Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A Family Christmas
“What do you mean you’re on a cruise?!”
Kurt, who’d just taken the first sip of his mocha and was savoring the taste, turned around to see who was disturbing his moment with their yelling.
He was surprised to see that it was the perfect gentleman who’d sat next to him on the plane and who’d never so much as winced when Kurt kept sneezing and coughing, going so far as to offer him a handkerchief when Kurt ran out of tissues. Even when Kurt had knocked over his tea, the man hadn’t complained. Most of it had landed on Kurt’s lap, of course, but some of it had spilled on his neighbor, and it had been hot, yet Mr. Perfect had seemed unperturbed, smiling at Kurt when he bumbled through an apology.
Now, though, Mr. Perfect seemed a lot less put together. His eyes were wild, and he was raking his hand through his hair.
“You’re telling me that I bought a plane ticket to Ohio to spend time with my parents only to find that they’ve gone on a cruise? At Christmas?”
Mr. Perfect paced to and fro while listening to the other end of the conversation.
“Oh, it’s not about the money, Mom, seriously. It’s about me being fool enough to believe you’d want me around for the holidays. Isn’t Christmas supposed to be family time?”
A few moments’ silence followed.
“So… What? Now that I’ve graduated high school, all of a sudden, I’m not supposed to need my parents anymore? I’m eighteen, Mom, not a thirty-something who has it all figured out! Sue me for looking forward to eating your lasagna and your meatloaf again after months of fix-it-myself meals.”
Mr. Perfect huffed at his mother’s answer to that.
“Ugh, as usual, you’re completely missing the point. Yes, I could eat out, and I do when I have the time and the money for it, but there’s nothing that beats home cooking. Anyway, I should stop making a scene here at the airport and look into flights going back to New York. Enjoy your cruise, and Merry Christmas, I guess.”
Muttering something under his breath, Mr. Perfect pocketed his phone and strode past Kurt towards the help desk.
“Um, hey…”
Kurt put his hand on the man’s arm for a split second. He stopped and turned towards Kurt, scowling, “Not now, please, I…”
Recognition dawned on his face. “You’re my plane buddy! Hey!”
“Yes. Kurt Hummel. Pleased to officially meet you. I’d offer to shake your hand, but I wouldn’t want you to catch my cold.”
Mr. Perfect smiled and shook Kurt’s hand anyway. “My name is Blaine. Blaine Anderson.”
“So, Blaine… I’m sorry, but I overheard you talking to your mom.”
“I was loud. I know. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey now, you had every reason to be angry. You came home and your family’s not here.”
Blaine sighed. “Yeah. Apparently, now that I’m no longer a burden around their necks, they’re honeymooning all over the place.”
“I heard. So I was wondering… If you’d like a family Christmas, as you said… You could come home with me? My father’s coming to pick me up, and I know he’d welcome any friend of mine with open arms.”
Blaine’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“I mean, I know we don’t really know each other, but you were so nice to me on the plane, so I thought, maybe…”
Kurt let his voice trail off and huffed. “You know what, forget it, it was a crazy idea. Sometimes I speak before I think.”
“No, no, it’s… I think it’s very sweet, but… I couldn’t possibly impose…”
A booming voice interrupted whatever else Blaine was going to say. “Kurt!! There you are!”
Kurt felt strong arms envelop him, and the comforting smell of Old Spice and motor oil surround him. He smiled and hugged his dad back just as hard. Oh, how he had missed this!
Burt released Kurt and grabbed the handle of one of his suitcases. “Packed light again, did you?”
“Daaaad…”
“So who’s that with you? The boyfriend?”
Kurt could blurt out no more than a “Huh, wha…” before his father was shaking Blaine’s hand and introducing himself. Blaine looked like a cute goldfish with his mouth opening and closing without any sounds coming out.
“He’s kind of quiet, Kurt. Do you do all the talking for him, is that it? Let the guy get a word in edgeways once in a while, eh?”
Kurt sighed. “Dad, you’ve got it all wrong. Blaine is…”
“Oh, he’s just shy, is he? Meeting the parents is kind of a big thing, that’s true. Well, I’ll give him a few days to get over it. Now, come along. I think I parked somewhere I shouldn’t, and I don’t want my car towed away, so we’d better hurry up. This way!”
Burt hurried off.
“He’s got my luggage!” Blaine said, his eyes wide and frantic. “What do I do?”
Kurt laughed. “When my dad gets something into his head, good luck knocking it out again. Seems like you’re coming home with us, Blaine. Don’t worry, you’ll survive. And you’ll have a good time. We’re crazy, yes, but harmless. Come!”
When Blaine, still flabbergasted, made no move to follow, Kurt grabbed his hand and tugged him along, providing some more information about the family as they weaved through the crowd.
“It used to be just the two of us, my dad and I, but when I was sixteen, Dad remarried, and I got a stepmom and stepbrother out of it. Carole is a darling, you’ll love her, and Finn… Well, he’s clumsy and he eats so much that he’s not allowed to take seconds until everyone else has been served, and he has a big mouth and always puts his foot in it, but he’s great, really. A good guy. And a good brother. He’s studying to be a teacher.”
When they reached the car, Burt had already loaded the luggage and urged them to get in, quick. Kurt decided to get in the back seat with Blaine. He just knew that Burt was going to spend the whole ride glancing into the rear-view mirror and questioning the supposed boyfriend, and he hoped him sitting next to Blaine would bolster the poor guy’s confidence.
Blaine did look grateful when Kurt slid in next to him, and grabbed his hand again as if it was a lifeline.
“What am I, your chauffeur?” Burt quipped.
Kurt faked a British accent. “Yes, of course. Take us home, James. The queen is coming to tea this afternoon, and I still need to make scones.”
Blaine snorted.
Still in the same accent, Kurt said, “What? I make wonderful scones!”
Blaine laughed out loud and then said, “I won’t believe that until I’ve eaten them.”
Kurt grinned, glad that Blaine was getting into the spirit of things.
“So, Blaine, is it? How did you meet Kurt?” Burt wanted to know. “You studying at the same school?”
Blaine shot a panicky look at Kurt, who squeezed his hand in comfort. “I’m studying at NYU, sir. Music therapy and composition.”
“Call me Burt, kiddo. Sir makes me feel old. Ah, so you’re a music nut, too. Are you working at the Spotlight Diner?”
“No, sir… uhm, Burt. I work as a barista.”
Burt chuckled. “With how much coffee Kurt drinks every day, I’m not surprised he found a boyfriend in a coffee shop. So what did you do, leave a foam heart on his drink? Write your number on the cup? Serenade him in front of all the other customers?”
Blaine went rigid, and his hold on Kurt’s hand bordered on painful. Kurt decided to save Blaine from further interrogation.
“Dad, please stop, okay? Blaine is exhausted, leave him alone.”
Burt huffed but shut up for the rest of the ride, cranking the volume of the radio up.
Bit by bit, Blaine relaxed, until he was bopping his head to a Katy Perry tune and softly singing along. He had a lovely voice, and Kurt sat there watching him and listening, completely entranced, until Blaine noticed. He stopped singing at once and ducked his head.
Kurt wanted to say something reassuring, but was distracted by Blaine’s fluttering lashes. The urge to tilt Blaine’s chin up and claim his lips in a kiss was overwhelming. Mesmerised, Kurt moved just a little closer, and then froze when someone cleared their throat.
“We’re home.”
Kurt snapped his head up and looked out of the window, and yes, the car was in the Hudmel driveway.
Next to him, he felt the click of Blaine’s seatbelt, and then his hand suddenly felt cold and empty when Blaine’s slipped out of it.
Kurt hastened to leave the car too, and felt his cheeks heat up when he saw his dad’s knowing grin.
Carole hugged Kurt tightly and told him not to lose any more weight. “What on earth are you eating, there in New York? You can’t live on coffee alone! And you’re way too pale. Are you cooped up inside 24/7? And you have a cough, tsk, tsk, I’ll make you some tea with honey straight away.”
She cooed over Blaine, who was polite and bashful and the perfect guest personified, apologizing that he hadn’t brought a hostess gift for her.
Dinner that night was meatloaf, and Kurt grinned at Blaine, who couldn’t quite disguise his enthusiasm. “Look, it’s your favourite! And Finn isn’t home yet, so you’ll actually get seconds this time.”
Carole squeezed Blaine’s shoulder affectionately. “You take as much as you like, honey.”
Blaine did the meal justice, and heaped praise on Carole, his eyes shining with sincerity.
Kurt didn’t notice he was smiling until he caught his dad’s eye and flushed at the meaningful look he saw there. It seemed to say, Oh boy, you’re so far gone on this kid!
Well, Burt did have a point there, but Blaine wasn’t really Kurt’s boyfriend, so this crush would lead to nothing again, as usual. That realization made the smile slide off Kurt’s face as fast as it had come, and he got up and started stacking the plates to clear the table.
“Let me help,” Blaine offered, and he took the oven dish holding the rest of the meatloaf and then hesitated, not quite sure where to take it.
“Follow me,” Kurt said, and led the way to the kitchen.
Blaine deposited the dish on the counter. “That was seriously the BEST meatloaf I’ve ever had in my life.”
“It’s the cheese,” Kurt revealed while he covered the dish and made room for it in the fridge. “There’s Parmesan cheese in it. That’s what makes it so yummy. It’s my recipe. I can teach you how to make it. If you like.”
“I like.”
Kurt rinsed the plates and put them in the dishwasher, and then popped his head into the living room to ask Carole and Burt if they wanted coffee. “I could make some decaf? And are there any cookies?”
They said yes to the coffee, and apparently, Carole had baked the day before.
Kurt found the cookie tin and sniffed appreciatively as he opened it. Even though he had a cold, the spices were strong enough for him to catch a whiff. Mmm, that smelled good!
He saw sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies and snickerdoodles. No chocolate or chocolate chip as yet, so he’d be making those the next day. Also almond snowballs, shortbread and maybe his rosemary-lemon bars? He’d have to ask Blaine what his favourite cookies were.
He held out the tin to Blaine. “Try one. We’ll be baking more tomorrow. Lots more, ‘cause Finn eats them faster than we can bake them.”
Blaine laughed and took a cookie. His moan when he bit off a piece made the tips of Kurt’s ears redden, and he hastily rummaged in the cupboards to find a tray for the coffee and the cookies.
In the living room, Carole had started the film It’s A Wonderful Life, and Kurt sighed happily, set down the tray on the coffee table and curled up on the sofa. He felt the cushions give, and a hand reach for his. Blaine!
The corners of his lips turned up of their own accord. He interlocked his fingers with Blaine’s and inched a bit closer because Blaine exuded so much body heat it was like sitting next to an oven. Cold and tired as Kurt felt, this was as close to perfect as it could get.
He watched the movie, munching a few cookies and nursing a mug of tea with honey, and suppressing more and more yawns.
The last thing he was aware of before his eyes slid closed was someone taking the mug from him and covering him with a blanket, with a soft whisper, “Sleep well.”
~~~~
Cheesy Meatloaf Recipe
Because I know you're going to ask: here's my cheesy meatloaf recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 2,5 pounds/ 1,2 kg of ground meat (a mixture of beef and pork is best)
- 2 eggs
- about 3 ounces/ 80 grams of breadcrumbs
- about 3 ounces/ 80 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
- half a bunch of parsley
- two handfuls of dried cranberries
- a clove of garlic (or more if you wish)
- some fresh rosemary
- some cubed butter to go on top
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 175° C / 350° F / gas mark 4. Finely chop the garlic and the parsley.
2. In a big oven dish, mix the ground meat with the eggs, the breadcrumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Add the garlic, parsley, rosemary and cranberries. Make sure the cranberries are inside the ground meat mix, not on the outside, or they'll be burnt. If necessary, add more Parmesan or bread crumbs until the mixture is firm enough to form it into a loaf. I always make two little loaves instead of one big one, because everyone here wants to eat the "crust" of the meatloaf, which is the crispiest and cheesiest bit, and with two loaves, there's double the crusts :-)
3. Put a few cubes of butter on top of the loaf or loaves, and then the dish goes into the oven for one hour.
4. Serve with mashed potatoes and the vegetables of your choice. Enjoy!