Kurt loved designing. From the first stroke of his pencil, the first tentative sketches in his book to the faded lines and the shapes coming to life and later adding colour. He loved it all.

He had sketched designs for as long as he could remember; his room full of pictures of outlandish suits and beautiful dresses. He had dreams and hopes for the future while he was in high school but making his outfits, designing costumes he planned to make when he could get the money; this was where his heart remained. He had started selling his creations online when he could which then allowed him to purchase higher quality materials, take more chances and blog posts of himself in amazing outfits. He received comments, offers to create unique costumes and eventually he was in a position to open a boutique, his reputation strong enough for people to be interested. He would just need the money to open a little shop and he had no idea where to go for such a thing.

"Do you know anyone that can sort my finances out?" he asked Rachel on one of their coffee dates after work. Kurt worked for a prestigious company, one of many designers behind a bigger name and although he loved having the opportunity to design in any capacity, waiting for his dream to come true made his fingers itch and his heart beat a little faster.

"No not really," she said shrugging, her eyes cloudy and Kurt knew he had lost her.

"Rachel?"

"Sorry," she said, coming back into the room, "I was just thinking about Quinn."

"Quinn? As in high school Quinn?" Kurt asked, surprised. He hadn't heard that name in years.

"Yeah, I saw her on the sidewalk the other day, completely nearly bumped into her. We were both carrying coffees and I nearly spilled mine. It was so surreal. She hasn't changed a bit since high school but she nearly didn't recognise me." Rachel looked a little hurt.

"Well how is she? What's she doing now?"

"She's a lawyer in a big firm, working her way up to be partner. She's successful Kurt, like she always planned."

"And that makes you sad because?" Kurt asked, Rachel's eyes still somewhere in the distance.

"Because I'm still struggling, Kurt," she said, "I always thought I would be the one to follow my dreams but she had a plan and stuck to it."

"Rachel, I would hardly call your life a struggle," Kurt said, "You get to audition for Broadway all the time. You star in plays and musicals off-Broadway, you're just waiting for the big thing. Your time will come."

"When though Kurt?" she asked, her face suddenly crumbling, "I'm not getting younger Kurt, when will my time come?"

"You're 23 Rachel," he said, "Not 32."

"I'm getting old in Broadway terms," she said now genuinely sad. Kurt decided to bring the conversation back to Quinn.

"Was Quinn happy to see you? What did she say?"

"I'm actually meeting her for drinks tonight," Rachel said, "Do you fancy coming along?"

"Yeah that'll be good," Kurt said.

---

Blaine hated money. He hated dealing with money, talking about money and even helping people with money. He spent his days on the phone, in meetings with people who hired him to sort their finances, arrange loans and invest their money so they could make more. They were greedy, often fat with their hulking bodies representing their greed and love of excess. They invited him to expensive dinners and held parties where he could hobnob with important people and he hated it all. He put on his face, his expression neutral and his smile fake but he would look in the mirror and know that wasn't him looking back. He was all ready to go to work, his suit crisp, his hair well-styled and he knew something was missing. Quinn appeared in the long mirror beside him and pleasantly kissed him on the cheek.

"You really don't have to do that when we're alone," he said, clearly irked.

Quinn laughed.

"I know but I like it. I like the image of us as a couple," she said, weaving her arms around his waist and tucking her chin to rest on his shoulder. He looked at their image together in the mirror. He had to admit they made a good-looking couple. Just the right height to compliment each other, her blonde hair and green eyes a beautiful contrast with his dark hair and honey-coloured eyes. "We are beautiful together don't you think?" she said. He nodded and smiled.

"But you forget I know the truth my dear," he said, his comment biting and she removed herself from his back.

"Well yes," she said, starting to get her handbag ready for work.

"I know that you fuck other people," he said turning abruptly to face her, though she was avoiding his sharp gaze. His tone was so cutting she couldn't bear to look his way. "You may admire our beauty together but we know the truth now don't we?"

"That you like to fuck guys?" she retorted finally finding a shred of self-worth. "We both know the truth Blaine. Just because you don't have anyone at the moment, never forget that this is what we both wanted."

He thought it over. It had been what he wanted. A marriage to someone he didn't love, to a girl he would never find sexually attractive, just to get his parents off his back, so he could live the life he really wanted. When had it had all gone wrong. Her expression softened as Blaine sat down on her bed, clearly exhausted despite the new morning. She sat down next to him.

"I know that this isn't what you wanted Blaine," she said, "But at least we have freedom now, at least we can live the lives we want to live, that we choose to live."

"There's no freedom in living a lie Quinn," he said.

"But this way Blaine, we please our parents and ourselves. Our marriage isn't conventional but it is just what we both need. I never planned an open marriage for myself when we were younger. When I used to play with you after school when we were little I used to dream of us together and married, playing mummies and daddies for real." She laughed at the memory and Blaine pictured it all: the times he shared his inner most secrets with his best friend growing up, her beauty and her vivacity. He knew his life would be so much easier if he had really fallen for Quinn like his parents assumed.

"Do you love the guy you're seeing?" Blaine asked quietly. He never usually asked, the question always seeming too personal. He knew she had been seeing the same guy for quite a while but knew nothing about him.

"I think I do," she said quietly as if the very mention of love might make the relationship she had disappear with a puff of smoke. Blaine smiled.

"Then I'm glad," he said, getting up from the bed, the idea of Quinn finding love just about giving him enough courage to face the day. He took one look back as Quinn remained on her neatly made light pink bed. Quinn smiled hopefully.

"You'll find love too Blaine," she said, "I just know you will. There's one perfect guy out there, just for you. I know it."

Blaine smiled sadly at her and nodded. He indulged her little hopeful thought but let despair sink into his very bones. Maybe singing tonight at the bar might help he thought, as he left for work.

---

Kurt and Rachel went to the bar that night where they were to meet Quinn for drinks. It was heaving with young lawyers, smart and successful people who knew money and earned quite a bit themselves. They seemed to bask in their success and Kurt and Rachel visibly shrank in on themselves as they entered the bar. Despite wearing their most expensive outfits, they didn't look like they belonged. Quinn spied them near the bar where Kurt was ordering drinks and she called them over.

"Rachel, Kurt!" she exclaimed excitedly, "I'm so glad you could make it." She started madly introducing them both to her lawyer friends, their names getting lost in the music of the piano and Rachel and Kurt nodded politely, shaking hands and smiling.

"How are you Kurt?" Quinn asked after a while. "Rachel told me the other day that you are a designer now, hoping to open your own boutique."

"Yeah," Kurt said smiling, "I just need to find a little money." He laughed, knowing it wasn't going to be an easy thing. "I'll need to organise a loan but I think I will be successful."

He started talking to Quinn about his themes and designing and all the famous people he had styled over the years. He had worked his way up in designing circles and Quinn was animatedly asking him questions about the designer he currently worked for.

"I can't believe you design for him," she said, "I get his dresses all the time, he's fantastic." It turned out a little later, Quinn had inadvertently bought one of Kurt's dresses and he was amazed that she earned enough to afford it. He took a fresh look around the bar at Quinn's friends and realised how moneyed they all were now. Rachel seemed a little lost amongst Quinn's friends but discussed her own passions and singing as Quinn asked her questions.

"That's amazing Rachel," Quinn said, with a hint of sadness in her tone. "I'm really glad you're living your dreams."

It had been a heart felt comment from Quinn but with all the worry about impressing Quinn and feeling like she wasn't achieving after all, Rachel suddenly found tears stinging her eyes and she blinked them away.

"Thank you Quinn," she whispered, the words nearly lost in the music but Quinn heard and smiled too.

Someone new started at the piano and Kurt and Rachel looked up to see a dark haired guy in a suit and bow tie start tinkling on the keys. He was in awe of the black and white instrument underneath his fingers and Kurt found himself asking if they knew him.

"Oh yes," Quinn said happily, "That's my husband Blaine."

Kurt found his stomach sinking at the admission but his eyes remained on Blaine as he started to play in earnest and his voice rang out.

I was sent here for you,

We were made to love,

We were made to love.

You were sent for me too,

We were made to love,

We were made to love.

Blaine looked up at the crowd, drawing them in with his honey-coloured eyes. He scanned the room and noticed Kurt sat next to Quinn who was sipping her cocktail in her dark grey dress, her legs crossed to reveal her pointy black shoes. Kurt smiled encouragingly at Blaine as he continued to sing and Blaine couldn't take his eyes away from the stranger.

Oh, I've never seen anything

You're much more than you and me

Extraordinary machine

Oh, I never loved, I never loved oh

Never loved someone like this, alright, no way.

Blaine took in Kurt's lithe body, the way his face seemed to direct the eyes to his perfect mouth and cute nose. His blue eyes were piercing and so beautiful that despite the fact that Blaine had no idea who he was or why he was sitting next to his wife, he sang to him.

I was sent here for you,

We were made to love,

We were made to love.

You were sent for me too,

We were made to love,

We were made to love.

Oh, have you ever known,

When you laid your eyes on

The perfect work of art

I knew right from the start

Oh, I was never sure of a God before

But I know he must exist, He created this.

Quinn knew he wasn't singing to her and she glanced at Kurt who seemed mesmerized, those honey-coloured eyes drawing him in, along with the silky voice.

I was sent here for you,

We were made to love,

We were made to love

You were sent for me too,

We were made to love,

We were made to love

Kurt swallowed as the song drew to an end. Blaine sat back, taking his fingers away from the piano keys and assessing his audience as they erupted in applause. He smiled, slightly embarrassed but pleased they had enjoyed it. Music really was his only outlet and to be good at it was just an added bonus. His eyes caught sight of Kurt again, this unknown man who was watching him so intently. He stood and did a little bow as he walked off stage, coming towards his wife once a drink had been handed to him from the bar.

"Blaine," Quinn exclaimed slightly too happily and she stood to kiss her husband on the cheek. "You know the guys from work," she said waving her hands over the lawyers to her left who nodded their heads in greeting. "This is Kurt and Rachel," she said introducing her friends. "I went to high school with them and bumped into Rachel the other day. I nearly spilt her coffee." She laughed at the memory and Rachel and Kurt got up from their seats to be introduced properly.

"This is my husband Blaine," Quinn said as Blaine shook hands with Rachel then Kurt.

"Nice to meet you," Kurt said smiling, his hand remaining in Blaine's a little too long. They all took their seats. "You sang beautifully."

Blaine beamed, not able to take his eyes away from the perfect face in front of him. Quinn shuffled in her seat.

"Thank you," Blaine said politely, "I'm glad you liked it."

"Liked it?" Kurt said incredulously, "I loved it, you sang perfectly. Please tell me you do that for a living? I don't think I could bear it if you were wasting your gift in a boring day job."

Blaine looked over Kurt's porcelain face, his eyes so hopeful he considered not disappointing him.

"I'm afraid I work with my father in finance," he said glumly, his jaw almost set painfully getting the words out. Kurt's face fell a little.

"Well you sing beautifully," Kurt said and Blaine thanked him again.

"Kurt's a designer," Quinn said, enjoying having knowledge that Blaine wanted. "He's hoping to set up a small boutique if he can borrow the money from a bank."

"Really?" Blaine asked, his face lighting up at the possibilities.

"Yeah," Kurt said, "Do you know anyone that can help set me up?"

"Oh Blaine knows loads of people," Quinn said, her smile almost twinkling in the lights of the bar. Blaine sent an easy, happy smile her way as she said the words that Blaine would always thank her for.

"In fact you should set up a meeting with Blaine, he can help you with all your financial needs."

Kurt's face lit up.

"That would be fantastic," he said.

"Great," Blaine said, matching Kurt's smile. "Here's my card, give me a ring and we'll set it up."