Blaine couldn't sleep that night. Sebastian's words kept him thinking, over-analyzing every detail he could remember of his day with Kurt. He couldn't see where things had gone wrong, how it could be possible for it to be true. But the small, yet noticeable change of attitude as they came back to the castle ignited a spark of doubt in Blaine.

He didn't know what to do or how to handle this situation. The best option would be to discuss this with the Winstow prince but he was scared to find that Sebastian was right and Kurt did hate him. He couldn't possibly ignore him altogether either, not even if he tried. A force far stronger than him seemed to pull him to Kurt, to make him want to get closer, to know more… to know everything.

He groaned into his pillow and threw the sheets over his head in exasperation. Perhaps it'd be best to leave the other prince be for a few days and see how things develop from there.

When the first rays of sunlight began to breach his window and hit his bed, Blaine got up and started to get ready for the day. He knew he needed to maintain his body occupied and his mind distracted if he wanted to give the situation some space. It would be almost impossible for him to stop seeking Kurt's company otherwise.

With his sword sheathed and his robes ready, he got out of his chambers, determined to find Wes and the rest of the knights for a day out. He walked quickly through the halls, his eyes fixed on the floor as his mind raced between thoughts of Kurt and thoughts of activities for the day.

He was so concentrated and so immersed in his thoughts that he failed to see or hear the door opening right next to him.

"Oh, Blaine!"

Blaine stopped mid-track, his heartbeat speeding up as he slowly turned to find Kurt's warm smile greeting him in his doorway.

"P-Prince Kurt," Blaine cleared his throat. "Good morning."

Kurt's smile remained inked in his face, making Blaine's hear hammer stronger in his chest as he thought of a way to end this conversation quickly.

"So," Kurt said eagerly, taking one step closer to Blaine, who took one step back. "What is the itinerary for today?"

"I-I, well… I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid I can't be your companion today."

Blaine tried his hardest not to pay any attention to the way Kurt's face fell at his words. He had to remind himself that he needed to take some distance, analyze things and see if Sebastian's words were true. Because if they were, Blaine wouldn't want to make Kurt's stay even more difficult by upsetting him with his presence, as painful an image as it was to Blaine.

"I am terribly sorry. I must go now."

And with a bow and a small, insecure smile, Blaine left a very confused Kurt behind.

Two weeks went by where Blaine made himself busy with training sessions or hunting trips, leaving Kurt to spend the day with Rachel or some of Blaine's knights, usually Nick and Jeff. Kurt liked the company and was happy to say he became close friends with the princess and the two knights but he couldn't deny the fact that he missed Blaine.

He didn't know what he had done wrong or if he had done anything at all to upset the prince but he could tell Blaine was actively avoiding him and no matter how hard Kurt tried to get him alone or talk to him, Blaine always found a way out.

It saddened Kurt to see Blaine's detachment, not only because he wanted to get the chance to make his old childhood friend remember him for who he was and what he had – hopefully – meant at some point of the prince's life, but also because he couldn't deny the growing feelings he was developing for the prince.

It also didn't help to watch him go off to several activities, always in the company of Sebastian. Even if Wes was also always with them, Kurt's stomach would twist and turn in the most unpleasant way whenever he saw the way Sebastian looked at Blaine, the way he casually touched him, the way he would sometimes lean in to whisper something in Blaine's ear.

It drove Kurt mad with jealousy.

His inner struggle to both, control his feelings and decide whether it was a good idea to confront Blaine or not, must have gotten more and more obvious as the days went by, since one morning Rachel approached him as he finished breakfast and was on his way back to his chambers.

"Um, Kurt?"

"Yes?" Kurt didn't stop walking or turned around, he simply slowed down enough to let Rachel catch up with him and walk together through the halls.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Why would I not be?"

Rachel licked her lips hesitantly before replying. "Because Blaine has made himself busy and you haven't been together for days now."

Kurt huffed and brushed it off with his hand, as if it wasn't anything important.

"It's quite okay. I am a prince too, after all. I know there are many things to do and entertaining the hidden guest is probably the last of his concerns."

Rachel frowned and rushed to step in front of Kurt, making him stop walking.

"I may only know you for a few days but I believe myself to be a great judge of character and I know when people are lying to me. We are friends, Kurt, or at least, I consider you a friend. A rather close one at that."

"I do too," Kurt whispered, taken aback by Rachel's words and incredibly touched by them too.

"Then don't pretend to be okay when you are not. Not to me. You can talk to me, Kurt. I know Blaine's quite illogical and completely foolish idea to distance himself is killing you."

Kurt lowered his gaze, biting the inside of his cheek.

"And, to be honest, I'm not the only one who has noticed," Rachel whispered to him.

"W-What do you mean?" Kurt panicked. Had Blaine noticed his apathy? Or worse, had the king noticed?

"Wes, Nick, Jeff – all of Blaine's knights have too. They just didn't think it was their place to say anything. But they're also trying to help, you know? It's not a coincidence that Wes is always with Blaine and Sebastian."

The muffled sound of voices reached them from another hall and both shared a puzzled look before watching just the two men they were talking about round the corner and walk into the hall they were standing in.

Kurt's heart stuttered in his chest as he caught sight of Blaine's beautiful profile. He was discussing something with Sebastian, his face serious and concentrated. Sebastian, on the other hand, didn't seemed to be as focused, for he noticed Kurt and Rachel standing in the middle of the hallway.

He didn't slow his pace or made any sign to make Blaine notice them too. He simply locked eyes with Kurt, gave him a mocking smile and turned to face Blaine, intending to give him his entire attention. Whether to actually listen to what Blaine had to say or just to spark his jealousy, Kurt didn't know.

He felt Rachel take his hand and saw her smile at him kindly before clearing her throat, making Blaine stop talking and turn his head, only then realizing they were there.

"Cousin," Rachel greeted and Blaine just opened and closed his mouth several times with no words coming out.

"Your Majesty, Prince Kurt," Sebastian bowed, his tone bored.

Kurt ignored him. His eyes were trained on Blaine who refused to look him in the eye.

"Kurt and I were wondering if you'd like to join us today," Rachel commented and Kurt turned to look at her quizzically. She squeezed his hand in a way that lead him to believe he needed to follow and so he nodded to no one in particular, since Blaine refused to look at him.

"Um, join you for what?" Blaine asked in a small voice.

"A trip to the town, of course. You didn't finish showing him around the last time."

Rachel's voice sounded so confident, it didn't look as if it was something she had just come up with. It made Kurt believe that was truly their plan for the day. He turned to see Blaine's reaction to his cousin's words; hoping the prince would accept and all would go back to normal. But Blaine only took a deep breath and fixed his eyes on the floor.

"I didn't, that's true, but I'm afraid I have previous engagements I have to tend to. You go ahead and finish the tour with him. I'm sure your company will be more to the prince's liking."

And with that, he urged Sebastian to join him as he continued walking past them. Rachel groaned in frustration and let go of Kurt's hand. Kurt was frozen. What did Blaine mean with that last sentence? Why would Rachel's company be better than Blaine's? If anything, this last exchange had just left Kurt even more confused than before.

There was nothing else to do. He needed to talk to Blaine.

To distract him from the awkward, strange encounter of earlier that morning, Rachel fulfilled her invented plan and took Kurt out to finish the tour he and Blaine had started a couple of weeks ago. They had fun and shopped around in the company of Nick and Jeff. Altogether, it was a nice day and Kurt had truly enjoyed it but he couldn't get Blaine out of his head.

He knew he needed to confront him, which was why, the minute they got back to the castle; he made his way to the prince's chambers.

He walked fast, determination covering his face as he approached Blaine's chambers. But to his dismay, the person outside the room was the last person he would have wanted to run into.

"Your Majesty!" Sebastian said in a mocking tone, sending a flare of anger down Kurt's spine.

"Sebastian," Kurt replied as politely as he could.

"I hope you didn't come to talk to Blaine. He's, well, not available for anyone at the moment."

Kurt greeted his teeth. "This is an urgent matter, so I think he could try to make himself available."

Sebastian studied him for a moment before laughing and taking one step closer to him.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Blaine doesn't want to see you."

Kurt's heart broke a little at Sebastian's words but he knew he couldn't trust anything he said. If that were true, if Blaine truly didn't want to see him, he wanted it to come from the prince's mouth and not from the annoying man standing in front of him.

He opened his mouth to respond, his snarky reply ready, when a voice interrupted him.

"Sebastian, the king needs you."

Kurt turned around and Sebastian looked over Kurt's shoulder to find Wes standing there, his arms crossed and an impatient look on his face. Sebastian glared at him before giving Kurt a short, forced bow and stomping through the hall. Wes remained in his place long enough to wink at Kurt before following Sebastian to what Kurt imagined, would be the king's chambers.

Kurt smiled after Wes, mentally thanking him before turning the knob and taking a deep breath. He opened the door while knocking, not wanting to leave Blaine any opportunity to turn him down.

Blaine was lying in his bed, an arm over his face, when Kurt stepped inside. As the sound of someone entering the room reached him, Blaine removed his arm from his face and started talking.

"Sebastian, for the love of God, just leave me –"

He stopped mid-sentence as he raised himself from bed and found Kurt and not Sebastian, standing in front of him.

"Kurt, I –"

"I would like to ask you something," Kurt interrupted him.

Blaine stood up, suddenly pale and nervous. He swallowed thickly and nodded.

"What is it –"

"Did I do something to offend you?" Kurt said quickly before Blaine could find any reason to throw him out of his room. His eyes looked so hurt that Blaine had to look away. A pang of guilt hit him as he focused on rearranging his shirt, if only to avoid Kurt's intense gaze.

"No. No, of course not. I just –"

"Then what did I do wrong? Why won't you speak to me? Why do you avoid me like the plague?"

"I-I…"

Blaine was about to have a heart attack, he was sure of it. It wasn't just because Kurt was confronting him, but because the mere presence of the other man was enough to leave Blaine breathless and lightheaded. His heart was hammering at his chest and he felt like crying.

"What did I do to make you hate me?"

Blaine turned around, his body finally facing Kurt but still unable to look him in the eyes. Having Kurt so close, feeling him just inches away did things to him and Blaine had to fight the urge to just lunge himself towards him and wrap him in his arms and kiss him. Even if that's what he wanted, he could never do that. Not if Kurt hated him.

"I could ask you the same question," he mumbled so quietly, Kurt was unable to hear it.

"What?"

"I… it's nothing. I just didn't want to upset you with my presence."

"Upset me with your – what do you mean? You said the same thing earlier. I don't understand. I could never – I mean, I-I'm not upset by your presence at all... quite the opposite, actually…"

Blaine finally allowed himself to lock eyes with Kurt. Those bright blue eyes were staring intently at him and once again, the breath was punched right out if him. But this time it was different. Because Kurt's words have him hope, hope that reflected on his own words when it was his turn to speak.

"So you don't… hate me?"

Kurt's eyes widened like plates.

"Hate you? Why would you ever think that?"

Kurt stepped closer, trying to make Blaine understand how far from the truth Blaine's question had been. He reached for the other prince's hand and squeezed it. Blaine's eyes darted to their joined hands and then to Kurt's face, whose brow was furrowed and his eyes so desperate, Blaine couldn't look away.

"How could I ever hate you?" Kurt whispered and it was the undertone, the way his voice seemed to say so much more than just the words it uttered, that made Blaine finally lose control.

He untangled his hand from Kurt's and took his face in his hands, pulling him closer and bringing their lips together in a needy kiss. Kurt gasped against his lips for the briefest second before responding eagerly, grabbing Blaine's arms and holding on tightly, as if they were his anchors.

Blaine pulled away once his mind processed what he was doing. He stared, eyes wide, at Kurt. Both were panting heavily and Kurt's cheeks were painted with the loveliest shade of red, making him even more beautiful in Blaine's eyes.

"I-I don't know why I did that, I am so sorry, I –"

Kurt closed the distance between them, placing a hand on Blaine's lips and smiling fondly.

"Don't be, I'm not."

Blaine let out a shaky breath, very aware of Kurt's soft fingers lingering on his lips. Kurt's beautiful blue-green eyes stared at him intently and he found he couldn't look away. After a few more minutes of staying still, eyes locked, Kurt let his arm drop slowly.

"I just…" Blaine started, stumbling on his own words. "You do things to me, Kurt. Things I don't understand. I feel so strange when I'm around you, as if… as if this is not the first time we've been together. As if –"

"As if we knew each other before this?"

Blaine turned to look at Kurt, whose eyes were wide, reflecting his expectation and his… excitement? Blaine couldn't be sure, but there was a certain glow in them, as if Blaine's answer to his question would change everything.

"I-I… Yes! Yes, exactly."

Kurt let out an airily laugh, so beautiful and happy, that Blaine couldn't help but smile in return, even if he didn't exactly understand why.

"That's because we did. We do. We do know each other, Blaine, and that's what I've wanted to let you know."

Blaine's confusion only got worse.

"We… what are you – what do you mean?"

Kurt closed his eyes, his previous excitement gone as what appeared to be nervousness took control of his body. This was it. The time to come clean.

"Do you…" he gulped. "Do you remember having a friend, years ago, before the war? A-a young boy who used to… who came during the summer and –"

"Oh, dear god," Blaine whispered. He could feel his entire body shaking.

Kurt bit his lip, looking scared and hopeful at the same time.

"It's you, isn't it?"

Everything made sense now. The strange connection he felt almost immediately, the times Kurt seemed to have wanted to tell him something, the familiarity. It was all real. Kurt was real.

"It really is you," he whispered, leaning closer.

"Yes," Kurt whispered in return, closing the small gap that was left and bringing their lips together.

Blaine smiled into the kiss and broke away slightly.

"I've been looking for you forever," he whispered against Kurt's lips. "Or at least it feels like forever."

Kurt laughed and wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck before crashing their lips together again.

They kissed for what seemed like hours, holding each other tightly. Moist covered their cheeks and neither of them knew when or who started covering their kisses with tears but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered in that moment than the person they were holding on to.

Air became necessary and they broke apart, resting their foreheads together. Blaine closed his eyes and let out a laugh, making Kurt smile widely in return. He cupped Kurt's face in his hands, wiping the tears away with his thumbs.

"You're back."