"Hey Kurt?"

Kurt looked up from his cup of coffee that he was stirring sugar and creamer into to look at Rachel.

"What's up Rach?"

"Um, I only say this because I care...but...I know you are going out tonight and I just want to warn you to be careful that way we don't have another...Bill incident. Just don't get too hammered and end up getting hurt again, okay?"

He raised one eyebrow at her and gave her the biggest look of confusion he could muster.

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn't tonight Harvey's annual 'all employee's present bonding night'?"

Kurt groaned, "Dammit. You're right. How did I forget...for the second year in a row?"

Harvey was Kurt's crazy boss. He was the president of the company that he worked for and Harvey had...a different way of running things. One being that contract that locked Blaine into working for Kurt for a year. And another being his annual 'all employee's present bonding night' as Kurt called it.

It was something that most of Kurt's co-workers dreaded. Kurt normally just put it out of his mind that way he didn't have to deal with the stress the whole night created. But last year it had snuck up on him, and apparently this year as well. Having a bunch of fashion obsessed people, that worked under Harvey, all in one place was never a good time. But every year Harvey insisted, that they had to be a family and even families that hate each other get together one day a year. Apparently today was the day.

Once Kurt actually got there he dealt with it by getting wasted. That way he didn't remember any of it and he didn't really have to deal with it. Plus, many of his one night stands came from these nights. Not that he was proud...but...3 years in a row. It was the one night a year Kurt let himself lose all of his inhibitions and just let loose, weather he wanted it or not. It was his convenient excuse to get drunk and get laid.

Except he couldn't do that this year, he suddenly realized. For two reasons. Bill and Blaine. If both he and Bill got wasted again he didn't know what would happen. He didn't trust Bill. And then there's Blaine. Blaine had told Kurt that he wanted to do this very thing that way Kurt would give in and have sex with him. No, he was actually going to have to deal with this year's event.

"I can't do what I normally do anyway, because of Bill. And Blaine..."

"Wait, I thought you said that you and Blaine we're getting along great and that you might actually be becoming friends with him?"

"Yeah as great friends as two people who loved each other, then one of them hated the other for seven years and just started talking again can be." Kurt said rolling his eyes at Rachel.

He didn't want to admit it, even to himself, but he knew he and Blaine were becoming friends again. The shopping trip that they had taken a week ago really had opened Kurt's eyes. He didn't want to argue with Blaine about how they weren't friends anymore. Sadly, he wanted to enjoy the year he was sure to have with him. Because after that Kurt was firing him, no matter what. Blaine really couldn't be part of his every day life without Kurt feeling all nostalgic and wanting to be best buddies again. And Kurt couldn't go through that all again. It was just going to end up hurting him too much.

"Don't mind me saying this, but you need to get over yourself. Blaine loves you, he always has. And you've never stopped loving him. Don't you see how lucky you are? How would you like to be me and have your soulmate break up with you every few years?"

"Yes. 'Cause I've had it so easy! So easy having the one person I trusted the most outside of my family cheat on me! Stomp all over my feelings and then not talk to me for seven years. Seven years, Rachel!"

"Make up for lost time then," Rachel practically yelled taking Kurt by surprise, "you lost him for seven years. But he's back now. And he wants you. Just you. Plus, you know now why he did what he did. I wouldn't even really consider that cheating. Trust me. I've done it."

Kurt just stared at Rachel. He hardly ever saw her get so worked up. Well, at least never about something that she wasn't involved in. There had been that one audition where she had gotten in the directors face and listed the facts how she was superior to the girl that had been cast...but she did not make a habit of getting this upset over something that was happening in his life.

Rachel was somewhat panting from the way she had raised her voice at Kurt and when she saw the look on her face she regretted it, "Sorry." Rachel said in a timid voice.

"What's gotten into you?"

"It's just- Kurt...I don't want to see you lose him again. It would break my heart. And I feel like you are doing a damn good job of screwing this chance up."

Kurt was stunned at Rachel's words and her honesty. He saw tears glistening in her eyes and he saw that she really believed what she was saying. Her honesty touched him in a way he wasn't expecting and his tears started glimmering back at hers.

"Why do you care so much?" Kurt had to know.

Rachel laughed, "I'm not heartless. Self obsessed and self absorbed, maybe. But not heartless. Your and Blaine's relationship was one of the most honest and loving things I had ever seen. Did you really think you were the only one hurt when you found Blaine with Hunter?"

"I guess-I guess I never really thought about it like that."

"Maybe you should Kurt. We were all effected when you broke up. If you guys couldn't make it...there wasn't any hope for the rest of us."

"Okay Rachel," Kurt laughed, "that's a little too dramatic. Even for you."

A big smile broke out on Rachel's face, "Just promise me. Don't screw this up just because of your pride."

"I can't promise that." Kurt shook his head slowly.

"Well, at least you're honest. But just remember what I said. And know that if Finn were here he would say the same thing. Or Santana, or Puck, or Quinn, or-"

"I get it!" He said laughing.

Rachel looked him up and down like she was trying to decide if she believed him or not. Kurt huffed out a sigh and went back to stirring his coffee. When Rachel turned and walked away he knew that the conversation was over and she had said her piece. But he knew he was far from done thinking about it.

Was she right? Was it really just a matter of his pride getting in his way of being happy? Of a good future with the man he had once loved? Or was he right...that all Blaine was going to do was hurt him again? What was he supposed to do? Listen to Rachel and his heart or actually listen to his brain?

He groaned. It was too early to be thinking this hard. Especially without coffee in his system. Plus he had bigger things to worry about right now, like the party he had to go to tonight. How could he have really forgotten, he had less than 12 hours to come up with a decent outfit...crap. And what about Blaine? Did he have any idea what tonight was? He had only been an employee for about a month. Kurt silently hoped that Cathy had filled him in. Even if she had failed to remind Kurt himself.

There was no use worrying about it now. He had to get ready and then get his butt to work. Where everyone would be spazzing out about outfits and who they thought would go home with whom and who would pick up somebody random at the club and who would come back to work on Monday the sickest. Kurt was always surprised that they didn't take bets...but then again maybe they did and he just didn't know about it. It wouldn't surprise him.

Kurt sipped his coffee and then travelled back into his room to get ready for his day. There really was no use in dressing up today since nobody would notice and he had to save anything amazing for tonight. He chose lose fitting black pants and a simple white button up which he put a black vest over. It was still fashionable, but something really dulled down from what he normally wore to work. Might as well go comfortable though seeing as he would have to wear his tightest fitting clothes to the club.

He found that he was ready very early and decided to just head in anyway before all the madness started. Rachel had left by the time he was leaving so as he slipped his earbuds in his ears he locked the door behind him. Once again he chose to listen to something loud with a heavy bass beat that way he wouldn't find himself thinking stressful thoughts. He seemed to be listening to a lot of that type of music since Blaine returned.

Getting lost in the music as he walked, he found his head bopping along to the beat until he realized and blushed. But then he heard the sound of someone talking over the music and he quickly pulled the iPod out of his pocket and turned it off while he looked around.

"Hey Blaine," he said shyly when he saw him walking a short distance behind him.

"Oh don't stop rocking out on account of me." Blaine took a few jogging steps until he caught up with Kurt and then started walking at the same pace.

"How long have you been following me?"

"Not that long actually. You walked by a street I was coming down about a block ago. You're heading in early. Why?"

Kurt laughed bitterly, "Don't you know what tonight is?"

"Yeah Cathy mentioned something about how the whole place goes to a club and gets wasted as a direct order from Harvey."

This time he smiled a real smile, "Well I don't think we are supposed to get wasted, but most of us do."

"Does that include you?" Blaine said bumping shoulders with him.

In response he blushed.

"I'll take that," Blaine poked his cheek, "as a yes."

"Yeah the past few years I've had some fun. It's a convent excuse."

"Are you going to drink tonight?"

Kurt wanted to ask why he cared so much but instead he just sighed and said, "I don't plan to. But you never know."

"Well I'm not gonna. I know that for a fact."

"Why?"

"I'm still trying to earn back your trust. That way you will come back to me. Can't get too sloppy."

Once again Kurt blushed. He remembered saying something very similar to Finn back at Rachel's party the year he met Blaine. Back when he naive and innocent and all he wanted was to win Blaine over.

"Have I ever told you that you're extremely cute when you blush?"

He looked down and gave Blaine a small smile that was mirrored on Blaine's face. "Yeah it might have come up before."

"Just as long as you know."

By this point they were about a block away from the office building and they continued to walk in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence though, Kurt noticed. It was the type that happens when you're comfortable with someone and you don't need to always be talking. He wasn't sure if this should be a warning to him that he was getting too attached to Blaine, or if should make him smile. Too late, he was already smiling.

When the reached the door Blaine ran ahead of Kurt and pulled it open for him.

"After you my fair prince," Blaine said bowing and sweeping his arm in front of him.

Kurt rolled his eyes at him but inside he was touched. Blaine sometimes talked a big game and acted very confident. But deep down inside he was just an old timely gentleman. It was one reason why Kurt had fallen so deeply in love with him.

He strolled though the door and Blaine quickly followed behind him. The first thing he saw was Bill sitting behind his desk with his eyes narrowed at the pair of them. Kurt wanted to blush, but Bill had no right to make him feel uncomfortable. So instead he just smiled widely at the man.

"Good morning Bill!" Kurt said with just a little too much enthusiasm.

"Hey." Bill's voice was dead.

"Hey Bill! What's up, man?" Blaine said standing next to Kurt.

All Bill did was wince like Blaine had walked up to him and slapped him across the face. Kurt felt anger growing in the pit of his stomach. Bill had no right to treat Blaine like that because he was jealous.

"You okay?" Blaine said, concerned as he turned his head to the side studying Bill.

"Fine." Bill grunted out and the anger inside Kurt flared up.

"You looking forward to tonight Bill? I was just telling Blaine here about how much fun this night will be and how much I can't wait to dance with him!" Kurt squealed excitedly. Blaine opened his mouth to protest and Kurt swiftly gabbed his elbow into Blaine's ribs.

Blaine choked and covered it with a cough as he stared in confusion at Kurt, but all Kurt did was send him pleading eyes to agree with him.

"Oh yeah. Can't wait. Kurt can really move."

Kurt grinned devilishly at how well Blaine played along and he didn't even know what was going on. Bill winced again.

"Well, we best get going. See you tonight Bill!" He walked off and pulled on Blaine's sleeve as he went. Blaine followed obediently and they waited for the elevator together. Kurt could still feel Bill's eyes on them until they climbed inside.

"Okay, as much as I'm excited you're gonna dance with me tonight, what was all that about?"

Kurt paled. What had just happened? Why did he feel such an intense need to protect Blaine from Bill? Blaine wasn't his to protect. Kurt found himself wondering what that had really been about.

"Kurt?"

He sighed. "You remember those marks you found on my neck your first day?"

Blaine's eyes widened and color drained from his face, "B-Bill?"

"I was upset so he offered me to come hang out with him that way I didn't have to go home and deal with Rachel because I was mad at her for telling you. Well...Bill and I sorta got drunk and...we made out. He kept trying to go further but then I realized what I was doing and shoved him off of me and ran out. It was just a drunken mistake." Kurt looked up from the floor to meet Blaine's eyes.

He thought he had felt anger at Bill but it was nothing to match what was in Blaine's eyes right now. It wasn't often that Kurt had seen a look like that on Blaine's face. The few times he had Blaine had disappeared to the gym for hours, just to come back exhausted and sore.

"Blaine? Y-you okay buddy?"

"I should go punch that mother-fucker out right now. So help me God."

"Whoa! Calm down. It's okay. It was just as much my fault as it was his."

The elevator dinged and Blaine marched out of it and headed right for Kurt's office. Kurt didn't have any choice but to follow him.

Blaine was standing in his office with his hands pressed down on his desk. His shoulders were hunched and Kurt walked forward and put his hand on one of them and Blaine whipped around, the same fire in his eyes. Kurt recoiled and Blaine's expression immediately softened.

"I'm not mad at you Kurt. I am however, furious at-at that piece of shit!" Blaine started to pace angrily around the office.

"We were drun-" Kurt started in a small voice.

"That's no excuse!" Blaine roared, throwing his hands up in the air. "He hurt you. Whether you admit it or not. That is not okay with me. He is not okay with me."

Kurt bit his tongue but he couldn't help the words that came out of his mouth, "You hurt me more."

Blaine stared at Kurt for a few moments before he turned and ran out of the office. Leaving Kurt standing alone looking longingly at the place Blaine had just been standing. Why did he have to say that? He really was trying to get along with Blaine, but something inside him always kept him fighting. Tears in his eyes he walked and sunk down into his chair and willed the day to be over.

The day had dragged by. Especially since Blaine hadn't come back to talk to him all day. Kurt realized that he really did look forward to talking and spending time with Blaine at work and he really missed him now that he didn't get to talk to him. At least he hadn't pissed Cathy off. He ranted himself out to her and she just listened and then gave him a hug and told him everything was going to be alright.

But now he really wasn't in the mood to go out tonight. He stared sadly into his closet trying to find the will to change and get ready. Attendance was mandatory. He had to suck it up and go. Without feeling, he pulled clothes off the hangers and pulled them on. His tightest white jeans paired with a skin tight black and white pinstriped long sleeved shirt. Over that he pulled on a white vest that fit snugly around his waist and had various dangling silver chains. For shoes he wore the same black knee high boots as he had the day he had gone out with Blaine and Emily.

Zombie-like he did his hair and put a tiny amount of black eyeliner around his eyes. Just to make them pop in the dark lights of the club. It wasn't enough for anybody to notice unless they were within kissing distance and Kurt knew that wouldn't be happening tonight. Not with Blaine mad at him...

No. He had to get out of this funk. This was good. This proved why Blaine couldn't be back in his life. No matter how much he wanted him there. He didn't deserve this crap. Kurt sighed and looked at his clock. He had to leave in a few minutes, might as well say goodnight to Rachel for the night.

"Rach?" He called as he exited his room.

"Yeah?"

He walked into the kitchen to see her fixing herself a late night snack standing in her nightgown.

"I'm heading out. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You okay? You seem depressed."

"Just a bad day at work."

Rachel looked at him skeptically and then turned back to the stove, "Just remember what I said this morning."

"Right," Kurt said angrily and walked over to the door. This wasn't his fault!

Once outside he quickly hailed a cab. Telling the driver the address of the club he settled himself down and prepared himself for the hell of the night this was sure to be. He hoped that Bill wouldn't show up but he knew that wouldn't happen. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes trying to let the motion of the cab relax him.

Unfortunately all that did was seem to make them get there faster. Kurt payed the cabbie and walked to the front door of the club surpassing the line. When he got to the bouncer he simply flashed his work ID and he was immediately granted access. The loud bass stabbed though is head instantly and the flashing strobe lights made his head spin dizzily.

Kurt pushed his way through the throng of people standing at the entrance and made his way over to the bar. He hopped up on one of the last vacant stools and spun himself around that way he could look out onto the dance floor. He planned to spend the whole night on this stool not talking to anyone.

But then he spotted Blaine already out on the floor. And he was dancing. With another man. How he had found someone shorter that himself Kurt didn't know, but there they were with Blaine grinding into the other man's ass with his head tossed back. Kurt grimaced and tried to tare his eyes away. But the image was like hypnosis and he couldn't stop watching. That should be him...

"Aw fuck it." Kurt said under his breath and nobody heard him over the music.

He swung his chair around and waved the bartender over.

"What can I get you, handsome?" The man said, flirting and winking at Kurt.

"A long island iced tea."

"Not messing around are you?" The bartender joked as he walked off to gather all of the alcohol in the drink.

"No. Not tonight. Please just let me forget tonight." Kurt said to no one.