~Friday~

Friday morning Kurt and Blaine sat lounging in bed an hour and a half before Kurt had to be at work, a bowl of freshly cut breakfast fruit nestled between them.

"What time is the party tonight?" Blaine asked holding a ripe strawberry up to Kurt's lips, he bit into it and giggled as the juice ran down his chin "8:30" he answered and Blaine nodded as he finished off the strawberry.

"Do you have a tuxedo?" Kurt asked fishing out a chunk of cantaloupe "Nope" Blaine answered popping the P "Well I guess we know what you're doing today" Kurt said with a grin and Blaine nodded, glad he'd gotten the whole day off.

"I don't even know where to go for that kind of thing" he admitted, actually he'd ways just had a personal tailor, "Hhmm, I'll ask Rose when I get to the office, I'm sure she'll know a good place" Kurt mumbled around a chunk of apple "Your adorable" Blaine said out off nowhere, a soft smile on his face "What?" Kurt asked blushing a little under is adoring stare "And that's the best part-" he said leaning forward to steal a kiss, "You don't even know it"

"What am I gonna do with you?" Kurt asked quietly shaking his head, "Take me to a fancy party, apparently" he chuckled and Kurt rolled his eyes popping a grape into his mouth.

~//~

After a while Kurt sent Blaine an address and Blaine headed there right away, the place was more toward the tourist side of town and was lavishly extravagant. He stepped inside and looked around, glad he had decided to dress on the nicer side.

A man in a suit with a stiff walk and a pretentious air about him approached Blaine immediately and greeted him "Can I help you sir? Do you have an appointment?" he asked eyeing him a little and keeping a sharp distance "Um, I'm not sure, I was told to come here" he explained "Oh, are you the gentleman Mr. Hummel called in for?" he asked pointing at Blaine "Oh ya, that'd be me, uh, Blaine Anderson" he answered with a smile and the man relaxed visibly.

"Excellent Mr. Anderson!" he clapped his hands together and stepped up to Blaine, "Right this way and we'll get your measurements!"

Blaine followed the man into a private nook with a round raised platform and lined with mirrors. As he started measuring every inch of Blaine's body, and Blaine's mind was filled with memories of days that seemed so very far away now.

From the time Blaine could talk he was trussed up in custom made suits and shoved out into up tight parties and expected to impress. And impress he did. Blaine had always had a naturally charismatic demeanor, and as his body grew so did his charm, he knew how to lay it on thick and make ladies swoon and men laugh, defuse tension in situations and convince people he actually knew what he was talking about.

But unlike all those times as a child, when he stood stalk still as a man with a long white tape and a hundred dollar haircut flitted around him, he wasn't dreading the evening. For the first time in his life he was actually looking forward to the party, showing up on Kurt's arm was going to be brilliant, just the thought of it made him grin like a mad man.

The fitting went well and the absolutely most perfectly fitted tuxedo was selected for Blaine, and when the final total flashed up on the screen he reached for his wallet "No need sir, Mr. Hummel is taking care of this" said the airy man who had been helping him throughout his time in the store and Blaine blinked at him "Oh no, he can't-"

"He said you'd say that sir, and he also said it's a business expense and his company will be footing the bill" the man smiled and Blaine shrugged a little, if it wasn't Kurt's money, "Oh, wait, give me just a second" Blaine held up a finger and ducked to another part of the store, he studied some shelves for a while before collecting two small boxes and takeing them up front.

"Will these be on the charge as well sir?" the man asked and Blaine shook his head with a grin "No, cash"

~//~

Spa treatment, mani, pedi, new hair cut. Yes, he was putting Cooper's money to good use today! He wanted to feel and look his absolute best for the evening, and who didn't deserve some pampering every now and then?

He stopped by Kurt's office to take him coffee again, just because he could. And then it was home again. He found himself relaxing on the couch with the few hours he had left before he had to start getting ready, day dreaming about what was to come.

When Kurt got home they showered together and Blaine vacated the bathroom to allow Kurt to get ready, preparing himself in the bedroom instead. When he finished first he found himself pacing in the living room, wringing his hands together, when had he gotten so nervous?

The door to the bedroom finally opened and Kurt stepped out, his designer tux form fitting him perfectly. His hair styled to absolute perfection as usual but somehow even more so. Blaine stood in stunned silence for a moment, one that it seemed Kurt shared.

Blaine finally found his feet and closed the distance between them in quick smooth strides, he brushed the backs of his fingers against Kurt's cheek and inhaled his cologne deeply "You look beautiful" he breathed in utter awe, and a deep crimson dusted across Kurts cheeks.

"I have something for you" Blaine said keeping his voice at a low register so as not to break their moment. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gray velvet box "Here" he smiled placing it in Kurt's hand, and sliding the tiniest bit closer to him.

Kurt pulled open the hinge and gasped quietly when his eyes landed on the diamond cufflinks "blaine" he said in a voice much quieter than he intended and Blaine pulled up his own jacket sleeve "See, we'll match" he said with a grin and Kurt responded by kissing him sweetly, because really what else do you say to that?

Blaine took Kurt's hand and gently removed his plain gold links, and replaced them with his, the whole moment was so quiet, so intimate. And when Blaine finished he moved to face Kurt again, looking into his shining blue eyes "Now, I have to take you to the ball" Blaine grinned and Kurt laced their fingers together between them "It's not really a ball" he said softly and Blaine bought his lips up close to the other mans.

"Maybe not. But I'm still your prince" he caught his lips in sweet lingering kiss and Kurt melted into it. They headed for the door and Blaine picked up Kurt's keys "May I drive you?" he asked politely "Mmm, why of course" Kurt smiled and stopping next to him "The bowtie's a nice touch by the way" he grinned and straightened it, even though it didn't need it.

They walked to the car in comfortable silence and Blaine opened Kurt's door for him, shutting it after he was inside and walking around to the driver's side. "So, are you nervous?" Blaine asked as he started the car and pulled away "Oh, a little I guess, I mean I have been to some of these things of course but, I still get butterflies right before" he smiled and Blaine laced their fingers together on top of the console.

"Your gonna be brilliant" his encouraging words made Kurt's heart swell as Blaine's thumb ran back and forth over his fingers, and suddenly he wasn't nearly as nervous anymore, honestly where had this man been all his life?

They pulled up to what was clearly a multi-million dollar mansion, and Blaine opened Kurt's door before taking care of the valet and turning back to him "Shall we?" he asked and offered Kurt his arm and Kurt's heart raced as he looped his arm through the other mans, he had been so busy thinking about the party itself, that he failed to think about the thrilling fact that he actually had a date!

And not just that but a date who was as open and proud as he was, and was possibly the most debonair man he had ever met! They reached the door and a well dressed butler requested an invitation, Kurt pulled the small card out of his pocket and handed it over, "Ah, welcome Mr. Hummel, please enjoy the party" he said with a small nod and they proceeded through the large double French ivory doors.

The inside of the mansion was just as breathtaking as the exterior, and it already held a decent amount of people. Waiters walked around with silver trays offering hors d'oeuvre, and a harpist played softly in the corner, toward the back of the room two glass doors leading to a garden stood open and people wondering out to have a look and back in.

The men were all dressed in striking tuxedos, most which looked tailor made, and probably were, and the women all wore long flowing gowns, thin shoulder straps and deep V backs that showed their desire for dominance over the next. It was one of the many reasons Blaine was glad he was gay, women had this way of fighting without ever opening their mouths, your man looked at me and thus I am better than you in every conceivable way. Never the less, the women of the night were beautiful in their own right.

They stepped out onto the floor to join the rest of the guests and Kurt couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Blaine, he held his head a little higher and kept his back a little straighter, not in a rigid way, just amazingly good posture. His shoulders somehow squared up and he seemed to be aware of each movement he made and made it with purpose.

But most of all Kurt noticed how he wasn't intimidated by the room at all, not the number of guests or the sheer size of it, or the fact that the only soul Blaine knew, was attached to his arm. Seriously was there no end to this man's depth?

"Oh, Kurt!" a gentleman in his late forties approached them swiftly from the side and they turn toward him when they heard Kurt's name "Jerald" Kurt said with polite recognition, greeting him with a fond hand shake when he got close enough "What are you doing here? You haven't given up on New York?" he eyed Kurt apprehesively .

"Oh no, never" Kurt assured him shaking his head "I'm actually here on business, I've been in town for close to three weeks now" Kurt explained and Jerald nodded "I see, well that's good to hear. We're here window shopping for cottages, not that we really need another get away home, but you know such decisions aren't up to me" they shared a light hearted laugh "Oh, is Celine here?" Kurt questioned.

"Not tonight, feeling a little under the weather I'm a afraid" he answered and Kurt nodded "Well do send her my best" he requested "Yes will do. And who is your other half this evening?" He asked curiously, turning his attention to Blaine "This is Blaine Anderson, Blaine this is Jerald Mayford" Kurt introduced them and Blaine shook his hand with just the right amount of firmness.

"Pleasure to meet you sir" Blaine said with a dapper smile and Jerald grinned in response "Oh, trust me the pleasure is all mine" he said with a twinkle in his eye "Glad to see Kurt finally has a plus one" he said and the tiniest blush spread across Kurt's cheeks.

"Now I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark here, and I'm probably wrong, but Anderson & Sutherland?" he asked and Blaine let out a breathy humorless chuckle as his eyes dropped from Jerald's for just a moment "Yes, I'm afraid so" he confirmed, he'd driven thousands of miles, and climbed to the top of the world, and he still couldn't get away from that name.

Kurt's eyes went a little wide and he looked at Blaine, he wracked his brain trying to remember what kind of company Blaine's father owned and then he remembered he'd never told him. "Well, I'm sorry then, uh, we switched." Jerald apologized and Blaine held up a hand "Don't be sorry, I'm glad you did" Blaine smiled and Jerald stroked his chin lightly "Ah, striking out on our own are we?" he asked with a playful grin.

"Yes, you could say that" Blaine answered unabashed "Well, take it from a man who's won and lost a hundred fortunes, greater is the man who fails, than the man who never tries" he said with a knowing smile and Blaine's honey colored eyes said thank you "Luckily I've won more than I've lost" Jerald chuckled, successfully bringing the mood back up.

"Oh, there's Pnina Tornai! Kurt you simply must meet her!" Jerald insisted when he spotted her in the distance "I'll get us some drinks" Blaine said, offering them some privacy "Anything I can get for you Jerald?" he asked and Jerald shook his head "None for me thanks"

And with that Blaine bowed away to find the bar, and Jerald whisked Kurt off talking excitedly about something. Blaine smiled to himself and meandered for a bit until he came by what he was looking for, he requested two glasses of wine, and turned back to watch Kurt in the distance.

"Well, what's someone like you doing walking around unattended?" a smooth voice came from his side and he turned to see a striking blonde in a slim fitted red silk gown leaning against the bar "What, no date?" she asked coyly and Blaine opened his mouth looking back in Kurt's direction, but closed it again without a word, Kurt was gone.

"Hhhmm, my dates gone missing too, maybe we should go on a treasure hunt" she suggested and Blaine never lost his dapper composure "I would be honored to escort you to your dates side" Blaine smiled and she stood up straight "Oh, such charm" her eyes sparkled with intrigue and she really was as beautiful as she acted. Her figure was perfect, as was her hair which fell in thick full waves, her neck line dropped over her perfectly proportioned chest and her eyes where the kind of blue that could stop a man's heart.

The bar tender set Blaine's drinks on the bar and he picked them up with one hand "My lady" he offered her his arm and she gladly slid hers into place, perhaps a little to cozily. They made their way through the crowd and Blaine scanned the room for any sight of Kurt, "Hhm, still no sign of her? Pity." the woman stated in a way that clearly showed her belief that no such date existed.

"Ah, no. There He is" Blaine said with a proud smile when he finally spotted Kurt, emphasize the pronoun and gesturing in his direction "Hm, yes, I see" she loosened up her grip as her false facade melted away, "Your all either gay or taken" she said light heartedly "They're out there," he assured her "You just have to stop looking" he smiled and she chuckled.

"Now, where is that we're headed" Blaine asked and she shook her head a little "Well, it appears that your date, is talking to my date, what are the odds" she asked and right at that moment the man Kurt had been talking to glanced their way, and suddenly didn't appear to happy "Giselle!" he called eyeing Blaine carefully and Blaine closed the distance to the other group.

"Hello darling, I lost my way and this young gentleman was just so kind as to help me find it again" she explained as she gracefully detached herself from Blaine and slid over to the other man, who didn't look quite convinced.

Blaine turned to Kurt and held up a glass of wine "Ma d'amour" he smiled at him sweetly and Kurt blushed slightly, a timid smile playing at his lips and Blaine brushed their fingers together as he took the offered glass. Observing the tender exchange made the man Giselle was now attached to visibly relax.

"Oh, you speak french" she questioned as her voice perked up a bit "Oui, assez bien, je suppose" (Yes, well enough I suppose) he answered "Oh, Votre accent est délicieux!" (Oh, Your accent is delectable!) she responded with delight, but in perfect French and now it was Blaine's turn to be surprised "Et le vôtre est inexistante" (And yours is non-existent) he smirked with intrigue and there was her perfectly practiced laugh again.

"Je suis français. Né et élevé, j'ai déménagé ici quand j'avais dix-huit" (I'm French. Born and raised, I moved to here when I was eighteen) she answered with a soft disposition "Pas même il sait que" (Not even he knows that) she confessed speaking of her date and Blaine's eyes held hers in a serious way that no one else could see "Vous êtes vraiment une belle femme Giselle, vous méritez le monde. Ne jamais se contenter de moins." (You are truly a beautiful woman Giselle, you deserve the world. Don't ever settle for less.)

"J'espère qu'il sait comment il est chanceux" (I hope he knows how lucky he is) she said flicking her eyes over to Kurt "Oh, je crains que je suis le plus chanceux" (Oh, I'm afraid I'm the lucky one) he turned and looked Kurt in the eye, and Kurt looked back and Giselle smiled "Ce fut un honneur de vous rencontrer Blaine Anderson" (It was an honor to meet you Blaine Anderson) she said with the most sincerity she'd had all night "Trust me, that honor belongs to me" he said softly and Giselle turned to her man requesting a drink, and with a quick goodbye to Kurt they were gone.

"Hhhmm, what was all that about?" Kurt asked with a playful smile "Ah, kindred spirit" Blaine answered "A run away?" Kurt quirked an eyebrow in surprise and Blaine laughed "I prefer the term "Freedom chasers" he teased and sipped his wine "How was Pnina Tornai?" he asked changing the subject.

"Oh she was brilliant!" Kurt's whole face lit up and Blaine smiled "She's a-" Kurt started but Blaine cut him off "Wedding dress designer, I know" he nodded and Kurts jaw dropped a little "And I'm impressed" Kurt said having clearly underestimated his knowledge "Well, I am gay" Blaine rolled his eyes and Kurt covered his mouth with the tips of his fingers to conceal the cutest little giggle.

Blaine leaned forward and slipped his hand around to rest on Kurt's back just between his shoulder blades, like he'd seen men in suits do to women in low cut dresses his whole life, he leaned his face in close to Kurt's ear and their cheeks lightly brushed together "Your adorable" he whispered with a smile and pulled back and Kurt couldn't suppress his giddy grin as his heart raced in his chest.

"Come on, let's check out the garden" Blaine said with a smile, and they made their way outside.

They walked shoulder to shoulder down the wide cement paths and marveled at the immaculately cared for flowers, they sipped their wine and leaned in to whisper things that weren't secrets, and now and then they would pass another couple on path and give them a polite nod of recognition.

Blaine was pleasantly surprised by lack of judging looks, the grand majority of party goers seemed not to even take notice of them, as if they were no different than any other couple there. It was refreshing, the fashion industry was just different than the cold hard one his father existed in, and once again he was glad to be free.

They stopped by a nook that over looked part of the town, little lights twinkled in the distance and then feathered off into the darkness just before the twinkle of the stars took over "god its beautiful isn't it" Kurt asked in awe of it all "Yes, it is" Blaine agreed easily, but Kurt could feel his eyes on him "You know that's incredibly cheesy right?" Kurt teased and turned to meet Blaine's eyes.

Blaine looked at him with a sure gaze "That doesn't make it any less true" he said softly and Kurt couldn't help but smile "how do you even exist?" he whispered almost more to himself than anything, but Blaine turned to face him a little more and slid a hand into his "You're the unicorn, I should be asking you that" and he placed a tender kiss on Kurt's lips.

It was Friday, and on Sunday they would only have one week left together, an unspoken rule, no one ever mentioned the time they had left. But now standing in the starlight, with this perfect man, on this perfect night, Kurt honestly started to wonder how he was going to say goodbye to him.

How was he supposed to go get on a plane and fly back to New York, and go back to his life the way it was, and pretend nothing had happened? When so much had.

But he had to, he had to go home, and Blaine had to go on, and that's all there was to it. There was nothing for Blaine in New York and nothing for Kurt in Califorina. No, they had to say goodbye, and it was coming, far sooner than either of would have ever wished. But how, how was he supposed to say goodbye to this?

"Viens mon amour" (Come on my love) Blaine pulled his hand back from his cheek "Let's rejoin the party" he said with a small smile and Kurt read his mind, now is not the time for these thoughts. Kurt took his offered arm and they started back toward the main building.

They disposed of their empty glasses, and Blaine excused himself to use the powder room, which made Kurt giggle. When he returned he spotted Kurt not far away in the middle of the room, deep in conversation with a group of people, who of course looked important, and Blaine had to stop and watch him for a moment.

He seemed to fit in so well, adding comments at just the right time and making everyone laugh at moments to, the whole party was open and relaxed and well engaged every time he opened his mouth. To say Blaine was proud of him would have been a gross understatement.

"How long have y'all been together?" Jerald's voice was suddenly at his side and Blaine looked at him quickly then back at Kurt "Oh we're... We're not really together" he answered truthfully "We've been..." he paused for a moment searching for the right word "Seeing each other, for about three weeks" he answered, his eyes staying trained on Kurt, watching his every move with adoration.

"Ah, I see..." Jerald assessed him carefully "Pacular, isn't that the same amount of time he mentioned having been in town?" he asked and Blaine looked at him "Uh, ya.. We met the night he flew in" Blaine smiled at the memory as his mind drifted back over the night and Jerald nodded "The heart is funny that way isn't it?" he said with a knowing smile and Blaine looked at him, coming back out of his daze.

"What?" he blink and realized what he was trying to say "Oh no, no I'm not..." he let the sentence hang as his eyes wandered back over to Kurt, who was smiling and agreeing with something a woman had just said, "i can't fall in love with him" he said his voice falling to a low register, he just couldn't.

"Well, good luck with that." Jerald said simply, and at that moment Kurt's eyes flicked up and caught Blaine's across the room, his face fell into a soft smile and his eyes lit up, good luck indeed, "Looks like your being summoned" Jerald said with a smile "Hmm, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance Jerald" Blaine's said shaking his hand one last time "The feeling is mutual"

Blaine made his way over to Kurt and settled in at his side, Kurt introduced him and people offered friendly greetings. The rest of the night went by smoothly, they spoke with designers of all kinds and mingled with the hosts for bit, Kurt was a hit and everyone loved Blaine and he supported Kurt at every turn in every way, and never once over shadowed him.

When they left arm in arm they both retained their emphatically elated moods, they smiled and giggled and whispered as they waited for the valet to fetch their car, their hands stayed laced together all the way home, and when they walked through the cabin door Kurt was tucked snuggly under Blaine's arm.

Now Blaine stood in the middle of the bedroom, watching Kurt's back as he slid out of his jacket and carefully hung it up, while Blaine's own lay tossed on the bed. Kurt finished and turned around to see Blaine watching him, an almost somber look on his face "Blaine..." Kurt had the dire want to use some type, any type, of endearment, honey, baby, sweetheart, love, but he doesn't, damn rules.

"Blaine, what's wrong?" Kurt crossed to room to him in three quick strides and Blaine shook his head, tears threatening to pool in his glistening eyes "I just wanted to tell you, I had a fantastic time tonight" Blaine said, it wasn't a lie, but also wasn't all he was thinking about, and Kurt pulled him into a tender embrace.

"So did I" Kurt's voice was muffled from where it pressed against his shoulder and Blaine tucked his face into the crook of Kurt's neck, his fingers fisting into Kurt's shirt as he took a deep breath. He wanted this, he wanted this forever, to be able to hold Kurt, and smell his scent, and taste his lips, and feel him all around him, keeping him safe.

But they were running out of time. 

Nobody said it, nobody had to, they were running out of time.