The seniors of Dalton spend the remainder of their November completing college applications and staying up late finishing assignments, until before they know it, December is upon them, bringing with it the welcome distraction of the prospect of Christmas presents and the upcoming holiday break. For Blaine, this Christmas holidays is somewhat more exciting than usual - Cooper, who Blaine hasn't seen in nearly two years, rings one weekend to let the Andersons know that he'll be home this Christmas.

But even then, the lead up to Christmas is far from perfect, particularly when Blaine wakes up on the second Tuesday of December. His 18th birthday, the start of his adulthood, begins with an envelope left on his bedside table. Concealed within is a birthday card, personalised by Senator Anderson. There's only a few words in his tight scrawl, but it's enough to dampen Blaine's mood.

Happy Birthday, son. You know what this means - you have the right to vote just in time for when it counts. Always good to have another voter!

Oh, how little you know me, thinks Blaine bitterly, but he's thankful at least for the anonymity in the US voting system.

There's a knock at the door.

"Come in!"

Mrs Anderson pushes open the door with her rear, her hands being otherwise occupied by the tray she's carrying, on top of which is a chocolate cake adorned with 18 lit candles.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday, Blaine!" she says happily, settling the tray down across Blaine's lap. The cake is anything but a surprise - late the previous night, Blaine had gone downstairs to refill his mug of coffee to find his mum busy in the kitchen. Still, Blaine appreciates the gesture, and he has always had a fondness for his mother's baking.

"Your dad had to leave early this morning, but never mind that," says Mrs Anderson, taking a seat on Blaine's bed. "Are you going to make a wish?"

Mrs Anderson looks at Blaine expectantly. Blaine takes in the cake. Eighteen candles, melting away with each passing second. Eighteen flames burning freely. Blaine closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and blows.

And he wishes that, in a year's time, he'll finally be completely out of the closet.

"Yay," cries Mrs Anderson excitedly. Blaine opens his eyes to see her removing the candles, all eighteen of which he had blown out. When no one else is around, Mrs Anderson has a tendency to treat Blaine as if he's still a child. Blaine puts it down to the fact that he's the youngest and, unlike his older brother, has never chastised his mother for embarrassing him in public. He allows her to baby him when they're alone and, in return, she refrains from being too overprotective when they're in public. It's their own little unspoken agreement.

"Thanks, Mum," says Blaine, as Mrs Anderson hands him a slice of cake

"The one day a year I get to treat my son like a prince," says Mrs Anderson, beaming.

"As if you don't on any other day anyway," says Blaine, before taking a bite of his cake. "It's delicious."

They don't discuss the fact that there's no card from Cooper or even a sign that he'll call his little brother on his 18th birthday. Blaine's slightly disappointed by the lack of communication, although in hindsight he realises that he should have expected nothing more. The last time Cooper had phoned home because of Blaine had been after he'd found out that Blaine had been beaten up, and even then the call had only lasted five minutes and come a few days after the act, when one of his friends had told him the news. (Cooper, like Blaine, has a habit of avoiding the news, but unlike Blaine, his attempts at losing track of his family's political escapades are actually effective).

But during Blaine's ride in to school, he does receive a phone call which brightens his day.

"Happy Birthday, Mr Son-Of-A-Future-Not-President," says a voice in Blaine's ear, clearly meant to be a mocking imitation of Marilyn Monroe. Blaine laughs, as Kurt speaks again in his usual voice, "How's your day been, now that you're an adult?"

"Not as bad as I would have thought," Blaine concedes. "But that's 'cause Dad had left before I got up. Any money I'll get the speech about the importance of voting when he comes home this afternoon."

"Of course," says Kurt. "Until then, I have a little something to take your mind off things."

"Do tell," says Blaine, unable to help the flirtatious lilt in his voice

"Well, if my dad's information is correct, your dad's going to be campaigning this weekend."

"That would be correct," says Blaine, unsure of where this is going.

"And I'm guessing, seeing as the term's nearly over, you'll be finished with all your assessment by then, meaning he's going to fly you out for moral support, where you'll no doubt be forced to listen to his answers, or lack thereof, on the issue of gay marriage, amongst other heavily-debated election topics."

"Oh, how you know my life."

"Which is why you should come to this small Christmas thing that I'm having the weekend after - the first weekend of holidays," says Kurt excitedly.

"What do you mean by small thing?" asks Blaine suspiciously. From the little he knows about Kurt, he has reason enough to believe that Kurt's definition of 'small' may not quite match up with everyone else's.

"Just a little dance I'm holding," says Kurt,."Around sixty or so guests."

"Sounds tiny," says Blaine.

"Come on," urges Kurt. "I've been planning this for weeks - and I've invited a handful of DC's most eligible gay bachelors. There's bound to be someone for you."

"Kurt, I'd love to, but someone's going to recognise me," says Blaine.

"Well, you're in luck, because it's masquerade themed this year. So just be unfashionable in a full face mask. Or even just a half mask. But really, when they see you in that suit of yours they'll overlook all that. Oh! And you could dye your hair blonde! No one would recognise you."

"For one night? Really?" says Blaine.

"Don't even try and pretend that's an unreasonable price to pay for an evening with me," says Kurt. "Do you know how sought after these invitations are? Not to mention the fact that I'm giving you a plus-however-many-guests-it'll-take-to-convince-you-to-come. Just make sure to lose the bowties your dad always has you in."

"Hey, the bowties are my thing," says Blaine, slightly wounded.

"Well, in any case, I was going to wear a bowtie and we can't dance if you're wearing one as well. It'll look off."

"We're dancing?" asks Blaine in surprise, his spirits soaring at the thought.

"It's a masquerade ball, Blaine, what do you expect?" says Kurt. "I'm sure Harry won't mind missing a few songs to let me dance with the bleach-blonde bottle-dyed tie-wearing stranger."

"I'm not dyeing my hair for one night," Blaine repeats automatically, though he feels a twinge of jealousy at this new information.

"Anyway, let me know who you're bringing so I can add them to the guest list," says Kurt. "Expect an invitation in the mail any day now!"

As Kurt hangs up, Blaine can't believe he had momentarily forgotten about Harry. Harry, who Kurt's ecstatic about, and who he'll probably spend the whole night dancing with; who'll be the perfect gentleman of a partner and who probably has smooth dance moves to back it up.

But with all guests required to be masked, Harry will no longer have the advantage with Kurt that he usually has. No, with both Harry and Blaine masked, Blaine is free to be open about his sexuality. And while it isn't quite coming out, it's enough to at least make Blaine feel optimistic about the evening.

Blaine's Tuesday timetable means that he sees neither Nick nor Jeff till lunch, when he finds them together on what has come to be their table in a corner of the Dalton courtyard.

"Happy Birthday," says Nick, pulling Blaine in to give him a clap on the shoulder. "Finally come to join us in adulthood, have you?"

"Easy, Nick, you've only been 18 a month," says Blaine. "Besides, it's not like it means we can all drink or anything."

"Screw that," says Jeff. "Nick and I were just thinking of heading out this weekend. My brother got a job at an 18+ club that just opened up. I'm sure he wouldn't mind trying to sneak us a few drinks. We could celebrate the end of exams."

"Can't," says Blaine. "Dad's got me flying out to help him campaign."

"Tell him to get someone else to hand out his flyers," says Nick.

"What about the weekend after?" continues Jeff, ignoring him. "First weekend of holidays."

"Oh, Kurt's got a thing," says Blaine.

"So?"

It's more of an accusation than a question, coming from the narrowed-eyed Nick. Blaine knows what he and Jeff are thinking. It had been weeks since the three of them did anything but schoolwork together, what with exams and the situation with Nick's mother, yet the second they start planning a night out Blaine bails to spend time with a guy he's barely known three months?

There's only one way to get them to understand...

Blaine had, over the past few weeks, reflected on all the times that Nick and Jeff had teased him about being in love with Kurt. They had never, he had realised, made it out to be a bad thing - they'd done it in the same way that they'd teased Nick about Jenna, not once implying that Blaine should feel more shame because it's a guy they're teasing him about. With that in mind, he looks from Nick to Jeff and back again.

"Nick, remember how before you and Lily started dating, we gave you permission to ditch things that we planned so you could spend time with her and try and impress her?" asks Blaine calmly.

"Yeah, 'cause I liked Lily," says Nick.

Blaine gives the slightest movement of his head, inviting Nick and Jeff to make the connection on their own.

"Holy shit," says Jeff. "You like Kurt?"

"Yeah," says Blaine.

"That must suck," mutters Nick, making Blaine momentarily regret telling him - perhaps he's misread his friends. But it must show on his face, because Nick hurries to add, "I just mean - with your dad and all. Does he know?"

"No."

"Does Kurt know?" asks Jeff.

"That I'm gay? Yes. But not that I like him," says Blaine

"Tell him," urges Nick.

"What? No!" says Blaine, taken aback by the straightforwardness of Nick's suggestion.

"Why not? You and Jeff were practically pushing me to tell Lily."

"That was mainly because you kept asking us if you should. It was the best way to shut you up, really," says Jeff.

"Yes, that and the fact that your parents were never battling it out to be President of the United States in front of the whole country," adds Blaine.

"So?" shrugs Nick. "It'll be like a modern day Romeo and Juliet."

Blaine's about to chastise Nick when he remembers that just weeks ago he'd made that same reference to Kurt. But things had been different then. If he had known then that he'd end up liking Kurt as anything more than friends...

"Look, do you guys want to come to this masquerade thing with me or not?" asks Blaine. "Kurt's date's going to be there, so it's not like I can just stay with him the whole night. I could use some company."

"Alright," says Jeff.

"Can I bring Lil?" asks Nick. "That is, if you're cool with her knowing and all."

Blaine muses. He trusts Lily, and knows she won't out him, even to Jenna, but are his plus-ones allowed to bring plus-ones? Kurt had said that Blaine could bring however many extra guests as he liked...

"Yeah," Blaine decides. "You two just have to promise not to embarrass me or anything, alright?"

"Why would we ever do such a thing?" says Nick, although Blaine swears there's an evil gleam in his eye.

"Alright, I've got it."

It's the weekend of the masquerade. Blaine, Nick, Jeff and Lily empty out of a cab down the road from the function hall which Kurt had booked out for the evening. Blaine, his face covered nose-up by a deep red mask, doesn't hear Nick speak as he pays the driver.

Blaine's thoughts are still on what happened back at the Anderson residence. His father, who had previously seen the masquerade invitation and refrained from commenting, had finally broken his silence on the matter when Blaine had been waiting in the entrance hall.

"You better be careful how much time you're spending with that Hummel kid," Senator Anderson had said, as Mrs Anderson straightened up Blaine's tie. "If you're not careful people are going to start thinking you're gay."

Blaine had been just about to snap that it wasn't like they'd be wrong, when Mrs Anderson spoke up.

"Let him be, John," she'd said. "In any case, it's a masquerade. No one's even going to recognise him."

That's the plan, at least. While Blaine had stuck to his word and not dyed his hair blonde, he had toned down the hair gel.

Still, Blaine can't get over how close he'd been to coming out to his parents, right there in the entrance hall. And there would have been no way his dad would have let him come to the dance then.

"Blaine? Are you listening?" says Nick, snapping Blaine out of his thoughts.

"Sorry," says Blaine. "What were you saying?"

"We can pretend that Jeff's your date," says Nick proudly.

"What? Why?"

"Because out of the two of us, Jeff would probably be more believable as a gay dude because of his hair. Plus, I already have Lily, so." Nick shrugs.

"So you're saying I have to pretend to be Blane's plus-one plus one because I have gay hair?" asks Jeff.

"And because you're single and desperately alone," affirms Nick with a nod.

"Why does anyone have to pretend to be my plus-one plus one?" asks Blaine.

"To make Kurt jealous and realise that he's in love with you," says Nick.

"I think he'd have to be in love with me for that to work, Nick," says Blaine.

"Wait, is my hair the reason I'm still single?" says Jeff.

"What?"

"Because they think I'm gay."

"Nick's just being an idiot," says Lily, shooting her boyfriend a glare. "His hair isn't gay, Nick, it's just...metrosexual? Honestly, just because it's blonde and he bothers to put a bit of effort into it. Girls really like that, you know."

"Hear that, Jeff, it's just your personality that turns girls off," says Nick, clapping Jeff on the back.

Jeff shoots Nick the finger and Lily playfully hits him with the back of her hand. Blaine's thankful for their banter - it had meant that they'd slowly drifted into the entrance room of the venue without any more discussion of Nick's schemes. And now they're within earshot of Kurt and Harry, who stand unmasked as they greet guests at the door to the main hall. Their masks balance atop their heads, Harry's a bejewelled midnight blue and Kurt's a deep purple adorned with a single feather. They're the image of perfect hosts, shaking their guests' hands and making small talk. From the smile on Kurt's face, Blaine can tell how much he's enjoying this: the air of formality and even domesticity, of being that perfect couple that throws the parties that everyone talks about.

As Blaine and his friends come level with Kurt and Harry, Harry raises his eyebrows at Blaine's masked face, but Kurt smiles widely.

"Evening, sir," says Kurt, taking Blaine's hand in his. "Jeff, Nick, you're going to have to put your masks on before you go in. And this must be Lily?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kurt," Lily gushes, as Kurt takes her hand in his. "My whole family fully supports your dad."

"Oh, why thankyou," says Kurt. He blinks, as though taken aback, but Blaine knows, being a politician's son himself, that this must not come as a surprise in the least. "No more politics talk though. I get enough of that at home."

As Kurt releases Lily's hand, Harry takes Blaine's in his.

"Have we met before?" says Harry, narrowing his eyes at Blaine.

Before Blaine can think up a lie to spin out, Kurt cuts in.

"That would be impossible, Harry - I know Blake and his friends from when I went to high school back in Lima," says Kurt pleasantly. "So nice of them to be able to join us, don't you think?"

"Right, yes," says Harry, smiling warmly. "Nice to meet you, Blake."

"Likewise," says Blaine

Behind them, another group of guests arrive, driving Blaine, Nick, Jeff and Lily into the main hall. It's the size of an average school hall, lit just brightly enough so that faces can be seen. Set up across half the room are tables covered in white table cloths, with centrepieces of red and yellow rose bouquets. The remaining space is cleared for a dance floor. At the front of the room is a stage, upon which stands an olive-skinned woman in a red dress, singing Etta James's At Last.

"Oh, I love this song," says Lily excitedly, and in seconds she's whisked Nick away to the dance floor. Blaine and Jeff decide to find themselves seats, taking a detour to the drinks table before eventually settling at one of the tables making up the perimeter of the dance floor. They sit for a few minutes in a comfortable silence, sipping on their drinks and watching the dance floor get more and more crowded as the girl begins to sing a song with a faster beat.

"See anyone you like, then?" asks Jeff.

"Yeah."

Blaine watches as a now-masked Kurt is being dragged, laughing, towards the dance floor by Harry. When they reach the edge, Harry begins to dance around Kurt, swaying his hips in a way that is too exaggerated to be even remotely seductive, but the movement is enough to make Kurt laugh harder, and make Blaine notice that Harry can, in fact, dance.

"Other than him," says Jeff, snapping his fingers in front of Blaine to catch his attention, as the song changes again.

"Right, sorry, no," says Blaine. "Hey, do you want to go dance?"

"I thought we agreed I didn't have to pretend to be your date?" says Jeff warily.

"Not that kind of dancing, Jeff," says Blaine, nudging his head towards the crowd that's swarming the dance floor. "I'm pretty sure there's a bit of a dance-off going on."

That gets Jeff's attention. They stand and join the circle that has been created on the dance floor. Nick and Lily stand on the opposite side, cheering as the olive-skinned girl who had just been singing dances perfectly in-sync with a blonde girl. They're soon joined by a blonde boy with a noticeably large mouth, who spins and gyrates his hips so wildly that the girls are edged out of the circle to allow him room to dance. Harry pulls Kurt into the middle of the circle, and they dance, hands clasped together, until a more upbeat song begins to play. Kurt takes this as his cue to leave, kissing Harry on the cheek and returning to the sidelines to watch as Harry begins to breakdance in a way that has both Kurt and Blaine cringing for the welfare of his suit.

"You mind if I get in there?" asks Jeff, longingly watching the dancing.

"I'd be worried if you didn't," says Blaine.

As Jeff dances into the middle of the circle, Blaine eyes Kurt and begins to slowly edge his way around the circle towards him. When Blaine and Kurt are merely metres apart, a puffed Harry bows out of the circle. He whispers something in Kurt's ear, before disappearing behind him. Blaine takes this as his opportunity to sidle right up to Kurt.

"Hey," says Blaine. Kurt turns to him, pale pink lips instantly curling into a smile when his eyes meet Blaine's.

"Hey stranger," says Kurt. "You recognised me."

"Well, your hair is adding inches to your height, as always," says Blaine.

"Easy there, hobbit. You and I both know that I have inches on you even without the quiff," Kurt teases.

"You've got me there," says Blaine. "Where'd Harry disappear off to?"

"He's just gone to get himself a drink," says Kurt. "In the meantime, would you care to entertain me?"

As the song changes to a slower number, Kurt holds his hand out to Blaine, who takes it eagerly. As couples begin to pair off around them, Blaine feels a slight twinge of guilt knowing that Harry's not around, as if this somehow counts as foul play. But it had been Kurt who had asked him to dance, Blaine reasons, and one dance hardly means a thing. His hands settle on Kurt's waist, as Kurt rests his on Blaine's shoulders.

"You've never danced with a guy, have you?" Kurt murmurs, loud enough so Blaine can hear it over the music, yet quietly enough so that they're not overheard.

"No," says Blaine.

He's danced with girls before. Dalton often held classical dancing classes with their sister school. But dancing with Kurt is a lot different to dancing with a Crawford girl who Blaine had met five minutes beforehand. It's all different. Everything from the spicy scent of Kurt's cologne instead of a girl's sweet-smelling perfume, to the feel of a freshly pressed suit under Blaine's fingers instead of the silk fabrics the Crawford girls came dressed in. Well, everything apart from the slight trepidation over making a mistake - of stepping on toes or of letting his hands drop too low. But the advantage of having danced before with girls is that Blaine already knows that his nerves are eased with small talk, and he searches for a topic of conversation, finding it easily as he looks around.

"I knew I should have expected something good, but I can't believe you put all this together," says Blaine.

"Thanks," says Kurt. "I'm not even going to try and deny that I've been saving for this ever since I got the idea."

"You mean you actually paid for the whole thing?" asks Blaine, amazed.

"Not quite," says Kurt. "Dad said he'd pay for half as long as I managed to keep on track with school and college applications. Still, you have no idea how many new outfits I had to pass up to afford a semi-decent place worthy of a masquerade."

"You saving money on clothes?" asks Blaine with raised eyebrows, because out of all the times that Blaine's seen Kurt, both in person and in the media, he can't remember Kurt once repeating an outfit.

"Hey, with my eye for bargains I could have bought twice as many clothes as I have since I started working at H&M," says Kurt defensively.

"Ah," says Blaine. "I can imagine none of this was a bargain though. I mean the drinks, the decorations, the band-"

Blaine is cut off by Kurt's chuckle, which makes Blaine furrow his eyebrows at Kurt in confusion.

"That isn't a professional band," Kurt explains, "though they'll be happy to hear you thought they were."

Kurt guides them until they both have a good view of the singers on stage. A girl in a floor-length purple dress sings lead, backed up two other girls, one of whom had been the blonde girl dancing before.

"That's Mercedes," says Kurt, nudging his head towards the woman in purple. "She's one of the best singers at our school. She and this other girl, Rachel - I'll point her out if she isn't busy making out with my stepbrother - they're pretty much the only two who even have a chance of playing lead in any school musicals. Behind her is Brittany, the one who called me a unicorn. And then there's Tina, who's from my school back in Lima and who I absolutely love and miss like crazy. Luckily we Skype every week and she keeps me updated on everything going on in her life, which includes sending me photos of her superhot boyfriend's abs. I think he might be around here somewhere...."

Kurt darts his eyes around the crowd in search of Tina's boyfriend, but Blaine's mind is elsewhere.

"Do you mind if I sing later?" he asks, watching Kurt's friends onstage.

"You sing?" says Kurt, the surprise evident in his voice.

"Yeah. I'm lead soloist in the Dalton choir, but they don't quite sing as many songs from the charts as I'd like," says Blaine.

"I would never have guessed that you were so Top 40," says Kurt.

"Well, it's not like that's the biggest surprise you've had in this friendship," says Blaine.

Kurt smiles.

"Well, as you can probably tell, I've got quite a few songs on the set list that you'll probably know, and it'll relieve the rest of the singers, so yes please" says Kurt. "I should probably stop using my friends to cut costs. Hopefully I'll have enough money for a proper band next year. And an ice sculpture," Kurt adds thoughtfully.

"You're really serious about this, aren't you?" says Blaine.

"I don't see what's wrong with it," says Kurt with a shrug. "Have you seen the birthday parties all those housewives on Arena throw their kids? They go all out - petting zoos, snow cones, the works - all on their four-year-olds who won't even remember it in a few years' time. I'd rather throw a little get-together every Christmas to get my closest friends together for a night."

"Why Christmas though?" says Blaine. From their many phone conversations, he knows that Kurt isn't particularly religious. "You know, most people are fine throwing just the one big party a year for their birthday party."

"Oh, I don't do birthday parties," says Kurt with a shake of his head.

"Why not?" asks Blaine.

"You're going to think it's silly."

"Try me."

"Okay," sighs Kurt. "It's just...the last time I had a birthday party was when I was turning 8. My mum organised a surprise party. It was actually the first birthday party I had, too, and she organised everything perfectly - from the ice cream cake to the decorations, and it even had a good turnout. And when she tucked me in that night I begged her to throw me a surprise party every year and she just laughed and said it wouldn't be a surprise if I knew it was coming. But I still kind of hoped she'd do it anyway and vowed not to plan one for myself because that way no one else could surprise me with one. I know, it's silly."

Kurt shakes his head to himself.

"It's not silly," says Blaine earnestly. It's the first time they've really talked about Kurt's mum and as curious as Blaine is, he doesn't want to push.

"It's just...I stuck to that after all this time," says Kurt, closing his eyes. "Even though a few months later I lost her. She's the only person who would ever plan a surprise party for me." Kurt opens his eyes to look at Blaine, and in the dim light Blaine can just make out that they glisten slightly more than they did before. "To me, surprise parties are such a big thing. Think about how much time and effort it would take, not just planning a party but planning a party for someone else. Someone would have to care about you so much."

Blaine wants to tell Kurt that he deserves all that. Not just the huge party, but someone to care enough to throw him one. And Kurt has Harry. Surely Harry makes Kurt feel like he's worth all that? But before Blaine can find the right words, he's interrupted.

"Excuse me," says Harry, from behind his mask, his voice smooth and charming as he extends his hand towards Kurt. "If the gentleman is so kind, I'd like a dance with my boyfriend."

"You don't mind, do you, Blake?" Kurt asks.

It takes a moment for Blaine to remember that that is his pseudonym for the evening.

"Of course not," says Blaine, releasing his grip on Kurt. "Enjoy your evening, Mr Hummel. I think I'll take to the microphone."

Kurt gives Blaine a smile before taking Harry's hand. Blaine walks over to the stage and offers to take over from Mercedes, who smiles gratefully and rushes off to dance with the blonde boy with the large mouth. Before Blaine has time to turn to Brittany and Tina and discuss what the next song is, it begins to play. He recognises it easily enough, grabbing the mic stand and swinging it around to the music. He clenches his eyes shut, so that he doesn't have to watch as Kurt and Harry dance a lot more cosily than Blaine and Kurt just had, Kurt's arms wrapped tightly around Harry's neck.

"You are the girl that I've been dreaming of ever since I was a little girl."

Out of all the songs that Blaine could have been given to sing.... He loses himself in the song, singing with an intensity that doesn't have to be faked. It's been a while since he's sung like this. Forget that this song is barely three years old; he still feels the lyrics a lot more than he does the hundred-year-old hymns he's forced to memorise for end-of-term assemblies.

Despite the fact that he and Harry are dancing as close as ever, Kurt can't help but feel a coolness in the air as Blaine begins to sing. But Harry waits until the first chorus is over to bring it up, giving the pretence of the perfect first dance a momentary existence.

"So, that Blake guy," Harry starts, pulling away from Kurt slightly so he can look him in the eye.

Kurt's grip on Harry's shoulders tighten, but he's determined to maintain an air of detachment.

"What about him?" asks Kurt.

"I can't shake the vibe I'm getting that he's into you."

Kurt's about to tell Harry not to be silly and that Blaine's straight, when he remembers that that isn't the case. He figures that one big lie to his boyfriend is more than enough for one night.

"He's just a friend," Kurt says instead. "I needed someone to entertain me when you were gone and he was there."

But Harry's still looking suspicious and Kurt can't quite believe it. Tonight was supposed to be perfect. Seeing his old friends again, Harry and him finally no longer hiding their relationship, introducing Harry to his friends from Lima, and getting to have first dances. But now he's dancing with a clearly jealous Harry - and jealous over what? Kurt's allowed to have other gay male friends, isn't he?"

"Harry," says Kurt slowly, keeping his voice low to avoid creating a scene, "I have fifty-odd guests to entertain, both from DC and Lima. If you won't even let me play the perfect host for one evening, how is this relationship supposed to work out?"

"You're right," says Harry after a moment, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Kurt."

But as Kurt finishes his dance with Harry to Blaine's enthusiastic rendition I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, he can't help but wonder if there is any truth to Harry's words.

As Blaine finishes the song, he finds himself on his knees, his palms and face sweaty from exertion. He promptly gets up and straightens up his suit. A brunette girl darts on stage and holds her hand out for the microphone, and he, Tina and Brittany make their way offstage. Blaine spots Jeff seated alone at a nearby table and heads over to join him.

"Subtle," says Jeff, giving a thumbs-up.

"Hey, it wasn't like I got to choose the song," says Blaine defensively. "I kind of just want to get out of here, though."

"Fine by me," says Jeff, standing up and buttoning up his suit. "The only girl who caught my attention was that blonde girl who was singing backup with you, and she just went to slow-dance with who appears to be her girlfriend. I'm beginning to think Lily's right about the best ones always turning out to be gay."

"Thanks," says Blaine cockily.

"Blaine?"

Blaine turns on hearing Kurt's voice, to see Kurt gazing at him with a questioning look on his brow.

"You're not going already, are you?" he asks.

"Sorry, I promised Dad I would be home by 11."

"Why?" asks Kurt slyly, before half-singing, "Because your father will start to worry?"

"Beautiful what's your hurry," Blaine sings back automatically, the lyrics to one of his favourite Christmas songs coming to him easily. "But yes, actually, he will. I don't think he likes that I'm out tonight at your event."

"I thought your dad was fine with us hanging out?" asks Kurt, quirking an eyebrow, and Blaine knows that Kurt's silently asking if the shift in Senator Anderson's position is due to a recent confession of Blaine's that he's yet to tell Kurt about.

"It's nothing like that. It's just apparently we're only allowed to hang out on his terms," says Blaine, and he fills Kurt in on the events of earlier that evening.

"Forget that. He can't dictate all your friendships," says Kurt.

"I'd love to stay, Kurt, but if someone recognises me and something happens tonight, I know my dad would just love to use it against you and your dad," says Blaine.

"Come on, not everyone takes out their anger with their fists," says Kurt. "Stay for just a few more dances? I haven't even had the chance to introduce you to any of the other guys."

"Kurt," says Blaine gently. "I appreciate the offer, you know I do. But you and I both know there's no point. I can't go out with anyone when I'm not out, and I can't risk anyone knowing that I'm gay. It'll get out. I'm sorry, Kurt. I can't risk my dad finding out before I tell him."

"Right," says Kurt. "Tell me I at least managed to cheer you up after your last weekend?"

"Of course," says Blaine, his voice softening.

"It's cold outside," says Kurt. "Promise not to get pneumonia and die?"

"I promise," says Blaine with a smile. "Goodnight, Kurt."

"Goodnight Blaine," says Kurt. "Goodnight Jeff."

"Night, Kurt," says Jeff.

And as Kurt walks away, Blaine swears he hears him humming Baby It's Cold Outside to himself.