Author's Note: Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry for the wait! I had meant to post this much earlier, but I had a bit of writer's block and getting ready for the holidays takes up so much time. I know I promised a Christmas oneshot, as well, but I figured I should get back to this first. Anyway, thank you for your patience and your lovely comments on the last chapter, as always.

So this part starts a little slow, but after that it's more on the fun side. Plus, New Directions show up. If anyone would be willing to leave feedback on my characterization of the ND members I'd very much appreciate it (as I do with all reviews)!

Also, I'm putting a second Author's Note and Disclaimer at the end, because I want to explain some things without giving away any of this chapter's surprises. ;)

Okay, here it is. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the show Glee.

~Chapter 16: Welcome Back~

Kurt sighed, carefully folding one of Blaine's sweaters before tucking it into the guest room drawer. He had never been to Tina's house before, and although it seemed like a very nice place and he knew that Blaine would be in good hands, that didn't stop the lump that had been rising in his throat since they had first arrived. It felt like, all at once, everything was coming to an end: the theatre was gone for good, Blaine was healthy again and officially moved in at Tina's, and tomorrow, Kurt would be back at school for the first time in nearly a week. So much would be different.

"You okay?"

Kurt looked up in surprise at the sound of Blaine's voice, abruptly coming to the realization that he had been staring at the same sweater for a very long time. He nodded stiffly and returned to unpacking.

A moment later, Blaine was beside him, a gentle hand on his arm. "No, you're not," he countered. Kurt looked up to meet a pair of concerned eyes. He swallowed hard.

"I'm fine," Kurt managed, his voice emotionless, his gaze fixed on the open drawers once again.

Blaine sighed and tilted his head to meet Kurt's eyes. "Hey," he said. "Kurt… look at me. Everything's going to be fine."

Kurt squeezed his eyes shut before turning and allowing himself to fall into his boyfriend's arms, his head resting against Blaine's shoulder. Blaine held him close, the stillness in the room broken only by the soothing rise and fall of his chest. "I just feel like I'm losing you," Kurt whispered finally, feeling guilty because he knew Blaine would be better off here, and he knew Blaine loved him enough not to let something like this come between them.

"You'll never lose me." Blaine's voice was steady, certain. He kissed the top of Kurt's head softly. "I'm all yours."

Kurt bit his lip, hoping with all of his strength that Blaine was right. School days and long nights apart would be tough, but manageable. Blaine's father on the other hand? The possibility of a confrontation? To be sure that he would never lose Blaine to that, Kurt decided, was the one thing he really wanted to believe in completely.

x.x.x

Wednesday morning, Kurt sat in math class, bored and tired. His eyes kept on straying to the clock at regular intervals, even though the class was nowhere near over. He sighed, turning dejectedly to the open book in front of him, just as a crumpled ball of paper smacked him in the head.

He turned, ready to give whoever had thrown it one hell of a dirty look. Instead, his gaze landed on Mercedes, who gave him an innocent grin and a little wave and motioned for him to open the paper. With a somewhat relieved roll of his eyes, Kurt complied and stared down at his friend's purple-penned note.

Where have you been? I texted you about a million times and tried to talk to Finn but he was all "oh, long story, ask Kurt when he comes back." Do you have any idea what Berry's been doing to us in glee club these past few days? Do you?

Kurt blinked. He hadn't expected anyone to be worried about his whereabouts. Actually, part of him just wanted to lie and say that he had been sick. He scribbled an answer back quickly, folded it, and tossed it to Mercedes:

Sorry, but it is a long story. I promise I'll explain what I can later.

A few minutes passed, and another note landed in his textbook. Kurt opened it.

Fine, fine… just leave me out of the loop as long as possible. Whatever. Anyway, I figured I should warn you about the Halloween party Quinn's planning. It's the ONLY thing anyone's been talking about since Monday morning, and it also happens to be over a week away. I don't know how we're going to deal with this until then... it's already getting obnoxious.

…Not invited?

I wouldn't want to go, anyway. Though I'm pretty sure it's one of those come-and-bring-everyone-you-know sort of events.

I'll go with you if you'd like. You can get to know Blaine.

Who?

…My boyfriend…

Oh HELL NO, you did NOT go out and get yourself a boy and not tell me about it. You tell me NOTHING. Wait… is that why you've been out of school…?

Like I said, it's complicated. Blaine's definitely something special, though. You'll like him.

I still can't believe you didn't text me back.

I really am sorry, Mercy. I like your outfit today? :)

Nice try, Hummel. Talk to you after class. xoxox

x.x.x

One thing Kurt certainly had not missed during his long weekend was the busy hallways of McKinley. He hated shoving his way through thick crowds of students. He hated having to avoid every jock that might pass his way. And he hated always staying on the lookout for slushies.

Unfortunately, sometimes he just couldn't see them coming.

What a perfect welcome back, Kurt thought bitterly, leaning over a sink in the boys' bathroom and washing blue dye from his face. He shivered against the chill of ice running down his shirt, trying to ignore the sting in his eyes. Azimio's voice echoed in his mind like a broken record: free facials today, pixie boy! One thing was for sure: even if Kurt didn't like spending time apart from Blaine, he was glad that he wasn't around to see this. Or maybe to go through it himself, for that matter.

Finally cleaned up and changed into a new shirt, Kurt emerged from the bathroom and looked around cautiously. It was strange how much being slushied reminded him of Karofsky and the bullying at Dalton Reform. He was glad he didn't have to keep an eye out for him, at least. That might just be too much to handle.

The rest of the day progressed painfully slow. By the time the bell rang to dismiss him from his class before glee, he was practically running from the room.

"Yay, you're back!" Brittany called as Kurt walked into the room. He smiled, thankful that he had at least one group of people willing to welcome him to school again with open arms.

Mr. Schuester looked up from a stack of papers and smiled at him. "Oh, Kurt, good to see you back here again. Everything okay at home?"

Kurt nodded quickly, moving to take a seat across the room next to Tina. "Yes," he said, trying his best to sound casual. "Everything's fine." Discreetly, Tina gave his arm a comforting little squeeze. He was glad she had been the first to learn the truth, and he was eternally grateful for her helpful nature. Kurt turned and gave her a small smile of thanks.

Then Rachel walked in.

"Okay guys, Sectionals are coming up fast and as you all know we don't have a lot of time left to waste brainstorming, so I think we should- oh, Kurt, hello! –I think we should pick a song today and-"

"Berry, do you think you could attempt to make your voice sound a little less like a dying hyena?" Santana interjected. "I got a migraine the second you walked through the door."

Rachel pursed her lips uncertainly. "I…"

In a moment, Mr. Schuster had taken his place beside her at the front of the room. "Hey, you guys, Rachel's right. We have some serious work to do."

Rachel glanced up at him quickly before nodding in agreement. "Exactly. And I have a few ideas ready so we can start right away."

Kurt chuckled under his breath as Mercedes rolled her eyes upward and stared hopelessly at the ceiling.

"What did you have in mind?" Quinn asked hesitantly.

"Well, I was thinking-"

Suddenly, Tina's hand shot up. Kurt looked to her in surprise. "Excuse me? Sorry, but do you mind if I show you my idea first?" She smiled a little. "I think it might be something you'd like to see today."

Rachel blinked, looking both taken aback and mildly impressed. "Oh, um, sure, Tina," she said after a moment. "Go ahead."

Tina's smile widened and she made her way down to the center of the room as Mr. Schue and Rachel moved aside. Kurt was a little confused- nevertheless, he'd been pleasantly surprised by his fellow glee club members on more than one occasion. He was curious to see what Tina had planned.

On her signal, the usual group of ever-present band members launched into a song that Kurt mildly recognized. Tina began to sing, a tiny smile on her lips and her body relatively still.

"I don't know but

I think I may be
fallin' for you

dropping so quickly
Maybe I should
keep this to myself
Waiting 'til I
know you better
I am trying
not to tell you
But I want to
I'm scared of what you'll say
And so I'm hiding
what I'm feeling
But I'm tired of
Holding this inside my head."

Suddenly, Tina bolted for the door, grabbing for something just around the corner. She returned a moment later, and there was a collective sense of confusion that spread around the room.

Kurt just stared. He felt like his every nerve had frozen, his eyes wide, his mouth fallen open…

This was a dream, wasn't it?

But there was Blaine, and he was singing with Tina, their voices blending together as they danced around the room in a silly routine of steps and spins.

"I've been spending all my time
Just thinking about ya
I don't know what to do
I think I'm fallin' for you

I've been waiting all my life
and now I found ya
I don't know what to do
I think I'm falling for you...
I'm falling for you..."

Kurt blushed as Blaine winked in his direction. He had no idea what was happening, and yet the grin on his face and the butterfly of a heart in his chest felt utterly irreplaceable. Blaine's voice was just as he remembered it from that first time they'd sung together at Dalton Reform. Everything was so different now, though, from the clear understanding between them to Blaine's smile as he directed all of the next verse straight at Kurt.

"As I'm standing here
and you hold my hand
Pull me towards you
and we start to dance
All around us
I see nobody
Here in silence
it's just
you and me."

Tina chimed in again, laughing as she and Blaine continued their dance around the room. Kurt, despite his confusion, felt like he might burst with joy, merely at the unexpected sight of Blaine happier and more carefree than he'd ever seen him before. He wasn't sure what had happened to bring about such a change, but it was perfect and Kurt never wanted Blaine to lose that smile again.

"I'm trying
Not to tell you
But I want to
I'm scared of what you'll say
And so I'm hiding
What I'm feeling
But I'm tired of
Holding this inside my head
I've been spending all my time
Just thinking about ya
I don't know what to do
I think I'm fallin' for you
I've been waiting all my life
And now I found ya
I don't know what to do
I think I'm fallin' for you...
I'm fallin' for you..."

By the time the song came to an end, Kurt was pretty sure he had never simultaneously blushed and smiled more in his whole life. The music stopped, and Blaine and Tina exchanged a glance while the rest of the room stared at them curiously.

"This is my new friend, Blaine Anderson," Tina explained, motioning to him. Blaine glanced at the other glee club members briefly before fixing his eyes on Kurt's. "He'll be an official McKinley student starting tomorrow."

Author's Note: Okay, I think I'll leave you there! ;) Believe me, there's a logical reason behind Blaine's appearance, the fact that he had a song rehearsed with Tina, and so on. I'll cover all of that in the next chapter.

I chose the song "Fallin' for You" as a representation of the happier parts of Kurt and Blaine's relationship in this story. Although they're always surrounded by drama and are legitimately falling in love, underneath it all they're really just a couple of high school kids who found a little joy in spending time together. I think that at this point in their relationship, they're getting more comfortable and are less afraid to do things for each other, like dance and sing and be silly. So I hope you approve. :)

Love all of you and your wonderful support… I wish you the very happiest of holidays!

Disclaimer: Song credits in this chapter go to Colbie Caillat: "Fallin' for You."