A/N: This chapter contains dialogue taken directly from the episode "Theatricality". It also contains spoilers for the book 'Wicked', so you may want to skip that part if you don't want to know about it.

Also, rewatching the episode reminds me just how unfairly Finn was treated in the beginning. Damn, that poor boy got screwed over with the little surprise sprung on him.

Kurt POV

"Hey, Kiddo, do you think we could have a talk?" Dad tapped lightly on the wall at the bottom of the basement stairs. "It won't take long, I promise."

"Sure." It wasn't like I was doing anything but sitting down here and puzzling over what was going on with Finn. He was acting so strangely today, but he wouldn't tell me why. I hate it when he closes himself off like that, but I had to respect his request for a little time and space.

But I hated it, especially because I'm a little afraid that I'm at fault here. My memory of our phone call last night was a little blurry, possibly due to the fuzzy navels, that Mercedes and I had been sneaking while watching movies. But I was still pretty sure that, while he had been upset at the beginning of the call, it hadn't been anywhere near what it had become by the end. So I must have said something to make it worse.

I just wish I knew what it was. The best I could figure out was that it had something to do with money, though I didn't know what. Finn didn't have any significant amount, even if he was saving every penny he had.

Dad sat down on the bed. "I've been thinking about a few things, and I wanted to get your opinion of them."

"Yes. I absolutely think that we should redo the living room. I know that you like it, but it's stuck in a time period that's older then I am." The living room had been a matter of debate for several months, and I knew that I was wearing him down. Usually once I had the idea in his mind, it was only a matter of waiting for the garage to have a really good month so I can weasel some extra money out of him. Dad never really cares what the old room looked like, but he's never once had anything negative to say about my decorating skills.

He chuckled. "It's not about the living room. We'll worry about that a little later. I wanted to talk about Finn and Carole."

I'm pretty sure that he wasn't having the same worries about Finn that I was. I sat back. "Sure."

"What do you think about Carole? I already know how you feel about Finn."

As much as I didn't want to be having this conversation, I couldn't say that I hadn't been waiting for it. "I like Carole a lot. She's really nice to me, and she always makes sure that she makes some food that I like."

He nodded uncomfortably. "How would you feel about making things a permanent situation?"

"Like asking her to marry you?" I didn't like that thought, but I had no real reason to object.

"I know that she's not your Mom, and no one could ever be your mother, but Carole is very special to me as well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I was thinking about asking her and Finn to move in with us. If we all click together as a family, then we can talk about marriage."

Helloooo easy access!

For once, Galinda and I were in complete agreement. "Where would they sleep?"

"Well…Carole would sleep in my room. I'm not sure where we would put Finn. Your old room might work until we can get some sort of addition up. Even just a small room off the kitchen."

My old room was smaller then the one he was in now. It was also right across from what would become Carole and Dad's room. He might be alright with moving in, but I'm pretty sure that he doesn't want the fact that his mother is sleeping with a man who wasn't his father rubbed in his face. "He can't sleep in there. It's not safe."

"You slept in that room for the first 8 years of your life. Why has it suddenly become unsafe?" Dad was amused and trying not to show it.

"The reason I moved out was because there aren't any windows in there. If there was a fire, I would have no way out. Finn wouldn't either." The best part about this was that it was true. It wasn't just an issue of wanting Finn close to me, it was an issue of safety.

"We'll figure something out. Maybe we'll put him on the couch for a few weeks. Or the two of you could even bunk up temporarily. But you're ok with this? I don't want to move forward if you aren't."

This was my last opportunity to back out. If I said yes now, I would be agreeing to let someone else take Mom's place. "Yes."

"How do you think Finn would feel about it?"

Once Finn found out that he would be able to sneak downstairs and have sex whenever he felt like it he would be fine. A bigger house with a huge television, better access to me, seeing Carole happy. What was not to like? "I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's pretty easy going."

Dad wrapped an arm around me and gave me a quick squeeze. "I have to say, this is going much better then I thought it would."

"I want you to be happy. In just a few years, Finn and I will be gone, and you and Carole will still have each other." That was really what it boiled down to. Even if things went poorly between Carole and I once we were living together, I could tough it out for two years. Dad had been alone for so long, and he deserved to have someone other then me.

"You're a good boy. I'll talk to Carole, and we'll see how things go." He looked up at the ceiling. "Maybe the two of you could do some redecorating together as a sort of mother/stepson bonding thing."

"Sure." I wasn't entirely sure about that, considering Carole's fashion sense, but we could give it a try. She was willing to listen to my greater fashion knowledge when I was giving her a makeover, so maybe it would be fun, just like Dad thought it would.

"So you're telling me that you're alright with me asking Carole and to move in immediately?"

I think it might be better if the addition came before Finn and Carole do. There's no point in moving Finn out of his own, comfortable, bedroom where he's spent most of his life, and making him sleep in a room the size of a casket, or on the couch. That isn't exactly fair to him, is it?

I had zero intentions of letting Finn sleep in either place for more then a night or two. Yes, Dad might not like the thought of putting Finn in my room, but that was where we both knew he would end up. There just weren't any other options.

"I'm ok with it. How long do you think it will take?" My brain was already spinning with the possibilities. "Maybe we could have a little party? Appetizers? Canapés?"

Dad laughed. "Let me talk to Carole about it, and we'll go from there. Whatever we end up doing, we're both going to need to make some changes. I know that you're used to being in charge of a lot of things around here, and I've let that happen, but it's an adult's job. Now that there's going to be another adult in the house, she'll be taking things over."

Suddenly this proposition wasn't looking so good. "Like what?" My voice had suddenly become acid tinged. These 'adult' tasks, the cooking, the cleaning, keeping track of the bills, were the only measure of peace my father and I had had for years. I showed him that I loved him by taking care of things, because I couldn't say the words. Even though things were better and we were closer now, I didn't want Carole moving in on that. "I like doing those things. I'm a good cook and you know it."

I was a good cook, but the rest of it wasn't exactly true. I was used to it by now, though, and I very strongly disliked change. Dad held up a hand. "By next year, you're going to be a junior in high school. I want you in a good college, and not stuck in this town like your old man. To do that, you need to focus on school and not taking care of the house."

Never once had I gotten anything less then an A in an academic subject. Gym class, maybe, but never in an important class. "But-"

His head shook. "It's not up for debate. You can still do some of the cooking, but not every night like you have been. Even if Carole wasn't in the picture, things would be changing, so I don't want you to blame anything on her."

Maybe this wasn't as good of an idea as it originally sounded. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. Dad glared right back. "Make your decision, Kurt, because I am not putting up with tantrums once Carole and Finn are here, period."

When had Dad become so unreasonable? I looked down at my lap. I was being selfish and I knew it. I didn't really mind Carole, and I wanted Finn very badly. Did I want him enough to be willing to put up with the changes that would come along with it?

I think we both know the answer to that question.

Yes, we both did. I met Dad's eyes and nodded. "Yes. I want you to ask Carole and Finn to come live with us."

His smile made this worth it. "I'll talk to her today and let you know what she says."

"Can't we still have a party, though? Finn would be so excited and I think some snacks would really help him settle in."

Despite the bond that they had formed, Dad had to be a little worried about how Finn would take the news. I might not like having someone encroaching on my territory, but Finn was losing his entirely. So he nodded. "Yeah, we can have a little party. But make sure there's some snacks that the rest of us can not only eat, but pronounce as well. There's nothing wrong with a bowl of Doritos."

Except the empty calories, artificial ingredients, and high sodium content, that was. I was trying to expand Finn's palate, not kill it. If I present a new food in a non-threatening way, and he's hungry enough (which is usually about an hour after the last meal.), he's willing to at least try things.

But I didn't want to argue with Dad. "Ok, I'll have both some traditional and non-traditional snacks. Can we have champagne?"

It wasn't an empty hope. I didn't care much for booze, especially after the April Rhodes incident, but Dad would let me have a glass of wine on special occasions like the New Year or his and Mom's anniversary.

"Let me talk to Carole about that. I'm not sure how she feels about letting Finn drink." He stood up and started up the stairs. About half way up, he stopped and turned back to me. "You're 100% sure about this?"

"Yes." Nothing pleased me more then planning a big event, and this party was going to be fun. "I'm 100% sure."

"Ok. Why don't you keep this under wraps for a little bit? I know that you like to tell your girlfriends everything, but let's keep it just between the family for now."

The family. The family that we were making. The family that wasn't just Dad and I any more, but four people. It was strange to think about. "Alright."

"And please let Carole talk to Finn about moving in, ok? This is going to be hard on him, and he deserves to hear it from her."

That was a little more disappointing, but I could see why he wanted it that way. But it probably wouldn't be as hard on him as Dad was thinking. My Finn usually lets things roll of his back.

I nodded again and Dad left. Even though I had just promised that I would let Carole be the one to tell him, I already wanted to call Finn. I wanted to make sure that he was ok from earlier. I grabbed my phone and dialed. Finn picked up on the third ring, sounding like he had something crammed in his mouth. "Hello? Hang on."

There were some sounds that seemed like he was swallowing and drinking something. "Sorry, Dude, what's up?"

"Not much. What are you doing?" He seemed perkier then before, which made my heart jump. Whatever it was, he seemed to have recovered his normal self.

"Nothing. Just laying around in bed, eating some chips. Same old, same old."

Eating in bed was going to be one of the first things that changed once he and Carole moved in. Not only was it gross, but it attracted bugs. "I miss you."

"Miss you, too. What are you up to?" Again, there wasn't he smallest hint of worry or stress in his voice.

I wanted to tell him everything that had just happened with Dad, but I couldn't. I had made a promise and I had to stick to it. "Decorating. I'm thinking of making some changes down here." Changes like suddenly having a Finn in my bed every night instead of just a few afternoons at a time.

"That, uh, sounds….good?" I could feel his interest dropping through the phone. Though I suppose I couldn't expect much from a man who was perfectly happy with the cowboy wallpaper that had been in his room since he was a toddler.

At least he was trying, though. "It's ok, Cowboy. You don't have to be interested in decorating. We can talk about something else."

"Oh, thank God." It came out mostly under his breath, but the relief was still there. "What do you want to talk about?"

I smiled to myself. "Have you been keeping up with your reading?" I was trying to get him reading a chapter every day, just to keep his interest up. I was following in my copy at home, so I would know where he was.

"Yeah." Something about the way he said it suggested that there was something wrong.

"Where are you in the book?" If I asked the right questions soon after he read it, the facts and storyline tended to stick better in his brain.

"I'm where they went to the club. The, uh… Philosophy Club? Yeah, that's it. I think it was really some sort of kinky sex club. Hey, maybe you and me could go to a kinky sex club one day."

Say what you will about Finn Hudson, the boy never gives up hope. "First of all, it's you and I, not you and me. Second, the Philosophy Club was more then just a kinky sex club. And last of all, the answer to any sort of real life kinky sex club is, and will always be, no."

"Maybe you'll change your mind one day." He was breezy about it, like it didn't matter much whether I did or not.

"Maybe. Let's get back to the book. What was your favorite scene?"

"Umm…." He trailed off and went quiet for a few minutes. I'm patient, though, and I waited him out. "I…I don't like this book any more."

"Why not?" Two chapters ago, he had been thrilled.

"I don't know." I just knew that he was doing that thing where his shoulders hunched way up, like he was expecting to be hit. He does that every time he thinks that someone is mad at him.

I wasn't angry at all. I was a little disappointed, since I loved the book so much and I wanted Finn to love it, too, but not angry. "Well, think about it for a minute. Is it the characters that you don't like, or the way the plot is moving, or the language?" Finn can't always put his feelings into words, but does better when he's offered a few choices.

"The characters?" He sounded like he was asking a question rather then telling me.

"Which ones and what don't you like about them?" I had to tease the answers out of him.

"Elphaba. I don't like her."

Who didn't like Elphaba? She was the main character and the best one. She didn't fall prey to the common expectations of the day, she never let anyone wear her down, even when they didn't accept who she was. Plus, she sang the most amazing songs! How could Finn not like Elphaba?

I had to handle this delicately, and keep my voice very calm, though. If Finn got the slightest idea that I was upset with him, he would shut down and I wouldn't get any answers. "What is it you don't like?"

He sighed into the phone. "It's not really that I don't like her. She's actually kind of bad-ass, and I see why you wanted to sing her song. She's just like you, only, you know, a chick."

That may have been the biggest compliment he could have given me. "Really?" I automatically started preening.

"Oh, yeah, totally." Finn knew when he was onto a good thing, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity go. "You're both all tough, and you don't let anyone fuck with you, and you're both really different from anyone else, but in an awesome way."

I should have been pushing the issue of what was wrong with Elphaba, but I was too busy getting my ego stroked. "Tell me more."

"Ok. You're just like Elphaba, and Mercedes is Galinda, because the two of you are best friends and do everything together. Except I was kind of imagining Galinda in the book looking a little like that April Rhodes chick that slept with all of the football guys except me. I totally could have hit that, though, just so you know. I just didn't because of Quinn and Drizzle."

There were few things on this planet less arousing then the thought of Finn getting it on with any woman, much less the one who got me drunk and made me get puke on my nice shoes. "Cowboy, you're ruining it. Why don't you back up and try again."

"Oh. You're like Elphaba because you're so smart, just like her, and you stick up for the underdogs, and you never give up, even when maybe it would be better and no one would blame you if you did. You're awesome." He laughed dryly into the phone. "Plus, you're both dating the hottest guy in school."

I gave a rather undignified snort of laughter. "Yeah, both you and Fiyero have egos that just don't quit."

"Why is it that I have to say 'Kurt and I' or I'm wrong, but you can say 'you and Fiyero' and still be right?" He sounded genuinely curious instead of accusing or sarcastic.

The problem was, I didn't really know why it was correct in one situation and not in another. So I went with the old distract and conquer. "Because it is. But let's get back to Elphaba."

"Who?" I could picture the blank look on Finn's face with total clarity. "Oh, yeah, from the book. What about her?"

His focus might be better, but his memory could still use a little work. "You were telling me what it was you didn't like about her character."

"I don't not like her, but she makes me sad." The way he said was final, as if nothing else needed to be said.

"Why does she make you sad, Baby?" I was confused.

"It's just that…in the movie, she was so mean and evil, but she really wasn't in this book. She tries really hard, and even though she fucks up sometimes, she doesn't mean to. But I already know how this ends. She dies when Dorothy throws water on her. That's what makes me sad."

He was such a sweetheart. "That is sad. But the point of the book is for everyone to see Elphaba as something different then just the Wicked Witch of the West. You're supposed to feel sympathy for her and Fiyero, so you've already understood what the entire book is about." Hopefully a few compliments would keep him going.

"Wait, does Fiyero die, too? Oh, come on! Does anyone get to live happily ever after in this?"

Nope, not one. Elphaba dies, Fiyero dies, Nessarose dies, Galinda ends up married to some gross old man, and even the dog dies. But I didn't want Finn to find any of that out too soon. "Not all stories end happily, Finn. But, yes, someone does get their happy ending."

That someone happened to be Dorothy, but there was no point in telling him that. It would keep him happy for long enough that he would get reabsorbed into the storyline. "Oh, good. Hey, do you have any idea what Mom and your Dad are up to? Mom's all giggly and secretive. If she's pregnant, I'm going to hurl. They're too old for that shit."

I found the thought a bit nauseating myself. "If Carole is pregnant, I'll be right there with you. I'm sure she isn't, though. They're less then three years away from us being in college and the nest being empty."

He brightened. "Yeah, that's true. What do you think they are up to, then? I'll bet it's gross."

What was I supposed to say? It was one thing not to tell Finn what was going on, but another entirely to flat out lie to him about it. What was stronger, my duty to Dad or my duty to Finn? My father or my boyfriend?

A year, or maybe even six months in the future I might have chosen differently, but my loyalty to Dad won out. "I have no idea, Cowboy."

"I hope it's nothing bad. Hang on a second." He spoke to someone in the room, presumably Carole before getting back on. "Mom says that I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Bye, Cowboy, I love you." It wasn't until I had hung up the phone that I remembered I had wanted to make sure he was feeling alright after earlier. I picked the phone back up, wondering if I should call him back. No, it would be ok. He had seemed fine on the phone, and I didn't want him to get in trouble with Carole. I would just be sure to keep a close eye on things in the morning.

Of course, when the morning rolled around, there were bigger fish to fry. Finn had a math test today and was in a mild panic over it. He gave me a rough kiss when he got in the car, but immediately opened his book and started frantically studying.

Wonders never cease. Look, Finn Hudson is studying. It's like watching a monkey try and use tools.

Shut up, Galinda. Finn is doing just fine in school, better then ever, and stop picking on him. I was proud of him for trying so hard.

When we arrived, I gave him hug and another quick kiss. "Do you need me to go over things with you once more time, or are you good?"

"I'm good. I think I've got it now." He walked me past the dumpsters, though it wasn't that big of a deal any more. I don't know if it's his influence or the hockey team has just found easier prey, I've slipped below the radar. God, I never though I would be so happy not to be noticed.

Tina was waiting for me at the door, looking like her spirit had been crushed. "Hi, Finn." He gave her a quick wave. "Can I steal Kurt for a little bit? I have huge problem."

"Sure. I'll see you both after school." Finn has long since figured out that when a girl wants my help, it's usually with something he knew nothing about, and he would prefer to keep it that way. Clothes, PMS, and hair were things he felt were best kept at a distance.

Tina watched him amble off. "How are things with lover boy?"

"Tina!" I looked around frantically, but no one was paying any attention to us. "You can't just say thing like that. What if someone overheard?"

She giggled. "Kurt, we're in the Glee club. No on is paying any attention to what we do."

That was true and it was false. No, we specifically might not be that interesting, but the ears of McKinley High are always open for gossip. I didn't want anything overheard that could reflect poorly on Finn.

I think that you're the only one worried about that. The two of you are in the closet because of you. I don't think Finn cares one way or the other.

He claimed that he didn't, but I can see the shadowy relief in his eyes when people think that we're just close friends. His mouth might say he was fine with it, but his body language gave him away.

I didn't want to get into it with Tina though, so I just shrugged. "Anyway, what's your problem? You know I'm always here to help."

She visibly deflated. "Principal Figgins is crazy, that's my problem. He doesn't like the way I dress, and he told me that I had to change it before I turned into a vampire."

That was a brand new level of crazy, even for our principal. "He can't do that. There's no dress code at McKinley High, so he can't tell you how to dress."

"I already tried to tell him that. So did Mr. Shue. Either I change the way I dress, or I'm suspended and out of the Glee club. Suspended I can deal with, but I don't want to give up Glee."

As crazy as he was, Principal Figgins also knew how to hit where it hurt. "Do you want the rest of us to stand behind you? Because we will."

She tried to smile, but it just came out looking sad. "Then he'll just dump the entire club. He's been trying to do it from the start, and this would be the perfect excuse. No, I want you to find a way for me to dress that's ok for him, but still me."

Normally, there was nothing I loved more then a makeover. Transforming someone into the best they could be was like an addiction for me. But it was one thing to make a person perfect if they wanted it, and another entirely if the change was forced upon them. No matter what I did or how I emphasized her strengths, Tina was going to hate it because it wasn't what she wanted. She had a style that worked for her, and she shouldn't have the change it just because one man was on a power trip.

But I didn't want to say that to her. She was fragile already and I didn't want her to see me rejecting her, too. "Sure. You know I love makeovers. Why don't you let me think about it for a little bit, and we'll hook up and go over a few things? We have a family thing tonight, but how about tomorrow or the next day."

She gave me a tight hug. "Thanks, Kurt. I know you'll do a great job."

The rest of the day drug on and on. Finn and Carole were coming over at 5, which didn't leave much time for me to get home and prepare for our party. The appetizers were already pre-made, and the basement at least partially decorated, but presentation was everything, and this had to be perfect.

Finn was suspicious when we met up again after school. "How come we can't hang out? I thought you were going to help me with my homework."

"Because you and your mother are coming over for dinner tonight, remember? I have to have time to do my own homework, too."

"We could do it together like we usually do. Then Mom could come on her own and just take me home with her."

He was trying to read a lie in my face, so I made sure to keep myself facing forward. "Every time we do homework together, it ends with someone naked and being ravished."

"And that's bad because….." He was getting more suspicious, not less.

I wished that Carole had just told him that they were moving in with us last night, instead of waiting until after school today. If I told him the truth, I would be breaking a promise to Dad, but I hated to lie to him, either. "It's bad because I have a major test tomorrow, and studying you naked isn't going to help me pass it. Speaking of tests, how did yours go?"

He slumped against the seat, forgetting totally about what was happening. "Not so good. I don't think I failed or anything, but I don't think I did very good, either. I just suck at math."

I rubbed his side. "We'll keep working on it, ok? Don't get upset."

"I'm not. I used to be, but I just give up. Hopefully I can find a job where I can add up on my fingers."

I hated it when he was down on himself like that. "You'll get it. You were getting D's and F's at the beginning of the year, and now you're getting C's or better. Plus, you can always use a calculator."

That got me a shaky smile. "That's true. I'll bet lots of really smart people have to use a calculator."

"I use one when I go shopping." Finn's driveway is a little complicated to navigate, so I had an excuse to break eye contact. That was a lie, but there was no reason for Finn to know that.

"Really?" He perked up considerably. "I guess it's ok, then." He gave me an enthusiastic kiss. "I'll see you in a little bit, ok? Maybe we'll be able to have some fun time when our parents are distracted."

There was never a time when Finn wasn't hoping that he would get to have a little fun. "I love you, Finn."

"Love you, too." He bounded up the front steps and into the house.

I smiled to myself and pulled out of the driveway, hurrying home. I set out the snacks and hopped in the shower. An event of this magnitude required a different outfit then one would just wear to school. Plus it gave me something to do so I wouldn't b e so nervous. 12 hours ago, I had been positive that Finn would be thrilled to move in. Now the nerves had come and I was second guessing everything.

Dad watched me spin and tidy with an amused expression on his face. "Kid, it'll be ok."

"I know. I just worry too much." My ears perked at the sound of a car in the driveway. "They're here! Quick, run upstairs and invite them down. I'll pour the sparkling cider."

I was so excited that my hands were shaking as I poured. I was moving in with my boyfriend. How much better could it get.

There was banging around upstairs, and the door popped open. Carole's voice came down the stairs. "Step. Step. One more." She led Finn down the stairs, making sure that he didn't fall."

He was pretty happy. "Is there a car down here for me?"

My stomach gave a sharp roll. Please tell me that Carole hadn't- no, there was no way that she would just spring this on Finn like that. I looked over at her, but she was focused on Finn. "Honey, we're indoors."

"Oh, right."

"Ok, open you eyes."

He did, and my worst suspicions were confirmed. He looked from the 'Welcome Home' banner, to the snacks, to Dad and me, his eyes getting wider and more afraid by the second. He looked like a wild animal would as the trap closed around its leg.

I saw the tension building and tried to distract him. "Sparkling cider?"

He didn't fall for it. He looked to Carole for help, but she didn't give him any. Still, he tried to keep calm. "Welcome home? But who went somewhere?" I pushed the glass into his hand and he gulped it.

"Burt asked us to move in with him." Carole sprung the surprise like it was the happiest event ever.

Finn didn't look nearly so thrilled. "And this is how you're telling me?"

Again, I tried to get his attention. "The party was my idea. If you're going to say something, say it loud, right?"

Judging by his face, Finn wanted to say something very loud, but he choked it back. Dad tried to smooth things over. "It's going to take some getting used to, but trust me, you're going to love it. Now you don't have to drag your tail over here every time you want to watch something on the old 55 incher. We've got a lot of food. I think its food, it's some ethnicity that's not ours." He grabbed a piece it out as a peace offering.

It was a good attempt to accentuate the positive, but we had already gone beyond the easy acceptance. Finn took the offered snack, but didn't even close his hand around it. He was too shocked to move. Carole tried to backpedal with him. "Finn, this house is twice as big as ours. It has two bathrooms."

"Two and a half." I aimed a subtle kick at Dad's leg, just to try and shut him up, but missed. Finn so did not care about the bathroom situation right now, if ever.

Finally, he recovered his voice. "I don't want an extra bathroom. Or a tuna croute. I just want my house back." He wasn't raging yet, nor crying, but I could see both of those things threatening.

I had to fix this. "I think I know what this resistance is about. Our room. I couldn't agree more. The pallet here is totally unflattering to your skin tone. Not everyone can pull off Dior Grey. We need to redecorate." Hopefully, he would pick up on the way I emphasized that the room would be both of ours. Together. He would have many, many opportunities to defile me in creative ways.

Sure enough, there was a small spark in his eyes. "Wait, we're sharing a room?"

"Absolutely not." Carole shook her head. "Burt, we discussed this and they are not sharing a room! It's totally inappropriate."

"Then where am I going to sleep?" Finn's voice had picked up dangerous edge. "There isn't any other bedroom, unless I'm moving in with both of you."

Dad fumbled. Despite what we had discussed earlier, clearly he had thought that Carole would be alright with Finn sharing with me. "I, uh, well I guess you could sleep on the couch for a week or two until we figure something permanent out."

"I have to sleep on the couch? No way, I'm not cool with this." He looked from one of us to the other, trying to get some support.

"Baby, I know that it's weird, but it can't be much of a surprise, and, in time, you're going to be as happy as I am." Carole acted like this would all just blow over in a few days time.

"Look, I'll knock out a wall upstairs, and I'll put an addition on." It was a pretty good solution, but I was pretty sure that Finn wasn't going to accept anything short of immediate removal from this house and a return to his own. He was very unhappy, and he was going to let us all know it. "Until then, will this grease the wheels a bit?" He opened his wallet and took a bunch of cash out. "Hey, look. It's $300, have at it."

Finn jerked as if he had been hit. Somehow, he looked almost afraid of taking it, so I stepped in and grabbed it for him. "Don't worry, Roomie, Mr. Ikea catalogue and I will have this all figured out. I am going to put together a palette that expresses who you are and who I want you to be." I heard how bad that last part sounded and hastened to correct myself. "Who you want to be."

No, I think you had it right the first time. Give Finn his money back, and leave him alone. If he wants to use that money to decorate, fine. If not, that's his own choice.

It wasn't that easy. If Dad had handed the money over for redecorating, he wasn't going to allow Finn to spend it on an X-box or Cheetos. Plus, Finn lost everything. I didn't want to give him access to a large sum of cash that might go through the washing machine 4 times before finally disappearing into Narnia or wherever Finn's homework tended to end up.

Wrong. Right now, your father will let Finn do whatever he wants with that money, just to keep the peace. And if he does lose it, that's his problem, not yours.

Fine, I would give the money back later. Before I could tell him that, though, Dad was speaking again. "So, Monday night's game night. You wanna play Sorry."

Finn was backed away from the three of us, staring darkly. The look in his eyes made chills run down my spine. It said that someone was certainly going to be sorry before this was over. In his mind, it had become him against us, and that was never a good thing.

There still had to be a way to turn this around, but I had no idea what it could be.

There isn't one. You, baby boy, are in big trouble now.