Go back, Sam. I’m going to Mordor alone.

Of course you are, and I’m going with you.

Kurt giggled at this, and Blaine smiled, glad he was enjoying the movie. After finding out Kurt had never seen the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Blaine invited him over to watch it. He almost expected Kurt to roll his eyes or put up a fight, but he had just smiled and said I’d love to. They even invited the rest of the New Directions, and the group was now seated around Blaine’s giant media room.

Of course Blaine was nervous about it because Kurt would finally begin to witness how nerdy Blaine actually was, but he was also excited about it—because Kurt would finally begin to witness how nerdy Blaine actually was. He wanted Kurt to know this side of him. In the weeks that they’d been together, Kurt had never given him a reason not to trust him. Kurt loved how smart Blaine was, and always squeezed his hand and smiled whenever something would slip out of his mouth. He didn’t feel scared about showing this side of himself to Kurt, at least not as scared as he had been. He trusted Kurt. He didn’t care as much about what the rest of the group thought, but the fact that they accepted the invitation eased his mind considerably.

Blaine never had people over before this, so the room seemed to him to be in a state of chaos. There were empty pizza boxes everywhere, along with bowls of chips and popcorn. He had spent the entire day baking treats for them in his kitchen—it was a bit of a nervous habit. He had dipped pretzels and made cookies. He made spinach dip and mozzarella balls. He made some guacamole, too, but Santana had taken that as soon as she arrived and it hadn’t left her hands since. Everyone was coupled off, cuddling and kissing and whispering to each other. Even the single kids in the group had coupled off with each other. The only two not cuddling were Kurt and Blaine, and Blaine wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around Kurt while he watched his favorite movie for the first time. He wanted to feel him tense when the Ringwraiths appeared, he wanted Kurt to squeeze his hand when he got scared. Mostly he wanted to cuddle with him and enjoy it like everybody else. He paused the movie.

“Guys, I’m gay,” he blurted, his voice shaking. There. It was out. The hard part was over. He had Kurt, who would stand by him no matter what the rest of the group said.

“Oh, cool,” Finn said.

“Whatever, bro. Doesn’t matter to us,” Puck added, looking around at the group.

“Yeah, we think you’re cool, Blaine. We don’t care if your gay or not,” Tina said, and the rest of the group mumbled their agreements.

Blaine looked at Kurt, who was smiling at him. A silent conversation passed between them before Kurt spoke up.

“We’re together. We have been since the day after Rachel’s party.” The girls squealed in excitement and the boys nodded, the closer ones patting them on their backs. It was Mike who ended the moment:

“Dude, turn the movie back on, Frodo’s about to get it!” Everyone quieted and turned back to the giant screen and Blaine hit play. As tears filled his eyes, he scooted over and pulled Kurt to him. They snuggled together on the bean bag, their hands held firmly together, their legs intertwined. He breathed a sigh of relief into Kurt’s hair and let the tears fall silently. They had accepted him, and they had accepted him and Kurt. They were happy they were together. He didn’t think he would ever forget the look on Mercedes’ face when Kurt said it. She looked so happy, proud even.

Most importantly, Kurt was happy. Blaine saw the smile on his face as he pulled him closer. He felt bad that he had made Kurt keep it a secret for so long, but he was grateful that he did. He was grateful that Kurt had given him the time he needed, would continue to need, to figure everything out. He was grateful Kurt accepted how nerdy he was, and would even willingly participate in it. He was grateful Kurt had introduced him to such great people. He was grateful to these people for letting him into their little group. He was grateful that they liked him and accepting who he was, both gay and nerdy. He was so grateful for the last two months of his life and all the amazing changes that they had brought.

When the movie over, everybody groaned.

“What? But Blaine, what about the ring? That wasn’t an ending! Blaine?!” Mike shouted. He had gotten very into this movie.

“Well it’s a series. There are two more movies,” he explained, reveling in the panicked faces around him.

“Next weekend,” Quinn stated, “we watch number two.” Everyone nodded in agreement and started picking up. All too soon they were walking out of his front door, leaving him to take Kurt home.

Blaine hasn’t even started the engine when Kurt asks the question Blaine knows he’s been dying to ask all night.

“What made you tell them, Blaine? Why then?” He looked at Kurt and saw the pride in his eyes. He smiled, but refused to let it show that that particular look had turned Blaine into goo.

“Honestly? I wanted to snuggle with you. They all got to and I wanted to, too. I knew you’d stick up for me if they took it badly, but I didn’t expect them too. Plus the lights were off, so I wouldn’t have to actually look them in the eyes when I said it.” Blaine looked sheepishly at Kurt, hoping he wouldn’t judge his reasoning. He didn’t, of course. This was Kurt he was talking to.

“And how did it feel?”

“Amazing. I’m so relieved. And so happy. You have really great friends, Kurt. Thanks for introducing me.”

“Well, I thought they deserved to know you. You’re pretty great yourself, you know.” Blaine couldn’t respond. His eyes were once again filled with tears. How did Kurt always know exactly what to say to him?

“Thanks,” he finally choked out. Kurt grabbed his hand and then leaned his head against the window, deep in thought.

“Kurt,” Blaine said once he had calmed down, “what are you thinking about?” Kurt hesitated. He squeezed Blaine’s hand and sat up, opening and shutting his mouth several times. He finally sighed and turned to face Blaine.

“Have you thought any more about telling your parents?” Blaine looked over at him, then back to the road. He didn’t know what to say. The truth was that yes he had thought about it. He thought about it all the time. He didn’t like hiding this from them, and he didn’t like making Kurt hide it. Now the New Directions knew and would have to keep it a secret, too. He wanted to tell them so much, but he was scared. He had always worked so hard to make his parents proud of him and he didn’t want his sexuality to tear it all down. The reaction his new friends had was definitely encouraging, but they already knew someone who was gay, two if he was right about Santana. Rachel had gay freaking parents, so of course she doesn’t care. They’d all been exposed to it. His parents hadn’t. Blaine’s inner battle was getting nowhere.

“I want to,” Blaine said, his voice shaking, “more than anything I want to tell them, but I’m scared, Kurt. What if they hate me for it? I don’t want that. I love my parents and I don’t want to lose them.” He ripped his hand from Kurt’s and wiped the tears of his face before gripping the steering wheel with both hands. He breathed deeply—in, out, in out­­. He kept repeating this to himself. He wasn’t going to have another breakdown about this in front of Kurt, and especially not after having such a good night. Kurt was sitting quietly beside him, watching him worriedly as he fought to keep himself together.

“It’s okay, Blaine. I understand. Whatever you want to do I’ll support you, you know that, right?” Blaine nodded. “Good. Whenever you’re ready to tell them is fine. I know how hard it is to have to hide who you are, but I also know how scary it is not knowing what’s going to happen.”

“Do you think I should?”

“It’s not up to me. This has to be your decision, and you should only tell them when you’re comfortable.”

“But I want your opinion, Kurt, before I make my decision. Do you think I should tell them?” The words came out a little harsher than he’d intended, but he was panicking and Kurt knew it, so he let it slide.

“Yes, I think you should. I think it will be a big weight off your chest and I think you’ll be happier for it. I think that, until you tell them, you’ll be stuck in this same point in your life and I think that once you tell them, no matter how they react, you’ll be able to move forward. But if you don’t think you’re ready then I respect that.”

Blaine mulled this over for a few minutes. It actually kind of made sense. He did feel stuck, like he’d been hanging in the void space for a while. Even if his parents rejected him, kicked him out, he’d be able to move forward. He’d leave and make his own life somehow. He did have some money in the bank that his parents couldn’t touch. And if they accepted him, well, there would be no trouble and he’d still leave the void space. He had Kurt, he had the glee kids, he thought he might have Burt, too. If Burt accepted Kurt for being gay, and if Burt liked Blaine, then there was no reason he wouldn’t accept Blaine for being gay, too. He wasn’t alone anymore. If he fell into some deep pit of despair, he’d have people there to help pull him out.

He relaxed his grip on the steering wheel and took one final, calming breath. He wiped the tears from his face and turned to his boyfriend, who was patiently sitting in his seat, never pushing for an answer.

“Kurt,” he said, and Kurt turned to face him, “I’m going to tell them. I’m going to come out. Officially.”