Thank you poptabby for the story alert and Rydinderty, Inscribed-on-my-heart and Haely Potter for a favorite story add
Temarifan9622- I'm glad you liked the chapter and Kurtcedes...more bonding will ensue in the future
WhenRiversTurnToRoads- I'm pleased you like the story and you think its great. I'll keep thinking of what goes right for the story. I think its cause right now I'm being pulled in different directions about what to do next (I have ideas- just too many perhaps).
bethanycriss- I'm glad you want more
Violethillbeautiful- Delighted it makes you go 'Awwww' :D
Inscribed-on-my-heart- I'm overjoyed that you're getting insight to the characters while staying in context (it was something I was struggling with). Promise I'll hurry to keep up a good pace.
"Aren't we done yet?" Finn said dragging his feet behind the rest of the group.
Blaine laughed at Finn. He did feel slightly bad for the guy- they had just spent the last 3 hours shopping. Blaine enjoyed shopping and even he was getting tired, so he couldn't imagine what Finn was going through.
However, he wouldn't trade a moment of it: he got to see Kurt alive when he was shopping and helping Mercedes. Of course, speaking of Mercedes, Blaine saw that he was going to have to share her with Kurt. The two had instantly bonded- apparently they were each a bit of a diva and it had amused Blaine to no end when they both discovered this and had bonded.
"There are still a ton of stores." Kurt replied, snapping Blaine out of his musings.
"But I'm hunnnnngry." Finn droned, dragging his feet even more. "I know mom has got to be at your house cooking us all dinner."
"Look, Kurt, as much as I want to keep shopping, I know better than to get between Finn and his food." Mercedes replied with a small laugh.
Finn gave her a grateful smile and was relieved to see that they were close to the exit.
"It was fun." Kurt replied while giving Mercedes a smile that Blaine would kill to be on the receiving end of.
"We'll have to do it again. I'll get your number from Blaine later." She replied with a bright smile of her own. "Speaking of- Blaine help me carry my bags to my car?"
"Sure." Blaine replied. It wasn't as if he could say no seeing as he was already holding the vast majority of them. "Meet you guys at the car?"
"Sure. See ya Cedes!" Kurt replied before he and a weighed down Finn started heading toward the car.
Blaine watched the two head toward his car before heading with Mercedes to her car which was parked a few rows away from him. The pair silently started to unload the bags but it wasn't long before Mercedes broke the silence.
"So, see you in school tomorrow?" Mercedes asked.
"Yeah." Blaine replied but he was less than enthusiastic.
"I know its been tough on you." Mercedes said giving him a hug.
"I just...I don't know what its going to be like back at school with Karofsky after what he did to- Kurt."
Blaine bit his tongue hard. He had almost said his name- because as much as he was wondering how hurting Kurt had affected him, he was wondering what the kiss was going to mean with him.
"I'm sure we can get the boys to give you an escort to classes." Mercedes said closing the trunk and heading towards her door. "I mean- maybe he'll leave you alone because he'll feel guilt over hurting Kurt."
Blaine just stared at his friend. Yeah, because he's going to feel guilt over hurting Kurt but not guilt over making my life a living hell.
"Okay, maybe not. Speaking of Kurt..."
"Cedes." Blaine warned.
"What? I'm your best friend! I was curious what this guy meant to you before you spent the weekend by his side in the hospital- and now he's staying with you for the next ten days."
"Cedes- I like him- there is no denying that." Blaine replied
"I'm sensing a very aggravating 'but' coming along."
"But, neither one of us is in the right place for a relationship right now." He finished, willing himself to believe the words he had just spoken.
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See ya Cedes." Blaine replied with a small smile.
"Love ya boo."
"Love you too Cedes."
Blaine watched her pull away before heading towards his own car. He saw Finn shifting from one foot to the other anxiously and Kurt was looking at his bags, clearly evaluating his purchases.
"Sorry we took so long- I'm here!" Blaine called, jogging toward them.
"Let's go dude I'm starving!" Finn said tugging on the door handle.
"You have to let me unlock the doors first Finn." Blaine said. He waited for Finn to stop tugging before hitting the button to unlock the door.
Blaine laughed as Finn clamored into the car and he helped Kurt load all his bags into the trunk. The group set out from the mall, singing along to the radio the entire way back to Blaine's house.
The boys walked through the door and Finn headed straight to the kitchen. Kurt looked at Finn like he was ridiculous and Blaine just headed into the den to help Kurt with all of his stuff. The boys had barely reached the den before they heard Finn yell-
"What do you mean dinner's not ready yet?"
The two boys in the den tried to stifle their laughter as a disgruntled Finn stormed in.
"Blaine, can you help me with dinner?" Carole called out.
Blaine smiled as he rose off the couch.
"Want to come too?" Blaine said, looking toward Kurt.
Kurt shot a look at the surly Finn and began to follow Blaine into the kitchen. Blaine walked in confidently and Kurt paused by the doorframe. He watched as Blaine greeted the women with a hug- she looked kind.
"Carole, this is Kurt." Blaine said with a smile that made Kurt's heart skip a beat.
"It is so nice to meet you." She said warmly, before pulling Kurt into a hug.
Kurt froze for a moment before giving in to the hug. It had been longer than he cared to remember (or admit) since he had a hug from a mother figure.
"It's nice to meet you too." Kurt said after she let go. "Anything we can help you with?"
"Not really." She replied. "Figured I'd give you an excuse to get out of the den with a surly Finn."
The boys laughed and the three lapsed into an easy conversation about how they spent the day and what was bought while they were at the mall.
The rest of the evening went smoothly: Burt showed up just as the table was being set, the group shared a nice dinner while Finn filled everyone in on the drama at McKinley and then they retired into the den to watch some TV. Soon, it got late and the Hudsons left.
"I'm going to head upstairs." Burt said after returning to the den. "Don't you two stay up too late."
"Night dad." Blaine said.
"Goodnight Burt." Kurt replied.
Blaine and Burt shared a look that Kurt had finally called him Burt- they both wondered what that meant.
"Night Kurt."
Burt left for his room and wondered idly what was going to happen at the end of Kurt's stay. He knew that Kurt had to go back to Dalton but it hadn't been lost on Burt that the boy seemed to need Blaine and his family as much and Blaine needed him.
Blaine blinked his eyes blearily. He barely remembered climbing into bed but that was where he found himself.
But something woke me up...
And that was when he heard it. Someone was crying- he could hear it through his cracked door. Blaine climbed up the stairs slowly, not wanting to wake the person- which he realized could only be Kurt.
He padded softly toward the den and that was when he heard that Kurt wasn't just crying-
"N-no, p-please...I d-didn't-" Kurt said thrashing around on the couch. "I j-just w-wanted to help."
And Kurt dissolved into tears again. Blaine's heart broke- he couldn't just stand there and watched, so he approached cautiously and kneeled by Kurt's side.
"Kurt, wake up." Blaine said laying a hand on his shoulder. He remained thrashing. "Kurt wake up." Blaine tried again. Kurt still remained trapped in his nightmare. "Kurt, listen to my voice. It's just a dream- come back to me."
Blaine squeezed his shoulder and shook him a little bit. That did the trick- Kurt sat straight up and his eyes darted everywhere.
"B-Blaine?" Kurt asked shakily.
"Yeah, it's me, I'm here." Blaine said.
Kurt just broke into tears. He pulled Blaine onto the couch and into a hug.
"It was just- Karofsky and the staircase-" Kurt mumbled.
"Shh, it's okay. It was just a dream." Blaine said soothingly, stroking his back.
Kurt clung to Blaine like he was a lifeline- and while the circumstances were horrible- Blaine had to admit that he didn't mind. He was happy to be there for Kurt, no matter the capacity.
"W-will you sing to me?" Kurt asked hesitantly, fighting through his tears. He knew he would probably be embarrassed in the morning for making such a request but he was still so shaken and Blaine being there was such a comfort, that Kurt found he could deal with a little embarrassment.
"Just close your eyes." Blaine said softly.
Blaine thought hard for a moment before coming up with something.
Now it's time to say good night
good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you
Blaine heard Kurt's crying start to subside and he leaned back on the couch, bringing Kurt with him. They settled in and Blaine continued singing.
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you
Mm, mm, mm
Kurt's breathing had evened out- he had finally fallen back to sleep. Blaine's eyelids started to get heavy and he gave in and closed them. A moment later, Burt came down the stairs finally giving in to his curiosity as to what was going on.
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you
Blaine drifted off to sleep, holding Kurt and Burt (who just now discovered that he had a soft spot for seeing his son cuddling, content and safe in his state of rest to let such a thing happen) slowly snuck back upstairs to let the boys dream of good things- probably each other.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter (it's much appreciated if I haven't mentioned that).