Kurt got a standing ovation the next Wednesday after his first solo performance. Songs were always one of the last things entering with the montage of the play and finally he could outshine. Even Ms. Shannen, who was eyeing the first act from the sidelines, was on her feet giving him a slow clap.

"I don't know what the doctor gave you, but everybody could use some." she commented.

"Thank you, miss." he said with a small smile before turning to the rest of the cast.

Nancy was jumping up and down. "That was amazing, the show is going to kill." She eyed him mischievously. "Maybe we can bottle up Blaine kisses and everybody will perform that well."

The tips of his ears turned red. "Shut up."

"Nah, teasing you is way too much fun." They walked toward the mirrors to get their belongings so they could leave. Kurt still had one individual vocal lesson before his day was done and he used the time in between classes to check for any messages from Blaine.

Even though it was hard to be away from him, they moved along easy - texting and calling each other frequently and Blaine always added a ‘sorry if it's too sappy', which made Kurt only find him more and more adorable.

This afternoon, however, he froze completely at seeing five missed calls from him.

" - and I was wondering if they could fill up the bra with a cup ... Kurt?" Nancy was talking to him and he hadn't even noticed. He snapped up.

"Uhm, sorry, Blaine called. I need to -"

"Of course." she said. "I need to go to costume anyway, good luck with your vocal!"

"Thanks." he muttered and dialed Blaine's number. He checked the clock, realizing Blaine should've been at school when he called.

"Kurt." a very broken Blaine answered and panic struck Kurt like lightning.

"Blaine, what's going on? Did something happened?"

"I - I'm sorry for calling, it's just..."

"Are you at school?" Kurt started to walk to his destination. "Come on,  talk to me."

"No, I stayed home. I - I'm so sorry, you're probably busy and I - can we Skype? Tonight? I really need to see your face, please?"

"Of course, but you can tell me now if you'd like to, you know that right?"

"Yes, yes, but I really want to see you."

They agreed on a time and Kurt could barely say something before Blaine hung up. With a hollow feeling in his stomach he sprinted to his classroom.

The entire lesson Kurt couldn't pull focus and the teacher decided on letting him leave earlier. He still had two hours before they were going to Skype and it was making him feel sick and worried at the same time. What could've happened?

He was so worked up he couldn't even go out for dinner, and stayed in front of his laptop with Skype logged in until Blaine popped up. Quickly he pressed call.

The Blaine that appeared on his screen was very much unlike the Blaine he left behind that Sunday.

"Hey." he said softly and Blaine stared down at his screen, fisting his unruly hair and seemed like he had a lot of crying today. "What's going on? Tell me."

He watched him swallow loudly and took a deep breath.

"I didn't get the scholarship."

A heavy silence followed. Both of them taking in the words, and Kurt felt like he was missing a great deal of the consequences of this.

"I'm so sorry." Kurt said softly.

"They called this morning," Blaine continued, "explained, and the girl who did get the scholarship really deserves it, but - I was just really hoping."

"Oh honey," he felt his heart ache for him, "I know it meant a lot to you, but you're still accepted right?"

Blaine was thrown off for a second before nodding slowly.

"It's just - the scholarship would've made things so much easier. With my dad - my dad doesn't approve of the school, this was supposed to be my way out. And now, now I feel like I need to fight even harder and I'm so sick of fighting." Blaine let out a watery sigh, his head now resting on his fist. "And I miss you."

"I miss you too." Kurt said immediately, because he really did.

"And school is horrible. Everybody's busy with prom and it's making me sick." He spat out the word ‘prom' as if it was a disease and Kurt didn't miss the bitterness.

"You're not going to prom?" he asked quietly.

Blaine let out a huff. "Me and dances don't do well. But everybody is all working up to it and I'm just... blergh. It's like I can't escape it anywhere."

"Come to New York." Kurt then said, not even aware of the words he just slipped out.

"What?"

All the puzzle pieces were falling together as Kurt just made up the best solution imaginable.

"Instead of going to Prom, and away from everything - come here. To me. To New York."

Blaine's shoulders slumped. "I can't just come to New York, I'm also already going in June, Kurt -"

"You can stay here, in my room, we'll eat super cheap and just... be together." he tried, finding the idea of Blaine here - even if only for a weekend - very tempting.

"Kurt." Blaine stared at him with helpless eyes. "I can't -"

"Think it over? Please?"

"Of course, of course." he muttered, still sighing deeply at the bad news he received today. "Distract me please before my dad gets home?"

"I can distract you in New York."

"Kurt."

But Kurt knew he wouldn't give up that easy. Since their Skype meeting Kurt picked up every call with the same question, texted Blaine all the things they could do and he knew he might be pushing his limits, but he just wanted Blaine here - with him.

It was all dragging apart and a week before the prom, begin May, Kurt knew he lost and Blaine really couldn't come. Instead he focused on preparing Blaine for coming in June, sending him all his updates on the Witchard and finally, after weeks of rehearsal in the black shoes, Kurt got to do a run-through in the finished product of his ruby slippers. They were sparkly red, tough and absolutely fabulous.

"And they're so comfortable," Kurt groaned through the phone at Blaine. It was Friday night and Prom was set to be tomorrow, and Blaine hadn't mentioned a word about it since. He also hadn't mentioned how his dad reacted on his lost and Kurt understood it was a touchy subject. Kurt was doing everything in his power to help Blaine through the last weeks of McKinley, and tonight they were supposed to watch a movie with Skype on the background, but Blaine was having computer problems.

"I can't wait to see you in them." Blaine muttered, his voice strangely muffled.

"Is your computer working yet?" he asked annoyed.

"No, it's hating me."

"Ugh, make it work." Kurt grunted and looked up at knocking on his door. "You, fix your computer while I bicker away whoever is at the door."

Slightly frustrated he jumped up from his bed, ready to send away the person at the door but when he opened he dropped his phone in surprise, letting it clatter on the floor with a loud noise. He gasped at Blaine, Blaineblaineblaine, grinning guiltily in front of his door with a twinkle in his eyes.

"You're not going to bicker me away, are you?" he asked innocently and put away his phone he was talking to Kurt to less than five seconds ago.

Kurt didn't even answer. Instead he threw his arms around Blaine and almost sent them backwards onto the ground in the hug. He took a deep breath of Blaine's scent, grasping the fabric of his thin jacket to hold him even closer.

"Oh my God, you're here." he said softly into Blaine's ear. In the corner of his eye he noticed people from his dorm staring at them and common sense kicked in. He dragged Blaine inside, kicking his travel bag in as well and shut the door before attacking Blaine with his lips.

Blaine's hands rested on the small of his back, kneading the available soft of his sides and hips and he sucked in Kurt's tongue. For maybe minutes they stood like that, feeling each other closely and making sure they were both real.

"M'missed you." Blaine muttered between kisses.

"You too, hmm." Kurt regained some self-control at hearing their voices talk and pulled away, resting his forehead against Blaine's. "Wha- how?"

Blaine bit his lip with a smile. "Well, I kind of had some salary laying around and after you asked me to come, I kind of bought an airplane ticket."

"You knew!" Kurt pulled back entirely. "I have been begging for weeks and you knew you were coming! You little -"

"I wanted it to be a surprise!" Blaine contradicted. "Surprise!"

"Best. Surprise. Ever." Kurt leaned in again for a much sweeter kiss. "How long?"

"Until Sunday." Kiss. "And I need to do some homework." Kiss.

"Hmm." Kurt's lips went down to his jaw and he felt Blaine's breath hitch. "So happy you're here." he mumbled while breathing against his ear, making Blaine shiver all over his body.

"M-me too."

"Have you eaten something?"

"I had something at the airport." Blaine answered. "But I would love a shower, I need to get this travel sweat off." He blushed at the information he accidently slipped, but Kurt was already ushering him toward his bathroom.

"Clean towels, shampoo - rinse and repeat, shower gel - " he pointed and Blaine asked for his bag so he could get something comfortable, as they weren't going to leave Kurt's room for the rest of the weekend.

Kurt almost stayed in the bathroom so he would know for certain Blaine would use his products correctly, but when Blaine cleared his throat with his hands on the hem of his undershirt, Kurt realized that this was definitely overstepping their conditions.

Quickly he jumped out, and went to change into some sweats as well - cuddle sweats, he suddenly realized and was looking forward for an entire night of cuddling, and oh my God - sleeping together in the same bed. He flailed internally. Blaine was here.

He installed himself in the corner of his bed, waiting impatiently for Blaine to come out of the shower and he heard him sing a random song, muffled by the rushing water.Hurry up, dammit.

Softly he drifted away in a thought when the door to his shower opened and steam flooded into his room. Blaine was still toweling his hair with one hand and switched off the light with his other, humming in satisfaction.

"That was awesome." he said, but Kurt had completely forgotten how to speak English because Blaine was looking absolutely, horribly, attractive with his short yoga pants clinging to his firm thighs and his freaking tank-top tight around his abdomen and chest. His arm was still up, tousling his fingers through his moist curls to dry them and he flexed his arm for a split-second that made Kurt's blood rush down.

He was starting to get half hard at only the sight of Blaine. This had never happened before, not even with Cooper (although things had gotten steamy during that period, but never like this) and Kurt didn't notice he was gawking.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked nervously, folding the towel.

"Wha- oh, right." he swallowed. "You - you want to watch that movie or -"

"Can we just sit, talk and... be together?" Blaine proposed and Kurt was already scooting up, trying to ignore what was going on in his pants. Instead of Blaine cuddling against Kurt, it was the other way around and Kurt tried to keep his legs as far away from Blaine as possible by just resting his head against his chest, trailing up his sides with his hands.

Blaine sighed happily, closing his eyes and started to relax for the first time since weeks.

They didn't know how long they've been lying like that, but at some point Kurt decided to break the silence.

"Why were you so against Prom? I didn't dare to ask, but - you were all ‘dances and I don't match'."

Underneath him the chest heaved, as if Blaine was preparing himself for his conversation and Kurt almost wished he hadn't asked. That was until Blaine started to speak.

"At my old school, before Dalton, there was a Sadie Hawkins dance and... I had just come out. I asked a friend of mine, the only other openly gay boy at school and we went together." Blaine paused. "After the dance we were waiting for his dad to pick us up and these three guys... they came out of nowhere and beat the living crap out of us."

Kurt's body went rigid and started to come up so he could look Blaine in the eye.

"What - what happened?"

Blaine let out a deep breath. "I was in the hospital for a few weeks, some bruises, blood loss, I was in a coma for a week. Cooper even came out of here to take care of me and almost didn't go back, but I forced him. I was fine... eventually. My parents became a lot more accepting of me and Cooper being gay, but they became super protective. They were practically planning out my life from there. That's why I needed the scholarship, but..." he trailed off.

"It's going to be alright, right?" Kurt sat up, throwing his leg over Blaine's waist so he was straddling him, his half hard long gone. "You're coming here next year, you're going to Juilliard." He was getting emotional and Blaine surged up to hold him in this position. "You're going to be here, with me, and we'll be together, tell me. Say yes."

"Yes, I'm going here. Nothing is going to stop me now I can have you." Blaine assured and Kurt's lower lip trembled.

"Say you love me." he said and Blaine stared at him confused. "Tell me you love me." he demanded.

"I - I love you, Kurt." he said. "I love you so, so much."

"I love you too." Kurt felt the words roll off his tongue and they tasted oh so right. Blaine's eyes were wide, searching Kurt's face to see if this was real so he said it again. "I love you."

"Really?" Blaine asked astonished.

"Yes." Kurt grabbed his shoulders and surged into a messy and desperate kiss. "I love you, Blaine Anderson." he said after pulling back, having the need to make up for every time he hadn't said it. "Give me your hand." He took Blaine's hand, lacing their fingers between them while still sitting on Blaine's lap. "Blaine Anderson."

"Yes?" he breathed.

"Will you do me the honor of becoming my boyfriend?" Kurt stared at him awaiting and relief flushed through his body when Blaine's face split into a big smile with watery eyes.

"Yes."

They kissed as if they just proposed to one other in marriage and Blaine was sure if that had been the question, the answer would've been the same.

Blaine woke up to tickles around his left side and murmured sleepily. A low chuckle indicated that that was exactly where Kurt was going for and a hot breath appeared just under his jaw before he felt lips pressed on the same spot.

"Wake up."

"M'no, you fell asleep first yestr'day while y'told me to stay awake."

Another chuckle. "But breakfast, Blaine!"

"But sleep, Kurt."

Blaine couldn't keep his grin hidden anymore and with trouble he managed to open his eyes to find Kurt staring at him with bright eyes and a smile on his face as well.

"How did you sleep?" Kurt asked softly.

"Best I did in weeks." he answered truthfully, sneaking his arms around his boyfriend and snuggled him closer.

"Well, in only a few weeks we'll wake up like this every morning. For when were in New York at least."

"Can't wait." Blaine blinked some sleep away from his eyes and trailed a finger along Kurt's cheek and lips. "Do you think we're moving too quickly?"

Kurt shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know. But I think that's the thing, we decide if it's too much or too quickly, not the standards around us. We're doing it our pace. And I don't know about yours, but mine keeps on saying I need you with me."

"Mhmm, same."

"I guess that's love." His face was positively glowing and it made Blaine filled with warmth and joy.

"I guess it is." He was about to suggest to brush his teeth so he could properly kiss him good morning, but the door was being ambushed by some fists.

"Kuuuuuurrrrttttttt!" the unmistakable voice of Nancy yelled through the door. "You better be presentable because I'm hungry."

"Shit." Kurt started to scramble up, leaving Blaine confused (and partially scared) on the bed. "Totally forgot." he said, grabbing the random vest lying on chair of his desk.

"That's mine -" Blaine started, but forced himself to stop that sentence because Kurt in his clothes, "Forgot what?" he asked instead while Kurt frantically tried to swoop his hair.

"I promised to take Nancy out for breakfast while I sulk because you weren't coming and well, change of plans."

Blaine threw the blanket off of him as well and the knocking continued to grow louder. "I'll just go -" He headed toward the bathroom to pull himself together, but Kurt already opened the door to apologize, giving Nancy one look of Blaine's tank-topped back.

"WHO'S THAT?!" Nancy shrieked, making Blaine jump up and trip at the same time.

"NANCY!" Kurt yelled back.

"Are you cheating on Blaine, I thought you loved him?!"

Blaine turned around with his back against the bathroom door, intimidated by the small woman.

"Nance! That is Blaine." Kurt shut her up, giving her a look Blaine didn't see from his position. He saw Nancy's mouth form an o as her eyes went up and down his body. Suddenly he felt overly-exposed and he couldn't stop the blush creep up at all the staring.

"Oh." she said. "You look a lot different than the pictures." Her eyes flickered to the wall of pictures where his face was on several times.

"It's the hair." he explained with a hand-wiggle to his frizzy do. "I'll just -" He pointed at the bathroom, almost going in before he realized he needed some clean clothes and still blushing under both Nancy's and Kurt's gaze he grabbed his bag. Inside the bathroom he was considering flushing himself to escape the embarrassment.

Through the door he heard Kurt talk to Nancy in a rapid speed and Nancy was making cooing noises. After fixing his looks and hair, Blaine waited a full minute before returning to the other room. Nancy was spread out on the, now made, bed, greeting him back with a mischievous smile and a wave of her fingers.

"Hi." he said back. His eyes landed on Kurt who was fully dressed to perfection and passed him with a quick kiss.

"I'll go finish up and we'll get breakfast together, yes?" He stared intensely at Nancy, who had a smirk on her face and nodded smugly. "Be right back." And he disappeared into the bathroom.

"So you're Blaine." Nancy stated playfully.

"Yes." he said awkwardly. "And you're Nancy, nice to finally meet you in person."

 "Likewise."

For a few minutes they waited in silence, Nancy still staring at him with a gratified look.

The door of the bathroom opened once again and Kurt came out fully ready to go. Blaine subconsciously took a step toward him, having the need to stay as close as possible for the short time they were together.

"Ready?" he asked and Kurt nodded with a twinkle in his eyes.

 "Finally, I'm starving." Nancy got off the bed, heading out the room first followed by Blaine and Kurt, whom locked the door. "Now, where are we going again?" Blaine let out a surprised squeak when she took his arm and grabbed Kurt with the other.

"Nancy, no." Kurt said strict. "You're not going in the middle."

"But - but -" She looked from him to Blaine, who was still petrified in the hallway.

"No." Kurt forced her to trade arms and he took the spot in the middle himself, grabbing Blaine's hand and laced their fingers.

"Fine." Nancy said like a little child. "But I'm totally taking the most expensive bagel."

"Sure, honey."

Kurt set the pace, dragging them both with him and squeezed Blaine's hand from time to time. Under the animated chatter coming from Nancy, the trio stepped through the doors of his building and walked into New York in May.

---

After breakfast Kurt was able to dump Nancy somewhere, promising they'll do something together in the summer and spent the day with Blaine in almost the same way they did back in Lima. Blaine let himself being dragged everywhere as long Kurt kept on holding his hand and after dinner at a small French restaurant called La Vedette, they were back in Kurt's room, watching the Moulin Rouge on his bed.

"I thought we promised never to watch this movie together?" Blaine murmured but Kurt thwacked him to be quiet.

Kurt was lying on Blaine again, because he decided it was the best position but Blaine whined they should switch at least once a movie. After Daimonds are a girl's best friend, Blaine's phone beeped with a new text and under protesting noises coming from Kurt, he managed to get his phone.

He chuckled at the text.

"Hmm, funny?" Kurt asked.

"Tina is Prom Queen. She's upset I'm not there to be her king."

"Awww." Kurt cooed. "Well, too bad for her because you're all mine."

"And I wouldn't want it any other way." He trailed through Kurt's hair. "There's no place I would rather be than here."

"Did you tell anyone yet? About us?"

"No, I wanted it to be official, I'll have a lot of explaining to do before we head to nationals." He sounded like he was excited for it.

"Nationals isn't in New York, is it?" Kurt asked hopeful.

"Nope, Boston."

He sighed. "Boring."

"Well we can't have everything, can we?" Blaine chuckled and Kurt shifted on him, tearing his eyes from the movie and kissed him languidly. A whimper escaped Blaine's mouth.

"No." Kurt said against his lips. "Just like Tina can't have her Prom King because you're mine."

"Is that so?" Blaine wondered. "Maybe I want you to be my Prom King."

Kurt's lips were pursed thoughtfully, making him adorable to the core and Blaine was about to press a kiss on them when he formed a response. "Well, I did always look good in crowns."

Blaine barked out a laugh, and started to move away underneath Kurt, making him complain, but soon he was next to the bed and held out his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

Kurt stared at him numbed for a second before a shy smile quirked around his lips "Yes." He took his hand and let Blaine hoist him up. "Yes, you may."

They were dressed in lazy sleeping-clothes, but that night in Kurt's room, Blaine and he shared their first dance on the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge. There wasn't much space, but they managed to shuffle around in circles, making themselves and each other laugh. The laughing died softly as Kurt rested his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"I don't want you to go tomorrow." he whispered.

"Me neither." Blaine whispered back.

But of course Blaine had to go either way, whether they wanted it or not. They parted in front of Kurt's dorm because Blaine told him he wouldn't be able to handle a goodbye at the airport and so Kurt had to send off his boyfriend with a yellow cab.

They were seeing each other June 9th again, right after Kurt's final show. He had four shows - one on Friday, two on Saturday and the last one on Sunday and the time had come for rehearsals to include full décor, costumes and props.

Finally standing on the stage of the Tisch Theatre was overwhelming and coming home all at the same time. He was parading down the Yellow Brick Road on his rubies and felt completely as Dorian in his blue checkered costume.

"Werk it, twerk it!" Nancy called from the wings and he stuck out his tongue.

They were waiting for the others to come out in costume and the directors had left them alone in the theatre.

"Can you take a picture?" He threw Nancy his phone and took a fierce pose so he could send Blaine his picture. He was leaving for Nationals tomorrow and had graduation in two weeks.

Nancy stepped back on stage in her Lioness outfit and returned his phone.

"Are your parents coming to the show?"

"Yep." Kurt answered. "The premiere, and they're making a romantic weekend of it. Finn's coming too, he's dying to meet you and he said he's bringing someone along, no idea who, and then Sunday Blaine and then summer!"

"And then moving into our spectacular apartment!" Nancy added, because yes - they had finally found their perfect little place. It was close to campus and affordable, but not available until July and he wasn't looking forward on moving in the middle of the summer, but he had no choice.

"I cannot wait." Kurt said and twirled around. "You and I, New York and -"

"Blaiiiinneeee..." she drawled and shook her head with a smile. "You know, I don't believe I have ever seen you happier."

"Yes, I just hope he works out things with Juilliard tuition and things."

"What do you mean?" she asked and Kurt shrugged.

"His dad doesn't want him to go far away, I'm afraid he'll come between him and his dream." He sighed sadly.

"But," Nancy stepped closer, "aren't tuition deadlines like begin May? I remember all the stuff with that, because if you can't make it on time they can accept the first one on the waiting list."

 A spark of panic went through his body, and he quickly texted Blaine the information Nancy just told him, hoping everything was in order.

---

Blaine stormed through the door of his home that afternoon after school, running up hastily to get his Juilliard map. If there was something wrong with his deadline, they would have contacted him, right?

He searched through the letters, but they all told him information he already knew. He was accepted, his application was complete - he was starting in September 2013.

"Blaine? Is that you?" his mother yelled from her study room.

"Mom?" he yelled back, and walked out of his room with all his papers still in his hands. "Mom?" he said again when he entered her room. "Did I miss a letter or something, because -"

"What do you mean?" she asked, standing up from her working desk.

"Ku - someone texted me something about deadlines and I know we decided to not tell father about the scholarship, but we do need to pay for -"

His mother cut him off by holding out an envelope.

"It has all been taken care of." she said softly and he took over the envelope to find it already opened.

"I saw the letter the other day, and I took it before your dad could. You were in New York looking at dorms," a blush on Blaine's face couldn't be prevented at the lie on, "and I figured not only your father has the power to decide your future."

He took out the letter, reading it carefully and it was indeed a reminder of the deadline for his tuition. His mother turned around and held out another Juilliard envelope. He took this one as well, reading the letter that said his application was fully completed and he was starting officially on September 2nd.

"So I paid your tuition." she added quietly as an explanation. Blaine's head shot up in shock, clenching his fingers around the papers in his hands.

"But - dad -"

"I'll cover for you, he won't be happy I'm sure, but Bee. I heard your music that morning and it was - pure, and amazing. I could never live with myself if I won't let you do whereyou live for."

He swallowed loudly. He had always known his mother had the best for him, but never had she gone against his father's wishes and it was making Blaine drown in guilt and happiness.

"Blaine?" she asked when he kept on staring at her.

"I have a boyfriend." he then blurted out. His mother backed a bit in surprise at the sudden confession.

"What?"

"And it's Kurt." The words didn't seem to care about some kind of filter and just came out on their own.

"Kurt?" His mother straightened up. "Cooper's Kurt?" She seemed a bit upset, but mostly surprised.

"Yes, we - I've been in love with him and I told him, after he broke up with Cooper." he assured. "And, and - he asked me to be his boyfriend and I said yes. We love each other."

His mother blinked a couple of times. "He, wait - what?"

Blaine shifted nervously. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was unsure but now..."

She started to nod, but he wasn't sure she was fully understanding.

"Well," she said, "call Dr. Phil, I think our family is officially weird enough."

"You're not mad?"

"Oh honey-bee, you really think I haven't noticed you have been way happier since a couple of months? Even after your rejection you picked up your happiness again and you're always calling and texting. Yes, I suspected a someone, but I guess... Kurt..."

"Cooper knew. That I'm in love with Kurt. I was going to tell him as soon it was official, but with glee and graduation and he's busy too, I wanted to tell him gently."

"Yes, we definitely need that intervention." His mother nodded again before letting out a chuckle. "Come here." She held out her arms and hugged her son. "Everything in its own time. You deal with your brother and I'll deal with your father and next year, I'll take him to your concert and he'll be swept off his feet. I know it."

"Thank you, mom."

"Anything, Bee. Anything."

Kurt loved working on the school's musical. He had the lead, a perfect fashionable costume and was working with the most fun cast he ever had. The only thing he hated about it was it was keeping him in New York and wasn't allowing him to go to Blaine's graduation.

The New Directions had came in second at Nationals and Blaine wasn't even that upset about it because he had been given an honorary shout-out when they returned to Lima.

"Silver goes with everything." Kurt told him through Skype where Blaine was hassling around with his red graduation gown he was going to wear tomorrow.

"Does it go with red?" Blaine asked and placed his cap on his head. "Ugh, my hair's sticking to it."

Kurt laughed out loud. "Take pictures."

"Please don't remind my mom, she's even more emotional about this then when Cooper finally graduated." He flinched at his brother's name. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Kurt said softly. Yes, Cooper was still a touchy subject, but he was over him - especially now he was with Blaine. He hadn't heard anything from Cooper for weeks, only a stray picture of a cheese cake with the caption ‘thought of you' had come in his mailbox, but other than that, Cooper was in the past.

"I need to go now, help Artie with his Valedictorian speech." Blaine said regretfully. "But, you go have great dress rehearsals next days and I will see you next weekend." He smiled widely.

"And you have a great graduation." Kurt shot back.

"Thank you." But Blaine didn't go yet. Instead he kept on staring at his screen with that little lip bite. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Simultaneously they logged off and Kurt stretched himself on his chair. In a little more than a week he had his first show with paying audience, and he was absolutely thrilled. Next week they had their try-outs with Tisch students to test the show and he was so busy he actually didn't have time to see his parents before the premiere. Through telephone he had to keep contact with his dad.

"We are perfectly capable of finding our seats ourselves, calm down."

"But it's a complete mess, it's already running five minutes late! Are you sure?" Kurt said frantically.

"Kurt, hair!" a crew-member yelled.

"We're fine. Finn tells you to break a leg. Not literally, he adds."

"Awww."

"Kurt!"

"I got to go, I'll see you guys after the show." He made a kissing noise, and quickly hung up to walk to his dressing room while reading the past well-wishes he received. Even Rachel sent one, but he wasn't sure how to respond to that. Blaine had called this morning as they couldn't talk the night before because of the final try-out and had soothed him with sweet words that made him all teary-eyed. Two days, two days.

He sat down on his seat in front of the mirror and let his stylist Cynthia transform him into Dorian. This moment was his favorite before the show. He had total peace because nobody dared to disturb Cynthia whilst she was doing his hair and he could focus on his first lines and places.

Except now his first lines were somewhere in the back of his head, completely memorized and safe and he had no urge to run through the first scene in his head. He took a deep breath and stared at himself in the mirror.

His first year of college was practically over. He passed all the mandatory classes from all the periods and he was nailing his end project, which was the show. A year ago he was giving up all his dreams of becoming a Broadway actor, and now he was living the actual dream. Certainly things had been difficult, with the break-up and falling in love with his first boyfriend's brother, but knowing Blaine was going to be there on Sunday - with a dozen of red roses like he promised, made this year look like one of the happiest of his life.

Kurt also realized he wanted everything with Blaine. Not only sweet dates, cuddles and laughs - lately he had been thinking a lot about going even further. He was ready. More than ready actually because last Monday he passed a drugstore and with the tips of his ear flaming red, he bought lube and condoms. And after the show on Sunday, he would ask Blaine if he was ready too.

"Kurt! It's time." someone called and Cynthia said she was done.

"Thanks." he muttered and checked the mirror one last time to see if his self-applied make-up was still intact. One deep breath later he straightened his costume and headed backstage. Showtime.

---

Adrenaline pumped through his body with a mile-high speed as he ran forward during the final round of applause. He had done it. Kurt Hummel had just finished his first semi-professional production and was being granted with roses and other flowers during his bow.

His smile seemed plastered on and he swore he heard his dad yell "That's my boy!". He took the hands of his fellow cast-members to bow one last time before he was left alone on stage. The directors had told him to remain on stage until everyone else was gone and then leave by himself, and so he stayed, waving at the audience and blowing kisses.

Several times he mouthed ‘thank-you' and the orchestra cued him that he could go. Everybody was already gone in the wings to freshen up because they were expected outside in less than half an hour. Kurt decided to take it easy , knowing if he would throw himself in the hectic that was the aftermath of a well done show, he was sure he wouldn't survive doing the show tomorrow.

Instead he wandered around backstage, smirking at all the costumes lying everywhere except their correct spot. He walked to his own chair where he sat when he wasn't onstage - which wasn't often, and wanted to sink down on it when he already saw someone sitting on it. He froze, swallowing down a lump in his throat and clenched his hands into fists.

Cooper looked up, jumped up more likely, and got on his feet quickly, readjusting his clothing.

"Kurt." he said, and Kurt felt shivers over his body at hearing the not-changed voice.

"Cooper." Kurt said, looking around for a second to see if there was anyone else. "How did you -"

"I used to go here, remember? I have my ways." Cooper said with a shy grin. "I watched the show, you were amazing."

Kurt looked down at the floor. "Thank you."

"Not that I expected anything less. I guess..." He paused. "I guess you're the air Broadway needed to resurrect."

Silently Kurt took in the words, remembering how Cooper had said Broadway was dead - or how he had yelled it. And still he came all the way from Hollywood to here, to see Kurt perform.

"How's -" L.A. he wanted to ask but Cooper cut him off.

"I should go. Movie company wasn't happy with the sudden trip, so I should really go." He seemed scared and wanted to walk away quickly, but stopped right next to still frozen Kurt. "You were really, really good."

He wanted to say thank you again, except Cooper leaned in to press a very soft kiss on his cheek before walking away. Kurt's breath hitched, and turned around quickly to see Cooper almost leave through the exit.

"Do you know?" he shouted after him and Cooper stopped. "About me and Blaine?"

Cooper rested a hand on the door and looked over his shoulder. A nod was all he gave him, pushing the door open and disappeared, leaving Kurt all alone backstage.

Kurt found himself jump at every tall guy with similar build as Cooper as he strolled through the crowds in the theatre's foyer. Every five seconds he was delayed of finding his family because that teacher and those important people wanted to talk to the one and only lead of the production.

He smiled as much as he could, answered ‘thank you' when appropriate, but kept on having a tiny heart attack when a man passed by with the same color hair as Cooper. Having encounters with your ex shouldn't be this scary - especially not if your ex is the brother of your boyfriend.

After another five greetings and a compliment from Susan Dursey that made him stand there without words later, he felt completely drawn away from the other cast-members.

"There he is!" a voice Kurt recognized as Finn's overruled the crowd's muttering and he tried to find the source as quickly as he could. Luckily Finn was as tall as a building and soon enough the few people in between them walked away, showing Burt and Carole too.

"Excuse me." he said to the group of professors he was talking to and skipped as quickly as he could to his family, launching himself onto his dad.

Burt grumbled a loud laugh, hoisting him up and gave him a tiny spin.

"You were so good!" he exclaimed.

Kurt's feet found the ground again and he squeezed his dad one more time. "So happy you're all here!" He let go to hug Carole and accepted the bouquet of flowers she was holding. "Thank you, by the time the show's done I'm going to have flowers everywhere in my room." He held them close, unexpectedly falling forward at the well-meant slap on his back from Finn.

"You were great, bro!" he said, slapping him again.

"T-thanks!"

"Now where's that chick in the furry bra?" A childlike grin appeared on his face and Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Probably with her own family, please call her Nancy when you meet - Puck!" he suddenly cried at seeing his old friend from school. Puck had his usual macho-like crooked smile, offering Kurt a fist pump which he accepted awkwardly.

"What's up?"

"What are you doing here?"

Puck shrugged. "Got tired of L.A., met all the women I could and meh. Finn kept on whining about seeing you and he offered me to come, so I thought - New York why not?"

Kurt blinked a couple of times.

"You're staying? New York has no outdoor pools, you know."

"Nah, but I heard college life is pretty sweet." Puck drifted off to some kind of fantasy that made everyone raise their eyebrows. "Anyway, gonna try it, thought about working with little kids otherwise."

They continued to talk about Puck as a kindergarten teacher, the show and how they were going to move Kurt's stuff in his dorm.

"Blaine's also coming by car, so we'll put the rest in his and drive back to Lima, yes?" Kurt proposed.

"Kurt?" someone called behind him and Nancy was zig-zagging through the crowd to reach him. "Finally, it's a maze here - my parents and lil' brother want to meet you."

From the corner of his eye Kurt saw Finn holding in his stomach to look as attractive as possible. Kurt knew he couldn't avoid it without having to live with it for the rest of his life, and asked Nancy to come closer.

"Everybody, this is my future roomie and best friend Nancy. Nance, this my dad, Carole my stepmom -" He watched her shake everybody's hand with a glorious smile. "And my stepbrother Finn." He stepped awkwardly forward and was definitely trying to keep his eyes on her face instead of going lower.

"So nice to meet you all, I've heard so many stories." Nancy gave everyone one last look, nodding friendly and froze completely when her eyes locked with Puck's.

It was as if the entire atmosphere changed and there was supposed to play some kind of romantic soundtrack of a meet-cute in the background. Except Kurt was standing on the sidelines and realized that if romantic comedies happen in real life, it was really odd for the bystanders.

"Hi." Nancy greeted breathless.

"Hi." Puck said without blinking once, reaching out to take Nancy's hand and instead of shaking it he brought it up to his lips to kiss it. "I'm Noah."

The sudden change of names made everyone give each other weird glances.

"Nancy." she said, making a little squealing noise when he kissed her knuckles. "I, I - was the, hi."

"Enchanté." Puck said with a terrible French accent, but it seemed to work because Nancy burst out in a fit of giggles. Kurt had an urge to ask her if she always blushed like that when she met someone she liked.

"So," Nancy found her voice, "what - what do you do, Noah?"

They started to step away from the group and Kurt promptly placed himself between them and his family.

"Well, that escalated quickly." he said dryly and felt bad for the pout Finn was giving him. "Oh come on, you'll be fine." He petted his shoulder. "So, what now?" He looked at his dad.

"Do you need to stay around here or can we get some food? City never sleeps right? We can get something somewhere, right?" he answered.

"Yeah, no, we can go. I'll just -" Kurt turned around and saw Nancy and Puck in a very deep conversation that probably made Puck look more of a badass than he really was, but what the heck - they both seemed genuinely interested in one other. "Nance? Did you want me to meet your parents?"

She tore her gaze from Puck. "They're coming tomorrow too, no worries." she quipped, turning back to Puck.

"Alright then. You both are going to be okay?" They nodded without looking straight at him. "Use protection."

"Kurt!" Nancy said scandalized, but Kurt had already turned around with a chuckle, guiding his family out and gave Finn an occasional pat on the back.

---

Saturday Kurt gave the keys of his room to his dad. All his things couldn't stay in storage in New York for the month he was homeless, giving him no other option to take everything back to Ohio to ship everything back again in July. It was alright though, Blaine had offered to help moving and cleaning up his brand new apartment, giving them at least three weeks of scouring New York summer - but they would be together. Plus the heat would make Blaine take his shirt off.

"Just take all the boxes and leave whatever is left, Blaine and I will take it." he told his dad, already running late to go the theatre. "And leave the keys with the concierge, I'll pick them up tonight."

"Only the boxes?" his dad asked for reassurance.

"Yep, leave the rest." And please don't look into my nightstand where I left condoms and lube, he added in his head. He had hid it in a box underneath a lot of things, but his dad only had to get a tad curious and well, Kurt wouldn't be allowed to stay alone with Blaine for a week. "I need to go now, sorry again I can't -"

"Yeah, yeah, go. Have a good show." He opened his arms for a hug and Kurt smiled.

"Thank you, I will see you next week."

"Hmmhmm, go."

Kurt waved one last time and skipped through the doors of his building. In only a week he was no longer dorm-bound and next year he would never have to deal with drunk students knocking at his door again.

He barged through the stagedoor, already being greeted by several people and ran toward stage for the group warm up. People were already scattered around the floor and he found Nancy loosening her muscles around the side.

"Morning." Kurt said and sat down to change his shoes.

"Hey." she replied. For a second they were quiet before a filthy smirk appeared on Nancy's face.

"Spill." Kurt said without even thinking twice.

"Let's just say... all the love songs make sense."

"Oh dear."

"And he's coming again tonight."

"I knew from the start our apartment was going to be too small."

"Oh hush you."

"Hey Nance?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm happy for you."

They smiled knowingly to each other, offering each other a hand for stretching and played two wonderful shows once again.