School starts up again.

Karofsky still stalks Kurt in the halls, but he stays away for some reason. Kurt's pretty sure Blaine put the fear of God in him at some point even though he told Blaine to leave it alone. But he hasn't been touched, so Kurt can't be too mad. He tries not to think about the jock.

Blaine and his mother start going to the police station and documenting their injuries. They give statements and get interviewed for hours. Blaine lets Kurt take him to the police station because after he talks to the officers, he's often too drained to do much more than pass out on Kurt's shoulder.

Mr. Anderson serves divorce papers. Then, in a move no one expects, he begins to fight for custody of Blaine.

The night he finds out, Blaine drives to Kurt's house and refuses to leave for two days.

"He's doing it to hurt her," Blaine tells Kurt through gritted teeth. "He doesn't give a shit about me, but he can't deal with her standing up for herself. So he's going to try to break her by taking me." Kurt can't do much but let Blaine stay the night.

But because Blaine has a juvenile record (I stole a shirt, Kurt, and it was the stupidest thing I've ever done), and they can't prove that his bruises came from his father and not from a fight with strangers, the child abuse charges may not stick. And Mary refuses to testify in front of her husband. Blaine had to beg her for the restraining order, and he's not sure she can handle much more. Mr. Anderson's hired attorney looks like a pit bull, short and mean and cocky. Kurt glares at him every time he walks by.

The legal process makes Blaine nervous and angry, and Kurt walks in on him punching the hell out of his punching bag on numerous occasions. But they just have to wait and let the court sort it out.

He hopes the court doesn't let Mary and Blaine down.

Kurt convinces him to start going to New Directions practices. Sure they went to Sectionals and somehow managed a win, but more often than not Blaine pulls Kurt to his car and they work on Kurt's boxing form in Blaine's basement. But Kurt misses singing, and Mercedes has been dropping unsubtle hints about how much she misses him there. Weeks pass.

Rachel invites Kurt and Mercedes over for a girls' night, and Kurt almost doesn't go. But Blaine rolls his eyes and shoves him out the door.

"You miss your friends," Blaine says with a smile. "Also, I'll do anything for you, but I draw the line at watching Twilight. You should go drool over Taylor Lautner with Aretha and Barbara and I'll spend some time with my mom." Blaine fiddles with the zipper on his leather coat. "I think I should start talking to her more." He admits quietly.

Kurt smiles and hugs Blaine. He wants Blaine to be happy again, like when they first met. Before Mr. Anderson came back and betrayed him and his mother. Mary Anderson is a sweet woman, but she needs to be reminded how to stand on her own again. And Blaine is good for her.

So Friday night, instead of waiting for Blaine to show up with a movie and popcorn, Kurt goes to Rachel's.

"Kurt!" Rachel flings her arms around him and yanks him inside. Kurt takes a moment to wince at her blindingly pink pajamas before hugging her back. "I missed you," Rachel grins widely. "Come one, Mercedes is already here, so get changed and we'll do our facials!" Mercedes waves at him from the staircase.

Kurt really missed his girls.

They giggle their way through the night, watch New Moon and get into a fight over Edward and Jacob (which Rachel totally lost because Edward is fucking creepy; who stares at other people while they sleep all night? Also Taylor Lautner, come on.) Mercedes joins Kurt's side because she is flawless.

When the lights get turned off, Kurt finds himself in the middle of the girls on Rachel's huge bed.

"So, what's going on with Blaine?" Rachel whispers in the dark. Kurt can hear her grin.

"Yeah, are you guys together or what?" Mercedes pokes Kurt's side. Kurt groans and covers his face, but doesn't answer. "You know, we'd be happy for you, right?" Mercedes says quietly. "I know how we were a few months ago, but he's pretty chill. And you're happier now."

Kurt lowers his hands and looks at Mercedes.

"Everyone can tell. You smile more." She raises an eyebrow. Rachel nods, grinning.

"I like him," Kurt admits, unable to keep a smile off his face. It's the first time he's admitted it out loud. "I really like him. But…" Kurt smiles sadly. "He's just a friend. He isn't interested."

"Have you told him?" Rachel squeals, ignoring the rest of Kurt's admission. "You have to tell him, and then you can pen an amazing song about love at first sight and how love beats all odds and—"

"Girl, shut up!" Mercedes snaps. "She's right, though, you should tell him. He seems to like you a lot."

Kurt shakes his head. "No, Blaine's dealing with a lot right now. He doesn't need me adding to it." Kurt knew for a fact that Mr. Anderson had violated the restraining order the night before and scream at Blaine's door for an hour before giving up. Blaine had to comfort his mother the rest of the night. He didn't need a boyfriend now. "And besides, he's not into me." Kurt thinks about all the nights Blaine spends in his bed and curled up around him. All the texts and the calls and the touches. He lets himself think about what it would be like if Blaine was his boyfriend. It doesn't seem like it would change too much. Just kissing. And maybe sex. Kurt blushes.

Mercedes frowns and shoves his shoulder. "Don't give up, Kurt. You deserve happiness too, you realize that?" She glares at him, though the power is lost in the darkness. Rachel squeezes him arm.

He doesn't; he really doesn't; don't they get that?

But it's really nice to be with his girls.

"I missed you guys," Kurt chooses to say, smiling as they hug him. The girls drift off to sleep soon after, but Kurt lies awake.

Maybe one day Blaine will love him. Kurt feels himself start to hope. He should stop, he should squash that tiny flame before it grows any larger because he's only going to get hurt, but.

It feels really good to hope again.

Blaine and Kurt sit in the back of the choir room as Rachel belts out another song about second chances and new beginnings, all the while looking at Finn significantly. Quinn glares at her, and the rest of the club either shifts uncomfortably or ignores her. Mr. Schue is oblivious as always.

"I know you've explained the incestuous relationships in this club," Blaine whispers to Kurt, "but I thought Finn was solo for now?"

"He is," Kurt rolls his eyes at Rachel. "I swear to you, these two need a break from each other. A real break. She was pissed at him because he lied about sleeping with Santana last year when they were broken up, so she made out with Puck, and then he found out and broke up with her. Now she's trying to get him back." He grits his teeth as Rachel finishes the solo with tears in her eyes. Finn just looks embarrassed. "God, Rachel, back off." Kurt mutters. Finn can be such a moron sometimes, but he is firmly on Finn's side this time. Rachel completely overreacted, and cheating is sore spot for Finn. She knows that.

Blaine rolls his eyes and drapes an arm around the back of Kurt's chair. "I'm glad we don't have that kind of drama," He watches Rachel shoot longing looks at Finn.

"This club is insane. You know Santana and Sam are together now? Sam found out about Quinn kissing Finn and broke up with her. Artie and Britt are together, but who knows how long that's going to last with Santana breathing down their necks. The only sane couple here is Mike and Tina. Puck and Lauren aren't even actually together." Kurt rants under his breath.

"Everyone here needs to get drunk and laid." Blaine says grumpily. Unfortunately, Santana hears him, and Kurt doesn't like that look on her face. She winks at them as Mr. Schue rambles on about Regionals in a few weeks.

Kurt feels sick.

This cannot end well.

The Rachel Berry House Party Trainwreck Extravaganza is a nightmare from hell, Kurt decides.

It starts off tame. Rachel wears a horrible pale green monstrosity that Kurt has to actually restrain himself from destroying. He asks Blaine if it would be unethical to spill a wine cooler on her so she'd be forced to change. Blaine laughs.

It's awkward, being in a basement with the New Directions while half of them hate the other half. Tensions are high, and glares are frequent, and Kurt seriously considers just stealing a bottle of vodka and getting drunk with Blaine in his house.

He wouldn't mind hanging out with just Blaine, instead of these friends that barely look at him.

Kurt has never felt so alone.

Then Puck convinces Rachel to let him and Blaine break into her dads' liquor cabinet. And all hell breaks loose.

Blaine is terrible at holding his liquor, Kurt finds. It adds to his theory about that stupid "badboy" thing being an act, because Kurt is pretty sure Blaine has never gotten drunk before. After a few mixed drinks, Blaine is wasted and hanging all over Kurt, rambling about how tall Finn is and how cool it is that they're brothers. Mercedes and Tina giggle into their red cups while Sam and Mike compare abs. Puck stares at Lauren's boobs and Brittany begins stripping while Artie waves cash at her. Quinn and Santana cry in the corner and Rachel drapes herself over Finn. Kurt and Finn are the designated drivers, and so the only sober ones. Unfortunately.

He hears Finn explaining the types of drunks to Rachel as he guides Blaine to a couch. Blaine giggles when he trips and nearly knocks Kurt over. Gritting his teeth, Kurt yanks Blaine to a standing position and shoves him into the pillows. Stupid Blaine.

How can he still be attractive when he's slurring all his words and his cheeks are bright red and his hair sticks up in crazy curls? Kurt sighs and sits next to Blaine.

"You're so nice to me," Blaine smiles sloppily at Kurt. He rubs his cheek on Kurt's shoulder. "You're so…soft!" He starts giggling again. It's kind of adorable, actually, until he starts drooling.

"WHO WANTS TO PLAY 'SPIN THE BOTTLE'?" Rachel suddenly shrieks.

Blaine perks up and pulls Kurt over.

This cannot be good.

The first few kisses are boring, but Kurt begins to relax. He really does like his friends, even if most of them make him want to claw his eyes out. But it is funny when Puck gets to kiss Lauren and looks like the world has given him the best gift ever. And when Santana gets possessive over Sam kissing Quinn, well, he has to laugh.

Then Rachel lands on Blaine.

Kurt forces a laugh because Blaine is, well, gay, so he really has nothing to worry about. But then Rachel, with a weird look in her eye, promises to rock his world and then they are crossing the line from kissing to full on making out and Kurt feels his heart shatter as his two best friends kiss in front of him.

Santana wolf whistles and Finn looks pissed, but Kurt can't move. Finally Rachel pulls off and stares at Blaine.

"Your face tastes awesome," She says wonderingly. Blaine just grins. "I found my new duet partner!" Rachel suddenly screams and drags Blaine over to the mini stage. She shoves a bedazzled microphone in his hand and an 80s beat begins blaring. Somehow, even drunk off their asses, they sound great. Perfect even.

He recognizes those looks Rachel keeps sending Blaine. Those are her flirting looks; god knows he had to see them every single fucking day in school while she pined over Finn. But now they were directed at Blaine and Kurt tries not to want to murder her because Blaine is MINE, Rachel, stop!

But Blaine sends her sexy faces as he sings out Don't you want me, baby? And Kurt's not sure how much of that is the song and how much is Blaine.

Kurt hates them.

Mercedes catches Kurt's eye and shakes her head at Rachel, but then she becomes engrossed in her drink. So Kurt sits on the couch and watches Blaine and Rachel make out on the floor while Santana croons a lovesong to Brittany and Finn shoots daggers at Blaine.

It's a long night.

Blaine is too drunk to go home, so Kurt takes him to his house. He swears Finn to secrecy and bodily drags Blaine up the stairs, trying not to think about how long Blaine spent sucking on Rachel Berry's face or how Blaine actually seemed to enjoy it. He'll wind up screaming or crying if he does, and Kurt is so finished with everything right now.

Sometimes, Kurt hates his heart.

He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up. He still thinks Blaine is gay, because they've had long discussions about Leonardo DiCaprio and Hugh Jackman and their asses, but apparently even Rachel Berry is more attractive to Blaine than Kurt. Fucking typical. Why shouldn't it happen again?

Blaine hangs onto Kurt and nuzzles Kurt's neck. "You smell, like, really good," Blaine slurs, smiling. "An',an', you're taking care of me. Sers'ly, Kurt, you're like, the nicest guy ever." Blaine grins at Kurt, but Kurt just winces at Blaine's alcoholic breath and throws him into his room. Blaine falls on Kurt's bed and snuggles into a pillow, moaning happily. "Smells like you," Blaine murmurs. He's a drunk five-year-old, Kurt decides.

Kurt sighs, and begins undoing Blaine's shoes. Blaine has no idea how much Kurt loves him, because no one else would ever be allowed to wear their alcohol-smelling clothes in Kurt's bed. Blaine smiles at Kurt when Kurt gets his shoes off. Then he turns green.

"Oh god," Kurt mutters, yanking Blaine into the bathroom just in time for Blaine to throw up in the toilet. He retches a couple times, whimpering, and Kurt can't bring himself to stay angry at Blaine when he looks so miserable. Kurt wets a washcloth and wipes Blaine's sweaty brow, not even minding when Blaine hugs Kurt's middle and cries.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Blaine whispers into Kurt's shirt. "I'm such an ass, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Blaine," Kurt says tiredly. The bathroom tiles are cold, but he stays on the floor with Blaine. It's too late for Kurt to care about what happened at the party. And honestly, Kurt's used to this feeling. The universe doesn't like it when Kurt is happy.

"It's not, it's not," Blaine looks so upset. "I kissed Rachel." He whispers.

Kurt sighs. He really doesn't want to think about that while Blaine's head is halfway down a toilet and Rachel is too far away for Kurt to slap, but Blaine just looks so sad, and Kurt is so hurt. "You did a little more than kiss." Kurt say.

"I know," Blaine nods sadly. He sounds more sober now. "I just—I though' maybe I could like girls," Blaine whispers, as if he's telling Kurt a really dirty secret. "Dad said he wouldn't've hit Mom if I was normal." His voice sounds so small and so defeated that Kurt knows he'll never be mad at Blaine for this. "He wouldn't've needed t' hit me. An' it's my fault my family's getting torn apart, all my fault, and he hates me, and Mom hates me, and now you hate me, and—"

Kurt tugs Blaine closer and holds him. They'll talk about this in the morning.

Blaine throws up a few more times, and Kurt cards his fingers through Blaine's curls and gives him sips of water to wash out the taste.

Blaine is too exhausted to protest when Kurt makes Blaine lie down in the bed. He paces a trashcan on the floor near Blaine's head and threatens Blaine with bodily harm if he misses. Blaine nods nervously, looking like a shamed little boy. Kurt quickly changes and brushes his teeth. He slides in next to Blaine, listening to Blaine's even breaths. Blaine wakes up and turns over, latching onto Kurt like an octopus. He hides his face in Kurt's chest and winds his arms around Kurt's body and Kurt really can't move.

Not that he really wants to. Falling asleep with Blaine is the best feeling in the world. Even when Blaine's so drunk he can barely move.

Kurt will be angry in the morning. At Blaine's father and maybe a little at Blaine and definitely at Rachel. But for now, he's emotionally drained and tired and his heart just hurts.

Maybe the morning will be better.

But Kurt's not stupid enough to really believe it.