Kurt licked his lips. The days were getting colder now as the year approached December, and his chap definitely wasn't working. He regretted the decision almost immediately as the wind picked up, causing the tiny cuts in his lips to sting. Burying his chin deeper into his burgundy scarf, he dug his hands into the pockets of his fitted coat. His toes curled inside his black boots with each gust of wind.

He looked around the unfamiliar barren platform that was lit by a single streetlight; Kurt was thankful it would be dawn soon as the sodium orange glow of the light was starting to creep him out. It seeped into the splintering shutters of the empty ticket office, round its brick shed-like structure and into the concrete, lapping at his feet. Though he knew he was the only person around, he huddled his feet together and kept his eyes alert. Squinting, he noticed a pin-sized light emerge from the darkness, bumbling slowly along the tracks. A relieved chuckle escaped from his mouth as he spotted the train.

Finally, he thought. A smile tugged at his lips, as he pictured the steaming coffee that would be waiting for him when he finally got to his dad's. He glanced into his satchel, making sure he hadn't left the present at Mercedes' this morning. God knows staying over there last night was the reason he was currently turning into an ice cube right now - he didn't need further trouble because of it. Kurt spotted the Nix tickets and relief washed over him.

A tinny version of 'Defying Gravity' sounded from his coat pocket, and echoed around the silent platform.

"Hey, Mercedes, I was just thinking about you" Kurt said, quickly picking up the phone.

"Sober enough to?" a voice laughed on the other end.

"Ha-ha. Very funny..." He looked round the platform. "I told you not to get me drunk last night…now I'm freezing my ass off waiting for this train."

"Hey, don't blame me! You needed it!..."

Kurt snorted indignantly. She giggled but trailed off. Kurt could tell there was something more on her mind than just seeing how he'd recovered from last night's alcoholism.

"Hey, Kurt…I know you don't like talking about it…but…well,are you - you know…you're not still hung up over-"

"I'm fine."

" 'Cos you know you're so much-"

"Honey, I'm fine." Kurt said briskly. Feeling guilty, he added, "Thanks for asking, though. And I feel loads better after yesterday; I had a lot of fun last night."

" Well yeah…you were performing the routine to Vogue with a bra strapped to your head…"

"Oh my God, Mercedes, shut up!"he whispered fervently, looking around the platform in case someone had decided to appear just as he had flushed red in embarrassment. "You're kidding, right?"

"Well, I can check my camera if you like-" Mercedes broke off laughing as she heard Kurt groan.

"You're a cruel woman…you know I'm useless with vodka." Kurt pouted and almost as if she could sense it, reprimanded him for doing so.

"Don't pout, you'll get mouth wrinkles," she laughed. "Anyway, I'm just glad you're feeling better hun…so you set for your dad's birthday? Are you sure he won't mind you coming early?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. Probably just fixing up some cars as usual. Besides, I managed to get Versace on board at work, I deserve an extra few days off" Kurt laughed.

"Oh yeah, congrats by the way! Okay hun, hope you have a good-" A slow beep cut her off. Kurt looked at the screen of his phone.

Low battery. Shutdown.

Kurt rolled his eyes. He still couldn't get used to this new power-guzzler that used every excuse to switch off. He had to use it though - you couldn't exactly use a last season phone if you worked at .

Ugh, no more thoughts about work.

It had been the week from hell - his boss, Isabella had turned Cruella de Ville on him and he'd couldn't remember the last time he'd had more than four hours sleep.

Shaking it off, he thought of home and smiled. He could already taste the warmth of the piping coffee slide its way down his throat…

A booming voice made Kurt jump, as the tannoy crackled into life.

"The 0538..from…-don to ar…is…in…will be…dela…an hour..a half." The speakers creaked with relief as the monotonous voice finished off its patchy message.

Kurt frowned and looked down the platform. He could see the train with his own eyes. The small light was growing faster now as it approached; the rattling on the tracks had even come into earshot.

He checked his watch. 5:38 am. This was his train.

Kurt looked back to the sign, but the black screen simply mocked him. He listened in case there was another announcement, a correction; just the increasing clatter of the oncoming train replied to his concerns.

He turned back as the train fumbled in, a set of doors slowly coming to a halt in front of him. Biting his lip, he watched as the train clunked to a stop, the yellow lights flickering inside. A silent fog descended once again to the empty platform. Then, like a knife slicing through ice, the doors hissed open.

Kurt looked around again, checking for any signs of life. There was no movement; neither inside or outside the train. This did nothing to quell his uncertainty. He stepped back hesitantly.

Maybe this isn't my train…

Kurt remembered the exact date he'd last used the train - it was when he was a child - but he was certain they didn't operate like this. He looked again, searching for staff of some sort, a driver, anyone. The train remained motionless.

I can wait…follow what the announcement said…only another hour and a half…god knows I've been here that long already…

But the train beckoned him. As the doors had opened, a warmth had diffused its way towards Kurt, enveloping him teasingly, then disappearing.

It was the wind that made up his mind.

A final squall had whipped his face, making his eyes water and his lips sting. He took a deep breath, checked the platform once more and stepped onto the train.