Firstly, thanks to all those people who have reviewed, alerted and favourited the first chapter of this story. And to those who sent PMs - mountains of hugs and kisses to you! This was going to be Blaine & Finn, but got taken over by Blaine, Carole and my Hummel men!
Chapter 2 - Blaine
The four Hummel-Hudsons, one Anderson and one Berry returned to the newly elected congressman's residence for dessert. Burt chuckled at the thought of himself as a congressman as he pulled into the driveway. Who would've thought it possible? His high school teachers certainly wouldn't have put that option very high on the "Burt Hummel's Possible Careers" list. At. All.
He unlocked and opened the door, and watched as first his wife and then four teenagers crossed his doorstep. The motley crew made their way into the living room. Rachel and Finn claimed one end of the sofa while Burt plonked himself down in his usual chair. Kurt and Blaine followed Carole into the kitchen to help with dessert. Burt watched Rachel curl her diminutive body into the side of her giant boyfriend. Finn kissed the top of her head gently. "Thank you so much for inviting me tonight, Mr Hummel," Rachel said, looking over at Finn's stepfather. "No problem," replied Burt, "so, did you get your NYADA application in ok? I know Kurt sent his off today." Burt asked after racking his brains for something to talk to Rachel about.
It was something he wouldn't have to worry about for the rest of the evening. The proverbial floodgate had been opened. Rachel started spouting about how she sent in the application weeks ago, long before her suspension, and how that might affect her chances. Then she was off about next year; where she and Kurt would live, how much fun they'd have, how great the teachers at NYADA would be. She prattled on a million miles a minute, not even noticing when Carole, Kurt and Blaine came in from the kitchen with plates of dessert for everyone. They handed plates and spoons out and sat down. Kurt and Blaine on the opposite end of the sofa to Finn and Rachel, Carole on the other single lounge chair.
Rachel continued her in depth version of what New York would be like. Stopping from time to time to kiss Finn's cheek or squeeze his arm gently. At the other end of the sofa, Kurt sat quietly. Nodding at Rachel at the appropriate times, humming his agreement when pushed for an answer. Blaine, meanwhile, tried to catch Rachel's eye to signal to her that tonight was probably not the best time for this conversation. It was all to no avail however, and as Rachel prattled on, he felt Kurt shrinking down into the sofa slightly and lean his shoulder into Blaine's. He turned his head slightly, so that his mouth was near Kurt's ear and whispered softly to his boyfriend, "We'll get there you know," "Don't give up," "Everything will work out," "We're going to make it." Kurt leant in even closer to Blaine at the words of encouragement. He put his hand on Blaine's knee and gave a gentle squeeze to acknowledge the support, before he quickly sat straight up. Rachel continued her diatribe while Blaine looked at him confused, Kurt curved himself around to face his boyfriend and planted a very soft, very chaste kiss on his lips. Blaine didn't kiss him back.
Blaine sat still, very still. They had never kissed in front of Kurt's parents, or in front of Finn and Rachel. In fact, they had never kissed in front of any one. Ever. He raised his eyes in the general direction of Burt, not looking forward to seeing the fathers' disapproval. Instead of disapproval, Blaine was greeting with a sad smile. Whyonearthishelookingatmelikethat?Blaine thought. He looked at Carole as she finished her dessert. Nope, another smile. He had no idea what had gotten into Kurt tonight. They never just kissed each other without thought. Something was going on here, he didn't know what, but he did know it was weird. Kurt and Blaine had perfected controlling their emotions in public and, other than the odd emotional hug, were masters of the art of restraint.
Carole began to clear the plates once everyone had finished. She knew Kurt was getting fed up with Rachel's incessant chatter about New York, and looking over at her husband, she knew that Burt had had enough of the girl as well. Rachel offered to help her clean up, but Carole insisted that NOW was probably a good time for Finn to take her home. Rachel thanked Burt and Carole for including her in the family celebration, and grabbed Finn's hand and dragged him out the door. Curfew was still nearly two hours away – taking off travelling time, they could be making out in the car for well over an hour.
Burt let out a loud sigh, "I know she's a nice girl and everything, but sometimes she just exhausts me," he said shaking his head slightly, "I don't know how Finn keeps up with her." He said to the two boys on the couch. Kurt started to pull himself off the sofa, "I don't think he does, Dad," Kurt grinned at his father,"he just hears the occasional word and grunts out a reply. Rachel sees any response as an affirmation." Kurt chuckled as he followed Carole into the kitchen leaving his father and Blaine alone.
"Hey, Carole," Kurt said brightly, "I'll give you a hand with these if you like." He picked up the rubber gloves and started filling the sink. "Giving your Dad time to talk to Blaine, huh?" Carole asked gently. "Yes," Kurt replied, "but also I wanted to make sure that all of this was alright with you." Kurt looked his stepmother straight in the eyes, searching for any hint of indecision. He found none. Carole smiled her best motherly smile, "Why on earth wouldn't it be, honey?" she asked genuinely. "Look Carole, I love you, I really do. But you never asked to have a gay son, well, I guess Dad didn't either, but he's apparently had pretty much my whole life to get used to it." Kurt paused trying to find the right words. "It's just that, Blaine and I, we know how uncomfortable our relationship can make people. It's one thing knowing about it, but it's another thing seeing it. As much as we really appreciate what Dad and you are offering, if it makes either of you uneasy, we can just go on the way we have been. It's really not that bad. We're, well...we're used to hiding it, I guess." Kurt shrugged as he put the last of the plates into the dish rack and started washing the cups.
"Ok," Carole paused for a moment, "Just how long do you think you're going to be gay, Kurt?" She asked abruptly as Kurt dropped the cup he was holding into the sink. His head spun toward her with lightning speed. "Umm,...Carole...,I'm pretty sure this is a lifelong deal." He answered with wide eyes. "Well, so is this," Carole said as she gestured around the room, "this is a lifelong deal too, us. We're a family Kurt, all four of us. Anyone who gets involved us needs to accept all of us. Finn, with all of his foibles; your Dad, with his innate desire to fix the world; me with my stonewash jeans and incurable mothering gene; and you Kurt, in all your fabulous gay glory. And if they can't do that, then they needn't bother walking through the door." She watched as her stepson nodded silently. "So, you're gay, big deal," she continued, "you're also in love with a guy who worships the ground you walk on. That one is a big deal."
She watched as Kurt sucked his lower lip between his teeth. "Honey," She said softly, "you shouldn't have to be used to hiding. We want you and Blaine to have a place where you can just be yourselves. I've worked out your little code, you know." She watched as Kurt looked at her quizzically. "Correct me if I'm wrong but, from what I see, when Blaine needs to be close to you, he'll put his hands on your shoulders. Sometimes just one, sometimes he'll grab you from behind with both of his hands on both of your shoulders. When you need Blaine, you'll shrink yourself down so that you're just that little bit shorter than him and bump your shoulders into his arm." Kurt sighed as he put the last cup into the dish rack for Carole to dry. He let out a sarcastic giggle as he removed the gloves from his hands, "and we thought we were being discrete!" He looked in bewilderment at his stepmother. Carole smiled back at him, "It took me a while to work it out. But be gentle with your Dad. Until tonight, I think he thought you two were just upstairs discussing bow ties and making pro-con lists about Blaine's use of hair gel."
Kurt laughed, "Well, he's not too wrong there either. There IS a lot of discussion about the hair gel. One day, I will wean my man off his addiction." Carole placed the last cup in the cupboard and held out her arms to Kurt. They hugged each other tightly and Carole whispered in Kurt's ear, "Just remember, honey, this is your home. You have a right to be yourself here." Kurt squeezed his eyes closed tightly. He had had enough of crying for today, "Do you think they're done yet?" he asked, nodding his head toward the living room. "If they're not, then it's high time you jumped on your white horse and saved Blaine from the evil warlord." Carole gave him one last squeeze before they separated and Kurt headed back to the living room.
Meanwhile...
Blaine watched Kurt leave to go to help Carole clean up the kitchen. He panicked for a brief moment, not knowing whether he should follow his boyfriend or stay and try to talk to Burt. Kurt's father had always filled Blaine with trepidation, as fathers do to any boyfriend, but he wanted Burt to like him, at least a little bit. He looked at Burt. Burt looked at Blaine. They both seemed at a loss to come up with a conversational opening. Blaine started to push himself off the sofa to go and join Kurt and Carole in the kitchen. "Sit down Blaine," Burt said quietly, "you and I need to talk." A million things went through Blaine's mind at once. He hadn't had a moment alone with Kurt to even get a hint of what this was about. Had Burt seen Kurt's neck? He didn't mean to mark his boyfriend so many times, it was just that...well...he liked Kurt's neck...a lot. Kurt had been in turtlenecks at the start of the week as 'Saturday' healed. (They had taken to naming Kurt's hickeys according to when they happened, sometimes resorting to numbers as well. What could Blaine do though? He liked Kurt's neck...a lot.) By Wednesday, Kurt was back in normal shirts, but Thursday and Friday?...well...Blaine liked Kurt's neck...a lot. Had Burt found their 'supplies'? Oh God, no! Please not that! Blaine thought. Had he found out about them going to Scandals? If that was the case, then Blaine was guilty of not just immoral acts, but also illegal. Should he just offer to walk out the door now? Never to be seen again, live as a hermit in a cave on a hill somewhere, and pine away for the love he once knew?
Burt watched Blaine squirm in his seat for a moment before he decided to put the kid out of his misery. "I meant what I said tonight Blaine, about feeling that you're going to be in our lives for a long time." Burt started his second difficult conversation for the night. "But if that's going to happen, there needs to be some changes." Burt watched Blaine trying to figure out where this was going.
"Was this what you were talking to Kurt about at the restaurant? Blaine enquired. "Yes, I'm sure Kurt will fill you in on most of it," Burt answered, quickly looking at his watch, "but, the short version is that, as long as your parents agree, you can stay over any non-school night. No more sleeping in the guest room though. I'm sure Kurt's got room for you with him." Burt successfully controlled his laughter, as Blaine's look of incredibility mirrored the one he'd seen from Kurt earlier in the evening. "There's more, but I'm sure Kurt will want to tell you about our 'date night' agreement. And as you may've guessed from Kurt's behaviour tonight, there's some mandatory relaxation of 'acceptable behaviour' within the house." Blaine laughed softly, "So, that's what the kiss was all about?" he looked at the man across from him and raised one eyebrow. "I was getting worried," Blaine explained, we're normally very careful about stuff like that." Blaine sat back and relaxed for a moment. After a minute, he sat up straight again, "Can I ask why?" he stared at Burt as the enormity of the changes hit him, "Why this, and why now?"
Burt looked at Blaine carefully. "The why now part is simple, Blaine, I'm an old fool." Burt shook his head to himself slightly, "These last few years have been rough on Kurt. I fought for his right to sing a "girl's" song," Burt's fingers making the classic air quote sign, "I fought for his right to walk the hallways without being slammed into lockers and I fought for his right to have a school musical in his senior year. All of which I'd do again, in a heartbeat." Burt hesitated for a second, "Mostly, I was fighting for his right to be himself. What I realised tonight though, was that he really doesn't get the chance. Neither do you. And you never will, Blaine, not completely. As much as I would like to wave a magic wand and change every bigoted opinion in the world, I can't. What I can do though is change what happens in my own house." Blaine frowned at the man sitting in the chair opposite him. That was what Kurt and he were always talking about, all they really wanted – the opportunity to be themselves. It was why New York was so important to both of them. They wouldn't have to hide their relationship in the shadows and pretend to be nothing but 'friends' in public. Burt could practically hear the cogs turning in Blaine's brain. "You boys are different, and sometimes you're going to have to fight like hell to get what you deserve from the world. But you need to remember to let people into your world too. Let the people around you, who care about you, see the love you share together. I don't want you to ever be ashamed or embarrassed by what you feel for my son. I want you and Kurt, when you're in this house at least, to be able to just be. Be yourselves, without the dapper pretences and considered gestures. Just be...yourselves." Burt heaved a heavy sigh. How did a celebratory dinner get this serious? He wasn't 100 percent sure, but he knew it was definitely over due. As Blaine let Burt's words sink into his brain, the older man stood up and held his arms open to the boy. Blaine pulled himself up from the sofa and embraced his boyfriend's father. "Thank you Burt." He said softly.
Kurt had been listening to his Dad's words from the doorway. As Blaine broke away from his father, Kurt cleared his throat. Blaine looked at Kurt as though he was the most amazing sight he'd ever seen in his life. The taller boy smiled at his boyfriend and embraced him tightly. "I love you," they both whispered to each other at exactly the same time. They pulled away from each other, both wiping a tear from their eye. Blaine pulled Kurt down to sit beside him on the sofa, wrapping one arm over his boyfriend's shoulder. Kurt wasted no time in snuggling into his man and resting his head on Blaine's shoulder. Burt let out a highly exaggerated yawn, and stretched his arms above his head. "Well, I think I'll be off to bed now." He stated loudly. Kurt rolled his eyes and shook his head at his father, "Dad, before you go, umm, well, about tonight." Kurt started not knowing quite how to phrase the question he wanted to ask. "Just spill, Kurt," his father said, "didn't we agree to no more hiding?" he asked his son. "Ok," began Kurt, "it's just that Blaine's staying over tonight anyway, and he was meant to be in the guest room, I know you haven't spoken to his parents yet, but I just wondered..."Kurt look expectantly at Burt. "He can stay in your room tonight, Kurt," Burt said, cutting of Kurt's long winded question, "saves him having to sneak back there in the morning like he normally does!" Burt laughed as the two boys both realised that between Burt and Carole, they hadn't been as clandestine as they thought. "Ok," Burt said, "I'll leave you with that thought...Good night boys." Burt turned and started heading for the stairs. "You don't have to go, you know?" Kurt said, thinking his father was trying to give him and Blaine some space. Burt turned to face Kurt as he got to the bottom step. "Kurt, in case you'd forgotten, it's actually my anniversary today!" Burt grinned as if he'd just won the lottery, raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively. "Oh. My. God!" Kurt's face flushed a deep crimson colour as he realised what his father meant, "let me die now, Blaine, please!" he said as he buried his face into Blaine's neck. Blaine laughed, squeezed Kurt closer into his side, and kissed the top of Kurt's head.
Carole had left the confines of the kitchen just in time to watch her stepson die of embarrassment. "Good night, boys – and don't stay up too late," she said, turning to follow her husband up the stairs. "Ok," they replied in unison from the sofa, Blaine softly rubbed Kurt's side, "have fun!" he said without thinking. Kurt and Carole both looked at him as if he'd just grown his very own unicorn horn. It was now Blaine's turn to be a lovely shade of beetroot!
Carole laughed hysterically as she made her way up the stairs. The two boys were sure they could still hear her laughing an hour later as they snuggled into Kurt's bed together. For the very first time, they were there with permission. At least from one set of parents. Blaine tucked himself under his lover's arm and laid his head on Kurt's chest, gazing up at his boyfriend in adoration. "Hey Kurt," Blaine said softly, "Umm...is it ok with you if we just snuggle tonight? Today has just been so..." he trailed off. "I was just thinking the same thing." Kurt said sleepily. Kurt tucked both arms around Blaine, he dragged him up until their chests were pressed together and their faces close. "Your Dad is amazing," Blaine whispered softly as he bent he head down to softly nuzzle into Kurt's neck. "I know," Kurt replied gently tracing his fingers down Blaine's back. "I kissed you in front of my parents, Blaine." "You certainly did," Blaine let out a soft chuckle against Kurt's neck. "Is it alright with you if say it was...weird," Kurt said shyly, he didn't want Blaine to take it the wrong way, but it was how he felt. "It was weird," agreed Blaine, "maybe it's just because it's new. Not the kissing, but kissing when there's someone else around. I was waiting for the world to explode...but it didn't." Blaine sighed contentedly.
They lay together in silence for a few minutes, both deep in their own thoughts before Kurt eventually broke the quiet, "Blaine?" "mmm" was the only reply from the boy falling asleep on top of him. "Do you think this is what it feels like to be normal?" Kurt felt Blaine press a small kiss to his neck just under his earlobe, before he got a reply. "I hope so...I like it" Blaine whispered softly. Blaine closed his eyes as sleep took him away from the emotional day the two had shared, but not before he heard his boyfriend say, in a voice so soft, so quiet and so excruciatingly breakable, "Me too."
A/N: So, let me know what you think. I'm new to all this, so all feedback is greatly appreciated - good or bad. I did mean to mention at the end of the previous chapter that in my head both Kurt and Blaine are both 18. I will never accept that Blaine was only 16 last season! I think he had time off after the Sadie Hawkins incident and got held back a year when he transferred to Dalton. That's my version anyway!
So go on, hit the button and let me know what you think. Finn is next, (he's currently hurrying home to try get back before curfew!) hopefully on Monday!
A/N #2: Australian Labor Party votes in support of Marriage Equality, Julia has a minor win with a conscience vote. Come on Tony - it's your turn now! (This will make no sense if you're not Australian, but I'm a little bit happy for a very minor win!)