It has come out that some of my best work arrives in my head when I am sleep deprived. I slept 11 hours last night but I'm still fiendishly tired (X Factor concert yesterday with the rest of the hipsters wiped me out) so we'll see how that goes.

Xxx

'So my mom keeps asking when you guys are coming over for dinner,' Chandler said casually as Kurt and Blaine walked into the kitchen where he and Caissie had been hanging out. 'What do you say?'

'Oh, well, you know, we have various work commitments, and...' Kurt gestured vaguely as his sentence trailed off.

'Mmkay. She got a cookbook especially, so just say when.' He shrugged it off, and Kurt felt like a horrible person.

'C'mon, Chandler, lemme play you that CD I was telling you about,' Caissie grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the kitchen.

'Kurt...'

'I know what you're going to say, Blaine, so I'm just going to admit it. I'm scared. I am. I know I shouldn't be, but Karofsky – he does still get to me. I hate that he does, but it's still true. I'm sorry.'

'Kurt, I understand.'

'He makes my stomach churn. That interaction I told you about at his house, it made me want to cry. I feel like I'm sixteen all over again.' Blaine pulled him into a hug.

'I get it. I do, but – I hate to say this, but – just think of Caissie. This is a horrible coincidence, but – it's not about the two of you anymore. It's about Caissie and her boyfriend, and they've been dating for months now. You're just gonna have to be strong, or at least pretend to be. Okay?' Kurt nodded.

'Yeah.'

Xxx

Dave sat at the head of the table. Summer sat at the other end. Blaine and Kurt sat on one side, with Caissie and Chandler opposite them. Slices of chocolate cake in varying degrees of finishing sat on matching white plates and conversation was still going strong – as was Kurt, who had been gripping Blaine's hand through the entire evening but had maintained an easy and comfortable front, although whether that was down to the wine that had been served or not, was debatable.

'So where did you guys go to school?' Summer asked, delicately wiping her mouth on her napkin and glancing over at Kurt and Blaine.

'Dalton,' Blaine nodded. 'Both of us.'

'Really? That's remarkable!'

'Well, once Kurt got his claws in...'

'You two are so lucky! I remember when Dave and I first started dating; we spoke about everyone we had ever dated – this man! Honestly, it was like he'd picked up the Big Book of Baby names and just started reciting!'

'Really?' Kurt raised an eyebrow.

'If you'll excuse me...' The ever-quiet Dave dropped his napkin on the table and left the room without looking back. There was a moment of silence.

'This was delicious, Summer,' Blaine said appreciatively, casting a devastating smile at her.

'Oh, it was nothing. My pleasure. Would you like to move into the living room for drinks? Chandler and Caissie will clear up here, won't you kids?'

'I'm sure they'll be glad to be free of us old people,' Kurt placed a hand fleetingly on Caissie's back as he followed Summer and Blaine into the living room.

Xxx

Both conversation and wine were flowing an hour later in the living room and giggles erupted from all three adults on a regular basis. Dave still had not made an appearance, and Chandler and Caissie had closed the kitchen door as soon as they had entered. Kurt, who was bent double laughing at a something Summer had just said, placed a hand over his mouth to stifle the noise.

'Summer, can I please use your bathroom? This wine is absolutely lethal!'

'Of course! It's just upstairs, the first door you see.'

'Thank you so much.'

Xxx

Exiting the bathroom, Kurt jumped as he was confronted with the huge shadow of his former bully. Dave stood on the landing, about to step forward but halted by the appearance of Kurt.

'Kurt.' He said, nodding.

'Dave.' Kurt made to head back downstairs, his head down.

'Wait.' Kurt looked up at him.

'What?'

'Is she your daughter?' Kurt furrowed his brow.

'Not biologically, no. But she is, in all other senses of the word.'

'Wow.' Dave looked like he was pondering something. 'So you're the wife?' Kurt's jaw dropped a little.

'I – Dave... Look I know this is your house and I have no place to say this, but that is something I really don't want to talk about, especially with you.'

'I always considered us as pretty close.'

'What?'

'Yeah.' Dave stepped forward, pinning Kurt against the wall. 'Nothing to link two people together like a secret.'

'Few secrets are that disgusting, Dave, please let me go.'

'Tell Summer I've gone to bed.'

Xxx

'Thanks for the ride you guys,' Caissie said as the three of them walked into their home. 'I'm going to bed.'

'Night baby.'

'Night.'

As she went upstairs, Kurt and Blaine wandered into the kitchen, where Blaine immediately enveloped Kurt in a hug.

'Thank you for doing this,' He said quietly. 'I really appreciate it and I know Caissie does too.' Kurt found his hands gripping Blaine's shoulders unnaturally hard.

'Dave... he – he talked to me earlier.'

'What?'

Kurt relayed the conversation.

'That isn't right, Kurt – if he's still threatening you-'

'No, I – I'm overreacting. I think. I just need to talk about it and sleep off the wine; that always makes me an over emotional sap.'

'Like you aren't already?' Blaine hugged him closer, looking concerned as he did so. 'Kurt, you're shaking! What is it?'

'I – I can't...' Kurt closed his eyes but a tear still escaped. He shook his head but his body continued trembling. His breath came in and out in shudders and his vision was going blurry.

'Sit down.' Blaine rubbed Kurt's back as he sat heavily in a chair, until his breathing calmed. 'Kurt, what was all that about?'

'When we were teenagers – When he kissed me but after that, a year after... There was something I never told you.'

Xxx

I am a firm believer that Chris Colfer will never ever age, which is probably why it's really strange for me to write him as a grown-up.

I digress.

Lots of love to anyone who reviews, a bit less love to those who don't (but still some!)

X