Blaine froze. The initial shock faded as he thought, well as least it isn’t Kurt Hummel.

He took a step forward, untangling his hand from his boyfriend’s. Not daring to look at Kurt, he kept his eyes frozen on the podium as he numbly made his way through the parting crowd towards the stage. As he started to climb the steps onto the platform, he tried to ignore the sudden cries from his lover and the sobs of his mother behind him. Blaine’s eyes pricked but he straightened up and took his place next to Elizabeth. As he turned to face the crowd he caught a glimpse of a weeping Rachel, his stricken friends, his mother sobbing hysterically as his father held her close. Even Carole was crying as Burt shook his head slowly. Knowing he would break down if he saw Kurt, Blaine steadied his hazel eyes onto the ashen sky. Hopefully the camera couldn’t see them glazing over.

Below, Kurt cried out, “Blaine! No!” as he pushed forward until vice-like arms pulled him back.

“Let me go!”

Finn, his arms still tightly restraining his stepbrother, spoke harshly into his ear, his voice strained, “You promised him. We all promised.”

Kurt simply went limp in his stepbrother’s arms, sobbing and shaking his head. Taking a shaky breath, he looked up with disbelieving eyes at his boyfriend who was standing stiffly on the platform.

“No. Not Blaine. Not Blaine” He whispered into the silent air, broken by the sobs of a mother and the pained murmurings of those who knew those who now stood on the wooden stage.

“Citizens of District 1, I give you your tributes! Elizabeth Browning and Blaine Anderson! May the odds be in their favor!” Mr. Port said gleefully, motioning the two tributes to shake hands.

Blaine turns and holds out his arm and Elizabeth puts her small pale hand in his. Hazel eyes briefly locked with watery brown eyes as the anthem plays loudly in the background.

Releasing Elizabeth’s hand after a reassuring squeeze, Blaine turns back to face the crowd, holding his head high until the anthem strings out its final notes and the escort finally ushers him off the platform.


The next few minutes were blurred in Blaine’s mind. He moved, detached, as Peacekeepers pushed him into a room. Looking up from his shocked reverie, Blaine looked around and noticed he was in a small room next to the train station.

He sat alone in that small room, his head in his hands, tears locked in his eyes until the door was flown open and he was drawn into a hug. Too tired to be startled, Blaine just wrapped his arms around his mother as she sobbed into his shoulder.

“Sweetheart… “ Mr. Anderson said gently.

“It’s ok Dad.” Blaine interrupted in a steady voice.

Mr. Anderson put a firm hand on his son’s shoulder, “You’re so brave Blaine. I’m so proud of you. I know we’ve had our… differences but you come home you hear? Come home. Whatever it takes.” He said gruffly.

“But what if I lose myself there Dad?”

“You won’t. But if you do, you have me, your mother, your friends… Kurt… to help you find yourself again. Whatever happens in that arena, no one cares. Just come home.”

“I’ll try Dad.” Blaine replied, his voice muffled as he buried his face into his mother’s neck.

“I’m going to miss you Mom and Dad.”
Mrs. Anderson just sobbed louder.

Blaine pulled away gently, looking into his mother’s hazel eyes, “Please stop crying. I’m not going forever.”

“Of course you’re not sweetheart.” Mrs. Anderson said shakily, “Be brave.”

“I will.”

A small sniffle from the doorway made Blaine look up. He saw Kurt and froze.

“We’ll give you boys some time.” Mr. Anderson said quietly.

Blaine just nodded, releasing his mother as she exited the room with his father. The door clicked softly shut behind them.

Wordlessly Blaine opened his arms and Kurt flew into them. Blaine pulled him tightly against him, clinging onto him as the world seemed to shift and slip under his feet.
Kurt thought of how he would miss this. Just holding Blaine. Feeling his strong arms wrapped around him. But holding him in his arms he realized how scared Blaine was. That seemingly emotionless face on he had seen on the platform was nothing but a facade. Kurt felt Blaine’s usually steady heartbeat flying and he was shaking softly.

“I love you.” Blaine whispered, his voice breaking with every syllable.

“I love you too.” Kurt whispered back, somehow keeping the tears in. “Come back to me. Promise you’ll come back.”

Blaine just held him tighter but Kurt found the strength to pull away and stare into his boyfriend’s eyes.

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

The door flew open and a Peacekeeper marched in.
“Blaine Anderson, time to go.”

Still holding Kurt, Blaine steadily followed the soldier out the door. Outside the New Directions were waiting alongside his parents and Kurt’s parents. They all poured around the couple, and Blaine felt himself hugged from every direction. He felt so safe and warm in so many arms but suddenly another pair wrenched him out and a group of Peacekeepers roughly pushed him to the train.

Feeling his hand slip from Kurt’s, they hauled him onto the platform and into the train. The train door slid shut and Blaine pushed up against the glass, staring at his family and friends through the thick glass. He couldn’t hear them, but he knew they were shouting. Most of them were crying, even Kurt had finally broken down into tears.

The train wrenched forwards, pulling away from the station, and Blaine stood frozen against the window as he watched District 1 quickly fade into the distance.

Finally turning away, Blaine took a shaky breath and followed a waiting attendant through the halls of the train. It was silent, everyone has already made their way to their compartments. The attendant quietly explained to him where all the essentials were. They passed by Elizabeth’s room, the compartment door already sealed shut and Blaine could hear sobs from the insides. When the attendant pointed Blaine towards his room, he muttered quick thanks and stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. Not bothering to change out of his clothes, he stretched out onto the small bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Hours passed and sleep didn’t come. Not bearing the wait or the thoughts that flitted around in his mind, Blaine rose. Slipping out of his room he stumbled across a small waiting room, tastefully fitted with a comfy couch, a small table and… a piano.

Blaine hesitantly walked towards it. He hadn’t played one since a performance at the mayor’s palace two years ago. He sat at the bench, tracing his hands across the ivory keys.

He pressed down softly upon a key, hearing the warm sound. He pressed another, and then another and began to sing quietly.

There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
There is a place where I don't feel alone
There is a place where I feel at home

His fingers suddenly started to fly across the keys, falling back into an old rhythm. His fingers stumbled, once, twice, but they regained the pattern. Blaine let out a small laugh, as the chords came naturally and the music quietly filled the room.

And I built a home
For you
For me
Until it disappeared
From me
From you
But now, it's time to leave and turn to dust

His fingers slowed, and Blaine was brought back to the meadow, remembering the smell of Kurt, his blue eyes, his smile, the cool grass beneath his feet, the strong tree against his back. Tears finally tracked their way down his cheeks, but Blaine kept his hands on the keys and quietly sang

And in the garden where we planted the seeds
There is a tree as old as me
Branches were sewn by the color of green
Ground had arose and passed its knees

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
I held on as tightly as you held onto me

Blaine let the tears fall, his voice cracking but somehow gaining strength, fingers flying across the cool ivory.

And I built a home
For you
For me

Until it disappeared
From me
From you

But now, it’s time
To live
Not time
To die...

His fingers stilled, and he bent over the keys, letting his trapped tears out silently.

“That was beautiful” A quiet voice whispered behind him.