"Man, why do these things always take forever to load?" Tina whined, sitting beside Kurt in the school library. They were both perched in front of one of the schools outdated computers, along with Rachel, waiting to load up Brittany's latest Fondue For Two video, in which Blaine was being interviewed. He had been very nonchalant about his interview when Kurt had asked, only serving to pique Kurt's curiosity. So now the three of them were huddled around the computer, eagerly waiting for it to load enough for them to start watching.

Finally the introduction song and montage began, and then the camera focused on Brittany.

"Welcome to Fondue for Two. I'm Brittany Pierce and today on my show I have legendary bad boy, all around hottie, and my favorite dolphin - Blaine Anderson!"

The screen cut to Blaine, sitting by Brittany and grimacing at the fondue pot. "Why is there a whole carrot and a tomato in there?"

"Lord Tubbington needs to have more vegetables in his diet so I have to hide them in the foods he does like." Brittany supplied and then went to questions.

"True or false. Your hair is really an elaborate wig stolen from magical lawn gnomes."

"Definitely false." Blaine responded without even raising an eyebrow.

"I knew it. Santana owes me!" Brittany sang out.

"Question two." She continued. "Is there any truth to the rumor that have beaten up most of the hockey team over the years?"

Blaine quirked a brow and Kurt could see the smugness in the smile he was giving, which indicated that there was probably truth to that, even though Blaine answered "I'm afraid I can't answer that since it could get me in trouble with Figgins."

"Ooo... saucy! Next question. What do you plan on wearing to prom?"

"Nothing."

Brittany let out a low whistle and behind the computer screen Rachel, Mercedes, and Kurt all raised their brows in unison.

"Because I'm not going to prom." Blaine then elaborated.

Kurt's face fell, which both Tina and Rachel saw as they looked at Kurt immediately once they heard Blaine say it.

"Can you tell our viewers why you're not going?"

Blaine shook his head and then pushed forward. "Next question?"

Brittany flipped to another cue card and Tina informed Kurt and Rachel that when she had been interviewing Mercedes and herself, the only thing on those cards were pictures of Lord Tubbington.

"Boxers or briefs?"

"Boxer briefs. Obviously."

Kurt was still thinking about the prom question, but nodded to confirm that to Tina and Rachel when they both looked his way again.

"Finally, what's your opinion on the current economic situation in Greece?"

Rachel let out a small chortle, clearly not believing that a question like that could follow all the other questions, while Tina's jaw dropped as Blaine, not missing a beat, quickly gave an in depth analysis that none of them could follow. However, despite that, Kurt was still focused on one thing only.

Why wouldn't Blaine go to prom?

Prom was clearly to be a sensitive subject not only for Blaine, because in glee club that day Mercedes admitted that she wasn't going to go to prom because no one had asked her. Quinn was of course adamant that junior prom was a huge deal because it only happened once. Kurt kept looking to Blaine, who was deftly avoiding his questioning gaze.

Then Mr. Schuester announced that New Directions would be the entertainment for prom, creating a mix of cheers and groans from the club. Mercedes stormed off and Kurt was about to follow her out, but Rachel went instead, leaving Kurt to notice how tense Blaine had become - his arms folded over his chest and his head ducked down.

"Can I take you to dinner tonight?" Kurt whispered over to Blaine.

Blaine shrugged at first and then nodded, not looking back to Kurt at all who was completely unnerved by this sudden change in his boyfriends behaviour.

As the meeting went on, Mr. Schuester discussed how they would stagger performances so all dates could have the chance to dance. Blaine finally seemed to have enough and shove his chair down with a clatter as he got up abruptly and stormed off. Kurt watched for an instant in surprise and then took off after Blaine. What the hell was wrong?

"Blaine!" he called, racing down the hall after him.

Blaine stopped where he was when he heard Kurt call him, and kicked a locker near him, filling the hall with an echoing clang.

Kurt carefully put a hand on Blaine's shoulder, "What's going on? Why are you so mad all of a sudden?"

Blaine was tense under Kurt's hand, and he still wouldn't look towards Kurt. "Could we just go to supper now?"

Kurt looked back at the choir room and then back towards Blaine, who had finally turned his head Kurt's way, eyes pleading.

"Sure..." Kurt acquiesced. As much as he was excited for prom, and performing at it, he knew that his relationship needed to be the priority right now. They went to their lockers to drop off and gather anything they needed before heading to Kurt's car. Blaine told him that he could drop him back off at the school after supper and he'd take his motorcycle home from there. Aside from that, they didn't talk, just existed in each other's company quietly all the way to Breadstix.

As they waited for the waitress to return with their drink orders, Kurt decided to both break the silence and segway into what was clearly irritating Blaine.

"Blaine... will you go to prom with me?"

A groan was the response, and Kurt's face, which had been excited and hopeful, immediately fell. Blaine sighed and looked up at Kurt, finally daring to speak.

"Prom..."

"You don't want to go to prom?"

Blaine sighed and Kurt remained hopeful, if for no other reason than that Blaine didn't immediately shake his head or outright say no.

"It's just...remember how I told you I had problems at my old school?"

Kurt nodded, reaching across the table to take one of Blaine's hands in both of his own.

"I had just come out... my dad was pissed... and my mom was having a hard time with it... anyhow... there was this Sadie Hawkins dance, and the only supportive person I knew, the only other out kid at the school, and I decided to go together to the dance... it went alright and we thought things were okay and that people were actually okay with us... until after the dance. We were waiting for his dad to pick us up when these guys jumped us... and beat the shit out of us. After that I took up boxing... and never allowed anyone to say anything about me.... I couldn't go through that again."

Kurt stared, wide-eyed, at Blaine as he spoke, letting that bit of Blaine that he had never heard about before sink in. That's how he had gone from dapper little boy to disturbed teenager.

"Blaine..." Kurt finally managed to squeak out, and loosened his grip on Blaine's hand as he also realized that he had been holding it much too tightly.

"I'm crazy about you Kurt...." Blaine said then, squeezing back Kurt's hands in his own. "... and since it seems like we need to be there anyway to fund our Nationals trip, I'll go... I'm just... not happy about being forced to have to deal with my shit I guess."

Kurt gave Blaine a gentle smile, though couldn't help but bounce in place at the excitement now growing in his stomach at the prospect of going to prom with his boyfriend. "This is great actually! You can get redemption at junior prom!"

Blaine chuckled, shaking his head at Kurt's excitement and happily watching him discuss their prom night plans until their waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. As usual, Kurt was getting a salad while Blaine had ordered half the menu - at least it seemed that way.

"Were you hurt... badly... when you were attacked?" Kurt asked, his mind jumping back to the reason they were here in the first place.

Blaine nodded slowly, "Yes... it's why Mademoiselle Bouvier mentioned my needing credits.... I lost half of my freshman year to healing up. Most lunches I work on extra credit projects... I want to be able to graduate when I should be, especially now. I want to graduate with you."

Kurt frowned, and then recalled something. He turned Blaine's arm over in his grip and traced a light coloured scar up his forearm, "Was this..?"

Blaine shook his head, "No... at least not directly. That was from my dad getting mad that I let them jump me. Apparently I should have known better, and I also shouldn't have been asking for it by being gay." Blaine rolled his eyes, and Kurt felt nauseous. "Anyhow... they were using bats - so it was mostly broken bones, not broken skin."

"Did they... did they at least get in trouble?"

Blaine flinched and looked away. "Can we change the subject please?"

So they must not have, Kurt thought to himself, angry and disgusted with how people could hurt someone so badly because of the way they were born and get away with it.

"Alright. I'm sorry to pry so much... it's just a piece of you I never knew before, and I do want to know you as much as is possible." Kurt said, getting a smile in return from Blaine.

"Some day... you'll know all my little secrets... then you'll get bored of me. I have to keep up my short, dark, and mysterious routine to keep you interested." Blaine said, though clearly teasing.

Kurt chuckled and shook his head, "You only have to keep one thing up around me." He winked and Blaine laughed. Kurt could never get tired of that laugh.

As the prom approached, the girls were insistent on getting help from Kurt with their gown selections. He loved this kind of thing. Being acknowledged as a master in the field of fashion always gave him a joyous little tingle down his spine. For the most part they needed no help - well, aside from Tina who was adamant on keeping up her goth appearance which did not accentuate her features at all much to Kurt's chagrin. Santana tried to insist that Kurt and Blaine have a full Bully Whip security detail at prom once he informed the girls that he and Blaine would officially be going as dates (which apparently was no surprise considering they were dating), and Kurt had to remind her that Blaine was easily capable of protecting them both. Someone would have to be insane to try and mess with Blaine nowadays.

However, while he was shopping with the girls, he received a text from Blaine saying that due to family stuff, he wouldn't be at school tomorrow. Kurt let him know that he would pick up his school work for him, though was curious as to why Blaine would miss school when Kurt knew Blaine preferred being at school to staying home.

"Well at the very least, let us protect you tomorrow in the halls since the boyfriend won't be there." Santana insisted.

Kurt sighed and gave in. "Fine. Just tomorrow though."

The focus of conversation then turned to the gossip that Jesse St. James was back in town and apparently was taking Rachel to prom. Kurt couldn't believe how insane that was. The man, along with all of Vocal Adrenaline, had egged Rachel just last year and now she was going to go out with him? Kurt loved Rachel as his poorly-dressed female diva counterpart, but sometimes the reason why she only *just* made the honor roll in school was apparent. Smart, but only just enough to get by.

"What about you Kurt? What are you going to wear?" Mercedes asked.

Kurt beamed, thinking about the work in progress sitting in his room at his sewing machine. "I'm making my own piece. Nothing in the stores suited what I wanted, so I looked though Alexander McQueen's signature pieces, as well as took into account the royal wedding, and designed my own."

"Oh wow Kurt... are you sure you want to be in Broadway when you have skills like that?" Tina queried.

Kurt chuckled. He loved getting compliments. He lived for them. "Of course. My love for fashion is only surpassed by my love of the stage."

"What about Blaine? What does he want to do after high school?" Santana piped in.

"I... ah...." Had he ever mentioned anything? "I don't know come to think about it...." Kurt admitted.

Santana made a smug smirk, "Well he better figure it out. Graduation happens next year. Need to make sure you have the courses and extracurriculars you need to get where you want now."

Just another thing to tack to the list of 'Things I need to ask Blaine about' Kurt mentally noted with a sigh.

Letting the Bully Whips, a.k.a. Santana and Karofsky, escort Kurt to all his classes the next day was a mistake. No one was giving Kurt a hard time, and Santana was making a big show out of escorting him - being obnoxiously loud and referring to him as "Teen Gay". Meanwhile Karofsky, while more low key, was clearly struggling with the question of his sexuality when he admitted to Kurt he was so sorry for what he did. Kurt didn't have the heart to tell him that he had gotten his classes mixed up. French was second period, not third.

The highlight of his school day though was cooking class, where Brittany received a prom proposal from Artie through song, backed up by several of the boys from Glee club. Though she turned it down, it was amazingly romantic, and he had to give Artie credit for trying. Really it was the most exciting part of cooking class all year, since they were still working on basic recipes that Kurt could do in his sleep. Ms. Hedberg was a nice woman, but another example of a teacher past their prime. She couldn't even explain to Brittany why the eggs they were using were different from the ones that would hatch into chicks. Didn't cooking teachers at least have to have some knowledge of biology?

After Glee Club prom rehearsal, Kurt drove to Blaine's home to bring him his school work. it had been awhile since he had been there, and it had been since the attack that he had gone into the house. He found himself a little hesitant to get out of the car, but Blaine opened the door to the house, apparently having seen Kurt pull up, and rushed to the car, hopping into the passenger seat and dictating to Kurt to "Drive."

Kurt blinked in surprise, both at the suddenness of Blaine's actions, the command, and Blaine's attire. He was dressed in a suit with his hair neatly slicked back. He looked like an older version of the dapper young school boy in the yearbook photos Kurt had found.

He had also been crying. He wasn't now, but there were the telltale red streaks down his cheeks, and his eyes were red and puffy.

"Blaine...?"

"Please... just drive... I need to get away from there." Blaine spoke softly, looking out the window.

Kurt kept driving, to no where in particular, and every now and then peeked over at Blaine to see if he was better.

"Would your dad let me stay over tonight...?" Blaine asked. The question was a little absurd given how much Blaine stayed over, though now was expected to stay in the guest room when he was there. It was just assumed that if Blaine was over, he was staying the night - no questions were asked by Burt or Carol. Occasionally if a relative spent the night, Burt and Carol would tell Kurt in advance so he would know that Blaine wouldn't have a spot that night unless it was the couch.

"Of course."

Blaine nodded, and Kurt started heading towards home.

Once they got there, Blaine took off his jacket and tie and went down to watch the Buckeyes game with Burt and Finn, leaving Kurt alone with more questions than answers.

"I just need a bit of time..." He had told Kurt, and Kurt agreed, though wasn't particularly happy about it. Patience wasn't one of his virtues.

So he worked on his prom outfit, trying to occupy himself until Blaine was ready to talk. At one point he tried it on to showcase to the boys when he heard them talking about what they were wearing, or, in his dad's case, what they had worn to prom before.

Finn, for once, thought it was cool - the suit with a kilt. However his dad and Blaine were less happy with it, worried that he was going to call attention to himself and stir the pot.

"I can't believe, you, of all people, would be worrying about causing any trouble." Kurt snapped at Blaine.

Blaine, Finn, and Burt all looked taken aback by Kurt's words, though he stuck with them, storming off after he noted that he had done nothing wrong, and that prom should be about joy, not fear.

He went about taking off the kilt and pulling on his regular clothing in a huff, mentally noting the need to adjust one of the plaits later, when Blaine opened his door with a creak.

"Kurt..."

Kurt grumbled and turned around. His mood was soured. He had been nothing but a fabulous boyfriend tonight, and he didn't like that Blaine wasn't supporting him on this front.

"What?"

Blaine grimaced at Kurt's bitch face, but stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him despite Burt's frequent reminders to keep the door open when they were together.

"I'm sorry. It does really suit you... in fact it give me all kinds of dirty ideas...."

Kurt's brow went up. He hadn't thought about that, only about the fashion side of things, but he also wasn't about to let Blaine so easily get back on his good side with just a little suggestive talk.

Blaine moved forward until he was in front of Kurt and set his hands on Kurt's hips, "I'm just in a bit of a funk today... if you hadn't noticed."

Kurt was having a really hard time not softening when Blaine touched him. "I did."

"I was in court today."

"Explains the suit and tie." Kurt murmured, watching Blaine's lips as he spoke since Blaine was looking down.

"Yes... anyhow... it was just a rough day. I didn't mean to upset you."

Kurt sighed. "Blaine..." He wrapped his arms around Blaine's shoulders, letting them hang together behind Blaine's head. "Why couldn't you have just told me that before?"

"Because before I was still too upset and it would have come out in a series of Fuck's and Shit's."

Kurt chuckled and caught Blaine's little grin in a gentle kiss which was so eagerly returned that Kurt had to pull his head back to speak again.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

Blaine whined softly, his head moving forward to recapture Kurt's lips against his own since they had escaped.

I can wait a bit to find out, Kurt said to himself. He wasn't going to put those lips on hold.

Prom Night came way too quickly. Kurt was nervous and had a difficult time buttoning up his shirt with his hands so shaky. Luckily, Blaine's hands wove their way around Kurt from behind and helped him with that. Blaine was already dressed and looked simply amazing. He looked so good in a tux that Kurt was ready to take it off him already to just show him how attractive he thought Blaine was right now.

"Hey... I'm the one who's supposed to be nervous about this... what's up?" Blaine whispered into his ear from behind.

Kurt exhaled, leaning back into Blaine's ready arms and letting Blaine do up the rest of his shirt buttons. "It's my first big dance... and I have you to share it with. Everything is just so good that it seems like it could so easily come undone."

Blaine chuckled, pressed a kiss to Kurt's cheek and continued buttoning up Kurt. "We could always just stay in and get out of these clothes...."

Kurt laughed. Leave it to Blaine to openly suggest having sex instead of going to prom. "No... we need to be there. We have singing responsibilities and I put way too much effort into making this outfit."

Blaine purred into his ear, "I can appreciate the outfit from here... We could leave it on..."

Another laugh escaped from Kurt and he pulled himself up as Blaine finished doing up the last button. "No Blaine... we need to make our appearance. I know you're still looking for ways to get out of this but it's not happening."

Blaine harrumphed, but continued to help Kurt get ready.

"Dude! There's a limo outside!" Finn yelled from downstairs.

Kurt raised an eyebrow at Blaine. As soon as Finn had yelled it, he already knew why, looking at Blaine who had a smug smile plastered across his face.

"I thought we were taking my car..."

"You thought wrong." Blaine said simply, holding a hand out towards Kurt who was doing his final check in the mirror. "I can't fucking have you showing up in something less than you're worth after all."

Kurt flushed and set his hand in Blaine's, letting himself be led down the stairs where Carol was ready with her camera, Burt behind her, and made them pose for several photos.

"You kids have fun... but not too much." Burt said, patting them both on the shoulder as they left the house and went into the limo. Kurt had been in limo's before... but only when he was daydreaming while his dad was fixing them up.

"Oh... Blaine.... this is as big as my room in here...." Kurt softly gasped as he slid into his seat and took in his surroundings with giddy awe.

Blaine grinned, opening the tiny fridge in the back as the driver started the car and began their journey to McKinley. He pulled out a bottle of champagne and swiped up two stemmed glasses, pouring a little into each and handing one to Kurt. "Jerome can't hear us or see us with that blind up either."

Kurt sniffed the drink suspiciously, but took a sip. It was a special occasion after all. "Jerome?"

Blaine nodded. "We hire him whenever we need to go to fancy white people events."

Kurt chuckled and took another sip. It wasn't really that bad. "Of course."

Blaine snuggled in beside Kurt, downing his champagne quickly and then grimacing, "Hate that shit..."

Kurt set his head down on Blaine's shoulder, "Then why did you drink it at all?"

"Special event... and it'll help me get through the doors." Blaine wrapped his arm around Kurt's shoulders.

Kurt peered up at Blaine, "Still nervous?"

Blaine nodded once, and then set down his glass. He took Kurt's glass as well, even though there was still champagne in it, and set it down as well before leaning over Kurt and pressing his lips against Kurt's - needy and wanting.

The taste of champagne wasn't enough to overpower Blaine's usual flavour, and Kurt's tongue pressed into Blaine's mouth to catch that taste in his own mouth. Blaine's mouth pulled away from his own though, much too quickly for Kurt's liking, and then began trailing kisses down Kurt's jaw line to his ear where a heated whisper of "You're fucking hot." was accompanied by Blaine's hand sliding up Kurt's kilt and palming his already half hard cock through his briefs.

A whimper exploded from Kurt's lips and he glanced over to the glass blinds between them and the driver, though his face was redirected by Blaine's other hand, forcing him to look back to him. "He can't see or hear us."

Kurt and Blaine still hadn't gone "all the way", and Kurt couldn't help but wonder if this was Blaine's way of trying to get Kurt to feel more comfortable in order to get to that point. So many other couples used prom as an excuse to lose their virginity, why couldn't they? But thinking about that last little bit of innocence he still was holding onto, the fear about losing it filled him again. It was hard to decide what part of himself to pay attention to - the afraid part, or the highly aroused part. Blaine was doing his very best to keep Kurt's interest - working his hand up into Kurt's briefs and pumping his cock gently while he nibbled Kurt's earlobe.

"Blaine...." Kurt managed a small whine as he tried to pull himself back.

"Hrmm?" Blaine asked, though didn't bother to remove his hand or lips, pushing himself forward as Kurt pushed himself back, his body rocking itself against Kurt and pressing him into the leather seats.

"Oh god... Blaine..." Kurt was having trouble thinking with the right head as his dick was worked so expertly by Blaine's hand. "Our clothing... will get... messed..."

"Don't care." Blaine grunted, quickening the tempo of his hand around Kurt's cock. Kurt couldn't think clearly at all now. He was so close, and the only thing holding him back was the thought of making a mess of the outfit he had worked so hard on.

"Fuck babe... come."

That was the last straw to Kurt's resolve and he cried out as his orgasm overtook him, filling his briefs and covering Blaine's hand with hot, sticky come as his cock shuddered until it softened, Blaine pumping it until it was all done.

Completely spread out on the seats, and coming off his orgasmic high, he moaned softly when he realized Blaine was pulling his briefs off for him and quickly wiping him off with a small towel from the limo's stock. "There you are babe... No big mess..."

Kurt watched Blaine work on him hazily. "But... underwear..."

Blaine smirked, "I get to be distracted by the thought of you going commando all night under that kilt."

Kurt whined softly, knowing that he wasn't going to be able to get out of doing something with Blaine after the prom with that kind of thought in his head. He only hoped he wouldn't have any sexy thoughts either throughout the night since there was nothing left to stop him from tenting in his kilt.

Kurt was having a good time. No one bothered him, he and Blaine had danced together on a couple fast songs, and the Glee club was getting a great response from the crowd.

Then things went from bad to worse.

First, Finn had gotten into an altercation with Jesse and both of them had been kicked out while Blaine had been singing. Not only did he not get to fully enjoy his boyfriend singing, but he was going to have to provide a report to his dad and Carol later regarding what had happened more than likely.

Then there was the vote.

He had never been more upset in his life - and he had some pretty significant things happen that had reduced him to tears over the years.

By write in ballot, he had been voted in as prom queen opposite Karofsky who was prom king. Blaine ran after him after telling everyone in the silent gymnasium that they were all "Fucking assholes".

He thought things were alright. He thought he had gotten past the bullying at McKinley. Hell, he had come back under the pretense that things would be better. Blaine was holding him tightly against his chest as he sobbed out of embarrassment and hurt.

"We can just go... why don't we just fucking go..." Blaine snarled, rubbing Kurt's back in an attempt to be soothing, but the rage in Blaine had Kurt worried he'd run a hole through the fabric.

Kurt sniffed, and thought a moment. "Leaving would be the easier thing to do... but I'm not going to."

He pulled himself out of Blaine's grasp and looked at the boy, who had made such an effort to look presentable for Kurt tonight despite his reservations about going. "This prom was about redemption... about getting that lump in your chest out of you. If we go now, then I'll end up with a lump too."

"Well I'd offer to beat the shit out of them... but the ballot was secret and I don't think I could get the blood out of this tux even if I did it." Blaine growled.

Kurt shook his head. "I'm going to go back there and get coronated..." He ignored how Blaine's brows narrowed at the thought, "I'm going to show them they can't touch me... can't touch us, or what we have."

"Fuck..." Blaine murmured and shook his head. "You are fucking braver than I ever was... or could be."

Kurt sniffed and rubbed his eyes, taking the tissue offered to him by Blaine to wipe his eyes and clean himself up to look presentable.

"How do I look?"

Blaine looked him up and down, eyes softening as he took a moment to linger on Kurt's face. "You're gorgeous... "

Kurt smiled meekly and took in a deep breath before walking back down the hall, into the gymnasium, and up on the stage. Figgins coronated him and after a moment, the crowd clapped for him - his glee friends cheering in support. This wasn't so bad. Despite his heart still pounding in his chest, he was surviving.

As he stepped down to the dance floor, where he was supposed to have a dance with the prom king - Karofsky, he tried to convince Karofsky that this could be his moment, but when the music started Karofsky ran off, leaving Kurt alone.

The lump he feared again started to form inside him as he held his breath. All eyes were on him, alone, on that dance floor. Don't cry, he told himself, don't you dare start crying again.

"May I have this dance?"

Spinning in place, Kurt let out his breath to see Blaine holding a hand out to him. He smiled broadly. "Yes... you may." Eagerly taking the offered hand and placing his arms around Blaine as Blaine led him on the dance floor. Kurt kept glancing around, watching the varied reactions in the faces of the students. His friends were notably impressed and happy, some of the students had small grins, while others were outright irritated by the turn of events.

"Fuck them." Blaine whispered, noticing that Kurt's wandering gaze.

Kurt looked back to Blaine and smiled, deciding to take that advice as he kept his sights on Blaine, and no one else for the rest of the dance.

"Love you..." Blaine whispered, as their dance drew to a close.

Kurt smiled softly, more sure of this now than he ever was. "Love you too."