I had so many problems with this episode, and mostly to do with Kurt's treatment. He deserved to get in to NYADA. For one thing, he absolutely nailed his audition! Carmen loved him; his acceptance seemed a sure thing. Yet Rachel, who choked, got in after Carmen saw the New Directions perform in Chicago. While I agree that Rachel deserved another chance, I don't agree that it should have been at the cost of Kurt's happiness. He's been through enough; he deserves a break. Yes, I know that life isn't always fair. Rachel's audition was proof positive of that. She'd had everything handed to her on a silver platter up until then. But why should things suddenly turn around for her after Carmen watches her perform in Chicago, while Kurt, who has struggled beyond belief to get to where he now is, gets rejected? Talk about not being fair! Anyway, rant over (at least, for now). This is set after Finn, Kurt, and Rachel open their letters, but before Finn takes Rachel to the train station where she says goodbye to everyone. We know that Kurt would have been upset about his rejection – who wouldn't be? Yet we don't see either Blaine or Burt comforting him or having a discussion about what his next move should be. This is what I imagine would – and should – have happened on the show.

Kurt stumbled out of the choir room, hardly aware of his surroundings. All he knew was that he had to find Blaine – Blaine, who was his rock, his confidant, his best friend, his first love. In this moment, as all his hopes and dreams came crumbling down around him, Kurt needed Blaine more than he needed air to breathe. He found Blaine standing by his locker, waiting for him. "Blaine," he whimpered, and held out the letter to him – the letter that, with just a few words, had destroyed his plans for the future.

Blaine took the sheet of paper that Kurt handed him, his eyes skimming over its contents. In the next instant, Kurt was in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Blaine rocked him back and forth, rubbing his back and petting his hair, something that only he could get away with doing. Eventually, he guided Kurt to sit on the floor, leaning against the row of lockers and taking Kurt back in his arms, the lithe boy practically resting in his lap. Neither boy had yet to say a word, Kurt just crying as though his world was ending. And in a way, Blaine supposed, it was. New York was all that Kurt had ever dreamed of for its fashion, music . . . acceptance; to have that all snatched away on a whim would be devastating for anyone, but to none more so than Kurt.

At a loss as to what else to do, Blaine settled for pressing his lips to the top of Kurt's head and whispering, "It'll be alright, you'll see. We'll think of something, together, I promise."

Although Kurt continued to cry, Blaine could tell that he was past the initial hysteria by the way he was gripping his forearms with a surprising amount of strength for one so skinny. Finally, Kurt's sobbing slowed, before coming to a complete halt. However, his face remained buried in Blaine's chest, as though he could shut out the world that way. Eventually, though, he pulled away and sat up so that he was next to Blaine instead of resting in his lap. Despite being tempted to apologize for what he'd just put Blaine through – crying uncontrollably on him and staining his clothes with his tears – he knew that his boyfriend wouldn't appreciate such a comment and would brush it off as nothing.

Blaine was watching Kurt, and knew that he was fighting the urge to apologize for what had just happened. He shifted his arm so that it was wound about Kurt's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. They sat like that for many minutes, Kurt taking great shuddering gulps of air as he attempted to regulate his breathing and not hyperventilate and Blaine offering his silent support.

"Let's get you home," he said at last, rising to his feet and offering Kurt his hand in a move reminiscent of their first-ever prom together. With his arm around Kurt's waist, he guided him towards his car, opening the door for him and buckling his seat belt for him. Briefly brushing their lips together, he made his way around to the driver's side and got in. As he drove to Kurt's house, keeping one hand on the wheel at all times, he let Kurt grip his other hand as tightly as he desired, even if he would later swear that it took hours to get the blood circulating again. He couldn't begrudge Kurt whatever form of comfort that he felt he needed at this time.

In no time at all, they had arrived at the Hummel-Hudson residence. Blaine helped Kurt out of the car, guiding him up the driveway and through the door. Burt met them in the hallway. With one look at Kurt's pale face and Blaine's worried expression, he moved forward, wrapping his arms around both boys. Together, they shuffled into the living room and situated themselves on the couch.

"What happened?" Burt asked, unable to bear the silence any longer.

"I didn't get in," Kurt whispered, his voice choking on the words, and Blaine could tell that he was close to tears again. Obviously, Burt could tell as well, for he pulled Kurt into his arms and held him close to his chest.

"It's alright, kiddo," he whispered. "Let it out; whatever you're feeling, let it out."

Without further ado, Kurt began to sob uncontrollably again, now staining his dad's shirt with his tears. What felt like hours later, Kurt's breathing evened out as his body began to relax after the stress he had been through.

Loathe as Burt was to further add to Kurt's pain, they needed to talk about what happened next. After all, Kurt hadn't made a backup plan; he'd pinned all his hopes on New York and getting in to NYADA. "I know you might not be ready to talk about this," said Burt hesitantly. "But we need to talk about what you plan to do next."

With a great shuddering breath, Kurt raised his head, chin set, and Blaine could cheer at the fire he saw building in his eyes.

"I'm going to stay right here," he proclaimed. "I want to be near you." This, he directed at Blaine. "I can take a couple of classes at OSU; work with the community theater; and then audition for NYADA again next year, or perhaps some other school. Then we can go to New York together and graduate in the same class. This way, we never have to be apart."

"It's your choice, Kurt," said Burt, "But you know that I'll support you in whatever you decide. And if this is what you really want . . ."

"It is, Dad," Kurt replied. "Thank you for understanding."

Father and son embraced while Blaine looked on with tears in his eyes, wishing that he could have as easy a relationship with his own father. Instead, theirs had always been fraught with tension. No matter, though; Kurt was his family now, and, by extension, Burt, Carole, and Finn.

Kurt then released Burt and moved to wrap his arms around Blaine. Though they'd yet to really exchange words about what had happened, Kurt appreciated Blaine's silent support and attempted to express this to him through their embrace. Blaine seemed to understand, for his grip on Kurt tightened and he buried his head in the crook of Kurt's neck. While he was grateful that they wouldn't have to be separated for the next year, he regretted that his happiness had to come at the cost of Kurt's dreams. Still, it wasn't the end, not really. Kurt would have another chance, and then they could conquer New York together, as they had always been meant to be.