Behind Blaine, the door pushed open and Kurts button nose poked out, "Blaine? Are you okay?"

Blaine tore his eyes from the two girls heading his way, and he collected Kurt against his chest, "Shh... everythings alright. I just..." He shook his head and looked at Brittany and Santana, "Brittany? Santana, what are you doing here? You didnt tell me that Brittany came out of her coma."

"Should she even be traveling?" Finn whispered to Puck, and Puck shrugged.

Brittany swayed and held a hand to her head, so Mike rushed to catch her before she fell. Santana left Brittanys side and motioned for Blaine to step away from the group, "Blaine, we need to talk."

Blaine hesitated to let go of Kurt, who was snuggled against his chest and watching the girls with huge, worried eyes. Schuester patted Blaines back, "Blaine, you should go. Well look out for Kurt."

"Yeah, weve got him," Puck put his hands on Kurts shoulders. "What do you want to do, cutie? Go to the cafeteria? Finn tells me youre a fan of warm milk for a midnight snack."

"Puck-" Blaine huffed when Puck stole Kurt from his arms, but he gave up and let them take Kurt down the hallway. Turning to the girls again, Blaine ran a hand over his hair, "How long has she been awake?"

Santana folded her arms around Brittany, "A few days." Smoothing Brittanys hair off her face, she muttered, "Is there a place she can sit down? She gets dizzy."

Blaine opened his door and reached for Brittanys waist, guiding her inside. He sat her down at the end of his bed and stared at her pasty face. Her skin was about two shades paler than Kurts, a sickly color, and dark bruises enveloped her narrow eyes. Her lips were cracked and thin, and her cheeks were hollow.

"I know how she looks," Santana bit out, lowering beside of Brittany. "You dont have to stare."

Blaine rolled his eyes, "I wasnt staring." He turned away and walked across the room to prove his point, "You wanted to tell me something, or can I go get Kurt before Finn and Puck get him hyped up on sugar?"

"Im really tired, Blaine." Santana mumbled, her fingers twisting in her lap.

Blaine dropped his shoulders and he turned, hands grabbing the edge of a dresser. "I know."

She ran her fingers through Brittanys hair again, "No... Blaine... Im tired of fighting. Im tired of being afraid... not knowing when hell come back. And how badly itll hurt the next time he does. He almost killed Kurt, he put Britt in a coma... Blaine, we dont know when hell stop. Im done letting him get away with this."

Blaine raised his hands to show that he didnt know what to tell her, "What do you want me to do, San, hunt him down? Kurts safe with me-"

"That might be enough for you, but I cant go on like this anymore!" Santana got to her feet and jabbed a finger to his chest, "Im going crazy waiting for his next attack. I know youll protect me and Britt, but I-I havent slept in weeks and I cant eat and I-"

Pulling her to his chest, Blaine murmured, "I know... but theres nothing we can do about it."

"I called the police." Santanas lashes quivered with overflowing tears, "I had to, Blaine. I couldnt take it anymore."

Blaine pushed her away, "You got the police involved?"

"Yes," she said firmly, daring to challenge him. "I told them everything, I gave them a yearbook picture of him... Give me your tape. I want to turn it into them."

"No," Blaine shook his head and backed away from her. "Santana, are you out of your mind? Thats what he wanted me to do! He threatened to follow Kurt to France and slit his throat once he was out of jail... if they even find him. If they start tracking him, hell be enraged. He wont stop. How can I ever let Kurt go to France now? Youre making me hold him hostage here!"

"Karofsky would have followed him, anyway!" Santana screamed, tears dripping down her cheeks, "If youre so worried about Kurt, man up and go with him to France!"

"I cant!" Blaine was also yelling, his entire body shaking. "My brothers baby-"

"Shut up, Blaine!" Santana seemed to shock herself when her hand smacked his face, and she stared at him for a moment to see how hed react to the slap. "Youre so fucking selfish. Youre scared of leaving Lima because Karofsky knocked it into your hard head that youre just a Lima loser. This has nothing to do with a baby. Its you, Blaine, and you still have so much of Karofsky in you."

She gathered a wobbly Brittany against her chest, then staggered out of the room. When he looked up he was startled to meet the eyes of some of the glee club kids. Finn was holding Kurt to his chest, and Kurts cheeks were streaked with tears. "Blaine-" Kurt whimpered, tugging from Finns hold.

"Shh," Finn pulled him back, "come on. Let Blaine cool off for a while."

Blaine lunged at the door when Finn took Kurt away, "No, Finn. I want Kurt-"

Puck stopped Blaine with a push to his chest, "Dude... youre out of it right now. Kurt doesnt need to see this. Let him sleep with us tonight. Well take care of him."

"Please..." he begged, his fingers curling and uncurling. His fingernails scraped his palms and gave him a jolt.

Puck flicked his eyes to Blaines hands and his lips pressed together, "Blaine..." was all he said, then he walked away. A moment later, Blaine heard from the room down the hall, "Cutie, you can have whatever bunk you like!"

Kurt squeaked, "Blaine! I want Blaine!"

Finn quickly tried to soothe his brother, "Shh... Hes okay. Come on, you can have my bed..."

Their voices faded away and Blaine closed his eyes, hitting his face against the wall. Scrubbing his hair, Blaine stumbled away from the door and fell onto his bed. He curled himself up in the middle and stuck his face in Kurts pillow, sniffing his flowery perfume. Tears dripped off his cheeks and soaked the warm fabric under his head. He was so cold, but he didnt bother pulling the blankets over his body. Those wouldnt have warmed him the way Kurt did, wrapping his little body around him as he drifted to sleep.

He missed him.

He slept lonely for the first time in a long time, but by three in the morning when he still hadnt closed his eyes and was staring at the door, wanting Kurt to open it, he realized he wasnt going to sleep much at all.

Blaine rolled onto his stomach and pulled a pillow over his head when someone shook his shoulder, "Blaine! Blaine, youve got to get up."

Squinting through mostly closed lids, Blaine glared up at Puck, "Do you have to be so loud?"

Puck seemed to have forgotten about last night, or at least pushed it aside, because he whacked Blaine with a pillow and grinned at him, "Get up, grumpy. Im heading down for some pancakes. Want me to bring you anything?"

Blaine slowly sat up and scrubbed his scratchy face, "No. Wheres Kurt?"

Puck rolled off the bed and got to his feet, "I think hes still asleep, or Finn might be waking him up." He started toward the door, but before he left he glanced at Blaine again, "Hey... um... Im sorry."

Sighing as Puck closed the door, Blaine flipped onto his side and stared at the clock. It was almost six. He slid his legs off the bed and untangled himself from the ruined sheets, lifting his arms in a massive stretch. He got to his feet and searched the pile of clothes on the floor for his shirt, then remembered that Kurt had it on. Pulling out his suitcase, Blaine threw his clothes aside until he found a white undershirt. He quickly yanked it on.

Walking into the hallway full of chattering hotel guests, Blaine slipped through them and over to the guys room. He opened the door and tripped on someones bag, then flicked his eyes around the bunks. A few of the guys were still passed out, but a couple of them were up and about, bumping into each other and mumbling about who got the bathroom next.

Finn was sitting on one of the top bunks, bent over a small form curled up in a pile of blankets. He must have spotted Blaine because he glanced at him, then kept whispering to the boy. Blaine stepped over another bag to get to them, and finally Finn acknowledged him, "Hey... I just woke him up." He returned his attention to Kurt and rubbed his knee through the blanket, "Are you hungry?"

Kurt yawned and rubbed his eyes, shaking his head.

Finn threw his legs over the ladder and jumped down, stopping by Blaine, "Be gentle with him, okay? He wouldnt sleep last night... I held him until he stopped crying, but he was still pretty shaken up. Im sorry I took him from you... he really needed you." He started to step past Blaine, but suddenly remembered something else, "Oh... he knows about being disqualified. It may have slipped. I was just looking for ways to get his mind off you. Hes handling it well."

Blaine was quiet about that and approached the ladder, climbing it. He dropped beside of Kurts legs, tickling his ankle, "Are you mad at me, baby-?"

Kurt was on top of Blaine in seconds, pressing kisses on Blaines lips, "Im not mad at you. I cant ever be mad at you."

Blaine sighed with relief and pulled Kurt close, stroking his messy hair, "I lost my temper, and Im so sorry, sweetheart. I want to keep you in my arms at night... all the time... Im never, ever letting you go again." He decorated Kurts small face in kisses.

Kurt kissed Blaines chin and took his hands, putting them on the small of his back. "I missed feeling your arms around me, holding me tight. Please, dont let them take me from you again."

"Never." Blaine agreed.

There was a knock on the door that caused a few of the snoozing guys to jerk awake, "Guys, be at rehearsals in an hour!"

"Oh, rehearsals!" Kurt skittered off of Blaine and he sat up on his knees.

Blaine couldnt help but chuckle as he reached for Kurts thighs, "So much for not letting you go."

Kurts round eyes returned to Blaines face and he linked their fingers, "You can hold my hand while I get ready."

Blaine lifted Kurt over a few boxes of props and set him down, trying to keep him from being squished in all the chaos of singers running around. Finn and Puck spied them from the other side of the room and they pushed through groups of people. "Damn, Kurt." Puck lifted his hand for a high five from Kurt.

Finn slugged him before Blaine could, "Dude! His big brother is standing right here!"

"You like it?" Kurt smiled and brushed the front of his gold, hourglass dress that was clinging to all the right curves. Golden sparkles shimmered up and down the tight fabric. He completed the look with a pair of strap, golden heels. He hadnt done much with his makeup so it didnt take away from the dress, but he had brushed his lips with a dusting of dark red lip blush, and wrapped smoky liner around his eyes.

"You look really good, Kurt." Finn approved of his little brother, then glared at his knotted tie again. He pulled it under and tugged, growling when it only got worse. "Dammit."

"You pushed it through the hole one too many times," Kurt stepped toward his brother and started undoing his mess.

"Did Blaine teach him to say that?" Puck snickered, and that time both Finn and Blaine slugged him.

Kurt ignored it, or maybe he didnt know what Puck was talking about. He took the two ends and showed Finn what to do, "See... you put that through there, and then you tug that..." he stuck his tongue out as he concentrated, "and then you pull the end and... There. Ta-da. A perfect tie. You know, you could borrow a few of Blaines clip-on bowties."

"Thanks," Finn smiled, tugging his tie.

Blaine put his hand at Kurts waist, "Im going to take Kurt to his seat now."

"When I blow a kiss after we win, itll be for you, cutie." Puck squeezed Kurts arm, then let Blaine take him.

After they walked off the stage and Blaine found Kurt a seat in the front row, he pulled him in for a hug, "Mm... youre my good luck charm. I love you so much." He opened his mouth on Kurts, tickling his tongue with the tip of his. "Youre sure youre okay?"

"Im fine." Kurt rubbed Blaines chest, "Im proud of you... I cant wait to watch you perform. Not a single person in the other clubs is better than you, Blaine Anderson. You dont need any good luck."

Blaine laughed and kept holding Kurt, "Youre too good to me."

"I know I am," Kurt teased, then reached for the tiny purse hanging at his wrist. He opened it and two little heads popped out, "Hello there, little birds. Want to give your daddy kisses before he goes on stage?"

The little birds bobbed their heads at Blaines hand and pressed their beaks to it. Kurt giggled and reached past them to pick up a daisy. He held it up to Blaine, "Oh, no! They ate one of the petals!"

Blaine burst into laughter and took the nibbled flower while Kurt scolded his birds, "Who ate the petal? Was it you, Pavarotti? Youre my naughty bird-" Blaine cut Kurt off by cupping his face in his hands and pressing their lips very firmly.

When they pulled apart, Kurt was breathing much faster and he looked flushed, "Oh... youre a very good kisser."

"I love you," Blaine said again, and kissed his nose. "I love you."

Kurts skin turned very red, "I love you, too."

Blaine pinched Kurts butt, "Kurt, you look really sexy in that dress. I love the way your cute, little butt looks in it."

Kurt giggled at Blaines flattery, then he tapped his chin, "Oh... what is the word Americans say? You look... hot?"

"Thats one way to put it." Blaine kissed Kurts neck, "Mm... tell me how the French say it."

"Vous êtes un très bel homme." Kurt looped his arms around Blaines neck, "You are a very handsome man."

"What about..." Blaine stroked his cheek, "you are so pretty and I want to kiss your mouth a hundred times?"

Kurt blushed, "Dont tease me... You make me so breathless without the flirting."

"Im not teasing you." Kissing Kurts ear, Blaine tried to remember something and said, "Je taime."

Laughing, Kurt laid his cheek on Blaines chest, "Make the j silent. Here..." he pinched Blaines cheeks. "Purse your lips when you say it... almost like puckering for a kiss..."

Blaine started to do it, but he pulled away with a snort, "I cant do it when youre holding my face like that!"

Kurt scrunched his nose, and then he made the face himself. Blaine interrupted him from saying the words with a kiss, "I couldnt stop myself. You had your lips puckered."

Swatting Blaine, Kurt helplessly giggled and grabbed his cheeks again. He squished them between his palms, "Tell me you love me, Blaine Anderson."

Blaine garbled through something that sounded nothing like English or French, and Kurt tossed his head with a giddy laugh. He clapped his hands and squished Blaines cheeks again, but was cut off by Finn pulling Blaine away from him, "Guys, what are you doing to each others faces?"

"I was teaching Blaine how to speak French," Kurt chirped and bounced on his toes.

"I..." Finn shook his head, "I actually dont want to know this time. Blaine, the lights have been flashing. Weve got to go."

Blaine snuck another kiss to Kurts expectant mouth, "Stay here. Ill come get you after the show."

"Blaine..." Kurt called after him, and Blaine looked over his shoulder as Finn pulled his shirt, "I love you."

Blaine grinned, "I love you, too."

"Enough of the eyelash batting, lover boy." Finn shoved him onto the stage, "Im glad youre so crazy for my little brother, but concentrate on the competition right now."

Puck frowned at him when he took his place beside him, "Blaine... is that lipstick on your cheek?"

Blaine touched his cheek and felt a sticky spot of lip blush, but he didnt wipe it off. He really didnt want to.

The curtains slowly slid open, and the grin dropped from Blaines mouth. Even through the dimmed lighting, he could see shadows of people in places they hadnt been before. Had everyone multiplied while he was walking up here?

Looking to his left, Blaine stared at Finn, who was staring right back at him with bulging eyes. "Sing," he mouthed.

Blaines throat was so dry. Suddenly, another boy-maybe Mike-took his part and walked to the front of the stage. Finn shuffled toward him and hissed in his ear, "What are you doing? That was your entrance."

Blaine felt himself swaying. Puck quickly grabbed him as he went for a spin, "Blaine, are you okay? You look pale."

"I cant do this." Blaine covered his face with his hands.

"Shit, hes gonna faint." Puck moved Blaine so he was hidden by the other boys who were throwing quick glances over their shoulders, obviously worried.

"Puck, stop talking." Finn growled, trying to sync his moves with the other guys. "Theyll hear you."

Pucks voice was suddenly frantic, "Where did Kurt go?"

Blaines eyes snapped open and he searched between the swaying bodies for Kurt. He let go of Finn and Puck when he didnt see him. "Kurt-"

"Blaine," whispered a soft voice from behind the curtain, and Blaine looked to his right to spot Kurt. Finn and Puck shoved him toward him, and Blaine hurried to meet Kurt.

"I panicked," Blaine mumbled to him, "Im sorry..."

"Shh..." Kurt stroked his face and pulled his head to his chest, "its okay. Do you feel dizzy?"

"No... not anymore..." Blaine shook his head, "I didnt know there were so many people... waiting for me to screw up..."

"No..." Rubbing his back, Kurt drew Blaine away from the noise on stage. "No one wants you to mess up. Every one of them wants to hear you, Blaine, but no one deserves to. Youre so good... Your voice is beautiful. I want you to keep your eyes on me. You wont be as nervous. Wow me, baby."

Blaines head snapped up, "Youve never called me that before."

Kurt smiled and kissed Blaines forehead, "And youve never worn lip blush on your cheek." He started to wipe it off, but Blaine quickly held up his hand to stop him.

"Leave it." Blaine smiled, kissing Kurts hand that was still by his cheek, "I like it there."

Kurt dropped his hand, his dimples popping, "Me, too, baby."

Blaine grinned at Kurt and walked back onto the stage, his eyes on Kurt as he pranced down the steps to return to his seat. Finn took Blaine by his arm and swung him around, "You okay now?"

Blaine nodded and Finn released him, giving him a chance to steal his part back from Mike as he pirouetted to the front of the stage. Puck smiled at his arrival and slapped his back. Keeping his eyes on Kurts small face, Blaine hummed the last notes to What Kind of Fool.

Kurt winked at him and patted his fingers together. "I love you," he mouthed to Blaine.

"I love you, too," Blaine said as the music changed to Blackbird. The guys moved around him, taking up new spots in the background.

Blaine flicked his eyes to the rest of the audience just for a moment, then returned them to Kurt. He sang through the first few notes easily, but a camera flash startled him into silence. The notes went on without him. He froze and realized he screwed up. Again.

He looked at his friends, but they were singing backup and were absolutely no help. Holding a hand to his ear, Blaine tried to listen to the music and muffle the clapping and tapping of feet around him.

His wide eyes went to the audience, most of them looking confused and pointing at him, and the row of judges shaking their heads in disappointment and scratching things down on notepads.

He quickly zeroed in on Kurt, who seemed, for the most part, calm. It helped Blaine to focus, staring at his face. Kurt mouthed something to him, and at first Blaine didnt know what he was saying, then he realized that it was the next lyric.

Picking up the song, Blaine belted out the notes and hoped that a strong finish would be enough to gain the favor of the judges back.

The music cut and switched to Ill Stand By You, a simple song he was sure he couldnt mess up. He looked at Kurt, who encouraged him by mouthing the words with him and shimmying his shoulders to the beat. Blaine adored him. To everyones shock-even his own-he sang through the notes without tensing up. He was a little flat on a C-sharp, but he would have rather been flat on a hundred notes than stop singing again.

The very last song was Cough Syrup-his own choice for the set-list and the song he was most confident at-so he sang through the notes perfectly. The audience even got to their feet and started clapping with the beat halfway into the chorus, which told Blaine he was doing something right.

At the finish of the song, Finn wrapped an arm around Blaine and led him off the stage. "You did really great, Blaine." He told him, "Cough Syrup will get us a win, if nothing else."

Puck approached them and clapped both of them on their shoulders, "The judges said theyll be ready in five minutes. They said the winner is very obvious this year."

Blaines stomach dropped, and Puck rubbed his back, "Hey, you were alright. Kurt seemed to enjoy it. He wouldnt stop doing that little shoulder shimmy he does when hes excited."

After a few minutes, Schuester poked his nose behind the curtain. His face was solemn as he waved them over, "Guys, its time."

Blaine held onto Finn and Puck as they walked to the middle of the stage and lined up in rows. He instantly picked Kurt out in the audience, holding his eyes on him for comfort.

One of the judges cleared his throat and stood, "We had very great clubs competing this year. But, because of some difficulties, first, second, and third place were very clear to us. Im sorry to say that third place is the New Directions."

Kurts shock was obvious in the way he pressed a hand to his lips and shook his head. Puck and Finn were very quiet on either side of him, and then Finn stroked Blaines gelled hair. "Are you okay?"

Blaines eyes filled and he blinked away the tears, "No."

"Blaine, well be alright." Puck rubbed his back and pulled him in for a hug, but Blaine jerked away.

"I have to find Kurt," he mumbled, and pushed out of his group. He ran off the stage.

Blaine laid his cheek on Kurts chest and sniffled. Kurt wiped his eyes with another tissue, "Shh... Blaine... I thought your performance was excellent. You were wonderful... just a little nervous."

Another round of tears rolled down his cheeks, "Why am I not good enough? Im the only person who screwed up."

Kurt slid his leg through Blaines, "You didnt give up. It takes courage to go back on stage."

Blaine buried his face in Kurts chest, "Maybe I shouldnt have. I just... wanted this so badly. Youre the only thing thats ever worked out for me, Kurt, and I dont know why. You should have left me a long time ago."

"Dont say that!" Kurt turned Blaines chin so he could meet his weepy eyes, "Why would you say such a terrible thing? I love you, Blaine. Youre going to be my husband."

"But I shouldnt be, dammit!" Blaine turned his head as if hed been slapped. "Im just like him, Kurt! Im like Karofsky... and youre terrified of him. I have just as bad of a temper and Ive hurt people and I-"

"Im not scared of you." Kurt cupped Blaines face in his hands, forcing him to look at him, "Im not scared of you because youre you. Youre Blaine. Youre nothing like him. You do have a temper and you have hurt people, but youve regretted it. Youve said youre sorry. Thats something Karofsky would never do. And he would never love... but you love me." Sliding his fingers through Blaines, Kurt squeezed his hand, "These are your hands." He rubbed Blaines shoulder, "And thats your shoulder." He ran his fingers down to Blaines chest, "And this is your heart. Its not his. He tried to control you... make you his... but you were strong enough to leave him."

Blaine shook his head, "I left him because of you."

Kurt smiled and pressed his lips to Blaines, "You are mine now, but I think youre a wonderful man. I wont try to change you. I love you exactly as you are, even with your temper. You do look very... hot... when youre angry."

For the first time in hours, Blaine laughed. "Im a spoiled man to have you, Kurt."

Laying his cheek on the pillow, Kurt pressed his face to Blaines, "Im very spoiled, too. You are amazing, Blaine, just for being you."

Blaine rolled on top of Kurt and took his mouth.