Kurt and Blaine sat in the shower together for about ten more minutes before deciding together that their fingers were starting to look too much like prunes and they washed their abdomens off.

Blaine laid in his bed with his towel wrapped around his waist and his hands behind his head watching Kurt sift through his clothes. He told Kurt that he could pick him out an outfit if he wanted to and Kurt responded like he was just given a golden egg. Blaine was smiling as Kurt pulled different items and compared them. He always wondered how Kurt chose an outfit and he wanted to laugh at how meticulous Kurt was.

In the end Kurt chose a pair of dark navy jeans, straight-legged because they would hug Blaine's butt nicely and it made Kurt smile at the thought. A white oxford, button-up shirt and a robin's egg blue sweater to go over the button-up was selected, then he looked at the color of his own plaid shirt and put the sweater back. He didn't want them to be too matchee-matchee. Blaine had the same sweater in Black; so, he went with that one instead. He walked the outfit over to Blaine. "Dress, please," he commanded sweetly.

Blaine could hear the proudness in his voice. "Yes, Sir," Blaine answered with a smile and a silly salute. When he got up to walk to his dresser to get a pair of Calvin's, Kurt giggled menacingly and snatched the towel away from Blaine. "Nice ass," he joked. He was serious about the compliment because Blaine did have a nice ass. It was round, muscular, and smooth; like looking at the backside of a Greek statue, only with olive skin. But his joke was with the towel being taken away.

Unphased, Blaine answered with, "Thanks, my boyfriend thinks so too."

Kurt had a desire to snap him with the aforementioned towel, but thought better of it. He didn't want to see any marks made on that perfect skin unless it was from his nails being dragged across it, then he almost felt bad when he saw the dark purple mark on Blaine's inner thigh. He pressed his lips together when he stared.

"What?" Blaine asked, hoping Kurt wasn't going to insist that his color choice of boxer briefs were wrong. They were white. Kurt walked up to him and put his index and middle finger on the spot. "Does this hurt?" he asked flirtatiously.

"No. Why?"

"Just checking." Kurt kissed Blaine warmly and walked to the bathroom to style his hair.

Blaine bent at his waist and turned his leg out to see where Kurt touched. He laughed when he stood up and called out to Kurt in the bathroom, "You marked me!"

"Get used to it!" Kurt called back before the sound of a hair drier was heard. He returned ten minutes later with the same tousled coif he had earlier. "I used some of your gel; hope that's okay."

"That's fine," Blaine said in a daze. He was looking over his agenda book for the week. Most of it was filled with Warbler practice, but Thursday night was a nursing home performance and next week was spring midterms. Two essays were due this week: one in American Literature and another in Psychology. He had a lab report due for Chemistry on Tuesday and he still had to fine tune his arrangement for his Warbler feature.

Kurt saw the worried expression on his boyfriends face and walked behind Blaine, who was sitting at his desk. Kurt bent over and slid his hands down his chest and hugged him gently as he rested his chin on Blaine's shoulder. "What's wrong?" He felt the extraordinary pull to use a pet name with Babe or Honey, but really the only time he had used one was while he was riding high before an orgasm and felt incredibly awkward using one otherwise.

Blaine sighed, putting one hand one of Kurt's arms and caressing it lovingly. "Oh, just a busy week is all. I don't think I'll get to see you until Wednesday at our glee practice and I won't be able to spend time with you afterward. I can come for Friday night dinner and maybe spend the night, but my weekend has to be spent studying. I have midterms next week."

Kurt kissed his cheek. "What about your feature?"

"One more thing to add to the list." He raised his eyebrows. "I'm pretty much done with it, I think, but if it's not going to work with the show or have the right sound then I have to work on a new one." He started rambling, more for himself than to Kurt. "It can take a backseat, obviously, because my studies are more important, but that's the fun one, so it's really what I want to work on the most."

"Do you have anything started yet?"

"American Lit essay is about three fourths done, Lab report hasn't been started, but I have all my notes and data so that should only take me an hour at most to type up. I can do that this evening and get it out of the way. Psychology essay isn't started yet. Oh yeah, and I have a test in pretty much every class this week."

"Don't you have midterms next week?"

"Yeah, but they're cumulative, these tests are just the end of the unit."

"Well, you're a good student, Blaine, so it shouldn't be that hard for you."

Blaine sighed again and nuzzled his cheek on one of Kurt's arms that he was still holding onto. He was about to say something more about his schedule, but then he smiled at the realization of something.

"What?" Kurt asked.

"We're acting like a newlywed couple." He chuckled.

Kurt took his arms back, happily curious about why that thought came to Blaine's mind. Blaine pushed his chair out and pulled Kurt into his lap. "Think about it. We spent the night together, woke up cuddling and all affectionate, we ate breakfast together, took a shower together, went all 'what do you want to do together, honey?' and now you're comforting me as a grumble about my work schedule."

Kurt smiled slightly and searched Blaine's eyes for something he didn't know he was looking for. He was at a loss for words. It was cute, what Blaine was saying, but didn't know how to broach the topic. Marriage was not something he thought about as a seventeen year old boy.

"Oh my god!" Blaine laughed. Kurt changed his expression to confused. "You're nervous. I just scared you. Wow!" He laughed some more. "Kurt, I wasn't proposing, don't worry. It was just a figure of speech." His laughing was quieting.

"Please stop laughing. Seriously. Please stop."

"Why? What's wrong Kurt?" Blaine was still acting jovially.

Kurt had tried to get up, but Blaine wouldn't let him. He kept his hands around Kurt's waist tightly. "I know we talk about ourselves in terms of forever, but I'm seventeen and the thought of marriage scares me."

"Kurt, you're blushing." Blaine smiled brighter and kissed Kurt's cheek. "Don't worry. No more talk about that then. I was just merely pointing out how comfortable we were together. I love waking up to you, I loved meals with your family, I definitely love being intimate with you, and I love this too; the part when we're doing nothing, but talking. Newly Weds are gross to look at because of how cute they are. You're not only my boyfriend and the man I'm in love with, but you're my best friend too. What's more disgustingly cute than that?"

Kurt decided to not make a big deal out of it and exhaled deeply. "We are pretty awesome together, aren't we?" He asked rhetorically trying to get over the topic. Blaine stretched his fingers out between Kurt's shoulder blades and pulled him to his lips. "So what's next? Do you want to get some homework done? 'Cause I can just hang out while you do that."

"Lunch?" Blaine asked.

"It's always food with you, isn't it?" Kurt smiled into another kiss.

"We could always stay behind and I could eat you instead."

"You whore!" Kurt laughed incredulously.

Blaine chuckled and lifted Kurt from his lap and carried him across the room to the bed. He laid Kurt down gently lengthwise down the mattress and cuddled close, facing him. They both had their heads on Blaine's pillow and lay there unspeaking and feeling the bliss of utter happiness and love.

A half hour later found them crowded among people in the dinning hall. Old classmates were surprised to see Kurt around campus, Warblers were happy to have their witty countertenor around, Blaine was happy to see his boyfriend smile so much.

When the crowd died down and the dinning hall monitors yelled at the Warblers to put the tables back they way they were, Kurt was left at a table with Blaine, Wes, and David.

"Since you're back then you'll be coming to Warbler practice then?" Wes assumed.

"Um," Blaine started as he looked to Kurt for answers to questions he never asked.

"Kurt can come," David stated a little too quickly. "It's not like he's spying this time." Kurt made a face at him.

"It's okay, Blaine. If you have practice, you have practice. It'd be no different if I had Glee rehearsal." Blaine was happy that Kurt was being so supportive.

"Yeah, I'll be there."

"Okay, good cause we're working on something and if you weren't going to be there to sing it, then we were going to have James do it. I don't want to get his new Warbler head too used to thinking he can take your spot."

Blaine froze at the mention of James' name, an action that Kurt didn't miss noticing. "What?" he asked.

"I'll tell you later." He looked to Kurt and half smiled.

After forty five minutes, a crowd had formed again and Blaine took the opportunity to slip away with Kurt. Warbler rehearsal wasn't for another half hour, but hand in hand, he headed with Kurt to their practice room anyway. "You really don't miss this?" He asked Kurt when they reached the room.

Kurt lounged himself on one of the couches. "I miss the comradery of the guys. Most of the people here like me and consider me a friend just because I went here. I miss seeing you every day and being able to walk down the halls holding your hand without the word 'fag' being yelled at us." He rolled his eyes. "It's safe here; it's like my house. It was a nice vacation from reality, but I missed being an individual. I missed my friends, and my brother, and-"

Blaine lowered himself onto Kurt and kissed him mid sentence. "It's okay if you like McKinley more."

Kurt kissed Blaine hard and pulled the baritone's waist to his, rolling his body up to meet Blaine's. A low moan escaped Blaine's throat and he put his hand behind Kurt's neck to support him.

"Ahem."

The boys pulled their heads apart quickly and saw James standing in the doorway. Kurt grinned and looked apologetic because he had forgotten they weren't in the privacy of Blaine's bedroom and Blaine looked at James annoyingly. Blaine slid himself off Kurt and slouched against the back of the couch. Kurt sat up and comfortably crossed his legs.

"Sorry to interrupt," James didn't sound sorry at all, "but I was hoping to practice before rehearsal. Granted it was a different kind of practice than what you two had in mind."

Kurt blushed. He felt cocky because he had some idea that James had a thing for Blaine. Who wouldn't? he thought. He noticed James had a split lip and a bluish hue to the left side of his jaw.

"Go right ahead," Blaine insisted as he grabbed Kurt's hand. "We'll leave you alone." They both stood.

"What happened to your face?" Kurt asked genuinely interested in what happened.

Blaine stared at Kurt, stunned that he was actually paying notice to James.

James grinned slightly as he looked at Blaine, ignoring Kurt completely, but not his question. "I got hit with a racket."

There was a pause. Blaine was planning on telling Kurt about what happened, but this wasn't how he planned to do it. Blaine glowered at James in disbelief. "You don't have to lie, James. I'm right here. You didn't get hit with a racket; you got hit with my fist."

"Wait, what?" Kurt exclaimed incredulously.

"Right." James reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, identical to the one Blaine threw at James after he punched him. "Here, I bloodied up yours a bit. I figured I owed you one."

"Keep it. You may need it again," Blaine warned.

"Whatever. I'm over it." James rolled his eyes and walked out of the room.

Blaine averted his eyes, knowing Kurt was staring at him. Glaring at him would have been a better description. He walked over to the piano and started plunking different keys randomly.

Kurt went back over to the couch and sat upright with his legs crossed. "So, are you waiting for me to ask what happened, or are you just going to tell me?"

Blaine looked up, but still not at Kurt. "James' family now goes to the same country club as my family. Our parents sort of forced me into being his tour guide and chaperone for the afternoon."

"And…? He just sort of fell on your fist?"

"No. I got mad and punched him… Got him really good actually. He tripped over his feet and fell." He felt himself smiling. "The whole thing was sort of epic." Blaine finally looked at Kurt and instantly regretted it because he that meant that he was committed to the conversation and couldn't look away.

Kurt was looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Wait. You only get mad enough to put your hands on someone when it involves me. I've seen that first hand. What happened?"

Blaine's smile went away quickly. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

Blaine took a breath, trying to choose his words carefully and exhaled audibly. He shrugged his shoulders, not really knowing the right way to say what happened. "Because it does involve you and I know that you're used to hearing people say negative things about you to your face, but I don't want them to come from me. I'm not going to repeat what he said because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what he said, only that he said something he shouldn't have." He stared Kurt down, willing him to believe that he was hiding the conversation for a good purpose. "Yes, I punched him because of it. Yes, I know that punching him wasn't the best idea, but damn it, it felt good and he had it coming to him. I'm sure he'll have it coming to him again. He needs to learn to leave people alone." He was rambling again. He wished Kurt would shut him up with his lips the way he always does when Blaine rambles, but Kurt remained unmoving on the couch. Blaine went over to Kurt and set next to him, putting his hands on top of Kurt's. "Are you mad at me?"

Kurt turned his head to the other direction. Blaine narrowed his eyes and got the idea that this was one of Kurt's games. He tried to get Kurt's attention by leaning in front of him and smiling. "Babe?"

Kurt whipped his head back around. "Babe?"

"Ha! Got you!"

Kurt gasped, made a face, and then resumed his hard exterior by looking away again. "Well are you?" Blaine asked.

"Am I what?" Kurt still had his head turned when he asked.

"Mad at me." Blaine put is head on Kurt's shoulder.

"I haven't decided."

Blaine moved his head slightly and turned his gaze to Kurt's exposed neck. "Forgive me." He brushed his lips against Kurt's skin without kissing him.

"No."

"Please?" He kissed Kurt's neck lightly.

"No."

Blaine heard the slightly waver in Kurt's voice. He knew Kurt would be losing this game momentarily. He gave Kurt an even lighter kiss a little higher on his neck. "Please?" Kiss. "Forgive me." Kiss. He made his way up Kurt's slender neck to the hollow below Kurt's jaw. "Forgive me." It wasn't a question, but it was said sweetly.

He wasn't sure if Kurt was trying to say 'no' or moan because he made this very sweet "Nnn" noise that made Blaine smile into another kiss on Kurt's neck.

"Okay, stop!" Kurt said snapping out of his Blaine induced trance. "I forgive you; I'm not mad at you; all that." He was flustered, but happy. "But if you make me hard right before the rest of the Warblers come in, I will be royally pissed." Blaine laughed and slid down to the other end of the couch.

For the next hour Kurt watched the Warblers file in and discuss their set list for the benefit concert as it stood for the time being. The council asked certain people to sing their auditions for features and just before they were about to start choreography for one of their group numbers Wes got an idea.

"Hey, Blaine? Isn't that song you had us working on, for Kurt?" asked Wes.

"Duh!" exclaimed Nick. "They're all for Kurt." David smacked the back of Nick's head.

Kurt blushed and smirked as he looked at the floor. Blaine eyed Kurt cautiously. "Anyway!" Wes emphasized, overlooking Nick's comment. "I think we've got it pretty good. Do you want to show him?"

"Yeah!" Blaine enthused. "Kurt, you should like this. We're trying something different."

"You mean, Blaine's not singing lead?" Kurt joked. The Warblers laughed.

"Pft! No!" David chuckled. "We're using instruments."

"You guys play? I didn't know."

"Yeah," Wes began. "Blaine plays just about everything under the sun, but I'm sure you knew that already. And between the rest of us, we play enough instruments to form a pretty good set."

Kurt knew that Blaine could play the guitar, but had never seen him do it, and he'd seen him play the piano plenty of times to be impressed at his skills. He didn't know he could play more than those instruments. "Do you really play more than the guitar and piano?" he asked silently as the Warblers took up different instruments around the room.

Blaine nodded. "All the strings, any kind of drum, a lot of the woodwinds , piano, and a little o a few others.." He lowered his volume so only the two of the could hear. "I'm really good with a flute, but…"

Kurt eyed him suspiciously. Blaine was smirking and winked at Kurt. "Is this your idea of an innuendo?"

"Yes."

Kurt narrowed his eyes playfully. "I'm not going to comment." He turned his head away. Blaine chuckled and kissed Kurt's cheek.

"Come on. It was funny."

"Mmhmm."

"Blaine?" David asked.

"Excuse me," he told Kurt with a smile. He made Kurt sit down and walked to an empty chair after selecting a shiny black guitar. He counted in a four count and started singing as soon as he began strumming.

Every time I see your face

My heart takes off on a high speed chase

Don't be scared it's only love that we falling in

Wes, on bass, and Nick, on drums, joined in at a steady pace and low volume.

I can't wait till tomorrow

This feeling has swallowed me whole

And I know that I've lost control

This heart that I have followed

Has left me so hollow

That was then this is now

Yeah you have changed everything

A few more Warblers joined in. Another drummer was added, along with a tambourine and guitarist.

Every time I see your face

My heart takes off on a high speed chase

Don't be scared it's only love that we're falling in

I would never do you wrong

Or let you down or lead you on

Don't look down it's only love Baby that we're falling in

Blaine was staring right at Kurt the entire time, making his usual facial expressions: puppy dog, crooner, eyes closed lost in the words, those sort of faces; but every once in a while Blaine would look like normal Blaine and smile with a shine in his eye.

I'm standing in your driveway

It's midnight and I'm sideways

I have to find out if you feel the same

Kurt's heart skipped, remembering that evening in the garden. Then he blushed when he realized Blaine was singing it.

Won't be easy have my doubts too

But it's over without you

I'm just lost incomplete

Yeah you feel like home, home to me

Kurt was in awe. How does he keep finding these songs that pretty much play out like reality in our life?

James, with an odd expression on his face joined in on a keyboard. He looked bored, but bopped along with the music anyway.

Every time I see your face

My heart takes off on a high speed chase.

Don't be scare it's only love that we're falling in

I would never do you wrong

Or let you down or lead you on

Don't look down it's only love baby that we're falling in.

The rest of the Warblers joined in as background singers. The effect of everything was quite moving. Kurt couldn't help the smiling that spread across his face. Blaine did this for me? he thought.

Falling in

All those night I stayed away

Thinking of all the ways to make you mine

All of those smiles were never faked

You never run out of ways to blow my mind

Blaine sang truthfully, remembering the moment he knew he was in love with Kurt and how he had no idea how to tell him or if he even should, in case Kurt didn't have feelings for him anymore.

Every time I see your face

My heart takes off on a high speed chase

Don't be scared it's only love that we're falling in

He closed his eyes, belting out the next two lines and then backing his volume down again.

I would never do you wrong

Or let you down or lead you on

Don't look down it's only love Baby that we're falling in

Don't be scared it's only love Baby that we're falling in.

Kurt hopped up to his feet joyfully and clapped. "Why you guys don't do something like that at competitions is beyond me. You would have won Regional's with a number like that."

"Don't you mean 'we?' You were one of us when we lost," David reminded.

Kurt made an "oh yeah" face, but kept his thought of I was always a New Directions member at heart, to himself. He watched Blaine make his way back to the group after putting his guitar back on it's stand. He wanted to run up to him and wrap his arms around him.

Without warning, Nick got behind Kurt and shoved him against Blaine. Blaine caught him and gave him a quick kiss behind his ear. Wes grabbed Nick and pulled him back. "What?" asked Nick. "It's what he wanted to do anyway. I just helped him."

"Thank you," Kurt said quietly to Blaine.

"You're welcome."

Kurt flicked his eyes up and saw to his right, James standing off to the side, once again, oddly close to Thad. James was rubbing his jaw and looking on at them with a problematic expression. Mine, was the only thing that came to Kurt's mind and hugged Blaine tighter.