“What is so funny about Beiber?” Sam asked, obviously defensive of his choice in music.

“His songs are just throw-away pop numbers without deeper resonance or meaning. They are not songs that will last the ages.” Kurt said with disdain lacing his voice.

“Plus, he sucks.” Finn added, trying desperately to help.

“But it doesn’t matter because the chicks dig him for some reason.” Puck asserted. They were supposed to think of an Anthem for regionals, and for some reason most of the boys thought Beiber was the answer. Kurt left them to their delusions and went to search his iPod for ideas. To make things awkward though Coach Sylvester was joining the glee club. While Kurt thought she might have a soft spot for him, he knew no good could come out of her involvement with Glee. After all wasn’t it their fault she lost her shot at nationals this year.

In Warblers practice Blaine was listening intently to the plan for Parent Appreciation Night. He was relieved that his own parents would be gone, having left that morning for a business trip to London for two weeks. This meant not only two weeks to see Kurt whenever he wanted, but it also meant two weeks relief from his father’s icy stare. Blaine’s mother had tried to keep the peace by speaking of neutral subjects, never defending Blaine. In fact, Blaine himself wasn’t sure what his mother thought about his being gay.

“Now at the end of the number,” Wes was explaining, “We will all present a rose to each of our parents.”

Blaine raised his hand, “but my parents won’t be there,” he said matter-of-factly. Wes nodded in understanding, pretty much all the Warblers knew Blaine’s parents traveled a lot.

“I suppose if you can’t find someone to bring, we can have you remain onstage since you are singing lead.” Wes noted.
Blaine hung his head, hating that his parents cared so little.
That night Blaine was meeting Kurt at his house for a celebratory dinner and movie night, in honor of his reinstated freedom. He pulled into the Hummel driveway at about six that evening. Blaine was relieved being back at this house, it was so warm and inviting. Having rung the doorbell, Blaine waited on the stoop. Soon Mr. Hummel opened the door with a smile.

“Blaine, it’s good to see you” He said motioning for him to enter. “We missed you for our Friday night dinner. You really shouldn’t stay away so long.” Burt was smiling at him, it was a natural smile, nothing forced, nothing fake. It was the look Blaine wanted so much to receive from his own father, but knew deep down he would never see.”

“I missed coming out too. Is Kurt here?” he asked.

“He’s in the kitchen, I should warn you though, he usually doesn’t like to be distracted when he is cooking.”

Blaine left Mr. Hummel to go back to watching the news and headed into the kitchen. He found Kurt listening to music, dancing around the kitchen cooking. After a spectacular spin, Kurt’s eyes fell on his boyfriend.

“Blaine!” Kurt exclaimed, “I didn’t know you were here!” Blush crept up Kurt’s face.

“I rang the bell, your father answered.” He said simply, he had adored watching Kurt dance around the kitchen not knowing he was being watched. His carefree grace and playful spirit, made Blaine’s heart speed up.

“I didn’t hear it.”

Blaine approached Kurt sliding his arms around his waist. “What are you making?”

Wrapping his arms around Blaine’s neck, he replied, “Chicken and vegetable teriyaki over brown rice. I made coconut ice cream last night for dessert.”

After a kiss Blaine pulled back, “Sound delicious, you are amazing.” Blaine beamed at his boyfriend but then was surprised to be pushed back by the same boy and then wacked by the wooden spoon in his hand.

“I am trying to cook, do you want the meal to be ruined.” Kurt scolded.

“I told you he didn’t like to be distracted, he’s just like his mother that way.” A chuckle came from behind the two boys. Mr. Hummel stood in the doorway. He then move to the fridge for a beer.

“Dad, shouldn’t you wait for dinner for your beer?” Kurt turned his scolding face to his father.

“I don’t think it will go well with the food you are making.” Burt laughed then walked out the door his beer in hand.

“Can I sit and watch you cook at least?” Blaine asked.

“Of course, so how was school today?”

“It was alright, Friday we are having a Parent appreciation night we are rehearsing for that.”

“That sounds like a great idea.” Kurt comment while stirring the meal.

“But my parent’s won’t be there, not that I really mind, I’m not too appreciative of them right now.” Kurt gave Blaine a sad smile. After a moment of Blaine watching Kurt cook, he asked in a small voice, “Hey, Kurt? Do you think your dad and Carole would come, you know in place of my parents?”

“Why Blaine?” Kurt asked, honestly confused by the request.

“The Warbler’s are honoring their parents with song… I just want someone there who accepts me for who I am. Your dad and Carole have always done that. I know it may seem a little soon, and maybe a little strange. But I like your dad, he’s the kind of dad I always wanted to have. Would it be okay if I asked them? You could come too of course.”

Kurt smiled at Blaine, “I understand, and of course you can ask them.”

The table set and the four of them (Finn was at Rachel’s) sat around the table, they talked about their days. About halfway through the meal Blaine took a deep breath and asked, “Mr. and Mrs. Hummel”

“Please, Blaine it’s Burt and Carole.” Mr. Hummel spoke.
“Burt, Carole. Friday we are having a Parent Appreciation night at Dalton, and I was wondering if you would come.” He said all in one breath.

“But honey, why, won’t your parents be there?” Carole asked giving him a confused look.

Blaine shook his head and spoke to the table, “No, they are out of town again.”

“Blaine, is everything alright?” Burt asked. That simple question, that one sign of concern was all it took for a tear to fall down Blaine’s face.

“No, sir, not really.” Blaine sighed, “God, I’m sorry. It’s just been a rough week, I have been fighting with my dad. He, he’s not like you.”

Burt furrowed his brow and asked. “What do you mean?”

“You like me, accept me for who I am. I know I’m not your son, but you don’t look at me like I’m filthy because… because I’m gay.” Another sigh released before he continued, “I guess I want you there, so I can thank you for showing me what a parent should be like. To thank you for being the parents you are.”

Silence reigned for a minute, with everyone, save Blaine who was still looking at his plate, exchanged glances, silently coming to a decision.

“We would be honored.” Mr. Hummel said, before digging into the rest of his meal.

Dinner finished the four adjourned to the living room enjoying Kurt’s homemade ice cream. Their talk was light and friendly. As Kurt took the bowls to the kitchen to add them to the dishwasher, Burt turned to Blaine.
“Can we talk straight, man to man?” He asked looking Blaine directly in the eyes.

Blaine briefly thought of making a joke at Burt’s choice of words, but then thought better of it. “Yes, sir” is what he said instead.

“What has been going on with your father?”

Blaine told him everything, Carole and Kurt listened as well as the story unfolded. Even though Kurt knew most of what was going on, he couldn’t keep the tears from leaking from his eyes. In fact the only dry eyes in the room belonged to Mr. Hummel. His eyes grew harder and more focused as Blaine’s story was told.

“Thank you for telling me.” Burt said, his voice rough.
“You know, kid, if you ever need anything, a place to come, we’re here for you. Not just because you’re Kurt’s boyfriend, but cause you’re a good kid. You don’t deserve to be treated like that. I don’t want to speak ill of your father, well actually I do but I won’t. But your father, he doesn’t see what a great kid he’s got, and that is his lose. So you need anything all you have to do is ask. Okay?”

Blaine nodded, “Thank you, sir.”

Shortly after, Blaine left for the night, on his two hour drive to his thankfully empty house.

Kurt was surprised by the performances in Glee that week. So far no one had sung anything close to an anthem. Between the boys and their Beiber and the diva off Kurt thought the other kids either didn’t care about the assignment or didn’t get it. After much searching, even asking Blaine for help, Kurt thought he found a pretty good song. At least he knew it was better than what his classmates had done.

Friday, Kurt was ready to present it to the Glee Club. “I think I have found a great song. It is about finding strength when you don’t think you have any.” He presented.

She never slows down.
She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like its all coming down
She won't turn around
The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won't make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down
She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found
You stand in the rain

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
Stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it's all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won't drown
And one day, whats lost can be found
You stand in the rain

Kurt felt pretty good about the assignment that week.
Blaine was anxiously waiting backstage for the ceremony to begin. Kurt had just texted him, letting him know he and his family were there. It made him feel better knowing someone was there to watch him, someone was there for him to thank.

The dean presented the group onstage. As the Warblers walked out Blaine headed to the microphone to say his introduction. “Welcome, parents. My name is Blaine Anderson, and on behalf of my fellow Warblers and the rest of Dalton Academy, I would like to welcome you today. As parents, you have shaped us and molded us into the gentlemen you see before you. Through you we have learned compassion, strength, integrity. You have taught us honesty and to work hard for the things that we want.
You are the ones that have shown us what is important in life. We would like to present to you a song that speaks of this.”

He fell back into the group as they began to sing.
You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die

Blaine looked out into the crowd and his heart nearly stopped, he willed himself to continue singing. There standing at the back of the ballroom stood his parents. His father looking sternly at him.
(Counter Melody To Above Verse)
Can you hear and do you care and
Cant you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

As the last lines of the song were sung, Blaine made his way through the ballroom. It didn’t take any contemplation on his part who he was going to present his rose to. He wound his way over to the table were Burt Hummel sat with his wife and beautiful son. Blaine smiled at Mr. Hummel as he handed him the single red rose. The song over Blaine looked him in the eye and said, “Thank you for everything.”

The dean then announced refreshments at the back of the room, causing the ballroom to erupt in music. Mr. Hummel surprised Blaine by pulling him into a bear hug. In the embrace Burt almost growled in his ear, “I have told Kurt this and I want to tell you to, you matter. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”

Blaine pulled back to thank him again when he saw his father striding towards him. As Mr. Anderson neared the group he spat out, “What is the meaning of this?”
Mr. Hummel not a man to be pushed around, but also not wanting to make a scene calmly said, “Why don’t we go someplace private to discuss this.”

Seeming to realize the scene he was about to cause, Mr. Anderson stalked out of the ballroom, the rest of the group followed. He led the group outside, then rounded on Blaine.

“Why were you giving a rose to this man? I saw the other boys handing them to their parents. I know you saw your mother and I! Are you trying to embarrass me further.” Mr. Anderson yelled.

“You were supposed to be in London for two weeks. How was I supposed to know you would be here?” Blaine yelled back.

“Your mother convinced me that you would want us there, I guess I was mistaken.” His voice had become cold.
“Now wait a minute, Mr. Anderson…” Burt began only to be cut off by Blaine’s father.

“And just who do you think you are?”

Everyone could see the fire erupt in Burt’s eyes, “I’m Burt Hummel. And I think you and I need to have a little talk.”

“Oh really, and what do you think you and I need to discuss?” Mr. Anderson spat.

“Blaine here asked me to come to this… thing tonight. I was curious to why he would want me to come, a man he has only known for a couple of months, when he could’ve had his father here. Now we have had a talk about the way you have been treating your son.”Mr. Anderson tried to speak but Burt talked over him. “Now I understand, sometimes it is hard for people of our generation to come to terms with what it means to have a son who is gay. I know what it is like to realize that your son is different from other boys. You know it took me a while to understand what that meant. It didn’t mean that my son was abnormal or a freak. I watched my boy grow up, it wasn’t his choice, it was just the way he is. Now I don’t think I know everything there is about raising a son who is gay. But I think I have done a pretty good job of coming to terms with everything. You on the other hand, you have a lot of growing to do a lot of changes that need to be made.”

Now Mr. Anderson couldn’t be quieted any longer. “Oh really, and what makes you think it is your place to tell me what to do in my family.”

“I think about the time your son sat on my couch crying about the way his father treats him, how his father talks to him, looks down on him. For what, cause he likes boys? Cause he is dating my son? That is when it became my problem.” Burt’s voice was growing, his face was getting redder by the minute.

“Dad please, your heart…” Kurt mumbled touching his father’s arms.

Mr. Anderson looked down at Kurt, at his smooth beautiful features, his porcelain skin and clear blue eyes. “So this is the fag who is trying to turn my son gay?” he growled.

“What did you call him?” Burt and Blaine yelled at the same time.

“You heard me, his just a little faggot, who is trying to corrupt you.”

Before anyone could speak a fist was hurtling through the air colliding with Mr. Anderson’s face. Everyone stared for a moment looking at him clutching his broken nose, while Blaine held an aching hand.

“You can say whatever you want about me dad, that’s fine. But don’t talk about him that way!” Blaine panted.

“You broke my nose!” Mr. Anderson yelled.

“And it is no more than you deserved.” A soft voice sounded through the group. Mrs. Anderson approached her son examining his hand. “I have stood by and watch you treat our son like filth the last week. I have told you repeatedly that you need to accept this. You kept telling me that we needed to stand together, parent together, not contradict each other. Well now I think that it is your turn to follow. Ben, I will not stand by any longer while you torture our son.”

“And what if I don’t agree.” Ben whispered.

“Then you will leave. Remember I have majority ownership in the company, you will lose everything.” Mrs. Anderson told her husband firmly. “Now, why don’t you go to the hospital and see about that nose. I am sure Blaine can drive me home, we have a lot to talk about. I have a lot to apologize for.”

After Mr. Anderson crept off, his wife turned to the Hummels. “I am so sorry for my husband. But more so, I am sorry for myself. I am as much to blame for this as he is. It took me a while to come to terms with Blaine being gay. I had so many dreams for him. But I realized that those dreams didn’t have to die, the pictures were just different. But I never stood up to Ben, at least not when it mattered.”

Blaine almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His mother did accept him, or said she did, but he had a few questions. “But then why try and set me up with those girls?” He asked.

“Honey, I introduced you, like your father asked. I knew that you had no interest, so I didn’t really see the harm.”

Blaine took a moment. “Mom, I would like you to meet, my boyfriend Kurt Hummel and his parents Burt and Carole.”

It maybe wasn’t the best first meeting, but Blaine felt like it was a pretty good new beginning.