“You live here?” Kurt said in astonishment, his eyes as wide as saucers as he stepped out of the car, gaping at the sheer magnitude of the house in front of him.

“Yeah,” Blaine replied with a shrug, trying to hide his mild embarrassment with indifference. “It’s nothing.”

“No, don’t try to deny it; your house is gorgeous. And this is just the outside. I can’t imagine how amazing the inside must look,” Kurt breathed. When Blaine didn’t respond, Kurt added, “Oh, come on, you’ve seen my house. How does that even compare to…to this?” he waved his hand at the grandeur. From the outside, the house looked to be about four stories high, not including the first floor. A tall iron gate surrounded the entire edge of the property, which seemed to stretch for miles. Kurt imagined it would take an hour to simply walk from one edge of the yard to the other. A stone path, lined by small bushes and flowers of various colors and types, snaked from the front door to the edge of the impossibly long driveway. A few trees dotted the front yard, with small base lights placed at the trees’ roots lighting up the landscape, giving it a pretty soft glow in the fading late-afternoon light.

Blaine cleared his throat, looking a little uncomfortable at the amazed look on his boyfriend’s face. “So…uh…should we go inside?” he asked. Kurt nodded, still distracted by the gorgeous exterior of the Anderson residence. Blaine led Kurt not to the front door, but rather to a smaller side entrance. Though this immediate entry hall was nice, Kurt couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that he was not able to enter the house through what must surely be an impressive front foyer. Blaine continued to lead the way through his house, nonchalantly giving his boyfriend a tour as they passed various rooms. “The living room,” he pointed. “Dining room. Kitchen.” Blaine placed his hand lightly on Kurt’s lower back as he led him through the door to this last room.

“The inside of your house is just as impressive, if not more-so, than the outside,” Kurt smiled. “I love it. Thanks for inviting me over.”

Blaine smiled back, “You’re welcome.” Just then, someone shouted his name and he looked up, startled. Kurt also looked up, trying to find out where the sound came from. Suddenly a petite girl with dark curly hair came running through a different door across the kitchen, launching herself into Blaine’s arms. “Emily!” Blaine laughed, hugging the girl, surprise and happiness etched on his face. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying at your boarding school during fall break!”

“Plans changed,” Emily shrugged. She pulled out of the hug and turned to Kurt, still smiling. “You must be Blaine’s boyfriend. He’s told me all about you.”

“Yes, this is Kurt. Kurt, this is my twin sister, Emily,” Blaine introduced.

“Nice to meet you.” Kurt shook Emily’s hand, smiling at the girl before turning a questioning gaze to his boyfriend.

Before Kurt could say anything, though, Blaine chuckled. “Yeah, I didn’t mention I had a twin, did I?”

“No, you did not.” Kurt shook his head.

“Well…surprise!” Blaine joked, throwing his hands toward his sister before turning to her. “Is Mom home?”

“No, she’s out doing errands. And Dad’s not—“ Before Emily could continue, a deep voice came from another room.

“Em? Where are you?”

“In the kitchen,” Emily called out. Turning back to Blaine and Kurt, she smiled. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” A tall, muscular guy with dirty blonde hair strode into the room, his blue-gray eyes instantly landing on Emily. Emily put her arm around him when he reached her and turned towards Blaine and Kurt. “Guys, this is my boyfriend, Aiden. Aiden, this is my brother, Blaine, and his boyfriend, Kurt.”

Aiden looked down at Blaine’s outstretched hand but made no move to shake it. His eyes traveled from Blaine to Kurt, and back again. Finally, he looked at Emily and said bluntly, “I can’t shake their hands.”

Emily’s smile faded and she looked at her boyfriend in confusion and embarrassment. “What?”

“I can’t shake their hands,” Aiden repeated. He glanced back at Kurt and Blaine, who were looking at each other with a sad, knowing look in their eyes. Emily glanced at them as well, and then looked back at Aiden, who shook his head and added, “I’m not touching these fags.”

Emily looked like she had just been slapped in the face. She staggered back a step, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound coming out. Then she recovered, and her eyes narrowed into slits. “What did you just call them?”

“Fags,” Aiden repeated, crossing his arms over his chest. “So?”

“Emily, it’s fine, don’t—“ Blaine started to say.

Emily kept her eyes on her boyfriend but held out a hand toward her brother to get him to stop talking. When she spoke, her voice was low in warning. “Aiden, don’t you dare talk about my brother and his boyfriend that way.”

“Hey,” Aiden said sharply. “I can do whatever the hell I want.” He looked at Blaine with disgust. “You didn’t tell me your brother was a fairy,” he said, his eyes never leaving Blaine’s. Blaine just lifted his chin and stared back at him, not breaking eye contact.

“Stop calling him those names!” Emily shouted, her hands balling into fists at her side. “He is my twin brother, for God’s sake! He’s my best friend, and—“

“If I had known that you were related to a homo, I would never have asked you out in the first place,” Aiden interjected, ignoring her. “Thank God I banged you while I still had the chance. I never would have done that if I’d have known about…him.” He nodded his head toward Blaine.

Emily’s face turned bright red. She looked mortified, furious and sad all at the same time. Angry tears started to pool in her eyes. “Do you have any idea what my brother has had to go through all his life? He’s had it really hard, and you have the audacity to speak about him like that, in front of him and his boyfriend, no less? I can’t believe you! How could you do that? Don’t you even have at least a shred of decency?”

“Apparently not,” Kurt mumbled under his breath. Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard him.

“Get out of my house. Right. Now.” Emily growled, pointing towards the door.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Aiden crossed his arms over his chest. “Not while I have the chance to deal with these two.”

“You want to ‘deal with us’? Fine,” Blaine said calmly, speaking directly to Aiden for the first time. “No problem. We’re not worried in the slightest. In fact, we’re used to it. We handle jerks like you on a daily basis.”

“Yeah? How? By running away?” Aiden sneered. “You don’t strike me as the violent type.”

“Aiden. That’s enough!” Emily shouted. She grabbed Aiden’s arm and tried to pull him towards the door, but Aiden pushed her away, causing her to lose her balance. She stumbled and fell, slamming her shoulder into the granite countertop. Blaine gasped and started to run over to her, but the second he did, Aiden pushed him backwards with both hands. Kurt caught Blaine before he could fall, and sensing what his boyfriend was about to do, immediately tightened his arms around Blaine’s waist just as Blaine lunged at Aiden.

“An asshole like you doesn’t deserve to be with my sister. Look what you did to her!” Blaine yelled, pointing at Emily. She was visibly shaking and holding her shoulder in pain. “Kurt. Let go of me!” Blaine struggled against Kurt’s grasp. “Let go!”

“No, Blaine,” Kurt said through gritted teeth, holding his boyfriend back. “Don’t do this.”

“Oh my God,” Aiden laughed, “Blaine, your boyfriend sounds like a little girl.” This only prompted Blaine to struggle harder against Kurt’s grip. Finally, he managed to break free from Kurt’s arms and immediately launched himself at the taller boy. Aiden and Blaine fought for a few seconds before both Emily and Kurt succeeded in pulling their boyfriends back.

“You need to leave!” Emily pushed Aiden through the kitchen door, following him into the hallway, Kurt and Blaine at her heels. “Right now. Get out!”

“Fine.” Aiden shrugged his girlfriend off of him and walked towards the front door. He turned around to face Kurt and Blaine. “This time, you were lucky. But you two better watch your backs. If I ever run into you again, you’re dead.” He pointed at the boys. “I can promise you that.” He turned toward Emily, “By the way, we’re over. I don’t want to date a fag’s sister no matter how hot she is.”

Before any of them could react, Aiden spun around on his heel, wrenched the front door open, and stepped out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Emily stood motionless with her back to Blaine and Kurt. Blaine walked up to his sister and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned around, flung her arms around him, and sobbed. Blaine held her and rubbed her back. “Shh,” he said soothingly. “It’s okay.”

“I’m so sorry,” Emily choked out. “I had no idea…he was homophobic. I’m so…so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Em,” Blaine said softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know, but after what you went through at Jefferson,” Emily sniffed, “Memories came flooding back, and to see you go through that kind of thing again—“

“Hey, Emily, look at me.” Blaine pulled out of the hug and held his sister at arm’s length. “What happened at our old school was not your fault either, okay? You know who was responsible? Jerks like Aiden. There will always be people who hate gays. It’s something that Kurt and I have to accept.”

Kurt walked over to the Anderson siblings. “Blaine’s right,” he said. “All we can do is surround ourselves with supportive and accepting people and hope for the best. Don’t blame yourself for what happened just now, Emily. In fact, you stood up for us. Thank you.”

Emily wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “I just feel horrible.”

“Well, don’t,” Blaine said firmly. “It’s my problem and not yours.” He cast a glance to the front door, “Apparently I still can’t stand up to bullies on my own. Maybe that’s why Taylor—“

“No.” Emily stared at her brother with blazing eyes. “Listen to yourself. Think about what you just told me. The only ones who were responsible for what happened are jerks just like Aiden. Okay? Blaine, none of that was your fault.”

Blaine visibly swallowed and set his lips into a firm line, regarding his twin with sad eyes. Kurt desperately wished he knew what was going on; the conversation now seemed to be about more than what happened ten minutes ago. While he didn’t want to force Blaine into digging up his past, Kurt very much wanted to ask about it. He decided to do so while they were alone.

Emily smiled faintly and kissed Blaine on the cheek. She cleared her throat, “well…I should start unpacking my things. I only arrived home about an hour before you got here, so my suitcase is still full. My clothes are probably wrinkling as we speak.” Kurt shuddered at the thought. Emily continued, “It was nice to meet you, Kurt. I just wish you weren’t here to witness all of…that.” She gestured at the kitchen. “I apologize for Aiden’s behavior.”

“Emily, you heard what your brother said,” Kurt reprimanded gently. “Don’t apologize.”

Emily nodded slightly and then sighed. “Well, I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

The boys waved as she jogged off in the direction of her bedroom. Once she was gone, Blaine turned to Kurt. “I admit, I imagined the first time bringing you home going quite differently than it did.”

Kurt chuckled. “Well, it certainly made for an interesting afternoon…” He looked at his boyfriend, noticing how Blaine’s smile did not quite reach his eyes and how he still had worry lines on his forehead. Kurt’s curiosity was piqued now more than ever; before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “What happened at your old school? Who is Taylor?” The sad expression that clouded Blaine’s features at that question made Kurt regret his words immediately. “Oh, God, Blaine…you don’t have to tell me what happened…I’m just curious, that’s all…but if it’s too painful to talk about then forget I said anyth—“

“It’s okay,” Blaine interrupted. “I’ll tell you.” He looked around the room. “Just not here.” Blaine took Kurt’s hand in his and led him upstairs and to the second room on the right. He ushered his boyfriend inside, turned on the lights, and shut the door behind them. Blaine’s bedroom was very cozy, its walls decorated in forest green wallpaper with lighter green vertical stripes. His mahogany dressers and bedside tables held various trophies, picture frames, lamps and clocks. Kurt’s heart warmed as his eyes landed on a small, framed copy of his own senior presidential campaign poster resting on one of Blaine’s dressers. On the walls were framed decorative pieces depicting fencing positions, polo matches, and fedoras. Kurt looked around the room with interest for a few moments before he remembered their reason for coming in here. Blaine sat down on his bed, patting the space beside him. Kurt took a seat and looked at his boyfriend expectantly. Blaine cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and began.