AN: There was supposed to be a Lord Tubbington, Britt, Santana scene in this episode but I had to push it to the second half of the season because I had to bury my own cat – who I had for close to eighteen years – a few days ago. I tried to write it but I just couldn't yet.

2x06 Happy Turkey Day

Previously on NYADA Sophomore Year. Kurt met a new student who may or may not have a crush on him – depending on whether you asked Kurt or Blaine. Jesse sabotaged Blaine's audition for the school musical and now he and Kurt both are only part of the ensemble. For their first anniversary Blaine took Kurt to Boston where they took their relationship to the next level, thanks to aunt Kate hooking up with some college student and letting Kurt have the hotel room. And that's what you missed on NYADA Sophomore Year.

It's ten days before the opening of the show when Kurt calls his dad between getting out of one rehearsal and having to head over to the next.

"Hey kiddo. You okay? You sound out of breath," his dad says after Kurt's greeting and Kurt quickly assures him that he is just busy, nothing else.

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't plan a surprise visit for Thanksgiving," he continues then and his dad chuckles.

"I hope not for the reason you didn't like my last one." Well, at least they are at a point where they can joke about the incident, which shows how far his dad has come, Kurt thinks.

"No, nothing like that I promise. It's just pointless to come up when neither Blaine nor I have a proper part in the musical. We'll come home as soon as we are done with the last show."

"You know, we would have loved to see you on stage again, regardless of the role," his dad assures him, but he and Blaine made up their minds weeks ago. It's just cheaper for Kurt and his aunt to go to Ohio for Thanksgiving instead of having the rest of the family come to New York.

"I know you would, but I also know Carole's mom wasn't too happy you didn't spend Thanksgiving with her last year, especially because she couldn't do Christmas with us," Kurt reminds his dad, who he knows isn't all too crazy about Nana Helen. Kurt thinks she's a hoot though, even if she is a devout Republican. After all, she hadn't reacted negatively to his official coming out and had merely said that if Kurt had to date boys she was glad he at least had chosen one with manners – obviously a dig at his dad who thinks utensils only work with fifty percent of the food they eat at home.

"She hates me," his dad immediately whines. "Whenever she is here it's all Christopher this and Christopher that. I get that she doesn't think I'm good enough for Carole, no need to rub it in."

Kurt sniggers, because apparently it doesn't matter how old you get, you still have to deal with the parents of the person you are with.

"That's not funny," his dad complains and Kurt tries to control his laughter.

"I know dad, but believe me, Nana Helen doesn't hate you. You want to know a mother who'd hate who her kid was dating, try Blaine's mom. Carole's mom just wants you to act more like a gentleman when she is around."

The line goes silent for a moment and Kurt cringes because sometimes he forgets that he isn't the only one who lost his mother and that his dad detests Blaine's mother for voluntarily leaving her son.

"How is Blaine? Still busy with college applications?" his dad changes the subject quickly and Kurt is eager to follow his lead.

"He wants to finish them before break so he can focus on planning for potential auditions. Invites should come as early as January," he explains.

"And you are okay with him applying to schools out of state? I'm mean long distance is never easy, especially when you are still so young and don't have the money to just visit each other every other weekend."

"Blaine needs to do what's best for his future. Wouldn't you tell me to do the same?"

"Of course I would. I'm just surprised you are handling this so well. Guess I really need to come to terms with the fact that you are not a kid anymore."

He knows it's hard for his dad, having to watch him grow up from afar, especially after they were all they had for years after his mom passed.

"Does that mean I won't have to tell you every time I want to leave campus anymore," he can't help but ask, because while he doesn't have much time to leave school right now anyway, it's still annoying to always have to ask his dad first.

"Let's talk about that when you are home. How are you getting here? If you have to stay somewhere overnight, I want you to promise me that you and Blaine each get your own room."

"We're taking the train because it's faster. There are sleeping compartments but they are so small, no one in their right mind would try to share," he assures his dad, before changing the subject himself, because one day his dad might just develop the ability to detect lies over the phone.

"So tell me. How's the shop doing?"

While Kurt is on the phone with his dad, Blaine coincidentally is doing the same.

"... and so I thought it would be nice to invite them over to our house for Thanksgiving," he concludes his pitch for a combined Anderson – Hummel dinner.

"Are you sure they would even be interested. Not that I'm saying no because that boyfriend of yours can cook and it would be nice to have more people around again," his dad replies and Blaine shrugs.

"I wanted to run in by you first before I talked to Mr. Hummel but I know Kurt wants to spend Thanksgiving with me. And apparently they are having a full house with his aunt and his step-mother's mother coming as well. Kurt's been complaining for days that he doesn't know where to put them all with the amount of food he's planning to make."

He can hear the click of a keyboard in the background and tries not to sigh. His dad is getting better with paying attention to him, but he still has trouble putting him before his job.

"Dad?" "Sorry, sorry. Just sent my assistant a reminder that I don't need her to work Thanksgiving. Tell you what, if Burt doesn't have problem celebrating at ours I'll be happy to host them. Ask Kurt for a list of the groceries he'll need and I'll get them."

"Awesome," Blaine replies. There's more that he wants to tell his dad – how his college applications are going for example – but he knows he's already losing his dad's attention, so he tells him that he has to leave for rehearsal.

"And you are sure you don't want me there for your show? You are not just saying it so I don't feel like a dick if I can't make it," his dad surprises him.

"No need to come to this one. I'll send you an invite for the recital I'm doing instead," he promises before he lets his father go. A few moments later, he scrolls through he contacts until he finds Kurt's dad's number.

"Mr. Hummel, I have a proposition for you."

"How great is it that my dad agreed to come to your house," Kurt babbles excitedly, while his boyfriend is putting the finishing touches on his application for NYU.

"Though I suspect he only agreed because he thinks Carole's mom will be nicer to him if there are other people around," he continues, receiving a soft hum from Blaine.

"I can come back later if you are busy now," he reminds his boyfriend when Blaine's head stays buried in his papers.

"Stay, I'll be done in a second," Blaine immediately replies and Kurt settles back on his bed.

A few minutes later – during which Kurt amuses himself by playing Angry Bird on his phone – Blaine puts his papers away and joins him on the small bed.

"I'm glad your dad said yes because there's something I wanted to ask you."

Kurt raises an eyebrow, urging his boyfriend to continue.

"I was hoping your dad will let you stay the night, so I can take you Black Friday shopping in Columbus. The shops there are so much better than the ones in the Lima mall."

The 'and I know you haven't been back there since the Karofsky incident' goes unsaid. Luckily, Blaine doesn't push when Kurt tells him he is not ready to really deal with what happened in the bathroom, which includes stepping inside the mall.

"I'd love that too. And I don't see why he wouldn't let me as long as your dad is home. He let you sleep on our couch as well."

Blaine looks hopeful as well and Kurt knows it's because they barely had any privacy since they came back from Boston. But if he remembers it correctly, Mr. Anderson's bedroom isn't on the same floor as Blaine's and he didn't seem that invested in his son's potential sex life like his dad is. They might just get away with spending some quality time together again.

They share another look before they both look at the clock on Blaine's bedside table, but the sad fact is, Kurt has to meet a study group in fifteen minutes and Beatz is set to return any minute now as well.

"Soon," Blaine promises when Kurt sighs, because of course his dad had been right – that once he started doing stuff with Blaine he wouldn't want to stop.

The remaining ten minutes are spent making out on Blaine's bed, but Kurt makes sure his boyfriend's hands stay away from his hair because he really doesn't have time to fix it before he has to leave.

He is still distracted by the feeling of Blaine's lips on his neck, not really looking where he's going when he runs straight into Adam, who looks even more flustered than usual.

"We have to stop meeting like this," he jokes after making sure the younger boy is okay, and Adam's face turns even redder before he clears his throat.

"Hey Kurt, can I ask you something?"

"When are you going to admit that you have a major crush on Kurt," Trent teases him, and Adam immediately looks around frantically to make sure no one overheard his fellow freshman.

"Shh," he tells him, but Trent just rolls his eyes. "It's not like you are hiding it that well."

Adam just hopes his new friend is exaggerating because how embarrassing would that be, if everyone knew how much he really liked Kurt. But how could he not. Kurt had to prettiest eyes and he was seriously hot.

"And if you ever going to make a move, you should make it over break. I heard Blaine's going back to Ohio for break."

"What?" Adam exclaims. "I can't do that. He has a boyfriend."

Trent just shrugs. "For now. Apparently he is applying to tons of colleges out of state. Do you really think they are going to stay together when Blaine goes to college far away where there are tons of hot guys."

Adam feels torn because on one hand he wants Kurt to be happy, but on the other hand, he kind of wants Kurt to be happy with him.

"Can't I just tell him that I like him if they break up?" he asks, desperate for advice. Trent shakes his head.

"What if they break up at the beginning of the summer and he already has a new boyfriend when he comes back to school? You need to tell him he has options here, before that happens."

Adam still isn't convinced because what if Kurt hates him for trying to get between him and Blaine. He doesn't want to be that guy who doesn't respect another person's relationship.

"Okay, I get it. You don't have to make any romantic declarations right now. But show him that you are there for him when his own boyfriend isn't. Invite him over to your place for Thanksgiving, because you don't want your 'friend' to be all alone in the city," Trent suggests and Adam immediately agrees because he would never say no to spending more time with Kurt.

They've barely started discussing details when the object of his affections appears around the corner, a dreamy smile on his face. Before he can stop him, Trent pushes him forward and he stumbles straight into Kurt.

"We have to stop meeting like this," the older boy jokes when he realizes who he bumped into and Adam blushes, because it sounds like such a cliché pick up line.

He is pretty certain, Trent is still watching from his hiding spot around the corner and so he gathers his courage and invites Kurt to his house. When Kurt turns him down because he is going to Ohio as wellwith Blaine– and how did he not know this – he tries not to let it show how disappointed he is. Not that he isn't looking forward to spending some time with his parents but it would have been so much better with Kurt around as well.

"And it's going to be great. We are having dinner at Blaine's house, like my whole family and his and the next day he's going to take me shopping in Columbus if my dad lets me spend the night," Kurt rambles on, before he checks his phone and tells Adam that he has to run.

"Didn't go so well?" Trent asks when Adam joins him again a moment later.

"Disaster," he mumbles. "His family is having Thanksgiving dinner with Blaine's family and afterward he is spending the night. Why would he ever be interested in me when he has a much more experienced boyfriend? I've only kissed like two girls before I realized that I didn't like them in that way," he admits and for a moment Trent looks incredibly sad, but seconds later his bubbly persona is back and Adam doesn't question it.

"Don't sell yourself short. For one, Americans dig guys with British accents and secondly, Blaine will be gone next year, so their relationship is doomed anyway, because trust me, as a younger brother to three sisters I can tell you that long distance never works."

Trent's words do make him feel better about his chances with Kurt in the future.

"And hey, if you want to get some experience in the meantime, I'm sure there are guys here who wouldn't mind helping you practice."

"Are you offering?" he teases his friend, who turns bright red before scoffing and telling him 'of course not,'

Adam just laughs before slinging an arm over Trent's shoulders. "I'm really glad you are my friend, Trent. You always know how to cheer me up."

Kurt is ready to punch the smug smile right of Jesse St. Jame's face by the time the after show party is nearing its end. Because making sure Blaine didn't have a chance of getting the role he wanted apparently wasn't enough. No, the bastard has to tell everyone willing to listen how crazy Blaine's audition was and how worried he is that all the pressure he must be under is getting to him. And the people around him ate his concerned friend story right up.

"How can you stay so calm when he says stuff like that about you?" he hisses when he is sure Jesse's adoring fans can't hear him, but Blaine just shrugs.

"If people really believe what he says about me, I don't want them to be my friends and what's done is done. He got the role, I didn't."

"But still-" Kurt tries to argue but Blaine cuts him off.

"And I talked it over with the guidance counselor and she thinks I don't have anything to worry about because I still have plenty of extra curriculars and accomplishments to put into my applications – which I already sent out. So just ignore him and enjoy the party. Because getting a rise out of me is exactly what he wants.

"Fine," Kurt huffs, but not before sending another glare in Jesse's direction.

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this," he continues, "but even Rachel is nicer than him. And it's saying a lot if I feel bad for her, because some of the things he said about her were just awful. No one deserves to be treated like that – not even Miss 'I'm so much better than you, please thank me when I step all over you'."

Blaine snorts and Kurt's own lips morph into a smile as well.

"And there I thought those two were a match made in heaven," his boyfriend jokes. "But enough about Rachel or Jesse. Are you pretty much packed? You know we have to leave right after the show tomorrow if we don't want to miss our train."

Kurt nods, before he spots a sad looking blond in the corner closest to them.

"I'll just go and talk to Quinn real quick and I then I think I'm ready to go to bed," he tells Blaine before walking over to his friend.

"You were great on stage," he tells her once he is in front of her, but Quinn just shrugs.

"So are you staying here with Britt and San over break?" he tries next and that gets a reaction from Quinn.

"No," she scowls. "My parents have summoned me home, because it would look bad if I weren't in church with them."

"I'm sorry," he tells her sincerely. He might have dreaded telling his dad certain things about his life, but not wanting to go home had never been a thought he entertained.

"I just- It's going to be hard, having to pretend that nothing is wrong. That I didn't just have to make this life altering decision. Instead of getting comfort from my mother, I will have to play the perfect daughter, wear my promise ring and don't tell them anything about my life here, because I have to be grateful they are even letting me attend NYADA."

There are tears in her eyes and it's the most emotional he has ever seen her in public when she isn't on stage and before he can stop himself, he wraps his arms around her and holds her tight.

Quinn doesn't fight him and just cries on his shoulder, her tears dampening his shirt.

"I wish there was something I could do for you," he tells her after releasing her and offering her a tissue. "So if you need someone to talk, because being home gets too hard, you can always call and I'll listen, okay?"

Quinn nods while fixing her make up and making sure no one has overheard what they discussed.

"Thank you, Kurt. I know I don't always show it and I can be a bitch, but I'm really glad you are my friend."

"I'm glad you are my friend too even if you are scary from time to time," he replies cheekily, causing a real smile to appear on her face.

"Now get back to your boy. His eyes have been clued to your ass ever since you came over."

Kurt blushes before he debates asking her about what's going on between her and Nick. But she hasn't said anything, so he decides to let it go for now.

"Happy Turkey Day," he tells her before returning to Blaine, because he knows that Quinn doesn't have much she is thankful for.

His dad picks him up at the station after long hours spent squeezed in next to Blaine in a sleeping compartment and Kurt is very much looking forward to sleeping in his queen-sized bed again.

To his surprise, when he arrives at the house, Finn is still sulking though his dad has lifted some of his restrictions in the past weeks. It's the first time he is seeing his stepbrother since he left for New York and subsequently yelled at him on Skype and it's kind of awkward – especially when Finn dares to ask how Quinn is.

"Non of your business really," Kurt snaps before he schools his expression because it takes two people to screw up and it isn't fair that he is putting all the blame on Finn.

"But Quinn isn't really the reason why you are so down, right?" he asks a while later, and Finn nods, looking guilty.

"Rachel?" Kurt guesses and Finn nods again.

"She still kind of ignores me at school and is singing duets with all the other guys in Glee these days," his stepbrother complains, and Kurt can tell her behavior is really hurting him.

So he decides to take pity on his stepbrother and put his differences with Rachel aside for a moment, because he doesn't want him to be miserable forever, and if Rachel makes him happy – well he doesn't understand it, but Finn had accepted Blaine pretty much from the start so the least he can do is help him get Rachel back.

Later, when Finn's busy blasting zombies, he steals Rachel's number from his phone and sends her a text asking her to meet him a the local coffee shop that isn't situated in the mall.

"So are you finally ready to admit that you need my help?" she asks the moment she sits down opposite him and Kurt takes a deep breath to calm himself and not strangle her.

"It's good to see you too Rachel. How have you been?" he replies sarcastically, but Rachel doesn't seem to understand that he doesn't really want to know because she immediately launches into a monologue about her achievements of the past few months.

"Good for you," Kurt tells her through clenched teeth when she is finally done before he gets to the reason for the meeting.

"Look Rachel, I'm probably the last person who wants you with Finn but he is miserable without you, so could you please at least talk to him. He really is sorry for making you mad and feeling underappreciated," he continues, trying his best to sound sincere.

Rachel just huffs in response.

"Finn's sweet, but I found a guy who is much more vocally compatible than Finn. And the fact the we are separated right now because of the distance makes our romance so much more interesting," she tells him and Kurt actually feels sorry for her again.

"I actually feel bad having to tell you this," he replies, "but Jesse has been trash talking you a lot since his transfer."

Rachel gasps before her eyes water. "He what?"

"I'm sorry. He called you a wannabe and a prude who was too frigid to put out," he tells her, and when Rachel really starts to cry, hands her a tissue.

"So all I want to say is that whatever Finn did to you or not did he would never do that to you. If you want to stay broken up – fine – but tell him you don't want to get back together at least, so he can stop pining after you."

He stays long enough after to comfort her but when she offers to tell him all the reasons he doesn't manage to get cast in school musicals, he decides he's been a good brother long enough and makes up an excuse to get him to leave.

"Hey, did you talk to Rachel?" Finn asks when he gets home.

Kurt just shrugs, utterly exhausted from spending nearly an hour with Rachel Berry.

"You're welcome," he tells Finn before escaping upstairs to his room to call Blaine. He needs a friendly voice after all that.

It's been a while since their house was filled with that many people – since he came out and his mom left and the family on her side stopped visiting – and Blaine just loves it.

Carole, Nana Helen and Kurt are in the kitchen preparing dinner with the groceries his dad picked up, while he, his dad, Cooper, Mr. Hummel and Kate have been banned to the living room to watch the game.

It's actually amazing how far his dad has come – from insulting Kurt last year to hosting Thanksgiving with Kurt's family. Fortunately his dad and Kurt's are getting along just fine, bonding over a shared love for the Buckeyes, cars and to his embarrassment, the difficulties of raising gay sons in Ohio.

But it could be worse – at least so far no one has shown Kurt his baby pictures, though it took a lot of threating to keep Cooper from doing it.

Once dinner is ready, they are ordered to set the table and help carry out the massive amount food Kurt's family has prepared. As soon as they are all seated he entwines his hand with Kurt's under the table before resting them on his knee. The moment he sees Finn's grandma stare at them, he blushes though and quickly puts his back on the table. Because while the older woman might be okay with her step-grandson dating a guy he isn't sure she is ready to actually see them acting like a couple.

"You see, Burt. This boy has manners," she just tells Mr. Hummel though, who looks like a little boy with his hands caught in the cookie jar and quickly removes his elbows from the table.

Before things can get awkward though, Cooper entertains them with stories from work, resulting in Nana Helen's frown to move from Mr. Hummel to his brother.

"So you are still enjoying New York," the old lady asks once the table is cleared and pie has replaced the turkey.

Kurt nods immediately and Blaine can't stop himself from chiming in any longer.

"He's doing great. Kurt even got permission to audition for shows off campus which is usually hard to get for underclassmen," he announces proudly, causing his boyfriend's face to flush.

"It's no big deal. I haven't even decided yet if I'm going to try out for anything," Kurt relies, but Nana Helen shakes her head.

"Nonsense. If your teachers think you are good enough for professional productions you have to audition. You are part of my family now, and the Hudsons go after what they want."

Kurt nods, apparently afraid to go against her, and moments later she turns to Blaine.

"What about you young man? I heard you are graduating this year. Do you have college sorted out yet?"

Blaine swallows because while he applied to nearly a dozen of schools he doesn't actually know where he wants to go yet.

"I just finished all my applications, mam. Now I have to wait and see which schools will want me to audition," he tells her, glad when Cooper buts in and tells everyone that theater is dead, resulting in a lecture from Finn's grandmother about table manners.

"Have you asked your dad about staying the night yet?" he asks his boyfriend when the rest of the table is distracted and Kurt shakes his head.

"I wanted to wait until he had a couple of beers," Kurt admits. "But I'll do it now. Your dad is okay with it right?"

Blaine nods and Kurt promises to be right back.

It's after they had dessert when Kurt finally comes up to him to ask the question Burt has been waiting for all night.

"Depends on where you will be sleeping, kiddo and I want to talk to Blaine's dad first," he tells his son, before Kurt can even come out with it.

"What? How?" Kurt splutters and Burt chuckles.

"If you want to keep secrets you need to learn how to pack a smaller overnight bag," he tells him, ignoring Kurt's indignant squawk.

"I might buy a lot you tell me about fashion, but that thing you dragged along could never be a regular bag."

"Fine," Kurt huffs. "Can I please spend the night so I can go Black Friday shopping in Columbus with Blaine?"

Burt's still laughing when he leaves to find Robert, who immediately tells him that letting Kurt stay won't be a problem and that Burt has no reason to worry because their guest room is next to his bedroom on the ground floor.

He is about to return to his son and make him happy when he remembers something else.

"Shit," he curses. "I forgot Carole's mother is here as well and we'll need both cars to drive back to Lima.

Before he can asks Robert if Blaine could drive Kurt home the next day, his sister buts in.

"I could stay as well, you know, keep an eye on Kurt. This way I get to do my shopping in a proper city as well," she offers and Burt immediately agrees because as far as he knows she did a good job chaperoning Kurt while he was in Boston.

"Would that be okay?" he asks Robert who nods. "The guest room on the ground floor has two beds because my niece and nephew used to stay in there before they stopped visiting."

The other man looks sad when he says this and Burt is tempted to hug him, but they don't know each other that well yet.

"Alright. But make sure Kurt doesn't get back too late. I don't see him enough as it is," he tells his sister, before returning to his son to tell him the good news.

Kurt doesn't really consider it good news when his dad announces that his aunt is staying as well and that they are going to share a room, but he doesn't complain, because at least he gets to stay and drag Blaine shopping.

"Why did you offer to stay?" he growls at Kate though once they are in their room and Kate smirks.

"First of all, you owe me. It's because of my awesome babysitting that you can stay here and secondly, give me half an hour and I'll be out of your hair."

"You are going out?" he asks surprised, causing Kate to chuckle.

"If you consider going upstairs going out."

Kurt makes a face because why does his aunt have to hook up with Blaine's brother again. It's just weird. He keeps his mouth shut though, because if aunt Kate leaves, he can go and spend the night with Blaine.

His aunt disappears into the bathroom then and Kurt quickly averts his eyes when she returns and he accidentally sees what she is wearing.

"I'm off. And just to make it clear – you don't mention this to your dad and I'll continue covering for you when you want to spend some time alone with Blaine."

Kurt nods immediately, because it sounds like a good deal. The moment his aunt has left he pulls out his phone and sends a quick text to Blaine.

'K snuck out to see C. I'm all alone in my room now.'

The reply is prompt. 'Come upstairs. My dad doesn't know your aunt. He would never check on you.'

Kurt doesn't need to be told twice and quickly grabs his phone before tiptoeing upstairs. The third stair on the right creaks and Kurt freezes for a moment, but luckily Mr. Anderson doesn't show up.

He quickly passes what has to be Cooper's room because he does not need to hear his aunt do stuff like that, before he finally reaches Blaine's, where his boyfriend is already waiting for him.

Their mouths crash together, the moment the door closes behind them and when they pull apart they are both panting.

"And you are sure your dad won't find out?" Kurt asks just to make sure and Blaine nods.

"As long as no one gets knocked up he doesn't care about what I do. But he couldn't tell your dad that. And by the time he gets up tomorrow we'll be long gone."

It's all the assurance he needs before he pushes Blaine backwards, causing them both to tumble onto the bed where they erupt in giggles.

"Shh," he admonishes, before shutting his boyfriend up by pressing their lips together again. Though when Blaine's hand finally finds its way into his pajama bottoms, it's Blaine's turn to keep him quiet.

"Spill," Mercedes tells him the moment the door closes behind them, before he can even put his overnight bag down. His dad isn't all too happy that he is spending the night elsewhere again, but the sleepover with his best friend was long overdue.

"I honestly don't know what you are talking about," he replies, because he doesn't. What is he supposed to spill?

"You and Blaine," Mercedes winks and Kurt gets it, but pretends not to. Lately way too many people who aren't him and Blaine seem to be invested in his sex life.

"Come on Kurt. I'm your best friend," she whines before changing her strategy. "Tell me at least if the tips in the Cosmo I gave you were helpful. I might need that info one day."

Mercedes is right – she is her best friend – and to be honest it might be nice to talk to someone about what's going on that isn't Blaine and wouldn't make lewd comments like Santana.

"Well, we haven't actually done anything yet that would require the help of Cosmo," he admits, a slight blush on his face. Mercedes looks confused though and so he decides that being blunt for once might be helpful to get his point across.

"We're both guys Mercedes. I don't exactly need a magazine to tell me how to jerk someone off. Granted it's different when you do it yourself but it's not exactly rocket science."

Mercedes gasps and turns bright red, but Kurt just smirks.

"Hey, you asked."

His best friend nods before she squares her shoulders.

"Was it scary taking your clothes off in front of him?" she asks, and Kurt assumes there's another reason for her question than just curiosity.

"Well, we haven't been like completely naked in front of each other yet, but mostly because there are always people around and it's easier to pretend you were just studying or making out when your pants are still on. But why are you asking? Are you and Sam – I mean he isn't pressuring you, right?"

Mercedes immediately shakes her head.

"No, but people have been implying that I better put out soon if I don't want to lose him to one of the slutty cheerleaders," she admits, and Kurt narrows his eyes.

"If he would really do that than he isn't worth it," he growls and Mercedes thankfully agrees.

"But do you want to – with him?"

"I don't know. I mean, my family and the church tells me that I'm supposed to wait for marriage and I never really questioned that before I started dating Sam, but now I kind of want to, I think. And what if he breaks up with me if I tell him I want to wait for marriage. I just turned sixteen – I'm way too young to get married any time soon."

Mercedes looks conflicted and Kurt wraps his right arm around her shoulders.

"I can't tell you what to do because for one, the whole waiting for marriage thing is kinda not even an option for me when I can't get married in most states and secondly, while I think you should wait for someone you love, I don't think you have to be married to be in love."

"So you are saying I should do it with him?"

Kurt shakes his head. "I'm saying follow your heart. Only you can decide what's right for you, because what might be right for one person, might not be right for you."

They hug again after Kurt finishes his little speech – actually glad that the only decision he ever had to make and still has to make is when instead of should and shouldn't.

"You keep me updated, okay," he basically orders her after they separate.

"But no graphic details please if you decided to do it. You know I love you, but I don't want to hear about your girl parts," he continues and Mercedes giggles.

They change the topic then to something that would be okay if Mercedes' mom overheard it and his best friend tells him all about the newest additions to glee club.

"They are both freshmen and turns out that one is Puck's half-brother."

"Holy shit, I actually feel sorry for that teacher of yours if he is like Puck," Kurt exclaims.

"Nah, he is okay. That new girl though, Kitty, she makes your friend Quinn look light a saint," Mercedes quips, reminding Kurt that he hasn't heard from Quinn since she went home and quickly sends her a text asking if she is doing okay while Mercedes is in the bathroom. He doesn't like keeping things from her, but he learned his lessons and knows when to keep his mouth shut.

They spend the rest of the night watching horrible reality TV and stuffing their faces with pizza, which only reminds him how much he misses her when he's in school. But he is happy in New York and until they graduate at least they'll have to make do with visits every now and then and plenty of phone calls.

Over at the Anderson house the brothers have their own version of a sleepover. His dad had to leave for Chicago a few hours earlier, looking over the books of a major company before a RIS visit, leaving him and Cooper alone with his collection of whiskeys. Fortunately his dad doesn't care if they drink some unless it's the really expensive stuff and apparently his brother is dead set on getting him drunk.

"So tell me this," he slurs an hour after their first glass. "What the fuck are you doing with Kurt's aunt?" Alcohol makes him swear, sue him.

Cooper just smirks, or at least attempts to.

"We are friends with holiday benefits. Get it," he chuckles. "I just came up with that one. Clever, right?"

Blaine rolls his eyes because Cooper is ridiculous and way easier to be around after a few drinks, he thinks.

"Whatever, just don't cause problems for me and Kurt," he tells him before accepting a new glass.

"Speaking of Kurt. You're not having problems, right?" Cooper asks and Blaine raises an eyebrow in question.

"Huh?"

"You know, like bedroom problems. Because if you do, I can give you some pointers. I have plenty of experience and I don't care about the gay stuff," Cooper elaborates and Blaine frowns.

"Why would you think that?"

"Well I asked Kate up to my room so you could have your little sleepover but I didn't hear anything from your room. If you were doing something, you might be doing it wrong."

"Cooper," Blaine cries out, scandalized. "What the fuck!"

His brother just shrugs though, apparently not thinking he did anything wrong.

"Just trying to help you out, Blainers."

"Don't call me that," Blaine huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. Now he remembers what an insufferable dick his brother can be.

Cooper just studies him for a moment before he continues and Blaine wants to put his fingers in his ears and start singing.

"You do know what foreplay is, right? Because-"

Blaine doesn't let him finish.

"And on that note, I think it's time that I went to bad. I have plans with Kurt tomorrow," he practically yells, before fleeing the room, because he does not want to know what Cooper's advice would be.

Days like this, he wishes he were an only child.

AN: Just to make it clear - Adam is not a bad guy. He is just a boy experiencing his first major crush. Also he doesn't realize that Trent is just trying to set him up for failure because he has little crush on Adam and wants him to get over Kurt ASAP, even if that means getting Adam away from Kurt permanently. We are dealing with two fourteen year old boys who really don't know any better.

Also, I absolutely do not like Finchel and I usually don't write them because my AU Rachel is normally a lot nicer while Finn is still a douche and she deserves better in my stories, but for now he can have her, because I honestly don't know who else to pair him or her up with. However, I'm willing to include hilarious suggestions next season ;)

Up next: Christmas and the start of spring term.