Kurt stopped short of approaching Blaine outright.  He didn't know why he said his name out loud.  He could have just quietly slipped out undetected knowing that Blaine still thought fondly of him.  But this was it. This was the moment. It was time for the grand gesture. 

"Take it Kurt Hummel.  The worst that can happen is that everyone has a laugh over the coincidence of it all and then moves on."

So, he stood there - his heart thumping so loud that he thought everyone must be hearing it, waiting for a reaction from Blaine.

Who was pretty much in hyperventilating mode, because standing 20 feet away from him was Kurt - once his best friend, lover, his reason for living. He was here in the flesh, looking more striking than he thought humanly possible.  The years had done him well.  He's a couple of inches taller, if that's possible, and he's filled out his frame a bit more. But the classic beauty is still there. The eyes, the hair, the lips, the skin, exuding this incredibly ethereal aura - it's still all Kurt.  

And so Blaine walks over to him on shaky legs, hoping they don't give out on him. Everything else is a blur.  He doesn't notice the initial silence and he doesn't hear the eventual buzz that grows in the room as the others start to realize the significance of what's happening.

When he gets to Kurt, he stops.  Hearts pounding, their eyes connect after years of absence, their souls meeting again. Both stand like that for a few seconds - outreached hands holding on and then Blaine acts first, pulling Kurt into the biggest hug he has ever experienced. And being with Blaine for two years, there's been a lot of hugs.  They hold on to each-other for who knows how long - 2 minutes - 10 minutes?  They've lost track of time, and in reality it is probably for only a minute.  Kurt pulls away and smiles bashfully, smoothing his shirt down in an effort to show some semblance of nonchalance. Blaine is still in a trance, looking at him like he's the best dream he's ever had but slowly comes back to reality and realizes there are over 200 people there, some standing, watching this reunion, and suddenly it's a little embarrassing.

So, he becomes the showman that he is and puts his hands on Kurt's shoulders, turning him around and steers him over to the centre of the gym, as they look around at everyone.

"Well I think a lot of you might already know him, but this is Kurt, and yes he is the boy in my story, the boy from my past."  Looking again at Kurt, Blaine shares further "We haven't seen or talked to each other in over 6 years. So this is quite the reunion you are all witnessing".  Smiling again, he can't take his eyes off Kurt, who in turn is grinning like a fool and also gazing right back at Blaine.

But Kurt shakes it off for a bit and looks around "Hi everyone - and yes, I do know a lot of you.  I'm guessing you are all a bit surprised as I've never mentioned this part of my life to you, but yes, Blaine and I were together for a couple of years in high school, and I do like to think I had a little part to play in the creation of The Pavarotti Music Foundation. However, let me stress, it was Blaine, and Blaine only who got this off the ground and has fundraised tirelessly for it to survive.  All kudos goes to him and his colleagues" Kurt looks over acknowledging Wes and David "for making it the success that it is today."

Blaine ducks his head.  Clearly he's not so good at the compliments when it comes to matters of the heart.  He looks up again at Kurt and the lump starts to form in his throat and he can feel the tears start to pool and sting in his eyes. He realizes in horror that if he doesn't leave the gym soon, he's going to completely meltdown in front of everyone.

Wes immediately clues in to it and quickly covers "Well you can imagine Kurt and Blaine must have a lot to talk about and catch up on, so they are just going to take their leave now and David and I can answer any further questions you have?" he looks at Kurt and Blaine, who in turn nod in unison.

Kurt grabs Blaine's hand and tugs him forward towards the door.  "Thanks everyone" Kurt says last minute as they make it through the gym door amongst some clapping and well wishes being offered.

On the other side, he takes a deep breath and gathers Blaine in his arms, and the height difference is now notable as Blaine buries his head into Kurt's shoulder and neck.  It feels familiar and strange; but mostly familiar.

"Here let's go to my office where we can get some privacy" he takes Blaine's hand and they walk down the corridor of the high school.  The irony is not lost on either of them.  Were they meant to always stroll down school hallways hand in hand?

They get to Kurt's office and after he fumbles with the key for a bit, he manages to get the door open and pulls Blaine in, closing and locking the door behind them. Blaine has still not spoken since his speech in the gym; he's in total shock and starts to tremble.

"Blaine, sweetie" Kurt says and thinks "where the hell did that come from," but liking it all the same.   "Here" he opens his arms as an invitation and Blaine falls into him again. "Hey...it's okay", rubbing his back with his splayed hands "Everything is okay." Every so often he plants a soft kiss to the top of Blaine's head without thinking.  He's going on total muscle memory.  Everything that he would have done 6 years ago, he is doing now, except he notices there's no anger and there's no hurt - that seems to have gone away.

"Kurt - what are you doing here?  This is all so unbelievable!" Blaine pulls back from the embrace, scrubbing his face with his hands, finally able to digest what was happening.

"I work here, Blaine" Kurt answers with a laugh.  "I'm a high school counselor if you can believe that!"

Blaine pauses; he knew this, keeping track of Kurt's life the best he could from bits of conversations and emails where members of the New Directions had, he suspects purposely, filled him in with the occasional update on Kurt. He knew Kurt had changed his course from musical theatre to education.  He didn't know where he had ended up, except that he was somewhere in New York.  Never in a million years would he have guessed he'd be in Brooklyn in the exact school that they were presenting in. 

Not wanting to seem like a stalker, he decided split second to feign ignorance on knowing Kurt's circumstances, "I actually do believe that Kurt.  It makes perfect sense.  It's such a natural progression for you" Blaine gathered Kurt's hands into his "I'm so glad to see you and see that you're happy" and then looked at him with a frowned brow "you are happy - aren't you?"

"Yes... yes, I am happy" Kurt confirmed.  "It took me a really long time to come to terms with what I thought were my failures. But time showed me that not making it to Broadway was not a failure.  Everything I learned - every rejection I experienced, just brought me here - and this is what I'm meant to do"  adding with a laugh "And I'm good at it Blaine.  I'm really really good at it!" 

Staring into Kurt's eyes, Blaine could see the happiness there as he spoke about his life, and his heart swelled.  "I wouldn't doubt for a second that you would ever be anything but good at whatever it is that you set your mind to Kurt" Blaine affirmed, hands still clasped.

They stood there drinking each-other in, enjoying the moment. When all of a sudden there was a loud rap. Startled, they broke away, and Kurt went to answer the door, where upon opening, stood Wes and David, looking rather sheepish. 

"Hi Kurt" David greeted. "It's amazing to see you again." Kurt opened the door wider to let them in, giving them both a quick hug.

 "Sorry to interrupt, but the meeting is over and Blaine, you need to get back into Manhattan for the sound check" Wes informed him somewhat apologetically.

Blaine looked at Wes with a blank look on his face, and then suddenly shook his head as he processed the words... "right...fuck.... sound check... gala...performance... tonight" he reminded himself, quickly coming back to reality.

He turned to Kurt "Kurt, we have to go. But can we give you a ride somewhere?  I really don't want to say good-bye to you just yet"

"Uh yes...sure.. that would be nice. I live in Chelsea if you want to drop me off there.  Or I can just go where you're headed and make my way from there" Kurt offered back staring into Blaine's eyes. "I don't want to say good-bye to you either".

They piled in to the town car that was waiting for them, and Kurt managed to catch up with Wes and David as they made their way back in to Manhattan.  Blaine remained mostly silent, except for when he felt the need to defend himself against the tales that Wes and David were telling Kurt. The whole way he held Kurt's hand tightly, intertwining their fingers together.  Kurt was beginning to wonder if Blaine was ever going to let go, and then realized that he hoped he never would.

Time was tight, so they drove straight to the venue for the sound check.  Kurt got out of the car with them, assuring Blaine that he could make the rest of the way home on the subway.

Standing with his hands in his front jeans pocket, he waited for Blaine to finish a conversation with David, so he could say good-bye before he continued on home.  Blaine gave David a pat on the back, satisfied with whatever was said and turned around to talk to Kurt.  David and Wes both waved Kurt off with a nod of their heads and walked into the building, giving them their privacy.

Both stood awkwardly, not sure what to say. Blaine was the first to break the silence.  He found Kurt's hands once again and rubbed his thumbs around Kurt's palms  "So, I really have to get inside and do this sound check and then David's telling me I have some prior commitments to meet up with key sponsors and the other performers." He stalled for a second with a slight frown. "Shit, I was really hoping to spend some more time with you this afternoon Kurt, but it doesn't look possible" he said apologetically.

"That's OK Blaine" tugging his hands for emphasis. "I totally understand.  You have a really big event happening here tonight - You need to get ready for it. "In fact, I need to get ready for it too!" he admitted realizing he still hadn't decided what he was wearing.

"What??..do you mean??....are you coming tonight?" Blaine's eyes lit up with hope. 

"Well, yes. Yes I am.  I'm sorry" Kurt stuttered "I should have told you that.  The principal at my school can't make it and so I will be unofficially Mr. Douglas Carmichael tonight" he joked.  "Oh and the added bonus is that Rachel is coming with me!"

Blaine's eyes went wide "Rachel is coming tonight too?" his eyes crinkled as the grin spread on his face "That's fantastic!  I can't wait to see her again.  It's been so long since I've seen any of you, it feels like another lifetime" his smile breaking a bit.

"Yes, well be careful what you wish for Blaine" Kurt teased.  "You never know when you'll go around a corner and bump into Puck or Finn or someone equally as annoying!"

"No, it would be great to see any of them. Those were really good times for the most part" he said softly, looking back into Kurt's eyes for affirmation.

"Yes, they were" Kurt agreed.

"OK, well I shall see you tonight then" Blaine said as he pulled Kurt in by the hands to give him a short but firm hug.  He wrestled with the idea of giving Kurt a kiss, but decided it was too soon for that kind of contact, even though it was all he could do to stop himself.

Kurt pulled away, tightening the scarf around his neck "Yes, we will see you tonight Blaine Warbler!" He clasped Blaine's hands for one last squeeze and turned and started walking to the subway station.

"Don't be late tonight Kurt Hummel" Blaine shouted out at him before he went into the building "I want to spend as much time with you as possible!"

Kurt didn't answer but just smiled as he continued to make his way to the subway station.

"OK ... game on...time to get home and get sexified"