Hi everyone!
Thank you for all the amazing response this story is getting, and all the alerts added. Reviews, follows and favorites tell me people are reading my story and it makes me happy!
And quick reminder! Follow me on twitter: juliiashih. I'm thinking about writing a series of one-shots concerning Klaine, and I'm accepting prompts by both FF (just PM me, or guest review) and twitter. And I'm also posting possible spoilers about my current and/or upcoming stories and notifying if behind my writing schedule through twitter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, nor do I own anything you may recognize.
Thanksgiving morning had arrived and the atmosphere was still a bit tense. After the breakdown both Kurt and Blaine experienced a couple of days before Thanksgiving, they had both resorted to kind of avoid one another, speaking when necessarily, and choosing to remain in their own rooms when they could. Any glance they saved for the other was filled with longing, sadness, and pain. Burt and Carole did their best to cheer them up, trying to bring up neutral subjects which they could both participate in, without subjecting them to much more awkward moments. While the two men appreciated their effort, and tried to make an effort of their own to oblige them, it was clear that they were both uncomfortable in each other's presence. Something had clearly changed in the mood surrounding them after that night, and it was affecting everyone in the house. Not even Finn and Rachel's arrival the day before managed to cheer up the atmosphere. They both knew they needed to talk, preferably soon, but none could build up the courage to do so.
Meanwhile, Kurt was currently in his room talking to Rachel, after she had forcefully dragged him upstairs claiming she needed to catch up with her best gay, something that confused Kurt seeing as they had barely talked during the past years.
"So, Rachel, care to tell me why you've dragged me up to 'catch-up'?" Kurt turned to her with a raised eyebrow once they were in the safety of his room. Rachel, who was leaning against the close door sighed and walked closer to Kurt.
"I really do want to catch up Kurt. I know we haven't talked much, but I do miss you." She said simply, her expressive eyes gleaming with sincere-ness. Kurt opened his mouth to talk, but Rachel held up a hand. "Kurt, before you moved to Dalton we were relatively close friends. I know I acted like a bitch when you moved, and I understand why our friendship fell apart back then.
*flashback*
Kurt was standing in the choir room at McKinley High looking at his former team-mates. He had just announced to the New Directions that the bullying had gotten too out of hand, and that he didn't feel safe anymore at McKinley, and that he was transferring to Dalton. The entire club was staring back at him, some with mouths hanging open in shock, others nodding sadly understanding where he was coming from. After what felt like hours, Rachel finally broke the silence.
"No." Kurt turned to her staring at in shock, as did Puck and Santana.
"No?" Kurt echoed. Rachel nodded her head.
"You are playing with us right now. You can't abandon us this close to Sectionals. You have obligations and ties with this glee club, Kurt!" She was standing now, a angry gleam to her eye.
"Rachel, did you not hear me?" Kurt was getting angry too. "I said that I don't feel safe here anymore! My safety is a lot more important than Glee club! My transfer has already been finalized. I'm leaving, I'm going to Dalton."
Rachel was extremely angry by then. "Fine, Kurt! It's your choice, if this is what you choose, fine! Abandon your friends; abandon the Glee club you helped create. I didn't take you to be a Benedict Arnold."
By then everyone was staring at her in shock. Kurt seemed frozen, not believing she had just said this to him, someone he considered a friend. He was about to open his mouth to retort, but Santana beat him to it.
"Are you really that dense, Man-Hands? Do you really think Kurt is choosing to abandon us? Didn't you hear that his safety is jeopardized here, thus why he need to transfer to somewhere that offers a zero-bullying tolerance? Porcelain deserves to be somewhere where he feels safe. He is not safe here. He deserves to be happy."
"But we could protect him. He doesn't have to transfer! If he wanted he could find a way to stay. He is just like Jesse, a traitor just like Jesse St. James." Rachel spat this last part at Kurt.
Puck suddenly intervened, sensing that this would get ugly soon, judging by the glare Kurt was sending Rachel's way.
"Kurt, dude, even if we are not happy with you leaving, we understand." Kurt snorted, and Puck smiled lightly. "Well, most of us understand. I can't speak for the guys, but I'm sorry I used to bully, and I'm sorry I haven't made a greater effort to keep you safe. I know you love glee club, and that only extreme circumstances could make you leave it. I'm sorry, dude, and I really hope you are safe and happy at Dalton."
Kurt was stunned to silence. Those were the kindest words he had ever heard come out from Puck's mouth. Most of the others were also looking at Puck as if he had grown a second head, the teen merely shrugged, standing up and going to hug Kurt.
"What? It's true. Come here dude. I'll miss you, Kurt. Please keep in touch." Kurt, too stunned to say anything, just nodded his head. Santana came up next hugging him tightly and telling him to keep safe and keep in touch, and that if anyone tries to hurt him for him to call her, that she would go all Lima Heights on the offender. As he let Santana go, nodding tearfully and chuckling softly he found himself with an armful of blond hair. Brittany was sobbing uncontrollably.
"I don't want my dolphin to leave me and forget about me." Kurt soothed the poor girl and grabbed her face wiping away her tears and making her look at him.
"I'm just transferring, Brit-Brit. I won't ever forget about you, and I'm not leaving forever. I can still come back on weekends, and we can hang out together then, okay?"
She nodded her head and whispered so only he could here. "I love you, dolphin. Don't let anyone take away your magic, okay?"
Kurt nodded, tears falling down his face. He always had a soft spot for Brittany, and he loved the girl dearly. "I love you too; Brit-Brit. Don't let Lord Tubbington read your diary or smoke weed, okay? Smoking is bad for him." He pulled the girl tightly into a hug and when she pulled back from the hug and kissed him on the lips he didn't pull back. He knew it was her way of showing affection.
Rachel was fuming by then. "I can't believe you three are actually supporting him on this thing! This is outrageous." Puck, Santana and Kurt turned to her with unimpressed expressions, Brittany still clinging to Kurt. The rest of the club didn't defend Rachel, nor did they express any sadness in Kurt's transfer. Finn sat quietly, having already have received the news at home. He had already expressed that he would miss his stepbrother dearly, but he made no move to argue with his girlfriend.
Kurt turned to the rest of the club and sighed. "I really thought you guys were my friends and would understand my position right now. I will miss all of you, we are meant to be a family after all but I'm disappointed in you all. Goodbye guys."
He turned and left, with Santana, Puck and Brittany trailing behind him. From that day on, a friendship blossomed between them, a friendship he never thought possible. But then, he thought Rachel was his friend.
*end flashback*
"But Kurt, that was so long ago! And I regret my actions every day. Our friendship back then truly meant something to me, and I was stupid to throw it away the way I did. I know you and Finn practically stopped talking after your break up. I don't approve of Finn's actions at all, and I've told him over and over again. I know he misses having you as a brother. And I miss having you as a friend."
Kurt sighed and sat down on his bed. "Rachel…why now? What kind of game are you playing at?"
"I'm not playing any games, Kurt. In all these years, the greatest mistake I've ever made was to treat you like I did when you had to transfer. I think, that think backwards , I did understand why you had to transfer. I was just being selfish and putting the club's needs before my friend's. It was a shit move I pulled, a move that cost me probably the most honest and sincere friendship I've ever had."
"Rachel, I can't say I've forgiven you. I know it's been years since then, and I've made some lifelong friends at Dalton, which I cherish very much. But I could have gone back to McKinley for my senior year if I wanted. I would have returned if it weren't for a scholarship I got. My dad couldn't pay tuition anymore and he was going to pull me out of Dalton and back to McKinley. I knew it would be safe, seeing as Karofsky had publicly come out. But I chose not to. I studied my ass of during the summer so I could apply for the Dean scholarship, one that would cover all costs. Do you know why I chose to spend my summer studying so I could return to Dalton instead of enjoying it with my boyfriend and friends? Poor Blaine, he barely saw me that summer, and we had barely started dating at the time."
Rachel shook her head.
"Because I felt betrayed by the people I thought were my friends. After I transferred, with the exception of Puck, Santana, Brittany, and Finn, everyone else practically shut me off. It wasn't as if I moved to another planet with no means of communication. I transferred schools. I was coming home on weekends. But you guys didn't even bother to text me. I didn't want to come back. I loved McKinley. I loved the New Directions; it was one of true passions at the time. But it didn't feel like I was welcome back. And it hurt, Rachel. Yes, I loved Dalton, and I loved the Warblers. I made some of the best friends ever there. But I didn't help build the Warblers. You made me feel unwelcome into the very club I helped found."
Rachel was sobbing now. "I'm sorry, Kurt. I'm sorry. I was a bitch back then, and I'm ashamed of some of my actions. But I've changed. Growing up and gaining responsibilities made me change. I'm no longer the same girl I was in high school that cared for nothing else and no one else as long as it helped with her dreams. Yes, I still dream of Broadway, but I'm happy with my life. I love my husband and I love my job. But I realized I lost many friends with my selfishness. You were truly the best friend I've ever had, Kurt. And I threw that away. Please, can we be friends again?"
"It's not that easy, Rachel. I know you've grown up. I know you've changed. But I've spent so much time looking indifferently at you, still hung up with how you acted in High School. It would take me some time to trust you again. And I still don't understand. Why now?"
Rachel looked up at him. "I'm pregnant. Finn and I are going to be parents. And I want my son or daughter to get to know his or her uncle." Kurt let out a gasp, but Rachel kept on going. "And I want you and Finn to rebuild your relationship. You were still relatively close before you and Blaine broke up. After the breakup, I know Finn has maintained good contact with Blaine, and I know you two had a falling out. Kurt, I know Finn, and I'm sure he misses you. But he is stubborn and he won't say anything. He is almost as stubborn as you."
Kurt was looking at her with a shocked expression. "Firstly, did you just say I'm going to be an uncle?" Rachel nodded and Kurt beamed. "Congratulations, Rachel! Really, even with the distance and all, I want you two to be happy. You will both be great parents." He hugged his step-sister-in-law tightly and then let her go with a thoughtful look. "And about Finn, yes we did have a falling out a few years ago. Did he tell you what happened?"
Rachel nodded. "That's why I'm always pleading with him for him to talk to you. I thought it was a pretty dumb argument you two had. He told me that he didn't agree on the break up and that he believed it to be your fault. That you left Blaine miserable to follow your dreams, not caring about his."
Kurt took a deep breath as to not lose his temper. "Well, it was basically that. And he was so wrong. Our break up was mutual. I know Blaine was miserable after it, but so was I. It took me a long time to get on my feet again. We were both suffering from being in the relationship that we decided to end it. I moved to Paris almost two years after our breakup. I had no idea of the promotion at the time. So, no, I didn't breakup with Blaine to follow my dreams, as Finn so eloquently put it. And I'm still upset with him. Our breakup was none of his business. I get that he is friends with Blaine. I wasn't going to keep them apart or tell Finn he couldn't hang out with Blaine just because we were no longer together. Take our mutual friends for example. Wes, David, Nick, Jeff, Santana, Brittany they are all good friends with us both. Before I moved, we would get together, everyone because we were friends. Of course it was hard for me to be out with our friends and Blaine after the breakup, and it was hard for him too. But we put our differences aside for a few hours a month so we could enjoy some time together with our friends. I could have used some brotherly bonding at the time. But Finn suddenly started accusing me of things I didn't do, and that hurt. I was already suffering at the time, Finn's actions added to my misery. Not only had I lost my boyfriend, I was leaving my friends behind, I had also lost my brother. Now you understand why I'm not so keen as to patching things up with Finn?"
Rachel scooted closer to Kurt and opened her arms in a silent invitation. Kurt, after a brief moment of hesitation, slumped into her embrace. "I know Kurt. I know he hurt you. I was pissed at him when I found out. But he wants to apologize. But he is too proud and stubborn to make the first move. He regrets his words. He knows it wasn't your fault. And he wants his son's or daughter's uncle in their lives as well. Please, Kurt. One chance. If he, if we blow up this chance feel free to never speak to us again. But please? One chance is all that we are asking. It is Thanksgiving after all."
Silence stretched between them for some time until Kurt lifter his head and looked Rachel straight in the eye.
"One chance, Rachel. I can see that you are being sincere in your apologies, and I really want to be in my niece's or nephew's life, so one chance. Screw it up, I won't hesitate in cutting you out of my life again."
Rachel nodded silently, fresh tears making their way down her cheeks again. Kurt smiled at her and opened his arms. "Make-up hug?" Rachel laughed joyfully and fell into his arms, hugging him tightly. Just to be sure she questioned.
"Friends?"
Kurt smiled and nodded. "Friends. And Happy Thanksgiving to you too."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
While Kurt and Rachel had their heart to heart talk upstairs in his room, Finn and Blaine were having their own "bro" like conversation which seemed to be going on in the opposite direction that Kurt's and Rachel's had gone.
"But, dude, why would you willingly head for heartbreak again?" Finn asked Blaine loudly.
The two had been catching up on the last couple of months they hadn't seen each other. Blaine had been telling Finn about his recent reconnection with Kurt, and their growing friendship. The curly haired man even confided in Kurt's step brother that, although things had been tense between them during the last couple of days, he wished to pursue more than friendship with Kurt – if Kurt was willing, after they sat down and talked things out, properly. But apparently, Finn didn't share his opinion that he and Kurt could eventually work things out and be together again.
"Finn, I'm not willingly heading for heartbreak again, as you put it. First, I've never headed for heartbreak willingly before. I've had one serious relationship in my life, and that was with your brother. We were together for eight years, and while, yes I did get my heart broken, so did he. We both should've work harder to keep things from falling apart. Second, why would this necessarily end in heartbreak? It could also end in happiness. If everything goes well when we eventually gather enough courage to speak about it, something that undoubtly must be done; there is a high chance that it might work out this time around. I want it to work out this time."
Finn seemed a bit hesitant still to believe Blaine's words. "But man, you were a mess last time. I know I'm supposed to be all supportive of my Kurt, seeing as he is my stepbrother and all...but he must have been a jerk to you all those years ago. You were miserable for months, if not years, after that. I care about you Blaine, and I want to see you happy."
"Finn, the only moments I've been truly happy in my life were those which I spent with him. I know you want to look out for me and all, and I appreciate it, but I'm thirty-one Finn. I think I can handle myself well in this situation. It is after all mine and Kurt'a business. It's our history and our relationship/friendship that has to be mended after all."
Finn sighed. " Look, man. You've been my friend for years. I'm only trying to do the right thing here. He broke you once, he can very well break you again. But it's your life. I can't say, nor will I pretend to agree with you. But I won't try to stop you."
"I appreciate your concern Finn, but its my life and my happiness. And I'm absolutely sure of what I want to do. We have a lot to talk about, that's a given. But once all the cards are on the table I do want to pursue something else with him. He still owns my heart, Finn. I think he always will." Blaine told Finn getting a bit teary eyes at the end.
Finn just sighed again and after a moment's hesitation, held out his fist for a bro bump with Blaine. which he gladly fiat bumped. Blaine really liked having Finn in his life. He was a good friend. But if he was being honest, he was getting a bit frustrated at Finn for being so negative about the prospects of a future relationship with Kurt. And he didn't want to fight with Finn, but if that was what it came to, Kurt or Finn, he'd choose Kurt anytime.
The two of them then sat in silence, occasionally one would break it to make an off handed comment about something on TV, that had at some point been switched on. During their silence they both were in deep thought. Blaine about how he would approach Kurt, and Finn about what Blaine had said. What if he said was true, that the only person to make him truly happy was Kurt? They sat like that until Kurt and Rachel return downtairs, both with puffy eyes, but wearing bright smiles.
Rachel immediately went to hug Finn and plonked down on his lap while whispering somethig in his ear which made him smile. Kurt stood awkwardly at the doorway for a few moments before requesting to talk to Finn privately.
Finn, after being nudged to get up by his wife, stood and followed his step brother into the dining room. Kurt was standing with his back towards the entry, his shaking shoulders betraying that he was sobbing. Cautiously, Finn aproached him, not knowing how to react.
"Kurt? You okay, dude?" He placed a concerned hand on Kurt's arm, wrary of what might be the problem.
"Yeah I'm fine Finn. Just something Rachel said that made me all emotional. I guess I own you congratulations, huh?" He said with a small smile.
Finn looked confused for a moment, until Kurt looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and his expression morphed into undersrandment and a huge grin spread accross his face. "Yeah...its crazy to think that I'm going to be a dad."
Kurt chuckled with him. "Its crazy to think that I'm going to be an uncle." They lookedbat each other for a few moments before Kurtbfinally spoke. "Finn...about what happened years ago that made us practically strangers. I'm sorry, okay. I should have understood your point, that you were concerned about your friend and not used thew fact that my dad married your mom against you. You were always closer to him, it makes sense that you's stick up for him. And I shouldn't have let my relationship problems come in between us."
Finn looked overwhelmed with everything Kurt said. He knew he was stubborn, but Kurt was always the more stubborn, and to think that Kurt was the one who initiated this conversation meant a lot to him.
"Hum..dude. Look, man, I'm no good with words, but you have nothing to be sorry about. I shouldn't have been so harsh with my opinons and kept them to myself. It was your relationship. I let myself be blinded by one of my best friend's sadness and miserableness that I shunned away my brother in the process. And looking back, if you were half as bad as he was, I should have been there for you too."
Finn was suddenly met with an armful of his brother. "You don't know how happy your words have made me. And while my exterior was okay all those years ago, I was dying inside. To tell the truth I still think like part of me is missing. And, Blaine was always the more emotional of the two of us. I'm sure we were both equaly devastated when our relationship crumbled."
"Yeah…I understand that now. I had no right to act the way I did. I didn't act as a friend or as a brother towards you. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry Kurt. I know Blaine told me it wasn't your fault what happened, that you both contributed to it falling apart. But Kurt, you have to see my point too. I've never seen Blaine as broken as he was during the first year after your break up, especially the first months. And you seemed like yourself. You didn't seem to be much affected by it. So I automatically blamed you. I blamed you for his miserableness, I blamed you for your breakup, and I even blamed you when we had our falling out."
Silence enveloped them both for some time until Kurt looked up at Finn, looking him in the eyes.
"Finn, I will say it all again, and you better listen. I'm not lying. Am I to blame for out breakup? Yes. But so was he. We both could, should, have worked harder to stop everything from falling apart. We were heading in that direction for months before it finally fell apart, and we both did nothing to stop it until it was too late. I know he was miserable for many months following our breakup. I was too, but I hid it well behind my mask of sarcasm and indifference. And as for our falling out, I never did want to fight and distance myself from you, Finn. I really did, and still do, consider you my brother. But what you did hurt me. I couldn't make myself keep in touch when every time you looked and spoke to me, your glance and words were filled with accusation."'
Finn stood staring at his stepbrother, replaying his words in his head, while also remembering the talk he had just had with Blaine. Finally he opened his mouth to speak.
"I know, Kurt. I understand that now. Blaine made me open my eyes too. I messed up big time. I promise I won't keep blaming you for it. It wasn't right of me. But please, Kurt, can't we just put the past behind us and be brothers again? I know it will take some time, but can we at least start taking baby steps in that direction? You know, all that Hapuna Mapaca, and all?"
Kurt smirked at his brother. "Hakuna Matata, you mean Finn?" Finn nodded a bit confused but with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "Okay, sure. As you said it will take some time, but I'm sure that in time we might mend our relationship once again. After all I'm mending my friendship with Rachel too, might as well as mend my relationship with my brother too. You will be the parents of my future niece or nephew, and I really want to be in his life."
A huge smile took over Finn's face and he nodded enthusiastically. "Of course you will in Finn Jr. or Rachel Jr.'s life. Who else will be his/her favorite uncle?"
Kurt laughed joyously and opened his arms for his brother. The two brothers hugged for a long while. While not everything was okay between them, not by a long shot, things were beginning to look up. And the hope that other things would begin to look up as well and another relationship might be mended in the near future, was present on both Blaine's and Kurt's minds.
Thank you all for reading. While there wasn't much direct Klaine interaction in this chapter, the talk Hummelberry and Furt had will play a big part in the development of the story.
What did you guys think of the chapter? How is the story so far? Please leave a comment below letting me know your thoughts. Reviews motivate me to update faster.
Xoxo -Julia