“Tired,” he mumbled into his pillow - His pillow that didn’t smell like Blaine. He fought back a sigh.

“You just got home Kurt, and the rest of us haven’t seen you in days – it’d be nice if you joined us for dinner and told us about your trip.” Burt suggested in a way that Kurt could tell it really wasn’t a suggestion.

“Yeah, okay,” Kurt agreed. “I’ll be down for dinner.”

“It’s good to have you home, Kurt,” Burt said, smiling at him. “We missed you.”

“I missed you guys too.”

Burt turned and headed back downstairs. Kurt could smell dinner cooking and his stomach rumbled. He rubbed at his dry, gritty eyes before pushing the covers back and sliding to the edge of the bed. His flight home had been horrible. Between turbulence and shedding discreet tears over leaving Blaine, he’d been a mess when his father had picked him up at the airport. His dad had pressed him for details in the car ride home after Kurt had sent Blaine a quick text as promised, but he had begged off, claiming he was too tired. When they’d gotten home, Kurt had helped his dad bring in his bags and then he’d fallen into bed and apparently slept the day away.

He groaned at the ache in his muscles, stretching as he stood up. A hot shower and some fresh clothes were definitely in order. The hot water pounded relief into Kurt’s aching muscles as he stood under the spray. He was going to call Blaine when he was dressed and clarify a couple of things – like how he had to tell his dad about their relationship, and get Blaine to pin down a date for when they could see each other again. Maybe they could try to work on a plan to Skype with each other.

Kurt stepped out of the shower and dressed quickly, hearing his family downstairs talking and laughing as they made dinner. He smiled, realizing for the first time that yeah, they really were a family. He styled his hair, and then grabbed his phone from the charger and turned it on.

His phone buzzed immediately after it loaded, indicating he had new text messages. All from Blaine, it seemed. Kurt smiled and opened the first one.

Glad you made it home safe.

When you get a minute, call me.

Kurt, please call me… something’s come up.

Please, please call me.

The last one was from fifteen minutes ago. Kurt dialed the phone with a shaking hand and waited for Blaine to answer. What had changed since he’d left this morning?

Maybe Blaine had changed his mind. Maybe he couldn’t do the long distance thing. Kurt bit his lip. If that was the case, he would wait until he was off the phone to fall apart.

“Kurt, thank God.” Blaine sounded worried.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call right away – I just woke up,” Kurt explained quietly into the phone.

“Are you near your computer?” Blaine asked, ignoring Kurt’s words.

“Uh, yeah,” Kurt replied, surprised. “Why?”

“Just turn it on and check my Twitter feed,” Blaine said before going silent. Heart pounding, Kurt did as asked. He pulled up Twitter as soon as he could, heading for Blaine’s page, and then gasped.

“Oh, no,” Kurt murmured.

“Yeah,” Blaine sounded upset.

“How did that happen?” Kurt wanted to know.

“They weren’t being careful, that’s how,” Blaine replied. “Nick deleted the tweet, but it’s too late, really. It’s out there.”

Kurt swore under his breath and then opened his Tumblr, and cringed. “Oh, crap.”

“What?” Blaine asked, sounding more worried.

“Tumblr got it before it was deleted,” Kurt told him. “And someone exceptionally observant figured out that the part of me you can see in the picture that Nick tweeted matches up pretty well with what you can see of me in that tabloid photo from a few weeks ago.”

Blaine groaned. “This is a mess.”

“Blaine, they still don’t know who I am.”

“Kurt, we can’t keep doing this. Someone’s going to find out,” Blaine was upset, and Kurt wanted nothing more than to hold him.

“It’s my choice to be with you,” Kurt knew he sounded defensive and angry, but he couldn’t help it. He wouldn’t lose Blaine over a silly picture. Not last time, and not now. “I accept that this is how things will be.”

“You shouldn’t have to deal with my baggage,” Blaine lamented. “It’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair, Blaine,” Kurt reminded him. “And I have so much baggage of my own; it could make up a complete luggage set.”

“Kurt, are you sure about this?”

“Yes, Blaine,” Kurt said firmly. “I want us to be together.”

A throat cleared behind him, and Kurt turned around to see his father standing there, arms crossed over his chest.

Kurt gulped. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.” They hung up, and Kurt looked at his dad.

“You wanna fill me in on some details here?” Burt asked.

*
Kurt took a tiny bite of baked chicken, unable to look at his parents. He’d just finished telling them that he and Blaine were together, and the whole mess with the Twitter picture.
Neither one of them had said anything yet.

“Well,” Carole started, and Kurt looked up. “It seems like you boys are being very responsible.”

“I’m not crazy about this,” Burt finally said, when Kurt looked at him. “I don’t like you sneaking around and hiding who you are. And I don’t like you dating a TV star.”

“Dad, you’ve met him,” Kurt pointed out. “He’s a regular guy.”

“Except he’s not, Kurt. He’s famous, and he’s in the media’s eye, and we all know what the Hollywood lifestyle is like.”

“Dad, he’s not like that,” Kurt insisted. “I swear.” His father frowned. “Besides, I’m seventeen. I think I’m a little too old for you to tell me who I can and can’t date.”

Burt was silent for a long moment. Kurt took another bite of chicken, but it felt like sawdust in his mouth. “Please, Dad,” he pleaded once he forced himself to swallow. “Blaine and I have enough against us. I couldn’t bear for you to be against us too.”

“I’m going down on record that I think it’s a bad idea,” Burt conceded. “If he makes one step out of line…”

“We won’t,” Kurt promised. “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

*

“So this is what Skype is like,” Blaine said, smiling at him through the computer screen.

“I wish I was there with you, but this is the next best thing,” Kurt replied. “At least this way I can see your face.”

“Yes, I like that part a lot,” Blaine murmured. “I missed you today. I think I got too used to you being here.”

“Same,” Kurt admitted. “It was weird sleeping in my own bed.” He glanced down at his hands before continuing. “It didn’t smell like you.”

“So… your dad’s okay with us, right?” Blaine finally brought them back on topic. Kurt had called him after dinner and told him what had happened.

“Yeah,” Kurt answered. “Right now they’re giving Finn a huge lecture about not telling anyone.”

“That’s actually really nice of them,” Blaine said. “Tell them I said ‘thanks’.”

“I will,” Kurt agreed. “So a few more days of shooting, and then you’re on hiatus?”

“I can’t wait,” Blaine confirmed. “My mother told me earlier that we might be coming to Ohio for a few days during Christmas.”

“What?” Kurt nearly jumped out of his chair in excitement. “Really?”

“We’re going to see my dad, apparently.” Blaine did not look happy about it. “The best part will be getting to see you.”

“I didn’t think I’d get to see you for Christmas.”

“Me either,” Blaine told him. “But maybe you can meet my mom and your dad will relax once he gets to know me better.”

“Let me know when you finalize your plans,” Kurt requested. “I should get to bed,” he said, though he didn’t want to.

“Okay,” Blaine replied. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.” Kurt stared at the screen for a long moment. “I…” he trailed off, unable to put into words what he was feeling.

“I know,” Blaine whispered. “Me too, Kurt.” Kurt smiled. “Goodnight.”

Kurt disconnected from Skype and started in on his moisturizing routine. Once again, he marveled over how well things were going.

He wondered when the other shoe would drop.