2024

Kurt wakes up. It's a beautiful day.

He knows that not because he can see the window from where his head rests on the pillow, or because the sun is shining in through the curtains that are really more decorative than useful - none of that is true - but because he isn't alone.

Blaine is turned with his back to Kurt, neck exposed, hair loose. Kurt's still got an arm draped over his waist. He can feel the expanse of skin that's covered now by the warm comforter Rachel got him for his last birthday, the rise and fall of Blaine's ribs as his lungs expand and retract.

He withdraws his arm carefully, enjoying the slow slide of Blaine's warm flesh against his palm, and leans up on one elbow to look. It doesn't feel creepy like it should.

Blaine is beautiful. He's always been beautiful, it isn't new, but Kurt will never get his fill of the relaxed posture of his mouth or the slight flutter of his eyelashes against his cheeks as he starts to stir. Kurt presses a kiss to the back of his neck.

"Mm?" mumbles Blaine.

"Good morning."

Blaine smiles, slow and sleepy, as his eyes blink open.

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

He leans in for a kiss, resting his weight against Blaine, thrilling at the way his strong arms reach around him and pull him close, thumb stroking at his spine. It's slow and almost dreamy, the way their mouths move together, a kiss meant for this little bubble they've created, where they're free to savor this old-new thing between them.

They're interrupted by the sound of scrabbling at the door, punctuated by a chorus of indignant meows and underscored by the jingle of festive bells that Blaine has affixed to Maddie's collar for the season.

"Guess we should get up," whispers Blaine, nuzzling into Kurt's jaw.

Kurt groans in half-hearted protest.

"They have food and water. They're fine."

"Our families will be here soon, anyway. Do you really want them to find us like this?"

Kurt grimaces.

"Probably not the best way for them to find out."

Blaine laughs and frees up a hand to brush back a strand of hair that's fallen over Kurt's forehead. He's not quite meeting Kurt's eyes.

"Do you think we should tell them?"

Kurt knows what he's really asking. Kurt's said it a million times, by now, in the last 24 hours alone, but Blaine won't really believe him until he's seen it. They've built up this trust between them, painstakingly, together, and they'll keep building it until there's no more doubt left at all.

"Of course. You're it for me, Blaine. Of course I want to tell them."

He catches Blaine's hand in his, laces their fingers together. Blaine smiles, heart open in his eyes.

"Okay."

And this is why Kurt will work every day to put Blaine before everything and everyone else: Kurt sees the future when he smiles. Not the one that still gives him nightmares when he least expects it, no - Kurt sees Christmas duets, wedding bands, a house outside the city with a big backyard and plenty of privacy. He sees a little girl with big, dark eyes who calls him Papa. He sees a life spent together, and holding Blaine's hand in the retirement home as he blathers on about his high school sweetheart. He sees laughter, and life, and never, ever being alone.

He sees family.