"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," he bit his lip and Kurt shook his head.

"No, it's okay. Hi," he dropped his elbow and smiled, tying to show Blaine that it was okay but he was sure his smiled seemed off.

Blaine did notice but didn't say anything. "Did you get the homework done? I know you were given a lot and it's seems daunting at first but I promise it will get better and I can help you if you like."

Kurt was taken aback by the offer. Nobody had ever offered to do anything with him. When given a project that was to be worked on with partners back at McKinley, everyone complained how they were stuck with the gay kid. His friend Mercedes would work with him whenever she could but they rarely did assignments in glee together because their voices didn't match.

"There was a lot but I managed," Kurt eventually answered him. "Thank you though."

"No problem. Just tell me if you need any help," Blaine smiled at him encouragingly. "I know what it's like to be a mid-year transfer student."

Kurt nodded, remembering briefly that the principle had mentioned this fact to them.

"Dalton is a lot different from McKinley," Kurt murmured and Blaine nodded.

"Yeah. Dalton seemed like a dream at first and then I realised that it wasn't and there was actually nice people in the world," Blaine chuckled and Kurt could detect there was a story behind his words. The bell rang loudly before Kurt could say anything else and he quickly grabbed his required books and shut his locker door gently.

Blaine walked with him to their first class, sticking close. He felt Kurt flinch whenever someone passed him and tenses when they accidentally bumped into him – always apologising as they rushed past him. By the time they got to the class room Kurt's neck was stiff and was starting to ache. A storm of emotions were going through him as he took his seat quietly next to Blaine who shot him a concerned look.

Not one boy had checked him into locker and had apologised for knocking into him. On his first day at McKinley a footballer had checked him into a locker, calling him a fag and walked off. Not one person helped him up or spared him a glance as he limped to his first class. Blaine was right – Dalton felt like a dream and he feared that he would wake up and still be back at that hell hole where he was shunned just because he was different and liked boys.

His classes were enjoyable and passed quickly. The class actually participated in discussions, not just grunting non-committal noises if a teacher asked a question. Kurt actually filled his notebook pages with notes, filling more pages that he would have in a month at McKinley. Blaine friends greeted him happily and included him in their conversations which Kurt shyly contributed too and each time he did Blaine's face would light up happily and Kurt would smile shyly back.

When it was time for lunch, he put his books away and was surprised when he found Blaine waiting for him. He smiled and together they made their way to the cafeteria. Kurt was accidentally jostled in the crowd and he flinched right into Blaine who grabbed his arms to steady him. Kurt blushed a violent red and shook slightly.

"Are you alright?" Blaine asked and Kurt took a shaky breath, bobbing his head almost mechanically.

Blaine frowned and rubbed his arms before releasing him. "Come on. We'll go somewhere quite."

Before Kurt could protest, Blaine was buying them lunch and leading him away from the crowd of boys. He took Kurt outside and they sat on a stone bench. Other boys were milling around outside, eating their lunch in the sunshine.

"Thank you," Kurt blushed, taking the offered sandwich that Blaine was holding out to him. This was the first time that another boy had bought him lunch.

"You know, nobody will hurt you here," Blaine said suddenly and Kurt looked up at him sharply.

"Excuse me?"

"I was bullied at my old school," Blaine told him. Kurt looked at him disbelievingly. He assumed Blaine was popular – after all everyone greeted him happily and he seemed to know everyone. "They bullied me because I was gay and liked singing."

Kurt's eyes widened at this.

"Your gay?" Kurt asked and Blaine bobbed his head.

"I'm out and proud. I'm not ashamed of who I am but the other kids used it to hurt me. I was beaten at school dance and that was what led me to Dalton," Blaine told him. Kurt could hardly believe that Blaine was sharing such a personal story to him when they had only just met. "I know what it feels like, going from being hated to feeling accepted but it will get better I promise."

Kurt dropped his eyes and nodded his head.

"I was bullied too, for being gay" Kurt told him quietly. "That's why I'm here. McKinley wasn't safe any more." Blaine nodded, his face drawn with sympathy and not pity Kurt noted. He understood. "How long before it starts to feel normal?"

"Well – I don't know how bad your situation was, but for me it took a couple of months. Wes and David took me under their wings and were really kind to me, so that helped. They're my best friends," Blaine smiled at the thought of them. "but don't worry. Everyone is really nice and accepting here. They won't care that you are gay. Nobody harasses Nick or Jeff about being together. They kind of give me hope." Kurt nodded and felt the storm of emotions inside of him calming slightly. "I want to be your friend Kurt. I like you."

Kurt blushed and smiled softly. "I like you too. Thank you, for showing me around and everything."

"My pleasure," Blaine grinned and Kurt knew – for now – that any further conversation today wouldn't be as serious which he was grateful for. Blaine took a huge bite of his sandwich and Kurt nibbled on his own.

"I talked to Wes and he said he would talk to the other council members about getting you an audition," Blaine told him and Kurt smiled, surprised that Blaine had remembered.

"Thank you," Kurt smiled and Blaine grinned, eyes twinkling in the sun.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elizabeth smiled to herself as she watched Kurt working on his homework, humming slightly to himself and there was even a small smile on his lips. It was the first time in a long time that Elizabeth had seen Kurt come home with a smile.

When she asked him about his day, she told him about the antics that they boys had gotten up to at lunch and how he spent the first part talking to Blaine.

"He's gay too mum," Kurt blushed slightly. "It's nice to talk to someone who understands. I know Aunt Mildred and you understand but-"

"It's nice that someone else is going through it at the same time," Elizabeth finished and Kurt nodded his head, smiling brighter. They weren't just mother and son, they were best friends and knew everything about each other.

"Everyone at Dalton is amazing. I love it there – even though it was my second day," Kurt smiled, twirling his pen around in his long fingers.

"I'm glad you are enjoying yourself," Elizabeth beamed. "Tell me more about these boys."

It seemed that Kurt got along well with Blaine and a boy named Nick who was in an art class with Kurt. They all seemed friendly and Elizabeth was just glad to see Kurt smiling again.

"They're trying to get me an audition for their glee club," Kurt told her. "I think – if I get the audition – that I might go for it."

"I think that's a wonderful idea Kurt," Elizabeth nodded. "It will make you feel more settled and I know how much you love to sing."

Kurt chuckled and started humming, Elizabeth joining in. She left him to his homework while she looked over the books for the garage. Everything was steady in that area and they were still making a great profit. Burt would be proud of his hard work and not a day went passed that Elizabeth wished he was still here.

When Kurt was finished with his homework he moved to the kitchen and started baking. Elizabeth joined him not long after and soon the kitchen was filled with delicious smells. She had taught Kurt everything she knew about baking and he had picked it up easily. He had become a stress baker, just like Elizabeth was.

"Should we bake something for Friday night?" Kurt asked. He was nervous about seeing his grandparents. He hadn't seen them in years. He knew that they hadn't approved of his mum marrying his dad and both Elizabeth and Mildred hadn't enjoyed growing up in the class they had.

"Yes, I think we should," Elizabeth nodded. "Maybe we could make something for dessert."

Kurt nodded and washed his hands before returning to their cook book. It was leather bound, filled with recipes, some tucked between the pages on separate pieces of paper, flowers pressed between the pages to give it a nice smell and there was photos tucked between the pages of cakes that had been made and some of Kurt at a young age baking with both Elizabeth and Burt.

He settled on his mothers brownie recipe to make and made a mental note to make it on Thursday night. The cleaned up and they started making dinner together. It was a ritual with them, making dinner together. At McKinley they teased him about being a 'mummy's boy' but she was all Kurt had for a long time. He had few friends growing up and when Burt died he became withdrawn. As he grew older and the hateful slurs became more frequent Elizabeth was the only one there for him.

She was the only reason he hadn't done something drastic like taking his own life. After joining glee club he finally found friends – bonding with Mercedes over fashion. It pained him to leave her but he just couldn't be at McKinley any more.
Kurt smiled when Elizabeth turned on the CD player in the kitchen and began to sing along with the music that floated out of the speakers. She had a beautiful voice and had always sung to Kurt when he was younger. She was the reason why he sung – because she taught him the beauty of music.