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Sebastian lightly squeezed Blaine’s hand as the car idled to a stop in the driveway of his family house. The house stood imposing and elegant in front of them, as cold as ever.
“Don’t be worried, he’s going to love you,” Sebastian reassured Blaine. “Well, if he was capable of loving someone,” he kept to his own thoughts. He knew that at the very least, his father would be cordial. Distant and civil, his usual state.
A nervous laugh escaped Blaine. “Unfortunately, I am going to worry.” He looked over at Sebastian, still holding onto his hand a little tighter than he needed to. “Your house is lovely.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “My father loves to show off. I mean, did we really need a house with a fountain out front?”
Blaine laughed a little at that, and Sebastian was relieved he could lighten the mood.
“Ready to go in?” Sebastian asked, receiving a small nod from Blaine.
Blaine and Sebastian had been dating for a little over a year now. They made it official right before they both moved to New York for college, Sebastian at NYU and Blaine at NYADA. Their first Christmas in college passed with Blaine back in Ohio with family and Sebastian staying in New York to get ahead on classwork. And avoiding his parents.
This year, however, Blaine’s family was traveling for the holidays, so Sebastian had invited him to spend Christmas with him and his dad. He wasn’t thrilled at the idea of subjecting Blaine to a weekend with his father, but he really didn’t want Blaine to be alone, and he also couldn’t skip Christmas this year.
The air was cold as they stepped out of the car, and Sebastian could see his breath in front of him. He grabbed their bags, leading Blaine up the front steps.
“Oh, one thing before we go in,” Sebastian started, keeping his voice low. “He probably won’t even bring it up, but I would advise against mentioning or asking about the divorce.”
Blaine shook his head. “Of course, yeah. I won’t say anything.”
Sebastian’s parents had split up and filed for divorce while he was in the midst of classes starting that year. On the outside, he had handled it well, but Blaine spent a lot of nights at his apartment with him those first few months. His mother moved across the country without telling him beforehand, and his father threw himself even more into his work, so neither of them had time or courtesy to talk to their son about what had happened. Sebastian honestly had no idea how his father was going to be, but communicative and emotional was definitely not on the list of options.
Sebastian was holding his breath as he knocked, not realizing that he was until the door swung open. His father was dressed casually in jeans and a red sweater, holding a glass of wine in one hand.
“Son, so glad you’re home,” his father greeted.
Sebastian’s reply was cut off by the shock of being pulled into a long hug. He was still reeling as his father hugged Blaine next.
“Blaine Anderson, I presume.”
Blaine returned the hug, nodding. “Yes, sir. Thank you for letting me join you guys for Christmas, your home is lovely.”
“Oh, it’s lovely to have you,” Sebastian’s father laughed lightly. “Please, call me Frank. Come in, both of you.”
Sebastian stood glued to his spot, thoughts not yet catching up to his father’s unusually warm greeting.
“Well, don’t just stand there, son. I have someone I want you to meet.”
Meet?
Sebastian met Blaine’s eyes, confusion and frustration building.
“If he’s already married again, I’m going to kill him,” Sebastian whispered to Blaine as they sat their bags in the entryway.
Blaine gave him a sympathetic look. “Maybe he just has a friend over?” He offered, trying to be optimistic.
Sebastian scoffed lightly. “Like he has friends.”
They followed his father to the living room, which was fully decorated for Christmas, garlands and an extravagant tree in the far corner. A man stood from the couch when they entered, making his way over to them. He looked mildly familiar to Sebastian, but he couldn’t quite place him.
Blaine’s mouth was hanging open when Sebastian looked over.
“Josh Groban?”
The man laughed lightly and nodded, holding his hand out to Blaine. “Nice to meet you.”
“Why are you…?” Sebastian started, looking between Josh and his father. “Is this some sort of private Christmas concert? I didn’t even know you listened to his music. Or any music, for that matter.”
Frank laughed and walked over next to Josh. “Well, I didn’t until we met. But,” he said, wrapping his arm around the other man’s waist, “once he sang for me, I couldn’t help but be a fan.”
“I’m sorry, are you dating Josh Groban?”
* * *
A few hours later, after a tense evening of socializing and gifts and singing (which Blaine was excitedly joining in on with Josh Groban), Sebastian sat on his childhood bed staring at the wall. Blaine sat next to him, both of them leaning back against the headboard, Blaine’s hand in his. Seeing his father with someone new was jarring to say the least, but it wasn’t just that. He was different tonight. Warm. Something Sebastian had never seen on past Christmases.
“Well, he’s certainly taking the divorce a lot differently than I expected.”
Blaine chuckled a little before stopping himself. “Sorry. This is just about the last thing I expected to walk into tonight.”
“That makes two of us,” Sebastian replied, shaking his head in disbelief. He was quiet for a few long minutes. “He seemed more relaxed and happy tonight than I’ve probably ever seen him.”
Blaine looked over and smiled. “That’s good though, right?”
He should feel happy, but his feelings were conflicted. So many years were spent trying to win his father’s affection that he’ll never get back. The built up anger and disappointment that had never truly gone away. Watching his mother distance herself from both of them when his father was stressed and taking it out on them. It was all a little too much to just let go.
Sebastian shrugged. “I guess. I wish he hadn’t waited until my entire childhood was over to find that side of himself. But hey, better late than never,” he said, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
Blaine softly leaned his head against Sebastian’s shoulder and squeezed his hand, both of them sitting in silence for a few moments.
“I think you should give him a chance,” Blaine said softly. “I know that I don’t know everything you went through growing up, but if he’s more open now, maybe he would be willing to talk about it.”
Sebastian nodded softly. Blaine’s optimism and his ability to see the good side of every situation were both things that he always loved about him.
“You’re always right,” Sebastian whispered and kissed him softly on the top of the head.
* * *
“So,” Sebastian started as he walked into the kitchen, “how did you two meet?” Concealed frustration laced his voice as he got his father’s attention in the otherwise empty kitchen.
His father was refilling two glasses of wine. He turned his head slightly at his son coming into the room. “Sebastian, listen. I know this must be… different for you-”
“Different?” Sebastian cut him off. “There wasn’t a single Christmas while I was growing up that you spent more than 10 minutes with me. But now, you’re suddenly interested in spending time with your son to show off to your new partner what a magnificent father you are.” Sebastian leaned his back against the counter and rolled his eyes. “You might have him and Blaine fooled, but I’m not so easy.”
Sebastian’s father set down the bottle of wine and joined him, leaning on the counter next to him. “You’re right.”
“Wait, sorry - what?” Sebastian looked over at his dad, not sure if he had heard him right.
“You’re right, Sebastian,” he started, shaking his head. “I wasn’t there. I know I can’t change any of that, but I can try to be better now. Just give me a chance,” he said, trying to meet Sebastian’s eyes.
Sebastian took a deep breath. “Fine, yeah.”
His father put a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.” He went to grab the two glasses of wine and motioned toward the living room. “Why don’t you bring Blaine down and join us in the living room? I made dessert, and it would be a shame to have it without you two.”
* * *
Sebastian sat on the floor with his back against the couch, Blaine in front of him, leaned back into his arms. Two mugs of hot chocolate sat on the floor next to them, and their legs were wrapped up together in a blanket. The room was soft and warm, candles and Christmas lights giving it a comfortable glow.
He wrapped his arms around Blaine and pulled him closer. His father sat at the piano while Josh played, and Blaine was softly singing along. Sebastian leaned his head against Blaine and felt himself drifting off, the music lulling him to sleep.
“Happy first Christmas together,” he whispered to Blaine, letting his eyes shut.