May 2011

Kurt pulled his Navigator into Blaine’s driveway and killed the engine. “I’ve got some studying I still need to do tonight, but I’ll call you tomorrow?”

“That’s fine.” Blaine leaned across the center console to kiss him goodnight. As he pulled away, Kurt giggled.

“What?”

“I love you.” Kurt smiled and kissed him again, their teeth knocking together when neither could contain their grins.

“I love you too.” Blaine reached down to twine their fingers together and pulled Kurt’s hand up to brush a kiss across his knuckles. “Talk to you tomorrow, then?”

Kurt nodded. “I’ll call you after my morning exam.”

Blaine climbed out of the car. As he headed toward the front door he heard Kurt’s window roll down. “I love you, Blaine Anderson!” Kurt shouted as Blaine reached the porch.

Blaine turned around and beamed. “I love you, Kurt Hummel!” He blew another kiss and waved as Kurt backed out of the driveway.

Even though it felt like a total teen movie cliche, he immediately ran to his room and flopped back on his bed, still grinning from ear to ear and kicking his feet out of pure joy. Kurt loved him. They’d been sitting in the Lima Bean talking about Kurt’s disastrous trip to Nationals, and Blaine had been so overcome that he’d finally said the words that had been on the tip of his tongue for weeks, and Kurt had said them back.

It felt like the future was wide open to them now. They were in love, and they were going to be together forever, happily ever after.

Blaine could picture them in New York, just like he and Kurt had talked about on the phone while Kurt was away. They’d have their own little apartment, and they’d take walks in Central Park on Saturdays and watch the Macy’s parade from their living room window every Thanksgiving. They could get married, and Kurt could design their tuxes while Blaine arranged a special song for them to sing together at the reception.

Blaine pulled his phone out of his pocket, unable to resist telling Kurt just one more time.

To Kurt: Thanks for helping me pick out my music today. Love you! <3

It only took a moment for the response to come back.

From Kurt: Love you too! <3

Blaine set his phone on his bedside table and stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers. As he got ready for bed he was flooded with more images of their future. Falling asleep together every night. Trading kisses over breakfast in their kitchen. A cat that they would name after some Broadway character or fashion icon. Arguing over closet space in their too-small apartment. Building a home, a life, a family together.

It was with theses images in mind that Blaine drifted off to sleep, his dreams continuing to map out a future with the boy he loved.

----

November 2015

When Blaine wakes up his mouth tastes like he’s been sucking on cotton balls soaked in garbage juice, and his whole body aches. He pulls the blankets up and rolls over to bury his head in his bedmate’s chest.

“For a gay man, you certainly do seem to enjoy my breasts, Blainers.”

“Mmm…they’re my favorite pillows.”

Santana laughs and runs her fingers through his curls. “They’re going to take away your gold star gay status one of these days. You’ll be demoted to a silver star gay, and no man will ever want your little hobbit body ever again.”

“Don’t care. It’s my twenty-first birthday, I’m hungover, and I demand boob pillows.”

From the other bed they hear Sebastian chuckle. “I think you both lose all your gay stars after what you morons did last night.”

Santana raises an eyebrow toward him. “What the fuck are you talking about, Seb?”

“Holy shit, you don’t remember. Really, could this be more cliche?” He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Look at your left hands, guys.”

Blaine tips his head up to look across Santana, as she is laying on his left arm, then looks up to meet her eyes. “We didn’t. Why would we do that?” He looks over to the other bed. “Seb, why would you let us do that?”

“It wasn’t my idea! You two idiots decided your precious bond needed to be cemented forever and ever as long as you both shall live and dragged me to one of those 24 hour chapels to be your best man, then came back here to celebrate with more booze and a snuggle fest.”

“Give me your hand, B.” Santana sits up and snaps a picture of their left hands side by side, displaying the gaudy gold bands, and types something into her phone.

“What are you doing?”

She hands him her phone so he can see what she just put on Facebook. Above the picture is the caption “Apparently the gays can get married here in fabulous Las Vegas!” tagged with his name. When the phone buzzes almost immediately after he finishes reading with a text message notification from “Lady Hummel” Blaine hands it back to her, assuming it’s one of her weird friends from work. His own phone buzzes with a message from Tina wishing him a happy birthday and demanding to know what the hell is going on and why no one bothered to call her about all of this.

He flops back on the pillows and groans. “It’s too early for this shit.”

“It’s almost one in the afternoon,” Sebastian says.

Blaine wants to chuck a pillow at him but can’t muster up the energy. “I’m hungover and apparently married. I need breakfast…with mimosas. Is there a decent brunch place around here?”

“The hotel serves brunch every day until three.”

“God bless Vegas.”

“I feel like that’s unlikely to happen, given its reputation as a city of sin and all.”

Blaine gives in to the urge this time, jumping up to hit Sebastian with a pillow and darting away before he has time to reciprocate. “I’m going to shower.” He drops a kiss to the top of Santana’s head as he passes her, while she remains occupied with her phone. “I’ll make it quick so we all have time to make it downstairs for brunch.”

As soon as they hear the water start running Sebastian moves over to sit next to Santana. “Have you heard from Kurt yet?”

She nods. “The message I got while Blaine was looking at my Facebook post was from him.” She hands him the phone.

From Lady Hummel: When I asked you to take care of him, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

Sebastian grimaces and hands the phone back. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll talk to Kurt when we get back to New York, but I think we’ll still be able to make this work. It might even be easier now.”

“In what universe does the two of you being married make things easier?”

“It might keep him from getting involved with anyone else until we can get things worked out with him and Kurt.”

“He doesn’t even know who Kurt is anymore, San.”

“Well, then, I guess we’ll just have to find a way to introduce them.”

“Are we sure this is really what’s best for him?” Sebastian asks. “I mean, I know Kurt loves him and has realized how much he screwed up, but Blaine is happy now. You remember what things were like before.”

“Of course I remember,” she snaps. “I’m the one who had to put him back together when Kurt left. I also remember how much Blaine loved him, and I think they both deserve another chance.”

They hear the shower shut off, and Sebastian stands up to gather his clothes and his toiletry kit. Blaine emerges a few minutes later, dressed in boxers and an undershirt and looking slightly more alert. “You’re next, Seb. Don’t take too long. I’m hungry.”

He sits down next to Santana and watches Sebastian disappear into the bathroom. They sit quietly for a few moments before Blaine pulls her closer and rests his head on her shoulder. “Being married to you doesn’t feel nearly as weird as I feel like it should.”

Santana nods. “I know what you mean.”

“Well, we have lived together for over two years now.”

“True, and I think my relationship with you is the longest and most stable I’ve ever had. You know me better than anyone, even better than Brit did. The only thing we’re really missing is the sex.”

Blaine chuckles at that and looks up into her eyes. “I love you more than I’ve loved any guy I’ve ever dated. I know it’s a different kind of love, but it feels safe and right and just…good.”

Santana kisses his cheek and leans their foreheads together, bringing her hand up to play with the curls at the back of his neck. “Are you saying you want to stay married to me, B?”

“I’m saying I would like to consider the possibility before we jump into another crazy impulsive decision.” He leans forward to place a chaste kiss on her lips.

She nods, still keeping him close. “Let’s talk about it when we get home, okay? We’ll just enjoy the next couple days and deal with this when we get back to New York.”

“Okay.” He kisses her quickly one more time before standing and walking over to his suitcase to pull out a pair of shorts and a polo to wear down to brunch.

When Sebastian steps out of the bathroom Santana quickly takes his place. Within twenty minutes they are all dressed and headed toward the dining room downstairs.

The rest of the weekend passes in a blur of sightseeing, drinking, and Sebastian constantly referring to them as Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. They all doze through most of the flight home on Sunday afternoon. The minute they reach the apartment Sebastian collapses on the couch, and Blaine and Santana make their way to Blaine’s bed.

“I feel like we should start charging Seb rent. He never sleeps at his own place anymore,” Blaine says as he crawls under the covers.

“Maybe now that we’re married we can give him my room.” Santana shrugs. “It would save all of us some money, at least.”

Blaine smiles and pulls her down to cuddle against him. “We’ll talk about it in the morning. Night, Tana.”

She kisses his shoulder and closes her eyes. “Night, B.”