"And Goldilocks huffed at the porridge that it was too hot!" Elizabeth exclaimed, scrunching up her small, but theatrical, face, as she placed her hands on her hips. Amused by his moms histrionics, Kurt curled up his lips in a tiny smile, a low giggle burbling from his throat, which was still thick from the bubbles of warm milk that had just slid down it. Scooting Kurt closer to herself, she pulled his head onto her chest and rested her chin on his hair, which she tenderly smoothed from his forehead. Watching the sleepy boy with a pair of warm eyes, Blaine glanced up at Elizabeth, who gazed at her son with such an expression of love that Blaine almost felt saddened by it. That kind of deep love could nearly be devastating.

Suddenly, Elizabeths blue eyes swept over the mattress, traveling up Blaines legs, which were parallel to her own. A slender arm slipped out from under Kurt, raising his head from the pillow as she dragged him closer, as well. Dropping his head to the place between Elizabeths collarbones, Blaine felt Kurts mussed hair tickle his chin. She returned her weary eyes to the page, which showed a picture of a small, blond girl pouting at a bowl of porridge that had unmoving steam hovering over it. "Goldilocks slid over to the next chair, engulfing her spoon in another bowl of porridge. Testily, she raised the silver to her lips, and then swallowed the bite of porridge whole! She exclaimed that this porridge was just right!"

Kurt happily clapped his hands at that, but instantly stilled them when his mom turned the page, revealing a picture of a few bears tromping through the forest. Elizabeth noisily gasped, mocking surprise at the awful ending the story would undoubtedly have. "While Goldilocks scooped up more and more bites of the porridge, she remained unaware of the owners of the home, three bears who were looking forward to a hot-or cold-meal."

Kurt turned his chin up to the ceiling, staring at his mom from upside down, "Dont let the bears get Goldilocks, Maman!" To make his case more convincing, he reached over for Blaine and shook his arm. "Tell her, Blaine!"

His mom chuckled at that, "Ill do my best, darling." Just before she put her finger back on the word that she had left off, she jerked her hand up to her chest to still her heart, which stuttered at the sound of clanging from upstairs. "Oh, dear. That couldnt be your dad, Kurt. He wont be home for another hour." Hushing Kurt when he murmured something incoherent, Elizabeth swung her legs from the bed, cautiously taking a few steps forward to get a look at the staircase, which was still empty behind a closed door. She held up her hands at Kurt and Blaine, the former who had lifted from his pillow and was giving his mom a concerned look. "Its alright, my loves. Stay down here, okay? Well finish our story in a minute."

Alarmed by the pounding of wood, Elizabeth snapped her head up to the stairs, rushing over to them before whoever was trying to get in actually could. "Maman, wait-" Kurt cried out, worried enough over his mom to hop from the bed before Blaine could catch him. Instantly, Blaine jolted out of the bed, scrambling over to Kurt, who had darted over to the bottom of the stairs. He stared up at his mom with a pair of huge eyes, helplessly watching her vanish through the door that she cracked open. "Maman!" He tried again, his mouth falling open at the noise of crashing. Blaine quickly took Kurts hand when he scurried up the first step, the hem of his dress catching under his foot.

"Kurt-" Blaine begged, tagging along with him as he climbed each step like it was a tiny mountain. As soon as Kurt arrived at the top of the steps, he nudged the door farther open with the tip of his nose, hurrying forward before he even knew who his mom was speaking to at the door. Blaine trailed after him, still clutching his hand as Kurt pulled ahead, slipping away from him on his quick, little feet. Both of them were silenced by the sight of a man at the doorway, leaning casually in the frame while Elizabeth stood opposite of him, her spine stiff and her hands balled into tight fists. Kurt pawed for his moms hand, snapping Elizabeth out of the reverie she seemed to have sunken into.

"Oh-" she whispered, her eyes growing huge at the sight of her son, who was holding his arms up in a silent plea to be held. "Kurt, you were supposed to stay downstairs."

"Maman!" was all he cried, still stretching for her bodice, which he grabbed in his small hands. Elizabeth quickly pushed him off of her front, stepping in front of him. Kurt settled for clutching the back of her dress, his confused eyes flashing from face to face as he sought out an answer to who the man was. He paused on Blaine, who seemed to know more than he did, judging by the ashen color to his skin as he watched the man fumble for his footing. He started to pat Blaines arm, but the sound of his moms sharp voice drew his attention back up to her quivering expression.

"You need to go." She demanded, her shaking voice betraying her nerves that if he tried to let himself in, she wouldnt be able to stop him. "This isnt appropriate, Mr. Anderson. My husband isnt home... I have the children with me. You shouldnt be seen like this in front of them."

Kurt glimpsed back at Blaines face, which was in the expression of someone who had just seen a man lose his head. The man suddenly staggered forward, nearly falling on top of Elizabeth, who readily stepped back and held up her hands to block him. "I w-want my boy..." He slurred, pointing at the place beside of Blaine, instead of directly at him. "Before that f-fag of yours turns him into one."

Blaine had never seen Elizabeth almost lose control of her usually docile temper, but he caught the way her hand jerked up as if she meant to slap him. He was certain that the only reason she held back was because of the presence of the children, and a private reminder to herself that this drunk wasnt worth it. Hed seen his dad a hundred times like this before, usually after he and his wife had been in ill temper with each other, which was often. His dad came home blusteringly drunk, pointing accusing fingers and shouting nonsense at anyone he could blame for his troubles, while he hopelessly wiped sweat from his brow and tried not to collapse. He smelled like the bitter perfume of another woman, not the kind that Blaines mom wore. Blaine recoiled in disgust, trying to focus on his dads face so he could calculate his every move, which were made so much worse and harder when he was this far into his cups. The last thing Blaine wanted was for his dad to suddenly strike against Elizabeth, the only mom that Blaine had ever known.

"You have no right!" Elizabeth shrieked, reaching back for Kurt and placing her hand on his shoulder, which he pressed farther into her leg as if he was trying to disappear into her. "He is my son, and I will decide what is best for him and what isnt. If he is happiest like this, then I will only encourage him. And, as far as Im concerned, Ive never seen your son look better than he does with Kurt." She pressed her hands into his chest again, forcing him back a few steps. "You are out of your mind, Mr. Anderson. I will not attempt to reason with a drunken man. This is no way to hold yourself in front of your son... or try to make decisions about his life. He is a person. You cannot be this way toward him! You treat him as if hes nothing... when hes more than youll ever be!" Realizing that she was losing herself to her temper, Elizabeth took a step back, starting to close the door on his face. "You may not visit here again, Mr. Anderson. You will not address the children... especially when you look like this. If you would like to discuss what will happen to Blaine, you may call my husband tomorrow. If I have anything to do with his life, though, I will make sure you never get him back. You are not worth any more of my time... and you have frightened the children. I must ask that you leave... now."

His dad scoffed at how harsh she was being with him, when no woman had ever dared to raise her voice at him. Blaine knew that his mom had once tried, but she never did it again, after she appeared the next day with makeup slathered onto a mark that was still obvious beneath the pale shield. "I dont even want the little shit back. I just w-wanted to see if hed been turned into a fairy." As if to make clear what mythical creature he was referring to, he traced invisible wings onto his back, then laughed at his own joke, while Elizabeth kept her mouth firm. "Goodnight... M-Mrs. Hummel." His eyes were suddenly alert when they flashed down to Blaine, who withdrew from him and pressed himself to Elizabeths leg. She touched her hand to his head, gently stroking his hair. "I didnt w-want a fag for a son, anyway."

With that comment, he whipped away, and Blaine didnt get to see him stumble one step forward before Elizabeth slammed it behind him. She blew out heavily, letting her head fall to the cool wood. She rubbed her forehead against it, quietly groaning, and then she glanced down when Kurt tugged on her skirt. "Its alright now, sweetheart. Hes gone... and he wont come back."

Kurts blue eyes blinked up at her furrowed face, "Why is Blaines daddy mad at him?"

Closing her eyes for a brief second, Elizabeth lowered to her knees, holding her arms out for both of them. Kurt easily fell into his moms grip, while Blaine remained a few inches away, simply staring at her with his glassy eyes. "Listen to me... both of you... no matter what that man says, there is nothing wrong with either of you. Youre both perfect to me... and to your daddy... and to your aunt... and thats all that matters, okay? And youre perfect to each other. One day, these comments will get worse. But I want you both to remember what I said. What you have in your hearts is love... all he has is hatred and spite." Making a face at that, Elizabeth leaned closer to Blaine, holding her hand out to him. Blaine didnt step closer to her. "Blaine... honey... are you okay? Sweetheart?"

Even though he knew he wasnt being logical, Blaine couldnt think clearly now that his dad had passed through some unseen boundary that had been placed around his safe house. Jumping back like a startled rabbit when Elizabeth closed her hand around his, Blaine held it up to his mouth, which opened with a quiet sob of alarm. Elizabeths eyes widened to the size of saucers, and she nearly tumbled forward in her urgency to gather him up and press him to her chest. "I-Is it my fault?" He asked, feeling her hands come to his back to smooth and stroke him. "H-He blames me for everything! Sometimes I f-feel like the punishments arent enough... so I d-do this!" He held up his hands, revealing what he was sure she had already seen, but he still heard her inhale sharply, anyway.

"Blaine... listen to me... sweetheart." She whispered in his ear, tightening her grip on him as if, by squeezing him so close to herself, she could block out all of the pain. "No... its not your fault. None of it is for you to take the blame. This is why youre brave, Blaine. You can do what he never did... Youve been kind, despite all of the wrongs done to you. You could be mean... like the other boys. But you did something no one ever has. My son had no one, Blaine. Not one friend! But you liked the way he dresses... the way he looks... You became his friend, when no one else would. How can someone like you be at fault for a man being so devastated that he drinks himself into a stupor? Your dad doesnt see what he has, sweetheart. He stopped looking when you became yourself. He judged you too quickly... and now hes missing out on the thing thats become my entire world."

Blaines eyes swelled with tears, but she rubbed them away with the smooth pads of her thumbs before they could drip from his lashes. "Dont cry, Blaine... not a single tear. I dont see how he doesnt cry over you... but he hasnt. So he doesnt deserve your tears. When he comes to that door, kissing your feet and begging your forgiveness, Ill reconsider him. But for now I dont want you to think about him... if the only time that he thinks about you is when hes like this... and hes only out to insult you." When a tear slipped down Blaines cheek, she leaned in and kissed it away, "Look at me, sweetheart. I know how hard it is. Hes your dad... He should be your everything. But youre not left with nothing, Blaine... Just because hes not here, doesnt mean you dont have a family that still is. We love you, precious boy... everything about you. He just doesnt understood how absolutely beautiful you are."

Kurt, who had been standing off to the side, shuffled closer to Blaine and laid a hand on his cheek. Blaine pressed into those cool knuckles. "I love you, Blaine." He peeped, holding his arms open for a hug. He giggled when Blaine nearly tackled him, panicking that he would fall only for a brief second when his body tipped over, before Blaine gathered him up and smothered him against his chest. "Do you love me, too?"

Those shining, blue eyes peered up at him, and when Blaine glanced a little past Kurt, he saw Elizabeth still knelt beside of them, an adoring smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I do." Blaine murmured, wrapping Kurt up tighter, as Elizabeths protective arms bundled them both up. Blaine never wanted to let them go again, but this kind of love could be devastating.

Another night of very short hours of sleep, if any at all, had creased another indentation of saggy bags under Blaines eyes. He stared dejectedly at his gross face in the mirror of liquid that he was bent over, before bubbles started bursting to the top as the pot finally heated up. Scraping a line of crusty drool from his bottom lip that hadnt splashed off when hed wiped his disgusting face that morning, Blaine covered his chapped mouth with his palm, muffling a loud yawn that had swelled into a bubble of noise inside of his throat. Hed been up and about for most of the night, and when he wasnt running from room to room, he was sitting upright in bed, startled from his light sleep by the sound of Kurts crying. After hed scooped Kurts flaccid body into his arms, hed carried him out of the sewing room and into the bathroom, where he filled a hot tub for him. Because of his exhaustion, but inability to sleep soundly, Kurt had mumbled incoherently, his body sliding deeper into the water while Blaine tried to bathe him, so Blaine had hooked an arm around his back, letting him drape lifelessly across him as he was cleaned.

Hed stared at his husband with a pair of watery eyes, leaning closer to him so he could get a better look at some of his favorite places on his body. Hed stroked his soapy fingers across the small crevices behind Kurts tiny ears, down to the bridge of his flushed nose, which was slightly wider than it should have been, pushing Kurts eyes just a centimeter too far apart to be perfectly symmetrical. Blaine had never seen anything so adorable, except for the tip of his chin, which was too pointy under his round cheeks. Hed massaged the slightly tinted bubbles into Kurts soft skin, then rinsed him off by cupping the murky water in his palms and pouring it over him. Once he was dried and freshly dressed in a silky nightgown, Kurt had finally settled, easily giving in to Blaine when he went to bundle him up again. Blaine had brought him into their bedroom, softly smiling to himself as Kurts fingers, which were wrapped in the collar of his shirt, tightened when he went to lay him down under the covers that he had peeled back just enough to easily slip him under. Hed whispered to Kurt that he would climb in beside of him, if only he would let him go for a moment, but Kurt had simply pressed closer, his wrinkled nose sniffing at the waterlogged, musty front of Blaines shirt.

When he finally plucked Kurts fingers off of him, hed deposited him onto the warming bed, watching him with a pair of loving eyes as he murmured and flipped himself over, squeezing his pillow tightly. Kurt had quickly drifted off, giving Blaine time to shed his damp clothes and redress in something comfier, then walk out of his room to clean up in the bathroom, draining the tub and wiping down the counter, which Kurt had dripped water onto when Blaine had set him on top of it to make it easier on himself to slip him into his gown. Seconds after Blaine scrubbed his last tooth, his head had snapped up to the awful noises of screeching, and he hadnt even bothered to wipe the toothpaste from his mouth before he darted back down the hall, finding Kurt tangled like a caterpillar escaping its cocoon in the massive pile of blankets that hed wound around himself. His head had tossed back and forth, his hands stretching out for fistfuls of air, searching for something physical that he couldnt touch anymore.

Blaine had charged across the room, quickly gathering Kurt up and pressing him to his chest, his lips kissing him awake, between the soft words that he muttered to him, whether he was making logical sentences or no. Kurts blue eyes had flipped open, his expression immediately becoming concerned, and then hed flung his hands up to Blaines face, grabbing his scratchy jaw that he hadnt shaved in days. Hed asked over and over where they were, an answer that Blaine couldnt give, and at the silence he received from his husband, tears had shattered his eyes, making Blaines own eyes well up. He felt helpless as he held his weeping husband, unable to do anything for him but carefully rock him back and forth, pleading with him to hush, to listen to the sweet nothings he whispered in his ears, to know that it would be okay.

The rest of the night had gone similarly to this, Blaine clutching his husband, who, every so often, drifted off because he was completely drained of any energy he had to move or think, and then jolting to his feet to get a wet cloth to wipe Kurts stained cheeks when he whipped himself out of his peaceful dreams with his sudden, and rapidly worsening, sobs of anguish. By the time the sun rose, Kurt had been snoozing for over an hour, which was the longest hed been out for quite some time, so Blaine figured it was finally okay to separate himself for just a little while, long enough to cook up some breakfast. He hoped that if he made Kurts favorite meal, strawberry pancakes with blueberry muffins on the side, he would lure Kurt from this stupor that had stolen his appetite and his sleep for over two days now.

Now, Blaine was standing at the stove, stirring the foaming milk that he had to make sure didnt curdle before he could cool it back down, but was also creamy enough that it wasnt too thin as it went down the throat. Blaine knew that when his husband had a bad day and had spent most of it in tears, he always liked to drink a cup of warm milk that was gentle on the walls of his sore throat. Pulling the pot off of the burner, he reached up in the cupboard for a glass, pouring some of the rich milk into it. He smelled the warm strawberries as they finished melting into the pancakes, which Keegan had just flipped off of the pan and was stacking onto a plate. "Thank you for your help." Blaine said quietly, as if his voice would be loud enough to carry up the stairs and all the way into the bedroom, disturbing Kurt from his peaceful sleep. "Where did you learn to cook like this? Im not very good. I like to cook... but my dad never allowed me to do much in the kitchen. Hes very traditional... not only was he homophobic, he was also sexist."

Keegan chuckled lowly at that, squirting a thin layer of strawberry syrup onto the pancakes that were already smeared with red. "Everything I know, I learned from Kurt. When Kurt found me, I was practically illiterate... and had just taken the food that my mom set on my plate. I couldnt even read the labels on the cans or boxes, let alone know what ingredient to put where. My family couldnt afford much of an education for me... They had just enough money to get my brother through his eighth year of school. They told him to educate me on what I needed to know to get through life, and I was more than willing to learn. I even looked forward to it. I took my books and pencils to him, but he always turned me away." He shook his head, his brows furrowing, "I thought it was so strange... how highly Kurts family esteemed education. Id never seen such an intelligent, young boy as Kurt. But I always loved the nights when we would sit together... and he would read to me and tell me of languages and cuisines... and even some about the stars. I valued every word he said... and held onto everything."

"To think," Blaine snorted to himself, "someone so wise could end up at a place like McKinley. I dont think Kurt was challenged by anything that school offered... except for me. I probably gave him one too many undeserved headaches." Fondly grinning at the thought of the two of them back in high school, Blaine shook his head at how ridiculous hed been, denying his unbearable attraction for Kurt all because hed wanted to keep up a reputation that wasnt even real. Itd been, of course, to protect himself against the psychopath who made Blaine think that way in the first place, but, once hed started to fall for Kurt, hed stopped giving a damn what Karofsky thought. When he considered the way hed conducted himself in high school, he realized how blatantly obvious it must have been to everyone around him that he was the gayest man in the entire school, not that there were many others to be compared to.

Brought back to reality by the sound of ringing, Blaine quickly shoved his hand into his pocket, grabbing his phone and silencing its blaring noises. "Its my brother. Im sorry... I have to take this. Can you come get me if he wakes up?" He nodded at the ceiling, turning away from Keegan when he assured him that he would. Striding out of the kitchen, Blaine headed for the front door, waiting until he was outside to answer the call. He was still worried that a single twitch would stir Kurt. "Coop." Blaine said, shutting the door behind himself. "How was the flight to California? Are you settled into your new house?"

"Hey to you, too." Cooper murmured cheerily, making Blaine roll his eyes. If his brother thought he would entertain him with idle chat, he had another thing coming. "Yeah... I just got the last of the boxes emptied. Alicias been tidying up... but she already had to go back to work. The busy life of an actress, huh? I had to work from home today because I couldnt find a last minute babysitter. Ive been on the phone with my manager all morning. I finally got a break because he had to call back one of our clients... so I figured Id call you and give you the lowdown in the meantime."

Blaine furrowed his brows, leaning against the wall. He tilted his head back and glanced up at his bedroom window, which was still motionless. "Wait... babysitter? Coop, youve been home for two days. Youre already passing him off to a babysitter? Archers shy with new people. Hed never let anyone he doesnt know take care of him."

As if exasperated, Cooper blew out heavily, the low rush of air followed by the tapping of keys. "Blaine, youre not being realistic. Some of us just arent lucky enough to be stay-at-home dads, huh? Itd only be for a few hours a day... and wed try to get a regular. Id still spend most of my time with him." Cooper let out a rough sound, "Its only been two days and youre already criticizing my parenting style? I dont really think its your place, Blaine. This is my child-"

Blaines voice remained flat, despite his sudden urge to scream into the phone, "I just dont see how you can have a parenting style when youve only been a parent for two days." Shaking his head at no one, he mumbled, "How is Archer, though? Is he okay? Is he eating well?"

The clicking keys paused, but were soon replaced by the shuffling of paper, "Archers fine. Hes taking a nap right now." After a few seconds of silence passed, the pounding keys shot through the phone like tiny darts. "Look, Blaine... I dont really get why it is... but raising a kid is really hard. I remember taking care of you when you were his age, but you were a lot more independent than he is. Hes been cranky ever since we got off the plane... Hes been screaming for his daddy, but every time I try to hold him, he just fusses at me until I put him down. Hes picking through his food... He wont sit at the dinner table with us. All he ever wants to do is talk to those flowers that Kurt sent with him... like theyre real or something. I just... I dont think hes happy, Blaine. And I dont know what to do."

"You wouldnt unless you spent more time with him." Blaine said quietly, making Cooper release a frustrated noise.

The thudding keys stopped again, "Blaine, I called you to ask for your help! Why are you acting like this? Did I do something to piss you off? If either one of us should be angry, it should be me! You kept me from my son for three years... and now Im clueless about what-"

"You kept yourself from Archer." Blaine said nastily, certain that his brothers face was the bright red that it always became when he was in a fit of anger. "I saw where you put your priorities... in your fucking career. You put money and a stupid movie above your own child! Archer hasnt had a dad for three years... What makes you think that hell just roll over and accept you? I never said that raising Archer was easy-"

"You never said anything, Blaine!" Cooper shouted at him, "You were silent... for three damned years! You never called... You never sent pictures. I tried to get into contact with you. And... do you know what I was doing in the past three years? Making a living so I could care for Archer! All of that money that you had to raise him came from me, Blaine-"

"You dont even need a job, Cooper! You have two rich parents who dont hate you!" Blaine took a deep, steadying breath after he admitted that, waiting through the pause that it took Cooper to gather what he was going to say next.

To Blaines shock, Cooper bit out through a frosty tone, "You were the one who chose to be gay, Blaine." It only took a matter of seconds for Cooper to realize what he had just said, and while Blaine stood there with a gaping mouth, unable to reply because his jaw wouldnt snap back into place, he quickly blurted, "You know I didnt mean that-"

Throwing his hand up to his face, Blaine covered his eyes, as if he wasnt trying to see something that was right in front of him, "There must have been a reason you said it!" He screamed into the phone, hearing a slightly stifled noise from Cooper. "If you think that I had a choice in falling in love with Kurt... I didnt! I was dragged tooth and nail into my relationship... because being with Kurt was dangerous! If I had a choice in the matter, I probably would have picked what was safer... and let Kurt go. But I couldnt, Cooper! I risked everything to be with him. If you want to say that love is a choice, then you ought to reconsider your relationship before you begin to question mine. You have everything, Cooper. Youre a thirty four year old man with money to sleep on... You have a beautiful fiancée who you still havent married, and a child who youre going to drop onto anyone whos willing to look after him for a few bucks. And youre still not happy. I would do anything to have your life. Kurt and I will never be able to have a child together... and some people even go so far to slight us that our marriage isnt even legal. But thats my fault, isnt it? Because I chose this lifestyle?"

Blaine wiped at his eyes, which had become wet at the corners, and he made an aggravated sound. "Im twenty two years old, Cooper. No man my age should already know the way his life will go on. But I know that Ill probably never have a marriage that everyone looks at like its perfect... and Ill probably never have a child. I cant even take my husband home to see his family because some psychopath is still living in Ohio. But you can travel the world, cant you? I would think that it must be nice to have a perfect life... like you do... but then I look at you... and I realize that, no matter how much more you have than I do, Im happier than you are."

What felt like several minutes passed by before Cooper cleared his throat, his voice thicker and shakier when he spoke this time, "Um... Blaine... I feel like you should know that Dad and Mom got a divorce a few months ago. He caught her in bed with one of the guys she works with... Theyre getting married soon. Dads started drinking again."

Blaine shut his eyes, feeling a few tears slip from between the cracks of his lids, "I dont really care, Cooper." He whispered, his voice giving out halfway through his sentence. "They stopped being my family when I stopped being their son." A strangled laugh quivered from his throat, "And I get that I cant tell you how to parent your child... no matter how much I hate the way youre going to raise him in a lonely household where he gets shut out from his parents... but, I swear, Cooper... if you let those two fucks around Archer, I will kill you. If you dont do anything else for your own child, just... protect him from everything bad in this world. Im asking this of you... as your brother. If you care for me at all, youll do this one thing."

Before he could hear Coopers reply, he lowered the phone from his face at the sound of the front door pushing open. He looked at Keegans wide eyed expression and instantly knew what had happened, so he returned his phone to his ear as he followed Keegan inside, those shrill screams that echoed from somewhere above them drowning out anything that Cooper might have been saying. "I have to go. I have a husband to take care of... Its what us gay people do." Ending the call, Blaine threw his phone into his pocket, quickly thanking Keegan for coming to fetch him.

Hurtling himself up the steps, Blaine whipped around the corner and shoved through their bedroom door. He dashed over to Kurts side, smoothing out the blankets that he was twisting around his kicking legs, and then picking him up once he was freed. Blindly grabbing for Blaine, Kurt balled up handfuls of his shirt in his tiny, clenched fists. He instantly calmed when he realized his husband was there, and he nestled like a baby bird into Blaines chest, his blinking eyes fluttering shut as his breath slowed down and his lips smacked, ridding themselves of the sticky goo that was pasted onto them from the saliva and tears that had dried there before. "Its okay... Its okay now, Kurt. Im right here, little, precious thing. Ive got you now-"

As he rubbed his lips against Kurts to remove some of the gunk, a low voice commented from the doorway, "You have a way with handling him." Blaine turned toward Keegan, his hands idly reaching for Kurts, which were pulling at his shirt. After he calmed him into stillness with a quiet, hushing sound, he glanced back up at Keegans worried face. "Ive never seen Kurt relax like that... after he gets worked up."

Blaine swayed Kurt from side to side, "I know that Kurts mom was gentle with him... and she had a good way of guiding his emotions. I dont look gentle... or feel gentle... but when I see Kurt like this, its just... a natural reaction." When Kurt breathed out a soft peep, Blaine squeezed him closer to himself, "Youre okay, sweetheart. Im here, Kurt... I wont leave you again."

Looking down at the floor, Keegan slunk away from the doorway, "Ill go get his food... so you can see if he wants to eat now."

"Thank you." Blaine said again, returning his attention to Kurt after Keegan was gone from his line of sight. Feeling his soft fingertips patting the soft, scratchy skin under his jaw, he turned his head into his hand to kiss his palm. "Youll be okay, beautiful thing. I wont let anything hurt you."

Kurt, who hadnt spoken since the day before, finally let out a raspy croak, "Do you p-promise nothing will hurt me?"

Blaine bent his neck so he could kiss Kurts forehead, feeling Kurts small hands touch his face, his fingertips pressing into his stubbly cheeks. "I promise you, Kurt, that Ill see no harm come to you from this day on. Im your husband... Its my privilege to protect you. I havent done a very good job of it so far, but Ill try to be the best husband I can from now on. Whatever you wish, my love... its yours." He turned his head and kissed Kurts knuckles, pausing on each of them.

Kurt shook his head, holding onto Blaines face much tighter, "All I w-wish is for you to love me the way that you want t-to. I dont want a different h-husband, Blaine. I dont want the b-best husband. I already have you... and thats more than enough. I love you with all of my heart, Blaine... because youre who you are."

Blaines eyes filled with tears once more, so he shut them before any could escape, and he kissed the back of Kurts quivering hand. "I love you, too, my prettiest flower. Exactly the way you are." Smiling against Kurts fingers, he whispered into them, "No one else would be mad enough to have me." To his surprise, that made Kurt giggle, the first sound of happiness hed made since Archer was taken. But the noise ended with a soft sigh as Kurt ran out of energy again, his head falling back on the pillow as if that one titter had ruined him for the rest of the day. He stared up at Blaine with a pair of concerned, damp eyes, so Blaine hushed him again, tracing his fingers across Kurts forehead, which was hot and damp. "Its okay, sweetheart. Ill get you feeling better again."

Kurt wrapped his slim fingers around Blaines palm, not fitting his entire hand in the crooks of his folded digits, "Im scared." He whispered to Blaine, who quieted him with another kiss.

"Dont be scared, beautiful thing." Blaine reassured him, reaching behind his blond head to plump his pillow as best he could. "You have nothing to be afraid of when youre as strong as you are. You can overcome anything, Kurt." He kept looking into his husbands huge eyes, trying to comfort him in any way he could, but Kurt just kept that terrified expression on his face. Kurt had never not believed Blaine before, and the fact that he didnt now made Blaine feel like the nauseous one. He felt terrible for putting Kurt through anything like this, now that he knew how it felt to be staring down at the one he loved, unable to do anything but promise endearments and hope that he realized how much Blaine needed him to stay.

When the ticking hands on the clock neared the time that Karofsky was supposed to leave, he started packing up his things, reaching beneath the counter for his wallet and keys, which he wasnt allowed to carry with him while he worked. Stuffing those into his deep pockets, he grabbed the door to the back of the bar and swung it up, letting himself out from his work station. Across the room, Jeanette, who had been sitting at the table that Vince was wiping down, popped her gum, lifting her head from her phone just long enough to ask Vince if he wanted to catch a movie after their shifts were over. Karofsky headed over to the door, grabbing his coat and slinging it over his shoulder. "Im going home." He announced to his boss, whose door had been opened to his office. Assuming that his voice had carried far enough for him to hear him, Karofsky started to grab the handle, but paused when he heard a chair scrape across the floor.

Glimpsing over his shoulder, Karofsky saw Devon, a new busboy at the bar, rise to his feet. Devon had started working there two weeks ago, after he had moved out of his parents home because of incessant fighting, and then purchased an apartment just a few blocks from here. His backstory was a lot like Karofskys, except that he didnt have a kid, and hadnt ever killed anyone, but had flirted around in high school and never settled on one gender or the other. Devon was young, only twenty four years old, with a head of dark curls and a pair brown eyes that looked hazel in some light. Of course, Karofsky couldnt have resisted snatching him up for his own use, not that he wanted Devon for himself. Karofsky wasnt interested in the least in dating again, after his first relationship had failed so miserably, but Devon wasnt bad to see outside of work. However, despite his similarities to Blaine in appearance, they were nothing alike, in that Devon found his amusements in sex and money, while Blaine was too shy to give much up, and wanted nothing more than to be with his family.

Because of Devons immaturity in handling his body and his money, hed been an easy target to fire at Hunter, who Karofsky could tell was still trying to pull away. So, hed invited him over, asking that he go out of his way to make Hunter feel uncomfortable. Hed done what he could, and Karofsky realized that, but it still wasnt enough. And Karofsky had exhausted his efforts of waiting for Hunter to come to him. If he hadnt yet, he probably never would. So, unlike what he should have done with Blaine, Karofsky was going to take what he knew was rightfully his before nothing else could be done to save this one-sided relationship. Averting his slanted eyes from Devon, he pushed out of the door, sliding along the wall and placing himself to the side of the building, out of the view of the windows. If his boss saw this transaction of bargaining money take place, they would undoubtedly both be fired. Devon appeared through the door a minute later, his muscular hands stuffed in his pockets, a casual swagger to his step as he approached Karofsky, slipping one hand out and showing his palm.

"Wheres the cash?" He muttered, raising his brows as Karofsky ignored the palm, instead fishing through his back pocket for his cigarettes. "I did as you asked... I touched the little shit where you told me to. Now give up the money."

Karofsky didnt favor hearing his son being spoken about like that. After he hooked his teeth around the end of a cigarette, he grabbed in his back pocket for his wallet, pulling out a few piles of cash and forking them over. "Youve done what you needed to... Now butt out of my business." Turning his back on Devon, Karofsky replaced his wallet in his pocket, but before he took his leave, he glanced back at him and said in a cool voice, "Just so you know... that little shit... youre speaking about is my kid. And hes going to do more in his life than you ever could. If you ever think of speaking so condescendingly about him again, just look in a mirror, you big fuck." Striding away from Devon before he could retaliate, Karofsky went around to the back of the building, where his car was sitting in the parking lot.

He climbed inside, submerging himself in blackness before he started the engine, the faint lights shining from the dashboard giving him enough of his vision back to drive down the road. By the time he got home, his cigarette was burned down to a stub, so he drew it out and flicked it out the window. Stopping the car, he opened his door and staggered out, looking forward at his dark house. Then he turned his head to the woods, which Hunter disappeared into day after day, to a place that Karofsky couldnt find. "Where could you be?" He muttered to no one, diverting from the routine hed made up by stepping onto the cool grass. He didnt know if Hunter had taken up a minimalistic lifestyle by sleeping in the trees, or if he would just be found passed out on the grass, crumbs of the food that he stole all around him.

Stepping closer to the edge of the thinned out woods, Karofsky pushed a pile of brush aside. He raised his foot above a thorny bush, clumsily heaving himself over it. The trees cast gray shadows across the ground, each of them wavering like a body, which made him turn his head in each direction, hoping that hed find Hunter behind one of those thin figures. He went a few feet deeper, his pants snagging on a limb, which made him snap his eyes down in shock. To his alarm, he found what seemed to be a trail beside of him, the roots of the grass worn down and replaced by brown tracks that looked like the imprints of the bottoms of a pair of shoes. Furrowing his brows, Karofsky bent down to get a closer look at the trail that was pointed at something to the left, and he started to follow those small footprints, but the sound of a cracking branch behind him made him whip around.

His eyes widened at Hunters small body, which looked like the skeleton of a ghost as he hovered nearby, his body cloaked in black clothing, his skin too dark to make out any individual features. Over the past year, Hunter had grown into a boy who seemed too wise for his age, and this was proven, when, not like any other child who became lost in the woods would, Hunter didnt cry out and run into Karofskys arms for protection, but instead said with a deathly sharp voice, "What are you doing?" The words were precise and crisp, unlike how Blaine had ever spoken to him, not stammering through his sentences because he was afraid of being beat. Karofsky realized that Hunter was not scared of him, something that made him feel very empty inside. If he couldnt intimidate Hunter, how would he ever make him give in and bow down to him?

Understanding that whatever was back there, Hunter didnt want to him to see, he creased his brows, turning his head back in the direction that the trail followed. Before he could come up with a logical answer of why he was breaking the silent rules theyd set for each other so long ago, Hunters voice echoed from his far distance again, the shadow of his body drifting closer to Karofsky, "Get out. This is mine. You cant be here." Finally, Hunter appeared under the light that shined through a few of the swaying trees, giving Karofsky a good look at his mud streaked face that had become so thin that his skin was sucked to the bone beneath, nothing separating the two. Dark circles outlined his emotionless, glassy eyes that had once been Karofskys eye color, but were now a lighter brown after theyd clouded over. Hunter might have been gorgeous, had his dark skin not turned an ashen shade, and had his lips not been cracked and stained with blood. Karofsky noticed, obviously because he hadnt been eating properly, that his thin fingers had turned yellow at the tips, the small digits leading into wrists no wider than the bones that were within them.

Slightly insulted that Hunter had let it come to this, all because he wouldnt approach Karofsky and ask him for a meal or two, Karofsky jolted forward a step, making Hunter draw back. "I was looking for you." He admitted, his tone flat with disappointment. "Everyone is calling me a bad dad, Hunter." A slim brow arched, but Hunter expressed no other interest in Karofskys troubles. "Do you know why? Because youre so skinny and dirty. Do you know how that makes me feel? Im trying to be good to you... but you wont let me. Youve brought this onto yourself."

"Have I?" There was something cutting about that one question, Hunters voice threaded with a sardonic amusement of Karofskys complications. He reeled backwards when Karofsky lunged forward again, a noisy screech tearing from his throat as Karofsky snatched him around his waist. He violently threw himself in the other direction, knocking the breath from his lungs as he quickly lost to Karofskys strength. "Put me down!"

Karofsky flung his son over his shoulder, holding onto his bottom as he struggled from his tight grip. "Not so tough now, are you?" He grunted, shoving Hunters hands off of his head when his long fingers grabbed chunks of his short hair, ripping a few strands out. "Why do you have to fight me, Hunter? What have I ever done to you?"

"I hate you!" Hunter screamed, causing pause to Karofskys long steps. Drawing in a shaky breath, Karofsky hauled Hunter higher up on his shoulder when he started to slide off, concentrating on the front door, which seemed so far away. "Youre not my daddy! I hate you!" Kicking open the front door, Karofsky peeled Hunter off his shoulder, hanging onto him by the collar of his shirt. Hunter wildly kicked his feet, his fingers plucking at his shirt, which slid up his stomach, revealing a thin layer of skin that was glued to each of his ribs. He carried Hunter into the kitchen, unceremoniously throwing him onto the counter, which Hunter instantly tried to climb off of. "No! I wont go back in the oven!"

"Shut up!" Karofsky yelled, holding his hands up to his throbbing head. "Just shut up, Hunter! Youre not going in the oven!" Turning his back on Hunter, he walked over to the fridge and yanked open the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges. He grabbed armfuls of anything that was within, carrying it back to the counter, which Hunter had slid back on until the wall dug into his skin. Ignoring the cartons and boxes that dropped from his arms, Karofsky put everything down with a clunk, then picked up a slightly wrinkled orange. Peeling back the skin with his fingernails, he shook off the juice that slid over his skin as he held up the fruit to Hunter, who jerked his head to the side. "Hunter... dont test me right now. Youre going to eat this orange... or Im going to shove it down your throat."

Hunter whipped back around suddenly, "You would want me dead, wouldnt you?" His throaty voice raised an octave with his heightened emotions. "Do it, Karofsky! Do every bad thing you can to me-" He inhaled sharply, breaking off his own words, when Karofsky swung his hand out and slapped him across the cheek hard enough to make a red welt instantly appear on his drained skin. To Karofskys surprise, an awful laugh burbled out of Hunters throat, something that, of all the things Hunter could have done, he hadnt been expecting. Hunter wasnt anything like Blaine. "Does this make you feel strong? Making other people smaller? Were you once small-?"

"I told you to shut the fuck up!" Grabbing Hunters face, Karofsky slid his fingers between his pursed lips, prying them apart. His fingernails dug into Hunters skin, making specks of blood appear where his nails had pressed tiny half-ovals. Forcing the entire orange into Hunters mouth, he heard him gag as the juices ran down his throat. He could see him trying to spit it out, so he ducked his head and smothered Hunters mouth with his. Hunter choked again, raising his hands to Karofskys face and shoving with all his might. "Swallow it! Swallow it now, Hunter!"

He could feel Hunters teeth moving behind his lips, which Karofskys were still working at, and then he drew his head up as soon as Hunters throat moved with a large swallow. Pulling away from Hunter, Karofsky parted his lips as he gasped, reaching up for his face and scrubbing away the juice that had squirted from Hunters mouth. He stared at Hunters horrified face, his top lip curled and his nose slightly wrinkled. His face was splattered with specks of blood and seeds from the orange. "Are you going to listen to me now?"

Hunter shook his head, "Your cruelty doesnt scare me, Karofsky. I know that youre really the scared one. Youre terrified to lose me... but Im fine without you." Vigorously wiping at his mouth, Hunter spat another seed at him, "My daddy taught me not to fear worthless, stupid people like you." When Karofsky clasped his cheeks between his knuckles, Hunter let him tilt his head up, his narrowed eyes staring up at Karofsky without a trace of nervousness in them. The dark of his pupils showed nothing but his emotionless hatred for Karofsky. He did nothing to fight back when Karofsky threw one hand out to the sink, twisting a knob and making a blast of water shoot out of the spout. "The only reason Im dirty is because you touched me!"

Karofskys eyes widened to the size of saucers, but before Hunter could realize how dismantled hed made him, he dragged Hunter over to the sink and dunked his head under the spray of water. "Youre fucking dirty!" He shouted at Hunter, who squeezed his eyes shut and reached up to block the water from smacking the side of his head. "Youre dirty because you dont take baths! Youre dirty because you live outside! Why wont you stay with me, Hunter?"

Hunter blindly felt around with his hands, grabbing the knob that had been turned to the side, and shutting the water off. Violently coughing, he raised his head, and without giving himself a moment to get over his waterlogged state, he reached up for Karofskys head and clawed from his forehead down to his chin, his fingertips scraping over his eyelids. Karofsky screamed in agony, instantly releasing Hunter. While he scrubbed his face, something cold hit his neck, tracing over the thin layer of skin that gave way to his throat. Feeling a bead of wetness roll down to the collar of his shirt, where it seeped into the cloth, he grabbed his neck, his hand coming back with red paint smeared all over his palm. He looked down at Hunter, who had somehow come up with a knife that he was holding up at Karofsky, the edge of it already stained with a deep red. When he spoke, his voice was more painful than the knife had been. "Youve hurt people with knives before, havent you?" He questioned shrewdly, even though there was no way he could have known that Karofsky had cut people before. "How does it feel to be on the other end?"

While Karofsky gaped at the drenched boy who shoved himself from the counter and landed on the floor with a low thud, Hunter shook himself off, droplets of water flinging from his shirt and pants. Hunter brushed by Karofsky, sticking the knife back in his pocket, but before he went around the corner, he turned around and said lowly, "Nothing about you scares me, Karofsky. And Im not afraid of knives anymore. You might want to realize that Im not going to ever be yours... and if you try to make me, Ill dig in a little deeper next time. Then youll have no one who can be yours." Hunter left the kitchen without another look back, and Karofsky stared at where hed once stood with a pair of huge eyes. Why wasnt he threatening anymore? What had happened to the Karofsky that had made Blaine cower to his knees? Why was Hunter so invincible when it came to Karofskys ability to break him down to nothingness, and only know that he was strong when he was relying on Karofsky?

"What the fuck is happening?" Karofsky whispered to himself, hearing the door open, and then shut again. He immediately whipped around, raising one huge fist and slamming it into the wall. The wall gave out under the pressure, left with a large dent in it. A wall was sturdy, durable, and made to withstand smacks and bangs, so why was it easier to destroy than a three year old boy? Hunter wasnt supposed to be this strong. Then again, Karofsky also wasnt supposed to be this weak. Knocking his forehead against the dent hed just punctured the wall with, he shut his eyes, more scared of losing everything than even when Blaine left him. He had thought that he could still have Hunter at that point, that he wouldnt be completely alone, with so much power but no one to rule over, but now, even Hunter, his own son who was supposed to do everything he said when he said it, was hiding from him, too.