Blaine returned to the living room with a grin on his face. “Chance?” Kurt asked, his face professionally cool, so professional that Blaine didn’t even notice.

Blaine nodded emphatically. “I haven’t had time to sit down and talk to him for a while. We’ve both been so busy lately.”

“How long have you two been friends?” Kurt asked, turning on the seat to lean against Blaine’s warm arm as Blaine picked up a stack of papers his editor wanted him to look over. They’d been having an easy evening together. Kurt didn’t have any performances and Blaine’s work was the kind that was incredibly dull unless done with someone else.

“As long as he’s dated Carrie. I’d met him a few times before that at my editor’s because he did some side work there. He would always greet me when I came in but I didn’t know his name until Carrie showed up one evening with him on her arm. It’s amazing how well they work together,” Blaine replied, moving his arm to wrap it naturally around Kurt’s waist.

Kurt’s grin stretched across his entire face and he burrowed a little closer to Blaine’s side. “Do you remember-“

Blaine cut him off with a groan. “Memory lane, really? Kurt?”

Kurt pinched Blaine’s side slightly and gave him an impish smirk. “Just hear me out. Do you remember when the Warblers found out we were dating?”

Blaine’s eyes flicked to the ceiling as he recalled the memory. “I think they were thrilled, weren’t they?” Kurt nodded. “Something about them thinking we’d gotten together after I sang to you and then being sorely disappointed to find out we were just friends,”

“See, your memory hasn’t evaded you in your old age,” Kurt joked and Blaine returned the pinch. A beat of silence passed between them before Kurt went on to say. “You know, I waited for you for what felt like forever to figure out your feelings towards me. I thought I was going to have to give up at one point,”

Blaine sighed, his voice somber as he murmured into Kurt’s hair. “I’m glad you didn’t,” They didn’t say anything much after that. Kurt hummed to his own tune while Blaine looked over the papers in his hand. At one point Kurt let his mind wander and it took him back to Dalton when they would often sit like this in the common room while studying. It was nice that they could fall so easily into this pattern again, this time without the tug of time pulling them apart. When Blaine left that evening Kurt sat on his bed, staring at his ceiling with a smile on his lips.

When it came time for dinner with Chance, Blaine met the older man at his work place, and they left together chatting amiably about an angry client Chance had been dealing with for weeks. “He’s absolutely crazy, but he’s good money so what can I do?” Chance bemoaned as they followed the waiter to their reserved table at the back of the restaurant. It was a flashy place with soft music and private booths, one of which Chance had reserved for them.

Blaine didn’t think much about it at the time because their dinners were often like this. He knew that Chance liked his food expensive and served in a smart atmosphere. They ordered wine and food and kept the conversation light until Blaine somehow turned to the topic of Kurt.

Chance leveled Blaine with a careful stare across the dinner table. He perched his lips to the side and contemplated the story that Blaine was telling him. The other man’s face was lit up like the fourth of July as he recounted his date with Kurt. “It was amazing Chance! Being with him now makes me feel like I never actually was without him. It’s wonderful,” Blaine rambled. “We’re going out to dinner again tomorrow and I have no idea what to wear. Kurt is so fashion oriented; I never know what to wear around him,”

Chance blinked serenely, “Where are you guys going?”

“Um, it’s a fairly new restaurant. Kurt picked it out because a friend of his from the theatre circle recommended it. It’s called La Vea,”

Chance nodded sagely. “I’ve heard about it. Very fancy, you need to dress up,”

“Noted, thanks! At least I have time to be ready. We have reservations at 8. God, I have no idea what to wear…” He trailed off, staring at the wall behind Chance’s head.

Blaine’s eyes were lively but Chance couldn’t hide his worry. “Blaine, I’m glad you’re happy, I really am,” he leaned forward and touched his hand to Blaine’s, clasping it under his own.

Immediately Blaine stopped to look up at Chance, a frown on his lips. “Chance…” He warned. “I know exactly what you’re going to say and honestly, everything with Kurt is going so well, can’t you just let me be happy?”

Chance felt his heart break a little at his friend’s expression. He squeezed Blaine’s hand tightly. “I understand, but I really want you to be so careful. I know that he’s won over Carrie, but I’m not so sure. I’m afraid that he might be looking at you like a substitute boyfriend. He threw you away so easily all those years ago, what’s to say he won’t do that again?”

Blaine shook his head furiously. “Just stop Chance. He understands everything that went wrong and I’m not going to give in so easily, I promise. But he makes me happy, he always has. Yes, we had our drama to deal with but these years of separation have helped, trust me?”

With a frustrated huff of air Chance let go of Blaine’s hand and leaned back in his chair, taking in his friend. Blaine did look happier and more put together as of late, but he knew that he couldn’t attribute it all to Kurt. Though, Kurt was definitely a part of the equation.

Chance took his drink carefully and lifted it to his lips. After a refreshing and satisfying sip he asked. “I heard Kurt is getting incredibly popular lately, Worry Well has become quite a success. I’ve heard a lot about him and his men in the tabloids,”

Blaine stopped and lifted a brow at Chance. “When have you ever been a gossip monger? You know tabloids lie,”

Chance shrugged and took another sip of his drink. “I’ve just heard about how he flies from man to man, both fan and fellow actor. He’s not exactly an angel,”

Blaine silverware clattered to the plate with an angry rattle. “Stop this Chance! I don’t know what your problem is with Kurt but you need to knock it off now!”

Chance, ever the cool businessman, didn’t blink once as Blaine glowered at him. “If this was anyone else you wouldn’t be so upset and you know it. You’re upset because deep down in your heart you know that he’s changed and while you pretend to like it, you know. You know he’s had tons of guys around and that he’s not the same kid that you loved back at Dalton, just like you’re not the same guy and you deserve so much better!”

Blaine’s anger immediately flared. “Like Mark, the guy you set me up with? The one who you swore was perfect for me?” Blaine stood up immediately and threw his napkin on the plate. “I’m done, thank you for dinner. I think it’s better if you don’t call me for a while,” he left their table after that and stormed out of the restaurant with his hands clenched. Blaine didn’t calm down until he was in a cab and almost back to his apartment.

Once back at the apartment Blaine called Kurt and got his answering machine. He schooled his voice into something calmer and left a message for Kurt to call him back when he finished with the show.  He took a shower, almost as a displacement activity, and by the time he got out he was calmer, but still bothered by Chance’s comments. He tried to keep from mulling over Chance’s words because they caused his anger to flare again.

He knew that Kurt had dated a fair amount, but he could just tell that there was something between them still. Kurt wasn’t pursuing Blaine just to rekindle an old flame for fun. If Kurt wanted an easy guy he could with a snap of his fingers he was just that talented and gorgeous, but that wasn’t Kurt. No matter what Chance claimed the tabloids said.

Blaine groaned and rolled onto his stomach and almost immediately Quiddich settled in the small of his back. He was so frustrated and upset that he didn’t even push her off. Blaine had been thinking about talking to Chance about Kurt’s fan letters. Yes, he hadn’t been worried about them in the beginning but he thought that talking to Chance would help. Chance usually gave good advice, except when it came to Kurt. Because he was damned wrong about Kurt.

Kurt called an hour or so later. “Hey! I’m surprised to hear from you. I thought we were just going to be meeting up tomorrow?” Kurt chirruped in his ear and it was perfectly delightful for Blaine to hear. “Oh! How was your dinner with Chance?”

“Eh,” Blaine replied noncommittally. “It could have been better. We got into an argument that didn’t exactly end well,”

Kurt was silent for a moment. “How badly?”

Blaine sighed and scrubbed his hands across his eyes. “I walked out in a huff,”

There was a soft sigh on the other end. “Do you want me to come by and try to cheer you up?”

Blaine laughed softly. “I appreciate the offer, but right now I just wanted to hear your voice. I’m actually going to bed. I have to speak with my editor tomorrow, but I just wanted to wish you goodnight.”

Blaine could almost hear the smile in Kurt’s voice as he replied. “I’m glad you called me. Really. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

The dark haired man whispered, “Me too. Goodnight,”

“’Night,” Kurt grinned and hung up, looking at the phone in his hand. Sadie came up behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder. “That was Blaine. He just had a fight and he called to hear my voice,” Kurt informed her, sounding a little ridiculous.

“…Kurt,” Sadie started but Kurt had already wandered away, humming happily and dragging his coat over his shoulders. She watched him wandering away with a consternated expression and whispered under her breath. “I swear, he lives in his own fantasy world sometimes,”

The waiting for the evening to arrive practically killed Kurt. He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t be clingy and call Blaine just to hear his voice for no reason. He could wait for that evening. During the hours that preceded going out to he managed to clean his apartment, go out and do some shopping and then spend three hours preparing his appearance to meet Blaine.

Checking his figure in the mirror Kurt made the mental note to start working out again because all of his dinners going out with Blaine were starting to affect him. He tilted his head in the mirror and hummed softly. “Maybe I could make Blaine dinner some time…”

He checked the clock and straightened his tie, glancing in the mirror at his hair as he left. It was blown back and styled carefully and he looked incredibly sharp if he did say so himself. A couple floors below Blaine was waiting and he didn’t want to keep such a good looking man waiting, ever.

Sure enough, when he knocked on the door of Blaine’s apartment there was a few seconds wait until Blaine opened the door looking a little breathless. “Hey. Right on time! Ready to go?” Blaine asked, closing his door behind him firmly. Kurt grinned and took in Blaine’s attire. He’d dressed in newly pressed slacks, a crisp burgundy shirt, black tie and sports jacket. Blaine apparently noticed Kurt’s scrutiny and asked. “Did I meet the dress requirement?”

Kurt grinned. “You’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty. Dapper as ever,”

Blaine groaned and allowed Kurt to wrap his arm around his in the elevator. “It’s been ages since anyone has called me dapper! That takes me back to my freshman year at Yale…”

“Yale?” Kurt asked, he hadn’t remembered Blaine mentioning anything about being called anything other than ‘Blaine’ at Yale.

Blaine nodded emphatically and launched into a story that lasted almost the entire cab ride to the restaurant. “We were doing this joint performance with one of the all-girl choirs at the school and I bumped into one of the girls and apologized to her in a way that seemed to flatter her so much she called me a dapper young gentleman. It was kind of annoying at the time because she was a sophomore and barely a few months older than me. But, the really bad thing was that the rest of the guys heard and just wouldn’t give it up, at one point they actually got me a shirt with ‘Dapper’ written on the back, I swear, they were worse than 10 Wes and David’s combined.”

“How’d you finally shake the name?”

Blaine shrugged. “I punched a guy,”

The cab stopped in front of the busy restaurant and they slipped out together to the street. Kurt felt shocked. “You punched someone? Why?”

There was another lofty and noncommittal shrug. “He called me a faggot and it was finals week and I was stressed as possible and afraid I was going to fail my microbio course. And I’d been caught flirting with this guy earlier and the one I punched cornered me later and insulted me and I hauled off and hit him. Let me tell you, it was a release. Thankfully Sean, one of my fellow Spizzwinks, witnessed everything and was able to take me side in the whole matter,”

Kurt decided to ignore the comment of Blaine flirting with someone else, it hurt a little, and instead focused on the fact that Blaine had felt that much aggression. “I didn’t think you had it in you,”

“Me neither,” Blaine replied, a twinkle in his eye. Kurt gave his name to the hostess who beamed at Kurt and immediately took them to the back of the restaurant, next to the windows which overlooked the bay. Blaine held out Kurt’s chair and whistled appreciatively as he stared out the view. “God Kurt, who in the world do you know that you got a view like this?”

Kurt laughed lightly and readjusted his seat ever so slightly. “No one important. Do you want some wine?”

“Sounds amazing,” Blaine replied, scanning the menu. Kurt smirked and promptly ordered the best wine in the house. He was just about to ask what Blaine wanted for dinner when a smartly dressed girl came up to the table. She hovered at Blaine’s elbow until Kurt cleared his throat and forced Blaine to look up.

He swung his bewildered gaze at the girl who seemed to visibly begin vibrating with excitement. “Hi, are you Mr. Anderson?” Blaine nodded once looking utterly confused. “I knew it! I recognize you from a speech you gave at my college last year. It was on gays in modern literature, the way they’re portrayed, and the issues addressed,” Recognition still hadn’t clicked in Blaine’s eyes, but he nodded all the same and took her hand.

“I hope it was enjoyable,” Blaine said, glancing at Kurt who looked amused. He was surprised that Blaine had fans who actually recognized him when he was out and about.

“Oh, very much so! Inspirational even,” Kurt found himself wondering briefly if the girl realized that Blaine was very gay, “My girlfriend is sitting over there and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to go over and meet her. She was a little too shy to come over and talk to you herself. It would mean so much to her, she loves your books,”

Blaine glanced to Kurt who smirked sweetly and took Blaine’s hand, immediately the girl’s hands flew to her mouth. “I didn’t realize I was ruining a date!”

Kurt ignored her. “It’s fine with me,” He replied to the girl. “Why don’t you go and meet her? I’ll order for you. Fillet Mignon sound good?”

Blaine chuckled and nodded. He stood and motioned for the girl to lead the way. Once Blaine disappeared the waitress returned and poured some wine for Kurt. She smiled and sauntered away and was almost immediately replaced by a hulking but rather attractive man. “Kurt Hummel I presume?” The man asked, giving Blaine a smile so wide it showed almost all his teeth.

Kurt quickly swallowed his gulp of wine and returned the smile. “Yes, and you are?”

“Mark Sanders,” Kurt shook his head, the name not clicking. Mark’s smile faltered slightly. “I dated Blaine for a while,”

Kurt’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m sorry. He hasn’t mentioned you, but we don’t talk about our previous relationships,” A moment later something seemed to snap into place. “Carrie mentioned you at the party earlier,” He narrowed his eyes at Mark who raised his hands in a show of defense.

“I’m not here to ruin anything for you, I promise. I gave up on Blaine long ago, I was just finishing my dinner when I saw you two enter.”

Kurt’s frown deepened. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

Mark settled in Blaine’s chair and crossed his legs, reaching out for Blaine’s glass. Kurt’s reflexes were faster and he pulled the glass away. “I just want you to make sure that you don’t let Blaine get the best of you. He’s not the perfect angel that he appears to be. He dumped me in the cruelest way, I even thought we had a connection,” He sighed wistfully.

Kurt narrowed his eyes at Mark and that seemed to spur the man on. “We were having a lovely time and making a wonderful connection and then he left me at the door without so much as a thank you. The next thing I know, I haven’t heard from him in days and he’s showing up at his friend’s show with you at his side. Quite the player that man, but at least he won’t kiss you if he doesn’t like you,”

There was a soft gasp from Kurt and Mark raised his eyebrows at the other man. “You two haven’t? How long have you been together? It’s been a fair while since the show,”

Kurt gulped. “He’s a gentleman. He likes to take his time,”

Mark chuckled and stood up, swiping Blaine’s glass from Kurt’s lax grip. “You keep telling yourself that,” He took a sip and toasted Kurt. “Lovely wine. I hope you have a good evening,” He was gone immediately after that and Kurt was left with his mind reeling.

Blaine returned minutes later and seemed to be brimming with good cheer. He settled in his chair and grinned at Kurt. “The girls were very sweet, Amy and Chantal. They apparently both attended my lecture and had me sign their books. I wish I was better with faces, but I see so many college students. Is that mine?” He motioned to the glass in Kurt’s hand and Kurt immediately broke from his stupor and handed it over, throwing a smile on his lips.

“Yes, of course. I haven’t gotten the chance to order for us though,” Blaine took a sip from his glass and made an appreciative noise.

“You have wonderful taste in wine Kurt,” Kurt nodded and forced himself to be cheerful, though he could still hear Mark’s voice in his head.

Dinner went off without a hitch after that. They had Fillet Mignon and a wonderful desert of chocolate that Blaine actually fed to Kurt because Kurt moaned about not wanting to eat it and ruin his figure. All the attention Blaine lavished upon him almost made him forget about Mark’s words.

When they got back to the apartment Blaine followed Kurt up to his apartment and all the way to the door. Kurt watched Blaine apprehensively as he toyed with his keys. Finally he brought himself to speak, “Blaine, I was wondering if you’d maybe like to have dinner here?”

Blaine quirked an eyebrow and leaned forward in interest. “Here?”

Kurt lifted his head and grinned cheekily. “I happen to be an incredibly awesome cook. Remember how healthy I kept my father after his heart attack?”

“I remember. But does that mean I’m going to be subjected to health food?” Blaine asked, leaning against the door frame lazily with his legs crossed at the ankles.

Kurt stared at him haughtily and crossed his arms. “If you keep acting like that you might very well be,”

“Well then, what’s on the menu?”

Kurt shrugged. “Steak, wine, homemade roasted potatoes, and something special for desert,” he watched carefully for any reaction from Blaine. There was a spark of interest in Blaine’s eyes, but nothing more.

“Sounds amazing. When?”

Kurt shrugged. “Probably on Monday. I have performances all this week and Monday is my only free day.”

Blaine returned the shrug. “That’s fine with me. I’m going to be in meetings with my editor all this week for the cover art of my book and everything else that needs to be done. I’m afraid this means we won’t be able to see each other much,”

“But we’ll be able to talk? Right? Maybe grab coffee?” Kurt pressed and Blaine chuckled.

“Of course, tomorrow won’t work because I have to meet with Carrie and my editor early because she offered to do the cover art. Call me after your show and we’ll try and figure something else out,” He reached out and took Kurt’s hand in his. “I had an amazing time Kurt. This was wonderful,”

Kurt looked at Blaine for a long time, trying to convey his wish. He wanted Blaine to kiss him; that would completely ruin Mark’s comments from the restaurant. Instead Blaine only lifted Kurt’s hand to his lips and kissed the back softly. “Thank you Kurt. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

Kurt nodded in a manner that he hoped was emphatic enough to mask his disappointment. “Of course. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Blaine smiled and squeezed his hand, turning to head to the elevator and back to his apartment. Once Blaine had slipped away Kurt sighed and leaned against his door with a sigh.

Was Mark right?

Oh God, he hoped not.

He took another steadying breath and hurried into his apartment to do something serious thinking.