Chapter 1

Blaine had never been busier. He'd been woken at the crack of dawn by his mother trying to gently shake his shoulder, explaining that the caterers were already here and waiting to set up the marquee and that he needed to collect the cake and presents for the bridesmaids. He had to run by the florist on his way to the hairdressers' later and collect buttonhole buds while he reminded them which flower sets were going to which destination. And this was all before he got himself primed and ready for his big day. He wasn't ready.

After dashing around and quickly donning a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt, he explained the set up to the caterers and collected the cake and presents, returning home for a quick bread roll. He felt like he had been running around on no food for days and was starved, hardly managing to breathe as he wolfed it down. He didn't have time to reply to the message he'd received from Liam, sweetly saying he was looking forward to spending the rest of his life with Blaine and making him the happiest man in the world. He ran instead to the florist and then finally found himself at the hair salon ready to start looking his best and make his man proud.

He was out of breath as he was rushed to a seat in front of a mirror and hardly noticed the hairdressers or the people getting their hair styled. He only wanted to rush off again once he was seated, sudden panic filling him that he had forgotten to collect something, or had not completed a task that was required.

"I think you need to breathe, calm down," a voice behind him suddenly said, instantly filling him with peace and he felt a warm hand on his shoulder as he looked up.

The eyes that greeted him in the mirror were the most beautiful he had ever seen, a blue or grey colour he couldn't quite describe. Words failed him as he was trying to determine their colour and catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror he realised he was gaping.

"Sorry, just been a bit rushed today," he said, still breathless.

"I can imagine," the hairdresser said, smiling, "A busy groom I take it?"

"Yeah, getting married in two hours," Blaine suddenly felt the need to swallow. He was getting married. In two hours.

"Well, what am I doing? A trim? Slight gel?" The hairdresser looked over Blaine's hair, touching lightly to determine the texture.

"Urm, yeah that would be great," Blaine said, faltering slightly as he almost sighed under his fingers. What was he doing?

"I'm Kurt by the way," Kurt said, almost giggling in embarrassment, "I'll just wash your hair first." He led him to the sink, covering his shoulders in a towel and checking if the water was too hot. As Kurt washed his hair and massaged the shampoo into his scalp, Blaine could feel the panic and rush of the morning ebbing away with the soap suds. He sighed in relief.

"Where are you getting married?" Kurt asked in politeness.

"In a registry office in town, then back to my parents' house and garden for our wedding party. We've hired the best caterers and a marquee."

"Well you've chosen a great day for it," Kurt said, looking out the window at the stream of sunshine heading their way, "Its perfect weather."

"Yeah, perfect," Blaine smiled.

Blaine filled Kurt in with all the plans he had made for the day and all that he had accomplished in his rush this morning. He suddenly remembered he needed to text Liam back as he was sat in the chair facing the mirror, Kurt preparing to trim and style his hair.

"Sorry," Blaine said, focusing again on Kurt, "Just returning my fiancé's text from this morning."

"Aww that's sweet," Kurt said smiling, "But you know it's bad luck to see or hear from her before the wedding."

"Oh Liam and I don't care about that kind of thing," Blaine said, smiling and Kurt felt a sudden blush appear on his cheeks.

"Sorry, didn't mean to assume," Kurt said.

"Oh no don't worry," Blaine hurried to say to ease the worry lines on Kurt's face. "It happens all the time. It took my parents long enough to accept too and now I have this lavish and expensive wedding as proof they accept me." Blaine looked suddenly sceptical and worn out.

Kurt chuckled. "Oh, well in a way that's good. Good that they accept it now, I mean," as he saw Blaine's eyebrow rise in question. "I mean I don't think my dad fully accepted it from me to start off with. I think it's hard for parents too."

"Yeah, I guess," Blaine said as his voice trailed away.

Kurt started to trim Blaine's hair, sensing he had upset Blaine but unsure how to remedy it. He decided to ask about his fiancé instead, hoping to engage him in conversation again and see those amber eyes, warm and happy again.

"So who's this fiancé? What he's like?"

"Oh Liam, he's great."

"Is that it?" Kurt chuckled, "How did you meet?"

"At a gay bar a couple of years ago. Not the most romantic story really," Blaine looked down, suddenly embarrassed. "We drank, exchanged numbers as well as bodily fluids that night and here I am."

"Romantic." Kurt said, winking to let Blaine know he was teasing.

"Yeah," Blaine smiled too, the panic of earlier ebbing away with this light conversation. "He's great though, we can talk about anything and he's pretty busy with being made partner at his law firm at such a young age, but the time I get to spend with him is really good. I just know we suit each other and it's so right and comfortable." Blaine finished with a smile but Kurt didn't want to comment anymore, aware that 'comfortable' didn't sound all that appealing to him. He wouldn't want to be with someone with so little time for him, but Blaine obviously didn't mind.

"Well I've finished the cut, do you want some gel?" Kurt asked, displaying the back of Blaine's head through the mirror.

"Yes please," Blaine said and he proceeded to demonstrate how he wanted his hair styled.

They were soon finished and money exchanged and Blaine was pleased with how he looked. He felt much calmer than he had been when he arrived and he knew Kurt was the cause of that. He looked up at Kurt to find his piercing blue eyes on his and he smiled.

"Hey, what are you doing later?" Blaine suddenly asked.

"Nothing, why?"

"Well you're welcome to come to the party later, after the wedding. It'll be good to see you there and there'll be loads of people…" Blaine felt foolish and looked down.

"That'll be great," Kurt said, and Blaine felt relieved and his heart suddenly swooped. He squashed that feeling down as he gave Kurt the address and waved through the window, rushing on to the wedding and his big day.

xXx

What he didn't imagine ahead of his was the crowd of people at his door or his family pacing the living room as he was squashed through the hallway, barely noticed by those around him.

"What's going on?" he asked his parents, as they looked worried.

"Oh, Blaine," his mum said, "You're here." She looked perplexed, only half glad to see him there, as she had been waiting and dreading this moment. "I think you need to sit down." Blaine's father stayed strangely silent as Blaine was ushered to the chair, his mother almost kneeling down by his side.

"What's going on?" Blaine repeated, worry evident in his voice, "Liam's ok, isn't he?"

Blaine's father scoffed in annoyance. "Oh of course he is, the idiot," he muttered under his breath.

"Richard, please," his wife said warning him. "Blaine, Liam came round this morning just after you left to collect the cake. He just said he was sorry and left this note." She handed Blaine a small card which he took limply in his hand.

"I don't understand…" Blaine whispered.

"Well it's pretty obvious what he's gone and down, the idiot. If he thinks he going to get away with this, he's got another thing coming. He'll be getting the bill in the post."

"Richard, why don't you just make some tea," his wife suggested, leading him away by the elbow and walking back to Blaine's side as he opened the note.

Dear Blaine,

I'm so sorry. I can't do this; I'm not happy and haven't been for a while. It's completely my fault I just can't pretend everything's ok.

I hope you can forgive me.

Liam

There was no kiss, no 'love' just an empty apology that came from nowhere. He couldn't believe it but at the same time he completely understood. He had felt detached from Liam for months, no real love there anymore, just filling expectations. They had spent less and less time together and all of a sudden there was no 'love', no kiss. He looked up at his mum's worried expression and hugged her.

"Oh darling, I'm so sorry this has happened," she was whispering over his shoulder, stroking his back, hoping to dull the ache she knew he would be feeling, worried about the tears that would fall. She parted from Blaine to look carefully at his expression to find he was okay, shaken but okay.

"How do you want to deal with it all?"

"I don't know… I mean can dad announce it or something? It's just a bit embarrassing."

"Of course, darling. And we'll get everyone out of here. The caterers can make a fuss over the phone. I'll just pay them."

She left to sort the caterers and other staff, asking them to dismantle the marquee and leave. She soon had Richard ringing guests, as she did the same, to explain the cancelled wedding.

An hour later the house was empty, only Blaine's parents and Blaine remained. The house started to resemble Miss Havisham's – flowers in every corner, the cake set proudly apart ready to be sliced, no one left to enjoy the empty celebration.

Blaine couldn't face the texts he was receiving from worried friends or the barrage of emotions that were threatening to escape. He simply curled up on the sofa to watch a film as his mum made him tea. His father still in his study on the phone trying to get to the bottom of this situation.

Hours flew by, Blaine not really watching the television but not really thinking either. He knew he should feel anger towards Liam or sadness but only embarrassment remained. He wanted only to hide.

A knock at the door broke him out of his reverie on the sofa and his mum being busy he answered it in his sweat pants from earlier, hoping it wasn't Liam. He opened the door to find a well-dressed Kurt, with a vase wrapped carefully in paper in his hands. Kurt's smile dropped as he saw Blaine's outfit and obvious disarray, his mouth gaping in an attempt to find words.

"Oh Kurt…" Blaine struggled too, "I didn't tell you, I'm sorry, I…" Kurt still didn't know what to say but managed to close his mouth.

"Why don't you come in?" Blaine said, opening the door wide and leading the way.

Kurt followed dumbly and looked up to see Blaine's mum descending the staircase.

"Blaine?" She questioned, as she walked into the lounge.

"Oh mum, this is Kurt. He did my hair this morning; I forgot to let him know."

She knew when to leave Blaine alone and just smiled at Kurt, saying it was nice to meet him as she busied herself upstairs.

"I take it this is a vase?" Blaine said, smiling, taking the wrapped present from Kurt's hand.

"Oh, yeah, I mean I wasn't sure what to get and I thought everyone can use a vase." He suddenly saw all the flowers surrounding them in the lounge and closed his eyes in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry Blaine, I didn't know, otherwise I would never have… don't worry, I'll leave you alone…" He got up and started walking to the door.

"No," Blaine said, getting up, "You may as well stay for a drink at least, I mean, there's no one else here but…"

He looked up at Kurt with some kind of hope drifting over his brown eyes and Kurt decided to stay. Maybe this guy could use a friend.

They walked to the kitchen where wine was still lining the sides and cold foods were packed in the fridge.

"Want something to eat?" Blaine asked as he started to eat cold chicken.

"Sure," Kurt said, as Blaine prepared him a meal and got a glass of wine.

They ate in silence for a while, until they had each drunk a glass of wine, Kurt feeling his cheeks warm slightly in the glow of the lights.

"Pretty pathetic hey?" Blaine chuckled without humour, looking around the sad kitchen, full of possibilities and future.

"What happened?"

"A note. I arrived back after I saw you to find my house full of people and a note. He had called around earlier knowing I was collecting the cake, not wanting to face me and left a note."

"What a douche! What did it say?"

"Just that he couldn't pretend anymore, it wasn't right, he didn't love me. The usual."

"Oh Blaine, I'm so sorry. What an obvious idiot."

"Perhaps," Blaine looked down, suddenly feeling as if his world had ended.

"No perhaps about it. I know its cliché but if he didn't know how lucky he was to have you then he's not worth it."

Blaine looked up and smiled at Kurt, feeling pretty lucky that he had someone, even if it was just his hairdresser from earlier. In a way it was a lot easier to speak to Kurt rather than someone he knew properly. He didn't have to pretend it was ok with Kurt, he could tell the truth, knowing that he would probably never see him again.

"It just feels so pathetic. My fiancé couldn't bear to marry me, he didn't love me."

"Did you love him?"

Blaine pondered this for a moment. He had thought he loved Liam but perhaps he didn't. Maybe he just thought he did.

"I think so. I loved enough but it was hard. He became a partner in a law firm six months ago and although we've lived together for a year, the time we spent together decreased suddenly. He was always at the office, often leaving at 6 in the morning to arrive near 11 at night to crawl into bed. I suppose we drifted apart and I didn't do anything to stop it. It never really bothered me." Blaine shrugged, a bit worried that this made a difference, made him heartless.

"That will make things easier I guess," Kurt said, "Less pain in the long run, though he could have acted differently."

"Oh yeah, but I can't blame him really, I always knew he was a coward, would never admit to anything. I guess I knew this would happen."

"Would you have married him?"

"Yes, but who's to say we would have been happy?"

"I think you need some time, look after yourself Blaine, enjoy a vacation or something."

"Sounds like a plan…" Blaine said wistfully, looking over Kurt's shoulder to imagine possible destinations.

"What do you do by the way?" Kurt asked.

"Oh I'm a singer. I sing where I can, bars, pubs, clubs, anywhere that'll have me."

"Wow that's fantastic," Kurt's face suddenly lighting up, "I always wanted to sing. I even tried out for NYADA but never got in. I came to New York, looking for a dream and ended up styling hair at rehearsals I followed my friend Rachel to and the rest is history. I'd love to style for people on the stage but I'm happy at the moment."

"That's great Kurt." He suddenly felt sleepy but found himself pouring another glass of wine for Kurt and himself.

Chat continued for a couple of hours before they realised they had managed two bottles between them, warm conversation and giggles ensued and Blaine realised he had never felt so at ease with someone he had only just met.

"What are you doing for the next week Kurt?" Blaine stood up suddenly, excitement on his face as he started to bounce on his toes.

"Nothing, why?" Kurt giggled.

"Why don't we go on holiday?" Blaine jumped up and down and started clapping his hands.

"Sounds a good idea to me!" Kurt exclaimed, "I mean I'm owed holiday and this week isn't too busy. I'm sure someone could cover for me!"

"Exactly! This would be perfect! I can run away and hide and have fun with Kurt!" Blaine had started to hug Kurt over his shoulders and with his free hand was ruffling his hair playfully.

"You have such nice hair Kurtttt," he whined, "Such nice hair…"

"But you have nice eyes Blaine, nice eyes," as Kurt stared a little too intently into those brown orbs, he felt a bit lost there.

"Are you kidding? Have you seen your eyes? They're fantastical, amazingly beautiful!"

"That is a lot of looong words Blaine," Kurt slurred his words, feeling his head lower to his crossed hands on the kitchen table. "I'm getting sleepy."

"Sleep here Kurt, sleep with me." Blaine dragged Kurt to his bedroom, Kurt following like a lost puppy, a dopey drunk grin on his face. As soon as they got there Blaine stripped to his boxers and curled under the covers, snuggling and curling his body inwards.

"Come here Kurt," he whined, opening his arms to invite him in. Kurt quickly removed his outfit and found himself warm and tucked away in Blaine's arms. They drifted off to sleep in a haze of wine and cuddles, the thoughts of weddings and hair salons long gone.