When Kurt finally made his way back downstairs, Blaine was seated on the couch, his hands twisted together in his lap. He looked up as he heard Kurt's footsteps on the main floor. "Better?" Kurt asked, standing a little taller than usual.

Blaine nodded. "Yes. Much, much better." He rose from the couch, walking over to Kurt to kiss him quickly. Just as their lips were about to touch, Carole walked into the room.

"Kurt, Blaine, are you re-Oh." Carole raised a hand to her mouth to hide a smile as the boys jumped apart. "Oh no you don't," Carole said, shaking a finger at Blaine, who continued to move away from Kurt. "Don't you dare leave my son standing there waiting for you to kiss him."

Kurt flushed scarlet and turned to stare at Carole, his expression absolutely mortified. Blaine bit his lip to keep from smiling too widely and moved back to Kurt, placing a hand on his shoulder. Kurt turned his face to Blaine's slowly, his eyes still on Carole. Blaine rested his other hand on Kurt's cheek, forcing him to focus on Blaine.

Blaine smirked, his eyes twinkling merrily as he leaned forward to press his lips to Kurt's briefly. He pulled away a moment later, and Kurt found himself leaning forward without even thinking about the action. He jerked himself upright, and Blaine reached up to tug on his ears, leaning forward to whisper, "Relax a little. You're blushing so hard even your ears have turned red!"

Kurt rolled his eyes, tugging Blaine's hands away from his face. He turned to Carole.

"Shall we go, then?" he asked, trying to sound composed and willing the heat in his cheeks to go away.

"I'm ready if you boys are," she replied. "Kurt, are you riding with Blaine?"

Kurt glanced at Blaine. Upon seeing his hopeful expression, Kurt said, "Yes. I do believe I am."

The boys were quiet as they rode to Blaine's house. Neither felt the need to fill the silence with chatter, and, surprisingly, neither wanted to listen to music, either.

About an hour after they'd left Kurt's house, they pulled into Blaine's driveway. Carole parked her car next to Blaine's. Kurt unbuckled his seatbelt, looking over at Blaine with concern. Blaine's hands were tight on the steering wheel, the knuckles stark white against the tanned skin of his fingers. Kurt reached over, laying his hand on one of Blaine's. "Let's go inside," he whispered, kissing Blaine's cheek. When Blaine's grip on the steering wheel didn't lessen, Kurt wrapped his hand around Blaine's, gently tugging the fingers away. "Come on," he urged. "Carole and I will be with you the whole time. We'll get through this, just like we've survived everything else." He moved his hand to Blaine's cheek, gently turning his face to Kurt's. "They can't touch us, remember?" he said, a small smile on his lips.

Blaine smiled, then, leaning forward to kiss Kurt's forehead before turning to get out of the car. Kurt opened his door, walking around the front of the car to meet Blaine on the other side. Carole joined them, and Blaine led the way to the front door, his posture stiff and chin held high. Kurt hung back, walking next to Carole instead of Blaine. He honestly had no idea what to do. Kurt turned to Carole, hoping for some guidance.

Carole's gaze was fixed on Blaine, who was standing to the side of his front door, hands in his pockets and eyes downcast. The door opened, revealing a woman slightly shorter than Blaine. She had the same dark, curly hair as Blaine, although hers was longer and curled gently around her face.

"Welcome home, sweetie!" she said, leaning up to kiss each of his cheeks. When she pulled away, Kurt could see she was smiling brightly, but the happiness didn't reach her eyes. As she stepped away from her son, she saw Kurt and Carole standing on the sidewalk. Her smile faded slightly, her expression tightening. "Blaine, honey, why didn't you tell me you were bringing your…friend and his…" She looked at Carole expectantly.

Carole walked forward, one hand extended. "I'm Kurt's mother. Carole Hummel. I mentioned last night that I would see you this morning; I apologize for not being more clear. May we come in for a few minutes?"

Blaine's mother pursed her lips briefly before replying.

"Of course," she replied, stepping further into the house and holding the door open wider. "Please, make yourselves at home."

Kurt could hear the insincerity in the woman's voice and was suddenly struck with the intense longing to be back home, or, at the very least, to go wait in Carole's car and avoid interacting with Blaine's mother at all. The woman's words repeated themselves in his mind. "Your…friend" Has Blaine not told them?

Carole squeezed Kurt's shoulder gently, bringing him back to the present. "Come on, Kurt. Let's go inside."

Kurt nodded, following Carole into the house. Blaine was still standing in the entryway, but Kurt didn't meet his gaze.

"Hey."

Kurt stopped moving but kept his gaze fixed on the ground. A gentle hand rested on his cheek. "Kurt, look at me, please?"

Kurt raised his head slowly, turning so he was facing Blaine and hoping the hurt didn't show in his eyes.

Blaine sighed. "They know, Kurt," he said. "They know how much I care about you; they know you're my boyfriend but they just…"

Kurt smiled sadly. "If they ignore it, then maybe I'll go away?"

"Something like that," Blaine replied, his shoulders slumping slightly.

Kurt kissed the tip of Blaine's nose. "As long as they've been told the truth." He reached for Blaine's hand.

"Come on. We have some talking to do."

The boys joined Carole and Blaine's parents in the living room. Carole was seated in the center of the couch, and Blaine took the space to her left, leaving Kurt to sit at her right. While the boys would have been more comfortable next to each other, sitting apart was more prudent, and Kurt made a mental note to thank Carole later.

An uncomfortable silence reigned for a few moments. Blaine's mother broke it by saying, "Would any of you like something to drink?"

"No," Carole replied, glancing at the boys as she spoke. "We really don't plan to stay long, so that won't be necessary."

"Alright, then. Mrs. Hummel-"

"Carole," she offered.

For the first time, Mrs. Anderson's eyes softened slightly. "Carole, I'm a bit…confused. What's brought you here this morning?"

Carole clasped her hands in her lap as she considered what she was about to say. Kurt leaned into her slightly, as if sensing her nervousness.

"I wanted to know why you were so vehemently opposed to Blaine staying with us last night," she said.

Mrs. Anderson's spine stiffened as she jerked upright. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by her husband as he began to speak.

"Because your son is a terrible influence to mine, Mrs. Hummel. Ever since Blaine met Kurt he's become more and more…different." Mr. Anderson's tone clearly indicated that he'd wanted to use another word but had refrained from doing so.

Carole felt her jaw drop open, and both Kurt and Blaine went rigid, their eyes downcast.

"A terrible…how can you possibly…" She blinked a few times, trying to gather her thoughts. "Have you even met my son before we showed up today?" she demanded.

"No," Mr. Anderson replied. "But now that he's here, it's plain to me that everything I've assumed is entirely accurate."

"And, what, exactly, have you assumed, Mr. Anderson?" Carole asked, her tone icy.

"It's your son's fault that mine is still gay."