It made him think and remember. The worst part was remembering. Locked in his room from a drunk father while ‘A Christmas Carol’ played on the television set below. Trying to hide behind the tree to keep from being hit due to looking for his name on presents which weren’t his while other children opened presents belonging to them. He saw hugs, smiles, giving, and love. But Blaine never experienced it. It was not for him to have.

But Burt and Kurt were so different from all those other families. They reminded him of the good people he used to live with. The ones that taught him sign language and piano. Where would he be without his sweet piano keeping him grounded? They reminded him of the one place he had ever considered home. The one place he never wanted to leave, but was torn away from anyway. What if the Hummels left him too?

Kurt, who was walking ahead of him, looked back and gave him a smile. A smile which held no malice and spread to his eyes, one full of warmth and caring. The only kind of smile he ever received from the Hummels. Blaine hurried to catch up. With a huge amount of effort, a full on battle raging on in his head, Blaine smiled back. A small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. One that quickly vanished and one which caused a slight blush. But it was a smile.

Kurt saw and his own smile broadened even more. While Kurt had yet to see one that was full and joyous, he was determined now more than ever to get one out of Blaine before the holidays were up. And Kurt’s heart danced.

“What about this tree?” asked Burt gesturing to a huge spruce.

“Dad, I don’t even think that will fit through out front door, let alone in our living room.”

“We could keep it out front.”

“No,” Kurt responded with a laugh.

Burt chuckled and moved on.

“This one?” asked Kurt.

“Hmmm, the branches look good. Let’s check the length.”
But while Burt measured the tree, a tree next to it caught his attention. Slightly shorter than him; the branches were skinny and flimsy, and brown patches dotted the tree. It did not show the brilliance other trees at the farm did. Slowly he walked towards the defective tree and stared. He knew this tree wouldn’t be bought. He knew this tree wouldn’t get a home. It was too flawed and too broken for anyone to care.

Kurt watched Blaine head towards the tree, but didn’t call him back, curious as to what his foster brother was doing.

“Dad,” Kurt said.

“Yes?”

Kurt nodded over in Blaine’s direction and the tree he stared at.

But promptly rolled up his measuring tape, found a worker, and told him they wanted that tree.

With shock, Blaine watched as they loaded it onto the back of Burt’s car.

It would have a home for Christmas after all.

Kurt smiled as he jumped into the truck, “It’s just like ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’.” On the ride back home, Kurt hummed the tune. Listening to the soft melody, Blaine gazed out the window watching cars as they passed. Would the Hummels never stop surprising him? He didn’t want questions right now. He didn’t want to ask the whys or how comes. Right now, he just wanted to let whatever just happened to happen. And so he let go, just for a moment.

On Monday morning, Kurt helped his dad in the shop with the plan of tutoring Blaine that evening. Saying that Kurt was incredibly nervous would be an understatement. He had never tutored anyone in his life, and had no idea how much Blaine knew already. Kurt could guess Blaine retained very little, but what exactly he managed to learn due to constant shuffling of schools? No one knew. Wanting to ask Blaine, but knowing that wasn’t an option as he had yet to say a word since arriving; Kurt went into the session blind.

“Blaine, I was thinking we could start off with history and go from there.”

After talking at Blaine for five minutes, Kurt asked him a question with the hope of engaging him, “So, when was the industrial revolution? Circle one.” He wrote three answers on the piece of paper and gave it to Blaine. But Blaine looked at the paper like it had grown five heads with fangs and recoiled. A reaction similar to the first day Blaine arrived at their house, leaving Kurt confused. What went wrong?

As hard as he tried, Blaine could not focus on Kurt’s words, too concerned with protecting himself from the onslaught of his past. Hounded by events in his past, words that stung more than the smacks he received. “You’re too stupid to get anything right!” SMACK “No wonder no one wants you, you can’t even answer a simple question.” SMACK. Very quickly he learned to avoid any sort of homework in anyone’s presence.

Blaine knew Kurt wouldn’t hurt him, but the fear still lingered. Instead, Blaine tuned everything out, and listened to his piano. Because, right now, that was the only thing holding him together. Staying sitting in his seat was the best he could manage. It wasn’t that Blaine didn’t want to learn, it was that there was only so much he could cope with before his brain shut down. And right now, Blaine was at his max fighting with his memories.

Thereafter, Kurt no longer asked any more questions. If only there was a way to convince him it was okay to be wrong, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Unfortunately, he also gathered that Blaine wasn’t listening to his lesson anyway. It felt like Kurt was trying to educate a brick wall. His foster brother just sat there, eyes glazed, probably enthralled with his music, and not focusing.

Blaine had been with them for months, and he was still so scarred by his past. Was there a way to track down those families and punch each of them in the face? Or, at least, hire someone to do it for him?

But, then something happened at the very end. Kurt handed him a math sheet with a simple equation already worked out. He told Blaine to try the problems while he went to the bathroom.

Blaine grappled with himself. He looked at the equation, and studied at how it worked. He looked around, but no one was here. He was at the Hummel’s house, he was safe. No one was going to see him make a mistake. Taking a deep breath, he practically forced himself to pick up his pencil and start working on the problems in front of him. One step at a time.

When Kurt came back, a quarter of the equations were done, not only that, but were most were correct.
Kurt beamed at him and realized he approached this all wrong. Blaine didn’t need someone to talk at him; he needed someone to help him figure things out on his own. To give him space. One thing for certain, Blaine was not by any means stupid.

“Great job. Most of these are correct; I’m a little impressed right now,” Kurt told him with a hand on his hip.

Blaine blushed and quickly looked away. But he didn’t get all of them right. He should have, but he didn’t. He was too stupid. This was pointless, he was never going to learn. Why couldn’t he do anything right? He just wanted to be enough for them. Clutching his seat, he willed himself to stay in the chair. To not bolt, to keep his fear at bay. This was the Hummels. This was Kurt. It would be okay. He repeated to himself over and over, hoping to be proven right.

Kurt merely circled the ones he got wrong, and told him how to do them correctly.

These were words Blaine did not hear.

From his body language, Kurt could tell Blaine tuned out, but kept talking in a calm voice anyway. Kurt also wrote down the correct way to do the problem. Grabbing the computer, he looked up similar problems, wrote them down, and asked Blaine to try again. This time, Kurt purposely went into the living room. All he wanted to do was help, and maybe he finally found a way to do it.

Blaine looked down at the piece of paper when Kurt left, saw the changes, and worked on the problems.

Every so often Kurt peaked into the kitchen. When he saw Blaine was done, he came back in.

Blaine wrote down correct answers for all of the new problems.

“Well done. I think we will end here. Same time and place tomorrow then?” he asked.

With a red face, Blaine nodded.

The evening, Blaine heard music playing from outside his room. Curiosity held him causing him to follow the sound. It led him downstairs to find Burt with a box of Christmas supplies and Kurt placing newspaper on the table. Art supplies scattered around the newspaper in a messy disarray. Burt pulled out three plain ornaments from the box.

Blaine could tell this was probably a family activity and would be impeding on their time if he stayed much longer. Not wanting to get in their way and be an unwanted burden, an excluded observer making things awkward, he headed back to his room. He could practice the piano as his fingers ached for the imaginary instrument. But before he could leave, Burt called out to him.

“Hey, I was just about to come get you. I have an ornament for you, too, if you wanted to join us.”

Burt handed him a plane white ornament about the size of his hand. Shocked, Blaine took it carefully and awkwardly held it, standing in the middle of the kitchen. A bird caught between in an unexpected wind change. They wanted to include him. This must be a family tradition and they actually had an ornament for Blaine.

He watched as Kurt meticulously drew on the bulb with his tongue sticking out. Burt and Kurt chatted about possibly seeing the Christmas play while music played softly in the background. Peace floated all around him. He sat down at the table, still not quite believing what was going on. This was all he ever wanted, and now it was happening. He was terrified. He couldn’t lose this family.

Kurt worked on making snowmen, and Burt was writing ‘Merry Christmas’ in red and green writing. Blaine didn’t know what to do; didn’t know what he was allowed to do.

Kurt noted that Blaine looked lost. He floundered among a sea of new experiences. Instead of asking for Blaine to participate, he merely waited to see what would happen.

Blaine caught Kurt’s eye, but he found no judgment, only kindness. Shyly and hesitantly, Blaine grabbed a paintbrush and dipped it into the green paint. The CD playing Christmas music softly in the background guided the brush and dictated where the paint would go. The low notes were broad and thick on the bottom of the ornament. The long notes caused his brush to create swirls of red and green that tapered off at the end. High notes dotted the ornament. The more Blaine worked, the more confidence he gained. Letting the music take hold of the brush and drift him away, he soon forgot to be self-conscious.

When he was done, he set the paint brush down and reality came crashing down around him. Quickly, Blaine summoned his cage just in case. But he poked his head out to test the waters and see. If they wanted to break him down, he could quickly retreat. But he wanted to see their reaction. He wanted their approval. But he was too afraid to let go any more until he knew what was going to happen.
“Someone’s been hiding their talent,” said Kurt.

Burt looked up at the decorated ornament, and Blaine averted his eyes. He squeezed the table, but refused to retreat. “I love it, Blaine.” Blaine peeked up to see Burt’s beaming smile. Blushing, he smiled hesitantly back.
Kurt picked it up and turned it around. Worry gripped him, worry that he might be kidding about liking it, worried that he was going to throw it to the ground. Examining his work himself, Blaine would not be surprised if Kurt did. It wasn’t anything spectacular, in fact it horrible and awful. Just like everything Blaine did. He wished Kurt would break it already. But he didn’t. Kurt just looking at the bulb as a whole.

“Once this dries, we’ll have to find the perfect spot for it on the tree,” Burt said. They wanted it on the tree?
They then started decorating the tree. Kurt began humming quietly to the music. Blaine strained to listen to his voice. It was calming. At first, he stood back and watched as they decorated, once again afraid to do anything to mess up. But Burt handed him an ornament and asked him where would be a good place to put it. So Blaine placed it on the tree and Burt, Blaine was startled to see, nodded in approval.

From there Blaine helped decorate with very calculated placement. Kurt and Burt reminisced of memories with past foster children. Remember when Kierra… and what about… I wonder what he is up to now… Only snippets of the conversation caught by Blaine.

Not quite paying attention, Blaine lost his grip on a bulb and it crashed to the ground shattering everywhere. Blaine jumped and looked at Burt terrified. Backing away a little, Blaine put distance between them, just in case. He would be able to run away in time if he needed. He was fast.

“That bulb was so old anyway, no wonder it broke on the carpet,” said Burt as he went to the closet, the opposite direction as Blaine, to get a broom and dust pan. A sigh of relief.

“Great job, kids. It looks magnificent.”

And, really, the tree did not appear half bad.
“Good pick, Blaine,” said Burt. Blaine blinked in confusion.

With the Christmas tree now put up and decorations scattered around the house, the smell and feel of Christmas was in the air.

The next morning Kurt gave Blaine some worksheets before heading to the shop.

“If you have any questions, I’ll be in the garage helping out Dad,” Kurt gave him one last smile and walked off in the direction of the garage.

Blaine took them, sat down at the table, and started working. But for whatever reason he couldn’t focus. His thoughts wandered to the Hummels and how they got along together so well.

That was why he found himself in the shop of the Hummels. Under the pretense of working on his homework, Blaine was there to observe their interaction. He wanted to learn, but not necessarily learn about his school work. He knew the Hummels cared for one another, but the need to understand gripped him. How Burt never yelled. Why they were always so patient. He felt like the answer was right there, obvious and waiting, but was blurry and indistinct, hidden behind a nebulous fog.

Taking a seat in the corner of the shop, Blaine pulled his materials together. Burt gave him a wave in greeting and Blaine quickly pretended to go back to work. Every so often he glanced up to watch the father and son. They worked so well as a team. Sometimes they sat silently, sometimes they had a conversation consisting of whatever was on their minds, other times they told the other to do something and they actually did it. No arguing, no yelling, no complaining. Both had smiles on their faces the entire time. It made Blaine want to smile for the sake of smiling as well.

Together they were the G major scale, Blaine had decided. Bright and happy, a key which produced calm and joy. Rare people in Blaine’s world. His mind produced a melody for the two as he continued to watch.

Burt chuckled at something Kurt said. He was the support for the pair. A strong note which provided the foundation for the relationship, the G note, the first note in the chord. Burt was the reason, the source of the happiness and peace which surrounded the Hummel household. He created the strong relationship. The one that tied everything together. He gave the atmosphere, the chord, the harmony, its substance.

Kurt, while working diligently, told a story. He followed his father’s direction with no complaint. Kurt’s note was a B, a higher B, the octave above Burt. High and melodious, he gave the chord its brilliance.

They flowed as a team, both knowing their jobs in the shop. The two worked together just like the notes, producing no dissonance, just a delight.

Kurt took a break to investigate Blaine work. “How are the worksheets?” he asked slightly self-conscious.

Blaine held up the ones he completed earlier that morning for Kurt. Glancing them over quickly Kurt said, “Looks pretty good to me.”

Burt also came over, “How’s it going, kid?”

Kurt answered for him, “He is picking up on everything rather quickly.” He turned back to Blaine, “Did you have any questions?”

Blaine shook his head, wanting to tell Kurt how much he much appreciated how patient he was. That he was grateful to him for taking the time to help him. But he didn’t know how.

They went back to their work and Blaine watched them. Still wondering about their relationship. He watched as Kurt pulled up the hood of the car. He reached in and with a gasp, pulled his hand back. It was bleeding.

Burt instantly stopped what he was doing to check on his son, who continued to work on the car.

“Kurt, what happened,” Burt asked.

“Nothing, Dad, it was nothing,” he answered.

“Let me see,” he said pulling Kurt’s hand from the car. The cut wasn’t huge, and Kurt would have been able to continue without trouble. But Burt insisted, “Go clean up yourself and take a break.”

“Dad, it’s fine, I want to help,” Kurt said.

“Not with a hurt finger you won’t. Go take the day off, you work too hard anyway. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Kurt groaned, but did as he was told. Blaine watched this whole exchange curiously. If this were any other home, Kurt would have been forced to continue working whether he wanted to or not. But Burt told Kurt to stop, and even more Kurt didn’t want to take Burt’s excuse to stop, he wanted to keep working.

G and B.