Blaine sits up, and clutches his head when a sharp, stabbing pain tears through it. He retches, but manages to keep everything down, and then he spots the glass of water. After gulping it down, he looks around and realizes he has no clue where he is.

"Kurt," he rasps, through a mouth that feels as though it's full of carpet. "Kurt!"

"Dying," comes the response.

"Kurt, I don't know where we are."

"Huh?"

Kurt notices then, that the sheets don't smell of their usual detergent, and cracking one eye open he sees they're pale blue, and not gray like the ones currently on their bed. When he sits, still only viewing the world through one eye, he gulps back the water Blaine offers and then looks around.

"Well where the fuck are we then? Santana's?"

"No, we can't be. They went home. We went home. I remember eating pizza as we walked and..."

"Oh. Brian," Kurt suddenly remembers. "We decided to visit Brian. Shit."

"Are we in his apartment?" Blaine whispers, completely horrified. "We just crashed here?"

Kurt climbs out of bed, disgusted that he's still wearing his clothes from the night before. It's been ages since he's been too drunk to even remove his shoes. Pulling open the bedroom door, he steps into the living room with Blaine behind him, who is still unsteady on his feet, and clutching the walls for support. The sound of movement from the kitchen draws them there, and sure enough, Brian turns around with a smile.

"They live! How's the head?"

"Brian, we are so sorry," Blaine whispers, falling into a chair. "So sorry. We didn't mean to crash here."

"Don't worry about it," Brian says lightly. "You were both so funny."

"We didn't mean to wake you up," Kurt offers, and Brian laughs.

"You were banging on my door. Anyway, like I said, don't worry about it. I'm making some toast, do you want some?"

Blaine heaves again, and Kurt turns away. "No, no thanks," he says. "I think we're just gonna go home and sleep some more."

"I'm still so sorry," says Blaine, who is utterly mortified. "I have never, ever been that drunk and I just...I'm so sorry."

"Blaine look, I know I'm old, and you two are not, but I can still remember what it was like to have a night out like that. You deserved to have fun to celebrate your engagement, and if what you two were telling me last night was anything to go by, you did. If I wasn't prepared to see you at four this morning, then I wouldn't have let you in. Please don't worry."

"We did have fun," Kurt agrees, his hand rubbing over Blaine's shoulder. "We danced, and..."

"Oh my god."

Blaine lifts his head, a look of total shock and horror on his face as it comes back to him, and from the smug smirk on Kurt's face, he knows he's remembered too.

"Blaine, don't worry about it," Brian says lightly. "We've all done stupid stuff when we're drunk."

"How do you know what I'm talking about?" he cries desperately.

"You told me. Quite proudly."

"Oh god. Oh god. I just...oh no. Oh my god."

He's still moaning and wailing when they return to their own apartment, despite Brian's reassurances, and he changes wearily into his pajamas and crawls under the covers. Kurt changes quickly and joins him, spooning around him and kissing his neck. "Come on, don't be sad."

"I'm not sad. Just embarrassed. I don't regret it though."

"No?"

Blaine turns, kissing him lovingly. "I gave my hot fiancé a blow job. Why would I ever regret that?"

"You wanna know something?"

"Sure."

Kurt looks down, playing with the buttons on Blaine's pajama top. "It was completely hot, and I had a blast last night, but you know what makes it so good? It's that we don't go out like that all the time, that you don't usually behave like that. To see you so completely reckless was awesome, and totally hot, and I realized something."

"Yeah?"

"I wouldn't want you any other way than how you are. I wouldn't want you to be like that all the time, because then it wouldn't be fun any more. I know it led to our biggest fight, but I still remember when you told me I was your fantasy."

"Kurt. I don't..."

"No, hear me out. That's the hottest thing you've ever said to me, you know?"

"Oh please. It was dumb."

"No, it wasn't," Kurt insists, and he looks up, holding eye contact. "I realized last night that you're mine. My fantasy. You're all I ever want in my bed. Or on the floor, against the wall...whatever."

"See, that kind of talk would definitely lead to sex right now if I didn't feel like death."

Kurt laughs, turning on his back for Blaine to rest on his chest. "I'll settle for cuddles."

"You're still my fantasy," Blaine murmurs, as he closes his eyes. "You always will be, and I love you for saying that."

Kurt kisses into his hair. "I love you too."

It takes Blaine three days to recover from his night of excess, and four days to be able to face Santana again. He eventually caves and meets her for lunch, after she threatens bodily harm, and they head to their favorite café near Kurt's work.

"Seriously, it was hilarious. I don't know what you're still worked up about it for."

"I'm not worked up," Blaine says lightly, trying to hide his blush.

"You are, I can tell because your hair is plastered to your head. On good days we see some wave to it, on excellent ones, we even see a little bit of movement."

"Hey, you wanna hear something funny?" Blaine asks, quickly changing the subject.

"Sure."

"The night Kurt and I got engaged, I had a nightmare and woke up screaming. I've had them every night since. Even Sunday, when we got back to the apartment and went back to sleep, I had one then."

Santana stares, and stares some more. "Blaine, that's not funny. That's disturbing."

She can tell, from the way that Blaine looks down and fiddles with his napkin, that he's worried, but he was obviously hoping Santana would brush it off as nothing to worry about. "Oh, well...you know..."

"No, I don't know, but you're going to tell me. What does Kurt say?"

"Nothing. He sleeps like the dead. The first one I had woke him, but every one since he's slept through."

"And what are they like, the dreams? The same each time?"

"Kind of. I'm trapped. There's always a man trapping me, under his foot, against a wall...last night he had my face pushed down against the grass, but I think that's because I was sleeping on Kurt's hair."

"Go on."

"And I can hear him, but I can't see him. I want to see him, because I'm sure I know his voice. But anyway, he's always trying to take someone from me. Mom, Brian, you... last night he was trying to take Mike."

"Burt?"

"He hasn't gotten to him yet," Blaine says with a small smile. "That's why he's holding me down, because I'm trying to fight him."

"And the voice?"

Blaine keeps his eyes downcast, his voice low. "Spencer."

"I thought as much." Santana sighs. "Blaine, sweetie, you need to see a doctor."

"No I don't."

"You do. This is all related to the attack, and you need to talk it through with a therapist, maybe get some sleeping pills."

"The attack was ages ago."

"Two months is hardly ages, and anyway, stuff like this can happen years after such an event. Please, Blaine, talk to Kurt and get seen."

Blaine knows she's serious, because she calls him Blaine and not baby, but he's still not expecting tears to be shining in her eyes when he looks up. "Really, it's not that bad," he says, reaching across to hold her hand.

"Now I know why your hair is so tightly gelled."

"That's not... look, I'm going home tomorrow. A few weeks back in Ohio and I'll be fine, trust me."

"You still need to talk to Kurt."

"I'm not going to do that."

"Why?"

"I'm not a kid."

"Blaine..."

"No, hear me out. Since the attack, it's all been about me. I was the one who needed all the help, it was Kurt who had to wash me, dress me, wait for me to be ready for...stuff. I'm sick of everyone thinking I'm the weaker one. We're supposed to be equals, and right now, I feel about as equal as a lion and a tiny flea."

"Blaine, I don't think that's how Kurt sees you at all. He doesn't take care of anyone unless he wants to. He knows you're equals. Hell, you're the only person in the entire world that he lets do stuff for him, or take care of him. You're the only one he shows vulnerability to."

"I know he sees me as equal, it's the rest of the world that doesn't."

"Well I do, but what does it matter what other people think, anyway? You know the truth and that's what matters. You need to talk to him about this, Blaine, before it gets out of hand."

"Okay," he sighs. "I will. But don't you breathe a word until I'm ready."

Santana squeezes his hand, and signals to the waiter for their check."My lips are sealed."

"Lovebirds!" Burt Hummel booms at the top of his voice, and all those waiting in arrivals at Columbus airport look around for the couple, astounded when the loud man rushes toward two young men, and scoops them up into one massive hug. "Ring!" he bellows over the top of their heads. "Blaine! I need to see it."

Blaine laughs and holds his hand out, though Burt doesn't really know how to go about admiring a piece of jewellery. "Beautiful," he declares, and both Kurt and Blaine seem satisfied with that. "Oh, it is so good to have you both home," he says, kissing them both on the forehead. "So good."

"It's good to be home," Kurt says, linking his arm through his dad's as they walk along. "Isn't that right Blaine?"

"Totally. Is mom not here?"

"At work until six," Burt tells him. "She couldn't get time off. But she'll be with us for dinner."

As always, Blaine falls dramatically over Bessie's hood, pressing his face against her and whispering sweet nothings, until Kurt pulls him away and gives him the keys. He practically cries with joy when he gets her out onto the highway, and Kurt finds himself dreaming of the future, when maybe they can all restore another car together.

"Dad," he asks casually, keeping one eye on Blaine. "Have you ever wanted to move?"

"As in, relocate?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Closer to us."

Blaine's hands grip the steering wheel tightly, as he becomes desperate to hear the answer to this unexpected question.

"Well, that depends. I wouldn't move until I'd retired, and I wouldn't move to New York, no. Maybe closer, but not there."

"What if we weren't in New York though?"

"Where's all this going, Kurt?" Burt asks. "Am I on trial here? Is this some kind of test?"

"I'd like to know where it's going, too," Blaine interjects.

"I was just curious, that's all."

"Well I can tell you this; I'd love to live close to you again, but you two need to get Blaine graduated and then work out where life takes ya. Your future will all depend on what kind of job Blaine gets, and where he needs to be based, and maybe if that's somewhere I like too, then I'll retire there."

"I would really love that," Kurt says, but Burt doesn't reply, too overwhelmed with emotion. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Kurt would want to keep him close at hand for his adult life.

"So would I. That'd be like, the best thing ever," Blaine agrees, but Burt can't really say he's surprised by that announcement, given that he's pretty sure Blaine would live in his pocket given half the chance.

"You'll go to Florida, I'm guessing?" he asks, but Blaine shrugs. "Depends. It could..."

"Florida? Why?"

"Because that's where the Kennedy Space Center is, you moron," Burt laughs, as Kurt looks utterly shocked.

"Not just there," Blaine interrupts. "California, Washington DC, Alabama."

"Ala...Ala-freakin-bama!" Kurt cries. "You're moving me to Alabama?"

Burt sinks low in the back seat. "Oooh dear."

"Calm down, I'm not moving you anywhere," Blaine says calmly.

"I am not living in Alabama. I'm just not."

"It's very beautiful."

"You've never been there!"

"No, but I watched that movie."

"Listen, space cowboy, I am not traipsing across the country to some godforsaken town, just so you can build a rocket. I don't care what your lifelong dream is, it's not gonna happen, okay?"

The silence is deafening, as Burt wonders why he even bothered mentioning anything, and Blaine drives on, staring straight ahead, his jaw clenched. Kurt stares out the window, not sure whether he wants to cry, laugh, or just sit down and talk with Blaine about all this at a quieter moment. He knows what the logical answer would be, but he opts to cry instead.

"I was going to say that I still have two more years of college," Blaine says, after ten excruciating minutes of silence. "Then I have to get accepted into the program, and then, and only then, I would talk with you about whether relocation was an option. If you wanted to stay in New York, then I'd look at using my degree in some other way. If none of the NASA jobs or locations were suitable, then I wouldn't take it. Our marriage, as it will be by then, comes above anything else, and your happiness."

Burt reaches forward, clapping a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "I'd say that sounds like a good compromise, wouldn't you?"

But Kurt is locked in his mood, and Blaine and Burt both know he'll only emerge when he's ready. "I'm not moving to Alabama."

Angie is excited. She bounds up the front steps, tosses her keys onto the hall table, and calls out happily. "I'm home!"

"In the kitchen," comes the warm, familiar voice of Burt, and she rushes in, but he is alone at the stove.

"Oh." She gives Burt his usual hug, and then sets her bag on the counter.

"He's in the basement."

"Ah. Okay. Well I'll wait for them to emerge then."

"Oh Kurt isn't with him. He's sulking in the den, Blaine's sulking down there."

"What? Why?"

"Because NASA dared to build a development site in Alabama."

"I'm not sure I follow."

Burt fills her in quickly, and then dispatches her to the basement while he finishes up dinner. Blaine lies on the bed, staring at the ceiling, neatly contained on what Angie assumes must be his usual side. He doesn't even acknowledge her arrival, until she leans over him and kisses his cheek. "You okay?"

"How can we get married if he's not willing to compromise?" Blaine says morosely. "Hello, by the way, and no I'm not. Seriously mom, how?"

"Sweetie, it probably came as a shock to him, that's all. His job is based in New York, you could be based wherever, it'll be up to both of you to compromise, if and when it comes to it."

"I know that! I was assuming that's what would happen, but he just shut me down! Told me to forget my dream."

"Blaine, I don't think he meant that."

"I do."

"Blaine, Kurt has worked hard to get himself established in a really good job. To hear that he might one day have to leave all that behind must unsettle him."

"But we always said we wouldn't stay in the city. Not once kids..." he breaks off, swallowing hard. "You know, if we buy a house or whatever, we'd want it to be somewhere we would choose to settle."

"And that will happen," Angie says encouragingly. "It will. You'll choose somewhere together, and you'll know it's right."

"I'll be stuck in Alabama, and he'll leave me and move back to New York."

"Now you're being silly," Angie says firmly. "You know that's not what would happen."

"I don't. Anything is possible with Kurt. He's a loose canon."

Angie sighs and gently rubs a hand over his shoulder, given that smoothing his hair is clearly not an option. She wants to ask why he's wearing it like that again, but she doesn't, just takes his hand in hers and kisses the back of it.

Kurt arrives, he thinks quietly, but both of them look up, so he guesses probably not.

"Hey Angie."

"Hi Kurt."

"Could I please talk to Blaine?"

"Sure. I'll go help with dinner."

He waits until he hears the door close, and then crawls on the bed to lie on his front next to Blaine, propped up on his elbows. "I'm sorry."

Blaine turns his head to look at him. "You were really mean."

"I know. That's why I said sorry."

"I don't get why you'd say all that stuff."

"Because I'm scared," Kurt admits quietly. "You know, it's easy to say that we have a future together, while we're living in our cozy little apartment that I love so much, and I'm happy in my job, and you're studying, but to realize that one day that might all change, it was a shock."

"Then why did you propose?"

"No, no, that's not...it's, okay, Blaine, that's what I'm trying to say. I proposed because I want all that with you. I want us to do new things, go new places. I just hadn't really thought about it, that's all. I should never have told you to give up on your dream, that was low, and I'm really sorry. I'd follow you to the end of the earth, I hope you know that."

"Not right now I don't."

"I really would." Kurt sits up, taking his hand which rests on his stomach. "Listen to me, Blaine. You are so smart, and you work so hard. Honestly, I feel like it's my privilege to watch you go through college and to achieve all you set out to do. You have held me up and pushed me to follow my dreams, and I intend to do exactly the same for you. I love writing, but you know what? I can pick up my laptop, and I can go write anywhere I choose. And I frequently do, just ask Danny at Starbucks. I will follow you wherever you go," he repeats firmly. "And if that's Washington, or Florida or even Alabama, I'll be there, right with you, I promise."

Blaine gives a nod, his eyes watery, and he gladly accepts the kiss Kurt offers, but he stays lying on his back. "What would you do though? If we moved? And what if you hated it? What then?"

"Well, there are always publications that need writers. Local newspapers, websites...I could even set up my own if I wanted. And you know, I trust you. I know you wouldn't come home one day and announce we were moving halfway across the country. I mean, that's the type of thing I would do for sure, but I do at least know that you'd discuss it with me first."

Blaine gives a little laugh, and holds his arms open for Kurt to cuddle in. "Apology accepted," he says into his hair. "I love you, tiger."

"I love you too. And I'm also sorry for not mentioning the whole dad moving closer to us thing too, I should have discussed that with you."

"He could live in our bathroom and I would be happy."

"No you wouldn't," Kurt laughs. "But I'm glad if you think him living closer would be a good thing."

"Oh it totally would."

"We could restore another car on weekends."

"Yeah."

"Are you really okay?" Kurt asks, when that's his only response. He sits again, and makes to brush a stray curl from his forehead, but then realizes there aren't any. "I get the feeling something's not right."

Blaine bites his lip and blinks back tears. "I'm tired of feeling this way," he says at last. "I love you, I love being with you, but sometimes I just feel like...like you have this life, and you're all grown up and settled, and I'm just trailing along behind. You're the master, and I'm the student, you're the adult, and I'm the kid."

"Blaine!" Kurt says, shocked. "I never set out to make you feel that way at all."

"No, I never said you did. It's not you, I just...since Spencer, I just don't feel like anyone sees me as your equal, more like someone who needs looking after all the time."

Kurt lies down next to him, kissing his cheek. "You know what? I don't think anyone does think that, and even if they do, it doesn't matter. We are equals, you and I. We prop each other up, love one another, and support each other. And hey, you know what else?"

"What?"

"No one knows us, or what our relationship is really like, except for you and me. No one knows that you can pin me down and dominate me," he teases, but Blaine is not in the mood, and just gives a weak smile. "I love you so much, Blaine, please don't be sad. We've got these few days to spend time with our family, and I just..."

"I think I'll come back to New York with you," Blaine blurts suddenly. "I don't like the thought of you staying in the apartment by yourself while I'm here. Anything could happen."

Kurt stops himself just before he can loudly protest, and he mentally congratulates himself on not exploding. He was going to say that he's not dumb, there's no way he would let a delivery guy into the apartment again, whether they were genuine or not, but he also knows Blaine would get upset again. He also wants to tell him that he's thirty one, he's lived alone for far longer than he's lived with Blaine, and he's more than capable of taking care of himself, as the state of Spencer and Max's faces had showed...but he doesn't.

"That is very sweet of you, and I get why you're worried, but really, I'll be okay. You need this time with dad, and I know how much you love working at the garage. I can get loads of work done without the distraction of your gorgeousness, and then we can have the most awesome road trip."

"You might need me though, and I won't be there."

"It's ten days apart," Kurt says gently. "I went to London and abandoned you for three weeks."

"That was before."

"How about this? I promise faithfully that I will call you right away if I'm worried, or upset, or scared, and I promise not to be above asking you to come home if I need you, okay?"

Blaine is surprised but placated by Kurt's words, and he nods emphatically. "Yeah. That would make me feel so much better."

"Good. Now, are we indulging in a bit of pre dinner fooling around, or what?"

"In a minute," Blaine says with a laugh. "I just have to use the bathroom first."

Blaine does seem brighter that evening, and time passes happily over dinner and cards. Angie turns in first, and she's followed not long after by Blaine.

"Already?" Kurt asks, when he stands and yawns, stretching his arms high above his head.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so tired."

"Are you sure you're..." He stops, swallows, and gives a nod, not wanting Blaine to feel belittled in front of Burt. "Sure. Want me to wake you when I come down?"

"Yes please," he says, and though he knows it will only be so Kurt can give him a quick kiss before cuddling in, he still blushes in the cutest way possible. "Night dad," he says, giving Burt's cheek a kiss, and Burt reaches back to rub at his neck.

"Night, sunshine. Good to have you home."

"Go fish?" Kurt asks, once the basement door is closed.

"Sure. I'll fetch us another beer."

Kurt waits it out, and Burt waits his son out too, knowing he wants to talk about something. After three rounds, when he's pretty positive Blaine must be asleep, Kurt says as casually as he can: "I'm a little worried about Blaine."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He's been acting a little weird all week."

"Like how?"

"Well, he got really upset earlier."

Burt stops dealing cards and looks up, one eyebrow raised. "Are you seriously wondering why?"

"No... well, kinda. He's used to me by now."

"Doesn't mean you can say what you want to him, though."

"No, I know that, and I apologized. He said he accepted it, and that we were all good, and we are, but he's not."

"I don't follow."

"Well, he said he's fed up with people pitying him, and being treated like the younger one."

"He is the younger one," Burt points out. "He's also sensitive and sweet, whereas you're like a bull in a china shop."

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

Kurt laughs, and flicks his beer cap at his dad for good measure. "I know all this, but I think it's really starting to affect him. And I also think it's deeper than that. I think he has something wrong and he's not telling me."

"He's sick?"

"I don't know, but every night for a week now, I wake up in the night to find he's not there, he's in the bathroom. Last night he was crying, I know he was, but when he came back to bed I asked if he was okay, and he said he had to pee, that was all."

"Maybe he did."

"Oh I think he did, but it's every night."

"So? I get up twice in the night."

"Yeah but you're old. He never gets up. I'm wondering if the attack left him with some kind of problem that's only arisen recently. I don't know. All I know is everytime he goes to the bathroom I'm panicking."

"Problems with his plumbing, you think?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm." Burt takes a sip of his beer and thinks. "Is he okay in bed?"

"Dad!"

"What? You know what I mean. Is he functioning okay?"

"I'm not...oh my God."

"When did you acquire morals? Just tell me, have you two been at it, or not?"

"We...yes," Kurt eventually blusters.

"Within this past week?"

"Of course. What do you take us for?"

"So you think he might have a problem with his waterworks rather than anything else?"

"Yes."

"I'll talk to him," Burt declares. "When you're gone. Get him to a doctor."

"Thank you," Kurt sighs. "I don't want him to feel like I'm babying him, but you're his dad, he'll take a bit of guidance from you. Please don't tell Angie though," Kurt adds quickly. "He'd die."

"Of course I won't. Poor Blaine. I tell ya, if I ever see that asshole again, I'll ruin him."

They play cards together, father and son, until nearly one in the morning, when Burt remembers he has to work at six. Kurt changes quietly, and uses the bathroom, before climbing into bed and giving Blaine a gentle nudge. "I'm here."

"What?" Blaine leaps upright, scrambling back against the headboard, his eyes wide with terror. "No! No, you can't be! Get out!"

"Blaine! Hey, it's me."

He blinks slowly as he wakes properly, not realizing what he's just done. "Hey," he whispers, his voice heavy with sleep. "Cuddle?"

"Sure."

Kurt eyes him warily as they settle down, but Blaine kisses him softly and goes right back to sleep, not waking again until four. Kurt wakes at four thirty, missing his portable heater, and sure enough, as he listens in the dark, the only sound he can hear is Blaine crying in the bathroom.