A/N:

I never imagined even one person would read this, let alone the number of people who have. Each and every one of you holds a special place in my heart. As long as there is someone reading this story, I will happily keep writing it. Please leave a review. Any suggestions, advice, ideas, or criticism is appreciated. Hoping to post chapter 4 by Friday. I am doing this without a Beta so please be patient. Also, if anyone would like to submit a cover for this story please don't hesitate. Now, without further a due. Enjoy chapter 3.

Chapter 3:

Canaries and Kisses

Sam couldn't stand to see Blaine in that damn hospital bed. To see the pink, puckered skin at his wrist. How had he not seen the black hole his friend had slipped into? Sam pulled his fingers through his blond hair, staring out the window at nothing special. His mind drifting back to the days when Blaine was the life of Glee Club. When Blaine could make anyone smile just by smiling himself. There had always been something special about Blaine that Sam could never quite explain. Something everyone else took for granted or simply overlooked. Not Sam though. Sam saw that Blaine was unique, and he refused to allow him to hide it. To hide in the crowd and remain unnoticed. Sam pulled his attention from the window to look at his lost friend. Blaine slumbered peacefully. A few hours of freedom from his harsh reality.

Sam prayed silently that reading Blaine's journal was helping him remember who he was. He didn't pretend that he didn't understand what Blaine was going through. He had tried to understand all the big medical words Dr. Reyes and Kurt used when they talked about Blaine, only feeling worse when Kurt had to dumb it down for him. Though Kurt never seemed to mind, Sam felt he was becoming a burden on Kurt. Their conversation the day before had touched Sam. Kurt had recognized the look of frustration on Sam's face. "What's wrong, Sam?" The older man had asked. Sam had shaken his head trying to clear the fog that had invaded it.

"I'm not doing any good here." The tears burning the backs of his eyes. He hated feeling useless. "Maybe I should just go home." The blond haired boy had sobbed.

"No, Sam." Kurt pleaded. "I can't do this alone. I can't bring Blaine back on my own. I know I play the strong independent guy rather well, but the truth is I'm not. Not really." Kurt sighed heavily before continuing. "I never would have done most of the things I have without Blaine behind me, telling me I could. I need your help with this, Sam. Blaine needs you. Stay for him." Sam had glanced at Blaine's unconscious form. He had had to be given a sedative to get any kind of sleep that night. Blaine had taken to having nightmares of being bullied at his old school. The faceless bastards that Blaine fell to every time his eyes had closed for more than five minutes now plagued Sam's sleep. The baseball bat they had used to bust Blaine's ribs, and the names. How anyone could use such disgusting words was something he would never understand. But to know Blaine had faced it alone. Had laid in that dark, damp, cold, smelly alley by himself. Tossed aside like yesterdays trash. It infuriated Sam. Made his blood boil to know people could be so cruel to another human being. There weren't words in all the languages in the world combined to express his hatred for those three assholes. Sam was pulled from his revere by Blaine's soft voice.

"Where's Kurt?" his voice just above a whisper. Sam plastered the fake he had taken to wearing around the other boy back on his face. He moved to sit back in his chair before answering.

"He just went to clean up and get my work from school. He'll be back soon, I promise." He tried to sound happy. To fain hope that Blaine wouldn't see straight through him. Of course he failed miserably. Blaine twisted and untwisted his blanket in his hands.

"Sam," Blaine choked out. Sam's eyes lifted at the sound of desperation in Blaine's voice. "am I a burden on you and Kurt?" Tears shimmering on the boys cheeks.

"Hell no, bro. You could never be a burden on us. You're my best friend, Blaine. You're gonna get better and then I'm gonna get your ass back in the gym so we can start boxing again." This time Sam's smile wasn't fake.

"I-I box?" Blaine chuckled.

"You started the Dalton branch of Fight Club, dude. From what those Warblers say you were damn near unstoppable." Sam laughed. "You nearly beat the hell outta me and Finn Hudson, Kurt's brother, when I first came back from Kentucky." Blaine looked confused.

"Why would I do that?" He asked, smile faltering. Sam spent the next twenty minutes or so explaining that Blaine's singing and dancing had scared the shit out of Finn. That it caused him to be a dick towards Blaine. How Sam had tried to convince to Glee Club they had to sell sex in order to win Regionals, which Blaine had taken offense to.

"You told me that I had to think like that to sleep at night. I asked you what you meant, you saying that you weren't for sale." Sam sighed heavily. "You stormed out of the room. I never felt so low in my life."

"I am so sorry, Sam. That was so stupid of me. I never should have said that to you. You were only trying to help your family. I turned into those guys who beat me up only I used words instead of my fist." Blaine was beating himself up again. Sam had to make him stop. He had to quit taking all the blame.

"Stop it, Blaine." Sam scolded the other boy. "Stop making yourself the bad guy. God! Blaine, you didn't do anything wrong. You were just standing up for yourself. You had ever right to be pissed at me and Finn. We were the one's being stupid." Blaine inquired if beating himself up was something he did a lot. Sam answered by picking up Blaine's journal. "More than you should." Sam grinned. "Now where were we." Sam opened the book, clearing his throat.

March 15th, 2011

10:25 pm

My breath caught in my throat as the doors to the senior commons swung open revealing a red, puffy eyed Kurt clad head to toe in complete black. Every voice in the room quieting at his somber appearance. I had inquired as to what had him so obviously upset, to which he announced that Pavarotti had died. He suspected it had been a heart attack. His sadness filled the room like the calm before the storm. "I know we have to practice do-whopping behind Blaine but I would like to sing a song for Pavarotti." He had pulled a tape out of his jacket pocket handing it over to be placed in the small stereo. The opening chords to the Beatles "Blackbird" filling the silence, Kurt's voice joining a few bars later. His voice rising and falling in the perfect places. Everything in view disappeared except this beautiful creature. An angel who was paying tribute to his dead pet in song. How long had this boy had this hold on me? Why hadn't I noticed, before this moment, Kurt was everything I never knew I wanted.? This boy who was utterly heartbroken over a bird. This perfectly imperfect angel, who was wearing sinfully tight pants that had to be unhealthy for any man. Damn! He was gorgeous. Kurt's voice shrank with the final notes of the song.

The only thought that entered my mind was how to find a way to spend more time with this boy. But how was I gonna manage that? With class, homework and all the extra Warbler practice for Regionals. There was no extra time. That night I had laid awake in my dorm room. The blackness filled with those blue, sometimes green, eyes and heavenly voice. Think, Anderson! I had tried to order my brain. It refused to listen as always. Sleep finally washed over me. The next day wad no different. The answer I searched for still eluding me. It wasn't until that night, alone in my dorm room, that the idea hit me. If I could convince the council to make the eleven o' clock number a duet, Kurt and I would have to spend time together to practice. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Now it was just getting the rest of the Warblers to agree that would pose a problem. Boy, was I ever right. When I presented the suggestion to the council the next day the entire room fell to complete chaos. One of the council even suggesting we play it on kazoo's. David eventually called order to the angered mob. I explained that Pavarotti's voice had been silenced and I didn't want to continue to silence the other voices in the group. The vote was finally cast to turn the song into a dual lead. It passed unanimously, to which Kurt requested his name be added to the audition list. I quickly rebuffed the idea explaining I wanted to sing the song with Kurt. To which he spluttered a few words only to be cut off by another vote passing unquestioned. The shock clear on Kurt's face. My heart swelling at the thought of the time I would now get to spend with Kurt. Well, as soon as there was a song to practice. Shit! I hadn't thought that far ahead. Stupid, Anderson. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I grabbed my I pod from it's dock and began scrolling through my play list. Lady Gaga, Pink, and Katey Perry quickly over looked. I needed to prove I was versatile. Stationary was not something Kurt liked. I swiped the pad of my finger up the screen again before stopping the movement. The perfect song starring back at me. Kurt would be proud which made my heart stutter. That night was spent dreamless, a peace I had never known embracing me.

I hurried to find Kurt the next morning, finding him alone. Craft supplies surrounding a small box. I inquired as to what he was doing to which he explained he was decorating Pavarotii's casket. This boy was nothing less than amazing. "Well, finish up. I have the perfect song for our number and we should practice." I grinned.

"Do tell." He had smiled.

"Candles by Hey Monday." I smiled. He smiled in return.

"I'm impressed, you're usually so top forty." He retorted.

"Well, I just wanted something a little more emotional." I admitted. Taking the seat next to him. A slight look of confusion playing across his flawless features.

"Why did you pick me to sing that song with?" Kurt was far from stupid, of course he would know there was a meaning behind it. I had to swallow my heart before it jumped out of my throat and landed on the table. I closed my eyes, knowing his were boring through me for an answer. 'It's now or never, Anderson' I told myself.

"Kurt, there is a moment when you say to yourself. Oh, there you are I've been looking for you forever." I shifted slightly, placing my hand over his. "Watching you do "Blackbird" this week was the moment for me, about you." realization slowly dawning on Kurt's face. "You move me, Kurt. And this duet would just be an excuse to spend more time with you." before I knew what I was doing my lips were on Kurt's. His soft lips dancing against mine, his hand coming to rest on my cheek. The kiss breaking, Kurt's hand hitting the table for support. His eyes closed for a second. "We should practice." I could feel my face color, a nervous giggle escaping me.

"I thought we were." Kurt breathlessly replied, and I kissed him again.

Every fiber of me told me this was right. This was what I had been waiting for. We lost Regional's, but I didn't care. I had won something that was far more precious than any damn trophy. I had won Kurt. I had won a love that would last my whole life through. I had found my soul mate.

Less than 3,

Blaine Anderson.

Sam looked at Kurt who had rejoined them shortly after Sam had started reading. Kurt's eyes glistening with unshed tears. The silence stretched on for a moment. Both the men shocked when it was Blaine who broke the silence. "I remember that bird. It was a tradition to give each new member of the group one. David and Wes had been so happy to hear you were joining." Sam and Kurt exchanged excited expressions.

"Oh my God, you remember that? Blaine, that's incredible." Kurt cooed. Pride shining in his eyes.

"That's great, bro!" Sam exclaimed. Blaine lowered his head, a slight shade of pink coloring his cheeks. The three boys exploring what other events Blaine could remember. Turned out he could remember almost everything up till the kiss. Sam and Kurt had done it. Slowly, brick by brick, they were tearing down the wall that surrounded Blaine's blocked mind. Blaine had dissolved into a fit of giggles when he remembered making out with Rachel at her party, but apologized to Kurt for what seemed like hours about the tirade he had went off on when Kurt had tried to explain to Blaine that he was gay. Kurt assuring his ex that it was fine. That, just like now, he had simply been trying to find himself. Had blushed when Kurt had told SAM about the "Warblers GAP Attack" that ended in disaster. They laughed until dawn when Kurt feel to exhaustion. Sam and Blaine yawning wildly. Both trying hard to fight sleep, yet neither quite winning.

"Thanks for helping me, Sam. I couldn't ask for a better friend." Blaine confessed.

"That's what bros are for, dude." Sam smiled proudly. Sam watched Blaine's eyes slip closed, happy he hadn't left. He would have missed moments like this. Would missed his friend finding himself again. Would have missed watching the two soul mates find the real reason they fell in love. Learn the world is full of bad shit, but only one true love.