Blair stood in the airport at the bottom of a pair of escalators holding a sign that read 'Original Hybrid', and grinned when Klaus appeared at the top and practically stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her sign. Her grin grew all the more when he came down the escalator with his bags and dropped them right in front of her.

Klaus looked at Blair, at her sign, then back to her. "Really, Love?"

"Hey, you were the one who agreed we could stay here for awhile longer as long as we anchored each other to our Reality." Blair let go of her sign with one hand so she could hug Klaus. "How was your trip?"

Klaus hugged her back with a heavy sigh. "It was…odd." He put his duffel bag on his shoulder and picked up his suitcase before taking Blair's hand to leave the airport with her. "Mikael is still a bastard in case you were wondering."

"Well at least he's not trying to kill you," Blair couldn't help but laugh. At his stoic expression, she stopped walking and didn't let go of his hand so he'd stop as well. "You cannot tell me it wasn't worth it, Klaus. Seeing your brothers, Freya and Rebekah all together and alive. Tell me it wasn't worth staying."

Klaus didn't want to admit that while they were not his siblings from their Reality he would carry those moments with him when they did return. So, instead of answering her question, he changed subjects. "How was your summer, Love? Did you rekindle things with Liam while I was away?"

Blair rolled her eyes because she should have known he wouldn't give her an answer and because of the question he asked her. She answered him when they started walking again. "Even if Liam didn't leave for his boarding school the first week into the summer that wouldn't have happened, and this you know."

Klaus smirked at her as they walked out of the airport together. "Oh, that's right. You're with me now."

"You keep looking so smug and this will be one of the things to not cross back over to our Reality." Blair looked at him seriously but when he smirked at her again, she couldn't help but smile and back handed his arm because of it. She was about to say more but was prevented from doing so when Sue pulled up the car and got out.

Sue took off her sunglasses and put them on the top of her head with a sigh as she placed her hands on her hips to look him over. "Welcome back, Klaus. Did you bring any tea?"

Blair was about to tell Sue not to be mean with that comment because Klaus spent the summer in England but was prevented from doing so when Klaus went into his duffel and pulled a tin of tea which he then handed over to Sue. To say she was surprised and confused by this exchange would be an understatement.

Sue accepted the tea from Klaus with a, "Good man," and turned her attention to Blair and asked, "What?" even though she knew exactly what Blair's face was for but wasn't going to elaborate further. "Get in the car, you two. School is tomorrow and we have to get to the cleaners to get your uniform."

Klaus put his bags in the trunk before getting into the backseat of Sue's car while Blair got into the front of it. "Uniform?" He couldn't recall Blair mentioning anything that would warrant her wearing any kind of uniform.

"Blair didn't tell you?" Sue beamed at Blair when she explained, "I finally convinced Blair to join the Cheerios."

"As long as I get to stay in Glee Club," Blair added in as she pointed her finger at Sue. "And that Glee Club is my first priority."

Klaus, to add more to their anchoring, asked, "Weren't you a cheerleader at your old school? I seem to recall some sort of mention of that."

Blair knew exactly what Klaus was doing. "You seem to recall correctly." She turned around to give Klaus a bit of a glare because of the last thing she wanted was Sue to start asking any questions that would cause Blair to sort out the memories of her own Reality and this one.

Sue noted a bit of tension with that line of questioning but wasn't sure why. She made a mental note to ask about it later, but in that moment she changed the subject matter as they drove back to Lima. "Is your father back from his dig, Klaus?"

"Apparently they found a room they weren't expecting to find so he'll be gone for some time longer." Klaus' father had been assigned to an archaeological dig over the summer for the museum he worked for. Since Klaus had spent the summer with Esther, Mikael, and his siblings, his father accepted without hesitation. Of course, now that meant not being home in time for the first day back to school.

Blair turned around to face Klaus. "You're gonna be home alone?" She knew the Klaus from her Reality wouldn't be bothered by it, but he was blending with his Alter just like she had with her own so there was no way of knowing for sure just how we would feel about it.

Klaus found her concern amusing. "I can take care of myself, Love." Which was true, of course, but it annoyed him that a part of him was disappointed that Ansel wouldn't be back in Lima for who knew how long. Of course, he wouldn't mention that in a million years.

Even though Klaus didn't need the help, Blair helped bring his duffel bag into the house. She didn't say anything until they went up to his room. "I don't like the idea of you being alone."

"You're more than welcome to stay. I'm sure we can make the five minute time limit Sue gave you count."

Blair rolled her eyes yet again as she crossed her arms. "I'm serious, Klaus. You're not an Immortal Hybrid here. You're a teenager."

"I am well aware of this. I have been living as such for quite some time now thanks to you." There was a slight tinge of bitterness to his tone because at the beginning of the summer she was ready to leave this Reality but one call from that Hudson boy and she did a full 180 and made a new deal with him.

"I knew you were still annoyed with me about that. I'm sorry I'm not ready to give up on this Reality, Klaus. And if you're being honest with yourself, neither are you." Blair left it at that and walked out of his room.

Klaus followed Blair out into the hall to say, "You don't know me half as well as you think you do, Love."

Blair whipped around and shouted, "Bullshit!", at him. "I know you better than most. I have lived many lifetimes with you in case you've forgotten. With each live I've lived I've seen a different side of you, and that's how I know that while you hate being human you'd stay here all over again if you could have a redo because if for nothing else, you got to see Henrik again."

Klaus didn't get a chance to respond to that due to Sue entering the front door and calling out to Blair,

"Time's up! Let's go."

Blair was about to go down the stairs but stayed long enough to say, "I love you, Klaus, and I accept you. But dammit, you're infuriating sometimes."

Klaus moved some of Blair's hair behind her ear before kissing her cheek. When he pulled back, he smirked, "I know," and returned to his room while a mumbling Blair finally descended the stairs to leave.

Now that Klaus was left alone the only thing he could do was the mundane chores and such that needed to be done before school started the next day.

After they got home, Sue looked at Blair's Cheerios uniform with pride. "This is a proud moment for me, goddaughter of mine. With you on the team there is no doubt we will win Nationals with ease. Especially with the routines I know you've been brewing."

Blair took the uniform away from Sue with a bit of a brow raise. "Now what makes you think I've been whipping up some new routines?"

Sue laughed at the question and began to put away the groceries. "Because I know you. When you're not hanging out with your tall friend, or your gay friend, or your Asian friends, you are either working on your music or making up new routines."

"Their names are Finn, Kurt, Mike, and Tina. This you know." Blair put her uniform away in her room before coming back out to the kitchen to help with the groceries. "And fine, yes, I have come up with an idea or two. Leyla actually had a few suggestions that I worked into them. Just something to keep in mind since she's a Freshman next year."

"I almost forgot Leyla was starting at McKinley next year. I'll have to keep that in mind." Sue folded up the paper grocery bag and put it away while casually adding in, "That reminds me, I am having dinner with Kai tonight."

Blair's ears perked up at the mention of that and she leaned back against the counter with an, "Oh, really?"

Sue mildly glared at her in response to that. "Keep you mind from going where it's going, young lady. It's nothing like that. It's our regular meeting to discuss custody, vacations, that sort of thing."

"Sounds like a date to me." Blair laughed when Sue's reply to that was throwing a dish towel at her head. "Leyla thinks so, too. Don't not date on our account. It'd be pretty cool."

Sue paused for a moment before she changed the when she sat down at the kitchen table and gestured for Blair to do the same. "There is something I want to speak with you about."

Blair hesitantly took a seat because she wasn't sure what this was going to be about. "Is everything okay? It's not about Auntie Jean, is it?"

Sue shook her head, "No, nothing like that. I was thinking about this on the way home. If you would like, you can offer Klaus the option of staying here until his father returns."

Okay, that was so not anywhere on the list or even near the list of possibilities Blair thought this conversation was going to be about. In fact, she wasn't even sure she heard correctly. "Uh…what?"

Sue picked up where she left off without repeating what she previously said. "As long as he doesn't go into your room with the door closed and doesn't tell a soul about my popcorn consumption then he can stay on the couch."

Blair blinked a few times because she was still processing. "Why?" That was the only thing that she could think to say at the moment.

"Do I have to explain?" Sue inquired with a slightly raised brow.

Blair nodded repeatedly. "You never would have offered this to Puck or Liam or anyone else I dated so…yeah."

Sue took a page from Blair's book and crossed her arms before answering. "I find him tolerable to be around and he doesn't seem to be someone who can survive being on his own."

Blair smiled as she altered Sue's wording. "So you're telling me that you want to invite him to stay here because you like having him around and don't like the idea of him being home alone?"

"I'm not that mushy," Sue shot back and stood up from the table. "Extend the invitation or not. Just giving you the option." On that note, she walked away without another word.

Blair still couldn't believe that she and Sue actually had this conversation but she texted Klaus about it anyway. She figured he'd turn it down in an instant, but was really surprised to find that he replied that he'd accept the offer and would bring his stuff over and start staying the night tomorrow.

"Weird," Blair thought aloud as she went off to her room to get ready for meeting up with Finn later. "Really, really weird."

Since Kai and Sue had their weekly 'dinner meeting' that night, Blair asked Finn if it was cool with him for Leyla to go bowling with them. Finn had no objections to the younger Han tagging along, so the three of them went onto the bowling alley to celebrate the last night of summer vacation.

While they were lacing up their bowling shoes, Leyla asked Finn a question. "Is Rachel coming tonight?" It's not that Leyla had any real problems with Rachel, it's just based off the limited time she had previously had with her that summer if Leyla could avoid time spent then she would.

"Naw, she's too busy putting together song ideas for Glee Club. Besides, it's nice to have a break." Finn finished tying his shoes and bound to his feet to pick out a bowling ball. "You start high school next year, right?"

Leyla joined him with Blair not too far behind. "That's right. Although to be technical I could start high school this year since I'm a year ahead, but my dad thinks it'll be better to start when I'm 'age appropriate'." Leyla made sure to put air quotes around that.

"Your dad is just worried you'll meet someone and start dating," Blair laughed because that was probably the only reason why he was hesitant about Leyla starting high school early.

"You're probably right." Leyla picked up a blue swirly bowling ball with pride. "I choose this one."

Staying on the topic of dating, Finn couldn't help but comment, "Is it weird for you guys that Sue and Kai are dating?"

"According to them, they're not," Blair replied then added in, "But it's not weird. In fact, we encourage it."

"That's right. They're practically in a relationship as it is. I think they're in denial." Leyla realized that she was up first and with a "Oh! I'm up!" she bought her ball to the lane and took her stance.

While Leyla was taking her first shot, Finn looked over to Blair. "You still dating Klaus? Or did you guys take a break over the summer?"

"We're still together." Blair looked at him with a raised brow. "Why do you ask?"

Finn shrugged in a nonchalant manner. "Just asking."

Leyla hopped in front of them and beamed a smile towards Finn, "You're up."

Finn cleared his throat and went up to take his turn.

Leyla sat beside Blair and asked in a worried tone, "Did I just interrupt something?"

"No," Blair replied in an uncertain manner. "At least, I don't think so…" She looked at her cousin with a scrunched up confused expression causing them both to laugh.

Now it was Finn who felt like he had just interrupted something. "Do I want to know?"

"I don't know, do you?" Blair asked with a wiggle to her brow and laughter before grabbing her ball to take her turn.

Finn had no idea how to respond to that, so he sat down with a shake to his head and a chuckle. "I don't think I'll ever be able to figure her out."

Leyla had no argument there. "She is what she says – Blair is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma."

Out of nowhere and without thinking, Finn added in aloud, "Wrapped in an awesome rack."

Leyla's eyes widened a bit at that before she burst out laughing and randomly laughed at it for the rest of the night.

Kai was already home when Blair dropped Leyla off, so Leyla stopped in the kitchen to see him before going up to bed.

Kai smiled at his daughter's arrival. "Hey, Kiddo. Have fun tonight?" He took a cookie from the jar that he was helping himself to and handed her one.

Leyla gratefully accepted the cookie, "Thank you. And yeah, I did." She took a bite before adding in, "I think Finn is in love with Blair but doesn't realize it."

"You're a little too young to know about such matters, are you not?" Kai gave his daughter a questioning glance as he poured her some milk.

"If a two-year-old saw them together they'd be able to figure it out," Leyla pointed out. "Just like with you and Sue." Oh, yeah, she so not-so-casually added that in there.

Kai almost spit out the milk he was drinking when she said that. After a brief cough or two, he stated, "I am not in love with Sue. And I will never be. I was in love with your mother, and Sue is nothing like her."

"And that's a bad thing? Dad, you act like a goofball whenever Sue's around. Even when you guys argue, when you walk away you end up smiling after like two steps. And she brings out you funny competitive side, which is why you two are always on opposing teams on game night. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then odds are it's a duck."

Kai finished his milk and brought the cup to the sink. "That's crazy, Leyla. I don't have feelings for Sue."

Leyla popped her lips as she walked away with the counter with a, "Methinks thou doth protest too much." Before he could refute again, she waved behind her shoulder, saying, "Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, Kiddo." Kai leaned on the kitchen island with a heavy sigh because there really was no way he could possibly have feelings for Sue Sylvester...right?

The next day at school, Blair sat in the back row of the Choir Room with Klaus on one side of her and Mike on the other with Tina beside him. She kept looking at the door while Mr. Schue explained how they needed more members to even qualify for competition since they lost two members to school transfers. She was about to suggest a way to get new members when an all too familiar face entered the room. Younger for sure, but still familiar.

Blair turned to Klaus with wide eyes and he whispered to her,

"I doubt this is a coincidence, Love. I told you if you didn't come back with me they'd send someone else."

Mr. Schue addressed the group saying, "Class, listen up. This is Rick Saltzman. He's a music major and my TA this year for course credit."

Rick Saltzman set his bag on the floor beside the piano before standing next to Mr. Schue in the middle of the room. "Hello, everyone. Glad to be here."

Klaus smirked at Blair before speaking to Rick. "And why are you here, exactly? Out of all the other glee clubs you could have been a TA for, why ours?"

"If you're asking why I'm not the new TA for Vocal Adrenaline the answer is simple – your Glee club has something theirs doesn't." Rick gestured to the whole class. "All of you. I was really impressed with your performances."

Santana leaned forward as she checked Rick out. "How old are you?"

Rick turned to her. "I'm nineteen, so don't even think about it."

Santana pouted in annoyance before leaning back in her seat.

Mr. Schue took that moment to get the class back on track. "We were just discussing ideas on how to recruit new members. I was thinking we could show the students what our club was all about."

Rick picked up on what he was implying. "An impromptu performance." He crossed his arms in thought. "I like the sound of that. But it can't be just any song – it has to be one that the majority will know."

Mr. Schue could accept that and turned to the class. "Any suggestions?"

While the club was suggesting all the songs they wanted to sing, Blair didn't say a word because her eyes were still locked on Rick. She couldn't tell yet if this Rick was indeed the Alaric Saltzman from her Reality or just his Alter and that didn't sit well with her at all.

Later that day, Blair was standing outside the choir room spying on Rick talking with Mr. Schue. So far Rick hadn't made contact with her or Klaus so she still didn't know of this was a coincidence or not. Matt's Alter was in Lima as Liam and obviously wasn't Matt so this Rick could quite possibly not be Alaric. Those thoughts had been on repeat in her mind so she wasn't paying attention to much else, hence why she didn't realize that Kurt had walked up behind her. Not until he spoke and startled her anyway.

"How for teacher are we?" Kurt teased and took a step back when Blair jumped in case she punched in response. "Wow, you really must be into him if you went into trance mode."

Blair scoffed incredulously at him. "You're so off base there, Loser. I just thought he looked familiar and was trying to place him. That's all." She linked her arm with Kurt as they walked down the hallway together. "You still coming to Allegro after school to help with the costumes?"

"Picking out a bunch of New York City t-shirts and hats doesn't really count as helping with costumes, but don't worry, Jerk, I'll be there." Kurt would have loved to have done something more with the costumes for their recruitment performance, but since the song they would be singing was Empire State of Mind the simple costumes would probably have the best effect.

"Since Empire State of Mind has become so popular, Allegro has gotten a ton of New York related stuff in. Finding matching shirts and hats for everyone shouldn't be an issue. Plus my employee discount helps with the costume budget." Blair stopped at her locker real quick to get something before class. "If only Leyla was starting this year, then it'd be one last person we'd have to recruit."

"Perhaps it's for the best. It'll be one less year she'll have to deal with Rachel." Kurt couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"We were just talking about that last night." Blair got the book she needed and headed down the hall but now it was time to split up. "See you after school." She gave Kurt a quick salute before darting off to class, despite not actually wanting to go. She knew she wouldn't be able to concentrate until she knew for sure who exactly Rick was.

Blair was working her shift at the Allegro Store of Music after school and Kurt hadn't arrived yet, so she was putting out some of the new vinyl they had gotten in. Upon hearing the bell ring indicating a customer had come in, she thought it was Kurt but instead it was Rick. Blair set the vinyl back in the crate and went right over to him. "Hello, Rick wasn't it? How can I help you?"

"Cut the crap, Blair. There is no way you haven't figured it out yet." Rick wanted to get this done as quickly as possible.

Blair crossed her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about. What haven't I figured out yet?"

Clearly Blair wasn't going to say anything to hint she was from a different Reality, so he came right out with it since there was no one else in the store but them. "You know I'm Alaric from Mystic Falls, and I'm here to take you and Klaus back. How did he manage to fail to get you back anyway?"

"Klaus and I made a deal. And sorry you wasted a trip, I'm not interested." Blair turned around and got back to work.

Rick followed right behind her. "I don't care what deal you two made. I'm not staying in my Alter's body any longer than I have to. I have no interest in being nineteen again. And can you please explain to me how I'm this hot at this age here? I didn't start looking like this until my mid-twenties!"

Blair burst out laughing when Rick made that declaration. "I must admit it is throwing me off a little bit. Then again, Klaus is seventeen here which is honestly even weirder." Blair took one of the vinyl records out of the crate and turned to Rick with a smile. "It is nice to see you though. I've missed you, Teach."

"I've missed you, too. We all have. Which is why you should come home." Rick stopped her from doing her job by putting his arm out onto the crate so she'd listen to him. "Tell me the truth, Blair. Why haven't you come home yet?"

Blair let out a deep breath before replying. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Klaus. I'm normal here, Alaric. I can have a normal life. I'm not a Werewolf, I'm not the Cursed One, I'm not constantly looking over my shoulder. Yeah, things are really weird at times but I can have a normal life. I can grow old here. I can have a family here. And more than that…my Alter isn't strong enough without me yet."

Rick didn't know what Blair meant by that. "What are you talking about?"

"You can feel your Alter, right? You can sense what they'd do or say in a situation, right? And then you can either give in or override it." Blair let that sink in, "You with me?" When Rick nodded, she continued, "So can I. And I know she's not strong enough yet. If I leave my Alter alone I'm afraid of what she'll eventually do. I'm sorry, Rick, but I'm not going to go back to our Reality and leave my Alter here to die."

Rick dragged his hand down his face as he exhaled deeply while crossing his arms. "So what are you saying, Blair? You're never going to leave here?"

"I didn't say that" Blair clarified. "I will leave, when I know without a doubt that my Alter will survive without me."

Their conversation was cut there when the bell above the door rang again and this time it was Kurt. He looked at them a bit suspiciously, "Everything alright over here?"

"Just fine," Rick answered as he pulled an envelope from his pocket. "Mr. Schue forgot to give Blair the money for the shirts earlier." He handed the envelope over to Blair and took his leave since there was nothing else to be said or done at that point.

Kurt watched him go before turning back to Blair. "Okay…that was a weird. He's giving me some weird vibes. Are you alright?"

"We've all got our weird, Loser." Blair gestured for him to come with her. "The shirts are over here."

Kurt couldn't get rid of the gut feeling that something was up but ignored it for now. "Lead the way, Jerk."

The following day at school during the lunch period is when the Glee Club did their recruitment performance but no one signed up for auditions afterwards. It was very discouraging for the group but that didn't stop them from trying to get recruits. In fact, later that day Blair was putting up posters promoting Glee Club when Klaus came over with some more copies.

Klaus leaned against the wall next to the bulletin board as Blair tacked up the posters, all while wearing her Cheerios uniform. "I don't recall you wearing that this morning when we left." He noted that Blair was wearing leggings with the skirt and long sleeves under the top of the uniform. "I thought you stopped hiding, Love."

"I got tired of the stares from the team. Everyone in Glee has accepted me, but the Cheerios, not so much. It was one thing when I was just helping out but now that I'm on the team there's talk. It's just easier this way." Blair took the fliers from Klaus and went down the hall to the next board.

"Since when have you ever taken the easy way?" Klaus had a feeling there was more to this than what she was saying. "It's not you, it's your Alter isn't it?"

Blair paused for a moment. "I'm trying not to push it so hard. My Alter needs time to heal, too. She's not as strong as I am, so, yes, I'm going to start doing things a little differently so she'll be strong enough to survive when I'm not here."

Klaus reached out and took her hand to keep her from putting up any more posters. "We made a deal, Love. I have no interest in signing her death sentence either – it'd be the same as signing yours." He let go of her hand before asking, "Is this because of Alaric?"

"Talking about me?" Rick questioned as he approached them, only having heard the last sentence spoken.

"Simply about how lucky you are that I'm human in this Reality or else you would have taken your trip back already." Klaus smirked at his restrained threat before going off to class.

Rick couldn't get over how much the same Klaus was and yet different. "Someone's Alter is certainly taking hold."

"What do you want, Rick? I already told you I'm not going anywhere." Blair tried to walk away, only to be blocked by Rick's side step.

"And what if I told you that there was a problem back in Mystic Falls that we needed your help with?"

Blair looked at him seriously. "Is there? And don't you dare lie to me."'

Rick almost lied to her, but found he couldn't. "No. At least there wasn't when I came here but that doesn't mean there won't be. We need to get back."

Blair was really losing her patience because she had already gone through all this with Klaus when he first arrived and was in no mood to go through it yet again. "I'm not leaving until I am ready to, Alaric. If you gave even the slightest damn about me then you'd accept that and get settled into your present Reality." This time when Blair walked away, he didn't try to stop her.

That night, Klaus was helping Blair cook dinner when Sue came home in a bit of a rampage. "That Beiste has got to go!"

Blair turned away from the stove to ask, "Is that a reference for something or?"

"Coach Beiste got my budget slashed along with Glee Club's." Sue sat down at the kitchen table with a frustrated huff. "She has got to go, but how?"

Blair handed Klaus the spoon to stir the sauce and sat down at the table with Sue. "You've got that scheming look in your eye again where there doesn't need to be one. Fundraiser's exist for a reason, frustrated godmother of mine. The most extreme option doesn't have to be the first one."

"Oh, don't worry, I will get my funding back." Sue changed the subject when she reached out for Blair to take her hand. When Blair did take it, she placed her hand on Blair's scars. "Do not let what people say change how you see yourself. Did you think I wouldn't notice you were covering up again? You were doing so well. If being on the team is pushing you too much then forget it."

Blair blinked a few times because she thought this was so out of character for Sue, even with everything they'd been through together. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Very. Having you on the team means a lot to me, but I will not risk you backsliding. Do you hear me?" Sue leaned forward and kissed Blair's scarred arm before kissing her forehead. "Keep the uniform, just in case."

Blair felt a weight being lifted off her Alter's shoulders and let out a breath of relief before she joined Sue and Klaus to finish up the dinner preparations.

Sue changed the subject to ask Klaus, "Any news from your father?"

"He called earlier. It will be another few weeks before he's done." He didn't want to admit that he felt his Alter's loneliness because of it.

"Well, looks like you'll be staying here for a few weeks longer then." Sue stated that matter of factly and when Klaus' father returned, she was certainly going to have a bone to pick with the man.

Blair had been dealing with so much Alter stuff and work stuff, that she completely missed out on everything else that had been going on in Glee Club – how Rachel sabotaged the audition for the exchange student Sunshine by sending her to a very bad part of town, then got her back to audition, only to lose Sunshine to Vocal Adrenaline in the end because Sunshine was worried Rachel would have made her life a living hell.

When Tina and Mike finished filling her in on all this in the choir room before everyone else got there, she came right out and said, "Rachel is such a bitch." Blair stood up and scoffed before she ran her hands through her hair. "I knew she was self-involved and selfish and a whole list of other things but bloody hell, she's just a bitch. Plain and simple." For the life of her, she couldn't fathom how she and Rachel were once friends.

Mike approached Blair with a concerned expression on his face because she looked like she was ready to spiral. "Are you okay?"

Blair put a smile on her face and nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm pissed, but I'm okay."

Tina also came over because she was a little worried, too. "Are you sure? You're rubbing your arms."

Blair didn't even realize she was doing that but stopped as soon as it was pointed out to her. "I'm good. I just need to take a walk and process everything I've missed."

"We can come with you." Mike didn't think she should be left alone, especially since he recognized that look in her eyes.

Tina saw it, too. "Yeah, we don't have classes right now. We can get some ice cream or something."

"Mike, Tina, I love you both but stop worrying. I'm not at the edge of a cliff, okay? I just need a walk." Blair smiled again and left the choir room. The hall was pretty much empty so she went to the nearest alcove and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She felt like her heart was pounding in her chest and her head was spinning and couldn't breathe. Blair hadn't felt like this in a long time, but now it was hitting her like a freight train.

"Blair? Are you alright?" Finn was on his way to the choir room when he spotted her. When Blair nodded without saying anything, he knew she wasn't alright. Granted he had no idea what was wrong with her or if he would even be able to help, but he had to do something. "Don't punch me, I'm going to hug you." Since she didn't object, he wrapped his arms around Blair and held her close.

Blair held onto Finn like he was a life preserver and didn't let go until her breathing had gotten back under control. Once she was sure she was okay, she slowly pulled from the embrace. "I really thought I had things under control."

"It's okay not to." Finn smiled. "That's what friends are for." He cocked his head towards the hall and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Come on, let's get to Glee."

"For the record, I'm really pissed at Rachel for her latest stunt." Blair had to give him fair warning on that.

Finn sighed as they walked to the choir room together. "Yeah, me too."

Blair was working her shift at Allegro later that day when Rick came into the store. She finished up with her customers before going over to him. "What is it now?"

After a lot of thought, Rick caved. "You win. You have all the cards. When you're ready to leave, that's when we'll go. And don't worry, no one else will be coming. That was already agreed on before I came here. I will play out this weird Glee Reality until your Alter is safe without you."

Rick thought Blair would be glad to hear this but all he saw were tears in her eyes. "Did I say something wrong?"

Blair shook her head with a genuine smile. "Not at all. In fact, this is the best news I've heard all day." She cleared her throat and gestured to the shop around them, "Can I interest you in anything today?"

"Blank sheet music," Rick admitted. "My Alter is a apparently a songwriter and not writing is driving me a little bit crazy."

Blair chuckled as she led the way. "I know the feeling, but you'll get used to it." She handed him the pack of blank sheet music then remembered something. "I need you to agree to the part of the deal I made with Klaus."

Rick wasn't sure if he was going to like this or not. "Which is?"

"What happens in this Reality stays in this Reality. When we go home, it's like what happened here never happened." Blair extended her hand for him to shake in agreement. "Deal?"

In that moment Rick didn't see a problem with that, so he shook her hand. "Deal." Problem was, as soon as he made the deal, he instantly regretted it but had no idea why.

End Season 2 Episode 1