'Soon' will turn out to be 'very soon'. And strangely enough, the matter is decided for Kurt by a cat.
Back in February, after David's incident (as Dave's mother insists on calling it) Kurt's father had called Paul Karofsky to see how Dave was doing and to let Paul know that he could call him anytime to talk. Paul had taken Burt up on his offer and the two had quickly become good friends.
So the first warm-ish spring Saturday in May, Paul invites the entire Hudson-Hummel clan over for a cookout. Burt mentions that Paul is hopeful that Carole's loving, accepting example might influence Dave's mother, who's still refusing to accept her son's sexuality, but Dave and Kurt have had long conversations about Dave's mother. Kurt's not holding his breath.
Shortly after they arrive at the Karofskys' house, Dave manages to get Kurt alone long enough to kiss him silly. When Kurt feels something bumping against his leg, he stops kissing Dave to investigate and finds a large, fluffy, black and white tuxedo cat weaving between his legs and head-butting his shin.
"Well, hello," Kurt says to the cat and Dave grins. He bends to scoop up the cat and then holds the loudly purring animal against his chest while Kurt reaches over to give it a scratch behind the ear.
"It's about time my two best boys meet," Dave says. "Rhett," Dave murmurs to the cat, "this is Kurt. Kurt, Rhett."
"Rhett?" Kurt asks, biting back a smile.
"Shut up," Dave laughs. "I was nine years old, spending the summer with my grandparents, and I'd been watching 'Gone With the Wind', over and over – and over - with my grandmother. It was her favorite movie." He looks up at Kurt and smiles. "At the end of the summer, when it was time to go home, she told me I could have one of her cat's kittens and I asked for a boy kitten so that I could name it 'Rhett' because he - well, Clark Gable, I guess - was my favorite part of the movie."
Kurt's smile breaks free. "And you didn't figure out then that you might be gay?" he says with a wink.
Dave rolls his eyes and says, "Whatever," but he's smiling, too. He bends his head and kisses Rhett soundly right between his furry ears. "We've been together ever since, haven't we buddy?"
"David, put the cat down and go get the bag of ice from the freezer in the garage," Dave's mother says, coolly, and Dave and Kurt both jump a little at her sudden, unexpected appearance. Dave looks nervous and Kurt knows he's wondering how much she saw (did she see them kissing?) and heard (did she hear them discussing Dave's little-boy-attraction to Clark Gable?)
Dave ducks his head and takes off, Kurt right behind him, Rhett still in his arms, and he doesn't put Rhett down until they pass the cat's toy-filled pet bed, where Dave deposits him gently.
After that, the evening starts going better, though, Kurt thinks. His dad and Paul Karofsky never seem to run out of stories to tell each other and Mrs. Karofsky does seem to be getting along well with Carole. The food is great and when everyone is pretty much stuffed and it's beginning to get dark, they leave the Karofsky's back patio and go into the living room where the parents talk over wine, and Dave and Kurt make faces at each other from across the room over everything – the way Dave's dad snorts when he laughs, the belch that slips out of Carole because she's had a little too much wine, and most of all, because of the way Finn keeps trying, unsuccessfully, to sneakily paw at Rachel right there in front of everyone – and they try to stifle their laughter.
Everything is going well until Dave goes to the kitchen to refill his glass of Coke and Rhett saunters in and curls up in the corner of Dave's chair in his absence. It's a plush armchair and very wide so when Dave returns, rather than make Rhett move, Dave begins trying to squeeze himself into the remaining space. Kurt laughs watching him twist and turn and contort his large body into the too-small space so that his nine-year-old cat can snooze on undisturbed, and beside Kurt on the loveseat, Carole giggles, too.
Kurt shakes his head fondly and thinks, 'This is what you get when David Karofsky loves you. He'll do anything for you; he'll sacrifice his own comfort and convenience and even his dignity for your happiness.' The truth of this hits Kurt and suddenly, his chest feels tight like he can barely draw in a full breath.
Dave will dress in a gorilla suit and shower you with cards and gifts for Valentine's Day.
He'll give you flowers in a crowded high school hallway.
He'll nearly burst with pride over your accomplishments even when those very accomplishments may take you away from him.
He'll pass on drinking at his favorite bar because he's driving you home and your safety is too important to him to risk it.
He'll give you his jacket when it's cold.
He'll stop when you say 'stop' even though his dick is hard and his balls are blue, and he'll wait patiently and sweetly until you're ready.
And in that moment, Kurt knows. David loves him, and he loves David. They're not just 'in love'. It's not lust or infatuation or convenience. It's love. The realization is a relief and something inside Kurt unfurls, his chest loosens, and he draws a deep, cleansing breath.
Dave is still squirming and Kurt is still smiling, probably looking as sappy as Finn does when he's looking at Rachel, when Dave's mother suddenly says, tersely, "Just put the damn cat on the floor, David."
The room goes quiet. Even Finn and Rachel stop nuzzling at each other and look up, Finn wide-eyed and gawking, and Rachel looking nervous and sad. Carole says, "Oh!" and jumps up from her spot on the loveseat beside Kurt. "David, honey, come sit here by Kurt. I can squeeze in next to Burt on the sofa," but before Dave can even stand, his mother is there, pushing at Rhett and shooing him off the chair.
"There, problem solved," she says with false brightness as the cat squawks a startled meow and jumps to the floor. When she returns to her seat, she sees Finn and Rachel watching her and she smiles sweetly at them. "You two are such a cute couple! So, how long have you been together?" she asks, leaning forward as if their answer will be the most interesting thing she's heard all night.
The look on Dave's face makes Kurt want to cry.
It's not long after that Burt stands, thanks the Karofskys for the delicious dinner, and starts making their 'goodbyes'. Dave and his parents follow them out, and on the front porch, while Burt and Paul are shaking hands, Dave suddenly steps forward, his face determined and maybe a little defiant, leans over, and gives Kurt a quick kiss – nothing more than a little peck - followed with, "See you tomorrow, babe."
Dave's mother, in the middle of asking Carole to send her the recipe for the spinach dip Carole had brought, goes suddenly silent. She looks coldly from Dave to Kurt and finally, back to Dave, her mouth twisting in disgust, then turns and just… leaves. Goes back into the house without another word to anyone.
David Karofsky, if he loves you, will show it even if it costs him his homophobic mother's love and approval.
The hurt expression on Dave's face makes Kurt swallow hard against the lump in his throat. Burt is shaking his head and Carole's eyes are huge and watery, her chin quivering. She quickly turns her head and surreptitiously wipes her eyes. Then, plastering on a big, if somewhat shaky smile, she steps forward to hug Dave tightly. "See you tomorrow, honey. You're coming over for pizza and game day, right?"
Dave gives her a grateful smile and nods, while his father, red-faced, turns to Burt. "I'm sorry for… she's…" he begins, but Burt gives his shoulder a squeeze and shakes his head again.
"No need to apologize, Paul. Thanks for having us over." Burt looks over at Dave, points, and says, "Tomorrow, Dave. Reds kicking Nationals ass. One o'clock – be there," and Dave points back, then gives Burt a thumbs up, causing Kurt to smile and roll his eyes at their macho display. As the adults wander towards the car, Kurt can hear his dad telling Paul he's welcome to come watch the game, too.
Finn and Rachel are talking quietly, their heads together, and Kurt sees Finn brush a tear from Rachel's face. Kurt's not surprised. He knows the Berry family understands firsthand the sadness of situations like this; Rachel had once shared with Kurt and Dave that LeRoy had been disowned by his mother when she found out he was gay and that he's never completely gotten over it.
Kurt glances at Dave, watches him take a deep breath and square his shoulders, then walk over to Rachel and say in a loud stage whisper, "What do you think she would've done if I'd used tongue?" Rachel throws her head back and guffaws.
Kurt has never been prouder of his man.