Blaine’s first single came out a week after they returned from their honeymoon and his album a week later. Kurt had called it insane but he relented that they needed to get back into the game and build both of their images up or the public would get bored and their story would be another one of the ‘Whatever happened to…?’ stories they sometimes watched curled up together on the sofa.

They re-entered the circle of work, time together, eat, sleep but something was different. Something moved underneath and whether it was the lingering glances of their younger years that filtered back into their relationship where they’d grown used to each other or if it was the undercurrent of completeness, another thing ticked off their list it changed them, made them work harder, love deeper and made them better men. A new life, they mused when they stepped back to think about it, and another step on the path they’d started back on the stairwell.

Blaine had decided on a song he’d written after getting to Los Angeles for the first single and the name Open Windows for the album title. Everyone in their family had commented and asked about it and they’d answered the same every time. It was from a quote, a poem thy both loved they said and shared a look each time. The first time he’d sung Not Alone for Max and the other record execs they’d been blown away, almost literally. Kurt swore he saw tears, Blaine told him he was nuts but the blush and smile when he thought his husband wasn’t looking belied him.

His album was a work of his own songs and songs that he loved, one or two he’d sung in school even, on Kurt’s request, Cough Syrup, the song he’d sung when Dave Karofsky had attempted suicide and his thoughts, feelings and pain poured into that song. In the minutes afterwards, sat on the stage together he showed Kurt his scar and they talked about it more than they had when Kurt had seen it the first time they held hands and he’d shrugged it off and asked Kurt not to ask any more, not ready to talk about it.

He’d worked hard to put it together and they’re both proud of it, showing off who he was and has become.

They go to an industry party, posing together proudly, remembering the first time they were on the red carpet and now, everything seems louder and everyone knows Kurt’s name too and not just as Blaine’s husband, people are taking notice of the young fashion-forward man turned designer.

Blaine grabs Kurt’s arm and the older man looks at his love, wondering what’s caught his attention. Blaine’s eyes are wide, glassy and almost bulging out of their sockets. Kurt suppresses a giggle and tries to lever his husband’s fingers off of his arm but Blaine doesn’t budge.

“Kurt, Kurt it’s Katy Perry!” He whispers and Kurt looks over to where Blaine’s looking and sees the woman Blaine idolises and whose song is so much a part of their history, standing not far away and talking to a few people.

Kurt smiles as he takes her outfit in. Her hair is dark purple and her sea foam green, blue, lilac and yellow dress makes her look kind of ethereal, then she turns around and he catches sight of the huge bow like wings on the back. “Go talk to her.” He whispers back and Blaine starts to shake his head but she notices them and almost bounds over and Kurt’s idea of her being some ethereal being is crushed and Kurt muses there’s a reason why Blaine feels so connected to her.

“Hi! Blaine and Kurt, right?” She says breathlessly and they both nod.

“Katy, right?” Kurt says with a charming smile bordering on smirk and she giggles.

“Right! Blaine I heard your single and, oh my God, I loved it! I loved your entire album, really. So, oh my gosh what’s it called? Ugh I suck with names of stuff.” She gushes and waits for his reply.

Kurt can see her measuring him up, ready to leave him out to dry if he’s another stuttering fan but if he pulls it together he could gain a friend and powerful ally.

He takes a second before his eyes clear and a smile blooms across his face. “You did? Awesome! The album’s called Open Windows. Oh, you know, you’re part of how Kurt and I met. He snuck in to spy on my school’s glee club, we met and I sang Teenage Dream to him.”

“Really?” She gasps, eyes wide and looks at Kurt who nods proudly. “Maybe we can sing it together sometime. Maybe all three of us.”

“Kurt’s a countertenor.” Blaine says smugly and Katy looks at him.

“Wow. Blows us out of the water, Blaine. So, why Open Windows?”

“It’s from a poem,” Blaine tells her. “It’s by Victor Hugo. It’s what he hears out of an open window, I used to read it a lot, and it’s really calm.”

She nods approvingly and notices Kurt looking over her shoulder and looks. There’s a woman she vaguely knows as Vogue’s LA branch boss, therefore Kurt’s boss and she’s waving at him, eager for him to talk to some fashion industry people. She turns back and smiles, hooking her arm into Blaine’s who looks at her in shock. “Kurt do you mind if I borrow your husband?  I want to introduce him to some people and I’m sure you’d love to go chat to Tom Ford over there.”

Kurt blushes and looks at Blaine. “You’ll be ok?” Blaine nods eagerly and they kiss. Kurt gives him a quick hug and whispers in his ear. “Be good.” Blaine nods and the three of them wave at each other before Katy drags Blaine off to meet people and Kurt walks over to Isabelle and shakes one of his idols’ hands, settling into his element talking about fashion.

They barely see each other for the rest of the night apart from points and waves across the room then finally staggering into each other, giggling and euphoric when they get to their car, their driver rolling his eyes good naturedly.

When he gets the call about the reviews Kurt silently slips out of bed, dresses and sneaks out of their house to walk down the road and buy all of the publications on Max’s list. He’s back within a few minutes and sits at their table, coffee brewing with the LA Times on top. It takes about four minutes for soft pats to herald sleepy lips to his neck and a fluffy head to nuzzle its way into the crook of his neck while strong arms wrap around his waist and a firm butt claims his lap. Kurt laughs and pets his husband curls as Blaine murmurs a good morning before he remembers the coffee and launches himself up to get them both a cup then reclaims his seat, or lap.

Kurt waits for him to get completely settled before he flips to the entertainment reviews and clears his throat.

Review of Open Windows from Blaine Hummel.

The debut album, curiously called Open Windows, by Columbia’s newest protégée; teen singer Blaine Hummel has been eagerly awaited by his YouTube fan base and those he’s made since he appeared on the scene. I won’t make much of his age because as the album, if not the many interviews and buzz he’s had since he was signed, shows Blaine is wise beyond his years. The album is filled with original songs and covers that showcase Blaine’s talent, voice and personality. The first single, Not Alone is about his struggle to define himself and deal with what life has given him while telling the listener to stay strong.

Another of his own songs, The Muse is considered to be second single material, and is another analytical storm of a song where the artist is almost breathless with passion throughout the song, but it works. The album isn’t all deep, however, with Katrina and The Waves’ Walking On Sunshine, Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go Go as two faster songs show his fun side and prove Mr Hummel knows his music while The Kink’s Dedicated Follower Of fashion, hilariously dedicated to his up and coming designer husband Kurt Hummel give his fans a look into the friendship that goes along with their recent marriage.

He does go back to slower songs with Kelly Clarkson’s The Sun Will Rise and to the darker side with Stanfour’s Life Without You but you don’t feel too sad, instead close to him and he tops the whirlwind off with a duet with said husband, Pink’s Perfect.

The album is a tour de force and those buying for the pure pop and passion will enjoy it as much as someone going through the hardships this young man knows so well. All in all, the album’s message is blaring loud and clear: Life is hard, but it can be a fantastic ride so hold on tight and have as much fun as possible. Blaine will go far. 10 out of 10.

Blaine starts to change, he stands straighter than before, his smile slips into a charming smirk then flips between charming, silly, goofy and boyish with ease depending on what he’s feeling that day. Finn visits and stares at his brother/brother in law with awe. There’s nothing of the boy that was terrified of the idea of harassment at Kurt’s junior prom or the boy that came home after the night he almost died, he still finds it hard to think of it being at the hands of his brother’s own father because who could do that? He sees a man, confident, sure, happy and if he listened to Mercedes and Puck, swagger. He leans down to Kurt and whispers. “Who is that?”

Kurt smiles, he sees the boy who told him to be strong, courage. He sees the boy that changed schools for him, who fought back, protected him. He sees the man who sent him off to New York despite the horrors he’d have to face and the man who after all that, rebuilt his life and did it their way. “That’s my husband.” He whispers back and the two brothers grin at each other.