Author's Note: Hi everyone. This is my first attempt at a story for Glee. Thanks for reading, and I really hope you guys enjoy it. :)

It was a well-known fact that Blaine Anderson was miserable.

It felt like both years ago and only yesterday that things with Kurt had ended – more correctly since Kurt had ended things that night after the McKinley performance of Grease. Initially surprised to see him there, Blaine had made the mistake of hoping, given a chance to speak to him and explain himself, that Kurt might just give him the opportunity to redeem himself. In the end he'd gotten his chance... it just hadn't gone down exactly as he'd been hoping.

Now... still single and with no hope of reconciliation with the man he'd thought he'd spend the rest of his life with, Blaine found himself once again wandering the halls of Dalton Academy.

Honestly, this place was timeless. It never changed, and still looked exactly as it had when he'd left over a year before.

A year.

God, it had only been a year since he had transferred schools to be with Kurt, and he could still remember the emotions of the day. The excitement as he'd gotten dressed that morning, the warmth he'd felt when he'd seen Kurt at school; the sheer joy of hugging the man he was in love with in the halls of their school. It was all gone now; McKinley just another cruel reminder of everything that he'd lost.

He pushed the thoughts from his mind, grateful once again for the situation that had presented itself. Though the Warblers stealing their Nationals trophy was more than a little infuriating for the others, for him it presented him an opportunity to focus on something else for a change – something besides the relationship he'd completely destroyed.

He was coming down the spiral staircase from the second floor when he saw the familiar face, and he rolled his eyes, spreading his arms wide as he approached. "Sebastian. Of course it was you."

But Sebastian was already shaking his head, a half smile pulling at his mouth at the accusation. "No, it wasn't. I swear. I turned over a new leaf, remember?"

"Oh that's right." Blaine wasn't impressed, nodding his head as he stepped off the last of the stairs and started down the hall, Sebastian falling into step beside him.

"No more bullying, blackmail or assault this year."

"That must be boring for you." His tone suggested that he wasn't in the mood for this conversation, but Sebastian it seemed either hadn't figured that out or really didn't care. Knowing the man as he did, Blaine suspected it might have been the latter, but he didn't bring it up.

"Yeah, it is." He was grinning, Blaine noticed, and he wanted to roll his eyes at the cocky attitude of the guy standing beside him. Honestly, he had never known a time – with the exception of that once when Sebastian had apologised for the incident with the slushie – when Sebastian hadn't been this confident, cocky guy who walked beside him right now. "Being nice sucks."

After a brief pause, it obviously became clear to Sebastian that he wasn't getting a rise out of his former friend, and so he indicated the door to their right with a nod of his head. When Blaine glanced in that direction, he explained. "He's waiting for you in the library."

That caught his attention, and Blaine looked over with a frown. "Who is?"

Sebastian, looking a little less than pleased, answered his question. "The guy you're here to see." After the briefest of pauses, he added, "Captain of the Warblers."

The statement stunned him; honestly he hadn't seen it coming. When Sebastian had said that he'd had nothing to do with this, given all that he knew about the young man Blaine had found it almost impossible to believe him. Sure, he'd said he'd turned over a new leaf, but he knew there was a part of him that would never change. He'd always be that confident young man he'd met that day long ago at Dalton. "I thought you were Captain of the Warblers."

It was incredibly clear that Blaine was completely thrown by the information he'd given him moments before, and as the shorter guy entered the library for his meeting with Hunter, Sebastian found himself wondering if he – as Captain of the Warblers – would have ever had the confidence to make this kind of offer to Blaine.

I mean, it hadn't even occurred to him to suggest such a thing. Why Blaine would ever consider returning to Dalton for what was left of his senior year... Well the idea just seemed completely ludicrous. Of course he wouldn't come back.

Of course, Hunter thought differently. The moment he'd heard of the legend that was Blaine Anderson, he'd been intrigued by the idea of getting him back to Dalton. Then of course he'd been given the news that apparently Blaine and Kurt were no longer a couple – there was no mistaking that look between the two during McKinley's performance of Grease – and there had been no talking him out of it.

And side note: Blaine as Teen Angel... God damn the guy was crazy hot.

Sue him, he'd attended the performance, choosing to forgo the usual blazer for something more casual in order to blend in. Given their history, he hadn't been particularly sure that Blaine had wanted to see him, but he'd wanted to see what kind of crazy director cast their best performer in a role that made only one appearance in the whole show.

The answer: a crazy genius.

Blaine had killed it as Teen Angel – Lord knows he'd never forget it – and he'd been tracking the guy down to congratulate him when he'd stumbled on Blaine speaking with Kurt. He hadn't been close enough to hear what was being said, but it was very clear Kurt didn't want anything to do with his former flame and had left him standing disconsolately in the hallway; alone.

The idiot.

Like he could ever do better.

Tempted though he was to approach, it was incredibly clear that Blaine didn't want company, and a moment later McKinley's Teen Angel had disappeared deeper into the school.

He hadn't followed.

Of course, when he'd been relating the performance to a fellow Warbler the next day, mention of Kurt had been made and he'd let it slip that things were clearly amiss between the two; they'd obviously split, and none too peacefully either judging by what he'd seen.

Hunter had of course overheard their conversation – seriously the guy was everywhere – and had concocted this plan to get Blaine back. Destined to fail though it might be, Sebastian had his part to play.

Stepping into the room with a few of his fellow Warblers behind him, Sebastian gave a lazy smile. "We all know the real Blaine, Blaine. Ambitious, driven; you're a Dalton boy."

Hunter smiled; ever confident. "Present the blazer."

"That's not going to work on me."

Blaine was only telling them exactly what Sebastian already knew, but it was clear that Hunter wasn't buying it; his gaze challenging. "Then why be afraid to try it on?"

When Blaine didn't argue, Sebastian helped him into the blazer, resisting the urge to touch the other man more than was absolutely necessary, and noticing as he stepped back around him that Blaine seemed more than a little unsettled.

Hunter stepped beside him then, clasping the shorter young man on the shoulder and leading him across the room, back towards the chair by the fire. "Here's the thing, Blaine. You know that Nationals trophy was a fluke. Just like you know we're going to win at Sectionals. Now... I don't want to see a Dalton legend like you sidelined in his senior year." Hunter sat gracefully back into his chair by the fire, and Sebastian found himself thinking briefly – and not for the first time – just how classy, if more than a little intimidating, their new Captain could be. Blaine however, did not look impressed. "I want you on the winning side. Here with us."

When Blaine didn't answer straight away, looking at Hunter with more confusion than Sebastian had expected, he spoke up, laying down Hunter's 'secret weapon'. "You know what goes great with a new Dalton blazer?" and when everyone looked over at him, the question in Blaine's eyes clear, he added, "An impromptu song."

It was hard to resist.

Like coming home after a long absence, singing with the Warblers in one of their achingly familiar impromptu performances made Blaine realise just how much he'd missed this. Leading this talented group of vocals in this song it was hard to ignore the feeling that this place, not McKinley, was where he truly belonged. How long had it been since he'd felt so at peace; so needed and so respected? How long since he'd felt like the man he'd been back then? Back before any of this had ever happened. Back before he'd met Kurt and destroyed forever the best thing that had ever happened to him. He missed that feeling; he missed the happiness, the calm that he'd felt here at Dalton.

So maybe Hunter – intimidating, alpha male Hunter – was right. Maybe this was where he was meant to be. And not because he didn't enjoy his time at McKinley, because as hard as it was to be there it was still a place he would forever hold dear. McKinley had been his heart... He'd loved it there once.

But it was time to go home.

Blaine knew that Finn must have let the rest of the New Directions know about his decision when Sam ambushed him at his locker, his shock and dismay evident. "Dude! This is part of some master plan, right? You're going back to the Warblers to gather intel for us so we can kick their asses at Sectionals?"

"Sam, don't." Annoyed, he stuffed one of his books into the box in his hands, glancing briefly at Sam out of the corner of his eye. "I feel awful enough as it is."

Of course, he should have known that Sam wouldn't let it go. The guy was incredibly dogged when he had an opinion, and he'd exhaust any and all arguments he could before giving up. It was one of the things he'd liked about his friend; part of the reason he'd gotten along so well with the blonde, but now... now it just irritated. The last thing he wanted right now was someone trying to change his mind. He'd made his decision. Couldn't they just let him go?

"Stop, okay?" Apparently not. Sam wasn't going to give up. "You've been beating yourself up for weeks since you and Kurt broke up. But going back to Dalton? You told Finn it was because you feel more at home there, but if you ask me it's just another way to punish yourself. And for what? What did you do exactly?"

And so he told him; told his friend Sam everything that he had done to the man he was completely in love with. The man he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with. It was clear the moment when Sam understood what he was telling him; exactly what he had done to Kurt, and exactly why he felt it necessary to punish himself. Of course... what he couldn't see is that unlike Sam suggested, returning to Dalton wasn't punishment for what he'd done wrong; it was an escape. Or more correctly a return; a return to the life when he had never felt this miserable. To when he'd been happy.

"I just wanna stop feeling like I'm a bad person." Honestly... he hated the broken tone he could hear in his voice. Hated that he had fallen so far until even he didn't believe in himself anymore. He could remember a time, and it wasn't so long ago, when he'd been unshakeable.

But of course Sam didn't give up. "You're not. You're one of the good guys, and I got a whole Glee club that agrees with me. Give me a day. One day before you pack it all up. One day to be the hero we all know you are. And then you know, you can decide where you really belong."

Hazel eyes looked sadly back into those of his friend, and Blaine shook his head. "I'm sorry..." He said it in a way that Sam knew immediately that his mind was made up, the blonde man's face falling despite his attempt to conceal his dismay. It was clear too that Blaine wasn't fooled by his act, mournful eyes watching him in silence.

Nodding, Sam offered his friend a reassuring smile, and not knowing what else he could say, offered instead the only thing he could. "It's cool, Blaine. I get it." He really didn't, but he didn't want his friend to feel worse than he already did, and it was very clear that he'd made his decision. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

If he was expecting a response, he didn't get one, Blaine just nodding to acknowledge his support. He noticed his friend hesitate a moment, as though about to say something more – what it might have been he would never know. Moments later Blaine offered him one last sad smile before turning and walking away.

It was impossible to miss the surprise on Sebastian's face when he ran into him the next morning at Dalton, the green eyes of the man who had first been his friend, then an enemy, then later... Well he wasn't quite sure where they'd really ended up, but Sebastian Smythe still made him feel uncomfortable.

"Blaine," his sometimes friend studied his face, eyes fixed on his for a long moment as if trying to read something in them. Whether he found what he was looking for or not, he didn't say, instead just offering, "Hey."

"Sebastian," he acknowledged with a brief nod, moving around him only to have the taller man turn and fall into step with him.

"You're here."

It was a blunt statement and spoke volumes, but Blaine answered it with a shrug. "Isn't this what you wanted? Wasn't this the whole point of your ambush?"

"I..." Sebastian hesitated a moment, taken aback at the cool tone in his voice, before just nodding his reply. "Sure. Yeah." A brief pause, and then he added, "Hunter..."

"That wasn't just Hunter, Sebastian, and you know that as well as I do."

A shrug later, Sebastian's eyes began another study of his face and something in his green eyes changed, as if he'd found something there. For a moment Blaine found himself wondering what it was, but when the other's face began to show the beginnings of sympathy, he realised he probably didn't want to hear it.

"I'm sorry about Kurt."

He looked at the other man sharply then, but there was no judgement in his face or the tone of his voice; no animosity at all towards his ex. Just a statement. And sympathy. Maybe he really had changed. "Why do you care? You hated Kurt."

That familiar smile pulled at Sebastian's mouth then; that sparkle of laughter flashing in his eyes, and the taller man shook his head with a laugh. "Oh God yes. More than you know." There was a pause then, and the laughter died from the man's eyes as he took in the expression on his face. "But you didn't."

Blaine looked away, his mouth pulling into a dark frown as remorse once again darkened his hazel eyes. "Whatever. This one is on me."

It was curiosity this time that coloured Sebastian's green eyes as he studied the face beside him, but Blaine turned his face away and Sebastian didn't press the issue. He wasn't sure, but that moment might have been the one in which he'd most appreciated the way the taller guy could read him.

"We all have our first loves, Blaine. I promise it won't hurt forever."

"How could you possibly..." but his voice trailed off when his companion just shrugged, a rueful smile pulling at his mouth.

"Long, long boring story... trust me."

"I don't."

Sebastian smiled at that, amused not offended, and Blaine found himself wondering if it was even possible to offend the overly confident young man. He'd never seen any proof that it might be, and Sebastian had never really been one to put much stock in what others might think of him. The only time he'd ever shown remorse was shortly after David had tried to take his own life, and even then that had been for his own benefit and certainly not theirs.

"Generally a wise decision, but I'm not lying to you, Blaine. It'll get better." He shook his head then, turning and stepping in front of him, causing Blaine to halt in order to avoid crashing into him. "I'm not going to lie... it'll suck for a long time, but eventually it does get easier."

Blaine just nodded, catching himself wondering exactly what – and more importantly who – it had been who had given Sebastian that kind of insight into something he would have assumed the taller man knew nothing about. He supposed everyone had a past, and despite their friendship when they'd first met, Sebastian had been pretty sparing with his.

For a long moment, Blaine caught himself looking back into Sebastian's eyes as he found himself hoping – praying – that maybe, just maybe, he was right. Soon enough however, the sympathy became too much for him, and he stepped around the taller man, continuing down the hall.

Sebastian didn't follow.