"What's all this?" Blaine asks Michelle when he arrives at the Lima bean the next evening. "Drum kit? Amps? I thought it was supposed to be an acoustic night?"

"It is," she says as she continues to wipe down tables. "Just thought I'd liven things up a bit, that's all."

"By introducing very non-acoustic instruments," Blaine grumbles as he heads off to his regular table, leaving her to smile and shake her head. He is joined shortly by Wes, Sebastian, Jeff and Nick- who takes great pleasure in teasing him mercilessly about his dates with Kurt, having heard all about them from Wes.

"Tease him all you want guys," Sebastian says with a smirk. "But I'm jealous as hell. The boy's ass is tight, and ripe for the picking."

"Don't you ever make jokes about him like that," Blaine snarls as he leans over the table and fists Sebastian's shirt.

"Easy Blaine, easy," Wes calms, pushing him back down into his seat. "Seb, you're disgusting, and if I hear you say anything like that again I won't hold Blaine back. Coffee, anyone?" he asks, cheerily changing the subject.

"Hey," an exhilarated Kurt appears at their table, nervously eyeing Blaine's friends but too pleased to see Blaine to worry too much.

"Hey," Blaine says, standing and sliding his arms around Kurt's slim waist, wishing he could bury himself into that embrace and stay there, but Kurt flinches and pulls away. Blaine frowns, but introduces him to his friends, and then Kurt is smiling politely, telling Blaine he's going to sit with his own friends in the opposite corner.

"I'll walk you over," Blaine says decisively. "What's wrong?" he asks, the second they're out of earshot. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, nothing like that. I love having your arms around me," Kurt smiles, a real genuine smile and Blaine relaxes slightly.

"What, then?"

"Nothing. We just...had dodgeball in gym today."

"And?"

"And I didn't dodge."

"Bathroom. Now," Blaine says, grabbing Kurt's wrist and steering them through the tables. "Lift," he commands once they're safely inside.

"Anyone could come in."

"They won't," Blaine says, wedging his foot against the door. "Now lift."

Slowly, reluctantly, Kurt lifts his long sleeved t-shirt, wincing as he hears Blaine suppress a gasp. A livid purple bruise spreads itself across Kurt's left side, covering his whole rib cage with a few angry looking marks dotted elsewhere.

"This isn't from a ball," Blaine whispers in pained awe as he traces his fingers delicately along the shape of the bruise. "This is from a foot. I know, because I once had bruises the same. Kurt, you have to tell someone about this."

"No, please," he begs brokenly as he lets his shirt fall. "Please. My dad...I can't risk it. Please."

"But Kurt..."

"Blaine, it's okay. I'm okay. And I'm okay because being with you makes all this bearable. Because whatever shit they put me through, I have you to ease my pain and make me smile again. It's the weekend now. I just want to enjoy tonight and look forward to our date tomorrow. Please?"

"Okay," Blaine says reluctantly. "But if it happens again I'm going into the school."

He means it, Kurt can tell, so he takes his hand and squeezes gently, trying to reassure. "I'm sure it won't. Now come meet my friends and then we can all oggle you as you perform."

The step back out into the coffee shop, now noticeably busier and Blaine stops him, there by the bathroom door but still in full view of everybody, and take his hands in his.

"I just want you to know..." he starts, lowering his voice and stepping closer to him. "That I think you are incredibly beautiful, and I'm so proud to be dating you." he smiles then, it's slightly wavering as he thinks of the broken and bruised skin hiding underneath all those layers, but it's a smile nonetheless, and it becomes even brighter when Kurt returns it with a dazzling grin of his own.

"Thank you," he whispers. "That means everything."

Kurt introduces him to his friends while the performances carry on in the background, knowing Blaine has no hope of remembering anyone's names except Finn and Rachel.

"And this is my teacher, Mr. Schue, and that's Brad the piano guy," Kurt finishes up, as a man with glasses raises one hand in greeting. If anyone notices the glare Schue is shooting at Blaine, no one chooses to comment.

"Wow. I didn't realize there were so many of you coming. I'm nervous now."

"It's only the Glee club," a girl- Santana, Blaine thinks it is- purrs at him. "Find your inner diva. I saw you perform at Wild. I know you can do it."

"Yeah...acoustic nights aren't really about being a diva though." Blaine says politely.

"You know, Kurt can be quite the diva when he wants to be," she remarks.

"Oh I don't doubt it," Blaine replies, eyes fixed firmly on Kurt who blushes. "I'd better get going, I'm next up. Nice to meet you guys," he says politely then takes his place on stage.

He plays a few of his old favorites, eyes flitting between his friends and Kurt and his table, who sing along loudly to his rendition of 'Piano Man.' He stands, picking up his guitar and walking to the microphone stand.

"So uh...this is my last one for tonight, and um...well...it's for Kurt."

He looks over to where Kurt sits, Rachel and Santana either side of him and almost laughs at the comical, open mouthed expressions on their faces. Kurt, for his part, looks breathtaking. His eyes are wide, head cocked slightly to one side as he listens and Blaine starts to sing.

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own.

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone.

If I lay here,
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden
That's bursting into life.

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They're all I can see

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?

He plays the final cord and dares to open his eyes. He's been worrying about this moment ever since he decided to sing this song to Kurt. He's laid his heart on the line, but when his eyes open and he sees Kurt's face break out into that glorious smile he loves so much, the relief rushes through him and he jumps from the stage and goes to him immediately.

"Well?" he asks, breathless with excitement.

"I loved it," Kurt says, spinning in his chair and ignoring the commotion around him as everybody starts to leave their seats. "And I'd love nothing more," he whispers as he starts to lean closer.

"Kurt, come on!" Rachel calls and Blaine bows his head frustratedly.

"Sorry...I've just..." and with that, Kurt is gone, weaving his way towards his friends. Blaine trails dejectedly back to his table and slumps down in his seat.

"Maybe, when we've been dating for twenty years I'll finally get to kiss him," he moans as Wes laughs and pats his arm sympathetically.

"You've waited months, what's a few more minutes? And I'm sure it'll be worth it," he says, nodding towards the stage. Unbeknownst to him, while Blaine has been grumbling to his friends, Kurt and his- including Brad the piano guy- have commandeered the stage, despite the fact that Blaine is usually the closing act. Kurt now stands dead center, clutching the microphone stand nervously. His brother sits behind the drumkit, two of his friends hold guitars and Blaine suddenly realizes that the presence of these instruments has been planned all along. Turning in his seat, he catches Michelle's eye, who shrugs and smiles before going back to the register. Kurt doesn't speak, just nods once and the music starts. Closing his eyes, he allows himself to float on the gentle piano melody as he opens his mouth to sing.

"How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home."

"Holy shit!" Sebastian exclaims.

"Told you he could sing," Blaine says proudly.

"Did you know he could sing like that though?" Wes asks. "He's incredible."

"He's mine."

A beat and then Kurt's eyes fly open as the music and his voice soar together.

"Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love darling
Only you are life among the dead

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life."

Kurt's voice soars higher than ever on the last note, which he hits perfectly and holds, as the girls finish their backing vocals softly behind him and the music fades away. A clear and concise moment of silence falls in the coffee shop before Mr. Schue leads the way, erupting into loud cheers. Blaine's table call for more, but both Kurt and Blaine pay no heed to any of it as Blaine pushes to the front of the stage where he lifts Kurt down gently, setting him on his feet before cradling his face tenderly in his hands.

"Incredible," he whispers and unable to resist any longer, he brushes his lips gently over Kurt's. They stare at one another, pupils blown to black by the softest of kisses. "What time does your bodyguard want you home?"

"He...he doesn't. He's uh...sleeping at Pucks." Kurt breathes, suddenly filled with desire and longing the like of which he's never known.

"Would you like to come to my place?"

"Yes."

He takes Kurt's hand immediately, they say no goodbyes, just walk quickly to Blaine's car and drive. It is late by the time Blaine pulls up to a quaint red and white house which Kurt immediately loves.

"You own this?"

"Yup," Blaine says proudly. "My first place. Come on, I'll show you around."

Blaine's taste in decor is much more homey than Kurt imagined it to be, the house is warm and welcoming with an enormous, purpose built music studio added on to the back of the house, complete with recording studio, instrument room and another room which is full of all kinds of audio equipment that Kurt doesn't even try to understand. They walk back through the house, Kurt taking in various pictures on the walls, and into the hallway where Blaine pauses at the bottom of the stairs.

"Um...do you want to sleep here tonight? I mean, you don't have to," he adds quickly, "I don't want you to think that's why I asked you here. It's just...if I drive you back to Lima it'll be late and I..."

"Relax Blaine. Yes, I would like that."

"I mean you can have your own room if you want, I have..."

"Blaine. It's not like we haven't spent the night together before."

"No. I just want you to be sure."

"I'm sure."

And suddenly the spark is ignited once more, the tension between them palpable as Blaine nods his understanding and taking Kurt's hand in his, leads them upstairs. He pushes open a door at the end of the hall and shows Kurt into his room. Flipping a small side lamp, he kicks his shoes off and watches Kurt as he moves about the room. It is large, with pale blue walls and dark wood floors. A large bed stands center, a door in the corner leading to what Kurt assumes is a bathroom. The room is sparsely furnished- certainly in comparison to Kurt's own room back in Lima. A large chest of drawers with a tv mounted on the wall above stands facing the bed between two dormer windows. A nightstand either side of the bed and that's it. The room is elegant, understated and so calming that Kurt feels as if he could fall asleep immediately- that is until Blaine takes his face in his hands once more and all thoughts of tiredness are forgotten.

"I really wanna kiss you again," he says, voice husky with desire and lips inches from Kurt's.

"I'm not stopping you," he whispers, and leans in as Blaine presses his lips to his own. There is slightly more pressure behind the touch than at the coffee shop, but not much. Even so, it causes them both to gasp and stare into wide eyes before Blaine surges forward again and claims Kurt's mouth in a deep kiss. His hands never move from Kurt's face as he guides him, moving his lips so Kurt's mouth opens a little bit wider under his touch before he pulls away again, leaving them both breathless.

"Wow," Kurt rasps, surprising himself with how low his voice has become as Blaine presses their foreheads together.

"Yeah," Blaine's voice is breathless with euphoria as he struggles not to push Kurt on the bed and fall on top of him, and suddenly he sees why Burt was so concerned. "Uh...maybe we should..."

"Kiss again," Kurt finishes for him, winding his arms around Blaine's waist as he joins their lips again. Moving his hands to Kurt's hair, Blaine inclines his head this time as the kiss intensifies, opening his mouth wider and moaning when he feels Kurt do the same. Daringly, he runs his tongue along Kurt's lower lip before nipping at it slightly, and is rewarded by a whimper from Kurt who has become loose and pliant in his arms. Passion clouding his brain, he backs them closer to the bed, Kurt's knees hit the edge and Blaine moves his arms to grip tightly around his waist as he lowers him to lie back against the pillows. Grabbing his face, Kurt pulls him closer, and as they continue to kiss his tongue meets with Blaine's, who tangles his fingers tightly into his hair as a response. He is half on top of Kurt now, and as they kiss heatedly Blaine becomes more and more turned on by the soft whimpers and moans escaping Kurt trapped happily beneath him. He dares to tangle his fingers into Blaine's curls and tugs gently, then freezes as Blaine growls in pleasure and grinds against him.

"Shit!" Blaine exclaims, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. "Sorry. I...I need to stop."

"Why?"

"Because I...Oh my God look at you," he exclaims as he takes in the delicious sight of Kurt, hair mussed and lips swollen and red with kisses, lying back against the pillows regarding him with wide, innocent eyes. "Because..."

"Because I'm only sixteen," Kurt says with a sigh as he covers his face with his hands.

"No," Blaine says, removing his hands and forcing eye contact. "Because this is the best thing I've ever had and I don't want to mess it up," he says with a light kiss to the tip of his nose.

"Oh."

"Oh indeed."

"You mean that?"

"I do," he grins brightly.

"But what if I don't want to stop?"

"You do Kurt, trust me." Blaine says with an indulgent smile. "You might get carried away in the heat of the moment but we both know we're not ready for too much right now. I'm gonna find you some pajamas, then I'll go fix us a drink, okay?"

Kurt agrees reluctantly, and stands in front of Blaine's bathroom mirror staring at his reflection. His lips look like they've been stung by bees, and his eyes have changed color from blue to black. If this all comes from a mild makeout session, what more is there to come? He grins back at himself, excited at the prospect of finding out, but his smile falters when he removes his shirt to be faced with a stark reminder of his reality. He touches his fingers to the bruise lightly, hissing in pain as he presses into the sore muscle and aching bone. Tears come to his eyes, tears which he tries to blink back rapidly as he hears Blaine moving around in the bedroom.

"Kurt? Are you okay in there?"

"Yeah," he calls back, voice wavering slightly. "Um...do you have any ice?"

"Oh god I forgot! Hold on." He hears retreating footsteps, a few doors being opened and closed downstairs and then he's back, tapping lightly on the door which Kurt opens a crack.

"Thanks."

"Want me to help?"

"You'll just get mad at me."

"No I won't. It wasn't your fault."

"No," a stubborn Kurt mutters, and shuts the door. Blaine hears him huffing and puffing under his breath as he tries to reach around to hold the ice in place.

"Come on Kurt. Just let me do it. I'll keep my eyes closed if you want."

"No."

"I made you hot chocolate, and it's getting cold."

"No."

More huffing and puffing plus a few expletives which cause Blaine to smile until he remembers that Kurt is probably in needless agony only due to his stubborness.

"For goodness sake Kurt. I should be able to help put ice on my boyfriend when he's in pain."

The door flies open and Kurt stands there bare chested, Blaine gawping shamelessly.

"I'm your boyfriend?"

"Huh?"

"Blaine," Kurt snaps, "My eyes are up here. Did you call me your boyfriend?"

"Yes. You are, aren't you?"

"I don't know. I'd like to be."

"Then you are."

"Oh."

"Now come here." Taking his arm, he gently lifts it, holding the ice pack carefully along Kurt's side and over his ribs. All thoughts of this being Kurt's naked chest beneath his fingertips fade away as he concentrates on trying to ease his pain. "Better?" he asks as he kisses his cheek softly.

"A little. Thank you."

"Here," Blaine says, tossing him his pajama top. "Get in and make yourself comfortable. Whatever side you like."

He changes quickly and emerges to find Kurt sat in the middle of the bed, sipping on his hot chocolate.

"I said pick a side, not commandeer the whole damn bed," he grumbles affectionately as he slides in and takes Kurt's empty mug.

"Makes no difference. You're going to hold me all night anyway," Kurt says matter-of-factly, then places a soft kiss to the corner of Blaine's mouth.

"Is that what you want?"

"More than anything."


A/N- If you haven't heard these songs before, particularly Wake Me Up Inside (Bring Me To Life) by Katherine Jenkins, I urge you to listen. I know Evanessence did the outstanding original, but I dream of Kurt singing this version, Chris' voice would suit it perfectly.
I will put the links on my tumblr: mrscriss2012 as I can't post them here. Alternatively, search you tube for Snow Patrol Chasing Cars and Katherine Jenkins Bring Me To Life.

Thank you all for reading and your lovely reviews :)