"Order whatever you want, kiddo. I'm serious," Burt said, his hand laid gently on his son's shoulder as they sat at the bar.

"I don't know...a Tequila Sunrise? Amaretto Sour? I don't know what would taste good. Something sweet, I'm sure of that much," Kurt said to the bartender.

"How about a cassis and cream?" the woman asked, smiling at Kurt. He had just turned twenty-one and his dad was taking him out for his first drink. Well, the first one Burt knew about, anyway.

"Can I have..." Blaine started but got cut off by Burt.

"...a Virgin Mary or a Shirley Temple," Burt finished for him.

"Actually, just a club soda with cranberry and a twist of lime. Thank you," he said softly, his eyes avoiding Burt and looking at the bartender.

"I'll try the Cassis and cream then," Kurt agreed, finally making up his mind. "Ah...what is that?"

"Creme de Cassis is a liquor made from black currents," she told him.

Blaine touched Kurt's arm and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"Order a Frangelico and cream," he enthused.

"Oh, that's what I want! I love hazelnut," Kurt grinned, sneaking his hand over to lace his fingers in Blaine's hand. It was funny, Blaine was much shorter than Kurt but their hands were about the same size. Kurt smiled to himself. Those old wives' tales sometimes had their origin in fact. He was thinking dreamily of certain portions of Blaine's anatomy that showed that cliché to be true....

"Kurt!" Burt said sharply. "Where did you go? Thinking about all the things you have to look forward to now you're of legal age?"

"Besides drinking, what are you thinking about?" Kurt asked his dad.

"Oh, a mortgage, taxes, just little things like that," Burt grinned, bumping his son's shoulder before turning to the bartender to ask for a beer on tap.

"Dad, you know better than that," Kurt admonished, giving his father a disapproving look.

"Hey, I want to celebrate! This is the only time you're going to turn twenty-one and it deserves the right celebration!"

"He'll have a Bud Light then," Kurt said to the bartender. She looked over at Burt and he nodded. At least it was alcohol.

"So, how are we going to celebrate? The drink and then..?" Burt asked, grinning at Kurt.

"Dancing?" Kurt suggested.

Blaine got up and took Kurt's hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked very formally and when Kurt nodded, he led him to the dance floor. They started by moving together to the beat, Blaine's hands on Kurt's waist and Kurt's on Blaine's shoulders, but after that it got better. Kurt forgot his father was watching and was so close to Blaine's body, caressing his back and nestling his face into Blaine's neck as they moved in rhythm across the dance floor. It was hard for Burt to follow them, so many people dancing: young, old, straight, gay – a rainbow of couples all dancing and losing their inhibitions to the music pounding in their ears, vibrating in their bodies. Kurt was practically pasted to Blaine's body, sliding his legs close and turning Blaine in his arms they danced with Blaine's back to Kurt, his ass cupped in Kurt's lap -except they were standing up.

After the first song, the couple came back and Kurt drank his second Frangelico and cream, smiling at his father. Burt smiled back, wondering if he should leave so the two of them could dance some more. Burt could see Blaine trying to discreetly adjust his trousers to hide his excited state. Kurt came to his rescue, sliding a bit in front of him so Blaine's crotch was out of Burt's view. Burt rolled his eyes inside, thinking of the thousand other times Blaine had been in just this predicament. The man had no control over his body sometimes and tented jeans were common place. Well, to be fair, Kurt had the same issue. Burt smiled thinking about the loose-fitting pants of his generation that hid a multitude of ah...things.

Burt kept his eyes above the bar, just chatting about the dinner that night and Kurt leaned in to hear better.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Dad...Blaine has already invited me out but we could do it tomorrow. Our flight doesn't take off until eight tomorrow night. Would that be okay?" Kurt looked genuinely sorry.

"No problem, it was last minute anyway. Say, I'm going to get on home. I just wanted to be the one to buy you your first legal drink, kid. Happy Birthday. I'll leave the porch light on for you. Princess is fine, she can sleep in our room until you get home," Burt said this last comment to Blaine who smiled at him.

"Goodnight, Papa Burt," Blaine said, hugging Burt tightly for a second, leaning forward so as not to brush against him except for his arms. Burt hugged him back, a smirk on his face.

"Goodnight, Son, I'll see you and Kurt in the morning," Burt replied, hugging Kurt next and walking quickly through the crowd as he exited the bar, hiding his disappointment as well as he could.

"Shall we get back to dancing?" Blaine asked, then saw a tear in Kurt's eye. "Hey, what's this about?"

"I know he won't be around forever. And I want him to be," Kurt said, looking at the window. Kurt and Blaine watched as Burt wiped his eye, walking to his truck.

"Oh, Kurt....let's not go to dinner. Let's go home and have a family dinner with Burt and Carole and Finn. Okay? I think you'd like that much better than being with a bunch of strangers," Blaine suggested.

"You wouldn't mind?" Kurt asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Of course not. They're my family, too. Let's hurry before he takes off....we can ride back with him instead of catching a cab," Blaine said, grabbing Kurt's hand and running for the door.

"Dad! Wait!" Kurt and Blaine called as they left the bar. Burt turned his head, fingers on the door handle as he got ready to get into his truck.

"Hey, what did you forget?" Burt asked, hoping they couldn't see that he had shed a few tears.

"Nothing. We would rather just go and have dinner with the family, if that's still okay?" Kurt asked. Burt didn't trust himself to say anything, just nodded and stepped back to allow Kurt to enter first. Blaine went in next to sit in the middle and they made their way back home, laughing about the way Kurt appeared to be dizzy from his first drink.

"Okay, kid, now...how many drinks have you really had?...because I'm pretty sure that wasn't your first drink," Burt grinned at his son. Blaine looked straight ahead, trying – and failing – not to break his sober face, but the grin made its way to his mouth and soon they were all laughing and Kurt elbowed his boyfriend in his stomach when Burt wasn't looking.

"Maybe once or twice, at a party in New York," Kurt said. "But honestly, Dad, Blaine and I were the designated drivers for our friends. We really don't drink much."

"Good. Not a good habit to get into," Burt said in his dad voice. He knew it was too far past the time he could tell the boys what to do. They were men now, living in New York without him and he had to trust them to do the right thing. He smiled a sad smile, it was good they were growing up, but he knew it would never be the same as when they were kids. He hoped in his heart that he had done right by them. Both of them because Blaine was as much his son as Kurt in his heart.

"Carole made a great dinner, I hope you are in the mood for lasagna?" Burt asked, knowing it was both Kurt and Blaine's favorite meal.

~*~

Four months later

Blaine was sitting in his room. Scratch that – he was sitting in their room, but Kurt was gone. Carole had been taken to the hospital late one night when she fell. Her symptoms were strange: blurred vision leading to blindness in her right eye, an intense tingling in her hands, a funny electric shock sensation when she moved her head and she seemed unable to walk on her left foot. Burt had called the next morning and Kurt was gone by noon, hurrying home to console his father and help him get through whatever this was.

It hit Blaine hard. He had never had a warm mother until Carole had walked over to him the first day he knew her – and she hugged him like he was her long lost son. He was in love with her from then on. Carole was the kind of person that you didn't notice in a flamboyant way, she didn't call attention to herself or try to make you like her, no. She was just there, quietly loving you from the first moment, doing things that you didn't even know you needed until she'd already taken care of it. She listened. She never interrupted you, just waited until you had dumped your whole heart out to her, then she calmly helped you find your way back to yourself.

Blaine knew she could never take Elizabeth's place in Kurt or Burt's hearts, but she didn't need or want to do that. She made her own place in all of their hearts. Kurt would be devastated if something happened to Carole, and Blaine wanted to go home with him to take care of Kurt, to help in some way.

He sat on the bed, trying not to cry, hugging Princess. He knew he was part of the family, but in this case he had a test and a recital coming up the next week and it would be too detrimental on his grades to skip out on either of those. College was important and he needed to get through this. He knew it was the right decision, but then why did it feel so wrong? If it was serious, he could maybe come to Lima next weekend. In the mean time, it would be hard to be by himself, no matter how many times he told himself that he was a grown man and he could spend some time alone.

Even Sebastian had been gone – home to Ohio to visit his Aunt Pauline for a week. It was just too quiet in the apartment. He walked over to the stereo. Funny, he thought, how Kurt was so tuned in to the cutting edge of technology: always having to have the latest incarnation of a cell phone with all the bells and whistles, the GPS he'd begged for for his birthday, even though they lived in New York and went everywhere on the subway. But when it came to his music, he had a stereo that played vinyl, cassettes, and CDs. Blaine took a record from the shelf and took it out of the sleeve, very carefully setting it on the turntable and then he set the needle down lightly. The notes of "Let It Be" came out of the speakers and curled around him like his lover's arms.

Blaine grinned, thinking of the day he found a small store in Greenwich owned by a little old man that still sold vinyl records. It was an old second hand shop selling things like lava lamps and beaded curtains. Behind the counter the man sat in a chair and his goat...Blaine had to look twice to be sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him...his GOAT was standing there eating pieces of caramel the man was feeding her.

Blaine had called Kurt and met him for lunch at a nearby cafe, then strolled over to the store as if he were just browsing. He stationed himself at a counter so he could see Kurt's face when he came across the bins of old records. The sheer joy and awe in his face was worth anything. They each came home with an armload of records and stayed up all night playing one after another, dancing around Sebastian's large apartment and singing along to everything from Elvis and Deep Purple to Tom Jones and Credence Clearwater Revival, from Janis Joplin to The Beatles.

Blaine ate his dinner, listening to a few of Kurt's records. He fed and walked Princess, and tried not to call Kurt for an update. Kurt would call when he knew something.

After working on a school assignment for an hour, Blaine's cell rang. He heard the notes of When I Am With You and knew it was Kurt.

"Hello? How is Carole?"

"She's resting. I got Dad home and he's asleep on the sofa. I'm sorry, Babe, but I don't have any other news. Carole is stable, they are running tests, but nobody can give us an answer yet," Kurt's tired voice came over the phone. He was sitting on the blue tweed chair his mother used to sit on, his hands playing idly with things on the table beside him.

"Aww, I'm so sorry. Kurt, if you need me, I'll be on the next plane. Just one word from you and I'll be by your side – you know I will," Blaine said softly into the phone, wishing he could just click his heels and be transported home to Kurt.

"No, I'm taking care of Dad and you need to get your class work done. We'll revisit this on the weekend when you're past the recital and the test. I wish I was going to be there for your recital – I love Moonlight Sonata and you play it so beautifully. I'd say good luck, but you don't need luck when you're blessed with talent," Kurt said, wishing with all his might that he was home with Blaine instead of back in Lima at this hospital. There wasn't much in the world that Kurt actually hated, but sitting in the Lima Memorial Hospital was one of them. It brought back memories of his mother dying and his father's heart attack. He hated every old plastic chair and every odor and every hallway....he shook his head, tuning back in on Blaine.

"Your confidence in me is all that is going to pull me through it. I don't know how I can get past having to be here, worrying about Carole and Burt, missing you. Be sure to get enough sleep yourself, baby. I know you tend to forget about yourself when you're on a mission to help someone else. Call me if you need me. You know my heart is right there with you, don't you?" Blaine asked, trying not to let his voice crack. He thumbed through the sheets of music in his lap, looking for the piece he was working on for a class assignment.

"I know, Blaine, and knowing that is what is getting me through this. I ate a bowl of soup and I'm going to bed. I'll call as soon as I know anything, and I promise to call when I get up in the morning," Kurt said, twiddling the top of the candy dish sitting beside him on an end table. He sounded exhausted.

"Okay, take care of yourself. Call me even if its the middle of the night, I'm here for you. Always," Blaine said, tears threatening.

"I know. I love you," Kurt said, his own cheeks damp.

"Love you, too. Goodnight, baby," Blaine whispered and pushed the red button on the screen to end the call. He sighed and pulled out the page he needed for his homework. He was in no mood to work on the corrections for this fugue, but it was due on Wednesday and he had a lot to do tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Blaine had aced his test and turned in the fugue with all of the corrections to his music theory professor. He had practiced Moonlight Sonata until he couldn't possible do it again, had eaten a sandwich leaning over the sink and polished off a large glass of apple juice before he changed for bed. He wasn't sleepy and the anxiety of not knowing about Carole was wearing on him. He decided to read for a while to get sleepy and took a book at random off the shelf.

A few minutes later and he heard the tones of When I Am With You from the charger on his night table.

"Hey, Good Looking, how are you?" he said, trying to be upbeat. He heard Kurt take a breath.

"Hi, Blaine. I hope I'm not calling too late," Kurt's voice sounded worn out once again.

"Of course not. How are Burt and Carole?"

"We got the diagnosis. Are you up to hearing this?" Kurt asked. He didn't want to say the words, but Blaine had a right to hear them.

"What is it?" Blaine asked, sitting up and holding his stomach, the stress tightening his muscles and Princess jumped on the bed to shove her nose into his ribs gently, asking if he needed to hug her.

"Carole has Multiple Sclerosis," Kurt said, suddenly sounding very clinical as he described what the illness entailed. She would have to have physical therapy, there would be injections and pills. They would be able to treat the symptoms, but there was no cure. She had a fighting chance at a good life, but it would never be the same.

"Oh, Kurt. Why would this happen to someone who is as sweet and kind as Carole? She never hurt a soul. Life can be so unfair," Blaine said, upset with the whole universe at the moment. He needed to have Kurt here to hold him, but that was selfish. He could go to Kurt, but they had already discussed this and it wouldn't be possible until next week. Blaine threw the book he was reading across the room, smashing it on the wall and watching it fall to the ground.

"Blaine, Blaine! Are you okay?" Kurt's voice sounded alarmed. He must have heard the book hit the wall.

"I...ah...a book fell. Everything is okay," he said, not wanting his mood to make Kurt feel any worse than he already did. Kurt knew immediately what had happened. He'd seen Blaine throw books before, but he chose not to say anything.

"Blaine, is Princess there with you?" Kurt asked, concern growing in his chest. He couldn't have Blaine breaking down in New York when he was needed in Ohio. Kurt couldn't be in two places at once. "When is Sebastain due home?"

"Prin is right here beside me. She knows I'm upset and she's pasted to my side, so you don't need to worry. Sebastian is due home tonight sometime. I'm okay, Kurt. Take care of your Dad. Papa Burt is the one that needs you right now. I will look at airfare and try to book a flight on Monday. Are you okay, Kurt? I know how much you love Carole..." Blaine had to know if he was going to be alright. A recital wasn't worth it if Kurt needed him.

"I'm fine. It was a blow, but it isn't like she has cancer, this is treatable and she is being very positive."

"How long will she be in the hospital?"

"She's home now. Dad and I brought her home after lunch today. We had to go get her medications, the home health nurse came by. Oh, you'd have laughed – this girl was trying to tell Carole how to give an injection! I guess nobody told her Carole was a nurse. Carole gave us the sign to be quiet and patiently listened to this young nurse telling her all the things she would need to do. It was all Dad and I could do not to break out in gales of laughter as the nurse told Carole the importance of keeping the skin clean before injecting the needle," Kurt's voice sounded amused, and Blaine was glad for that. It made his heart feel lighter.

"I finally took pity on her and let the cat out of the bag. Carole glared at me, she was having fun," Kurt laughed again and Blaine's heart took an extra beat.

"I'm so happy she's in high spirits, Kurt. Maybe I can call her tomorrow?"

"Of course. I'm staying a few more days, we have to figure out the physical therapy and Dad is still a mess. I don't feel like I can leave him right now. However, if you need me?" Kurt left the question for Blaine to answer if he wanted.

"I'll be fine. I miss you terribly, but you know best. If Papa Burt needs you – that is where you need to be. Princess and I will keep the home fires burning," Blaine's voice petered out. He didn't know what else to say and there was a silence.

"I miss you, too, Blaine. I know this is best, but it hurts to know you're so far away. I think about you, especially at night. There's nobody to hold. I can hardly wait until I can get home, baby, and be in your arms again," Kurt said softly, wiping a tear from his tired eye. He was in bed, wearing his silk pajamas and cuddled under the covers with a stuffed dolphin Brittany had given him years ago. It wasn't Blaine, but it was big and fluffy and something to hold.

"Don't worry about me, Kurt. I'm not going to have an anxiety attack, Princess is looking out for me and Sebbie is due home late tonight. I'll call if I need you. Now, please take care of yourself and give Burt and Carole my love," Blaine said, wondering if it was true. He did feel close to panic if he let himself. He'd take his medication and hold Princess close. He had his therapists' number just in case.

"I will, goodnight, baby. I love you," Kurt whispered, afraid Blaine would hear the sadness in his voice.

"I love you, too. We'll see each other soon," Blaine whispered back. He closed his eyes and imagined Kurt was there with him, his eyes sparkling and his mouth smiling into a kiss. He missed Kurt.

Blaine tried in vain to go to sleep. He would doze off for a few minutes, then jerk awake, searching for Kurt on his side of the bed before remembering that Kurt was in Ohio. He finally sat up and listened to the rain fall on the roof. Sebastian's aunt owned the penthouse apartment in this building – well, actually she owned the entire building, but this was her private apartment. Blaine and Kurt had lived here two years now, sharing with Sebbie so they could go to school in New York. It was a nice place, probably worth six figures a month if they were paying rent. One of the things Blaine liked best – and there were a long list of them – was that he could hear the rain. He wondered if it was raining in Ohio.

Blaine had a belly ache. Not the kind that could be alleviated with toast or a dose of Maalox. No, this was an ache he had when his nerves had been rubbed raw and the muscles in his neck were so tight they hurt to move his head, it was the kind of ache that left spasms running down his back. This wasn't a real stomach ailment, it was a craving in his heart for the only person he could never live without. Kurt. And it could never be relieved by anything but Kurt's own warm embrace.

Blaine sat up in bed, his arms wrapped tightly around his legs, resting his sore head on his aching knees. He didn't even realize he was crying until a knock came to his door.

He just sat there, watching Princess chase rabbits in her sleep as she stretched her long body in front of the fireplace.

The knock came again, then Sebastian let himself into the room, walking over to Blaine's bed. He was dressed in dark maroon pajamas and had a quilted smoking jacket on, tied at the waist.

"Hey, Blaine. Kurt called me. He seemed worried and I came in to check on you," Sebbie said, taking Blaine's hand and giving him a soft squeeze.

"I'm okay, just having a hard time sleeping. My stomach aches," he whined, regretting it instantly. If Seb reported that back to Kurt, then it would just increase his worries. "Just...don't tell Kurt. He has enough to worry about right now," Blaine said, letting go of his legs and lying back on the bed, but not letting go of Seb's hand.

"Yeah, he told me about Carole. Tough break, she's a wonderful person. I hope she gets well soon," Seb said, now patting Blaine's hand with his other one. "Can I get you anything?"

"No. I had a can of soup for dinner. I'm not hungry," Blaine said, not looking at Seb.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Seb said and disappeared from the room. In his wake, Princess jumped on the bed to cuddle against Blaine.

A short time later, Seb was back, a tray in his hands. He set it down on the bedside table and poured the steaming tea into Blaine's cup, then his own. Blaine sat up and took the tea, adding sugar and tasting it.

"Mmmm. Thank you, Sebbie, this is perfect. What kind is it?"

"Kurt's recipe. It's chamomile and Earl Gray with a bit of peppermint. He gave it to me to take to Trent a while ago and I had some still in the tin. I added the bourbon," Seb grinned.

"What?" Blaine turned quickly only to see that Seb was kidding.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. I know you don't drink. So, I was going to take Princess out for you if you'd like. I made you some buttered toast – black rye, your favorite," Seb smiled, raising his eyebrow to ask if this would be alright.

"Sure. I was going to, but I was procrastinating."

"I'll just slip on some shoes and we'll be right back," Seb said, leaving Blaine to his toast and tea.

It was a half an hour later before the two got back, Princess wagging her tail and looking very proud of herself. Seb looked exasperated.

"Since when does she feel a need to chase squirrels at midnight?" Seb complained, but gave her a scratch behind her silky red ears.

Blaine smiled, but it faded fast.

"Blaine, don't take this wrong...but do you want me to sleep in here with you tonight?" Seb asked.

Blaine looked at his face very carefully...and what he found must have been what he was looking for because he looked relieved and scooted over.

"Yeah..." he said in a hesitant voice.

Seb took off his coat and shoes. He was still in his pajamas and slipped in the bed beside his friend. Blaine turned towards the wall and Seb moved close, wrapping his arms around Blaine to hold him as he cried.

"Aw, Blaine. Kurt will be home soon. Is that what's gotten you so upset?" Seb asked.

"Well, that and Carole. She is so special to me. I mean...well, I have had Papa Burt for years, he's more like my dad than my own dad ever was. I have a better relationship with my own dad now – which is thanks to Burt, too. But I have never gotten to the place where my mother was a real mother to me. She was an authority figure that just wanted to dump me on poor Cooper ...or your mother....and it just never got better. Then Carole came along and suddenly it was as if I had a mother," Blaine tried to explain.

"I understand, buddy. I've had some of that myself. If it wasn't for Aunt Pauline...well, you know. The parents are still in France, but my home is here. Listen, Kurt told me about Carole and he said the doctors were optimistic. Let's not borrow trouble, okay? I bet she'll be just fine," Sebbie tried to encourage Blaine. It must have had some effect because Blaine's muscles were relaxing a bit.

"Thanks, Seb. It's so sweet of you to come and take care of me, but I'm kind of worried about what Kurt will say if I tell him you spent the night in our bed," Blaine said, worried he might offend Seb.

"No problem," Seb answered. He reached over to the night table for his cell phone and dialed Kurt's number. A sleepy voice answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Kurt."

"Seb? What's wrong? Is it Blaine?" a panicked voice came through.

"It's okay, Kurt, I just wanted to tell you...well, ask you something. I'm in your room with Blaine," Seb said.

"Okay...why?" Kurt's suspicious voice came through.

"I'm putting this on speaker. (static)..There. Anyway, I found him once again sitting up in bed, knees to chin with a belly ache and tears dripping down his pretty face. I made him some tea and toast, but he just looks lost," Seb started to say, but Blaine interrupted.

"I'm fine. Listen, Kurt, you have enough to worry about. I just ate something that didn't agree with me. Go back to sleep," Blaine tried to say, but Kurt cut him off.

"You're missing me that much, baby?" he asked and Blaine couldn't help but choke up.

"You are where you need to be, my love. I have Prin and I can call my therapist if I get bad. Right now I'm okay."

"Kurt, Blaine needs somebody here with him. We all agree your place is there with your dad. I PROMISE there will be no fooling around or whatever your imagination comes up with...you can trust me. But Blaine needs to not be alone right now. What do you want me to do? I can call Rachel to come sleep with him?" Seb suggested.

"No, Sebbie. Please take care of him. For me. I talked to Dad and it looks like I can come home on Tuesday. I love you, Blaine. Let Sebbie take care of you until I get there, baby. Are you okay with all of this?" Kurt's voice came through the speaker and it was like warm arms surrounding him again.

"Yes, Kurt. I will be strong for you. Thank you," he said, sleepy from his anti-anxiety medication. "I love you, too, Kurt...I'll show you how much when I see you again."

Sebastian took the phone into the hallway.

"Okay, speaker is off, it's just me. I will stay in here and just hold him until he falls asleep, then go back to my room. I think he's okay, Kurt, just a bit of his anxiety, but I don't see him getting bad enough to call the doctor or anything. Take care of yourself, buddy. I'll be praying for you and for your folks. Call if you need anything," Seb said.

"Thanks, Seb. I'm trusting you with the love of my life, you know. Please take care of him, he means everything to me," Kurt sounded like he was going to start crying.

"Maybe it was a bad idea to call you so late...but Blaine was looking bad and he wasn't going to let me near him without getting your permission. What's that about?" Seb asked.

"It's not what you think...we don't do sub/dom games or anything," Kurt said and Sebastian laughed.

"No, he is still trying to learn how to trust people after Trent and the other incident. He doesn't trust himself to make a logical, safe decision. He leans on me for that, and we're working to move that trust back to himself, it just takes a while. So, no, it wasn't that he didn't trust you, Seb, its that he can't trust himself," Kurt explained. He wouldn't have said anything about Blaine's private affairs, but Blaine had told him it was okay to tell Seb things if they came up.

"Okay. Yeah, I understand. I guess I am glad I called. Now, you need to get some sleep and so do I. I'll get back in there and get Blaine to calm down and fall off to sleep, then I'm going back to my room."

"Goodnight, Seb, and thank you so much. You're a lifesaver. I can rest easy knowing you're taking care of everything there in New York," Kurt said, yawning. "Bye."

"Goodnight, Kurt."

Sebbie closed his eyes and thought about Blaine. He'd wanted Blaine since they were adolescent children, wanted him with a pulling of his heart, with a craving that was never truly quiet. That craving hadn't diminished over the years, he still wanted him. It was only different now because he knew he could never have him. He belonged to Kurt, body and soul, and the pain of that was not as sharp as it once was. He could see - -hell, a blind man could see – how much they loved each other. Sebastian could never come between them and he found to his astonishment that he didn't want to.

The old Sebastian wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of this situation – he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he could have Blaine, if only for one night. But in his heart, Sebastian also knew that to take Blaine's when he was this vulnerable, to take his body, would mean to take his soul and Sebastian loved Blaine far more than that.

No, after what life had dealt out to Blaine, Seb couldn't push him over the edge. He sighed, glad he wasn't hard since that was what usually happened when he thought of Blaine in bed. Seb took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and walked calmly back into the bedroom.

"You're okay with this?" Seb asked.

"Yeah, I just need somebody to hold me for a while. Thank you, Sebbie," Blaine said, drowsy and warm in the bed. He moved over to make space for Seb on Kurt's side of the bed and sighed in contentment when Seb's arms wrapped around him.

"Good night, sweet prince," Seb whispered, almost to himself, closing his own eyes and willing himself to just be there and enjoy the warmth. He even resisted giving Blaine a soft kiss on his shoulder, that was not okay. He filled his mind with thoughts of his days when they were children and played in the meadow behind the barn down the road. He was asleep in minutes.

~*~

Morning came and Blaine woke up, so happy Kurt was back in his arms. He squeezed his lover, who was lying with his face to the wall and the blankets up over his face. Blaine was lying diagonally across the bed, his arms around Kurt's shoulders and his head resting on his back.

"Just let yourself out, darlin', I'll try to call you..." the man mumbled. In someone else's voice. Blaine jumped a mile, grabbing the top blanket to cover his pajama-clad body before looking to see who was in the bed with him.

"Sebastian?" he said, the night before coming back to him in bits and pieces.

"Hmmm?"

"Oh, hey...Seb. I guess I forgot you were here last night. Sorry, the medication makes me emotional," Blaine said, blushing to think how he might have been carrying on.

"No problem. I was going back to my own room as soon as you were asleep, Blaine, but you never told me you were such a cuddle whore!! I could hardly move the way you were gripping me whenever I so much as twitched," he related to Blaine, fixing him with an accusatory stare.

"I guess I am a bit..ah...grabby? Sorry. Thank you for staying with me last night. I know I'll be fine as soon as Kurt is home, but I needed to get eight hours of sleep – I have the recital today," Blaine explained. He leaned over the side of the bed to pet Princess, who was wagging her long tail and hitting Sebastian's leg with every stroke.

"Damn, she could rip flesh from bones with that tail!" Seb kidded, rubbing his skin. "Do I need to do anything to get you ready for the recital?"

"No, I have to limber up my fingers and practice the middle passage of the piece and that requires concentration," Blaine said, waiting for Seb to leave the room before removing his pajamas.

"Okay, Blaine. I'm glad you're feeling better," Seb said, a smile lurking on his face when he could see how much better Blaine seemed today.

"Sebbie? Ah...thank you," Blaine blushed and walked over to his friend, wrapping him in his arms for a quick hug. "It meant a lot to me."

"Me, too," Sebastian whispered to himself as he left the room.

~*~

Blaine was wearing a tux, very formal in some aspects, except that it was made of dark blue, green, and gray plaid fabric – a friend of Kurt's had loaned it to him from one of the large fashion houses in New York. He had put on a crisp white shirt and wore a black satin bow-tie. He was trying so hard not to be nervous, but he knew there were scouts in the audience, bigwigs from record companies, a lot of important people. He needed to loosen up a bit, so he called Princess over to him. She sat next to his chair.

"Hey, girl. You can wait in the audience with Sebbie, if he gets here in time. I'm next," Blaine said to the dog. He grinned as he blushed when a blonde woman frowned at him as she walked by backstage. A note on the piano sounded to warn Blaine to get ready.

He walked to the piano, Princess walking by his side. There was a bit of everyone in this audience, and Blaine liked that. It was easier to please a crowd of people if they are diverse he had always thought.

"Let's go, girl," Blaine said and Princess laid down next to the piano, her eyes on Blaine. She didn't understand what was happening. At least she was used to the music -she accompanied Blaine to college every day – but the crowd had confused her and she could sense that her master was nervous. She was only a dog, but she knew something was wrong when Kurt was not with them.

The curtain opened and, after being announced, Blaine's fingers flew over the keys playing Moonlight Sonata. It was Kurt's favorite classical piece and Blaine played it perfectly and with gusto and ease.

Blaine knew what notes to touch and what order to play them in; he knew the right pressure and rhythm. What he needed to make the music right was the spirit and he had chosen this sonata because it was Kurt's favorite. He could never hear it without his thoughts turning to the day he and Kurt had danced to this, chests together and cheeks touching. It was the first day that Blaine had realized he was in love with Kurt. Not just friends, not even best friends, but in love. It was just before he had realized for the first time that he was undeniably gay. The day he knew without a doubt that he wanted a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend.

"Hey, you know the dance coming up at school?" Blaine had mentioned.

"Yeah, on Friday. What about it? We can go with Rachel, she told me she'd go with both of us as her 'escorts'," Kurt laughed and smiled at Blaine who smiled back. Rachel was so cute and had the ability to make uncomfortable moments at school seem silly and fun. She could be a tiger in defending her boys from bullies.

"I'd love that but...I don't know how to dance. The announcement said we would be doing some waltzes and other kinds, but I don't have a clue. I bet there won't be any rock, you know how Miss Simpson is about that 'dangerous music'." Blaine frowned.

"Oh, I can teach you how to do a waltz. Two-step or box?" Kurt asked, his face bright and his eyes sparkling.

"Ah...either. Whatever is easier. When did you learn to waltz?" Blaine asked. He knew Cooper knew how to dance because he'd been sent to dance school, but by the time Blaine showed up his parents had lost interest.

"My mom," Kurt said, that melancholy look on his face for an instant before he smiled at Blaine. "She taught me and we would put on her favorite music and waltz together. I was too short, but she made it seem okay. I danced with her that last week, you know. Dad brought her record player to the hospital and we took turns waltzing with her when she felt able to stand. I'm pretty sure Dad was just carrying her a the last," Kurt told his pal, his eyes looking off into the distance and Blaine knew he was seeing his mother.

The curly-headed boy leaned forward a tiny bit and slowly put his skinny arms around his friend's shoulders. Kurt shook his head and realized it was Blaine hugging him. He hugged back, laying his head on Blaine's shoulder and not crying. It was Blaine that showed him that he could think about his mother and know it was good to remember her. He didn't need to cry any more at thoughts of her. He tightened his hug, burying his nose in Blaine's neck and holding for a full two minutes.

Then Kurt took Blaine to the attic and found the portable record player and the records, placing his mother's favorite "Moonlight Sonata" on the turntable and playing the music, showing Blaine where to place his hands if he were leading, then how to step and where to place his feet.

They spent the rest of the afternoon waltzing, holding each other while the strains of Beethoven wove themselves through the crisp fall afternoon. It would always be one of Blaine's favorite memories.

Even the first few bars of Moonlight would have Blaine catching his breath, no matter where he was or what he was doing. It had become his favorite piece of music.

He finished with a flourish and stood, petting Princess when she got up and joined him. The crowd went wild clapping and a few whistled. Blaine bowed and left the stage, Princess following at heel. The clapping would not stop and the master of ceremonies asked Blaine to step back out and perhaps play something else – after a moment of thought he knew the exact piece of music Kurt loved.

As he sat back down at the keyboard, his eyes gazed over the crowd. He thought he saw something in the wings behind him backstage, but dismissed it. He had to concentrate on what he knew by heart. He finally decided on a piece of Vivaldi's 'Seasons"...he played "Spring" with all the playfulness this brought to his imagination.

It was a hit with this crowd and they all seemed to pay close attention. Roars of approval and much clapping followed as he finished. Blaine stood up and bowed, a surprised smile on his face and Princess by his side. Sebastian was waiting backstage in the wings and gave him a pat on the back.

"That was amazing, Blainers," he said, grinning.

"Thank you. I just wish Kurt could have been here to see it," Blaine commented.

"He did, buddy. He saw it all," Seb told his friend, then stepped aside to show the laptop sitting open on the table in the stage wings.

"Oh, Blaine...that was so beautiful. I wish I could have been there in person. Seb, thank you. It was a marvelous idea," Kurt said from his dining table in Lima, sitting in front of his computer. He sent a quick thanks to whomever invented Skype.

"Kurt! I'm so happy you were here...well, not here, but...you know. It's over with and I'm so happy. Now I can come to you in Ohio," Blaine gushed, so glad the time of being without Kurt was over.

"No, baby...that wouldn't make sense. I'm coming home on Tuesday, today is Saturday so it's just a short time. Go to lunch with Sebbie, then go home and take a long, hot bath. I'll be home to you quickly. I promise," Kurt said, his eyes red but a smile on his beautiful lips.

"Okay. I will be counting the minutes," Blaine answered, his eyes never leaving Kurt's on the screen.

"Okay, time to go. I'll take him to that cafe you two love in Greenwich, okay, Kurt?" Seb asked and Kurt smiled.

"Perfect. Have a grilled cheese, it's the best. They put paper thin slices of tomato and prosciutto on the cheese before grilling it. Oh, and they use havarti cheese. Its to die for!" Kurt enthused.

"Sounds wonderful. Just the right touch for a cool fall day. Ready, Blaine?" Seb asked.

"In a minute, I want to change out of the tux first. Love you, Kurt," he said, touching the screen.

"Love you, too, Blaine. I'll be home before you know it. Thanks, Seb," Kurt said before signing off.

Lunch was great. Except Blaine missed Kurt. He had a monte cristo...the ham was Black Forest and the cheese was Emmental, dipped in egg batter and fried to golden perfection. It was Blaine's guilty pleasure. There was the traditional dusting of powdered sugar over all. Seb took Kurt's advice and got the grilled cheese with tomato and prosciutto. They both opted for the soup of the day – beef barley – thick and spicy and heartwarming. The food was heavenly, but all Blaine could think about was that Kurt would be home on Tuesday.

It was appropriate that Kurt would be home on a Tuesday, Blaine loved Tuesdays. He was born on a Tuesday. Kurt was born on a Tuesday. He met Kurt and fell in love on Tuesdays. Maybe he and Kurt could get married on a Tuesday? Oh...maybe he would propose to Kurt on that wonderful day of the week.

"Hey, where are you?" Seb asked after Blaine had sat there, eating and looking off into the distance. Seb had fed Princess two bread crusts and Blaine didn't even scold him, so he knew his friend's mind was off somewhere. It wasn't hard to guess where.

"Oh, sorry, Sebbie. I had meant to ask you, how is Auntie Pauline?"

"She's doing fine. Her eyesight isn't what it used to be, so she told me she couldn't play cards with her friends any more. I found some with larger numbers on them so she could see them," Seb related, dipping the last crust of his sandwich in the thick soup and popping it into his mouth.

"That was nice of you, did she appreciate them?" Blaine asked.

"She invited her cronies over for tea and a game of bid whist that afternoon. I was sitting in the kitchen reading the paper and distinctly heard her say something about drawing to an inside straight. I'm pretty sure that isn't something you do in a game of bid whist," Seb grinned, thinking about how his auntie performed this elaborate ruse... she wanted to fit in with her upperclass friends, but she had been born in the Bowery of New York and it took grim determination and a lucky marriage to bring her into society. Seb loved to watch "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" because it reminded him so much of his Auntie Pauline.

"She's a character all right," Blaine agreed. He liked Seb's auntie.

"Shall we?" Blaine asked when they were done and the bill paid. He slipped some cash under the side of his plate and stood to leave. Seb walked back from the men's room and reached for his jacket, but Blaine got there first and helped him on with the jacket. They opted to walk in the early autumn sunshine for a few locks before entering a subway station and going back home.

"Thanks, Seb, for distracting me from missing Kurt. I know I can be alone in my head, but...I don't know what takes over in my head, especially at night. I know there is nothing to panic about, but I can't stop it. My stars, if it wasn't for you and Princess here....I don't know what I would have done. You're a good friend, Sebbie."

"Thanks, Blaine, but it isn't anything special, anyone would have done the same. I guess Carole is going to be alright?" Seb asked, embarrassed that Blaine was thanking him for something he would have fought for the chance to do.

"Kurt tells me she will be. She has a 'medium' case. Some people don't show many symptoms, some show debilitating symptoms from the first. MS is still a mystery to the medical community. They can treat the symptoms, they can give her medications that will slow the rate of progression, they can give her physical therapy. But there is no cure. Kurt says his dad is worse than Carole, he's smothering her and Kurt has to tell him to back off and let her come to terms with it in her own way. He seems very agitated, but I'm sure Carole will settle them both down," Blaine explained and Seb smiled. He liked Carole, too, and had no doubt she would be in charge of the house and Burt again in a matter of days.

They grew silent, standing for a while before seats were available on the subway. They got off and changed trains, then rode to the station before their apartment to give themselves a few minutes to pick up groceries for when Kurt came home.

Laughing at the antics of the toddler down the street who always asked Blaine where his guitar was, Seb and Blaine walked into the apartment. Seb to his room to work on a long procrastinated paper he was writing for school and Blaine to put away the groceries. Blaine turned on the radio and could hear Seb singing along with the song as he began to prepare dinner. He was making tamale pie and it took several stages, so he thought he would start now and work on his essay in between.

They spent a quiet night, eating the dish Blaine made covered with chopped olives and sour cream. Afterwards they both ate ice cream – it was butter brickle because Kurt hated it so they took advantage of his absence to splurge.

After getting ready for bed, Blaine was in the kitchen getting an aspirin. He had a vague headache and thought if he just took a few aspirin he could stave off the huge one that was waiting in the wings to cripple him. He knew it was stress, but he hated the muscle relaxants the doctor prescribed because they made him drowsy.

"Blaine?" Seb came in from his room, decked out in his maroon pajamas and black quilted smoking jacket. Blaine was wearing Kurt's silk pajamas, the legs and arms rolled up a bit to fit him as if he had borrowed them from a much older brother. They just...reminded him of Kurt and made him feel less lonely.

"Yeah, I just wanted something to drink. You up for a reason?" Blaine asked.

"Just to check that the door was locked and you were okay," Seb answered.

"I think the lock is fine. Remember we made sure after walking Princess?" Blaine addressed the first question.

Seb looked at him, a brow raised in question.

"I'm fine. I don't need a damn babysitter. What, did Daddy Kurt call to be sure you gave me my bottle and burped me?" Blaine snapped at Seb.

"You know that isn't true in the least, Blaine Devon Anderson. I was just checking because I care about you. I know you're getting better. You know you're getting better. Kurt knows you're getting better. Hell, Princess knows you're getting better. Blaine, getting better is not the same as being well. I won't beat around the bush. You are a hundred times better than you were even two years ago, but the truth is that you need Kurt like you need air to breathe. He and I both know it and you cannot convince me that you are unaware of it. It doesn't mean you need a babysitter, but it does mean that as your friend I have a right to make sure you are doing well. So, as aggravating as it is, I am going to check on you until your love returns. Get used to it," Sebbie told him firmly, waiting for Blaine to just go ballistic. But instead, Blaine gave him a warm smile.

"Okay, I get it. Thank you, Seb. And if you aren't busy...can you just hold me for a little while so I can get to sleep?"

"Sure thing. Let's get to bed," Seb agreed. He stayed with Blaine, combing his fingers through the silky curls until Blaine fell asleep, then making his way back to his room. He wished Kurt would hurry up and get home. This was jangling his nerves to have to be so near to Blaine and never be able to touch him in the way he wanted to. Seb sighed and opened his phone book to a random page and dialed.

"Hey, Rudy. Yes, its Seb, what are you doing tonight? Cool, want to come by for a glass of wine, maybe watch a movie or play some chess?"

~*~

Blaine had a hard day. He was late for class, thought he had forgotten his extra folder on the subway and walked almost all the way back to the station before he realized it was in a different pocket of his backpack. His professor of music theory had a different opinion on the critique of the fugue and he'd argued with her – a thing he never did – until he was so upset that Princess had gotten up on her hind legs and pushed her feet into his chest. He sat down abruptly and listened to the dog, knowing she knew best. He was still embarrassed in spite of this happening in the professor's office instead of the open campus, but he quietly apologized and left abruptly with his dog to go sit in the sun and calm down.

A few minutes of Princess snuggling with him on the grass under the oak tree and he was seeing life a little less burdensome. After all, Kurt would be home tomorrow. Blaine decided to skip his last class – he'd already done the assignment and turned it in last Friday – he called Princess to his side, setting off for the subway station. Part way there, he changed his mind and they walked to the park, Princess frisking around him like a puppy as he threw a stick for her. They played until both were tired beyond measure, so they lay down in the grass and let the sunshine warm them.

Studying his dog in the fierce sun of early autumn, Blaine thought he could see she was getting a few white hairs on her face. He's had her since he was fifteen which made her six years old. He had read about Irish Setters and knew they were among the longest lived of all dogs, sometimes living into their twenties. He could not imagine a day when Princess wouldn't be at his side. She turned over so he would rub her belly, just like when she was a puppy as if to dispel any thoughts he might have that she was getting old. He nuzzled her neck for a moment, burying his face in her silky red fur. She was the best friend, besides Kurt of course, a guy could ever have. He often wondered at the miracle of her, of how Papa Burt had known how much he would need her. He smiled as he looked at the sky and saw some dark clouds coming over them.

"Hey, Princess, we better get home. Looks like rain," he cooed to her. She stood up and shook herself, settling her glossy coat and featherings before looking back to be sure her beloved master was also getting himself ready to go. He clipped her leash on her collar – she didn't need it, but it was the law – and they walked briskly home to the apartment.

"Seb?" Blaine called, but got no answer. He called again, walking through the huge apartment to see if he was sunning on the balcony. No Seb. He walked to the kitchen and found a note under the magnet on the refrigerator in Sebastian's neat script:

Gone to Rudy's, be back on Wednesday afternoon.

Call if you need any little thing!

Yes, I mean it.

Love you.

S.

Oh. Well, he must be feeling lonely. Rudy was a hook-up that turned into a regular that turned into a friend. Everyone liked the tall skinny man with his huge handlebar mustache and cowboy hat which Seb swore he even wore to bed at night. Seb hung out with him when he was feeling low or couldn't find a hook-up at one of the bars that he frequented. Blaine and Kurt both wished Seb would make the relationship a bit more permanent. Rudy loved Seb, that much was plain. He'd drop whatever – or whomever - he was doing if Seb called and he would do anything for him. Blaine couldn't say if Seb loved Rudy or if he just felt friendship because he didn't talk about things like that and Blaine felt funny asking.

The truth was that Seb had gone to Rudy's for the night, but left early that morning to check on Trent. Trent was doing better and attending school again here in New York. His mother decided to stay here and Trent was happy about that. He'd made some new friends and Seb came to visit at least once a week. He was stopping by today to play a game of chess.

Back at the apartment, Blaine fixed himself a small salad and some fruit, cutting up the nectarine and placing it in a bowl with a few blackberries. He wasn't hungry, but he had to eat something.

"Hey, Princess. It's getting late. Maybe we should scoot along to bed?" he asked. Maybe if he went to bed early, he could sleep and then it would be Tuesday and this terrible Monday would just be a memory.

He took off his clothes, wondering how Sebastian was able to keep the heat up so high. His utility bills must be astronomical, but he never said a word. He just kept it nice and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. After a thorough shower in which Blaine was too sad to even try to masturbate, he slid under the sheets and closed his eyes, wondering how he would ever be able to fall asleep. He was wrong, it took about two minutes and all the stress of the day that was showered off to go down the drain seemed to stay away. He didn't even dream, just lay still and quiet, his arms around Kurt's pillow as he turned once again and felt lost in the large bed without Kurt.

"Hey, Seb, that's not funny. Don't tickle me or you're out of here," Blaine complained when Sebbie used a feather or something to tickle him. He brushed it away in his sleep, falling back under quickly. He woke again, this time with arms locked around him and a warm body snuggled close to his, a harness pressing into his back, hands around his torso, and fingers clasped around his cock.

"Seb! Get away from me. Here I trusted you and you behaved and now thi..." he stopped mid-word, sniffing as he smelled Kurt's scent: Rain by Marc Jacobs. There was no way Seb wore that, it was sold in the women's department. Blaine didn't open his eyes, just leaned back and relaxed as the warm hand ran down his chest to dawdle at nipples and then wrap around his cock once again, playing and teasing before finally settling down to business. Blaine sighed heavily and turned slowly into Kurt's arms.

"Oh...Kurt. My baby. I missed you so much. So, so much," he whispered, looking into those green-blue-gray eyes with the splashes of sunlight in them. There was the narrow, delicate nose and the perfect rosy lips. He looked at the lips for a long while until he couldn't take another burning second and touched his own lips there in a heated kiss that Kurt felt all the way through his body. Kurt immediately deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing Blaine and then exploring his mouth. Blaine did the same until they went back to gentle soft kisses and moving soft lips across one another's mouths.

"Blaine...oh, how I missed you...." Kurt whispered into his neck, nuzzling and nipping, drawing Blaine's warm drowsy scent into his nostrils to make his body tremble in anticipation.

Blaine finally acknowledged that there was more to Kurt than his lips and kissed his nose before moving his lips down his cheeks to his jaw and neck. By the time Blaine was fully awake, he was so hard he had to have Kurt. Right now.

"Oh, baby, I don't think I can wait. Please, please...." Blaine chanted, his heart flipping in his chest as he kissed across Kurt's face, not missing a single sun-kissed freckle.

"Calm down, darling man, I'm here. I was only gone ten days, not forever.." Kurt started, his heart doing some flipping of its own.

"It was an eternity. I was all ready to crawl inside the luggage compartment of a bus going to Lima so I could be with you, Kurt." Blaine said, backing up so he could see Kurt's eyes once more. Kurt laughed and it was like manna from heaven. Blaine could live, eat, and breathe that laugh.

He pulled off his pajamas, shivering in the autumn cold because he'd left the bedroom window open. Kurt, already naked, slid under the warm blankets and pulled them up around Blaine's shoulders so they were in the warmth of their nest, together and touching. Having just awoken, Blaine's skin was warm and Kurt snuggled close, taking up where he'd left off kissing Blaine's long neck.

"Don't leave me again, Kurt. I'm not myself when you're gone, baby," Blaine whined.

"You were fine and you know it. Yes, you may have missed me just like I missed you – but you were fine," Kurt said, wanting Blaine to realize he could stand alone and survive. He needed to know that.

"Then why did you tell Sebbie to sleep in our bed with me?" Blaine asked, sure he had Kurt now.

"Because you refuse to realize your own strength. And because Sebbie is lost – more than you ever were – and he needs to take care of people so he can see the good that comes of it. It shows him that he is needed and wanted and that we trust him. Blaine, can't you see how much he needs to be loved?" Kurt asked, his face serious. Blaine stopped kissing and nibbling on him and lay still, thinking.

"You're right. He does. Oh, Kurt, why didn't I see that?" Blaine asked, ashamed of himself for being so self-centered that he did not see his friend's need.

"You did though. You always see the good in people, Blaine. That is the most important thing I think I ever learned from you. That even if a person is your sworn enemy, there may be some good in them. Just leave it to you to find it, Blaine. You always do. Remember when I just hated Sebastian? I wanted him to feel bad and be hurt like he did to other people. It took you sitting me down to explain to me that he was doing it as a defense. That he had been hurt so much in his life that all he learned was to strike first and leave no man standing or he would be hurt worse," Kurt said, his hand seeking and finding Blaine's and then lacing their fingers together.

Not letting go, Blaine turned on his side and rested his weight on his forearm and elbow, still holding his love's hand.

"Yeah...well, I had known him since we were in preschool together. It was so obvious in his case," Blaine said.

"Well, what about Sue Sylvester?" Kurt asked.

"What, Coach Sylvester from McKinley?"

"Yes. We all thought she was mean as a snake and you were the one that found out she helped Becky get into the Cheerios, that she gave Marley's mom the money for Marley's therapy, that she donated to the homeless shelter and so many things. Without you, we would never have known that and she would have been a hated figure. Because of you the Glee club sang to her on that Christmas...I think it meant the world to her. I saw her right after, sitting in her office crying with the biggest smile on her face.

"Blaine, you are amazing at finding the good in people. You comforted Santana when she was outed, and Tina when Mike dumped her...you are so kind and so good. I love you so much, my wonderful boyfriend. Who on earth could be luckier than me?" Kurt asked, kissing Blaine once again.

"Look who's talking. Who gave Santana a home in New York when she was in need? You. Who brought clothes and food and cheer to Sam and his family, not to mention letting him live with you, when they were homeless? You. Who suggested the Glee club sing "To Sir, With Love" to Mr. Schue and saved the Glee club? You. Who puts up with Rachel Berry's annoying caterwauling and self-promotion and found the good in her so everyone else could see it, too? You. Who threw the competition between you and Rachel for rights to sing Defying Gravity because you didn't want anyone hassling your father? Oh..you again. And, Kurt my sweet friend, who learned to waltz just to make his mama happy in her last days? You. Who took care of his father to make sure the family stayed together, who became a rock to steady Burt so he could carry on? You, Kurt. And, my dear Kurt....who took the hand of a very lonely boy he didn't even know and bring him into your family, loved him and cared for him and protected him so he could grow up and fall head-over-heels in love with you? Kurt – you are my pal, my friend, my hero, my caretaker, my partner and above all the love of my life."

Blaine smiled at Kurt, who was blushing furiously by now and hardly looking at Blaine in his embarrassment. How did Blaine know all that? Some of it happened before they even knew each other.

"If I'm your hero, Blaine...and the love of my life, you are the love of mine, too. I do love you so much, my baby," Kurt whispered into Blaine's neck.

"And I love you just as much, my darling Kurt," Blaine whispered back.

They lay together, moving as slow as starfish, touching and kissing and sharing their love and they didn't leave their bed until late in the evening when hunger called to them. They ordered Thai and ate in bed, feeding each other and playing Kurt's record player, dancing and singing and making sweet love until they once again fell asleep just where they belonged. In each other's arms under the picture of the two of them dressed like Piglet and Pooh, thirteen years ago.