The next few days were spent in much the same way – drinking in the ambience whilst eating on their terrace, sipping sangria in musical bars and lying for hours at a time, stroking and touching perfectly warm skin in the lazy heat of the village by the lake. The thought of going back kept haunting Kurt like a belch might bring back the taste of previously eaten food. He closed his eyes in displeasure at the thought.

"What are you thinking?" Blaine inquired as he saw his expression. Blaine was lying sideways on their bed, propping his elbow up to stare over Kurt's lithe and pale body.

"That we have to go back soon," Kurt muttered and Blaine smiled sadly that Kurt felt the same way. If he was truthful, Blaine was a little scared about going back. The phone call to Nick had been relatively easy in comparison to how the 'discussion' might go and he didn't relish the thought that modelling life would continue when so much in his own life had changed.

"Maybe we should have one more glorious day, go to another bigger place on the lake and really enjoy the last day," Blaine said, determined for Kurt to have only good memories.

Kurt checked Blaine's expression, could see the hope in his eyes and he smiled, small and slow to begin with but there nonetheless. He would do pretty much anything for this guy. He nodded and kissed him sweetly.

They decided on the bigger town of Bellagio – bustling and loud, full of shops, they immediately felt a little smaller as they left the ferry that had taken them from Varenna. They held hands against the tide of tourists and the larger groups of people as they wandered around shops and eventually decided on a smaller café, tucked away a little, for lunch.

It was only as the bustle died down and they settled near the lake late afternoon that they could talk a little deeper. Blaine looked at Kurt as he took in the beauty surrounding them and as if he could sense the darkness hovering over Blaine in his worry, Kurt looked at him carefully too, raising his eyebrow in question.

"What's wrong?" Kurt asked.

"I just really don't want to go back," Blaine said quietly, looking down at his hands and Kurt knew it was so much more for Blaine. Kurt didn't want to go back, was dreading it too but Blaine seemed to positively fear it and he could see the panic rising in his cheeks and widened eyes. Kurt grabbed his hand as it rested on his thigh.

"We'll be ok," Kurt said, kissing his cheek sweetly to reassure him, "You can stay with me for a bit when we get back, if you like." It was a casual comment to Kurt, one borne from care and a need to help, but Blaine looked at him as if he had just been offered the stars. He grinned widely and Kurt laughed.

"You would really want me to stay?" Blaine asked quietly in awe of the beautiful man beside him.

"Of course," Kurt replied, squeezing his hand, "I mean if it'll help ease the transition between here and there. I know it'll be hard to leave all that behind, I know how intoxicating it can all be, all the parties, all the sycophants but we can just stop and ignore it Blaine. We can stay safe and tucked away from the world, just in my little apartment in Bushwick."

Blaine looked at Kurt and felt tears pool in his eyes. Kurt looked a little astonished that such a gesture would make Blaine so sad and he quickly came closer, kissed him and cupped his cheek with his hand.

"If it's too much.... I mean we don't have to...." Kurt began.

"No don't be silly, it's so far from too much Kurt.... I - " Blaine said, blinking away his tears, "I just never expected you to suggest that."

"You're welcome to stay anytime Blaine," Kurt said quietly, "I'll miss seeing you like this, all the time and just a few metres away and..." He struggled with his next words, already feeling a little choked and emotional at the sight of Blaine. It had been a safe haven here, so set apart and gloriously simple. He couldn't bear the thought that things would go back to normal between them.

"I'll stay for however long you want me to, Kurt," Blaine said, his tears gone, just his open and honest eyes gazing back at Kurt's clear complexion and blue eyes. "Things won't go back to how they were before, I promise." He squeezed Kurt's hand back and Kurt smiled.

Bellagio, in the middle of its music festival celebrating classical artists as well as its tribute bands in the square, encouraged bars and restaurants to celebrate their own music as customers ate their dinner. Blaine and Kurt found themselves in a quiet restaurant at the edge of the town still with excellent views of the lake and a man started playing on the piano in the corner, designed to create a relaxed atmosphere. Kurt sat back and watched and Blaine, as was his custom, sat back too, his gaze sometimes falling on Kurt and his beauty as well as listening to the music as it fell over them. Kurt took in Blaine's more relaxed pose and how it reflected his own and he smiled. He wondered how things had changed and although he used to worry that Blaine would flit between the comforts of his model persona and the startling truth of his own life, he knew that they would be ok, that they would work it out and know each other for who they really were. Kurt suddenly stood when the audience were invited to sing and he spoke to a waiter in broken Italian as Blaine watched on, surprised and open-mouthed.

"I'm sorry I don't speak Italian," Kurt said as soon as he was given a microphone, "Not like my friend Blaine here," he gestured towards him and Blaine beamed. "But I would like to sing a popular song at the moment and I would like to dedicate it to Blaine, who has showed me what real beauty is because I see it inside of him in so many ways."

Although some didn't understand a word that Kurt was saying, a few tourists clapped and awwed at the lovely sentiment, looking to Blaine, expecting to see the love and adoration that seemed to glow out of his beaming face.

Kurt began to sing, nervous at first until a few people, obviously recognising the popular song, sat up or swayed slightly to the piano music.

Aren't you somethin' to admire?
'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror
And I can't help but notice
You reflect in this heart of mine
If you ever feel alone and
The glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I'm always
Parallel on the other side

Kurt sang to Blaine, knowing and showing just how beautiful he really thought Blaine was. He was making the promise; he would be there, through all the silliness and the parties, beside the sycophants and the beautiful and they would shine together.

'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go
Just put your hand on the glass
I'll be tryin' to pull you through
You just gotta be strong

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now
I'm lookin' right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I'll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin' back here to you once I figured it out
You were right here all along

It's like you're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn't get any bigger
With anyone else beside of me
And now it's clear as this promise
That we're making two reflections into one
'Cause it's like you're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Aren't you somethin', an original
'Cause it doesn't seem merely a sample
And I can't help but stare, 'cause
I see truth somewhere in your eyes
I can't ever change without you
You reflect me, I love that about you
And if I could, I would look at us all the time

Kurt smiled – he knew they were beautiful together and Blaine laughed - some of his cockiness and sex appeal came rushing back. Just one look at them on a model spread was enough to tell others they were different but the same, sexy but beautiful, perfect in such an imperfect way.

'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go
Just put your hand on the glass
I'll be tryin' to pull you through
You just gotta be strong

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now
I'm lookin' right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I'll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin' back here to you once I figured it out
You were right here all along

It's like you're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn't get any bigger
With anyone else beside me
And now it's clear as this promise
That we're making two reflections into one
'Cause it's like you're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow's a mystery
I can see you lookin' back at me
Keep your eyes on me
Baby, keep your eyes on me

Kurt sang the final lines, slowly, quietly, a promise of more than was offered but Blaine relaxed, knowing that Kurt would be there, would help him and he didn't care what others said or did to change that. He could do this; he could stand up for what he really wanted in life and together they could finally reflect that. Kurt sat down and Blaine immediately kissed him, causing a few tourists around them to clap, whilst others scowled, not used to seeing such a public display of affection between two men. Blaine took his hand and walked them out of the restaurant and prying eyes and although Kurt didn't know where they were walking to, he let Blaine lead the way as they walked beside the lake.

They eventually stopped and leant on a railing, watching the slight ripples of the water in the peace of the evening.

"Thank you for that song, Kurt," Blaine whispered looking at him earnestly, "I don't really know what happened here, on this holiday.... I guess I changed and worried that I would revert to my comforting ways when I returned but I don't think I will now. I guess you see me for who I really am and I don't care who knows it now. I don't care who sees the real me because I have you and you... you're just... I can't describe how you make me feel Kurt, I just...." Kurt could see his struggle and came closer, tilting his chin so their eyes locked. Kurt smiled.

"You've made it so easy to fall in love with you Blaine," Kurt whispered, "You're so amazing, thanks for showing me." It was so easy to come closer, so easy to allow their lips to come together and they didn't know how long they kissed until they heard the click of the camera, saw the light flash harshly against their faces and they blinked, suddenly aware of the man with his large camera, his baseball hat and his sly grin. Standing next to a woman who appeared to be his wife, pointing at Kurt and Blaine, obvious recognition on her face, they rushed away before Kurt and Blaine realised what had happened.