A/N: I had a really hard time writing this chapter - and I know that's not an excuse for going so long without uploading, so I made this chapter a (tiny) bit longer than my normal ones, and I've already started on the next chapter, so I won't let you wait this long again! I'm sorry, but I hope you'll enjoy this!

Blaine felt a movement to his left and turned his head; eyes still closed. He opened one eye and waited for the blurriness to disappear. The sight that he saw hit him like a bucket of cold water. Both his eyes flew open. Kurt was lying on his side in the crook of Blaine's left arm; one of his arms pressed up against his chest, while the other was placed under his head. His eyes were closed and his face relaxed. His full lips were slightly parted and an even breathing came out of the soft-looking mouth. Blaine gulped. There were only a few inches between the two teens. And it's not like he'll wake up… Blaine mentally slapped himself. Don't even think about it, Anderson. What are you; an old creep?

He breathed out slowly and closed his eyes. He tried thinking of something else than the beautiful boy sleeping next to him. A soft melody formed in his mind and he played a couple of times in his head. Blaine had done this since he was a child. When he wanted to run away, be alone or just get his thoughts away from all things around him, he made up melodies and songs in his head. He parted his lips and let the melody flow in a low humming. Suddenly the words that fit the melody popped up in his head too.

This silly little crush, he murmured.

Lying next to me; deep in sleep, he smiled affectionately at the other teen.

Reaching forward, holding back a flush- As he sang these words, he brushed a finger down Kurt's cheeks.

As I brush by your teary cheek, Blaine ended quietly. Little did he know that the brunette's breathing was slightly uneven and the pale eyelids fluttered almost unnoticeably. The curly haired teen looked up to the window and saw that it was still dark outside. So he snuggled closer to Kurt (unintentionally of course, he would never do that on purpose) and then closed his eyes again; he fell asleep with a happy smile on his face.

xxx

It would be a lie to say that Blaine was comfortable in his sleep. His left arm was sleeping, he was pushed to the edge of the bed and his head was lying in a weird angle. But to say that he wasn't happy was a lie too. Because he was sleeping next to a beautiful boy-

Or at least he was. Until the moment he woke. He was shoved off the bed and hit the floor with a loud thud and an even louder groan. He looked up into a pair of bright blue eyes and almost choked on his own breath. Kurt was sitting in the bed and looking down at him with an unreadable look on his face. The shoulder of his - or rather Blaine's - shirt was hanging down his right arm. And it gave Blaine a perfect (and absolutely impossible to refuse looking at) view of pale, smooth skin and a strongly marked collarbone. He snapped himself out of his trance with a shake of the head.

"Why did you…?" He trailed off. It wasn't like Kurt could answer him. But then he got something even more breath-taken than an actual answer. He got a giggle. A real life, light headed, high pitched giggle. Blaine couldn't help but smile back at the brunette sitting in his bed. He was just about to say something, when there was a knock on the door. Viola peaked inside.

"Morning boys," she said cheerfully. She noticed Blaine sitting awkwardly on the floor and… Oh, she thought. The mattress on the floor looked untouched. I shouldn't say anything, she decided and couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Blaine saw her searching gaze and blushed slightly.

"Good morning," he responded with a smile. He saw Kurt nod in greeting.

"Would you like some breakfast?" The blonde woman asked. Blaine turned his head to look at the brunette. I don't even know if he'd be comfortable to eat with m…Us. I meant us. But Blaine didn't have to worry, because Kurt nodded with a faint smile on his lips. The curly haired teen brightened by this.

"Yes please!" He said enthusiastically and jumped up from the floor. Kurt carefully stepped down from the bed and then the beautiful reached up his arms stretched his entire body. Blaine couldn't help but stare at the little piece of skin that showed itself on the brunette's stomach. Viola noticed where Blaine's eyes were looking and had to choke back a laugh. So obvious.

"I'll go get the food ready, you boys hurry down, okay?" Blaine snapped out of his trance and quickly said, "Ok!" And then the two boys were alone again.

"Um," Blaine began. "Would you like to borrow some clothes? I don't think what you wore yesterday is… Um. I'm not sure if you can… Errr." His babbling earned him a slight smile from the other teen, who then nodded. Blaine found a pair of trousers and a shirt and handed it to Kurt.

"I'm… I'll go change in the bathroom," he said awkwardly and left the room with his own set of clothes. He closed the door and slumped back against it.

"He's pretty." Blaine jumped up and locked eyes with Rose. She smiled and walked past him with little bouncing steps.

"Um, Rose?" He called after her.

"Yes?" She was still smiling. But there was something off about the smile.

"Could you please… not tell people about him being here?" Blaine asked and scratched the back of his head. It sounded like he was trying to hide Kurt, but he felt like the brunette wouldn't like it if everybody knew he had been here. He was mysterious and secretive and he didn't seem like the kind of person who'd want the whole world to know he slept in the same bed as Blaine. Said boy blushed at the thought and completely overlooked the hurt that crossed the little girl's face.

"Of course," she mumbled and ran down the stairs. Blaine walked into the bathroom with a goofy smile plastered on his face. He changed into the clean set of clothes and then got out and knocked on the door to his room. This is so weird. Having to knock on one's own door. Because there's a boy in there changing. A boy who I've slept in the same bed as. He blushed again and had to put a hand in front of his mouth to hide the grin, when the door opened.

Kurt stepped out dressed in Blaine's too-big clothes and ran a hand through his hair. He looked kind of shy. Maybe he feels uncomfortable in my clothes, Blaine realized and suddenly he felt awkward again. But Kurt didn't seem to notice, because he walked past him to the stairs and then turned around to wait for the other boy. Blaine scrambled to the stairs and led the way to the kitchen, where Viola was waiting with eggs, bacon and bread.

Wow, Blaine thought. We haven't eaten this fancy ever since I got here. He stole a glance at Kurt and has to hold down a gasp. The other teen looked absolutely sparkling. His eyes were a dark blue and shining, his mouth hang open and his cheeks had taken an excited red color. I'm not the only one who's impressed, it seems. Blaine chuckled and sat down at the table expecting Kurt to sit down next to him - but he didn't. He stood awkwardly in by the door and looked like he was suffering. Viola looked at him with a raised eyebrow and then thought of something.

"Please join us at the table, Kurt," she said softly. She had entered the Karofsky household once before; when the old Paul Karofsky had still been alive. He was a lovely man. Too bad her son didn't take after him. Instead he had to go inherit his mother's outlook on life. The Karofskys were very old fashioned, and you had to get permission to sit down and eat. Viola remembered how Paul had immediately forgiven her for sitting down when they had to eat; while Mrs. Karofsky had glared daggers at her the rest of the evening. She'd never stepped a foot inside that house since.

Kurt bowed slightly and took a seat next to Blaine - who didn't get a thing of what he was seeing. He thinks he needs permission to sit down and eat? What kind of people are the Karofskys? Blaine decided he'd have to talk to Viola about, since she seemed to know more about it. They ate in silence after that.

When they finished Blaine was about to stand up and put his plate in the sink, but before he even stood up, Kurt had taken all three plates on the table. Then he bowed slightly - again - for Viola who just smiled back at him. Blaine had no idea what was going on. Kurt acted like a… a servant. Maybe he's the Karofskys' servant? Blaine wondered and once again he wished Kurt could talk, so he could ask him all these questions.

Blaine felt a light pressure to his shoulder and looked up in the eyes from his dreams. Kurt gestured to the door and the curly haired teen stood and walked over to open it. They stood in the opening until Viola left the kitchen - she was a mother, of course she knew when to scam. Kurt locked eyes with her and they exchanged a silent thank you. Viola nodded to the slim boy and then left the room.

"You're gonna be alright?" Blaine asked as the brunette stepped out of the house.

Kurt nodded.

"Can I… see you again?" He asked, hating the fact that it sounded like he was begging.

The brunette sent him a tiny smile and nodded again, before patting him lightly on the arm, turning around and walking away; leaving Blaine behind with butterflies in his stomach.

"Vi?" Blaine asked as he closed the door. He'd heard the older woman step into the kitchen again when he'd been standing in the doorway; gazing after Kurt.

"Yes?" The blond answered.

"Do you know why Kurt behaved like that before? Like… Like he was out servant?"

"The Karofskys are very old fashioned, Blaine. This is just how they do things, and they must've raised Kurt the same as their own kids," Viola explained.

"Kurt's not their child?" Blaine asked, confused.

"He doesn't exactly look like them, right? Or do you think Dave looks old enough to have a child your age?" She chuckled a bit as Blaine blushed.

"No. I guess not. But why is he living with them then?" He shrugged and sat down at the table.

"I don't know sweetie. I think Paul found him somewhere and took him home, but it's only rumors." And all the other rumors about this boy are clearly lies, so I don't even know if that is what happened.

"Paul?" He supported his chin in his hand as Viola sat down too.

"Oh, you haven't met him. He was Dave's father," the blonde said with sad smile.

"So… He's dead?" Blaine couldn't really help but feel a little bad for David Karofsky. But only a little.

"Yes, sadly. Paul was a good man."

"Karofsky isn't," Blaine growled before he could stop himself.

"It's not Dave's fault, Blaine." Viola said. "His mother is not easy to live with."

"But that's no reason for abusing Kurt!" He tried to keep his voice down, but his hands were balled into fists on the table.

"Maybe they had a fight - and no, I'm not defending him." She reassured, when Blaine opened his mouth to protest. "He's a lot bigger than Kurt, and he shouldn't fight in the first place." Blaine didn't want to sound like he blamed Viola, but he got more and more upset. Because, really? A fight?

"You wouldn't tear someone's clothes in a fight!" He hissed. Viola's eyes grew and she stuttered as she answered.

"W-what do you mean?"

"His clothes were ruined! Why do you think I had to help him shower and loan him a set of clothes, Vi?" Blaine said, voice still raised.

"Oh my god," Viola mumbled. Who'd do something like that to their own household? Kurt had to be seen as a member of that family, or he wouldn't live there. And who'd done it? Dave? "That poor boy."

"Yeah," Blaine murmured. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to let Kurt go back. He wanted to make him safe - he had promised to keep him safe. He hid his face in his hands and let out a loud sigh. He felt a warm pressure on his shoulder. Viola looked down at him with a sympatric expression on her face.

"There's not much you can do about it, Blaine. But if you just try being there for him, I'm sure he'll be fine. He doesn't seem like he's ever had any friends, but he looks like a strong kid," she said and squeezed his shoulder before walking out from the kitchen again.

Blaine's head hit the table with a loud bang. He really needed to find a way to help Kurt. Being there didn't really seem like enough. And what if Karofsky tries to do something like this again? What if he can't run away? What if I'm not there to save him? Blaine shivered at the mental images. He'd seen way too much of those kind of things already. He clearly remembered the first time he'd laid eyes on a homosexual boy in the castle. He'd been bruised, his ears were gone, his lips split, he'd had a swelling around one eye, and the worst part; the way he walked. Even the most stupid of the soldiers couldn't help but notice how he limped and almost cried when he had to sit down. He'd looked like that for weeks before he finally ran off. Blaine also remembered the other's faces when they'd noticed what he was. They'd bullied him, hit him, and kicked him. And when he was gone, they'd just been standing there and laughing with cold eyes.

Blaine hugged himself as the memories started to flow through him. He'd wanted to help. He really had. But he was scared. He didn't want to be the next. And he was the new kid - he got enough bullying as it was. If they'd ever found out, he was gay… He shuddered. It would have been him. He wouldn't have had the strength to keep up for weeks of being harassed. He would've done like Jacob had. Ended his life hanging from the ceiling, while they all stared and some of them even laughed. "He deserved it, that little fag," Blaine recalled them saying. He'd spent that night spilling his guts out into a bucket.

But then he'd met Aldigree. Sweet, caring Aldigree. Who'd started talking to him, even though all the others avoided him. Aldigree, who had showed Blaine the best ways around the castle. Aldigree, who had told Blaine he wanted them to be together. Aldigree that had promised Blaine he'd be there to protect him forever. Protect him from everything; even his father. Blaine felt the warm knot of anger and disappointment in his stomach squirm. But Aldigree had betrayed him. He'd ripped his heart out; even though he'd told Blaine he loved him, and he'd promised they'd spend the rest of their lives together. Blaine felt angry tears well up in his eyes.

Kurt should never have to go through stuff like that. Never. I'll protect him.

A/N: Okay! So next chapter will most likely have some Blaine vs. Karofsky! You excited? I know I am! :DD