A/N: Hello. The response to this story has been amazing. Thanks to all of you who are following, favouriting, and reviewing this story. It means a lot to me. I hope you all enjoyed your Easter break. I didn't get much chocolate, but I got to see my family, so that was enough for me. This chapter took me a while to write, and it's longer than the others at the moment, but it's coming along nicely. We get some Klaine loving in this chapter. But that's not the only chapter. ;) Please, take the time to send me a review, or if you can't, just follow or fave. Thanks, and enjoy. See you next week. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.

Chapter Four: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Kurt is spending the weekend at the Anderson's house. Their seven month anniversary is coming up in two days, on October 15th. It's the perfect time apparently, to share more "intimate" moments, according to Wes, who had been making all kinds of inappropriate statements, since he found out that Kurt was spending the weekend at Blaine's parents' house. The Anderson house was larger than most. It's three stories, and white on the outside, but beautifully decorated inside. Kurt takes a moment to admire the dressing of the house, before Blaine is pulling him through the living area, and over to the stairs, before taking their bags and heading up to his room. Kurt just smiles and blushes, but follows Blaine inside, smirking when he notes that he room is basically the same as it has been since Blaine was five. The Lead Warbler turns around, blushing when he notices Kurt looking around, and seeing all the toys that he kept over the years, and Kurt smiles a big smile, because it's rare that Blaine blushes, but it seems to always be around him. The two boys' silent thoughts are interrupted by Blaine's mother, Elaine, calling their names excitedly. Kurt takes a deep breath, letting Blaine take his hand, pull him in to kiss him softly, before heading out of the room, and towards the sound of his mother's voice. A mother who was there to raise him his whole life, one who didn't abandon him at a gas station miles from home. Kurt closed his eyes, readying himself to meet Elaine, before following Blaine out of the room, and down the stairs, back into the living area. It's strange, how much Blaine looks like his mother. Soft features, her curly dark hair, his bouncy nature. He also has some of his father's traits, eyes, posture, and the way he holds himself. It's very clear to see.

Elaine is so excited to meet Kurt that she's bouncing on the balls of her feet when Blaine brings Kurt into the room. She hugs the taller boy tightly, thanking him for loving her son, and being the person that he is. Kurt relaxes into the hug, but pulls back before he breaks down. He can't believe that he has been missing out on that all these years. He wonders, briefly, if hugging Carole would be the same, but as he's never done that, he wouldn't know. Blaine's father, Richard, shakes his hand, before hugging him tightly as well. Kurt just smiles awkwardly, and moves to sit beside his boyfriend on the sofa, whilst Blaine regales his parents with tales of the Warblers, and Dalton and Kurt and the New Directions, and he should probably say something, or stop Blaine from saying some things… but he's so entranced in watching Blaine interact with his parents, the pure joy on his face, the way it lights up his features, that he literally can't say anything. He doesn't want to stop the moment that's unfolding in front of him. Part of him is holding back the uncontrollable jealousy and irrational anger that Blaine gets to have both of his parents, and Kurt doesn't. He knows it's stupid to be jealous, it's irrational and wrong and he shouldn't be mad at Blaine. It's not his fault. Kurt is the one to blame for his mother's disappearance, and regardless of what people tell him, he knows that's the truth. Finally, Kurt is brought out of his funk, by Blaine taking his hand, all three Anderson's looking at him worriedly. He smiles, and apologises, changing the subject to bringing up some of the things that Blaine does at Dalton, leaving his boyfriend hiding his face in his shoulder, blushing. Kurt, you know you can find me, you just need a team… he thinks, over the dream he had last night. He could swear his mother is giving him clues, but he knows that's stupid.

When it gets a little later into the afternoon, Blaine shows Kurt around the house. It's impressive. A large living area, dining room, kitchen (one that Kurt swears he's going to lock himself away in, this just makes Blaine laugh and wink at him), Blaine's room (and they may have spent a little bit more time in there, getting to know Blaine's bed, whilst they made out), the upstairs living area, which consisted of a very large gaming/movie room, with a projector. Kurt now understands what Wes and David were talking about when they mention how great Warbler Game Nights are when Blaine hosts them. Kurt has never been to one, obviously, mostly because whenever Blaine plans them, he makes up an excuse about spending time with his father, which he likes doing, but should probably stop lying to Blaine about. Truth, he could beat them all at COD, like the time he bet Finn and Puck… the looks on their faces… but he doesn't tell them that, because he's projected this image of himself out there, and there's all these sides of him that he doesn't want to show people. It makes him vulnerable. Blaine suggests they watch a movie, which leads to him going over to the built in shelving unit, and revealing hundreds of DVD's neatly alphabetised in the shelves. Kurt just gapes at the sheer amount of movies, and then moves over to stand beside Blaine, not bothering to look at what movie he's pulling out, keeping his eyes on his boyfriend, who is blushing, but frowns when Kurt hands him the movie he picked from the shelf, smirk on his lips.

'Kurt, you realise what you picked right?' Blaine asked, taking the DVD and holding it up, revealing to Kurt that it was Finding Nemo, not that Blaine minded

'I don't care about the movie Blaine,' Kurt replied, taking the DVD anyway, and moving over to the player to put it on

'If you don't care about it, why are we watching it?' Blaine asked, sitting beside Kurt on the large beanbag in front of the TV

'Because, it will be background noise, and a distraction from what I have to talk to you about,' Kurt replied, and Blaine just looked at him, both worried and surprised.

Carole and Burt had only been together for about a year. On Kurt's seventeenth birthday, Finn decided to ask about why Burt was single, and where Kurt's mother was, which plummeted the room into silence, causing Carole to whack her son over the back of his head, before Burt raised a hand and silenced them, explaining that they both had the right to know about it. Finn looked at his soon-to-be-step-brother, who wasn't looking at any of them, but staring half-heartedly at something out the window. Finn couldn't find whatever Kurt was staring at, so he turned his attention to his mother, and step-father, who looked as though he was gearing up to tell Finn that his ex-wife had been killed or something. Kurt seemed to fade out of the conversation, but he knew that Burt kept looking over at him, because he could feel three sets of eyes boring into his being. He didn't have the strength to move, and even if he did, where would he go? It's nine at night, and Nick lives in Westerville. By the time he got there, it would be almost ten, and he knows he'd never get past the Dalton night guard, and into the building. He could go to Mandy's, but without Nick there, he always feels a little strange, and his little sister seems to just cling to Kurt when he's there. Finn lets the information sink into his skull, and he knows that his first instinct is to call his girlfriend, and confide in her everything, but he also knows that he could never betray the Hummel's like that, so instead, he keeps silent. He just asks questions that he's surprised Burt doesn't have the answers to, then he looks over at Kurt. Everything making sense all of a sudden, and he wonders what else the countertenor has been hiding from him. From them. Burt talks about Kurt running away, the cutting, the rebellious stage… he talks about how Nick's mother is the one who brought him home, and that's why Kurt and Nick are so close… like brothers. Finn sometimes wishes Kurt would let him in like that… but he understands why he's so resistant now.

A couple of hours later, when Kurt is lying in his dark bedroom, staring at the ceiling, pretending to sleep like he has been for the last month or so, he thinks about everything that happened downstairs, and he wishes that a black hole would appear and suck him into it. He never wanted Finn to know about his mother, because he'll end up telling Rachel, who will tell the Glee Club, and before he knows it, he'll be the kid whose mother abandoned him when he was five. He won't be Kurt Hummel, the sassy gay kid, he'll just be the laughing stock of the club, because regardless of whether or not the others have two parents, none of their parents abandoned them. There is a bang from outside, and then Finn is knocking on his door. He calls for the boy to come in, flipping the light on, and sitting cross legged under his bed covers. He's wearing his sleep shirt and pants, not that he doesn't any other night, but Finn seems to think that he doesn't… which is strange, but beside the point. His step-brother takes a seat at the foot of the bed, and just watches him for a couple of minutes, before Kurt annoyingly asks what he wants. It's unexpected when Finn moves to pull him into a bear hug, whispering sorry in his ear, and mumbling about how it can't be fair that Kurt had to grow up knowing that his mother had abandoned him, when Finn had Carole the whole time, and promises to Kurt, that his mother will accept Kurt, and that he loves him like a brother. Kurt doesn't know whether to push Finn off of him, or cry, either way, they stay like that for a while, before Finn pulls back, and moves to stand, smiling at his brother, before leaving the room again. Kurt just stares at the closed door for a moment, before snuggling back down in his bed, window open, light on…

Blaine presses play on the DVD menu, whilst Kurt just watches him, and it's a little creepy, but whatever Kurt wants to talk to him about must be serious, because his boyfriend does this thing, where he straightens his back, squares his shoulders, and looks past the person he's talking to. Blaine hates when Kurt does it, because he's putting up a shield, and even though he knows it's a coping mechanism, he wants Kurt to be able to be open about anything. The taller of the two is trying not to hyperventilate, and seriously considers calling his own bluff, and just watching the movie, but Blaine is looking at him, with his I'm-worried-but-curious look in his eyes, and he knows that if he doesn't do it now, he'll never to it. There is a moment of complete silence in the room, and then the voices from the movie, happily swimming about, talking about swimming and fins and family, and Kurt snaps back to reality, takes Blaine's hand, and looks at him, not through him, at him, squaring his shoulders and taking a breath

'When I was five, my mother abandoned me at a gas station miles from my home in Lima. I was there for about six hours, before Nick's mother found me, and brought me back to my father. That's why Nick and I are so close, because we've been friends since we were five. I've been through a lot more in my life, before the age of eighteen than most. When I was twelve, I… I tried to… I was in a bad place, and I didn't want to be here, and I… I have the scars to show for it. Amongst other scars that I've got from the bullying at McKinley. When I was fifteen, I got on a train to Columbia to try and locate my mother, but Nick convinced me to go home, that it wasn't worth finding her. I try so hard to lock all of this away, the hurt, but I know that the reason my mother left is because of me. Don't tell me that it's not because I know that it is. She wouldn't have taken me otherwise,'

'Kurt…'

'You… make me a better person Blaine. You have shown me what it's like to have a form of family, but I can't help being scared that one day you might leave me, and I have to be prepared for that, I have to because I won't survive otherwise, but watching you with your parents… it's amazing. But I had to tell you. I've wanted you to know from the moment I met you, but I didn't want to be the boy without a mother. When we finish highschool, I'm using the summer before college to track her down, and I'm going to find her, ask her why she left. Nick has tried to talk me out of it, but he won't change my mind Blaine…'

'Kurt, stop talking…' Blaine replied, latching onto his boyfriend, kissing him passionately.

Kurt let Blaine caress his skin with his mouth, clothes removed with care, strewn all over the room. Blaine took control, wanting to show Kurt that he's not going anywhere, or doing anything that would mean leaving. He's proving that he loves Kurt, that he'll love him forever, no matter what. Kurt let Blaine take control, because he needs that. He needs Blaine to have that control because he's not strong enough yet, but Blaine and his friends will help him get there. For a moment, when Blaine peppers soft kisses down his naked torso, he stops thinking, closing his eyes, and arching his back into the feeling. They somehow managed to get to Blaine's bedroom, and onto his bed, where the Lead Warbler is straddling Kurt, and the fact that they're both hard, has them blushing, passion and delight and intensity flowing through them. It's a new feeling, one they're going to enjoy experiencing more and more after this time. It's a new feeling, this intimacy with Blaine, but he knows it's the next step. It doesn't take long for Blaine to have them both naked, and begin worshiping his boyfriend's toned body, kissing each of the scars, before moving back up to press their mouths together, before reaching to grab the lube he brought a couple of weeks ago (Wes had put ideas in his head, but he doesn't have time to think about that now), and a condom – not that they need it, it's both their first times. Regardless, watching Blaine prep himself, before kissing Kurt and silently asking him whether he's sure, almost sends Kurt over the edge. He just nods, and Blaine moves to prep Kurt, hearing the soft moans filling the room. They're loud, but not loud enough to alert Blaine's parents.

Neither of them know much about sex, other than what Jeff and Nick have told them, respectively. Blaine knows some things in detail, because he talks to Jeff, but even though he has some knowledge of sex and the pain involved with the first time, he kisses Kurt to try and keep his boyfriend's mind off of the pain. However, the nails digging into his shoulder bring him a certain satisfaction that he can't explain. It's not something normal, and it's more than arousal. It's the knowledge that Kurt is there, and he's the one giving all of himself to Blaine, and Blaine is doing the same. Maybe it's his morbid need to be logical about everything, or maybe it's just that he's trying to make sure that Kurt never feels abandoned every again… or to stop himself from crying from the pain of hearing what Kurt told him. Regardless, it's a feeling he wants to have over and over and over. Their first time is tender, loving and sloppy, but that's okay, because they can do it again until they have it perfect. Soft kisses are shared, arms and limbs flail, until they're both swept away with a burst of immense pleasure, and curl up naked, under the covers, facing one another. They've slept like this before, but the knowledge that they just experienced their first time, and the immense love, plus coming down from their post-coital high, makes it such a big moment. Blaine caresses Kurt's cheek, leaning in to kiss him, fighting the urge to fall asleep, because they have to go and gather their clothes from the movie room, and maybe even try their previous activity again. Kurt smiles happily, breaking eye contact with Blaine, until the shorter boy grabs his chin and connects their eyes

'I will never abandon you Kurt. I love you forever baby. If you want to take the summer before college off to find your mother, I'll be right there beside you,' Blaine whispered, noticing Kurt's eyes widen in surprise, but Kurt didn't say anything in return. It's the perfect first time, but it definitely won't be the last.

On Monday morning, when all the Warblers were back at school, Nick, Jeff, Wes and a very reluctant Blaine, came up with a plan to get Kurt to re-join the Warblers. Kurt had been happier since the weekend, and when he let slip to Nick last night that he and Blaine had had sex, he knew why. Nick was happy for his best-friend and took every opportunity to send sly winks, or dirty messages to him and Blaine. But even though he'd taken a step forward, Kurt was still taking steps back. He hadn't re-joined the Warblers, he wasn't spending any time with his family, and the pre-national's practice run against the New Directions is next month, just before Thanksgiving, and Nick is no closer to convincing Kurt to go back to see Dr. Zucker. The only good thing to have come out of this whole thing, is that he and Kurt agreed that Blaine and Jeff would "swap rooms". Three nights a week, Nick would spend with Jeff, and Blaine with Kurt. It's working well, especially for Blaine, who was limping this morning, walking beside a smug looking Kurt. It's only when they all enter the common room that they realise they've walked into the Warblers planning for their Worthington House Thanksgiving Parade, and Kurt and Blaine have been chosen as the "stand in couple" for this year. Nick cheers, hugging Kurt, excited that he and Jeff don't have to deal with it this year, but his best-friend looks less than impressed, in fact, the messages that he gets from Kurt an hour later prove that he's not looking forward to it at all.

TO: Nick Duval

Kill Wes… I am going to… seriously swing the bat and kill him…. So shicked off right now. Can't make salutations. Catching up with them

FROM: Kurt Hummel

Once again, Blaine is confused by the message, but Nick seems to understand it perfectly. Blaine can't help but chuckle at the expression on Nick's face, which in turn, makes Nick look at him strangely. When Blaine explains that he finds their "language" amusing, Nick grins cheekily, and sends a message back to Kurt… one that Blaine understands a little too well.

TO: Kurt Hummel

Sitting beside your boyfriend and his dirty thoughts. They're so dirty, I'm surprised you haven't skipped class and come down here… down here… get it ;) I'll see you later. Don't worry about lunch. Have fun with ND. :p

FROM: Nick Duval

Kurt blushed, and hid his face behind the history text book he is currently reading, as to shield his phone from the teacher, and Wes, who is sitting beside him. Reluctantly, he lowers the book, and goes back to working on his history assignment which is due in a week. In the back of his mind, he can see Blaine's smirk, and it drives him crazy, and he knows that he should be focussing on history, but it's Wes' voice that brings him crashing back to reality, that, and the ringing of the bell to signal the end of their classes and the start of lunch. He has an hour to get to Lima, and back before his afternoon class, and then this stupid meeting about the Worthington House Parade, which he's being made to do against his will… just making it clear Wesley… against my will. He thought, smirking when Wes turned to look at him, frowning and terrified. Kurt just smiled and stalked out of the classroom.

Nick walked beside him as they headed towards the Dean's office. Dalton's Dean is Laurent Granton, an alumnus from the class of 65. He founded the Warblers and led them to four national titles before he graduated in 1965. Kurt, Burt and Nick sit opposite the man, who smiles cheerfully, too cheerfully for Kurt's liking. Everyone here is so cheerful. He'd rather be back at McKinley, listening to Rachel and Finn arguing about whether or not they're clashing in colours, or what solo to sing, or whether or not it's Barbara Week, or a Katy Perry week. Kurt tunes out as the Dean regales them with stories, and facts about the school, slotting in a few questions for Kurt, and handing Nick the welcome pack he's to give to Kurt tomorrow. Burt is listening, amused by the Dean, and finding common ground with him, Nick thinks it's because they're both around the same age, but he wouldn't say it out loud, even though Burt would just glare at him, a small smirk on his face, before shaking his head, mumbling idiots under his breath, and leaving the room. Eventually, Kurt is enrolled and follows his father and Nick to his (now their) dorm room. Burt places the first of Kurt's bags on the empty bed, hugs his son, then Nick, before going to grab the rest of Kurt's things, leaving the two boys to unpack. It's just Nick who talks, mostly about how amazing this year is going to be, and how amazing next year is going to be. Kurt smiles and listens, agreeing when he's meant to, but really, he kind of wishes Nick would leave him alone with his thoughts. He knows his best-friend means well, but he needs time to adjust. To be honest, Kurt was fine at McKinley, but because Finn is overprotective, and told Burt what was happening, he's here at Dalton. At least he has a room with Nick, at least they're best-friends, brothers, and he doesn't have to worry about nightmares waking his roommate and having to explain.

Burt returns ten minutes later with the last of Kurt's things, hugs both boys, promising he'll ring Kurt at seven like they agreed, and leaves the room, looking back one last time, finding his son and Nick laughing happily. Nick helps for a bit longer, the two boys chatting and laughing, until Nick says he has to meet Jeff, promising he'll be back later. Kurt just nods, secretly thankful that he'll have some time to himself…. It's almost an hour later when Nick returns, with Blaine and Jeff in tow, the latter of whom just smiles annoyingly, and sits on the couch in the middle of their dorm room. Kurt had finished unpacking all of his things, and had moved onto working on his English Assignment, not involving himself in the conversation going on in front of him. He could feel the eyes of at least one of the boys looking over at him every five minutes, and he knows if he had of looked up, he would have seen the pity and sadness in them. That's why he doesn't look up from what he's doing. Dalton seems to have tighter restrictions on their homework, and Kurt doesn't want to flunk out. He needs perfect marks if he wants to get into Harvard Law, and he plans to get them, because Dalton not only has the best pre-college prep program, they have an LSAT program that runs for the seniors in January, before applications are finalised, that he has started studying for. Nick is standing beside his bed when Kurt finally looks up from his assignment, raising an eyebrow at his grinning friend, knowing he's about to be roped into something he doesn't want to do.

'Hey Kurt, want to come down to the common room for the Warblers impromptu 'welcome-back-to-school' performance?' Jeff asked

'No, I should catch up on school work' Kurt replied, looking back down at the paper on his lap

'Come on Kurt, plenty of time to come back to it later,' Nick said, smiling

'You go, I'll catch up later,' Kurt lied, and Nick reluctantly nodded, knowing that he was lying, but not wanting to start an argument, and two hours later when Nick returned to the room, Kurt was finished his assignment, in his sleepwear, reading their literature text in his bed. Nick, to be honest, is worried about his best-friend. He knows that it's a transition, and it might take some time for Kurt to settle in, but he's concerned that he's going backwards, and trying to convince Kurt to join the Warblers, is becoming futile. By ten, Kurt is asleep, but wakes up twice with nightmares, which Nick sits up with him for, until Kurt falls back asleep, but not before agreeing to go back and see Dr. Zucker.

He should have known walking into the Choir Room at McKinley, and having Rachel pounce on him, before pulling him by his arm to the auditorium wouldn't end well. For there, standing beside one another, were the New Directions and the Warblers… prepared to sing to Kurt, until he agreed to come back to the Warblers, and kick Rachel's butt at nationals. Blaine winked at his boyfriend from his place on the stage, and smiled cheerfully when Kurt winked back at him, taking a seat in the front row, where Rachel made him sit, whilst Wes, David and the other Warblers and New Directions, prepared their pre-nationals get-Kurt-to-re-join-the-Warblers performance. He knew, the minute that he walked into McKinley, and saw Puck grin at him that something out of the ordinary was going on, because Noah Puckerman didn't grin at anyone. In fact, he rarely grins at all. It's hard enough getting the man to smile, let alone grin. So that should have been the first thing. The second thing, is that he was in his Dalton Uniform, and Rachel didn't scream bloody murder at the top of her lungs. That was the second clue. Also, has no idea how the Warblers managed to beat him here, but Nick seemed cocky, so he would be talking to his best-friend later. Regardless, he watches them perform against one another, listening to their respective songs… not the ones they're actually performing… of course, can't give those away… and spots Blaine, who makes eye contact with him, puppy dog eyes in full effect, and he gives in, and stands, moving to leave the auditorium, hearing the music stop behind him.

'KURT PLEASE DON'T LEAVE. Blaine is miserable without you. Hell, I'm miserable without you. Come on Kurt, we all miss you' Wes shouted, and Blaine whacked him, smiling

'If I'm going to re-join the Warblers, I need to finish my history assignment, and I have no idea how you managed to beat me here, but it will take me an hour to get back to school. So thanks, but I have work to do. I'll see you at rehearsal tomorrow…' Kurt replied, hearing the cheers behind him, smirking as he left the school.

'So, it was that easy? Why didn't we think of that a week ago?' David asked

'Okay, can you guys kindly get out of our school now?' Rachel asked, ushering the blazer clad boys out of the room.

A/N: Next Chapter: As Thanksgiving and National's approaches, the Warblers lock down on rehearsals, and the Worthington House Parade brings about some unresolved feelings for Kurt, Blaine, Nick and Jeff, about their futures. Wes and David decide they're going to promote a 'Warbler Slack-Off' Day, and Kurt uses this as an opportunity to inquire about LSAT's and his mother, where he discovers secrets his father has been keeping. Rachel and Finn share some surprising news about their futures, and the New Directions begin a 'Prank War' on the Warblers, who retaliate with style, introducing the twins, Elijah and Emmanuel Turnstone. Nick tells Kurt that he wants him to go back and get help, after his nightmares worsen. Flashbacks include, Burt discovering something about his ex-wife, Nick deals with Kurt's rebellious streak, and Kurt deals with wanting to live or die. Read and Review. Enjoy. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.