Fanfiction Dump

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“Don't let waiting for things to maybe work out with Blaine turn you into the guy who looks like somebody just pooped in your hand.”

Kurt took Britt's odd words to heart as he left McKinley. As much as it hurt, he let "Klaine" go and decided to fly solo. Sure, he had to dodge a crazed Sue Sylvester (trapping him and Blaine in an elevator? Really?) and realize that he no longer felt a spark when he kissed his ex one last time. But he made it through the fire without another scratch.

Quinn was his plus-one for the wedding. They had rekindled some semblance of a friendship as Britt and Santana's wedding planners, and she was there for him as he secretly fretted over his choice to stay single for a while.

"You need to rediscover Kurt Hummel," she would say. "That's vital."

Even Santana -- after she had apologized to Kurt for lashing out at him in the hallway -- agreed with her wife-to-be and her former rival.

"Before you find someone else who will appreciate your uniqueness, you need to be Kurt again!"

Then Blaine showed up with his mother Pam (a nice woman who Kurt had never met). He'd jumped in when Brittany started panicking about bad luck tainting the ceremony.

"Look, I think we should cancel out all this..." he waved his hands. "... bad juju somehow."

Quinn raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

Blaine nodded and pulled out a ring box.

Santana charged at him.

"Oh, hell no!" she shouted. "This is my wedding to Britt! You are not going to ruin it!"

Brittany piped up.

"Listen, I know our wedding is cursed with bad luck, but you can't just hijack it. Maybe have a Mounds bar while we panic over here."

Kurt stifled a laugh at that. He then rounded on his ex.

"We can handle the bad juju by ourselves, Blaine," he said. "You and your mother can just have a seat and wait for the ceremony to start."

-

The written address led Kurt to the rink at Prospect Park. It was all so scenic that he felt as if he’d stepped into one of those Hallmark Christman rom-coms. The bright and colorful decorations stood out against the night sky as he hunted down any clue as to what Dad’s surprise would be. It was clear that he’d gone all-out when he planned his gift, and Kurt’s curiosity was piqued once again. The sounds of cheer and laughter rang out all around him, and they only made him more eager to find anything remotely related to–

“Package for Kurt Hummel!”

Kurt’s heart stopped for the briefest of moments. He hadn’t heard that voice since Thanksgiving! Seeing him now was much too soon, even if that phone call had ended with the two of them on good terms. Kurt took a few deep breaths and turned around.

Blaine skated to the rink’s edge.

“Surprise! Your dad called me out of the blue,” he said. “We wanted to see a beautiful smile on your face.”

Kurt tried to remain impassive. He hadn’t told his dad about the cheating, so in hindsight, this was to be expected, really. This wasn’t meant to be a betrayal, he told himself. He’s trying to help.

It still stung. After the news of Dad’s cancer diagnosis, Blaine was the last person he wanted to see right now. Speaking of, the other boy was completely oblivious to his inner turmoil.

“Actually, he told me everything,” he continued. “And I promise I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Kurt still kept quiet. What could he possibly say that would make any of this… not bad?

Blaine pouted. “You are happy to see me, aren’t you?”

He stamped down the urge to roll his eyes. What, was he meant to be jumping for joy? Blaine knew Kurt couldn’t fully trust him, right? The words he’d said during Thanksgiving… he’d sort of meant them, but he didn’t think Blaine would actually show up. Then again, he thought of his dad. First the heart attack, now this. Kurt couldn’t rock the boat right now. He forced a smile.

“Yeah. Yeah, always,” he lied.

Blaine didn’t look too convinced. He shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Before Kurt could even open his mouth again, he was skating away from him. The families and couples around them skated on and laughed, clueless to their little spat. Kurt himself was rooted to the spot. What was he going to do now? No matter what Dad had said, Blaine was a gift he could just “return”. He was still a person with feelings. Besides, where would he go on such short notice?

On the other hand, spending Christmas with his ex and pretending everything was okay was not what he wanted to do. Kurt wouldn't budge on that. His dad needed him right now, and he’d focus his energy on making this the Hummel men’s best Christmas yet.

Nothing pushed the Hummels around. Not a cheating ex, and certainly not cancer.

Blaine was back before Kurt could really register his absence. By the look of things, he was still fuming.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I want to get some rest.”

“Fine,” was Kurt’s reply.

*

The walk back to the loft was tense. Blaine was refusing to talk to Kurt or answer his questions. Not that Kurt was interested in anything more than making small talk. Any warmth he had associated with Dad’s surprise had long dissipated. In its place was cold anger. It was mostly directed at his ex. Apparently he had planned for the two of them to have their “Christmas duet” at the rink. Now he was sulking because Kurt didn’t fall in line and do what he’d wanted.

Ridiculous.

“You still haven’t told me where you have your things,” he tried.

Blaine scoffed, but he finally opened his mouth again.

“Burt has them in one of his suitcases. He should have it in your part of the loft by now.”

Kurt almost stopped in his tracks. Of course. No matter what Dad had said, he obviously didn’t think Kurt would actually want to “return” Blaine by sending him back to Ohio – or at least to the nearest hotel. The idea of the two of them planning this out so far ahead was irritating.

“... I see.”

“Look, I don’t get why you asked, Blaine replied. “I’m clearly staying with you and Burt until we go back to Ohio.”

No, he was not going there. He knew better than to speak his mind now. Blaine wouldn’t take being thrown out well. The best thing to do was to wait until they got back to the loft and hope Dad would act as a buffer.

“Besides…”

Blaine’s voice softened for the first time since they left the rink. Kurt sighed and finally stopped walking. The other boy took his hand, and he reluctantly turned his head to face him.

“It’s Christmas. We shouldn’t be apart today of all days,” Blaine continued. “I love you, and I can’t even count how many times I’ve apologized for what I did.”

Kurt froze. Honestly, he’d been starting to fall for it again. Blaine had always known just the thing to say. He was charming and sweet in the best way. However, the mention of his cheating brought him back to reality. It seemed to him that Blaine was saying that he’d apologized enough and there was no need to dredge it back up. And the fact that he was using Christmas of all things to make his case…

It all steeled his resolve.

He sighed. “Let’s just get back to the loft, okay?”

*

Dad was sitting on the couch when he and Blaine walked through the door. That was expected. What Kurt did not expect was to see him turn around in his seat and glare at Blaine as soon as he’d heard them.

Kurt instantly felt a chill. “You alright, Dad?”

Dad shook his head as he stood up and walked toward them. Kurt immediately left Blaine’s side and went to his. Fear clenched his heart.

“Dad?”

“Why didn’t you tell me Blaine cheated on you, kiddo?” he asked.

The room instantly felt even colder. Behind them, Blaine let out a shaky breath. He stammered, but nothing came out.

“If I had known earlier, I woulda left your ass in Ohio,” he continued. “You hurt my boy and you lied to me about it.”

Kurt cut in. “How did you--”

“I just got off the phone with Carole and Finn.”

Blaine regained his voice. “What did he tell you, exactly?”

Dad glared again. “Not much. Enough. He mostly wanted to know why I even thought about bringing you to Kurt’s home after what you did.”

He took another step toward Blaine.

"Burt... Mr. Hummel... it’s not what you think,” Blaine squeaked out.

Kurt caught Dad’s arm. “Dad, it’s fine.”

He quickly shifted so that he was standing in between his father and his ex-boyfriend. This was getting too intense for his liking.

“No, it’s not, Kurt,” Dad said. “I know you. You were gonna grin and bear it, especially after what I told you before, weren’t you?”

Kurt looked him dead in the eye. “Actually, I wasn’t.”

Now it was Blaine’s turn to walk forward.

“What do you mean?” he demanded. “You’re not seriously going to throw me out on Christmas, are you?”

Dad growled. “The hell we’re not. Look, I’ve got enough money for a hotel room. You can--”

“You can’t be serious!” Blaine cut him off. “I can’t just go to a hotel on such short notice! I’m sure everything’s full.”

He looked at Kurt pleadingly. “Besides, I have an announcement to make.”

Kurt took a deep breath. It was time to end this.

“Blaine... please don’t make this harder than it already is.”

His ex opened his mouth to say something else, but Dad held up a hand to cut him off.

“You heard him,” he said. “Get your stuff. I’ll go with you.”

Blaine huffed, but he did as he was told. Dad placed his hand on his shoulder.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

*

In the end, Dad came back after only half an hour.

“Hey. I set him up for two days. After that, he’s on his way back to Lima.”

Kurt hummed. “I wonder what he wanted to tell me.”

Dad shrugged. “Does it matter?” he asked.

They chuckled before Dad sobered and sat down next to him.

“I wish you woulda told me why you and Blaine broke up. I’m not fragile, you know? I ain’t getting another heart attack any time soon.”

Kurt bit his lip. “You don’t know that. And now you have cancer, too. I can’t lose you, Dad.”

He barely registered the sting of tears before Dad pulled him in a hug.

“Guess I owe you another gift, huh? You didn't like the one I got you.”

Kurt shook his head. “No, you don’t. You coming was the only gift I needed. Merry Christmas, Dad.”

Dad pulled back and smiled.