The next morning, Kurt entered the kitchen to find his parents sitting at the table. Burt was reading the newspaper to Carole, while she drank her coffee. Kurt enjoyed the fact that this probably became their morning routine.

"Morning." He greeted them.

"Good morning," they both said. "Kurt, sweetie, howd you sleep? Hopefully the couch didnt break you." Carole inquired, while Burt took a break in his reading.

"No, I was fine. Im tougher than that couch, Carole." Kurt reminded her, dropping a kiss on her head. "So, when are we getting started on our feast?"

"Well," Burt said, rising from his chair, "we were waiting on you. Are you going to have some breakfast first? Or coffee?"

"Im alright," Kurt declined, "thanks though. But, uh, you guys can finish up your breakfast and get started on the food. Im just going to run upstairs and see if Blaine is okay. I mean awake. Hes fine, no reason for him not to be. Hes just maybe not awake, because of the whole sleeping thing. Which he did well, I mean maybe. Okay, so, Ill go check. Go team." Kurt shot Carole a smile, trying to alleviate her worried expression. His father simply nodded, knowing all but the details of what had happened the previous night. He was proud of the way his son was stepping up to help Blaine. He knew hed raised him right.

Kurt knocked lightly on the door, not expecting it to open nearly immediately. Blaine stood in the doorway, fully clothed and wearing only one shoe. He was acutally dressed a lot nicer than usual. On some days, when theyre in New York, Kurt would confuse his day clothes for pajamas. But, thered be no mistakes made today. Blaine was dressed in pressed ankle length red pants, with a navy polo tucked in and a matching bowtie. And his hair was miraculously tamed by gel, all of it slicked back and staying on his head.

"You look quite spiffy, Mr. Anderson." Blaine grinned and waved the confused and impressed Kurt into the room, gesturing apologetically to his phone.

"Yeah, alright, text you when Im on the street." Blaine glanced to Kurt, seated on the bed, then spoke again into the phone. "I think so. Okay, Cooper, Ill see you soon. Bye." He ended his call and sat down with Kurt, putting on his other shoe. "So," he began. "Ive decided Im going to see them."

"What?" Kurt watched Blaine tying the short laces of his Sperrys. Kurt couldnt comprehend Blaine in Sperrys. Theyre quite different from Converse and Oxfords.

"My parents; Im going to see them." He said, decidly. "And youre coming with me."

Kurt turned his saucer sized eyes to Blaine. "I am?" 

Blaine nodded, "I need a ride, so yes. If thats alright with you." He added, politely.

"Uh, okay. Sure, when?"

Blaine took in Kurts current state. He had slept in his clothes, the fabric wrinkled and disheveled. "As soon as youre ready."

"Okay, just give me ten mintues."

He took twenty, but Blaine wasnt in the position to complain. Kurt quickly explained the situation to his dad, then they were on the road to Westerville.

Kurt was nervous. Probably not as much as Blaine, though. He wanted to be there to support his roommate, his friend, but meeting his parents? That was so sudden. And after what Kurt learned about Blaine the previous night, he didnt know what to make of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. But, at least Kurt could see Cooper again. Not that that was the point, Kurt reminded himself. He was there to support Blaine, his friend.

"What made you decide to do this?" Kurt asked, glancing at Blaine, who was fidgeting nervously in his seat.

He didnt take his gaze from the scene outside the window and his hands kept tugging at the sleeves of his cashmere cardigan. "Last night, after we talked, I had a really weird dream. I was, uh its kinda stupid, but I was getting married." Blaine didnt mention that the other groom was the man sitting next to him. "And, of course on my fiances side, there were all these people. Like dozens of them. His parents, grandparents, cousins, second cousins, old teachers and friends. It seemed like everyone hed ever looked at showed up. And they all kept talking about how theyre family and were family and oh, everyone is so joyous and gay. But, like the old fashioned happy kinda gay. And subconscious me found their word choice very ironic." Kurt chuckled. "But, anyways, I looked at my side of the seats and there was just Cooper, Tina and the Warblers."

"Im sorry, wait," Kurt interrupted. "Did you say The Warblers? As in Daltons glee club, which we completly decimated at sectionals?"

"It was a tie." Blaine defended.

"Okay, but regionals wasnt a tie. And it definetly wasnt in your favor either." Kurt countered. "You dont strike me as the glee club type."

Blaine shrugged. "Remember, I told you about Wes last night?" Kurt nodded. "He heard me singing in the shower one night and convinced me to join. He was like head of the clubs council for three years, which is pretty impressive, because thats a senior position. So, yeah, the Warblers were all there to watch me be wed. And that was cool and all, I guess, because theyre all practically my family. But, I dont know, I was just upset that the only other Anderson there was Cooper. And I realized that when, or if, I ever do get married, I want my parents to be there. So, Im going to try to patch things up with them."

Kurt smiled, "Thats really good, Blaine." They were both thinking the same thing, though neither boy wanted to say it. They doubted that Blaines parents, especially his father, would sit through a ceremony of two men being married to each other. But, they could at least get to the point where Blaine felt welcomed enough to go home for holidays.

"Is it? Because I feel scared shitless and Ive already started talking myself out of it."

Kurt shrugged, "its worth a shot." When Kurt turned into the gated community, Blaine retrieved his phone and sent a text to his brother. He glowered up at the large house, gripping his phone is his hand. Kurt reached over and briefly squeezed his knee. "Youve got this, Blaine. And Ill be there for you."

"Actually," Blaine began, watching Cooper step out of the large door. "Can you wait in the car? I just think that things would go better if I wasnt bringing a boy home." Blaine attempted to smoothe over Kurts worried expression. 

"Okay, youre probably right. Ill wait." He acquiesced, a little reluctant. He didnt like the idea of Blaine going in there alone, him being aware of what his father has done to him. "But, Ill be right out here if you need me, okay?" Blaine nodded, and shoved open his door. Kurt watched him as he and Cooper walked up the stone entryway. Jesus, Blaine had a nice house.

"Mom?" Cooper called down the long hallway. "Can you come to the foyer for a second?" Blaine could hear the clanking of kitchenware streaming towards him, along with the smell of turkey. The sound of her heels clicking down the hall made Blaine nervous.  Then, she was stepping into the foyer, asking Cooper what he needed. Thats when she saw Blaine. Her face faltered for a moment, then she smiled at him.

"Youre home. Did you receive the messages I left for you?" She was so professional whenever she talked to him, as if having children was simply a buisness investment. And thats all Blaine has really become. Hes here to impress her coworkers at parties.

Blaine shifted his weight between his feet, "uh, no. Well, like I got them, but I havent listened to them yet."

"Oh," she paused and then shrugged, "I suppose theyre not of much importance. Do you have any bags? How long are you staying?"

"Im not." Blaine mumbled at his feet. "I just came to..."

"To what, Blaine? Please use your words." She patronized. Cooper looked at him, an apology in his eyes. Under their combined gaze, Blaine was left struggling to remember why he came. "Walter, can you come in here." His mother called. At the mention of Blaines father, he could feel his pulse quicken and his palms moistened.

"Wha- oh." His father said, upon entering the room. He straightened up, walking to his wifes side. "Blaine. Are you here to eat with us?"

"Uhm," he quivered.

"He said he isnt staying." Blaines mom supplied.

Mr. Anderson nodded, considering the information. "Well, then where are you staying?"

"With my roommates family, they live in Lima." Blaine regretted giving them that information. Now itd be easier for them to find him whenever they needed him. 

"Uh hu. And are they okay with this?" Blaine nodded, quickly, remembering what Burt had said about kicking out family. Had he been calling Blaine family? "Well, would you at least like to stay for awhile, maybe eat?" Blaine shook his head. "We havent made the macaroni yet, I know thats your favorite."

"My roommate is waiting outside for me."

"Really? Wed love to meet her." That was his father challenging Blaine.

Blaine decided to rise to the challenge, "I dont know if he would want to." Blaine had made sure to emphasize the pronoun and correct his father.

Mr. Anderson was stone faced, looking at his son. "Ah, well. You arent leaving until we meet this man in your life, Blaine. I insist."

"Please dont, Dad. Its not what you think, I swear." Blaine pleaded of his father.

"Is he...like you?" His father asked. Blaine looked at his shoes. "Then it is what I think and Id like to meet him. So, would you, please, fetch him for me?"

"Hes just my roommate."

"Cooper, go find your brothers roommate." He demanded, growing impatient.

"Dad," Cooper pleaded of his father.

"Now." His father warned. Blaine got an apologetic look from Cooper, who stepped out the front door. Quickly, Blaine followed him outside, glad his parents said nothing to stop him.

Cooper was half way to the car when Blaine caught up to him. "You know I have to do this." He reminded his brother.

Blaine nodded. "I know." He didnt want Cooper to also get in trouble. Their parents still treasured him and his success, Blaine didnt want to ruin that for him. 

Silence passed between them. "Sorry." They both mumbled together.

Kurt saw the brothers leave the house, hed been watching the door for awhile. Hed been waiting for Blaine, fretting over him being in their alone. Before they were close or could say anything to Kurt or explain, Cooper had already gestured for him to get out of his car.

"Come inside, our father wants to meet you." He explained with such lackluster routine that Kurt knew he wasnt the first.

"Im really sorry." Blaine spoke quietly, the two of them walking shoulder to shoulder behind Cooper.

"Its alright." Kurt replied, shrugging casually.

Blaine, however, was unconvinced. "Just, be polite and stuff. Dont try to make jokes, they are humorless. And, uhm, I dont know, Kurt, Im nervous."

"Dont be. I can handle meeting your parents." Kurt soothed. "Itll be okay, trust me." Blaine felt Kurts fingers brushing his as he reached to hold Blaines hand. But Blaine didnt leave his hand hanging between them for Kurt to hold. He retracted it and stuffed them both into his tiny pockets, where they puffed out like muffin tops. That was what he had to do, not what he wanted to do. He had to because he knew Cooper was opening the door and they were going inside and his dad was seeing them, all of them. Thered be no hiding how he felt when Kurts fingers were laced with his own, his thumb roaming the back of Blaines hand in the way Blaine wished his hands could roam Kurts back. But they couldnt, just as much as they couldnt hold Kurts hands in this moment. But his hands wanted to, they ached for it.

"Mom, dad, this is my roommate, Kurt." Blaine gestured with his shoulders, keeping his hands secure in the pockets. Kurt extended his hand to both parents, but only his mother accepted it. His father never felt uncomfortable with being blatantly rude. He probably didnt want to touch Kurts hand, because he knew Blaine had held it. He could tell. Blaine his his hands deeper inside his pockets.

"Its nice to meet you, both." Kurt said, earning him a tight smile from his father and a strained "you too" from his mother. They stood in silence that resonated too deeply and lasted too long. Then, mr. Anderson left the foyer, his feet echoing down the hall as he went.

Blaine didnt want him to go, he needed him to stay and wait until he remembered why he came. "Dad, please," he shouted after him, the words catapulting from his throat before he realized. But, his dad didnt stop.

"Well," Mrs. Anderson began. "Blaine, you will make sure to be here for Christmas." It wasnt a question. Not attending was not an option, but Blaine shook his head anyway. Its not like he was listening or even looking at her. He was fixated on where his dad had stood, refusing to give him what he came for. "You dont want to miss our party, everyone will be expecting you there."

"Actually," Kurt intervened. "Blaine and I are already signed up to spend the holidays with less fortunate children." Kurt, however, had no plan when he intervened and had to make it all up on the spot. "Just reading to them, playing games. That stuff. Christmas stuff. And its too late to cancel, dont want to ruin Christmas. So...yep."

"Oh," mrs. Anderson nodded. "That sounds very lovely. I understand. It was nice meeting you, Kurt."

"Same to you and you have a lovely home." It was true, they did.

"Thank you. Blaine, I expect you to answer my calls." He nodded, though he knew he still wouldnt. "Have a happy thanksgiving. And Kurt, thank your parents for hosting Blaine." 

"I will." Kurt agreed. It was obvious she was showing them out. But, it took a little coaxing to draw Blaine from his daze. He didnt want to go. And all the entire ride back to Lima, he felt empty. Like he went to the store and forgot the milk. Like he went home and forget to get his fathers acceptance.

But, as the houses passed and the buildings transformed from Westerville to Lima outside the car windows, Blaine forgot. As Kurts music streamed from the speakers, Blaine gave up on his father like he was simply giving up on a bad book. As Kurt thought about Blaines hand being in his and his thumb roaming the warm skin until he knew it better than the back of his own, Blaine reached over with his aching hand and held onto Kurts. Because he wanted to and he could.