Finn immediately smiled and looked over at the large meter tall drill stood glinting in the corner.

"Can I try it?"

"Let me start it off and then you can all have a go."

"I think I'll pass."

"Ah come on Kurt, let go for a little while. We all tried your seaweed stuff. "

"And you skin is glowing."

Burt unconsciously ran a hand across his cheek.

"Well thanks for that Kurt, but it's not really an answer."

Kurt shrugged his shoulders.

"I guess."

"Good."

Burt went over and picked up the giant drill with both hands resting on the handles half way down it's thick trunk. He gave out a small huff of bread when he lifted it and Kurt rushed over to help.

"Here Dad, your heart."

"Stop worrying Kurt. .. two steps backwards and one to your left." He directed him as they slowly carried the drill to the clear space in the middle of the hut.

"Right ease it down."

The drill clinked against the ice as they set it down.

"Right boys, come on come close so you can see." Burt shouted happily. Finn and Blaine took a step closer.

"Safety rules." Burt said reaching down and unhooking two pairs of goggles that were hanging from a small hook on the side of the drill. "Goggles on when you're using the drill I don't want you to get scratched corneas, okay."

The three boys nodded.

"Second, watch your feet, keep them parted and back from the drill, third keep your hands firmly on the handles at either side. Don't take one hand off I don't want it to drop to the side and crack the ice. That would be bad."

"Would the hut sink?" Finn asked.

"No we just wouldn't be able to put much weight around the pool. The ice is two foot thick here but sometimes you get air bubbles that make it weaker and the last thing I want is for one of you three to end up going in."

Kurt's eyebrows had furrowed slightly.

"Why are you obsessed with the hut sinking?" He asked Finn.

"I had a dream the night before last and the hut sunk and it was really cold and then it just turned to the end scenes of titanic but with Rachel and me and she pushed me into the water thinking I was dead but I wasn't and I was staring up at her as I sunk down into the ocean and it was so cold that my eyes turned into eyeball shaped ice cubes. Then Rachel was talking to Whitney Huston about how my death really helped her music and I could hear them because my eyes were the ice cubes in their cocktails."

Kurt stared at Finn a look of 'are you crazy on his face' while Burt laughed and Blaine did that cute thing where he purses his lips before asking a question (you know the look.)

"If you didn't have ears how did you hear them?" Blaine asked.

"I don't know. I just could, I guess that part of the dream didn't make much sense."

"Just that part?" Burt laughed.

"You need therapy." Kurt said.

"Ah, Kurt." Burt said in warning before getting their attention back to him. "Come on, we were going through the safety rules."

Burt put on his goggles.

"Do they come in grey or maybe sky blue?" Kurt asked.

"Grey would look best on you." Blaine commented smiling across at him.

"Really? Blue goes with my eyes."

"Blue distracts from your eyes and really.." He lowered his voice and leaned slightly closer. "Nothing should distract from your eyes."

Kurt smiled unable to take his own eyes away from Blaine's. The warm hazel color always lighted up slightly when Blaine smiled and Kurt could sometimes just find himself lost in them. The first time they had made love he had spent almost an hour just staring into those eyes occasionally kissing and slowly stroking fingers over arms and chest and neck till he knew every inch of bare flesh by touch but not by sight because those eyes had refused to release him.

"No Kurt." Burt said drawing them both back into reality. "They don't."

"Take a step back guys."

Burt turned the switch of the rill on and the machine came to life with a loud groaning buzz. The large drill bit descended down and touched the ice immediately sending a shower of sharp white snow flew out. The drill bit seemed to move slowly and Burt concentrated on the bit then put a slight bit of pressure on the handle pushing it down further letting a larger spray of ice shards out. Kurt took a step back.

Burt held the second pair of goggles out at arms length.

Finn looked once at Blaine who gestured that he should go first. Finn smiled excitedly and took a step forwards taking the goggles and snapping them on. Burt slowly handed control of the drill over to Finn.

"Slowly." Burt warned.

Finn laughed as the ice sprayed up around him. When Burt decided his turn was over he turned to Blaine and waved him over. Blaine hesitated.

"I think Finn's really having too much fun."

"Nah, it's alright." Finn said with a slight shrug.

Blaine rolled his shoulders slightly in the way that Kurt had seen him do to warm up before going on stage and he took the goggles off Burt. He pushed them on making his thick curls bunch up around the elastic. He turned and pulled at Kurt sticking his tongue out and rolling his eyes.

Kurt giggled lightly. He looked crazy but still adorable.

"You dork." Kurt said fondly.

"You love it." Was Blaine's answer as he turned around and shuffled in next to Finn.

"Easy does it now boys."

Finn and Blaine swapped over rather awkwardly with Finn not being able to let go of the drill until Blaine had his hands on the handles which meant Finn had to duck under his arms which seeing as Finn was much bigger than Blaine was a bit odd.

Unlike Finn Blaine frowned slightly in concentration as he lowered the drill bit further. They had now made a sizeable hole of about a foot deep and a foot diameter. Blaine bit his lip slightly.

"Mr..Burt." Blaine corrected himself. "I think it's almost through the .. feel of it just changed slightly."

"Right slow it up and hand it over to Kurt."

Blaine nodded and Finn handed Kurt his goggles. Kurt held them between his two fingers and looked at them with slight disgust.

"These are going to mess up my hair."

"Put the goggles on Kurt." Burt said.

Kurt opened his mouth to argue but then looked over at Blaine who was watching him intently his eyes beseeching under the goggles. Kurt sighed and carefully placed the goggles on careful not to mess his hair too much. Kurt walked over to Blaine trying not to look down to see what the ice flakes were doing to his boots. He placed his gloved hand on top of Blaine's and looked over at him with a smile. Then he ducked under Blaine's arms so he was in-between them. He placed his hands firmly on top of Blaine's letting him know he didn't want him to leave just yet. Blaine leaned in slightly his cool breath tickling the patch of uncovered skin at the nape of Kurt's neck. He relished this moment that they could be close to each other.

After only a few seconds the tickling breath on Kurt's neck was gone. Blaine's hands slide over Kurt's and came to rest on top of them.

"Have you got it?"

Kurt had paid little attention to the humming machine under his hands. It didn't impress him in the slightest; machines never did although he had been working with his father in the garage since around the time his other had died. At first only making cups of tea and reading fashion magazines in a place where his dad could see him but eventually coming to learn the parts of the cars and how they all fitted together. But it surprised him when the drill suddenly lurched forwards.

"Wow!"

Blaine was there in seconds hitting the off button. Kurt gave him a thankful look.

"You through?" Burt asked.

"I'm guessing that's what it was." Kurt answered.

"Here hand it over."

Burt took the drill off Kurt and pulled it up.

"Are you alright Dad?"

"Stop hovering will you. Blaine."

Blaine stepped forwards and took the drill off Burt. He bent his knees and leaned it against his shoulder picking it up with ease to rest it back in the corner.

Kurt watched the show of strength with wide eyes. He loved to watch those arms muscles straining, not that he could see them under the multiple layers. He let out a little sigh that stopped when Burt clapped him on the back. Kurt turned around to give him a 'what?' look.

"Try to control the raging hormones for now will yah."

Kurt felt his cheeks grow hot. Blaine looked around and gave a questioning little smile.

"Right." Burt looked down into the foot wide hole. Past all the cool white ice was still black water. "Good hole boys."

"What next?" Blaine asked.

Burt went to where he had left the fishing gear the night before.

"We prepare the lines."

Burt showed them how to make up the fishing rods. Kurt didn't watch until Burt got the box of flies out.

"Now." He said as he opened it "Different types of flies.."

"Oh feathers." Kurt said moving forwards. "They're quite cute; I could use some of those to revamp last seasons jackets."

"No." Burt said. "Right as I was saying, different flies different fish. These five here, are the ones we will be using. They'll attract the type of fish that they have in this lake. So, pick one each."

Blaine leant forwards and picked out a black and white fly. Finn took a Blue one and Burt a green.

"Kurt?"

"I'm going to have to insist on passing on this one. Fish smell, and although I can respect how their scales look like sequences making them the divas of the sea …"

"Fine Kurt. I guess you always did like the little mermaid."

"Sha la la la my oh my looks like the boys to shy not going to kiss the boy." Blaine sung.

Finn laughed.

"Okay come on guys." Burt said drawing attention back yet again. "In a river you flick the line out but in this space just straighten your line and drop the flies in."

The boys dropped their flies in with slight little plopping noises.

"Right now pull up your chairs and lets settle in." Burt said.

The boys dragged their chairs along the ice and sat in a lose circle around the ice hole.

Finn leaned over the pool staring for a minute then licked his lips.

"What do we do now?"

"We wait."

"Oh cool." Finn sat looking into the water for another long minute. "For how long?" He asked.

"As long as it takes for the fish to bite." Burt answered.

"Oh." Finn answered then the smile faded slightly.

Kurt got a copy of vogue out of his bag and sat on the lower bunk gathering the sheets up around his shoulders. They still smelled of Blaine's body spray. Kurt spent a comfortable hour lying on the bed flicking through the pages checking out the fabulous photo shots and glancing over at Blaine when he thought he wasn't looking.

Burt told fishing stories of when he used to go fishing with his dad. Finn occasionally asked questions Blaine just gave the odd laugh, and Kurt interrupted occasionally with sarcastic remarks about his Dad's side of the family. Usually to do with their habits of continuously asking him if he was straight yet and getting drunk at family parties and losing articles of clothing or doing strange things to neighbors pets.

"Wow, wow. What's happening?" Finn said standing up as his fishing line started to move.

"You've got one. Pull your line up then start reeling her in." Burt said jumping up and rushing over to help. There was an excited rush as Finn started to reel in the fish. Kurt pulled himself up to watch. A silver fish, about nine inches in length came out of the water. It wiggled on the line and splashed water droplets over the ice.

"Nice job Finn." Burt said clapping Finn on the shoulder.

" DON'T KILL IT!" Kurt jumped up and grabbed hold of the fishing line. "This is barbaric it's a blood sport."Kurt snapped angrily.

"Hey what are you doing?" Finn said looking confused.

"You're hurting it. It's scared." Kurt said gently taking the fish in his gloved hands and carefully trying to remove the hook from its lips.

Blaine stood up but like the others he could just stand there a little unsure of what was going on.

"There you go. It's alright now." Kurt said softly. He knelt down by the hole and gently slipped the fish back into the black water watching it slip back down into the blackness. He stayed kneeling by the lake staring down at the water. Blaine was the first to move. He knelt next to Kurt and put his hand on his shoulder.

"He's going to be fine." He whispered placing his hand on Kurt's shoulder. Kurt leaned his head on his shoulder.

Burt sighed and looked at Finn. He walked forwards and gently laid his hand on Kurt's shoulder.

"It's alright Kurt. We just won't do anymore fishing. Right boys?" He asked looking back and forth between Finn and Blaine.

"Of course." Blaine said straight away.

"Yeah, definitely." Finn followed.

"Come on, it's cold down here." Blaine said standing up and offering Kurt his hand. Kurt wiped the un-fallen tears from his eyes with the back of his sleeve before taking his hand and allowing himself to be pulled up and clapped on the back by his dad.

"Let's get you warm." Blaine said sitting down on the bunk and pulling Kurt down with him. He wrapped his arms around Kurt and rested his head in the crock of Kurt's neck.

"I'm sorry I'm so… sensitive." Kurt whispered just for Blaine to hear.

"Don't be stupid." Blaine whispered back his breath tickling Kurt's skin. "You care, it's what made me realize I Love you remember."

Kurt was quiet. He felt that his family was disappointed but he could not see the pain of that animal. He knew that its pain and fear was not the same that a Human felt but it was still there. He felt a pressure on his hand and he looked down to see Blaine's red gloves resting lightly on top of his green one. He looked up to see the concern in Blaine's eyes and knew that he had been quiet for too long. He brushed his lips gently against Blaine's, a caress more than a kiss.

"I'm fine. Are you disappointed Dad?" He asked looking up at his father.

The man blowing on his coffee looked up at him. He chuckled soundlessly for a second.

"No, I should have expected it. It was what your mother would have done. And I could never be disappointed in you doing what it's in your nature to do. Besides this fishing trip is not about fishing it's about getting to hang with you guys. "

Kurt nodded lightly his chest feeling restricted at the mention of his mother.

"What was she like?" The sudden question had come from Finn. He looked slightly embarrassed by the three identical stares his question was met with. "I mean, was she like Mom?"

Burt stared at him for a moment then straightened in his seat and took a deep breath.

"Not really. Only in the sense that she was very caring. She felt affection for everybody, even people she would never meet. If she knew of anybody hurting then she would try to take care of them. "

Kurt was quiet as he looked down at the ice and listened to his father recalling the woman they had both loved so dearly. When Blaine's hand tightened around his he gave it a little squeeze of thanks. There was complete and eerie silence in the hut for what felt like long moments for all of them. Then Kurt spoke, his voice not much louder than a whisper.

"She liked to sing, as she did the housework."

"That's why you like to sing." Blaine said softly.

Kurt nodded his head.

"I used to sing with her, I remember not being very old, three or four. She was ironing a blazer for me to wear to a party, she was singing and I started singing with her. She smiled down at me and she brushed her fingers through my hair and told me I sung like the angels. It made me feel special."

Burt nodded.

"She loved music, she would be so proud to know you perform in front of all those people. It takes guts. And the way you're always yourself no matter what anybody else says or thinks, she would have loved to know that you have so much strength in you."

"Do you miss her?" Finn asked.

"I do. And don't you think that means I love your mother any less because I don't." He quickly said. "But Lizzie isn't really gone cause she's in Kurt. All that strength and caring and those blue eyes, they're all from Lizzie. And when you speak kid, sometimes you speak with her voice, I don't mean the high pitched thing but the words you say. They're exactly what your mother would say. "

Kurt pulled away from Blaine.

"I know. I remember sometimes when I have a problem I just think about what she'd say and I know that she'd be proud of you too Dad."

Burt looked down at his hands and shook his head softly.

"Some here Kid." He said. Waving his arm for Kurt to go over to him. Kurt got up and walked over to hug his father.

"You're a good kid." Burt said quietly.

"I love you Dad."

"I love you too, always, you know that. You to Finn."

Kurt pulled away and quietly wiped his eyes,

"Right." Burt said pulling himself back together. "Didn't you all pack your ice-skates?"