Blaine's career didn't appear to be soaring as high as Kurt's or as quickly but Blaine was happy nonetheless. He was getting more and more regular bar gigs, getting known around town as someone who prepared a fantastic set of happy covers and acoustic versions of upbeat songs. He threw in a few Disney songs to hit the nostalgic nerve that existed in everyone that came along to watch. He soon developed a little cult following – people that enjoyed being at the forefront of new music and Blaine found himself trying a few songs he had experimented with in his bedroom when he was a kid. He was pleasantly surprised by the response and gradually became more confident and enjoyed the journey for what it was – a slow steady meandering to achieving his dreams.

He did a few modelling contracts, just to keep his toes in, a few campaigns that required a few days a week of his time and avoided accepting work that required travelling so he could concentrate on his craft in New York and be there to support Kurt.

Kurt was enjoying the rehearsals and came to his first one much more prepared than anyone else there. He already knew the songs and his lines and it was only a matter of perfecting the director's vision and working with the new cast. He loved it and was quickly accepted by the cast and crew as a well known name but someone who was prepared to work hard for his success on Broadway. Blaine and Kurt flitted out of each other's lives in the weeks that led up to Kurt's first performance but it just made any time they spent together more special and sacred.

The first night came along – the previews and New York Times critic present – and Kurt was understandably nervous.

"You'll be awesome, I can't wait to see you," Blaine said, as he looped his arms around Kurt's waist where he stood in front of the mirror. Kurt was barely making an effort to get ready knowing he would be put in costume and full make-up when he got to work and he looked up to see Blaine's face on his shoulder.

"How do you know?" Kurt said. He had been in the middle of his mirror pep talk to himself when Blaine had walked in. Now he let his nerves take over. "You've never seen me perform, you don't know what I'll be like."

"I may have snuck in when you were rehearsing once or twice," Blaine said looking mischievous. Kurt smiled.

"You saw me?"

"Yeah, Kurt you were amazing," Blaine said earnestly, his eyes wide and shining with pride in the mirror. "You'll be amazing tonight." He pressed his lips to Kurt's neck gently, causing Kurt's eyes to flutter closed and a sigh to escape. He visibly relaxed. "I sometimes can't believe you're mine," Blaine continued, his voice now a whisper against Kurt's neck. "I can't believe you let such a failure into your life."

"You're never a failure Blaine," Kurt said, his expression changing to one of worry. "You shouldn't say that about yourself, it makes me sad."

Blaine suddenly looked like that was the last thing he wanted to do and he tried to smile.

"I'm sorry, I just look at you sometimes and wonder how I got so lucky that you took a chance on me. When I first met you, I was so messed up and I...."

Kurt turned around in the mirror and faced Blaine, placing his hands around Blaine's face so he could make sure he was understood.

"Blaine, I love you," he said his eyes roving Blaine's face, taking in his beautiful eyes, wide and brown. "I love you just the way you are and will always look back at our first meetings and chuckle. You are amazing Blaine, never forget that."

"Don't you wish those times hadn't happened?" Blaine asked quietly.

"No," Kurt said honestly, "I don't think you would be the same and I wouldn't change you for the world." He smiled as Blaine's eyes continued to shine.

"Now I need to go," Kurt said placing a gentle kiss to Blaine's lips. "I'll see you at the after party?"

Blaine nodded and smiled.

And Kurt was glorious. Not that Blaine had ever doubted it. He sang beautifully, danced and acted well, outshining the main actor and causing a few tears when he sang near the end. Kurt had been right; the role was perfect for him and the critics were preparing their reviews highlighting this new talent.

Blaine only looked at Kurt on stage, only saw his perfection and knew there would never be another perfect opportunity to ask what he had planned to ask and he felt the heavy presence of the little black box in the pocket of his jacket. He tapped it continually throughout the performance to check it was still there and he felt the nerves swirl in his stomach at the thought of what he was to do in front of so many people. He was the first to stand as Kurt came out to take his bow, his clapping heard above everyone else and he even whooped and hollered. He had never felt so proud and he realised if only one of them could fully achieve their dreams he would want Kurt to realise his. He soon prepared to enter the after party and wait for the cast to join them. He downed a glass of champagne that was offered to him and found another glass to steady his nerves, then his eyes alighted on the piano.

He smiled. No one was nearby, no one seemed to be about to play and he wondered why it might be there if it wasn't to be used. A sudden cheer erupted in the room and Blaine turned to see the main cast making their way through the crowd that was clapping. Kurt's eyes sought out Blaine's and when they arrived he smiled. Blaine went straight to him.

"You were perfect," Blaine whispered in Kurt's ear, weaving his arm around Kurt's waist in case he lost him in the crowd and praise that was being thrown his way. They kissed and Kurt realised this is what had made his night – his guy being there to support him for all to see, knowing he would never have taken the chance without Blaine's belief in him.

"When you sang that song...." Blaine started, "Kurt, you made me cry, everyone had tears and goosebumps, I almost wanted to come up on the stage to comfort you."

Kurt laughed. "I didn't think I was that good of an actor."

"I believed every word you said and sang, you looked so gloriously beautiful up there. You've found where you belong and I'm just really glad I can see it all."

"I'd be nothing without you by my side," Kurt said, kissing his cheek and squeezing Blaine closer to his side.

"I have an idea," Blaine said, smiling and eyeing the piano, "Do you think they'd mind?"

Kurt looked around to see who he could ask, knowing Blaine planned to sing.

"No I think it's a great idea," Kurt said, the crowd at the party already talking with the cast and laughing and joking going on. Everyone was distracted but conversation stilled when Blaine started pressing the keys of the piano.

"Hi everyone," Blaine said, "I hope you don't mind me interrupting conversation but I wanted to sing this for Kurt who was perfect tonight on his Broadway debut and I can't resist a sparkling piano." There was a chuckle in the audience and Blaine looked up at Kurt, already showing that despite the crowd and the party, Blaine only had eyes for Kurt.

I can feel you breathing
With your hair on my skin
As we lie here within the night

I'll pull the sheets
When it's cold on your feet
Cuz you'll fall back to sleep every time

The images of domesticity with Blaine, how they had been living together for a few months now so effortlessly, flitted through Kurt's mind and he smiled, knowing the rest of the cast were looking his way with slight jealously that he was being serenaded so beautifully by such an attractive man.

Grow old with me
Let us share what we see
And oh the best it could be
Just you and I

Kurt stilled, wondering if Blaine knew the importance of what he was asking Kurt in the presence of everyone. Blaine looked up from the keys, his eyes open and so honey-like in the dim shade of the room and he beamed, his smile leaving Kurt in no doubt that he meant every word.

And our hands they might age
And our bodies will change
But we'll still be the same as we are

We'll still sing our song
When our hair ain't so blonde
And our children have sung we were right

They'll sing
Grow old with me
Let us share what we see
And oh the best it could be
Just you and I

And the hairs they stand up
And my feet start to thump
Yeah the feeling is dreaming around

You'll be the one
Make me hum, make me come
Make me feel like I'm real and alive

Grow old with me
Let us share what we see
And oh the best it could be
Just you and I

Grow old with me
Let us share what we see
And oh the best it could be
Just you and I

Now was the time, now was the moment as Blaine finished the song on the piano and waited for the applause to die down. He felt a rushing in his ears, heard no words and could only see Kurt who was smiling widely. He looked so perfect, the light shining down on him like a spotlight and his blue eyes twinkling. Blaine went to stand from the piano stool, tried to get his hands to move to the little black box in his jacket but he couldn't, he was frozen to the spot and he could only look. Look at Kurt's perfection and wonder what he thought he was doing. He couldn't propose to Kurt, not when he was so good and so beautiful standing there where he belonged. Kurt's smile faltered as he took in Blaine's expression and questioned why he hadn't moved. Kurt moved for him and came to the piano stool. He knelt in front of Blaine as everyone watched on.

"What's wrong Blaine?" Kurt whispered so only he could hear.

Blaine could only shake his head, tears appearing in his eyes and a smile touching his lips.

"Did you mean it?" Kurt asked, his eyes hopeful, "Do you want to grow old with me? My skin all wrinkly, my hair all grey but my outfits as glorious as ever?" Kurt said, laughing at himself but asking Blaine nonetheless. Blaine smiled and nodded earnestly, still unable to speak. Kurt smiled.

"Good," he said and he reached into his own inside pocket of his jacket, Blaine's eyes going wide. "Then I think now is the perfect time to ask if you'll marry me?"

Blaine's eyes went wide and he covered his mouth quickly. He rapidly recovered though and started to laugh, shaking his head and getting his own little box as Kurt opened his to reveal the most fitting white gold ring with a strip of diamonds along the centre.

"I got one too," Blaine said, Kurt's eyes going wide that they had planned to propose to each other, that they were on the same page. The light glittered on the rings in the boxes and the crowd started to realise what was happening and started to cheer. "Will you marry me Kurt?" Blaine asked.

"Yes Blaine," Kurt said laughing. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes Kurt." And Blaine's tears started to fall in earnest now but these were happy tears, no trace of nerves or worry. They exchanged engagement rings and stood up, showing the room what had just happened and the room erupted in more cheers. They kissed and hugged and laughed and the night was beautiful.

Blaine received a business card that night from an associate from a small production company – someone that had watched his performance and was interested in further discussion with Blaine about the possibility of an album deal. So lost in Kurt's blue eyes and happiness he barely registered what he had been given but the opportunity was there nonetheless when Blaine came down from his high and realised he had everything he had ever wanted and it had nothing to do with his beauty or his fame or his money.

It had everything to do with Kurt.