Kurt Hummel was successful. Just enjoying a simple lunch in an up and coming restaurant in New York with his editor and friend George caused people to faun over him, desperate to impress. One young man had clearly been waiting and hoping for his entrance into the restaurant to beg him to look over his script as if he would pass it on to someone he knew in the Broadway biz. Kurt had power but not that much power.

Kurt had been a Broadway critic for a few years now, had grafted and faced rejection lots of times but it made him appreciate the finer art of critiquing: making sure you are polite with any criticism and tame with praise. He knew his craft, knew that to remain aloof and honest was key to the profession and that charming good manners would get you far. He kindly took the script from the young man, saying he would pass it on but already intimating that he didn't have the power he had hoped. Modesty and charm were always important.

He sat opposite George impeccably dressed and suave and smiled.

"So did that man from the New York Times call?" George inquired as he ate his fish.

"I should check my messages." Kurt said rummaging in his satchel. "Is this a real article possibility or just another man you're trying to set me up with?" Kurt asked as he pressed the button for his voicemail.

"Please," George said, "I never bother anymore, relationships are wasted on you," he said sadly. Kurt just sighed as a familiar voice was immediately heard on the phone.

"Kurt, its Blaine, it must be months right?" Kurt smiled into the phone. "I'm in Chicago and I, well..." Blaine started to ramble which Kurt knew to mean he had something important to say or he was embarrassed. "Anyway, we need to talk, four in the morning, it doesn't matter. Call me. Bye."

George looked at Kurt carefully, very rarely seeing such a smile grace his features. He realised he really was attractive like that.

"So who was that?"

"Blaine Anderson, my best friend. Sounds desperate to talk to me," Kurt said, starting to peruse the menu.

"Oh yes the wandering singer. Tell me about him again."

"We met at college, same year at NYADA, had a whirlwind romance that lasted for a month, then somehow it fizzled out amongst auditions and classes. As we broke up, he gave me this look and said, 'The thing that makes me want to cry is that I'm losing the best friend I've ever had.' And at that moment I knew, I felt the same way. So I cried, kissed him and we've been best friends ever since."

George allowed Kurt to reminisce over all the time he had known Blaine. They had been through all the tough times together: losing jobs, losing lovers, when Kurt's father had died. They had travelled to beautiful places together and smiled and laughed. Blaine was always the one person that completely understood Kurt, could comfort him, could make him chuckle. The times he spent with Blaine had been the best times of his life – drinking, talking. They were there for each other through everything and if Kurt was honest he had missed his best friend in the few months they had been apart. Both busy with work in different states they had found it hard to meet with hectic schedules so Kurt was hoping this sudden phone call meant that they could finally meet and have a decent conversation.

"So kindred spirits then?" George asked.

"We're quite different actually," Kurt said, looking over at a bigger party with an enormous birthday cake aglow with sparklers. "He's like you, except gay." George nodded in understanding.

"I remember this one time in Tucson, about six years ago. He took this razor blade and cut his finger and did the same to me. He says 'swear that when we get to 28 and if we're not married, we marry each other.' I don't know what made me think of that..." Kurt's voice trailed away, suddenly folding his napkin neatly. George looked at him carefully.

"You're 28 in three weeks," George stated calmly, "How old is he?" Kurt laughed completely understanding George's meaning.

"He said he was desperate to talk..." George continued, eating his fish and smiling. Kurt finished without another word, though he occasionally glanced at George who seemed oblivious to the seed he had planted.

Kurt replayed the message again and again in his apartment a little later, trying to gauge Blaine's meaning but finding nothing. The words were simple, he needed to talk to Kurt and it sounded like he missed him. He loved Blaine, he always had done but the thought of him asking or finalising the deal they had made six years ago, made nervous butterflies take flight in Kurt's stomach. He decided he should just call him.

"Hello?" a very groggy Blaine answered the phone and Kurt's shoulders hunched as he realised he was calling so late.

"Hello..."

"Kurt!" Blaine exclaimed instantly alert and happy, "I've been trying to call you for months...."

"Sorry I've been trying to publish a book and I've been madly busy and my phone eats my messages..." Kurt had started to ramble.

"Hey, don't worry," Blaine said, the smile evident in his voice, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Kurt said, "Actually I remembered something earlier and this will give you a laugh and I don't suppose you remember that time we spent in Tucson like an age ago?" Kurt was trying to laugh the memory off as something trivial when he felt like his chest might explode at any moment.

"Of course I do," Blaine said, "I think about that moment all the time."

Something did explode in Kurt's chest then at the sincerity in Blaine's voice, the quiet chuckle at the memory.

"That's not why I called though," Blaine continued, "I met someone."

"Oh?" Kurt said, his heart finally sinking.

"Yeah his name's Ben and he's all wrong for me," Blaine said laughing, "I mean he's an important lawyer, his parents are billionaires and own the Yankees but he's fantastic. I can't wait for you to meet him." Blaine sounded so happy that Kurt wanted the call to end so he could drink and cry.

"So you've met the parents?" Kurt asked, swallowing nervously.

"Kurt," he said, a little exasperated with his best friend, "We're getting married on Saturday."

Kurt had been near enough to the bed to be under the impression that when his legs gave way it would be there to support him, instead he fell on the floor.

"What?" Kurt said when he had recovered enough, "How can you be getting married on Saturday? It's Tuesday!"

"I know, I know but all these people are flying out and it's going to be a really big day. I need you Kurt. I'm scared. Without you there to hold my hand I won't be able to go through with it."

Kurt didn't have any words. He knew he would go, knew he would support him no matter what but the thought of Blaine marrying someone else was torture.

"Of course I'll be there," Kurt said, "I'll fly tomorrow."

"Fantastic!" Blaine said excitedly, "There's still so much to do and I know you're fabulous at weddings."

George kindly took Kurt to the airport and amidst the hustle and bustle Kurt had never felt more fraught and manic. He rushed through the terminal, his satchel falling off his shoulder as he tried to balance the bag on his other side.

"I mean how can he be getting married?!" Kurt practically shouted at a quiet and patient George. "He was in love with me for nine years, me! He doesn't even know this guy, he's been with him for a blink of an eye and they're getting married!"

"Yes I know," George said calmly as they walked quickly through the airport, "You're quite a catch," he said sarcastically looking at Kurt's dishevelled appearance. His hair had lost its high bounce and had started to droop, his eyes were tired and as if to accentuate the fact Kurt popped his sunglasses on from the top of his head.

"Don't mess with me George," Kurt said, pulling his best bitch face, "I have exactly four days to break up a marriage and steal another guy's fella. I need to tell Blaine, this wasn't supposed to happen."

George looked at Kurt, something on the tip of his tongue to say but as Kurt looked fiercely determined he decided to stay quiet.

"I can't lose him," Kurt said quietly, "I need to get him back." He hugged George, always pleased that he could be affectionate to his very straight friend and it was never mentioned. George let him go, hoping he was making the right decision.

Kurt had the whole flight to really think about what he was doing and planning. The thought of Blaine marrying someone else in four days was completely out of the question and just the thought had Kurt itching to get to Chicago, desperate to see Blaine again. He had missed so much and he thought of all the times they had hooked up over the years, all the times they had talked well into the night and travelled the world together. As he looked out the aeroplane window, seeing New York beneath him, he couldn't get over how stupid he had been. How had he missed this? Blaine had been right there this whole time and the thought of losing him was just too much to take. Kurt felt the manic feeling rising in his chest again and he tried to calm his breathing.

After trying to distract himself with an on-air movie he soon landed and wandered around the airport after collecting his luggage, not sure where he had agreed to meet Blaine. The airport was crowded, people jostling him to meet loved ones and he kept checking behind him in case he had missed Blaine. Suddenly the crowd of people started to part slightly and his eyes alighted on him and they smiled at each other. Kurt dropped his bags about five metres away from him and nearly ran to him, as Blaine did the same, causing them to bump noses. Blaine laughed and Kurt couldn't believe he had him here, so close.

"Can you believe this is going to happen?" Blaine said nervously, still holding Kurt by the arms, their faces centimetres apart.

"Not really," Kurt said, gulping as he stared into Blaine's warm hazel eyes. Then Ben was there, standing behind Blaine and he came closer. Kurt was quite prepared to meet a successful lawyer, well-dressed and smart and he put out his hand in greeting to be completely surprised by an enveloping hug.

"I'm so pleased to meet you," Ben said excitedly, grinning, "You're all Blaine talks about I feel like I know you already. It's always Kurt did this, Kurt said that."

Kurt glanced at Blaine and smiled. Ben was ridiculously good-looking and with his dirty blonde hair and swimmer's build, he looked well matched to Blaine, who was ever dapper in his cardigan and bowtie. As they left to get to the car, Ben spoke about how they had met and they discussed some of the plans over the next few days. Kurt was quickly asked to be best man and they dashed to the tailor's to fit the suit that Kurt would wear. Blaine was anxiously looking from Kurt to Ben during their conversation, hoping they would get along and he waited patiently as Kurt stood on the fitter's stage. He was already adorned in a perfect black suit and poked and prodded with pins to ensure it fit well.

"How is the colour?" the woman fitting the suit asked Blaine and Ben.

"Excellent but we'll need to add colour to the shirt and bowtie, Kurt won't feel happy unless he stands out, right?" Ben said with a knowledgeable wink and Kurt felt the nerves in his stomach again. Blaine really had discussed him with Ben and it was unnerving that he was suddenly best man at a wedding where the groom knew him far better than he should. When the fitting was over Kurt started to undress in the little room off to the side. He sat in his underwear and rang George.

"He already knows so much about me!" he exclaimed down the phone, "I mean Blaine must have spoken about me quite a bit but Ben looks at me like he has this power over me, like his knowledge is power. And he's so perfect and good-looking and clearly smart. Everything is effortless with him. What am I going to do?" And suddenly there was a knock at the door and without waiting for an answer Blaine walked in carrying Kurt's suit.

"Uh, erm..." Kurt faltered, put the phone down and scrambled to get something to cover his very naked torso.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before," Blaine said with a smirk and Kurt noticed how his eyes roved over his body.

"Well it's a little different now..." Kurt whispered, looking down awkwardly. Blaine didn't really know what to say so he handed the suit to Kurt. He started to back away but turned to Kurt by the door and smiled.

"You look good," he said, still with that grin, "Without any clothes on, I mean."

Kurt could barely breathe after the comment but hearing George get impatient on the phone, he pressed it to his ear.

"He's toast George," Kurt said smiling.