Baby, it’s Cold Outside – December 26th, Wednesday

                “Dad… dad wake up, I need to talk to you.”

                Burt rubbed his eyes slowly coming to conscience. Kurt was sited at the corner of Rachel’s bed with that look he only had when he needed to share something. Burt couldn’t lie: he saw that coming. Actually, he thought he provoked it. He straightened himself in bed and saw Kurt biting his lip before beginning to talk:

                “I’m sorry I woke you up this early but I’m leaving to work soon and when I’ll be back home you’ll have already left for Ohio. There’s something I really need to tell you…”

                Burt decided to the most direct strategy:

                “It’s about Blaine, isn’t it?”

                Kurt pursed his lips and nodded. Burt looked straight at his son’s eyes:

                “You still like him, don’t you?”

                Kurt looked down and started tracing patterns with his fingers at the bedspread:

                “I don’t know; maybe… But the point is: I kissed him. I initiated it and I know I shouldn’t have because it gave him hope.”

                “Kiddo, are you sure there isn’t any hope left for you guys? I’ve been watching the two of you; the way you are with each other, the way you look at each other. You have chemistry, there’s no denial.”

                Kurt was beginning to be exasperated:

                “I’m not denying it. When we are together it’s great, but the moment he steps away all I can see is flashes of him with another guy.”

                Burt sighed and then held both of Kurt’s shoulders to emphasize his point:

                “Kurt, look at me. I know what Blaine did was awful and disgusting, but it’s also not him. You know nobody watches over you happiness as much as me; I’m you dad for crying out loud! If I brought Blaine with me is because I believe he’s truly sorry. You are both so young Kurt; long distance relationships are hard and he got lost. He still loves you and his eyes tell me he thinks you are the most precious thing in this world.”

                Tears were forming in Kurt’s eyes and his voice broke as he spoke:

                “How can I forget the past, dad? It will always be there as a ghost haunting me. How can I trust him again? Besides, nothing have changed; I still live here and he still doing high-school there. How can I be here thinking all the time he’s probably there with someone else? Does it matter if I love him if I can’t get myself to trust him again?”

                Burt shook his head; he hated seeing his son so broken as he was now:

                “You have a point, kiddo. Can I tell you what I see? I see how you were low without Blaine and since we got here you lit up. You lit up the same way you did when you were at Dalton. And when I look at Blaine; when I looked at him the time you weren’t speaking, I see a kid who was made a mistake and who would do anything to take it back. He hates himself more than anyone for what he did. And I think he’s doing the right thing now; he’s giving you your space but also not giving up. I like him Kurt; I believe his regret.”

                “I know he’s sorry, but that doesn’t automatically makes me truth him again. Without trust how can we build a relationship? We can’t just mess around; it would end up hurting both of us.”

                “I trust you judgment bud; but can I live you with something to consider? Don’t let your pride be the only thing in the way of your happiness.”

                Kurt’s tears finally escaped his eyes as he went for a hug:

                “Oh daddy; I love you so much.”

                Burt kissed the top of his head:

                “I love you too, kiddo. All I want is to see you happy.”

                Kurt got home back from work by the end of the afternoon. He entered his apartment filling drained out. However, he was surprised by an inviting smell coming from the kitchen. He went straight there and saw Blaine half-hidden behind some plastic bags on the counter.  Blaine smiled as soon as he saw him:

                “Care for Chinese? I thought you would come home tired and took the liberty of setting the table.”

                Kurt let out a tired sigh and smiled:

                “It was heaven sent, Blaine.”

                Blaine’s smile went wider:

                “I hope you still like the tangerine chicken.”

                Kurt’s smile grew wider as he washed his hand and went for the table:

                “It’s still my favorite, thank you.”

Blaine took a jar of iced tea for the refrigerator and joined Kurt:

“You are letting me stay over; it was only polite.”

Kurt took the first bite and found out that the taste of the food was as good as its smell. Unconsciously, a loud moan escaped Kurt to which Blaine chuckled. Kurt caught his friend staring at him and blushed:

“Sorry; but this is delicious!”

Blaine laughed:

“I found this Chinese place that looked friendly on my way back from the Central Park and remember how my mom always taught me never to go to someone’s house empty handed. When I opened the door and felt the tangerine smell, I thought of surprising you with dinner.”

Kurt smiled:

“Always the gentleman…”

Blaine blushed and looked down at his food. Kurt immediately found it adorable but reminded himself he should be keeping that kind of thoughts away. Particularly now that they would be alone in the apartment for a couple of days… Kurt drove his mind to a safer place and tried small talk:

“So Blaine, tell me about your day. You said you went to Central Park…”

Blaine seemed glad to keep this kind of conversation too:

“Yeah, that was my original plan: looking around New York to get to know the place. It was so gorgeous there; I even saw some snow falling. I allowed myself to lunch a hotdog at the zoo.”

Kurt laughed:

“Blaine Anderson eating junk food? That’s new…  And the zoo, Blaine?”

Blaine blushed again but this time he kept talking:

“It’s cute! Have you been there yet?”

Kurt bit his lip and shook his head: Blaine indeed was adorable. Blaine raised his eyebrow as to emphasize his point as his answered:

“You should; I think you’d love it.”

Their eyes met and they kept the gaze for a while. Kurt then spoke in a serious tune:

“I’m glad you are here. I mean it. I thought I would be okay spending the Holidays by myself, but now I feel that the loneliness and the strange city would have let me kind of blue.”

Blaine’s lips twisted in a smile that caught his eyes:

“I’m glad I can help you somehow.”

This time Kurt was the one blushing which his pale skin turned into something very evidential.

That night, as they said their good-nights before going to bed; Kurt gave Blaine a friendly hug. Blaine found it easier to get asleep for the first time since arriving at New York.