Kurt woke the following morning feeling desperately tired, barely sleeping at all during the night and wondering how Blaine's conversation with Ben was going at this very moment. He sat up after a while, already flicking his head from side to side in the hope that he could have a plan to get Blaine to realise, to win him back but he finally acknowledged he had nothing and he lay back. The pillow was soft beneath his head and he looked at the ceiling fan above him watching it twirl as life went on. He knew he hadn't made it clear to Blaine just how his feelings had changed, how much Blaine meant to him and he didn't want him to make the decision to remain with Ben just because he thought that he couldn't build a life with Kurt. He was so desperate to be understood but apart from interrupting the conversation with Ben, he couldn't think what to do.

He changed quickly, went through a shortened version of his morning regimen and grabbed something from the breakfast bar downstairs before leaving the hotel. He text Blaine to suggest meeting afterwards and he went to the Navy Pier determined to enjoy his last few days in Chicago before he returned to writing in New York, to quickly approach middle-life and always be on-the-go. Kurt realised he had been deliberately speeding through life in the hope that he wouldn't stop to think about what he was missing – just carrying on doing and achieving. He saw the view of Lake Michigan ahead of him a while later and decided to go on the giant Ferris wheel nearby. It travelled slowly and he kept paying for the ride to continue, loving the trip to the top and thinking that it was only worth it with Blaine nearby. For all his success as a Broadway critic what he treasured most were his memories that involved Blaine – holidays, the occasional hook-up, the laughter, the drinking, the conversations at three in the morning wherever they ended up being. Blaine had been there through all of it, clearly a best friend but now the thought of nothing more filled Kurt with dread. He could imagine life now being just black and white and as he reached the top of the Ferris wheel he could see the shades of blue flickering in the lake below and he knew he would do anything to keep that colour in his life.

Blaine chose that moment to ring Kurt, his phone breaking him out of his reverie and causing him to nearly drop it to the pier below. Blaine explained he had finished his conversation with Ben and although Kurt was desperate to know what had transpired, Blaine revealed nothing over the phone and only asked to meet Kurt. Blaine sounded a little surprised to hear that Kurt was on top of a Ferris wheel but he agreed to meet him there soon.

Kurt didn't count the number of times he went round but the weather was beautiful and it was strangely compelling and hypnotic as he continued to travel up then down. Blaine let him know when he was there and as the Ferris wheel lowered, Blaine joined Kurt in his seat and smiled, his forehead creased slightly in wonder.

"What made you choose the Ferris wheel?" Blaine asked as the journey started again.

"I don't know," Kurt said, equally confused, "I just wanted to watch the world go by I guess."

There was a comfortable silence as they watched the journey of the wheel, as they saw the change in the water and the sky as they travelled higher. Kurt wanted to watch Blaine but a sudden knot in his stomach appeared, making him feel uncomfortable in his presence for the first time since they had met.

"I can't take it anymore Blaine," he said as a rush of words spilled out of his mouth, his eyes wide in panic. "I need to know what you discussed with Ben, I'm going crazy here."

Blaine paused for the longest time, searching Kurt's face for something, his eyes flickering over Kurt. He smiled.

"Why are you going crazy?" Blaine whispered, his lips twitching upwards. Kurt didn't want to be messed with anymore, couldn't bear the hovering in between.

"I know I should have realised before Blaine," he said in the same rush as before, panicked and nervous, "I know I should have said something but my life has been one big rush, one dream to another and the only constant has been you. I never knew how much you meant to me until you were about to be taken away and it's not crazy jealousy, it's not," he said shaking his head, "I love you Blaine because you're everything, because I love to talk to you, I love to sing with you, because I feel crazy butterflies whenever you're near and it doesn't matter that I've known you for nine years, you still make me feel crazy." He took a deep breath, realising that he had spilled out everything in one breath. His hair looked slightly windswept now with the number of journeys he had made on the wheel and his cheeks were slightly flush with the chill. Blaine took his hand to calm him and smiled.

"I think I needed to hear you say it," Blaine whispered looking sheepish. "I've loved you for nine years Kurt, it's always been you." Kurt's breath hitched.

"You mean...."

"Yes, I broke up properly with Ben," Blaine said, "I guess I knew it wouldn't work. Although the differences once excited me, I realised as I met him at his parent's house this morning that the differences were just too much. I sat there explaining all that you had done and Ben's expression said it all. He wanted you out of my life for good, said you were completely insane and no good for me." Kurt looked embarrassed at this summation, knowing he deserved it all but waiting for Blaine to continue.

"I said I agreed," Blaine said laughing at Kurt's shocked expression, "But that tipped me closer to you. I knew right then and there that you've always been perfect for me. What you said the other day about putting me on a pedestal and measuring every guy you meet against me? Well I've been doing that since we broke up but the only person I could see myself with had to be the complete opposite of you. Why should I have to search for my soul mate when it's always been you?"

Kurt's eyes filled with tears at the admission and he laughed. He had never felt more sure of anything, only lucky that he had a second chance and he knew he would do anything to keep him here. He just hoped that he deserved the love that Blaine gave.

"I love you so much Blaine," he whispered, his voice threatening to expose him.

"I love you too Kurt," Blaine said coming closer, "But we need to ensure that this is for real, I need to know that this is it and that no matter what we'll always be together." Kurt looked deadly serious and nodded.

"I don't mean that we have to marry straight away," Blaine continued, "But I do need to know that this crazy waiting will end, that we'll be a proper couple."

"Of course Blaine," Kurt said, "I said before I'd changed and I think nearly losing you made me rethink everything. I need you Blaine and I'll do anything to keep us together."

"Good," Blaine said beaming and nodding in agreement, "Now we've got that sorted we should seal the deal," he said coming closer with a mischievous wink and touching his lips against Kurt who despite the continual circular movement felt like time had stood still and as they parted only to dive in again, Kurt realised this was exactly where he had been all along.

---

A while later tucked away from the world and lying naked together, Kurt's head was resting on Blaine's shoulder as Blaine snaked his hand around his waist. Blaine was under the impression that Kurt was still asleep as he studied the ceiling above him but Kurt suddenly turned to face him, slowly stroking the soft skin on his side.

"What are you thinking?" Kurt said smiling as he rested his chin on Blaine's shoulder and studied his warm brown green eyes.

"Just that it's a wonderful day," Blaine said beaming so wide his teeth showed and Kurt's chest swooped.

"I was thinking more that with you in it, it's a wonderful life," Kurt said and leant in close to press his lips against Blaine's, to continue the accumulation of wonderful moments that they would always collect together.