When Kurt returned home in the evening he was in a very good mood. He cooked for Marley and cleaned the kitchen afterward. Then he snuggled up with her on the to watch one of her favorite shows that he didn't care much for. It didn't matter; he felt good.

They cuddled up in bed and chatted about the party they were going to the next evening. Kurt had forgot all about it, but figured that he could pull through. Almost all of his friends would be there and he would surely have a good time. And after all, if the party turned out to be boring he could just text Blaine.

The following day went fine. Kurt found that he had slept exceptionally good and actually felt relaxed for a change. The morning was hazy and the afternoon as well. They went to brunch at his dad and Carole's house, spending a few hours with them and the kids. Finn and his family were there too, all of the kids playing with their Christmas presents.

After they left his dad's house they immediately got to prepare themselves for the upcoming party. They showered together, nothing sexual, simply being close and enjoying their time without the kids. Then they dressed up and got in the car so they could be early for the party.

It wasn't until they had arrived at Sam and Anna Maria's house early before dinner that it dawned on Kurt. Only a small selection of people were there for the dinner before the actual party. The living room was buzzing with couples chatting, so Kurt and Marley took a ground to greet everyone.

However, they hadn't been the last guests to arrive. After a few minutes the last dinner guest showed up, covered in snow and a wide smile. Needless to say; Blaine looked stunning.

Seeing Blaine across the room made Kurt's stomach coil up with heat as his face felt warm. He had to look away, afraid that he was staring too obviously, so he busied himself by squeezing Marley's hand and listened to her discuss jewelery with Finn and Sam's wives.

"Hi. I believe we met at the wedding," a soft, extremely well-known voice said. Kurt shivered, getting his attention back to reality, finding Blaine acting the role as stranger to aces. He was holding his hand out for Kurt and Marley, giving the perfect impression that he and Kurt had in fact only ever met each other at Sam's bachelor party and wedding.

"Yes. I remember. Blaine, right?" Marley beamed and offered him a hug instead of a simple handshake.

The sight had Kurt's heart pounding, and he couldn't quite figure out whether it was because he was seeing his wife hug his gay lover, or if it was simply because he was seeing Blaine. Either way the pounding only enhanced when he had to shake hands with Blaine and play along.

The feeling of Blaine's hand in his was like electricity. It took him back to the day before where they had been lying in the hotel bed, for once wearing clothes but their hands locked together. They had been staring into each other's eyes and talked about this damn situation Kurt had gotten himself into. It reminded him of how Blaine's voice sounded when he laughed quietly as they had been lying close, and the way Blaine had smelled when he wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist to pull him close.

"Yeah. Blaine. I'm not sure I quite remember yours, though. It's been a while and there were a lot of people," Blaine excused politely, addressing Marley rather than Kurt.

Damn he was good at this game. And so proper in his tone and appearance. Kurt was seeing him in a completely different way than the sweaty, horny lover-of-sex he had gotten to know over the past few months. Apparently Blaine was more than that, and not just a well-cut paramedic either. No, it showed now that Blaine was a decent guy, with good manners and a fine way of behaving in social relations.

Kurt's throat tied up. It was too much. Blaine was just all that.

For a good ten minutes Blaine kept up small-talk with Marley. He asked about her flower shop and she asked about his work as a paramedic. Kurt was in awe about how easily it felt to Blaine to keep up the facade, so he figured that his own best next step would be to find other people to talk to so he wouldn't be the one to mess it all up.

Throughout the evening Kurt and Blaine didn't speak. They didn't ignore each other either. It simply came natural to not be in the same conversations. At dinner they sat at each end of the table and afterward when the rest of the party guests started arriving the mingling began and they mostly sent each other quick glances across the room, but were fast to break it off to not be caught.

Naturally the wedding and the honeymoon were hot topics among the guests. Everyone wanted to know how their trip had gone and Puck was eager to hear how the motorcycles he had provided had taken the long trip.

Kurt couldn't help noticing how Blaine was genuinely interested when the other guys started talking mechanics. Kurt himself knew quite a lot about mechanics after having worked in his dad's tire shop for as long as he could remember, but he had never actually held much deeper interest in it. He smiled to himself, listening to Blaine talk about motors and carburetors, knowing what he was talking about and doing it with passion. Apparently there was more about Blaine than what he knew.

Later more guests showed up and others left for new parties. It was hard to keep up with all the faces of people Kurt had no relation to, so he stuck to those he did know.

People talked about new years resolutions and Kurt felt a little ill. Puck was starting to say that he felt like it was about time to find someone he could settle down with. Even Puck was considering converting to a monogamist.

There wasn't any lack of beer or any other alcoholic beverages. Kurt had found a quiet place on a stool, turning the bottle of wine cooler in his hand when his phone buzzed.

Blaine:"If you want people to think you're straight you should probably switch to more masculine drinks (:"

Kurt:"Wait, so wine coolers won't make my chest hairy and my voice sound like The Incredible Hulk?"

Blaine:"Honey, I think you'll need a little more than alcohol for that..."

Honey. Blaine had called him honey.

It was ridiculous. That shouldn't mean anything. And of course it didn't. Still, Kurt couldn't ignore the feeling of giddiness run through him. He looked at the word for almost a minute, holding back a small giggle.

Kurt:"And here I thought I always turned into Macho Of The Year whenever I got drunk."

Blaine:"You turn into so much more than that, though."

Kurt caught Blaine's eyes across the room. It was hard to tell through the many people, but he could have sworn that Blaine winked at him as he smiled and then turned away.

These butterflies were not supposed to be there, and he was not supposed to welcome them so openly.

Blaine's Asian friend had turned up as well. This time she was with a guy who was also Asian. It seemed like Blaine and the guy got along really well. However, it was more than a few times Kurt caught the woman staring at him. It felt a little uncomfortable but Kurt did his best to shake it off.

Instead Kurt engaged himself in a conversation with Sam and Artie about Sam's upcoming comic book. Every now and then he just couldn't keep himself from sending peeks at the dance floor where Blaine and the Asian guy were dancing - Blaine really knew how to move his body, even with clothes on.

It was easy to lose track of time. Everyone were having fun and as always at Sam's parties no problems came. That's how it came as a surprise to Kurt when Anna Maria declared that it was almost midnight.

Kurt was in the middle of a conversation with Artie and his wife. She had just been telling him about the matching tattoos they had considered getting and Kurt had mentally praised that it wasn't exactly something Marley would ever be interested in.

"Hey babe. Are you ready?" Marley asked, a wee bit tipsy when she let her hand into Kurt's. she rested her head on his shoulder, grinning broadly at Artie and Sugar, but before they could involve her in the conversation everyone were herded towards the garden.

The countdown started, everyone eagerly participating. The cold winter wind was brisk against Kurt's face, but Marley's hand was warm in his. It wasn't any surprise that when the clock struck 12 she was excitedly jumping into Kurt's arms, pressing her mouth onto his.

What he wasn't prepared for was that right before the clock went home his eyes met Blaine's across the sea of people. He was standing with his friends and first he seemed happy to have found Kurt eyes, but then quickly sad. That's when Kurt felt guilty - guilty that he was holding Marley's hand in front of Blaine, and guilty that he was holding Marley's hand while a part of him wished that he was holding Blaine's instead.

When Marley's lips met Kurt's he didn't tear his eyes away from Blaine's . Everything was a chaos of cheers and kissing couples around them. Fireworks were exploding above their heads and there was no way anyone would notice the way Kurt was doing his best to send Blaine apologies through his eyes while he was kissing his wife.

But Blaine's eyes were still sad. He put on a brave smile, nodding gently at Kurt before he turned his back to hug his friends with enthusiasm appropriate for the moment. Kurt wanted to dig a hole and hide.

The party slowly started drifting back inside. The warmth of the house was overwhelming when they returned. People went immediately back to dancing and the party was back to how it had been left behind minutes earlier.

Kurt needed a drink. Something stronger than wine coolers. He quickly got himself a beer and resumed to hold Marley's hand in silence while she talked to the other guests. Right now Kurt wasn't much in the mood for talking.

"Sweetheart, excuse me for a moment I have to use the bathroom," Kurt smiled vaguely and kissed Marley's cheek after having been quiet in half an hour. She smiled back at him and he disappeared through the house.

The main bathroom was occupied so he headed down the hall to find the small one by the laundry room. Luckily it was free and Kurt got to do his thing without other troubles than his swaying from alcohol and the thick feeling at the back of his throat.

"I was sort of hoping I'd find you here," a voice said behind him when Kurt exited the bathroom. He nearly jumped from the startle, but when he realized who it was he turned calmly around with a smile and butterflies in his stomach.

"Hey. Shouldn't you be in there going crazy with the other freaks?" He asked, trying to be as casual as possible about it, which was much easier said than done.

"I guess I should... but lately it seems like what Ishouldbe doing and what Iamdoing are two completely different things," Blaine shrugged.

"I know how that feels like," Kurt huffed out, feeling the comment hit uncomfortably straight home.

"I wanna show you something. Come 'ere," Blaine said and nodded in the direction of the laundry room before he walked inside.

For a moment Kurt debated whether it would be a good idea, but when he considered that the party was in the other end of the house and Blaine was looking at him with a burning longing he sighed deeply and followed.

Blaine closed the door after them as soon as Kurt was inside. At first Kurt was a little confused, but when Blaine's hand slipped around his waist and his lips were pressed against Kurt's it was like the world melted around them.

"Happy new year," Blaine smiled, bushing a thumb over Kurt's cheek as he moved a little away. His brown eyes were piercing into Kurt's, big and soft. A vague smile was simmering on his lips and his breath tasted like beer and Blaine.

"Happy new year," Kurt peeped out carefully.

His insides were trembling and his lips were tingling to be pressed back against Blaine's. his hands were awkward next to his sides, not knowing what he should do about them.

"I wanted to kiss you. Instead of Marley," Kurt heard himself say, surprised that he wasn't even embarrassed about it. It was the truth and if there was anyone in the world he could tell the truth it was Blaine.

"I wanted you to kiss me, too. I wanted to be dramatic and grab your hand to steal you away from everyone, save you from lurking eyes," Blaine chuckled.

His one hand was cupping Kurt's face and his lips were brushing softly over Kurt's. His other hand was still safely placed on the lower of Kurt's back, stolen way under his blazer so the print of his palm could burn its way through the soft cotton of Kurt's shirt.

"How classic movie hero of you," Kurt whispered under his breath, struggling to not let his tongue out to seek directly for Blaine's.

"In my head it was all black and white," Blaine whispered back.

With that Kurt let his hands slide up Blaine's back, pressing his palms on his shoulder blades, needing Blaine closer with every fiber in his body. Their faces tumbled together in a kiss stronger than the former. This one was poisoned with urgency and craving, the need mirrored in the way their hands were clinging to the others body, and the soft swipe of their tongues caressing each other.

"We should get back in. Before your wife start looking for you," Blaine said as their mouths broke apart for air. He sounded pained. Like the very thought of parting from Kurt was troubling him deeply.

"I just had to properly wish you a happy new year," he said, sounding almost apologetic.

"I'm glad you did," Kurt smiled and ran his hand down Blaine's back, hoping to show him that he would much rather stay to make out with him than go out and be with all of those other people.

"And I wanted to tell you that you look really beautiful tonight," Blaine smiled and pressed a peck to Kurt's lips before letting go of him and head for the door, but not opening it.

Kurt was frozen in the spot. He couldn't believe that Blaine had told him that he looked beautiful. Twice. He felt like the girl in a romantic comedy, finally getting the boy she's been crazy about for years.

"Thank you. I -"

He was speechless. Lost for words.

"I'll text you in the morning, alright. Now go back to being Mr. Straight-man," Blaine said heavily and opened the door, holding it for Kurt to exit first.

Kurt walked down the hall, cheeks flaming and head spinning. He could feel Blaine looking after him, but he also knew that Blaine was waiting to not make it seem too obvious to people that they had been alone.

For the rest of the night Blaine resumed to acting like nothing had happened and that they didn't know each other. There were no stolen eye contact or, and Kurt did check, any text messages on his phone.

No, Kurt had to go back to being the straight man hanging out with his straight friends, and in the end he had to take the hand of his wife and go home to sleep next to her, instead of next to that man who was slowly taking up more and more space inside of him.