Blaine had always been involved in the family business, knowing every product by the age of ten. His grandmother had started the confectionary shop when she was in her thirties, only for it to be then passed onto his mom who had been the key to the gradual expansion of the small family run business from Ohio.

One thing that had been absent throughout Blaine’s life was his father, who, as far as Blaine knew had only been present at his birth. He and his mom had formed a close bond and when he’d come out to her at thanksgiving during his senior year she had been nothing but supportive and accepting, offering to take her son to any dates and have ice cream on standby if things didn’t work out. Unfortunately, Blaine had only been on several dates, far from a serious relationship, his longest lasting three weeks because apparently it ‘’wasn’t going anywhere’’ or so the guy had said. The most Blaine had ever done was kiss another guy, let alone anything further.  Deep down he knew that was the reason why none of his relationships had worked.

Studying at NYU meant that Blaine was only able to return home to the family shop during the holidays. It had been his mom who had suggested that he apply for a pitch at the Christmas market and after much deliberating he had agreed, hoping it would prove to be the confidence boost he needed.

~

With a sigh Blaine double checked the lock on the small shop before heading back towards his apartment. He had only moved into his own apartment several months ago, his mom insisting she paid for half of the initial cost, which he was eternally grateful for considering sharing with three of his friends from University was gradually becoming too much, all of them in relationships.

As much as he hated closing early his brother, Cooper, was in town and insisting some brotherly bonding time which essentially consisted of being dragged to some bar and ending up sitting alone whilst his brother was surrounded by girls. Not one guy ever showed any interest.

To no surprise Blaine found himself situated on a bar stool in some random club whilst Cooper danced with what must have been the twentieth girl. He checked the time on his phone and with one last sip of his drink pushed through the crowd of drunken people towards the exit, relieved when the cool winter breeze hit his face. The walk back to the apartment was pleasurable, the snow beginning to fall and set on the already frosty ground, the chaos of the snowflakes had always fascinated Blaine, the white flakes swirling in a chaotic yet strangely calming manner.

At 3am Blaine was awoken by the drunken whisperings and childish laughs of Cooper and whoever he’d brought home. Never had he wished more that his room was on the other side of the apartment. With a groan he pulled the covers completely over his head.  After an hour of tossing and turning Blaine pushed himself out of bed wrapping the covers tightly around himself and headed out to the balcony. Leaning against the railings he looked down at the empty streets below, the nightlife long peaked. His breath fogged as he exhaled, dissipating into the bitterly cold air, with a shiver he headed back inside, noticing it was already five.

How I am ever going to be up at nine? He thought.

With a sigh he collapsed down onto the couch and eventually fell into a restless sleep.

“Blaine…get up!” Cooper called as he loomed over his brother and proceeded to hit him on the head with a pillow.

“What time is it?” Blaine mumbled sleepily from where his face was buried inside the covers.

“Um…ten I think.”  He frowned and briefly looked up to the clock. “Yeah ten...”

“Shit.” Blaine sat up quickly attempting to untangle himself from the covers, stumbling slightly as he did so.

“Somewhere to be?” Cooper asked, raising an eyebrow as he steadied his brother.

“Work Coop, remember that little thing called work? No? Didn’t think so.” He sighed as pushed his way past his brother, slamming his bedroom door shut.

With five minutes to spare Blaine remerged from his room having dressed quickly into a Captain America t-shirt, his signature blue skinny jeans and converse. He picked up his skateboard from where it had been left in the hallway and made his way back out into the living room where Cooper was sprawled out on the couch watching some terrible daytime TV show.

“Well I’m actually going to do something productive with my day, do whatever but don’t touch my room.” He warned and grabbed his jacket from the table.

“I’m sorry about last night okay? Why don’t we meet for lunch, I’ll make it up...” Cooper mumbled apologetically.

“Fine I already gave you one more chance the last time you randomly showed up here. My lunch is at one, text me whenever you’re ready.” Without even looking at his brother Blaine left the apartment and made his way out onto the busy streets below.

~

The morning had been relatively quiet, only a few people making purchases. Blaine was grateful when it rolled around to one, his stomach rumbling on cue. He grabbed his skateboard and left a sign up notifying he would be back in an hour. Once across the street he pulled his phone out.

I’ve found a small deli near you and yes before you ask they have chocolate muffins.

Coop

Blaine rolled his eyes and headed towards the deli where he suspected he could find his brother.

~

To say lunch was awkward was an understatement.

“I just…I don’t get it; you’re quite a catch Blaine.”  Cooper grinned taking a sip of his espresso.

Blaine shrugged, picking at the napkin on his plate. “You’re just saying that because you’re my brother.”

Cooper hit his brother playfully on the arm.  “But still, I’m sure there are plenty of guys out there desperate to get your candy.” He smirked.

Blaine blushed furiously, kicking his brother in the shin under the table. “Seriously?”

“What? Only trying to lighten the mood.” He said defensively.

Blaine shook his head praying the conversation would be over sooner rather than later.  “I’m just… I have no idea where to start.” He mumbled.

Cooper sighed, his eyes widening as he looked at his phone. “How about we talk about this later? I have a... um… friend to visit.” He abruptly stood up, pushing past a woman trying to lift her pushchair up the steps.

 “Sure, whatever.” Blaine muttered, automatically standing up to help the struggling woman.

“Here let me help.” He picked up one end of the pushchair easing it up the steps smoothly.

“You’re a lifesaver, thank you.” The woman smiled gratefully.

“You’re welcome. Oh you dropped something.”  Blaine crouched down to pick up a small pink rabbit, placing it in the pushchair.

The woman couldn’t help but smile. “You’ll make a guy very happy one day.”

“Oh… um…I hope so.” Blaine blushed and headed back to his table as the woman pushed past to meet her friend.

Blaine loved having his brother around but always felt as though he was put second best to whoever Cooper decided to jump into bed with.

He sat alone at the table picking at his chocolate muffin, unaware of the time until his phone alarm signalled that it was already 2pm.

“Shit.” He mumbled for the second time that day, grabbed his skateboard and dashed out the door muttering a thank you to the cashier.

~

Blaine sped through Central Park, narrowly avoiding a group of tourists. He was too focused on making it back to the shop in time that he accidently elbowed a guy holding a coffee. He slowed down slightly to glance around noticing him putting his cup in the bin and brushing himself down.

Five minutes later and the shop was back open, albeit Blaine still being slightly out of breath.

It can’t be. Blaine thought as the same guy from the park entered the shop a little over ten minutes later.

He couldn’t help the smile that formed when the guy closed his eyes and absorbed the atmosphere of the shop, although before he knew it a pair of blue eyes were gazing at him curiously. Feeling himself blush Blaine busied himself, organizing the jars of sweets behind the counter.

Blaine couldn’t help but glance at the guy, taking in his perfect appearance the way his jeans fitted tightly – Wait what?! He shook his head, picked up a basket and nervously walked over to the guy who was obviously struggling to hold everything.

After Blaine had given him the basket he returned back to the counter, unable to stop himself from humming White Christmas, it was one of his favourite Christmas songs after all. Each time he glanced up he found the guy also looking his way, each time he smiled bashfully before rummaging through a jar of sweets.

With a loud thump a basket was dropped onto the counter a little while later.

“Either you really like candy or you have a lot of people to buy for.” Blaine joked as he began taking the items out.

“Both actually I was wondering if you have any of those sour hearts, you probably don’t since I haven’t eaten them since I was a kid.” The guy shrugged and Blaine couldn’t help but stare momentarily.

Did he just say? Blaine shook himself out of his daze.

“Y-yeah we do.” He stuttered, cursing himself for letting his nerves get the better of him.

Once he had grabbed the jar Blaine noticed the guy looking at him, he followed his gaze down to his bright blue converse.

“I know they don’t match but they’re my favourite colour.” He explained feeling slightly self-conscious under the guy’s scrutiny.

Thankfully he needn’t have worried. “Oh no, no it’s not that. They remind me of someone I knew years ago.”

It can’t be…  By now Blaine had neatly packed all of the candy into bags.

“That’ll be twenty nine dollars exactly.” He smiled; hoping whoever this guy was wouldn’t have realized that Blaine had deducted ten dollars from the overall cost.

“Is... is that all?” The decidedly near perfect guy asked.

“Yep.” Blaine nodded unable to say anything else without making it obvious as he handed the change over, his fingers lightly brushing against the other mans.

“Hey, um… I’m sorry for making you drop your coffee earlier.” Blaine mumbled apologetically, a sudden boost of confidence spurring the conversation.

The guy raised his eyebrows. Blaine dreading what he was going to say next.

“You were the one on the skateboard?” He asked. Blaine nodding shyly in reply, his voice suddenly disappeared.

Blaine braced himself for being yelled at for being ignorant or something, only to be surprised when the man pulled his bags off the counter and pulled out the small bag of sweets on top.

“It’s like reliving my childhood.” He beamed.

“I always preferred the cherries.” Blaine shrugged nonchalantly.

After the guy had said his goodbyes and was about to reach the door Blaine grabbed the small candy he’d hidden on the counter and stepped out from behind.

It’s now or never. He thought and managed to find his voice, anxiously holding out the small candy.

“K-kurt?” He said quietly, feeling his heart rate increase as the guy dropped his bags.

As the candy was taken from his hand Blaine was pretty sure he was in some kind of dream, only to be woken by the soft voice in front of him.

“Bla-Blaine?” He whispered in disbelief, Blaine only just managing to hear him.

“Y-yeah.” He said shakily staring at Kurt with wide eyes.

“You… I... this…” Kurt gestured to the candy in his noticeably shaky hand.

Blaine just stood there dumbfounded, his eyes wide as he continued to stare at the man in front of him.

Before he knew what was happening he found himself being engulfed in a tight embrace, instantly bringing his hands up to wrap tightly around Kurt’s waist. Both men remained silent, the only sounds being the quiet sniffs from where Kurt had buried his face in Blaine’s neck. After what felt like hours Blaine pulled away, keeping Kurt at arm’s length, enough to look him in the eyes.

“You’re... You’re... this isn’t a dream?” Blaine stammered, his mind hazing over.

This time it was Kurt’s time to shake his head, unable to prevent the tears spilling down his cheeks.

The pair just stood there staring at each other, silent tears falling down their cheeks as years’ worth of questions and suppressed feelings finally came to the surface.

“Coffee?” They both said at the same time, letting out breaths they had been holding and laughing together as though they’d been friends for years.