A/N - Song is Come What May from Moulin Rouge. Of course, I don't own it.

One more chapter to go after this one. Thanks for reading and reviewing :)

Blaine woke up to a familiar voice humming a familiar melody. He attempted to move his head but only did slightly because it hurt. It hurt a lot. He tried to open his eyes but only one would cooperate and even then it was only a slit of an opening where his gaze fell on Kurt sitting beside him with his own eyes closed. He was humming - humming their song. Blaine's mind couldn't help but follow along, reciting the lyrics silently to himself:

And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather,
And stars may collide
But I love you
Until the end of time

Blaine released a gentle involuntary sob which brought Kurt out of his reverie. His attention turned to Blaine to see that he had one eye slightly open, the other swollen shut. "Blaine, honey." He scooted even closer, clutching his hand carefully – aware of the bruises and cuts on his knuckles. "How are you feeling?"

Blaine could feel Kurt's thumb delicately wipe away his tear. "I feel like I want to die," he croaked.

Kurt stiffened. Even with a slit of an eye Blaine could see Kurt's reaction but it was the truth. He doesn't want to live in a world where he has to fight to stay alive – where he has to hurt other people to stay alive.

"It will get better. You're on pain medication but if it's still unbearable we can have the doctor prescribe a stronger dose," Kurt said gently.

"I can take the physical pain. It's the emotional pain I can't bear, Kurt. I hurt another person. I…" Blaine suddenly became aware at what he actually did. He tried to sit up in his bed but the pain in his ribs was too much and he just fell back onto his pillow. Kurt's hand pressed very gently to his chest.

"Don't try to sit up, honey."

"Is he alive?"

Kurt's breath hitched because he wasn't sure how he felt about the affirmative answer. "Yes. He's worse off than you. He's in the hospital but he's alive."

"Thank God." Blaine breathed.

In that moment it all came together for Kurt. Blaine wasn't upset because he had been beat up. He was down because he had hurt another person. Blaine was always one to get along … or at least want to get along … with everyone. He saw the good in people. He gave the benefit of the doubt every time and granted endless second chances. He was gentle and kind - a lover, not a fighter. "Blaine…" he began.

"Kurt…" Blaine interrupted. "I'm sorry."

"Hey. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about."

"I need to explain my actions."

"You do not."

"Yes. Please."

Kurt could see that Blaine was becoming a little bit agitated and he wanted to save his boyfriend from further stress. "Okay. Okay. I'm listening. Just please take it easy."

Blaine squeezed Kurt's hand. "I'm sorry I ran out on you without an explanation. I'm sorry I've been weak and a coward. I … I love you so much and I was protecting you. I know it sounds stupid and I know that you hate when I hide things from you but Kurt … he's wrecked me. I don't know how to be myself anymore. I don't know how to have a relationship." The tears were falling freely now. "And when he threatened to hurt you I just couldn't bear it anymore. I caved. I ran."

Kurt blinked as he heard Blaine's words. "He threatened to hurt me? How does he even know me?"

"Kurt, he was in Lima. I don't know how he found out details but he knew where I was and who I was with," Blaine said through sobs. "He knew our schedules and told me that if I didn't go home with him that he would hurt you." Blaine's body trembled violently. "Kurt, I didn't want you hurt. I couldn't… I just… oh God, I would have never forgiven myself…"

"Shh, it's okay." Kurt was up and on Blaine's bed. He carefully drew his arms around his sobbing boyfriend and held him tight, placing soft kisses into his curls. "I understand why you hid it all from me. I wish you hadn't but I get it. It's going to be okay, honey. We are going to get through this. Together."

"Kurt, I never wanted to hurt him but it came down to either he hurt you, he hurt me, or I hurt him. I was fully prepared to take the brunt of it. I was prepared for him to hurt me … even-though I knew he could kill me … but that text you sent me … I … it … was perfect. I love you," he painfully tilted his head to look up at Kurt. His hazel slit of an eye searched for the blue pools he loved so much. He had always found comfort in them. "Can you please forgive me?"

Kurt's tears were streaming now and falling into Blaine's curls. "There is absolutely nothing to forgive. But if it will give you closure, if it will help you, then yes Blaine I forgive you. I forgive everything. All I want is for you to heal physically and emotionally. And I want to be right by your side through it all."

"You … still want to be with me?"

Kurt lifted up onto his elbow to look into Blaine's eye. "Is that a serious question?"

Blaine nodded softly. "I thought you'd hate me for running or hate me for hurting someone to the point of hospitalization. Or, I just thought you'd hate me for every stupid decision I've made in my life."

Kurt's mind flooded with sorrow. What did this monster do to you to make you think that I could possibly ever hate you, he thought. "You ran to protect me, you hurt him in self-defense, and there is no way I could ever hate you, Blaine Anderson. And deep down you know that."

"I'm just so sorry for everything." Blaine cried.

"You were scared. You were being manipulated. I will never ever hold that against you. God, when I found you in that apartment I was so scared Blaine. I didn't know if you…" he stopped and took a breath; Blaine took the same breath with him. Kurt could feel that his body was still stiff and anxious so he let the thought go. He brought a hand up to his bruised face and caressed him as gently as possible. "Can I tell you something?"

"Mmhmm," Blaine hummed, his eye closing at the feel of Kurt's caressing fingers.

"When I saw that you had left, when I read the note, I was angry because I didn't understand. I didn't know the whole story so I assumed you just didn't want to be with me anymore…"

"No, Kurt."

"Shh. I know. I didn't' know how to cope so I went to Scandals."

Blaine's body shifted anxiously but Kurt continued, "I ordered my usual double whiskey. I looked at it, I smelled it, I toyed with it … for about an hour. But I never took a drink."

Blaine clutched his hand, "I'm so proud of you, Kurt."

"Do you know why I didn't?"

"Tell me."

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"You. I thought back to our past … to all the times you have been there for me. You gave me the courage to push the drink away. I knew that you needed me and I couldn't be there for you if I was drunk. I love you, Blaine Anderson and I want to be a better man for you."

Just then Blaine's guilt lifted a little bit. He wrapped his arm around Kurt and nestled into his neck. He didn't know how long it would take to heal or if he would ever heal properly but he did know that whatever happened Kurt would be by his side and that made everything okay.

Two days later and Kurt found himself in Tyler's hospital room. He had waited for Blaine to be distracted with nurses as they readied him for discharge. He knew there were no police officers around as they had already given their statements yesterday and had been told that they should have nothing to worry about. The case was looking like it would be going in Blaine's favour, despite Tyler's injuries. The pictures Blaine had taken previously with his phone were a God-send. And while Kurt was searching for the pictures he found all the texts that Tyler had sent which pretty much drove the case home. They are also what lead Kurt to take matters into his own hands.

He stood over a sleeping Tyler. He took a few deep breaths so that he wouldn't lose control. Truthfully, he wanted to kill him. He wanted to hurt him badly. He knew the nurses' schedules by now; they wouldn't be bothering him – especially because he had moved the call button out of Tyler's reach. Tyler's head was wrapped with thick gauze and padding, his face was swollen and black – everywhere. His lips were stitched in three places and his nose was heavily crooked and bruised. Kurt didn't feel one slight bit sorry for him. He placed his hand on Tyler's shoulder and shook him violently. A painful moan was emitted as Tyler tried to open his eyes. He couldn't; they were both swollen shut.

"Wake up you son of a bitch," Kurt hissed. "You don't deserve to sleep. I want you to be awake so that you feel every god damned shot of pain coursing through your body."

Tyler's hand felt around for the call button to no avail.

"Yeah, I moved it. No one is coming. It's just you and me - Kurt. Blaine's BOYFRIEND," he growled.

Tyler managed to croak out one word, "please…"

"Shut up. You don't deserve to talk. All you're going to do is listen and listen carefully because I'm only going to say this once."

Tyler's chest rose with a deep laboured breath and fell back down as he exhaled. Kurt noticed that the rhythm became quicker. Tyler was nervous; he was internally panicking. Good, Kurt thought.

"You took a beautiful and kind soul … someone who loved you … loved you more than anyone ever will because he sees the best in people … you took him and you wrecked him. And for what? Because you have anger issues? Because you were bullied as a kid? Because your parents never loved you? Because you are just a horrible person? Kurt's eyes flickered in growing anger. "Well those reasons ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH! No reason is good enough. There is absolutely no excuse for what you did. But you know what? Blaine is strong. Blaine is resilient. Blaine has a boyfriend and a family who love him and support him and will never leave his side." Kurt paused as he heard Tyler sob but he really didn't care.

"So, here's what's going to happen," he continued. "You're probably going to heal. Then you will be going to jail because if you don't already know, the police have been informed and we have proof of all the abuse you administered. You'll be in jail for a long time – most likely being someone's bitch but eventually you will get out. And you better pray that by then you will have forgotten all about Blaine and you will stay the hell away from him because he will never in a million years have anything else to do with you." Kurt took a couple more breathes to calm himself before driving it home.

"And let me tell you - if you ever threaten my family again I will kill you myself. I know your brain must be mush from the beating Blaine gave you but lucky for you I'm feeling generous; so I'll tell you one more time to make sure you understand – and so that you know I'm dead serious." He leaned forward and spoke directly into Tyler's ear, "mess with my family again and I. Will. Kill. You."

With that, Kurt turned on his heels and walked swiftly out of the room without bothering to place back the call button. Once the door was closed he leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. Confronting bullies wasn't a new thing for him - he had been doing it all his life. But he had surprised himself because never before had he ever threatened to kill someone and he knew that if it came right down to it he could never actually do it – at least he didn't think he could. There would be other choices he could make before it came to that. But Tyler didn't know that and really he supposed that the bottom line was that he would do anything needed to protect Blaine because Blaine deserved to be protected and deserved to be loved. And Kurt would be the one to do both of those things for the rest of their lives.

A week later and they were back in Lima. Kurt and Blaine had decided to officially move into Burt Hummel's house. There was no better place for healing than with family. Blaine had moved out of the guest bedroom and into Kurt's. There was no point in resisting any more – although they still hadn't crossed the sex bridge. Part of the healing process was being able to fall asleep in each other's arms and wake to soft and tender moments together – it's what kept them going – they knew they were working toward a common goal. They needed to heal individually so that they could be together. And they wanted to be together. They both knew there was no going back.

Blaine trudged in the door as he arrived back from his meeting with his therapist. Blaine had sought her out when he realized he needed help sorting his emotions – his feelings of guilt and self-loathing – he wanted to get better. He needed to get better. And even-though they had only had two meetings, Blaine could see the light at the end of the tunnel. He knew that he would be able to forgive himself and to love himself again, it would just take patience, time, and a whole lot of reassurance from his family.

"Hey you," Kurt greeted him with a sunny smile and a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"Mmm, hi. More please," Blaine grinned.

"Mr. Anderson, what are you suggesting?"

Blaine grabbed Kurt by the ascot and pulled him closer. "I'm suggesting you kiss me properly Mr. Hummel." He smirked and kissed Kurt straight on the lips, dipping his tongue in momentarily just to tease.

Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine's shoulders, "I just don't want to hurt your face, honey."

"It's okay now. It may look battered but it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Well in that case, come here" Kurt pressed harder this time, kissing Blaine like his life depended on it. They remained in the hall for a long time with their lips latched to each other. It was heated but sweet and loving.

"Kurt, put the man down! You haven't let him get past the entrance way," Burt's voice boomed from the kitchen.

"I don't hear him complaining," Kurt groaned but then winked at Blaine.

"How was your appointment, son?" Burt poked his head out of the kitchen to make sure Kurt had in fact put him down.

"It was good; I like Isabelle. I think she'll be able to really help me," Blaine said happily.

"I'm glad, kid," Burt smiled. "Now come on. I'll need you two to keep your hands off of each other long enough to try Carole's infamous baked chicken."

"And I made your favourite dessert," Kurt grinned proudly.

"I'm a spoiled man," Blaine said with a smile and followed the Hummels into the kitchen fully intending to never ever keep his hands off of his beautiful boyfriend.