"What's with the scruff? Too lazy to shave this morning?" She said as she rubbed his five o'clock shadow growing on his cheeks. He laughed as she led him up the walkway and back into the house. He walked into the family room, which had been virtually untouched since high school. He sat down on the couch and finally let his body relax.

"Where's Dad?" Blaine asked, taking a quick glance up the stairs.

"Oh, he just got out of the shower. He'll be down." She said as she sat down on the couch across from Blaine. "It's been so long Blaine, how is everything?" She asked, seemingly a bit sad. Blaine couldn't blame her; they had been pretty close during his high school years. She had been heartbroken when he had decided that he wanted to move to New York for college. He knew he should have taken more time to come and visit but there was always something keeping him from coming back to Ohio.

"I know, I'm sorry. I've been crazy busy..." Blaine said, which wasn't remotely true but he couldn't really say that to his mother. It would break her fragile idea that their family was perfect and without any problems what-so-ever.

"Well, how is everything else in your life? Are you seeing anyone?" Blaine smiled weakly, surprised his Mom even cared enough to ask. He opened his mouth to speak - to give his standard answer that he always gave whenever anyone ever asked him that question. However, someone interrupted him before he could speak.

"You know Blaine doesn't want to talk about all that girly stuff." Blaine's father had just come into the room from upstairs and took a seat next to his wife. "Isn't that right Blaine?" He said with a stern look. It wasn't that Blaine didn't want to talk about it, he really didn't mind talking about his relationships with his mother; considering she was one of the only people that he knew that actually cared to listen. But his father would have none of it. Even when he was at Dalton Academy and he finally started to feel good about who he was, his father always found a way to bring him down a notch. He would never let Blaine forget everything that happened at his old school, everything that happened at their prom. He would always say that with his kind of behavior that kind of reaction from other kids was to be expected. Blaine wanted to just let his father's comment slide but he wasn't going to stand for his father's bullying. Not anymore, not as an adult.

"Right." Blaine barely whispered as he stood up from the couch. His mother watched him with wide eyes.

"Oh, honey, where are you going?" She said as she watched him walk towards the door. She didn't sound very surprised at his actions; her voice low and neutral. The fact was however that he had no idea where he was going. He had been at his house for no more than five minutes and he was already eager to get away. He really didn't have anywhere else to go; none of his friends lived in the same houses anymore. Most people didn't even live in the same town, the same state anymore and he had no idea who else would be in town for the reunion. He looked at the time, it was nearing seven P.M.; they would just be sitting down to dinner. He decided to try his luck and walk the long distance from his house.

It looked just the same as it always had. He hesitated for a long moment; he wasn't sure if coming here was actually a good idea. He was getting increasing worse vibes the longer he stood there, halfway up their walkway. Everything in his body was telling him to turn around and run for the hills but then he heard a car pull up into the driveway beside him. He turned and saw Carole, Finn's mother step out of the car. She looked at him, confused for a moment before a smile broke out over her face.

"Blaine?" She walked towards him and hugged him tight, the way a mother should. He hugged her back; he wondered how hugging his ex's step mother could feel more familiar and fulfilling to him than hugging his own mother. Especially since he hadn't seen here in nearly nine years, since right before he and Kurt had moved to New York together. He released the hug, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

"What are you doing here honey?" Carole asked and the smile left Blaine almost instantly. What was he doing here? He had no right to go to the Hummel's with any of his problems; not anymore. What would Kurt say if he knew that he was here?

"My house..." He was able to mutter out. He suddenly felt like a teenager again. Running away from his house when things got difficult and basking in the comforts of Kurt's house. The relationships that everyone had there taught him what a real family was like. It had always made him a bit jealous that Kurt had people like that to come home to.

"Unwelcoming as ever..." Carole said strongly but with a reassuring smile. "Come on, I'll fix us something for dinner." She started to pull Blaine in the direction of the front door but he stopped dead in his tracks. Carol turned back and gave him another warm, motherly smile.

"Don't worry, he won't be in town until tomorrow." She said and Blaine released the breath that he didn't realize he was holding. He smiled weakly and followed Carole up to the house.