A/N: Warning. . .story is not turning out how I expected. Le sigh. . .curse you Klaine, and your fickleness! Anyway. . .what. . .two updates in one day? What craziness! Yes. . .it's the end of spring break, and I'm feeling writerly. Also, I want to get back to Building Bridges, which has been left alone for far too long. . .sorry about that.

Kurt couldn't decide how he felt. On the one hand, he was extremely peeved at Finn for killing his bird. On the other hand, he was thrilled that Blaine had cared enough to come to his house and literally drag him. On the other hand (or maybe on the foot?) Blaine had seemed mostly concerned about the fate of the Warblers, and the duet. On the other hand. . .

Ridiculous. He was doing it again – overanalyzing and overthinking everything. Blaine was his friend. His best friend, maybe (not that he would ever tell Mercedes that). And best friends looked out for each other.

They pulled into the parking lot just minutes after Wes and David. Kurt could tell it was their car because (well, because it was a freaking Mercedes Benz, and only Dalton students would drive those) painted across the back window were the words "Regionals or Bust."

"Aren't those signs usually painted for road trips?" Blaine asked, in confusion.

"Well, they're boarders," Kurt reasoned. "Five minutes out of Dalton is a road trip for those boys."

Blaine smiled at him, chuckled, and turned off the car. "All right, let's go, new kid."

Kurt followed the other boy in to Carmel's auditorium. He tensed up when they walked in, certain that Jesse St. James was lurking behind a corner, or that the members of Vocal Adrenaline were hiding with eggs clenched in their fists. Until he remembered that the glee club wouldn't be in the school, but would be at their own Regionals competition that day. Thank goodness for small favors.

Wes and David were returning from checking the team in. Kurt and Blaine walked over to them.

"We get the order?" Blaine asked. Wes nodded.

"New Directions is up first, then us, and Aural Intensity is last."

Kurt's face fell. Second. Definitely not the best place to be, and if Aural Intensity played to the judges the way they had last year, even worse. He took a deep breath.

"Hey, it'll be fine," David said encouragingly. "We're going to blow those judges socks off no matter when we perform."

Wes didn't seem as convinced. He was just staring morosely at the program, still clenched tightly in his fist. "Maybe we should do something more standard. Silly Love Songs."

"Absolutely not," Blaine said firmly. "We're being ourselves. Now, Kurt, do you want to find your friends and wish them good luck?"

Kurt's face broke into a wide smile, and instantly his worries flew away. He'd assumed that, going second, he wouldn't be able to see his old friends until after the performance, but Blaine had suggested it, and Blaine always got what he wanted. Sure enough, Wes looked disgruntled, but David just pat him on the back and waved to Thad, leaving the two of them free to slink off.

It wasn't hard to find New Directions. They just followed the sound of Mercedes warming up, Mike tap dancing, and Lauren loudly declaring her love for Mallomars. Blaine was giggling a little as they wandered into the green room, but Kurt frankly didn't care.

Rachel was the first one he saw. She was standing in the middle of the room, widely gesticulating and reminding everyone not to "overuse your vocal chords" but to "reach deep within yourself and find your inner song." Nobody really seemed to be listening, however. Mercedes was still belting out her own song, while Santana, Sam, Artie, and Brittany seemed to be trying to outsnog each other. Blaine snorted.

"Hey, guys!" Kurt said chipperly, waving his arm. "Just wanted to wish you all luck."

"Kurt!"

It was an overwhelming cry, as even the couples detached faces long enough to come and join the mass hug. Kurt knew that his smile was so wide it must be nearly cracking his face in two, but he didn't care. This was his family, and he had to admit that as ecstatic as he was to be singing a solo with the Warblers, he'd rather be singing backup to Rachel and Mercedes supreme vocals (though he would never, ever enjoy being second fiddle to Finn Hudson, of all people).

And it was kind of nice, the way that after greeting him, the girls swarmed over to give Blaine hugs, too. Kurt kind of felt like a proud father, kind of felt like going "yes, he's mine, and he's fabulous, and don't you all love him?" But he didn't because. . .well.

"Normally I would be worried about the competition stealing our secrets so soon before competition, but today I am pleased to see both you and Blaine Warbler." Rachel said. She put her hands on her hips, and quirked one eyebrow toward her. Kurt knew what she wanted him to ask. And he wasn't about to give her that satisfaction. Blaine, evidently, was.

"And why aren't you worried today, Rachel?"

"Because," Rachel said with a proud smile. "Today we're singing original songs, and there's no way you can steal that away from us."

Kurt was blown away. He remembered Rachel talking about writing songs, and her sheer joy at being blown off by Blaine (second only to his supreme joy), but he'd never though she'd go through with it.

"Rachel, that's amazing!" Blaine said, sounding sincere. Kurt glanced over. He knew Blaine well enough by now to see beneath the layers. And, sure enough, beneath the dapper face and charming smile, there was a small iota of panic. He reached out a gently bumped the other boys shoulder. A little awkward, but totally worth it for the smile he got in return.

"I suggested we use my original song," Mercedes said.

"They were totally brill lyrics, sister," Artie agreed. Mercedes bowed.

"I'd love to hear" Blaine didn't even get to finish. Kurt probably should have warned him about that. Mercedes just spread her arms out, pushing everyone else behind her.

"Mama said get yo' ass outta bed

I said Hello to the no!

Said wash you gramma's nasty hair

I said hello to the no!

They tried to take away my tots

I said hell to the no!"

"Sing it, bitch!" Santana yelled. Kurt bit the inside of his lip, trying desperately not to giggle.

"That's really great," Blaine said. "We'll have to hear the whole thing someday."

"No probs," Mercedes said with a broad grin, and opened her mouth to wail some more.

"Not now, 'Cedes," Kurt interrupted. "We need to get back to the other Warblers before they begin panicking."

Kurt turned to follow Blaine out of the green room, a massive smile still plastered across his face. Before he could make it out, however, Rachel grabbed his arm.

"Hey," she said. "Listen to the second song. You. . .you're kind of the inspiration."

"Thanks," Kurt said. He was touched, but also more than a little scared. He'd heard Finn's description of My Headband and wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be the inspiration for a Rachel Berry song.

"We really miss you, Kurt," Rachel said, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen such sincerity in the diva's eyes. "And I know you like Dalton but just. . .we're always here, okay?"

"Thanks," Kurt said. "And hey. . .break a leg up there!"

"Oh, baby, we gonna break two!" Mercedes sassed.

The Warblers, meanwhile, were very seriously practicing their patented step-and-snap dance moves. Kurt just shook his head. He loved both of his glee clubs, he really did, but watching Luke popping out a hip despite Thad's admonishments. . .and all the uniforms. . .it was just too much. He giggled.

"Junior Member Kurt Hummel!" Wes yelled. "Is there something you would like to share with the group?"

"No, nothing," Kurt said, although the image of a sad, little yellow body did briefly flit through his head. He and Blaine had discussed it on the ride up, however, and agreed not to tell the other Warblers until after they'd performed. No need for some superstitious singer to get freaked out over the death of a canary.

What they hadn't discussed was another thought that had been flitting through Kurt's mind. It wasn't a new thought. . .had pretty much been there since his second week at Dalton, but Pavarotti's death had just brought it to the forefront again. Dalton was a great school, and he would get a first rate education there. . .but it would be trying on his dad's finances, and it wasn't like he wanted to go to an Ivy school anyway. And he was tired of the uniforms, and missed having girls around, and he thought that maybe, just maybe, he finally understood Blaine's advice about courage.

He'd had bravado, way back when, but he hadn't had courage. Looking around at the polished boys trying desperately to beatbox and step-shuffle, he thought that maybe Dalton had already given him everything it had to offer.

"Please, Blaine, please."

Kurt didn't think he'd ever heard Wes so desperate, but Blaine was just shaking his head.

"Wes, we've rehearsed the songs a thousand times. I'm not going to strain my voice just to please your masochistic tendencies."

"What if we're out of tune?" Wes pleaded. "What if we're off beat?"

Above them, the loudspeaker crackled indicating the start of the competition. David, showing off the acrobatic skills he could only have acquired at Dalton, flipped it off immediately, sparing the Warblers the imminent threat of hearing their competition. Kurt sighed. He'd really been hoping to hear New Directions, but he could understand the Warblers desire to avoid it. After all, his old glee club had done the same thing.

"Is it starting?" Blaine asked. Kurt glanced at him. Blaine's face lit up into a broad smile, as he grab Kurt's heart. Stupid familiar heart flip-flop. "Come on. I think we all need to hear these original songs. Especially if they're anything like Mercedes. They took away my tots. . .genius!"

Kurt let himself be towed back through the green room. He ignored the scandalized looks on the faces of the other Warblers. Blaine's hand was so warm. . .and calloused. . .and. . .

Glitter, Kurt reminded himself firmly. Just glitter.

They found themselves a nice, comfortable spot backstage, where they could peer out between the curtains. A shuffling sound beside Blaine and, surprisingly, Thad of all people was there.

"Out from beneath Wes' thumb?" Blaine whispered. Thad frowned.

"My good sir, I am merely sizing up the competition," he said. "This is a mere reconnaissance mission."

"Uh-huh," Kurt said with a smirk.

And then Rachel began to sing. Kurt's mouth dropped open. He could feel, more than see, Blaine and Thad exchanging shocked looks. Because this song was no My Headband, and it was no Hell to the No. It was a real song.

And sure, Kurt was willing to admit that it was schmaltzy, and poppy, but Rachel was singing it as passionately as she sang everything else. Or maybe they were just shocked at the combat boots with the teal dress. Seriously, who was the costume designer?

And then Rachel raised her hand, and the rest of New Directions began walking in from the back of the auditorium (of course). Finn looked positively gobsmacked, and Kurt would have cut a bitch to find out what had gone down in the green room after they'd left.

"Kurt. . ." Blaine whispered. "This is good. They're really good."

Kurt didn't say anything, just smiled and began tapping his foot along. How many times would it take for Rachel to get it right? He had the feeling she'd done it right there. He tried to see the judges faces, but couldn't through the darkness of the auditorium.

And then the song was over, and Rachel was still in the middle of the stage, fists tightly clenched at her side, face raised defiantly toward the ceiling, and tears coursing down her cheeks. She looked completely beautiful for that moment. Maybe, he thought, just maybe he'd go a little straight for Rachel Berry. He glanced at Blaine. Okay, maybe he wasn't upset about the bisexual comment anymore.

But then the music started up again, and Rachel's words from earlier flew through his head.

And. . .really? Really? Rachel dedicated a song about being a loser to him? Screw that earlier thought, he was still 100% gay.

But then Finn stepped forward and started to sing.

"Push me up against the locker

And hey, all I do is shake it off"

He started shaking. Trembling, really, but it was enough the Blaine noticed, and shifted over to clutch his hand. Kurt twined his fingers through the other boys. Because they were singing about him. . .Rachel had written a song about how fabulous he was.

"I'll get you back when I'm your boss

I'm not thinkin' 'bout you haters

'Cause hey, I could be a superstar

I'll see you when you wash my car."

He choked back a sob. The Warblers might have given him a solo, but New Directions had written him a song. He was standing in the backstage, next to the most beautiful boy he'd ever met, and he realized that he didn't care anymore.

He was Kurt Hummel, and he was absolutely fabulous. It was time to go back home, where people actually understood and appreciated it.

A/N: Next chapter. . .obscene amounts of Klaine. Seriously. It scares me. . .Tuesday's episode is going to be such a let-down after this, though I look forward to some Determined!Quinn.