“Who, sweetheart?”

“Kurt, mom. Kurt can’t come home for Thanksgiving. Its too expensive. He’s gonna spend Thanksgiving alone in his dorm. I can’t let him be alone, mom.”

“Honey—”

“Please, mom. I’ll use my own money to pay for it. I’ve been saving my allowance and I have more than enough. And it will only be for a couple of days.”

“What about spending the holiday with your family?”

“You mean listening to grandpa spew homophobic comments at me while you and dad do nothing to defend me? And having to explain to Uncle Henry for the thousandth time why I still don’t have a girlfriend because he refuses to believe that my being gay isn’t a choice is getting really old. I always leave the table before dessert to go cry alone in my room anyway. Don’t give me that look—you know its true. Mom, it’s the same every time, at every family gathering. Let me have a break, please. You don’t have to tell everyone I went to visit my boyfriend. You can say I went to church camp or to visit a girl or just say I went to visit Will, even though I know you don’t like to talk about him. Just let me do this mom. For me.”

Joanne Anderson sighed. She knew her son was right. She loved him more than anything and she hated to see him hurting, but she just didn’t know how to fix it. She had made so many mistakes in her past, she wanted to make everything right again. Maybe Blaine could be her reparation.

“Ok, sweetheart. You can go. But don’t tell your dad. Let me do that.”

“Thanks, mom! Thank you so much!” Blaine launched himself into her arms.

“You’re welcome,” she replied. “Now, when are you leaving?”

“Wednesday, after school. There’s a flight out of Columbus at 5 and Wes said he would take me. I already talked to Will and he said he would pick me up when I get there.”

“Oh, you talked to Will? How is he?”

“He’s good, mom. He… he misses you, us.”

Blaine was 10 when Will, 8 years his senior, moved out. It hadn’t been a happy occasion, there was lots of yelling and doors slamming and mom crying and Blaine hadn’t known why. It wasn’t until Blaine was 16 that Will finally explained everything to him. Will always stayed in contact with Blaine, but he hadn’t spoken to his parents since the day he left. It was their father’s expectations and his refusal to accept Will’s plans and dreams and girlfriend that had Will catching the next flight to New York. James Anderson had plans for Will, just as his father had for him and his father before that, going back to generations that made Blaine dizzy just thinking about. When Will refused the Anderson legacy, to James that was a capital offense. So Will left, and Joanne didn’t stop him.

But by the time Blaine was old enough for James’ plans to affect him, James didn’t even try. Maybe it was because Blaine had come out to them, or maybe it was because he could see how much it hurt Joanne to have lost a son. James was tired. He didn’t want to fight with anyone anymore. He didn’t like that Blaine was gay. Most of the time, he tried to pretend he wasn’t. He accepted defeat, that, in the eyes of his father and older brothers, he had failed at raising his sons according to Anderson family standards. But he really did love Joanne, Blaine, and Will.

Which is why he didn’t fuss when Joanne came to him with Blaine’s Thanksgiving plans, and why, before Blaine left, he pressed a hundred dollar bill in his hand with a stiff nod goodbye. He was trying.

Will was waiting for Blaine when the plane finally landed at JFK. As they drove to Kurt’s dorm, Will convinced him to bring Kurt over for Thanksgiving at his and his wife’s apartment the next day. And Blaine filled Will in on how he was going to surprise Kurt—with a song, of course! They pulled up in front of the dorm building and Will leaned over and hugged Blaine.

“Good luck, little brother. Its really good to see you again. I’ve really missed you.”

“Thanks, Will. I’ve missed you, too. See you tomorrow!”

Once inside the quiet building, Blaine took the elevator to the 10th floor. Every ding made his heart beat faster. He slowly walked down the hall, stopping in front of Kurt’s door. The blaring television and Kurt’s high-pitched giggle hit Blaine’s ears. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Coming!” Kurt called as he shuffled to the door, flinging it wide open. His jaw dropped and his heart skipped a beat when he saw who was standing on the other side. “Blaine,” he breathed. Blaine grinned and began his song:

There's too many things that I haven't done yet
Too many sunsets
I haven't seen
You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down
You would've thought by now
I'd have learned something

I made up my mind when I was a young boy
I've been given this one world
I won't worry it away
But now and again I lose sight of the good life
I get stuck in a low light
But then Love comes in

How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
But send me the miles and I'll be happy to follow you Love

I do what I can wherever I end up
To keep giving my good love
And spreading it around
Cause I've had my fair share of take care and goodbyes
I've learned how to cry
And I'm better for that

Sing how far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Send me the miles and I'll be happy to
Follow you Love

Red letter day and I'm in a blue mood
Wishing that blue would just carry me away
I've been talking to God don't know
If it's helping or not
But surely something has got to got to got to give
Cause I can't keep waiting to live

How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
Oh send me the miles and I'll be happy to
Follow you Love

There's too many things I haven't done yet
Too many sunsets I haven't seen

When he finished, Kurt’s eyes were filled with tears and a huge smile graced his face. He reached for Blaine’s hand and pulled him into the room.

“Can I kiss you know?”

“Please.”