Weeks have gone by and still Kurt finds himself sleeping in Blaine's cardigan, the smell of cinnamon and moisturiser has long gone but it is a comfort nonetheless. He hasn't slept properly in days but is determined not to continue his use of sleeping pills. He does not want to turn into a Marilyn Monroe or Judy Garland story before his Broadway career has even started so he finds himself staring intently at the ceiling and its damp patches instead.

He can't bring himself to forgive Blaine and his stupid mistake and seeing him in the halls of McKinley last week didn't help either. He had foolishly thought he needed some kind of closure and that seeing Blaine would help. Instead he saw him up on stage performing like he does best and he wanted to escape. Blaine looked like he wanted to cry on stage and Kurt couldn't be the one to smile encouragingly or tell him later how amazing he was on stage. Kurt wanted only to run and never come back.

Blaine had tried to explain but Kurt didn't want to hear it. He had thought of all the possible explanations that Blaine could give and none of them satisfied Kurt. He knew that Kurt had let him slip slightly but there was no explanation worthy. Blaine just didn't love him enough.

But here he lay, staring at the ceiling and imagining faces in the patches and sighing. He missed Blaine terribly and here he would lie until the pain would disappear.

xXx

But Thanksgiving was approaching and Isabelle's words haunted him. Perhaps the closure he needed all along could only come from himself and although he couldn't quite forgive Blaine for what he did, he could accept his apology. So he rang.

The conversation was short but just hearing his voice again made Kurt's heart leap into his throat, making conversation difficult. He could hear the tears in Blaine's voice and the laughter bubbling as he promised they would meet over Christmas. There was suddenly hope but Kurt could only feel pain as he walked back into his New York home, the party continuing on inside. The anger may have sidled away but the hurt remained, causing a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. This conversation had been difficult but the possibility of more had given him hope after all.

xXx

Conversations came more easily then. Blaine was the first person he rang when he got his NYADA letter and he tried not to read too much into how his heart soared when he could hear Blaine do his happy dance and squeal in happiness at Kurt's news.

Blaine had always been the person he rang or text when he needed someone and this time was no different. He loved relaying happy news to him and in many ways things had never changed. His dad always asked after him on the phone and although he knew the full story Burt never judged Blaine or spoke badly of him. Burt respected Kurt's decision and could see he was dealing with it in his own way.

He discussed his Christmas plans with Blaine and although he could hear the disappointment in his voice that they wouldn't be seeing each other over Christmas after all, he obviously understood the decision and spoke happily of the great things that Kurt would be doing once he started.

But then Burt arrived and Christmas really started. Kurt loved seeing his dad and was definitely intrigued when he walked to the ice skating rink to meet his 'surprise package'.

He could suddenly hear his lovely voice calling out, "Package for Kurt Hummel."

Kurt turned in surprise and couldn't believe his eyes or ears as he walked closer to Blaine, all wrapped up in his winter coat and red scarf. Blaine looked so happy to see him and although Kurt was shocked, he couldn't deny he was very happy to see him after all.

"Your dad called me out of the blue and wanted to fly me out here, just so I could see that look on your face; and it's pretty priceless." Kurt's laugh bubbled out.

"Actually he told me everything, and I promise I'll keep an eye on him for you." Kurt looked down. The fact that Blaine knew didn't really surprise Kurt, Burt treated him like another son after all but the knowledge that Blaine would look after Burt while Kurt was so far away, almost overwhelmed Kurt. He looked down, taking a deep breath, willing himself not to cry.

"But the reason why I'm here is he didn't want us to miss out on another important holiday tradition."

"Our Christmas duet," Kurt said simply, smiling. There was a pause where Kurt mentally prepared himself but Blaine misunderstood.

"You are happy to see me, right?" Blaine asked hopefully.

"Yeah, yeah, always," Kurt said, feeling pain but so happy to see him again.

"Well come on, get your skates on, it's almost midnight, hurry up." Blaine skated off and started the song, hope in his voice as Kurt put his skates on.

He knew that he could get sucked in again and nothing could be done but it was a pleasure he would have to endure and really they were just friends. No promises had been made, no future predicted. He would just enjoy this moment instead and sing with Blaine, like every Christmas.

They wove and skated around each other, voices harmonising perfectly together like he knew they would. Blaine caught him as he approached and they stood facing each other, the world had stopped. Kurt let himself look at Blaine, drink him in again and hope; thinking of possibilities and a future, like he hadn't allowed himself to think before. Blaine leant in and then he was gone, fleeting and Kurt was left to remember that last kiss and how he wished it had been longer.

They got hot chocolate afterwards, the steam rising to warm their faces and fingers and awkward silences began.

"Listen, hey, its midnight," Blaine began, hope in his voice, excitement bubbling that this might mean something else, something more.

Kurt nodded his head in agreement, not letting his own hopes build. He would just accept and let this run its course.

"It's Christmas."

"Officially."

"No matter what, no matter where, even if we're not together," Blaine seemed to struggle with that sentence, his hope faltering. "We're always going to be there for each other."

It was said so simply, just as a statement, that Kurt couldn't help but melt and hug him. It was what he had always hoped, that they would be friends, always there for each other. They would never end and Kurt could go on, for the time being, believing that was all he needed.

Christmas dinner was uneventful and the news that Blaine planned to apply to NYADA too came as no real shock. As Kurt and Blaine prepared dinner and laid the table, the scene was so domestic and such a reflection of what he planned for their future together, that Kurt could only chat with his dad. It was too painful.

He could see Blaine's hopeful expression out of the corner of his eye but he chose to ignore. They would have more conversations, they would meet occasionally. Kurt could even help him prepare his audition and application to NYADA but to plan that far ahead into the future would mean starting again and Kurt wasn't quite ready.

A/N: Next chapter – when will they meet again? What will happen? This is where it will deviate from canon as it hasn't happened yet!