#1:

Fun fact: Blaine did experiment with D/s dynamics a bit, with Ethan. Except... he was a sub, not a Dom.

#2:

Melanie did try to convince Blaine to go to therapy, or to AA meetings – multiple times over the years. She never pushed too hard, though. She knew that if she did, he'd probably just cut her out, like he had everyone else who tried to tell him how to deal with what he felt. She decided he was better off with a friend than without, since his stubborn refusal to get professional help didn't seem to waver anyway.

#3:

Kurt walking in on one of his drunken phases was Blaine's worst fear. At some point, he started scheduling their meetings so that he would always have enough time in between to sober up, if needed. That was his "big work project" that didn't let him meet Kurt more than twice a week – just an excuse for his "down times" that happened more and more often. So Kurt coming over with hardly any notice at all, that one night when he tried to ask Blaine out, caused immediate panic. Blaine barely managed to make himself look marginally presentable and less obviously drunk in time to open the door, but he was sure Kurt would see right through him anyway. Hence the snappy reaction – a panicked, impulsive attempt at distraction.

Of course, he knew he wouldn't be able to hold up the pretense forever – it was only a matter of time before the evidence of his binges would get harder to cover and his body would start betraying him. And that was a terrifying prospect, too, but still distant and abstract enough to put off thinking about it.

#4:

There were several books in Kurt's apartment, borrowed from Blaine merely a week before Melanie's revelation. Kurt couldn't touch them afterwards – they were a part of Blaine, of what they'd had together, and everything connected with Blaine was too raw and painful at this point. So he put the books away and forgot about them.

He found them again months later, well after they started speaking via text messages. He was ready to read them at last then, remembering their conversations with a fond smile. It was nice, like a piece of Blaine was there with him – especially when he found post-it notes tucked here and there with Blaine's comments or thoughts.

Then, one day, another note fell out from between the pages of one of the books he was reading. This one was different – just a torn-off piece of a lined yellow paper, folded in half. Blaine's handwriting on top was uncharacteristically shaky and uneven, the paper stained with old condensation rings from a whiskey tumbler. Kurt considered putting it away without reading, but it didn't look like anything private, and curiosity won.

On the top side, there were just familiar lyrics:

Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy

You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live

If I die
Let me die
Let him live

Convinced that these were just some notes for one of Blaine's books, Kurt unfolded the paper. His eyes widened as he read.

----

He's spring. In this endless frozen desert, he's spring like I never thought I'd see again.

I thought I broke him. I had to break him to save him, I had to, and I thought... I feared–

And yet, here he is, bold and vibrant and alive, so very alive, and stronger than I could ever be, so much more than I will ever become. Even when he struggles, even still bound by the past and weighted by this baggage, he's spring, ready to explode into full bloom of its stunning potential soon. Any day now.

I can't touch these fresh green leaves, I won't allow myself for fear of freezing them to death. I broke him once already. But I can feel the sunshine on my face, and the warm wind. I can see the clear sky in his eyes. He's spring, and I love him.

I love him.

----

Kurt sank into the armchair, hand covering his mouth and his eyes suddenly wet.

He didn't ask Blaine about the note. Instead, he folded it carefully and hid it in his own journal.

#5:

They didn't have sex on the first date. Or on the second, or third. It would be too easy, to just fall into the old, familiar rhythm. And that wasn't what they wanted, even with the chemistry still sizzling between them. That could wait. Instead, they talked for hours. They went to the movies, ate out, saw a Broadway show or two. They just spent time together.

And even after everything they'd done with each other, sexually, the first time Blaine took Kurt's hand, as they were walking to the subway after dinner one night, it felt like the closest they'd ever been.