As soon as they opened the door to their dorm room, Kurt ran to the window and threw open the curtains, exposing a magnificent vista of cars, concrete and skyscrapers. He let out a squeal of delight.

“Can you believe we’re actually here?” he gushed as he turned to Blaine, who was too preoccupied with bringing his luggage into the room to appreciate the view. Blaine shot Kurt a look of mock exasperation as he went back into the hall to retrieve Kurt’s bags, left abandoned by the door in his excitement.

Blaine put their luggage down in the middle of the room and slowly circled around, taking it all in. Stark white walls. Bare furniture. A fresh start.

It suddenly all felt so real: leaving home, becoming an adult, making a new life. This plain, empty room – their room – held so much hope, so many promises…

“Hey.” Kurt’s sweet, quiet voice cut through Blaine’s thoughts. He turned to Kurt, who was looking at him solemnly with an outstretched hand. “Come here.”

He walked over and took the offered hand, smiling faintly as Kurt pulled him toward the window. Kurt wrapped his arms around his waist from behind, tightly pressing his chest against Blaine’s back.

“Look,” Kurt murmured, resting his chin on Blaine’s shoulder as they both gazed out at the city. From their view on the eighth floor, they could see people milling about in the park, and cabs and buses cruising smoothly along the busy streets. The mid-afternoon sun glinted off glass and metal, casting harsh shadows in between the buildings. “We made it.”

Kurt tilted his head so he could look up at Blaine’s face. It was their first time alone together all day, save for the cab ride from the airport, which was filled with too much chaos and excitement to discuss anything important. But Kurt had to ask now. He wanted to know exactly what had happened.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked in a soft, tentative voice.

Blaine didn’t answer right away. He continued staring out the window, drinking in the scene that would become so familiar to them in the coming months and years. He let Kurt’s warm embrace and the wonderful possibilities this place held push away the bad thoughts, the heaviness in his heart.

Kurt opened his mouth to speak again, thinking Blaine hadn’t been paying attention, when Blaine sighed. “No,” he said, craning his neck to look adoringly into Kurt’s face, still perched lightly on his shoulder. “I want to be here with you.” He turned once more to the window, allowing the smile to slowly bloom across his face. “Because we made it.”

Kurt returned his big, happy smile. “Yeah. We did.” He decided not to press the issue – for now, anyway. “Okay. I won’t ask again. But when you want to talk about it, I want to listen.” Kurt reached up and laid a soft kiss on Blaine’s cheek. Then he kissed there again: firmer, wetter, lingering.

Warm, parted lips slowly began sliding over to Blaine’s mouth when Rachel suddenly burst through the door. Kurt quickly jerked his head away.

“Oh!” Rachel exclaimed, and for a split second Kurt thought she might be embarrassed about interrupting their private moment. But she walked right up to the window, ignoring the boys’ intimate embrace. “What a lovely view! Of course, mine is a little better because I’m on the fourteenth floor.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her head toward Kurt and Blaine. “My roommate isn’t here yet so I took the bed on the window side. Do you think she’ll mind?”

Kurt sighed, releasing his hold on Blaine’s waist. The moment was over. He took the opportunity to finally scan their new room, frowning at the dingy, tack hole-covered walls with disdain. “We have a lot of work to do in here,” he muttered.

“It’s a testament to your excitement about being in New York that you didn’t immediately notice our drab new living conditions when we walked in,” Blaine quipped, another grin settling on his face. He could practically see Kurt’s mind turning with ideas to transform the homely dorm room.

Kurt tried his best to scowl at his boyfriend, but failed miserably, laughing because it was the truth. Then his eyes traveled over to the two twin beds against the wall. “Beds first?” he asked, giving Blaine a knowing look.

They’d had a long talk about the bed situation one night in June, after watching a movie snuggled up together under Kurt’s fuzzy blanket.

“I can’t wait to do this all the time with you in college,” Blaine said, nuzzling his face into Kurt’s neck.

“But we’re going to have twin beds in the dorms. That won’t be very comfortable.”

“Hmmm…” Blaine seemed to ponder Kurt’s statement for a moment before tentatively asking, “Maybe we can push them together?”

It seemed obvious. Of course they should push the two little beds together. They were boyfriends. Boyfriends who lived together didn’t sleep in separate beds.

But the issue was lightly trodden territory in their relationship. Even though they’d been together for nearly a year and a half, they still largely avoided public displays of affection. Their dorm room wouldn’t be public, per se – but it would be a lot less private than their bedrooms back home.

Would their friends and classmates be uncomfortable if they saw one big bed when they came over to do homework or hang out? And what would their floormates say if they saw it while passing in the hall? Kurt’s face had burned hotly as he imagined the potentially scandalous rumors – and worried over the reactions of anyone living on their floor who might be less than accepting of two boys who slept together in a big bed.

In the end, love – and hormones – ruled. They would push the beds together. Kurt even found a silly contraption online that tied the two mattresses together in the middle to keep them from slipping apart. As he purchased it, he wondered if the inventor had ever dreamed he’d created a solution for gay, college dorm-dwelling couples who wanted to sleep together in one big bed.

The harder decision now was to figure out where to put their new, big bed.

“How about under the window? That way we can wake up with the sun every morning,” Blaine suggested with a goofy smile.

“Blaine, we’re in college. We will not be waking up with the sun every morning.” Kurt shook his head. “Plus, that would put the bed directly in line with the door. That’s terrible feng shui.” He looked around the room again, analyzing, then pointed to the far wall. “Here, how about against this wall?”

Blaine tilted his head, contemplating the option. “Okay,” he conceded. “But I get to pick out a plant at the store.”

Kurt groaned. How the hell are we going to re-pot a houseplant in a dorm room? He never thinks of these things. But it was a worthy compromise to ensure that blinding sunlight wouldn’t awaken them at seven every morning. “Fine. We can put that in front of the window instead.”

They each took hold of a bed and pushed it toward the other, smiling as the bed frames smacked together. Blaine winked at Kurt, and Kurt flushed pink, eyes sparkling.

“Ugh, you guys need to just get married already,” Rachel muttered from her seat on the floor in the corner of the room, where she was pawing through boxes they’d had shipped ahead of time.

Kurt and Blaine snapped their heads in her direction. Lost in their newly realized domestic bliss, they’d both forgotten her presence in the room. Kurt shrugged, tossing Blaine an impish grin. “Okay, hubby, let’s unpack.”

The three friends talked and laughed for the next hour, building fancy dreams for their lives at college while the boys got settled. They unpacked clothes and shoes, sheets and towels, placing them together in drawers and closets and cabinets. The photo of Blaine and Bridget at Disney World took its place on a bedside table next to the one of Kurt’s mom, posing like a supermodel in her 1980s bedroom.

Eventually, Rachel wandered back over to the window, her foot tapping restlessly as she peered down at the bustling city below. “Guuyyys,” she started, the hint of a whine in her voice. “I want to go out and explore. Come on, we’ve been stuck inside all day.”

“You can go out and explore all you want, Rachel Berry,” Kurt retorted as he fluffed a bed pillow. “But I want to get as much unpacked as possible this afternoon.” He hated feeling unsettled, his belongings scattered among boxes and suitcases. And if he had to be perfectly honest, he was just as excited about setting up his room with Blaine – their room, he thought with a thrill for the hundredth time – as he was about traipsing through Manhattan.

Kurt stole a glance at Blaine, whose eyes were still shadowed from stress and lack of sleep, and turned back to Rachel. “Why don’t you go out with your dads now?” he suggested, hoping she’d take the hint. “We’ll catch up with you later.”

Rachel promised to text them in a little while to set a plan for the evening before leaving the two boys alone again. As the door clicked shut behind her, Kurt immediately set his sights on their bed, freshly made up with the new gray and green linens they’d picked out in Ohio a few weeks ago. He plopped himself down on the edge, a silent invitation for Blaine to follow.

“What side do you want?” Kurt asked, thoughtfully looking down at the bed.

Blaine furrowed his brow, but remained standing in place in the center of the room. “I don’t know. We’ve slept in the same bed before. Did we have certain sides then?”

“No, but this is, like, permanent. We need to get our sides right.”

“Or what?”

Kurt stared at him incredulously. “Are you kidding? So we don’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed!” He sighed over having to explain his own lame joke. “Don’t tell me you didn’t see that one coming a mile away.”

Blaine smiled weakly. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”

Kurt gave him a sympathetic pout. “Come on, lie down with me,” he said, gesturing with his head toward the bed. Blaine walked over to the other side, sitting down first, then reclining back onto the soft, downy pillows. They felt so good. So did Kurt, nestling his face into the crook of Blaine’s neck. Blaine hadn’t realized how tired he was until now…

“This side works for me,” he murmured as he slowly drifted off.

***

Kurt, Blaine, Rachel and her dads had the best weekend a group of Broadway-worshipping, Big Apple-loving Ohioans ever had. They spent that evening roaming the streets of Manhattan, letting themselves get lost in the crowds and heat and flashing lights of Times Square. Rachel, flanked by her dads on either arm, led the way, pointing out everything that captured her eye and laughing joyously.

Kurt and Blaine lingered just behind, tentatively reaching for each other’s hand in the night. It was so new, so exhilarating, to allow themselves to be together like this in public. They didn’t need to keep a safe distance apart here like in Lima – although Kurt saw the way Blaine’s eyes still darted nervously toward people’s faces as they passed by. It would take awhile to break themselves of the hesitance, the learned behavior that was so deep-rooted in their consciousness, Kurt supposed.

On Sunday, the Berrys graciously treated Kurt and Blaine to a matinee showing of Jersey Boys, during which Blaine decided he was definitely adding Frankie Valli to his already-crowded list of dream roles. The five spent the entire dinner afterward gushing over their Broadway experience, before saying their goodbyes and thank yous to Rachel’s dads.

When they got back home, Blaine downloaded the show’s soundtrack off iTunes, twirling a laughing Kurt in the middle of the room as he sang.

I love you, baby,
And if it’s quite all right
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night

“Well, if the big bed doesn’t tip people off, you serenading me with The Four Seasons certainly will,” Kurt mumbled wryly, his tired eyes slipping closed and his body sinking into a deep, satisfying sleep.

The next day, Kurt and Blaine walked for miles through Central Park, lingering to watch couples and families paddleboat on the lake. As evening fell, they strolled down Madison Avenue, mesmerized by the opulent fashions and exuberant displays in the front windows of the designer stores that lined the street. Blaine made sure to text Bridget a photo of him and Kurt posing in front of the Burberry window, sparkling brightly in the dusky night.

She had already sent him a steady stream of text updates from home.

“mom and daddy keep fighting. she is really mad. and he’s acting weird.”

“idk what to weaaarrrr for my first day of school. can i send u guys pics of different options?”

“hot n cold just came on pandora. i miss u :( “

Kurt spoke often with Burt, raving about the sights and sounds of New York. Most of the cultural references went over Burt’s head, but he knew his son was supremely happy. And that was all that mattered.

***

It wasn’t until Tuesday that they finally talked about the argument.

They’d gone to the park that afternoon, lazily rambling around their new neighborhood and learning the names of nearby streets and shops and buildings. Their calves were tight and their feet ached from walking so far the previous day, but they were still too enraptured with their city to stay indoors for long.

Kurt made Blaine have their picture taken under the Washington Square Arch – “From When Harry Met Sally!” he exclaimed, grinning happily. He immediately uploaded the photo to Facebook, tagging himself as “Sally” and Blaine as “Harry.”

The center of the park was crowded with people and boisterous energy. Dozens of fellow NYU students, alone and in groups, read and talked and laughed, enjoying the last of summer before the stress of classes kicked in. Every type of street performer imaginable – jugglers, singers, mimes, musicians strumming guitars and drumming the bottoms of big, white paint buckets – filled the background with riotous color and noise.

When they stopped for a few minutes to dip their sore feet in the fountain, Blaine managed to splash Kurt only once, smirking mischievously as the clear droplets ran down his bare shins. Blaine was rewarded with the you’re so childish, but I love you look Kurt had mastered over the past year and a half.

Their conversation lulled as they stepped beyond the park’s bustling core, the quiet shade of trees wrapping them in peaceful, comfortable silence. Blaine’s thoughts began to travel back to Ohio, and what had happened between him and his father.

He’d been having way too much fun with Kurt the past few days to dwell on their argument. But time and physical distance had allowed him to collect his thoughts, and now new emotions – fear, confusion, regret – were starting to creep into his consciousness alongside the anger, the sadness, the emptiness.

He knew he had to talk about it. He wanted to talk about it, to tell Kurt everything.

Kurt could sense the shift in Blaine’s mood. “Want to sit down?” he suggested, hoping to prompt Blaine to open up. They perched themselves on an empty bench; Blaine reclining across the seat with his head in Kurt’s lap, staring up through silly, red-rimmed sunglasses at the leafy trees and bright blue sky.

The entire story poured out of him: how his father had once again tried to make Blaine feel guilty about his decision to move to New York; how Blaine had finally called him out on it, exposing the emotions both of them had kept bottled up for so long; how his father, fueled by alcohol and a bruised ego, had essentially cut Blaine off for being true to himself.

Kurt flinched when Blaine relayed his father’s vile words about his life choice and coming to his senses someday. But he kept his tight hold on Blaine’s hand, hoping the simple act would help soothe his heavy heart.

“He doesn’t approve of my life,” Blaine spat out, the anger rising in his chest once again. “Pursuing music, being gay. I can’t change those things. He thinks I can. They’re not choices. They’re me.”

“I know.” All Kurt could do was keep gripping Blaine’s hand. With his other hand, he softly stroked his thumb over Blaine’s cheek, the tip of his thumbnail catching on light stubble.

“You know, they think we’re this perfect family,” Blaine scoffed, shaking his head. “But we’re not. And I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.” Even as he said it, he knew it wasn’t true; for now, being angry was easier than facing the fear that he might never be welcome home again.

When Blaine finally quieted, Kurt shifted his body, leaning down to stare directly into Blaine’s face. “Listen to me. I don’t know what’s going to happen between the two of you. But you need to know you’ll always have me. I’ll never try to change you.”

I want to take care of him, Kurt thought, love and compassion surging in his chest. He needs me.

“You’re wonderful,” Kurt continued fiercely. He leaned down and kissed Blaine’s damp forehead. “Exactly the way you are. And I’m never going to let you forget it.”

Blaine watched as Kurt’s starry blue eyes exploded with intense passion. He began to reach his hand up to Kurt’s face, wanting to kiss him senseless – but the sound of voices and shoes scuffing along the asphalt path beside their bench jarred him back to reality.

He leveled a serious expression at Kurt instead. “Even when I splash water on you in public?”

One corner of Kurt’s mouth twitched. “Even when you get dirt all over our carpet from the houseplant you just had to have.”

“I think it adds the perfect touch to our décor.” Blaine’s smile suddenly shifted into something decidedly more wicked. “Speaking of our room…I’m going to take you back there now so I can properly thank you for being the best boyfriend in the world.”

Kurt’s eyebrow arched upward and his mouth curved, mirroring Blaine’s devilish look. “Lead the way.”

They launched off the bench, laughing wildly as they broke into a brisk walk toward their dormitory, Kurt’s hand never leaving Blaine’s.