“A year ago I went to an after party of a Broadway show. I met an amazing guy there and I’m sure we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. I found the greatest composer I could ever ask for. He usually stays in the background. Everybody knows his name but not many people actually saw him. We are celebrating the first number one hit we’ve ever had, so ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to Mr. Blaine Anderson, the composer of the music and the lyrics of the song that’s been on the top of the chart since we released it five weeks ago.” Paul announced and there was a big applause as Blaine was heading to a little stage. The party wasn’t a big one. It was just a celebration for people from the recording studio. That was the reason Blaine came out of the anonymity. He wouldn’t have done it if there had been more eyes watching him.

“Thank you, Paul. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t met a guy a few years ago. He taught me how to believe in myself again. He supported my every decision and he’s been with me every step on my way. He is my best friend, my soul mate, the love of my life. And I would love to thank him today for everything he’s ever done for me and you can bet it’s been a lot. I was about to sing one of my own songs but then I changed my mind. The song I’m gonna sing is the one I once heard my dad sing for my mother. I was just a kid then but I remember how I promised myself to sing it one day to my special one. It’s hard to express my gratefulness in words, Kurt. Without you I wouldn’t be my current self. This is for you…” Blaine sat behind the piano and started playing a soft melody.

Some say love it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
And you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking

That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love
In the spring

Becomes the rose

Blaine ended the song and took a single white rose that was lying on the top of the piano. The sound of clapping was muted for him. All he could see was Kurt with a stunned expression and a small smile. He walked to him and kneeled in front of him, giving him the rose which Kurt accepted with a gentle caressing of Blaine’s cheek. It was like the world stopped turning. There were the two of them and nothing around. Blaine simply leaned into him and kissed him. It was a sweet and slow kiss, silent representation of thank you, you’re my life, I love you on both sides.

“Will you marry me?” Kurt whispered against Blaine’s lips making Blaine freeze on the spot. He pulled away and Kurt knew that maybe it was a time for freaking out but nothing like that came. He sat there, looking right at Blaine, sincerity and certainty in his eyes that were trying to deliver the message of Yes, I’m sure.

“I love you.” Blaine said with a tender smile and was ready to kiss Kurt one more time.

“It’s not the answer to my question.” Kurt stated just before Blaine could connect their lips.

“It is the answer.” And then it was Blaine’s mouth on Kurt’s again, this time a little more passionate. The world might have actually started turning again but probably faster than before because Kurt felt slightly dizzy. Blaine internally cursed the need for oxygen after a while. For as much as he could have his way he would never stop kissing Kurt.

“So are we going for a big fancy wedding or do you want to have it small and discrete?” Blaine asked with playfulness in his voice.

“So the answer is a yes?”

“Of course the answer is a yes.” Blaine answered kindly. “Weren’t you listening to me when I said you are the love of my life?” Kurt threw his arms around Blaine and hid his face in Blaine’s neck.

“I love you so much.” He murmured and tightened his grip.

“I love you, too. Come on, sweetie. Let’s get out of here.”

Twenty minutes later - after they had said their goodbyes – they were in front of the bar the party was held in. Blaine laced their fingers and without a word they started to walk. Kurt didn’t know where they were going. He let Blaine lead him wherever he wanted. He would go everywhere with him…Because he loved him and trusted him…Because Blaine was his universe and made him happy…Because Blaine wasn’t only a boyfriend anymore…

“Oh my god!” Kurt stopped abruptly. Blaine looked at him surprised and confused.

“We’re engaged. We’ve just got engaged…We can’t be engaged. I…oh my…Blaine, I’m so sorry.”

“Kurt? Have you…” Blaine took a deep breath. Kurt was apparently freaking out and he had to stay calm although he was worried what was about to come. “Have you changed your mind?”

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this. There should have been at least dinner with candles and flowers…I should have taken you some place romantic and I should have had rings and…I can’t believe I ruined it for you…You deserve more than a caught up in a moment proposal…” Blaine smiled, relieved that Kurt didn’t have second thoughts about their engagement. He framed his face with his hands and made him stop talking by lightly kissing of his lips.

“It was the best proposal ever. You couldn’t have planned anything better. It was spontaneous and it was perfect. I love you Kurt. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life by your side. And yes, it took me by surprise because I didn’t see it coming but I can’t even tell you how happy I am right now.”

“We need to get the rings. We have to find jewelry.”

“Kurt, it’s almost midnight.”

“This is New York, Blaine. This city never sleeps. There has to be an open shop with rings!”

Blaine shook his head and smiled.

“It can wait. We don’t need them now. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.” Blaine grabbed Kurt’s hand and made him move. A few minutes later they turned to the street Kurt knew very well. He hadn’t been there since the first time Blaine came to New York with the guys.

“You wanna go to the club?” Kurt asked him confused. He thought they had left the party so they could be alone.

“No. I want to go here.” And he dragged him to an isle they’d spent some time…talking…that one night.

“I don’t know why we never came back. This is the place where we became a couple. You told me you wanted to be with me and I swear I stopped breathing for a while as I was processing what you were saying. I still think it was one of the best nights of my life. Although the guys and Rachel came home totally wasted.” Kurt started to laugh at the memory.

“I was so mad at them for ruining our night.”

“I wasn’t. I was so happy that nothing could ruin my mood. I had a hard time in bed believing that you really were my boyfriend. I was lying there, staring at the ceiling and repeating myself – It’s true. He is yours…”

“I am.” Kurt said softly. Blaine tugged him closer and with one swift move he pressed him to the wall.

“Do you remember how we spent almost half an hour making out right here?” Blaine whispered before nibbling on Kurt’s ear lobe.

“Do you remember how I was literally melting under your touch?” Blaine proceeded in kissing his jaw line and Kurt wasn’t able to do anything more than just nodded his head.

“You still have that effect on me.” Blaine’s words were clear and sincere. He took a step back so he could look Kurt in the eyes.

“Every single touch of your hands or lips or body makes me feel better. It’s like I need to be as close to you as possible the same way I need to breath. That’s why I’m always seeking some kind of contact between us no matter where we are. It’s not just about sexual tension. It’s about connection and comfort. It’s about the feeling that I’m not complete without you. Because I’m not, Kurt. Some people talk about soul mates and other halves and all that stuff and I didn’t believe in something like that till I met you. There is no one in this world who could make me feel so happy and cherished and loved as you do, as well as there is no one who could make me be so angry and hurt and addicted as you do. That’s why I know we are meant to be together. Because I know I make you feel the same way you make me feel.” Kurt caressed his cheek and brought him in for a kiss.

“You are the most amazing person in the whole world. And I’m proud to call you mine.”

“Before we go home there is one more place I want to go. Let’s take a cab.” Kurt didn’t ask where they were going this time. Firstly, Blaine wouldn’t tell him and secondly he was intrigued and after more than two years with Blaine he’d started to like his surprises.

Kurt was a little confused when Rachel’s apartment building appeared in front of them. He wasn’t sure what Blaine’s intention was. It certainly wasn’t the time for a visit. But Blaine didn’t go to the door. He stopped in the middle of the pavement.

“I told you I loved you for the first time here. Although I knew long before and you did too, it took five weeks of separation from you and lot of tears till I came to my senses.” Blaine unbuttoned his coat and when he started working on the buttons on his jacket Kurt finally said something.

“What are you doing?”

“Give me your hand.” Kurt put his hand in Blaine’s and Blaine placed it on his chest. Kurt could feel Blaine’s steady heartbeat.

“I love you.” Blaine said and Kurt sensed how Blaine’s heart quickened its beat while he was saying those words but the moment they were out he couldn’t feel anything.

“I love you too.” Kurt responded immediately and there it was again. A natural beat of his heart.

“Every time I tell you I love you my heart is beating faster. And then it feels like it skips a few beats as if it was afraid you’re not gonna say it back. I know you love me. Even if you don’t say it back but it doesn’t stop my heart to wait with an expectation whether it’s still the truth.” Kurt kept his hand resting on Blaine’s chest, enjoying his heartbeat without any irregularities.

“I love you.” Kurt’s word caught Blaine’s heart unprepared and there were three fast beats until it came back to normal.

“How come I never realized this? So many times we were professing our love with some part of me on you…”

“You never paid any attention to that. And before you ask, yes, there are always three beats when you say you love me first. I don’t know why. At first I thought it was one beat for each word but the same number goes for just love you as well so…mystery.”

Kurt quickly buttoned Blaine’s coat so he didn’t get cold before capturing his lips in a heated kiss.            

“We can go home now.” Blaine announced when they pulled away breathless.

“Take off your coat and shoes.” Blaine ordered in front of the door of their apartment.

“What? Why?”

“Trust me, okay? Take of your coat and shoes. We won’t turn on the lights when we enter and I don’t want you to stumble in the dark and get hurt.”

“I’m not sure I want to go in there.” Kurt murmured under his breath but obeyed. Blaine opened the door, took their coats and shoes and threw them somewhere while Kurt was still standing outside. Then he slipped his hand to Kurt’s and led him from the dark hallway to the living room. Kurt was tense and tentative but it all disappeared with a gasp when they stepped to the room. There was a swing in the middle on the place where their sofa - that had been moved near the wall - used to be. The whole room was illuminated by the night sky that was shining from the ceiling.

“How did you…” Blaine put his finger on Kurt’s lips and shook his head.

“Sit down, my love. I have something to tell you.” Kurt did as he was told. Blaine kneeled in front of him and put his hands on Kurt’s thighs, stroking them softly.

“I couldn’t take you to Wes’ cabin tonight. So I had to scheme out how to bring it here. I found the video with the stars on the internet and I ordered the swing online. I asked George – to whom the swing was delivered - to come here and prepare this. It was short notice so I had to go with a projector and swing in our living room.”

“It’s beautiful.” Kurt whispered.

“Kurt, when Paul told me about the celebration party I knew from the beginning I wanted to dedicate a song for you as another form of thank you…The rose popped up in my mind yesterday. You were making dinner, dancing and singing in the kitchen when I came home and I couldn’t resist but join you. I know we had done it before but yesterday it reminded me of my parents. How my dad used to come home from work and sometimes he went straightway to help my mum in the kitchen without changing his clothes and she faked that she was mad at him because he always managed to stain his suit. And then he sang to her as an apology. One day he sang The rose. I remembered it and I decided to sing it to you.

When I woke up in the morning, you were sleeping curled up to my side and I knew. I knew that by singing that song to you I’m giving you the last bit of me you didn’t have yet. It led me to the thought that there is no reason to wait for telling you I want to spend the rest of my life with you…” Blaine wiped away tears that were streaming down Kurt’s face and continued.

“I planned the whole night today and I didn’t have much time as it was in the heat of the moment decision but I tried to make it as perfect as possible. That was the reason I left in the morning and got lost for a few hours. Okay…I think I should get to the point.” Blaine’s hands found Kurt’s and their fingers automatically entwined themselves.

“Kurt, that night when we were sitting on the swing in front of the cabin I had no idea what was going on between us. Though it took us a few more months to actually get together I still feel like there, in front of Wes’ cabin, was the beginning of my better life. There, in the moonlight under the stars, with you by my side…You were breathtaking. You cast the spell on me and since then I’m under it and I never want to have it another way. I love you. And I must be doing something right because you love me back. I have no doubts that you’re the one for me. We talked about marriage just once when Carol brought you that box. I wasn’t entirely sure whether you want it one day or not. Truth be told, I really don’t care. I don’t need a paper to call you mine and be with you forever but it’s easier to have it for legal purposes. Either way, I bought these…” Blaine pulled a small box out of his pocket. “I wanted us to wear those as a representation of our love even though in case your answer to my question would have been no. I’m not going to ask you if you will marry me because we have been through it earlier. But I still want to tell you that you are the love of my life and I’m honored you are willing to share your life with me. I want to promise you that I’ll always do my best to make you happy, that I’ll always stand beside you no matter what. I’ll always love you and remind you how amazing and special you are. Whether you like those rings or you would rather go and buy different rings tomorrow, I promise I’m gonna wear it until we exchange them for the weddings one and I’m never going to put it down.” Blaine opened the box for Kurt to see the rings he had bought.

“White gold…” Kurt said amused. “You remember that?”

“Yes. You said the yellow gold is cliché and if you voluntarily put some gold on you it would have to be white…”

“Blaine, they are beautiful…”

“So can we use them? As the engagement rings?”

“Of course, honey.” Blaine took Kurt’s left hand and put the ring on his finger. Then Kurt took the other ring and put in on the finger on Blaine’s right hand.

“I hope you don’t mind wearing it on your right hand.”

“No. Not at all.” Blaine smiled and laced their fingers, loving the feeling of their rings. He was always by Kurt’s left side. They always walk that way, sat that way, slept that way. Kurt didn’t have to explain, they both knew why he placed it there.

“Could you please sit next to me now?” In a moment Blaine was there, kissing him softly.

“This evening was amazing. I can’t believe we came with the idea of proposing on the same day…I can’t believe we are getting married. I’m so glad you made me go with you to Wes’ cabin. I don’t doubt we would have found the way to each other even if nothing happened that night because we belonged together but who knows how long it would take…” Kurt leaned to Blaine’s side and put his head on his shoulder. They were still holding hands, subconsciously stroking each other’s ring.

“Baby?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Have you ever made love under the stars?”

“No.”

“And would you like to?” Kurt raised his head and connected his lips with Blaine’s.

“I would love to. Could you bring the stars above our bed?”

“As you wish, my love.”