The holidays aren't all sunshine and rainbows though - at least not for Blaine.

The first problem is his nicotine withdrawal. Ever since he woke up in the hospital he's craved a cigarette, and the want just increases with the passage of time. At first he can't smoke because he's trapped in his own unhealthy body and it's not like Kurt is going to get him one and let him smoke inside the house on top of it all. Then it's because Kurt is actively there, forcing him to quit cold turkey and lecturing him the instant he starts nibbling on his own lips needily.

"Here. Have some carrot sticks instead." Kurt will offer. At least it's better than the celery offered earlier.

"I just have two packs left Kurt... just two. When I'm done those, I'll quit!" Blaine tried to negotiate.

"Those two packs ended up in the trash... which went out on Monday." Kurt states simple to a slack jawed Blaine. Kurt doesn't see any value in cigarettes clearly, but to Blaine, that's inexcusable.

And he's argue if not for an ill timed coughing fit that just seems to support Kurt's argument that he should quit.

As the holiday passes, the withdrawl lessens, even though he'll end up fantasizing about smoking when Kurt has a banana in his mouth - and how bad is that? Shouldn't he be thinking of something more erotic?

He realizes then that maybe the addiction isn't such a good thing if it's taking away from his lusty thoughts.

The other issue is that he is also having alcohol withdrawal. He hadn't even realized how much he had been drinking, but when he's suddenly faced with being sober and completely alert all the time, it's kind of overwhelming. He wants to drown out his thoughts with booze, or at least tone them down so his mind isn't always humming with thought - but the Hummel-Hudson's only keep a small stock of crappy low calorie beer that Burt counts every night when he gets home to make sure none of the boys are into it.

And then, when they were out shopping, Kurt caught him trying to use his fake ID to purchase real beer at the liquor store. Kurt outed him as underage to the cashier and then handed over the fake ID to the cashier and told the poor girl to cut it up. She looked entirely confused as she looked from boy to boy, though Kurt's glare was intense and Blaine must have looked guilty because she finally got out her scissors and snipped the ID in half.

There went any chance of getting anymore alcohol while he was with the Hudson-Hummels.

Then of course, there was the fact that Kurt was an utter nurse-zilla. Burt wasn't kidding when he warned Blaine about Kurt taking charge when someone in the home was sick. Over the holidays, Blaine was subjected to disgusting tea concoctions, stinky ointments, and exercise regimens all designed, according to Kurt, to get him back into top shape.

He's also been forced to wear socks to bed after slathering a layer of vicks on his soles because Kurt swears by it and damned if Blaine is going to argue him when he's that demanding.

Blaine hates wearing socks as a general rule.

Especially to bed.

Kurt sits in when the social worker comes to visit Blaine, asking him about his time alone, about what prompted him to leave his home, and how things are going at the Hudson-Hummels. Kurt doesn't answer anything for Blaine, but asks questions that Blaine would never think of.

"How can Blaine be assured that his father won't break the restraining order again if he has to go back to his parent's house?"

"Can his mother be required to get a psychological assessment if she resumes custody?"

"How long can my dad's guardianship be extended for?"

Blaine notes that Kurt always refers to Blaine's house of that of his parents, as if it isn't Blaine's. It's fitting. He never felt at home there really, not like he feels at home at the Hudson-Hummels.

The social worker gives a lot of indefinite answers however. She's ultimately just a cog in a bigger machine here to ensure Blaine is alright and get some more information for her superiors who probably make all the decisions about him even though they've never met him. She does tell them that Burt's guardianship will likely be extended an additional month as there are legal issues that need to be taken care of prior to any custody being determined.

It gives him another month to feel at ease.

Once Blaine is on the mend, things between him and Kurt start to feel a lot like they were just before they started dating. They watch a lot of movies, go through music, and Kurt helps Blaine catch up on missed homework.

So it's not really surprising that they slip into other old habits - like spending an hour exploring one another with their lips.

Neither of them bring up the state of their relationship, it just happens. They fall back into one another easily. They don't need to check with one another - they're just boyfriends again.

Burt makes them keep their doors open at night.

It's an honest attempt to keep them virtuous, but the fact is that Burt and Carole still have to go to work for part of the holidays and Finn is all too often at Rachel's house - which is how Blaine and Kurt end up naked, sweaty, and entangled with one another after Blaine shows Kurt just how much better he's feeling - by pounding him into the mattress until they both come.

And even with everyone else in the house, one of them will often sneak into the other's room at night to cuddle. It's usually Blaine who does the sneaking, because if there's one thing he's really appreciated after this break away from Kurt, is how good it is to fall asleep with him in his arms.

It's a huge difference from where Blaine was a month ago, and because of his experience, he's that much more appreciative of it. He has to remember to curb the swearing and the filthy statements around Burt and Carole, but he's been getting better at that and they're the kind of caring parents who love you unconditionally - even him.

And for so long, all he's wanted is to be loved.

He's welcomed back to glee club with cheers after the break, and even spends some time just with the boys (Kurt usually hangs out with the girls) - talking about Sam's fling with Mercedes over the summer, Artie's desire to date Sugar, and Finn's ongoing relationship drama with Rachel. God, dating a boy is so much easier. Why more guys aren't gay is a wonder to Blaine, given how much shit they have to put up with dating women.

He's trying really hard to not say anything that's going to get him in trouble.

Because now it's not just about how it will reflect back on him or his family, now if he messes up it will reflect poorly on the Hudson-Hummel clan and, if he can help it, he'll take advantage of their hospitality as long as they'll let him. That means doing the right stuff. Showing the social worker that they're good for him.

It means biting his tongue everytime Rory asks a stupid question because Blaine feels the urge to tell him what a stupid moron he is.

He should have joined the basketball team before the holidays, because Kurt is often busy after school with student council when he isn't busy with glee club. More often than not, Blaine spends that time studying the library to wait for him.

It all pays off though. His grades are better than they've ever been - which is saying a lot because he could probably sleep through most classes and still pull off a B, he has more of the guys hanging around him now voluntarily, and even Brittany is talking with him again.

He's expecting something horrible to happen - because when everything is going right, that's when something awful usually happens - but nothing does. At least not yet.

Artie gets him to sing back-up on Moves Like Jagger as a suggestion for Mr. Butthead's planned proposal for Ms. Pilsbury, and it's really the first time Artie's been kind to him since he threatened Artie about giving Kurt the lead in West Side Story.

He goes further to try and mend his relationship with Artie when everyone hosts a Becky-vention for Artie - telling him to be careful about leading her on. Artie gives them hell for it and Blaine tells them all that Artie's right, and that they should be a little more accepting of others.

He couldn't believe the words came out of his mouth. No one else seemed to believe it either because there was silence for a full ten seconds afterwards.

(Afterwards Kurt gives him a full "servicing" - so proud of Blaine for saying something that Kurt would usually have been the one to say.)

It's not just that Blaine wants to be with Kurt all the time, though that's a big part of it - it's that he wants to be a part of that family so badly.

Burt and Carole take care of him. He doesn't have to take care of Carole or run her errands or be her only companion. Carole doesn't turn him away when Burt comes home. Burt doesn't get drunk, beat him, or tell him how worthless he is. Even Finn is a model surrogate brother, one that Cooper never has been. They hang out together when Kurt is sewing or with the girls, play video games, complain about the same lame teachers, and they have even play boxed.

Blaine was the unofficial winner.

So when Carole comes home teary eyed one day, Blaine does something he doesn't recall ever doing with his own mom.

He gives her a hug.

"Oh sweetie... " She coos as she hugs him back, "You're such a dear."

"Are you alright? Can I get you something? Did someone hurt you because I swear I will mess them up!" Blaine immediately stammers once he realizes he's in an embrace with her.

She laughs and that alone seems to cheer her up, "No. It's alright. Just had to be more of a mother than I wanted to with Finn today."

He nibbles along his lower lip, curious, but not sure if he should ask. Like a real mother should, she seems to be able to read his mind.

"I had to tell him the truth about his dad today. He didn't die a war hero. He died of a drug overdose. Finn wanted to follow in what he thought was his father's glorious footsteps and enlist... "

"Oh..." Blaine says - because what else can he say to that? Kurt told him once though that most women just like to vent their troubles and emotions, and aren't looking for men to find solutions. In this instant, Blaine understands what Kurt was trying to tell him because his mind is in an uproar trying to think of a way to make things better for Carole right now - which includes somehow making a time machine to go back in the past and tell Finn's dad to get his shit together.

"Come on sweetie. I'll make us some tea...." He wrinkles up his nose at that and get another chuckle out of Carole. "Right. I'll make me some tea and you some chocolate milk."

God how she knows him so well already. It's eerie.

Kurt is having dinner with Finn and Rachel tonight at Breadstix in an effort to try and console Finn about the truth about his father, and worry over their unreceived NYADA letters. Blaine meanwhile has been officially invited by Burt to join him on the couch to watch a Buckeyes game.

"Bet you ten dollars Kurt comes home complaining about eating too much cheesecake tonight." Burt says when the first commercial comes on.

Blaine laughs and shakes his head, "Not a bet I'll take. Everytime he goes there upset he eats his feelings and then bitches about it later."

Burt gives him a side-eyed warning with the curse and Blaine mumbles out an apology.

When there's an intermission, Blaine hums and sighs a little, wanting to figure out how to ask Burt a question he's been mulling for awhile now.

"Oh just get it out with already." Burt snaps over and Blaine shakes his head and looks up at the flannel loving man. Apparently he can read minds just as well as his wife can.

"I just... I was wondering...." Blaine sighs, takes a breath, and recollects himself, "I was wondering if your marriage to Kurt's mom was good."

That doesn't seem to be the question Burt was expecting as he raises an eyebrow, but he answers it anyhow. "It wasn't good. It was amazing. When she... died." He lingers over the word a moment before continuing. "I never thought I'd ever be so happy again... yet here I am..."

Blaine nods and thinks about that for a moment.

"Why do you ask?"

Blaine looks down at the floor as he replies, feeling, for some reason, ashamed of what he has to say. "Well... it's just... I haven't seen it a lot... happy relationships. My parent's marriage hasn't been ideal obviously, but there's also my older brother who jumps from girl to girl without any interest in anything long term. It's pretty well assumed that my grandmom was only ever intimate with my grandpop nine times - because that's how many kids she had, since they were always at each other's throats when he was alive. The country clubs I was dragged to when I was younger was always full of divorcees and those on the prowl.... I didn't even know people could stay in love for their whole lives until I... well... until I saw you guys."

He glances up, and Burt is smiling at him so warmly. Usually the guy looks grumpy, even when he's just indifferent - but right now he looks damn well chipper.

"It's more common than you know kid... and I'm sorry you've never gotten to feel a part of something like that. You should have been born from the love two people share, and brought up in a home where love was never questioned, but so long as you're here, know you are loved and will be cared for."

Blaine nods, and squirms a little in place because, god, it's kind of sappy. He didn't mean for things to get sappy.

Thankfully the game starts again and they can stare at the screen in mutual silence, except of course when their team scores. That calls for whooping and cheering.

When the game is done, and Blaine excuses himself to go finish an essay for English, Burt stops him.

"Just so you know... in this family, love is a commitment. Kurt's not going to stop loving you."

Blaine isn't sure what Burt is getting at with the statement, but nods politely before he leaves. He knows Kurt loves him. If anything, Kurt is terribly transparent with how he makes heart eyes at Blaine all the time. So what was Burt implying?

He doesn't know, and given that he needs to talk about Shakespearean themes, he puts it out of his mind for the moment.

In the choir room the next day, Rachel is singing Without You to Finn. Oh she meant it as a suggestion for Mr. Butthead's proposal to Ms. Pilsbury she said, but she makes her goo-goo eyes at Finn the whole time and then the two of them proceed to suck face in front of everyone afterwards.

He actually thanks Santana afterwards when she points out that Rachel has made the room her own private show.

"It's so sweet what Mr. Schuester is doing for Ms. Pilsbury." Kurt noted when they were at their lockers.

Blaine shrugged, getting his homework into his bookbag - the first book bag he had owned in years courtesy of Carole who wouldn't have him carrying his textbooks and notes around just in his arms. "I think it's cheese."

"Really?" Kurt paused in his packing up, looking at Blaine thoughtfully. "Why?"

Another shrug. "Just... it's stupid. If they know they love one another and they're compatible and all... why bother with so much elaborate bullshit?"

"Huh..."

As soon as he got that response from Kurt, Blaine knew he had missed the mark somehow. Kurt was clearly despondent now and clearly disagreed with what Blaine had said.

"So...." Kurt said as they walked down the hall. "... you mean to tell me you don't think that him putting himself out there like that, all vulnerable to rejection, isn't romantic?"

Blaine wrinkled up his nose. He couldn't imagine it. Why someone would propose in front of so many other people, and risk being embarrassed in front of them all. Where Kurt saw vulnerable, Blaine saw stupid. Where Kurt saw romantic, Blaine saw unnecessary.

"No... I mean... what happens if she says no?"

Kurt hurumped. "Well that won't happen. They've probably talked about a future together... and you see the way they look at one another... he knows she'll say yes."

"What if she doesn't though?" Blaine pushed.

Kurt stopped in place and furrowed up his brow as he looked at Blaine. "Really? There's no way! Of course she'll say yes!"

"But how do you know that?"

Kurt sighed and shook his head, "You just... you just know Blaine."

"There's got to be a better mathematical formula for it..." Blaine grumbled as they continued their walk outside.

And to that, all Blaine got was a chuckle of disbelief out of Kurt.

The way Mr. Schuester finally decided to propose was actually kind of cool in the end.

Even if he had them wearing terrible swimsuits. Honestly, what self respecting man wore a whole body swimsuit?

At least it was better than the speedo's that Puck had suggested.

When they were done singing, everyone gathered in front of Mr. Butthead as he proposed to Ms. Pilsbury. Blaine could see all the hopeful twinkles in the eyes of the girls as they watched, see how much they hoped to be on the receiving end of that kind of love one day. Maybe this is what Kurt was talking about. How a proposal like this could make someone feel special.

And just like Kurt predicted, Ms. Pilsbury said yes. Blaine smirked to himself as the cheers went up and Rachel and Kurt hopped together in a celebratory pool dance.

"It was just... so... beautiful!" Gushed Mercedes once they had changed and were leaving the school. The girls echoed her sentiments and reflected on all the details of the proposal from the flowers being handed to Ms. Pilsbury, to the swim routine, to the song selection, to Mr. Butthead's outfit, to the glass floating panels, to his dive, and the proposal itself.

Blaine tuned it out. He had been there. He was hardly interested in rehashing it out so quickly. As he zoned out though, he watched Kurt - laughing and grinning along with his female friends... and... oh.

You just... you just know Blaine.

He knew then he wanted that with Kurt.