Kurt and Blaine sat in The Lima Bean with Santana, Tina, and Mercedes. "You haven't asked us anything about our New York trip, is it because it's too painful?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes," Kurt said with underlying sarcasm to his voice, "as a matter of fact. But while the new Directions are preparing to perform at Nationals, the Warblers are preparing to perform at a nursing home in a strip mall next to a National Bank. I'm so proud of you guys."

Tina chuckled, "We miss you so much."

"Yea, isn't there any way you can come back to McKinley?" Mercedes asked.

"I told him I'd be all for it, if it wasn't for Karofsky." Blaine interjected.

Santana, who had been previously zoning out, perked up, "Wait what did you just say?"

"Kurt needs to be safe." Blaine said.

Kurt rolled his eyes, "ok can we please change the subject?"

Santana zoned out again as everyone continued to talk about Nationals and each other's lives. Suddenly she stood, "I've gotta gay, uh I mean, go. I've gotta go." And she was out the door. Blaine smirked knowingly. There may have been a time he questioned his own sexuality, but he still had spot on gaydar. And that gaydar told him everything he needed to know about Santana.

After Santana had left, the group said their goodbyes and headed home. Blaine went to Kurt's house and sat on his boyfriend's bed. "Kurt will you sit down and talk to me about this, you know I don't want you going back there with that monster."

"You know Blaine, I really don't want to sit down, because I'm frustrated. Just because we're dating doesn't mean you get to dictate my life. Regardless of whether or not I want to go back to McKinley, that would be my choice."

"Are you sure you just don't want to sit because your butt is still a little broken?" Blaine said, trying to lighten the mood.

Kurt glared at him for a while before relaxing and crawling into Blaine's lap. "There is nothing wrong with my butt." He teased, kissing Blaine's forehead.

Blaine's hands traveled up Kurt's thighs to his hips and then around to grasp his ass. "Nope, there definitely isn't." He growled before capturing Kurt's lips with his. They kissed feverishly and soon enough, Blaine's hips rolled up unconsciously. Kurt let out a low moan and ground his hips back downwards.

"KURT? YOU HOME?" Burt yelled from downstairs.

Kurt pulled away from Blaine and whined in frustration. "Is it too much to ask for one hour with the house to myself?" he complained, climbing off of Blaine's lap. "Yea, we're upstairs." Kurt yelled back down to his father.

Burt appeared in the doorway a few seconds later. "I guess this means Blaine will be joining us for dinner. It'll be ready in 30." He started to leave before turning back, "And the door stays open! All the way open!"

They were halfway through dinner when the phone rang. Burt went into the family room to answer it. "Hello?... Principal Figgins. What did Finn do?... Oh… I can ask him, but now isn't the best time… Tomorrow? … I don't see why not… alright, see you at 3… goodbye."

Kurt waited until his father sat back down to ask, "What was that about?"

"It appears Principal Figgins wants to arrange a meeting with us about that Karofsky kid. The meeting is tomorrow at 3, but if you don't wanna go, I'll cancel. I mean, Karofsky and his father will be there, so I'll understand if you don't want to go. I honestly don't know why that kid is even allowed in that school!" Burt said and then everyone started talking at once.

"No, absolutely not!" Finn stated, "I don't want that jerk anywhere near Kurt! No one messes with my family! Especially with the crap apology Santana made him do today in Glee."

"Guys…" Kurt said.

"What are that boy's parents teaching him by not letting him be punished? He needs better discipline than that!" Carole chimed in.

"But, guys…" Kurt tried to get their attention.

"I don't trust him, Kurt. I don't think this is a good idea, he's just going to mess with you again." Blaine pleaded and then asked Finn, "Wait, what apology?"

"I want to go." Kurt was ignored.

Finn explained, "He came in spewing this crap about feeling bad and starting an anti-bullying club and then Santana said that she was dating him and it just all makes me sick."

"What? How can they be dating, that doesn't even make sense, Santana is supposed to be Kurt's friend." Carole asked.

"GUYS!" Kurt yelled, banging his fists on the table. Everyone turned to look at him. "I want to go to the meeting."

"Are you sure, buddy? This might be a bad idea." Burt asked.

"Dad, I love Dalton, I do. I've met amazing people there and that's how Blaine and I got together, but it's not where I belong. I miss the New Directions. That was where I discovered and learned to accept myself. I belong there." Kurt turned to Blaine, "I'm sorry, but I want to go back. Please don't be mad."

"Honey, I couldn't be mad at you even if you tried." Blaine smiled softly, "I just don't want you to get hurt anymore."

"I won't be. My dad will be there in the meeting and we Hummels can smell bullshit from a mile away." Kurt said with a wink. "I adore that you worry about me, but you gotta let me do this for myself."

Blaine glanced at Burt, silently pleading with him. "I guess if your dad thinks it's a good idea and will be there the entire time, I can accept this. I'm not happy about it, but I'll do anything to make you happy."

"Good." Kurt turned back to his family, "It's settled. Tomorrow Dad and I will meet with the Karofskys and Figgins. And if all goes well, I can go back to McKinley!"

"You know you talk a big game, but all I'm hearing is talk. And talking isn't gonna keep Kurt safe." But had been listening to Dave, his father, and Principle Figgins for a long time and had yet to feel at ease about Kurt returning to McKinley.

"But the anti-bullying club that David started will." Figgins said matter-of-factly. "The fact is that since the club began enforcing the no bullying rule, we haven't had one incident."

"Yea and if I took all the water our of the ocean it wouldn't be wet anymore." Burt snipped. Everyone was quiet. "They bullying stopped because your top offender stopped."

"Mr. Hummel, can I call you Burt?" Paul Karofsky interjected. Burt nodded. "You remember how understanding I was about this when it all began? I didn't run to David's defense. I believed your son. I believed him because the boy I was seeing wasn't my son. The boy I raised was a cub scout, he was kind, he was a good citizen, and I still don't know what was going through his mind when all this bullying started but I can tell you that the David I am seeing now is my son back again. This is real."

"Do you have any idea the stress your son has put on my family?" Burt's voice rose again. "My son having to leave his friends, my wife and I having to spend money we don't have on private school? It's cause of your son."

The men continued to go back and forth. Kurt and Karofsky sat quietly, each thinking about the fate of this meeting. Mr. Schuster was watching Kurt, gaging his reaction with every moment of dialogue between the adults. "What do you think, Kurt?"

Kurt looked up. It was the first time anyone acknowledged his presence in the room. He took a moment to collect his thoughts and said, "I believe he realizes what he did was wrong."

Burt sighed, "You're only saying that because you want to be back in this school so bad."

"Can Dave and I speak for a moment alone? You can stand right outside." Kurt asked. The adults reluctantly allowed it, and left the room. Burt stood outside the glass doors, trying to read the body language of the boys. He was more than worried for his son.

Finn, rushing from class to see what was going on saw Burt standing outside Figgins' office. "Burt, what's going on?"

"Kurt wanted to speak to Karofsky alone. So obviously, I'm watching them like a hawk." Burt watched as the boys discussed whatever it was they were discussing. "Just keep an eye on your brother for me."

Finn nodded, "One step ahead of you."

By lunch the next day, Kurt was officially back at McKinley High. He was amidst the joyful embraces of his friends when a voice across the courtyard grabbed his attention.

I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand

I felt the earth beneath my feet

Sat by the river and it made me complete

The crowd separated to show Blaine and the rest of the Warblers in performance formation.

Oh, simple things, where have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So tell me when, you're gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me

Is this the place we used to love?

Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

The Warblers spread around the small courtyard all facing Kurt. McKinley musicians joined in to accompany the usually a capella group.

Oh, simple things, where have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So, tell me when you gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

Blaine took over on the piano, playing and singing with all his heart.

So if you have a minute why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything.

So why don´t we go, somewhere only we know; somewhere only we know

Oh, simple things, where have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So, tell me when you gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

So if you have a minute why don´t we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything.

So why don´t we go, so why don´t we go

Hmmm yeahh.

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go, somewhere only we know,

Somewhere only we know

Somewhere only we know

One by one, each Warbler hugged Kurt goodbye. Blaine was the last one and with their embrace Kurt whispered in his ear, "I'm never going to say goodbye to you."