On Saturday both Kurt and Blaine made their way to Wes' house. Jeff and his mother had picked them up from Blaine's home, since both of their parents were working. Jeff's mother was sweet and appeared to be completely comfortable with Kurt and Blaine being in a relationship. She was also funny and asked them for details about Jeff's date with Nick.

"Mum!" Jeff groaned.

"You won't tell me anything," Mrs Sterling shrugged. "Excuse me for being resourceful."

Blaine and Kurt laughed and she grinned at them through the rear-view mirror. Jeff grumbled indignantly the rest of the way there and jumped out as soon as his mother had stopped the car.

"Thank you for taking us, Mrs Sterling," Blaine said politely.

"We will happily return the favour whenever you need it," Kurt assured her.

"You boys are so sweet," Mrs Sterling smiled. "Have fun."

Blaine and Kurt slipped out, Jeff having already grabbed their bags from the back. "Bye, Mum!" He called. Mrs Sterling waved and pulled away. The three boys hurried up the front path and knocked on the door. Wes' father answered and pulled the door open wide to let them in.

"They're in the den," he said and Jeff led the way through the house.

"You're here!" Wes cried, greeting them enthusiastically. Nick came bounding up to Jeff, hugging him and giving him a shy kiss.

Kurt grinned at Blaine, who chuckled. They put their bags down and joined in the fun. Kurt took a place in the next game of pool and Blaine couldn't help but stray his eyes to Kurt's eyes arse as he leant over to take a shot.

David nudged him with a wicked grin and Blaine blushed, looking down bashfully. Kurt beamed as the ball rolled right into the pocket and he lined up his next shot.

"Damn, he's good," David whistled as Kurt pocketed the balls one after the other, Thad watching with horrified eyes as he steadily lost more and more points.

Blaine smirked and Kurt looked up at him, grinning back. He took his last shot and the eighth ball rolled neatly into the pocket and Kurt straightened up.

"No," Thad moaned, dropping his head onto the table dramatically.

Kurt bounded over to Blaine, beaming and his boyfriend put an arm around his waist. "Do you think I should have been easier on him?" Kurt asked innocently and Blaine chuckled.

"You're devious," Blaine teased him, "but I suppose it could have been worse."

"Remind me never to play against you," David said with wide eyes and Kurt chuckled.

"Since it's a nice day, I was thinking we could go for a swim," Wes called out across the room and the boys cheered, whipping off their t-shirts and all running for the door. Kurt and Blaine followed at a slower pace behind the boys. Several boys jumped into the pool, creating a large splash that had small waves lapping at the sides.

"Will you go in?" Blaine asked.

"No," Kurt replied, shaking his head. "Chlorine is bad for my hair."

Although it was true, Blaine knew that it wasn't the only reason why Kurt wouldn't go in. "You could leave your shirt on, you know," he murmured. "Nobody would mind."

Kurt bit his lip. Unbeknownst to the other boys, he still had bruises on his body from his bullying. When bruises are damaged over and over, they take longer to heal and Kurt's had still yet to fade. They were more noticeable on Kurt's pale skin than on Blaine's olive complexion, though he had his fair share of bruises too.

"I can't. I don't feel comfortable," Kurt said quietly and he felt the pressure of Blaine's lips on his forehead.

"Ok," Blaine nodded, pulling back. Kurt sat himself by the edge of the pool, adopting a cross-legged position while his boyfriend stripped off his shirt. He winked at Kurt and handed it to him before diving into the pool with the rest of the boys. Blaine's head popped out of the water and he shook it, curls falling loose. He beamed at Kurt, who smiled back.

"You coming in, Kurt?" Jeff asked, blonde hair plastered to his head.

"No," Kurt shook his head.

"Can't swim?" Jeff guessed.

"I can, I just don't like chlorine in my hair," Kurt shrugged, trying to look nonplussed.

The boys accepted this and made sure not to get Kurt wet but still included him in the conversation. Jeff had swum to the edge and was talking to him and Cameron. The boys were having a game of Marco/Polo.

Kurt watched in amusement as the boys crept around the pool as quietly as they could.

Wes was it and was currently chasing after Blaine who wasn't quite quick enough, Wes managing to grab him by the shoulder. Wes opened his eyes and grinned, clapping Blaine on the back.

"Whoa, Blaine, you have a bruise on your back," Wes noted and Blaine looked over his shoulder.

"Oh, yeah," Blaine shifted out of Wes' grip.

"How did you get it?" Wes asked.

Blaine locked eyes with Kurt and spoke without lifting his gaze off him. "Bullies."

"Recently?" David asked, jaw set. "Someone from Dalton?"

"No, from our old school," Blaine told them and Kurt's breathing hitched.

"But you transferred months ago," Justin frowned.

"When you get bruises on top of old ones, it takes longer to heal," Nick answered and Kurt turned to him wide eyes. Jeff swam over to Nick and wrapped an arm around him.

"It's true," Kurt agreed quietly.

"How did you get them?" Wes pressed, his voice hard.

Blaine looked at Kurt and the boys realized they were having a silent conversation – a trait to envy. Kurt gave a slight nod, eventually breaking eye contact with Blaine.

"Locker slams mostly," Blaine told them. "Dumpster tosses."

"They threw you in dumpsters?" Thad yelped, looking horrified.

"Is that how you broke your arm?" David asked Kurt, who shifted uncomfortably. He looked at his boyfriend who mouthed 'courage' at him and he took a deep breath.

"No. One boy pushed me down the stairs. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone," Kurt said shakily and the boys gasped.

"That's bullshit!" David growled. "How did they get away with it?"

Both Kurt and Blaine shrugged.

"That's why you transferred?" Nick asked and Kurt nodded.

"Fuck," David swore and launched himself at Blaine, hugging him tightly. Blaine was startled but let himself be hugged. The boys converged, giving a group hug. Blaine gave a watery chuckle and Kurt watched, teary-eyed.

"We'd hug you too," Wes said, tuning to Kurt. "But we're wet so when we're dry we'll give you one."

Kurt chuckled and ducked his head.

"Alright, new game. Water volleyball!" David cried and the boys cheered, Justin and Thad quickly setting up the net. Blaine swam to the edge and pulled himself out, quickly going to Kurt. His boyfriend held out a towel and Blaine quickly dried himself as best as he could before sitting next to Kurt. He wrapped an arm around his boyfriend, pulling him close and placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm proud of you," Blaine murmured.

"I'm proud of you, too, Blaine," Kurt muttered back. "So proud."

Blaine tilted his head and captured Kurt's lips with his. It was the first time they had ever kissed in front their friends. Kurt kissed him back gently, keeping his hands in his lap. Blaine pulled away first, eyes fluttering open to gaze into Kurt's.

Kurt leant his head on Blaine's bare shoulder, careful to avoid his boyfriend's wet swimming trunks. Blaine stayed out of the water with Kurt, keeping an arm around him as they watched the boys in the pool. Eventually it turned colder and boys jumped out, wrapping towels around them and drying off before heading back inside. There was a fight for showers, nearly ending with Cameron having a door in his face. Those who were dry kept their word and hugged him tightly.

Kurt was determined for this not to spoil their fun and not dwell on the past. When Blaine was out of the shower he went straight to Kurt, who was playing cards with Jeff, Nick, Justin and Thad.

"That's the third time you've won," Thad groaned.

"What are you playing?" Blaine asked, settling down next to Kurt.

"Poker," Jeff answered. "You're boyfriends got one hell of a poker face."

Kurt smirked at Blaine, who chuckled. "You have no idea," he said, thinking about how Kurt had concealed that he had been threatened, how easily he could hide his pain.

The rest of the boys joined them and they ended up playing a huge game of 'Old maid'.

They had pizza again for dinner and afterwards, they returned to the den and started watching the TV series Alias, the straight boys just wanting to droll over Jennifer Garner and Kurt couldn't deny that Bradley Cooper was gorgeous.

Blaine and Kurt found a spot on the floor, wriggling into their sleeping bags. Blaine was propped up against the edge of the couch and Kurt was sitting between his legs, lying on his boyfriend's chest with Blaine's arms wrapped around his waist. Kurt had tangled their fingers together, resting them on his stomach.

Nick and Jeff were lying next to each other on the floor, hands entwined, nudging one another occasionally.

"Comfy?" Blaine whispered in Kurt's ear, causing him to shiver.

"Hmmm, very," he mumbled. Kurt fell asleep in Blaine's arms, his head laid on his boyfriend's chest, rising and falling with each breath Blaine took.

Most of the boys were starting to doze off so Blaine gently moved Kurt so that he was lying down and Blaine lay down beside him. Kurt immediately rolled over so that he was using his boyfriend as a human pillow, though Blaine wasn't complaining. He ran his fingers through Kurt's hair gently and he sighed contently in his sleep.

After a few moments, Blaine heard a rustling. He looked up to see Nick crawling towards him. All of the other boys were fast asleep and Blaine smiled up at Nick as he sat down next to him. Nick looked down at Kurt with a small smile playing on his lips.

"You're lucky, you know," Nick murmured, nudging his shoulder against Blaine's.

He smiled, eyes trained on Kurt's features. "Trust me, I do know." Blaine stole a glance across the room at Jeff, who was sprawled across a sleeping bag. "But you're lucky, too, Nick; Jeff really likes you."

Nick followed his line of a vision, letting out a small sigh of contentment when his eyes fell on Jeff. "I hope so," he replied, softly.

Blaine looked at him searchingly for a few moments. "Thank you, Nick," he said eventually.

Nick looked startled. "For what?"

"Befriending Kurt and I – well, especially Kurt. I know he and I are best friends as well as boyfriends but I think he's always wanted a friend like you and I'm really glad that he's got you now, you know?" Blaine told him, struggling to find words.

Nick ducked his head, though he was smiling. "He's great, Blaine," he replied, "I'm lucky to be his friend."

"Yeah," Blaine agreed, looking down at Kurt, "me too."