Kurt fell asleep that night with an overwhelming sense of pride lingering in his chest.Sometimes you have to grab life by the nuts and run with it.His father's words. And he'd done it. He'd swallowed the all consuming terror that rose in his chest as he realized the predicament he and Blaine were in and gone for it. His first real kiss. It wasn't the way imagined it, but it was amazing none the less. Regardless of the status of their relationship, he was given the opportunity to share his first kiss with someone he cared about. And he took it.It was definitely worth it.

Christmas day, he was awoken by a contented sigh. As his eyes crept open, he noticed a certain curly haired pharmacist cuddling with a pillow on the far side of his bed. Kurt smiled. Blaine was adorable when he slept. He looked peaceful. The dancer didn't dare wake him. So, as carefully as he could, he slid out of bed and pulled a throw over his friend's shoulders. He then made his way downstairs to start breakfast...and coffee.There has to be coffee.

An hour or so later, breakfast was finished and the other occupants of the house were still dozing.Well, that just won't do. Kurt thought as he exited the kitchen. It was Christmas morning for fuck's sake. They were supposed to be opening presents and enjoying each other's company. He ran through each room shouting for the occupants to get up. They all groaned and complained about headaches and it being 'too fucking early in the morning' and 'too fucking bright for a goddamn Christmas day'. Kurt didn't care though. He hadn't drank like the rest of them, so he was fine. They should have watched their alcohol consumption.

As his first official good deed of the day –one deed on a list compiled of exactly one deed- Kurt decided to wake Blaine last. The dancer crept into his room and over to his bed. Just as he'd left him, Blaine was cuddled with his pillow. His curly hair –greyed around the edges- darted out in all directions. It made Kurt smile. Blaine was too cute for words. He almost felt bad for waking him up; almost.

"Wake up, sleepy head." He whispered as he gave the man's shoulder a shake. Blaine grumbled and rolled away from the dancer. So, Kurt tried again. He gave Blaine's shoulders another shake and whispered to him. "Get up. It's Christmas. Santa came."

"Screw Santa, Jer. I'm tired and I'm not in the mood. Leave me alone." Blaine barked in return. Kurt raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. Blaine was obviously in another world. He hadn't spat venom at Kurt like that since the night they argued in his car. The performer almost didn't try again. 'Almost' being the operative word. Blaine was getting up whether he wanted to or not.

"Get up, dammit!" Kurt yanked the throw from around the pharmacist's shoulders and gave his body another shake, rougher than the ones before. In an instant, the elder was awake. He jolted up in bed and looked around the room with wide eyes.

"Wha' happened?" He asked as he took in the scenery. Kurt smirked.

"You told me to quote 'screw Santa,JER. I'm tired and not in the mood.' End quote. You also told me to leave you alone. As you can tell, I'm not a very good listener." Kurt watched as his friend groaned and buried his head in his hands.

"I'm so sorry, Kurt. Jeremiah used to bug me in the mornings and...I don't know. I'm usually so disoriented when I wake up that I thought it was him. I'm sorry for yelling at you." He sounded as if Kurt's forgiveness was the oxygen he needed to live. It was endearing in a way for the performer.

Kurt waved him off. "It's quite alright. Rachel always thinks I'm her cat –a cat that she's never owned- when she's asleep. I can't tell you how many times I've woken up to her cuddled against me and petting my head."

Blaine furrowed his eyebrows. "That's kind of weird." Kurt nodded.It is kind of weird. Then again, it is Rachel. She's in a league of her own.

"Now, come on. Let's go down stairs and open presents." Blaine smiled as he climbed out of Kurt's bed. Presents; everyone likes presents.

Gift opening was a quiet affair. Most of the participants were hung over, so loud noises were banned from the jump. As they exchanged gifts, they offered thankful eyes and bright smiles to each other as thanks.

Kurt neared the last gift under the tree. It was from him to Blaine. He quickly grabbed it and handed to the elder man. "I hope you like it." He whispered, earning a death glare from Rachel. Blaine grabbed it immediately and pulled the ribbon off. He tied it around his neck and smiled at the dancer.

"A bow. Thank you, Kurt. You shouldn't have." Kurt shook his head in disapproval, but the wide smile on his face gave him away.

"No, silly. The gift is obviously in the paper. Why the hell would I ball up paper and wrap it with your gift?" Blaine shrugged.I still think the bow on the outside is pretty cool.After he received another disapproving glare from his friend, he tore the paper open. Nestled inside the Happy Birthday wrapping paper –'Blaine, I still have wrapping paper left over from Rachel's birthday gift. I'm obviously not buying more wrapping paper for Christmas. Then I'll have even more left over and I don't want to drag all that to New York. It's a hassle.'- was a bowtie with 'Pharm.D' patterned across it in rainbow colors.

A slow smile crept across Blaine's face. "Where did you get this?" He asked incredulously. He had no idea they made bowties like this one. He had no idea that Kurt knew that he liked bowties. He hardly ever wore them anymore because he couldn't find ones that went with his work clothes. He usually stuck to a black tie or no tie at all.

Kurt smiled. "Do you like it?" He asked sheepishly. Blaine nodded. He loved it. "And, to answer your question, I made it. I was at Fabric Shack, looking for fabric for my next performance costume, and I ran across it. I bought a little and made you a bowtie."

Blaine couldn't help himself. He turned to Kurt and engulfed him in a tight hug. "This is the sweetest gift I've ever received. Thank you so much." It was the honest to God truth. It was sweeter than the crystal that his parents gave him for his wedding and took back upon his divorce. And much sweeter than the gonorrhea Jeremiah gave him for their second and third wedding anniversaries. Kurt hugged Blaine equally as tight. There was something about hugging the man that made everything feel right. It was as if Blaine had taken the seesaw and set it flat rather than teetering to one side or the other. It felt normal, natural; balanced.

With the gifts opened and the food finished, the group began to go their separate ways. "Hey, I forgot to give you your gift." Blaine said once everyone else was gone. He actually hadn't forgotten, he just didn't want to give it in front of them. Things between him and Kurt weren't the business of others.

Kurt shrugged. He wasn't going to say anything. He'd simply assumed that Blaine decided not to get him anything. It wasn't a big deal; even if it hurt like hell to think.

The dancer shooed Rachel up to her room before joining Blaine on the living room couch. When he plopped down next to his friend, he noticed an envelope in his hands. "This is for you, Kurt. I hope you like it." Kurt snatched it greedily. Yes, he was a child at heart and Christmas presents were awesome.

He tore the envelope open in record time. "Oh my God." He gasped as he pulled the check out.There are too many zeroes on this."Blaine. What is this?" He finally asked. His friend smirked at him. What a shit eating grin it was.

"It's a check, Kurt. Us old folks get them with our bank accounts. They're just like those new-fangled debit cards they give out."Go fuck yourself smart ass."It's for you. "Well, I can see that. Why though?

Blaine noticed the expression on his friend's face. "We had a deal. You help me out and I help you out."

"But you and Jeremiah aren't any closer to getting back together. Unless...." Kurt gasped. "Are you guys getting back together? And you didn't tell me? You bitch!" The pharmacist sat back and shook his head at each of Kurt's frantic questions.

"We're not getting back together."

"So what's the check for?" Kurt tried to hand the check back to his friend but the elder wouldn't have it. He refused to take it each time. "Come on, Blaine. We had a deal. I help you get back with your ex and you give me a couple grand. Not only is this like five times what we agreed upon, but you're not back with him." Kurt tried to thrust the check into his friend's hand once more. It didn't work.

"We haven't gotten back together because I've decided I don't want to be with him. I spent all this time chasing something I never had and I'm tired. I'm tired of running after a guy that doesn't want me. So, I'm giving up on him. And, you did help me. You helped me see the light. That night, all that stuff you said in the car, it stuck. So, I'm paying you for that. Let's say the rest is an investment in your future."

"I can't accept this." Kurt insisted once more. Just as before, it fell on deaf ears.

"Yes you can. Your dad once brought me a whole freaking dinner for Thanksgiving because I told him I was going to be spending it alone. When I told him I couldn't accept it, he told me to stop trying to steal his shine. He said that I needed to learn to appreciate receiving gifts. This is a gift to you, Kurt. The only thing I expect in return is a front row seat to all your shows when you make it big."

The dancer didn't know what to say. It was too much. Blaine was right, however. His dad always told him to except gifts graciously.It makes people feel good to give. Don't take that away from them."Do you think you have enough time off to see all my shows? I mean, I'm amazing, so I'll be in quite a few of them."

Blaine smiled so brightly that Kurt was certain the sun was wearing shades. "Yeah, I think I can make it work."

"Good."

Rachel left on the 30th for New York. She decided that, while looking for an apartment, she could also enjoy her first New York New Year's Eve. "Take lots of pictures, Rachel. I freaking mean it." Kurt advised as they reached the TSA checkpoint. Rachel nodded.

"Believe me! I'm going to take tons of pictures."

"Not of Broadway posters! We can see those when we get there. Take pictures of whatever apartments you look at. I don't care if it looks like every apartment we've ever seen in Lima, you take a damn picture. Understood?" The girl's smile, which had fallen significantly in the past few minutes, completely faded away.

"But, what if they change between the time I get back and the time we move? How will I remember them?"

Kurt ran a tired hand over his face. He wasn't in the mood for her shenanigans. "Rachel," He sighed, "just...nevermind. Don't waste that entire SD card on pictures of play posters. Please?" He was begging. If he had to, he'd get down on his knees and beg her. Their future was coming at them more quickly than it had before. Part of that future involved having a place to live. Without that, they wouldn't have a reason to move.Because we wouldn't be moving, we'd be migrating. Ummm...NO!

"Okay. I can do that." Kurt let out a relieved breathe. He was happy to hear that. "Alright, love, I have to get through security. I'll call you when I get there." Kurt scooped the girl up and hugged her close. "Love you, honey."

"Love you too."

He put her down and watched her walk away.Aww...my little girl is going out into the world. I'm so proud.Once she was through the checkpoint, Kurt exited the building and walked to his truck. He still had an outfit to put together for his New Year's show. He also had to pick a song.

Man I got that swag
My hat matches my bag
You know I'm poppin tags
Cuz man I got dat swag

I swag when I surf
Now watch me surf and swag

I'm on hypnotic
Exotic
That Polo on my body
Got a bad girl beside
And her friend right behind me
And I'm swagin I'm surfin
I'm swagin I'm surfin
I'm swagin I'm surfin
I'm clean like dish detergent

Blaine sang the first few verses of the song before starting over. He only knew the first few verses and he knew those because Santana had the song on her iPod. It felt right, however. He was getting ready for Kurt's New Year's show and he was extremely excited.

From what he'd heard from Jessie, the New Year's show was just as amazing at the Christmas one but far more evocative. He couldn't wait.

Once his shirt was ironed and his jeans –he'd forgone the khaki slacks for the evening- were pulled on, he hit the road. Quinn and Santana were meeting at the club and they would shoot him if he was late.Literally shoot, LITERALLY.

Kurt's outfit was uncomfortable. It was probably the vinyl...or maybe the metal. Yeah...the metal was uncomfortable uncomfortable. It was worth it though; the show was going to be amazing. Bridget, a girl he went to high school with, was dancing to 'Maniac' fromFlashdance.She was the only person in the place that could pull off the dance. Then Roz, an old pro who refused to take off her clothes but loved the stage, was going to bring the house down with a dance to 'I Want to Love You' by Akon. That would set the audience up for Kurt's performance. It was his first, and hopefully last, show closing performance. He couldn't wait. He was going to bring the house down.Na-na-na-na-na come on.

Blaine watched patiently as Bridget danced to the Flashdance song that he danced to in the shower but never remembered the name to. He wished they would hurry up. Every time something happened, he assumed it was Kurt getting ready to perform. Each time, he was wrong.

New Year's was a different kind of night at the club. After every dance, all the waitresses –scantily clad as ever- got on stage and did a drink line. They waited with bottles and called patrons up to have some poured into their mouth. Guys and girls alike lined up to have their mouths filled.That doesn't sound right. That doesn't sound right at all.

Blaine threw his head back in frustration when yet another dancer that wasn't Kurt took the stage. Santana seemed to be into it, but he wasn't. He couldn't quiet bring himself to rap the lyrics to the song with her, but he wasn't going to ruin her moment. She and Quinn loved it. He, however, was growing restless. He just wanted to see Kurt dance. Then, they could go hang out. Maybe they'd get dinner.Well, it'll be late when he gets done. We could pick up McDonalds, but that's about all that's open. Kurt likes McDonalds. Well, he likes to bitch about eating McDonalds and then eat all of my food and then eat his own. Where does he put all that food? His butt! His butt has like...a lot of meat. He has a meaty ass. Unf...Blaine jumped as his thoughts. Why was he thinking about Kurt's ass? Why was he enjoying thinking about Kurt's ass? Sure, they'd kissed on Christmas Eve, but Kurt made it very clear that the kiss was one shared between friends and nothing more.Friend zone. Damn.

"And now.....for our main event." Blaine perked up as the MC spoke. "The show stopping, crowd pleasing Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiinnnnnnnnnnn...." He couldn't hear the end of the introduction because the crowd was screaming so loudly.

The stage went black for a moment and purple spot lights began to flash. When the beat dropped, the audience went crazy.

Na na na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Na na na na na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Come on
Come on

The lights pulsated with the beat for a moment. Then, the stage went black. When the first words of the song rang out, the purple spotlights were fixed on a single spot on the stage; the spot where Kurt was posed. He had one hand on his hip while his other hung lifelessly by his side.

Feels so good being bad
There's no way I'm turning back
Now the pain is my pleasure
Cause nothing could measure

Kurt strutted to the brass pole in the middle of the stage; the tails of his tuxedo oversized tuxedo jacket flapped behind him as his hips swayed. He spun around the pole a few times before stopping with his back to the audience. He slid his hands down the pole until he was completely bent over, giving the audience a perfect view of his ass. The cheers were deafening.

Cause I may be bad
But I'm perfectly good at it
Sex in the air
I don't care
I love the smell of it
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But chains and whips
Excite me

Kurt popped back up, still facing away from the audience, and began to unbutton his tuxedo jacket. He swayed his hips to the beat of the song and slid the jacket down his shoulders. The crowd grew rowdier as he did so. Once it was hanging from his wrists, he pulled it off and tossed it aside. He then grabbed the pole and began to twirl once more.

It wasn't a complicated dance because this wasn't about the dance. It was about the outfit he'd chosen. He knew that would earn him more cash than an intricate dance would any day.

Na na na na

Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it
Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it
Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it
Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it

Blaine sat on the edge of his seat as Kurt climbed the pole. Watching Kurt work was amazing. He was limber and agile. From the way he twirled around the pole gracefully to the way he hung from it by only the crook of his knee. It was an outstanding sight.

The pharmacist leaned closer to the stage as Kurt, who had climbed most of the way up the pole, wrapped his thighs around the brass structure.They're really smooth! His hands. Smoothhands!He leaned in again when Kurt's ankles locked and the dancer let himself fall backwards; held up only by the muscles in his legs.

Love is great, love is fine
Out the box, out of line
The affliction of the feeling
Leaves me wanting more

Slowly, Kurt trailed his hand from his belly button to the collar of the shirt. He used his long, lithe fingers to undo the buttons of the dress shirt.And damn if he doesn't know what unbuttoning buttons does to me. I can't even unbutton my work shirt without thinking about that night.

As the buttons were unfastened, Blaine and the other patrons began to notice strips of something crossing the performer's chest. Quickly, Blaine turned away. He crossed his legs and willed the growing sensation in his pants to go away.

For weeks, Kurt went on and on about the New Year's Eve show and how he always did something outrageous to ring it in. Blaine didn't even know what Kurt had planned but he knew it was amazing.And sexy. Not sexy. Well, yeah, sexy!

Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it
Come on
Come on
Come on
I like it
Like it

Kurt, still hung upside down on the pole, ripped the last buttons away and opened the shirt. Insane wasn't a descriptive enough term to describe the audience's reaction. Six straps connected to a single, metal ring, ran across Kurt's chest at an angle. It left nothing to the imagination. Every customer in the room could see the say the straps tugged against the dancer's muscles as they stretched the reach the ring that was centered just above his belly button.

S...S...S
And
M...M...M
S...S...S
And
M...M...M

Blaine uncrossed and re-crossed his legs.Yeah, I've got a boner for that top. Huge boner. Not that I'm saying I'm huge. Well, not that I'm saying I'm not huge.Again, he leaned forward and watched Kurt slide the shirt off and reached beneath him to grab the pole.All this pole talk.

Kurt reached for the pole and grasped it firmly in his hands. He then released the death grip his legs had on the allowed them to fall to the side into a split, before bringing them down to the ground once more. The crowd loved it. They were tossing dollar bills at him like it was the law.Give me your tired, your hungry, your dollar bills...

As slowly and seductively as he could, Kurt undid the belt that held up his tuxedo pants. The song was nearing its end and he was ready to flatten his money and count it.

Oh
I love the feeling
You bring to me
Oh, you turn me on
It's exactly what
I've been yearning for
Give it to me strong

Belt undone, Kurt ripped it from the loops of his pants and twirled it in the air as hips swayed to the music.

And meet me in my boudoir
Make my body say ah, ah, ah

Playfully, he whipped the belt at the stage, revealing in the cracking noise that accompanied each strike against the hardwood floor.

I like it
Like it

It happened so fast that Blaine couldn't stop it. Kurt was fiddling with the fly on his pants and the next thing Blaine knew Kurt was touching himself. Like...all over. One minute, the dancer was undoing his pants and the next his hands were roaming the milky expanse of his torso and his fingers were tweaking his tiny, strawberry nipples.I've decided they probably taste like strawberry ice cream. Don't judge me. Strawberry ice cream is delicious. Not that I'm thinking about what Kurt's nipples taste like. Because I'm not!

The pharmacist closed his eyes and attempted to slow the beating of his heart. It was pounding double time against his ribcage.That can't be healthy.

He only opened his eyes when the cheers and catcalls became so loud that he couldn't resist. Slowly, he allowed one of his eyes to creep open. Big mistake! Gone were the oversized tuxedo pants, only to be replaced by a pair of tiny, tiny underwear.Is that a zipper on the front? Why would you need a zipper on the front of –OH!

Cause I may be bad
But I'm perfectly good at it
Sex in the air
I don't care
I love the smell of it
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But chains and whips
Excite me

Kurt danced around the stage teasing the audience with the prospect of unzipping his underwear and showing them what he was really made of.

S...S...S
And
M...M...M
S...S...S
And
M...M...M
S...S...S
And
M...M...M
S...S...S

And
M...M...M

He ended with a split and a blown kiss the audience.Thank God that's over!

"Did you like the show, Blaine? Oh my God. You have no idea how much money I made off that!" Kurt gushed once they were outside. The club was closing and everyone was heading home. Kurt and Blaine, much to the latter's excitement, were heading to McDonalds.Because, McNuggets, bitch!

Blaine cleared his throat awkwardly, trying not to answer the question. He kind of wanted to forget the show. If he didn't, he would be hard for days. That wasn't an option; regardless of how much he wanted it to be one. "Ummm..you know..." The pharmacist shrugged and turned to walk towards his car. Kurt followed quickly behind him.

"You hated it, didn't you? Was it that bad? I mean, everyone seemed to enjoy it and." Kurt sounded hurt. If Blaine didn't know any better, he would have thought that his opinion on the show was really important to Kurt.He wouldn't care about my opinion on something like this. Right?"The outfit was too much, wasn't it?"

"What? No! I'm sorry," Blaine quickly interjected, "the performance was great and the outfit wasn't too much. I was...distracted, that's all."

Kurt sighed in relief as he climbed into his friend's car. "Great. I really wanted you to like it. I mean, they liked it, but you always look past the raunchiness of it and focus on the actual dancing and stuff. They just see sex ."

"Yeah..." A lame answer but Blaine couldn't tell Kurt that he'd detoured at the restroom on his way out. The very packed restroom that sounded like mating season at the zoo once Kurt's performance was finished.

"Good. At least you liked it. Oh, and that other guy." There was a hint of playfulness in Kurt's voice.

Blaine pulled out of his parking space and drove through the parking lot. "Who?" He asked as he merged into oncoming traffic. He wanted to know who else liked the performance. Why was Kurt so concerned about said other guy?Why do I care that he's concerned about said other guy?

"I don't know. I do know that he paid for me to perform at his party next weekend. I get four grand after Will's cut; or at least that's what Will said when he pulled me aside to tell me about it. I'm so excited. Do you know what this will do for my New York fund? With your check and this...holy crap!"

"What kind of party?" Blaine asked absently as he switched lanes. What kind of party needed strippers?Certainly no party I've ever been too.

"A bachelor party."