Blaine had to be in the store early Thursday morning. The morning was clammy and gray, but fortunately it wasn't as windy as it had been the past couple of day, and even though this kind of weather usually put him down this day it didn't.

A load of new records was coming into the store and Blaine was happy that he had something to do to take his mind off things. All that had been running through his head had been Kurt and their talk with his dad the previous day.

He didn't know how he was feeling about going to Kurt's house Friday. His family would be there - would his dad have told them about their relationship? How should he act?

Blaine did his best to focus solely on the records and getting them put in the proper boxes in the store. A few kids he had been in middle school with came by the store and shot him long glances before they finally gutted up to come talk to him.

"So you really are back, Anderson? We heard that you had run away with those freaky Gary and Linda hippies, and then the next thing we heard was that your mom had passed away - I sorta guessed that you didn't even know," the guy said.

Blaine couldn't even remember his name, but he knew that they had been in gym together and he had picked on Blaine for caring more about music than about sports.

The guy was slick and cocky, and kept a firm grip around his girlfriend. She was a petite girl with a slightly pointed face - she was really pretty and Blaine didn't have a doubt that he had chosen her for her looks.

"Well, I am here. I've been back for a while now. Can I help you with anything?" Blaine just wanted them out, he couldn't really take in the thought of having to deal with that idiot; especially not after he had mentioned his mom.

"Just these," the guy said and threw a bunch of records on the counter, and Blaine accepted the money before he put them in a bag.

The girl was twisting a lock of her blonde hair around her finger, a flirty look in her eyes and pouted lips. It was hard for Blaine not to laugh at the sight - this dude who had made his gym lessons a living hell was standing there talking to him so arrogantly and his girlfriend was trying to flirt with him - and Blaine didn't care.

He couldn't care less about that guy and whatever snarky remarks he would have been building up in his head, and he couldn't care less about the girl flirting with him.

And yet he wished that he could tell them; tell them how much he didn't care, tell them how ridiculous the guy's insults were, how ridiculous the girl was for being with him, and even more how ridiculous she was for standing there with her boyfriend's arm around her waist while she was flirting shamelessly with the guy her boyfriend clearly despised - and he didn't care about her because was gay and in love with a boy who loved him back, which made her even more silly.

As they walked out of the store the girl turned her head and pouted a kiss at Blaine, and he couldn't help himself; he shook his head at her with an apologetic look on his face, causing offense to swim over her face.

Blaine was lying on his bed, singing and playing along to the songthat was running on the gramophone when his door opened. He did a little jump on the mattress when he saw that it was Kurt.

"Don't stop playing, please -" he said as he closed the door after him and let his jacket dump to the floor before he crawled onto the bed to sit next to him so he could observe his fingers moving over the strings as he sang along.

"Kiss me quick I just can't stand this waiting

Cause your lips are lips I long to know

For that kiss will open heaven's door

And we'll stay there forevermore

So kiss me quick because I love you so"

Kurt mouthed the words with him as he repeated the last line twice in time to the music, before the song ended and Just For Old Times Sake started. A smirk crept over Kurt's lips and he leaned in over the guitar and let his lips meet Blaine's.

"Is that good enough for you?" he asked as he sat back down on the bed.

"Mhm, that was nice," Blaine responded before it occurred to him that he had no idea why Kurt was there. Also, was it his father that had let him in? He certainly didn't hope so. He didn't feel comfortable about letting Kurt be alone with his father - Kurt was way too delicate to stand his bullying.

"And what brings you to me? And how did you even get in?" Blaine asked, putting the guitar down at the foot of the bed so there was room for him to drag Kurt in to him.

"Your father let me in. But don't worry - he didn't say anything. Mostly just grunted, really," Kurt chuckled under his breath, while letting his fingertips play with the line of his turquoise tunic.

"But… what I am here to say is… my dad said that you could come tomorrow. I guess he feels like he should get to know you anyway or something. I promise it's not gonna be anything overly… anything. Finn is coming home in the morning so we'll just start around afternoon, and we'll just be the family and his girlfriend will come over for dinner and stuff -" he rambled on, apparently afraid that Blaine had changed his mind over the night.

"It would really mean a lot to me if you would be there. I will hold your hand under the table all the way through it and…" Kurt's mouth started running wild, the way he did it when he was getting desperate to prove a point.

"I'll be there - don't worry, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss out on a day with you for anything in the world," Blaine assured him softly, and before he knew it Kurt had flung his arms around his neck.

"You're the best. I have to go home, I just wanted to tell you that my dad said you could come - I guess that if you tell your dad that you're going to a soldier's homecoming party he'll be fine with it."

"Yeah, I guess so. But… can't you stay a little longer? Just an hour or something," Blaine begged and kept his grip on Kurt's hand as he started to get up.

"Okay. Carole is gonna kill me but…"

Kurt dropped down to rest his head on Blaine's abdomens, looking up at him with a dreamy smile.

"Why are you even in this part of town? I thought you said you were just going to call me?" Blaine asked curiously, remembering that he had wondered that already when Kurt had entered his room.

A mysterious gloom covered Kurt's face, and he suddenly turned his attention to a fold in his tunic, his fingers twisting the strings that made up the purple pattern. Blaine wished that it wasn't so, but he couldn't stop focusing on the fact the light turquoise fabric was more or less see-through, and under it Kurt was wearing an extremely tight fitted white t-shirt - and when he was lying down like that it was so tight that it might as well have been painted on his perfectly sculpted body.

"I just had some errands to do in town. I need to go pick up some stuff for tomorrow and so," he answered shortly, sounding like he wanted to avoid the subject, but the effect was for Blaine to only get more curious.

"Well, I don't have anything to do for the rest of the day - I could go with you. If you want me?" Blaine offered, a teasing in his voice, a little too obvious.

"I'll always want you -" Kurt flirted, but hurried to continue.

"No. No, that's okay, I'll do fine. I have to hurry home and you'd probably be bored anyway -" he rushed to say and sat up.

"I'd probably better get going now. I promised to help with a few things. If you want I can meet you by the library at 1 tomorrow," Kurt exclaimed.

"Then you can be there early before my family starts going all nutty, and that way we can have a little time to ourselves first -" he waved his eyelashes and licked his lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow…" And Kurt was out of the room, the door closed after him, leaving Blaine with the hum of a finished record and not a clue as to what that had been about.

Dinner was a silent event. Nothing but the silverware against plates were heard, and the sound of the maid in the kitchen.

Blaine's father had hired a maid instead of the cleaning help. He said that he didn't see that he had time to take care of things as cooking and cleaning and grocery shopping when he had to work too - Blaine knew that it was just an excuse because he saw duties like that as something beneath the dignity of 'a real man'.

Blaine felt sick by the thought of his father's ideologies.

"Dad. I - tomorrow I'm going to Kurt's house. I don't know how late it'll be. His brother is coming home from Vietnam, and they invited me to his homecoming party," Blaine spat out, eager to get it all out before his father could get anything said.

Blaine chewed on his lip, waiting in anxiety for his father's answer. He looked up and saw something he had never seen on his father's face before. It wasn't pride, but Blaine had no doubt that it very well had potential to be related to pride - and Blaine didn't like it.

"Sure. You stay out as long as you'd like, Blaine. I'll be working all weekend anyway," his father said, making Blaine's heart drop.

He didn't know why, but he realized that for some reason he had hoped for him to say no, hoped that he would say that he couldn't go, so he could give him a reason to defy him. He hated the thought of doing something his father approved of.

It doesn't matter. You'll be spending time with Kurt, and you will be there for him because he need you to be there. That is all that matters, Blaine reminded himself.

When he got to bed it was all he could think about as he was lying in the dark. The expression on his father's face that he had never seen before, the approval he had given him, and the thought that Kurt was needing his support.

When he fell asleep he had weird dreams of sitting next to Kurt in Kurt's dad's living room, the room full of people staring at them, when he suddenly saw that their hands were folded together - and chopped of lying on the table in front of them for open display, for everyone to see.

Dreams about lying half naked with Kurt on Kurt's bed, when Kurt stung himself so his finger started bleeding and his dad came thundering at them through the door.

Blaine had spent the whole morning on trying to figure out what to wear. The second he had started getting ready for his morning shower when he woke up it hit him that Kurt hadn't mentioned anything about the dress code for the dinner.

He had found out the phone number Kurt had put in his pocket before he left his house Wednesday, and he had turned it over in his fingers a few times, but decided that it would be silly of him to call Kurt just to ask about what clothes to wear.

In the end he settled for a pair of dark blue jeans and a light blue shirt, with his usual Chuck Taylor's.

Now that he was standing by the library waiting for Kurt he was worried that he should have worn some sort of suit instead. He tugged the coat a little closer around him as he looked down the sidewalk to see if there was any sign of Kurt anywhere.

"Oh there you are. Dreamy as ever -" a soft voice said behind him.

Blaine turned around and saw Kurt smiling at him. He was wearing stonewashed skinny jeans and classic blue Chuck Taylor's like Blaine's matched up with the black leather jacket.

Alright, so maybe he did dress properly for the occasion. That was comforting. At least he had done something right for the day - now he only needed to make it through Kurt's family alive.

Kurt nodded, and gestured for Blaine to follow him in the direction of his house. They walked together in silence, more than a foot between them, Blaine keeping his hands in his pockets to be sure he didn't instinctively grabbed Kurt's hand in public.

"Now that I sort of… tricked you into coming today -" Kurt started as they walked down the street he lived on.

"Hey, you didn't trick me. You need my support, and I wanna give it to you." Blaine wished that he could stop Kurt, grab him by the shoulders and look him in the eyes - tell him that it wasn't like that. That he was there because he had asked him to, and he wanted to be there for him.

But he couldn't. He knew that it wouldn't go. They were in the middle of the street and everyone would be able to see it.

Kurt blushed and smiled awkwardly at him before he continued without commenting Blaine's statement.

"Anyway… I wanted you to come early today because I have a surprise for you. It's nothing really. Nothing big. But I wanted to do this for you -" Kurt stammered as they turned up the driveway to his house.

"You… you didn't have to do that," Blaine burst out; shocked and curious. What on Earth could Kurt have to surprise him with?

They entered the house, and he followed Kurt through the living room.

A big man in a classic green military uniform was sitting on the couch with his feet on the table. Kurt stopped in front of the couch, Blaine following his example out of lack of ideas of what else to do, but glancing at the stairs from the corner of his eye.

"Finn. This is Blaine. My… boyfriend," Kurt said, and Blaine's heart swelled by the word, only to start shrinking and cramping hysterically.

What would a soldier's reaction be to his brother introducing him to his boyfriend?

The man turned to look at them before he stood up and walked over to face them. He was so incredibly tall.

Kurt was quite a bit taller than Blaine, but Finn was way taller than Kurt and it made him seem huge and scary. Blaine was certain that he was starting to shrink right then and there in front of their eyes.

He could feel Finn taking in his frame from head to toe, and Blaine wanted to squeeze his eyes shut while waiting for the punch there was bound to be on its way, but he didn't dare to, so instead he looked at the tall man who was shockingly smiling down at him - the man was really nothing but a big boy.

Finn reached out his hand and Blaine hesitantly shook it.

"Hey man. I only just heard about it. But it's cool. Welcome to the family -" Finn grinned at him, making Blaine's heart stop cramping and his pulse speed up from the relief.

His handshake was strong and masculine, and Blaine wished that his own was at least a little presentable compared to how weak he was feeling at the moment.

"So this should cover it. We'll go up to my room until later. Just… call for us when… yeah," Kurt muttered and led Blaine up the stairs to his room. He stopped in the dark hall in front of his room and turned to Blaine, his face almost hidden by the shadows.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" Blaine asked confused. What could he have to be sorry for? He hadn't done anything, and nothing had happened. In Blaine's opinion it had actually went really well.

He had been sweet, and slow, and so understanding about this being so new and scary to Blaine.

"He can seem so intimidating at first, but I always remind myself that I'm older than him. Even if it's just a few months," Kurt explained, once again demonstrating how it seemed like he was inside Blaine's brain, knowing every single detail that was going on in there. Knowing every single feeling, and every single thought.

He should find it creepy and uncomfortable, but he didn't. Kurt was the only who had ever truly understood him, ever truly listened to him and known exactly what he meant - Kurt was all he ever wanted.

"Yeah. He's so tall. But… it's fine. He seemed… nice," Blaine assured him, hoping that he sounded convincing.

He was impressed really. Because of his father he was filled with prejudices against military men. He found them all unsympathetic and arrogant - but Finn actually seemed alright. Maybe it was just because he was Kurt's family, but he had felt fine in his presence. As soon as the nerves had worn off, of course.

"Mhm, but compared to you everyone is tall, pixie," Kurt teased, a grin spreading on his face, Blaine feeling his ears grow red. He nudged Kurt with a shoulder before he felt Kurt's fingers lock in his.

They walked into the little room, and Kurt turned on the lights. Blaine felt his jaw drop, and looked to Kurt who, for some reason, seemed a bit embarrassed.

A little table had been put next to the bed, and an old gramophone had been sat on it. It was one of the old, good ones - in really great, dark wood, with a good arm and a perfect turning table.

"I told you it was nothing big. A bit disappointing actually. I can imagine," Kurt mumbled, and Blaine felt his eyes grow huge, nearly popping out of his skull.

"Disappointing? Are you kidding me? What are you talking about? This is amazing - it's beautiful," Blaine blasted out with excitement, feeling a tingle under his skin to get to hurry over there and take the machine in properly and look at all the details, feel the wood.

"Do you really think so? I mean.. it's old, and used, and nothing fancy - it was just really all I could afford," Kurt apologized, his voice still weak and embarrassed.

"You didn't have to do this, silly," Blaine said, realizing that Kurt had spent money he didn't have just to make him happy.

"I just figured that… you love music so much, and I want you to come here and be with me, but I don't wanna keep you away from what you love," Kurt explained.

Blaine was shocked. He turned to Kurt, and let his hands cup his face gently, but firm to show him that he was serious.

"Listen to this, cause this is really important; you could never keep me away from what I love, because what I love is you. But I truly adore this, and I truly think that it is beautiful, and I love you for doing this for me," Blaine told him, hoping that Kurt would understand his words, and pay attention to the sincerity of them.

And it seemed like he did. An insecure smile spread over Kurt's lips as he let a hand up to take Blaine's so he could drag him to the bed where he pushed him to sit down - but Kurt walked to the closet where he hung his jacket revealing that he was wearing an extremely tight, white blouse, leaving very little to Blaine's imagination - and yet his imagination started running wild, making his jeans feel tighter than they were meant to, and Blaine quickly let his own coat drop to the floor.

Kurt was just so beautiful, and gorgeous, and his body was flawless - and Blaine just wanted to touch him and feel him and kiss him all the time.

Kurt stayed at the closet, rummaging a little around and Blaine had to force his eyes away, afraid that once Kurt would be back to the bed he would unveil what that shirt was doing to him.

He hurried to put his attention to the gramophone. The wood was dark and smooth against his skin, and the panels were shiny. Not a single scratch was seen, and to Blaine it seemed like it might as well have come straight from the factory - only thing was that these wasn't in production anymore.

Kurt dumped to the bed next to him, hands on his back with a mysterious look covering his face. Something told Blaine that this wasn't the only part of the surprise there was.

"I've got one more thing for you. It was a bit difficult for me to find, as I know nothing about these things, but the people I asked were really nice and helpful. So I really hope you like it."

Kurt revealed what he had been hiding on his back. Black cover, showing two men in black and white with worried, but somehow still peaceful, looks on their faces.

Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends - but he had never introduced Kurt to this one. Which had to mean that he had been out finding music by himself. The thought made a warm fuzzy feeling spread through Blaine.

"I heard this song on the radio - America. It was so poetic and beautiful - it reminded me of you. And I want you to feel home and safe here, so I figured that this -" he spread out his arm to show what he was referring to.

"…the gramophone, the box of records and all that, would help that," Kurt said, and let his hands drop to his lap, observing Blaine turn the record over in his hands.

"And this. This is a promise. From me to you - that one day we'll get out of here, and we'll find a place where we can be together without being afraid. I want the whole world to know our love," Kurt ended, and his eyes looked like they were seeing the future. A bright future, if the stars in his eyes were any indication.

Blaine suddenly felt that his cheeks were wet. How did Kurt have this effect on him? He had never really cried in his life, and then Kurt came along, and all the sudden he was super emotional.

He brought the record to his face so he could kiss the plastic covering the black paper and put it carefully on top of the gramophone before he leaned in to fold his arms around Kurt and put his cheek against his chest.

"One day we'll be free," Blaine agreed through a thick voice.

He listened to Kurt's heartbeat. Somehow it sounded more steady and secure than any other heartbeat he had ever heard. Like it emphasized the promise he had just made, and as it if was pounding with a purpose, where everyone else's were pounding without really knowing why.

"You make me feel safe," Blaine mumbled and closed his eyes, knowing that this had to be why Kurt had the ability to make him cry - because he made him feel safe.

He let his other senses take in every piece of Kurt. His scent, the sound of his heart and breathing, the taste of his shirt on his lips, and the feeling of his hands against his back, pressing him closer.

Kurt helped Blaine to lie down by the wall, and stroke a hand over his cheek, before he turned around and Blaine could hear the scurrying sound of a wooden box being dragged over the floor.

"I listened to this all night yesterday. It was the first one I bought, and it's the only one I've played," Kurt told as he pulled the black disc out of its cover and put it on the turning table. Blaine could see that it was a single, and he went over the different singles he had listened to with Kurt in his head, and then the song started playing.

Stand By Me. Of course.

"You sang it to me. When we were on the roof and…" He turned around and laid down on the pillow next to Blaine.

"Yeah. I remember. You were so scared, and I didn't know what to do."

His fingers were itching to grab Kurt's hip and pull him closer. He felt like a young school girl, wanting to touch his boyfriend and feel him close all the time.

"I was so high. I was fully convinced that the only thing that could save me, save my life; was you - and your voice. Silly boy I was," Kurt chuckled under his breath, letting his head rest on his arm and his fingertips dig into the pillowcase.

"You're not silly. You were high. I was too. Those 'shrooms were incredible. I've never felt a buzz like that," Blaine laughed at the memory he had almost sweat out. He curled his hands to fists, trying to keep himself from letting them out to feel all over Kurt's body to make sure that he was even real and not just some figment of Blaine's imagination.

"I still think that. That you're the one who's going to save me -" Kurt whispered, sounding ashamed.

"In school, elementary school, I never told anyone… that I'm gay. But I always knew, and… I was in a Catholic school. I was just a child, and the people that I was supposed to trust and find guidance in… they told me that I was doomed. Destined for the eternal flames of Hell," Kurt shared, his voice distant and his eyes closed. Like he was afraid to meet Blaine's gaze.

Blaine wished that he would look at him. He wanted to see his eyes.

"That's awful. I'm so sorry." He felt like a stone was thrown to his stomach. He had never considered the different kinds of religions view on homosexuality - not like that at least. It had to be the worst thing for a child to hear; especially in a place where everyone believed that it was the only reality. With that knowledge it wasn't such a surprise that Kurt distanced himself from other people, and kept himself from getting too close with others.

Then something hit Blaine; did Kurt still think that he was going to Hell?

"But when I'm with you… it feels like I could be saved. Like maybe I won't go… there… after all," Kurt said, answering Blaine's internal question.

He couldn't stop it anymore. Now he had to do it, and he guessed that it was okay - he hoped that it was, because he couldn't let Kurt believe that.

Blaine put his arm around him and dragged him over to lie close to him.

"You're not going to Hell. And even if you do - then I'm going to Hell too, and we can be there together; and in that case Hell won't seem as much as Hell after all, right?"

He ran his fingertips through Kurt's hair carefully to not mess up his perfectly groomed James Dean look, and kissed the tip of his nose, making Kurt smile up at him.

"Kurt, aren't you coming dow - oh sorry, I didn't kno… forget it."

A girl had crashed into the room. She hadn't even knocked, she had just burst in, and then she stopped and stared at them tangled together on the bed before she had ran out of the room.

Blaine panicked. He didn't know why. But he wasn't ready for making out with a boy in front of other people - not even though it was Kurt.

"Dammit, Rachel -" Kurt started swearing when he saw the hunted look on Blaine's face.

"It's okay. Rachel knows about me, and she doesn't always use her… I'm sorry, Blaine. It's okay. It's fine…" he worried and sat up.

The horrible dream of Kurt's dad walking in on them came crashing into Blaine's head, and he felt like he was going to explode. He wanted to run out and away - but he couldn't. He couldn't do that to Kurt, and he had promised to stay for the dinner party, and his dad was expecting Blaine to be there - and how was he supposed to look this Rachel girl in the eyes after his?

The living room was hot and the heat was crawling under Blaine's shirt, under his skin, making him feel the sweat sprinkling out on his forehead. He was sitting on the couch next to Kurt, luckily the living room had been empty when they came downstairs.

"Let's just go in and sit here, then you won't have to face everyone at once," Kurt had suggested when they had seen the empty room, and Blaine had wanted to hug him in gratitude. He still didn't feel ready to meet anymore new people - especially not after the unfortunate event in Kurt's room only 30 minutes earlier.

There was nearly a foot between them but Kurt stretched his hand over the space separating them to hold Blaine's hand and caress it with soothing strokes.

"Relax. It'll be over with soon, and everything will be fine -" Kurt whispered at him.

"Kurt, I am so sorry - I should have knocked. I didn't know… you never have anyone in your room, I…" Rachel, the girl from before had come into the living room and sat down on Burt's chair in front of Kurt, not even sparing Blaine a glance.

She was a pretty girl with big, brown eyes, and long, dark hair. She was a tiny girl with a sharp voice. Her clothes clearly showed that she wasn't like the girls in the commune - she was wearing a mustard sweater, brown tweed skirt and Bordeaux pantyhose, with black penny loafers, and Blaine had a hard time picturing how such a small girl could be with someone as tall as Finn.

"It's okay, Rachel, just… knock the next time, okay?" Kurt said and rolled his eyes at her.

"But it's so good to see you. It's been way too long. How was Washington? Tell me everything!" Rachel squealed as she threw her arms around Kurt's neck, Kurt surprised returning her hug.

The girl released her grip and sat back down in the chair, her anxious expression replaced by excitement and curiosity.

"I guess I should… This is Blaine. We met in Washington - but he lives in Lima too. We were on the same bus and everything," Kurt told, his face and tone of voice turning proud, as he let his hand slip back into Blaine's.

The second Kurt's words were out in the room Rachel looked like she was about to blow up. Her glance went from Kurt to Blaine to their locked hands on the couch - and then back to Kurt.

She abruptly jumped to her feet and held out her hand for Blaine to shake it. Kurt smiled warmly at him, and he stood up to shake her hand.

"Hi. My name is Rachel Berry. I'm Finn's girlfriend. So I guess we're sort of family now?" she beamed at him, and Blaine suddenly felt the collar of his shirt very tight around his neck.

"Rachel - would you mind. Just… sit down for a second," Kurt said in a sharp tone, and the girl's face turned sour before she sat down as demanded.

"Rachel, first of all - you need to think a little before you speak. Sometimes you are just rude. But you can't tell anyone about us, okay? My family knows, and that is about as many who will know at all," Kurt explained, his voice the same strict tone, before he leaned in a little closer, and his voice went low.

"Blaine is still… he's still very new to all of this, so could you please tone it down a notch? I don't want him to be chased off even before…" he stopped and let his eyes bore into Rachel's. She returned his gaze for a moment before she nodded in agreement and seemed almost embarrassed.

"I am sorry. I will… try to be a little more respectful in the future," she said, more directed towards Blaine than towards Kurt.

The rest of the night went on without further problems.

The only one Blaine still needed to be introduced to was Carol - Finn's mom. She was a sweet and warm woman who was very nice and didn't push too far for anything.

Blaine was silent during dinner, and every once in a while he felt Kurt brush a thumb over his knee under the table. The first time he almost jumped by the shock, but after that it was soothing and comforting, and Blaine wished that he had the guts to return Kurt's touch.

They stayed with the family for coffee in the living room after dinner, and Finn told about his experiences in the war, Kurt cringing by the painting stories, moving so close to Blaine that their thighs were pressed together, Rachel and Finn on Kurt's other side on the couch.

As Finn began a story of how his platoon had entered a village that had been completely raided Kurt abruptly jumped to his feet, making everyone's eyes flight to him, as he stood in the middle of the room, a pained grimace on his face.

"I'm sorry, I can't just… I can't just sit here and listen to that - it's so…"

He shook his head and ran out of the room and up the stairs. Blaine panicked. He looked after him but didn't want to be rude and follow, but he still couldn't stand the feeling of staying in the living room alone with all of these people he didn't know - and he knew that Kurt was upset and needed him; that's why he was even there in the first place.

He looked stressed around at the party around him, everyone was silent and was looking at each other. For a brief second his eyes locked with Burt's and he nodded at him with a vague smile.

That was his cue. Blaine hurried after Kurt up the stairs, and burst into his room.

He was sitting on the chair at the desk, facing the dark night outside his window, and Blaine didn't know if he had even heard him enter the room, so he knocked softly on the door before he closed it behind him.

"I know it's you, Blaine -"

Blaine couldn't stop himself from smiling. It was remarkable that Kurt knew it was him just by his knock on the door - his presence in the room. Maybe he actually was psychic?

He looked around the room, his glance lingering on the pencil sketches of birds and trees. He had no idea what to do or say, so he looked down in the floor, hoping that maybe Kurt would say something.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked after having waited for some time without Kurt as much as indicating that he had plans on turning around at some point.

"How can a person let themselves be trained to kill people, and then volunteer to go to a country and see people be murdered, maybe having to shoot kids and animals and… seeing entire villages being killed - and then he just sit there like…"

He still didn't turn to face Blaine, but his voice was shaking. It wasn't until then Blaine realized that he was drawing as he spoke. His arms were shaking too, and the way he was moving the pencil over the paper was aggressive.

"I… don't know -" Blaine responded, baffled by the situation. He was lost for words, and amazed at how much Kurt cared. He didn't have to care about something that was going on so far away from him - he could just lean back and be happy that his brother was home and alive.

But he didn't. He couldn't just lean back and forget about it all. He was deeply pained about it, and Blaine felt it now more than ever.

Without warning Kurt stood up and kicked the chair so it flew across the small space of the room. He wiped all of the papers and pencils off the desk so it all welled down in a pile on the floor, before Kurt rushed to sit in the corner of the bed with his knees dragged under him, his arms locked around his legs and his cheek resting on his knees while he stared into the Sgt. Pepper poster on the wall next to him.

Blaine was scared. He had never seen Kurt like this. He had never thought Kurt could hold this kind of violence. Kurt who always was so sweet and soft and gentle in everything. He had thrown his things to the floor and kicked the chair with wild force, and now, immediate after, he was over to looking more fragile than ever.

Blaine sat down on the bed, and hesitantly let a hand up to put it on Kurt's arm. Kurt still didn't look at him, he kept staring into the poster on the wall.

"I… I wish there was something I could say. But there isn't… I don't have anything to say or do. As much as I want to. You scare me," Blaine declared, and Kurt turned his head to look up at him, his lips coincidentally resting against Blaine's hand on his arm.

"You care so much. You feel so much - you make me speechless, and I don't know how to comfort you, because… I don't feel the way you do." He was ashamed to say it out loud, but it was true, and he needed Kurt to know it.

Kurt's eyes were big, and the different colors they always held had disappeared and now seemed gray, wet and devastated.

"Will you please just… hold me?" whimpered Kurt, taking Blaine completely off guard - that was the last thing he had expected. He had prepared himself for Kurt starting to scream and cry, maybe even beat him up in frustration and devastation.

"Sure. Of course," Blaine responded, and before he had even blinked Kurt had flung himself into his arms, and curled up in his lap.

"All of these people - no homes, no place to go," Kurt cried into Blaine's shirt.

Blaine quickly figured that he would need to get Kurt to lie down, and got them shuffled to lie down so Blaine could coil himself around Kurt, his arms clenching hard around him, not having anything to say, or not having the slightest idea of what to do.

He didn't know if Kurt was crying, and in reality it didn't matter - Blaine wanted to treat him like he did, because the pain he knew that he was feeling certainly needed that kind of attention. He was crushed and heartbroken.