Disclaimer: I refuse to disclaim because it is quite obvious I do not own Glee. This will be my only non-disclaimer. Because I don't disclaim.

AN: Shout out to Stardust585 for their lovely inspiring review. Comments like Stardusts' remind me why I write – not because I have to, or because I'm expected to, but because I want to and I enjoy it.

Apologies to Blaine lovers, he has some rough stuff in store for him…I love him too, but it had to be done –wince-. Also, just in case it wasn't clear enough in this chapter, the Karofsky kiss thing did not happen.

Warnings for this chapter: brief noncon scene. Nothing graphic.

No hell below us…

Kurt found getting out of bed that day a struggle. Well, to be accurate, more of a struggle then it usually was when the day happened to be anywhere between Monday and Friday. Unlike most kids, it wasn't the thought of the hard work or the disciplinary atmosphere of school that bothered him – it was the people. He had his friends, of course, but in general the people at McKinley High were insufferable.

"What about Glee?" His father asked as he explained why he wasn't exactly eager for school as they ate breakfast. "You love Glee."

Kurt sat in silence for a moment, stirring his food across his plate. "Yeah," He said finally. "I guess." Burt gave him a concerned glance, but said nothing further on the matter. Kurt appreciated his silence – he really did not feel like talking about whether he did or didn't enjoy Glee at that moment.

Because to be honest, he didn't. He couldn't help but be angered by the fact that he was yet again grouped with the boys in another battle of the sexes. Yet again pushed into a group where he wasn't cared about and wasn't understood. Where he was more likely to be ridiculed then supported.

"Whatever." He muttered. "I don't care anyway."

"What was that?" Burt asked, looking up from his plate.

"Nothing." Kurt sighed. "It's nothing dad."

…X…

Meeting Blaine was the best thing that had happened to Kurt in a long time. Blaine was perfect. He was funny, smart, good looking, talented and most importantly, outwardly gay. He was just what Kurt had been searching for, everything he had been wanting and needing for so long. He was perfect.

Kurt could think of nothing else for days after his visit to Dalton Academy, other then just how perfect Blaine was. He incited a new kind of electricity and excitement in Kurt – something he hadn't felt in a long time. He smiled subconsciously as his phone beeped, alerting him of a newly received text message.

I hope it's from him…

He wasn't disappointed.

K, it read.

Hope today is better then yesterday. Remember your courage!

B x

A smile overtook his face as he read, once again revelling in how much his life had changed for the better since meeting Blaine just days ago.

"You look happy," He was jerked out of his thoughts by Mercedes voice. "This doesn't have anything to do with the cute boy in your locker does it?"

Kurt smirked, closing his locker and turning to his best friend. "So what if it does." He said with a cursive glance.

"Ooh, boy you better spill!" Mercedes practically squealed, catching up to him.

"There is nothing to spill." He answered quickly.

"Yet?' Came Mercedes' response.

He paused, before smiling. "Yet." He agreed. The same smile would occupy his face for the rest of the day.

…X…

A week and a half later, Kurt was lying on his bed, commiserating with himself over the revelation his father had just announced. Finn and Carole would be moving back in. Permanently. And Burt was getting married.

He was interrupted by his morose thoughts by the shrill ringing of his phone. "Hello." He said, lacking his usual enthusiasm.

"Hey Kurt it's Blaine. Are you alright? You never texted me back…"

Kurt perked up slightly at the sound of Blaine's voice. "Hey." He said with a smile. "Sorry, dad decided to drop a bomb on me."

"That's okay. What's up?"
"Finn's moving back in. And Carole…Dad's marrying her." Kurt said finally with a sigh, flopping back down onto his bed.

"I see." Despite the fact that Kurt couldn't see Blaine through the phone, he could picture the thoughtful look he was sure to have on his face. "Is that a problem?"

Kurt seethed. "Of course it is a problem! Finn's the one that, he, he…He can't live here again!" He said quickly.

Blaine was quiet for a minute, before answering. "It's alright Kurt, calm down. Maybe you should give Finn another chance." Blaine's voice was always so calm, so soothing. Kurt didn't know how he did it.

"What?" Kurt asked, shaking his head. "No, I don't think-"

"Just hear me out." Blaine said patiently. When Kurt didn't interrupt, he continued. "You said Finn apologised for the things he said, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Listen for a sec." Blaine reminded him quietly. "Think about it from his point of view. Think if, say…Rachel was doing to you what you did to Finn. You wouldn't like it, right?"

"Of course not." Kurt scoffed. "Despite the fact that she is clearly female, any advance from that…thing…would be something out of a nightmare!"

"Exactly. Think about it. To Finn, you are Rachel. You said he wasn't gay right?"

"Yeah…" Kurt answered, sounding a little morose.

"So to him, you are someone who isn't female, hitting on him and getting too close for comfort, right?"

"I guess…" Kurt still didn't sound sure.

"What I'm trying to say, is that Finn's not a bad guy. From what you have told me, he's not deliberately malicious. It is more then likely he didn't mean anything he said to you that day, and was speaking from anger and annoyance. You've said stuff you didn't mean, right? Well it's just like that. He was angry and he snapped. It doesn't mean he hates you…Just, think about it Kurt. If you don't mind me being a little blunt, Finn will be moving in regardless of how you feel about him. So, isn't it easier not to hate him?"

There was silence for a few moments, before Kurt nodded. "Yeah." He said finally. "Yeah I guess you're right. I don't think he really meant it the way I took it…"

Kurt paused, smiling. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Blaine said innocently, the hint of a smile in his voice.

"I don't know. Be so wise, make me realise I'm wrong…" he shook his head. "When anyone else does that it just makes me argue. You're different."

Blaine laughed quietly. "Well, as much as I am glad to be of service, I did have another reason for calling." He admitted.

"And what was that?" Kurt said imperiously, sitting up a little.

"Well," Blaine began. "I don't know how you will take this, so feel free to tell me to bugger off or whatever. But, I was wondering…if you wanted to go out with me?"

Kurt was shocked into silence. "Wait." He said finally. "Like, not as friends?"

"As boyfriends." Blaine clarified. "I want you to be my boyfriend."

"Yes!" Kurt said quickly. "Yes of course!"

"Great." Blaine sighed with what sounded like relief. "Wow that wasn't as hard and awkward as I imagined it." He joked, causing Kurt to smile fondly.

"To be honest, I…" Kurt trailed off. "I was really hoping you would ask."

"Awesome." Blaine said quietly. "Well that's that then…when do you want to go on our first date?"

Kurt paused. "Are you free tomorrow?"

Blaine laughed slightly. "Of course, I'll pick you up at seven."

…X…

"Wait, what?" Finn said quickly, turning to his mother. "We're moving back in with the Hummels?" Panic coursed through his veins briefly as he contemplated this revelation. "Why?"

His mother glanced at him as if he was stupid. A lot of people did that. "Because, Finn, we are getting married. Like I told you."

"But…moving back in?" His eyes widened.

"Married, Finn. As in, living together, hyphenating our last names, married."

"I have to hyphenate my last name?" Finn said, horror overtaking him.

Carole sighed. "No Finn, you don't. But you do have to move in."

"But…" Finn searched for any excuse he could think of. "But Burt kicked me out!" He latched onto this idea with a vengeance – there was no way he was moving back in with Kurt. Not after what he had said to him!

"It was Burt's idea." Carole admitted. "He thinks you boys are ready to try again. What's the problem, Finn?" His mother enquired, looking at him with worry.

"I just…" He shook his head. "I don't want to move back in, okay?" I can't. His mind finished. I can't face him. I can never make up for what I said.

"I don't understand this Finn." Carole said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry that you feel that way, but we are moving in next week, so I really hope you can resolve this by then."

"But…" Finn tried, before sighing. "Fine. Whatever. I'll be in my room." With that he left the kitchen, his nerves pulsing with anger, confusion and another emotion he couldn't identify.

Why does this have to happen? He thought desperately. I can't deal with this right now. He shook his head, banging his fist onto his desk. I gotta get out of here. With that thought he jumped up from his chair, grabbing his bag and phone. Without a word to his mother, he left the house and made his way down the road. It was times like this he wished he had a car…

Half an hour later found Finn on a sidewalk in the less respectable side of town. Catching sight of a bench, he quickly decided to have a break from walking and sit down for a bit.

It was while he was seated that he saw it – a hooded character not far away from him, walking slowly in his direction. Recognition hit him as he realised he had seen the same figure earlier on his walk. Was this guy following him?

Unnerved, Finn got to his feet and continued the way he had been going. The footsteps behind him increased in pace as his did. Steeling himself for the encounter, Finn turned around.

"What's the deal, man?" he said with a confidence he didn't feel.

The man looked up at him, revealing a brutish, thug-like face beneath his hood. The stalker was older, probably in his forties. He had a strange gleam in his eye that immediately made Finn's hair stand on edge.

"Well aren't you a good looking guy?" The man sneered; his voice was just like his face – ugly and hard.

Finn backed up at the predatory gleam in his eyes. "Look man, just leave me be and I'll be on my way…" he said, taking a slight step backwards with his hands held out.

"Not very smart though, by the looks of it. Coming out here all alone. Knowing I was following you but still turning to confront me. Brave, but stupid. Very stupid." The man assessed Finn again, his eyes lingering on Finn's panicked face. "You deserve everything you get, boy." He said with a low chuckle. "It's like they say. If you're stupid enough to get into the situation then…well, I don't know what they say but it's something along the lines of you deserving what happens to you. At least I won't feel too bad about this."

"Please." Finn said with a quick breath. "Just let me go. I won't tell anyone."

"Damn right you won't boy." The man took a step closer as Finn took one back. "Now just come over here and let's make this easy for you."

Finn didn't move.

"No?" He shook his head. "Well let me put it this way. You come over here willingly, and I'll spare you what's most important."

"Please." Finn gasped. "Please let me go." His attempts at backing up further were stopped by a solid pressing against his back. A wall. He was cornered.

"Come now." The man said, taking a step closer so that he was now within arms reach. "I'm going to say this one more time." He paused, reaching into his pocket. Finn's eyes widened as he saw the shiny point of a knife. "You do one quick thing for me, and no one gets hurt. This is your last chance boy." He held out the knife. "What's it going to be?"

Finn gulped, his eyes trained on the foot long knife in the stranger's hands. Finally he nodded with a reluctance that almost stopped his breathing.

"Good." The man smiled. It was the worst smile Finn had ever seen, and one he would never forget. "Now get down on your knees."

…X…

I'm home, was his only thought as he saw his front door. Home. Safe. He hurried inside, not stopped for anything, and made his way straight to his room. There, he collapsed onto his bed and cried.

Why does this happen to me?

He couldn't help recalling the man's voice, almost like it was answering him.

Because you are stupid. If you are stupid enough to get into the situation, then you deserve all you get.

How can this be happening?