Authors Note: Thank you all for reading. Please continue to let me know where you want Blaine to apply (and go) to university and what you would like him to study? I am from England and am not not knowledgeable on US Universities and colleges (apart from researching on their websites). So please let me know where you want him to go.

Please review xx

Disclaimer: I own nothing xx

Of course, Blaine didn't return to Dalton. He never intended to no matter how much of a convincing offer Hunter had made. He liked it at McKinley. Sure, it wasn't perfect. But neither was Dalton (their acceptance of Hunter Clarington proved that).

But now Blaine was ready to begin the first stage of the challenge he and Sebastian had laid out.

Winning Sectionals.

At Thanksgiving.

Luckily for the New Directions, they would not be competing against the Warblers who had competed the previous weekend. The Warblers had completely aced their competition in their covers of 'Live While We're Young' and 'Whistle' (which had left Blaine hot under the collar, prompting an intense make out session back stage).

Blaine and Brittany had gone to support the Warblers at their Sectionals and had been met by Wes, who was in town for his older brothers wedding. They had been able to catch up on everything that was going on with him and Santana but also everything between Thad and Quinn. Neither had realized that Thad had flown up to New Haven to visit Quinn (much Hunter's upset) the week before Sectionals.

Now Quinn was in Lima and Brittany, Blaine and Kitty all knew that Quinn did not particularly want to hang around McKinley. Kitty had admitted that Quinn was her idol and wanted to become Captain of the Cheerios once Blaine and Brittany graduated. Quinn, who had been paired with her, was able to catch a glimpse of the loving yet hurt cheerleader who was hidden beneath the tough bitchy exterior that she presented to the world.

Santana had been paired with Marley (no one had really expected that pairing), Mike with Ryder, Puck with Jake and Mercedes had been partnered with Unique. Much to Blaine's relief, Kurt had not returned home for Thanksgiving. The pair hadn't spoken since their break-up and from what Rachel had told Blaine that he had no idea that Blaine was dating Sebastian.

That was one thing that Blaine had never expected.

Friendship with Rachel Berry.

Rachel, who was Kurt's self-appointed best friend (much to Kurt and Mercedes amusement), had latched onto Blaine and become his self-appointed best friend. Although, Rachel had pointed out that she was moving towards fag hag-dom (Blaine had burst out laughing at that). Blaine had also been surprised to learn that she was not totally opposed to Sebastian (especially as Kurt was dating some British-guy named Adam). Apparently, she just wanted him to be happy.

But Rachel had stayed in New York with Kurt to avoid the inevitable awkward tension that would occur between her and Finn had she returned.

Instead, Quinn, Santana, Mike, Puck and Mercedes had returned to join Finn in guiding them through Sectionals. Mr Shue's sporadic appearances in Glee had almost made Blaine miss the Warbler Council but Finn had surprised everyone by being a surprisingly good teacher (Blaine suspected he had even surprised himself).

"Hey hobbit..."

Blaine looked up from where he was nervously tapping his fingers against his leg backstage, "Hey Tana..."

Santana sat down next to him and grabbed a hold of his hands, "I never pegged you as one to be nervous..."

Blaine let out a nervous chuckle and shrugged, "It depends...last year it wasn't me opening the show...it was Tina, Quinn and Mike...and Kurt...I'm opening this year..."

"You killed it last year at sectionals...Man in the Mirror...Control...or have you forgotten those?"

Blaine smiled slightly, "I'll be fine once I get up there...I always am..."

"You were the lead for the Warblers...were you like this then too?"

"Worse..."

"Worse?"

"What was worse?"

Blaine and Santana glanced up to see Puck and Quinn standing in the doorway. Blaine gestured for them to enter and the two quickly took seats next to Blaine.

"What's worse?" Puck repeated.

"Hobbit's nerves..."

"You're nervous?"

Blaine rolled his eyes, "Is that really that hard to imagine?"

"Kinda...dude...you're like the most talented guy in Glee...I mean Artie's my bro too and Sam..but dude...you're freakin' incredible..."

Blaine blushed a little at Puck's words. He had been told he had an amazing voice by a lot of people; his dad, his grandparents, the Warblers (notably David and Wes), Rachel, Mr Shue, Sam, Sebastian but somehow Puck's words struck a chord within him. He could do this.

"If it helps...Seb and Thad are here...and the rest of the Warblers..."

"Scouting the competition..." Puck said a scowl on his face.

"Oh like we did when you sent Kurt to Dalton?" Santana smirked.

Puck raised his hands in surrender and winked, "Calm down Satan...and yeah...although I doubt Seb's here for that..."

Blaine smacked him on the arm rolling his eyes, "How's mini-Puckerman doing?"

"I still cannot believe I have a half-brother who is like...like here..."

"Neither could we..."

Puck rolled his shoulders, "He still has a long way to go before he is totally bad-ass...but he'll get there..."

"Oh no he won't..."

Blaine was broken off by Mercedes poking her head around the door, "Blaine...it's time..."

Blaine rolled his eyes, "Really? That's what you're going to say?"

Sebastian settled back into his seat beside Thad and wondered who the seat next to him were reserved for. He knew that one of them was for Quinn but he had no idea who else, he just hoped it wasn't Kurt.

Thad leaned side-wards, "You look nervous...you okay?"

Sebastian nodded, "Yeah...I just...I want them to win..."

"Even if they will beat us later in the competition..."

"At least it will give us a bit of a challenge..."

"Yeah I..."

Thad was broken off by Hunter leaning forward, "Remember this is a recon mission...we need to know who is going to be the biggest threat..."

"Hunter...my boyfriend is performing...I really could care less about your 'recon mission'...this isn't the army...it's show choir..."

"Show choir is brutal Sebastian...it is war..."

Thad choked a little at that and was patted sharply on the back by Nick. Sebastian was stopped from replying by the appearance of Quinn, Santana and Puck. The three took the seats beside Sebastian and he noted that Mercedes and Mike took the seats in front of them. Santana leaned over Quinn and placed a kiss on Sebastian's cheek.

"They'll be fine...trust me..."

Before Sebastian could reply the lights dimmed and the show began. The first group were good but Sebastian knew that Blaine was better. That the New Directions were better. Sebastian glanced round at one point and noticed that Hunter was making notes.

Then the Mennonites appeared on stage.

They were...well, Sebastian didn't really have the words to describe what they were.

They were something.

Sebastian did not fail to note, as the New Directions were announced, Thad mutter under his breath, "War he says?...Brutal?"

Then the music started and Sebastian was lulled into the magic and safety that was Blaine's voice as he appeared from the back of the theater.

So, this is what you meant
When you said you were spent
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit
Right to the top
Don't hold back
Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check

Blaine moved so that he was in line with Sebastian's row as he sang the next line;

I don't ever want to let you down

And then he moved on, making his way up onto the stage to join the rest the New Directions doing some complicated choreography including clapping and red solo cups. Then the song came to an end and they moved seamlessly into a slowed down version of Katy Perry's 'Wide Awake'. The song was beautifully sung and even brought a tear to Sebastian's eyes, especially when Blaine's new cheerleader friend sang the line:

God knows that I've tried
Seeing the bright side

Sebastian remembered Blaine saying about how much he got along with the cheerleader and (much like Sebastian and Santana) there was more to her than she dared to show to the world.

Then, the New Directions flawlessly ended in 'Some Nights'. The song highlighted the talents of the entire club and Sebastian noted that even Hunter had stopped making notes to watch the performance.

As they ended the room was filed with applause and a standing ovation. It was pretty clear to everyone that the New Directions had won.

They'd won.

Obviously.

Thank you for reading xx

Songs: It's Time - Imagine Dragons

Wide Awake - Katy Perry

Some Nights - Fun.