The weeks leading up to prom were hectic for Kurt. Blaine had picked out his own suit in a matter of minutes, but Kurt hadn't been able to find anything he really liked or wanted to wear. Now that he was delving back into his old fashions, and starting to look into new outfits and ideas for what he wear, he couldn't just wear a suit like all the rest. That was too simple, not bold enough for his new found confidence in his clothing choices.

He had Regionals to distract him the week before prom, but the group didn't seem very into the competition. Rachel and Finn were fighting apparently because Finn was running for Prom court with Quinn, who was still being terrible to all of them. The band guys that helped them at practices were set to take the stage with them, and despite his assures to the others that they'd be all right, Kurt didn't believe it. There was no way they'd manage a win with only eight actual Glee members, and Mike didn't even sing. He had a dance number with Brittany, but otherwise they were screwed.

Instead of thinking about the end of their competition season, or the fact that Coach Sylvester was still threatening to kick him out if he didn't show up to practice more, Kurt turned his focus to prom and his outfit. She couldn't get rid of him this late in the season, not when their entire performance depended on his vocals for their French medley. So at the very least his Cheerio status was safe until after Nationals in May.

"What about this one?" Kurt asked Blaine, holding up the quick sketch of a suit jacket he was thinking of piecing together.

Blaine hummed softly as he leaned across the couch to take a look. "Love the bow tie. Do you have any studs like that to add?"

"No, but I'm sure I can find some at the craft store or somewhere," Kurt brushed off. "So, you think it'll be fashionable? Not that the jocks or anyone will know it, but– "

"It's perfect," Blaine reassured him, pecking him on the cheek as Burt cleared his throat loudly from his chair a few feet away. "Are you going to put studs on the pants, too?"

"Uh, no," Kurt bit his lip for a moment, anxious at what he'd wanted to do with the rest of his design. He knew it was a risky choice, especially given the school environment they were in, but... "I was going to wear a kilt, actually. Darker plaid. Probably blue and green if I can find it, because then it mixes our eye colors and– "

"A kilt?" Burt echoed in alarm, whipping his head around from the football game he and Blaine had been enjoying and looking suddenly nervous. "Kurt, I don't know– "

"Dad, I– I know I might get some looks, and some words I've hear a hundred times in the past month, but– "

"It's not the looks that he's worried about," Blaine cut in, nervously. "Kurt, I mean, I think you'll look amazing, but... if they see you wearing what they think is a skirt... what if they try to hit you or– or– "

"Finn will be there, and you and Mike and Mr. Schuester," Kurt supplied, trying to sound surer than he actually was. "We won't leave the gym without one of them with us and when we leave we'll make sure Finn goes home with us."

"Kurt," Burt said sadly, "I just... I don't want you to get hurt if you can avoid it, buddy."

"So I have to stop being who I am again just because the rest of the world thinks who I am isn't right?" Kurt snapped forcefully. "I am done hiding and pretending, Dad. I'm flamboyant and gay and I don't care who knows anymore."

Burt sighed heavily, and sunk back into his chair, looking both proud and anxious at Kurt's decision. Blaine's hand slipped into Kurt's and yanked him back down onto the couch. Kurt hadn't even realized he gotten to his feet, but the force of his convictions seemed to have taken over briefly. Nuzzling in close Blaine hugged him warmly and kissed his cheek.

"Okay," he agreed. "A kilt it is, and you're going to look gorgeous. My beautiful boyfriend, escorting me to our first prom for everyone to see."

Kurt blushed at Blaine's words, a wide smile lighting up his face. Blaine grinned at him, too, and brushed his nose back and forth over Kurt's cheek. It was a sweet gesture Blaine had adopted recently, especially when they wished be intimate in a less private setting. It made Kurt's heart leap and his toes curl in his socks whenever Blaine pressed close and gentle like this. In some ways it made him feel more loved and adored than any kiss or hug ever had.

"You two are too sweet," Carole gushed from the entry way.

Kurt hadn't even heard her come in from work, but she beamed at them as she shuffled over to Burt for a quick kiss.

"Aren't they adorable?" she asked him. Burt grunted in agreement, but his eyes still lingered on the pair of them.

He was worried, beyond worried, Kurt imagined. They'd be okay, though. It was prom after all, and with Blaine, Finn, and a few others with them nobody would be able to touch them. As long as Blaine's arms were around him on the dance floor and they spent the evening happy and with each other and their friends everything would be fine.

The last thing Kurt wanted to do was join his father at Back To School Night. But Burt always insisted on Kurt going with him, both to direct him around the halls so he didn't miss any class meetings and to point him towards the food tables at the little reception afterwards.

Tonight especially, Kurt didn't want anything to do with it. He and Blaine usually hung out together while Burt and Blaine's mother talked and journeyed around to their shared classes together, but he and Blaine weren't friends anymore, were they? They were nothing but a painful memory now.

When Kurt led his father into his second block class, Mrs. Anderson was already sitting and waiting for the bell to ring to signal the start of the teacher's introduction to Freshmen English. She was alone by the looks of it, and Kurt was privately relieved after what had happened in Glee Club on Tuesday. Blaine hated him, and had every right to. There was nothing to be done about it but be that person Blaine hated. He was a bully now, a tormentor of his peers, along with Santana and Quinn. It was best to just accept it and let it happen.

As Kurt sat in his desk beside his father, Blaine's mother caught his eye, and offered him a small, sad smile. His lips quirked a little in return but he couldn't smile truly at her. Not after what he'd done to her son almost a week ago. How much did she know? Did she hate him the same way that Blaine did now?

The bell rang and Mrs. Adams came in from the hall with a few other parents and began introducing herself and the course. Kurt turned away from Blaine's mother swiftly and tried to pretend like he didn't exist. Perhaps it would be better in general if he didn't anymore.

But as he glanced over at his father to distract himself he found Burt entranced, not by his teacher, but by one of the other parents. Kurt had never seen such a dumbstruck look on Burt's face before and as he followed his father's gaze his eyes came to rest on a woman Burt's age, who was decked out in more stone-washed jean clothing than Kurt had ever wanted to own in his entire life.

As they filed out into the hall for Kurt's next class Burt leaned down. "That er, woman, " he muttered, gesturing to the lady in the jean jacket. "She l- looks familiar. Do you know– "

Kurt gave him a look that said quite plainly that he wasn't buying his father's attempt to be subtle.

"I– fine,"Burt grumbled. "Do you know her?"

"I think that's Finn's mom, Carole," Kurt offered, glancing towards the woman they were currently following at a distance. After another few classes he'd have a better idea of who's mother she might be.

"Carole? Carole's a nice name," Burt breathed, standing back up straight as they followed her into Kurt's third block class.

Kurt's eyebrows rose higher and higher as they ran through his schedule of classes. By seventh block he was almost positive that it was Finn Hudson's mother, because nobody else shared all of those classes with him. At his side, Burt was mesmerized by the sight of her, and for the first time since Kurt was eight it struck him that his father had never tried to date anyone since his mother's death. He hadn't even gone out with his friends the majority of the time in favor of taking care of Kurt.

His father, if the look he was shooting Carole intermittently was any indication, was feeling a lot more than Kurt had realized he was capable of. It had been rather naive not to acknowledge that his father could date and fall in love with a woman, but Burt had never seemed interested. At least not until now.

"Come on," Kurt decided as the parents all grouped together in the cafeteria for refreshments and conversation with various faculty.

"What?" Burt stammer in surprise, as Kurt practically dragged his father over to were Carole was filling her cup with punch. "But K– "

"Excuse me," Kurt interjected, tapping Carole on the shoulder. "You're Finn's mom, right?"

"Oh, hello!" Carole greeted as she spun around. As soon as her eyes met Burt's her mouth fell open slightly and her cheeks turned pink.

"Dad, Carole Hudson," Kurt supplied as they stared at each other, somewhere between blushing high schoolers and amazed adults. "Carole this is my dad, Burt Hummel. you both have dead spouses, you should talk."

Kurt quickly removed himself to the desert table as the two adults shook hands, smiling hopefully and looking bashful. His stomach flipped a little as he watched them interact, and suddenly he missed Blaine more than anything. Blaine would have enjoyed this moment, watching Kurt potentially match up his father with a woman. At least one of the Hummel men might be happy after all of this, because Kurt knew his father deserved a chance at it, and love, more than anyone else in the world even if he didn't.

They lost at Regionals.

Kurt wasn't entirely surprised despite how great they actually did compared to their practices. The Cheerios won their own Regionals a few days later, but it didn't really make Kurt feel all that great, not in the way it had last year. He still loved the sport, and getting to perform, but the lack of connection with the rest of the squad was really making it lose its appeal.

Kurt re-focused on his prom outfit for the remain of the week, giddy and nervous about the impending prom. On Friday night he would be attending his first dance, and he would have his boyfriend at his side. Carole and Burt were already getting excited and planning out dinner before hand and time for photos before they left.

By Thursday Kurt's outfit was finished, and that evening after Glee he tried it on for Blaine for the first time.

"Kurt, do you really want to wear something that's going to take you half an hour just to put on– oh," Blaine ended, startled as Kurt stepped out and twirled for him.

"What do you think?" Kurt asked, letting his kilt flare up around his hips as he spun once more.

"I– its– your legs," Blaine settled on, lips parted and eyes dark. He stood up from where he'd been relaxing on Kurt's bed and circled Kurt, who felt a blush rising to his cheeks.

"They're– I've got stockings on in case its cold, and my legs are so pale and– "

"You're gorgeous," Blaine breathed, and suddenly he was twice as close has he had been.

Kurt found himself being backed up towards the door to his bedroom, Blaine's mouth seeking out his own.

"God, y- you're so hot," Blaine rasped, and Kurt's stomach pulsed hotly at his boyfriend's words.

He'd never seen Blaine like this before, and some new sensation, not comfort nor excitement, started run through him as Blaine's body pressed him firmly against the door. They'd kissed, made out until they were breathless, but right now... Right now Blaine's breathing was harsh and irregular and Kurt loved it.

His boyfriend's lips opened against his, soft and needy as Blaine's hands carefully ran down to his thighs, over the soft, dark stockings and then sliding up under the kilt and resting on his hips. Kurt gasped at the warmth of Blaine's fingers digging into his hipbones through the thin fabric as Blaine's body settled between Kurt's thighs. They'd never done this before, but Kurt had been wanting to progress a little farther for quite some time now.

"Oh!" Kurt gasped in surprised, not scared but rather pleased once he realized what it was he was feeling against his hip.

"S- sorry," Blaine stammered, out of breath and pulling away instantly at Kurt's surprise.

"No, no," Kurt told him breathlessly, clasping Blaine's hand and holding him close again. A pleasant shiver ran through him as he felt Blaine through the other boy's jeans.

"T- this is okay, right?" Blaine stuttered uncertainly as Kurt kissed the curve of his jaw. Blaine purred in the back of his throat at the kiss on that sensitive spot, and his hips bucked slightly. "K- Kurt, s- sorry. I– we've been making out so much lately, a- and my mind's been wandering to us a lot and– "

"Your hand isn't quite enough, is that what you're telling me?" Kurt murmured, moving his lips back to Blaine's and sucking gently on Blaine's bottom lip. Blaine's hips rocked again and Kurt drew in a shaky breath at the feeling, his tights starting to strain. "I want more with you. Not everything, not yet, but... I need more, too."

Blaine's eyes were a little dazed as he pulled back and stared up at Kurt, looking relieved that Kurt was on the same level as him. And it was true. Since Spring Break they'd made out a lot, more than Kurt thought was possible, and the more they did so, the more they learned about the other, the more familiar they were with each other's likes and dislikes. But that had been a month ago, and every time one of them got too worked up they always stopped, but Kurt was tired of stopping, he was ready to move forward in some capacity, even if they still kept their pants on. Or a kilt in his present case.

"Let's lie down," Kurt decided, pushing off from the door and leading Blaine over to his bed.

There was still a few hours before anyone else would be home. More than enough time him and Blaine to share something new with each other.

"I– okay," Blaine agreed, his voice breathy and nervous. He settled down on the bed as Kurt yanked his boots, suit jacket, vest, and bow tie off. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin any of them a few days before prom. Since he had no idea just how far this was going to carry them right now, it was best to take them off.

As Kurt laid down next to Blaine, the other boy quickly rolled on top of him, a position Kurt was becoming increasingly familiar with on the couch upstairs. But on his bed... this was different. Exciting, new. A little thrill shivered down Kurt's spine as Blaine's elbows bracketed his chest and then his boyfriend's mouth was covering his, sweet and slow.

Kurt's hands slid down to Blaine's waist, looping around him and drawing him down until the weight of Blaine's body was pressing him into the mattress. A surprised noise puffed out of Blaine's mouth and brushed over Kurt's lips. Yeah, Kurt thought, as they both shifted their hips slightly and gasped, this was definitely new.

"W- wow," Blaine breathed, dropping his forehead against Kurt's and letting his eyes drift shut as Kurt parted his thighs and let Blaine settled down between them. "I– you're... yanno, too."

Kurt laughed at Blaine's description, which made Blaine laugh, too. Shy and timid, Blaine looked down at Kurt with his bashful, dopey smile, not sure how to proceed and where exactly they were headed with this.

"Kiss me," Kurt murmured, tilting his hips up a little to test the friction.

A sharp gasp escaped Blaine as Kurt's foot hooked around one of his thighs and held him down so that they were pressed together. Kurt pulled him back down to his lips and tangled his arms around Blaine's torso. It seemed instinctual when they both began to rock their hips a few moments later, experimentally at first but when a rush of heat ran through them both their movements became much more sure.

Kurt felt dizzy from it as Blaine's mouth moved down to his neck, sucking wetly and hungrily as their hips jerked against each other. There was really no rhythm they were following, but the newness of the experience, the feeling of finally touching in this way still made his head spin.

"Blaine," Kurt rasped, and Blaine whined against Kurt's cheek in response. "H- hold my hips?" It was a nervous question, and part of Kurt felt silly for asking it, but he wanted Blaine's hands, warm and firm, holding him, maybe even circling around to his–

A low moan echoed around the room as the thought tangled itself together with Blaine's hands settling on Kurt's hips, hiking up the kilt's waistband. Kurt could feel the soft fabric slipping up his waist, making his dress shirt bunch up, but he found it very hard to think properly after that. Blaine's palms were rubbing his hips, encouraging them to rock with the motion of Blaine's.

Kurt's mouth surged up to meet Blaine's, sloppy and off-center, but Blaine was just as eager, his chest heaving and his breaths harsh and stuttering.

"K- Kurt, w- we," Blaine stammered, panting against Kurt's lips, his eyes squeezed shut tightly. "I– I'm g- g- gonna– i- if we d- don't stop– "

"W- want you to," Kurt told him, tangling a fist into Blaine's curls, his fingers flexing their grip as Blaine's open mouth dropped to Kurt's neck and a loud groan vibrated across Kurt's skin. He shivered, his hips rocketing up at the noise he'd just made his boyfriend make, and Blaine's slammed down hard in response.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, Kurt," Blaine whined, his hot gasping breaths soaking into Kurt's flushed neck.

Blaine jerked against him for a few moments, his legs kicking out as he moaned long and low against Kurt's neck. A molten heat started pooling and twisting in Kurt's belly, tighter and tighter as Blaine's hips stuttered to a halt. It took him a moment to realize that Blaine had stopped because he'd just come.

Face hot and flushed, Kurt turned his face to the side and nudged Blaine's cheek with his nose.

"Not to be a bother or anything since you just ruined your pants, but I'd kind of like to ruin my own, too," Kurt murmured offhandedly. "There were two pairs of tights in that package after all. I'd hate to never wear the other."

Blaine groaned deeply against his neck, and propped himself up of wobbly arms. "S- sorry, I– "

"Shh," Kurt muttered, pecking Blaine on the lips. "We'll work on stamina another time, but– " He rolled his hips up pointedly and whimpered faintly. "Please."

"O- okay," Blaine stammered, some of the haziness that was clouding his eyes clearing. "Is it all right if I r- rub you with my hand? I'm kinda sensitive a- after... "

Kurt hummed and yanked Blaine's mouth back down to his, kissing his roughly and arching his hips up, seeking friction. A few seconds later Blaine's palm pressed against the bulge in his tights and Kurt ripped his mouth away from Blaine's and whined loudly.

"Feels good," Kurt sighed, rolling his hips up against Blaine's open palm as Blaine tentatively started to caress the bulge in his tights. The heat that had settled in his stomach started to bubble again, twisting and coiling quickly as Blaine's mouth attached itself to his neck.

"B- Blaine," Kurt groaned, his words punctuated by high, breathy gasp. "Oh, oh, Blaine!"

His stomach contracted tightly as Blaine's mouth moved back up to his own, but Blaine's eyes were opened, locked onto his own as he kissed him gently this time. The sight of Blaine watching him, waiting to see the bliss take over his features, was too much. The coiling warmth snapped, snaking out through his limbs and making his hips jerk as he came, too.

"Wow," Blaine mumbled a few minutes later, when they were collapsed together on the bed, to exhausted and amazed by what they'd just experienced to move.

"Mm, 'm sle'pa," Kurt grumbled, his eyes drifting shut with the relaxation coursing through him and the sure, warm weight of Blaine draped over him.

"We get to do that again, right?"

"Course," Kurt murmured, feeling Blaine's lips brush his cheek as he started to drift off.

Their lives really were coming together now, shifting slowly in a newer, better world between themselves, even if McKinley tried to destroy it.