Dinner had been served and the leftovers were in the refrigerator. The extended family, both from the Hummel and Hudson/Carpenter sides, had retreated to their homes. The presents underneath the tree had disappeared, save for the one to be given when the recipient would be over the next afternoon. Carole had commandeered Burt’s recliner to rest her feet after a long day in the kitchen. Burt and Finn were settled on the couch watching football. Kurt stood in the entryway to the kitchen, watching his family enjoy the final few hours of the holiday. All in all, Christmas had been enjoyable for everyone. Everyone received presents they loved and were proud of what they found for the others. He was slightly disappointed he couldn’t spend time with Blaine, but understood that he needed to spend time with his own family. They were going to spend the following day together anyway.

After he finished cleaning up from the dinner, Kurt decided he would try to watch some of the game. During some of the pre- and postgame shows his father, stepbrother, and boyfriend enjoyed every Sunday, he had caught a glimpse of Aaron Rodgers and was hooked. Blaine laughed when Kurt told him about his crush and said he should Google pictures of Tom Brady from early in his career or Reggie Bush’s abs. But since the Packers were playing, Kurt decided watching the best-looking and best-playing quarterback in the league would be an interesting enough plan for the evening.

Chicago was driving down the field when the doorbell rang. Burt and Carole gave each other a wondering look as to who would be returning so late before she got up to answer. After the next play, she came back into the living room. “Kurt, you should come here,” she said.

Worried, Kurt got up and walked to the entryway, where a trembling Blaine stood with his duffel bag. Kurt ran over and hugged him tightly. “Honey, what’s wrong? I thought you were spending the evening at your grandparents’ house?”

“I was, but I couldn’t be around any of them anymore,” Blaine choked out before burying himself further into Kurt’s shoulder.

Kurt was shocked to see Blaine, the person who touted about having courage the first day they met, so broken. He moved over to Blaine’s right side while Carole supported his left, and they walked upstairs to Kurt’s bedroom. Carole deposited the bag on the floor. “I’ll give you two some time alone and let your father know what’s going on,” she said before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

Once he heard the click of the door, Blaine collapsed onto the bed, the tears fully flowing. Kurt laid down on his side, facing Blaine, and placed his arm around his waist to pull him closer. They remained in their positions for five minutes until Blaine was finally ready to talk.

“Have you ever been so hurt by the people who should love you unconditionally that you can’t take it any longer?” Blaine asked.

“No, not really,” Kurt said. “What happened?”

“My grandmother asked if I had found someone yet. So of course I began talking about you, and she laughed and asked if I was joking.”

Kurt was, unfortunately, used to the hesitance of Blaine’s parents to accept their relationship, so the fact his extended family didn’t approve as well wasn’t surprising. “What happened after that?” he asked.

Blaine shook his head. “I explained that I haven’t been joking for the last nine months, and Uncle Ted started going off on how me going to Dalton should have cured me of my sins, but instead supported them and I should have been taken out long before and ‘taught my lesson again’.”

“He’s the one who’s a minister, correct?” Kurt questioned, sighing at Blaine’s confirmation. “How nice that his job promotes respecting all when he can’t even do that to his own nephew. Did anyone stick up for you?”

“My mom tried to, but it was too late. I couldn’t be around Grandma or Uncle Ted any longer and left before dessert was even served. And I couldn’t spend the night at my house because I know Dad would berate me for causing a commotion during dinner and that I need to hide my choices better. Right, MY choice on whom I fall in love with. It’s already bad enough it took me as long as it did,” Blaine finished off with a chuckle.

Kurt reached up to run his fingers through Blaine’s gelled down locks. “I know, baby. You were so blinded by assistant retail managers and diva extraordinaires,” he joked, earning a smile from the other boy. “If you’re hungry, I can get you some of the Christmas dessert I made. This way I can let Dad and Carole know what’s going on. I don’t think they’d refuse to let you stay here tonight, even if it wasn’t Christmas.”

Blaine raised his head from the pillow. “The one you said your mom used to make?” he asked. Kurt nodded. “Sure, I’ll have a little bit, and some cookies.”

With a kiss to Blaine’s forehead, Kurt got up and headed downstairs. As he anticipated, Burt and Carole were stunned to hear about Blaine’s dinner and easily agreed that he could spend the night on the promise that they kept their hands to themselves. Kurt agreed, figuring the last thing Blaine wanted was sex since he really hadn’t spent the night at the house since Rachel’s party. He went into the kitchen, got the bowl of his traditional Christmas dessert out of the refrigerator to make a small bowl up for Blaine, then grabbed four chocolate chip cookies. On his way back upstairs, he picked up the remaining present under the tree as a pick-me-up.

“Room service!” he said as he entered his bedroom. Blaine smiled and sat up, preparing to grab the bowl from Kurt before he saw the silver box in the other hand. “I also come bearing a little extra something Santa seemed to have left here last night,” Kurt continued.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Blaine said. “We agreed tomorrow, it’s our day.”

“I know, honey, but this is our first Christmas together and, well, we ended up together anyway, so why not?”

“Did they say yes?” Kurt nodded. “Awesome. I was afraid your dad would never forgive me for what happened after the party last year.”

“It took a while, but since he knows now that nothing happened between us then, we can be trusted as long as we aren’t getting it on.”

Blaine nearly spit out the bite of cookie he had just taken. “I didn’t even plan on that, Kurt! Not with both of your parents and Finn around!”

“I know, honey,” Kurt said. “I wasn’t expecting you to be in the mood anyway.”

They sat in silence again while Blaine ate. Kurt gave in to his temptations and took a cookie, figuring if there was one day to splurge on his diet, today was it. Once he finished, Blaine set the bowl on the nightstand and grabbed the controller to Kurt’s television to turn the football game on. “You’re giving up your boy Aaron for me, what’s wrong?” he ribbed.

“I’m sorry, but Aaron doesn’t have such adorable lips I can attack in person,” Kurt said, leaning in for a kiss. Once they parted, they watched more of the game. When the half ended, he grabbed the box he brought upstairs. “Are you ready to open this now?”

Blaine nodded and got up from the bed. “It’s a good thing I picked yours up when I was home getting my things.” He opened up his bag, took out his pajamas so he could change into them eventually, and revealed a smaller box wrapped in red and gold. He handed it to Kurt. “I don’t want you to think it’s anything more than what I mean it to be, but here.”

Kurt started to worry. He held the tiny parcel in his hand, studying it. Only one certain item could come in a box that small. Carefully, he began removing the wrapping paper, trying not to rip it. When he made it to the box, he opened it up to find a white gold ring embedded with blue sapphires on top. Kurt was stunned. He had never received anything as beautiful as this ring. “Blaine, I…I don’t know what to say…”

“You don’t need to. I don’t want you to think it’s an engagement ring…I mean, not that I don’t want to marry you, because I do…but we’re still in high school. I want to be thinking about college and the new experiences, not weddings. Not yet,” Blaine said. “It can be a promise ring if you want, but it’s up to you. Just know that I love you so much and I bought it to remind you of that every time you wear it. And there’s a second message inside, as well.”

“Blaine, honey, you’re right. We don’t need to be planning our wedding just now. In five years, probably, but…yes. Yes, I promise that one day we will walk down the aisle to each other,” Kurt replied, starting to tear up. He lifted the ring out of the box to look at the engraving. Inside was a line to the song they sang together all the time: you are perfect to me.

“Before you complain, I picked it out before we sang it to Santana. I know you don’t want to think of her when you wear it.”

Kurt laughed. “I wouldn’t anyway, unless I’m showing it off to make her jealous. Thank you so much, Blaine,” he said as he placed the ring on his right hand. The jewels caught the light perfectly on his finger.

While Kurt admired his ring, Blaine attacked his present like a five year old. Paper and ribbon went flying everywhere. Inside his box was a sweater he had his eye on since September. “Oh my god, Kurt! You didn’t have to buy this for me!”

“When would I ever not contribute to your very particular sense of fashion?” Kurt smirked. “And don’t even say it’s because of the price. I’m going to assume that it still costs less than the ring.”

Blaine chuckled. “Right, right. Thank you, though. I thought about getting it tomorrow with the money my grandparents gave me, but now I’ll just spend it on the boy I love and they can’t do anything about it.”

“And you can show it off just as well as I show off my jewelry,” Kurt added.

“That too,” Blaine said as he hugged Kurt. He lowered his voice, “I really mean it, Kurt. Thank you for saving my holiday. Do you mind if I take a shower now before we go to sleep?”

Kurt shook his head. “Not at all.” He kissed Blaine once again before breaking the hold. As Blaine was in the shower, he took the dishes downstairs and showed off the ring, neglecting the promise part. He figured if he said anything about it, Burt would flip out. Luckily, everyone loved it. Carole stated that Blaine had excellent taste in jewelry, and if he needed ideas for her birthday, she liked rubies. Kurt laughed at the statement while Burt and Finn exchanged looks that they hadn’t been informed of this. Afterwards, Kurt went back up to his bedroom to change into his pajamas and begin his skincare routine. It wasn’t long before Blaine came back into the room, this time in a black t-shirt and red flannel pants, his hair wild and fluffy from being dried. He walked over to Kurt’s vanity and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

“Great, that’s another five minutes to take care of,” Kurt joked.

“Five more minutes of kissing?” Blaine retorted.

“Maybe afterwards.” He continued while Blaine climbed back into the bed and underneath the covers. By the time Kurt finished up, Blaine had dozed off. He smiled at the peaceful boy. He didn’t understand how Blaine’s own family couldn’t show the love he did every day for him. With one last kiss, Kurt settled into bed to hold the person who had made his year the best ever.