A/N: Hello. I know it has been a long while since I last updated this story. I have been meaning to do it more often, but as usual, life always gets in the way. I am graduating from Uni... FINALLY. It's been a long road, but I'm kind of glad that school is over now. I don't have to worry about having anything distracting me... well except looking for work and all that. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and make sure you Review and Favorite, and Alert so you can be updated. I promise to try and update every week on the same day. Hopefully. Thanks. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.

Chapter Two: Alone, But Never Forgotten

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They hadn't been in the library more than five minutes, when Wes joined them, slumping down at their table, books hitting the mahogany item with a loud thump that on any other day would have sent the head councilman packing. But today, the librarian just glared at him, shaking her head, before returning to her book, whilst the three boys went back to their work, ignoring Wes' whispering about finally having other people to talk to, not that talking to them was dull or anything. Kurt had to laugh when Blaine kicked Wes under the table, and the Head Councilman basically shouted 'ouch' to the whole empty library, which was empty and echoed. Kurt wasn't sure whether or not leaving would send a bad message to his boyfriend, but Wes was pissing him off, and he does have this AP English assignment he needs to get done by tomorrow, otherwise he's going to be in for a long week of work, that he won't have time to do, what with Warbler rehearsals starting back up, and his work at the Tyre Shop, and helping Rachel... so many things he has to do for other people... nothing for himself really. He works at the tyre shop to help his father, getting paid is a bonus, the Warblers is for Blaine, and Rachel can't get anyone else to help her, because no one else really likes her that much. But this was taking his mind off of focussing on the work he's meant to be doing... The Breakfast Club was their text, and as much as Kurt adored the movie, the assignment was driving him insane. How the hell is he meant to understand 'the complex relationships that the characters have formed with one another, during a detention period, where before, none of the characters had in any way interacted with one another!? Discuss, with reference to the culture, and scenes from the movie'. It's a question from another world, and he's stumped. Kurt never gets stumped on things like this, but then again, he's always had a love-hate relationship with English.

Wes was still whispering about something to do with the Warblers, and Kurt had reached the threshold for the amount of nonsense he wanted to hear from Wes. Standing, he apologised to Blaine, picked up his books, and left, not looking back, as Blaine turned to scold the head Warbler, who was looking anywhere but in front of him. Kurt made it back to his and Nick's room when a text rang through the silent halls. Mercedes was going on a date with Sam tonight, and she was texting Kurt to find out which outfit she should wear. To be honest, he doesn't really care, because she looks fabulous in everything, but she's a good friend, and always someone Kurt can rely on at McKinley, or for a gossip session. Rachel, of course, is the head Gossiper of McKinley, nothing gets past her, but Mercedes has a gentler touch when it comes to spreading gossip about people. Not that it's a good thing anyway; no one should be talked about behind their back. Yet, it's a common re-occurrence that happens everywhere, not just in schools, but work places too. Kurt texted the girl back with his opinion of her latest outfit, adding that 'she looks great in everything' before settling onto his bed, opening his books, and blocking out the silence with his iPod. He would explain his behaviour to Blaine when he gets a chance, but he's become so sick of Wes' rambling, he's considering calling David to get him to come back early. He's so glad he's moving away next year, he won't need to have Wes and David on his back about being late to rehearsals, or not getting the right key in a Katy Perry song... Even thinking about them is getting him worked up. A technique his therapist recommends, is closing his eyes, and breathing deeply. But that stopped working when the nightmares/memories started up again. He's not sure why. Maybe it's because it's almost the end of senior year, maybe it's stress... or maybe there's something else going on, that he's not privy to...

It was a rush of emotions. She had been running through the house, throwing things into a bag, not even taking into account the ramifications this would have on her marriage or her relationship with Burt... or her son. Kurt, her precious five year old boy, who was helping her to put things in her bag, not knowing the reason why. She had lied to him, told him it was a game they were playing... get as many clothes into the bag as possible before daddy gets home. Kurt didn't ask questions, he just grinned brightly and began helping his mother. She knew it would break Burt's heart if she took her son with her... she couldn't though. It would break her heart to leave Kurt here, but she couldn't take him with her. No matter how many times she asked, there was just nothing she could do. The front door opened, and before she had a chance to react, Kurt had sprinted downstairs, calling that his daddy was home. Elizabeth grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, and ran downstairs, Burt smiling when she appeared, but the smile quickly faded when he noticed the duffel over her shoulder. Kurt was reaching for her; she could pick him up, and be out of the house before she would change her mind. Burt had a feeling this wasn't going to be good. His wife had been acting strangely for a couple of months, and now... she's got a bag packed. The bald man turned to pick up the phone, and Elizabeth grabbed Kurt, sprinted out of the house to the car, buckled Kurt in, got in the driver's seat and sped down the driveway, not letting herself cry as she watched her husband chase after the car, until he couldn't anymore. Little five year old Kurt was curled into the seat beside her, dressed in nothing but a polo, and jeans that barely covers his ankles, and Burt's fishing hat, that she'd grabbed off the hook. He looked so small, but she had to keep going, she couldn't go back...

When Nick returned to the room, Kurt had fallen asleep, finished paper sitting on the desk, books stacked neatly on the floor. The boy couldn't help but wonder if Kurt was under some kind of stress. He hadn't seen his friend like this since... well it was about four years ago, when they were fourteen, and Kurt had been in a really weird faze of his life, talking about death and why people always leave. To be honest, he did know the answer to the question, but he didn't want to give his friend anymore of a reason to harm himself, like he'd been doing back then. Nick texted Blaine to come and wake Kurt, because no doubt, it was better than Wes and David barging into the room, demanding they come to the rehearsal, even though it's Sunday, and technically, they can't log any hours until tomorrow. But it's Wes, if he could work every day, for the next hundred years, he'd be happy... him and that damn gavel. Kurt stirred, just before Blaine arrived, Jeff in tow. Nick excused himself to help Jeff unpack his things, and let Blaine into the room, closing the door behind him. Kurt sat up, rubbing his eyes, and looked around the room. In his slumber, he had dreamt of a story that his father used to tell him, about a woman, who loved him very much, so much that she had to leave in order to watch over him. He thought about it back then and figured it was just his father being silly, but now he knows that he's trying to make his mother seem like someone she's not. He wanted to make her out to be the hero, when really; she's the woman who abandoned them. That's the truth, but the dream... is so real. Almost as though it's truthful... to the point that, loving Kurt, is what caused her to leave... like it's his fault...

'Blaine, what's your mother like?' Kurt asked, having not met Mrs. Anderson

'Um, she's great. Why?' Blaine asked, wondering if Kurt was getting at something

'Did she sing you to sleep, cook your favourite meal when you were sick? Does she call you randomly from wherever she is, just to hear your voice?' Kurt asked, and then remembered that Blaine doesn't know, not taking the question back

'Why don't you come over to my house next weekend? You can meet both my parents, they've wanted to meet you anyway,' Blaine said, and Kurt nodded, smiling, and masking his true emotions... this is a conversation to have with his father.

There is a moment, just before the sounds of the Warblers fill the common room, that Kurt closes his eyes, and counts to ten. He's never known why he does it; Rachel always tells him that he uses it as a coping mechanism that ten is like his safe number or something. He's beginning to think that the brunette is crazier than he is. Wes was talking with David and Thad on the other side of the room, both of them were looking at the Warblers, sporadically spread throughout their common room, their main focus on Blaine and Kurt, who were sitting on the couch together, Kurt counting to ten, and Blaine flipping through his history textbook. They haven't been back at school for more than four hours, and they've already called a Warbler meeting. Wes must have been dying whilst his best-friend was away for the weekend, stuck here with Blaine, Nick and Kurt, three people who aren't allowed to make the decisions when it comes to the Warblers. Input and opinions sure, but never actually allowed to make choices... Kurt doesn't mind that much, he likes control sure, but there is something about the spontaneity of the Warblers that gives him a rush of adrenalin. It's Jeff who calls the room to attention, forcing John, Ian and Riker to stop their conversation about sports, and finally listen to what the council are saying, which is a first. Kurt opens his eyes, to find Blaine staring at him, a little worried, but curious as well. Kurt just smiles at him, and turns to focus on Wes, who is holding his gavel and glaring at everyone. Nick whispers to Kurt that he wishes this would be over already, and the countertenor agrees, and the meeting hasn't even officially... Wes bangs the gavel... okay now it's started. Four hours of this, and Kurt is going to go mad, but risking anything other than attention could get him booted, and he'd rather not make a scene with Wes and David.

Burt called at seven that night, right on time like he always does. It would have been fine, but Blaine was in the middle of a crisis, and Kurt was helping him so interruptions weren't really the best thing right now. He understood though. Burt lives two hours away, whereas Blaine's family is only a thirty minute drive from the school. He can't begrudge his boyfriend the time to talk to his father, even if that talk lasts an hour, and interrupts the time they have to study for their history final. Kurt moves over to the couch, pulling Blaine with him, and demanding the boy keep studying whilst he's on the phone, to which Blaine agrees, reluctantly, taking the pencil that Kurt is offering him, so he can jot down notes Kurt has made in his margins. He loves when he opens his books, and sees little notes from Kurt, signed with a heart or a smiley face. It's the little things that make him love Kurt even more, so much that sometimes he feels the need to just burst out and say it, but Nick has warned him against it. It was only two months into their relationship when Nick told Jeff that he loved him, and the other boy didn't say it back. Nick was devastated. Eventually, Jeff said it, but it took them a while to get past. Blaine doesn't want Kurt to feel pressured. He knows that the other boy loves him, just because of things like writing in the margins. Even if he doesn't say it back, it's not going to kill him... right? Kurt chuckled, bringing Blaine back to the present, and to the work in front of him, whilst Kurt talked sport... obviously he's talking to Finn. It's surprising to Blaine, how knowledgeable Kurt is about sport, when he doesn't even really like it. It's not the kind of thing you would just... pick up at the press of a button, you have to be really into it, but living with Finn must do that.

Kurt told his father about going over to the Anderson's this weekend to meet Blaine's parents, and Burt was silent on the other end of the phone for a moment. Kurt knew why, he gave his father time to process what he'd just been told and formulate a response. They've got their relationship down to the nines, and when Burt replies, that he's happy Kurt will be meeting the Anderson's the countertenor smiles, and Blaine smiles and then everyone is smiling. Sure, he's nervous too, but smiling nonetheless. When he finally hangs up the phone after talking to his father about everything and anything, Blaine is looking at his with puppy-dog eyes and pleading with him for help with the homework. Reluctantly, and against his better judgement (he should be doing his own homework) he moves to help his boyfriend with the question set for their exam at the end of the year. Blaine just watches with amusement and awe as Kurt writes a fifteen line paragraph and hands it back to him, telling him to elaborate on it. Blaine can't understand how Kurt can get so much done with everything that goes on, but he manages to still help everyone out when they need it. Tomorrow is Tuesday. Their first Warbler rehearsal back and Wes has already decided what songs they're doing for nationals. They're up against the New Directions again this year, and from what Kurt has told him about Rachel and their routines, (which Finn had accidentally told him about), they're going to have to pull out all the stops to beat them. Between history and English, Kurt had become almost tired, to the point where he was considering skipping the annual "two months before Nationals common room dinner" with the Warblers. He has to study himself, and already, he's further behind.

'Do you think we should get going to this dinner?' Blaine asked, closing his book with a thud, and putting it onto the couch beside him

'You go, I'll catch up' he replied, accepting the soft kiss Blaine pressed to his lips.

'Don't forget, that we have that new teacher tomorrow, and the Warblers have been tasked with introducing her to the school. She's going to be coordinating with the Drama department,' Blaine replied, as he opened the door, looking back at Kurt who was staring out the window

'I'll be there,' Kurt said, not looking at his boyfriend, and Blaine reluctantly left...

When Kurt was fifteen, he got on a train and went to Columbia, to try and locate his mother. He wanted to ask her why she had left him alone at the gas station all those years ago. He didn't tell his father, or anyone that he was going, and Nick was right beside him the whole time anyway, but he had called his mother, worried that Kurt was going to do something stupid again. He is allowed to be worried about his best-friend. he's allowed to call his mother and Kurt's father and ask them to be waiting for them when he convinces Kurt that looking for his mother isn't going to end well. He says he understands what Kurt's going through, but he knows that Kurt only pretends to accept that, he knows that if Kurt wasn't feeling the way that he was right now, he would argue that Nick has no idea what its like, because he has his parents, and they've always been there. When he finally convinces Kurt to get on the train back to Lima, they're barely speaking to one another. The train ride back home is silent. Nick doesn't think that Kurt will ever speak to him again, but then he hears words that Kurt doesn't say often... he says that he's sorry. In the ten years they've been friends, Kurt has only said sorry a small amount of times. Mostly, because he never does anything that warrants him saying sorry, but when he does, Nick knows that he means it. They spend the rest of the ride back to Lima talking and joking about what their parents are going to do to them, and Kurt promises to take the blame, not to drag Nick into it, and make sure Mandy doesn't punish him too much. Nick just chuckles and the break out into talk about what they're doing for school.

When they reach Lima, Burt is the first person to embrace his son, whispering to him that he wishes Kurt would stop running, and tell him what's going on. Kurt doesn't say anything, but apologizes to Mandy, for dragging Nick into whatever it was he was doing, and promises that Nick had been reluctant from the beginning, that it wasn't his fault. Mandy just hugs Kurt, and Nick and tells them they're idiots (cause that's what she nicknamed them), and smiles. Nick and Kurt make a promise to meet up for lunch and on the weekend, and then Kurt climbs into the car beside his father, and looks out the window as Burt drives them back through town to their two story white house. Things seem to move slower for Kurt now, than they did back when he was five. Everything around him is moving at a pace that is slower than him. he's itching to get into his sophomore year, he wants to be someone, have a place in the world, and he wants it all to happen now, but he knows that he can only move as fast as the world will allow him. When Burt pulls into their driveway, Kurt doesn't make to get out of the car, he just sits, staring out the window, head resting in his palm, eyes pained. He can feel the cold from the outside, but watching the world... no matter how slow it is... for some reason is calming to him. Burt pats his sons shoulder, and gets out of the car, heading inside, reminding his son that it's cold out, and he need to come in soon. Kurt doesn't feel the cold. Not in the physical sense anyway. He could be outside in nothing, in the snow, and he wouldn't feel it. It's like he's shut himself off from that part of his body, but he can't understand why... Eventually, he climbs out of the car and goes into the house, closing the front door.

Kurt is asleep when Nick gets back to their dorm room. Wes had made a fuss about the countertenor not being there, but he hadn't really been paying attention to anything the Head Warbler had been saying, he'd been too busy with his tongue down Jeff's throat... making out. He had been making out with his boyfriend, because he figured that Kurt needed a rest, because he'd been helping them all out, and needed some time to just get up to speed for himself. He's a good friend. Nick moved over to his own bed, and began to change. He hadn't noticed that the window on Kurt's side of the room was open, allowing all the warmth on that side to be sucked out, and replaced with ice cold air. Something about it just wasn't right, but Nick just wanted to sleep, and he wouldn't have had the energy to close it anyway. He couldn't be bothered. Of course, when he was woken in the middle of the night by Kurt's whimpering, he noticed that the window was open, and his best-friend was curled into himself, rocking back and forth on his bed, eyes squeezed closed. Nick jumped out of bed, and ran over to turn the light on, before calling out to Kurt. He knows this routine. Kurt opens his eyes and shoots up on the bed, looking over at Nick, who is just standing beside his bed, a worried and pained expression on his face. Over the years, when they've had sleepovers at each others houses', Kurt had woken up during the night with nightmares, and Nick would be standing beside his bed, so Kurt would know that he was there. This was no different now that they're eighteen and at school. Kurt rubbed a hand over his face, reaching for the glass of water that was on his nightstand, and taking a sip.

'What did she do tonight?' Nick asked, knowing already what the nightmare was about

'I was five again,' was all he said, and Nick frowned

'You haven't had that one in a while. I think you should go back to see Dr. Zucker,' Nick said, worried about his best-friend, his brother.

'No, it's just one, I can manage. We have that thing tomorrow with the new teacher, and I know I'm going to get yelled at for not showing up tonight... I didn't mean to wake you,' Kurt replied, but Nick wouldn't drop it... for now, he'd let it go, but he isn't going to let it go completely... if he has to call Dr. Zucker himself, he will.

At ten the next morning, the Warblers assembled in the Main Hall, blazers neatly pressed, hair done correctly, everything neat and tidy. Kurt stood beside Nick in the second row, going over their over-rehearsed number for the new Drama teacher, who Wes had found out, was also going to be their new Warbler Teacher Liaison. Blaine was in the front; leading them in yet another practice through the number they had planned to do for nationals. Kurt just followed along; he knew the dance well enough to do it, whilst zoned out in his own mind, just letting the moves flow, without actually hearing anything else that was going on. Nick had noticed that Kurt was still a little off, and he was moving slower than the rest of them, causing him to miss moves, that were easy enough to remember. He grabbed Kurt's arm, and pulled him out of the room, which is where Kurt snapped back to reality, when he noticed that it was just him, a very worried Nick, and a pissed off looking Wes, standing outside the Main Hall. Suddenly, he realised that he hadn't been doing anything, just standing and swaying, not moving, and it was annoying Wes. Kurt never said sorry when he screwed up in the Warblers. Like Nick said, he rarely said it, but he turned to the Head Warbler, pulled the little Warbler badge off of his blazer, and handed it to him, before turning and walking away. Wes stood, gaping after him, whilst Nick sent a quick text to Blaine, before following his best-friend out of the hall. Nick found Kurt in the large courtyard, sitting on the bench near the Library building, book in his hands, pen tucked behind his ear. For all that its worth, Kurt is a good student. He tries hard, and succeeds, however, he also has a lot to deal with at the same time, and Nick is just trying to be the friend that he needs right now.

Kurt doesn't look up to see who is sitting beside him, because he already knows that it's Nick. He always knows when his best-friend is near him, because he feels warm, like he feels when Blaine is around him, and right now he's boiling, which probably means that Blaine is around as well. Nick just starts a conversation about what they're doing for Christmas. He and Blaine seem to have this conversation as if Kurt isn't there, but the countertenor knows what they're doing. He knows their tricks, at getting him to talk, at getting him out of his head. When he finally does look up, he sees the worry in Blaine's eyes, and he sees that Nick is slightly amused by the fact that he looked up when they started talking about what Blaine was planning to dress up as for the Christmas play. Kurt blushes slightly, and looks back down at his paper, pulling his legs up to his chest, book resting open on his knees, but Blaine, sits beside his boyfriend, and softly caresses his cheek, and that makes Kurt close his eyes, in a effort to push back the tears, and he smiles slightly and looks at the two boys now standing in front of him. Nick grins, and Kurt knows that he's about to be pelted with snow balls, so he stands, raises an eyebrow at Nick, (which drives Blaine crazy by the way), and smirks. They're been best-friends since they were five, there isn't anything Kurt doesn't know about Nick... so when he ducks as the first snowball is thrown, he takes the time to gather some snow in his hand, and throw it back at Nick, hitting him square in the chest.

'You know that I can always tell when you're going to do something stupid Nicholas,' Kurt says, hiding behind Blaine, who just chuckles

'I'm not doing anything that is stupid Kurt. I just wanted you to get out of your head. Now that you're back with us, you can stop using Blaine as a human shield and come back to Warbler rehearsal,' he said, but what Kurt said next surprised him... it even surprised Blaine a little, and he knew about it

'I'm not going back to rehearsal. I'm quitting the Warblers. I'm done with Wes and his six hour routines and workouts. I have school to worry about. There isn't much time left before it's over, and if I want to get into Harvard, I need to study,' Kurt said, moving to pick up his books

'Kurt, you know that we are all here if you want to talk. Please, don't shut us out. Please, don't shut me or Blaine out,' Nick said softly, but Kurt heard him, pulling him into a hug, before kissing Blaine, smiling and heading into the library

In the silence, he can hear the crackle of the fireplace. He can feel the warmth on his skin, but he chooses to ignore it. Something about it just doesn't feel right. His dad always tells him that he should wear some more clothes when they go out in the cold, but he doesn't. Oh his dad tries, dressing him over the top so that he'll be warm, but Kurt just ends up taking layers off anyway. They're in the park with Nick and his mother when Burt gets a call from a detective, who he's been working with to track down his wife. He just wants answers, something to tell Kurt when he's older and starts asking questions about why his mother isn't around, why she left him at a gas station, why someone would do something like that to a child... okay so the last one is probably more for Burt, but he needs to understand, he has to find her. The detective tells him that they don't have any leads, but they've located the car, just outside of Boston. It had been dumped by the looks of it, and everything she took with her on that night, is gone. Burt closes his eyes, she probably moved to another car to evade police... he thanks the detective, and goes back to watch Kurt and Nick run around on the small playground, playing tag. He has to laugh when Nick hides and tries to scare his son, who just laughs, and then goes back to running as if nothing had happened. But something did happen... his five year old son was abandoned by his mother... Burt was abandoned by his wife, and he wants answers... he's going to find them... no matter how long it takes.

A/N: Next Chapter: Kurt and Blaine move closer to a sexual relationship, and Kurt finally decides to tell Blaine about his past. Burt gets an unexpected surprise, and a new teacher at Dalton shakes things up. The Warblers head to Nationals against New Directions... without Kurt, which surprises Rachel, who thought she would have some witty remarks. Finn worries about his brother, and develops a love/hate relationship with another of the Warblers. Graduation and College plans get made and we might see some more of the New Directions that we'd please... :P Read and Review. See you next week. JusticeIsn'tEasy0083. D.