$491,350 Blaine calculated for the third time, writing it down on a sheet of paper. Staring at the number, he sighed heavily, "Weve hardly made a dent. We only have 8,350 dollars."

"Thats after the three hundred I put in savings today. I wish we could have put away more. I got $8,300. Where did you get the extra fifty from?" Kurt asked, peering over his shoulder to study his notes.

Hesitating, Blaine said, "Oh, um, just a friend I ran into last time I was in Ohio. I talked to him about our situation and he offered to contribute." Blaine tried to sound casual, since he hadnt mentioned Dave to Kurt.

"You didnt tell me about this. Why wouldnt you mention that?" Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Whos your friend?"

"Its... no one. Just some guy I met at the bar. You know, it doesnt even matter. I havent talked to him since," he crumpled up his sheet of paper. By the look on Kurts face, Blaine knew this wasnt going to go well.

"Some random guy you met at a bar gave you money for our daughter?" Kurt placed his hands on his hips. "Isnt that kind of suspicious? Why did you accept it?"

"We need the money. Why wouldnt I accept it?" Blaine tossed the crumpled up piece of paper across the room. "How could I turn it down?"

"But you dont know him?" Kurt questioned.

"What? No... I mean, hes really nice. We started talking a couple different times I went to the bar and he felt really bad about the situation," Blaine rubbed his tired eyes. "Im not cheating on you or anything. Were just friends." He wasnt going to mention that he had drunkenly let Dave kiss him, especially because he had been too drunk to remember.

"Dont get defensive. I wasnt accusing you of cheating. Its just strange..." Kurt hesitated, as he began pacing the room. "You said you havent talked since we were there?"

"Maybe a little," Blaine said slowly. Kurt gave him his best bitch-face and Blaine slapped a hand on the table, feeling his anger rise. "I needed someone to talk to and you werent around. You came back here because your job was more important. Daves a nice guy. Is it wrong to have friends? Dont you have any guy friends other than Sam?"

Kurt stared at him for a long moment with a guilty expression on his face, before he quietly said, "I recently started talking to Elliot Gilbert."

"Whos that?" Blaine asked, feeling more frustrated as this conversation went on. This was not going well.

"Apparently some big musician weve never heard of," Kurt shrugged. "Sam knows who he is, I guess. I met him in a coffee shop and he was really friendly. Sam and I went to his show a couple weeks ago."

"So why is it okay for you to talk to Elliot, if I cant talk to Dave?" Blaine said hotly, raising his voice. "You didnt exactly tell me about him either.. Youre being a hypocrite."

"I just didnt know a stranger gave you money," Kurt shot back. "Its different. We discussed this, Blaine. We arent going to beg people for money. Did you ask him for it?"

"I didnt beg him. In fact, Dave forced it on me. I told him no, but he just wanted to help. What is so wrong with that?" Blaine balled his hands into fists.

"Because I dont see why someone would offer up money that quickly to someone they hardly know. This doesnt weird you out at all?" Kurt stopped in his tracks and stared at his husband.

"You know, we still have thousands of dollars to go. I figured it didnt hurt to take fifty dollars from someone who offered it," Blaine told him. His voice cracked as he said, "We are never going to earn this money on our own. We need all the help we can get."

Kurt sat down and placed his hand on top of Blaines. He sighed, "Youre right. Im sorry. We have to be open to all possibilities. I didnt know about this, so its suspicious. I guess I shouldnt jump to conclusions. I dont even know the guy."

"I just didnt want to freak you out, because I was afraid youd think there was more going on or whatever. Hes really just a nice person I met," Blaine said quietly. "Youre already under enough pressure. I didnt want to make it a bigger deal than it was. I hate fighting with you."

"Me too... We really do need to be open about everything and discuss it rather than argue," Kurt said. He leaned forward, resting his forehead on Blaines. "Im so sorry about all of this."

"Im sorry too," Blaine kissed him gently. "Youre right. We need to get through this together. We already have so much on our plates."

"Like this issue of you hating your job? We still havent brought that up," Kurt sat back in his chair and studied Blaines face. "Are you thinking of leaving your job?"

Sighing, Blaine stared at the crumpled up piece of paper on the floor, thinking about their money situation. It was more important to save money for Belle. If he did quit his job, how was he going to make that kind of money? He slowly shook his head and said, "No, I dont think so. I was just feeling really overwhelmed that day."

"Will you talk to me before you make that kind of decision?" Kurt asked quietly. "That kind of decision affects this family and I dont think we can afford to lose anything right now, including your job."

"Yes. Were a family, and we need to start acting like one," Blaine reassured his husband.

Gripping his coffee cup tightly, Blaine stared at the door to the coffee shop. He didnt know why he was nervous to meet Kurts friend. They had agreed that they would make the situation easier by meeting their friends, but Blaine was still unsure about all of it.

"Why are you so nervous? Its fine. Elliot is really nice," Kurt reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "I think itll be good for you to meet him."

"Yeah..." Blaine hesitated. "I mean, Im not nervous... Not - not really."

"Blaine," Kurt narrowed his eyes at him. "Ive been married to you for almost eight years. I think I can tell when youre nervous about something. Its in your eyes and your posture."

"Oh," Blaine loosened his grip on the cup and gave his shoulders a shrug to release the tension. "Sorry. Youre right. Itll be fine."

"Here he is," Kurt stood up. He greeted the man that approached their table. Looking like he was going to give Elliot a hug, Kurt stopped and shook his hand. "Elliot this is my husband, Blaine Anderson. Blaine, this is Elliot Gilbert."

"Nice to meet you," Elliot held out his hand. The guy seemed pretty normal. Blaine told himself their was nothing to worry about.

"Likewise," Blaine said half-heartedly, shaking Elliots hand, before returning his grip on the coffee cup.

Pulling up a chair from the next table, Elliot sat down on it, folded his hands on the table, and grinned, "So this is fun. Ive heard a lot about you, Blaine."

" all good things, I hope," Blaine said. He felt slightly better knowing that Kurt had let Elliot know he was married.

"Yeah, of course. Kurt told me about your daughter as well. Im so sorry that happened," Elliot said sincerely. "If theres anything I can do to help, let me know."

"No, thanks. Were handling the situation," Blaine said shortly. He caught a warning look from Kurt and cleared his throat. "Its just kind of personal."

"Sure," Elliot nodded. "Kurt told me about the ransom few. Thats awful."

"Hmm," Blaine hummed, feeling uncomfortable that Kurt had opened up to this guy. Blaine had to remind himself that he did the same thing with Dave.

"Well get through it though. Were trying to pull some money together," Kurt offered. "Im thinking maybe we should do a fundraiser or something."

"Can I help?" Elliot asked.

"No, thats too much. We hardly know you. It wouldnt be fair," Blaine said, reminding himself to loosen his grip before he smashed the cup. He was growing more irritated with Elliot by the minute.

Kurts eyes shot daggers in Blaines direction. "We accept donations but we dont require them. If you want to help, please do. Just dont feel like you have to."

"Ill get back to you on that," Elliot nodded. "Ill see what I can pull together."

Drumming his fingers on the table, Blaine felt really uncomfortable. He wasnt sure how he felt about Elliot knowing so much. He had told Dave some but not everything. "I should get to work," he finally said.

"Ah, so soon?" Elliot said softly, as he tapped the table. "Cant you stay a little longer? Were just getting started."

Standing up, Blaine shrugged, "Duty calls." He walked over to the trash can and pitched his cup. Turning back to the table, he said, "It was nice meeting you." Leaning over to kiss Kurt, to make a point to Elliot, Blaine said, "Ill see you at home, babe."

"Actually, let me walk with you," Kurt quickly got to his feet. "It is getting late. Ive gotta get to Vogue. Maybe we can do this again sometime?"

"Sure," Elliot shrugged. "Id like that."

"Im sorry to run out like this," Kurt said sincerely, placing a hand on Elliots shoulder. "I guess thats what we get meeting before work."

Smiling, Elliot replied, "No, its cool. Ive got a rehearsal with my band in forty-five minutes. We have a show in Boston this weekend."

"I thought you only played locally?" Kurt asked.

"I do, but once in a while, I get offered to play somewhere different," Elliot told him. Also getting to his feet, he smiled, "Ill see you around."

The moment Elliot left the coffee shop, Kurt slapped Blaines arm and scolded, "You could have been a little more polite! I told him you were a really nice person."

"I was nice. Hes the one that was so forward," Blaine snapped back, as he held the door open for Kurt and headed to the busy street.

"He was just trying to help. Youre the one that accuses me of being negative. Why cant we take help from other people? Our family and inner circle of friends arent going to come up with the money on their own," Kurt placed his hand on his hips defensively.

"Yeah, but why would you willingly help someone you hardly know? Isnt that weird to you?" Blaine said. "Im not sure I would."

"What? Like your friend Dave? You accepted his money after hardly knowing him!" Kurt said hotly, stopping in his tracks. "Why are you so unwillingly to accept him? Are you that jealous? Do you not trust me?"

"No. I mean, yes, I trust you. I just dont trust him. Hes clearly interested in you, and I dont want to lose you to him," Blaine admitted. He knew Kurts situation was similar to his friendship with Dave, but Blaine still had a weird feeling about it.

Letting out a long sigh, Kurt placed his hands on Blaines shoulders and said, "You are never going to lose me to anyone. Remember that conversation we had a long time ago? We didnt know if we could fully trust each other because weve both cheated." Kurt took his hand and placed it under Blaines chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "We made the decision that we have to trust each other. Weve made this work for eight years, Blaine. Im not so willing to let you go. I would never let anyone come between us, and I trust that you would never do that either."

"Im sorry," Blaine whispered. "Youre right. I need to trust you. I just..." he hesitated, avoiding Kurts gaze. He said something that had been on his mind for a while. "Since Belle, Ive been so afraid of losing you too."

Kurts eyes filled with compassion. He pulled Blaine into his tight embrace and rubbed his back, quietly, "its okay. Im right here. Youre never going to lose me."

"There you go. Thats it," Blaine encouraged, tapping his foot to the rhythm of the music. He closed his eyes and listened to A Whole New World from Aladdin ring through the room.

Until a wrong note was followed by another. Those notes were followed by another, before a loud banging took its place.

"Carter! Carter, please," Blaine grabbed the boys hands and held them tightly. "Weve talked about this. Respect your instrument. Wrong notes happen. Youve been doing so well."

"I keep messing up," Carted shouted, panting heavily. He squirmed, fighting against Blaines grasp. "Let me go!" His cries of "Let me go!" became louder with each scream.

"Carter, please," Blaine loosened the grip he had on the boys hands and rubbed his back. "The piano is your friend. You must be kind to it. Music is here to help you."

"All it does is annoy me!" Carter shouted. He climbed off the bench and ran to the door of the room. Whipping it open, he disappeared into the hallway, no doubt to find his mother.

"Carter!" Blaine called, running after him. He found the boy in his mothers arms on the bench in the hallway. "Im really sorry. It just wasnt a good day."

"Not every day can be, right?" she smiled sadly, repeating what Blaine told all of his patients and their parents. "Thank you for your time, Doctor Anderson. Well see you next week." Grabbing her son by the shoulder, she led him down the hall.

"Yeah," Blaine sighed, running a hand through his hair. Leaning against the wall behind him, Blaine buried his face in his hands and took several deep breaths. Being around these children reminded Blaine that his daughter was probably suffering in her own way.

In time, he turned to head back into the room to head home, when he heard something that made him stop in his tracks.

"Blaine! Blaine, wait!" Kurt called. He ran down the hall, stopping just in front of Blaine. Out of breath, Kurt clutched a stitch in his side and grabbed his shoulder for support. His cheeks were flush and his hair was a mess.

"Kurt, what happened?" Blaine felt his stomach flip in concern.

"I need... I need water," Kurt shook his head. His breath coming in short gasps. "Ran from... from home."

"Come here," Blaine led him back into the room and sat him on the piano bench. Grabbing a cup, he filled it from the drinking fountain in the hall and returned to Kurt. Kneeling down in front of him, Blaine looked in Kurts eyes and said sternly, "What happened?"

"There was another note," Kurt said, taking a sip of water. He lowered the cup with a trembling hand and frowned at Blaines frozen expression. "I just came home and it was there."

"What did it say?" Blaine finally found the courage to say. He took the envelope from Kurt and pulled out a small sheet of paper.

First $150,000 in cash by April 15th. Leave it at 45 E. 51st. Leave it with Kathy. Tell anyone and there will be consequences.

"What the hell does that mean?" Blaine stared at the note. His heart sinking to his stomach. He looked up at Kurts broken expression and felt ten times worse "That only gives us a few weeks to get thousands of dollars to get there."

"What if we dont get it?" Kurt said, his voice cracking. "Blaine, what if something bad happens because we cant get it together? We thought we had time." Tears began rolling down his cheeks. "I thought we could just get it together and give it to them when we were ready."

"Its gonna be okay. Well get the money," Blaine reassured him. He stood up and wrapped his arms around Kurt. Burying his face in Blaines chest, Kurts sobs filled the room and all Blaine could do was run his back soothingly.

"How d-do we tell the police without B-b-belle getting h-hurt?" Kurts voice was muffled against Blaines chest.

"I dont know... "Blaine tried to think of a solution. "Maybe we cant tell them."

"this is a nightmare," Kurt cried, holding tightly to Blaine.

"I know," Blaine said quietly, staring blankly at the wall behind him, feeling hopeless. "I know."

So far, Kurt had been strong for Blaine. He had felt so broken and Kurt had been the one there for him. But as Blaine comforted Kurt as he cried, he realized that this was breaking Kurt too.

They had to come up with a plan. They had to find a way to come up with thousands of dollars in the next few weeks if they wanted a shot at getting Belle back.