I had to go back to Chapter 9 to take out the joke Kurt made about his Dad trying to give him the sex talk. (I gave him a better joke anyway). I could not leave that in after the monumental occurrence of Burt Hummel's sex talk to Kurt in episode 15. It was the most amazing and perfect parent's speech ever given on the subject. I had to honor that speech and its importance.

Brad Falchuk absolutely blew me away this week.

As Blaine said to Burt, most schools don't have any sex ed at all.

Sadly, most kids never have a parent telling them the most important thing about sex, which is that they are important, and that they need to honor themselves.

However, all the lucky kids around the world who get to view episode 15 will probably internalize and remember the perfect message from Burt Hummel to Kurt (via the astonishingly brilliant writing of Brad Falchuk and the perfectly transcendent acting of Mike O'Malley and Chris Colfer) far more deeply and lastingly than anything a teacher could say to them in person. I believe that goes for gay and straight kids alike. It was exactly the message every kid needs to hear. And that is what makes Brad Falchuk a genius at what he does.

P.S. – Did you notice the chalkboard behind Holly when she was talking with Emma and Carl? A kid obviously was given a punishment of doing lines, because "I will not laugh during sex education class" was written over and over! Totally cracked me up.

(As always, disclaiming any ownership or association with Glee or its characters, as I am only a fan who is infinitely grateful to Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Brad Falchuk for creating them and constantly giving them humor, heart and insight every episode without fail.)

Chapter 10: Knowing You

On her way to West Monroe, Rachel sang as many Jule Styne songs as she could think of. She was going for the lead in Funny Girl with the Monroe Theatre Group (Shawnee county's famous MTG) but she still hadn't decided what song to use for her audition. "Don't Rain on My Parade" would be an obvious choice, but she felt she didn't want to be that girl who auditions with an on-the-nose song right from the role she's going for in the show itself. She wanted to show her range. She also felt she needed to show the maturity it would take for a high school student to play the lead role in this one. So in the last few miles to Monroe, she sang "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy a few times in a row until she was happy with her interpretation of the song, which after all was from another Jule Styne musical from the same era.

After her audition, she felt that she had out-danced all the other women in the room, and could only assume that she out-sang and out-read them as well, since she hadn't seen any of the others sing or read. On her way out, she nodded to the men entering the building to begin the audition process for the male roles.

She hadn't expected to run into Karofsky.

Lately she had noticed that he wasn't being a bully in the halls, and he hadn't done anything with a Slushie for months besides drinking them, so without really thinking about it much she said politely, "David. Hi. Are you picking someone up?"

Kicking at the pebbles in the parking lot, he mumbled "I'm… auditioning…" She couldn't hear him so she said, "Huh?"

He assumed she had heard and was commenting on the audacity of him being in a musical. "You know, just, like… a background part…."

"Oh. Well… That's great. Hey, it's not going to conflict with your lacrosse games is it?"

"Nah, I probably won't get any part that has to be at all the rehearsals or anything."

"Well, the opening night is April 22nd, which is a Friday, but the first Saturday performance is the one that's important. April 23rd will be the night the press comes. And I know you have games on Saturdays. But I guess your game would be over in time to rest up before the performance. Oh, you know there aren't any parts for men still open that don't have to dance, right?"

Dave was still confused why she was talking to him, and figured she must be one of those people who can't stop talking ever, so she forgot that it's him, the guy who used to dump Slushies over her head. He kind of nodded to indicate he knew he was going to have to dance.

"Oh, Yeah. I guess you did dance when we did Thriller. You were… pretty OK. I bet you'll get something in Funny Girl. Well, break a leg, Dave!" She turned and walked off to her car with a friendly wave.

Dave felt something happen in his chest, but he wasn't sure what to think of it, so he headed in for the audition, wondering what was wrong with his throat getting all constricted all of a sudden. It felt like when his sister was watching Field of Dreams and he ended up making fun of her for crying when the guy asked his dad if he wanted to have a catch.

It occurred to Rachel to feel bad about going for the lead in this show, taking her energy away from Glee club a bit, but it was her favorite musical of all time, and she'd always dreamed of playing Fanny Brice and singing those songs as a star on the stage. She held back the feeling of guilt that was creeping up on her by singing "Don't Rain on My Parade" a couple times while stuck in traffic.

While Mercedes was volunteering at the museum, Kurt and Blaine walked along the river, making the loop from the science museum to the bridge and back.

"What do you think of those benches over there?" Kurt asked as they returned to the park behind the museum. "They're in the sun, so it's not too cold to sit outside for a while longer is it?"

Blaine agreed by smiling, hooking his arm through Kurt's and heading toward the benches.

Kurt took in the view of the grassy lawns between them and the river. "At least it's not as muddy as it's been lately. It makes you think it might be a nice Spring day one of these days."

"I don't know, I kind of liked that mud lately… I wouldn't mind watching another game of mud football if you're in it," Blaine teased, making Kurt blush. "Well seriously, I want to throw a football around with you one of these days when the fields are back in shape at Dalton, because I really do think you should go out for the team in the fall."

"I told you, I'll think about it. But I don't know if that's what I want taking up all my time. I see how Finn has no time for anything else sometimes. He's in Lacrosse season now. I think he gets more injuries there than in football. My priority has to be to keep myself in dancing condition, if I'm going to be able to start auditioning for Broadway and movies as soon as I graduate. At least, while I'm in college and all."

It was warm enough in the sun that they could remove hats and scarves and gloves and just bask in the sun and admire all the millions of sparkles playing along the river and the intricate patterns of light and dark moving on the water.

"What do you want to do after you graduate, Blaine? I've never asked."

"I don't know. I figure I'll have to do some exploring during my freshman year to decide what I really want my major to be. The only thing I know for sure is that I'd like to go work at Disney the summer after freshman year, in the college program like my brother did."

"You think you'll be a Kilimanjaro Safari driver like he was?"

"I don't think you get to choose when you're in the college program. But I'll definitely try to get that. You learn so much about the African animals from the animal care staff and all. Brian said they got together in their smaller teams like once a week and met with the veterinarians or the animal care staff and got up close to Elephants or Zebras or Giraffes while the experts were telling them all about the animals. I'd definitely like to do that."

"So is it more the performing that you like about it, how the safari drivers pretend to be taking the people on a safari through actual Africa and all, or is it telling those people all the scientific facts as you drive along, or is it more like the zoological aspect of it that you most want to be involved in?"

"Wow, Kurt. I never really broke it down like that. It's just a fun job I guess. Brian loved it, and I went on his safari like three times in a row every day I went in to visit him that whole month. But I don't know. I guess zoology is cool. I did help you pass that Biology test! You've never really asked me things like this before, Kurt. It's kind of… nice."

Kurt's eyes got big but he still looked out at the light bouncing off the river. He never realized that before. He and Blaine talked all the time, about all kinds of subjects and shared both their opinions on issues all the time, but he suddenly realized that he'd only heard maybe a tiny handful of stories about Blaine himself. A wave of regret washed over him.

"Oh, Blaine… Oh my gosh I thought it was inherently obvious that I am so interested in every single thing about you. And my goodness, at this point you know almost everything there is to know about me!"

"I doubt that's true. There's a lot to know about you, Kurt."

"Oh come on. Well you know what I mean. I kind of tend to tell you almost everything."

"I like that!"

"But Blaine, I really do want to learn all about you. I never thought to ask… I just… figured you'd tell me things that you wanted to tell me."

Kurt worried a bit when Blaine was silent for a bit longer than comfortable. Then he finally looked up from his hands and said, "I'm not really… one to offer information. I'm not really used to… talking about myself much."

"Blaine. It's time you started. I am going to make a point of asking for stories if you don't offer them yourself. Is that OK?"

Now Kurt worried even more, and thought maybe the answer was that it isn't OK, as Blaine stared off at the river in the opposite direction of Kurt so he couldn't see his face.

Deciding that he wasn't going to let this relationship slip away due to a failure to connect, Kurt laced his fingers through Blaine's and leaned in to him. He didn't say anything yet; he just nuzzled his head into Blaine's neck and then rested on his shoulder.

When Blaine finally turned his head back toward Kurt and kissed him on top of the head, Kurt asked, "Blaine, I've noticed that you have this façade or maybe that's not the right word… it's just that sometimes around me you seem like you're being more… free and uninhibited, and then around school and other times, you are so perfectly collected and cool. I mean… it's a quality that is truly amazing. You mediate situations among people so brilliantly, and you break up fights and you have such a way with people, and it's because of that calm collected demeanor. You always seem to know what to do."

Blaine shifted slightly on the bench so that they were a bit closer, and gave another kiss to Kurt's hairline. Kurt lifted his head to face him.

"So… I don't want to push you or anything. You don't have to tell me anything. All in good time, you know. I just wanted you to know that I've noticed, because most of the time you're reserved like that even around me. But no big deal figuring it out right now, right here on this bench! I'm just saying that you should know it's there. And that if it's something to do with you thinking that I'll like you less if I know the real you, that's totally wrong. It's the opposite, OK? If there's something about you that you don't want me to know, I'll bet you anything it'll turn out to be something that makes me like you even more."

Blaine kept his gaze out toward the river, but the look on his face was receptive and open, and indicated to Kurt that he was taking this in just fine.

Mercedes spotted Greg almost as soon as she and Kurt and Blaine walked into the Side Walk Café that evening.

"Hey, guys! I'm glad you could make it. Peter will be so happy you came to see his band."

Mercedes answered Greg, "We wouldn't miss it for the world, Sir Gregory!"

Greg laughed at her cute salutation, but then he leaned toward the three of them and whispered, "Actually, it's Gregers."

Mercedes stopped herself from laughing just in time. "Gregers? What is that, German?"

"No, I'm from Norway."

"Ah! Well that's an awesome name! Gregers… Olafsen?" Now she could laugh, since she was laughing at her own silly stab in the dark at a Norwegian-sounding last name.

"It's Grieg."

"Oh my gosh, Gregers Grieg? That is super cute!"

"CUTE? Great. Cute. Just what every guy wants." He shook his head into his hand. "Mean parents."

"Hey, now, my Greg Gregers Grieg. Cute is real good these days. Trust me."

"Well I already have nicknames for these two, so I'll have to come up with one for you now. How's… Cuteness. No. For you, the name should be all good. How about Goodness. Yeah, I like that one."

Blaine asked if he and Kurt could get anything for them from the bar, and Mercedes said she'd come with them.

"Bye, Goodness!"

"Bye, Gregers Grieg…. G.G."

Just then, Peter walked up, saying "What's up, G.G.?" which made Mercedes crack up and Greg scowl dramatically at the both of them.

Kurt gave Mercedes a little pinch telling her to stay and talk, and told her with his eyes that he'd be watching her as he followed Blaine to the bar.

She acted like she was ignoring him and turned to Peter, saying "OH NO. You heard that. You're not going to start calling me Goodness now too, are you? 'Cause you know I prefer Goddess."

With a deep chuckle, Peter leaned to whisper in her ear, "Nah, I was hoping that I'll get to call you something else."

She gave him a look with a whole lot of attitude in it. "You did, did you? And what would that be?"

He wasn't deterred in the least, and said to her before heading toward the stage, "I'll keep you posted."

Blaine was telling the bartender, "A medium drip and a" but Kurt cut in and said, "It'll be two medium drips, please."

To Blaine's raised eyebrows, Kurt explained, "I thought I'd see what it's like to walk in your shoes, or drink in your cafe as it were... See what it's like..."

Greg heard this and raised an eyebrow himself. Yes, our Gregers is always observant and insightful as many great coffee shop attendants are. Especially when it comes to an abrupt change in coffee order from a client who always orders the same thing without fail.

Although a medium drip is clearly the perfect coffee and Blaine was sure Kurt would enjoy trying one, the real sentiment was not lost on him. It was a gesture that spoke louder than words, and it warmed Blaine's heart.

Blaine pulled him in and kissed him on the cheek as they headed toward the railing Mercedes had found for them to lean against to watch Peter's band, who had just started playing "Animal" by Neon Trees.

As usual, inside Blaine's head this song and all the sounds from the instruments as well as the lyrics were being transformed into an acapella arrangement almost of their own accord.

He looked at Kurt, and Kurt looked back at him with practically the same expression. "Do you think we could get it ready in time for Regionals?"

"Sure," Blaine answered. "We could get it perfected into winning form well before the night of April 23."

A/N – OK, in the chapters so far, any favorite parts? Any parts that were just distracting and you'd skip over them if you could? Any concepts or descriptions that were just silly? Do you like or hate that I made Kurt great at football? Anything downright boring here? Thank you thank you thank you for answering!

(Have I thanked you all enough yet for all your reads and adds and messages and suggestions and reviews so far? Love love love love love! Thank you.)