I was made to keep your body warm,
But I'm cold as the wind blows,
So hold me in your arms.

Chapter 11:

Kurt entered the kitchen early the next morning. He had left Blaine sleeping for a while, because he had protested when he had tried to wake him up. He decided he could use some sleep. He wasn't as comfortable about being in Lima as he was letting on and Kurt knew that.

Burt was at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He looked up when Kurt walked in. "'Mornin'," he said, raising a glass of orange juice to his lips. "How's it feel to be back in your own bed?"

Kurt smiled and sat down. "Good," he told Burt. "No one else is up?"

"Carole went to buy milk, because Finn drank it all during his visits to the refrigerator throughout the night," Burt told him. Kurt rolled his eyes. "Finn's still in bed. Blaine?"

"Sleeping," Kurt told his dad. "He wants to go see his parents today."

Burt looked up. "Is that a good idea?"

Kurt shrugged. "Probably not," he admitted, "but he feels like it's something he needs to do, so I told him he should do what feels right."

"You know, the last time he went to see them, he locked himself in your room for days," Burt pointed out.

Kurt nodded. He couldn't see it going well, not with the way Blaine's parents were, but he couldn't stop Blaine from doing what he felt he had to do, either. He wondered if he should bring up the idea of him tagging along again.

"Maybe he could, y'know, invite them here," Burt said. "That way he'd have some support."

"I'm not sure he'd go for that," Kurt said, truthfully, "but I'll run it by him."

"Do you think he's okay? I mean—"

"He's fine."

Kurt and Burt turned to look in the direction from which the voice had come and found Blaine smiling brightly. He walked in and sat down beside Kurt, then leaned across and kissed him briefly, ending it with a "Good morning". Kurt tilted one eyebrow upwards.

"Morning, Blaine," Burt said, looking back to his newspaper.

"Good morning, Burt."

"Someone's in a good mood," Kurt said, almost sceptically.

Blaine grinned. "I could make breakfast."

"No, bad idea. Remember the last time you tried to cook?" Kurt asked, elbowing him. "I'll do it." Kurt stood up.

"I'll help," Blaine said, standing up, too.

Kurt turned to look at him and saw a glint of something in his eyes. "Okay," he said, with a nod. "Come on, then."

Moments later, Kurt was trying to figure out how he was going to give his father his muesli when Finn had drunk all the milk. Blaine was leaning against the counter, arms folded, eyes on the ground.

"Okay?" Kurt asked, placing the cereal box down.

Blaine looked up. "Yeah," he said. "Just..give me something to do."

Kurt eyed him for a moment. "Blaine—"

"I just want to keep busy for a little while," he told Kurt. "Please."

Kurt nodded. "Okay," he said. "Coffee! You can make coffee!"

Blaine looked unsure for a moment, then went and made the coffee. Kurt popped some bread in the toaster and watched Blaine out of the corner of his eye. He looked conflicted, like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Kurt wanted to lift it off and throw it far away so that it could never touch him again.

"Hey, Kurt?"

Kurt turned and smiled at him. "Yes, honey?"

Blaine seemed to take a deep breath. "Can we talk after we're done? It's nothing—not about us! It's not—Okay. I could have phrased that better."

Kurt watched as he ran a hand through his hair, which was not yet gelled down. Small curls were sticking up everywhere and Kurt couldn't help smiling.

"Stop freaking out," he said. "Yes, we can talk about anything in the entire world. You don't even have to ask."

Blaine smiled at him and Kurt fell in love just a little bit more.

"Bye dad," Kurt said, as Burt left for the garage.

It was only 8.30 and Finn wouldn't be up until at least noon. Blaine had gone back downstairs for a shower. Kurt cleared away the dishes and tidied the house over and by the time he was done, Blaine had come back upstairs, hair gelled and smelling as gorgeous as ever. Kurt gave him a smile.

"Hi," he said, taking Blaine's outstretched hand.

"Hi," Blaine replied, tugging him forward. "Have I told you how good you look today?"

"No, but thanks," Kurt beamed. "You wanted to talk."

"I did," Blaine told him, with a nod. "Where do you want to..?"

"Downstairs?" Kurt asked, squeezing Blaine's hand. "I mean, Finn isn't likely to be up for another couple of hours at least, but we've got privacy down there."

Blaine nodded and they went downstairs. Kurt shut the door and Blaine sat down gingerly on the end of the bed. He had his bright eyes downcast and Kurt watched him for a moment, then went and sat down next to him.

"You always make it so hard," Kurt told him. "You act like you need to plan it out first. You don't. Just talk to me."

Blaine smiled very slightly, the corners of his lips tilting a little. "Sorry," he told Kurt. "It's nothing, really. I was just thinking about..what we talked about last night. About my...my mom and dad."

Kurt nodded and placed a hand on Blaine's back and began to rub small circles across it, trying to give him some sort of reassurance.

"Is it stupid? Should I not go?"

"If you don't," Kurt said, softly, "you'll always wonder what might have happened if you had."

"But I know what's going to happen. They'll throw a few more insults my way, say I'm a disappointment, insult you, and I'll be back where I began, only feeling worse about myself and angrier for having allowed them the opportunity to say those things."

"But," Kurt provided.

"But," Blaine said, slowly. "I want to do it. I know how ridiculous that makes me, but.."

"They're your parents, Blaine," Kurt said. "It's not ridiculous that you would want to try again with them."

Blaine looked up and his eyes were shining. "You don't think?"

"No," Kurt said, shaking his head. "You've been looking for their approval for your whole life, it's only natural that you're this way inclined. There's nothing wrong with that."

Blaine nodded, like he was trying convince himself further. "Thank you," he said, finally, voice breaking. He looked up at Kurt and smiled sadly.

"Don't thank me," Kurt grinned. "You just say when you want to go and I'll take you. It can be now, later, midnight, November 17th 2056, whenever." Blaine laughed. "Seriously. Whenever you feel ready."

"I love you," Blaine told him, tilting his head and pressing their lips together.

Kurt let him push him back on the bed as they deepened the kiss, their bodies crashing together. Kurt murmured against Blaine's mouth and Blaine was rolling his hips into Kurt's and Kurt was getting majorly turned on and then Blaine slid a cool hand up his shirt, sending a gasp from his lips. Blaine pulled back.

"Sorry," he said, smiling still. "I guess we shouldn't do that anyway. Rules and all."

Kurt gave him a look of disapproval as he crossed his legs to conceal his half-hard cock. "You can't grind into me and then just stop. That's immoral."

"Immoral," Blaine repeated, amusement in his eyes. "I'd love to follow through and all, Kurt, but—"

"I know, I know," Kurt said, sighing. "Honour thy father and all that. We're never going to be able to do this, you know. One night we're going to get carried away and you'll just yell 'screw it, screw me!', or something and we'll give in and I won't be able to walk the next morning."

Blaine raised one eyebrow. "Screw it, screw me?" he asked, with a chuckle.

Kurt shrugged. "I can't be held accountable for my words when I've got a boner and you're sitting there looking...like..you, um, do."

Blaine leaned in and licked his own lips very slowly. Kurt swallowed. "Know what?" Blaine asked, voice low.

"Hmm? What?"

"Your dad's words were 'no funny business under my roof'."

"So?"

"So," Blaine said, grinning. "The whole of Ohio is not under your dad's roof."

"Oh," Kurt said, carefully. "Oh."

Blaine nodded.

"Where, um, did you have in mind?"

Blaine stood up and gave Kurt a bright smile. "Nowhere," he told him, "merely stating a fact. I'm starved. Want anything from upstairs?"

Kurt's jaw dropped.

"Close your mouth, baby, you'll make me hot," Blaine said, winked, then went upstairs, leaving Kurt sitting there with an erection and wide eyes.

Minutes later, Blaine came back downstairs and pushed Kurt back on the bed again, crashing their mouths together.

"Don't—mmph—if you're not gonna—"

"You make me want to," Blaine said, slipping a knee between Kurt's thighs.

"You won't though," Kurt said, against Blaine's lips. "We both know that."

Blaine groaned, frustrated. "We had our first time here while your dad was home," he told Kurt, trying to reason. "He's not even home now.. Oh, who am I kidding?" He pushed himself up. "I can't do this."

"What is the definition of 'funny business', anyway?" Kurt asked, catching his breath again. "I mean, does it just mean sex? Or are we forbidden from intense make out sessions that end in accidental orgasms? Or non-accidental, I guess.."

"I think it means everything," Blaine said. "Except maybe the making out. I'm pretty sure having a boyfriend like you in the same bed as me is a good enough reason to grant me permission for make out sessions."

"Is frottage out?" Kurt enquired.

Blaine looked thoughtful. "I.. Maybe? I don't know. Makes me wish I'd asked more questions, but yes. Can we do some frotting? Is that bad? Does that make me an awful person?"

"He's not even home," Kurt said. "We can even keep our clothes on. Come here."

Blaine gave in and crawled towards him. They kissed again, crotches together and Kurt rolled his hips a couple of times and Blaine was panting into his mouth and then he sprung backwards.

"This just seems...wrong," he told Kurt. "I'm sorry. I want to. I really, really, really want to, but I can't."

Kurt watched him in amusement for a moment. He liked that he was respecting his dad like that. Sure, he was beyond horny, but it was sort of nice that Blaine was so adamant on keeping his promise.

"It's okay," Kurt told him, smiling. "I love that you don't want to break the rules. I mean, I'd like to break them. A lot. But it's admirable that you're doing this. And now I'm going to go somewhere that you are not, because.." He glanced down at the problem in his pants, then looked up at Blaine, smiled and went upstairs.

Blaine felt cold. Kurt was talking to him, making conversation, small talk. He knew Blaine wasn't listening, not really, but he was filling the silence, because silence would have been far worse. Blaine was grateful.

They were getting closer to his house, passing those familiar roads and Blaine felt sick to his stomach. Kurt stopped talking once they arrived on the long road that lead to Blaine's family house. They drove in silence for about two minutes, then Kurt glanced at him, like he was going to ask if he was okay, but already knew the answer.

"What are you thinking?" Blaine asked.

"Just that I wish there was something I could do to make this easier," Kurt told him.

"It's enough that you're here for me," Blaine told him, truthfully. "Honestly, I couldn't do this without you."

Kurt gave him a smile. "Not true," he said. "You're strong."

Blaine smiled, weakly and they rode the rest of the way in silence. His stomach sank as they pulled into the grounds. It all looked exactly the same as it had when he'd last been there. He wasn't sure why he had been expecting it to be any different, maybe because he felt different.

Kurt stopped the car in the driveway and they sat there staring at the house for a long time. The garage door was closed, so Blaine couldn't tell if anyone was home. Kurt was watching Blaine, just waiting for him to say or do something, anything. Finally, Blaine let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.

"Okay," he said, heart hammering in his chest. "Kiss me so I can do this before I change my mind."

Kurt didn't ask any questions, he simply leaned across, placed a hand firmly down on Blaine's shoulder and dipped his head lower to press their lips together. Blaine exhaled shakily against Kurt's mouth and Kurt held him together, kept him from breaking into pieces. He always did.

Finally, he pulled back and smiled at him. "You're going to be absolutely fine," Kurt told him.

Blaine nodded and took another deep breath. "Okay," he said, again. "I love you."

"I love you more," Kurt assured him.

Blaine nodded, then opened the car door. He stepped outside and was surprised when his legs didn't give in.

"Blaine," Kurt said, behind him. He turned and looked at him. "Call me when you want me to come back, okay?"

"I will," Blaine told him. He inhaled and exhaled again, quickly. "Hold on until I make sure someone's home?"

"Obviously," Kurt said.

Blaine nodded and shut the door behind him, his insides whirling. He walked up to the front door and pressed an unsteady finger to the bell, then waited. He was aware of Kurt behind him, watching and waiting, too. Blaine held his breath when he heard shuffling at the door and soon it was being pulled open. His mother stood there. Her eyes went wide when she saw him.

Blaine turned and looked at Kurt, who looked concerned, and gave him a nod. Kurt gave him a small smile, then backed the car out of the driveway. Blaine watched him go and when he had disappeared out of sight, he felt suddenly alone. He looked back at his mom.

"Hi," was all he said.

"Blaine," his mom whispered.

"Can I, um, come in?"

She nodded and stood back and Blaine walked into the familiar hallway. Nothing had changed. Everything felt cold and strange, the same as it had felt his entire life. Blaine watched as his mom closed the door.

"Is dad around?" he asked.

"He should be home soon," she told him. "Why are you here?"

Don't sound too happy to see me, mom, you might hurt yourself.

"I was in town."

"Oh," she said, quietly.

Blaine stayed quiet for a few moments, then he looked up and met her eyes. "I can leave. It's no big deal. I can call Kurt and he can come back and get me. He can't have gotten far."

"Did you come here to...talk?"

"Yes."

"Then let's talk."

Blaine watched as his mom went into the living room. While everything else appeared to be exactly the same, his mom felt..different. There was something different about her, something...better.

He followed her eventually and she gestured for him to sit down across from her. Blaine sat, carefully, feeling like a stranger in his own home, the house he had grown up in.

"You said you were in town," his mom said. "You don't live in town?"

Blaine sat there stunned for a few heartbeats. She had no idea where he was living. She hadn't even bothered to find out. His father had been lodging money into his bank account every month, yet he hadn't told his mother where he was. Blaine had made a mistake. He shouldn't have come back here. But his mom seemed to be making somewhat of an effort.

"I live in New York, mom," Blaine informed her, "with Kurt and Santana."

She looked up at that, a gleam of hope in her eyes. "Santana?" she asked "A girl?"

Blaine's shoulders slumped. So much for an effort..

"Mom, I'm still—I'm gay, mom," he said, shaking his head. "Kurt and I are still—I love Kurt. Santana is a friend from high school. We're at college together."

"You're in college?"

Okay, his father was aware of that, too. He had paid for it. "Dad didn't tell you?"

His mother looked surprised for a moment, then said, "You know what your father's like, Blaine. He forgets to share information sometimes."

"He forgot to tell you where your son was."

"It's not like—"

"It's exactly like that, mom." Blaine felt his heart twisting in his chest. He'd known they didn't care, but sometimes it hit him hard, like it was just dawning on him, even though he was well aware and had been well aware for a long, long time. "Maybe I should just go—"

"Don't go, darling."

He stilled at the term of endearment.

"I.." She paused. "I don't like not knowing where you are."

"You could have gotten in touch," Blaine accused. "You have my number."

"I thought about it," she said, "but you are dealing with the...the gay thing." She whispered those words. "I didn't think it was a good idea. I thought you would take some time, figure it out by yourself. You've always been like that, Blaine. Even as a child you would always have to come to conclusions by yourself."

Blaine couldn't believe his ears. Things really hadn't changed.

"Mom," he said, firmly. "This isn't something I'm going to get over. It's just who I am. I'd just... Mom. I'd like it if you tried. Please, just try." Great, he had resorted to begging. "He—Kurt. He makes me happy, mom. If you just had a conversation with him, maybe you could see why I love him."

"Oh, I don't know, Blaine. That seems like—"

"Try, mom," Blaine urged. "If it doesn't work, at least you'll have tried. I know dad won't." He wasn't sure who he was kidding. He knew she was pretty much as bad as his dad, but there was something in the way she was speaking to him, in the way that she was watching him that made him think that maybe, just maybe..

"It would mean a lot to me," Blaine admitted and it scared him just how much it really did mean to him.

"It would?" she asked. "You.. You'd keep in touch?"

Blaine's stomach felt heavy. "I...yes. Mom, if you tried and you wanted me to, I'd keep in touch. With you. I can't—Not with dad. But with you. If you wanted it."

She looked down at her shoes.

"Would you meet him? Kurt?" Blaine asked, afraid she would say no, but he had to know. He was surprised at the need in his own voice. "We're here until the 27th. We could do it anywhere. At a coffee shop. Wherever."

"I've missed you, Blaine," she said, ignoring the question, it seemed. "I know that this is a phase, so, yes. I'll...I'll meet with this..this.."

"Kurt," Blaine apprised her. "Any day but tomorrow. His dad's getting married tomorrow."

"Well, I could call.."

The front door opened and closed and Blaine and his mother looked towards the entrance.

Blaine's dad was home.

Kurt drove home after seeing the hall in which they would be holding the reception. Blaine hadn't called and he didn't know whether or not to wait outside or not. He decided to just head home and wait there until he called. It wasn't a far drive.

When he went inside, Finn was on the couch watching TV. He looked up when Kurt entered the house.

"Hey, man," he said. "Where's Blaine?"

Kurt sat down and muted the TV. "He went to see his parents."

"Oh," Finn said, looking down. "Is he..okay?"

"I hope so," Kurt told him.

"Not to be offensive or anything," Finn began, "but why would he go see his parents if they treated him so bad?"

Kurt sighed. It was complicated, or at least too complicated for Finn to fully understand. "They're his parents, Finn. He can't help that he wants to try again."

Finn nodded. "I guess."

Kurt looked at his watch. He was worried about Blaine. He felt anxious, helpless, like he didn't know whether to go over there or give him space.

"Dude," Finn said. "Call him."

Kurt didn't want to intrude on whatever was going on over there. Then again, he was worried about Blaine..

Blaine's phone buzzed when his dad walked into the room. He checked it, because it was probably Kurt.

1 NEW MESSAGE FROM: KURT.
Call me if you need me. Sorry, I'm worrying. I'm here when you need me. Love you.

Blaine sent a quick text back, aware of his father watching him in shock.

To: Kurt.
Hey, don't worry. I'll call you soon, okay? Love you, too.

He didn't say it was going fine, because he wasn't sure that was true. He looked up at his dad and someone else walked into the room.

"Blaine," his aunt Fiona said. "You're home from college?"

Fiona was Blaine's mom's older sister. She had the same eyes that both Blaine and his mom had and the same dark, curling hair, too. He had always liked his aunt Fiona, but now, things felt extremely awkward.

"Yeah, hi," Blaine said, looking between his father and his aunt.

"Fiona, maybe you could get yourself a drink while I talk with Blaine," his dad said. "You could help her, Deborah," he said, looking at Blaine's mom.

Blaine felt a surge of anger. He was trying to hide the truth from his aunt. She was family and he was hiding the truth.

"Actually, aunt Fiona, it's cool if you stay. I can't help but feel you haven't been told the whole truth."

"Blaine—"

"Darling—"

"The whole truth?" Fiona asked, confused.

Blaine nodded. "Can we stop pretending this isn't happening?" he said, looking at his parents. "Aunt Fiona, I'm gay. I've been living with my boyfriend for the past year or so in New York. I'm in NYU. I feel as if most of that was left out of the story they told you. Now you know."

His aunt just blinked a couple of times, then said, "Okay."

Blaine's dad looked angry, but it was a controlled kind of anger, like he was trying far too hard not to snap. It was sort of frightening. His mom just looked distraught.

"Blaine," his father said, sternly. "Can I talk to you in the kitchen, please?"

Blaine sighed and left the room. He went into the kitchen, his dad following. Blaine sat down at the kitchen table and waited.

"Blaine, what are you doing here?"

"Kurt's dad is getting married tomorrow," Blaine explained. "I was in town, so I stopped by. Just.." He couldn't finish that sentence. He couldn't admit to his father that he had to find out if he could fix things. "I'll leave if you want. I'll just need to wait in the drive way for my ride and then you never have to see me again."

"We settled on the agreement for a reason, Blaine," his dad said, calmly. "You remember."

Money to stay out of our lives, to have nothing more to do with us. Take it or leave it.

Blaine shuddered at the memory, feeling sick. "I remember," he confirmed. "But no matter how much you pay me to pretend I'm not, I'm still your son."

"You stopped being our son the moment you decided you wanted to be with that boy."

Blaine swallowed. "I think I stopped really being your son a long time before I met Kurt," he said, truthfully. "Regardless, I'm still your son by blood. I still remember that, dad, even if you don't. Or would you prefer to be called 'Mr Anderson'?"

His dad ignored that as he sat down at the other end of the table. "I assume you're still with that boy."

"I'm always going to be with that boy."

"How can you do this to us?"

"Do what?" Blaine asked, a little louder. Calm down, he told himself. Stay calm. "What did I do, dad? What did I do that was so bad?"

He was shaking.

"You know what you did."

"I fell in love!" Blaine exploded. "God! What is so wrong with that? Why does it have to matter if I fell in love with a boy or a girl or a God damned tree?" His voice broke and he just didn't care any more. It wasn't fair that this was happening to him. Nothing was fair. "I love him! I love him more than I've ever loved anything in my entire life! I don't care if he's a boy or a girl, I only care that I love him, dad. Why is that such a bad thing? Why can't I just be happy for once? I've spent so long trying to be the perfect son. I got tired of pretending to be the person you wanted me to be. This is who I am. I don't understand why you can't see that."

Why can't you accept me for who I am? Why do you keep pushing me away because I found myself? Why can't I fall in love? Why can't you be happy for me? Why can't you love me?

Blaine buried his face in his hands, feeling as if he was breaking on the inside. He wasn't supposed to show his dad any weakness. He was supposed to shoot back with snarky comments and act like it didn't bother him.

Except it did and he didn't know what to do.

"You know it's wrong, Blaine," his dad said, jaw set. "Men aren't supposed to love other men and they're certainly not supposed to shack up with them in a one bedroom apartment in New York."

"We have two bedrooms," Blaine argued and he knew that was a petty thing to dwell on. "I love him. I can't help that. I can't make that go away. I certainly don't want it to go away." He paused, heart racing. "Dad, Kurt makes me happy. We're good together. We work through our problems. We love each other. We're there for one another. We're more stable than a lot of straight couples." More stable than you and mom. "I need him in my life. I'm not about to let him go. If you could just give us a chance to show you—"

"I told you before, Blaine," his dad told him, "I don't want to see you acting like a faggot in my home."

Blaine felt as if his blood was heating beneath his skin. He had been called a faggot a few times at this point, but it hurt more when his dad said it, even though he tried not to let it.

"What is it that offends some people about same sex couples?" Blaine asked, unable to control the cruel laughter that slipped from his lips. "What could we possibly do to you? What is it about us that gets to you? How does us being in a relationship hurt you in any way?" Blaine leaned forward and said, "What are you so afraid of?"

Blaine's father slammed his fist down on the table and Blaine flinched on instinct, but he wasn't afraid of him, not now.

"I want you to leave, Blaine."

Blaine didn't show that it hurt, but it definitely hurt.

"I don't want to see you here any more."

He blinked back the tears. It felt more final this time. Maybe because he had a clear head. Last time, he'd been worried about his relationship with Kurt. Now, he didn't have to worry about that.

"I'll continue to fund you as long as you keep your side of the deal."

Should he refuse? Was that a dumb idea?

"But I don't want you in my home. I don't want to see you as long as you're continuing to live this lifestyle."

In other words, ever again.

"If you change your mind and decide to live a proper, normal life, you're welcome back."

A proper, normal life.

"But until that happens, you are no longer my son."

And that was when he broke, but he wouldn't give his father the satisfaction of seeing that, so he stood up and walked out, keeping a calm expression on his face. He opened the front door and went outside and took his phone from his pocket. His hands were shaking violently as he pressed the buttons to call Kurt.

He waited and after two rings, Kurt picked up.

"I was getting worried about you," Kurt said and Blaine could hear him smiling.

"Can you come get me?"

Kurt's smile wasn't audible then. "Of course, I'm leaving right now." Pause. Slam. "Hold on, babe. I'll be right there. I'm going to hang up, because I can drive faster. Unless you need me to stay on?"

"No," Blaine uttered. "No, it's okay. I'll see you soon."

"Blaine," Kurt said, just as Blaine was about to hang up.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Blaine felt his broken heart mending slightly. "I love you, too."

Kurt's smile was back. "Okay," he said. "I'll be right there."

The line went dead and Blaine went and sat on the wall at the end of the garden. He wasn't sure what to think. He had known that things would go this way, but he hadn't planned on reaching out to them like he had. It hurt more now than it had back then. He felt cold and sick and tired and weak and he hated feeling like that. He hated his dad, but he couldn't help seeking his approval and for that reason, he hated himself.

Everything was such a mess. Blaine sighed and cover his face with his hands, but looked up when he heard someone behind him. He looked around and saw his aunt Fiona coming towards him. She was smiling.

"Hi, sweetheart."

Blaine said nothing.

"I heard you and your dad fighting."

Blaine wasn't surprised. They hadn't exactly been quiet.

"Your boyfriend," Fiona said and Blaine looked up, "what's his name?"

"Kurt," Blaine told her, simply.

"Do you think you and Kurt would want to come over to my place for dinner before you go back home?"

Blaine blinked at her, shocked. Fiona had been raised with his mother. His mother didn't approve of homosexuality, which meant that Fiona didn't either, didn't it?

"I...why?" Blaine asked, bewilderment in his voice.

"I haven't seen you in a long time," Fiona told him with a smile. "Can't I have my only nephew and the person he loves over for dinner without it being sinister?"

Blaine shrugged. He wasn't sure about that.

"How's Sunday?" Fiona asked, hopefully.

"I.." Blaine shook his head. "I'd have to run it by Kurt. We're staying with his family, so I'm not sure if they've got anything planned. Are..are you sure?"

"Of course!" Fiona said, brightly. There had to be a catch, somewhere. Blaine just couldn't pinpoint it yet. "You have my number, don't you?" Blaine nodded. "Let me know if Sunday isn't good for you, but if it is, just come on over. I'd love to meet Kurt."

Blaine smiled slightly, but he wasn't entirely convinced that this was as straight forward as Fiona was making it out to be.

"I'll talk to you soon, sweetie," Fiona told him, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. "Your parents do love you, Blaine."

He looked down at his feet, ribs aching a little.

"They do," she went on. "Underneath all that, you're still their little boy."

"Yeah, well, I'm not a little boy any more," Blaine said, with a sigh. "They can't force me to be someone I'm not."

"I know," Fiona said. She gave him a kind smile, then turned around and walked away.

Blaine didn't have time to ponder on what it could mean, because Kurt's car came into view then. He stood up and Kurt stopped and Blaine climbed inside and told Kurt to drive, so he did.

"Bad?" he asked.

"Pretty bad."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Maybe later," Blaine mumbled. "Can we just go back to your house so you can hold me and tell me you love me and stuff? Because I think I need that right now."

Kurt smiled. "Then that's exactly what we'll do."

Kurt traced patterns over Blaine's bare back, their eyes locked together. Blaine looked sad lying there on his stomach next to Kurt. His bright hazel eyes were wide and shining and filled with distress and hurt and loss and Kurt wanted more than anything else in the world to take away his pain. He hadn't told him what had happened yet, but that didn't matter right now. Kurt just wanted to help him feel better and besides, Blaine would tell him in his own time.

They had come straight home. Kurt told Burt and Carole that Blaine just needed some time to think and relax after seeing his parents and they agreed and said to call if they needed anything. Kurt had taken him down stairs and told him to change into something more comfortable and comfort for Blaine meant shirtless with pyjama bottoms.

Kurt had held him there for a long time and whispered to him that everything was going to be fine and Blaine just lay there and listened, breathing in his arms. Now, Kurt was next to him, with just the light touch of his fingers on his back. Blaine didn't seem as on edge as he had earlier. He looked troubled, but not restless.

Kurt traced a line down his back and then back up again, his fingers pressing light kisses all across his shoulder blades and over the back of his neck, his skin soft and sallow and beautiful. Blaine shivered under his touch.

"Feeling any better?" Kurt asked, breaking the silence.

Blaine cleared his throat. "A little."

Kurt smiled and continued stroking his back.

"You're so beautiful," Kurt told him.

Blaine shifted onto his side. "Can I take your shirt off?" he asked Kurt.

"Of course," Kurt said, leaning up to give him room. "Whatever you want."

Blaine slipped Kurt's shirt over his head and folded it neatly and placed it on the floor. Kurt smiled. He liked that Blaine cared enough to do that for him. Blaine lay back down and slid his arms around Kurt's waist then pulled him forward so that they were wrapped around one another.

"This isn't about sex," he told Kurt. "I just wanted to feel your heart beat against my own. It makes me feel alive."

Kurt nodded and allowed him to pull him closer still. It hurt him that Blaine was suggesting that he hadn't felt alive moments before.

"You can talk to me whenever you want," Kurt reminded him, stroking the curve of his hip. "If you want to wait, that's okay. I'll just hold you and help you feel better."

"I just need time to work it all out in my head," Blaine murmured against Kurt's neck. "I will talk to you, though. Soon."

"Take as long as you need," he said, kissing his forehead.

Blaine pressed a single kiss to Kurt's neck and then a moment later he kissed it again and after a while he was placing hot, open mouthed kisses to his pulse. He sucked his skin into his mouth and Kurt shut his eyes at the familiar sensation, his fingers still caressing the swell of Blaine's hip.

"I love you," Blaine whispered in his ear.

Kurt tilted his head and caught Blaine's lips with his own. He kissed him slowly for a long time, then pulled back a little and smiled.

"I love you, too."

He pulled him closer and held him tight, wanting more than anything in the world to make all the hurt go away. He wanted to wrap him up in his arms and never let any of the bad things in the world harm him ever again. Blaine was the one thing in his life he knew he would have forever and he hated that he was hurting.

"Get some sleep, honey," Kurt said, kissing Blaine's cheek, sweetly. "We'll eat once you've gotten some rest."

"Stay with me?" Blaine asked.

He looked so vulnerable and small and Kurt's heart ached in his chest.

"Always," he promised Blaine. "I'll always stay with you."