"So...  what happens if I let it boil?" Blaine asked, smirking a little at the panicked dive Kurt made across the kitchen to the pan.

"Don't scare me like that!" Kurt laughed, hitting Blaine playfully on the arm when he saw that the sauce wasn't boiling and therefore not ruined.

"Oh, so that's what terrifies the great Kurt Hummel?" Blaine quipped, returning to his gentle stirring.  "He'll take on all comers without batting an eyelid but god forbid the sauce boil."

Kurt's arms slid around Blaine's waist as he gently rested his chin on his boyfriend's shoulder.  "Too right.  Think it's about done now, just let it rest for a bit."

"Promise me something," Blaine said as he turned the heat off and moved the pan.  He leant back against the solid warmth of Kurt's body and put a hand over the one on his waist.  "You do the cooking in New York."

"I was planning on living off other things than pizza and instant noodles so I think that's a given."

"So what do I get to do?  The shopping?  Laundry?"

"I love you but... Blaine.  Sweetie.  You?  Wash my clothes?"

"Fair point," he laughed.

"We'll find something."

"How about I just take care of you?" Blaine asked, turning in Kurt's arms so he could wrap his own around him.  "I've... been thinking about things."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah.  And before I tell you promise me something?"

"Why am I now worried?"

"Remember that I love you and I'm beyond grateful for everything that you and your family have done for me.  I honestly don't know what I'd have done... where I'd be..."

"Blaine..." Kurt said hesitantly.

"Just hear me out, OK?  I've thought a lot about this."

"About what?"

"I spoke to Rachel this afternoon.  Actually, I spoke to her dads.  About moving in with them."

"What?  Why?" Kurt asked, his voice rising in panic.

"It's not that I don't love being here with you, you know that.  But we both know that in an ideal world your dad wouldn't allow us to share a room."

"In an ideal world you wouldn't need to be here," Kurt muttered, unconsciously tightening his grip on Blaine.

"Just hear me out, OK?  We have this year and then you're off to New York to be brilliant.  And I've got another year here, a year without you.  And that's going to be hard."

"Surely a reason why we should be spending more time together?"

"And how is that going to feel?" Blaine asked.  "Given how you're currently reacting to the idea of me moving out?  How much harder will it be if we spend a year together?  But I also think I need some space to myself, find my own feet."

"And you can't do that here?  What if we cleared out the spare room...?"

Blaine raised his eyebrows.  "And spend half the night sneaking down the hallway?"

"I don't like the idea of you not being here."

"I'm still going to be yours," Blaine whispered.  "Always."

"So be mine here."

"I'm trying to do right by your dad," he continued.  "Our sleeping arrangements were probably only meant to be a short term thing.  I'm not quite convinced he's happy about it."

"So move to the spare room."

"Being at Rachel's means we'll still see each other.  We'll hang out, spend time together...  But we'll also have to figure out how to be apart.  We've got a whole year to survive."

"God, you make me want to defer," Kurt breathed, resting their foreheads together.  "I hate the idea of leaving you."

"I'm not letting you leave me," Blaine whispered against Kurt's mouth.

"Good.  Because I'm not letting you go," Kurt whispered back before the kiss.

"It's just Rachel's.  It's actually closer than my parents' place when you think about it.  And her dads are pretty cool.  Think that'll be us one day?"

"If we have a kid like Rachel I may just scream..." Kurt laughed softly, pulling him into a hug.

"Sommat smells great," Burt said loudly, announcing his presence behind them.

"All down to the chef's assistant," Kurt said proudly, stepping back but staying close.

"Hope you did plenty as we have... some guests," Burt said carefully.

"We could stretch to a couple more I guess," Kurt said.  "Who are the drop ins?"

"Only if it's OK with you, Blaine," Burt said to their surprise, stepping aside to allow their guests to enter.

Kurt could feel the tension rolling off Blaine as his parents walked into the room, Mrs Anderson clutching a bottle of red wine.

"It really does smell fantastic," Mrs Anderson said, trying to sound warm and genuine.

"It's all Kurt," Blaine replied dully.

"He did the sauce though," Kurt chipped in.

"Really?" Mrs Anderson smiled.  "Blaine's idea of sauce before was something that came in a bottle."

Blaine didn't respond, staring at his father instead.

"If you don't want us to stay," Mr Anderson said when he realised he was being glared at, "then we can go.  I just thought I should... take you up on your offer."

"Offer?" Blaine asked in confusion.

"To get to know my son better.  And his... his boyfriend.  If that's OK with you two."

Kurt reached out and took Blaine's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.  It's up to you, he said with a glance.

"I know I've... screwed up," Mr Anderson continued.  "But I'd like the chance to make it better.  If I can?"

"...Yeah," Blaine said.  "That'd be good."

"Right, well, I'll get this open," Burt said, holding out his hand for the bottle of wine.  "How long have we got before dinner, kids?"

"Um... about fifteen minutes?" Kurt said.

"Right, well give us a call when you're serving up."

Once they were gone Kurt turned to Blaine and shrugged gently.  "And two minutes ago I was worried about you moving out.  You OK?"

"Ask me after dinner," he said quietly.  Talking a deep breath he put on a smile which Kurt knew to be for show.  "Right," he declared.  "What's next, chef?"

"This," Kurt said, pulling him in for a gentle kiss.  "I love you, remember that."

"I love you too."

"Love you more if you get the serving bowls out of the cupboard."

"Well, if your love is so easily bought..." Blaine laughed softly before moving away.

Dinner was awkward then slightly comfortable and then fairly relaxed and then it came full circle to awkward again.  Kurt had to give the Andersons their due, they were trying.  (And for the record it was Roger and Amelia.  So that was good to know.)  Every so often Kurt's hand would drop below the table, move a few inches to the left, and give Blaine's knee a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

The main just stretched to the seven of them, Burt and Amelia went without dessert when that wouldn't.  Mr Anderson... Roger asked them about their plans for New York and Kurt could see he was biting his tongue.  Part of him wanted to push, to see if he was going to snap.  However, a bigger part of Kurt wanted him to be serious, he knew how much Blaine missed his parents.

But if Roger was serious then Kurt was going to make him live up to every promise.  As Blaine gave his hand a gentle squeeze back Kurt swore that if this man ever hurt his son again then he would rain down hell on him.  Possibly with his sais.

Kurt offered to show them out, giving Blaine a reprieve and him a chance to speak to them alone.  Turns out Roger had a similar idea as he gave Amelia the car keys.

"I wanted to apologise," he said.  "The things I said about you...  I'm sorry.  Again."

"Thank you.  Again."

"I wanted to say that too.  What you've done for my boy..."

"Someone had to," Kurt said sharply.  "I wasn't about to turn him away."

"You never said something you regret?" Roger asked.  "I told you, I love my son and I would give anything to make him happy.  And yeah, that's you.  I'd just... like to be around if you'd let me."

"It's not up to me."

"But you've got an opinion on it."

"Like I said, it's not up to me."

"I suppose I should be grateful?" Roger asked, smiling a little when Kurt gave a small nod.  "Well, thank you for tonight.  I hope we can do it again soon?"

"Notice would be nice.  I'll make sure there's enough dessert then."

"Deal," Roger smiled.  "Tell Blaine goodnight from me."

"I will," Kurt said softly.

"Oh, and what I said about you..."

"It's fine."

"It's not.  It's about as far from fine as it gets and I'm sorry.  It's just... not easy.  For sixteen years he was my boy."

"He still is," Kurt pointed out.

"No, he's not.  He's your boy.  Your man.  It's how it should be but...  I'll get my jealousy under control, don't worry."

Kurt's reply stalled on his lips.  Jealous?  Of him?

"He loves you," Roger continued as if he sensed Kurt's confusion.  "And I have never seen him so... alive.  I may not be... completely on board with this but all I'm asking for is time.  And that chance."

"I'm following Blaine's lead," Kurt said gently.  "But I'll be honest... if you keep this up?  It might just be OK."

"Goodnight, Kurt."

"Goodnight, Mr Anderson."

Kurt waited until the car had pulled away before closing the door and wandering through to the living room.  Finn had already set up the games console and he was busy cajoling Blaine into taking him on.  With a smile Kurt added his voice to Finn's taking up his place between his boyfriend and his brother, ready to cheer Blaine on and distract Finn as required.

At first Kurt went for support to the lunches and dinners that Blaine had with his parents.  Then Amelia started to cry off and Kurt started to feel like the third wheel.  So even though he hated the idea he made no move to get out of the car when they arrived at the Lima Bean.

"Kurt?"

"Give me a call when you're done, I'll come pick you up."

"You're not coming in?"

"It's just coffee with your dad, I don't think you need me to hold your hand."

"What if I wanted you to?"

"Then I'd remind you of why you wanted to move in with Rachel.  Something about learning to be individuals?"  Kurt smiled across at him and held out his hand.  "You really need me to hold yours?"

"Always," Blaine smiled back, taking the offered hand.  He lifted it to his mouth and kissed it gently.  "But... it's just coffee, right?"

"Just coffee.  And I'll be right around the corner, OK?  Text me if you can't talk."

"You'll be suggesting a code word next," Blaine laughed as he let go of Kurt.

"Family," Kurt replied instantly.  "You use that and I will come and get you, no matter what."

Blaine laughed softly, kissed Kurt on the cheek, and slipped out of the car.

Blaine was later home than he'd said and Kurt's head knew that meant that things were going well for him and his parents.  His heart knew what Blaine was going to say as soon as he heard the door open and close softly and the bed dip with a familiar weight.

"Hey," came a soft breath on his neck as an arm snaked around his waist.

"Hey," Kurt replied.

"Sorry I'm late."

"It's fine."

"We just got talking and..."

"When?" Kurt asked, all pretence gone.  When he felt Blaine stiffen a little behind him he pushed to turn onto his back so he could look at him.  "I knew it was coming, love."

"Are you OK with this?"

"That's my question."

"I'm serious, Kurt.  Are you OK with this?  I know all of this has been hard on you too."

"I just want what's best for you," Kurt smiled in the near darkness, lifting a hand to Blaine's cheek.  "I want you to be happy."

"I know I need to give him this chance, y'know?  I want to be able to look back at this and say that I tried, even if it doesn't work out?"

Kurt brushed his fingers across Blaine's skin.  "I know, I know.  But promise me something?"

"Anything," Blaine said, dipping his head for a kiss.

"If you have to run again..." Kurt breathed against the lips so close to his.

"Always," Blaine promised, kissing him again.  "Always you."

"You and me, New York..." Kurt muttered as their bodies started to move closer under the covers.

"Our whole lives together.  You... me... our own family..."

For one final night Kurt enjoyed the freedom that came with having the person he loved more than anything there, with him.

It seemed weird, having all of Blaine's things packed away from the closet and drawers.  The integration into Kurt's life, this room, this family, had been so gradual.  Bit by bit he'd crept in deeper and deeper into this home and now he was leaving.

Kurt sat, crossed legged on the edge of the bed, and stared at the bags on the floor.  It seemed so... final somehow, even though he knew it wasn't.

"This is what it's going to feel like," he said quietly when Blaine came back in with the last of his things from the bathroom.  When his boyfriend looked at him in confusion Kurt nodded at the bags.  "For you.  When I... when I go."

"...Yeah, I guess so," Blaine agreed, sitting next to him on the bed.

"I'm going to miss you," Kurt whispered, leaning over so his head was resting on Blaine's shoulder.  "Not looking forward to sleeping alone tonight."

"Me either."

"How did we end up like this?  It's only been a few weeks and already I feel like a bit of me is being... ripped away."

"I'm not going anywhere," Blaine said gently, kissing the top of his head.  "Not like that anyway."

"I know.  I'm just going to...  I hate the distance.  I hate the idea of you not being here.  That weekend when you weren't was the weekend when I realised just..."  Kurt sat up and turned his body so he was facing Blaine.  "I love you.  More than anything else, I love you."

"I love you too."

"No, I really...  Oh I can't do this!" he sighed.  "We throw the word love around and then when you want to use it, to really use it..."

"For what it's worth," Blaine said, holding Kurt's face in his hands, "me too."

He sat there for a moment, just holding Kurt's gaze.  They weren't trying to stare each other out they just couldn't stop looking at each other.

When Blaine was a kid he hated holding people's gaze.  He felt uncomfortable doing it and his father had somehow made him feel like he was being rude when he did it.  But here, now, he didn't feel any of that.  He just got lost in the colours of Kurt's eyes, picking out the shades and the strands, watching them flex and change as Kurt's pupils adjusted.

"Promise me you won't freak out," Blaine said suddenly, breaking the mood and making Kurt jump slightly.

"Freak out about what?"

"When we went back for my things, there was some stuff that I grabbed beyond clothes.  Stuff that meant something.  Stuff I couldn't leave."  He got up and walked over to the messenger bag, rooting around inside and pulling out something.  "When I came out and things were... hard between me and my parents, my grandpa was my lifeline.  He let me stay at his when things got too bad, I'd go to his after school just to put off going home.  But I was so nervous to start with.

"People go on about that generation, how things were different in their day.  And it was.  I thought he was going to hate me right along with Dad..."

"Your dad doesn't hate you," Kurt heard himself say, surprising himself.

"One afternoon when I turned up, after the day from hell, he sat me down and gave me a small brandy.  He started talking about the war and I thought he was having one of those days.  Then he talks about this guy he knew, Paul.. something, I forget, and how the two of them were really close.  Bonding under pressure thing.  Paul even saved his life so Grandpa joked that if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here.

"Anyway, one night they get talking and Grandpa tells him all about this girl he's courting – my Grandma – and asks Paul if he's got a sweetheart back home."

"Paul was gay, wasn't he?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah.  And Grandpa was fine with it, he really was.  He knew Paul, he cared about his friend and it didn't matter who he liked.  So he just applied that logic to me.  He cared about me, it didn't matter who I liked.  For the first time I was accepted by someone whose opinion mattered and it... it was the world to me.  He became the world to me and when we lost him... it hurt.

"But when his will was read turned out he had one last thing in store for me.  There was this envelope, full of stories about Paul and what they got up to after the war.  He was at Grandpa and Granny's wedding, there were photos of him with Dad when he was little.  Paul found someone to love and they were happy together until Paul died, not long before I was born actually.  I think Grandpa wanted me to be named after him!

"Anyway, there was one other thing in there, something that Dad was shocked at.  Grandpa knew Granny was it for him from the moment they met.  I wish I could say that about you, I wish I could lay claim to love at first sight...  But I will love you for the rest of my life and so..."

Blaine unfurled his hand, showing a small pouch which he offered to Kurt.  He took it cautiously and after a gentle nod he pulled at the drawstrings, tipping the contents into his palm.  His breath hitched as a simple ring lay there.

"It was the promise ring Grandpa gave Granny before he went off to fight.  It was to say that one day he was coming home, one day he was going to give her a proper ring and they would get married."

"We're seventeen," Kurt whispered, trying to be reasonable and logical about this.

"So?" Blaine asked, lifting the ring from the still-open hand.  "I... have no idea if this will fit," he laughed, "but the sentiment is there.  One day, Kurt Hummel, I will give you a proper ring."

"Says who?" Kurt asked.

Blaine nearly dropped the ring in shock.

Kurt looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.  "Who's to say I won't be the one asking you?"

The ring was slightly too big for Kurt's little finger but it was slid on regardless and they kissed until Burt called up that Blaine's parents were here.

The ride back to the Anderson house was uncomfortable to say the least.  Kurt and Blaine sat in the back, their fingers laced together, as his parents made small talk about the most random of topics.  There was a part of Blaine who wanted to tell them to turn around, to take him back home...

But then he had to remind himself that it wasn't home.  Not really.  No matter how it felt the Hummel-Hudson house wasn't home.  If he went back thinking that it wasn't home then this wouldn't work.  And it had to work.  He had to give it every chance.

Amelia retired to the kitchen to make a start on dinner and Roger offered to help with the bags but after Blaine hesitated for a second too long he excused himself and left the two of them in Blaine's room, the door pointedly open.

"Transfer," Kurt said suddenly as he watched Blaine hang his shirts back up in the closet.

"What?" Blaine asked before he followed Kurt's gaze to where the Dalton blazers were.  "Oh."

"Transfer.  Please.  I don't want to spend this year at different schools."

"You know I love Dalton..."

"Yeah, I do.  I'm sorry."

"No, don't be," Blaine said, kneeling on the bed beside him.  "I'd be lying if I said I'd not thought about it.  We talked about it before..."

"I'm being selfish, I know.  But I don't like the idea of only seeing you on evenings and weekends only.  I don't want to have to wait hours to find out if...  If things are OK."

Blaine picked up Kurt's left hand, running his finger over the ring.  "It won't be that long."

"Better not be," Kurt smiled.

"Can I think about it?  The transfer I mean.  There's a few weeks left of summer and...  I'll think about it.  I promise."

"Yeah, of course!  I mean, you need to be OK with it.  'cause we'd be together for one year and then I'm going and oh god I'd be leaving you in a public school by yourself and that would be the worst thing ever..."

Blaine laughed softly and kissed him to stop the rambling.  "I will think about it.  Seriously think about it.  I promise.  By the first day back."

"OK," Kurt smiled.

"And more to the point...  It won't ever be hours for you to find anything out, I promise."

"You know you can always come back?"

"Figured that when your dad wouldn't let me give back the key."

"And if you need me to come and get you..."

"We have a code word for that," Blaine laughed.  "Although I think we need to come up with another one because cute though family is I think it may come up a bit too often..."

"Paul," Kurt said quickly.  "I mean, neither of us know one and so it's not a name we're likely to have to use.  And we know what it means.  And to anyone else we're talking about someone."

"Blaine?" they heard his mother call up the stairs.  "Dinner is nearly ready.  Does Kurt want to stay?"

"If that's OK?" Blaine called back.

"If it is with his parents."

Kurt was already texting his dad to let him know.

Dinner was more bearable than the afternoon had been and Kurt found himself relaxing into the conversation.  Somehow they managed to unwind and actually enjoy themselves; Kurt found that there were times he actually forgot what this man had done to his boyfriend, how broken Blaine had been in those early days.

Amelia had made lasagne from scratch, a meal that sparked a memory in the boys she didn't quite understand.  It was a touching gesture though and Blaine tucked into it with as much enthusiasm as he'd done that first night at the Hummel-Hudson household.

After dinner Kurt helped Blaine to clear away the plates and dishes.  Blaine watched Kurt from the corner of his eye as he hesitated before removing the ring, as if he couldn't bear to take it off, and he couldn't help but smile a bit.

Kurt washed, Blaine dried.  Kurt wiped down the surfaces as Blaine put dishes away.  At some point one of their iPods was plugged into the speaker system and they ended up dancing around and singing some show tune at the top of their voice.  They took on different roles as the songs required, they made up dance routines and spun each other around.

"It's... late," Blaine said reluctantly as he noticed the clock.

"Yeah," Kurt whispered, his arms snaking tighter around Blaine's shoulders.

"I can drive you back if you want...  Or call a cab..."

"If you drove me back home I'd not want to let you leave.  Just so you know."

Blaine buried his head in the crook of Kurt's neck, breathing in deeply.  "Not sure I'd want to go," he whispered just loud enough to be heard.

"You don't have to stay..."

"No, it's not that," Blaine assured him.  "I want...  This is what I want.  To try anyway.  I just don't want to let you go.  I don't want you to go."

There was a gentle cough and they turned their heads to see Amelia standing in the doorway.  "You know where the spare towels are, love," she said to Blaine.  "I think there's a spare toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.  You're more than welcome to stay, Kurt, and I don't just mean tonight."

"But Dad..." Blaine said.

"I'm not going to lie and tell you that he's turning cartwheels, sweetheart.  But he does love you and he wants you to be happy.  And after the last few months I don't think parting you two is going to be easy.  But it's your decision."

And with that she got a glass of water and headed for bed, kissing Blaine on the cheek as she left.

"Parting us is going to be impossible," Blaine whispered in Kurt's ear before placing a gentle kiss behind it, smiling into the shiver that Kurt always gave when he did that.  "Stay.  Tonight."

"I'm not promising I can be quiet," Kurt laughed softly.

He wasn't.  A couple of times Blaine almost stopped and considered trying to smother him with a pillow because seriously, Kurt had to be doing this on purpose.  Even though the bedroom door was shut, even though his parents' room was at the other end of the hall, noise still travelled.

"You have got to try and keep it down," Blaine growled as he pinned Kurt to the mattress.

"Give me one good reason," Kurt replied, his voice low and dangerous as he wrapped his legs around Blaine's waist.

"Because if you freak out my parents then they won't even let you cross the threshold again."

"I'm not trying to freak them out," Kurt said.

Blaine just looked at him.

"I might be... making a point though," he conceded.  "Your dad..."

"Can't touch us," Blaine whispered, "or what we have."

"Such a cheesy line."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

This time as their bodies moved against each other, slick with sweat and lust and love and a connection, the volume was lower and more intimate.

Finn picked Kurt up just before lunch and it took a good ten minutes before Kurt and Blaine could be parted and Kurt was all but manhandled into the passenger seat.

"It's not like you're not gonna see him ever again," Finn said rather unhelpfully as the house fell out of view.

"Not the same," Kurt muttered, resting his head on the window.

"Maybe not," Finn shrugged, "but it's also not forever.  I mean, you guys... you are, right?"

Kurt rubbed his fingers over the ring on his left hand and allowed himself to smile.  "Yeah."

"Besides," Finn continued as he reached for the radio dial, "he's kinda family now isn't he?"

"What?"

"Mom and Burt were talking last night.  Felt weird without you guys being there somehow.  And not just you, Blaine too.  He's part of the family, OK?"

"This is the first time I've not been with him in weeks.  Feels... weird."

"You two weren't attached at the hip before.  I mean, you guys...  I don't..."

Kurt laughed, honest and real, at his brother's discomfort.  His brother.  Somehow over the last few years he'd gone from it being just him and his dad to them being a family and he'd gone from being lonely to being in love and knowing that one day he'd let Blaine be the one to propose.  (Because they both knew that Kurt would be the one to organise the wedding.)

Kurt Hummel's family was pretty damn awesome and he'd never felt more loved.