The crisp smell of morning stirred Kurt from a brief, yet satisfying sleep. His eyelashes fluttered open as soft sunbeams poured in through the open window. The rain had left the air fresh and sweet, an almost complete contrast to the factory smog that constantly filled his neighborhood.

It really is lovely here, Kurt smiled.

Stretching, Kurt got out of bed, slipped on the robe he found hanging on the bedpost, and made his way downstairs. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he saw that Rachel, Finn, Sam, Blaine, and Dr. and Mrs. Anderson were already seated at the table, sipping tea and filling themselves with baked beans, toast, eggs, and grilled tomatoes. The warm scent filled Kurt's nose, and he eagerly walked over to take the empty seat at the table.

"Ah, morning Kurt!" Dr. Anderson exclaimed as Kurt approached the group. "Got off to a late start this morning, eh? All you lot did, it's nearly eleven!" He joked, smirking at the five of them.

Kurt bit his lip. "Sorry, sir. Good morning."

"Morning," Rachel smiled brightly, for which Kurt was grateful.

Finn and Sam both murmured greetings as well, but Kurt could see they were more engrossed with the bounty of food placed before them. He thought this perfectly acceptable and just smiled.

"Frightening storm last night, eh?" Dr. Anderson asked as Kurt pulled his chair out.

Kurt exchanged knowing glances with the others at the table, sitfling a smile. "Yeh, it was alright." He took his seat and looked to Blaine, who was seated on his right.

"Sleep well?" Kurt asked.

Blaine smiled. "Eventually. And yourself?"

"Surprisingly, yes."

Blaine smiled even wider. "I'm glad. Would you care for some tea?" He gestured to the teapot in the center of the table.

Kurt found himself grinning as well. "Yes, thank you."

"That was the first storm of the year," Blaine's mother piped up as she took a sip of tea. "Summer is nearing its end. Blaine, darling, isn't it time you started school?"

Blaine groaned under his breath, pausing the teapot in midair. "Mother, I thought we agreed I'd not go to school just yet, for the sake of keeping them company," he said, gesturing to their guests.

"Excuse my asking, but, you have a school here?" Rachel asked before taking a bite of toast.

"Oh no, but the professor lives just across the lake," Mrs. Anderson smiled, gesturing out the window.

"Professor William Schuester, one of the wisest men you'll ever meet," Blaine's father stated with pride.

"We just call him Mr. Schue," Blaine said as he continued to pour Kurt's tea. "He's a friend of the family. He taught in Salisbury, but moved here to inhabit the house when his parents di-"

"-Blaine," his mother shot him a pointed look.

Blaine set the teapot down, glancing at his mother remorsefully. "-Please excuse me. When they passed away." He handed Kurt his teacup with a smile before continuing. "He offers us lessons."

"Us?" Kurt asked.

"Myself, Mercedes, and a few others who live in the area. But mum," he turned to his mother. "Must I continue my regular lessons?"

Eve Anderson sighed. "At least once a week, dear, starting tomorrow. You really must keep up with your studies."

Blaine seemed to like this compromise. "Thanks, mum," he smiled.

"What about lessons?" Mercedes asked as she walked in from the kitchen, setting a plate of food in front of Kurt. "Hiya," she waved at Kurt, who smiled.

"Hello, Mercedes," he said before starting on his breakfast.

"Mum says we need only go to the Professor's once a week for awhile," Blaine grinned.

"Sounds brill," Mercedes grinned.

"Only until you get into the pattern again," Eve added as she finished her last bites, wiping the corner of her mouth with her napkin. "So, what are your plans for today?"

"Well, I was thinking of taking everyone for a tour of the area," Blaine said, glancing at Kurt, who shared a smile.

"Uh..." Finn started, shifting awkwardly. "Yesterday's still got me knackered, and...I'd much rather just stay here today...-If that's alright with everyone," he added, looking nervous.

"And me, as well," Sam added quietly, glancing at the group before returning to look down at his plate.

"That's perfectly alright," Blaine said, giving Finn a reassuring smile. "How about you, Mercedes? Would you care to join us?"

Mercedes sighed. "I'd be honored, but there's a lot of work to be done around the house."

"I'll help you," Rachel smiled. "If that's alright? I'm not really in the mood to go out either."

Mercedes grinned. "If you'd like to."

Rachel eagerly got up with her plate, and followed Mercedes into the kitchen to start on the tasks that apparently needed to be completed around the house.

Finn and Sam got up as well, starting to make their way up to Finn's room. "Have fun," Finn smiled to Kurt and Blaine, before he followed Sam up the stairs.

Blaine waved back. "We will." He turned to Kurt. "So, what do you want to do first? We could go to the lake, or visit Mr. and Mrs. Schue, or-"

"-Oh Blaine, maybe you could take him to meet the Fabrays!" Blaine's mother chirped up.

Blaine groaned. "Mother, must I?"

"Well, dear, it seems perfectly respectable in my opinion. They live just down the road, and yet you haven't paid them a thoughtful visit all summer!"

Blaine shared a defeated look with his father across the table, before letting a forced smile come over his face. "Alright mum, I suppose maybe we'll pay the Fabrays a visit."

"That's what I thought," Mrs. Anderson replied, cocking an amused eyebrow as she gathered up the plates to bring to the kitchen. "Go along, you boys get dressed. Kurt, if you haven't noticed already, there's new clothes and shoes for you in your closet. Have a grand time today."

"Thank you," Kurt smiled.

"Anytime, dear," Blaine's mother grinned back before turning into the kitchen.

"So," Blaine started, clapping his hands together as he and Kurt headed through the living room and up the stairs. "I'll meet you on the porch after we get dressed?"

Kurt nodded. "That sounds swell."

"Brill." Blaine grinned as they reached the top of the stairs, before turning to head towards his room.

Kurt watched Blaine's retreating back for a moment before he, too, walked into his room. He stopped by the bed, kneeling in front of his trunk on the floor nearby, clothes and things spilling out of it.

No, Kurt told himself. No more crying. It's lovely here, might as well take advantage of it. Time to move on.

Kurt took a deep breath, gathering himself together before heading towards the closet, curious to see what Mrs. Anderson had for him.

He opened the doors to brand-new shirts and slacks, along with various suspenders, belts, hats, and shoes. Kurt had never seen such a luxurious wardrobe all in one place before. And it was all his.

"Blimey..."

Kurt left his room wearing a pale blue button-up and tan slacks, loving the crisp, cool feel of the new clothes. Smiling, he made his way across the hall, down the stairs, and through the house out to the front porch to meet Blaine, just as planned. Blaine was really starting to grow on him, Kurt decided. Though at first he seemed like an ignorant arse, now Kurt could see that he was just...sheltered. And something about him kept Kurt wanting to investigate further.

Kurt was just about to open the door to the porch, when he heard...

Music?

...How much do I love you?

I'll tell you no lie...

Curious, Kurt let go of the doorknob, and headed over to peer out the window. Sure enough, faced toward the distant hills, someone was out there. Someone with curly black hair, plucking the strings on a guitar delicately in time with his smooth singing. And...

...No...that couldn't be...

Blaine?

How deep is the ocean?

How high is the sky?

Kurt was speechless in a state of awe. No way could that be Blaine...

But it was.

How many times a day do I think of you?

How many roses are sprinkled with dew?

And then it was all...fuzzy, again. Blaine was a mystery to Kurt, but...this time it felt...good. Kurt found himself unable to stop staring at Blaine, letting the smooth tone of his voice roll around in Kurt's mind, making him feel dazed and dizzy.

How far would I travel...to be where you are?

How far is the journey from here to a star?

"Isn't he brill?" Asked a voice behind Kurt.

Kurt turned around to address said being. "Oh, hello Mercedes, Rachel. Yes, he is...brill."

Mercedes and Rachel watched Kurt gaze at Blaine for awhlie, before Rachel spoke up.

"Are you gonna just stand there like a codfish all day?"

Kurt blinked abruptly and snapped his jaw shut, sending the giggling girls a pointed glare before heading out the door, just as Blaine finished up his song.

...How deep is the ocean?

How high is the sky?

"Uh...h'lo, Blaine," Kurt said hesitantly, coming up behind him.

Blaine's eyebrows shot up and he snapped around to Kurt. "Oh, uh..." He suddenly looked embarassed. "You didn't hear that, did you?"

Kurt smiled. "Actually, I heard the whole thing. It was quite lovely."

Blaine raised his head to look at Kurt. "R-really? You think?"

Kurt nodded. "Do you sing often?"

Blaine let a smile overcome his face. "Yea. My mum and dad taught me music when I was young."

Kurt looked impressed, and there was a silence between them before Blaine snapped himself back, placing the guitar on the bench beside him.

"Well, you ready?" Blaine asked as he stood in front of Kurt.

Kurt absently nodded, before snapping himself back into reality as well. "Yeah, yeah I'm ready."

Blaine grinned and gestured for Kurt to follow him as he started down the porch. Kurt followed, letting his eyes linger around the lush scenery.

"So," Blaine started, after they'd been walking for a minute or so. "Where'd you wanna go?"

"I have no preference," Kurt murmured, staring at the high treetops, loving the bright green-gold color they sported so well this time of year.

Blaine smiled. "It's lovely, isn't it?"

"Simply...beautiful." Kurt breathed.

"What's London like?" Blaine asked, before cringing, expecting Kurt was going to explode like last time. But Kurt only rolled his eyes.

"It's horrid. Just grays and browns and smog everywhere. Boring."

Blaine thought he noticed some hesitance in Kurt's tone, but decided to just wrinkle up his nose in distaste. "I'm sorry."

Kurt just shrugged. "It's alright. The change is...nice."

Blaine nodded slowly, trying work up the conversation again. He didn't get the chance to, though, because right at that moment-

"Hiya, Blaine!" One voice came up from behind him, hugging his waist with incredible force, and making the two stumble.

"You alright?" Came a second voice, though they both had the same playful tone.

Kurt looked over to see two boys pawing and hugging Blaine profusely, to the point where said victim was rolling his eyes in annoyment. The first boy had light blonde hair, and was of pretty tall stature. The second boy had dark hair, and both of them wore light tartan shirts with pants, suspenders, and identical caps on their heads. After Blaine finally shrugged the two off, Kurt could see their impish expressions they sported so well.

"Thanks for that, mates." Blaine glared as he straightened up, brushing himself off.

"Anytime, chap!" Smiled the dark-haired boy.

"The best for the best!" Added the blonde one, tipping his cap at Blaine.

"But where were you yesterday?"

"Yeah, we were going to ride bikes!"

"Has all that reading finally gone to your head?" The brown haired boy moved over, tapping Blaine on the head with his fist.

Blaine swatted him away. "No, we had company coming over and I was helping prepare." He let a smile sweet over his face as he gestured past the two boys. "Nick, Jeff, this is Kurt Hummel. Kurt, this is Nick Duval-" he pointed to the dark-haired boy, who waved vigorously, "-and Jeff Sterling," he placed a hand on the shoulder of the blonde boy.

"Hallo!" Jeff grinned.

"We're Blaine's best mates!" Nick said matter-of-factly, hooking his thumbs under his suspenders.

"Unfortunately," Blaine grumbled.

"So, Kurt, where 'ya from?" Nick asked.

"Uh...London," Kurt answered.

Nick and Jeff shared looks of deep interest and moved over to Kurt, each hanging on either of his shoulders and bubbling with curiosity.

"London?" Jeff asked, eyes wide.

"Yes...London," Kurt nodded slowly, looking between the two as they blabbered on.

"How's the talent back in London?"

"Got yourself a nice bird, eh?"

"Have you met the King?"

"Or Big Ben?"

"Hey, HEY!" Blaine said, pushing them off a very fightened Kurt.

"Awww Blaine, we're only curious!" Nick whined.

"Yeah, we're only trying to be friendly!" Jeff insisted.

"You're being rightly intrusive," Blaine said, crossing his arms and looking between the two with a stern expression. Nick and Jeff hung their heads dejectedly, and Kurt couldn't help but smile a little at how much they resembled small dogs.

"We're sorry, Kurt." Jeff mumbled.

"Yeah, really sorry," Nick nodded, scuffing up the ground with his toe.

"It-" Kurt cleared his throat as he was about to laugh, "-it's alright. I forgive you."

The two quickly brightened up, each taking one of Kurt's arms and heading down the path, leaving Blaine to follow behind.

"So, where we walking to?" Jeff asked.

"Uh...well, I'm not too sure. Mrs. Anderson mentioned Fabrays..." Kurt said.

Nick and Jeff stopped in their path with wide eyes, glancing between each other and Kurt.

"Fabrays? The Fabrays?"

"As in...Quinn Fabray?"

"Uh..." Kurt began, looking back at Blaine, who seemed to have a pained expression on his face. "I suppose...?"

"Oh blimey!" Jeff exclaimed, breaking away from the group to tear his cap off his head and bury his face in it, as if to stifle screams. Nick stood there, mouth hanging open and hands gripping his head with great force.

"...What?" Kurt asked, thinking he said something wrong at the range of emotions all the boys were sporting.

"See," Jeff started, shoving his cap back on his head and placing a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Quinn Fabray is-" he made a big gesture with his hands, eyes wide and nodding furiously. "-crackin'. You could search left, right, and centre for a bird like her-"

"-Or Brittany! And that Spanish bird!" Nick added, swooning like no other.

"-Right, or her friends, but Quinn..." Jeff sighed, rolling his eyes. "She's a catch. And Blaine here-" he turned Kurt around and pointed to Blaine, who was rolling his eyes in boredom, "-is the luckiest bugger around!"

"The Fabrays and the Andersons have been old friends for eons!" Nick threw his hands up in the air. "Which means-"

"-Blaine is expected to marry Miss Quinn, and Quinn to Blaine," Jeff continued.

"And the bloke doesn't think anything of it!" Nick flailed his arms even more. "You'd think he despised the lady!"

"I do not despise her," Blaine said, stomping over to the group.

"Then go on, mate! Snatch her, right now!" Nick persisted.

"Yeah, we'll even fetch her for you!" Jeff added, sharing a look with Nick before they took off in the opposite direction.

"Quinn! Quinn!" They shouted as they ran off.

"Sod it," Blaine cursed as he took off after the two psychopaths, Kurt confusedly following close behind. "Get back here you bloody gits!"

Nick and Jeff ran as fast as their feet could carry them down the dirt road, calling Quinn's name, until they reached a large, light blue house, surrounded by a lovely white rose garden and cherry trees. Blaine and Kurt caught up to them, out of breath, just as they began to knock on the door.

"Quinn!" Nick shouted, as he banged his fist repetitively on the door.

"Qui-inn!" Jeff echoed.

Before Blaine could get his hands around their necks, though, the door opened. Nick and Jeff froze and backed away, and Kurt could clearly see what must have been Quinn. A girl just about his age, and when they said she was cracking, blimey, were they wrong. She was beautiful. With fair skin and blonde locks, sparkling green eyes, and the most dainty smile, she was absolutely stunning.

And...for some reason, it made Kurt...angry. Sure, she was probably a nice girl, but...the thought of her practically claiming Blaine...irked Kurt, in a way.

Smiling widely, Quinn opened the door even wider and stepped out, wearing a slim, light-blue dress.

"Hello boys-" she glanced between Nick and Jeff before turning towards Blaine. "-Blaine."

Blaine cleared his throat before pasting on a smile, approaching Quinn. "Quinny, it's good to see you."

Quinn laughed, taking Blaine into an un-suspected hug. "It's about time, don't you think? You live right down the way, and I haven't seen you in nearly a month! I...missed you."

Blaine suddenly looked just a tad uncomfortable, but smiled nonetheless when they broke apart. "I missed you too. Uh, yeah, I've just, uh...been quite blinkered on reading lately."

"Yes," Nick cut in, smiling sweetly alongside Jeff. "Let's go with that, shall we?"

Blaine glared at his best mates before adding, "not to mention we just got visitors. Evacuees," he stepped aside and gestured to Kurt, smiling proudly. "This is Kurt Hummel. He's from London."

Quinn smiled tightly at the new figure before her. "Hello, Kurt. I'm Quinn Fabray. Blaine and I go way back."

"Not really..." Blaine said, letting his eyes linger everywhere else but the people before him.

"We've known each other since childhood. Running around, gallivanting in the trees and such...and now, look how far we've come!"

Blaine swallowed audibly. "We haven't come that far..."

"Of course we have," Quinn insisted. "Having such close families, being just down the way from one another, you could say we're quite..." she grabbed Blaine's hand in her own, "Au fait, with each other."

Kurt uncomfortably glanced around, particularly noticing Nick and Jeff's extreme expressions of both despair and encouragement.

"Uh..." Blaine cleared his throat, releasing his hand from Quinn's hold and backing towards Kurt. "Well, I promised Kurt I'd show him around the area more, so...I will see you later."

Quinn looked dejected, but smiled. "Of course. You should come over for tea sometime. My mother's been awaiting your visit."

"I'll be sure to remember that," Blaine assured her. "Goodbye, Quinn."

"Goodbye Blaine, Nick, Jeff, Kurt," she waved at all the boys as she headed back inside her house, smiling brightly.

"Goodbye, Quinn!" Nick waved, jumping up and down.

"Hope to see you soon!" Jeff shouted.

Quinn shot them all another breathtaking smile before she disappeared inside her house. Once they heard the door click, Blaine turned to face Nick and Jeff, sweet smile instantly melting off his face, and a more irritated expression taking its place.

"You two think you're really cheeky, don't you though?" He said as he approached them.

"Blaine, we're only telling you the truth!" Jeff insisted as the four started down the porch and back onto the path. "You've got yourself a golden opportunity there!"

"I'm sure you wouldn't even find anyone like Quinn in London," Nick cocked an eyebrow. "Really, if I were you, I'd be delighted!"

Blaine opened his mouth to speak, when Jeff spoke. "Well, I think I'd like a spot of tea about now, don't you, Nick?"

Nick nodded. "Quite. I think we've been out long enough, Jeff."

"And..." Jeff added, leaning into the group. "Maybe next time Blaine won't be such a prat about everything."

"Oh, get OFF!" Blaine shouted, as Jeff and Nick giggled loudly, running off in what must have been the direction of Jeff's house.

"Bye Blaine!"

"Pleasure to meet you, Kurt!"

Kurt chuckled as he watched the two at first run, and then evolve into skipping away. He turned to Blaine, who still had a stressed expression on his face. "Well, they seem like alright chaps."

Blaine looked at Kurt first with shock, but then began chuckling along, and soon the two of them were laughing loudly as they walked along the path.

"So..." Kurt started, after they'd been going along for awhile. "What is going on between you and Quinn?" He noticed Blaine roll his eyes and quickly added, "-not that it's any of my business. I was only...curious."

Blaine chuckled under his breath as he lead them off the path to sit on the bank of the river, beside the green grass under a willow tree.

"Quinn and I..." Blaine began, after a long pause of taking in the scenery around them. "Have known each other since birth, one could say. Our fathers worked together, until my father got arthritus, and couldn't continue his medical practice. Our mothers adore each other and have tea and..." Blaine sighed. "Basically, our families are close, and agreed that it would be quite the fortune if we got married." He finished with much annoyance, looking out into the distance with far-off eyes.

"But?" Kurt pressed on, "Nick and Jeff are right. She is truly lovely."

"Yeah," Blaine nodded. "She is. And she's very keen on the idea as well. But," Blaine picked up a small stone from the ground, turning it around in his hands. "Something just doesn't feel right. I don't know what, but...I know it's not what I want, y'know?" Kurt nodded.

"It's not as if they're forcing me into anything," Blaine continued, clenching his fists and jaw with great tension, "but they might as well be. There's somuch pressure with the lot of it, that just-" Blaine stopped himself before his voice raised any more, and tossed the stone with great force into the river, watching it skip a few times before it finally disappeared under the surface of the water.

Blaine sighed, the force he put into the stone calming him down a bit. "Like Nick and Jeff say, she's perfect, yeah, sure. Just...not for me."

"...Who do you think is?" Kurt asked.

Blaine just shrugged and lowered himself to lay in the grass, his sculpted muscles even more visible through his shirt. "Don't know-" Blaine yawned, letting his eyes fall closed. "...But I'll know 'em when I see 'em."

Kurt nodded slowly, lowering himself into the grass beside Blaine, taking in his features. His chiseled jaw, his deep black hair, his bronze skin. The way he sung, the way he spoke, the way he...everything. Blaine was...lovely. And, for some reason or another, Kurt couldn't help how much he wished he was lovely to Blaine, too.

"So," Blaine began, turning back to look at Kurt. "Could you tell me about London? I've only gone a few times, for holiday. I'd really like to learn more about you, if you don't mind?"

Kurt studied Blaine for a moment as the boy shot him a hopeful smile. Kurt rolled his eyes and smiled back, feeling obligated to let Blaine know a little more about him.

They lay like that for awhile, Kurt explaining London to Blaine, who took every bit with genuine interest. Through all of this, both of them felt confused as ever, yet completely at ease for one of the first times that whole summer. As their conversation grew, Blaine no longer felt as if the world was on his shoulders, and Kurt no longer felt numb and fearful. Through all the fog they felt for each other at the moment, one thing was sure: they both felt unconditional safety, lying there with each other, with no intent to leave this happy place anytime soon.

"Kurt! Kurt!"

The panic-driven voice of Kurt's mother pulled him abruptly from sleep into his dark, London bedroom, lights flashing violently outside and sirens blaring.

"Kurt, it's an air raid, we must leave now!" His mother urged, her youth suddenly masked by eyes that had seen too much for their time.

Kurt ripped the covers off, but as his feet touched the cold floor, he felt them to be stuck there.

"Kurt, darling, run!" His mother pleaded, motioning toward the shelter door.

Kurt tried as hard as he could to lift his feet from the floor, but it was as if they had been plastered down, and, losing his balance, he fell over onto his knees, which also became stuck to the floor. Kurt continued to attempt to move, towards his mother and the bomb shelter and safety, but they just seemed to keep getting further away.

"Kurt!" Rose continued to call, her voice becoming distorted. "Kurt!"

The bombs were falling, seemingly closer with each one, shattering the earth on impact. And there were the sirens and the flickering streetlamps and Kurt was drifting in and out, between this and complete darkness, his heart beating in his ears, a constant ringing sensation bouncing around his head, oh and he just wanted it to end. He just wanted to leave this place.

"Kurt! Kurt!"

But he couldn't. He was stuck.

"Kurt!"

And the bombs were only coming closer...

And then, suddenly, it was as if something was pulling him out of that horrid place, away from the buzzing and the ringing and the fear, and everything was still.

"Kurt! Kurt, wake up!"

Kurt opened his eyes abruptly, to see Blaine leaning over him, his hands on Kurt's shoulders, eyes wide. He sighed in relief when Kurt finally stopped shaking.

"God blimey Kurt, you alright?" Blaine asked.

"Uh..." Kurt looked around for a moment, taking a minute to remember where he was. Once it dawned on him, Kurt looked back into the steady eyes of Blaine, their breathing in sync and bodies close.

"Uh..." Kurt started again, shaking his head, "w-what happened?"

"You were asleep," Blaine cleared his throat. "We both were, and you started whimpering and shaking and I kept trying to wake you, but you wouldn't answer to your name. Were you dreaming?"

Kurt nodded slowly, trying to keep himself from staring at Blaine. What was he feeling? And why was he feeling it, especially now? It was like...he needed Blaine. He felt safe and secure with Blaine. He forgot about the reason why he was staying with the Andersons when Blaine was there.

"...Was it scary?" Blaine piped up, still concerned by Kurt's silence.

Kurt nodded one more time before trying his hardest not to cry, taking a shaky breath.

"Kurt..." Blaine empathized. He looked hesitant for a moment, eyes darting here and there, before taking Kurt into a hug. Kurt froze up at the sudden contact, before allowing himself to wrap his arms around Blaine. They were silent for a moment before Blaine spoke.

"Y-you know, you can cry if you need to. I don't mind."

Kurt chuckled a little. "I...I don't need to," He assured Blaine. And he didn't. Not when Blaine was holding him like this, rubbing Kurt's back with gentle hands.

"Kurt! Uh...Blaine!" Called an unsure, distant voice. Kurt and Blaine turned towards the road to see Finn and Sam approaching. Their eyes met and Finn and Sam ran towards the two.

"Uh..." Finn froze when he saw their embrace. "Uh..." He turned to Blaine. "Your mum- Uh, Mrs. Anderson said it's time for dinner."

"Really?" Blaine sat up with shock. "What's the time?"

"I'm not sure...What time was it when we left, Sam?" Finn asked the blonde boy sitting next to him.

"Half past three," Sam mumbled, keeping his head down.

"Cor!" Blaine exclaimed, standing up. "Thanks for coming to get us, chaps," Blaine beamed at Finn and Sam.

"Sure," Finn returned the smile. Sam nodded, but didn't seem to acknowledge them further.

"Right, well we'd better get back," Blaine said. He looked down at Kurt and offered him a hand. "Need help?"

Kurt smiled, taking Blaine's proferred hand to hoist himself up. Blaine's fingers were...rough, somewhat. Probably from constant guitar playing, Kurt figured. Not that Kurt minded the roughness one bit. Just holding his hand in Blaine's felt...nice. Really nice. Nice enough for Kurt to miss it when Blaine let go.

After the four sprinted back to the Anderson's, everyone indulged in a hearty meal, prepared by Rachel and Mercedes, who seemed to really connect in the few hours after Kurt and Blaine left. While conversations were a flurry, Sam kept his head down and chewed slowly throughout the entire meal.

"Hey, Finn?" Blaine whispered to Finn, interrupting his conversation with Rachel.

Finn turned to Blaine. "Uh...what?"

"What's with Sam?" Blaine wondered, pointing across the table to the quiet blond boy. "He's barely said more than four words since I've met him."

"Oh..." Finn said, suddenly startled by the conversation.

"-I mean, not that you have to tell me. I just thought that since you two were together all day and I'd really like to know you guys better..." Blaine trailed off. Finn looked to be in consideration for a moment and, seeing that Rachel had already moved on and begun a shy conversation across the table with Sam, lowered his voice and leaned into Blaine.

"Sam's mother died years ago from pneumonia, and his father left off to war. He's been staying at his grandparent's with his brother and two sisters. They got sent off to some professor out west, while Sam insisted on staying with his grandparents and, eventually, enlisting." Finn took a nervous breath and glanced over to Sam to make sure he was still keeping to himself. Just for good measure, Finn lowered his voice down to a whisper. "About three days ago, Sam got a telegram that his father had gone missing. They're not sure how or where, or if he's even alive. His grandparents insisted he evacuate the next day."

Blaine swallowed audibly and his eyes grew wide. He couldn't imagine losing his father or mother, and hearing Rachel and Kurt's stories only amplified everything. Did everybody outside of the calm, remote countryside have hardships such as these?

"Just don't mention it, alright?" Finn pleaded to Blaine. "I've been trying to get his mind off it all day, I just don't know what to do anymore."

Blaine thought for a moment before brightening up. "Why don't you all come with me and Mercedes to our lesson with Professor Schuester tomorrow? It could...take your mind off things?"

Finn nodded, smiling slightly. "I'd like that. I'm sure Sam'll tag along."

"Ace," Blaine grinned, straightening up in his seat again. Finn grinned back before digging into his meal once again. Blaine followed suit, cutting into his tomatoes. He took a small bite, looking around the table as he chewed tangy-sweet vegetable. Rachel and Finn seemed to be talking up a storm. Or, rather, Rachel was talking and Finn was listening. Mercedes and Kurt were engaged in conversation as well, and Sam... Well, Sam would come around eventually. Blaine was sure of this. Everyone comes around eventually, don't they?