Part two of the uploadathon. I had so much work to do last night; I need to write some more.

This chapter is dedicated to JanelJinxed for making me smile, and letting me believe that I am doing at least some good in this world. Thank you :)


Story so far...

Mercedes and Kurt go with Blaine to Dalton, running one of his classes, and Blaine falls even more in love with Kurt as he watched him perform.


-*T&C*-


"Hi, Robert."

The boy turned around, smiling when he saw his glee director. "Hi Blaine."

Blaine gestured to Mercedes. "This is a friend from my old high school. Mercedes Jones. Um, she's a touring singer... What else do you want to know about her."

Robert just smiled. "Hi, Mercedes." He gestured to the boy sitting next to him on the sofa. "This is Peter. He... Yeah."

"Hi Robert, Peter. I... hope you don't mind me being here?"

Robert shook his head. "No, not at all. The more the merrier." He made to stand up to reach the remote to turn the television off, but didn't have the energy to do so. Simon stood instead and turned it off, casting the room briefly into silence.

Finally, Peter spoke, as if it was rude to be silent for so long. "No Kurt?"

Blaine shook his head. "He... couldn't." He didn't want to tell Robert about Burt, about his heart attack when Kurt was in high school, about how terrified he'd been at the hospital. Back at Dalton, Kurt hadn't seemed keen in visiting Robert, and Blaine had suggested he just go home. Kurt had fought against it, saying he wanted to be there to support Blaine, to support Robert. But Blaine had insisted, saying he had Mercedes and he'd be fine, and that he could support Robert through Skype if he really wanted. Once he was there, there was no escaping like at the hospital.

He decided to change the subject. "How have you been?"

Robert shrugged. "Tired. To be expected." He shifted. "You can... sit down?"

"Thanks." Blaine perched on the edge of the sofa once Mercedes had sat down. Ever the gentleman. As he sat, he switched his phone from his pocket to his hand. He was waiting for the text to say they were ready.

"So do you play any instruments, Robert?"

Robert nodded. "I sing. But I also play the drums. You... sing?"

Mercedes nodded. She glanced at Blaine, who nodded once, almost unnoticeably. "I do. I went to UCLA and got a recording contract. And managed to get myself a tour with Lady Gaga."

Robert's eyes bugged. "You... wow, okay. So you're good, then."

Mercedes laughed. "Well, my friends certainly think so. And my fans. And Gaga."

"I love Lady Gaga," Robert sighed. "What is she like in person?"

"Oh, she's great," Mercedes replied

"Crazy hats and wild outfits?"

Mercedes considered. "Sometimes," she eventually replied. "But she's just like everyone else in wanting a normal life, you know? She wants to be able to go places without being hounded. She'll dress down then."

"Wow..." Robert was still awestruck, and Blaine knew he'd made the right decision.

"Is she all auto tuned?" Peter asked. He seemed genuinely interested rather than malicious.

"They'll use effects on her voice in the odd song or live performance. But that's her voice. She has a really good voice live."

"She does," Blaine responded without thinking. "Um..."

"You've heard her live? I bet Kurt was jealous. Or was Kurt with you?"

Blaine was saved from answering by his phone vibrating in his hand. He glanced at the screen. "Ready," it read. Blaine smiled.

"Kurt was with me. You familiar with Skype?"

Robert was confused at the change of subject, but replied none the less. "I know of it. Live video messaging, yeah?"

Blaine nodded. He opened his Skype app on his phone and signed in, making sure he was online. "Well, on the other end of Skype right now is someone who wants to meet you. Someone I think you would want to meet." He stood up and handed his phone over. As he sat back down, he prompted, "Go on, hit video call."

Robert did what he was told with a frown. It was under the name of Kurt Hummel. What was Kurt doing calling him? But then the video came on, and the person sitting on the other end looking nothing like Kurt Hummel.

"Oh my gosh," he whispered.

Blaine smiled from his spot on the sofa. Mercedes nudged him and he smiled at her, before leaning back against the sofa. Yes, they'd definitely made a good decision.

"Hi Robert," came a too familiar voice down the internet. "How are you feeling?"

"I..." Robert was rendered nearly speechless. But this point, Peter had leaned into the frame, and he too was staring at Gaga with wide eyes.

"Wasn't expecting this, huh?" she asked. She'd gone for a fairly dressed down look, no hat or glasses or hair accessories. She was wearing a bowtie, however, that Blaine was later to learn was one of Kurt's own creations and that'd she'd paid him for it.

"Um, no." Robert finally found words. Beside him, Peter remained silent.

"Who's your friend?"

"Oh." Robert blinked and turned the phone slightly to put Peter more in shot. "Peter. He's my best friend."

Gaga smiled at them. "That's great. You guys been doing anything?"

"Um, we... watched a movie?"

"Oh, what did you watch?" Gaga asked.

"Silent Runnings."

Gaga nodded. "It's a great film."

Robert was still staring at the phone, but now he seemed to be getting more used to the idea that he was talking to Lady Gaga. "Can I just say how inspirational you are?"

Gaga smiled. "You can."

"It's just... your music is so different. And you're not afraid to be you. I think that's great. And you have so much time for your fans. I mean, look at this. This is... crazy, to be honest. Completely insane."

"Thank you for telling me that, Robert," she said. "That really means a lot to me."

Blaine watched as his student chatted to Lady Gaga, Peter joining in every few minutes to the conversation. Mercedes next to him watched too, falling more and more in love with Robert, who kept shooting worried looks at his friend, as if it were Peter who was dying, not him. The conversation was kept light, and though Robert was thoroughly enjoying it, Blaine could see he was being worn out.

When they started on the conversation of David Bowie, Blaine stood up and went into the kitchen to find Robert's mom. He found her chopping carrots with tears running down her face.

"Mrs Dent?"

She jumped and span her head around to look at him, putting the knife down the frantically wiping her tears away. "Blaine. I thought you were in the living room."

"I wanted to talk to you," he explained. He spotted a tube of kitchen roll and took a sheet of to hand to her. She accepted it gratefully. "The boys were really upset that they couldn't see Robert today. But I can see how tired he is."

She nodded. "He was exhausted."

"How about he just comes in for rehearsal tomorrow? I know he wants to go to school, but... Mrs Dent, is he really up to it?"

She shook her head, fresh tears forming. "I'll talk to him, Blaine. I promise." She returned to her chopping, effectively cutting Blaine off, asking him to leave. He took the sign and backed out of the room, returning to the living room. He was surprised to hear singing coming from the phone, and even more to hear his boyfriend's voice alongside Gaga's. They sounded really good together, he noted as he sat back down.

"Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight, take me through the darkness to the break of the day."

Robert laughed. "Thank you. That was fantastic!"

"We aim to please," came Kurt's voice from the phone. He sounded so happy that Blaine suddenly ached to see him. He had seen his boyfriend just over an hour previously and had kissed him goodbye on the cheek. But somehow this felt like a separation, to hear him speaking through a phone. He didn't like it.

Robert yawned. "It has been amazing talking to you. And thank you too to Kurt for the song."

Gaga smiled softly. "We'll let you go."

They said their goodbyes, and Robert was left staring at the screen, still taking in what had just happened. "Wow," he breathed.

"That was awesome," Peter agreed. "Blaine, you're..."

"You're the best," Robert interrupted. "Thank you so much for doing that for me."

Blaine shrugged. "It couldn't've happened at all if it hadn't been for Mercedes."

Robert looked at her. "Hug?"

She stood with a smile and leant over him, aware that he had little strength to even sit any more. "It has been such a pleasure meeting you, Robert."

"Thank you for coming."

Peter took the phone from Robert's hand and stood to return it to Blaine. Blaine sent off a quick "Is it crazy that I really miss you right now? Xx" text to Kurt. When Peter turned around again, Mercedes had stood up from hugging his best friend. Suddenly, he threw himself at her in a hug. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you so much."

Mercedes was surprised that this seemingly uninterested and slightly angry boy was showing so much thanks in the little part she had performed in the last hour. "You're welcome."

Blaine was still smiling sadly at the scene when his phone vibrated again in his hand. He checked the message, and smiled more broadly.

"Then I'm crazy too. Come back so I can kiss you xxx"


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