Spending Sunday evening in bed with tiramisu was amazing. Kurt was very happy that Blaine had ignored his objections about taking the sweet treat home with them from the restaurant the previous day. In general, Blaine was being more assertive and decisive lately and Kurt loved that about him. There were still insecurities, Kurt could see them pretty clearly, though Blaine didn't talk about them, but there was also a new found confidence and while Kurt had no idea where it was coming from, he welcomed it.

"Is there really no way to convince you to come to LA at least for two days?" Blaine asked him, raising his voice a bit so Kurt could hear him from the bathroom. "Your interviews in the Lexington Home for Retired Performers are just during the week. You're free all weekend. Don't make me beg you, Kurt."

"I'll be working on the article all weekend. I need to finish it as soon as possible. Playbill.com wants to publish the interviews as a Christmas special. Besides, I want to get most of my work done so I can spend more time with you when you come back."

"Okay. I can't really argue with that."

"The battery of my phone is almost dead. Do you have a charger somewhere?"

"It's already packed in my suitcase. The side pocket."

Kurt crawled to the other side of bed and reached out for Blaine's luggage. He searched blindly in the pocket, freezing when he felt a bottle in his hand right after he brushed his fingers on a small box of something.

"Did you find it, honey?"

Kurt took out the contents of the pocket, looking at it in awe.

"Honey?" Blaine came out of the bathroom, halting in his tracks when he saw Kurt sitting on the bed, holding a bottle of lube and a box of condoms in his hand. "Oh..."

Kurt directed his gaze towards Blaine, dropping the items on the cover. "I guess there's a reason why you packed this..."

"Kurt..."

"We are exclusive, right?" Kurt asked, looking for assurance. "We settled that on our second date. I didn't imagine it, did I?"

"Of course we're exclusive. Kurt, I can explain."

"No," Kurt shook his head fervently. "I don't need an explanation. We're exclusive, you just said so. I trust you not to go behind my back and cheat on me. I'm going to find the charger." Although Kurt dismissed the issue, he was tense. Blaine stayed fixed to the spot by the bathroom door, observing how his boyfriend scoured another pocket - this time the right one - and pulled out the charger he was in need of.

"Sometimes when we talk on the phone," Blaine started talking, barely audible, but it made Kurt stop fidgeting nervously. "Mainly after we've been apart for a while, I have to...h-have to take care of myself."

Kurt turned around, wide eyed. He gaped at his boyfriend whose cheeks were bright red right now.

"It's..." Blaine took a deep breath, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "It's less messy with a condom on. You know, I can't really change hotel room sheets after."

"Oh my god."

"I hoped you would never find out." Blaine chuckled uneasily, scratching his neck. "It's a bit embarrassing."

"How often do you think of me?" Kurt questioned him with a teasing smile.

"Constantly." Blaine mumbled, keeping his eyes on Kurt who stood up from the bed slowly, taking the lube and condoms and walking to Blaine. He pressed their lips together, burrowing his hand in Blaine's wild curls and tilting his head to gain better access inside his boyfriend's mouth.

"Do you think of me kissing you breathless like this?" Blaine just whimpered and chased Kurt's lips after he detached himself from Blaine because he wasn't done kissing him. He needed to feel the warmth of Kurt's tongue against his own, over and over again, refreshing his memories of what Kurt's kisses taste like for further reference. Kurt let him enjoy it only for a while before pulling away once more. He hastily got rid of Blaine's tank top, kissing and biting on his collarbone sloppily, his hand running up and down his chest. He freed his other hand, too, throwing the lube and condoms on the carpet so he could touch and grope Blaine properly.

"I wanna give you something new to think of." Kurt's husky voice whispered in Blaine's ear and then there was Kurt's teeth nibbling on his earlobe, proceeding to his jaw and neck. Blaine thought he might as well die. He had no idea what had gotten into Kurt. He'd never been so rough, not that Blaine was complaining. Kurt cupped him through his boxers, squeezing a little and humming approvingly when Blaine thrust his hips forward.

"Already hard for me? God, you're so hot, Blaine." Blaine tried to force Kurt away from the bathroom door and get him to bed but Kurt had something different in his mind. He closed the door behind them and pushed Blaine against it, kissing him sensually until he was sure Blaine wouldn't do anything about their current location.

"Will you be a good boy and stay here for me?"

"Kurt..." Kurt took Blaine's head in his hands, stroking his cheeks lovingly with his thumbs and kissing him repeatedly.

"Do you trust me, Blaine?"

"Yes." Blaine breathed and gripped Kurt's shoulders firmly. "Yes, I do. Of course, I do. Just don't stop doing what you are doing."

Kurt beamed at him and kneeled down, taking off Blaine's boxers in the process.

"If I do something you don't like, I need you to tell me, okay?"

"I love everything you do."

"Great. The rule still stands though, okay?"

"Okay. Please, Kurt, please, do something."

Kurt took him in his hand, stroking slowly and circling his tongue around the head.

"Oh, shit. Oh, Kurt..."

"How are you so beautiful?" Kurt wondered, reaching for a condom from the box. He put it on Blaine, disregarding Blaine's demands of why and simply bringing him to his mouth again. Blaine groaned and threw his head back. It hit the door with a thump and Blaine groaned again, this time not from pleasure. Kurt immediately stood up and cradled the back of Blaine's head in his hands.

"Are you okay?" He asked, kissing Blaine's lips sweetly.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Kurt smiled at him and bent for the lube. "Can we go on?"

"God, yes!" Blaine surged forward to attack Kurt's mouth, wrapping his arms around Kurt's waist and bringing him closer.

"So eager..." Kurt chuckled when he managed to free himself from Blaine's fervent kisses. He spread a good amount of lubricant over his fingers before ghosting them around Blaine's entrance.

"Touch yourself, Blaine. Touch yourself as if I weren't here." A demanding whisper didn't leave any room for objections and Blaine reached down between their bodies to do exactly what his boyfriend was asking of him.

"That's it. Just like that, baby. Keep going." Kurt instructed him and lifted his right leg up, trying to get better access to Blaine's insides in this position. He slowly inserted one finger in, enjoying how Blaine's breathing hitched. He played with him for a while. Teasingly diving in and out, not giving Blaine what he was begging for between low whimpers.

"Please, Kurt, please, more." Kurt closed his eyes and fought back an urge to just rip off his own clothes and take Blaine right there. He added another finger instead. This was familiar territory for them. Kurt having his fingers in Blaine, making him fall apart. Blaine was usually comfortably lying on bed at times like this but by the moans escaping his boyfriend's mouth, Kurt could tell he liked this position just fine. Blaine's hand sped it's movements when Kurt's third finger joined the other two and Kurt smirked, knowing Blaine was close but still far away enough for him to torment him a bit more.

"How does it feel, Blaine?" He brushed against the bundle of nerves deep inside his boyfriend, earning a praise vomit. "I think of you, too. When we aren't together and I have to touch myself to ease some tension, I always think about you. I imagine it's your hand and your fingers."

"Oh, God! W-what exactly - oh shit, right there, honey - what exactly is my hand doing?"

"You really don't know or you just want me to say it?"

"Wanna hear you - oh my god, do it again! I'm so close. Kiss me!" Blaine turned his head, ready to crash their lips together but Kurt pulled away.

"No can do, sweetheart." He shook his head. "I won't be there to kiss you. It'll be just you, your hand, your fingers, a condom and lube. Alone in a big hotel room while I'll be home. Alone. With my hand and my fingers doing precisely what you'll be doing, thinking of how much better it would be if it were you doing that to me."

"Kurt," Blaine whined, laying his forehead on Kurt's shoulder, breathing him in. "I can't. I can't! Just, please..."

"Sure you can, baby. Let go. I know you're right there." Blaine shuddered and soon his hips were thrusting down on Kurt's fingers frantically until he came with a shout of Kurt's name on his lips. Kurt carefully let his fingers slip out before releasing his hold on Blaine's leg. Blaine slid down on the carpet, his back against the bathroom door, still panting. He patted Kurt's foot and showed him to put it on the other side of him. Kurt ended up standing astride, above his boyfriend, not really sure why. Blaine shifted his pajama pants halfway down his thighs.

"What are you doi-oh, fuck! Oh my god! You are so good at this." Blaine hummed in response, sucking on his length and sinking down on him a bit more. His breathing was still shallow and Kurt did his best not to choke him. He wasn't going to last. He was on the edge just from watching Blaine. It didn't take long and he was leaning heavily on his arms against doorframe, moaning loudly and tripping over the top. Blaine swallowed every last drop and then tugged Kurt down to straddle his lap. Kurt folded his arms around Blaine's shoulders, kissing his curls and giggling in afterglow. He could feel the condom between them, half down from Blaine's now soft glory and he found it ridiculous that Blaine was naked while he had his shirt on and his pajama pants were somewhere around his knees. Blaine ran his hands up and down Kurt's back, nuzzling his neck.

"You are everything I've ever dreamt of." Blaine spoke softly. "I would never jeopardize what we have for a quick, meaningless fuck."

Kurt stopped chuckling and withdrew from their hug slightly to look Blaine in the eyes.

"I know that." He conveyed seriously. "You came out of the bathroom literally a second after I took it out and I didn't have any time to process why it was even there. Had you come later, I wouldn't have even acknowledged it because I would have time to come up with something logical myself. I told you on our way to Ohio that I trust you with my life and I told you in your tree house that you mean the world to me. Those things still stand. I'm sorry I ever made you doubt my faith in you."

"I value our relationship more than anything. I just want you to know that."

"You would never intentionally hurt me. That's something I am sure of as much as I am sure of sun rising in the morning. You don't need to say it. You make me see it in everything you do."

"Okay." Blaine nodded. "I'm glad we're on the same page here."

"Come here," Kurt whispered and cupped Blaine's face in his hands, connecting their lips in a soothing kiss. "You know, I can stay on the phone with you while you...ehm...take care of yourself...like, we can take care of ourselves alone but together..."

"Did you just hint that we could have phone sex?"

"Yeah...I mean, only if it's okay with you."

"We can try that. I've never done something like that but I like the idea. Don't know the proper etiquette, though."

"Oh my god!" Kurt cracked up. "What have I told you about the etiquette, sweetie? There is no such thing! You preppy boys are so weird sometimes. Do you need to have a protocol for everything?"

"Mock me all you want, Kurt. I was taught manners. That applies to my sex life as well."

"You're making fun of me right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. I love to see you smile."

"I love to see you smile as well."

"We should probably get to bed." Blaine suggested and Kurt climbed from his lap, giving him a hand to help him stand up. They made themselves presentable for sleeping and before they hid under the covers, Kurt put the bottle of lube and the box of condoms back in Blaine's suitcase. They fell asleep right away but Blaine didn't get a chance to enjoy the full night's rest because he was awakened in the middle of the night by soft fingers playing with his hair. Even in the dark, he could tell Kurt was propped up on his elbow, watching him.

"Why aren't you sleeping, honey?"

"I can't."

"What's wrong?" Blaine reached for the lamp on his bedside table, turning the light on. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm great, actually. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Then what's going on?"

"I wanted to ask you something, but I kept putting it off, and now you're leaving early in the morning."

"You wanna ask me something?"

"There is a student conference in Boston next year. First week in April. One of my college professors called me and asked me to be a speaker for freelance journalism. I'm supposed to have some discussions with attendees and be part of one or two workshops. It's for the week but I'm needed only for like two hours a day."

"Kurt, that's amazing! Why didn't you tell me? You barely got out of school and they already want you to influence the next generation of journalists! I'm so proud of you."

"Well, technically I haven't confirmed anything yet but they need my answer tomorrow."

"What? Why not?"

"Your birthday is that week."

"Forget my birthday. This is an opportunity for you to shine, to gain new contacts, make a name for yourself."

"I was thinking that maybe you could come with me?" Kurt proposed hesitantly. "If you let your team know in advance, there shouldn't be a problem with it, right? You don't have anything planned for April yet, do you?"

"No, I don't."

"Well, then I'd love you to come with me. I'll take care of everything. Accommodations, safety, anonymity. We won't be staying in the hotel where the conference is held. I'm not going to risk some tabloid wannabe recognizing you. The first rule, don't trust journalist students. Eighty percent of them are hungry for sensations. And we will have Nick and Jeff tweet some photos of the three of you and make comments about how much fun you are having together throughout the week so people will think you are in New York. I'm going to buy you more clothes that will be anything but Blaine Anderson..."

"You're really thinking this through..."

"Yeah. We can celebrate your birthday and we can go on trips. Boston is amazing. I'll be working only two hours a day and I'm pretty sure I can convince my professor to schedule it in the morning so we could enjoy the rest of the day. I know it's not ideal but it's an opportunity to get out of the city..."

"I'll go with you."

"Really?"

"Yes. I'll tell Annie I need to be free the first week of April. She won't be happy but I don't care."

"Thank you."

"No, thank YOU for asking me to come with you."

"We can go back to sleep now." Blaine laughed at Kurt's sheepish face and kissed him tenderly. He turned the light off afterwards, snuggling closer to his boyfriend and falling asleep again.

"So, how come you and your boyfriend aren't attached to each other after a week you spent apart?"

"He was shopping with Rachel the whole day and he's tired. He says hello but he won't be joining us tonight." Blaine explained to Jeff, handing him a glass of wine. "So how did you two enjoy your free day?"

"We did some shopping. Mostly Christmas presents..." Nick told him and outstretched his legs in front of him, putting them on the coffee table. "You know, I love Kurt but I can appreciate not being yelled at for having my feet on the table."

"You're an idiot." Jeff grinned at him but his feet were next to Nick's in an instant.

"You're both idiots." Blaine corrected Jeff's previous statement with a big smile. "I missed you guys. What did you buy today?"

"HA! As we are going to tell you! We bought a perfect gift for your parents and we won't let you steal OUR ideas this year."

"Oh, come on, guys. Don't be so mean."

"No. You are on your own this time." Jeff said resolutely and Blaine gave up. "I can't wait for Christmas at Cooper's. It's going to be a blast!"

"I can imagine. The three of you will run into the first club you'll see to find someone to hook up with while I'll stay home with my parents."

"Well, you are in a committed relationship so you can have a phone sex with Kurt."

"Yeah, committed relationship..." Blaine replied thoughtfully, giving Nick and Jeff reason to worry.

"Blaine? Everything's alright?" Nick questioned him, hoping for an affirmative response.

"Kurt wants me to go to Boston with him in the beginning of April. For a week."

"Why Boston?"

"There's this student conference. He's one of the speakers...He wants me to join him. He had this plan how to keep me safe so no one would recognize me...It's sweet..."

"What's the problem?" Nick raised his eyebrows, knowing his best friend too well.

"There is no problem."

"You really want to play this game with us?"

"I'm not playing anything, Jeff."

"What's the problem, Blaine?" Blaine stayed silent. Nick and Jeff were staring at him, waiting for him to give in.

"It's in April." Blaine uttered when he couldn't stand their intense gaze anymore.

"Okay. Kind of still can't see the problem."

"It's four months from now."

"And?"

"He assumes we'll be still together..."

"You can't be serious right now, Blaine! Of course, he assumes you two will be together! Everything is going fine so why would he think you are going to break up anytime soon?"

"I don't know...It's just that..."

"Shut up, Blaine! We've been through this countless times! You have to stop worrying and accept that Kurt loves you! You can't keep going like this, waiting for something to happen!"

"I know, I know..."

"You know? So do something about it!"

"Why are you so upset? It's my relationship."

"Because he is an angel you've been waiting for forever and you are sabotaging it!"

"I'm not sabotaging anything!"

"Calm down, guys!" Jeff stepped between them. "Blaine, Nick is right in this one. You have to start thinking differently. This is getting a bit ridiculous. Do you love Kurt?"

"I do." Blaine admitted, leaving his friend speechless. It was the first time Blaine acknowledged his feelings for Kurt and, honestly, Jeff didn't see the answer coming.

"Wow. Maybe we're getting somewhere..." Nick noted. "Did you tell him?"

"Not yet."

"The time will come."

"I know."

"Just don't over-think everything."

"It's not like I can help it, Jeff."

"It's in your head. Of course you can help. Try a little harder."

"I will. Can we change the topic?"

"Okay." Jeff nodded. "I'm in the Christmas mood. Home Alone 1?"

Kurt loved coming home for Christmas. It was his favorite holiday and he couldn't wait for all the traditions they had to come to life this year. When it was only Kurt and his dad, Christmas was a bittersweet event that reminded them of Kurt's mom too much for them to be genuinely happy. After Burt and Carol got married, Christmas became more fun than it was before. They mingled their family traditions and made new ones, moving forward from the past that had been throwing a shadow on this holiday for years.

Kurt never missed Christmas with his family. Not once. Since he came to New York, he packed his suitcase on December 23rd and went to Lima. This year wasn't an exception. However, for the first time he felt sad to go home.He would never say it out loud but he was wondering how Christmas would be with Blaine and his family. He was going to miss his boyfriend. Come tomorrow evening they would be apart for another week and Kurt really wasn't thrilled about that. Maybe it wasn't healthy. Maybe he was too attached to someone he was dating for just three months. Maybe...Maybe not.

They spent their last evening together, before departing for Christmas, at the penthouse. Kurt cooked dinner and Blaine offered to assist him with it but ended up being more of a distraction than actual help. Kurt wouldn't have it any other way even though their dinner almost burnt on the stove.

"How much privacy do you have at Cooper's house?" Kurt asked Blaine as they were relaxing on the sofa after dinner, Kurt's head currently in Blaine's lap while Blaine ran his fingers through his hair.

"I have my own room. Share the bathroom with Nick and Jeff's room...Why?"

"Just thinking about how many proper goodnights we could have..."

"Honey, we could have very proper goodnights."

"Hmmm..." Kurt hummed and grasped at Blaine's polo shirt to bring him down for a slow kiss.

"I'll put on Katy Perry so no one would suspect anything in case I get loud." Blaine said into the kiss and Kurt snickered, pushing Blaine away from him.

"What? Katy Perry? You couldn't come up with something better?"

"What can be better than Katy Perry?"

"Anything!"

"Hey! She's amazing! What do you have against her?"

"Except that she can't really sing? Have you heard some of her live performances? They are horrible!"

"They are not!" Kurt's eyes twinkled at Blaine's offended expression. He was just teasing him, knowing how Blaine always took Katy Perry seriously. "As if Lady Gaga was better!"

Kurt got up from his position and looked at Blaine as he just insulted his deity. Which he kind of did.

"Take that back, Anderson." Kurt ordered him. Blaine shook his head and folded his arms on his chest.

"Never."

"I said take it back."

"Or what?" Blaine challenged him and before he had a chance to figure out what was going on, Kurt was straddling his lap, his fingers tickling his ribs.

"Stop it, Kurt." Blaine laughed and wriggled in an attempt to get from Kurt's hands but Kurt managed to pin his arms behind his back and tickled him freely some more.

"Kurt, oh my god, stop it! K-Kurt!"

"Take it back!" Kurt was laughing with Blaine by this point and Blaine's effort of unwinding himself from Kurt almost sent them down on the floor. Blaine caught Kurt in the last moment and pressed him against his chest, finding a balance and sinking back to the sofa..

"Okay. I take it back. They are both amazing. Can we agree on that?" Blaine offered the truce when they calmed down a bit and Kurt nodded. His hair was disheveled, as it was him and not Blaine who got tickled and there were tears in the corner of his eyes from laughing. He was smiling brightly, showing his teeth which was a rare occurrence for him. Blaine was watching him closely, a small, amused smile plastered on his face. God, Kurt was so beautiful.

"What?" Kurt asked him and bit his lower lip. He felt a bit on a display under Blaine's gaze. A strand of his hair fell down on his forehead and Blaine took it away from his face, letting the back of his hand caress Kurt's cheek.

"I love you, Kurt." He declared clearly. There was no doubt about what words had just come out his mouth and Kurt's heart stopped beating for a second. Blaine loved him. Him. Kurt burst into laughter again and Blaine couldn't bring himself to be upset. He'd just confessed his love to another man and said man was tittering right on top of him but Blaine felt nothing but happiness. He did it. He said it because he felt like it and deep in his heart he knew Kurt wasn't laughing at him. He refused to let his insecurities win and succeeded. There was nothing more but him and his love for Kurt, secure and standing on a solid foundation.

Kurt leaned forward, connecting their lips in a messy kiss since he was still giggling like a madman and Blaine chuckled with him. It seemed like the proper thing to do.

"I love you too, Blaine. I love you so much." And Blaine understood why Kurt had been laughing. His whole being was consumed by this enormous amount of happiness after hearing those words that he had to laugh as well. He was in love and the man he was in love with was in love with him too. There was nothing better in this world than the feeling of warmth, serenity and belonging he was surrounded by right now.