Kurt was certainly glad they had decided to forego the idea of traveling in a car. That would have eaten up time that they could be spending in beautiful, sunny California. This way, their traveling time (and also their naps) only lasted a few hours.

When he woke, it was to Blaine shaking him gently and saying, with a pleasant excitement that Blaine wasn't known for, "Kurt, we're about to land!"

He would have been irritable, had Blaine not been so peppy. He couldn't help smiling as he blinked open his eyes, stretching out slightly. Napping on a plane wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the world.

"I've never seen you so excited before," he murmured, watching as Blaine laughed, a faint blush rising in his cheeks.

"I just...California is my first home. And I miss what all it has to offer, like the beach."

"I know...I didn't say there was anything wrong with being excited. I like it when you're so happy," he said with a smile, placing a hand on his cheek as he leaned over to kiss him slowly, humming softly as he pulled away, a bright smile on Blaine's face. Kurt treasured that smile. Months before, when he and Blaine first met, he would have been lucky to get even a hint of one at times.

Once the plane had landed, the two made their way to the luggage carousel, picking up their things. Since they had abandoned Kurt's car in favor of taking an airplane, they would be renting a car to use on their vacation. When they had the keys in hand and their luggage loaded up, Blaine was driving them to their home for the next couple of weeks.

Kurt was a bit in love with the little house. It was situated right on the beach and was a one story with an open floor plan design. Wide doors opened up to a beach-facing porch with longue chairs and billowing white curtains. The color scheme was mostly whites and blues, with a few hints of mint here and there. Very beachy.

"Oh Blaine...they didn't have to rent us such a nice place," Kurt said as he sat down his luggage, walking around, admiring the little living and kitchen area, the pristine bathroom, and the bedroom that was mostly filled with a bed.

"They had been saving up for my graduation gift...and a few weeks or so before I asked you to come with me, I told them I'd really like to come back to California. So this is my graduation gift," he said with a shrug, smiling.

That made Kurt feel a little better at least. He couldn't help smiling to himself, glad that Blaine's parents had gotten this for the both of them.

After unpacking some food they brought along and hanging up clothes in the closet, they decided to make something to eat. They didn't have much to choose from with what they had brought along, but decided on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some chips. They sat out on the porch, sitting close together on one of the larger longue chairs, looking out at the beach before them.

"Do you want go out on the beach when we're finished?" Blaine asked, checking his cell phone before he texted his parents to let them know they had arrived. Kurt pulled out his own to text Burt, knowing he would worry if he didn't do so before too long.

"Sure, we can do that. Have a relaxing first day." He said as he put his phone away. It was weird to look at his phone and see a time that was three hours behind what he would have expected it to be.

Once their food was eaten and they had on their swimming trunks, Blaine was dashing out the back door, calling, "Race you to the water!"

Kurt laughed and ran after him, happy that Blaine had finally let his walls come down so Kurt could see this playful side. They ran together on the beach, losing their footing on the unsteady sand, laughing as they would waver in their stride before they were dashing for the water again. Another good thing about their location was that the beach was for private use only, just for the people who were staying in the little homes that lined the edge of the sand. So very few people were out. Some were couples strolling along the beach. Others were children splashing in the waves further down. It was nice to feel so carefree and cheerful.

Blaine splashed into the water first, taking to it like a fish as he strode out farther before he dove under the high waves. Kurt went in more carefully, walking into the ocean, letting the waves lap slowly up to his thighs. Blaine burst back out of the water, curls drenched. He pushed his hair back as he swam towards Kurt, keeping most of his body under the water.

"Come on, Kurt! The water feels amazing."

Blaine was definitely right about that. The water was just the right amount of cool enough in the heat of the summer sun. Kurt let himself move out farther, standing now with the water coming just above his stomach.

"Sorry, I was just too busy being impressed by my sudden merman," Kurt said with a smile as Blaine swam up to him. He squeaked out a laugh as he hoisted him up, letting his legs and arms wrap around him.

"I grew up in the water, babe. You're just now getting to see that side of me," he explained, tilting his head up for a kiss.

Kurt hummed against his lips and smiled, letting his fingers play in his hair. The waves were calm today, gently pushing at them as they rolled towards the shore. Nothing near hard enough to knock them off balance. So they enjoyed the feeling of being wrapped up in one another, free from the responsibilities that had tied them down over the summer. Now, for a short time, it was all about them. It was all about enjoying the special bond they had. Which, to Kurt, it felt like that bond grew stronger every day.

"I will never get tired of kissing you," He whispered against Blaine's lips.

"I love you," Blaine responded, making Kurt's eyebrows raise and his eyes open.

They were left looking at each other, Blaine's cheeks tinged red as he looked up at him through his thick lashes.

"I love you too, Blaine..."Kurt replied softly, his smile touching his lips and eyes as he leaned in, kissing him again.

In a way, Kurt had known Blaine loved him for a while. He could tell by the way he looked at him with genuine curiosity when he was talking about things Blaine really wasn't interested in. He could tell by the bright smile he got on his face when they hadn't been able to see each other for a few days due to work or other engagements. He could tell by the way he would hesitate before he told him goodnight over the phone. And he was sure Blaine knew he loved him, because he had never given up on trying and having hope that they were truly meant for each other.