Chapter One: Conversations With Kurt

Over the last couple of days Finn had been noticing Kurt going from his usual humourously sarcastic and flamboyant self, to a somber and jaded Kurt he didn't recognise. Finn didn't like this one bit. Since Burt kicked him out of the house since that dreadful "faggy" night, Finn had grown to see how much he actually enjoyed having Kurt in his life (as his friend and brother, of course). Dressing up in his shower curtain like he'd read Lady Gaga did when she met the Queen was his way of aplogising for his what he'd said and since he and Kurt had gradually became closer to each other. It was much easier to do so when Carole and Burt were back on their feet together and they all worked really hard at being a family.

Finn remembered the night when he and Kurt had talked everything through together, the night when they were back living with the Hummel's and the night everything had changed between them.

Finn and Carole had been asked over to have dinner with the Hummel's, seeing as the pair of them had been living back at their old house for a week, though Carole and Burt were still on good terms.

They entered the house to find Burt already sitting at the neatly set table. Kurt was nowhere in sight, which had troubled Finn because he thought that everything was cool with them after what he'd done that day.

Burt looked up and his eyes locked onto Finn first, immediately going a slightly pink colour before standing up and holding a placatory hand out towards Finn. Finn walked forwards and shook it, smiling at Burt awkwardly as Burt began to speak.

"Finn, you know that I meant every word I said the other night, but Kurt has explained the real reason to why you said that… and I am sorry for going a bit Dad crazy and accusing you of teasing my son."

Finn smiled awkwardly. "Oh, no… it's cool man… so – so, what did Kurt tell you?"

Burt grimaced. "Well, let's just say I understand why you were so reluctant to share a room with him. And you probably deserve a prize for not acting any worse about it."

Finn smiled and sighed. "I don't think so. I was pretty mean…So, where is Kurt?"

"He's a bit upset… I think he's in his bedroom. He said he wanted to talk to you in private," Burt said.

Finn chewed his lip and swallowed. "Well, I'll just go then…" he mumbled, before walking around the table and towards Kurt's bedroom door.

He took a deep breath before knocking loudly on the door and calling, "hey, Kurt! Can I come in?"

He waited for a moment and heard Kurt yell out "hang on", some hurried footsteps and then the door swung open.

Kurt didn't look as bad as Finn had expected. He was looking slightly flushed like he'd been lying in bed, but otherwise he was composed and dressed all Kurtish as usual. Finn raised his hand in greeting and Kurt smiled at him timidly and said, "Hey, Finn, come on in."

Down in his bedroom, Kurt sat on his "Thrown" (as Finn liked to call it) and Finn sat on one of the couches.

"So," Finn said, smiling at Kurt. "Your dad… umm… he said you wanted to talk to me…"

Kurt sighed. "Yes I do," he said, looking at Finn confidently. "Look, I just wanted to apologise for the way I've been acting…I've been so caught up in it al, that I never really realised how inappropriately I was acting…You've been really great about it…and even though it hurt when you said what you said, it really helped me realise that I need to move on… to someone who is like me. I mean, really, what as I thinking?"

Kurt rolled his eyes and looked away from Finn, who sighed and chuckled nervously.

"Well, I'm really glad you've moved on Kurt… it was getting a bit uncomfortable… But, you know, I can't say that I was never a little flattered… I just thought it was something that would pass and I… well, you know… I didn't really know what I was meant to do about it."

Kurt grimaced. "You weren't meant to do anything, Finn. You could have probably stuck it out to me a little earlier, though, but we all know you're just too nice for that," Kurt said, smiling at Finn.

"Well, I try to be," Finn said, shrugging. "But I still managed to hurt you a lot, Kurt… and I'm really sorry for that."

Kurt shrugged and smiled. "It's ok… I mean, I forgive you even though you don't really have anything to be forgiven for because this wouldn't have turned out this way if it wasn't for me and you have to know how sorry I am for – "

But Finn waved his hand and interrupted him. "Look, its cool Kurt, really. I think we should just forget about it and move on… because you know, even though I didn't really like sharing a room with you, I think it would be pretty cool for us to live together… and be a family. It will take some time to get used to, but… it'd be great."

Finn smiled at Kurt broadly and Kurt grinned back and nodded. "It sure would, Finn Hudson. But are you sure you don't want to redecorate the room with me? I have some really cool ideas and I really think – "

Finn snorted and held up his hand again, grinning. "Please, no, Kurt."

Kurt grinned. "Just joking, Finn. Just joking."

Since then everything was alright between the two of them and even though it was difficult, they had now reached a pretty strong brotherly connection and nothing felt weird between them at all.

But Finn was worried about Kurt these days. He just wasn't the same person he used to be and it was even more awkward to be around him than when he'd known that Kurt liked him.

Every time he'd talk to Kurt, Kurt would just mumble something inaudibly or otherwise he would look up and blabber away, acting as though everything was fine before looking away and looking just as or more miserable (this would often happen when Burt and Carole were around.)

Walking out of school together on the way back home:

Finn: (thumping Kurt on the arm) "Hey, Kurt? Want to go through some of the Glee songs tonight?"

Kurt: (glancing at him tiredly) "No… I'm busy…uh… doing a big project…."

Finn: (frowning) "Oh, what is it for?"

Kurt: (shrugging) "Umm… I dunno… Science…"

Finn: (shrugging) "Cool, well that's cool man."

Kurt: (looking straight ahead) "Yeah… sure…"

(Silence)

Over breakfast:

Finn: (walking into the kitchen and sitting down at the table) "Kurt, man, how are you this today? Looks like a great day hey?"

Kurt: (looking up slowly) "Huh…?"

Finn: (smiling) "How are you today?"

Kurt: (looking down at his plate) "Oh yeah… good, thanks."

Finn: (nodding.) "Cool. So, got a good day ahead?"

Kurt: (still looking down) "Yeah… should be good…"

Finn: "What have you got on?"

Kurt: (Shrugs and picks at his food.)

Finn: (Sighs and looks down to carry one eating.)

During family dinner:

Burt: (looking at Kurt and smiling) "So, son, get up to anything worth sharing today?"

Kurt: (looking up from his food and smiling broadly and taking a deep breath and said this all really fast)): Yeah, dad. I had an awesome day. Mercedes and I spent the whole day like discussing Alexandra McQueen's new line, which is totally amazing! You should see the brilliant stuff he has come up with, dad! And in Science we dissected a frog which was disgusting and this kid in class, Peter, puked all over the floor." (Kurt grimaces.) "And Glee was fun. Mr. Schuster's been doing some really cool stuff with us lately, hasn't he Finn? He really is an amazing teacher and we're all just having so much fun, totally pumped for Nationals!" (smiles before looking down at his plate)

Burt: (chuckles)"Sounds great, Kurt. What songs are you kids doing?"

Kurt: (laughs cheerily) "Oh, there are just so many! You probably wouldn't know them all Dad, seeing as you are so uneducated in music… but we're doing Barbara Streisand, more songs from Wicked which are my favourites, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, The Kooks, Grease songs…And we've got a cool project at them moment, hey, Finn? We all have to choose love songs to do!" (He said this all very quickly again that you could hardly hear what he was saying.)

Burt: (blinking a little.) "Love songs you say? Wow, have you chosen yours yet?"

Kurt: "There are just so many choices! I would have chosen Olivia Newton-John's "I Honestly Love You" but after that time when I was paired with Finn I –"(stops talking and looks down quickly.)

Finn: (clears his throat.) "This is really great food, Mum."

But Finn had had enough. No matter how hard it was, he had to get whatever was wrong with Kurt out of him.

So Friday after school, Finn cornered Kurt on the way out from the bathroom and grabbed him while saying "we need to talk."

Kurt shrugged a bit and just let Finn lead him down to his bedroom, not bothering to fight him. Finn led Kurt over to the couch, where they sat down together.

Kurt didn't look at Finn and didn't speak either. He just looked down at his feet as Finn stared at him in concern.

"Kurt, what's going on?" Finn asked him, leaning forwards to try and get a better look at Kurt's face.

Kurt shrugged and said, "Nothing, I'm fine," but he still wouldn't look at Finn.

Finn groaned. "Don't give me that, Kurt," he said a little loudly, "something's up and I really want to know. You're driving me crazy being so down all the time… come on, you can talk to me, man."

Kurt sighed. "You don't want to talk about this with me, trust me."

Finn frowned. "Why? It's not… It's not anything to do with me and… well, you know… "

Kurt looked at him. "No, Finn… that's all over, I told you."

Finn leant forwards. "Yeah… I thought so. So, then, what's up, dude?"

Kurt sighed. "I don't want to talk about it, Finn."

Finn sighed. "Come on man, I don't care what it is… just talk to me, say whatever you need… you'll fee much better when you've said it all."

Kurt jumped to his feet, turning around to look at Finn. "I'm just so sick of there being no one else like me around in this cow town!" he said, angrily. "I see all these happy straight couples everywhere, holding hands and being all lovey-dovey, but I don't get that, do I? You have no idea how lucky you are to have Rachel, Finn and I'm just alone!" Kurt and looked away.

Finn chewed his lip and mumbled, "Uh… how do you know that there aren't any other guys like you around here? I'm sure there must be someone –"

Kurt snorted. "Oh, yeah? And where on earth have you seen anyone like me around here, Finn? Surely we all stick out like sore thumbs!"

Finn frowned. "Maybe… but, Kurt… you never know, there could be a guy at school… who's, you know, still in the closet?"

Kurt sighed. "Fat chance. And anyway, how am I supposed to find him? And why would he go for me anyway?"

Finn shook his head. "Don't be stupid, Kurt… I bet lots of guys would like you and I bet that there is a closeted guy around here and that he would be one of those guys."

Kurt sighed and walked back to sit down. "You think so?"

Finn smiled. "Yeah, dude."

Kurt smiled at him weakly before putting his head in his hands. "Oh, I don't know, Finn… I really doubt that there is anyone at school for me, not here."

Finn smiled and shrugged. "Well, I bet there is."

Kurt rolled his eyes at Finn. "Do you know this or are you just trying to make me feel better?"

Finn grinned. "Both."

Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Both?"

Finn nodded. "Yeah. I'm thinking that I might know someone who I suspect is secretly gay… but in case I'm wrong, I'm also just trying to make you feel better."

Kurt raises his eyebrows even further. "Who? Who might be gay?"

Finn smiled mischievously. "Can't tell you that yet, man, and anyway, he hasn't even started at the school yet… but as soon as I know more and it turns into a good thing… I'll introduce you."

Kurt smiled nervously. "Well… I'll keep my fingers crossed."

Finn nodded, "so will I. Life will be much easier when Kurt's being Kurt again, and an even happier one at that."

Kurt laughed. "Thanks, Finn, for having this talk with me."

"Anytime, man, anytime."