Blaine spent the most of rest of the next day alone. He had lunch with Sam and Quinn and felt distinctly like a third wheel, especially since things between Sam and Quinn seemed tense. In the afternoon Blaine knew the carts were open in the square again and people were setting up for the play that evening, but Blaine avoided it. Kurt would be there and Kurt had made it clear he didnt want to see Blaine. He had respected Kurts space last night during the dance performance, willing himself to not even glance over at him… too much. It wasnt his fault Kurt had worn a blue shirt that matched his eyes and was really hard not to look at.

Blaine was spending the afternoon holed up in his room at the Jones inn trying and failing to not think about Kurt.

"Come on man." Sam prodded. "Youre just going to sit around our room all day? This town is awesome you need to enjoy it while you can."

"Speaking of that." Blaine said with a sigh. "Dont you think we should be heading home soon? We were going to leave Ireland this weekend even before what happened with that poker game."

Sams face fell. "I thought you wanted to stay here as much as I did. Did you and Kurt fight or something?"

"No... We just… he doesnt seem interested in seeing me. And it isnt just about Kurt, have you really not noticed how unwelcome we are here?"

"Thats not true, Mercedes and Quinn-"

Blaine cut him off, "What about everyone else? The older generation especially seems to not want us around. We are staying in their house and Mr. and Mrs. Jones have barely said a word to us."

"Well… yeah…"

"And I get the feeling they are a little homophobic." Blaine said quietly watching Sam closely for his reaction.

"Who the Jones? No way! Mercedes is best friends with Kurt and I know her parents love him, she says he is like a brother."

Blaine flopped back on the bed feeling sorry for himself. "Maybe it is just me then. Maybe people just dont like me."

Sam sat down next to him. "Youre being ridiculous. You are one of the most likeable guys I know. Get out of this room Blaine. Go find Kurt."

Blaine didnt respond.

"If you really want to leave after today we can go." Sam finally said.

"Thanks Sam."

Sam nodded and headed for the door, going to meet Mercedes, or Quinn, Blaine was sure which. "Hey put on that flower wreath and go join the fun in the square. Maybe youll feel differently." Sam called as he shut the door behind him.

Blaine laid on the bed a little longer before he made himself get up. He reached for the flower wreath hanging on the bedpost and lifted it off giving it a long look. The bright yellow flowers twisted around green leaves were just as bright and fresh as when Kurt had made it for him days ago.

Blaine brushed his fingertips over the soft petals and smiled, the scent of the wreath bringing images of Kurt sitting so close to him as he made it that part of Blaine was sure they were going to kiss. If only hed met Kurt back home, hed ask him out for dinner or coffee, hed have the chance to get to know Kurt long term. They could go see a Broadway show and get gelato at that place near his apartment. They could hold hands walking down the street; Blaine would kiss Kurt after he walked him home after a date. Blaine chest tightened. Even if Kurt wasnt avoiding him he couldnt have those things with a man who made his home some 3,000 miles away from New York City.

Blaine put the wreath back and got up from the bed. It didnt matter; he still wanted to spend time with Kurt and get to know him more. If they werent meant to be then fine, Blaine at least wanted try to make things right with Kurt before he left. Fix whatever mistake hed made the day before.

Blaine got to the square by late afternoon, it was sunny and bright but Blaine felt uneasy, people still gave him strange glances like they had since the day he and Sam arrived. It made him anxious, but when he saw Kurt his chest felt like it expanded pleasantly, filling with warmth. Kurt was talking to a young girl and putting together a bouquet, smiling at the girl as the sun illuminated his face, making his skin bright and his eyes the color of the blue sky.

Blaine walked to the cart and waited as Kurt finished up the flowers he was arranging. Kurt glanced up at him and froze.

"Hi Kurt." Blaine said with a smile even as his heart thudded in his chest. Please dont run away from me again.

"Hello." Kurt said softly before turning back to the little girl. "Here you go sweetheart." He handed her the flowers, she took them and then looked up at Blaine with a bright smile.

"My mother says to stay away from you."

Blaines mouth dropped open at the same time his heart sunk. He watched the little girl, blonde hair in soft curls and big brown eyes, stare up at him. "She told you to stay away from me?"

"Hurry along now Cassie." Kurt said quickly looking nervously between Blaine and the girl.

"You talk funny, but you dont seem scary to me." The girl said ignoring Kurt.

"Im not scary." Blaine said crouching down and trying to smile and seem unintimidating "I promise."

"Cassie." Kurt spoke up again. "This is Blaine hes a friend of mine and not scary at all." Blaines heart rose at that. The girl smiled bigger, proud that she had been right. "But if your mother said not to spend time with him, you probably shouldnt."

"Im going to tell her you seem nice and that youre Kurts friend." She leaned forward like she had a secret and Blaine leaned forward to hear. "Everyone loves Kurt so if he likes you, you must be good."

Blaine smiled and glanced at Kurt who was blushing a little and playing with the flowers like he wasnt listening.

"Thanks." Blaine said to the girl. "Kurt is right though, I wouldnt want you to get in trouble with your mom."

The girl nodded, thanked Kurt for the flowers and then hurried off.

Blaine stood back up and watched Kurt for a little bit as he rearranged flowers on his cart as if Blaine wasnt right there.

"Are you still avoiding me?"

Kurts eyes flashed to him. "I wasnt avoiding you."

"You practically ran from me yesterday Kurt."

"I…" Kurts shoulders slumped. "Yeah, alright, maybe I did."

"So what is it? Are we friends like you just told that girl? Or should I leave you alone?"

Kurt was quiet a moment biting his lip in thought, looking down at his flowers and not a Blaine.

"Im sorry." Blaine blurted not able to stand the silence any longer.

Kurt lifted his head, his eyes showing confusion. "Pardon?"

"Im sorry for what I did to make you upset. I assure you it was an accident."

Kurts eyes scanned his face for a moment before he spoke. "What did you do?"

Blaine sighed. "I have no idea. If you tell me Ill try to make it up to you."

A smile twitched on Kurts lips before he could school his face again. "Youre apologizing and you dont know what you did?"

"I know youre upset with me. Thats why youre avoiding me. Sam and I wont be here much longer and I… I didnt want to leave with you angry at me."

Kurt was watching him closely, twiddling flowers in his hand. "Im not angry at you." He sad glancing down and Blaines heart leaped a little in hope.

"No?"

Kurt shook his head.

"Then what happened yesterday? I mean I understand you have things to do, I dont expect you to just drop everything to spend time with a stranger-"

Kurts eyes glanced up. "I dont consider you a stranger."

"What do you consider me?" Blaine said with a smile as he moved a little closer.

"I told Cassie you were my friend and I meant it."

Blaine couldnt help the wide smile that covered his face. "Okay. So then you werent giving me the cold shoulder yesterday? You were just busy?"

Kurt put the flowers down to look Blaine fully in the face. "Youre leaving soon."

"Yes, we never meant to stay this long."

"And then youll be in New York and Ill be here and... and that is the end of that. I guess I didnt see the point in spending time together."

Blaine nodded his heart hurting a little at Kurts blunt words. He wasnt giving up though. "See I think the fact that Im leaving soon is all the more reason to spend time together now, while we can." He leaned forward arms folding on the cart giving Kurt his best pleading look and watched as Kurt blushed and then rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I guess that argument make sense." He bounced on his toes in excitement and then took a small red flower, one of the pheasants eyes, from the cart and put in the button hole of Blaines vest. Blaines heart beat faster as Kurts hand briefly pressed against his chest before he pulled back again. "That looks nice."

Blaine glanced down at the flower and then back at Kurt. "I wish I had something to give you in return."

"Mmmm, you could help me with something."

"Anything, whatever you need."

"Im performing for the festival later in the month, Ive been practicing for weeks, but now Im not sure the song is right."

"Youre singing?"

"Yes, and since you are studying music, maybe you could… listen? Help me chose something?" Kurt smiled at him and Blaine felt giddy all the way down to his toes. He couldnt think of a better way to spend the day than listening to Kurt sing. If his sweet lilting, talking voice was any indication his singing would be incredible. Kurt covered his cart and led Blaine down to the little church, painted white with a steeple on top.

"They let me use their piano sometimes. Kurt explained. "The school has one too, but the children are having final rehearsals this afternoon."

"For their play tonight. The history of Folaigh right?" Blaine said. "Im looking forward to it."

Kurt paused, his hand on the door handle of the church. "You want to go to that?"

"Why not, everyone is going right?"

Kurt pushed the door open and took a deep breath answering hesitantly, "Uh… yes, I guess…"

Blaine breathing hitched as he walked into the church, he hadnt been in a church in years and wondered if it would be uncomfortable. He stood in the entry way of the small chapel, wooden floors and wooden pews with a pulpit and piano up front.

Kurt must have noticed his uneasiness; he gently took his hand, as he always did, and smiled at him sweetly. Kurt lead him pass wooden pews until they reached the upright piano made of walnut or some other dark wood. It was polished and had intricate scroll work carved all over it. It looked like it should be old, maybe early 20th century, but it was so well kept the keys hadnt even started to yellow and Blaine assumed it must be a replica.

Kurt sat down on the bench and looked up at Blaine waiting for him to follow suit. Blaine sat next to him as Kurt plucked a few notes out on the keys without really starting a song.

"Are you going to sing?" Blaine asked.

Kurt looked back at him with pink cheeks, even the tips of his ears a little rosy.

"I dont know what music sounds like where you come from." He said. "And I know youre a professional."

"Im not a professional."

"But you study music... just dont… dont make fun of me."

Blaines eyes widened and he laid a hand over Kurts on the keys. "Kurt I would never."

Kurt nodded and took a deep breath and once Blaine had moved his hand his started playing, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth and the most beautiful voice Blaine had ever heard came out. Clear and strong and sweet. Blaine didnt know the song but it made goosebumps rise on his arms.

Kurts voice grew bolder as he continued his confidence building as he sang. Blaine was left breathless. With a voice like that Kurt would be amazing at NYADA. They didnt have many countertenors and Blaine had never heard one as lovely as Kurt. When Kurt finished he left his fingers on the keys for a moment and then opened his eyes, looking at Blaine with a grin painted on his face. He knew he sounded good.

"Kurt. Wow." Blaine didnt even know what to say. "Youre amazing."

Kurt laughed, the sound like bells falling through the air. "Im sure youve heard a lot of singers at school."

"I have." Blaine said. "But not like that."

"It must be incredible living in New York." Kurt said brushing off the praise. "I cant even imagine a city as big as youve described. And you get to perform. I would love that."

"You could, with that voice."

"Not really much of a forum for it here. I mean I get to perform at the festival and I sing at parties and things sometimes, but…" He shrugged.

"What about outside of Folaigh? You could study music too. I mean if that is what you love to do you should do it."

"I help my dad with his shop. Ill inherit it from him one day."

Before he could stop himself he let out a frustrated huff or air. "You dont have to go into the family business if you dont want too."

Kurt tilted his head and scrunched his eyebrows. "I know. I want too though, most of the time... It is a good job and I get to help the people of my town."

"Sorry." Blaine said rubbing his hands down his face. "Just projecting my own issues onto you."

Kurt closed the piano. "What do you mean?" He turned on the bench so his back was to the piano and he could lean his elbows on the closed keys.

"It doesnt matter. We are here to help you pick a song. Though the one you just sang would be wonderful."

Kurt shook his head. "Ill sing you my other option in a minute. What did you mean about having your own issues? Does your family have a family business too?"

Blaine turned to sit cross legged on the bench, facing Kurt and looking him in the eyes; he seemed to genuinely want to know. "My dad and I dont get along the way you do with your dad. He wanted me to join the family business, but it wasnt what I wanted. I went to NYADA instead to study performing arts and... my dad didnt think I could get a real job from that."

"Im sorry." Kurt said softly

Blaine shrugged. "He probably could have forgiven me once he saw how well I was doing in New York, but none of it even matters since Im gay."

Kurt looked confused. "Your dad doesnt want you to be happy?"

"Not if it is with another guy."

"Wait…" Kurt sat up a little. "You mean your father doesnt want you to be with men? Even if that is who you are?"

Blaine glanced around the church for a moment, painful memories clenching at his heart before turning his eyes back to Kurt, "He thinks it is a sin."

Kurts eyes widened. "Oh." He was quite for a moment before he placed a hand on Blaines knee. "I am so sorry." He eyes looked over Blaines face and Blaine was struck by the intensity of them

"Thanks." Blaine whispered, not knowing what else to say.

"Your father is wrong. There is nothing the matter with you. In Folaigh we are all free to be the people we were born to be."

Blaine looked into Kurts sincere and earnest eyes. "I wish every place was more like Folaigh then."

"Is it not like that, where you are from?"

Blaine opened his mouth but didnt know what to say. Had Kurt really been shielded from homophobia his whole life? Did he not understand what it could be like for those who were different and didnt meet the worlds expectation of who you should be?

"Has no one ever… given you a hard time for being gay?"

Kurt was quiet for a minute. "By gay you mean preferring men, dont you?"

"Yes."

"I remember when I was young. When my mother was alive and before we came to Folaigh, all the other little boys were teasing girls and chasing them around and I never wanted to. Some of the bigger boys made fun of me for it. I suppose if my Father and I hadnt moved to Folaigh I would have seen more of that."

Blaine nodded beginning to see Folaigh in a new light. If the people here werent homophobic and were as accepting as Kurt said, then their fear of Sam and him stemmed from something else. Still though, he could hardly imagine a life like Kurt was describing where no one cared who you loved or who you were.

"There are places in the world it isnt legal to be gay Kurt." Blaine explained. "You can be killed for it."

Kurts eyes grew round and his face went pale.

"Not where Im from. I mean it can be difficult; there are hate crimes and discrimination because people are different. Because of where theyre from, or the color of their skin. In New York I am mostly free to be myself, but yeah. Things can be bad out there."

Kurt leaned in bringing his hand up to rest lightly on Blaines face rubbing his thumb down his cheek. "Im so sorry." He repeated. "I imagined it might be like that out in the world, but I didnt know… Im sorry you have to live with that."

Blaines breathe caught at how close Kurt was to him. "It isnt your fault. You dont have to apologize."

"No, but the people who should be sorry might not ever say it. So I am. Im sorry it has been hard for you."

Blaines throat felt tight with the tears he was holding back. "Thank you." He breathed.

"And Im sorry your family doesnt accept you."

Blaine wiped at his eyes a little and took a deep breath. "I have a brother. An older brother named Cooper. He accepts me, but I dont spend much time with him. He always wants me to try to make up with my parents."

Kurt pulled his hand back slowly, but stayed so close their legs were touching. "I can understand not wanting the pressure to make-up with parents who dont accept you. But… if you have family who wants to be part of your life." He shrugged. "I wouldnt turn down an older brother I guess. Not if he loved me."

Blaines heart clenched. He knew Cooper did love him, in his own overbearing way; He always came through for Blaine, like he had with the money for the hotel. Blaine was surprised to find he actually missed him; he hadnt seen Cooper in months.

Kurt studied his face. "Its none of my business though."

"No, youre right. I should give Cooper a chance."

Kurt smiled and Blaine felt his heart start to melt. He touched his cheek where Kurts hand had been, it felt warm. "What about Dave?" Blaine asked suddenly remembering his confrontation with him the day before.

"Dave?" Kurt asked clearly surprised. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"He said that people like me didnt belong here. He…" Blaine stopped deciding not to tell Kurt Dave had pushed him around a little. "I mean, I thought he didnt like me because I am gay."

"Dave said that to you?" Kurts cheeks flushed. "He said people like you dont belong here? What else did he do?" Kurts voice had lost the soft quality it held only moments before as it grew angry.

"He just… he doesnt want me here."

"David is such a… I cant believe he would…" Kurt took in a sharp breath. "Dave is like me, like us. He prefers men too. He just doesnt want anyone from the outside here."

"What? Dave is gay? But I thought…" Blaine stopped, thinking back to both of his interactions with Dave. Both times he was trying to get between Blaine and Kurt. "He likes you." Blaine stated, the truth finally hitting him.

Kurt looked down in his lap and played nervously with his fingers. "There are only a few men in town that are my age who also prefer men. Dave got it in his head at a young age that we were meant to be together."

Blaines heart sank. Why had he never even considered the fact that Kurt might already be with someone? "Oh." He said softly trying to pick the right words even has his chest felt constricted. "I didnt know… I didnt mean to get in the way."

Kurt looked up and him in surprise. "Im not with Dave. Just because he wants it doesnt mean I do."

Blaine felt like a tight cage around his heart fell off. "Oh… good."

"Good?"

"I mean. If you dont want to be with him good that you are standing up for yourself."

"Right." Kurt said slowly, a smile forming on his lips.

"Right." Blaine bit back his own smile even as his stomach flipped in excitement. "So are you going to sing me that other song?"

Kurt laughed. "Alright." He turned around on the bench and opened the keys again. "This one is a little more upbeat."

Kurt sang his song and Blaine felt his spirits soar with the happy tune and the melodic ring of Kurts vocals. He voted for that song even though the first one was so beautiful. It was for a celebration after all, the song should be happy.

"So do you... maybe want to go see the play together this evening?" Blaine asked once they were leaving the church.

"Oh… well." Kurt looked at him with a serious expression. "No. I dont think so." Blaine nodded slowly trying not to show his disappointment. "Lets skip the play all together and have dinner out in the meadow. l know, I know it would be another picnic out there, but I love the clearing and if we stay late enough I can point out constellations for you."

Blaines smile was so bright it hurt his cheeks a little. "Yes please. Lets do that."

Kurt took extra time picking out his outfit for the evening. Dark pants which were comfortable but also looked good on him, a purple waistcoat and a high collared white shirt. He looked at his reflection in the mirror over his mothers old vanity and brushed his hair from his face letting out a long breath.

He had scrambled that afternoon to think of a way to keep Blaine from going to the play. The history of Folaigh wasnt something Blaine needed to hear. He had found out that Quinn had done the same with Sam. They were staying in and babysitting her little 2-year old sister who wasnt feeling well.

Kurt and Blaines evening sounded much better.

Kurt understood that he was meant to spend time with Blaine to get information for the council, though he was caring less and less about that facet of it all. He just wanted to be with Blaine as much as possible. His responsibilities to the council couldnt be forgotten though, a fact that was driven home that afternoon when Sue stopped by and drilled him for information about Blaine and New York and anything else he found out about the outside world. He was reluctant to tell Sue about what Blaine had said about "gay" people and how they and others were treated, he was trying to paint the outside world in a better light, but if that was the truth than there was no sense in hiding it.

"Just be careful." Sue had said before she left. "He may be handsome and charming, but you cant trust an outsider."

His father had arrived home just as Sue was leaving and he heard her last remark. "She has a point you know."

Kurt was surprised to hear his father agree with Sue, they usually had opposite opinions on everything, but recently that seemed to have changed.

"Shes wrong about Blaine."

Burt rubbed his balding head and sighed. "Maybe, but you should still be careful. I dont want you to get hurt."

"Im telling you dad, no way would Blaine ever harm me."

"Yes. But your own heart might." He said repeating his warning from earlier in the week before he quietly left the room.

It was those words that echoed through Kurts mind as he attached a broach to his vest, a little bird sitting on a leafy branch. His dad was right, his heart was in danger, but Quinn was right too, this was his chance to do something more, to have something more than Folaigh could provide for him. He understood Blaine was only here for a short time, but he was going to treasure up the time he had with him.

He met Blaine at a little gazebo near town square, a basket of food in one hand and a big quilt tucked under his other arm. Blaine looked more dashing as ever, in a dark blue dress shirt and dark grey pants, his hair even curlier than it was the day he arrived and the green and yellow wreath Kurt had made him nestled in the curls.

"Wow." Blaine said as he approached. "You look… you look gorgeous."

Kurt laughed a little. "You look very handsome too." He said straightening Blaines collar even though it was already straight. Kurt wasnt usually a very tactile person, but with Blaine he always wanted to hold his hand or brush his fingers against his arm or make some kind of contact.

"I brought you something." Blaine said holding up a small boutonniere of white Bell Heather, delicate little clusters of white flowers that looked like a bunch of tiny little bells, they were wrapped together with a bright red ribbon.

"You said they were your favorite and I know it is weird for me to bring you flowers." He chuckled nervously. "I mean these are even from your garden, but I traded Mercedes for them. I thought… Itd be nice to give you flowers for a change." He said as he handed the flowers to Kurt. "I put them together with the ribbon myself."

"They are lovely." Kurt said breathlessly, fingers lightly tracing the small bells, his heart in his throat. He used his broach to pin the flowers to his lapel and looked back up at Blaine. "No one has ever given me flowers before."

"Because you own the flowers." Blaine said with a grin.

Kurt shrugged, "Yes, but is still such a nice gesture. Thank you."

Blaine was the one to take his hand this time and Kurt almost thought he felt a spark when their skin touched. That had to be his imagination though, any lingering magic Blaine had from Kurt healing him would be gone by now. They walked to the field and Kurt unfurled the blanket and spread it out on the grass. Most of the day time flowers had closed already, but the moon lilies were coming out, Kurt picked a spot that hosted clusters of them and sat down patting the quilt for Blaine to follow suit.

Kurt watched as the flowers slowly unfurled their petals and turned their gleaming white faces towards them. Like plants that followed the light. He didnt think Blaine noticed it though, because his beautiful Blaine seemed to only have eyes for him. No, not his Blaine… he couldnt think like that.

They sat and ate, chicken sandwiches and blackberries that left their fingers stained and macaroons Kurt had gotten from the bakery for dessert. They didnt talk about the ugliness of the world Blaine came from again that evening. But instead Kurt told stories of having tea parties with his mother when he was young and Blaine told him about his dog Willis that Cooper had named after an actor Cooper wanted to be like. It turned out Blaine wasnt the only one in his family that had a passion for the stage.

As the sun sank deeper in the sky and the fireflies started to flit around them Kurt was caught off guard again and again at how full his heart felt while with Blaine. Like he hadnt know for all his life a part of it had sat vacant until now that it was filled with a kind of joy Kurt couldnt remember feeling before.

It turned out to be a clear night, perfect for star gazing and Kurt laid down on the quilt tugging Blaine playful down with him.

"I dont think Ive ever seen so many stars out at once." Blaine said next to him.

Kurt giggled "Where are the stars normally if not in the sky?"

Blaine smiled and turned to him "They are still there, you just cant see them. The lights of the city are so bright it masks the stars."

"I cant even imagine that." Kurt said, something inside him leaping at the idea. Oh he wanted to see New York; he wanted to go places hed never been, never dreamed of, he wanted to see them with Blaine."When do you think youre leaving?" Kurt asked quietly looking up at the sky and voicing the question that had been nagging at him for awhile now.

Blaine ran his hand down Kurts arm beside him. "I dont know…"

"The festival last until the end of the month… you could… you could stay the whole time." His heart caught in his throat with hope. "If you wanted too."

"Do you think the Joneses would be okay with that?"

"Yes, and if not you and Sam could stay with me… I mean we dont have as much room but you would be welcome."

Blaine was quiet and Kurt was worried he was going to tell him that they needed to leave sooner than that. "School doesnt start up until next month… I dont see why we couldnt stay."

"Really?" Kurt said looking back at Blaine, meeting his eyes and trying not to be distracted by the deep honey colored depths of them.

"If you wanted me to stay."

"I do want you too."

"Okay. Ill stay then." Blaine said simply and then leaned his head forward to bump it against Kurts.

Kurts heart skipped a beat as Blaines soft lips pressed against his cheek. The touch sent sparks through Kurts whole body. Kurt blinked his eyes in surprise as Blaine pulled back. Kurt wet his lips and cleared his throat and then scooted closer to Blaine taking his hand between them and the looking back up at the night sky.

"Thats Ursa Minor." Kurt pointed. "The small bear."

"Which one? "Blaine asked squeezing his hand.

"You see that really bright star?"

"Yes."

"Thats the end of its tail."

He glanced back at Blaine to find he was staring at him and not up at the stars at all.

"Blaine." He said teasingly. "Im trying to educate you."

Blaine smiled. "Little bear, bright star tail." He looked back up. "I got it."

Kurt looked at Blaine a little longer than needed before turning his gaze back up at the sky, Blaines hand still warmly tucked in his own. "And thats Cassiopeia." Kurt pointed up again even as his heart danced in his chest, he didnt want this month to ever end.