Kurt woke up feeling exhausted, he stretch his arms and rolled his neck hearing it pop before he turned over and clutched the covers closer to him. He was laying in his bed back home in Lima, soft sunlight was streaming in through the curtains and he was thinking that maybe he could get a few more hours of sleep. 

Kurts eyes flew open and he snapped up sitting on his bed and looking around the room. 

He was back in his old room in Lima.

Kurts heart beat loudly in his ears. He was out of that house. And he was alive. And he was home. Kurt let out a laugh that could be called nothing less than a giggle and threw himself back down on his pillows.

He still felt so tired, but he was alive so it was okay. He remembered laughing and crying and talking to his dad and Carole until the early hours of the morning, before his eyes began to droop and his speech began to slow. His dad had found him some some flannel pajamas and sent him to bed. He didnt know how long hes slept but judging from the light through the widow it was probably late morning. 

He smiled and snuggled down into the bed, he closed his eyes and instantly remembered being warm and light and happy and surrounded by light and circled in Blaines arms. Blaine. Blaine who had saved him, who had loved him even when it didnt make sense, Blaine who had made Kurt want to live again.

Kurt got out of bed. He had to contact Blaine. Had to tell him he was alive. Kurt wanted to see him more than anything.

Kurt crept downstairs wondering if anyone else was awake he heard voices from the kitchen and headed that way, he didnt intend on eavesdropping, but he stopped outside the kitchen and listened when he heard his name. 

“I finally have Kurt back.” His dad said in a strained voice. “Against all reason and logic and everything I thought I knew about the world, I have him back. I will not lose him now.”

“Of course not.” Carole replied softly. “But you cant just keep him locked up in this house or something... I mean he was stuck for so long, you cant do that to him.”

“Thats not what I mean Carole.” Burt said and he sounded frustrated. “I just want to keep him safe and keep him... near. What do we even know about this Blaine person? And Kurt wants to go back to San Francisco and find him? Last time he went to San Francisco he...” 

Kurt heard his dad take a deep breath and he didnt finished his sentence. 

“No Carole.” Burt said firmly. “I wont let him go.”

Kurt felt tears gather in his eyes and sting the back of his throat, hed heard enough. He walked into the kitchen to see Carole and his dad look up at him from the table.

“I wont go to San Francisco” Kurt said “I dont want to do anything that is going to hurt you anymore than I already have...”

“Kurt” Burt started.

“Let me finish dad. I... I wont go, but I have to talk to Blaine. I have to tell him where I am.”

Burt opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again, he looked down at the coffee mug in front of him and was silent a while before speaking again. “Come sit down with us.” He said is voice much calmer now. 

Kurt sat down and Carole got up heading towards the coffee pot, pouring a mug and setting it down in front of Kurt before joining them again, Kurt wrapped his hands around the mug and let the warmth seep through him. His dad was watching him.

Kurt took a sip and his eyes slid closed as he felt the deep flavor on his tongue. “God thats good.” He said. When he opened his eyes again his dad had a strange half trying not to cry, half trying not to laugh look on his face. 

“Ill make you some breakfast.” Carole said. “What would you like?” 

“Anything, literally anything you want to make.” Kurt said. 

As Carole fried up some eggs and bacon for him Burt leaned forward to catch his eyes. “Kurt I know that talking to Blaine is important to you.” He said. “But... do you think... could you wait? Just a short time.” He added quickly. “I would be nice to have sometime. With you.” 

“And we should call your brother and Rachel.” Carole said from the stove. “Theyll come back from New York, Im sure.”

“Its just... now that youre here...” Burt continued. “Kurt, I...” His face grew a little pale and him rubbed a hand down his face. 

Kurt got up and went to his dad, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Im not going anywhere. I want to spend time with you too.” He said, his heart constricted as he continued, “I can wait to talk to Blaine.” Kurt didnt want to wait, but he couldnt stand to see his dad like this. “Ill wait until weve had a chance to get Finn and Rachel here and we can all be together as a family again. How does that sound?” 

Burt smiled, “I love you kid.” 

Kurt gave him a tight hug just as Carole was bringing over the most delicious smelling breakfast ever. “I love you too dad.” 

*****

Finn had just gotten home from from a jog when his cellphone rang, he saw his moms face smile up at him from the screen. “Hey mom!” He answered. "Just about to hit the shower. Whats up?”

“Youre at home then?” Carole asked 

“Yeah.”

“Is Rachel there?”

“Um...” Finn walked to the living room and yelled. “Rachel!” but there was no answer. “Nope.”

“Okay... well... maybe you should sit down.” 

That was a red flag if hed ever heard one. “Whats wrong mom?”

“Nothing, nothings wrong.” She didnt sound like nothing was wrong. 

“Youre okay arent you? And Burt?”

“Were fine honey.” She said soothingly. “Its actually... I think you and Rachel should come for a visit we have a... a surprise.”

Finn wanted to believe that everything was alright but something in his moms voice was off.

“Huh, a surprise? Maybe you could just tell me? Cuz Youre kinda frekin me out here.” 

He heard his mom sigh before she spoke again. “Youll think Im crazy.”

“Mom."

“Its... Kurt.”

Finn felt his stomach drop and fill with sadness in the familiar way it did whenever he thought about his little brother. Finn sat down on the couch. “What? What about Kurt?”

“I... well... he. Hes home?” Carole said almost like a question. 

“What does that even mean?” 

“I should have thought this through better.” Carole said. “I shouldnt have told you until you got here, but I dont want you to worry. Nothing is wrong. This is good.... I know you arent going to believe me. I get that. Just come home and see.”

Finn didnt know what his mom was talking about and it made him uneasy. “Mom is Burt there? I need to talk to him.”

“Just a minute.”

After a moment someone else got on the phone. “Um... Hi Finn.” It wasnt Burt. 

“Who is this?” Finn asked. 

“Finn. I dont know if this is the best way to do this... but maybe there isnt a best way to do this. “ The person continued. “Please try not to flip out okay? But its... its me.”

And just then, it clicked whose voice this was. A voice Finn hadnt heard in years one he thought hed never hear again. Kurts voice. Kurts unmistakable voice.

“This isnt cool!” Finn shouted. “What kind of sick trick is this?”

“Finn.” Kurts voice said sounding nervous. “It isnt a trick, you think your mom would do that too you? I cant explain... but it you want to come home... God, why is this so hard? I dont know what Im doing Finn and it would be really nice to have you here.”

Finn swallowed and felt... he didnt know how he felt, it was too complicated a feeling to label. “I dont know what the hell is going on, but Im coming to Lima and you have a lot of explaining to do if youre not Kurt... you have a lot of explaining to do if you are Kurt!”

“I know, I know. Just come home? Carole and Burt and I, we all want you here.”

Finn shook his head in disbelief. “Yeah... yeah.” He agreed and then hung up not able to take anymore of a conversation with someone that sounded just like Kurt, but couldnt be Kurt.

Hours latter Finn had showered and packed bags for himself and Rachel. She walked into the apartment to see him standing in the hallway looking grim. 

“Hey... whats wrong?” She asked her eyes groeing dramtially wide.

“Change if you want to, I packed your stuff and our plane leaves in two hours. We are going to Lima.”