Another Angle – Funeral:

            Kurt went running downstairs to open the door to his boyfriend:

            “So glad you are here!”

            Blaine welcomed him in his arms but still looked puzzled:

            “It’s always wonderful to see you, but I’m curious as for why you needed me with such urgency here today.”

            “I’m auditioning for a solo at Nationals and I trust no one else’s opinion to help me prepare for it.”

            Blaine snorted out a little laugh:

            “You are such an adorable diva!”

            Kurt was offended:

            “It’s serious Blaine; we’ve got lots of work to do.”

            “I doubt it; but let’s go. What do you have in mind?”

            Kurt bit his lips unsure:

            “Gypsy… I have a number of “Rose’s Turn” that maybe…”

            Blaine interrupted him by pulling him by the waist:

            “I’m not so sure about the song; but I agree on the musical. Why don’t we put on the DVD to get some fresh ideas and I’ll help you rehearse after?”

            The way Blaine was kissing his neck was very distracting and Kurt knew they wouldn’t exactly watch the DVD. Whatever, he knew that score by heart since he was a little boy; he could use some make-out time with his boyfriend to calm him for his audition. After, his determination wouldn’t let his hottie distract him from rehearsing and getting that solo. Rachel could suck it; everything would come up Kurt…

*

            Blaine was tired from being solving trigonometry problems all afternoon. Suddenly, his phone went buzzing and showing Kurt’s picture on the screen. He picked up smiling:

            “Hey sweetheart; only you to brighten my day after so much Math.”

            “Hi honey; so you’ve been having a bad day?”

             By the way Kurt’s voice sounded broken; Blaine knew his boyfriend was having a far worse day than him:

            “Kurt; what’s wrong? Where are you? Did someone do something to you?”

            He didn’t want to sound so exasperated to not worry his boyfriend; but his mind now was a horror movie showing in an incredible speed all the terrible things that could have happened to Kurt. Most of the things would leave him in a state where he couldn’t possibly be calling Blaine; but this kind of detail did not matter to his stirred mind. To his relief; Kurt was quick in sighing and continuing to speak:

            “I’m… fine; I mean, I’m feeling blue but there’s nothing wrong with me. Besides, listening to your voice is making me calmer. Coach Sylvester’s sister died and the Glee club is offering to prepare her funeral. It’s kind of silly; I didn’t even know her sister and I don’t like Coach Sylvester that much. However…”

            Blaine didn’t let him finish:

            “It reminded you of your mother…”

            Kurt exhaled:

            “Exactly. I just didn’t want to cry at school and I called you to see if you could calm me down. I’m better now; I’ll just go home and make a cup of tea.”

            “Are you still at McKinley?”

            “Yes; why?”

            “Then drive here and let me make that cup of tea for you. I’m also heading to my kitchen to get started on the brownies and you get to choose the movie today.”

            Blaine could tell Kurt was smiling:

            “I really don’t want to give you any trouble. I know you have a big test this week.”

            “That’s exactly why you should come. Do you think I can concentrate if I know you’ll spend some hours alone at home feeling blue? Come on; at least until it’s time for your father to get home. It’ll break my heart to know you needed me and I wasn’t there. And that, my dear Kurt, is the infallible recipe for me to fail my test.”

            Kurt couldn’t contain a chuckle:

            “Who’s exaggerating now? Fine; you got me. How can I say no to you being so damn cute?”

            “See you in five, then.”

            “I’m on my way.”

*

            Kurt and Finn were in a stranger’s hospital room, going through her stuff and sorting things into piles. They’ve been working in silence until Finn commented:

            “I feel like I knew her by now.”

            “It’s easier to do it for a stranger. Sorting my mother’s stuff was something me and dad could only do after a long time since she passed away.”

            “My dad’s stuff was all that was left of him for me to try to figure out who he was.”

            Kurt sat down and cleared a stubborn tear from his face while arranging Jean’s teddy-bears. He then heard a sob from Finn. Kurt had never seen his brother cry so he wasn’t sure if it was alright to hug him. Soon, Finn had been reduced to a crying pile on the floor. Kurt left all his doubts aside in favor of helping his brother. He kneeled beside the crying boy and pulled him in his arms. Finn managed to say between hiccups:

            “I don’t know what’s worse: never have known like me or losing so soon like you did.”

            Kurt rubbed his back:

            “Worse is never having loved. Or be in Sue’s position and be left with no one else.”

            “She has us.”

            Kurt gave him a little smile:

            “Just because of the goodness of our hearts. Come on; let’s grab a glass of water and try to calm down before she gets here.”

*

            Blaine hung up from the phone where he was checking up on Kurt with a lump in his throat. He heard his mother making dinner downstairs and decided to join her.

            “Mom?”

            “Hi sweetie; anything wrong?”

            “Can we talk?”

            She swallowed hard looking uncomfortable:

            “Blaine; I’m not sure I’m the best person to give you boy advice…”

            He snorted:

            “It’s not that… Have you… Have you ever lost someone important?”

            She stared at him puzzled:

            “Like what? Someone very intimate? I believe not. I mean; I know lots of people who are now dead, but no one that close. Why?”

            Blaine scratched the back of his neck while trying to find the right words:

            “How do you think it feels? I can’t even start to conceive the idea of living in a world where the people I love don’t exist anymore.”

            She exhaled and got closer to him placing a hand on his jaw:

            “The time you were at the hospital after the Sadie Hawking’s incident; I thought I might lose you. I can tell you it was the worse feeling I ever experimented. I don’t wish that to my worst enemy.”

            Blaine just nodded and stayed quiet for a few seconds. After a while, he got up and went to hug his mother:

            “I love you, mom.”

            She smiled and kissed him on the forehead:

            “Me too, honey. Me too.”

*

            Kurt got home back from the funeral and went straight to look for his dad. He found Burt alone in his room and knocked to see if he could go in. He heard from inside:

            “Come in!”

            His dad was hiding a box under the bed and passing his hand on the face like he was cleaning something from there. Kurt knew what box that was and what exactly his father was trying to hide; so he just smiled. Burt looked at him and smiled back:

            “Oh! It’s you pal.”

            “It’s me dad; but I don’t think Carole would have minded if she saw you going through mommy’s stuff.”

            Burt chuckled:

            “Since when are you so smart about me? It’s been a hard week in this house; hasn’t it?”

            Kurt didn’t wait to be invited and lay in his father bed, resting his head on the man’s lap:

            “Don’t forget that everyone that lives in this house knows what it feels like to lose someone very dear. That’s exactly what brought us together as a family.”

            Burt started to stroke his fingers through Kurt’s hair:

            “You and your brother proven to be so mature this week helping Sue out. I’m proud of both of you.”

            Kurt gave him a little smile as his eyes began to close:

            “Thank you, dad; but it’s good to know I can still be your little boy from time to time. I’m glad to have your shoulder to cry on whenever I need.”

            Burt made a noise like he was fighting a sob, but Kurt decided to pretend he didn’t know it. His dad entered his usual way of trying to make small talk:

            “Weren’t Blaine with you today?”

            “He wished he was; but he had a big test today and couldn’t skip it to be there with me. I texted him telling I was coming home but I wanted to be with you today. I love you dad; I love everything about you. I miss mom so much and you were the only one who could understand it. People may disagree but I consider myself a lucky boy for having you in my life.”

            This time Burt was clearly crying and there was no way he could disguise it. Kurt got up and pulled him to his embrace. Burt started to rub his son’s back and managed to say between sobs:

            “I was so proud of you today, kiddo. And I love you more than anything in this world; you know that, right?”

            Kurt began crying too:

            “I know dad; I always knew.”

            They lay down together and stay snuggled to each other for a while. Carole lightly knocked on the door by the end of the afternoon:

            “Hi; I just wanted to check on you guys.”

            Burt lovingly stocked Kurt hair and answered to his wife:

            “We are fine.”

            She smiled:

            “Well, dinner will be ready soon. Join us when you are ready.”

            Burt nodded and Kurt thanked her. She left them alone. Kurt liked Carole a lot; she knew she could never replace his mother but was whiling to give him all the motherly love she gave to Finn. It was for moments like this that he knew his father had made the right choice. Carole knew they still needed to be just father and son and respected that. Also, she would have prepared a healthy dinner for them and would hug them dearly as soon as they were ready for her. He was happy his father had found someone to take care of him when Kurt would be gone.

*

            The minutes had never passed so slowly for Blaine than on this particular ride between Westville and Lima. Kurt’s text message had been his cue that he didn’t want to talk right now. But Blaine couldn’t help it: he knew Kurt was in distress and he needed to see his boyfriend and tell him he’   d always be there for him.

            He arrived at the Hummel-Hudson house and was greeted by Carole. He put on his best smile:

            “Good evening Mrs. H; is Kurt home?”

            She greeted him with a grin and pulled the boy for a hug:

            “Hi sweetie; it’s so good to see you. Kurt will need you tonight; I’m glad you are here. However, his up with Burt and it’s better not to interrupt them now. They must be soon joining us for dinner. Why don’t you go clean yourself and come wait with me at the dining room?”

            “Thank you.”

            Blaine liked Kurt’s family a lot. They were always making sure he felt welcome at their place and seemed very happy for him and Kurt. His own mother was always very polite with Kurt, but never went farther than that. His father… well, it was better not to think about his father right now.

            Burt appeared at the top of the stairs:

            “Carole, was it the door… Blaine! So good you can join us tonight, kiddo!”

            “Hello Mr…. I mean, Burt. I was wondering if I could see Kurt.”

            Burt captured him in a bear-hug:

            “Kurt will be thrilled to see you. He’s upstairs doing God knows what. Could you go there remind him dinner is ready?”

            Blaine awkwardly left the grownups in the living-room to climb the stairs to his boyfriend’s bedroom. He knocked and Kurt called him in.

            “Blaine!”

            Before he knew it; Blaine was again being hug-attacked. This time he laughed a little:

            “I was afraid you didn’t want to see me today.”

            “And why would that be?”

            “I thought you messaged me because you wanted to be alone. Sorry if I showed up without a warning; but I needed to be sure you were okay.”

            Kurt grinned and kissed him sweetly:

            “Thank you honey; you are the best. I didn’t call because I was afraid I was going to cry. And, yes, I needed some alone time with dad. But now you are here for me and I couldn’t be happier. All the people I love the most are together in one house and telling me they’ll be there for me whenever I need. What else could I ask for?”

            Kurt suddenly got quiet knowing quite well what was missing. Blaine didn’t mention his mother but grabbed the boy’s hand and kissed it:

            “It’s good that you are sure I’ll always be here.”

            Kurt smiled:

            “If you can stay after dinner to cuddle through a movie with me it would really comfort me.”

            And indeed Blaine could. After a nice family dinner; the two boys went to Kurt’s room and lay impossibly close while watching a marathon of Diney Princess’ movies. Watching all those animated girls finding their prince charming while having Kurt in his arms; made Blaine realize for the first time that he might be in love.