Camp Cloudy Pines, Eastern Ohio ~ July 2006

Kurt sat in the hot cabin, wondering when his dad was going to stop torturing him in the name of "making friends". He loved his dad. He did! But this was taking it just a bit too far. The year his mom died, Kurt's dad had enrolled him in that theater group. Okay, it had turned out alright. He'd met a few friends that he still hung around. Rachel Berry. Tina Chang. He'd also met his best friend, Blaine Anderson, so it did turn out okay.

Well, almost okay. The kids at school were still calling him Pooh and Blaine Piglet two years after the play. Those were the kind of nicknames a kid never got rid of. At least nobody here at the camp knew about that, so he could just be "Kurt".

Then there was last year. His dad sent him to a day camp at the rec center where he learned to swim and play soccer. He hated it. With a purple passion. Blaine was the only good part of that whole experience because when some of the bigger guys: Finn Hudson and Noah Puckerman would push him around, Blaine would distract them with a joke or something. Blaine was a smaller kid, but because his big brother, was always picking on him, Blaine was also a tough kid and nobody wanted to mess with him. When Noah went too far and pushed Kurt into the deep end of the pool, Blaine dived in and helped him to the edge, then he got out and chased Noah through the locker room and out of the building. Nobody saw it, but Noah had a black eye the next day. He claimed he'd run into a cupboard door, but nobody believed him. Kurt never asked Blaine what happened, but when he'd bumped Blaine's shoulder on the way home, Blaine looked at him with a shy grin and looked down. His long eyelashes brushed his blushing red cheeks and Kurt didn't have to ask anymore.

This year was the worst. He was here in this camp with no friends and no Blaine. It was going to be a terrible summer.

"Hey, kid, come out with us and play volleyball!" a tall slim kid said, walking into the cabin. He smiled at Kurt.

"Ah, okay," Kurt said, stumbling over his answer. He followed the kid out to the center of the clearing in front of the cabins and stood in the crowd. The slim kid and a tough looking girl were standing in front of the other kids. The girl was holding a volleyball in one hand and her other hand was on her hip. They were choosing teams.

"I want the tall kid in the glasses," Slim said.

"Give me the skinny blond jumping up and down in the back row," the other captain chose.

"The red haired girl."

"The tall pale one in the blue polo," the girl said, pointing at Kurt. He hesitated, but she smiled at him and when he walked by her, she whispered, "I bet you can jump, right?"

"I want the Asian skyscraper hiding in the back," the boy said.

It went until the kids were all picked. Kurt was thankful he wasn't the last one. He stood with the group of kids making up his team. The bossy girl introduced herself:

"I'm Mercy, short for Mercedes. I want you, you, and you in the front row," she pointed at three kids, "And you, you, and you in the back. Hey, can you serve?" she asked Kurt.

"Yeah. We played at school."

"Cool. You serve first."

Kurt walked to his place and Mercy threw him the ball. The other team were in their places and the whistle blew for them to play. Kurt's first serve flew over the net in a perfect arc and his captain cheered him. This summer might not be so bad after all.

They won the volleyball game, but by a very thin margin. Kurt had a good time, but he was very tired now. The groups broke up and he made his way to the shade of a stand of pine trees. He sat down on a log bench and looked around, trying to catch his breath. Mercy came over to sit beside him.

"So, you played at your school?" she asked and he smiled.

"Just in gym class," he said. "How about you?"

"Nah, I'm a Navy brat. I move schools like you change your socks. You looked a little lost, that's why I chose you. I know how that feels."

"I'm sorry for that," he said, not sure what his response was supposed to be.

"No worries, I'll be fine. I've learned to get along, to find my place. I've had lots of practice after all." She grinned at him. "I'm Mercedes Jones. You can call me Mercy. What's your name, kid?"

"Kurt Hummel, I'm from Lima," he told her.

"Then maybe I'll be seeing you. My mom and dad are separated now and my mom and I are moving to Lima at the end of summer. It'll be nice to know somebody when I start school."

"That sounds nice. When's lunch around here? My bus was late and I didn't get in on the first part of the announcements."

"Oh! You came in on that last bus? Did you hear?" she asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Hear what?" Kurt asked.

"Some of the kids said they saw a stowaway. When they opened the luggage doors on the side of the bus, they said a kid was hiding in there. He jumped out and ran, but with all these trees and bushes and everything, he just disappeared. The councilors looked, but then they said the kids were making the story up. Maybe they were – who would stowaway to a summer camp?" she giggled.

Just then a big man walked out of the dining room and rang a big triangle that was hanging from the porch roof. The kids came running from all over, crowding to get into the doors.

"Looks like lunch, Kurt." Mercy smiled at him.

After lunch, the kids all went to their cabin to get their things put away and have some time to write to their parents or talk to each other. There would be a movie later that afternoon or a hike around the lake. Kurt got out his suitcase and opened it. He had packed it very neatly. Actually, he'd packed and repacked it several times to make it all precise, but when he opened the zipper, it was jumbled as if someone had taken everything out and pushed it back in while in a hurry. Strange. Well, maybe his dad was checking on him to be sure he had everything?

Taking his clothes out to set neatly in the drawers provided, he started coming across things he knew he hadn't packed. Running shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts? He had some, but not in these colors. He checked the suitcase to make sure it was his, but there was the luggage tag with his name on it, and most of the thing he had packed.

There wasn't time to contemplate anything else, he threw the clothes in the drawers as fast as he could while folding each article neatly. Maybe his dad thought he didn't have enough stuff packed. Here were two toothbrushes...?

After settling his things, his cabin mates came in. Each cabin had four boys or girls. Kurt had the bottom bunk on the west wall. The kid in the top was the one that had asked him to come play ball, his name was Jeff Sterling. In the other bunks were Mike Chang and Trent Barnes. They all seemed like nice kids and Kurt hoped they would get along this summer.

The afternoon was full of fun, much to Kurt's surprise. They hiked around the lake, playing games and chatting. He found out everyone in his cabin was from Ohio, two of them from Westerville and Mike from Lima. He heard stories about all the shenanigans from years gone by from kids that had been coming to the camp summer after summer.

After dinner, he was at the back of a group of the campers, all of them sitting by the campfire and singing. Some of the kids were roasting marshmallows. He was sitting between Mercy and Jeff when something stung his arm. He looked around, thinking it was a mosquito maybe, but didn't see anything. It happened again, but this time it stung more and he jumped.

"What's up, Kurt? See a ghost?" Mercy whispered.

"No, I think something bit me," he whispered back, rubbing his arm.

"It's too early for mosquitoes, it must have been a horsefly, they bite hard."

They went back to singing and at the end of the evening everyone went back to the cabins.

"I'm bushed!" Trent said, climbing into his bunk.

"Me, too," Mike joined in, "That hike around the lake was longer than I remember it from last year."

There was a knock at the door and their camp councilor came in.

"Everybody ready for bed? Anyone need anything?" he asked, but all four of the boys were already in bed. "Okay, I'll be here in the morning at seven to wake you up," he smiled and left.

Jeff leaned over the top bunk to smile at Kurt. "I am a heavy sleeper, I mean nothing short of an earthquake will wake me up, so you shake my arm or something when he knocks on the door. I don't want him mad at me, okay?"

"Sure, Jeff, no problem," Kurt said.

They all fell asleep soon after lights out.

It was probably eleven or a little later when Kurt thought he heard a noise. His bunk was on the west side of the partition, Mike and Trent's was on the east side, but they shared a bathroom. There was a door on both the east and west walls.

He wasn't sure what woke him up, but he could heard Jeff mumbling in his sleep, so it wasn't him. Kurt held still, but there weren't any noises coming from the other side of the partition, either. Probably some little animal or something. He knew there was a large dog that the camp kept as protection against any large animals, but the dog was silent tonight. Kurt sighed and went back to sleep.

He had a hard time sleeping. Often he'd have nightmares at home. His bedroom was in the basement, so his dad, whose bedroom was upstairs, didn't hear him. He didn't want his dad or anyone to know about the nightmares. They were often about his mother. Well, that was the nice part, the scary part was about her grave. He got angry at himself for thinking about it and that sometimes made them worse if he thought about them during the day. He'd try to think of something else.

A little while later, Kurt must have dozed off because he startled awake just as a hand covered his mouth and someone landed on his chest in the bed. He struggled, but the person was strong. He stopped to regroup for a second when he heard the voice in his ear. It was pitch black in the cabin, but he would know that voice anywhere. He stopped struggling and relaxed.

"Blaine!" he whispered loudly.

"Shhhh!" Blaine warned, taking Kurt's hand and reaching beside the bed to get his shoes. He helped Kurt put them on and took his hand, leading him out the door and through the shadows, under the trees to some bushes.

"Blaine, what are you doing here? Kurt demanded, shocked to see his best friend, but so happy he was here.

"I kind of...ah...hid in the luggage compartment on the bus. I thought for sure I'd get caught when I got out, but I ran into the woods and they gave up. I think only a few kids saw me, because I heard the adults saying they thought the kids made it up. Nobody else came back."

Kurt was standing there in the woods in his pajamas and canvas shoes, just staring at Blaine.

"You ran away from home...to be with..me?" he asked, his mouth open a little.

"Of course. You're my best friend, Kurt. I couldn't stand having a summer without you," he smiled.

"Www....?" Kurt was lost for words.

"I tried to get your attention when you were sitting on that log by the fire, but there were too many people. I threw a piece of gravel at you, but you must have thought it was a bug, then that girl beside you was looking, so I went back to hide. Do you have anything to eat? I'm starving," he said. "I ate some blackberries in the woods, but there weren't very many," he added, looking at Kurt with his big brown eyes.

"Yeah, I have some beef jerky and some dried pineapple in my room. I can sneak you some food from the dining hall tomorrow."

"That would be great. I can stay in the woods most of the day, or be with you when nobody's around. I don't want to get you in trouble, though," Blaine looked hesitant.

"Don't worry about that, silly. Of course you'll be with me. You can sleep in my bed, nobody will notice. My bunkmate, Jeff, is dead to the world when he sleeps. You can hide under the bed when the councilor comes to get us in the morning, okay?"

"Sound good. I am so tired. Can we go back and sleep now, and get that food. I don't know if I'm more hungry or tired," Blaine said, bumping Kurt's shoulder.

"Oh, it makes sense now...when did you decide to do this?" Kurt asked.

"Last week. It kept getting closer and closer and I didn't want to spend the summer without you..." Blaine repeated.

"You put some of your clothes in my suitcase," Kurt said, the piece of the puzzle in place now.

"Yeah, your stuff is too long on me," Blaine grinned.

"So, aren't your parents going to worry?" Kurt asked.

"No. They asked if I wanted to go with them to France, but I said no, I had plans for the summer. Then just before they left, I told Cooper I changed my mind and was leaving with them. Lucky for me your bus for camp left on the same day my parents left for Europe. Nobody will be the wiser because you'll be home three days before they come home. It's not like Cooper talks to them about me, anyway. I'm sure everyone is happy thinking they don't have me as a burden all summer." Blaine looked away, but Kurt knew he was trying not to let the tears start. He put out his arms and hugged Blaine tightly to distract him.

"I'm glad you came, Blaine. This is going to be a good summer with you here!"

They walked back to the cabin, very quietly, and Blaine got under the covers in Blaine's bed. He pulled the blanket up while Kurt got him some of the beef jerky and pineapple. Blaine ate it quickly and Kurt found an apple from dinner and gave him that, too.

"Thanks, Pooh-bear," Blaine grinned.

"Go to sleep, Piglet," Kurt grinned back, taking Blaine's hand in his and sharing his pillow. They fell asleep, snuggled together.

Neither of the boys had seen the other camper peeking around the corner, observing them, then tiptoed back to their bunk.

~KBKBKBKBKBKBKBKBKBKB~

"Blaine...wake up...hey, wake up," Kurt whispered. Blaine sat up quickly, rubbing his eyes.

"Here, get under the bed. I put a blanket under there and I have my suitcase in front of it. You'll be safe and I'll bring you something to eat," Kurt assured his best buddy. Blaine slipped under the bunk and out of sight just minutes before Kurt shook Jeff's arm to wake him up and the knock came to the door telling the camper to get up for breakfast.

Breakfast was cafeteria style, so Kurt got a lot more food than he would have normally. Nobody said anything but Mercy, who asked Kurt how he could eat so much but stay so skinny.

"I run a lot," he said and changed the subject.

After breakfast, Kurt walked back to his cabin to 'change his shoes', having worn his bedroom slippers to breakfast so he could manufacture this excuse. He slipped in the door and listened, not hearing anything. He looked at the beds behind the partition, but Trent and Mike were gone, so Kurt called to Blaine.

Blaine was out like a shot, smiling at Kurt as he handed over scrabbled eggs, bacon, an oatmeal muffin, and two oranges.

"Sorry, I couldn't bring you anything to drink, but I ran out of pockets to hide the food in and I couldn't exactly carry a glass of grape juice across the camp," he laughed. Blaine just grinned, shoveling the food into his mouth.

"This is wonderful Kurt. I was starving. I can get water in the bathroom, so don't worry about the drinks. What are you doing today?" he asked.

"We're going horseback riding. The stables are down on the other side of the lake. I heard the guys talking, both Trent and Mike have been going here since they were six years old! Anyway, once we get on the horses, the experienced riders can just go where they want. I was thinking I could meet you somewhere?" Kurt suggested.

"That sounds great. I have a map of the camp here..." he rummaged through his pockets, "Sorry, I took it off your dad's desk before we left. I needed to know where I could hide."

They looked at the map and found the stables and then a few trails that led up into the hills. They found two places Blaine could meet Kurt and then he left, slipping out the door and into the woods behind the cabins. He'd walk to the meeting place and wait for Kurt.

Down in the circle of cabins where they had the campfire last night, Kurt met up with a few of the campers. Mercy, Jeff, and Mike were going horseback riding along with a few others. Most of the kids were going to use the canoes today, so the woods by the stables would be kind of secluded Kurt hoped.

Just as they got ready, each taking a sack lunch prepared by the dining hall cooks, Trent showed up.

"Hey, I thought you were going on the hike to Pine Lake today," Jeff asked.

"Nope, I decided to go ride horses with you guys," he smiled. He got his sack lunch and then went back inside the dining hall, emerging with a second lunch.

"Hungry much? Jeff asked, looking at Trent, who was a little on the chunky side.

"Hey, I get hungry walking so much, I'm not used to this," he blushed. The kids here teased a lot, but nobody was actually cruel like they were back in Lima.

They got going, singing and laughing. Mercy walked next to Kurt, taking his hand when the councilor told them to pair up. Trent came over and whispered in her ear and she looked at him for an instant, then let go.

"Trent wants to be your partner, he's too bashful to talk to the kids he doesn't know. Is that alright his time, Kurt?" she whispered to him.

"Okay, but we can be partners next time, right?" he asked her.

"Of course, Kurt," Mercy said and gave him a big smile before walking back to take the hand of a shy blond girl in the back.

Trent walked next to Kurt, stumbling a little and Kurt grabbed him to keep him from falling. "Hey, there, careful," Kurt said.

"I hope you don't mind, being my partner, Kurt. I was too shy to ask that girl," he confessed.

"No problem. Mercy was fine with it."

They walked for quite a while and finally they were at the horse barn. The horses were already saddled and ready to go. The campers were asked who already knew how to ride and Kurt raised his hand. He'd never been near a horse in his life, but he didn't want anyone following him around.

"Okay, we'll pair you up with your horse and then you can be on your way. Stay on the trails and do not gallop the horses. The borders of the camp are fenced, so no need to worry, if you get lost just follow the trail back home. All the horses know where home is, so let them have their head and they'll bring you back," the woman in charge of the horses told them with a grin.

Kurt was boosted up on a pretty palomino named Chance. Trent got a black one with white socks and blaze named Tuxedo. They started out and Kurt had no trouble steering the horse where he wanted it to go. Trent rode close to him until they were a ways away from the other riders and Kurt stopped.

"Trent, you don't have to go with me. I kind of want to be by myself for a little while. Nothing against you, but I need to be alone," Kurt said in a kind voice. He was glad Mercy wasn't his partner for this because he didn't think he could get away from her as easily.

"I understand, but could I ride with you for just a few minutes?" Trent asked, his big baby blue eyes begging. Kurt wondered if he was afraid. He could understand that, and he felt sympathy for him, but he also needed to meet with Blaine.

"I'll leave when you ask me to, Kurt."

"Okay." Kurt got his map out of his pocket and looked at it for a moment, then turned his horse's head down another path, Trent following behind him.

They rode for a ways before Kurt pulled his horse to a stop and turned to Trent.

"Trent, don't think I don't like you, but..." he searched for words to say, but Trent spoke before he had thought of any.

"Kurt, quit worrying. I brought enough food for your stowaway, too. Let's go find him and we can look for a place to sit and talk away from the other campers," Trent looked at Kurt, who was pale now.

"You...you know about Blaine?" Kurt asked.

"I was awake when he came into the cabin last night, and I saw him get out of the luggage compartment of the bus. He's lucky he didn't suffocate in that heat. He must really want to be with you, Kurt, to risk all of that. Don't worry, I know how to mind my own business, I won't tell anyone." Trent smiled at Kurt and kicked his horse into a walk.

They got close to the place where Blaine was waiting and didn't hear anything. Kurt was a little worried when he didn't see his friend, but Trent said Blaine was probably hiding because he was there, too.

"Blaine, can you hear me?" Kurt called, but nobody answered. Kurt was getting concerned. Blaine had left quite a bit before the campers had, so there was plenty of time for him to get here. Then he thought Trent was right, Blaine might think it was a trap.

"Piglet, it's okay, come out," he said, using the pet name only a few people knew. The bushes rustled and Blaine stepped out.

"I thought we'd gotten caught, Kurt. You scared me. Who's this?" he asked, nodding his head at Trent.

"Trent. He saw you get off the bus and come into the cabin last night. Don't worry, he's a friend," Kurt assured Blaine. They got off the horses and tied their reins securely to a tree.

Trent got the extra lunch and handed it to Blaine, and they sat down in the shade to eat. Trent proved to be a fountain of information about the camp, the staff, and horses in general.

"My dad has a string of polo ponies, I've been riding since I could sit in a saddle," Trent grinned.

They finished the food, drank from their canteens and Trent helped Blaine get up on the palomino with Kurt to ride double. He led the way to another set of trails that led in back of a hill where none of the other kids would be riding. It was a great day and the boys had a wonderful time. They got back to the stables, dropping Blaine off with a headstart home before getting back to the horse barn. The staff was getting the horses ready for a feed, stripping off their saddles, bridles, and rubbing them down. Trent talked with a few of the wranglers before joining Kurt to walk back to the cabins.

They were late getting to the barn, so all the other kids had left and Kurt and Trent caught up with Blaine part way home. They walked together, thinking Blaine would be hard to distinguish in the darkening sky. A few hundred yards from the cabins, Blaine left them to sneak into the cabin and hide before the others came home. Just like yesterday, the campers gathered around the campfire after dinner. It was dark before they all got back to the cabins.

Kurt smiled at Trent, silently thanking him for his help, and went to bed. It was just about twenty minutes after their councilor did the night check before Kurt heard Jeff's quiet snoring. Blaine slipped out from under the bunk and climbed into the bed beside Kurt.

"That was fun, Kurt. I think I like summer camp," he whispered. Kurt grinned. This was going to be a great summer.

Three weeks later, Kurt was sleeping and Blaine hadn't come in the cabin yet. It was just after lights out, so Trent wasn't too worried, but Blaine had only been this late once or twice. Kurt hadn't been feeling well that day, his throat was scratchy and his eyes were watering, and he had a slight fever. He though it was probably a cold coming on, so he'd gone to bed early.

After the councilor checked on them, Kurt dozed off again.

It was a good hour later when Blaine tiptoed into the cabin and Trent sneezed. That was their code for the coast is clear (meaning Mike and Jeff were sleeping) and Kurt was also asleep. Blaine was very quiet and placed his hand over Kurt's mouth gently so he didn't squawk when he woke up. Blaine climbed under the covers and Kurt hummed, indicating he was awake.

"Hey, you feel hot," Blaine said.

"I just have a cold coming on," Kurt said, turning away from Blaine so he didn't share his germs.

Blaine gave Kurt a hug and they fell asleep. It was just a while later when Kurt screamed. Everyone in the cabin jumped up, including Jeff.

"Kurt?" Trent called, jumping out of bed and racing around the partition to see what happened. Kurt was sitting up in bed, Blaine's arms around him. Blaine was holding him, stroking his face and talking to him in a soft voice to calm him down.

"Kurt, what happened, and who are you?" Mike challenged.

"Shhhhhhh..." Trent said, taking Mike's arm. "Be quiet or the councilor will be in here!"

"What's wrong with that?" Mike asked, still looking at Kurt and Blaine.

Trent shushed Mike and looked up at Jeff, who didn't look at all surprised to see Blaine in Kurt's bed.

"First, are you okay, Kurt?" Trent asked and Kurt nodded.

"He has nightmares sometimes, " Blaine explained. He gave Kurt a significant look and Kurt nodded to him. "He has dreams about his mother's grave. He falls into it and he can't get anyone to hear him, and they keep shoveling dirt on top of him." Blaine whispered.
The other boys looked sympathetic.

"But...who are you?" Mike asked again.

"I'm Kurt's best friend," he answered, but Mike still looked confused.

"Do you remember the day we came and there were rumors about a stowaway on one of the buses?" Trent asked.

"Yeah," Mike said, his face beginning to show recognition.

"Well, that was Blaine. He wanted to spend the summer with his best friend," Trevor explained.

"He's slept her since the first night," Jeff said and everyone looked up at him. Kurt gave him a questioning look. "Hey. I sometimes wake up in the night and have to get a drink or something. I saw him, but figured it was Kurt's business. He doesn't tell my secrets."

Kurt didn't. Jeff had sometimes had an accident in bed since he slept so soundly and Kurt had helped him change his sheets and sneak them into the camp laundry, but he never said a word to anyone about it. He smiled at Jeff.

"Okay...well, if I can help, let me know. Is that why you eat so much at meals? You're bringing it back here for Blaine?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, please don't tell anyone. Blaine could get into a lot of trouble," Kurt pleaded. All of the boys agreed.

"You don't need to worry, Kurt, it's our secret. We won't tell. Plus we can all keep a lookout for trouble now, or bring Blaine something to eat," Jeff said. They all put their hands together and Trent said, "All for one and one for all."

Things went along fine after that, The four cabin-mates looked after Blaine and were able to sneak him on outings and include him in sports or other activities where they could do something with just the five of them. They got him into the movies by sitting around him in the dark theater, or took him horseback riding away from other kids. They went fishing in the canoes and walked in the woods. Everything was great. Until it wasn't.

The councilor knocked on the cabin door just after they went to bed one night. It was too early for a bed check, so Blaine skidded under the bed barely before the door was flung open. Trent and Jeff sat on Kurt's bed, their legs shielding Blaine from view. The councilor looked at Kurt.

"Come with me, you're wanted in the director's office," he said and put a hand on Kurt;s shoulder to guide him to the office. Kurt was scared. Something must have happened to his dad. He was terrified.

Blaine got out from under the bed and skinned out of the cabin. He went around the outside of the ring of cabins and crawled to the window of the director's office. He could hear what was going on. He was afraid something had happened to Burt, too, and he would be there if Kurt needed him. His safety was nothing compared with Kurt's needs, they were best friends.

"Kurt, you have a call from your father. We don't normally allow camper's to call their parents, but this is a serious matter. Come into my office and answer the phone, I'll be waiting out here if you need me.

Kurt walked into the office, his knees shaking.

"Dad?"

"Kurt! How are you? Enjoying yourself?" his father's voice was strong and true.

"I'm fine, Dad, but why did you call?"

"There seems to be a bit of trouble here. I know you've been gone for six weeks, but you might have heard something that might help. Now I don't want you to worry, but Blaine is missing. Cooper is here and he thought Blaine had gone to France with his parents, but today he was speaking with his mother and she asked how Blaine was. She thought Blaine was home with Cooper all this time."

Kurt swallowed. This was bad.

"We were just getting ready to call the police, Kurt. We're waiting to hear from Mr. Anderson, who has been traveling in Great Britain, to see if he had arranged something different for Blaine for the summer and just forgot to mention it to Mrs. Anderson." Kurt could hear the disapproval in his father's voice. He was never a fan of the Andersons and they way they neglected Blaine.

"Dad, how upset is Cooper?" Kurt asked. Blaine heard that and jumped through the window and rushed over to Kurt, moving the telephone receiver so he could hear what Burt was saying.

"Kurt, he's pretty scared. He's blaming himself, his parents trusted him to take care of Blaine, and now we don't know what's happened," Burt said.

Kurt looked at Blaine and Blaine whispered, "Tell him the truth. I knew it would never last,"

"Dad, Blaine is here with me," Kurt said.

"What?"

"He's here. He hid himself in the luggage compartment of the bus and came with me. I didn't know it until that night, but he's right here with me."

Kurt could hear Burt speaking to Cooper and then he heard sobbing. He was beginning to feel really, really bad.

"Kurt, is he there in the room with you?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Put him on the phone," Burt sounded upset.

"Ah...Mr. Hummel?" Blaine stuttered.

"Blaine, are you okay?" Burt asked.

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry I made you worry. I had it planned, we were going to be home three days before my parents, Nobody would have known I was gone. You can see that, it's been six weeks and they didn't even notice..." Blaine said, sounding so sad that Kurt put his arms around his friend's waist.

"That is not the point, Blaine. Now, speak to your brother for a minute while I think of what to do," Burt sounded very shook up.

"Blainers?" Cooper said, trying to stop crying.

'Ah...Coop. I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to find out until I was back. I'm sorry, so sorry..." Blaine said, his own eyes filling with tears.

"Are you okay? Did you get enough to eat?" Cooper asked. "You little idiot, I'm punch you, it's what you deserve, but all I want is to hug you. Where is this camp?" Cooper asked.

"Ah, I don't know the address, but Burt will know."

"Blaine, give the phone to Kurt," he heard Burt's voice.

"Dad?"

"Kurt, go get the director so I can explain all of this to him. I am coming to get you. Keep Blaine in your sight, we'll be there in about two and a half hours."

"Yes, Dad," Kurt said, setting the phone down.

He turned to Blaine. "Dad and Cooper are coming to get us. I have to go get the director now," Kurt said. He leaned forward and put his arms around his best friend. Blaine looked like he was in shock, but hugged Kurt back. "We'll get through this, Piglet, I promise. You know I'm always on your side."

As Kurt walked out into the next room, Blaine could hear Kurt telling him that his dad wanted to speak to him. As soon as the director came back in, Kurt took Blaine's hand and walked back to his cabin. The director hadn't even noticed Blaine was not one of the official campers.

Kurt and Blaine said goodbye to their friends, packed their suitcase and waited for Burt and Cooper. The director came to the cabin and asked the boys to wait in the main office. They were almost out the door when they heard Trent say, "You two are going down as legends." Blaine grinned.

~KBKBKBKBKBKBKBKBKBKB~

The ride home with Burt and Cooper was quiet. Nobody knew what to say, so they kept silent. Kurt knew he was in trouble, he knew he should have told his father that Blaine was there instead of waiting until they were found out. He hung his head, feeling like he deserved to be punished.

Blaine sat in the back next to his brother. Cooper was so upset, he had started by yelling at Blaine and almost hit him. Only Burt's hand on his arm had stopped him. Now that he was calmed down he was thinking beyond how much trouble Blaine had always been to him. He was thinking about how scared he was when he didn't know where Blaine was. He had leaned over, scooting his little brother closer to him and held him in his arms all the way back to Lima. Blaine felt safe for the first time in his brother's embrace and perhaps for the first time ever, he knew his brother actually did love him.

Back at home, Kurt was grounded for the rest of the summer but he didn't mind. He had to spend it helping his dad at the garage, but he was happy to do it. He liked spending time with his dad, even though it was at the garage.

Blaine was not punished. His parents were too busy and told Cooper to take care of it, and Cooper was too inexperienced to know how to deal with it. Burt felt so badly for Blaine, he told him that he was also grounded and would be spending the rest of the summer at the garage learning how to act like a responsible person right beside Kurt.

That summer marked the best summer the boys had in all of their childhood, and Blaine was pretty much a full member of Burt's family after that. When they went to school in the fall they were pleasantly surprised to find Mercy, Mike, and Trent all in their school and they were proud when Mercedes told her new friend, Rachel Berry, the story of the stowaway. They had become legend.