Alex, Nick's brother, was everything Blaine had been looking for. He was twenty-one years old, a Junior at Harvard, studying psychology. He was a former Warbler and now performed with a singing group at college, though he had no interest in music as a career. He was a few inches taller than Blaine, with a slim build, dark hair that flopped down on his forehead, and glasses that made him look nerdy-cute. His smile was absolutely adorable, and his dark eyes gazed at Blaine with a quiet intensity that filled Blaine with a sense of calm and assurance.

They talked about Dalton first, over appetizers at the Greek restaurant. Which teachers had left since Alex's graduation, the classes Blaine shared with Nick, their favorite hiding spots in the dorm and the library. They talked about Harvard, and how college is different from high school, and Blaine's thoughts about where he might apply in a few years. Their entrees came and they discussed their favorite bands, and Blaine talked about how much he enjoyed arranging popular music into a capella versions for the Warblers, and Alex asked questions that showed he was actually interested in the discussion.

Blaine found himself talking easily, laughing at Alex's jokes, listening with interest to what Alex had to say. They could be good friends, he thought. Maybe even more, under the right circumstances. He was the first person Blaine had met in this long journey that he could actually see himself wanting to go to bed with. Aside from Kurt, of course, but he pushed that thought away.

Alex teased Blaine into ordering dessert. Once they handed their menus back to the waitress, he turned to Blaine with a serious expression on his face. "So, we should talk about stuff."

Blaine felt heat rising into his cheeks. "Oh. Yeah. I guess."

Alex gave him a sympathetic half-smile. "This is going to be awkward no matter what, so if you're not interested at all, please tell me now so that I can avoid embarrassing myself and we can just eat our dessert and go on having a nice time."

"I'm ... uh ... I'm interested," Blaine said.

"Good," Alex said. "Me too."

Blaine smiled shyly at him across the table.

"Okay, so ..." Alex cleared his throat. "I don't like to do casual sex. If we do this, I want there to be some kind of relationship there. I have ... oh, I probably should have started with this. I'm involved with two guys up at college. Long-term relationships, one of them for two years, the other one a little bit less than a year. It's not true love or anything, but they're nice relationships. They work. All of us date around, because we all want to find exclusive claims at some point, but the rule is no outside sex without each other's permission. I um ... I asked them about you before I left, and they were both fine with me getting involved with someone long-distance. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be presumptuous, but we're kind of short on time here, unfortunately."

"It's okay, I get it."

"So I'd want the same kind of arrangement with you," Alex said. "I mean, assuming that things work out the first time. I'd want to be part of your life, know what's going on with you, tell you what's happening with me. I'd want it to be a regular thing, whenever I'm back in Ohio. But you'd be free to date other people, as long as you ask me before you have sex with anyone else."

Blaine thought he must be blushing furiously at this point. "I'm not likely to find anyone else anyway. But yeah, that sounds ... good. That's the kind of thing I want, definitely."

The waitress brought their dessert plates, a slice of chocolate cake for Alex ("I know it's off-theme, but it looks so good," he'd said when he ordered it) and a piece of baklava for Blaine. Alex thanked her and waited until she left before speaking again.

"I wish we weren't so rushed. I wish I could get to know you, take you on a few more dates. I really like you, but ... it's so fast, I don't usually ... but it can't be helped. I'm leaving Monday morning, like I said, and I won't be visiting again until spring break, mid-April. I know your Sickness is coming up soon, you can't wait until then. I just wish I could give you more time, I hate to ask you to make a decision like this on such a small amount of information."

"It's not your fault," Blaine said. He took a bite of his dessert. It practically melted in his mouth.

"I know." Alex speared his cake with his fork and broke off a piece. "But I still want to make it as easy on you as possible." He popped it into his mouth. "Oh god, this is amazing."

Blaine smiled. "I appreciate that. You ... seem like a really nice guy."

"But?"

Blaine shook his head. "No but. You seem nice. I like you."

Alex cocked his head to one side. "I know you're dating someone. Nick told me. You going to tell me about him?"

"Oh." Blaine shifted uncomfortably. "We're not dating. Not exactly."

Alex took another bite of his cake, waiting.

Blaine looked down at his plate. "I like him. A lot. But he doesn't want to ... so that's not an option."

"That must be really hard for you."

Blaine looked up. Had Alex really said that without any sarcasm? He looked entirely sympathetic.

Alex reached his hands out across the table toward Blaine, palms up. Blaine looked at him for a moment, and then hesitantly reached out and set his hands on top. Alex squeezed them lightly, offering support. "I hope he changes his mind someday. If you like him that much."

Something crumpled in Blaine's chest at the unexpected kindness. "Thank you," he whispered.

Alex paid the bill, waving off Blaine's offer to split the check. They walked out into the parking lot together, their steps slowing as they approached the cars.

"Now what?" Blaine asked.

"I guess that's up to you," Alex said. "I'd be happy to, um, take this back to my hotel room ... or your dorm room if you prefer ... but I don't want to presume anything. And I don't want to push you to make a decision, except that I'm only here tonight and tomorrow, so ... god, I really wish there was more time."

He should say yes. It was the smart thing to do. He should go with Alex to his hotel, he should get on his knees and let Alex take care of him, let Alex do whatever he wanted. Alex was caring and confident and attractive, he knew what he was doing and he would make sure everything was right for Blaine. There was no chance of finding anyone better, not in the few weeks he had left. If he said no, he was almost certainly going to end up with Sebastian. He shouldn't let this opportunity pass him by.

But something stopped him. Somehow, Blaine just couldn't go with Alex. At least, not yet.

"Can I think about it?" Blaine asked. "Will you be free tomorrow night, if I decide ... I like you a lot, I just ... it's so fast, I just want some time to think. Please don't be mad, I really really do like you."

Alex nodded. "I'm not mad. That's fine. Sleep on it. It's a good idea."

"Thank you," Blaine said, relieved.

"Do you think ... would it maybe help you make up your mind if I kiss you goodnight?" Alex asked. "I don't mean to be ... let's just say it's another data point for you?"

Blaine laughed. "Yeah, actually, I think another data point could be very useful."

Alex stepped closer and brought his hand up to cup Blaine's cheek. He tipped Blaine's face up toward him and leaned in, meeting Blaine's mouth with a soft, tender kiss.

It was pleasant, Blaine thought, letting his eyes flutter shut. Alex's lips were firm but gentle, and he tasted the lingering flavor of chocolate on his mouth. His hand was soft against Blaine's face, his fingers curling the slightest bit to stroke across his cheek.

Alex pulled away with a happy little humming noise. "You're lovely, Blaine. It would be ... lovely."

"Thank you. For everything." Blaine exchanged one last smile with Alex, then turned away and got into his car.

It was nothing like kissing Kurt, he thought, as he maneuvered out of the parking lot. With Kurt, there was always this spark, this feeling in his chest like something building up or breaking down or catching fire or something. He didn't really know how to put it into words, but it felt like something more, not just a pleasant sensation, but something meaningful, something bigger than himself. Kissing Alex was fun and nice and it made him happy, but kissing Kurt made him forget that anything else existed in the entire world. Kurt became the entire world. Kurt became everything.

Kurt, his heart cried out.

He should have gone with Alex. He knew he should have. He could call right now. They weren't more than a few feet away from each other, headed down the road in the same direction, in their separate cars. Or he could wait and call tomorrow, make it tomorrow night instead of tonight. But what was the point in waiting? What was the point, when Blaine knew he had to do this.

He had to tell Kurt. Suddenly Blaine knew that was why he'd asked for more time. He'd thought he should keep this to himself, not hurt Kurt by letting him know what was happening. But now Blaine realized that he would never be able to bring himself to do this without telling Kurt first. Kurt knew where he was tonight, knew what it could lead to, and he'd let him go. But Blaine needed something more. As selfish as it was, as cruel to Kurt as he knew it would be, Blaine realized he was not going to be able to go to Alex or anyone else without Kurt's explicit permission.

He turned at the next light and headed toward the freeway to Lima.

--------------------------------------

Kurt didn't notice his father standing next to the couch until he spoke. "The Packers won."

"What?" Kurt asked, startled.

Burt gestured at the TV. "That's the Super Bowl. It was three weeks ago. I'm surprised it's still even on the DVR. I'm even more surprised to find you watching football."

"Oh. I wasn't really watching. I just wanted some background noise." He'd chosen a football game because he knew he couldn't concentrate on anything with plot, and he wanted something loud enough to drown out the voices in his head.

Burt took the remote control and flicked off the TV, then sat down on the couch beside Kurt. "You want to tell me what's wrong? Why wasn't Blaine here today? You two have a fight?"

"No, we're not fighting," Kurt said. He supposed there was no use in trying to hide anything, his father would have the information out of him one way or another. "He's on a date."

Burt narrowed his eyes. "Why is your sub out on a date with someone who's not you?"

Kurt held up his left arm, showing his bare wrist. "Not my sub, Dad. He's not even my boyfriend."

"Kurt, matching leather cuffs on your wrists isn't what makes someone your sub. That's just a symbol to remind you, and to let the rest of the world know. That boy's been your sub for ages. He looks at you like his world revolves around you. Because it does. And you let him do it. I warned you to be clear, and you did it anyway."

"But we were clear. We're just friends, we said it over and over."

"My ass," Burt said. "Doesn't make one bit of difference what you're calling it. In his heart, he's your sub. And I see the way you look at him. I know you think of him as yours. And I'm not dumb, I know you're fooling around together up in your bedroom all the time. So answer me, why is he out on a date with another guy?"

"Because he deserves someone better than me," Kurt said, exasperated and almost whining. He was so embarrassed to admit all of this to his father, but there was no way he could pull back from this conversation now. "I can't take care of him. I'm not strong enough. I'm not ... I don't know what I'm doing."

"What makes you think that?" Burt asked. "He tell you you're not strong enough, not doing a good job?"

"No, he never did, he always says I'm doing great, which is ..." Kurt paused, chewing on his lip, trying to put his feelings into words. "He doesn't understand. The way I feel when I look at him ... I stop thinking clearly. My hormones take over and I'm not even me anymore, and it's so scary, sometimes I can't stop myself from doing and thinking these things, and ... a good dom should be able to control himself."

"Has he ever said no to you? Ever safeworded, or even just said that he didn't want to do something you were trying?"

Kurt shook his head. "No, never. Why?"

"Seems to me you're not so out of control, then," Burt said, leaning back on the couch. "Seems to me you're taking very good care. Seems like your instincts are right, and you're focused on what he wants and needs."

"I ..." Kurt didn't know what to say. He'd never thought about it that way before. He'd only thought about how it seemed to himself. "But I still feel so weak. Like I'm not half as strong or trustworthy as he thinks I am."

Burt laughed, and Kurt's heart fell. Was his father laughing at his weakness in the middle of this? It was mortifying. "Kurt, son, everyone feels like that. Life is hard, and it comes at you fast, and all your plans get shot to hell as soon as anything starts happening. I hate to say it, but you're never, ever in this life going to feel like you've got everything under control. But that's why it's so nice to have a sub. Because when he looks up at you like you're capable of making everything right, it gives you the confidence to actually do that. It's so much easier than doing it alone."

Kurt blinked. Not laughing at him after all, apparently. "But you're not like that. You're always strong, even by yourself. After Mom died ... you didn't have a sub for years, until you met Carole, but you never worried about anything."

"Are you shittin' me? I worried about everything. I put up a strong front for you, because you were a kid. But god, Kurt, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I miss your Mom like crazy, because I loved her and she was an incredible person, but also because she made me feel like I knew what the hell I was doing. And nobody can ever replace her, but Carole ... she makes me feel the same way. That's what it's about. That's the whole thing. It's not about who is stronger than who. It's about how you support each other. How a dom and a sub together are a thousand times stronger than either one alone."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "Blaine ..." he said, almost a whisper. It was true, seeing Blaine's trust in him always brought out his confidence. At least, until he started second-guessing himself. It had never occurred to him that maybe he shouldn't second-guess. Maybe that strange confidence, that instinctive part of himself that took over and seemed to know what to do without his conscious control, maybe that was how it was supposed to work. Maybe he really could trust that part of himself too.

Burt glanced at his watch. "Call him, kid. It's getting late. Call him before he does something stupid that you'll both regret."

Kurt stood up, almost in a trance, and walked to the kitchen where his phone was plugged in. He picked it up, and the doorbell rang. He turned and stared at his father, eyes wide.

Burt nodded at him. "Answer the door, Kurt."

------------------------------------

Kurt's face when he opened the door was impossible for Blaine to read. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, or maybe like Blaine was a ghost. It must be surprising, Blaine realized, him showing up like this when he'd said he wouldn't be in Lima at all this weekend. But before he could open his mouth, Kurt's hands were grasping his biceps and his face had changed to worry and he was speaking frantically.

"What happened? Did he hurt you? Did he ... are you okay? Oh my god, Blaine, if he hurt you, I'm going to kill him."

"What? No! No, Kurt, no, he was a perfect gentleman. I was ... I ... I just had to see you tonight."

Kurt's eyes moved across his face, searching. "Why?"

Blaine should have planned this speech. There was too much to say all at once, and it came out of him all in a confused jumble, but he had to just say it and get it out there. "He seems like he would be a really good dom. I should have gone home with him, I probably will, tomorrow, but I just couldn't ... Kurt, I couldn't do it without telling you that ... oh god, I'm so sorry, but I had to tell you that I wish it could be you. I'm not asking you to dom me, I know you're not ready, I can't ask you for that, not after what it did to you the first time." This was starting to go off the rails, but somehow he couldn't focus back on asking for permission, while his thoughts came flowing out of him. "I just hope that someday, when you're ready, you'll want me, and I can come to you. Because ... I love you. I'm so, so sorry to put all of this on you, I didn't mean to, but Kurt, I'm yours, I want to be yours, and I'm just ... I can't ... I ..." He trailed off, unable to speak anymore because he was crying.

"Blaine, I ... I'm ready." Blaine's eyes shot up to Kurt's face, and he saw that Kurt was crying too, little tears streaming out of the corners of his eyes. "The thought of you with someone else was killing me, and I ... I love you, too. If it's you, I'm ready."

This was too good to be true, beyond Blaine's wildest dreams. "Kurt ... are you sure?"

Kurt answered with a kiss, tugging Blaine toward him and catching his mouth, open and soggy with tears and snot and horribly messy and absolutely the most beautiful, wonderful kiss ever in the world.

"Oh my god, Kurt," Blaine said when Kurt let him go. He dropped to his knees, half out of submission and half simply collapsing at the overwhelming emotion of what was happening to him.

Kurt laughed through a sob. He took a deep breath and seemed to calm down a little. Blaine stared up at him, still stunned at what was happening.

"Blaine, you ... you said you want to be mine. Do you mean, you want me to claim you?"

"You don't have to, but ... god, yes."

"I, um ..." Kurt looked chagrined. "I already bought cuffs for us. Weeks ago, back when I first realized I was in love with you. I didn't even know what I wanted to do, but I saw them and I just ... I don't know what came over me, it was an impulse buy. But they're perfect."

"Yes," Blaine whispered hoarsely.

"Wait here," Kurt said, and he bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, leaving Blaine kneeling in the entryway still wearing his coat.

He returned less than a minute later, carrying a small shopping bag. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean you had to stay kneeling!"

"It's okay, you were gone for like five seconds."

"Yeah, but still, stand up, stand up. And take your coat off, silly." Kurt looked around the room, which was empty. "Dad!" he called out. "Where did you disappear to? Come back! I need a witness!"

Burt stuck his head out from the kitchen. "I thought you could use some privacy."

"I appreciate that, but could you come back now?" Kurt said, grinning.

"Hi, Mr. Hummel," Blaine said politely.

"Now look, kids," Burt said, completely failing at looking stern. "This is serious business. These teenage claims don't usually last long, because people don't know what they're getting into. You sure this is what you want?"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Five minutes ago you told me I should do this."

"What?" Blaine asked, confused. Had they been talking about him before he arrived? He'd have to get the full story on this later.

"Just makin' sure," Burt said, smirking.

Kurt pulled the cuffs out of the bag he was holding. They were thick leather with a double buckle fastener, a thin piece of metal woven in a pattern between the two buckle straps. "Marc Jacobs," Kurt said, as if it would make a difference whether it was designer or not.

"They're perfect," Blaine said. He blinked, trying not to start crying again.

Kurt held one of the cuffs out to him, and Blaine held out his wrist for Kurt to put it on him. "I promise to love you, honor you, and protect you, as long as you will have me," Kurt said, his voice breaking just the slightest bit. He fastened the buckles around Blaine's wrist.

Blaine stared at it for a second. He felt more grounded than he ever had before. He'd always felt tethered to Kurt, as long as he could remember, but the cuff on his wrist suddenly made it seem real in a way that it hadn't before.

"Your turn," Kurt said softly, handing him the other cuff.

Blaine placed it around Kurt's wrist. "I promise to love you, respect you, and obey you, as long as you keep your promises to me." He fastened it shut. It was done. He couldn't believe it. Kurt was his dom. Of all the ways Blaine had thought this night might end, this had never been one of them.

Blaine dropped to his knees and looked up at Kurt. "Please ..." he whispered.

Kurt reached down and took his hands, pulled him to his feet. "Not yet, love. I'm going to ask you to wait one more day. You're not Sick yet, are you? Just until tomorrow, okay?"

"Why?" Blaine asked. It came out in an anguished whine. He wasn't Sick, but he was desperate, he wanted Kurt now.

Kurt stroked Blaine's face with one hand. "Because I want everything to be perfect for our first time together. I want fresh sheets on the bed, and scented candles, and maybe some rose petals scattered around. I want you dressed up for me, not fresh off some date with another guy. I want us to be well-rested and to have plenty of time and the house to ourselves, not exhausted in the middle of the night and worrying about my parents and Finn overhearing us. I want this to be something we'll both want to remember for the rest of our lives."

"But it's not our first time together," Blaine said.

"Yes it is," Kurt said firmly. "It's the first time that counts. Last time was two strangers thrown together with hardly any choice in the matter, scared out of our wits. That wasn't us. This ... this is my claimed sub, who I love, coming to me willingly and happily, both of us ready for what we're going to do together. Just like in the romantic fairy tales. This is what I want us to remember as our first time."

"Okay," Blaine whispered. He leaned his head on Kurt's shoulder, smiling as Kurt's arms wrapped around his body in a warm embrace. "Kurt? Just, please don't send me away tonight."

"Of course not, Love," Kurt said. "Stay here with me."

------------------------------------

They fell into bed, physically and emotionally exhausted, Blaine wearing a pair of Kurt's pajamas. Their limbs were wrapped around each other's bodies, as if an inch of space between them was too much to bear, as if their bodies had to be touching at every possible place. Soft kisses fell on lips, on cheeks and necks and shoulders and hands. The lightest of touches on each other's backs and arms and hips and faces. Their noses touching, staring into each other's eyes, whispering "I love you" over and over and over again.

"I don't want to wait," Blaine whispered.

"Shhh, Love, one more day, it will be worth it."

A whimpered little sob, and they fell asleep surrounded by each other.