The morning after Rachel unexpectedly showed up in New York, she breezed into the apartment with a box full of pastries, chattering eagerly about her plans as Blaine cleared a spot on the table for her and Sam brewed some coffee.  When they woke up that morning to find Rachel gone they boys had assumed she would be out for the day apartment hunting, but they were apparently mistaken.

“I didn't wake you guys up, did I?”  Rachel chirped.  She had witnessed the two of them stumbling out of Blaine's room just moments ago, as she let herself in with the spare key she had apparently nabbed from the hall table.  Blaine glanced at Sam, in his sweats with his hair all rumpled and messy, looking pretty obviously like he just rolled out of bed.  Blaine wasn't in much better shape, although he had gotten too warm during the night and stripped off his heavy sweatshirt, pulling on an old Dalton t-shirt only when he heard Rachel ringing the doorbell; why she had to ring the doorbell when she had a key he had no idea.  It probably wasn't just to annoy him, but he couldn't be sure.

Blaine yawned.  It wasn't even eight o'clock yet, he still had plenty of time before physical therapy, and the combination of margaritas and dramatic conversation the night before had really taken it out of him.  He wasn't sure how much bright and cheery Rachel he could deal with, but he supposed that after some coffee he'd feel better.  It seemed like Rachel and Kurt were friends again, or at least on their way there, and that made Kurt happy, and anything that made Kurt happy made Blaine happy, or at least it likely would after some coffee.  So he'd buck up and entertain Rachel, despite having what he had to admit was probably a bit of a hangover.

“I'd love to find a place around here, but I'm not cut out for rooming with just anyone, and you just can't get anything bigger than a closet in this neighborhood for a reasonable price.  Do you think Kurt is looking for a roommate?  I hate to think of him all alone in the city.”

Blaine wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh at Rachel for assuming that Kurt was alone, or smack her for leaving him alone for so long.  If she had cared so much, why didn't she reach out before now?  Sam set a fresh cup of coffee on the table in front of him, Blaine silently thanking him with a touch on the arm.  At least Sam was here with him to dilute Rachel's intensity.

“You two are so lucky, this place is beautiful, and so conveniently located, even if you're not going to NYADA.  Was it a gift from your parents, Blaine?”  Rachel's eyes flicked over Blaine's hand where it was wrapped around his coffee cup, and then over to Sam's.  “Maybe in anticipation of something more permanent?”

Sam stifled a giggle, catching on to Rachel's meaning just before Blaine did.  “Blaine's parents were pretty happy when we decided to move to New York together.  They threw us the most awesome party.”

“That's so sweet,” Rachel cooed.  “You know, I wasn't sure whether to believe the rumors or not, but seeing you two together, I don't know how anyone could doubt it.”  Apparently Rachel hadn't noticed Blaine and Kurt holding hands last night.  It's true that she had been focused on other things; Blaine could forgive her for not noticing that he was in fact reunited with the love of his life.  Who was not, rumors aside, Sam Evans.

Sam smirked and poked Blaine's foot with his under the table.  “So, Rachel, was my bed comfortable enough for you?”  Sam asked, feigning politeness.  After Rachel and Kurt's late night reconciliation marathon, Rachel had tucked herself into Sam's bed before anyone could discuss sleeping arrangements with her.  Although they would have preferred to have Rachel stay on the couch, or at least offer to do so – like any rational house guest would – no one was interested in arguing with her in the wee hours of the morning. Sam had already dozed off in Blaine's bed, but moved out to the living room when Kurt shuffled in, both of them looking awkwardly at Blaine as if he could somehow make the idea of the three of them sharing a bed more socially acceptable.  Not that this had stopped them the last time, but to be fair, it had been pretty crowded with all of them in one bed.  Blaine had momentarily considered taking the couch himself, but then Kurt was sliding under the covers with him, a warm hand on his arm, and that was the end of that.  He fell asleep in seconds and didn't wake up until Rachel began her vocal exercises the next morning, followed quickly afterwards by Sam pouncing on his bed, demanding that Kurt put a stop to the noise.  Kurt had given Sam a “you don't know the half of it” look and darted off into the bathroom, leaving Sam and Blaine to hide under the blankets and try to go back to sleep.

“Oh, yes, I slept very well, thank you,” Rachel replied.  “Kurt did seem surprised when I headed off to Sam's room, but I knew you'd understand that I just wouldn't be able to sleep well on the couch.”  Rachel directed this comment at Blaine, as if they shared a particular inability to sleep on living room furniture.  “And obviously Sam's bed doesn't get much use…” Rachel giggled. 

Blaine assumed that meant that Sam must have washed his sheets recently, which was at least a point for them in the hospitality column.  Unanticipated guests made being an adult very difficult.

“Well, Blaine's bed is awfully comfortable,” Sam said, giving Blaine an exaggeratedly sweet smile and playfully tousling his hair.  Sam was having way too much fun with this, Blaine thought, reaching up to pat his hair back into place.  He heard the bathroom door open and smiled to himself, thinking that perhaps the performance was reaching its climax. 

Kurt glided over to the table, looking sleep-mussed and sexy, still wearing the hoodie and sweats Blaine had loaned him the night before.  Blaine's heart raced as Kurt sat down in the chair next to his and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek, his breath fresh and minty.  “Morning,” Kurt said, looking right at Blaine, and setting his hand lightly over Blaine's wrist where it rested on the table.  Blaine loved sleepy Kurt, all relaxed and open.  He was a little surprised that sleepy Kurt was making an appearance this morning in his kitchen with Rachel and Sam, but if Kurt wanted to put on a show, he wasn't going to get in the way.  Not if it involved kisses and heart eyes.

Rachel cleared her throat, and Kurt turned in response, slowly pulling his gaze away from Blaine.  “Oh, good morning to you guys too,” he said lazily.  Kurt rolled his shoulders and stretched.  “I think I've got a bit of a sore spot.”  He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.  “Sam, I blame you.  That was not a gentle way to be woken up.”

“Sorry, dude, can't help it.  I get enthusiastic,” Sam said, smirking again.  At this, Blaine choked on his coffee, giving Kurt the opportunity to rub his back.

“You okay, honey?” Kurt asked sweetly.  Blaine just coughed and smiled, trying not to laugh.

“All right, joke's on me, fine.”  Rachel said, annoyed.  “But as appealing as it is to imagine, I refuse to believe that there was some kind of three-way sex party going on in Blaine's bedroom last night.”

“Hey, I'm kind of offended,” Blaine protested.  “Why couldn't I have a sex party?” 

“Are any of you actually dating each other, or have you just replaced Bruce the boyfriend pillow with models who pay rent?”

“He doesn't actually pay rent,” Blaine pointed out.

 “And I'm not a model,” Sam corrected her.

Kurt tapped a finger to his forehead.  “I don't think that's what she meant.”

“Ugh!”  Rachel stood up, hands on her hips.  “You're not being very nice to me.  And I bought you danishes!”

-----

When Rachel revealed her plans for the day, they realized the first place she was looking at was over by the gym, and Sam suggested that he walk over with her on his way to work.  Before he left, Sam took Kurt aside.  “I really am sorry about last night, dude.”

“That's okay, Sam.  I think it may have been for the best.”  Thinking about Rachel still hurt a little, but Kurt was really excited about the idea of having his friend back.  Part of him felt silly for accepting her apology so easily, but he figured there wasn't much use in holding a grudge, not when he understood what she had been going through.  And he didn't want to dwell on it – didn't want to rehash how lonely he had felt when Rachel moved out.  That was in the past.  Although he might hold out for a formal apology dinner, perhaps with wine, and cheesecake for dessert.

“Bet you were wishing you and Blaine had gone back to your place.”  Sam had a determinedly neutral expression on his face, and Kurt almost laughed. 

“What are you trying to say, Sam?”

“I don't know, I just mean if you had, you could have, you know, had some privacy.”

“We're fine, Sam.  Blaine likes to be here with you.” 

Sam's face fell, and he tried again.  “Rachel's going to be here for at least a few days, sleeping in my bed and everything.  Why don't I take her out one of these nights, and you guys can do something together?”

Kurt started to protest that he and Blaine did things together all the time, but suddenly he understood.  Sam knew exactly why Blaine hadn't wanted to go to Kurt's place - that Blaine didn't want to leave him alone - and he was trying to tell Kurt that with Rachel staying there, he would be okay without Blaine.  Kurt tried not to think too hard about Sam picturing exactly what he and Blaine could do with some privacy, but the truth was, he wouldn't mind some alone time with his boyfriend, and he wasn't going to look this gift horse in the mouth.

“That's a great idea, Sam.  I've really wanted to show Blaine my place, maybe make him dinner,” Kurt said thoughtfully.  “Or he could come over after the NYADA concert.  Will Rachel still be here on Wednesday?”

“Probably – she said she was staying for at least a few days.”  Sam brightened up, like a kid with an ice cream cone.  “So, you'd like to have Blaine over?”

“Of course I'd like that.  I'll talk to Blaine about it.”  Kurt considered Sam curiously, not completely sure how to get through to him that none of this was actually a problem, lack of alone time or not.  “You know, Sam, I like being here too.  I've spent plenty of time in my own apartment, it's great to have somewhere to hang out with friends.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”  Kurt took a breath, not used to having this kind of conversation with Sam, or, really, anyone.  “I've really missed having friends like you guys.  You're both pretty special.”    

Sam blushed.  “Thanks, Kurt.”

-----

“It's been a weird day,” Blaine said as they exited his building. Blaine was headed to PT and Kurt needed to go home for some clean clothes and then over to NYADA.  Blaine had offered to lend him something to wear, but he wasn't in the mood for a plaid shirt and polka dot bowtie, although Blaine was rocking the look himself.

“It's barely ten o'clock in the morning, how could it be a weird day already?”  Kurt asked, as Blaine took his offered arm.

“Twenty-four hours ago Sam and I were on our way to the airport in Kentucky, and since then….” Blaine trailed off, shrugging.

“Since then....?” Kurt prompted, an eyebrow raised.

Blaine grinned.  “Tipsy shenanigans, a dramatic entrance by the diva queen herself, shocking revelations, bedroom farce, and, apparently, an attempt by my roommate to pimp me out.”

“You heard that conversation?”

“The apartment's not that big, and Sam really isn't very good at whispering,” Blaine pointed out.  “Besides, I admit I had the same thought.  I was going to ask Sam about it tonight.  I'm kind of glad he brought it up.”

“Why?  So you didn't have to invite yourself over to my place for another evening of tipsy shenanigans?”

“Exactly.  Although I'm not so sure we should repeat the tipsy part so soon.  This is the first time I've had a hangover since the tequila incident, and I'd forgotten just how little I like it.”  Blaine pouted.

“Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry,” Kurt cooed, leaning his head on Blaine's shoulder for a moment.  “Guess Rachel's early morning vocalizing really didn't help.”

“No, it didn't.”  Blaine smiled.  “But as crazy as she is, it's really good to see her again.” 

Kurt smiled at Blaine, reaching up to straighten his bowtie.  “You look unfairly good for a guy with a hangover,” Kurt said, running his hands down Blaine's arms, enjoying the skin he got to touch below the short sleeves of Blaine's shirt.

Blaine blushed.  “You don't look so bad yourself.”  Blaine's eyes drifted down Kurt's legs and back up again, looking long and sleek in the black yoga pants he borrowed from Blaine for the walk home.  He frowned a little then, and glanced quickly at Kurt.  “How are you feeling about the whole Rachel situation?”

“About seeing her again?”  Blaine nodded, and Kurt took a breath, considering.  “Remarkably good, actually.  I guess I understand why she did what she did.  I wish she had been able to tell me about it, not disappear on me, but I can sympathize.  Turns out we're still a lot alike.”  Kurt had realized during their lengthy reunion last night that it would be rather hypocritical of him to be angry with Rachel for shutting him out, when he had acted much the same way towards other people.  If his behavior was understandable, than hers certainly was too.

“Kurt?”  Blaine sounded worried, and Kurt wasn't sure why.  He really was okay with seeing Rachel again.

“Yeah?”

“That fight with Rachel happened while we were still together, didn't it?” 

Oh, that's why he's worried, Kurt thought.  Shit.  This conversation was going to put a damper on their cheerful morning.  “It did.”

“Why didn't you tell me about it?”  Blaine had stopped right in the middle of the busy sidewalk, a concerned look on his face.

Kurt tilted his head towards a few empty chairs outside a coffee shop, and they moved over and sat down.  “Looking back, it's hard to believe I didn't tell you,” he began.  “But you were in really bad shape, Blaine.” 

“I'm sorry,” Blaine said tightly.  “I'm sorry I wasn't there for you.”

Kurt shook his head.  “Honestly, you were in so much pain then, doped up all the time, even if I had told you, you probably wouldn't have remembered.”  Kurt ducked his head down to try to catch Blaine's eye and gave him a little smile.  “Hey, I'm joking.”  He put a hand on Blaine's knee and took a deep breath.  “To put it in perspective, I didn't even tell my dad that Rachel moved out, at least not for a long time.  I didn't want people's sympathy; I didn't want people to worry about me more than they already were.  And I didn't want to deal with more questions – what happened between you and Rachel, Kurt, you're such good friends, it can't be that bad…” 

Blaine looked up and met Kurt's eyes, and then crashed into him, wrapping his arms around him so tightly he could barely breathe.  “I hate that she did that to you, and I hate that I didn't even know,” he declared. 

“Well, you know now.  Everybody knows.”

“Not everybody.  Just us and Sam.”  Kurt pondered this for a minute.  He wondered if Rachel had been as lonely as he had been, or if she had found someone else to confide in over the past few years.  Maybe she talked to Mercedes?  A thought occurred to him then, and it made him feel warm all over.

“You know what everyone is going to know, though?”  Kurt smiled against Blaine's cheek, and pulled back to look at him, Blaine's wide eyes questioning.

“No, what?”

“That I have my amazing boyfriend back.”

Blaine beamed then, the light coming back into his face.  “You think Rachel's going to tell?”  It wasn't that they had been keeping it a secret, exactly, they just hadn't come out of their bubble long enough to put themselves on display.  At least that's how Kurt thought of it.

“I think she probably already has.”  Kurt leaned in and gave Blaine a quick kiss.  Because he could do that now, whenever he wanted to.  “Want to put it in on Facebook before all of the New Directions start texting us?”

“You sure?”

“So sure.”  Kurt kissed Blaine again, bouncing a little as he pulled out his phone.  They both typed away for a few minutes, then looked at each other and laughed.  “Facebook official,” Kurt said happily.  Facebook might not be his favorite thing, but there was something comforting about the silly ritual.

Blaine held out his phone to take a selfie of them, but Kurt pushed it away.  “Are you kidding?  With the way I look right now?”  He swiped away on his own phone for a minute and then held it up to show Blaine.  “Let's use the picture Sam took of us before the NYADA fundraiser.  We looked fabulous that night.”

The Facebook update complete, Blaine glanced at his watch and sighed.  “I've got to go, or I'll be late for PT.”  Kurt stood and held out his hand to help Blaine up.  “Not that reuniting you and your long lost bestie isn't wonderful and all,” Blaine said, smiling, “but I really would like a do-over of last night.”

“Starting when we decided to go to your place?” 

“Exactly.” 

“Good thing your roommate's got your back, then,” Kurt teased.  He gave Blaine a soft kiss on the lips, lingering just a moment.  “As much as I'll enjoy a little privacy… will you make sure Sam knows I don't mind coming over to your place?”

“You really don't mind?”

“I understand why you want to be there.  How could I fault Sam for feeling the way he does?”  Kurt took Blaine's hand and squeezed it.  “I think I've just been realizing how many people were hurt by that stupid bus crash.  It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, because obviously lots of people were hurt.  I guess it's one thing to know it logically, and another to see people you care about still in pain.”  Kurt saw the recognition in Blaine's eyes.

“It hurts, though, doesn't it?”

“Yeah.  But I think in a weird way it's helping me feel better.  Less alone.”

Blaine leaned in for another kiss, then rested his forehead against Kurt's.  “Would it be too cheesy to tell you that you're not alone?”

“Maybe.  But I'll excuse it this time.”  Because Kurt believed it.  The connection he used to feel with Blaine was back, and he never wanted to lose it again.