Blaine swallowed nervously as he prepared to ring the doorbell. Even before the last chime had echoed through the house, the door swung open to reveal Kurt.
"Hi," he said breathlessly.
"Hi," Blaine replied, smiling to put them both at ease.
"Hey, dude," called Finn as he passed behind Kurt, who rolled his eyes affectionately before turning back to face Blaine, abruptly pulling the shorter boy into his arms. "Come here, you," he demanded. Laughing at his boyfriend's exuberance, Blaine allowed himself to be dragged inside, offering Kurt no resistance. "I've missed you," he whispered, burying his face in the crook of Kurt's neck.
"Me too," Kurt replied, "Which is why I'm glad you're able to spend the night here. More time alone for us, right?"
"Yeah, who knew that my parents' continued absence would come in handy?" Blaine remarked, Kurt smiling at him in understanding. Shrugging aside his sympathy, Blaine turned to shut the door behind him, using those few precious moments to school his features into a more neutral expression. It was Christmas Eve, after all – a time to celebrate one's blessings, rather than dwell on what was missing. He swiveled around to face Kurt again, allowing his instincts to take over as he drew the lithe boy closer and planted a chaste kiss on his tantalizing lips. Pulling away, he began to hum a few bars of the song he had sung with Rachel: "Got my halo on, I know what I want. It's who I'm with. It's an extraordinary merry Christmas!"
Kurt chuckled appreciatively. "Blaine, that's so corny, but I love you anyway."
"I know you do," Blaine replied.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?" asked Kurt with a quirk of his eyebrows.
"Oh, I think you can handle me," said Blaine, smiling cheekily at him.
"See, that's exactly what I mean!" Kurt exclaimed, placing his hands on Blaine's chest to playfully push him away, but becoming distracted by the feel of Blaine's muscles rippling underneath his clothes. Feeling his cheeks flush, and giving an involuntary shiver at the direction his thoughts were going, Kurt smiled apologetically at Blaine, who had been watching him with a knowing smile on his face.
"I know, I know," Kurt huffed in exasperation, "Not the time or place."
Blaine just laughed. "Later, I promise," he whispered, planting a light kiss on Kurt's cheek. Clasping hands, and both thinking how the spaces between their fingers was where the other's fit perfectly, they trooped in to the living room to join the Hummel-Hudson family.
"Blaine, so glad you could join us," said Carole, rising from her seat to draw Blaine into her arms.
"Thank you for having me, Carole," he said, wrapping his own arms around her and holding on for all he was worth.
"Hey, kiddo," said Burt, holding out his hand for Blaine to shake, which he did. "You know you're welcome here anytime."
"Thank you, Burt," Blaine whispered, his voice choked with emotion. Coming from a less-than stable home life, it was remarkable to him how accepting Kurt's family was of their relationship.
In a rare show of insight, Finn was there, waiting, after Burt had released Blaine, pulling him into his arms and practically lifting him off of his feet. "You're one of us now, Blaine," he said gruffly, and everyone realized that Finn had been so moved by Blaine's breakdown in Glee club, and learning of Blaine's past and his parents' treatment of him that he was close to tears.
Blaine let himself be held, appreciating Finn's position and how he'd had to let go of his previous misconceptions to accept him both as Kurt's boyfriend and as a member of New Directions. "Thanks, Finn," he replied, squeezing tightly back. He moved back to stand by Kurt, their arms instinctually coming to wrap around each other's waist. Kurt guided him to sit down on the couch, their hands and arms remaining connected at all times.
The group was soon engaged in pleasant talk about current Glee projects, plans, and life in general. As Kurt laughed gaily at some antic of Finn's, Blaine silently observed the two brothers, as well as their parents. The Hummel-Hudson clan might be considered dysfunctional by some, but to Blaine, they were perfect. They were just what a family should be, he thought. Although they came from extremely varied backgrounds, they had learned to overlook one another's differences to be able to accept each other for who they were. Finn had worked through his "issues" with homosexuality, and was now one of Kurt's staunchest defenders. Carole, while not replacing Kurt's mom, had given him a mother-like figure to look up to, and who he knew would love and support him no matter what. As for Burt, while Blaine knew that Kurt felt there were times when his dad wished he was straight – usually after receiving calls saying his son was a "you know what" and would burn in hell – Blaine knew that there wasn't anything that Burt wouldn't do for his son. And he agreed wholeheartedly. Where Kurt was concerned, no sacrifice was too great.
At that moment, Blaine was drawn from his reverie by Kurt gently touching his shoulder. "Blaine?" he murmured, communicating with his eyes as to whether or not Blaine was alright.
"Yeah? Sorry, spaced out there for a minute," said Blaine with a laugh, his apparently genuine happiness letting Kurt know that he was alright.
"How 'bout a song?" asked Burt.
Kurt, for his part, wasted no time in grabbing Blaine's hand and leading him towards the piano. "You know what to do," he whispered mysteriously. Eyes twinkling mischievously, Blaine immediately launched into Baby, It's Cold Outside. The pair entertained everyone with their playful rendition of an old holiday classic. Finn laughed to himself, knowing of the special significance this song held for his brother and Blaine.
"Thank you, thank you," said Kurt, bowing and waving while Burt, Carole, and Finn clapped and cheered. Blaine smiled tenderly at Kurt, looking forward to the day when they would both be on stage taking bows to very real audience.
After a short pause, Blaine, without waiting for an invitation, began to play a slower, more melancholy version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
"Through the years, we all will be together, if the Fates allow," he crooned, singing directly to Kurt, "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough, and have yourself a merry little Christmas now." The others, sensing this was a private moment between the two boys, averted their eyes, yet could not resist listening to Blaine's soulful, honey-smooth vocals.
Leaning heavily on the piano, Kurt bent over to sweetly kiss Blaine on the lips. "I swear that I'm yours, for as long as you'll have me," he whispered.
"Forever, then," Blaine replied fervently.
"Forever." The two then sealed their promise with another kiss, keeping their foreheads pressed close together.
"I love you, Kurt," Blaine whispered, a little desperately, as though Kurt was about to disappear.
"I love you too," Kurt replied reassuringly. He knew that Christmas was a touchy time for Blaine – a holiday celebrating families, when his own didn't accept or want him – and he'd vowed to support him however he could.
Burt came to stand beside both his boys, "You alright there, Blaine?"
"I'm fine, sir," Blaine whispered, barely able to stop his voice from trembling. "I just want to thank you for essentially taking me in as one of your own, and treating me as though I matter to you."
"You do, Blaine. Kiddo, you mean the world to us," Burt assured him.
"You're a wonderful person, Blaine, and we count ourselves lucky to know you," said Carole, presenting herself and Burt as a united force in the hopes of convincing Blaine of his worth.
Finn joined the others congregating around the piano. Although he once would have reveled in Blaine's insecurities and taken that opportunity to tear him down, he'd since changed his tune. "Yeah, you're awesome, Blaine, and if you're ever feeling down, I want you to come to me – or any of us. We're here for you."
"What did I tell you?" Kurt whispered knowingly to Blaine, a smile tugging at his lips upon seeing his family's reaction to what Blaine considered his "weakness" – his need to be loved and wanted. As he'd tried to convince Blaine of before, everyone deserved to be loved, and no matter what Blaine did, he and his family would continue to stand by him. Though his own family may have abandoned him, for all intents and purposes, Kurt never would.
Pushing back the piano bench, Blaine rose to his feet, only to find his arms full of Kurt, who had immediately launched himself at his boyfriend. Finn was next, wrapping his long arms around the pair and practically lifting them off their feet. Burt and Carole, meanwhile, watched from a distance, their eyes suspiciously bright, shining with pride and love for how far the three had come, both as boys and as men.
"They're growing up," Carole whispered tearfully. Burt bent down to press a kiss to his wife's forehead, winding his arm around her shoulders and giving her a gentle squeeze.
The rest of the family – sans Kurt, who merely drew back slightly, yet kept his hands resting lightly on Blaine's hips – gave their adopted member a moment to compose himself, as Blaine rubbed furiously at his eyes to erase any sign of tears.
"Sorry, everyone," he muttered sheepishly.
"No need to apologize, dude," Finn replied easily. "We understand. After all, we're a family."
Blaine stared desperately at Finn, his gaze traveling to encompass Kurt, Burt, and Carole. There was hunger in his eyes – hunger, and a thirst for what was being offered.
Sensing that Blaine needed a moment, Kurt guided him back to the piano bench, his arm remaining wrapped around Blaine's waist in a show of support. Once they were both seated, he lowered his head to rest on Blaine's shoulder.
As though in a trance, Blaine raised his hands to the piano, his fingers coming to rest delicately over the keys. Then, he began to play, a familiar tune to all, but none more so than to he and Kurt, who had both sung Let It Snow for a recent television special. Although some awkwardness remained as far as their introduction was concerned (it had hurt them both for Kurt to have to refer to Blaine as his "friend" and not as his "boyfriend". However, they'd talked and realized the prudence of such a move.), the song still held some fond memories.
Watching his boyfriend come as much alive as the keys he was playing were, Kurt realized how music had become a therapy for Blaine. Sure, he had his boxing – that had been a necessity to be able to properly defend both him and Kurt (not that Kurt was supposed to know this). But music was more of a recreational therapy, an escape for him when life became too much.
Though he joined in song when appropriate, Kurt was content to sit back and watch his boyfriend be in his element.
Later that night, after an evening filled with food, laughter, and family, Kurt and Blaine lay in bed together, Blaine's earlier breakdown having convinced Burt that they needed to be together, at least for one night.
"Thank you for making me come over," Blaine whispered as he lay cuddling with Kurt.
"No one should be alone for Christmas," Kurt replied.
They shared a sweet and tender kiss, deciding in that moment that they had all they could possibly want. Who needed presents under a tree when they had each other?