Alright so...

I'm writing this with shaky hands in the middle of the night while crying my eyes out. Writing is therapy for me and since I just spend 90 minutes listening to someone go through her whole life... and mine... telling me everything that I should know now that I'm 'turning 21' I need to do something so I won't think about this for the rest of my life.

So this will be... Um... Well. I don't know, I haven't written it yet. But I am stressed out, I am tired and I didn't need to learn what I learned today. Not yet... After June would have been good but not yet, not to add to all this. I am eating three pints of Ben&Jerry's tomorrow, I promise you guys that.

Alright, hope you like it anyway.

Disclaimer: I wish...

Parents

-If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone-

Crash and Burn, Savage Garden

They were driving to Ohio.

Driving.

In the middle of the freaking night. Through the power of caffeine.

All because of one voice mail message Kurt had heard before Blaine had had the chance to delete it.

It wasn't unusual that he got home after Kurt. Actually, it was pretty much the rule. So when he had heard the humming from the bedroom when he opened the door, he hadn't been surprised. He had been happy to know that Kurt was in a good mood and as he was only human, he had been planning to take advantage of that.

He had been surprised to see Kurt packing though.

"Uh... Do we need to talk?" Blaine had asked, looking at the pile of shirts folded neatly on the bed, ready to be put in a suitcase.

"Yes," Kurt had replied. "We do."

A million different things had gone through Blaine's mind at that moment. What, why, when, who, how...? As he couldn't decide, he ended up looking like a child that had been hit with a baseball bat. All he could do was stare.

"You want your black dress shoes or the brownish ones?"

Blaine blinked. "Huh...?"

"We're only going for the weekend, I don't think you need both. So, pick."

"We... Kurt, what is going on?"

Kurt hadn't answered. He had shot Blaine a look that was absolutely unreadable and walked calmly to where their phone was. He pressed a button and went to get more clothes as if he was listening to the weather report when Mrs. Anderson's voice filled the room.

It had literally felt like the ground had disappeared from under Blaine's feet.

"Hey, honey! It's your mom. Now listen, your father and I have been talking and we think it's time that you take your place in his company. We can discuss the details later but it would most wonderful if we could announce this to everyone at the annual ball. It's on Friday November 8th this year. I know it sounds like it's a long while from now but there is a lot to talk about. Give me a call when you get this. Love you, bye!"

And a beep.

There had been a long silence after that. Blaine could literally hear how his brain shrank into the size of a raisin as his face heated up with embarrassment and some twisted form of anger.

"So... there are a couple of things I'm curious about..." Kurt voice had cut through the air like a sword. "First, I was under the impression you had no interest in ever working in your dad's company. Of course, if you do want to then that's fine but I am not moving back to Ohio. Just so you know. And also, why does your mom think you can attend a ball on November 8th? That really left me wondering because it sounded like she doesn't know we're getting married. In fact, she sounded like she doesn't even think I'm in the picture anymore. Now that can't be right, can it?"

The hurt in Kurt's voice had been evident and Blaine could feel a bile burning in his throat. He closed his eyes and lowered his head in shame, confirming what Kurt had already known.

"You haven't told them?" Blaine looked up when he heard Kurt sit down. "But I thought... When we discussed the budget... You said your Dad wouldn't give us anything. Did you just assume...?

"No, I know. Kurt, they are next to broke."

"What are you talking about?"

Blaine took a deep breath and turned to face Kurt. "Dad gambles." Kurt's jaw dropped. "Vegas, poker nights, derby... They are in a limbo. Whatever money they make goes to paying off his debts."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's not your problem. It's not even supposed to be mine. I've told myself not feel guilty because what the hell can I do to help? I have a rent to pay and school to finish, you're still starting with your store. I didn't want you to worry just because my dad can't handle his money. That's the main reason Mom wants me to work for the company. To keep an eye on him."

They stayed quiet for a little while, Blaine letting Kurt take in this new information. Finally Blaine sighed and reached his hand to take a hold of Kurt's. Kurt squeezed it and laced their fingers.

"I have tried telling them. I have. I love you so much and I want them to know I am happy, happier than they have ever been and that they can't change that. But whenever I call them... They start talking about Michelle and the baby and how Allison Smith is still available, poor thing, so pretty, and how the house needs renovating and oh, how they'd want little Blaine's to fill up the big house with their laughter. I mention you and they say 'oh, yes, your room mate.' They insists on acting like everything is fine and I hate it. I get so angry that I just hang up... I am so, so sorry Kurt. You don't deserve this and I'm sorry..."

"Shh..."

Kurt had cut Blaine off by kissing him softly and sweetly on the mouth. Blaine sighed against his lips and relaxed, his shoulders shagging.

"Well, you won't be attending that ball." Blaine chuckled. "And we're going to visit your parents. So black shoes or brown?"

And here they were.

Blaine had argued but Kurt wouldn't take no for an answer. The clock was reaching 4 am and a sign had just welcomed them to the state of Ohio. They'd reach the Anderson house by six and Blaine wondered what they were supposed to do until his parents woke up. Watch movies in the living room, cuddling on the couch like when they had when they were teenagers?

"They don't matter, Kurt," Blaine said, raising his voice a little so Kurt could hear him over the music.

"They are your parents," Kurt stated.

"Yeah, but I mean... Whatever they say, I want you to know that I don't care what they think."

"Then why did you hang up every time?"

"I..."

"Blaine, they-are-your-parents," Kurt repeated. "Of course you care about what they they think! You don't have to do what they tell you or think like they do or even like what they think but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. I'm insulted that they don't acknowledge me but I know it's not your fault and when I last checked it was just us in this relationship."

...and let's face it, who isn't
less fortunate than I...?

"What if they don't want to come?" Blaine hated how weak his voice sounded.

"Two less people to feed."

"Kurt..."

"They love you."

The conversation died. Kurt's eyes were fixed on the road as Blaine let his mind wonder. He watched the trees go by, his eyelids drooping...

...just not quite as popular as me...!

Blaine didn't remember falling asleep but he must have since he was suddenly shaken awake. He blinked tiredly and tried to figure out where he was and how he had gotten there.

"I figured we should get some breakfast first," Kurt said when Blaine frowned at the sign in front of him.

"Ihop?"

"It's open. I'll have a fruit salad or something."

In the end, Kurt managed to get some coffee down Blaine's throat but apparently the smell of the pancakes mixed with the thought of telling his parents about his wedding made him too nauseous to actually eat anything. Kurt, against all odds, ended up eating some of the cheesecake pancakes ordered for Blaine. Whether he was eating to ease his own nerves or he was just plain hungry, Blaine would never know.

"You think they are up?"

Blaine glanced at the clock, unsurprisingly made to look like a chocolate chip pancake. "Yeah, probably. They never sleep too late."

"Alright, let's go then. It'll be like ripping off a band-aid. Quick and painless."

"Ripping a band-aid hurts like a bitch, Kurt."

"Not if you put it under water first."

"You're not making any sense."

Kurt smiled a little and leaned over the table to place a quick kiss on Blaine's lips. "I'll be your water."

Blaine couldn't help but return the smile.

The house looked bigger than when he had last been there. Maybe it was because he knew it was just his parents that lived there. He wondered rather bitterly why they refused to be practical and move to a smaller place. What couple with no children in the house anymore needed six bedrooms and four bathrooms?

And why did his Dad need three cars when Mrs. Anderson didn't even have a license?

Couldn't they mold the lawn themselves?

Breakfast wasn't that hard to make...

Blaine gritted his teeth when he realized for how many years he had taken all kinds of vain things for granted.

"You ready?"

"No." Blaine looked at the window of his old room. The curtains had been changed. "I can't believe what a wimp I am. You told your dad even before you had said yes to me."

Kurt giggled. The sound of it seemed to light up the mood enough for Blaine to gather some of that famous courage he always talked about and get out of the car. Kurt followed and they walked up the steps to the door hand in hand. After one last reassuring smile and a nod from Kurt, Blaine rang the bell, ready to open the door with the key he still had if no one came to answer.

Mrs. Anderson was still in her nightgown when she appeared in front of them.

"Hey, Mom," Blaine mumbled.

"Blaine, darling, what...? What are you doing here? It's barely 9!"

"I, uh... have something important to tell you. I wanted to do it in person," Blaine explained.

"You're so pale, sweetheart! Are you sick, is that what you have come to tell? Oh my God, that's it, isn't it? I knew that city was going to wear you down, you should have gone to..."

"I'm not sick, Mom!" Blaine interrupted. "I'm just tired, we drove here all the way from New York. Can we come in?"

Mrs. Anderson seemed to only notice Kurt then. She eyed him suspiciously, just like she had when Blaine had first brought him home all those years ago. Blaine could only admire his fiancé's ability to keep on a friendly smile even under such a hard stare. Maybe it was because he knew he could stare the woman Blaine had got her height from down to the smallest hole if he so wanted.

"Is Dad home?" Blaine asked as they stepped into the hall that was easily bigger than their living room, bedroom and kitchen put together.

"Yes, he's in the kitchen having breakfast. You want anything?" The question was directed only at her son.

"No, thanks. We won't be long."

"You won't?"

"We won't?"

Kurt and Mrs. Anderson both looked at Blaine who merely nodded. Kurt raised his eyebrows in silent question and Blaine just shrugged and shook his head slightly. He wasn't going to stay in a house where his boyfriend wasn't even offered breakfast. Surprise visit or not.

"Mary, who is it...? Blaine! What in heaven's name are you doing here?" Mr. Anderson came to the hall in baby-blue slippers and a half-eaten toast in his hand. He might have had a gambling problem but somehow his appearance managed to lower the tension in the room, if only slightly.

"He has something important to tell us, Richard. Important enough to drive here."

"Drive? Are you going off to the war or something?"

Blaine rolled his eyes. "No, Dad. I don't think they'd appreciate someone who'd stop to check his hair from the rear-view mirror of the tank." Kurt's quiet chuckle was like a shot of confidence to him. "We're getting married."

Can you hear the crickets?

"We, as in...?"

"We, Mom, us!" Blaine almost yelled, lifting Kurt's left hand to show his parents the ring. "Kurt and I are getting married. On November 9th."

"November... But... But honey, the ball..."

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Blaine said. "The ball? Seriously? I am getting married!"

This was turning into something ugly really fast. The baby-blue slippers weren't helping anymore.

"Blaine," Mary said, her tone suggesting that she was explaining a five year old that the wall wasn't a canvas. "You can't..."

"Yes, we can. We just drove 10 hours to tell you that we can. And we will. Because we love each other and that's what people do when they love each other, right? Get married, have babies..."

Kurt's hold of his hand tightened just a bit.

"...grow old together," Blaine finished.

More crickets.

"It's that city!"

"I was already gay in Ohio, Mom."

"We have given you everything you ever wanted and what do we get in return? You show up here before 9 o'clock in the morning to rub this... twisted relationship on our faces! We don't deserve this kind of humiliation! Richard, say something for God's sake!"

Blaine met his father's eyes. The disappointment was deep but Blaine could see he was mostly disappointed in himself. He thought of himself as a failure as, despite his best efforts, he had not been able to make his son straight. It was as if everything else, all the other shit, could be solved if this one little wrong could be made right.

"We'd really like for you to come," Kurt suddenly said before Richard even had a chance to open his mouth. "The wedding will be in New York as it's still not legal in Ohio. My maid-of-honor has already pretty much declared that she is to have our couch for the week before the wedding but I'm sure we can squeeze you there somewhere if you don't want to go to a hotel."

The polite smile never disappeared from Kurt's face even if the Andersons were looking at him like he was the World's 8th wonder. Which Blaine thought he probably was as he had just suggested that his parents would be 'squeezed' in their little apartment. He had just told them without actually telling them that he knew all about their money troubles and dared them to ignore him now.

"We'll be sending our formal invitations as soon as I have them all ready. It'll be pretty soon because I really have to start planning the seating arrangements. I can't have Mike and Tina sitting next to each other and Lord only knows someone will end up pregnant if I put Wes and Brittany too close together..." Kurt said this more to himself, tapping his chin with his index-finger. "Yeah, so," he continued, talking to his soon to be in-laws again. "...tell us your decision as soon as possible because we only have a limited amount of seats at the family table and the last two are either for you or my stepbrother and his wife."

Kurt's tone was light and cheerful but anyone who knew him could hear the threat in it. He was like an oversensitive alarm, ready to go off at the slightest touch. Poke him and die.

"Anyways, I think we're done here. I had kind of been planning for a longer visit but oh well. It would be a shame to have driven all this way for just a couple of minutes though... Hmm... Blaine, you wanna drive to my house? I'm sure Carole would love an excuse to cook a nice, big dinner."

"Yeah... sure..." Blaine said absentmindedly. He had pictured this scenario hundreds of times in his head and never had his father been quiet. There had been yelling, screaming, insults... In his more optimistic fantasies they'd congratulate him and then politely decline the invitation. But this was just torture, seeing them look at him like he had just crushed all their hopes and dreams. "I'm sorry..."

"Well, you should be, how are we going to explain...?"

"Not for getting married! For showing up without a warning, God..." Blaine took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure I'm gonna take Kurt's last name."

And with that, Blaine all but pulled Kurt out of the house. He heard the countertenor say a quick "bye!" through the blood pumping in his ears but didn't stop to say that himself.

"Alright, not one of my best ideas," Kurt said when he closed the door of the car.

"No, you were right. I had to do this."

"Yeah, but Blaine..."

"I just wish... he'd say something. Anything. And she is so... They pretend to be so high and mighty when the truth is there probably won't be any ball as they can't afford it."

"People always have a hard time of letting go of their pride. Especially when it's the last thing they have to hold on to." Blaine just shook his head in some sort of disbelief. "Were you serious about taking my last name? Or were you just saying that out of anger?"

"I meant it. I have been thinking about it for a while."

"Okay..."

"If you don't want me..."

"No, no, I do! I mean, if you really want to then I think it's great. It's just... You know what that will mean, right?"

"What?"

"Our kids will be all Hummels, too. And if a name has anything to do with how a person ends up then we're looking at a singing mechanic who wears Versace over-alls."

Blaine chuckled. A few seconds later they were both laughing so hard Kurt almost hit a mailbox.

I am GOING to bed now. This is not my best writing but it had to be done, if not for anyone else then for myself.

I'll be in a better mood when I write the next chapter. Enter Mercedes!

Thank you guys for everythiiiiing you have said so far, I appreciate it sooooo much and I wish I could come and give you all a hug.

Can't wait for Tuesday! (well... Wednesday morning for me but oh well)