Chapter 3:

"I still haven't met your boyfriend."

"Good morning, Rachel. How are you this fine day?" Kurt asked, rolling his eyes, voice dripping with sarcasm. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed the orange juice, before closing the door and pouring the juice into a glass.

"Burt called while you were out last night. He didn't call your phone because he accidentally left his under a car and he ran over it, so he didn't have your number," she said as she carved an apple in half.

"He ran over his phone?" Kurt asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I told him you were on a date," she said, as if he hadn't even spoken. She began chopping the two halves of the apple into smaller segments. She cleared her throat. "With your boyfriend."

Kurt looked up. "You told him about Blaine?"

Rachel shrugged one shoulder. "I wasn't aware that I wasn't supposed to. Which brings me back to the matter at hand: when do I get to meet him?"

"Rachel," Kurt said sounding tired. He placed the carton back in the fridge and walked across to the couch.

"Well, it's been a long time, Kurt and I see remnants of him lying around, so I know he at least exists. But I find it very strange that we haven't met. Can you tell me why that is?"

Kurt groaned and dialled Blaine's number. He picked up after a couple of rings.

"Kurt?" he said, groggily.

"Morning, honey. I'm sorry to call you when the rest of the world is sleeping peacefully. Unfortunately, Rachel's warm-up exercises are better than any alarm clock." He gave her a pointed look. "Lucky me. Anyway, she's been pestering me about you and I thought I'd let her say hi. Is that okay?"

There was a yawn and then, "Um, sure. She won't ask about...?"

"No," Kurt told him.

"'Kay," he said. "Put her on."

"Okay, I'm putting you on loudspeaker." Blaine mumbled for him to go ahead. "Come on, Rachel. We're keeping him from his beauty sleep, not that he needs it," he added with a smile.

"Flatterer," Blaine joked.

Rachel rushed to sit next to Kurt. "Hi, Blaine!" she said with enough enthusiasm to end a war. "I'm Rachel Barbra Berry, I'm sure you've heard a lot about me."

"I have," Blaine said. "It's nice to sort-of meet you."

"Yes, well, I have been insisting that Kurt let us meet face to face since you started dating, but he always says you're busy."

"Well, we'll make plans."

"Ooh! You should come to Callbacks with us tonight!" Rachel said excitedly.

"I—"

"It'd be doing me a favour," Kurt added. "If you were there, I wouldn't feel quite as left out as I'm sure I'm going to feel."

"You want me to come?" Blaine asked, sounding surprised.

"Of course," Kurt said. "But I would understand if you didn't want to. I mean, all those theatre people."

"I love theatre, or at least I used to."

"Oh, my gosh, Blaine. Do you sing?" Rachel practically exploded.

"I, uh, did. Just in glee club—"

"He was in glee?" Rachel asked, looking at Kurt. "You didn't tell me that!"

Kurt shrugged. In all honesty, he hadn't told Rachel a lot about Blaine. He tried to avoid mentioning anything that could lead to questions.

"You have to sing tonight!" she said.

"I haven't sung in a long time," Blaine confessed.

"It will be wonderful!" She stood up. "I need to go get ready, it was nice talking to you! Bye, Blaine!"

Rachel went to her bedroom, singing to herself. She closed the door and Kurt switched the phone back to normal mode.

"Still there?"

"Yes," Blaine answered. "She doesn't know, does she?"

"About?"

"Me," he provided. "What I do, who I am."

"Oh," Kurt said. "Well, no."

Blaine sighed. "Why not?" he asked, but before Kurt could answer that, he went on, "This is what I'm talking about. You can't have a relationship with someone you have to hide from everyone. Is that why you never have me over when she's home?"

"Blaine, of course not," Kurt said, softly. "I told you: I don't care what people think."

"But obviously that's not true." He sighed again. "Look, I need to go. I've got stuff to do today."

"Blaine, wait—"

"I'll call you."

And then he ended the call. Kurt sat there in silence until Rachelmleft, then he picked up his phone again. He called the number and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Dad. It's me. Sorry I missed you yesterday. I heard your phone had an unfortunate end."

"Kurt," Burt said, happily. "Yeah, must have fallen out of my pocket. So, what's all this about a boyfriend?"

Did he still have one? He wasn't sure. He hoped so.

"His name's Blaine," he said. "He's from Ohio, too." He smiled nervously, despite Burt not being able to see him. He had never had to tell his dad he had a boyfriend, had never even told him much about the few guys he'd gone on dates with since arriving in the city.

"Oh, yeah?" Burt said, voice lifting."Where'd you meet him?"

"Um, coffee shop, technically," Kurt told his dad. "I'd seen him around a few times before."

"This Blaine, what does he do?"

Kurt took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Lying to his father was something he didn't do, something he hadn't done in a very, very long time. "That's where it gets complicated," he said. "You're not going to like it."

"Why not let me be the judge of that?"

"Because I know," Kurt said. "I don't like it. He hates it."

"What's goin' on, Kurt?" Burt knew something was off, Kurt could hear it in his voice.

Kurt looked down at his lap and crossed his legs. "Blaine's had a hard time. His parents weren't supportive and it was bad enough to make him run away. He came here at sixteen, all by himself. And then he ran out of money."

Kurt hadn't heard the entire story yet. Blaine needed time, it seemed.

"I don't like where this is goin'," Burt informed him. "I mean, I don't know what it is exactly, but I don't like it."

"Dad, just hear me out, okay?" Kurt begged. Burt made a sound. "Thank you," Kurt said. "Blaine is hands down the greatest guy I've ever met. He's funny and talented and attractive and smart and loving and—"

"I'm waiting for the 'but'."

Kurt shook his head. "There is no 'but'. It doesn't matter to me what he's had to do."

"Just tell me what he does, Kurt. If this is a drug thing—"

"It isn't," Kurt assured him. He wasn't sure if his father would deem the truth worse than a drug problem. "It's a... Blaine is a prostitute."

He held his breath, but not for long, because the reply came almost instantly.

"No."

"Dad—"

He heard Burt let out a sound of frustration. "Are you out of your mind? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"Of course, but he can take care of himse—"

"Not for him! For you! Are you insane? Kurt, it's real nice that you feel sorry for this kid and yeah, he's had a hard time of it, but you can't date him."

"Why not?" Kurt demanded to know. "Why does what he does have to mean he's not a good person?"

"I didn't say he wasn't," Burt said, calmer now. "The kid could be riddled with disease—"

"I'm hanging up."

"Kurt, we need to talk about this. You hang up now and I'll fly out there."

Kurt dropped his head back in frustration. "He's perfectly fine. He's not going to give me anything. We haven't even..." He blushed bright red and didn't finish that sentence.

He didn't have to, because Burt spoke, "You can't keep seeing him."

"Yes, Dad, that's what he keeps telling me, too, but why doesn't anyone take into account what I want? Why is everyone making it so difficult when all I want to do is be with the person that makes me happy?"

There was a pause.

"I don't like this."

Kurt settled in his seat, shoulders loosening. "Yeah, I know, but you don't have to, you just have to accept it, because it is how it is."

"Did you know before you started dating?"

"He told me about 5 minutes after we met," Kurt told him.

"And you still went out with him?"

"Yes, what part of 'it doesn't matter to me' don't you get? Can't you just be happy for me?"

"I'm happy you're happy, but I don't like your reason. Just...think about your future, Kurt. You've got dreams of making it big."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "He's not holding me back, Dad."

"I don't know what else I can say," Burt said, sounding exhausted.

"There isn't anything you could say to change anything," Kurt apprised him. "Please just trust me on this one."

"I'm not happy about it," Burt told him again. "If you end up hurt or—"

"What, Dad? What are you going to do? What could you possibly do to make his life worse than it already is?"

Burt sighed, defeated, it seemed. "Just...be careful, Kurt. And think about what I said."

"I love you, Dad, but I know what I'm doing. I'm sure about this."

It surprised even Kurt that he felt so strongly about Blaine and their relationship, but he had to go with his gut feeling, had to hold on.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Like what? I'm hardly going to join him."

"You know what I mean, Kurt." Burt coughed. "Don't do anything that's gonna put you in danger."

"Dad, do you remember when you told me that I matter? That sex means something? To Blaine, it doesn't."

"That's exactly what I'm tryin' to say!"

"No, Dad, you don't get it. That is precisely the reason you don't have to worry. He wants us to mean something and he says that if it turns into sex, it won't mean anything any more. He just wants romance, Dad. That's what we're doing. We're having a romance."

Burt let out a long sigh. "Kurt, I'm glad you're bein' careful, but this just isn't ideal."

"Life isn't ideal, Dad," Kurt retorted. "I need to go. I've got to be at work in 40 minutes. Tell Carole I said hi and I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"Alright," Burt said. "You stay safe and...and think about what I said, Kurt."

"Okay," he said. "Sure, if it'll make you happy. I'll talk to you soon, bye, Dad."

"Hey."

Blaine turned around on the line at the grocery store and saw a guy standing behind him. He was tall, with greying hair and wearing a long, black coat that stopped at his ankles. He looked respectable, decent, but the worst ones always did.

"Are you talking to me?" Blaine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't remember me?"

Blaine knew then that he had to have been one of his clients in the past. "I try my best to forget all of you," he said, shifting his feet awkwardly. "What can I do for you?"

"Same as last time?"

"You'll have to be a bit more specific," Blaine told him, jaw set. "Like I said, I try to block you all out."

The man smirked. "I'm sure you remember my money."

Blaine raised an eyebrow and looked a little closer. His face did look kind of familiar.

"You're next."

Blaine turned to see the lady at the checkout staring at him expectantly. "Sorry," he mumbled as he moved forward to put his things down. He packed them away, aware of the man's eyes on him, then paid and turned to leave, but the guy reached out and touched his arm. Blaine froze.

"Wait outside," the voice said behind him.

Blaine waited until he let him go, then walked out of the store, debating whether or not he should just go home. He was not in the mood today, not after the mini-fight with Kurt. He needed to be alone. On the other hand, he owed rent soon...

He stood at the door for a moment more, then shook his head and walked away as quickly as he could. Something felt off, he couldn't figure out what it was, but his gut instinct told him to run and so he did. He didn't stop until he got home.

"Is Blaine coming?" Rachel asked for the umpteenth time as they followed Brody into Callbacks. Kurt really hadn't wanted to go, but he did owe her.

"Rachel, for the last time, I don't think so. He's not answering my calls or texts and I think he's mad at me. I'm miserable enough thinking about it as it is, so can we just leave him out of it?"

"No need to get snippy with me," she said, slipping onto a stool. Kurt sat down beside her and looked around the room at the smiling groups of people and the dim, but dramatic lighting. "Maybe you should go round and see him."

Kurt folded his hands together."I don't know where he lives."

"You don't know where he lives?" Rachel asked, eyes going wide. "Kurt, you've been dating for three months!"

"Nine weeks," Kurt corrected.

"He could be a murderer!"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Blaine is not a murderer, Rachel."

"You've never been to his house?"

"Apartment and no."

"But—"

"Don't you have to sign up to sing?"

"Oh!" She looked around at Brody and the others standing in line. "I'll be right back! I'll put your name down!"

"Rachel—" Kurt tried to stop her, but she was gone before he could. He sat back and sighed, pondering whether or not he should try Blaine again. He decided not to, in the end and instead, went to the bar to get himself a Shirley Temple. Some of Rachel's friends had found a table, but Kurt felt very much out of place.

"Cute."

Kurt turned in the direction from which the voice had come and saw two men standing there, both about his age. One was thin and tall with brown hair and a smirk on his face. The other was well-built and had undoubtedly dyed blonde hair and was looking miserably down into his drink, not really paying attention to his friend.

"Excuse me?" Kurt said, raising an eyebrow.

"Shirley Temple," the one with the smirk said. "Cute."

Kurt didn't give him an answer, he simply turned back around to wait for his drink.

"You here all alone?"

"No."

"Sure looks like it."

"Back table on the left," Kurt said, still not looking at him. "I came with them."

"Ah, the theatre kids, of course."

Kurt only rolled his eyes.

"Which one are you screwing?"

Kurt looked at him then. "I have a boyfriend, I'm not screwing anyone."

"We could change that."

Kurt looked away in disgust.

"So is that a no?"

"Yes, that's a no. I have a boyfriend," he said again.

"Doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother you."

"Come on, Sebastian, lay off of him. He said he's not interested," his friend said, taking a sip of his drink.

The guy, Sebastian, rolled his eyes, but he was still smirking. "Sammy, here, just broke up with his girlfriend," he told Kurt. "Relationships are more trouble than they're worth."

"Mine isn't," Kurt said, adamantly.

"That's what they all say, honey."

The bartender came back with Kurt's drink then. He thanked him and took a sip, then walked away, Sebastian staring after him.

"Rachel," Kurt shouted over the tumult of applause, laughter and cheers. "Rachel, I'm going home."

Rachel furrowed her eyebrows and twisted to look around a guy's shoulder. "What?" she shouted back.

"I'm going home," he said again, louder this time. "I said..." He sighed and pulled out his phone and composed a message, then sent it. He watched as Rachel took her own phone out and looked at the message, then looked up to protest, but he gave her a wave, before standing up and sneaking away. Nobody was likely to miss him there anyway.

Kurt slipped through the crowds and pushed his way out the main doors until he was out in the cool, night air. It was a nice night, the city lights calming and beautiful above him. He slipped his hands inside his pockets and began the walk home. Kurt couldn't help eyeing the people on the streets, wondering if Blaine was out there, if he was working tonight. He hated the thought of dirty men approaching Blaine, giving him sly smiles and touching him with their big, calloused hands. Blaine was so small and of course Kurt knew that he could take care of himself, but sometimes he seemed so fragile and vulnerable that Kurt was sure the tamest breeze would shatter him into a million pieces.

Kurt couldn't imagine what Blaine had to have gone through in making his decision to live the life that he did. He couldn't imagine him out there for the first time, inexperienced and so much younger. He worried for him, wanted to keep him safe forever. He had called him several times and had sent numerous text messages, yet Blaine had replied to none. He needed to fix it, he hated that they had had a fight of any sort.

Kurt reached his building 20 minutes later and everywhere was quiet. The street lights were dim and the main hallway was dark and he climbed the stairs instead of taking the elevator. His heart was pounding and he wasn't sure why, but something felt off. He crept down the hall slowly and stopped when he saw the figure crouched by his and Rachel's door. His heartbeat quickened its pace and he debated whether he should run or scream, but before he could make up his mind, the dark figure rose and began moving towards him very slowly.

Kurt held his breath, feet stuck to the floor and then the person spoke.

"Kurt?"

Kurt's eyes went wide and he stepped forward. "Blaine?" he asked, voice breaking. "Blaine, wha—"

He could see Blaine's eyes now and they were wide and fearful. "Please open the door," he begged.

Blaine pushed Kurt inside ahead of him and glanced around cautiously. He could hardly hear for the incessant thump of his heart against his ribcage. He closed the door firmly behind them and pressed the clasp down, before turning to face his boyfriend. Kurt was watching him with concern and worry and fear and Blaine stood there, trying to catch his breath.

"What's wrong?" Kurt asked, reaching out to touch his arm.

Blaine closed his eyes and allowed himself to be touched and then before he could stop himself, he was flinging himself into the circle of Kurt's arms. Kurt held him close and hushed him and whispered that everything would be okay as he rubbed comforting circles across his back.

"I saw him," Blaine told him quietly. "He was outside my building."

"Who?" Kurt asked. "Who was outside your building, baby?"

It was the first time Kurt had called him 'baby' and he couldn't even take a moment to marvel in it. He was too wound up, too shaken all the way to his core.

"He followed me home," Blaine told him. "I should have just slept with him."

Kurt seemed to understand then. He led Blaine across the room to sit on the couch and then took both of his hands in his. He gave Blaine a serious look.

"Blaine, if this guy is following you around, this could be dangerous," he told him. "You need to go to the police."

"And tell them what?" Blaine asked, voice sounding panicked. "Kurt, what I do is illegal."

Kurt frowned and closed his eyes. "I'm worried about you," he said, opening them again.

"I can't w-work if he's out there watching me," Blaine realised. "I c-can't go anywhere." His eyes went round as saucers. "What if he followed me here? You're in danger, then, too! I can't believe I didn't think. I didn't know where else to go and I—"

"Okay," Kurt said, holding him together. "Okay, calm down. You did the right thing, I'm glad you came here. You can stay over, okay?"

"But Rachel—"

"I don't care," Kurt said. "Your safety is more important than anything else."

Blaine tried to smile, but failed.

"Come on, let's go get you something to wear," Kurt said.

They went to Kurt's bedroom and Kurt pulled items of clothing from his closet and allowed Blaine to change in the bathroom. He came out minutes later changed, with the gel washed out of his hair, wild curls on top of his head. He looked sheepish, small and worried.

"Come here," Kurt said, reaching out for Blaine's hand. He took it and they curled up together on Kurt's bed. Blaine felt safe, warm, but still couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

"I'm sorry about this morning," Blaine whispered, gazing into Kurt's eyes.

"Don't be," Kurt said. "You know the only reason I haven't told Rachel is that she'll never shut up about it. Trust me, when you meet her, you'll see that."

"You want me to meet her?"

"Of course," Kurt said, giving him his best smile. "She's my best friend and you're my boyfriend. Of course I want you to meet her. You could have met her tonight at Callbacks. It was awful, they all looked down on me."

"But you're incredible," Blaine said, smiling small.

"Well, thank you for saying so," Kurt said, hugging him closer. He tangled his fingers in Blaine's hair. "I like your natural hair."

Blaine eased into Kurt's touch and was struck with the sudden urge to cry. He let out an unintentional whimper and then closed his eyes to stop the tears.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked.

Blaine only nodded.

"You can stay here for as long as you need," Kurt went on. "I'd feel better if you did."

"I need to work, Kurt."

"What if you see him again?"

Blaine shrugged and Kurt sighed and held him closer still.

"Do you ever think about what life would be like if we'd met back in Ohio?" Blaine asked quietly.

"What do you think would have happened to us?" Kurt enquired.

"I think we would have hit it off," Blaine told him, with a sad smile. "I think you could have saved me."

"You don't need saving, Blaine."

"I think if we'd met back then I would have held on, for you. I think everything would be very different and that we'd be happy."

"We are happy, aren't we?" Kurt asked.

"Together," Blaine confirmed with a nod. "When we're apart, I'm not that happy."

"My sophomore year, I almost sneaked into your school."

Blaine looked up. "What?"

"We had a guys versus girls assignment and the guys told me to make myself useful and go spy on the competition. It was the Warblers that year. I got to the gates and turned back. It was so big, so ridiculously private. I left." Kurt paused. "Do you remember competing against us?"

"I ran away right before the competition," Blaine confessed. "Do you think we would have met? If you'd come inside?"

"Maybe," Kurt said. "It's a big school. Maybe not."

"We might have met at the competition then," Blaine said. "I would have talked to you if I'd seen you. I would have asked for your number."

Kurt smiled. "Yeah, but who knows what might have happened? Maybe things would have gone downhill."

"I don't know how much worse it could be."

"Hey, we're here. Together. Now." Kurt kissed his forehead. "I think it could be worse."

Blaine smiled. "You're right," he said, quietly. "The important part is that I found you."

For the moment, he was happy, but something inside of him reminded him that this could all end at any second, leaving him stranded and alone once more.

"Oh, my God!"

Kurt jolted awake at the shrill words of Rachel Berry the following morning. He heard a soft groan next to him and remembered Blaine and it was then that he saw that Rachel's wide eyes were on the other boy.

"Rachel, close your mouth," Kurt said, irritably. "Also the door."

"Kurt!" Rachel hissed. "There is a boy in your bed!"

"I am aware," he said, quietly, so as not to wake Blaine up. "Look, I don't see the big deal. You said you wanted to meet my boyfriend."

Rachel's eyes went even wider. "That's Blaine?!" she asked.

"What, you thought I'd bring a random guy home and let him in my bed?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He hoped Blaine hadn't heard that and taken offense.

"He looks...small." She took a step forward. "I didn't expect him to look like that."

"He is not small," Kurt told her. "He's cute. Now please leave before you embarrass him."

She pouted. "But I wanted to say hello."

"I'll bring him to meet you at breakfast and I already know it's far too early for the average human being to be up, so go do your vocal exercises and we'll be with you later."

Rachel huffed, before leaving the room, shutting the door again. Kurt sighed and lay back down, trying not to wake Blaine, but it seemed he was already awake. He rolled over, making a small, mumbling sound.

"Kurt?"

"It's okay, go to sleep, it was just Rachel."

He pushed himself up. "I should leave—"

"You're not going anywhere," Kurt told him. "Come on, lie back down."

"But—"

"Come on, stay with me," Kurt said, smiling. "I told her you'd say hi at breakfast."

"Kurt..." Blaine sounded uncertain.

"If you really don't want to, you don't have to," Kurt promised. "But stay and sleep a little longer. It's only about 5am. Rachel is an early riser. She'll be a little loud with her vocal warm ups, but if you try hard enough you can block it out."

As if on cue, Rachel's voice filled the apartment. Blaine raised an eyebrow and Kurt laughed.

"Now you see what I have to put up with," he told Blaine. "If you stay, we could try to ignore her."

Blaine swallowed as Kurt touched a hand to his chest, eyes dropping to his lips.

"O-okay," Blaine managed.

"Yeah?"

Blaine nodded and Kurt kissed him slowly. Cautious hands crept around Kurt's waist, pulling him closer to him. Kurt allowed Blaine to guide him forward so that they were pressed together, kissing slowly, wetly. Kurt didn't wrap himself around Blaine, didn't want to make him feel obligated to do anything. Instead, he held onto his shoulders and deepened the kiss, loving the way his heart hammered in his chest.

"Why does she get up so early?" Blaine pulled back to ask.

"She likes to warm her voice up every morning," Kurt told him. "She doesn't leave for Saturday rehearsals for another 3 hours."

Blaine reached up and took Kurt's chin between his fingers, then pressed their lips together again. "Will she come in here again?"

Kurt only shook his head.

"Is this okay?"

Kurt nodded.

Blaine bit his lips. "I mean...is it okay that we just...that we just, um, make out?"

Kurt nodded again. He blushed as he spoke then. "I am a virgin, remember," he said. "I want to go slow."

Blaine's eyes flashed and he dropped his hands from Kurt's body. He looked away.

"Blaine?" Kurt asked.

Blaine eased Kurt off of him and sat up, then covered his face with his hands. "You're a virgin," he said.

Kurt sat up, too and eyed him carefully. "You already knew that," he said. "I didn't think it was a problem."

Blaine shook his head. "No, I don't mean it like that," he said. "I knew already and I swear, it's not an issue, it isn't, it's just... God, Kurt. You're a virgin and I'm afraid to have sex with you because I don't want to ruin this, but... I just don't know how long I'm going to be like this and what if I never want to have sex? You're a virgin, Kurt. Losing your virginity is special. Not for me it wasn't, but for you it will be and if you want to be with me, if you see a future for us, how can you be happy with never losing your virginity?"

Kurt smiled, semi-relieved. "Blaine," he said. He took Blaine's hands in his own. "This is such an unnecessary worry. You don't know what you'll want in the future."

"Kurt—"

"Baby—"

"You called me baby last night."

Kurt's eyes dropped, cheeks burning. "Oh, um, I..." He coughed. "Is that...?"

"No, I like it," Blaine confessed. "I mean...unless you didn't mean to say it."

"I did," Kurt told him, eyes widening. "I did. I just...it just came out. Is that okay?"

Blaine smiled, making Kurt relax a bit. "It's perfectly okay."

"Okay," Kurt said, reaching for Blaine's hands again. "Baby," he added, quietly, a shy smile on his lips.

Blaine smiled and kissed Kurt's lips once.

"Is everything okay?" Kurt asked. "Are we okay?"

Blaine nodded. "You're okay with it?"

"Yes and I do see a future for us," he said. "I told my dad."

Blaine gaped at his boyfriend. "Told your dad," he repeated, quietly. "Told him...what exactly?"

Kurt smiled. "Everything."

"Everything."

Kurt nodded.

"Like..." Blaine shook his head, slowly. "Everything?"

Kurt nodded a second time. "Everything," he said again. "My dad and I, we've always been honest with each other and...I do recall you getting kind of mad when I failed to tell Rachel everything."

Blaine shrugged. "I'm not mad that you told," he said. "I just know how people feel about people like me. Especially when they're dating their sons."

Kurt twisted around. "My dad isn't dating you, Blaine, I am. So, whatever he thinks or says doesn't matter, because he isn't the one dating you."

Blaine looked unconvinced. "What did he say?"

Kurt sighed. "He wasn't exactly ecstatic, but he's happy I'm happy. He's just...concerned."

"Understandably."

"He doesn't need to be."

Blaine let out a long breath and looked up to meet Kurt's eyes. "Don't you have any worries about this? Doesn't it bother you at all?"

Kurt looked completely calm as he said, "Well, I never did claim to like it, but we're doing okay, right?"

"But you deserve to do better than 'okay'," Blaine said. "And your dad knows that. You know that."

Kurt groaned and lay back, eyes closed. "I'm doing amazingly, thank you. I'm interning at Vogue dot com. I'm reapplying to NYADA. I got out of Lima and made it to the city of my dreams. I've got a family that loves me and a crazy, but not so bad best friend living with me and I've got a gorgeous, funny, caring, kind, adorable, beautiful, loving boyfriend. What more could I ask for?"

"A boyfriend who's faithful to you maybe."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was under the impression that you weren't cheating on me."

"Well, not in the typical sense, but—"

"Give yourself a break," Kurt said softly. "You deserve it."

Blaine was too exhausted to keep it up, so he sighed and lay back next to Kurt. "What time are you in work?"

"Not until ten," Kurt said.

"Okay, fall asleep with me then," he said.

So he did.

"Good mornin', good mornin'! We've danced the whole night through, good mornin', good mornin' to you!"

"Oh, God," Kurt mumbled, taking Blaine by the elbow and steering him towards the kitchen, past the couch, where Rachel was singing at the top of her voice.

"She's good," Blaine said, quietly.

"Mmhmm and she knows it."

"Kurt! Blaine!"

"Oh, God," Kurt said again.

Rachel's eyes were wide and wild as they settled on Blaine. "Blaine," she said. "I'm delighted to finally meet you in the flesh! You're every bit as handsome as Kurt tells me."

"Hi, Rachel," Blaine said, grinning. "You're every bit as talented as Kurt tells me."

Kurt mumbled another 'oh, God' as he slipped past his friend and his boyfriend to make some coffee. He popped a few slices of bread into the toaster and leaned against the fridge, watching Rachel and Blaine.

"You have to sing for me sometime!" she gushed. "Has Kurt heard you sing—have you heard Kurt sing?"

"I've heard him a little," Blaine said, smiling.

"A Warbler, though," she said dramatically. "Tough competition, but we were the better team on the day, no offence."

"Blaine didn't compete against us, Rachel," Kurt said.

Her nose wrinkled. "But..."

"I, um, had some stuff going on. Couldn't make it," Blaine said, shrugging.

"Oh," she said. "So, what is it that you do, Blaine?"

"Rachel," Kurt said with emphasis. He looked at Blaine. "You don't have to tell her anything that makes you uncomfortable."

Blaine twisted around to look at Kurt. "If I tell her the truth will it make things awkward or-or difficult for you in any way?"

Kurt shrugged his shoulders. "She makes my life difficult enough as it is. Nothing you could say could make that any worse or better. Tell her if you're comfortable."

Blaine blinked and looked down at his shoes. "I, um, haven't really told many people this and I know you care about Kurt and you'll worry. I mean, I worry, I just...don't really know if I'm strong enough to let him go—"

"I don't need setting free, Blaine," Kurt interjected, rolling his eyes.

Blaine nodded. "Um, so, what I do is... I, um, I'm a-a prostitute."

Rachel's eyes were wide and filled with horror. Her mouth opened.

"Whatever you're thinking, don't say it!" Kurt warned her.

"But Kurt!" she exclaimed.

"Rachel, sit down. Just sit down and think about how the things you say could hurt people."

Rachel was muttering to herself, eyes wide, as she headed back to the sofa. Kurt looked at Blaine, who was still looking down at his feet.

"You okay?" Kurt asked, going around the kitchen to touch his arm. Blaine just nodded very slowly. Kurt sighed and tugged him into a hug, shooting an oblivious Rachel a piercing glare over his shoulder. "It's okay," Kurt told Blaine. "She'll get over it."

Blaine pulled back. "It's not okay, Kurt," he whispered. "God, it's so not okay."

"Oh, don't cry!" Rachel said, getting to her feet. "Please, don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt you!" She went to his side and pulled tissue from nowhere.

"I'm not crying," Blaine told her truthfully, but she handed him the tissues anyway.

"Well, this is—crap! The toast!" Kurt quickly unplugged the toaster and then his phone rang. "Damn," he whispered, digging in his pocket. He pulled it out. "Hello?"

"Kurt, it's me."

"Dad," Kurt said. He watched as Rachel led Blaine to the sofa, her arm around his back.

"I'm fine, Rachel," Blaine was saying.

"Hey, Kurt," Burt said. "How're things?"

"Fine, things are..." He trailed off, eyes on Blaine, who looked horrified.

Rachel was rubbing his arm. "It's okay to cry, Blaine. Let it all out. It's easier than keeping it all inside."

"Kurt?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry, Dad. I'm here."

"Is something the matter?"

"I'm not a therapist, but I'm here to listen, Blaine."

"Rachel, I don't need—"

"Start from the beginning. When did you realise you had a problem?"

"Rachel!" Kurt said, walking across the room. "Leave him alone. Blaine, go back in my room. I'll bring your coffee." He shot Rachel a glare, as Blaine scurried away into the bedroom. "You and I need to talk," he told her.

"Kurt?"

He stopped, remembering his father. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dad. Things got slightly chaotic, but you have my full attention now."

"Did you just send Blaine to your room? Back to your room?"

"...yes?"

"Kurt, it's 7.22am."

"I know," he said.

"And you sent him back to your room."

"Dad, stop."

"You told me you weren't—"

"And I didn't lie to you," Kurt said, sitting down. Rachel stood up and gestured to her room, before disappearing inside. "He just...had a rough day yesterday, so he stayed over. It's nothing more than that."

"Had a rough day," Burt repeated.

Kurt took a deep breath. "Dad, can we not get into it? He has a right to get upset every now and then, can't you understand that?"

He heard Burt let out a long sigh. "He can choose to change his lifestyle."

"It's not that simple, Dad. He didn't even graduate from high school. He doesn't have the money to put himself through school and he won't let anyone help him out. Put yourself in that position, Dad. He's stuck and he doesn't know how to get out. He's unhappy and he needs people around him and right now, I'm the only one he's got."

Burt sighed again. "This is a bad situation, Kurt."

"You're making it worse than it is, Dad," Kurt insisted. "He's not a monster, or-or some kind of criminal—"

"It's against the law, Kurt."

"I know that. I'm not stupid."

"Never said you were."

"He's a good person, Dad. If you met him, you'd see that."

"So let me meet him."

Kurt stopped. "What?"

"Yeah," Burt said, calmly. "Thanksgiving's comin' up. Bring him back."

Kurt wavered. "You don't think that's too big of a step? It's only been a couple of months. I don't want to scare him off—"

"Pretty sure the scaring off would come from his side in this relationship."

"Dad," Kurt groaned.

"I'm just sayin'."

"Well, don't. He's not scaring me off. I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay," Burt said. "So, if it's that serious, bring him home for Thanksgiving."

Kurt nodded. "I'll talk to him," he said. "I've gotta go, Dad. Rachel ran her mouth again and I think Blaine might be a little upset. I need to go—"

"Alright," Burt said. "You keep bein' careful, okay?"

"I promise. I love you, Dad."

"Love you, too, kid. Take care of yourself."

Blaine lifted his head at the sound of a rap on the door. It opened slowly and Kurt popped his head inside.

"Mind if I come in?" he asked.

"It's your room," Blaine reminded him.

Kurt smiled. He came inside and closed the door behind him. "I don't mind staying outside if you need some space."

Blaine shook his head. Kurt went closer and sat down on the bed next to Blaine. He had a cup in his hand and he handed it to Blaine, who mumbled a 'thanks'.

"She's a lot," he told Blaine, who nodded. "I didn't mean for her to hurt you—"

"She didn't," he said truthfully. "It's just...I hate that your friends and family react like that and judge you. I'm used to being judged. It's nothing new, but you. You're so—"

"You know, when I said I wanted to be your boyfriend, I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I can handle it. I won't let it get to me. We are going to be fine."

Blaine looked down at his lap. "But Rachel is your best friend, Kurt and if your best friend can react like that, then imagine what others—"

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

Blaine stopped still. "I haven't celebrated Thanksgiving in years. I haven't had a lot to be thankful for. So, I guess I'll just be taking a day off."

Kurt looked sad for a moment, but covered it up quickly. "Come back to Ohio with me and spend it with my family."

Blaine gaped at him. "I c-couldn't. I can't do tha—"

"I want you to and so does my dad," Kurt said, smiling. "Come on, I'll feel better if I know you're not all by yourself. Come home with me and you can even drop by your old house if you w—"

"No," Blaine said instantly. "Kurt, not Ohio. I can't."

Ohio had too many ghosts for him, too many bad memories and painful, broken dreams and people he never wanted to see again.

"Just my house then. We'll just go to and from the airport and then back." Kurt looked hopeful when he said it and Blaine didn't want to disappoint him, but he wasn't sure he could do it.

"Kurt, I can't afford—"

"Let me pay," Kurt said. "Come on, I get paid well at Vogue. Let me do this one thing for you. Besides I am the one who is insisting you come. It would be wrong of me to let you pay."

Blaine looked down at his hands and let out a long, weary breath. Kurt reached out and touched his shoulder. He looked up.

"I don't think I can go back to Ohio, Kurt." It came out in a whisper, strained and small and frightened.

"I won't force you," Kurt promised. "But think about it? I don't want to leave you here by yourself."

Blaine nodded. "I'll think about it, but I can't promise anything."

"I know," Kurt said. "Thank you." He leaned in and kissed his cheek. "You look exhausted."

Blaine shrugged. "I'll be okay," he said.

"You know what you should do? Go back to sleep."

Blaine nodded. That was a good and appealing idea. "I will, the second I get home—"

"No," Kurt cut in. "My bed, Blaine. Get in and go to sleep for a few hours. I'll leave you my spare key and you can leave when you need to, okay? Just get some rest."

Blaine shook his head. "I couldn't do that, Kurt."

"Of course you can," Kurt said, like it was final. "Come on," he said standing up and pulling the covers back for Blaine to climb inside. "You can borrow anything you need and you can shower and I'll even let you use my expensive products."

Blaine smiled. "Wow, this relationship is getting serious," he half-joked.

Kurt chuckled. "Well, it is. So, come on. Get into my bed, Blaine."

"How forward of you," Blaine said, with a smile. He stood up and walked around to where Kurt stood, then leaned in and kissed him sweetly. "Thank you."

"I'll call you during my break, okay?"

Blaine nodded and he wanted to say it, wanted to just lean in close and whisper the three words that would bring their relationship over that invisible, fiery line, but he didn't. Instead, he kissed Kurt's lips once again and climbed into the bed.

"Sweet dreams, beautiful." Kurt kissed his forehead and crept out of the room to let him sleep. Blaine had never felt so cherished.

We need to talk.

Kurt rolled his eyes at Rachel's text and pushed himself across the room in his spinning chair. He stopped in front of the phone and tapped her number in, then waited until she picked up.

"Rachel Berry speaking," she said sounding chirpy.

"It's me."

"Oh," she said, voice dropping to its usual octave. "You have got so much explaining to do, Kurt Hummel."

"Are you home already?"

"Quit trying to change the subject," Rachel said. "But I'm in the elevator."

"I'm not changing the subject, Rachel," he told her. "Besides, I am not the one who tried to give my boyfriend counselling."

"Your boyfriend is a whor—"

"No," Kurt said, firmly. "No, don't start calling him derogatory names, Rachel. He's had a hard life, he doesn't do what he does because he likes it. He does it because he has to. So, no, you don't get to sit there calling him names behind his back."

He heard the sound of the elevator ringing and coming to a halt.

"You know, Kurt, I understand that life is difficult at times, but there's always somewhere to turn. Always."

"Not always, Rachel," Kurt said. "Blaine wouldn't be doing this if he'd had an alternative."

"Yes, but—ahh! Kurt! Someone has been in our apartment!" Then a little louder, "Whoever is in here, I've got pepper spray!"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Rachel, it's not—"

"They've been in the kitchen."

"Rachel, can you just stop freaking out—"

"Kurt, the intruder left a note!"

"Rachel," Kurt said, tiredly. "There is no intruder."

"Well, Kurt, what else do you think it is? Oh, God, what if it's a ghost! I knew someone died here, Kurt! I told you I had that vision—"

"Rachel. I told Blaine to stay as long as he wanted to, will you calm down?" He shook his head.

"You let a prostitute stay in our home?" she exclaimed. "That's worse than an intruder!"

"I'm hanging up."

"Oh, Kurt, don't be such a drama queen," she said, irritably.

"Then quit it. He had a rough day. I told him to get some sleep. It's nothing sinister."

"A rough day," she repeated.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," he said. "Just...give him a chance, Rachel."

She sighed dramatically. "I'm sure he was a very nice person, once, but Kurt, he sells sex. Please tell me you're being safe—"

"Okay, now I'm hanging up."

This time, he did.

Blaine left Kurt and Rachel's apartment after leaving a short note on the refrigerator door, apologising for the incident that morning and telling Kurt he would talk to him later and also thanking him for allowing him to stay. He made his way back to his own building, wary of the guy from the day before, who was in all likelihood not there, but he still couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was being watched.

Blaine walked up the rickety staircase to his floor, thoughts of Kurt on his mind and how Rachel had reacted. The last thing Blaine wanted to do was make Kurt's life difficult because of his job. Kurt was nothing but good to him and he hated the idea of anyone judging Kurt because of his taste in men. Blaine knew that the sensible thing to do would be to end their relationship, but he just wasn't strong enough to do that. He wasn't quite ready to let go and he wasn't sure he ever would be.

Blaine reached his floor and dug his hand into his pocket to find his key and that was when he heard the sound of a door opening. He froze before realising it was just his neighbour next door. She was a middle aged woman who was constantly drunk, but today, it seemed, she was sober enough to look Blaine from head to toe in disgust.

"Oh, look," she said, a sneer on her face, "it's the whore."

Blaine ignored her and continued searching for his key. Where the hell was it?

"Back from a long night of whoring? How much did you make? Probably not much."

He sighed and checked his jeans. Blaine was unsure as to how she had found out about him in the first place. Maybe she had seen him coming and going at all hours and assumed. Maybe she had seen him out. It didn't matter either way.

"You know, I'll bet—"

Before she could finish that sentence, Blaine found his key in his back pocket and opened the door and went inside, before shutting her out. He heard the cruel cackle of her laughter fading down the hall as she left. Blaine pulled out his sofa bed and climbed under the blanket, hoping to spend a few hours sleeping, a few hours where he wouldn't have to do any thinking at all.

Just as he was drifting off, his phone rang. He scrambled to get it on time and answered as he made his way back to bed.

"Hi," he said, knowing it was Kurt without checking the caller i.d.

"Hey, are you home?"

"Yeah, just got in. How's work?" he asked, settling against the pillows again.

"Quiet," he said. "Rachel thought we had an intruder."

"Oh," Blaine said. "Sorry, I was trying to find a pen."

Kurt chuckled musically on the other end. "Don't worry about it," he said. "I know you're tired, I'll let you get some sleep, but do me a favour?"

"Name it," Blaine said, hoping he could agree to whatever Kurt wanted.

"Think about coming home with me for Thanksgiving," Kurt said.

Blaine stifled a sigh and nodded. "I promised I'd think about it," he said, "and I will. I just don't want you to be disappointed if I decide I can't do it."

Kurt did sigh. "I'm going to be disappointed if you say no, but only because we won't see each other for a few days and because you'll be all by yourself, but I'll understand, Blaine." He paused. "I know we don't talk about your past much, but...you know I'm here to listen. I don't know what happened, I know it wasn't good and that you aren't at a good place with it, so I will understand if you can't come. I just really want you to."

Blaine found himself smiling. "Thank you," he said. "I promise I'll think about it."

"That's all I'm asking," Kurt told him. "I'll let you get back to sleep. Text me tonight?"

"Of course," he promised. "Have a good day," he added.

He could hear Kurt smiling when he said, "You, too. Talk to you later."

"Later," he repeated, then waited until the line went dead to whisper the words, "I love you," to the cold, empty apartment.