The woods were quiet. Too quiet. Finn knew this silence could not be natural. His search party walked behind him as he squinted through the trees and bushes along the way. He knew David was hiding in no man's lands. And he could feel him near. Finn was so desperate to get him, to put Kurt's one and only threat in a place where he wouldn't be able to do anything to his brother.

He felt a hand in his shoulder and turned slowly. Sam gestured with his head to a clearing a few feet away from them. Only Finn and Sam approached it, while the rest of the party waited for instructions. Finn and Sam crouched down behind a relatively large bush and observed the scene. On the far end of the clearing was a small cottage. Smoke was flowing through the fireplace but there wasn't any light source coming from the windows.

Finn turned to look at Sam and nodded slightly. Sam gestured to the party to come closer and they all made their way silently to the cottage. They surrounded the cottage carefully, with Finn, Sam and Puck standing in front of the door with their swords ready. With one final nod, Puck stepped forward and kicked the door open as the other two barged in behind him.

But the cottage was empty.

By the looks of it, its inhabitants had left just minutes before. There were some clothes and equipment on the floor, probably forgotten in the rush to get out of there. The smoke coming from the fireplace indicated that the fire had been put out recently too.

"Search the surroundings!" Finn yelled to the party waiting outside.

The sound of horses and feet filled the silent air of the night as they looked around for prince David. Finn ran a hand through his hair and kicked the chair near him in exasperation.

"Damn it!"

Puck approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"We will get him, Finn."

Blaine had never felt so peaceful as he did that morning. He had woken up over an hour ago and after rubbing his eyes multiple times and pinching himself, he knew the events of the previous night had actually happened and he wasn't dreaming. Kurt's head was actually resting on his chest and his hand really was going through his chestnut hair.

It was still incredible to him to know that the person he had been obsessing over the past few months, the person he wanted to find more than anything had ended up to him. It felt like fate, like it didn't matter what happened or where their lives went, they would always find each other.

They had stayed up all night talking about old times and remembering things they had forgotten. They had hugged and cried and kissed and laughed until they were too tired to keep their eyes open. And they had fallen asleep; holding each other close, as if they were afraid the other would disappear when the sun came out.

But now they were here, Kurt's arm loosely wrapped around Blaine's torso and his face in his chest. Blaine had been focusing on the ceiling, a small smile on his lips at the thought of waking up like this forever. He turned his head to watch Kurt's sleeping face. He looked so beautiful, so peaceful and innocent. Watching him like this, Blaine suddenly felt a flashback come to his mind. That exact same face, years younger, smiling at him as he ran through the gardens, with Blaine trying to catch him.

How could he have forgotten him? How did he managed to survive all those horrible years that followed without the image of this beautiful boy to help him get through them? Blaine wished they had never been torn apart and – even more – that they wouldn't have been reunited under circumstances that threatened Kurt's life.

As his mind rushed through all those thoughts, Kurt began to stir in his arms, blinking slowly. Blaine smiled fondly at him as Kurt finished waking up. But then, Kurt lifted himself quickly, turning his head around to see where he was.

"Shh, it's okay."

Kurt turned to face him, his eyes still fighting to stay awake.

"Blaine?"

Blaine sat up next to him, cupping Kurt's face with one of his hands. Kurt instantly leaned to the touch.

"Good morning," Blaine whispered with a small smile tugging at his lips.

Kurt opened his mouth to respond but a big yawn interrupted him and he immediately used his hand to cover his mouth.

"Sorry, good morning," Kurt replied giggling.

Blaine's smile only widened as he leaned closer and kissed Kurt softly.

"Did you sleep well?" Blaine asked after they broke apart.

"Better than I have in months," Kurt whispered against Blaine's lips as he leaned for yet another kiss.

They kissed for a few more minutes until the magic was lost by Blaine's stomach demanding food. They laughed as Blaine blushed and got out of the bed.

"Let's get some breakfast," he said as he offered his hand to Kurt and helped him get out of bed too.

Blaine peeked through his door and when he noticed the coast was clear, he tugged Kurt's hand and got him out of the room, both giggling and silencing each other along the way. Their hands were entwined as they searched the halls like two small kids playing hide and seek.

They were so lost in each other's eyes and smiles and hands that they failed to notice Sebastian watching them from the end of the hall with a look of pure hatred in his eyes.

David remained hidden in a sort of cave he and his three men had found when they fled the cottage. Most of the supplies and equipment had stayed behind and they were even more exposed and unarmed than they already were. If they could stay in hiding long enough for Finn's men to move on, they could return for the things they left behind. David knew that without them, he only had a few more weeks before Finn found and caught him.

Or…

He knew there were some outcasts living nearby. Since these were no man�s lands, people who faced exile from their kingdoms would settle here. Perhaps David could find refuge with any of them and last a few more months hidden while he planned his next move. His main concern was to find where they had taken Kurt, since he knew the prince was no longer in Winstow.

Even after everything, after having his life ruined and fleeing the kingdom, he could not and would not let go of this. He would find Kurt and have him because nothing else made sense but Kurt. Kurt's smile and cheerfulness. His beautiful eyes and perfect face. He had to have him, even if it meant losing everything else. He thought back to his father's last words to him.

"You must flee, keep save and start a new life. Forget about him. Let go or the only thing that will await you is unhappiness. That boy will be your ruin. I can't protect you anymore, son, but please don't make me lose you entirely."

Unhappiness would be letting go. Ruin would be seeing Kurt belong to someone else. Just the thought of it made him see red with rage. He was sorry he would let his father down but the alternative was unthinkable.

Kurt would be his.

When the coast was clear and Finn's men had long disappeared, he took his few men back to the cottage, gathered everything and fled again, searching for an exile willing to help him.

A few days later, Kurt was in Rachel's chambers, reading his brother's letter. It seemed they had been close to capturing David but he had ran away. Finn was still hopeful and kept going on and on about how they would get him soon, all of this written in the secret codes and phrases they had agreed on.

When Kurt finished reading the part of the letter directed to him, he handed it back, not wanting to pry on his brother's private conversations with the princess.

"Every day your brother gets closer to finally capturing him!" Rachel said excitedly, followed by a dreamy sigh.

Kurt laughed and shook his head affectionately.

"That means you may be going home soon."

Kurt stopped laughing and took in Rachel's words. It was true that Finn would soon capture David, by the looks of it, which would mean Kurt would be able to return to Winstow. Although part of him was thrilled to know that, to picture holding his father and Carole close, another part of him didn't want to leave the beautiful Kingdom of Davon.

It had become like a second home and after spending those last few days with Blaine rediscovering every place and sight and thing he had forgotten, the kingdom now had a hold on his heart. Its prince also held a big part of it, too. Kurt could feel himself falling in love with Blaine, fast and beautiful and overwhelmingly perfect. Every minute with him was wonderful, every smile was perfect, every kiss was heaven. Kurt knew he wouldn't be able to part with him, now or ever.

And even though deep inside, Kurt knew Blaine felt the same, he wasn't so sure the hazel-eyed prince would be willing to commit on a more serious level. It was things like this that sometimes made him hate his royal status. If they were nothing more than peasants, farmers – anything none royal, really – it wouldn't matter if they lived in different kingdoms. They would make it work. One could go live with the other, settle down, get to cohabit with each other and then, if they survived it all and were still in love, they would get married.

But that wasn't how things worked for them.

With them, it was about alliances. It was about land. It was about politics. If they wanted to stay together, one would have to ask for the other's hand in marriage. They would have to arrange the distribution of lands, the way the kingdoms would work together, being geographically apart. The next step would be marriage, without letting them have a taste of what it's like to live together, without an opportunity to get to truly know each other. Nothing about their relationship would be normal. The strain of their royal blood would still haunt all of their plans.

He was so lost inside his head, inside his own worries and insecurities, that he didn't hear Rachel's words until she waved a hand in front of him, pulling him back to their conversation.

"Kurt, are you alright? You look distraught."

"I-I… Rachel, I have a confession to make."

Rachel shifted in the bed to face Kurt fully. He took a deep breath while his fingers played with a small thread from her sheets. After a quick, nervous sideways glance, he started talking.

"Well, you see, um… Do you remember the day we went out to town, when you finished the tour your cousin had started?"

Rachel nodded and Kurt continued. "Well, afterwards, I-I went to talk to him. Make him explain why he had been acting so strange."

"And…"

"And, we made things right and w-well, I… We…"

"You are together now, aren't you?" Rachel beamed at him, grabbing his hand.

Kurt bit his lip and nodded. Rachel squealed and threw herself into his arms, making him laugh. She then pulled away and changed her smiley face for a frown.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Or, actually… how could I have not noticed sooner? I mean, I noticed you two had fixed your problems but you didn't seem – it didn't look like you –"

"We were being discreet."

"But… why? You know absolutely everyone was hoping it would happen so there's really no reason to –"

"Everyone? Even Sebastian?"

Rachel bits her lip and nods as a small smile appears on her face. "Maybe not everyone but almost. And please don't tell me you were keeping this a secret because of him!"

"Of course not! It's just… Blaine and I are princes. We may be kings one day. There is a protocol for us getting together. There's politics and contracts and treaties and we just – we wanted just some time together, you know? Just be with each other, without worrying whose lands will belong to whom or how will the kingdoms work. We just wanted to be Kurt and Blaine. Just the two of us together, even if it was just for a little while."

Rachel's eyes softened at Kurt's explanation and she took his hand.

"Of course, you're right. You're right and you deserve this time for yourselves. Don't worry, I won't say a word until you do."

"Thank you," Kurt said, squeezing her hand.

"Now, off you go," she said, standing up and tugging Kurt to follow her to the door. "Go find your handsome prince and be all adorable together."

Kurt laughed as she pushed him out of the room and closed the door behind him, giggling while doing so.

Kurt walked through the hall to find his prince as Rachel ordered. As he walked next to a window he stopped and backtracked, peering outside to find Blaine walking around in the gardens. Kurt smiled to himself and almost ran outside to meet him.

Once he was out of the castle, he checked carefully to see if there was anyone in sight and once he was certain it was only he and Blaine in the gardens, he ran and wrapped his arms around the other prince's waist, burying his face in the crook of Blaine's neck.

Blaine yelped in surprise but relaxed instantly when he realized who it was. He placed his hands above Kurt's and hummed contently.

"Well, hello."

Kurt laughed and after kissing Blaine's neck softly, he loosened his hold to allow Blaine to turn around in his arms. Blaine leaned in to peck him quickly before looking around.

"Want to go for a walk," he asked as he disentangled himself from Kurt's arms but immediately grabbed his hands, entwining their fingers.

"Sure."

They walked around for what seemed like hours but Kurt had a feeling they weren't just walking aimlessly. It seemed as if Blaine was guiding them somewhere.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"Wait and see."

They reached a nice, open clearing, just past the castle gardens. It was beautiful and filled with colorful flowers and big, tall trees that encircled it all. Kurt gasped at the sight and Blaine smiled at his awed expression.

"I knew you would like it," he said, stepping inside the clearing.

They sat near a tree, with Blaine's back pressed against it and Kurt's back pressed against Blaine. Strong arms wrapped Kurt and he sighed contently. They stayed like that for a while, in comfortable silence. There wasn't any need for words.

Kurt started playing with Blaine's hands, admiring them and twisting them in his and before he noticed it, he was humming a melody as he continued his inspection.

"What is that?" Blaine asked him.

"Huh? What?"

"That melody you're humming. Sounds familiar."

Kurt blushed. "I-It's a song I've had in my head for some time now."

"Sing it," Blaine whispered in his ear making Kurt shiver.

He opened his mouth and started singing the song that had come to his head that night in the gardens during his and Finn's Ball. He remembered Blaine's face in the bushes after he had finished singing it, too. Blaine was always there, wasn't he?

Always.

I have died everyday waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid,

I have loved you for a thousand years…

Kurt stopped singing the last part as it was Blaine that sang it for him.

I'll love you for a thousand more…

Kurt turned around to face Blaine, who just shrugged.

"I heard someone sing this during your Ball. It all makes sense now. Every time, every thing that has ever moved me, that has ever spoke to my heart has to do with you. It's always you, Kurt."

Kurt just smiled and snuggled closer to him.

Yes, for Kurt, it was always Blaine.

For Blaine, it was always Kurt.

That would never change.