"Good morning to you, sir." Blaine said as Kurt opened his apartment door and stepped into the chilly, late winter air.

"Oh, hi Blaine." Blaine smiled at him with that movie star, amazingly dapper smile of his and Kurt couldn't help but smile back and feel slightly happier on this late morning in February.

"Oh, these are for you." For some reason when he said that, Kurt envisioned Blaine handing him a giant bouquet of flowers and he would accept them with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. But instead, he handed Kurt a two to three inch stack of brightly colored fliers that read in large letters: Garage Sale! Saturday, 17 Cherry Tree Lane, 8 AM-Noon.

"Wow, Blaine, thank you. You really didn't have to do this, help me like this. We're really going to have a garage sale, huh?" Kurt nervously adjusted the strap of his one-shouldered bag and shivered beneath his thin jacket.

"I-If that's what you want and you did agree to it last night. I'm at your service and will do what you ask, Mr. Kurt." Blaine bowed slightly before Kurt, only causing Kurt to blush slightly.

"Thank you, Blaine. I need to clear this place out and some cash for groceries would be really nice." Blaine looked down at that statement but Kurt continued anyway. "Plus rent will be due soon and I don't think a simple every-other-day, five hour shift job at Quinn's will cover everything." Kurt looked at the toes of his shoes; almost ashamed of the situation he was in. Constantly mentally beating himself up as if the entire thing was his fault. Was there anything he could have done?

"Hey there." Blaine knocked Kurt out of his wandering thoughts. "I am going to help you pay off everything and I'm going to get you out of this shlump you're in. I hate seeing you sad, Kurt Hummel. So we are going to have this garage sale and make so much money, we won't know what to do with it." Blaine chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood, like always.

"Blaine, you are the best, thank you, seriously. So when and where exactly are we going to hang these up?"

"Oh, well maybe after our shift, at 6? Would that work?"

"Sure, sound great." Kurt smiled a little and rubbed his biceps to try to regain warmth in his body. He really needed to do something about his disintegrating winter apparel.

"Oh, are you cold? I brought you a little something." Blaine reached down to grab a light blue gift bag that was next to Blaine's feet; he hadn't even noticed it until just now. Blaine handed the bag to Kurt and inside was a thick, fuzzy sweater that was insanely large from looking at it and Kurt was more on the slender, but not dangerously thin, side. "I know it isn't very attractive but it's perfect for warmth.

"Blaine, thanks, you are really, uh, out-doing yourself with the fliers and calming me down last night, but I don't need your hand-me-downs or lectures." 'Did I just say that?' Kurt thought to himself in immediate regret of that last part. 'Shoot, Blaine's probably going to leave me now-crap!'

"Oh, ok. Sorry, I just thought it would help because that jacket looks like it's not offering you much help there-sorry, I won't try so hard to help anymore." Blaine started to walk back to his car but Kurt stopped him before he could get away, grabbing his left arm.

"No, Blaine, I'm sorry. You have done so much for me when I haven't really done much for you in return. This sweater is lovely. I am officially, happily accepting your thoughtful gift. Please don't go."

"Can we just hug and forget these past three minutes or so?" Blaine asked shyly.

"Absolutely." Kurt set the humungous stack of papers, Blaine's old sweater and his bag on the ground and wrapped his arms tightly around Blaine's shoulders and neck. There was something about hugging Blaine that made Kurt feel so safe. He felt like he had finally come home. That first breath of pure oxygen after swimming beneath the ocean's surface. Vision to the blind. Sound to the deaf. Everything was suddenly made so clear and pure when he was with him, but that was even more intensified when he was in Blaine's warm, strong arms. Safe, sound and perfectly happy for those few seconds.

"Come on, we don't want to be late to work. Our boss wouldn't want anyone to be late on their second day." Blaine pulled back from the hug and lightly hit Kurt on the nose with a big smile.

"You got a stapler or something?" Kurt asked as he grabbed a large stack of fliers from Blaine's hippie car as Blaine cut the engine.

"Si senor! Not let's get these signs up and get closer to getting you some dinero!" 'Blaine is ridiculous' Kurt thought to himself as they stapled another bright, neon green paper to another telephone pole, 'but that's what makes him so adorable and lovable. Wait! No! I shouldn't be falling for Blaine. I can't be falling for Blaine. He's a Christian and I especially cannot handle a break up after mom and dad-I can't let that happen. Why am I letting Blaine so close to me, stepping so far into my life. I shouldn't even be here with him, it's getting late and I could do this by myself. Blaine's ok, but I need to be independent, right?'

"Kurt? Kurt? You alright?" Kurt felt Blaine's firm hand on his back.

"Oh, sorry, just, uh, thinking."

"You sure you're alright? You blacked out on me for a long time there." He said, very concerned.

"Uh, yeah. Just got a lot on my mind."

"Ok, well you want to put a few more on that bus bench and meet me back here in a few?"

"Sure, ok."

'Blaine is helping me for no reason, why the hell does he still bother with me?' Kurt thought to himself as he grabbed the last few fliers remaining and the stapler from Blaine. 'Something must be up with this kid, he can't be just doing all of this for nothing. Is he part of some reality television show? Undercover? Doing this because he lost a bet or something? Because why in the world would he want to whole-heartedly give up his time, money, old sweater on me, I'm worth nothing and we both know it.'

Kurt looked over to Blaine as he stapled another sign. Blaine seemed to be talking to himself, mumbling something. He stopped after a few seconds and looked back up to Kurt. He smiled as turned back to gathering their things and placing them in the car.

'What is your deal, Blaine Anderson?' He thought to himself.

"You got it?" Blaine was suddenly right at Kurt's side again with wide, shining, puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, sorry, just a little distracted." Kurt turned back to the flier that he was trying to attach to the telephone pole.

"Well it's almost 7:30, wanna go grab a bite to eat? My treat." Blaine smiled again, that smile that made Kurt do whatever Blaine said, that almost hypnotized him in a fuzzy trance.

"Sure. Where to?" He handed Blaine the stapler and walked back to Blaine's car.

"Where ever you want that's in the state of Ohio."

"Follow my directions." Kurt instructed Blaine to the grocery store and they picked up some dinner plus other things that Blaine knew Kurt didn't have in the fridge. They ate at Kurt's place and prepared everything for the garage sale the next morning.

Kurt started to go through and clear out the apartment. He made two piles-one for mom, one for dad. There wasn't much in the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Just junk that didn't matter much that Kurt just tossed in the garbage. He was terrified to go into his parents' room.

He walked to the door of their room and stopped. Terrified to enter, to face what he had been putting off for a little longer than he should have. He slowly placed his hand on the cool doorknob and turned it.

He was hit with his mother's perfume and almost started crying. "Be stong." He whispered to himself. He turned on the light and saw the room that was last touched by people that were now dead. The bed was made, there were clothes and shoes on the floor. Kurt's mom's jewelry box was open with a few rings still on her dresser, dad's dresser drawers were half open and the window blinds were open as well.

Should he touch anything or leave it alone?

"Kurt? Kurt, where are you? Kur-" Blaine called, his voice got louder until it stopped all together. "Hey, you alright?"

"Their room. I haven't been in it or touched anything yet. What do I do?" He turned around to face Blaine with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Oh, Kurt." Blaine whipped away his tears. "How about you go get ready for bed, take a bath, relax, and I'll take care of this, ok? I'll clear everything out and we can decide what we can trash, sell tomorrow, and what you want to keep."

Kurt nodded, "Ok."

Blaine leaned up o his tiptoes and kissed Kurt's forehead. "If you need anything, I'm not going anywhere." He hugged Kurt tightly and then they separated so Blaine could work on cleaning out the room and Kurt took a warm bath.

Later, Blaine sent a text to Artie, Mercedes, Sam, Tina, and even Quinn saying:

Hey guys, sorry for bothering you so late in the evening, but remember that Kurt guy I was talking about? Well I'm helping him with a garage sale tomorrow morning and it would be fantastic if you could drop by, help set up, put up more posters, make a donation if possible or just be here for moral support. Either would be totally awesome! -B

"Good morning sunshine." A soft voice came to Kurt, tugging him away from another nightmare playing through his head.

"What?" Kurt sat up quickly and yelled, out of breath and was starting to sweat.

"Whoa, are you alright? Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Blaine sat on the edge of Kurt's bed near his feet and started to gently rub them with the comforter between them. Blaine spent the previous night in Kurt's living room decorating signs, (without Kurt's knowledge) baking cookies, (also without Kurt's knowledge) and listening to his 'Worship' playlist to get in the mood of what this sale was going to bring and also because it made him feel good. He only got three or four hours of sleep last night but it was worth it because he was doing it for Kurt and he needs love right now. It was now six in the morning and he thought it would be good to wake up Kurt and get a move on with breakfast and setting up everything.

"No, just another nightmare, that's all, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Have you been getting any of those recently?"

"Yes, about every day now since-" Kurt's eyes started to gather more and more water by the second and Blaine's heart sunk.

"Oh, come here" Well, Blaine moved over to Kurt, he didn't want to make him move from his cozy spot and felt utter sympathy for the poor man who was now sobbing into his shoulder and neck. "It's ok, it's all right." Blaine cooed to him.

"I just can't believe they're gone, I can't live like this, alone."

"No, stop." Blaine pulled from Kurt to look into his sad eyes. "Don't you remember that song I sang to you when it was raining? You'll never be alone, especially with me, I promise. Now you rest or get dressed or whatever, I'll go make you some breakfast and they we can price everything and set up." Blaine gave Kurt one last bear hug and before he left him, he said:

"Everything is going to work itself out, Kurt. I promise you that."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep."

"Come on, Kurt. I know this is really tough on you, but it's not over yet, you're life is just beginning and it can only get better from here." And then he left.

Blaine didn't get everything he needed from the store to make a nice breakfast, so instead he made do with what little food that was left in the house and bagels and cream cheese it was. A few minutes later, Kurt emerged from his room smelling like soap with a fresh outfit.

"Oh, you look nice." Blaine eyed Kurt's dark jeans that were a little looser than the others he owned, a red, cozy, loose sweater, and old converse shoes.

"Oh, shut up, I do not."

"Kurt, you always look so-" There was a loud knock at the door that interrupted Blaine and they both, without a word, walked to the door and Kurt looked through the peephole because, well, he was the taller one here.

"I don't know who that is." Kurt whispered as Blaine looked through the peephole on his tiptoes.

"I do." Blaine reached for the doorknob and opened it. "Mercedes, hello!"

Kurt stepped backwards as a young, curvy, African-American woman attacked his friend with a brief hug. "Blainers!" She exclaimed with a shining smile. 'How could anyone be that happy at six something in the morning?' Kurt asked himself in his head while they finished their hug.

"Oh, Mercedes, this is Kurt." They both turned to him and he was a little nervous talking to this stranger who was suddenly in his home. He awkwardly stuck out his right hand to shake hers but she didn't approve for some reason.

"I don't mean to be a tattle tale, but Blaine's told me all about you, Kurt. I'm so sorry for everything you're going through." She held her arms out to him and they hugged. He wondered why she was sorry for him, they just met not five seconds ago, why would she care? But their hug made Kurt feel a little…. appreciated. So he dropped the pessimistic thoughts and enjoyed it for the three seconds it lasted.

"You're going to help us with this sale today?" Kurt asked.

"Of course. Blaine texted me and I thought 'why not?' and I'd love to get to know you Kurt. You are all he ever talks about."

"Really?" Kurt asked, looking at to Blaine.

"Who wants breakfast?" Blaine turned to the kitchen, trying to hide his red cheeks, to grab his and Kurt's bagels. "Want anything Mercedes?" he asked from the kitchen.

"No thanks, I already ate." She turned to Kurt and smiled. "Well you boys can eat, want me to set up or something?"

"Sure, you can place these signs up throughout the neighborhood and close intersections. Breakfast won't take long so by the time you get back we should be done." Blaine said, leaving the kitchen and handed fliers and large signs Blaine put together last night while Kurt ate his bagel by himself. She left with the supplies and Blaine turned back to the small, open kitchen to Kurt and their food.

"So Mercedes is from your church?" Kurt asked before taking a bite of his bagel.

"Oh, yeah. I only invited her so she could help set up or buy something or whatever. She's the mom I've always wanted." Kurt raised an eyebrow at him. "My parents didn't approve of my sexuality because we were a part of the church and in their minds, they thought there was something wrong with me, that after spending my entire life in church that I was a sinner and disgrace to our religion. I ran away from home and somehow ended up here in a foster home. They accepted me and funded my schooling at Dalton and collage. I've had to work hard for it and chip in a lot, but it's all worth it. Mercedes looks out for me and I bet you anything she'll do the same for you. I bet you right now she is probably thinking of inviting you over to her place for some big feast, or shopping spree with a movie or something."

"But she doesn't even know me, why would she care?" Kurt wasn't hungry anymore, this conversation was making him feel depressed again.

"That's just how she is. There's something in her that clicks when she meets a new person and she loves people so much, I guess."

They quickly finished up their breakfast without another word and gathered everything they were going to sell and set it up outside Kurt's apartment on the grass. Mercedes came back from setting up the signs and helped price the items with the boys.

"I think this will help bring people in." Blaine came back from Kurt' apartment with a large cooking pan covered with a layer of tin foil. He partially removed the foil to reveal dozens of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

"Blaine, where did this come from?" Kurt asked, tempted to steal a piece of fudge that looked and smelled like it was dark chocolate-his favorite.

"I made them while you were asleep last night." Kurt's jaw fell open. "Yeah, I ran to the store again after you fell asleep, baked up some of these, invited some help, and made some signs that Mercedes already hung up."

"Blaine, thank you so-"

"No need, it's my job. And there look, our first customer." The trio turned around to see a few people slowly walk around and scan the hodge-podge of items that were for sale. Blaine set the sweets on a folding table next to an empty shoebox and when Kurt wasn't looking, Blaine and Mercedes each threw in a ten-dollar bill and some ones for donation and change for the customers.

It was a perfect day for a garage sale. It was now eight in the morning, the sun was pulling higher in the sky, through the clouds, and it was only a little chilly considering it was mid February in Ohio. Many people were starting to trickle in and Kurt was hoping that they would make a decent amount of money on everything. It was hard letting go of his parents' things but he knew he had to get rid of the meaningless things-clothes, extra towels, pillow cases, stools, paintings he didn't care for, partially used shoes, some of his mother's jewelry that he himself wasn't too attached to or wasn't very valuable and so much more. It would also be good to bring in some money, but also be great to let go of the clutter that wasn't moving on it's own like Kurt had hoped it would.

"Hey, you alright?" Blaine put a hand on Kurt's shoulder because he looked like he was about to faint.

"What? Oh, yeah, just thinking. How are we doing so far?"

"Do you always get this caught up in thought or is it just when I'm around because you look like you are either really mad, upset, or nervous."

"Oh, well I wouldn't know, you're the only real friend I've ever had."

"Well on the bright side, we are doing pretty good. I have a few more friends coming, if you don't mind." Blaine was nervous he was over stepping. He had Mercedes plus others coming, he was kind of pushing Kurt to go to church with him even though he already said it wasn't his 'thing'. But it was just so weird having a friend that didn't go to his church-not that there was anything wrong with it, it just felt a little odd.

"Why not, you've already invited Mercedes. Hopefully these friends of yours at least have cash." Blaine chuckled as he saw Artie's van pull up.

"That's them. Come on, let's go meet them." Kurt groaned "Come on, you'll love them and they'll love you back." Blaine linked arms with Kurt and walked over to the sidewalk to meet with his friends. Kurt enjoyed Blaine's arms around his, he felt stable and a little loved.

"Blaine!" They greeted him.

"Hey guys, this is Kurt and he would really appreciate it if gave him your money."

"Thank you, master of introductions. And don't feel obligated even though I'm kind of in trouble in the cash department." Kurt was getting shy and questioned Blaine's tightening grip on his arms that hadn't loosed at all-at least Blaine's friends were accepting from what he told him earlier on the day they met.

"Oh shush, you. I thought it was a great introduction-it's true. Anyways, Kurt, this is Tina." Kurt shook hands with an Asian girl who looked to be their age with exquisite style.

"Hello Kurt." She said with a bright smile that he couldn't tell if it was genuine or not.

"Sam." Kurt shook hands with a tall boy who had light blonde hair.

"Artie." The man was in a wheelchair and had glasses.

"Don't forget me!" A familiar voice came from behind the van carrying large boxes of goodies and sweets.

"Quinn? What are you doing here?" Kurt asked a little surprised to see their boss here.

"Well I saw a flier for this little shindig on the bulletin board in the shop and Blaine kept reminding me not to miss this because he said it was really really, emphasis on the 'really' part, important I came and helped you out."

"Wow, thank you. Want me to help you with those?" Kurt asked, taking some large cardboard boxes that had 'Quinn's' logo on it from the smiling blonde. Blaine finally released his arm that was wrapped around Kurt's. 'What was that about? Blaine can't like me, I'm not a Christian. And even if I was, he wouldn't like me.'

Mercedes was running the front table with the sweets and cash when Kurt returned to the sale.

"We've got some more stuff."

"What is it?" Mercedes asked another helping another customer and biding them goodbye.

"Cupcakes from the shop and jewelry. Quinn!" Kurt called her over to them.

"Yes, I made those jewelry pieces and I thought who doesn't love a good cupcake?" Inside the box were a dozen red velvet cupcakes and there was a plastic container with all kinds of rings, necklaces, bracelets, toe rings, earrings, jeweled hair barrettes, and even a belly button ring or two.

"Wow, thank you so much, this will help us out a lot." Kurt gave her a hug.

"Number one side effect of hanging out with us, you become a huggy person. You've been warned Kurt." Mercedes said with a smile.

The rest of the sale went along smoothly. Nearly everything was sold except for an old pair of Kurt's dad's shoes, an old blouse that belonged to his mom and a few old books. All of the sweet treats were sold out and Quinn's jewelry was a hit. Even two young ladies were fighting over a silver key ring that was worn on two fingers.

Quinn counted up all of the money in the shoebox and, after she, Tina, Sam and Artie made donations of $20 each, and she announced the total to everyone in Kurt's living room.

"And the grand total is, drum role please." Blaine and Artie broke out a loud, fast beat on their legs "$338.47!"

Everyone cheered and Kurt's jaw fell open. Blaine hugged him from behind and soon everyone, except Artie because he was in his wheelchair and couldn't really move, engulfed Kurt in a hug group bear hug.

"Hey, lunch is on me if I get a hug too please." Artie yelled from outside the group. Everyone turned to see they had left out little Artie and hugged him too.

"Sorry babe." Same got down on his knees and kissed Artie's cheek.

"That's all right, now-to Breadstix!" Artie cheered and they left Kurt's apartment to eat together.

'This must be how it feels to be loved.' Kurt thought when Blaine and Sam each threw an arm around Kurt's shoulders.

Sorry I've been M.I.A. I should be posting more chapters soon :) Thanks for reading