Now that everything had gone back to normal between Finn and Rachel, she spent a lot of time with him, but it worked for Kurt, since she was often over at his place. One day he got home from the bookshop and found them making out on the couch. He cleared his throat to catch their attention. Finn waved at him and said: "Hey, bro", while Rachel stood up and smiled.

"Hi, Kurt" she added combing her hair. "What have you got there?"

Kurt looked down at the bags he was carrying and said: "A couple of books for me and one for Carol. She has asked Finn to buy it for over two weeks, but he wouldn't do it, so I figured I could help with that"

Rachel nodded with a smile and then gave Finn a sour look. Kurt smirked and added:

"I'm not even sure he knows the way to the bookshop.. do you, Finn?"

"No" replied Finn with a shrug. "Thanks anyway. Mom will be happy"

"I hope so" said Kurt. "So, I'm going upstairs and do my homework.. are you staying for dinner, Rach?"

"No, I'll call my dads when I need a ride home" she answered.

"Why don't you eat with us? I'm sure Carol won't mind now that I got the book for her" he pronounced the words "I" and "her" with a bit of presumption, and his smile was somehow similar to the Cheshire Cat's.

Rachel looked at Finn with an uncertain expression, and then she said: "I guess it's alright. Thanks"

Kurt exulted within himself, and smiled to Rachel. "I'm going to my room. See you guys later."

When he got downstairs, later, he found Carol and Rachel talking and cutting potatoes, while Burt was sitting on his armchair and reading the newspaper.

"Hi dad" greeted Kurt. "Hi Carol.. where's Finn?"

"He's having a shower.." answered Carol with sad eyes. "I told him to do it after dinner, so Rachel wouldn't get bored, but he just ignored me, and the poor girl offered to help me cook."

"It's ok, Carol" said Rachel with an affable smile, "my dads work late, I usually cook for them."

"You do?" asked Carol. "Oh, darling, I always tell Finn what a lovely girl you are, but he just won't understand. I mean, I'm his mother, I love him, but he always assumes things must be given to him and never makes an effort to earn them. I suppose that's what you call an immature boy."

"That's not true, Carol" said Rachel, embarrassed, "he's a very polite guy.. he's just distracted."

"Geez, is he distracted!" exclaimed Kurt. "I've showed him the way to the bookshop a thousand times, but he still won't remember! Oh.. speaking of which, Carol, I got you this" he added handing her the book.

Carol's face brightened. She let go the knife and cleaned her hands, then she took the book and contemplated it. "Thank you so much, Kurt!" she said hugging him. "I really wanted to read this"

"I know" whispered Kurt, looking at Rachel, who had stopped cutting potatoes and was smiling.

When Finn got downstairs, dinner was ready. All five of them sat around the table and started eating.

"So, how's it going in Glee Club?" Burt asked the teens.

"Fine" said Finn, chomping.

"Great" replied Kurt. "We'll now who won the audition tomorrow"

"And how is it great?" asked Burt with a raised eyebrow.

"Because Rachel and I are going to win" explained Kurt. "She wrote the most beautiful mash up, we performed it, and we were amazing. Weren't we, Finn?"

Finn nodded, served himself some more beef and then passed Rachel the tray. Kurt looked at him with daze.

"I thought you were vegan" he said.

"I am, actually" she affirmed, gently rejecting the tray. "No, thanks, Finn."

Finn shrugged and took some more beef. "Alright. More meat or me. Mom, do we have barbecue sauce?"

"Yes, honey" huffed Carol, standing up and walking to the fridge.

"Fetch me some mayonnaise too!" added Finn, and then smiled at Rachel. "So you can put it on your fires."

"That's really thoughtful, honey" whispered Rachel, timidly, "but.."

"But she can't eat that either" irrupted Kurt. "You see, Finn, there's eggs in mayonnaise"

"So what?" asked Finn, shrugging again.

"I'm vegan" said Rachel again, with an encouraging smile.

"So.. what?" repeated Finn. He seemed confused. Kurt was both amused and annoyed.

"Do you even know what 'vegan' means?" he asked Finn, huffing.

"Yes, it means she can't eat animals" he answered.

"Actually" said Carol sitting back down and handing his son the sauces, "it means she can't eat any product that come from an animal. I bet that's how she keeps herself so fit" she added smiling at Rachel.

"Thank you" she replied, beaming. Kurt couldn't agree more with Carol.

After dinner, Finn took Rachel upstairs for awhile, but soon Kurt couldn't resist and he irrupted in his room.

Much to his surprise, he hadn't interrupted anything; Finn was laying on his bed, and Rachel was sitting on the floor, reading some papers. As Kurt opened the door, she looked up and said: "Hey you"

"Hi" stuttered Kurt. He hadn't thought of an excuse for being there. "Uhm.. what are you guys up to?"

"Nothing" answered Rachel with a shrug. "I believe Finn's asleep. I was just working on another mash up.."

"Really?" asked Kurt, curious. He closed the door behind his back and sat down next to her. "Let me see.."

He gently grabbed the sheet music. On the top of it, it was written 'Almost lover / Vesper's goodbye'.

"These are really sad songs" pointed out Kurt. "Beautiful, yeah.. but very sad"

"Yeah, I know.." whispered Rachel, taking the sheet music back. "I was just.. I was bored and I chose the first two songs that came to my mind. This mash up is probably going to suck"

"Nah, that's impossible" denied Kurt, flapping is hand. "Everything you do is perfect"

Rachel was positively astonished. "Wow.. thank you!" she said with a big smile. "So, wanna help me out?"

Kurt nodded. "I'd love to. But isn't Finn's voice more.. proper, for the Vesper's goodbye part?"

"I don't know, I tried to ask him but he snored" joked Rachel. "Anyway, you don't have to.."

"No, I want to!" said Kurt, determined. "So, let me see what you got here.."

He got closer to Rachel, so they could both read the sheet music. Kurt began to sing with a low voice:

"All of you shaped me into what I am,

and carried out the better man..

Do you have a master plan?"

Rachel was amazed: Kurt's voice had sounded so masculine! Despite her surprise, she sang her lines:

"You sang me Spanish lullabies,

the sweetest sadness in your eyes, clever trick.."

"Somewhere I let all my defenses down,

never thought to turn around..

and you did not make a sound" sang Kurt, instinctively moving closer to Rachel. She was immobile.

"I'd never want to see you unhappy.." she sang, hypnotized, "I thought you'd want the same for me..

Goodbye, my almost lover,

goodbye, my hopeless dream. I'm.."

"I'm seeing it turning red" irrupted Kurt, closing his eyes, "like a bullet through the chest.

Lay me down to rest.. it's a lover's final breath."

"So long, my luckless romance,

my back is turned on you..

I should've known you'd bring me heartache,

'cause almost lovers always do."

"I found out nothing comes without a cost,

and life was just a game we lost.." when Kurt opened his eyes, he was face-to-face with Rachel.

"I'm trying not to think about you!" she was singing with a desperate look on her face. She was really into it.

"Can't you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance,

my back is turned on you.."

"Now you're gone" Kurt's voice trembled a little, but he kept singing, "and nothing's ever felt so wrong,

a moment seems to last so long.."

"I cannot wake up in the morning,

without you on my mind.."

"Now I die" Kurt was like paralyzed while he sang the next line..: "I kiss your tender lips, goodbye.."

Rachel blushed, then sang: "Oh, goodbye, my almost lover!"

"See it turning red.." repeated Kurt.

"Goodbye, my hopeless dream.."

"Like a bullet through the chest.."

"I'm trying not to think about you.." Rachel moved closer to Kurt.

"Lay me down to rest.." He was pushed down by her.

"Why can't you just let me be?" She was practically laying on Kurt.

"It's a lover's final breath.." He closed his eyes; he believed his heart had just exploded within his chest.

"So you're gone and I'm haunted.." Rachel leaned her head on Kurt's chest.

"Pray to God he hears my cry.." His real thought was more like: "Pray to God she won't hear my heartbeat.."

"..and I bet you are just fine." Rachel finished singing, but she didn't move. She wanted to stay like that forever. Although, it was a real odd situation. Picture, if you will, a gay guy laying on the floor of his stepbrother's bedroom. Now, imagine his stepbrother's girlfriend resting on his chest. And, if it isn't awkward enough, imagine a bed behind them, and her boyfriend sleeping in it. Odd, isn't it?

After what seemed like an eternity, Kurt found the words: "Wow, Rachel" Ops. Not the best words, I guess.

Rachel didn't say anything. She didn't move either. Kurt thought she had fallen asleep too, for a moment.

"Hey, Rach? Are you awake?" he stupidly asked.

"Yes" she answered, her face pressed to his chest. "I am."

"Good."

"Yeah.."

"Good"

"You've already said that" pointed out Rachel.

"Good" repeated Kurt. He was like in trace.. but then he woke up. "I mean, yeah, I know that."

Rachel smiled to herself. She found his naïve clumsiness very cute.

"I liked your mash up" said Kurt, trying to break the tension. "It was intense"

"Thanks" replied Rachel. "You sang very well. I didn't think you could rock that key.. I was wrong"

"Thanks.. thanks" repeated Kurt. "Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks"

"Four"

"Four?"

"Yes, four."

"Four what?" asked Kurt in a flat voice, like he wasn't even making a question.

"You thanked me four times" answered Rachel. She started making circles with her fingers on his chest.

"Did I?" Kurt was slowly focusing on the situation. " Well, that isn't enough. Thanks"

Rachel laughed. "How sweet you are, Kurt" she whispered in the tenderest voice.

"Good. The last time I was clueless. I'd call that progress" he joked.

"It's a proper name" she said, sighing. "You're progressing"

"Are you talking about my voice?"

"That too" answered Rachel. Kurt didn't dare ask what else he was getting better at. Finn's snoring reminded them they weren't alone. Rachel quickly raised up, and Kurt didn't know if he was more sad or relieved.

"I'd better go home now" she said, collecting her stuff and putting it into her purse.

"Yes, you, uhm.. Finn will give you a ride" Kurt stood up and scratched his chest, where Rachel had just rested her head: it was still warm. He tried to wake Finn up, but Rachel stopped him:

"No, don't bother, let him sleep.. I'll call my dads"

"Ok" replied Kurt. He hesitated. "Or.. I could drive you home"

"It's not a problem for my parents, really.."

"I know the way" insisted Kurt.

Rachel sighed. "Are you sure?" she asked. Kurt nodded. "Fine.. thanks" she added, smiling.

"No problem" he said. He didn't smile back this time; he felt extremely unhappy for no reason, now.

Once Rachel had said goodnight to Carol and Burt, she got into Kurt's car, and he began to drive.

They were silent all the way till they reached Rachel's place. "There you are" said Kurt,

She unlocked her seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride"

"Anytime. Goodnight, Rach" he added with a joyless smile.

"Goodnight, Kurt." Before he could move a muscle, she had kissed his cheek, got out his car and walked through her house door. He waited for her to disappear behind it, and then he drove away. Kurt's shirt wasn't warm anymore, but it still had Rachel's smell on it. He didn't sleep in his pajamas that night.