"Blaine!" Charles shouted from his office, "Where is that proposal you promised?"

Charles wasn't sure if Blaine was nearby, his office door was open and there was an assumption that if Blaine wasn't there that someone would get him immediately. He wasn't mistaken.

"You called?" Blaine said, no hint of sarcasm, just a meekness that irritated Charles just as much.

"Of course I called, get in here," he said angrily. "Where is that proposal? That clothes shop idea."

"Oh, I'll get it," Blaine said excitedly, "But it's not a clothes shop, it's a boutique."

"Whatever, just bring me the proposal."

Blaine did as asked, quickly so as not to piss his father off anymore.

Charles stuck his hand out to accept the papers. He flicked through the pages that Blaine had prepared which outlined the concept for the boutique, the theme, the designs, the promise of clothing contracts already. He wasn't interested in all of that. He looked only to the last few pages that outlined the money, the profits and what he would be expected to pay in return.

'What do you think?" Blaine asked nervously.

"It's too much," he said simply, without looking at Blaine. "Knock $15,000 off the price we'll pay, with the same amount of ownership, and this Hummel can consider us in."

Charles looked up at Blaine with a hard stare, almost daring him to refute the change but Blaine said nothing. He knew it was a test that Blaine couldn't afford to win and didn't want to lose. His mouth had opened, now it closed and he nodded.

"I'll go back to Mr Hummel and explain the new proposal," Blaine said calmly.

"Good," Charles said handing it back to Blaine, already dismissing the papers and wanting Blaine out of his office. "Make it quite clear we won't invest unless he agrees." Charles stood and shouted outside his office.

"Coffee," he barked at a newer employee who jumped at his loud instruction but soon scurried off.

Blaine said nothing but walked slowly out of the office.

---

"Can you meet me for lunch?" Blaine said in a hurried voice as soon as Kurt answered the phone.

"Blaine," he said, "Of course, what's wrong?"

"I can't talk now, how quickly can you meet me? I need to discuss a few things with Quinn but after that I'm free."

"That's fine," Kurt said his voice already showing his worry, "Shall I meet you in the same place as before in half hour?"

"That's great Kurt," Blaine said in a rushed voice, his eyes widely darting at his open door in case anyone could hear.

"Our place," Kurt said quietly as Blaine hung up the phone.

---

Kurt was early so ordered coffees and sat down, his knee jogging up and down in anticipation of what was to come. Obviously Blaine had met up with his father, maybe to talk about children again, or something about the date. Maybe he had found out? He'd never heard Blaine so anxious or speak so quickly. His eyes fixed on the door, he saw Blaine as soon as he rushed in.

"Kurt," Blaine said as soon as he entered. Kurt left his seat and rushed toward Blaine in panic, gripping his arms and looking intently into his eyes. Wide brown orbs of worry and panic met shining blue, so pure and clear that Blaine felt a wave of calmness float over him. He sighed.

"It's ok, don't worry," Blaine said, his shoulders relaxing as he led Kurt back to his table. "You bought coffee?"

"Of course," Kurt said shrugging, his face showing that he thought Blaine was slightly mad for fixing on such a detail. "What's happened? You've got me all panicked."

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to do that," Blaine said, his mind suddenly clear now Kurt was close. "I've discussed it with Quinn and it's ok."

"What is?" Kurt asked in desperation and Blaine chuckled a little.

"Sorry, I keep forgetting you don't know," he said, "I had a meeting with my father this morning. He will sign the proposals only if you agree to a $15,000 reduction in your asking price for the same rights to the profits."

"What?" Kurt said suddenly outraged, "But you agreed it, I had someone in my office go through the paper work and even accounting for the loss I will have in contacts I should make more money than you outlined in the proposal."

"Exactly," Blaine said sitting up straighter to explain himself further, "I know that, and even Quinn knows that, but my father is testing me. He wants to see if I'll beg."

"So you will?" Kurt asked.

"No," Blaine said, causing Kurt to look up in hurt, "I'll do better than that. I'll invest on my own terms, nothing to do with my father's money or company."

"I don't understand."

Blaine came closer, forgot where he was and grabbed Kurt's hand as it rested on the table.

"Quinn and I will invest."

"Quinn and you?"

Blaine nodded.

"With Quinn's money," Blaine said quietly, "My father will never know."

"How…"

"I'll say that you refused the new offer, that you weren't happy. He'll think nothing more of it and if it ever comes out, I can say that Quinn loves your dresses so much that she wanted to invest. Quinn is quite happy for me to meet with you on her behalf, she'll just provide the money."

"Will the profits go to her?" Kurt asked.

"Yes but we plan to join accounts now so it solidifies the image of the perfect marriage."

"Where your wife sleeps with other people?" Kurt said quietly, a sardonic smile on his face. Blaine blushed.

"Something like that," he said.

Kurt took the moment to squeeze the hand that still rested in his.

"Blaine, when are you going to get out?" Blaine looked up in surprise. "You clearly hate working there and if working for your father can induce that much panic in you then it's not worth it."

Blaine thought it over, the dream of singing professionally, the bar hopping, the tips for playing, the strange hours, the lights. It all seemed so hazy and in the distance. Just a dream, only a dream.

"I can't," Blaine whispered, looking down and removing his hand from where it rested in Kurt's, as if his very touch was something he didn't deserve anymore.

"Why?"

Kurt asked so sweet, his caring, kind nature so evident in his clear blue eyes and the soft glow on his cheeks, that it was on the tip of Blaine's tongue to reveal it all. But he stopped. He shook his head.

"I can't say."

Kurt sat back, hurt and disappointment evident in his face now.

"Ok, I'll see you tonight I presume?" Kurt stood, about to go. Blaine looked up in surprise, the panic returning to his face at the thought that he might not see him again for their date.

"Oh please," Blaine said, "I've planned the most perfect evening, I promise."

Kurt's expression softened as he looked down. He touched Blaine's shoulder and leaned closer to kiss him on the cheek in goodbye.

"I'll look forward to it then," he said, and he was gone.

---

Blaine was out of his comfort zone. He wanted to make this a night that Kurt would remember for a very long time but as he tried on his bright yellow leg warmers and lime green fingerless gloves, he realised he looked nothing like his usual self. Quinn came in from work and stopped as soon as she saw Blaine's reflection in the mirror.

"Oh my…" she breathed, "What are you wearing?" She fell about laughing and Blaine went red.

"I've bought a similar outfit for Kurt, do you think he'll join in?" He looked genuinely worried and Quinn's laughter stopped.

"Oh of course he will," she said coming closer, "He'll love it. Kurt showed us his planned audition for NYADA, and let's just say, his outfit left little to the imagination." She smirked and Blaine's eyebrow rose.

"I thought he never auditioned for NYADA," he said.

"Oh he didn't but he considered it and made us all watch his intended performance. He sang 'Not the Boy Next Door' in legendary gold pants. Tight gold pants." She leant in seductively, knowing full well that Blaine was enjoying the image in his head. She laughed.

"He won't mind dressing up like this. Where are you taking him?"

"That's a surprise," he said finally standing up and smiling to himself in the mirror. "I just hope it's a night to remember."

"I don't think you need to convince him of anything," she said coming closer and sneaking her arms around his waist, so her face could just about be seen in the mirror. "I've seen him look at you, he's smitten already."

Blaine said nothing but Quinn could tell he was hanging on her every word, trying not to get his hopes up.

"He thinks you're amazing and rightly so," she said smiling. She let him go and turned to leave the room.

"You're not seeing Rupert tonight?" he asked as she stood by the door.

She shook her head.

"No, I think not," she said, the sadness evident in her voice. "I've had a long day and I think I need a good bath."

There was something more that she wasn't saying but Blaine decided not to push it. They had talked about the 'children' issue and had agreed not to worry about it for now, although they both knew it would need to be discussed again soon. Blaine prepared to leave.

---

Kurt opened his door to see the biggest bouquet of white flowers he had ever seen and he laughed.

"Why, is that Blaine hidden behind all of that?" he asked and Blaine popped out with the biggest grin on his face. He stretched his arms out with his gift.

"Thank you Blaine," Kurt said as he eyed the flowers, "These are so beautiful." He took them quickly and placed them in a vase.

"So where are we off to?" Kurt asked, "Is what I'm wearing ok?" Blaine took the opportunity to look Kurt up and down. What he was wearing was definitely ok. Kurt's suit was a simple tight black; a white shirt and skinny black tie but his white boots set the look entirely. They were killer boots.

"You look fantastic!" Blaine exclaimed, "But you don't need to worry about that because we change when we get there."

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked, his mouth open.

"A surprise," Blaine said, enjoying the moment. "I'm driving." And Blaine took his hand and they left the building, a surprised Kurt tagging along behind.

---

Kurt kept interjecting during the drive but Blaine wouldn't give anything away.

"Staten island?" Kurt asked. Blaine only nodded. He was enjoying the surprise far too much. As soon as they were parked, Blaine insisted Kurt be blindfolded with a silk scarf of course and led through the door to the establishment.

"Blaine where are we?" Kurt asked as he finally stopped though he could hear many excited voices and he thought he recognised the Wham song playing.

Blaine said nothing, only quickly added the finishing touches to his outfit and eventually slipped the scarf from Kurt's eyes as he stood still in front of him.

Kurt gasped then looked around him and laughed.

"A roller skating rink?" he exclaimed, "I haven't been to one in years."

"I've never been to one but when I rang them they said that we had to dress in 80s gear when we arrived so I brought you matching accessories." Blaine quickly revealed the luminous yellow leg warmers, fingerless gloves and funky glasses. Kurt started laughing again.

"I can't believe we have to wear these crimes against fashion," Kurt said laughing but he started placing the items around his body.

"What made you think of this?" Kurt said as he finished.

"I just got to thinking what would make the most memorable night of your life, what would be the best date and I came up with the craziest ideas. This seemed the best."

"Yes it definitely is the best," Kurt said smiling and touching Blaine's arm gently as he came closer. Blaine looked down at the gentle fingers.

"No one will ever find us here," Blaine said quietly but Kurt heard it and his face fell. He attempted to smile.

"Then that is an added bonus," he said grabbing Blaine's hand, "Come on, where do we get our skates?"

They took a while to get used to the skating and spent many embarrassing moments by the outside but after a while Kurt became more confident and took Blaine's hand again to lead him to the middle.

They wore glow sticks as bracelets and the music lived up to the 80s dream. Wham, Spandau Ballet, all the classic songs and Blaine finally allowed himself to dance and let go. He watched Kurt dance; Blaine was so in awe of the carefree man in front of him who didn't care what people thought. Kurt would sing along to the songs he knew, whisper stories from his childhood and come closer to Blaine as he wobbled. Blaine clung to his waist for support.

The lights suddenly changed as the night continued, the floor lit up, the disco balls twirling and shining above. Kurt instantly recognised the song as a recent hit but he suddenly let Blaine go and threw his arms back as he lifted his head to the ceiling.

"I love this song!" he exclaimed and Blaine watched as he started to sing.

I stared up at the sun,

Thought of all of the people, places and things I've loved.

I stared up just to see

With all of the faces, you were the one next to me.

He looked at Blaine so intently that Blaine's breath hitched as he realized how truly beautiful Kurt was in that moment. Kurt took his hand and gestured for Blaine to start singing with him.

You can feel the light start to tremble,

Washing what you know out to sea.

You can see your life out the window tonight.

If I lose myself tonight,

It'll be by your side.

I lose myself tonight...

The music got quicker and Kurt started moving, leading Blaine away with him as they circled the dance floor. Kurt was invincible; Blaine couldn't help but worry they might fall.

If I lose myself tonight,

It'll be you and I.

Lose myself tonight...

They stopped and danced as quickly as they could bumping into people all around them and giggling.

I woke up with the sun,

Thought of all of the people, places and things I've loved.

I woke up just to see

With all of the faces, you were the one next to me.

You can feel the light start to tremble,

Washing what you know out to sea.

You can see your life out of the window tonight.

If I lose myself tonight,

It'll be by your side.

I lose myself tonight...

If I lose myself tonight,

It'll be you and I.

Lose myself tonight...

A larger crowd seemed to gather around them and everyone starting chanting. They didn't know what Blaine had to work with or had to hide in his day-to-day life but it didn't matter in that moment. Blaine was free, just like they were.

Take us down and we keep trying,

Forty thousand feet, keep flying.


The crowd slowed as the music came to its end but Blaine pulled Kurt closer to him, clung to his waist in case Kurt might disappear. He whispered in his ear.

I woke up with the sun,

Thought of all of the people, places and things I've loved.

I woke up just to see

With all of the faces, you were the one next to me.

Kurt's heart stopped but as he looked into Blaine's eyes of warm amber, so warm he worried they might be liquid gold, he smiled. Kurt couldn't help himself, he didn't wait to be asked like he had hoped. He leant forward and kissed Blaine's lips softly. Blaine still clung to Kurt's waist and he pulled him impossibly closer, just in case he lost his footing. He sighed into the kiss. He didn't care, he thought of no one apart from Kurt: his lifeline, his beautiful lifeline, that if he clung on tight enough, just might help him out of the abyss.