Sunlight falling on Blaine's face woke him up the next morning. He rolled to shy away from it and bury his face on the pillow, to find himself nearly falling to the floor, hanging half off the edge of the couch.

It took him a few seconds before his brain caught up and he remembered why he wasn't sleeping in his bed, and his eyes fell on the bump hidden under the blankets. He couldn't see Kurt's face since he was facing the other wall, but he could see he was curled into a ball from his shape under the cover.

His bladder was screaming at him so Blaine kicked the blankets off and padded to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and tried to do something about his hair (going to bed with his curls damp from the shower had been a very foolish thing to do, because now it resembled a bird's nest). It was pretty much hopeless, so he had to thoroughly wet it down, and then he went back into the bedroom, where Kurt was still sleeping in the same position.

Blaine checked the alarm clock on his nightstand. It was almost nine, so his mother was mostly likely in the kitchen, making breakfast, while his father kept her company, reading the news on his computer. Blaine decided to wake Kurt so they could go down to the kitchen together, but as he approached the bed, he noticed how taut Kurt seemed, even in his sleep. He was holding the sheets over himself defensively, and his tense expression told Blaine he wasn't having a peaceful dream. Blaine didn't know what to do. Should he wake him, or not?

In the end, Blaine decided to let him sleep. He didn't feel like starting his day with Kurt biting his head off. Instead, he went downstairs to spend some time with his parents.

“Oh, honey, good morning!” Grace exclaimed with a smile when she saw him. She crossed the kitchen and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Did you sleep well?”

Blaine ignored his sore neck from sleeping on the couch. “Wonderfully, mom.”

“Good morning, son,” Henry said and gave him one of his characteristic pats in the back. “Where's Paul?”

“He's still sleeping,” Blaine replied as he took a seat at the table. “He has trouble sleeping in new places, so I thought I'd let him sleep…” he lied quickly, with a pinch of guilt.

“That's fine. I'll keep something warm for him,” Grace said understandingly, putting a fresh pot of coffee on the table with the fresh fruit, toast, bacon and scrambled eggs already waiting. Blaine began filling his plate, his appetite reawakening.

“Thanks, Mom,” he smiled gratefully.

The three of them sat at the table, eating and talking for a few minutes, until Henry leaned across the table on his forearms and looked at Blaine directly, letting his son know he was concerned.

“So. About Paul…”

Blaine blinked stupidly for a second at the sudden change and then tried to look nonchalant. “Yes?”

“He looks like a great guy. Different from what we pictured, but still seems to be a good man,” Henry said, thoughtfully. “He seemed terribly uncomfortable yesterday, though. Was he okay with coming here this week?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course,” Blaine replied, trying to brush it off. “He was nervous. That's totally normal, right?”

“Of course it is. I hope he'll relax soon,” Grace put her hand on Blaine's arm and squeezed gently. “As long as he makes you happy, we'll love him as much as we love you and your brother.”

Blaine felt a flood of guilt and forced a smile on his face. “That's sweet of you to say, Mom. Thank you.”

“Let him know there's nothing to worry about,” Henry added. “Well… at least until Cooper arrives. He'll probably tease him, just for the hell of it. You know how he is… just warn Paul that he doesn't mean anything by it and he should be fine.”

Blaine's fingers clenched around his cup of coffee. He hadn't thought about how Cooper would handle meeting Kurt. Blaine wasn't exactly sure how Kurt would react either, if his brother got on his case too much.

Why was his life always so messed up? Why did he always complicate it even more?

As soon as he reasonably could, Blaine escaped back to his bedroom, but he didn't feel any less trapped once he was there. Kurt hadn't budged, still frowning in his sleep. In any other circumstances, Blaine would've woken him to spare him the unpleasant dreams that were clearly haunting him, but right now Blaine was feeling a little selfish. If he woke Kurt, he would have to deal with him too, and the morning had already been stressful enough.

Blaine knew he it was entirely his own damn fault for being such a coward, and getting himself into this situation, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with it. He just wanted to avoid everyone until he could find a way through this. Until he could find the nerve he needed to lie to everyone he loved.

So he rummaged in his suitcase for a pair of yoga pants and an old OSU t-shirt, to go out for a run, and take his mind off of everything for a while.

The problem was, he couldn't just continue running forever.

*

Kurt startled awake from his dream, trying to evade a pair of hands holding him down. He sat up, alarmed, only to find he wasn't on his couch in his tiny apartment. He was in a big, foreign bed.

He immediately panicked – he never went to his customers' homes any more, completely at their mercy. There was no need when all he wanted was to get his job done and get the fuck out of there. So why would he be…?

Oh. Right. This was Blaine's parents' house. He was spending a week there.

Recalling that felt almost as bad as waking up in one of his customer's bed after being savagely fucked the previous night.

Kurt felt… uncomfortably insecure. Vulnerable. Unprotected. He was so out of his comfort zone that he was constantly on edge, and knowing he still had a whole week of this left sent a shiver down his spine.

He didn't understand Blaine at all. Kurt couldn't imagine any logical reason why Blaine would need to hire a prostitute to pose as his boyfriend. Blaine wasn't an unattractive man (even though Kurt had stopped looking at men with any sort of interest years ago. All he could see in them now was potential danger and hurt), so why would he have any trouble finding a decent guy to accompany him? What was wrong with Blaine that he had to pay? (Because there had to be something wrong with him. Kurt had learned long ago that every guy who approached him had serious issues of some sort).

Kurt knew that accepting Blaine's offer had been a stupid move. He was at a stranger's home, completely at his mercy. On the streets, at least he could make sure he had an escape route. Here… here he didn't even want to think about what could happen. But he just couldn't pass up a chance like this – he was tired, he was starving and the money Blaine had offered him had seemed worth the risk.

Rubbing his eyes in frustration, Kurt tried to chase those thoughts away. What's done is done, he told himself firmly. You're here now, so just get on with it, and see it through, until it's over. The same way you get through every day.

He looked around the room. There was a pile of blankets, all carefully folded, with a pillow on top, lying on the couch where Blaine had slept. Kurt wondered how long Blaine had been up and why he hadn't woke him. Though he had to admit he was grateful for that. He wished he could sleep through the rest of this whole week instead of facing Blaine and his family.

There was no point in delaying the inevitable, Kurt took a deep fortifying breath and got out of bed. He grabbed his duffel bag and sorted through his clothes for something he hoped was appropriate to wear today, before taking a shower. He stood under the water spray for a little while, enjoying the perfect pressure on his back and neck, trying to let his tension run down the drain with the water. He definitely didn't miss the pathetic, claustrophobic shower in his own apartment where he had to rush if he didn't want to run out of hot water.

The Anderson house was so big that Kurt actually got a little lost trying to find his way to the kitchen, going the wrong way until he located the stairway again. A part of Kurt that had been buried for a very long time couldn't help but admire every inch of the exquisitely decorated house. He had once dreamed of a house just like this one, with a separate room allocated to display all his Tony Awards and, a few years later, his son's soccer trophies and his daughter's dance medals. But that dream had been dead for so long that Kurt barely even remembered it now. He would die in his crappy, sad apartment.

And gosh, considering the likely alternatives for people in his occupation, he really hoped he would die in his crappy, sad apartment.

He finally found his way to the kitchen, and realized the house was completely quiet. Where was everyone else? But then he saw Grace sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and her computer. She removed her (obviously designer) glasses from her face as she stood and smiled at him.

“Good morning, Paul!” she said brightly. “Did you have a good night? Blaine told us you have trouble sleeping in new places sometimes, so he thought it was better to let you sleep…”

Kurt forced a smile in response to her warm welcome. “I appreciate that,” he replied, proud of himself for sounding natural. He looked around the kitchen, half expecting Blaine to jump out from behind the island. “Where's Blaine?”

“He decided to go for a run,” Grace gently guided Kurt to the table, while he tried not to tense under her touch. “We saved some breakfast for you, sweetheart. I'm keeping it warm in the oven. Just sit here and I'll bring it out for you.”

Kurt blinked, a bit incredulous. “Oh. Ah. Thank you. That's very nice of you…”

If Kurt had thought the previous night awkward, it was only because he didn't know what breakfast was going to be like. He sat there with Blaine's mom, eating the best breakfast he'd had in years (he usually had a cup of coffee and a granola bar, if he took the time for breakfast at all) struggling to make polite conversation. Luckily, Grace seemed quite comfortable largely carrying it herself, as she watched him eat. He hummed vaguely, unsure of what to say.

He was scared he would screw up somehow. That she would ask him something that he was supposed to know and he wouldn't know how to answer. He was scared of what Blaine would do or say if he got back from running and discovered Kurt had ruined everything…

Grace's hand was suddenly covering his. He stared at it, wishing he could pull away. He couldn't deal with this, with loving gestures, comfort and soft touches. He had learned how to live without them, and he didn't want it now. Especially not from a woman he didn't know at all.

“Sweetie, you don't have to be so nervous around us,” she murmured in a sweet voice. “I know meeting your boyfriend's parents can be nerve-wracking, but we already feel like we know you… and even if we didn't, just knowing how happy Blaine is with you is enough for us to love you too. We don't need more than that.”

Kurt nodded slowly, not sure what he was expected to say. Grace seemed to interpret his silence as him still being overwhelmed.

“You know,” she started again, her smile widening, “just the fact that Blaine brought you here shows us how he feels about you. You're the first guy he's ever brought home. Well…” she tilted her head, thinking. “There was this boy he was always with in high school. He would come for dinner sometimes or Blaine would spend the day at his house… but I don't think they were actually boyfriends. I think they were just really good friends who only had each other, when it came to liking boys and all of that…” Grace shook her head. “But that doesn't matter. This is the first time he's ever been comfortable enough in a relationship to let us meet the man he loves…”

“Really?” Kurt mumbled, mostly because that was the only thing he could come up with.

“Yes, really,” Grace assured him. “I know there were other guys. I mean, I'm not stupid. I'm sure he's dated more than a few, but… you're the only one who's truly special to him.”

Kurt desperately wished that the first time anyone ever said something like this to him, wasn't a lie. For a moment, he wished he really was Paul. He wished Kurt was the tragic role, and Paul, the man who had it all, was real.

“Just keep that in mind, Paul,” she squeezed his hand softly. “And know that you have nothing to worry about from us.”

There was a lump in Kurt's throat he couldn't seem to dislodge, so he simply nodded and whispered, “Okay.”

He wondered if Grace would've said the same if she knew the truth.

She probably wouldn't. Everyone always thought Kurt was worthless as soon as they found out what he was.

Kurt didn't really blame them. He shared the same opinion.

*

Blaine closed the front door with his butt gently, as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with his forearm. He unclipped Nayla's leash and she immediately went into the kitchen, wagging her tail in search of the bowl of water that Grace always put down for her. He followed her, his body feeling the loose, relaxed warmth he enjoyed after a good run. He had definitely needed to unwind this morning.

He stopped as soon as he walked into the kitchen. Kurt was sitting at the table with his mother, looking terribly uncomfortable.

“Oh, hi,” Blaine muttered, suddenly anxious again. Had they been talking about him? Had Kurt screwed up, and said something that led his mother to guess the truth?

“Hi, dear,” Grace said brightly. “Paul and I were just talking about you.”

Blaine hoped his eyes weren't showing the terror those words struck in him. He turned away and got a bottle of water from the fridge. “Were you really, now…?”

“Yes. But don't look so frightened! I wouldn't say anything embarrassing to your boyfriend,” Grace rolled her eyes as she stood to put her empty cup in the sink. Then she leaned closer to Blaine to say in a stage whisper, loud enough for Kurt to hear. “I would really like if you kept this one.”

Blaine laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck, as Kurt stared at the table self-consciously. God, they were so incredibly awkward… How the hell had his mother not guessed something was off?

“Well, I think I'm going to…” Blaine started saying, desperate to get away from there, as Kurt glared at him as if saying don't you dare leave me here alone with your mother again.

“Maybe you and Paul should take a nice walk,” Grace proposed, still smiling at them. “Show him around a bit. I'm sure he'd love to see where you grew up.”

That alternative sounded a whole lot better to Kurt than staying here and continuing to dread talking to Grace, so he stood to clear his breakfast dishes.

“Sure, I'd love to!” Kurt said with a smile that would've looked sincere if Blaine didn't know any better.

“Oh, leave that, sweetheart. I'll take care of it.”

“No, no, it's okay. I can do it, Mrs. Anderson…” Kurt hurried to say, carrying everything to the sink and turning on the water to rinse the dishes.

“You don't have to be so formal. Please, just call me Grace, and let me…”

Blaine took advantage of their distraction and ran up the stairs to take a quick shower.

Spending time alone with Kurt was almost as unappealing as leaving him alone with his mother.

*

Blaine had his shoulders hunched defensively and his hands shoved in his pockets as they walked silently side by side. He had tried to actually give Kurt a tour, but he hadn't exactly been receptive.

“Uhm, so this is where I…”

“I don't actually care, Blaine. I just wanted to get away from your mother.”

They had been walking aimlessly for over twenty minutes, long enough for Blaine to question this half-assed plan over and over again. He was this far from confessing what he had done to his parents.

He knew he had told Kurt that they didn't have to like or even talk to each other when they were alone, but this hostility was making everything harder. They might be stuck with each other, but Blaine always believed in making the best out of a bad situation. Unfortunately, Kurt didn't seem to share his viewpoint.

Kurt had his arms tightly crossed over his chest. He was wearing a beige sweater and a pair of well-worn jeans that left little to the imagination. His eyes were set ahead stubbornly, refusing to acknowledge Blaine's presence.

Blaine headed for his favorite coffee house. He needed more caffeine, if they were going to continue this ruse. They were almost there when Kurt ran his fingers through his hair and huffed in frustration.

“Okay, fine. Tell me more about Paul,” Kurt said firmly, still not looking at him. “Talk to me about this boyfriend of yours. I need to know more details if we're going to keep doing this. We have to be a lot smarter than we have been so far.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Blaine corrected him immediately, wincing internally because it still stung. “He broke up with me.”

“What did you do?” Kurt asked.

Blaine frowned uncomfortably. “What makes you think I was to blame?”

“Well, he was the one who broke up with you…” Kurt pointed out, thoughtfully.

“Look, that doesn't matter.” The wound was still fresh and Blaine seriously didn't want to discuss it with him. “What matters is that they don't find out we broke up, until after this party, with everyone we know coming. That's why you're here.”

“Well, then tell me all the stuff that I should know,” Kurt said impatiently. “I feel like everything you told me in the car was completely pointless.”

“Pointless? I told you Paul works at an animal hospital and when they asked you about your job you started talking about pregnant women!” Blaine exclaimed. He wasn't the kind of guy who lost his temper easily, but Kurt seemed to push all his buttons just by walking next to him. “You just weren't listening!”

“Well, I'm listening now!” Kurt snapped, as they arrived at the coffee shop.

Blaine took a deep breath, deciding to ask Kurt if there was any point to filling him in. “Look, I… I won't blame you if you say no, but… do you really want to keep doing this? I mean, you can go home if you want. I'll make up an excuse for you, and say there was a family or a work emergency, or whatever. But I can't do this if you don't really give a damn.”

Blaine was surprised to see a confusion of fleeting feelings crossing Kurt's face in response to his question. He had no idea what they meant, but it was the most honest emotion he had seen from Kurt until now. For the first time, it made him wish he could understand the man standing before him.

“Yes, I want to keep doing this,” Kurt finally answered, once again his voice flat and his face unexpressive.

Blaine nodded slowly. He pushed the coffee shop door open and held it for Kurt to enter. “Then I'll tell you everything.”

*

There were two cups of coffee sitting between them, on the table next to a window. Kurt was people-watching while Blaine picked a napkin to shreds as he told Kurt everything he could think of about Paul – his hobbies, his quirks, his family history, anecdotes about his job. Kurt didn't seem very interested, but at least it looked like he was paying attention.

It was painful describing the things they had done together to Kurt and made him wonder again why Paul had found their relationship inadequate. Blaine had been the happiest he had ever with Paul, but it hadn't been enough for him. He still didn't understand what he had done wrong.

Kurt finished the last sip of his coffee and leaned his elbows on the table, his gaze falling on Blaine for the first time since they had sat there. “Your mom mentioned this is the first time you've brought a boyfriend home to meet them.”

“Yeah,” Blaine nodded, then rolled his eyes and snorted. “Isn't that ironic? That the first time I actually bring a guy home to meet my parents, he's…”

“A prostitute?” Kurt completed for him, arching an expressive eyebrow.

“I was actually going to say a complete stranger,” Blaine said, with a corner of his mouth curled up bitterly. “I really thought Paul was the one…”

“All that romantic bullshit only happens in fiction,” Kurt muttered repressively, playing with the lid of his cup. “Everyone gets dumped, cheated on or divorced these days. No one believes in love anymore.”

Blaine tilted his head in surprise. That was the deepest thing he had heard Kurt say since they'd met, and the most discouraging. “Do you really think so?” Kurt simply shrugged carelessly. “I don't agree. I'm sad and heartbroken now, but one day I'll find someone perfect for me. I believe there's a perfect match for everyone out there…”

“Didn't you think that about this Paul guy?” Kurt asked him mockingly. Blaine nodded reluctantly, conceding he had been wrong this time. “Well, then how can you still believe in that crap?”

“I don't think love is crap, Kurt,” Blaine replied, having no idea why they were actually discussing this. “It's complicated, sure. But it's still beautiful.”

“It doesn't look beautiful to me, when the guy you're in love with dumps you a week before he's supposed to meet your parents and you have to hire a whore to replace him.”

Blaine winced. He didn't want to let Kurt bring him down, but his harsh words were impossible not to listen to.

Kurt sighed and looked out the window again. “Whatever. Just keep talking about him. What's his favorite color?”

Blaine mentioned anything about Paul that came to mind, but he was distracted. Kurt's views on love made his stomach churn uncomfortably. The fact that Kurt had voiced Blaine's biggest fears in such a casual way threatened to leave him breathless.

Was Kurt bitter and jaded or was Blaine too naïve and old-fashioned? Blaine wanted to believe he would one day find the man who would sweep him off his feet and make him live his very own real-life fairy tale, but maybe it was time to abandon those fantasies and realize that either there was something very wrong with the men who refused to compromise, or there was something very wrong with him.

Blaine tried telling himself there wasn't anything wrong with him, that it just had been bad luck.

But then, if there wasn't anything that might stand in the way of someone loving him… why was he sitting across the table from a guy he had to pay to be with him, instead of the man he imagined spending his life with?

Blaine took a sip of cold coffee and tried to ignore the answers his brain was screaming back at him.