(A/N: Hi! Sorry for extreme lateness...Thank you however, for reviews, alerts, favorites and the like. It is all very, very, much appreciated. This is a rather short update, but I plan to update next time (whenever that may be) with a longer chapter? Hopefully? I'm so ready for glee on Tuesday! I can't wait for some more Blaine! Speaking of glee, I think they deserved a lot more recognition at the golden globes...JUST SAYIN.)
"Flowers? Really, Blaine?" Kurt glared at his boyfriend as he approached him in the Dalton parking lot after school, carrying a small bouquet of roses. Blaine sighed, his arm falling.
"Look Kurt-" he ran his free hand through his hair tiredly.
"Is this your 'oh-sorry-I-introduced-you-to-my-dad-as-a-friend' conciliatory gift?" Kurt folded his arms across his chest, the anger and hurt from yesterday still evident in his eyes.
"Kurt, it wasn't the right moment." Blaine tried to explain. There's never going to be a right moment.
"Blaine, how is that difficult to just say 'hey, this is Kurt, my boyfriend.'?" he was tapping his foot now, and Blaine knew how hurt he was, despite the haughty diva form he was giving off. Blaine looked down at his shoes.
"It's not as easy with my dad as it is with yours." he finally said. As he looked at his own shoes, he saw Kurt's, tapping irritably and Blaine drew a long breath, knowing he had to make it clearer, "You know, the gay thing." he said imploringly. Kurt's foot stopped tapping.
"So what Blaine, are you saying your Dad doesn't even know you're gay?" Kurt asked, his arms slowly unfolded and Blaine wanted nothing more than for Kurt to wrap him in those arms, and hug him tightly.
"My dad knows." Blaine rushed to say, chuckling lightly. Oh god, how he wished sometimes that he'd just never come out to his Dad, that he just hid it. His life would have been so goddamn easier.
"But he doesn't accept it?" Kurt asked quietly. Blaine felt a soft touch on his shoulder and for a minute, he just wanted to say yes. He wanted to say yes, my dad hates me, he hates that I'm gay, he doesn't accept me and he never will, he's repulsed by me, his own son fucking disgusts him.
But he couldn't do that to Kurt. He was Kurt's boyfriend, the one who never wanted him to get hurt, the one who was so confident and, as Kurt had constantly called him despite his protests, "perfect". How could he take away Kurt's perfect boyfriend and give him this pathetic gay kid who's own Dad hated his guts?
Blaine straightened up and gave Kurt a reassuring smile.
"It's not that either Kurt." he shook his head easily, trying to reinforce his confidence, "It's just that it's still a little new to him. I love my Dad, and he really loves me," Blaine's heart clenched painfully, as though it knew how outlandish the lie was, "It's just that, my being gay came as a surprise to him, it was a big shock." Blaine shrugged.
"You mean-" Kurt began, but Blaine held up a gentle hand to let him finish.
"He's fine with it," he assured Kurt, smiling for good measure, "but I can tell it overwhelms him a sometimes, just a little. I just don't want to throw anything at him too fast. You know, things like-"
"A boyfriend." Kurt finished, nodding his understanding. Blaine nodded back. How he wished that was the only problem his dad had. He reached forward and took Kurt's hand in his.
"I'm so sorry about how I was to you yesterday." he said, "I just kind of panicked, I didn't want to put my Dad through too much."
"Blaine, it's alright, you don't need to apologize." Kurt said and the guilty look on his face killed Blaine, "I get it now. Whenever you're ready—or whenever he's ready—just whenever. I'm so sorry, I was being selfish. And I guess I'm also sorry for…you know," he blushed, "giving you the silent treatment all day." Blaine smiled, relief flooding through him.
"It was the most torturous day of my life." he moaned dramatically. Kurt's blush deepened and Blaine took a moment to admire him. He loved how, even though they were dating now, he could still make Kurt blush. Kurt held his hand out towards the flowers that he had previously rejected.
"Give them here," he said, "They're beautiful." he smelled the roses briefly and leaned forward to kiss Blaine. Blaine couldn't help the small moan of relief and happiness as Kurt pressed his lips to his. Kurt was his anchor now, he kept him sane. When he was with Kurt, sometimes he could even melt into the happy sort of innocent and naïve, untouched world that Kurt lived in and he could forget his own. He'd never needed Kurt so much, felt him so deeply…and yet, at the same time, Kurt was the worst thing for him. Every time he was with Kurt, every time he kissed him, touched him – he felt like he could be paying for it later, that his father could find out. It put him on edge and calmed him all at once.
Now was a calmer moment though, a peaceful one.
"I'm glad you like the flowers, babe." Blaine said quietly and Kurt could see the peace and love in his eyes, that somehow seemed so intense – he saw the gratitude. But what Blaine was thanking him for, he didn't know. But the moment was there and Kurt gently brushed his fingers over Blaine's cheek and he gently interlocked his other hand with Blaine's.
"Honey, are you ok?" Kurt asked quietly after a little while. Blaine blinked and Kurt could see the moment had vanished and his hand slowly fell back to his side. Blaine smiled at him.
"I'm fine, only a little anxious about tonight and what on earth I'll wear."
"Wear to what—oh my god!" Kurt squeaked, his hands flying up to cover his mouth, rose petals bursting into the air. "You're coming to dinner tonight! I completely forgot what with the whole silent treatment and—oh my god Blaine! I've got to get home and start cooking!"
"Kurt, don't stress yourself and don't rush on the drive home, I don't even want to have to worry about you having a wreck." Blaine said firmly, straightening Kurt's jacket as he did so.
"Blaine I've got to go, I promise I won't rush…too much." as Blaine's reproving look he stubbornly added, "Well the appetizer quiche isn't going to put itself in the oven!" he gave his boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek before hurrying into his car, "And don't forget! 6:30 sharp Blaine!" he yelled just before shutting his door. Blaine laughed and waved Kurt out of the parking lot before heading towards his own car.
"Really Dad, that's what you're wearing?" Kurt sighed as his dad came downstairs into the kitchen. He was wearing a cotton plaid shirt and jeans. Burt looked down at the aforementioned outfit his son had just criticized.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Dad, Blaine's coming to dinner tonight." Kurt stressed the point, as though he hadn't been a shouting sea captain as soon as he got home, trying to get everything in order for the night's dinner. Next to him, Carole was stirring some sort of sauce in a pan while Kurt was rolling out dough for something on the counter.
"Yeah, so?" Burt still didn't see the problem.
"Dad, he's-"
"Kurt, he's your boyfriend, not the King of the Tibet. I highly doubt the kid'll care what I'm wearing."
"Honey, at least put on a nice polo shirt, alright?" Carole said. Burt gave her a betrayed look.
"This shirt is more comfortable than any of my polos." Burt reasoned, moving to the other side of the kitchen in search of some crackers.
"Dad, you're seriously going to snack right now? I'm making dinner!" Kurt snapped, grabbing the box of crackers out of Burt's hands and sticking them back in the cupboard. A stomping sound soon brought Finn into the kitchen as well, wearing a white t-shirt and sweatpants.
"Hey, where are the chips?"
"Finn, you can't wear that!" Kurt shrieked.
"You just told me to change!"
"Into something nicer than your letterman jacket and jeans, not something worse!" Kurt snapped. Finn squeezed his way through the limited room in the kitchen to the pantry where he dug out a bag of chips.
"What are you talking about? This is my nicest t-shirt!"
"You're eating? Does no one understand that Carole and I are preparing an amazing dinner for this evening?" Kurt yelled.
"Jesus, calm down!" Burt and Finn threw their hands up in what could have been defense or surrender.
"Everyone simmer down," Carole ordered over her shoulder as she added spices to the sauce, "Finn, put down the chips, we're eating dinner soon, and go put on some jeans at least, Burt go put on your polo, Kurt get back to the dough, alright. Everyone, one, two, three, go-!" Carole waved her hands and shooed out the two underdressed men before returning to her sauce.