A/N: I'm so sorry for the lack of updates! I've had some pretty heavy stuff happening at home or it was anyway... I wasn't in the right mindset to write this chapter seeing as this isn't an angsty one.

The one after the next one is almost definitley going to be though. I'm working on a SpongeBob themed Klaine oneshot... don't ask me why, I don't control my inspiration and after all the crap at home I needed a Crack relief.

The songs in the chapter are "A Little Bit Stronger" by Sara Evans and "Bubbly" by Colbie Calliat. I'm considering dumping the Jack the Ripper Fic because I don't really have the time. I have to finish up this year without failing math. (good luck on that one) Plus, I'm traveling five weeks out of my Summer. Life Sucks. I'll write whenever I have the time and I'll try to update when I have the internet, but no guarantees.

At the moment and with the time line I have, The story is ranging from 25-30 chapters. Could be more or less depending on the inspiration bug.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any of the songs listed above.

P.S. I hope you enjoy Alexander ;)

Kurt went back to his own apartment on cloud nine. Sure Blaine hadn't specifically said or instigated that they were anything, or would be anything more, but still Kurt was happy.

Rachel was already back by the time he got there. She was actually sitting on the couch surrounded by a plethora of music sheets.

When Kurt entered, she lifted her head up for a second, glared at him before mumbling something that sounded like, "assignment. Why did I ever want to major in music? Writing songs come in emotional downpour…" and so on and so forth went her list of reasons, barely discernable to the ear.

Kurt just smiled at her and shook his head. Rachel was over thinking things as usual. She had instantly jumped at the idea of writing music. Kurt on the other hand was for once content in his life just to perform.

He began to walk out of the room only to be stopped by Rachel, "Oh no. Where do you think you're going mister? Don't expect me being swamped with work will make me over look the fact that you were gone in the morning. I came home relatively early as well, so don't even try to pull a 'grocery run' excuse on me."

Kurt regarded her for a moment before asking her, "So how was the party?" She instantly began rambling about how amazing the party was, and how amazing she was at the party. A lot about a person could change, but Rachel Berry talking about herself was something that never would, could, or will change. Kurt chose to take a comfort in this and smiled despite himself.

"And then, you'll never guess who I saw there! You'll never guess!"

Kurt attempted to say a guess, but was quickly cut off by Rachel talking endlessly.

"I saw Tina and Mike! Did you know they got married? Oh, and I invited them over for dinner. We need to clean up. This place is a mess. I have to finish this though, however creative I am, I need inspiration!" Rachel finally paused to take a breath.

Kurt seized the opportunity by deciding to state that he was going to go clean.

Rachel nodded, before she began singing to herself, and then furrowing her brow in concentration.

It wasn't that Kurt wasn't happy to have Tina and Mike over for dinner… He just now had a lot to clean. To be honest he was a little miffed at Tina for getting married and not inviting him to the wedding. Rachel, he can understand that, but he had always thought that he and Tina were at least friends. He was the one she went to when she became bored of Mike and wanted to break up with him. She should be grateful to me, Kurt thought. If it wasn't for me this could never have happened. Just then his phone buzzed and he saw that he had received a text from Blaine.

My friends are scaring me. Help?

-B

Kurt laughed.

Sorry can't. I have friends from high school coming over for dinner.

-K

While Kurt waited for a reply, he set about dusting off the stereo system and small box-like television set. When they had moved in together, Rachel's fathers had been thrilled with the entire idea of her following her dreams, and therefore, to support her they bought most of the furniture and made everything top of the line. She was their baby girl after all. They still had to pay the rent, which meant working the odd jobs around the city. Currently Kurt had one of the better jobs in his career; he was a manager at the Ralph Lauren Outlet in Westchester. It was a bit of a drive, but it was the best paying one he's had yet.

He was shocked out of his reverie by his phone buzzing against his side.

Oh, do you need any help? I'll do anything to escape these monsters.

-B

Kurt looked at the text. Did he really want Blaine to have to meet his crazy friends? Who were now probably even stranger in marriage? The answer was no. Although… Blaine had sounded like he was in some kind of strange form of torture… He would do it for Blaine, and only for that reason. It was just an added bonus that Blaine would get to be with him.

Would you mind? The help would be useful… and you sound like you need to escape.

-K

The response was almost instantaneous. Just seconds later he received a text saying

I would not mind at all. Be right over. Can you text me the address?

-B

Kurt sent Blaine the address, before smiling and beginning to clean once more.

Line

Blaine got up and began walking towards the door as soon as he got Kurt's text. David looked up from where he and Wes had been watching cartoons.

"Where are you going?" Wes asked through a mouthful of Cheetos.

Blaine glanced at his Asian friend. "I'm going to help out a friend."

David looked at him with a stupid 'cheesy' smile on his face. "Can I come?" He asked with child-like innocence.

Blaine looked at his friend. Straight in the eye too.

"No," he said walking out the door and shutting it behind him.

After Blaine had left, David and Wes looked at each other. They shared a look and said, "Follow him," simultaneously before setting off behind their friend.

Blaine was happily sitting on the subway when two bodies plopped down on either side of him. He looked up only to be met with the smiling faces of his friends. "How often do you actually listen to me?"

Wes looked at him, "Only when there is nothing good on TV." Blaine groaned realizing that this was going to be much longer and more draining then it need be. That is… until he got an idea.

"Wes, David," he said, addressing both boys in turn. "Don't you think it would be rather rude of me to just…I don't know, show up at Kurt's apartment with an extra two guests."

Before either of them could argue the point any further, Blaine was already out the door and on his way out of the station.

Wes looked at David, "I think we know what we have to do," he said in a solemn tone.

"Go use our ninja skills from High School," answered David just as serious.

"Precisely," Wes answered looking grim, and with that they exited right after Blaine, sneaking closely behind him the entire walk to Kurt's apartment.

Kurt answered the door and saw Blaine looking as dapper as ever. "Why hello," he said.

Blaine smiled at Kurt, "Thanks for getting me out of there. My friends were driving me mad."

Kurt just smiled and muttered something that sounded like, "no problem."

Rachel walked in from the kitchen dressed in a flowery shirt and a knee-length gauzy skirt. She had stopped dressing like an old woman after Kurt had told her that if she continued to dress that way nobody in their right mind would cast her for anything. She had been sheepish and then allowed him to do whatever he saw fit to her wardrobe. That still hadn't stopped her from making strange pairings as outfits.

"Hey Blaine, Glad you could make it."

Kurt smiled at his friend and left to go sort some things out in the bathroom. While he was gone, Rachel turned and looked at Blaine.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't even try it with him. He doesn't need a relationship right now from what you can see."

Blaine stared at the shorter Jewish girl. She may have oozed a vibe that screamed 'self-centered,' but she really did have a heart somewhere deep inside.

He met her gaze evenly. "I know exactly what you mean. I won't do anything I promise. We've talked."

She looked up at his last remark. "Did he tell you about what happened with Anthony?" Blaine nodded. "Well then, you should know… Break his heart, you get broken. Anthony got away scotch free because Kurt kept what he did on the down low. I learned that what he did was worse for everyone in the long run. He was a mess and none of the guys were able to get him because by the time that they found out he was already at college. Next time something like this happens I'm telling right away."

Blaine looked at Rachel, "I understand." And with that the conversation ended and Rachel went back to her wonderfully self-centered self.

About twenty minutes later, after Blaine had done everything he could to help, their apartment door rang. Kurt rushed over and opened it, only to be faced with two strange men each holding half eaten pretzels. Blaine looked up from where he had been relaxing on the couch and groaned.

The Asian boy walked right in, and said to Kurt, "Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm Wes; you're quite pretty for a boy."

Kurt stood in shock of the very open boy who had just walked into the apartment. Blaine was about beet red, whether it was from anger or embarrassment Kurt was unsure.

The African- American seemed to notice his discomfort, so he turned to him, "Sorry, he's always like this." Kurt just smiled and gave a shaky laugh. Blaine stood up, still red, and walked over to Wes. "What the Hell are you doing here?"

Wes and David seemed unfazed by Blaine's obvious anger. "We just wanted to spend more time with our friend," Wes began. "Is that really so hard to ask?"

Blaine looked at the boys like they each had two heads, "of course it is when you haven't left me alone all weekend! And how did you even get the address?"

David and Wes shared a guilty glance. "We kind of umm… had someone pick-pocket your phone," Wes said looking at the floor guiltily.

Blaine stared at his two friends. They are certifiably insane Blaine thought to himself.

Kurt just stared at the two. No wonder Blaine wanted to get away from his friends. They are certifiably crazy. Instead of voicing his opinions to the two boys, Kurt just invited them in for dinner. "We have plenty of food; you can stay and eat if you want." This seemed to be a good idea to the two boys because they just smiled and accepted the offer graciously.

Then the door bell rang once more to reveal the presence of Mike and Tina, smiling idiotically and ridiculously happy. Mike and Wes stared at each other.

"Hi…" Mike said breathlessly.

Tina looked between the two boys and started laughing.

"Do you play COD?" Wes asked with a dreamy look in his face.

Mike nodded and the two of them had a bear hug before sitting down for dinner.

On their way over to the table, Kurt leaned over and whispered to Tina and David, "You two have some steep competition." To which the two of them responded by laughing.

After the meal the entire group was sprawled across the living room area. The fact that there hadn't been enough seats caused Blaine and Kurt to be squished up against each other on the couch, and Mike having ditched Tina to talk on the floor with Wes.

The conversation ranged from various topics: anime, books, musicals, and then finally the long awaited discussion of past memories. By the time they reached this stage of the evening though, they were certifiably drunk off their rockers.

While they were reminiscing about old times Kurt asked how the members of their old High School Glee club were doing, and the results were actually quite happy.

Quinn had become some huge model over in Europe.

Artie and Brittany got back together and Artie had had a chance to meet some famous rapper and he was working on all that jazz.

Santana had married some rich guy and was now living a life of a luxury.

Finn was playing for the Buckeyes.

Sam had gotten drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals who had been kind enough to help him support his family while he was practicing.

And Mercedes was still a lovable fashionista who was now attending a college for design somewhere out in CA.

All in all, life was shaping up for these High School underdogs.

The subjects remained light and happy and throughout the night Blaine found himself staring at the brunette more and more during the course of the night. He realized that, yeah Kurt was attractive…But he was also just as broken as he was. He hung his head, Shit.

Kurt looked at Blaine, who was surprisingly sober. He chuckled and then poked his friend in the belly. "You aren't loose. You're too uptight," he said, laughing maniacally after he said it.

Blaine just looked at him and started to laugh. Kurt looked up at him in confusion. "Why are you laughing?" asked the boy with a tinge of hurt in his voice. Rachel looked up and wandered over to the boys. She looked over at David before sitting right on his lap. David just looked up in confusion, and in response Rachel just nuzzled her face into his neck. David, who was too drunk to care, just started laughing at needy Drunk Rachel.

The next morning….

"Most fun in a while," Tina said, whilst standing by the door with a very hung over Mike. Mike groaned, and after hugging both Kurt, Rachel, and Wes in Mike's case, they left the apartment.

Wes looked at David, "We have to get you home. David replied by nodding, he was just as hung over as Mike. With that the two of them left Kurt and Rachel's apartment. Blaine had left earlier that morning to start on a paper he had due for some teacher or other on the history of the modern alternative rock.

Kurt looked at the mess of their apartment after the enjoyable events of last night. He smiled and then turned on the radio. The act was a mistake; on the station they were playing his and Anthony's song, "Bubbly" by Colbie Calliat. He almost burst into tears before he had the sense to change the station as quickly as he had turned it on. The next song was actually a shock. Have you ever been listening to the radio when suddenly the perfect song comes on that completely describes what you're feeling? That's exactly what happened to him. The song, "A Little bit stronger" by Sara Evans came on and Kurt actually smiled at the perfectness of the song.

Woke up late today, and I still feel the sting of the pain.

Kurt actually hadn't thought of him in a while, but the ache was still in his heart. He was at the point where he feared it never would leave, it had almost been a year, and sure it hurt less, but it still felt like a part of him was missing. The only time he didn't feel like that was when he was performing or with Blaine. With Blaine he felt light and happy…

But I brushed my teeth anyway, got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my face.

He had to convince them that he was okay or who knows what they would do.

I got a little bit stronger.

He had felt somewhat better about the loss. He stopped blaming himself and began to think logically. Anthony had done what he's done, and Kurt was not the one to blame.

Riding in the car to work, and I'm trying to ignore the hurt.

Kurt began cleaning up the living room while having the radio play in the background.

So I turned on the radio, Stupid song made me think of you,

"Irony," Kurt muttered under his breath as he began to pick up the wine glasses and bring them into the kitchen.

I listened to it for minute, but then I changed it.
I'm getting a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay.
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.

Doesn't happen over night, but you turn around and a months gone by,

Kurt actually had stopped crying daily ever since he had met Blaine. In fact the last time he had cried was when he had told Blaine his story.

And you realize you haven't cried.
I'm not giving you a hour or a second or another minute longer.
I'm busy getting stronger.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay.
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

Getting along without you baby,
I'm better off without you baby,
How does it feel without me baby?
I'm getting stronger without you baby.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

I'm just a little bit stronger.
A little bit, a little bit, a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

By the end of the song Kurt knew what he had to do. He had to stop having Anthony be such an important factor of how he lived his life. It was going to be hard with the two of them going to the same school and having similar courses, but he would do it. Anthony didn't deserve a place in his thoughts any longer, he had tried to help and it had blown up right back in his face. He was getting stronger thanks to Blaine and his friends.

Funny, he thought to himself as he finished cleaning the apartment. I separated Blaine from all my other friends when that is all we are… friends.

Blaine walked into the library and walked towards the nonfiction section. He got that far before becoming completely lost, so he turned to the librarian who had conveniently been sorting books a little ways down. The man was in his late fifties or early sixties with gray and white hair. He was a round man with sparkling, warm brown eyes. He was dressed exactly like his grandfather used to dress. Blaine smiled at him and asked for his assistance.

"Excuse me," Blaine began. "Do you happen to know where the books of musical studies are?" The man looked at him and smiled. "Right on this way m'boy," said the man with traces of a Bostonian accent. "May I ask why you would need some of those books? It's a rare day when someone even looks at them."

Blaine looked at him, "That seems really sad. Society should be more interested in the way their current culture has been formed."

The man began beaming at him. "Sir is something wrong?" Blaine asked worriedly.

The man just continued to beam at him. "None at all boy. Tell me, what your name is?" "Blaine. Blaine Anderson," said the curly-haired boy.

"Well, Mr. Anderson, I'm Alexander O'Rourke," said the elderly man.

"It is really a pleasure to meet you Mr. O'Rourke," Blaine said as they reached the destination.

"Same to you chap," said Mr. O'Rourke. "You seem like a lad of the all right sort. Visit the library sometime in the near future. I have a feeling you would like some poetry we have stored away."

"How would you know that?" Blaine asked. He had only known this man for about ten minutes and he was able to tell that about him?

"You're fingers are callused, you obviously play an instrument. You have a piece of crumpled paper sticking out of your pocket with song lyrics written on it, and finally, you have a collection of Frost poking out of your bag. It's obviously a worn copy by the way it is almost completely dog-eared and if the ink smudges on the back are any indication, there are millions of inspirational quotes circled in there."

Blaine stared at the man. They had only just met, and yet he knew so much? Strange. Maybe he was a detective in another life? Stop it, Blaine thought to himself. You're starting to sound like Wes and David.

"How did you know all that?" he finally asked. Alexander only smiled in response. Blaine shook his head and promised Mr. O'Rourke that he would come back to discuss poetry. Among other things, he added as an afterthought. And with that Blaine began his monster of a paper.