"Sorry we're late," Thad started as soon as they caught sight of Blaine inside the Lima Bean. ", but a certain someone had to make sure the harmonies were 'pitch-perfect.'" He shot a glare in Wes' direction.

Wes sniffed. "Perfection cannot be expected with a limited number of rehearsals, Thaddeus."

Thad grumbled inaudibly as David sniggered behind him. Blaine smiled at the interaction, his heart hurting with a weird form of nostalgia.

They got in line to order their drinks – Blaine ordering a medium drip, Wes a black coffee, David a latte, and Thad rattled off some sort of concoction as if he were ordering something from Starbucks.

"Was that a mocha frappucino latte with extra foam…" David pretended to list, trying to keep his face straight.

"It was a double skim vanilla latte macchiato with extra foam," Thad scoffed as the other boys laughed.

"And why is your sexuality not questioned again?" Blaine asked as he picked a booth in the corner of the coffee shop.

"Because whenever Thad is near anyone without a dick, he turns into a bumbling, blushing –" David answered, trailing off in thought.

"Baboon?" Wes supplied.

"I was going to go with bastard, but baboon works just fine."

"I hate you all so much," Thad moaned, collapsing next to Blaine in the booth.

"Oh hush, Thaddeus, you over dramatic attention whore," David admonished, taking a sip of coffee. "So…" he directed toward Blaine, "how's McKinley?"

Blaine stared at his friends, wondering how to possibly convey his feelings, which were a giant mess, to put it lightly.

"It's…" Blaine exhaled, picking up his coffee, bringing it to his lips, and putting it down again. "Awful. It's really awful," he blurted.

Wes winced, David grimaced, and Thad rested a hand on Blaine's shoulder.

"Public high schools are cesspools for stupidity, ignorance, animalistic behavior, and stupidity," Wes stated, a vein on the temple twitching.

"You said stupidity twice," Thad pointed out.

"I'm aware of that, Thad. You don't think I'm not aware of my careful usage of the English language? It was done on purpose to highlight my belief that public schools tend to harbor extremely unintelligent people."

Thad glared at Wes while David rolled his eyes.

"It's just New Directions. They don't trust me, which is fine, I understand why. But it's causing Kurt not to trust me and…well. He's kind of my only friend there," Blaine admitted quietly.

"Don't worry, Blaine. I'm sure after a little more time, they'll fall for your charms and realize you're harmless," David reassured as Thad nodded enthusiastically.

"You're totally exaggerating," Blaine mumbled, sipping his medium drip.

"I never exaggerate and you are charismatic," Wes added.

Thad snorted.

"I suppose it makes it easier to not join them," Blaine said to himself.

Silence.

"Wait…do you not want to join?" David inquired, tilting his head in confusion.

"Of course not," Blaine responded, also confused. "I'd be competing against you."

Wes sighed as if dealing with a petulant child. Every Warbler heard it at least twice a day – Blaine never thought he'd miss it. "Blaine. We won't hate you if join New Directions. You love singing and they'd be lucky to have you. We just want you happy, which you're clearly not."

Blaine bit his bottle lip in an odd moment of public vulnerability. "Really?" he asked in a small voice.

David shook his head. "Yes. Your happiness means a hell of a lot more than a singing competition."

Blaine exhaled, a weight lifting from his shoulders he didn't know existed. "Your blessing is appreciated, but they just don't want me."

"Have they heard you sing?" Thad asked, almost scandalized at the thought of somebody not wanting Blaine.

"Yes, but –"

"Then they're absurd if they don't want you."

Blaine blushed. "Thanks, guys."

They smiled as Wes pulled out his cell phone from the pocket inside his blazer. He quickly sent a text before pocketing his phone.

"So, Blaine, we have a surprise for you," Wes stated, unnecessarily adjusting his blazer.

Blaine cocked an eyebrow. "A surprise? What kind of a surprise?"

The bell on the door to the Lima Bean chimed and Blaine's eyes automatically went to the front, finding Jeff and Nick searching the caf� before spotting Blaine.

"There he is!"

With that, about a dozen other boys in blue and red uniforms came pouring in.

"Oh my G –" Blaine started, but was cut off when Jeff all but attacked him with the biggest hug of his life, knocking over his coffee, which slowly spilled onto the table.

Wes started yelling and attempted to clean up the mess, but then Nick tried to stand on the table in order to get to Blaine, knocking over David's coffee.

For the first time in weeks, Blaine laughed until tears gathered in the corner of his eyes and smiled so much that his cheeks were sore when they parted ways hours later.

~**~

Blaine felt his good mood evaporate the minute he pulled into the McKinley High parking lot. It had been great to see all of his Dalton friends, and catch up. Talking with Wes and David about Kurt had helped too.

But just like that, thanks to the magic of high school hell, his happiness had been sucked right out of him.

He grabbed his bag, turned off the car and got out, looking around for anyone he knew. A glance at his watch indicated he was running late, and he hurried inside to find Kurt. Maybe they could walk to class together.

Instead, he found Kurt and Finn, and their parents ensconced in a family hug in the middle of the hallway.

Well, okay. He wasn’t about to get in the middle of that.

Blaine watched them for a moment longer, fighting back feelings of jealousy. What he wouldn’t give for one of his parents to hug him with such joy. Blinking back unexpected tears, he turned on his heel and headed to homeroom. At least all the vitriol in the choir room would keep his mind off how much everything else in his life sucked.

~**~

As was now becoming customary, he brushed off the dirty looks he received and sat down on the opposite side of the room from everyone else.

Mr. Schuester was up at the piano, talking with Brad about something when Finn walked in, Kurt practically bouncing along in excitement beside him. He sat down next to Blaine, nearly vibrating in his chair.

“All right guys –“ Mr. Schuester said.

“Mr. Schuester, if I may?” Kurt put his hand up.

“Uh, sure, Kurt,” Mr. Schuester answered, and Kurt walked down and turned to face everyone.

“Finn and I have some exciting news.” Kurt bounced lightly. “My dad proposed to his mom this morning and they’re getting married!”

There was a rush to congratulate them, but Blaine was rooted to the spot. He couldn’t move. He wanted to be happy for Kurt…he just…

“And the best part of it is that they want us to perform at the wedding,” Kurt continued, “During the ceremony and at the reception.”

The girls started squealing, talk turning to weddings and dresses, and what songs they would sing. Blaine noticed that Finn looked as enthused as he felt.

He didn’t like feeling left out.

“Hey.” Kurt’s quiet voice got his attention, even with all the chatter in the room.

“Congratulations, Kurt,” Blaine forced himself to say.

“Thanks,” Kurt told him. “Listen, I know you’re not part of glee club, but the invitation is for you too. Come to the wedding.”

“When is it?”

“Next Saturday,” Kurt answered, smiling.

“That’s fast.”

“I’m a miracle worker.”

“I can’t – family thing.” The lie slipped out of Blaine’s mouth before he could stop it. Just seeing Kurt look so happy with his friends, and knowing that he was going to be a part of a new family – Blaine just felt more disconnected than ever.

“Oh.” Kurt seemed disappointed, a thought that warmed Blaine’s heart. He hated that he’d lied about it, but it was too late, damage done.

He hoped the next week would pass quickly.

~**~

The wedding was all Kurt could talk about, rubbing Blaine’s lie in his face unintentionally every time Kurt opened his mouth. It really sucked, because Blaine was falling a little more in love with Kurt every day. His excitement and enthusiasm for the wedding was just one of many things Blaine found adorable.

Blaine felt stupid. He’d been in a bad place the day Kurt had asked him to the wedding, and now as it was getting closer, he felt left out of the preparations. He wanted to go.

He should just tell Kurt he got out of his “obligation” and go…especially since Kurt had been having such a hard time. The others had finally noticed, and tried to stop Karofsky (and Sam had gotten a black eye for it too).

But he didn’t. And he didn’t join in with the boys when they went to confront Karofsky. He couldn’t put himself in that kind of position…again.

So, yeah, he was feeling pretty guilty.

Blaine ended up volunteering to help Kurt teach his father and Finn to dance instead.

That’s how he came to be in the choir room during lunch, the four of them staring awkwardly at each other as Kurt talked.

Once he and Burt had been introduced (“So you’re that Blaine kid he’s always on about”), Kurt asked his dad what kind of song he and Carole were going to dance too, and then pulled his father up to show him a simple step.

They danced around the room for a second, and Blaine couldn’t help but admire Kurt’s form as well as his effortless grace.

Blaine would give anything to dance just once with him.

“Okay, Blaine, why don’t you dance with my dad, while I show Finn?”

“Sure.” Blaine agreed, getting up and walking over to Burt. He really should have rethought this. Because dancing with the dad of the guy you have a crush on?

Awkward.

Still, Burt was being a good sport, and put one hand on Blaine’s waist and the other in Blaine’s outstretched hand. Finn was hesitating, Blaine could see. Burt noticed too.

“Hey, I have to do it, you do too, Finn.” Burt said. Finn mumbled something about shutting the choir room doors, and Blaine realized they were still open. Kurt snapped back, basically implying that Finn was being silly, and that’s when it happened.

Karofsky walked by the door just as Finn and Kurt joined hands. The pair jumped apart as Karofsky made a mocking motion with his hand, and Blaine saw Kurt lose all color in his face.

Unfortunately, Burt noticed it also.

“What was that?”

“It was nothing, Dad,” Kurt murmured.

“It didn’t look like nothing,” Burt insisted, letting go of Blaine and crossing to his son.

“Tell him, Kurt,” Finn interjected, and Blaine gazed at him for a second, surprised. “Tell him, or I will.”

Kurt sighed. “His name’s Dave Karofsky,” Kurt muttered. “He’s been…harassing me.”

“No, there’s more to it than that,” Burt replied. “I can tell.”

Blaine wondered if this was going to be the moment when Kurt would finally tell his dad about the kiss, the one stolen by Karofsky in the locker room.

What came out of Kurt’s mouth instead shocked him to his very core.

“He threatened to kill me.”

“What?” was all Finn could gasp before Burt flew out of the room, and Kurt and Finn were right behind him.

Blaine was frozen. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

All he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his chest, and Kurt’s voice.

“He threatened to kill me.”

~**~

Blaine was still standing there when Finn came back into the room. He looked like hell.

“Everything okay?” Blaine asked, finding his voice.

“Yeah. No.” Finn kicked one of the chairs and it slid across the room with a crash. Blaine jumped. “Burt and Kurt are in the office. There's gonna be a meeting with Karofsky and his dad.”

“Wow.”

“Did you know?” Finn turned to him abruptly. “Did you know how bad it was?”

“No.” Blaine whispered. “I knew it was bad, but…”

“Yeah.” Finn muttered. They fell silent. “Kurt’s put so much into the wedding and his dad’s health and just…everything and I…I haven’t been the best brother.”

Blaine wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say to that, but Finn didn’t seem to need an answer.

“I should do something for him.” Finn continued. “Something special…at the wedding.”

“You could sing for him,” Blaine suggested. “He’d like that.”

“Yeah,” Finn agreed. “He would.”

“I know the perfect song.”

Finn smiled. “You know what, Dude? You’re alright.” For the first time since his transfer, Blaine felt like he might be on his way to making a friend.

~**~

“You know, for a secret rehearsal, you guys aren’t very good at stealth,” Blaine commented, getting all of New Directions attention, minus Mr. Schuester and Kurt.

“Hey, who said the spy could be here?” Rachel demanded.

“Will you guys just listen?” Finn exclaimed. Everyone quieted down. “We all know that Kurt’s been going through a rough time.” He stared at the group. “Blaine and I thought that maybe we should do something nice for Kurt at the wedding this weekend.”

“What did you guys have in mind?” Rachel asked.

“Sing to him,” Finn said. “Something to let him know how much he means to us.”

Blaine could see the others nodding along as Finn talked. He smiled, almost feeling better about lying to Kurt about the wedding.

Almost.

~**~

“I still can’t believe he’s really gone.” Kurt looked up and down the hallway as he waited for Blaine to get a book out of his locker.

“You don’t have to worry anymore, Kurt,” Blaine replied. “Principal Sue expelled Karofsky and he’s not coming back.”

“It just gives me more time to worry about the wedding,” Kurt laughed. “Are you sure you can’t come?”

Lying made Blaine feel like dirt, but he did it anyway. “I can’t. My parents are all over this family thing.” He smiled at Kurt. “Save me some cake?”

“Definitely.” Kurt grinned. Their fingers brushed as their hands swung between them, as they walked down the hall.

Blaine wondered if Kurt felt the same tingling he did.

~**~

The day of the wedding dawned bright and sunny with just a little end of November chill in the air. Blaine put on his best suit and quietly slipped out of his house. The last thing he wanted to do was alert his parents as to where he was going.

All the subterfuge, helping out with Kurt’s surprise had given Blaine an idea for a surprise of his own – and it started with crashing the wedding (technically, the reception). The guilt of lying to Kurt had become too much, and he couldn’t live with it any longer. So he’d decided to do something…well…drastic.

He was having trouble breathing, actually, just thinking about what he was going to do.

Blaine only hoped that Kurt liked it.

He pulled up in front of the reception hall to find the party in full swing. When he walked in the back, Finn was giving his speech, and talking to Kurt and damn if Finn didn’t make a good apology.

Finn started to sing, and Blaine took that as his cue. Kurt would be distracted, and that would be his chance. He sidled up along the DJ booth, where the light controls where. He asked the guy to lower the lights at the end of the song, telling him what he had planned.

The guy nodded, and Blaine ducked behind the band, leaning over to speak with the guy playing the piano. The pianist smiled brightly at his request, and shuffled to the side as Finn and the rest of New Directions wrapped up Bruno Mars’ "Just the Way You Are."

Finn and Kurt hugged, and everyone looked really happy, and then the lights dimmed. The lighting guy put a spotlight on Blaine, and a murmur ran through the room.

Blaine heard Kurt say his name, and he chanced a look in Kurt’s direction. Kurt’s eyes were wide, his mouth dropped open. His expression screamed shock and what the hell are you doing, Blaine Anderson?

Blaine let a smile cross his face, and then exhaled, putting his fingers on the keys, and began to play.

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

Kurt’s gasp was audible, and Blaine never took his eyes off him.

Oh yeah, yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you

Kurt was biting his lip now, his eyes looking watery. Blaine hoped that was a good thing.

And I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known

Kurt had one hand pressed to his mouth, but Blaine could see the smile, could see the joy radiating from Kurt now. He didn’t bother to look around the room at the reactions from the others. No one mattered but Kurt.

Oh yeah, yeah, and you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven
For you are mine at last

The song drew to a close, the last few notes fading away. Everyone applauded, and Blaine got up. He stepped down off the stage and crossed the dance floor to Kurt. Stopping in front of him, Blaine looked into Kurt’s eyes.

He held out his hand and Kurt took it slowly, letting Blaine lead him out of the hall, out the front of the building, and to a stop on the porch. Night had fallen while they were inside, and there was a chill in the air.

Blaine couldn’t feel it though – all he could feel was the warmth of Kurt’s hand in his. He stared into Kurt’s eyes, his beautiful eyes, and waited. Kurt’s gaze searched his, looking for what, Blaine had no idea.

“Blaine, I didn’t…” He trailed off, and Blaine tried not to let his hopes fall. Kurt wasn’t pulling away – that was a good sign, right? “When did you – how long have you –“ Kurt cut himself off with a frustrated sound, and Blaine couldn’t help but smile.

“Probably from the moment we met,” Blaine answered the question he knew Kurt was trying to ask. “But I didn’t realize it until after I transferred to McKinley.”

“You really…feel that way about me?”

“I really do,” Blaine murmured.

“But…why?” The honesty in Kurt’s voice actually hurt to hear. How could Kurt not know how amazing he was?

“Because you’re you,” Blaine answered. He reached up his free hand, ignoring that it was shaking like a leaf in the wind, and smoothed back a piece of Kurt’s hair from his face. Kurt inhaled abruptly as Blaine’s fingertips brushed his skin.

Kurt’s skin was as soft as it appeared, and Blaine wanted to caress his face – but he held back, waiting to see what Kurt would do.

“How do I know this isn’t a trick?”

Blaine’s stomach sank, and he took a step back.

“You really think I could do that to you?” Blaine asked. “I came here today, and put myself out there, and told you I have feelings for you, and you think it’s a trick?” Agony washed over him.

“Blaine –“

“I’m not him, Kurt.” Blaine cut him off, his voice a whisper. “I’m not Jesse St. James, and I’m not going to use you for something as stupid as a choir competition.”

“Blaine, I’m sorry, I just – why else would you want to be with me?”

“We’re friends, right?” Blaine looked at him intently.

“Of course,” Kurt replied. “You know things that I haven’t told anyone.”

“And I didn’t tell anyone, did I?” Kurt shook his head. “So if you can trust me with that, just days after meeting me, why can’t you trust me on this?”

“I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?” Kurt breathed out a laugh. “I’m letting Rachel Berry get into my head.” He shuddered. “That’s such a disturbing thought.”

“So what does this mean?”

“It means that I like you, Blaine,” Kurt told him. Hope unfurled in Blaine’s chest like a spring flower reacting to its first taste of sunlight. “A lot.” Kurt squeezed Blaine’s fingers. “I have since the moment we met.”

“So what does this mean?” Blaine hardly dared breathe. Could it bet that this would actually work? That he could have Kurt?

“It means that I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Me either.” They both laughed that time.

“You swear this isn’t a trick or a dream?”

“It’s as real as you and me.” Blaine lifted their joined hands, holding Kurt’s so that only Kurt’s index finger was extended. He moved Kurt’s hand, and used his finger to make an ‘x’ across his chest, before letting Kurt’s hand rest over his rapidly beating heart. “Cross my heart.”

Blaine wanted nothing more than to kiss him at that moment. So he leaned in, slowly, eyes meeting Kurt’s to make sure it was okay.

He wasn’t going to steal anything from Kurt.

“Wait,” Kurt murmured, Blaine’s face inches from his. “Can – can we just take this slow?”

“Slow?”

“Just see how things go.”

“Yeah,” Blaine agreed. “Yeah, we can do that.”

“Thank you.” Kurt threw his arms around Blaine’s neck, hugging him. Blaine slipped his arms around Kurt’s waist, and held him tightly.

In the one moment, everything was right in the world because he held Kurt in his arms.

~**~

For the first time since Blaine has been in homeroom with New Directions, someone had willingly taken a seat next to him.

"Hey, Blaine, have you seen Kurt?" Finn asked after he plopped onto the chair to Blaine's left.

Well, it was certainly a start to what Blaine assumed to be a nice friendship. He hoped.

"No, I haven't, sorry," Blaine answered with a shrug.

At that moment, Kurt walked into the room, a blank expression on his face that scared Blaine. Everyone seemed to notice Kurt's face as well because everyone suddenly stopped talking, their attention focused on the front of the room where Kurt stopped to stand.

"Kurt?" Will asked, the first to break the tense silence.

Kurt exhaled shakily. "Karofsky's expulsion has been revoked by the school board. He'll be back at McKinley tomorrow," he stated in a flat tone of voice.

The response was explosive, to say the least.

"What the hell?" Finn exploded, getting to his feet.

Mercedes was shaking her head, fury hardening her face. "How is that possible?"

"This is bullshit!"

"Language, Puck!" Will said automatically, but his were still focused on Kurt. "Kurt –"

Kurt shrugged his shoulders in such a defeated manner that it made Blaine simultaneously want to go up and hug him and march up to the student board and give them a piece of his mind. "There's nothing we can do. I'll just have to live with it."

"What about transferring?" Blaine blurted out before he could keep his mouth shut.

Kurt found Blaine's gaze, emotions like fear, anguish, and understanding passing through his face. "We can't afford it," he answered softly.

Blaine nodded, looking down at his feet. "Then I guess we'll have to protect you, then," he said out loud, meeting Kurt's gaze again, his voice stronger than how he really felt; he was so scared for Kurt.

"We can protect you," Sam added.

"Totally, we can form a perimeter around you like the secret service."

"Yeah!" Finn agreed, shooting a nod at Puck.

Kurt attempted to smile. "Thank you, everyone…I –"

Finn walked over to Kurt and squeezed his shoulder. "Don't even thank us – it's our job as friends. Well, my job as a bro, but yeah." Finn turned around so he was facing everyone else. "And Blaine?"

Blaine looked at Finn, worried about what he was going to say.

"I think you should join New Directions," Finn said, nodding to himself.

Blaine opened his mouth to decline, but the words somehow get stuck in his throat.

"I know you don't wanna compete against your friends, but…" Finn started.

"You're cool, Gargler," Puck interrupted Finn.

"It's Warbler." Blaine corrected him.

"Whatever."

Blaine raised his hands in appeasement.

"Excuse me, but I think we should put it to a proper vote," Rachel declared, getting to her feet so she could stand beside Finn.

"Why are you suddenly interested in our opinions?" Santana drawled, pulling a nail file out of her purse.

"B-Because we're captains and we need to take the entire team into account! So, those who don't want Blaine to join –"

"Whoa, Rachel!" Will started, cutting Rachel off. "Since when do we vote to have members? Blaine is welcome to join us." Will have Blaine an encouraging smile.

Rachel pouted and crossed her arms.

"Just think about it…okay?" Finn said to Blaine.

Blaine stared at Kurt, who seemed as if he was trying to convey something to him through staring, which wasn't something Blaine was good at picking up. But this time, he thought he understood what Kurt was trying to do.

"I'll do it. I'll join," Blaine said, staring directly at Kurt.

The room was quiet, but Finn had a lop-sided grin on his face and Kurt looked stunned.

"We can't have an odd number!" Rachel shrilled, throwing a finger up in the air. "Who is Blaine supposed to dance with, hm? It's just impossible." She nodded, obviously proud of her counterargument.

"Leave it to me," Puck drawled, slowly getting to his feet and adjusting an imaginary collar. "I can find another member, no problemo." And to Blaine's great surprise, Puck glanced down the row and nodded at Blaine.

Wow, did this mean that Blaine could walk down the hall without fear of Puck trying to trip him in the hallway?

Will shrugged. "Well, then. I guess we have our lucky thirteenth member! Welcome to New Directions, Blaine!"

Kurt's smile more than made up for Blaine's nervousness.