In the morning Blaine woke up feeling cold. He quickly realized it was because Kurt had moved off of him and he was no longer soaking up that body heat, instead he had the blanket draped over him. He got up and walked over to the kitchen area. No Kurt. Maybe he woke up in the middle of the night and went back to bed, Blaine thought, but when he checked the bedroom there was no sign of him in there either. There was only one place left in the apartment where Kurt could be.

“Kurt, are you in there?” Blaine asked, knocking on the bathroom door. There was no answer. Blaine's heart dropped. He left me, Blaine couldn't help but think. Then Blaine decided he wouldn't accept that. He couldn't do anything about Cooper leaving him, but he sure as hell could do something about Kurt leaving.

Blaine grabbed a fresh set of clothes from his closet and went to the bathroom to take a shower. He wasn't going to shower long because that would give Kurt more time to escape to wherever he was going, but his neck and back were sore from sleeping on the couch. After soothing his muscles under the hot water, he put on his clothes and walked out of the bathroom.

The aroma of cinnamon and strawberries met him as he walked out of the bathroom door. He looked over towards the kitchen area and there was Kurt, standing over the counter with the griddle on and a cookbook in his hand. He had a bit of flour on his nose too, but Blaine didn't notice as he ran to the taller boy and threw his arms around him. Kurt jumped at first, not having heard him come out of the bathroom.

“I thought you left me,” Blaine whispered into Kurt's neck, where his face was buried. Kurt turned in Blaine's arms so he facing him. He gently lifted Blaine's chin up so that they made eye contact.

“Why did you think that?” Kurt whispered.

Blaine tried to look down, suddenly feeling ashamed, but Kurt held him in place. “It's just, all my life people leave. My mom left when I was ten, then Cooper left for the army, then I left because I couldn't be around my father. I lost everyone who was important to me. Then Cooper died so he REALLY left, even though he didn't do it intentionally.”

“Blaine,” Kurt whispered and leaned his forehead up against the shorter boy's. “I can't promise you that I'll never leave you. I don't know what the future holds and I learned a long time ago not to make promises I don't know if I'll be able to keep. However, if you let me, I'll be in your life for as long as I can.”

“I wouldn't have it any other way,” Blaine answered.

The boys stayed there, hugging for a few minutes until Kurt pulled away and declared, “Now get some plates so we can eat breakfast. I woke up before you so I decided to go to the bank and get some money that I had left in there since high school. Then I bought lots of stuff, including the stuff to make cinnamon pancakes. They're delicious. I also cut up some strawberries to put on top, and you have whip cream in the fridge.”

Blaine grabbed plates out of the cupboard and set them on the counter. “I'll pay you back for the groceries,” Blaine said.

“That's not necessary,” Kurt replied. After the pancakes were served and the boys were settled Kurt brought up what he needed to talk to Blaine about. A bad habit he picked up in high school was stress cooking. “So, any Thanksgiving plans?” Kurt tested the waters.

“No. I was going to spend it with Cooper. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because of the food. You mentioned at the airport that you're going back home for Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah. I fly out the day after tomorrow actually.”

“Oh,” Blaine answered. He didn't know what else to say. He didn't want Kurt to go, but he knew he couldn't tell him not to. They weren't even dating, and Kurt hadn't seen his family since he entered the military.

“What if you came with me?”

“Huh?” Blaine answered, that took him by surprise. “And introduce me to your family as the brother of your dead campmate?” Blaine asked. He didn't mean for it to come out harsh as it did. He was feeling hurt though because Kurt just told him he would stay in his life.

“Actually,” Kurt started in an irritated tone. Blaine flinched a little but he knew he deserved it. “I was hoping to introduce you as my boyfriend, but if you'd rather the other-”

“No. I'm sorry Kurt. I would really love to go with you.” A smile crossed Kurt's features and Blaine knew he had been forgiven. He really had to be better about snapping. Kurt was important to him, not just because he liked him, but because he was his last connection to his brother. Then a thought occurred to him, “What will your dad think? Will he like me? What if he doesn't!?” Blaine spit out so fast Kurt started laughing at his worries.

“My dad will love you, Blaine,” Kurt assured him.

“Dads aren't supposed to like their son's boyfriends, Kurt,” Blaine said.

“You know this from experience?” Kurt questioned.

“No, my father was, is, a homophobe who I don't speak to anymore. Besides, I've never had a boyfriend.”

“Hmm. Me either.”

**

The boys enjoyed their last two days in New York. Blaine purchased a ticket online on the same flight as Kurt, but since he didn't buy it at the same time he wasn't in the seat next to him. Oh well, he just hoped the guy in the seat next to Kurt was willing to trade. Now Blaine was curled up on the couch under a mound of blankets while Kurt was fast asleep in the other room. Kurt was excited to go home and see his family, while Blaine was on the verge of an anxiety attack. What if Kurt's family hated him? What if Kurt decided he didn't want Blaine there and sent him back home? Of all the questions Blaine asked himself, one never crossed his mind, and that was the one he ended up finding the answer to.