Kurt thought he would be happy to be back in Ohio, but he's not.

As he and his dad come back within the city limit, he feels that familiar ache in his chest return (when did it ever leave? he wonders. He hasn't felt this badly since the night it happened).

I'll never say good-bye to you.

Never say never.

The ache intensifies again and he feels like he's been physically stabbed as they drive past McKinley High -- closed for Thanksgiving Break.

He brushes it off as nothing when Burt asks him if he's alright. His father doesn't know about the break up, but he sure as hell knows something happened between his son and his boyfriend.

Kurt has to keep from crying as they pull into the drive. Finn will be home tomorrow, and so will Rachel with that new guy Brody that she's been seeing since Finn made their own break up official. (He's looking forward to seeing Finn jealous and trying to come between the two...just because he needs a reason to laugh)

Carole's cooking dinner and a bunch of his friends from New Directions will be here on Thanksgiving Day.

It doesn't really matter though -- because the one person he wants to see more than anything won't be.

And it's all his fault.

"I can't do this anymore, Blaine."

"What?"

He has to ignore the tears forming in his boyfriend's eyes...he knows he'll never be able to do this if he caves to the 'kicked puppy look' Blaine has perfected.

He stares at the ground. The park seems a lot less romantic now that he's doing what he should have months ago. The long distance is too hard on him -- it hurts too much for him to go days without seeing Blaine.

It's for the best.

"I can't do this, Blaine -- the long distance. It hurts way too much, I can't --"

The senior glares at him.

"You think it's any easier for me?" he says. "You think it's easy for me to sit in that damn choir room next to an empty chair and know that you're six hundred freaking miles away? I -- You said --"

The brunette stops him before he can finish the sentence.

"Never say never." he says softly. "I -- It's not -- Do you think I want this?! It's killing me to do this right now, but I have to!"

"You don't have to do a damn thing! We agreed -- just one year and I'd be here with you. One year." His voice cracks and Kurt can feel tears of his own start to flow.

"I -- we can still --"

"No." Blaine's eyes -- oh God his gorgeous eyes -- are now full of tears. He looks so hurt, so angry. "If you think we should break up, maybe we should. God knows I don't get a say in the matter."

Kurt feels like he's been punched in the gut.

"Blaine -- "

But the slightly shorter boy's eyes flash, even though he can barely see through the tears, and he shakes his head.

"You said good-bye. Maybe not the actual word, but it's been implied in every word you've said." Blaine plays idly with his jacket, breath hitching. "Have a good life here, Kurt. I hope you find someone who can do what I obviously can't for you."

Kurt's hand flies to his mouth, and he turns before running from the park, sobbing uncontrollably.

He hears an anguished sob from behind him, and instead of feeling better it makes him feel worse.

He doesn't hear from Blaine after that...and he doesn't know whether or not that's a good thing.

It rains on Thanksgiving Day.

Kurt plasters a smile on his face and hugs Rachel, as well as Quinn and Tina, and Mercedes and Mike.

But he doesn't expect to see Blaine there.

It's like a physical blow to his chest, and before anyone can say anything, he retreats to the kitchen with the excuse that he needs to make sure his dad isn't sneaking the good stuffing in in place of the low cal stuff Carole's currently making.

Nobody mentions the fact that Burt's sitting in his chair, watching his son retreat and then eyes flicking to Blaine and seeing the broken expression on the teen's face.

---

"Kurt."

The brunette barely looks up from the pan he's hovering over. Burt isn't really in the mood for his son's current attitude. He wants answers and he wants them now.

"Is everything okay between you and Blaine?" he asks.

"Fine." Kurt says monotonously. "Go back in the living room -- Carole and I --"

"Kurt outside," his father responds, pointing at the back door. "Now."

He half expects Burt to lay into him for being rude. What he doesn't know is why he couldn't have told him this inside where it's not raining and his ensemble isn't in danger of being damaged by the elements.

A second later Carole and Blaine join them. Kurt has never wanted to escape the backyard as much as he does at that moment. It's one thing to tell your father you broke up with your boyfriend with him standing right there in front of you. It's another thing to tell him that you're the one who did it. And don't forget that it's been two months since it's happened.

He's facing one hell of a lecture, and he knows it.

"Dad...I know you're wondering what's going on between Blaine and I --" he breaks off, "Long distance takes its toll, you know? I --"

"Don't lie to me," Burt says sternly.

"He's not." Blaine won't look the countertenor in the eye, and for that he's thankful, because he wants to kiss the hell out of his ex for going along with the lie. There's no need for an argument, or disappointing lectures. Not today. "It's been really stressful being apart, Mr. Hummel. Actually, could I...could I talk to Kurt alone for a minute please?"

Burt and Carole exchange a look, and Burt nods hesitantly before allowing Carole to drag him back inside. He gives Kurt an 'We're not finished and I am not going to forget this over dinner' look.

Kurt has eyes only for Blaine, who's staring at the ground, rain pelting them both and breaking the gel helmet the high school senior's hair had been upon arrival.

"Why did you lie to him?" it comes out a whisper, but the brunette hears it clearly.

"Because I -- I don't want him to know." He doesn't like hearing his voice crack. "I don't want him to know I destroyed our relationship because I couldn't take the distance." a pause and then, "Why didn't you tell him the truth?"

"Did you really want me to say that we broke up? Your dad hears 'break up' and the next thing we know I'm lying six feet under in an unmarked grave." Blaine looks up at him and smiles weakly, and the other boy's breathing hitches, because despite being soaked with rain water, his eyes are bright and alive, and his cheeks flushed. "Besides you didn't destroy it. You were just being stupid."Fingers curl into palms and form fists. Kurt bites his lip and glares at him.

"Stupid?! You're the one that made it official!" he says angrily. "I never said good-bye!"

"You implied it!"

"You took it out of context! I just thought we should take a break and you went and ended everything! I will never say that, you idiot!"

Before he can do anything else, Blaine is closing the distance between them and crashing his lips against his own as his arms curl around the slightly taller boy's waist, hoisting him up slightly.

A hoarse moan breaks from Blaine's throat and it's all Kurt can do to slide his hands up to cup his face, wet with both tears and rainwater, and they break apart for just a second.

"I'm sorry," is all the brunette manages to get out before Blaine pulls him back for another kiss, and when Kurt kisses back, he tries to make everything that happened two months ago go away, tell Blaine how really truly sorry he is.

"Don't ever do that again," Blaine breathes, lips leaving his mouth to ghost gently over his own cheek. "Never, Kurt -- God please..."

Kurt just smiles tearfully and twines the fingers of one hand in Blaine's now free curls.

"I love you." he says as his ex -- now boyfriend once more goes to set him back on the ground, whimpering slightly as he unwinds his legs from Blaine's waist (woah when did they get there? he wonders).

Blaine just smiles and gives him a quick, chaste kiss before resting their foreheads together.

"I love you too."