There was something about Blaine’s bed at his parents’ house that made him sleep later than usual. Maybe it was the thread count of the sheets the different mattress, the down comforter so light and warm above him – he wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the fact that it was a holiday and those generally meant relaxation and sleeping in, though there was no way his mother wouldn’t contend those points, but no matter what it was he slept in.

He really should have set an alarm.

A pillow coming down hard across his back was what woke him up, and he groaned into his own pillow in response. Out of all the ways he could have possibly been woken up, of course it was that. He much would have preferred being cuddled awake, kissed awake, even gentle shaken awake, as opposed to a pillow attack. And when he didn’t move right away, it happened again.

“Rise and shine, Squirt!”

“Go away.” His voice was muffled, but it was still loud enough for his brother to hear.

“No can do,” Cooper said, and there was the smack of the pillow again. “I was sent up here with specific instructions to get you out of bed.”

“Should have sent Kurt,” he said, turning his head to burrow his face in even further.

“Right. Because that would have gotten you out of bed, as opposed to kept you in it.”

“Hmph.”

“Get. Up. Now. Blaine.” Each word was emphasized with the pillow hitting him on the back and he managed to roll over and grab it, yanking it hard to get it away from his brother. “Hey!”

“I’ll be down in a minute, just go away,” he said, throwing the pillow in the general direction of Cooper.

“Alright, I’m just saying you’re the last one to get up and Mom might not let you have breakfast because she’s about to go into cooking mode.”

“In a minute.” Blaine sat up and rubbed at his face, immediately missing the warmth of the cocoon he’d had in his bed. Cooper left, the door closing behind him, and that gave Blaine the chance to process what he’d said.

He was the last one to get up. That never happened. More than that, it meant that Kurt was awake and probably being subjected to his family. How long had he been awake and why hadn’t he come to get Blaine?

Blaine scrambled out of bed, still sleepy but getting there, and tugged at his pajamas to make sure they were all in place before he made his way out of his room. After a brief stop at the bathroom, because teeth being brushed was a must, he went down the stairs and straight to the kitchen. The threat of not having breakfast was a very real one, and he needed coffee if nothing else.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Marie greeted, resting her hand against his back as he came up beside her.
“Did you want cereal?”
“Yes, that’d probably be a good idea,” he murmured, swallowing a few times to get the roughness out of his voice. “Please.”

“Go on and sit, I’ll bring it over. There’s stuff all over the counter.” He shuffled over to the island in the middle of the kitchen, sitting on an empty stool and smiling a little when he felt Kurt’s hand reach over and squeeze his knee.

“I think,” Kurt said quietly, leaning over and pressing a light kiss against his shoulder, “this might be the most you’ve ever slept in the whole time I’ve known you.”

“I was comfy,” Blaine said, running his hand through his hair to keep it off his forehead. The standard rule of fixing his hair before being around people didn’t apply when it was his family – it wasn’t like they didn’t know he looked like a Muppet unless he tried not to. Besides, there had been a time constraint in order to get breakfast, so his shower had to wait. “How long have you been awake?”

“About an hour and a half.” There was the clank of a bowl and mug being set in front of him, and Blaine was very grateful for food and coffee so he could feel more like himself. It took a few sips of coffee before he registered Kurt’s words.

“An hour and a – why didn’t you come and wake me up?” he asked, brow furrowing as he tilted his head toward him.

“I was going to, but you looked so content. It’s fine, I’ve just been sitting and talking.”

“Talking to…?” Blaine started into his cereal, and he hadn’t realized just how hungry he was until that first spoonful hit his tongue.

“Everyone?” Kurt laughed lightly, his hand not moving from its resting point on Blaine’s knee. “Mostly Cooper and your dad.”

“I’ve been listening,” Marie said from her spot across the room. “Been a tad busy for talking.”

Blaine hummed a little in acknowledgement as he kept eating. He hadn’t meant to leave Kurt to the whims of his family, especially not for that long, but Kurt seemed to be okay with it. At least, he hadn’t run away before Blaine had woken up. It wasn’t that they were intimidating, at least he didn’t think they were – except for his dad sometimes and he figured that was just because it was his dad – but still, they were his family.

“Yes, but we did come to the agreement that you’re going to let me help get things ready for dinner,” Kurt said.

“Very true, and I’m grateful for the help. Blaine, you have to help, too.”

“What?” Blaine said, dropping his spoon into the empty bowl.

“Oh, we decided that you should practice for your audition,” Kurt supplied. “So you can do that while Marie and I get everything prepared.”

“Just like you used to when I would make dinner,” Marie said, swooping over to take the cereal bowl away and put it in the sink. “So we can hear what you’ve been working on. Kurt said you haven’t picked your pieces for sure yet, so maybe we can help you choose.”

“Oh, yeah, that sounds… nice, actually,” he said, his hands wrapping around his coffee mug and just holding it. “What time’s Burt getting here?”

“Not too late, he said he’d call when he was on his way. He’ll definitely be here in time to watch football, which is apparently a good thing according to your dad.”

It wasn’t that he had thought that his family and Kurt’s wouldn’t get along; he just hadn’t been sure how well it would work. He knew that his family could seem stuffy at times, even though the level of stuffiness decreased exponentially when Cooper was home, but Burt was so down to earth. Kurt seemed completely at ease in the situation, which was a far cry from how Blaine had been when he’d first met Burt. Then again, they’d been together much longer by the point that Kurt had been exposed to his family, not to mention the fact that Kurt seemed to take so much more in stride than Blaine did.

Still, the thought of his dad and Burt sitting down and watching football together made his head spin.

That was exactly what happened when Burt showed up, though. There was the initial hug of greeting for Kurt and then Blaine as well, which had made him feel really good actually, and then the introductions happened. It went smoothly – handshakes all around as far as Blaine could tell, and then Cooper and his dad managed to whisk Burt away to the den to watch the game.

“Sorry your dad kind of got… accosted.”

“He’ll manage,” Kurt said, shrugging as he pulled Blaine into a hug.

It still felt a little strange, being there at his parents’ house with Kurt. He’d never been in a situation like that before, and it’s not like they were being as affectionate as usual – there were far less kisses, for one – but still the fact that he was standing there just hugging Kurt in close was wonderful. The kissing could wait until they were behind closed doors, he was just glad to be able to hold his hand, hold him, and know that no one there would give it a second glance.

True to his word, Kurt helped in preparing everything for their dinner. Blaine was sure his mom appreciated the help, since Cooper wasn’t ever focused enough in the kitchen to be of any use. Sitting at the piano was a better place for Blaine than in the kitchen. It was a much less stressful environment, especially on a holiday, and he really did need to figure out what he was going to play for his audition. He felt much better thinking about it knowing that there was nothing holding him back.

The piano there at the house wasn’t anything like the ones in the practices rooms at the college, and definitely not like the one that was on the stage. There was nothing wrong with it – exactly the opposite. It was the piano he’d played more than any other. It was the one that he’d sat at when he’d first started taking lessons, young hands with small fingers pressing down keys and fumbling their way through scales.

He’d spent more time in front of that piano than he had anything else, which was apparently a strange thing in a generation of video games and computers. His focus had always been much more music based than anything else, which was how he’d ended up like he was and why he wanted to keep going. He was aware that there were other things going on in the house – the football game, for instance – but the den was in the basement and it was unlikely he was going to disturb anyone by playing.

Choosing pieces was almost automatic by that point, the way his mind would settle on one and his fingers would start seconds later. Maybe Kurt had been right when he’d said he was like a player piano, but he thought maybe that was a good thing. It was easy to focus, to let himself go and get lost in the music flowing from his hands and resonating through the instrument in front of him.

Most of the pieces were ones that Kurt had heard before, and all of them had definitely been heard by his mom before. She’d been subject to all of his practicing from lessons, for recitals, everything. Even when she hadn’t been paying attention, she’d heard it all. None of the pieces he’d been working on with Dr. Salido were anywhere close to audition ready, and he wouldn’t have been comfortable with them if they were. He wanted to play something that he knew like the back of his hand – something he knew he could play with his entire heart and soul invested.

So he played. The pieces didn’t always come out in order, movements of sonatas broken up by etudes in between, but the point wasn’t for everything to be cohesive. It was more so the want to get it all out there figure out what he wanted, what he needed. It was like he was taking every piece he was playing and throwing them up into the air, up against the wall, to see what stuck and would stay.

Time never registered when he was playing, and he had more than enough in his library to keep going for as long as he could unless someone stopped him. That was usually what happened, anyway. He wasn’t oblivious enough to cancel out the amazing scents of dinner wafting out of the kitchen, though, and that was what made him decide to stop more than anything else.

“You have good timing,” Marie commented as he walked into the kitchen. “Everything’s just about ready, but I think we need someone to taste test.”

“I happen to be very good at that,” Blaine said sagely, nodding and scooting into a stool at the island again.

“That all sounded amazing, by the way.” Kurt’s arms slid around his waist from behind, hugging him back against his chest. “You make it really impossible to choose favorites.”

“Well someone’s going to have to choose at some point,” Blaine said, tilting his head back so he could brush a kiss against his cheek.

“We’ll figure it out. At least you don’t have to narrow it down to one, because then we’d really be in trouble,” Kurt murmured, kissing his temple.

“Ahem.” Marie cleared her throat, causing them to pull away from each other. “There is serious business to attend to here.”

“Right. Taste testing. I am ready to take this very seriously.”

All the food tasted incredible, at least the little bits of everything that he got to try. There really wasn’t much like Thanksgiving dinner, all turkey and mashed potatoes and everything, comfort food beyond anything else. It wasn’t long before Marie had made Cooper set the table and they were all gathered around it, sitting with all the food laid out in front of them and empty plates just waiting to be filled.

“I don’t know how you guys usually do Thanksgiving,” Marie said, obviously directing her words toward the Hummel men sitting at the table, “but we usually start off by going around and saying what we’re thankful for. It’s… cheesy, I suppose, but there’s an awful lot to be thankful for and I don’t think we take enough opportunities to recognize that.”

“Cheesy or not, that’s always a good idea,” Burt said, and Blaine ducked his head down a little as he realized that yes it was really cheesy and what if his family seemed super weird and sappy? He couldn’t really care that much, though, because it was Thanksgiving.

“I guess I can start,” Charles began, and of course he would, because he always had for as long as Blaine could remember. “I’m thankful for my family, because I don’t think I could have asked for a better one. Having both my boys home at the same time is always a blessing and a reminder of just how lucky I am. I’m also thankful that we get to share this time of celebration and family with Burt and Kurt, both of whom I’m glad to have had the pleasure of meeting today – and hopefully there will be many more gatherings of everyone here in the future.”

“Can I just say ditto to all those things?” Marie asked with a light laugh. “I share all those sentiments, of course. Nothing means more to me than having my family together, even just for a few days, and adding people in is always such a joy. I’m also very thankful for having Kurt’s help and expertise today in the kitchen, because this meal definitely wouldn’t have ended up nearly as wonderful without it.”

“Well I’m really thankful for the call I got from my agent last night,” Cooper said, taking a sip of his water before continuing. “Getting a job is always something to be happy about, and I’d been on a bit of a drought, which didn’t make sense because I am just made for Hollywoo—” He broke off as Blaine poked him in the ribs, and he cleared his throat before continuing. “Anyway. All that hoopla about family, yada yada. I am really thankful about my new role, though, so don’t you poke me again Blaine or I will—”

“I’m thankful,” Blaine interrupted, hearing Kurt muffle a snicker on the other side of him, “for the past several months. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with being me, and I know I owe a lot of that to you, Kurt. Before any of this, I had pretty much given up on my dream in life, and you were right there to make me realize that I just had to try something different to make it possible again.” He felt slightly awkward saying all of it in front of his family, and Burt, but if they were saying what they were thankful for, it was supposed to be honest. “And to Burt, for keeping me from dying of anxiety over the whole meeting my boyfriend’s dad for the first time ordeal.”

He drew in a deep breath and rubbed his thumb hard against his palm, where his hands were clasped in his lap. “I know I don’t ever say enough how thankful I am for you, Mom and Dad. It’s not one of those things that gets said ever, except for once a year like now, but I am. I know you’ve done a lot for me, so much more than I could ever imagine or expect, and I really do appreciate it all.” He paused, chewing on the inside of his lip, and then grinning a little. “And I’m also thankful for Cooper’s new gig, because obviously any reason to keep him out of Ohio is a good one.”

“Hey!” Cooper exclaimed, hand automatically going to mess up Blaine’s hair, and he had to swat it away as he ducked.

“No, stop it! I’m happy for your job, leave me alone!”

“Boys,” Marie said warningly, and that was enough to make Cooper draw his hands back and Blaine straighten up. “Are you done?”

“Yes,” Blaine said, somewhat sheepishly.

“I’m thankful for a lot,” Kurt said softly. “I’m thankful, as I always have been, for having such an amazing dad. I’ve never had to look far to get support, or for a role model, and I know not everyone is that lucky. Not everyone has someone who accepts them when they’re different, but I do.” He hesitated, and his hand slipped over to take Blaine’s. “I’m thankful that I barged in on Blaine when he was practicing one day, and didn’t let him run away like he wanted to.” The corners of Blaine’s mouth twitched up slightly, but he stayed quiet. “And that he let me into his life, that wonderful place that it is. Being here today, with all of you, is just so much more to be thankful for.”

“Well I don’t know how to follow any of that,” Burt said gruffly, clearing his throat after a few moments of silence. “I’m not as good with words as all of you are, from what I’ve heard, but there is a lot to be thankful for. Being here with all you fine folk on a day when it’s normally just me and my kid, it’s a whole new kind of Thanksgiving. You’ve got a great family here, and that’s not something you always see these days.

“It’s not that hard to be a good dad when you’ve got a good kid, but I’m sure you know what that’s like,” he continued, reaching around and clapping Blaine on the shoulder. “Cooper too, even though I don’t really know him except that he knows a good deal about football so he’s okay in my book. I’m also kinda glad that Blaine put that piano in my house to good use, cause now I’ve got another kind of music to listen to. Plus I’m awful grateful that there’s someone out there that can make Kurt’s face light up like that. I don’t know if I’d ever seen him smile like that before. It’s always something to be thankful for when your kid’s happy.”

Blaine couldn’t help but blush at Burt’s words. It was nice to know that he made Kurt smile in that way – he’d always hoped he had, but never could know for sure. He wished, he wanted, to be able to see that for himself. That was impossible, though, so he had to settle for Burt’s reassurance. If there was anyone who was a straight shooter with the best of them, it seemed to be Burt. If he said that Blaine made Kurt smile, made him light up, then he was going to believe him.

“Well,” Marie said, her voice wavering slightly – was it with emotion? – as she spoke. “I think we can all be thankful for everything that’s been shared. So I guess there’s nothing stopping us from digging right into the food, then.”

The meal was perfect, but Blaine had already known it would be. He’d been the taste tester after all, and it had been delicious then so it definitely was going to be just as good by the time everyone else got to have it. Conversation flowed easily, not nearly as heavy or intense as it had been at the beginning of the meal when they had all gone around, but just as genuine and sincere. It was the best Thanksgiving Blaine could think of – everyone all together, honestly enjoying each other’s company. The Hummels were such a welcome addition to his family, and that alone was enough to make it amazing.

There was time to waste before dessert, but it was all put to good use. Blaine, Kurt, and Cooper took over the kitchen to clean up so the ‘adults’ could just sit and relax. Marie was pretty much banished from doing anything, considering how much she’d done in preparation, and the boys set to work. Kurt washed, Blaine dried, and Cooper put away. By the time they were halfway through the dishes, they were like a well oiled machine. The leftovers were put in the refrigerator, and Blaine could almost guarantee that they were going to be sent home with Burt when he went.

Pumpkin pie and ice cream were brought out afterward, even though Blaine was certain he wouldn’t be able to eat anything else. But it was pie and ice cream, and there was always room for that.

Burt headed back to Lima, despite the invitation to stay. Kurt had told him days before that he would have a place, but there was something said about the shop and how there was bound to be some kind of emergency on Black Friday and he’d better be there, so there wasn’t too much of an argument put up. Blaine would have loved for him to stay, and he knew it would have been good for Kurt as well, but there wasn’t much that could be said to convince him.

His goodbyes were given with handshakes and hugs, dependent on the person, much like his greetings had been when he’d arrived, though Blaine was almost confident that he’d gotten a few extra pats on the back with his hug. Marie made sure to pawn as many of the leftovers onto him as possible, just as Blaine had expected, and just like that he was gone. His visit may have been brief, but there wasn’t a single person in the house that wasn’t glad for it. Just one more thing to be thankful about.

Kurt sneaked up into Blaine’s room that night, after everyone had gone to bed. Blaine had been so used to the slight creaks of the floor in the house where he lived with Santana, but there wasn’t any of that there at his parents’ house. It was like the place was built for stealth. The door clicked closed quietly behind him, and there was a rustle of sheets and a dip of the bed before he was there curled up against him. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Blaine murmured, half-asleep like he had been before Kurt had come in. “Your hands are cold.”

“Sorry,” Kurt whispered, pulling them away and tangling them into the comforter as if that would warm them up instantly. “I just wanted to come and see you. It’s lonely downstairs.”

“That’s cause everyone else is up here.” It was true, the only bedroom on the first floor was the guest one. “I bet it’s super quiet down there though.”

“Super quiet,” Kurt repeated in affirmation. “Too quiet.”

“Did you get scared?” Blaine teased, turning slightly to be facing him, his arm slipping over his waist. “I promise there are no things that go bump in the night.”

“No, I didn’t get scared,” Kurt huffed out, feigning offense. “Can’t a guy just want to see his boyfriend before he goes to sleep?”

“A guy can definitely want that.” He leaned in, kissing him softly. “I’m thankful.”

“I’m thankful, too.”