Disclaimer: I DO NOT own these character or Glee. 'Lean On Me' belongs to Bill Withers.
As Kurt and Blaine got closer and closer to Westerville; Blaine began to get more and more nervous. Kurt could see it in Blaine's face as the two of them drove along the highway. He couldn't think of anything supportive to say to his boyfriend so instead he simply took Blaine's hand in his own and smiled at him. Blaine instantly felt just a little better about seeing his parents. No, not his parents; his dad. It took almost two hours to get to Westerville from Lima and with that two hours Blaine was able to explain just what happened with his dad over the course of 21 years.
"Have you called or texted your parents to let them know we're coming today?" Kurt asked taking the Westerville exit on the freeway.
"I texted my mom last night before I went to sleep, but she didn't reply so I don't know if they know." Blaine shrugged.
As Kurt stopped at the stop sign at the end of the off ramp he turned to Blaine, "We really don't have to go. I can jump right back on the freeway and head back to Lima."
Blaine shook his head telling Kurt 'no.' "No, no. I have to go. If I don't now I never will."
"Okay, I just…I can see how nervous you are about seeing your dad Blaine. You're absolutely positively sure you want to go?" Kurt said rubbing Blaine's shoulder.
"I'm sure." Blaine said looking Kurt in the eye. Kurt smiled and turned off the off ramp in the direction of Blaine's house.
Blaine gave Kurt directions as they drove to Blaine's parents' house. Blaine pointed to a large brick home with a circle drive. There was a huge front porch and five large trees in the grass area in the center of the circle drive. There were four large pillars on the porch with arched stairs leading to front door coming down from both sides of the porch. As Kurt pulled into the driveway he got even more nervous. Blaine was rich. At least his parents were. Kurt immediately felt underdressed to walk into such a mansion.
"This is where you grew up?" Kurt finally let out as he parked the car.
"Yeah. Don't freak out. We weren't some richy rich stuck up prudes." Blaine laughed.
"I mean…I knew you had money because you went Dalton but I didn't realize you were gigantic mansion rich." Kurt said opening his door.
"I'm not. It's all my parents' and Cooper's; none of its mine, Kurt." Blaine said closing the passenger side door and walking around to Kurt.
Blaine put his arm around Kurt's waist and guided him up to the front door. He took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. He saw his mother walking towards the door. She opened the door with a large smile on her face. "Blaine!" She exclaimed before pulling her son into a giant hug like it had been ten years since she saw him last. "I didn't know you were coming back to Ohio for Thanksgiving." She said pulling away. She caught a glimpse of Kurt, "Who is this?"
"Uh…mom…this is Kurt Hummel my…my…" Blaine started.
"Friend from New York." Kurt finished Blaine's thought before he reached out to shake Mrs. Anderson's hand. "I'm from Lima up north back for the holiday." Kurt said smiling.
Blaine looked at Kurt with an 'I'm sorry/Thank you so much' look on his face. Kurt smiled at him. "It's very nice to meet you Kurt. I'm Angela Anderson, Blaine's mother." She said shaking Kurt's hand. "Please come inside it's cold outside." She continued ushering the boys inside the house. They both took off their shoes and left them next to the large double doors leading out to the porch. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Um, just water." Blaine answered.
"Same." Kurt told Angela.
Angela walked off headed towards the kitchen and Blaine showed Kurt into the Family room. "I'm sorry. I should have just said you're my boyfriend. She's okay with it." Blaine said sounding upset with himself.
"Blaine, it's fine. You can tell her whenever. She seems like a lovely woman." Kurt said resting his hand on Blaine's upper thigh rubbing it gently. Blaine took hold of Kurt's hand stopping him and just holding it in his own.
Angela was spying on the boys from the door way watching the way they interacted with each other; she knew that they were more than just friends from New York but wanted Blaine to tell her himself. She cleared her throat as she walked into the room. With a tray of water and cheese and crackers for the boys to snack on while they all sat and chatted for a little bit. "So Kurt do you go to NYU also?" Angela asked.
"No, I go to NYADA we met in a karaoke bar in Manhattan. Thank you for the water and snacks."
"You're welcome." She smiled. She was beginning to really like Kurt. He was polite and seemed like such a nice kid for her son to be dating. "When did you meet?"
"Just after the semester started. Blaine's first night in New York actually." Kurt smiled sipping his water and looking at Blaine.
Angela smiled at the boys. She liked the way that Kurt was just smiling at Blaine. Blaine looked very happy sitting so close to Kurt. Happier than he had ever been before. Blaine jumped when he heard a car pull up in the driveway. He knew that it was his dad getting home from work he scooted away from Kurt on the couch not wanting his dad to figure out just who Kurt was to Blaine before he was able to tell him.
Daniel Anderson came into the house, "Angie, who's car is sitting in the driveway?" He yelled before walking into the living room seeing Blaine sitting on the couch tense and gulping water. "Blaine. What are you doing home?" He asked sternly.
"It's Thanksgiving dad." Blaine said standing up slowly.
"Who's he?"
Kurt instantly stood up next to Blaine and reached his hand out to shake Daniel's, "I'm Kurt Hummel, a friend of Blaine's." He stood with his hand extended for several seconds before he realized Daniel wasn't going to take it.
"You brought a friend home without asking us if he could stay here?" Blaine's dad snapped.
"No…no…I…I'm staying with Kurt in Lima with his family this week." Blaine was starting to breathe very heavily.
"You'd rather spend the holiday with strangers than your own family? I see."
Kurt looked at Blaine knowing that he had to end this conversation before Blaine passed out from lack of oxygen. "Um, so Blaine hasn't told me much about you two what do you do for a living?" Kurt interjected hoping to end Daniel's terrorizing line of questioning of Blaine.
Daniel did not answer the question instead he turned and left the room. "I'm sorry about him. He hasn't slept in a few days." Angela said to the boys. "Please sit back down." She said motioning for the boys to sit back down next to each other on the couch. "Blaine, I wanted you to tell me but…" She began.
"I know you know." Blaine interrupted her. He scooted back closer to Kurt and put his arm around Kurt's shoulders. "I saw you spying earlier. Since mid-September. I really like him." Blaine smiled at Kurt.
"I can tell sweetie. Have you talked to your brother? He should be home in an hour or so. Do you two need to get back to Lima?" Angela asked. "Stay for dinner. I insist." She smiled at the boys.
"Sure, of course we can. Have to be home by 11." Kurt accepted without asking Blaine. Angela got up and left the room to start dinner extremely happy to have both of her boys back under her roof for dinner at once. It had been far too long since the last time this had happened. "Sorry, I should have asked you." Kurt said rubbing Blaine's back.
"No, it's fine. I need to talk to my dad anyways. We have to put the whole gay thing behind us." Blaine reassured Kurt. "I mean you saw the way he looked at me." Blaine said slouching back into the couch.
Kurt leaned back so his head was right next to Blaine's and put his arm around his flustered boyfriend trying to calm his nerves. They sat there for several minutes before Kurt perked up, "I want to see your room. I showed you mine." He smiled hoping to take Blaine's mind off of his dad. Kurt stood up from the couch holding out his hand for Blaine to take it. "Come on." Kurt said taking Blaine's hand and pulling him from the couch.
Blaine led Kurt on a short tour of the house showing him where everything was. The last stop on the tour was Blaine's old bedroom. Kurt took a peek inside before completely entering. "I like it. Calm. Relaxing. You." Kurt said turning around looking at Blaine. Blaine smiled at his giddy boyfriend. Kurt hopped up onto Blaine's old bed and bounced a couple of times before lying down completely on the bed. "This is so comfortable. Come here lay down with me." Kurt said patting the bed next to him.
Blaine looked out the door to make sure his dad wasn't coming before he crawled onto the bed to lie next to Kurt. Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine's upper torso tightly. He never wanted to let go of Blaine. Blaine felt safe and relaxed lying in his old bed holding onto his boyfriend tightly. He too never wanted to let go. They both wished that this moment could last forever. Just being together. It felt like hours that they had just lied there until they heard footsteps coming towards the bedroom. Blaine could tell that it was his dad so he jumped from the position he was in next to Kurt and urged Kurt to get off the bed. "And that's my bedroom." Blaine said to Kurt.
"I like it." Kurt said before they both walked out of the bedroom. "Mr. Anderson." Kurt said after he saw Blaine's dad standing in the hallway.
"Blaine, I need to talk to you. Kurt would you please go downstairs and help Mrs. Anderson with dinner?" Daniel said to the boys. Kurt gave Blaine a slight glance before he headed down to the kitchen to help Angela and Daniel pushed Blaine into his bedroom. "Who is he?"
"He's…he's…my…" Blaine couldn't form a complete sentence when his dad began to raise his voice.
"He gay too?" His dad was beginning to tense up and yell.
"Yes. In fact dad he's…my…my…boy."
"He's the boyfriend!" Daniel interrupted Blaine. "Right after dinner you and your boyfriend need to leave and spend the rest of the holidays with the strangers you're staying with now." Daniel said with a huff and turned around to leave Blaine's room. As the door slammed shut Blaine collapsed on the bed in tears. After Daniel got downstairs Kurt ran back to Blaine's room to find him with his face down in the pillow sobbing.
"Blaine!" Kurt squealed before he climbed onto the bed and turned Blaine over. "Blaine. Blaine. Come here." He pulled Blaine tightly to his chest rocking him side to side trying to calm him.
"Squirt!" Blaine heard be yelled from downstairs.
"That's Cooper." Blaine said lifting his head from Kurt's shoulder and wiping away his tears. Kurt could tell that Blaine wasn't finished with his tears and yet Blaine still got up and walked out of the room holding on tightly to Kurt's hand. Just before they started walking down the stairs Blaine looked at Kurt. "Please don't let go."
"Never."
They walked hand in hand into the kitchen to find Angela and Cooper standing and talking. "Coop!" Blaine hugged Cooper without letting go of Kurt.
"So this is the boyfriend? I'm Cooper." Cooper said lightly patting Kurt on the shoulder. Kurt nodded in agreement. The four of them sat down at the bar in the kitchen and had a pleasant conversation until Daniel came into the room and everybody tensed up immediately.
"Is dinner ready?" He asked before sitting down at the dining room table. Angela motioned for the three boys to go sit down Blaine led Kurt over to his seat before he sat down next to him.
The entire meal was eaten in silence. After the meal was over Blaine stood up, "okay, well, we should get back to Lima."
"Come on Squirt stay here for tonight." Cooper pleaded with his brother.
"We've been asked to leave right after dinner. So we should leave. Dinner's over." Blaine said heading for the front door.
"Daniel!" Blaine heard his mother yell from the dining room. "He is your son! I cannot believe that you told him to leave right after dinner!"
"Angela, the way that boy is living is not natural. It's disgusting. And I don't want to be around it!" He father yelled back.
Kurt sat in the same chair he had while he was eating dinner with Cooper sitting opposite him. The look that the boys shared were looks of hatred and disappointment. Kurt stood from his seat and walked towards Blaine and the front door.
Kurt turned around. "You should be ashamed. You're the reason that Blaine doesn't come around. And look what it does to Mrs. Anderson. She hates not seeing her own son. He wants a relationship with you but you don't let him." Kurt yelled at Daniel.
"And how would you know? You've known him for three months; I've known him for 21 years." Daniel yelled back.
"And yet I know him better. He trusts me and talks to me. And I listen to him. I care about him." And with that Kurt turned to Angela, "Mrs. Anderson, Cooper, you are always welcome out to New York to visit; I'm sure Blaine would love it if you'd come out to see him." Then he turned around took Blaine by the shoulders and walked out of the house.
As they were walking down the stairs Blaine stopped Kurt. "Why?"
"Why? What?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Because Blaine, you deserve better than that. And I really do care about you. I care about you a lot Blaine and I just want you to be happy." Kurt said adjusting Blaine's bow-tie. "I like it when you're happy. It makes me happy." Kurt pulled Blaine into a hug. "And he's just a horrible man." He told him before placing a light kiss onto Blaine's lips.
They made their way back to Kurt's car and headed home.
The car ride was silent except for the radio:
Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Blaine turned the radio up and began to hum to the song. Kurt put his hand on Blaine's thigh stroking it lightly and he smiled at Blaine. Blaine's eyes were red and puffy, his cheeks were tear stained, but most of all Kurt could tell that just seeing Daniel Anderson made Blaine crack. The normally level headed, smiling, full of life Blaine Devon Anderson had been taken to the ground after seeing his dad for even just a few seconds.
Please swallow your pride
If I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill
Those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Kurt pulled into his drive in Lima but before he could turn off the car Blaine stopped his hands. Kurt looked at him and saw the tears in his eyes. Kurt pulled Blaine into the tightest hug that he had ever given. "It's okay." He whispered into Blaine's ear.
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load
You have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
The song ended and the two of them got out of the car. Kurt wrapped his arm around Blaine's waist and Blaine had his arm around Kurt's shoulders.
They walked in the door to Burt and Carole sitting in the living room. As they walked through the door Carole stood up from the couch and Burt set his beer down; both noticing that Blaine was extremely upset about something. "Here Blaine come here I will get you some tea." Carole said taking Blaine from Kurt helping him into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Burt asked standing up to meet Kurt eye to eye.
"Mr. Anderson is a total ass, dad." Kurt said falling down onto the couch. Burt sat down next to Kurt. "He said that the way Blaine is living was disgusting and unnatural. I wanted to hurt him." Kurt looked his dad right in the eye. Burt hugged his son. "I'm going to go sit with Blaine." Kurt got up and headed into the kitchen.
As Kurt walked into kitchen, Carole walked back into the living room. Burt was putting on his shoes and his coat ready to head out the door. "Where are you going?"
"I'm headed to Westerville. That man hurt Blaine. I like Blaine and when he insults Blaine he insults Kurt. I'm not going to stand for that." Burt told Carole before he walked out the door.
Just after the door slammed shut Blaine and Kurt walked back into the living room before they headed upstairs to watch a movie. "Where did dad go?"
"Um, out. Blaine why don't you take that upstairs to your room and get into something more comfortable. I need to talk to Kurt for just a second." Blaine nodded in silent agreement. After Blaine left the room Carole went back to Kurt, "He went to Westerville to see Mr. Anderson. Whatever you told him happened got him worked up and you know your dad. When someone insults someone he cares about, especially when it comes to homophobia, he really takes it to heart." Carole explained. "Kurt, sweetie, he really likes Blaine even though he's only known him for a few days. Why don't you go join Blaine upstairs. I will look the other way if you sleep in there tonight. I promise." Carole hugged Kurt before he went upstairs.
Kurt turned around at the bottom of the stairs, "thank you Carole."
"You're welcome, sweetie."
Kurt headed upstairs to sit with Blaine. When he opened the door he saw Blaine start putting his clothes into his suitcase. "Blaine, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to Westerville. Staying with my parents."
"Blaine, after what happened tonight? Blaine, please just calm down." Kurt said.
"Kurt, I just don't know what to do?" Blaine said falling into Kurt's chest clutching onto his shirt.
"You're going to stay here and watch movies with me tonight right here in this bed. Tomorrow we are going to have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Friday we are going shopping at midnight then Saturday we are headed back to New York to go back to school." Kurt said leading Blaine back to the bed. They sat on the bed holding each until both of them fall asleep on Blaine's bed.
To Be Continued…