They didn't end up going all the way prom night. Once they got back to the limo and began making out, Burt called Kurt, wanting to know what had happened with Finn. Instead of going to the motel that Blaine had so conveniently booked for them, they had to scour Lima for Finn, finding him eventually at a late night all-you-can-eat burger joint that looked like the burgers were made of congealed grease. It took both Blaine and Kurt to pull him away from eating his feelings and push him into the back of the limo where they delivered him back to the Hudson-Hummel home, and once they were there, there was no sneaking away.

So they told Kurt's parents about everything that had happened that night, and had to stop Burt from storming out to give Figgins a piece of his mind for how he ran the school and allowing the write in vote shenanigans to get that far. Carol meanwhile was soothing her son who was acting like a giant baby.

"Why doesn't he realize he loves Rachel and get the drama fucking done with?" Blaine grumbled as they cuddled up on Kurt's bed on the pretense that they were watching a movie. There was a movie on in Kurt's room, but they weren't watching it. It was an excuse to be together that night.

"We boys are kind of notorious for not figuring out the obvious..." Kurt responded, reaching up to stop Blaine's hands from fingering through his gelled down locks. "Let them be. You look so much like a disney prince right now."

Blaine eyeballed Kurt incredulously, "Oh... because saying that will make me stop. That is MORE reason for me to undo them."

Kurt chuckled and leaned over to press a kiss to Blaine's cheek. "You did look very dashing though tonight. I was so proud to be with you."

Blaine hummed happily, leaning his face into Kurt's mouth as he was kissed. "I never did get to play with that kilt.... though I had wonderful thoughts about it all night."

Kurt was secretly relieved that they had been detoured and he didn't actually have to give himself all up, even though his heart was completely mush right now after Blaine had saved him on that dance floor.

"Maybe another night."

Kurt didn't think much of Jesse St. James, but he couldn't help but laugh in Glee club the next week when he noted that Finn danced like a zombie that had to poop. It was the most accurate description anyone had ever come up with and, brother or not, Finn definitely struggled with his dance moves and Kurt couldn't deny it.

Jesse had come to act as a consultant for the New Directions as they progressed to Nationals, and apparently the first order of business was auditions to see who the strongest singer was. Kurt was definitely signing up.

"You should too." He whispered over to Blaine.

Blaine shook his head. "You shouldn't even have to audition. You're the clear star around here. The only star Rachel is, is the kind that's full of gas."

Kurt chuckled again and reached over to hug his hand with Blaine's, listening into Mr. Schuester's pre-nationals schedule for booty camp and singing practice. The only free time Kurt was going to have was when football practice was on to accommodate the boys in football. That however meant Blaine, Finn, Mike, Artie, Puck, and Sam were going pretty much 24-7 for the next while. He put a couple memos in his phone to remind him to be a good boyfriend and brother and bring Blaine and Finn suppers. At the very least they weren't picky eaters, even though they both bankrupt a buffet with their appetites.

Kurt sighed softly, looking into his locker for nothing in particular. He and Finn had brought Coach Sylvester flowers since they had heard about the death of her sister, Jean. She was clearly a wreck and barely keeping it together - but how do you tell someone that? Especially someone like Coach Sylvester?

Memories of his mother's death flooded his mind for the second time in so many months, and he made a fist, trying to keep himself steady, and avoid crying. God, why was he such a baby?

"Kurt... babe...?"

Blaine's hand pressed against the small of Kurt's back, pushing an invisible button that allowed him to exhale the breath he had been holding.

"What's wrong?"

Kurt turned his head to look at Blaine. "Coach Sylvester's sister died. Finn and I brought her some flowers and offered to help... she's just... clearly... grieving."

Blaine frowned, wrapping his arms around Kurt and giving warning glares to other students in the hall as they passed by, threatening to retaliate if they stared or said anything.

Kurt let himself be held for a few minutes until he felt his heart settle and his own threat of tears pass. "Finn and I think the glee club should do something to help her."

"We should."

Kurt looked up, scanning Blaine's face for sincerity. "Really?"

Blaine nodded. "She backed you up when the school board wouldn't. She's clearly a crazy, but she's a crazy that has your back, and you should have her's."

Kurt managed to smile at Blaine.

"Karofsky transferred." Blaine said, changing the subject.

Kurt nodded, "I heard. Guess my gayness scared him away in the end..."

"That or me telling him he was as cowardly as his cock is small when I cornered him in the showers yesterday...."

Kurt gasped and took a step back. "You didn't!"

Blaine shrugged, "He had the legitimate opportunity to touch you and dance with you and he forfeited. I told him what an idiot he was. Nothing that doesn't normally happen in some capacity in glee."

"But... Blaine! The showers?! Really?!"

Blaine chuckled, appearing to be quite pleased with himself as he recalled the incident in his mind. "Oh yes. He jumped and hid in the corner of the stall. I don't know if he thought I was going to beat him up or rape him, but he was begging me to leave him alone before I even said a word."

"God damn it Blaine Anderson...." Kurt hissed, "You are lucky... SO LUCKY... he didn't go after you for harassment or something."

Blaine shrugged once again, Kurt shaking his head in disbelief. Blaine could be the sweetest guy on the planet, and then he would remember that he actually wasn't when he admitted to doing things like that.

"Are you mad at me?"

"I... I don't know what I am. I feel bad for Karofsky. He's questioning what he is and clearly conflicted..."

"But he's still an asshole."

"And so are you!" Kurt snapped back.

Blaine's smug smile turned into a frown. "Are you really getting mad at me over Karofsky? Really?"

Kurt sighed and grabbed the books for his next class which he was definitely late for now, slamming his locker in the process. "Yes. I'll talk to you later."

He stormed off, leaving Blaine behind, at least for the moment. Making this school safe shouldn't have just been about making Kurt feel safe, but about making Karofsky feel like he could come out of the closet and be accepted here as well, and Blaine had ruined that.

During Glee club, Kurt and Finn outlined the need to help Coach Sylvester with the funeral, despite Jesse's insistence that it was pointless and they should focus on Nationals. He was proud of Finn though, for taking on the role of leader and declaring that they were going to do this. They would help Coach Sylvester, and they would honor her sister Jean, who had been just as much an outcast as they all were.

"I'm sorry..." Blaine whispered over as Kurt took his seat.

Kurt was already on high emotional alert, and being reminded about Blaine's transgression just irritated him more. He ignored Blaine for the moment, not ready to deal with him, or know what to say to him. How could he explain it to Blaine? As much as he was upset for Karofsky for all the bullying, and that horrific kiss - he didn't think it was right, no matter what the reason, to bully anyone. That just would have made him as bad as Karofsky had been, and despite Karofsky running off during the dance, he knew that Karofsky was still better than he had been. He understood the gravity of what he had done to Kurt, and just needed more time to come to grips with who he was.

Blaine had probably turned all that progress on its head.

Yet he knew what he was getting into with Blaine. The boy did have a reputation as a bully of the bullies, and while that usually made Kurt feel protected against them, he was beginning to feel like Blaine picked on others as an outlet for his rage - instead of dealing with in a healthier way.

So he continued to ignore Blaine, not even following Blaine out when he had clearly tired of trying to get Kurt's attention and stormed off early. It would have upset Kurt if he wasn't already sad about Coach Sylvester's loss, and angry at Blaine on top of that.

"I was very proud to be your brother today." Kurt acknowledged to Finn as they walked into the house together, and Finn gave him a genuine smile before pressing his lips together as he realized they had walked into a conversation between Carol and Burt.

"He should know Burt... I like Blaine, I really do, but Kurt should know." Carol could be heard in the kitchen. Their parents hadn't heard them enter, so they quietly listened in.

"I know Carol... but I don't think we should jump to conclusion about it either."

Finn cast a questioning glance at Kurt, who shrugged his shoulders up in response. He definitely didn't know about the origins of this conversation.

"But if Blaine was somehow involved in the death of a kid... you don't think that's something Kurt should know?"

Kurt's took in a sharp intake of breath, and again Finn looked to him with questioning eyes. He shook his head back. He definitely didn't know what this conversation was about.

"It was just a court summons regarding the death of the kid and Blaine's involvement Carol... We don't know he was the direct cause or anything. We know he has it bad at home, but we shouldn't jump to conclusions... Besides, Kurt might know already."

No. Kurt did definitely not know. This must have been what his dad had seen in the minivan when it was brought into the shop all those months ago.

"I trust you Burt. You know that. I just want what's best for our boys... and Blaine is quickly becoming one of our boys. We're a family. We shouldn't be keeping secrets."

"When he's ready to tell us about it - he will. If he was criminally involved I'm sure he wouldn't be free and out and about at McKinley anyhow."

"But you heard the boys talk... the teachers don't do or say anything about his behaviour. They might know something and be afraid of him."

"Carol... jumping to conclusions again. Look...." He heard his father take in a breath, "... I trust Kurt, and he seems to trust Blaine. And damn if that curly haired mess hasn't grown on me either. I don't think he could have killed someone Carol."

Carol made a small sigh, and then a shuffling in the kitchen was heard, "Alright Burt... "

Finn and Kurt locked eyes again and once again Kurt shook his head.

What the hell?

Kurt was having a hard time not asking Blaine about what he had overheard the day before. As far as Blaine knew, Kurt was still mad at him - which is precisely how Kurt acted around him. In actually, Kurt was now unsure around Blaine, and a little scared as thoughts flew through his mind about the unpredictable and violent nature of his boyfriend. Could Blaine actually be capable of killing someone?

He needed to focus on his audition for the lead in Nationals though, and helping Coach Sylvester with the funeral plans. He needed those distractions.

So when he put all his focus and fury into singing Some People from Gypsy, only to have Jesse St. James rip into him about it being a song for a woman and telling him he wasn't sure he nailed it, Kurt was appalled. He knew he had nailed it. Not only had he nailed it, he had hammered it down until it was smashed to bits.

Apparently Jesse had given everyone else scathing reviews though too, and while he couldn't deny that Rachel could sing, he knew that this whole audition was rigged. Why even bother?

He had also pointedly ignored Blaine when he had seen him at the back of the auditorium during the audition process. He just didn't know what to say or do yet. What could he say? How does one ask their boyfriend if they might have committed murder?

Right after auditions, he had stolen away with Finn to help Coach Sylvester clean up Jean's room in the nursing home. They would be missing Glee practice, but this was the only chance they would get. A funeral wouldn't wait for Nationals to be over, and Coach Beiste wasn't going to let Finn miss any more practices for Glee club.

Every now and then, Kurt would tear up. He remembered his dad avoiding going through his mother's things after she had died, and how, over two years later, it was his grandparents who had come and helped him go through her things. Even then, even after all that time, his dad had still cried when they tried to pack away her favourite dress or her half used perfume.

Kurt had taken that perfume when they weren't looking and hid it away in his drawer. Sometimes when he forgot his mother's voice, he would spritz a little of the perfume just to remember what she smelled like. That scent brought back all his memories of her.

So for Coach Sylvester to have to clear out Jean's room so soon after she had died to make room for a new occupant must have been emotionally devastating. He had nothing but sympathy for her, even when she insisted that everything should go into the garbage except for a stuffed bear.

"We should make her funeral special..." Finn said after Coach Sylvester had left.

Kurt nodded, and looked down at the old tape of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. "I used to love watching this with my mom... I knew all the songs... all the lines..."

Finn smiled weakly, "Yah. I watched it with my mom too. I loved that candy land. Used to fall asleep at night and dream about it."

"You know... there's a prop store that has some giant colourful mushrooms and lollipops... we could decorate to make it look like that...." Kurt mused.

"That would be sweet dude! Like... literally!"

Kurt laughed, eyes twinkling with both sadness and joy at his brother's antics. "And we could sing. I'll bet her favourite song was Pure Imagination..."

Finn nodded, "Yah. Let's do it."

The boys continued to go through Jean's things, Kurt feeling really odd about going through someone's stuff that he hadn't known and having to decide what to do about it. Thankfully, she didn't have that much, and most of the things they decided would best be donated to the nursing home for those that needed it.

Finn had graciously avoided the topic of what they had overheard, even though Kurt knew it was probably burning him up inside. He didn't want to gossip though, certainly not about Blaine, and definitely not with his brother - especially when all it was right now was just gossip. They had suffered through enough rumors in this club, and didn't need anymore of it.

But he would still have to face Blaine eventually.

He sent a group text out to all Glee members, telling them about the funeral plans and that they would need to have a practice before the ceremony tomorrow. Everyone confirmed, except Blaine, who instead sent:

Please just talk to me. I thought we weren't doing this kind of ignoring the other person shit anymore. -B

Kurt sighed. He had a point.

Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow. -K

Promise? -B

Promise. -K

I love you. -B

Kurt fingers hesitated over the buttons of his phone, but the life creeped back into them after a moment.

Love you too. -K

They wouldn't be able to talk right away. Everyone came at the same time and worked on setting up the funeral home to make it look as perfect as they could. Then they practices Pure Imagination a few times to make sure they sounded alright. Every time they passed the pedestal where the coffin would be placed, Kurt couldn't help but shudder. He just wasn't good with death. He didn't like to think that the people he loved would be gone forever from him one day.

Blaine's hands would occasionally settle on his back, or his shoulder, trying to be supportive when he saw that Kurt was unnerved, but instead of the usual calming effect Blaine had on him, Kurt was instead finding himself tense under Blaine's touch.

Could he really have killed someone?

He was actually grateful when the ceremony began, and greeted Coach Sylvester with Finn, who was clearly surprised at the large turnout and the decorations.

Blaine sat beside him through the service, and patted his knee gently when Kurt began to tear up after Mr. Schuester took over for Coach Sylvester when she got too upset to give her eulogy. How was he going to get through today without becoming a blubbering mess?

They sang, and again Kurt teared up as Coach Sylvester thanked them. He had never heard her thank anyone before - at least not without a fair amount of sarcasm attached.

Blaine offered him a tissue, which he took gratefully. He was glad the service was short and sweet, though it meant he would need to talk to Blaine sooner.

They walked through the funeral hall, out to Kurt's car where they both climbed in and sat quietly while Kurt finished cleaning off his face and gathered his bearings.

"I didn't think I'd be able to do that..." Blaine murmured quietly.

"Do what?" Kurt asked.

"Go through with a funeral. The last one I was at, excluding the canary, was too tough."

Kurt looked over, both curious and knowing full well this could be the segway into the more difficult conversation they needed to have.

"Who was it?"

"Arthur... a friend of mine."

"I'm sorry... people shouldn't die so young..."

Blaine nodded slowly, looking down at his hands. This was the first Kurt had heard about someone named Arthur, and wondered if his death was tied to the death his parents had been talking about.

"Do you think it's possible... what Coach Sylvester wrote about her sister?"

Kurt thought back to the service, but couldn't pick out what Blaine was talking about, "What exactly?"

"That... a person could live without enemies, resentments, or regrets?"

Kurt tipped his head to the side, regarding Blaine. His mind was conflicted. After what he had heard, he had been nervous and scared around Blaine, but this Blaine, so emotionally open and vulnerable, this Blaine could never hurt anyone... at least not kill them. This was the Blaine he loved.

"I don't know... I know I resent my mother being taken from me... "

Blaine looked up, and Kurt could now see that his eyes were rimmed in tears that hung onto his long black lashes. "You're going to break up with me aren't you?" he choked out.

Kurt blinked a few times and then reached over to place a hand on Blaine's, fear be damned. "I... never even thought about that."

Blaine hiccuped softly and rubbed his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "You've been pulling away from my touch all day though... even when you've been mad before you've never gotten tense... never pulled away."

How could anyone be afraid of this Blaine? Kurt wondered, squeezing his hand gently.

"Blaine. I love you. I... I was upset that you scared off Karofsky because the school should be just as safe for him as it is for me... even if he acted like an asshole before. But I understand why you did it... you, in your own crazy way, thought you were protecting me against something I didn't need to be protected from."

Blaine nodded, looking away. "I fucking hate crying...."

Kurt couldn't help but chuckle. "I won't tell anyone... but you should apologize."

"I'm not apologizing to that asshole."

Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand again. "Maybe not right now... but you should... sometime."

Blaine grumbled incoherently and finally wrapped his fingers around Kurt's hand, turning back to him as he seemed to have his tears under control. "I really am sorry... if only because I hate it when you're mad at me."

Kurt offered Blaine a sweet smile, though was still wondering how he might bring up what he had heard. "Blaine..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to tell me about Arthur?"

Blaine tensed and looked back away, shaking his head towards the window instead of facing Kurt. He couldn't help but sigh, knowing that he had blown his present chance for Blaine to talk about the death, and he would have to bring it up later. Right now they were both too fragile, and Kurt could put aside his discomfort for awhile if it meant snuggling against Blaine.

"I might have done something else you're going to get mad at me for...." Blaine admitted to the window as Kurt started the car.

"What...?" Kurt asked, looking over and wondering if Blaine was about to admit the thing Kurt most feared.

"I might have punched Jesse St. Asshole."

Kurt just stared at the back of Blaine's head for a moment, eyes wide. That certainly wasn't what he was expecting.

"He was an asshole to you... and Mercedes and Santana too."

"You..."

"You should just dump me... I'm not worth it... I know."

"Fuck Blaine!"

At the sound of Kurt swearing, Blaine's head snapped back around in shock. It was always a surefire way to get his attention.

"Do you want to end up in jail? Do you want to alienate everyone? Yes. Jesse is an asshole... a huge one. You heard about how he egged Rachel last year, and you saw him in action... but damn it Blaine... " Kurt was furious. Furious at Blaine for being so dumb, and furious at himself for not feeling even a little bit bad for Jesse, who probably had been deserving a good punch in the face for awhile now.

"I... just didn't like what he said to you."

"You don't need to protect me from insults Blaine! I'm a big boy! I've dealt with insults most of my life and yes... they suck, but I get over them. You on the other hand are just going to get yourself in trouble."

Blaine looked down like a child who had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar - full of guilt.

"I love you... but you can't keep acting like a dummy. I know it's not who you are. You put on this act a few years ago to protect yourself from getting hurt by homophobic assholes... and now you've gotten comfortable in the role... but that's not you. It's not..."

"You still love me...?"

Kurt groaned as Blaine squeaked out that one little question. "Of course I do... just because I'm mad at you doesn't mean I don't love you..."

"That's what it means in my house..."

Kurt sighed. Damn Blaine's parents.

"Well not in mine... not in ours. If you think anger is synonymous with hate, then you need to change your view. I'm going to get mad with you every now and then - when you dress like you let the dog chew up your clothing, despite having access to good clothes and a fashionable boyfriend, it's going to happen. But you need to be HONEST with me... and you need to not treat me like I'm a fragile little flower that needs to be protected from everything."

"Ours?"

Kurt rolled his eyes. He wished Blaine was focusing more on what he was trying to tell him than just their relationship. "Yes. Ours. One day... so long as you listen to what I'm trying to tell you."

Blaine nodded solemnly and remained quiet as he stared down at his lap still. Kurt sighed and started the drive home.

"You definitely need to apologize to him though. Soon."

Blaine began to whine but Kurt cut him off.

"We have to go to New York with him. You WILL apologize and make things less difficult for us."

Silence, and then a "Yes dear." laced with a bit of attitude.

A little bit of attitude Kurt could handle if it meant they could get Blaine back on track.

"We're going back to original songs sung by everyone!" Mr. Schuester announced at their emergency meeting on Monday.

Kurt had never been able to broach the subject of Arthur over the weekend. Google couldn't offer up any answers to 'how do you ask someone if they've killed someone', and despite suggesting it, Kurt wasn't able to sit through the crime scene show he suggested they watch thinking he might be able to ask hypothetical crime questions to Blaine as they watched it together.

They grabbed their rhyming dictionaries and went about trying to come up with original songs. Kurt noticed the distance between black-eyed Jesse St. James, who insisted to everyone that he had gotten the shiner from fighting off the paparazzi, and Blaine, who kept sneering towards Jesse.

"Do it." Kurt whispered over.

Blaine grumbled and looked through the rhyming dictionary. "First I need to find out what rhymes with ass."

"Glass, mass, and class. Go apologize." Kurt wasn't putting up with any nonsense right now.

"God... FINE!"

Blaine slapped his dictionary down and walked over to Jesse, who noticeably flinched as Blaine got near. Kurt watched the quiet conversation, which ended with them shaking hands and Blaine returning.

"That seemed to go alright..."

"He's getting props from Rachel for the bad boy look, so we agreed I'd keep it to myself that I was responsible and he'd publically acknowledge how awesome you are."

Beggars can't be choosers, Kurt reminded himself and nodded appreciatively to Blaine.

"Now what rhymes with cock...."