Skype had never been so limiting.

Blaine did skype as soon as he arrived in his dorm, back in New York, back to the thoughts of college again tomorrow. Brad was out again and he had never been more glad. Talk of what the journey had been like soon turned into what they missed just by seeing only in two dimensions.

"I miss you," Kurt whispered during a lull in conversation.

Blaine had been in the middle of smiling at something they had seen in LA, now his expression slowly dialled down but his eyes twinkled.

"I miss you too," he said softly. "But Im still here. At least we have this."

"Can you imagine how people did long distance without technology?" Kurt asked, shaking his head at the thought. "I couldnt do it."

"Well we have this," Blaine said, indicating the computer screen, "At least we will always have this."

They were interrupted by an unceremonious bang of the door and a loud bye. Brad was home.

He instantly noticed Blaine and the guy on his laptop screen and pulled a face.

"I so dont want to see any phone sex, dude," he said, landing on his bed ungracefully. "So keep it in your pants."

Blaine ignored the comment but made it obvious to Kurt he was disgusted. Kurt just sighed and shook his head.

"Speak tomorrow?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah, same time?"

Kurt nodded sadly, wishing the conversation didnt have to end, wishing time would hurry up and bring him to New York.

"I miss you," Blaine whispered, coming closer to the screen in the hope that Brad wouldnt hear. But Brad looked over and didnt hide his laughter.

"I miss you too," Kurt said, giving Brad his best bitch stare despite being so far away.

"Bye."

"Goodbye Blaine."

During the next few weeks it felt like they were two separate halves of a whole. One night each week they tried to have a film night so they would watch the same television show or movie and eat popcorn together as if they were sharing the same bowl. They would comment, bitch about the outfits and laugh and cry at similar scenes so they could almost imagine they were sitting next to each other. Blaine loved to hear Kurts musical laughter and Kurt would smile when Blaine felt sorry for the nasty characters. They were often disturbed by roommates but when they could ignore, when they could imagine the other right next to them, it was perfect.

They skyped nearly every day, recalling the best things that had happened and they tried to have at least one meal together each day. But it was odd when Kurt rang as he walked along the beach as Blaine took a walk through a darker park or if Kurt would sing Blaine to sleep when it was time for him to eat his dinner. They would have these amazing conversations and it was if they were right next to each other, seeing the exact same things, understanding so perfectly. At other times, they would realise there was nearly three thousand miles between them and they could feel it tangibly like a barrier.

Kurt had a particularly busy week, trying to sort the costumes for a community theatre production as well as learning lines for a college play. He had continued working at a coffee shop and it took all his time away when Blaine was winding down in preparation for spring break. Blaine had been organised with assignments so he could have the time to speak more often to Kurt who he realised was constantly busy. It was frustrating. Never had they been this out of synch.

Blaine called constantly in the hope that Kurt might be able to answer but he often got texts that explained why Kurt couldnt call back and Blaine was left in his dorm room, looking at his blank phone. Occasionally, Kurt would look at his phone as it buzzed, watch Blaines face appear and just a moment of hesitation and he would decline the call, knowing he didnt have the time.

It felt colder in Blaines dorm room, Brad hardly ever there and no one to talk to, he felt Kurt slip away and he hated it. He started to leave messages.

The first was deliberately nonchalant so as not to appear too needy but after a while the messages became a little more desperate, Blaine always hoping that Kurt might be able to answer. After a particularly stressful day, Kurt left his own message when he knew that Blaine would be asleep:

"Blaine, you cant keeping ringing or messaging. I know you want to talk but Im so busy and stressed that this isnt helping. Please understand," he begged. "I think it would be best if I rang you when Im free." The emphasis was all on the I that Blaine felt his stomach sink when he heard the message. He didnt call again.

Kurt noticed. Despite asking Blaine to not message or call, Kurt missed it when it stopped. He was bogged down with demands on his time and hearing messages in between were always a welcome distraction. It was lovely to hear Blaines sweet voice even if he couldnt call back. Now there was just silence.

He realised he must have hurt the boy that he was quickly falling in love with but he didnt know what to do about the situation. He saw spring break in his future and longed for that time. Only when he was at boiling point, when just hearing Blaines voice would have made all the difference, Kurt couldnt get a hold of him. Too many demands had been made about the costumes, an assignment was due in and he had to perform for a critique, which was proving impossible to perfect. He pulled at his normally coiffed hair and screamed.

"Kurt?" Rachel peered round his door looking concerned and he apologised.

"Are you ok?"

"Not really but theres not much you can do about it," Kurt said, looking at the stupid assignment that was staring at him blankly.

"Maybe if you call Blaine?" she suggested quietly.

Kurt looked infinitely sad. "I tried, hes not answering. I pushed him away Rachel, hes got every reason to ignore my call. I asked for space and hes giving it to me."

Rachel nodded. "Ok," she said quietly and with understanding. "Shall I make tea?"

"Yes please," he said weakly.

She walked out to their kitchen, made tea and brought it back.

"What will you sing tomorrow for the critique?"
Kurt looked like he might scream again. "I have no idea."
"I was thinking of a few suggestions but then as I made tea, I thought of Blaine and how alone he must feel."
"Dont make me feel worse…" Kurt groaned as he held his face in his hands.

"No I mean you could make this better with your song. Sing it to him, show him how you feel."

Kurt looked thoughtful and he nodded to himself as Rachel left the tea. It might just work. He thought of the sweet song that Blaine had posted over Christmas, the song that sealed everything and made such a declaration. It wouldnt make it fully up to Blaine but it was a start.

He practiced until it was perfect then set up his webcam to record.

"Hi, this is for Blaine," he said simply, "Im sorry darling." He deliberately used the term of endearment that had meant so much over Christmas.

You say love is what you put into it

You say that Im losing my will

Dont you know that youre all that I think about?

You make up a half of the whole

You say that its hard to commit to it

You say that its hard standing still

Dont you know that I spend all my nights

Counting backwards the days til Im home?

If only New York wasnt so far away

I promise the city wont get in our way

When youre scared and alone,

Just know that Im already home

Kurt had always leant towards New York, felt its pull, and knew that he would belong there. But now, as he realized he was singing to Blaine, he saw New York as his future home because Blaine was there. Not long now.

I say that were right in the heart of it

A love only we understand

I will bend every light in this city

And make sure theyre shining on you

If only New York wasnt so far away

I promise the city wont get in our way

When youre scared and alone,

Just know that Im already home

Kurt knew he hadnt been there for Blaine, had left him alone but he hoped that Blaine knew, really knew, how much he meant to him.

When life takes its own course

Sometimes we just dont get to choose

Id rather be there next to you

Promise youll wait for me, wait for me

Wait til Im home

All I have is this feeling inside of me

The only thing Ive ever known

If only New York wasnt so far away

I promise the city wont get in our way

When youre scared and alone,

Just know that Im already home

If only New York wasnt so far away

I will be there every step of the way

When youre scared and alone,

Just know that Im already home

Just know that Im already home

"Not long now," he said into the webcam, his eyes imploring and searching as if he imagined Blaine to be right there. "Ill come early, Ill be there. Im sorry."

He did what he needed to sort out his last few days in LA, then he booked his flight and hoped that he hadnt ruined everything.