"Do you need any help? "Kurt wanted to know.

"That would be great. The quiche will be done in about ten minutes. Do you want to put together the fruit salad or set the table?"

The four family members sat down to brunch. It was th first time they had sat down togehter for a while so there was plenty to catch up on. Finally Carole had to ask, "Did you boys have a good time at Pride?"

"Why did I never think you would be asking that question of both of us?" Kurt asked and everyone laughed.

"Finn nodded. It really was fun. I think I figured out something about Rachel, though. I mean she has been around lots of gay people all of her life. Yesterday was the first time I felt like I was the one who was different. Most of the people around me yesterday have to spend a lot of time feeling that way. At first it was really weird."

Kurt couldn't be quiet any longer. "Yes and for me it was like heaven on earth! Oh, sorry, did not mean to interrupt you."

"That's cool," Finn told him, "I think yesterday was supposed to be about you, bro. Anyway, at first I was just amazed at all the gay people! Where are they most of the time?"

"We are everywhere," Kurt rolled his eyes.

"So Rachel grew up understanding this, but also living in 'our world'-"Finn stopped-"Sorry Kurt, I don't know how else to put it…Did it feel different to be there for you, too?"

Kurt closed his eyes for a moment, just to try to go back to the parade and the park, and recapture his emotions from the day before. He grinned and opened his eyes, looking around at everyone at the table just waiting for his answer.

"Just to be able to walk down the street holding Blaine's hand was a dream come true…but all the people… Pride was like being given a free pass to be gay!" Kurt shivered. "I am sad that it was just one day." He looked around the table again. "But I don't want to live in a gay world, though."

Carole looked puzzled.

"I just mean I want all of us to be okay living in the same world. And I am even more committed now to starting PFLAG at McKinley."

Kurt had spent part of the evening before reading and studying the materials he picked up at the PFLAG table. The people there were really nice and even offered to help him talk to school authorities and come to some meetings.

Burt had been quiet all this time. "I'm glad you two enjoyed yourselves. What did Blaine think of it all?"

"Oh, dad, he loved it, once he got there. And, you know, he wouldn't let me out of his sight." Not that Kurt had tried to get away. They had spent hours strolling through the park, checking out the vendors, picking up pride trinkets, enjoying the opportunity to look, act, and feel like a couple.

"Wasn't it strange, though, having all those guys hitting on you?" Finn could have talked all day and not said that. Kurt blushed furiously. There was no denying that part of pride was about a lot of gay guys (and lesbians and bisexuals) checking each other out. And it was exciting, but Kurt really did not know what to think about all that yet.

Burt raised his eyebrows. Kurt decided to put the kibosh on this topic as quickly as possible. But he also wanted to be honest…

"Well, it was flattering…"

"I'm not sure Blaine enjoyed seeing all those guys drooling all over you."

"Well, Finn, there was no shortage of guys checking out Blaine, or you for that matter!" Kurt finally had to blow back.

Carole slapped her hand over her mouth but not before a loud guffaw escaped. Burt gave her a dirty look and she just bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders.

Finn frowned and looked surprised, "Wait. Those guys…some of them thought I was gay?"

"There is no accounting for faulty gaydar or for taste, Finn." Kurt retorted.

"Okay, enough of this," Burt growled and pushed back from the table. He grabbed his plate and headed into the kitchen only turning back at the last moment. "Honey, thanks, that was good."

Carole smiled and nodded. She stayed at the table as her boys continued to talk about their experiences the day before.

Kurt spent part of the afternoon putting pictures up on Facebook. He created a Pride 2011 folder and tagged all the photos. He was not the first. He was already tagged in photos posted by Mercedes, Rachel and Brittany. When he got to the pic of him and Blaine with two of the PFLAG people he remembered that he wanted to text Dave with plans for their get together.

Blaine's work schedule for the week was Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Kurt knew he had to schedule the meeting with Dave for a time that Blaine could be there.

Actually he felt kind of awkward about contacting him again because he had left Dave with the impression that their meeting would just be the two of them. And how could he possibly explain why Blaine would be there, too? Blaine did not attend McKinley and he and Dave had never even had a real conversation. Kurt wasn't worried about Blaine acting like a jerk or anything. But his boyfriend would naturally be on his guard and that make things more tense than necessary.

Kurt was still struggling to come to grips with what Blaine told him about Dave. After years of dreading Dave Karofsky and even hearing his taunts in his nightmares, how could he believe that Dave liked him at all, let alone had romantic feelings for him? How twisted must someone be to treat someone that like with that kind of meanness? Yeah, that was pretty awkward.

But Kurt also recalled those times he had seen Karofsky near the end of the school year, when his demeanor seemed to convey nothing bur intense regret and sadness. Kurt had been shocked by the depth of Dave's feelings then, in fact that is what made him begin to worry about Dave in the first place. Kurt had sensed the authenticity of Dave's hurt and that is what Kurt had finally responded to. And when they had talked on Thursday, Dave was obviously still having a hard time, yet he had seemed reticent to let Kurt or Blaine comfort him. Now that Kurt heard Blaine's perspective on things he understood better why Dave might hold back.

Kurt had forgiven Dave, but he did not forget what he had done. He was beginning to see it all as a larger picture about how people come to terms (or not) with being gay or lesbian. Not that every bully was a closet case. It was important to stop bullies in their tracks for obvious reasons but also because the bullies themselves needed help. Some of them were gay, or had been victimized themselves, or had mental health issues, or struck out in fear for other reasons. Kurt had just learned this from the PFLAG literature he was reading and it helped him understand Dave better.

Kurt was startled by a loud thump on the door. Finn stuck his head in, then opened the door wider. "Hey Rachel is bugging me about how need to help with that PFLAG group you were talking about. She said the 'F' stands for friends and family," which he put in air quotes. "Anyway I figure mom will be after me next, so what is this all about anyway?"

Kurt grinned, "I thought you'd never ask. Come on in." and he shut his laptop. Facebook could wait.

~3 PM Texts

To Dave: Can you come over tomorrow evening about 8? Blaine, Finn and my step mom are all going to help. Do you want to call Santana? Kurt

To Kurt: Will be there are 8. Will talk to Santana. Tomorrow. Dave

~5 PM Texts

To Blaine: Hey GLBTerrific! Missing u. Good news! Finn and Carole want to help with PFLAG. DK coming over tomorrow at 8. U in? 143 K

To Kurt: This is excellent. Since F and C will be there…still need me? :D XX 143 more B

To Blaine: oh yes Mr. Warbler, but not at that meeting… serious meeting later? 143 K

To Kurt: You had me at serious. Leaving for work. See you tomorrow. Kissing ur pic on my cell. 143 more B

To Blaine: U r such a dork. Safe travels my love. Sing something for me. 143 K

To Kurt: Everything I sing is for you. 143 more Ur dork

~11 PM Text

To Kurt: Check out this YouTube link! Ur singing dork 333

The YouTube video opened to Blaine on the stage in his Six Flags performance outfit. He was sitting on a stool with his guitar, speaking into a microphone. Audience cheers and whistles died down in the background. The sound wasn't great. Blaine probably had one of his co-workers record it.

"I'd like to dedicate this next number to someone who is very special in my life. He is truly the song in my heart. Kurt, this is for you:"

I've been alone

Surrounded by darkness

I've seen how heartless

The world can be

I've seen you crying

You felt like it's hopeless

I'll always do my best

To make you see

Baby, you're not alone

Cause you're here with me

And nothing's ever gonna bring us down

Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you

And you know it's true

It don't matter what'll come to be

Our love is all we need to make it through…

Now I know it ain't easy

But it ain't hard trying

Every time I see you smiling

And I feel you so close to me

And you tell me

Baby, you're not alone

Cause you're here with me

And nothing's ever gonna bring us down

Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you

And you know it's true

It don't matter what'll come to be

Our love is all we need to make it through

I still have trouble

I trip and stumble

Trying to make sense of things sometimes

I look for reasons

But I don't need 'em

All I need is to look in your eyes

And I realize

Baby I'm not alone

Cause you're here with me

And nothing's ever gonna take us down

Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you

And you know it's true

It don't matter what'll come to be

Our love is all we need to make it through, ooh

Cause you're here with me

And nothing's ever gonna bring us down

Cause nothing, nothing, nothing can keep me from lovin' you

And you know it's true

It don't matter what'll come to be

You know our love is all we need

Our love is all we need to make it through

Kurt could not remember how many times he hit replay. He did take time to text Blaine.

To Blaine: This is me, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel, speechless.

-To Be Continued—