***

“Be chill, man, chill. I've been to parties at this place before. It's massive, and there is a big garden out back where you can go with him, find a quiet place to talk.” Elliott was chugging down a big bottle of water, needing to rehydrate after his performance.

Kurt twisted his hands together. He had tried to pay attention to the rest of the awards show, but he was too nervous. The night had dragged on, making his tension worse.

“Seriously, you need to relax before you have a heart attack. Do you need me to sing you ‘Woebegone Man' to take your mind off things? That shit can get stuck in your head for days.” Elliott smiled, but Kurt could see the concern in his expression.

Kurt took several deep breaths. The limo pulled up to the front door of the music executive's mansion, and they jumped out.

Funny to think that he'd been to enough of this type of event with Elliott over the years that they didn't phase this Ohio boy at all. But having a heart to heart with a man he'd known for twelve years had him shaking in his Valentino's.

“Fuckity fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck….” Kurt mumbled to himself, as he walked through the party, following in Elliott's wake.

Soon, Elliott was hugging a short dark-haired man, thumping him on the back heartedly. “Kurt, come here and meet Steve Vitoro, music producer extraordinaire. Steve, meet my old friend and occasional stylist, Kurt Hummel.”

Kurt shook Steve's hand. “Hi Steve. Blaine mentioned that you were a Warbler. I was for a few months, but it was after you graduated.”

Steve's eyes widened at hearing that. He turned. “Hey Blaine, why didn't you mention that to me when you were yakking on and on about Kurt?”

Blaine stepped forward, and Kurt tried to keep breathing as his nerves surged. He mostly succeeded.

“Didn't think it was that important.” Blaine grinned back at Steve, who was comically sputtering at his response. “Hey Elliott, Kurt.” He nodded greeting at both of them.

Almost ridiculously fast, Elliott had Steve cornered in an intense conversation, leaving Kurt staring at Blaine, heart thumping.

“Hey, do you want to grab a couple drinks and walk around the garden?” Kurt was glad he was able to get the sentence out. Sometimes things came out as a rushed mumbled mess when he was tense.

“Yeah, OK…” Blaine said, his face giving nothing away.

Kurt and Blaine walked into the garden, but found the large party had spilled out that way and there wasnt a quiet area. Continuing further out, they ended up on a private beach. Kurt hadnt even realized that the property was oceanfront.

The two of them, on an empty beach, at night. It brought up memories of their time at the Hamptons, and what happened there. Kurt bit his lip at the images.

"Is this ok, Blaine?" Kurt turned towards him with the question and found Blaine looking pensively out at the dark ocean. But then his eyes went to Kurt and he nodded.

There was a stone bench here, and Kurt sat down. As Blaine joined him, Kurt blurted out "Blaine, Im just so sorry for the past few weeks. I wasnt doing my part, keeping things going after you came here and -"

"Are you with Elliott, now? Is that what you are working yourself up to tell me?" Blaine interrupted Kurts rambling start, his voice impatient and sharp.

Kurts eyes were huge. "No, not at all. Still just friends. Only friends." He was totally surprised at Blaine's outburst.

Blaine nodded. "When you stopped contacting me, and I saw the pictures of you two online, … and that hug tonight after he sang…“

“Oh Blaine, I'm sorry. I had no idea that you were thinking things were like that.” Kurt shook his head. Why was Blaine so hung up on that idea? It seemed no matter how many times Kurt said they were only friends, Blaine wouldn't believe it.

Blaine looked up, into the dark night. “It's obvious to anyone that you like each other a lot. There is such a flirty give and take between you. Plus, who wouldn't want to be with Elliott. He's young, successful, rich, attractive…”

Kurt shook his head, and blurted, "But it's like in Fuck, Marry, Kill, you know?”

Blaine gave him a puzzled expression, and Kurt rushed to finish his thought. “Elliott would be in the Fuck category, definitely. Hes sexy as hell, smart, funny, exciting... He would be great for a long sexy weekend or ‘9 1/2 Weeks', the rebooted remake. But hed be hard to be in a long-term relationship with... All the travel, all the men flinging themselves at him, all the drama.”

Kurt shrugged. “Plus, we found that we have no chemistry. Zip. For me, hes only in the friend category. I'm sure there's a man out there for him, but it definitely isn't me."

Blaine gave a short laugh at Kurts awkward explanation. "So, you want to marry someone ugly, boring and dumb to be with long term?"

Kurt looked out at the dark waves lapping on the beach, gathering his thoughts, laughing along with Blaine, the tension easing a little.

"I guess if we did FMK for my real life, the real guy I would kill in that scenario would be you..." At Blaines horrified expression, Kurt rushed on, "No wait, I mean you back then, in your senior year." This had sounded a lot better in his head. Made a lot more sense. Crap.

Blaines eyebrows lifted, "And that makes it better somehow?" He gave a forced laugh, his arms folding over his chest.

Kurt shook his head, "I was an inconsiderate asshole, and you cheated on me. We werent good together then." Blaine was giving him a hurt expression, so Kurt rushed on again, wondering if he was talking himself into a corner, but too far gone in this explanation to not continue.

"Um, but the guy in the Fuck category... Blaine, that guy is you. You, this whole summer in New York. We had so much fun together, living out so many fantasies, got to know each other as we are now, and gave closure to all that old high school stuff."

Blaine nodded, his hurt look eased somewhat, but his shoulders still slumped a little. He looked a little lost and dejected. “So, you just see me as a guy to have a good time with? A friend with benefits and that's it?”

Kurt shook his head. “I wasn't ready for more with you, and I'm so happy we had that wonderful summer together. But then you came out here, and that silly summer romance we had going didn't survive with that change. I didn't know how to make it work.”

“So, you are here now to break up with me? Make it official?” Blaine's voice shook at the end, and Kurt was afraid to look at him, knowing he'd start crying if he did.

Say something. Say it. “No, no, no…Blaine… let me continue…” Kurt hesitated, the words such a jumble in his head. His mouth felt dry, and his heart was pounding hard. He tried to take a deep breath.

"The guy in the Marry category, Blaine," Breathe, SAY IT! "…that guy is you, Blaine. You now." Kurt grabbed Blaines hand, squeezing it as he looked into Blaines eyes. "Incredible, amazing Blaine. It took being miserable without you these last few weeks for me to realize it."

Blaines eyes got shiny with wetness, but no tears fell. He looked out at the ocean for some long moments, before glancing down at their clasped hands and smiling wryly.

"Kurt, are you proposing marriage to me by using FMK? Seriously?" His tone was half-joking, but Kurt could feel the pent up emotion behind it.

Kurt looked into Blaines eyes, those wonderful huge hazel eyes, and knew what to say. It felt so right, and suddenly the words were there, flowing easily from him. "Yes, thats what Im doing. Blaine Devon Anderson, Will you marry me?"

Blaines eyes were a swirl of emotions, and then he let out a big breath. Jumping to his feet, he took a couple strides out towards the water, put his hands on his hips and spun around. Kurt watched him, holding his breath.

"Did your Dad ever tell you that I asked him for your hand in marriage?"

Blaines words froze Kurt on the spot, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he could get out the words "What???! When?"

Blaine smiled, his eyes dancing at Kurts shocked expression. "Spring break your first semester at NYADA.”

Kurts mind flashed back to that time. It was only a month or two after he and Blaine had hooked up at Valentine's Day. Right during the time hed gotten more serious about Adam. He thought back to how things were with Blaine then, but only remembered hanging out together in a friendly way.

"Holy crap." Kurt said softly, never imaging in a million years that Blaine had talked about marriage with his Dad back then. And his Dad hadnt said a word in all these years??!

Blaine nodded, pacing back and forth in front of Kurt. "I was even planning to propose that week, but plans changed." He shrugged his shoulders, turning to Kurt and glaring at him, with laughing eyes. "Which is probably good since you want that Blaine dead!"

Kurt laughed along with Blaine, still wondering where this conversation was going. "Oh honey, we would have killed each other if we married back then. Young stupid idiots." He shook his head, slowly. He grabbed Blaines arm, forcing him to stop his pacing. "But you still didnt answer my question, Blaine." He was dying here.

Blaine smirked down at Kurt. "Put out your hand, Kurt".

Kurt wrinkled his brow, and put out his hand. Blaine dug into his pants pocket and pulled out a small, square box, setting it gently on Kurts palm.

Kurt grabbed it with trembling fingers, opening it. A ring glinted, shiny in the moonlight, against the black velvet backing.

"Its the ring I got back then, Kurt." Blaines voice was soft. "I picked it out with Tina and Sam."

Kurt swallowed. This suddenly felt so real, too much. "And you kept it, all this time??" Thoughts raced around his head. "How come you had it here?" His heart was thumping so hard, he was afraid he wouldnt be able to hear the answer.

"It was in storage in Chicago with all my stuff. I didnt know Id see you when I came to New York in the spring. But I went back for Coopers birthday in the summer and grabbed it then. When I came to LA, I threw it into my suitcase along with everything else."

Kurt gasped again. He got the ring out of storage this summer, when they were in New York together...

"And why did you have it with you tonight, Blaine?" Kurt asked softly, his voice shaking.

Blaine sat down on the bench, grabbing Kurts hands and looking into his eyes. His gaze was level, confident, sure. "I was going to fight for you, Kurt. You were the one who was brave at the Hamptons beach. Figured its my turn to grab you this time."

Blaine hands were in Kurts hair, angling his face, and then Kurt felt Blaines lips touching lightly on his. Pulling back, Blaine looked down at Kurt, and seeing only happiness in his expression, kissed him again. Deeper, hungry.

Kurts arms clutched Blaines shoulders, feeling almost dizzy with emotions. Blaine groaned, pulling Kurt closer on the bench, and Kurt reciprocated, wrapping his arms tight around Blaines back, pulling him until their chests were flush together.

Blaines mouth was on Kurts collarbone, making almost all thoughts leave his head, when one popped in, making Kurt freeze in Blaines arms and pull back.

Kurt looked down at Blaines darkened eyes and kiss-swollen lips, his mouth quirking into a little smile. "You still havent answered the fucking question, Blaine."

Blaine sat up straighter, pulling his clothes back into order and gave Kurt a coy glance. "Kurt, Ive kept the fucking ring for ten fucking years, and brought the damn thing with me tonight, when I knew Id be seeing you. I told you Id fight for you and now have you half naked on a beach. What do you think the answer is?"

Kurt looked down at his chest, belatedly realizing that Blaine had worked all his shirt buttons open sometime in the last few minutes. He returned Blaines smirk. "Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps?"

Blaine sighed in mock frustration and gave Kurt a warm look. "Yes, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel, I love you and I will fucking marry you. Is that clear enough for you?"

Kurt smiled a goofy grin at Blaine. "I fucking love you too, you idiot. Now give me this fucking ring youve been hauling everywhere." He held out his left hand, wiggling his fingers impatiently.

***

Kurt woke up to Blaine giving him sleepy kisses along the nape of his neck, and snuggling closer against Kurts back.

Kurt smiled to himself, remembering the night before. In the soft morning sun spilling through a crack in the drapes, Kurt looked down at his left hand, admiring the ring that fit his finger so well. And then he looked closer, his expression changing.

Rolling over, he faced Blaine, admiring how his thick dark eyelashes swept down towards his cheekbones. Wow, his fiancé (fiancé!!) was so gorgeous. Leaning closer, he placed light kisses all over Blaines face until he smiled, rolling onto his back and opening his eyes.

"Hey, future husband." Blaine smiled sweetly.

Kurt gave him a proper good morning kiss. "Good morning, fiancé." He loved the word and planned to use it as much as he could before their wedding. (Wedding!!)

"Um... Blaine dearest... " Kurt joked softly, as Blaine kissed along Kurts neck, making Kurt tilt his head to give Blaine better access.

"Yes, my dear, lovely Kurt?" Blaine whispered in a similar sappy tone. Kurt could feel his lips tightening into a smile against his skin.

"Honey, this ring is fucking awful. Why are there skulls engraved on it?" Kurt held out his left hand. "When I first glanced at it, I thought they were Celtic knot work patterns or something, but I just got a good look at it in the light of day.”

Blaine leaned back, smiling up at Kurt, and shrugged. "It was the only ring I could afford in your size at the jewelry store that day. It was Ohio! And Sam told me it was Awesome, dude."

Kurt smiled and kissed Blaine hard, then laughed. "Well, this is the engagement ring you kept for the last ten years." He shook his head. "I love it."

Blaine laughed. "Kurt, we can get you another ring. I was thinking platinum with diamonds. A classic style. "

"Nope, Im keeping my ring. Maybe we can think of it as staying together until we are skeletons. Like those happy dancing skeletons in that Mexican festival."

Blaine shook his head. "Crazy proposal, crazy ring, what will the wedding be like?"

Running his hands through his curly hair, he laughed again. "You wouldnt believe the proposal I was planning for you back then. I was going to get your Dad to drive you to Dalton and I was going to have the Warblers, New Directions and some other show choirs singing and dancing everywhere, and I was going to propose at the bottom of the staircase, right where we met."

Kurt smiled, hugging Blaine tight. "That sounds fantastic. Wow!" He was quiet for a minute, thinking of having a huge proposal like that. “So, how far did you get in planning it?” Kurt wondered if all his friends from high school knew about this and nobody mentioned it in all these years.

Blaine laughed. “Idea level only. Sam and Tina knew, but when you went back to New York early I swore them to secrecy.”

Kurt laughed. "Well, we were at an AMA party last night. I half expected you to blow on a whistle and have all the award winners serenade me after you gave me the ring box. You love a big production number."

"Instead, you tell me you wanted to kill me, fuck me, and then f-bombed at me a lot." Blaine grumbled. "What are we going to tell people when they ask for our engagement story?"

"Well figure out a PG version, leaving out the more private bits. Focus on the romantic high school sweethearts getting back together. That will make em all swoon." Kurt kissed Blaine slowly. "Im so fucking happy and love you so fucking much, Mr. Anderson-Hummel."

Blaine smiled, kissing Kurt back. "Fucking love you to pieces. Mr. Hummel-Anderson."

***
Disclaimer: I own nothing.

-Kurts Ring: