A/N: Wow. I did not do this, did I. Huh, guess I did.

Hello world! Um, since you're reading this you're probably a Gleek, and most likely a Klainer? So should I say, hello brothers and sisters!

So, this story is told mainly by Blaine's POV, but with some Kurt's POV in it. Alternate universe (1879, circus etc.), but same characters. Almost every character from our loved/hated show is here, and if some aren't it's because A) they'll show up later or B) (this looks like a smiley face with sunglasses) I forgot ^^; What? I've had the same mind for 17 years now!

Be warned, I'm terrible at updating. I will try to update this baby every week, but...

Oh, important note #1: This is not a copy of Sharmain's "Cirque De Joie"; I understand the themes are almost identical, and also I want to give her the credit for inspiring me (and maaaaybe Kurt's specialization in aerial acts), but I do not wish to copy her or receive credit from her work. Also, check "Cirque De Joie" out *now*, it's amazing!

Important (not) note #2: There are some hidden songs in every chapter, one certainly in the title and, in some chapters, in the text itself. Cookies to everyone that finds them!

Important note #3: My beta, while being the BEST in the world (not because she's one of my bestest friends, of coooourse no ;)), she's not into Glee a lot. So, if you can cope with this story much enough to like it (wishful thinking), I would appreciate your betaing skills!

xoxo,

Effie

Chapter One – Somebody, Crowd Me With Love; Somebody, Force Me To Care

Blaine closed his eyes and started walking on the tightrope. He stretched his arms gracefully to the sides and took a deep breath. He then started twirling on the rope, carefully aligning his feet while performing dance figures that professional dancers found extremely hard.

He reached the middle of the wire and he turned towards the crowd watching him. He cast his eyes upwards, momentarily blinded by the sheer shine of the spotlight fixed upon him. He jumped from the rope seemingly into nothingness, all the while performing a somersault, eliciting a gasp from the onlookers. He landed on the trampoline and jumped up high, really high towards the single trapeze hanging above his head. He reached his hand up, waiting for whomever was there to pick him up, but no hand met with his. He looked up, confused, and barely kept inside him a terrified scream, for all he could see was a dead body, clad in a light blue-and-green uniform, hanged from the trapeze. He started falling and he instinctively looked down, expecting to see the trampoline he jumped from, but he was instead met with the dark waters of a river, which were coming all the more closer...

Blaine woke up gasping, his head and palms sweating from the nightmare he just saw. He waited until his breath evened out, and then turned his gaze to the entrance of his tent. He saw no lights coming from outside, so thinking it was still night, he threw his blanket around his arms and stepped outside. True to his thoughts, the sun hadn't risen yet. He walked to the peak of the hill on which they had camped for the week, spread the blanket on the ground and sat.

He brought his knees to his chin, tilting his head to the side as he contemplated what he had just saw. The dream in itself wasn't really that weird, he often had nightmares before a show - he was a really nervous man. No, what puzzled him was the feeling of utter horror when he saw the hanged body, which was mixed with a hint of gut-wrenching heartache, as if he saw the rope around his own mother's neck.

He shook his head, deciding that he wouldn't be troubled any longer by that dream. He instead fixed his eyes on the rising sun, a small smile tugging on his lips. He loved that time of the day, when no one but him was awake, and everything was quiet and peaceful. He caught a soft chirping from behind him, and turned to look at the bird. His face split into a huge smile when he saw a little canary singing happily, jumping from a place to another. "Hey, little one" he whispered, not wanting to frighten the bird. He reached his hand cautiously, waiting for the warbler to take flight. Instead, the little thing jumped to his hand and turned its head towards him, still chirping gleefully. He laughed baffled, petting it all the while.

"You're a strange little fellow, are you not?" he commented sweetly, taking the bird into his tent. He looked around, trying to find a suitable place for the little bird. He ended up choosing his bed, where he made his blanket into a little nest and placed the canary inside. "Now, what should we call you?" he contemplated, placing his index finger on his lips. "Curse it, I'm not good at naming things" he laughed, combing his hair with his fingers and sitting down on the bed. "Oh well, I will just probably set for Canarino, eh? What do you say?" He smiled to the bird, waiting for a response. The warbler – Canarino – chirped and flapped its wings.

"Great, I guess it is settled then. I am Blaine Anderson, nice to meet you, good sir" He mocked bow. "Or are you a lady? Oh, madam, I am so very sorry!" He grasped his chest, hi face a mask of grief. "I did not want to insult you, fair lady..."

"Who in the world are you talking to, Blaine?" came a cool voice from outside his tent. Blaine sealed his lips, winking to the bird while shushing it. "Oh, no one in particular, Quinn" Blaine answered, motioning for the bird to stay there. "Whatever are you doing outside my tent?"

"I only came to tell you that breakfast is served. I would advise you to go eat something before rehearsal, unless you want the results from last week to apply to this one as well". Blaine grimaced and whispered "Stay here, alright?" to Canarino, all the while dressing up and putting his shoes on. He stepped outside to the crisp air of 1879's autumn, looking at the ethereal blonde beside him. "Quinn dear, I did say I was sorry!" he whined. "That does not erase the fact that we couldn't remove the melted caramel from the carpet in the main tent for four hours" she said coldly, her strict facade braking from the slight curve on her lips. "But you know how delicious the baked apples were last week" he pouted, opening his eyes as widely as he could. "Oh damn you, no one can stay mad at those eyes" she laughed, taking his hand and walking towards the canteen tent.

Blaine caught her concerned look from the corner of his eye. "What is it, Quinn?" "You have black bags under your eyes again. Did this Berry character wake you up with one of her ungodly ballads again?" They broke into carefree laughter. Rachel Berry was known, if not for her temperament, then at least for her songwriting skills. "Oh relax, she is not that bad. I find her lyrics very forward and modern, you know" He smiled good-heartedly. The short brunette was in view now, scrutinizing Finn Hudson for spilling his coffee. "I have to admit though, I would like her better if she was not such a queen bee".

"Oh well, enough talking about her. Let's go eat something, I'm hungry".

They sat with their apple-pies to a bench near the pond. Mike Chang and Tina Cohen-Chang, two of the dancers, waved at them from afar. Blaine waved happily back, he loved the pair dearly. They were very quiet and reserved, unlike the rest of the performers. He joined their rehearsals at times, just to spend time with them. The Puckerman brothers were playing with their torches, which were thankfully unlit. He really admired their act, and he liked them both, even though they acted really mean to anyone new. Once you

got to know them, however, you'd realise how fun they both were.

He smiled and nursed his pie. He liked the circus; it was his home, and the performers were his family. Will Schuester, the ringmaster, had taken him in when he was just a baby, when his parents abandoned him on Will's porch with nothing but a letter that read, "His name is Blaine Anderson". Throughout the years, they had tried tracking down the name Anderson in hopes of finding his real father, but Blaine had stopped hoping after a while. In any way, he felt for the Schuesters, Will and Emma, as his real parents and they loved him like their own son. Emma, although sweet and caring, could not give birth to a child of her own, so she saw Blaine as a gift from God. Will had been more of a father to Blaine than his own would ever be, and Blaine was sure of that.

A hot liquid spilled on his shoulder shook him out of his daydreaming. "Ouch, what was that?" he jumped, clutching his burned shoulder. "Oh, sorry Blaine, I was hasty to get to the tent" Finn Hudson, the stilt-walker clown said to him, a miserable look clouding his

handsome face. The tall man was really accident prone, but that was made up by his enormously big heart. Blaine smiled and waved his hand. "Oh, it's all right, if it's someone you should apologize to, then it's certainly not me, if you remember the last week's shenanigans I caused" he answered, winking. "Right! Thanks so much, Blaine" Finn smiled and ran to the tent, spilling even more coffee on his path. Blaine shook his head and made to the tent himself, only to be stopped by Will.

"Blaine, can I talk to you?" The older man asked. "Of course, what's wrong?" The boy asked. "Well, you do know we are not the only circus in the area, although we are one of the best... Right?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow in fake strictness. "Of course, Will! New Directions, the greatest show on Earth!" Blaine said in a pompous voice, mimicking their advertisement. "Exactly" Will laughed, hugging his son by one shoulder. "However, in a week we are to meet with the next greatest company, Sue Sylvester's so-called Cheerios. I would like you to attend to her performers, as they will be camping with us." "Of course, whatever you want!" Blaine answered, glad to take a break from the trampoline and the tightrope."That does not mean, however, that you will stop rehearsing on your gymnastics "Blaine had a double take. Seriously, at times he was sure Will was able to read his mind. "So, what is their expert? Are they a full, 3 ring circus like us or...?"

"No, no, they mostly perform aerial acts - you know, the usual: trapeze acts, aerial silks, corde lisse..." Will said dismissively. "I've been talking to Sue, we may reach an agreement of joining the companies, but we will have to see how well you all work with the girls, so..."

"Wait, girls? Is it an exclusively female company?" Blaine said, confusion creeping in his face. "Well, she has had boys over the years, but she mostly trains girls. At the moment, she only employed a young man just last year. I trust you will make the announcement to everyone?" Will asked him, a hopeful look in his eyes. "I have to tend to Emma". Blaine's eyes were clouded with worry now. Emma had not been so well lately, and her fragile frame could only take it so long. "How is she?" he asked, his brows furrowing. "She will be fine, I hope" Will sighed. "Anyway, on to work, young man!" he sent Blaine off, pushing his back. "Oh, and don't forget to mention that you have the week off, so you can tidy up for our guests!"

Blaine run to the tent, a smile beginning from his one ear to reach the other - a week off! Will usually wasn't so generous. He made for the center of the big tent, and screamed for everyone to stop. Noah threw his last knife, Jake gulped the fire breath he was about to blow, Finn fell from his stilts, breaking the plates he was juggling, and Tina with Mike fell rear-first to the trampolines. Rachel and Quinn were having a heated argument, while Marley was trying to stop them. Thankfully, they stopped and paid attention to Blaine. Artie gave him the speaker and wheeled his chair back to the lights deck.

"Attention, members of the New Direction circus! In a week from now, our company will have the joy of welcoming another travelling company, called 'The Cheerios'. We have the week off to get ready for our guests... Um... Yes, that is basically all" He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. The mass erupted in cheers, excited to have the week off and to meet new people. Circus life, although exciting, could be very lonely. All the crowd that gathered to watch them wasn't making things any easier, since they were all strangers through and through. While the bonds inside the circus were tight, being with the same people for all your life was tiring.

Blaine walked towards Quinn and Rachel, looking at Marley with an understanding look in his eyes. "Why are you two fighting? Yet again?" "Fabray stubbornly insists that we cannot incorporate singing and dancing to our show, whereas I think it would be beneficial to the audience to get in touch with a new kind of music!" Rachel mumbled, her hands on her waist. When she was finished with her mini-speech, she blew her bangs from her face to glare at Quinn, who was boiling with the brunette's persistence. Blaine warned Quinn with his eyes not to say anything, for she would ignite Rachel's fury even more. "Rachel, dear, let's go for a walk so you can show me the benefits of your proposition" he smiled and offered his arm dapperly at her, which she took giggling. "If you insist, Blaine" she said sweetly. He lead her outside, walking towards the benches near the mass of trees. "Rachel, may I say something, before you begin?" he asked her, showing a bench. She sat, nodding her head. "Our audience comes to our show to get a thrill, you know that, do you not? Singing and dancing belong to the opera houses, not our big tent"."Well, isn't it about time that changed? What more do opera singers have, answer me." she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I did not expect this reaction, especially from you, Blaine".

Blaine raised his brows in confusion. Had he ever mentioned that he enjoyed singing? Had he ever sang in front of her? He was making sure no one heard him when he did, because after all he felt really shy about it.

"Oh, you great buffoon. You have a lovely voice, even when you just talk. You could have great potential, you know" she explained, smiling encouragingly. "Oh Rachel, I think we agree on disagreeing" Blaine laughed, trying to brush his blushing aside. "Anyway, if you insist, I will talk it over with Will and inform you of his decision. Are you alright with that?" He asked her, raising up from where he was sitting. "Really? Oh, thank you so much, Blaine!" she screeched, jumping to hug him.

Blaine started laughing, trying to hold the petite girl into his arms while staying on the ground. "You are so very welcome, Miss Rachel Berry" he said, putting her down. "Why, thank you, good sir" she played along, curtseying and making to leave. Suddenly, she turned back. "You know, I was thinking. What with those Cheerios coming, maybe you could find a girl you like? You've been very lonely, dearie" she said, rubbing his arms.

"I will be fine, Rachel" he smiled tenderly, trying not to show how close to home her words hit. "And maybe you're right, maybe I will find a someone to call my love" he said, walking towards his tent. "I'll see you later!" He shouted, turning his head around, his smile fading away.