THEY’RE SPENDING THANKSGIVING TOGETHER.

Adorable.

*

Blaine was dreading his and his mother’s arrival at his father’s house. The lines on the road passed by faster than he would have liked; the distance between Columbus International Airport and his father’s home in Westerville disappearing under the car wheels in a blur.

He pulled up in front of a modest house in a well-to-do neighborhood (nothing but the best for the Anderson family), taking in the brick structure with white trim. He sighed, his fingers still wrapped tightly around the steering wheel after he put the car in park.

“We do have to go in at some point, sweetie,” his mother said. She’d sensed his need for silence once they’d landed and rented a car and Blaine was grateful once again that she understood him so well.

How he ended up with a mother like her and a father like his, Blaine had no idea. He just counted himself lucky that his mother was always on his side, no matter if it pissed off her husband or not.

“Let’s just… get this over with. Kurt’s expecting us around five for dessert,” Blaine muttered. Grace nodded.

“You know he’ll be upset we didn’t fly in last night,” she murmured.

“He probably didn’t realize we weren’t here until this morning. Did he even come home from the office last night?” Blaine replied. Grace hugged him to her as he popped the trunk and pulled out their carry-on luggage. Everything else was staying in the trunk for their arrival at the Holiday Inn in Lima later that afternoon. There was no way in Hell Blaine was staying one more moment in his father’s house than he had to.

He followed his mother up the front walk, waiting as she knocked lightly on the door. The housekeeper, Mary, let them in. She was working just long enough that day to serve them dinner, and then she would be off to enjoy the holiday with her family.

Grace greeted her with a smile as she took their coats and bags. Once she had set them in the closet, Blaine pulled her into a quick hug and slipped an envelope into her hands. “Go shopping tomorrow and get the grandkids some good stuff,” he murmured. He loved Mary, having seen more of her than his parents growing up. She smiled, her eyes bright. Blaine was glad he could do this for her. She deserved it.

“I couldn’t possibly take this, young man.”

“Uh uh,” Blaine shook his head, feeling five years old again. “No give backs.” Mary chuckled and swatted him on the head with the envelope.

“You’ve grown up so well,” she told him. “You stay out of trouble, you hear me?” Blaine nodded. “No more pictures of you kissing boys on TV unless it’s the drop dead gorgeous one you took to the Emmys.”

“Got it,” Blaine nodded, smiling back at her.

The sound of a throat clearing behind them got their attention, and Blaine turned to see his father standing in the hallway, looking at them. Carl Anderson wore a stern expression, something Blaine couldn’t read. He approached his mother stiffly, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

“Grace,” he greeted quietly. She murmured his name back. “I trust your flight was satisfactory.”

“The perks of flying first class,” Grace replied, nodding.

“Blaine.” Carl turned to him. Blaine tightened his jaw and nodded hello.

“Father,” he said, after a nudge from his mother.

“How is dinner coming along, Mary?” Carl asked. Mary tucked the envelope in her apron pocket and turned to his father.

“About another fifteen minutes, Mr. Anderson,” she answered. “If you would like to be seated in the dining room, I can bring out a tray of appetizers.”

“That would be wonderful, Mary, thank you,” Carl replied. She disappeared passed him, into the back of the house where the kitchen was.

The three of them stood awkwardly until his father made an ‘after you’ gesture at his mother, and they headed into the dining room. Carl held the chair for Grace while Blaine watched, waiting until she was seated at the large table before sitting himself.

There was silence as they all poured various drinks from the options on the table, waiting until Mary had produced the tray of appetizers as promised before anyone spoke.

“How are things in LA?” Carl asked and Blaine braced himself. It started the same way every year.

“Fine, thank you,” Grace told him. “How is work?”

“Good, good,” Carl replied. “I think we’re going to acquire another partner.”

“Sounds wonderful,” she smiled lightly. “Maybe it will be able to lighten your workload a little.” Blaine watched his father’s face, seeing a fleeting frown before a tight smile took its place. He shoved a canap� in his mouth and didn’t say anything.

He liked to pretend he was invisible at these family gatherings; that maybe if he acted like wasn’t there his father would forget he was there and leave him alone for once.

No such luck. Once Carl had finished asking Grace questions and catching up, he turned to Blaine.

“Blaine, I hear congratulations are in order,” his father addressed him, lifting his wine glass. Grace lifted hers as well. “To Blaine, on his first Emmy win. May he be favored with more.”

“Hear, hear,” Grace chimed in, smiling at him. Blaine stared at his father for a long moment, before lifting his glass as well. He knew better than to make trouble, but he couldn’t fathom for the life of him why his father would even congratulate him on the Emmy win.

His mother had said his father was trying, but Blaine didn’t know what to think.

“Thank you,” Blaine murmured.

“The senior partners at the office were envious when they heard the news,” Carl continued. “Though your choice of date took a few of them by surprise,” he continued. Blaine took a deep breath and shut his eyes. It was always the same. His father never changed. He couldn’t – wouldn’t ruin this for his mother. Blaine begged Mary silently to come through the door and begin serving the food. “A Congressman’s son is kind of a big deal.”

Blaine’s eyes narrowed at his father.

“What did you say his name was?” Carl asked.

“Kurt,” Blaine ground out, choking back a million other things he was dying to say.

“Kurt,” Carl repeated. “Yes, well, it’s a very advantageous match – my son being tied to a well-respected politician like Burt Hummel.”

“What?” Blaine snapped. He couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Really, Blaine.” Carl looked at him. “We’re at the table.”

“I just…” Blaine started. “I can’t believe you.” He stared at his father. “Suddenly it’s okay that I’m gay because I’m dating up in the world and it makes you look good?” Blaine shouted the last part.

“You’ve been after me for years to support you in this, Blaine,” Carl replied, his voice icy. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“I want you to support me because you love me and you want me to be happy,” Blaine insisted. “I don’t love Kurt because his father is a politician. I love him because he’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”

“Blaine,” Grace turned to him, a warning in her tone. Blaine sucked in a deep breath.

“I’m simply looking after your best interests, son,” Carl told him.

“I think you mean your best interests,” Blaine muttered. “You didn’t give a rat’s ass about Kurt last year at Christmas. You told me that what we were doing was wrong and I needed to find a nice girl to settle down with.”

Mary chose then to come into the room with the turkey. Blaine closed his mouth, swallowing his anger.

He just had to get through this meal.