-A/N: Reason behind a late posting- I've been going for treatment for illness. Don't shoot me D: Oh, I also realised I never stated where this was in canon. It's between episodes 12 & 13, so just before Santana shows up. Please review, otherwise the writing will never get any better. 'Kay, thanks!

Disclaimer: I never said I was a good writer, so please don't kill me.

Rachel hugged Kurt tight until his sobs finally stopped. "Feel better?" She asked and Kurt nodded. "Good. Now, I know you don't want to hear this, but you need to make a choice Kurt." Rachel informed him gently, keeping an eye on her best friend's face. He nodded miserably.

"It's just... no matter what I do I'm going to hurt someone." He sniffed.

"Well forget them." Rachel offered. Kurt looked appalled. "Not like that. Just, for a second, forget what their reactions are going to be. Take a moment, and think: Between Adam and Blaine, who would make you happiest?" She asked. Kurt sat and thought.

"Don't you want me to be with Adam, though?" He asked, deflecting.

Rachel shook her head. "I want my best friend to be happy. If that means you're with your ex, it means you're with your ex. I was only against Blaine because you were hurting and it was his fault. If he makes you happy, then I support you."

Kurt smiled weakly at her admission. "For a self confessed diva you aren't all that bad." He whispered.

Rachel tossed her hair. "I have my moments." She admitted cockily. There was a beat before the two friends broke out into giggles. After a moment though, they grew serious again. "But Kurt, you never answered. Ignore what the repercussions may be, instead focus on you. Be honest with yourself: Who makes you happy?"

"Blaine." Kurt finally admitted in a broken, hoarse whisper.

"Who do you see yourself with 10 years from now, if you had the choice?"

"Blaine..." Kurt repeated again, tears gathering in his eyes once more.

"Who would you drop absolutely anything for; just to make sure they're okay?"

Kurt hung his head. "Blaine." He said for the third time.

Rachel smiled softly and rubbed Kurt's back soothingly. "Then I think you've got your answer." She pointed out slowly.

Kurt let out a self deprecating chuckle. "I never really got over him in the first place, did I?" He questioned rhetorically. Rachel smiled sympathetically. He shook his head and looked out across the city. "It's just so hard. I love him, God I love him so much, but it's just so hard. How do I trust him not to break me again? How can I be sure he loves me completely, and he's not seeing some bit on the side? It's like...like there's two sides screaming at me and I don't know which to listen to." Kurt explained. "I can't tell if love is enough to work through our problems."

"Love is always enough Kurt; you just have to give it a chance." Rachel promised. "And, if he hurts you again, I promise I can always sick someone like Miss. July or my gaggle of followers on him. Even Brody will help tear him apart, and I'm confident Mercedes won't be happy that the curly haired hobbit hurt her Boo." Rachel teased, bumping Kurt's shoulder with her own as he smiled a little.

His smile faded. "W-What about Adam though? I mean, I like him, and y-you were right about me stringing him along, I guess but...I just don't want to hurt him. He's so sweet, and genuine," Kurt sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, worrying it between his teeth. "I don't want to do anything that would make him feel bad."

"Just...be honest." Rachel offered. "Explain how you feel and why you've continued to be with him for so long. If he's a decent person I'm sure he'll understand." She predicted.

Kurt wiped his eyes again and turned to Rachel with a smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Have to find a new duet partner?" She teased. "Stick up an ad for a new roommate?"

"Ooh, that'd be nice! Someone who doesn't sing in the shower for 7 hours straight!" Kurt joked back as Rachel hit him in protest. They grinned at each other before Kurt glanced at his phone. "It's nearly time to get up anyway. Fancy an early morning walk to the cafe?" He asked. Rachel smiled and they turned to go back inside. Kurt smiled. For once, things were beginning to look up.

In a completely different part of town, two feet padded across a silent apartment and slipped out. Jogging down the stairs, and sliding down the banister for kicks, she stepped out in the chill New York air. Turning and peering around cautiously, she eventually strolled down the pavement and slipped into the early morning crowds, hair blowing in the light wind. Her knuckles were white on the strap of her shoulder.

Rachel and Kurt were sat comfortably in their favourite cafe, a few blocks from their apartment as they absently chewed on their breakfast, people watching and trying to work out people's life stories just from a quick glance.

"Okay what about..." Rachel paused to scan the crowds that were just beginning to form in time for the early morning rush. "Her!" She decided, pointing at a young woman stood retrieving her drink and doughnut at the counter, a paper bag in one hand and a large white leather bag in the other. Her hair fell down just past her shoulders and she was wearing what looked like a smart suit, long grey trousers and a grey blazer with what looked like a lavender coloured blouse, the cuffs poking out from beneath the blazer.

"Hmm..." Kurt narrowed his eyes, trying to get a look at her face. Unfortunately, she kept it hidden, her hair shielding it from view. He pouted, but tried anyway. "Well...she's a very intelligent woman who clearly works in business and is trying to show them she's serious, or get her colleagues to take her seriously because she's a woman. She's from a wealthy background and went to an expensive private school for her education that Mommy and Daddy paid for so she's never really had to work for anything, and it took a while to get used to working with others who wouldn't let her buy them out, however she's persevered and used her intellect and is now working her way to the top." He concluded.

"Hmmm...I'd just say she's a reporter who's been forced to come here for work and doesn't actually want to be in New York, but is slowly getting used to it and still feels fairly out of her depth and unsure about being here." Rachel disagreed, watching the woman as she thanked the barista, turned and walked out of the shop, head bowed and still gripping her white bag tight as she walked out of the door, other bags still clutched tightly as she chewed on what must have been a breakfast on the go before she was down the street and out of sight.

"Come on, we'd better head off to NYADA." Kurt decided, dumping the wrapper that had once held his sandwich in the bin before getting to his feet. Rachel did the same and they both walked out the door.

"What are you going to do about Adam?" She asked curiously.

"I'm not sure..." Kurt admitted, biting his lip. "I...I think I might leave it, at least for a few days, just so I can fully sort my head out and get myself sorted." He decided. Rachel hummed and linked her arm with Kurt's. "I'm not going to do anything to encourage Adam further, but instead I'll keep it...relaxed. That way I can let him down gently when I've figured everything out and what I want to do." He concluded.

Rachel nodded firmly in approval. "Good for you. You're doing what you need to in order to make things better for yourself. And this way you can focus more on your performing and work with me on our singing and future Broadway careers!" She added as Kurt laughed and nodded along, already walking with her into the building.

Seated on some steps in Times Square, the same woman who'd walked past the two NYADA students was chewing thoughtfully on her doughnut, a pizza wrap in her paper bag and her Styrofoam cup of coffee in the other. By her feet, the new mug she'd bought for Adam was wrapped and ready to be placed on his shelf, an apology card shoved inside as well. She stared as people walked by. The tiniest smile flashed onto her face, just a brief flicker, as she looked around the busy area. Tourists were all around, snapping pictures, chattering excitedly and some even flailing in excitement over certain things. She sighed, pushing the last of the confectionary into her mouth and taking a long sip of her coffee- black, one sugar, and she always added the tiniest shot of Jack Daniels- and pushed up from the step, dusting off her trousers as she shouldered her bag more firmly and went to hail a taxi.

Work wouldn't wait forever.

Kurt was distracted all through his day. Adam was being particularly sweet and attentive, feeling guilty for abandoning Kurt for his old school friend, but his attitude just made the guilt roll around in Kurt's stomach, gnawing at him as his conscience screamed at him for continuing to lie about his feelings. When the senior departed with a kiss to Kurt's cheek, the paler boy wanted to do nothing more than curl up and cry. Which was how he found himself skipping lunch and instead choosing to secrete himself away in the men's room, feet up and hidden away in a stall as he tried to gather himself in time for his next lesson. He pulled out his phone as a text came through.

Hey, do you think I could get away with sneaking out of class right now? Mrs. Warbeck is kind of scaring me at the moment...

Kurt chuckled, unable to stop himself.

What on Earth is so scary about her?

She keeps giving me this weird glare when she talks. AND every time she walks past me she trails her fingers over my shoulder!

Oh my, how will you ever survive?

Kuuuurt! It's a creepy stare! I thought you'd be at least a little sympathetic!

Kurt smiled, as another text came through.

I escaped! Now I'm stuck hiding out in the boy's bathroom for the next 15 minutes. Entertain me?

You're pouting, aren't you?

Me? Never...

Yep, you're pouting.

Okay, maybe a little? Please help me? Keep me entertained? I don't want to go back to the creepy glare of imminent doom!

Well, when put like that, how could I refuse such an offer?

Her head was beginning to throb as she wearily stared at the two men in front of her, bellowing angrily at each other over theories. Absently, she checked over them, rolling her eyes. They were both wrong, she had barely even seen the paperwork and already counted several miscalculations.

"Idiots..." She muttered under her breath, rubbing at her temples. She could feel a headache coming on. Eyeing the men, she felt irritation crawl under her skin. It didn't matter if they were wrong, or if they rushed things, all these people cared about was being the first to uncover something, never mind if they were right or if it bettered things, they just cared about having a claim to the discovery. She sighed. "Gentlemen!" She interrupted sharply, causing all eyes to turn to her as she stood, smoothing her trousers down. "I appreciate the fact you are so passionate about your research, however, before we allow this debate to continue, I must point out to you that I have already seen some vast miscalculations on both of your parts, which renders your research null and void." She cut over them bluntly, handing them their papers back. "Mr. Stephenson, you haven't taken into account the gravitational pull between celestial bodies in the elements of your Oscillating universe theory, which has led to quite a few mathematical errors," She informed him as the other man snickered. "And as for you, Mr. Jacobs, well, I've written down the things that were wrong with your theory, including several loopholes I spotted the moment you began speaking. Now, both have their merits, but you need to spend more time looking them over and refining research rather than arguing over who's right and who isn't. Need I remind everyone we work in theoretical physics, so far we have no conclusive yes or no answer, and we'd all do well to remember that." She chastised.

One man at the end scoffed. "Because a woman like you really knows what she's talking about..."

Her gaze locked onto the man, others shivering at the cold, harsh stare. "I'll have you know, Jenkins, that I graduated from university as the best student in the year, not to mention as a valedictorian. I have probably the largest IQ in this room, as proven by many others in a variety of tests, and I still expand my knowledge each and every day despite the fact I am easily 2 decades younger than you. Now, I suggest that you grow up and learn that, just because I happen to be a different gender than you, does not mean that my intellect cannot easily outrank yours. Clearly my maturity levels do." She concluded, as the whole room collectively winced. She then proceeded to calmly collect her things, slotting them all neatly into her briefcase. "Perhaps you should consider finding another team to work with. After all," She peered over her glasses at him. "We are focusing on expanding our horizons, I'd rather not be stuck with someone who failed to evolve further than a Neanderthal in my team. Are we clear?" She checked as Jenkins nodded dumbly. "Wonderful." She turned to the stunned room. "Now, since we seemed to have achieved next to nothing today, might I suggest we reconvene on Thursday so we can all ready ourselves and actually get some work done?" She suggested in an oddly chipper tone. The group all murmured their consent. "Excellent. And now, if you'll all excuse me gentlemen, I have an appointment I need to keep." She admitted, before going to leave the room.

"Fucking hell..." Jenkins muttered under his breath, paper white from the reaming out he'd just undergone, the entire room freezing when she paused just outside the door.

"Oh, and Jenkins?" She added conversationally. He swallowed when she turned and smiled. The pull of her lips affected a warmth and kindness but behind her glasses there was a steely glint that sent shivers rolling over everyone's skin. "Before you continue to spout anymore ignorant and sexist comments, might I also point out that the only woman within this research team is also in the highest position?" She reasoned calmly, before, once she'd run her gaze across everyone individually, opening the door and breezing out of the conference room, leaving a group of extremely shaken middle aged men behind her.

As her heels clacked slightly on the tiled floor, her smile morphed into a smirk. Hitting the button for the elevator, she stepped in without so much as a glance at the other workers, checking her phone and pulling up Adam's number to arrange where they'd be meeting for dinner after he was done with NYADA.

"What floor?" A kind voice asked.

"Lobby, if you don't mind." She requested politely, glancing up at the source. It was a man, tall and thin, with big black glasses that hid dark brown eyes. He looked to be in his mid twenties, with sandy blonde hair that looked in total disarray but for an odd reason seemed to fit. Her eyes raked over him quickly. Smartly dressed, but she noticed his tie was slightly loose, the first button of his shirt popped open and the hem sticking out of his trousers slightly, and there was the corner of a page sticking out of his own briefcase. "Rough day?" She enquired, surprising herself.

The man groaned. "You don't even know the half of it." He muttered, rolling his eyes and dragging a hand through his hair. He eyed her. "You?"

"Same." She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "Working with sexist pigs who think because I happen to be younger and female that clearly I lucked my way into the job and am so obviously beneath them." She relayed with an eye roll of her own.

He winced. "Tough break. What field?"

"Quantum mechanics, though I tend to dabble in astrophysics from time to time. You?"

"Same." He admitted, eyebrows quirked upwards in some surprise. "I'm guessing you were the one who got stuck with Jenkins?" He asked. She nodded. "Ooh, sorry. I've only spoken to him once, but he seems like an ass." He admitted as she chuckled. The man paused, biting his lip. "Listen, if you ever need to call in a replacement, or just need to have a chat with someone, just say the word and I'll be more than happy to help out."

She smiled a little. "Thanks. It means a lot, considering how most treat me."

He waved it off. "Meh, they're just ignorant. So, would it be presumptuous to say...ask for your number in order to meet up for coffee sometime?" He queried slyly. She just smiled a little wider.

"Depends- would it be presumptuous of me to ask for your number in return?"

Adam looked up from his paper as the door swung inwards. "Honey, I'm ho-ome!" his favourite friend sing-songed as she stepped into the flat.

"Oh darling, how I missed you!" He proclaimed as she draped herself over his back, arms sliding around his shoulders to dangle over his chest. They pecked one another on the lips, a familiar greeting between them.

"How was your day sweetie?" She teased.

Adam grunted. "Too much homework." He complained. She cooed and rubbed his shoulders sympathetically. "How was work?"

"Dealing with a misogynistic asswagon, and I think I made a new friend." She admitted, peering at the paper he was writing.

He made a noise of interest. "Oh? And is this 'friend' going to stay in that bracket?" He teased right back.

She moaned in complaint. "Yes, he will be staying as a friend, considering we only met today." She promised in exasperation. Withdrawing from her position, she started pottering around the kitchen, pulling out a couple of mugs. "Honestly, it's like I can't have friends without you trying to turn them into possible romances!" She grumbled in good nature.

"Well can you blame me?" He asked, abandoning his paper and twisting to lean over the back of the settee to watch her as she set about filling the kettle. "You've been single for like, forever." He groaned. "Is it so wrong of me to want to see my best friend find her soulmate?"

"It is when you keep nagging!" She shot back, flicking a switch and peering about in the cupboards. "Speaking of soulmates, how are you and your mystery man?" She enquired, pointing a spoon at her friend. "Who I still need to meet, by the way!"

Adam smirked. "Yeah, no offence, I'd rather my boyfriend was alive thank you. If you get within ten feet of him I'm still not entirely convinced he'd come out unscathed."

"I'm just looking out for you!" She defended. "After all, I only want what's best for you- you know that!" She fluttered her eyelashes playfully.

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure...and, to answer your original question, we're doing very well thank you. As it happens I'm thinking of taking him out for coffee tomorrow, if that's alright?" He checked.

She frowned, walking over with their drinks- a bog standard tea for her and a highly caffeinated monstrosity for Adam- and seated herself beside him. "Why should it concern me?"

Adam looked almost affronted. "Because you come before any boyfriend. No matter what, you come first." He stated firmly.

"N'awww, thank you!" She cooed, but her eyes conveyed her appreciation. "And you know you're always my number 1 man." She promised, rubbing his knee. "But that's absolutely fine, I'm off for a coffee with Jacob as it happens, talking work and stuff." She confessed. Adam waggled his eyebrows and she cuffed him. "Not like that!" She cried, rolling her eyes. Laughter echoed through the cosy apartment. "So, where are we eating tonight then?"

"Well, as soon as I finish this nightmare," Adam gestured to his computer screen "I was thinking we could just head out to the local Chinese. Get a little dressed up, have a drink..." He trailed off.

"Like old times." She murmured softly.

"Like old times." He agreed gently. She nodded her assent and rested her head on his shoulder, sipping her tea as he started tapping away at the keys of his laptop, trying to complete the essay in front of him. A comfortable silence settled between the two.

Down in Bushwick Kurt was all but tearing his hair out in frustration. His phone lay discarded on the bed and he was sat hunched over, head in hands, as Rachel set about making them dinner. He'd just come off the phone with Will Schuester, after agreeing to come to his wedding alongside Rachel, and Blaine had just asked if he was willing to sing at the reception with him. And, like the idiot he way, Kurt had blindly agreed. He groaned into his hands. Blaine continued to sign off every text with a kiss and had ended their conversation with a kissing emoticon and a heart. Whilst Kurt's own heart had fluttered at the sight, his guilt had roared at him, reminding him of one very simple fact: He was still dating someone else. Kurt sighed, flopping onto his pillows.

When did life get so complicated?