Chapter 8: Grandma Hummel

It was nightfall when the four of them arrived in New Hampshire after the long car-drive from New York. They were still stretching out and getting out of the car when two figures went out of the big country house. With screams of "Mom" and "Dad"; Finn and Kurt went running towards the couple. Louisa and Blaine exchanged a glance and continued unpacking the car.

"Booisa!"

"Uncle Burt!"

After having hugged his son, Burt approached his niece to hug her too. Carole was joining them; Burt grabbed her hand to introduce the two of them:

"I guess you haven't met my wonderful wife and Finn's mother; Carole?"

Louisa smiled at her still catch on Burt's other arm:

"I'm so glad to finally meet you. Kurt has been telling me how nice you are; but he forgot to mention how pretty you are. Good choice, Uncle Burt!"

Carole ignored the girl stretched hand to take her in a hug:

"Aren't you the sweetest and most beautiful young lady? I was also curious about the famous Louisa..."

Blaine could suppress a chuckle:

"Wait until you get to know her, Mrs. H."

Burt looked confused at Kurt waiting for an explanation to Blaine's weird behavior. Kurt shook his head dismissively:

"Never to worry: those two are like that since they've met. There isn't much we can do about it."

Blaine smirked at Louisa and tackled her into a bear-hug. At this moment, the group was joined by another figure coming out of the house:

"Aren't you going to hug your Grandmother a happy Thanksgiving?"

Louisa got hid of Blaine to join Kurt running towards the elegant old lady. The three of them were locked together in a tight hug when Carole dragged Finn by the hand near them:

"Mrs. Hummel, I don't know if you remember my son Finn. You've met him at the wedding."

Mrs. Hummel stretched her hand to the boy:

"Of course I remember him. How do you do?"

She was shaking Finn's hand when she noticed the other boy walking closer in Burt's embrace. She then turned to her granddaughter:

"Is that you boyfriend, Louisa?"

"No Grandma, Blaine is Kurt's boyfriend. Blaine, that's our Grandmother Muriel Hummel."

Louisa could see a frown passing her grandmother's face that she hid in a polite smile, while stretching her hand to the boy:

"Nice to meet you, young man.

"The pleasure is all mine, madam."

At that moment, a voice coming from the house's door caught everyone's attention:

"Don't I deserve a hug too?"

An awkward silence fell between all of them as they stared into the man's embarrassed smile and Louisa's disgusted scowl. Kurt broke it by taking Blaine's hand:

"Honey, that's my Uncle Andrew, or Andy; Louisa's father."

Before Blaine could answer, Muriel was clearing her throat to get everyone's attention:

"There are freshly baked snickerdoodles on the kitchen counter. If we eat just a few of them, no one's appetite will be ruined for dinner."

Everyone but Andrew started to enter the house towards the kitchen. Louisa was the last one; but, before crossing the door, Andrew grabbed her arm stopping her to go on:

"Don't I deserve at least that you talk to me after all this time?"

She sighed:

"I don't know; do you?"

"Come on; it's Thanksgiving..."

"On my behalf, I didn't know you'd be here or I'd have stayed in New York."

She managed to get her arm free and walked towards the door. He tried one last hope in a tiny voice:

"Louisa... please..."

She turned with a blank face:

"Now you are begging? Have you something to say to me? How about where were you the last sixteen years? Are you speechless? I figured it would be the case. Where's the new wife?"

"Taking her son to visit her parents..."

"You should have gone with her; it would have been better for everybody."

With those words, she entered the house without a glimpse back.

xXxXx

"Why, why; what do we have here? Rachel Berry is in New York during Thanksgiving?"

Rachel looked up from the play she was studding to see who was calling her:

"Oh Brody; I didn't know you were in New York too."

He smirked and sat on a chair next to hers:

"I thought you'd be with lover-boy on the Hummels' family reunion..."

"No; my dads wanted to see some Broadway shows and decided to spend the holiday with me. How about you? I thought you and Louisa were an item now; hasn't she invited you to visit Grandma Hummel?"

He moved uncomfortably on the chair:

"Actually, she did. It's just that I have a problem with meeting family too soon..."

Rachel shot him a cynical glance:

"Brody, if I didn't know you I'd say your problem is either being afraid of commitment or not trusting this relationship to be one. And if you asked me to bet; I'd go with the second one..."

"Are you trying to say I'm not serious about Louisa?"

Rachel tried looking away to avoid the subject; but when she saw he'd not give up, she sighed and answered:

"Being absolute honest with you: I really doubt your feelings towards her."

He smirked again:

"Ok Rachel; you won and I'll admit what you want to hear: yes, I still have feelings for you. And you know it; Finn knows it, and specially, Louisa knows it. She had a crush on another guy too and she told me. But we found each other and it has been great! And, contrarily to what you are thinking; I'm not playing with her feelings, I swear."

Rachel wasn't convinced by his little speech:

"I once trusted your oath too; it didn't end well. But that's in the past now... Let's talk about important things: does this guy you mentioned Louisa having a crush on happens to be my boyfriend?"

Brody laughed loudly. He got up from his chair and poked her nose playfully:

"That, my dear Rachel, you won't take out from me. I guess I see you around..."

With that last phrase, he turned around and went his way.

xXxXx

Muriel Hummel ringed a bell to announce the family that dinner was served. The Hummels and their guests arrived slowly on the big dinner-room table. They were taking their usual spots and Muriel was guiding the newcomers to finding their places:

"Louisa why don't you give your spot so that your Aunt Carole can sit next to her husband? Sit here next to Blaise..."

Louisa smiled acidulated:

"I'll gladly give my spot to Carole, but I can sit here next to Finn and let Blaine sit side-by-side with his boyfriend."

They both knew the game the other was playing; but Muriel wouldn't let her claws be exposed that easily. She just nodded and sat on the head of the table. She cleared her throat to call everyone's attention:

"Well, it's Thanksgiving and as the Catholic family we're; I'd like to say a prayer before we eat. Blaine, dear, if you are not a Christian don't feel embarrassed to leave the table."

Blaine smiled sincerely:

"No need, ma'am; I'm a Catholic too.

Kurt quietly pushed his chair back so he could leave the table. Muriel saw that and called his attention:

"Kurt! You stay where you are."

"But I'm not..."

Before he could finish, Burt glanced at him and waved him to let it go. Resigned, he sat back down. Louisa took a deep breath to keep her from saying anything. Muriel got up and closed her eyes to start the prayer:

"Dear Lord in Heaven, we would like to thank you for being united once more in this house. We thank Thee for our food, our water, the air we breathe, the roof upon our heads. We're your humble servants and we'll always seek not to live in sin. Amen."

Louisa and Kurt shared an understanding glance knowing the intentions behind their Grandmother's choice of words. They giggled quietly and focused on their food. Andrew started to chitchat:

"So kids; do you all live in New York together?"

Finn, being unaware of the unspoken communication all the Hummels were having, was the one to answer:

"I live with my girlfriend, Kurt and Blaine live together and Louisa lives with a roommate."

Muriel chocked catching all the attentions. Louisa couldn't control herself anymore and began to distill her venom:

"Something is wrong, Grandma? Do you have any problem with me living with a roommate?"

Being the perfect lady she was, Muriel didn't lose her hauteur for nothing:

"I just find it a little dangerous for two young ladies to be living alone in a city as dangerous as New York."

Louisa smirked:

"Good guessing Grandma; my roommate is indeed a girl. But don't worry; no one would be crazy enough to mess with Maggie. It just adds to her being the perfect roommate. The only problem is when she has her girlfriends over and I have to hear their making-out sounds."

Muriel didn't stop her tongue this time:

"And you are okay with that? Aren't you afraid?"

Louisa laughed amused:

"Afraid of what? Maggie attacking me during the night? It's okay; I'm not her type."

Burt tried to calm things down:

"New York is an expensive place and roommates are necessary. Kurt used to share his apartment with two other people, right kiddo? But I insisted he should move there; NYADA is the best school for them and we are proud to have three of the members of our family going there. Not to mention Rachel, Finn's girlfriend."

Muriel smiled politely:

"That's truly... how can I say?... A blessing!"

Louisa snorted out a comment:

"Bullshit..."

Mrs. Hummel caught that and immediately slapped her hand on the table reprimanding the girl:

"Louisa! Where are your good manners?"

The girl hit the point she was avoiding but she knew would be inevitable: her blood had begun to boil.

"They are together with your politeness, Grandma."

Muriel was simply shocked. She looked at Andrew in disbelief:

"Andrew! Will you let your daughter talk to me like this?"

Before he could form an answer to give to his traditional mother or to his daughter that couldn't loath him more; Louisa got up throwing her napkin on the floor:

"And will you let your nephew suffer prejudice from his own family?"

Kurt tried to make her sit down again; he tried in a feeble voice:

"Boo, that's alright..."

She cut him off:

"No Kurt; that's disgusting! Since we arrived here, Grandma has done nothing but judge you and Blaine. If our society is as cruel and prudish as it is, you should at least be allowed to be yourself with your own family. With the ones who love you unconditionally."

Muriel got up too:

"Maria Louisa Hummel; I won't admit that you come into my house to tell me I don't love my grandson!"

"First of all: I'm not saying you don't love him; I'm just pointing out that you are trying to mold him into the perfect boy you picture him to be. Second: My name is Maria Louisa Alcantara Hummel. Maybe that's why I won't resign so easily. You know what, Grandma? You've lived alone here by yourself far too long; times are changing and you can't stop people from being who they are."

What happened next was so much of an insanity that leaved all action-less: Louisa got up on the table and started singing Queen's We Will Rock You while slapping two times in her chest and clapping her hands once to mark the rhythm.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/XMLiqEqMQyQ

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise

Playing in the street gonna be a big man some day

You got mud on your face

You big disgrace

Kickin' your can all over the place

Singin'

One by one, the people on the room started reacting to Louisa's outburst.

We will we will rock you

Finn was the first; he began to drum on the table following the rhythm with her.

We will we will rock you

Carole started to take Mrs. Hummel's china away from Louisa's dancing feet. Burt, who knew trying to stop his niece now would only make things worse; joined Carole.

Buddy you're a young man hard man

Shouting in the street gonna take on the world some day

You got blood on your face

You big disgrace

Wavin' your Banner all over the place

Blaine was taken by Lou's enthusiasm and joined her by getting up on his chair and singing chorus to her (Finn began to sing when Blaine did).

We will we will rock you

Singin'

We will we will rock you

Buddy you're an old man poor man

Pleading with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day

You got mud on your face

Big disgrace

Somebody better put you back into your place

Kurt looked at his family in a mixt of marvel with fearfulness.

We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you

singing

We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you

everybody

We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you

Only Andrew and Muriel stayed awestruck throughout the entire performance.

Louisa was still standing on the table, having just finished the song, when Muriel sat back shocked:

"I think I'm the one to blame for what we have seen here tonight. My father was right: we must stay away from the arts. If I haven't filled you with artistic dreams; you wouldn't have become the band of hippie sodomites you are today."

Louisa was about to protest when Kurt got fed up and left the room in tears. Blaine was quick in running after him and Burt signaled Louisa to let him take care of it. An awkward silence fell in the dining room and they just stayed there staring at each other and pretending nothing had happened.

xXxXx

Brody's phone began to ring in his deserted lodge-room. He checked out who it was and was surprised to see Rachel's name flashing.

"Rachel? Anything wrong?"

"No; does anything have to be wrong for me to call you?"

Brody chuckled but he wasn't completely at ease with this conversation:

"Of course not. We are trying to be friends; aren't we?"

"Exactly. That's why I called to see if you had company for your Thanksgiving dinner or if you wanted to join me and my dads for a turkey the Berry style?"

He sat down on his bed and took a deep breath trying to regain his focus:

"It's tempting; but I don't think it would be wise..."

"Why not?"

"You really want me to say it out loud? Okay, then; I don't trust myself to be alone with you in a room."

She giggled:

"So you doubt your feelings towards Louisa?"

"Stop teasing me, Rachel! No; I don't doubt what I feel for her, but we aren't there yet. For now, I'll stick to my original plan of going to a fancy restaurant to enjoy a fine wine and some delicious food."

"Ok; it's your call. My proposition is still open if you change your mind. Maybe you are being the wise one here..."

He was surprised:

"Does that mean you doubt your feelings for lover-boy?"

"Goodbye Brody; maybe we bump into each other sometime during the long weekend."

"Goodbye Rachel Berry; but remember you owe me one: I opened my heart to you and it's only fair that you do the same."

xXxXx

Blaine found Kurt curved to a ball laying on one of the bunk beds of the "children's" room. He smiled to himself and lightly sat on the bed passing his arms around Kurt. Only then, the boy perceived he wasn't alone in the room. Kurt was trying to hide the fact he had been crying when he spoke:

"She wasn't like that, you know? She had some friends who admitted being gay years ago, when everything was more tabooed than now."

Blaine adjusted him in the embrace and kissed the top of his boyfriend's head:

"Don't you think I have heard worse from my own father?"

Kurt looked at him alarmed

"Oh honey; I'm so sorry. Here I am being silly."

Blaine shushed him pulling him back to the embrace:

"It's not silly; you were gotten by surprise. You are lucky to have the father you have and people like Louisa in your family. She did all of that for you; you know? She might be in trouble now for defending you."

"Oh My! I should go there and thank her."

"I don't think she's expecting it. She knows that if we show back there now things may get worse."

Kurt sighed and Blaine began to stroke his hair. They were silent for a while before Kurt sat up to look at him:

"I know it's not my fault; but you had to hear some nasty things on my behalf tonight."

Blaine grinned:

"For you, I'd face much worse."

Blaine leaned in and captured his lips in a kiss. Kurt threw himself at it and let his worries be swept by Blaine's tongue movements. Exactly at this moment, Louisa knocked on the door and walked in on them:

"Hey boys, remember the room is not only yours tonight."

They broke apart laughing. She smiled kindly:

"How are you, pumpkin?"

Kurt returned her a grateful smile:

"I'm fine; thank you."

She winked:

"No need for that between us."

Blaine got up from the bed walking towards his bag:

"We better get ready for sleeping. Which bed should I take?"

Louisa laughed at him:

"Stop being so narrow minded, Bowtie. General Hummel won't be checking on us during the night. Just put two mattresses together on the floor and you two can cuddle to sleep."

The couple looked at each other amazed by the girl's simple solution. Kurt spoke it aloud:

"That's genius, boo!"

She chuckled:

"It's called the Brazilian way of living; we are the masters of finding creative solutions to our daily puzzles. But that doesn't mean I won't be sleeping in the same room as you. I have nowhere else to sleep; so keep it PG. I'm sure Finn is also not willing to go to sleep with make-out noises on the background..."

Blaine smirked:

"I thought Maggie made you get used to it.

He was assaulted by a pillow flowing in his direction. He was hit by it and looked at Louisa, who was threatening him:

"I won't save your sorry asses the next time."

xXxXx

One of the best things about Grandma House was the silence. It was so peaceful and quiet that anyone would feel immediately calm. Louisa knew that very well and she wanted to take full advantage of it. That was why she woke up earlier than everybody did and when to sit on the rocking chair on the porch accompanied by her cup of tea.

She was so absorbed in watching the landscape that she only noticed that Burt was by her side when he spoke:

"Mind if I join you?"

She smiled kindly and moved a little to leave room for him to sit by her side. He had a cup of coffee in his hand and he passed his free arm around her:

"So, how's New York life treating you?"

"Not so kindly; but it's good to have Kurt with me. And, although I don't like admitting it, Blaine is a wonderful friend."

"And how about your disease?"

She looked at him and he was staring into the wide. However, she felt like he had an eye pointed directly to her soul. She took another sip of the tea before responding:

"It has its ups and downs. The medication is keeping it under control but New York has been testing my limits."

He sighed:

"The problem about your disease is that it's silent; you seem calm on your exterior and no one can see how much you're hurting on the inside. The prejudice come from there: people are afraid of what's different and what they can't understand. It was the same with Kurt and Blaine; no one can see how they feel inside and that's why people judge them. Anyway, all of this just to tell you that I have supported them with their struggles and that now I'm here for you."

She turned to him with moist eyes and he just opened his arms wide for her to snuggle in his embrace. Their heard someone clearing his throat and turned to see Andrew standing by the door. His face was serious:

"Good morning Burt, Louisa. Can I talk to you, Lou?"

She frowned at the nickname but decided to follow him on a walk around the grounds. They were circling the house when Andy spoke first:

"It was here that I saw you growing. You were just a little girl when you came to visit me and I freaked out every time. I brought you here so Mom could help me taking care of you."

"That part I know. The problem began later."

He sighed:

"You insist on seeing that as a problem..."

She couldn't believe her ears:

"I beg your pardon? You don't think that not hearing from you the last sixteen years is not a problem?"

"It's not like that; there wasn't a month I didn't send your mother money to help raising you..."

"Money? Do you think that's enough? You have no idea what my mother went through to raise me."

"You're right; I don't. That's why I want to get to know you!"

She looked down trying to calm herself. She then looked at him straight in the eyes:

"Do you want to know me? Let me tell you a couple of things..."

She began to let her feelings out in the best way she knew how: singing. She chose ABBA's The Name of the Game to ask her father why he had done what he did. Andrew just watched and swallowed hard as if absorbing her every word.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/XtY_i1mP3OI

I've seen you twice in a short time

Only a day since we started

It seems to me for every time

I'm getting more open hearted

I was an impossible case

No one ever could reach me

But I think I can see in your face

There's a lot you can teach me

So I wanna know what's the name of the game?

Does it mean anything to you?

What's the name of the game?

Can you feel it the way I do?

Tell me please 'cause I have to know

I'm a bashful child beginning to grow

And you make me talk and you make me feel

And you make me show what I'm trying to conceal

If I trust in you, would you let me down?

Would you laugh at me if I said I care for you?

Could you feel the same way too

I wanna know the name of the game

I have no friends, no one to see

And I am never invited

Now I am here talking to you

No wonder I get excite

Your smile and the sound of your voice

And the way you see through me

Got a feeling, you give me no choice

But it means a lot to me

So I wanna know what's the name of the game?

Does it mean anything to you?

But it means a lot, what's the name of the game?

Can you feel it the way I do?

Tell me please 'cause I have to know

I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow

And you make me talk and you make me feel

And you make me show what I'm trying to conceal

If I trust in you would you let me down?

Would you laugh at me if I said I care for you?

Could you feel the same way too?

I wanna know, oh yes I wanna know

The name of the game

Does it mean anything to you?

What's the name of the game?

Can you feel it the way I do?

But it means a lot, what's the name of the game?

Does it mean anything to you?

What's the name of the game?

Can you feel it the way I do?

She finished the performance with a fierce look glued to his. All he could do was lower his head. She snorted and went away back into the house.

xXxXx

Finn understood why Rachel had stayed in New York, but it didn't make him miss her less. He loved Muriel Hummel's house and he wished he could share it with her. He did his best: he took a picture of the view from their shared room and sent it to her with the subtitle: "wish you were here."

A little before lunch was served; his phone rang and he answered with a smile:

"Hi babe!"

"Hi babe; how are things around there?"

"It's so beautiful around here, Rach. I wish you could see it too."

He could hear the softness in her voice:

"Oh Finn; the picture you sent was so gorgeous. I'm sure it would have been a perfect vacation there with you guys; but here is not bad either. My dads have gone crazy with Broadway and Fifth Avenue. They even took me shopping. They are going to a Spa today and I'm having lunch with Brody."

"Rachel, I think the phone is not working properly. The last sentence I understood was that you are having lunch with Brody."

His laugh died in his throat as she spoke again:

"That's right. He's coming pick me up in five minutes."

"I can't believe it, Rachel! You are not having lunch with him!"

"What's the problem, Finn? Aren't you there with Louisa?"

"That's totally different! She's visiting her grandmother and you aren't here because you had other plans."

"Finn, I don't want to fight over the phone..."

"Me neither; but you are the one having a date with your freaking ex-boyfriend!"

"He's my friend and he was completely alone during Thanksgiving. I thought it was only polite to invite him over."

"Fine, Rachel! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving Finn. There's no reason for you to be mad at me. I hope we can talk about it when you are back in New York."

xXxXx

Lunch time was the first time since Louisa's incident that all the Hummels where in the same room again. Everyone took the same place as the night before and lunch was served in total silence.

Burt cleared his throat:

"So, mom, how was your morning?"

"Quite decent."

She shot a glance Louisa's way. The girl was concentrating on cutting her meat. You could hear the sound of the cuterly. Carole smiled a little embarrassed.

"We went hiking. Burt showed me how beautiful nature is around here."

Silence still. Finn smiled at his mom between bites. She turned back to Burt with a resigned face. He tried once more:

"How about you, kiddo? Say something, Kurt."

"Could you pass me the potatoes?"

More sound of cuterly on the tablewear. No one else said a thing.

Muriel finished her meal and stood up:

"I'll be serving tea and cookies in the living-room."

Entering for the first time in the living-room in day light; Blaine was astonished by the piano:

"What a magnificent piano you have here, Mrs. Hummel."

She politely gave the boy a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Burt saw an opportunity to easy things down:

"It's a family heirloom; it was my grandmother's. Would you like to play it, Blaine? I bet you know Mary Poppins' Feed the Birds by heart. It one of mom's favorites and she'd be glad if she could sing for us. Right, mother?"

Muriel shot him an ice glare but wouldn't let her true colors show:

"Do you know the song, young man?"

Blaine smiled

"It's one of my favorites too. It'd be an honor to accompany you, ma'am.

It was without great enthusiasm that Muriel sat next to the piano and began to sing as Blaine played the melody. Slowly, tears began to form in her eyes, but she didn't let it reach

her voice.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/XHrRxQVUFN4

Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's,

The little old bird woman comes.

In her own special way to the people she calls,

"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs."

"Come feed the little birds, show them you care,

And you'll be glad if you do --

Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare;

All it takes is tuppence from you."

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,

Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.

"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,

While overhead, her birds fill the skies.

All around the cathedral, the saints and apostles

Look down as she sells her wares;

Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling

Each time someone shows that he cares.

Though her words are simple and few,

Listen, listen, she's calling to you --

"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,

Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."

It wasn't until the very last note that she couldn't hide the crack anymore. She quickly wiped her tears and comment acidly:

"If only this boy knew the notes I wouldn't be off-key on the last note."

Kurt was about to protest but Burt once again waved him to let it go.

xXxXx

It was a tradition when they were young to climb the tree house when they wanted to talk about something the grown-ups couldn't hear. That was why Louisa knew where to lead Blaine and Finn after Kurt's sudden disappearance after lunch. As predicted, the boy was there staring at the mountains. She hugged him from behind and kissed his shoulder:

"You know it was about her lost dreams and not Blaine that she was so pissed off, right?"

He smiled coyly:

"Why is the heavy burden on us then?"

"Because she already cheated on me by not telling my father would be here."

Kurt chuckled and sat on the floor; soon being followed by the others. He took Blaine's hand:

"Here used to be our hiding spot when he didn't want to rehearse anymore."

Blaine smiled at his boyfriend and kissed the back of his hand. Finn looked confused:

"I don't get it; why do you take all that crap from her? I've never seen you so keen to do what you are told, Kurt."

Kurt looked fondly at his brother:

"It's because of dad; I worry about his health. He always told me to be careful around Grandma Hummel. Her father killed all her dreams and she tried to live them through us. However, she had never been so mean."

Louisa added in a serious tune:

"Maybe seen we getting closer to her dream of living through the arts is making her so sour. I mean; she was always strict but kind, but now she all about appearances and good manners and none about the cheer of having her family reunited."

Kurt took Louisa's hand with his free one. Finn commented absented minded:

"I wonder what number we'll have around dinner time."

They laughed together and enjoyed the rest of their time alone in the tree house.

xXxX

The dinner was served along with the now usual awkward silence. However, Carole wasn't the one to see a family breaking apart and do nothing. She was decided to keep a polite conversation during dinner:

"So Louisa, I heard you have a boyfriend in New York? Why couldn't he come?"

To Carole's great surprise, her plans were frustrated by her own son:

"Because he had to stay there to screw with my girlfriend..."

Muriel was outraged:

"I beg your pardon? Is that how your kids live nowadays or is it just the ones involved with the arts? Are all of you queers or sharing boyfriends and girlfriends?

Kurt had enough and couldn't keep his mouth shut even for his father's sake:

"I don't get it, Grandma. You always knew I was gay; why did you choose to pick on me only now?

"Because my problem is with you shoving it down all our throats, naturally."

Kurt looked at her in disbelief:

"Naturally? What's natural about me hiding my true self just to please a hypocrite society?"

Muriel snorted:

"Finding a job and way of sustaining you and your family!"

"Excuse me, but being gay isn't a disease. I'm perfectly able of finding a job and sustaining the family I'll start with Blaine. I think I'll take my cousin's cue and sing you my feelings."

Kurt got up but wasn't as theatrical as Louisa when he began to sing La Cage Aux Folles' I Am What I Am.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/T4VMudwlVEU

I am what I am

I am my own special creation

So come take a look

Give me the hook or the ovation

It's my world that I want to take a little pride in

My world and it's not a place I have to hide in

Life's not worth a damn

Till you can say, "Hey world, I am what I am"

I am what I am

I don't want praise, I don't want pity

I bang my own drum

Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty

And so what, if I love each feather and each spangle

Why not try and see things from a different angle?

Your life is a sham till you can shout out loud

I am what I am

I am what I am

And what I am needs no excuses

I deal my own deck

Sometimes the ace

Sometimes the deuces

However, the song would finish in a golden-pants worth performance and dance number.

There's one life

And there's no return and no deposit

One life, so it's time to open up your closet

Life's not worth a damn till you can say

"Hey world, I am what I am"

By the end of it; Muriel just got up and took her bedroom direction. No one argued

when Louisa got up and followed her.

xXxXx

Louisa knocked lightly on the door:

"Grandma; can I come in?"

As she received no answer, she entered anyway. Muriel was sat on bed and wiping her tears away in a handkerchief. Louisa sat at the bed too. They weren't facing each other when Muriel began to talk:

"Why are you throwing all your rage at me?"

Louisa snorted.

"You really can't tell why? After being so obnoxious to us since we arrived? No one messes with the Hummels. Especially not another Hummel."

Muriel had a real question she posed Louisa:

"Can you tell me how was I obnoxious?"

Louisa rolled her eyes but decided to go on with her plan of having an honest conversation with her grandmother:

"Do you mean besides forcing me to see my father and throwing all kinds of prejudices towards Kurt and Blaine?"

Muriel used a humble tune to ask the next question:

"What did I do that you saw as a prejudice towards Kurt and his boyfriend? I know Kurt is gay for a long time now..."

Louisa judged it must be hard on her grandmother to be facing all her ghosts at once. That was what kept her calm and kind:

"Grandma, I must say everything you did until now. You assumed Blaine couldn't be religious because he was gay and it didn't even cross your mind to ask Finn the same question. You said he and Kurt won't get jobs for being open about their relationship. Basically; you were telling that everyone who doesn't live by your rules is wrong."

Muriel sobbed getting Louisa by surprise:

"I just want the two of you to be the best you can be; to reach the highest you can reach."

Louisa passed her arm around the other woman and pulled her grandma closer:

"You know, Grandma, your little boy is still there behind those kind blue eyes. As I'm still your little girl behind my walls of insecurities. I know it was hard for you giving up on your dream, but maybe helping us pursue ours can make you feel better. No one messes with the Hummels, right?"

Muriel chuckled in the girl's embrace. She moved a little away and cupped Louisa's face in her hand:

"You turned into such a pretty young lady; you look just like your mother. I can see you achieving great things. You could start by helping me in a much needed apology."

Louisa smiled and took the hand Muriel was extending her. They walked together to the living room where Muriel cleared her throat to get everyone's attention:

"I guess I have some apologies to make and I'd like to start with my handsome

Grandson. Kurt, can you forgive your silly old-fashioned grandmother?"

Kurt got up with moist eyes and walked to hug her:

"Oh Grandma; you're practically perfect in every way and I love you so much."

She was stroking his hair as she answered:

"I love you so much. Actually, all of you. And Blaine; do you happen to know The

Sound of Music's theme song by heart?"

Blaine smiled and nodded. She smiled fondly at him:

"Great! If you could honor us by playing it on the piano; there's a family tradition we have long forgotten."

Blaine went to the piano and all of them sat around the matriarch to join her in the song. Kurt was the one closest to her and rested his head on her shoulder. Louisa saw it and winked at Burt. He smiled, nodded towards Andrew and winked back at her. She shook her head in disbelief.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/CtEFcqNAFlU

The hills are alive with the sound of music

With songs they have sung for a thousand years

The hills fill my heart with the sound of music

My heart wants to sing every song it hears

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds

That rise from the lake to the trees

My heart wants to sigh like a chime

That flies from a church on a breeze

To laugh like a brook when it trips

And falls over stones on its way

To sing through the night

Like a lark who is learning to pray

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely

I know I will hear what I heard before

My heart will be blessed with the sound of music

And I'll sing once more

Burt approached his niece and captured her in a hug. He then whispered in her ear:

"One day, kiddo. No one messes with the Hummels, right?"

"At least I know my uncle has my back."