"Hey, can we talk?" Nick asked.
Kurt looked surprised but nodded and followed Nick into a small alcove that was off to the side. They went in and leant against the stone walls.
"What's up?" Kurt asked. "Are you OK?"
"I should be asking you that," Nick laughed softly. "Are you alright? You seem really sad. Blaine too."

Kurt winced and looked down.
"I don't want Blaine to be sad," Kurt said quietly and looked back to Nick. "Has he said anything?"
"No, Wes and David were going to talk to him though," Nick said. "Is everything OK between the two of you. Did you have a fight?"
Kurt shook his head.
"No, Blaine's just upset that I'm upset," Kurt said. He gave Nick a small smile. "Blaine's amazing."

"What's got you upset?" Nick asked. "You don't have to tell me but I'm your friend and I don't like seeing you upset."
Kurt smiled at Nick who smiled back.
"It's just...Finn," Kurt said quietly. "Dinner the other night didn't go that great. I fear that we won't ever get along because Finn won't try."

Nick frowned.
"That sucks," Nick said.
"I just...I want this to go well," Kurt sighed, shaking his head.
Nick surprised Kurt by hugging him tightly. Nick pulled away and clapped Kurt on the shoulder.
"You are amazing Kurt," Nick said. "He'll come to his sense."
"Thanks Nick," Kurt smiled. "You're a really good friend."

Kurt's phone jangled in his pocket and pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
"Blaine?" Nick asked and Kurt shook his head.

"No, Mercedes, a girl I met last week. She wants to go shopping this afternoon," Kurt said.
"Mind if I tag along? I want to get Jeff something," Nick said.
"Yeah, of course. She's bringing her friends along with her so it should be fine," Kurt said.
"Thanks," Nick smiled. Students filed past and it was lunch time.

Nick and Kurt slipped out of the alcove and headed to the lunch room to get themselves some lunch.
"What were you thinking of getting Jeff?" Kurt asked as they walked.
"He's been looking at book so I thought I'll save him the trouble and get it for him," Nick said.
Kurt beamed and the two headed into the lunch room.
They waited in line and bought themselves some lunch and looked around the room.

Blaine and Jeff were sitting with the rest of the Warbler's at their regular table and the two boys headed to them. Blaine looked at Kurt curiously and saw that he looked happier.
Blaine smiled at him and Kurt smiled back.
"Everything OK?" Blaine asked.
"Yeah. I was just talking to Nick," Kurt said, smiling at Nick who nodded back.
Blaine nodded.
"We're going shopping after school," Kurt continued. "So I won't see you tonight."

Blaine nodded.
"That's OK. I was just going to be working on my essay anyway," Blaine said.
After school, Blaine walked Kurt to his car with Jeff and Nick. The couples shared a kiss before Kurt and Nick climbed into Kurt's car and they headed off.

Mercedes Jones was waiting for Kurt outside the mall with Tina and unfortunately Rachel. She had overheard that Mercedes and Tina were going shopping with Kurt and took it upon herself to invite herself so that she could hopefully get something out of him.
Mercedes and Tina beamed when they saw Kurt walking with an unknown boy and Rachel straightened, puffing her chest out.

Kurt smiled at Mercedes as they approached and stopped in front of them.
"Sorry we're late Mercedes and Tina. This is my friend Nick," Kurt said.
"Nice to meet you," Nick said with a charming grin.
"Whose your friend?' Kurt said, looking to Rachel curiously. He saw Mercedes and Tina roll their eyes as the girl stepped forward.
"I'm Rachel Berry."

"Nice to meet you," Kurt and Nick said in unison.
"Come on, we've got some shopping to do," Mercedes said before Rachel could open her mouth. Mercedes linked arms with Kurt and dragged him in, Nick following beside him.
They went clothes shopping first and Kurt winced as Rachel headed to the section with jumpers that had animal prints on them.

"Breathe Kurt," Nick sniggered.
"Just no," Kurt said, grabbing Rachel shoulder's and pushing her away from them. "No."
"What? Hey!" Rachel protested.
Mercedes was thrilled with the clothes that Kurt had found her and tried them on.
"So, Mercedes said you are in the Warblers," Rachel said and Tina rolled her eyes.

Nick and Kurt shared a look with each other before answering.
"Yes, we are," Nick said carefully and didn't like the grin that Rachel sported.
"Oh," she said. "What kind of songs have you performed."
"Nice try," Nick smirked. "We know that you are in New Directions."
"Oh come on," Rachel said, flipping her hair and attempting to flirt. "It's just conversation. Off the record so to speak."

Tina and Mercedes rolled their eyes.
"Flirt all you want," Kurt said, looking thoroughly amused. "but you won't get anything from us. Oh, and we are both gay so you're wasting your time."
Rachel scowled while the others sniggered.
"Come on, we still have much more shopping to do," Kurt said and turned on his heel, stalking off.

Rachel was in a huff for the rest of the time but she couldn't help but slightly admire Kurt. He shopped well and not just for himself. He was looking at shirts that were to wide and small for him and not his style.
"That wouldn't fit you," Rachel sniffed.
"It's not for me. It's for my boyfriend," Kurt said, placing it carefully over his arm.
"Oh, is it Blaine's birthday or something?" Tina asked with a grin.

"No," Kurt smiled. "Blaine just deserves something nice for being him. Just like Nick is buying Jeff something because he can."
The girls all awed and Rachel's face softened.
"That's so sweet," Rachel said softly. "No boy has ever done anything like that for me."
"Mike never does," Tina sighed. "It's always Asian this or Asian that."
"At least you have a man," Mercedes said.

"It works both ways," Nick said as they headed to the register. "Don't wait for him to show you something nice. Do something nice for him and he'll follow your lead. Unless you are like Blaine and Kurt can practically read each other's minds."
"That's only because me and Blaine have been best friends since we were five," Kurt said. "You and Jeff are getting pretty good at reading each other."

The girls smiled softly and looked at them with awed eyes.
Their shopping trip ended far too soon for the girls liking, loving spending time with Kurt and Nick. Even Rachel was starting to get along with them, asking them dating advice and how she could get her man. Rachel had let slip that she was crushing on Finn who was dating Quinn. Kurt shared a shocked look with Nick but didn't say anything.

Nick and Kurt left together and jumped in the car. Kurt drove Nick to Jeff's house.
"Want me to pick you up or anything?" Kurt asked as he parked on the street.
"Nah, Jeff can take me home. See you tomorrow Kurt," Nick smiled and jumped out of the car. Kurt drove himself home, singing along to the radio.
Kurt jumped out and saw his dad's car in the drive way.
"Hey kid," Burt greeted as Kurt came through the door.

Kurt smiled when he saw Carol on the couch, Burt's arm wrapped around his.
"Hey dad, Carol," Kurt smiled, smirking slightly as his dad. "I just dropped by to pick up some things and then I'm going to Blaine's. I'll stay the night."
"Sure thing," Burt said. "Oh and I need you to work in the garage after school tomorrow."
"Sure thing dad," Kurt smiled. Kurt hurried up the stairs and grabbed a few things before coming back down.

He said his goodbyes and hurried to his car and drove to Blaine's.
Kurt went in and grinned at Edward who was on the couch.
"Hey Kurt," Edward greeted. Edward was watching the news and had a glass of scotch in his hand.
"What's for dinner?" Kurt asked.
"Annie's cooking roast with roasted vegies and potatoes," Edward grinned.
"Looks like I chose the right house to stay at tonight," Kurt teased and Edward laughed.

Kurt looked at the stairs and beamed when he saw Blaine coming down, looking adorably confused.
"Hey, did I know you were staying here tonight?" Blaine asked, pecking him lightly.

"No," Kurt smiled. "Carol was over so I decided to give dad and her some privacy."
"Aren't you sweet," Blaine grinned.
"I bought you something," Kurt said and handed one of his many shopping bags to Blaine.
Blaine's eyes light up and he pulled out the shirt Kurt had picked for him.
"Kurt, I love it, thank you," Blaine said and gave Kurt another kiss.

"I knew you would," Kurt smiled.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Blaine asked as he grabbed some of Kurt's bags and they headed up stairs together.
"For being you," Kurt smiled. "I just want to say thanks. You've been really great with the whole Finn issue and you've helped me so much. I wanted to do something for you."

"Kurt," Blaine said. "You know I don't need things. You're my boyfriend and I like helping you."
"You do so much for me Blaine," Kurt said, dropping his things on the spare bed. "I like buying you things."
Blaine smiled and put the rest of Kurt's things down before pulling him into a tight hug.
"I love you so much," Blaine smiled.
"I love you too," Kurt smiled beautifully. "Now, you can show me how much you love me by helping with my homework."

Blaine laughed loudly and Kurt grinned. He grabbed his school books and they two boys headed downstairs to the kitchen table to work on their homework. Blaine brought his laptop down and finished typing the rest of his essay up. Kurt smiled. Blaine had changed out of his uniform and was wearing his 'comfy' clothes. His hair was left loose and curly (he knew how much Kurt liked his curls) and was wearing his reading glasses. It was very rare that anyone got to see Blaine like this and Kurt loved the fact that Blaine knew he could be comfortable around Kurt.

Mercedes, Tina and Rachel left the mall after Kurt and Nick.
"See," Mercedes said as they headed to the car. "Kurt is a nice guy, just like Sam said he was."
"I'll admit," Rachel said. "That they were nice and that they didn't try and spy on us like I thought they may have."
"Now maybe you can tell Finn to back off Kurt now," Tina said.
"Finn won't listen to me," Rachel said. "Not with Quinn barking orders in his ear."

"Then we need to convince Quinn that Kurt is a nice guy and she can tell Finn to stop being a huge jerk to him," Mercedes said.

"Quinn cares about her reputation just as much as Finn does," Rachel said. "You heard her going off at Finn today just before Glee, how he had been spotted hanging out with Kurt and Blaine, getting his 'gay' on. Honestly, the people in that school. I am used to the homophobia in that school because of my two gay dad's but I can't imagine what Kurt and Nick and their boyfriends must go through."

"Which is why Finn needs to get over his reputation," Mercedes said, unlocking her car. "and start looking out for his future step brother. They way Kurt talked about his dad and Carol, it sounds like they are heading for the wedding train."
"Finn won't do it unless the other guys see Kurt as an OK guy," Tina said.

"Sam thinks Kurt is cool," Mercedes said. "Maybe he could help us."
"Why are we doing this?" Rachel asked, sliding into the backseat of the car as Tina took the front.
"Because," Mercedes said. "Kurt is my friend and I'm going to help him anyway I can."
Tina nodded firmly in agreement and Rachel grinned.
"OK, I'm in," Rachel said.
"We weren't asking," Tina muttered to Mercedes who sniggered in response.

"It's going to be tough to convince Quinn," Rachel said, pulling out a pen and paper and started making notes. "She barely talks to me now even though she's in Glee and she's barely holding on to her popularity."
"Tina and I will try and convince Quinn," Mercedes said.
"We have a much better chance than you do," Tina added and Rachel huffed.

"Well, we'll need to convince Brittany and Santana at the same time," Rachel said, writing down their names. "Those three are tight and we have to get all of them at once or we'll turn none of them."
"I feel like we're ninja's or spies," Tina said with a grin.
"Or agents," Mercedes added and they laughed.

They dropped Rachel off at her place and Mercedes went to Tina's next.
"Do you think we can get Finn to change his attitude toward Kurt?" Tina asked.
"All I know is that Kurt and Blaine are epic and how I want my future relationship to be like theirs because they seem really happy," Mercedes said.
"They are so lucky," Tina sighed. "Especially in a town like this."

Mercedes couldn't agree more and as she drove herself home after Tina had gotten out at her place. She just hoped that Finn changed his attitude fast.