Don't stop here,
I lost my place,
I'm close behind.

Even the best fall down sometimes,
even the wrong words seem to rhyme,
out of the doubt that fills my mind,
I somehow find,
you and I collide.

Chapter 25:

Kurt went upstairs and found Blaine by the door with his suitcase. He stopped still and his eyes went wide.

"You.." he tried and failed. "You're going back?"

Blaine looked up. "Oh, hey," he said.

It had been two days since Burt had woken up and Kurt and Blaine hadn't spoken much. Kurt still wasn't sure what to do, but he didn't want Blaine to leave, not yet, not until he'd figured it out. On the other hand, he couldn't ask him to hang around, either, not after how he had treated him.

"I'm, um, going to stay with my mom for a little while," Blaine explained. "I haven't seen her since Christmas and I don't want to be..in the way here, I guess."

"You're not in the way," Kurt said, softly.

Blaine shrugged. "I feel..out of place," he told Kurt. "I know it won't exactly be comfortable with my mom, but.. I don't want it to be awkward for you in your own home, you know?"

Kurt couldn't deny that it was awkward, but that didn't mean he wanted Blaine to leave.

Kurt stayed quiet.

"I haven't made any plans to go back yet," Blaine went on. "Maybe I won't even go back..but I'll get your things back to you as soon as I can. Unless you need them sooner?"

"Wait," Kurt said. "You might not go back? Why not?"

Blaine inhaled for a long time, then exhaled, slowly.

"I can't really...imagine being out there any more," he told Kurt and Kurt knew he meant without him. "I.. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet."

"Blaine," Kurt said. "Don't not go back because of me. You're doing good with school and everything. I already hurt you enough, I don't want to ruin your future, too."

Blaine sighed. "My idea of the future isn't the same any more, so it's fine. It's not your fault and don't blame yourself for it, okay? I'll figure it out. Like I said, I don't know what I'm doing yet."

Kurt sighed then and sat down on the arm of the sofa.

"This is such a mess," he whispered. "I didn't mean for it to go like this."

Blaine only shrugged.

"Would you believe me if I told you I'm sorry?"

"I know you are," Blaine said, standing up straight. "I just wish you were sorry enough to do something about it."

And with that, Blaine grabbed his case, gave Kurt a small nod, then opened the door and went outside.

Kurt sat there blinking for a long time. Blaine Anderson had practically just walked out of his life and he felt winded and broken and like everything had become finalised. Kurt sat there until the tears rolled down his cheeks, at which point he went back downstairs and climbed under the covers, not wanting to face the day any more.

"Hummel!"

Kurt groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. He heard a loud groan, followed by a door opening, then heavy footsteps on the stairs.

"Go away, Santana," he said from beneath the pillow.

She had reached the end of the stairs then.

"What are you doing, you asshole?"

"Drowning in my own misery," he told her. "Close the door on your way out."

He felt the covers being pulled off of him and he tried to pull them back, but Santana was too fast for him. Kurt groaned and sat up, glaring at her.

"You look like crap and feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to fix this," she informed him. "Why don't you get up and do something about it?"

Kurt groaned again. "I just want to be by myself, Santana," he told her. "I don't want to get up, or think, or do anything that involves moving."

She didn't leave, however, she sat down on the end of the bed.

"So, is this what your life's gonna be from now on?" she asked. "Just moping around and acting like the world is out to get you?"

"No," he grunted.

"Have you thought this through? Do you think when you wake up tomorrow you're going to want to get up and get out of the house?"

Kurt stayed silent. Probably not.

"Hummel," Santana said, with a sigh. "You're doing this to yourself."

"I know," he whispered.

"But why?" she asked. "He's miserable, you're miserable. Doesn't it seem sort of stupid to be miserable over the same thing?"

"I didn't want to hurt him."

"Well, you did," Santana said, bluntly. "I'm not tryin' to make you feel bad, Hummel, I'm just telling it like it is. Why don't you tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"

Kurt took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He wasn't sure he wanted to get into it again, but she was being nice to him for once and maybe he needed to talk about it.

"It's really stupid when I say it out loud," Kurt admitted, "but I can't handle losing someone I love and before you say anything, I know, okay? I know that making him go away equals losing him, but it's not the same, at least not in my mind."

Santana didn't make any jokes, or call him stupid, she just nodded, slowly.

"You know that at some point, we all have to lose someone," she told him, "but it's sort of silly to think that we can go our entire lives not being close to anyone just because we're scared of what it's gonna be like to lose them. I mean, if you think about it, being alone forever is just about as awful as losing someone. Wouldn't you rather be with him than alone forever and risk the possibility of hurting years down the line?"

Kurt exhaled slowly. "I don't know if I can handle the pain of being with him and then losing him."

Santana stood up and folded her arms.

"Can you handle the pain of being without him?"

Kurt didn't say anything.

"That's what I thought," she said. "Looks like you've got some thinking to do. If you want anything, I'll be hanging round the house."

She turned on her heel and went back upstairs. Kurt stayed there, with the pillow in his arms, thinking about what she'd said and wondered if she was right. Kurt wasn't sure he could handle being with Blaine, but at the same time he wasn't sure he could handle being without him. His head hurt from too much thinking, but he wasn't nearly done doing it.

"He hasn't spoken to me in four days," Blaine said, when he opened the door and found Santana standing there. "Seriously. I dropped by the hospital yesterday and he left when I walked in."

"Are you going to let me in, or are you gonna stand here rambling on about your pathetic lack of a love life?"

Blaine stood back and let her inside.

"Just because your having this fabulous, new romance, doesn't mean you get to rub it in," he told her.

Santana and Brittany had been seeing each other most nights. They hadn't figured things out properly yet, but it was something.

"Where's mommy?" Santana asked.

"At my uncle's," he said, walking to the kitchen of his mother's new house. "Want anything?"

"Naw, I'm good," she said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Blaine sat down, too. "Has he said anything?" he asked. "About..well, about me?"

Santana was still at Kurt's house. She was waiting to return back to new York with Blaine, but he wasn't sure he was ready yet and Santana had been willing to wait.

"He doesn't say much of anything," Santana said. "He mostly just snaps at me for no reason, no different than usual, I suppose."

Blaine nodded. "Is he okay?" he asked. "I mean, is he doing okay?"

"You know, you might not believe it, but people can actually survive without you in their lives," Santana teased. "But honestly, he's not great."

"Alive, but not living," Blaine muttered. "I know what that's like."

"How poetic," Santana joked. "Thought of a plan yet?"

"Maybe," Blaine admitted. "I'm just not sure it'll make any difference. He doesn't want to be near me, so I doubt any plans I have will work."

"Gonna tell me about it?"

"Maybe in a minute," Blaine said. "Can I ask you something?"

Santana shrugged.

"Has he.." Blaine trailed off, fidgeting with the bracelet on his left wrist. "Is he.."

"He's still wearing your super special matching jewellery, relax," Santana said, rolling her eyes.

That was something, at least. Blaine felt relief coursing through his veins.

"Really?" he asked, hopefully. "He hasn't taken them off? Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," Santana said. "He sits around freaking caressing the links of that bracelet like it's a magic lamp, or something."

Blaine smiled, slowly, unable to conceal his delight in hearing this information.

"So, this plan," Santana prompted.

Blaine shook his head and sat up straight. "Okay," he said. "Tell me if you think this is absolutely crazy. I'll probably do it anyway, but I need to tell someone and—"

"Wow, you're far too excitable for my liking," Santana cut him off. "Calm down, speak slowly and let me tell you how crazy you are."

Blaine nodded.

"I bet you're happy to be getting out of here," Kurt said, looking around the room to check if they had forgotten anything. "It's been fourteen days."

"I've only been conscious for six of 'em and I'm already sick of this place," Burt said. "Not to mention the food."

"Dad," Kurt warned. "You still have to eat healthily. That's he reason you're here in the first place."

"I know, I know," Burt said, laughing. "Are you done? Can we get out of here now?"

"Okay," Kurt said, grabbing Burt's bag. "Let's go."

They left the hospital and got in the car and began driving home. They were silent for about five minutes and then Burt spoke.

"So," he said, "have you talked to Blaine?"

Kurt sighed. "No."

"Really?" Burt enquired. "When's the last time you talked to him?"

"The day he went to stay with his mom," Kurt muttered. "The day after you woke up."

Burt nodded, slowly. "You miss him?"

Kurt shrugged. He missed him more than he was willing to admit.

"Has he tried to contact you?"

"He called once," Kurt apprised his father. "He tried to talk to me the day he dropped by the hospital, but I couldn't speak to him."

"You're really making this more difficult than it needs to be."

"Dad," Kurt groaned.

"What?" Burt asked. "Look, Kurt, I know you're dealin' with a lot of crap, but you know deep down that this is stupid. You're smarter than that. You love him, he loves you. Surely you've figured out that you're just not the same without him."

"I thought you didn't think Blaine and I were right for each other," Kurt said. "Remember back when I told you we were seeing each other? You weren't exactly ecstatic."

"He had a girlfriend back then," Burt protested. "He was seeing the two of you and you said yourself he was sort of an ass. He's a good kid. I figured you two were in it for the long haul."

"And.." Kurt began. "You were okay with that? With him being around for good?"

"Can't really imagine you bein' with anyone but Blaine," Burt said. "I like Blaine. He feels like part of the family by now. It's like you and I were so alone for so long. And we were happy, we got by, but we struggled, you gotta admit that. Then you found Blaine and I found Carole and suddenly we were this brand new family, with you and Blaine and Carole and I and Finn and things got real good again, Kurt, for both of us.

"I'm not sayin' you have to be with Blaine forever, just because he seemed to become family, just like that, but it's different if you actually want to be with him and I know you do. You're just hurting yourself, Kurt. You have the power to fix this. Get yourself out of this rut and back on track. Go back to New York, kid. Go back to school and your apartment and go back to that boy. You belong out there, with him and you know that. I'll be fine here. I've got Carole. We do just fine and it's generous that you're willin' to put your dreams off to take care of me, but I'm not gonna let you. You've been dreaming of making it big for years and you're talented and determined enough and I won't let you give all that up for me.

"You're goin' back to New York, Kurt and you gotta figure out whether you want to go back there and be with Blaine again. I think we both know what the answer to that question is and it's time you faced facts. You're unhappy without him, so let yourself be happy again. Take some time to think and then do something about it. You want him to give up and leave without you?"

Kurt shook his head. He didn't want that. He wouldn't be able to bear it, even if he was sure that that was where things were going.

"Then don't let him."

"It's not as simple as that," Kurt told his dad.

"It can be if you want it to be."

Kurt nodded. That was true, he guessed, but he was still afraid, still too frightened to risk that pain and hurt.

"What if I lose him anyway?" Kurt asked.

"What do you mean?"

"What if I go back to him and we don't work out?" Kurt sighed. "I'm so messed up, dad."

"You're not messed up, just a little misguided," Burt said. "When you think about the future, is Blaine there with you?"

Kurt nodded instantly. Lately, he'd been imagining a very different future, one without Blaine, but he didn't like to think about that one. Every other version had Blaine there and they were happy, more than happy.

"I'm pretty sure he feels the same way," Burt said. "You two have gotten through a lot of crap already. It's scary to think about it, but don't you think you and him are for good? That that's just how it's going to be? You and him and no one else, ever?"

Kurt thought about it. He'd thought for so long that he and Blaine were forever and that they'd make it together, all the way.

"Yeah," Kurt said. "I mean, I can't really imagine not being with Blaine forever."

It was true. He and Blaine had been broken up for almost a week and it had been a terrible week. Kurt wasn't thinking straight. He was miserable all the time and he missed him so much. He couldn't imagine not having him forever, didn't want to imagine it, even if he was sure that he was going to have to get used to it.

"Have you guys talked about the future?" Burt enquired. "I mean, before this crazy break up?"

"A little," Kurt said. "He.. He told me he'd marry me some day. That he wanted Hummel-Anderson rather than Anderson-Hummel and that he maybe wants kids." Kurt let of a shaky breath. "I know we're young, dad, but it all felt so easy, like we would definitely get there. It's sort of crazy, I guess, because we talked about that stuff and I.. I felt like if he asked me to marry him then, when we talked about it, I would have said yes in a heart beat, because..because Blaine is it for me. Or he was, I guess."

"He still is," Burt said. "You're just making it difficult on both of you."

"You don't think it's crazy that I'd be willing to marry him on the spot?"

"Sure it is," Burt said with a chuckle. "But sometimes we gotta do some crazy things in life. Sometimes the crazy things turn out well and I think you and Blaine, crazy as you both are, would turn out great. I never thought I'd be okay with sending you off to sign up for forever, Kurt, but I would be, because he makes you happy—you make each other happy. It's not an unhealthy relationship and sometimes I think Finn and your friend Rachel have one of those, but not you and Blaine."

"Isn't there a statistic somewhere that says the majority of relationships between high school sweethearts don't work out?"

"There probably is," Burt said. "But since when have you ever been happy with fitting in with the majority?"

Kurt smiled, wide and bright and real for the first time in almost two weeks.

"You think you know what you want to do?" Burt asked.

"Maybe," Kurt nodded. "You think you can support me in whatever I decide to do?"

"Always," Burt promised. "You're my son and you're a smart kid. So long as it's what you want and it makes you happy, I'll be right behind you, every step of the way."

Blaine's mom walked into the living room and he looked up from the TV.

"Hi," he said.

Things were still a little awkward between them, but they were both trying. His mom smiled and sat down at the other end of the couch. Blaine lowered the volume on the TV. He hadn't really been paying attention anyway.

"You've been pretty down lately," his mom observed.

Blaine shrugged. "Not much to be happy about, I guess."

His mom gave him a sad smile, then reached across and took the TV remote from him. Blaine looked over at her, quizzically. She looked back at him, eyes studying him carefully.

"What?" Blaine asked.

"Why don't you just call him?"

"I can't just call him, mom," he told her. "He broke up with me."

"So?"

"So it'd be really pathetic for me to call him and beg him to take me back, don't you think?"

"The way you talk about him makes me think that you're comfortable enough with him to be yourself."

Blaine eyed her. Where was she going with this?

"Well..yeah," he said, slowly, "but what does that have to do with—"

"So, if you're that comfortable with him, it shouldn't matter how pathetic you seem. If your roles were reversed and he called you, would you think he was pathetic?"

"...no."

"Then stop wallowing in your own sadness and call him."

Blaine didn't say anything for a long time.

"You don't have to try so hard, you know," he told her after a while. "It's okay that you're not completely comfortable with this yet."

"Blaine, I just want you to stop being sad," she informed him. "I may not be able to understand this entirely, but I know you're happy with him—with..with Kurt and I want you to be happy."

Blaine nodded, slowly. His mother was probably sick and tired of him hanging around the house, acting like it was the end of the world.

"You know I went to see your uncle," she said. "You remember what I told you, about him being...being like you?"

Blaine didn't know a lot about what had gone on with his uncle Ernie when he'd been young. His mom had mentioned it in passing before, but nobody ever really talked about it.

"Kind of," Blaine admitted. "He.. He was in love with a boy, right?"

"He thought he wa.." His mom trailed off, pinched the bridge of her nose, closed her eyes, opened them, then went on. "Yes," she said. "He was very much smitten with his senior class president. Back then.." She paused again. This was blatantly difficult for her. "Your grandparents found out and they talked to him—to Ernie. Talked him out of it, I suppose. Fiona and I had no idea what they'd said, but he never mentioned it again. I..I know you can't turn...feelings on and off just like that, so he must have just kept things to himself for a while. He's unhappy, Blaine. I mean, he loves his children, but he never wanted to be where he is. I.. I'm beginning to see that this..this.."

"Gay thing," Blaine said and his mom nodded.

"Yes," she said. "I'm beginning to see that it's not something you can control. As I got older, I could see he wasn't happy, but I didn't let myself think that way. I thought that what he did—marrying a woman—was the right thing to do, but now I look at you and I think about you being that..that unhappy for the rest of your life and I wonder how I could ever have thought that that was the right thing, you know?

"I see that..Kurt makes you happy and I know that when you were with Quinn Fabray you weren't happy, not really. I know I'm not all the way there yet, Blaine, but I'm..I'm doing better, right? I'm trying and I'm beginning to understand and I want you to be happy and Kurt is a..a nice boy and he's good for you and you're where you want to be when you're with..with him.

"The past few days you've been..unhappy again and I think about you being like that forever and I can't bear that thought, Blaine. I'm.. What I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to accept the fact that you're.."

"Gay," Blaine provided.

"I'm willing to accept the fact that you're gay, Blaine," she said without faltering. "I'm willing to try harder at this and I'm going to be your mom, because I've never been a good parent to you, Blaine. I want that to change. I want to be in your life."

Blaine smiled and nodded.

"I would love that," he told her, truthfully. "It's okay if it takes a long time, I understand. Thank you for trying and for..for wanting to try, mom."

Blaine's mom nodded and her eyes were shining with the beginning of tears. They weren't a touchy-feely, emotional family, so this was huge for them. His mom shook her head, chuckled, then sat up straight.

"So, what are you going to do about this mess?" she asked.

Blaine sighed. "I don't think he wants me near him any more," he told her, sadly. "I walked in and he walked out the other day. I don't know what to do any more. I thought I had a plan, but I keep chickening out every time I think about going through with it."

"I just think you should go for it," his mom said. "If you don't try, you'll never know. You taught me that."

Blaine laughed. "And now you're throwing my advice back at me," he joked. "Maybe I should just try," he said, smile fading. "I'll get a message to him to meet me, or something."

"You could just go over there," his mom suggested.

"I don't want to cause a scene," he said. "I mean, Burt's just out of hospital and I don't want to do anything that could upset the peace. I'll.. I'll call Santana. She'll ask him to see me. I..I'll figure it out. I just..don't want to let him go."

Blaine looked sideways at his mom and she wasn't blinking and looking away this time, so he decided it was safe to go on.

"I need him," he whispered.

Blaine's mom did something unexpected, then. She reached across, a sad smile on her face, and placed a hand over Blaine's. She squeezed gently and Blaine watched her with curious and surprised eyes.

"You need him?" she asked.

Blaine nodded.

"Then go get him."

Blaine spent another two days trying to pluck up the courage to get Kurt to meet up with him. He was frustrating himself and he was at the verge of pulling his own hair out. He was in contact with Santana daily and she told him that Kurt was very much the same, but that he hadn't mentioned Blaine and every time Santana tried to bring him up in conversation, Kurt would change the subject.

Blaine wasn't sure what to think any more. He needed to know that Kurt still loved him, but he had no way of finding out and if Kurt didn't love him any more then his plan definitely wasn't going to work and he would wind up embarrassed and dejected and alone and he was too afraid to let that happen. If Kurt downright told him he didn't want him, Blaine's heart would break and it was unlikely it would ever mend again.

After two days, he decided to go for it. He was sick and tired of arguing with himself about this and he needed Kurt. He missed him and wanted him back in his life. Above all, Blaine needed to know whether there was a chance for them any more. If there wasn't he would have to go about trying to get himself together, to figure out where to go from here. If they had a chance, Blaine needed to know how large that chance was and if they were going to get round to fixing it any time soon.

Blaine got in the car and drove over to the Hummel family's home and sat outside for a long time, just staring at the house. He fought with himself about going inside again and then he stopped and asked himself what the hell he was doing. This was ridiculous. He and Kurt didn't have to worry about embarrassment or anything of the sort. His mom was right. It was worth it. he had to try.

"Fuck it," Blaine whispered, then got out of the car.

He took a deep breath, then walked up the driveway slowly. He reached the door and pressed the bell before he could stop himself, because he knew that if he didn't, he would end up standing there for another ten minutes, trying to get himself to knock or give some sort of signal that he was there.

A millennium seemed to pass and then the door opened and Carole stood there.

"Oh, hi, Blaine," she said, giving him a bright smile. "Come on in, it looks like rain out there."

Blaine smiled and stepped inside, muttering a polite thank you. Carole closed the door and they walked down the hallway until they reached the living room. Burt was on the sofa, watching TV. He twisted around and looked at Blaine when they walked in. Carole excused herself, saying she left the oven on. She disappeared into the kitchen, then.

"Hey, Blaine," Burt greeted him, grinning. "Come sit down."

Blaine did.

"Hi," Blaine said. "How are you feeling?"

"Never felt better," Burt told him. "I have everyone running after me, what's to complain about?"

Blaine laughed.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," he told Burt. "Is, um.. Is Kurt around?" he asked, smile dissipating.

"He just went out," Burt told him. "You can hang around and wait if you like. Think he went to see that girl. Mercedes?"

Blaine nodded. "Oh," he said. "I can come back."

"You gonna try fix this mess?" Burt asked.

"I'm hoping to," Blaine told him, quietly, eyes dropping to the carpeted floor.

"I think you should maybe stick around then," Burt said. "That way you won't have to work up the nerve to come over here again."

"How did you..?"

Burt shrugged. "I just do," he told Blaine, smiling knowingly.

Blaine nodded. He guessed he could stick around, but he'd worry himself sick sitting there, surrounded by everything that reminded him so much of Kurt.

"I might just go for a short walk," he told Burt. "I need some air and.. I can leave my car here. You can hold onto the keys and then I'll have to come back to get it. Is that okay?"

"Of course," Burt said. "I'm glad you're doin' this, Blaine, because Kurt doesn't look like he's willin' to make any moves."

Blaine's heart fell.

"Do you think this is a mistake?"

"What?" Burt asked. "No, course not. He needs someone to talk him round. Kid's too damn stubborn to take the first steps."

Blaine wasn't sure what that meant, but he nodded anyway. He stood up, took his car keys out of his pocket and handed them to Burt. Burt took then and placed them down on the coffee table.

"I'll be quick," Blaine told him. "Thanks for this."

"No," Burt said. "Thank you."

Blaine didn't bother to ask what for. He smiled and left the house, then walked down the driveway and out into the streets. Carole was right, it definitely looked like rain. The clouds overhead were dark and dreary and Blaine felt the same. He didn't bother turning back, though, because the air felt good and he liked walking, it helped him think.

When he was young, Blaine would take aimless walks, late at night, or early in the morning, or whenever he felt like he didn't want to be at home. He used to take different routes every time and sometimes, he wouldn't have any idea where he had ended up.

Blaine had been thirteen when he had finally found somewhere he could go, somewhere to get away from it all. His parents had been fighting and his head had been pounding and he just hadn't wanted to listen to any more screaming and shouting, so he'd just gotten up and left the house. His parents hadn't even realised he'd gone.

Blaine had walked, feeling dazed and tired and so fucking fed up with everything and when his feet wouldn't carry him any more, he stopped and found himself at an empty patch of land. He walked through the bushes and wound up in a large field, surrounded by trees and greenery. Blaine had laid down in the grass and just stared at the stars for hours. He had lost track of time and ever since then, he had been returning there.

Blaine remembered a handful of night he had spent out there, but the ones that stuck with him were the ones that included Kurt; The night of Kurt's birthday, the night they had won sectionals, the night they had spent there right before Kurt had left for New York. All of those nights were etched on his memory and he yearned to have Kurt back with him, to have him love him again.

Before Blaine knew what he was doing, he was heading for that very same field. He hadn't wanted to return without Kurt, but at that moment, he really needed to be back there, to get his thoughts together and to remember what it had felt like. He walked and walked until he reached the area in which they had once parked. It was raining very lightly by then and he didn't care, he just walked right in, breathing in the familiar smell of the outdoors and of greenery and dirt. Blaine stopped a little off to the side, where he and Kurt had lay together so many times, where he had lay by himself so many times before that.

He smiled fondly at the memories, even if some of them were painful ones. He remembered the last time he's been there, the night before Kurt had left for New York, leaving him behind, alone and afraid and unloved, with no one to turn to. He remembered how they had kissed and clung to one another, how they had spoken softly and whispered sweetly and held hands like they never wanted to let go. He remembered how he had lead Kurt through the trees and carved their names in a crooked heart using the jagged end of his key.

"How long do you think this will be here?" Blaine had asked.

"Hopefully forever," Kurt had answered, eyes glassy, a small smile on his pink lips.

Blaine shut his eyes and let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. So much for forever, he thought to himself., sadly. He wondered if the carving was still there. Chances were that it was, because, really, where would it go? Regardless, Blaine wanted to see it, wanted to remember that Kurt had had a problem with letting him go before, that he had gripped his hand so tight that Blaine's circulation had been on the verge of stilling, that he had smiled at him and kissed him and cried, because he hadn't wanted to be without him. Blaine needed to remember that now, needed to remember what it was like to have Kurt want to be with him and to love him.

Blaine stepped forward and then stopped because the branches rustled and a crunching sound filed the air. His heart raced and he got the urge to run, because this couldn't be good. If it wasn't an axe murderer, it was a wild animal and Blaine had been flighty with his fists once, but he really didn't want to take on either of those things.

Blaine stepped back, his breath caught in his throat, his heart thudding against his ribcage. He was stuck to the spot, then, unable to move, incapable of running away. He stood there, waiting for the...the thing to emerge, his breath held, eyes wide, goosebumps rising on his skin in the light rain and the soft wind.

Blaine's eyes went wider when he saw the figure stepping into the moonlight and his jaw dropped and his heart beat sped up and his blood rushed in his veins.

"Jesus," he whispered, breathlessly. "You scared the crap out of me, Kurt."

Kurt was taken aback when he found Blaine standing there, looking scared half to death. He was breathing heavily and his honey coloured eyes were wide and horror-filled. Kurt just watched him for a moment, then spoke.

"Sorry," was all he said.

Blaine nodded.

"I, um, dropped by your house," Blaine told him. "Your dad said you went to Mercedes' house and I was gonna go back later.."

Kurt raised both eyebrows. "I actually dropped by your mom's house," he said. "I asked Santana for the address and I..I wasn't sure if I was going to actually go there or not, so I just drove around for a while. I told my dad I was going to see Mercedes, because I wasn't sure I'd go through with going to see you. I, um, talked to your mom, briefly. I said I'd go back, too," he told Blaine. "I left my car on her street."

Blaine just gaped at him. "Wh.. Really?"

Kurt nodded. "Yeah," he said. "I've.. We didn't really.. There's still stuff that needs to be said. Sorted out."

Blaine nodded, face falling. Kurt just eyed him for a second, then cleared his throat.

"So, you're here," he said, stating the obvious.

"Yeah," Blaine said. "I just got an, um, an urge," he told Kurt, awkwardly. "You?"

Kurt shrugged one shoulder. "I didn't honestly even mean to come here," he admitted. "I just kept walking and I realised where I was heading when I was almost here." Kurt stopped and looked around. "I.. It's.."

Blaine nodded. "Yeah," he said. "It is."

Kurt just smiled, small and sad. "I was just looking," he told Blaine, "at the tree."

Blaine nodded again, slower now. "I was gonna look at it, when you stepped out."

Kurt stood back and waved a hand for him to go in. Blaine watched him for a moment, then stepped forward. He walked into the trees and Kurt followed him. It was dark and the bushes and greenery surrounding them had small water droplets clinging to them, from the falling rain, which was definitely a little heavier now. Kurt stood next to Blaine and they squinted down at the tree trunk. Kurt pulled his phone out and pressed a button, so that the screen came to life and the light shone on the tree.

The indentations in the tree were a shade lighter than the bark itself. The letters were uneven and crooked and the heart surrounding them was lopsided and off centre. Kurt couldn't stop the smile that broke on his lips.

They stood there in silence for a long time. The rain had slowed again after a while and they weren't too soaked that it was uncomfortable. Blaine reached across and traced the letters with one finger, then the heart around them. He let out a shaky breath and Kurt's heart ached. Blaine looked at him after a while, his arm down by his side again.

"So, this stuff," he said, curiously. "What is it? That we need to sort out, I mean."

Kurt nodded and slipped his phone back in his pocket. They stepped back out into the field again and stood there looking at their feet for a moment.

"So, you went to my house," Kurt said.

"Yeah."

"Any particular reason?"

Blaine gave him a look. Kurt nodded.

"Do you mind if I talk first?" Kurt asked him. "I have a lot to say and.. I'd like to get it all out before I convince myself not to."

Blaine looked uneasy, but he nodded.

"Do I need to sit down for this?" he asked, quietly.

"We can sit down if you want," Kurt said.

Blaine nodded, like that meant something. Kurt didn't ask. He just watched as Blaine sat down in the damp grass. Kurt considered staying on his feet, because the wet grass would stain his pants, but he needed to talk to Blaine, so he sat down next to him. Blaine looked surprised, but didn't comment on it.

"Do you hate me?" Kurt asked. "For what I did to us?"

Blaine shook his head immediately.

"I love you," he told Kurt.

Kurt nodded, heart racing.

"I know that's not what you want to hear," Blaine said, "but it's still true."

"I don't see what it matters any more," Kurt said. "I mean, just because you don't say it, doesn't mean it's not still true, right?"

Blaine didn't say anything, just picked at the grass beside his legs.

"I'm sorry, you know," Kurt told him. "I never wanted to hurt you. I figured if I hurt you enough, you wouldn't want to be near me any more, so I pushed it and.. I'm so sorry." He paused. "I just got this stupid idea into my head that things would be easier if I didn't have to worry about losing you any more and..I pushed you away, which meant I'd lose you anyway, so I don't know.. My mind was.. It was really dumb," he said, chuckling.

Blaine didn't laugh.

"I.." Kurt trailed off and thought for a moment. "Can you look at me for a minute?"

Blaine's eyes went to Kurt's then.

"The thing is that I love you so much that it sort of frightens me sometimes," he admitted. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. We're too young to be this crazy in love, yet here we are. I've been a mess without you. A mess is a huge understatement, actually. I've been so broken. It's scary to think about you having that much of a hold on me, that you can break me so easily. And I know this was my fault. I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just saying that you have the power to break me, Blaine and I think if you did, I'd never be able to heal again. That's what scares me so much. The fact that we're so young and that we're so settled and sure of what we have.

"The point I'm trying to make is that I'm that far gone and if anything ever happened..if I lost you somehow..I'd never get over it. I wouldn't be able to handle the pain and it's no excuse, especially not since I hurt you so badly, but that's what's been on my mind. I didn't tell you, because I thought you'd think it was stupid and wouldn't leave me.

"In my mind, I was saving you, too. I was saving you from ever having to deal with losing me, too. I guess you can't go through life like that, though. You can't go through life dwelling on the what ifs and the maybes. I get that now. I just hope it's not too late."

Kurt tried to read Blaine's face, but he couldn't. Blaine looked sad and emotional, but Kurt couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"I've been so horrible to you," Kurt went on. "I know I pushed you too far and if you never forgave me that would be totally understandable. I know you felt really bad about hurting me all those times I made you..do that. Please don't feel guilty about that. I pushed you to do it. I begged you for it. You just gave me what I wanted. The things I was feeling were too much for me and I figured that pain would drown what I was already feeling out. I didn't think about what that would make you feel at first and then when I thought about it, I knew it hurt you, so I kept pushing for it, because, like I said, I thought hurting you would make you want to leave me.

"I should have known you wouldn't. You're too good for that. You're not that type of guy. You wouldn't give up on me, even if you had every right to." Kurt paused. "You didn't, right?"

"Never."

"I'm glad you didn't," Kurt continued. "It's taken me a while to figure this out and I'm grateful that you're still here. I know this doesn't mean it's fixed, or that we're back together, or anything. I'm just glad you don't hate me."

Blaine tilted his head. "I could never hate you."

Kurt smiled. "The past few days I've been trying to think of a way to make it up to you, to show you that I'm yours, even if you don't want me any more. I've been thinking about the future and I know how I want it to be. I talked to my dad about it and he gets it. He knows me better than I do sometimes. He really loves you, Blaine. Honestly, he speaks so fondly of you and he keeps telling me how stupid I am to let you go. He doesn't have to tell me that, though. I'm well aware of that.

"What I'm going to say next is pretty big. I'm nervous, actually, because this is kind of what's going to determine whether or not we stay together. I'm doing this because I'm totally sure. I know what I want and I want you to know how much of me is yours. I want you to know how hopelessly in love I am with you. I want you to know that I've thought this all the way through and that I want this more than anything else in the world. I know where I want to be in ten, twenty years, Blaine and I want you to know about it."

Blaine looked frightened. He nodded.

"Can we stand up for a minute?" Kurt asked.

Blaine eyed him cautiously, but climbed to his feet. Kurt stood up, too. He brushed his knees off and slipped a hand in his jacket pocket. He took a deep breath, then dropped back down. Blaine's eyebrow lifted briefly and when he saw that Kurt was on one knee, his eyes went round as saucers.

"I know this is completely crazy," Kurt told him. He was sure he could hear his heart thumping manically. "I know we're far too young and that this isn't how it's normally done, but my dad seems to think neither of us are particularly good with normality. I like to think he's right, that we're sort of unique." Kurt stopped. "I'm babbling, wow. I'm sorry. I didn't.. I had a plan, but.. Okay."

Kurt shut his eyes and breathed, then opened them again. He looked up into Blaine's eyes, his face a mask of surprise.

"We're young. We've gone through some stupid things. We were pretty solid for a while and then I screwed up and it's the worst thing I've ever done. I've never regretted anything more in my whole life. I don't know what I'm doing half of the time and I do stupid things and I change my mind about a hundred times an hour, but the one thing I've been totally sure of for a long time, is that I want to spend forever with you.

"I get that we're young and that people are going to think it's nuts—hey, maybe you even think it's nuts—but I don't care what anyone says. I know what I want and if you say yes and you want to wait a few years, that's totally okay with me. I do, however. want you to know that if you accept this, I'd do it tomorrow. If you don't want to do this, that's okay, too. If that's the case and you're up for it, I'd like us to try again anyway, at being a couple, at being in love again.

"So, I guess it's time for the punch line," Kurt said. He took a deep breath, then exhaled, slowly. "Blaine Anderson," he said, voice breaking. "You make me happier than I can explain. I don't remember the precise moment that I fell in love with you, but ever since it happened, I've been falling and falling and I'm pretty sure I'm never going to stop falling. You're amazing. Even when I'm being ridiculous, you're right there, pulling me back to earth, telling me I need to stop and rethink things, keeping me grounded. You love me so much that sometimes I think I can feel it radiating off of you, which is crazy and cheesy, but it's true.

"I never thought anyone could love me, you know. I never told you that. I was so used to being hurt and I didn't think it would ever stop and then you were there and you weren't at all what I expected and you loved me so much and I just couldn't comprehend how someone like you could love someone like me. You and I, though, we compliment one another. I can't imagine not being with you. We're Kurt and Blaine. Without you, I'm not even just Kurt, because I'm no one if I don't have you.

"So I've thought this through and I love you so much, so so much, Blaine, that it hurts me, it scares me, it makes me feel like I'm flying, or walking on air, or something equally as ludicrous, but that's what I want. I want to feel like that for the rest of my life. I want to marry you. I want the house and the white picket fence and the cat, or the dog, or the gerbil, or whatever little furry animal you decide we should adopt. I want the double barreled last name and the rings and the shared budget. I want the fifteen kids running around and climbing on the furniture and the diaper changes and the feeding. I want to design nurseries and choose names and set bedtimes. Above all, I want us to be a family, a real one.

"So, with all that," Kurt said, smiling so hard that it hurt. He took the box from his pocket, popped it open and held it out to Blaine. "I'll just go ahead and ask you. Blaine Anderson, will you marry me? Will you be my husband and hold my hand and kiss me and love me for the rest of our lives together? You own my heart, you always will and I want to make it forever. Marry me. Make me the happiest guy in the world."

Blaine was smiling, which was a good sign. His eyes were shining in the light of the moon and the rain had started up again. Kurt's breath was held in anticipation, waiting for Blaine to say something, anything. Hours and days and months and years seemed to pass before he did.

"Stand up," Blaine whispered and Kurt let out the breath. He felt winded. Had Blaine said no? Was that a no?

Kurt stood up, legs wobbling. Blaine reached out and steadied him. Kurt nodded, letting him know he was okay.

"You said we didn't do things normally," Blaine said, then. "I guess you're right, because.."

And then Blaine was shuffling and rooting in his jacket pocket. Kurt held his breath again and watched as Blaine dropped down on his own knee. He held out a small box to Kurt, a broad grin on his lips.

"What.." Kurt uttered. He was speechless.

"I had this plan," Blaine said. "I've been thinking, too. I want this, Kurt, us forever. I want it more than anything and like you, I've thought it through. It's all I've thought about. I kept telling myself you'd say no, because you were walking out on me and refusing to look at me and you definitely weren't speaking to me and I kept telling myself it was crazy, to set myself up for that kind of heart ache, of being rejected and told no, but I needed to try and that's why I went to your house tonight. I wanted to do this, to ask you to marry me.

"I love you, I've loved you since I saw you and I made the worst mistakes and I hurt you more than I can believe, but I love you. I love you so much that it kind of scares me, too. I want all those things that you want. I want us to be that couple that people look at and think that they'd love to have what we have. I want people to hate how in love and cheesy and romantic we are. I want you, Kurt, for the rest of forever. I guess it's pointless to ask, because the answer is probably obvious, but I told you I would ask someday. So, marry me? Let me love you forever? Let me hold onto you and let people see you're mine? Marry me, Kurt. Marry me and let me have you forever."

Tears were already spilling out of Kurt's eyes and he was smiling so hard that his mouth hurt and the rain was pouring down now and he really could not have cared less. He nodded frantically and Blaine stood up, smiling, too.

"Yes," Kurt told him. "Yes."

"Me, too," Blaine said, reaching out and pulling him close to him. "Yes."

Kurt clung to him and then Blaine moved in for a kiss and Kurt fell against him, kissing him like he needed him to breathe. He had missed this, missed it so much and it felt so good to be back in Blaine's arms. The rain was heavy now and they were getting drenched, but it just didn't matter.

"I can't believe we both.." Kurt said, but stopped because Blaine's lips were on his again.

"Mm," Blaine said, smiling against his mouth. "I know," he said. "Must be a sign."

"Of what?" Kurt asked. "That we're out of our minds?"

Blaine chuckled into Kurt's mouth. He kissed him again.

"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe it's fate telling us that this is meant to be."

"Cheesy," Kurt uttered, kissing him again.

"You said you wanted cheesy," Blaine reminded him. "God, I love you. I love you, Kurt."

Kurt smiled harder. "I love you, too and Blaine, I'm so sorry for all of this. I didn't want to hurt you. I'd never hurt you. I'll never hurt you again."

"I've hurt you enough in the past," Blaine said. "It's okay."

"It wasn't payback," Kurt said, quickly. "It wasn't. I promise. I'm not.. I wouldn't—"

"I know," Blaine assured him, kissing the corner of his mouth. "Stop freaking out, okay? We're getting married."

Kurt laughed, because he didn't know what else to do.

"It's amazing," Blaine said. "You're hair and clothes are soaked through and you don't even care."

"There are more important things," Kurt said. "I have thought this through, you know. In case you think I'm going to change my mind, I won't. If you want us to wait, that's okay. We can be engaged for as long as you want, but I am totally ready. I'm so ready, Blaine. I want to walk up a damn aisle and kiss you and sign the papers and make it final. I decided I wanted to ask you a few days ago, but I needed to give it time to register in my mind and I'm completely sure. I love you."

Blaine kissed him again for a long time and Kurt thought his heart might explode in his chest. He couldn't believe it was real, couldn't believe it was happening, Things like this only happened in romance novels and movies, not in real life and definitely not to Kurt Hummel.

Except apparently they did.

"I've been sure for a long time," Blaine informed him. "I decided I was going to ask you a few days ago, too. I was scared you'd say no and I even talked to my mom about it—well not about proposing, really, but about being afraid you'd reject me—and she told me I should just go for it, because it was worth the risk. I didn't count on coming here and finding you and you getting there before me, but I don't think it could have worked out better if we'd planned it."

"I agree," Kurt said, pulling back slightly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"I was wondering if.. You can say no. If you want us to get back into this slowly, that's totally okay. I'll understand. I did some stupid things, I hurt you, I made you hurt me and I'll understand if this needs to be a gradual thing for you," Kurt said. "But I was wondering if you wanted to maybe get a hotel room tonight? We could.. We could be together, like we were before. Nothing rough or painful, just us. Making love. Of course if you're not okay with that, I'll understand and I don't want you to say yes because you don't want to hurt my feelings. I can deal with that if it's what you—"

"Kurt," Blaine said, firmly. "I would love to make love to you. God, I've missed making love to you."

"Are you sure?" Kurt asked. He needed to make sure. "I'm happy to go at whatever pace you want us to in this relationship. I screwed up, I know it might be hard for you to—"

"Kurt," Blaine said, again, smiling. "We're engaged. Actually, we didn't even exchange the rings, we were too busy making out. Here."

Blaine reached down and pulled the promise ring off Kurt's finger. He took the ring from the box and slid it on. Kurt smiled and then shook his head.

"Oh," he said. "Here."

He took the box back out of his pocket and opened it. Blaine removed his own promise ring and Kurt slid the engagement one on. They stood there with goofy smiles on their faces for a long time and then Blaine looked into his eyes again.

"We're engaged," he said again. "We're in love. I want everything with you. I want all of you and that means I want us to go to bed together again. I want us to go back to being the way that we were before all this happened. I want this."

Kurt nodded.

"Okay," he whispered. "We should leave. I mean, the rain.."

Blaine nodded and grabbed his hand.

"We should run," he told Kurt.

"What?" Kurt asked, incredulously.

"We should run," Blaine said again. "Come on, baby."

Blaine pulled him back through the bushes and they ran down the empty streets laughing and crying and holding hands like a couple of lovesick teenagers running away together to start a new life.

Burt was stunned with the news, but he smiled and hugged them and told them he was happy for them. He told them he thought they were too young, but that he knew they would make it. Carole had cried and hugged them both too tight and then Kurt had told them they were going to stay somewhere else tonight. Burt and Carole waved them off (after Kurt had made a quick trip to his bedroom to grab some clothes and supplies for the night) and they got in Blaine's car and drove away, still soaked through and in shock and giddy.

Blaine decided that telling his mom could wait, because she was still coming to terms with everything, despite her revelations earlier that week. They drove to a hotel in town and got a room, then went upstairs and just stared at one another, smiling.

"We should shower," Blaine suggested.

"Good idea," Kurt said, laughing quietly.

Another silence passed and then Blaine stepped forward.

"Look," he said, "we should stop being so shy around one another. I know your body better than I know my own. We don't have any reason to be shy. Let's just get our clothes off and get in the shower, okay?"

Kurt laughed, clearly relieved.

"Perfect," he said.

They went into the bathroom and got undressed, then stepped inside the shower. Blaine shut the door and looked across at Kurt. He was flawless. He'd known already, of course, but he continued to take his breath away every time. He hadn't seen him like this in over a week and he'd missed just looking at him.

"Water," Kurt said.

"Oh, right," Blaine said.

He turned the dial and then reached out and Kurt went to him. They kissed for a long time and then washed their hair. They showered mostly in silence, words unnecessary. It was intense and perfect and they spent most of it pressed together, hot skin against hot skin, flushed cheeks and swelled lips. When they'd dried off, they walked back to the bedroom hand in hand.

They stood there smiling in the low light of the lamp and then Blaine pressed Kurt back on the bed.

"I missed you," he told him.

"I missed you, too," Kurt whispered as he leaned up to kiss Blaine's lips.

"Top or bottom?" Blaine asked.

"Bottom," Kurt said. "I mean, I want you to. To top. Want to make it up to you for what I made you do."

"Stop worrying about that," Blaine urged. "I'm just sorry I hurt you, that's all. It's okay. You needed it. I get it. You don't have to make anything up to me, got it?"

Kurt nodded.

"You still want to bottom?"

"Yes," Kurt confirmed. "Want you inside me."

Blaine swallowed hard. He nodded and lowered himself down onto Kurt's body and kissed him again. He trailed a hand down between then and took Kurt's half hard cock in his hand. He stroked him gently as they kissed and Kurt moaned quietly against his lips. Blaine choked a bit when he felt Kurt's fingers wrapping around his own erection. They kissed and touched one another until they were both almost completely hard and then Blaine went lower.

He kissed down Kurt's jaw, down his neck and over his pulse and onto his chest. He sucked a nipple into his mouth and Kurt arched into him, his eyes closing head falling back. Blaine did the same to the other nipple, then continued his way down. He pressed open mouthed kisses down Kurt's flat stomach and then over his hip bones and then finally he reached out and took the base of his cock in his hand.

Blaine licked at the slit twice, then sucked the head into his mouth. Kurt was moaning quietly up above him.

"You're gorgeous," Blaine whispered, voice thick.

He sunk his mouth down over him then and ran his tongue along the vein on the underside. Kurt cried out, pleaded for more. Blaine sucked harder then, his hand coming up to cup and squeeze gently on his balls. He removed his mouth, then licked over Kurt's balls and then sucked them into his mouth. He licked lower, lifting Kurt's hips to get at his hole. He licked over it a few times and Kurt was muttering incoherent words.

"Lube," Blaine said, breathlessly and Kurt practically threw the bottle at him.

Blaine popped the cap and spread some on his fingers. He warmed it, then pressed his finger to Kurt's opening. He rubbed over it a few times, before daring to go inside. He pressed carefully at the pucker, then slid the tip in and rubbed gently over the rim, to make the intrusion as painless as possible.

"Please, Blaine."

"I've got you," Blaine promised. "Got you, baby."

Kurt moaned and Blaine slid his finger the rest of the way in. He worked him over and after a while he had three fingers pumping in and out easily. Blaine wanted to be inside him, but he wanted to do this right, to make it as good as possible.

"I'm ready... Please."

"A little more.." Blaine said, quietly.

He stretched him some more, then went back up his body and kissed him, his hand wrapped around his cock. Kurt was flushed and sweating and begging with his hands and his tongue and his soft whines. Blaine would give him what he wanted, he just wanted to savour this, make it last as long as possible.

"Please, Blaine," Kurt said. "Please, babe."

Blaine kissed him again, then nodded and sat back on his knees.

"Turn over," he instructed.

Kurt didn't miss a beat. He flipped over onto his stomach and arched himself so that his ass was in the air. Blaine moved up behind him and kissed the back of his neck, the over his earlobe, teeth grazing it gently.

"I've got you," Blaine assured him.

Kurt just moaned. Blaine reached down and pressed a finger inside him again, the pad pushing against his walls, just to be sure. Blaine grabbed the lube and spread some on his erection, eyes shutting at the sensation. He inched forward, then eased himself inside, slowly. Kurt was whining and making small 'ah' sounds. Blaine kissed his neck and his cheek as he slid further and further in, wanting to make it good for him, not wanting to hurt him ever again for the rest of their lives together.

"It's okay," Blaine uttered against Kurt's neck. "You're good. So good."

He waited a moment, then pressed Kurt down into the bed, against the pillows. He pushed himself down on top of him and wrapped one arm around his waist. He used the other arm to hold himself up. He began rotating his hips slowly, almost painfully so and Kurt was grunting and moaning and begging for more.

"Please, Blaine," he said, desperately. "Please."

Blaine kept moving like that, slowly in and out, hips curving and lifting and dropping so very slowly and Kurt was keening, his left cheek pressed to the bed. Blaine dropped his head down and pressed his cheek to Kurt's as he continued the rhythm of his hips. Kurt's eyes were shut and Blaine reached down to tilt his head so that he could kiss his lips. Kurt kissed his back, hungrily, tongue slipping through their lips and crashing with Blaine's.

Blaine kept fucking into him, slowly and sensually and almost beautifully and they both needed to speed up, to get there faster, but this was going to last, this was good and they were both getting there, slowly but surely.

"Don't ever leave me," Blaine said, when he felt the familiar coiling feeling in the pit of his stomach. "God, don't ever leave me ever again."

"I won't," Kurt promised, breathlessly. "I won't, I won't, I won't."

Blaine's movements sped up the slightest bit and Kurt cried out and Blaine reached under him and wrapped his hand around is cock and stroked it in time with his thrusts and then Kurt was coming, his face buried in the pillows. Blaine kept moving inside him until he'd come down from the orgasm and then he stopped, knowing Kurt would be sensitive. He climbed off and lay down next to him, stroking his hair back from his face. Kurt caught his breath, then turned over. He pushed Blaine onto his back and kissed his sloppily on the mouth.

Kurt manoeuvered himself so that he was on his side, his front pressed Blaine's side. He propped himself up and then reached down for Blaine's still-throbbing erection. Blaine shuddered when Kurt touched him, missing his gentle touch and his long, slender fingers. Kurt kissed him and began to tug almost violently on his cock, getting him closer and closer and Blaine had to break the kiss to let out series of loud moans and cries.

Kurt didn't stop. He pumped his hand up and down on his, movements almost a blur and then Blaine came with Kurt's name on his lips, shooting all over his stomach and chest and on Kurt's hand. Kurt kept stroking him hard until he'd finished coming and then he leaned over and climbed on top of him. Kurt kissed him passionately and Blaine wrapped his arms around him and held onto him, like he was afraid he'd get away.

"Should have showered afterwards," Kurt muttered into Blain's mouth, his bright blue eyes a shade darker.

"We'll remember that next time," Blaine said.

They lay there kissing for a long time and then Kurt climbed off and ran to the bathroom. He came back clean and holding a damp towel. He helped Blaine get cleaned off and then threw the towel on the floor. He switched the lamp off and they climbed inside the bed.

Blaine pulled Kurt to him and kissed him again and eventually they were in a spooning position, with Kurt in front of Blaine.

"I love you," Blaine told him, kissing the back of his neck.

"I love you more," Kurt responded and Blaine could hear his smile in the dark.

"So," Blaine whispered. "A wedding. I don't suppose you've got a rough outline plan for that?" he teased.

"Only since I was five," Kurt informed him. "I mean, it's changed immensely since then, but it's a foundation. I want your input, obviously."

"Can't believe we're doing this."

"It can be whenever you want, you know."

"Like, if I said tomorrow—"

"Within reason, obviously," Kurt added. "I meant we could wait a couple of years if you felt like you wanted us to. If you want to do it soon, I'm going to need to wait a couple of months so that it'll be perfect."

"Then I vote as soon as possible," Blaine told him, licking his ear lobe.

"Alright," Kurt said. "We should think about going home, too."

"Yes," Blaine said, enthusiastically. "Yes, let's do that."

"We'll book flights tomorrow," Kurt said.

"Are we moving out of the box apartment?"

"If you want."

"I want."

"Okay," Kurt told him. "We'll look for something else, then. Anything else you want?"

"Just you," Blaine told him. "Forever."

"Well, you've got that already."

"I know, I just like to hear you say it."

"I'm yours forever," Kurt said. "You mine?"

"Always."

"Okay," Kurt said, satisfied. "Can we go to sleep now? I haven't slept properly in over two weeks."

"Me neither," Blaine realised. "Get some sleep. This'll all still be exciting when we wake up. I love you."

"I love you, too."

"'Night, baby."

"Blaine."

"I know, I talk too much," Blaine said, yawning.

"That's not what I was gonna say," Kurt said. "I was gonna say that you make me happy and I'm sorry I ever made you doubt that."

"I didn't," Blaine said. "Not really. I just second guessed everything, because I panicked. We never fell out of love, we just hit a bump in the road."

"Is everything smooth again now?" Kurt asked and he reached back to grab Blaine's left hand. The rings pressed together at their fingers and the bracelets clinking at their wrists.

"Everything's perfect," Blaine apprised him.

"Okay," Kurt said. "Good night."

"Sweet dreams, pretty boy," Blaine whispered. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Forever," Blaine added.

"Forever."