Blaine started and looked over his shoulder to see a man in a ball cap who he didn’t recognize, but judging by his eyes, he assumed it was Kurt’s dad. “B-burt,” Carole said, “You’re home early.” Burt crossed his arms, “Really? The boy we’ve all been worried to death about, the boy who was almost beaten to death with my son, the boy who we all thought was gone forever, the boy who my son has been dying for, shows up here, and all you’ve got to say is ‘you’re home early.’ Really, Carole?” Carole sighed and stood up, taking Burt by the hand, “C’mon Burt, we need to talk.” “Damn straight, we need to talk. But first I want to talk to Blaine,” Burt said angrily. Blaine shrunk back into the couch cushions, and Carole shook her head, “Not right now Burt.” Burt shook her off, “What do you mean, not right now? What better time? I haven’t seen him in fucking months, I thought he was dead! Have you told Kurt?! Where is he?! Does he know?!” Carole huffed and wrapped an arm around Burt’s middle, yanking him backwards toward the kitchen with a very harsh, “Not right now.” Then she glanced toward Blaine a little more softly, “Blaine, honey, why don’t you go find Kurt.” Blaine only nodded and made a mad dash for Kurt’s room.

Blaine knocked lightly on the door, “Kurt? Can I come in?” There was no response, but Blaine could hear the conversation in the kitchen growing louder so he went in anyway. Kurt was curled up on his side, his back to the door, tears streaming down his face and pooling in the pillow. When Kurt didn’t acknowledge Blaine’s entrance, Blaine lightly laid his hand on Kurt’s shoulder, “Kurt?” Kurt jerked at the touch, but did not shy away from it as he had before. He wiped at the tears with the side of his hand and rolled over to be on his back, looking up at Blaine, he smiled wryly, “Sorry, had a moment there.” Blaine shook his head, “It’s fine. You’re fine. I’m fine. We’re both fine.” Kurt blew out a gust of air, “Yeah. Now.” Blaine sighed, “Yeah. Now. But um, did you hear---” “My dad come in,” Kurt cut across him, “Yeah. It was bound to happen sooner or later, there was no way we could hope to keep this from him forever. I guess he’s with Carole?” Blaine nodded, and Kurt rubbed his eyes, “Well then you might as well make yourself comfortable, we’ll be here for a while.” Kurt patted the bed next to him and Blaine crawled on.

They lay there in relative silence for a while (with Carole and Burt’s loud conversing in the background), hands behind their heads, lost in their own thoughts, until finally Kurt breaks the silence. “Blaine,” he asked softly. “Yeah, Kurt,” Blaine replied in the same tone. “What...what about your parents,” Kurt wondered aloud. “What about them,” Blaine responded. “They just...they lied to you...about everything...and they...and...I just...if I were you I wouldn’t have been able to go back. At least I don’t think I could have, and...just...how? How do you feel about that? How do you do that?” Blaine shrugged awkwardly, “I...never really thought about I guess...why?”

Kurt didn’t say anything, just nodded in response.
For some reason, even though Kurt was being absolutely silent, not even glancing at Blaine, the curly haired boy could tell the countertenor was expecting more of an answer. Even though it seemed as though Kurt would not press the issue, Blaine felt as if the silence was growing heavier and heavier until he felt like he would explode if he didn’t try to more fully answer the question. “Betrayed,” the curly haired boy said it so quietly, at first Kurt wasn’t positive it was said at all. Just as the paler of the two was about to ask for further explanation though, they were cut off by the throwing open of a door.

There’s barely any time to react before Burt is throwing himself at Kurt and Blaine, squeezing them both (a little too) tightly and crying. Blaine can see Carole over Burt’s shoulder, who is wiping away tears shaking her head at the sight. The moment is ruined however as Kurt gasps out, “Dad---ribs---can’t---” But Burt is already up and away, straightening his shirt and blushing furiously, “Sorry--sorry---just--I.” Kurt nods, “It’s okay dad, I know. I know.” But Blaine still feels thoroughly confused. Never in a million years had he expected to be bear hugged (or basically tackled) by a man who he’d really only just met about thirty minutes ago, but Burt at least seems to realize that because he begins to talk.

“Sorry I just...God Blaine...I...we...he...you were gone,” Burt seems to be at a loss for words, “But you’re here now and---God you don’t even remember?” Burt looked at Blaine hopefully, as if he thought by some miracle everything his wife had spent the last half hour explaining was a lie. Blaine looks at him sadly, shaking his head slowly, “No, I’m sorry I just...I don’t remember anything.” Carole laid a hand on Burt’s shoulder, “Honey, no. You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing at all.” Blaine didn’t know what exactly to say next to he just nodded and slowly curled back into Kurt’s side.

There was an odd silence hanging in the air. Almost as though there was an issue waiting to be addressed and no one could exactly put their fingers on what it was. No one said anything for several minutes and it gradually grew more and more uncomfortable until it was downright awkward. Kurt sat there, wrapping his arm securely around Blaine, pondering the silence, how this had never happened before, there had never been a single moment in which he felt uncomfortable in the presence of Blaine or his dad in his entire life (now there was a fairly awkward situation with Carole several weeks ago involving a shower and his inability to take one on his own that they both agreed shall never be mentioned, ever.) As he pondered it though, he was led to a more pressing question, one he had spent the better part of the weekend trying to answer himself. What about his parents? What are they going to do about them? What can they do about them? What’s there to be done?! “Nothing,” Burt said. And it was only then that Kurt realized he had been doing his thinking aloud again.

Blaine looked up, “Nothing?” Burt shook his head, “Legally speaking, there’s nothing to be done. They paid your medical bills, they aren’t starving you or beating you. The only thing you could really do is move out.” Blaine’s face fell, “Oh,” he said quietly, trying not to let his disappointment show. Kurt nudged him lightly, “Why the long face?” Blaine shrugged and muttered quietly, “Just wish there was something I could do.” Burt frowned, “Are you sure there wasn’t any permanent damage done to your IQ?” Blaine looked at him questioningly and Burt said, “I just told you there was something you could do.” Blaine shrugged, “Yeah, but it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to go, even if I did move out.” That statement was met with three sets of eyebrows raised in disbelief, and Carole reached out to pat his knee affectionately, “Blaine you always have a place here.” Blaine felt his lip quiver in appreciation, but he shook his head, “I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to burden you guys. Thank you though.” Carole rolled her eyes, “Blaine sweetie, you already have a room upstairs.” Blaine choked out, “What?!” Burt rolled his eyes, “Right. Because every time my son’s boyfriend spent the night I was gonna let them share a bed,” Burt shook his head exasperatedly, “You’ve got a dresser full of clothes and some books and a bunch of other assorted stuff up there. You used to stay here a lot while school was out. Weren’t much for hanging with your folks.” Blaine smiled bashfully, that was something he didn’t find too hard to believe. Kurt chuckled, “That and I don’t think you could be bothered to be too far away from Finn.”

It took Blaine a minute to remember exactly who Finn was and when he did he said, “So did we hang out a lot?” Kurt nodded, “Whenever there was a football game, you two were holed up on that couch with a bucket of junk food and several liters of soda for several hours.” Everyone laughed lightly at the memory, or in Blaine’s case the thought, but when it died down the silence was almost tangible. Carole coughed softly and Burt said, “So what do you say Blaine? Wanna claim back your space?” Blaine’s immediate thought was hell yes, but he stopped himself, “Are you sure?” Burt rolled his eyes once more---Blaine could definitely tell where Kurt got it from, “Kid, you listen to me, and you listen good. You mean just as much to me as Finn and Kurt. So I mean it when I say I am very damn sure about wanting you to stay here.” Blaine’s eyes lit up that, becoming the slightest bit teary at Burt’s admission and he said quietly, “Thank you.” Burt nodded and stood from where he had kneeled next to the bed, “Right. Well. Um. Then. Uh,” Burt glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand that read four p.m., “Finn should be home in about an hour. It’ll take a little bit to explain everything to him, so I suggest you hole up in here for a little bit while that goes down, but after that we can go to Breadstix or something, sound okay?” Both boys nodded silently, Kurt brushing his thumb over the back of Blaine’s hand softly. As Burt and Carole left Carole said softly, “Blaine honey, I know that you’re not on the greatest terms with them right now, but at least call your parents to tell them what’s going on. Don’t---don’t leave them waiting...I remember that night...God. You were both so late. And we kept waiting. And waiting. Telling ourselves you’d just lost track of time...but then the hospital called and---” Carole broke off with a choked noise, “Just. Just promise you’ll call them.”

Blaine nodded silently and Carole closed the door. When the door shut with a click, Blaine slumped back against the pillows with a huff. Kurt smiled gently, sensing that Blaine wasn’t exactly thrilled with the prospect of calling his parents. He carded his fingers through Blaine’s curls and said quietly, “C’mon, best to get it over with quick.” Blaine shook his head and rolled over to bury his head in the pillows, “Don’t wanna,” he said plaintively, like a child confronted with bath time. Kurt sighed and ran his hand up and down Blaine’s back, “If you get it over with now, you’ll feel so much better.” Blaine shook his head, “No. Don’t wanna. Can’t you just do it?” Kurt sighed, “Where’s your phone?” Blaine lifted his head, “Are you serious? You know I was kidding right?” Kurt shrugs, “I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, but I also don’t think anyone--no matter how despicable they might be--should have to worry like that, so yeah. I’ll call them if you want.” Blaine doesn’t waste anytime muttering, “Front pocket.”

Kurt fishes out Blaine’s slim phone, scrolling through the contacts and finding a number labeled, “Mother.” Kurt pressed ‘call’ and put the phone to his ear. Ring....ring....ring, “Hello? Blaine?” Came a shrill voice with the slightest of Italian afflictions. “Actually, no,” Kurt said slowly, “It’s Kurt.” The woman’s tone was clipped, “Oh. Kurt. How’ve you----Wait?! KURT?!” Kurt almost laughed at her incredulous tone, “Yes, Kurt. Kurt Hummel. I’m sure that rings a bell. In case it doesn’t though, I’m the boy that’s thought his fiance was dead all these months, no thanks to you,” Kurt referred to Blaine as his fiance with a devilish kind of pleasure, remembering how little Mrs. Anderson had liked that prospect, “I’ve called to inform you that Blaine will not make it home tonight. If he doesn’t plan on coming back tomorrow, I’ll make sure you are informed. Have a nice day.” “Now you listen to me---Blaine you will come home right this---” Kurt hit the ‘end’ button in the middle of her rant and smiled smugly at Blaine, “See? Easy?”

Blaine gave a noncommittal sigh. Kurt frowned and tapped his elbow, “Blaine? Sweetie, what’s wrong?” Blaine shrugged in answer. Kurt shook his head, “Blaine Everett Anderson you better tell me what’s on your mind right now or I’ll just ship you right off back to your house.” Blaine gave a humourless laugh, “Would not.” Kurt nodded, “You’re right. I wouldn’t. But please tell me what’s wrong.” Blaine sighed again, “Fiance,” he muttered so quietly that Kurt almost didn’t catch it.

“What Blaine?”
“Fiance.”
“What about it?” Kurt said.
“What are we now?” Blaine asked in return.
“What do you think we are?” Kurt replied.
“I don’t know!” Blaine exclaimed. “I don’t know what we are now! We were engaged Kurt! And---and---and then this happened! And it’s like we’re back at square one! And it’s---it’s---it’s insane!! And it’s just---it’s not---God it’s so unfair Kurt!”
Kurt pressed his lips into a tight line and reached a hand under his own shirt, revealing a small silver chain with two silver rings on them. He twisted them so that Blaine could read the inscriptions. One read, ‘Perfect to me’ the other ‘My missing puzzle piece’. Blaine whispered, with a minor thought as to why he was whispering, “Which one’s mine?” Kurt replied at the same volume, “Yours is the one that says ‘brought me to life’.” Blaine nodded mutely drinking it in.

Kurt broke the silence quietly, “I...Blaine. I don’t know what we are. I know what we used to be, and I feel like we can get there again and be even better. I...I doubt you’d remember but there was this movie, it’s called the Vow. But basically this girl gets in a car accident and can’t remember her husband. We went to see it in theaters...I will never forget what you said to me. Because I had asked you what would happen if that was us---seems oddly prophetic now seeing as that was just a couple weeks before--but you said we’d find each other. You said, ‘Because that’s what you and I do. We find each other’.” Kurt was silent for a beat before he continued, “So I don’t really know what we are right now. And I don’t know that we’ll ever be back to the way before. And I don’t know that I want to be. But I feel like...if...if you wanted to give this a shot, we could be us again. Not the same, but better, stronger. And maybe one day we’ll put these rings to use again.”

The air was still for a moment before Blaine was shifting on the bed, cupping Kurt’s cheek and pressing their lips together in a heated kiss. When Blaine pulled back he whispered, “I’d love that.”