sweetie," Leroy asks as he grabs an extension from the hallway.

"It's just Kurt now, but he still has to explain how Karofsky even talked to him," Rachel sighed as she dialed the house line and connected the calls. "Ok Kurt, how'd this start?"

"Well Ms. Thang, Blaine were having our now usual Saturday coffees when some half-wit spilled his frappe chino on my new Tim Hamilton's. Blaine went outside to make sure I in fact didn't have a change of clothes. That's when he saw Dave in his truck across the street. He invited us to meet his old friend-slash-boyfriend, and he got me to agree."

"Wait, Kurt. Rachel said something about him shoving Blaine into a fence. Did that actually happen?" Hiram asked quizzically.

"Well, yes, that did happen."

"Did he come with this bully-guy in his truck back to the other parking lot?" Leroy asked, genuinely interested in the change in this creep his daughter wouldn't stop ranting about.

"Yes he did, and he wasn't afraid or even nervous. Just sec, I have a text," Kurt paused, saw his message from Blaine, and cried out "Oh dear Gaga! Dave just saved my Hamiltons'?"

"What's that Kurt?" Rachel asked. Kurt quickly explained the purchased change of clothes and the dry cleaning bag.

"Rachel, I don't have any issue with this boy and his boyfriend coming over," Leroy told her with his irresistibly loving voice. "He's going to need guidance unless you want the old him back."

"And I for one am actually bored with having to buy you new outfits because some putz decides to throw an Icee on you every other day. That could be money used to help produce a Broadway performance for you," he finishes with a knowing smile. He knows he's got her support for this now, no matter how timid it might be.

"Fine. I can't fight this decision considering I'm the only straight in the village here," she states indignantly. "But I won't promise to be nice about it!"

"That's all we're asking for Rachel. Here's his number," Kurt finishes and quickly says his goodbyes.

"Daddies, are you sure? You do remember the part about him threatening to kill Kurt?"

"Of course we do sweetie, but he needs help. And unless there's other gay parents out there, we're the only ones out there who can help him," Leroy says, stroking his daughters hair.

"And just because he was horrible to you and your friends, doesn't give us the right to be horrible to him. Or throw him to the wolves," Hiram says with total confidence. He kisses Rachel on the forehead, takes Leroy's hand, and starts to walk out of the room.

"And Rachel, let us know when you've called him. We'd like to see if the boy you described to us is the same one as the one we'll be meeting," Leroy says before following his husband out of her room.

Rachel just sighs and tries to be comfortable with the fact her exercising routine will not get done today.

...

It was getting hot and heavy at Dylan's. Dave had seen the snake tanks, how the room was both sound proof and didn't echo, and how... Tech Chic it was. But he couldn't believe it - he was in Dylan's bedroom, with Dylan! And he looked just so... hot!

Dave had taken his hand and led him to the couch with a playful smirk on his face. He sat down and pulled Dylan onto his lap, just looking at him. After a slight nod from him Dave began to kiss him, lightly at first. They quickly became passionate and Dave ended on top of Dylan. They had gotten their shirts off when Dave's phone rang.

Should I?

Probably. It could be Rachel! Dylan replied in both a playful and annoyed tone.

After fishing the phone out he answered it. "Hello?" Dave was a little breathless but didn't sound creepy.

"Hi David it's Rachel," came the reply. She does not want to talk.

"Thank you for calling. Have you and your dads agreed to at least hear what I'd like to say?"

"Yeah. Let me conference them in. May I assume your boyfriend's with you?" she seethed as the line paused. She doesn't need to be such a bitch Dave thought.

"You did slushee her quite a bit," Dylan replied and tapped the 'speaker' icon on Dave's phone.

"Hi, I'm back" Rachel replied.

"Along with her dad Leroy."

"And Hiram. So, you need some help only we can provide David?"

"Uh, yeah, I do. As far as I now you two are the only adult same-sex couple in Lima," Dave replied, getting nervous. "This may sound idiotic, but is there a wrong way to come out? Like making out in a church's confessional, I'm pretty sure that's a wrong way."

Rachel was stunned for a second. Does he even know what 'idiotic' means? Of course he does since he used it correctly.

"Well yeah, that would be a kind of wrong way of coming out David" Leroy said with a laughing lilt to his voice.

"I'd like to ask you a question David," Hiram said with an expectant tone. "Do you accept the fact that you're gay?"

Dave felt Dylan's hand run up his back to his shoulder, taking comfort that someone he knew loved him for everything he was, good and bad, wanted him. "Yes. It took... having someone special come back to me to accept it. To everyone I was a jackass to it's going to seem like an overnight transformation, but I am the real me now."

"That's good to hear David," Hiram replied, a look of ease overtaking the stony look he took up. "You understand that nothing else about you needs to change, right? You don't need to act any different - other than not being a bully - or dress different, or try and fit a stereotype."

"I know that sir," Dave responded as he squeezed Dylan's hand. "I even saw a documentary on Logo about 'Butch Gays.' It seems to fit me since I know the ERAs of baseball better than who's the newest fashion designer or home decor."

"There's many of us who are like that Davy," Leroy said, then felt the daggers being shot to him through the phone lines. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that 'Davy' might be a nickname from your boyfriend."

"It's ok Mr. Leroy," Dylan replied. "I think he might be able to get over it at some point," while looking at the super hot solid bear he was caressing. "And I think I'll have a new nickname for him," he finished as he was certain his smirk was vocalized.

"Well guys," Rachel piped in. "Dad's have agreed to have you over if you can do it Wednesday AND if you don't mind Kosher." That should keep them from invading my palace of peace.

"Not a problem Rachel. I actually don't mind catering. Is Halaal close enough to Kosher for you guys?" Dylan asked with as much sensitivity as he could. He knew it was a little touchy, you know with the Exodus from the Pharaohs and all.

"Umm, I guess. What did you have in mind..." Leroy asked.

"I'm sorry, I assumed Kurt told you my name. I'm Dylan," he waited for a vocal nod and continued. "I can cater with Ethiopian food. I can leave out hot-spice and even make a vegan plate or two for Rachel. I would like to have lamb and chicken on one plate. Will that be okay?"

"Well, that depends," Hiram asked. "What are the spices you're going to be using? And if you want to cook here... we don't have any cookware."

"Curry, pepper, salt - I have a grinder and Kosher salt, - a small amount of goat milk, and some awaze."

"What's 'awaze?'" Rachel asked, her interests piqued. Maybe I can become an International star!

"It's a very hot red sauce," Dave answered. "It's made with crushed peppers, red wine, and vinegar. Oh, Dylan, what's that bread called?"

"Injera. It's flat and it's used to both eat with and as a bed for the dishes," Dylan filled in. "And there's no yeast, so if it's time for unleavened bread, there you go."

"That sounds fine boys," Hiram says as he nods to Leroy. So, Wednesday, 6-ish?"

"Perfect! Thank you for agreeing to this Mr.'s Berry," Dylan half-squeals as he silently kisses Dave's neck.

"We'll see you then," Rachel responds as she ponders why she's even thinking of looking forward to this. "Have a great night guys."

"You too Berry's," Dave happily says as the lines go dead. He sees the time and decides there's time to finish what they were doing. He pulls Dylan off the couch and carefully tosses him to the floor, on his back. Where were we? he playfully thinks.

Right about here, Dylan replies as he slides his hands into the jock's back pockets. Such a perfect ass babe!

Awesome hands hon, as Dave straddles the former cadet, giving a moan of approval. He lays flush and begins kissing Dylan as he instinctively begins to softly grind. Neither teen has any intention of taking off more clothes, just pressing their bodies against each other. There'll be time for that later.

How's this compared to, her? Dave's mind speaks before he could stop it.

Dylan pushes Dave away just long enough and far enough to show the deep desire in his eyes, then replies Compared to her, this is EVERYTHING! He then pulls Dave in for more, wrapping his arms tightly against the jock's solid back, enjoying how his chest hair feels against his comparatively bare chest.

...

Kurt had mistimed his statement, and as a result there was now a fork with a piece of chicken embedded in the dining room wall. Burt had been surprised and instead of just raising it off the plate, it flew.

"You spent the morning with WHO?" Burt bellowed, his face a deep red. "How in the hell did THAT happen Kurt?"

"If that moron hadn't spilled his coffee on me I'd have never known he was there," Kurt replied, more worried about his father's health than his strong response. "We actually had a decent talk, until..."

"Until what, he threatened you again?" Burt yelled, ignoring the pleading looks from Finn and Carol.

"Dave's gay. He was ashamed of himself for not being able to own it like I did. And he started being the bully he was because - "

"I don't care! He's not taking a step in this zipcode, much less this house!" Burt hollered. He was starting to pant.

"Dad," Finn said, getting Burt's attention and stopping the next sentence from leaving his mouth. "I think we should let him. Think about it: this is our house. We'll get to set the rules, and if he tries to even think there's any bending them, we kick his ass out the door. Literally."

"Have both of you gone insane?" Carol asked as she grabbed a nitrate pill for Burt. "After what he's done to us, to you sweetie," as she looks at Kurt, "why are you even asking?"

"Mom," Kurt began and instantly had a look of surprise on his face, "he feels like a different person. He didn't get angry once, and he even bought a set of clothes for me when Blaine told him what happened. I trust him enough to come in, speak his peace, and leave when asked or ordered to."

"Also," Finn added, "his boyfriend -"

"He has a boyfriend?" Burt blurted out, clearly confused and still angry.

"Yeah but that's not all. Both Kurt and Blaine said that Dylan was offering to kick Dave's ass if he did anything," Finn finished his original comment. That took Burt totally by surprise.

"Ok, fine. I guess I could clean my hunting rifle while he talks," as he turns his angry gaze to Kurt. "Anything else I should know? Anything I should hear from YOU and not him?"

"Uh..." Kurt shyly looks down and turns his eyes to Finn, who nods, then speaks again. "Dave threatened to kill me because I found out he was gay. I... got in his face about the way he was treating me..." Finn had gotten up unnoticed and stood behind Burt. "...and instead of punching me he kissed me."

For the first time in his life Burt's gaze on Kurt was the same as when he checked Dave into the wall during dancing lessons for the wedding. It stayed there for several seconds, softened, and when he saw his son starting to cry, fell back to stone.

"And telling us this then, would have seriously messed him up?" Burt asked.

"Burt, honey, some people who are outed, especially teens, end up committing suicide. They do it out of shame, some not coming out even in their death notes," Carol says as she hugs her husband, crying. "We both know that Kurt would never consider doing that to someone, even if that person truly was pure evil."

Burt looks at Kurt, then Carol, with a look of utter puzzlement. He doesn't see Finn but is suddenly hugged from above and behind.

"Dad," Finn says, "Kurt won't be hurt. Not with the three of us here. And it doesn't sound like we'd even get a chance if we agree to have... what was his name Kurt?"

"Dylan. Dad, please? If this were different and I was the bully here, wouldn't you want me to at least explain what I did, and try to apologize?"

"You're damn right I would!" Burt exclaims, causing Finn to release his embrace. "Fine. He takes one step I don't like and he's out!" His sons nod in agreement. He looks and sees his fork in the wall behind him. "Finn, could you..?"

"Sure dad!" Finn smiles as he pulls the fork out and smoothes out the wallpaper.

...

DAK - I can't believe we weren't more careful. M&D ignored the hickeys.

DAH - Sry bout that. have 2 admit, they were fun getting tho! :-P

DAK - Duh! *hugs* I really do lubz u!

DAH - I kno. I lubz u 2! u r PERFECT in my eyes... and my nose! Smell = HOT! :-D

DAK - *Blushes* you're spoiling me! lol

DAH - Get used 2 it stud! *kisses*

DAK - Don't start! lol. I want to 'save it' 4 u. :-P

DAH - *Snickers* :-D

DAK - Ok, gotta go. c u in dreams?

DAH - Naturally! Nite sexy!

DAK - *kisses*

After that exchange Dave sets reminders that he has dinner at Rachel's Wednesday at 6 and the 'talk' at Kurt's Thursday at 4. This is getting easier to do. That's a good thing, right?

Sure is babe. But the hard part's gonna be school. You'll be dealing with douches like Scott.

You mean once he's out of Perv-Juvie?

*snickers* yeah. How mad do you think Kurt'd be if we uploaded that video to YouTube?

*scoffs* Don't even DARE!

Okay, but because you don't want it. See you soon.

Okay. Do these count as dates?

... Yes?

*laughs* Ok, we'll figure that out later.

The newly reunited couple drift off to sleep and have their first 'date.' It's perfect, and they can do it without fear of being caught while becoming comfortable with the actions of being a couple. It's desperately needed to handle the likely stressful week ahead, and to plan for Saturday...

...

As the door to the Berry house opens Rachel instinctively flinches but relaxes just as fast. "Welcome to my home gentlemen. You're here early though..."

"I know, but Dave doesn't want to spend too much time away from me," Dylan says while asking 'Kitchen?' with his eyes. Rachel begins to lead them there as she closes the door.

"I don't think we've ever cooked anything before, other than Jiffy Pop," Rachel says as she wonders how good her pepper spray still works after three years. Dad's won't be home for about a hour.

"Well if Dylan hasn't lost his touch then it's gonna smell great!" as Dave smiles like an idiot. Rachel catches this and begins to relax a little more. He really is in love.

"And I'm sorry about the meat, but it isn't that bad a smell if you don't think about what it was a few days ago," Dylan replies as he sets his box on the counter and takes the one Dave's holding.

"It's ok. We both have the right to explain why our choices are better and the freedom to ignore those explanations," Rachel says as she winces. They haven't given me a reason to be mean yet.

"Well, this is mostly going to be vegan. There's only going to be enough meat for three people, but enough vegan stuff for six," Dylan explains as he pulls out the cookware and hands them to Dave.

"I actually like the lentils better. They aren't oily and I like the texture," Dave contiues the conversation, setting up the stove after making sure it works. There's no pilot light or ignition.

Dylan sees this and instinctively pulls out his lighter, ignoring the fact only Janet knows he smokes. Dave and Rachel just stare at him.

"You really do smoke?" Dave asks with a hint of sadness. "Janet said something about it Monday, but I didn't really pay attention to it." He takes the lighter and tests the burners.

"If you want to sing, that could ruin your voice," Rachel says with pure concern and honesty. "I mean... well, weren't you in Vocal Adrenaline?"

"Don't be so nervous Rach, I'm not a spy like Jessie was. When I heard they were gonna pelt you with eggs, I quit. Chris waited until after Regionals so he could take over for someone who was leaving TGIFridays'."

"But did smoking affect your performance at all?" she asked, inching closer to him as he pulled ingredients out of the box Dave was carrying.

"I had to work harder, but no. Actually I don't know why I had that lighter," he says as he pulls out bags and sheets of bread. "I switched to eCigarettes a few months ago and have been using zero nicotine cartomizers for two months. I actually haven't even had one of those for a few days."

"Since we've been spending most of the day making-out?" Dave asked as he smiled and winked. Rachel half-smiled, half because she was reminded that she ruined things with Finn just a few days earlier.

"Pretty much," Dylan replied as he looked at the setup with approval. "Care to help?" he asked as he looked at Rachel, who nodded.

"Not, with the meat, though," she replied a little brokenly as she set her eyes on the meat and looked briefly nauseated.

"Hey, no problem. First measure two and a half cups of water for each pan," Dylan began as Dave took a step aside. While Dylan walked Rachel through the preparation he checked the sauces, yelping when he checked the awaze. The trio laughed as they discussed general school stuff and made dinner. When Mr.'s Berry came home, they got involved too, mostly because they didn't know if the stove would work, but partly to see if the hassle was worth it. Seeing their daughter laughing and working with someone she genuinely hated just a week ago, they understood why their coworkers complained when there wasn't any help with their kitchen duties.

Dinner itself went smoothly, even when Dylan was the first to feed Dave. After explaining the tradition though there was a brief chuckle-fest and a look of sadness on Rachel's face. Someday, I'm gonna do this for Finn, but romantically she thought. Dave and Dylan told the story of their past, cleaning-up what they could of that day, and how they managed to reconnect through their dreams first, then being able to actually connect. When the 'history lesson' was complete Rachel offered to clean up. She looked like she was in deep thought with an expression that gave away that she was deeply second-guessing something.

After cleaning up the group went downstairs and upon seeing the stage, Dave's face lit up. He looked to Rachel, her dads, to Dylan, and smiled ear to ear.

"May I sing the song for you that brought me back to my senses? It's in Arabic, I hope that won't be a problem," Dave asked as Dylan blushed and sat next to Rachel.

"Um, sure David, go ahead," Hiram said as he pulled Leroy into a hug in front of him.

"Is it a love song?" Leroy asked playfully knowing full well that it was. He looked to his daughter and tried to use just his smile to perk her up. She just gave a quick smile as she put her head down. He cannot be able to sing she thought.

Dave wondered how to set his phone to cut out the vocals, stared for a minute, then looked to Dylan helplessly. Dylan ran and plugged in his phone, which had just the instrumental track. He whispered something to Dave and sat on the stage as the music started. It wasn't so much a duet as it was the Berry's knew that most songs like this require at least one other vocalist.

Rachel didn't understand any of the words, or how these two baritones' voices complimented each other so... perfectly. What she did understand was that this too was her song. She understood the pain and joy in it. She hoped that her dads wouldn't see her tears, but they did, just as she saw theirs. When the song ended the family clapped as Dave and Dylan hugged. As the microphone was still on they all heard "I love you so much" followed by "I'll never stop loving you, ever!" Rachel couldn't stop her sobbing from coming out, just crying and sobbing.

Dave took her in his arms and, surprisingly, she didn't fight it. She pulled to him and just let out all the pain she was feeling, not caring that just a few days ago she would have maced him for even being in her way for a few seconds too long. Despite his macho-ness and size, he was comforting her more like a mother than a brother or friend. Dylan sat behind her and rubbed her shoulders, feeling the tension she'd been holding likely since before Sectionals. After a good twenty minutes Rachel had composed herself enough to stand up.

"Thank you David, Dylan. That, that was a beautifully moving song. And your voices, my God! You shouldn't hide that kind of talent!" She said as she gave Dave one last hug.

"Well, I've only been hiding it since I moved here," Dave said as he pulled a piece of wood out of his jacket. He handed it to the ingénue, his eyes a little watery.

"Oh my God, David, Dylan," she whispered. "You two... won Nationals?" She was both surprised and embarrassed. She looked to her dads who came to see what captivated their daughter now.

"I'm not ready to join the New Directions now, but if you'd give me some time, I might," Dave said as he looked Rachel in the eyes. "I would like your help to apologize to every member. Santana, Brittany, Puck, Finn, Artie, Lauren - although I don't remember doing anything to her - Sam, Tina, Mike, you, Mercedes, Quinn. I still can't believe I slusheed her when she was pregnant..."

"It's ok David," Rachel replied, seeing the shame in his eyes. "You've, you've just apologized to me. I'll help you," she finishes and looks at her dads. "Do you have any advice for David daddies?"

"I would just say, to keep the courage and self-confidence you just showed when you almost rushed to perform on the stage," Hiram says, hugging his daughter.

"And to remember that a real man both admits his mistakes and deals with their fallout," Leroy adds. "I think it's time to call it a night. We all have a lot to think about."

"I agree. This was a little, different, dramatically, that I thought it would be," Dylan says as he motions for permission to hug the Mr.'s Berry and is given a yes. Dave does the same. As Dylan and Dave exit to the porch Rachel approaches them and lightly grabs their arms. The two boys pivot to look at her as she wipes her eyes.

"Are you two, you know, official?" she asks.

They look at each other as they have a personal conversation. Having never seen this before Rachel looks both puzzled and ignored.

I'd say yes. Hell, we'd likely have found a way to get married by now if we weren't separated, Dylan says.

You're absolutely right about that. Do you have any hang-ups about it?

None at all. Anyone who doesn't like it can kiss the furriest part of my ass.

Agreed.

"Yeah. We're official," Dave says, startling Rachel.

"Ok, then what should we call you? Finn and I were Finchel, Artie and Brittany are Arttany..."

"That thing? Well, how about Dylofsky?" Dylan offers. This makes Rachel cheer up a bit and makes Dave blush.

"Dylofsky... I like it," Rachel says as she lightly squeezes both their arms. "I hope that you two stay together like Mike and Tina have. I see that as an almost certainty."

"Thank you Rachel, Mr.'s Berry!" as the newly-named couple continues to Dave's truck.

Rachel smiles as she comes back into her home, looking at her dads. She hugs them both and runs up to her room. She calls Kurt and tells him all about her incredible night, and offers a glimpse of what he can expect.

...

The experience at the Hummel's, however, didn't get off to a good start. As soon as the door opened Burt was on the defensive.

"David," he scowled. "I'm only doing this because my sons insisted on it. If it were up to me I'd break your face."

"You can do that after if you still want to Mr. Hummel," Dave replied as his tension levels rose. Dylan didn't seem fazed.

"Mr. Hummel? I'm Dylan Howard, Dave's boyfriend," he said as he extended his hand, which Burt shook timidly with an overly-firm grip. "If he causes any trouble I'll handle him. This situation is technically my fault. Well, my Aunt and Uncle's fault, but that's not important."

"Fine," Burt replied coldly as he motioned them in. Once the door was closed he set the rules: 1) They were not to make physical contact with anyone in the family. 2) They were not to yell, shout, or even imply that something was a lie. 3) If asked to leave, they were to do so without complaint, hesitation, or pleading. Everything's, okay, until they get to the point when Dave begins to explain why he started bullying Kurt.

"That's it, I can't do this guys," Burt says as he stands up. Against the rules Dylan stands up.

"You want to hit Dave, don't you sir?" Dylan asks as he's mindful to not move from where his feet were in front of the couch.

"Don't call me 'sir' Dylan!" Burt hollers as his face begins to redden.

"I'm sorry s-Mr. Hummel," Dylan replies uncomfortably. "Up until Friday I was in jROTC and taught two summers at West Point. It's going to take me awhile to break that habit."

Taken by surprise Burt questioningly looks at Dylan. He takes what would be to anyone else menacing steps to Dylan. "And what could you teach there?"

"Combat and Survival skills, Mr. Hummel," Dylan replies as if he's addressing a reporter, not a pissed-off father.

Burt's stance and face softens as he sees that, indeed, this boy could teach that. "And they kicked you out because you're gay?"

"No, Mr. Hummel. Because I'm Trans," Dylan sees the confused look in Burt's eyes and adds, "I was born female."

Burt tosses this in his mind, looks Dylan over again, "Huh. You're right though. I want to kick David's ass."

As Dave hangs his head down in shame with the rest of the family looking at him with sympathy, Dylan offers "How about me instead? One, maybe two good shots? Part of this is my fault sir."

"I can't do that Dylan."

"Sure you can. Two good shots, preferred not to the jewels, and we can see if you can continue with this discussion." Dylan looks like he's just offering to hold someone's shopping bags while they grab their car keys.

"What about your Aunt and Uncle? Won't they be... after me for jail time or something?" Burt asks, genuinely nervous.

"I haven't seen them during Christmas since we moved here over three years ago." Dylan points to Burt's hands and nods. "It's going to be fine Mr. Hummel, I can take it."

Burt looks to his sons, who have a shocked look on their faces, Carol, who has never looked more like a mother in his eyes, and Dave. Is he crying? He takes another look at Dylan, clenches his fists, and gives a right cross to Dylan's mouth and an uppercut to his gut. Dylan doesn't even stumble back, but he does look around frantically and begins to knell over a trashcan by the lamp table, which he proceeds to vomit into.

"Dylan, I'm - " Burt begins but gets cut off by Dave shoving Dylan out of the way to vomit himself. Only Kurt isn't completely stunned by this.

"Mrs. Hummel," Dave manages to choke out. "May I assume you have trash bags under the kitchen sink? I'd like to take care of this while it's manageable."

"Of course David, I'll show you," she replies but Dave waves her off. Finn volunteers to help. Dylan takes out a handkerchief and blots his lips.

"It's been awhile since someone made be bleed Mr. Hummel. Nice cross."

"Um, thanks Dylan. Are you ok? And why did David barf?"

"It happens when we're close enough, like in the same mall or school," Dylan replies and reminds them about their last day together in Michigan. "And I'll be fine. I have something to show-slash-offer you," Dylan continues as he pulls out a tablet. "All I can offer to fix is the economic damage Dave caused to your family: clothing, medical expenses, repairing any damage caused to cars and houses... tuition at Dalton. I am not intending this as a bribe, just a way to undo the only part of what Dave's behavior can be undone," he finishes as he hands the tablet to Carol.

"Oh my God Burt, look at this!" Carol exclaims as she reads. She shows Burt the two documents. One is a form to have Dylan's bank debit money into theirs for medical expenses and tuition already spent at Dalton, another to take over tuition payments on their behalf.

"You're going to pay to have my son go to a private school?" Burt asks as he watches Dave sit back down next to Dylan.

"It's the only thing I can do. I can't and wouldn't make Kurt and Finn forget what was done to them, and I can't unsend you to the hospital when you had your heart attack. I can give back the money you've had to spend since this started. And if you or Kurt want to spend the rest of this year and next year at Dalton, then I'm willing to pay for it. I don't expect anything in return, at all. From my view I owe this to you."

Burt and Carol mull this over for a few minutes, then are interrupted by Finn clearing his throat. He's holding a box which Dave looks at and frowns. I forgot about that, he thinks. Dave sighs and asks Finn to hand the box to Kurt.

"About a day after you transferred to Dalton I figured out what that was. I'm..." he trails off as he begins to tear up. Dylan's expression goes from calm to sad.

Kurt, uncertain of what could be in this box, gives Dave a quizzical look. Dave looks right into his eyes and fights back sobs.

"I think... I'm certain that that was your mother's... and I stole it from..." Dave's unable to finish as he breaks down, collapsing into Dylan's lap. Burt's expression shows shock rather than anger, taking in this broken boy that just a month ago stared him down like he was just some nerd from school. Kurt's expression is unreadable by anyone as he takes a wedding cake-topper form the box.

"Dave... you kept this?" Kurt asks through an expression that is now one of pure shock.

Unable to talk himself, Dylan speaks for Dave. "I... he, doesn't know why he took it, other than it gave him a chance to touch you, to have something of yours," he says while looking at the jock laying helpless in his lap. "I guess, it was, I don't know, a way to be... connected, to you. The only one brave enough to, be yourself."

"Why don't you let Dave speak for himself Dylan?" Burt asks as he examines the cake-topper. "You're right. This is the one Melanie picked out for our cake."

"Mr. Hummel?" Dylan asks to get Burt's attention. "That was Dave speaking."

"I should go. I can't take having to admit to doing this much damage... like those bastards that..." He trails off while heading for the door.

"Wait, Davy," Dylan pleads. "Let's show them," he finishes as he takes some earplugs and two blindfolds from his jacket. He puts a blindfold on Dave and sits him back on the couch, and blindfolds himself and inserts the earplugs after giving the outside face a twist.

"I can't hear anything. These are total noise-silencing earplugs."

"Like hell they are," Burt says as he moves to stand in front of Dave. Dave does not flinch as he can't see. "Stand up Dylan."

Dylan looks side to side for a second and slowly stands up. He's looking to the right at Kurt, not Burt who's looking at his shoulder.

"I'm over here Dylan," he states impatiently.

Dylan doesn't move and jumps when Burt grabs his shoulders. "I can't see or hear Mr. Hummel. I'm working on what Dave can hear."

"That's bull!" Burt screams.

"Try it. Move me away and whisper something to David you don't mind me saying out loud."

"... Fine." Burt pushes Dylan into the kitchen, in front of the fridge, and whispers 'you're a serious douchebag' to Dave, which starts the sobbing again.

"You're a serious douchebag," comes the response from the kitchen.

Burt's face turns scarlet red as he storms into the kitchen, yanks Dylan out, and sits him next to Kurt, who's still apparently in shock. He's now holding a copy of the 'Wicked' soundtrack with signatures on it.

"How'd you do that?" Burt screams. He waits for a minute and thwacks Dylan on the chest.

"I'm sorry Mr. Hummel, but Dave can't hear you, so I can't either."

Burt storms off to the garage as Carol and Finn sit with horrified looks on their faces. They look at each other hoping the other has an answer. Burt marches back in with a bottle of something. He gages the distance between everyone, opens it, and sets it under Dave's nose long enough for him to get a whiff. Both Dave and Dylan instantly protest.

"Dude FOWL! Why does anyone have a vial of skunk musk?" Dylan shouts while visibly keeping himself from barfing. This causes Burt to drop the bottle, Carol to look at her new husband like he just pulled a grade school prank, and Finn to make sure Kurt hasn't passed out with his eyes open.

Burt lightly smacks Dylan's chest and pulls the blindfold off then sits next to Dave. He pulls him into a hug, surprising everyone in the room. He pulls off the blindfold and just looks into his eyes, the same as he used to do for Kurt.

"I'm sorry for that skunk musk. I get it - I had the same connection to Melanie. The only reason I had to go on when I lost her was Kurt, and sometimes, even he wasn't enough to keep me from crying myself to sleep," Burt opens up, surprising Kurt and Dave. "But then Kurt hooked me up with Carol, and I started to feel that connection again," he looks to his new wife and smiles, fighting tears. "I think, believe, that Melanie sent me Carol, to fill the space in my heart she left behind."

"Thank... thank you Mr. Hummel, but I deserve whatever you want to -" Dave tries to say before being cut off by Burt.

"I forgive you David." This takes Finn and Kurt by surprise, but gets Kurt moving. He stands in front of Dave and taps his leg. When he looks up Kurt offers his hand. When Dave, confused, takes it Kurt pulls him off the couch, shocking everyone.

"If my dad can forgive you, then so can I. Not a clean slate mind you, more like one that's dusty and rough," Kurt says as he hugs the former bully. Dave, still in a daze, hugs back.

"What do you say Carol, take Dylan up on his offer?" Burt says as he wipes a few errant tears.

"Sure. I just found a stylus," she says as she signs on her lines and walks Burt through his lines. A minute later the houseline rings. Carol begins a brief chat and the call-waiting kicks in. The second call surprises her, but she nods and ends the call quickly.

"That was fast. The bank and the school called," she says, impressed, as she looks at Dylan.

"Do you boys want to stay for dinner?" Burt asks out of the blue. Finn, Kurt and Carol nod agreement as they notice the look on Dylofsky's face. Dave nods and uses his eyes to ask permission to make a phone call.

"I need to ask my mom and dad, but they... don't know Dylan's alive, or that we're dating"

"Our plan was to do this on Christmas, but he," Dylan says as he points to Dave, "brought the connection back sooner than I thought he was ready for. Dave motions for everyone to be quiet.

"Hey dad, you remember Mr. Hummel, right? ... Yeah, well umm ... no, they actually forgave me... yes, they invited me to dinner... great, thanks!" Dave hang up and puts the phone away.

"So, when are to going to tell them David," Burt asks as he places a hand on his shoulder.

"We have a plan for Christmas still, but it's a little different now Mr. Hummel," Dave says as he begins walking in the direction Burt's gently pushing him in.

"Call me Burt, and I hope it's a good plan."

"That depends. How would you feel about waking up to finding Kurt and Finn making the holiday meals, Carol?" Dave asks, hoping that it's ok for him to address her so informally. She nods approval.

"If it were Finn following Kurt, I'd be fine with it," she playfully says as she sets the table. With just Kurt and Finn in the living room Finn walks up to his brother and lifts up his chin.

"Kurt, you cool with this?" Finn asks.

"Honestly, yes, I'm oddly ok with this," Kurt replies, life and happiness coming back into his voice and on his face. He hugs Finn, who returns it. "C'mon, let's get the details on their Christmas plans!" he blurts as he pulls Finn into the kitchen.


This took almost a week to write! I almost got done Wednesday and couldn't find a way to make this work well until today.

I'll see what I can do tomorrow and try to get past the Championship Game.

Please review to let me know how well you guys think I was in the character's actions (Rachel, Daddy's Berry, Burt, Carol, Finn). Karofsky's off-limits as he's the character being changed.