Grandmas college graduation.

Lima, OH, Christmas 2038

"Kids, have I ever told you about the first Christmas your dad and I spent with grandma and grandpa?" Kurt asks fifteen-year-old Ella and thirteen year old Alex who sit on the couch across from him looking bored now that the storm knocked out the power and keeps them from playing video games and Skyping that boy as Kurt likes to call his daughters boyfriend.

Candles illuminate the Hudmel living room where the whole extended family moved to after the lights went out.

Their ten-year-old nephew Jake had unsuccessfully tried to entertain their two teens for the past fifteen minutes and so Kurt decides to give story-telling a shot before another argument breaks out.

"Seriously, Dad. I dont think theres a single story you havent told us," Ella replies, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

With her dark curls framing her face theres no hiding that shes Blaines while Alex looks like he had when he was that age.

"Im sure thats not true, Ella," Blaine butts in. "Your father and I dont talk about our past that much, right?"

To his chagrin, everyone currently in the living room bursts out laughing. Kurt huffs.

"Oh shut about. Im sure Ive never told you about, about, about your grandmas college graduation," he finally settles on when Carole joined them in the living room.

All three kids share a look.

"Was that … like in the sixties?" Alex asks, brows furrowed in confusion.

Kurt just shakes his head while Carole asks her grandchildren how old they think she is. Blaine squeezes his hand and Kurt snuggles up to his husband. Once he is sure he has everyones attention he starts his story.

"In May 2013, when your grandma graduated from college, your dad and I, well, lets say things werent going too well between us…"

May 2013

Kurt knew Carole had invited Blaine and he was certain things were bound to be awkward. Sure they texted from time to time, but they hadnt really talked since Kurt had packed his bags and moved to New York. When Julliard had turned out nothing like he thought it would, he had wanted to tell Blaine so badly, but his pride had stopped him. He couldnt admit what a mistake moving to the city of his dreams had been; couldnt confess that he regretted suggesting taking a break the second the words had left his mouth during their last fight in November.

Since his plane had arrived in Columbus the previous day, he had stopped himself more than once from driving by his old house where he assumed Blaine was staying while he was in town for Caroles graduation.

Fortunately, instead of taunting him with its Massachusetts licenses plates, his car was in the shop because his dad wanted to look it over before he drove it again. For the past few months, it had been parked behind his dads garage because there was no need for it in New York and he had no reason to drive places outside of the city. When Mercedes and he had met up his friend had come to the city, claiming she missed the rest of their little group. But Kurt knew it was because she knew that everything in Boston reminded him of Blaine.

So currently, because he was a coward and car-less, he was sitting in the Hudmel living room and watched mindless TV with Ethan and his parents newest charge Unique.

Uniques father had kicked her out when shed come out as transsexual a few months ago, but luckily she wouldnt need to stay with the Hudmels much longer, because her mother was in the process of divorcing her husband and getting full custody of Unique.

The young girl had attended McKinley the past year with Artie, Tina, Sugar and Sarah, but now that the rest of their old glee club was about to graduate and Ms. Corcoran had taken another job, Kurt was happy she had gotten into Carmel for her junior year and her mother was willing to move to Akron with her.

"Honey, you are fabulous, but not even you can rock the prematurely gone bald look. Stop fretting," Uniques voice brought him back to the present, unfortunately with one hand pulling his hair and the other in his mouth – a nail half chewed off already.

"I, just … Blaine," Kurt sighed, confident that the remaining members of New Direction had filled her in.

Unique raised an eyebrow.

"Carole said youre moving back to Boston after the summer. Tell him if you want him back."

Kurt sighed. Because things couldnt be this easy, right?

"But what if he has a new boyfriend and forgot all about me?" he whined.

"You think he wouldnt have told you?"

Kurt thought about it for a moment. He hadnt told Blaine about the two first dates hed been on, but he was pretty certain that Blaine would have told him if he was in a serious relationship and their break had become a permanent – were never going to fix it – break up.

Before he could reply, his dad came into the living room and told them they were leaving in ten minutes for their dinner reservations at Café LAmour.

It wasnt a place they usually went to, but Kurt knew why his dad wanted Carole to see the place. The restaurant in downtown Lima was closing at the end of the summer and if Carole liked the layout and location, his dad was going to help her get a loan so she could open her own business – like she had dreamed of.

All throughout dinner, he and his dad asked Carole questions about the place and while she maybe thought theyd gone crazy, at least she didnt suspect anything about his dads plans.

After dinner, Carole pulled him aside.

"Have you spoken to Blaine yet about Boston?" Kurt sighed.

"Not you as well."

"Youve been miserable these past few months and I prefer you being happy. I wouldnt have invited him if I didnt think there was a chance of you fixing things."

Kurt nodded. He knew that if he had asked her not to, she would have listened to him. But Carole was important to Blaine as well, so he would never have.

"Enough about me," he changed the subject. "Are you excited about tomorrow? Im so proud of you, Miss Associate of Applied Science," he told her with a smile on his face. Carole blushed.

"I guess I just needed a push in the right direction," she replied and he knew what she meant.

If he really wanted to make things right with Blaine, he had to swallow his pride and talk to him before he left again. At what point he had no idea because they hadnt texted enough for him to know about Blaines summer plans.

Soon, but not tomorrow he told himself. Tomorrow was Caroles big day.

The next morning the family piled into two cars. Finn, Ethan and Unique climbed into his Navigator while his dad drove Carole. Tala and Blaine were meeting them in Dayton.

When they arrived on campus, they quickly reserved a row of seats before Carole rushed off to get changed into her graduation robes. He was just about to sit down when a voice made him look up.

"Kurt, honey, its so good to see you."

Tala pulled him into a hug, but because he was quite a bit taller than her, he immediately spotted the figure behind her. Blaine had his hands buried in his pockets and was looking everywhere but in his direction.

His hair was longer, curls not gelled down and he looked like he hadnt shaved in a while. Kurt thought he looked gorgeous.

"Blaine," he whispered softly once Tala released him and the other boy finally looked at him.

The smile on his face was fake and Kurts heart clenched.

"How have you been?" he wondered hoping for a truthful answer.

He didnt know what to do. Should they hug? Shake hands? They were alone all of a sudden and he assumed the family was trying to give them some privacy.

"Good," Blaine replied. "Hows the big city treating you? Julliard all you dreamed of?"

Kurt winced and frowned because it almost sounded as if Blaine knew the truth anyway.

"Can we talk about it later," he pleaded and Blaine nodded once before he sat down on the chair the furthest away from Kurt.

Kurts shoulders slumped and he sat down next to Ethan who had suddenly re-materialized. The young boy patted his knee and Kurt have him a grateful smile.

"Are you okay?" the ten year old asked and Kurt nodded because he really didnt want Ethan do be dragged into what was going on with him and Blaine.

A few minutes later the rest of the family joined them and before long all the rows were filled with family members and friends of the graduates. They cheered loudly when Carole walked across the stage to receive her diploma and Kurt observed that she was actually one of the youngest graduates.

After the ceremony, Carole insisted on taking a ton of picture. Some of all of them, a few of just Kurt, Finn and Ethan, and just Carole and his dad. And before he could argue, Carole dragged him next to Blaine and pushed them together.

He felt Blaine stiffen next to him, but smiled brightly when Carole ordered them to.

"Youll thank me later," she told them once she was satisfied with the picture.

As soon as Blaine was out of sight, Kurt grabbed Caroles camera and flipped through the pictures until he reached the one of him and Blaine. They looked like nothing had happened between them; their faces close together and smiles on their faces. If he didnt know better he would think the two people in the picture were just as happy and in love as in the picture Blaine had given him for their first anniversary.

It made tears well up in his eyes and he excused himself for a moment. In the bathroom, he splashed cold water onto his face and took a few calming breaths.

Get a grip, he muttered but froze when the door opened behind him and he saw Blaine walk in through the mirror.

"I dont have to join you for lunch if it makes you uncomfortable," Blaine said, hands in his pockets again and shoulders slumped.

Kurt immediately shook his head and turned around.

"Dont go. Ive missed you," he admitted as he tried to keep the tears at bay.

Blaine stared at him for a moment before a small smile appeared on his face.

"Ive missed you too. And if you still want to talk – Im free tomorrow. My flight back leaves the day after tomorrow."

Kurt nodded. He was itching to find out why Blaine was going back to Rhode Island for the summer, but a college bathroom really wasnt the right place and the family was waiting for them.

They left the bathroom together, but as they walked next to one another, there was a distance between them Kurt was desperate to close. To withstand temptation he shoved his own hands into the pockets of his tight black jeans and hurried along next to Blaine.

Fortunately, no one said anything when they returned together and the families split up into three cars again. His dad had gotten a reservation for a nice restaurant in Dayton and they arrived there quickly because it wasnt far from campus.

Because of Caroles meddling, he and Blaine ended up next to each other again, but luckily Ethan sat on his other side and was all too happy to tell Kurt about everything that had happened in his life in the past few months while Blaine was talking to Finn on his other side.

After ordering drinks and entrees to share, his dad cleared his throat and Kurt sat up straighter.

"What did you think of Café LAmour, Carole?" he asked his wife, aiming for casual but not really succeeding.

"To be honest, the food wasnt that great. Probably explains why a place in such a great location was pretty much empty," she replied evenly.

The smile on his dads face got bigger.

"So what would you say about taking over. Opening your own place?" he asked.

"Burt? Whats going on?" Carole sounded confused but there was excitement in her voice as well.

"The restaurant is closing at the end of August so I talked to the owner of the building and told him we are interested in taking over the lease. I talked to the bank as well about a loan and as long as I co-sign it, it wouldnt be a problem."

Kurt waited with baited breath for Caroles answer. They were all aware that she wanted to do it on her own is she ever got the chance but this was an opportunity she shouldnt miss.

Sensing his wifes objections, his dad continued.

"I know youve been talking to Tala about it – about how you want to do it together – and just so you know, shes in."

Next to Carole, Tala nodded shyly.

"Ive been taking book-keeping classes, so wed really only need someone to help out in the kitchen. You and I can do the cooking and alternate as servers, just like we talked about," she added.

Everyone at the table was staring at Carole who seemed to mull everything over. Finally, a big smile appeared on her face.

"It looks like South-East Fusion is finally happening," she told Tala before she pulled her into a tight hug.

Kurt clapped his hands together excitedly.

"I have tons of ideas for redecorating the place. I just hope we get everything done before I move back to Boston in the fall."

The table suddenly went quiet and next to him, the sound of a fork hitting a plate, sounded twice as loud as it probably was.

Slowly, because he was afraid of what he would see on Blaines face, he turned around to face the other boy.

Blaine was staring at him, shock written across his face.

"I told you we had to talk," he tried to quip, but it came out more pleading than anything else.

He saw Blaine look over to his mom and Carole, big smiles on both their faces, before he looked back at Kurt and nodded once.

"Tomorrow."

Christmas 2038

"Wait! You and papa broke up in college?" Ella exclaims, looking shocked.

Alex and Jake look surprised as well because theyve never told the kids that they kind of broke up their first year of college.

"Well, yes. But not for long," Blaine replies while he glares at Kurt. Great story, Kurt reads in his glare.

"But how can it be your 30th anniversary next fall if you broke up?" his daughter huffs and glares at her dads, something Blaine insists she learned from him.

"Sweetie, your dad and I, weve been together for nearly thirty years. In the grand scheme of things, those six months really dont matter and when we got back together we decided to just pick up where we left off. It was more of a break than a real break up anyway," Blaine reassures the kids.

"So what happened?" Alex asks and Kurt shares a look with Blaine.

"You go first, honey," Kurt tells his husband. "So I can just fill in the rest later."

Blaine pulls him closer and Kurt rests his head on his husbands shoulder as he begins the story.

"In the fall of 2012 I was starting my first semester at Brown University while your dad was attending Berklee College of Music in Boston with your aunt Mercedes."