#dalton!au

Dalton Academy hallway 8:55 am

Sebastian was not a nerd.

No matter what his best friend Hunter said, Sebastian was definitely not a nerd. Nerds liked Star Trek and wore glasses and stuttered around pretty girls. And, yes, okay, Sebastian had watched every Star Trek episode ever, but only once, so that did not count. Maybe he did wear glasses, but only when he could not be bothered to put in his contacts. He absolutely, most definitely, did not ever stutter around pretty girls.

“Sebastian! There you are! Didn’t you hear me?”

Something tiny and energetic threw an arm around his waist and tucked easily into Sebastian’s side.

Sebastian flailed.

“Sorry!” Blaine said, untangling them so that he could pick up the contents of Sebastian’s bag that had scattered across the hall.  He bent over, stretching down and giving Sebastian a perfect view of the curves of his ass. Sebastian meeped.

“Sebastian?” Blaine looked awkwardly up at him.

Sebastian dropped down to help the other boy out. “Wow, I, um, the thing is…”

Blaine giggled. As far as sexy, adorable giggles went, it scored a 9.6 out of 10. Sebastian had to mark him off because the sound was muffled by one hand brought up to cover his mouth. Sebastian’s own mouth went dry.

“It’s okay,” Blaine said, cheerfully, handing up the neatly stacked contents of Sebastian’s bag. “We can talk later. I’ll see you in class!”

Sebastian nodded dumbly, tucked away his books and pencils without thought, and watched Blaine walk away.

Definitely no problems talking to pretty girls.

Dalton Academy cafeteria 12:21 pm

“He thinks you have a speech impediment,” Hunter said, precisely cutting his pork roast into exact squares.

Sebastian stopped poking disinterestedly at his mashed potatoes and looked at his friend. “A speech impediment? Why would he think I have a speech impediment? We are in the same public speaking class.”

Hunter shrugged. “Someone had to come up with some reason for you turning into a blithering idiot when he’s in the room.”

“So you told him I have a speech impediment!” Sebastian barely managed to keep from shrieking.

Hunter popped a pork square into his mouth and chewed. When he finished, he said, “Someone else made me promise not to mention their ridiculous crush. There are only so many explanations for the shade of red you turn. I could have said you were adjusting to a new medication.”

Sebastian pushed his tray away, suddenly unable to even think of eating. “He thinks I have a speech impediment.”

“Stop sulking,” Hunter ordered. “I handed you a golden opportunity. You’re in public speaking together. Get him to help you prepare for your next presentation.”

Sebastian Smythe’s Bedroom 6:42 pm

“So, was this all a ploy to get me in your bed?” Blaine asked, straddling Sebastian’s waist.

Sebastian groaned, and cupped his hands around Blaine’s perfect ass. He squeezed reflexively as Blaine sucked marks on his neck, and was gratified to hear a moan in return. He squeezed again. “N-no,” he gasped. “Yes. I don’t know. Fuck, do that again.”

Blaine snickered, but obligingly tongued Sebastian’s pulse.

Sebastian growled and flipped them over, settling in between Blaine’s legs and leaning in to kiss the other boy. “I don’t have a speech impediment,” he said between kisses. “Hunter is an ass with infrequent brilliant ideas.”

Blaine nipped Sebastian’s lower lip and then pulled back. “Let’s not talk about Hunter,” he said.

"I'm going to NYADA, Bas is going to NYU," Blaine said. "Hunt, where are you going?"

"West Point," Hunter answered promptly.

"Should have known," Blaine said, nodding. "And you two?"

"University of Michigan," Nick replied. "We debated there or Northwestern, but…"

"It's not glamorous or anything, but we'll both be there and that's all that really matters, isn't it?" Jeff said. He was trying to hold hands with Nick across Blaine, but it was difficult.

"This is a super long-ass drive, and I'll probably regret asking, but why don't you tell us the story of how you two got together?" Sebastian said, stretching out, lazily. He was in the front seat, like an asshole.

"It was a beautiful and magical time…" Jeff began.

Contrary to popular belief, Nick and Jeff had met as small children, even though they grew up on separate sides of the country. Jeff's family lived nearby in Ohio. Nick's was from Texas.

It was fate. The Duvals and the Sterlings both took the same cruise vacation, leaving their sons in the same kid-friendly environment on the boat. They weren't sure why, but they became best friends in the seven days they were there.

It seems strange that a seven day encounter could turn into life-long friendship, but it did. In the years to come, the boys rang up phone bills so high that each set of parents got their son his own cell phone. Jeff was the first one to suggest online communication, even bought a webcam and headset for Nick. Summer was the best, because they spent a whole month together, trading off whose house they were at.

When Jeff found out he was going to a boarding school, he promptly informed Nick, and they spent weeks begging Nick's parents to send him to Dalton as well. Finally the Duvals relented, and Nick and Jeff were living together at last, best friends thrown together by fate.

Halfway through freshman year, just as the Warblers were gearing up for Regionals, a new kid came along: Blaine Warbler. Then-junior Wes took the extremely talented, extremely good-looking freshman Blaine under his wing. You can't get into the Warblers unless you're good-looking, it's a pre-requisite. We're still not sure how Sebastian got in.

Blaine had transferred in from Westerville High, where'd he'd been—

"You know what?" Blaine interjected. "I actually know my own story, thanks."

So the very talented, extremely sexy, freshman Blaine became the third Musketeer to Nick and Jeff's one and two. So late in the semester, he had to triple his dorm up with Nick and Jeff. Blaine became the star of the Warblers, quickly moving to legendary status. Nick and Jeff worked as his crowd control. As a result, they became best friends.

"They may be playing this up a bit," Blaine said. They'd stopped at a Dunkin Donuts for a coffee and pee break (or if you were Sebastian and Blaine, a quickie in the handicapped stall), and were now back on the road. "We were roommates and friends, but I'm not famous."

"Baby, please," Sebastian said. "You're Blaine freaking Anderson. Now be quiet. Councilor Duval, you have the floor."

So, Nick and Jeff were living with Blaine. Blaine was gay and he didn't hide it, and they were okay with it. Jeff had always known he was too, though he didn't parade it around. It didn't really matter, one way or the other, especially with Dalton's no tolerance rules – the reason the Sterlings had chosen to send Jeff there in the first place.

Nick hadn't ever thought about it – being best friends with someone 1000 miles away was always his top priority. Girls were somewhere around 27th. That was your first clue. It didn't change how he saw his best friend or Blaine. Blaine became everyone's favorite person. The Warblers would fight over whose turn it was to do his hair. And even though they lost at Regionals, it didn't matter that much. They still had the nursing home shows. With Blaine as their star, the Warblers were virtually unstoppable.

Summer passed, Nick and Jeff stayed at Jeff's house for the most part, pretending to be spies or superheroes or whatnot. Blaine promised to visit but he lied! No, shut up, Blaine, I'm telling the story!

Fall eventually came, and with it came a real spy – one Kurt Hummel, Mr. Blaine Devon Anderson's personal Teenage Dream. He was bullied at his school and a few weeks later finally transferred. Blaine had gotten his own dorm at the start of the year, but Kurt chose not to live on campus, though he was technically assigned to be Blaine's roommate.

Nick and Jeff knew Kurt was moved with Blaine, and considered kicking Blaine until he caught up. The issue? Blaine was in love with a 26-year-old junior manager at the North Hills Gap. Man, he had some hair. That was embarrassing as hell, I'm sure.

'Twas Valentine's Day, though, and Kurt set up a Single's Party at Breadstix, and the Warblers were the entertainment. Nick took the opportunity to meet a girl – Ashleigh, if I remember correctly.

Totally bombed his date, by the way, Hunter, if that makes you feel any better. Instead of going to Jeff with his problems, he went to Blaine. I wasn't there, of course, but they probably going into some kind of sassy slapfight.

—Anyhow, it wasn't until the Sexy lesson that Nick finally caught on. Under the cover of tons and tons of bubbles, Nick finally kissed Jeff. Jeff was surprised, but very, very happy. They went back to their room to continue kissing and they've been dating ever since.

To thank Blaine for all his help, Nick and Jeff decided to hook him up with Kurt. I'm not going to go into specifics here, but Nick and Jeff noticed that Kurt was the sort of person who gets emotional over dead birds. Because there are two types of people in the world, people who get emotional over dead birds, and people who don't get emotional over dead birds, and Kurt is the kind that gets emotional over dead birds.

"Told you so," Sebastian interjected.

Nick and Jeff regretfully killed Pavarotti. Technically, they poisoned her water. Technically, they are horrible, awful people. Technically, it was totally worth it. Technically, you use the word 'technically' way too much, J. Shut it. Blaine totally realized he loved Kurt while Kurt was singing Blackbird. Jeff suggested to Blaine that he might sing a duet with Kurt for Regionals – something emotional, like Candles, by Hey Monday.

"Oh, God, no. No more candles," Blaine said.

If you hadn't noticed, Blaine was usually so Top 40. Long story very short, Blaine and Kurt got together, but the Warblers lost Regionals. That's okay though, Klaine is better than a lousy trophy.

Life went on, as it tends to do. Kurt transferred back to McKinley. The New Directions lost at Nationals, if it makes anyone feel any better. I think they came in 12th. God, that sucks. I hope we don't come in 12th. Summer came and went, it was wonderful, who cares. The first day of school came, and there was Blaine Warbler, in his Warbler outfit, dreamy as ever, leading Warbler practice, electing a new council. It was fantastic.

Except that night when Nick and Jeff heard a clamoring from the room next to theirs. Blaine was dressed in capri pants, bowtie, and sweater vest, throwing everything he owned into boxes. He was transferring to McKinley to be with Kurt. Nick and Jeff were supportive. Blaine called an emergency council meeting and named Nick as his successor. Then, he was gone.

Literally the next morning, there was someone new moving into Blaine's dorm room. Nick and Jeff decided to meet their new neighbor. Sebastian Smythe, what a douche. He was so douchey. He looked like a douche, he sounded like a douche, he acted like a douche, and then he showed up to Warbler practice. And he was a douche there, too.

"Guys, I'm sitting right here!" Sebastian protested.

"Shut up," Jeff said.

"Thanks for being supportive, as always," Sebastian mumbled.

Sebastian had a tendency to talk over people and think he was better than everyone else. One by one, Sebastian picked off the Warblers and the other boys at Dalton, including us, to have one-afternoon stands in his single dorm room. Loudly. Nick and Jeff picked noise fights randomly. They still hold the trophy for loudest sexual encounter.

"And Blaine and I are going to take you up on that, I promise," Sebastian said.

Blaine came to visit the Warblers, to invite them to his opening night in West Side Story. Sebastian, it seemed, had a fantastic crush on the former legend. That just wouldn't do. Unfortunately, Sebastian terrified Nick and Jeff, and they didn't dare try to stop any of his ridiculous schemes, which were numerous. Finally, Dave Karofsky, whom Nick, Jeff, and Trent had met when they'd gone with Sebastian to Scandals one night, attempted suicide. Nick and Jeff decided Sebastian had gone too far, he needed to be stopped. He would change his ways or he'd be out of the Warblers, new captain or not.

Sebastian shaped up, and though the Warblers lost at Regionals, their best friend Blaine won, and Sebastian learned life's too short to blind people with rock salt. The rest of that year passed pretty uneventfully. Finally, that brings us to senior year. Another newcomer to the Warblers showed up, moving into Sebastian's room. Nick and Jeff greeted him happily, hoping he'd be better than Sebastian at any rate. He asked for a brief overview of the Warblers, and any information they could spare on Sebastian. It was not a short conversation by any account.

When the first Warblers meeting was convened for the semester, Hunter petitioned the council for a few things. One, Captaincy, which the Warblers were only too willing to give him, and Two, a seat on the council. After a brief conversation, Councilor Sterling agreed to give up his council seat to Hunter.

"I think everyone else is familiar with the rest of the story, to be honest," Nick finally said. "Where are we?"

"Looking for the parking garage for the hotel," Hunter said.

"We're there already?" Blaine asked, jolting awake. He'd fallen asleep a few hours ago, head on Nick's shoulder.

"Yeah, sleepyhead, you missed most of the story," Jeff said, indignantly.

"We slammed Sebastian a few times, just to make sure you were really asleep," Nick said. Hunter parked the car, and the quintet gathered their bags. They checked into their rooms, and then loaded up the elevator.

"So, I made a decision," Hunter said. "I know I'm not Captain anymore, or even Vice Captain, and I'm barely on the council, and I'm kind of a jerk, and I sort of made Sebastian come onto me and got Blaine very angry with me…"

"Did this story have a point, because I'm sure pissing me off again wasn't it," Blaine interrupted.

"I want Nick and Jeff to have Two Princes," Hunter said. "They sounded so good when they sang it before, and they've never done a duet together."

"Yeah, and I don't think Nationals is the best time to try that out," Blaine said. "We want to win, don't we?"

"Hey," Jeff said. "We gave up Regionals two years ago for you and Kurt. Then you cheated on him and ruined all our good work. You could at least return the favor."

"I'm not saying you can't have the song if Hunter wants to give it to you," Blaine said. "He's on the council, he has the power. I'm just saying, don't sleep with Sebastian while you're dating someone else." Sebastian punched Blaine in the arm softly, and Blaine laughed. "It worked out for me, but I don't think so much for you."

"If you had to date one of the other Warblers besides each other, which one would you pick?" Sebastian asked.

"Blaine," Nick said at the same time Jeff declared, "Sebastian." They turned to stare at each other.

"Oh-hoo," Blaine said, looking at Sebastian. "Interesting. What about you, Bas?"

"Oh, definitely Hunter," Sebastian laughed. "Hunt?"

"Yeah, if I had to pick one of you, I guess it would be Sebastian," Hunter grumbled.

"What about you, Blaine?" Nick asked.

"Oh, God," Blaine said. "I don't know."

"If you had to," Sebastian said. "I won't be offended. Tell us."

"I don't know!" Blaine exclaimed. "Hunter, I guess."

"Ew, why Hunter?" Sebastian asked.

"You said you wouldn't be offended!" Blaine argued. The rest laughed, except Hunter who seemed revolted. The elevator finally dinged them free on the 15th floor.

"We'll see you later, I guess," Jeff said, as they all went their separate ways.

"Practice in my room at 6 sharp," Hunter called.

"So, a 26-year-old junior manager at the Gap," Sebastian said to Blaine.

"I don't have the music anymore, so I hope you remember it… Hunter, Sebastian, just… catch on. I hope." Kurt was perched on a stool in the corner of the library. "A brief welcome back to Kurt Hummel, you all know Kurt. Kurt, the guys," Blaine said, gesticulating wildly. Kurt waved serenely from his stool. "Alright everyone, let's run it."

I've seen you crying, you felt like it's hopeless But I'll always do my best to make you see…

"You're ready," Kurt said. "Tell him he's ready."

"You're ready," Nick and Jeff said.

"I don't know, maybe you need more candles," Sebastian teased. He and Kurt had swapped stories all day on Sunday.

"Oh, God, no. No more candles," Blaine said, burying his face in his hands.

"I'm kidding, you're ready!" Sebastian said, giving his boyfriend a hug from behind. "We'll be right here, not killing each other." Hunter and Sebastian were sitting out, Blaine had make the decision. They couldn't learn it fast enough.

"Blaine Anderson?" Madame Thibodeaux called.

"Yes," Blaine said. He stood center stage in the Dalton Auditorium, which they hardly ever used.

"And what will you be performing?"

"I wrote and arranged this song two years ago," Blaine said. "It's called Not Alone. And I hope you like it."

Baby you're not alone, cuz you're here with me And nothing's ever gonna bring you down Cuz nothing can keep me from loving you And you know it's true No matter what'll come to be Our love is all we need to make it through

"It has been many years since an applicant performed their own original song for me," Madame Thibodeaux said. "I applaud your choice." She didn't say anything else at all.

"Thank you for your time, Madame," Blaine said, taking three or four bows before leaving the stage.

"Is she gone?" Blaine asked, nervously.

"You nailed it!" Sebastian exclaimed, picking Blaine up and spinning him around. It was a good thing Blaine was so short, or Sebastian would have effectively decapitated a few Warblers. "Oh, I've never had anyone to be proud of before. This is silly."

"Alright, put me down before you get overwhelmed," Blaine said. Sebastian set him back on his feet.

"How do you feel?" Kurt asked.

"Nervous as hell, oh my God," Blaine screamed.

"Blaine, it's over!" Kurt squeaked. "Why are you nervous now?"

"You know, Blaine, he's never nervous before," Hunter said.

"Just so you know, I owe Nick ten dollars," Jeff said.

"What?" Blaine asked.

"We were betting what you'd sing," Nick answered. "He said Teenage Dream. I knew better."

"I was thinking Teenage Dream," Blaine said. "This was better. Oh, GOD! Do you think she liked it? Do you think I'll get in, OH MY GOD, Kurt, what if I get in?" He'd grabbed Kurt around the waist and was dancing him around the hallway.

"Then we'll go to school together again," Kurt said, "and you can be the one to listen to Rachel and bitch about Cassandra July."

"Why would she bitch about Cassie July?" Blaine asked.

"You'll find out, come September," Kurt replied. Sebastian deftly orchestrated a move to steal his boyfriend away from Kurt.

"You know how I never talk to my dad unless it's emergency?" Sebastian asked.

"Yeah, same deal with my parents," Blaine shrugged.

"I talked to him last night about arrangements for next year," Sebastian continued. "He bought us an apartment."

"Bought us… oh, my God!" Blaine screamed. "We're moving to New York. We're moving to New York! Guys! Bas and I are moving to New York!" He ran around in excited circles, around and around the throng in the corridor.

"That's great, Blaine," Kurt said, almost convincingly. "Listen, I, uh, I should be going. Rach and I have to be at the train station in two hours, so…"

"Aw, so soon?" Jeff asked. "You can't stay for, let's say, another year or two?"

"For you two, I'd consider it," Kurt laughed. "Have fun, don't get into too much trouble. I hope Wes never found out what you did to that gavel."

"What did they do to the gavel?" Sebastian asked. Nick and Jeff exchanged looks. "Kurt, what did they do to my gavel?"

"See you!" Kurt called, skipping down the corridor.

"Not if I see you first!" Blaine yelled. "Alsksdjklds! I can't believe we're moving to New York!"

"I might suggest we move the party out of the hall. Contrary to popular belief, there are teachers here, and we're going to get cited for noise," Hunter said, shepherding his group into the library. "All hail, Blaine Warbler, the man, the myth, the legend. To Blaine Warbler."

"Why-why do you guys call him Blaine Warbler?" Sebastian asked. "It's redundant."

"Because that's his name," Jeff said.

"You got the Blaine part right," Sebastian said. "But the rest is not Warbler."

"Is isn't?" Nick asked, concerned. "That's what we put on the announcements…"

"Guys, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Blaine Devon Anderson, love of my life, New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts, Class of 2017," Sebastian said.

"Bas, don't wreck it, what if I don't get in?" Blaine whined.

"You will," Sebastian said. "And even if you don't, it'll be alright, you know why?"

"Why?" Blaine asked, anxiously.

"Cuz, baby, you're not alone!" the entire chorus sung in unison. Blaine groaned.

"I set myself up for that one."

"I got the mail," Sebastian said. It was the day before they were leaving to go to Philadelphia for Nationals. "Did you know we have a mailbox?"

"How do you think your mail gets to your desk every day?" Blaine asked, sitting up. He'd been on Sebastian's bed, reading the last book of his high school career, Into the Heart of Darkness. Talk about boring. Sebastian was taking the normal person's approach – not reading the book.

"Never thought about it," Sebastian said, setting the mail down on his desk and starting to go through it. Blaine got up to help. It was a big stack, neither of them had bothered to look for a week or more.

"Hot damn!" Blaine exclaimed.

"My Playgirl came?" Sebastian asked, interested.

"Your VISA bill is huge!" Blaine said.

"Give me that!" Sebastian snapped, snatching the envelope from Blaine's hand and stashing it in his desk drawer. Blaine opened the next envelope he picked up, also addressed to Sebastian.

"Good news, no STDs!" Blaine exclaimed.

"Not surprised," Sebastian scoffed. "Haven't screwed anyone but you in about a jillion years." He pushed Blaine away from the mail, intent on sorting it himself. "Swapped a lot of spit with Hunter, though, but what are the odds?"

"How often do you get checked for STDs?" Blaine asked, looking through the pages he was still holding.

"Every three months," Sebastian replied, promptly.

"Why?"

"Can't be too careful, especially if you're me," Sebastian advised. He'd found an envelope addressed to Blaine and was staring at it.

"What's that?"

"It's your NYADA letter," Sebastian said. Blaine went white.

"I didn't think it would get here before Nationals," Blaine said. "I don't even get mail here, they're supposed to send everything to my house."

"Are you going to open it?" Sebastian asked.

"I have to," Blaine said, taking the envelope from his boyfriend. "But… not just yet."

"When are you going to, then?" Sebastian asked.

"In about three minutes," Blaine said. He banged twice on the wall to Niff's room and yelled, "My NYADA letter came!" Not two minutes had passed before all the Warblers were convened in the dorm hallway.

"Use a letter opener," Thad suggested, handing Blaine said item. Blaine was shaking so badly he looked like he was going to stab someone with the letter opener. Sebastian stepped in behind him and held his hands steady as he pulled the letter from the envelope. He closed his eyes and unfolded the paper. Sebastian glanced at it and grinned. Blaine took a deep breath, opened his eyes, read down the paper, and screamed.

"I got in! I got in!" he yelled. It was a month ago again, everyone was hugging each other, except Sebastian, who was holding the letter opener. He passed it to Hunter so he could hug his boyfriend, pick him up, spin him around, and kiss him.

"Congratulations, baby," Sebastian murmured in Blaine's ear. "Let's add the cherry to the top of that, shall we?"

"Nationals?"

"How much do you just hate Hunter Clarington?" Nick asked.

"A lot," Sebastian said, now very suspicious.

"We have an idea," Jeff said. "To take him down a few notches."

"We will take Blaine somewhere far away where he'll never find out… and you can have your way with Hunter," Nick said.

"That's ridiculous," Sebastian said. "Blaine's my boyfriend, I'm not going to cheat on him for some power play."

"C'mon Sebastian, we all know what kind of guy you really are," Jeff said. "Ambitious. Driven. You're a Dalton Boy."

"You want to do… anything it takes to win, don't you?" Nick said, almost seductively.

"Y-yes…" Sebastian said.

"But you don't want to let Blaine down, do you, Bas?" Jeff asked, almost as seductively in Sebastian's other ear. "Maybe… Maybe we should take him down, hmm, Nick?"

"Well, we could," Nick said, "but no one does takedown like you, Bas." Sebastian reached up and loosened his tie. He couldn't believe he was getting turned on by this. What kind of ill-conceived plan was—Oh. He knew exactly what kind of plan this was. Or thought he did.

"Take… uh, take Hunter down a peg or two?" Sebastian croaked. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? If I went after Hunter and dropped Blaine. You'd have me expelled for it."

"We wouldn't do that, would we, J?" Nick pouted.

"Course not," Jeff replied.

"And Blaine will never know," Nick breathed. "Don't you want the power? Don't you want the Warblers back under your control? Don't you want Hunter beneath you, screaming your name?"

"Y-yes," Sebastian said. Forget plans, this was starting to sound like something out of Sebastian's fantasies.

"Hunter on his knees, obeying your commands for once," Jeff purred. "Calling you 'Sir', totally at your mercy…"

"What do you want from me?" Sebastian asked. He could feel his knees getting weaker.

"Nothing you'd be uncomfortable with," Nick whispered. "Friday afternoon, we're going with Blaine to Lima, fraternizing with Sam and them, you know."

"You and Hunter will be here all alone…" Jeff breathed. "You know you want to, Bas."

"Y-yeah…" Sebastian said, off-handedly. "I-I have to go." He broke free of Nick and Jeff, and hurried off. Nick and Jeff grinned at each other and slapped fives. Blaine sauntered up behind them as well.

"Well?" Blaine asked.

"He's totally going to do it," Nick said, flashing a smile.

Later that afternoon, Blaine was lounging on Sebastian's bed, reading a book. Sebastian was at his desk, looking over a planogram of the choreography for Beat It.

"Do you think Nick and Jeff would try to get me expelled?" Sebastian asked, out of the blue.

"No," Blaine snorted. "They know you're our secret weapon for Nationals."

"True," Sebastian said. Hunter's voice wafted out from the shower, singing Some Nights at the top of his voice.

"Pretty annoying, isn't he?" Blaine said.

"You have no idea," Sebastian sighed.

"Be a shame if he got laryngitis," Blaine remarked. "Or, you know, slipped, fell, and broke a bone."

"Like his head," Sebastian filled in. "Or his giant nose."

"Yeah, it'd be a shame," Blaine said. "Something bothering you? Besides Hunter, I mean."

"Besides Hunter? Does anything bother me besides Hunter?" Sebastian asked.

"Just wondering, you sound upset," Blaine shrugged.

"Hunter's pissing me off," Sebastian spat. "I have half a mind to…" He trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I don't know, drag him out to the lacrosse field and bury him," Sebastian said.

"Well, you got my blessing," Blaine said.

"I love you more than anything in the world, you know that right?" Sebastian asked.

"Yeah, I know. I love you too," Blaine replied.

"Okay, so Bas is in the room, Hunter's on his way, we're headed to Breadstix," Blaine said.

"Basically," Jeff replied.

"I'm scared," Blaine said. "What if he likes Hunter?"

"He doesn't."

Blaine watched the scenery fly by as they made the drive into Lima.

"Ew," Hunter commented as he opened the door to the room and saw Sebastian sitting on his bed. "What did I say about my bed?"

"I don't know, sit on it?" Sebastian guessed. "In my underwear?" Hunter was horrified as he realized Sebastian was only wearing a pair of black briefs and his Dalton tie.

"Were you waiting for Blaine or something?" Hunter asked, tentatively. "He didn't tell me you had anything planned. I'll just get changed and go for a run." He took off his blazer and hung it up in his closet.

"I was waiting for you, sexy," Sebastian said.

"Did you and Blaine have a fight?" Hunter asked. Sebastian stood up.

"Forget about Blaine," Sebastian said in Hunter's ear, pulling Hunter's tie loose and throwing it across the room. When Sebastian reached for Hunter's shirt and, more importantly, Hunter didn't stop him, Sebastian's brain kicked in. For a second.

What am I doing?

Then Hunter had leaned in so close to Sebastian's lips, he could feel their skin touching.

"Want to know a secret?" Sebastian breathed.

"What?" Hunter replied in barely more than a whisper.

"You are beautiful." Hunter's restraint snapped and he'd suddenly kissed Sebastian. Sebastian was surprised how well he kissed, given he'd never kissed anyone but Sebastian (and maybe that Lisa girl, but that was doubtful). While Sebastian's lips were keeping Hunter occupied, Sebastian's hands slowly undid each button on Hunter's shirt. It seemed Hunter was unsure of where to put his hands. Well, Sebastian could fix that.

Sebastian took a step back from Hunter, catching Hunter's unsteady hands in his own. Hunter intertwined their fingers and Sebastian smiled genuinely, tugging on his companion, pulling him toward the bed. Hunter hesitated.

"Just tell me to stop," Sebastian murmured. He laid down in Hunter's bed and let Hunter climb on top of him, so Hunter was looking down on him, settled on his hands and knees, straddling Sebastian. It felt so good to have this kind of power over Hunter, even from beneath him. Hunter leaned down to capture Sebastian's lips again.

Sebastian's hands wandered south and found themselves in Hunter's back pockets, feeling his ass. He'd like to fuck it, if even for the perfect record of screwing every guy at Dalton, but knew Hunter would never go for it. In fact, Sebastian expected Hunter to come crashing back to reality and slap him any second now. But time wore on and Hunter seemed very enthusiastically into Sebastian.

Sebastian threw caution to the winds and started to ever-so-slowly remove Hunter's pants. Hunter helped, even kicking them off, not caring where they landed. Sebastian slipped his hands under the waistband of Hunter's boxer shorts, pulling Hunter's body flush with his own. Hunter moaned into Sebastian's mouth and bucked his hips.

Oh.

Hunter was definitely a little more than slightly turned on by this. Great, a whole new can of worms – Hunter was a bit more than remotely bicurious. From the way he was desperately trying to create friction between himself and Sebastian, he seemed a lot bicurious. This would take Hunter down more than just a few pegs – it might ruin him.

Not to mention Sebastian's relationship with Blaine was in jeopardy—no, scratch that, it was probably over. Leave it to Sebastian to screw up a good thing. Oh, well, might as well finish it now.

With Hunter on top of him, his options were limited. He didn't dare stop them, not this far in – Hunter might come to his senses. He settled for bouncing their hips together in a slow rhythm. Judging by the noises coming from Hunter's mouth, he was close to the edge. Sebastian had a sudden urge and ducked his head to the side, so Hunter's face landed in the crook of his neck. Then, in a move he knew would haunt Hunter for at least a week, if not for the rest of his life, Sebastian sucked a big hickey into the side of Hunter's neck.

That did it for Hunter and he came in his shorts. Although Sebastian was usually against it, he let himself go too, falling into deep ecstasy. They lay still for a few moments, breathing heavily against each other while their heartbeats worked overtime.

Finally Hunter came to his senses. He sat up, stared at Sebastian for a few seconds, then bolted into the bathroom and locked the door. It finally hit Sebastian, too, what he'd done – to himself, to Hunter, and to Blaine.

Blaine.

Sebastian slowly dragged himself out of Hunter's bed, changed his shorts, hung his tie on his bed, and got dressed in a pair of track pants and a t-shirt. He got his phone from his desk, shoved on his Nikes, and ran out of the room.

Nick, Jeff, Blaine, and Sam had been chatting for little while when Jeff's phone received a text message. He and Nick exchanged looks.

"What?" Blaine asked.

"It says, 'It's done. Hope you're happy. I'll never look at Blaine again.'," Jeff read tentatively.

"What's done?" Sam asked. "What's going on?"

"Uh…" Nick said, looking to Blaine, unsure.

"Nothing," Blaine said.

"Should I tell him?" Jeff asked.

"No," Blaine said. "Uh, no. Let's go, I have to talk to him."

"Alright," Nick said. "Let's go."

"Sorry, Sam, I think we might have to postpone tomorrow's coffee date… I'll text you," Blaine said. Jeff dropped a few bills on the table to cover the meal and then the three of them were gone.

Once back at school, Nick brought Blaine to the situation room, while Jeff went to find Sebastian.

"Sebastian?" Jeff called. The wind whipped across the lacrosse field, it was not a warm day.

"What do you want?" called a voice from not far off. Jeff turned around. Huddled under the bleachers, and visibly freezing, was Sebastian, sitting on the ground, back against one of the metal poles.

"You gotta come inside, you'll freeze out here," Jeff called, ducking through the crisscrossed metal to get to Sebastian.

"Better off," Sebastian mumbled. Jeff shed his blazer and put it around Sebastian. "I'm terrible, get off of me." He tried to shove Jeff away from him, but Jeff didn't budge. "Where's the other half of you? Thought you traveled as a pair."

"We're just as inseparable as you and Blaine, come on," Jeff insisted, pulling Sebastian to his feet. Sebastian allowed himself to be dragged across campus to Niff's Situation Room.

"Oh," Sebastian said, trying to turn around and leave when he saw Blaine, but Nick and Jeff seized him. "Did you tell him?"

"Of course we didn't," Jeff said. "Just listen to him for a bit." He and Nick left the room, but Sebastian could tell they were just outside the door, to keep him from running.

"Hi," Sebastian said, looking at the floor.

"Hi," Blaine said. "They didn't tell me. They didn't have to. It was my idea." Sebastian looked up to Blaine, who was standing nervously in the far corner.

"Your… Why didn't you tell me?" Sebastian asked. "I have been going crazy with guilt."

"It's good for you," Blaine said. "I… I'm sorry."

"You should be!" Sebastian said. "Why did you even–"

"Did you do it?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah, he's done, I promise," Sebastian said. "I'm a little surprised he didn't stop me, but then I never thought you were behind it."

"I should have told you," Blaine said. "I didn't realize how guilty you'd feel…"

"Right because you've never cheated on the person you loved and felt guilty about it," Sebastian shot back.

"Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Blaine said. "Forgive me, please." Sebastian huffed for a moment, but then Blaine pouted and he couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, okay," Sebastian said. "But don't ever ever do that again."

"Agreed," Blaine said. "Wow, this is a such a role reversal. Usually you're the scheming asshole, and I'm the one getting taken advantage of."

"Yes, it's astonishing," Sebastian said, rolling his eyes. He moved in next to Blaine, putting an arm around his boyfriend.

"Didn't you write into the contract that if Hunter was begging for it, you were allowed to give it to him?" Blaine asked. Sebastian kissed him in response.

"I don't blackmail people anymore," Sebastian said once their lips parted. "Do you have some gum or something, I can still taste Hunter in my mouth."

"Yeah, sure," Blaine said, taking a pack of gum from his blazer pocket. "What did you do to him?"

"Not much," Sebastian said. "It was surprisingly easy. He kissed me, I undressed him and pulled him onto the bed, and then he jizzed in his shorts."

"Is that all?" Blaine asked.

"Well, I gave him a hickey," Sebastian said. "It's nice and noticeable, above the uniform, you know."

"Okay, that could be bad," Blaine said, biting his lip. Sebastian blew a bubble with his gum and let it pop. "Everyone will know you gave it to him."

"How will they know that?" Sebastian asked.

"Please, it's Hunter," Blaine said. "Maybe not everyone in school, but all the Warblers will. It's good for our purposes, but maybe not so much for us."

"What?" Sebastian asked.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but we don't want it to seem like a revenge-fueled, strategically-planned, takedown of Hunter, especially orchestrated by me, devastatingly handsome and completely innocent Captain of the Warblers," Blaine said.

"Uh, sure," Sebastian said. "So, what, you want me to pretend to actually be into him? I've done some pretty kinky stuff, but…"

"No, don't be silly," Blaine said. "Hunter's going to go crazy when he realizes hickeys don't wash off. This is a boy's school, it's not like he's going to get his hands on some concealer, and he can't pretend he burned himself on a curling iron. It's going to be there for everyone to see. And he'll be acting awkward as hell. Trust me, I know this stuff."

"Okay," Sebastian said. "Makes sense, go on."

"I am going to, over the next several days, pretend to be mad at you for what you've done. We can use this room as a private room for ourselves," Blaine said. "You are going to flirt with Hunter, make him very uncomfortable."

"What exactly is this going to accomplish?" Sebastian asked.

"Hopefully, he'll be humbled," Blaine said.

"He won't be," Sebastian said. "Hunter's been to military school. They have actual hazing and shit there."

"Been to military school?" Blaine asked.

"Couple weeks," Sebastian said. "Couldn't hack it."

"My point is that Hunter will be ruined," Blaine said. "As long as we act the part. I've already fixed it with Nick and Jeff, this will work itself out."

"It will?" Sebastian asked, skeptically. "Next time, can you let me in on the plan beforehand?"

"Possibly," Blaine said.

"Because I love you, B, but this is crazy."

"Crazy enough to work, I hope," Blaine said. "I love you too."

"Alright," Sebastian said. "What should I do right now? Be very specific and I will do exactly what you say."

"Go back into our room and pretend like nothing's wrong," Blaine said.

"Alright," Sebastian said. "One more kiss?"

"Baby, if this works, you can have a million," Blaine said, kissing Sebastian on the lips. "Go."

"When will I see you?" Sebastian asked.

"Niff and I are going to go over some logistics for a couple minutes, and then I'll be in," Blaine said. Sebastian made to leave the room, but shot one last look at Blaine.

"I love you," Sebastian said. "I'll never stop." Blaine smiled, and then Sebastian was gone. Nick and Jeff walked into the room.

"Complex fellow you're dating there," Nick said, staring after Sebastian, completely unimpressed.

"Yeah," Blaine sighed.

"Do you really love him, because if you're just playing him, you're worse than he is," Jeff said.

"Of course I do," Blaine said. "Sebastian and I are going to be together forever. This is just something that has to be done."

"What about Kurt?" Jeff asked.

"Can we forget about Kurt, please?" Blaine said. The pained expression on his face was enough to make even Jeff quiet. "I don't – I don't want to talk about Kurt or Sebastian right now."

"Fine," Nick said. "Now that Sebastian knows, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to play the game," Blaine said. "I don't know how big the fight's going to get, I might need somewhere to crash until we make up."

"Your house?" Jeff suggested.

"I was thinking more along the lines of the floor in your room," Blaine said.

"How long are you going to hold this over them?" Nick asked.

"As long as I can," Blaine said. "I've never liked Hunter."

"Yeah, us neither," Jeff said. "And Sebastian deserves it, after what he did to you."

"Sebastian didn't cheat on me," Blaine said. "Well, I mean, he did, but it was my idea. I'm not mad at him."

"Not that," Nick said. "Last year."

"Last year was a year ago," Blaine said. "Why are we still talking about Michael week, when we have more pressing issues to deal with, i.e. the fate of the Warblers?"

"You could have just told Hunter you wanted control back," Nick said. "He probably would have backed off."

"I didn't just want control of the Warblers," Blaine said. "I really wanted to ruin him. This is for you guys."

"And the emotional takedown of Sebastian?" Jeff asked.

"That was for me," Blaine said, flashing a selfish grin. "You can't even imagine how hot our sex is going to be." He sauntered out of the Situation Room and down the hall to his own dorm. Putting on a serene smile, he danced into the room and threw his bag at his desk, like nothing was wrong. Then he looked up at Sebastian and Hunter, who were… entangled, to put it lightly.

Sebastian had his back to the bathroom door with Hunter pressed up against him, one of Sebastian's (albeit fully clothed) legs hitched around Hunter's waist. Blaine stared at the sight before him. He had expected them to be fighting, not this. He cleared his throat. Sebastian opened his eyes and even though he knew he was just acting a part, his expression read Oh, shit. Hunter jumped and turned around.

"Hi…" Hunter said, nervously. Blaine stared at them for a few more moments, waiting for an explanation, but it didn't come.

"Hi," Blaine finally said. He wondered if he could make himself cry on cue. His brother would be proud at him for orchestrating this – not that he cared what Cooper thought. "What's – uh, what's going on?" Hunter and Sebastian both cleared their throats and started babbling at once. "Save it," Blaine said, "I can't believe you'd do that to me!" Blaine covered his face in his hands and ran out of the room.

"No, Blaine, come back!" Sebastian yelled, fruitlessly. He pushed Hunter away from him, and collapsed onto his own bed. Even if he knew Blaine wasn't really angry, it still hurt.

"I…" Hunter began, obviously flustered. "I, um…"

"Forget it," Sebastian said, glaring at Hunter. "Just forget him."

"Um…" Hunter for once seemed to be speechless. He settled for sitting down on his bed, and twiddling his thumbs. "I'm sorry," he finally said.

"For what?" Sebastian snorted. "He was bound to find out sooner or later."

"Find out what?" Hunter asked.

"What's really between us," Sebastian said, looking at Hunter. It killed him to do this, but he kept telling himself he was just playing a part.

"Between… you and me?" Hunter asked, nervously.

"You can't deny, we have chemistry," Sebastian said, smirking. "He doesn't even know what we did before he transferred. All those nights, we were here alone…" He hadn't told Blaine what he'd done with Hunter. It wasn't Blaine's business, really. After all, Sebastian didn't feel anything for anyone but Blaine. It had been a power play, just like this. Hunter was too naïve for his own good when it came to relationships.

"Nothing happened those nights," Hunter said, pointedly, as if trying to remind Sebastian of a story they'd agreed on. Sebastian smirked wickedly.

"Right, nothing. I don't know about you, but showering together is not nothing."

"That was one time," Hunter protested.

"It was more than one time," Sebastian said. "All those nights in your bed, all those stolen kisses."

"I–" Hunter began, intent on denying it.

"You can tell your stories to anyone else, but I know the truth," Sebastian drawled. "You can pretend this didn't happen, you might even be able to convince Blaine, but that hickey speaks for itself, sweetheart." Hunter went white, he evidently hadn't noticed Sebastian had claimed him yet. He skidded, panicked, into the bathroom, to examine his neck in the mirror. Hunter screamed.

Sebastian slid in behind him, smirking. It felt good to smirk again, to be a general nuisance again. It was familiar, not like his relationship with Blaine. Relationships were unfamiliar territory for Sebastian, he was still trying to figure them out. But this – this was easy. Takedown was easy. Just as long as Hunter didn't take it too personal and try to have him expelled for it. He hoped Blaine and Niff could provide witness for him if it came to that.

"Sebastian…" Hunter said, his whole body shaking with rage, hands balling themselves into fists. "This is not… Everyone's going to see this."

"Kinda the point," Sebastian said, winking. "Everyone will know you're mine."

"Yours?"

"I'm tired of pretending," Sebastian said. "Tired of being with Blaine, tired of being in the background. I want the star, and, baby, you are the brightest one." Hunter still looked very mad, but his face betrayed the slightest trace of pink. More compliments, more compliments, why couldn't Sebastian think of any more compliments? "I want to be with you, don't you want me too?"

"I…" Hunter hesitated. Sebastian's heart was pounding in his chest, he was surprised Hunter couldn't hear it. This was too big a façade, even for him. He ached for Blaine, he needed him there, reassuring him that he would still love him when this was all over, when they were back on top. "I can't."

"You obviously can," Sebastian said, fighting hard to keep his voice steady. "I was there, I've been here, I've watched you, I've seen you, I doubt even Blaine is surprised."

"What do you want from me?" Hunter asked, spinning around to face Sebastian.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sebastian purred. Control.

"If you're playing with my head, I will make you pay for this," Hunter said sternly.

"Why would I play you?" Sebastian asked. "You want me, I want you, I think we might be able to work something out here." He really hoped Hunter was falling for this, because it was making him sick. Sebastian had never worried about being faithful or monogamous before Blaine, he'd never had a reason to. That wasn't who he was anymore, this was going to ruin him as well as Hunter. Blaine must have known. "You and me, we could lead the Warblers to their first National championship." He moved in even closer to Hunter, hovering fractions of an inch from his ear.

"We can't win without Blaine," Hunter said, huskily. "He and I have been–"

"Did I not say forget about Blaine?" Sebastian hissed. "You and me, Hunt, we're the new power couple."

"Okay, seriously," Hunter said, pushing Sebastian away from him, so that he stumbled back a few steps. "Did you and Blaine get in a fight?"

"Can't you see it's never been about Blaine? I needed a good-looking squeeze, but forget about him, because I want you." Hunter stared at Sebastian for a moment but then dove the space between them to kiss Sebastian again.

"Aren't you just going crazy?" Nick asked Blaine. Blaine was sitting in the center of the floor in Niff's room. They were sitting on the bed that was really two beds they'd pushed together.

"Not really," Blaine shrugged. "I know Bas."

"I know J, but I wouldn't be comfortable with him being with someone else, even with my permission," Nick said. "I think I may still be scarred."

"Hey!" Jeff interjected. "We agreed not to talk about that!"

"Sorry, baby," Nick said, blowing a kiss at his boyfriend. Blaine stared at Nick and Jeff for a moment, then all three of them had their ears pressed up against the wall, listening.

Oh, God, yes.

Sebastian's voice was clear as day through the wall, even if their ears weren't against it. So was Hunter's retort:

I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't take the Lord's name in vain.

Blaine snorted involuntarily. It was just so typically Hunter to remember his manners at a time like this.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell me how to live my life.

Sebastian's retort was the last word for a while, and it began to feel like voyeurism, listening through the wall. Slowly, Nick and Jeff, returned to the other side of the room. Blaine eventually followed them. His expression betrayed his emotions, as Blaine's usually did. He was worried, just a little. More sad than anything.

"Must be hard," Jeff said. "I couldn't do it."

"Tequila?" Nick offered, unearthing a bottle from nowhere.

"So?" Sebastian asked, not looking up from his homework.

"We said at three months, we'd reevaluate," Blaine said.

"Do we have to?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes."

"Tomorrow."

"No, we're going to do it now," Blaine said. "I've already arranged for Hunter to be out so we can talk about anything."

"Gah," Sebastian said, slamming his textbook shut. "C'mon, B, what is there left to talk about? I thought we talked about everything on Valentine's."

For Valentine's Day, Sebastian had convinced Blaine to spend a four day weekend with him in an upscale hotel with a Jacuzzi. Four blissful days of relaxation, chatting about their relationship, and, of course, lots and lots of sex.

"And at Valentine's we said we'd talk at three months," Blaine said. "It won't take five minutes, c'mon."

"Fine," Sebastian sighed. He took their contract out of the center drawer of his desk and looked down it. "Do you still love me?"

"Of course," Blaine said. "Do you still love me?"

"I'll never stop," Sebastian said, smiling one of his genuine smiles, which were becoming less and less rare the more time he spent with Blaine. Blaine stole the contract from his hands and paced back and forth while he read it.

"I've stopped putting so much gel in my hair, because I really do look like Medusa without it entirely," Blaine said. "You haven't smoked that I know of, I let out the hems of my capri pants… Hunter's out of the room once a week at the bare minimum… Ah! You still need to tell me more about your life before Dalton."

"Not going to happen," Sebastian said, lazily, stretching out on his bed.

"That's what you think," Blaine snipped. "So, I guess the only thing that remains is, are we going to become long term, maybe even permanent?"

"I think I should write a clause in there that says if Hunter's begging for it, I'm allowed to go for it," Sebastian said. "Just because I'd hate to have to miss out of the opportunity for that kind of blackmail fodder."

Blaine frowned at his boyfriend.

"Of course, I don't blackmail people anymore, but I was thinking you might need to get him back someday," Sebastian quickly backpedaled.

"I take it that's a no on the permanent," Blaine said, reading up and down the contract.

"No, I didn't say that," Sebastian said, quickly sitting up to properly argue with Blaine. "I want to be with you as long as you'll have me."

"I want to be with you," Blaine said. "Just you."

"Alright then," Sebastian said. "The only thing left is to decide is our anniversary."

"What."

"I can't plan you a big surprise if I don't know when it is," Sebastian said. He did have a point, Blaine thought. "Is it today? Is it three months ago? Is it that day after Sectionals when I accidentally told you I loved you? Is it the day after that when you rescued me at Scandals and we fucked in your living room? Is it the first time we hooked up when you were still with Kurt?"

"I think the first time I thought of us as a couple was the day Hunter went home for Christmas," Blaine said.

"You were with Kurt since then," Sebastian pointed out.

"No," Blaine said, "well, yes, technically, I went to see him, but I told you, it felt weird to be with him, since I'm with you. I already thought of us as a couple."

"So it's settled," Sebastian said. He laid back on the bed and waited for Blaine to join him. Blaine, however, was reading the contract.

"Good gravy, you wrote in a lot of rules about sex," Blaine said.

"For our own good," Sebastian said.

"Why are you so particular about it?" Blaine asked. "With all your experience, I'd've thought you'd–"

"I don't want to talk about it," Sebastian cut him off.

"Did something happen before Dalton?" Blaine asked, putting the contract on Sebastian's desk and moving to sit next to Sebastian. Sebastian rolled away from him. "Bas, you can tell me anything. I'm your boyfriend. Anything you say, it's okay." Sebastian rolled back over to face Blaine, then sat up to accept the hug Blaine was trying to give him.

"I – I … I was raped," Sebastian barely whispered. Blaine tightened his arms around Sebastian's back, pulling him into a tighter embrace. "And-and I've never told anyone that. Not even my parents." Blaine kissed every part of Sebastian he could reach. "I was 12."

"I'm so sorry," Blaine breathed.

"It was awful," Sebastian said, pulling back from Blaine. He wasn't crying – he'd spent too much time crying about it to bother with it now. "I've still never felt pain like that, and I've been kicked in the nuts by a soccer player. He was, uh, 14. Took me into a janitor's closet, had his way. I never went back to that school. Never saw him again. I'm not sure what I'd do to him."

"It's okay," Blaine whispered, kissing Sebastian's head.

"It is okay," Sebastian said. "Because I will never hurt you, B."

"I know you won't. I would never hurt you either, Bas." They sat on Sebastian's bed, hugging for several minutes, just lost in each other's embrace.

"I want – I want you to fuck me," Sebastian eventually said, very quietly.

"What?"

"After we win at Nationals, I want you to fuck me."

"Why?"

"Because I love you and I trust you and I know we're going to be together forever."

"Yes, yes we will," Blaine agreed.

"Stop, stop, stop," Hunter directed. "Nationals is not going to be a joke! Why are you treating these practices like one?"

"We're not treating it like a joke," Jeff said.

"Out of all of us, who knows what the pressure is like at Nationals?" Hunter asked. "That's right, none of you."

"Actually," Blaine said from where he was standing right next to Jeff. "I do. And if I remember correctly, I also know what it's like to win at Nationals. Chill the fuck out."

"I will not sit back while you run this team into the ground," Hunter argued.

"How could I possibly? You've already chosen the songs. Jeff and Sebastian worked out the choreography. What's left for me to do? I'm only the Captain," Blaine spat. "I'm sick of this." He walked out of the library. Sebastian bit his lip – he had been putting Blaine on the back burner to Warbler practice the last week or so. Hunter watched Blaine go, unsure of what to do.

"Can I be excused?" Sebastian asked.

"Yeah," Hunter said. "Um, practice is over for today. I'll see you all tomorrow right after last period." Sebastian was already out the door, running after Blaine.

"Blaine! Blaine, I'm sorry!" Sebastian yelled. He finally caught up to him in the hallway outside their dorm. "Blaine, I'm sorry."

"It's not you," Blaine said, opening the door to their room a little too hard. It banged against his dresser. "It's freaking Hunter. Running around like he owns shit. This is my team, my school, my friends, and my Warblers."

"Show him who's boss. Sideline him," Sebastian said.

"I would," Blaine said. "Except I really, really want to win."

"You think we can't win without him?"

"I know we can't," Blaine said. "And that's the worst thing about it. He deserves to act like he is shit."

"Blaine, you're the legend," Sebastian said. "You're the one that people across the country have heard of. Hunter Clarington is a nobody. You're Blaine freaking Anderson."

"Yeah, yeah," Blaine said, running his hand through his hair. Hunter's words were echoing in his head.

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to win?

Blaine really, really wanted to win. Was he really willing to do whatever it took to win?

Yes.

"I, uh, I have to go run a few things by Nick and Jeff," Blaine said. "You stay here in case Hunter comes back. Don't – just don't kill him, okay?"

"Why can't I come to Nick and Jeff's?" Sebastian pouted.

"Please, baby?" Blaine asked. Sebastian still wasn't immune to Blaine's pouting and agreed. Blaine went next door and knocked on Nick and Jeff's door.

"Who is it?" Nick's voice called.

"Blaine, who do you think?" Blaine replied. "Don't act like you don't have your ear pressed against the wall listening to everything that goes on in our room." Nick opened the door to reveal Jeff still standing against the wall listening to what Blaine assumed was Sebastian changing.

"J? He's onto us," Nick said. Jeff cleared his throat and backed up, messing up his hair in his efforts to look nonchalant.

"We need to talk about something that I'd rather not risk being heard," Blaine said.

"Sure," Nick said. "C'mon." Jeff followed him and Blaine down the hall to the room at the very end. It was permanently unoccupied (supposedly haunted), and Nick and Jeff, as resident pranksters, had made it their own private situation room. Blaine doubted if Hunter or Sebastian knew about the room.

"Okay," Blaine said, once the door was shut. "First off, a small informal poll. Which do you hate more, Hunter or Sebastian?"

"It's pretty close," Nick admitted.

"Since you and Sebastian started dating, definitely Hunter. Why is he so moody?" Jeff asked.

"Because he likes Sebastian, you twat," Nick said, swatting his boyfriend across the arm. "I'd say Hunter too."

"So we're agreed," Blaine said. "Hunter needs to be taken down a notch."

"Agreed," Nick and Jeff agreed.

"Okay." There was a long silence. "How?"

"Kind of thought you'd have an idea since you called us into here," Jeff said.

"I did but I changed my mind already," Blaine said. "I was… oh God it's stupid."

"Tell us," Nick said, a smile growing on his face. He'd always been a little more in tune with Blaine than the rest of the Warblers. He had even been slated to take over for Blaine when Blaine left… until Sebastian came along.

"As previously mentioned, Hunter sort of has a soft spot for Sebastian," Blaine said. "God, it's awful, I can't. Never mind, guys."

"What?" Nick asked.

"On my first day back here, Hunter asked me if I was willing to do whatever it takes to win," Blaine said. "Now I'm asking the same thing to both of you. Are you willing to do whatever it takes?"

"Yeah," Nick said.

"Of course," Jeff said.

"I want you two to convince Sebastian to seduce Hunter," Blaine said. They stared at him.

"Uh…" Nick said.

"Why can't you do it?" Jeff asked.

"He can't know I have anything to do with it," Blaine said. "Because Hunter can't know I have anything to do with it. Bas… He denies it, but you've seen it, right?"

"Seen… what?" Jeff asked.

"The spark between Bas and Hunter," Blaine said.

"Yeah," Nick said. "You should have seen them before you got here. Thad was taking bets on whether they were hooking up in there. Course we knew they weren't or they were very silent about it."

"Ever since Truth or Dare, it's gotten stronger, I think," Jeff said. "You're welcome."

"What am I welcome for? Sebastian is my boyfriend," Blaine said.

"You know you and Kurt were meant to be and you're going to make up and get married and have Rachel Berry bear your children," Jeff said, rolling his eyes. "Sebastian is a speed bump. You're too good for him."

"Honey, we only say that when Blaine's not around," Nick said, sweetly, planting a kiss on Jeff's cheek.

"No, I know what you're saying," Blaine said. "It's a stupid idea, never mind."

"No, it's a brilliant idea," Jeff said. "We'll do it."

"J!" Nick said, indignantly. "Shouldn't we talk about this?" Jeff looked at his boyfriend for a moment before motioning him over to the corner. They conversed in hushed tones for almost two minutes while Blaine waited patiently.

"Duh!" Jeff finally yelled. They turned back around to address Blaine again.

"We'll do it," Nick said. "What do you want us to say?"

"I need you to convince Sebastian to seduce Hunter," Blaine said. "I don't care what they do together, I don't care. I want Hunter taken down a few pegs, and that's the best way I can think of."

"What, because he's 'not even remotely bicurious'?" Nick asked. "Please."

"We called him from the first day of school," Jeff said.

"I look at it this way," Blaine said. "Assuming Hunter was boring until he started at Dalton, he's only kissed three people. Me, Lisa, and Sebastian."

"When did you kiss him?" Jeff asked.

"Not important," Blaine said. "Bas and I… recently decided to make our relationship long-term. And I know that's great for us, but …"

"You want to see Hunter's head turning on a spit?" Nick supplied. Blaine nodded sheepishly. "You got it."

"Yeah, basically," Blaine said.

"It's not like Hunter means anything to Sebastian," Nick said. "And if you say it's okay, it's not like cheating."

"Yeah, just like threesomes aren't cheating," Jeff said. "You should totally have a threesome! " Nick dove at his other half to cover his mouth, while Blaine stared.

"Scuse us," Nick said. "One sec." He pulled Jeff back into the corner for about 20 seconds.

"Fine," Jeff mumbled as they rejoined Blaine.

"We'll do it," Nick said. "Tomorrow at morning break."

"Alright," Blaine said. "And I'll forget you said anything about threesomes."

"No, thank you, it's bad enough sharing a bathroom with the two of you," Hunter said.

"What language do you take?" Blaine asked, frowning at his book.

"German," Hunter grunted.

"You're no use," Blaine whined. "Bas, get out of the shower! I need you to explain this!"

"Let me see it," Hunter said.

"It's French," Blaine frowned.

"I didn't say I didn't speak French," Hunter said, looking over his shoulder. "It's a good book."

"SEBASTIAN!" Blaine yelled. The water in the shower stopped. "There you go, bathroom's free." Hunter stormed away, passing a towel-clad Sebastian making his way out of the bathroom.

"You rang?" Sebastian said, leaning against the post of Blaine's bed, bunked on top of Sebastian's.

"Yeah, explain this book," Blaine said. "And Hunter was bugging me." Sebastian sighed.

"Okay, it's about a very little boy… Le Petit Prince," Sebastian began. Hunter emerged from the bathroom in a rush, and ran out the door, letting it slam behind him. "And, I haven't read it since I was a kid, but he–"

"Bas?" Blaine interrupted.

"Hmm?" Sebastian asked.

"Hunter's gone and you're naked." Sebastian didn't need telling twice.

"You didn't have to stoop so low! Now you're just somebody that I used to know," Sebastian belted.

"You can hear him in the common room," Hunter said, banging into the room. "You can hear him outside."

"He's never won at Regionals before, cut him some slack," Blaine said. "The whole performance is basically resting on his shoulders."

"Somebody…" Sebastian continued. "…that I used to know, somebody!"

"C'mon, I'll take you anywhere you want to go," Blaine said, propelling himself off his bunk bed and landing with cat-like reflexes on the ground. The actual cat that shared their bedroom took off and hid under Hunter's bed, vindictively. Sebastian was laying on his own bed, listening to his iPod, singing along as loudly as he could to practice for Regionals, and reading Harry Potter a L'école des Sorciers, because reading in English is too mainstream. Hunter sighed. "The Lima Bean? Breadstix? Scandals? My place?"

"The Lima Bean will suffice," Hunter said, "even if their coffee is horrid." They left the room together, Sebastian didn't seem to notice.

"It's a wonder you and Sebastian don't get along better, you seem to agree on everything," Blaine said.

"He isn't anywhere near my radar, Anderson," Hunter said. "Don't tempt me."

"No, I got it, I know you're not into Sebastian," Blaine said. "You're not, are you?"

"I never said that."

"It would be strange, seeing as he is taken," Blaine said.

"I really do not recall ever saying a word on the subject," Hunter quipped.

"You didn't have to," Blaine said, as he took the driver's seat of his car.

"You really drive this hunk of junk?" Hunter said.

"Firstly, it's a Subaru, not a Ford, which basically means it will last until I can afford something better, and second, just because I go to Dalton doesn't mean I shit money," Blaine snapped.

"Oh." Hunter was quiet for a while. "Are you just turned on by assholes, or is Bas holding back on us?"

"Maybe a little of both," Blaine said thoughtfully. "But it sounds better than an arranged marriage."

"Arranged marriage sounds fine to me," Hunter said. "I don't have to worry about finding a wife, my parents will find her for me."

"But what if you don't even like her?" Blaine asked.

"What are the odds of me finding anyone my parents will approve of that I actually like?" Hunter asked. "Trust me, it's better this way."

"You do like Sebastian, don't you?" Blaine asked, shooting a sideways grin at him.

"Do you really think that I'm going to answer you one of these times?" Hunter asked.

"Maybe."

"Where I come from – in my family, being- being…" Hunter stuttered as if he was afraid of the word. "Being… gay… is the worst thing that could ever happen. I don't have to worry about it, because if I was… gay… I would be dead. Because my parents would shoot me."

"Alright, good talk," Blaine said. He paused, mulling over the situation. "It must be hard for you to live with me and Sebastian, then."

"I don't – I don't have a problem with you," Hunter said. "And I don't have a problem with Sebastian because he's gay."

"I don't think that's anyone's problem with him," Blaine said.

"I have a problem with him because he's obnoxious and predatory and he makes me uncomfortable on purpose," Hunter said.

"Not to keep pushing this, but you like Sebastian," Blaine said. It wasn't a question this time, more of a statement.

"I am never going to give you an indication one way or the other, you may as well just give it up," Hunter said. Blaine pulled into his own driveway just then, and to his horror, his father's car was in the driveway. He got out anyway, and Hunter followed him into the house.

"Dad?!" Blaine called.

"Blaine?" Mr. Anderson replied. He was in the living room, some sport on the TV.

"Hey Dad," Blaine said, walking into the living room. Hunter was still sticking close to him. "Oh, uh, this is Hunter. He and I are just going to hang out in my room for a while."

"There are rules in this house, Blaine," Mr. Anderson said.

"Hunter's not my boyfriend," Blaine said. "And he's straight. We're just going to study. A change of scenery from school, you know." Mr. Anderson didn't respond to that, so Blaine took Hunter up to his room.

"Rules?" Hunter asked.

"Nothing inappropriate under his roof," Blaine said. "When he's home, at least. Sebastian and I have wrecked this house. Don't tell him, he'd kill me."

"He's never met Sebastian?" Hunter asked.

"This is the first time I've seen him all year," Blaine said. "He's never here. But enough changing the subject, Hunter. You like Sebastian."

"Please stop it, you're really hurting my feelings," Hunter said. Blaine stared. He'd never heard a guy say that before, and certainly never thought he'd hear it from Hunter.

"If you do, then we should talk about it, and if you don't, then just say so," Blaine urged.

"I can't," Hunter said.

"I will not tell anyone, including Sebastian," Blaine said. "You're my Vice Bro. I got your back."

"The only person I could say anything to would be my priest," Hunter said. "And maybe even then. I just can't."

"I… I haven't told Sebastian or my dad this, but two years ago, when the Warblers were just Blaine and the Pips, Kurt and I went to a party with the New Directions. I … I got drunk and I ended up spending the entire night sucking face with Rachel Berry," Blaine said. "I didn't realize that it felt good because I was drunk, and agreed to a date with her. It turns out I am gay, but I was very conflicted for about a week, there. Kurt… Kurt was very unhappy with me, and Kurt's dad, who is more like a dad to me than my dad is, he wasn't impressed either, really. So I know what it's like to be unsure…"

"I'm not unsure," Hunter insisted. "I'm perfectly sure that I am not even remotely bicurious."

"That is such a laughably vague answer even I'm not naïve enough to believe it," Blaine shot back. "How can you even agree to move yourself into a lie with a woman that your parents pick out for you? It's all over the TV shows, you'll cheat on her and end up divorced."

"Two more sins," Hunter said. "Please stop it."

"I'm not religious, so I don't really know what you're going for here," Blaine said, "but you have to be true to yourself. All those girls I set you up with, did you even kiss any of them?"

"A few," Hunter said. "Two. Okay, just one. Lisa."

"I told you Lisa was perfect for you," Blaine said, frowning. "So?"

"Forget it, Blaine," Hunter said, turning his back on Blaine. Blaine was silent, waiting for Hunter to have the next word. "I've kissed Sebastian."

"During truth or dare."

"I let him… do something I never want to talk about," Hunter continued.

"Give you a blowjob before Sectionals," Blaine filled in. "He told me."

"I'm not … I can't be," Hunter pleaded, unable to say the word again.

"Did it feel good? Kissing Lisa? Kissing Sebastian? I know the blowjob felt good, I've had a few myself," Blaine said.

"I was too mad at the time to—No," Hunter corrected himself.

"I'm pretty sure that was the start of a real conversation right there," Blaine said.

"Would you kiss me?" Hunter asked.

"What on earth would that accomplish?" Blaine asked.

"I…" Hunter had a picture of Kurt and Blaine at Prom in his hand. "I was just wondering."

"What about all that sin?" Blaine asked.

"You said you wanted to have a real conversation, let's have it!" Hunter shouted.

"Not so loud, my dad's downstairs," Blaine said, waving his hands hysterically.

"Sorry."

"I could kiss you, but I think it would be counter-productive for a few reasons," Blaine said. "Sit down." Hunter sat gingerly on the edge of the bed as if scared it might attack him. "I know that I like cock, alright? But it's different for everyone. You fall in love with the person, not the gender. I'm not saying you won't love your wife and be able to produce a nice son for your parents with her. All odds, you probably will. But you can be attracted to Sebastian as well. You can't obviously have him, because he's my boyfriend and that would be weird, but it's something you need to come to terms with."

"I can't."

"Hunter, look at me," Blaine said. Hunter, seated, was almost the same height as Blaine, standing. "You are not alone." Then Blaine leaned the six inches separating them to kiss Hunter. Hunter pulled back almost immediately.

"Nope," he said. "Nope. Nope."

"Good," Blaine said. "Get out your textbook, let's study for this history test."

It took two hours for Sebastian to even notice they were gone.

"It says 'Where are you? I need help'," Blaine read. "Come on."

"But I like it here, it's quiet," Hunter moaned.

"Come on," Blaine insisted, pulling on Hunter's arm. He didn't budge. "Hunter."

"Fine," Hunter said, getting up. "What kind of help? He's been known to make fuss over nothing."

"I don't know," Blaine said. He shot a text at his boyfriend that read – What's wrong? Be there soon. After a yelled farewell to Mr. Anderson, Blaine and Hunter sped back to school. It was Friday afternoon, Regionals was one week away. If Sebastian was hurt, it could be bad. The entire performance was clinched with him.

"Bas? Bas!" Blaine called as he breached the doorway. "Sebastian?" Into the bathroom. Sebastian was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, staring down his throat in a mirror.

"I can't–" Sebastian began, but it cracked and he grabbed his throat in agony.

"Don't try to talk," Blaine said. "Hunter! I'm taking Sebastian to the hospital."

"Why? What's the matter?" Hunter asked

"Lost his voice," Blaine said. "Laryngitis can clear up before Regionals with the right antibiotics, but if it's anything more serious, we are screwed."

"I'll drive," Hunter said, picking up his keys.

"C'mon baby," Blaine said to Sebastian, helping him up. "Put a shirt on, let's go."

"What do you mean, more serious?" Hunter asked Blaine.

"Vocal cord strain can lead to all kinds of shit. Sometimes you have to get them surgically removed," Blaine said. "They never heal." All the remaining color drained from Hunter's face. They piled into Hunter's SUV – Hunter in the driver's seat, Sebastian and Blaine in the back.

"I'm scared," Sebastian barely made out a whisper.

"Don't talk, honey, I know you are, I am too," Blaine said.

Sebastian had never been scared of anything – not losing, not death, not zombies or werewolves, or even that movie The Knowing with Nicolas Cage, and that is some scary shit. But he was scared now. Terrified to the core. If he couldn't sing anymore, his life may as well be over. If he didn't sing next Saturday, the Warblers would basically forfeit Regionals.

No, wait.

Hunter could sing the duet with Blaine. Blaine could take Sebastian's lead in Some Nights. They would have a fighting chance. But Aural Intensity wasn't a joke. They had gone down laughably the last few years, but so had the Warblers. This was the strongest crew the Warblers had ever had, with Sebastian, Blaine, and Hunter out front. If Sebastian couldn't sing, they would almost certainly lose.

Blaine uttered sweet nothings in his boyfriend's ear all the way to the ER, assuring him it would be all right. It was a total role reversal – Blaine was usually the scared one, he'd clung to Sebastian's arm during the latest Twilight movie, Sebastian had laughed through the entire thing. It was a long story why they'd even gone.

"Sebastian Smythe," the doctor said. "Healthiest kid I've ever seen."

"I've never been sick before," Sebastian tried to articulate. Blaine and Hunter shushed him.

"Last visit was involuntary detox, last September."

"Yes," Hunter supplied. "Unfortunate, but necessary."

"And you're Hunter, the emergency contact."

"Yes, sir."

"Blaine Anderson, I'm his boyfriend," Blaine said.

"Well, alright," the doctor said, snapping Sebastian's file shut. "You've got rather severe laryngitis, otherwise clean as a whistle."

"Will he be able to sing next Saturday?" Blaine and Hunter asked at the same time.

"Most likely not. But I'm going to prescribe you some antibiotics, Sebastian. Take them exactly as it says, drink lots of fluids, and most importantly, rest your voice." Sebastian began to protest, but he was cut off.

"Mandatory gag order, effective immediately," Hunter ordered him. "The Warblers depend on you."

"Oh, good, you brought Sebastian," Sam said sarcastically.

"He's my boyfriend and he's sick, I couldn't leave him," Blaine pleaded.

"No scathing comment today? Meerkat got your tongue?" Sam asked. Sebastian opened his mouth to snark back, but the mere motion of it hurt, and he closed it again.

"He has laryngitis really bad," Blaine said. "If we want a glimmer of hope for next weekend, he needs to keep his mouth shut."

"Oh, this could be fun," Sam grinned. Sebastian glared. Sam kept grinning, and Sebastian settled for giving him the finger. "Not to be rude, but I still don't understand why you'd go for him. Doesn't seem like your type." Sebastian folded his arms and scowled.

"Drink your juice, Bas," Blaine said. "And you're the one who told me to go for it."

"I know, I just thought Kurt was more your type."

"It's complicated," Blaine said. "You're coming to our Regionals, right? We got two tickets for our directors. But we don't have a director, so… here." Blaine handed Sam the two tickets. "Bring whoever you want." They chatted for a while as Sebastian became progressively more irritated. Finally:

"Well, we have emergency rehearsal," Blaine said. "Hunter is going to help me rearrange our numbers just in case Bas is still incapacitated. See you."

"As you undoubtedly know by now, Sebastian has lost his voice almost entirely. Blaine and I are splitting his parts, and the choreography will need to be reworked," Hunter announced. "This will affect soloists more than anything, but if we could take it at about half time, from the top of Some Nights…."

"Is he still going to dance with us?" Trent asked. Hunter looked at Sebastian, slumped into a depressed pile in a chair in the corner.

"I don't know," Hunter admitted.

"He'll dance," Blaine said. "Leave a space for him."

"Can we even have a non-singing performer?" Nick asked anxiously.

"Beatbox doesn't sing," Thad pointed out.

"Just leave a space for him," Blaine said. That was that. Sebastian sat in the corner all through practice. Eventually Hunter sent the other Warblers home and began work learning his new duet with Blaine.

"It sounds weird," Hunter said, after they'd sung it a few times. "We're not a couple. Maybe we should let Nick and Jeff have it."

"Niff can't sing half as well as we can," Blaine argued. "I'd love for them to sing it, and it would be beautiful and tender and heartwarming, and we would lose. With Sebastian out, we can't take any more chances. It's you and me."

"Well, I can't do it," Hunter snapped.

"Hunt, you sang about blowjobs at Sectionals, I think at this point you can do anything," Blaine said. "You just have to feel it. You're singing about a girl who stomped on your heart. You can imagine that, can't you?"

"No."

"Imagine you're Cyclops in X2, and you found out Wolverine was messing with your girl," Blaine said. "I'm Wolverine."

"You're not Wolverine," Hunter said.

"Yes I am. Come on, just sing it."

Sebastian sat in the corner, feeling worse by the minute. That wasn't just his song they were fighting over. They were more or less fighting over him, even if Hunter wouldn't admit it or didn't realize it. Sebastian didn't even like Hunter. Blaine was everything he'd ever wanted. More than he thought he'd ever get or truly deserved. In fact, Sebastian had expected to be alone. He had been fine with that until the first time he'd let down his guard. Blaine had snuck his sexy and innocent school boy way into Sebastian's heart. Blaine was sneaky like that, but Sebastian wouldn't trade him for anyone or anything. At this point, Hunter was just a cumbersome accessory to him.

"And I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough," Blaine sang.

Sebastian tried to become an even smaller depressed pile of cells, shrinking into his chair.

"Now and then, I think of all the times you screwed me over," Hunter sang. "Had me believing it was always something that I'd done. But I don't want to live that way… Reading into every word you say… You said that you could let it go and I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know!"

It was becoming more convincing, but it still lacked the emotion that Sebastian had.

The emotion that was easy for Sebastian because he knew what it was like to be with someone that was hung up on somebody, because Blaine was still hung up – as much as he tried to deny it – on Kurt.

"But you didn't have to cut me off, make out like it never happened and that we were nothing," Blaine sang.

No, Sebastian supposed, he didn't mind that Blaine had been with Kurt. In fact, he hadn't even talked about him in a way that suggested they'd ever dated for months. Except this morning at the Lima Bean.

"No, you didn't have to stoop so low, have your friends collect your records and then change your number…"

Sebastian got up, intent on slinking back to their room and sleeping until he could sing again.

"Bas, where are you going?" Blaine asked. Sebastian pointed out the door with his hands, then made the universal sign for sleeping. "Sit down, we're almost done, then we'll go to dinner." Sebastian reluctantly took a seat on one of the couches. Not being able to talk was going to suck.

Sunday came and went, Sebastian showed up for rehearsal even though he didn't participate, because he was worried Hunter would call the authorities on him if he skipped. Monday passed the same way. Tuesday's rehearsals were later, so Sebastian and Blaine were sitting in the common room trying to get some homework done. Since Sebastian wasn't allowed to talk, he'd taken to scribbling his snarky responses on a piece of paper.

"How are you feeling?" Blaine asked.

Sebastian shrugged.

"Drink your juice, honey," Blaine said. Sebastian shook his head, no. "Drink your juice, I want you to be better for Saturday."

You'll do fine, I have faith in you.

"Yeah, I have faith in me too. It's Hunter I don't believe in," Blaine said. "Mr. Puss slept in his bed last night, and Hunter hacked up a hairball this morning while you were in the shower. I thought he was dying."

Would be an improvement on our current living situation.

"Don't you bitch to me about our living situation, you were the one who volunteered," Blaine reminded him. "Do your homework."

I don't have any.

"Then do mine. Here, conjugate these." Blaine pushed his French homework across the table. Sebastian sighed through his nose, but started easily doing Blaine's homework. "And if you're really bored, you can write my essay on Le Petit Prince."

You're pushing it, Anderson.

"If you're bored!" Sebastian just smiled to himself, glad to have something easy to do.

"Oi," Hunter saluted them. "Sebastian. You need to hop into rehearsal tonight if you're going to be dancing with us on Saturday. I'm afraid we won't be able to work it out if you don't."

"You are dancing on Saturday, right?" Blaine asked.

Don't see the point.

"The point is that when we win, you'll be there with us, not sitting with Sam in the audience," Blaine said.

If I can't sing, I don't want to be up there at all.

"Come on, Sebastian," Blaine said. "This is as much your team as mine or Hunter's. Just because you're not Captain and you can't sing doesn't mean you're not a Warbler."

Sorta does.

"You're head of the council," Blaine said.

And that sure does me a lot of good. Between you and Hunter, I can barely get a word in, even if I could talk.

"How are you feeling?" Hunter asked.

Like shit, thanks for asking.

"You will perform with us."

I will not.

"Then why are you bothering to rest your voice?"

"Because it hurts!" Sebastian yelled. His voice sounded scratchy and barely there.

"Sebastian… don't hurt yourself, baby," Blaine said.

"I'm fine," Sebastian mumbled, though he didn't sound it. "C'mon, B." He threw all his stuff in his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Blaine shot a hesitant look at Hunter.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be right there," Blaine said. Sebastian walked out of the common room. "Take it easy on him, Hunter. He's sick."

"He's whiny and pathetic," Hunter spat. "He needs to shape up if he wants to stay one of my …" He trailed off, looking down at Blaine.

"I am the Captain of the Warblers," Blaine said. "You are the Vice Captain, and would do well to remember that." Hunter looked like a cat that someone had snarled at – angry but submissive. "Regionals are days away, but seeing as Sebastian is sick, I will allow you to run practices as you see fit. If you call out my boyfriend again, you will regret it." Blaine hoped he never had to back that up, he wasn't sure he could. Sure, he could sideline Hunter, put him in the back, not give him solos, but they wouldn't have a chance at Nationals… if they even won Regionals.

"Yes, sir," Hunter said. Blaine picked up his bag and hurried after Sebastian, who was waiting just outside the door. Sebastian gave a small smile in thanks, and Blaine took his hand.

"Don't let him get to you," Blaine said. They walked hand in hand to their dorm. It was Hunter's arranged afternoon out of the room, so Sebastian and Blaine could have it to themselves. If he dared venture into the room, they were not to be responsible for anything he saw. "It's our afternoon. You wanna…?"

Sebastian nodded, dropping his bag and shrugging his blazer. Blaine did the same, and kicked off his shoes. Carefully loosening his tie, Sebastian slowly took off his shirt.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Blaine asked. Sebastian nodded, stripping off his shirt and stepping out of his pants. "Bas?" Sebastian looked up at Blaine, who was halfway out of his own shirt.

"I love you," Sebastian barely squeaked. Blaine nodded, giving his boyfriend a smile.

"I love you too baby," Blaine said. Sebastian opened his mouth to say something else, but it hurt too much to keep talking. He made the universal sign for writing and Blaine tossed him a dry erase marker. Sebastian caught it and wrote on the dry erase board stuck to his bed.

I Love You So Much

"Yeah, I know," Blaine said. "I love you even if you can never sing again." Sebastian frowned. Blaine laughed and dived onto Sebastian's bed, pulling Sebastian with him.

Sebastian had never cared about noise during sex. He believed everybody should be able to voice their pleasures. However, he was about to change his mind. A very loud sound that could not possibly mean anything but sex wafted through the wall from Nick and Jeff's room. Sebastian pulled away from Blaine, frowning slightly, then banged three times on the wall.

"Like you never make noise!" Nick shouted through the wall, as the sound came again.

"Well then," Blaine said to Sebastian. "We owe them a noise war after you get your voice back.

"I just wish I didn't feel like shit," Sebastian whispered.

"You'll get better, I promise," Blaine said.

"I feel worse than I did Friday."

"Come to practice tonight," Blaine said. "Dance a little, you'll feel better."

"I don't want to."

"You want us to win without you? Seems like a challenge."

"Of course I don't."

"Then you want us to lose."

"No!"

"Then you'll be dancing with us."

"Fine."

"Excellent," Blaine exclaimed. "Rest your voice, babe, we want you better by Saturday."

That was the last Sebastian dared to bitch about it. Blaine might have stood up to Hunter, but he really agreed with what Hunter had said.

Wednesday went by fast. So did Thursday but Thursday meant a call from Kurt. He called every once and a while, to see how Blaine was doing, and to chat about the Warblers, and voguedotcom, and Rachel, and whatever.

"Regionals are on Saturday, and … I'm nervous," Blaine admitted.

"You're a rockstar, you'll do fine," Kurt said.

"Sebastian has laryngitis, and I know this sounds ridiculous, but I don't know if we can win without him," Blaine said. Kurt laughed.

"Of course you can," he said. "Who are you up against?"

"Uh… I have it here somewhere, hold on," Blaine said, rummaging through his desk. "Aural Intensity, I know."

"Total joke," Kurt said. "You'll crush them. Who else?"

"The… Unitards," Blaine read. "I think we were up against them last year at Sectionals."

"Yeah, that's the group Harmony sings for," Kurt said. "She is the new Rachel."

"I'm the new Rachel," Blaine said.

"That's great, dear, but Harmony is Rachel, just two years behind," Kurt said. "Thing is, they'll have a number that centers on her and everyone else will just ooh and aah in the background. Kind of like Blaine and the Pips."

"We're not Blaine and the Pips anymore," Blaine said, rolling his eyes and stretching out on Sebastian's bed. "I'm singing a duet first, then we're doing a group number."

"A group number?" Kurt asked, interested.

"Some Nights," Blaine said. "Pretty much everyone has a solo, Me, Bas, Hunter, Nick, Jeff, Thad, and Trent."

"Wish I could be there," Kurt sighed. "Sounds like it'll be great."

"So you'll come to Nationals," Blaine said. "Because we are definitely going to win."

"Deal," Kurt said.

Friday evening meant the last visit to Breadstix before competition.

"Who are you up against?" Finn asked. He, Sam, Blaine, and Sebastian were sharing a booth.

"Aural Intensity and the Unitards," Blaine said.

"You'll do fine," Sam said.

"You don't know," Blaine said. "What if they suddenly got really good like we did?"

"Yeah, that was sudden," Finn said. "You know how to run a glee club. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"Sectionals was all Hunter," Blaine said. "He knows what he's doing. He took his military school choir to a Regionals victory with Presidential honors or something last year. Apparently he saw us at Nationals."

"Yeah, but we won," Finn said, holding out his fist for Blaine to knock. "You got this."

"I don't know if we have anything if Sebastian has to sit out," Blaine said. "I don't even know if we're allowed to just have a dancer."

"I can ooh on pitch," Sebastian croaked.

"Don't hurt yourself," Blaine said, leaning over and giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek.

"I never, ever thought I'd say this, but I hope you get better, bro," Sam said to Sebastian. Sebastian frowned at him, but then gave him a small smile. "Miracles can happen."

Warblers, you're on in two minutes.

"Thanks," Blaine told the stagehand. "Okay guys, this is it. Everything we've worked for. We've got this, and we're going to Nationals in Philly. Right?"

"Hell yes," Trent said. Sebastian raised his hand, like they were in class.

"Yea, Bas?" Blaine asked.

"I believe in miracles and a miracle has happened tonight," Sebastian sang quietly. "I can sing."

"Don't hurt yourself," Blaine said. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Sebastian grinned. He put his fist into the show circle. Hunter grinned as well, then put his fist on top of Sebastian's. The rest of the Warblers followed.

They cleared the stage as Blaine stayed center to start the song. The Warblers started the intro as Blaine walked downstage.

Now and then I think of when we were together Like when you felt so happy you could die Told myself that you were right for me But felt so lonely in your company But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

Sebastian broke free of the throng of warbling Warblers to join Blaine. Blaine turned as Sebastian hit downstage center to rejoin the pack. They'd done it this way so it didn't sound too much like a gay song – the thing that had lost them Regionals two years ago… sort of. The New Directions really had pulled it off with Loser Like Me.

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness Like resignation to the end, always the end So when we found out we could not make sense Boy, you said that we would still be friends But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

Blaine ran out, to join Sebastian, full on emotion.

But you didn't have to cut me off! Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing I don't even need your love but you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough

No you didn't have to stoop so low Have your friends collect your records and then change your number Guess that I don't need that though, Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

The crowd was loving it. They sang together, Sebastian didn't even sound like he'd been suffering or like he hadn't sung for a week. They ended the song, and the crowd stood and clapped, all that normal jazz. Then, as they began to settle down, all fifteen Warblers at full tilt began:

Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck Some nights I call it a draw Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle Some nights I wish they'd just fall off But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for Ohh…

Blaine grinned at Sebastian as he passed him.

Most nights, I don't know anymore

The majority of the Warblers provided backup warbling as Hunter, Sebastian, and Blaine split the lines with Nick, Jeff, Thad, and Trent. It was perfect.

Man you wouldn't believe… the most amazing things That can come from some terrible lie

Sebastian grinned at Blaine as he sang this line, as it rang the most truth in him. Nick and Jeff sang together happily, slapping five with each other as they passed each other:

The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me

Hunter and Sebastian took the front of the pyramid with Blaine in their window, Nick and Jeff on either side of him.

It's for the best you didn't listen It's for the best we get our distance

The crowd cheered and cheered as the Warblers took their bows. The Warblers had drawn last spot, this was the last performance of the competition. They'd far outperformed their competitors.

"What did you think?" Sebastian whispered to Blaine.

"Flawless," Blaine grinned.

"The winners of the 2013 Midwest Regionals… From Dalton Academy in Westerville, Ohio… The Warblers!"

No surprise, of course, but Nationals wouldn't be a picnic.

"Alright, listen up," Hunter directed as they walked out of the high school to Hunter's SUV. They'd taken a few cars to the neighboring high school. Blaine, Sebastian, Nick, and Jeff, of course, were all carpooling with Hunter. "Song list for Nationals: Two Princes by Spin Doctors, sung by me, Hunter Clarington. Don't Know Nothing by Maroon 5, sung by Blaine. Aaand… Beat It by Mr. Michael Jackson, sung by…" He paused to work up the suspense, and so he could turn around and look at his Warblers' faces. "Sebastian." Blaine grinned and waited for Sebastian's response.

Hunter also refused to accept any dates after his return from holiday. He said something about his parents arranging a marriage for him when he turned 21 and how it was a waste of time. They sincerely hoped he wasn't part of some cult and even convinced Jeff to ask him about it. He wasn't part of a cult – his parents were just old fashioned.

Blaine convinced Hunter to give the Warblers Martin Luther King weekend off from practice. Two reasons, it was a long weekend, and Blaine's parents were going to be out of town. He'd already made the arrangements for him and Sebastian to spend the weekend reevaluating their relationship – except Saturday evening they would meet the gang at Breadstix for their weekly performance. This week they were doing Don't Stop Believin, and Finn was really looking forward to it.

"The sheer fact that we're driven to this is absolutely despicable," Sebastian said, throwing his suitcase into Blaine's backseat.

"You were the one who volunteered to triple up your dorm with me," Blaine replied, taking the driver's seat.

"It's not you I mind," Sebastian half-snarled. "Hunter's so friggin uptight, I might snap one of these days. I'm pretty sure my dad knows where to hide a body."

"I think you'd be the first suspect they'd talk to," Blaine said. "No more Hunter. We're taking the weekend off."

"Which is wonderful, but we shouldn't be driven to this," Sebastian repeated.

"My house is better than our room anyway."

"I offered to get us a hotel room, but no…"

"We don't need a hotel room," Blaine said.

"The nice ones had Jacuzzis," Sebastian said.

"It's January."

"Exactly."

"I know it would be fun to have three and a half straight days of just sex, but we need to seriously talk about this," Blaine said.

"Oh, how well you know me," Sebastian commented.

"Bas, seriously."

"Seriously, you need to stop saying my name like that if you expect me to be serious," Sebastian said, closing his eyes. Blaine sighed.

"Sebastian."

"Yes?"

"This talk will include that feeling thing neither of us want to talk about."

"Can we just mess around and talk some other time?"

"Sure, but you'll have to mess around with someone else," Blaine said. Sebastian scowled. Blaine was sincerely expecting Sebastian to run, but he didn't know Sebastian honestly wanted to have this talk as much as him. A talk – a sign that Blaine wanted him anywhere near as much as he wanted Blaine, a sign that Blaine was finally over Kurt, a sign that Blaine was – well. Sebastian wasn't 100 percent sure he was ready to give up all other guys forever … maybe he was.

"So," Sebastian finally said. They were sitting at the dining room table at Blaine's house. Sebastian had paper, a pen, and his glasses. Blaine had a mirror, a comb, and hair gel. "Let's chat."

"I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that you look very fine in those glasses," Blaine said.

"Thank you," Sebastian said. "I thought if we were going to have a serious chat, I should look the part."

"We might as well get our feelings out in the open," Blaine said.

"Alright, you go first," Sebastian said.

"Why?"

"Because I already told you how I feel, it's not my fault if you weren't listening."

"I like you, Bas," Blaine said, slowly. "I mean, I like you a lot. I didn't think I would ever meet someone I l-loved more than Kurt, b-but…" He looked at Sebastian nervously. "Granted, I've barely seen him for months, but trust me, I remember everything about him. He was my soul mate. Except… he's not. I want you." He met Sebastian's gaze for a second, then dropped it. "You go."

"I'm not afraid to say that I'd never been in love before I met you," Sebastian said. He'd been rehearsing this. "I've certainly had more than my fair share of relationships, if you can call them that, and I might have even thought I loved my first real and only other boyfriend." Paul. "That was a long time ago, and I've fucked him out of my mind. Somehow, I haven't been able to get you out of my head since I first saw you. Trust me, I tried. I never thought I could even get you to like me, let alone dream of a chance like this. I won't screw this up, and I know it… Because I'm in love with you." Blaine stared. "But." Blaine's heart which had sped up at the sentiment came screeching to a halt. "I'm already second and sometimes even third fiddle in the Warblers, and I will not be second to Kurt in your heart."

"I thought I could be in love with you, but every time I go to think about it, my brain starts thinking too much," Blaine said. "I… I do love you."

"I read somewhere once that if you fall in love twice, you should choose the second one," Sebastian said. "Because if you truly loved the first, you wouldn't have fallen for the second." Blaine looked up at him again. "I think that's bullshit."

"Really."

"Sure," Sebastian said. "I've not personally had a lot of experience, but I think you can love as many people as you want. The question is, which one are you going to choose?" Blaine stared. It wasn't an odd statement, especially coming from Sebastian, but it really made him think.

"You," Blaine breathed. Sebastian looked at him for a moment, before jotting on his paper.

"Alright, now that that's out there in the universe," Sebastian said, "I think we should discuss the nature of our relationship."

"What nature would that be?" Blaine asked, setting down his mirror.

"Let's start with complaints," Sebastian said. "For example, you put too much gel in your hair, your curls are so beautiful."

"I request that you stop smoking," Blaine said. "For good."

"I haven't smoked in weeks, love," Sebastian said. "I request that you stop wearing capri pants."

"We'll talk about that later," Blaine said. Sebastian was jotting down each item as it was addressed. "I want you to make nice with the New Directions."

"I want you to arrange for Hunter to be out of our room at least once a week."

"I want you to tell me more about your life before Dalton."

"No," Sebastian said, firmly.

"Yes," Blaine said.

"We'll talk about that later."

"Alright."

"That aside for a minute, let's decide on some sexual ground rules," Sebastian said, putting his pen between his teeth as he reread what he'd written.

"Um…okay?" Blaine said. "Not really sure what there is to discuss there."

"I will be the proverbial top, you will be the bottom," Sebastian listed. "All encounters will be mutually consensual, face-to-face unless otherwise negotiated, with proper supplies so no one gets hurt."

"Is it really necessary to write that down?" Blaine asked.

"Who's had more sex, you or me?" Sebastian countered. "I don't want to hurt you, B."

"Don't sweat it," Blaine said.

"There will be no comparing of sexual partners by either of us, even though I'm pretty sure everyone else would pale in comparison," Sebastian continued. "The where and when of encounters will not be necessarily pre-determined. I don't have any limitations as to where, do you?"

"I know you don't have a problem getting caught, but I cannot get caught like that, I'd die of embarrassment," Blaine said.

"I also have no reservations as to when," Sebastian said, licking the tip of his pen.

"I can't think of a when I'd be against," Blaine said. "I guess if we're too drunk to know better? But we'd be too drunk to remember the rules anyway."

"Okay. Sexual is settled," Sebastian said, dotting the last period. "Telling people. If we're going to tell, who we're going to tell, who they can tell. Wrapped up in that is what we would call ourselves."

"I will primarily be referred to as Blaine," Blaine said. "And I was hoping we could call you Snuggles McHappyPants, or Sebastian, if you prefer."

"You know what I mean, smartass," Sebastian snarked.

"I thought we were going to be, on a trial basis, boyfriends," Blaine said. "We have to tell Hunter, at least, I think we owe him that. Nick and Jeff, probably. And I reserve the right to tell Sam, because he's the one who told me to go for it."

"After the trial, if we decide to continue into a long-term thing, I'd like to tell my mother. Because I know she'd be happy for me," Sebastian said, quietly.

"If we turn into a long-term thing, I will find a way to tell Kurt," Blaine said. "It'll probably kill him."

"You're too good for him," Sebastian said, yawning. "On the issue of telling my father, I'd like to put never on the table as a good time. If hell froze over, I'd consider it."

"The same goes for when you can meet Cooper," Blaine said.

"It's not that my father wouldn't like you. You're basically everything he ever wanted for his only son," Sebastian said. "Except, uh…"

"I have a penis, yeah, I know," Blaine said.

"Other than that, you're perfect!" Sebastian assured him. "Well, you come from money and you're going places, that's pretty much all he cares about."

"What are you doing at NYU anyway? I never thought to ask."

"I'm sitting here writing up a relationship contract. What the hell do you think I'm doing? Studying to be a lawyer," Sebastian snapped.

"Should have known," Blaine said, smiling. "Are we finished with this?"

"Almost," Sebastian said. "Are you of sound mind?"

"Doubt it," Blaine said.

"Sign here anyway," Sebastian told him, handing him the pen. "Date too."

"I can't believe we're writing a contract for our relationship," Blaine said.

"Trust me, I need one," Sebastian laughed. "I know you don't."

"I think it's good," Blaine said. "Will probably reduce arguments."

"Which will keep Hunter happy," Sebastian finished. "Everyone wins!"

"Do you think we'll turn into a long-term thing?" Blaine asked.

"You know that's entirely up to you, sweetheart," Sebastian replied. "I have completely changed who I am for you. You just need to hold up your end."

"I know what we're doing at Regionals," Blaine said, completely changing the subject.

"You do?" Sebastian asked. "Tell me!"

"Can't. Promised Hunter I'd be quiet."

"C'mon, I'm your boyfriend. You can tell me anything!" Sebastian whined.

"I'll give you a hint. It starts with two very sexy men doing a duet," Blaine said, a smile growing on his face. "And the second part is a fantastic group number, the likes of which the Warblers have never tried, with seven soloists throughout the number."

"Am I one of the sexy men?" Sebastian asked. Blaine nodded. "Are you one of the sexy men?" Blaine nodded again. "And we're both one of the seven?"

"Yes, dear," Blaine said, faking exasperation.

"Ha, told you Hunter couldn't bar us from competition. He'll never win without us," Sebastian scoffed.

"Oh, he's not planning on it," Blaine said. "I doubt he'd even complain about us missing practices if he knew he'd be effectively ruining your life."

"It's my fault," Sebastian said. "I shouldn't have been such a … a … méchant, I guess."

"Not a good loser, duly noted," Blaine said.

"You can be such a smartass, you know that?" Sebastian shot at him.

"Very aware," Blaine said, grinning. "You love it."

"I love you." It felt good to finally be able to say it.

"Some Nights."

"I stay up cashing in my bad luck?" Sebastian asked, confused.

"Yeah," Blaine said. "That's what we're doing for Regionals. And, uh, provided there's no rock salt involved, Hunter might be into doing a little MJ for Nationals."

"I'm not sure who I love more now, you or Hunter," Sebastian said.

"I'm pretty sure it's in the contract you have to love me more," Blaine said.

"Pretty sure I never wrote that in there," Sebastian said, pretending to push up his glasses and reread it. "I also can't promise there won't be rock salt involved. That Jesse St. James kid from Carmel needs a little roughing up."

"Oh, you're gonna get it."

"Only if you give it to me," Sebastian grinned. "Race you upstairs?"

"What's the matter?" Blaine asked.

"There's really no easy way to say this, because I know how much you were looking forward to getting together, but…" Kurt said. Uh-oh. "I'm not coming back to Lima for Christmas."

"Oh, um, no, it's alright," Blaine said. "I'm sure you're busy and stuff…"

"It's just, I'm trying to save the last few drops of my money for NYADA now…" Kurt said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Blaine said. "College is expensive. It's cool."

"You sound really, really upset," Kurt said.

"I was looking forward to seeing you," Blaine admitted. "But I understand, it's your dream. You belong at NYADA."

"My dad is going with Finn and Carole to Carole's sister's anyway, so it'd be…" Kurt trailed off, realizing he didn't have an end to that sentence. "And she always has too much eggnog and blacks out. Happy Holidays, right?"

"Right," Blaine said. "I totally understand."

"You do?"

"Oh yeah," Blaine said. "It's just nice hearing from you any day."

"I have to go – work, sorry," Kurt said, hurriedly.

"Sure, sure," Blaine said. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," Kurt said. They both hung up. Blaine looked across the room. Sebastian had been sitting at his desk, studying for his last midterm when the phone had rung, but was now staring at Blaine, a little concerned.

"That… that was Kurt. He's not coming," Blaine said, completely dejected.

"Hey, hey," Sebastian said. "Who needs him? I'll show you the right way to have Christmas."

"Kurt and I always have Christmas together," Blaine moped. "We have to sing our flirty Christmas duet."

"I don't know if you know this, but I am great at singing flirty duets."

"You can't just pretend to be Kurt and expect me to accept you as my boyfriend or whatever it is you're trying to do."

"Obviously, I have a little more class than that," Sebastian said.

"No you don't," Blaine said, frowning.

"No, to hell with it, of course I don't." Sebastian grinned. "C'mon, give me a chance."

"Maybe," Blaine said. "I'll think about it."

"Hunter is going back to hell, or wherever it is he's from, so it'll be just us," Sebastian announced, slamming his bag down on Hunter's desk and reclining on Hunter's bed. "In fact, I think everyone's going home except you, me, Nick, and Jeff."

"Well, Nick and Jeff are different," Blaine said. "I think they're actually melting into one person. Where they have two different families, I can see where it would be difficult to go home."

"You could go home," Sebastian suggested.

"Why bother? No one there."

"Good," Sebastian said. "The first rule of Sebastian Smythe Christmas is liquor. Fortunately, I've never had a problem getting any, and have filled Hunter's dresser with various contraband. The second rule is hot men. I think between the two of us, we've got that covered."

"Is there a third rule I should be wary of?" Blaine asked.

"Usually there's a lot of sex," Sebastian added. "And where there is plenty of liquor involved, I'm sure that won't be an issue."

"Good, let's start now," Blaine said, throwing his sweater vest across the room. Sebastian, intrigued, jumped out of Hunter's bed, unearthed a bottle of tequila, and quickly took a few swigs from it before handing it to Blaine.

"Not too much," Sebastian reminded him. Blaine was a quick drunk at any rate. He took a quick shot off the top of the bottle, closed his eyes, and shook his head violently from side to side. Then, for good measure, he took a second.

"Alright, that's enough," Blaine said, setting the bottle down on his desk.

That's how they spent the weekend before Christmas. Very early in the morning of Christmas Eve, Blaine's phone rang. He groggily picked it up.

"Hello?"

Sebastian couldn't hear the voice on the other side, but he could gauge Blaine's reactions.

"Hi, Burt. What's up? Is Kurt alright?" "Yeah, I'm fine, I miss him, sure, but, you know…" "What?!" Blaine's face suddenly got extremely serious – something must be wrong. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Of-Of course I … um…" Blaine suddenly locked eyes with Sebastian across the dimly lit room.

"Whatever it is, just go," Sebastian whispered.

"Of course I will," Blaine said, almost immediately. "Okay, I'll be there. Thank you, Burt." He hung up the phone.

"When are you leaving?" Sebastian asked. Blaine still looked a little shocked.

"Kurt's dad has prostate cancer. He's flying me to New York to have Christmas with them. I…" He looked hopeless.

"Go. It's the right thing," Sebastian said. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me." He scoffed. "I'm used to it, remember?"

"Someday, I promise you and Kurt will get along better and we can all hang out together," Blaine said, blowing a kiss at Sebastian across the room, before grabbing a towel and two bottles of hair gel. "Until then, I'll have to play favorites." He ran into the bathroom.

Sebastian flopped on Hunter's bed. It was just like Kurt to sneak in and steal this perfect Christmas back from him. He didn't have a family to go to, and God knows Nick and Jeff wouldn't be up for anything really fun. They might drink with Sebastian, but all hopes any of them may have ever had of a threesome (again) had gone quickly out the window many months ago. The point was, Sebastian had promised to try monogamy, promised he wouldn't go to Scandals without a chaperone anymore, promised that he'd try to be a better person. For Blaine. The same Blaine that was now ditching him for that stupid gay-faced penguin.

Blaine came rushing out of the bathroom, wrapped in the towel, his hair perfectly styled. He pulled on briefs and socks and then hesitated.

"What do I wear?" Blaine asked. "Do I wear normal clothes or my uniform?"

"I'd go with normal clothes. If you have any pants that are actually long enough, I'd go with that, preferably black. It's cold outside," Sebastian advised.

"We are going skating," Blaine said.

"Bring a coat. And don't forget your Dalton scarf. It really is cold outside."

"Baby it's cold outside," Blaine sang happily as he got dressed, and threw a few more outfits into his bag. "Gosh your lips look delicious… Waves upon the tropical shore… How can you do this thing to me? Think of my life long sorrow… If you got pneumonia and died… Oooh, baby it's cold outside!"

"You are the most beautiful person in the whole world," Sebastian said.

"You're totally just saying that," Blaine said. "I will be back in a few days. Don't get into any trouble." With that, he was gone.

Sebastian slumped into Hunter's bed, wishing he'd taken someone's advice in his life and learned the female part to Baby It's Cold Outside. Ignoring the fact that he'd eventually have to get up and wash Hunter's sheets, he decided to go back to sleep, Blaine's singing still echoing in his ears.

When Sebastian woke up later, it was to someone violently pounding on his door. Not knowing who it was, he wrapped himself in a sheet and answered it.

"Get up, you can't spend Christmas Eve in your room," Nick said. "Where's Blaine?"

"On his way to New York by now, I'd imagine," Sebastian grumbled. "He went to see Kurt."

"Good," Jeff said, inviting himself and his partner into the room. "They need to get back together."

"Thanks for the support, as always," Sebastian said, sarcastically. "Why are you here?"

"You have to get out of this room," Nick said. "We're going to Breadstix, because the Apocalypse didn't happen, and Sam invited us, because he got married, and anyway, you're coming with."

"I don't like Sam, or really either of you, so I think I'll pass," Sebastian said.

"I don't think I asked," Jeff said. "Put on one of those ridiculous polo shirts and let's get going."

"Jesus, what time is it?" Sebastian asked, slowly getting dressed.

"Two-thirty and it's pronounced hey-seuss," Nick said.

"What took you so long?" Sam asked. "Where's Blaine?"

"New York. He went to see Kurt," Jeff said.

"We brought the wretch instead," Nick said, jerking his thumb toward Sebastian.

"I just found out Brittany and I aren't really married," Sam said.

"Shocking," Sebastian commented.

"The good news is that the world didn't end, but it's going to September 27, 2014."

"Oh, it is, is it?" Sebastian asked. Sam nodded, entirely convinced of this. He babbled on for what seemed like hours. Several times, Sebastian had to stop himself from vigorously shaking this kid who seemed to only get stupider each time they met.

Once Nick and Jeff finally conceded and decided to go back to Dalton, Sebastian made the executive decision not to leave his room again until Blaine got back, and he certainly wasn't answering the door again. Sebastian spent the last few hours until midnight reading. Around half past tomorrow, he got a text – from Blaine. Merry Christmas. Thanks. Sebastian didn't reply.

Alternately, Sebastian slept, watched junk TV, and half-heartedly practiced the steps to the number they were producing for the first week back from vacation. Completely lost on time (it was either the 28th or the 29th, he wasn't sure), he finally turned off House, and laid down to sleep. There was a bustle outside the door, and then in came one Blaine Anderson, humming the tune of White Christmas. Sebastian was suddenly wide awake.

"Blaine!"

"Hey!" Blaine exclaimed. "Why are you awake?"

"I don't know, what time is it?" Sebastian asked.

"Quarter of five," Blaine said. "I mean, I'm glad you are. Now I can tell you all about my trip!"

"I thought you'd be staying for New Year's," Sebastian said. "Times Square, you know."

"Nah, Burt was coming back today for a doctor's appointment, and it felt weird to stay there alone with Kurt," Blaine said. "I need to start working on my NYADA application anyway."

"You're going to NYADA?"

"Planning on it," Blaine said. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing," Sebastian shrugged. "I'm going to NYU is all."

"You got in?"

"Not very difficult, I assure you. As long as I manage to finish this school year at Dalton, my father has talked the board of admissions at NYU into accepting me and the new Smythe wing of the library."

"That must be nice for you."

"All I can say is thank God for you and Hunter," Sebastian said. "So, how was your trip?" Blaine smiled, dumping his bag in Hunter's desk chair before climbing on top of the desk.

"Kurt met me at Bryant Park just before midnight. He thought he was picking up his dad's Christmas gift to him, which Burt said, and I'm quoting here, if he didn't like it, he could return it. We went skating and then we had hot chocolate, and then on Christmas Day, we watched basketball, and Kurt read Vogue. How was your Christmas?"

"Blue," Sebastian admitted. "Niff dragged me to Breadstix for some unknown reason on Christmas Eve, and I haven't left this room since I got back."

"Exciting," Blaine said. "Shall we get back to our celebration?"

"Why so eager?"

"Spending all that time at Kurt's made me realize something," Blaine said, kicking off his shoes.

"And what might that be?"

"I must either be really fucking stupid to give him up, or just really fucking into you."

Hunter came back from his vacation on New Year's Eve, around noon. He noted his bed looked absolutely rampaged and that Sebastian and Blaine didn't look even the slightest bit ashamed about it. Niff showed up at some point during the afternoon to drag Sebastian, Blaine, and their liquor to the common room for a New Year's celebration. Trent was already back as well. Hunter agreed to come to the party, as long as it was kept quiet so that he could read.

The night wore on, and everybody but Hunter got steadily more intoxicated. They watched Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, and were happily astonished when Fergie introduced Flo-Rida.

"Hunt, he's singing your song on TV!" Blaine called. Hunter refused to get up, but the other Warblers rallied around him, warbling on pitch and dancing his choreography until Hunter got up and finished the song with them. Later on that night, the Wanted sang Glad You Came, and the Warblers were only too happy to teach Sebastian's old choreography to Blaine and Hunter.