Now that the truth had finally come out the fact that Blaine was pretty much constantly buried in a pile of books didn't become any less frustrating (especially given what they were up to now every time they locked the door to their room) but knowing what was behind it helped Kurt deal with it quite a bit. Where before he mostly just basked in his loneliness and nagging curiosity and the anger simmering right under the surface, glaring at Blaine when he finally returned from the library just to stick his nose into another school book, he was now smiling softly at the sight, imagining a time years and years into the future when they'd sit together in their own house and Blaine would skim through health records and despair over how to best help his little patients because he wouldn't be able to leave his work behind when he'd get home. And Kurt would watch him just as he did now and smile and maybe tell him to relax a bit before dragging him off to bed.

The only thing that stopped him from swooning too much over that mental image was the fact that he couldn't really see himself as something specific in this future just yet. He knew he wanted, no, needed to be in the limelight in some form. He just wasn't sure how to go about it. Should he strive to become a singer? An actor? Broadway or movies? Would he be able to make a name for himself out there in either or was he just too special? He knew that cat hybrid-countertenors that looked more 'delicate' than 'classically handsome' weren't exactly what directors were fighting over to get in their shows or movies. He knew he was good and while he wasn't the typical womanizer had his appeal as well (he distinctly remembered a slightly uncomfortable evening with Tina and Mercedes that was mostly spent swooning over actors until a very sleepy Tina slurredly confessed that she'd do him in a heartbeat if he were 'on her team'). But was it enough to beat the stereotype? Or should he do what the world seemed to push him towards much more eagerly and go into fashion? Kurt knew he had a talent for that as well and would be accepted into their rows much more easily. He wouldn't have to force himself to choose it, either, he knew that if he decided this was what he wanted to do he'd be happy with it. The difficult part was deciding.

Though, according to Blaine, it was much simpler than Kurt made it out to be. Because every time Kurt had told him about his worries and thoughts, Blaine had just looked at him with this gaze full of adoration and awe that without a fail made Kurt's heart skip a beat, expression completely serious, and asked him why he couldn't do it all. It was so very obvious that Blaine believed he could do it, be brilliant in all he tried to touch, that sometimes it was difficult for Kurt to remember why he was worrying at all. How could he possibly fail when someone believed in him that deeply, with such conviction? Someone he was lucky enough to love and be loved by, on top of that? But then he remembered that this was the same Blaine that always tended to believe the best of the world, not necessarily in a naive way, but with an optimism Kurt wasn't sure he'd ever be able to share. Maybe if he'd spend enough time with Blaine, as in several decades, it would rub off a bit. And if the idea of doing so and seeing for himself if it would happen or not wasn't a thrilling prospect, than Kurt couldn't think of one.

But as of now Kurt's inherent skepticism still won out and he sincerely doubted if he could really do it all at once. It was difficult and time-consuming enough to pursue even one of those careers and merging them all into one seemed to Kurt a task way too enormous to master. It took a certain kind of person to pull it off and Kurt just wasn't sure if he was - or ever could be - that kind of person. He knew by now that he tended to underestimate himself constantly, not only thanks to Blaine telling him so all the time but also according to his friends and his father. But he was also aware that Blaine almost worshiped the ground he was standing on. He wasn't sure if he had so much faith in him because he put him on a pedestal he could never live up to or because he genuinely, completely apart from his overwhelming love for Kurt, believed that he could do it because he saw Kurt's potential in a more objective way. Most of the time, these inner monologues ended with the resolution to talk to Burt about it once senior year would come and the need to choose colleges to apply to arise. His father had always been honest with him and while he loved Kurt with everything he had, he was also trying to be as realistic as possible with him and not enable his son to chase dreams that would inevitably lead to him crashing and burning sooner rather than later. If Burt thought he could do it, Kurt might be more willing to lend an ear to Blaine's suggestions and not wave them off as his boyfriend's usual overenthusiasm. And if he told Kurt that it probably would be too much... Well, then he'd just have to choose. It wasn't like he had to give up on all of his dreams, whichever way he decided on he'd simply have to give up one or two to live another.

But despite his inner turmoil and indecision, Kurt couldn't help but admire the way Blaine had obviously picked the road to his future with a sure hand. He'd just known that while he really loved performing, becoming a doctor was what he really wanted to do with his life. All it had taken was a little push in form of a bit of experience and then it had been easy. Or that's what Blaine had told him. Kurt often caught himself wondering if all it would take for him to decide would be a bit experience as well. If he would know which route to go down by trying, if he would feel it in his bones that a certain way was the right one for him to choose, like Blaine had, like they both had when they'd found each other. If it would feel like coming home a bit, like it had felt the first time he'd ever kissed Blaine.

And that was another part to worry about right there. Because what if whatever felt like the right way for him to choose would lead him away from Blaine? Or what if now that Blaine had decided on what he wanted to do with his life he no longer wanted to go to New York with Kurt? What if he found some school with a much better reputation on the other side of the continent and went there and drifted away from Kurt? Before Blaine's revelation, Kurt had always thought that it would be easy to line up their adult lives with each other since they'd work in similar fields, anyway. But now their worlds would inevitably clash no matter what option Kurt went for. What if they had overestimated the strength of their love? What if they'd lose their spark in day-to-day life because it simply wouldn't work out? What if they'd already lose their faith in what they had in college? What if it wouldn't even take long distance, if they'd just lose the will to fight for their future together leading the busy lives of a med student and a theater or fashion major? Some nights those thoughts were enough to keep Kurt from sleep, what ifs clouding his mind until he curled up on his side and forced himself to recall happy memories, trying not to cry in his sleep because Blaine had an eery sixth sense for when he cried despite his usual obliviousness in such regards and would most likely wake up and try to comfort him and pull all his silly thoughts out of him bit by bit with his usual gentle prodding. And then he'd probably laugh at him for worrying so much about things that were far in the future and would maybe never even come close to happening and Kurt would feel humiliated and ashamed of himself for doubting so much.

As it turned out, the thought he ended up being most ashamed of was that Blaine would laugh at his worries.

It was the beginning of March and Regionals was coming closer. Every Warbler practice began and ended with Wes getting out a huge stack of potential setlists he forced everyone to go through, though all his preparation never led anywhere since they always decided on different things each day. He finally gave up on the ninth, deeming it their recipe of success that Blaine should take the solos and encouraging everyone to give their opinion on what they should do. They were running out of time and seeing Wes so discouraged eventually led to them actually deciding on Raise Your Glass and Misery, leaving only a third song to choose. While Thad and Trent were in a heated debate over whether Blaine would sound better singing Funhouse or So What Kurt tried not to roll his eyes enough to give himself a headache. Blaine shot him a look and bit down on his lip, trying to suppress a grin while simultaneously blushing bashfully. He knew all too well what Kurt thought about the Warblers making everything dependent on him even though they had more than enough other talented singers. And admittedly, Kurt hadn't been shy about putting a bit emphasis on the fact that he was one of the best out of those talented singers. Ever since their Sectionals performance and the adrenaline high he'd experienced in the spotlight, Kurt had been pretty adamant when it came to getting back on stage. Gone were the nerves that had made a part of him want to stay home and curl up under the bed that day and while he still felt stage fright take a grip on him whenever he thought too much about Regionals, he was more than ready to take a more active part in their next competition. Which might or might not have led to him throwing in a few more sarcastic comments about Blaine hogging the spotlight which in turn had Blaine blushing and embarrassedly mumbling something that was both a reluctant confirmation and an excuse. Kurt usually let it go after that, knowing all too well that he probably wouldn't go and turn down the spot as one and only lead singer either if it had been offered to him all the time.

Which was the exact reason why what Blaine did next took him entirely by surprise.

"Actually," he said, voice loud and clear and easily putting an end to the banter between the other Warblers. "I have a suggestion to make, too."

"Of course, you know best what fits your voice," Thad hurried to encourage him. Wes just rolled his eyes at him behind his back. As much as the Warblers worshiped Blaine, some took it a bit further than others.

"You may continue, Warbler Blaine," he cut Thad's rambling off, banging his gavel once for emphasis.

"Thanks, Wes," Blaine smiled at him. He took a deep breath before continuing, his expression turning more serious again. "It recently has come to my ears that the Warblers are a bit one-sided. Which would mainly be my fault since I am the one having all the solos. And while I enjoy being lead singer of the Warblers, I have to say that after some thorough thinking I have to wholeheartedly agree with that statement. We have a lot more talent here than just me and it's about time we show some of it off." He was met with stunned silence and disbelieving glances. The Warblers looked outright crestfallen. Kurt might not have read the Warbler Chronicles, but he was pretty sure that this had to be the first time a lead singer turned down the opportunity to have every last solo.

"Anyway," Blaine went on, clearing his throat and trying not to look a bit thrown at the complete and utter lack of reaction from the Warblers. "What I've been meaning to suggest is... I would like for our third song to be a duet." He turned to Kurt with a smile, everyone's eyes following.

"I- With me?" Kurt choked out, trying to will his voice to obey him and his scrambled thoughts to organize themselves again. This was the first time he'd heard of this suggestion, even though according to Blaine it was the product of quite a bit of thinking on his part. Why did he just throw this at him during Warbler practice instead of asking him first, in private?

"Of course with you," Blaine chuckled. "Our voices mix incredibly well and... well, I've already thought of what I think is just the right song for us."

"And what is it?" Kurt breathed, still not really able to register what was happening. It seemed pretty surreal to him and judging by the dumbfounded expressions of his friends and fellow Warblers he wasn't alone in that.

"Arms by Christina Perri," Blaine said softly, a little proud grin spreading on his face that made Kurt want to jump off the couch and into his arms to kiss it off his face.

"Well, that's definitely not the usual Warbler repertoire," Kurt murmured, unable to lift his gaze from Blaine's eyes to see how the others had reacted to Blaine's suggestion.

"No, it's not," Blaine admitted with a shrug, his expression softening into something more intimate. "But I think it's the perfect song for us to sing to each other and I'd be honored if you'd agree to sing it with me for Regionals."

"I- Yes. Yes, yes, yes!" Kurt screamed, finally giving in to his urge to jump off the couch and throw himself at Blaine. At first the roaring applause and wolf whistles of their friends didn't even register over the erratic beating of his own heart and the feeling of Blaine's arms around him pulling him in closer. When it did he just started laughing almost hysterically, burying his face in Blaine's already shaking chest.

"I feel like I just witnessed a proposal," Trent murmured, trying to subtly wipe away his tears with his best handkerchief. Kurt and Blaine just rolled their eyes at him, grinning and arms still around each other.

"Warblers, do we accept this suggestion?" Wes called out from where he was still hovering over the council table, gavel in hand and smirking at them. Everyone's hands shot up faster than Kurt would have thought possible and with roaring applause from the others Wes let his gavel come down and made it official.

"Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed, turning around to him as soon as they were finally alone. "Where was that coming from? Why didn't you tell me about that idea before you presented it to everyone during Warbler practice?"

"Sorry," Blaine murmured, blushing and giving Kurt a sheepish smile. "But you seemed kind of down lately and I just wanted to cheer you up. I knew all the Warblers would be behind this and that you wouldn't try to turn down the opportunity if everyone cheered you on. I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Kurt just rolled his eyes at him. "So you just offered to sing that duet with me because you wanted to cheer me up? Not because I'm obviously so talented I could give you a run for your money if you gave me a whole solo?" He smirked at Blaine.

"That too, of course. But I thought maybe I could snag you for a duet since rumor has it I'm a bit talented, too, and so maybe someone as talented as you would be willing to put up with me rather than all the other equally not as talented boys in that room," Blaine chuckled, winding his arms around Kurt's waist and pulling him close to nuzzle his nose.

"You certainly come closest to being as talented as me, though we're still a few leagues apart," Kurt said in his coldest, haughtiest voice, trying not to let the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth take over his face.

"I may not be as amazing as you but I still think we sound pretty good together," Blaine winked at him before letting his right hand come up to the back of Kurt's head to pull him into a soft kiss that turned much more heated quite quickly. They broke apart with difficulty, trying to catch their breath and smiling giddily. When they eventually broke eye contact, Blaine took a look at the clock and nearly jumped.

"Oh damn. We need to leave now if we want to get there before it gets too late!" In a hurry, he grabbed their coats, his wallet and his keys before pulling a very confused Kurt through the room and out of the door, locking it quickly behind them and almost running down the stairs.

"Blaine, wait!" Kurt called, slightly out of breath as they finally made it to the end of the staircase, where Blaine headed directly for the front door. "What are you talking about? Where are we going?"

"You'll see!" Blaine called back over his shoulder, impatiently tugging Kurt out of the building and across the parking lot to his car.

"And who says I'm going to get into a car with you without even knowing where we're going? Blaine, you know I'm not particularly fond of surprises."

"Just trust me?" Blaine asked softly from where he'd already climbed into the driver seat. "I promise it's important."

"If it's so important you could just tell me now," Kurt muttered under his breath as he fastened his seat belt and Blaine started the car. He could see Blaine smiling fondly at him out of the corner of his eye as he stared out of the window, trying to think of a place Blaine might want to take him to. He wasn't really in the mood for a romantic date today, despite the sweet offer to duet at Regionals with Blaine. He'd thought Blaine might figure that much out but then again it had been a while back when Kurt had told him and he'd probably forgotten by now. The last time Blaine had forced a surprise on Kurt it had been their Valentine's date, which had turned out even more romantic than Kurt had expected, which was saying a bit since Kurt was very aware that Blaine tended to make grand, sappy gestures and Valentine's Day was his favorite holiday. He'd known his boyfriend would pull out all the stops on their first one together and he hadn't been disappointed. How many people would think of pulling off a candlelit dinner on the top of Dalton's roof, with an actual string quartet and rose petals everywhere and every last of Kurt's favorite foods? Kurt had been serenaded the whole evening and at the end of it they had slow danced to an arrangement of Teenage Dream. At first Kurt had thought that his gift (a day at the best Spa in their vicinity he could find and afford) would fall a bit flat after that but once the day had come around it had proved just as romantic, though in a completely different way. He couldn't recall the way they had held hands during their massages or Blaine's mad laughter when Kurt had emerged first with his avocado face mask on or even the way he had to suppress his own laughter so he wouldn't crack the mask when it was Blaine's turn after him without the long-familiar feeling of butterflies fluttering wildly in his stomach. So whatever Blaine had planned today, it would probably turn out much better than Kurt expected simply because Blaine was with him. With a resigned sigh, he let himself sink into the seat more comfortably and smiled back at him.

At first, Kurt had merely been confused when they had arrived in Lima of all places. His hometown was hardly the ideal place for a surprise date, in fact they usually avoided it like hell when they went out together except for the occasional dinner at BreadStiX. For a minute he thought they might go see Burt, though Kurt didn't know why Blaine would take them there today since they were both going to spend the weekend with him, anyway. It wasn't until he saw the fence of Lima's one and only graveyard coming into view that Kurt realized that Blaine hadn't forgotten at all. By the time they were pulling onto the parking lot, the tears had already, inevitably, gathered in his eyes.

"You remembered," he whispered, eyes fixed on the gates in front of them.

"Of course I did," Blaine said back almost as quietly, gently reaching for Kurt's hand and tangling their fingers. "I thought you might want to see her. Burt told me you used to go together but that you didn't want to make the unnecessary drive this time and that you'd just go with him during the weekend. I've played with the thought of just bringing you here ever since but I wasn't sure if you'd want me to and... well, like I already said, you seemed kind of down lately and you looked outright sad when you saw the date on the calendar today and I just... I thought you could need this today. I'm sorry if I overstepped and we can just turn back or visit Burt or get something to eat at BreadStiX if you don't want to-"

"Hush," Kurt chuckled wetly, the first few stray tears slowly running down his cheeks and catching in the dimples his broad smile had dug into the skin. "This is exactly what I needed and you shouldn't apologize for reading me when I couldn't just say it."

"Well, I could have misread," Blaine mumbled, his smile just as wide. "I'm glad I didn't. I would have hated to upset you. I should have just told you but I thought if you really needed it and wouldn't tell me you probably wouldn't have accepted the offer."

"And you would have been right," Kurt murmured, loosening his seat belt and leaning over so he could rest his head on Blaine's shoulder. Immediately, Blaine's hand came up to gently wipe away his tears and scratch his ears. "Thanks for knowing my ridiculous ways of thinking so well."

"They're not ridiculous," Blaine protested, pressing a soft kiss to the ear closest to him and chuckling quietly when it twitched against his lips. "Do you want to go out there? We could just stay in the car. Or you could go out and I stay here and wait. Or I could call Burt."

"No," Kurt murmured, shaking his head against Blaine's shoulder. "I want you to come with me if that's alright with you. But I don't have flowers, do you think we could-" He was interrupted by Blaine producing a single tiger lily from underneath one of his lighter scarves on his backseat and wordlessly holding it out to him with a gentle smile.

"You remembered that, too?" Kurt said, voice shaking audibly and more tears following the traces of their predecessors. "Her favorite flower." Reverently, he traced the soft petals with his fingertips before looking back at Blaine.

"And yours," Blaine added, his eyes shining wetly as well. "So all the more reason to remember."

"I thought you'd forgotten," Kurt whispered, eyes wide. "There wasn't a single lily in sight during our Valentine's dinner and you gave me roses, so I thought..."

"Well, Valentine's Day is just more of a roses day, isn't it? I was just abiding by the rules set by florists and the industry," Blaine replied with a grin. He barely reacted quickly enough to catch Kurt when he threw himself at him over the console.

"Thank you," Kurt breathed into the fabric of his cardigan, nuzzling as close as possible.

"For what?" Blaine asked, pressing his cheek against Kurt's hair and gently stroking his back.

"For being you, what else?" Kurt laughed, pulling back from their embrace to pull Blaine into a kiss that was wet and off-center and probably involved a bit too much tongue and teeth - not that either of them cared.

When they eventually calmed down enough to sit back into their own seats, they shared a look before opening their doors at the same time and climbing out of the car. They met up on Kurt's side and approached the gate hand in hand, Kurt gripping the flower so tight he almost crushed it. Blaine felt Kurt leaning further into his side as they got closer to the center of the graveyard. He simply tightened his grip around his waist a bit more in response. Blaine didn't even have to read the name on the tombstone to know they had arrived at the grave of Kurt's mother when he all but slumped into his arms, a few more stray tears escaping.

"You know, I always dreamed about bringing somebody here with me," he choked out, tail twitching around their legs and curling around Blaine's calves. "I'm so glad it's you."

"You have no idea how glad I am that it's me," Blaine whispered back, the first tear finally leaking from his eyes as well, having been on the very verge of falling from his lashes ever since they got out of the car. "It's an honor meeting you, Mrs. Hummel," he said quietly, smiling tearily in the direction of the grave.

"Blaine," Kurt said brokenly right before he started to sob quietly into Blaine's shoulder, Blaine holding him as close as he dared while shedding some tears of his own. When they had caught themselves again, Kurt took the last few steps separating them from the tombstone, gently lying down the lily at its feet and brushing over the worn stone with his fingertips, the same way he had done with the flower. He traced the dates, the last one so uncomfortably similar to today's except for the slightly weathered year engraved underneath it, finally arriving at where Elizabeth Marie Hummel was etched into the stone in elegant script. "You would have loved him," he whispered with a smile, resting his cheek on the stone for a second. Blaine wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it or not but it made him tear up again regardless and when Kurt held out his hand for him with a smile, a handful of tears still clinging to his lashes, illuminated by the evening sun and making his eyes seem even brighter than usual, he took it without hesitating.

"Let's go back to Dalton," Kurt murmured after Blaine had pulled him back to his feet, the smile he directed at the grave next to them only slightly tinged with melancholy.

"Already? We can stay a bit longer if you want to. I have excellent connections that would let us in even if we're a bit past curfew," Blaine added with a wink.

"It's okay," Kurt chuckled, shaking his head. "I just needed to be here today. I think I'm going to reserve the long monologue for when I come back here with Dad the weekend. I might not believe in God and a heaven but I think wherever she may be, she knows everything she needs to know."

"Have I recently told you that I'm madly in love with you and that you're the most amazing person I've ever had the pleasure to meet?" Blaine asked, eyes wide and shining with adoration as he linked his arm with Kurt's and they went back to the car.

"In words and actions, yes," Kurt laughed, pressing even closer. "Why is it that you are the one always coming up with grand, touching, special gestures? I feel like I severely lack in that department. I'll get back at you with something, just you wait. Until then you'll have to live with me assuring you in words that I love you just as much. And you're sort of amazing, too."

"Hmmm, sort of? If that isn't a compliment," Blaine chuckled. "But you don't have to do anything for me, Kurt. I know we love each other and that's all I need, really. I guess I'm just coming up with all of this because you're really inspiring."

In the meantime they had arrived at the car and Blaine hurried to hold Kurt's door open for him. He waited for Kurt to get in, only looking up when he didn't move for a solid minute.

"Kurt?" he said, voice hesitant and a frown appearing on his face when he caught sight of Kurt's somber expression. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes. It's just... Blaine, I need to talk with you about something." For a moment, Blaine swore his heart had stopped. Because that sounded awfully like a break-up line and after what they'd just shared that was certainly the last thing he'd expected to come out of Kurt's mouth.

"No, no, NO!" Kurt yelled, almost stumbling over his own feet in his haste to get to Blaine, gripping his arm tightly. "Not like that. I don't ever, ever want break up with you. It- What I want to talk about is only very distantly related to the topic and it's not at all about me wanting to break up with you."

"What is it then?" Blaine asked, brows still furrowed but posture a lot more relaxed.

"I- It'll take a bit to explain. Could we maybe talk about it in the car? I'm not sure if I can keep eye contact during the whole thing, anyway. It's so humiliating."

"Kurt," Blaine murmured, putting his hand over Kurt's still grasping his arm, loosening his grip and tangling their fingers. "You don't ever have to feel humiliated around me, okay? Even if you think it's silly, if it bothers you so much it could never possibly be silly to me."

Kurt just nodded and with a soft kiss to his cheek, Blaine walked to his side of the car and got in, waiting for Kurt to fasten his seat belt as well before he started the car. He didn't say anything until they'd left the graveyard behind them.

"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"It's just... Well, you've already said you noticed I've been a bit down lately. It's about that. I- Ever since you told me what you want to do with your life and that that's why you're always in the library I've been wondering what exactly I want to do. Or more like, what I can do. I know you're convinced I can do anything I set my mind to but I'm just not that sure. The industry can be pretty cut-throat and I don't really fit the bill when it comes to movies. Even Broadway doesn't have all that much choice for me, does it? There are not many male lead roles - or many roles at all - that would fit me. And I love fashion but I feel a bit like if I choose to work in that field I'll just give in and go with what is easiest. But if I choose one of the other two I'm just not sure if it won't be a shot in the dark. And if I choose all of them... I'm not sure if I'm tough enough for that. Any of these careers is hard enough on its own."

"But that's not all of it?" Blaine asked when Kurt didn't say anything more for several minutes. He just shook his head but didn't make a move to speak up again. "Well, that's for you to decide and I'm not sure I can help you with that. Just know that I'll support you whatever you decide you want to do and I'm sure your father will be the same. And before you tell me what else bothers you, that is, if you still want to, let me just say that while I know I often come off as that lovestruck fool... Kurt, I never said that I think you can do everything you set your mind to just because I love you so much. I'd say the same thing even if we'd have never become anything more than just friends or even acquaintances. You really need to stop underestimating just how amazing you are. You can ask any of our friends, I'm sure they'd tell you the same thing I told you. You're so much tougher and stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"Blaine," Kurt choked out, tears brimming in his eyes again, though this time he refused to shed them. "Could you please pull over?"

Blaine obeyed almost immediately, the car coming to a stop on the side of the road almost as soon as he'd made sure they wouldn't cause an accident. "What is it? Are you feeling sick? Is there anything I can do? Should I call your father? The school nurse? A hospital?" he rambled on, panic and concern written all over his face, his hand gestures erratic.

"Blaine, Blaine, I'm fine, calm down!" Kurt said gently, catching his flailing hands in his own and gently caressing their backs until Blaine had come down somewhat. "I just needed you to pull over because I really don't think I could have waited until we're in the next town to do this." And with that he pulled him into a soft kiss that deepened so quickly Kurt sort of forgot to breathe and had to pull back gasping for air like a fish on the ground. Blaine didn't sound much better so Kurt supposed he wasn't the only one getting a bit carried away.

"Next time, warn a guy," Blaine chuckled breathily as they fell back into their own seats, waiting for their hearts to stop racing before resuming their drive.

"Sorry, next time I need you to pull over to kiss your brains out, I will say so." They grinned at each other, their hands still entwined on the console. They didn't go back to their previous conversation until Blaine had pulled the car back on the road and they were getting closer to Dalton again.

"You're right, that's not all," Kurt said, staring out of the window so he wouldn't have to face Blaine for the next part. "You can say what you want, that part sounded silly to me in my own head just thinking it but that doesn't stop the skeptic in me from worrying. It's just.... Now that I know that you want to become a doctor, I guess I'm a bit more afraid of the future than I used to be. I don't know much about college medicine programs but I guess you could do better in places that aren't New York and I really don't want you to come with me just because you think you have to. And at the same time I'm scared that we're not gonna last if we're forced into long distance. On top of our worlds clashing. I mean, even if you really want to go to New York and we can actually live together, what if it just doesn't work out? What if our schedules don't work out and we're so busy we forget to make time for our relationship and what we have is just going to wilt and die? I know that even if we'd wanted to study the same thing it would have been difficult enough but we probably won't even hang out in the same social circles and I just... I'm scared we won't make it. And not just scared in the 'oh my, what if I lose my highschool sweetheart'-way but in the 'what if I lose the love of my life and everything I thought and felt I've known was wrong'-way."

"Oh, Kurt," Blaine murmured, tears swimming in his eyes as he made sure there was no one behind them and pulled over once more. "Darling, you worry too much. And I know that you can't help it but just... Sometimes, I'm scared of these things, too. Of course we worry about this, it's only natural. But then I look over and I see you smile at me from across the room and my heart jumps in my chest and I just know that it has to be you and no one else. Because there is no one like you out there and I could never be as happy as I am now with any less than all of your imperfections and flawless ways in my life. You're the love of my life for me, too, and I know it's scary but sometimes you just have to have faith in something and hope for the best. I don't care that it would probably break me to lose you, I'd rather break and have had every last minute with you I could get than push you away over looming what ifs. I can't look into the future and guarantee you that we will last forever but what I can do is tell you that I've never been more convinced of something, I've never believed stronger in something than I do in what we have. I'm not saying that we'll always live in the honeymoon phase we're still in now. But sometimes the most beautiful, lasting things take the most work and it will always be worth it. Just think of our love as the pyramids, if you want to. Those took an awful lot of work, too, but they're standing much longer than it took to build them."

"They also required a lot of dying slaves," Kurt chuckled, raising an eyebrow and nudging Blaine in the ribs.

"Then I'll be the slave of love drowning in your eyes while we built this into our own forever," Blaine grinned back, leaning in to place a soft peck on Kurt's nose.

"You and your cheesy, cheesy metaphors, Blaine Anderson. You're lucky that I love you enough to put up with it," Kurt murmured against Blaine's lips before erasing the last bit of distance between them by pressing their lips together in a lingering kiss.

"I am indeed. Consider this your first sacrifice in the name of our relationship," Blaine quipped back, tickling Kurt until he was squirming in his seat and doubling over with laughter. They took a minute to catch their breath after Kurt surrendered and Blaine showed mercy, just smiling at each other.

"You know, that actually wasn't my first sacrifice for our love," Kurt said, absentmindedly drawing shapes on the still slightly steamed-up windows. A grin spread on his face when he turned to see Blaine's brows furrowed into a frown. "I also put up with your annoying little puppy snorts."
"I don't snort!" Blaine cried indignantly, diving in for another tickle attack. This time Kurt was prepared, though, and Blaine ended up being the one to give a breathless surrender, squirming in his seat.

"By the way, you do. Just a little bit and it's entirely adorable," Kurt giggled, pressing a quick kiss to Blaine's nose before pulling back to fall into his own seat.

"Whatever you say," Blaine muttered, rolling his eyes, the grin on his face digging dimples into his cheeks.

They spent the rest of the drive with their usual banter and discussions and even though Blaine's words hadn't fully erased all of his worries (he doubted anything anyone could have possibly said would have been able to do that) Kurt still felt lighter than he had in weeks. It felt so entirely natural to fall on his bed with Blaine in a giggling heap that he didn't even think twice about it when he slowly started unbuttoning Blaine's shirt, fingers reverently grazing over the newly revealed, warm skin.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked, voice already starting to get husky and low the way it did when they moved with each other until they both came into their pants. Kurt would recognize this as his sex voice any time by now, they'd had an embarrassingly huge pile of laundry the past few weeks to show for it.

"Is this okay?" Kurt muttered, stopping the movement of his hands, afraid he might have overstepped Blaine's boundaries.

"Yes, yes, of course. Can I?" Blaine hurried to reassure him, gently prodding at one of the buttons on Kurt's shirt. Kurt just nodded with a smile, resuming his task and taking a moment to just watch in awe as he carefully pushed the open shirt down Blaine's shoulders when he was finished.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, allowing his hands to roam up Blaine's stomach and chest, reveling in the soft, warm skin under his palms and the way Blaine shivered and his muscles jumped under Kurt's touch.

"And you're the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid eyes on," Blaine gasped, pupils dilating even further when he was finally done with Kurt's shirt and pushed it aside. "You look like something sculpted by a Greek god."

"Just like I said," Kurt chuckled, pulling Blaine closer by the collar of his shirt that was now hanging somewhere around his elbows until their chests touched, both of them gasping for air at the contact. "Cheesy."

"As we already agreed on," Blaine murmured breathlessly, letting his hand roam up Kurt's back and groaning into his shoulder at how perfect the skin felt under his fingers. "God, you feel so good."

"Blaine," Kurt managed to get out in between nipping kisses to Blaine's shoulders and neck. "Would you mind if we lost the slacks, too? Just the slacks, though."

"Of course, anything you want. I'm more than fine with this idea," Blaine said back hastily, working on the buttons and zipper of his pants as he spoke. Chuckling, Kurt watched him fight with both for a while before he started working at getting out of his own. When they laid back down on the bed they were both in nothing but their underwear, blushing a bit even as they moved closer, unable to keep their hands off of all the new plains of skin they were allowed to touch. Their lips found each other easily, sliding against each other as perfectly as always. Blaine gently slipped his tongue into Kurt's mouth, teasing at the roof the way he knew inevitably made Kurt shiver before pulling back and tugging his lower lip between his teeth.

"Kurt," he groaned against his lips, his hand slowly moving down Kurt's chest from where it had been resting on his shoulder, caressing soothingly over Kurt's jumping stomach muscles, finally coming to a rest right above the waistband of his briefs. "Can I- Can I touch you? Over the fabric? Would that be okay?"

"That would be very, very okay, in fact. Please, Blaine." Blaine didn't need more invitation than that, one arm sneaking under Kurt's waist, grabbing for his ass and pulling him close, gently kneading the flesh and brushing against the sensitive base of his tail, the other sneaking down between them to cup Kurt's hard cock through his briefs, eliciting long moans from both of them at the feeling. Blaine continued his ministrations until Kurt was trembling in his arms, senselessly rutting back and forth, purring deafeningly, the sound only broken by his moans and gasps.

"B-Blaine, I'm- I'm about to come," he groaned into Blaine's skin where his head was buried in his shoulder. "Please."

"Shh, I've got you," Blaine murmured in his ear, pressing a soft kiss to the top of his head. "Let go, darling." He twisted his hand just right on the upstroke, the other one closing around the base of Kurt's tail, giving it a firm stroke, and that was all Kurt needed to come undone. With a loud, echoing moan that was only slightly muffled by Kurt's teeth digging sharply into Blaine's shoulder he came into his briefs, cock jerking against Blaine's warm palm. Kurt could feel his come seeping through the thin fabric as the aftershocks raced through him, heard Blaine's awed and helplessly turned-on gasp when he could feel it hot and wet on his own skin to some degree for the first time. Kurt was barely done trembling through the last waves of his orgasm before he already reached down to Blaine's boxerbriefs to return the favor, only lingering for a moment over the waistband to make sure there were no objections on Blaine's side before sliding his palm over the throbbing flesh, purring contently at the feel of Blaine's heavy cock straining and twitching against it.

"This will probably be over embarrassingly fast," Blaine stuttered as his hips thrust up and into Kurt's palm, a breathless gasp escaping him as Kurt sneaked his other hand behind him to knead his ass as well - and God, what a glorious ass it was.

"As a wise man once told me, no need to be embarrassed around me," Kurt chuckled, stroking and kneading more firmly, wanting to see Blaine come just as undone. "No worries, I can relate."

It didn't take more than a few strokes for Blaine to make good on his promise, his body helplessly pressing into Kurt as he rode out his orgasm, Kurt letting out an almost exact replica of Blaine's gasp earlier when he really, tangibly got to feel the evidence of what he had done to him for the first time. His ears were still ringing with Blaine calling his name as he came, traces of Blaine's release on his hands and his mind was reeling with the fact that he'd just made the boy he loved come, not by senselessly rutting against each other, chasing friction, but with his very own hands. It was a pretty elating feeling, especially considering that he'd had the favor given to him earlier as well. "God, I love you," he blurted out, letting his fingertips graze over the wet patch in Blaine's underwear, hoping to catch a bit more of the moisture that had seeped through this way.

Blaine just giggled in response, pulling Kurt closer and sloppily kissing his neck. "Love you too. Can we go to sleep now?"

Kurt fondly rolled his eyes at him but couldn't really deny that he was tired as well. "Yes, we can."

"Together?"

"Together."

So Blaine just pulled the covers over them and snuggled close, both of them just breathing the other in and reveling in the warmth and comfort and post-orgasm bliss until they fell asleep.