Kurt knew it was stupid to be nervous. He knew deep down, that Blaine would care about him no matter what he looked like, what he wore, or how he wore it.

He knew that one night couldn't ruin the foundation they set up.

Nevertheless, he was still terrified about the ball. He wanted to repeatedly hit himself over the head for even bringing the topic up because he now had to figure out how to look good in fashion that had been dead for years, and rightfully so in his opinion. He should have known that he would be terrified all night that something would go wrong.

A part of him still wanted to call Blaine and call the entire thing off, he just wanted to spend the night in the living room, watching movies and throwing popcorn at each other.

He did not have to go out. They could be one of those couples that never go out.

This was precisely the reason he never went to dances or any extracurricular activities at school – he always psyched himself out of them.

All the time.

Mercedes had tried to convince him to go to prom one, and he had even gone so far as to rent a tux, but he next day he called everything off and decided to spend his night reading back issues of Vogue.

He was not sure he regretted it – they could have poured blood on him like they did in Carrie or thrown pee balloons at him.

Mercedes had been mad, but she understood that Kurt was terrified of what could have happened had he gone to the dance. They would have found a way to humiliate him, he was absolutely positive of that.

However, Kurt wanted to be different for Blaine, he wanted to prove for the last time that high school had no ruined him and instead that he would stand apart and be a man, be a human being that did not hide from his own shadow every single time things were a little scary.

In addition, really, what could be so scary about a Victorian dance?

Other than the fact that gay couples at the time were publically hanged or maliciously mocked into oblivion. That was one tradition Kurt hoped they didn't keep.

He had thought the whole thing would be romantic.

Kurt wondered what Blaine would wear to the ball. He had not shown Kurt the outfit he chose because he wanted it to be special and claimed that Kurt seeing it would bring "bad luck" to them at the dance. Since Kurt was rarely a betting man, he let it go, though he reminded Blaine that this was nothing like a wedding.

Kurt glanced in the mirror again and double-checked to make sure the wrinkles were all out of his outfit. He had pressed it several times already, but knew that wrinkles formed easily in this type of clothing. They were not actually from the 1800s, but instead were made a few years back to replicate the style.

Kurt chose something a little outlandish that only the richest of men would wear, but he figured if they were going to pretend to be Victorian, they could also pretend to be filthy rich. He wore pinstripe pants that fit just a little too snug, but that's how he preferred them anyway. They were a gray color that was not quite black, but someone with a less sharp eye could call it that. He paired it with a slightly lighter gray vest that nipped him in nicely at the waist, and then a black shirt that looked silk but was not. He had a brown coat that he was not thrilled about, but was assured by Emma that was definitely in fashion at the time. He added a top hat to the ensemble and sighed.

It wasn't his style, and he knew he was going to be hot, but he also knew that he had to be the best dressed man at the ball.

Just in case.

Kurt heard the doorbell ring and ran down the steps quickly. He was the only one in the house at the time and didn't want Blaine to wait. When he opened the door, he felt all of his breath leave him.

Blaine stood there in a similar pair of dark gray pants, a navy vest, a red scarf handing around his neck, a darker navy coat that pulled in his waist and looked amazing next to his quickly darkening skin. He too had a top hat and a cane, which Kurt hoped would not get in the way of the evening.

However, what really took Kurt's breath away was the carriage behind Blaine.

"A carriage?" Kurt broke the silence of them just looking at each other. "You got a carriage to take us to the ball?"

Blaine grinned and scratched at his neck, "Yeah…Is it took much?"

"Too much?" Kurt was shocked, how could he think it was too much? "I absolutely love it! I never…it's so romantic!"

Blaine blushed to his hairline, "You really think so? I've never really been all that great at romance…"

"I don't believe that for a second," Kurt said as he offered Blaine his arm.

"You probably should, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment," Blaine said as he opened the carriage door and help Kurt.

Truthfully, it wasn't exactly what Kurt had imagined. The seat was a little uncomfortable, and the smell of the horse was somewhat overpowering his senses. Blaine sat next to him on the tiny seat, and it was good they were dating because the seat forced them to be touching.

Blaine closed the door and leaned over to press a chaste kiss into Kurt's lips, momentarily distracting him from his surroundings.

Kurt didn't register the driver making the noise to signal the horses and when they started moving, and the momentum caused him to jerk backwards.

"Watch it," Blaine giggled in his ear, "I don't want you to fall out."

Kurt huddled closer to Blaine, "Hold on so I don't fall out?" He didn't really think he would, but if felt nice that he could have someone who would hold him.

He was reminded again how simple, right, and safe he felt with Blaine. He wasn't sure he'd felt that way with anyone in his life before, including his family.

"Of course," Blaine whispered, huddling closer to him. Their top hats bumped into each other and Kurt was a little worried they would be blown off, but he wouldn't mention it for fear that Blaine would either move away or take the hat off.

"Can I kiss you?" Blaine asked, his breath tickling Kurt's neck and making goose bumps break out on his skin.

"Of course," Kurt mimicked, turning and taking the initiative to kiss Blaine, cupping his face and bringing Blaine in to deepen the kiss.

Just as Kurt was about to lose himself in the kiss, he heard a wolf whistle. He pulled away with a blush.

Blaine grinned, pressing his forehead against Kurt's, pushing their hats back again. "Don't be embarrassed," Blaine pressed a few more kisses into Kurt's lips, "please!"

Kurt laughed, "I'll try."

Blaine continued kissing Kurt, pressing a few kisses here and there on Kurt's neck and cheeks, dipping up to kiss his earlobe, "Have I told you how absolutely amazing you look tonight?" he whispered, making the hair on the back of Kurt's neck stand up.

Kurt tried not to giggle in nervousness, "N-no."

"Well then I made a very big mistake," Blaine pressed a wet kiss onto Kurt's neck, "very big. You are simply gorgeous."

Kurt couldn't help but preen under Blaine's hands, "Y-you're just saying that."

"Hmm…no, I'm not," he laughed a little, "I'm giving you the attention you deserve."

Kurt turned and looked at Blaine, "You're silly."

Blaine laughed again and kissed Kurt's cheek before moving back slightly, his arm still wrapped securely around Kurt's waist.

Relatively calmed down, Kurt was able to enjoy the short amount of the ride left. The sound of the horses soothed him as the pastel houses flew by them.

It was beautiful. The sun was just setting over the bay, reflecting the pink, orange, and yellow into the glistening water. A few stragglers on the shoreline walked, mostly lovers hand in hand and joggers. Kurt fell into Blaine's shoulder, laying his head on the crook between Blaine's neck and shoulder. He looked up and saw that the stars started peeking out in the purple sky.

He could not imagine a more romantic scene.

Too soon, the horse was going down the dock to the place where the ball was held. The scene was beautiful, the dock was lined with white linen and tiny tea candles marked every board. The actual hall was beautiful, and Kurt could see and smell the flowers that were on the inside. The music was not Victorian; he could hear a soft voice and a gentle piano playing in the background. Couples were dancing together, and others were sipping champagne on the sides of the dock, watching the sunset.

"Do you think people will be angry that we are here?" Kurt worried, thinking about anything that could ruin their night.

"No," Blaine soothed his hand down Kurt's back, "I really don't think anyone will care. Most people know and love your Aunt Meg, and I would like to think I made a few friends while working this summer."

Kurt got out of the carriage first, ready to be on solid ground. He turned and held his hand out to Blaine.

He deserved to have a romantic night as well.

Blaine gripped Kurt's hand and smiled softly, "Thank you."

Kurt grinned and moved his arm so Blaine could grab it, "This really is beautiful."

Blaine nodded, slightly in awe of the building, "Thank you for making me realize that there are things that are more important than working."

"Thank you for getting me out of the house," Kurt leaned closer, slowing their walk so they could enjoy the beauty for a few seconds longer.

The ball was even more beautiful up close. Everyone was dressed to the nines as they danced in a much more modern style.

"They have a waltz competition," Kurt tried to hide his smile as he pointed to the sign.

"Do you want to join?" Blaine asked as he moved toward the signup sheet.

"No…we don't have to," Kurt shook his head, "I'm not sure…do you even know how to waltz?"

"I do," Blaine wrote their names down quickly before Kurt could take the pen, "plus, the winning couple gets their photograph in the gallery forever. We could be immortalized! That would be a great story to tell our grandchildren!"

"Our grandchildren?" Kurt coughed.

Blaine turned and all of the blood drained from his face, "Oh my god. Please tell me I didn't say that out loud."

"You did."

Blaine bit his lip and looked up, "I'm sorry, can we just forget I said that? I didn't…sometimes I just get so wrapped up that I say things I don't really….that I shouldn't really say out loud."

Kurt leaned over and kissed his red cheek, "Stop worrying. I think about stuff like that too. All the time," he admitted.

"Really?"

Kurt nodded.

"What do you think about?" Blaine's voice was suddenly higher and he leaned in to Kurt.

"Us," Kurt said after a long pause, "living together in an apartment. Waking you up with a cup of coffee. Painting the room together. Really….really simple things."

"I love that," Blaine said, "I think about it too."

"What do you think about?"

"New York," Blaine admitted, "us living together in New York in this beautiful apartment that overlooks Central Park. We have a dog, maybe a small one that is fluffy and adorable and even though you probably hate dogs you'll still put up with one for me because I've always wanted a dog and my dad never got me one…"

Kurt laughed, "I would love to co-parent a dog with you, Blaine. A small dog. A very small dog."

Blaine was about to reply when they heard "Excuse me?" from the familiar voice of a woman behind them said.

Kurt braced himself and turned around to see Rachel standing with a smile on her face. She wore a bright yellow dress that Kurt wasn't quite sure fit the theme. "It's nice to see you."

"Will you dance with me?" Rachel asked with a grin, "I'd like to talk to you."

Kurt wasn't sure he wanted to dance with Rachel. "Why?"

"I don't have a date and I would like to have at least one dance tonight," Rachel said sadly. Kurt remembered that Rachel never had a date in high school either.

"Of course," Kurt looked back at Blaine who was frowning slightly, "but only one. I need to spend the rest of the night dancing with my handsome date."

Rachel waved lightly at Blaine who smiled back, though Kurt knew that something was still wrong. "I wish I could be beautiful like her," Rachel nodded toward Quinn who was wearing a slate gray dress, "and then I could have a boyfriend."

Kurt turned Rachel away from the dancing pair. "You will find someone amazing who will love you for you," he assured her, "I did, which means that anyone can."

Rachel looked up at him sadly, "You deserved love and you're amazing."

Kurt blushed when he realized what he said, "We aren't…we don't..I mean…he doesn't…it isn't…oh god, we aren't using the L word yet." Kurt glanced over to see his boyfriend dancing with a short, tan girl who wore a huge princess style pink dress with a leopard jacket and gloves. "We haven't been dating that long."

"But you'll get there," Rachel confirmed, her eyes following Kurt's vision. "That's Sugar Motta. Her family owns like half of Brigantine."

Kurt watched as Blaine dipped the girl, both of them laughing. Blaine was so naturally charismatic with people. "Sometimes I wonder what he sees in me."

"Your ass," Rachel said dryly, "is fantastic."

"You've looked?" Kurt quirked an eyebrow at the girl.

"Yes," Rachel said as the song ended. "That was my first slow dance."

"Mine too," Kurt realized. He felt a little bad that he couldn't give that to Blaine.

Rachel clapped happily, "I'm glad we got to share that together."

Kurt gave her a tight-lipped smile, "I'm going to go dance with my boyfriend now. Will you be okay?"

Rachel nodded, "I will sing later, promise me you're critique it?"

Kurt made his way over to Blaine who was now leaning against a pillar with a smile. He watched as Kurt walked toward him.

"Drinks?" Kurt suggested, not wanting to get his hopes up.

Blaine's face fell, "I was hoping maybe we could dance first?"

A song was starting and Blaine reached out his hand.

"Of course," Kurt pulled Blaine in, allowing the shorter boy to put his head on Kurt's shoulder. Kurt led them slowly to the song.

Unspeakable
Like a truth unsaid
The thought of you
Fills my tired head

Blaine pulled back and looked deeply into Kurt's eyes, "Kurt…I really, really care about you." His voice was somewhat hoarse.

Kurt knew the deeper meaning in the words and he knew that they couldn't say them. Not yet, they couldn't be that couple. "I really care about you too," he said lightly.

Blaine leaned in again and kissed him. Kurt loved that they could be open like this, that no one would care that they were two men.

Your hand in mine
Taking left in right
As we combine
Joining black and white

Blaine took the lead a little, moving Kurt toward the larger group of people. No one noticed or said anything as they two boys twirled onto the dance floor. Blaine's hand burned against Kurt's waist and he gripped tighter.

"You're a great dancer," Kurt breathed, "I didn't think…I wasn't sure….I thought because you went to an all boys' school that you wouldn't have practice."

"I had to keep up Anderson appearances and take the Crawford County girls to dances. That's where I learned to waltz."

Turn out the light and we'll dance through the night
Spinning slow
As our hearts beat in stereo
Twirling around in the wake of this beautiful sound
Sway with the breeze in three hundred and sixty degrees
Yeah, our hearts beat for days like these
Soak up the moment and promise you won't let it go

"So it wasn't with Ninet Himelfarb?" Kurt tried to sound upset.

Blaine laughed, "No, nor was it with the French Ambassador's daughter."

Kurt grinned. Blaine actually got his jokes. Someone understood the reference and didn't judge him for it.

Blaine made him feel normal for the first time.

Your breathing slows
As we gently sway
The music stops
But we keep going anyway

The skyline fades
Trading red for blue
But I don't care
'Cause I'm here with you

They spent the rest of the night dancing together. Kurt had chanced a dip and almost dropped Blaine from the look on his face.

"I didn't know you were that strong," Blaine laughed when he was final back on a normal level.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," Kurt joked.

"I hope to learn them all one day," Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt's neck and hugged him tight.

"Ladies and gentlemen, would the contestants in the Waltz contest please come to the front of the room!" a voice said over the microphone.

"Oh good lord, I forgot about that," Kurt said as he heart dropped.