The next few days were quiet.  Kurt's most recent deadline passed, and he had a couple days where he could come home at a decent hour and have his weekend free.  He coaxed Blaine out to a new restaurant in midtown and for a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  They visited the Natural History Museum.  Blaine took in the new experiences with his usual curiosity, awe, and smiles, but Kurt could see the light in his eyes had dimmed.  When Kurt noticed Blaine most content sitting on the couch with Cooper reading a book, he left him to it, casting worried glances over his reading glasses every so often.

Cooper, Kurt was sure, sensed the shift in mood.  He settled easily between the two on nights in, but mercilessly teased Blaine into playing and spending time in the park during the day.  Kurt was grateful for the laughter that Cooper managed to elicit from Blaine early in the morning, when he had to leave for work.

.....

It's was a clear night when Kurt came home excited, the nervous energy making him fumble his keys.  He flung the door wide, striding into the apartment, the setting sun casting long shadows.

"Blaine!"

Kurt heard Cooper first, paws padding on the hardwood and skidding softly to a halt when Kurt knelt down to scratch enthusiastically at his fur.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked, coming up to the two, bemused expression on his face.

With a final ruffle of Cooper's fur, Kurt stood, smiling widely.

"I got the new fall line."

Blaine's expression remained perplexed and Kurt clasped his hands excitedly.

"It's going to be my clothes with my name," he elaborated.  "Kurt Hummel for Macy."

The grin spread slowly across Blaine's face, and Kurt laughed at the sheer joy of seeing Blaine's eyes light up again.  Laughter turned into a rather undignified shriek as Blaine wrapped his arms around him and spun him around.  Cooper yipped excitedly at their feet, ducking out of the way when Blaine set Kurt down.

"You are amazing," Blaine breathed out, arms still wrapped around Kurt's torso.  Kurt leant his forehead against Blaine's, eyes sliding shut and hands coming up to cup Blaine's face.

"You reminded me what it was like to dream," Kurt whispered, pressing a kiss to the other man's lips.

Blaine made a noise when Kurt's lips retreated, making Kurt laugh and duck back in for another, deeper, kiss.

"Go out with me tonight?" Kurt asked, brushing his thumbs along Blaine's cheeks.  "I want to celebrate."

Blaine hesitated, the flicker of doubt not lost on Kurt.  He swallowed roughly as his eyes darted away.

"I promise it will be fun," Kurt vowed, trying to tease.  Blaine's eyes met his again.

"As long as I am with you," Blaine agreed with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

An hour later and they were heading to their favorite Italian restaurant, the excitement still buzzing through Kurt's veins.  They shared a bottle of wine, the alcohol turning Kurt's cheeks rosy and making Blaine's laugh louder.  Blaine was thrilled to see Kurt so happy, and the meal passed with easy conversation and wide smiles.

Blaine sought out Kurt's hand as soon as they were on the street, turning toward their apartment.  Kurt tugged him to a stop, eliciting a curious look.

"We're not going home yet," Kurt said coyly.  Blaine's lips quirked into a smile.  "Come on," Kurt prodded with a smirk.

Kurt pulled Blaine down the sidewalk, occasionally bringing their clasped hands to his lips and kissing Blaine's knuckles.

They walked several blocks before Kurt steered Blaine toward a set of silver doors.  The building was gray and well lit, and Blaine chanced a glance upward, losing sight of the building after only a few stories.

When they crossed over the threshold, high brown marble walls appeared, gold emblems and etched images splayed across the surface.  The building appeared empty, the dim lighting casting odd shadows.  Blaine tightened his grasp on Kurt's hand as he glanced around at the patterned walls, ceiling, and floor.

Kurt squeezed back, guiding Blaine through the lobby to a small escalator, which caused Blaine's eyes to widen in excitement.

"The moving stairs," Blaine said.  Even after seeing them in the subway on several occasions, his voice still filled with wonder and disbelief.  Kurt chuckled and rubbed his free hand over Blaine's arm.

"It's only the beginning," Kurt whispered conspiratorially.  On Kurt's count of three, they mounted the moving staircase.  Blaine wobbled, but Kurt held him steady, keeping his arms around him as they ascended.  Blaine smiled gratefully.

The floor they alighted on had black walls with angular silver patterns.  They made their way across the floor, bypassing the empty rope lines to a bank of elevators, their doors decorated just like the walls.  A uniformed man greeted them and pressed the button, taking the two tickets Kurt offered him.

"First time here?" the man asked with a kind smile.

"His first, my second," Kurt supplied easily.

"Beautiful night.  Best view I've seen this year."

"Where are we going?" Blaine asked quietly, his eyes still taking in everything around them.

"You'll see," Kurt answered enigmatically just as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

Another floor appeared, similar to the one they just departed, and Kurt led Blaine through a maze of rope lines to another set of elevators.  This time, Kurt pressed the button and the elevator quickly opened.  The second elevator ride took them to a different floor, this one with a low ceiling and wall sconces.  Kurt pulled Blaine to the stairs and up to a wall of double doors, a gust of cool air hitting them as they opened the nearest one.

Blaine shivered, staring wide-eyed out into the darkness as the wind tousled his hair.  People milled around them, most of them leaning into the fence atop the concrete wall.

With a smile, Kurt rounded on Blaine, reaching for his other hand.  Walking backwards, he led Blaine toward the crowd of people, toward the wall until Kurt's back bumped into the concrete.

"Ready?" Kurt asked.  Blaine smiled back, any hesitation lost in the light of Kurt's excitement--only curiosity remained.  Kurt tugged him just that bit closer, guiding his hands to the wall next to him.

As Blaine took those last two steps, the city lights appeared over the wall.  Blaine gasped, the rough concrete scratching his skin as he gripped tightly.

"Are we--," Blaine voice trailed off as he leaned closer to the chain link fence, eyes darting near and far.

"I know you've seen pictures, but I thought the real thing would be better."  Kurt rubbed his hand along Blaine's back.

"It's exhilarating," Blaine said breathlessly and flashed a bright, genuine smile at him.  Kurt's relief washed over him, cleansing the worry that had taken residence in him over the last few days.

Kurt took Blaine's hand again and the two walked around the observation deck, Kurt pointing out landmarks--the bright lights of Times Square, the Financial District, Union Square, the Statue of Liberty, and his office building.  Using the binoculars, Kurt even pinpointed their apartment building, much to Blaine's astonishment.

When they had made their way around the balcony a second time, Blaine paused, pulling Kurt into his warm embrace.  He closed his eyes, his sigh lost in the wind swirling about them.

"Thank you," Blaine whispered, lips brushing against the sensitive skin below Kurt's ear.

Warmth blossomed in his chest and Kurt's arms, which had found their way under Blaine's jacket, tightened in response.

"I don't like seeing you sad," Kurt revealed when they pulled away enough to look at each other.

"I'm sorry," Blaine said earnestly.

Kurt shook his head, shifting to rest a palm on Blaine's jaw.

"You don't have to apologize."  Kurt soothed his thumb over Blaine's cheek when the other man's eyes flickered away.  "What can I do to make things better?"

Blaine's eyes darted back, falling on Kurt's lips a moment before he leaned in.  Kurt sighed into the kiss, feeling the now familiar swooping in his stomach as Blaine sucked gently on his lower lip.  And when Kurt tilted his head to deepen the kiss, tangling his tongue with Blaine's and sliding his fingers through the curls at the other man's nape, Blaine moaned.  The vibration traveled through Kurt's entire body, igniting sparks along the way.

"Take me home," Blaine requested raggedly when he pulled away, his breathing hard and eyes dark.

"Okay," Kurt said breathlessly, swallowing and blinking to clear the lustful haze in his mind.  He pressed his lips back to Blaine's briefly, and then slid his hand down to Blaine's, holding fast as they made their way into the building and back to the street.

.....

"Blaine, it's kind of hard to move."

Blaine had wrapped his arms around Kurt from behind, pressing his cheek to Kurt's shoulder as Kurt unlocked the apartment door.  Now, the door hung open, Cooper's footfalls coming toward them.

"Don't care," was Blaine's muffled response, tightening his hold.

"You've been watching too much television," Kurt teased.  Cooper appeared, leash trailing behind him and tail wagging.  Kurt chuckled quietly, gripped Blaine's forearm, and pulled him through the door.  

Cooper barked around the leash in his mouth, tilting his head as the two men stumbled over the threshold.  They ended up facing each other, hands gripping arms for balance.  Cooper yipped again and trotted closer.

"I think someone needs to go out," Kurt said, amusement coloring his tone.  They looked down at the expectant expression on the puppy's face.

"You're the one who brought him home," Kurt pointed out when Blaine pouted.  Blaine sighed, kneeling and taking the leash from Cooper's mouth.  Clipping the leash to collar, Blaine ruffled the dog's fur before standing.

"But you love him," Blaine countered earnestly.

"He's only been here a little more than a week," Kurt pointed out.  His lips twitched with the smirk he tried to hide, but Blaine caught it.  With a grin of his own, Blaine kissed Kurt's jaw.  He trailed his lips along Kurt's jaw line until his breath was warm against Kurt's ear.

"You love him," Blaine whispered, sending a shiver through Kurt.  Blaine pulled back, his expression smug.  Kurt suddenly breathed again, blinking under Blaine's intense gaze.

"What can I say?  I have a thing for strays," Kurt said with a shrug, his nonchalance sabotaged by his breathlessness.  When Blaine's grin grew, Kurt dragged him back in, pressing his lips hard against Blaine's.  Tongues found their way into each other's mouths, and Blaine was suddenly gripping Kurt's hips and pulling him even closer.

Cooper whined and tugged on the leash now loosely hung on Blaine's wrist.  Blaine's lips slid to Kurt's jaw.  Kurt whimpered as the warmth flooded his chest, traveling to his abdomen as Blaine's lips moved down his neck before tearing them away when Cooper whined again.

"I really need to read that book," Kurt mused, again breathless.  Blaine laughed and pressed a last kiss to Kurt's lips before stepping away.

"I'll be back soon."  Blaine headed toward the door, Cooper right by his side.

"Hurry."

Blaine shot a smile at Kurt before he shut the door.  Kurt let out a sigh, turning on his heel, and headed for the bedroom.

.....

Despite their last exchange, Kurt was unsurprised when he heard the front door open 43 minutes later.  Blaine no doubt took Cooper all the way to the dog park, giving the puppy some time to run around.

Kurt surveyed the bedroom.  He had ventured into Rachel's room to raid her large stash of candles, and the spare bedroom for the pillows and quilt both he and Blaine adored.  Several candles now flickered around the room, filling the air with a faint scent of sweet pea and oranges.  Now, he was leaning on the multiple pillows, legs swathed in deep purple, glasses perched on his nose, and one of Blaine's books on his lap.

A lazy smile crept over Kurt's lips as he heard Blaine's voice in the hall, soft and apologetic.

"Not tonight, Coop."

Blaine appeared in the doorway, his face lighting up at the sight of the bedroom.

Cooper's sudden appearance by his leg drew their attention, but before either could react, he was hopping onto the bed and giving Kurt a sloppy lick across the cheek.  The puppy drew back, his tail wagging happily, and yipped.  With another lick, Cooper jumped off the bed and trotted right out the door.

Blaine leaned back to watch Cooper saunter down the hall and plop down on the pet bed Blaine had slid over from the lounge.  Laughing, he moved into the room and closed the door.  Leaning against the cool wood, Blaine watched Kurt reach for a tissue and wipe his face, shaking his head as he lobbed the tissue into the waste bin.  When Kurt's eyes flashed in the candlelight and found Blaine's, he pulled off his glasses.

"Come here," Kurt instructed softly, hand reaching out.  Blaine pushed himself off the door and climbed onto the bed, sliding his hand into Kurt's as he settled beside him.  "What exactly did you tell Cooper we were going to do in here?"

"I may have referenced the poodle."

"He's only one," Kurt pointed out, scandalized.

"I did it last time."

"Blaine!"

"He is actually a teenager in dog years," Blaine defended cheekily.  Kurt huffed and opened his mouth to retort, but Blaine's lips were on his before he could formulate a response.  The kiss was brief, but it still left Kurt feeling like he had run a marathon.

"You've been teasing me tonight," Kurt pointed out.

"Did I not do it right?"  Blaine's earnestness had Kurt grinning.

"You did fine.  But I think we're supposed to be doing something else."  With that, Kurt pulled Blaine close again.

.....

Cooper barked, ears back and head tilted.

"What is it, Coop?" Blaine asked, walking slowly down the hall and not looking up from the book in his hands.

Cooper barked again.

"Kurt will be home later.  Do you need to--," Blaine trailed off when he reached the lounge.  Cooper was not by the front door as he suspected, but rather sitting in front of the bookcase.

Cooper barked again.

"Cooper?"  Blaine knelt down beside the dog, pressing a hand to the dog's back.  Cooper whined, casting him a quick glance before turning back to the bookshelf.  Blaine followed his gaze up to the mirror, frowning.  However, as the two stared at the reflective surface, all they saw was the unmoving image of the opposite wall and ceiling.

Cooper whined again, ending it with a bark.

"I am sure it was nothing."  Blaine ran his fingers through the thick white-gray fur before standing again.  With a last whine, Cooper followed Blaine back down the hall.

Cooper settled down on the bed next to Blaine, several books lying open around them.  So focused on his studious endeavors, Blaine barely registered the setting sun casting shadows in the room until all was dark except for the pool of light from the bedside lamp.  Cooper napped, only blinking an eye open when Blaine switched books or scratched at his head.  It wasn't until 10 minutes before 8:00 that the silence was interrupted.

"Is that French, or Italian?"

Cooper was up in an instant, jostling the mattress and barking.  Heart racing and breath caught in his lungs, Blaine looked up searching for the origin of the voice.  When his eyes fell on the dresser mirror, filled with a rippling bright light, he tossed his book aside and scrambled off the bed.

"Rachel?"

The image smiled at him fondly, the brightness settling into shades of red, brown, and cream.

"Hello, Blaine."

Blaine took in her appearance, the way Rachel's hair seemed longer with the tiniest touch of gray at her temple.  Her dress was red but different from the one she had worn to the ball.  She wore a heavy maroon cape.  Light glinted off steel, the Queensword resting comfortably in Rachel's grasp.

Blaine reached a hand out, but his fingers stilled inches away from the glass.  His eyes flickered back to Rachel's as he dropped his hand.

"It took a few years to figure out the magic involved in sending someone there," Rachel explained.

"Years?"

"It will be 12 years tomorrow."

Blaine's mouth fell open, his mind scrambled to comprehend the passage of time.

"Blaine," Rachel hedged, taking a deep breath.  "Sebastian's back."

Blaine gripped the dresser.

"How?"

His question was punctuated by a large bang, and smoke seeped into the image behind Rachel.  Blaine flinched.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to explain further," Rachel said, her expression turning tense as she looked over her shoulder.  "I need you to do something."

"What's happened?"  Blaine swallowed roughly, fragments of his dream flashing in his mind.  A loud crash echoed from the mirror, causing the glass to rattle.  Cooper barked.  Rachel cast another look over her shoulder.  The smoke swirled yellow and black.

"I have to send someone to you."

"I don't understand.  What is happening?  Who?"

Blaine's questions went unanswered as the glass shook again, and a cacophony of sounds broke out.  Blaine could hear shouts and more crashes.  Cooper whined, pawing nervously at the bed sheets.  Rachel disappeared and reappeared quickly, holding something Blaine could not make out and looked back with pleading eyes.

"There's no time," Rachel said urgently, sadly.

"But--."  Another thunderous boom cut him off.  Rachel flinched, ducking as stone fell behind her.

"He'll have a way back."  The ominous smoke shifted and retreated, pressed back by rolling purple fog.  Blaine blinked his attention back to Rachel.

"Wait.  Kurt--."

"Tell him I love him," Rachel interrupted over the din.  "I have to go."  The purple fog began filling the mirror, obscuring his view.

"Rachel--."

"Take care of him."

There was no slow fading of her image, no calm glow of light that eventually dissipated.  This time, Rachel gave him a last tearful look before ducking out of frame just as the glass shook again.  The fog enveloped the entire mirror and slipped past the frame into the bedroom.  The booms and clangs quieted, leaving the room heavy with silence.

Blaine stepped back, legs bumping into the bed.  Cooper whined again, nudging Blaine's hand until Blaine ran soothing fingers over his nose.

Undulating between shades of lilac, lavender, and plum, the fog traveled along the floor and around man and dog, settling on the bed.  The fog coalesced, shrinking in on itself into a vague form.

Purple gave way to warmly tanned skin, curly brown hair, pink cheeks, and tiny fingers curled into tight fists.  Long eyelashes fluttered, bright blue eyes blinking sleepily.  The fog lingered around its precious cargo, shaping itself into a plush blanket wrapped securely around the new arrival.