Blaine wandered into the kitchen, watching Carole making dinner. She smiled at him over her shoulder and he returned the gesture, breathing in deeply.

“Do you want a taste?” Carole asked, grabbing a teaspoon out of the drawer and holding it out to him. Blaine grinned and took it, quietly thanking her before dipping the spoon into the bubbling sauce, and shoving it into his mouth without thinking. Carole shrieked and reached out for Blaine as the spoon clattered to the floor, tears welling up in the young man’s eyes and his face turning red. Kurt ran in with Burt following close behind, Kurt’s phone to his ear.

“What happened?” Kurt asked.

Carole motioned to the pan as she replied. “He tried the sauce but didn’t blow or let it cool down.”

Kurt turned, taking in Blaine’s doleful expression and whining ‘ow’. He rolled his eyes and got a glass of water, shoving it into Blaine’s hand, glaring as he drank. “Drink that. Cooper wants to talk to you,” He said and Burt gave Blaine the phone to talk to his brother. “What is it anyway?” Kurt asked as he grabbed the spoon off of the floor.

Carole blushed and smiled at her step-son. “It’s a recipe you gave me actually. I thought I’d make a lasagne. That’s the cheese sauce.”

Kurt nodded, smiling and walked off to find Blaine. Burt walked over to Carole and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek as they watched Blaine walking in the foyer, Kurt’s arms wrapped around him as they both talked to Cooper at once. Finn walked in, looked at his ‘brothers’ and wrapped them in a hug then shouted hi to Cooper down the phone. “Good kids we have there.” Burt whispered. Carole nodded against him and looked on as Blaine turned his head and captured Kurt’s lips for a second before the boys followed Finn into the kitchen.

“We have something to tell you.” Kurt breathed. He looked at Blaine; both men were glowing and obviously barely containing their excitement.

“Cooper heard back from one of the companies I sent my demo to. A rep from Columbia Records wants Kurt and I to go on Monday to a meeting with him in LA. We’ll have to cut our trip short. I’m sorry.” Blaine said, biting his lip.

Burt waved his hand and scoffed. “Don’t worry about that. Blaine that’s amazing, it’s finally going to happen. We need to celebrate! We’ll go out to dinner tomorrow.”

Burt wrapped his arms around Kurt and Blaine with Finn and Carole joining in a second later. No-one cried this time, just giggled and cheered happily.

After dinner Kurt and Blaine sat alone on the sofa. Burt and Carole were in the kitchen and Finn had gone out.

 Kurt’s fingers tangled in Blaine’s hair as they had a million times but they were distracted by the TV neither of them noticed his hand slipping lower. Blaine lowered his head at the same time as Kurt uncurled his fingers and the tips lightly brushed over Blaine’s neck. An almost imperceptible tremor ran through Blaine’s body but nothing else. They turned to stare at each other, stunned. After a few seconds Blaine launched himself at Kurt, kissing him deeply, their tongues sliding against each other. Kurt’s fingers cradled Blaine’s neck as the kiss deepened, lost in their passion. Finally they broke away and Kurt giggled as Blaine blushed. “Well, that’s new.” He breathed and Blaine ducked his head, both men realising that Kurt’s hand still lay on Blaine’s neck. Their eyes locked and slow, happy smiles spread across their faces. Progress.

“So, you want to be the next Justin Bieber?” Mr Messick asked, rounding his desk to stand in front of it.

“No,” Blaine scoffed. “I want to be the next Katy Perry. Or Pink, y’know, whichever.” Blaine said, shrugging.

Mr Messick looked up from the papers he was looking at to look at Blaine’s face and his serious smile. “You’re a very interesting young man Mr Anderson.” He said, smiling at the teen.

“Hummel.” Blaine said and Kurt sucked in a breath.

“Sorry?” Mr Messick asked.

“Blaine Hummel. I’m in the process of changing my name.” Blaine replied, looking back at Kurt then back to the executive.

Mr Messick looked between them and he nodded in understanding. “Of course, Mr Hummel. Well Blaine we’d love to work with you.” He said, smiling.

Kurt bit his lip and stepped forward. “There’s something you need to know before we go any further. Are you ok telling Mr Messick, baby?” Kurt asked, looking at Blaine, watching the emotions warring on the younger man’s face.

Blaine nodded and took a deep breath. “A few months ago, at Thanksgiving I was attacked by someone who was supposed to love and care for me. Since then I’m not great in public. Therapy’s helping and I’m getting better but right now…that’s why I’ve been making YouTube videos instead of singing in bars and open mic nights. I just…I’m working on it.”

Mr Messick‘s jaw was swung open when Blaine was finished and the couple looked at the man who held Blaine’s future in his hands expectantly. Finally his mouth clicked shut and he nodded. He went around the table and started gathering up his papers. Kurt and Blaine shared a fearful look until he looked up and at them. “Audiences are a huge part of being a performer Blaine but until then we’ll have you in the recording studio. I know plenty of people who’d walk away after what you said but I’m not losing a talent like yours. Work on it. Studio time starts next week. All you need to do is sign.”

Mr Messick pushed the contract towards them and smiled. Blaine gasped and grinned at Kurt who grinned back, throwing a thankful look towards the older man. Blaine gripped the pen and signed his name. Mr Messick took it back and shook both Blaine and Kurt’s hands. “Welcome to Columbia Records Mr Hummel.” He said before leaving the room.

Blaine screamed and jumped into Kurt’s arms, Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine and hugged him tight, kissing his cheek, jaw, anywhere he could reach then his lips traced Blaine’s neck ad they stared at each other before Blaine dove in for another kiss.

“I got it, I got it!” Blaine screamed down the phone, Cooper wrapped around his left side and Kurt laughing, leaning against the kitchen island.

“That’s amazing Blaine! Oh my God, my son-in-law’s going to be famous! Blaine I’m so proud of you, we all are.” Burt’s voice rang out of the phone and Blaine’s breath stuttered in his throat. He locked eyes with Kurt, tears welling over and flowing down his face. Kurt’s pride was one thing, but Burt’s was another. They choked out their goodbyes and hung up. Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt, kissing him deeply.

Some time later Blaine was wandering around, running his fingers through his hair, freaking out slightly. Kurt was watching him then tapped Cooper’s arm as he passed. “Touch his neck.” The glasz-eyed man whispered.

Cooper looked between him and his brother in shock. “No,” He whispered back. “I like staying in one piece thanks.”

Kurt rolled his eyes and pushed him towards Blaine. “Just do it, he won’t hurt you.”

Cooper sighed and walked over, cringing at all the scenarios that went through his mind, none of them pretty. He hugged Blaine around the waist and then took a deep breath, locking eyes with Kurt as he combed through his brother’s hair then patted Blaine’s neck.

Blaine immediately leaned away and stared, huge hazel eyes unreadable then he smiled softly right before he smacked Cooper upside the head and ran off giggling.

Cooper turned and stared bug-eyed at Kurt. Kurt smirked back at him and walked off to find his fiancé, a huge sigh of relief rippling through him.

Dr Needham looked up from his notes and smiled at Blaine. They’d already shared their hugs and words of congratulations and chatted about the meeting and what Blaine’s schedule would be now. Now they were down to business. “How did having your neck touched make you feel?” He asked, having been told by Kurt that Blaine was ok with neck-touches now.

Blaine looked thoughtful, considering his answer. His eyes drifted over to Kurt who squeezed his hand and smile reassuringly. After a few moments Blaine took a breath and replied. “I think…I don’t know. I was so happy both times, so safe and comfortable maybe I didn’t register it. Before it would bring up memories of my…him and so much anger. I don’t know.”

Dr Needham nodded. “Ok, you need to test it out. Blaine close your eyes. Kurt,” Dr Needham directed Kurt to touch Blaine’s neck as Blaine’s eyes closed. Kurt reached out his hand and touched his fiancé’s neck. It was a light touch of fingertips at first but as Blaine didn’t flinch he let his fingers drift until he was running his fingers around, cupping his neck with his palm. Dr Needham leaned forward. “What do you feel Blaine?”

Blaine’s mouth opened, his lips parting in a small gasp as if he’d forgotten anyone was on the other side of his eyelids. A small, bashful smile tugged his lips and he spoke. “I feel…like…like someone’s touching my neck and it’s tingly and warm and kinda nice. It’s Kurt so I know he’s holding me because he loves me. I guess I feel…ok,” He opened his eyes and looked excitedly at Kurt then Dr Needham. “That’s good, right?”

Kurt giggled and Dr Needham nodded, his eyes slightly misty. “Yes, Blaine it’s great. Ok, are you both still having nightmares?”

Kurt shook his head, finally taking his fingers from Blaine’s neck.

Blaine nodded and glanced at Kurt, remembering the sobbing from the last one just that morning. “I am, not all the time but sometimes.”

Dr Needham nodded. “What do these nightmares involve? Is it still Kurt dying or having moved on?”

Blaine shook his head. “No. It’s usually me but usually I’ll have a dream of me dying which is terrifying but then I’ll go back to sleep and have a dream of walking down a path with Kurt then we come to the end of the path and we’re standing on a cliff, watching the sun rise and talking about us and our love.”

The therapist’s eyes widened and he smiled at Blaine, scribbling down his notes then got up and took a book on dreams down from the bookshelves lining the wall. He sat back down and gave the book to Kurt, giving them a proud look. “Blaine, do you know what dreaming of yourself dying means?” he looked at the hazel-eyed man and nodded when he shook his head. “It means that you are experiencing inner changes, self-discovery and positive development. It also means the end of something. To me that means your fear and pain over what happened, that you can move on and let people back in. You’re also transforming from a student and what could be into a performer and what you will soon be. Your other dream is a bit more complex. Deconstructing it piece by piece we can see what it all means for you. Ok, so you’re walking up to the edge of a cliff shows your passion and drive. You want to be successful and be at the top, either in your job or personal life. To then be at the edge of that cliff symbolises that you’ve reached a new understanding and you feel liberated by it. You’re watching the sunrise which could be about new beginnings, success, big changes and new adventures. You’re going through huge changes. You’re becoming a singer and getting married. You want all of these things to be successful and your dreams are telling you they will be. Having Kurt with you symbolises love, safety and how you look to him for help and happiness. Finally, the love you share shows happiness, contentment with what you have and where you both are and are going and wherever all the other things in your dream lead you, that in the end, Kurt will always be there,” He looked up to see both men with tears rolling down their cheeks, their arms wrapped around each other. “I feel our sessions are coming to an end.” He whispered and was shocked when both men leapt up to hug him tight.

The session ended with all men smiling, hugging and sharing words of friendship. They’d been through so much and when the time came for the relationship of therapist and patients to end, they’d welcome the friendship that was already there and watch as it strengthened.

That night Blaine would dream of himself on a stage, singing, his voice raised high in a duet with his beautiful soon to be husband. Kurt would dream about their wedding, of exchanging his vows with the perfect, amazing man he loved.

They’d both sit in awe of each other as they read about their dreams. Symbols of happiness, joy, celebration, new beginnings and commitment that flowed in their dreams. Their lips would meet in a kiss, need and adoration sending them to the floor, entwining again and again, their lips breathing forever onto each other’s skin.