"I swear! I mean you think he could learn something about romance or manners. And that accent! My mother would have a fit if she heard him!" Kitty raved, letting her hand dangle slightly out of the open window.

"Ah. Your mother has something against accents, Katzchen?" Kurt queried, turning to her with a light smirk.

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Your accent is dignified, Kurt. Not so...so uncouth."

"Oh, ja, certainly." Spotting a truck pulling out from a parking spot, he slowed the car and turned on the blinker.

"I bet he doesn't even know what uncouth means," Kitty continued petulantly.

They pulled into the spot, the car wheezing happily as the engine finally stilled.

Kitty eyed the car speculatively as she stepped out. "You know, I'm sure you could afford a new car, Kurt. Why do you insist on driving this thing when everyone else we know has fancy little sports cars and motorcycles?"

Kurt patted the white Renault affectionately. "Don't listen to her, Mabel. I still love you. She's just jealous of us, nein?"

"Oh, I'm so jealous you talk to your car, Kurt. I can't even began to express the extent of my jealousy..." Her voice died off as she studied the bar in front of them. Nestled in the middle of a rather run down strand of stores, a neon rainbow glinted cheerfully over the door. A painted sign reading "The Rainbow Lounge" swung from a pole over the door, creaking slightly in the wind. She arched a curious eye at Kurt.

A fist of panic tightened vice like in Kurt's chest. Still, he managed a smile. "I thought we'd try somewhere new?" It sounded lame even to his ears.

"If this is your idea of somewhere new..." she mused softly. Nevertheless, she acquiesced into entering.

As they entered the dusky one-room establishment and headed for the bar, the bartender gave them a curious look. The look quickly switched to something mischievous. Focusing on Kitty, he leaned over the bar, a seductive smile curving his lips and purred. "What can I get you, sweetcheeks?"

Kitty stared at him. Hard. "Excuse me?"

"Beer, shot, quickie?" the bartender said as he brushed a lock of blond hair from his face, his expression never wavering. He leaned a little closer to the startled Kitty.

Kurt, who'd gone a deathly shade of pale, quickly intervened. "Ach, she'll have a Guiness. And a black and tan for me. Danke."

A toothy grin flashed his way and the other man laughed, turning to the taps. "Got it. You two new around here? Haven't seen you before. And I _know_ I would have noticed you before, cutie." This was turned on Kurt as the beers were served.

Kitty took the beers, still speechless in shock and made her way to a corner table. Kurt pulled out the necessary bills and handed them to the bartender as he replied. "Not new to the area. Just to the bar."

A pale eyebrow arched curiously. "Oh, don't tell me. You brought her here to come out, didn't you!" The man seemed delighted with his assertion.

Kurt blinked in surprise then flashed his own toothy grin. "Ja. That's it exactly."

The bartender snickered, wiping a dusting of ash up with his rag. "Well, good luck with it. You're not the first I've ever seen try it. If she throws a fit, feel free to talk to me about it later. I'm Simon."

"Danke, Simon. I'm Kurt."

They exchanged a polite handshake before Kurt turned and, taking a deep breath, wound his way through the mostly empty tables to where Kitty sat waiting.

She scowled darkly as he sat down. "What is his problem? I should report him to the manager for calling me that!"

"He seems nice enough," Kurt replied, taking a large gulp from his beer.

Kitty snorted, turning her attention to her own beer.

After a long moment of silence interspersed with drinking, she finally set her beer back down. "So, what did you want to talk about? And _why_ are we in a gay bar?"

Kurt was certain that he could hear a quick, ominous whistle of wind rush through the bar, stilling all other noise and activity. "At least she realizes it's a gay bar," he thought dimly.

His mouth opened slowly and he took in a quick gulp of breath before shutting it again and studying his beer.

"Kurt?" Now her voice was concerned. Kurt raised his eyes to look at her face.

"Kurt, what is it?"

The words tumbled out before he had a chance to process them mentally. They rushed out and hung in the air, huge and looming.

Kitty gaped at him, speechless. Finally finding some composure, she laughed nervously. "Excuse me?"

"He said he's gay. Queer. A faggot. He takes it up the a..."

"Simon!"

Simon smiled charmingly, depositing two fresh beers on the table - the delivery of those beers obviously the reason he'd come close enough to overhear and take part in the conversation. "On the house, you'll need it," he said, whistling cheerily as he walked off.

Kurt reached for his beer, thankful. With a shaky hand, he lifted the pint and chugged half. "Ach. What he said," he murmured when he was done, unable to raise his eyes to Kitty's.

Kitty didn't say anything. For almost a full minute. Then, stiffly, she stood up. "Take me home."

"Mein Gott," he breathed out, constricted. Then, just as stiffly, he fumbled the keys out of his pocket. He didn't rise, however.

"Take me home, Kurt. I want to go home. This is all just crazy…"

Whatever comforting phrase he'd been about to voice died at that word, that 'crazy.' With a sharp jerk, he pressed the keys into her palm. "Drive yourself then. I wouldn't want you to stay here with all of this craziness."

She wavered a moment, paused as if wanting to say something, then turned on her heel and left. Kurt heard the door creak open then shut. Outside, a car complained its way to life.

He cursed softly under his breath, smacking his fist into the table.

The room stayed silent, the other occupants' voices barely audible.

Kurt didn't even register when a man sat down across from him. "Told you you'd need those beers," a voice said, light yet sympathetic.

Eyes raised to take in Simon. The blond man smiled kindly and Kurt managed a little smile in reply. "Ach, well, it can't always go so well, can it?" he sighed.

Simon nudged the beer towards him. "I was dating a girl when I came out. She was my best friend, too. It took a while, but she's still my best friend. My parents were a different story…"

"How long did it take her to...handle things?" Kurt said, gratefully taking the beer.

"Almost two years."

A sigh pushed it's way out of his mouth and Kurt shook his head. "This is not what I need right now," he muttered under his breath.

Simon seemed to hear it, though, and he leaned forward companionably. "Why don't you tell me about it?"

Three hours and five more beers later, Kurt was still talking. Things had mostly digressed to mumbles of "Logan" and "love" and other such things, yet Simon sat through it all, diligently bobbing his head. Another bartender manned the bar now and the establishment was packed with men - men laughing and talking and drinking and leaning into each other.

Kurt stopped talking long enough to take it all in blearily. He watched a couple kiss and smiled fondly.

"You'll get there."

Kurt shook his head and sighed. "Nein...I don't think..."

"Oh, you will. From what you've told me about him, I think you will."

A noisy car rattled to silence outside and the door creaked open, a sound that had gotten increasingly common as the night progressed.

Kurt didn't respond, just smiled again, a sappy little smile.

Simon looked up suddenly and frowned. "Oh, really, can't you tell you're not welcome here?"

"I'm here to take my friend home," the woman's voice replied.

Kurt blinked at that voice and looked up. "Kitty?"

Her eyes looked bloodshot as though she'd been crying, yet she reached for him, hand wavering only slightly. "Yeah. It's me. What, you think I'd leave you here all night?" Her voice was deceptively light.

"I can get home myself, you know," he protested, eyeing her hand.

"Please, Kurt, let me take you home," she replied, letting her hand settle on his shoulder. Then, softer. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean crazy. I didn't. Just come home."

He wavered, looked up at her again. Crying openly now, a few tears slowly tracing down her cheekbones. She sniffed, wiping them away in obvious frustration. "Please, Kurt."

At that, he stood, wobbling slightly. He gave Simon an odd smile. "Ach...well, didn't take quite so long...as two years..."

Simon looked at the two, watched Kitty wrap a steadying arm around Kurt's waist. "No, it didn't. Some of us get lucky."

"Ja."

With that and a nod of goodbye, Kitty steered through the crowd and out into the chill night air.

Kurt drew in a deep gulp of it, tottering unsteadily against her.

"How many did you have?" She chided lightly, heading for the car.

"A lot," came his stiff reply.

"Didn't...Kurt, didn't you know I'd come back?" At that she stopped, turned so she could look at him fully.

He squinted, trying to make her image stay still. Then, he shook his head sadly. "I didn't know. You...weren't exactly...."

"Understanding," she finished for him. "I know, I know! It's just...oh, Kurt, I've known you for so long! Why didn't you tell me before!"

"Maybe...because I was dating...'manda?" He managed a little chuckle.

Kitty looked at him, dumbfounded, before laughing herself. She pulled him into a hug, holding on tight when he tottered again. "Oh, she'll have a fit when she hears; you know she will."

A rattle of a sigh echoed through Kurt's chest. "Ja...probably..." Another rattle of breath. "Danke, Kitty. ... for coming back."

Then, her arms tightened more and she buried her head against his shoulder. "I love you, Fuzzy. Don't you ever forget that. I wouldn't have left you, no matter what."

The tears stung his eyes and he quieted a sniff, leaning his head against the top of hers. "Just...just remind me of that...when I doubt, Katzchen. Okay?"

Pulling away, she looked at him, eyes wide and earnest. "Okay." She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

They stood there, both sniffling slightly and looking at each other. Kurt finally broke the silence. "Let's go home, ja?"

Kitty nodded quickly and steered them to the car.

She stood in the doorway after tucking him into bed, just watching. "Kurt..." she breathed out softly, sure that he was asleep.

A yellow eye opened to peer at her. "Ja, Katzchen?" he replied sleepily.

A smile, then she backed out. As she shut the door, she said, "Nothing, Fuzzy. Sweet dreams."

Then the door clicked and she stood there, shifting from one foot to the other. Her face was still conflicted, unsure. Yet, when she again murmured "sweet dreams" the sincerity in her voice was audible. A vocal promise of understanding, no matter how difficult that understanding might be.