A/N: Sorry the last chapter was so short. Hopefully this one makes up for it. ;) The story will probably be wrapping up soon, but I'm considering doing a sequel, if anyone would want to read it. Enjoy! Also, I still do not own Glee or any of the characters except for my OC's.

Things went better after Blaine told Kurt what was wrong, but there were still times when he would lapse into silence and stare off into space. Kurt could tell that he was regretting more and more his decision to leave.

"I feel like I'm running away again," he said when Kurt tried to get him to talk about it. "I should have stayed to work things out."

Kurt attempted to quell his frustration. "Blaine, like you said, you're not the one in the wrong here. It's not you who should be worrying about fixing things." He felt as though Blaine blamed himself for everything, even when it wasn't his fault.

"I guess."

Kurt let the matter rest, unable to think of a way to convince Blaine to stop stressing about it.

Blaine was becoming increasingly despondent. He kept dwelling on the fight, and going over everything he should have said and done. He prided himself on his ability to keep his true feelings hidden, but the techniques for misdirection and deflection he had developed over the years didn't work on Kurt. He was fairly good and pretending to be fine, and had often felt terrible at school, but gone the whole day without anyone asking what wrong. Unfortunately his boyfriend had too much experience with using similar techniques himself.

When he was able to tear himself away from introspection, Blaine was the happiest he had ever been. He and Kurt spent the sunny days on the beach with Katie and the others, or just the two of them. They usually swam or lounged around on the sand. He was still astonished that Katie's parents had agreed to take them in. Blaine had brought a good amount of money with him, and offered it to them in return for their hospitality. They refused, and only reluctantly agreed when he insisted on at least paying for the food he and Kurt consumed.

One particularly fine day, he and Kurt were lying on the beach, looking up at the sky. Blaine was feeling a little a bored, so he pointed out an interestingly shaped cloud.

"That one looks like a kangaroo!"

Kurt smiled at him fondly. "I'm sorry, but it is clearly a crocodile."

The cloud morphed into a shape that resembled a dragon, wings spreading out into the sky.

Blaine searched the sky, and saw one that made him laugh. "That one looks like you, Kurt!"

"Really? It looks more like Pinocchio to me."

It was true, the nose was lengthening as though the cloud had just told a lie.

"No one's ever told you that you look like Pinocchio?" he said, a wicked grin on his face.

"Hey!" Kurt gave Blaine his best bitch glare, but he wasn't really angry. It was hard to be mad at Blaine when he looked so adorable. "I resent that." Kurt managed to keep his glare in place, a look that threatened imminent death.

Blaine actually looked a little scared. "Sorry!"

Kurt relented. It was nice to know he was a better actor than Blaine, at least.

"Looking at clouds isn't very interesting..."

"Oh?" Blaine said. "What would you rather do?" He had a suggestive grin on his face.

"I could think of a few things."

Blaine pushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. He'd been wearing it mostly free of gel ever since he learned that Kurt found it irresistibly sexy. It really wasn't fair. Kurt had no way of knowing that Blaine was just as affected by his presence.

Blaine kissed him softly. Kurt deepened the kiss, and they spent a few enjoyable minutes that way, but it was really too humid to do anything more strenuous than lie on the beach.

The heat was becoming oppressive, so they decided to buy ice cream. Kurt had become somewhat addicted to the heavenly sorbet, and Blaine had tried every flavor the small shop offered. He was still partial to the chocolate with gummi worms, but the chocolate chip cookie dough was very good too.

After they paid, the two of them headed to the pier that divided the beach in half. It was mainly used by fishermen, but there were plenty of tourists there too. Kurt stared in morbid fascination as one of the men caught and gutted a fish. He'd always thought the activity was boring and somewhat cruel, but he liked the taste of fish too much to stop eating it.

He remembered a story Katie had told him of coming to this pier after dark when she was younger, for a past family reunion. She said she had seen someone catch a shark. Apparently it was easier to catch sharks at night, or so the man had told her. Kurt wasn't sure if he believed her, but she had seemed totally serious.

"What are you doing?" Blaine was looking a little concerned.

He shrugged. "Considering the ethics of fishing."

"Interesting. Can we go somewhere else? The smell is sort of putting me off my ice cream."

They walked back down the pier, and were shocked to come face to face with Blaine's mother.

Blaine had talked to her on the phone at least once a day since he left the house, but he hadn't actually seen her since that night.

"Mom!"

She hugged him. "Oh Blaine. I've missed you so much." She surveyed him sadly. "I wish you would tell me where you're staying."

She asked every time he called, but he hadn't told her. He wasn't completely sure why, except that he didn't quite trust her not to tell his father. It was true that she had stood up for them, but it must be hard to be torn between her son and her husband.

"We're staying with friends, remember?"

"But I can't be sure you're safe when I don't know where you are."

Her concern brought back every feeling of guilt that had plagued him after he met his father on the beach.

Kurt seemed to know how he was feeling, as he usually did, and took his hand to comfort him.

"We miss you, Blaine. Your father as well as me. He's regretted what happened, what he said, ever since you left. Please come back."

She searched his face, trying to discern his reaction.

Blaine looked away from her pleading eyes uncomfortably. She knew exactly how to make him feel guilty, and he was sure she would try to manipulate him if it would get him to come home. He wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't make his decision yet. He avoided Kurt's gaze too, and softly said, "I'll think about it."