The morning light was red and aching in his eyes as it filled the bedroom. His muscles were stiff and sore, but what took his attention was the fact that Tina was lying next to him, her arm around his waist and her face clasped against his shoulder.

And the day before returned to him. His brain felt like it was split in a piercing headache and tears started prickling at the corners of his eyes but he managed to stop them with a growling sob from the back of his throat.

"Blaine? Are you awake?" Tina mumbled hazily so he turned to lie on his back so he could face her.

"Yeah. Sort of," he shrugged and was glad that he managed to avoid his voice quivering.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" She asked maternally and moved to have a better view of his features.

"I don't know. I sort of feel... empty. I thought I would feel relieved, but I'm not. I feel guilty. He was so crushed," Blaine said with a heavy sigh. He would never forget that look of pain on Sebastian's face – it had burnt itself into his brain.

"I know. But once you get used to things being this way you'll feel better," Tina assured him with an encouraging smile.

They stayed in bed and talked about stupid things; like cartoons and how Mike had sworn to eat and entire marshmallow-cake by himself, to prove that he could. It was nice and distracting, and it occurred to Blaine how much he appreciated that Tina was still his best friend. Sebastian hadn't been right; Tina had never left him either. She never would.

"Blaine, can I ask you something?"

Tina suddenly turned serious and for a moment he considered saying no because he couldn't take the thought of having to be adult and responsible right now. But he nodded, figuring it better to get it over with.

"Are you planning on proposing to Kurt?" She asked.

Blaine's forehead wrinkled as confusion washed over him and he realized that he had never even considered the possibility.

"What? No! I mean – not now, at least. I don't know... I haven't thought about it," he burst out, unsure of where this was coming from.

"Then what is this?" She reached over him and flashed the black box, and suddenly he remembered Sebastian proposing, asking him to spend forever with him and his heart was cramping in his chest.

"How did you get this?" He asked, remembering Sebastian throwing the box after him and the ring looking like it wanted to escape as it was lying on Sebastian's fancy floor, probably more expensive than all of Blaine's possessions put together.

"I – when I put your hoodie away last night it fell out of your pocket. I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to find it. I didn't sneak through your stuff or anything," she apologized, embarrassed and nervous.

"I – it's okay. It's just... Sebastian asked me to marry him yesterday. Before all hell broke loose, obviously. But – the last I remember is it... he must have slipped it into my pocket when he walked me to the door," Blaine muttered quietly and recalled how Sebastian had pulled him close to kiss him one last time. The last time ever.

Tina accepted the explanation, fortunately leaving the subject alone without digging any deeper. Over breakfast they agreed that he should go to Sebastian's place and leave the ring with the doorman while Sebastian was at work. He couldn't keep it, but they both knew that if Blaine tried to give it back to Sebastian in person he would never accept it.

Around lunch Kurt called him to ask how it went. He said that he had waited with his phone close all day the day before but figured he couldn't do anything himself if it had gone badly. Blaine gave him a rough walk-through of the event, avoiding the proposing and kissing, and Kurt was sweet, understanding – he told Blaine that he was proud of him that he had actually gone through with it.

The rest of the day Blaine spent doing nothing but cleaning out in his dresser and watching TV while Mike and Tina were at school. When they came home they all had dinner together before Blaine and Tina went to work at the pub.

The rest of the week continued the same way; Blaine did different errands over the day like painting the cabinets in the kitchen and going through thrift stores to find a new lamp for the living room. Then he had dinner with Mike and Tina when they back from school and he went to work at the pub afterwards. Daily routines keeping him occupied.

He did his best to keep himself entertained to not let his thoughts wander to dark places. He felt lonely during the day and the emptiness wouldn't leave him alone. Tina said that it was probably because all he heard from Kurt was goodnight-texts or rushed calls whenever he could squeeze them in. Which made sense.

Whenever he had thought about how it would feel when he had finally taken that leap and broken it off with Sebastian he had always imagined it to mean that he would get to spend every moment with Kurt – but reality was different.

Kurt was still engaged to Sam and he still had intense rehearsals for his show that was only days away from opening night. All Kurt did was being at the theater; he even slept there some nights because it was easier.

So Blaine was left to miss him and try convincing himself that he should enjoy the opportunity to find back to the roots of himself, to get to know himself again; but mostly it meant comic books, sitcom reruns and playing the piano at the music store near the apartment.

xXx

The empty feeling Blaine had felt growing inside him over the week had been replaced by fluttering butterflies during this afternoon. He was dressed in his best suit – which was close to his only suit – and he had a large bouquet of red roses resting in his lap. He had spent the evening before going over the details of his plan with Tina and made sure that he had everything ready.

Now he was sitting on the front row of the theater humming with people around him, trying to find their seats and chatting with their relations. Blaine was alone, though. He was doing his best to keep to himself and not look too much around, way too nervous to do or say the slightest.

For a moment he considered sending Kurt a text to wish him good luck, but he quickly reminded himself that he probably wouldn't have time to see it anyway. He wished that Tina could have gone with him, but since she was at a dancing job with Mike and they would mostly likely be there all night that hadn't been an option.

Suddenly the room fell quiet and the light started to fade out. He could felt the butterflies twirling in his veins and even though he wasn't going to be on stage he felt a suction in his belly with nerves.

The show started and Blaine nearly sat on the edge of his seat. He was clinging the roses to his chest and chewing on his lower lip in anticipation. Whenever Kurt entered the stage he completely took over it – his acting was exquisite and Blaine could swear that he sent a smile in his direction, and he had to restrain himself from not jumping to his feet and giving a standing applause whenever Kurt so much as delivered a line.

During intermission he stayed in his seat, afraid that he might run into Kurt's family or friends who was bound to be there as well, but all he wanted to do was run backstage to find Kurt so he could tell him how proud he was.

Second act was just as superb, and Blaine felt like Kurt had gone even more spellbinding while he had been on his short break. All nerves and blood in him was tingling to blow him kisses and tell everyone in the room that Kurt was his boyfriend and that he loved him more than anything in the whole, wide world.

The audience cheered and clapped and whistled at the end of the show. Pride was swelling in Blaine's heart and he was sure he could see tears in Kurt's eyes, tears that was reflected in his own eyes.

As soon as people started streaming out of their seats and seeking for the exit Blaine waited a little while to make sure his row was empty as an extra precaution before he followed Kurt's instruction of how to get backstage so he could see him. A kind elderly man guided him to where a large group of people was gathered with laughter and cheery voices.

Blaine stayed by the wall to not interrupt and hoped that Kurt would come by and see him or that he would call or text him. Little by little crowd started thinning out and Kurt came in sight, his arms wrapped about the short, dark haired girl Blaine remembered as Rachel. A strange notion crept up his spine as he recognized Kurt's dad as well, but before he could start decipher what the notion meant Kurt caught his eyes and a huge grin spread on his face.

"Hey. I'm so glad you came," he trilled as he threw his arms around Blaine's neck.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world," Blaine murmured and returned the embrace warmly.

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that," Kurt cooed as he broke away and Blaine reached him the bouquet. His eyes were glistening with stars and Blaine wondered if there was ever a way he could get to kiss those stars.

"Yeah I should. You were so great. I'm really... proud of you," he smiled shyly and was satisfied with himself when he noticed Kurt's cheeks blushing.

He was back in his own clothes, and his hair was fixed as perfectly as ever. He still had a little make-up smeared down his jaw and Blaine wanted to stretch up his hand so he could wipe it away.

"I uhm – I arranged a little something. It's nothing big. I had to have Tina to help me, but if we go now we can maybe..."

Kurt's face dropped. He looked like he was feeling guilty and sadness brimmed his eyes.

"Oh Blaine. You shouldn't have – I have to... Rachel and Carole arranged a party for me at home. They've spent over a week preparing it and so many people will... I can't just ditch them. I am so sorry. You didn't go through too much trouble did you?" He said and looked over his shoulder to close his hand carefully around Blaine's wrist before pulling back.

"No. Of course not. It was just... a silly thing. Of course you should go to your party," Blaine said bravely and wondered how long it would take him to get rid of the candles and flowers in his room.

"Hey babe. Who's this?" A blonde guy asked and wrapped his arm around Kurt, pulling him closer and kissing his temple.

Kurt's face was practically screaming. Just like Blaine's insides. He couldn't decide whether it would be best to run or throw up in the spot, so instead he stayed paralyzed, nailed to where he was.

"This is Blaine. My... friend. Blaine, this is Sam," Kurt mumbled weakly and his eyes were swimming with apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

"Oh... is he coming to the party too? Cause we have to go now. I can't wait till I have you by myself though." Sam started nuzzling kisses down Kurt's face and Kurt reluctantly returned his embrace.

"No. I just came to deliver these and I'm leaving now. I... have plans," Blaine said with a pokerface and turned around.

"Blaine, please -" he heard Kurt call after him, but right now all he needed was to get away before he had to witness anymore of another man sweeping his hands all over Kurt's body and his lips all over his face.

xXx

The trip back to the apartment was long and cold. Blaine couldn't remember when it was the last time he had felt so lonely – and stupid. Of course Kurt's family would have arranged something for him after the show. How hadn't he thought of this?

He called the restaurant and canceled his reservation before he faced that he had to get to it and started getting rid of all candles and flowers draped around his room. He opened the window to make the smell disappear and showered before he curled up on the couch in his pajamas. He watched bad TV and stared at the unicorn figurine he had let stand on the coffee table in front of him before he fell asleep.

It felt like he had only slept for a few minutes when he was woken up by a loud hammering on the front door. His neck was burning from having slept on the couch and the living room was filled by an all consuming darkness except for the TV that had drifted into black-and-white reruns.

When the hammering returned, even before he found back to all of his senses, he stumbled to his feet and awkwardly staggered to the door. What he saw was not what he had expected.

Kurt was curling his arms around his chest with muffled hair and tears streaming down his cheeks. The second Blaine had the door properly open Kurt flung himself into his arms with a guttural sob.

"Oh thank god, Blaine -" he wailed and buried his face in his chest.

"Hey, what's going on?" He asked, still a little hazed from sleeping, but his brain slowly starting to pick up on the situation.

He slowly got Kurt moved inside so he could close the door and he carefully got him to the living room so he could sit on the couch.

Kurt's crying continued for what felt like ages, but really it was probably not anymore than 15 minutes. Blaine kept running his hand up and down his back, cooing soothing sounds in his ear and pressing light kisses to his hair.

When Kurt gradually fell limp in his arms Blaine carefully got his jacket off and replaced it with the blanket Blaine had been sleeping with. It only took a few more minutes for Kurt to get control of his sobbing and when he looked at Blaine it was with teardrops in his long eyelashes and eyes red from crying.

"Shhh, tell me what happened, honey -"

Kurt drew a heavy breath and curled in on himself. He squeezed his eyes shut before he opened to face Blaine and let it all spill. All at once.

"It was at the party – everything was going so well, but... Sam had a bit to drink, and I was dancing with some friends, and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary; it was just girls. So when he came over and grabbed me a little hard the way he does when he's angry or jealous I was confused. But then he started asking me about you, and saying how he had seen me stare at you... and I just couldn't hold it anymore, Blaine – I couldn't lie to him," Kurt's voice broke and he took a moment to regain control before fat trails of saltwater was running back over his flushed cheeks.

"I told him everything. How I'm in love with you, and how I don't love him like that anymore. I kept telling him that I was sorry, but all he wanted to know was if I fucked you – so I said yes, because... the lies are just too much. So he slapped me and called a slut – and everyone was just staring at us. My dad had left already, but my brother came over and pulled Sam away as soon as he saw what was happening..."

He paused for a moment with trembling lower lip and sniffles from his nose before his eyes pierced into Blaine's; big, wet and the darkest blue Blaine had ever seen them.

"I just had to get out of there. I needed you so much. I am so sorry, Blaine -" Kurt sobbed and buried his face in his hands.

Blaine quickly wrapped his arms around Kurt's shaking frame and pulled him close. He took his comforting strokes and sounds back up, not knowing what else to do.

"It's okay, baby. You can always come to me. He shouldn't have acted like that. I just wanna punch him – no one should put a hand on you," Blaine crooned and hummed slightly into Kurt's ear. He felt hopeless, worthless.

But most of all he felt sick by himself. Kurt was broken in his arms and right now he wanted to beat that Sam guy up more than anything in the world for having slapped Kurt and humiliated him that way, but another big part of him was also cheering that he finally had Kurt to himself and he wouldn't have to share him with anyone else ever again.

"Thank you. I love you so much. I just... it wasn't supposed to end like this," Kurt cried into his chest.

Blaine nodded in understanding and rocked him back and forth. Kurt just kept on crying and his tears were soaking Blaine's t-shirt. After a little while he finally fell back down and his sobbing faded out to silent tears instead.

"Can I – can we go to bed? I am so exhausted," Kurt sighed heavily with a fistful of Blaine's shirt pulled to his own chest.

"Sure. Of course we can," Blaine smiled softly and kissed his forehead before closing down the TV and leading Kurt to his bedroom.

Blaine helped Kurt strip off his clothes and handed him clothes to sleep in. They both crawled quietly under the covers and Kurt rushed to curl up around Blaine as good as he could. Blaine responded by pulling him closer and letting the emptiness and loneliness in him be filled by the feeling of Kurt in his arms.

"Thank you. I love you," Kurt said with a weak voice. Blaine hushed him and kissed his forehead.

"Always. Now sleep, honey. I love you too, and I will love you in the morning, still."