His eyelids felt as though they were made of lead as he slid his duffel bag onto his shoulder. He jumped out of his father's SUV, slamming the door shut behind him. The whole week had been unbearably stressful; he had spent the vast majority of it dodging questions concerning to his relationship status and his personal life. His extended family had no need to know of his "condition," as his father so indelicately phrased it on the plane ride to New York City, where the family reunion was held, and he had been instructed to keep quiet about it. Though he always despised hiding his true self, he didn't feel it was necessary to rock that boat.

He shuffled to the door behind his mother, who rolled her large suitcase behind her. Not even bothering to help his parents with their luggage, he immediately climbed all three flights of the grand staircase up to his bedroom. He reached the door, labeled with a small, hand-drawn sign reading, "BLAINE'S BEDROOM: PLEASE KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING," and shoved it open with sigh.

He then had to stifle a shout of shock.

"Kurt!"

Stretched across his light blue comforter, head rested on his fluffy pillow, was his boyfriend. Kurt smiled and winked at him. "Well hey, Blaine!"

Blaine rushed into his room and closed the door quickly. Keeping his voice low, he demanded, "God, Kurt, what're you doing here? Are you out of your mind?"

Kurt sat upright, looking slightly hurt. "I'm sorry, I just thought—"

"Thought what?" Blaine tossed his duffel bag into his open closet, not bothering to unpack. "Thought that you'd break into my house, hide out in my room, risk both your life and mine just to—to—" He couldn't finish. He saw Kurt's crystal blue eyes brimming over with tears. He felt like slapping himself.

He slowly walked over to the bed, sitting beside Kurt. He placed his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "God, I am so sorry, Kurt. I didn't mean...I'm so sorry..."

He felt Kurt's hand on his knee, and he looked up. The other boy's face was etched with concern. "Blaine, what's wrong?"

Kurt noticed that Blaine's normally pale skin was tinged with green, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around him.

Blaine fell deeply into Kurt's embrace. He had so much to say, but it was too difficult, and there was no way to say it right. He decided to keep it simple. "I missed you so much, Kurt."

And then they were kissing, passionately, desperately, a week's worth of loneliness and frustration emptying out before each other. When they split apart, both were smiling, eyelashes wet.

They were lost in each other's eyes for a moment, before Blaine leapt from the bed. "Kurt, I'm so glad to see you—I mean, you really have no idea how much I've missed you."

"Bet I do," Kurt interjected softly.

Blaine smiled, but quickly grew serious again. "This whole week I've had to lie about who I am to everyone around me, and it killed me inside, it absolutely killed me, because all I could think about was you and how much I love you and how ashamed I was to be denying you in front of my entire family, when really none of them matter to me, not one, not like you do—"

Kurt, too abandoned his spot on the bed, strode over to where Blaine was pacing, and interrupted his rambling with a kiss. This one was softer, sweeter, shorter, less urgent. Kurt pulled away, but kept his hands on either side of Blaine's face.

"Blaine Anderson," he said slowly. "You listen to me. I accepted a long time ago that sacrifices are going to be made if we're going to be together. It's just something we have to deal with. And if you have to lie to your family to please your father, so be it."

"But that's just it, Kurt." Blaine's voice shook. "You can't be here. If my father...God, Kurt, if my father finds out you're here...we're both dead."

Kurt smiled. "Well, I can't sneak out now, can I?" When Blaine shook his head, he continued. "I guess that means I'm going to have to spend the night here." Before the other boy could object, he pressed on. "Really, do you think your parents are going to randomly burst in here in the middle of the night?"

Blaine snorted. "Please. My parents try to avoid me at all costs."

"Exactly. I'll leave in the morning, before they wake. I parked my car a little ways down the street, so it wouldn't attract attention."

Blaine couldn't think of an argument—his brain was far too tired to function properly. He and Kurt changed into pajamas—backs turned, for modesty's sake—and climbed into bed. Kurt could tell that Blaine was still fearful, so he slid his arms around the shorter boy, and hummed lightly in his ear. Soon, both were asleep, only to be awoken several hours later by an alarm on Kurt's phone. Kurt donned his normal clothes, and the two boys kissed goodbye. Then they parted ways.

But never for long.