Slowly, Blaine was getting to know what kind of boy Kurt was and he had to admit that he really, really liked him. He was quite possibly one of the most unique people that Blaine had ever come to know and he found it so incredibly fascinating. He loved hearing Kurt talk, even complain about this Rachel Berry girl from Glee club. Apparently, she was his biggest competition in the group and she had a killer voice. Usually, the Glee club's coach, Mr. Schuester gave her the solos. It was weird hearing that the New Directions had a coach considering Blaine was so used to working as a group with The Warblers. The New Directions seemed to be a monarchy when The Warblers were more like a democracy.

Blaine always asked Kurt about any development with Karofsky and constantly reminded him that if things got worse, to see the principal immediately. There wasn't much Blaine could do from his position, but he was more than willing to offer Kurt all of the advice and knowledge he had gained from personal experience. He worried for Kurt's well being, to be honest. He didn't want things to escalate to a level where he would be beaten until he bled. He could see it in Kurt's eyes, he was close to that breaking point. Behind that smile he saw a boy who was slowly falling apart at the seams. A boy who was worn down by the harsh treatment that was homophobia. Blaine only wished there was something he could do to get Karofsky to either stop or leave McKinley. He seemed to be the only one giving Kurt a hard time. Blaine wanted to get through to this confused boy, show him that everything was going to be alright and things would only get better if he just listened to what Blaine had to say and take that first step in accepting who he was. He was stubborn, though. The kind that would blindly throw his fists about wildly.

Blaine was worried about Kurt and his safety at McKinley. He had briefly mentioned that he would have loved Kurt to transfer to Dalton, but the tuition there was very expensive and he knew that not everybody was fortunate enough to come from a wealthy family like his. Blaine was almost ready to offer to pay for half of Kurt's tuition but Blaine was certain Kurt wouldn't accept. Blaine was also sure his parents wouldn't be cool with that considering they didn't even know Kurt to begin with. Blaine just really didn't want to see Kurt end up in the same situation Blaine found himself a year ago. Beaten to a bloody mess, sobbing in the back seat of a car, nearly crying for his mother who was out of town on business.

----

Soon enough, sectionals came around and Blaine found himself competing against Kurt. He tried not to think about it on a personal level. It was just friendly competition and surely enough, Blaine didn't let everything get to his head when he found himself singing on that stage. He didn't want to seem big headed, but he was certain they would win-well, technically they did, but he was not expecting a tie. It didn't matter, though. The fact was that they won and they were on their way to regionals to compete against The New Directions yet again.

It was hard watching Kurt struggle. He could see pain hidden behind those blue eyes Blaine grew to love so very much. Things with Karofsky weren't getting worse, but they weren't getting any better. Kurt was still being pushed around and he would still have profanities yelled at him. He briefly mentioned that his friends promised to keep him safe, but there were times when they couldn't walk the halls together and that was when Karofsky managed to shoulder Kurt into the lockers or purposefully bump into him, knocking Kurt to the floor. Whenever Kurt would tell Blaine about this, he would have to bite his tongue to keep himself from muttering profanities. There had been a few times that Kurt had called Blaine crying because his day had been so awful. Days where he had kept all of his emotions bottled up before letting them all spill out once he was in the safety of his home.

Winter break was right around the corner and the exams and mid-term papers were beginning to pile up. It was at this point that Blaine kind of regretted getting that job in the Lima Bean. He had been balancing his job, the winter show he was performing at, school work and Warbler practice all at once. He almost ended up breaking down in an anxiety attack one night in his dorm room. But, Blaine was the king of keeping it cool and he managed to calm himself with a few breathing exercises he had learned from a therapist his parents had sent him to after the incidents at his old school. Surprisingly, the damn exercises worked. That, and Blaine was also enjoying the fact that he had been spending so much time with Kurt now that they were more than just acquaintances. Every now and then Blaine would invite Blaine over to his dorm at Dalton for study dates. Well, they weren't really dates considering he and Kurt weren't a couple, but Kurt was the one who came up with the term and Blaine liked the sound of it. Friends went on dates, right?

"I can't wait to get these exams over," Kurt groaned as he dropped his head onto the textbook that lay open on his desk. Behind him, Blaine was lying on Kurt's bed on his stomach, two text books open in front of him with a few papers completely filled with notes scattered about him. Blaine looked up from his work smiling a little at Kurt's back. He was slumped lazily over the desk, arms spread on either side of his head, cheek pressed to the text book. "I'm so tired of reading about Charlemagne."

Blaine laughed a little as he slung his arm over his books and rested his chin over it. "Any special plans for the holidays?" he asked.

Kurt sat up before twirling around his seat to look at Blaine with a little smile. "My dad said we're going to have a big Christmas dinner."

With a little tilt of the head and a smile, Blaine listened on.

"It's the…uh…first Christmas dinner we'll be having as a big family since my mom." He didn't say much else, leaving the sentence hanging for a few moments before he continued. "Carole has insisted on taking care of dinner. I think she is the first person I have come across who's cooking is as amazing as mine." Kurt grinned a little before leaning back in his chair. "What about you?"

Blaine shrugged. "I was just gonna spend Christmas here with some of the other guys who aren't going home."

Kurt's eyebrows hiked. "Wait, why aren't you going home?"

"My parents' business trip has been extended over the holidays and there's no way they can get out of it," Blaine said with his best attempt at looking positive and unbothered by it when it reality, he was pretty much devastated.

"Come home with me for winter break," Kurt said almost immediately. Maybe too quickly, but Blaine didn't pay much mind to that.

"Kurt I…I wouldn't want to impose on your family. It's Christmas."

"Exactly," Kurt said as he raised a finger. "It's Christmas. So you shouldn't have to spend it alone."

"I'm not going to be alone, though-"

"I won't take no for an answer," Kurt said as he spun back around to face his desk once more. "You're spending Christmas with me and my family. End of discussion."

And because Blaine knew Kurt well enough by now to know that there was no arguing when he had his mind made up, Blaine just smiled as he moved his arm from where it rested on his text book and continued on with his silent studying. Secretly, he was ecstatic that Kurt had invited him over for Christmas.

------

"So you're the kid who Kurt won't stop talking about, huh?"

"Dad!"

All Blaine could do was stand awkwardly in the kitchen as he watched Kurt shoot his father a sharp look before bowing his head to continue working at the potatoes. Blaine watched Burt Hummel make his way towards Blaine as he offered the boy a hand to shake. Blaine was surprised when he first saw Burt walk into the room. Burt was definitely not what Blaine expected after hearing all the stories about how supportive Burt was of his son. He looked like the butch, manly, trucker type. The type of man who would kick his son out of the house if he found out he was gay. Not encourage him to fight for a song that was traditionally sung by a woman. It warmed Blaine's heart, finally meeting the wonderful man who was lucky enough to have such an amazing son.

Blaine gave Burt's hand a firm shake. "It's a pleasure, sir," he said with a grin. "I can't thank you enough for having me over. My parents went out of town and-"

"I know," Burt interrupted with a smile, "Kurt told me everything."

Blaine's eyes moved over to Kurt who was still bending over the counter, now beating the potatoes violently. "Dad, can you please just-I think Carole needs your help setting the table." Blaine could tell that it was just an excuse to get his father to leave the room to save himself from further embarrassment.

Blaine gave Burt a small nod goodbye before the man rolled his eyes at his son and left the kitchen. Blaine decided that he really liked this man and he admired him just like he admired Kurt. Hell, he admired the amazing relationship they shared. It was like nothing he had ever seen before and Blaine was so incredibly happy that he had such a supportive family. And everyone was so incredibly kind, too, Blaine noticed as they sat down for dinner. Carole had this amazingly sweet, maternal aura about her. A kind of air that made Blaine want to sit close to her. It made Blaine miss his own mother whom he hadn't seen months. Blaine found himself smiling over at Kurt quite often throughout the dinner, staying mostly silent during the conversation that went around the table. He was grateful for Kurt. Blaine never thought he'd be so happy about being forced somewhere like today. He claimed that he didn't want to impose on Kurt's family, but he longed for a Christmas dinner in an environment like this. It also made Blaine feel a little better when he noticed that one of Finn's friends, Puck, was also over for dinner that evening.

Dinner was wonderful and Blaine insisted on helping with the dishes because, really, it was the least he could do. Eventually, Blaine found himself in Kurt's room as Kurt showed him around. He explained that at their old house, his room was much bigger considering it was the basement. When Carole moved in with Finn, though, they started sharing the room and that, Kurt explained, is when Kurt's crush on Finn began dying down. When he saw how "horrifyingly disgusting" Finn was.

Blaine laughed. "I still can't believe you used to have a crush on [I]Finn[/I]."

"Don't remind me," Kurt snapped as he sat on the edge of his bed, crossing his legs Indian style. "I was young and na�ve."

"That was less than a year ago, though-"

"I was young and na�ve, Blaine," Kurt repeated with a tone that cut right through Blaine.

Blaine laughed a little, raising his hands in defense. "Okay, okay, fine." He grinned before falling back onto Kurt's bed and, holycrap, "Ohmygod, you have the most comfortable bed ever."

"I know," Kurt sighed. "Those beds at Dalton are horrible. How do you sleep at night?"

"You get used to it." Blaine shrugged a little before rolling into his stomach and nuzzling into the pillow. And he didn't mean to sound like a total creep, but it smelled like Kurt and that made him smile almost fondly. Did he mention Kurt smelled really nice? "So jealous," Blaine mumbled into the softness of the pillow. Blaine felt Kurt flop back onto the bed as he continued to speak. "I wonder if I can bring this bed back with me," Blaine mused out loud as he rolled onto his back and turned his head to look at Kurt who was lying on his stomach, little closer than Blaine anticipated.

Kurt arched a brow. "Are you hinting that you're planning on kidnapping my bed, Blaine Warbler?"

Blaine grinned. "Maybe."

Kurt laughed softly and then a comfortable silence fell between them where Blaine was just looking up at the ceiling and Kurt's head was turned towards Blaine. He could feel those eyes on him, watching him in silence. And then, Kurt finally spoke up. "How did you get through it?" The question was gentle.

With a quiet little, "Hm?" Blaine turned his head to look at Kurt who was still staring at him.

"Everything at your old school." His voice was a soft as ever, a hint of curious innocence in it that melted Blaine's heart.

"I barely did," Blaine admitted after a long pause, looking back up at the ceiling, a hand resting over his own stomach. "It wasn't even two months since I had come out until I transferred." It was a difficult subject to talk about. Actually, Blaine hated talking about it in detail, but Kurt had asked and Blaine felt the need to answer. If he wasn't going to be strong for himself, he needed to give Kurt that strength. "People were cruel. They yelled profanities at me in the hallways and even beat the hell out of me one time." Blaine swallowed the lump welling in his throat before turning his face to look at Blaine. "Kurt, you are one of the bravest people I have ever met…and I really admire you for that. Standing up for yourself the way you do and showing no fear to bullies like Karofsky. It takes a lot." Blaine smiled before reaching out to gently touch Kurt's back and he could have almost sworn he felt Kurt tense up for a moment. "Things will get better. I promise. You just have to stay positive. I know it's hard but…please."

Kurt simply nodded, eyes a little glassy. Blaine offered his friend a little smile before soothing his hand along that back. "Hey," he muttered. "Don't cry. It's Christmas. You're not allowed."

Kurt sniffed in response before letting out a watery laugh and reaching up to wipe at his eyes.

"There we go," Blaine mumbled before offering Kurt a gentle smile.

And then, a voice at the door. "Uhh…" Blaine sat up, along with Kurt as both their heads snapped in the direction of the voice. Finn was standing awkwardly at the door. "Sorry if I was, um, interrupting anything but, uh, Kurt, mom said to come down stairs to open presents and stuff."

Kurt nodded. "We'll be down in a second, Finn." And then, the tall boy was hurrying away.

Pushing off of the bed, Blaine offered Kurt his hand. "You heard him, time for presents!" Blaine grinned as Kurt took his hand and Blaine practically tugged him off of the bed and out of the room.

-----

"Uh, you guys really didn't have to get me anything." Blaine was staring down at the box sitting in his lap, feeling a little awkward and out of place. He was just Kurt's friend over for Christmas. He wasn't expecting presents and now he felt damn guilty. Like some stray dog in need of a home.

"Nonsense!" Carole said, waving her hand. "When Kurt told me you were coming over, I had to get you something, dear. You've been such a positive influence on Kurt's life recently, he-"

"Carole!" Kurt cut in, dropping his face to his hands. This family seemed to be very open with everything. Secrets were practically non existent in this house, it seemed. Blaine laughed at Kurt's adorable reaction.

"Oh, don't pretend like it's not true, Kurt. Ever since you met Blaine-"

"Ohmygod, can we please just move on to opening the presents and stop talking about Blaine?"

Blaine was still grinning. "But I like being talked about," he teased, watching Kurt who shot him a nasty look that only Kurt could pull off to gracefully.

"I agree with Kurt," Burt interjected, saving his son from further embarrassment as he began unwrapping his own gift.

Kurt sighed beside Blaine and all he could do was chuckle in response. Kurt was pretty much the most adorable boy Blaine had ever met. And he wanted to keep Kurt safe for as long as the younger boy would let him. Kurt was special and Kurt mattered. And he deserved to be happy. He didn't deserve any of this torment that some in the closet bully was forcing on him.