"What the fuck?!" Nicola cried as soon as the running had stopped and the housemates were left in silence. Everyone looked to each other, beyond confused and they could suddenly hear what sounded like security guards speaking in hushed words around Anisa who was shouting that she didn't want to go back.

"Housemates will you please return to the house," a voice announced from the loud speakers. They slowly walked back, glancing each way, looking at each other and straining to hear what was going on. El closed the door behind them as they sat down on the sofas.

"What happened?" Kurt asked.

"We were chatting whilst lying on the grass," Heidi said, the tears evident in her eyes, her expression one of complete shock, "Just talking."

"I was in the alcove," El said, "I could hear the conversation and it was nothing that would set her off, nothing out of the ordinary. Heidi was saying something about loving life and all the great people she had met in the house and Anisa looked around the garden, took a brief glance at you two in the house and ran to the nearest fence."

"She scrabbled up several times so we had time to ask what she was doing, to tell her to stop but she carried on and said nothing. She looked so fierce, her jaw was set and her eyes determined," Heidi said.

"Maybe it was the comment you made earlier?" Faye said quietly, addressing Nicola who looked up sharply at the accusation.

"What?! I didn't mean anything by it," Nicola shouted crossly, "She knew I was joking for the honesty game, I mean it was a compliment! She has got a tight ass."

Bradley nodded in agreement until Faye nudged his arm and shook her head. Now was not the time.

"There's no point laying blame," Kurt said, "She clearly wanted to leave and it appears she got her wish."

"But she should have discussed it with us first," Heidi said, clearly worried for Anisa, "If something was bothering her we could have helped."

"Some people are beyond help and want to do it alone," Blaine said, "Maybe she was happier out of the house and she knew it."

People thought it over until the voice returned.

"Anisa has decided to return home and officially leave the competition. The outcome of this week's eviction is still undecided."

"Great," Nicola said, "You'd think they'd let us off this week."

"Well we only have a couple of days to wait," Faye said.

"What if it's one of you two?" Nicola said pointing to Faye and Bradley, "Or even one of you?" she said addressing Kurt and Blaine. The couples looked over at the other, worry etched on their faces, the first realisation that they could be separated.

Nicola left the question hanging in the air and decided to go to bed; it had been a tiring day after all.

---

"What would we do?" Blaine asked a little later. Everyone apart from Kurt and Blaine had gone to bed and Kurt lay his head on Blaine's chest just under his shoulder, his eyes drooping with tiredness.

"About?"

"If one of us was evicted this week?" Blaine whispered. "I mean it could be me."

"What?" Kurt asked sitting up and facing him, "Why would it be you?"
"I've been an idiot in the house, Faye's right, people are bound to agree."

"No don't be ridiculous," Kurt said shaking his head and returning to his comfortable space in the nook of Blaine's arm.

"What would you do if it happened though?" Blaine asked in a whisper.

Kurt thought it through. His need for attention and the limelight gnawed at him, the thought of quitting and leaving early the complete opposite of who he was but could he really live in the house without Blaine? He had made friends here but no one compared to Blaine, no one else made him tingle whenever he was close.

"I'd leave with you," Kurt stated quickly before he could change his mind but Blaine wasn't expecting such a response and he sat up too fast causing Kurt to tumble forward.

"What?! Kurt, you can't do that! You couldn't leave," Blaine exclaimed.

"Yes I could," Kurt said calmly, "I don't want to have to remain in the house without you Blaine. I've thought about it and when my mind's made up you won't be able to change it."

Blaine's eyes twinkled and he shook his head.

"I can't believe how stubborn you are," he said, smiling at the love of his life, "I don't want you to lose if you have a chance to win."

"I didn't come into the house thinking I would win, I wanted the experience and the opportunity to show people what I'm capable of. I came here and met you," Kurt said, smiling sweetly. "I couldn't possibly have hoped for anything as great as that Blaine and I know it's been strange in here but the thought of living our lives properly without cameras and consequences, well that's more amazing than winning."

Blaine smiled.

"You feel it too?" Blaine asked.

Kurt nodded. "More than you'll ever know."

"Well let's not waste anymore time whilst we're in here either," Blaine said, taking Kurt so he could rest again in his arms. They spoke well into the night, laughing and talking about everything and anything, making Kurt realise the only thing in the house worth keeping was Blaine.

---

Eviction night came too soon and the panic was etched on everyone's face that night as they gathered in the living area to await their fate. Nicola looked carefree, her stance sure and confident, dressed in her fiercest black leather outfit, her cheekbones accentuating her red lipped pout. Blaine and Kurt's hands clung tightly together and they watched as the television screen came to life.

"Good evening housemates," the young perky presenter said as the crowd bobbed and weaved around her. She looked just like one of them, which Kurt assumed was her intention but it also suggested that she might be taken over at any time, her freedom in question.

"As you know housemates, you were all up for eviction this week. Up until yesterday there was a clear lead on one person destined to leave the house tonight but by surprise votes that came in today, there is now a different person who will be evicted. The seventh person to leave the house is....."

Breaths hitched.

"Blaine."

Breaths were exhaled.

"No....." Kurt whispered, shock on his face. Blaine only nodded glumly.

There was a beat of silence, no one really taking in the new knowledge.

"What did they mean about the vote changing? Who were people voting for before? Why did everyone on the outside change their mind and start voting for Blaine to leave?" Nicola said clearly annoyed with the whole process. "I mean this is beyond ridiculous. How could they vote out Blaine when there are far more boring people in here who contribute nothing to the house entertainment?"

"I'm going too," Kurt said standing up to make his announcement to the whole room. "If Anisa can do a surprise exit then so can I."

El looked to the camera in the far corner. She didn't mention to Kurt that there was no such thing as a surprise when there were so many cameras.

"Don't be ridiculous my little lady," Nicola said, "You can't leave."

'Why not?"

"Because I won't let you," she said matter-of-factly, "You can't do it."

Kurt smiled. He knew she could stop him if she really wanted. He came closer.

"I love him Nic," he said simply, "It won't be the same without him here."

She looked him over, taking in his lovesick expression and his stubbornness and she smiled slowly.

"Well my lovely," she said, her eyes already portraying her fire, "We're going to make your exit one to remember."

Kurt laughed and linked arms with her as they wandered to the bedroom.

"Come on Blainers," Nicola shouted over her shoulder and he laughed as he followed her dutifully.

Best outfits on, hair styled to an inch of its life – Blaine and Kurt were finally ready to leave an hour later, their idea hatched and planned by Nicola. The television producers, though privy to what was happening and being decided, deliberately didn't show footage so it would remain a surprise when they finally exited.

As the time came to leave, the young presenter annoying in her perky optimism announcing her presence, Kurt and Blaine hugged everyone. Although there were tears in a few of the housemates' eyes that they were leaving too early, they were happy they were leaving together. Kurt and Blaine clutched hands and as the doors opened the announcement made, they took one last look back before the music started. They turned to look at each other, holding hands so everyone could see their joined profiles.

Hope when you take that jump

You don't fear the fall

Hope when the water rises

You build a wall

They turned to the rest of the housemates with a smile:

Hope when the crowd screams out

They're screaming your name

Hope if everybody runs

You choose to stay

Hope that you fall in love

And it hurts so bad

The only way you can know

Is give it all you have

And I hope that you don't suffer

But take the pain

Hope when the moment comes

You'll say...

I, I did it all

I, I did it all

I owned every second

That this world could give

I saw so many places

The things that I did

Yeah, with every broken bone

I swear I lived

Hope that you spend your days

But they all add up

And when that sun goes down

Hope you raise your cup

All the housemates rose their red solo cups full of sparkling cider and laughed, joining in with the song.

I wish that I could witness

All your joy and all your pain

But until my moment comes

I'll say...

They finally opened the doors, clutching hands and smiling together at the public that greeted them.

I, I did it all

I, I did it all

I owned every second

That this world could give

I saw so many places

The things that I did

Yeah, with every broken bone

I swear I lived

The cheering erupted as the song finished and one final time, before they faced the crowd and the interviews, they turned to one another and whispered those three words that could take them through it all, as long as they were together.

"Do you wish you had won?" Blaine asked as they took one step forward.

"Yeah, I wish we had both won."

"We did win. We got each other out of all this, that beats a lousy payout, don't you think?"

Kurt smiled at the cheesy phrasing but clutched Blaine's hand tighter and together they met the baying crowd.