A.N: Life and all the things like it are destroying me. And I just lost my best friend... I think, they didn't die, but I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. So writing is now going to be my solace. Also I finally think I got past the bloody wall in this fic.

January 17th approaches.

Tuesday November 16, 2010

12:22 P.M.

Kurt smiled at Rachel as he sat across from her and if her smile wasn't as bright as before he couldn't blame her. She hadn't cheated on Quinn. That was the rub, but weeks later she was still mad at him for taking Quinn's side, or rather not getting her side as well. He loved having friends but he had to admit his life had been easier when just Mercedes was adding drama to his life.

Quinn wasn't acting cold towards him but she was very occupied with Rachel. Kurt couldn't help but wonder if it was more than the fact that she'd gone a little postal when she'd assumed Rachel was cheating on her. Her attentive behavior around Rachel bordered on manic now-a-days, and while he was certain that she should have grovelled a little about how she'd reacted, he thought she was taking it over the top, and he was even a little mad at Rachel for not putting a stop to it.

He stabbed his fork into his lunch and actually physically frowned. Rachel needed to forgive Quinn, and more importantly, him.

He stood and hissed, "I'm not hungry anymore."

As he slung his bag over his shoulder and marched away he heard Santana ask, "What crawled up his butt and died?"

He didn't care to know if Rachel defended him. She probably didn't.

He sighed and entered the boys restroom to examine his hair, and possibly hide for the rest of the lunch period. None of his friends would think to look for him here.

He reared back though and almost turned to flee when he nearly smacked into Karofsky's back. The large boy was hunched over the nearest sink and splashing water on his face as his shoulders shook.

Kurt took it as a testament to his flawless character that he actually felt a sliver of concern for the larger boy.

He cleared his throat and stomped down his wince when Karofsky shot up and whirled to look at him. The football player actually flinched away from him and averted his eyes back to the sink, which stunned Kurt. At the beginning of the year Karofsky had ramped up his bullying of Kurt, including locker shoves, more slushies, and far more overtly homophobic slurs, but after Karofsky had made the apparent mistake of going after Rachel instead of him for once, the bullying had all been brought to a screeching halt by an admittedly bad ass Santana Lopez. Maybe he was afraid that any attack on the Gleeks would be seen in a poor light by Santana, or maybe he had just gotten bored, but for whatever reason Kurt couldn't help but be grateful that the bullying, from Karofsky at least, had stopped.

Karofsky tried to scowl at him but the intimidating effect was ruined by his red eyes and obviously stuffy nose, proof positive that he'd been crying rather heavily.

Kurt asked quietly, "Are you... are you ok?"

Gruffly Karofsky growled back, "I'm fine." His voice was a little horse, from disuse or from crying, or more likely, both.

Kurt eyed him as if he was a bomb that was likely to explode, "Ok..." He made his way to the mirror and fluffed his hair as Karofsky watched him incredulously.

"Hummel..."

Kurt cocked an eyebrow, "Yes?"

Dave scowled heavily, "I want to be alone."

Kurt nodded in understanding, "Because there is nothing wrong?"

Karofsky ground his teeth down, "Yes."

Kurt shrugged flippantly, "Well I need a place to hide."

Karofsky looked alarmed for a second, "Please tell Santana I wasn't the one bullying you."

Kurt waved a dismissive hand, "I'm not hiding from bullies, just my friends."

Karofsky rocked on his heels, "Oh... why?"

Kurt eyed the mirror dispassionately, "Rachel is still mad at me, and Quinn is ignoring me because she's trying to make it up to Rachel."

Karofsky leaned against the sink, "Is Berry still mad that Quinn threw down with Santana?"

Kurt tensed, he couldn't very well out Rachel and Quinn, even if he was annoyed with them, "Just girly friendship stuff actually."

Karofsky actually seemed to relax as he nodded, "Right... I mean it isn't like Quinn is in love with Berry. That would be nuts." He scrubbed his eyes and strode from the bathroom with nary a goodbye, missing the look of horror on Kurt's face.

Kurt couldn't help but wonder at the relief in Karofsky's tone, was he crushing on Quinn? Or stranger still, Rachel? A second passed and Kurt had to suppress a nasty hiss at the thought. Like hell would Karofsky get within a hundred feet of Rachel.

He didn't considered the vehemence of his reaction, or the sudden urge to see Rachel.

3:38 P.M.

He sat himself on Rachel's other side in Glee, piercing Santana with a nasty look and threading Rachel's arm through his. He didn't care about Santana's need to be close to Rachel, he cared about his need to be close to Rachel.

Rachel leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. She let out a content sigh and Kurt beamed out at no one as he rested his head atop hers. Quinn smiled at the two of them and Santana settled her on the blonde's other side with Brittany next to her. Kurt had to admit it was a little odd seeing all three Cheerios seated in the front row.

Mr. Schue hurried in and smiled brilliantly at the group, unconcerned with the fact that he was five minutes late, again.

He clapped his hands, "I was just talking to a prospective new member, they're a little nervous though so I won't mention who it was. Rachel?"

Rachel's head popped up a little bit, "Yes Mr. Schue?"

The teacher grinned at her, "You're always offering vocal lessons to the team, I was wondering if you'd be willing to coach our secret prospect, to help them get more comfortable?"

Rachel nodded, less eagerly than one would expect, but her smile was genuine, if subdued, "Yes of course Mr. Schue."

Mr. Schue nodded happily, and turned to the white board, "Now our assignment for this week, now that sectionals are over..."

Kurt tuned him out as Rachel snuggled into him, Quinn grasped her hand, and Santana cast a worried look over at the Diva.

Thursday November 25, 2010

2:26 P.M.

Thanksgiving that year was going to be nice, spent with Finn and their parents. Though he couldn't help but wonder what Rachel and Quinn were doing. He sat himself down next to Finn and watched as Finn and his dad hollered at the TV, as if firmly convinced that the players could hear their advice and in some case, their abuse.

He didn't know much about football but he was a hundred percent certain that yelling louder didn't mean they'd be heard anymore than quiet derision. Which admittedly, took some skill, he'd know, he was a master at it.

Finn piped up during a commercial, "I invited Rachel and Quinn over for a little while."

Kurt turned to stare at his future step-brother, "Really?"

Finn nodded, looking pleased with himself, "I know they're like your best friends, and I just wanted them to know I'm totally cool with them being together. I invited Mercedes too, but she said she was going out of town."

Kurt offered Finn a bright smile, reminded of why he'd had such an intense crush on the boy, "Yeah, 'Cedes was going to her grandmother's."

Finn shrugged, "I kinda stopped listening after she said no, Rachel said she'd bring pie though."

Kurt's smile brightened further, because despite the fact that everything she baked was vegan, all of Rachel's deserts tasted incredible. Kurt cocked his head, a the flash of Rachel dumping a bag of cocaine into her pastries flashed across his vision.

Kurt scoffed out loud, like Rachel would ever have any clue how to find cocaine.

The doorbell rang and Kurt sprang to his feet and hollered, "I'll get it." He all but skipped to the door, beyond pleased that he'd get to see his favorite couple on one of his favorite holidays. He flung the door open with a flourish and motioned the smiling couple in out of the Ohio chill.

Rachel hurried in and offered him one of the pies in her hands before announcing, "I need to put these in the kitchen."

Kurt nodded and led Rachel and Quinn through the house and past the living room where Finn called out a hello without taking his eyes off the TV while Burt stood to follow them to the kitchen.

Carole smiled at the two girls from the stove as Rachel set her pies down and motioned for Quinn to do the same.

Rachel smiled at the Hudmel adults and then turned to Quinn, "Sweetie, can you and Kurt get the rest from the car?"

Quinn gave a long suffering sigh before placing a kiss on Rachel cheek and grabbing Kurt by the arm as he squawked, "How many pies did you bring?"

Rachel's voice trailed out after them, "I love to bake!"

Finn lumbered to his feet and followed the two blondes out, "Are we getting more pies?"

Quinn nodded and smiled at the tall teen over her shoulder, "Rachel baked a chocolate caramel pecan just for you. It isn't even vegan."

Finn lit up and rushed past them, no doubt intent on getting his hands on his pie and consuming it before anyone could even think about asking for some.

Kurt smiled fondly, "He won't share you know..."

Quinn shrugged, "Rachel told me as much. We each got out favorite though so I'm ok with that."

Kurt cocked his head in surprise, "She knows my dad and Carole's favorite?"

Quinn smirked, "She called the day Finn invited us and grilled them on their favorite type of pie. Your dad is getting peach and Carole is getting strawberry-rhubarb."

Kurt nodded and waited patiently as Quinn placed pies in his arms and Finn's. The giant teen pouting the whole while because Quinn wouldn't tell him which pie was his.

Quinn spoke, "Ok Finn, that's it for you."

Finn smiled at her and turned to hurry as carefully as he could into the house.

Kurt asked as Quinn shut the door, "How are you and Rachel doing?"

Quinn paused to consider the question, "...Better. I think she's gotten over how I acted with the whole Santana thing... and she seems happier."

As the two blondes entered the house, Quinn smiled at the knowledge that Rachel hadn't had a nightmare in four days and neither had Santana, as she'd discovered once the blonde had thought to compare notes.

Whatever was causing the nightmares seemed to have been resolved.

As they entered the kitchen they heard Rachel telling Burt and Carole about the secret voice lessons she was giving, "They aren't entirely comfortable singing in front of people but they have a beautiful voice, and surprisingly they can dance as well. I am actually pleasantly surprised. Who knows, by Regionals we might have a new member."

Quinn wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist and smiled down at her girlfriend. For the first time in a long time, things seemed to be going good. Rachel was happy, Quinn was happy, Kurt was happy, and life was good.

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