“I almost didn't recognise you for a minute there – nice hair!” Nick grinned at Blaine as he stood and threw his arms around him.

“Nick, man it's good to see you.” Blaine pulled back to look Nick full in the face, his friend looked good, happy. His eyes crinkled into a warm smile as Blaine gestured for him to take the seat opposite.

“Yeah, you too – you could have shaved though!” Blaine ran a hand over the spiky stubble on his face and laughed.

“I've been a bit busy since I got back, I guess it just slipped my mind.”

“What brings you to New York then? I thought you were off travelling the world or something.” Nick took a bite of his biscotti, his attention solely on Blaine as he spoke.

“I'm back for good, just couldn't stay away I guess.” Blaine was being evasive and Nick knew it.

“Sounds good man, you'll have to come round to mine and Jeff's for dinner, he'd love to see you.”

“Yeah, that'd be nice, I've missed you guys, how is Jeff and little Maisie of course?”

“He's good, they're both good. Maisie's six next week. How're your parents?” Nick had gotten a little sparkle in his eyes when talking about his adopted daughter. He and Jeff had adopted her about six months before Blaine had left New York, she was two and a half when they saw her, they spent the next two months going through all the rigmarole of adopting her. Blaine remembered well the look of pure joy on both their faces when they brought her home. He remembered with a pang Kurt leaning over to him all that time ago and whispering that it would be them next.

“Jeez, she's growing up fast, I'm glad you're all doing well Nick, I really am.” Blaine took a sip of his coffee wistfully.

“So what's behind this move back here, or does your lack of answer to my last question answer that?”

“No my parent's have nothing to do with it, not directly anyway – and no before you go there I haven't moved back for Kurt, besides he's with Brett now, he's happy. I really screwed that one up didn't I?” He ran a thumb absent mindedly around the rim of his coffee cup.

“ 'Fraid so, I never got it. You guys seemed so happy and then one day you just weren't together. I really thought you two would go the distance.” Nick watched Blaine closely as he let out a dry, bitter chuckle.

“Hmm, right up until the point my father got involved. I'm still not entirely sure what was going through my mind when I left, it's like I've blanked the details out.” Blaine's eyes had misted over, like he was trying to remember something long forgotten.

“Look man, I don't want to pry or anything, but since you're back how about you come over for dinner one night and we can have a good catch up and you can see Maisie.”
“Yeah that sounds good, thanks Nick.” Nick stood and began buttoning his coat.

“Do you still have out number? It hasn't changed.” Blaine nodded and stood to envelop Nick in a tight hug. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed his friends.

“See you soon man.” Blaine raised his hand in farewell and returned to his seat. His coffee had long since gone cold, but he wrapped his fingers around it regardless, deep in thought. His mind drifted back to the other night in the club where he had met Kurt's boyfriend. He was bias of course but Blaine just didn't think he was right for Kurt, and he seemed just that little bit too intuitive for Blaine's liking. It was clear that Brett loved Kurt, but who wouldn't? Kurt's perfect. Blaine let out a sigh and returned his attention to the people milling around outside. They all looked so busy, all had places to be. Yet here he was sat alone in a near empty coffee shop in New York. He really wanted his identity back, he wanted a job he would actually enjoy, he wanted his friends back and he wanted someone to call his own.

Of course given the choice he would have Kurt but he would never dream of trying to split Kurt and Brett up of course, so he would settle for a friendship. After all a friendship with Kurt was infinitely better than a life without him. He had missed Kurt immensely, he just wanted to get to know him again. So Blaine took out his cell and typed a message to Kurt. His stomach gave a little flutter and Blaine scolded himself internally. He had to get over this if he wanted any kind of friendship with Kurt. Kurt wouldn't still meet him if he thought Blaine was still in love with him. Kurt's reply came quickly confirming he was fine to meet Blaine for lunch later in the week. With that sorted Blaine decided he would visit a few local record shops and see if he could find himself a job. Music was his passion, so he thought he'd enjoy working around it.

As he stepped outside the coffee shop he took a deep breath of sharp city air and set off down the street determined to begin his new life and forget about the last four awful years.