Thank you all you sweet, lovely, friendly, fabulous people! :D

I'm so happy you like it AND are still with me! I hate stories that don't make you wait a little and I prefer a bit of a slow burn which is why I always write it. I like to earn a nice moment or earn a pay off- it's so easy to cut to a kiss or a confession of love or a revelation of any kind right away but I always think it cheapens it if it's too soon... maybe that's just me.

If you hadn't already realised, I love the thought of little Pavarotti being Kurt's tiny confidant (mainly because of the sneaky Warblers on Twitter bringing him to life and being so flippin' cute!) and I also love everything old fashioned which is why a lot of my references are old music, old movies etc. I DEFINITELY urge you to look them up if you're curious :D I always see Kurt that way – kind of an old soul.

Thank you again for your EXTREMELY kind words and I REALLY hope you enjoy this little episode centred all around the "Snow Ball", which, as I was writing, I genuinely WANTED TO ATTEND – haha!

Let me know what you think! xxxx

Kurt wasn't quite sure if the fact his hand was shaking and stomach was tight was the product of his nerves or intense excitement. He'd seen van upon van arrive at Dalton since early morning when he'd proceeded to rise, relishing the Saturday laziness, and spend inordinate amounts of time preening and beautifying.

"Pavi, who knew when I arrived here that I'd be going to this event? At McKinley the biggest honour I was shown was the jocks allowing me to remove my more expensive clothing before throwing me in a dumpster in the parking lot. Yes Pavi, that's right, things weren't so good back then," Kurt explained, the bird tweeting back randomly. "Thanks sweetheart, you're a pretty good listener."

It took four hours precisely. Kurt had timed it to perfection and even prepared a playlist for the occasion. He showered, shaved, toned, moisturised, preened and then began styling his hair. He was half the way through a rendition of "This Heart of Mine", channelling his inner Judy, when he noticed the snow begin to fall outside. His heart swooped as a huge smile spread across his face. He felt like he was in a movie at the point where a character was getting all they ever wanted and the music would kick in, loud and affecting. He was sure he was dreaming until he remembered all of the horror he'd endured and the pain he'd accepted as 'par for the course' in the past – it was about time there was a little magic.

At 6:15 he was buttoning his jacket slowly, now onto "It Only Takes a Moment" in true Mr Crawford style. He danced over to Pavi, tipping a little covering of seed into his tray and smiling when the tiny yellow bird nuzzled his finger. "Aww tweetiepie you're so cute, thank you. You have a nice evening too, I'll leave the standards playing for you as a treat. Not fair you should miss out on the fun."

The little bird chirped back, nibbling happily at the newly replenished food. Kurt turned and glanced himself up and down in the mirror. He was reasonably happy with the ensemble. Dark slim dress pants with a slim cut charcoal grey shimmer jacket, the lapels a subtle black velvet, and finished off with a pair of shiny black shoes that glittered like mirror balls from a good twenty minutes polishing. He nodded, satisfied he wasn't going to stick out like a sore thumb but feeling confident and very 'Kurt'.

"Wow."

Kurt turned to his doorway. He saw Wes first, leaning playfully on the door frame, corsage in hand and decked out in a dark blue suit. His eyes then slid to Blaine. Blaine...

The lack of Dalton uniform was obvious, gorgeously obvious. His hair wasn't as gelled down as normal, instead it was tidy but looser making him look so quirky- so Blaine. His suit was jet black, fitting and perfectly trimmed in a lighter grey making it so retro and a little jaunty. His shoes were a soft sole vintage brogue in pale grey and black. On anyone else it would have looked too much, possibly ridiculous, definitely eye catching, but on Blaine it was shockingly stylish. Another reason Kurt decided to hate the boy, if truth be told.

"Hi."

"Again," Blaine murmured, "wow."

Kurt couldn't even begin to fight the blush. It was pointless and too fast to paint his cheeks. "Why thank you Sir," he sang, channelling his inner confidence, "you all look very handsome." He only looked at Blaine as he spoke, his eyes incapable of drifting elsewhere, locked in the other boy's gaze. Blaine grinned, all lopsided, eventually letting his eyes flutter down to his shoes.

"So, this is all lovely and everything but we have a Ball to go to and I want food. My stomach thinks my throat's been slashed," David blurted out, slapping Blaine on the back.

Blaine blinked alert again, his eyes flickering to his friend. "Oh yea, ok, Kurt, you ready to go?"

Kurt smiled, nodded and practically skipped. He reached the door, his hand lingering on the light switch as the other boys began walking to corridor. "Night Pavi, wish me look," he whispered into the dark, the crooning sound of Sinatra quietly playing for his feathered friend.

-.-.-.-.-.-.

Kurt was sure, once again, that he was dreaming. An expert in designing, conceptualising and arranging an event, he was impressed to the point of speechlessness.

Tiny snowflakes had been hung from the beams in the Grand Hall, the tables were draped with crisp white cloths, the lights dimmed and tiny candles dotting every table in the most romantic fashion. The stage was set with a simple deep red backdrop and Grand piano, poinsettias were spotted tastefully at random intervals and the entrance was sweeping with curved tables lined with champagne and bowls of sugar dusted strawberries. Kurt could feel his fingers itching to touch everything and taste too. It was extravagant but tasteful – all in one.

Blaine kept his eyes on Kurt, watching as they danced to the stage, to the windows, to the tables, to the champagne and then locked back on his own with a smile. "You approve," Blaine asked, returning the warm smile and threading his arm carefully through Kurt's as they stepped forward into the reception area.

Kurt felt his skin shiver at the touch. Again, Blaine with the touching. He felt proud, a feeling he wasn't expecting, to be with Blaine, to be a guest and to even be capable of walking arm in arm with another guy into what could appear, on face value, to be quite a high brow event. He leaned in slightly to the touch, relishing in the poignancy of the moment for him.

Blaine felt it, the slight shock, the glance down at their arms and then the slight but very pleasant weight against his arm. Kurt seemed relaxed. Mission accomplished.

"I'm afraid I'll have to leave once we're seated... got to go get fitted with my mic and do my bit then I'll be back. You ok?" Blaine asked, leading Kurt along the tables and passing him a tall glass of sparkling champagne.

Kurt sipped it, nodding daintily and rubbing his lips together, savouring the taste. "Oh I'll be fine, you go and do your thing."

Blaine smiled and reached out, simply brushing his fingers over Kurt's arm in a manner which seemed to speak of protection. He left then, being greeted by everyone as he walked towards the stage and leaving Kurt to his new found taste for champagne and an ache to find his seat instead of loitering and appearing lost.

"Hi, you're Kurt, right?" a voice came from behind him. Kurt turned to see a guy, hair blonde and stylishly spiked, in an expensive looking dinner suit.

"Um yes, I'm Kurt, it's nice to meet you," he replied, somewhat shocked again even after all of this time that people were so friendly at Dalton. Stuffy sometimes but he couldn't deny they were friendly.

"Good to meet you too, I'm Thomas, ex-Warbler and son of the Principle but please don't hold it against me." He smiled widely, extending his hand to Kurt who took it gently and grinned back.

"Wow, well I am a new Warbler, son of a mechanic and feeling a little out of place but happy non-the-less."

Thomas laughed, his eyes bright. "Blaine told me about you," he said simply making Kurt's stomach tense.

"He did?"

"I left last year and Blaine took my lead at Sectionals. He's a good guy, I've got a lot of respect for him. He told me that someone else had transferred here mid-semester just as he had."

Kurt was a little shocked and concerned that Thomas knew more about him than he was letting on but he considered it sweet that Thomas was so welcoming. "Well, that's me. I transferred from McKinley High. It was a bit tough but everyone's been so welcoming."

"I saw how hard it was for Blaine," Thomas said, his voice quieter now and more respectful, "I saw how he struggled and I know how much he cares about this place even if it isn't all that easy to adjust to."

Kurt sighed, smiling. "Thank god you just said that," he laughed out, "I keep thinking that everyone just came here and were bred to be 'Dalton Boys' as it's taken me quite a while to get used to everything. I'd say I'm settling in ok now though... I think."

Thomas nodded, extending his hand to offer Kurt a passage to walk to the tables. It seemed that Blaine was placed at the top table, presumably due to his providing entertainment, and Thomas was sitting alongside his father. "I'm guessing Blaine's had a lot to do with the feeling better about Dalton?" Thomas asked.

Kurt scanned the other guy's eyes in an attempt to find the true reasoning behind his question, worrying he was implying that something more was occurring beyond friendship. Thomas gave nothing away. "He has a lot to do with it, a lot of people here have been very welcoming."

Thomas seemed apologetic. "I didn't mean to sound precocious, what I meant was that Blaine is a protective guy, he's always been quick to care for those close to him and it's wonderful that you have someone who has experienced a change so similar to yourself."

Kurt sighed. "Yes, you're right. He has been wonderful. He has barely left my side since I transferred and in a way I'm grateful. I didn't have someone I could really lean on at my old school. I had good friends but nobody who really understood my situation." Kurt blanched, shocked at his honesty in such a situation. Thomas kindly smiled back.

"It sounds as if you're going to be just fine here Kurt. I hope so. I learned a lot here at Dalton and I'm a better guy for it. Being in college now, I know this place taught me a lot about respecting yourself and feeling proud to be who you truly are. High school sucks when you're a guy who doesn't fancy girls. That is until you realise it's perfectly ok."

Kurt felt his eyes widen. He hadn't expected that. Thomas was not someone he'd have guessed to be gay and it was incredible.

"Oh, I didn't know. That all sounds so positive."

Thomas nudged Kurt's arm with his own as the lights in the hall dimmed gradually. "It is Kurt, it all is, just takes time I guess."

Kurt felt his skin tingle and heart pulse. The comfort of that moment spread through him in a precious band of warmth. It was at this moment that Blaine stepped out onto the stage to rapturous applause.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," the compere announced, "starting the festivities tonight, in true Dalton Snow Ball style is our very own Blaine Thornton. Please put your hands together."

The room clapped and Kurt was even sure he heard woops and wolf whistles. His eyes found The Warblers table and, sure enough, David was drumming his fork and knife against the table cloth in a drum roll as Wes stuck his fingers in his mouth to woot a little noise of support.

Blaine, silhouetted by the stage lights against the burgundy backdrop, perched gently on a silver stool, the mic in one hand. He nodded his head to the crowd in appreciation and Kurt was sure he even caught Blaine glance over to their table. He looked all lit up inside on stage as the pianist began, followed by the small quartet situated in the corner of the room.

Kurt felt his heart quicken. He knew his festive songs and especially knew his classics. He had almost every cover of "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" on his iPod including Sinatra, Ms Garland and of course the inimitable Ella Fitzgerland. To hear Blaine begin to sing the same song in his trademark tone, causing any song whether it be modern or classic, to sound a little retro and oozing soul. Kurt was sure there were stars in his eyes. He rested his head on his hand as he leaned forward on the table, a little drawn in. It was mesmerising. He'd seen Blaine perform before but there was something utterly sexy about him crooning out hot buttery notes about light hearts and happy golden days. Everytime Blaine sang "next year all our trouble will be out of sight", Kurt felt himself choke up, his eyes glistening slightly. It was pathetic, he told himself, but it was impossible to stop. Kurt found himself, and quite clichéd, mouthing 'faithful friends' and smiling dreamily to himself. It was a moment so cherished, so instantly, that his brain took a million tiny photographs and stored them in his heart to peruse whenever he felt down.

As Blaine bowed to applause so loud it hurt, Kurt felt Thomas lean in beside him. "You're a lucky son of a bitch coming as Blaine's date tonight," he whispered, an easy and playful look in his eyes, "you'll be the envy of the whole room."

Kurt went to object, to explain he wasn't Blaine's date and was simply a friend being asked to an event, when he felt a hand on his lower back. He all but jumped around.

"So, was it painfully cheesy or did I manage to pull it off?"

Kurt wasn't too sure what to do, how to behave, what to say and how to say it. If he wasn't giddy and smitten before, standing infront of Blaine in that moment, he was a goner.

"You were... you, um... it was magical," Kurt stuttered out, entirely uncharacteristically, with a smile that was way coyer than he intended.

Blaine's eyes lit up. "Oh wow, thank you. I'm pleased you liked it."

Kurt lowered himself back in his seat, clinging desperately to the side of his chair for support. He was going to swoon if Blaine so much as brushed his arm, he just knew it.

"Tom! Oh my god you did not tell me you were coming! How are you?" Blaine shouted, throwing his arms around Thomas' neck and slapping his back with such force that Kurt feared for Thomas' composure. He seemed quite used to it and grinned widely.

"Thornton, you never lose your touch do you? Still turning on the whole room I see?"

Kurt even blushed and he wasn't party to the conversation. He peered up to see Blaine's reaction.

"Shut up," Blaine laughed out, shaking his head with a smirk, "we all know that was always your special talent. I'm short with silly hair-"

"And the same ridiculous shoes as always I see. This year, another classic pair. Where do you find them mate, seriously?"

Blaine was beaming. "Hey, these are my favourite pair. I thought they were cool."

"Somehow and as always you manage it Thornton, and that is something I shall never understand. Bottle it and sell it my friend."

"You always say that!"

Blaine glanced down at Kurt for a second, his face breaking further into a smile. "Tom have you met Kurt?"

"I have had the pleasure, yes."

Kurt nodded and offered a small happy nod in return.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, if you could please be seated, dinner will now be served!" The announcement was welcomed by loud mumbling and shuffling. Blaine took his seat by Kurt, breaking the reunion with Thomas.

"You're going to love the food," Blaine said, full of assurance, and with a wink.

"I love everything," Kurt said quietly, his heart blooming and chest full of happiness.

Blaine felt it in that moment. The happiness from seeing another so happy too. Kurt's eyes flickered back to Blaine's and watched his face slide ever so slightly into seriousness. An intense and warm kind of seriousness.

"I'm so pleased you love it."

Kurt ducked his head, feeling the tension and bubble of velvet warmth glide over him. "Thank you so much."

Blaine raised his eyebrows and shook his head with a small and meaningful smile. No thank you.

TO BE CONTINUED...