I wanna start by apologizing for this chapter taking so long. I was struggling with what to do next and then life happened. Hopefully, I didn't lose too many readers.

Thank you dark angle102, emilyleigh, Artemis Silver and JesusIsTheNewBlack for the story alert and moth4923, Rosmarino, rinasimone and LostinThought69 for a favorite story add.

Temarifan9622- I want to hug Kurt so much- and thanks for the ongoing encouragement

AshtrayMed- Thank you for your feedback. I like to believe that perhaps they are more alike than Glee has shown us. Also, I think since their lives are reversed, is it so difficult to think that their personalities might be too?

WhenRiversTurnToRoads- My thoughts exactly :). I look forward to hearing what you think of this chapter.

Blaine felt horrible.

He felt horrible because part of him was actually quite happy that Kurt was here. He wanted to spend more time with Kurt but he didn't want Kurt to get kicked out of his haven for that to happen. I'd rather have not seen Kurt for months than have him lose the first place he felt safe in a long time.

"What? How?" Blaine asked. Kurt pulled away from Blaine and both boys instantly missed the other's warmth.

"I showed up to the school and went into my room but it was empty. So I went downstairs and talked to the dean, understandably very confused at to where all my stuff had gone. H-he said that my father had shown up at the school with a moving crew. While they were packing up all of my stuff, my father said that we were moving to New York a-and he w-was withdrawing m-me. I tried t-to form the words to t-tell the dean that it w-wasn't t-true but w-who is he g-going to b-believe? M-my father or a t-teenager?"

"Oh Kurt." Blaine whispered softly, pulling Kurt toward him again.

"Do you have a plan?" Burt asked, taking Carol's hand in his.

"N-no. I c-called my dad and he didn't pick up. I c-called my m-mom and begged her to call me back but I haven't heard from her either...I don't even know if I can go b-back to my h-house."

Kurt took a couple of deep breaths in an attempt to not cry again and Blaine pulled Kurt back to him. The boys didn't notice Burt and Carol having a silent conversation.

"You're welcome here as long as you need to be here." Carol said.

Kurt looked overwhelmed. Like he was going to cry again. Carol saw this and quickly asked-

"How about some breakfast? I'm sure you haven't eaten."

Kurt nodded and he began to follow Carol into the kitchen. Blaine made to follow as well but Burt held him back.

"Yeah dad?" He asked looking towards his father.

"How much do you know about his parents?" Burt asked softly.

Blaine looked toward the kitchen. He wasn't entirely sure what he should say- everything Kurt had told him had been been told very heistantly...but it seemed at this moment Kurt had nowhere else to go and if Burt was going to take the boy in (for who only knows how long), he deserved to know.

"Well, you heard what his dad said..." Blaine replied trailing off.

"Blaine, tell me." Burt said firmly but not unkindly.

"His dad despises what Kurt is. Doesn't talk to him all that much but when he does its all hateful, ignorant things- how if he just tried he wouldn't be gay, how he was- is a disappointment. His mother just...stays silent. She doesn't hate him like his father, but his mother doesn't exactly stand up against her husband."

"So the likelihood of everything setting itself right is..." Burt said trailing off, but one look at his son's face gave him the answer he needed but didn't want to hear. "Low, like a four percent chance?"

"Closer to two." Blaine replied, heaving a big sigh. "Dad- what are we supposed to do?"

"We take care of him." Burt answered without hesitation. "He'll keep trying his mom and I'll try his mom and hopefully we can get through to her."

Blaine just threw his arms around his father. Burt was surprised but pleased and hugged his son trying to let him know without words that he would never treat him like Kurt's father treated him.

"I'm sorry about this." Kurt said again, blushing profusely.

Blaine paused in his making up of the futon. It was the twentieth time that day (Blaine had counted) Kurt had apologized- for anything and everything.

"Kurt for the thousandth time- you don't need to apologize."

"But your futon? I feel like I'm already imposing on you guys enough without invading your bedroom- and the couch was fine last time-"

"Kurt." Blaine said and came over to place both of his hands on Kurt's shoulders. Both boys ignored the strong urge/desire to close the space between them and press their lips together (not that the other boy knew of the others similar desire, otherwise they may have actually done it). "You. are. not. imposing. And since we don't know how long you're staying this time, you sleep on the futon till we figure out a more permanent situation."

Kurt just heaved a sigh and started to help Blaine finish making up the futon. The two boys each worked in silence, consumed with their thoughts of this particular turn of events. Up until this point, everyone was trying their hardest to pretend like Kurt had never left- that he hadn't slipped out early this morning to return to school, that his world hadn't been turned on its head, that he was still just Blaine's friend who needed a place to stay for a few days...but now they were alone, in the basement- just each other and their thoughts.

"What do I do now?" Kurt asked, then flushed from his cheeks down to his chest- he hadn't intended to say that out loud.

"Now, we settle down, watch a movie on my laptop and forget about today." Blaine replied before heading over to gather his laptop off of his desk.

"But tomorrow is Monday- what about school?" Kurt inquired.

Blaine just raised an eyebrow at Kurt and waited for him to join him on the bed. Kurt stared at Blaine and Blaine rolled his eyes before answering Kurt.

"My dad is going to get one of his employees to open the shop, the two of you are going to come into the school and my dad is going to talk to the administration about your circumstances. After that, the two of you are going to sneak in and see your mother without your father being around."

Kurt, seemingly satisfied with this answer, settled himself onto the bed next to Blaine. He's right, can't change what's already happened right now- may as well enjoy Blaine's company while I can.

"So, what do you want to watch?" Blaine asked pulling up the folder of movies he had on his computer. "If you don't see anything-"

"Moulin Rouge." Kurt said, interrupting Blaine.

"Really?" Blaine asked, surprised that of all movies, he would pick something with such a sad ending.

"It's a favorite of mine." Kurt said simply.

"Okay. Moulin Rouge it is."

Blaine clicked on the movie and the two settled in to watch. The two boys rarely spoke, though whenever it came to a song, Blaine could hear Kurt singing under his breath. However, it was about halfway through the movie when Blaine heard not song lyrics but soft snores coming from Kurt. He smiled down at his new friend and wondered what he was dreaming about now.

When Kurt opened his eyes, he was confused for a moment before the events of the previous day had come crashing back down: his father had withdrawn him from Dalton. He felt tears start to gather in the corner of his eyes and he had to fight back an angst ridden sob.

Once he had calmed down a little, he noted that he was alone in bed with the covers pulled over him. Kurt sat up and noted that Blaine was nowhere to be seen. Kurt reached over to look at his phone and wasn't all that surprised to see all the messages he had from his friends at Dalton. Almost all of them could be summed up as 'heard your dad withdrew you- can we kill him? are you okay?'

"Oh you're awake." Blaine said, after he peaked his head into the basement room, startling Kurt.

"Yeah, just answering some panicked messages from friends from Dalton. Mostly Wes and David."

"Oh didn't mean to interrupt, just figured I'd let you know I finished making breakfast."

Kurt raised an eyebrow at Blaine.

"Since when do you cook?"

Blaine feigned offense. "I can cook a couple of meals. Someone had to make sure after my mom passed my father and I would still eat SOME food NOT from a box."

Kurt looked startled. He hadn't heard Blaine talk about his mother save for a brief conversation they exchanged one day while Blaine was "observing" Kurt for signs of brain trauma. He was surprised by the frankness in which Blaine discussed her- but it has been 9 years since she's passed.

"Kurt, you there?" Blaine said looking at him with concern.

"Yeah, spaced out. Let me just get dressed and I'll head upstairs."

"Okay."

Blaine left to get Kurt and Kurt observed his friend for a moment. As Kurt began his shortened morning moisturizing routine, his thoughts began to drift to his friend and everything that came along with him (including his immediate future).

How is this happening? After everything that I went through at my old school, how after knowing him for such a short amount of time, do I like him this much? I mean its completely ridiculous that he would even like me back. He must just be doing this because he's my friend...right? Kurt, you need to stop thinking like this. Even if he does like you back- what do you think is going to happen now that you're living with him? Am I living with him? Oh God, I just showed up on his doorstep and now what am I supposed to do? I'm going to have to go to McKinley- the same place when Blaine is tormented daily.

"Kurt, you alive down there?" Blaine called.

"Yeah, sorry. Be up in one second." Kurt called back.

Oh man, my life is about to get really interesting.

"I don't know if I can do this." Kurt said stopping short of the steps of the entrance to McKinley High.

"Come on. I'll walk you there- my dad will be with you the entire time." Blaine said laying a hand on his friend's shoulder and the boys began moving again.

"Are you sure that you can't come with me?" Kurt said, sounding even more anxious as they began to walk through the halls.

Because now that he was in the school, all the students he passed began to size him up- and there were some jocks who clearly saw Kurt as fresh meat. Kurt could see that Blaine was torn between wanting to comfort his friend but also refrain from branding him 'freak' before he even began attending. Burt remained at a safe distance, sensing that the boys might want a little privacy but still needing wanting to protect them.

"Kurt, I have to go to class." Blaine said but he sounded reluctant to leave. "You'll go in, they'll let you attend classes here for as long as you need, you'll leave, you'll talk to your mom and then I'll see you at home."

Kurt stopped breathing and Blaine flushed when both had realized what had been said: home. They were really about to start living under the same roof for the foreseeable future. Burt, remained, mercifully quiet.

"I-I gotta run." Blaine said staring at his feet, stuttering with embarrassment. Kurt took a deep breath and replied-

"See ya at home."

And then he and Burt disappeared around the corner.

Blaine just stared at watched them go.

"What has got you so antsy?" Mercedes asked as she watched her friend check his watch for the hundredth time that day.

"I wanna get home already." Blaine replied without and then instantly regretted his decision.

"Why are you so anxious to get home?" Mercedes asked.

Blaine debated lying to her for a few moments but changed his mind because Mercedes was giving him that look- the one where he knew she would see through any lie he was even thinking of telling.

"Kurt's there." Blaine whispered.

"What? I thought he went to back Dalton yesterday." Mercedes exclaimed. Unfortunately, it was loud enough to garner the rest of the attention of the glee club.

"Yeah dude, I thought he left yesterday." Finn chipped in.

Blaine debated with himself but decided to tell them- if Kurt was going to be spending time at McKinley, he was going to need friends.

"He um tried to go back to Dalton but when he got there...he found his dad had withdrawn him from the school, claiming that the family was moving to New York."

The room erupted into noise. Most were sounds of disbelief but there were some threats towards the well being of Kurt's father.

"What is he going to do now?" Rachel asked, her voice cutting across all the others.

"He's staying with me and my dad for now but-" Blaine replied but was interrupted by Tina.

"He didn't go home?"

"He wasn't sure he could. He doesn't think his father is capable of physically hurting him but then he also didn't think that his father would ever withdraw him from school."

"And his mother?" Mike asked.

"His mom is...silent. The perfect wife to a politician like his father."

The group of teenagers all made sounds of disgust and Blaine felt the knot (he barely registered was there) loosen a little- at least Kurt is going to have friends here.

"So he's going to be coming...here?" Artie asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, until he possibly works things out with his family and he can go back to Dalton. My dad took him to find his mom at work- where she would be away from her husband...but I haven't heard from him so I don't know how it all went."

The group was going to continue walking but was interrupted when Schuester came in. However, much to Blaine's relief, it was mere moments before he dismissed the students claiming that he was feeling ill.

After swearing that he would let everyone know what was happening as soon as he knew, Blaine drove home in record time.

"Dad, Kurt?" Blaine yelled into the house.

"In here son." Burt answered and Blaine made his way to the den.

Blaine, for all his impatience during the day, suddenly found himself dragging his feet. He was torn about what he wanted to happen and he knew that as soon as he entered the den he would have his answer.

"Hi." Blaine said softly as he saw that indeed Kurt was in the living room with his father.

"Hi." Kurt croaked out in return.

Kurt looked pale and his eyes were red, meaning that he had been crying at some point recently. But why has he been crying? How bad did the meeting with his mother go?

"How did things go?" Blaine asked sitting next to Kurt, who promptly laid his head on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine tried to hide his surprise (and pleasure) and waited for an answer.

"There is good news and bad news." Burt replied and Blaine felt Kurt sigh on his shoulder.

"Bad news?" Blaine asked.

"After talking, somewhat briefly, to Kurt's mom, we found that we can't just get him back into Dalton. His withdrawal had been officially processed. So the earliest we could get him back in would be after the winter holiday because he would have to reapply as a student for the next term. We did reapply the second we got back here but since the deadline isn't too far off..."

Blaine felt a rush of emotions he fought to ignore because the combination of them all was too confusing to process at that exact moment.

"And the good news?" Blaine asked, wondering that if the fact that Kurt wasn't going back to Dalton what could possibly be deemed 'good'.

"My mom managed to get a key to the storage unit where my dad put all my stuff and she moved all my money to an account my dad can't touch so at least I can help pay my way here." Kurt replied.

And the odd combination of emotions stirred again: he was angry at Kurt's dad for doing all of this, a little angry at Kurt's mother for letting her husband do that to their son, a little appreciative that his mother did what she could (even if it wasn't enough in Blaine's opinion), upset Kurt lost his safe haven, happy that Kurt was staying, guilty for being happy that Kurt was staying and anxious that Kurt now had to deal with McKinley.

"Blaine, you gonna say something?" Kurt asked hesitantly, raising his head up to look at Blaine. Oh god what if he's freaking out cause I'm moving in for who knows how long?

"I...sorry. I'm happy?" Blaine offered. Kurt laughed lightly. "I mean I guess this is pretty much the best outcome we could have expected- kinda."

"Yeah." Kurt replied.

Kurt looked sad, Blaine looked contemplative and Burt figured he should leave the boys alone to figure out what was going to happen next.

"I've got an idea." Blaine said suddenly.

"And what is that?" Kurt asked, wondering what Blaine could possibly be thinking.

"Lets go see your friends at Dalton." Blaine replied and then seeing the look on Kurt's face. "Or you can just go...if you want to...I don't want to overstep. I just figured they must be worried and you must miss them slash want to explain what happened- and I'm just going to stop talking now."

Kurt just laughed at his friend.

"I think that is a great idea. Let me call Wes and or David, see if they're free."

Kurt pulled out his phone and sent a text. Kurt had barely turned to ask Blaine how his day went before the phone beeped in response.

D's with me. Get your butt over to the LB since we know that you love your coffee and bring Blaine with you. Gotta know more about this guy you're going to be spending all your time with.- W

Leaving soon be there in 45 minutes or so. Be nice to Blaine when we get there or I'm stealing your beloved gavel and D's book of poetry he uses to get the ladies to swoon.- K

Low blow but we promise to TRY to behave (no promises)- D

"Boys are free." Kurt replied, hoping that Blaine hadn't seen anything (or suspected anything) when Kurt had typed such a long response.

"You want to go alone or...?" Blaine asked, hoping that his tone had remained neutral.

"No, I want you to come. I got to meet your friends, I want you to meet mine- or rather get to know them."

"Alright, just let me tell my dad and then we'll leave." Blaine answered then headed toward the office where he knew his dad was working on making space for Kurt.

Kurt watched Blaine go and then bit his lip.

I'm going to be living with the boy I'm starting to fall for.

"Ready?" Blaine asked, with a large smile and a twinkle in his expressive eyes. Kurt felt his heart skip a beat or two.

"Yeah." He said rising and then following Blaine out.

Oh, I am SO screwed.

As I've said before, feedback is appreciated (and looked forward too) :D