He wrapped up with, "So Dan helped me put together tonight's agenda and scope out a timeline for getting the group started. I'm glad I'm doing this over the summer because I'm not sure I would have time for all these details once school begins."

Finn poked Blaine, who was seated next to him and said under his breath, "So man, how come you aren't part of this?" Blaine teased, "Just lucky I guess." Blaine and Burt were looking forward to watching a Cincinnati Reds game that evening. Finn would be able to catch the first hour, but there were no guarantees after that.

Kurt and Finn were the kitchen clean-up crew so Blaine pitched in. "Who all is coming to this meeting tonight?" Finn wanted to know.

"Besides you and your mom? Dave Karofsky is coming and he said he would invite Santana, but I don't know for sure if she'll come."

"Why isn't Blaine going to be there?" Finn was talking like Blaine was not with them in the kitchen

"Blaine doesn't attend McKinley, Finn."

"Yeah, so? He is your boyfriend."

"You're stating the obvious, Finn." Kurt's voice was impatient. "Besides, Blaine knows he can come if he wants to."

Blaine was wiping off the stove and finally turned to give Finn a puzzled look. Maybe there was something he did not understand. "Kurt, do you want me to be there tonight?"

"No, it really is not necessary Blaine. You can watch the game with my dad."

"Okay."

Finn just threw the towel on the counter and left.

"Don't worry, Blaine. He's just pissed that he can't watch all of the game tonight." Kurt explained. "But actually I may need you to help me, too."

Kurt looked at his boyfriend. "I don't know if you picked up on it but dad is not happy about having Dave at the house. You know how my dad is. He understands what I am trying to do, but it still bothers him that the same kid who tortured me for so long and who is the reason I had to leave McKinley in the first place is now working with me on this."

"I tend to agree with him."

Kurt dried his hands on the towel Finn had thrown down on the counter. "I know you do." He moved closer to Blaine and put his arms on Blaine's shoulders. "And I love you for it. But this is important to me." Kurt leaned down to brush his lips with Blaine's. "If it comes up tonight when you are watching the game, could you try to help my dad understand?"

"Okay," Blaine nodded. He wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist and pulled him close, laying his head on the taller boy's chest. "You are such a sweet talker, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."

Dave and Santana pulled into the driveway a few minutes after eight. They had not spoken much during the trip. Santana had counted off on her fingers several things she could have been doing that would have been a hell of a lot more entertaining. Dave told her he thought that the founders of the Bullywhips needed to be part of this.

"The Bullywhips?" Santana was incredulous. "Why would I give a fuck about the Bullywhips?" The campaign to win the title of Prom Queen by creating the group had been a dismal failure. Her motivation evaporated and her enthusiasm disappeared soon after.

What went unsaid was that Dave wanted her there, needed her there. That did not escape Santana. Yeah, and maybe being part of this group would earn points with Brittany.

Finn met Dave and Santana at the front door and ushered them through the house onto the deck. Carole and Kurt were already there.

Kurt provided introductions. "Santana, Dave, this is my step mom, Carole. She and Finn are going to help us, too. Want to have a seat?" Carole and Finn got everyone drinks. There were already cookies on the table.

"Dude, how have you been?" Finn was attempting to be social.

"I'm okay," offered Dave. He sat down on one of the benches of the picnic table. He didn't know where to put his arms or legs. Finally he just sat his Pepsi on the table and looked out of place. Santana scooted in beside him. Carole sat on the end. Finally Finn and Kurt sat down on the bench across from them.

"I have lots of information to share." Kurt handed around copies of the agenda. He pointed to sorted piles of papers in front of him on the table. "The PFLAG people gave me all kinds of stuff that we will need to look at so I hope you don't mind having some reading assignments. This will help us with our next meeting."

Santana glanced at the agenda and up at Kurt. Shit, he was already talking about the next meeting.

"Tonight we need to figure out the first steps to take with school authorities and who is going to do what. But first, the PFLAG people suggested we all talk about what reasons we have for starting a PFLAG group in our area. So that is where we will start." Kurt looked across at Carole, who took the hint.

"Well," started Carole, "a lot of things have been changing but there is still a long way to go. I went to McKinley and in my day we didn't give much thought to gay rights or supporting gay people. I had a friend in high school who told me he was gay, but it was a huge secret and I was one of the few people he told about it. Unfortunately he died a few years ago, or I think he would have been here to support everything that we are trying to do." Carole glanced around the table. "So I'm doing this for my friend Doug, and also for Kurt and the other kids who need to know there are people who really care about them."

"Really, mom? You had a friend who was gay when you were in high school?" Finn had no idea.

"Yes, Finn, you remember Doug. He came over quite a bit. Helped us move once?"

"Sure, but I never knew…"

Kurt interrupted. "So Finn, how about you? What are the reasons you think we should start a group?"

Finn was still trying to get his mind around what his mother had said. "Uh…well, I guess I know something about being picked on because being in Glee Club has been kind of rough. And having a brother who is gay… I just think it's unfair to pick on kids who are different, you know." Finn wasn't sure how much to say with Dave at the table. "Oh, and the F in PFLAG stands for family and friends, so I guess I need to be here…well, if I want to keep the peace with Rachel and my mom... "

"Thanks Finn," Kurt said, trying to keep his voice, from betraying his amusement. Sometimes he honestly had no idea how he had ever developed such a crush on his stepbrother.

Finn nodded and took a long drink from his glass. He was trying not to wonder what the score of the game was.

Kurt slowly raised his glance to Dave. He had studiously been avoiding eye contact with him, but it was time to get on with it. Dave had a whipped puppy look in his eyes. "Dave, how about you?"

Dave hadn't been looking at Kurt either. When he finally did Dave took in the fair skinned young man, whose clean scent assaulted his nose from across the table. Kurt had been wearing his hair differently in recent months, combed back off of his face showing the delicate widow's peak that gave his face a slightly heart-shaped appearance. His beard was coming in heavier now, and a shadow of stubble brought his jawline and elegant neck into relief. Kurt's eyes were perhaps the only feature that remained the same as those on the young boy that had originally captured Dave's heart. They retained their color-shifting abilities and tonight, as Kurt sat with perfect posture and a slight smile on his expressive lips, they were a startling blue-green.

Dave unconsciously rubbed his mouth as he shifted in his seat. He muttered, "I'm here because of you, Kurt." His voice was uncharacteristically soft, catching everyone by surprise and all eyes were suddenly on Dave.

A rather confused look crossed Kurt's face as he slightly cocked his head to the side. Dave's eyes fell to Kurt's chest, his shapely arms, his straight shoulders, and then returned to Kurt's narrowing eyes. Dave blinked quickly a couple of times as if he was trying to break a trance. He suddenly looked away, focusing on something out in the yard behind Kurt.

With a nauseating clarity Kurt realized how very right Blaine was. Dave had feelings for him alright. He still had feelings. And desires. And those desires went way beyond settings with candles and soft music. A cold shiver went through Kurt. He gazed around quickly, realizing too late he was secretly hoping to find Blaine there with him. What he found instead was Santana now staring down at the table and puzzled looks on the faces of Carole and Finn.

Carole found her voice first. "So Dave, I know Kurt invited you to help him out…is that what you meant?"

"Yes ma'am, I want to help Kurt." Dave agreed. The mask was back on. He looked over at Carole and nodded his head.

This was getting too weird for Santana. She rolled her eyes and said to no one in particular, "Yeah, we are both here to help. The Bullywhips are great, but we can't do it all. We need a PFLAG group to get more people involved. To educate people." She picked up the cookie that sat on a napkin in front of her and broke it in half.

"Okay, great." Kurt enthused in gratitude at Santana. He went back to his agenda. "Oh, I almost forgot. I should say why I think it is important, too."

Kurt took a breath. He had his statement all prepared. At the last minute though, he decided the forget his numerous bullet points and just speak from the heart. "I think we need a PFLAG because this will be my senior year and I want to leave McKinley better than I found it when I was a freshman." Then he looked at everyone at the table before he spoke again. "A year ago I would have never guessed that we would be sitting here together to talk about this. I am grateful to all of you." And he smiled.

Carole smiled back at him, reaching to pat his hand across the table. "I'm so proud of you. I will do everything I can."

"Yeah, dude," offered Finn, bumping Kurt's shoulder. He was still hoping this meeting would not take too long.

"Okay then," Kurt picked up the agenda again, "Let's move on. There is a lot to cover tonight."

"The meeting probably would have lasted even longer," Finn whispered to his mother in the quickly fading light, "but thank God we are on the deck." and he rushed in to watch the remaining innings of the game.

Carol got up, and with Santana's help gathered empty glasses and the cookie tray. Santana left to use the bathroom as Carole rinsed glasses at the sink.

Kurt was gathering papers and looked up with the sudden realization that he and Dave were the only ones remaining on the deck. It was nearly dark and Kurt's mind immediately went to Burt's summer to do list, which included wiring additional outside lighting for the deck. could have used those lights tonight.

Kurt's fear of Dave was gone, now. Well almost. He grasped more of Dave's motivation. He just never guessed he was the object of Dave's desires. He might have been flattered, if he had not suffered so much at Dave's hands. What puzzled him was whether he should let Dave know that he got it. He really wanted to put things to rest. Be upfront. If he and Dave were going to work together it would be better to get it all talked out.

With the papers all sorted into a neat pile, Kurt stood up and stepped over the picnic bench to find that Dave had been standing quietly behind him.

Kurt was slightly startled but he still managed to get out, "Dave, we should talk-"

"About what-?" Dave whispered as he scooped Kurt into his arms.

Kurt's raised his hands to push Dave away and papers flew in every direction. "Dave, stop!"

"I can't help it, I want you," Dave gasped as he drew Kurt to his warm chest and wrapped his arms around him. Dave's wildly pounding heart thumped loudly into Kurt's ear.

"Dave! Get away!" Kurt's voice was muffled against Dave's chest. Kurt was not scared. He was mad. He freed one arm to pushed against the stifling embrace.

Just then the scrape of the sliding glass door sounded. "Kurt?" Blaine stepped onto the deck before his eyes had a chance to adjust to the lack of light. He saw shadowy figures.

At the same time Kurt neatly kneed Dave in the groin. "Oomph!" Dave exclaimed, sending Kurt reeling. Dave bent over in pain, groaning, "Fuck!" Gasping for air, "Kurt!"

"Blaine!" Kurt scrambled over to his boyfriend, almost tackling him in the dark.

Blaine caught Kurt easily, "What? What is-?" Then he got it. He just knew. He stepped away from Kurt to approach the bent over figure.

"Dave. You miserable son of a bitch. You stupid fuck." Blaine spoke deeply and slowly. His hands were fisted at his side. He took Dave by the upper arms and shook him.

"No, Blaine! It's done now! It's done…" Kurt's voice was high pitched. Now he was afraid. "Please, just stop."

Adrenaline coursed through Blaine's veins, making it difficult to comprehend what Kurt was saying. He wanted to pound Dave. He could pound Dave. Dave needed a good pounding. From Blaine.

"Blaine!" Kurt put his arms around his boyfriend from behind to forcefully haul him away from Dave. "Please, it is over now. He's can't hurt me. I'm okay. Nothing bad happened." Kurt was almost sobbing.

Blaine took a breath. Kurt's strength always took him by surprise. He took another deep breath and leaned back into Kurt's embrace, reassuringly holding onto the arms that encircled his waist.

Kurt's panicked voice had been heard in the house.

Burt stepped through the open sliding glass door. "What the hell is going on out here?" Carole was right behind him.

"It's okay, dad." Kurt said unconvincingly.

Blaine turned in Kurt's arms and pushed none too gently out of his embrace. "No, Kurt, it is not okay. And if you don't tell him, I will."

Just then, Dave stumbled down the steps into the darkness. He could be heard retching in the backyard.

-To Be Continued-