Blaine sits on his bed, staring forlornly out of the window. Downstairs he can hear the general noise of his three nemeses tearing around the house, and he can hear his mom laughing as if they were true delights and not vile human beings with no respect for anything or anyone. Sighing heavily, he picks up his phone and sends yet another text to Kurt.

So it's Christmas Eve tomorrow, and you'll be flying home. I'm nervous about seeing you again, if I'm honest. I thought we were going to try and be friends but I haven't heard from you at all. I just need to know if it's still okay for me to be at your house tomorrow? I can stay here if you'd rather.

He knows he won't get a reply, but he still can't help trying. He doesn't want to spend the day with his supposed family, he'd much rather spend it with those he considers to be his true family, even if that is only Burt.

He'd like to count Kurt in that list too, even if only as a brother, but his resounding silence for the last five weeks has led him to believe that Kurt perhaps doesn't care for him like he thought he did. Even so, he's bought him a Christmas gift, and one for Burt too. He didn't bother with anyone else.

When he had approached his mom about spending Christmas with Burt, he was shocked and hurt when she just shrugged and said it didn't bother her. While Blaine didn't necessarily want to be around Spencer and his sons, it was their first Christmas without Blaine's dad, and he had hoped that maybe his mom would have mentioned something, but all she said was she was excited for their first Christmas as a family, so yes, maybe it would be better for Blaine to be across the road.

The relationship between mother and son had now broken down beyond repair, and one thing was absolutely certain; Blaine was no longer considered a part of the family.

He had Burt though. The pair shared breakfast together, and Blaine had his key to come and go as he pleased. He worked at the garage after school, and then on weekends they worked on Bessie at home, and still they never got fed up with one another.

Burt wasn't a surrogate dad, nor Blaine a surrogate son. Their relationship was complex in many ways, yet simple in others. There was certainly an element of parent and child, due to Burt's over protective nature and need to dish out advice, and also Blaine's willingness to listen and ask questions. They loved one another as father and son would, but both were so different to their relative counterparts, that it was a whole world apart from the relationships they had with their own kin. They were friends too. Blaine opened up to Burt about everything, even what had taken place on the last morning he had seen Kurt.

Burt had replied as a friend, and not as a father, telling Blaine he had made the right decision and reminding him yet again that he is worth so much more, and he doesn't need to lower himself to being a part time lover.

He had called Kurt out on it when they spoke, though Blaine didn't know that. His reward had been Kurt cutting off all contact, and while that was hurtful it was by no means unusual, and at least he didn't have to lie to Blaine about not having spoken with him.

Christmas Eve finds Blaine hot footing it across the road, still in his pajamas with his hair wild. Burt arrives in his kitchen a little after eight, having closed the shop for today. He takes one look at Blaine, standing cooking bacon and eggs at the stove, and frowns.

"What's all this? And Kurt's right, you do look like you've been electrocuted."

Ignoring the Kurt reference, Blaine triumphantly hands Burt a plate and gestures for him to pour coffee. "Well, on Christmas Eve in my family, we have a lazy breakfast of bacon and eggs while wearing our pajamas and watching a film. I'm not about to instill that tradition over there, so I wondered if you'd like to join me?"

"Only if it really is a tradition," Burt says as he hands Blaine a mug. "Cause I take tradition very seriously, boy. You can't duck out on me next year, or the one after that. I expect this to continue year after year, okay?"

"Okay," Blaine says happily, and collecting his own plate they walk through to the den.

"And we're watching It's a Wonderful Life," Burt tells him.

"Fine by me."

"I know it is, sunshine. I take it you're now here until the day after Christmas?"

"If that's okay?"

"Yep. Did you say goodbye to your mom?"

"Yes," Blaine lies as the film starts up.

"Good boy. Here we go then," Burt smiles as he clinks their coffee mugs together. "Hummel Anderson Christmas tradition number one."

They're half way way through the film when the front door slams, and Burt looks over the back of the couch in surprise. Kurt walks in, shaking snowflakes from his hair as he pulls off his coat and scarf. "Hey dad," he says, and Blaine sits up at the sound of his voice. "Oh. Blaine," he greets with a nod. "I'll be upstairs."

"Hold up!" Burt calls, pausing the film. "That's it? I didn't even know if you were coming home."

"I told you I was."

"Four weeks ago you did, yes. I haven't heard anything in so long, I thought you'd reconsidered."

"I've been busy."

"You should have called," Burt says, his hurt and anger evident. "I would have met you at the airport."

"I rented a car. Anyway. I'll be upstairs. Blaine, your hair is insane."

There is a resounding silence once he's left the room, and Blaine tries to surreptitiously flatten his hair, the familiar feeling of dread creeping up on him that he gets when things are about to go horribly wrong. "I should..." he starts, but Burt places a firm hand on his knee.

"Don't you dare."

"But..."

"He knew you would be here, he's known since Thanksgiving. If he had an issue he had plenty of time to say something about it."

"You haven't spoken to him?"

"Nope."

Burt starts the movie again, and Blaine senses he doesn't want to talk any further, so he watches the film in silence while trying to calm his hair, until Burt gives him a withering glare and shakes his head.

No one says a word when Kurt appears twenty minutes later, handing them both fresh coffee before sitting in the armchair across from them and staring at the TV. Blaine is glad he's chosen that spot, because it means his gaze is angled away from him, giving Blaine the ideal opportunity to study him.

Kurt looks a mess. Tired, tortured and sad, Blaine thinks to himself as he takes in the red rimmed eyes and unshaven jaw line. He wonders why Burt doesn't call him out on his rudeness, but then figures that maybe Burt sees him the way he does, and decides to let things slide for the time being.

He thought seeing Kurt again would be awkward, and it is, but not for the reasons he expects. He thought there would be an instant attraction and longing which he would have to try and hide, but instead he finds himself frustrated and angry at learning Kurt hasn't been in touch for so long. He can understand why he himself has been ignored, but for Kurt to ignore his own dad for a month, and after things had been going so well, Blaine thinks is wrong, and he intends to tell him as soon as he has the chance.

"So," Burt says merrily once the movie is over. "Another? Or will we do something different? Ice skating?"

"I'd like that," Blaine says excitedly. "I haven't been since I was like...seven, I think."

"Sure, come on then kid. Go and get dressed. Kurt, you joining us?"

"No I am not," he snaps angrily. "Far be it from me to intrude on your love in."

"Um...Kurt, if you want to spend time with your dad, I can always go home..." Blaine offers.

"Yes please."

Everything in Blaine falls and he hangs his head, speaking quietly. "Sure. Well, that's not a problem. I can..."

"Don't you dare," Burt almost growls at Blaine who stands terrified. "Go and get dressed. Kurt, go get in the car, now. You're coming with us."

"I am not!"

"Yes you are. Christmas is for families and we are a family. Go."

"Leave him alone," Burt hisses at Kurt the second they are out in the car, waiting for Blaine to appear. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but I do know you haven't had any kind of contact with him, so whatever it is, it's not Blaine's fault. Now stop, or it will be you who gets uninvited for Christmas, not him."

"Why does he have to be here anyway? He's not your kid, I am."

"Enough!" Burt roars, and for once Kurt cowers back in silence. "That's all he ever gets at home, Kurt, and I'm trying to give him a break from all that. No, he's not my kid, but he's loyal, kind and good hearted. I like spending time with him and I love him like he were my own. If you have an issue with that then I suggest you grow up and get over it. No one will ever take the place of you, I love you with my whole heart even though you seem so intent on destroying it, but Blaine isn't going anywhere."

"Oh for..."

"You will stop, Kurt, I mean it, and you will make this Christmas a happy one. It's Blaine's first one without his dad, and I know you were young, but I think you can remember how that feels, can't you?"

Kurt gives a small nod, "I didn't realize."

"No, well, he's not said anything about it yet, but I know it is, and I also know his dad died the second week in January, three days before his birthday, so he's got a tough time ahead. It's bad enough, but then you add the mother into the mix, and the other goons, and it just gets worse. God knows he doesn't need your unkindness on top."

"Is his mom still..." Kurt starts, but Blaine comes out of the house so he shuts up, and Burt drives them to the lake in silence.

He can't tell anyone, of course. The reason behind his silence has simply been no more than an effort to forget. To ignore the feelings Blaine elicits in him and hope that sleeping around will cause the memories of Blaine's sweet face to fade, except looking at any other guys just makes him miss Blaine even more. He had decided not to come home. He figured he would call his dad on Christmas Eve and fake a sickness bug, but then he found himself looking up last minute flights at three in the morning, and when he found a seat on the seven o'clock departure, his credit card details were suddenly typed in rapidly, and he was throwing clothes into a suitcase.

He didn't expect to find Blaine already there. That had thrown him and caused him to flee upstairs where he spent a long time inexplicably trying not to cry, before deciding to bite the bullet and try to make amends. The only thing was, he didn't know how, and it seemed that being unkind to Blaine was the only way he could be right now. Well, it was that or falling into his arms, and as Blaine had rebuffed him last time, he was hardly about to make a move like that. He resolves to try harder as they park at the lake and head toward the skate rental. He didn't realize Blaine had all this stuff to deal with, and now he feels bad; especially when he catches the way Blaine is walking slightly off to one side, his arms folded across himself as if trying to remain invisible.

"How's school?" he asks as they wait in the line, and Blaine looks over his shoulder before pointing to himself.

"Me?"

"No, my dad. What do you think?"

"Oh...um...it's okay, I guess. Yeah," Blaine says in almost a whisper. "I'm still bullied quite a lot but...yeah. I'm not there forever so..."

A silence falls between them while Burt stares ahead and tries to let them find their own way. It's excruciating to listen to, but he knows Kurt is trying in his own awkward way, to make Blaine feel better.

"How's New York?" Blaine asks after a while, and Kurt gives a shrug.

"Cold. Full of men. The usual."

"Why do you have to say that?"

"Say what?"

"About the men? So you have sex. Big deal."

"It is, actually," Kurt snaps. "Not that you'd know."

"I'm waiting for someone who loves me," Blaine bites back. "So it means something. Not that you'd know."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well obviously the things that happened between us meant nothing so..."

"What? Don't put words in my mouth, Blaine," Kurt snarls at him. "You..."

"Boys!" Burt cries. "Shut up. Both of you. Collect your skates and put them on. Kurt, you over there, Blaine, you over there. Honestly," he mutters as he sits in the middle of the bench with Kurt and Blaine at either end. "I know I said I wanted us to be a family, but you didn't need to add the sibling rivalry into the mix. I can do without that."

"His fault," Kurt mutters, and that's all it takes for Blaine to explode.

"Jesus Christ Kurt! What is with you? You're twenty eight years old and you behave like you're five. Get over yourself, for gods sake, man! I don't need this crap. I just want to spend time with you and your dad. I haven't done anything to you, so quit being so mean, and please, if you really can't be nice to me, don't bother saying anything at all."

"Well then," Burt says into the silence that follows. "Let's go skating."

"Hello Burt!"

The three look up to see a woman leaning on the barrier, cheeks flushed from skating, waving at Burt enthusiastically. "Mary," Burt says with a polite nod as he walks toward the ice. "You look lovely in that yellow scarf."

"Oh thank you," she trills, clearly elated. "I just thought I'd come and enjoy skating on such a beautiful day, I love winter, don't you?"

Burt hates winter, but he steps onto the ice and glides toward her, offering his arm which he takes happily. "Love it," he smiles. "Let me take you for a twirl."

Blaine and Kurt stand watching as Burt skates off with the woman on his arm, laughing in disbelief when he turns back and gives them both the thumbs up.

"What the hell just happened?" Blaine asks, stunned.

"Yeah, he's uh...he's a bit of a smooth operator," Kurt says with a laugh.

"Now I see where you get your charm from," Blaine says, trying for a joke, but he is swiftly ignored.

"Come on, we may as well skate," Kurt sighs, sounding like he'd rather be anywhere else.

He's off before Blaine can say or do anything, gliding swiftly past families and groups of friends, and damn, if he doesn't cut quite the most handsome figure, all solitary and brooding, his long legs pushing down against the ice, his navy overcoat flying out behind him and his red scarf flapping in the wind.

"Come on!" he calls to Blaine after his first lap. He turns backward as he passes, taking in the sight of Blaine standing still on the ice and clutching the barrier. "Get moving!"

He flies off again and Blaine curses inwardly, hating the feeling of shame and humiliation. He had thought ice skating with the Hummels would be all kinds of fun. He didn't know Kurt was a regular wizard over the ice and that Burt would be off chasing the ladies. He shuffles along another few steps, stumbling when a little girl whizzes past him, and he clutches onto the barrier once more when he sees Kurt approaching.

This time he stops, kicking up a fine white powder, his cheeks glowing and eyes sparkling in a manner which forces Blaine to look away. "Blaine? Do you know how to skate?"

"No," he admits quietly. "I don't."

"Why did you say you love ice skating then?" Kurt asks in confusion.

"Because I went with my parents a couple of times," he flares. "They held my hands and pulled me along between them and all I really remember is how happy it made me feel. I told you, I was seven the last time I came."

Kurt mutters something, which Blaine has no doubt is derogatory, but then he's off again, leaving Blaine to fend for himself. Spotting a hot chocolate stand over on the other side, he starts pulling himself along the barrier, cringing when he sees a group of Max and Simon's friends gathered on the far side of the lake. He will have to go past them to get to the stand, but at least there he can sit down and hide his face for a while.

"Here."

Turning, he sees Kurt standing with his hands out stretched, waiting.

"Huh?"

"Give me your hands, fool."

"Don't call me that."

"Fine." Rolling his eyes, Kurt is about to skate away again, but then he looks, really looks at Blaine. He's on that edge. The cusp of tears and Kurt knows exactly how he feels, because it's pretty much how he went through all of high school. At Thanksgiving, Blaine's confidence had seemed to soar, but now he seems more timid and afraid than ever before. His eyes flicker over Kurt's shoulder, and obviously someone or something is there that makes Blaine feel uneasy, but Kurt knows it is his actions, and his alone, which have made Blaine feel so sad, and for that he hates himself more than ever.

"Skate with me?" he tries again, but Blaine shakes his head.

"It's fine, honestly. I'm gonna go get some hot chocolate. Do you want any? Do you think your dad will? Or his lady friend?"

"Blaine, we can do that later. Let's skate together," Kurt says, and he gently reaches out for Blaine's left hand.

He knew touching Blaine would be a mistake. Even though they're both wearing thick gloves, the shock of hand holding is very real to both. Blaine notices how Kurt seems to suck in his breath, and Kurt finds himself staring as Blaine subconsciously runs just the tip of his tongue out to wet his lips.

Blaine offers his other hand, silently letting Kurt know he trusts him, and Kurt steps closer, tugging Blaine carefully off the barrier and smiling softly. "There ya go," he whispers, completely unable to take his eyes off Blaine's startled gaze. "Now it's push, push, glide, okay? So I'll go backward and you just hold on to me."

"But I..."

"You won't fall, Blaine," Kurt tells him sweetly. "I've got you, I promise."

He holds Blaine's hands tightly, pulling him along to start, but with gentle encouragement Blaine starts to push against the ice, smiling when he feels the difference between being pulled along and doing it for himself.

"See? You got it!" Kurt says happily.

"Don't let me go!"

"I can't," Kurt replies quickly, and Blaine stumbles at the strangeness of his reply. "Um..I mean, you have my hands in a death grip, so..." he trails off, adding what he hopes is a lighthearted laugh at the end, and to his relief, Blaine joins in, clearly deciding to let the comment pass.

They skate along happily, until Blaine pulls up, tugging Kurt to a stop. "Can we uh...can we go back? I'm done now."

Kurt's gaze flicks over to a large group of teenagers who as yet clearly haven't noticed Blaine, but he can sense his fear. He obviously knows them and doesn't want to go past, and now he stands in the middle of the ice biting his lip.

"You're not done," Kurt says lightly. "You were enjoying it a second ago. Here, let me skate by your side and you can hold my arm instead. That way it doesn't look so much like I'm leading you around."

Blaine agrees with some reluctance, but he relaxes once he's past the group who are obviously more interested in their hot chocolate than him, and he actually finds himself smiling and moving a little closer to Kurt.

"So your dad..."

Kurt laughs, shaking his head as Burt and Mary pass them and wave.

"Does he date a lot?"

"Not really. Nothing serious, anyway. He just likes to charm the ladies every now and then. Plus I think it was his not so subtle way of giving us some privacy."

"An ice rink isn't exactly private," Blaine points out.

"No, but at least we're talking and not fighting, which I guess is what he was aiming for."

"We wouldn't have been fighting at all if you hadn't arrived home in such a mood."

"I..." Kurt starts and then shakes his head. "I'm tired, probably."

"Stop going out every night then," Blaine says bluntly. "Stay home and reply to some of your text messages instead."

Kurt doesn't say anything, but Blaine knows he's heard, and they skate around in silence for a while, still with their arms linked.

"I read them," Kurt says after a while. "I just didn't know how to respond."

"To a simple text asking how you were? It's not that complex, Kurt."

"Maybe not to you."

"I wanna do that," Blaine says suddenly.

"Do what?"

"That," he says, pointing over to where a couple dance together on the ice, the girl laughing as her boyfriend twirls her under his arm. "I wanna twirl like that."

"Find someone to do it with then," Kurt snaps, and with that, he wrenches his arm free and flies off, leaving Blaine in the middle of the ice and perilously close to the group of teenagers.

"Kurt!" he hollers across the ice, which of course only brings attention to him. "Kurt! Get back here!"

Blaine is stranded. He can't move for fear of falling, and there are too many people milling about for him to even try. "Gay boy! What's up? Has your boyfriend left you?"

He didn't even realize Max and Simon were in the group, until he hears them, laughing and making fun of him. He bites his lip hard and pushes down on the ice, knowing he has to move before he cries, but his unsteadiness just makes the group laugh, as he holds out his hands to try and find balance.

"What's up Blainey? You can't skate? Really? Oh dear!"

Blaine tries to keep his breathing even and calm, but he feels as though everyone is looking at him as he stumbles and falls onto his hands and knees. He can't get up, having nothing to use for leverage, and he feels the first humiliating tear fall as he starts to crawl across the ice to the barrier on the other side.

Strong arms come around him from behind, hauling him to his feet, and he's grateful for the assistance. He stands on shaking legs, not daring to look at his rescuer, but he knows it's Kurt from the rental skates that come into his line of vision, and the gentle gloved finger that lifts his chin. "I've got you," is all he says, then twirls Blaine under his arm, catching him as he stumbles, and holding him tight in his arms. "Oh Blaine," he sighs, and he can't help but hug him, sinking into his embrace as Blaine hugs him back fiercely- not even caring that they're in the middle of the ice rink. "I've missed you so much."

His words cause Blaine to pull back, not knowing what to say or do, and he scuffs at the ice with the blade of his skate. "Can you...I just need to get over there," he says quietly. "If you could help me, and then I'll wait by the car until you're done."

"What would you do if I kissed you right now?"

"Please don't, Kurt," he whispers, shaking his head. "Just...please just get me off the ice now."

"Come on," Kurt says, sliding one arm around his waist and guiding him to the edge. "I'll buy you hot chocolate."

Blaine doesn't protest, but lets himself be guided around the other side of the rink to sit on a small bench, while Kurt skates back over to get them their drinks. He reappears and hands Blaine a steaming paper cup, sitting down next to him with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."

"I don't want to be kissed just to piss people off."

"That wasn't..."

"It might be fun for you, but I've got to live with two of them, and go to school with the rest."

"Blaine, I wanted to kiss you because you're fucking beautiful, and seeing you again hurts me. It wasn't to piss anyone off or cause trouble, it's because you're all I ever think about."

"Oh." Blaine sits stunned, not really sure how to react, but all he does know is that his insides are flipping over with delight. "You know what to do about it then."

"I can't, Blaine," Kurt says sadly. "I just can't."

"Why?"

"Because I'm horrible and I'm bitter and I'm twisted. You're right, I should stay home. I should sit on my couch watching tv, skyping with you and dad until the next time I can come home. I should buy you cute little cards and mail them to you, just to make you smile. I should call dad to check on him when they give a weather warning for Ohio, and I should wrap myself up in you and forget about anyone and everything else, but I just can't. I just can't."

"But why? I don't mean to be persistent, but I haven't stopped thinking about you either, which is why I've been texting. To be honest, for every text I've sent, there have been a hundred more I've deleted. All you've described, that's what I want."

"I know it is, and that's the problem!"

"Huh?"

"It's what we both want and need but I'll fuck it up, Blaine! I fuck everything up. Look at the way I treat dad. Does he deserve any of that? But I do it anyway. You're too young to deal with having a boyfriend like me. I'd break your heart, and I'm sorry, but I can't have that on my conscience."

Blaine sips his hot chocolate slowly, and looks out over the ice. He can feel Max and Simon's hatred even from this distance, and he knows that whatever happens between him and Kurt, he will always feel infinitely more at home around him than anyone else. "I want us to be friends though," he says after a time. "I mean...I kinda wanna jump you...or be jumped by you, maybe, but if that's not gonna happen, I'd still like us to be friends."

"Not lovers?"

"No."

"Friends then," Kurt agrees, pulling him into another hug. "Always."