Over the next week, Sky decided to observe. Actually, she did more than that; she became a motherfucking ninja. The more she observed, the more it became clear that she really needed a game plan. She realized that Blaine ran every morning and evening at a specific time. And, that every morning and evening Kurt found himself at their kitchen window. She came down one morning to find him nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the window like there was a runway show outside. Crap. Pipin had it bad.

As she gathered her clues she began to feel like the kids in the Scooby Doo cartoons. And just like it was always obvious who the villain was in the cartoons, it was painfully obvious what was happening to her brother. Oh and she planned to meddle, she planned to meddle big time. She was a meddling ninja! So it’s no surprise that she was more than passionate while talking to her best friend on the phone.

“My brother deserves to be happy!” Sky exclaimed. “ He spends all free time taking care of us. And sure he has friends and Glee and French and fashion,” She took a breath. “-but he needs some ass!!!” She finished.

Davy chuckled back down the phone line. “And you’re sure this guy would be interested?” He retorted.

Sky scoffed. “I have excellent gaydar! You know this!” She exclaimed. “Plus you should have seen the puppy dog eyes they were making at each other Davy! And he’s fucking gorgeous. I mean, I know you’re straight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate perfection.”

“Is Kurt nearby you? You know he doesn’t like you cursing.” Davy piped up.

“Oh please,” Sky retorts. “He’s not here, but he knows I curse like a sailor. I’m serious though Davy. What’s the time now?”

“5:15, why?” Said Davy.

“Okay, in about a minute, pull back your curtain and tell me I’m wrong.”

Like clockwork, Blaine jogs by Sky’s kitchen window and that means only about two more seconds before he reaches…

“Holy fucking hell Sky, you were right!” Davy exclaimed as Blaine jogs past by his living room window. Davy watches as Blaine turns his head to look right at the Hummel household. “And he’s looking right at your house. Okay, I’m onboard. We have to get the girls in on this. Have you got a plan?”

“Beyond the want of getting them together? Not yet, but I will.”

Kurt put his head back and looked at the canopy above him. Sunlight was slipping through the leaves at a western angle. Delightful. The meadow has always been an escape. His escape. A place where he can be just him. Just him and his hopes and dreams.
He loves his family, no doubt about that. This is just a place where he can let go of everything, if only for a few moments.

He stumbled on this place when he was ten. He was supposed to be at Davy’s with Sky. He wondered off while playing in their back yard, down a path in the woods behind Davy’s street. It was a path used by those who want to get lumber or visit the river. He couldn’t believe no one ever found it. It was just an awesome, humbling sight. And now it was the place to clear his head and think. He told Sky about it. Of course he did. She’s so attuned to him sometimes it’s scary. She knows where he goes, but she gives him his space. She knows he needs it.

He looked at his watch. 5:15pm. Blaine is running past his house at this moment. He was always on time. And Kurt is always at the window to see him pass. Except today. He made sure he was out of the house. He feared that his feet would move him towards the window off their own volition. And Merry was getting suspicious.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Blaine. Those eyes swam to the fore of his mind every time he closed his. And that voice. That velvet voice. Wonder if he sings…

Someone was coming along the path. He heard that all the time. The meadow was a little way off the path, but the woods are so quiet (apart from the birds) that you can hear everything. Usually people passing are always going on about something. It’s really interesting to hear what persons say when they think no one’s listening. Or they are rowdy teenagers heading to the river, loggers or horny teenagers coming to make use of the secluded woods. He snickered at the thought.

This person passing through was singing. One of the most luscious voices he’s ever heard, and that’s saying something. Almost everyone in his Glee club had an exceptional quality to their voice. But this person. Wow.

“Don’t you want the way I feel,

don’t you want the way I feel,

don’t you want the way I feel for you.”

He doesn’t know why his mind’s eye immediately comes up with Blaine at those words. He was so screwed.

Kurt got up and started towards the path to get a look at the person coming… And it’s Blaine. Of course it is. The universe won’t give Kurt a break. First in his thoughts and now in the flesh. Earphones in. Striding in all his well-toned glory. Could he get anymore perfect? Kurt stepped onto the path.

“Blaine?” Kurt said.


“Kurt! What are you doing out here?” Blaine took his earphones out and grinned.

“Just chilling.” Kurt smiled.

Blaine laughed. Somehow the word “chilling” sounded sort of weird coming from Kurt.

“Umm, do you wanna join me?” Kurt found himself saying before he could even think about it.

“Sure.” Blaine replies without hesitation.

Kurt led Blaine towards his meadow.

“Wow.” Blaine admired the meadow. “This is beautiful Kurt.”

You’re beautiful. Kurt bit his lip to stop himself saying it.

“Yeah it is.” He said instead. “It’s my little happy place.” Kurt pauses.
“You’re actually the first person I’ve let in here. Other than Merry of course. I’m sure nobody knows about it. I’ve always come back to find it exactly how I left it.”

He doesn’t know why he’s telling Blaine this, he just feels he should.

“Have a seat. Take a load off.” Kurt said. They both sat on Kurt’s log bench.

“So you’re a singer.” Kurt stated.

“You heard that?” Blaine smiled. “I love music. It’s the blood in my veins. And Running is the air I breathe. Cheesy I know.” Blaine smiled as Kurt laughed.

“That’s ok. Somehow I think it comes naturally for you.” Kurt replies.

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask. McKinely has a Glee club, right?

“Yeah it does. They’re pretty good too.” Kurt smirked.

“You’re apart of it aren’t you.” Blaine accused.

Kurt laughed. A full-bodied laugh. Blaine marvels at the sound.

“Yeah I am. Music makes me superbly happy… Along with fashion.” Kurt answers.

“Well, you have to sing for me sometime. And maybe design me a suit!” Blaine said.

Kurt grinned. Was Blaine flirting? He couldn’t be sure. But he was remarkably easy to talk to.


“Okay.” Kurt said.

There was a pause. Not an awkward one. Just a peaceful lull.

“Hey Kurt.”

“Hmm?” Kurt acknowledged.

“You mind explaining to me why you and Skylar call each other Merry and Pipin? I mean, I know it’s a LOTR reference. But what does it represent?”

No one ever questioned their pet names before. They just all took it at face value. Just something affectionate. Kurt looked at Blaine and saw genuine curiosity in his eyes. Blaine had honest eyes. They didn’t lie and they exuded trust. Eyes that made him feel comfortable enough to spill the things he held dear. He found himself speaking without apprehension.

“Our mom died when I was eight, Merry was six.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry.” Blaine whispered. Kurt had his undivided attention.

“It’s ok. We’re ok. It formed a bond between us though, one that I can’t even explain properly to myself. We know each other thoroughly, far more than any siblings I know. Sometimes I think we only speak aloud for the benefit of other people around us. My dad, he’s used to us like this. He said it all really started shortly after mom passed. He bought the LOTR set to kind of “cheer us up”, for lack of a better phrase. From that time on we’ve been calling each other that. We never assigned who would be who. We didn’t have to discuss it. It just was.”
Kurt looked up at the canopy when he finished. Blaine mimicked him. Should he ask Blaine what he really wants to? He decided to ask easier questions first. Or at least ones he thought were easy.

“You were in the Glee club at your old school?” Kurt asked.

“Yes.” Blaine began. “The Warblers.”

Kurt smiled. “Like a bird?” He questioned.

“Yeah, a songbird.” Blaine grinned.

“Fitting.” Kurt agreed.

“We were quite good actually. Awesome bunch of guys.” Blaine said with a reminiscent smile.

“An all boys school?”


“Yes, Dalton Academy.”

“Sounds posh.” Kurt snickered.

“It kinda was. Had good times though.” Blaine smiled.

“It seemed like you were happy.” Kurt hedged.

“I was.” Blaine replied. Unwilling to go further. Unwilling to meet Kurt’s eyes.

So Kurt came out with it.

“Then why did you leave?”

 And there it was. Dangerous territory. Blaine took his eyes from the canopy and looked into Kurt’s. Uh oh. Kurt’s eyes looked like he had x-ray vision. Like he knew what Blaine was about to say and he just wanted confirmation. But there was also reassurance. Strong reassurance. He couldn’t deny those eyes. He didn’t even try. He didn’t want to. He looked away from Kurt and back into the trees. What would Kurt think after this? Would it ruin his chances of being his friend, or being with him? Because yes, Blaine wanted to be with him, he thought about that constantly since the first time he laid eyes on Kurt. He didn’t even know if Kurt was gay or straight. It didn’t matter. Friendship or relationship, he wanted it with Kurt. He doesn’t want his father ruining something potentially good before it even started properly. He looked back into Kurt’s eyes. Reassurance. Damn. Here goes nothing...