Ohana 

Kurt found broaching the subject of family with people very uncomfortable. Not because he didn’t have a wonderful, supportive and accepting family (he did), and it wasn’t because he had to tell people his mom died when he was young (although this made others feel awkward, Kurt has lived with this fact long enough for it to just be part of who he is).

The reason Kurt didn’t like talking about family was that he felt he was forcing whomever he was talking to, to spill the beans on their personal life. This isn’t a problem for many, for the most it’s just mundane, but for others; family is a delicate subject.

For Blaine it was a delicate subject.

Kurt was very perceptive and from the brief conversation they had a couple of weeks ago he sensed tension in the normally chipper guy. So this week when Kurt received an exciting text from his father while at The Bean, he was hesitant to tell Blaine.

Kurt and his father, Burt, were close. A lot closer than most ‘man’s man’, sport loving, mechanic father’s and their fashion savvy, musical theatre loving, gay son’s usually are. Especially in Ohio. Leaving his dad to come to New York was tough, but Burt visited as much as he could. The text Kurt received that afternoon was to tell him just that. Burt, Carole and Finn were coming to New York for Christmas this year! Kurt was so excited. After releasing his work load was just too much for him to leave the city this December, it meant Kurt would have been missing the holidays with his family for the first time, well, ever.

Kurt was practically bouncing in his seat with excitement as he read the message, earning himself a quizzical look from Blaine. That’s when Kurt realised two things: a) he’d have to broach the delicate topic of family & b) he was seat dancing in front of Blaine, who he had previously tried very hard to be composed around.

“I’m guessing unless you’ve got something uncomfortable in your pants” Kurt saw the blush rising in Blaine’s cheeks as he realised what he just said and laughed as Blaine continued “or you’ve got some good news?”

Kurt was just going to be honest with Blaine. They’d known each other for a while now, so surely Blaine would know that Kurt wouldn’t be trying to force information out of Blaine. Also I think the chair-dancing was a slight give-away that Kurt was genuinely excited.

“My family are coming to New York for the holidays this year!” Kurt practically squeaked. “I thought we’d be apart, because I couldn’t fly back to Ohio, and it would be the first year we weren’t together, so I was pretty upset, but now my dad just text me, and it’s a complete shock! Plus Christmas in New York! It’s going to be spectacular. I’ll take Carol shopping in Bloomingdale’s and take Finn to see the Christmas lights! We’re going to be so touristy but I don’t care!”

Kurt took a deep breath. He went off on a slight tangent but he couldn’t help it. Once he started he couldn’t stop. Blaine was sat, wide eyed, slightly taken aback by Kurt’s sudden outburst, but there was a slight smile on his lips.

“Kurt, that’s amazing! Sounds like you’re going to have loads of fun”

Blaine had his usual animated tone, filled with enthusiasm, but his eyes didn’t quite connect like they normally did. There was that almost bitter longing, Kurt saw before, when family came up. He instantly regretted bringing up his Dad’s visit. He could have at least not gone on about it so much.

“So, umm, what are your plans for the holidays, Blaine?”

Why did I just ask that?!? Kurt thought. Don’t pressure him to talk about family, you said, now look what you’ve done. Way to dig yourself a hole.

“I’ll probably just spend some time with friends actually” Blaine mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

“You’re not going home?”

God Kurt, SHUT UP! You’re balancing precariously on the edge of the deep hole you’ve dug!

“My parents will, uh, probably be away” Blaine started playing with the lid of his coffee cup, twisting it on and off.

“Did you not want to go with them?”

What do you want to do, make him cry? Just kick him in the shins it’ll be quicker.

“I, umm, I don’t think I’m invited this time actually”.

Why don’t you just push him in the hole you’ve conveniently dug.

“I’m sorry” Kurt couldn’t even bring himself to look at Blaine’s obviously hurt face.

“What for?” Blaine spoke softly.

“For going on about how brilliant my Christmas was going to be. And pushing you-“

Into the pit of tears and torture you selfishly laid before him!!

“- to talk about your family. I knew you weren’t comfortable talking about it, but kept asking those stupid-“

STUPID! Senseless, Idiotic, Thoughtless!

“- questions. It’s none of my business”

Blaine and Kurt’s eyes met and Blaine was about to protest when Kurt continued.

“But I’m also sorry about your parents. You shouldn’t have to spend the holidays alone”.

Blaine’s eyes had glassed over.

“There’s really no need to apologise Kurt. You have every right to be excited about your family. I know you’re close to them. I can tell by the way your eyes light up when you talk about them, even with just a fleeting comment” He smiled “And anyway, I’m not going to be completely alone. I have Gibson! And I think my brother’s in the City for New Years, so I’ll just have a belated Christmas then”.

Only Blaine could be so optimistic about this kind of situation. Kurt couldn’t help but smile.

They sat in silence for a while. Blaine seemed lost in thought; Kurt not wanting to open his mouth and say something else that might send Blaine into a crippling depression.

~

After a while Blaine broke the silence, speaking in his normal chipper tone.

“Where are your family going to stay when they visit?”

“Oh” Kurt hadn’t really thought about it “I guess they’ll stay in a hotel or something” He knew full well they wouldn’t fit in his and Quinn’s apartment. Finn would never fit on the floor of his room.

As if he could read minds, Blaine piped up.

“Well I guess if you got really stuck, they could crash in your obviously giant closet”.

They both burst out laughing, probably too loudly for the now very full coffee shop.

There was the Blaine, Kurt knew and loved.

…

Wait, what?