Warbler practice is starting late.

It's weird because practice never starts late, and everyone realizes it's weird because they're getting restless, cracking jokes, loosening ties—Nick and Jeff have started a thumb wrestling tournament. Kurt watches as the Warblers slowly dissolve into chaos without Wes there to draw them back to order with the crack of his gavel. At the head table, David and Thad haven't even made an attempt to start practice, apparently enjoying the lull in discipline as they discuss last night's episode of "Fringe".

Sitting up a little straighter as he realizes the boys' disorderliness is beginning to affect him, Kurt leans close to Blaine who has been quietly skimming through his iPod list. "Any idea where Wes is?"

"Said Dr. Gibbons wanted to see him."

"What could Wes have done to be summoned to the headmaster's office?"

Blaine shrugs, eyes sparkling a little as he remarks. "Maybe he was reported for over-usage of his gavel?"

Kurt swallows the laugh that threatens. He kind of hates how his mind can make the most innocent comments from Blaine completely dirty.

"So I say we cancel practice today," Jeremiah calls out from the back of the room just before he gets hit in the side of the head with a wadded up piece of paper. No one seems to know who threw it.

David shakes his head. "Wes'll be here, and I doubt any of us want to deal with the consequences of him walking into an empty room."

There are mutters of agreement, and some dissension, from around the room. Kurt can't help but be amused as he continues to watch the proceedings. "It feels like the stirrings of a mutiny," he says. "Would they really all just walk out?"

Blaine snorts. "Hardly. They'd spend the night here waiting as long as it means not suffering the Wrath of Wes. He may not seem entirely imposing but he's got this death glare that's even brought Holden to tears."

Kurt tries to picture the big rugby player crying as Blaine gets hit in the side of the head with a paper ball. "Stop spreading lies, Anderson," Holden warns.

At least now Jeremiah knows the culprit. More paper balls begin to fly around the room. Kurt ducks two of them. Beside him, Blaine smacks one coming toward him and it hits Nick square in the face, causing him to lose that round of thumb wrestling to Jeff.

"You guys, I have the most exciting news!" Wes enters the room, completely ignoring the random comments of "Oh, look who decided to join us?" "Who's he?" and "Are we there yet?"

He shuts the door behind him, clasping his hands together as he moves toward the head table, his body visibly thrumming with barely contained excitement. It's enough to quiet the Warblers, who all look on with curiosity when they realize that Wes appears to have completely forgotten about his gavel as he takes his seat.

"So what is this news?" David prompts as he turns toward his friend. "Our competition for Regionals forfeited and we win by default?"

Kurt purses his lips and informs them, "Rachel would have to die first, and even then, I wouldn't hedge my bets."

Wes doesn't even seem to hear them. He lays his palms on the table, and smiles like a kid on Christmas morning. "Are you ready?"

"Dude, you couldn't have a more captive audience if our heads were sewn to the carpet," Malcolm replies, much to the amusement of the others.

Wes' smile falters only slightly before he continues, "Do you all remember Walter Ramsey?"

Blaine, who Kurt has often thought has the memory of an elephant, is the one to respond. "He's the Warbler alum from the class of '55. He became a billionaire off commercial real estate investments."

"The very same. He's always been a big supporter of the Warblers, and apparently came to see us perform at Sectionals. He was extremely impressed with what he saw, and after speaking with a few friends of his—" Wes pauses for dramatic effect, but anyone can see he is quickly losing the interest of the other boys,"—the Warblers have been invited to perform on the cruise ship iMillennium/i in the Caribbean for ten days over the holidays!"

At first, there is utter and complete silence as if everyone in the room takes in what Wes has just announced and processes it, and then pandemonium breaks loose as everyone begins talking at once. Kurt swears he hears someone utter the words "Glory hallelujah." As excited as they all are, Kurt can't help but be a little circumspect—he remembers all too well the consequences of the commercial New Directions filmed last year.

"Wouldn't something like that disqualify us from Regionals?" he finds himself asking.

Not many of the others seem to be listening, but Blaine tells him, loud enough for the others to hear, "We won't be paid for it, nor will the trip be comped to us. The Warblers have done things like this before, thanks to Mr. Ramsey. He sent the group three years ago to Europe for two weeks to perform in a couple of festivals. He pays all expenses—he gets the exposure he wants for his beloved Warblers, and we get a free trip."

"AKA," David supplies, "No Ohio snow for ten days!" There are hoots and hollers to David's comment as high-fives are passed between them.

Kurt tries to smile with the others, he really does, but it isn't easy. Does he want to go on a ten day cruise to the Caribbean with the Warblers, not to mention the boy who consumes his daily thoughts? Hell, yes.

Does he think his dad is going to let him?

Hell, no.

XXXXXXXXX

"Let me get this straight, kiddo. Ten days, in the Caribbean, on a cruise ship, during the holidays?"

Kurt feels his heart sink with each word. "It's completely paid for, Dad. It wouldn't cost us a thing, and it's with the Warblers so it's part of my extracurricular activities, and you know colleges look at those kinds of things, and we'll have chaperones and—"

His father's sigh cuts him off. "Kurt, that's not the point and you know it. This is our first Christmas together as a family—"

"Dad, please. This is important to me—"

"And you think spending the holidays with my family isn't important to me? To Carole? To Finn? Aren't you being a little selfish?"

"I'm not trying to be selfish." Tears sting Kurt's eyes over his father's rebuke, and his own growing disappointment. He hadn't been thinking, but the memory of that day when he'd chosen a "Sound of Music" sing-along over dinner hits him hard. But, his dad is okay now, and Carole is looking after him, and so many good things are happening in his life, Kurt refuses to imagine that can change. He tries to focus the conversation elsewhere. "I'd be the only Warbler not going."

"Oh, is that it?" His dad's tone is clipped. "Is that Blaine you are always talking about going, too?"

Kurt bites his lip. "This doesn't have anything to do with Blaine."

"I'm sure it mostly has to do with Blaine—"

Whatever else his dad might have said is cut off by something Carole is saying in the background. Kurt can't make out the words, but he can tell by the tone of her voice that she's trying to calm her husband.

"That's not it, Carole. He knows better than to spring something like this on us a week before Christmas break."

"I'm not springing anything on you, Dad," Kurt snaps angrily into the phone. "I just learned about it this evening with the others. None of us knew."

"Watch your tone with me, Kurt, or this conversation is going to be over real quick."

Kurt barely mutters an apology as the tears spill over onto his cheeks. He wipes at them angrily. This is so unfair!

There's a soft knock on his door as Carole begins speaking again, and Kurt's dad says, "Hang on a second." He hears a hand going over the receiver and mumbled voices through the speaker as his dad and stepmom talk. Kurt looks up as the door to his room slowly pushes open and Blaine peers inside, eyes widening as he realizes Kurt is on the phone.

"I can come back," he whispers.

Kurt shakes his head quickly, motioning his friend into the room. He seems hesitant at first before quietly stepping inside and closing the door behind him. Blaine moves over to Kurt's bed and sits down, across from where Kurt is sitting at his desk. He leans forward a little, balancing his elbows on his knees as he watches Kurt, and finally mouths Are you all right?

Compressing his lips in a tight line, Kurt shakes his head again. He really doesn't want to start bawling in front of Blaine over a stupid cruise.

"Kurt, you there?"

"Yeah, Dad."

"Look, I'm going to think about this and we'll talk about it more tomorrow—"

"Which means no."

"It means, kid that we'll talk about it more tomorrow. Understand?"

He wants to believe that maybe Carole is on his side; that maybe she'll talk his dad into saying yes. "Okay."

"Okay. You have a good night, and I'll talk to you later. I love you, Kurt, no matter what you may be thinking right now."

Kurt dashes at another stray tear. Dammit. "I know, Dad. I love you, too."

As he sets his phone down on the desk, he says miserably, "He's not going to let me go."

"It sounds like there may still be a chance," Blaine replies.

"'We'll talk about it later' is simply my dad's way of delaying the inevitable." Kurt looks away as he feels his eyes burning once again.

"Hey." Blaine reaches over and touches his knee to get his attention. "It'll all work out, I promise. I'll mention it to Dr. Gibbons in the morning, and maybe he can put a call in to your dad, explaining what a huge opportunity and stuff this is. You know how adults seem to be able to say things to each other that they won't listen to from us?"

Kurt shrugs. "I doubt it'll help."

"My little optimist," Blaine teases with a smile.

The way he says 'my', as in possession, is just enough to make Kurt forget how upset he is at the moment. It's enough to coax him into returning Blaine's smile, and wonder to himself how he'd ever really existed before Blaine came into his life. He may not have everything he wants from Blaine—he may never have that—and he may never have the courage to tell Blaine exactly what he means to Kurt, but just the same, having Blaine in his life is something that continually amazes him. It amazes him even more when Blaine says:

"If your dad's ultimate answer is no, then I won't go, either."

For a long moment, Kurt isn't entirely certain he heard Blaine correctly, but by the earnest expression on Blaine's face, he must have. And then Kurt can only give him a look you would focus on the truly insane.

"There's no way I'd let you do that."

"There's no way you'd have a choice." Blaine gives him another smile. "Kurt, I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself knowing you were sad and wishing you were with us. If you have to stay, so will I. We can have our own little Caribbean Christmas here in Ohio. We'll even go out for seafood or something."

Kurt rolls his eyes. "Red Lobster is hardly a substitute for Caribbean lobster tail."

"I wouldn't lower myself to taking you to Red Lobster. There's a McCormick & Schmick's in Columbus."

Gently kicking Blaine in the shin with his foot, Kurt tells him fondly, "Don't be an idiot."

Smile growing, Blaine leans over to lay his hand on Kurt's knee once more. "Then don't be such a pessimist. It'll work out. You'll see."

XXXXXXXX

"You're what?"

"Carole and I are going as chaperones."

Kurt is still positive that he has misheard his dad. It's one thing to get to go on a cruise for the holidays with your glee club. It's quite another to do so with your parents in tow. "I don't… I don't understand."

"That headmaster called this morning—Gibbons, is it? He understood my reservations about letting my son take off to the Caribbean over Christmas and asked if Carole and I would be interested in chaperoning your singing group. Most of our trip will be covered, and we just have to pay for Finn-"

"Wait. Finn's coming, too?"

"Of course! You didn't think we'd just leave your stepbrother at home over the holidays, did you?" His dad laughs on the other end of the line.

Well, actually… Kurt drops onto a bench in the hallway as students move past him. "So, I guess that means we're all going, then."

"Seems like it—Be with you in a moment—Look, kiddo, I've got a customer waiting. Carole is working on all of the details with your school, so we'll call you again soon. Just wanted to give you the good news!"

Kurt forces a smile into his voice. "Thanks, Dad."

"Love you."

"Love you, too."

After the call ends, Kurt sits there in a daze, not even noticing the occasional "Hey, Kurt" being called out to him from classmates as they pass. On the one hand, he's going on a cruise to the Caribbean with the Warblers. With Blaine. What could be more romantic than a cruise? How could there ever be a more perfect time to maybe admit to Blaine how he feels? It's hard to put his romanticized idyllic notions aside when this could maybe, possibly, potentially be his first real chance to find out what it's like to have a boyfriend.

But…

On the other hand, his dad, and his recently acquired stepmom and stepbrother are also going. His dad. And the boy he wants more than anything to be his boyfriend.

Kurt is fairly certain that somewhere in the dictionary, under the definition of "cock block", his current situation is described for all to see.

XXXXXXXX

A/N: This totally evolved from my recent cruise over the holidays. I think I should feel ashamed—I was working on something far more angsty but then realized I love Klaine most because it means happiness for Kurt, and therefore my Klaine must be happy. And there were so many things about my cruise that kept throwing Klaine in my face (the a cappella group that performed on board, the elderly gay couple celebrating their 25th anniversary, the live band constantly performing "Teenage Dream") that I couldn't NOT begin to form the seeds for this fic in my mind. My apologies if it is totally ridic, too fluffy or just plain silly. (In my defense, I have not yet started the Pirate Klaine fic I want to write, so that's something…) Next chapter will be up tomorrow.