Aug. 4, 2013, 5:43 p.m.
Love and Lattes: Home is Wherever I'm With You
E - Words: 5,448 - Last Updated: Aug 04, 2013 Story: In Progress - Chapters: 17/? - Created: Jun 11, 2013 - Updated: Aug 04, 2013 139 0 0 0 0
It had been almost a week since Blaine and Kurt had gotten back to New York. Kurt's dad had been settled in at home and doing much better with the new diet that the doctor had recommended.
Once again it was another Sing Sunday at Interval Café. Blaine had never missed one in the history of it's existence but he had missed one. He hadn't even realized that he had until Monday morning in Ohio. He had missed a Sing Sunday for Kurt. Nothing in Blaine's life had ever been so important that he miss the one thing that he deemed most important in his life. Well I guess that is starting to change, he thought.
Kurt had come in early this morning. He was still playing catch up at work so he came in and sat down, did some work then once Wes and Blaine started to erect the stage and haul out the electrical equipment and all the other supplies that they needed, Kurt had pitched in.
It was sweet. Blaine hadn't asked him to do it but he had just decided to pitch in all his own. Kurt wasn't the manliest of men. He was delicate which Blaine loved about him but watching Kurt moving heavy boxes was kind of a turn on. Never would he ever have thought that his boyfriend would be the type to roll up his sleeves and break a sweat, but here he was, watching Kurt bending over a heavy box with his tight maroon t-shirt stretched taut across is back exposing all his well-toned muscles. He bends over and even through his skintight black jeans that Blaine swore he had to have painted on that morning because there was no way that he could have ever gotten those pants on. These small acts of manliness had Blaine finding himself adjusting his pants to try and conceal the raging hard on that he was sporting. He needed to stop looking at his boyfriend because if he continued to stare he was to have a serious problem on his hands.
"Hey lover boy," Wes whispered from behind him, "you might want to wipe the drool from your chin and, I don't know, make an excuse to go upstairs and do something about..." Wes looked down at his increasingly tight pants, "your little issue." Blaine looked down. Oh God. There was no hiding it.
"If anyone asks I will be upstairs getting..." Blaine's mind wasn't working properly. All the blood that would have normally been directed to his brain was finding it's way to other parts of his anatomy. "Something. I don't know. You're smart when you want to be. Make something up." Blaine was now flying toward the stairs taking them two at a time trying to go unnoticed by everyone. The entire way up, all he kept thinking was God, Kurt can't be ready for sex fast enough.
The time had come and all the usual Sunday night patrons were flooding the small shop all finding a seat. If this event got any bigger he was going to have to start selling tickets. That actually wouldn't be bad for the shop revenue but he knew that if he did, he would lose the atmosphere and all those struggling artists would have no place to go. He knew that the once a month angry letter from the New York Fire Department telling him that he is over capacity was completely worth it. He was able to get out of paying the hefty fine every single time so far. Blaine knew he was charming. It was all the years of prep school that had done that and he used it to his advantage.
Kurt had invited Finn and Rachel tonight. He said that they had all been in their high school glee club together and this is something that they would love to see. Kurt had already jotted down Rachel's name because and he quoted "There is no chance in literal hell that Miss Diva was not going to pass up an opportunity to show off her voice." Blaine was excited but he knew how much Finn and Rachel meant to Kurt and he was scared that they would walk in here and think that a coffee shop owner was nowhere near good enough for Kurt. Blaine agreed wholeheartedly. Kurt deserved a boyfriend that could dote on him with gifts and expensive trips to Europe because Kurt has always wanted to visit London and Rome. He deserves a boyfriend that can sweep him off his feet with big romantic gestures and dates. He deserved a boyfriend that didn't have to work most nights until 11 and when he is ready to sit down and watch a movie, he doesn't fall asleep at the climax when Tom Hanks is looking at Meg Ryan through a coffee shop window with nothing but a single red rose on the table. He deserves a present boyfriend but yet Kurt still sticks around.
No matter how many times Kurt told him that he didn't need any of that, Blaine would never believe him. Kurt tells him that he doesn't need gifts he just needs the gift of caffeine every morning. He tells him that one day they will go to Europe but until then they can visit the New York subway system where all walks of life are. He says that he doesn't need someone to sweep him off his feet all he needs is the small gestures, a kiss on the cheek as he walks by him working on his laptop, a lingering touch of reassurance when he is hard at work, a smile from across the shop. He tells him that he likes staying there helping clean up late into the night. He tells him that he is more adorable then a thousand baby pandas when he can't keep his eyes open as soon as the movie is turned on.
None of those things mattered to Kurt but maybe they mattered to Finn, his stepbrother who, from spending a long weekend with, knew was protective of Kurt. Maybe it would matter to Rachel, his best friend with whom he shared a life with until Erik came along.
It wouldn't be long before he found out as they walked through the heavy metal door. Rachel had a bright smile on her face as her new fiancé trailed behind her. Blaine was behind the counter manning his usual station filling orders as Finn and Rachel walked up to Kurt at a table near the stage waiting for Wes to take his usual opening spot.
Kurt got up out of his chair and gave both of them a huge hug and then started to lead them, weaving their way in and out of the crowd of people, over to Blaine behind the counter. "Hey Blaine," Rachel said in her usual high-pitched enthusiasm.
"Hey, great place you have here Blaine," Finn said from back of the small pile up.
"Thanks." Blaine exhaled some of his anxieties. "Can I get you guys anything to drink?"
"I'll have a vanilla latte please," Rachel always the polite one.
Finn grimaced. "Oh, No coffee. How about just a hot chocolate for me."
Blaine giggled. "I think we can manage that." He turned to Kurt. "I'll get you your drink." He winked at his boyfriend not caring who was around. He swore he could see Kurt blush. "I'll bring them to you if you want. Go get your seats before they're taken. Just because you are dating the owner does not give you special privileges," Blaine teased and they all turned to head back to the table. He had just finished making the drinks when Wes came up behind him.
"Hey, dude. I think we should get the ball rolling. There a lot of people signed up for tonight. If we don't start now you and that sweet piece of ass that has been helping you every night lately will be here until 1 in the morning cleaning up." Wes turned away from Blaine and in a stage whisper said, "though that could work out in your favor. 'Oh babe, I'll just stay here tonight,'" he said in what Blaine thought was suppose to be in a mock of Kurt's voice but it ended up sounding the exact same as when he is trying to imitate Reese. Blaine just glared at him.
"Keep talking like that Wesley. I will have you fired faster than you can count to ten or wait can you not do that?" Blaine taunted as he walked toward the table near the front.
"You would never do such a thing," Wes yelled over the crowd. "You need me too much."
Blaine was setting down the drinks in front of their respectful owners. "Not that bad," Blaine yelled back. Kurt just laughed already knowing the kind of relationship that he had with Wes. Blaine started to walk to the stage but Rachel's voice was unmistakable.
"Is he aloud to talk to his staff that way?"
"Good evening everyone and welcome to yet another Sing Sunday." The crowd erupted with cheers. "I have been told that we have quite the extensive list of performers tonight so everyone sit back and enjoy. First up, as always, a good friend of mine that should be glad that he has a record deal because he does not have a future as a barista." The crowd laughed. "Please help me welcome, my good friend, Wes Lang."
Wes took the stage and sat at the small bar stool that Blaine had set up as he slung his guitar strap over his shoulder. "How is everyone tonight?" The crowd responded accordingly with whoops and hollering. "Good." Wes strummed a few chords experimentally. "Well this first song that I have for you guys was a favorite of mine growing up so I hope you like it." He started to strum the beginning chords of Drops of Jupiter. Blaine went and sat at the small table and put his arm around the back of his boyfriend's chair pulling him just a little closer. All four looked up at Wes in awe.
Blaine didn't think that he would have to be manning his usual station behind the counter. He had Colby on kitchen duty. He was to try and keep up with dishes as best he could as the rest of the staff ran the counter. Hopefully things go better than they had the last SS he had been to. He could just enjoy his boyfriend and his friends and finally have a good time after stressing all day over this event.
The song came to a close and the room erupted into cheers. "Thank you. I have one more for you tonight and it's just something fun that I thought you all might enjoy." Wes started to strum the beginning chords of something that Blaine didn't recognize until he hit the first line of the song.
It seems like everybody's got a price
I wonder how they sleep at night
When the sale comes first and the truth come
second
Just stop for a minute and smile
Blaine laughed to himself. Only Wes would pick to do Price Tag to a crowd of hipsters that came to hear indie covers or originals not some mainstream bubble gum pop hit. To Blaine's surprise though the crowd seemed to be extremely receptive. You closeted pop loving hipster.
Blaine still had no idea what he was going to sing tonight. Usually he had been much more prepared than this but the week had been crazy. Once they had gotten back from Ohio everyone was hard at work playing catch up from the days that they had missed here in New York. Blaine had bills to pay and paperwork to be done. Kurt had been hard at work ironing out the finer details of a spread for next week's photo shoot. Rachel had to be back to rehearsals for Wicked. Something about re-choreographing Dancing Through Life to accommodate the lack of chorus members, and Finn had to get back to school. His kids had a concert coming up and they were nowhere nears ready.
Blaine made his way to the stage as the girl that had just done an impeccable job with I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles left the stage. Blaine looked at the clipboard in his hand. "Ok, the next performer is a real treat for you all. Please help me welcome, the newly engaged and Broadway's own, Miss Rachel Berry."
Blaine left the stage as Rachel came up fixing her hair, followed closely at her heels by Finn. Blaine went and sat front row next to Kurt. The room went quiet as Rachel took the stage. "Hello everyone. This is my fiancé Finn and he will be accompanying me on piano. This one is called With You."
I picked up your shirts this morning
I don't know why, I don't know why
Mr Reynolds said to say hello
I started to cry, I started to cry
Every place we ever walked and
Everywhere we talked, I miss you
You never leave my mind
So much of you is left behind
Kurt leaned in to me and rested his head on my shoulder.
You took my days with you
Took my nights with you
"You want to know what I am most afraid of lately?" Kurt spoke up but never taking his eyes away from the stage.
"What?" Blaine looked at his boyfriend as he draped an arm around his shoulders gathering him close.
Those unfinished conversations
We used to have still speak to me
And I write you letters every day
That I'll never send and you'll never see
All this wishful thinking
Gets me nowhere I can't stay
Though my heart is broken
It keeps breaking every day
"Waking up one morning and finding out that this was all just a dream. That it isn't real." Blaine's heart soared a little at Kurt's confession.
You took my hopes with you
Took my dreams with you
Kurt finally looked Blaine in his eyes. "I honestly don't know what I would do without you in my life. I can't bare to think that I might wake up one day and realize that this," he gestured between them, "isn't real. You are the one great thing that I can count on everyday."
I keep thinking that you'll be calling
Everyone says that it's all in my head
And I can't accept it yet
I'm not ready to just give in
I know that I can't live in this pain
With these feelings of regret
I can't comprehend this
And pretend that I don't care
Any place I wanna be
I wanna see you there
Blaine pulled Kurt impossible close and kissed the top of his head. "Don't worry. I am not going anywhere."
You took my life with you
Took my world with you
Blaine rubbed his arm up and down Kurt's arm for reassurance that he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon as the crowd cheered for Rachel who was being pulled away mid-curtsy by Finn. Blaine eventually and reluctantly peeled himself away from his boyfriend to go to the stage. "Ok, it looks like we just have one more performance before we close out the night. A Mr.," Blaine looked down at the clipboard. "Kurt Hummel?" He looked at his boyfriend in complete and utter shock. Kurt had signed up. He knew Kurt could sing. Kurt had told him that he was in glee club in high school and besides a girl named Mercedes, Kurt was Rachel's only other rival for solos but never in a million year did he think that Kurt would get up and sing in front of upwards of a hundred people!
Kurt made his way to the stairs just as he got to the stage. Blaine passed him with confusion and excitement written all over his face. He couldn't believe that he was finally going to hear Kurt sing. He sat down at the table with Rachel and Finn folded into each other.
Kurt took the mic in his hand as Wes also made his way to the stage. "Hello. Um, this is my first time as a performer so go easy. Um," Kurt was really nervous and fidgety, "I asked Wes to accompany me on guitar as I do not play." The crowd laughed a little. Kurt turned his attention to the small table in the front row and his eyes focused right on Blaine, like there was no one else in the room. "I wanted to dedicate this song to my amazing boyfriend, Blaine. You have no idea exactly how my life has changed because you are in it. I could never be so grateful to you for showing me what it means to really want someone and be wanted in return. So Blaine Anderson, this one is for you." He turned to Wes and nodded his head to start the song. When had they done this? Gone behind my back and planned this. He would have to talk to Kurt later but for now he was going to listen to his boyfriend serenade him. As soon as Kurt's mouth opened the entire room melted away into nothing and it was just the two of them alone in the crowded cafe.
Take a deep breath in the mirror
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
But I do
Turn the lock and put my headphones on
He always said he didn't get this song
But I do, I do
I walked in expecting you'd be late
But you got here early and you stand and wave
I walk to you
You pull my chair out and help me in
And didn't know how nice that is
But I do
And you throw your head back laughing
Like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny
Cause he never did
And I've been spending the last 8 months
Thinking all love ever does is
Break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again
Blaine knew what Kurt was saying. This song was a 'thank you' for showing him what, dare he say, love really was and what it felt like.
You say you never met one girl who
Had as many James Taylor records as you
But I do
We tell stories and you don't know why
I'm coming off a little shy
But I do
Blaine knew without a doubt in his mind that he loved that blue-eyed man on the stage.
But you throw your head back laughing
Like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny
Cause he never did
And I've been spending the last 8 months
Thinking all love ever does is
Break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again
He had since the day he walked into his life two years ago but he couldn't tell him.
And we walk down the block to my car
I almost brought him up
But you start to talk about the movies
That your family watches
Every single Christmas
And I want to talk about that
For the first time
What's past is past
Not yet anyways. Kurt was to set the pace and if Blaine said something first, he might find himself boyfriend-less and right now, he just couldn't handle that.
Cause you throw your head back laughing
Like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny
Cause he never did
And I've been spending the last 8 months
Thinking all love ever does is
Break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again
So Blaine would sit and wait until Kurt was ready.
But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again
Those beautiful blue eyes never turned away from him. When the song had ended, there was an unusual silence in the room. No one clapped, no one cheered; everyone sat stunned for a couple of seconds. Blaine knew it had to be shock because Kurt just brought the roof down off this place. Blaine could see that the silence made Kurt uncomfortable. The customary thing to do is clap and the room and somehow been put on mute before some man in the back started to clap and the rest of the room joined in. Never in the history of Sing Sunday had Blaine ever experienced this reaction to a performance. As the room roared with excitement, Blaine took the stage. His boyfriend was grinning from ear to ear as he greeted him with a hug. Kurt took Blaine in his arms so tight that Blaine thought he would never be able to breath again. Kurt, with his lips next to Blaine's ear whispered, for only Blaine to hear, "Thank you. You can't begin to imagine what you mean to me." Then he kissed him on his cheek as he pulled away.
Blaine hadn't even noticed that he was crying until Kurt stood with one had still on his shoulder and one on his cheek wiping the stray tear on his face. Blaine laughed at himself before he pulled his boyfriend in for a probably overly passionate kiss for public that Kurt no doubt disapproved of but he couldn't seem to care as he enveloped Kurt into his arms. He pulled away with a loud smacking noise and all of a sudden the room seemed to come off of mute and the sound of people around them cheering came back into focus. Kurt left the stage with a lingering touch of Blaine's hand before he took his place at the table once more.
Blaine sat down at the table. "Well I don't know if I can top that but I will certainly try." The audience laughed slightly but no one in the room mattered except Kurt. "First off I would like to say that I am sorry that I missed last week's SS but I promise that I will try to make it up to you. I hope you can all forgive me but my boyfriend had a family emergency. So um," Blaine picked up his guitar. "This first song is one of my favorites to sing so here is Best Day Of My Life."
Blaine never took his eyes off of Kurt but he was at least slightly aware of the audience staring at him now but none of them mattered. Kurt had is elbow on the table and his hand was propping him up by his cheek with the dreamiest look in his eyes. Blaine thought he could get use to this.
When he finished the song everyone cheered as expected. "Thank you." He looked to Kurt who had the biggest grin of them all and was clapping like a two year old seeing the greatest magic trick ever. "Thanks everyone. I'll just do one more for you all and then I will let you all go but I was thinking, what if I invited someone to sing my closing song with." Kurt's face turned to that of horror. "Kurt, why don't you come on up here with me."
"Blaine I-I can't do that."
"What do you all think of Kurt joining me?" The crowd roared with thunderous applause. Blaine could see Kurt take a deep breath before he got up out of his chair, being shoved mostly by Rachel (and Blaine had never been more grateful to her) toward the stairs.
Once Kurt got up there, Blaine made his way over to Kurt and grabbed his hand. He leaned in to Kurt's ear. "Just follow my lead." Wes was handing another barstool up to Blaine who then put in front of the one-shared microphone.
Kurt leaned over and in a stage whisper said, "What if I don't know it?"
Blaine gave him a reassuring look but Kurt looked scared shitless. "Trust me, you know it."
"Anderson I swear if you..." He was cut off as Blaine started strumming and whistling. Of course Blaine would pick this song. Kurt had made him listen to it about a hundred times on the plane ride back to Ohio with him.
Kurt rolled his eyes and joined in with the whistling.
Kurt started the first line, knowing he had the higher of the two voices and automatically took the female part.
Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa
Not the way that I do love you
Blaine joined in.
Holy Moley, Me-oh-My, you're the apple of my eye
Boy, I've never loved one like you
Kurt looked to Blaine who had a huge grin on his face that he simply could not hide.
Man, oh man, you're my best friend,
I scream it to the nothingness
There ain't nothin' that I need
Blaine looked at Kurt with a blush painting his face.
Well, hot & heavy, pumpkin pie,
chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
There ain't nothin' please me more than you
Kurt joined in with Blaine and they both were taken aback for a second at how seamlessly their voices seemed to fit together.
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I'm with you (2x)
They both were whistling once again barely keeping it together enough to actually get out a whistle.
La la la la, take me Home
Baby, I'm coming Home
Blaine looked at Kurt with heart eyes. He had never been more infatuated with another human being in his life and he seriously didn't want this happiness to end.
I'll follow you into the park,
through the jungle, through the dark
Boy, I've never loved one like you
Kurt bobbed up and down with he strumming of the guitar.
Moats & boats & waterfalls,
alley ways & pay phone calls
I've been everywhere with you
"That's true," Blaine said.
We laugh until we think we'll die,
barefoot on a summer night
Nothin' new is sweeter than with you
And in the streets we're running
free like it's only you and mee
Geez, you're somethin' to see.
They both sang the last line to each other and then started to laugh almost unable to continue together.
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I'm with you (2x)
La la la la, take me Home
Baby, I'm coming Home
Kurt?
Blaine?
They spoke, changing the dialogue to fit their situation.
Do you remember that day you walked into my coffee shop?
I sure do, you were grinning for ear to ear.
Well, you asked what was good here
and you somehow knew my coffee order
and I gave you that muffin
and it wasn't the greatest but I ate it anyways
Do you remember that?
Yes, I do.
Well, there's something
I never told you about that day.
What didn't you tell me?
While you were walking
out the door into busy New York City
coffee and muffin in hand,
I was falling deep, deeply in love with you
and I never told you 'til just now.
Kurt inhaled deeply.
Now I know.
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is whenever I'm with you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is when I'm alone with you
There entire dynamic had somehow shifted, both slightly uncomfortable now.
Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ahh, Home
Yes, I am Home
Home is when I'm alone with you.
Blaine was mentally kicking himself. He had just promised himself he wouldn't.
Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa
Moats & boats & waterfalls & pay phone calls
He chanced a glance at Kurt who was giving him a reassuring smirk. Blaine promised that he would talk to him after words.
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is when I'm alone with you
Blaine strummed the last chord and the room had never been so loud. Yep, he was definitely getting another angry letter from the Fire Marshal. He got up and launched himself into Kurt's arms. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it. Well I did I just..."
Don't worry about it now. We can talk about it later."
Kurt POVAlmost the entire place was cleaned in record time thanks to Finn and Rachel staying after to pitch it, well Finn pitched in, Rachel and Kurt were somewhere off in a corner talking wedding plans. With Kurt not around to distract Blaine, him and Finn actually got things accomplished.
"Are you sure you don't want to share a cab home? We are heading that way," Rachel said.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm going to hang out, maybe watch a movie here for a little while but thanks."
Finn came over and gave his brother a hug. "See you around little bro." Kurt just rolled his eyes and let it go.
Rachel came over and gave him a big hug. "Ok." Though Kurt was sure that she was trying to be discreet, nothing about Rachel Berry ever screamed discreet. "You go be with the man that loves you." She pulled away and giggled.
Rachel and Finn made their way out the door and to the street where Blaine and Kurt watched them catch a cab.
Blaine took Kurt's hand after he had closed all the blinds and locked the door. "Upstairs?"
"Upstairs."
They ascended the stairs up to Blaine's apartment. Blaine went and fetched them both some sweats to change into to get comfy and watch a movie. After they had both changed and had settled on Up they got snuggled up under some blankets after Kurt had made them some hot chocolate. Blaine hit play and Kurt could feel that he immediately was regretting his decision to watch this movie. The opening scenes were Carl and Ellie falling madly in love with each other. Blaine got really tense against Kurt's back.
It didn't take long for Kurt to open his mouth. "So do you want to talk about what you said to me in front of a hundred people tonight?"
"Not particularly but I will. I meant what I said Kurt, even back then I was falling in love with you, hell, I still am, everyday. The only thing I do regret is saying something like that so soon."
"I know hon, that's why I'm not mad. You are just very passionate and have nothing even resembling a filter in that brain of yours and together, it can be a deadly combination. I just want you to know though, that I am not going to say I love you yet. I can't. At least not yet. I do know that I have feelings for you," It was much more than feelings. Kurt loved him. He knew he did, but he had just been telling another man that not a month ago. It was too soon, "and that is where we stand right now. I'm not saying that I won't ever, I am just saying not yet. I'm not ready, but I promise that when I am, you will be the first to know." He leaned up and gave Blaine a kiss that tasted of chocolate and peanut butter (See, I knew he had sneaked in a couple peanut butter cookies today).
"How in the world did I get so lucky?" Blaine asked with a star struck gaze.
"I ask myself that everyday." They shared a chaste kiss and once again settled in to watch the movie, the air around them a little lighter.
Kurt hadn't noticed that he had fallen asleep until Blaine was shaking him gently awake. "Hey, babe. It's 2am. Do you want me to call a cab for you or you can just stay here tonight. I can make up the couch for you."
Kurt contemplated his options through his sleepy haze. "I can just stay here tonight."
Blaine just nodded and disappeared up the stairs. Kurt followed him unsuspecting and he casually crawled underneath the covers of Blaine's queen size bed. He already had his eyes shut and was moaning himself to sleep when he heard the creaking of the stairs and then a moment later he heard the same creaks coming back toward him. "Kurt what are you doing? Do you want me to go sleep on the couch, I don't mind."
"No," Kurt protested, whining like a two year old. He still had his eyes shut as he threw back the covers on the other side of him. "Come lay down. I'm cold. I just want you to keep me warm."
A few seconds later, Kurt felt a weight on the other side of the bed and then a protective arm wrap around his midsection pulling him closer to the other end of the bed. "Better?"
"Much."
"Good night Kurt." Blaine was stroking through Kurt's hair, lolling him back to sleep.
"Good night Blaine."