Blaine scrubs his hands over his face before looking back up at Kurt. "My dad said four words—four," he hisses. "Nice to meet you," he says, voice deep, imitating his father's. And then he just walked right out of the kitchen and out of the house. His mother looked like she was about to explode from the embarrassment building up inside her.

"Maybe I should have taken this one step at a time," Blaine says suddenly. "I probably shouldn't have invited my b…boyfriend over," Blaine stutters over the word, his brain to mouth filter still not used to the words "my" and "boyfriend" together.

"Ok. Blaine?" Kurt says, stopping Blaine from continuing on with his rant. "It wasn't too much. You're a grown adult and your father has known that you were gay since you were in high school. It isn't your fault he's been in denial for years." Kurt takes a seat beside Blaine. "It may seem like a lot to take in right now, but it's just something he's going to have to deal with. You shouldn't fight against your feelings. It's…obvious," Kurt says, eyes flicking over Blaine's wardrobe with a small laugh, "that you're gay and that isn't going to change. Whether he likes it or not. I think he's taking it better than most people his age. He's probably just…confused. When I came out to my dad he asked me if I was sure." Kurt shrugs. "It was hard for him at first, but he learned to accept it."

Blaine sighs, looking down at the floor. "I just…I have this thing with letting people down—with letting my parents down. I don't want to be a disappointment. I just want them to be proud of me. I really want them to accept everything about me." Blaine pauses, taking in a small breath and whispering, "Even the part that makes me gay."

"They'll come around," Kurt says, nudging Blaine softly. "I promise."

Blaine lets out a small breath before letting his head drop against Kurt's shoulder. After a few moments, Blaine feels Kurt's hand slide over his and Blaine feels his heart speed up just a little at the gentle touch.

"Blaine," his mother calls from downstairs. "Would you boys like to have lunch at BreadstiX? My treat."

Blaine lifts his head as Kurt pulls his hand back. They look at each other, eyes lingering on one another for a few seconds before Blaine looks towards his open door to call back a quick, "Sure."

o~o~o

"I'll be right back with your drinks," the bubbly waitress informs them before she bounces away.

Blaine and Kurt are sitting next to each other and Blaine's mother sits across from them.

"Blaine, honey," his mother starts slowly. "I'd like to apologize—especially to you Kurt." She looks from Kurt to Blaine. "Your father's behavior wasn't…it wasn't right. He's just having trouble coming to grips with everything."

Blaine looks down at the silverware, gently pushing it for a moment before speaking. "I don't understand why, though," he practically mutters.

"You know how he can be sometimes. If things don't go his way, he gets frustrated."

Blaine sighs, closing his eyes. Under the table, Kurt's hand brushes over his gently before he gives Blaine's fingers a reassuring squeeze. When he opens his eyes to look at his mother again, he speaks up softly. "It's been four years. We haven't talked about that night since it happened. He's just pushed it under the rug and pretended like it never happened. It isn't fair."

"Honey, you have to understand that—"

"No, there's nothing to understand, mom. He can't make me straight. There's nothing he can say or do to change it. I've tried. God, I've tried so fucking hard-"

"Blaine—"

"But I can't change the way I feel. I can't ignore my feelings and I can't pretend they're not there like he wants me to. I've tried, OK? I really, really have. I've made so many goddamn attempts to make you guys happy. I've made myself miserable for your sake and for dad's, but I can't do this anymore because I'll go crazy if I keep trying to live my life this way."

The waitress returns before Blaine's mother can get a word in. She sets the drinks down and asks, "Are you folks ready to order?"

"Y…Yes," his mother says a little uncomfortably, "We are. You boys go ahead," she says looking across the table at Kurt and Blaine.

The car ride home is silent.

The house is silent.

Blaine apologizes to Kurt about three times before Kurt tells him he needs to leave to make it in time to help his step mother with dinner. Blaine almost asks if he can go with Kurt. He almost begs, but instead he just nods and hugs Kurt, holding him close a little longer than necessary. Blaine mutters a quiet, "Thank you for everything" into his shoulder before stepping back to find Kurt smiling softly at him.

That night, Blaine decides to talk to his father. He finds him sitting on the couch watching the game.

"Dad," Blaine says a little hesitantly, voice quiet.

His father looks over his shoulder at Blaine before pausing the game and giving Blaine his attention.

Blaine remains standing, shoulders a little stiff and one hand clenched, his nerves getting the better of him. "Why did you…walk away like that today?" he asks, voice quiet.

His father stares back at him, expression unreadable. Then he looks at the frozen picture on the screen. "To be honest, I'm not sure," he says after a minute of silence. "I think I just needed to…clear my head."

"Why?" Blaine asks suddenly, trying to hide the anger from his voice. "Why are you acting like…" he pauses, continuing with gentler words, "like this is news to you?"

"Because it is, Blaine."

"No it isn't," Blaine huffs. "You've known this for years dad. I know you're just pretending. It's time to stop," he says, suddenly feeling so much older. Like he's the father in this situation, talking to his son. "I'm not going to lie to myself or to you or mom anymore. It isn't fair for any of us. I've had a lot of time to figure myself out. I've had two girlfriends so don't you dare tell me that I don't know what it's like to be with a girl. I do and it…" he pauses, laughing, "it sucks. I don't like it. I don't like girls, dad."

The entire time, Blaine's father is just staring at the TV.

"Will you please just look at me for once? We haven't made eye contact since the morning in the garage."

Blaine's father turns his head to look back at his son as Blaine takes a seat beside him. "I need this from you, dad. Please. I know it's hard for you. It's even harder for me. But I need you to do this for me. I need both you and mom to accept me."

His father just stares at him, searching Blaine's face silently. After a few moments, he speaks up, voice barely audible. "I never stopped loving you—"

"I know—"

"And I'm so proud of you and how hard you work and how amazing you are at every thing you do, Blaine. You're my son and I will never stop loving you no matter what. I just want you to be happy and I—Maybe I'm not completely fine with…what you do with your…love life," he says the last two words carefully, "but it's who you are and it isn't my place to change you."

Blaine feels his heart stutter. His eyes suddenly sting and his throat is tight. He can't bite back the tears and he can't stop himself as he flings himself into his father's chest, feeling his arms immediately wrap around Blaine the same way they used to when Blaine was eight.

"I'm so sorry," Blaine's father says into his hair as Blaine sobs into his chest. "I'm so very sorry," he repeats brokenly, holding his son close.

o~o~o

"Hey," Blaine says into the phone as he pushes his way into his apartment. "I just got home."

"I'll be there in a few minutes," Kurt responds. "This traffic is making me sick. I don't know why I drove to Lima," he groans.

Blaine laughs softly. "I'll see you in a bit."

Originally, Blaine was going to spend New Years Eve at his parents' house, but once he found out they were both working that night, he decided to come back to Cleveland early. When Kurt heard the news, he decided to do the same because he "simply would not let Blaine spend New Years alone."

Blaine has to admit, though, that he was a little upset when he found out his parents would be working. He wanted to spend one more night with them. The talk he had with his father lifted an enormous weight off of his shoulders. It made him feel so much more at ease around his parents. He wanted to bask in that feeling for one more day but, alas, the realities of life and working as a doctor took that away from him.

However, he wasn't complaining because that meant he got to spend New Years with Kurt, which was more than fine.

"I come bearing gifts," Kurt announces as he steps through the door when Blaine opens it. In his hands he holds two bottles of white wine. Blaine raises both eyebrows at Kurt. "Never underestimate the powers Noah Puckerman and his fake IDs."

Blaine tilts his head.

"My step brother's best friend," Kurt clarifies.

"Bless his soul," Blaine says as he takes the bottle from Kurt and leads him into the kitchen. "I thought you wouldn't make it time. You had me thinking I'd be spending the New Year all alone," he says as he cracks open the bottle and pours the contents into two glasses. "Just five minutes," Blaine announces, raising his glass.

Kurt takes a hold of his glass. "Here's to a wonderful year full of new friendships and coming out of the closet."

Blaine laughs and clinks his glass against Kurt's.

o~o~o

Blaine has had two glasses of wine and he already feels incredibly tipsy. He doesn't really care, though, because everything just feels fantastic and warm and wonderful. And Kurt's witty comments are so much funnier when drinks are involved.

They're collapsed on the couch, leaning against each other as Blaine finishes off his glass. He sets the glass aside as Kurt speaks up. "I should probably get going. I should…call a taxi." He stands, swaying just a little as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and reaches for his coat. Blaine watches his every movement, eyes trailing along the length of his arm, the curve of his back as he reaches down to tighten the string of his boots.

Blaine stands, following Kurt. "It's kind of late," Blaine reasons. He really, really doesn't want to be alone tonight.

"I'm glad you picked me as your fake boyfriend," Kurt says suddenly, looking at Blaine.

Blaine stares at him, a little wide eyed and confused at his statement. After a moment, his lips curve up into a small smile. "Well, of course you were my number one choice."

"I was your only choice," Kurt says with an arch of the brow.

"True," Blaine mutters. He doesn't exactly have many gay friends. In fact, Kurt is his only gay friend. "I would have chosen you anyway," Blaine says.

"Mhm. Of course," Kurt responds quietly. "It is getting late, though," he adds. "And I should probably head back to my dorm," he mutters, half to himself as he lifts his phone but Blaine catches his wrist half way. Kurt raises his eyes to meet Blaine's.

"Stay with me," Blaine says softly.

They stay that way for a few moments. Blaine's hand gently gripping Kurt's wrist as they stare at one another. Suddenly, something takes control over their bodies. Some kind of magnetic force that pulls them together and they're kissing, rough and desperate.

Kurt drops his phone on the small table near the door and he tosses his coat aside, hands flying up to touch Blaine's hair. Blaine in turn pushes Kurt into the dining table, hitching him up until he's sitting and Blaine can fit between his legs.

The kiss is sloppy and needy, mostly tongue and teeth and it's nothing like Blaine has ever experienced with either of his girlfriends. Kurt's lips are soft like a girl's, but his hands are big and warm as they slip out of his hair and down his neck. Blaine lets out a low moan into Kurt's mouth and Kurt sucks Blaine's bottom lip into his mouth, tugging with his teeth then soothing it with his tongue.

Blaine brings his hands up to grab Kurt's waist, pulling him closer to the edge of the table—closer to him as he pulls away from the kiss. They're both panting softly against each other and when Blaine opens his eyes, Kurt's looking at him, those blue eyes completely blown and so dark.

"I've been wanting to do that since the day I saw you through that window," Kurt nearly whispers. He kisses Blaine again, softly this time and Blaine can't help but press into the kiss, refusing to let this end. He needs more, but Kurt pulls back. Blaine is about to protest, but falls silent when Kurt is suddenly lowering his head to kiss along Blaine's neck. His hands tighten on Kurt's waist and Kurt moans softly in response against his neck. "Bed," Blaine whispers. "More comfortable. Please. Now." He feels Kurt nod against his neck before Blaine is pulling him off the table. They're halfway to the room when Kurt is suddenly pushing him into the wall, kissing him again, licking across his mouth teasingly before pulling away and yanking Blaine into the bedroom. Kurt falls back on the bed, pulling Blaine down on top of him and kissing him again, a little softer before he flips them over and gently pushes Blaine's shirt half way up his stomach to kiss the skin there, lips soft and warm.

Kurt's hands wander, brushing over Blaine's arms, down his chest and along his stomach. Blaine can't stop the desperate little whimper that escapes him at Kurt's gentle touch. Kurt pushes his shirt a little further up until Blaine understands what he's trying to do. He sits up for a moment, tugging off his polo before laying back down as Kurt crawls back up his body, knees settling on either side of Blaine's hips. His hands continue to wander, silently exploring Blaine's body, leaving a burning trail in their wake. It's too much, yet just enough.

Blaine's not used to this, having the weight of another man pressed against him. But he loves it. He enjoys this far more than he ever expected. Kurt's so gentle and so perfect.

Suddenly, Kurt is rolling his hips down against Blaine's, drawing a moan from both of them. Kurt nuzzles into Blaine's neck, mouthing right below his ear. Blaine whimpers, pushing his hips up until he can feel Kurt, tight and straining in his jeans and this is probably the hottest thing Blaine has ever experienced. "God, Kurt," Blaine breathes as he pushes his hips up and Kurt meets him half way.

"Come with me," Kurt says, breath hot against his ear.

Blaine whimpers as Kurt rolls his hips down against Blaine's, and they find their rhythm. It's a little uneven and rushed, but they're both so close and so desperate. The alcohol is buzzing through their body and making everything clumsy yet so very perfect.

"I'm close," Blaine chokes out. "Kurt, I'm—" Before he can finish his sentence, he's pushing his hips up, coming in his pants. It should be a turn off and feel completely gross, but Kurt is right there, so close, sucking on his earlobe and moaning as he comes too, mewling and saying Blaine's name like it's some sacred, holy thing.

That's the last thing Blaine can clearly recall from that night before he collapses back into the sheets and falls asleep.