They were going to perform but decided to do more sightseeing instead as nobody felt like it after that argument with Sebastian. They did do a couple of songs in the room and then vowed to practise in the lobby the next day. Kurt wore his Dalton uniform all the time now and Blaine told him it looked terribly good on him. The other boys finished Kurt's cheesecake in the fridge, and Thad promised to buy him another one since he ate the last piece. Then all the boys left and they went to Time Square.

Blaine walked around Time Square with Kurt till they decided to go see the Botanical Gardens as Kurt realised Blaine loved flowers and he knew just how pretty it was in the Botanical Gardens. They walked hand in hand strolling through the footpaths and lay on the grass listening to Blaine's ipod music.

A few hours later Jeff woke up on impulse. He forgot where he was at the moment. The room was dark. There were pizza boxes on his table in the corner, there was a picture frame of a city on his wall… Oh right they were in New York…

Someone was screaming. It wasn't a loud scream, more like muffling as though it was trying to be held back, but it was screaming regardless. Even though it was far away Jeff had a vague idea of which room it was. He threw the covers of the bed and headed to the left of Blaine's room down the hall. How everyone else managed not to hear it was beyond him. His ears were trained for this sort of thing. He did work in the trauma centre of the hospital after all and volunteered there.

Nick also had heard and was opening the door from his room when he saw Jeff heading to Kurt's room “Don't worry baby, I'll go make sure he's okay,” He said calmly, kissing his boyfriend before Nick nodded and went back  inside  his room yawning. Even though they were in New York, they didn't want to make the other guys feel uncomfortable by sharing a room.

He didn't bother tapping Kurt's door. He knew that most people who suffered nightmares, often held it to themselves. He opened the door and quickly closed it as he watched Kurt hold his legs close to his chest.

“Hey… do you need anything? Some water? Coffee? A hug?”

Kurt didn't answer. He was holding his knees together and tears were falling down his face.

Jeff sat on the edge of his bed.

“Whatever happened Kurt, it's gone now, your safe here and none of us are going to let you get hurt alright,”

Kurt hiccupped loudly and whispered “Don't tell Blaine that I'm like this,” Kurt closed his eyes as he spoke quietly “I don't want him to think I'm crazy,”

Jeff moved closer and put a hand on one of his knees “I won't say anything that you don't want me to say Kurt, but he won't judge you, you know. He's crazy about you, we all know you went through something big, and for the record I don't think you're crazy so I doubt he would,”

“Blaine told me you met him at the hospital…” Kurt nodded and looked up at the 16 year old boy with ridiculously blonde hair and hazel eyes.

 Jeff nodded “You know about his past then?” Kurt smiled sadly as he said “Yeah I wish he hadn't had to go through that,”

“You're changing the subject,” Jeff pointed out “Kurt I work in the hospital back home, I know what people are thinking most of the time, and you're thinking right now that you can get me to leave by talking about Blaine, and acting all friendly with me, so I'll go back to my room thinking everything is all okay again, and then you'll pretend to be sleeping when in fact your reliving every bad thing that happened in your life in your mind, and just from hearing that scream from the room, I know you're not okay so I'm not even going to ask that imprudent question,”

There was a strange silence as Jeff smiled at Kurt kindly.

“Are you psychic?  Kurt asked. Jeff laughed and shook his head. “If I were, I'd be working for Dr Phil,” Jeff replied and Kurt laughed awkwardly.

“Ah, you watch Dr Phil, that explains the aura of sophistication,”

“Again your changing the subject Kurt, I may be blonde, but were not all stupid you know. Now what was your nightmare about?”

Kurt bit his lip and Jeff sat on his bed crossing his long legs “Unless of course you want me to go get Blaine, I'm not going to leave you here to suffer on your own just so you know, so either you tell me or you let him comfort you, even if it's just to be with you, you can't be on your own,” Kurt could see he was not going to give up on this.

“If you want me to leave after I tell you this, I'll understand. Just let me say goodbye to Blaine if you do,” Kurt began pleading as Jeff put a hand up to stop him and announced “Let me hear your story first before I make any sort of decision okay?”

At that Kurt retold what he told Blaine to Jeff. Jeff listened patiently without ever interrupting. When Kurt was done Jeff stared at Kurt calmly.

“What made you think that I would kick you out for that? It's not your fault that you're here. I'm actually really glad that Blaine brought you here, you deserve to feel safe,”

“You don't think I'm taking him for granted?” Kurt asked, Sebastian's words had stuck with him since the confrontation in the venue and he had been feeling guilty and slightly ashamed from the time when that happened.

Jeff was appalled at the thought that Kurt was treating Blaine in such a way, when he never asked for anything in return and he said as much to Kurt. “You never asked for Blaine's help. You never pressed him Kurt, I think that's why I trust you when you say you don't take him for granted. I've met people who do take others for granted, and they don't behave like you do. You're noble, and I have a lot of admiration for you in being so when it's okay not to be noble all the time, so no, I don't think you're taking him for granted, and no I'm not kicking you out, instead I'm offering to be your ally, I want to be your friend too Kurt, we Warblers stick up for each other,”

“But he did buy me hot chocolate…and cheesecake and…other food, and coffee, and you all let me crash here,” Kurt added but Jeff looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck and barely audible mentioned “Blaine…made me swear not to tell you this, but since were being honest here and I can't see why I shouldn't … he told me about you not wanting him to buy you stuff because you were homeless and had a lot of self-pride, and as for this room, we all chipped in because we want you to sing with us at Nationals, not just because you need a place to stay,”

“He told you that I was homeless?” Kurt was being cynical as Jeff appeared composed.

“I pretty much demanded he tell me what was going on and why we were letting a stranger in our place when we got back on the first day, and you pretty much passed out on his lap. I know Blaine better than anyone, and I know when he's keeping something to himself, and that's a dangerous place to be in,”

Kurt sat up in the bed as he had been lying down and he crossed his legs. “Thank you for not judging me,”

Jeff smiled. “Never. I'm sorry your dad hit you by the way, that's a rotten way to come out,”

“How did you come out? If you don't mind me asking,” Kurt asked as Jeff smiled again and a small blush crept to his cheeks.

“Nick…he and I…I love Nick Kurt,”

Kurt had a smile on his face now too as Jeff explained “We fought it at first, thinking it was just experimentation, but then we found we couldn't get enough of each other. We tried dating girls, but both of us kept ending up confronting one another and saying it wasn't working out. Nick pretty much outed me by serenading me in front of the gap. Kurt laughed as Jeff face palmed at the memory but he also had a fond look on his face as he recalled the day.

I told Blaine I was in love with him, and apparently Nick was also talking to Blaine about us as a couple.

“So Blaine was a matchmaker?” Kurt offered as Jeff laughed loudly at that and nodded “Yeah… I suppose when you put it like that he was, he told Nick apparently, that if he ever liked someone so much that his heart would burst, he would do it in song, and that was intentional to get Nick in getting together with me, and apparently the other Warblers were betting on us, but we were so oblivious to it all, so Nick asked the guys as a favour to help him sing to the love of his life, but he never said it was a guy, boy did we get a lot of teasing that day and of course when the gap attack happened, it was posted on YouTube, and my mum heard about it from a patient. She's a Nurse by the way, hence why I work in the hospital, and they all could tell we were going to get together eventually. She said we were soulmates,”

“I always liked the idea of soulmates,” Kurt admitted. He seemed very content and oddly happy by what Jeff had just told him.

Maybe Kurt just needed to be reminded that bad things didn't always happen to gay people. Jeff thought to himself. He then rolled his eyes and opened his arms “Now come here and give old Jeff a hug,”

Kurt laughed as he allowed Jeff to embrace him. Jeff and Kurt talked all night, and neither got to sleep when Blaine came in to hand Kurt his coffee only to find him with company.

“Don't fret Blaine, I'm sure my boyfriend is wondering where I am, it was nice chatting with you Kurt, sorry to keep you from sleeping,” He winked as he got up by pushing both his hands on the bed and lifting himself up. Blaine looked puzzled by the scene as he watched Kurt smile back “Likewise,”

Kurt had felt amazing feeling a part of a group again. He didn't even care that he was singing in the background because they included him in everything, in every decision they decided. When there was a new move being introduced, they were sure to make sure he knew how to do it. When there was a question of which song Blaine should sing. His opinions were valued.

I mean of course Blaine stole the ultimate spotlight, but Kurt didn't mind so much. He loved hearing Blaine sing. He loved having Blaine as their leader. He was just incredible. He was the only thing that Kurt could currently think about, which is why he had been staring at him after they finished singing to the people at the hotel who all applauded them at which Blaine had shouted “Warblers, I think we're ready for Nationals!” at which there were drumrolls and clapping involved from the small crowd gathered.

“Hey, penny for your thoughts?” Kurt asked Blaine as he found him standing alone looking rather pensive when Kurt went to him. The Warblers were busy chatting amongst themselves and Blaine snapped out of his trance as he looked to Kurt with a smile. “I'm thinking – I'm thinking that we deserve a little fun,” Blaine stalled.

“Fun?” Kurt repeated as Blaine nodded “Just you and me,” Kurt was uncertain about where this was going and it showed on his face as Blaine continued discussing his thoughts “We've had too much on our minds and were in New York for christ-sake Kurt, we should be having fun around here, and I think it's about time someone took you out for once, how does a Broadway musical sound….and then perhaps ice-skating with some hot chocolate afterwards?”

Blaine was radiant and more confident than Kurt had ever seen him and his eyes never left Kurt's sight. Blaine grinned feeling as sense of satisfaction as Kurt's eyes lit up at the mention of a Musical but then Kurt seemed to be thinking of something and it's as if Blaine read his mind he showed him the tickets for front seats.

“Remember Max the security guard? Well he just happens to be working on Broadway for Wicked's opening night and recently he managed to score 2 spare tickets, unfortunately the people he got them for couldn't make it and he rang me up today to see if I were interested… so you don't have to worry about the cost, and I'll pay for the ice skating its only like 5 bucks it's not going to cost an arm and a leg, what do you say Kurt? Will you accompany me?”   

“Blaine…” Kurt was looking at the tickets wistfully. He really wanted to say yes …and the way Blaine was looking at him was making him feel giddy.

Blaine grabbed his hands gently “Please Kurt. I'm asking you as a date. Not as a friend who wants to help you out. Not just as a mentor, even though I'd like you to think me as one. This is nothing about you being in your situation, it's me wanting to spoil you as a person and if you say no I'll feel highly offended,”

“I don't understand how you could want me to go with you” Kurt admitted as Blaine grabbed his hands and said in a soft, compelling voice, excluding the rest of the Warblers as effectively as if they had been alone

“Because you're amazing Kurt. You're funny, you're nice, you're handsome…very good reasons in my opinion and we both have a lot of things in common. Do I really need to go on? Nobody in this room will enjoy Wicked more than you and I Kurt, and we both know it. Now I know I only known you a short amount of time, but this is a good way to get to know someone don't you think?”

Kurt snickered at that as he squeezed both Blaine's hands. It was a comfortable-bold move for him but he was getting familiar with the softness of Blaine's skin and the way his hands fit perfectly with his own pale ones.

“Please go out with me,” Blaine was particularly begging now and Kurt couldn't help but smile and rolled his eyes “Fine…but I'm paying for the hot chocolate,” Kurt showed Blaine the $5 he found.

“Where did…:

“I found it, when I ran from the venue, I know it's stealing but-”

“Don't bother explaining dummy. You can pay for the hot chocolate so long as you agree that you'll come,”

“I'll go,” Kurt nodded “I'd love to go with you Blaine Warbler,” and Blaine threw his arms around him in a massive hug.

“Wonderful now we'll go shopping so we can get you a new outfit!”

“BLAINE what part of not wasting your money on me don't you under-”

Blaine silenced him by pecking him on the edge of his lips and Kurt's face was burning.

Of course the Warblers happened to noticed that as Trent whistled from the other side of the room when Blaine broke away. Kurt flushed finishing the sentence fluttering his eyes open as he had closed it in shock   “Stand….”

 “Hey Mercedes,” Sam said as he went to join Mercedes while she ate her burger in Time's Square

“What do you want Sam?” Mercedes said flatly. She was no fool.

“I just wanted to talk to you a little bit…you've seem a little distracted lately, you know I never understood why they called it Time Square, I don't see any clocks,” Sam ordered the triple deluxe as Mercedes ordered the ‘diva special'.

“Sam, you barely talk to me in class, why do I get the feeling this is something to do with Hudson? If I got nothing to say to him, I got nothing to say to you either, he's not doing a really good job of hiding by the way,” Mercedes pointed her knife over to where Finn was sitting in the opposite booth.

Mercedes had a point. Sam looked to Finn who was pretending to hide behind the menu, but for one the menu was upside down, and for two peaking every 3 minutes wasn't exactly being subtle, but at least she was talking to Sam and mentioning Finn's name, it was a start.

“Don't even think about bringing up you-know-who's name,” Mercedes said immediately putting a hand in his face to stop him talking and when she put it back down he asked

“Voldemort?” Sam shrugged looking very serious. Mercedes actually raised an eyebrow as Sam added “I didn't know they filmed Harry Potter in NewYork,” and she burst out laughing. “No…you knucklehead, you know I mean Kurt,”

Mercedes sighed as she finally put her knife down, she turned towards Finn and waved him over.

“You're the worst spy ever Finn, get your bony white ass over here, and stop being a creep,”

Finn put the menu down and headed over to Sam and Mercedes on their booth leaning on their table and looked at Mercedes in the eyes he spoke “Mercedes…I'm not here to apologise for my actions, I know I'll never be forgiven for that, but I need your help. I just want to find Kurt. Sam was going to talk to you on behalf of me since you won't listen to me,”

Mercedes was losing patience as she crossed her arms “What makes you so sure you saw Kurt that day at Nationals? How dare you act like you care about Kurt, when you're the one that scared him away because you don't like who he is. So what if Kurt's gay? He's more of a man than you'll ever be and how come we didn't see him if what you said was true?”

Mercedes had been thinking about this the whole time. It was the reason why she didn't believe Finn. She would be annoyed at herself if she hadn't even recognised her best friend in the crowd and yet Finn did of all people!

 “And why don't you go ask Rachel…she's your girlfriend,” Mercedes made a point to mention.

Finn didn't flinch as he answered “I deserved that. Yeah but both Sam and I know you're Kurt's best friend. You know him more than Rachel does,”

Mercedes gave a little shrug/nod as she acknowledged that yes while that might be true “Why would I want to help you? You hurt him bad Finn, you hurt all of us,”

“Because he's going to be my brother, and I want to be a good brother to Kurt, but I can't if he's not around, and I can't make it up to him,”

“You can't undo what's been done,” Mercedes said wisely. Finn looked frustrated as he retorted “I can't let my family fall apart either,” Mercedes sighed. He did have a point, and she knew how important family was. If there was even the slightest hope that Kurt was around here, why shouldn't she give it a shot.

Mercedes stared at him hard “What do you want me to do then Justin Timberlake?”

“You know Kurt really well don't you? You hang out with him and everything,” Finn was trying to make a point but Mercedes interrupted “Finn just get to the point,”

“What were his favourite hobbies?” Sam answered eyeing Finn to make sure he wasn't annoyed, but Finn was waiting for her response. Mercedes frowned as she thought about it. “Well he liked fashion, he liked Vogue in particular, he loves Musicals and singing, and he loves sewing…”

Sam's eyes lit up as he and Finn shared a look halfway through the list.

Finn looked cheerful as he exclaimed “Musicals! That's it!” Mercedes looked confused as Sam high fived Finn when they both agreed. Sam started looking into his google maps as to how to get to Broadway.

Mercedes tried to remain collected as she tried to figure out what the hell was going on “What about it?”

“Broadway, it's like the place for musical freaks right?” Sam added.

“He means stars, like actors” Finn corrected when seeing Mercedes give him an evil look.

“Yeah…” It was beginning to dawn on Mercedes “You're not saying what I think you're saying…” Mercedes muttered as Sam nodded in answer and Finn looked pleased.

“I think Kurt would go to Broadway even if it's just to see the outside of it, he's always wanted to go,” Mercedes was nodding with her thumb under her chin her elbow on the table and her head bobbing up and down as she considered the idea.

“But he's been in New York for 5 months, don't you think he would have seen it by now?” Sam questioned and Finn looked worried as he grimaced “You have a point,”

Mercedes finally smiled for the first time in forever and she held out a pamphlet to the boys.

“I wouldn't be so sure about that yet…I think our boy would want to see this,”

Finn quickly grabbed the pamphlet and Sam looked over Mercedes's shoulder to look at it too

WICKED NOW PLAYING, LIMITED TIME ONLY….GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AND DEFY GRAVITY!!!

“Kurt come on call it an early birthday present for next year?” Jeff was waving the money at him.

“How do you know we'll still be friends next year!” Kurt refused as Jeff sighed “An early Christmas present then…”

“No! Look I'm glad you guys are all happy that Blaine wants to take me out god knows why…but I'm not letting you all splurge on me, not that I'm not grateful!”

“Blaine's right, you are stubborn,” Jeff sighed. Nick laughed as Kurt spared him a death glare and quarrelled “Blaine said what?”

Nick patted his boyfriend's shoulder then interjected “Jeff honey I'll handle this…Kurt look we know Blaine's asking you out as a date, and as a gay couple we know how important it is to look good, please let us do a makeover for you it'll be doing us a favour more than you one,”

“How is spending money on me doing you guys a favour?” Kurt quizzed.

“Marc Jacobs is having a sale….and both Jeff and I already have the latest Marcs, it'd be an insult to New York Fashion fanatics not to attend…”

“I…no, you're just saying that to try and tempt me, look guys I appreciate it but I really can't take your offer”

“If you don't let us do a makeover on you we'll do it on him, and Blaine already has designer clothes, plus he wastes it on ridiculous bowties, you would put our money to good waste we -just know it,” Jeff was particularly pleading now.

Kurt contemplated this as he sighed.

“If I say yes, you guys have to help me get a job so I can pay you all back for your kindness, and the other guys for the room,”

“It's a deal,” Jeff beamed holding out a hand as Kurt sighed and took it. They shook on it.

 “What time is the show on?” Mercedes asked as Finn opened up the pamphlet.

“First session is at 1pm, next session is at 6pm, then 8pm, then 10pm and same time tomorrow,”

Mercedes sighed “Do you know how ridiculous this is going to sound to the others?”

“We'll have to make something up,” Sam proposed.

“We could go to all the shows, and see if he turns up, and if anybody asks were just going to Time Square to do some shopping, since Macy's is literally just around the corner from Broadway,”

“What if Rachel ends up going?” Finn looked uncomfortable about lying to his girlfriend.

“We'll have to deal with that if it happens, but I doubt Berry will use the first real day in New York to see show of Wicked which she has seen a million of times, there's so much to do in New York, and why can't we say were just seeing what's on?”

“Alright, let's do this,” Sam clapped his hands. They finished their burgers and went to tell the others that they were going to do some sightseeing in Time Squar.

When Blaine picked up Kurt later on from his room since Jeff and Nick had pretty much kidnapped him for the day he was taken aback by how stunning Kurt looked when he opened the door. Jeff and Nick were sitting on Kurts bed grinning at them and pretended to be casual but Blaine saw right through it that they did this. Blaine did notice however Kurt had his green scarf on and had matching green gloves and he grinned broadly at him.

Blaine put out a hand to Kurt and Kurt took it as Blaine added "Ready to go gorgeous?" Kurt flushed to the top of his scalp as Jeff called "DONT DO ANYTHING I WOULDNT DO!!" and then Nick also added "Go get him Kurt!"

"I think my friends like you more than they like me now," Blaine whined to Kurt as they took the elevator down to the lobby with Blaine holding Kurts hand as Kurt laughed and shook his head "I doubt it, by the way you look very dashing without your uniform," Kurt couldnt but hide a grin since Blaine was wearing a tux and the other boys had bet he would come in suspenders and bowties.

"I try," Blaines cheeks reddened...

~~~~~

“I will say it, I will keep saying it till the day I die, Wicked is by far the best show I have ever seen in my life,” Blaine laughed at how bewitched Kurt was at this moment. There were no worries, no concerns, he appeared to be having a fabulous time as he waited hand in hand with Blaine to get ice cream. There was an ice cream stand down the street next to the ice skating rink which they decided to eat for a snack.

“I'm really glad you enjoyed the show Kurt,”

“Are you kidding!? I got to see Wicked on Broadway Blaine! It's my childish dream come true! This is the best day of my life, and I'm really glad you're with me,” He looked like he really meant it as he was particularly jumping with joy and his hand was holding tight to Blaine's.

Blaine was staring at Kurt's lips which just kept on talking. He could do this. He just had to move a little closer and press his lips to Kurt's. All it needed was him to move a little closer. Kurt was still talking when he snapped himself out of it.

“Excuse me sir what flavour ice cream did you want?”

The lady at the ice cream parlour was speaking as Blaine quickly shook his head and turned to the menu. “What's the surprise sundae?” He asked as the lady chuckled. Kurt was busy watching children play on the ice skating rink that was nearby.

“It's a surprise of course, but normally only couples on dates buy the Surprise Sunday, you might be interested in the double deck strawberry…”

“I'll get 2 Surprise Sundaes please,” Blaine cut her off and she looked stunned, that caught Kurt's attention as he looked to Blaine when he mentioned ‘date'

“Oh I'm sorry sir, I hadn't meant to assume that he wasn't your…you know what I'll add extra chocolate for you boys,”

When they got their ice creams, the sundaes had chocolate smiley faces on it and Kurt laughed as the smiley face to Blaine. Blaine walked Kurt to a sitting area in front of the ice skating rink. The storm that had been had calmed down dramatically. It was now only snowing gently and it looked pretty with the couples skiing and the children building snowmans in the park and the snow falling all around them with the Christmas lights decorating the night sky.

Suddenly Blaine laughed. Kurt looked to the other boy smirking “What's so funny?”

Blaine was looking at him with a cheeky grin as he said “You got a little ice-cream on your nose,”

Kurt was flustered as he immediately went to wipe it of and asked “Is it gone?”  Blaine chuckled as he shook his head in answer and then said “No here…”

He reached his finger to Kurt's nose and when he wiped it of his finger stayed there.

Finn, Sam and Mercedes went to all of the show times. They stayed the whole day, killing the time by eating and drinking coffee in one of the cafes nearby Broadway which ironically was the diner where all the stars worked in.

When the crowds gathered, they left their seats to look for Kurt, pretending to be a tourist just sightseeing.

When it came to the 9pm session Mercedes had spotted Kurt easily. There was no way she could miss the pale like skin and the thin body with the beautifully styled hair. She inhaled deeply and was ready to shout his name but what she hadn't expected to see was the smile on Kurt's face and the way his eyes lit up as he was listening to whatever his companion was saying, they were holding icecream and the stranger's finger was on his nose then her eyes moved over to the companion which was a boy… a boy who looked the same age and was staring at Kurt like he hung the moon and the stars above. She had seen standing in line to watch Wicked, but hadn't had a good chance to really look at Kurt till now.

She had never seen Kurt look so happy.

How could she barge in and act like she wanted what was best for Kurt when obviously what was best for Kurt was what was right in front of him?

Then the boy leaned in, watching Kurt to make sure he was okay with it, and Mercedes watched as Kurt closed his eyes while the other boy kissed Kurt softly. They were beautiful together.

Mercedes felt happy for the first time since Kurt left and internally squealed for her boy when suddenly a hand went on her shoulder. She turned around, it was Sam.

“Did you see him?”

Mercedes deliberately turned around to block his view from the boys and shook her head “No, he's not here…we must have missed him,” she shrugged “Come on Sam, let's fine Finn and go back, it's getting late,”