"Oh, sweet baby boy, it's been years since you called me that," she said as she squeezed him tight. She pulled back and put her hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling OK? You're not sleep walking again, are you? Why are you crying?"

"No, I'm not sleep walking," he said as he wiped the tears with his sleeve. "Uh...I guess I just had a bad dream and couldn't go back to sleep." Kurt couldn't take it any more. He pulled her into another tight hug and said, "I'm just so glad to see you."

"Sweetie, I can't breath," she teased him.

"Sorry," he mumbled and let her go.

"Come on, I'll make you some hot chocolate with little marshmallows and you'll feel better."

Kurt followed her into the kitchen and watched raptly as she made two mugs of chocolate. She down across from him and reached out to take his hand.

"It's OK. We're fine. You worry too much and that's why you have nightmares and sleepwalk."

"I thought I lost you, Mom," he said voice cracking a little. "I thought that I'd never see you again."

"Oh, that nightmare again. I'm so sorry. I thought you were over that. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." She glanced over at the picture sitting on the counter. Kurt followed her gaze. It was a picture of the three of them and Kurt gathered from his size in the picture that it was about four years ago. He looked more like twelve than fourteen but he'd had a very late growth spurt and had only really started looking like a teenager in the past year. "I miss him, too," she continued wistfully. "It's natural for you to worry about losing me after your father died. But sweetie, he'd want us to get on with our lives. It's OK that we have. You don't have to feel guilty about being happy and you don't need to worry about me."

Kurt tears flowed freely as he didn't even attempt to hide his grief. Burt was dead. He'd traded life with his father for life with his mother because it seemed that he wasn't allowed to have both. His mother came over and held him until he managed to pull himself together.

"Sorry," Kurt said when he finally stopped. "I'm nearly eighteen and I'm crying like a baby."

"You'll always be my baby boy so don't ever be sorry for letting me know how you feel. Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah, I'm going to be OK," he promised.

"You should try to get a little sleep now, sweetie. It's a long drive to Westerville and you're not going to do well if you start showing up sleep deprived."

"I don't think I can go to sleep," he objected.

"Do you want me to come sing to you like I did when you were little?"

Kurt just nodded.

Kurt tried to resist sleep, terrified that he'd wake up and his mother would be gone but he drifted off to his mother's voice despite his best efforts. He remembered the song but he'd never understood it before.

L'était une une petite poule grise

Qu'allait pondre dans l'église

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

L'était une p'tit' poul' noir

Qu'allait pondre dans l'armoire

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

L'était une p'tit' poul' blanche

Qu'allait pondre dans la grange

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

L'était une p'tit' poul' rousse

Qu'allait pondre dans la mousse

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

L'était une p'tit' poule beige

Qu'allait pondre dans la neige

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

L'était une p'tit' poule brune

Qu'allait pondre sur la lune

Pondait un p'tit' coco

Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

August 31st, 2011

Kurt woke up to the insistent sound of his alarm. When he looked around, he was relieved to see that the room was at the least the one he'd fallen asleep in. He got up, showered, and went to his closet where he discovered that he had multiple Dalton uniforms and not nearly as many clothes as he was used to. He put on his uniform, found his keys, and headed out. He didn't wake his mom but he did look in to see that she was still there.

There were two cars in the drive way and he quickly discovered that he drove the Prius. It wasn't the sweet ride that he was used to but he guessed that there were many things in this universe that were going to take getting used to. He hadn't had time to check online for clues about his friends and his life but he figured he could fake it through a day at Dalton. He was more than a little surprised that he attended Dalton in a line so far from the others.

He was about half way to Westerville when he got a text.

Where are you? Breakfast? - Blaine

He knew he shouldn't text and drive but he had plenty of practice so he did it anyway. He was so excited to find that Blaine was waiting for him that he nearly dropped the phone as he shakily typed his message and hit send.

Sry. Late. 8 on the way. See you in class - Kurt

The reply was immediate.

:( miss U! :( hurry! XOXOXO

Wow. Kurt didn't want to jump to conclusions but wow. Blaine was waiting for him and really excited about seeing him, judging from the text.

Kurt had barely gotten out of his car when Blaine appeared with two cups of coffee in Dalton travel mugs. He set them of the top of the car and snuggled into Kurt's arms for a prolonged hug.

"I missed you at breakfast. You said you'd be there," pouted Blaine.

"Sorry. I had trouble getting on the road on time."

"You should have texted me," admonished Blaine still pouting.

Kurt took a chance (not a big one based on the cues he was getting from Blaine) and kissed him. Blaine leaned eagerly into the kiss and they made out for several minutes. Kurt couldn't believe his luck. Blaine was apparently his boyfriend.

"You taste like carmel," Kurt commented when they pulled apart. Blaine's irritation seemed to have been placated by the make-out session. He handed Kurt one of the cups.

"Your cafe mocha. We'd better get to class," he said taking Kurt's free hand in his.

Kurt pushed aside his sudden unease. He should be happy. He would be happy. This was Blaine. So what if he was sweet toothed caramel macchiato Blaine? They were all Blaine. He'd never even figured out why Blaines-5 and 6 liked unsweetened coffee with cinnamon. And he couldn't miss Blaine-7. He just couldn't. He hadn't even known him for a day - not even long enough to learn his coffee order. Certainly not long enough to fall head over heels in love with him. This Blaine clearly loved him.

Kurt made it through his first two classes, which he didn't have with Blaine, without any major incidents. It helped that it was only the third day of class and therefore he wasn't too lost. As he walked through the halls, he looked for familiar faces and saw more than a few. More that he didn't know, though. Of course David, Wes, Thad, Jon, and Flint would be in college now. As he walked toward his third period class, Blaine snagged him and headed in the opposite direction. In a secluded alcove, Blaine started kissing him desperately.

"I've missed you so much. " he said between kisses.

"You just saw me," teased Kurt.

"I know but I had to spend the entire Summer without you and we have so much catching up to do."

"What are you two doing?" exclaimed Jeff as he spotted them.

Kurt looked over Blaine's shoulder and saw Jeff and Nick holding hands and he couldn't help but grin at the sight.

"We were here first; find your own make out spot," grumbled Blaine.

"Come on, we're going to be late for class," insisted Kurt as he pulled Blaine reluctantly down the hall.

"You don't need it any way," objected Blaine to Jeff as they passed the two boys. "You can just go to your room to make out."

Jeff just stuck his tongue out and dragged Nick into his arms in the spot Blaine and Kurt had just vacated. Kurt and Blaine made it to third period just as the bell rang.

Lunch was oddly familiar and strange at the same time. Kurt and Blaine sat with a group of boys whom he presumed were this year's Warblers. Of course he knew Jeff, Nick, and Trent, and a few others but most of the other boys were strangers to him.

"Kurt, did you get the agenda for tomorrow's meeting done?" asked Jeff.

Kurt stared at him blankly.

"Blaine! Don't tell me that you two spent the entire 'planning session' making out," admonished Jeff.

"Relax, Jeff. It's just the audition meeting. It couldn't be simpler. We listen to the freshmen and transfers that want to join. We decide how many tenors, baritones, and basses we need given members we already have then pick the best ones."

"Blaine, how can you be so calm? We stepping into the shoes of..."

"Jeff! Come on! Remember what you said last year? We are going to turn this stuffy traditional bunch of birds in a gilded cage into a kick ass group with awesome choreography. Don't chicken out now and get all responsible on me."

"You did say that," commented Nick.

"I did, didn't I?" admitted Jeff. "It all seemed so simple last year. We're seniors now. Shouldn't we be a little responsible?"

"Yes, I object to this attempt to hijack the storied traditions of the Warblers," interrupted Trent.

"You're not on the council so you don't get a say," admonished Jeff. "It's up to Blaine, Kurt, and me and I say let's be excellent to one another and party on dudes!" With that he high fived Nick.

"Wow, that's kind of a great motto," mused Blaine.

Jeff and Nick burst into laughter and Kurt commented, "I think that was some kind of nerdy joke that only those two get, Blaine." Then it hit him. Jeff had said that he was on the council. Kurt Hummel was on the Warbler's council. Best. Line. Ever. His dad would be so...Yeah, it hit Kurt again that he'd traded his father for his mother and he had no idea how to reconcile the happiness he felt with that sacrifice.

It wasn't like he could go looking for Burt. He could end up losing them both if he tried to find a line where he had them both. Kurt comforted himself with the knowledge that he hadn't gone deliberately looking for his mother. He'd found her looking for a line where is dad was happily married to Carol. That had to count for something, didn't it?

"Kurt. Sweetie. Earth to Kurt."

"What?" Kurt looked at Blaine with a dazed expression. "Sorry, I was just thinking. What were you saying?"

"Never mind. We need to get to our afternoon classes."

Later, after class, Blaine and Kurt lay entwined naked on Blaine's bed in his dorm room.

"I love you so much," breathed Blaine between kisses.

"I love you, too," Kurt answered eyes shining with happiness. He could hardly believe he was here. He was in the arms of the boy he loved and Blaine loved him back. He pushed aside any uneasiness he had about the relationship. After all, it seemed that they'd been boyfriends for some time and it wasn't like he and Blaine-5 hadn't spent similar afternoons. If there was any awkwardness, hopefully Blaine would chalk it up to their long separation. Kurt was unclear on the details but he gathered that Blaine had gone somewhere for the Summer and they only reconnected a few days ago.

"I wish you didn't have to go. I miss having you here all evening and sleeping with you at night."

"I miss that too," Kurt said meaning that he wished he'd had that.

"Maybe you could talk your mom into letting you stay over at least sometimes."

"I don't think Dalton would appreciate me essentially stealing room and board since they charge so much for the privilege."

"We'll manage somehow."

"Speaking of which, I should get going. My mom will be expecting me for dinner." As much as he loved being with Blaine, he wanted to spend time with his mom even more.

"Just stay a little while longer. I want to talk about our anniversary."

"What about it?"

"Well, it's coming up soon...of course you haven't forgotten," Blaine said with a smile. "I want to do something really special. I want to take you to New York City for the weekend. We could stay in a nice hotel, take in a Broadway show. It would be magical."

"Oh my god, Blaine, I would love that. It would be so romantic. Yes, of course." Anniversary. That was fantastic news. They'd been together for an entire year!

"Well, I had to top last year so...anyway. I'm glad you like the idea."

"I love it and I love you," Kurt replied at a loss for words. Last year...did Blaine mean this was their second anniversary?

"I fell in love with you at first sight. I never told you that but I did. I always thought that you might think it was too sappy. I know it took me an entire month to work up the courage to ask you out but you were intimidating. Even back when we were the same height, you sort of scared me."

"I'm glad you got over your fear," Kurt said softly and pulled Blaine into a kiss. Inside he was terrified. Two years of memories that Blaine was going to expect him to know. It was only just now beginning to sink in that he was in the middle of a relationship. He'd only had to fake it with Thad for a few days and they were in a strange situation. Two years meant shared experiences, inside jokes, pet names, sex...what if Blaine noticed that he did things in bed differently? "I'm going to get dressed and go. We can talk some more this weekend, OK?"

Kurt sat up and started pulling his clothes back on. Blaine wrapped himself around his boyfriend and murmured, "You'll make it to breakfast tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. I'm sorry about this morning, I'm still adjusting to the commute."

"And don't forget, we have that stupid party at my parents' house this weekend."

"Do we have to?" Kurt whined. He could tell from Blaine's tone that it wasn't going to be a fun event.

"Sorry, yeah, we really should. I mean you and your mom could skip it but it would mean the world to me if you were there. It would make it bearable for me."

Kurt needed to spend a serious amount of time on research. When Kurt got home, he and his mom cooked dinner together. He remembered that she was a great cook and one of things he'd had to do after she died was learn to cook for his dad. Burt had never advanced beyond making toast. His mom, on the other hand, put together a gourmet meal and seemed to expect Kurt to help her. Luckily, he had the skills.

"This risotto is perfect," she said tasting the dish that Kurt had just finished. "Baby boy, you are the best sous chef in all of Ohio."

"Only because you are the best chef," he teased back. They had an easy rapport in the kitchen and Kurt couldn't remember the last time he felt so happy and stress free. It seemed that everything was so perfect here.

They set the table and sat down together.

"Tell me about your day. How are you and Blaine doing?"

Kurt recounted his day, of course, skipping the minor detail of exactly what he and Blaine had been doing in the dorm, euphemistically calling it studying. By the tiny smirk he saw on her face, Kurt guessed that his mom knew exactly what studying with Blaine meant.

By the time they got to dessert, she was silent and lost in thought.

"What do you think of the Raspberry Mash with Pomegranate? Should I put it on the menu?"

"Absolutely, it's perfect," Kurt enthused having no idea what menu she meant.

"Yeah, if I ever have a menu," she commented sadly.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

"Don't worry about me, baby boy. Do you think you'll be OK with the commute?"

"Mom, don't do that."

"What, ask you about the commute?"

"No, change the subject. Whatever is bothering you, I can handle it."

"The sale on the auto shop fell through...again. I'm going to have to start from the beginning with a new buyer."

"You selling Hummel Tire and Lube? You can't do that!"

She sighed and looked at Kurt with a mixture of sadness and understanding.

"Kurt, we've been over this. I have to. You know I can't run it like your father did. I don't know a thing about cars. I know how much it meant to you to be able to spend time working on cars with your dad but he'd gone. The shop isn't him. He's here and he always will be," she said putting her hand on her heart. "The shop is just a business and I need to sell it before I ruin it's value. I'm terrible at it and so far I've just been lucky that things are still going so well. I have to trust so much in a head mechanic and I don't know enough to make all the decisions that I should."

"I can help you," Kurt volunteered. "You know that I'm a very good mechanic."

"No, Kurt, you need to concentrate on school. You are not quitting school to become head mechanic at Hummel Tire and Lube."

He hadn't even been thinking of that. It didn't seem like something he would do but from her tone it seemed that he'd at least mentioned it before.

"You need the money," Kurt said realizing for the first time that they must be in financial trouble. "That's why I'm commuting instead of boarding."

"Oh baby, if the commute is too much, we can make the money work. You volunteered to do it but I'm only OK with it if you are. Don't worry about money, Kurt. We're alright. You're father's life insurance made sure that we wouldn't be destitute. I have sell the shop. If I don't, I'll end up bankrupting the business and what kind of legacy would that be for your father? And I can't start my restaurant with all the obligations that I have to Hummel Tire and Lube. I can't do both and you know it."

"You're right. Of course, I want you to have your dream. It just hurts thinking that I'll never work at the shop again."

"I know baby boy, I know. I just hope I can land another buyer. I could sell this place and we could move closer to Dalton but the housing prices in Westerville are sky high..."

"No, don't be silly. This is my senior year. You can't sell the house just so I don't have to commute. Maybe I should just go to McKinley if money is so tight. Even without room and board, Dalton is expensive."

"Absolutely not! I can't believe that you'd even suggest such a thing. Kurt, you have a bright future and graduating from Dalton is going to open so many doors when it comes to getting into universities. We aren't that desperate. Just stop worrying about me and focus on your school work. OK?"

"OK."

"Come on, let's go watch AMC. An Affair to Remember is on and we can do mani-pedis while we watch."

They sat on the couch working on each other's toenails first. Kurt was reminded of all the times he'd done this with Tina, Mercedes, and Rachel and he couldn't help but wonder what it had been like to have his mom here for him all those years.

"How about razzle dazzle?" she asked, holding up the bright red polish with gold glitter flecks.

"Mom!" Kurt exclaimed in a scandalized tone.

"Oh come on, only Blaine is going to see it unless peep toed sandals have been added to the uniform code at Dalton. He'll love it."

Kurt blushed at the idea that his mother knew Blaine saw him without shoes. Worst that he apparently liked glittery nail polish on Kurt's toes!

"OK. What do you want on yours?"

"Seashell," she replied handing him the much more subdued pink polish.

When they were done with the toenails, she looked at her own finger nails musing, "The French manicure you gave me still looks perfect, I don't think I even need a touch up. What do you think?"

Kurt inspected her nails and declared, "Perfect. No need to touch them."

"Let me see yours. Yep, I'm going to need to give you a manicure."

"Not the razzle-dazzle," Kurt insisted.

She snorted and smiled.

"This is your third year at Dalton, I know the uniform code. I'll only use the clear polish like we always do. Do you think I'm getting senile or something?"

Kurt watched his mom instead of the movie which was playing in the back ground. They'd only paid attention a few times since both of them had seen the movie so many times they had it memorized. She smiled and hummed a little tune while she buffed his nails. He'd nearly forgotten that she was always singing and humming.

"Mom, do you ever wish that you had a daughter?" he asked softly.

"All the time," came the unexpected answer that felt like a knife in the heart. "It just wasn't meant to be. Your dad and I were trying to give you a little sister when I was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer. I suppose, it's a strange twist of fate that seeing a doctor for infertility saved my life. I might have died if they hadn't found it when they did."

She looked up and saw the stricken expression on Kurt's face.

"Oh, baby boy, you can't have meant instead of you. Oh, come here," she said pulling Kurt into her arms. "Oh no, of course not instead of you. Kurt, you are my baby boy and I love you just the way you are. I only meant I wish I could have given you a little sister."

"So you aren't disappointed that I'm a boy. A gay boy," he sniffled into her shoulder.

"No. Never," she replied fiercely. "I promise, Kurt. I love you with all my heart exactly like you are."

"Thanks."

She pulled back and looked him in the eyes.

"Do you remember how much you begged for a baby sister?"

"I do," Kurt said with wonder. He really did remember that.

"You even had a name for her."

"Maria." he whispered barely hoping it could be true.

"Yes, that was it. Hard to believe that you still remember."

"I remember everything from back then," he said softly.

Later, Kurt excused himself to do his homework and get ready for bed. He didn't though. Instead, he sat at his computer and started some serious research. He search through his calendar on his phone for important dates including his anniversary with Blaine as well as clues to what things they'd done together. He'd already gathered that he'd started at Dalton his sophomore year but he was able to confirm that. He found a treasure trove of pictures of himself with Blaine going back to that first year at Dalton. He also found a scrapbook of memorabilia - theater tickets, cards and love notes and other such things. He didn't have time to go through them all and commit them to memory but it was good that he had them available to study.

Wow, the two of us look so young.

Their anniversary was September 30th which matched Blaine's comment that he'd first asked Kurt out about a month after school started. In addition to pictures of himself with Blaine, there were a ton of the two of them with other boys in Dalton uniforms. Some he recognized, Dave, Wes, Thad, and of course Jeff and Nick. Others he didn't know but he quickly started memorizing names and faces since he assumed that these boys were their friends. There were also photos of Kurt with his mom and dad but far more with his mom. It was like his dad was always behind the camera snapping photos of the two of them.

He searched for Blaine's friend, Shawn, as well. Unfortunately, his name was too common to yield useful results. The fact that he didn't get a hit on the gay bashing story didn't come as a shock. There were some many random variables that went into it. Maybe he and Blaine had never even known each other in this universe.

Finally, he searched through McKinley sites. It was sad because he didn't know any of the New Directions in this line. In fact, as far as he could tell, the New Directions never existed. Sue Sylvester led the Cheerios as six time National cheer leading champions but Kurt couldn't find any evidence the Will Schuester was a teacher at McKinley. Rachel Berry wasn't much different from every other line if her on-line presence was any indication. Of course, he could only find the public information since none of them were his friends in this universe. He checked out Blaine's Facebook page for clues about their relationship and found out that Blaine had spent the Summer in the Hamptons with his family. Apparently no Kings Island or Six Flags for Blaine-8.

Kurt finally went to bed too exhausted to do any more research. He thought he knew enough to fake it as long as Blaine and his mom didn't suspect anything. And honestly, what could they suspect? There was the little problem of sleep jumping but he was assuming it was from prolonged abstention from jumping - sort of the quantum physics equivalent of a wet dream. He hoped that he wasn't wrong about that. If it was triggered by his emotional state or worse by random dreaming - well, he didn't dare consider either of those.

01 September 2011

Kurt managed to make it to breakfast like he'd promised, much to Blaine's delight. The rest of the day passed by with little excitement. The first Warblers' meeting was a little awkward. Jeff was in charge of the gavel and no matter how sternly Jeff admonished him, Nick kept giggling every time he banged it for emphasis. In his defense, Jeff did look silly. He couldn't seem to pull off the gravitas that Wes brought to the chair. Somehow, they made it through, thanking all of the applicants and promising to let them know the following week.

"Maybe we should rethink this whole gavel tradition," suggested Jeff once the three of them were alone.

"No way, that gavel is over one hundred years old. We can't have Warblers' meetings without it," insisted Blaine.

"I'll take it."

"What?" asked Jeff to Kurt's sudden declaration.

"The gavel. I'll be in charge of the gavel. I'm sure I can do it. I've been told that I can be judgmental and bossy so I think the position suits me more than it does you, Jeff."

"But I was elected chair," pouted Jeff.

"So? We'll bend the traditions. Look, this isn't a power grab on my part; I'm just trying to solve a problem here."

Jeff reluctantly conceded.

Kurt bought some dice and a lotto ticket on the way home. He was going to practice his universe jumping skills and solve his mother's financial problems. He was a little rusty at first but he practiced for about an hour before going to sleep and was confident that he could always pick the universe he wanted from the thirty six created when he rolled two dice. He never managed with three dice but he didn't need to be able to handle that many.

02 September 2011

Blaine came home with Kurt after school with a bag packed for the weekend. Kurt didn't question the fact that his mother and Blaine both expected him to spend the weekend with Kurt. They were nearly eighteen after all and had been dating for nearly two years. Kurt again mourned the fact that he missed all of that - getting to know this Blaine. He tried to convince himself that he hadn't missed anything. He'd met and gotten to know Blaine, just under different circumstances but when he allowed himself that sliver of truth to shine in he knew that wasn't true. Meeting Blaine his sophomore year changed everything. It meant that he and Blaine were each other's first at everything. First kiss, first date, first sexual experience...everything. But it didn't feel that way to Kurt. It could never feel that way to him. As usual, he shoved those thoughts aside because what could he do about it anyway?

Dinner revealed that Kurt's mom absolutely adored Blaine. The two of them chatted like they were BFFs and Kurt felt a little left out. After dinner, they played scrabble until Blaine gave up in frustration because Kurt kept getting all the best letters.

"MUZJIKS? Is that even a word?

"Are you challenging me?" Kurt asked smugly.

"Oh my god, Kurt, how is it you got the J, K, and Z again?"

"I'm just lucky."

"Three games in a row?"

Of course Kurt was cheating but why have an ability like his if he couldn't use to cheat at board games?

"Besides, it's not what letters you get, it's what you do with them that counts."

"Remind me not to play with you again."

"Well, you two stay up and watch TV if you want but I'm going to bed," interrupted Mrs. Hummel.

"No," exclaimed Kurt. "We have to watch the lotto. It's nearly time for the Powerball drawing."

"Gambling?" she replied disapprovingly. "Did you buy a lotto ticket?"

"It's only a dollar. I spend way more than that on Mochas."

"Alright, but just this once. Don't make it a habit."

They sat on the couch and Kurt found the station that broadcast the lotto. He knew what he was about to do was theoretically possible but of course he didn't really know until he tried it. It couldn't be that different then winning at cards, getting the best scrabble letters, or picking the dice roll that he wanted. The first number was easy. Fifty-nine universes was more than he'd ever practiced with but he slipped into the one he wanted without much effort.

"That number is on your ticket, Kurt. Do we win something for one number?" Blaine enthused.

"No, you have to get three numbers just to get a free ticket," explained Kurt as the girl on the television prepared to launch the next ball.

"Kurt, I hope you aren't thinking that buying lotto tickets is some kind of financial investment," lectured his mom. "It's just gambling, plain and simple."

"It's only a dollar mom," he reminded her before slipping out of reality for the nano second it took to select the second number.

"Twenty-nine," Blaine said practically bouncing. "That's two for two. We are so going to win."

Kurt couldn't help but smile at Blaine's use of we and his boundless optimism.

Mrs. Hummel snorted and tried to cool his enthusiasm with, "The odds of winning are one in nearly two hundred million."

"Oh, that seems pretty unlikely," Blaine agreed.

The third number was harder than Kurt had expected. In fact, he'd thought it would become easier with each one but he barely managed to settle into the right line before he felt himself losing them all and falling in to a random line. He just needed to focus harder. He tuned out Blaine's distant comment about a free ticket and concentrated on the next number that he wanted. He made it but when he coalesced into the correct line the sharp pain in his head made him gasp. Not good. Not good at all. Four numbers is only worth one hundred dollars.

Blaine and his mom seemed so far away and their voices sounded like they were coming to him from underwater. Kurt thought they were trying to say something to him but he lost it in the haze as he found the universe for the fifth number. When he came back to reality, the room was too bright and the pain in his head turned into an explosion and everything when black.