"But Dad!" Kurt shouted. "You can't do this!"

Burt was furious. The previous evening was supposed to be an enjoyable one for everyone. He and Carole had not expected Finn to arrive home two hours after leaving pick Quinn up, let alone to say he had been banished from the dance for fighting with Rachel's date, of all people. Things became even more confusing when Blaine dropped Kurt off well before his curfew, holding a crown and scepter everyone assumed was for his stepbrother.

"When I agreed to let you come back to McKinley, I was under the assumption that you and David were making amends for what happened. Now look what happened to you. I can't let you stay."

"Sure, Karofsky would have rigged the vote so he was prom king and I was crowned queen.," Kurt hissed. "You know he refused to dance with me, Dad?"

"So he was hiding his involvement. I'm still not allowing you to go back there."

"What about New York? I have to go to Nationals, Dad. I belong in New York!"

Burt shook his head. "You weren't even with the group for the other competitions, Kurt. As much as you want to compete, it's honestly not fair to those who didn't make it, like everyone in the Warblers. In fact, I figured being with Blaine again every day would make you happy."

"Right, being tormented out of a place I felt immensely comfortable at can be countered by having a boyfriend at the place I don't want to be. Dad, please. We can't afford this. Don't make me," Kurt pleaded.

"We can, Kurt," Burt said, internally cursing the fact that his son inherited his own bullheadedness. "The shop's doing better than you think since fewer people are buying new cars, and Carole can pick up a few overtime shifts to help out if we need it. But tomorrow morning, we are going to Dalton for reenrollment."

________________________________________
Kurt decided that afternoon to surprise Blaine with the transfer information when he arrived at Dalton. Later in the evening, he and Finn, after convincing their parents it was more important than his grounding, had a goodbye dinner at Breadstix with the rest of New Directions. Santana spent the entire evening apologizing to Kurt for having the Bully Whips focus more on the in-school happenings rather than the maliciousness behind the scenes. Monday morning, Kurt and Burt went to McKinley to withdraw him from classes again before making the drive to Westerville. Dalton's headmaster held him out of the afternoon classes so his teachers could be properly informed of the situation. Instead, he hung around the garden until Warblers practice was set to begin. Making the familiar walk down the corridors reminded him of the first one, six months prior, when a boy he barely knew took his hand and led him to the senior commons.

Thad, sitting closest to the entrance at the council table, was the first to notice him walk in. "Hey, Kurt! What's up?"

Everyone turned around to take a look, then mobbed him. "We've missed you so much!" Jeff exclaimed.

"He's only been gone a couple weeks, dork," Trent said, trying to get in the mass.

Wes was finally the one to pull Kurt away from the excited boys. "This is an unexpected surprise. Blaine didn't mention anything about you coming to visit him today. I hope you're not here to rub it in about going on to the bright lights of Nationals."

Kurt forced a tiny smile onto his face, but the sadness in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by his boyfriend. "Kurt, what's going on?" Blaine asked.

Looking right at Blaine, Kurt began trembling. "Did you tell anyone here about what happened Saturday?" he said softly. Blaine shook his head.

"Wait, wasn't your prom Saturday? Blaine wouldn't shut up about it all week." Nick interjected.

Kurt nodded before informing the Warblers about the events of the dance. A few of the boys were so disgusted they threatened to drive to Lima to take care of the people who did this.

"It's no use," Kurt told them, shaking his head. "It was an anonymous ballot. My dad seems to think it was Karofsky's doing even if I don't."

"Karofsky wouldn't have been part of that, though," Blaine said.

"I know, but you know my dad. He doesn't want me around him at all."

"How is that going to happen, Kurt? The only option for you to stay away from Karofsky is to transfer back here, which I know you don't..."

Kurt stared down at the floor. "Kurt, are you coming back?" Blaine whispered.

With tears in his eyes, Kurt looked back up. "Tomorrow, yeah."

While he was expecting a round of cheers at the announcement, Kurt was met by complete silence. Wes finally broke the peace. "I think I speak on behalf of everyone here, Kurt. We're glad you're back, but not like this." He then pulled Kurt into a tight hug, with many of the other Warblers joining in and sympathizing.

Inevitably, rehearsal was canceled for the afternoon. The Warblers had a final performance scheduled for Friday evening for family and friends, which Kurt had planned on attending anyway. As people began leaving the room, he walked over to where Blaine was seated. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you yesterday. Between trying to talk Dad and Carole out of it then saying goodbye yet again to my friends, things were a little chaotic, and then I decided to just wait until now since I know you wouldn't have been able to keep it from the guys at all."

"It's okay," Blaine said, pulling Kurt in for a gentle kiss. "Are you going to be alright? I know how much you were looking forward to Nationals."

Kurt nodded. "I think so. I'm trying to convince Dad to let me go to New York, anyway. I still plan on treating Rachel to breakfast at Tiffany's."

"You're so adorable. I love you."

Kurt gasped. He had never expected Blaine to say anything along those lines, at least right now. Apparently, Blaine hadn't realized what he said until a few seconds later. "Oh. Oh! Kurt, I'm so sorry. I know we've only been together two months and it's probably too soon to say it and you might not feel that way and...god, why do you let me talk?"

"Hey, don't apologize. It's actually kind of endearing of you to tell me here, though."

"Why is that?"

Pulling Blaine up off the couch, Kurt smiled at him. "Because this is the very room I fell in love with you in back in my spy days."

That was all the answer Blaine needed before locking lips with Kurt again, this time with as much passion as he shared in their first kiss. Once parted, they linked their hands together and walked out of the commons, heading towards the student lot where Blaine's car was parked.

As Blaine placed his messenger bag and blazer in the back seat, he turned back to Kurt. "I can't believe this is happening."

"Me either," Kurt said. "But you know what? Despite everything that happened? I think I've had a pretty good year."

"As have I," Blaine smiled. "I'll call you after dinner, okay?"

"Okay. I love you." Kurt felt completely different being able to say the words. Three words he never expected to use on anyone other than his family for several more years, they now meant even more to him.

"Love you too." With a final kiss, Blaine got in his car to drive home. As Kurt watched him pull out, he thought back on the year. The bullying, taunting, the kiss from Karofsky, and even the prom mishap couldn't match up to meeting someone he could see in his life for a long time. And his senior year, whether it was at Dalton or elsewhere, was going to be even better.