Just to say thank you for all the lovely reviews, it means the world. A few have mentioned that they thought Burt was ooc in the last chapter...well I've always thought that canon Burt has kind of resigned himself to the inevitable where Blaine is concerned, so there's that I guess. Those are just my thoughts on it, and I also remember my Mum's own reaction when she first met my (considerably older) now husband. Sometimes, however strict you want to be, you can't stand in the way of true love ;)

Hope you enjoy the chapter.


"Hey, you okay?" Rachel asks as she sits down next to Kurt, narrowing her eyes as Santana sits the other side.

"You still miss him?" Santana asks.

"It's probably nerves," Rachel says knowingly.

"No, it's him," Kurt sighs. "It's always him."

"Told you," Santana says, pulling a face at Rachel.

"I saw him," he says quietly, staring at the floor. "Last weekend. He came into the garage with a flat. Ended up meeting my dad."

"You didn't tell me," Rachel grumbles.

"I couldn't. It was mortifying. My dad treated me like a kid, found out about me going to Scandals and grounded me for a month. Then when I got home he lectured me about the perils of chasing after out of reach guys. He said Blaine was trying to do the honorable thing by me, and I should give him a chance to be my friend."

"Your dad's right," Santana says.

"You went to Scandals?" Rachel shrieks.

"Oh get over it Berry, it was months ago." Santana snaps.

"And you knew about this?" she fumes.

"I gave him a ride."

"Kurt I don't believe this," Rachel says, looking upset. "I'm supposed to be your friend."

"And you'd have said no," Kurt snaps at her. "It doesn't matter anyway. What matters is that my dad made me look like a complete fool and any hope I ever had of Blaine viewing me as anything other than a friend are dashed forever."

"Bullshit," Santana remarks, ignoring another of Rachel's eye rolls. "Stop being so over dramatic. The guy likes you as more than a friend, he's just battling with his conscience. What was it like, seeing him again?"

"Painful. I still feel exactly as I did- even stronger in fact. It just hurt more than I ever thought it would."

"It was you who called it all off," Santana points out.

"Just call him," Rachel says softly, and Santana finds herself agreeing and placing a reassuring hand on Kurt's leg.

"I'll bet he misses you as much as you miss him."

"No. I can't. I can't be friends with him...I just...I want him as more than that and unless he's prepared to give himself over then there's no point. Plus, there's so much I don't know about him. I'm pretty sure he drinks heavily, and I'm almost positive he sleeps around. I'm not even sure I want a guy like that, even if there is a spark between us. There's just too many unanswered questions."

"Unanswered or unasked?" Santana says, nodding when she sees Kurt's hesitation. "Thought so. Come on. Lets go kick some regionals butt."


"It was ridiculous!" Rachel shrieks to Finn as he pushes a despondent Artie along the corridor. Behind them trails everyone else, equally as downcast and silent for fear of feeling the full force of Rachel's wrath. Santana links her arm through Kurt's and offers a small smile as they walk.

"Kurt! Hey Kurt, wait up!"

Turning, he sees Blaine running towards him, slightly out of breath, dressed in a dark suit and holding something behind his back.

"What do you want Blaine?" he sighs, really not in the mood for conversation right now. He hears Santana and Mr. Schue ushering everyone down to their dressing room and is grateful that he won't have to deal with the stares and endless questions.

"I uh...I wanted to give you this," he says, holding out a single red rose. "Happy Valentines. It's a bit early I know, but..."

"You want me to be your valentine?" he asks quietly, taking the rose and sniffing at its delicate flower.

"Um...well...y'know."

"No, I don't, because as always with you Blaine, too much is left unsaid." It's harsh, he knows. But he's had all he can take from all sides right now. He needs an outlet for his anger and unfortunately for Blaine, it's him. He stares at the floor, feeling Kurt's eyes on him as he swallows and forces himself to look up once more.

"You were amazing today."

"We lost."

"You didn't lose."

"We sure as hell didn't win, and that's what counts. We'll be back to being the joke of the school come Monday- not that I wasn't already."

"Screw those judges, I thought you sang really well. Though I'd still like to see you do a solo sometime. You're too good to be backup to anybody."

"Why are you here Blaine?" Kurt snaps, causing Blaine to flick his eyes downward again and release a shaking breath.

"I don't know."

The statement hangs in the air between them as they gaze into one another's eyes. Blaine thinks about stepping forward, taking Kurt into his arms and whispering promises into his ear, but just as he's summoning the courage to do so, a young guy with a shock of blond hair calls down the hallway.

"Hey Kurt, you coming? The bus is outside."

"Yeah...I'll be right there," he calls over his shoulder without turning. "I have to go," he says quietly to Blaine.

"Is that him?"

Kurt pauses and then, "Yes, that's him."

Blaine says nothing, but Kurt catches his eye roll and explodes.

"What? You have a problem with this? It was you who told me to find someone my own age."

"No I just...I guess... I just kind of hoped all your firsts would belong to me," Blaine says honestly, looking Kurt square in the eye without flinching, though his heart is beating faster than he's ever known.

"But I don't belong to you do I Blaine?"

"I guess not," he whispers as his eyes fill with tears.

"And I never will. You made that pretty clear."

"Not at all! I never said that! I just said not now. It doesn't mean I don't want you in my life- you made that decision by yourself."

"But you're not going to date me, are you?"

"Not now, no."

"Then I don't think we have anything else to say to each other. I want a man, Blaine. Be he sixteen or thirty one. But I want a man who will make me feel wanted, desired, who will fight to get me and fight even harder to keep me."

And with that, he is gone.


"You're just not yourself," Blaine's mom says six weeks later as she sets his dinner on the table. "We're worried about you."

"I'm fine," Blaine says for what feels like the hundredth time since he's arrived.

"You're not," his dad speaks up from behind his newspaper, lowering it so he can look his son in the eye. "It's coming up two years since..."

"I know that," Blaine replies tersely. "Like I need reminding."

"Honey...talk to us if you feel unhappy."

"Mom," Blaine sighs. "Luke isn't the reason I'm unhappy. It's someone else."

"You've met someone?" his dad asks in surprise.

"Yeah...he's um..." But he's interrupted by his phone ringing, and his heart lurches as he takes it from his pocket and sees the much longed for name. "Kurt?"

"Hey..." He starts, and Blaine steps into the hallway, knowing immediately that something isn't right. Kurt's voice is high pitched and trembling, as if he's only just managing to hold it all together. "So...here's the thing," he continues. "Uh...my dad...my dad had a massive heart attack."

"What? Kurt, oh my god, is he...?"

"He's in the hospital. Um...they're not sure if he's...um...if he's gonna...make it," he stutters out as his shaking breaths fill with sobs which he tries to gulp down as best he can. "Carole and Finn are here but I just..."

"I'm on my way," Blaine says immediately, sparing him from having to ask. He dashes back to the dining room where his parents are waiting expectantly. "I've gotta go. I'm sorry. I love you both," he says, blowing a kiss from the doorway. "I'll be in touch."

"Blaine? What's going on?"

"Not now dad. I really have to go. I'll call you."

He makes it to the hospital as quickly as possible, his phone perched on the seat next to him as he drives, but it stays mercifully silent. A kind receptionist tells him where to locate Burt's room and he runs, bypassing the elevator and taking the stairs two at a time. Bursting into the corridor, he spots Kurt, curled up on a row of plastic chairs at the end of the hall, looking so lonely and afraid that Blaine feels his heart contract in pain as he sprints towards him.

"Kurt?" he asks, falling to his knees as Kurt looks up sharply.

"You came," he breathes, and falls from the chair into Blaine's arms as he starts to cry.

Blaine says nothing, just holds him as close as he can, rubbing small circles on his back and burying his face in his soft chestnut hair as Kurt sobs into his chest. He lifts the boy easily, and sits on a chair- easing the pins and needles in his legs but never letting go of Kurt, keeping him in his lap and cradled against him, arms strong and secure, comforting and reassuring. Eventually the sobs subside, giving way to the occasional hiccuping breath and soft sniffles. All the while Blaine is silent, his fingers drawing relentless patterns over his back. Kurt's arms drop from his neck to wrap around his waist and he raises his blotchy, tear-stained face briefly to offer Blaine a weak smile.

"You came," he repeats simply, and Blaine nods.

"Have you seen him?"

Kurt shakes his head. "Not yet. They won't let us. Carole and Finn went to get some food but I wanted to stay in case..." he stops as his eyes fill with fresh tears and he buries his head into Blaine's chest, fisting his jacket lightly in one hand as he tries to melt into his embrace.

"Do you want me to get you anything?"

"No," Kurt says desperately, the sound muffled by Blaine's sweater. "Please don't leave me."

"Okay," Blaine says simply. He shifts slightly to remove his jacket but pulls Kurt close to him once more, ignoring the stares of passers by as they gawp at the blatantly intimate embrace from the pair.

After a time, Blaine looks up to see a woman and the tall boy from the garage coming toward them. He shifts Kurt's weight from him and stands, holding Kurt's hand tightly in his as Carole smiles at him.

"You must be Blaine," she says kindly. Her eyebrows raise slightly at the sight of their clasped hands but she says nothing, introducing herself and her son instead then sitting on the seat next to him. They make occasional small talk for the next hour but Kurt remains silent, waiting, with Blaine's fingers tightly wrapped around his.

His mind wanders as he allows himself to imagine what life could be like without his dad. Where would he go? He guesses Carole would take him, but wouldn't that be a constant, stark reminder of the family he so very nearly had, but lost? He becomes so wrapped up in this train of thought that he doesn't notice Carole walking away to talk to someone until she is back, touching his shoulder gently and telling him the doctor has news.

"Your dad will live," he says bluntly, and Blaine's arm shifts to hold Kurt's shoulders tightly as he sags against him. "This time anyway. He'll be in for a couple of weeks, it was a big attack and he needs time to recover. But when he goes home he'll have to make some changes, to his diet mainly. Healthy eating, lots of exercise and so on. Carole here tells me I can rely on you to reinforce that, is that true?"

"Y-yes sir," he stutters, eyes wide and endearing as ever as he looks at the doctor with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you."

"No, thank you. If you hadn't acted so quickly he wouldn't be here. You can see him briefly, but he will be very weak still, and sleepy."

"Okay."

"And then go home and get some rest," the doctor says, looking at him over the top of his glasses. "You'll need it."

Kurt nods, then stands stiffly, rolling his shoulders and walking to the door which stands between him and his beloved dad. "Anyone coming?"

"In a minute honey," Carole says softly. "You go first."

Burt Hummel lies in the bed, smaller than Kurt remembers him looking this morning, shrunken- as if the life has almost, but not quite, been sucked from him. Which, he supposes, is accurate. Slowly, Kurt walks towards the bed, as if fearful to make too much noise in the sterile, clinical room. Burt's gaze fixes on him as he approaches, his whole face breaking into a weak but relieved grin as he holds a shaking hand out to him.

"My boy." His voice is thin, rasping from the tubes they had inserted but Kurt doesn't care. His dad is alive, alive to hold him another day, to ground him, to laugh at him and ruffle his hair as he compiles scrapbooks of his favourite vogue outfits, to cheer louder than any other at his performances, and proudly tell anyone who will listen that his boy is the best. A sob escapes Kurt as he falls onto the bed and wraps his arms around his dad.

"Oh god. I love you, I love you so much," he cries as Burt's arms rise to embrace him weakly.

"I love you too buddy. Don't cry. I'm okay. We'll be okay."

"I thought I'd lost you," he sobs harder, soaking the thin hospital gown as Burt tries to soothe him as best he can.

"Never. Can't leave you yet. Not until I see you on Broadway."

Kurt manages a small laugh. "The doc said you've got to sort your diet."

"Did he now?"

"So I'm in charge of cooking from now on. No more takeout."

"I'm not gonna argue, if it keeps me around longer. I mean it Kurt, I'm not ready to leave you yet."

"I should hope not," a voice says from the doorway, and Burt smiles as Carole and Finn enter the room. More tears are shed, tears of relief and happiness as Carole clutches Burt's hand and kisses his fingers over and over again, as if she can't quite believe he's here. Finn slings an arm around Kurt's shoulders and while Kurt is grateful for the touch, he finds himself wishing it was Blaine standing by his side.

"I um...do you mind if I get Blaine?" he asks timidly.

"Blaine's here?" Burt asks in surprise. "Bring him in, I wanna talk to him."

Blaine is shocked and immediately worried when Kurt steps into the corridor to retrieve him, and he steps into the room nervously, wringing his hands and taking a few steps towards the bed.

"Hi Mr. Hummel," he mumbles. "Uh...sorry to be seeing you like this, but I'm glad to hear you're gonna be okay. Uh...Kurt...called. I um...I came for Kurt. I hope that's okay."

"C'mere," an already tiring Burt croaks out, and Blaine dutifully steps closer. "Thank you for looking after my boy."

"Really, it's no trouble."

"Carole is staying here tonight, and Finn is headed to his friend Puck. Can I count on you to take Kurt home and make sure he's okay?"

"Yes sir, of course."

"And don't call me sir. It's Burt."

"Okay," Blaine says with a smile. "Thank you Burt."

"Dad, I wanna stay. Can't I stay?"

"No son. You need to rest. It's late enough already. Come back tomorrow, but for now, let Blaine take care of you, okay?"

Kurt agrees- reluctant to leave his dad, but also grateful that Blaine is there to hold a guiding arm around his waist as they walk to the car. Both are silent on the drive to Kurt's house. Blaine pulls into the driveway and walks around to open Kurt's door for him. The poor kid barely has the energy to put one foot in front of the other as Blaine helps him to the front door.

"You'll be okay?" he asks as they step into the hallway, but his answer is met by silence.

Kurt's throat swallows over nothing as his eyes blink rapidly and Blaine has to ask, "Do you want me to stay?" A small nod as two tiny tears trickle down his cheeks are all the confirmation Blaine receives but it's enough. He takes charge then, taking Kurt's hand and showing himself to the kitchen where he warms milk for them both before following Kurt down to his bedroom. He sets the milk on the nightstand then kneels on the floor between Kurt's legs where he's perched on the edge of the bed. Brushing his hair gently from his forehead, he offers a soft smile which Kurt just about manages to return.

"Let's get you to bed," he says decisively. He finds pajamas under Kurt's pillow and ushers him towards the bathroom before sitting at his desk and flipping through Vogue while he waits. When Kurt emerges, face shiny and scrubbed and looking so small in his plaid pajamas, Blaine helps him into the bed, where he looks smaller still as he tucks the covers under his chin.

"So do you...what do you...um...I can sit here, until you fall asleep if you want? Or I can go upstairs if the idea of me watching you sleep is a bit creepy or..."

"Would you hold me?" Kurt asks quietly, unsure.

Blaine closes his eyes briefly, then flicks them open again to focus on Kurt. "Yes," he answers simply. "Yes I'll hold you. All night if that's what you want."

Kurt nods. "There are pajamas...in that drawer," he says pointing.

Wordlessly, Blaine takes a pair from the drawer and uses the bathroom, returning to slip under the covers, more nervous than he can ever remember being his whole life through as he shuts off the light and reaches out to Kurt. Falling gratefully back into his arms once more, Kurt buries his face against Blaine's neck, breathing deeply as he feels himself start to relax.

"Blaine?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you," he whispers into his neck as he feels strong hands splayed across his back, holding him tight to Blaine's side.

The softest of kisses comes, dropped into his hair. A barely there pressure but it sends shivers through Kurt nonetheless.

"Anything for you," Blaine whispers, and Kurt is asleep in seconds.