"Hi, Kurt." Blaine smiled.

Kurt could not keep from smiling when Blaine smiled at him. It was as if just seeing the other boy smile made something in him light up. Now that it was not night time, Kurt could get a better look at the other boy. Blaine's hair was really dark, his eyes were a pretty hazel color, and he was not as skinny as Kurt was. Kurt thought Blaine looked like a really nice person.

Blaine patted the piano bench, inviting Kurt to sit next to him. After Kurt had sat down, Blaine paused for a moment then placed his hands on the keys and started playing. Some of the other kids looked over and watched, the others just listening.

Kurt closed his eyes as Blaine started to play. He could not help imagining it was his mother sitting next to him, playing the piano so perfectly. It was not until he felt a hand on his cheek, the music having stopped, that he realized he was crying again.

"Kurt?" A small voice asked next to him.

"I'm sorry." Kurt almost tripped over the bench in his haste to get up and leave the room. He went to the big room they all slept in and crawled into his bed, hiding under the covers.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

When Kurt had sat down next to him on the piano bench, Blaine had had to pause for a moment, unable to tear his gaze from the perfect figure next to him. It was if one of those elves from the book he had been reading the other day – what was it, Lord of the Rings? He loved those books – had suddenly appeared next to him. Kurt's eyes were a really pretty blue and, on closer inspection, there really were no markings or freckles to be seen to mar his skin.

Blaine had never really thought perfect, beautiful people like that existed until he met Kurt. He wondered if it was weird for a boy to think another boy was beautiful.

Finally he had managed to tear his gaze from the boy beside him and start playing the piano. He was trying his hardest to make sure he made no mistakes because he wanted his music to be perfect for Kurt.

At one point he glanced next to him and saw Kurt had closed his eyes. Silent tears were drifting down his perfect face. Blaine stopped his playing to reach out and gently brush a tear away. It made him sad, seeing Kurt cry.

"Kurt?"

That was when Kurt had opened his eyes and almost gave him a terrified look. "I'm sorry." And then he was up and gone from the room, leaving Blaine sitting there somewhat confused.

Why was Kurt so afraid to let anyone see him cry? As far as Blaine knew, everyone cried. It was natural. Not something that made you weak or pathetic.

He got up and left the room in search of Kurt.

When he finally found Kurt, Blaine sat down on the floor next to Kurt's bed. "Hey, Kurt?"

"What?" A muffled voice came from under the covers.

"Do you think it's okay if..." he was going to ask Kurt the question he had been wondering earlier. About if it was okay or not for boys to think other boys were beautiful. He changed his mind last minute though because he really did not think it was okay after all, and he did not want Kurt to think he was weird. "Never mind."

There was a shuffling sound as Kurt pulled the blankets back a bit so he could peek down at Blaine. His eyes were red from crying, but Blaine still thought he looked perfect.

"Never mind what?" Kurt asked.

"Nothing." Blaine shook his head. "Do you want to hold my hand?" The question was out before he even thought about it. The surprised look on Kurt's face had him blushing a tiny bit.

"Why?"

"Er...well, there was this lady who used to work here. And when I was upset she would hold my hand. It made me feel better." Blaine explained. "And since we're friends and friends are supposed to cheer each other up, I thought maybe it would help make you feel better a bit."

Kurt seemed to think about it for a little bit then slid off the bed and sat down on the floor next to Blaine. "Okay." He held his hand out, waiting for Blaine to take it.

Blaine was still somewhat embarrassed at having asked the question in the first place, but he felt relieved when Kurt said okay. He placed his hand in Kurt's and they laced their fingers together.

Kurt's hand felt nice in his; it was like their hands were two puzzle pieces that fit together side by side.

Not that he was going to point that out to Kurt.

He didn't have to.

"Our hands fit well together, don't they?" Kurt spoke up quietly.

Blaine nodded, staring down at their hands clasped together.

"You're right." Kurt added. "I do feel better. A lot better." His grip tightened on Blaine's hand as if he didn't want to let go ever.

It made Blaine feel important, special. And for a six year old he had not had many chances to feel important or special.

"Kurt?" He was worried he shouldn't ask, but he kind of wanted to know.

"Yes?"

Blaine took a deep breath. "What was your family like?"

He grew more worried when Kurt did not answer for a while. Had he upset Kurt more?

"My mommy was- is super pretty." Kurt finally spoke. He paused before continuing. "My grandma, before she died, used to say I look just like my mommy. More so than my daddy anyway." He looked down at his hand in Blaine's, as if to reassure himself Blaine was still there. "I spent all my time with my mommy."

"What about your dad?" Blaine asked.

Kurt shook his head. "My daddy worked all the time. Or he would come home and get drunk. Mommy would tell me that we couldn't rely on daddy." He shrugged. "She and I would do lots of things together. Like arts and crafts. And we'd sing songs together; songs from Disney movies and musicals."

Blaine thought Kurt's mommy sounded like a really good mommy. She took care of her son and loved him. "So why would she leave you here?"He was confused.

Kurt shook his head, fighting back tears. "I don't know. I thought she loved me." He turned his face up to Blaine's. Blaine noticed that when Kurt cried his eyes turned even bluer. They were really pretty. "Parents aren't supposed to abandon their children when they love them, right?"

Blaine knew Kurt had a point there. "I'm sure you're right." His answer did not help keep Kurt's tears from falling. Feeling bad, Blaine switched the hand he was holding Kurt's with then tentatively put his arm around the other boy's shoulders. Kurt turned and buried his face against Blaine's small shoulder, never once letting go of his hand.

They sat like that for at least an hour. At one point Blaine looked down and realized Kurt had fallen asleep against him. In his sleep Kurt looked small and peaceful, though rather vulnerable.

Right then and there, Blaine made a silent promise that he would do as much as his six year old self could to watch over Kurt.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

When Kurt woke up, Blaine was shaking his shoulder lightly and whispering his name.

"Wos' goin' on?" He mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eye. His hand was still in Blaine's and it made him smile a tiny bit to himself.

"It's almost dinnertime. I figured I should wake you up now." Blaine informed him.

"Oh. Okay." Kurt sat up straighter and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Sorry..."

Blaine gave him a confused look. "What for?"

"I fell asleep on you..."

"Oh," Blaine shrugged, "it's no big deal. I didn't mind."

Kurt bit his lip. Then he got up and Blaine followed suit. "Will you hold my hand to the dining room?"

It seemed to Kurt that Blaine did not even think twice about his answer, because he nodded and said yes right away.

Besides it wasn't like it was weird for two kids to be holding hands, right? The others held hands while playing games sometimes. So to Kurt it did not seem weird at all.

They made their way to the dining room and sat next to each other. It would be kind of difficult for them to hold hands while eating so they let go, but they still sat really close, their shoulders bumping one another's occasionally. It was comforting to Kurt, because it reminded him, without having to even look over, that his new friend was still there.

"Did you have any friends when you were still living with your parents?" Blaine asked Kurt curiously.

Kurt shook his head. "No, mommy taught me stuff so I didn't go to school. And she worried about me getting germs and stuff from the other kids so we never went to the playground either." It had always made him a bit sad; because he could see the playground from their apartment window and watch the other children play. They all seemed to be having so much fun and there he was stuck inside.

"Oh...well, now you have me." Blaine told him cheerily.

Kurt grinned. "Yes! You're a really nice friend." They sat for a bit, listening to the chatter around them as everyone ate dinner. "Hey, Blaine..." Kurt asked quietly, "what was your family like?"

Blaine looked down at his plate, not meeting Kurt's questioning gaze. "I never knew them. They died in an accident when I was two. I don't even remember what they look like. No one else in our family wanted me so I was left here."

Kurt stared at Blaine for a few seconds, an unreadable look upon his face. He was sad for Blaine; sad that Blaine had never really known his parents and that he had had to spend so many years here already. And sad because Blaine had probably never gotten to know what love was like. Blaine would never be able to question whether or not his parents loved him. All he would know was that even if his parents did...the rest of his family hadn't, because if they had then he would not be here right now.

He reached out and took hold of Blaine's hand, tugging downward so that he could hold Blaine's hand under the table. It may be harder for them to eat this way, but Kurt did not care. He hoped his gesture was comforting to the other boy, just like how it had been only slightly over an hour ago only reversed.

A small smile tugged at Blaine's lips as Kurt took his hand to hold under the table.

They held hands for the rest of dinner. And before they went to sleep that night they pushed their beds just an inch or two closer. That way they could hold hands as they fell asleep, their hands dropping apart as they both slipped into unconsciousness.

They had each other now.