A giggle trickled Blaine's cheek. He was drowsy and heavy-limbed, and not entirely sure what time it was anymore. After yawning slowly, Blaine blinked a few times and looked around. Kurt's ceiling, Kurt's room, and Kurt snuggled up beside him and laughing happily.

"Now who's falling asleep on who?"

"Shut– mmm," Blaine yawned again and decided not to finish replying. Kurt giggled again and kissed his cheek. "You've got a talented tongue."

"I've been practicing on cucumbers," Kurt said happily. The bed shifted as Blaine closed his eyes and then a pair of feet padded away towards Kurt's closet, then back. "Blaine? I, well, I bought some things I want to talk to you about."

The bed dipped and something little dropped onto Blaine's chest. Condoms were the last thing he'd expected to be staring at him when he opened his eyes again.

"Uh, Kurt?"

"Condoms," Kurt said regally. But his face was a thick, embarrassed purple and the little bottle of lube in his hand was shivering. "I bought us condoms for... eventually."

"Oh," Blaine said. He sat up and scooped the box off his chest. "How do we know these'll even fit us?"

"I, well," Kurt ducked his head and spun the lube bottle on the rumpled up comforter. "I tried one of those on, so... yeah. I bought a size smaller and bigger, too. I think we're a- about the same?"

"Dunno," Blaine said. "I haven't had you in my mouth yet."

He looked the box over carefully, then pulled the line of wrappers out. Back in his life they'd never even mentioned condoms as a possible safety practice. For all he knew they hadn't existed back then. They probably had, but nobody talked bout them, surely. Not in his chokingly Catholic household.

"When exactly were you planning on us using these?"

Kurt twisted and the lube bottle rolled off the bed. He ducked down to retrieve it, slowly turning from purple to pink as he spoke. "Not right now. Or tomorrow or next week even. I just... I want to share everything with you before... Just soon. This way we already have them and, well, you can weigh in on the idea."

His stomach bubbled with warmth at the suggestion. Kurt and him, together, in this bedroom while all of their clothes were scattered around the room. They'd never have time for that before Burt or Finn or Carole got here in the evening. But it was a wonderful fantasy, too, full of something Blaine couldn't quite explain to himself.

"It's... I've thought about it a bit," Blaine admitted. "More just the idea of it happening, but not really fantasizing. Um, some day sounds good, though."

"We're still building up to it," Kurt agreed. His smile met Blaine's again as their fingers intertwined. "I'm pretty happy just sucking your dick for now. Though, I do request that you stay awake long enough to return the gesture next time."

Blaine grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, all right. I think I can try. Only if you try the same."

"Deal." They kissed softly as Kurt collected his boxes of condoms from the closet and started arranging them in his drawer. Blaine stretched and looked around for his shirt. Kurt must have pulled his boxers back on and cleaned him up. The thought made his face burn again. It was endearing and weird to think about Kurt cleaning his come off his stomach.

After a few minutes of searching, Blaine found his jeans poking out from under the bed and his polo had been flung behind the television stand. He was halfway through tugging his shirt free when heavy footsteps lumbered down the stairs. Kurt leapt into action, diving for the closest book and then back onto his bed. Blaine dug faster, his hand swiping for the shirt just out of reach.

"Guys? Hey, any plans or requests for dinner?" Burt greeted as he stopped halfway down. He glanced at Kurt relaxing, fully clothed, on his still rumpled bed with his upside-down book, to Blaine, in his jeans, scrambling for his shirt behind the television. "Laundry basket's in the closet," Burt said after a moment of looking Blaine's bare chest over.

From behind his book, Kurt asked, "Can we do Chinese takeout?"

"Chinese? Yeah, that's good with me. Come up and look over the menu when you've got your shirt free," Burt said as he started back up the stairs. "Good job on leaving the door open."

Burt disappeared upstairs. Kurt flung his book aside and glanced up the stairwell.

"Is he being sarcastic? I thought we closed it," Kurt said.

Blaine's fingers caught his polo collar, finally yanking it free. "I don't remember. He didn't even blanch at any of this. That's a little weird, isn't it?"

Kurt nodded as a frown weighted down his mouth. "Yeah, he's been so over the top about my door..." he trailed off and shook his head. "Come on. Let's go pick out what we're getting."

Once Blaine had his shirt on and tucked in he followed Kurt up to the kitchen.

"Why can't we just order in?" Kurt was demanding as Blaine stopped in the entryway. "Dad, it's so much easier to–"

"I feel like going for a drive," Burt said. "You two," he poked Kurt in the chest and then aimed his finger gun at Blaine, "are tagging along. Got it?"

"But–"

"Yes, sir."

Kurt glared at him as Burt shuffled towards the front door. "Yes, sir?" Kurt echoed angrily. He watched his dad duck outside and hissed, "I'd much rather be cuddling than–"

"Guys, hurry up!"

As Kurt grabbed his shoes and coat, Blaine followed Burt out to the truck. It was the first time since he'd arrived that Burt had ever insisted on going to get food instead of having it delivered and Blaine didn't think it wise to argue. Burt had something planned with this trip, and they were part of it. After ten minutes, Kurt stomped outside and flung himself into the backseat beside Blaine.

"Is this really necessary?" Kurt asked as they back out of the driveway and started into town. "We're going to miss America's Next Top Model."

Burt didn't answer.

Blaine hugged himself and stared out the window. Ten minutes later they were at the Chinese restaurant, sitting at a small table as they waited for their order. Burt was relaxed with his eyes shut, Kurt was angrily tapping his boots and alternating his glare between them, and Blaine was rigid. There was a reason for this and the longer he didn't know it, the worse he felt. Burt was up to something.

It was only after they'd paid, collected their takeout bags, and were back in the car that Blaine figured it out.

"Why are we turning here?" Kurt asked as Burt pulled into the left turn lane. It led to a small convenience store and a Laundr-o-mat.

Condoms. Burt had brought them here to buy condoms. Blaine cringed and sunk down in his seat as Burt turned around to face them.

"You boys go buy what you need," Burt said carefully. "Here's a twenty."

"What?"

"Kurt, I know you two are– don't make me say it, all right?"

"What?"

"Sir– Burt, we don't need any condoms or lube," Blaine said from behind the takeout bag in his lap. "We aren't even– oh my god, I'd forgotten how embarrassing parents are."

"You brought us here to buy condoms?" Kurt said loudly. "I bought those last week! We haven't even used them!"

Burt mouthed at them for a few moments, then twisted around and pulled back out of the parking lot. It was silent the entire drive back. As soon as they stopped in the driveway, Kurt vaulted out with the second takeout bag and raced inside.

Blaine and Burt slowly climbed out and looked at the wide open front door.

"Sorry about that," Burt said gruffly. "I thought it was– I support you two, at whatever you do and whatever pace it's done at. I just want to make sure you're being safe."

"Right," Blaine said. Burt patted his shoulder awkwardly and followed Kurt inside. After a few minutes, Blaine joined them in the kitchen. Kurt was eating furiously, his face red, lo mein dangling from his lips as he glowered at his dad.

"Kurt, can I have some soy–"

"I dunno, Blaine, why don't we ask Dad if he wants to take us to buy some," Kurt snapped.

"Kurt," Blaine warned, but Burt had looked up from his chicken and broccoli.

"I took you there to make sure you can be safe together, Kurt," Burt thundered across the table. "I get it embarrassed you and I knew that going in, but I'd rather you both be safe and embarrassed than in danger of potentially hurting each other. Your boyfriend was standing shirtless in your room not two hours ago. What the hell am I supposed to think?"

"That we're responsible enough to do that on our own?" Kurt supplied. He set his fork down as Blaine stared glumly at the soy sauce across the table. If his arm was just another three feet longer... "I– Dad, I know about sex. You don't have to teach me or tell me how to be safe or any of that."

"There's more to sex than mechanics," Burt informed him. "I imagine you two have started figuring that out already, even if you aren't doing it yet. But you're moving towards it, and I'm going to have a word with you–both of you–about it."

"Dad, can't this wait until after we eat?"

But Burt plowed on. Kurt dropped his face into his hands and Blaine stared at the lovely packets of soy sauce in front of Burt's plate. What he wouldn't give to be one of those right now.

"Guys, sex is fun, okay? It is," Burt said. "It feels great, it's a good time all around, especially with some practice. But there's a lot more to it than that. With two guys, you're gonna want to do it all the time, and sometimes you might forget what's really important when it comes to sex. It's not having it or feeling good that's the best part, it's what's in here," Burt tapped his chest. "That's what matters and the best reason to do it. I don't want you two rushing or pushing or fumbling through that because you think you should do it before you want to do it. Because having sex does more than just feel good, okay? It affects you and your partner and how you feel about each other and yourselves. Both of you matter so much more than you realize, and I don't want either of you to forget that with all the hormones flying around downstairs."

Blaine swallowed and looked up from the soy sauce. Burt was watching both of them, but he wasn't frowning or smiling. He was simply there, hoping they'd listen and accept his words into their lives, their relationship. All he wanted was what he thought was best for them mixed with their own hopes.

"Thanks, Dad," Kurt said quietly. "That's– it means a lot that you care. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Burt said as he started eating again. "You still want soy sauce?"

A packet was flung across the table to Blaine. He and Kurt exchanged a soft look, one that said slow down, enjoy, we have time. But they didn't. Not when he had ten weeks left in paradise. It was early April already. The snow had melted, everything was blooming and a warm wind had swept across Lima. Everything was changing back to life and Blaine couldn't follow. There was no going back.

Nine weeks. It couldn't be Easter already, could it? Kurt stared at the little calendar on the inside of his locker door and tried not to get sick. Maybe taking it down would help. He'd just peel it off and tuck it away in his closet so it wasn't staring at him every time he changed books out. But still...

Nine weeks. Carole still hadn't said anything about finding information on Lee Atkins and Karofsky, for all his obsessive violence, had scampered out of their lives.

"Hey," Blaine's voice breezed through the vents on his locker door. Then his gelled head popped around the corner with a bouquet of red and yellow roses. Kurt couldn't see his mouth, but the crinkles around Blaine's eyes were smiling. "Surprise!"

"Oh my gosh," Kurt beamed as Blaine handed him the roses. It wasn't the first surprise in the past few weeks. Blaine was rather fond of surprising him with flowers and chocolates and cheesecake and beautiful scarves. As much as he adored the gifts and the fond kisses and coffee dates that went with them, he knew part of what was driving them. "Blaine, they're gorgeous."

"Like you," Blaine reminded him. He beamed wider as Kurt sniffed them. "They're for Easter and to celebrate how incredible you are."

"You're sweet," Kurt said, but he smiled anyway. "You still didn't have to do this."

"I know I just..." Blaine trailed off and the way his smiled vanished told Kurt what he still hadn't said –what he couldn't say. There's only so many days left to cherish you. For us to still be us. "I like to remind you that I love you. So dinner tonight?"

Kurt smiled flirtatiously. "Of course. Thursdays are our nights. And maybe afterwards we can watch a movie."

Blaine's smile slipped back up his cheeks. "Definitely. There's something I've been wanting to, uh, see."

As Blaine leaned in and kissed him softly on the mouth, a fist slammed into the lockers behind Kurt. They broke apart and inched towards each other as Karofsky and Azimio bared down on them.

"Take it somewhere else, ladies," Karofsky snapped. He stared from one of them to the other in something like disgust. "We don't want your shit polluting our halls."

"Yeah, why don't you go to one of those religious camps and get yourselves normal already?" Azimio added with a belly laugh. "You know, I bet we could fund the trip for you. Nobody at school wants you fags contaminating the water."

Kurt felt Blaine's arm settle protectively around his waist. But he wasn't doing this anymore. They still hadn't found a way to get through to Dave, but he'd thought the other boy had given up on bullying.

"The only thing contaminated is you," Kurt snarled before Blaine could stop him. "You're ridiculous, both of you. How is anything I do with my life and my heart and my body hurting you? It isn't! You're just ashamed and insecure and pathetic and nothing you do or say to me will ever make me stop being myself. I am braver than either of you will ever be and every time you try to prove me wrong, you only become more cowardly."

"Kurt," Blaine whispered in his ear. It was a warning Kurt didn't want to hear.

"No, I'm not listening to their nonsense without saying something anymore," Kurt said loudly. "If you two think you can just come up to people who aren't doing anything to you and give us crap for being in love, then I'll be spitting it right back in your face from now until graduation. Got it?"

Azimio crinkled his nose and glanced between Kurt and Blaine. "Oh, whatever. You two aren't even worthy to lick my boots." He started clomping away, but Dave didn't follow. "Dude, come on. Forget those fags."

For a moment, Kurt caught Dave's eye. There was sparkle of something there he couldn't named, but hope blossomed in his throat as Dave hurried away. Something he'd said had gotten through. Hopefully, it stayed there.

"Kurt, that was–it was amazing, but they could have," Blaine trailed off as Kurt turned in his arms and kissed his deeply. It was unlike any kiss they'd shared in a crowded hallway before, and while Blaine stiffened a little, he eased right in and met Kurt's passion.

"Better?" Kurt asked as they broke apart for breath.

"I'm always better with you," Blaine murmured. "Come on, let's get to class."

Kurt grabbed his last notebook and shut his locker. They hurried off to class, Kurt heading upstairs and Blaine towards the gymnasium. He spent his last class working on a bow tie for Blaine while Mercedes prattled on about some boy she'd spotted at the mall the day before.

"He was gorgeous," Mercedes sighed. "Not as much as Sam, but he had those nice, full lips."

"Did you talk to him?" Kurt asked as he lined the fabric up under the sewing machine's needle. "I mean, you've been dodging Sam for months. I don't know why you don't ask him out."

"If he liked me, he'd ask me, wouldn't he?" Mercedes replied. "That's what boys are supposed to do, right?"

"Only if they want to or aren't too nervous," Kurt said as he started the machine up again. "I mean, Blaine and I didn't go that route. I'm pretty sure Finn has never asked any of his girlfriends out. Ask him or I'll make Blaine ask him for you."

Mercedes's mouth fell open. "You would not."

"I would," Kurt told her brightly. "And if Blaine refused, I'd either tell Sam myself or hold out on Blaine until he did it."

"Kurt–"

"Ask him after class or I'll get Blaine to do it tomorrow morning," Kurt teased. He finished the last piece of the tie and slid it out. "Perfect! Do you think he'll like it?"

But Mercedes wasn't looking at the tie. Her face was anxious, her lower lip tucked between her teeth.

"Hey, I'm just kidding," Kurt said. He sat the tie aside and took one of her hands. "Come on. We've all seen him looking at you. What's the worst that could happen?"

"He could say no and our friendship could go away," Mercedes said immediately. "I don't know, Kurt. I've never done any of this before."

"I hadn't either until four months ago," Kurt reminded her. "Look, just ask him to grab coffee or something. See how it goes without making it a date-date. If you two get along, then I guarantee he'll ask you out."

"You think so?"

Kurt nodded and squeezed her hand as the afternoon announcements started. They put their supplies away and set off down the hallway together. Mercedes was bouncing a little and twisting her hands. At the stairwell, she stopped and took a deep breath.

"I'm going to go ask him," she said. "Wish me luck?"

"You'll be fine! Good luck!"

He watched her hurry down the stairs through the crowd of students. They'd be adorable together. Half the Glee Club had noticed the looks they gave each other when they thought nobody was looking. As the crowd hurrying home for spring break jostled him from side to side, Kurt slipped his phone out. There was a text from Blaine saying he'd be late meeting him outside. Kurt frowned, but replied with an okay.

Instead of heading straight to his locker, Kurt shuffled down the back stairs and into the boys' room by the gymnasium. He'd just wait outside the locker room for Blaine after he was done. But he wasn't halfway through washing his hands when the door was knocked open. Dave Karofsky came bustling in, still in his gym clothes with his sports bag hooked around his chest. Kurt flinched as the other boy paused and caught sight of him.

But he ended up being surprised. Dave gave a little nod, set his bag on the shelf by the door, and shuffled into a stall. Kurt finished washing his hands and took his time drying them off. Had that been a sign of respect? Understanding? It had never happened before. He had to know, had to wait and see if he could really get through to him.

As the toilet flushed and Dave took the sink beside him, Kurt watched him. He should go. Just scoop his bag up and meet Blaine down the hall.

"Dave?"

He froze halfway through lathering his hands up. Kurt watched nervously. If he'd misjudged that look in the hallway, if this was all just a trap...

"What?"

Something loosened in Kurt's shoulders as Dave finished washing up and glanced at him. There was a fear there Kurt could remember in his bones, but the feeling of it–the dread of years–was gone. Nothing could compare to living it, not even memories.

"Have a good break," Kurt said. He cringed a little at his words. It wasn't poetic or insightful or helpful in the least. But it was kind, and maybe kindness was all he could really give with any expectations.

"Right," Dave agreed. He dried his hands and flung the soggy paper towel in the trash can. "I'll– see you."

Kurt nodded as Dave yanked his bag off the shelf and fitted it back around his chest. He hurried to the door and left. Heavy with something like guilt, Kurt grabbed his own bag and started digging through it for his comb.

"Hummel? Um, Kurt?"

He spun around and found Dave peering back through the doorway. After glancing over his shoulder, Dave shuffled back in and shut the door. Kurt waited.

"About what– forget it," Dave decided. He scratched his neck, eyes darting for the door. But his feet stayed planted where they were. "It's stupid."

"It isn't," Kurt said. "Whatever you're feeling isn't stupid or something to forget about."

"Last week and today, it was." Again, Dave didn't finished. He only shook his head and tried to force himself towards the door. Kurt held his bag to his chest, just in case. As much as he wanted to help, he also couldn't trust him. Not after everything that had happened between them over the years. "What's it like?"

Kurt blinked. "What?"

Dave scratched the back of his head and stared at the door. "To have him," he finally said. "To just... be. I can't–I don't know how, but it looks nice."

Kurt shrugged a little. "It's wonderful to have Blaine. To find someone to connect with and love. It'll be nicer away from here. Both of our lives will."

Dave nodded, but he looked sick. "I doubt it. It'll never–I've gotta go."

He bolted then before Kurt could offer to talk to him more or have Blaine meet them somewhere. But where in Lima, or anywhere nearby, would be safe? Their town was small, sure, but they knew people all around, and word of a football player being seen with him wouldn't keep. One look and everyone knew he was gay. Some people got used to it, others didn't. Instead they assumed anyone with him was just the same.

"Good luck to you, too," Kurt said as he pushed the door open and headed towards the gymnasium. Blaine was just coming out of the locker room, his hair parted and damp.

"What happened?" Blaine asked when he caught the look on his face. "You look awful. Did Karofsky–"

"I met him in the bathroom. It wasn't anything bad," Kurt said quickly. "He's–I feel so bad for him. And I feel bad for feeling bad for him and I wish there was something we could do besides wait and hope. He asked what it was like to have you."

"Oh," Blaine said. He kissed Kurt's cheek and then traced his fingers over the fuzzy hairs growing in. "You need a shave soon. Let's get back to your house and we'll think up something. It's progress, right? That's good. Better than mine."

Kurt nodded, but glanced back towards the hallway and the now empty bathroom. It was something, but it didn't feel like enough. Everything was starting to feel like that.