Kurt isn't entirely sure why Blaine has worn a suit to meet his mom at the airport, or why he stands ramrod straight, his eyes fixed on the far wall as he clings tightly to Kurt's arm, but he does, so Kurt says nothing, moving his arm until he's holding Blaine's hand and can squeeze his fingers gently.

"You okay? No, no, you're not okay. That was dumb. I'm sorry."

"I'm more worried about the trip home than anything," Blaine admits. "It's nearly two hours. What if we run out of conversation?"

"We won't," Kurt reassures with a soft smile. "If we do, just ask my opinion on Republicans. I'll fill the time."

Blaine laughs, breaking his stare to look at Kurt instead. "You fool."

"What? I have a lot to say on the subject."

"You have a lot to say on any subject," Blaine points out. "It was yellow bananas the other day."

"Because there comes a time when a banana has to be eaten. You have to watch carefully for that moment, because it quickly changes from being in its prime to being past its peak."

"And the one I offered you..."

"Was past its peak! If you'd offered it to me the day before, fine, but when you did offer it to me, it was too yellow."

"You refused my banana," Blaine teases.

"Blaine, I will always be happy to eat your banana, anytime you wish, but if it's too yellow, I'm not going near it."

They both laugh, and Kurt gets a small thrill when Blaine turns to take him in his arms and kisses just above his collar. "Love you, tiger."

"Love you too," Kurt grins.

"Hi."

"Oh!" They jump apart. Kurt smoothes down his shirt as his cheeks redden, and he offers Angie a small smile. Meanwhile, Blaine swallows and stares at the ground, saying nothing. "Hi," Kurt says, suddenly not sure if he should hug her or not. He decides he better not, and nudges Blaine forward instead.

"Blaine?" Angie says quietly, holding out her arms.

He goes, and Kurt notices how they both seem to sag against one another, and Blaine almost buries himself in her arms. "Mom," is all he says, but it's enough for Angie to be wiping away tears when she pulls back.

"I just uh...thank you," she says to Kurt, sincerity in her eyes. "Thank you for inviting me. I hope Burt didn't mind?"

"He was fine," Kurt says brightly, taking Blaine's hand and tugging him to the exit. "It's nice for you to be with us on Thanksgiving, right?"

"Yes," Angie smiles. "I have to uh...I have to fly back Friday morning but..."

"But you're here," Kurt says, before Blaine can question her on why she needs to return. "And dad will have dinner ready when we get home. Blaine trained him well."

"How's college, Blaine?"

"It's uh...yeah, it's great," he says, allowing himself a smile. "Really great. It took me a while to settle in but..."

"Is your roommate nice?"

"He is, but I prefer my weekend one."

Kurt blushes pink with pleasure at Blaine's openness and sincerity, and gives him a look which silently tells Blaine that remark has just made his day. "This is us," he says, unlocking Bessie.

"Ah, the infamous car," Angie says, impressed. "I finally get to ride in it."

"Please don't call her a car," Blaine says, wounded. "Or an it. She's Bessie."

"Oh."

"Blaine is a little over protective," Kurt explains. "Which is cute. Bessie is quite special though. So uh..." he takes Angie's small bag and loads it into the trunk, before holding the back door open for her. He might be trying, but there's still no way he's letting her ride in the front instead of Blaine.

Angie seems okay though, and actually seems to relax once she's leaning back against the comforting leather of Bessie's seat. "She's lovely," she declares, and Blaine puffs up with pride.

"She is. I miss her, I miss working on her, but getting to drive her is like...the best thing."

"I'll bet people look at you as you drive past."

"They do, but that's usually because Kurt's flipping them off."

"Hey! Those women were rude!" Kurt objects with a laugh.

Polite conversation gets them through the Columbus traffic and out onto the highway, by which time everyone is feeling a little more relaxed and easy about the whole thing. Angie is completely fascinated by the relationship between her son and Kurt, the ease and affection, the gentle teasing, and also, and perhaps most startling to her, the strength.

She had assumed, despite Blaine's assertions about children in the future, that this was just another teenage romance. Even though Kurt could hardly be classed as that, she still figured that they were dating, calling each other boyfriends, but that was about it. After just half an hour in their company though, she can see that it goes far beyond that, and that they are deeply in love.

They're like a couple who have been together for years, in the way they bicker and argue, and she can also see how feisty Kurt can be. She's happy to see Blaine gives as good as he gets though, and when Kurt launches into a tirade of abuse against a truck that cuts him off, and makes to do the same in return, Blaine talks him out of it by making him laugh, and showing him how futile it would be.

"Use your energies elsewhere."

"Shut up."

"Which means I'm right," Blaine says smugly.

"You're not right."

"I am, because you're telling me to shut up."

"Bastard. I hate you."

"What was that you said, Kurt? 'You're right Blaine, and I love you very much?' Why thank you Kurt, I love you too."

Kurt laughs and shakes his head, glancing at Blaine and sticking his tongue out.

"Besides, dad would kill you if you took Bessie back with a scratch on her, especially if you then said it was because you were trying to get revenge on a truck."

"Speaking of," Kurt says, tossing his phone into Blaine's lap. "Can you call him and see if he wants anything from the store before we head home? He always forgets something and I'm not going out again."

Angie leans back and closes her eyes, content to listen to the conversation from the pair. Away from Baltimore, and away from the oppressive presence of Spencer for the first time in more than three years, Angie feels like she can breathe for the first time. She pushes all uncomfortable thoughts to the back of her mind, and focuses on the here and now. She is spending Thanksgiving with her son, her son who has shown strength and resilience, and found love.

"Dad? It's me. Kurt wants to know if you need anything before we come home?" He waits, as Angie sits up again and opens her eyes in time to see him smiling.

"Okay, yeah. Sure? You got pecans?"

He laughs loudly at whatever it is Burt says, and turns to Kurt. "Pecans."

"Knew it! Tell him he's hopeless."

"Kurt says you're hopeless." He laughs again and turns back. "Dad says you're rude and to get the pecans if you want any pie tomorrow."

He finishes the call and hangs up, and Angie immediately leans forward. "You call him dad?"

"Oh..uh..yeah," Blaine says awkwardly. "It's uh...well, I suggested it, actually."

"You had a dad," Angie points out.

"I had a whole family," Blaine immediately shoots back, then bites his lip when he sees the hurt flash across her face. "Sorry. Look, dad was...still is, wonderful. He gave me everything, and I'll be forever thankful, but, Burt is my dad too."

"He's not, though," Angie argues, unwilling to let it drop. "You know, Blaine, I find it hard to accept that you'd change so much for him, and yet when Spencer tried, you..."

"Spencer didn't try shit," Blaine snaps loudly, while Kurt drives on in silence. "And I didn't change, mom, I grew up. Nothing about my personality changed at all, it's just that Burt found me acceptable while Spencer didn't. Don't even try and compare anything Spencer did to Burt's actions. Spencer bullied and tormented me for a year of my life. His sons outed me in the middle of high school and encouraged others to bully me. I know you see it, because you told me so yourself. They are vile human beings, mom. All Burt did was love me, and provide me with a safe haven. So yes, I do call him my dad, and no, I won't drop it to satisfy your guilt, because Burt has been ten times more of a parent to me than you have."

What follows is a resounding silence, filled with angry, simmering resentment, as Angie turns to look out her window, and Blaine slumps down in his seat, staring straight ahead. Silently, Kurt reaches out for his hand and holds it tightly. It's not much, but it's enough for Blaine to shift closer along the bench seat, until Kurt can sling his arm around him and kiss into his hair.

"Love you," he whispers, and Blaine gives a small nod, unable to say more.

They stay that way for the longest time, until Blaine glances over his shoulder and sees his mom wiping at her eyes. Filled with a pang of regret, he hauls himself into the backseat and rests his hand gently on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly. "That was really low and uncalled for and...yeah, I'm sorry. I just...I get really defensive of Burt and our life together, because no one can really understand unless they're living it. Even so, I shouldn't have said what I said, so..."

"You were right though," Angie says with a sniff. "He's been far better to you than I have."

"Recently, yes," Blaine admits. He's not going to shy away from the facts, because otherwise how will Angie ever understand? "But you know what? I don't ever want anyone's pity for that time I lived with Spencer, because the time previous to that was so good. You and dad gave me an excellent childhood, mom, and I really will be forever grateful for that."

"We did have fun, didn't we?"

"We really did," Blaine says with a sad smile. "And I don't want you to think I hate you, or won't forgive you for what happened since but….well, you made your choice, I guess," Blaine says with a shrug. "I want you in my life, I want you to be my mom, but I can't have any involvement with him or his sons, I just can't."

"No," Angie says quietly. "I don't blame you."

"Does he treat you okay?" Blaine asks, seizing his opportunity. "Does he hurt you? Why did you leave?"

"I haven't left," Angie says stiffly. "I'm going back. I just..." She trails off, wiping at her eyes, which just seem to cry endless silent tears. "He doesn't hurt me, no," she settles on. "Not physically."

"Walk away," Blaine urges, holding her hand tightly.

"I can't do that."

"I did."

"You didn't, you were rescued," Angie points out. "By the man you now call dad."

"You know you should be grateful," Blaine says, becoming angry once more. "Because if he hadn't, I think you would've been attending my funeral."

"You would have...?"

"I don't know," Blaine admits. "I just know that I couldn't have gone on living with them like that. Especially if I'd moved with you. At least in Lima I had Burt's house to escape to, but in Baltimore I would have had nothing and..."

"Who wants to hear my views on the Republican Party?" Kurt calls from the front, breaking the moment completely.

Blaine laughs, while Angie looks confused, and he leans forward to ruffle Kurt's hair. "Tell me about bananas instead."

"Are you a Republican, Kurt?" Angie asks in surprise.

"No I am not!" he cries, affronted. "Sheesh, what do you take me for?"

"Oh, good, I was worried there for a moment," Angie says, and Kurt laughs in surprise. "Look," she says, turning back to Blaine again. "I am more than aware of all that Burt has done for you, really. I know that if it wasn't for him and Kurt, then we probably wouldn't even be talking, or worse, so... .so I'm grateful to him for that. It's not easy though, to admit that someone who is, or was a stranger to me, can give my son a happier life that I can, and the worst part is knowing that it was all my choice. It was my choice to marry Spencer, my choice to turn a blind eye to your pain, and my choice to let you move in with Burt. If hearing you call him dad makes me upset, then I have no one to blame but myself, and I'm sorry for getting worked up about it."

"He'll never replace dad," Blaine says gently. "You know that, right? He'll just sit there, alongside. Like...I have two dads, instead of one."

"I know that."

"The letter dad wrote me...he said….he told me to find happiness, and that's just what I've done."

"You have," Angie agrees, reaching out to run a hand gently over his cheek. "You have and I'm so proud of you for that."

"I want you to be happy too," Blaine adds sadly, knowing that at this point in time, she's not.

"I don't really think I deserve that," Angie says, shaking her head. "I'm just grateful that you still want me in your life, in whatever capacity."

"I do, but things will never be how they were," Blaine admits, looking down at their hands. "Too much has happened."

Angie sighs, and holds his hand a little bit tighter. "I realize that, but I'm happy to take whatever you want to give."

Burt knows the ride home has been stressful from the way Kurt slams a bag of groceries onto the counter and heads straight for the fridge, where he grabs a beer and downs nearly the entire thing before taking a breath.

"Oh my god," he whispers, looking at his dad. "Just... Oh my god."

"Where are they?"

"In the hall," Kurt whispers quickly. "But dad...Blaine launched into this tirade against his mom, she got all shitty because he calls you dad, and then Blaine said..."

He's prevented from saying anymore by the arrival of Blaine with Angie in tow. The atmosphere is immediately awkward, with Angie appearing out of place, and Blaine looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Well, hello," Burt says a brightly as he can. "Nice to have you here, Angie. Can I get you anything? A drink? Dinner's nearly ready."

"No that's um... I'm good," Angie says quietly. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me visit."

"Anytime. Blaine? You wanna take your mom's bag and show her to the guest room?"

"No."

"It wasn't a question."

Blaine trails meekly from the room with Angie following, but he's back downstairs quickly to seek comfort in the arms of Burt, who has been brought up to date by Kurt, who is now on his second beer.

"Well, you said what you wanted to say, didn't you?" Burt says, as he folds him into a strong hug.

"That's not even half of it."

"Maybe save the rest," Burt advises. He drops a little kiss to the top of Blaine's head but doesn't let go of him, just squeezes him that little bit tighter. "We'll make this just a normal Hummel family evening, okay? We'll have dinner, play cards. That'll relax everyone and... Kurt, don't even think about having another beer," Burt barks, and Kurt huffs and slams the fridge door shut.

"Fine."

They hear footsteps on the stairs and Blaine stiffens, but Kurt takes him by the hand quickly and pulls him toward the basement door. "C'mon. Let's get five minutes alone."

"Did I scare them away?" Angie asks, entering the kitchen just as the basement door closes.

"No, Blaine just needs five minutes, that's all."

Burt pulls a stool up to the counter for Angie, and she settles down as he slides a beer across to her without even asking. She's surprised, but pleased, and takes a sip before fiddling with the label.

"So he calls you dad now."

"He does." Burt carries on cooking, waiting, but she doesn't say anything else. "It was his idea," Burt offers. "If you were wondering. There was some stuff in the letter from his dad which he thought about, and then we went on our road trip and...well, he asked if he could, and I said yes."

"Have you read that letter?"

"I have."

"Blaine asked you to?"

Burt gives a nod, hoping she's not about to put him in an awkward position by asking what it said, but she doesn't, just sips her beer again and sighs.

"I don't think he'll ever ask me to read it."

"No, well..."

"I don't blame him," she says with a tight smile. "Can I ask, how did you feel? When he asked if he could call you dad?"

"Elated," Burt admits, his heart swelling at the thought. "Like it all finally fit. I love him, Angie. I love him as if he were my own, and I know he's not, and I don't want to take him away from you or Carl, but he's part of my family too."

"I know. And I know how much you love him. I guess it's just...strange for me, because Spencer's sons call me mom, but that's because he told them to. I've never gotten a warm feeling from hearing them say it. On the contrary, I often wish they wouldn't. I don't want people thinking I raised them."

"Blaine's not like them at all."

"No, he's not. He's wonderful. Thanks to you."

"Thanks to both of us, actually," Burt corrects. "And Carl. You two raised him so well, all I did was give him a home when he needed one."

"Actually, I think you did so much more," Angie tells him sincerely. "But thank you, for saying that. I'm kinda hoping these two days will help us both to move forward a bit, you know?"

"Are you going back to him?"

"Spencer? Yes, I think so."

Burt says nothing, but his disapproving look tells her enough, and she is immediately on the defence.

"He's not a bad guy!"

"Tell that to someone who hasn't met him," Burt snaps. "Might I remind you of all he did to Blaine? And hell, you're sitting there saying he's not a bad guy, and yet you ran to New York to escape him."

"It wasn't just him. It's just all too oppressive sometimes and I...I can't...I needed to get out," she finishes weakly. "He's...ugh. Look, I can't talk about this right now, I can't. I think I'm going to..."

"Sit down," Burt orders, and Angie obeys. "Fine, we'll drop it. But we're revisiting this before you leave," he adds, as he starts to set plates on the table.

Blaine falls onto his bed and Kurt is quick to lie by his side, smoothing a hand through his hair and kissing his cheek. "Come on. You're doing so well."

"It's draining, you know? That's what all this is. Emotionally draining."

"I know, I know."

"I'm so glad I've got you," Blaine murmurs, cuddling close and kissing under Kurt's jaw.

"I'm glad you've got me too," Kurt grins, and he happily lets Blaine roll on top of him. "What are we doing, huh? I thought this was a five minute time out before dinner?"

"Five minutes making out," Blaine corrects, and Kurt needs no further convincing.

By the time Burt booms, "Dinner!" down the stairs, both Kurt and Blaine are hard and aching, making out fiercely, tugging on hair, biting at lips and grinding against each other.

"No, no," Kurt gasps, as Blaine sucks at his neck. "Not dinner. No."

"It can wait, can't it?" Blaine asks, then whimpers with pleasure when Kurt's hand slides down the back of his jeans.

"Boys! Dinner!"

"Yes, yes, it can wait," Kurt says with a groan of satisfaction. "Just...oh god, just touch me."

Blaine hastily wrestles with the buckle on Kurt's belt, and gets his fly open, both of them gasping when his hand wraps around Kurt.

"Boys! I will come down there! Dinner!"

"He's getting louder," Blaine needlessly points out.

"I'm getting closer," Kurt cries. "Please, let's finish this."

"I want to but..."

"Boys! Honest to god!"

They scramble apart quickly at the sound of Burt's footsteps, but he stops short of coming any further, so all they can see is an angry pair of legs.

"I don't even need to ask," Burt snaps. "Blaine, your mother is sitting as a guest at our dining room table. Kindly be polite enough to stop whatever it is you're up to, and come upstairs to join us. Now."

"Sorry," Blaine mutters, when he slides into his chair. He keeps his eyes downcast, not even daring to look at Burt or his mom, because he knows his face is on fire with embarrassment. "We were uh..." he trails off, as Kurt sits next to him.

"Fooling around," he finishes for Blaine, helping himself to mashed potatoes as if nothing were amiss. "Dad's timing is always impeccable."

"Oh!" Angie says in surprise, and she looks almost as embarrassed as her son. She takes the dish wordlessly from Kurt, and he yelps when he gets kicked on both sides from Blaine and his dad.

"What was that for?"

"You can't say stuff like that," Blaine hisses, though everyone can hear him anyway. "Not in front of my mom. It's...no. You just can't."

Kurt rolls his eyes, drowning his dinner in gravy. "News flash Blaine, I think your mom is well aware that we don't sit in bed doing jigsaw puzzles."

"It's not...I know...but right before dinner and..."

"Blaine, sweetie, it's okay," Angie says, coming to his rescue. "Kurt is right. I've been there too, remember?"

"Oh god."

"This is what I always tell them," Burt booms, while Blaine sits wishing the ground would open up. "Been there, done that. Well, not that. Not what they...but you know what I mean. They're always doing this. That. They're always...well, you know."

Blaine groans and tries to hide in Kurt's shoulder. "See what you've started?"

But Kurt just laughs and gives a quick kiss into Blaine's hair. "Don't get so embarrassed."

"It's okay to admit you're in love," Angie offers. "In fact, the more I see you two together, the cuter you both appear."

"It's not that," Blaine says, still utterly mortified. "I don't care who knows I love him, it's just...other stuff. I prefer to keep it private, that's all."

"Blaine," Kurt says with a roll of his eyes. "I happened to mention we were fooling around, that's all. I didn't suggest rampant sex in the middle of Central Park."

"Oh my god! Will you just be quiet?"

Angie laughs, not even stopping to think about the fact that this is the happiest she's been in months. "You know, I think you two are good for each other," she says, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Yeah, he keeps me fit," Kurt says with a wink, while Blaine slides down dramatically in his chair and hides his face in his hands.

"Blaine, I think Kurt's unpredictability is something you secretly love," Angie continues.

"Amen!" Burt cries. "That's what I think too. He likes to moan about it, but he wouldn't love him so much if he wasn't a loose canon."

"I think he helps Blaine come out of his shell, helps him to loosen up a little," Angie offers, and Burt nods emphatically.

"They're talking about us like we're not even here," Blaine moans.

Kurt pats his knee in sympathy. "I know, but it's interesting, isn't it? To get a different perspective?"

"Not really, no."

"I also think, Kurt, dare I say it, that Blaine is a calming influence on you? That he maybe tames you somewhat?"

Angie bites her lip, aware that she still doesn't know Kurt all that well, but he swallows his food and nods. "Won't even try to deny it. I'd hit the self destruct button in a hard way before Blaine came along, and it was only his and dad's faith in me that saved me. He gives me all the security and love that I need. Plus, he's great in..."

"Don't!" Blaine shouts, which makes everyone laugh loudly.

"Yeah, they get along great," Burt says, reaching out to ruffle Kurt's hair. "Except for when they fight."

Kurt gives a frown, heaping all the remaining mashed potatoes onto his plate. "We don't fight."

"We kinda do," Blaine says quietly. "Or bicker, at least."

"We do not!"

"We do," he counters again. "Not like full on blow ups, but we do have quite a few little spats in the course of a day, if you think about it."

"We don't fight! You say stuff, you're wrong, and then I give my opinion, which is right. End of."

"Kurt, shut up. You know we argue. It's no big deal. It's never anything major. It's just us, how we are together. I still love you."

"I hate you," Kurt grouches, and Angie watches on in interest, as Blaine takes Kurt's hand and kisses it, then turns to her with a smile.

"That's his way of saying I'm right."

Angie is surprised to look up at the clock and see that it's nearly midnight. After dinner they had only moved from the table to load the dishwasher, then they had all settled down again to play cards.

Time had moved quickly and easily, and Angie was totally immersed in being a part of this loving family. She knew she was the outsider, but she also knew that everyone did their best to make her feel welcome. It was a strange personal revelation, to realize that her son being gay no longer bothered her. Sitting here, around the table, watching as he puts an arm around Kurt's shoulder and kisses his cheek, it all seems entirely natural, just two people in love, nothing more and nothing less.

The final round of poker draws to a close, and Kurt yawns and stands, gathering their glasses and heading out to the kitchen. Angie follows, and goes unnoticed, since Blaine has been waiting to talk to Burt about plans for Kurt's thirtieth.

"Kurt?"

"Sheesh!" he says, jumping at the sound of her voice. "Hi."

"Sorry. I just... I just wanted to thank you. Not just for convincing me to visit, but for making Blaine so happy."

"Oh." he finishes loading the glasses into the dishwasher, and turns to face her, leaning against the counter. "I don't know if I..."

"You do, you know you do," she says, and she's happy to see Kurt grinning. "I know your dad gives him a lot too, but his future...well his future is with you, and it's really quite special for me to see him as this happy young man, in a committed relationship so...thank you."

"Well it really is my pleasure," Kurt says, undeniably warmed by her words. "He's just... yeah. He's wonderful."

"I wish Carl could see him," Angie says sadly. "He would be so proud. I mean, he was anyway but..."

"I know."

"Well, I'd best get to bed. Blaine wants me to make pumpkin pie with him in the morning," she says, her eyes filling with tears. "We haven't done that since... I mean, that's a good thing, right?" she asks fearfully. "That he wants to do that again?"

"That is definitely a good thing," Kurt agrees.

"Good. Okay. Yes. Well, goodnight, Kurt."

The hug takes Kurt completely off guard, but he returns it nonetheless, then listens as he hears her saying goodnight to Burt and Blaine.

"Ready for bed, Tiger?"

"Depends," Kurt deadpans, as Blaine walks across the kitchen to take him in his arms. "Is it just us? Because I wouldn't want to embarrass you."

"Be quiet," Blaine laughs. "Yes, it's just us, and right now I'm as happy as can be, and I'd like to share that happiness with you, if you wouldn't mind?"

"Hmm." He pulls Blaine into a long, deep kiss, as the feelings from earlier very quickly resurface. "I don't think I'd mind that at all."