"So, where are you two going?" Burt asks again, as Kurt pulls into the driveway.

"Bowling," Kurt repeats. "With Blaine's friends."

"Okay. Well, have fun. Congrats again on the job son, it sounds amazing."

"Thanks," Kurt says, smiling uneasily.

"And you," Burt says, turning in his seat to where Blaine sits in the back. "I'm proud of you."

"Yes, we realized," Kurt laughs. "You've told all of Ohio."

"Well I'm really proud, okay! Please bring him back in one piece, Kurt."

"We're going bowling!" Kurt protests, while Blaine stays silent.

"Okay." Burt steps from the car, watching as Blaine climbs into the front, and they drive away. "Bowling my ass," he grumbles, before retreating back inside.

"Another?"

"What the hell was that?" Blaine asks, trying not to choke.

"A jäger bomb."

"Can't I just have beer?"

"Beer's no fun!" Kurt calls over the loud music. "One more, go on."

"One," Blaine agrees.

After his fifth the room is spinning and by the time he's followed it up with two beers, he feels decidedly unsteady on his feet, but also invincible, as if he can say and do anything. Kurt, who is well used to heavy drinking, and knows how to pace himself, looks on in amusement as Blaine leans on the bar and gives the guy next to him a sloppy grin. "I wanna fuck you."

"Hey!" Kurt says sharply, suddenly not finding the situation funny in the slightest. "Sorry," he tells the guy. "He's wasted." Hauling Blaine to his feet, he pulls him into the corner where it's slightly easier to be heard. "That better have been aimed at me, or you're in trouble."

"S'makes no difference," Blaine slurs, wobbling unsteadily. "Cause you an me...we not together. Can fuck who I want to fuck."

"You dare, Blaine," Kurt growls. "You dare, and I will walk away and you won't ever see me again."

"Gonna fuck Jackson," Blaine giggles, and then his legs give out and he slides to the floor.

"I'm leaving," Kurt announces, and strides from the club, leaving Blaine sitting on the floor alone.

He doesn't know how much time passes, but suddenly the man from the bar is standing over him, yelling about him being queer, and how he should punch his lights out, and suddenly he feels very sick. He can't even think about getting to his feet, but then two other guys appear, and Blaine knows he has to move or get hit.

Kurt reappears in the nick of time, hauling him to his feet and apologizing for the behavior of his brother, politely explaining that he's never had alcohol before. With the men begrudgingly placated, Kurt backs them away and outside.

"Okay. Come on. Have some water."

"Dun feel so good, Kurt," Blaine moans, as he weaves across the parking lot toward a car that doesn't belong to them. "Take me home."

"No, no, come on. You'll be okay, really. Drink some water and get some air, then this gross feeling will wear off and you'll sober up a little."

"Don't leave me, okay?" Blaine says, as he starts to panic. "I dun know where I'm at."

"I'm not leaving you," Kurt says calmly, and he gently steers Blaine to the edge of the parking lot, where he can sit down on the hard ground.

"Not ever?"

"Not ever."

Blaine sips slowly at the water, and gradually starts to appreciate the cold wind on his face while Kurt rubs small circles on his back. "Any better?"

"I'm mean to you," Blaine moans, holding his head in his hands. "So mean."

"No you're not. No more than I deserve, anyway."

"Kurt?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm totally crazy over you, y'know. Like when you're not here, I cry for you, and I miss you in my heart."

"Oh Blaine." Kurt presses a kiss to his temple, and hugs him tight. "I feel the same. Always. My heart aches when I'm not near you."

"Why do you do it then? Not calling and stuffs?"

"Because I'm scared of making this real. I want so much from you, I want to give you so much in return but..."

"I want it to be real," Blaine says, as he sits up straight and looks at him. "I wanna be with you. I wanna go to college in New York and see you every day."

"How drunk are you?"

"Very a lot. Why?"

"Because you've just said what I dream of hearing you say," Kurt admits.

"See you every day?"

"You, at college in New York. That's what I want more than anything. What I've always wanted."

"Oh." Blaine sits staring into space for a moment, while Kurt panics, thinking he's revealed too much. "Wanna know what I want?"

"What?"

"I wanna daaaance!"

Kurt bursts out laughing at the way Blaine rises to his feet, obviously now appreciating the buzz from the alcohol as he starts twirling around in the middle of the parking lot. "Okay, my drunken ball of sunshine. Let's dance. But we're going to Scandals. That way if you hit on anyone who isn't me, at least they're not gonna try and kill you."

Scandals is better. They both feel more relaxed, and Kurt has a few more drinks while Blaine steadily nurses one more beer until they hit the dance floor. They dance for hours, laughing, having fun, and generally enjoying being in each other's company. It's amazing for Blaine, to be in a place where he can be so open and honest in his affections and not have to worry about other people's reactions. Kurt seems happy with the whole thing too; in fact, it is Kurt who initiates the kissing as they sway to the music, and then, when the beat picks up, turns to grind suggestively against Blaine's groin.

"This is where we first met!" Blaine calls, as he tugs Kurt back until he rests flush against his chest.

"Hmm, we might have to alter that story for the kids!" Kurt giggles, then giggles some more when Blaine doesn't seem the least bit alarmed by his slip up.

"Yeah, wouldn't be the best first meeting story," he laughs. "Holy shit though, the things I wanted to do to you." His breath comes warm in Kurt's ear, as he slides one firm hand across his stomach, his fingers just dipping slightly below the waistband of Kurt's pants. "The things I still want to do."

Kurt spins in his arms, coming to rest with their foreheads touching and his arms draped over Blaine's shoulders. "Is Blaine Anderson a horny drunk?" he teases, and in the middle of the dance floor, Blaine reaches for his hand, taking it and resting it over his groin where Kurt can feel he's half hard already.

"Yes," Blaine answers, encouraging Kurt to squeeze softly. "I want you."

"Let's go."

They find a cab, on the basis that Kurt can barely walk in a straight line, much less operate a car, and ride home in silence, their fingers just grazing together as they rest on the back seat. Blaine flings a handful of bills at the driver and assumes it covers the fare as he drives away, and they run up the driveway and into the house.

"Hello!" Blaine calls loudly. "Burt! Hello!" and then suddenly Kurt's hand clamps over his mouth.

"Shh!" he laughs. "It's nearly two thirty. C'mon, let's go to your room."

Kurt wastes no time in dropping to his knees in front of Blaine, his eyes locked on him, as he fiddles with his belt buckle, but Blaine stops him before he goes any further. "I wanted..." he says, smacking his ass for effect. "Yeah?"

"Oh sweetie," Kurt says kindly, as he stands and gently cups his cheek. "You are so incredibly drunk right now. It's really not a good idea, trust me. I want to, I really do, but I'd rather we were both sober. I don't want you to ever regret it."

"I won't regret it."

"You might, in the morning, and I'd hate that. I regret my first time, in fact I try not to think about it at all if I can help it, and I don't want that for you too."

"Kurt?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't regret anything with you. I do feel a little bit sick though," he muses, as he seems to sway on the spot.

"Okay. Do we need to get you in the bathroom?"

"Um...yeah. I think I might..."

Kurt gives an almighty shove and Blaine manages to get into the bathroom just in time, but he throws up half in the sink and half on the walls and floor before he finally reaches the toilet where he hurls again and again until his stomach is empty.

"Mess," he moans weakly. "I made a mess."

"Oh, you really did," Kurt groans as he takes in the hideous state of the bathroom and Blaine's clothes. "Let's get those clothes off and get you in the shower."

The next part is vague for Blaine, but he is slightly aware of Kurt tucking him into bed and kissing him softly, and then, much later it seems, he feels his arms around him as he settles down to sleep once more.

"Get up!"

The loud boom of Burt Hummel has Blaine and Kurt slowly coming around, and the first thing Blaine is aware of is the searing pain in his head.

"Both of you. Up! Now!"

"Go away dad," Kurt moans, spooning protectively around Blaine.

"No I won't. Sit up, I want to talk to you. And you, Blaine."

Blaine has never heard Burt angry at him before, so despite the pain he sits, not daring to look at him.

"So bowling suddenly turns into a night of partying, huh?"

He's met with a resounding silence from both as they sit side by side, staring at the duvet, so he huffs and carries on. "Kurt, you're nearing thirty. You're old enough to know better, and you," he says, turning to Blaine. "You're not even old enough to drink. You might think you're living here without parents, but if you want me to call you my son then you accept the rough with the smooth. I owe it to your mom to look out for you, Blaine, which is why you're now grounded for a week."

Blaine says nothing, only gives a small nod and accepts his lenient punishment, while Kurt is livid. "What?! You can't ground him! He didn't do anything wrong!"

"I disagree," Burt says evenly. "He's seventeen and went out drinking until two thirty in the morning. I wouldn't have so much of a problem if he had kept it to a couple of beers, but judging by the way he staggered up the driveway and yelled his hello when he came home, I'm guessing he was pretty wasted. I'm sorry, Blaine, but you are underage, and even if you were of age, I'd expect better from you."

"I'm really sorry," Blaine says meekly. "It wasn't Kurt's idea though, if you were thinking that," he says quietly. "I wanted to show that I could cut loose and have fun, that's all."

"You can do that without drowning yourself in booze," Burt snaps. "And as for this," he says, gesturing between them. "I'm not happy with this at all. Kurt, I don't think you're in any position to be in a relationship, and Blaine, it's your senior year, you need to be busy with work and studying, not chasing around after this lothario."

"And you're not in any position to pass comment or judgement," Kurt snaps. "Blaine and I are taking things at our own pace, and not anyone else's. For now, that just involves seeing how things go when I'm back in Ohio. I'll be home again soon for Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Year, so it gives us a good chance to figure it all out. We're both on the same page with all this, so I'd thank you to kindly butt out. If we weren't both living here, you wouldn't have this issue."

"No, I wouldn't, because I'd tell Blaine he wasn't to see someone like you, and I'd stay out of your business because you bite my head off."

"Like me? What does that mean, huh? Yes, I know I've hurt him but we've discussed all that. I'm not gonna have you sit there and put me down, dad. I'm a good person."

"You are," Burt sighs, and he comes over to the edge of the bed to pull a stiff and unyielding Kurt into his arms. "You really are. I want to see that side of you all the time and then maybe I'd be happier. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm putting you down, but I can't pretend to approve of the way you treat Blaine all the time."

"I told you, I'm working on it," he grumbles into his dad's shoulder.

"Okay. Well, I'll leave you two to work on it, or get some more sleep, whatever," he says with a laugh. "I've said what I needed to say. I'll catch you later."

Once his door closes, Blaine lies back on the bed and throws an arm over his eyes. "I wanna blame you for leading me astray," he says, his voice thick and rasping. "But I had so much fun."

"Me too," Kurt says, but he says it with such a sad laugh that Blaine moves his arm to look up at him.

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah, I just..." He pauses, rubbing a hand over his face before sliding down on the pillows to face Blaine. "I wish he wouldn't treat me like that. He makes me feel like a failure."

"Oh Kurt. No, no," Blaine urges, gently taking his hand and kissing it. "You shouldn't feel that way. You know your dad. He's a little gruff, maybe, but he's so proud of you, really. You should hear the way he talks about you when you're not here."

"Really? Cause all I ever hear is how bad an influence I am on you, and you're to stay away from me...I dunno. I don't think he'll ever be okay with it. He thinks you're settling, that you deserve someone better. Maybe he's right."

"If he thinks that, then he's wrong," Blaine says firmly. "But he doesn't think that, anyway. He's reluctant, maybe, but can you blame him? He knows and I know that how you've been acting isn't how you really are, in here," he says, resting his hand on Kurt's heart. "I'm not settling for anything or anyone, Kurt. We agreed to just work it out slowly, and that's what I want to do. Don't feel pressured by other people, please, because that's what makes you run away. Focus on what you want, and everyone else be damned."

"The thing is," Kurt sighs, pausing to kiss into Blaine's hair. "I think my dad thinks I'm gonna regress into my seventeen year old self, and that's just not gonna happen. Yes, I'm changing, or I'd like to hope I am, anyway, and I'm working hard on becoming a better person, but I'm never gonna be that kid who sits at home every night and doesn't talk back."

"Who says you have to be?"

"That was eleven years ago, for a start," he cries. "I like dancing and having fun. I like standing up for myself and giving my opinion. When I got called to interview for that job, I knew I never would have done it if it hadn't been for the confidence I'd gained during my crazy years."

"So, you had a few wild years, so what?" Blaine asks, playing with Kurt's hair. "You know, I think you need to talk to him about this. Come clean, and tell him exactly what's what."

"No. I told you, he'd be so disappointed."

"He wouldn't, though," Blaine urges. "He would be a little shocked maybe, but once he heard about how you're trying to get through it all, he'd be so happy and supportive. Please, Kurt, talk to him."

"Maybe. But not today," he says, and Blaine settles on his back in despair. "Only because I wanna be with you instead," Kurt adds, propping himself up on one elbow by Blaine's side.

"Yeah, well, I have a bathroom to clean," Blaine moans, sliding out from underneath him. "Cause, I really need to use it, and...oh!" He pulls up short when he turns the light on in his sparkling clean bathroom. Nothing is out of place, in fact, it's cleaner than Blaine himself usually keeps it. "Did you...?" he asks, turning to Kurt, who bites his lip bashfully. "Cause I threw up, didn't I?"

"Yes, I cleaned, and yes, you threw up. Everywhere."

"You cleaned my puke?" Blaine asks in surprise, then clutches his hands over his heart. "Aw baby, you cleaned my puke!"

"Shut up."

"That's true love."

"Call it whatever you want, I'll deny it for all eternity."

Blaine laughs, stepping into the bathroom with an enormous grin on his face. "Whatever! I'm gonna pee, then come and kiss you senseless."

"Just so you know," Kurt starts, when Blaine returns. "You also tried to proposition me for sex, and while I do want to, I want it to be when it's just us alone and when we're both sober."

"Oh I agree," Blaine laughs, settling on top of Kurt, and raking his fingers through his hair. "I do want you though." Dipping his head down, he gently kisses him, letting his lips linger in the same spot before he opens his mouth wider and lets his tongue trace gently over Kurt's lips, pulling back to tug softly on his lower lip. "And I meant what I said last night."

"Which part, Blaine?" Kurt teases. "There were many pearls of wisdom from you during the course of the evening."

"Yeah, okay." Blaine ducks his head with a shy laugh before looking back up. "I would like to get into a New York college," he says nervously. "So we can see each other more, if that's what we decide to do."

"Blaine, I..."

"I don't mean live together," he adds hurriedly. "Because that would just be crazy right now, and destroy everything. I just mean I'd be there, in the same city as you, and we could...date, I guess. If you wanted."

"I do want that, yes," Kurt says immediately. "I meant what I said last night, too. It's all I've been waiting for you to say."

"So, does that mean we're..."

"Seeing how things go," Kurt fills in quickly, before Blaine can apply the pressure. He watches as a brief frown shadows his face, but then Blaine is smiling again.

"Okay. So I'm still allowed to date Jackson if..."

"I will kick you in the balls if you dare finish that sentence," Kurt snaps, his features clouding with anger, but Blaine only laughs, satisfied with how Kurt views things between them. He might not be prepared to give it a title, but Blaine knows that what Kurt really wants is a relationship.

"He's sweet, though."

"Does he let you come on his face, though?"

"What? Ew! No! I've never even kissed the guy!"

"Ha!" Triumphant, Kurt rolls them over, pinning Blaine's wrists above his head. "I win."

"Maybe this time," Blaine concedes, happily taking a kiss as consolation. "Please let me come on your face."

Kurt leans down again, kissing along Blaine's jaw, until he reaches his ear. "Only if you lick it clean."

Blaine whimpers, and arches up, already hardening in his pajamas. "Yes," he gasps, as Kurt runs a hand over his bulge. "Oh god yes."

"Breakfast!"

They both groan, falling back against the pillows in defeat. "I swear he does it on purpose," Kurt moans, though he can't help but laugh. "Come on. Let's go eat."

Burt drives to the airport, declaring Blaine would still be unfit to drive, and he grumbles all the way about how he feels like a chauffeur with both Kurt and Blaine sitting in the back, but neither of them care.

"I'll call..."

"Don't." Blaine cuts Kurt off abruptly, before he can continue. "Please don't make promises you can't keep. I'll see you at Thanksgiving, and that's enough for now."

"But..."

"Please, Kurt. It's fine, really. I'm not expecting you to call but if you say you will and then you don't, I'll be disappointed so let's just leave it be."

"Okay."

They fall silent, looking out opposite windows, but Kurt finds Blaine's hand and holds it tight, his thumb smoothing over the back, until they arrive at the airport.

"I had the best time," Kurt suddenly blurts, while his dad takes his bag from the trunk. "Watching you perform on that stage, our night out...all of it, and possibly...especially, our stolen bathroom moment. I'll sleep on the flight for sure."

"Is your eye okay?" Blaine whispers, very aware of Burt loitering by his door. "I'm so sorry. I didn't...well, I didn't know I could shoot that far."

They laugh together, and Blaine thinks there's possibly nothing better, until a sharp rapping on the window reminds him of Kurt's imminent departure.

"My eye is fine," Kurt says with a smile. "And you are beautiful, you know that? On your knees, lying next to me, or staggering around a parking lot completely wasted. You're beautiful." He leans forward, and kisses Blaine gently, hoping his lips tell him all the words he's left unsaid. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay," he says with forced brightness to his dad, as he gets out of the car. "Thanksgiving then."

"Kurt, just before you go; I was maybe a bit hard on you earlier, and I apologize. I am proud of you, really, and I'm over the damn moon with your new job. I'm sorry I didn't realize the old one was so bad."

"Don't worry about that," Kurt says briskly.

"I love you, son. I'm eternally grateful for Blaine coming into our lives, but you're my baby."

"Oh god. Here we go."

"No, no, just...hear me out. Sometimes I know it sounds like I'm being mean to you, but really, it's not that. It's more... well, I'm not gonna hide that I don't think you should be with Blaine right now. I don't think that's good for either of you. It's more that I can see you're taking steps to becoming this wonderful young man, and I don't want you to lose all that because you and Blaine spend years doing some kind of dance which won't have a happy ending."

"You think we won't have a happy ending?" Kurt asks, shocked at how much that hurts.

"I didn't say that, son. I want you to, believe me, but he's seventeen and still growing and you're changing your whole lifestyle...I hope you can make it, buddy, I really do, but I think the only way you're going to do that is to keep away from each other for a while."

Kurt sighs and picks up his bag, hugging his dad and kissing his cheek. "I don't think I can though, dad. Not this time."