The week went by in a breeze; his, Tina's and Brittany's routine was flawless, and loved by the entire group, and he had a fairly quiet week, with only a few semi-run-ins with Dave, in which there was a look of, both, satisfaction and worry on Dave's face and fear masked on Kurt's as he tried to walk away without letting Dave know that he was getting to him. He spent the Wednesday after school with Blaine and they planned for him to stay at Kurt's that coming weekend and leave on the Sunday evening. Kurt was truly glad that his family got on so well with Blaine and vice versa.

After Kurt had enjoyed a lovely weekend with Blaine and his family, he waited for somebody to hit repeat on his life, waiting for his week to start again and commence in the same fashion. And life didn't disappoint; Kurt's weeks dragged by. One week. And another. A third rolled by. And then, soon, Kurt was having an x-ray and his cast removed. Now, it was another two weeks before Kurt would have people asking him about whether he was joining the football team again. What was he going to do? He really did love playing football, but he was also truly terrified of Dave. These thoughts and needed-to-be-made decisions rattled about Kurt's head over the next two weeks, and before he knew it, it was the middle of the semester and they were on a week-long break.

"Only another half a semester and then you'll be with me every day." Kurt said as he squeezed Blaine's hand that was in his own. They were currently laying on Blaine's double bed in his dorm room. Kurt had insisted on riding (yes, his father had finally given him his beloved bike back – with much begging and pleading on Kurt's part, admittedly), to Dalton as he was on break, spending time with Blaine whilst he had the week of half days, before he was on a mid-semester break, in which he had mid-terms. And, honestly, Kurt was glad he'd insisted; he'd forgotten how much he missed Dalton: the long, tiled hallways that held sweet kisses and light brushes of fingers in passing, the homely dorms that often played host to movie marathons and video game bonanzas, and the people whom he'd found friendship in and missed dearly.

"Mmm." Blaine hummed back, running his fingers over Kurt's bare chest and smiling at nothing in particular but the fact that he was with the man he loved at this perfect moment. The boys lay talking contentedly for another half an hour before they soon fell in to a comfortable slumber.

When Kurt opened his eyes, he blinked a few times before sighing happily as he remembered where he was, and with whom. Kurt nuzzled his face in to the crook of Blaine's neck and pressed a light kiss to his pulse point before smiling and soon nodding off again.

Blaine was glad that Wes had gone home a week early to join his parents on their two-week-long vacation and still start back in time (even if he was slightly envious that his roommate got to miss their mid-terms), glad that Kurt and himself had time alone without parents or siblings to interrupt, glad that they were together.

Of course, paradise can only last for so long, can only hold out for so long before it dwindles away from pleasant memories and warm feelings; memories of tender kisses during movies, whisperings of sweet nothings during warm embraces late in to the night, brushes of skin before fingers were locked, and, of course, the inevitable: steamy make-out sessions in empty classrooms, abandoned hallways after hours, shared showers, moonlit rose gardens and the Warblers' meeting room (Blaine did hope that he didn't ask Kurt to 'work that gavel' in his sleep and earn a scolding interrogation from Wes late one night).

"I'll come down to see you on Monday, okay?" Blaine asked as he hugged Kurt before the taller boy's departure on the Friday.

"Ah."

Trying to cover his sigh, Blaine quickly asked "Football?"

"Yeah, I was kind of hoping. I mean, Coach Beiste all but begged me at the start of the semester. I highly doubt the team's ability has improved."

"Pop."

"Huh?"

"Your head just burst." Blaine said matter-of-factly, winking at his boyfriend.

"Oh, shush. You know what I mean." Kurt nudged Blaine's shoulder with his own, smiling lightly.

"Yeah, I do. Okay, how about I pick you up on Tuesday after Glee?"

"I'd like that." Kurt smiled even more, leaning towards Blaine to press their lips together in a soft kiss. When Blaine pulled back and smiled at Kurt, he saw Kurt looking at him intently. "Ah ah!" Kurt said before wrapping his arms around Blaine's waist and pulling him to his chest, firmly smashing their lips together and kissing his boyfriend until he felt the other boy's legs give way. He giggled lightly as he pulled back. "The old boy's still got it." Kurt said before going to his bike, a grin plastered across his face.

Just as Kurt was looking left and right to pull out of the Dalton grounds, he felt a vibration in his pants pocket. As nobody was behind him, he kept his feet on the floor to balance himself and the bike as he pulled out his phone and saw Blaine's name flash across the screen beside the indicator for a text.

I can't wait until Tuesday. Love you, baby x.

Kurt smiled and looked behind him to see Blaine still standing in the Dalton parking lot. He turned off his bike, put it on the stand after getting off and took off his helmet before he went back to Blaine and pulled him in for a hot kiss.

"Wow." Blaine breathed moments later.

"Love you, too; and I can't wait either." Kurt said against Blaine's lips as he cupped the shorter boy's cheeks. "Okay. Now, I really have to go before you send me another sweet text and my feet and lips suddenly decide that I can't leave." Kurt laughed lightly before kissing Blaine gently and going back to his bike to make his way home, waving over his shoulder to Blaine just before he double-checked both ways and pulled out.

On Saturday evening, Kurt sat on Rachel's bed with the other Glee girls, his cheeks flushing after Santana had said she was sure Kurt had had something 'probe' him whilst at Dalton with Blaine. The awkwardness had arisen when Mercedes had asked him how his time with Blaine had been.

"Why do we invite her?" Mercedes muttered to Kurt, sighing as she pulled him against her.

"I think Rachel takes pity on her. I mean, the only sleepovers she has are with twenty five year old guys that want some." Kurt giggled and felt Mercedes trying to stifle her laughter.

"Wha'chu' chattin', Hummel?" Santana snapped as she noticed to half-giggling pair resting against the headboard.

"That we need to give Rachel a make-over before someone mistakes her for an infant and accuses Finn of being a paedophile, or something." A small gasp left Rachel's lips before she sat and frowned at Kurt while Santana glared at him slightly, not completely believing of his smooth words.

"Mercedes, Britt: find an ensemble that resembles that of a high-schooler; Tina: mani-pedi; Quinn: give her that sexy make-up that I know only you can do – maybe some smokey eyes or whatnot – Satan – Santana: hair – I mean, only you could have that same mainstream hairstyle and make it look fabulous every day!" Kurt ordered, clapping his hands as he made for the waxing strips Rachel kept in her bathroom but never had the guts to use.

"Yo, Hummel, hold up! First off, nobody – not even you – orders Santana around! Second, was that an insult or a compliment?" Santana demanded.

Kurt scrunched his nose slightly as he said "A bit of both, take it as you will," winking at the Hispanic girl beside him. Kurt heard Santana say a 'thanks', and was shocked. He hadn't expected her to see the good in his order-with-a-little-extra. He smiled at her, nonetheless, and continued searching for the waxing strips as Santana left.

"Rachel, don't squirm!" Kurt scolded, tapping her arm as he finished shaping her eyebrows. When Kurt stepped back to admire his work, he saw something he didn't expect to see.

Santana had gone in to the bathroom to retrieve Rachel's hairspray as Quinn stood behind Rachel, scissors in one hand, resting against a large amount of hair she grasped in her other. Before Kurt could do anything, the room went silent around the snip, and small gasp that fell from Rachel's mouth. Kurt saw the tears brimming Rachel's eyes as she clutched the arms of the chair harshly.

"Rachel, honey, come on." Kurt said, putting his hand over the Jewish girl's, and trying to get her to move. Soon, Kurt was able to guide her in to the bathroom. Sitting on the closed toilet seat and pulling Rachel in to his lap, cradling her and telling her it would be fine, that they could sort it, he heard the argument the rest of the girls were having with Quinn, glad that Rachel couldn't hear it over her sobbing.

After the argument had quieted down, most of which seemed to go on between Mercedes, Quinn and – surprisingly, Kurt thought – Santana, there was a knock at the door. "Be- Rachel, it's me, Santana, can I come in?" Santana's voice carried through the wood. Before Santana heard a reply, though, she pushed open the door and walked towards the pair sitting on the closed toilet.

Rachel must have noticed Santana had come in, as she pushed her further in to Kurt's shirt. If he had not loved the girl so, he would have told her to stop crying in to his shirt, that it was an Armani – one of his favourite Armanis, he might add. However, he simply rubbed his hand up and down her back as Santana came closer to them.

Placing a hand on Rachel's arm, she started to speak. "Rachel, will you let me help you?" She noticed Rachel shrug her shoulders, and said "Well, will you let me even out the length? We can take you to the salon tomorrow if you don't like it." Santana poked the quietly-weeping girl in the hip lightly and said "Come on, trust Auntie 'Tana." Rachel turned her head slightly to see Santana smiling warmly at her. She looked to Kurt worriedly.

Looking at Santana, observing the emotion on her face, Kurt could not see anything that made it look as though she wanted to do anything but help. He nodded to Rachel and watched as she gingerly put her hand out to take the one Santana had offered to her, standing up and letting the Hispanic lead her back in to the bedroom, where the other girls – minus Quinn, who had been kicked out – engulfed her in a hug.

Rachel stared at her reflection, her jaw dropping to form a small O. After a failed attempt at trying to speak (that ended in Rachel looking like a fish as she opened and closed her mouth), Rachel finally managed to get out a "Wow. Thank you , Santana." She then continued to stare at her reflection for a few minutes before everyone began complimenting her and Santana on her new 'do.

"Mamma Lopez taught me well." Santana smiled proudly.

When Rachel finally made her way round to Kurt – or rather, when Kurt was able to push through the others and steal Rachel for himself – he was amazed. He kept running his hands through her hair as he said "You look beautiful, Rachel."

"Thank you. So... err, are we gonna' finish this make-over?”

The others laughed and were back to redesigning Rachel.

Kurt could not stop admiring Rachel's hair, glad that Santana had done more than just 'even out the length'. Rachel's gorgeous locks sat gently just past her shoulders and had soft, lengthy layers that curled slightly more than the rest at the ends, with her fringe being brushed over to form a gentle, sweeping side fringe (after Santana had given her a side parting and added some more hair to her fringe to make it choppy at the ends and slowly getting longer as it met the rest of her length), bringing out Rachel's gorgeous, big, brown eyes.

When the make-over was complete, Rachel stood with a pair of denim shorts over grey, ribbed woollen tights, with a chestnut coloured, fitted U-neck vest and a long, white sleeveless crocheted lace cardigan, along with a pair of tan, heeled brogues. Kurt thought she looked beautiful with her nails painted a peach crush and minimal make up (barely-there bronze eyeshadow, lengthening mascara, and red lipstick). It wasn't that Kurt didn't think she wasn't beautiful before, just very much like she belonged with – how to word it? - les infants. Now, however, she looked mature, gorgeous: wow. He smiled at the girls' work, and hugged Rachel tightly, whispering "Honey, you look absolutely beautiful," and dropping a kiss on her cheek. He grinned at the blush that rose to her cheeks as she thanked him.

As the girls all gushed over Rachel with Kurt, Kurt had a sudden thought. "Hey, Rachel." He said.

"Yeah?"

"I have a spectacular idea!"

"Spill it, Hummel." She grinned wickedly, her nose scrunching in that adorable manner.

Kurt ran a hand through his hair before saying "Well, I know it's supposed to be a sleepover, but I think a person this stunning should not be contained. I propose that we ring the rest of the Glee club and celebrate your redesigning. I mean, your dads are out of town all weekend, you could even have them stay over."

The others had stopped talking as Rachel muttered a small "I dunno'..."

The rest of the girls went on about how it would be a brilliant idea, and Rachel finally gave in, saying Kurt should even invite some of the Warblers, reluctant as she was about the last part. However, she knew it might be like her last party, and knew that after a few drinks she wouldn't care less. Instantly, all of them had their phones out, texting and calling the rest of the glee club and the rival group.

"Blaine, would you and the Warblers be up for one of Rachel's parties? If so, just come and get whoever to bring booze – she's letting us go all out. We're celebrating tonight. Oh, and there's a ton of spare rooms." And then Kurt hung up and waited for the others to finish.