Burt drove the whole lot of them that formed Kurt's support crew to the event that night. Burt, Carole and Finn had all agreed to make it as soon as the tour was announced. Kurt made an effort to sit next to Blaine in the car, giving his hand a squeeze as they parked at the event's location. They had decided to host the event at McKinley High School that night, having sold so many basic entry passes that they would fill up the auditorium with ease. It was the place Kurt would have gone to high school if he hadn't been cast on Highlands before he could start. Finn had gone to McKinley and it was filled with memories for him, but for Kurt and Blaine there was no significance to the empty hallways.

The five of them, Hummels, Hudsons and Andersons, made their way to the backstage area of the auditorium, following Finn's lead. The other cast members introduced themselves to Burt, Finn and Carole and gave Blaine some odd looks, knowing he had gone to the event the night before. They probably would have thought he was some crazy stalker, if they didn't see how close Kurt was standing to him, almost protectively. As far as Kurt was concerned, Blaine was like an adorable, delicate baby bird, and he needed to be kept under his wing before he jumped out of the nest and landed too hard.

Kurt hugged each of them before they decided it was time to take a seat in the auditorium and headed out. Blaine went to find a seat by himself, before Burt stopped him. "You're a part of the family today, kid. You're sitting with us." He said, and they all sat together as the cast members came out to take their seats at the Q and A table. Same as the night before in Westerville, a cheer went up around the room as they entered.

The Q and A started with the cast members introducing themselves and their characters, for clarity mostly, to save someone the embarrassment of asking a question and addressing an actor by their character's name. When it was Kurt's turn he decided it was his chance to elaborate more, same as Luke had when they were in Columbus, his own home town.

"My name is Kurt, and I play the wonderful Elliot. It's funny that we're here at McKinley tonight; this is where I would have gone to high school if I hadn't been on set all the time," another cheer went up, the odd person yelling, "GO TITANS!", including Finn. Kurt looked directly over at his family when he heard Finn's distinct cheer, and took the chance when the cheering subsided to give them their shout out. "My family's here tonight- Finn, I can hear you, even with the entire crowd..." there was a ripple of laughter, but Kurt left his mini speech there as the first question was asked.

The questions were oddly similar to the night before, most people asking about the future of the characters, fishing for spoilers instead of asking for behind the scenes information. One boy took the microphone and boldly asked Cassidy to marry him, and she declined, hesitantly saying that she was taken, giving a side glance to Luke. It was a moment the internet would have killed to have documented, and yet no one seemed to have a camera set up perfectly.

The Q and A ended, and the episode viewing started. Whoever was coordinating that night's event seemed to have it sussed out a little better than whoever had done the job in Westerville, arranging for all the passes holders to be seated in separate areas so it was simply a whole block of people who were to leave. Then, after a brief interval, they projected the episodes onto a large screen they had set up on the stage.

Kurt moved around the gold and exclusive pass holders seats as he was supposed to and stopped to chat with a couple of people, before sitting with a group of girls who were just about in tears for being so close to him. He looked across the auditorium to Blaine, who caught his eye and smiled for the briefest second. He had missed it, even if his smile had been full and dorky at breakfast that morning. Kurt smiled back before pulling out his phone and sending a quick text to him.

I think I'm locked in with this group now. How are you doing?

Blaine checked his phone and Kurt looked over to see him receiving the text. He watched as he tapped out his reply, before glancing back up at Kurt who then in turn checked his phone.

I'm fine, Kurt. I told my family I was gay, not that I had malaria.

Kurt giggled, trying his best not to let it slip out. It was mostly just funny because he was in a situation where he couldn't laugh. He texted back quickly, along with a picture of a kitten.

Good. I'll talk to you in a bit, otherwise they'll all think we aren't paying attention to the episode. Here is some cuteness to help pass the time.

Aww, it looks like you.

Shut it, Anderson. And thank you :3

Kurt buried his phone in his pocket after that and pretended to be enjoying watching himself acting the same scenes for another forty minutes. When the episodes were finished, they moved the exclusive access pass holders to another much smaller room, which was assumedly the teachers' lounge, although all the furniture had been pushed out of the way, the only thing remaining being the snacks table, not dissimilar from the night before.

Kurt found Blaine immediately after stepping into the room, crossing it hurriedly in order to talk to him quickly. "You can leave, if you want," Kurt said, "you probably talked to all them last night, right?"

"Well yeah, but that would mean I'd have to get back to your place somehow." Blaine replied, and I kind of like being around you still, he wanted to add.

Kurt called Finn over and persuaded him to drive Blaine home, and then come back later to pick up Burt and Carole, who were both closet fans of the show and were jumping at the chance to talk to the other cast members. So Kurt left them to mingle with other fans and Blaine and Finn walked to the car in silence.

Once safely inside the car Finn turned to Blaine and eyed him curiously. Blaine, feeling that Finn was looking at him, turned to face him saying, "Okay, what do you want to know?"

"Are you gay or what? I'm having a really hard time trying to guess."

"Uh, yes," Blaine said, the answer still feeling a little odd to him.

"So... do you like my brother?" Finn asked, his motives a mixture of genuine curiosity, protectiveness, hope, and uncertainty.

Blaine didn't really have an answer to that. "I don't know," he said, "I honestly don't know."

"Oh," Finn responded, before simply turning on the radio and letting the music fill the silence.

They arrived back at the house and Finn let them in, showing Blaine quickly where to find anything he might like to eat or drink, giving him the WIFI code, handing him the remote for the TV and otherwise leaving him to it. Finn headed off not long after, promising only that the others would be back as soon as he picked them up in half an hour or so. Blaine sat on the couch and started flipping through channels, but there wasn't a lot on, so he headed upstairs and found his laptop instead, choosing to check his Facebook and such.

He found himself typing a name into the search bar, Olivia Harris, and sending her a friend request. He looked through her photos quickly, all of them of the girl he had spent months with at a time, looking the same as she always had but a little older, as you would expect. He had worried for a bit there she might have died and no one had told her.

She accepted his request within minutes, and soon they were chatting.

Blaine! Long time no see! How are you?

I'm good, thanks! Had a scare a month or so ago, but it turned out just to be appendix problems. Drugs still doing their job

Oh, awesome, I think. Me too, I've been back at school lately, remission is great :D

Where are you at school?

McKinley high, in Lima. My family moved recently, now that it won't be problematic for me.

Funny that, I was there an hour ago

You went to the Highlands thing? Couldn't you have gone in Westerville?

I did, I just happened to be in Lima tonight and went again...

I couldn't get passes, kinda sad to have missed out

You're into it?

Only for Elliot. He's a great role model for sick kids.

Funny you mention that. A door closed downstairs and Blaine smiled as he heard the sounds of Kurt arguing lightly with his parents. "No, dad, Cassidy is conventionally pretty, sure, but Arietta has a way more interesting face, striking features... I don't know about you, but I thought she was rocking the orange tonight, really her colour..." I have to go now, but it was great to hear from you! Maybe we could meet up for coffee sometime, if you're free?

I'd love to! You're still one of my best friends, Blaine, whether you like it or not.

Okay, Liv. Text me about it. He left his number and signed off his account, before there was a knock at his door.

Kurt opened it slightly as Blaine shut down his laptop, closing it and pushing it along the bed, where he had been sitting cross-legged. Kurt poked his head around the door, saying, "Can I come in?"

Blaine nodded and Kurt crossed the room to the bed, where he sat cross-legged too, facing Blaine. "The event cleared out pretty quickly. There weren't many people with exclusive access."

"That's not such a bad thing," Blaine said, "I've just been here, on Facebook."

"Anything interesting going on?" Kurt asked.

"Not really. I was talking to my friend- I told you about her this morning- Olivia. The one with the gorgeous brother." Blaine said. Olivia hadn't really been the centre of that story.

"Oh, that's good! How is she? When did you talk to her last?" Kurt said, taking maybe a little more interest than he would admit would be ideal, but he was pleased Blaine seemed smiley.

"Not for ages. I'm so pleased I thought to find her. She's in remission, which is great."

"And said gorgeous brother?" Kurt teased lightly, receiving an eye roll from Blaine in return.

"I didn't ask. I think we might be meeting up for coffee tomorrow or something, if she texts me about it." Blaine's phone buzzed on the bed, and it happened to be closer to Kurt based on where he had sat down shortly before. He picked it up.

"Unknown number... Olivia, I'm assuming." He hadn't the phone to Blaine, who opened the text and read it.

Dude, want to meet up tomorrow? How much longer are you around Lima? –Liv

He replied quickly, after saving her as a contact. Sure, name your time and place.

You know what, I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning. Where are you staying?

"Kurt, what's your address again?" Blaine asked. He had been sitting quietly, inspecting his nails to pass the time as Blaine conversed with Olivia. He held out his hand and Blaine handed him the phone, and he typed out the address and sent it off for him, before handing the phone back. Olivia replied with an awesome. Be ready at 11. Conversation with Olivia over, Blaine put the phone behind him on the pillows, simply facing Kurt in order to talk to him. "So," he said, "Why'd you come up here?"

"I wanted to talk to you, Blaine. Why else?" Kurt replied.

"Anything in particular?"

"Do I need a reason to see you now?" Kurt said, raising his eyebrows at him.

"You- no. You don't." Blaine replied. He found it hard to disagree with anything Kurt said, and he wasn't sorry about it. It wasn't a problem.

"Good. I'm glad you're here, Blaine Anderson."

"Me too. I don't want to think about how my parents are doing."

"Let them fight their own battles. They'll come to terms with it all in their own time. You can't force it." Kurt said, making sure to look Blaine straight in the eye as he said it.

"I hope it will get better by the time I turn up there tomorrow." Blaine mused.

"Leaving so soon?" Kurt said, his tone both teasing and upset. He had had two good days with Blaine, and he didn't want for it all to be over. Their friendship was long distance, and it was hard. It was insanely hard.

"You're skipping town too, Kurt. I don't have much choice." Blaine said, feeling the same way. Kurt had been the only person he had felt like talking to. It had been a long day.

"You'll always be welcome here, even when I'm not around. That's the way this family works." Kurt said, hoping that Blaine knew that his dad would be okay with it. Blaine was good kid and Burt liked him just fine, even if they hadn't talked too much.

"Thanks, Kurt." Blaine reached over and took his hand. "You've made all of this so, so much easier."

"We're friends, Blaine. You don't need to thank me every two seconds." He stood up and looked down at Blaine. "Come on," he said, "We're going downstairs for hot chocolate."

"Do you have marshmallows?" Blaine said, staying where he was.

"Of course, you can't have hot chocolate without marshmallows." Blaine then stood up too and followed Kurt out and down to the kitchen.

The house was nearly silent, the gentle hum of the refrigerator being one of the only sounds. "I think dad and Carole have gone to bed already," Kurt explained, "And Finn must have gone home. We more or less have the house to ourselves." He moved around the kitchen finding everything they would need to make the hot chocolate how Kurt liked it best- from scratch.

Much like that morning Kurt did most of the work, while whacking Blaine's hands away from the container of mini marshmallows. Occasionally he would pretend he wasn't watching out of the corner of his eye as Blaine took yet more marshmallows, just to be able to act surprised when he looked over properly to see such a smug grin on Blaine's face. He seemed to think he was a criminal mastermind for managing to sneak marshmallows.

Kurt poured the hot chocolate into mugs and let Blaine put as many marshmallows as he wanted on the top, even if he thought covering the surface probably meant there were too many. He had had a rough day. They decided it wasn't worth taking their mugs elsewhere, choosing instead to stand in the kitchen as they warmed their hands on the mugs, delicately sipping at their drinks, still too hot to drink properly.

"I think I've run out of conversation topics," Blaine said, "I guess that's what happens when you spend half your day with the same person."

"No, Leah and I always have something to talk about and we live together and work together and everything else together. We force conversation." Kurt commented, thinking back to some conversations he had with Leah that didn't flow as easily as one would hope.

Blaine sighed and shook his head. "I don't think it counts if you force it. It's always worth so much more when it flows naturally, you know?"

Kurt looked down at his hot chocolate for a moment. "I guess you're right. It loses value if neither of you are actually into the conversation."

"Exactly," Blaine said, "But I still don't have any topics."

Kurt paused for a moment, before saying, "What's your favourite colour?"

"Um... blue?"

"Good, I like blue too. And favourite ice cream flavour?"

"Cookie dough. Duh." Blaine said, not needing to think about that one at all.

"I think the mango sorbet at this little shop by my apartment is the best, and if you don't let that count then I don't know."

"What's something I don't know about you?" Blaine asked next.

"I haven't checked any gossip lately, what do you know?"

"Let's not get started on that." Blaine said, trying not to recall every single trivia fact he had ever memorised about Kurt. Coffee orders, his favourite song as of May two years ago. He had a lot of knowledge stored away.

"Well, Carole's my step-mom." Kurt said, thinking about the kinds of things he didn't ever mention. His family never really came up in interview.

"I had guessed as much, seeing as you call your dad 'dad' and her by her first name. Finn's your step-brother, right? You don't look particularly similar."

"He is. My mom died when I was eight." Kurt shared.

"Oh, Kurt, I'm so sorry."

"Thanks, but you don't need to be. I came to terms with it a long time ago."

"You've lived half your life without a mom." Blaine said softly.

"Well, Blaine Anderson, I think you've lived most of your life without any family." Kurt replied, his voice equally as soft. There was a moment that they both looked down at their drinks, slowly cooling in their hands, neither really sure what to say next. Everything they had just said had been true to some extent, and it was an occasion they realised that they knew each other better than they thought. For four days spent together and a number of text conversations, they knew each other incredibly personally.

"Kurt, can I hug you now?" Blaine asked, unsure what the answer would be. It just seemed like the sort of time people were meant to hug, and he would be lying to everyone if he said he didn't enjoy hugging Kurt. He never really hugged anyone like he hugged Kurt- he hugged Wes plenty, but that was in a manly I'm-scared-you-might-die-on-me-and-I'd-never-have-hugged-you sort of way, not filled with the soft affection that Kurt's seemed to have.

"Of course, Blaine," Kurt put his mug down and took a step towards him, closing the gap between them. Blaine put his mug down too and folded his arms around Kurt. They lost track of how long they stayed that way, but it was long enough for the last of the marshmallows to dissolve, for the warmth to leak out of the drink leaving lukewarm hot chocolate that was beginning to separate.

There was a gentle cough from behind Kurt, and so they broke their hug to react to the noise. No, it wasn't a cough so much as a clearing of the throat. Burt was in the kitchen now too. "Just here for a glass of water," Burt said, "Just a glass of water."

Kurt kissed the top of his father's head before picking up both mugs and nodding his head in the direction of the stairs, gesturing for Blaine to follow him. "Bye dad," he said as he left the kitchen. Blaine, unsure what to say or how to react to Kurt's dad finding them like that- totally innocently but maybe less so than a father wanted to see- followed Kurt without a word.

They were still up hours later, sitting cross legged on Blaine's bed again, their hot chocolates finished long ago. They had changed topics quickly as they heard Burt walk past the door, him clearly stalling long enough to eavesdrop on the polite chitchat, and stayed talking without any depth until they heard the faint snore from across the hall to ensure them that Burt was now asleep.

"It isn't like our conversation wasn't innocent," Kurt had said, "I accept that. I just think he worries about me and that he'll hear what he wants to hear. If he thinks we're sleeping together he'll continue thinking it, no matter what he overheard."

"You think that they think...?" Blaine trailed off, turning it over in his mind, "Do we act like that or something?"

Kurt shrugged. "Who cares if they do or not, really?" He stood up and stretched, suppressing a yawn. "I think we ought to call it a night," he said, "or they'll really think we're sleeping together if we both look overly tired. Or if I fell asleep on you."

Blaine looked up at Kurt and smiled. "Night, Kurt," he said, "but I really wouldn't mind if you had fallen asleep on me."

"Of course not, but I'm not sure how comfortable you would be. Good night, Blaine Anderson." Kurt headed out of the room, closing the door behind him. It wasn't long until they were both sleeping soundly knowing they would wake up and the other would be there still.

Usually Blaine was woken by his alarms, by his mother, by the bang of the door as his father left that morning. But at the Hummel-Hudson house he was woken in ways much better than that.

The house sounded full and lively as Blaine woke up of his own accord. The shower was running, there was the constant hum of people talking downstairs in the kitchen, the smell of breakfast radiated far and fast, the sumptuous scent of bacon tickling his nose. He woke gently, staying in bed to savour a few more moments, before getting up and chucking a hoodie on over his t-shirt, half to keep the fresh out of bed warmth in and half to distract from the Batman pyjama pants he was wearing.

He made his way downstairs where he was ushered to the table and a plate of bacon and eggs was shoved in front of him. "You aren't vegan, are you?" a familiar voice asked, Blaine looking up with his still half asleep eyes to see Kurt. He had to blink rapidly for a few moments to remind himself that Kurt wasn't a figment of his imagination.

"No, bacon's good..." Blaine responded, clearly a fraction too late because of the way Kurt looked at him. Kurt moved back to the kitchen and grabbed his own plate and took it to the table, sitting across from Blaine. He cut himself a bite sized piece and popped it in his mouth, savouring that first taste feeling.

"Carole isn't half bad at cooking," Kurt said, "I don't know if my dad would cope without her."

Blaine took his first bite and melted into the rare sensation of having a proper cooked breakfast. "I can tell," he complimented, and Carole thanked him. He hadn't noticed her presence, but she was soon gone again, finishing getting ready for work.

"So Olivia's picking you up today?" Kurt clarified, and Blaine nodded in response.

"Yeah, she said she would come and get me at eleven. What time is it now?"

"Half past eight." Kurt answered, after glancing up at the clock on the wall, behind Blaine. Although it didn't seem like it would be much that was enough time to pass as being luxurious for Blaine. Usually he would be long on his way to school, if he hadn't already gotten there yet.

"Wow," Blaine said, "glad I planned on skipping today."

"Well, when in Lima." Kurt said with a shrug, putting another chunk of bacon in his mouth.

"Do as the Limans do?" Blaine replied, raising his eyebrows at Kurt.

"Well, yes, but I'm pretty sure we don't call ourselves that."

"Doesn't matter. So what are your plans for the day?" Blaine asked, feeling as if he needed to know Kurt's whereabouts in case some other drama came up in his life and he needed to call. Well, he was also genuinely curious about what he was planning on doing, since Blaine was being kept busy for an hour or so by Olivia.

"I think I'm going to go out with my dad this morning, before we head off this afternoon. So many tour stops, so little time." Kurt said.

"That sounds good," Blaine commented, "Will you still be here when Olivia arrives to pick me up?"

Kurt thought he was just a little nervous to be in the house by himself for a bit, so he agreed to stay until Olivia got there. Blaine had other intentions behind the question.

After breakfast Blaine volunteered to help with the washing up, which was greatly appreciated by Carole, who was now eager to get out the door and get to work. Kurt helped him; although this time they had reversed roles, Blaine washing and Kurt drying. It was amazing the difference twenty-four hours had made to Blaine's state of mind, to his entire outlook on life. This time the morning before he was torn up, questioning himself as a person; today, he felt a hell of a lot better, and he felt like he had friends- Kurt, Olivia, even Kurt's family. He had chosen not to be alone, and now he wasn't.

And it made all the difference.