A pleasant, familiar warmth was draped over Kurt's chest when he woke up the next morning. For a moment he just lay there, sunk down into his mattress with a thick, fuzzy blanket up to his chin and the soft, firm source of that warmth curled around his side. Then something flicked his nose again and he scrunched up his face and cracked his eyes open. His room was still relatively dark, and the light filtering in from outside was dull and weak.

A pair of fingers moved in front of his face again, and Kurt groaned in annoyance. "Get lost, Finn. 'm sleepin'."

"Please," a high, very female voice snapped. "My hands are too well manicured to be Hudson's."

Kurt's eyes, which had started to slip closed again, flew open. Santana was standing over his bed, a red beanie hat pulled down over her head and heavy winter gear covering her body. Her expression, however, looked rather pleased and sly. A sense of dread filling his stomach at the sight, Kurt made to sit up, but that heavy warmth he'd liked so much wouldn't let him. Even Santana took a step forward and held him in place.

"Aw, don't wake up the little dopey hobbit," she chided as Kurt's head jerked around to find that the warmth was, in fact, Blaine's body curled against his side. "Not that it matters, but you two are sickeningly adorable all humping up on each other."

"We did not– "Kurt started to argue, but his face was burning at the thought and her words just made him remember what they had done.

"But you did something," Santana smirked. "It's about time you got something, I mean, do you really want to go off to college without any experience?"

Kurt glared furiously at her. "It's not like that," he insisted. "We're– I'm– "

But he didn't know how to finish that sentence. Kurt didn't know where they stood anymore or how anything between them was going to work. He glanced down once more as Blaine mumbled in his sleep and snuggled closer. He was so peaceful and content curled into his side. Calm and beautiful with his fingers twisted into Kurt's pajama top and a small smile on his lips.

Worry surged through him as Santana sat down lightly on the edge of the bed. Would Santana hold this over his head? He wouldn't put it past her to tell the entire school, or blackmail him with this kind of thing once more.

"What are you going to do?" Kurt demanded, shifting a little against Blaine and trying not to jostle him.

Santana actually looked confused by his words. "I think you mean what am I doing here during a blizzard– "

"No, I mean," Kurt hissed, "what stupid reason are you going to hold this over my head for?" He gestured to himself and Blaine snuggled on the bed.

"I– I'm not," Santana answered, actually looking a little hurt at his accusation. "I could if you really want me to– "

"No," Kurt said loudly. Blaine shifted and groaned weakly. "I– since when do you not– "

"Look, Hummel, I'm not fourteen anymore," Santana reminded him. "I'm still a bitch, but I... I get where you're coming from a lot better now, considering that I'm... yanno," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "a lesbian."

"Oh," Kurt said a little hollowly. Inside his mind was whirling. He hadn't expected that answer from Santana, regardless of how much closer they were two years later. Even now there were some things he didn't feel safe trusting her with, but if what she'd just said was true, then maybe he could. "I– "Kurt paused to clear his throat, but didn't continue.

Santana seemed to get what he meant, though. "Sure," she replied. "Finn's going to be upset when he wakes up."

The change of subject threw Kurt for a moment, but then what she'd just said caught up with him.

"What? Why?"

"Picked the wrong window; dug his out, now he's got a pile of snow on the foot of his bed," Santana shrugged carelessly as Kurt laughed. "He's going to wake up thinking he pissed himself."

Kurt grinned and laughed again, but instantly regretted it when Blaine shifted and grumbled against his side. Santana fell silent as well as Blaine turned his face towards the ceiling and slowly blinked his eyes open.

"Where 'm I?" Blaine grumbled sleepily.

"You're in my boy's bed getting your wank on," Santana answered before Kurt had even opened his mouth.

Blaine's entire body jerked away from Kurt's side as he sat up and whipped his head around to stare at Santana. Immediately coldness started to seep into Kurt's skin at the loss, but it was the look on Blaine's face that held his attention more than his own feelings.

"Santana," Kurt warned as the girl opened her mouth once more, but she didn't heed him.

"So did you two get up to anything good while you were cozied up down he– "

"Says the closeted bitch who makes her friend date her girl," Blaine snapped angrily. He turned his harsh gaze to Kurt, and Kurt gulped loudly, because it had been so long since Blaine had looked at anyone like that. It was incredibly rare for Blaine to get this furious so easily, but Kurt knew after what had happened during their freshmen year that Blaine would probably always hold a grudge against Santana. He honestly didn't blame him either. Sometimes Kurt still hated her for everything, but at the same time after he'd lost the one friend that had meant everything to him, Santana had been there for him in a lot of ways. She'd given him a small part of what he'd lost and been unable to let himself have back because he couldn't forgive himself.

Santana gave Blaine a dazzling, surprised smile. "Oh, a sassy gay," she commented. "Maybe we could turn him into someone dateable after all."

Eyes widening at the way Blaine's lips pealed back at her words, Kurt placed a gentle hand on his arm and glared at Santana, too. "Stop," he told her.

She rolled her eyes and hopped to her feet, collected her shovel, which Kurt had noticed, from the doorway and gave him a little wave. "I'll go help your dad dig out some before it starts up again. Supposed to be another foot or two before dusk."

As the door closed behind her, Blaine climbed to his feet, looking agitated.

"Are you all right?" Kurt asked quietly, dreading the answer.

"I– just– god, I don't know why you– and her– just– "Blaine's jaw worked furiously for several moments, his shoulders and back tense."She's never given me any reason to like her, or even feel sorry for her. I just... "

Blaine's shoulders dropped as he slumped back onto the bed once more. "She just gets to me like nobody else."

Kurt nodded silently, but said nothing. More and more he didn't seem to know what to say around Blaine. Even with all the trouble and pain that Santana had caused, she'd made up for it to Kurt in a lot of ways. But she'd also perpetuated a lot of that. At some point, a long way in the future, Kurt could see Blaine changing his mind about Santana, but for now...

For now he'd have to keep them separate until he figured out where all of this was going. He didn't want to lose either as a friend, but if it came down to having to choose once more, Kurt knew who he would pick. As he looked over at Blaine's face, he knew there was only one choice he could possibly make.

Even a day after Blaine's success in Glee the other boy's smile was still infectious and huge. It made Kurt's heart feel lighter than it had in weeks to see Blaine so thrilled. With every day that passed the sight became increasingly rare, but now that Blaine had this Kurt hoped he'd get to see it every day.

He only had one class with Blaine that day, and ended up spending most of his time alone. The Cheerios were still leery of him because he was in Glee and friends with Blaine, and the Glee Club was also becoming increasing hesitant to be in his presence.

By the time the final bell rang and he headed to Cheerios practice Kurt was relieved. Three hours of dancing, flipping, and chanting and he'd be free of this place until tomorrow. Tomorrow would be unbearably long since it was a Friday and a game day, but then he had all weekend to spend with Blaine and his father.

As predicted, practice was exhausting. Kurt's legs were wobbly when he finally reached the boys' locker room and dropped down onto the nearest bench to rest for a few minutes before taking a quick shower and heading home. By some miracle the football team wasn't there, but as he looked around at all of the sopping wet towels and socks littering the floor he realized they must have just left. For a moment he listened, just to make sure he truly was alone, and when the only thing he heard was the distant drip of a faucet he breathed a sigh of relief.

At least until –

"Don't sound so happy," Santana's voice called from behind him.

Kurt turned to find her standing by the gymnasium side door that he'd entered through. He'd been so exhausted and focused on finding a place to sit down he hadn't even realized she'd followed him inside.

"What do you want?" Kurt snapped, climbing to his feet uneasily and heading to his locker a few rows over.

"Same thing as always," Santana retorted mildly with her usual predatory smile. "I'm done waiting for you to get over those losers and get your head straight." Her eyebrows rose pointedly at the last word, and Kurt stared hard at the bottle of moisturizer in his locker.

"He's my best friend," Kurt exclaimed, trying not to sound hysterical. This constant blackmail was really starting to make him feel trapped and helpless. "I won't ditch him. He has been and will always be there for me. Something you obviously don't understand."

"Then you better make that twerpy Hobbit a jock really damn fast," Santana said unyieldingly. "Look, I don't make the social rules, Gay Face, but you can bet I'm going to follow them as long as they keep me on top. Get rid of him before I make you."

"You can't make me do anything," Kurt sneered, slamming his locker closed and getting right in her face. "I am not turning away from Blaine."

But there was a look in Santana's eyes that made Kurt's stomach clench tightly. It was almost pitying underneath the contempt. "You've got until tomorrow," she warned him, and the fact that it wasn't a threatening warning confused him. "Queen Bee's done waiting around for you to make your move and slaughter him."

"Queen B– "Then it dawned on him. Santana was at the top certainly, but she wasn't the Head Cheerio, that was– "Quinn. She's been putting you up to this."

"More or less," Santana responded, crossing her arms. "She doesn't know the... full extent of your boy love, but she's not letting you hop back and forth across the lines anymore." It had been pity then, Kurt thought, as Santana took several steps away from him, looking uncharacteristically nervous. He had to give her credit; she played her part damn well. Why she had even told him what she just had was a mystery to him. "Make your choice before she makes it for you tomorrow."

And with those final words she was gone. The door to the hallway slammed closed a few seconds later, and Kurt settled back onto his bench, shivering and scared. Quinn might not know he was gay, but Santana did, and if it came down to it Kurt had no doubt she'd out him in whatever situation he was going to be in tomorrow.

Blaine's dad had already put his foot down on athletics for his younger son this semester, and there was no way Kurt was going to get him on a team that fast anyway. There was nothing else to do. He'd have to quit and face Quinn head on tomorrow in the hall and be outted for the whole school to hear. He'd be back at the miserable, harassed bottom and lose the sport he'd found he really enjoyed. Because no matter how much all of this meant to him, he wouldn't give up Blaine. His best friend was worth so much more than that.

It took some convincing for Kurt to get Blaine to go upstairs. Fortunately Santana had been true to her word and was out front helping Burt shovel. Carole was in the kitchen, halfway through making breakfast, when they entered and grateful for the help they offered.

Breakfast was a little tense once Burt and Santana returned from outside, where they reported there was about two and a half feet and more had just started falling. Santana ate quickly, said little, and then darted out of the house, heading for her own a street over. There was no sign of Finn throughout the meal, so Carole sent Kurt and Blaine down to wake him up once they were finished.

When they hit the bottom landing, however, and were met with a loud shout, Kurt realized there was no need to. The snow Santana had left seemed to have finally soaked his bed enough for him to notice. He grabbed Blaine by the arm and instead tugged them into his own room and shut the door.

"What was that about?" Blaine asked in concern. "He's not hurt, is he?"

"No," Kurt laughed. Then he hesitated because he didn't want Blaine to react badly to Santana's name. "Um, Santana came in through the wrong window and a pile of snow fell in onto his bed. Guess it's melted now and he's wet."

"Oh," Blaine said, and Kurt was happy to see he was trying to hide a small grin. "Glad it wasn't us." He glanced at the window over the head of Kurt's bed. "That wouldn't have been a fun way to wake up."

"You didn't really have a nice wake up anyway," Kurt said quietly, guiltily.

"Look, I... I overreacted earlier, okay?" Blaine replied slowly. "She just... "

"No, I get it," Kurt said, and then at Blaine's disbelieving look, "trust me. After what happened it took me a long time to really let her be a friend, but she... she's not as bad as she seems. Most of the time. She just puts up a really bitchy front."

"Sounds familiar," Blaine quipped, and he was starting to look nervous all of a sudden.

Kurt tensed at the edge in his voice and turned to Blaine, his heart plummeting.

"I... we need to talk," Blaine began awkwardly. "Like, really talk about... everything that's just happened between us."

Kurt dropped onto his bed, tight lipped and scared. He wasn't even sure why he was so terrified of what Blaine might say next. He hadn't done anything to screw up this time that he knew of– not yet at any rate.

"I... I'm just," Blaine stopped, looking flustered. "I told you last night how confused I am about all of this, and I just... I do like kissing you. I just don't want to get too far ahead of myself with all of this."

"We can take things slow," Kurt rushed to reassure him. "I mean, we've both never– it'd make sense if we did that– "

"Kurt, that's not... that's not what I mean," Blaine said hollowly, hugging himself tightly and sitting down on his cot. "I- I can't do this with you. Not right now. I– "

Kurt's chest went numb at Blaine's words, the exact words he'd been dreading. It had taken him so long to reach this point, where he realized how Blaine felt and actually felt that same love in return. He couldn't lose this chance, not again.

"What? No, of course you– "

"You broke my heart," Blaine cut in, his voice cracking as he ducked his head and stared at the floor. "You didn't know it at the time, but you ripped it out, cracked it open like an egg, and let everything important – all the love that meant everything to me – run out onto the floor so that you and Santana and Quinn could trample it. I can't risk that again if you don't give me a reason, too."

A flash of anger shot through Kurt at Blaine's final words, but it didn't even measure up to the swollen aching guilt in his chest. He was never going to be able to make up for what he'd done, was he? It was just going to haunt him for the rest of his life, never letting him be content of happy with anything.

"But I'm trying," Kurt insisted. "I want to make this right, I want us t- to make this work and– there's no way I would ever do that to you again, Blaine. You've always meant so much to me– "

"But you still did it the first time," Blaine reminded him sadly. "And I'm not saying I don't want to keep being friends and getting up to the point where I can be intimate like this, but," Blaine paused and wiped a tear off his cheek, "you've given me so many reasons to hope, and a reason to feel all of those things again, but... you haven't given me a reason to trust you. Not with my heart like I once did."

A wave of misery crashed over Kurt, but at the same time he could see where Blaine was coming from. The boy he'd once given everything to and then dumped after a few terrible, heartbreaking minutes in McKinley's halls. Blaine was putting the brakes on this sudden romance and protecting himself in a way he never would have two years ago. Part of Kurt was proud of Blaine for the decision, but the rest of him just ached because of it.

"I don't even know how we'll get to that point," Blaine whispered. "I wish I could just give you a set of directions that will make all of this better, but I can't and sometimes... sometimes I don't even know if what you're making me feel is real or just something I wanted for so long back then that I can't help but want it now."

The words stung a little, but Kurt kept his mouth closed. He'd never been in that situation and he really didn't understand what Blaine meant, but he knew he couldn't push anything with the other boy either. If he ever wanted to earn Blaine's forgiveness he had to be patience.

"So we can still... be friends?" Kurt said, ending in a question. Were they even friends at this point? He didn't know. Everything was so muddled now because of those kisses.

"I hope so," Blaine said quickly, genuinely. "I'd love to have you as a friend again. Even if you can't say hi to me in the halls."

Kurt squirmed guiltily at Blaine's words, but nodded and agreed that for now, friends would be all they were. Maybe this was part of his punishment. Blaine had spent however many weeks or months pining after him and being disappointed and brushed aside, now it was his turn to be on the painful side of unrequited love. Especially if Blaine realized those feelings he was having weren't what they once were.