And when the night has finally gone.

And when we see the new day dawn.

Well wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind.

The wasted world we thought we knew,

The light will make it look brand new.

Light from the musical Next to Normal

Kurt went into full rehearsal mode as the previews loomed. Full dress rehearsals were underway, as well as final tech shows and Blaine was allowed to watch and sneak in near the back so he wouldnt distract Kurt.

"You were fantastic!" Blaine exclaimed as soon as the director had declared the actors finished for the day. Kurt jumped.

"You saw?"

"Of course," Blaine said, shrugging his shoulders. "I didnt want to distract you from feeling the part, but you said I could watch one day."
"Oh honey, I dont mind," Kurt said, his arms wrapping around Blaines waist to tug him closer. He kissed him chastely and beamed.

"I would have put on a special performance if I knew you were to be here," Kurt smiled mischievously and Blaine felt the heat rise.

"But there are others present…" Blaine whispered, looking around at the bustling auditorium. People were running errands, meeting last minute demands of the director or producer and paying absolutely no heed to the lovesick couple amidst the seats.

"I cant see anyone giving us a blind bit of notice," Kurt said, nudging Blaines nose with his own. He kissed him, just a nip of a kiss, and Blaine murmured something inaudible.

"What was that?" Kurt asked innocently, kissing along Blaines jaw gently and oh so seductively.

"Take me home."

Kurt had never run out quicker.

The day of his opening night arrived. Kurt had been at the theatre all day, determined to take every chance for perfection. Ana arrived early afternoon and was surprised to see Kurt already there.

"Darling, dont panic," she said, air-kissing him on the cheek as she approached. "I know opening nights are dreadfully nerve-wracking, but youll be amazing. All the previews gave you amazing reviews. Youre pipped for a Tony you know?"

"I didnt want to read too many reviews in case it all came tumbling down."

"Dont be ridiculous," she said waving his ideas away. Someones personal assistant came up to Kurt with several bouquets of flowers.

"These are all for you," Lizzie gushed. "Shall I put them in your dressing room?"

"For me?" Kurts face lit up.

"Youre a Broadway baby," Ana said, threatening to break into song until Kurt raised an eyebrow and laughed, as if she were doting on a small child.

"Who are they from?"

"The biggest is from your dad and Carole," she said, reading the card and giving it to Kurt. "This one is from Rachel and this small one is from a guy called James?"

Kurts face fell.

"Oh right, thanks," he said and the PA looked confused at the change in Kurts expression. "Can you put them in my dressing room? Ill take the cards, thanks."

She did as instructed and Kurt looked over the cards. Both his dad and Rachel had sent him beautiful bouquets with cards of congratulations and lots of love. James had sent a mediocre bunch of flowers and the card simply read congratulations. He didnt really know what to make of it all.

"Whos James?" Ana asked and Kurt looked startled, completely forgetting she was there.

"An ex-boyfriend."

"Oh," she said, her eyes wide with sudden realization. "Its that kind of card. He wants you back?"

Kurt looked at her sharply. "God, no, never going to happen," he said adamantly, shaking his head profusely.

"Bad break-up?"

"The worst. He hit me, I called the police. He lives in LA now."

"Oh hes James Baker?" she said, realization dawning on her face. "I didnt know you were the boyfriend."

"Yes, I tried to stay out of the papers as much as possible. I was quite unknown then. He wasnt."
"No, I know. It ruined his career on Broadway didnt it?"
"Yeah, I dont think hes had much luck in LA either."

Kurt sat down on a theatre seat, slowly, gingerly, still looking at the card in his hands. Anas expression softened as Kurt suddenly looked his age – the son he was playing very evident in his lost little face.

"Youd forgotten about him."

Kurt nodded.

The silence was comforting, allowing Kurt to digest his thoughts, calm his whirling mind. She took his hand and squeezed.

"It was a very brave thing you did," she said, "getting out, striving for a dream. He cant change that by sending some measly flowers."

"I know."

"That guy thats been visiting the theatre nearly every day this week? The guy with the impeccable hair and the cute bow ties?"

"Yeah, thats Blaine," Kurt said, smiling at the apt description.

"Someone special?"

"Someone very special."

"Well then," she said, happily. "This James cant take that away from you. Enjoy your night Kurt and dont let him win. Throw those pathetic flowers away and take your curtain call and bow, showing the whole world how fantastic and marvelous you are. Show them Kurt Hummel and how far hes come."

"As long as you take the bow with me?" he asked and her eyes twinkled.

"Oh darling, in the words of Ms Gaga – I live for the applause."

Kurt laughed loudly.

Blaine had never been more proud. As he sat in a row in the circle, alongside Burt, Carole, Rachel, Tessa, Ruby and as many friends from Lima that could make it, he beamed. Hed seen countless rehearsals, helped with songs and lines at home with Kurt and watched Kurt grow into the performer he knew was inside, but nothing quite prepared him for his perfection on stage.

Kurt, as Gabe, was crouching near the metal poles at the back of the stage, starting quietly, just as Ana, who played his mother, was talking to her doctor.

I am what you want me to be,
And Im your worst fear
Youll find it in me.
Come closer...
Come closer...

I am more than memory

I am what might be,
I am mystery.
You know me
So show me.

When I appear its

Not so clear if
Im a simple spirit
Or Im flesh and blood...

But Im alive,

Im alive,
I am so alive,
And I feed on the fear
Thats behind your eyes.

And I need you

To need me
Its no surprise
Im alive...
So alive...
Im alive.

He was staying in the shadows of the stage, almost bursting to get out, determined for the other characters to see and recognise him, but he was frustrated.

I am flame and I am fire,
I am destruction,
Decay and desire
Ill hurt you...
Ill heal you...

Im your wish,

Your dream come true,
And I am your darkest
Nightmare too
Ive shown you...
I own you.

And though you made me,

You cant change me
Im the perfect stranger
Who knows you too well.

And Im alive,

Im alive,
I am so alive,
And Ill tell you the truth
If you let me try.

Youre alive,

Im alive,
And Ill show you why
Im alive...
So alive...

Im alive

Im right behind you.
You say forget,
But I remind you.
You can try to hide,
You know that I will find you.
Cause if you wont grieve me
You wont leave me behind...

He came closer, startling his mother, who was the only one who seemed to hear him. He was persistent and he sang louder.

Im alive,
Im alive,
I am so alive,
If you climb on my back,
Then we both can fly.
If you try to deny me
Ill never die
Im alive...
So alive...
Im alive…

Hed worked himself to the highest level of the construction on the stage, louder, more desperate to be heard and his last note finished, with open arms wide. He was the only thing anyone saw on stage and Blaine had no doubt that everyone believed in his existence. Kurt Hummel was alive and no one could ignore his talent anymore.

Ana had been right. There were standing ovations for both her and Kurt and neither shied away from the limelight. Blaine and Burt were the loudest of all in their praise and adoration, as Kurt bowed again and again, beaming with amazement that this was all for him. He was enveloped in hugs as soon as the curtains finally descended.

"I knew it, I knew it," Ana gushed. "You were amazing." She wiped a tear from her eye and Kurt briefly thought she looked just like a real mother to him, so proud at what he had become. He hugged her again tightly.

Kurts dressing room was crowded by the time he got there. Flowers were blooming out of every corner and he was hugged and kissed far too many times for him to keep track. Flustered, he landed in his chair and felt his eyes brim with tears that everyone had come to see him; that he had made it and it had been such a success.

"So this is the famous and debonair Blaine?" Ana asked as she seemed to miraculously appear beside him. Blaine was touched that he had been mentioned and he immediately took her hand to explain how big of a fan he was.

"Hes a keeper," she stage-whispered to Kurt as soon as Blaine let her hand go. Kurt laughed and let the discussion of his performance commence. Once or twice he would glance around the room, at people discussing the performance, praising his ability, and wonder how he had ever managed to become so lucky.

Kurt relished the quiet as they entered their apartment in the early hours of the morning. Blaine made him warm milk quietly, his feet shuffling around the apartment as Kurt changed into a dressing gown. Upon seeing him enter the kitchen, Blaines breath left him.

"As amazing as your performance was tonight, I am so very grateful that I get to see you like this; that Im the only one that gets to see you like this."

Kurt snuck up to him, curling his arm around Blaines waist securely as he continued to warm the milk. Kurt loved the domesticity of their relationship, that he only had one person to come home to each night. His last relationship had woefully lacked any such intimacy. The thought made his stomach twist. Hed have to tell Blaine about the bouquet.

"I have to tell you something."

An eyebrow raised, Blaine sat down at the kitchen table with two mugs of warm milk and waited.

"I received some flowers today."

Blaine laughed. "I know, I dont think Ive ever seen so many. Perhaps in a florists shop," he mused.

"No these were different. Small and pathetic actually, but the person who sent them has a tie to us."

Blaines brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to work out who it was.

"James," Kurt said slowly.

"What?"

"The card just said congratulations but I wasnt sure what to do with it."
"Burn it. Throw away the flowers," Blaine said, getting up quickly and angrily.

"I did."

"Then whats the issue? We dont have to think about it again."

"But what does he want? Why is he sending them in the first place?"

"Who cares, Kurt? Whatever his motive, it doesnt matter. Dont let the bastard ruin the most perfect evening."

"I dont want to," Kurt whispered, looking down at his drink in panic, wondering if he had done just that by bring it up. Blaine noticed and brought his chair a little closer, taking Kurts hands in his and imploring him to look at the beautiful honey-coloured eyes ahead of him.

"Nothing can touch us Kurt," he said. "On that stage, you were everything. He will never have that and he wanted to reach out because he is jealous. He expected you to amount to nothing."

"Tonight was perfect."

"Exactly. Dont let one pathetic guy ruin it for you. Dont try to work out what he meant. Hes not worth it."

"I guess he will always be a part of my life, hell always be out there. Its like Ruby too. Joe will always be somewhere out in the world and we can run and hide but theyre always lurking in the shadows."

Blaine looked infinitely sad that he couldnt remove that for Kurt.

"Life is full of shadows," he eventually said. "We cant remove them, we cant escape them. But your life is what you do against the shadows. If you refuse to let them win, if you use those experiences to shape and mould you and perhaps to help others on the way, then, well, you would have succeeded."

"I love you," Kurt said, his beautiful blue eyes swimming with such love that Blaine could never doubt his sincerity.

"I love you too," he said.

"Fuck, Kurt!"

Blaine had no idea that hair tugging was a thing for him, but as he rocked gently inside Kurt, kissed him fiercely, Kurt had nowhere to place his hands and it felt so good. Blaines hair had long ago escaped its gelled confines and Kurt ran his fingers through his curls, tugging on occasion and letting out obscene moans.

"I love that I can run my fingers through your hair; I fucking love your curls."

Blaine groaned at his words, thrusting harder and faster, causing Kurts hips to lift and join him.

"When I first saw you, across the way, they were the first thing I noticed," Kurt said, his words stuttered as his hips matched Blaines thrusts again. "I dreamt of touching and running my hands through…"

Kurt tugged a little harder and without warning, Blaine came hard, his eyes wide at Kurts admission. He thrust deeper and harder so Kurt could join him, but seeing Blaine come undone so beautifully and at the words that had escaped his mouth, he came too, his back arched and his neck exposed.

As they came down from the high, Blaine wrapped his legs around Kurts body once hed disposed of the condom and Kurt brought him closer, his nose nuzzled under his jaw.

"Did you really want to do that?"

"Mmm, yeah," Kurt said at the memory, his eyes closing, and his expression blissful.

"Then you have my permission to do that anytime you want to."

Kurt chuckled. "Thank you, kind sir."