"Hey, sleeping beauty, you need to get up and in the shower. You told your Dad we'd be there for breakfast. We're barely going to get there for lunch"

Blaine had already showered, and worked it out with Wes that he would drive them to McKinley to get Blaine's car.

What a night. Even though he had gotten a few hours sleep, curled up with Kurt, he was still exhausted—mentally more so than physically. Within the course of the last twelve or so hours they had gone to a dance, been intimate for the first time, then several time after that, had a disagreement, he'd run out on Kurt, gotten a flat, upset Kurt, lost then found Kurt…dealt with Finn's anger…Blaine needed coffee, quickly, or he was never going to get through this day.

"Come on, up", Blaine pulled the blanket from on top of Kurt, and pulled his hand to get him into an upright position.

"I don't want to. I'm so tired. Come back to bed and snuggle with me. You know you want to". Kurt smiled at Blaine, which was making it difficult for him to stay focused on what they needed to do today.

"Nope…up…." Blaine pulled Kurt up so that he was on his feet. He pushed him towards the bathroom and the shower, which was on and waiting for him. "I've put towels there for you, and I'll find something a little better fitting for you to wear."

Kurt dragged his feet a little longer, not wanting to tell Blaine the real reason he was reluctant to get in the shower. Kurt inhaled and could still smell the scent of Blaine all over him. It made his heart race just thinking back to the things they had done to..and with…each other. It felt like a dream. A dream come true.

"You know, you could join me in the shower. It would be another first for us".

"Kurt, if I get in that shower with you, we will never get out of here today. Now stop trying to use your feminine wiles on me, Kurt Hummel and get in that shower."

He tried using a pouting face, which didn't' work on Blaine. Not this time.

Blaine sat down at his desk and tried to come up with a plan for the day. It was hard to concentrate with Kurt showering in the next room. For a few seconds Blaine was reconsidering Kurt's invite to join him, and then thought better of it.

Kurt wanted to come back to Dalton, and he needed to make that happen somehow. The reason that Kurt went back to McKinley may have had a little to do with the fact that he missed his friends, but Blaine also knew that finances, or lack of them, had played a big part in the decision.

Blaine thought about transferring to McKinley to be with Kurt, but with this semester already paid for, he didn't want to have to deal with his parents about wasting their money. They already were not happy that they had to pay for a private school because of his life choices, and he didn't want to push the issue. It was times like this when Blaine was really envious of the relationship that Kurt has with his Dad.

He heard the water stop and then the sound of Kurt whistling. It brought a smile to his face because it meant that Kurt was happy. And there was nothing that Blaine wanted more than that. Always.

Opening the door, Kurt had one towel wrapped around his body, and the other on his head. Blaine couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Is this the Diva look, Kurt, because honestly, it's not working for you". Kurt pulled the towel from his hair and threw it at Blaine. "You do realize that I have none of my products here. I'm going to look a wreck all day. That is so unacceptable."

"You are beautiful. Now, here… I have everything for you except pants. You're taller than me, and I don't want you looking like Huckleberry Finn wearing mine." Kurt held up a pair of Blaine's jeans against his body, and shook his head. "I cannot have anyone see me in my dress pants and a t-shirt. It will be fashion suicide." Blaine thought for a moment, then texted David—

"Can Kurt borrow some pants?"

"Way to go, Anderson"

"Shut up you. He doesn't' want to wear his dress pants. Options are limited"

"Let me see what I have. Be there in a few."

"Ok, David will bring you pants. I need coffee. Right now. When you're dressed in a manner that you deem acceptable for the public, please come and get me so that we can get out of here."

"I'm hungry", Kurt said, laughing at the look on Blaine's face.

"I'll grab something you can take with us. Call your Dad and tell him that we'll be on the way in a few minutes. And Kurt…. do something about that hair." Kurt threw a pillow at the door as Blaine walked out, and he wondered—is this what waking up every morning with Blaine would be like?

Once they were in Blaine's car and headed to Kurt's house, Blaine broached the subject of their previous evening.

"Kurt, last night was amazing. YOU are amazing."

"I feel like an idiot, you know. Leaving like that. I'm really sorry. I should have known you would be back."

"Well, I just wanted to make sure that…you know…we had everything we needed." It then dawned on Blaine. Where did he leave the bag with the things he bought this morning? Oh, no. He left it in his car. Which Finn had driven to McKinley. Ugh..please don't let him have looked in it. He would never live it down.

"Kurt, do you see a Walgreens bag in here anywhere? Look on the backseat."

"I don't see anything. You don't think Finn….?"

"Oh, God…your family is going to hate me. And think I'm a sex fiend. I think I'm going to just drop you off and run while I can."

"No, sir. I have direct instructions to bring you in. Besides, I think Finn would have thrown the bag down once he realized there wasn't food in it."

They pulled into the driveway of the Hummel-Hudson family, and started walking to the door. Kurt reached for his boyfriend's hand, and Blaine liked the fact that they could act like a couple here. Kurt opened the door, and they were met by Burt, who looked at his watch, then looked back and forth between the two of them. They both just stood there, frozen. Was it that obvious?

"How are you, Burt?" Blaine reached his hand out, picturing in his mind Kurt's dad countering with a punch for taking his son's …what? Virtue? Blaine let out a long sigh. He needed this day to be over. Quickly.

"Good, kid…how are you? You have a good time last night?"

"Dad!" Kurt turned a shade of red that Blaine was quite sure he'd never seen before.

"What? Did you have a good time at the dance? Finn said it was lame. I just wanted a second opinion."

Kurt looked guiltily at his Dad. "Yeah, Dad. It was great. Best night ever."

They got a reprieve when Carol called from the kitchen that the food was ready. She is the best, Blaine thought. She always makes him feel as if he is part of the family.

"I hope you two are hungry, because I've made plenty. Blaine looked at the table, and wished that his family had meals together like this. "Everything looks great, Carol. Thank you for having me over"

"Well, what's ours is yours, sweetie". Blaine and Kurt could barely contain their laughter at the truth of that statement.

"Where's Finn?" Kurt wondered aloud, not particularly wanting to be in the same room as his brother. There was still the mystery of the missing bag to deal with.

"He said he was going to Rachel's place for a while. So it looks like it's just the four of us for now," Carol said with a smile. "Finn was a little out of sorts this morning. Said he was waiting for a phone call but he never heard from the person."

Damn. Blaine never called Finn about what was happening with he and Kurt. Strike Two.

"So how are things at Dalton, Blaine? It was such a shame that we couldn't send Kurt back this semester. I'm not happy that he's back at McKinley, but I didn't have much choice". Burt looked at his son. "I'm sorry, Kurt".

"Well, you know, everyone there misses Kurt. We'd love to have him back with us. And I know that Kurt would like to be back."

"Well, unfortunately, that really isn't in the cards for us right now. Until business picks up at the shop, the old belt needs to be tightened up a bit." Burt tried to smile, but it was difficult knowing he had let his son down.

"Burt, I want to talk to you about something. And I don't want you to take offense." Kurt's mouth hung open as he looked at Blaine. What is he doing?

Burt sat back on the couch. "Go on".

Blaine tried to gather his thoughts to say what he needed to say. "I think that Kurt should come back to Dalton. And I think I can help".

"Help how?" Burt sounded a bit agitated, and Carol placed her hand on his arm.

"Well, I know that a huge part of the tuition for Dalton is the room and board. I have a way around that." Burt didn't say anything, so Blaine continued. "You see, my parents have a guesthouse on their property, and Kurt would be more than welcome to stay there and go to school. It's basically my guesthouse, and I would love to have Kurt there. It would…"

"Blaine", Kurt finally spoke, but could get nothing more than his name out.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Blaine. And I don't' want you to take offense at what I'm about to say. We don't need charity from Kurt's rich boyfriend. The shop is having a dry spell at the moment. Once things…"

Carol cut him off. "Burt, I think that Blaine's offer is very generous, and with Kurt's best interest in mind. I don't think he was implying that we need charity".

Kurt sat in the middle of this conversation, which was about him, feeling like he had been struck mute. It was as if he was a piece of property being haggled over, and he didn't like it. And he wasn't happy that Blaine hadn't discussed this with him first.

Burt knows that Blaine is a good kid, and is perfect for his son, but the words came out before he could rein them back in-

"Is this why you asked me to talk to Kurt about sex? So that you two could shack up together?"

"I'm sorry….what?". Kurt looked a Blaine for an answer. "What did he say?"

Blaine closed his eyes so as not to see the stricken look on Kurt's face. He wished that the floor would open and swallow him. Why would Burt do that, knowing what it would do to Kurt?

"Blaine, what does my Dad mean? Did you go behind my back after I told you that I didn't know anything about sex? After I told you I didn't want to talk about it?"

It all came back to Kurt now. The conversation with Blaine about not knowing anything about sex. His father bringing home pamphlets from the free clinic. The big "talk" out of the blue.

"How could you do that? How could you not keep something so personal between us? You went to my father? For what, his permission to sleep with me?". Kurt could barely catch his breath to form his words.

"Honey, Blaine was just worried about you. He didn't want anything to happen to you if you met someone and didn't know what to do".

"If I met someone?"—Kurt stood up, looking down at Blaine. "I thought you wanted to be with me? That you love me. Yet you were conspiring with my Dad for me to have safe sex with someone else?" The tears fell down Kurt's face before he could say anything else.

"Kurt, please…I just…"

"Carol, I'd like Blaine to leave now. Please make him leave."

"Kurt, don't do this. I love you. Don't do this"

Blaine looked at Burt and mouthed the word "why?" Burt looked away, realizing too late the foolishness of his accusation.

Carol held out her hand and asked Blaine to come with her. "It will be ok, sweetie. I know Burt didn't mean any harm, but he's so protective of Kurt. You have to understand that. Let me try to get things settled here, and I'll call you, ok? Just try to relax." Blaine stood looking at her, feeling his world crashing down around him.

The door swung open, and Finn walked in with a smile on his face when he saw Blaine. His smile disappeared as Kurt appeared in the doorframe of the living room with tears streaming down his face. "Why is he still here?" he whispered to no one in particular.

Finn looked at Blaine. "What did I tell you about hurting him?"

Blaine was shaking as he looked at Kurt, saying only one word to the person who held his heart in his hands. "Don't"…

Kurt turned and walked away.

Strike Three.