"Are you sure he's okay with this?"

"Kurt it's Cooper -- there's very little he's not okay with."

Kurt's hand found Blaine's and squeezed.

"I wasn't talking about Cooper," he muttered.

"Yeah...I figured. He'll be fine regardless of his views. Cooper and I won't let him ruin tonight." he reached over and unlocked the front door of the Anderson home.

"What about your mom?" Kurt asked as Blaine pulled him into the entry way.

"Blainers is that you?!" Cooper's voice floated out from the kitchen, his tone teasing, "Stop making out with Kurt and get in here!"

Blaine rolled his eyes and shrugged out of his coat.

"Mom is...well, let's put it this way: not coming. She doesn't want to set foot near my dad until the divorce is final."

Kurt sighed softly and kissed his boyfriend's cheek, his lips warm considering the freezing temperatures they'd left outside.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, as long as Dad keeps the divorce out of awkward dinner conversations, it's fine. I don't like talking about it much anyway."

"Blaine I swear, if you and Kurt are fornicating --"

"Shut up Cooper, we'll be in there in a sec!" Blaine hollered as Kurt lifted a hand to his mouth to smother his giggles, eyes sparkling.

"Still that same idiot who preached pointing and avoiding eye contact in the choir room last year, I assume." he said.

"You would be correct." Blaine smiled as he helped Kurt remove his coat and hung it on the coat rack with his own. "He's toned it down some -- still does the pointing though."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Kurt chuckled as he followed Blaine into the kitchen where they found Cooper waiting for them.

"Blaine!" He was out of his chair in a flash and had his little brother wrapped up in a hug.

"Hi Cooper," Blaine laughed before pulling back, which allowed Cooper to hug Kurt too. "Where's --?"

"So you're both here now. Great -- I'm starving."

Blaine turned to see an older man with black hair and hazel eyes, dressed in a light purple button down, and black dress pants. His tie lay undone around his neck.

"Dad."

---

Blaine exchanged a nervous look with Cooper before looking at his father again. Jack Anderson looked exhausted -- probably from whatever meeting had kept him late at work (Cooper had said the firm had a last minute meeting over the phone earlier).

"Dad, I -- er -- I brought someone over for dinner." he said. Kurt's hand slipped into his again and he felt a little bit more brave. "This is my boyfriend, Kurt Hummel."

Jack sighed.

"Blaine whatever you're playing at -- don't. I'm not in the mood to argue tonight, and I was under the impression that this was a family dinner."

"He is family, Dad." he retorted.

"Okay so you hired some fairy or whatever to come try to make a point --"

"Dad!" cried Cooper, reaching for the take-out bins their father had brought home with him. "Stop it -- you know what he said, and you know that he's telling the truth. Let's eat, alright?"

Blaine gave Kurt an apologetic smile. The countertenor just shook his head as if to say it didn't bother him.

"I told him to get low cal -- I know how you are about eating healthy." Blaine murmured.

"Thank you." Kurt whispered.

---

Most of the meal was spent in silence.

"So Kurt...you go to McKinley too?" asked Jack finally.

"No sir, I graduated last year." Kurt answered. "I'm at Parsons right now, studying Fashion Design."

The older man pursed his lips, shot Blaine an annoyed look.

"So the long distance thing, you decided to try it."

"Obviously." said Cooper with a roll of his eyes, his voice a bit garbled by the fact that his fork was in his mouth.

"Coop don't talk with your mouth full."

"Whatever."

Jack ignored him.

"What's your dad do, Kurt?"

Kurt glanced at Blaine, who shrugged.

"He used to run Hummel Tire and Lube in Lima, but he got elected to Congress last year."

"Mmm. He okay with it? I mean --"

"You mean my sexuality, and my relationship with Blaine," the coolness of Kurt's voice surprised even him.

Jack shrugged.

"If you want to call it that, sure."

Kurt glanced at Blaine, then at Cooper.

"I'm curious, Mr. Anderson -- you see my father fully supports me and my relationship with your son. I've heard it's not the same around here, would you care to enlighten me?"

Jack set his fork aside, glaring at Blaine.

"What did you tell him, Blaine?" he asked sternly.

"Your attempt to turn me straight," Blaine said calmly, "The car building, Sadie Hawkins -- how you didn't bother to show up at the hospital that night, that I cried myself to sleep in Cooper's arms -- that you couldn't look at me for months...that 'accidental' dropping of the f-word...Need I go on?"

"Watch your mouth," snapped his father, who was now on his feet. "I should have said no to your friend coming over. I thought we were past this."

"It's not a phase Dad!" screamed Blaine suddenly. "God, Mom wouldn't --"

He was cut off as Jack struck him hard across the face.

"Dad!" yelled Cooper.

"Don't you dare mention that bitch to me!" Jack bellowed. "You're grounded -- indefinitely. Kurt, you're gonna have to leave. Now."

He stormed from the room. Cooper ran after him.

Kurt pulled Blaine in for a hug, silently fuming over the fact he had just witnessed his boyfriend's father hit him.

"I-I'm okay." Blaine whispered, tucking his head under the brunette's chin. "I --"

"You're not." said Kurt quietly. "It's okay -- you're coming back to my house -- staying the night."

"But Cooper and I --"

"Cooper'll understand. I'm not leaving you under this roof --"

"Kurt --"

"No, Blaine!" Kurt's voice was firm, though his hands were gentle as one rubbed his back and the other stroked his curls in a comforting manner. "Never -- I never want to see you hurt like that --"

"He's right, squirt -- go stay with the Hummels." Cooper had walked back into the kitchen. "He's holed up in his office, won't come out til much later, and I can deflect his wrath okay by myself."

Kurt nodded and let go of Blaine long enough for him to hug his big brother.

"Thank you." he whispered.

"No problem, Blaine." Cooper smiled at Kurt. "It's like you said -- he's family."

Blaine peeked out from his arms and smiled at his boyfriend.

"He is."

-The End-