Blaine settled into a routine. He got up, had breakfast with Julie and fought her for the shower, got dressed, and then Kurt (with or without Rachel and Finn, depending on the day) would pick them up for school. He was settling in with the New Directions, getting used to all of their idiosyncrasies – they were definitely a strange and eclectic group, but damn if they didn't perform well together. Blaine couldn't believe it – in some ways their performances were more alive and full of feeling than anything he'd ever done with the Warblers.

He even sort of liked Elaine and Michael. They were obviously good (if misguided) people who had clearly missed him and loved him while he was off being raised by the Andersons. They'd seemed to let their issues with his sexuality drop (it wasn't brought up again, anyway), and Blaine was hoping that meant they'd realized the error of their ways.

The only flaw in his happiness, the only thing causing his utter agony, was that he couldn't see his parents anymore. He couldn't even speak with them for another few months. Blaine hated it. He hated that he was starting to like it with the Danvers as well. It made him feel terrible. After a good day he would feel nothing but guilty for enjoying himself. He'd picture his mother, crying herself to sleep. His father he pictured pacing the floors at night, unable to lie down and rest because he didn't know where Blaine was or what he was doing or if he was okay.

Sometimes he took his guilt out on the Danvers – usually Julie. She had a habit of catching him at his worst and making even more terrible. So he'd snap at her and she'd snap back and then he'd go to his room, feeling horrible. They didn't even yell at him or admonish him in anyway when he acted out; most of the time they yelled at Julie to leave him alone. He had hated that most of all, because he had no idea what kind of person that made him. He spent a lot of time in front of the mirror, trying to figure out when he'd lost himself.
It always came back to that day he'd seen his picture on the milk carton.

The one truly bright spot in his life was Kurt. Kurt never judged him for anything he was feeling and he was someone Blaine could tell everything to without fear. He found that they spent a lot of time together, getting coffee at the Lima Bean or shopping at the mall. Everyday Blaine felt like his feelings for Kurt were growing deeper but he was so afraid to act on them. What if Kurt only liked him as a friend? Why would Kurt want to date Blaine anyway? Blaine didn't even know himself anymore.

*

Blaine was waiting for Kurt to pick him and Julie up for school date when Elaine came and sat next to him.
"Here, sweetie, I have something for you," she said, sitting down next to him. She was holding a piece of paper in her hand.

"What is it?" Blaine asked, taking it from her. He glanced down and gasped. He was staring at his birth certificate. He looked at Elaine in shock. She smiled.

"I know you're going to take Driver's Ed in January, and you're going to need your temporary license to that so I dug this out."

"Blane Michael Danvers," he read off, looking at the paper again. He skimmed over the birthdate, glancing at Elaine and Michael's names listed under mother and father, respectively. He looked at the bottom where the imprints of his feet were. Tears came to his eyes and he made a choking sound. Elaine put an arm around him and he let her, one of the first times he'd allowed her get that close to him physically.

"We'll go tomorrow, okay?" she asked him. He nodded, wiping away his tears hastily. He wasn't even sure why he was crying. He gave her the certificate back and took a deep breath, just as Kurt honked in the driveway.

"Julie!" he called, his voice shaking a little.

"One minute!" she shouted back from her room.

"Kurt's gonna leave without you!" he countered, picking up his satchel.

"Not if he knows what's good for him," Julie replied, her dark hair bouncing as she strode into the room. "Let's go then. Don't want to keep your boyfriend waiting."

"He's not my boyfriend," Blaine denied, his face turning red. He couldn't look at Elaine to see her reaction. He didn't want to see disappointment or disdain in her eyes after the moment they'd just shared. He ushered Julie outside quickly, hoping that Elaine wouldn't say anything to Michael about what Julie had said.

*

"Hey, guys," Julie said, approaching Blaine where he was standing with Kurt. Glee practice had just let out and they were debating what to do next. "I'm heading to the mall with Tina, so I don't need a ride home."

"Be safe," Blaine told her. She rolled her eyes.

"Okay, Mom," Julie replied. "Tell Mom and Dad I'll be home for dinner." He nodded.

"Coffee then?" Kurt asked, looking at him. Blaine smiled.

"Of course." The headed outside, talking about the previous night's episode of the Jersey Shore as they walked. Blaine caught sight of a group of guys hanging out in front of a nearby SUV and tensed up before he realized who they were.

"Oh my God," he murmured.

"What?" Kurt asked, looking confused. Blaine didn't answer, just took off running across the parking lot to the group.

"You're here!" he shouted, throwing himself at Jeff who was grinning wildly. "You guys!" He was immediately passed off to Nick and then Sebastian for hugs. "What are you doing here?"

"We missed you," Jeff answered him, drawing out the word "missed" in a playful manner. "We know we're not supposed to contact you but Sebastian talked us into driving down. We thought it might help cheer you up if you saw some familiar faces."

"You have no idea," Blaine said, grinning.

"Friends of yours?" he heard Kurt ask from behind him.

"Yes," Blaine replied. "Kurt, these are my friends from Dalton – Jeff, Nick and Sebastian," He introduced, pointing them out. "Guys, this is Kurt."

"Pleasure," Kurt greeted but something in his tone made Blaine look at him sideways. "I should get home."

Blaine was torn. More than anything, he wanted to go get coffee with Kurt. He wanted to spend as much time with Kurt as possible. On the other hand, here were his Dalton friends, and he hadn't seen them in ages...

"Kurt and I were just going to get coffee," Blaine offered up. "We should all go and get caught up."

They agreed and Blaine found himself in Kurt's Navigator, with Jeff following behind them. The mood in the car was tense and Blaine wasn't sure why. He hadn't done anything wrong – that he knew of. Maybe he'd upset Kurt somehow?

"Are you mad at me?" Blaine asked quietly.

"No," Kurt said after a moment. "Are you sure you want me to come? Wouldn't you rather just catch up with your friends?"

"You're my friend too," Blaine pointed out, reaching over and putting his hand over top of Kurt's where it rested on the gear shift. "I want you guys to get to know each other."

Kurt glanced down at their hands and then pulled his away to turn the wheel. Blaine moved his hand back to his lap and tried not to feel upset or rebuffed. After all, he and Kurt were just friends.

They pulled up to the Lima Bean and Kurt parked. They climbed out, waiting on the sidewalk for Jeff to park. They were joined by the others and went into the Lima Bean as a group. Blaine bounced excitedly on his feet as they waited in line. Coffee with Kurt and his Dalton friends – it was like the best afternoon ever.

*

"So Blaine decides he's in love with this guy," Jeff continued, making Nick laugh. Even Kurt was giggling. Blaine had his hands over his face.

"Please stop," Blaine said, laughing. "I cannot relive this."

"No, but Kurt needs to know this," Jeff insisted. "If I can't mortify you in front of your new friends, then what's the point of all my blackmail material?" he turned back to Kurt. "There we were, right in the middle of the Gap where this guy worked, and Blaine launches into "When I Get You Alone."

Kurt's mouth fell open in shock and he turned to Blaine. "You didn't?" he gasped.

"I did," Blaine replied. "Come on, I was only fift – well, fourteen, I guess. I was too young to know better." He paused, trying not to let the moment get awkward. "Besides, if we'd gotten married I would have gotten a fifty percent discount at the Gap."

Kurt snorted then, setting Nick and Jeff off. Sebastian smiled when Blaine met his eye. "So, killer." He looked at Blaine. "We hear you've joined the New Directions."

"Yeah," Blaine confirmed, his voice soft. "I just couldn't imagine not performing, you know?"

"He's been a great addition," Kurt added. "We're so ready for Sectionals."

Blaine stifled a laugh. They still hadn't picked a set list and Sectionals weren't that far off.

"I imagine," Sebastian agreed, leaning back in his chair. "Blaine's sex on a stick and he sings like a dream. He'd benefit any group."

"Thank you?" Blaine said uncertainly. His face turned red at Sebastian's words. "Seriously, I can't take you guys anywhere without being mortified by you."

Just then Blaine's phone rang. He sighed. "Hello, Elaine," he spoke into the phone after glancing at the ID.
"Where are you, sweetie?" she asked

"Out with some friends," Blaine replied. "Julie's at the mall with Tina, she'll be home before dinner."

"Will you be home soon?"

"In a little while," Blaine told her.

"Before dinner?" she clarified.

"Before dinner," Blaine agreed.

"Okay," Elaine said. "I love you. Bye, sweetie."

"Bye." He hung up and sighed. "Sorry. Elaine gets kind of... strung out when she doesn't know where I am."

Just like that, the tension was back.

"We should probably go," Jeff said. "Long drive back."

Blaine nodded. "I wish you were taking me with you."

"Maybe next time," Nick replied.

He hugged Jeff and Nick, and then Sebastian. "Take it easy, killer," he whispered in Blaine's ear. Blaine was left with Kurt, who was staring at him with an expression Blaine couldn't identify.