*

"Dad, why can't I just come to Kurt's with you?" Zach asked on the way to Quinn's.

"Because it's Friday. You always go to your mom's on Fridays. She misses you."

"I know, but I like when we all go to Kurt's."

Blaine smiled, neatening up his bowtie and running a hand through his hair anxiously.

"I know you do. But Kurt and I are going out for dinner."

"Like on a date?"

Blaine wanted to kick himself. He was supposed to do this properly, sit Zach down especially and tell him much later on when they were more certain of everything, but he didn't want to lie to him.

"Well, um… maybe. Is that okay?"

"Uh-huh," Zach muttered, rootling around in his bag. "I think I forgot my toothbrush."

Blaine raised his eyebrows. That was easy. He decided not to question it, knowing he should make the most of Zach's nonchalance. It was unlikely anyone else would take it that well.

"I bet Mom has a spare somewhere."

Quinn was already waiting outside when they pulled up. Blaine got out to say 'hello' and give her a hug, but when she looked him up and down he wished he hadn't.

"Hey, boys. You're looking… very handsome, Blaine. Got plans?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say-"

"He's going on a date with Kurt. He took forever getting ready."

Blaine blushed. He and Quinn simultaneously avoided each other's gaze with an awkward laugh.

"Of course he did." She looked up at Blaine. "It paid off. I hope it goes well."

"Quinn, I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you properly-"

"Don't. It's fine. You really do look good, Blaine. Kurt's a lucky guy."

"You should meet him. Properly, I mean, not just by accident. I honestly think you'd get along; he's an interior designer, so you two could talk houses-"

"Honey, you're babbling. You don't need to set me and your boyfriend up on a play date."

"He's not my-" Quinn folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay. But it's only a recent thing, I swear. We were going to keep it quiet, but then Zach asked me, and I couldn't just-"

"Blaine, I don't think I've ever seen you this nervous."

"What? No. It's nothing. It's just dinner. Is Kitty here?"

"She's got Cheerio practise 'til 8. That coach really is insane. I think she's going straight to a party afterwards."

"You're letting her go to a party?"

"She's seventeen. Seventeen-year-olds go to parties."

"Not when they've committed vandalism."

"What?"

"She didn't tell you? That's why I sent her to yours last week; I couldn't deal with her after what she did to the store."

"What did she do?"

"Dad," Zach gave Blaine a nudge, anxious to stop them before they started arguing, "You're gonna be late. You should go."

"Zach-"

"He's right, Blaine. We can talk about this tomorrow. Just forget about it, have a great evening, and I'm sure Kitty's rebellious phase will still be alive and kicking in the morning."

"But if she's-"

"Dad, Kurt's going to leave without you."

"You should listen to him. He's probably the only stable person in this family. Go."

Blaine gave in. Quinn gave him a kiss on the cheek and Zach hugged him and waved him off enthusiastically. He took a deep breath and pulled away, unsure if there were butterflies or rocks in his stomach.

Kurt's door opened before he could knock, and Kurt's lips met his before he could even look at him.

"Hi."

"I- hi. Wow. Kurt, you look-"

Kurt shrugged.

"Oh, I just threw this on. You scrub up pretty well, too. Shall we?"

Blaine smiled in response and offered Kurt his arm, but Kurt snorted and took his hand instead, linking their fingers together.

"Too much?"

Blaine was blushing, so Kurt kissed his cheek as they walked toward the car.

"Not at all. I just don't want to wrinkle my jacket." Blaine laughed, and Kurt squeezed his hand. "And I'd rather hold your hand than your sleeve."

Blaine smiled and stopped walking so he could kiss Kurt again properly.

"I'm really glad we're doing this, Kurt."

It was Kurt's turn to blush.

"Me too."

Blaine willed the warm buzz tingling across his skin to overpower the heaviness in his stomach. He couldn't worry about Kitty now. Tonight was about him and Kurt.

Considering neither of them had been drinking ("Well, you're driving and I can't be the only one with a glass of wine in my hand or it'll turn into ten") they both felt incredibly dizzy. It could have been the sultry ambience of the restaurant, or one too many twirls while they danced, but the most likely cause was the fact that right now there was a limited supply of blood to their brains. They stumbled into Kurt's apartment, Blaine gripping Kurt's waist so that he stayed as close as possible, Kurt's arms slung over his shoulders and playing with his hair to see what noises he could pull out of him. Kurt flinched when he felt something move against his thigh.

"Shit," he gasped, "what was that? Are you okay?"

"M'fine, just my phone. Ignore it."

Kurt grinned and kissed him again, teasing his mouth open and pulling him closer while guiding them both into the living room.

"Let me just-" Kurt wriggled one arm out his jacket, still half stuck in it when they fell onto the sofa, giggling. "Sorry. You okay?"

Blaine nodded, kissing Kurt again insistently.

"Kurt, I-"

"Tonight was amazing, Blaine."

"It was. You're so, I just-"

Kurt's smile widened and he kissed him again.

"Thanks. You know, we could just," another kiss, longer, deeper, "take this," and again, "slowly. If you want. I don't mind."

Even as he was saying it, he was pulling his tie loose. Blaine steeled himself.

"I- I want you, Kurt. I do."

"I know. And I want you too," he kissed him again briefly, still breathless, "but we don't have to, I mean if you're not ready-"

He looked into Kurt's eyes, so understanding, like he could see Blaine's thoughts, like he knew exactly what was wrong and was choosing not to say it, too scared of embarrassing him or inadvertently rejecting him, and he felt completely exposed. He was so vulnerable it made him want to cry. He couldn't just stop. He didn't want to stop. He was thirty eight. Just because the idea of everything Santana had told him made him so nervous he could have thrown up, that didn't mean he wouldn't get into it if he tried hard enough.

"It's fine. I'm- I'm fine."

He kissed Kurt again, pulling the rest of his jacket off and brushing past his arm – God, that was a nice arm – kneeled, and swung his leg over Kurt so he was sitting in his lap. Kurt made a surprised squeak and grabbed Blaine's hips to steady him.

"Blaine, are you sure you're-"

Blaine rocked his hips down so the only argument Kurt could form was a groan. It was having all the obvious effects, but Blaine's whole body felt tense and uncomfortable. He gripped onto Kurt's shoulders and couldn't help when his hips stuttered forward again, grinding the two of them together. They both gasped at the friction, and just when he felt Kurt's mouth opening for him again, there was another buzz in his pocket.

"Sorry, I'll turn it off."

"You can answer if you want to."

He pulled the phone out and looked at the screen.

"No, no, I-"

He froze. Seven missed calls.

"Blaine? Blaine, what's wrong? Who is it?"

Blaine answered the phone.

"Kitty? Are you okay?"

There was a male voice on the other end.

"Mr Anderson? Is that you?"

"Yeah, this is Kitty's dad," Blaine shifted to sit next to Kurt. Kurt took his hand and stroked a thumb over his knuckles. "Who's this? Where is she?"

"She's- fuck- she won't wake up. I've called an ambulance, but, shit, I don't know what to do. Can you come here? We're at a party, it's on- what street is this? Listen, asshole, if you don't tell me what street we're on, I'm gonna rip out your spleen," there was a pause, and Blaine perched on the edge of the sofa, clinging to Kurt's hand as if it was his only source of strength. "Bridge Street. We're on Bridge Street, number thirty something."

It was muffled, but he could hear the boy saying Kitty's name over and over, begging her to wake up.

"Yeah, of course, I'm on my way. Call me again if anything happens."

He hung up and jumped to his feet, letting go of Kurt's hand.

"Blaine? What's happened?"

"I don't know, it's Kitty, she's unconscious. Fuck. I've got to go."

"No, Blaine, you can't drive like this. I'll take you."

"No, Kurt. Don't. I shouldn't even be here. Christ, if I hadn't come here, if I hadn't… fuck…"

"Blaine, this isn't your fault. Come on, tell me where to go and we'll go-"

"No, Kurt, just stop. Stop pushing me. This is my family and my daughter and I have to take care of her. This is just- it's too much, okay, it's too fast and I can't do it. I can't do this, I can't be here when she's out there, I can't, Kurt, I just-"

Kurt took his hand again and Blaine grabbed him, throwing his arms around his waist and burying his face in his shoulder. Kurt wrapped his arms around him, cocooning him, giving him all the protection he could.

"It's okay, Blaine."

"If she's not okay- I- I'll never forgive myself-"

"She will be. And you'll be there. It's going to be alright. Let's go."

The whole journey, Blaine used one hand to hold his phone and the other to cling to Kurt's thigh. They finally made it to the right street, and it was obvious which house they wanted by the ambulance outside.

"Oh, shit. Shit, Kurt, that's for her."

"That's good, Blaine. They'll look after her."

Blaine nodded silently as Kurt pulled over. He almost strangled himself on his seatbelt leaping out of the car just as a stretcher was being lifted out of the house, and he ran over to it. She was unconscious and pale, almost grey, standing out in the darkness. There were dark circles under her eyes. Blaine took her hand and walked along as she was carried to the ambulance.

"Kitty? Kitty, honey, it's me. I'm here. Dad's here, okay?"

She stirred for a second. Everyone, including the paramedics, stopped what they were doing.

"Dad?"

Her voice was weak and unclear. Blaine squeezed her hand, willing her to stay awake.

"Yeah, honey, it's Dad. I'm right here. Can you see me?"

"Yelling. Should be yelling. Bad."

"What?"

"Don't yell at me."

"Sweetheart, I'm not yelling. We're taking you to hospital."

"Don't care. Hate me."

"I could never-"

"There's no point. She can't hear you." Blaine noticed the boy standing on her other side, holding her other hand. He recognised the jacket, but the Mohawk was definitely a surprise. He gave a shy nod. "Hi."

"Are you the one who called me?" The boy nodded. "Thank you. I can't thank you enough." Blaine looked down at Kitty again and put a hand on her cheek. "I love you, okay, Kitty cat? I love you more than anything." She blinked a couple of times, not quite managing to focus on him. She nodded as if she half understood, then drifted off again.

The boy tried to force a smile, but it fell flat. Blaine understood. They both kept staring at Kitty's face, inanimate again. They reached the ambulance, and Kitty was put on a gurney and pushed in. Blaine turned to see Kurt standing by his car, giving the same attempt at a smile as the boy had given him. He walked over to give his elbow a squeeze, knowing Blaine might not want to do any more in front of so many people, but Blaine didn't hesitate before leaning straight into his arms. He was scared of so many things, but being vulnerable wasn't one of them right now.

"I'll meet you at the hospital?" Kurt felt Blaine nod against his chest. "Okay. She's going to be okay. Just be with her. That's all you can do."

Blaine nodded again and pulled away, allowing himself a second to press his forehead against Kurt's and hold onto his hips a moment longer, letting out a shaky breath.

"Thank you," he whispered, before turning to see the boy with his hands in his pockets, looking from the ambulance to Blaine and Kurt and back again.

"Mr Anderson, is it okay if- can I come with you? Please? I- I'm scared."

Blaine paused for a second, worried that he'd never even met the kid before, but he knew if it hadn't been for him… He nodded and let him get in first. He glanced back at Kurt one more time before stepping into the ambulance, the doors slamming behind him and the engine revving.

He and the boy sat down next to each other and both reached for her hand. The boy won, but he noticed Blaine's disappointment and tried to offer it to him. Blaine shook his head.

He'd probably saved her life. He could hold her hand.

"Thanks," he said, looking down sheepishly, "I'm Noah, by the way. Noah Puckerman."

Blaine nodded. He couldn't do introductions now, not with a siren blaring and a woman checking his daughter's pulse and airways and turning her onto her side so she wouldn't choke on her own vomit. They were silent for the rest of the journey.

When they arrived at the hospital, they were rushed in and asked to wait outside the room while they pumped Kitty's stomach. They both winced at the thought, both wanted to be there to make sure she was okay, but they trusted the doctors - they had very little choice. Blaine got them both coffee while they waited, and they stayed silent as they drank it, their backs aching on the hard plastic chairs. Blaine called Quinn, and she said she'd get there as soon as she could.

Eventually they were allowed into Kitty's room. She was still unconscious, but stable, according to the doctor. The two of them wandered in and sat either side of the bed where Kitty was sleeping, still pale, still looking so small. They each took one of her hands.

"So. Noah."

He nodded.

"Are you Kitty's boyfriend?"

He frowned.

"I'm trying to be. She won't let me."

Blaine held back a smile. A lot of things fell into place.

"Well if this doesn't earn you some brownie points, I don't know what will."

"Mmm. I just want her to be okay. I tried to get her to stop drinking, but she was just so- I don't know. Angry. Sad. I didn't know what to do. I just knew she'd want you here."

Blaine looked at the boy, surprised.

"Really?"

Noah's eyes didn't leave Kitty's face.

"Yeah. She'd kill me for saying this, but she's really torn up about everything between you two. She doesn't like it at her mom's. It doesn't feel like home, not really."

"Oh. She told you all of this?"

"She didn't have to. You know, Mr Anderson-"

"Blaine. Blaine's fine."

"Blaine… Your daughter makes fun of me a lot. She's always calling me stupid or laughing at my hair or teasing me because I'm older than her and I don't know what a Gangnam Style is, but I don't mind. I kind of have to listen to the stuff she doesn't say."

Blaine reached over the bed to pat Noah's arm. It was painfully awkward, but it was better than nothing.

"What do you mean?"

"Like how sometimes she just rests her head on my arm, or when she holds my hand, or gives me this smile like I've just said the dumbest thing she's ever heard (Blaine knew it all too well) – she's doing it because she likes me. Because she's happy. It's what she does with you." He was still staring at her, his eyes glistening with tears. "I know it looks like she's pushing you away, but I think… I think she's just scared it's gonna work."

Blaine swallowed and blinked quickly. He realised he was trembling. He wasn't cold, but somehow this boy he'd only just met seemed to understand everything better than he did, and it gave him chills.

"But… but I could never…"

"I know that. If I can see it, any idiot can. She just feels guilty."

"Guilty? What for? Because of the store?" He rubbed a hand over his eyes. "I still don't understand what she said before we got in the ambulance. I never yell at her."

"Maybe that's the problem."

"What?"

"Talk to her. I should probably leave you to it."

He stood up and stretched his arms above his head.

"You don't have to-"

Noah smiled.

"It's cool. I don't want to get in between you and your ex."

"Wise."

"Yeah, well."

"No, really, Noah. You're not an idiot."

"Tell her that when she wakes up." He stuck his hand out. "Nice meeting you, Mr Anderson. And you can call me Puck."

Blaine shook his hand and nodded before walking him to the door. When they got into the hallway, they found Kurt sitting just outside. He was blinking sleepily, but he sharpened up as soon as he noticed Blaine.

"How is she? Is everything okay?"

Blaine smiled at Puck.

"It will be. This is Noah, Kitty's… friend, I guess."

"Hi, uh, I'm Kurt. Blaine's-"

"Friend? Uh-huh," Puck smirked. "Gotcha. I'll let you two friends get back to what's left of your evening."

Kurt and Blaine blushed. Puck grinned and gave Blaine a slap on the shoulder, startling him, taking one more glance at Kitty and walking away.

"So, she's okay? What was it?"

"Drinking. They pumped her stomach. She'll need a couple of days to recover, but she's okay."

"And what about you?"

Blaine looked down and took a deep breath. When he looked up again, there were tears in his eyes. He shook his head. Kurt wrapped his arms around him, firm and strong and grounding, and kissed his temple as Blaine buried his face in his scarf.

"I thought-"

Kurt nodded and shushed him.

"I know. She's okay, Blaine. She's going to be fine. I promise."

Blaine lifted his head to look at Kurt.

"Kurt, I don't- if you hadn't-"

"Stop. This just makes us even." Blaine laughed weakly. "I'll stay as long as you want me to. Whatever you need, okay?"

Blaine nodded, his breath catching in his throat, resting his forehead against Kurt's. They stayed like that for another moment, unabashedly intimate and peaceful, and Blaine was about to lean in to kiss him when there was a cough behind him. Kurt tensed up, and Blaine spun around to see Quinn standing with a sleepy Zach holding her hand and leaning on her arm, nuzzling into her elbow. Blaine's arm automatically reached out in front of Kurt, just in case Quinn attacked. She stared at him incredulously.

"I've got other things to be upset about right now, Blaine."

He breathed a sigh of relief and used his sleeve to wipe a tear from his cheek.

"Right. She's fine. She just drank too much, and they pumped her stomach, but she'll be alright."

"You say that like it's nothing."

"Well, it could have been a lot worse."

"Mmm. So. Your date got cut short, then."

"Um. Yeah."

Kurt froze, unsure whether he should smile or shake her hand or run away screaming. Quinn made an honest attempt at a smile. It was all either of them could have expected.

"It's okay. I'm not going to bite you. It's nice to meet you properly. With less yelling."

"You too," Kurt mumbled, and Blaine had to stop himself from grinning. He'd never seen Kurt shy before. It was adorable. "Hi, Zach."

"Hello," Zach mumbled, still trying to wipe sleep from his eyes. "Is Kitty alive?"

"Yeah, she's gonna be fine, buddy. You okay?"

"I'm tired. Can I go back to bed?"

Quinn looked through the window into Kitty's room.

"I- I guess if she's okay, I can take you home. Come on-"

"Quinn, wait-"

She looked at Blaine. He wanted to offer to take Zach home so she could stay with Kitty, but he didn't particularly want to leave the hospital either. His mouth was hanging open, trying to answer, when he felt Kurt's hand on his elbow.

"I could always take him. If you two want to stay."

Quinn looked down at Zach, whose eyes were sliding shut even though he was standing up, and back at Kitty, out cold on the hospital bed.

"You'd do that?"

"Sure. You should be with her. Zach'll be fine with me and Mai, won't you?"

Zach flickered back into consciousness and nodded vaguely in Kurt's direction.

"Well…" Quinn paused, feeling like she should be trying to find a reason to say no, but she really wanted to stay. And Kurt had taken care of him before. "Okay. Please. That would be great. Zach, do you mind sleeping at Kurt's tonight, so we can stay with your sister?"

Zach nodded.

"Sleep."

The three adults smiled at him, and Kurt put a hand on his shoulder.

"Okay. I need to pick Mai up anyway. One of you can come and get him tomorrow, whenever's easiest."

Quinn and Kurt locked eyes for a moment, and she didn't quite smile, but in a way he was glad. Whatever this expression was, at least it was genuine.

"Thank you, Kurt. Really."

He smiled and nodded at her, and turned to Blaine. Quinn tried not to grimace and walked into Kitty's room and sat by the bed. Blaine sighed gratefully and kissed Kurt on the cheek, linking their fingers together and squeezing hard.

"Kurt, I don't know what to say."

Kurt smiled.

"I think 'goodnight, Zach' will do for now."

He grinned and knelt in front of Zach.

"Your sister's gonna be fine, okay? Shall I give her a big hug for you?"

Zach nodded, blinking slowly.

"Yes please."

"Okay," Blaine embraced him, "I love you. I'll see you in the morning."

Zach hung onto him for a second before looking up at Kurt, who offered him a reassuring smile, which must have worked. He grinned and turned to the door he'd come in through.

"If it's easier, I can drop him at your place tomorrow? Just call me and let me know, okay?" Blaine nodded and hugged him again.

"Thank you so much, Kurt."

He heard Kurt sniff over his shoulder.

"Hey. Stop that. She's fine, remember?"

Blaine tightened his jaw and nodded.

"Tomorrow?"

Kurt nodded back.

"Tomorrow."

Kurt and Zach wandered out and Blaine walked into Kitty's room and sat by Quinn.

"Thank you."

"What for?" she asked half-heartedly, too busy staring at her daughter's still frame.

"For being cool. About Kurt."

"Oh. Yeah, well. Other things to worry about."

"Of course."

"But it did take everything I had not to lose it just now. So you should be grateful all the same."

Blaine laughed.

"Okay. I'm proud of you, Quinn. And I really do appreciate it."

She took a deep breath and puffed her cheeks out then leaned on Blaine, resting her head on his shoulder. He absent-mindedly pressed a kiss into her hair.

"I was so fucking scared, B." He looked at her for a moment, eyes wide. "What?"

"Oh, nothing, just- you haven't called me that since… you know."

"Right. Sorry."

"No, don't apologise. It's nice. I kind of miss it."

"I miss you."

"Quinn-"

"No, I'm not- I know you're gay. Thinking about it now, it just explains how you always dressed better than me. It's just hard. One day we were a family, and now we're this. I used to tell you everything and now… it's all different."

"It doesn't have to be. Not really. I mean, technically I was always-"

"Don't ruin the moment, Blaine. Can we just leave it at me missing you and you being all sickening with your new boyfriend?"

He was too tired to play the 'he's not my boyfriend' game. It was nice hearing anybody call him that, especially if Quinn was more or less okay with it. In spite of everything, he still desperately wanted her approval.

They sat comfortably for a few minutes, soaking up the silence and the steady beeping of the monitors, the beeping that meant Kitty was stable.

A woman in a white coat came in and smiled when she saw them.

"Mr and Mrs Anderson?"

"No, actually-" Quinn began, but Blaine put his hand over hers.

"We're Kitty's parents. Is everything okay?"

"Well, it's not any different from ten minutes ago. I just came to tell you that you might want to go home and get some sleep. She won't be awake until the morning."

Blaine looked at Quinn.

"What do you think?"

"I am pretty exhausted. You're sure she won't wake up alone?"

The doctor nodded.

"We'll call you if anything happens."

They both stood and stretched and went to kiss Kitty's forehead and squeeze her hands before making their way out to the parking lot. Blaine noticed Quinn shivering and gave her his jacket.

"Christ. I really should've known you weren't straight. You're far too polite."

"Should I be ruder?"

"I think 'I prefer penis' is rude enough." He snorted. "Where are you parked?"

"Oh. Shit. I came in the ambulance. My car's at Kurt's."

"Don't worry; I'll take you back. Or you could stay at my place if it's easier? I mean, we're both going back to the hospital in the morning-"

"I wouldn't want to put you out-"

"You wouldn't- unless you'd rather not-"

"Fucking hell. I'll stay at yours just to shut both of us up."

"Deal."

Blaine didn't realise until he was stepping inside that he'd never been in Quinn's place before. How ridiculous that he should be married to someone, see them every day since college, and now not even know what their kitchen looked like. As it turned out, it was lovely.

"Quinn, this is- it's gorgeous."

"I did what I could."

"Well, it worked. Good job."

"Thanks."

She opened the fridge and pulled a bottle of wine out of the door.

"Oh, no, thanks."

"I don't remember offering. But there's another bottle in there if you want one. I can get you a straw."

"I don't know if we should-"

"Blaine, this is one of the worst days I've have in a long time. I'm having a drink. If you want to make me drink alone, that's fine. Just a little rude." As she unscrewed the bottle, Blaine sighed and grabbed the other one. Quinn took two mugs from the shelf. "Just like old times," she said with a grin.

"Woah, woah, you're seeing somebody? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I don't have years of suppression to make up for. It's still early days."

"And he's a doctor?"

"Uh-huh. You should have seen my mom's face when I told her."

"I guess you didn't tell her about the dancing."

Quinn shook her head quickly and it made her sway to one side a little. They were sitting cross-legged on opposite ends of the couch, sipping wine from mugs as if it was illegal. It was like college all over again. She giggled.

"Fuck, no. I call dibs on all gay husband jokes. She's not starting the gay boyfriend ones. And he's Asian, which my dad won't be happy about, but it's still a step up from the gay guy who knocked me up in college. But trust me, he's definitely straight."

"Not being rude, but you're not exactly known for your gaydar."

She kicked him in the stomach and he burst out laughing.

"Very funny. Well, all the dancing pays off. He seems pretty damn straight to me, if you know what I'm saying."

Blaine sat up straight.

"Oh. So you've-"

Quinn nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Yep. A lot. It's just- wow. Don't take it personally; I know you had your reasons, but he's really – it's amazing. Funny what a difference it can make when the person's actually attracted to you."

"Wow. Sorry to have disappointed you for so long. You know, Quinn, it wasn't because – you are attractive, okay? You're beautiful."

"Mmmhmm."

"No, I mean it."

She smiled at him.

"Thanks. And you were occasionally not-awful in bed."

There was a loaded pause. Quinn sipped from her mug, smiling up at Blaine.

"Gee, aren't we full of compliments this evening?" He downed the rest of his drink and stood up, only swaying for a second. "I think it's probably time for bed. We might have an early start tomorrow."

"Oh, shit, yeah. Okay," she put her mug on the table and grabbed his hand. "Spare room's this way."

Blaine started having flashbacks of the evening as Quinn dragged him upstairs. He remembered Kurt's smile when they talked, Kurt's breath on his ear when they danced, Kurt's moans when Blaine had rocked insistently in his lap and the feeling of dread when he saw that understanding look in Kurt's eyes, but the relief when he found it again in the hospital.

He remembered Kitty's face, still and white, and 'don't care' and 'hate me' and Puck saying she felt guilty about something.

He remembered Santana talking about lube and 'it won't hurt that much' and how he'd been forcing himself, rutting against Kurt mindlessly while Kitty had been unconscious, almost dying, and it had all been so scary… But here was Quinn.

Quinn whose laugh he knew better than anyone else's, Quinn he could tell anything to, the mother of his children, one of whom was lying in hospital because she was so miserable at the thought of losing him that she'd almost drunk herself into a coma.

If he'd never come out, never torn his family apart, maybe she wouldn't be in hospital at all.

"Quinn-"

"It's this one. Only a single, but your boyfriend's not here so-"

She was cut off as Blaine laid a hand on her back, pulled her close and kissed her.