Hey everyone! Okay, I would just like to clarify that I am entirely new to FanFiction and I was unaware that one could actually reply to reviews until earlier today. So I hope you guys don't all think I'm a total bitch for not replying or anything - I genuinely did not know I was able to. I can't reply to all the reviews I've received up until this point - as there are too many - but I can assure that I will reply from now on. Thank you all so much for your kindness.

Sarah

(I don't own Glee and I make no profit from writing this.)

"Basically, that's all I wanted to tell you; I've started seeing a therapist and Colin is gone."

Blaine sat on the large window ledge in the common room and pulled his feet up. He stared out the window in disbelief. He had known that his mother had been deeply shaken by the events of his last visit home but he had never expected her to react so radically.

"And also, Blaine," she added. "I would like to apologise. But I suppose that's fairly obvious, given the circumstances. I know that saying I've been a terrible mother would be an understatement. It's probably been going on for too long for you to remember a time when you and I were inseparable."

Blaine shook his head as she spoke. Of course he remembered. He could still recall a time when his parents had seemed like his whole world, when he felt safest between his parents, with each of them holding one of his hands, when his mother would spend so much with her hands in his curly hair, when the three of them would go to the movies on Friday evenings and his mind was free and his heart was light. But then Colin had emerged onto the scene and everything changed. It was only his father holding his hand and taking him to the movies, and his mother would stay out until all hours and have explosive arguments with Noah when she returned. He still remembered The Night: when the screaming was so deafeningly loud that he wandered downstairs in his pajamas to find both of his parents in tears and was struck by a photo in a frame that Cynthia had been trying to throw at Noah. She had cried harder, squeezing her little boy and kicking Noah out. Blaine had always wondered how she had managed to place the blame onto Noah, when she had been the one having an affair.

"But I was a good mother once, honey, I was." Cynthia continued. "And I was hurt and lonely and foolish and I let that man into my life, and he twisted my feelings for my own son and I am sorry, I am so sorry. There is absolutely no justification for what I did but please believe me when I say that I am truly sorry."

Blaine had to admit that the ardency in her voice was indisputable and undeniable. "I know you are, mom," he replied, leaning his head against the cool glass of the window pane. "This is just somewhat...belated." Whenever he received no answer from her - aside from a heavy sigh - he added, "I appreciate it, though."

Cynthia smiled tearfully at Noah, who was sat across the table from her, and he placed his hand over her's.

"I am aware that you owe me absolutely nothing," she said to Blaine. "But I was wondering if I could maybe see you sometime this week? We could go to Villa Italia? I know you love it there..."

Blaine exhaled and stared out at the two people he could make out down in the snow-covered grounds, heading for the entrance of the school. One was tall and lanky, with a shock of vivid red hair and an arm around a smaller figure in a stylish pea coat and a beret.

"Alright then," Blaine answered hesitantly. "Tomorrow evening?"

After Cynthia's jubilant thanks, they ended their conversation and the sound of boisterous, animated laughter heralded the return of Kurt and Alex. The latter excused himself, needing to go and fix his hair after the harshness of the snow and wind.

Blaine made room for Alexander on the window ledge when he saw him approaching.

"What's up, man?" he asked Blaine, removing his shoes. "You look kinda freaked."

Blaine cleared his throat and replied, "I was just on the phone to my mom...she left Colin in the wake of Christmasgate 2010. She wants to see me tomorrow."

Alex's face turned to one of bafflement and he put his hand on Blaine's thigh. "Oh my god...well it's about time she left that asshole! Do you remember they came to see you sing at the graduation thing last year and he kept calling me 'Rusty'? Or that time I stayed over and I smashed that lamp with my shoe and he cuffed me around the head? What the fuck was that, man?"

Blaine chuckled gently at the memory of the expression on Alexander's face.

"Do you want to see your mom?" Alex asked him solemnly.

"I...well, I told her I'd meet her at Villa Italia," he replied. "So I suppose I do. I wouldn't exactly say I was quaking with anticipation."

Alex stared at his friend with concern, trying to figure out a solution before stating, "You know I would come with you if I could. Unfortunately, I'm under school-arrest for the foreseeable future, so...that's out. But hey! You should take Kurt! If things get awkward between you and your mom, you and him can just play footsie or sneak off to the bathroom and make passionate love on the sink or something."

"You are absolutely sordid, Alexander, I swear," Blaine said, shaking his head.

"I remain unmoved. But seriously, take Kurt with you."

"Take me where?"

They both turned to see Kurt standing in front of the fire, looking over at the pair of friends.

"He's meeting his mom at a fancy-schmancy Italian restaurant tomorrow and I can't go," Alex called over in reply. "So I think he should take you for, you know, moral support."

"Let's not talk about this now," Blaine said, standing up. "In any case, it's dinner time and I'm hungry."

"I am so bored of just sitting around the dorms every night," Jonathan said in the dining hall at dinner. He hadn't been able to stay home over the holidays due to the fact that Ireland was suffering with severe weather conditions and his family wanted to ensure he got back to school before the airports closed. "It's so monotonous."

Jonathan Turner was a thin, pale boy with freckles, startlingly grey eyes and wavy blond hair. He was slightly taller than both Blaine and Kurt but not quite as tall as Alexander.

"I hear you, Slim," Alex nodded in accord. "There's only so much shit I can stir in such a confined space. Particularly when there's only seven people in our dorm group back so early. Do you have any idea how long it's been since I put someone's life in peril? It's just not right. There is an untouched twelve-pack of beer that I smuggled in with me because these two losers don't drink and I'm hardly going to sit and drink on my own like some lonely weirdo."

"Woah, wait, back it up." Jonathan stopped him. "You have and you didn't tell me? Oh...wouldn't it be all flat and warm by now?"

Alex grinned cunningly. "Oh please, I am disappointed that you think so little of me. It's submerged in cold water up in the bathtub - they'll be fine."

"Balcony mini-party?"

"I like the way you think, bro." Alex grins, turning to Blaine and Kurt who have sat and observed in silence. "You are both invited to a balcony mini-party. Be there or be square, sweethearts."

"No, Alexander, no." Blaine objects. "We cannot do this. What if we got caught again? I'm a shoo-in for the prefect position whenever school starts again; I can't be breaking rules. Especially not multiple rules at once."

"Blainey-poo, come on, why do you have to be such a tight-ass all of the time? There's hardly anyone even here to catch us. Let's have a little fun, for a fucking change!"

"I mean it, Alex. I refuse to sway to peer pressure. I am in a state of Buddha-like determination."

Naturally, the four of them ended up on the balcony with the beer and a radio. It was intended exclusively for the use of prefects but given that it was January and snowing and only about a sixth of the total school population were there, the balcony was moon was full and bright and the air was bracing. Alexander and Jonathan had a game of I Never going, and Blaine and Kurt were sitting on a bench, talking. Blaine had a can of beer in his hands but he was mainly nursing it and occasionally taking a swig. Kurt had a flask of coffee with him.

"Okay, member of the football team? I believe...maybe. Cheerleader? No way! You are kidding me."

Kurt laughed at Blaine's response. "I am one hundred percent serious and I have the pictures to prove it. Oh! And the cute little outfit! It's somewhere in my room back home. I couldn't bring myself to part with it."

"Oh yeah?" Blaine grins, feeling a little relaxed by the alcohol. "Elaborate on this 'cute little outfit' aspect - that sounds intriguing."

The pair of them giggled - actually giggled together until Kurt stopped with a look of horror on his face and gasped, "Oh my god, they're dancing. They're dancing. Christ save us all."

Alexander and Jonathan had began slow dancing in an alcohol-induced state of romantic desperation. Blaine and Kurt looked on for a little while before Kurt -in what he prayed was a blasé manner - said, "I'll go with you to meet your mom tomorrow, if you want."

Blaine began to reply but was interrupted by Alex grabbing Kurt's hands and slurring, "Come and dance with me, you beautiful little sprite."

Jonathan took Kurt's place next to Blaine and they watched Alex spinning Kurt around in circles.

"How much has he had to drink?" Blaine asked Jonathan quietly.

"Um...I don't know...six cans? Maybe seven. Why?"

"Oh no. You know how he can be when he's this drunk." Blaine winced, recalling the drunken kisses and fondlings Alex had inflicted upon him throughout their years of friendship. "I hope that he do - oh shit, Alexander!"

Kurt had been laughing as Alex swayed him and the next he knew, he had grabbed his shoulders and leant down, as though he was going to kiss him. Kurt stood in shock for a moment before he actually processed what was happening and he pushed Alex away and slapped him hard across the face. He looked over at Blaine, who had jumped up.

"What is the matter with you?" he asked Alex before going through the door, back inside.

Blaine stared at Alexander in rage and said, "You have no idea what you just did, you..." He broke off and followed after Kurt, catching up with him in the hallway to the common room.

"In his defence," Blaine began as he reached out and placed his hand on Kurt's shoulder. "He was quite drunk and I haven't told him about...you know."

Kurt turned around and his face was surprisingly calm and collected. "I know...I'm not that upset. I'm just...confused."

Blaine took a deep breath and cautiously asked, "Do you like him? Is that why you're confused?"

Kurt almost smiled at the earnest expression on Blaine's face because he had never seen Blaine so close to looking vulnerable. "Blaine...you're being ridiculous."

"Is it..." Blaine paused and cleared his throat, composing himself. "Because he's taller than me?"

Kurt actually did laugh then. He smiled and took both of Blaine's hands. "I don't like Alex, okay? Not like that. And the fact that you're a smidge shorter than me does not have any bearing on how perfect you are to me."

Kurt went into the common room, leaving Blaine standing in the hall with a slightly dazed expression.