"Blaine is that you?" His mother called from the direction of the kitchen.

The click of her heels a moment later brought her out to the foyer, "it is you, why didn't you say you were coming home today, Sweetheart?"

Irene Anderson was just an inch taller than Blaine, but that was because of her heels. She was thin and had long dark curls that at the moment were pulled back from her face into a pony tail.

He shrugged. He didn't know why he'd gone home. "Last minute decision."

"Oh." Irene smiled, "well, Blaine, it's good to have you home. Dinner's almost ready, your father isn't home yet, are you staying the night?"

"No. I…I should get back to Dalton. Regionals are coming up."

"Oh." She looked for a moment as if she wanted to say something else, but then she gave a sharp nod, coughed and in her usual voice continued, "your father will be home late tonight, but we could have dinner and catch up. How are your practices coming along?" She began walking back to the kitchen.

A flashback to the 'practice' he'd just left brought a pink tinge to Blaine's cheeks. He ducked his head for a moment and cleared his throat. "They're fine. I don't know if they'll be enough to beat the other team." He followed his mother down a long corridor.

"Oh? You've seen them perform already?"

Blaine nodded, wondering just how much his mother actually cared about what he was saying.

"New Directions, mom, we tied at Sectionals, so we're competing again."

Irene grabbed a knife when she reached the island in the kitchen and grabbed a half cut tomato that she continued cutting into slices. "Your friend's old team," she said with a nod, proving that maybe she did care.

Blaine could never be sure, with either of his parents, if they were actually paying attention to him. Sometimes he thought they just nodded along or tried to say the right thing but retained nothing of the conversation. This was far more the case with his father than mother, but he knew they could both be in one room with him but with their minds on their work.

"Yes. Kurt."

Even saying the name brought a smile to his lips. Kurt. How had he not seen it before, how had he not realized how much more wonderful like could be with Kurt in his life, in this way.

His mother set down the knife and picked up the cutting board, taking the slices to the counter and putting them in the salad bowl.

"How's school? Your grades?"

"Good. Although, I…I might have dropped to a B in Chem.," he said it all really fast and cringed when his mother turned to look at him, one neat thin eyebrow raised.

"I don't understand what's changed. You've always been good with any subject. I expect you to bring that back up, Blaine."

He nodded, even though he knew that it would probably be impossible now he and Kurt were together. Not even his mother's disappointment could take away the euphoria that had been left behind from being with Kurt.

"Did your brother call you?" She asked next.

"No. Did he need something?" Blaine moved from where he'd leaned back into a wall to sit at one of the stools by the island.

Irene frowned. "I thought he would have told you first. He asked Bea to marry him. He only told your father and I early this morning and he did sound like he was drinking, which means he's probably still sleeping it off now."

Blaine said nothing, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the island counter. "Engaged," he whispered and wrung his hands.

He wanted to laugh and try to not think about what that would mean. Of course his brother had gotten engaged the same week he'd finally realized that he was in love with Kurt. Blaine loved his brother, the brother that had for a long time been his only friend, but Blaine also knew who the favorite son was, and it wasn't him.

"Isn't it wonderful? Your father was thrilled. Now, if only you could find a nice girl, Blaine." She sighed wistfully and Blaine noticed she had her back to him.

Blaine stood up. He wanted to tell her, to just open his mouth and let her know that she didn't have to worry about that, that he had a boyfriend, but he couldn't. It was an unspoken thing in their family. He knew better than to breach the subject.

"I'll be down for dinner, I have to…" he didn't finish, trailing off and letting the sentence hang in the air between them.

She nodded, her back straight as she pretended she didn't know what he was talking about. He stared at her for a while and then nodded to himself, not even this would take away what he felt, change how he loved Kurt.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled down a list of names until he came to the right one. He stared at the screen for a while before he selected it and called.

The phone rang for a while, and then a groggy sleep filled voice answered.

"Who?" the voice asked.

"Everett, this is Blaine…are you, can you talk?"

His brother made a coughing sound. "Sure…uh, Blaine, why are you calling me? Is it Saturday? You usually call on Saturdays."

Blaine closed the door to his room behind him and walked to the queen sized bed in the middle of the room. "You got engaged," he said.

Everett laughed. "Yup. I told you when I bought the ring."

Blaine sighed, "I know, but mom had to tell me you'd popped the question and I thought I might have received a warning."

"Sorry…I just, I knew you were busy this week, what are you even doing home?"

Blaine groaned, "I don't even know….It's like the longer I'm away, the more I want to believe they've changed, but they never will…I, I should let you go back to sleep. I'll talk to you soon."

Everett sighed, "Blaine…" he began.

"No. I know you don't mean to, it's just me, deluding myself again. I have to go." He hung up before his brother could respond.

Blaine looked dropped his phone on the bed next to him and scooted up to lean back against the headboard. He knew why he'd come home. There had been something like excitement that made him want to tell them about Kurt. It was stupid. He was being stupid. Still, when his phone went off a few minutes later and a picture of Kurt smiling at him appeared, he couldn't help the grin.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," Kurt breathed and then giggled, "I actually have no reason to call you, should I have a reason? I wanted to hear your voice."

Blaine sighed and laughed. "I missed you too," he told Kurt.

"I told my dad," Kurt said, then. "He sort of figured it out, though. I guess I couldn't keep the smile off my face…he wants to have you over for dinner next week."

"Dinner? Okay. Yeah, sure. Just tell me when, although I have to tell you I'll be really nervous."

Kurt laughed. "I'll hold your hand…and I'll have you know that despite what Finn says, he doesn't own a shotgun."

"Very comforting, Kurt. So, I went home."

"Oh?"

Blaine sighed. He didn't know if he wanted to tell Kurt more than just that. He'd put it all behind him when he got to Dalton. He never spoke about his parents though he knew his friends suspected their relationship wasn't a good one.

"My brother's engaged," Blaine continued, "my mother told me today and…" he paused.

"What is it, Blaine?" Kurt asked. His voice was careful.

"She told me I should find myself a nice girl like he did." The words came out in a whisper, "as if she didn't know I was gay or something…and I wanted to tell her about you…but I know how they'd react."

Kurt said nothing for a few moments. "I don't even know what to say," he said at last, "just, Blaine, they do care about you. I don't care if you tell them or not, but you don't need their approval."

"I know. I know. Listen, I have to go, my mom's calling me down for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Blaine felt the three words at the tip of his tongue just wanting to leave his mouth, but they didn't come out, instead he said, "you'll always move me, Kurt."

Kurt giggled. "You're adorable."

- - -

They were halfway through dinner when his father got home. Blaine heard him in the foyer and then he was walking into the dining room. He paused at the door.

"Blaine," he said, "what are you doing here?"

"Can't I stop by for dinner?"

Drew Anderson was about a head taller than Blaine, and he where he stood at the door, he towered over Blaine. It had been Blaine's wish since he was a young child to be as tall as his father, but instead he'd taken after his mother.

His father shook his head. "Yes, of course. I just, wasn't expecting you." He smiled and when he walked by Blaine, squeezed his shoulder. He kissed his wife on the cheek and then took his usual seat.

Irene smiled at him and rushed out of the room to get him his dinner. Blaine looked after her for a moment before turning back to his father.

"How's school? Has anything new happened?"

Blaine shook his head. "Everything's fine. The Warblers are competing in a few days. I'm singing lead."

Drew nodded, but said nothing until after his food had been set in front of him, and then, only to thank his wife.

After that dinner flowed as well as it could, Blaine replaying the moment from earlier that day, after their kiss, after they'd tumbled to the floor due to their enthusiasm and Kurt had pulled Blaine towards one of the love seats.

"What's got such a smile on your face, Blaine?" His mother asked.

Blaine blushed. "Nothing…I, just practice earlier. I was thinking about how well the song went."

She and his father shared a look, but didn't question him again and while they discussed his brother's engagement, his father's hectic work week, and for a small period of time the Warblers, and Blaine's friends -- during which time Kurt was brought up -- Blaine continued to think back to that moment on the loveseat, Kurt asking, "What does this mean?"

And his response, "I think it means that I like you and you like me and that you should be my boyfriend."

"So, this Kurt," Drew said once his name had come up, "you're sure he's not just a spy from that choir you're competing against? It's just a tad suspicious, wouldn't you say, Irene, that that boy transfers and gets into the Warblers just like that."

Blaine blushed. He hadn't told his parents, or for that matter Kurt how much his getting into the Warblers had been his influence.

"He only left his school and his choir because he was being bullied dad, same as me, although he's much stronger, more courageous than I ever was. Kurt misses his friends dearly, but he wouldn't sabotage his chances for the future. He can't go back to McKinley and singing is everything to him." He cleared his throat then, because he knew this would have to be mentioned eventually, "he's singing a duet with me."

Neither his mother or father responded.

"Is that wise?" his father asked, and reached for the glass of lemonade.

"It's an all boys a capella group, dad, not sure we could do anything else."

He grunted.

Mrs. Anderson watched Blaine, biting down on her bottom lip, having obviously focused on the first part of what Blaine had said.

"Kurt is…he's like you," she said, her words sounding awkward.

Blaine who had been bringing a piece of chicken to his mouth paused, fork in the air. He nodded.

"And he was bullied like you," she said next.

Blaine nodded again.

She didn't say anything more, but the implication was there. The newest addition to the Warblers was gay and he and Blaine were close friends. Neither of his parents, however, asked the next question and Blaine didn't know if he should feel relieved or not.

He stayed only for half an hour more after dinner to help his mom clean up and to get a few pointers on stage presence from his dad who was a former Warbler. After, he hugged his mom and shook his dad's hand and was on his way back to school, wondering if he should have just told them. There had been ample opportunity, despite his sexuality having been placed in the category of things they kept unspoken, joining the likes of: his maternal grandmother, his unlawful uncle whose name Blaine didn't even know but was for some reason or another the black sheep of the family, the porcelain cats that neatly lined shelves in their basement, and the real reason no one used the blender.

"We'll be at your competition, Sweetheart, just send us more details as soon as you get them," his mother had said as he got his shoes on.

His father had nodded but said nothing.

Blaine sighed as he buckled himself into his car. The duet would give them away and he knew it. Part of him wanted it to. He wanted them to know. It would be yet another unspoken thing, but they would know.

- - -

Blaine's arms encircled Kurt's waist. He rested his head lightly on Kurt's shoulder, "you were so distracting out there," he muttered, "I think it threw me off."

Kurt sighed, "they deserved it though, didn't they? I mean, original songs!" He sighed again, "still, I can't help but wish we'd won, you know."

Blaine nodded. He wasn't surprised by the results, really, even though he like Kurt had wished for the other outcome. Still, he couldn't be too upset. Kurt was standing in his personal space, and despite this loss, Blaine still had him. They were together. Nothing could hurt them, not really.

"We should get out of here," Kurt said softly, but didn't pull back, "dad might be looking for me. Your parents…"

Blaine pulled his head back, moving his head along Kurt's, his nose just brushing his cheek. Kurt let out a giggle. Blaine kissed the corner of his mouth, before moving his lips to cover Kurt's in a languid kiss that Kurt let him control, his lips tilted upwards in a smile.

Kurt pulled back, grabbing Blaine's hand, "come on, you know they'll send someone to look for us soon."

Blaine let Kurt pull him out from between curtains and set pieces backstage towards the stairs that got them to the side exit. Feeling Kurt's hand in his, the not too sweaty palm that told him that although Kurt acted as if this was all very natural, he was still nervous, gave him the confidence to keep holding his hand and not let go once they were out where most of the parents were waiting.

Kurt pulled him towards his parents and Finn when he'd spotted them.

"Kurt!" Finn exclaimed, throwing an arm around Kurt's shoulders, "dude, you were awesome up there. You too, Blaine!"

Kurt knocked Finn's arm off, but grinned at his step-brother and then let go of Blaine's hand only long enough to hug his father and then Carole.

"Congrats," he told Finn good naturedly.

"Thanks."

They didn't get much farther in conversation, because just as Kurt had stepped back to stand next to Blaine and reached for his hand, someone called his name from across the room. He lifted his head and saw his parents, his mom waving her hand. He let go of Kurt's hand at once.

"I should…"

Kurt nodded, the smile he gave Blaine not the brightest. Blaine wanted to lean into him and kiss him on the cheek at least, but he knew how his parents would take it.

"Sweetheart," his mom said and pulled him into a hug, "I'm sorry you didn't win, but these things happen. You were wonderful out there."

Blaine smiled a little, "thanks mom."

Drew patted his shoulder. "You were much better than at your Sectionals. I hope that duet didn't cost you anything with the judges."

Blaine didn't respond.

"We'd like to meet your friend," Mrs. Anderson said and made the slightest motion towards where Kurt was still with his family.

"Oh. I…sure. I'll bring him over."

He didn't know what to make of the request. He remembered his parents meeting Wes and David and how that had gone, but this was different. This was Kurt, the most important person in his life.

"My parents want to meet you," he said to Kurt and tilted his head towards where they stood.

Kurt looked at him confused, "do they know?"

"I don't think so, but come on."

"I'll be right back," Kurt said to his dad with a nervous smile and followed Blaine to where Mr. and Mrs. Anderson stood. Blaine wanted to reach over and offer whatever comfort he could, but knew how that would look.

"Mom, dad, this is Kurt Hummel."

His mother extended out her hand and Kurt shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Kurt," she said, "I've heard a bit about you. You were wonderful, your voice is rather unique."

"Thank you." Kurt smiled.

Mr. Anderson stared at Kurt before he too extended his hand. "You are new to this type of choir. I could see the differences between your old glee club and this one, it must have been an adjustment."

Kurt looked confused.

"My dad went to Dalton, too," Blaine told Kurt, "he was in The Warblers."

"Oh," Kurt said, "well, that's great you can follow in his footsteps." He turned his head to smile at Blaine.

Blaine didn't know what to think about how his mother was looking at Kurt, as if she was sizing him up in a way, through the smile.

"It's a different atmosphere, certainly," Kurt answered Mr. Anderson, "New Directions is very scatter brained, there's obvious talent there but nothing is ever really thought out. The Warblers are more traditional of course. They're both with their faults and their good qualities."

Drew nodded, "well, it is a shame you boys didn't win, and with a countertenor, no less."

Kurt made a small noise and his cheeks were tinted pink. His mother eyed him for a moment and then looked between him and Kurt. Blaine thought for a split second that maybe she knew, but she said nothing until they were excusing themselves when they spotted Wes and his parents.