Blaine's shaky hand reached for the doorknob. He stopped for a second and looked up at the big oak double doors with the number 398 on them.

Should I knock? He thought. He never knocked going into the home he often visited on weekends. But I have a guest, is it rude to just barge in on everyone? But they're expecting us, so… It's my home! I shouldn't have to knock. 

Kurt stood next to his boyfriend, who obviously was in his own world. He didn't mind though, he was petrified of staying with Blaine's family for the weekend. Sure, they'd met before and Kurt had a wonderful time with them, but being alone with them for two days and not surrounded by their various extended family was quite intimidating.

There was so much room for error here, and Kurt was an eternal perfectionist. He was terrified he'd wind up making a fool of himself somehow and that he'd embarrass Blaine and Blaine would leave. It was a bit far-fetched, but Kurt always was pessimistic when scared.

His first time sleeping over his best friend Rachel's house, he slept-walked from her bed down the stairs, into to kitchen grabbing a mixing bowl and then straight into her dads' room. They later told him that when he got to the foot of their bed, he yelled out "LUMOS!" Then fell to the ground, only to be woken up by Rachel's dad Leroy who was beside himself with laughter. Kurt was never able to live that down and when Rachel's dads' would come to visit her and Kurt, they would always greet him by saying "Lumos!" 

Kurt finally realized that they had been standing on the front stoop for an uncomfortable amount of time now, both lost in their own thoughts.

"Well, are we gonna go in?"  Kurt asked, nudging Blaine. He flinched back, exiting from his thoughts and let out a small laugh.

"

Yeah, sure." Blaine opened the door and let Kurt in. "Welcome to chez Anderson, my love." 

Kurt was immediately taken back by how charming the home was. It must have been nearly one hundred years old and had beautiful dark wood molding. One side of the wall was exposed brick and the other was painted a warm golden yellow. The wide staircase in front of him was also made of dark wood and curved its way up to the second floor of their home. To his left was a small living room with a single antique couch. There was a large window that looked out to the street covered with a beautiful white lace curtain. To his right was a larger living with a door that led to a spacious family room with a fireplace and grand piano. 

Blaine took Kurt's hand and led him past the small living rooms through the dining room, which was decorated with deep blues and gold and into the sizable marble covered kitchen. Copper pots hung from the ceiling and curved metal wall decals hung on the walls. Kurt was in interior design heaven.

Blaine's mother stood over the oven stirring sauce in a pot while Amelia sat at the island on her laptop. 

"Blaine! Kurt! You're here!" Blaine's mother announced, throwing off her messy apron and pulling Kurt and Blaine into tight hugs.

"It's great to see you Mrs. Anderson!" Kurt gushed as she kiss his cheek.

"Now Kurt, you know that if you're staying in my house you'll call me Clara, right sweetie?" She jokingly scolded him.

"Absolutely, Clara." He replied. 

Amelia jumped off her stool and ran to Blaine.

"Bumble Blaine!" She called out, throwing her arms around him.

"Meil Worm!" He squealed, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"And Kurt, don't think I forgot about you!" Amelia hugged Kurt a bit more gently than she did with Blaine.

The back door of heir kitchen swung open and from a tiny green back yard a big sheepdog ran in, jumping up with her paws resting on Blaine's chest. Her tail wagged fervently as she licked Blaine's arm and let out a loud bark.

"Hecate!" Blaine called affectionately. He peeled the dog off of him and she jumped right up on Kurt's chest. "Oh god, sorry for her enthusiasm, she just loves new people. Kurt, I'd like you to meet Hecate, my favorite sister."

Amelia let out a small scoff and lightly slapped Blaine's arm. He stuck her tongue out at her made a face. Blaine was such a child.

"Hecate? Like the witch from Macbeth?" Kurt asked as he scratched behind her ear, causing her to let out a happy groan.

"Like the witch from Macbeth." Blaine validated. 

"But…isn't that supposed to be a bad thing? I mean Hecate was supposed to be ugly." Kurt looked at the adorable dog he was now crouched over petting "And you're not ugly are you? No, you're cuuuuute!"

"You can blame me!" Kurt looked up to see Blaine's father standing above him.

"How are you Kurt?" 

He held out his hand and helped Kurt up, then pulled him into a hug, slapping his back.

"I'm great, thank you for having me! How are you Mr. Anderson?" 

"Hey now! I'm Hollace, not Mr. Anderson. There's way too many Mr. Andersons, it would get confusing if we all went by that!" Blaine's father chucked at his own joke. "And I get what you mean about Hecate. sure she was awful and she messed with Macbeth's head but when we first got her it was around Halloween, and I figured, why not name her after one of history's most famous witches."

"You boys are just in time! Dinner is almost ready. Amelia, will you go set theta tab for me hun? And use the nice China, we have a guest!" Clara Anderson said kindly. Amelia rolled her eyes but obeyed her mother. Kurt took a deep breath. It even smelled like home.

Dinner started out much more enjoyable than Kurt originally planned. He had so much fun talking with the Andersons, even laughing at Hollace Anderson's cheesy jokes. He loved how inquisitive they all were about his life in Lima. None of them had ever lived anywhere but a city and they were so intrigued at how different life in a small town was.

Kurt found Clara Anderson especially fascinating. Her brazen childhood growing up in the Lower East Side in the 70's sounded so unusual yet so exciting. They both seemed to bond, though, over preforming. Clara as an ex-opera singer and Kurt as an aspiring Broadway actor. 

Not only was the conversation intriguing, the food was delicious. It made Kurt a bit homesick. The warm, loving family meal reminded him of his own family. He though back to his Friday night dinners with his dad, stepmom and stepbrother. Blaine's mother, although a bit more eccentric, was kind and extremely loving just like his stepmom. His father's hokey jokes reminded Kurt a lot of his stepbrother Finn, who was slightly stupid, but always funny. And somehow, deep down, Amelia held a piece of his beloved father in her. Her outgoing, fun-loving personality and unconditional love for her brother were the the same traits Burt Hummel held. 

Kurt sat back in his chair. He couldn't believe that a night that was filled with so much happiness and laughter could make him so upset. He felt selfish, but he couldn't help it. Family was one of the most important things to Kurt and he missed his so much. He tried not show it and to smile, but he knew at least Blaine wasn't buying it.

After he offered four time to help with dishes and was shooed four times, he decided to go straight upstairs to shower and get in pajamas. As he stepped into Blaine's bathroom, he felt his knees go weak and he closed the lid on the toilet and sat, crying his eyes out, missing his own family.

Kurt was... off. Blaine just knew it. He could tell by his demeanor at dinner that something was definitely wrong. His feeble attempts at comforting him by squeezing his hand under the table didn't do much, and even his invitation to watch a movie, which was declined so Kurt could shower, didn't change the pained look in his eyes. Sure, he was smiling and giggling, but it was his eyes, his bright blue eyes that held his true emotions. 

Blaine knew not to question Kurt immediately on him or he'd get upset. Just give him space; that's what Blaine had learned.

But when nearly an hour and a half passed, he got worried. Blaine got up from his comfy spot on the couch next to Amelia and made his way upstairs.

He slowly creeped into his room and saw his sheets shuddering up and down and the the sound of small sniffles. Blaine quietly tip-toed to the side of his bed, right next to where Kurt lay, and placed a hand on him.

"Sweetheart, you okay?" Blaine asked with a heavy sound of worry in his voice. He rubbed Kurt's back slowly and knelt next to him.

Kurt loud out a final sniffle, wiped his eyes and quickly turned to Blaine. His blue eyes seemed impossibly brighter against the bloodshot red and his face was a bright pink.

"Nothing, it's nothing babe, don't worry about it." Kurt threw on his fake smile again and reached out to stroke Blaine's curls. 

"Kurt, it is not nothing! You've been laying in my bed for over an hour crying your eyes out, what's wrong?" Blaine placed his hand on Kurt's cheek and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb. 

"It's just…having this wonderful, warm family dinner makes me miss my family, you know? I mean I was back in Lima a few months ago, but it was different. Finn wasn't home and my dad was in D.C. until my last three days and I just miss family. I miss that feeling. I mean, I used to have family dinners every night! Now I only have two a year! And, god, now I feel so guilty. Your mother made this beautiful meal and you family was so welcoming, and I must look like such a…a…bitch. I'm spending the whole night crying instead of enjoying it like they want me to, like I want to. I'm sorry Blaine." Kurt started sobbing again and clutched the bed sheets. He turned away from Blaine and cried into the pillow, quiet sobs emerging.

"Scooch over." Blaine commanded, and Kurt obeyed, moving to the other side of the bed without a word. Blaine climbed under the sheets with him and wrapped his arm tightly around Kurt's waist. He pecked Kurt three times on the back of his head and nuzzled his head in Kurt's neck.

"Don't you be guilty Kurt, it's okay. I know what you mean, I understand. I know I live close to home and I can come back any time, but sometimes when it's just you and me eating takeout, I wish I was with my family too. I'm really sorry you can't see your family as much as I do, I really am. But when you're here, Kurt, think of my family as your family. They love you Kurt, I promise. You should have heard Amelia, she all but asked me to move back home with you. And mom, my mother is already planning on us coming back next week. Dad even asked if you like golf, and only takes people he really likes golfing. So, although we're not Hummel's, we're still your family." Blaine comforted him, and he could tell the frequency of his sobs had greatly reduced.

"Alright, babe?" Blaine asked, hoping he made Kurt at least slightly happier. Kurt nodded and sniffled. Her turned to face Blaine.

"I like that. I get to be part of your family, huh?" Kurt asked, taking Blaine's hand in his and holding it against their chests. 

"Absolutely." Blaine rubbed his nose against Kurt's, then kissed him slowly. "I'm gonna go shower and get on some jammies and I hope we can continue this cuddling when I'm back." Blaine said as he slowly inched out of the bed.

"I'll be here." Kurt said, smiling as he wiped away his last tear.

Family.