Title: The Last Night To Be Brave
Author: an-alternate-world
Rating: M
Characters/Pairings: Kurt/Blaine relationship, Blaine/Santana friendship, Santana/Dave friendship
Word count: 2,189
Summary: He thinks she needs a friend. She thinks he needs to mind his own business. What she doesn't know then is she's going to need him this year more than she ever could have imagined.
Warnings/Spoilers: Angst. There is talk of suicidal ideation and an attempt in later chapters. It's not particularly graphic, but it is there. If you think this might trigger you, PLEASE don't read it!
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with Glee, FOX, Ryan Murphy or anything else related to the Glee universe.

The dynamic with Blaine in New Directions had transformed the club. At first, Finn was a bit pissed at being overlooked so many times but he had to concede Blaine had a better voice and dance ability, and he was able to match Rachel instead of him being drowned out by her superior vocals. He also knew Blaine was very much attached to Kurt and that Rachel was totally into Finn, no longer harbouring any feelings towards the curly-haired, very much gay male. So Blaine wasn't a threat to his girlfriend which was a change.

Mr. Schue had brightened considerably, giving more freedom to the club to choose their own music and allowing more varied solos rather than always giving things to Finn and Rachel. It was a refreshing change and Kurt was incredibly glad for the opportunities he now had thanks to the transfer of his boyfriend. Although, if he thought about it, he should have been able to convince Mr. Schue before Blaine transferred due to his own talent, but whatever. At least he was being listened to now.

And Blaine…Blaine was adapting. The inability to jump on much furniture was frustrating. The addition of actual music was a bit challenging at first as well, because he was so used to the boys behind him adapting to whatever he did. He kept expecting The Warblers to pop up behind him, striking up a familiar formation and adding in their a capella voices. He had been slushied a few times, mostly by members of the hockey team, he thought. Karofsky hadn't given him any trouble and he'd learned to carry a towel and a change of clothes with him, after Kurt had lent his own change of clothes to Blaine on the first day, which he had to admit made him feel far too uncomfortable because they weren't his clothes. Although they smelt like Kurt. Definite bonus. And Kurt kept checking him out and winking. Definite, definite bonus.

The workload was greatly reduced, another bonus. Spending hours per night on Dalton homework had never been his greatest joy and he was glad for the spare time. His parents had been fine with the move. In fact, his father had muttered something about a normal school would make him normal and maybe he'd meet a girl. Blaine had kept silent, and his father had tried to pass it off as a joke but Blaine wasn't so convinced. His father was well aware of his relationship with Kurt so the statement was unnecessary. But they'd set him up in a decent two bedroom apartment (two bedrooms in case anyone came to stay, or as a study, or a rehearsal room, or anything really…you could always use the space, according to his mother) not far from McKinley and although it was sparsely decorated, something which annoyed Kurt to no end, it was homey and warm and he felt safe here. He had downtime and privacy, something that was sorely lacking at Dalton with roommates and doors which weren't fitted with locks. And he had set up his keyboard in the corner of his living room, rehearsing Glee club music or trying out something different that he might present for a Glee assignment. So many ideas, so much time. Bliss.

The lack of parental supervision was why Kurt and Blaine were having a rather heavy make-out session on the sofa in Blaine's living room on a Saturday several weeks into the semester. It had started out innocently enough. Blaine spooning Kurt as they watched Finding Nemo and Kurt gently twisting his fingers through Blaine's, holding their hands against his heart where Blaine could feel the soft thud thud thud against his ear. Both Kurt and Blaine had agreed that although there was privacy, that didn't mean they were going to rush their relationship forward. It was somewhere around Marlin and Dory swimming with the turtles that Kurt had rolled over to face Blaine and kissed him gently. Pulling him closer, Blaine had untangled their hands and pressed his into the small of Kurt's back, moulding their hips together. Kurt had taken the opportunity to slide his fingers into Blaine's hair and deepen the kiss and then somehow the two of them altered their positions and that's how Blaine ended up with Kurt hovering above him, his tongue doing deliciously sinful things to Blaine's mouth.

Blaine moved his hand into the back pocket of Kurt's jeans, swallowing the moan that bubbled from Kurt's mouth. He ran the hand across Kurt's ass and felt Kurt shiver and then Kurt's nimble fingers were abandoning Blaine's hair to stroke down his neck, his chest, across his stomach. And then where Kurt's fingers had been, Kurt's mouth replaced it, sucking soft and warm across Blaine's throat. Kurt nudged the buttons on Blaine's shirt, blinking hopefully at Blaine who nodded desperately as he pulled at Kurt's shirt and delighted in the soft skin of Kurt's sides. Kurt whimpered and began fiddling with the buttons on Blaine's button-down.

You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream…

Blaine groaned and fumbled around for where his cell lay abandoned on the floor.

"Yes?" he snapped, trying to bat Kurt's hands away so he wouldn't be distracted. He swallowed, trying to get rid of the husky quality to his voice.

"Blaine?"

"Santana?" He raised confused eyes at Kurt who shrugged, sitting back on Blaine's thighs and watching his boyfriend.

"Jesus, I don't even know why I'm calling you. I could have called Quinn or Puck but I called you and I feel like an idiot and I sho-"

"Santana, what's wrong?" Blaine interrupted.

He heard a broken sob over the line. "I told my parents. I c-came out. Dad…oh God, Blaine…my father kicked me out."

"Oh San," Blaine breathed and Kurt raised an eyebrow. Blaine just shook his head as he ran a hand through his hair.

"I've got some clothes and he let me take my school work and laptop and car but he told me not to return again," Santana's voice cracked. "I don't know what to do. Where am I going to go?"

"Come here," Blaine said automatically. "I've got the spare room. You can stay here."

"I couldn't!" Santana insisted even as she sniffled. "I told you at Rachel's. Our lives are separate."

"God Santana, shut up. I'm part of your Glee club now. I go to your school. I have a perfectly good room for you to use. Get your little Latino butt to my place. The bed will be made by the time you get here," Blaine said firmly.

Another sniffle. "I'll be there soon. Thanks." She ended the call and Blaine sighed as he set his phone on his chest.

"What's wrong with Santana?" Kurt said immediately.

"She got kicked out. She's going to crash here for a while. Sorry," Blaine said, seeing Kurt's face drop. "She had no where else to go."

"You're too good for your own good, Mister Anderson," Kurt said, dropping a soft kiss to Blaine's lips.

"Come on, I said I'd have the bed made and we should clean up from dinner and stuff before she gets here."

Nodding silently, Kurt clambered to his feet and pulled Blaine up after him, embracing his boyfriend.

By the time Santana arrived, Blaine had made the bed and Kurt had cleaned away the dinner plates and put on the kettle for tea as well as prepared ingredients for cocoa in case Santana didn't drink tea. The knock was tentative and Blaine moved to answered it.

"Come here," he beckoned her in and as soon as she put her things down, wrapped her in a tight hug. She clung to his shirt and sobbed against his shoulder while Kurt watched anxiously. He hated feeling so goddamn useless. Blaine carefully moved them towards the sofa and sat down, tugging her into his arms again. Kurt sat on the coffee table and rubbed his hand over Santana's back slowly.

It took at least half an hour before Santana settled, pulling away from Blaine's arms and shrugging Kurt's hand away. "God, I'm sorry. I'm not normally like this," she wiped her eyes and stared balefully at Kurt. "I didn't think you'd want to be here."

"You're my friend, Santana. Of course I'd want to be here," Kurt responded softly.

"You'd better not tell anyone," she scowled, her eyes shifting between Kurt and Blaine. "If it gets to Finn, everyone will know within the hour."

"We won't," Blaine answered for them both. "Can I get you something? Tea? Cocoa? Water?"

"Well, it'd actually be me getting it," Kurt said, eyebrow raised. "But I won't poison it."

Santana smiled weakly. "I think I'm good. I just…I need to sleep. I think. It's been an emotional night."

Blaine nodded. "I'll show you where to put your things." He stood and took Santana's hand, giving her the quick tour of his apartment before leaving her to get ready for bed. He settled back onto the sofa and pulled Kurt to his side.

"You aren't making the wrong decision," Kurt said, linking their hands together.

Blaine smiled and pressed a kiss to Kurt's hair. "How did you know that's what I was thinking?"

"You're easy to read. You may as well have a sign that displays your thoughts."

Blaine snorted and tilted Kurt's face to kiss him gently. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Something tells me I'm going to need to visit the dentist for all the cavities you two will give me. Or at least get regular checks for diabetes," Santana said from the doorway she was leaning against.

"Please, you've used the cavity joke already," Kurt retorted as turned to look at her..

"Yeah yeah, whatever. I just wanted to say goodnight," she said quietly, and Blaine glanced at her, dressed in blue pyjamas and her face so pale and vulnerable. "And um, thanks. Again. For letting me stay."

Blaine waved the gratitude away. "Anytime. I'd do it for anyone. You're just lucky you claimed the room first."

Santana cracked a small smile before nodding and disappearing into her room.

Kurt stayed a little while longer but eventually he had to leave to be back by curfew. The two felt their moment sufficiently broken and instead had sat snuggled on the sofa together, relishing the warmth, comfort and security that they loved each other and their parents had been reasonably accepting of their sexuality.

The next morning felt a little awkward. Blaine had to deal with waiting for the bathroom and then Santana couldn't find the cereal.

"Do you want a lift to school?" he asked when she finished shoving books into her bag. He'd kept quiet about her glassy, swollen eyes. He figured she hadn't slept much. He itched to talk to her but he knew enough about her that he couldn't push too fast.

"I have my own car," she muttered, picking up her keys and staring at him.

"I know you do. I just…" he shrugged and adjusted his belt self-consciously. "I just wondered if you wanted a lift."

"And have people ask how I know you? Why we were together?" she rolled her eyes as she hauled her bag over her shoulder. "If you want to keep a secret, Anderson, you don't splash it over the school the first day that you can."

"Okay, okay," he held up his hands, stepped away from her. "Sorry. Go to school as normal. I'll see you in Glee?"

She shrugged and walked past him without another word. He sighed, grabbed his own keys and headed out to his car. Santana was driving off when he climbed into the car.

"How's she doing?" Kurt said as he hopped into his boyfriend's car fifteen minutes later. Blaine had spent the car ride over trying to sort through all his conflicting thoughts about approaching her and trying to push the issue, versus letting her do her own thing and live her own life.

"No idea," he said, flicking his indicator and driving away from Kurt's house. "She didn't sleep much last night. I heard her get up a few times. She wouldn't talk to me much this morning."

Kurt linked his fingers with Blaine's as they hovered over the gearshift. "She'll be okay. She has us. She can't hide forever."

Blaine wasn't so sure. He didn't know Santana well but he could tell she was defensive and the last thing he wanted to do was make her run from him emotionally when she'd only just moved in. For now, he would let her live with him and try not to be too clingy or hover. He knew exactly how irritating that was when his mother used to fuss over him as a five-year-old.