"...sure he could get the pick of anyone that wants him," the co-host of some entertainment show says, sounding confused.  "I just wonder who the lucky person will be to get what tons of people want."

"Id be happy to help him out," the other co-host, a guy several years older than him, says with a small laugh.

Blaine rolls his eyes and huffs.  He grabs the remote and hits the off button more forcefully than he needs to.  In no way in hell would he sleep with that guy.  He has no idea why he thought it would be a good thing to watch that.  He guessed it would have died down a bit by now.  But it doesnt seem that way.  Its still mainly talked about.

A quick look around his hotel room tells Blaine he needs to get out for a bit.  Hes been holed up inside with Kurt for the past few days.  Not since their visit to the bar has he gone anywhere.

Jumping out of bed, he goes to the bathroom.  A hot shower and change of clothes later, Blaine finds himself outside in the summer sun and fresh air.  Aviator sunglasses slipped on and perched on his nose, Blaine starts to walk down the sidewalk.  A couple of hours of doing nothing much but walking around shops is exactly what he needs to distract him.

After browsing through some stores, Blaine finds himself in an ice cream shop.  He thinks about how nice his outing out has been so far.  No one has yet to come up to him and say something he definitely doesnt want to hear today.  Its nice to go out and be left alone by people.

"Oh, my God!"

Blaine groans.  He already knows.  Knows its somebody whos recognized him.  Head turned to where the voice came from, Blaine finds a guy about his age standing a few feet away.  The guy is cute.  But Blaine can tell hes far from his type.

"Hi."  Blaine nods his head and smiles; sees as the guy comes closer to him.

"Im Gus."  Gus holds out his hand.

Blaine shakes Gus hand.

"Big fan."

"Thanks."  Blaine pulls his hand away when Gus wont let go.

"You know," Gus grins, a sparkle to his dark green eyes, "I said if I had the chance to run into you while you were still here, I would say this."

The smile on Blaines face drops.  "Say what?" he asks, weary of what is going to come out of the guys mouth next.

"I would happily forget I have a boyfriend to sleep with you."  Gus grins and Blaine feels a shiver run through him in a bad way.

"Really?"  Blaine says shocked, and appalled.  "In the middle of an ice cream shop?"

"What?"  Gus says, looking and sounding like he did nothing wrong.

"Do you really think I want a guy I dont know coming up to me and asking to sleep with me?"

"Just being nice."  Gus grins, obviously still not caring what he said and did.  "Trying to help."

"Help?"  Blaine barks out a small laugh, not believing this guy.  "Youre not helping anything.  Youre being inconsiderate and rude.  So, please, just...go back to your boyfriend."  Blaine turns on his heel and walks away.

Now agitated and annoyed, Blaine throws away his half-eaten ice cream cone after losing his appetite. He cant believe the nerve of that guy.  Or all the people saying theyll sleep with him, like hes some guy to just give it up to anyone that offers.  Not even a simple trip outside can go without someone bombarding him with offers of sex.

After stopping for some fans several minutes later, Blaine goes into a Barnes and Noble to get away from running into more fans.  But as he walks among the aisles of bookshelves, fingers running over spines of books as he passes them, he finds himself lonely.  Knowing theres only one person he wants to see, he pulls out his phone and calls Kurt.

"Hey, Kurt," Blaine greets him when he answers.

"Hey, Blaine," Kurt cheerfully replies.  "Where are you?  I went looking for you in your room, and you were gone."

"Im at the Barnes and Noble a few blocks over," Blaine answers.

"Doing what?"  Kurt asks with a low laugh.

"Nothing much.  Browsing.  I was, actually, casually walking down the sidewalk when I suddenly hear loud screams."

"Fans," Kurt says without having to ask.

"Yup.  After I signed autographs and took pictures, I wanted to be by myself for a bit.  I came in here and hid," Blaine explains.  "Now, Im bored sitting here alone."

"Poor, baby," Kurt jokes in an overdramatic endearing voice.

"Can you come over?"

"You sound like youre ten, again, and asking me to stay the night," Kurt teases, a small laugh falling from his lips.

"At least you dont have to ask your dad this time.  Will you come?"

"Of course I will.  Ill be there as soon as I can be."

"Alright."  Ending the call, Blaine grabs a random book from the shelf and sits down on the floor.

Aimlessly flipping through the pages of the book, seeing places from all over the world, Blaine welcomes the peace and quiet he gets as he sits there on the floor of the Barnes and Noble.  Unsuspecting people pass him by.  Of course, he sees no one under the age of twenty-five even come close to this section in the thirty minutes that he sits there.

Blaine breathes a deep sigh of relief when he sees Kurt turn the corner down the aisle of bookshelves hes hiding down.  A plastic, see through Starbucks coffee cup in his hand.  Blaine knows its for him; is his favorite drink.  Knows Kurt got it for him to try and cheer him up.

"So," Kurt sighs as he sits next to him, holding out the cup of coffee he bought Blaine.  "Hows life?"  A grin spreads across his face.

"Terrible," Blaine answers, sounding defeated.  Thats how hes been feeling more and more lately: defeated.  He feels defeated in life.  He needs to get out of everything for a while.  Out of the city to get out of his head.

"Hey," Kurt says, pulling Blaines attention back to where they are.  "Dont."

"Im sorry," Blaine apologizes.

"Dont apologize, either."  Kurt scoots closer to Blaine, wrapping an arm around him in a comforting embrace.  Blaine feels as he rests his chin on his shoulder; breath warm on his cheek when he talks.  "I hate seeing you so sad."

Blaine turns his head.  He stares into Kurts eyes a mixture of blue and green today; like an ocean.  "Im better that youre here, now."

Kurts beaming smile at him makes Blaines heart flutter in his chest.  He loves that so much.  Loves making Kurt that happy.

"You only say that because I bought you Starbucks," Kurt jokes.

"Sad but true."  Blaine lifts his cup and takes a drink, the chilled coffee sweet on his tongue.  "Its all youre good for to me: comfort and Starbucks."

"Ill remember that the next time youre asking me to endure a week of press with you."  Kurt laughs as he lays his head on Blaines shoulder.  "How was your trip out?"

"Good up until some guy offered to sleep with me."

"Again?"  Kurts voice carries a tone to it; an edge of sharpness.  Sounds like hes angered by what Blaine is being asked.

"Yeah."  Blaine nods his head.

"That sucks."

"Im so feed up with all this.  Its annoying and agitating.  You know," Blaine huffs.  "Sometimes I just want to get it over with.  I just want to fuck somebody so I can say I did.  So I can stop all these people from asking."

"But you wont, because I know you," Kurt tells him with a small laugh.  "I know you were being honest when you said you wanted it to matter.  For it to be with someone you care about."

"Youre right."

"Im always right."

Blaine chuckles when he sees Kurt preen a little.  "Obviously, you dont let it get to your head," he laughs.

Kurt just laughs and playfully jabs Blaine in his side.  "Blaine?" he says after a few moments.

"Yeah?"

"Why are we in the travel section?"  Kurt asks after getting a good look at the books in front of him.

"This is where I hid," Blaine says.  "Didnt really see where I was."

"And decided to read up on the best vacation spots?"  Kurt chuckles as he opens the book sitting in front of Blaine.

"I just grabbed a random book to read to blend in."

"Surprised you didnt grab a picture book that popped up when you opened it.  I know how much you love those," Kurt teases.

"Shut up."  Blaine grins as he playfully shoves Kurt.

"So," Kurt says as he takes the Starbucks cup from Blaines hand and takes a drink.  "What places does this book recommend?"

"The normal," Blaine answers.  "France.  Italy.  Europe."

"Remember when you took me to France with you for your last movie?"  Kurt flips through the pages of the book.

Blaine does remember.  Remembers one specific moment of that trip thats stayed with him for the past year and a half.  "Yeah."  He nods his head.  "You complained that you were going to get fat because of the food."

"Hey, I did gain, like, five pounds," Kurt says, patting his stomach for emphasis.  "But it was so worth it.  That was a great trip."

"Yeah," Blaine agrees.  "It was."

Blaine thinks about how much fun Kurt and he had on that trip to France.  And the other trips theyve been on.

A trip, Blaine thinks.  Thats what he needs.  A vacation away from it all.  A trip with Kurt to somewhere he can relax and have fun, and not worry about people talking about him.  Where he doesnt have to worry about crazy offers of sex from people he doesnt know.  A place where he can just be with his friend without any kind of distractions from the world.

"Lets get out of here, Kurt," Blaine says.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Seychelles."

Kurt lets out a small, happy laugh.  "I thought you were going to say the movies, or something.  What in the world is Seychelles?"

"Its a group of islands off the coast of Africa."  Blaine opens the closed book to the appropriate page and hands it off to Kurt.  "Theres a resort.  Beautiful.  Gorgeous.  Lets go."

Kurt looks at the pages that talk about the islands.  "It is gorgeous."

"So, do you want to go?"

"I dont know, Blaine," Kurt reluctantly says.  "Its expensive."

"Ill pay for you."

"Blaine," Kurt sighs.  "Im not a charity case.  I cant have you always doing this kind of stuff for me.  I cant have you wasting money on me."

"Its not wasting, Kurt.  I love doing this for you," Blaine argues.

"I know you do."  Kurt lets out a small sigh.  "I just dont want you to think you always have to pay for me."

"I have more than enough money for the both of us for many lifetimes over.  Let me spoil my best friend I love."  Blaine sees the corner of Kurts mouth twitch up in a small smile.  "And think of it as part graduation and part thank you gift for being with me during the press week."  Blaine takes Kurts hand and smiles.  "Come with me, Kurt.  Lets go away and have fun."

"I shouldnt-"

"You should," Blaine cuts him off.  He rests his forehead to Kurts, staring into his eyes.  "You should come with me, Kurt.  Lets disappear for a few days."

"Like we wanted to when we were seventeen?"  Kurt laughs.

Blaine smiles as he remembers that.  How Kurt tried to comfort him about being tired over all the fame and success that seemed to follow him everywhere.  He recalls being held by Kurt as they laid on his bed and saying he just wanted to disappear for some time with Kurt.  Kurt said they could go anywhere he wanted as long as he was with him.  In the end, disappearing was going to their treehouse they built when they were younger for a night.

"Yeah," Blaine laughs.  "Like when we were seventeen.  Only for real this time; and not escaping to our treehouse."

"That was still fun, though."

"Yeah, it was."

Silence washes over them as Blaine lets Kurt think his offer over.

"Okay," Kurt finally says after a few moments to break the silence.

"Okay?"  Blaine beams at him.

Kurt cant fight his smile.  "Okay, lets do it.  Lets go."

"You are the best!  I love you."  Blaine grabs Kurts face in excitement and gives him a quick kiss to his lips.  It creates a tingle he feels all the way down to his toes.  Before he does something he shouldnt, Blaine lets go of Kurt and pulls back to put some much needed space between them.

"I know Im the best."  Kurt smirks as he lifts an eyebrow.  "And I love you."

~

"I hate you, Blaine Anderson."  Theres no kind of honesty in Kurts voice when he directs that to Blaine a week later in a doctors office.

After knowing each other for fourteen years, Blaine has only seen Kurts dislike for needles grow with each year.  Thats why hes with him in the room as he gets the required shots to leave the country.

"Youll love me when we get there," Blaine replies.

"Will you at least hold my damn hand?!"  Kurt holds out his hand for Blaine.

Blaine happily slips his hand in Kurts.

"So, gentlemen," the doctor, Mr. Miller, as the blue stitching in his lab coat reads, and who looks to be in his sixties says, "where are we going?"

"Off the coast of Africa, then Africa," Blaine answers, excitement in his voice.

"Oh, my god!"  Kurt groans, turning to bury his face in Blaines chest when the doctor lifts the first syringe.

Blaine gently cups the back of Kurts head, softly stroking his thumb over his lower neck.  He gives him the comfort he seeks.  Tries to make him forget whats happening.

He watches as Dr. Miller wipes at the area of Kurts arm where hell be administering the shots.

"My granddaughter is a huge fan of yours," Dr. Miller says as he pushes the needle into Kurts arm and pushes the syringe down.

Blaine slightly grimaces when Kurt roughly squeezes his hand.  "Thats lovely to hear," he says as he fights through the pain Kurt is causing.  Probably more painful than what Kurts experiencing.  "Would you like me to sign something for her?"

"Would you?  That would be great!"  Dr. Miller exclaims as he sets the empty syringe down to pick up the other one.  "Last one," he announces.

Kurt groans again.

By the time theyre walking out of the doctors office, Kurts arm sporting two band-aids, and Dr. Miller now in possession of Blaines autograph for his granddaughter on one of his subscription papers, Blaine is ready to go back to his hotel room and lie down.  "How about a movie back at my room?" he suggests to Kurt, who grumpily rubs his arm in a soft, soothing way.

"Only if you get me the biggest cheeseburger with fries, and a strawberry milkshake," Kurt replies.

"Deal."  As they walk out of the building, Blaine groans at the swarm of fans and paparazzi waiting for him.  He never understands how they know where hell be.  But, he deals with it.  Smiles and waves; ignores the rude comments and questions asked of him.  Ones mainly about his sex life.  Ignores the fans offering to help him lose his virginity.  Embarrassment hits him hard as they shout that.  He wants to scream back at them that hes okay.  He most definitely doesnt need their help.  Instead, he keeps his mouth shut and just continues to smile and wave.

With Kurt walking in front of him and climbing into the back of the town car he is using for his stay here, Blaine climbs in after him.  Door shut behind him, he breathes.

"I seriously dont know how you do it every day," Kurt says as they start to drive off.

"I just do.  But its gotten worse with people yelling they want to sleep with me," Blaine adds.  "Not exactly something I want to hear."

"Im sorry."  Kurt reaches over takes Blaines hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Its not your fault," Blaine tells him.  "Besides, I wont have to deal with it for almost two weeks after Monday."

"By the way," Kurt says as he rests his head back on the seat.  "My dad says you need to stop by soon."

"You talked to him?"

"Yeah."  Kurt nods his head.  "This morning.  I wanted to talk to him before we left."

"Whatd he say?"

"Wanted to know why him and Carole werent invited."  Kurt lets out a small laugh.

Blaine laughs along with Kurt.  "Is he okay with me taking you half-way across the world?"

"He is."  Kurt lets out a soft sigh.  "He told me not to be stupid.  To be safe?"

"Safe?  From what?"

"Oh.  He...um..." Kurt lifts his head, sounding and looking flustered.  "He doesnt want me bitten by a snake, or eaten by a lion."

In Kurts eyes, Blaine can see theres something else Kurt is hiding; that hes not saying.  But, he doesnt push it.  Figures if its something Kurt wanted him to hear, he would have told him.  "Oh."  Blaine nods his head in understanding.  "I highly doubt a lion will eat you."

"Youre right.  Ill throw you at him to protect me and run the other way."  Kurt grins.

"Youre the greatest friend I could ever ask for," Blaine sarcastically replies with a fake cheeriness to his voice.

"I know," Kurt says, smile getting bigger as he sits up a bit straighter.  "Thats why youre taking me half-way across the world with you."

Blaine wraps his arm around Kurt when he scoots close into his side, resting his head on his shoulder.  "It is," he chuckles.

The next night, several hours from leaving, Blaine knocks on Kurts hotel room door.  When the door is swung open a few seconds later, a frantic looking Kurt stands in front of him.  Just behind him, he can make out a half-packed bag sitting open on the bed.  "Packing at the last minute. You never learn."  Blaine steps into the room when Kurt steps out of the way.

"Yes, I never learn.  You think I would," Kurt says as he folds a shirt and lays it on the other folded clothes already in the bag.  "Besides, its just this last bag, and Im finished."

"Need some help, then?"  Blaine grabs a pair of Kurts shorts and folds them.

"Yeah.  Thanks."

Fifteen minutes later, Kurts bags packed and ready, Blaine sits on the edge of his bed.  He laughs when Kurt flops facedown on the bed.  He hears him say something that is muffled by the bed.  "What was that?"

"I said," Kurt says as he turns his head.  "That I hate packing."

"I know you do."  Blaine places a hand at Kurts lower back and soothing rubs the spot.  "Now youre finished.  So, thats one less thing to worry about."

"Oh, that reminds me.  I almost completely forgot."  Kurt sits up and pushes off the bed to stand.  "I need to go buy a couple last things."

"Want me to go with you?"  Blaine stands up ready to go with Kurt.

"No."  Kurt shakes his head.  Blaine notices a blush begin to stain his cheeks.  "Thats okay.  Im literally going to be in and out."

"Okay," Blaine says, deciding not to question why Kurt would be blushing.  "I guess Ill see you in the morning."

After saying goodnight to Kurt, Blaine goes back to his room.

"Is this a smart idea, Blaine?"  Pam asks him as soon as hes in his room and the door.

"Its just a vacation, Pam," he replies with a small laugh.

"Yeah, with you and Kurt alone," she points out.

"Pam, nothings going to happen."  Of course, Blaine doesnt say he wishes something would.

"What about France?" she says.  "I know you didnt expect anything to happen then.  And look at that."

At the mention of France, Blaine feels a tingly sensation all over his body.  He wishes to be back to that night under the stars and standing on the balcony of the hotel with the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance.  "I...Nothings going to happen," Blaine slightly stammers.  "Trust me, Pam, this isnt going to be France."

"Just...Be careful, Blaine.  You were so heartbroken after France.  I know you love him, and I dont want to see your heart broken, again," she tells him as she moves to stand in front of him.  She places a comforting hand on Blaines shoulder.  "Be safe.  In every sense of the word."

"I will be, Pam," Blaine tells her.

"Im gonna go.  Ill see you when you get back.  Have fun."  Pam leans over and kisses Blaines cheek.

"I will.  See you later."

After Pam leaves, Blaine falls back in his bed and instantly falls asleep, and more than ready to leave the country with Kurt.

By the time theyre on the plane and taking off the next morning, Blaine is more than ready to leave the chaos of his life behind for almost two weeks.  "Ready to disappear with me?" he asks Kurt.

"Absolutely," Kurt replies with a grin.