Blaine slowly closed the door behind him. He stood in the hall for a little while, thinking whether he should go to his room and leave facing his family to the morning or do it now. He was tired and idea of bed was pretty good, on the other hand, as he knew himself, he wouldn’t probably be able to fall asleep with this big thing in the air. He made few steps towards kitchen where, according to the sound, his mum and dad were cleaning up after dinner.

“Why didn’t he tell us?” Daniel Anderson asked his wife.

“I don’t know, darling.”

“I didn’t want to make things worse.” His parents turned around to look at him. Alison put the plate she was holding to dishwasher and hurried to hug her son, but half way she changed her mind, not sure if Blaine would be okay with that kind of affection.

“I felt like I was destroying this family. You were fighting a lot and I wasn’t blind or deaf. I knew I was the reason. There were days when I thought you were going to get divorced. Everything seemed to be back to normal after I transferred to Dalton, but the gap between us, we’d created in a year before, was there and I really didn’t know how to tell you. So I was trying to be a good kid. It was the least I could do after I’d almost ruined your marriage. I did my best to have good grades and to be on the top at Dalton. I made it to Warblers and became their soloist. I told you about every performance we had so you could come and see me. But you never came, dad. I just…I just wanted you to be proud of me but didn’t know how to make you.” Daniel broke the eye contact with his younger son. He wasn’t able to handle the sight in front of him – Blaine leaning his back to the wall, his arms crossed on his chest, his eyes burning deep hole to his father’s heart. He was searching for strength from his wife but seeing her teary broke his heart even more.

“I was a messed up kid who needed to be supported and loved. I thought for a long time I didn’t have that because I didn’t deserve that. Then I got used to it. I didn’t expect anything. It was the way it was and there was nothing I could do about it at the time, so I focused on my future. I planned to go to Juilliard. To make it big and finally give you the reason…Damn! Why couldn’t you tell me you would always love me no matter what? If you had known about my boyfriends why hadn’t you asked about them? How was I supposed to know you cared when you didn’t show it? I saw you talking to Coop…heard you talking about Coop and his success…I wished you could talk about me with the same kind of pride in your voice.” Blaine closed his eyes, willing not to break down.

“I never said I wasn’t proud of you.”

“You never said you were either…” Although Blaine said it in whisper, his words were clear. They were like rubbing salt into a wound.

“I can’t do this here. Can we…Can we go somewhere else?”

“Go to the music room. I’ll be there in a minute.” Blaine nodded and walked away from the kitchen. The music room was his territory. He felt safe there. He knew his father picked it up on purpose. He wanted to give his son advantage of a home field. Blaine sat down on a carpet. Nobody ever got why he always did it, when some serious conversation was ahead of him. When Daniel came to the room, he mirrored Blaine’s position. He’d never done that, but he was desperately trying to get closer to his son and be on the eye level with him was important. He put a box, he brought with him, in front of Blaine.

“What’s that?”

“Every Warbler’s performance you’ve ever done and every commercial you’ve created so far. We have similar box of Cooper’s dvds. When we miss you a lot, we open a bottle of wine and watch one of those…I’m so sorry, Blaine. I’ve known I screwed up a big as a parent for a long time now, but saying it out loud makes it more real and worse…”

“Dad…”

“No, please, let me finish. Let me explain myself. I know it’s not gonna change the things that happened in the past. I just need you to know, why I behaved the way I did…Every parent who loves his child is trying to protect them. We’ve never had problem with acceptance in this family. We’ve never judged anybody because of his race or religion or sexual orientation. We raised you that way and I think we did a good job. That’s why I was surprised when you told me earlier I had a problem with you being gay. It’s not true. I remember you coming out to us. You were sitting here, on the carpet like you are right now, and I know I didn’t respond the way I should have. I asked you if you were sure because you were young and lot of young people are confused when they are fourteen. I hoped maybe when I could show you another options, you would change your mind. I didn’t want you to be gay not because I had a problem with that, but because the world around you had. Still have, though it gets better. You were about to start high school and I knew how high schools worked. Nobody liked nerdy kids with interest in music. And lot of people didn’t like homosexuals. You were both and it made you a walking target. I didn’t want you to get hurt, to be bullied. You weren’t the one for complaining and I knew you wouldn’t tell if something like that was happening. So I banned music lessons. I set you on dates and hoped your classmates would see you with girls and left you alone. After Saddie Hawkins dance I gave up. There was no way I could keep you safe in a public school so I sent you to Dalton. I wanted you to have normal childhood not influenced by money but I had no choice. I had to make you a prep school boy to protect you. You were a good child. You never made troubles. You were so different from Cooper. You were quiet and secretive…you handled everything on your own, never stood up for yourself. Your mum and I didn’t know how to approach you. I didn’t see any of your performances because it would kill me to watch your happy face, knowing you never wore that expression at home. I was glad you had friends and Warblers, but it hurt so much that you didn’t feel free and safe in our house. The truth be told, I didn’t believe you could make it to be on a spot as Cooper did. I saw you in some orchestra on Broadway, or being composer for someone else. Someone who was able to face the pressure…I was wrong. You showed me you are able to stand up for yourself today. It was really impressive.” Blaine chuckled. He would call it epic but he could go with impressive for now.

“You were always looking for a good in people. That’s why I was so afraid you were going to get hurt by them. When we had parents meetings at Dalton, they were always talking about some kids causing problems. One of them was pretty bad. His name was Sebastian. I swear I’ll remember that name for the rest of my life from how many times we were discussing his behavior. And one day dean said: He is friend with Blaine Anderson now. I hope he will be a good influence. I was so scared. I saw this kid beating you up or making a fun of you, hurting you…but apparently you really were a good influence because they discussed him a lot less every meeting we had from then. After what Cooper had to go through, when he left for LA, I didn’t think, you could handle people not liking you without any reason, people trying to bring you down, so they could be on the top…You were just too sweet and innocent. I mean, you befriended a resident badboy.”

“He was my first boyfriend…”

“God, I’m so glad I didn’t know then.” Blaine laughed at his father’s statement.

“He wasn’t that bad, dad. He was just misunderstood as most of teenagers. And it was me who broke his heart…so I assume his parents didn’t like me even more you didn’t like him.”

“I want to apologize, Blaine. I swear, every wrong thing I did was made with a good intention. I never meant to hurt you. I was trying to protect you and it seems now I was the biggest danger for you. I love you. I’ve always been proud of you. And for the rest of my life I’m going to regret I didn’t show you that properly. Please, don’t give up on your dreams because your father is a jerk. Go to New York as you wanted to, apply for Juilliard, I’ll pay for it. You know I don’t care about money while they are used for a good purpose.”

“Dad, thanks for the offer but I was majoring in music two years ago. I don’t need another degree.” Blaine stood up from the floor and held his hand for his father. Daniel took it and let his son help him to his feet. He was amused when Blaine hugged him and didn’t pull back after few seconds.

“Will you play with me, dad? We haven’t done it for a long time…”

There was a pounding on the door. Blaine stopped playing, his dad as well. They exchanged confused looks.

“It’s open.” Blaine shouted and door flew open, revealing grinning Copper.

“Cooper! What did I tell you about leaving them alone?” Their mother voice was audible from staircase.

“They were playing piano. They were not talking. I’m not interrupting anything, mum.”

“Actually, you are interrupting our playing…” Blaine said and smiled at his mum as she entered the room, determined to get the older son out of there.

“Come on, squirt…”

“Cooper! Our parents gave me a name when I was born. It’s Blaine. B-L-A-I-N-E. Start using it!”

“Wow, little br…Blaine, I have no idea, what happened to you, but I definitely like your attitude. So, tell me, who is Kurt?” Cooper sent him huge smile.

“Cooper, let’s go. You’re not supposed to be here…” Blaine appreciated Alison’s try, but there was no way Cooper would leave without getting information he requested.

“It’s okay, mum. You can stay. Maybe we could play you something…”

“Yes, of course you can play us something but first, tell me who Kurt is. We never got a name before…” Blaine just shook his head.

“He is a friend. A great one.”

“Friend?” There was a disappointment in Cooper’s voice. He hoped he could finally get some juicy details about his younger brother’s love life. He saw Blaine’s phone signaling a new text. He picked it up from the carpet and had every intention to hand it to Blaine, when he realized the text was from Kurt. He opened it before Blaine had a chance to react and read it out loud.

Rachel decided to go to a club now. I probably won’t hear my phone ringing there. Do you want me to go home in case you need me? – K

“Are you sure he is not your boyfriend?”

“Cooper, give me my phone!” Cooper didn’t listen to him and dialed Kurt’s number.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling Kurt.” Blaine snatched for his phone, but his brother was out of reach, running to the other side of the room.

“Hi.” Kurt’s voice filled music room.

“Hey!”

“Blaine?”

“Nope. His brother. So Kurt, are you gay?”

“Cooper!”

“Hi, Blaine.”

“Hi, Kurt.”

“Is there a reason why your brother is asking me personal question?”

“Yeah, there is. He is crazy.”

“I’m not crazy. I’m good enough to have him on speaker, so you could hear what we are talking about.”

“You shouldn’t be talking to him in the first place, Coop.”

“Okay, would one of you tell me what’s going on?” Kurt cut their argument off.

“Cooper stole my phone, read your message and called you.”

“Why don’t you take your phone back?”

“I can’t. He is holding it above his head…” Kurt started to laugh. Blaine loved Kurt’s laugh, but right now he was pissed off.

“And you’re too short to reach it, right?”

“Don’t make fun of me, Kurt.” Blaine said sternly.

“I’m not making fun of you, sweety. I’m just stating the obvious.”

“Remember this next time I’m going to state something obvious…”

“Was that a threat, Anderson?”

“Maybe, Hummel.”

“I’m not sure if I should be shocked or proud of your behavior…”

“Well, I’m definitely proud of myself today.”

“Cocky, aren’t we?”

“No. Just self-confident. Someone told me I have to be the first aware of my value. I might be turning to a person who put themselves first.”

“I miss old, self-conscious, selfless and caring Blaine already.”

“Next time think twice before you make a monster.” Kurt laughed again, Blaine joining him, leaving Cooper amused and speechless.

“So did your dad like his present?” Kurt knew he was still on speaker, but assumed there were only Blaine and his brother listening, so he had no reason not to enjoy speaking to his friend.

“I haven’t given him it yet.”

“Blaine! Where are your manners?”

“There wasn’t a time for that.”

“For what? For manners? You’ve always been a dapper gentleman. Don’t tell me there wasn’t a time for that today.”

“Not for manners, for giving presents…”

“But you still managed to find time to storm out of the house and call me? Not cool, Blaine.” Kurt teased him.

“I thought you were happy I called you. Unless you would be on a police station right now after punching that annoying guy.”

“Wait, you punched a guy?” Cooper was lost in their conversation.

“No, he didn’t, because I saved him.”

“Yeah, what would I do without you?”

“You would have a horrible evening…Did the guy leave you alone when you came back?”

“No. But I sent Rachel after him and she scared him.”

“She started talking to him and he was done five minutes later?”

“She wouldn’t let him say a word.”

“I wonder what would happen if I closed my brother and her in one room. They would probably kill each other…”

“Your brother doesn’t seem to have a problem with staying quiet.”

“It’s a wrong impression he is giving right now. He is carefully listening, so he could haunt me about you later…”

“You bet I will.” Cooper sent him a wink and patiently waited for the end of the phone call.

“Call me when you get home from that club.”

“You think I should go?”

“There is no reason for you not to go.”

“So everything is okay?”

“Yes.”

“I guess, I’ll have to go then.”

“Kurt Hummel, you weren’t using me as an excuse not to go, were you?”

“No…Or not intentionally…”

“Kurt!”

“What? I couldn’t get rid of that asshole in the coffee shop. I don’t want to go to a club and deal with drunken guys.”

“Just don’t be alone. Have some of your friends near you. You can’t hide at home, because you don’t want to be hit on. It is natural men are hitting on you…”

“They weren’t hitting on me in Pittsburgh.”

“Because you were either with girls or with some guys around you. One glare from Lucas and they thought twice whether to approach you.”

“So you are saying right now, there were men with interest in me and I didn’t know because of my overprotective friends?”

“Yes, of course there were. Come on. You’ve been hanging out with four guys and three of them were gays, who had interest in you at some point. What makes you think others wouldn’t want you?”

“Had interest?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“You used a past tense…”

“Kurt, you know what I meant.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry…I’m going to a club.”

“Call me when you get home.”

“Blaine, it will be late…”

“Don’t care, call me. I need to know you get home safe, okay?”

“Okay. Give your dad present and you can tell me how much he likes it.”

“I’m not so sure, he’ll like it.”

“Why not? You said you couldn’t go wrong…”

“And then you said you wouldn’t count on it.”

“I was kidding Blaine. You’re not Nick. God knows I wouldn’t let him give that kind of present to his father…or to anybody”

“You don’t want to go to that club…”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes. You’re still on the phone with me…”

“I like talking to you. Much better than loud and overcrowded club.”

“You’re in New York, Kurt. You can’t sit at home and spend all your free time on the phone or skype with me. You deserve to have fun. Live a little. Meet new people. I’m not that interesting.”

“Stop underestimating yourself! What happened to self-confident Blaine?”

“Nothing. He is still here. In Westerville and in Pittsburgh. Not in New York. I don’t want you to hold back from new experiences, that’s all…”

“You’re not holding me back.”

“Don’t be stubborn, Kurt. Go to a club and call me. You can tell me about another worst attempt of hitting on someone later.”

“How do you know that would be another worst attempt?”

“Because it wouldn’t be my attempt…” The moment words let his mouth he regretted them. Cooper wouldn’t let him live that down.

“Are you telling me your attempt is the best? Because as far as I recall you pretty much sucked at it…”

“I wasn’t my full self then…”

“Excuses…”      

“Kurt?”

“I know. I’m going. Call you later. Miss you. Bye Blaine, Bye Cooper.”

“Miss you too. Have fun.”

“Wait! Where are we gonna meet you?”

“Coop, not now!”

“You wanna meet me?”

“And mum and dad, too…”

“Well, I have no idea, but I hope we’ll figure something out.”

“I take that for now. Bye Kurt. Have fun.”

“Thanks.”

Cooper gave Blaine his phone back.

“Just a friend, right?” Blaine took his phone and returned to his position by the piano next to his dad without saying a word. Alison and Daniel watched their younger son, pleased by the conversation they’d just witnessed. Kurt might not be Blaine’s boyfriend, but he cared about their son a lot. Daniel had never seen Blaine interact with someone with so much loose. It reminded him once again he didn’t know his younger son at all. He looked at his wife with sadness in his eyes. Silent message of what have I done? was delivered immediately. Alison quickly moved from the door to her husband and wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. She kissed his temple and it was everything he needed. Blaine started playing melody no one in the room knew. Daniel pulled Alison to his lap while Cooper sat on the armchair, all of them enjoying music. For the first time in years, Daniel had a hope his family would get through the problems they had made long time ago.

“That was beautiful…” Alison said after Blaine finished his playing.

“Thanks.”

“So…let’s go back to Kurt.” Cooper couldn’t wait to find out more about him. The way they were talking indicated they were really close. He had a suspicion Blaine’s odd behavior was influenced and supported by Kurt. The guy was very interesting if he made Blaine finally open up and talk.

“We’re not going anywhere, Coop. Kurt is out of the discussion.” Blaine responded firmly.

“Blaine, please…tell me more about him. We’ve never really talked about boys. I’m curious. Who is he? He seems like a great man. And I don’t suppose you communicate with all your friends the way we heard you communicate with him.” Blaine would love to tell them about Kurt. But not now. The whole evening was like ride on the rollercoaster and he wasn’t ready for another round of emotional overflowing.

“What if we go to the living room and give dad presents?” Blaine suggested, hoping Cooper would drop the topic he was so keen on.

“So you could tell Kurt how dad likes it?” Blaine rolled his eyes, making their parents burst into the laughter. Alison couldn`t decide which one of her son was more stubborn at the moment. Blaine made his way out of the music room with Cooper right behind him. He outpaced him and walking backwards, pointing his finger on him, spoke.

“You are not getting out of it, Blaine. I’m onto you.”