No-one anticipated on spending the first day of the new year in a hospital.

Not that any other day in a hospital would be absolutely grand. It had been two hours since the ball dropped in New York - it didn't matter that they were in Chicago, the ball dropping was universal language that the new year had begun, even though it was one hour ahead - and after a family-friendly snowball war between all the dancers (and their costume designer Tina Cohen-Chang), it had quickly escalated intohell.

They had been warned, of course they'd been warned, by their director Artie Abrams and choreographer Jessie St. James, and also by that one drunk homeless lady, but they were too careless to listen. It was horrible enough that they were forced to go through a rehearsal on New Year's Eve, so the moment they were released, the entire company took over the square in front of the theater. It was freezing cold and there was ice dangerously hidden underneath the fresh pack of snow, but the release of tension had been sublime.

Kurt had just got hit by a particularly well thrown snowball by Sebastian when he heard the most god-awful scream.

"Oh my God, Mike!" Tina yelled frantically, and raced to her boyfriend.

"What's going on?" Sebastian asked and Kurt removed the remaining snow from his face before turning around to see where Tina went. Another scream broke through the suddenly quiet square, this time even more blood-coiling and in unison Kurt and Sebastian followed Tina.

"Someone call an ambulance!" Tina screeched over her shoulder. She had kneeled down to something that looked like their lead-dancer Mike Chang, whose leg was twisted in a very awkward position. "Easy, baby, easy," she said hushed, but Mike let out another grunt.

"Shit," Sebastian said worried. "Tina, that doesn't look good."

More dancers surrounded them and Kurt tried to keep them at a distance.

"Mike, what happened?" he heard someone ask.

"I slipped, fuck, it hurts so much."

"Ambulance is on i way," another dancer Kurt failed to recognize said and not long after, half the cast of the ND Ballet Company Swan Lake was on their way to follow their leader to the hospital.

Kurt paced through the waiting hall of the ER where both Mike and Tina had vanished into. He had never felt this mixture of rage, worry and disappointment, but somehow he was feeling them all at once.

 "Sit down, Odette, you're making me nervous," Sebastian said from his spot against the wall. Kurt looked down at him and gave him a little mock kick.

"Our Prince and lead, is currently in the ER with a leg that could be broken - we're supposed to be freaking out right now."

"You're the lead," he said back, taking out his phone to tap on it frantically - a sign he wasn't as calm as he pretended to be.

"Swan is nothing without his Prince." Kurt twirled on his spot.

"Sure thing, Odette."

"Shut up, Odile -"

"Kurt!" the voice of Jessie St. James chimed across the hall and both of them looked up to find him storming in. "Didn't I warn you all?" he said as he approached them. His face was all red and furious, scaring Kurt more than it should and he swallowed loudly.

"I - I -"

"It's been freezing for days and now he has a severely dislocated knee," he spat with an amount of saliva. Sebastian rose from his seat on the floor and stood close next to Kurt.

"To be fair, it was Mike's idea to go outside."

"I didn't ask you anything, Smythe." Jesse pointed his finger at him and was close to poking his chest. Sebastian closed his mouth so fast, Kurt swore he could hear his jaw snap. "Meanwhile, I'm without a Prince -"

"Jesse!" Artie yelled behind him, rolling inside in his wheelchair. Everybody in the company knew it was Artie's greatest dream to dance, but unfortunately he would never be able to with his disabled legs. His visions for the show, however, were impeccable. "Calm yourself down, you're mistaking yourself for director again."

Jesse simply huffed, glancing at both Kurt and Sebastian. "I'm just being the realistic one here, Artie. We have no Prince."

"We'll just talk to Mike and the doctor first."

"We have the show in two weeks."

"You think I don't know that? Jeez, calm down." He glanced toward the ER-rooms where somewhere Mike was being treated. "You two," he said, nodding at the two dancers. "Go home, sleep, I'll let you know how and what tomorrow, well today -"

"I can stay -" Kurt started, but was cut off.

"Tina's here, and I already sent the rest of the cast home too. I will see you in a few hours." His tone was non-negotiable and Kurt bit his lip to refrain from talking. With a final pointed look, Artie rolled away with Jessie close behind him. Kurt hoped with his entire heart that Mike was going to be alright - he had to be, it was their show. The thing they've been building up to ever since they got the parts.

"You want me to walk you to your bus?" Sebastian asked, touching his arm to make him snap out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Well good morning to you too," he sniggered. "Would  - you - like - me - to - walk - you - to - your - bus?" He separated each word for emphasis, making Kurt want to laugh and push him away, so he did both.

"I'll be fine."

"Only if you're sure."

"Yeah, I'll see you in a couple of hours." At this rate Kurt wasn't even sure if he was able to sleep at all for the last sparing hours, but he guessed he had to try.

xXx

There was still evidence of their nightly escapades on the square, a few bottles and some trash. Kurt stared at it with his arms crossed, his breath fogging out in the chilly air. He was scared of going inside the theater and facing the truth of what was going to happen to their show. Or as he preferred to see it - his show.

For years he had been dreaming of the day he was playing the lead role in a ballet performance, and landing the role of Swan in their rendition of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - the one where all the swans were men - was basically the break he really needed at age 22.

Mike was the first to be cast when they announced what show they were doing. He was their most well-rounded dancer, who danced the role before in the currently travelling company The Warblers and went to the best Academies the United States could offer. Sometimes while rehearsing he talked about his time dancing the part in The Warblers, and how his best friend took over the part of Prince when he wanted to settle down in Chicago to live with Tina.

Kurt had only been part of the ND Ballet Company for a decent year, yet broke all traditions when he signed up to audition for Swan. He knew he had to reserve that part for the more experienced dancers within the company, but Swan was his dream part - if he didn't at least try, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Not that he ever thought of actually getting it, because it was well known Sebastian was pining for the part as well. And after watching his Stranger solo, Kurt was pretty sure he had it in the bag. As tradition held - the same dancer had to dance both part of Swan and Stranger, who was basically Swan's evil twin. While Kurt perfectly captivated Swan, his Stranger lacked and vice versa with Sebastian.

"Pity they can't split it up, isn't it, Odette?" Sebastian said almost soothingly after Kurt's try at Stranger. Sebastian had been around the ND Ballet Company a year longer than Kurt had and strangely enough their at first clashing personalities got along just fine. Kurt shrugged at him, feeling insecure of everything that just happened. "Just so you know," Sebastian whispered conspiringly. "I wouldn't mind losing the part to you."

Kurt feigned shock. "By my! Don't let the company know, it'll be a scandal. Sebastian Smythe not minding giving up the lead part of this season's winter show, oh dear!"

"Alright, enough, Odette," Sebastian said with a chuckle.

"I swear to God, if you call me Odette one more time -"

"What will you do then, Odette?"

"I will suffocate you in your sleep with a tutu, Odile."

"That does require you in my bed, so I don't see any real threats here, Odette."

Kurt was about to punch him when Rachel Berry, one of their few ballerinas, came running through the hallway. "It's up, it's up, it's up!"

"I hope someone's cock is up then -" Sebastian said, but Rachel promptly ignored him and tugged Kurt away by his arm.

"The cast-list is up!"

Moments later Kurt had been showered with congratulations, earned a lift from his Prince Mike and saw Sebastian's jaw clench only a little bit, before he smiled and winked at him.

He got the part he wanted and he was waiting for the punch - because there was always a punch. And he guessed a punch could also result in an injured dance partner.

It started to snow again, forcing Kurt to go inside the theater and face the facts.

xXx

"Dancers, gather round," Artie said the moment he rolled into the rehearsal room. Kurt stopped mid-stretch, trying to read his face on what news he had and realized it didn't predict anything good.

The entire company sat down against the mirrors, Kurt joining in last, settling in front of Sebastian. The entire day had been feeling exceptionally terrible and weird without Mike around, and if he understood Artie's face correctly - it was going to become much more terrible.

"As you all witnessed last night, Mike took a nasty fall. He's expecting lots of candy and well wishes, because he won't be able to perform." A gust of muttering went through the room and a single raised hand from Artie shushed it. "And Hunter is still coming down from that flu." At the mention of Hunter, Kurt heard Sebastian make a strange squirming noise behind him. "So, basically - we're without a Prince."

"And - now?" Kurt dared to ask.

"Surely there's someone who can stand in?" one of the Swans, Sam, said. As per usual he had forwent his shirt again. He always said it was to get into the swan costume's feeling, but it was mostly to show off his abs. Which made Kurt doubt Sam's sexuality, as eighty percent of the cast was male.

"I'm afraid not," Artie said regretfully and he had a point - they already had the entire company, including the swing, on stage due to the flu that had been roaming around Chicago. Kurt didn't realize he was shaking until he felt Sebastian circle a finger around slowly on his back. It soothed, but only by an inch or so. "Which is why Mike called his old ballet company."

Everybody perked up at that.

"You mean - The Warblers?" Rachel asked, and Artie nodded.

"Yes, they're currently in Philadelphia with the same show and they have enough danseurs to spare."

"Oh great, now we're just going to get some low dancer from the lower -" someone started, getting a few agreeing mumbles and Artie shook his head.

"He actually spoke to his current replacement -"

"Get out," Sebastian hissed behind Kurt.

"- and they're willing to lend him out for our three shows -"

"No way," he continued and Kurt frowned, wanting to glance over his shoulder, but also not wanting to stop looking at Artie as he spoke.

"- so from tomorrow on, the role of Prince will be portrayed by the one and only," Artie paused for emphasis, "- Blaine Anderson."

"Fuck me!" Sebastian said much louder now, receiving a few looks from his colleagues. "Blaine Anderson is going to replace Mike, just like that?" He sounded astonished and absolutely god smacked. "For real?"

"Yes, well, Mike and him are buddies so -"

"Yes, but -"

"Enough, Smythe," Jesse cut in sharply. "Artie round it up please, we need to rehearse."

Artie gave him an annoyed look, but continued: "Kurt, you're going to practice with him tomorrow - the entire day. Work him in, and after that we'll add him to the group."

"I - I, okay?" was all Kurt could reply. All of a sudden he was getting another Prince, a different Prince - a Prince he had never even met or seen. He was given two weeks to trust this stranger and perform the show that could start his career.

 "Alright guys," Jesse took over. "Act two, scene three - where are my swans?" And with a clap from his hands, everybody sprang into business as usual.

xXx

"Bas!" Kurt stage-whispered the moment they were released from the most dreadful day of rehearsals they had encountered so far. Sebastian was carelessly throwing his belongings into his sporting bag in the joined dressing room, whereas Kurt had his own, and didn't even spare one glance at Kurt. "Are you okay?"

His jaw tensed visibly and he threw in his bottle of water even harder. "It doesn't matter."

"Well apparently it does." He stepped in closer, leaning in so he was sure nobody could hear him. "Did Jesse say something again? He's been a real jerk again lately and -"

"It's not Jesse."

"Then what is it?"

Sebastian zipped his bag shut and finally looked up at Kurt. "You're going to dance with Blaine Anderson."

"Yeah, so? So you are you, kind of." Kurt frowned, doing a random plié he always did when he felt fidgety.

"No, it's not ‘kind of', you're going to dance with him as Swan and Stranger," he said and hoisted his bag around his shoulder, nodding for Kurt to walk with him to the exit. "He was the entire reason I actually wanted to join the Warblers in the first place."

"You tried out for the Warblers?" Kurt spluttered.

"Well of course, so would have you if you saw Blaine dance - seriously, I saw him last summer in Swan Lake in Columbus and he's fucking sex on a stick." There was a beat before he continued. "And, well, he was also an amazing dancer, but first and foremost he was very nice to look at... both back and front." Curiosity definitely peaked there and Kurt envisioned some kind of dance God with a third leg. "And you're going to be locked up in a rehearsal room for the entire day tomorrow and I'm -"

"Jealous?" Kurt filled in.

"Extremely," he whined, "it's just - fuck me, you know?"

"You could propose that to him -"

"Oh shut up, you minx." Sebastian at last smiled again which made Kurt relax for a bit. He really couldn't handle a tensed Sebastian for his final weeks before the premiere. 

"Just remember it's only three shows, and two weeks, which are going to be hell for both of us," Kurt said, smiling too. "Plus I maybe be able to steal his dance belt, if that'll cheer you up?"

"I would give an arm to see Blaine dance on commando, deal." He held out his hand for Kurt to shake and with a chuckle he shook it.

Now he was really curious about what on earth he had to dance with starting tomorrow.

xXx

Kurt ran down the stairs from the dressing rooms to the rehearsal floor with a weird spring in his step. He was incredibly anxious, more so because Blaine Anderson was coming today and he had to rehearse the entire show with a different Prince than he was used to. What if Blaine couldn't lift him? And what if he couldn't lift Blaine? He hadn't even ever seen the guy, giving him the extreme disadvantage of knowing what he looked like.

He was so caught up in his doubts that he didn't notice running into someone on the staircase.

"Oh, excuse me!" he said quickly, glancing at the apparent man - boy? - that had been trying to get up the stairs. He was short - especially since he was lower on the stairs, but had the frame of a dancer. At least he did somewhere underneath the layers of clothing that were keeping him warm in the winter weather. He was wearing a beanie and two scarves so it would seem, but the thing that made him look incredibly warm had to be his smile. He had a sparkle in his eyes as he looked up at Kurt with a toothy grin.

"Hi," the man said, his voice low and a tad scratchy from the cold.

Kurt observed him once more, realizing he had gorgeous hazel eyes with thick eyelashes. There were some snowflakes melting in them and it was then he noticed he was partially covered with snow.

"You look lost," Kurt said with an amused undertone.

"I am!" the man quickly quipped. He reached down to his pocket and searched for... well, something. "Sorry, I'm a mess. Usually I'm not this chaotic, I swear," he muttered while digging deeper. "A-ha!" His face basked with victory as he held up a wrinkled piece of paper. "I am looking for," he said while reading the paper, his eyes shifting adorably while finding the name he needed, "Artie Abrams?"

Kurt nodded. "That's our director, he's probably in rehearsal room three."

"Awesome, rehearsal room three," he echoed. Kurt didn't even try to suppress a grin because the man still looked incredibly lost. He opened his mouth, but the man beat him to it: "And where's that?"

"Follow me," he said and walked down the remaining stairs, now more with a skip than a weird spring. The guy was just adorable. "So are you here for an audition or something? For next season?" he asked to keep a conversation going, but when he looked over his shoulder he found the man blatantly checking him out. Loudly he cleared his throat and the man looked up, a blush deep forming on his cheeks.

"Sorry, I - I was just, uh," he babbled, "- seeing if I could - I mean, lifts - You're the Swan, right?"

Kurt blinked a couple of times, trying to take in the words and the man already spoke before he could.

"My name's Blaine," he said and held out his hand. Slowly the puzzle pieces started to come together. "And I'm your Prince."