Chapter 4: The Uninvited Guest

When the trio of Kurt, Blaine and Cooper had heard Charlies scream, all three were in there element at once. Cooper grabbed a candelabrum and rushed to the living room, closely followed by Blaine and his fork, and Kurt with his mighty spatula. They were ready for battle, perhaps a madman on the loose, or a serial killer, or better yet, horde of angry Illustrati members that have managed to bypass their security. They were ready to pick apart the unfortunate attacker who had dared laid hand on their baby, and perhaps crush him or her or them to fine powder for even thinking about hurting Charlie…

But nothing, NOTHING, could have prepared them for what they saw…

""Oh, hey, guys," Charlie beamed while hanging from the shoulders of a dark-haired guy with too much eyeliner.

"Charlie! What the hell –" Cooper swiftly lowered the silver candle stick in his hand, evidently trying to hide his embarrassment. "Who the hell is that?" He pointed at the stranger who had his arms around his younger sister. Behind Cooper, Kurt and Blaine had also dropped their improvised weapons, throwing Charlie a questioning look. The youngest Anderson beamed.

"Oh yeah, my bad," She slid off the arms of the tall young man with her. "Sorry, I got excited. This –" She gestured towards the guy. " –is my best friend from band camp, Elliot Gilbert. Elliot, meet my brothers –" The guy she had introduced as Elliot smiled at the other three, before confusion took over his handsome features. "Wait, I thought you mentioned you had TWO brothers –"

"Oh, odd man out," Kurt raised his hand. "That would be me. Future brother-in-law, actually. Engaged to this cheese ball over here." The countertenor slipped his hand against Blaines. Elliot looked at the intertwined fingers and grinned. Cooper for his part, was giving Charlie a death glare.

"And what is Elliot doing here, Charlotte?"

Charlie rolled her eyes. Hes visiting."

"And did you consult Mom and Dad before you invited him over?" Cooper inquired, his voice taking on a dangerous tone. "Do I have to remind you that THIS is not a vacation?" The eldest Anderson brother glanced over at Elliot who was looking more uncomfortable by the minute. "Pardon me, but Charlie mustve forgotten –"

"Its not fair!" Charlie pouted. "I havent seen him since last year! And hes just visiting for the day! He lives in New Jersey! He goes to NYU, and –"

"I think we can accommodate him for a visit," Kurt tried to approach the situation diplomatically. "Cooper has a point though, Charlie. We have things to do that would take up most of our time here in New York. But I think Elliot can come over when were not busy, right Blaine?" He gave his fiancé a look. Blaine noticed the underlying intention there and nodded.

"I think thats okay, Coop. Its safer to have visitors over than have Charlie running out to meet with her boyfriend secretly –"

"BOYFRIEND?" Charlie asked out incredulously, not before exchanging looks with a bemused Elliot. "Oh my Gaga, Blainers –get your gaydar recalibrated or something!"

"Uh, Im gay." Elliot said almost embarrassingly. "Wow, didnt think I would have had to explain that to anyone ever again." Blaine looked to Kurt for confirmation. The glasz-eyed young man nodded. "Recalibrated, babe –the state of your gaydar is almost as bad as your obliviousness –"

"HEY –"

Cooper took one look at his family before sighing. "Fine, he can come over. But Im going to do a background check –"

"YES!" Charlie exclaimed, steering Elliot towards the kitchen. As they left, the three other men heard Elliot:

"Background check? What are you, the Mafia?" To which, Charlie replied cryptically:

"No, even better!"

The moment the five of them had settled down at the kitchen table, (Kurt had dished up another plate for the uninvited guest, to which Elliot had poured and incredibly enormous amount of strawberry syrup), Charlie was going on about how she met her best friend.

"He actually kind of reminded me of Blainers, you know?"

"Me?" her older brother asked? Charlie grinned. Elliot turned a lovely shade of blush.

"Charlie, not my Confused Phase again –" he groaned. "I think Im already in enough amount of trouble from your brothers –"

"Elliot kissed me." Charlie was unstoppable. "He said he wasnt sure if he was actually gay –"

"WHAT –"

"YOU –"

"Oh my –"

"Oh come on, calm down, people!" Charlie pacified her brothers outraged expressions. "It was just a stupid kiss. And consensual, I might add. And I got a brilliant song written because of it!"

"Why does this story sound familiar?" Kurt asked. Blaine sighed.

"Rachel Berry. Circa My Headband."

"Ah, not your finest moment, babe."

"Exactly."

Cooper, who was looking confused at what was going on, resigned to giving Elliot a glare. "If you still have any doubts –"

"No, nope." Elliot assured him quickly. "100 % grade-A gay. I have a boyfriend in NYADA. Actually we just got together a week ago. I was visiting him so I thought Id drop by to see Charlie when she mentioned she had moved here." Kurts ears perked up.

"Oh, I go there too," he smiled. "Maybe I know your boyfriend, whats his name?" Elliot made the effort of pulling out his cell phone and showing Kurt –and Blaine who was next to his fiancé –a picture of Elliot with his new boyfriend.

"His name is Adam Crawford."

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Tempy and Prue were due tomorrow, so training was to start the following day. Charlie had promised Elliot that she will return the favor of visiting him in NYU when she had the chance. Kurt and Blaine were evidently uncomfortable around him, even more so when his visit was cut short when Adam had called and asked him to meet for dinner. Elliot wasnt told of how Kurt knew his new boyfriend, so the visitor jovially waved goodbye at the Andersons at half past eleven. It was too late for Kurt to begin preparing lunch, so Cooper decided to order out Chinese food from Wons. Charlie retreated to her room, claiming that she needed to reorganize her closet. So that left the newly-engaged couple to amuse themselves while waiting for the food.

"Did you ever –" Blaine began as they made themselves comfortable in the three-seater cream pleather sofa Kurt had purchased from E-Bay. Kurt cut him off quickly.

"I told you, there was no story," he smiled. "Im actually happy for Adam. Elliot seems like a nice guy."

"But he did kick you out of that group he formed –"

"I would have resigned anyway," Kurt admitted. "It would have been pretty weird. I mean, there was no story for me, but, you know –" he then settled his head on Blaines shoulder. The younger man gently rubbed his fiancés shoulder.

"Nobody can resist your charm, Hummel. Get over it." Blaine teased. "I think I would have to spend my lifetime trying to drive away admirers –"

"As if," Kurt rolled his eyes, pinching his fiancés side lovingly. He then raised his left hand up to eye level. The ring on his finger sparkled beautifully in the fluorescent lighting. "See this? This would mark on the face of the guy who tries to come in between us. Im off-the-market. And so are you –" he suddenly sat straight. "Which reminds me, I still have to get you a ring."

"That can wait," Blaine smiled. "I dont need a ring to tell people that I belong to the most wonderful person in the world." He pulled Kurt back towards his side. "And were getting married soon anyway. Id much rather have a wedding ring than an engagement ring on my finger."

"I cant wait," Kurt admitted. "I know we planned on having this long-term engagement, but the more I think of the idea, the more I get excited."

"Same," the younger man sighed. Just then, a shrill beep interrupted the couple. Both reached for their phones and found identical messages waiting for them:

From: Cooper Anderson (12:05 p.m.)

To: Blaine Anderson, Charlie Anderson, Kurt Hummel-Anderson

WHY –did nobody tell me that WONs is in freaking NEW JERSEY?!

I thought for a while that my SAT NAV was broken.

Oh well, just checking your orders. Braised Beef for Char, Sweet and Sour Pork for Kurt and Chow Mien for B.

Blaine and Kurt amusedly shook their heads as they sent an affirmative reply to Cooper. Kurt glanced at Blaine.

"So, Hummel Anderson? I thought we were going to be Anderson-Hummel." Blaine shifted his legs until he was lying on Kurts lap, looking up to him from behind his long lashes.

"Honestly, gorgeous? I dont care. As long as I get to tell the world youre mine and mine alone. I dont care if they call me Blaine Andermel Humerson." His amber eyes stared up at Kurt longingly. The older man smirked.

"There is a branch of Wons in Bushwick."

Blaine sat up. "But, wait, you programmed Coopers car to go to NJ? I-" Then realization dawned upon him. "Oh –how long do you think it would be before he arrives with food?" Kurts face morphed into a mischievous look. He stood up from his spot and began walking towards the direction of his and Blaines quarters. When he reached the hall, he threw Blaine a saucy grin.

"You know I have this fantasy of christening every part of this house –"

That was all it took to get Blaine up on his feet.

"The training room next to ours?"

"We have about 45 minutes."

"But –Charlie –"

"I may or may not have had a hand in getting her closet disorganized –"

Blaines eyes brightened. "You –devious Mr. Hummel!" Kurt laughed as he pulled Blaine towards the direction of the training room.

"Come on, the bench press hasnt been used yet. I think it can serve a more important purpose," teased Kurt, before his lips met his fiancés in a heated kiss and buttons began flying all over the place.

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In an undisclosed location not far away from the Andersons a man with dark hair knelt before a seated figure. The figure was hooded, and nothing but the tips of his shoes and his fingers could be seen. The dark-haired man bowed reverently.

"I have established my cover, oh Great One. They were skeptical at first, but I doubt they suspected a thing. I await further instructions."

The figure shifted slightly, as if gearing to get up from his seat, but didnt. Instead, it leaned back on his seat –a gilded Victorian Era armchair that was up against a wall, damp and mossy. The barely-lit room was bathed in the soft orange glow of lit pillar candles.

"They are too complacent," the figure suddenly spoke, its voice seemed to come from below the ground. It was hard to distinguish if it was male or female. "I think they are underestimating us."

"The eldest brother seemed more cautious," said the dark-haired man. "Although a bit of a loose canon. I shudder to think that the protection of anyone rested upon him, let alone the Sacrifice."

"What of the other two?" The figure asked. The dark-haired man hesitated before answering. "The youngest is a spit-fire, brave and almost foolishly so. But the middle one –" he sighed. "He is devoted to the Sacrifice. Their liaison is not a tactic. It is real. We might have problems with him. If he is that attached to the Prince Progeny –"

"We deal with it as we go along." The figure told him stiffly. "Our main goal remains the same. We must remove the Sacrifice from the Shadows sphere of influence. How do you suggest we go about it?"

"It seems futile to shake the Shadows," said the dark-haired man. "Why not hit them at their weakest?" The cloaked figure paused and leaned forward.

"The Sacrifices family?"

"Exactly."

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