"Why didn't you tell me before you came to pick me up that we were having dinner with your parents? Blaine, seriously, I could have worn something else. Something less…I don't know…" he pulled at his sleeve.

Blaine stopped looking for his key and turned to face Kurt, grabbing his hands. "Kurt, I didn't tell you because for one, I forgot and because for another, I also knew you'd freak out. Now, come on, we'll just have to ring the doorbell, are you going to be okay?"

Kurt took a deep breath. "Yes. Maybe. No. It's just, I know they don't know about us yet but I still can't help but feel nervous. They're still my boyfriend's parents."

Blaine caught himself before he laughed and didn't say anything because he knew that if he did, he wouldn't ring the doorbell and he'd just pull Kurt back to his car and leave as fast as he could. Kurt held his hand tightly and Blaine squeezed back. They heard footsteps and Blaine made to take his hand back, but Kurt wouldn't let him. He let go as soon as they heard the click of the door opening.

"There you two are," Irene said with a smile, "I was wondering if Blaine was even going to bring you to dinner."

Blaine rolled his eyes and motioned for Kurt to step inside before he followed. His mother closed the door behind him and immediately turned to Kurt, leading him to the sitting room.

"Your house is beautiful," Kurt said, .

"Thank you, Kurt. Sometimes it feels like Blaine does not appreciate how much work has gone into the decorating the way he leaves his things lying around."

Blaine rolled his eyes to himself and just managed to stop himself from saying something about how really he was never around to leave his things in the foyer anymore and that it had been Everett and not him that had insisted on leaving his mud covered shoes by the door.

His father was seated with a book in the living room. He closed the book the moment Kurt entered and stood up to shake his hand. Blaine didn't know what to make of the welcoming smile.

"It's good to see you again, Kurt."

"You too," Kurt said and glanced down at the book before Irene motioned for him to sit down. Blaine sat down next to him, leaving some space between them even though he wanted to hold Kurt's hand and sit as close to him as possible.

"Dinner will be ready in just a minute," his mother told them, "I'm just waiting for the rolls." She smiled at them and then excused herself. For a while they just heard the click of her heels on the wooden floor.

"How has school been, Kurt? Blaine mentioned you transferred back. Surely, Dalton is the better school."

Kurt looked uncomfortable for a moment before he spoke. "I missed my friends and I didn't see enough of my family as it was. The bullying situation was solved, I guess to some extent so I thought it might work in my best interests to go back. Not to mention Dalton is expensive. It is a great school and I admit the academics challenged me in a way McKinley's never will, but I knew we couldn't really afford for me to go there."

Drew nodded thoughtfully. "It was different with Blaine. His mother always wanted him to go to public school, she thought Dalton was too stuck up, but obviously it's been a better place for him."

Kurt didn't get a chance to respond, because Irene returned, then. "Blaine could you help me set the table, won't take long."

"Sure." He eyed Kurt and then left the room, hesitating a little. He had no idea what his father would say to Kurt.

"Don't worry so much," his mother said, "your father won't hurt your friend."

Blaine nodded and went to take out the cutlery, trying not to think about the way she'd said 'friend'.

"I really do like him, Blaine," she said when she set down a few plates with food. "I'm rather impressed by his fashion choices, and he's very well spoken. Educated."

Blaine didn't say anything. He didn't understand. Why was she singing Kurt's praises. His mother hadn't done this when Wes and David came over for dinner the one time. It had been just as formal because his parents couldn't do anything halfway, but she'd never tried to reassure him that she liked his friends.

By the time they were seated at the table, Kurt looked nervous again and Blaine had to wonder what he'd wound up talking to his dad about, and having Kurt seated across from him meant that he couldn't take his hand to reassure him.

Topics of conversation stayed pretty tame, especially once his mother complimented Kurt's shirt and they started talking fashion and his mother admitted for the first time ever that she'd once considered going to school for fashion instead of becoming a book editor.

"I always felt I didn't have enough talent," she told Kurt, "I also can't really sew. Are you interested in maybe going into that field."

Kurt shrugged. "I have no idea. I love performing, being up there on a stage but it's possible I'd explore some sort of career in fashion." After a moment he added, "I do know how to sew."

Irene laughed.

"So what do your parents do for a living Kurt?" Drew asked.

"My dad's a mechanic. He owns a repair shop in Lima. My mom…she passed away when I was eight…"

Irene cut him off, "I'm so sorry, dear, that must have been terrible." She looked genuinely sympathetic.

Kurt waved her off. "It was years ago…"

Blaine's father cleared his throat before he spoke again, "A few summers ago, Blaine and I made an attempt at fixing up an old car, and not that we didn't get it done, but I should have realized it wasn't something of interest to either of us."

"Blaine never mentioned that," Kurt said.

Blaine shrugged at him. He had been sure Burt would have mentioned it to Kurt.

What followed after that was Kurt asking about the car they'd rebuilt, and his father actually looking more and more impressed as Kurt seemed to understand just what he meant and he added in his own tips. It ended with Kurt promising to take a look at the car that was still in their garage as soon as he could.

Blaine in the meanwhile remembered the summer his dad had insisted they work on that old car. It was the summer after he'd come out and Blaine had seen right through his father's supposed attempt at bonding. The time they spent working on it had been long days spent talking only about the car and nothing else.

He'd learnt a lot about cars that summer, though he didn't seem to know as much as Kurt did. Still, the experience had been tainted by knowing that Drew Anderson was only doing it to turn him straight.

By the time they got to dessert, his mom's apple pie, both his parents seemed impressed by Kurt in some way. Irene wanted Kurt to go shopping with her once he began explaining how he could afford his wardrobe - something Blaine had always wondered but hadn't thought to actually ask Kurt - and Drew asking for him to stop by sometime to look at the car he and Blaine had worked on. Blaine thought that his father would have taken Kurt right out to the garage right then and there had it not been for his phone going off.

"I'm sorry, Kurt, but I have to take this. I hoped the call would come later. If I don't return, I am glad to have met you. I hope you'll come back again." He shook Kurt's hand again and rushed off.

"Don't mind that," Irene said to Kurt, "he's always doing business in some form or another. Last week he spent the entirety of dinner on his blackberry texting a man from London about something or other." She smiled brightly at him.

After that, she excused herself to start cleaning up and shushed Kurt when he tried to offer to help. After she was gone, Blaine led Kurt up to his room.

"So, it wasn't bad, was it?" Blaine asked as they walked up the stairs. He still didn't know what to think about the whole thing.

Kurt was a gay as they came and yet there had not been one iota of a hint that they disliked that about him. His mother had even embraced it with all that talk of fashion. His father hadn't placed him into the stereotype and just seemed to accept him. He didn't get it.

Kurt shrugged. "It was interesting. Blaine…" he started, but shook his head and stopped.

Blaine wanted to know what he'd almost said, but didn't question him. Instead he shared his thoughts out loud, "I have to wonder if it would have been different if they knew."

Maybe they did think Kurt was only a friend and they were just being polite. That had to be it.

Blaine opened the door to his room and let Kurt walk inside first.

Kurt walked around the room. "It's very you," he said with a tilt of his head.

Blaine closed his door. "Is it?"

"Yes. Your room at Dalton is very representative of who you are, but this room, it's all you, the parts of you that you hide. Everything."

Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt, pulling Kurt into him.

"Hello," Kurt said, sounding breathless, "never get tired of this."

Blaine caressed his cheek, running his fingers down to Kurt's neck before he kissed him, gently moving his lips against Kurt's in a sweet kiss that he hoped conveyed how grateful he was for how he'd been around his parents, and how he'd easily slid into the role of friend while in their presence.

"Thank you," he murmured when he pulled back.

Kurt made an adorable whining noise that made Blaine kiss him again, lengthening their kiss and only stopping when he heard footsteps from out in the hall.

Kurt checked his phone. "I should get home," he told Blaine.

Blaine nodded. "Sure. Come on, then."

Kurt went to Blaine's mirror and fixed his clothing and hair while Blaine watched.

"Presentable enough?"

Kurt laughed, "you always mess up my hair," Kurt accused, "always."

- - -

Blaine picked up one of the breadsticks and waved it around in the air. "You know, these are surprisingly hard, like not bread at all."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "I think they're playing up the irony with the inedible breadsticks. Although Santana seems to like them. I half suspect she's been doing something other than eating them for years."

They were on their mid-week date, which for once had included going to eat at Breadstix. The entire night Kurt had been shifting nervously as if he wanted to bring something up but didn't know how and Blaine had been fearing that this was coming. Ever since Kurt had come home to dine with his family he'd gotten the odd sense that Kurt wanted him to tell his parents, to finally admit to them that they were together.

His parents didn't make it any easier, constantly asking about Kurt. His mother wanted him over for dinner again. His father still wanted to get help Kurt's opinion on his car and had even started working on it again in his spare time. Blaine had been afraid for a moment that he had wanted to try and make Blaine straight again by forcing him to help him.

So, when Kurt asked him to prom, Blaine went stiff not just out of confusion but because of that deep rooted fear he thought he'd already gotten rid of. He hadn't seen it coming. But, now, the question had been asked he saw all the hints. Kurt had been working up to this for the past week.

Blaine didn't know if he could say no, not when Kurt was looking at him with expectation in his eyes.

Still, he needed to explain, to make it clear to Kurt that going to Prom wasn't the best idea, despite how well school had been going for him since he'd transferred back.

As he spoke, he flashed back to the last dance he'd attended. It had been a disaster. Not all of it, but the parts that counted. He'd only gone because his mother insisted, something about it being his first dance. Blaine thought that it might have had something to do with the crazy idea she'd gotten that if he did go, he'd realize that he wasn't gay. They didn't know he asked another boy to go with him. He didn't even tell them he had a date.

It had been exciting, thrilling. He was going with another boy. A friend, and nothing more, but a boy. James had never been a close friend, but they were friendly enough and closer still after it became apparent that Blaine wasn't straight. They found a sort of connection together even if there was no attraction between them.

But going together and maybe even going at all had been a mistake. They had come out of nowhere, leering at them and making threats before they came at them. Three seniors, who after giving them a good beating, and leaving them breathless on the ground, ran off laughing.

Blaine remembered the blood, the bruises, the fear. He didn't want to go through that again. He didn't want to see Kurt hurt. He didn't want another visit to the Hospital.

Kurt gave him an out.

Blaine couldn't say no. Kurt wanted this. Blaine could see it in his eyes, but he was more than willing to just not go if it would affect Blaine badly. It wasn't about just making Kurt happy, but facing a fear. The giddy expression on his boyfriend's face made it all the more worth it.

A weight was dropped, then. Conversation became easier. Kurt didn't bring prom up again and Blaine was glad he didn't because he didn't know if he could just talk about it without his worries rising up again.

But when Blaine was dropping Kurt off, the subject came up again in a way Blaine hadn't expected, "what are you going to tell your parents? About Prom, I mean. Considering your…Sadie Hawkins and, um, they still don't know we're dating."

Blaine hadn't even considered that. "I have no idea," he admitted.

Kurt laughed, "we'll think of something. They don't even have to find out."

But Blaine knew not telling them would be crossing a line with his mom. He remembered well how excited she'd been when Everett was going to his Prom. There was practically a whole album of pictures from the night. He couldn't on any conscience lie to her about this supposed monumental part of a teenager's life. But there was also how his last dance had ended, with a hospital visit. He also didn't know how they'd react to him going with a boy. Would she be as excited, and snap picture after picture even if it wasn't a girl standing next to him?

- - -

A few days later, he resigned himself to the fact that he had to tell them. There was a week until Prom and Blaine had already talked himself into going no matter what.

There was no one home when he got in, but he imagined his parents were both at work. As he changed out of his uniform, he called Kurt, putting him on speaker.

"Hey, Blaine. What's up?"

"I'm going to tell my parents," he said and took a deep breath to calm himself. "They're not home now, so I'll have to wait until they get home from work, but I'm telling them tonight. About you. About Prom."

Kurt was silent for a moment but Blaine heard him moving. "Okay," he said. "Do you…will you be okay doing it alone? I could…I could come over if you want."

Blaine didn't know how they would react to Kurt being there. The idea of having Kurt next to him, holding his hand and supportive as he told them sounded like a dream come true, but would it be worse to put their relationship out on full display?

"I don't know. I…I want you here, you'd make it easier for me, I think, but I'm just worried about their reaction. Maybe. I don't know." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'll do whatever you want. I could be there with you, or you can call me afterwards. Whatever. I know this is hard for you and you don't have to, but I'm here for you."

Blaine suddenly knew that he couldn't do it. Not without Kurt at his side. Still, he hesitated before saying, "come over. They like you anyway."

"Okay. I'll head over in a little bit."

His mom got home before Kurt arrived. He heard her from his room and peaked out to the hall and saw her carrying a few shopping bags.

"I left more downstairs, Blaine, could you bring them up?"

He nodded and went to gather the remaining bags, shaking his head at how much money she'd probably spent on items of clothing she didn't even need. Being in a relationship with Kurt had taught him to see that there was more than just need involved in shopping.

"Kurt's coming over tonight," he informed her when he set the bags down.

"Oh, really. Well, he can help me decide between two blouses, then. This works out perfectly."

Blaine watched her for a while.

"I have to tell you something."

She was putting things away, folding her clothes as she liked them folded or putting them on hangers. "Well, go ahead."

Blaine coughed. "Um…tonight. I need to tell you and dad both."

Irene had just entered her walk-in-closet, but she paused and turned to look at him. "Does this have something to do with Kurt?"

Blaine nodded slowly.

"I see."

Blaine didn't say anything else. He wanted to just tell her right then, to cut through the tension, but he couldn't. His mouth was dry and he couldn't speak. He left the room without saying anything and went down to the living room to wait for Kurt.

Kurt arrived at the same time his father did, so when the front door was opened he didn't expect for both Drew and Kurt to enter the living room.

"Your friend's here, Blaine," Mr. Anderson said, "just got here when he was coming up to the door. I'm going to get out of these clothes. Kurt, tonight I'll definitely take you out to the garage."

Kurt smiled at Drew. "Looking forward to it."

As soon as they heard his dad going up the stairs, Blaine grabbed Kurt's hands, and pulled him into a hug.

"I don't know if I can do this, Kurt," Blaine whispered, burrowing himself into Kurt.

Kurt just held him and somehow it was enough.

"You don't have to, but, Blaine, you complain about how they never talk about anything, but you don't make the effort either."

Blaine nodded. "I know." He did. The thing was that having things in the open was going to be hard for all of them. He'd become comfortable with his parents not knowing about Kurt, not asking about a significant other and in their way hinting at the possibility of his getting a girlfriend instead.

Kurt walked him around to sit on the couch and Blaine leaned against him. Kurt was the strongest person he knew. With him at his side he could do this. When he heard his mother coming down the stairs he pulled away a bit, but left his hand resting on Kurt's.

"Kurt, you're here," she said, "it's good to see you again, Dear."

If she noticed that Blaine was holding Kurt's hand, she didn't say.

"Will you be staying for dinner?" She asked.

Kurt looked at Blaine, who nodded.

"It appears I am."

She smiled at them both and then continued towards the kitchen, pausing at the door, "Whatever you need to tell your father and I can wait until after dinner?"

Blaine nodded. He didn't know how gaining more time until that moment was a good idea, but he was willing to go with it. Kurt leaned towards him and kissed him gently, offering as much of his courage as he could. Blaine sighed against him.

"I can do this."

Kurt nodded. "Courage."

It was his mantra through the pleasant dinner and even while Kurt looked at the car with his dad while he hung back watching them interact. He didn't understand why it was so easy for his parents to accept obviously gay Kurt, when they had never really accepted him for what he was. The double standard stung.

By the time they were seated in the living room again, where his mom had decided to serve dessert, chocolate mousse that Kurt had helped her fix up, he gathered up all the courage that he had and decided it was time.

"Mom, dad," he began, "I've been wanting to tell you for a while now, but I didn't know how and, well, now I kind of have to."

His mom looked apprehensive and there was a mask in place on his father's face. He tried to not look at them as he spoke, staring at the fireplace instead.

"What is it, Sweetheart?"

The use of the endearment gave him what he needed.

"Kurt is my boyfriend," he said and turned from the fireplace to look at Kurt. Kurt who smiled gently at him and took his hand as he forced himself to look at his parents.

His mom was nodding and his father looked resigned to the fact. Neither spoke for a moment and then Irene was standing.

"It was…I thought you liked him for a long time but we didn't know if…I'm glad you told us, Blaine." She was searching for words. Blaine had never seen his mother look so uncomfortable, so lost. "How long?" she asked.

"Since Regionals," Blaine said.

Irene stared at him, frowning and then she tried to smile at him, a wobbly smile before she gave up. "I see," she said and then excused herself.

Drew stared after her for a moment and Blaine thought that he would go after her, but instead he remained seated.

"I appreciate you telling us, now, Blaine," he said, "I admit that this is not what I wanted for you, but there's been a change in you, my boy, and you are happy aren't you?"

Blaine nodded.

"Then, nothing else needs to be said. I'll see to your mother."

Mr. Anderson stood up, but didn't walk farther than a few steps, because his wife was back and she was staring at Kurt and Blaine.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice barely heard. "I just…since Regionals, Blaine? You've kept this from us for so long. Why now?"

Blaine was startled at the hurt in her voice and not, as he'd imagined, because he had a boyfriend, but that she hadn't been privy to that information. Never before had he seen either of his parents like this. Accepting. Even if there was also a hint at their disappointment that this was his life.

Blaine didn't know what to say. How to explain.

Kurt gripped his hand tightly.

"Because Kurt and I are going to his Prom at McKinley."

His mom's eyes widened and it would have been comical if it wasn't for how she shook her head.

"No. No you are not. Either of you. I will not…you, you can't go."