"So he's gone now?" Blaine said, stepping off the curb and walking across the street. He didn't even look to see if there was traffic, but Finn's eyes were open in both directions. Keeping him safe was sometimes a full-time job,he thought as they made their way to the east side of the street.

"He's visiting a friend in Iowa," Finn nodded, putting one hand on the small of his back. The gesture was nearly unconscious at this point, but when he was thinking about it, he realized how often he did it with Blaine now. "She's going to help him take care of the baby until school's out. They're splitting custody, him and... another person. It's complicated, but I think it'll be fine."

"Wow. A baby. And you - you're okay with that?" Blaine's eyes were wide, considering the implications. "He's your age, right?"

"Yeah, my age. There are lots of people, willing to help. I think it'll be fine."

Blaine touched Finn's arm. "You said that already."

"Uh. Yeah. I guess I did." It wasn't easy, knowing that Puck would be gone for six weeks, but he figured it was better this way. There was no way they'd get enough sleep, the six of them, or be able to study for finals, with a brand-new baby in the house. He shrugged it off. "Anyway. You've got a big day coming up soon, right?"

For a moment, Blaine looked confused, but his face cleared as Finn added, "Your birthday?"

"Oh - yeah!" Blaine laughed. "I'll be sixteen on the 13th. Wait... how did you know?"

"Your friend David's terrible at keeping a secret," he said, smiling. He paused on the next street corner and reached a hand into his pocket as Blaine pushed the crossing signal. "I have something for you."

"You... you do?" Blaine's smile was a little heartbreaking to Finn. There were so many things he wanted to say. I wish it were more was top of the list. You deserve to feel specialwas right up there, too.

Finn handed him a small rectangular envelope. "You're going to have to skip boxing practice, if we're going to make it on time."

"Make it where?" said Blaine, opening the envelope eagerly. He slipped two fingers inside and dug out two rectangular pieces of tagboard. When he read what was printed on them, he froze, his eyes on the tickets.

"Cincinnati," Finn said, trying not to sound nervous. "You, uh... you think you can go? I already asked my mom and she said I can drive."

"Finn," Blaine breathed, and Finn shivered to hear Blaine say his name, like that."I can't believe it. You got us tickets to see the Indigo Girls?"

Then he threw his arms around Finn's waist and hugged him, apparently not at all concerned about the other passers-by, who were mostly just watching them with curiosity. Finn put one hand on his back and the other on his head and held on, for as long as Blaine was willing to let him.

"Yeah, I got us tickets." There was no way I could have not done it. "You think you can convince your dad it's okay? I know he's kind of strict, and it's kind of a long drive."

"I think I can." Blaine let go, gazing at the tickets in his hand, his eyes bright. Then he glanced up at Finn, his face falling. "Except... I hate to say this, Finn, because I reallywant to go."

"What is it?"

"Well, there's a girl I used to babysit for. She's more like a friend, now, but she's a big fan, and we always said that if we were going to go see them in concert, we'd go together. It was kind of a promise. And I hate to break it to her. She'd be devastated. She... she really needs their music. You know what I mean?"

Finn thought he might. He considered Blaine's conflicted face for a moment, then sighed. "Well... why don't you invite her along?"

Blaine broke into a smile, and he laughed, surprised. "Really? You wouldn't mind?"

No, Blaine. This could easily have become a date, but now it definitely won't be. It's better this way. "It's fine," he promised. "Maybe... I have a younger friend who might want to come along, too. She likes their music a lot, and she's in sixth grade this year."

"My friend, too," Blaine nodded. "All right, as long as you don't think it's a problem? And if it's not too late to get two more tickets?"

"I'll take care of it." Finn couldn't resist putting an arm around him, and Blaine leaned in, quivering with excitement. "It's going to be fantastic."

"You'refantastic," Blaine said, stroking Finn's shirt, and looking up at him in a way that made him flush. Nobody looked at him that way. Nobody except Blaine. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure," he murmured, and dared to plant one kiss on his curls.

0000

Blaine could feel Francie shaking and bouncing next to him as they waited on her front porch for Finn to pick them up.

"This is so awesome," she squealed, gripping his arm. "I can't believe my mom is letting me go. It's only because you're going, too, you know."

Blaine put an arm around her shoulders to settle her. "I know. She trusts me with you."

"She should trust me with me," Francie sighed, sounding so much like a put-out teenager.

"She will, someday," Blaine said. "But she's your mom, and it's her job to worry. But I'myour friend, and it's my job to take you to your first concert."

"I'm not, um. Underdressed?" Francie gestured to her jeans and the vintage-style "Save Ferris" t-shirt Blaine had given her for Christmas.

"No," Blaine shook his head. "Definitely not underdressed. C'mere." He pulled her close, and rested his chin on top of her head. "You're going to be taller than me, soon."

"But you'll always be older," she sighed. "I wish you were my brother."

Blaine felt unexpected tears rise in his eyes, but he blinked them back and just hugged Francie tighter. "I already am, little sister. Always." Because Francie really hadalways been like his sister, even when she was a little girl. He kissed her hair, and tried to brush off the seriousness of the moment by pretending to brush wisps of it out of his face, but when she pulled away he could she that she was crying, too.

"Thank you," she whispered, wiping at her face. "Your dad was okay with you going? I mean, I know he's all about your schoolwork and everything."

"I've done really well at Dalton. He told me I should go and have a good time." He cocked his head and smiled sideways at Francie. "As long as I'm in class at 8 am tomorrow, I could probably stay out all night and he wouldn't care, as long as he never found out."

"And your friend who's driving - Christopher? He got the tickets, right? I can't believe he's okay with me coming along." She made a face. "I'm just a kid."

"You're not justanything, Francie. And Christopher's a pretty special guy."

Francie leaned back on the railing of her porch, squinting at him. "Yeah. You keep telling me. But he's notyour boyfriend, right?"

"He's not," he insisted. "And don't try to tease him. He already has a boyfriend."

But Blaine watched her stiffen as the Navigator pulled into her driveway. Francie turned confused eyes on Blaine, then back to the SUV. "What's Finn doing here?"

"What?" Blaine said, but he stopped when he saw the expression on Finn's face as he climbed out of the Navigator.

"Our small world just got smaller," Finn said, shaking his head. He gestured at the passenger side, where a small dark-haired girl was climbing out, staring incredulously at Francie.

"What the fuck?" she said, and Finn laughed.

Francie turned to Blaine and hissed, "This...is Christopher?"

Blaine nodded, then watched, stunned, as Francie ran down the steps and wrapped her arms around Finn. "You'retaking us to the Indigo Girls, Finn?"

"Yep," Finn said, hugging her back. "You girls climb in the back and get buckled up."

Francie reached out and took the dark-haired girl's hand, who smiled broadly at her, and they walked back to the car, chattering happily. Blaine started, because for a moment, the smile looked strangely familiar, but then Finn was there, laughing, and he had to laugh too.

"Looks like you all already know each other?" he said. Finn nodded.

"Sarah and Frances have been friends - well, at least they've known each other since they were little kids."

Blaine blinked. "Sarah? That's... oh my god." He waggled a finger at the tinted windows. "I used to babysither. When I was in fifth grade!"

Finn bit his lip. "This is getting weirder and weirder," he admitted. "And somehow I think it's not over yet."

0000

It turned out that Sarah barely remembered Blaine, even after he and Francie - Frances - related several tales of times they'd played together as children or gone to the public library or the sandbox with Blaine. "Sorry," she said flatly. "I just don't recall much about my childhood. It's better that way."

"You're telling me you don't remember King and King?"Frances shook her head, poking at Sarah. Blaine watched her from the front seat, trying not to stare at their easy banter. "We used to read that book every week at the library. Blaine was the first person ever to tell me it was okay for a boy to want to marry another boy."

"Well, duh," said Sarah, tossing her curls out of her face.

"Just because you always knew that, doesn't mean everybodydid," Frances scolded her.

"How old were you?" Finn asked, nodding at Blaine.

"What, when I told them that?"

"Yeah."

Blaine thought about that summer, taking care of Sarah and Frances, and spending time at the library with Dave. "Eleven."

"Did- did you know, then?"

"What, that I was gay?"

"Yeah."

Blaine shrugged. "I knew I was different. I came out in sixth grade, but I think I knew really young. Like, third or fourth grade, I just didn't understand what it meant, you know?"

"Yeah," Finn said. "Wow. That's reallyyoung, though," Finn blinked at him.

Blaine just nodded. "Yeah. But I also had someone who told me I was okay just how I was, then, and I think it meant something."

Sarah shrugged. "I never had anybody tell me that. Maybe my brother. And I turned out okay."

Frances sighed, and leaned a little closer to Sarah. "Yeah," she agreed, "but you're strong. You're not like Blaine and me." She reached her hand out to Blaine's where it rested on the console between the seats.

Blaine squeezed her hand. "You and me, we need people out there, to help keep us standing when we can't do it ourselves," he told her, thinking that Frances was pretty intuitive.

"I need people, like that, sometimes, too," Finn pointed out.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I don't need anybody."

Frances looked like she might be about to disagree, but she closed her mouth on her comment and gazed out the window instead. Blaine almost smiled. He and Francie really were a lot alike.

0000

Finn stopped for a fast drive-through dinner on the outskirts of Cincinnati, and had to force Blaine to put his wallet away. "This is your birthday present. It's my treat."

"But-" Blaine started to argue, and Finn had to be strong.

"Blaine. Let me take care of this." He used his Voice, but pitched it low, and Blaine settled back against his seat. Finn pretended not to see Sarah, seeking out his eyes in the rearview, her face a little surprised for an instant before she broke into a small smile. He nodded at her, once.

When Blaine went to the bathroom, Frances pounced on Finn. "He doesn't know anything about your other boyfriends," she hissed. "He said you have one.What the fuck is going on, Finn? You're not lying to him, are you?"

"No! I - no. I'm not lying." He glanced between Sarah and Frances. "It's private. I call him Patrick, at home. Blaine - he was worried about people in Lima finding out about who he is, about him and me."

"What's he worried about if you're not his boyfriend?" Frances shook her head. "I'm really confused now."

"I'm not his boyfriend," Finn reassured her.

"What Blaine said, about needing people?" Sarah looked at Frances, with a sideways glance at Finn. He nodded at her again, thinking that maybe Sarah could explain it better than he could.

"Yeah?" Frances looked interested, but still puzzled.

"Finn does that, for him. Takes care of him. Keeps him from hurting, from falling. He's his resin."

"Oh." Finn watched Frances carefully nibble the edges of her cheeseburger, deep in thought. "Okay," she said finally. "As long as you're not lying to him, because he's like my brother and he doesn't need any more hurt in his life."

Sarah leaned over and put an arm around Francie, grinning at her fierce expression. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll take care of it, if Finn hurts him. I can totally beat him up. Noah taught me how to throw a mean punch."

They were all laughing when Blaine returned to the car, and made a game out of gathering all the trash into one of the plastic bags Kurt kept in the console. Finn hopped out and tossed the bag into the trash, and climbed back up into the driver's seat. They'd be there right on time, if they didn't hit any more traffic.

The parking lot was nearly overflowing when they got to Greaves Concert Hall, just over the Kentucky border in Highland Heights. Finn locked the car and herded them all toward the building. It was already dark out. "Don't forget where we parked," Sarah said.

He nodded, holding the door open for them. "I usually remember stuff like that."

Sarah and Frances weren't the youngest ones in the audience, but they were close. Finn felt a little on the young side himself - and that wasn't the only reason he felt out of place. "Uh," he whispered to Blaine. "There aren't any guyshere."

"Because the Girls have a really huge feminist and lesbian following, Finn." Blaine patted his arm like he was humoring him or something.

"Whatever," Finn said after a long pause. "The music's going to be awesome."

The concert hall was standing room only, and they were able to move right up front, less than ten feet from the stage. "Wow,"Frances said, looking around with big eyes.

Blaine made a noise of excitement, and pointed, grabbing Sarah's shoulder. "See that woman up there in the wings? She's their bass and keyboard player." He grinned. "Her name's Sara, too."

"Cool," Sarah said. Finn could see her trying to be detached, but her eyes were sparkling, and she bounced a little on her toes.

Finn got drinks for all four of them and passed them out just as the lights came down. Frances clutched at Blaine's arm. "It's not going to be too loud, is it?" she called nervously.

It wasn't too loud. Finn guessed a hard rock concert would have been louder. But the dark-haired member of the duo could really jam on the guitar, and with their band, the four of them made a significant noise. He wished Puck had been able to be there. He'd sounded more than a little jealous when Finn had told him about the concert on the phone, but he wouldn't ever say don't go without me.

They played a few songs from their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, with which Finn was only a little familiar, but he clapped anyway and decided he'd buy the album on the way out. There were several old ones he knew from the mix Kurt had given him, including Kid Fears, the one Blaine had sung in the coffeehouse. Blaine took his hand when they played the opening riff, and leaned toward him.

"Thank you again, for this, Finn," he said, and kissed Finn's cheek. Finn felt the spot tingle, even after Blaine had moved his lips away. Even after they both sang themselves hoarse with the rest of the audience, echoing the lyrics back to the duo onstage.

"You're welcome," he whispered into Blaine's ear as the band segued into a more mellow song. He pulled Blaine back against his chest, wrapped his arms tight around Blaine, and felt him snuggle in and sigh happily.

He felt Blaine singing along before he heard him, the words rumbling lightly into Finn's chest and radiating warmth through his body.

Maybe we'll make Texas by the morning
Light the bayou with our tail lights in the night
800 miles to El Paso from the state line
And we never have the money for the flight

I'm in the the backseat sleepy from the travel,
Played our hearts out all night long in New Orleans
I'm dirty from the diesel fumes, drinking coffee black
When the first breath of Texas comes in clean

And there's something 'bout the Southland in the springtime
Where the waters flow with confidence and reason
Though I miss her when I'm gone, it won't ever be too long
Till I'm home again to spend my favorite season
When God made me born a Yankee he was teasin'
'cause there's no place like home and none more pleasin'
Than the Southland in the springtime

Everyone around them was singing too, even Frances and Sarah next to them, holding hands and looking like they'd never been happier. Finn's brain was telling him no, don't, but the collar of Blaine's t-shirt was bunched up and the very tempting side of his neck was bared. And Finn's lips were right there, but he could hear Carl admonishing him. Boundaries, Finn. Remember the boundaries, they need to be clear for both of you.

But Finn felt drawn to that spot on his neck, and before he could battle anymore he just took a breath, leaned in, and pressed his lips there. Blaine's skin was warm and felt soft, and he smelled spicy and sweet. He felt Blaine stiffen for a brief moment, then relax even more, and when Finn pulled his lips away, they both sighed.

Oh, fuck, Finn thought. Now we're really in trouble.

0000

Blaine made himself breathe, and he tried to ignore the weight of Finn's arms around him, the warmth of his body. The little puffs of his breath against Blaine's neck. And - oh - Finn was kissing his neck, and it felt so so good, and Blaine tensed because it was unexpected, but it also felt right, and that rightness helped him relax. Finn sighed into his ear, even as Blaine let out a light breath.

Now things just felt complicated.

Blaine didn't recognize the next song, so he figured it must be something new, or a cover he wasn't familiar with. But Emily's quiet voice always affected him, so he listened carefully.

I couldn't think of a thing to write
On your birthday card
Considered the poets
But they didn't know what
Lay quiet inside my heart
I thought of Atlanta
I thought of Toronto
And all of the places we've been
I filled up my tea and looked into the trees
And still came up empty again
So I guess the next time you see me
In a world of partial truths
You will fully believe me
I have nothing to give except for to live
Like the person you know me to be
I can clean up the kitchen
And fold up your clothes
Neatly as I am able
Wrap a box up with ties for a surprise
And order you flowers for the table
I could book us a trip on a plane or ship
I know how much you love the sun
You could gamble on me like the lottery
And I'll make you feel like you've won

Blaine heard Emily listing all the ways she could show her partner she loved her, and felt a glow begin inside him. I can do those things, he thought. Maybe... maybe I could do that, for someone... someday. I could do them well enough that he would have to love me. I could be good enough, that he would have to approve of me.

And I'll bet the next time you see me
In a world of partial truths you will fully believe me
I have nothing to give except for to live
Like the person you know me to be
Life is short and so on
I'd like to give you something to go on
Grow on
They recently paved the walk on our street
We looked at the shiny cement
We stopped the car ready to carve
Our names into permanence
For a moment we're kids
Intent on a whim
There is no shadowy past
But even so the urge is to go
And put something down that will last
So here goes
The next time I show up for you
You will know and believe
I am ready to give
Ready to live like the person you know me to be

Blaine wasn't anywhere near ready to think about the kind of commitment that went deep enough for a lifetime, but these... these were words he could believe in. Ready to live like the person you know me to be. I can do that, too. Even if the person he knows me to be is broken and needy and confused all the time. He thought of the boy from the club, and wondered if hecould have accepted Blaine that way.

He shuddered out a breath. "That was..." Blaine leaned back into Finn, and Finn shifted to hold him up.

"Yeah," Finn agreed. Apparently those were the only words they needed.

Blaine felt him stiffen as Emily began the next song. "Hell," he muttered, and clutched more tightly at Blaine. He wasn't going to ask him to let go, but Blaine wished he understood the significance of the song.

A hard knock
A cold clock
Ticking off my time
A long look
But no luck
Couldn't seem to find
Or unwind
Into peace of mind
While I was trying

A quick glance
A big chance
My heart beat like a drum
I saw you
And I knew
Chances just don't come
Round again
Not like this
First a laugh
Then a kiss

And I'm free in you
I've got no worries on my mind
I know what to do
That's to treat you right
And love you kind
Thank you ever on my mind
Love is just like breathing
When it's true
And I'm free in you...

Halfway through the song, Blaine felt the shaking begin, but he didn't recognize the significance until he felt the moisture dripping on his face from above. Finn is - crying?He jerked his eyes up behind him, and Finn took two steps back, wiping his eyes with one hand and trying to disguise his grimace with the other.

"Finn?" he said. Finn shook his head and turned away, and Blaine stood, alone and anxious, in the midst of the huge crowd of spectators.

The bridge appeared to drive him deeper into misery, but by the time the last chorus came around, Finn was better able to cope, and he was even singing along. Blaine began to relax again.

0000

Finn knew how hard it was for him to see Carl get upset in any way, and he tried to pull himself together. For Blaine's sake."I'm okay," he murmured.

"I've just never seen you..." He gestured at Finn, and Finn nodded.

"It's these songs. Too much history. Too much meaning - I can't listen to them without being there,all over again."

Blaine nodded like he understood.

They loaded the girls, drowsy and happy, into the back of the Navigator. By the time they hit I-71, they were fast asleep.

"You okay driving home?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Too much on my mind, anyway."

Blaine hesitated before saying, "You can tell me about it?"

Finn gave him an oblique glance, because he wasn't at all sure he could, but he sighed and gave it a try. "Uh, back in January... I went away for a weekend, to California. I have some... friends, musician friends. They sang one of the songs you sang at the coffeehouse. The one by P!nk?"

Blaine blinked. "I wouldn't have sung a P!nk song at the - oh, wait, you mean Glitter in the Air?" Finn nodded. "They sang that one?"

"Yeah. And... I totally fell apart." He shrugged sheepishly.

Blaine looked baffled. "Why?"

"Because yousang it," Finn said. There was a pause. Finn sighed.

"You cried because... I sang a song?" Now Blaine sounded positively uncomfortable.

"Yeah." Finn kept his eyes on the road. "Because of how it made me feel. Because - because that's how I feel."

"Finn." Blaine took a shaky breath. "I... I'm sorry, I said you could tell me, but... I don't think I can hear this."

"Yeah," Finn whispered. "That's what I thought. It's okay. I'll take you home."

Miles later, Blaine touched his arm, and Finn just let him. "I had a great time," he said.

"Me, too, Blaine."