Sorry it took a while to get this chapter out; I've had the flu again. I swear, primary schools are like the breeding grounds for illness. I loved the reception last chapter got! Glad you liked my twist, ordinary vampire stories are done to death, so hopefully this works out. I have two possible endings to work towards so as we get towards the end I'll worry about that a little more. Not even close yet. I'm gonna guess it'll be a little shorter than No Place Like Home, but that could change.

Glad you're enjoying, thanks for the reviews! Please keep telling me what you like and don't like, only way I learn! :D

I feel like skipping ahead to the next important plot point but I shouldn't. I should tell you how it felt to hold Kurt and have him hold me, and not be afraid, or nervous or self-conscious. His body was firm and his lips were soft, and his hair was silky. His denim jeans were rough, his cotton shirt was thin and his waistcoat jacket had wide lapels. He smelt like nothing I'd ever smelled before really. I've tried to describe Kurt's scent dozens of times since I've met him. I've failed miserably on each attempt. There's sweetness there, but it's also a little musty and I guess it just makes me feel safe; like Kurt is dependable and tangible and real.

That night I must have sat kissing Kurt for at least forty minutes. I ended up with a knee on either side of his lap, half hovering, half sitting on him, just kissing the hell out of him. It felt amazing. It was so freeing and game-changing. He was a good kisser, I've told you that, in fact it's something I quite like to brag about to a certain extent, but kissing Kurt was never about the skill he brought to the activity. I didn't feel like I was continuously trying to make him feel good. Probably that sounds selfish, but from my limited experiences up till that point, kissing had been something you were critiqued on and never really passionate to the point you could lose yourself in that perfect moment of oneness. I loved Kurt in that moment. I know, realistically of course, as I have told you, that I could not possibly have loved Kurt. I was infatuated by him, addicted, enthralled, obsessed with him, but I didn't actually love him for several more weeks or months. That's what I can tell myself logically.

But I loved him.

I loved the way he brushed his tongue with mine and wound his hands in my hair; I loved the way he sort of sighed for breath every so often, so reluctant to break apart for something as trivial as oxygen. I felt like I had found my whole world and the fact that he was only mine for a year… less than a year really, was bitterly unfair.

It made the making out much more poignant. Can making out be poignant? It sounds like horny teenagers rutting together with tongues lapping at each other's faces frantically, and yes there was an element of frantic enthusiasm to our kissing. But it was sweet and tender and heartbreaking and wonderful.

Whenever I look back on Kurt, I think I'll remember that night. That kiss.

That was one to file away to re-live some cold night when I'm lonely and missing him so much I can't breathe. Because that's what I'm preparing for. I know that the steps I'm taking now will hurt him; have hurt him already. But I can't.

Not even for him.

And he won't for me, so the impasse is impassable.

Anyway. I won't dwell. You should hear this story in order of course. You need to understand why I'm doing this. Otherwise I seem like a monster.

Irony.

When I dropped Kurt home I noticed Elizabeth through the curtains. She was curled up and watching television on Maxine's lap. Maxine stroked her hair softly and kissed the top of her head. Kurt watched me looking at them.

"I know Maxine sounds like a villain, Blaine," he said softly, "But she's my mom. She's Ellie's mom. She did what she had to to save a dying child and I'll never stop thanking her for saving my sister. She could have just walked away and left us there. But I wouldn't have Ellie."

I stroked his cheek softly, his beard was still soft, not coarse like mine; he hadn't been shaving long.

"I understand, Kurt," I told him honestly, "I really do."

I didn't want to frighten him away with talk of contingency plans and rescues. I would find some way to make sure Kurt was safe forever. Then we could be together and human for always.

Both of us.

I had to attend school the next day. My mother wasn't going to believe I was sick again, and I wasn't really hiding from Kurt anymore. Just Maggie and my own guilt.

I gave Kurt a lift to school. I was unsure how to tell him about the situation with Maggie. Technically I hadn't done anything wrong that he could get mad at me for, but I knew he'd be completely justified in being hurt and confused.

The whole situation was a mess.

"Kurt, after I left your house the other night… You know, after I saw the blood?" Kurt nodded with a small smile and I continued as I drove, "I went to Maggies house."

"You told her?" he panicked and I lifted my hands up from the wheel to reassure him.

"No."

He looked at me, and I swear I could almost see the comprehension slide onto his face.

"Oh."

Just that one little word made me feel crappier than I ever had in my life.

"Well, I guess it's not any of my business," Kurt said dully, "But are you going to break up with her?"

Kurt was so quietly spoken. He really had no confidence in himself and I had to keep reminding myself that he had never had a friend, let alone a boyfriend. He felt guilty that he was alive and his sister was dead, and he felt selfish for getting his year to be human.

"We aren't together, Kurt," I promised him, "It was a horrible mistake and I have never regretted anything more. I'll set her straight. We're just friends."

"You are gay, right?" Kurt questioned, his tone wavering.

"I'm gay," I said firmly, "Just not ready to tell my dad. I didn't know what to do, and I was scared and panicked and she was there. It meant nothing, and it kind of grossed me out actually."

I tried for a smile and Kurt copied it a little too late and not too convincingly.

"I understand," he told me.

And that was all he said on the subject.

"I love Lady Gaga," he said in a determined way as the song changed on the radio, as if he was forcing himself to change the topic.

I nodded, letting him know I wouldn't say any more about it.

"Listen to a lot of Gaga in your house, do you?" I grinned hollowly, desperate to make him smile.

He did, but it was a bitter one.

"More than you'd expect, Blaine," he said.

I stared at him and his smile became genuine and his lips thinned as they stretched over his teeth. He wouldn't meet my eye.

"No!" I said in shock, "No way!"

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Kurt was grinning now.

"Lady Gaga is a vampire?" I demanded, unable to stop myself from grinning back at him.

"Is she?" Kurt asked me calmly with a grin, "Where'd you hear that?"

"Oh, this is going to bug me now," I laughed.

I pulled up in a spot in front of the school.

"Can't read my, Can't read my, Blaine can't read-a my poker face!" Kurt sang cheekily and I grabbed him around the neck with a laugh, quickly pressing my lips to his, loving the way he stopped squirming and kissed me back hungrily.

I pulled away from him too soon for my liking.

"People will see," I apologised and he puckered his mouth a little with a grin.

We stepped out of the car and began to walk into school together. I was careful to walk a little distance away from him, no matter how much I wanted to wrap my arm around his waist.

Maggie came running up and before I knew it she had wrapped her arms around my neck and she was kissing me.

I pushed her off and wiped my mouth, shooting a glance at Kurt guiltily. He turned his eyes away and kept walking. I groaned inwardly.

Maggie was smiling at me and I hate myself for not noticing the way her eyes were bright and excited and the way she was looking at me like I was her whole world.

"Maggie, the other night was a mistake, okay?" I told her, "I'm really sorry, and I don't want to lose you as a friend. I hope you can forgive me?" I told her.

Her beautiful smile faded away and she sort of nodded and tried not to appear too eager. Of course at the time all I noticed was her nodding and her reply of "Yeah, of course."

"Great," I smiled at her.

I hugged her then ran after Kurt.

I was a fucking asshole.

In Music we sat next to each other like always. But the sensation of Kurt's aura or presence or whatever you want to call it, beside me was driving me crazy. I could feel my skin tingle as I brushed against him accidentally-on-purpose. He eventually shifted his seat a little further away from mine and breathed in a shaky sigh. I loved knowing that he was affected too.

"Blaine?" Mr D called loudly, "You need to be paying attention now, boy-o!"

I laughed and plastered an apologetic look on my face as Mr D went on to discuss 4/4 time. I knew all this. I'd been addicted to music since I could remember, even if I hadn't been playing piano that long. Music was in my blood and I barely ever had to study in this class to get A's.

After class Kurt and I ditched lunch period and made our way to the little practice room where he had first told me his name.

"No kissing," he warned me, "The door has a glass panel."

"I want to risk it," I groaned and placed my hands on his hips.

"No, Blaine," Kurt said firmly and pushed me away. "It's better that we stay a secret. You're not out of the closet for one and for another it will save you the awkward questions when I disappear after my eighteenth."

I closed my eyes involuntarily, pained at the thought of that.

"I don't want to talk about that, Kurt," I told him roughly.

"Well, it doesn't do any good to pretend it's not going to happen, Blaine," Kurt smiled sadly, "Pretending only makes it worse."

"Well we don't have to pretend, I just don't want to discuss it in general conversation, okay?" I snapped.

I snapped at him.

I had the fucking good grace to at least raise a hand to my mouth and look shocked and apologetic. Sometimes I wonder about my responses. They come so instantaneously that I think they must be genetics or instinct. I don't think about the way I should behave in the moment and I rarely realise when I'm at risk of hurting someone else. Kurt was, is, so good and kind. He just smiled at me and nodded.

"It's okay to be angry about this," he told me, "Believe me, I've done my own raging."

I turned away from him and tried to hide my face. I knew right then that however hard it was for me, it must be a million times harder for Kurt.

"I know you have," I nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm being selfish."

"Don't be silly," Kurt smiled and leaned to sit down on one of the plastic school chairs that littered the small room, "You care about me. That's kind of nice, you know?"

I smiled at him. He really was just the most amazing person I'd ever met. I warned myself to stay calm. I wouldn't let him die, I wouldn't. Even if Maxine got into trouble again, they weren't going to have Kurt.

"Play me something?" he asked softly and I hated how far away he was. The distance between our bodies felt like the divide between being human and being vampire. I'd thought it would be so easy to date him because he was human. But it was always there. He might not be a vampire but he had a deadline to become one, and he was lumped in with them regardless.

"Sure," I nodded and sat down at the piano.

I played Lovesong by The Cure slowly and softly.

Eventually I sang a little.

"Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again," I sang softly.

Kurt sniffled a little behind me.

"You're one too," he spoke hoarsely.

I stopped playing and turned to face him.

"What?" I asked.

"They… The vamps call it a muse-ange," he explained looking at his hands sadly, "It basically translates into musical angel, but I'm sure you can figure that out. Most vampires have an affinity with music, but a few humans are gifted before they are turned. It's special but not uncommon. I'm one. And so are you."

My heart beat wildly.

"What do you mean 'before they are turned'? I'm not going to be turned because of this, am I?" I demanded.

Kurt laughed seemingly despite himself.

"No, of course not, Blaine," he snorted, "I said it was special, not unique."

"So is Gaga special, or does she have a certain 'predisposition' to music?" I winked at him. He shook his head with a laugh. He wasn't telling. That was fine, I could deal with not knowing whether the world's top pop icon was a vampire or not.

"Tell me!" I pleaded.

"Blaine, not every musician in the world is a vampire," he relented.

"Oh my God," I breathed, "There's more than just Gaga, isn't there? Katy Perry? Teenage Dream is way too catchy!"

Kurt was flat out grinning now, and I loved the way it made me feel to make him smile. I felt happier because he felt happier and it was a giddy sort of symbiotic relationship.

"What about Mr D?" I asked, "He's really good, is he a human muse-ange thing?"

Kurt stiffened.

"Time for class," he said abruptly and leapt up, "Coming?"

"Wait," I called after him, "Is he?"

Kurt spun at the door and worried his lip with his teeth.

"I can't tell you about Mr D," he said, "I'm not allowed; he's not in my family."

I paled and stiffened in response.

"Kurt, can you nod yes or no if I ask you one thing?"

He nodded.

"Is Mr D a vampire?" I hissed softly.

Kurt nodded.

"Class?" he asked with a fake, bright smile and a false spring in his step.

I followed him in shock.

All the awards to anyone who guessed Mr De Accord (means out of tune in French… hint hint? :P ) was a vamp :P