A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to get out! It's been a crazy time in my life. BUT, I'm working on Chapter 11 as we speak. And I've got a shitton of other fics in mind, so get yaselves ready!

Kurt woke up the morning of Regionals after maybe three hours of sleep. It was five AM, just as the dawn was starting to break. He watched through his blinds as the sun began to rise. He tried to go back to sleep for the next hour or so, but couldn't manage it. Reluctantly, he got up and got ready for the day. Just as he was forcing down a piece of toast for breakfast, he got a text from Blaine, just reading the word, "Courage." Kurt smiled, remembering all the times that those texts had gotten him through. But the knot in his stomach reminded him that this day wasn't something that could be handled with a five-letter text.

"Excited or nervous?" Finn asked over his Captain Crunch, snapping Kurt out of his thoughts.

Kurt shrugged. "Both, I guess."

"You're going to be awesome." Finn smiled, shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. "Psyched about your solo?"

Kurt had almost forgotten that he would be performing a solo today. At the last minute (as was his custom), Mr. Schuester had changed Kurt's solo to one more suited to a group performance. They had been practicing it obsessively, and it was as ready as it could be in less than a week.

"I'll be fine, I think." He sighed.

By the time Finn parked his car, the bus had arrived to take the Glee club across town to the auditorium where they would compete. Everyone saddled into their usual seats on the bus: Rachel alone in the front, concentrating on the songs on her iPod. Santana and Brittany were sharing a seat in the back, mumbling something to each other. Puck was leaning over the seat in front of them, trying to sneak into the conversation. Mercedes, Tina, and Mike were laughing about something or other. Finn sat by himself, with Quinn and Sam having a soft conversation in the seat in front of them. Blaine was leaning against the wall of the bus, his legs stretched out over the seat next to him. When Kurt finally stepped onto the bus, Blaine bolted to sit upright, and patted the seat next to him. Kurt reluctantly sat down.

"I'm so excited! The Warblers made it to Regionals when I was a Freshman, but we never went back." Blaine squealed.

Kurt shrugged.

"Are you excited about your solo? I sure am." Blaine shifted a little bit in his seat.

Kurt nodded.

Blaine was quiet for a few seconds. "Are you okay?"

"Just nerves I guess." Kurt offered.

"You're going to be great." Blaine said, interlacing his fingers with Kurt. Kurt slid out of Blaine's grasp. He instantly felt bad about it, but couldn't stop his hand from moving. They spent the rest of the ride in silence.

The green room before their performance was buzzing with a combination of excitement, nerves, and the telltale smell of sweat on polyester costumes. Everyone was quiet, fingers drumming on the sides of their chairs, as Rachel went over their setlist for the umpteenth time.

"So we're clear, then?" She concluded, playing with the hem of her dress. "We start with my solo on 'Natural Woman.' Then we move onto 'Song of Purple Summer' with Kurt on lead." She sighed at that last word, obviously perturbed that she was missing a single solo. "Finally, we conclude with 'December 1963,' with myself on lead. Any questions?"

Mercedes sighed, "Why are we not doing the Aretha version of the first song again? I mean, do you really need two solos?"

"We don't have time for this, Mercedes." Finn grimaced. "Just put up with it for now."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. Rachel opened her mouth to speak again, but just then a mousy woman in a lime-green cardigan peeked her head into the green room. "New Directions? You are on in five."

"Thank you five." Everyone responded together. They filed into the wings of the stage just as the last song of the group before them was beginning.

Blaine snuck up behind Kurt, placing his hands gently on Kurt's shoulders. "Good luck, babe." He whispered, placing a soft kiss on Kurt's cheek. Kurt held back a shudder at being touched.

"Thanks." Was all he could respond. The two stood together for a minute, just listening to their opponents' harmonies. Kurt, for the first time in a long time, broke the tension. "Blaine, I have something I need to tell you." He hissed out, all in one word.

Blaine smiled.

Kurt opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of the applause for the previous group drowned out the words.

"Break a leg!" Blaine shouted, and pulled Kurt onto the stage.