The end of January went out in a similar fashion to how it had started. Blaine was welcomed back from New York and his successful first audition by a huge surprise party from the New Directions. Marley and Tina had sat him down while everyone else was dancing and bombarded him with questions about the audition, his song selections, and then the ever popular topic of his status with Kurt. Blaine had done his best to shrug those questions off, not entirely knowing the right answer for them himself.

Something had undoubtedly shifted in their dynamic with this last weekend together, and as February blew in with a raging snowstorm that blanketed Lima in almost two feet of powder, Blaine ended up having a lot of time to mull over their relationship while the storm took almost two days to wear itself out.

On the third day, Sam trekked over through the snow, dragging two sleds behind himself as soon as daylight broke. Blaine was grumpy and groggy as Sam lugged him out of bed and into winter gear, then out of the house and down the block to the park. But by the time they reached the front gates, Blaine was through the cup of coffee he'd had forced on him, and much more chipper.

"Come on, dude! This is going to be so much fun!" Sam beamed at him, yanking him towards the silent hill in the distance.

"I– Sam, ouch!– I haven't been sledding since I was five and Cooper pushed me before I'd sat down," Blaine grumbled, crunching through the deep snow in Sam's wake. "That's how I ended up with a broken nose and arm for my kindergarten class picture."

Sam laughed loudly, his sled bumping and sliding behind him. "Is that how that happened? I'd always wondered since that picture's on the mantel."

"Yeah, well, if I'd been able to choose my brother like I can choose my friends... "

Rolling his eyes, Sam flung his sled around, the thick plastic making a terrible racket as he lined it up for his first run.

"Oh, please, you love that guy," Sam chided, placing a daring foot on the sled and testing his balance. "Race ya to the bottom!"

And with that he took off, pretending his sled was a snowboard and coasting down the hill. Blaine watched him for a few seconds, grinning when Sam toppled over and rolled the rest of the way to the bottom. It felt amazing to have a friend to experience simple moments like this with. Until now he'd never really had someone, besides Kurt, too depend on in such a way.

Blaine lined his own sled up and belly flopped onto it, zooming down the hill until he crashed into Sam's legs, knocking the taller boy onto his butt once again.

They spent the rest of the morning on the hill, sledding and building jumps to fly off, and then ending their adventure with a snowman when the little kids began to show up to enjoy an unexpected day off from school. After taking a break and watching the kids for a bit, they headed back to Blaine's house to warm up by the fire and sip as much hot chocolate as his mother would allow. It turned out that she'd actually allow them quite a lot.

"You boys are going to make yourself sick if you drink anymore," his mother complained, but she still handed Blaine his fifth cup of cocoa and plopped a dozen marshmallows into Sam's full cup.

"We'll be fine, Mama," Blaine murmured, holding the mug up to his face and letting the steam wash over his rosy cheeks.

She pressed a kiss to his forehead, gave Sam a grateful smile that Blaine knew meant she was glad her son had such a good friend, and returned to the kitchen. From the office around the corner, Blaine listened to the rumble of his father's voice. He'd decided to work from home today instead of fighting through the piles of snow to his office in Columbus.

For a while, Sam and Blaine sat silently by the fire, letting their fingers grow limber and their stomachs fill with hot chocolate. It was only when Blaine found his mind drifting to New York, Kurt, and everything that had transpired that he spoke.

"Kurt asked about what happened with Eli," he said quietly as a log in the fireplace popped and broke apart.

Sam swallowed another sip and stared at the fire for several moments.

"He did? What'd you tell him?"

"E- everything," Blaine confessed. "He wanted to know details, so I… I told him. He took it pretty well, all things considered and… I don't know. Something feels different now. I feel different."

"Well, you are different," Sam told him, looking bewildered that Blaine didn't already realize that. "I mean, look at Sadie Hawkins. The guy I knew back in September never could have done that. You've changed a lot since then."

Blaine said nothing for a while, but mulled over Sam's words, pondering them and thinking back to everything he'd been through since that fateful day. It was difficult to see it now, at least for him, but he thought he understood it. He'd started down a solo journey, first to forgive himself and then to figure himself out. It felt like it had only been minutes ago that he'd made the decision, and yet, here it was, a few days into February and the idea of running, something he'd always associated with himself and his past, wasn't the slightest bit appealing.

He'd run from his old tormentors and abusers. Now Blaine had faced a revival of the setting and overcome it.

He'd acknowledged his own dependency issues, his isolation, and worse of all his cheating, and maybe…

Maybe he was finally realizing that he could forgive himself for that, too.

"I think I've forgiven myself for it," Blaine decided, setting his mug down on the coffee table and rubbing his hands together to spread the warmth. "For being scared about Sadie Hawkins and… I think I'm almost there with cheating. I don't know; it doesn't feel right until Kurt forgives me for that. He's the one that was hurt the most by it. It doesn't seem right or fair that I can forgive it until he can, too."

"He'll get there, if he's not already," Sam encouraged. "I can't imagine it's an easy thing to come to terms with from either side of it."

"No, it's definitely not," Blaine agreed.

Sam hopped up to go to the bathroom and Blaine sunk back into the couch, still thinking and trying to decide if it was true, if he had finally reached that point within himself where he felt balanced and happy again. It certainly seemed like it, because his insecurities were now a part of himself he welcomed, knew, and kept an eye on. He'd worked through them as he could for now and he'd forgiven himself for letting them rule over his actions in October.

Blaine wasn't that boy anymore, and even if he moved forward without Kurt's love, he thought he might just be okay with that.

Kurt didn't know why he'd agreed to go to Callbacks on a Wednesday night. For the first hour, Rachel had hogged the microphone, been joined by Brody and then Santana, and was now off dancing with her boyfriend while Santana was grinding with some woman Kurt had never meant.

It was strange for him, sitting there by himself with no Isaac or Blaine as company. Isaac had a huge exam in the morning and was spending his night studying and Blaine had returned to Lima after his fantastic audition.

He missed Blaine. A lot.

It was a strange ache that filled his chest, not full and heavy, but empty, like when Blaine had boarded his train, there'd been an invisible string tethered to a piece of Kurt's heart and it had been tugged out of his chest and back to Lima. It was the weirdest he'd ever felt, and combining it with the confusion he still felt from their… make out, he didn't know what to think anymore.

Kurt had made the effort to let go of Blaine, for better or worse, and yet somehow he'd found that he was only more in love, pushed deeper in that cozy embrace and in no mood to ever uncurl himself and move away. It would be impossible not to feel something for Blaine after everything they'd shared, but Kurt hadn't expected it to be so overpowering, even more so than before he'd left Lima.

"Mmm, Porcelain, you should totally shake that thang on the dance floor," Santana suddenly shouted in his ear, flopping down on the seat beside him. Her dance partner had disappeared, but Kurt didn't ask. He'd rather not remind her and end up in an apartment with two couples having sex until dawn. Not unless one of those couples was himself and–

No. It was too soon to think like that.

Wasn't it?

"I think I'll pass," Kurt sniffed, taking another sip of his soda and watching her spin around on her bar stool. She was a very entertaining drunk, much like Blaine usually was. He berated himself for the thought, frustrated that everything reminded him of Blaine, even when there was absolutely no relation between the two.

However, the thought made his face heat up, and he busied himself with another swig of soda. Part of the reason he'd agreed to come out tonight was for the expressed purpose of not thinking about Blaine and their relationship for hours on end. He wasn't doing a very good job at it so far. If anything seeing all the dancing and kissing couples only made his heart yearn even more for that familiar, safe embrace.

"Oh, come on," Santana encouraged, grinning at him. "If you won't fuck your Hobbit, then at least get some from one of these guys– "

"Santana, I'm not– "

"If you decide to take volunteers for that, count me in," a voice said from the bar stool on the other side of Kurt.

He spun around as Santana giggled, and his heart fluttered a little. There was a tall man seated beside him, quite handsome and definitely older. Even at a glance, Kurt had to admit he was attracted to him and that easy, toothy grin.

"Come on, let's dance and get to know each other," the man offered, standing up and extending his hand.

"I'm taken and very much in love."

The words were out of Kurt's mouth before he understood that he was speaking. It was such a simple sentence, no thought needed to form it. They were words he'd had floating around in his brain for almost two weeks as he figured out where everything was settling in his life and if he could ever try again with Blaine. It was only now, with an offer so clearly presented, that Kurt remembered how to piece them together, morpheme by morpheme, until they made more sense than anything else ever had in his life.

"Ah, well, if that ever changes… " The man trailed off with a charming smile and sauntered away towards another man across the bar.

Santana whistled behind Kurt, her heel clacking against the bar stool. He grimaced, realizing what he'd just unwittingly admitted to in front of her, and drunk or not, she'd remember this. There were some things that Santana could never forget.

"Taken, huh? 'Cause that Sunday night was a pretty poor example of it," she inquired, looking much more sober all of a sudden.

Something about the sobriety change made Kurt suspicious, and while he didn't bother to call her out on it, he had no doubts she'd set up what had just happened.

"So? I'm allowed to say whatever I w– "

"Whatever you feel," she corrected before he'd finished and, yes, she'd definitely been faking drunk. "You're in love with Blaine all over again. I saw it that weekend and the day of his audition, something had changed but now… "

"It's not– Santana, it's still too soon," Kurt began to argue, still unsure and confused. It was scary to think he was ready for such a thing again, especially if Blaine might not be or didn't love him in that way anymore. That would be even more humiliating than the first time he'd admitted his feelings to Blaine three years ago.

"Really? Because your heart is saying yes," Santana countered, " and I guarantee his is, too." She paused, watching him closely and then– "Have you forgiven him?"

"I– " But Kurt stopped the negative response before his tongue could curl around the first syllable.

It struck him like a physical blow, more potent and jarring than the last one had the morning of Blaine's audition. He could forgive the hurt now, the infidelity. Perhaps part, or even most, of him already had. It barely made sense in his mind, but as soon as she'd spoken, the thoughts had merged, taking shape in his mind like his words to that man had.

His chest no longer ached at the reminder; it burned slightly, but it wasn't in an unpleasant way, like a soft, warm tickling still deciding if it would flicker out or linger a little while longer.

"I have," he said simply as the thump of the bass died down and a soft song started up. "I didn't even realize it and– "

"Sometimes it's hard to see something already in your heart," Santana said, shrugging a little and standing up. She hugged his neck and mused up his hair. "Now you just have to tell him."

And he knew she was right, that it was imperative to tell Blaine all of these new discoveries he was having about himself and where he was, but he didn't know how to without the other man right in front of him.

Blaine heard from Julliard to set up his second audition the next day. It was a complicated moment, trying to schedule around his studies, Glee, and his duties as Senior Class President, but eventually he settled on the thirteenth, a day before Valentine's Day. Kurt and Rachel had already assured him that he'd be welcomed back whenever he had to return, but he hoped Kurt wouldn't think he had an ulterior motive for making his audition late afternoon the day before Valentine's Day, meaning he'd end up spending that night there.

During lunch, he sent Kurt a quick text message telling him he'd been called back for a second audition and that, if he was able, they should Skype tonight and discuss the details for his arrival. Kurt replied a few hours later, right as Blaine was heading to the choir room for Glee Club. It was a long afternoon after that. They rehearsed with Finn for over three hours, and then Blaine joined Sam in the weight room as he'd promised earlier that morning.

By the time Blaine arrived back at home, it was close to eight and his parents were in the living room, television turned on, but humming softly compared to how loud it usually was.

"Blaine? Is that you, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, Mama, I stayed after to box with Sam!" Blaine hollered in reply. He took a few minutes to brush the snow off himself and strip out of his heavy overcoat, boots, scarf, and gloves. His parents were behind him when he was done, looking attentive and pleased.

"There's leftovers in the oven for you," his mother prattled, straightening his jacket's hood and brushing his sweaty hair back.

"And a cake," his father added, grinning a little. "I hear someone got a call back for Julliard and– " he picked something up off of the table next to the closet. It was several envelopes and Blaine could easily guess where they were from. "– these came in the mail today, too. Thought you might be interested in seeing what NYADA and Berklee said about that voice of yours."

"The fingers, too," his mother continued, taking the envelopes from her husband and waving him towards the kitchen. "I'm sure they were all quite impressed with the piano pieces you sent in."

Blaine smiled happily, letting his parents lead him into the kitchen where a large chocolate-frosted cake and a plate of lasagna were waiting. He went through the new letters as he ate and talked with his parents, quite thrilled to find out that he'd been accepted for auditions at NYADA and Berklee. It took him most of the celebratory cake eating to decide about Berklee, but he knew where his heart was, and that he undoubtedly belonged with it.

"I'm going to turn down Berklee," he decided, folding the papers back up and tucking them into their envelope. "New York is the only place for me."

"But, dear, are you– "

"I'm sure. More sure than I am about a lot of other things right now," Blaine admitted, perusing his NYADA letter once more to see when his audition would fall.

His parents exchanged a look that nearly went unnoticed by Blaine, but he caught the tail end of it as he set the letter back down at the island. "What?" he asked, noting their proud smiles and his mother's tearful eyes.

"We're just glad you have so many good things in your life, son," his father finally said, reaching over and grasping Blaine's shoulder. "You've got one hell of a friend in that Sam kid, so many options open for your future, and… Kurt waiting for you in New York," he paused, clearly waiting for Blaine to speak up, to contradict his assumption, but when Blaine said nothing they both beamed wider. "After everything you went through before Dalton, I just never thought we'd see this day. I'm so proud of you, Blaine."

His father surged forward suddenly, throwing his arms around his shoulders roughly and tugging him up out of his seat. Blaine was completely thrown by the uncharacteristic gesture, but as he slowly settled into his father's tight embrace, he caught sight of his mother over his father's shoulder, smiling through her tears and looking at peace in a way Blaine hadn't realized she'd needed to be.

"I love you, Dad," Blaine murmured, squeezing back and enjoy the feeling of his father's arms holding him tight. It was the first time he'd hugged him since December and unlike then, it had been sure and steady.

"So is your next Julliard audition in New York– "

His mother's voice was cut off by the ringing of Blaine's cell phone. He jumped slightly as it vibrated and rang in his pocket, separating himself from his father's embrace in order to retrieve it. Eyes still on his mother's face, he accepted the call without looking at the screen.

"Hello?"

"Since when do you sound confused when I call?" Kurt's voice demanded brightly, a little bubbly laugh following his joke.

A slow, relaxed smile spread across Blaine's face. "Hey, Kurt. I was distracted. My parents and I were going through some college letters… "

"Oh, my god! Did NYADA's arrive? Did you get an audition or– "

"I did," Blaine laughed, settling back down into his bar stool as his parents cleaned up the dishes still sitting on the counter. "It's in March, so I've got time to prepare something else, but– "

"You'll be amazing," Kurt said immediately, "and when you're here for your Julliard audition, Rachel and I can give you a ton of tips."

"I'd love that," Blaine replied gently. "It's next week, by the way. Wednesday at five."

"You've got something planned, I hope," Kurt said at once. "That's so soon, but I guess they want to see how you do on short notice, too."

"Yeah, I guess," Blaine said, relieved that Kurt hadn't mentioned the fact that his audition meant staying for Valentine's Day, or at least part of it. "I figure I'll take the train again, get there a few hours before my audition and leave the next day."

"Santana'll have to meet you at the station," Kurt informed him, sounding displeased. "I have classes in the morning and then work until five. But we can all meet up afterwards for dinner?"

"Definitely," Blaine agreed, glancing up to find both of his parents staring over at him, hands covered in suds and the dishes still sitting beside them on the counter. Embarrassed at the pair of them listening in, he opened his mouth to say goodnight or to suggest moving the conversation to Skype, but–

"I miss you, Blaine," Kurt murmured. "And it's not the aching miss that meant I wanted back everything we were before. It's more like I wish I had you here beside me and even in my arms… "

Blaine swallowed, heart hammering painfully against his ribs. The words were so unexpected considering what they'd just been talking about, but they pleased Blaine in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.

"I know," Blaine said, glancing over at his parents, who were still conspicuously watching him. He still dared to go on. "I miss falling asleep with you in my arms."

"So do I," Kurt agreed as Blaine watched the shock register on his mother's face. His father abruptly shut off the faucet and ushered her out of the room. "I– Blaine, I know this is going to sound crazy, but… I let you go," Kurt continued, and Blaine's brow wrinkled in confused, but before he could ask Kurt to clarify he plowed on. "In my heart. I thought it meant all of you and being in love, but as it turns out… I– I'm still falling in love with you. Like, I thought I saw the bottom of the chute and then it curved away and there's still miles to go before it ever stops."

"Kurt– "

"I know I sound ridiculous, but I just had to say it– "

"I've always been in love with you," Blaine cut in, listening to Kurt's sharp intake of breath. "At least I think so now. It was so gradual I never realized it until I was already so deeply in love and… "

The table in the hallway crashed to the floor behind him. Blaine jolted up out of his chair and Kurt gasped in surprise.

"What was that?"

Blaine groaned. "My parents. I– look, I should go, they're– " he paused and shook his head as his mother's head poked around the entrance from the hallway, bright red and humiliated from being caught eavesdropping. "I'll see you next Wednesday, okay? And we can… can talk more then?"

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you, too."

As Blaine hung up, his parents slowly entered the kitchen again, looking guilty and hopelessly curious. For once, his mother didn't even bother apologizing.

"Are you and Kurt back together? Why didn't you tell me– "

"We aren't," Blaine told her immediately, watching the huge grin on her face shrink. "Not yet, but… I think we're close to it."

His parents began cleaning up the mess they'd created in the hallway and Blaine mulled over this newest development between himself and Kurt. The only thing left was forgiveness, and Blaine had no doubt he'd know about that not long after Kurt found it in his heart. After all, the present he'd given Kurt to open when he was ready to forgive was certainly something that would warrant a phone call.