"Blaine, I am not auditioning for The Voice."

Blaine was still holding two artist audition passes as if he had found the holy grail. They sat at Kurt's kitchen table with clasped hands, their peppermint tea untouched in the teapot, eyes fixed on the printed tickets.

"Of course you are, Kurt. It will be perfect. You can sing really high at first and they'll think you're a girl, then go into your lower register. The audience will love it. They're definitely going to pick you."

"What did I tell you about reputation and reality TV?"

"That one gets destroyed by the other, but you have to give it a try, right? What is the absolute worst that could happen? Wait, no don't answer that."

"Blaine, I told you that I forgive you. I know you didn't mean to out me to your brother. Shit happens, and you can make it up to me by being a good boyfriend. Not by forcing me to audition for The Voice."

Blaine pulled Kurt over to his fridge, picked up a magnet, and positioned the audition passes prominently under a picture of a cat. "I'll just leave these here for now."

Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Blaine, you really are my favorite. I'm not auditioning for a stupid reality show, but I love that you want to help me, and I love how you understand so much about me. I want to understand you too. I want this to be serious and I want it to last."

Kurt stepped behind Blaine, wrapped his arms around Blaine's waist, and whispered in his ear. "I can't stay mad at you. I am so in love with you."

"I know," Blaine whispered back, face still facing the magnets on the fridge, "me too."

"Stay over tonight? I feel like I just want to hold you for a while."

Blaine smiled. "Of course. I have to go get some things from my dorm, but I'll come right back."

---AAIGAAIGAAIG---

Blaine's exit interview with Emma was awkward. She looked like she was about to go into labor in two seconds. He couldn't stop apologizing. She told him that everybody forgave him, and that he could use this as a learning experience. He didn't know exactly how to do that. It left him off balance. There was suddenly an in-group that he wanted to get back into, badly. This had never happened in high school.

Blaine's next official date with Kurt was also awkward. Kurt had chosen a Vegan restaurant and seemed determined to order for Blaine. Well, maybe it was also cute. Awkward and cute. And sweet, and considerate, and adorable, and- he almost got it right. It's not Kurt's fault that he didn't know the difference between daiya cheese and tempeh bacon. When he spent the night at Kurt's apartment afterwards, it was decidedly less awkward.

Blaine's final exams were stressful, and he used his bathroom accommodations for almost every one. He ignored the withering looks he got from his professors and classmates, imagining what Deera would say to them to put them in their place. In one instance, he actually said it aloud. "Professor, I would be happy to print you out a copy of the Americans With Disabilities Act if you lost the one I emailed you at the beginning of the semester. Or we can discuss any particular issue that has come up right now, since you look like there is something you want to say to me." The professor had ignored him and looked back down at his desk. Blaine wished he could call Deera and tell her about it in detail. He got a 91% on that exam. With his confidence at its highest all semester, he devised a plan without second guessing himself even once.

Spring brought allergies and street performers and the second to the last session of group that he hated missing.

---AAIGAAIGAAIG---

Kurt walked into the counseling center building, and was stopped by Artie.

"Hey Kurt, she's not here today, she's having the baby."

"Oh, wow, did she send an email?"

"Yeah, just now."

"So why are you still here? Isn't group cancelled?"

Artie smirked. "Not exactly...come with me."

Artie led Kurt outside and around the corner, where five sets of smiling eyes looked up at him expectantly.

"What the hell, Blaine?" Kurt sputtered. Blaine stayed silent, but looked determined.

"Kurt, don't be a pussy. It's just an audition. And we're all going with you. It's at the Javitz center so we're taking the A. That's a 5 minute walk and you're not escaping," Deera decreed.

"This is a terrible idea," Kurt started saying as Sugar and Quinn lead him down the street by the arms. Artie handed him a metro card. Was this actually happening? They were at the subway station before Kurt could gather his thoughts. He walked down the stairs and accepted the tea with lemon that Sugar handed him.

The convention center was bustling and loud and Kurt could feel his adrenaline spike. The air felt too dry and he could practically smell the formaldehyde from the synthetic carpeting lining his nostrils. He hadn't warmed up properly, and what was he going to sing? He looked around him and saw beautiful people with beautiful outfits and beautiful auras of perfection and grace. He felt like an ungroomed giraffe.

Deera rubbed his shoulders encouragingly and Sugar started to sing something by the Spice Girls off key. Maybe if she auditioned right before him, it would make him look better. He still wasn't sure he was on board with this, but Blaine was hiding from him and Quinn didn't look like she wanted to be yelled at. So, this was happening.

He waited in three different lines and was randomly sent to a part of the convention center near a window with a distracting glare. He could have easily been placed in a line in the shade, or a line down the stairs nearer to the water fountains. When he stepped up to audition, he did a double-take. Cooper Anderson?

"Cooper Anderson?" He couldn't help saying, astonished.

Cooper looked embarrassed and a little angry. He spoke in an voice that was so falsely cheerful it practically dripped diet pancake syrup. "Kurt, great to see you. Just one second, it's time for my break I'll get someone to cover for me. Is Blaine here with you how's he doing?" He had walked away before giving Kurt a chance to answer.

After a few minutes, an unfamiliar face had replaced Cooper. He was a marginally effeminate man in his 50's wearing a fitted suit. He had a bald head and a cold, discerning look about him. Kurt mused that he must have been extremely hot in his youth. The discerning look turned into surprise as he read Kurt's ticket.

"Kurt Hummel? Really?"

"Yes, sir, I am Kurt Hummel. My audition song will be Madonna's Lucky Star."

The man looked bemused, but motioned to Kurt that he should begin. Like always, Kurt let himself get lost in the song, feeling the strain and the frenetic rush of coming here out of the blue without preparation. Then he let himself feel the support of this group of people who had decided that just because he had something small in common with them, that he deserved their help. He was truly lucky to have found them. He let everything out in his voice and eyes and shoulders and hands.

And then just like that, it was over. As he began to catch his breath and come back to earth, he realized that the man was repeating himself.

"Did you hear me? I said that you have a beautiful voice, but I honestly don't think you're right for this show."

Kurt nodded, expecting this result but not to have it stated so blatantly.

"But I am putting together another show, and I'm surprised that Cooper didn't show me your audition tape. Really, really surprised."

The man leaned forward and offered his hand. "I'm Ryan Murphy."