Blaine came the following Friday night, a very late flight and Kurt waited up to greet him. They hugged slowly, the excitement from his last visit long gone, the trepidation returning. Kurt remembered their last kiss by the door and so longed for the time in between to disappear.

Despite the late hour Kurt made them coffees as Blaine packed his bags away and settled on the small sofa. Rachel had decided to go to Callbacks with Brody that night and she had hinted she wouldn't be returning until late tomorrow afternoon.

Kurt sat on the bigger chair set away from Blaine and started sipping his coffee quietly.

"How was your flight?"

"Okay thanks. I was squashed again, between two other people but I booked late so…" and his voice trailed away as he realised that the situation echoed his visit last time and that had not ended well. He wanted to forget, close the gap.

"How have you been? Do you feel more prepared for NYADA?" Blaine asked.

"I think so, as well as I can be. I've been trying to save, trying to learn more songs, practice steps that Rachel shows me but I will always feel underprepared. I should stop comparing myself to Rachel."

"Yeah, you're so much better. I would love to have seen your Being Alive performance, you would have been fantastic." Blaine smiled warmly.

"Thanks Blaine. Have you thought anymore about your performance? What do you think you'll sing?"

"I don't know, no song seems good enough. I don't want to prepare too much though. I think my best performance will be when I'm off the cuff, not perfectly rehearsed. I think that was Rachel's error."

Kurt nodded in agreement and then there was silence.

"I know it's awkward between us now Kurt, I just…" Blaine's voice trailed away. He looked down at his hands. "You can say anything to me Kurt, anything you want. I think I need to hear it."

"I don't really know what to say Blaine, you broke my heart, you don't need to hear that, you already know." Blaine nodded in agreement, sadly. "I think I would find it easier if we weren't in this flat, if we weren't in the place that haunts me."
"Haunts you?" Blaine asked eyes wider.

"This was the place where you last kissed me, where it all ended," Kurt said, looking sadly by the door, "It was so fleeting, I believed we had all the time in the world and now time stands still but in the worse possible way and I sit on the floor of the bathroom in your cardigan that you let me borrow months ago and cry and think and don't sleep." Kurt breathed deeply, his rambling carrying him away.

Blaine didn't know what to say, didn't know how to make it better anymore, just knew that he needed to be closer, needed Kurt like there was no tomorrow. He came to Kurt's knees and knelt down, touching Kurt's chin with his finger tips, gently lifting his face. Kurt could only see those warm amber eyes swimming in pools of tears and he gasped at their beauty, mesmerised.

"That can't be our last kiss, Kurt, it can't…" Blaine whispered as he crept impossibly closer and Kurt allowed his lips to be covered slowly and his eyes closed.

The kiss was sweet and long and Kurt tried to remember every touch, every movement. He didn't notice a single tear trickle down his face until his breath hitched in his throat and he opened his eyes and they parted.

Blaine only stared and his own tears were blinked away and worry etched there on his face. Kurt started to cry in earnest now, tears trickling down his face, those emotions he had held in wracking his chest and causing him to heave his breath in and out. Blaine edged closer, sat on the arm of the chair and enveloped Kurt in a hug, covering his shoulders and tucking his head underneath his arm. They sat like that for what appeared to be hours when Kurt finally took a deep breath and sat back, keeping his distance.

"Sorry," he whispered, wiping away his tears.

Blaine shook his head and sat back on the sofa opposite Kurt.

"I really hurt you didn't I? I'm so sorry Kurt." He looked so ashamed.

"I just needed to cry I guess, don't feel bad," Kurt said, "I forgive you."

At that Blaine looked up, relief flooding his face. "Really?"

"Yes, it has taken awhile but I know you are sorry. Thank you for the kiss, I feel less haunted now I guess."

Blaine smiled full of hope that tomorrow might bring something other than sadness after all.

xXx

They found themselves walking around frequenting coffee shops and shopping aimlessly with no money the following day. They chatted, Kurt helped with secondary applications, giving him the low down on NYADA forums and gossip. The day flew past and the thought that this would be over soon and Blaine would go to catch his late flight home was hovering over them during their late dinner.

When they returned to find the apartment still Rachel-free Blaine decided to pack the little he had brought with him and prepare to get ready to go. Just about to leave for the subway Blaine turned to find Kurt behind him, tears swimming in his eyes again.

"You've only just got here, I can't believe you're going again," Kurt said.

"I'll drive here anytime you need me I promise. I'd better go but I'll text when I'm home and I'll probably see your dad in the week."

Kurt hugged him goodbye without saying a word and let him leave. It was only as he watched Blaine struggle in the rain outside the apartment, from his first floor window that he stopped to consider what he was doing. His life flashed forward to continued moments on the floor of the bathroom, wearing Blaine's clothes and crying and he started running. He ran out the apartment door, only just grabbing his keys and ran down the road towards the subway.

He could see Blaine in the distance keeping his head low as rain pelted hard on the pavement and as he closed the gap between them he shouted his name.

Blaine turned around, rain already soaking his face, drops appearing on his nose and cheeks. His eyes widened. "Kurt?"

The gap closed and Kurt flung his arms around Blaine's shoulders, the rain water pelting them from all angles and droplets appearing on every inch of skin.

"Don't go, don't go," Kurt gasped and kissed him hard on the lips, desperation kicking in. Blaine clutched him madly around the waist and melted into the kiss.

As their lips parted, Blaine still grasping at Kurt's waist with one hand as he started to stroke his wet cheek with the other.

"What is this Kurt? What is this?"

"I don't know," Kurt gasped, breath hard to find in the cold rain, "But I know I need you Blaine, I can't see a future without you. I don't work."

Blaine smiled and he kissed him gently, like he might break.

"I'll never leave you Kurt if you don't want me to. I will always be here."

They kissed again, not caring about the rain, letting it pour around them.

"I'll fly home next weekend, see you then?" Kurt asked.

"Yes, yes that would be great," Blaine exclaimed, "Oh how I've missed you Kurt you have no idea."

"I think I do," Kurt smiled, "I think I do."