“You guys ready?” Cooper called from the drivers seat of his tiny blue Miata sports car. Blaine and Kurt were standing on the sidewalk in front of their dormitory, holding hands tightly. They recognized that they needed to talk before anything else confusing happened, but it would take a lot of time and a lot of privacy. With just a few words exchanged as they hurried to get ready to go to brunch with Cooper, they had agreed to shelve it for now, go with Cooper to the Anderson house, and talk later.

“Im starving!” Blaine said, grinning at his brother.

“Me, too,” Coop agreed. “Hop in.”

It was very clear that there was not room for both boys in the tiny backseat of the Miata, so Blaine asked Kurt if he would prefer to sit next to Cooper or in the back.

“The back. Uh...yes, Id prefer the back,” he practically whispered, still not sure about how Cooper thought of him. Besides, the top was down and he thought the wind might do less damage in the back. Blaine helped him step over the seat into the back and he settled down, finding the seatbelt and snapping it closed.

Blaine sat next to his brother.

Coop took them to a little French cafe that served brunch: La Bistro Fontenay.

Kurt looked over the menu, his eyes wide as he tried to decide among dozens of luscious looking items, each sounding better than the last. He finally turned to Blaine.

“Im guessing from your enthusiasm when we got here that you are familiar with the menu?” Kurt asked.

“Yes, we used to eat here when we were visiting Uncle Andy. He always brought us because it was his and Uncle Buddys favorite place in the world to eat,” Blaine said.

“Then maybe you could suggest something for me?” Kurt asked, a smile growing on his face as he saw Blaines eyes sparkle. He reminded Kurt of someone – oh, yes, the sparkling eyes. Andy.

“Ive had most of the breakfast items...The Belgian Waffles with strawberries are wonderful, the Crepes Suzette is made with those Spanish oranges, wow. Delicious. If you dont want it too sweet, the German Pancakes with fried apples and sour cream is to die for...” Blaine said, going on to describe half a dozen choices until Kurt held up a hand to stop him.

“Wait....wow, you are not helping at all! I wonder if they would make me a sampler platter with a bite of each one on it?” Kurt laughed. “Have you had the Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry sauce?”

“No, that is one of the few I have never tried,” Blaine admitted and Coop laughed.

“Im having the Eggs Benedict,” Cooper said.

“You always have that...and then you end up asking me for bites of mine!” Blaine accused his brother.

“Maybe I can get the Swedish pancakes with lingonberry sauce and you can get another, then we can share?” Kurt suggested.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Blaine said, looking over the menu for the last time as the waitress approached the table.

Blaine was still contemplating after the other two had ordered, and he closed his eyes and asked for the German Potato Pancakes with fried apples. Kurt smiled, that was the other one he had thought of trying.

“This isnt that far from Dalton, Kurt. We can come back and try other things,” Blaine offered.

“Oh, Id love that,” Kurt said, his eyes on Blaines once again.

They ate the food and the conversation was friendly and comfortable, as if the three had been friends all their lives. When all the food was gone, they got back in the Miata and went to the house where the Anderson family had lived for many generations. The housekeeper let them in and the three men went into the family room to sit and talk for a while.

“So, I had Floyd take your car to have it serviced, tuned up and all for you, Squirt. Its all ready. Im staying the week to make sure everything is ready for when you and I move back in this summer, then its back to Case Western for me until I start my internship,” Cooper told them.

“Have all the boxes come from Italy, do you know?” Blaine asked. He had packed his room before leaving Italy and the boxes had left at the same time, but freight moved so much slower.

“Lena said there were a lot. She had them put up in your room. Do you know how many there were?” Coop asked.

“I think 36? Something like that,” he said.

“Wow, sounds like youre moving here forever,” Cooper said.

“I dont know. I miss Australia, it was home – but it was time to move on. I never felt as accepted there as I have here. Remember when you and I would come and visit Uncle Andy and Uncle Buddy? That was when I felt the most at home. I know theyre gone now, but the house, everything, just reminds me of how good it felt to be here. I want to stay here for now,” Blaine said, his voice fading at the end.

“What happened to their apartment?” Cooper asked. Blaine shrugged his shoulders.

“Dad never said, just that hed had word that Uncle Andy died. Andy was in the same nursing home that Uncle Buddy was in before he died. I used to write to him, now I wish Id asked Mom and Dad to send me here sooner, maybe Id have been able to help in some way,” Blaine said.

“I came a few times to visit, but not as much towards the end,” Cooper admitted. “Now I wish there had been some way to make more time. I am in my final year of med school and I just couldnt seem to make time for anything,” he said with deep regret.

“I was with him when he died,” Kurt whispered, the tears running down his face. The two brothers turned to stare at him.

“I forgot you knew him,” Blaine said, taking Kurts hand.

Cooper just stared. “You knew Andy?”

“Yes, I was a volunteer at Kenton Manor. Andy used to play his guitar or the piano and we sang together. My dad and I took him to the park one day and he told me a little about his life. I pushed him in his wheelchair to the park for the last time after he had lost his sight to diabetes. He fed the baby goats and the llama at the petting zoo and he sang with me. I must have tired him out because his lips and fingernails were blueish by the time we got back.” Kurts voice had faded to a husky whisper and both brothers were leaning close to hear.

“I helped put him in bed and he was so tired – but he asked me to read to him. I was reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. We had read all the Harry Potter books already. I went home to be with my dad when Andy fell asleep.”

“Oh, Kurt, I am so happy Uncle Andy had you there for him,” Cooper said.

“The home called me that night, Andy was asking for me. My dad drove me there and Andy was not doing well. He asked that everyone leave so he could talk to me. He said he was cold, so I climbed into his bed to hold him,” Kurt was barely keeping together now, his hands shaking and his face swollen with tears. “He said he wanted to go, that he missed Buddy for too long and he wanted to be with him again. He hugged me so tight – I think he was confused, he kept calling me Buddy and telling me he would never leave me alone again. He died in my arms with such a sweet smile on his face....” Kurt finished.

“Oh, my God, Kurt. You are so amazing, he was so lucky you found him. I wish I had been here, but since I couldnt be, I am so happy you were with him,” Cooper said, wiping his face with his sleeve. Blaine was sitting close to Kurt on the sofa, his arms around Kurts waist. At the end of the tale, Blaine had gently pulled Kurts head to rest on his shoulder.

“Thank God for you, Kurt. He was an amazing, kind, generous man and he deserved to have someone like you, someone with a heart so big...to be with him at the end. Do you think hes with Buddy again?” Blaine asked.

“Yes, I do. I couldnt stand thinking anything else, ever. I know in my heart that he and Buddy are together once again, now and forever like he said,” Kurt whispered, his hand over his heart.

Cooper looked at the two – Blaine named after his beloved uncle and Kurt with the same name as Buddy. Maybe they were together again, just in a new incarnation? Cooper looked at the two: Blaine sitting so close, Kurts head resting on his shoulder as they comforted each other. It was just like when Andy and Buddy were younger. If the lights were dimmer, they might be mistaken for one another they were so alike.

They sat together, Blaine now rubbing Kurts back to comfort him, Kurt with his arms around Blaines waist. Cooper looked on, his thoughts so loud in his head he didnt hear the sweet words Blaine was whispering to Kurt to calm him.

Time rocked on and soon they were sitting talking again.

“If you want to see the apartment that Buddy and Andy shared, I have the keys,” Kurt said.

The brothers looked at him, twin faces of puzzlement staring at him.

“Ah....Andy left it to me in his will,” Kurt stuttered. “I didnt know until the lawyer called me, my dad took me down to his office and Mr. Louis Harrington told me that Andy had left it to me. I have never gone inside it, just drove by it that day. I feel funny about him leaving it to me. I asked Mr Harrington if Andy had someone else to leave it to – a relative with more claim than I had. He said there was some distant family in Australia. I never dreamed I would meet you, Blaine, not this soon. Ill give you and Cooper the apartment if you want.”

“No! He left it to you!” came two voices speaking as one. The brothers looked at each other, surprised to hear they answered together.

“No, Kurt. He left it to you, and I can see he had reason to do that. He must have loved you, Kurt,” Blaine said, once more rubbing his back.

“He paid my tuition to Dalton and left me some money. That wasnt the reason I was friends with him, though. I had no idea he had all that. We were friends because I liked to read to him and he liked to sing to me...we just needed each other, you know?” Kurt said, tears making their way down his face once more.

“Im going to go see if Lena can make us some tea,” Cooper said, getting up to go find her. He put a hand on Kurts shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Kurt, I dont want you to feel guilty or sad that Andy gave those things to you. You were his friend and he must have thought a lot of you. I can see why, you must have been a beautiful, bright spot in his lonely last year. I am grateful you were there for him, and I dont begrudge you his apartment or anything else he chose to give you.”

With that, he left the room.

“I feel the same way, Kurt,” Blaine whispered, holding Kurt even tighter to his chest.

They didnt say much else, but Blaine had Kurt remove his shoes and they cuddled together under a quilt on the sofa until Cooper returned and Lena brought the tea. She had made some Scottish shortbread to go along with it and they all sat drinking the warm tea and relaxing after the emotional scene.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

“Well, shall we give you a tour of the house?” Blaine asked.

“Sounds like a plan, lead the way,” Kurt smiled. He had been feeling melancholy talking about his late friend and even though it was good to talk about him with people who knew and loved him, the feeling was still bittersweet.

“Cooper?” Blaine asked.

“Naw...I have to get some paperwork done, if youll excuse me. Being in medical school means they own me – lock, stock, and barrel – until graduation. Ill join you later for lunch?”

“Sure. Thanks for the tea,” Kurt smiled at Coop.

“Ill skip all the dull places, I promise. Here,” he said as he opened the double doors off the main hall, “is the library. It is one of the three best rooms in the house,” Blaine said.

“Oh, it is magnificent!” Kurt said. “I have dreamed of living in a house with a library – and it has a ladder to get to the top shelves!”

Blaine laughed. Kurt was just too adorable sometimes. Kurt walked over to the shelves, running his hand over the spines of the books. One caught his eye and he pulled it from the shelf: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He opened the book and on the inside of the front cover it had the name “ANDY ANDERSON” written there. He flipped a few pages, now more curious than ever. On the title pages it read: “To Andy, for all the days you and I have lived in fantasy. Love, Buddy.” It was dated July 1965. Kurt blinked a few times. This was the book he was reading Andy when he died. Kurt was suddenly so happy that Andy had already read it and knew the ending. He had been sad that Andy died before they finished the book, as ridiculous as that was. He replaced the book on the shelf, next to the whole set of Narnia books, which brought a small smile to his face. He turned to talk to Blaine once again.

“Let me guess the other two rooms?” Kurt asked, his gaze landing on Blaines eyes once again, as if that were his home.

“Sure, guess away,” Blaine laughed.

“Your room?” Kurt guessed.

Blaine laughed. “I didnt grow up here. The last people to make this their permanent home were Uncle Andys parents, my grandparents, Phoebe and Grant Anderson. Are you ready for a bit of family history?”

“I love history,” Kurt said.

“Phoebe and Grant had two sons, Thomas Cooper and Blaine Devon – who went by the nickname Andy. Thomas is my father. When he got married to Miss Charlotte Helena Darling, they moved to be close to her family in Australia. They also had two sons, Cooper and me, both named for our ancestors.

“Uncle Andy never actually got married. He lived with Uncle Buddy his whole life. He never said they were lovers, but it never needed to be said. They grew up in an age where the whole concept of a man loving another man was taboo, so even when it was more accepted they never said a word.

“But they really didnt need to define their love for anyone else, and I really admire them for that. I never saw them so much as hold hands in public, but the love between them? It was like nothing I have ever seen, before or since. You knew when you saw them together that it was the two of them forever. They were practically joined at the hip, and the love was palpable. I knew it instantly even though I was just eleven the first time I came to stay with them,” Blaine said.

“I know Andy missed Buddy,” Kurt said, “He talked about him all the time. He was singing Buddys song the day I met him. Actually thats why we met. I had met him in passing during supper one day, but then I heard the chorus as he sang Buddys song to himself in his room and I stepped in, mesmerized by his voice. It was so strange, too. He told me he never published that song, and never sang it to anyone but Buddy – but I knew all the words. I dont remember ever hearing it before, but I sang it with Andy – start to finish – and didnt miss a word,” Kurt said, Blaine sitting and looking at him with his head cocked to the side, as if he were listening to something besides Kurts voice.

“I worried about that – about it not making sense – until finally Andy told me there are some things in life you dont ever learn the answers to, no matter how you try. He said to let it go, so I did. But its still a mystery that I cannot explain,” Kurt said. “There were a lot of things about Andy and I that defied explanation, actually.” Kurt got a far-away gaze in his eyes, as if he could see through the walls and Andy and Buddy were waiting there to explain it all. Blaine had that feeling sometimes, as if the two uncles were more than just relatives and friends, as if there had been a deeper connection between himself and them. Kurt gave him the same feeling sometimes.

“Okay, maybe we can come back to this room sometime? I love to read,” Kurt said, taking Blaines hand by habit and walking towards the double doors.

Blaine led him to the next room. It was directly across the hall from the library and had matching double doors.

“This is my next favorite room. Can you guess what it is?”

“It has to be a music room?” Kurt guessed.

Blaine swung them open with a huge smile. “Of course!”

The room was done in blue and gold, not quite Baroque, nor Renaissance, but not modern either. Actually, none of the house was modern. It was as if nobody had redecorated since Phoebe and Grant left for Europe twenty years ago. Probably because they hadnt.

Kurt walked in, his eyes trying to look upon everything at once. The focus point as he walked in was very obviously the grand piano. No, not a baby grand but a full concert grand, the shiny black surface glowing as if it had just been polished. Once he saw the piano, his eyes went to the harp standing in an alcove. Kurt loved the sound of a harp and he looked at Blaine, pleading in his eyes.

“Please tell me you can play?”

“Which one?” Blaine asked, a smirk on his face.

“Oh, the harp!” Kurt said.

“All of us angels can play the harp, Kurt, its a prerequisite for being able to sit on the clouds, you know,” Blaine winked and walked over to the harp. His face grew more serious as he stepped to the instrument and sat on the stool, leaning the harp back against his shoulder. His hands began plucking the strings and a marvelous melody came out: simple, soft and lyrical, bewitching Kurt as he sat on a chair to enjoy the impromptu music.

Blaine played for a short time, frowning a bit when he hit a wrong note.

“Im sorry, Kurt. I havent been able to practice for so long – we didnt have one in Italy. I had my guitar and a few other things: my violin and cello, and the house we lived in had a piano; but I had to leave my harp and harmonium in Australia when we moved. There wasnt room for everything,” Blaine said, a sad look on his face.

“Was this yours?” Kurt asked.

“No. Its Grandma Phoebes. She was the one who taught me to love music when I was a little kid. I got a violin for my third birthday,” Blaine grinned.

“Wow, all I asked for were sensible heels...” Kurt muttered. Blaine giggled. Kurt had told him the story of when he came out to his dad and his dad said he knew because that was what Kurt had asked for.

“Shall I play you a tune on the piano?” Blaine asked and Kurt nodded. Blaine sat down and played Moonlight Sonata, or a piece of it anyway. Kurt was in a daze, watching Blaines fingers as they touched the keys as a lover would touch his partner.

“Well, thats a taste of what I love to do. I wish this would fit in our dorm room, but that isnt likely,” Blaine laughed.

Cooper walked by just as Blaine finished.

“Oh, so hes showing off, is he?” Coop said.

“Hey, come play a duet with me, big brother! You can show off, too. I bet we could both get a kiss from Kurt if were good enough,” Blaine teased. Cooper laughed and came in, sitting beside his brother. They both held their hands above the keyboard and started at the same time, beautiful music flowing from the instrument as the brothers played. Kurt was listening with his whole body, tense with it as he watched the fingers on the keys. They played in perfect synchronization, and Kurt knew it must have taken years to look so at ease doing it.

They finished, the last slow, deep notes fading.

“If you liked my harp playing, coax Coop to play for you,” Blaine suggested. Cooper frowned at him.

“I have things to do, Squirt,” he said, but walked over to the harp and sat down. He caressed the instrument, a dreamy smile on his face as his fingers touched the strings. If Kurt thought Blaine could play, it was nothing compared to the beautiful, ethereal melody Cooper was coaxing from the well-loved instrument. He played for quite awhile before ending the song and smiling at Kurt and Blaine.

“That was amazing!” Kurt said, clapping his hands.

“Thank you. Now, I do have to get this done. Lunch is in two hours, if thats all right?” Cooper said, but left before the boys could answer.

“I want to hear you play your violin!” Kurt said and Blaine smiled.

“Its being shipped. I didnt want to send it with the freight, so my folks are bringing it for Christmas. There is one here I can use, but the change in temperature of sending mine freight wouldnt be good for it. Violins are very delicate when it comes to temperature. Dad offered to bring it with them,” Blaine explained.

“Well have to have a whole concert,” Kurt laughed good-naturedly and put a hand on Blaines back.

“Now, you have to tell me the last of your guesses – which is the third of my favorite rooms?” Blaine asked.

Kurt looked as if he were thinking hard.

“I was going to say an art room, I bet you paint, too?” he guessed.

“Well, I do, but its just a hobby. No....I moved my things into the third room when I came. Grandfather said I could pick any room, so when I told him which one, he said he wouldnt go back on his word and allowed it. Just follow me....” Blaine said and led Kurt to the second floor and down a long hallway. He opened the doors (yes, double doors again) and they walked into a paradise. It had been called the conservatory when Phoebe and Grant lived there, but Blaine had moved things around and now it was his bedroom.

Kurt gasped at how beautiful it was: all manner of bright flowers and cool green plants in pots and containers all over the room, Blaines bed with a white linen bedspread in the middle of it. Along the walls were some wicker dressers and shelves and he could see a closet by the door, recessed into the wall.

“Doesnt it get too damp in here?” Kurt asked, surprised that he didnt feel the dampness he associated with greenhouses.

“No. None of these plants are actually tropical, I was kidding about that. It is a bit of a jungle, but none of the specimens require a lot of humidity. Grandpa Grant gave it to me the first time I came to visit and since then he had an en suite added on and the built-in drawers and shelves.”

Kurt turned around, looking at all the room and just taking it in. It was like a jungle, but organized. He saw a desk at the far end of the room, and Blaine showed him how the windows were double-paned with blinds inside the glass that worked on a switch for privacy – although the foliage from the plants kept anyone from seeing inside from the grounds.

“Blaine, this is beautiful,” Kurt said, still in awe. “Can we make our dorm room just like this?” he asked, a glint of teasing in his eye. Blaine laughed.

“My boxes must be here somewhere...” Blaine said, opening one of the closet doors. It revealed a large walk-in closet with piles of boxes. “I can see two or three weekends worth of work unpacking that lot!” he said, his voice a little exasperated as he thought about the time he would have to rearrange.

“I could always help,” Kurt offered. “I love to organize, we could make it into something fun.”

“Oh, that would be great. I dont think your dad would be very happy if I stole you away for a whole weekend, but maybe we can take turns or something,” Blaine suggested.

Kurt went over and sat on the bed when Blaine patted the seat next to himself.

“Kurt, I know we left this morning on a confused note - and I just want you to know that I do care for you. I know we have bonded as roommates and then friends, but I cant help but hope you feel something more than that. More than just teenage hormones, too. I am beyond serious when I say I care very deeply for you and....” Blaine stuttered, not sure of what words he could possibly use to convey the many emotions that were taking over his mind and body right now.

Kurt sat next to him, listening and secretly agreeing with each point as he made it. When he stopped talking, Kurt moved before he had even made the decision to. He put a hand behind Blaines head, threading his fingers into the soft curls as he pressed their lips together and kissed Blaine.

It was true that they had kissed a few times, mostly accidental, and had slept together - in the non-Biblical sense - but Kurt just wanted to cut to the chase and let Blaine know exactly how he felt, right now. The smile gracing Blaines face rivaled the sun. He was overjoyed that Kurt understood exactly where he was headed with the conversation and he took Kurt in his arms and kissed him this time. They continued kissing, lying back on the white linen bedspread in each others arm – both of them feeling as if they were now truly at home.