Chapter 10

Songs used in this chapter:  Banks – Waiting Game

December

Blaine unlocks the door to his empty apartment and pulls his duffle bag into the living room from the hallway.  He's exhausted from traveling, so tired from the trip alone.  It feels unsafe and draining to be back here in San Francisco without Kurt, although he's never even been here.  Blaine promises himself to catch up on sleep as soon as he checks in with everyone from Ohio, really just Kurt if he's being honest. 

It was such a trying trip altogether for Blaine and he wishes he could just be lazy for a few days but he needs to jump right back into his schoolwork.  He's still overly affected by the interaction he's had with his father, and Kurt's overall acceptance toward whatever is going on in their situation.  It's all taking up so much space in his head and he needs to let it go.  He pulls out the planner he uses for schoolwork and flips to the week ahead.  He had pre-planned his trip back to Ohio, so he thankfully has nothing due that he hasn't done already, but he works to organize his bag so his papers are easily accessible for each class.  If Blaine has no routine, Blaine is nothing.

He comes back to the living room for his duffle bag and hauls it back upstairs.  He sets it in the corner, deeming unpacking a chore for later, and plops down on his bed.  He retrieves his phone from his jeans pocket and finds Kurt's contact.  He lets it ring while he situates his pillows into a comfortable pile and climbs in. 

“No, shut up!  It's Blaine.  Hi.”

“Hi baby.”  Blaine grins to himself.  “What was that all about?”

“My father making fun of me because I apparently have all the boys calling every phone line, stalking the shit out of me.  He started singing that Kelis song.”  Kurt sighs dramatically into the phone, probably as a show for his parents.  He sings.  “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard…”

Blaine laughs.  “Oh, God.  Well, your milkshake is impeccable.  Oliver?”

“Oliver.”  Kurt groans.  “How was your flight?  I'm assuming you're home safe?”

“Fine.  I'm home and in my bed. My brain won't turn off.  It was really good to see you and hang out with you for so long, but you're right.  Everything is always so intense in Ohio.” 

Kurt sighs into the phone.  “I know.  I meant what I said, though.  Just give me time to figure it all out.  Are you still thinking about Christian?”

“No?  I mean, sure.  Yes.  It's just all really… we're not going to get rid of him anytime soon and I guess it just makes me irrationally nervous that you're still there and so close to him.”

“He's not gonna get me, Blaine.”

“I know that.  I know.  It's just something changed when I was home with you and now our relationship is kind of exactly how it used to be without the sex.  Am I making any sense?”

“I feel it, too.  Between your dad and Oliver and New York and the ummm, note you found.  A lot of feelings shifted and it doesn't feel right for you to be all the way in California by yourself.”

“Exactly.  Kurt, I love you so much.”

“I love you too.  Sometimes, it's all I know.  You're all I know, Blaine, even when we were crazy and not talking.  Can I convince you to come home for Christmas?”

Blaine's hand finds its way to his boxers, to the inside of his waistband, and finally to wrap around his cock.

“I have a better question to ask you right now.”  He licks his lips and starts to stroke in a familiar rhythm.

Kurt laughs.  “What?”

“What are you wearing?”

“Scandalous.  Blaine, stop.”

“Please, baby.”  Blaine's breath hitches as he starts to rub.

“Oh my God!”  His voice is louder and more high-pitched than he probably would have liked so he brings it down to a whisper.  “Oh my God, Blaine are you…”

“Yeah.  Whatever, you're so hot.”

“Uh huh, and what else?” 

Blaine can hear a ruffle on the other end, like Kurt got up and sprinted upstairs. 

“I'm jerking myself off pretending it's your hand, and I'm getting closer by the second because you don't even know how sexy you are when you're all concentrated on getting me off… Kurt, please?  Where are you?”

“My room, now.  I had to escape… Wouldn't you rather I be there with you?”

“Mmm, more than anything, pretty boy.  This is all we have right now, though.  It'll be fine.  Come on, baby.  Will you come for me?”

“Blaine…” Kurt breathes, as if he's about to resist again. 

If Kurt takes Blaine all the way with this, it would mean that they are yet another step closer to a reconciled relationship and he's still not entirely sure that's what they need.  Blaine is testing the waters.  “Kurt. God, fuck me.”

“Oh, my God.  Shit.  Blaine, you're making me-” Kurt's breath hitches; he's clearly wrapping his own hand around his cock and pulling at the angle Blaine knows he loves.

Blaine breathes and takes himself through, right up until the edge.  “Kurt… want you inside me so bad.  Go harder.”

“Oh my God, shit. Come with me, B.”

Everything stops and stiffens; it feels like they've melted into puddles together, as if they're right next to each other or one on top of the other.

They breathe into the phones simultaneously and patiently await regular heartbeats, one in the same.  When they finally calm down, Blaine clears his throat.  “Kurt?”

“Does this change anything?”  Kurt almost sounds like a little boy, his voice as eager as a toddler.

“Mmmm, do you want it to?”

“Not yet.  Except that it breaks another wall and we're one step closer.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe soon.”

“Soon.”

“Sooner than you think.  Love you, B.  I have to go clean up and I'm suddenly really sleepy.  I miss having you here, honey.”

“Okay.  Call me whenever.  Love you.”

“Love you.”

xK&Bx

The next three weeks escape from Blaine completely.  It's all a blur as he rushes back and forth to class, studies for final exams, and writes an endless amount of pages for all sorts of assignments he has at school, all to the tune of his phone never shining brightly with Kurt's grinning face. 

Blaine misses hearing Kurt's voice on a regular basis and the fact that he can't do much about it right now kills him.  Kurt hardly answers any texts or phone calls anymore, chalking it up to being terribly busy in Lima.  Blaine can't help but smell just a little bit of bullshit, especially after the phone sex they had the night Blaine returned to California.

He forces himself to stop thinking about it under the pretense of homework.  He writes thousands of grueling words in an effort to escape his world for a while and write about someone else's.

He goes out with Steve and Jimmy only a few times during finals and finds that it's simply not as fun as it used to be.  Every time he sees someone or something ridiculously stereotypical or hilarious to the world he lives in, he looks around for Kurt and finally realizes he can't replace him.  He leaves early every time, cold and alone, sure that his friends have started to realize something is up.  Blaine assumes they'll put two and two together eventually and realize that it's all because of the time he spent in Lima with Kurt.

Jimmy tried to bring Kurt up once or twice after Blaine's grand confession of having had a serious live-in boyfriend in his past.  Blaine continued to keep it a generic conversation.  He's pretty sure that opening up to anyone is just an invitation to criticize every mistake he's ever made.

He speaks to Santana almost daily, regardless of how short the conversation, and she informs him every single time that Oliver and Kurt have yet to speak and Kurt continues to send excuses for staying in Ohio longer.  Santana and Willa are holding down the fort at the Lima Bean in New York, and Santana is perfectly fine with it.  Evidently, Kurt will be back in New York on the Tuesday before Christmas to check in with the coffee shop and pay rent.  He's conveniently planned it this way so they can all drive back road-trip style the next day because they waited too long to buy flights and the pricing is ridiculous.  She's not sure if Oliver will show up for Christmas in Ohio, but she really wants Blaine to go so she can introduce him to Willa, who is apparently Santana's first girlfriend she's ever cared anything for, at least since high school.  It's serious and she really wants Blaine's approval as her very best friend besides Kurt.   It's important to her; she says he has to be there.

“Santana, if Kurt's boyfriend is going to be there, I can't just show up.  Why don't you and Willa come out here for New Years?”

“I will not fly an additional four hours because you're scared you're going to punch Olive Oil in the face just because he's with Kurt and you're not.”

“Santana, that's not why.  California is warm.  We can go to the beach, visit Cooper?”

“You forget how well I know your skanky ass.  You and Kurt are friends and his parents are as close to your own than anyone else's.  He may not ever admit this to you, but he talks about you all the time when we have our nightly lady chats and I can tell how much he misses you.  You should be able to see your family for the holidays.”

“You talk daily?”

“Of course we do.”

“I've hardly been able to get in touch with him ever since-”

“The phone sex?”

“Fuck, Santana!  How the fuck?”

“Shut up.  Of course I know.”

Blaine sighs.  “I hate you.  I don't want to start shit if I show up and he's there too.  That's just asking for trouble, don't you think?”

“B, trust me.  If Oliver shows, it's him starting shit.  Not you.”

“Oh my God, fine!  When are you getting there?”

“If you would listen to me, you'd already know the answer to that question.”

“Remind me again, Striptease, or else I don't buy my fucking flight.”

“Wednesday!  The 23rd.”

“I'll get the latest flight that day.  Convince Kurt to take a detour through Columbus and pick me up?”

Santana claps and screams a high-pitched woo in his ear. 

Blaine rolls his eyes and grins.  “Love you, Santana.”

“Love you!  Go book the flight and email me!”

Instead of calling Kurt for the tenth time in two weeks, Blaine books the flight into Columbus and calls Burt to let him know.  He is, of course, excited to have everyone back home for the holiday again and demands an email forward with all of the information so he can track the flight.  Blaine promises that much before hanging up the phone quickly, if only to prevent asking Kurt's dad if Kurt plans on bringing a plus one to the Christmas festivities.

From:  BAnders@UCBerkeley.com
To: HummelK@gmail.com; StripteaseLopez@gmail.com; CHud@limamemorial.com; Burt@HummelTires.com 
Subject:  Christmas!

Hola familigia,

Booked my flight to Ohio for Christmas.  Details so you can stalk me are attached.  Pretty sure I have a ride already, right San?

(Kurt, stop running away and call me.  Calling you out in front of everyone so you actually do pick up the damn phone before I consider myself a stalker.  And to think we were doing so well.)

In other, more exciting news:  Three more exams until I'm done with the semester that kicked my ass.  I'm almost a second-semester senior!  Oh, FYI:  Graduation is May 18th.  You're all invited.  I'll provide the flights.  We'll talk details at Christmas.  See you soon!

Hoe Hoe Hoe,
B

xK&Bx

Kurt opens his laptop when he finally gets situated at the Carrie Table.  The (original) Lima Bean is like home, and all the memories from the past several years come flooding back.  He sits there, smiling to himself as his computer boots up, reminiscing about all that's happened between these four walls.  It's so nice to see Julie and catch up with her without her asking questions that she would have to ask a boss.  She is the boss and takes complete ownership of the coffee shop.  She, in turn, is very happy to see him so regularly lately and that makes Kurt feel good too. 

He navigates to his Google account and starts going through the slew of emails he has for both coffee shops.  There is one from Blaine; he clicks to open that one first.  Of course.

He reads the email as he sips his coffee and rolls his eyes fondly when he reads “hoe, hoe, hoe.”

It's really great that Blaine has decided to come for Christmas, and it'll be nice to have him there with Santana and Willa as well.  Instead of typing out something snarky for everyone to read, he decides that he needs to call Blaine right this instant; he does miss his voice and although he has been trying to avoid him as much as possible after the phone sex, it's gone too far.  It doesn't even ring a full ring before Blaine answers with his own flavor of attitude.

“I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number.  I don't remember a Kurt Hummel.  Name doesn't ring a bell, since it's been like three weeks of me trying to call him and there's been no fucking answer.”

Kurt laughs and shakes his head to himself.  “I'm sorry I haven't called back, I'm not running from you I swear.  I just needed-”

“Uh huh…” Blaine's laughing; he's in a good mood and for that, Kurt is grateful.  “Whatever you say, pretty one.”

“Seriously!  I'm actually sort of busy in Lima.  Ignoring Oliver is a full-time job, B.”

“Running away from the issues you have to deal with eventually, Kurt.”

He pointedly ignores Blaine's comeback.  He knows he's right; of course he's right.  “Also, Christmas shopping and helping Julie out at the Bean.”

“Awww, how is she?  I miss her.”

“Adorable, as always.  She has a serious boyfriend that she loves, evidently.”

“Oh!  Good.  You should give her off a few days when we're there and it'll be like old times.  We can make lattes and not pay for them, and we can clean out the bakery cabinet, and restock cups, and oh!  We can fuck over the counter.”

Kurt barks out a loud laugh.  “Blaine!”

“What?  It's just a list of things we've done before that I wouldn't mind doing again.”

“That's not a bad idea, actually.”

“What?”  Blaine laughs.  “Kurt, oh my God.”

“Not that, idiot.  Unless you want to?”

“Oh my God.  This isn't real.”

Kurt barks out another cackle of a laugh.  “Shut up, I'm teasing you.  I mean that yes, we should give her a few days off.  Everyone who's coming home for Christmas knows how to operate a Lima Bean.  It's really not that hard and she hasn't had a vacation in a few years.”

“That sounds… nostalgic.  I'll see you on the 23rd, yeah?  If you're sure this is all okay.”

“Of course it's okay, B.  Who else would I want to spend Christmas and my birthday with?”

“I don't know.  Possibly your boyfriend, for starters?”

“Oh, shut the fuck up already.  I haven't really talked to him much, especially about Christmas.  Speaking of… would it be terribly uncomfortable for you if he came along?  He's been hinting at it and I've been ignoring the emails.”

“I don't know.”  Blaine says, and it puts a pang in Kurt's heart.  He couldn't imagine how horrible he'd feel if the tables were turned.  “Look, Kurt.  You need to do what you need to do.  I'm here waiting for you until you can figure it all out.  You know that.  Invite him or not, I'll still be there.”

“It doesn't mean that I have any right to make you uncomfortable in the meantime.”

“I'll be fine.  Santana told me you're driving in that day, so I get in as late as possible.   You guys can maybe pick me up?”

“Yeah, I saw your flight information.  That's perfect.  I can't wait to see you, B.”

“Me either, you have no idea.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, Kurt.  So much.  Go call your boyfriend and smooth things over.”

“You're telling me this because?”

“Just go.  Love you baby.  Bye.” 

Kurt can almost feel the shatter of the phone being slammed down or thrown across the wall.  He knows Oliver in general is affecting Blaine; he trusts that Blaine will hang out just a little bit longer.

xK&Bx

It's freezing in San Francisco, but it will definitely be colder in Ohio, so Blaine thinks twice and digs out his winter coat from the back of his closet, taking a last look around his apartment before locking up and throwing his suitcase into the car.  He sighs and revs the engine a bit, letting his black Range Rover warm up.  He pulls out into traffic, descending and ascending through the city toward the freeway to take him to the airport.  He loves the feeling he gets as he switches lanes and speeds down the 101; he's going home for Christmas.

He can't help but let his mind drift from actually kind of loving California to what the next steps with Kurt might be this week.  The last time he was home with Kurt, their relationship shifted in ways he can't really explain, and again recently when they took it a step further and engaged in mutual masturbation over the phone and in two different time zones, at that.  Things are progressing slowly now and Kurt isn't resisting as much, even if he blatantly ignored Blaine for three excruciating weeks.  This is why he's thoroughly surprised, irritated, frustrated with the update straight from Santana when he's ten minutes from the airport saying that plans have changed with Oliver and he is officially a guest at Burt and Carole's for the holiday.  She also mentions, off-handedly, that there's room at her mother's house if he needs an escape once they all get to Lima.

Blaine can't help but be put off by this news; he hopes he can control himself in Lima and not send anyone to the hospital.  He switches to the perfect song on his radio in an attempt to forget about it for a while and weaves through the traffic some more.  He's that much closer to the airport; he's that much closer to the love of his life.

Would you still wrap me up and tell me that you think this was smart,
Cause lately, I've been scared of even thinking about where we are.

The lyrics vibrate out of the speakers.  Blaine lets himself fall deep into a train of thought.  He wants, so badly, to meet Kurt at the Columbus Airport as his boyfriend.  He wants to shamelessly kiss him and dip him and tell him how much he had missed him; the only waiting game that should be is the long distance relationship they both have to endure until Blaine's graduation. He has already waited for Kurt to get his head out of his ass once before.  He can't do this for much longer.

But there's really nothing else he can do but wait if he wants another chance to be with Kurt for all eternity.  He decides that he'll hang out with Kurt, Santana, Willa, and Julie and make the best out of the situation at hand.  They'll all enjoy their breaks together as friends and everything will be great.  Whatever happens when Blaine and Kurt go back to Burt's house will happen, even if Oliver is right there watching Blaine's every move.

As nervous and anxious as he is, Blaine is that much more excited to see Kurt.  Kurt's still his best friend who he has missed immensely and it's only been a few weeks.  He bounces through security, waits impatiently in the terminal, and finally boards the plane to fly high thirty thousand feet in the air: up, up, and away to Ohio.
 
xK&Bx

“So, this Blaine is your ex-live-in-boyfriend who meant the world to you until he moved across the country and you refused to go with him, but you two are still best friends and he'll always be a part of your life?”  Willa asks incredulously from the back seat as she rubs her knuckles up and down Santana's cheek. She stares out the window, an overwhelming smirk on her face.  Kurt knows what they're doing to him; the one and only Santana Lopez has written the script when it comes to the conversation about Blaine Anderson.

“So much more complicated than that, but yes.  Basically.”

“Is it complicated anymore?”  Oliver asks.

Kurt looks over at Oliver, dangerously suspicious that his last minute change of plans has something to do with the fact that Blaine is joining them.  For an eight-hour drive into the Midwest, Oliver has sure put in his fair share of effort in his clothes and hairstyle choice. 

“He's my best friend, Oli.  Jealousy doesn't look good on you, you know.”

“All three of us are BFF.”  Santana says with a smirk.  “We're almost there.  Is that why we're talking about Twinkle Toes?”

“We are about ten minutes out and Blaine landed a half hour ago.”  Kurt makes eye contact with Santana in the rear-view mirror, a breathless grin shining off his cheeks.  He knows she'll be able to read it.

“Yes!  I can't wait to see him.  It's been so long… since you punched him in the face, Oliver.”  Santana grins right back.  If anything, this should be an entertaining week with everyone back in Ohio.

Kurt laughs openly at Santana and drives on.  If he's being honest with himself, he's rationally nervous for Oliver and Blaine to spend time together for the holiday, because he knows what happens when Blaine gets jealous and, apparently, Oliver has the same type of jealous side to him if the punches thrown in New York and the constant questions are any indication.  On the other hand, though, he's ready to see a show, sort of loves when boys fight over him – hypothetically – and is truly interested to see it play out.  He already knows who wins, but it's still fun to watch the battle as long as no one gets hurt.

He calls Blaine when he enters the circle of the airport, and puts the phone on speaker so he doesn't get a ticket from the cops that seem to be everywhere.  He realizes how stupid of an idea this could be; it'll only take one callus statement from Blaine.

“Pretttyyyy boyyyy.  Where the fuck are you?  Jesus, Ohio is boring.  I'm bored.”

“Not so boring now that the almighty Blaine Anderson has arrived.”  Kurt smirks at Santana through the mirror.  “Terminal B, right?”

“Yeah, hurry!  Is the beau with you?  If you say yes, I'm barfing.”

Kurt laughs.  “We'll see you in a minute, B.”

“Love you!”

Kurt giggles again and throws his phone down into the cup holder, and laughs so hard it hurts his belly when Blaine is spotted jumping up and down on the side of the curb waiting for them with his adorable puffy jacket and faux-fur hood pulled over his head and fastened as tightly as possible.  He's hugging himself and bouncing and he looks like a fucking puppy.  Kurt's heart skips a beat.

Kurt slams the gear into park and jumps out of the car, crashing his body into Blaine's right smack in front of Oliver's scowling face.

“Blaine!  Why wouldn't you just wait inside?”

“Preparing for the slow and painful torture I've set myself up for this weekend.”

Kurt rolls his eyes and smiles.  “Missed you, but you have yet to shave.  We've talked about this!”  Kurt takes a step back to examine the goods, then grins and hugs him again.

“Yeah, I wanted to look my worst and still look better than Oliver.”

Kurt laughs.  “I was over him six hours ago.  We'll talk more later.  Come on, we even made sure to leave room in the trunk for your suitcase.”  Kurt takes his hand and leads him to the back of the rental car big enough to fit everyone and opens up. 

Kurt launches the bag up into the empty space between the other suitcases and steps back to examine his handiwork with his hands on his hips.  Blaine laces his arms through Kurt's elbows and attaches his own fingers at Kurt's belly button.  The kisses on Kurt's temple and nibbles at his ear prove just how much Blaine's missed him.

“Kurt.”

“Mmm.”  Kurt leans back into Blaine's body and closes his eyes, thoroughly enjoying the teasing and not caring who may be watching, boyfriend included.

“Missed you.”  Blaine breaks the hug and smiles at Kurt.  Kurt watches as the only boy he's ever loved circles around to the back seat of the car and proceeds to tackle Santana.  “My Striptease!  How are you, my little hooker?”

Kurt slams the trunk shut and hops back up into the car, observing as Blaine climbs over Santana and into the seat between her and Willa.  Kurt laughs as Blaine blows a raspberry on Santana's cheek, causing a slew of Spanish curse words.

“Twinkle Toes, this is Willa.  My girlfriend.”  Santana smiles.

“Woah-ho-ho!  Damn, Santana.  You do not deserve a hot piece of ass such as Miss Willa.  Shit!”  Blaine smiles at Willa.  “Must not objectify, must not objectify.”  He nudges Willa's shoulder.  “Really nice to meet you, I've heard a lot of awesome things.”

“Same here.  I have a feeling we'll get along just fine.  Keep telling me how pretty I am.”  Willa grins and blushes.  Blaine seems to have that effect on everyone.  Well, almost everyone.

“Gorgeous.  Santana doesn't deserve any part of you.  Which leads me to my next topic of confused conversation!”  Blaine blinks at the back of Oliver's head, curling his lip like something smells of dying flesh.

“And you remember Oliver, B?”  Kurt chimes in.  It's polite.  Really, he's just trying to shut him up.

“Oh!  Shit, I didn't even notice you were there, Oli Oli Oxen Free!”  He looks at Santana, seemingly aware of Kurt's eyes on him in the rear view mirror.  “How's it going, man?”  Blaine scoots up to stick his head between Oliver and Kurt.  He nods when Oliver doesn't respond.  “Okay then.  Kurt, I gotta say… he's a keeper.  His jealous silence must be better than hearing all the annoying conversation I used to have with you just to hear myself talk, huh?”

Kurt laughs.  “Stop.”

“Stopping.”  He leans back in his seat and puts a foot up on the back of the middle console of the front seat and stares holes into Kurt's mirror until he catches his eye, positive that Kurt will blush a deep crimson.

Santana laughs because it's clearly the best car ride of her entire life, which causes Willa to join in and soon, everyone's huddled over and holding their stomachs from a painful happiness.  Except Oliver.  Kurt notices that it's always except Oliver.

“I am so happy we're all back together in Lame-o, Ohio, pretty.  This is going to be the perfect Christmas.”

“Almost, B.  Almost.”  They share a moment where no one else in the world is focused, where they are the only figures moving in a universe of blur.  Kurt prays to anyone up above that Blaine understands the message without him spelling it out in laymen's terms.  The only thing that would make this better is if we were here and together.

xK&Bx

The remainder of the drive back to Lima is somewhat uneventful, although Blaine maintains his over-the-top, happy mood for everyone to see.  He talks about how he's almost done with school, how he can't wait for Carole's Christmas cookies, and how he's excited to visit the tire shop with Burt.  Kurt and Blaine feed off of each other as Blaine tells a hilarious story about that time in New York when they were walking in the park and a squirrel attacked Blaine for his biscotti.  Before they know it, they're dropping Santana and Willa off at Santana's mom's house with promises to meet up at the Bean tomorrow before Christmas Eve dinner.

Blaine sprawls out in the back seat.  He sneaks to rub at Kurt's arm closest to the window between the side of the seat and the driver's side door, only so Oliver can't see. When Kurt shivers, Blaine stops and stares out the window.  “Ah, home sweet home.”

“Well, not really your home though?”  Oliver's been mostly listening the entire ride from the airport, probably trying to determine just how bad Blaine wants Kurt.

“No, very much my home.  This house, the people, the town?  It's totally where I'm from.  It's where I grew up, where I met the people who are my family.  It's home.  As much as I claim to hate it sometimes, I owe this place everything.”  He gets out of the car the first second it's physically possible, leaving Kurt and Oliver in his dust at the end of the driveway.  He runs up to the porch and straight through the door without knocking.

Kurt doesn't realize he's smiling fondly at the space that used to be Blaine until Oliver turns to him and clears his throat. 

“I want to have a threesome with Blaine.”

Kurt snaps his head to Oliver.  What the fuck?  “What?  No.”

“Why not?  There's no doubt you're still attracted to him.  Hell, I am too and I want to see what makes him the almighty Blaine.”

“He's not almighty.  He's just Blaine.  You're not having sex with him.”

“But you are.”

“What?”  Kurt blushes.  “No.  No one is having sex with Blaine.  I haven't had sex with Blaine in nearly three years.  There's no reason to have sex with him anymore.”  Lies.

“Come on, Kurt.  We're so… I can tell you want him badly, and he's a very attractive person, although he's the biggest asshole I've ever met.”

“Don't you dare.”

“I want to see your connection with him first hand.”  There's a beat.  “I wish you looked at me the way you look at him.”

Kurt stares at him, taking it all in.  “It's not a good idea, Oliver.  I'm not talking about this anymore.  Now come meet my parents like you wanted to so badly, or you could just go home if you prefer.”  Kurt opens and slams the door virtually in Oliver's face.  He follows Kurt, directly behind him as they walk into the house.  He seems to be taking it all in, like he's memorizing as many details as he can.

xK&Bx

Kurt comes back to Oliver with both of his parents in tow and Blaine behind them with a Coke as if he's ready to watch a sporting event.  They're introduced to each other and it's actually not as painfully awkward as Blaine might have hoped. They shake hands and smile as any polite pair of parents would before they all head into the kitchen to catch up and get to know Oliver.

Blaine is quick to take the seat next to Kurt, undoubtedly so there is no room for Oliver, who's forced to lurk in the corner like he doesn't belong.  He doesn't belong at all.

“Carole, I missed you.”  Blaine scoots his chair over to her so he can hug her again.  “I'm gonna put my bag in Finn's room if that's okay?  Santana said I could go to her house if there's not enough room here with the newest addition of Kurt's new boytoy.” 

Carole looks at him pointedly, as any mother would after teasing any member of the family.  “There's always room for you here, honey.”

“There's a third guest room past your room, Blaine, for Oliver.”  Burt nods as he talks.

Blaine tilts his head toward Kurt and raises an eyebrow.  “Guess I've never been in there.”  Kurt is blushing and looking down at the table and avoiding eye contact from Oliver.  His parents are making them sleep separate as thirty-something years old, and Blaine just smirks because that was never the case in this household for him, dating or not.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mister and Missus Hummel.  I think I'm going to head up to bed now, it's been a long day and it's late.”

“Goodnight then, Oliver.”  Carole says sweetly.  “Kurt will show you where to find the bedroom.”

“Oh!  Yeah.  Come on.”  Kurt is snapped out of his trance and gets up to lead his boyfriend upstairs.  He shoots a look of warning to Blaine and Burt, a laugh being their only plausible response. 

As soon as they are out of sight, Blaine groans.  “God!  What a douche!”

Burt laughs; Carole shakes her head.

“Seriously!  What a piece of scum.  He's a damn cheating bastard and Kurt is still with him!  I don't understand.”

Burt's ears flare red; Blaine can actually see the difference in color.  “Well that's news.  Care to elaborate?”

Carole hangs her head.

“I don't know.  I wasn't supposed to tell you.”  Blaine swallows.  “He'd kill me.  The point is… I don't like the guy and I promise it's not just because I'm jealous that Kurt's not mine.”

Burt doubles over with laugher.  “Kid, honestly.”

“He's squirmy and I don't have a good feeling about him.  Like he's here for a reason and that reason is not Kurt.”

Burt gets up and paces.  “Do you think he's dangerous?”

“Honey, try not to get too involved.  I know you only want the best for him, but he needs to figure all of this out on his own, too.”  Carole is a saint, Blaine is entirely sure of it.

“He's not dangerous, he's just… ugh.  I know.  It's just hard watching him be all guarded and distant, and he doesn't even know that's how he is around this guy.  He's more affected by him than he knows.”

“I give you permission to kick his ass.  No son of mine is going to be cheated on.”

“Sorry I told you.  I really wasn't supposed to.”

“I'm glad you did.  Now I don't have to try too hard to like him.”

“I assure you he won't last long.”  Blaine says, matter-of-factly.  “We sort of had a conversation before about how we're inevitable, but he needs to work out the details with Oliver.  Once again, I'm waiting in the corner until he's ready.”

“Oh yeah?  About time.”  Burt shrugs.  “It'll happen.”

“Blaine, if there's anything I know about Kurt, it's that if he tells you he wants something to happen, he's going to make sure it happens.”  Carole rubs his arm assuredly.  “But don't let him take advantage of you because he knows you're a sure thing.  Let him know just how much you love him.  Sometimes, he's a bit oblivious, isn't he?”

“He is.  He knows how much I love him.”  Blaine smiles sadly at Carole.  She always has the right things to say.

“Try not to think about it too hard, and go with the flow.”  Carole gets up and kisses Blaine's head.  She leads Burt by his shoulders toward the stairs.  “We're going to bed now.  I'm so happy to have you home.  Goodnight, honey.”

“Don't stay up too late, kid.  You're coming to the shop with me tomorrow.”

Blaine laughs and shrugs.  “It's Christmas Eve tomorrow.  I have the day off.”  He follows them both into the living room and turns to sprawl on the couch as they go upstairs to bed.  “Goodnight guys, love you.”

Blaine flips through thousands of channels until he finds Bravo.  He hopes it works as a sort of mating call for Kurt as it used to.  He doesn't pay attention to whatever rerun of whatever show this is, but he thinks about his game plan with Kurt.  There's not much planned beyond just being himself around everyone and trying his hardest not to let it bother him when he sees Kurt hug or kiss his boyfriend.  His adrenaline from flying across the country is crashing; he rubs his fists into his eyes for a good thirty seconds.  When he can focus on what's in front of him again, it's Kurt with a pop-locked hip and a raised eyebrow. 

“What are you doing?”

“I don't know.  I don't want to go to sleep yet.  Still on California time.”  Blaine smiles and tilts his head.

“I'm sorry to interrupt.”

“You didn't.  You don't.  Come here.”

Kurt sits down and shimmies in next to Blaine so that they're touching down their sides wholly.  He smiles up at Blaine and kisses his lips quickly.  “Hi.”

“Hey, pretty.”  Blaine's heart skips a beat, literally and figuratively. 

“We made it to Christmas.  I missed you.”

“You know continuing this charade with him is the biggest mistake you have ever made?”

Kurt laughs.  “You are such a baby when you're not getting your way!”  Kurt kisses him again, leaving his mind fuzzy and blurred.  “I really don't want to talk about it right now.  Later.  Let me just squeeze you; I love how tiny you are.”  Kurt lays his head to rest on Blaine's chest and hugs his arms around his waist.

“You really get off on my size, don't you?  Not only am I so much younger, but I'm, quote, tiny.  I'm like all your fantasies balled up in one, huh?”

“Whatever.”  Kurt smothers him to the point of shortened breaths and gasps for air. 

Blaine squirms to save himself, forcing Kurt to loosen his hold.  “Seriously!  He's so gross.  I can't believe you're with him at all, even if it doesn't really mean anything to you anymore.”  Blaine thinks.  “And he has a terrible attitude.”

Kurt gives Blaine a pointed look.  “Blaine Anderson, against the world… Blaine, I can't get close to anyone ever, the guy who literally cursed out my father and probably almost punched him unconscious when you first met him.  Kettle, meet black.”

Blaine grins and puts his hand on top of Kurt's on Blaine's waist, playing with his fingers absentmindedly.  “That wasn't my attitude; that was just a wall you guys had to help me break down.  I didn't know how to deal well with awesome father figures initially, but I warm up to them, don't you think?  Now I'm Burt's favorite.  I'll have you know Burt hates Oliver already.  He sees right through him.”  There's a beat.  “I'm sorry I came and ruined it all for you.  I didn't realize he had plans to come here until after I booked the trip.  Should I get lost?  I can go to San-”

“Hey, no!  This is your family, not his.  He wasn't even serious about coming with me until he knew you were going to be here and just so you know, for your own piece of mind, he was never officially invited.  He's just kinda here and I've really fucked up in letting him be here.”  Kurt sighs. “I'm sorry this is how it has to be.  I promise next Christmas will be perfect for both of us.”

“Me too.”  A beat.  “I'm sorry you're so miserable in your relationship.  I'm sorry he doesn't love you like you need.  I just want you happy.”

“I'm going to be happy as soon as I can get rid of him.”

“Yeah?”

“As long as you're still willing and able to love me and be with me.”  There's a pause as Kurt lowers his head back onto Blaine's chest.  “I don't pick the most lovable boys, do I?”  It's a joke directly from Kurt's lips, but Blaine can't help but feel a ting in his heart as if he isn't doing this right the second time around.

“Whatever, pretty boy.  I loved you damn well and you can't deny it.”

“He thinks I'm still in love with you.”

“You are.”

“Mmmm.”  Kurt shrugs and repositions his head onto Blaine's shoulder. 

Blaine shakes his head fondly and places a kiss in Kurt's hair.  “What did he say?”

“That he wishes I look at him the way I apparently look at you.”

“Heart eyes, like I hung the moon?  I've noticed it myself.”

“Shut up, Anderson!”  He grins and punches at his bicep.  “He said he wants to have sex… with us, at the same time.”

“He what, now?”  Blaine sits up, eyes wide.  He turns his hips to face Kurt's body, inadvertently inching away from where they were pressed together thigh to thigh.  “Wait.”

“I know he has this idea that you and I are more compatible than I am with him.”

“We are.”

“He wants to have a threesome; he said that he wants to see our connection first hand.”  Kurt's treading in very deep water, but Blaine decides to clarify before he really thinks about what this means.

“Pretty… are you asking…”

“No!  It's really not a good idea.  That's exactly what I told him.”

“It's not a good idea at all.  No.  Although I really, really want to have sex with you…” Blaine grins at Kurt's blush.  “I really can't with your boyfriend right there watching.”  There's an eerie silence, only the hum of the dryer down the hall to be heard.  Both Kurt and Blaine are thinking about sex with one another and Oliver watching.  They haven't had sex with each other in years, and now with these new beginnings in their relationship, phone sex included, it'd be very uncomfortable to have Kurt's current lover witnessing a full reconciliation in all meanings of the word.  Blaine breaks the silence, gulping audibly and asking the age-old question.  “Why did you bring him here to meet the parents if he's just a placeholder for when you're ready to be with me again?”

“He insisted on meeting my family and I had always agreed with him that he should, putting it off when he wanted to actually talk details.  Then I let it slip on the phone that I was excited to see you over the holiday and the next thing I knew, he was Skyping me and cornering me into figuring out the plan.”

“Why didn't you just say no, especially knowing I was going to be here?”

“I just kept… I don't know, I'm scared to break up with him.  Every time I try, it looks like he's going to kill himself and I can't be responsible for that, Blaine.  I can't.”

“I didn't know you've been trying.”

“Clearly not well enough.  I wanted to surprise you with it.”

“So you're not as into him as you look?  I swear I saw heart eyes toward him before.”

Kurt shakes his head.  “They were probably left over from a look to you.” 

Blaine smiles at him and revels in the fact that they're both finally relaxed enough to be having this conversation, of everything they could possibly talk about after everyone's gone to sleep. 

Kurt continues.  “I think he knows deep down inside that we're not going to last, but I don't want him to run off and slit his throat or something because I dump him too harshly, or over a holiday.  I do care for him as I do any other human being, even if I'm a little distracted sometimes because you're back in my life.  I want our friendship to get back to where it was before we started dating, Blaine, and I think it's there.  But he did help me from throwing myself off the deep end when you weren't there.”

“But then there was that one time when you were throwing yourself over because it was him and not me in front of you with a ring.”

Kurt shrugs.  “I don't know what to say.”

Blaine sighs and looks at him.  “Baby, do you think him watching me fuck your brains out and you enjoying it more than your time with him is going to do anything for his desire to kill himself?  If anything, it would probably make it worse, yeah?”

Kurt sighs, heavy in thought.  “I just wish we could run away.”

“Let's go.”

“Blaine, please.  It's not possible.”

“Maybe not now, given we are here for the sake of celebrating Christmas with our family.  Just remember, no matter what happens with Oliver, that you're it for me?”

“B...” Kurt lifts his head to wipe a tear and sighs.

“I could try to move on but I don't think you want me to and God knows I don't want to, either.  I promise I won't until you look me in the eye and tell me that I will never have a chance ever again.”

“Let's fuck in front of him.”

“Kurt.”

“Maybe it is exactly the out I've been looking for, though.  I have things to prove to you, too.”

“No, Kurt.  We rushed into the sex the first time, and I think we should concentrate more on getting to know each other again before... we do that again.  It's supposed to be used for connection, as an act of love.”

“Holy shit.  Blaine Anderson, have you grown up or what? Mister ‘it's not rape if I'm the one fucking you.'”

Blaine groans and puts his head in his hands.  “Don't remind me.  I was a stupid, stupid teenager.  But you still fell in love with me anyway.”  Blaine peaks at Kurt through his fingers.

“I forget you're so much younger than me sometimes.”  Kurt takes Blaine's hand.  “I think that we need to have sex again.  I think this could be a good chemistry test to see what our next step could be and where we stand now.  We'll be pulled into an entire slew of emotion we experienced together once before and then maybe I have some reevaluating to do.  I'll utilize some time management skills and we can finally move forward.”

“Having sex with you could hook you again?”

“Didn't it the first time?”  Kurt smirks and Blaine laughs.  “Besides, you say that as if I ever severed the tie.”  Kurt laughs but breaks it to groan in his hands.  “God, I'm so nervous!  What are we, in high school?”

“Not anymore.”  Blaine grins evilly, causing Kurt to let out a loud laugh before shamefully covering his mouth and looking up the stairs to determine whether or not his reckless behavior had woken anyone up.  “Blaine, shhhhh.  Don't make me wake them up!”

“Okay, okay.  Shhhh.”  Blaine settles back into his seat and stares at the lights of the Christmas tree in the corner.  He throws his arm around Kurt's opposite shoulder and forces Kurt to lean back into him.  They sit in silence, entranced by the twinkle of the white lights against the occasional headlight that catches like a stream across the top of the open window. 

The smell of pine needles and the aftermath of freshly baked Christmas cookies keeps Blaine well aware of the tingling inside his heart, the feeling of being entirely complete with the only family he can choose – Kurt and his parents.

Blaine turns to Kurt and watches him watch the tree as though it's about to put on a show.  He whispers to his ex-lover, current best friend, the words he knows he loves to hear.  “My Hummelicious is so beautiful.  How did I ever get so lucky?”

As if it's on cue, Burt comes treading down the stairs and shakes his head at the pair.  “Aww, Blaine.  I think you're beautiful too.”

The two jump apart from each other, then relax a bit when it's just Burt and not Oliver.  “Oh my God!  Dad, shouldn't you be sleeping?”

“He's too busy being the world's most obnoxious cock block.”  Blaine groans and smoothes out his pants. 

Burt laughs.  “Shouldn't you?  Sneaking your boyfriend into your bedroom like you're fifteen?  Whom, by the way, is the biggest douche I've ever met, and that includes eighteen-year-old Blaine.  Get him out of your room, Kurt.”

“I didn't…” Kurt blinks.  “Whatever.  Seriously, Blaine?  Stop talking about him with my parents!” 

“Oh come on!  He's such a douche!”  Blaine pipes in, throwing his hands up and allowing them to crash down on the couch on both sides of him.  “If he's in your room, you know that's against the rules.  Burt specifically said that he can sleep in the guestroom.”

Burt and Kurt look at each other and burst out laughing. 

Blaine's eyes go wide as he looks between them.  “What?”

“You told my father everything, didn't you?  That's why he's laughing like a crazy person?”  Kurt rolls his eyes at Blaine.

“Kurt.  It's the rules.  You can't disobey your father.  Go get him out of your room!”  Blaine tries to remain serious, but his teasing smile breaks out by the end of the demand.

Kurt laughs again and looks to his dad.  “Dad, I promise I have it under control.  It's just a little complicated right now, but Blaine knows where he stands.”

“I'm not part of this ugly triangle.  Just make it quick, because it's awkward to have him in this house when he's glaring fireballs into Blaine's back.  Speaking of, is that why your ex-boyfriend was caressing you gently and telling you how beautiful you are?”

“I'm such a fucking idiot.  What the hell am I doing?”

Blaine straightens up like he's been stabbed and lifts his body to his feet.  “I'm tired.  I'll be asleep in Finn's room.  All alone.  With the ghost of brothers past punching me in the gut for ever letting you go.”  He walks around to the back of the couch and rakes his fingertips horizontally against Kurt's shoulder blade as he walks toward the stairs.  He stops and turns when Kurt's hand grabs at his wrist.  He finds himself being pulled down into a less than PG-rated kiss right in front of Burt.

Kurt mutters Blaine's favorite words against his lips so he can feel them more than he can hear.  “Goodnight, lover.”

Blaine can only smile as a response, and as he ascends, he hears Burt's thundering laughter and it's really not that complicated, Kurt echoing behind him.