Blaine stopped the SUV next to the sidewalk leading to the front door. Unfortunately, since Blaine grabbed his suitcases, Kurt had no other choice but to walk beside him, longing for the comfort of his hand. They made their way to the door, and Blaine put down his bags just long enough to fish his keys out of his pocket to let them in the front door.

Kurt barely heard Blaine call a greeting to the house in general, as he surveyed the entryway. The decorations were expensive but with a conservative air. Before he could comment, footsteps sounded over the hardwood floor as a woman walked hurriedly toward them her arms raised ready for an embrace. A tall man walked slowly behind her, half a smile in place. She was dressed in a green dress, accenting her hazel eyes, looking like she came straight out of a fifties television show. Her husband, was dressed in a grey suit, seemingly straight from the office.

“Blaine dear, we thought you were coming in yesterday!” the woman exclaimed taking her son into a tight embrace.

“Yeah, sorry about that mom, it was late when we got to Lima, so I just stayed with Kurt and his family.” Blaine said, reaching back to take Kurt’s hand but only finding air, as Kurt was frozen by the door. Blaine walked back, placing his arm behind Kurt’s back, ushering him forward. “Mom, Dad, I would like you to meet, Kurt Hummel, my boyfriend.” Blaine said, his smiling face denying the nerves Kurt know he must have felt.

Recovering a bit, Kurt reached out his hand shaking Mrs. Anderson’s before offering it to her husband. “Please to meet you.” He said, trying to show his confidence.

Both young men stared at Mr. Anderson as he let Kurt’s hand hang in the air. Blaine began to shake his head in defeat, until Kurt spoke, lowering his hand, “I just wanted to meet you, but really I must be heading back to Lima, I promised my father I would be at work bright and early tomorrow. You have a lovely home, and it was nice to meet you.”

Kurt was just turning to leave when Mr. Anderson spoke, “What kind of work does your father do?”

Kurt caught Blaine’s surprised face as he turned back to look at the man who spoke. “He owns and tire and mechanic shop in Lima. I help him out when I can.”

Something brightened in Mr. Anderson’s face, Kurt couldn’t be sure if it was amusement or interest. “And what do you do there, paperwork, inventory?”

“Sometimes,” Kurt replied evenly, “But mostly I do whatever he needs me to oil changes, brake repair, rotate and balance tires, rebuild engines. Really whatever comes up I can handle.” Kurt felt a burn of anger at this man’s assumptions; he bit of a retort about not being a walking stereotype. He also saw his shock at the words.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner, I was just taking a pot roast out of the oven.” Mrs. Anderson asked, either oblivious to the tension or wanting to defuse it.

“I would hate to impose,” Kurt said glancing at Blaine, seeing a smile of pride beaming back at him.

Mrs. Anderson’s laugh tinkled through the air, showing clearly her ease with the situation. “Nonsense, I want to get to know you better. Give me ten minutes to finish up.”

With that the two adults left the room, one clearly happier than the other. Blaine grabbed his bags, telling Kurt to follow him. They walked into Blaine’s room; it was large and bright. The curtains are drawn letting the setting sun illuminate the red walls. Bookshelves filled one whole wall, books of every shape, size, and color jumble each shelf haphazardly. A large bed, dominates another wall covered with a patchwork quilt. Kurt could picture Blaine lounging in this room, lazing on the bed with a book. He turned to him with a smile. “I love your room, it is just so Blaine.”

“And I love you,” Blaine replied with a cheesy grin taking him in his arms. “Thank you for staying.” Blaine’s voice was barely above a whisper, if his head wasn’t resting on Kurt’s shoulder, he might have missed it. “Just promise me that whatever my dad says, you won’t hate me.”

Kurt pulled back so he could look Blaine straight in his eyes, “There is nothing anyone can say to me to make me stop loving you. And I will try my best to win your father over with my stunning personality, but I can’t promise to hold my tongue if he talks down to me. I will try but I can’t promise, I don’t know if you have noticed yet, but I do tend to speak my mind.”

Blaine’s laugh helped to lighten the mood, “And I wouldn’t have you any other way. Come on, you will love my mom’s roast.”

The four gathered around the large dining room table, Mrs. Anderson brought out plates heaped with food. Once she sat she turned her attention to Kurt, who was seated across from Blaine, “So do you go to NYU too?”

Kurt lowered his fork to answer, “Yes, ma’am.”

“How did you meet my son?” Mr. Anderson cut over his wife’s undoubtedly kinder question.

“I am suite mates with two of Blaine’s friend’s, sir. We met when he was visiting Nick and Jeff.” Kurt’s words were crouched in politeness, but he kept his guard up.

Blaine addressed his father, “We started dating in October, though, after I asked him out.”

“That’s lovely dear, what…” Mrs. Anderson began before being cut off again by her husband.

“Ah, so he seduced you then?” He asked.

Kurt furrowed his brow in confusion, “Excuse me? I’m not following.”

Mr. Anderson looked around the table like it should have been clear to all assembled, “Clearly you seduced him, hoodwinked him, because my son is not… gay, not really. He says he is for the attention. One day he will find a nice girl, settle down, and raise a family”

Kurt couldn’t control the anger that burn within him, “I can assure you, that I did NOT seduce your son. He told you himself that he asked ME out, not the other way around. And I can tell you from personal experience, no one wants the kind of attention being gay affords you.” Kurt felt Blaine’s fingers brush across his trembling fingertips where they lay splayed on either side of the plate. He closed his eyes trying to calm himself.

“Dad,” Blaine warned coolly, “I think it’s time that you accepted the fact that I am gay. I am not going to find a nice girl to settle down with, but I have found an amazing man. I want you just to give him a chance.”

Mr. Anderson did not say another word, but focused rather on the food in front of him. Kurt met Blaine’s eyes, silently pleading with him to tell him what to do. Blaine gave Kurt a sad smile, before picking up his fork to begin eating again.

Silence covered the room as the four began eating. A few minutes later, Mrs. Anderson tried to speak again. “What are you studying at NYU, Kurt?”

Kurt looked at her and saw a true smile gracing her face, so he answered kindly, “I am a double major in Musical Theatre and Fashion.” They all heard Mr. Anderson’s huff but ignored it.

She asked a few more questions about school and New York, directed to both the boys. The more they talked, the more relaxed Kurt became. Mrs. Anderson did seem like a sweet woman who truly cared for her son, and wanted to accept whomever he chose to love.

“What is your favorite thing about New York, Kurt?” She asked before placing another carrot delicately in her mouth.

Without thinking Kurt answered, “The acceptance really, I don’t have to be afraid to be who I am, people just don’t care that I am gay. It was the best change from Ohio.”

“How so?” she asked clearly interested. No one noticed the glares that Mr. Anderson was shooting them, too caught up in their conversation.

“It just isn’t an issue there, at my old school… I had it rough, but I have not once had problem with anyone because I was gay.” Kurt said simply.

Blaine added, “It really is a different place. Here, if Kurt and I were holding hands, who knows what might happen, but in New York, people don’t even give us a second look. It’s nice.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t go back to New York then.” Mr. Anderson mumbled.

“What?” Blaine shot at his father.

“Maybe if you were here, you would see that, this being gay, is not what you want. Maybe this acceptance there is why you haven’t given up on the idea of being gay.” He stated matter-of-factly.

“I’m sorry dad, but that makes no sense.”

Mr. Anderson rolled his eyes, like his son was being dense. “It’s just because it is a valid option there.”

“Mr. Anderson, if I may? If that were true then wouldn’t Blaine have turned straight after he was beaten for taking a guy to a dance? If that were true wouldn’t I have just dated girls instead of being run out of my school?” Kurt could feel his anger and frustration rising again.

“Not necessarily, Blaine was young when that happened; he couldn’t really know what he felt. I always thought, that if we talked to Blaine, told him that he wasn’t really gay, maybe he would understand that, but his mother never let…”

Kurt cut him off again, “I should hope not.” He lowered his voice, taking all the anger out of it before continuing, looking straight at Mr. Anderson. “I know that it wasn’t easy for my father to accept that I am gay, but he made one thing very clear to me… He told me that it wasn’t my job to make the situation right, it was his job to be okay with it no matter what it took.”

Mrs. Anderson smiled drawing all eyes to her as she spoke, “That is a very lovely sentiment, and I completely agree with it.”

Blaine, who had been watching the exchange between his father and boyfriend anxiously, broke his silence. “Dad, I know that this is not easy for you. But I am tired of acting like there isn’t a problem here, between us. I just… I’m your son, it shouldn’t matter if I am gay or not. You should love me anyway.”

Mr. Anderson’s livid face broke hearing his son’s quiet voice. “Blaine, I never said I didn’t love you. I do, but…”

“With love there should be no buts. Either you love all of me, or you don’t.” Blaine told him quietly.

Kurt stood slowly, drawing all the Andersons’ eyes to him, “I should probably go, I think this is a conversation best had without me here. It was a lovely meal, Mrs. Anderson, I am sorry that my temper may have made it awkward.”

Blaine stood as well, “Kurt, don’t go.”

Kurt gave him a smile, “I should go, you three need to talk without my big mouth interfering.”

“I think you may be right,” Mrs. Anderson said before catching herself, “I mean about the talk, not about you interfering. Please come back and see us anytime Kurt, it was lovely to meet you.”

Kurt gave her a kind smile, “It was nice to meet you too Mrs. Anderson.”

“Please call me Beverly.” She said with a smile.

“Beverly.” Kurt then faced Mr. Anderson again. “Mr. Anderson.” He said with a nod.
“Tim, you can call me Tim.” He said quietly, but not averting his eyes.

Blaine walked Kurt out to his car. Once they reached it, Kurt turned to him. “I’m sorry I ruined dinner. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Blaine said, snaking his arms around Kurt’s waist and pulling him closer. “Thank you for standing up for me, for getting me here with him. I will call you later; let you know how everything goes.”

Kurt closed the distance, kissing Blaine, trying to pour all of his love into that one brief meeting of lips. “I love you. I hope everything goes okay. You deserve to have your family accept you completely.”

Blaine returned the kiss with just as much fervor, “I love you too, text me so I know you made it home safe.”

A few kisses late, Kurt was in his Navigator making his way back to Lima. His thoughts wholly on his boyfriend, hoping he hadn’t done too much damage to his already fragile relationship with his father. Only time would tell.