"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Gayest Little Toaster."

"What do you want?" Blaine asks, feeling particularly not in the mood for Sue's condescension.

"Oh, nothing," she says with a smirk. "Just to tell you that I'm paying the school superintendent a visit today."

"And I'm supposed to care about that because…?"

"No reason," she says, turning her back to him as she pours herself a cup of coffee. "Just another rumor about teacher-student relationships. It's probably nothing."

Blaine drops his fork into his pasta. Sauce splatters all over his sweater and shirt, and he nearly knocks over his bottle of water as he reaches for a napkin. Thankfully Sue's back is to him, or he's certain she'd read the panic on his face, not to mention come up with some other ridiculous nickname thanks to his clumsy moment.

"Why take it to the school board then?" he asks, forcing his tone to remain steady in spite of his rapid heartbeat as he works at the larger stains on his sweater.

Blaine knows the rumors had continued, but no one had been able to pin it on him or Kurt. Does Sue know something? He tries to remain stoic as she turns around and walks toward his table. Blaine is still dabbing at the spots on his shirt with a wet napkin, trying to avoid making eye contact.

"Well, I think it's best if we explore all possibilities," she says. "Wouldn't want anyone corrupting young, impressionable minds, now would we?"

She's standing over him, obviously trying to intimidate. It's a tactic she uses on everyone, but she particularly likes to tower over Blaine to emphasize their height difference. He flashes back to their encounter in the grocery store. She had actually accused him and Kurt of having a relationship. And she was right, of course, but she had done nothing about it. What changed? Does she have proof now?

"N-no," he stammers. "Not at all."

He's stunned. If Sue is going to the school board, this can only end badly for him.

"Apparently, one of our students overheard a conversation about one of our teachers and a senior who have been carrying on a secret relationship for months," she says. "Any idea who that might be?"

Even though he knows the answer to her question, Blaine's mind races. Who could have overheard anything? And then his stomach drops out.

Rachel. Who had she told?

Somehow, Blaine manages to find his voice.

"Sue, I don't know what you're implying, but I sincerely hope you're not accusing me of anything … unsavory."

"Oh certainly not, Anderson." She lifts her coffee mug to take a sip and then pauses. "Wait… You're not hiding anything…are you?" She tilts her head and smirks at him.

Blaine swallows hard, trying to compose himself. He has to say something, anything, to try to get her to back off. He can't let it show.

"Not at all," he says. "It sounded like you were implying something about me, and after your spectacular display at the supermarket and getting Schue fired, forgive me if I'm a little concerned about your intentions."

"Well, like I said," she says with a shrug, "it's just a rumor. I'm sure it's nothing to get your panties in a twist over." She tips her mug in Blaine's direction in some sort of mocking salute, and leaves the lounge.

Blaine exhales audibly and drops his head in his hands. If Sue suspects anything, or god forbid knows something, he and Kurt are finished. And he's unemployed. He takes out his phone and thumbs over Kurt's name.

From Blaine (11:29 a.m.)
We need to talk.

From Kurt (11:31 a.m.)
Now? Everything ok?

From Blaine (11:31 a.m.)
Not sure. Can you get out of fifth period?

From Kurt (11:32 a.m.)
I don't think so. We have a quiz, but after that probably. Where?

From Blaine (11:34 a.m.)
My office.

From Kurt (11:35 a.m.)
You're scaring me.

"Rachel, I think something's going on with Kurt and Mr. Anderson," Mercedes says.

"W-what makes you think that?" Rachel says, smiling a little too widely.

"Sam and I ran into them at the Lima Bean the other day," she says, pulling her chemistry book out of her locker.

"Oh, is that it?" Rachel says, turning her attention back to her own locker. She's trying to hide her nervousness; it's best to keep her hands occupied. "They do that all the time. There's nothing wrong with them having coffee together. He's mentoring Kurt, you know."

"I know," Mercedes says, "but after Kurt told us about his crush, I've been thinking, what if he told Mr. Anderson… and what if he feels the same way. Not to mention, they looked pretty cozy for just a teacher and student."

Rachel freezes, her hand hovering over a notebook. If Mercedes figures this out, Kurt will blame her. She has to handle this carefully.

"What do you mean by cozy?"

"Well, I saw Kurt wipe whipped cream from his nose, and later they were laughing."

"Mercedes, please tell me you're not considering a career in law enforcement. Your detective skills leave a lot to be desired."

Mercedes slams her locker shut and turns to face Rachel, cocking her head to the side and pursing her lips.

"You can't tell me you haven't seen it," she says. "The way they always look at each other; the way Mr. Anderson smiles at Kurt when he sings. It's even more ridiculous than the way you look at Finn."

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Rachel says, closing her own locker.

Mercedes look says it all; she doesn't believe Rachel one bit.

"Okay, maybe there's something there," Rachel concedes, "but I doubt there's anything going on. Mr. Anderson would never…"

"Yeah, but the rumors," Mercedes interrupts, leaning in and lowering her voice. "What if they're true?"

Rachel's eyes go wide as she realizes that the fleeting rumors going around McKinley are about Kurt. How could she have missed that?

"N-no," she says. "That's ridiculous. It's not about them."

"But how can you be sure, Rachel? It's not like Kurt would tell us."

"I'm sure, Mercedes."

She narrows her eyes at Rachel. "How are you sure?"

"Um…" Rachel stumbles over her thoughts. How can she be sure? She's not. Well, she is, but Mercedes can't know that. What does she know? What can she say? She knows Kurt is dating…. "Mark!"

"Mark who?" Mercedes asks.

"Kurt's boyfriend," Rachel replies. "He's been seeing him for months. I'm surprised he hasn't told you." She flips her hair over he shoulder and smiles at Mercedes, impressed with her ability to think on her feet. "Maybe he just didn't want to steal your thunder when you had just started dating Sam."

Mercedes still looks skeptical, but she follows Rachel down the hallway to class. Rachel has a feeling Kurt's not off the hook yet.

"Sand bags, I think it's time we break out the big guns."

"What did you have in mind, coach?" Santana asks, looking curious and maybe a little confused.

The school board had all but ignored Sue's claims that Blaine was having a relationship with Kurt, citing a lawsuit filed by Will Schuester after her last accusation as a reason why they needed more than some unsubstantiated rumors to fire someone.

"Unless Kurt or his family makes a complaint, there's nothing I can do," the superintendent had said.

Sue hates it when her plans are derailed, so she had decided to change tactics. Call in the reinforcements, if you will.

"What do you know about Porcelain and Blanderson?" she asks Santana.

"Kurt and Mr. A?" Santana asks, looking more shocked than confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you're supposed to be spying on them, Lopez," she says. "Is your pony tail too tight?"

"Well, uh…I mean, there are rumors," Santana says narrowing her eyes. "But nothing concrete."

"Damn." Sue looks down at her desk for a moment, thinking. She needs proof. Santana is in that stupid glee club. There has to be a way to use that to her advantage.

And then she has an idea. She opens a desk drawer and pulls out a small tape recorder and a large roll of medical tape.

"Cha Cha, you're going undercover," Sue says, grinning.

Kurt feels uneasy about Blaine's texts all afternoon. Fifth period feels like eons away, and when it finally comes, he can't focus on the quiz sitting on the desk in front of him. The words are a blur of symbols and shapes that might as well be Chinese for all that Kurt understands of them.

What if Blaine wants to break up? Kurt can't even begin to think what he'd do if that were the case. He may not be very experienced in dating, but "We need to talk" is never a good sign.

The other thought lingering in the back of his mind is that they've been found out. But surely if that were the case, Blaine would be gone — fired. Word would have gotten around McKinley by now. Right?

So what does he want to talk about? His heart feels like it's going to beat out of his chest as the minutes tick by at a snail's pace.

He tries to focus on his quiz, but he only manages doodles in the margins. Random swirls and hearts dot the edge of his page, while his GPA slowly drops.

When the bell finally rings, signaling the end of the period, Kurt flings his mostly blank quiz on Mr. Winters' desk and makes a mad dash for Blaine's office. When he gets there, the door is closed, so he takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders before knocking.

Kurt hears a muffled "come in" from the other side of the door, but his palms are sweating as he turns the handle, so he stumbles into the door instead of opening it and walking through. His shoulder slams painfully into the hard wood, and he's still rubbing at it when Blaine opens the door.

He looks tired and older than Kurt's ever seen him; maybe it's the dark circles under his eyes, or his rumpled shirt and mussed hair. If it weren't for the worry lining his face, it would be eerily similar to how he looks after he and Kurt have been making out. The contrast both calms him and reinforces his fears.

"You okay?" Blaine asks, tilting his head.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Kurt says. "You look …"

"Awful?"

"Well, no," he says with a laugh. "You could never look awful…but yeah, kind of."

"Come in," Blaine says, pulling on Kurt's arm and closing the door behind him.

"What happened?" Kurt asks as Blaine flings himself unceremoniously in the chair behind his desk. Kurt takes the seat opposite him, sitting up tall and rigid.

Blaine doesn't respond right away. He drops his head in his hands and exhales slowly and audibly.

"Kurt, we have a problem."

Kurt's heart begins to race. He's not ready for Blaine to break up with him. He thought it was still a possibility as long as they had the risk of getting caught. But he's just not ready. Please no.

"Please don't break up with me," he says, voice cracking.

Blaine's head jerks up and his usually golden eyes look darker somehow. As if the intensity of what he's feeling is reflected in their deeper, more ominous amber. Kurt feels like he's going to be sick, the bile rising up in the back of his throat. He clenches his fists in his lap, and exhales slowly. He has to look away, unable to maintain eye contact if it's all over. He lifts his chin in haughty defiance, blinking rapidly to hold back tears, unsure how much longer he can keep it together.

And then Blaine speaks.

"I'm not breaking up with you," Blaine says softly.

"You're not?" Kurt asks. His voice sounds squeaky to his own ears, and he hopes it's not really what comes out.

"No," Blaine says.

"Then what's the problem?" Kurt asks.

"Sue."

"Coach Sylvester?"

"She heard a rumor," Blaine says. "About us."

Kurt's knees feel wobbly, and he's glad he's not standing because he's certain his legs would buckle beneath him.

"Did they fire you?" Kurt asks, his voice so low, he's not sure Blaine hears him.

"What? … No!" he says, jumping out of his chair and taking the seat next to Kurt. He turns in the chair so they're almost facing and takes Kurt's hand. "No, she doesn't know it's about us. She has her suspicions, but no...so far we're still okay."

Kurt exhales a shuddering breath, feeling relieved but not altogether at ease. He turns to face Blaine. When their eyes meet, he can feel Blaine's fear, palpable in the suddenly too-warm office.

"So what are we going to do about it?" Kurt asks, running his thumb along Blaine's knuckles. He can feel Blaine's shoulders relax some at the gesture, and he can't help but smile at the thought.

"I just don't know," Blaine says. "Logically, I know we should cool it for a while…"

"I sense a but," Kurt says when Blaine trails off.

"But," Blaine says, smiling warmly. "I don't want us to be apart."

"Me neither," says Kurt, perhaps a little too quickly.

Blaine lifts his hand and runs it through Kurt's hair behind his ear. It has a soothing effect; Kurt hums and closes his eyes, leaning into the touch. When he opens his eyes, Blaine's face is just inches from his own. Blaine leans in to press a soft kiss to Kurt's forehead, and he lets out a shaky sigh.

"We just need to be careful," Blaine says. "Extra careful."

"We're not being careful now," Kurt whispers.

"No," Blaine says, trailing his fingers along Kurt's hairline and then down to his jaw. He takes Kurt's chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilts his head up. When he brings their lips together, it's warm and soft, but not nearly enough. Kurt groans when he pulls away.

"I need you," Kurt says without opening his eyes right away.

"You have no idea how much I'm having to restrain myself right now," Blaine says, eyes raking over Kurt's flushed face, their hands still joined in Kurt's lap.

"Can I come over after school?"

"Maybe," Blaine replies. "We have glee practice, you know."

"I know," he says, releasing Blaine's hand. "But after?"

"I'll text you?"

Kurt nods. He stands and tugs at his pants to try to hide the bulge that betrays his partial arousal. "I should really get to class," he says. "You too."

Blaine smirks at him. "I think I need to sit for a bit longer."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Kurt says with a wink. He turns on his heel and raises his hand to wiggle his fingers at Blaine over his shoulder. "See you in glee club, Mr. Anderson."

Once rehearsal is over, Blaine pulls out his phone as everyone files out of the choir room to send Kurt a quick text.

From Blaine (5:01 p.m.)
Still interested in coming over?

From Kurt (5:02 p.m.)
Always interested, but I may not be able to get away. I'll let you know.

From Blaine (5:02 p.m.)
:(

From Kurt (5:02 p.m.)
Love you.

From Blaine (5:03 p.m.)
Love you too.

He pockets his phone and heads for his car. It's probably for the best that he and Kurt don't see each other tonight anyway. He'll probably order a pizza and get started on grading those tests from his third period class.

Kurt pulls his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the door to Blaine's apartment. His nerves are growing as he quickly shuts the door behind him and drops his book bag to the side of the door. He'd rushed out of glee so fast, he didn't have time to stop and think if this was a good idea or not. He pauses a moment to undo the laces on his boots and sets those off to the side by his satchel, making up his mind as he grabs a small bag from the outer pocket.

Slowly, he begins to make his way towards Blaine's bedroom, pulling his shirt off as he goes and dropping it onto the floor. His hands go to the button on his pants and he thumbs it open, shimmying himself out of his skinny jeans and letting those drop to the floor as well. He steps out of them, continuing his way towards the bedroom as he tucks his thumbs under the elastic of his briefs and letting those fall just outside the door to the bedroom. He looks behind him at the trail of clothes leading from the front door to the bedroom and grins to himself before slipping through the door and laying himself down on Blaine's soft bed.

They'd been together before, but never more than what they had done their first few times and that one glorious, wonderful, perfect blow job. Kurt loves everything they've done, has enjoyed Blaine touching him and being able to touch Blaine in return, but lately he's been wanting more,and the brush with fear this afternoon makes that want curl tighter in his stomach.

He opens the bag he brought with him and pulls out a condom and a bottle of lube and stuffs it under the pillows, convenient to get later but out of sight just now. He reaches down and draws his fingers over his skin, watching them as they make their way over his chest. He can feel his arousal beginning to stir, and he takes his time as he waits for Blaine.

When he finally hears the sound of a key in the door, Kurt's nerves sky rocket. He's been naked in front of Blaine before but he's never been exposed quite like this. Will he like it? Will he like him like this?

Blaine spots Kurt's bag by the door immediately. He's got a pizza box balanced on his arms that he puts on the table as he glances around. "Kurt?" He calls out, stepping forward. "I got dinner, but I wasn't expecting you, so the pizza has extra cheese and onions... Kurt?"

Then he sees the shirt on the floor and his heart races a little.

"In here." Kurt sounds breathless as he calls out from the bedroom. Blaine's suddenly sympathetic when he spots the pants. He's having a little trouble catching his own breath.

He freezes in the doorway to his bedroom. Kurt is stretched out on the bed, pale and gorgeous, hand on his cock stroking it lazily. His cheeks are flushed high, spots of pink on milky skin, and he looks like the picture of debauchery. He's just gorgeous; sinfully, perfectly gorgeous. "Oh my god," Blaine says, voice faint. "Kurt."

Kurt bites his bottom lip, a flush across his cheeks and down his chest as he looks over at his boyfriend. He watches as Blaine's eyes roam over his body, taking him in completely. His flush deepens as Blaine just stands there in the doorway, watching. Not moving.

"Blaine?" He asks, his hand stilling on his cock.

"Uh huh?" Blaine replies, his voice deep and gravely as he speaks, making Kurt shiver slightly. Blaine flicks his tongue out over his lips as he drags his eyes back up to Kurt's face. "This is uh..."

"I wanted to surprise you," Kurt says softly, ducking his head away from Blaine's gaze.

"You did that."

Blaine is still standing there in the doorway too far away and too clothed.

"Blaine, come here. Please," Kurt begs softly.

He wants to surprise his boyfriend, but he can only be on display like this for him for so long before he needs to have Blaine there with him.

"Yeah. Yes. God, Kurt, yes."

Blaine surges into action to cross the room in a few steps. He hasn't even taken off his bag yet, the one with the papers to be graded inside. And why that occurs to him in that moment, he'll never know.

The bag hits the floor with a dull thud followed very shortly by the shirt he yanks over his head. His knees hit the bed before he bothers with his belt or his pants because he has to kiss Kurt, has to now.

He puts one hand on Kurt's chest and the kiss goes deep and dirty from the very start. It's been too long a day with too many things weighing on both of them. This, this, is what they're doing it all for; not sex, but them. Blaine feels Kurt's hands fumbling at his belt and working it open and off, but he can't tear his mouth away from Kurt's long enough to assist.

"Good surprise?" Kurt asks, letting his hands press and feel up Blaine's chest, the soft hair tickling at his palms.

"Good surprise," he mutters, smiling joyfully into the kiss. "The best surprise."

He straddles Kurt and kisses down his body, sucking the head of Kurt's cock between his lips wetly in a way that makes Kurt's hips jerk and his voice cry out. Blaine wants too much of everything Kurt's offering right now to linger any one place, though; within a minute or two he's kissing his way back up to that beautiful, slick mouth.

Kurt gasps out and his body jerks under Blaine's touch. He thrills at it. Blaine runs a hand down Kurt's side, murmuring against his lips how beautiful he is.

"Blaine-" Kurt gasps out, a hand running behind Blaine's neck to pull him in again for another kiss. He presses his lips to Blaine's, his tongue flicking in to press and then slide against his as he pushes his body up for more friction. He takes a moment to just enjoy the press and slide of their skin together before he lets his legs fall open for Blaine.

"I want you," he says quietly against Blaine's lips.

Blaine pulls away, almost unsure if Kurt means what he thinks he means. "You want...?"

"You." Kurt's voice is soft but firm, insistent. "All of you. Please."

"Oh my god," Blaine says faintly. He kisses Kurt again, a little harder than before, trying to process the intent there. "Are you sure?"

"Blaine." Kurt's hands come up to frame Blaine's face. "Look at me. I have never been more sure of anything."

He means it. He means it, and Blaine can't think of a single reason why he should deny them this.

He nods. "Okay."

Kurt's eyes widen. "Really?"

They both grin at each other, both smile into a kiss that's a little wondrous and a lot joyful. "Yes."

Kurt reaches back under the pillows and pulls out the condom and the bottle of lube he'd stashed there. He's feeling shy again as he places them down beside them on the bed, his cheeks flushing deeper. Blaine smiles at him and reaches out once more, pulling him into another kiss and then another, letting them melt into each other and completely unable to stop himself.

He reaches out and plucks the lube up, drizzling a bit into his palm before scooting back down the bed and gently tapping Kurt's legs. He gasps and almost grabs himself as he watches Kurt spread his legs easy and wide for Blaine. It's a heady, erotic sight.

"Fuck, Kurt," he groans, shaking his head before leaning in to press a kiss to the inside of his thigh. "You are so gorgeous."

Kurt is equally blown away by what Blaine is doing to him. He'd thought he'd be nervous before this, had somehow imagined it to be a terrifying moment... at the very least, terrifyingly awkward. But this is Blaine, and Blaine never makes him feel less than perfectly loved. Now is no exception.

"I want to make this good for you," Blaine promises. He keeps one hand stroking Kurt's cock, keeping him hard while the other hand prepares him.

The first finger feels odd; strange and not at all painful, but not really that arousing. The second is more of a stretch, but it makes Kurt sort of gasp and then Blaine finds that spot that makes everything go blindingly wonderful for a spasming moment, and Kurt gets a hint of how good the goodcan really be.

Three fingers and Kurt isn't sure that Blaine is actually going to get around to having sex with him. He understands Blaine's dedication to readying him, but he's impatient now. He squirms and throws back his head and gasps and says, "Blaine," in a needy, choked voice.

"I have to make sure you're ready-prepared-" Blaine starts, trying to keep a handle on his breathing. But Kurt is so tight and so warm around his fingers and he vibrates with energy underneath him, and Blaine just knows that when they actually get down to it he is so not going to last long at all.

"I am ready, I am so ready," Kurt pants, bucking his hips up so that he can push back down on Blaine's fingers, taking them deeper into his body. Blaine chokes out a moan and has to lean forward and capture Kurt's lips in another blinding kiss, his tongue pushing into Kurt's mouth to taste his own.

"Yeah," Blaine agrees, unable to say anything more as his other hand scrambles for the condom wrapper on the bed. He tears it open with his teeth and is about to slide it on when Kurt's hand stops him.

"Let me. I want to..." Kurt says, voice soft as he takes a moment to slowly roll the condom down Blaine's cock. Blaine just watches, eyes wide and pupils blown at Kurt's hand stroking down his length.

Kurt keeps touching him once the condom is on, slicking him up with lube, and Blaine has to move his hand away because he's verging on the edge of too ready, and Kurt is looking at him like Blaine is the only person that exists. Maybe right now he is. There's so much trust and feeling in there and Blaine just loves Kurt so fucking much in the moment, and really every moment.

The blunt head of his cock presses against Kurt, and then he's in, eyes locked on Kurt's face. He stops at the first wince of pain and holds until Kurt breathes in deep and nods for him to move more. It's a series of stops and starts, of Blaine's hands stroking over Kurt's thighs and sweat beading on Kurt's forehead, of their bodies balanced so precariously as they ease into this.

Then he's in – all the way, bodies flush together, and Kurt lets out a sound that's part pain and part disbelief that shoots right through Blaine. He reaches down and takes Kurt in his hand, stroking him back to hardness until Kurt's squirming from more than discomfort and nodding at Blaine again. "Move now... please."

"Okay," Blaine's voice is gruff with suppressed emotion as he begins to pull back. He keeps his movements slow and fluid, pulling back until just the tip of his cock remains in Kurt before slowly pushing back into him, filling Kurt up.

Kurt's head falls back, his eyes squeezing shut as he moans, long and low and loud in the bedroom. "Oh god, Blaine," Kurt whimpers, his hips bucking up hard into Blaine's. "You feel…you feel like you're everywhere."

"Fuck, Kurt," Blaine groans, falling forward a bit so he can kiss Kurt again, jarring his cock deeper into Kurt. Kurt gasps hard, his hips jerking hard down onto Blaine before rolling back up.

"God that was," Kurt gasps. "More Blaine. Give me more."

From there it's a blur of intense feeling and exquisite friction. Blaine moves them both until he's over Kurt, because he can't do this without kissing him; he needs everything right now. Kurt catches on right away and his legs lock around Blaine's waist and they are sharing breath and space and kisses, and they couldn't get any closer if they tried.

Blaine rocks into him, the muted movement drawing it out a little but not enough.

"God, Kurt," Blaine whines, pressing his face into the damp curve of Kurt's neck.

He feels fingers in his hair and he gasps as his orgasm hits him, barreling through him as he fills the condom.

"Shit," he gasps.

Kurt laughs. "That's romantic."

His voice is so deep, deeper than Blaine's heard it before, and his cock is digging into Blaine's stomach.

Blaine reaches between them and starts to jerk Kurt off.

"Sorry, sorry," Blaine whispers into the kiss, his other hand going to the other side of Kurt's face to pull him into the kiss. "You're just- god you're so hot," Blaine replies. If he was with anyone else he'd feel embarrassed about how fast it took him to come but not with Kurt. He could never feel that way with Kurt.

He strokes harder, faster, his wrist twisting at the head of Kurt's cock before he slides back down to squeeze the base. Kurt gasps and thrusts his hips up hard, wanting more friction from Blaine. Always more.

"You are so hot and feel so good, Kurt," Blaine whispers directly into Kurt's ear, his voice low and deep as he works Kurt over. "You feel so good around me Kurt. Want to feel you come now."

Blaine's voice feels like it's hard-wired to go straight to Kurt's cock. He's never felt sexier, never felt more wanted and more worthy in his life. He gives in to everything and lets Blaine get him there until Kurt is a panting sweaty mess, shaking with his orgasm as he spills over Blaine's fist and onto his stomach.

He's still trying to catch his breath when he feels Blaine easing out of him. He kisses Kurt again, long and slow and perfect, before he gets out of bed.

"I'll be right back," he says. "Just gonna clean us up a little."

It feels like only a few seconds later that Blaine is curling back into his side on the bed again, wiping at Kurt's stomach and the mess of lube on his skin until he feels... not clean but clean enough, and superbly cared for.

Kurt sinks back into the bed, his eyes still closed as Blaine curls up around him, an arm over his middle.

"How are you feeling?" He asks softly, pressing a kiss to Kurt's bare shoulder.

"Tired. Exhausted. So good," Kurt mumbles, turning his head and opening his eyes so he can smile over at Blaine.

Blaine smiles back, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he leans in and presses a soft, chaste kiss to Kurt's lips.

"Everything you wanted it to be?" he asks him quietly, hoping so.

Kurt nods and curls up closer to Blaine. "Better."

As New Directions begins preparing for nationals, Kurt still insists he not be the one given a solo. Despite Blaine's protests, he's true to his word, but instead of just giving it to Rachel as Kurt had hoped, he opens it up to everyone again.

His decision was mostly influenced by his song selection. Blaine's plan was that Kurt sing "As if We Never Said Goodbye," but he really doesn't feel like anyone else can carry the emotional weight of the number the same way Kurt can. So he needs to pick a new song.

After hearing Mercedes and Santana duetting on "River Deep, Mountain High," he's certain that's their final number, but he still needs two other songs, and time is running out.

"Mr. Anderson?" Tina asks quietly from the back of the room.

"Yes, Tina?"

"I'd like to try something for nationals."

Several heads jerk around to face her. Tina hadn't ever expressed much of an interest in being in the spotlight before.

"Tina, are you sure?" Rachel asks, giving Tina an overly bright smile. "Remember what happened the last time you had a solo?"

Blaine can tell Rachel's trying to sound like she's looking out for Tina, but it just comes across as condescending.

"Rachel, if Tina wants to do a solo, she should," Blaine says.

"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," Tina says, standing. "But actually, I have an idea for a group number that will give several of us the opportunity to be featured."

She hands Blaine a stack of papers. It's the lyrics to "ABC" by the Jackson 5. She's broken out the lines for several members of the glee club. She has a featured part, but Kurt, Sam, Quinn and even Mike have solo moments. It's actually a really great idea.

"This looks like a really fun number, Tina," Blaine says, passing the lyric sheets out to the group. "And I really like the way you worked everyone in."

"Almost everyone," Rachel says, reading the paper in her hands.

She's right. Rachel, Mercedes and Santana have obviously been left out.

"Well, when I started working on it, I assumed you would already have a solo," Tina says.

"But I don't, do I?" Rachel asks, glaring at her. "I can't believe this," she says to the room at large. "Doesn't anyone see how unfair this is?!"

A few of them exchange uncomfortable looks, but no one responds.

Rachel's eyes land on Finn.

"Finn?" she says.

"Uh…um, well…"

When Finn can't find his words, Rachel huffs out an exaggerated breath and storms out of the room. Blaine's eyes find Kurt, who is looking toward the door that Rachel has just stomped through. Before Blaine can say anything, Kurt is out of his seat and following Rachel out of the choir room.

"Rachel?" Kurt calls as he wanders the hallways.

His eyes land on a small huddled figure at the end of a row of lockers, sitting on the floor, knees hugged close to her chest, her head resting on her arms.

"Rachel, please come back in there. There's still one solo spot left, and I think you have a really good shot at it."

"It's pointless," she says, lifting her head. "Mr. Anderson is determined to make my life miserable."

"He's determined to make it fair," Kurt insists, crouching down low to meet Rachel's eyes. Her mascara is starting to run. She's actually crying.

"Fair for whom?" she asks. "I'm not asking for every solo. Just one."

"I know," Kurt says, rubbing a hand on her shoulder. "I asked him to give you my solo."

"You did?"

"Yeah," he says, smiling. "You deserve it."

"So what happened?"

"He didn't want you to think he was bribing you."

"So his solution is to make me hate him?"

"He's well-intentioned, if a bit clueless," Kurt says fondly. "You have to admit he has a sort of naïve charm."

"I'd be more inclined to agree if it didn't mean I'd be sitting in the cheap seats for nationals," she says.

"You know that's not going to happen, Rachel."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know Bl…Mr. Anderson," he says, eyes shifting around at the slip up. "He's nothing if not unfailingly fair."

"I suppose you're right," she says, wiping at her eyes and sniffling.

"Of course I am. Now you just need to prove to him that you deserve it," Kurt says. "So why don't you get back in there and knock his socks off with one of those show-stopping numbers I know you've got in your back pocket."

He reaches out a hand and she takes it, smiling up at him as he helps her to her feet.

"Kurt?" she says, looking up at him with doe eyes. "I'm sorry I've kind of been ignoring you."

"I know."

"No, I'm serious," she says. "I was so angry you didn't tell me about … well, you know. But I've been thinking, and I get it. I mean, I'm still not happy you didn't tell me …I mean, he's your first real boyfriend, and you really shouldn't keep that kind of information from your best friend."

"Of course not," Kurt interjects, hoping to bring a little levity to this conversation.

Rachel waves a dismissive hand in his direction.

"But I think I finally understand. And I want you to know I meant what I said. I won't tell anyone."

"I know," Kurt says. "I trust you."

She smiles at him then, and Kurt can't help but notice how good it feels to have his best friend back. And now he can talk to her, really talk, about his relationship.

"Being in love's a good look on you, you know," she says.

Kurt just smiles and loops her arm through his as he leads her back to the choir room.

Rachel gets her solo after all.

She opens their performance with "Don't Rain on My Parade" and brings the crowd to their feet. By the time they finish "ABC," the crowd is cheering and clapping along. Santana and Mercedes kill their song, leaving the group feeling friendly and slightly celebratory, despite the fact that they won't know if they've won for several hours.

Blaine calls them together into one of the boys' hotel rooms.

"You all were so great today," he says. "Win or lose, we did our absolute best."

There's some cheering and high-fiving and lots of hugging. Blaine feels so proud as he looks around the room at his students. They have a good shot at winning.

"Hi," a quiet voice says from behind him.

"Kurt," he says, smiling but he doesn't turn around. "You were amazing."

"Thanks," Kurt says, just loud enough for Blaine to hear. "I'm dying to kiss you right now. Maybe other things…"

Blaine tries to keep his face neutral as the memory of that perfect afternoon churns in his mind and sets his heart racing.

"Me too," he says. "The way you used your hips during 'ABC' was torture."

Kurt laughs. "All part of my evil plan," he says. "Can I see you later?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Kurt."

"Why not?" he says under his breath. "You, me…a king-sized bed. Pretty sure it's time for an encore."

Blaine inhales sharply. It sounds like heaven actually, but it's definitely not a good idea.

"You're sharing a room, Kurt. Don't you think Artie and Mike will notice you're missing?"

"I can wait until they go to sleep."

He considers it for a moment. No one would know. They could be discreet and Kurt could be back in bed before the other boys wake up. They could…no. It's too risky.

"No," he says as firmly as he can manage.

Blaine hears Kurt's heavy sigh from behind him, and he wishes he could kiss that frustration away.

"Fine," Kurt says, just as a voice carries over the din of the chatter in the room.

"Yo, we have like four hours until they post the results for the top ten," Puck says. "Dude, I need pizza."

"Yeah, Mr. A," Finn says. "I'm starving. Can we get pizza?"

"Sure," Blaine says, taking out his wallet. "Get enough for the group. We might as well get comfortable while we wait. The rest of you can go back to your rooms if you want. Just don't leave the hotel. We need to meet in the lobby at 4:30. No exceptions."

Several of them file out, Mercedes complaining that she needs to change out of her costume; the tulle is scratchy and the heels are pinching. There are some hums of agreement from the other girls. Sam goes with Finn and Puck to get pizza.

It's an easy afternoon. Blaine hangs out with Kurt and a handful of the other glee clubbers. Rachel keeps giving him looks, and Santana seems oddly concerned with sticking close to the group. But everyone is in a good mood, and Kurt looks relaxed and at ease. It's perfect.

That should have been the first clue.

New Directions meets in the lobby of the hotel at 4:30 to walk over to the convention center. Mercedes is back in costume, still complaining about the itchy tulle.

"All I'm saying is, we'd better win," she says. "Because I'm going to have a rash from this." She gestures toward her skirt.

"Let's just hope there's no open flame," Kurt jokes. "All this synthetic fabric, the hair spray….the auditorium would explode."

He's so excited to be back at nationals and really have a shot at winning this time. He just wishes he could share it with Blaine in public too. He glances over at his boyfriend and smiles. They've only got a little over a month to go before he graduates. And then they won't have to hide.

Blaine seems to sense Kurt's eyes on him because he clears his throat loudly and turns to the group, looking a little flustered, but happy.

"Okay guys," Blaine says. "We did our best, and even if we don't win, you should be very proud of yourselves."

"Spare me the sappy speeches," Santana groans. "Let's go in there and collect our first-place trophy."

A collective cheer goes up and everyone is all smiles as they head to the stage.

Kurt lingers back, watching Blaine as he helps Artie adjust his tie. Rachel loops her arm through his, and leans her head on his shoulder.

"Come on," she says. "Stop making heart eyes at our teacher and walk me to the stage so we can smugly congratulate the losers."

He smiles at her. They're still waiting to hear about NYADA, but Kurt feels optimistic. They'd both done really well for their auditions, and they'd gotten even closer as friends since he told her about Blaine.

By the time they're on the stage with the other choirs in the top ten, Rachel is gripping Kurt's hand so tightly, he thinks it might cut off the circulation. Both of their palms are sweaty, and his heart is beating so heavily and rapidly in his chest, he feels like it might explode.

"In third place…" the announcer begins.

"Oh god, this is it," Rachel mumbles in his ear.

Kurt feels Blaine's hand on the small of his back. They're all pressed so tightly together, there's no way anyone could see it. He smiles. The warmth of Blaine's' touch seeps through his shirt and calms his nerves.

"We got this," he says to Rachel, while turning to look at Blaine. A warm smile greets him. He almost doesn't hear the name of the third place winner.

"From Jackson High School in Tupelo, Mississsippi, The Belltones!"

Rachel exhales loudly. "One down…please please please, let us win." She grips Kurt's hand even tighter and places her free hand over it.

"In second place, from Belleview High School in Park City, Utah, Audiophonic!"

The choir to their left erupts in cheers, and runs off to collect their trophy.

"Audiophonic?" Kurt says with a raised eyebrow.

"Some of these choirs have the worst names," Tina says to his left.

Kurt has the feeling they're making chit chat because their nerves are so frayed. There's only first place left and there are still eight choirs on the stage, some that had been really, really good. What if they don't win?

The hand on his back starts rubbing tiny circles, and Kurt wants to drop to the floor. His knees feel week and his pulse is rapid. Dear god, please let us win.

"And the 2012 National Show Choir champion…." The announcer calls out.

Kurt can feel his teammates collectively hold their breath. No one is moving. They're gripping each others' hands and waiting.

"From McKinley High in Lima, Ohio…"

And Kurt doesn't hear the rest because the announcer is drowned out by the screams and cheers of everyone around him. Finn rushes forward to accept the trophy and lifts it high over his head. Rachel throws her arms around him and kisses him on the cheek. Mike twirls Tina around and lifts her in the air. Puck chest bumps Finn, and then Sam; he high fives Artie. Mercedes grips Kurt in a bear hug and shouts "we did it!" in his ear. He hugs Rachel, Brittany, Santana and then Quinn. He turns to grab the next person, and it's Blaine, who's smiling wider than Kurt has ever seen before. His golden eyes are sparkling with happy tears as he sweeps Kurt in his arms.

"We did it….we did it!" Kurt says.

Blaine pulls back to look at him and says, "You were amazing."

Kurt beams at him. "I couldn't have done it without you," he says. "We couldn't have done it without you."

Blaine hugs him again with such force they sway on the spot. Kurt has to grab Blaine's arms to keep from falling face first into him. Blaine grips his waist to keep himself upright and he laughs before tipping forward and pressing his lips to Kurt's.

Kurt is so busy kissing back that he doesn't even realize what has happened until he hears Rachel's gasp.

He jerks himself out of Blaine's arms and slaps his hand over his mouth. Blaine looks like he's going to throw up. The entirety of New Directions has gone silent.