"Is there a reason you are jumping on my bed at five in the morning?" Blaine groaned and glared at clearly zealous Kurt.

"Come on, get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! I have coffee and bagels." Kurt grinned at him and Blaine rolled on his other side.

"Five more minutes, Kurt."

"No. I want to leave at six." Blaine didn't respond to that so Kurt sneaked closer to him and let his fingers run up and down Blaine's arm.

"Kuuuurt."

"Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaine."

"Stop it. It tickles." Blaine complained gruffly.

"Wake up and I'll stop."

"I AM up. Thanks to you."

"I know, I'm a sweetheart." Kurt teased him, his fingers stopped their movement and he rested his hand on Blaine's shoulder. "You can sleep in the car, okay?" Blaine yawned and nodded.

"Okay." He sat up, trying to smile at his enthusiastic friend but it came out as a grimace that made Kurt laugh.

"I left your clothes on a chair." Kurt told him and got out of bed. "I'll be waiting downstairs with coffee and bagels that I promised." Blaine's eyes fell down on a chair and sleep was taken from him in an instant.

"Wait!" Kurt turned around at the door, looking startled at his friend.

"What's up? You don't have to yell at me. I can hear you."

"Those jeans have holes…" Blaine pointed his finger on a piece of clothing that he was supposed to wear according to Kurt.

"Yeah."

"And I can tell from here that the T-shirt is like two size bigger than what I wear usually."

"I know, Blaine. I chose them."

"I don't wear clothes like those." Blaine stood up to inspect the content on the chair. "A cap? North-eastern University? Where did you get that anyway? You want me to put that on my head?"

"That's where a cap usually goes…And my brother gave it to me. He majored in Special Education there..."

"What's this Kurt? I'm capable of dressing myself on my own. Those clothes are just ridiculous."

"They are. It's something you would never wear. And that's exactly my point. Why do you have to be so difficult?"

"I'm not wearing them."

"Yes, you are."

"Why?"

"Because this way no one would suspect you to be you."

"What?!"

"We're travelling in the car. We will stop several times on our way for one reason or another and I don't want you to worry about someone recognizing you. If you wear these, people will just assume you are probably a North-eastern university student who looks like Blaine Anderson. I just...I want you to enjoy the trip, okay? If those clothes repulse you so much, you don't have to put them on. Now take a shower." Kurt left the room without sparing him another glance. Blaine took a long shower and didn't come down to the kitchen until he was sure he was fully awake. He was afraid that he had offended Kurt a little and he was genuinely sorry for that.

"Coffee smells good." Blaine said as soon as he saw Kurt sitting by the table. Kurt raised his eyes from the phone screen and checked Blaine out.

"You don't have to wear those just to make me happy."

"I actually thought about what you told me and you have a point. Thank you for preparing them for me...A little warning ahead would have been nice though."

"I'm sorry I haven't told you that I was planning to turn you into someone else."

"I appreciate the effort. These clothes are pretty comfortable."

"I'm glad. Now eat so we can get going."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

Blaine didn't sleep on their way to Ohio at all. They turned the radio on and sang to the songs or talked. They made many stops. The first one was just an hour into their journey because Blaine had to pee and Kurt teased him about being like a little child for the next thirty minutes. Then they stopped at the gas station not because of refilling but because a strand of Kurt's hair fell down - I have no idea how this could happen! I used so much hair spray that the ozone hole was created right above my head! - so he needed to fix it ASAP. It gave Blaine the occasion for baiting and they made a truce on their third stop that took place at a side of the road while they were eating sandwiches Kurt had prepared for them.

"I'm driving now." Blaine announced and stole Kurt's keys.

"You can't drive!"

"Why not? We're half way there. It's my turn."

"I don't trust you with my baby."

"Sucks for you." Blaine smirked and sat behind the steering wheel. He opened the passenger's door from the inside and waited for Kurt to join him in the car.

"If something happens to my car I won't hesitate to strangle you!" Kurt threatened but slid to the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.

"Okay. Let's go…" Blaine put the keys into ignition and moved the vehicles, jumping on the break straight away. "Ooops...sorry about that." He laughed as Kurt was giving him a death glare.

"That's not funny Anderson!"

"Don't worry. I know how to drive safely...You're attached to this piece of metal too much."

"My father is a mechanic. Of course I'm attached to my car. I was raised that way."

"Relax. I'm going to get us and your precious baby to Lima in one piece. I promise."

Kurt wasn't fully convinced but he refrained from comment. In fact, he stayed quiet for the next twenty minutes and Blaine wondered what the matter was.

"I need you to stop when you see a gas station." Kurt spoke for the first time since they took the road after their last break.

"What?! Why?"

"I need to pee."

"No, you don't! You just want to drive the car!"

"Blaine, don't be ridiculous. I have to use a bathroom. You can keep the keys and drive to Lima, just let me empty my bladder." Blaine shot him a sideway glance, afraid of turning his head to the right so he wouldn't give Kurt any reason for thinking that Blaine was an incompetent driver. Kurt was tense. He was playing with his fingers nervously, stomping his left foot quickly which, in addition, made Blaine even more nervous.

"Okay. Here we are." Blaine said when he pulled out in the parking space at the gas station. Kurt left the car in a hurry, not even looking at Blaine as he was opening his door and jumping down from the vehicle. Blaine supposed Kurt would come back in his good mood. He missed his funny and relaxed side the last half an hour. He rested his back against the car door and watched a little girl skipping around the parking lot with a popsicle in her mouth. The idea popped up in his mind and that's how Kurt found him sitting on the hoodie of his car with two ice lollies.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm about to have a treat. Hop up. I'll give you one too."

"Give me my keys. I'll bring a blanket from the car. I'm not sitting in dust."

"No can do. The keys are mine. Come on. If I can sit here, you can as well."

"You are not wearing designer clothes, Blaine."

"And it's all your fault. Don't argue with me. It's going to melt if we don't eat it quickly." Blaine did a great job on his puppy dog eyes and Kurt joined him, still stiff and little uneasy. Blaine felt like he couldn't win. No matter what he did, Kurt wasn't being himself and it was getting on Blaine's nerves. The trip was supposed to be fun, wasn't it? He was actually thinking about giving the car keys to Kurt when Kurt finally spoke.

"Did I push you too much today?"

"What?"

"With the clothes and the whole let's go to Ohio by car and let's pretend you're not yourself thing…"

"I don't understand…" Kurt turned his head to face him, taking a bite from his ice lolly before speaking again.

"I wanted you to have fun. That's why I forced you to be dressed the way you are dressed so you wouldn't have to worry about anything. I wanted you to relax…"

"Kurt, I was having fun until YOU stop having fun. What's wrong?"

"Why did you want to drive?"

"Because I like driving and I don't get to do that often since I hate the New York traffic. And because you were driving for over five hours. I couldn't let you drive the whole way to Ohio…"

"So it wasn't because you were bored and needed something to do?" Kurt asked tentatively.

"Of course not! Where is this coming from, Kurt?" Kurt shrugged his shoulders and broke the eye contact.

"Sometimes I feel like I don't give you a choice and you are too nice to tell me you don't want to do it…"

"That's not true. Kurt, look at me." Kurt hesitantly did so. Blaine was softly smiling at him and he naturally smiled back.

"I know how to say no. If I don't want to do something, I won't do it. And yes, I've done lot of things I wouldn't have done a few months ago for you but I can assure you I haven't felt forced to do them. I trust you, Kurt. I know you wouldn't do anything that could hurt me. You always make sure I am comfortable. Like with these clothes so people wouldn't bother me on our way...Everything is fine. I'm happy I got out of the city for a few days. And what's most important is that I'm glad I'm taking this trip with you. So stop worrying."

"I'm glad you are taking it with me…"

"Great. So let's hit the road again. Do you want to drive?"

"No. I trust you with my car…"

"Which basically means you trust me with your life, right?"

"Yeah, that as well."

"Nice to know." Blaine grinned and continued to lick on his half melted ice lolly.

"What about you?" Kurt inquired.

"What about me?"

"Do you trust me with your life?" Kurt's question had a bit of teasing hidden in it but Blaine gave him a serious look.

"I do. I really do."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"This is a nice neighbourhood." Blaine noted as they were passing street with a line of houses on each side.

"Yeah, it is. Go to the end and then turn left." Kurt gave him the direction while looking out of the window.

"Okay."

"You know, I left Lima as soon as I could because I couldn't imagine staying here after so many horrible things that happened to me that I forgot to appreciate the beauty of small town living. I like coming back because all those bad things don't matter anymore and I can enjoy everything I wasn't able to in the past…"

"Will you ever tell me your whole story?" Blaine asked him.

"Will YOU ever tell me your whole story?" Kurt answered by question.

"I don't know." Blaine admitted hazily.

"Me neither."

"It's not because I don't want to. But it's really hard to talk about. Even Nick and Jeff don't know the details…"

"I understand, Blaine. When you are ready, you'll tell me. The same goes for me, okay?"

"Okay."

"The big white house on the left." Kurt navigated him again and Blaine parked the car in front of a nice house with a big tree and a hedge that apparently belonged to Kurt's parents.

"Wow...It's amazing. Did you have a swing on the tree when you were a kid? Or a tree house?"

"No. We moved in here when I was sixteen after my dad married Carol. I grew up in a different house nearby. It was much smaller but I did have a swing there. And a slide with a little sandbox in the garden. Not a tree house, though. I was afraid of heights…"

"Thank you for bringing me here."

"Thank you for coming with me."

"I think your dad can't wait to see you." Blaine motioned to the direction of a house entrance where Burt Hummel was hastily putting his shoes on. Kurt unbuckled his seatbelt and quickly opened the door so he could run to his father. They met halfway and two men embraced, laughing.

"Dad! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, son. So good to have you home." Blaine smiled at the scene and opened the trunk, taking their bags.

"Come on, dad. I want you to meet Blaine." Kurt pulled on Burt's shirt and led him to Blaine who was still standing by the car.

"Nice to meet you, sir." Blaine outstretched his hand and Burt took it, shaking it firmly.

"Nice to meet you too, Blaine. And none of this "sir" or "Mr Hummel", okay? I'm Burt."

"Okay. Let's go inside. I can't wait to see Carol." Kurt ushered them to the house. Blaine was a little nervous because Burt was giving him strange glances and he couldn't tell if it was a good or a bad thing. He fixed his gaze on Kurt's back, trying to act nonchalant but he knew he probably failed miserably. It meant a lot for him that Kurt introduced him to his family and he didn't want to disappoint him. He just had to make Kurt's parents and brother like him. He was a likeable guy or so they told him, there shouldn't be a problem in getting on their good side. He would be a perfect gentleman and everything would be fine. Right?

He survived saying hello to Kurt's stepmom and he liked the woman immediately. There was a positive energy glowing around her and if he didn't know she actually wasn't Kurt's mom, he would think she must be just from how nice and gentle she was being.

"Blaine, I'm so sorry I don't have a room for you." Carol told him after a pleasant welcome he got.

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked in surprise.

"We were babysitting our next door neighbours, the girls..."

"Dad! What have you done?" Burt looked offended at Kurt's accusing tone and Blaine found it amusing.

"Nothing. We were playing and then they came up with the idea of a trampoline. So I let them jump on the bed in the guest room…the bed broke."

"Dad, those girls are four and six. How the hell did they manage to break a bed?"

"Tell him." Carol ordered.

"I might have joined them…" Burt murmured but loud enough for Kurt to hear.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No, he is not." Carol confirmed Burt's words and Kurt started to laugh.

"Oh my god! This is hilarious!"

"We went to buy a new one but your dad is still waiting for some components for his van so he could fix it and we didn't have a car to bring it home. The shop can deliver it next week…I was thinking that maybe you or Finn could sleep on a couch for a few days until..."

"Don't worry about it. My bed is big enough for the both of us. Blaine will sleep with me." Kurt sent her a smile and went upstairs.

"Blaine, you wouldn't mind?" Carol asked precariously.

"No, not at all. It's not like we've never slept together." Blaine revealed without thinking, fully catching up on what he had said when he saw surprised faces of Kurt's parents. "That came out wrong." He tried to save the situation in an instant. "What I meant is that…"

"Blaine? Are you coming?" Kurt yelled from upstairs. "I need to shower but I have to show you around first. Come on. You can talk to them at dinner."

"Go on, son. We really don't need an explanation." Blaine blushed and nodded, running the stairs to get to Kurt who was the only safe place for him right now.

Kurt ordered Blaine to shower in a bathroom he shared with his brother and he used the one downstairs. He thought it might help Blaine to ease a little. Kurt noticed that Blaine was strained since they had arrived and Kurt had every intention to make him feel at home. They agreed to meet in the living room after freshening up and Kurt was sitting there for almost fifteen minutes already with no sign of Blaine at all.

"So…" Burt sat down next to him. "You and Blaine?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you together or...?"

"No. Trust me, you would be amongst the first people to know that I have a new boyfriend. We're just friends…"

"Friends who sleep together?"

"What?"

"Blaine kind of blurted out that it won't be the first time for you sleeping together tonight…"

"Because it won't be."

"So you two aren't dating. You just have casual sex." Kurt looked at his father shocked. What the hell was the man talking about?

"Are you serious right now?"

"I believe I am." Burt stated solemnly.

"I've never had sex with Blaine! He is my best friend. Why would I try to destroy it for casual sex?"

"But…"

"We slept together in one bed several times but fully clothed. In a loft. Do you remember how I told you about it? There is just one bed and when we stay the night, we share it. Oh my god, dad! I can't believe you would think that."

"I'm sorry. You've been constantly talking about him since you met him. You look at him like he is the one who hung the moon. How should I know it's all innocent?"

"Because you're the one who gave me the "you matter" speech!"

"So there is nothing going on?"

"No, there is nothing going on."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Okay." Burt said, not being completely convinced that his son was saying the truth. The blind could tell Kurt was in love. Either he didn't know it yet or there was something else restraining him from going after the curly haired man. Burt was uttering a question that wouldn't offend Kurt but still give him an answer to his dilemma when Blaine walked into the room. The man's clothes looked like they were cut out of one of Kurt's fashion magazines, completely different from those he had come earlier and Burt couldn't help but stare at him.

"Blaine, you didn't have to dress up. We are staying home for dinner." Kurt told him, taking in his appearance.

"I know."

"So why didn't you put your sweatpants and hoodie on?" Blaine didn't feel well under scrutinizing glares of father and son and he bit his lips nervously.

"I'm going to fetch some beer. Do you boys want something?" Burt stood up in attempt to ease the tension in the air a bit.

"Yeah, beer would be great. Thanks, dad."

"Blaine?"

"Uhm...just water. Thank you." Kurt was steadily eyeing him, not sure why Blaine was being so timid. Burt left the room, leaving the two to talk.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked him, alarmed.

"Yes, of course."

"Don't lie to me, Blaine." Blaine sighed and joined Kurt on the sofa.

"I want to leave a good impression. I don't want your parents to think that you hang out with someone who doesn't know how to dress properly…"

"Blaine, my parents don't give a damn about your clothes. I hoped you would feel safe and sound here. You don't have to pretend anything in this house. You like wearing comfortable clothes at home and that's what we want you to wear so you can be yourself. Do you understand? You don't have to impress anyone. My dad and Carol already like you."

"We've just met."

"You make people fall in love with you pretty quickly, dummy."

"If you say so." Blaine responded weakly.

"Well, I hope Finn is going to be here any minute. You need to loosen up and I know for sure that my dad has a recorded football game prepared. Are you interested?"

"I don't want to impo…" Kurt put his hand on his mouth and firmly shook his head.

"Don't even try to finish that sentence. You are watching the game with them while Carol and I go through the newest gossip. You don't have a choice in this."