Blaine woke up alone in an unfamiliar bed the next morning, but he knew instinctively exactly where he was. And not because he clearly remembered what had happened the previous night. In fact, everything seemed a little fuzzy, because of his exhaustion. But he was saturated with a familiar feeling of calm and safety that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

That feeling could only mean that he had slept in Kurt's arms.

He held the pillow to his chest, as the memories from the conversation he'd had with Kurt last night came back to his mind. There was so much he still needed to say to Kurt, but he was afraid he'd left it too late, and that he had already lost him. Kurt was right: he should've let him know what was going on, he should've been honest. If his silence had cost him Kurt, he didn't know what he would do.

After a few minutes with no signs of Kurt, Blaine rolled out of bed and slowly padded out of the room, looking for him. The apartment was a decent size, especially considering most apartments in New York were tiny – it was likely Rachel had been able to afford such a nice place, once she started doing well on Broadway.

He peeked into the kitchen, and saw the refrigerator door was open. "Kurt?"

The door shut, and suddenly Rachel was staring at him with wide, curious eyes. She looked tiny, wrapped in a fluffy pink robe, wearing pink slippers, holding a carton of soy milk in her hands. "Well, hello."

Blaine shuffled his feet awkwardly. "Oh. Hi. Good morning. I thought you were Kurt."

"I'm pretty sure Kurt is in the shower," Rachel answered. She put the milk down on the counter and crossed the kitchen in three quick strides, standing right before Blaine and offering a hand. "He didn't really introduce us last night. I'm Rachel."

"Nice to meet you, Rachel," he said politely as he shook her hand. "I'm Blaine."

"I know who you are. He talks about you all the time," Rachel muttered as she turned back to the counter and reached for the coffee pot. She poured herself a cup and then added a bit of soy milk to it. "Unfortunately, I can't say that it has been pleasant to hear your name lately."

Blaine swallowed and crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "Oh?" He murmured, for a lack of something better to say.

"You broke Kurt's heart," Rachel said bluntly. "But you're also the person who pushed him into coming back here, so I think there's still hope for you. I may still decide I like you. If you don't screw up again, of course."

Blaine felt like everything he had learnt about Rachel since Kurt had mentioned her for the first time in his house back in Lima, suddenly made sense. She was really something else. "I don't intend to screw up again. I never meant to hurt him in the first place."

Rachel took a sip of coffee as she watched him. Blaine felt himself withering under her scrutiny. Finally, she sighed. "Look, Blaine. You must be a good guy, if Kurt cares about you that much. But I don't ever want to see that look of hurt and disappointment on Kurt's face ever again. I think he's had enough of both, don't you?"

Blaine nodded, biting his lip and trying not to drown in the self-hatred he was currently feeling. "You're absolutely right."

"So please, please, don't break his heart again, okay?" Her tone became gentler, as she stopped next to him on her way out of the kitchen to place a hand on his forearm, almost comfortingly. "Make sure he has plenty of reasons to smile."

Within a matter of seconds, Blaine decided he really liked Rachel. Someone who looked after Kurt like she did was definitely the kind of person Blaine would add to his list of favorite people. Rachel had always been a faithful friend to Kurt, even when he had locked her out of his life. "Trust me, that's exactly what I want to do."

A smile appeared on Rachel's lips, soft and friendly. "Good. Then you and I will get along just fine," she turned to leave the kitchen, but paused again. "I have a few errands to run today, so I'll make sure to give you guys some privacy if you still need to talk and figure things out."

"We do," Blaine answered. He glanced at Rachel gratefully. "Thank you, Rachel."

Rachel waved at him as she sipped more coffee, and then disappeared down the hallway to her bedroom. Blaine looked around the kitchen, wondering if he should make breakfast for Kurt or if he should just go back to bed and wait for him there. He decided to at least pour some coffee for both of them, so he made Kurt's coffee just like he knew Kurt liked it – it felt nice to be able to do little things like that again.

He hoped he'd be able to continue doing them for a very, very long time.

*

Kurt left the bathroom, toweling his hair dry, and returned to his bedroom, now wearing black yoga pants and a blue cotton t-shirt. He wasn't sure what he was going to be doing today, but he certainly hoped it would involve Blaine in some way.

First, though, they had to talk. And he didn't need fancy clothes for that.

He was pleasantly surprised to find Blaine already awake, leaning against the pillows, with two cups of coffee waiting on the nightstand.

"Good morning," he said, dropping the towel on the back of a chair.

A tentative smile formed on Blaine's lips. "Good morning. I brought you some coffee."

"Thank you," Kurt sat on the edge of the bed and reached for his cup, taking a sip and humming in approval instantly. "Still remember the way I like it?"

"I'll always remember the way you like everything," Blaine replied softly. They both stayed quiet for a moment, simply drinking their coffees. "I met Rachel in the kitchen. She's... interesting."

"That's one way to put it," Kurt snorted and then eyed him suspiciously. "She didn't say anything weird or embarrassing, did she? Because I can go kill her right now, if I need to."

"No, she's really nice," Blaine assured him. "She told me she has some errands to run to give us a chance to talk privately."

Kurt nodded. Part of him was dreading the conversation that was still pending. He hoped that Blaine coming all the way to New York meant something good, but what if it wasn't? The only way to find out would be to talk to Blaine about it, but the idea that the conversation could end in a goodbye scared him.

Kurt didn't ever want to say goodbye to him.

Suddenly, the apartment seemed awfully suffocating.

"Let's get out of here," he suggested. "We can talk anywhere, right? We should take a walk or something."

Blaine frowned, looking at him carefully. "Are you sure? We can stay here if you're more comfortable."

"I'm not," Kurt shook his head vehemently. "I need some air."

"Okay," Blaine agreed.

They went back to sipping their coffee in silence, both wary of what might come later.

*

They didn't hold hands. Neither reached for the other, and just like that the tension rose even higher.

Blaine's hands were buried in his coat pockets, and Kurt crossed his arms over his chest, protectively, to shield himself from the pain he anticipated was coming. Kurt had never felt as vulnerable as he felt then, at Blaine's mercy, while they walked side by side, but too far apart, across Central Park, because Blaine could hurt him like no one else could.

After walking in silence for a while, Blaine sat on a bench and watched as a group of children ran past them, screaming and laughing as their parents watched them from a safe distance. The trees were almost bare, the ground covered in their golden leaves. They would soon be buried in the snow that Winter would bring. The changing seasons reminded Blaine a lot of precious things and people he'd had in his life were gone, too.

"You still haven't told me what you're doing in New York," Kurt murmured after a very long time, shivering. He was sitting next to Blaine, but not close enough to feel his warmth.

Blaine was thoughtful for a while, searching for the right words. "I told you once I never left Ohio because I had nowhere else to go, and no reason to leave." Kurt nodded, remembering that day. "At my mother's funeral, I realized... I had nothing keeping me there anymore."

A tiny flame of hope lit inside of Kurt's chest, although he tried to fight it. The disappointment would be even greater if he allowed himself to hope. "Why did you choose New York?"

"You're here, Kurt," Blaine answered simply, as if that should be obvious.

Kurt inhaled sharply, but didn't say anything. He waited, still doubtful. He needed to hear Blaine say it.

"I had to stay after my mom was gone long enough to put things in order. I sold my parents' house, I sold my car, I rented my apartment... and I asked the dean of Dalton to write a few letters of recommendation for me and sent out some job applications," Blaine explained, hazel eyes staring ahead, as Kurt studied his profile. "I have two job interviews next Tuesday. One is for the public library here in New York. The other one is for the UCLA library..."

"UCLA?" Kurt repeated, confused. "But... how...?" They were both across the country from each other, so how would Blaine go to both of them?

"It depends on you," Blaine finally turned to face him, his gaze earnest and hopeful. "If you want me here, I'll stay. If I'm too late... then I'll go to Los Angeles."

"Blaine..." Kurt choked out, incredulous, with wide eyes.

"I got your email," Blaine continued, looking away once again. A blush painted his cheeks and his brow furrowed slightly. "It took me a while to get to it, but when I finally read it, a week ago..." One of his hands came out of his pocket, with a crinkled sheet of paper in it. He unfolded it, to reveal Kurt's printed email, wrinkled as if it had been read and reread a thousand times. "When I read this... I finally understood how much I hurt you. It's terrifying to realize how close I am to actually losing you but maybe I still have a chance to save this."

Kurt took a deep, shaky breath. "You mean...?"

"I love you, too," Blaine said, looking into his eyes, in the softest of ways. "I've loved you for a very long time now. But I was too much of a coward to admit how much I needed you."

Kurt froze, and Blaine wasn't even sure if he was still breathing. His blue eyes were fixed on him, but when he didn't react or say anything at all, Blaine started to panic.

"I understand if I am too late, though," he hurried to say. "The way I treated you was despicable. If you've decided to move on with this Scott guy you mentioned in your email, I don't blame you at all. He sounds like a great person, and all I really want is for you to be happy, so if he's the best man for that..."

"Blaine, please shut up," Kurt murmured, sounding a bit breathless.

Blaine went silent so quickly that his mouth hung open, until he closed it, with a clack of his teeth. He waited anxiously, aware that whatever Kurt was about to say would define his happiness for the rest of his life. When Kurt abruptly stood, his eyes went so wide it would've been comical if he hadn't looked so heartbroken, probably convinced that Kurt was going to just abandon him there.

Instead, Kurt's hand reached for his and tugged until Blaine stood, too. Kurt immediately wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck to pull him closer, until their bodies were glued together, a few fallen leaves rustling under their feet. Kurt's lips curled slightly up in a ghost of a smile.

"D-does this mean...?" Blaine stuttered.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Of course it does, so just kiss me, you weirdo."

Their lips met almost immediately with a rush of warmth and relief because it had been far too long since they had last kissed. Kurt whimpered at the familiar taste when Blaine parted his mouth, overwhelmed by knowing Blaine loved him. Kurt could feel his eyes filling with tears of joy, even as he laughed into the kiss.

A tiny smile appeared on Blaine's face. "What's funny?"

"Nothing, I'm just..." Kurt hastily wiped his tears away. "I'm just so, so happy you're here."

"So..." Blaine took a deep breath, his arms tightening around Kurt's waist. "I'm not too late, then?"

"Oh, sweetheart," Kurt chuckled. "It could've taken you a decade to come find me, and you still wouldn't have been late."

"Really? You would've waited for me?" Blaine seemed shocked that someone was willing to actually wait for him.

"I would've probably tried to move on, but I wouldn't ever have been able to stop loving you," Kurt answered, resting their foreheads together. "So please, please tell me you were serious when you said you would stay with me, if I asked you to."

"Kurt, I'm not going anywhere," Blaine whispered, a look of utter adoration on his eyes as he stared at the man he was holding so tenderly.

Kurt beamed at him, and then leaned in to kiss him once more.

*

They spent most of the day at the park. They walked a little, then sat closely together on the bench and shared a few kisses, pausing every now and then to talk again. There was still so much they didn't know, and they needed to catch up.

When Kurt told him he had gotten a promotion at Vogue, Blaine squealed in excitement. He pulled Kurt to his feet and hugged him tightly, kissing every inch of his face he could reach as he told him over and over how proud of him he was.

Blaine told him about how he had decided to keep his old apartment for extra income, although with the proceeds from his parents' estate, he could live comfortably for years. He had arrived in New York and gotten a hotel room before going to Kurt and Rachel's apartment, deciding to wait for Kurt once he realized there was no one there.

He explained how lucky he'd been to even get an interview for the job at the New York Public Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. He was still sad about the book store, but he was happy that he had at least tried to make his dream come true, knowing if he hadn't, he would've regretted it his entire life. He said maybe he'd consider trying it again someday, now that he was in a biggest city. But, for now, being here, being with Kurt, was enough to make his dreams come true.

Kurt held him as he spoke about his mother's last days, tightening his arms around him when Blaine seemed about to cry again. But when they were done talking about their past, they both realized they had to discuss their future together.

Kurt's cold-as-ice nose brushed against Blaine's cheek when he moved in for another kiss, so Blaine cupped his face in his hands, trying to give him some warmth. "We should go. It's getting late and we're both freezing."

Kurt hesitated for a moment, bit his lip almost bashfully. "Can we... can we go to your hotel room? I don't want to go back to my apartment. Rachel's probably home again by now."

Blaine kissed his cheek and nodded. "Of course."

This time, as they walked out of the park, they held hands, fingers twined together, fitting perfectly.

*

Blaine's hotel room held a variety of boxes and bags, all of his possessions that he hadn't left behind in storage. And now, added to that, there was a trail of abandoned clothes that led from the door to the bed, where Kurt and Blaine were gloriously naked, their skin kissed by the soft sheets, as their bodies found each other again.

Blaine raised his legs and hooked his ankles together on the small of Kurt's back with a grunt, as Kurt thrust sharply, driving himself deeper into Blaine. "Oh God, I missed this. Missed you."

"Mm, me too," Kurt groaned, lips brushing Blaine's pulse point on his throat before he picked a spot to start sucking.

Blaine threw his head back and let out a long moan as Kurt's cock hit his prostate, his hips moving to meet Kurt's. He could feel a bead of sweat slowly making its way down his temple. He was close already.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful," Kurt whispered, as he stared down at him, his eyes earnest and dark with lust. "I could watch you like this all day..."

Blaine whined, hands coming up to Kurt's shoulders, needing something to hold onto. "Kurt."

"I know, I know," Kurt murmured through clenched teeth, balancing on the edge, too. "But I don't want it to end yet..."

"Who says it has to end? Oh, god, yes, right there..." Blaine arched his back, trying to get even closer, and his eyes fluttered shut as a new wave of exquisite pleasure travelled through him.

"It's never felt like this..." Kurt gasped, chest heaving as his hips stuttered on another thrust. "It never felt as amazing before as it feels with you now..."

Words fell away in another rush of pleasure. It wasn't easy to think and feel at the same time, with the pleasure cursing through them taking over everything else. Nothing seemed important anymore, only this, only being this close, together, feeling. They clung to each other, panting into each other's mouths, with their eyes locked, not wanting to miss a second of watching the man they loved coming apart.

It was like Kurt was being torn apart from the inside. He began moving erratically, unable to control his body anymore. Blaine was moaning loudly in his ear, clutching him closer, as if he couldn't get enough of him. Their love was pounding inside of them, trying to break free, an unstoppable force.

Kurt's fingers curled around Blaine's cock, so hard and dark, trapped against their stomachs. He stroked him in that way only lovers know, sure and loving, giving exactly the way Blaine wanted to receive, eliciting choked sounds of pleasure. Blaine clenched around him, eager and completely lost in the sensations, and with just a few more thrusts, he fell.

Kurt watched him, stroking him through it, fucking him through it, relishing sharing this with Blaine, after he'd already convinced himself he would never again have the chance. Blaine kissed him sloppily, hands moving back to Kurt's ass to urge him on. Kurt thrust hard and fast, feeling his breath hitching in his throat, until his orgasm hit him like a freight train, as he cried out in his release.

The world seemed to stop as they collapsed together, panting, sweaty, spent. As soon as he was able to move again, Blaine trailed his hand up Kurt's back and buried his fingers in his messy chestnut hair, pulling him in for a languid kiss. Their tongues danced together lazily, sending shivers all over them, and Blaine sighed in contentment into his mouth.

"I love you," he whispered with a smile.

Kurt mirrored it, just as happily. "I love you, too."

Blaine's hazel eyes were bright as he stared at Kurt lovingly. "Let's just stay like this forever. I don't ever want to move."

"Tempting," Kurt teased with a little smirk. "Would you stay like this even if you starve to death?"

"It would be a sweet death if I could still feel you inside me," Blaine wiggled a bit, making Kurt gasp as his exquisitely sensitive softening cock moved in him.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "You're a sappy romantic fool."

"Maybe, but it's the truth..."

They stayed like that, for a while, until Kurt had no choice but to pull out. They didn't even bother cleaning up, unwilling to part even that long. They simply snuggled under the sheets together, sighing in satisfaction, tangling their legs and fingers together. Blaine rested his head on Kurt's shoulder, feeling like he was in the most perfect place in the world.

"Are you nervous about your job interview?" Kurt asked after a while.

Blaine nuzzled against his neck before answering. "A little, I guess. It's a really good job. But I've been so busy worrying about other things that I don't think I've had time to get anxious about that."

Kurt hummed in acknowledgement and kissed the top of his head. "What other plans do you have? You're starting over..."

"Well, I definitely need to find an apartment," Blaine said, looking around the room. "I can't live here forever. I'll probably go look for a new place, later this week..."

"You could stay with me and Rachel, if you want," Kurt murmured. "She's not ideal to live with sometimes, but it's better than a hotel room, right?"

"Do you think she'd mind?" Blaine frowned up at him. "It would only be for a couple of weeks, though. I really want to find a nice apartment here in the city."

"She won't mind at all," Kurt assured him. "What kind of apartment would you like?"

"Well... I was thinking about some place we would both like..."

Blinking down at him, Kurt tilted his head to be able to look at him properly. "Both of us?"

"I was hoping at some point, maybe, if you want... you'd consider moving in with me," Blaine said shyly.

Kurt cupped his cheek and gently shifted him enough so they would be face to face. There was a tentative, hopeful smile in Kurt's lips. "Blaine... are you, by any chance, asking me to move in with you?"

Blaine's eyes wandered away from his, clearly nervous. "Maybe?"

Kurt poked him on the side. "Blaine..."

With a sigh, Blaine finally looked at him. "Yes. Yes, I'm asking you to move in with me."

"And are you honestly afraid that I'd say no to that?" Kurt laughed joyfully, as he tightened his arms around Blaine.

Blaine crawled on top of him. "Really? You want to?"

"Yes, Blaine, I want to," Kurt answered, and then moved in for a quick peck.

They stared at each other. Perhaps they were moving too fast, moving in together after not seeing each other for months was rash... but clinging to the person that means the world to you felt like the right decision.

"We'll get a two bedroom apartment so you can have space for your own studio," Blaine said excitedly. "I want you to have a room that's only yours, so you can lock yourself in it and design as much as you want..."

"So you want to spoil me?" Kurt arched an eyebrow, fingers making their way up into Blaine's curls, tugging slightly.

"Always. I always want to spoil you. I always want you to smile," Blaine whispered, nuzzling their noses together.

Kurt's lips were almost on his when he spoke again, sweet and mesmerizing. "So... according to all those books of yours, is this when we start living our happily ever after?"

Blaine's heart threatened to beat right out of his chest. He was beaming so brightly that Kurt couldn't look away. Before he closed the distance for one more kiss, he murmured: "Yes. This is when we start living our happily ever after."

***