It had been an extraordinary evening. The organizers wouldn't know exactly how much money was raised until all the tallying was completed, including the proceeds from the silent auction and private donations. However, the trip alone auctioned off for $120,000, over half of what the Gala had brought in last year. And that was not even accounting for the ticket sales.

Blaine had been on his game all evening. He schmoozed and he dazzled. He flirted, only with the ladies, and he small talked every last person in the room. He was exhausted. But throughout the whole night he had one eye on Kurt; Kurt who looked fucking edible in his Armani. Blaine just wanted to peel off the layers and lick and nibble him from top to bottom. He knew Kurt was feeling it too – they'd been practically eye fucking each other all night, but he wasn't sure how far they would take things considering they had just met up again that day.

"Fuck, was it really just one day?" It seemed like an eternity ago when he woke up that morning.

Fuck. He woke up that morning with a boy in his bed. And now here was Kurt – the love of his life. He knew he was going to have to have "the talk" with him and come clean to him regarding his sex life, but he just really didn't want it to be tonight.

Tonight he just wanted to be with him – in whatever way Kurt was willing. He'd be happy to just hold him all night if he could. They needed to get out of there and be alone for a bit.

Saying goodnight to guests as they left and declining invitations to after-hours parties, he made his way over to Kurt, who was sitting at the table talking quietly to David. Rachel had excused herself about a half-hour prior, feigning a slight head-ache, although she had a bit of a smirk on her face as she said her good-nights, kissing both Kurt and Blaine on the cheeks, thanking Blaine again for the opportunity and wishing them both a good evening.

Unbeknownst to Blaine, she made her way back over to her theatre friend's house; giving Kurt the apartment to himself should he want to bring Blaine back to their place. Kurt hadn't decided what the situation called for yet thereby not giving Blaine any clues as to what was going on.

Blaine walked up behind Kurt, resting his hands on his shoulders, giving him a bit of a rub, eliciting a soft moan from Kurt. He quickly discovered that soft moans from Kurt equated to a hard dick for Blaine. Knowing that this was neither the time nor place to get an erection, he moved aside and sat down in Rachel's chair, joining in the conversation.

"Well Blaine" David stated "You've outdone yourself again, as usual. This was by far the single best thing you've done to date for the Foundation. It's going to keep us going for quite some time, don't you think?" he asked his friend.

Blaine found Kurt's hand and wrapped his around it, thumbing the man's palm, "For sure – tonight was amazing. I still can't quite believe it, but I'll take it!" he agreed with a smile.

David stood, swilling back the last of the wine in his glass, and excused himself from their company "I'm going to find Wes and take off. Today was a long day. I'm tired. I must be getting old" he realized with a laugh as he made his way around the table, putting a hand on each of their shoulders, he leaned over "goodnight you two. Kurt, it was great seeing you again. Blaine, I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, he moved on to find Wes and head back to the hotel.

"So, man of the night, this was something wasn't it?" Kurt flirted with Blaine a bit, now that they were alone.

"Yes, it was definitely something" bringing Kurt's hand up to his lips, he placed a soft kiss, all the while looking in to Kurt's eyes "Did I tell you how fucking hot you look tonight?" he asked him quietly, mouthing along his knuckles.

Kurt blushed "No, I think I would have remembered if you had said something like that"

"Well you do Kurt. So much so I can hardly stand it. I'm half hard right now just looking at you" And to prove his point, he brought Kurt's hand down to the bulge in his pants, forcing his palm down just a bit to feel the evidence.

Kurt didn't back down. With the one hand on Blaine's crotch, he shifted in his chair and brought his free hand down on to Blaine's thigh and slowly started rubbing up and down. "My sentiments exactly" is all Kurt said, licking his lips as he stroked Blaine's leg.

Blaine groaned. "Shit, Kurt, can we get out of here and go somewhere else? I don't mean to go fuck or anything like that. I just need some alone time with you." he explained. "We haven't even caught up with each others lives yet. For all I know you could have a boyfriend….wait." Blaine stopped and frowned, "You don't have a boyfriend do you Kurt? Please tell me you don't."

Kurt laughed "No Blaine, I do not have a boyfriend" rolling his eyes at Blaine's obvious look of relief. "And yes, let's get the hell out of here and go talk or make out or something. I always loved our make out sessions. Scheduled and unscheduled" he recalled flirtatiously with a smile.

"OK" Blaine answered breathless, a little in awe of where this was going.

"We can go back to my place" Kurt suggested. "Rachel had the foresight to make herself scarce and went to her friends to crash. We can hang out and reacquaint in peace and quiet."

Blaine pulled him up standing, grabbed both his hands and held them up to his heart. "Singing One Hand, One Heart tonight, it reminded me of our first time. Do you remember that Kurt?" Blaine asked him hesitantly, looking intently into his eyes.

All Kurt could see were pools of amber and all he wanted was to wrap himself up in this man and lose himself to every feeling and sensation he knew. "Of course I remember Blaine. It was the best night of my life."

"Mine too Kurt" Blaine rested his forehead on Kurt's for just a few seconds.

"Come on – let's go" Kurt said as he pulled Blaine towards the elevator. He had to get his coat from the coat check and then wait for Blaine to say a few more goodnights to the organizers and thank yous to the musicians who helped out for the night, and then they were off.

They decided to walk for a bit. It was cold, but it was good to get some fresh air – wipe out the cobwebs and the end effects of the wine and alcohol they had consumed. As crazy as it sounded, whatever was going to happen, they both wanted it to happen at their own volition, not because alcohol impaired their judgment.

They started walking silently down the street in the direction of Kurt's neighborhood. It felt strange for both of them. This was what they had dreamed of all those years ago.

Walking down the street together in the city that they had both assumed they'd call home.

With the man that they both assumed would be their one and only for life.

Too many assumptions had been made.

"Weird isn't it?" Blaine finally verbalizing what they were both thinking.

"Yeah, it really is" Kurt agreed side-eying Blaine. "But the really weird part is that it doesn't feel too terribly weird… If that even makes sense?"

"I know!" Blaine stops, finding Kurt's hands again "Here we are after all these years and yes it's weird, but it also feels so right" he said shaking his head almost in disbelief. "To be walking down the street with you. Holding your hands" he swings their hands now for emphasis "I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be" he admits to Kurt, pulling him in slowly.

Kurt stepped in a bit closer to Blaine, like a magnet was pulling him. Not breaking eye contact, his hands slowly unclasped and rose up to Blaine's shoulders. One hand wrapping around his neck, he pulled Blaine in closer until their faces were mere inches from each other. "I feel the same way" Kurt said staring into Blaine's eyes; blue and hazel melding together.

Both could now feel the breath of the other. And then lips touching; softly, so softly at first. Then more contact as they reached further for each other. Blaine latched onto Kurt's hips to steady himself, and Kurt pulled him in even further, their mouths opening to a deeper kiss. Tasting each other again; wet kisses with soft needy moans. Blaine reached into Kurt's coat and ran his hands up and down his side giving Kurt shivers. They broke contact – Kurt laughed a bit from the tickle; Blaine flushed from the contact.

"Here's a question for you" Kurt asks Blaine, not looking in his eyes, but holding on to his jacket and looking at the zipper. "Did you ever in your wildest dreams think that this would ever happen?" finally getting the nerve to look up to Blaine.

"This…. being you and I?" Blaine asked with Kurt nodding. Blaine thought for a moment, wanting to make sure the right words came out of his mouth "To be completely truthful...no. I really didn't think this would ever happen."

Sensing Kurt's withdrawal he quickly followed with "Not that I didn't want it to Kurt… I did….. I do! But I honestly thought I had fucked everything up sufficiently enough that you'd never want to speak to me again. It was me Kurt…all me. You didn't cheat. I did. So the fact that I'm here with you, well it's blowing my mind quite frankly" he confessed, "And I'm just scared that you're going to come to your senses and tell me to get lost. And I wouldn't blame you if you did."

But then Blaine inched his way back into Kurt's personal space, grabbing on to his coat, whispering "But please don't Kurt…Please don't turn me away. I don't think I could handle it again" he whispered breathlessly into Kurt's ear… "Please Kurt… "

Kurt wrapped his arms around the man and covered his pleas with his mouth "I'm not saying goodbye to you ever again Blaine. That's a promise" sealing his mouth with a deep kiss.

Breaking for air Kurt decided they had walked enough. "Come on. Fuck walking. Let's find a cab… It's freezing outside" Wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck he looked up the street for a cab, and flagged down the first one that came. They clamored into the back and Kurt gave the driver his address. Still unsure of all that's been said, Blaine is quiet externally, but internally his brain is screaming. He doesn't know what he's doing and he isn't sure what is going to happen tonight, but he knows he can't go through the withdrawal again. Not now. He's too far back in, and he's still so positive that Kurt is going to pull the rug out from underneath his feet.

"You know – we never really did talk about it" Blaine says softly. Kurt turned to look at him, not understanding at all what he meant "Pardon? Talk about what?"

"IT – what I did." Blaine takes a breath "the cheating Kurt. We never talked about it." "We fought over it, and cried over it and accused each other of awful things out of hurt" he recollected looking at Kurt, "But we never sat down and rationally talked about it as adults".

Kurt swallowed and it felt like he had something stuck in his throat "And this talking…. Is this something you think is important for us to still do...after all this time? Because Blaine I'm over it" Kurt assured him. "I'm really over it. That was a long time ago and I came to accept it for what is was" he said looking at Blaine. "But if you haven't, and you feel we need to talk, then yes, I'll talk to you about it. But not tonight ok? Let's give each-other one day where we are not going to dwell on our sordid past" he half smiled, trying to get Blaine to loosen up a bit.

It seemed to work as Blaine looked back up with relief clearly on his face and smiled faintly "Ok then. Thank you. We'll have a civilized conversation about what an asshole I was to you one day soon, but not tonight…deal?"

"You have a deal"

"Good! Do we need to shake?"

"Shake – no. Kiss – yes" Kurt answered, shifting over so he could capture Blaine's lips with his own. Blaine pulled Kurt in, sucking on to Kurt's lower lip, causing Kurt to sigh and Blaine to suck harder.

Suddenly the cab pulled over; at first making Blaine believe they were getting kicked out for lewd behavior before realizing they were at Kurt's apartment. Kurt paid the cabbie and they got out of the car and quickly raced up the stairs to get out of the cold.

Kurt and Rachel lived on the third floor of an older tenement building. It did have an elevator but it broke down a lot and instead of risking being trapped for hours on end, they had elected to always use the stairs. They considered it forced exercise.

Inside the apartment was quite nice. It had 2 bedrooms; one being the master with the ensuite bathroom which had a shower. This was Kurt's room as he was working steadily and paying more rent. The other room was smaller, but Rachel didn't mind as she had full use of the main bathroom which had the bathtub. An open concept kitchen/dining room/living room made the place seem a bit bigger than what it was. It was comfortable and Blaine could see Kurt's influence throughout the décor and it made him happy to know that he had made a home for himself in this city. Maybe it wasn't the life Kurt had planned, but it seemed to have turned out nicely for him. Blaine couldn't help but wonder how he could fit in to any of this, living so far away, with a lifestyle so opposite.

"Make yourself at home" Kurt insisted, taking Blaine's coat and scarf, tucking both away in the closet with his own. "Do you want some coffee or anything?" he asked as he came back in to the living room.

"Maybe some water would be good?" Blaine suggests, and they both went into the kitchen to pour two large glasses of water. "I'm actually going to take a couple of Advil too, just so I don't have a hangover tomorrow" Kurt decided, finding the drugs in the cabinet and dropping a couple into his hand. He held the container up, looking questionably at Blaine as if to ask if he wanted some too. "Sure why not" Blaine said holding his hand out. "Might as well. I didn't drink a lot, but I'm sure it won't hurt" and he popped a couple as well chasing it with his water.

"There! Now neither of us can use the hangover excuse tomorrow" Blaine reasoned.

They walked back into the living room, settling on the sofa, so that they could face each other and rest their arms on the back, they lightly rubbed their hands together. It was nice. It was comfortable.

"You have a really nice place here Kurt" Blaine said glancing around the room "I'm glad that you and Rachel stuck it out together. Although I have to admit, I'm not sure how you did it."

"Rachel can be exasperating at times. That's for sure", Kurt agreed. "But at the end of the day, she always has my back. She's pretty reliable with the rent, and we have fun together. That's the most important thing I think."

"Fun…..hmmph." Blaine thought about that. "I think I've forgotten what true fun is like" he admitted ruefully. Unconsciously rubbing his hand up and down Kurt's arm, "My life is… well… it's caged I think is the best description."

Kurt looked over at him, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "What do you mean by caged."

"Well, sometimes I feel like Pavarotti the canary. He was a pretty thing with a pretty voice. Everyone liked to hear him sing. But he was kept in that damned cage, never allowed to get out and explore the world. Always being fed and watered and cared for in general, but no other canary to love; no-one to nurture him." Blaine finished with a huff and a shrug.

"Wow! That's pretty deep Blaine" Kurt tried to lighten the mood a bit "Comparing yourself to Pavarotti." nudging Blaine's leg with his foot continuing the metaphor "From what I hear and see, it looks to me that you have your fair share of canaries to love."

Blaine looked over at where their hands lay, before looking back at Kurt, squirming a bit further into the sofa. "So, this is it I guess. The time has come for me to divulge to you the sexual escapades of one Blaine Anderson?"

"Only if you want to, Blaine. I'm going to assume that what I know is accurate and it doesn't change anything. Who am I to judge? Sorry to disappoint but I'm no angel. You just don't get to see the pictures and read about me in the magazines."

The thought of Kurt being as sexually active as him stirred all sorts of emotions in Blaine. Of course Kurt was having sex. It would be unreasonable to think he wasn't. But Blaine didn't like to think of Kurt in that way, with other men. He had put him up on a pedestal years ago and didn't want to take him down.

"Have you had many boyfriends since we broke up?" Blaine asked, suddenly needing to know more.

"Umm... one serious boyfriend" Kurt shared. "We were together for just over a year, and then he graduated and moved away. After that I just decided that relationships are hard, and I've kept it casual"

Kurt didn't want to share the real reason behind his lack of boyfriends. That the first thing he did when he met a guy was size him up and compare him to Blaine. He didn't want Blaine to know that when he was making out with other guys, he kept imaging that their lips were Blaine's lips – their hands were Blaine's hands. No, he was not going to share that. Not yet anyways.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I think he was an idiot for letting you go!" Blaine stated. "Anyone lucky enough to have you by his side should never let you go" he continued, gathering courage. "I should know," pointing his thumb at himself.

"Yes, well we all fuck up from time to time, don't we?" Kurt answered. "You need to stop beating yourself up about it Blaine. We were young. Hormones were raging. We didn't know how to live apart from one another. And I was just as much to blame. The signs were all there that you were in trouble, and I didn't take the time to recognize it. You might have done the physical damage, but I was just as much at fault. There were two of us in that relationship Blaine. Don't forget that."

They were quiet as Blaine absorbed what Kurt was saying. All of it being true. The past was the past, and they could only go forward. He needed to not dwell on it, and go forward. Kurt was here. They could do this maybe. Repair the damage and move on. He needed to make this happen; he needed to try.

"OK" Blaine determined. "No more wallowing in self pity…for either of us."

He smiled at Kurt and decided to get a little flirty shifting the mood, "So when you bring men home, is this what you do? Sit on the sofa and have deep philosophical discussions on life and relationships?" he asked as he moved over slightly more towards Kurt.

"Well, that and other stuff." Kurt flirted back before confessing "Honestly, Blaine, I actually don't bring men home. I'm more of a guest than a host. I mean Rachel's usually around, and that's not fair to her, and it just feels a bit like an invasion of my privacy."

Blaine thought about what he was saying, realizing at once that Kurt had brought him back here without hesitation, and trying not to read too much into it.

"And also" Kurt continues an after-thought "That way I don't have to worry about the guy staying the night. I can get up and leave."

Blaine nodded at that at once, remembering earlier this morning when he discovered Dustin in his bed… arrghhh Dustin…he needed to come clean. "Speaking of that Kurt" Blaine started slowly "There is something you should know, in case tonight escalates" he pointed back and forth between them.

"OK" Kurt replied looking a bit confused but curious to hear more.

"So, you know I'm no angel either – I think that's been established succinctly". Kurt nodded slowly in agreement as Blaine continued, "I too don't like sharing my bed overnight, but I never seem to have the propensity to actually get anyone to leave, and so quite often they end up staying…like for instance, this morning." he finished, looking over at their hands, not having the guts to see the reaction in Kurt's eyes.

It took a little bit for Kurt to catch on, but when he did, confusion turned into realization and he pulled back slightly. "Ohhh... Ok I get it. You had sex with someone last night…And he was still in your bed this morning?"

Blaine nodded in confirmation, finally looking up.

"This morning?" Kurt repeated and Blaine nodded again.

While Kurt didn't look mad or hurt, he did look guarded. There was something in his expression that wasn't there before and Blaine couldn't read it.

"And is said lover still in your room?" Kurt inquired with one eyebrow raised.

"No. No… Kurt – NO! It's not like THAT" Blaine grabs Kurt's hand back in an attempt to ground them both. "No, he left first thing, and believe me, it meant nothing. It never means anything. Shit, I often don't even remember the sex. I'm usually too wasted and blank out." Blaine looked down at their joined hands, remorseful that he's even had to have this conversation.

Kurt leaned back now into the sofa, letting go of Blaine's hand; he needed to put distance between them. It was a lot to absorb. Here they were in Kurt's apartment together, and really, Kurt had planned on seducing Blaine into his bed, not knowing where it would lead to, but wanting to end the evening on a perfect note; something spectacular to remember forever. But he couldn't now. He could not have sex with Blaine on the evening of the same day he slept with someone else. That was a hard line that Kurt couldn't cross. This wasn't going to happen tonight.

Blaine immediately sensed the shift and knew that the door had closed. He was pissed, not at Kurt, but at himself, that again he managed to fuck things up with Kurt.

"I'm really sorry Kurt" he apologized. "Obviously if I had had any inkling of what the day would bring, I never would have hooked up with the guy. I hope you believe that."

"Of course I do Blaine. It's just bad luck, or fate or something. Maybe the gods are trying to tell us something" Kurt joked, trying to lighten the tension that had made its way back in to the room.

Blaine snorted "yeah. They're trying to tell us that I'm still a fuckup."

"Oh for God sakes Blaine…Stop it. Stop blaming yourself for everything that happens. Sometimes shit happens for no reason. Tonight wasn't meant to be for sex. We've still had an incredible day and evening and I'm so glad to have reconnected with you" Kurt leaned over and kissed Blaine softly on his lips.

Blaine sighed "Me too" returning the kiss.

A couple of tender kisses later Blaine announced that he should go. It was bordering on the middle of the night and they both needed to get some sleep. As they walked to the door, Blaine gathered his coat and scarf, and Kurt inquired "How long are you in New York for?" hoping that he might be here for a few days and they could meet up again.

"Technically?" Blaine looked down at his watch "I leave today" looking up sadly at Kurt. "My flight is this afternoon. I've got some meetings this afternoon in LA and a function that I have to go to tonight for my label."

"Ah the life of the rich and infamous" Kurt teased, trying not to show his disappointment.

"Something like that" Blaine pulled Kurt in for a hug, smothering his face into Kurt's neck, engaging all sensory perception so he could recall it when he's back on the westcoast.

He moved back to better look at Kurt "Hey, this might sound crazy but maybe you could come out to LA sometime soon? Come see where I live? It's not New York, but it's pretty cool" he continued in an effort to convince Kurt "It's really nice and sunny and warm" he mused "and there are lots of nice places to shop at…. Beverley Hills... Rodeo Drive…. Am I saying the right things Mr. Hummel?" he asked, blatantly batting his eyelashes.

Kurt giggled. "Yes, you're saying the right things… especially the part about shopping!" "So, maybe I could" he pondered. "Spring break is next month. I had thought about going back home to Lima to visit Dad and Carol, but nothing's been set in stone. Would that work for you?"

Blaine wanted to throw a fist in the air, but instead tried to curb it internally. "That would be awesome Kurt!" he rolled back and forth on his feet despite himself. "It's going to be so much fun. You'll see! You're going to love it there. I know it!"

They pulled in for another hug and a few more kisses, before remembering to exchange phone numbers and email addresses, promising to nail down the dates right away. And after saying their lengthy good-byes, Blaine finally left with Kurt closing his door quietly.

It was going to be a long month.