Okay, so the flight wasn't that bad. It was quiet for the most part. Blaine was sitting in coach, and up in first class he could hear a baby crying for a while, but he tossed in a headphone and it was fine. He made his way around the airport, getting his luggage and going through security before finally making it out of the gate. The coach for his new team had said there would be someone there to pick him up, and he figured it would be a sketchy taxi driver with a sign.

Boy was he wrong.

He started glancing through the crowd trying to find a sign with his name, or something similar to his name. He decided to hang back for a few minutes and wait for the crowd to thin out. Another downside to being super short. He eventually spotted his name over the shoulder of some giant and started making his way over. The giant stepped aside and Blaine was left staring at a short woman wearing a jean jacket with the sign. She smiled brightly at him and waved him over.

"You must be Blaine!"

He nodded. "That's me. Are you my ride?"

She smiled. "Oh honey, I'm more than that. Come on, we'll talk on the ride home." She grabbed one of his bags and started lugging it to the car, but Blaine caught up and took it away from her.

"Please, let me. I know they're heavy and I'd hate if you hurt yourself." She reminded him so much of his own mother, it was weird.

They got back to her mini van and loaded his bags into the back and both climbed in. She started driving and then hit her forehead like she'd forgotten something.

"I'm so sorry Blaine, I'm Carole, Burt's wife. He was going to come pick you up himself, but I thought that might be a little intimidating, so I told him to stay home."

"Burt...right."

She smiled. "This all happened really quickly. Burt is your new coach."

Blaine nodded and smiled slightly. "Right, sorry. I should probably know that one."

Carole shook her head. "I don't think he'd mind. So, tell me a bit about yourself."

Blaine thought for a second. He didn't normally open up to strangers, but she was so open and it really was like talking to his mom. "Well, you might have heard, but I'm gay. Or bisexual...I'm not really too sure about that yet. I've been playing hockey since I learned to skate. I'm originally from Hamilton, Ontario. Uh...I like carrots."

Carole laughed. "You like carrots? Alright, I'll keep that in mind. What about your parents?"

Blaine shrugged. "My dad hasn't really been part of my life since I was a teenager. Him and my mom got a divorce and he didn't ask for custody or anything."

Carole smiled sympathetically. "And your mom?"

"Still living in Canada."

"Doesn't want to leave, does she?"

Blaine shook his head, looking out at the road instead of at Carole for a change. "She's had some health problems in the last few years. With this job, I don't exactly get health insurance and I was making good money before, and with the draft I was going to move her out here, but now it's better for her to stay in Canada. Free healthcare and all."

Carole nodded apologetically. "Well, maybe we'll be able to get her out here soon."

Blaine smiled, but looked back out the side window. Poor woman, she probably has no idea what he used to make.

They chit chatted back and forth for a while, before finally Carole pulled up at the arena.

"You go on ahead, I'm going to run some errands and get you settled. Burt'll make sure you have a ride and I'll make sure you get a key."

Blaine smiled. "Great, thanks Carole." He hopped out and started grabbing his bags out of the back.

"Blaine, leave them. I'll make sure you get them back. I won't even look through them." She winked at him and laughed.

Blaine grabbed his bag of equiptment and proceeded inside. There were some signs directing him around to the dressing rooms, which were packed full of other players. He entered and immediately everyone turned to stare at him.

"Uh...hi." He waved nervously. "I'm Blaine?"

The guys all nodded in understanding and most went back to what they were doing. All except one who walked over.

He was as tall as a sasquatch, and Blaine craned his neck to look up at him. "...Hi?"

The guy laughed. "You're really tiny. Hey, I'm Finn."

Blaine shook his hand. "You're younger...than the rest of the team."

Finn nodded. "You look 12. Has anyone ever told you that you're very short?"

Blaine smiled. "Yeah, it's come up a few times."

Another guy walked by and hit Finn on the shoulder. "Come on, it's almost time to hit the ice."

Finn nodded. "Follow me." He led the way to the far corner of the dressing room.

"Sorry it's so far away. Most of us have two or three lockers. One for the equiptment, one for a change of clothes and one to hold other stuff. Anyways, everyone chose theirs out front. I come back here to change sometimes, especially when Puck has a wet towel..."

Blaine laughed. "It's great. Thanks."

Finn nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, you should get ready. Bu- Coach Hummel wants us out on the ice in 10."

Blaine watched as Finn walked away and he started getting ready to hit the ice. He wasn't used to changing by himself. When he was on the other team, they all had their lockers in the first few rows and used to horse around while getting ready.

Maybe it was what they did with new guys.

Or maybe it was what they did the gay guys.

He knew it would be an issue if he ever came out, it's why he didn't come out. He knew how guys would get in the change rooms. They'd be awkward, worried that he was checking them out.

He finished getting ready and headed out to the ice. No one had given him a shirt to wear, so he wore his regular practice jersey. He stepped out onto the ice with the other guys and everything felt different. Normally when he hit the ice, he knew the other players. He knew that if they were playing their regular shifts, Sam would have his back. That's how it always was.

But right now, he was around a bunch of strangers who probably stuck him in the back corner to change because he likes guys. And he wasn't wearing the right colours or anything.

He skated around for a bit before the rest of the team came out onto the ice, along with the coach. He blew his whistle and everyone started skating over, just like they'd always done. He took a deep breath and followed. Everyone was down on one knee, listening to the coach talk.

"Well, I'm sure you've all noticed we've got a new guy with us. His name is Blaine Anderson. You all saw the reports and all of that, and I want you to forget all about them. He's going to be your team mate. You're all gonna accept him the way you were accepted and that's that. Does anyone have any questions?"

Blaine glanced around the group. He was sure he was bright red from being put on the spot like that.

One of the guys put his hand up and the rest of the team shot him a dirty look, except Burt who nodded. "Yeah, Brian?'

"Two questions actually. One, why is he wearing the wrong colours, and two, why did you sign him? No offense dude, but you're tiny."

Blaine smiled some. "I just wore my regular clothes from my old team."

Burt nodded. "We'll get you a practice jersey and a game one. As for why I signed him, you'll understand after practice is over. Now, Finn, Brian, Puck and Dave, I want to set up a four on one. You guys against Blaine."

It took a few minutes to set it up. The rest of the team sat on the bench, watching.

Burt blew into the whistle signaling that Blaine could start. He'd done this enough times to know how to get through the crowd. He started skating with the puck.

Puck was the first one that tried to steal the puck away. Blaine flicked the puck through Puck's skates and circled around him. He did something similar to Brian, who skated around in a full circle trying to find him.

Next came Dave. He tried to tackle Blaine into the boards, but misjudged how fast he was skating and ended up hitting them while Blaine kept going.

And finally there was Finn. Blaine wasn't entirely sure how to get around Finn. He was twice his size, and certainly knew how to handle his hockey stick. He would just have to get the puck around him somehow. They were a lot closer to the net than he'd been with any of the other guys.

And then he saw it. His opening.

Finn moved left, mirroring Blaine's moves. Blaine flicked the puck towards the boards off to the right of the net while moving left. His contradicting movements bought him enough time to go around the net and shoot the puck in, beating Finn in the process.

The whole bench applauded, along with the team mates he'd just beaten.

Burt nodded at him. "That's why, Brian." Burt looked at Blaine. "We don't get a lot of the other games around here, so most of the team has never seen you play. Now they have."

Blaine nodded in understanding. He watched a lot of hockey when he was on the other team, but he'd never heard of this team. Unless you were an NHL team, most people never heard of you, unless you were one of the top choices for a draft, like Blaine had been.

Practice was harder than it should have been because of how long it had been since Blaine was on the ice. A few days may not seem like a lot, but when your body was used to being pushed to the limit everyday, it really changed things.

They all made their way back to the change room. Blaine started changing in the back corner, no real thoughts going through his head. Suddenly he looked up and Finn was standing there in his regular clothes, holding his bag and another smaller bag.

"Hi?"

Finn laughed. "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I thought you might want those shirts I completely forgot to give you before practice." He handed him the smaller bag. "There are like 5 practice jerseys and 6 game home, and 6 game away. It seems like a lot, but you'd be shocked how quickly they're gone."

Blaine nodded and put them in his locker. "Thanks, man."

"So, are you ready to go?"

Blaine closed his locker. "Yeah. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going though..."

"Oh! You're riding with me and Bu-coach."

"Alright..."

Blaine started following Finn out of the changing room, saying goodbye to the team as he went. When they were out in the hallway waiting for the coach, Blaine looked up at Finn (holy crap he's a giant)

"What do you keep almost calling the coach?"

Finn looked at him, clearly trying to figure out what he was talking about. "OH! I call him Burt."

"Oh, that's his name, right? Wow, first name basis with the coach."

Finn laughed. "Oh, no one told you. Burt's my stepdad. My mom gave you a ride here earlier, or Kurt. But Kurt normally makes up an excuse so it was probably mom."

"Wait, that was your mom?"

Finn nodded. "Or my step brother."

Blaine laughed, shaking his head. "We really aren't in Kansas anymore."

Finn shook his head. "No, we're in Ohio..."

Finn and Blaine exchanged a look before Burt walked out of the office, followed by his assitant coach.

"Hey guys! Ready to go? Will needs a ride to his place, car's broken down. I keep telling him to bring the thing by the house and I'll fix it up."

Will nodded. "I know, I know. I'll get right on it, Mr. Hummel."

Burt grabbed Will by the shoulders and pushed him outside to the car. Blaine and Finn followed and got in the back seat.

Burt started the car and started driving. Blaine looked out the window, trying to grasp everything that had happened since he'd landed earlier.

Will finally spoke. "I would have thought you'd object to being in the backseat with another guy, eh Blaine?" He laughed, but the rest of the car stayed silent. Burt dropped him off at home a few minutes later and drove off.

"Sorry about him, Blaine. He's kind of a creep but he's a good assistant coach. Part of me thinks the other guys are just scared he'll sneak up on them in the shower if they don't play well."

Blaine laughed at that. Will certainly seemed like the type.

They made small talk for the rest of the ride home, talking about their favourite NHL teams. (Burt liked Columbus, Finn was a Vancouver man and Blaine had to admit that he'd always have a place in his heart for Toronto)

When they got inside, Blaine started feeling very awkward and out of place. Burt went straight to the kitchen to say hi to his wife, while Finn flung himself on the couch, putting his feet up on the table. Blaine just stood awkwardly in the door.

Finn glanced up when the play was stopped. "Dude, don't be so awkward. Take a load off. We aren't shy around here."

Blaine nodded, feeling kind of stupid. He proceeded to sit on the couch next to Finn. He sat and crossed his legs, folding his arms over his chest. They sat like that for a while before Carole yelled from the kitchen for Finn to go get Kurt. Blaine proceeded into the kitchen and took his seat at the table.

Carole sat down at one end of the table and Burt sat at the other. Finn sat next to Blaine a minute later.

"Where's Kurt?"

"He said he'd be right down. Something about his hair." He shrugged and started eating the food piled high on his plate.

"Go ahead Blaine, I know you must be hungry after your long day." Carole winked at him in encouragement. He started eating slowly, unlike Finn who was mauling the food.

Burt spoke a few minutes later. "Oh, how nice of you to join us, Kurt."

"Sorry, my hair wouldn't co-operate."

Blaine looked up and forgot to breathe. The man standing to his left was tall, and smelt really good. Blaine made the mistake of glancing down and seeing the kilt.

Kurt walked around and sat across from Blaine. Burt shook his head. "Kurt, are you wearing a skirt?"

"It's a kilt, Dad."

Burt shook his head. "Come on, eat your dinner."

Kurt started eating, and Blaine tried to regain his conciousness. Kurt was stunning, and that kilt...that kilt was doing stuff to him, he couldn't quite understand.

Carole shook her head eventually. "Oh my, Blaine I'm sorry. This is Burt's son Kurt."

Kurt smiled fondly at Carole. "We've talked about this. I'm not Burt's son."

Finn nodded. "It was a long conversation."

Blaine smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

Kurt nodded. "So, you play hockey?"

Burt cut in. "Kurt, you should see him play. He's better than your brother."

Finn was too busy shoving food into his face to say anything. Kurt simply nodded. "Maybe I'll have to stop by one day."

Carole smiled at Blaine. "Kurt's a fashion student. He's working for the biggest designer in town right now, aren't you honey?"

"I got lucky. Finn's girlfriend's Dads have a fashion line. They knew I needed a job."

Finn stopped eating for a second at the mention of his girlfriend and looked at Kurt.

"Your anniversary is next week, Finn. Not today."

A look of relief washed over his face and he returned to eating.

Blaine nodded. "That's pretty awesome though. When I was in college, I used to work in a Gap store. 50% discount, it was nice. They have the worst socks, though."

"I don't think I could ever work in a Gap store. Too many horribly dressed people."

They talked back and forth over the rest of their meal. Carole and Burt said very little, but Blaine noticed them exchanging interested looks every now and then. Carole left to get dessert and Finn followed, trying to lend a helping hand.

Burt looked at his son. "Kurt, why are you wearing a skirt?"

Kurt stood up and spun around. "It's not a skirt, it's a kilt. We were studying them in class last week and I wanted to see if I could pull it off."

He walked around the table so he was standing beside Burt and Blaine. He showed it off a bit more and looked Blaine. "Thoughts?"

Blaine was having a hard time figuring out how to speak. The kilt showed off a bit of Kurt's legs, and it made his ass look amazing, and that was saying something. Blaine had seen his fair share of asses, and Kurt's out of this world.

Kurt spun again, faster this time, causing his skirt to fly up. Burt immediately held it down.

"KURT!"

"What?"

"Are you wearing boxers or anything?"

Kurt blushed. "Dad..."

That's all it took. Blaine knew if he had to stand up at this table anytime soon, he'd have a very embarassing situation on his hands.

Carole and Finn walked back into the room, breaking up the argument that had erupted between Kurt and Burt.

Blaine managed to calm himself down as they ate. Kurt excused himself to finish up some assignments, while Burt and Finn went to watch a game. Blaine felt guilty leaving Carole to do the dishes by herself, so he offered to help.

"Oh Blaine, you don't have to do that. We all take turns around here."

Blaine smiled. "Really, I don't mind."

Carole stood against the counter watching Blaine clean for the next while. "You and Kurt seem to be getting along."

Blaine nodded. "Uh yeah, he seems like a great guy. Finn and Burt too."

Carole smiled. "He's single you know."

"I'm sorry?"

"Kurt. He's single. He was dating a guy for a little while, but Burt and I didn't approve. He wasn't the nicest guy."

"Oh, hopefully he finds someone."

Carole smiled. "So, did you have a boyfriend before you moved here?"

Blaine shrugged, he didn't normally air his personal life like this, but Carole seemed nice enough. "We weren't really...dating, we just-"

"Had sex. That can be fun, but Burt is always telling Kurt to be careful. Don't throw yourself around like you don't matter."

"Good words to live by."

Blaine finished off with the dishes and Carole showed him up to the guest room. It was a simple room, a queen sized bed, blue and white sheets, a dresser and a small television. There was even a small closet next to the door. His suitcases were stood up by the dresser.

"Here you are! There's a bathroom through the door next to your closet. There's a new toothbrush in the medicine cabinet in case you forgot one, as well as a few other things."

"It gets a little cool up here at night, so there's an extra blanket inside the seat by the window, and another pillow. OH! I bought you a pair of slippers, which are in the dresser. I think that's it."

Blaine smiled. "Thank you. I promise, as soon as I find a place I'll be out of your hair."

Carole shook her head. "No, we want you to stay here as long as you need to. Don't worry about finding a place yet. We've been through this a few times. The longest anyone stayed with us was a year, and he only moved out because he went pro. There's no need to find a place of your own just yet." She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Burt and I are going for a little walk, but if you need anything Finn and Kurt are here. Goodnight, honey."

Blaine waited until she left before sitting down on the bed. It was comfortable, which was good. He walked over to his bag and pulled out his cellphone. 12 missed calls, missed messages, tweets. He sighed and dialed the number he knew so well.

"BLAINE ANDERSON, WE HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK."

Blaine smiled fondly. "I know, San. I'm sorry. I got off the plane and started practice pretty much right away, then dinner. This is the first time I've had to myself since I landed."

"I don't want your excuses."

He smiled. "Santana, come on. I didn't want to walk away from dinner with everyone."

"With everyone? Did you go out with the team?"

"Uh...no. Actually, the coach's family has me staying with them. From what his wife was saying, he's done it with everyone on the team."

"...Blaine are you involved in some kind of cult? It's gonna be okay, just cough once for no and twice for yes and we'll find a way to come get you."

Blaine laughed. "No, really. I'm okay. It's not a cult."

"Honey, are you sure? It really sounds like a cult. A really creepy one."

"I'm sure."

"If you say so. And, any new lovers?"

Blaine hesitated. There wasn't anyone on the team, but he had gotten some seriously powerful feelings for Kurt at the dinner table.

"Blaine Anderson, you have been in that horrid place for less than a day and you've already found yourself a man? I'm proud."

Blaine laughed. "I didn't say anything like that. I'm still sleeping alone tonight. And honestly, I think I need to be single for a little while."

"Well, you go do that sleep thing. I'm gonna wake Brit up and take her to bed. Now I'm not saying you have to check in everyday, but phone at least once a week, and maybe a text message a few times a week so we know you're okay? We worry about you, B."

Blaine smiled. "How about I make it a text message everytime I get a chance, and a phone call at least once a week, if not more."

He couldn't be sure, but he could have sworn he could hear Santana's smile. "Good. Night."

Blaine hung up and stared at his phone background for a few minutes. It was a picture of him, Santana and Brittany's faces all smiling and goofy. He never really thought he'd miss them, but they really were his best friends.

He pulled himself together and grabbed his cellphone charger out of his bag, plugging it into the wall and his phone to the other end. It was still early, and he wasn't exactly tired, but he didn't feel quite comfortable enough to leave the room and wander around the house, so he settled for unpacking.

A while later, he changed and crawled into bed. The room was the perfect temperature, it was dark and quiet just the way he liked it, but he couldn't sleep. He must have rolled around in bed for a good hour before giving up and heading downstairs for some water.

It was later than he had thought it would be, probably 2 or 3 in the morning. He was quiet as he walked through the house, being especially careful outside of Mr and Mrs Hummel's room. He always remembered how lightly his mother slept while he was growing up. She always told him that's what mothers did, just in case they had to hear something in the night.

He made it down the stairs and into the kitchen without making a sound. He closed the kichen door lightly, just in case and begun getting his water.

Apparently Kurt was also quiet as a mouse, because Blaine didn't hear him moving around upstairs, or coming down the stairs, or opening the door.

Blaine nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Kurt standing by the door.

"Oh my god."

Kurt laughed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Blaine shook his head, becoming less tense. "No problem. Sorry, I hope I didn't wake you up."

"You didn't wake me up. I was finishing up a paper for school. Wasn't going too well so I was coming to get some of Carole's cheesecake, would you like some?"

Blaine shrugged. "Sure, sounds good." He reached for two plates in the cupboard but stopped when he saw Kurt shooting him a strange look.

"Do people not have midnight snacks where you come from? You're supposed to eat right out of the container. It's like a rule."

"That's a really weird rule, but alright." He grabbed forks out of the drawer and sat down on one of the stools next to Kurt.

Kurt took the fork when Blaine offered it and started eating the cheesecake.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Kurt looked up at him. "Why hockey?"

"...sorry?"

"Out of all the sports, why hockey? I know Finn plays because his mom started him with the skating when he was younger and it's the only thing he's ever been good at, and I know Puck chose hockey because "that's where the ladies are" but why did you choose it?"

Blaine shook his head. "I didn't. As cheesy as it sounds, hockey chose me."

"That doesn't sound cheesy to me."

Blaine smiled. "I think you're the first person to ever tell me that. Did the fashion industry choose you?'

Kurt nodded. "Yeah, it did. My mom used to draw a lot of outfits and I was in my senior year of high school, about to graduate and ready to go to a theater school when I found them all. I carried them around with me all through my first year at NYADA, but it just didn't fit. I found myself drawing more and more, and finally I applied to a fashion program here and I've been there ever since."

Blaine nodded. "That's pretty cool. I started skating when I was younger, up in Canada and I joined my first hockey team when I was in high school, which is considered late for most players, and from there I just kept moving up. I played in Canada for a few years, and then I was traded all over the place."

"And then you were let go for coming out." Kurt looked up from his cheesecake again, right into Blaine's eyes which made his heart skip a few beats.

"It was a bit more than that, but pretty much. I was let go for bringing bad publicity, because I was a role model. That's not how I see it though."

"I don't think I'll ever understand why people can be so hurtful. It isn't supposed to matter who you love to anyone but you."

Blaine nodded, sitting back in the chair. "You'd think it could be that way."

Kurt finished off the cheesecake and put the container in the sink. "Well, I should probably get back to work. Looks like another all nighter." He grabbed two cans of diet coke out of the fridge.

Blaine nodded. "Thanks, Kurt."

Kurt turned around to face him. "What for?'

"I've known I was gay since I was 15 years old, and until a few days ago, no one in my whole life had known. Yet here you are, a complete stranger and you just understood everything."

Kurt smiled. "You're new here, but you'll understand it all soon." He walked towards the door with his cans of diet coke.

"Hey Kurt? Need any help with your work? I doubt I'm gonna be falling asleep anytime soon."

"Sure, grab some supplies and come on up."