Author Note: I still don't own anything, except the story line. Just to let you know (those that are following) I have six more chapters written so after that postings will slow down to probably one a week which I know is frustrating but I will do my best to be fairly regular. This is a work in progress and I am always waiting for a plot bunny to cross my path. Anyhow I hope you are still enjoying it and thanks for the support and reviews.
Kurt stood in the doorway of the guest room smiling gently at the sight in front of him; Nick was sprawled face down on the bed one arm and leg dangling off the side, the comforter having slid off the bed during the night, whilst Blaine was laid on the blow up mattress on the floor, he had a tight hold of the pillow on which his head was laid and his blanket was wrapped tightly around him like a cocoon, his scruffy hair just visible from where Kurt was standing.
Kurt watched them for several minutes before pulling the door closed and heading down the stairs to the kitchen. Kurt had always been an early riser and even though he had had a late night the night before he wanted to spend time with his father before he went for his shift at the garage. Padding over to the coffee machine he switched it on before dropping a couple of slices of bread into the toaster. Pulling his robe around him and tightening the knot he headed to the refrigerator in search of fruit.
"Oh hey bud" smiled Burt entering the kitchen, still doing up his belt as he made his way further into the room.
"Hey dad" Kurt replied, "You want something to eat?"
"Sure. I don't suppose you're going to let me have anything tasty?"
"You can have oatmeal and toast"
"Well if that's the best you've got to offer" Burt grumbled.
"Yep, suck it up Dad" grinned Kurt from behind the counter, "is Carole still asleep?"
"No, early shift" replied Burt as he filled his mug with coffee, "she left early but should be back later in time for dinner."
"So it'll just be me and Finn today then?" asked Kurt absently whilst pulling various fruits from the cooler.
"Blaine not staying" asked Burt pulling out a chair and sitting down heavily.
"No, they just drove me home" smiled Kurt, "they'll be heading back to Dalton after breakfast."
"Oh right"
"Hey dad what have you got coming into the shop over the next few weeks?"
"Um, not sure why?" queried Burt.
"Jeff wants to come over and see the workshop, he's kind of a car buff."
"Jeff's the blonde right."
"Yes dad, Jeff's the blonde" smiled Kurt pushing a bowl of oatmeal across the counter and handing his dad a spoon.
"Let me check the log and I'll see if anything interestings coming up" said Burt whilst poking unenthusiastically at his oatmeal.
"Okay great" Kurt grinned, "he's really excited about it you know."
"Really."
"Yep, how long are you working today?"
"Until lunch, depends on what comes in. Why you want to come down, help your old man out?"
"I'll see" smiled Kurt as he stabbed some melon and popped it into his mouth.
A comfortable silence spread between the couple as they ate their breakfasts in companionable silence.
"Well let me know if your coming down" smiled Burt as he stood and headed to the sink, dropping his dishes into the bowl and draining the last of his coffee before placing the mug in the bowl too, "see you later buddy."
"Bye Dad" smiled Kurt, "have a good day."
Kurt watched as his father pulled on his cap and shrugged into this jacket and heavy boots before he cast him a wave and headed out the door into the chill of the early morning.
Kurt pushed his fruit around the bowl for several more minutes before giving up and sliding it into the trash, running water into the bowl he stood and cleaned the dishes before refreshing his coffee mug and carrying it into the lounge. Curling up in the large armchair in the corner of the room he pulled a blanket around himself and turned on the TV to watch the early morning show and wait for everyone else to wake up.
The morning light was shining brightly through the shutters when Kurt turned his attention to a knock at the front door, struggling out of his blanket, he flung it over the arm of the chair and uncurled his legs before standing and making his way over to the window to check out who was calling this early.
Rolling his eyes at the sight of the visitor he pulled open the door to be greeted to the sound of "morning princess."
"Oh great and to what do I owe this early morning pleasure" asked Kurt tersely as he gestured Puck inside.
"Picking up your brother" answered Puck looking around as he stepped into the room, hands shoved into the pockets of his tatty jeans, "is he ready then?"
"You'll be lucky" scoffed Kurt as he flopped back down into his chair.
"Oh man, he's still in bed isn't he" grumbled Puck as stood in the middle of the room.
"Yep, you might as well sit down" said Kurt gesturing to the couch.
"So, how you been princess" asked Puck as he dropped onto the couch and rested his arms along its back.
"Please don't call me that" glared Kurt.
"Fine, how have you been Kuuurrrrtt" repeated Puck sarcastically; earning him a raise of one of Kurt's arched eyebrows.
"Okay" he shrugged.
"Those posh dudes treating you right?" he asked.
"Yeah, the posh dudes are great" Kurt replied with a grin despite himself.
"Cool."
"Look Puck do you want me to go wake him up for you?" Kurt asked.
"Nah, I've got time" Puck replied looking absently around the room.
"Say princess, what's that on your face?"
"Sorry what?"
"On your face, what's that by your eye?" asked Puck startling Kurt as he leant quickly forward to peer closer at Kurt.
"Oh, that's nothing" replied Kurt cautiously trying to come off nonchalant.
"Oh that's definitely a something princess" said Puck with more force, he was now standing and looking down at Kurt carefully.
"Puck it's fine, please leave it alone." Kurt pleaded quietly.
"Who did it Kurt" Puck asked gently.
"Puck really it's fine, leave it please" Kurt repeated.
"Come off it Hummel I know a black eye when I see one and that's definitely the remains of a pretty good shiner, now who the hell did it, don't make me come to that prissy school of yours and beat it out of somebody."
Kurt winced at the example Puck used but otherwise remained quiet.
"Come on princess" Puck tried in a kinder tone, dropping down into a squat so that he could rest his hands on Kurt's knees and look into his watery blue eyes, "who did that to you?"
A single tear slid down Kurt's face betraying the composure he was desperately trying to hold onto, Puck catching it gently with his thumb before standing and dropping back onto the couch.
"Okay, you don't want to tell me, I get that but have you at least told your dad?"
"No" sniffed Kurt wiping his hand over his cheek to dispel any trace of the tell tale tear.
"Have you told Finn?"
"Told Finn what" came a mumbled voice from the stairs, both boys turned to see a very crumpled Finn rubbing his eyes with his hand as he made his way down the last few steps.
"That your bro here's gone and got himself a shiner" replied Puck gesturing to Kurt who was glaring at him with a look of betrayal.
"He's got a what...?" asked Finn in confusion still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Nothing Finn, it's nothing" snapped Kurt jumping out of his chair and making for the stairs.
"Hummel it's not nothing" Puck stated grabbing Kurt by the arm and forcing him to stop his retreat.
"Puck you let me go right now or so help me..."
"Hey, what's going on" Blaine asked from the doorway as he watched the scene in front of him; Kurt was clearly distressed and Puck had hold of his arm, Finn just looked baffled.
"You okay babe" Blaine asked as he made his way over to him and Puck, gently taking his hand and leading him away from Pucks grip.
"Yeah fine" said Kurt giving him a small smile.
"What's going on?" he asked again.
"What the hell's going on at that prissy school of yours" Puck ground out accusingly, "I thought you guys were supposed to look out for the princess here."
"Uh excuse me" said Blaine in disbelief, "KURT is certainly well looked after at Dalton."
"Puck just leave it" Kurt begged again.
"I will not leave it princess" Puck snapped.
"Dude what the hell is wrong with you" Finn finally asked.
"Your brothers black eye is whats wrong with me" snapped Puck looking at Finn in aggravation.
"His what...?" asked Finn turning Kurt by the shoulders so that he could look at his eyes.
"What the hell dude, when did this happen?" he asked gently.
"Last Friday" answered Kurt quietly, his shoulders sagging as he came to the conclusion that there was no escape to be had.
Blaine came up beside him and took his hand giving it a firm squeeze of encouragement, "and for the record everyone at that 'prissy school' is wonderful to me" glared Kurt.
"So dude where'd you get it?" asked Finn in concern.
"Dave" said Kurt in a resigned voice.
"That posh kid" asked Puck, "I thought he was your mate?" he said glaring at Blaine.
"Not David" snapped Blaine in his friends defence, "Dave. McKinley Dave."
"Karofsky" Finn and Puck repeated together, "when the hell did you run into him" asked Finn.
"Guys I really appreciate the concern but I am fine, it's nearly gone, no-one needs to know, especially my dad" he said, fixing each of them with steely glare.
"Dude..."
"NO Finn, I mean it, just leave it okay."
"Princess..."
"I said NO Puck, it happened, it's over, I'm moving on, now just leave it" Kurt spat before turning and stalking into the kitchen.
"What the hell do you know about this Anderson" Puck asked menacingly.
Blaine watched Kurt go before squaring his shoulders and turning to face the wall of muscle that was Finn and Puck who were both staring at him with less than impressed looks on their faces.
"Look guys" Blaine raised his hands in surrender, "I didn't know, honest, at least not immediately anyway, but he doesn't want anyone to know okay."
"Bull" mumbled Puck, "I would have thought you of all people would want to do something about it."
"You think I don't?" Blaine spat in irritation, "you don't think I wanted to drive straight over here and kick the shit out of him for laying his hands on Kurt?"
"Well did you?" goaded Puck.
"No Puck I didn't because that's not what Kurt wants and frankly I'll do whatever he needs me to do to make this situation better for him regardless of how much it goes against every fibre of my being to do so."
"Hummpph" grouched Puck although he was starting to calm down somewhat.
"So dude is he really okay?" asked Finn quietly with a quick glance toward the kitchen.
"Believe it or not I think so" Blaine answered honestly with a careful look at Finn's face, "he knows what he wants and quite simply none of us are game enough to go against him and he doesn't want anyone to know so that's what were going with."
"What about Karofsky?"
"Let's just say if I meet him anytime soon its open season."
"Too right" agreed Puck dropping back down onto the couch, "damn prick."
Blaine wound his arms around his boyfriend's waist as he hugged him close from where he stood staring unseeingly out into the garden.
"You okay" he asked gently to be met with silence, "baby are you okay" he asked again.
"Fine" Kurt replied sagging slightly in Blaine's embrace, "are they gone?"
"No just gone up to Finn's room I think."
"Are they going to tell my dad" he asked in a shaky voice.
"No at least I don't think so."
"That's something" sighed Kurt dropping his head back onto Blaine's shoulder.
"They just care about you" Blaine mumbled into Kurt's ear.
"I know" he sighed, "but I just want it all to go away and Puck going off on one is not helping."
"At least you know he cares" laughed Blaine softly against Kurt's cheek, "and he's right you know, he does deserve to have his arse kicked."
"Blaine" Kurt warned.
"I know" Blaine sighed, "you don't want that but man I would love ten minutes alone with that guy."
Kurt smiled despite himself, Blaine was usually so proper, so conservative but he also knew he had a temper and nothing could bring it to the surface quicker than taking a shot at his boyfriend and although Kurt usually scolded this kind of action he could appreciate that he had rendered his boyfriend impotent to act against Karofsky and he deserved some kind of outlet for his anger.
"Come on slugger" smiled Kurt, "let's get you fed so you can get back."
"You know I don't need to head off straight away" said Blaine following Kurt to the counter and dropping into a seat.
"Doesn't Nick want to get back?"
"Don't think so, Jeff's at home this weekend so there's nothing waiting for him."
"Okay then that'd be great" smiled Kurt as he dropped some of Finn's pop tarts into the toaster, "it looks as though Finn is going to be out with Puck today so I'd be on my own if you and Nick went back early."
"Then we're definitely staying" smiled Blaine.
"What are we doing" asked Nick scratching his head as he shuffled into the kitchen attracted by the smell of coffee and toasted goods.
"You okay to hang out for a while" asked Blaine.
"Sure" said Nick lifting the mug of coffee to his lips that Kurt had just placed in front of him.
"What's wrong with your hair?" asked Kurt in amusement.
"What do you mean?"
"You look like hedgehogs have nested in it" Kurt replied in a tone somewhere between amusement and disgust.
"Hey Jeff say's its adorable" said Nick sticking his tongue out before taking another swig of his coffee.
"Yes well Jeff is clearly crazy" laughed Kurt.
"By the way, he was pissed about the sleep over" grinned Nick taking a bite out of a pop tart which Kurt had dropped onto a plate managing to burn his fingers in the process.
Kurt rolled his eyes and handed Blaine a coffee mug before heading out of the kitchen to hit the shower.