Kurt and Blaine shared a look before heading over to them. "Hey," they greeted in unison.

"Did you have a good weekend?" David asked with a bright grin.

"Uh yes," Kurt answered, distracted by the way the two boys were smiling at them. "It wasn't bad."

"Did you guys?" Blaine asked, raising an eyebrow. It wasn't nearly as good as Kurt's – then again nobody's was.

"Not bad," Wes answered. "Epic Nerf Gun war though."

"I'll be feeling it for weeks," David moaned, rubbing the back of his neck subconsciously.

"Sounds fun," Blaine grinned, genuinely interested.

"We have news for you," Wes blurted out, startling both Kurt and Blaine. David rolled his eyes at his best friend. "We got you an audition for the Warblers."

Blaine and Kurt's eyes widened and their mouths fell open. "We – we weren't sure if we wanted to join," Kurt protested weakly.

"We heard you singing last Friday," David beamed, "and the Warblers haven't had a countertenor in years. We would love to have you."

"Just give it a try," Wes pleaded. "You would both be a real asset to the team."

Blaine looked to Kurt, raising his eyebrows in question. "I suppose we could give it a try," Kurt begrudgingly agreed.

"Yes," David cheered and Kurt broke into a smile. He and Blaine opened their lockers and grabbed the books they needed for the day and closed them softly, flinching slightly when a nearby locker was slammed shut, which didn't go unnoticed by Wes and David.

"When are the auditions?" Blaine asked, turning back to the other two boys.

"Lunch time," Wes grinned and Kurt whirled around to face him.

"Lunch time! That's hardly enough time to prepare," he yelped.

"We would have messaged you this weekend but we didn't have your numbers," David said, holding his hands up in defence. "Actually, could we grab those now?"

Kurt glared and David took a step back. Blaine put his hand on the small of Kurt's back to calm him down. "We'll be there," Blaine assured them. "We'll think of something."

"Can we still grab your numbers?" David asked hopefully.

Kurt threw Blaine a look. They never gave out their numbers. They got enough abusive calls as it was, why give them more ammunition? But there was something about the two boys' hopeful looks that had Kurt taking David's phone and typing in their numbers.

"Yes!" David grinned. "Thank you so much."

Wes copied down their numbers and grinned brightly at them. The bell rang loudly and the four boys hurried to their first class.

Blaine and Kurt sat outside Dalton's choir room, waiting to be invited in. They had spent the morning discussing what song they would sing as they walked to their classes.

"So we have settled on Baby It's Cold Outside?" Blaine asked for the fourth time in last few minutes.

"It will have to do on such short notice," Kurt tutted, soothing his pants that were already wrinkle free.

"We don't have to do it," Blaine said softly, grabbing Kurt's good hand. Kurt looked up and found Blaine's hazel ones gazing at him softly. "We can just tell them no."

"No," Kurt protested, shaking his head, "we should try this. We can't hide forever. Westerville high suppressed us and actively stopped us from joining any clubs but now we have a chance to join something we like."

Blaine beamed at Kurt and squeezed his hand. "Courage," Blaine said. It had become their mantra over the years. The door opened and Blaine reluctantly let go of Kurt's hand.

"We are ready for you," Wes told them, smiling encouragingly. Kurt and Blaine stood and followed him inside. Everyone was waiting for them eagerly and they took the centre of the room.

"Whenever you are ready," Thad nodded with a smile. Blaine and Kurt nodded and took a deep breath. Blaine pressed play on the CD player that had been provided for them and spun on his heels, shooting a charming at Kurt.

"I really can't stay - But baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - But baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry?
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour,"

Blaine and Kurt bounced off one another, smiling the whole time and chasing each other around the room, openly flirting, though if anyone asked then it would have been strictly professional.

"I've got to go home - But, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I'm thrilled when you touch my hand
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
Ohhh, baby it's cold outside,"

The final notes lingered in the air and Blaine and Kurt watched everyone anxiously, trying to gauge a reaction. Nick jumped to his feet and started clapping loudly. Everyone followed him, smiling brightly and clapping loudly. Blaine and Kurt broke into smiles, looking to each other. When the applause died down, a member of the council – which in future years would become David, Wes and Thad – stood.

"Thank you, that was wonderful and very enjoyable to watch. We need to discuss our decision so if you wouldn't mind waiting outside," the tallest member of the council said, gesturing to the door.

Blaine and Kurt nodded and headed outside, closing the door behind them. "You were beautiful," Kurt smiled at Blaine adoringly. "I love hearing you sing."

Blaine sat next to Kurt, making sure that their thighs were touching. "You move me, Kurt."

Kurt blushed and leaned into Blaine's side. That was about as much as they touched at Dalton; nobody knew that they were dating. They didn't want to take the chance of copping any shit from anyone.

"Do you think they'll let us join?" Kurt asked quietly, a hint of anxiousness in his voice. Blaine knew how much Kurt loved singing; their love for it was mutual.

"If they don't, it's their loss," Blaine said, nudging Kurt gently. He stroked Kurt's fingers that were popping out of the cast. "We'll find another club to join."

Kurt watched Blaine's fingers dance over his, a flush filling his cheeks. They both looked up startled when the door opened and Wes was standing there, face impassive. "You can come back in now," Wes instructed and turned around promptly.

Kurt and Blaine stood once more and made their choir room. They couldn't read any of the boys' expressions and they faced the council, standing tall.

"We have made our decision," the tallest council member said and allowed a little grin. "By unanimous vote you have been accepted. Welcome to the Warblers."

Everyone clapped and Wes, David, Nick and Jeff descended on Kurt and Blaine, hugging them and patting them on the back. Kurt and Blaine were shocked but grinned brightly at each other. The meeting broke up after that as lunch was nearly over. Wes, David, Nick, Jeff, Thad and Cameron walked with Kurt and Blaine as they headed to their lockers.

"So, are you two together?" Thad asked out of the blue and Kurt narrowed his eyes.

He grabbed Blaine's hand and held his chin up high. "He's my best friend and boyfriend," Kurt said, glaring at them as if challenging them to make a scene.

"I knew it!" David cried happily. "Wes you owe me five dollars."

Wes grumbled and dove a hand into the inside pocket of his blazer and pulled out a crisp five dollar note, handing it to David. Kurt and Blaine looked confusedly between the two of them.

"Don't worry. You're not the only gay kids here," Wes explained, catching their expressions. "Nick and Jeff," the two boys waved, "they're gay and we have our suspicions about Cameron."

"Hey!"

"Wait...you don't care?" Kurt asked, looking confused.

"No," David smiled softly but then it faded. "I take it at your old school they did." David nodded to the cast on Kurt's arm and Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt, pulling him closer.

"Yeah, they minded," Blaine said quietly and Kurt flinched, mind instantly flashing back to the horrifying moment when he had been pushed down the stairs.

"Well, you have nothing to worry about here," Wes grinned. "Except that you are officially the cutest couple here and you've only been here a few days."

"That's so unfair," Cameron whined and the boys laughed, Blaine and Kurt chuckling along with them, hardly daring to believe that they had been accepted so easily. It was almost too good to be true. The bell rang and the hurried to gather their books.

Blaine noticed that Kurt was quiet during the rest of the afternoon, a small frown creasing his face. To Blaine, it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulder. Yes, it would still take time to feel completely safe at Dalton – you don't just forget years of abuse – and he felt like he could slowly get back to himself here at Dalton.

At the end of the day as they waited for Burt to pick them up, they sat on the stone steps.

"What's wrong?" Blaine asked quietly, leaning in close. Just because they had been accepted by the Warblers didn't mean they would be flaunting their relationship all over Dalton.

"They accepted us," Kurt whispered and Blaine's heart broke as he saw tears in Kurt's eyes. "When everyone found out that we were together at Westerville, they put a dead cat in our locker." Blaine winced at that particularly disgusting memory. "I keep waiting for the hate but it's not coming."

"I hardly believe it myself," Blaine said quietly, taking Kurt's hand in his. "But it's different here. Maybe now we can start being ourselves outside of our homes."

Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand tightly and a single tear slid down his cheek. Blaine wiped it away carefully, smiling softly, his own eyes suspiciously bright.

A car horn honked and they looked up to see Burt waving at them through the window. Blaine gathered their bags, putting his hand on the small of his boyfriend's back and pushed him towards the car. They slid in and Burt drove away.

Nick stepped out from behind the pillar he had been standing behind, eyes bright with emotion. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the two new Warblers. He had been coming to say goodbye when he heard them talking. He was disgusted to hear about the dead cat in their lockers as a congratulations present. It took him back to his own public school war memories. He took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of his emotions. He vowed then and there that Blaine and Kurt would get treated with nothing but respect here at Dalton. They deserved it.