Blaine stepped down the stairs with his hands in his pockets, his eyes drifting over the photos on the walls, many of Kurt and Finn as babies, but some of them as they got older. Kurt was alone in a few of them, but several of them had Blaine. Blaine was kissing a giggling Kurts cheek, holding him so tight in their prom pictures, pressing their faces together. Both of them looked so happy, Kurts eyes glittering as he clung to Blaine, and Blaine holding him just as tightly, a relaxed expression on his face.

Hed forgotten what it felt like to be relaxed, and he was reminded by those pictures. He walked deeper into the living room and stared at the biggest photo placed on the fireplace, one with a frame that had the word family engraved on it. It was one of Burt and Carole standing in the middle, with Finn off to the side, and Blaine and Kurt with their arms wrapped around each other.

"Family," he whispered, brushing the dust off of the frame. "Im not." Turning away from the picture, Blaine strode toward the kitchen and walked outside where people were still celebrating. A game of limbo had started off to the side of the lawn, which almost made Blaine smile. Almost. He kept going until he found Burt standing with his wife, and Burt grinned at him and rubbed the top of his head.

"There he is," Burt pulled Blaine close to him, despite Blaines want to keep his distance. "I was worried youd left. Are you having a good time? You look upset."

"Im not upset," Blaine took a step to the side. "But I do have to leave. Thank you for inviting me."

Burt frowned, looking sincerely wounded, "Blaine, youre family. Of course I want you here. You didnt even need invited... you know youre always welcome here. Can I walk you out... or did you drive with Santana?"

Blaine thought he might cry if Burt followed him, so he muttered, "Ill just go get Santana. Bye, Burt."

He quickly whipped around and got a few steps away, but he was stopped when a massive hand grabbed his shoulder. He was tugged against a warm, hard chest, and Burt gently rubbed his back. "Blaine... I know this isnt the time or place, and I know Ive said this to you a thousand times before, but I love you like my own son. You are my son. You mean everything to me... and to this entire family. I dont want to lose you completely... so please call. Skype us. Do something, Blaine, but dont keep quiet for months." Kissing Blaines forehead, Burt kept standing there, holding a stiff Blaine. Blaine felt hot tears against his cheek, and he wondered if they were his or Burts. Burt suddenly pulled away and sniffed, tears leaking from his squinted eyes. "If I could have just protected you from whatever hurt you... been a dad to you..."

Blaine yanked away from him, feeling himself snap. He put his hands on his face, "No-" he started to whimper, but was distracted by squealing from a group of girls about a foot away from him. He stumbled away from them, needing a quiet place, and he found that in Burts protective arms... but he couldnt stay there. He felt safe in those arms, but he knew he wasnt.

Burt glanced at the platform where Carole was turned away, a bouquet of flowers raised above her head. The girls kept squealing, eagerly waiting to see if theyd be the next to get married. Carole tossed them, but her aim was a little off and they flew in the direction of Blaine and Burt. They hit Blaine in the chest, and he held his hand up and grabbed them before they fell to the ground. His mouth fell open and his eyes darted back up to Kurts window, then he staggered backwards. "I have to go." He whispered more to himself than Burt, and he ran toward the house.

Throwing himself inside the safety of the house before those girls started asking who he was crushing on and then squealing some more, Blaine covered his face with his hands. He was too aware of Kurt sleeping right above him, and he was too aware of what Burt had said to him, and he was too aware of the fact that he couldnt be attached to this family anymore.

He rushed through the house and sped onto the driveway, and he clumsily got into his car and closed the door behind himself. A few seconds later, Santana strode out of the front door and got in on the drivers side, quickly strapping the babies in behind them. She glanced at the bouquet on his lap, then put the car in drive. "I saw your scene back there." She muttered. "Are you okay?"

Blaine burst into tears and he sank into his seat, feeling the house get farther and farther away from him as Santana drove and drove down the road. "I dont understand what I did wrong!" He yelled into his scarred hands, making the babies fuss. "I could have had everything, and then they took me away from him! I hate them! I hate Karofsky! I hate myself!"

"You dont actually hate yourself." Santana murmured, pulling onto another road. "You wouldnt have let yourself be happy with Kurt if you did. Now you might hate yourself since youre leaving him again, but before you didnt."

Whimpering, Blaine pulled his knees to his chest and made himself as small as possible. Maybe if there was less of him to look at, thered be less to hate. He was full of too much hate, and it was giving him a headache. Hed been through enough pain for the day... to last an entire year. He didnt need a fucking headache.

Santana sighed at his silence and she rolled her eyes, ignoring him while she drove. She eventually pulled up in front of her house and stepped out, "I have to take Brittany to a doctor so he can see what medication to put her on, so I wont see you when you leave. So... heres a goodbye now."

Blaine shoved his car door open and stepped out, storming up to the house and wandering aimlessly through the living room. He didnt know what to do with himself. He doubted that even going back to California and working with the Warblers would help him now. Sadness was slowly tearing him apart... he could feel himself getting weaker, like hed been stabbed with a knife. He tried to convince himself that this was his fault, that he was the one who made those stupid mistakes, but he wanted to think that Karofsky was the one who had forced him into this, the one who had poisoned everything good in him.

Stomping up the stairs, Blaine walked into the room he was staying in and he sat down on the edge of his bed. His plane leaved in less than an hour, but he didnt want to leave this spot. It was quiet, and he felt somewhat safe. Hed somehow lived through the wrath of a psychopathic murderer, but somehow the aftermath of what hed left behind was worse. Now Blaine was seeing it in his past, and he had to watch all of his stupid mistakes over and over again. He wondered if Karofsky knew what he was getting Blaine into when he had beckoned him over the first time they met... and if he had ever thought that what he was doing was wrong.

Getting to his feet, Blaine looked at the bouquet of flowers hed left on the bed. He thought about pulling one from the bunch and plucking its petals, saying over and over again, "...he loves me, he loves me not..." but Blaine wouldnt be able to get out anything but he loves me not. He didnt want Kurt to love this beast.

Leaving the flowers alone, Blaine staggered out of the bedroom and into the hallway, finding a nearby restroom. He closed himself inside and turned the light on, his eyes hesitantly wandering to the mirror. He saw himself, and he looked the same as he always did. Tear-streaked and bruised. He was miserable with his appearance, not because of his looks but because he saw himself. And he didnt like himself.

He tried to piece himself together from before Karofsky had ever possessed him, and he saw a much healthier looking version of himself. He remembered that he used to be tan, while now he was a sickly, pasty color, and his eyes used to be much brighter. He had fuller cheeks back then, and he used to know how to smile. Now he saw a monster, a thin cheeked and dull eyed beast. Reaching up to his hair, Blaine tugged a lifeless piece and it fell across his forehead.

Still looking at himself, Blaine narrowed his eyes and turned his head from side to side, trying to see what Kurt saw in him. But he couldnt. He had no idea what Kurt saw. Blaine was blind to the princely figure Kurt claimed to see, but he clearly saw a monster looking back at him. Lifting his shaking hands, Blaine stared at his scarred palms. Ugly hands. Curling his fingers, Blaine touched one of the scars, but it wasnt sore anymore. It was just a thin line where a wound had once been. It had healed. Such an ugly thing had healed. It was still a line to show that at one time itd been a wound, but it didnt hurt anymore.

Such an ugly thing had healed. Looking back up at the mirror, Blaine saw the faintest shimmer in his golden eyes. He remembered that at one time he had bright eyes. Closing his eyes, Blaine let the tear flirt with his lashes then drop off his cheek. He opened his eyes again and he gazed at himself, never blinking or glancing away. Another strand of hair fell across his face, and he remembered that Kurt used to tell him that he had beautiful hair. Karofsky hadnt ever liked it, but Kurt had.

Touching his hair again, Blaine swallowed thickly and shuddered. Such an ugly thing had healed. He also remembered Kurt telling him that he loved his kisses so much, and Blaine wondered why, if it was because his mouth was warm or that he tasted good. Such an ugly thing had healed. Suddenly, he heard Santana bang on the bathroom door, startling him from his trance. "Blaine, you have to pack your stuff! Im leaving now... I cant do it for you. You have to be at the airport in twenty minutes."

Blaine turned back to the mirror, and he suddenly didnt see something completely awful. He remembered all of Kurts kisses to his lips-all of them-and how pleasured he seemed by Blaines kisses. He always blushed after they parted, and sometimes he giggled, and sometimes he closed his eyes and pressed their lips again. And he remembered when Kurt had cut off Blaines mass of hair that dangled past his chin, how he had stroked him and called him beautiful instead of insulting him, saying his hair made him look like a fag, that it was too curly, that it was too short, that it was too dark. Kurt loved his hair, loved tangling his fingers in it and smoothing it when they laid in bed together. He couldnt keep his little hands off of it, and when he threaded his fingers through Blaines curly mane, Blaine was always so pleasured.

A small smile curved Blaines lips, but just a tiny one. He remembered Kurt, everything about him. He remembered how he loved when Blaine rolled on top of him and kissed him slowly, how he would always screech with happiness when Blaine made him breakfast-in-bed. How he loved holding Blaines hand, no matter how disgusting it was. How he was so cheerful about everything, even when he should have been sad. He remembered how he would make kissy face at Pavarotti and Everett, then burst into laughter. He remembered the way his nose scrunched when he was excited, and how he always clapped his hands and hopped up and down. He remembered the teary look on his face when Blaine had proposed, one of no resentment or disgust toward Blaine, just a deep and passionate love no matter what Blaine had done in his past.

Blaine jerked away from the mirror, his hand covering his mouth. "Thats how Kurt sees me..." he whispered, finally understanding after nearly two years. He saw how Kurt saw him, and he was surprisingly beautiful. He wasnt a beast and he didnt have a temper and he liked to smile at Kurt. He wasnt Karofskys puppet... Karofsky had nothing to do with it, and Kurt didnt ever think of Karofsky. He was just Blaine, the man who was getting better with Kurts loving touch. Sobbing into his hands, Blaine sank to the floor and he shoveled his hands into his hair. He was a part of a family, but hed probably lost it. All of them loved him, didnt quite see him how Kurt saw him, but none of them thought of him as Karofskys. He was just Blaine, the man they wanted to get better.

Gasping, Blaine ran out of the bathroom and he picked up his phone, quickly dialing a number. After a few rings, a man picked up, "Whos this?"

"Where is Quinn?" he demanded, scratching his stubbly face.

The man took a few seconds to reply, "Hey... babe, some guy is on the phone for you."

There was a shuffling sound, and then Quinn harshly snapped, "What the fuck do you want? I told you not to bother me when I leave home."

"Im leaving you." He said without much affair. "I want our marriage to be over. Tell Beth I said Im sorry... but I-" What was he actually going to do? Go back there and claim he had a change in heart so suddenly? Kurt had been trying to do that for almost two years.

She interrupted him before he could come up with an idea of what he wanted to do, "Whatever. I was going to leave you, anyway. I met another guy who said hed take care of me, even with my baggage. And hes actually straight." After a few seconds, she said, "And, Blaine, just so you dont get bragging rights... we were never actually married. I didnt get a chance to send the forms in, so I was never your wife. Dont tell people I was. I dont want to be made fun of for fucking around with a gay guy."

He tried to not be bothered by her insults, "I dont want you to get hurt the way I did, so try to get your life together... for your daughter, at least." Before she could snap back at him, he clicked the call off and went back into the bedroom.

Could he actually go home? Would they want him there, after all the damage hed done to that family? If he knew one thing for sure, even if they rejected him, he couldnt leave Kurt like this. He had to know if he still loved him no matter what... and if he would ever be willing to kiss him again.

Blaine pulled up outside of his house, doubting himself and thinking that hed gone absolutely crazy. He was terrified of being rejected, or worse... breaking Kurts heart again, but this was what he wanted, to stay in Kurts arms, to be with this family. To be in this family. He watched a couple of people walk out with Burt and Carole, getting into their car and driving away. After they left, Burt and Carole looked up and furrowed their brows at his car. Forced to get out even if he wasnt ready, Blaine walked around to the back and opened the door. His little birds skittered onto his hand and up to his shoulder, and he reached down to grab his babies.

"Blaine?" Carole whispered, touching her fingers to her mouth. "Shouldnt you be on a plane? What are you doing here, sweetie?"

Burt narrowed his eyes at Blaine, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Blaine walked up to the two of them and he hesitated, his eyes huge. He didnt know what to say or do, how to explain that he finally realized what theyd been trying to knock into his hard head for the past two years. "I love you guys," was the only thing he whispered, and Caroles eyes filled with tears.

She bundled him in her arms, stroking his back and hair. This time Blaine didnt stiffen or try to get away from the physical contact. It was hard for him when most of the people who reached out for him usually meant to hurt him. But he stayed in her arms. "Oh, sweetie, we love you, too. Look at you." He winced at the coming criticism, but to his surprise she murmured, "Youve turned into a handsome man, Blaine."

Burt wrapped his arm around him, "Welcome home, kiddo." Pulling Blaine toward the house, he muttered, "You want to party outback with my drunkard friends? Theyre just staying for the beer."

Blaine shook his head, looking up at Kurts window. "No... I might in a little bit."

Burt saw where he was staring and backed off a little, "Do what you have to, kiddo."

Blaine stepped away from them and walked into his house, his eyes wide as he climbed the stairs. He got to the top floor eventually, and he pushed open Kurts door without knocking. Kurt was still curled up on his bed, burrowed under the blankets and hugging his pillow. His cheeks were flushed and he was smiling. Trembling, Blaine walked up to his sleeping form and he pulled off his clothes, not wanting Kurt to think that he ever left. He slid in beside of Kurt, who murmured and wiggled closer to him. "Mm... Blaine..." he sighed, wrapping him in his arms.

"Shh..." Blaine smoothed his hair, kissing the top of his head. Kurts lashes fluttered and he sighed, nuzzling even closer to Blaine.

Kurt closed his eyes again and rested on Blaines chest, "It feels so good to wake up in your arms." He whispered, kissing Blaines nipple.

Blaine laid his head back on the soft pillow, guilty for coming back to Kurt. He didnt understand what was going on inside of his head. For a moment he thought that he should have just left Kurt and not come back... maybe Kurt would have been better off without him. He could have married a loving man without the past of Blaine, someone who could have adopted children with him, bought him a cute, little house and let him decorate every room, and made him so happy every day. Blaine knew that he was selfish for coming back. Blowing out heavily, Blaine smoothed Kurts hair and whispered, "Arent you upset that Ive slept with other men?"

"Of course I am." Kurt pressed another kiss to Blaines chest, "I cried for days about it. But Im not mad at you... I cant be mad at you."

Blaine sighed again, rubbing his hand up and down Kurts back, "Im sorry, Kurt." Shaking his head, Blaine pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ive... made so many mistakes and Ive broken your heart, but youre still here in my arms. And you know that Ive almost married someone else."

Kurts head lifted from his chest, "Almost?" He peeped, curling his fingers in the mat of hair on Blaines chest. "I thought you did."

"No," Blaine shook his head. "I left her... and she told me that she never sent the documents in. I was never married to her."

"Why did you leave her?" Kurts eyes were wide as he stared into Blaines eyes. Blaine reached up and cupped the side of his face, stroking his cheek with his thumb. "Because of me?"

Blaine looked away from him, and he felt Kurts tiny hand wrap around his, "Youre wearing your wedding ring I gave you. Does that mean..." Kurts soft voice faded away, and he kissed the band of his ring, "you want to marry me?"

Swallowing thickly, Blaine thought about what Kurt said. Of course he wanted to marry him, but Kurt was right... things had changed between them. Blaine had hurt Kurt, and he was happy to just be lying in bed with him. He could never expect Kurt to want to marry him again.

Kurt said nothing for a long time, his lips against the wedding ring. After a few minutes, Kurt lifted his head and he grabbed Blaines face. He squished his cheeks and smiled, "Id like to marry you... if you still want me."

Blaines eyes opened wide, and he stared up at Kurt. Kurt didnt look unhappy or like he was fighting with himself on what he just said. He was just smiling, two dimples popped and his eyes shimmering. Suddenly giggling, Kurt slipped his engagement ring off and he handed it to Blaine. "You should be a gentleman and ask me."

Blaine took the ring between his fingers and stared at it as if he didnt know what it was, then he looked at Kurts finger. He didnt like seeing him without it on. Still shocked that Kurt actually wanted to be with him again, Blaine mumbled, "Of course I still want you... but what if you regret it? Ive made mistakes."

Kurts eyes glittered with tears, "I wont regret it. Youre the man I love... no matter what youve done."

A small smile tugged his lips and he whispered, "Kurt... marry me?"

Kurt laughed again and he held his hand out, smiling as Blaine slid the ring back onto his finger. "Yes... I love you, Blaine."

"I love you, Kurt." Blaine breathed out heavily, looking up from the ring he had just claimed Kurt with to his blushing face. "I love you." He said again, realizing that Kurt wouldnt have been happy if Blaine had stayed away from him. He wanted Blaine, scars and all. "I love you."