Pietro's birthday was a rousing success. Pietro and Bianca introduced Kurt to Paola and Sofia and he instantly fell in love with them. Paola was a vivacious women in her seventies with a cloud of bright red hair and big green sunglasses that she was never without. She and Pietro were best friend and their mutual respect and love for each other was obvious even to Kurt. Sofia was soft spoken and loving. All the children at the party flocked to her and she told them stories most of the evening. She had sleek salt and pepper hair that she wore in a chin-length bob. The two women balanced each other and Kurt couldn’t help but be reminded of Quinn and Rachel as he watched them together.

Kurt wandered around the garden, carrying a very strong drink Paola had poured for him. Pietro had warned him not drink too much of anything she gave him but he figured one or two wouldn’t hurt. Blaine was standing near the group of children surrounding Sofia as she told another story. He was leaning against a wall of the garden, arms crossed over his chest. He caught Kurt’s eye and smirked at him. Kurt smiled back, intending to join him but Bianca called him over to introduce him to someone.

As the guests finally began to drift away, Kurt, Blaine and Bianca began tidying up. Pietro kept trying to help them but no one let him so he eventually went up to bed.�

"Blaine," Bianca said as kurt stumbled over his own feet, "walk Kurt home. Make sure he doesn't hurt himself."

"I'm fine, Bianca," kurt argued. �"I've only had--" he tried to count how many drinks he had had but after six they all blurred together. �"Okay I don't remember how many but I'm still--oof!"

He had tripped over a chair and fallen to the ground. He heard Bianca sigh and Blaine laugh as he rolled over

"Come on, I could use the exercise and you need a designated walking buddy." Blaine took both his hands in his, pulling him to his feet. "I'll be back in a little while, Mamma. Don't wait up."

Kurt stumbled again when they made it to the street and Blaine wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him steady. Kurt threw his arm over Blaine's shoulder out of habit.�

"Nonno told you not to let Paola pour your drinks," Blaine chastised him.�

"I know..." Kurt whined. "But they tasted too good and she kept distracting me. Every time I set my glass down she refilled it."

Blaine chuckled at him. Kurt tried to nuzzle his head with Blaine's but was unsuccessful. �They ambled along, arms around each other talking quietly as it was so late. As they passed through the piazza Kurt stopped, sliding his arm from Blaine’s shoulder to his waist and turned to face him. Blaine’s other hand snaked around him, pulling him closer. He looked up at Kurt, his golden eyes shining up at him in the moonlight.

“Blaine, I--” he started to say but he was silenced by Blaine’s lips on his. It took a moment for Kurt to realize what was happening but then he kissed Blaine back. Kurt gripped Blaine’s waist, groaning at the feeling of Blaine’s mouth opening slightly. Blaine pressed Kurt into the wall of the building they were next to, his tongue tracing Kurt’s bottom lip. Kurt broke the kiss, desperate for air, and Blaine’s fingers tugged at the buttons on his collared shirt, exposing more of his neck.

“Blaine, let’s go to my house...” he moaned as Blaine sucked on his clavicle. Blaine stopped, resting the top of his head against Kurt’s chest and nodded.

“Yeah, let’s go,” he said with a lascivious wink.

When they finally rounded the corner to Kurt's house, he reluctantly pulled out of Blaine's grasp to unlock his front gate but it was hanging wide open and he saw a light shining through the front room window. �He gripped Blaine's arm and stuttered,�"Blaine, someone is in my house."

They both crouched in the garden, waiting for any movement from inside the house or for whoever it was to leave.�

After a few minutes Blaine whispered, "Are you sure that you didn't just forget to turn out a light and lock the gate?"

“I’m sure!” Kurt insisted. He hadn’t set foot in that room for almost a week, not since he unpacked the boxes of photographs. “Someone broke into my house!”

“Kurt,” Blaine hissed. “Let’s just go to the window and see what’s going on. I’m sure you just forgot to turn off the light.” He broke away and crept up to the window.

“Wait, Blaine! No, don’t--”

“Kurt, shut up!” Blaine laughed at him, crouching at the window, peering in. “Everyth-- oh, shit.”

“What? What is it?” Kurt inched closer to Blaine.

“Someone’s in there, Kurt.” Blaine stood up and turned to him, clearing his throat. “Any chance you know a gorgeous blond?”