"Sit down, sit down." Mr. Marshall popped up and waved Kurt into the chair, and went to the door to call out to his assistant. "Louise, bring us some tea."

He bustled back into the office after closing the door, settling behind his messy desk. "Peter, your new act is really taking off. I'm getting requests for interviews and pictures from the newspapers." 

Kurt returned his manager's smile, feeling very pleased at the news. "I would love to do interviews. Whatever you want." 

"Your name will be featured on our posters and programs. People are starting to really know who Peter Lockwood is." The chubby man seemed excited. 

Kurt had noticed the crowds seemed bigger lately, and his act was going over well, but he only dared to dream it would take off like this. 

There was a knock on the door, and Louise entered with a tray. She served them the tea and left. 

Taking a sip, Mr. Marshall pondered Kurt over his cup. "You had better train a few understudies for the other parts. People get sick or have injuries, and the show must go on. I don't want anything slowing the momentum we are generating."

"Understudies?" Kurt's eyebrows rose.

Mr. Marshall nodded. "Yes. Train up a couple more people for the supporting roles, and have costumes made for them. I will cover the costs, of course."

Ideas for who he could ask were already popping into Kurt's mind, and he was practically floating with happiness. For Mr. Marshall to suggest this was really proving he believed in the act, believed in Kurt's talents. He resisted the urge to jump across the desk to give his manager a big hug.

The older man stood up, and Kurt followed his actions. Walking towards the door, he paused, leaning close to Kurt. "Your weekly paycheque will be a little higher going forward too. Every night we sell out, I'll give you a bonus." He mentioned a figure and Kurt quickly did the math. And then did it again, just to be sure.

"Thank you, Mr. Marshall." Kurt beamed, shaking the man's hand and then leaving before he did give him a hug.

---

Kurt's next paycheck was a nice one. Very nice. So nice he wanted to treat himself and some friends a bit. 

For Blaine and Elliott, he took them to the biggest music store in Chicago and let them look around. By the time they left, Blaine had a new guitar, Elliott had an Irish whistle, and they all had tons of new sheet music.

For Melanie, they had fun in the large clothing store, each ending up with new dresses and shoes. The sales staff had been excited to serve Peter Lockwood, and had no qualms about letting a man try on their garments.

Afterwards, he treated her to a fancy lunch. She had been a good friend for so long, and Kurt felt a bit guilty for not spending as much time with her since Blaine had shown up.

"Mmmm Kurt, this is the best chocolate mousse I've ever tasted." Melanie closed her eyes as she took another bite of her dessert, savouring it. Looking at back at Kurt with a playful smile, she licked her lips. "I hope you continued success if you keep sharing it with your friends like this."

Kurt chuckled as he sipped his coffee. "Well, I'm saving some of the money because you never know how long things will last in this business, but it's nice to splurge a bit too."

"Mr. Marshall is so excited about the response your act is getting. He hasn't had a hot act for a while." Melanie had been in vaudeville for enough years to know it well.

Kurt nodded, with a small smile. "He asked me to train two more people for the act, in case someone is sick or injured. At first I resisted the idea, but then I thought it would be a good way to keep it fresh, mixing up the sidekicks on each show."

"Great idea, Kurt. Who are you going to get? Or are you hiring outside people?" Melanie's dark blue eyes were a bit distant as she thought over the possibilities.

Reaching over, Kurt took her hand in his, giving it a little squeeze. "I'd like you for one of the parts."

Her gaze on Kurt was surprised and a bit confused. "Me? How? What did you have in mind?" 

Kurt leaned closer to speak in a low voice, and soon they were both chuckling, throwing ideas back and forth.

---

"Can you come down to the theatre around ten tomorrow morning for a rehearsal, Blaine?" Kurt got into bed and snuggled up against the shorter man.

Blaine closed his book, arching his back and shoulders in a stretch, before putting the book onto the night stand. "I can't tomorrow, Kurt. Frank and I are heading out early tomorrow morning, and we'll be back around noon. He's going to show me a cave with an underground lake."

Wrapping his arms around his husband, Kurt gave him a hug. "Oh, OK. I'll let you know with more advance notice next time." He was a bit disappointed, but Blaine was taking every opportunity to explore the areas they were travelling through. He often was out of bed in the wee hours to go see some natural wonder or other, rushing to get back for the matinee.

Blaine blew out their light, and cuddled back with Kurt. He kissed along Kurt's jaw, a unspoken question in the soft caresses. 

Kissing Blaine lightly on the lips, Kurt murmured goodnight and turned to face the wall. Blaine spooned against his back, soon dropping off to sleep.

Kurt wasn't so lucky, feeling a mix of emotions and thoughts that made sleep impossible. Ever since those kisses from Elliott, Kurt had felt different around Blaine.

Was it just guilt that was making it hard to be intimate now with Blaine? Kurt was afraid of how Blaine would react if Kurt told him about the kisses. Would it change things between them? Would it make things awkward in their performances?

It was so stupid. Just a few drunk kisses on a night of celebration. They meant nothing. Blaine would probably shrug and think nothing of it. Wouldn't he?

Kurt couldn't help thinking about them. Was that all they were? They had been good kisses, and Kurt was surprised at how affected he was by them. Was that why he was avoiding kissing Blaine beyond quick pecks? Was he afraid that Blaine's kisses wouldn't measure up anymore?

Kurt sighed. This was why he was tempted to go back to his old single lifestyle sometimes. No strings attached trysts. Kissing, hot and urgent sex, and no feelings mixed into it. 

And was Blaine even into their relationship that much anymore? It was comfortable, sharing a room and a bed. A handy body for sex and to cuddle. They got along well. 

Blaine seemed more interested in exploring than Kurt, really. Kurt couldn't blame him. This was all new to him, all these places, vaudeville. He had freedom to do whatever he wanted for the first time in his life, and that was a heady thing. Kurt had been in a similar mindset when he left Ohio, eager to take on the world.

Kurt was much more excited about his career now. He wanted to devote all his energy into making it the best it could be. Opportunities like this rarely came along. 

---

"OK, now how about if Elliott comes out from behind the screen first, so the audience can laugh over how short his dress is. And then you come out afterwards..." Kurt waved to Melanie to step forward.

Smiling, she took a few steps. 

Kurt turned to Elliott. "What do you think? Should she be acting more like a man or woman at this point?" 

Elliott gave her a considering look. "I think it's best if she moves like a man until she gets the wig and eyeshadow on."

Nodding, Kurt looked back to Melanie for her opinion, and she was nodding.

They worked on the scene, having Melanie looking as awkward as possible in her costume, still wearing a wig of short messy hair. She looked like a scrawny teenage boy in a dress.

Later, when the 'boys' put on make-up and their wigs, Elliott reveals his excessive blue eyeshadow and too tall wig first, getting a big laugh. But when Melanie is revealed, looking like a beautiful woman, both Kurt and Elliott are shocked.

They worked on it, working in Elliott shooting her besotted looks, and Kurt sending her hostile ones, acting put out that she seems to be a natural female impersonator.

The rehearsal had gone well, and Kurt hugged Melanie hard at the end. "You'll be great."

She looked a bit shy at the compliment. "Thanks, Kurt. Can't wait until Blaine sees it. I want to hear what he thinks." She was soon gone, getting lunch and a rest before the matinee.

Kurt gathered up the costumes, making a pile of the ones he would have to alter.

It was a surprise when Elliott stepped close, right by Kurt's elbow. He didn't think he had stuck around. "She called you Kurt."

Kurt's breath caught. Oh crap. Elliott had heard Melanie.  He shrugged. "Peter Lockwood is my stage name." It was common practice in show business. Even Harry Houdini didn't go by his real name, Ehrich Weiss.

"So, Blaine is Andrew Prince's real name then?" Elliott had a small smile on his lips, and Kurt didn't like the way he was looking at him. A little overbright.

Kurt shrugged, quickly gathering up his things, and turning away to leave. He was stopped by Elliott's hand on his arm.

Elliott stepped close, his eyes intent and his voice quiet. "You might as well tell me, Kurt.  Secrets have a way of getting out."

Kurt's eyes flicked up to Elliott's, and he didn't like what he saw there. Jerking his arm away, Kurt quickly left the room.

---

Back in the hotel room, Kurt put down the costumes and sunk onto the bed. 

After a minute, he went down the hallway and knocked softly.

Melanie opened the door, and let Kurt enter when she saw it was him. "What's going on? Is everything OK?"

Kurt sighed and dropped onto her bed, leaning against the wall. "You said 'Kurt' and 'Blaine' in front of Elliott."

Her eyes widened, and she sat down beside Kurt. "Oh shoot. Is that going to be bad for you?"

"I don't know what to think." Kurt covered his face with his hands, pressing the heals of his palms against his closed eyes. "I'm really confused about things." He dropped his arms.

Taking his hand, she squeezed it. "I'm here. Talk to me."

"Elliott.... Well, he's been my friend since I joined the circuit, but I think he's always wanted to be more, you know?" Kurt felt comfortable talking to Melanie about this.

The older woman nodded. "Yes, I've noticed the way he looks at you sometimes."

Kurt was glad she'd seen it too. "He noticed that I've been happier since Blaine arrived, and he's said he knows we are a couple. I've never confirmed it, but we've probably been giving out signs if someone was watching for them."

"So, he's jealous of you two, then? Wants you for himself?" Melanie's voice had a bit of heat in it.

Patting her hand, Kurt chuckled at her overprotective nature towards him. She felt like a big sister sometimes and he loved her dearly. "Maybe. You know that night we were all drinking after the act launched? He kissed me when everyone had left, and Blaine was sleeping it off."

"With Blaine right there in the room? And you let him?" Melanie was clearly outraged.

Kurt sighed. "Yeah. I was a bit drunk...but I let him kiss me. I should have stopped it way sooner." He felt the guilt surging up again, on admitting this.

"Oh Kurt," Melanie sighed, squeezing his hand again. "Do you like him more than Blaine?"

Kurt shook his head slowly. "No, but I can't deny there is something there. I like him as a friend, and, and..." Words failed him.

Melanie nudged his shoulder with her's. "It's OK to feel attracted to people who aren't your partner. It's normal. It usually just passes. But if it doesn't, you owe it to Blaine to break things off before you do anything else with Elliott."

"Should I tell Blaine we kissed?" Kurt asked, fearing her answer.

She thought about it, playing with Kurt's fingers. "No, no...as long as it doesn't happen again. It will just hurt him to know."

Nodding, Kurt got up, pulling Melanie with him. He gave her a hard hug. "Thanks, honey. You give good advice." Pulling back, he looked into her large eyes. "Try to call us Peter and Andrew from now on, OK?"

She bit her lip. "Do you think anything bad will come of Elliott knowing your names?"

Kurt sighed. "Probably not. But best to be careful, OK?" He nodded and went back to his own room.

Blaine was back from his trip, stripping out of his outdoor clothes, and smiled at Kurt as he slipped into the room.

There was a golden glow in the room that made his bare skin look gilded. Kurt's eyes went down the long line of his muscular back, as he undid his trousers and pulled them off.

Stepping closer, Kurt grabbed Blaine's head and kissed him hard, greedy. Kissed him until he heard Blaine's moan and felt his hand grasping at his back.

With an urgency Kurt hadn't felt for months, he backed Blaine towards his bed, pushing his underwear down. "Need you, want you..." Kurt gasped between hard kisses.

Blaine met Kurt's passion with his own, nipping the skin of his neck as he pulled at Kurt's clothes.

Naked on the bed, Kurt passed the bottle of oil to Blaine, using their own signal for what he wanted. Blaine poured some into his hand before reaching between Kurt's legs.

Soon, Kurt was begging for him, needing him. Wanting Blaine to take him, claim him. It was rough and fast, in a way it hadn't been for months. Kurt kissed Blaine again and again, wanting his lips to wipe away the feel of any others. Wanting every sense to be full of Blaine, and only Blaine. 

When they cuddled up afterwards, panting and sated, Blaine rubbed his hand back and forth along Kurt's back. Wondering what had made Kurt like this. It had been fantastic, but seemed out of place, and a bit troubling.

---

- Disclaimer: I own nothing.