Disclaimer: Glee does not belong to me, nor does the song Heal Over by KT Tunstall, which is used in the title of this story.

A/N: Shit, I'm sorry. On the bright(?) side, there's a pretty different twist in here, just to let you know...

Wes feels like the absolute worst friend in the history of the universe.

"Kurt, I'm so sorry." He stammers over the phone, swallowing thickly.

"It's alright. Thank you for trying." Kurt replies softly, and Wes feels like he's going to start crying. "Goodbye, Wes."

"Good luck, Kurt. Tell Blaine I'm sorry."

"He knows." Wes hears the click of Kurt hanging up; he sets the phone down with shaky hands. He feels sick.

Blaine Anderson is one of Wes's best friends. He has been ever since seventh grade.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" A short boy with unruly hair pushes away the eighth grader that had been harassing Wes for having a slight problem with enunciation.

"Are you defending him, midget?" The older boy laughs, shoving him roughly. The boy shoves him back, hard, and the bully falls to the ground.

"Leave him alone." He repeats harshly, and the older boy nods, slightly wide-eyed, at his bravery. He backs away, but not before throwing an intimidating hand gesture Wes's way. The Asian boy picks up the books that the bully had knocked to the ground.

"Are you alright?" Wes's savior asks, and he nods his head quickly. "Don't worry about him, he's a jerk to everyone." The boy flashes a bright smile, and sticks his hand out. "I'm Blaine. Aren't you new here?" Wes smiles shyly, shaking Blaine's hand.

"Yeah, we just moved here. My name's Wes." Blaine smiles again.

"Cool. I was just headed to drama class. You want to come?" Wes nods again, braver this time, and follows Blaine down the hall, chattering with the shorter boy the whole time.

Wes and Blaine bonded quickly. They both shared an interest in music; Wes wanted to become a music producer, and Blaine wanted to be a performer. Wes knew Blaine was gay even before Blaine admitted it to himself. He always knew that Blaine would have issues, but he promised himself he'd always be there for him. When eighth grade ended, they talked of ruling their town's high school.

Then Wes's parents informed him that he would be attending high school at Dalton Academy, Westerville's private school. Both boys were devastated, knowing that their great friendship would be strained as soon as Wes transferred. They promised to e-mail and text each other as much as possible, but halfway through freshman year, Wes had a new best friend and Blaine had an issue with bullies.

Wes feels terrible for letting his friendship with David push Blaine away, and he regrets it every day. His parents got a phone call from Blaine's mother late one Friday night, informing them that Blaine had been attacked at his dance, and was in the hospital with multiple injuries.

One week later, Blaine Anderson was enrolled in Dalton Academy. He finished his freshman year there with not only his best friend back, but a new best friend as well, David. He told Wes he was happy he'd been attacked. It had brought him to Dalton. Wes still feels guilty.

It was during sophomore year that Maria Anderson and Danny Anderson died. Blaine wasn't himself for a long time after that, and Wes knew it was because his father went completely mental with anger. His father had been on edge with Blaine ever since he came out freshman year, and his wife and son's death just gave him a reason to take his anger out on the only member of his family left.

Wes tried; he really did, to make Blaine smile again. He and David made it their mission to make him happy, to make him forget about his terrible home life by reminding him, "You have a home with us, Blaine. You always will."

Then Kurt came around and Wes was finally sure that Blaine could be happy again. He was smiling all the time, whether it is at Kurt or a teacher or anyone who looked sad. He was joyful and laughing and being a normal teenager who didn't have a bastard for a father.

Kurt called Wes to ask him if Blaine could stay with them until his eighteenth birthday, and he said no. Wes wants to throw up.

It isn't your fault, he assures himself, even though he knows it secretly is. He's the one who didn't tell anyone about his suspicions of William abusing Blaine because he was scared. And now Blaine's homeless and in the hospital and he could have stopped it.

This time, he actually does throw up. He runs to the bathroom, heaving into the toilet, letting the tears pour down his cheeks.

"Wes, it's Kurt."

"Oh, hey Kurt. What's up?"

"Blaine's in the hospital."

"What? What happened? I'm on my way right now. Which hospital?"

"Lima Memorial, but that isn't important. What is important is that his father put him in here."

"Oh, my God, he finally cracked."

"What?"

"Never mind. What happened?"

"He punched him in the nose and then kicked him out."

"Oh, my—is he okay?"

"He's fine. But he needs a place to stay."

"He can't stay with you?"

"There are some legal issues. Is he able to stay with you until his eighteenth birthday?"

"When would that be?"

"February 5th."

"Kurt, I am so sorry."

"Why?"

"We're actually going on vacation to Greece until March."

"Really?"

"Yes. Kurt, I am so sorry."

"It's alright."

"Kurt, I'm so sorry."

"He can't stay with Wes." Kurt stutters, tears rolling down his cheeks. Finn's heart drops, and he forces himself to look over at Blaine. His head is down, the top of his head showing, but his shoulders shakes with quiet cries.

"Kid, I'm so sorry." Burt says softly, putting a hand on Blaine's shoulder and squeezing. Blaine composes himself, looking back up and wiping at his eyes.

"It was outrageous to think it would work anyway." He says, trying to be nonchalant, but his voice is hoarse with sadness.

"We'll find someone. I promise." Kurt assures Blaine, snapping his phone shut and sliding it into his pocket.

"Let's just go home and try some other people."

"Are you Jewish?" Finn asks, and Blaine shakes his head. "Damn. Puck is out." Kurt is pacing the living room while Blaine and Finn sit on the couch. Blaine keeps his head down, trying not to start crying again. Kurt suddenly whips his phone out of his pocket, pressing speed-dial number four, and waits while it rings.

"Hey, Merc." Finn and Blaine only hear his half of the conversation. "No. I'm sorry for running out on you. Yes, I did get your text. Well, I'm sorry I didn't text you back! No! Yes, but can we talk about that later? I have more pressing matters. No, this isn't about Vogue, Mercedes! It's Blaine! Yes, we're still together, and no, you don't have to kick his ass. 'Cedes, our relationship is fine! He's in trouble. Oh, my sweet baby Jesus, he is not in jail! Will you just shut you and listen to me? His dad kicked him out and he needs a place to stay. If he could stay with us, do you really think I'd be calling you? So, can he stay with your family? Why is he remodeling the basement? Your dad is insane! So, you can't? No, it's okay. Thanks for your concern. Yes, I'll call you once we find a place. Thanks again, 'Cedes. I'll talk to you later." He ends the call, sliding the iPhone back into his pocket. He casts one look at Blaine before sliding down to the floor, bringing his knees into his chest.

Blaine stands quickly, ignoring Finn and Kurt's inquiring looks, and runs upstairs. Kurt stands to follow him, but Finn lightly pushes him back down.

"He needs some time to himself."

Blaine runs to Kurt's bedroom, throwing open the door and slamming it shut with enough force to rattle the doorframe. He collapses on the bed, sobbing into the soft sheets.

I have to tell them, he thinks. But, I don't want to leave. I can't leave Kurt here. I just can't do it. He continues to sob into the blanket for what seems like forever, until he hears footsteps climbing the stairs. The person knocks on the door once before entering the room. He shifts on the bed, scooting over so that the person can sit on the bed next to him.

"I'm sorry for running out, Kurt, but I just needed some alone time." He speaks, his voice hoarse. The bed dips as the visitor sits down next to him.

"It's alright, honey, I was just coming to tell you that Finn and Burt left to go pick up your things." A female voice says, and Blaine whips around to look at her at lightning speed. Carole sits next to him, reaching an arm out to rub his back. The gesture is so soothing and motherly that it sends him into another fit of crying.

"Oh, Blaine. Shh, honey, don't cry anymore," Carole mutters a string of soothing words, continuing to rub his back. "It's okay, you're just fine. Shh, Bee, just talk to me, tell me what's wrong." Blaine sniffs once before raising his head from the bed and turning to look Carole in the eyes. He wipes at his cheeks, attempting to erase the tear tracks.

"I don't want to leave Kurt." Blaine admits, and Carole takes his hand.

"Blaine, we're going to find you somewhere here to live. Your father doesn't have any family to take you in, so you won't be going anywhere far away from here. We'll keep calling your friends, and Kurt's friends, heck, even Finn's friends. Someone will take you in, Blaine. You are loved, you know that, right?" Blaine nods weakly. Carole pauses for a moment to let her words sink in to that boy's curly head.

"I do have family, though." Blaine finally says, shocking Carole into silence. "My mother has—had a sister. The last time I saw her was my mom's funeral. She had been living somewhere in the South with her own family. I don't know where she is now, though."

"Honey, you know you have to call her. At least find out where she's living." Blaine nods again, looking at Carole for a split second before throwing his arms around her and hugging tightly.

"Thank you," He whispers into her shoulder.

"What's your aunt's name?" Carole questions, equally as quiet, hoping she can get the answer out of him as soon as possible.

"Meryl Evans."

He's standing in a parking lot outside the police station, waiting for his aunt, who had moved to Lima without even telling him-Well, she could have contacted Dad and not told me, Blaine reasons with himself—to come meet him.

"Blaine!" A woman's voice calls from behind him, and he turns to see a woman with dark, curly hair and equally dark eyes walking swiftly towards him. She pulls him in for a hug, smoothing down his hair and squeezing him tight. "How are you doing, baby; are you holding up okay?" She holds him at an arms length, taking in the dark bags under his eyes and the bandage on his injured nose.

"I'm fine, Aunt Meryl." He assures her, but she looks skeptic.

"I always knew that bastard would snap. It was only a matter of time." She pats his arm, smiles, and then turns around to wave at the car she'd excited, where Blaine can see two men conversing quietly. One of them notices and steps out of the old green station wagon, walking towards Blaine and Meryl slowly.

"This is my husband, Eddie," The man holds his hand out for Blaine to shake, and Blaine does so cautiously. Eddie is tall with lighter brown hair and green eyes.

"It's great to meet you, Blaine," Eddie greets, smiling at him with shiny white teeth.

"You too, Mr. Evans." Eddie shakes his head, the smile still stuck in place on his face. Blaine notices how large his mouth is.

"Call me Eddie or Ed, just not Mr. Evans. It's too formal for family, isn't it?" Blaine smiles tentatively, nodding his head. Mr. and Mrs. Evans exchange a look, Meryl nodding and Eddie turning around.

"Sammy, can you come out here please?" He calls, and the other man climbs out of the car. "That's Sam, our oldest son." Eddie explains to Blaine, and his jaw drops.

"Hey, Blaine," Sam greets quietly, smiling softly.

"Sam? Like, Mercedes's boyfriend Sam? Why didn't you tell me we were cousins?" Blaine's head is reeling, partly because he's confused, and partly because a lot of things make sense now. Sam shrugs sheepishly.

"I actually just found out last night…" Meryl claps a hand on her son's shoulder.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Eddie questions. Both boys nod slowly.

"This is Kurt's boyfriend." Sam answers. Realization crosses Meryl's face, and she looks at Blaine incredulously.

"The same Kurt who helped us last May?" Eddie asks both Sam and Meryl. They both nod.

"I can't believe I didn't put two and two together. I guess I just assumed we couldn't be related because you lived down south last time I saw you."

"We moved up here last year, before you met Kurt. I called your father." Meryl expression grows dark. "He didn't tell you, did he?"

"There were a lot of things he didn't tell me." Blaine comments off-handily, and an uncomfortable silence falls over them.

"Let's go inside, it's quite cold out here." Eddie suggests after a few seconds, and everyone follows him back into the police station.

Kurt, who had been sitting in one of the chairs, bolts to his feet as soon as the door opens, ready to comfort Blaine if need be. The dark haired boy is first to enter the room, a small smile on his face. A tall man and a shorter woman follow, holding hands and looking warmly at Burt and Carole, who stand with the officer near the police desk. Finally, a bottle-blonde head that Kurt would recognize anywhere walks in, hands in his pockets and his shoulders slightly slumped.

"Sam?" Finn is the first to speak, his already confused tone sounding even more… well, confused.

"Yeah, man, me and Blaine are cousins." Sam tells Finn, and his and Kurt's jaw both drop all the way to the floor. Blaine walks over to where Finn and Kurt are both standing, pulling Kurt in for a hug. Sam follows, standing awkwardly next to Finn as the couple embraces. Blaine whispers something that neither Finn nor Sam can hear into Kurt's shoulder, and Kurt responds by smiling warmly and squeezing tighter.

"I love you," Kurt says, loud enough for the onlookers to hear. Blaine loosens his tight grip on Kurt's upper body and pulls back far enough to look him in the eyes.

"I love you, too," He responds, pecking Kurt's lips quickly. Finn and Sam both avert their eyes, not out of disgust, but out of respect for personal moments. Finn notices the Evans talking to his mom and Burt, both couples looking happy with this arrangement. The adults finish conversing with the police officer, and all walk over to the teenagers.

"Blaine, honey, you're going to be moving in with us until you turn eighteen." Meryl tells them, and Blaine lets go of Kurt to embrace his aunt. He's crying again, but Kurt is relieved to know that these ones are tears of happiness. Blaine suddenly stops the hug with his aunt to turn and look around the room. His eyes land on Burt Hummel, and he crosses the short space between them to hug Burt ferociously.

Standing there, watching his boyfriend cry from happiness and embrace his father, Kurt knows for sure that everything is going to be okay for a while.

For a while.

A/N: You have no idea how sorry I am. If you've been reading my other stories, you know that I'm being the absolute worst updater in the history of the universe. I have good reasons, but I'm not going to spew them off to you because I truly don't think they matter anymore. What matters is that I have updated, and this story isn't over yet, and neither are any of my other ones. You don't have to worry about me forgetting about these, because I promise that I won't. I WILL finish these stories, and YOU WILL LIKE THEM! (Hopefully...) :)

On another hand, as soon as I finish these stories, I have a pretty BAD-ASS AU that I'm been drafting for the past week or so, so there's that to look forward to!

Again, I apologize for being a bitch about this story and updating and shit, and I hope you continue to read these even though I suck. :)

lessthanthree,

Max