Chapter 17: Sunny

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here
My Sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you

Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
Sunny, thank you for the love you brought my way
You gave to me your all and all
Now I feel ten feet tall
Sunny one so true, I love you

Blaine was dazzling, as usual, spinning and stepping all over the choir room. Is he going to…oh, yup, there he goes…he jumped onto the piano.

In the next moment, he was singing "I love you" while looking right at Kurt with the utmost sincerity. Kurt's poor heart was unprepared and promptly melted into a gooey pile on the floor. I definitely have one of those idiotic grins on my face right now. There is absolutely no helping it.

Sunny, thank you for the smile upon your face
Sunny, thank you for the gleam that shows its grace
You're my spark of nature's fire
You're my sweet complete desire
Sunny one so true, I love you

Kurt jumped to his feet and clapped enthusiastically when Blaine hit his final note. The rest of The New Directions followed shortly thereafter. Blaine's smile was so wide it filled the room with sunshine.

Blaine blushed and ducked his head as applause continued to fill the room. Finn and Sam each clapped him on the shoulder as he made his way back to his seat next to Kurt, who couldn't restrain himself from pulling Blaine into a quick hug. He whispered in his boyfriend's ear, "I could just as easily have sung that song about you." Blaine muttered something inaudible and shook his head, blushing even harder.

Mr. Schuester clapped a few more times before taking center stage. "Thank you for that uplifting number. I really enjoyed the positivity and optimism you shared with us."

Blaine shrugged. "It was the…p-perfect way to express how I-I-I am feeling today. The t-t-trial is over and I'm just—I'm just happy to be getting back to—back to nor-normal."

Seeing him so happy is the best thing. Kurt grabbed Blaine's hand, delighting in the feel of Blaine's thumb running over his knuckle.

"Nationals is just around the corner, ladies and gentlemen—"

"—and those who do not identify within the gender binary," Kurt interjected loudly.

"Ah, yes, right. Anyways, as I was saying Nationals is going to be here before we know it and I think this kind of raw positive energy that Blaine brought in today is exactly what we need. And right now…there is a cloud in the midst of our sunshine. And the sun can't shine as brightly with a cloud in the sky; it just can't."

"Well that metaphor's officially been beaten to death," Kurt hissed under his breath to Blaine, who had to cover his mouth to hold in his sniggering.

"And what, pray-tell, is this cloud you speak of?" Rachel demanded.

Mr. Schuester awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, actually…"

"You have got to be kidding me! Without me this club would be nothing. Nothing!"

Mr. Schuester sighed loudly. "Sit down, Rachel! Take down the drama. This is exactly the kind of thing we do not need so close to Nationals. We need to be united as a team and it's impossible to do that when you and Finn won't speak to each other."

Rachel sank into her chair, her voice going quiet. "Oh…I…oh."

"Mr. Schuester, while I agree that the Great Glee Schism of 2011 has struck a blow against team unity, surely you can't dictate the love lives of your students," Kurt insisted.

"No, no, of course not. I don't care who you all are dating. All I ask is that the two of you make some effort to at least be on good enough terms that the rest of the club doesn't feel like they need to take sides."

Kurt felt an idea taking shape in his mind. It was conniving but if he could pull it off, it just might work.

After Glee Club rehearsal ended, Kurt hung back to wait for the rest of the students to file out. "Mr. Schuester, if you would, a word?"

"Sure, Kurt. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could borrow the auditorium tomorrow night for some late-night…rehearsal."

"Kurt! I can't just give staff keys to my students. I'm not that irresponsible."

I beg to differ. Trying not to scoff, Kurt changed his tactic.

"Look. Do you or do you not want a united team? If you give me those keys for one night, I can fix the problem for you. But it's going to be one of those things where the less you know the better. I promise I will return them to you safe and sound as soon as I'm done with my little…operation."

Mr. Schuester bit his lip, clearly hesitating.

"I don't know if you've noticed, Mr. Schuester but I'm a very responsible teenager. I grew up in a single-parent household. I planned my Dad's entire wedding by myself, for Cher's sake."

"Fine! Fine! Just…don't make me regret this." Mr. Schuester pressed the auditorium key into Kurt's hand.

Kurt found Santana, Nick, and Blaine to be quite competent co-conspirators for his little plan. Between the four of them, he managed to get all the pieces in place before school ended on Friday.

Now he just had to sit back and watch the dominos fall.

"Kurt? Oh my God, Kurt? I'm coming, honey, I'm coming! You're too good for him, you'll do much better on your own."

Rachel came barreling down the hallway, shouting Kurt's name loudly. What on earth did Santana tell her? That's what I get for giving her free rein, I guess.

The sound of Rachel calling his name grew quieter as the auditorium door closed behind her.

Kurt checked his watch. If we're on schedule, then the next player should arrive right about…now…

Finn walked calmly toward the auditorium. Clearly Nick and Blaine had used a lighter touch to get him in place. From his hiding spot behind the bushes, Kurt could just make out Finn muttering under his breath, "I mean I know I'm a terrible dancer but individual boot camp seems a bit extreme, even for me."

As soon as the door closed behind Finn, Kurt sprang into action. In two swift movements he was free from the bushes and locking the auditorium door. He unholstered a walkie-talkie and turned it on.

When he returned to the choir room, three sets of expectant eyes all looked up at him.

"Well?" Santana asked forcefully.

"Operation Lock Until You Talk is officially underway," Kurt declared. There was mild applause.

Several minutes later, the walkie-talkie began to make noise. "Kurt? Did you do this? This isn't funny."

"Hi Rachel, it's me."

"I demand that you let us out this instant."

"Sorry, hun, but I can't do that."

"KURT!" The walkie-talkie squealed, protesting the unreasonably loud volume being pumped through its speakers.

"Christ, someone turn that down," hissed Santana.

Kurt quickly fiddled with the dial.

"If you do that again, then I'm cutting off communication with you. If you look around, you will notice that you have plenty of food and water. There are bathrooms attached to the auditorium and blankets in case you get cold. You are completely fine."

"Look, just because Blaine cheated on you doesn't mean that you get to take out your anger on me, Kurt."

Blaine made an undignified sound as he jumped in surprise.

"What!" he yelped. "Rachel! I d-d-d-d-d—I would never cheat on Kurt, are you in-in-insane."

Santana whispered something.

"I can't hear you," Kurt prompted.

"I said, I might have told her that to get her into the room."

"Santana!" Kurt and Blaine cried out in unison.

"I'm sorry! It was the first thing that came to mind when I was thinking of a reason Kurt would be devastatingly upset."

"Aww…that's k-k-kind of cute, actually."

"Are you seriously getting romantic and sentimental thinking about how upset I would be if you cheated on me?"

"Maybe?"

"You are so fucking weird."

"Hello? What about me?" Rachel's voice crackled over the speakers but at least she didn't overload them this time.

Santana rolled her eyes. "Do you think she came out of the womb saying that?"

Kurt gave her shoulder a playful shove.

"As for you, Rachel! The doors stay locked, until you two talk." That's why they call it Operation Lock Until You Talk.

Rachel made a strangled noise of frustration and then ended the communication.

"So…this might be a while," Nick said casually. "Anyone want to play charades?"

"Screw that! I'm going home. It's Friday night and I've played my part in this plan. You two lovestruck queers can see this one through to the end."

"Fine," Kurt huffed.

"I could stay, if you'd like…" Nick offered, "but I am supposed to be home by 7 for dinner."

"Just go. You can all go. I'll stay with them."

Blaine wrapped an arm around his shoulder and said, "I'm staying r-r-r-right here."

"Thanks, sweetheart."

An hour passed before Kurt and Blaine heard from their captives on the other end of the walkie-talkie. This time it was Finn.

"Hey, bro."

"Hi Finn. Any progress?"

"Look, man, I really don't want to talk to her. I thought she was my soulmate and she betrayed me. I don't know how to talk to her now."

In the background, slightly muffled, Kurt heard Rachel respond. "You thought I was your soulmate?"

"Of course I did," Finn said gruffly.

"I…I didn't know that, Finn. You never told me that."

"Would it have mattered?"

"I don't know…maybe? It might have. Maybe I wouldn't have been so insecure about our relationship all of the time."

"You had nothing to feel insecure about, Rachel. I was all in. I was in love with you."

"I…I can see that now. But at the time…look, I know I have this sort of…unshakable confidence in myself but that doesn't really extend to feeling confident about how I'm seen by others. Trust me, I have no doubts that I'm amazing and fabulous but I'm not blind. I see what people say about me online. I hear what they whisper when they don't care if I can overhear them."

"I see how amazing and fabulous you are," Finn said a bit morosely.

"I know," Rachel's voice was soft now. "I know that, but you're so popular so it's easy to feel insecure when you've dated girls like Quinn and Santana."

"Child, we did not date," Santana called out.

Blaine hushed her.

Rachel continued. "I guess, what I really want to say is this. I'm sorry, Finn. I'm so sorry for what I did. It was a betrayal and even though in the moment it felt like I was doing to you what had been done to me, it wasn't. What you did may not have been classy but it wasn't cheating. I'm sorry. What we had was wonderful and I screwed it up with my stupid insecurity and impulsive decision-making."

"Thank you, I…I needed to hear that. I guess we could…talk. If you wanted."

Rachel's voice sounded closer now, as if she had grabbed the walkie-talkie. "Hi guys! So I did forget that you were still there but Finn and I are going to talk in privacy now. We'll walkie you when we're ready to come out but I think you have quite enough evidence that we are talking. Over and out."

Kurt put down the walkie-talkie and turned to Blaine. "Oh my god, does this mean I did it?"

"It sure l-l-l-looks to be that way. If anyone could re-re-repair the schism, I'm not-not-not-not surprised it was—it was you."

"Aww, you say the sweetest things."

"Do you, uh, uh, think it's true?"

"What?"

"That Finn and Rachel are ssssoulmates."

"Hmm…I don't know if I even believe in soulmates. I mean what does that word even really mean? I don't believe in God, so I certainly don't believe that our souls are supernaturally matched up with one another."

"Good p-p-point. No, I wouldn't go with that exp—with that definition either. More that there's someone j-j-just right for everyone."

Kurt pondered for a few minutes, absentmindedly tracing patterns into the palm of Blaine's hand.

"I mean…I believe in long-term relationships and love, that whole deal. So, yeah, I guess that means I believe that you can find someone who is 'right' for you…someone who would be a good partner for you in the long term. I don't know if I can get on board with the idea that there's only one person for each of us out there, though. I mean, look at my dad. If soulmates exist, then my mom was certainly his. But now…seeing the way he is with Carol. They're so good together that she must be too."

"Huh? I-I-I hadn't thought about it, uh, uh, uh, that way before."

"So does that mean that you do believe in soulmates, Blaine?"

"I don't know…I think maybe…m-m-maybe yes? Does that make me a-a-a-a hopeless ro-ro-romantic?"

Kurt chucked and shrugged. "Who knows? I certainly don't mind it, though. I love everything about you, including your hopeless sentimentality."

Blaine poked him in the ribs. "You know that-that-that your secret's out with m-m-me. I know how se-se-se-secretly senti-i-i-imental you can be."

"Oh no! My big secret!" Kurt clutched his chest dramatically.

Blaine's face grew serious.

"K-Kurt?"

"Yeah?"

"If soulmates do ex-ex-exist…then-then-then-then you're mine."

Kurt gasped, his heart pounding furiously in his chest as a flood of emotion overtook him. Blaine thinks I'm his soulmate? What does that mean? Does that mean he thinks we're it for each other? Is that what I want?

Kurt closed his eyes and imagined his future. He thought back to the conversation he and Blaine had had on the bus ride to Sectionals about where they would be in five years. He thought about college in New York and performing. He imagined that cute little loft apartment where he would cook masterful meals in his tiny kitchen. He could see the cracked brickwork as if it was right in front of him. If he turned around… there you are. No matter what he pictured, Blaine was somewhere nearby.

"K-Kurt?"

His eyes snapped open. How long did I space out for? "S-sorry, I…I got lost in thought."

"Good thoughts? B-b-bad thoughts?" Blaine asked nervously. Oh gosh, he put himself out there and I haven't even said anything.

"Me too," Kurt said airily.

"You too what?" Blaine asked, a whine of frustration in his voice.

"The whole soulmates thing. Me too. If they exist, then you must be mine too."

For a moment, Kurt took in Blaine's eyes shining in happiness and the next thing he knew he was being pulled to the floor, his fall cushioned by a very warm, firm cashmere-clad body. Blaine's lips were on his immediately, kissing him frantically.

Kurt groaned as the rush of emotions combined with the sudden injection of hormones.

Blaine pulled back for a moment and Kurt immediately whined in complaint. Why has the kissing stopped? "Are you…" Blaine laughed nervously, "Are you o-o-okay? I just t-t-t-totally mauled you onto the floor. You didn't, like, uh, uh, uh, hit anything d-d-d-did you?"

"I'm fine," Kurt insisted. "Now will you please keep kissing me?"

Blaine didn't need to be asked twice. He lunged hungrily at Kurt's face, sucking his lower lip between his teeth and Kurt wondered briefly if it was possible to orgasm just from kissing. He really is going to be the death of me.

"Kurt? Blaine?" Rachel's voice cracked over the speakers.

Kurt sprang away from Blaine.

"You know she —can't see us th-th-through that thing, right?" Blaine teased.

"I…oh, hush. I can't be blamed if my wits weren't quite about me."

Blaine looked extremely pleased with himself. He's insufferable.

"Hi Rach. How are you guys doing in there?"

"Well, we talked and while we agreed that our relationship was fraught with drama and heartache, we would like to try being friends."

"Can you confirm, Finn?"

"Yes, Kurt."

"You had better not be lying just to get out of there," Kurt warned.

"We're not! Also, you locked us in a room together like a psychopath so we would be well within our rights to tell a few lies," Rachel snapped.

"Fair enough. Alright, we're coming to get you."

Taking Blaine by the hand, they ran together out of the choir room.

"Blaine? Am I hallucinating or is that a strange car in my driveway?"

"No, I sssee it t-too."

"Shit."

"It can't be —Rick...he's in jail, rememb-b-ber?"

Kurt's pounding heart slowed down ever so slightly. We're being ridiculous. It's just a car...unless it's not. Fuck.

"Safety in nu-nu-nu-numbers?" Blaine suggested, gesturing to the car door. That didn't help you the last time but there's no way in hell I'm saying that out loud.

"I...let me just call my dad, just to be sure, okay?"

Kurt's worry must have been written all over his face because Blaine's entire face changed into a look of pure sympathy and understanding. "Of course."

"Hey, kiddo! You kids about wrapped up with that special after school Glee project?"

"Oh, uh, yeah...is there...is there someone at the house? It's just...there's this strange car and I know I'm being paranoid but after the kind of year we've had I just—"

"Kurt, stop, stop, breathe. Everything's fine. We have a guest over but it's nothing to worry about. Why don't you and Blaine come on in?"

"See you in a minute."

Kurt clicked off the call. Why didn't he just say who it was?

Blaine raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"All clear," said Kurt, but his voice shook ever so slightly.

Kurt hopped out of the car and fetched his book bag from the back seat. He walked towards the house but Blaine gently tugged on his hand, drawing him into a hug. "Hey, hey, baby, it's okay. You're safe...your f-f-family is safe."

Kurt's breath caught in his throat and for a moment he thought he might start to cry or hyperventilate again. But the warmth and safety of Blaine's arms and his soothing voice overpowered his senses. Safe.

Blaine's hands cupped his cheeks, thumbs gently brushing over his cheekbones. "You r-r-r-ready?"

"Yeah, sure. S-sorry about that."

"—Nothing to apologize for."

Arms slung over one another's shoulders, they walked into the house. Kurt kicked off his boots and hung up his coat as quickly as possible, eager to find out what the hell was going on.

"Dad?" he called out.

"In the living room, kiddo!"

Following the sound of his voice, Kurt stumbled upon quite the crowd in his living room. His muscles began to tense up but then his father gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Hey kiddo, so this is Felicia, the social worker I contacted."

"Oh!"

Kurt glanced over at Dave Karofsky who was looking impressively small in his dad's armchair for such a large young man.

"She's here with really good news, actually."

"Don't leave me hanging, Dad," Kurt whined.

"Dave's mother has filed for full custody and the judge just signed off on it today."

Full custody...but that would mean… "Wait, so the Karofsky's are getting a divorce?"

"Yeah. Turns out Mrs. Karofsky wasn't enjoying the airborne dishware any more than her son."

Kurt chuckled, although really there was nothing funny here. "You don't say."

"That's su-su—that's such good news!" Blaine cheered.

Just then, the doorbell rang. "That will be her now," his dad explained. Kurt finally noticed the duffel bags packed neatly by the door. Dave was finally going home.

David Karofksy rose from the chair. He exchanged a few words with the social worker before turning to Kurt and his dad.

"Mr. Hummel—uh, Burt—I can't thank you enough for everything that you did for me. You raised a good kid."

"The only thanks I want is seeing you find the path forward. Just find a way to love yourself, kiddo, and the rest will sort itself out."

Dave turned to Kurt, "Thank you, Kurt. You...I really think you saved my life."

"Buy me some fabulous boots and we'll call it even."

Dave laughed out loud.

"What? You expected something sappy and sentimental like my dad? Have you met me? I'm McKinley's biggest bitch."

But Dave just laughed harder and before Kurt could stop him, ruffled his perfectly styled hair. Then Blaine and his dad were laughing too.

"I'm dead serious about the boots, Karofsky. Now get out of my house." But there was no bite to his bark. Blaine has made me go soft. Kurt let out a sigh and held out his hand for Dave to shake. "Take care of yourself, Dave. If there's anything else you need...well, you know where to find us."

With a smile, Dave Karofsky shook his hand. Blaine clapped him on the shoulder and Kurt could just barely make out Dave leaning over to whisper something to Blaine. "Blaine, man, where do you even buy boots?"

"Don't worry, I'll, uh, uh, uh, I'll s-send you some links."

Mrs. Karofsky pulled her son into a tight hug and kissed him on both cheeks. They each grabbed one of his bags and waved before walking out the door.

"I must be losing my damn mind because I think I'm going to miss that guy," Kurt said in disbelief.

Blaine slung his arm over Kurt's shoulder and began to sing, just loud enough for the two of them.

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here
My Sunny one shines so sincere

"I t-t-told you that y-you were the sunny one."

Comment and let me know what you think!

Music Notes:
Sunny - Bobby Hebb

Confession time: the more in-character choice would have been for Blaine to sing the disco version of this song by Boney M. But...this version is the one I've had in my head for this moment in the story for ages and it strikes the emotional tone more that I was going for so...that's the choice I've made.

Coming Up Next: New Directions goes to Nationals.