Monday night, Kurt returned home late from the evening showing. To his surprise, Blaine was sitting on the floor with pictures scattered around him. His worrisome face was illuminated by the screen of his laptop, as he greeted Kurt with a groan of agony.

"Nice to see you, too?" To this, Blaine huffed. "Shouldnt you be in bed? Its exam week for you, right?"

Blaine nodded frantically. With the shifting light on his face, his hair pushed askew and eyes wide and red, he looked like a mad man. "That is exactly why Im not in bed." Dropping his things by the door, Kurt started making his way to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of wine for himself. "Do you know what happened today?"

"Im sure youll tell me." Kurt lamented.

Blaine listened to the sound of the wine trickling into Kurts glass before he spoke. "Professor Novik, who I thought was super cool, decided to be an asshole today." Kurt began pouring another glass of wine. "Even though Ive been in bed sick for forever, I still have to have my project turned in on the day of our final like everyone else."

"Welcome to college." Kurt moved back towards the couch, handing the second glass of wine to Blaine. They clinked their glasses together before Blaine took a long drink from his. "When is it due?"

"Wednesday." Blaine groaned.

"Jesus, Blaine. How much do you have done?"

He pushed his hands through his curly hair. "Ive got some photos," he tugged on the curls slotted between his knuckles. "But none of them are good enough."

"Lemme see." As Kurt sat on the floor next to Blaine, the younger artist tried to protest, drawing pictures away from Kurt. "Stop, Im sure theyre great." He said, restraining Blaines hands. The small boy slumped against Kurts shoulder in defeat.

Most of the pictures were taken of New York; a balloon caught in a tree, a few local coffee shops, a picnic in Central Park. Some Kurt could tell were taken from their fire escape. Then there were the rare few taken out of New York that Kurt recognized. There was the Motel6 sign and Kurts parents dancing around their kitchen on Thanksgiving. Then Kurt saw himself on the swing in the snowy park. "Theyre great."

The smaller boy buried his face into the crook of Kurts neck. "But its not enough."

"What more do you need?" Kurt inquired, releasing Blaines wrists that hed bound in one hand.

"I dont know, it just...it needs more whimsy. And, like, a way of presenting it." Kurt hummed to show he was listening, as he took a sip of his wine. "But, I still dont even know what whimsy is, really."

"Dont make me start singing bare necessities again." Kurt threatened.

Blaine shook his head, the tip of his nose brushing the soft fabric of Kurts sweater. "I do not have time for your puzzles.

"Blaine," Kurt seemed appalled, craning his neck to see if the boy resting on his body was serious. "Its just, you know, like forget about your worries and your strife." He sang, half-heartedly. "You know?"

"I dont know."

"Like fucking careless abandon, but like, in an artful way." Kurt explained. At the little oh Blaine released into the porcelain skin, the older man rolled his eyes. "Should I just do it all for you?"

"Would you?"

"No." Blaine pouted at the answer. Taking pity on him, Kurt curled a finger under Blaines chin, tilting his face up to meet Kurts. "But, I will help you with it. We dont have a matinee tomorrow, so if you get up early enough Ill help you."

From their position, Blaines nose just surpassed Kurts chin, his lips barely below. Therefore, Blaines groan of relief went straight to Kurts neck. "Kurt, you are a god send."

Kurt grinned, hoping his goosebumps were indiscernible. "I know. Now, get some sleep."

"Can I sleep here?" Instinctively, Blaines body is drawn towards Kurts as he pleads with his round eyes.

"Do I have to stay with you?" Although he wont admit it, he really wanted Blaine to want him to stay. Nuzzling into the crook of Kurts neck, Blaine hummed a light "mhm." "Can I, at least, get a pillow?" For a moment, Blaine blindly groped the floor, until his hand came up with a pillow, tossing it to Kurt. "Watch the hair." Kurt reprimanded, when the pillow bopped him on the head.

While Blaine was snoozing in moments, Kurt had a bit more trouble finding rest. It was hard to find somewhere to place his pillow where his head could comfortably reach without Blaines weight sagging, limp, over him. Yet, there was Blaine. Blaine, with his head of curly hair. He was almost like a little pillow. Tentatively, Kurt rested his head atop Blaines. His hair was soft against his face and the aroma of Moroccan oils tempted Kurts senses, slowly taking him to sleep.

Kurts butt was numb, legs a little tingly, neck very cramped and back very sore. But, thats what he gets for sleeping on the floor with Blaine, who had tucked into Kurts side. His absence left the man feeling cold. Almost empty.

Drowsily, Kurt surveyed his surroundings. His pillow was tossed across the living room. A blanket had been strewn across his legs sometime during his sleep. The pictures that theyd slept betwixt were now gone. Light filtered through the small windows of the kitchen. Blaine sat at their round table, hair tousled and eyes sleepy beneath his glasses. The pictures, which he poured over, were splayed in front of him. It all took Kurt back to that day in fall. It was one of their last big fights, before everything shifted somehow. And for some reason. Suddenly, they were meeting each others parents. Suddenly, Kurt was nursing Blaine to health and Blaine was buying flowers. Suddenly, they were okay with curling up together on the floor to sleep. Suddenly, Kurt felt a tingling happiness with Blaine. Or, maybe, that feeling was always there. That morning in fall, Kurt had just come off of a night with Sebastian. Yet, seeing Blaine, in his pajamas, with his brow furrowed and deep in thought, was captivating to Kurt.

"Morning." He grumbled, making his way from the floor to the fridge. He grabbed the orange juice, shaking it well. "You want some?" He offered to Blaine. The studious boy seemed to be unfazed. Taking note of his odd behavior, Kurt abandoned the juice, making his way to Blaine. He rested his hands on the boys shoulders, feeling him jump beneath the touch. "Have you eaten, Blaine? I can make you something." All that earned was a mumbled response, while Blaine arranged and rearranged the photos on the table. "Hey." Kurt ran his hands down Blaines arms, holding the smaller hands still in his own. He rested his chin on Blaines shoulder, speaking softly. "How long have you been up?"

"Two, three hours." The boy mumbled softly. His hands were kneading into Kurts palms, like kitten paws. In attempts to soothe their protests, Kurt traced his thumb over the length of Blaines.

"Why?"

"You told me to wake up early."

Kurt had grinned as he took in the warmth of Blaines skin. "Not that early. Just early enough to shower and get dressed, so I can help you before my call time."

"Should I shower now?" Blaine asked, turning in the embrace.

Kurt nodded, releasing Blaine from his arms. "Yes, you should." The younger boy got up, making his way first to his room to gather clothes for the day. "And hurry, if you still want my help." Kurt called after him.

In Blaines absence Kurt decided to brew up a pot of coffee and tidy up the area. The pillow was returned to the couch and the blanket was folded and draped over the arm of the chair. The second thing on his list were the photos Blaine had scattered across their small table. But, to reduce risk of being yelled at, he held off on that until Blaine started his shower. While he waited for Blaine to select an outfit, he poured himself a mug of the fresh coffee. However, he wasnt able to enjoy it on the couch as planned, because as soon as he sat down, there was a knock on the door.

"Ive got it." Kurt dismissed Blaine, whod peered out of his room at the sound. "You go shower." Blaine followed the demand, scampering to the bathroom.

Giving the broken door a good yank, it opened to reveal Liam Roudenbaum. The guy was leaning on the door frame, his arms folded across his chest. "Morning, Kurt." That same sheepish grin sat on his lips as he peered up at Kurt through his pencil straight brown hair.

"Liam." Kurt took a quick peek behind himself to ensure Blaine wasnt lingering. Sure enough, he heard the shower starting. "What are you doing here?"

"Uhm," he chuckles, blushing a little. Keeping his eyes cast down to his shoes, he speaks. "Last night was great for me."

"As for me." Kurt added, mostly just to reassure him. Also, because it was dawning on him that he mightve taken Liam Roudenbaums virginity last night.

That makes his grin a little less sheepish, just barely. "Yeah, I, uhm, I wish you could have stayed longer."

"Sorry about that. My roommates been sick, so, yeah." Even though Blaine is doing better now, Kurt decided he would make a great scapegoat.

"Yeah, I understand. I hope your roommate feels better." Kurt smiled and thanked him. "Uhm, anyways, the reason Im here is because I was wondering if you wanted to get breakfast with me. I know its early, but I figure with the show and all, this would be my only chance to take you out before I leave for Christmas."

"Oh." Was all he could manage. Clearly, Roudenbaum didnt have a solid grasp on the concept of a one night stand.

"And, after Christmas, I leave to spend two months studying abroad in London. I kinda wanted to catch you before I leave."

"Thats very sweet of you Liam. And I really wish I could. Honestly, I do." Honestly, he didnt. "But, I already promised my roommate Id help with this thing." Liams face fell, as if he thought Kurt was lying, when really this was the only honest thing hed said to Liam. "Im sorry. But, another time for sure."

"Yeah, okay. Ill see you tonight, Kurt."

"Yes, see you tonight."

When Blaine finished his shower, he was all flustered over never seeing who was at the door. "Oh, it was just Sebastian." Kurt lied, not wanting to explain Liam to Blaine. The two were finally getting to a good place, Kurt didnt want to fuck it all up.

Regardless, the name made Blaine tense. "Are you okay? What did he want?"

"He just offered to take me out for breakfast."

"Oh." Kurt had never seen a kicked puppy, but he was pretty sure Blaine, in that moment, was the spitting image of one. "Thats fine. I can just do this—"

"Blaine?" The sad boy looked up from the pictures hed begun to gather. "I told him I couldnt. That I had plans with you."

"Oh." This time it was a surprised oh. A happy oh.

Kurt grinned back at Blaine, the fire of the morning sun reflecting in his eyes. "Ill get dressed, then we can go."

Even though Blaine didnt want to admit it, all of the layers Kurt convinced him to put on before they left was a great idea, because it was the definition of nippy out. The air had its own chill to it, brought out by the slapping wind that blew through the town. But, it was still winter. Still picturesque, with rosy cheeks and mittens. And even though his hands were numb, Blaine stopped for photos as they went.

And when they went, Blaine had a list. Over the night, hed come up with a supposedly brilliant idea of how to display his photos. An idea that he refused to divulge to Kurt. So, Kurt was on a scavenger hunt for random, unrelated items. Plastic leaves, newspaper, Christmas lights, clothes pins. For the first couple of hours, it was the two of them hunting together. However, once enough material was gathered, Kurt sent Blaine back to the apartment to get to work, promising to finish the list.

By the time Blaine heard the door shove open, he was just near done on what he could do without his other tools. He was also starting to worry that Kurt would miss his call time; it was getting late. Luckily Kurt breezed in with just enough time to spare. To announce his arrival, he called out, "I have mod podge and a special surprise guest. Come meet them." Great, Blaine thought, another guy. Begrudgingly, he huffed his way out of his room. What he saw was nothing close to what he expected. "Her name is Pamela Lansbury. Isnt she cute?"

"Thats a cat." Blaine retorted to the feline Kurt held, swaddled in blankets. He nods, setting the cat down. "You cant have a cat in this building."

Rolling his eyes, Kurt snaps back,"Not if you keep saying the c word so loud."

Blaine sighs, but still humors Kurt. "We cant hide a you know what in here." He whispers.

"Stop it. Youre making her feel unwelcome." The older man stoops down to scratch the cat rubbing against his pant leg.

"Because shes not!" Blaine shouts.

"He doesnt mean that, Pam." Kurt coos, causing Blaine to groan.

"Where did you even find it?"

"I got her from a nice homeless man." Kurt defends.

"Christ."

Kurt continued explaining over Blaines interjection. "Hes had her for a few months—about as long as Ive been stuck with you—but winter has made him realize that he isnt prepared to care for a cat. And since she seemed to really take a liking to me, he gave her to me for free."

"He probably tells everyone shes taken a liking to them. And you do know that cat is probably full of crazy diseases?" Blaine backs away as Pamela Lansbury slinks in his direction.

"Actually I know shes in okay health. Just a problem with her gums and some malnourishment, both of which can be fixed with the proper food." Kurt puts down the bag of cat food he had propped against his hip. "Which I bought, upon the vets recommendation."

"You went to the vet?"

"Why do you think Ive been gone so long?"

"Kurt, we cant keep her."

"Blaine, please. Okay, imagine youre walking down the street and you pass this old man grunting about cold weather and fancy feast. You just ignore him and keep going. But, then you hear a stream of meows following you, like mrow mrow mrow. And you stop and look back and this little cutie is staring up at you with those big kitty eyes."

"But,"

"Please, can we keep her? Please?" Kurt was like a little kid begging his mom.

Only to end the conversation, Blaine relents. "Ugh. Fine." He groans, taking the mod podge and returning to his room.

"Thank you!" Kurt calls back to the slammed door.

Wednesday morning, with Pamela Lansbury at his feet, Kurt knocked lightly on Blaines door. When there was no response, he quietly slid it open, stepping in. Blaine was passed out across his bed, with an array of notes and photos and paper mâché supplies radiating around him.

Kurt ran full force to the bed, leaping onto it and bouncing. "Blaine! Todays the day!" He cheered. The boy grumbled. "Come on, get up! You have your presentation today." At that, Blaines head shot up from the pillows, a plastic leaf mod podged to his forehead.

"Shit." His frenzied, sleepy eyes darted to Kurt, then to the mess around him. "Shit. Shit. Shit." He was launched into action, shuffling around notes and discarded photos. "I fell asleep. Did I finish?" He asked, taking note of the work before him.

"I think you did." Kurt stepped back to also admire Blaines handiwork. "It looks great." Humming, Blaine slightly adjusted some of the paper mâché foliage and smiled, satisfied. "You want some lucky charms before the big reveal?"

The boy nodded, sitting up in bed with a few bounces. "Kurt, todays the day." Blaine grinned. "And I feel very whimsical." After another good bounce, he sauntered out, avoiding the cat, while humming the Bare Necessities.