Blaine remembers as a child, waking up on Christmas morning at an ungodly hour in his dark childhood bedroom, alone in his bed with freezing feet and toes from where he kicked his socks off through the night. He'd wake up shivering from both the cool air in the small room and the anticipation and excitement running through him.

It's a little bit like that now, his stomach is dancing right down to the pit, his abs and thighs are quivering, he cannot keep his hands still beside him on the mattress, only it's not because he's feeling a little cold. He doesn't know what time it is now, doesn't particularly care, but the city outside of his window is awake and alive as always, with car horns and sirens and bells and far off music sounding out off in the distance. The winter sun is trying it's best to leak through a cracked opening in the drapes and filter dusky grey light through the depths of the room and up on to the bed.

Two large clammy palms clamp down onto each of Blaine's thriving hips, he jolts with the feel of cool nimble fingers sliding against his heated skin, his toes curl into the sheet covered mattress and his head thrashes back and forth on his pillow. His hair is in absolute disarray, scattered gorgeously in dark ringlets all around. Not once when he was younger did he ever think that he would wake up like this on Christmas morning, not once did he think that the excitement of knowing that there is a room full of gifts waiting for you, could be topped. Not like this.

Kurt's head pops up from under the covers, he wriggles his shoulders and the blanket drops and slides down his chiselled back, falling to where his hips meet his creamy thick roped thighs where he's positioned between Blaine's parted bent legs. His eyes are a like a stormy sea and bright like the clearing afterwards, he's wearing a sinful smirk as he licks his lips and brushes some hair up off of his face. Blaine ducks his chin and manages to catch a quick glance of him through hooded dark eyes and fanned lashes before Kurt lowers his head once more, his hands tightening their hold on Blaine's sides.

“Oh-oh my god K-Kurt-” Blaine is barely awake he can feel the small crusts of sleep lingering in the corners of his eyes as he tries to blink them open wider through the constant fluttering. His voice is scratched and rough and he can feel the rumble in his chest with each moan and inhale as is body pushed and pulled and teased into a state of complete pleasure.

Waking up hard is one thing, waking up hard and in somebody's mouth whilst being lapped up by a long relentless tongue and soft wet cushioned lips is another thing altogether.

“Good morning and Merry Christmas.” Blaine barely hears Kurt's muffled words through breathy pants and wet licks and lashes below, but he feels them, he feels them roll off of Kurt's tongue and pulse against aching cock.

“Ffuuck,” Blaine tries to twist his hips, it's just so much, but Kurt keeps him anchored to the bed, “d-don't say that.”

“Don't say what?” Blaine can hear the tease in Kurt's high breathy voice, he can feel the smile and the delicious graze of teeth against his throbbing erection.

“M-erry, shit, C-Christmas, don't say that when you're doing th-at to me,” He tries to buck again, “God Kurt feels so good, you feel so, so good.” Kurt pulls off with a slick pop in just enough time to bark a laugh.

“Oh my god, you're crazy, why cant I say that when I'm doing this to you?” He smirks as he ducks his head and sucks a kiss to the juncture of Blaine's thigh, licking a pathway, he rolls Blaine's balls gently with the fingers of one hand and swipes the pad of his thumb of his free hand through the leaking pearly drops of pre-come on the head of Blaine's flushed cock.

Blaine can't even think, he doesn't even know what he was saying or why, all he knows is that he needs to come, he can feel the pressure build from bottom upwards, the tremble in his skin and bones growing more intense and he needs Kurt's undivided attention wholly and fully and now. He doesn't know how long Kurt had been working him over before he finally rose to full wakefulness, but he knows that he isn't going to last very long at all, he wants to feel Kurt all around him, in him and on him, and just everywhere.   

“Shit, I don't even know, please, please don't stop, I'm close, I'm cl-”

Kurt uses the pad of his thumb now slick with a creamy white substance, to trail down lower, he flicks his wrist once as he goes, causing Blaine to whimper and continues downwards. He tilts his fist and his knuckles graze the sensitive taut skin over Blaine's ball sack and down again until his thumb finally reaches the rough dry puckering of Blaine's hole between two soft round cheeks.

Blaine bucks up, pushing his straining leaking cock up into nothing but thick curling hot air between them as Kurt's moist thumb circles his entrance one way and then the other before pushing in gently and achingly slow. Blaine groans low and gritty, pushing breaths out through a clenched jaw, he can't hide, there is no way of denying how much he loves this, loves the feel of something, someone, inside of him. Especially the fact that it's Kurt. He's glad that Kurt has taken it upon himself to explore and find this out for himself, he cant wait to do some exploring of his own, Blaine loves to give just as much as he loves to take, in all aspects of his life, but there's a time and a place and a mood, and Blaine just needs this right now, exactly this.

“You love this don't you?” Once again, even in the throes of passion the two are perfectly in sync, Blaine would huff out a laugh if he didn't already have trouble breathing. Kurt's voice has dropped an octave, he even sounds like sex and a little in awe as he pushes and pulls in and out of Blaine in steady rhythmic movements. Blaine moans, bites his lip and cracks open his eyes to see Kurt sitting up and staring down at his own hand, watching very carefully, with pink cheeks and wide glistening eyes.

After a few more easy ins and outs, Blaine's hole opening and clenching and welcoming the feel of Kurt's thumb, Kurt sucks two fingers into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the digits a few times to make sure they're nice and wet before removing his thumb and replacing it with two long fingers. Blaine squirms, crying out, huffing out breaths and juicy sounds and mumbles as Kurt slots his fingers side by side and up and down. It's a little dry and a little rough, and maybe a small helping of lube may have been a little more polite, but it's perfect all the same and Blaine is soon grunting deliciously, thrusting, his hole fluttering easily with each movement that Kurt makes.

“Oh yes, oh god yes.”

Kurt scissors inside slightly and grins devilishly when the tip of his index finger brushes against the soft squelch of a small bundle of nerves and Blaine almost bounces up and off of the bed with a sinful curse. He's got him.

With this newly acquired find Kurt settles himself comfortably on his knees, moves his free hand to Blaine's abandoned cock and strokes him hard and fast in a tight fist as his two fingers continues to prod and tease and tickle that sensitive spot inside of Blaine. Blaine's hips move on their own accord, sliding and grinding with ease, there are dots of black and grey behind his scrunched eye lids and he can feel his knuckles fading white from where they're grounded into the mattress and sheets.

“Shit, Kurt, yes, there-there, oh fuck-” Blaine is sobbing brokenly, his chest heaving up and down, if he could open his eyes he would see Kurt licking his lips, flushed skin and hooded eyes clouded with lust.

“That's it, come on Blaine, that's it.”

Kurt squeezes his fist around Blaine's cock, and pushes the tips of his fingers inside Blaine deeper, brushing back and forth, once twice and then Blaine is suddenly keening and spilling, hot and thick over his fist, growling and whining wildly.

“C-coming, I-I'm coming, Jesus-”

Kurt pumps him through it, as Blaine lifts his ass and hips to meet each pull, Kurt's fingers slide back and forth in quick flicks until he pulls them out altogether when Blaine finally slumps down onto the mattress, after the last spurt from his cock, his knees buckling and legs collapsing on either side.

Blaine breathes deeply for a few silent moments with his hands clasped together against his chest, just missing the sticky residue pooling below. His eyes flutter open as he starts to soften and feels the mattress dip and move around him, he turns his face to the side and blinks open more widely to see Kurt reaching over him to grab a few tissues from the box on the night stand. Blaine weakly takes them from Kurt's hand with a muttered thanks and wipes at himself, he barely flicks the balled up tissues up in to the air and across the room and is astonished that they actually reach the waste basket.

Kurt lowers himself down onto the pillows beside Blaine on his side and leans on one elbow, watching him with a quite a smug expression.

“Holy hell Kurt-just wow.” Blaine instantly reaches out for him, a wolfish grin on his face with liquid hazel eyes but is stopped when Kurt places a hand to his chest and pushes him back down, trailing a finger in to the dents of his ribcage. Blaine scrunches a brow, looking a little put out and worried.

“You-don't, don't you want-” Blaine's eyes drop momentarily down to where Kurt is now shielded from view by the covers, he curls a palm around his waist questionably.

Kurt smiles around a small bite of his bottom lip, whilst shaking his head lightly, his cheeks are blushed gorgeously and his eyes are positively alight. He looks like he could just pounce on Blaine, just have him, devour him and Blaine would totally let him. Yet still he says some what hesitantly, with a rasp, “I-I'm good, I promise, you took pretty good care of me last night.”

It's true, Blaine had, just after midnight Kurt had been pleasantly reunited with the feel of Blaine's warm wet tongue and the rough of his guitar playing-calloused hands. The activities had been so strenuous and responsive from both parties, and the resulting orgasm that Kurt had been treated with, had been so heavy and explosive that even Blaine had fallen asleep almost instantly without succumbing to his own pleasure. But that doesn't mean that Kurt owed him anything now. Blaine would happily take care of Kurt over and over again, without so much as a plea or beg. Blaine can gain simple pleasure from giving or taking, that's just who he is.

Blaine smiles lazily and nods after a beat, he's smart and still tired enough not to argue. Kurt is a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to let that be known, most of the time, that doesn't mean that Blaine doesn't want to argue though. Blaine swallows past the dry of his throat and is about to speak when Kurt adds lowly, “Plus, there's always later right?”

Blaine grins with the corner of his mouth lazily, he's still wondering if he's in some sort of dream state. He's also stuck in a silent quandary with himself over whether to lean in and kiss Kurt, morning breath is obviously a thing and he just doesn't know whether Kurt would care enough about it.

Instead he asks, “So what was that for?” And then mentally kicks himself, as if Kurt needs a reason, he especially doesn't want Kurt to think that he actually does need a reason. Idiot.

Kurt smirks, “It's Christmas, Merry Christmas, or am I still not allowed to say that to you?” Blaine laughs and rolls onto his back, his head still turned facing Kurt.

“Well thank you, and Merry Christmas to you too.” Kurt smiles again, this time a little more carefree, he looks far too gorgeous, his hair sweat slick and sticking up in all directions, cheeks flushed and eyes bright. Blaine really wants to kiss him, he would give anything to kiss him right now.

“Do you have any traditions for Christmas morning? I feel bad, we seemed to forgo what you had planned last night-” Blaine grins and rolls a little more inward.

“Yes, you should feel bad, although, I could forgive you should you agree to my tradition of a Christmas kiss.”

“A kiss?” Kurt asks probably a little more breathy than he would have intended or liked, an eye brow quirked amusingly.

“A traditional Christmas kiss.” Blaine says, an almost whisper with smouldering eyes.

“But where's the mistletoe?” Kurt's eyes are glowing in his pale face, looking almost radiant, he ducks his chin moving his face closer to Blaine's on their separate pillows, he lowers his voice. “There must be mistletoe for a Christmas kiss, you see.”

“I see.” Kurt's lips are parted and pink and plump and they're just there, right there, Blaine could just tug them between his teeth and Kurt would probably not argue.

“Do you think you can do that?”

If one look can set a person's soul soaring, or a flurry of gooseflesh or butterflies scattering, it's definitely the look that Kurt is giving Blaine right now, so determined, so innocent, so utterly captivating. Blaine is lost, lost in the barely spoken exchange of words between them and the fix of Kurt's gaze, of what he's saying, of what he's asking beyond the bluey-green orbs.

“For you, yes, of course.” The ‘anything' at the end of that sentence goes unspoken between them but not unheard.

But the words ‘everything' and ‘always' are just for Blaine's head alone, for now.

*

 The rest of the day seems to pass much quicker than either of them is expecting, after discovering it's a little before nine am, they eventually agree to exit Blaine's bed with mutual pressing needs to use the bathroom facilities. Kurt lingers in Blaine's doorway, with his PJ bottoms reattached and hanging low on his hips, he stares at Blaine hotly, who is left sprawled out on his bed against the pillows and after another beat disappears with a plan to see him downstairs shortly and a rule of loungewear only.

Once showered and dressed in clean underwear, a fresh pair of PJ's and a navy towelling robe over the top, Blaine combs through his hair and decides to forgo any hair products completely, feeling emboldened and proud.

He decides to quickly check his phone before heading downstairs, and finds that there's a few group texts, some automated emails and the all too similar updates on the popular networking sites. Blaine rarely uses the sites, not any more, but he stills likes to have a little look now and then at what's going on.

Blaine isn't surprised at all that there aren't any messages from his parents yet, Cooper will probably send him some sort of lewd, cheesy message later on and maybe he'll call and they'll laugh about it for a little while. Blaine knows that he should make the effort to visit his parents some time, it's not their fault that they are the way they are, he's just honestly enjoying himself too much right now, and he knows it's because he doesn't have to listen to their opinions and their dampened view of the world. He sends them both a quick message, filled with Christmas love and wishes and then switches his phone off and throws it down on the bed.   

Blaine enters the living room to find Jes sitting on the edge of the couch, he must have got out when Kurt had left earlier, his bushy tail is wrapped around himself and he's watching Blaine eagerly with pointed ears as he comes closer. Blaine leans in to offer a scratch between his ears when a bright glint catches his eye as Jes turns to lean into Blaine's touch. 

Blaine gently fingers the new collar that sits snugly around Jes's furry neck, it's suede and so soft to the touch as Blaine rubs the thin lightweight material between two fingers. The bright jade green compliments both the dusky shade of Jes's grey fur coat and the aqua sparkle of his eyes perfectly, the lining is stitched seamlessly with intricate dots of sparkling stones and lined with a type of fleece on the inside.

It's exquisite and Blaine doesn't think he'd find anything quite like it in any old pet store, it's then when he notices the small rounded metal disc dangling from the centre of the collar, just brushing the slightly lighter fur of Jester's front.

Blaine takes the disc between his fingers and leans in closer to read the beautifully engraved curved letters. On the front has Jester's name inscribed and underneath the condo's zip code, Blaine feels his heart thud in his chest his stomach swooping with the small gesture and thought. Jester is house trained but sometimes he does like a little fresh air out on the patio, or the balcony or on a windows ledge, and what if he did curiously chase a bird one day or make friends with a fellow neighbourhood cat, Blaine had never considered the fact that Jester wasn't familiar with his new home and surrounding areas, though it has been eight months now.

Blaine turns the disc delicately in his fingers and smiles widely at the small familiar letters that make up Kurt's logo that he uses for his designs and business ventures. “Merry Christmas huh Buddy, I guess this is a better gift than the catnip mouse that's wrapped up under the tree for you, which by the way I'm surprised that's still there in one piece-”

“Do you like it, is it ok? I-I'm sorry, I guess I should have maybe asked you first or something, it's just that-” Blaine startles and lets the collar slip from his fingers as he straightens to see Kurt approaching him from the kitchen, he didn't even realise he was over there.

“It's beautiful Kurt, why are you apologising, thank you for making that for him, I hope it didn't take up too much of your time-” Kurt waves a dismissive hand as he comes to stand next to Blaine and Jes who is looking up at them proudly.

“My pleasure, I just I get these ideas sometimes and I lose myself in these little challenges and-and I think it's safe to say that I've become quite attached, to um him.” Their eyes meet in a quick flash and Blaine leans in and presses a fleeting kiss to Kurt's cheek, his warm lips linger a little over the scratchy light stubble of his jaw as he finds Kurt's hand with two fingers and offers a quick gentle squeeze. Kurt turns his head to meet Blaine lips just as Blaine backs away with a small smirk.

“I thought we had a deal.” Kurt narrows his blue sparkling eyes and Blaine can tell that he's fighting to keep the humour off of his face.

“Ok.” Kurt says quietly and nods, he turns on his heel and positively struts back towards the kitchen. He's wearing pale blue linen pyjama pants which cling to every curve and line of his ass completely and a tight t-shirt wrapped clad around his chest and arms. He's thought very carefully about that outfit, Blaine just knows.

Blaine licks his lips and follows him into the kitchen where Kurt is already preparing two mugs of coffee with the biggest grin on his face.

They share a breakfast made up of toasted waffles, left over cookies and constant refills of coffee. They watch in amusement as Jester rolls around on the floor in a pile of gift wrap and bows and ribbons, he's already ripped open the toy mouse and the other small treats that Blaine had wrapped for him and this is the result. Blaine helps Kurt open some of the packages that had been sent from fans and work associates, and Kurt let's Blaine keep the travel mug with his face on it.

Blaine grins bashfully when Kurt opens up the small box that Blaine had made for him, a box of ‘stress free' items such as a soothing eye mask, bottles of lavender bathing gels and creams, smelling salts and a squeeze-y stress ball that gets thrown at him with a raised eyebrow and an amused grin. Blaine is almost hysterical when he unwraps the set of personalized dictionaries and thesaurus's that Kurt had gotten him, and throws a cushion in Kurt's general direction. The small play fight results in a half assed attempt at a tickle fight and quick chaste cheek kisses, as both men are still upholding ‘the Christmas kiss' challenge apparently.  

Gifts, or more specifically a gift for Kurt, is something that Blaine had been thinking about since around October. He wouldn't have felt right not getting anything for Kurt at all, and he also didn't know how he felt about giving him something with extreme sentimental value, even though Blaine's heart was screaming at him to do so. But just like everything else when it comes to the two of them, it had seemed to work out perfectly, once again the two had been singing from the same song book, and Blaine felt giddy with it all.       

They watch TV and look for new words with Blaine's gift, Blaine shows Kurt an old favourite movie and Kurt makes Blaine watch clips of different musicals online. They swap childhood stories, what was their favourite gift and toy and who can build the best snowman, if only the snow outside was laying a little more thickly so that they could put their money where their mouths are. Kurt teaches Blaine a new card game and they take great pleasure in trying to teach Jes how to play dead, and when Blaine has his back turned in the kitchen, whilst fixing them a rather strong mulled wine, he manages to catch a glimpse of Kurt using some of his ‘deep chill' hand moisturiser. They snack and graze on junk food pretty much the whole day until the sky darkens again and their stomachs rumble for the need of something more substantial.

The take out from the Greek place is just as delicious as Kurt had promised, they eat out of the plastic cartons with shared spoons and forks whilst hovering over the kitchen counter, it's nothing like Christmas and its strangely perfect. The whole day has been perfect and so far from anything traditionally Christmassy that Blaine has ever been used to, he can't think of anything that could ever top this.

The day ends with them a little too tipsy and draped over each other on the couch, Jester sprawled out along the top above them sleeping soundly, whilst playing a mulled wine plus a bottle or two or three of a champagne induced game of ‘never have I ever', which lasts for about half of a round before Kurt's eyes are fluttering closed against Blaine's chest.

Blaine smiles against the softness of Kurt's hair under his chin, inhaling the last traces of his shampoo and cologne. Blaine had every intention of taking up Kurt's offer on ‘there's always later' minus the fact that kissing has been removed from the equation for now, but with the way Kurt feels heavy and pliant against him, Blaine can't actually think of a better way to end his Christmas day.

Sleep slowly starts to take Blaine as music plays quietly from Kurt's iPod in the background, he wraps his arms tightly around Kurt's shoulders and a smile sits sweetly on his lips.

With final sleepy thoughts swirling around in his head about where the hell he can get some mistletoe from, he grins as Kurt's snuffles beneath him.  

“Best Christmas ever,” He just about whispers into nothing and to nobody in particular.

*

Blaine wakes with a slight crack of his heavy eyelids, morning light a little brighter than the usual winter shade pouring in through the high rise living room windows across the room. He stretches with a gentle creak of his back and legs and knees clicking, falling asleep on the couch is never a great thing to do no matter the circumstance. There's a slight sting behind his eyes and a dull throb in his temples and he also becomes aware of a soft weight atop his chest. He starts to smile before opening his eyes fully and chooses to ignore the feel of his headache as he tentatively raises a hand and lowers it down to what he believes will be Kurt's head or neck or back.

The feel of his slightly chilly finger tips gliding through waves of warm fur is a startling sensation but not one that should be so surprising to him. He's awoken to find himself cuddled with his cat many a time and in a variety of ways, but as he finally opens his eyes he really wasn't expecting to find Jester perched on his chest blinking at him casually.

Blaine rubs at his eyes with one hand and tickles the crease in Jes's neck made by his collar with his free hand, he drops his head back down to the couch with a groan. “What'cha doin man? Where's Kurt, you scare him off? I knew you were jealous.” Blaine trails off as Jes purrs back at him conversationally with soft mewls.

Sounds of softly spoken murmurs and mumbles break through the fuzz of Blaine's mind and into his ear drums, he sits up slightly, causing Jes to tumble down into the gap between Blaine and the back of the couch with a hiss. Kurt sounds like he's out in the hallway, maybe in his office for some reason or the study, he's probably on the phone. Blaine stands and pats down his rumpled pants, frowning at the creases before swiping his robe up off of the floor and putting it back on. He pads over to the kitchen, flicks on the coffee machine, grabs a glass fills it with water and opens up the medicine cabinet, searching for a quick head ache fix.

The sounds of mutters and words from out the back are becoming a little louder like their gradually getting closer but still muffled and unintelligible, the conversation does sound to be rather animated though, footsteps are now added.

Blaine swallows some pills and two full glasses of water before placing the glass in the sink and sets about making two steaming mugs of coffee.

“Oh wonderful you're up, good morning Blaine and Merry Christmas, I'll have a Cappuccino please if your making, Kurt says your quite the coffee expert.” Blaine almost drops the carton of milk he's just about to pour down on to the tiled floor as he spins around on the spot wide-eyed to the open kitchen doorway.

“Car- um Mrs Hu-

“Oh Carole's fine, hello dear, it's lovely to see you again, I knew, or rather hoped that I would.” Carole teeters forward and quickly kisses Blaine's cheek as she squeezes his arms. Blaine does not miss the way that she takes in what he's wearing, dishevelled hair and rosy cheeked appearance. He does not even dare to look past her at Kurt who is standing by the door, no doubt, also wide eyed, flushed skin, hair mussed with the shape of Blaine's hands and wearing god knows what.

“Now,” Carole claps her hands together with a bright smile and looks to where Blaine had messily set about preparing he and Kurt a coffee, “lets get these drinks and get comfortable, it looks like we have a lot to catch up on hmm.”

Blaine is going to need more than just aspirin for this.

*

Carole kindly and in what feels likes no time at all makes them all a small feast of side dishes, platters and finger foods. She had brought with her a hamper full of goods and treats that she makes up for Kurt every Christmas and had also picked up some champagne and orange juice on her way from the airport. She's also expertly baked, boxed and wrapped one of her famous cheesecake's that Kurt had boasted so gloriously about, of course she couldn't visit without one and Kurt's face and deep blue eyes positively lights the room when he sees her pulling it from her baggage.  

Carole sets a place for each of them at the dining room table, the one that is never used, with candles and champagne flutes and she puts on an old Christmas record on the vintage vinyl player in the corner of the room.

Blaine has tried to offer his help in anyway he can but is always shooed and swatted away playfully, he has offered to sit in his room for a few hours and give the two some time and space to catch up but has been told to stop being ridiculous. So he uses the time it takes to get everything set up, to quickly shower and change instead.

Blaine is not surprised when Kurt effectively stays out of his way during this quick break, and chooses to stay dressed in his loungewear to help Carole with the last finishing touches. What would they even say, what could they say in the small space of time before Carole comes looking for them. That woman is on a mission, and they both know it.

Blaine likes Carole, he had ever since meeting her up in that strange office building. She's a real busy body, a motherly figure but not so embarrassing or over powering, like she could be a good friend also, Blaine loves her presence. It's also surprised him how Kurt is with her, their relationship is a little like Kurt's and Santana's, easy and playful, though Kurt obviously treats her with a hell of a lot more respect, and Carole does not randomly come out with the most insane things.

Blaine's first thought when Carole had showed up unexpected is that Kurt would revert back to his old ways, a feeling of dread and worry settles deep within his gut as he thought of how Kurt may act and present himself, he may close himself off and their ‘casual' little deal may wash away into nothing after this. Of course they're not going to flaunt what they have been up to right under her nose, but Blaine is curious of exactly how to be, how Kurt wants him to be. 

As Blaine makes his way back down and into the main hallway he can already hear the conversation through the open dining room door.                          

“Carole you really didn't have to do this-”

“Oh hush Kurt, I know you, when else would you have ate some proper holiday food-”

“Yeah but Carole-”

“And you know me, I come and see you every Christmas-”

“Yeah but not as early as this, and you always call first or email and-”

“And you would have blown me off and made some excuse right?”

“No, well yeah, but Dad-”

“Your father's fine honey, you know this, he booked my ticket, he wanted me to come see you, he's gone ice fishing with Terry.”

The voices are not hushed, this conversation is for anybody to hear, yet Blaine still feels like he's intruding, but they know that he's coming back down, they're waiting for him to come back down. The room goes silent and there's a clang of metal, like some cutlery is being adjusted or fiddled with. Blaine hears Carole breathe out a soft sigh before speaking again, a little gentler than before.

“You know you can just call him-”

“You know that I can't.”

“Ugh, you two are just so-”

“Carole, come on, please, not now, I'm trying, you know that I'm trying right? I've done what you asked.” Kurt's words are full with weight and empathy, the emphasis on the word ‘know' hints that Carole knows exactly what he's talking about.

Blaine is almost at the doorway, he's about to fake a loud cough or squeak his shoe along the wooden floor board to let them know that he's there when he hears Kurt clear his throat. “You know that I would have set up your travel and sent you a car-”

“Sam's in Ohio.”

“How do you-you seen him didn't you?”

“He always comes back for the holidays honey, you know that his parents and your father and I go double dating every month-”

“What did Sam say?” Carole chuckles and Blaine thinks about back-stepping around the corner and up the stair case, maybe he could change his socks or something.

“Last time we tried this lovely little Mexican place and-”

“Carole-”

“I like him Kurt, you know who I mean, I really like that young man, and I know that you do, I just know it. I don't know what's been going on here, I don't need to know, but there is something.”

There's another small stretch of silence and Blaine is now almost plastered to the outside wall of the dining room, chest pumping up and down, his ears are burning and his face is heated. He gets the strongest feeling that Carole is not referring to Sam.

“However long this thing goes on with you and your dad, I don't know, I don't particularly care, not anymore, it's up to you two to sort it out, you're so alike and so stubborn and-”

“Carole-” Blaine can hear the tinge of bored humour in Kurt's voice, he can hear his eye roll and his fingers drumming lightly along the table top.

“No matter how long it takes for you two to reunite, as long as you're both ok, that's all that matters to me. You know that we all have your best interests at heart Kurt, fame or not, we know you and we all love and care about you. Me, Santana, Sam and especially your father. You're such a good person honey, you have such a good heart, let somebody in, let some body see it, it's time for you to let the past go, don't be that person anymore. Let Blaine-”

A beeping from the kitchen sounds loudly and wildly, Blaine takes the opportunity to pick up his jaw from the floor and scramble back up a few steps as silently as possible. He slowly makes his way back down just as Carole hurries from the room with an oven mitt dangling from one hand. “Oh no, the chicken.”

Blaine enters the dining room with a small chuckle as he watches Carole scamper away, the room looks lovely, the table set with champagne flutes and the centrepiece candles glowing, giving off some ambience.

Kurt is sitting on the far side with an elbow resting on the white table cloth, and a palm wrapped around one cheek. He looks up as Blaine steps closer into the room, his pale defined face illuminated by the small flickering flames in front of him, blue eyes lit with sparks of green and swirls of grey. Kurt looks exquisite in this light, though he always does, truly exquisite. He's still wearing yesterday's pyjamas, with his hair rumpled this way and that, but he is still the most gorgeous thing Blaine has ever seen.

His beautiful face is masked with some form of emotion, something that is causing him to sit still and think, to make him slump his shoulders and stare off into nothing, Blaine hopes that it is not him, Blaine hopes, he wishes that he can be the one, to transform that face, to tease a smile onto those lips and to see those eyes light with mirth and familiar mischief.

As Blaine pulls out a chair opposite Kurt at the table leaning forward, their eyes finally meet and lock on to each other, Kurt's hand drops from his face and he straightens in his chair. Blaine is waiting for him to get up and leave the room, instead Kurt slides that hand across the table and curls two fingers over the top of two of Blaine's. Blaine looks down at the gentle surprising touch and then back up, heart squeezing in his chest, as Kurt gives him the hint of a smile followed by a quick wink and pulls his hand back.

Kurt may not be going anywhere after all.    

*

Kurt slides his empty plate away from him with a hearty groan and pats at his stomach, as he drains the last few drops of his Mimosa.

“You've out done yourself Carole.”

“You say that every year Honey.”

“This is the year though.”

“Carole, Kurt had already told me about your cooking and I must say his generous blathering was seriously understated.”

“Oh you're too sweet honey.”

“Ok, I think it's about time I actually go and get dressed, I'll be quick.” Kurt seems to hover above his chair for a beat, like he's thinking something over before giving his head a subtle shake and stands from the table. He glances at Carole and then Blaine quickly before picking up a plate of leftover chicken scraps, “Nobody do the dishes, we'll deal with them later, but I'm going to give these to Jes.”

Kurt makes his way around the table and over to the door. Blaine hurries to swallow his drink, which is just starting to settle nicely in his stomach after the remnants of his earlier hangover had faded, although Kurt hasn't seemed to have had a problem with it at all. “Kurt, no, not too much, he'll get sick.”  

“Oh he'll be fine, he loves it.” Kurt calls playfully as he exits.

“He's sleeping with you tonight then.” Blaine mumbles amusingly around his glass. Carole smirks around her last bite of cheesecake as she throws a sideways wink in Blaine's direction.

“He's a cute little thing, isn't he, you three make quite a family.” She muses quietly with a jovial lilt to her tone whilst stacking some plates together and adding the used utensils to the top, she's either oblivious to the fact that Blaine has almost sprayed alcoholic fruit juice all over the table top or blissfully ignorant to it. “Burt, Kurt's father wont let me have a pet,” she adds, like she needs to say something else.

There's a faint humming out in the hallway followed by a low muttering and distant foot steps, “Ok you can come with me, but you're sitting at the door.” Blaine smirks, picturing Jes following Kurt up to his room, that's what happens when you feed him nasty treats. He looks back at Carole to find her watching him carefully with a mischievous smile, and what looks to be her third Mimosa she's pouring into her glass.

“Kurt's father, um Burt, sounds like he's a great man, I, I have to say that since meeting you that first day, on my interview, I have loved getting to know Kurt and hearing about his life and accomplishments.” Carole smiles brightly and nods, as she sets the champagne bottle down.

“That's nice dear, I'm glad, he hasn't told you about his dad much huh?”

“Only good things.” Blaine says and is tone is dripping with earnest. It's the utmost truth.

Carole nods and hums. “He'll tell you about it one day, it's his battle, their battle, I'm just happy to have him around, who else is going to scold me for wearing navy, brown and black all at the same time.” She scoffs a laugh and then looks almost solemn, it looks strange on her usually happy face. Blaine feels his heart drop to his stomach.

“Carole, I'm so sorry to hear about your-your son Finn-” Carole looks back at him and smiles brightly once again, she waves a hand politely.

“It's ok dear, it's not ok, we're dealing with it still I guess, but you don't have to do that, thank you though.” Blaine nods in understanding and she continues. “I must say that I've loved hearing about you, and the work that you and Kurt have been up to, sounds like you're cooking up a storm around here.” She smiles and Blaine smiles back, “I am genuinely very, very pleased that you're still here Blaine, working for Kurt that is.”

Blaine smiles and nods again, not sure of what to say to that really, he takes a sip from his flute and swallows. Blaine gets the feeling that Carole wouldn't mind answering a few simple, respectful questions. Alcohol or not, even though it is only half a glass topped up with fruit juice anyway, Carole seems to be an honest soul, the type to wear her heart on her sleeve, like Blaine, maybe that's why they seem to get along so well.   He won't ask anything intrusive, nothing that he wouldn't have asked Kurt eventually himself anyway, but he knows that with Carole it will be easier, she'll be truthful if not forceful if needed.  

“Carole do-do you mind me asking about my interview that day, that office, it was, um it-” Carole laughs and sets down her glass.

“Oh that office was nothing more than a rented space that we quickly cleaned up, Kurt doesn't use another office apart from his home space, and of course the meeting and board rooms which are set up for him-”

“Then why-”

“For interviews, for your interview, Kurt didn't want to hold it here, even though I told him that you'd end up here anyway if you took the job, you know how he is, very particular.”

“He's never held interviews before?”

“No honey, he's never needed to-”

“What about that day, weren't there any other candidates as well as myself?”

“We were very hopeful for you dear, out of the bunch of resumes that were sent to us, yours seemed to just stand out to him.” Blaine considers this as Carole fingers around the edge of her glass, like she's quietly contemplating.

“Can I tell you something Blaine?” He looks up, with knitted brows to find Carole almost hunched over the table, looking at him directly, he nods as he feels his pulse quicken.

Her eyes dart to the ceiling and back down, like she's gesturing to the bedrooms above, “He's very protective of himself, you know that already.” Blaine nods and tilts his head in understanding. “But I also think that he's very protective of you too, in fact I know that, I don't know what's going on in his head, nobody does, that's always been a problem with him.”

She laughs quietly and something passes over her features, Blaine feels a crack in his chest at the sight, Carole deeply cares for Kurt, he can see it, he can feel it. “He's very impulsive, and a little irrational at times, and I'm not implying here that anything is happening with you two,” She says this with a sly tilt to her lips and a glance in the opposite direction, “But you do bode well for him, to be around him, and I don't even mind that he'll want to kill me if he thinks I'm saying this to you, because I know that he'll tell you himself one day, he just needs time, he's needs to trust that you'll give him time.”

Blaine feels like he can hardly speak, his chest is thumping and cracking and his breath feels tight in his throat, “Honestly Carole? I'll give him anything. He's done so much for me, when I felt I had nothing-he, this job means everything to me now.” Carole reaches forward and pats his hand, her eyes are shining, wide and clear.

“I know honey, I know that, you'll get it back, everything you think you had lost, it will still be there somewhere, you'll get it back.”

Blaine thinks, he knows that he already has.

*

Carole conveniently and maybe also not so much stays with the boys in New York until the day before New Years Eve, Burt is due back from his trip later on that day and so they have coincided their returns back to Lima together. She has been a joy to have around, a true gem, and even though it is not how he had initially dreamed he and Kurt would be spending the majority of the holidays, Blaine still cant say that he hasn't liked having her around. The three of them have enjoyed cooking and baking together, lunching and dining out, shopping sprees with private viewings and glasses of sparkling wine.

There had been only one dampened moment when Carole had seemed a little flustered after having been followed down Broadway by a small mob after a Matinee showing, but had been easily appeased later on with some behind the scenes juicy gossip from winter fashion week.

Blaine has to be honest, though he cant speak for Kurt directly, he is secretly looking forward to having their space back, their private time, there is only now a few days until Sam and Santana return, and Blaine doesn't even want to think about what will happen then. He can only hope that Kurt still wants him and has been pining for him the way that Blaine has been tearing up inside for him. Although the quick brush of hands and chaste pecks on cheeks have been giving him hope to hold out for more, whilst Carole is using the bathroom or distracted whilst fussing over Jes, but it's just not enough anymore.

Long hugs and kisses and cheeky not so subtle winks with blushing cheeks are shared in the entrance hall just in front of the elevator and afterwards Blaine fills up Jes's water bowl in the kitchen and adds some treats to his dish as he gives Kurt and Carole some privacy whilst the doorman comes up to help Carole with her luggage. Blaine hears a chorus of goodbyes, safe well wishes and greetings for the upcoming New Year, until they are swallowed up by the slide of heavy metal doors and carried away with a distant dinging sound.

Blaine buries his hands in his pants pockets and slowly strides over to the open doorway between the living area and the hallway. Kurt glances over from where he is slumped against the elevator wall, his eyes are dark and hooded and there is a small smirk creeping up on his lips as he pushes himself off of the wall and walks towards him. They meet in the middle under the arched walkway.

“Hey.” Kurt says, arms dangling at his sides before gently pulling Blaine's wrists out of his pockets and tugs him forward until there is not much space left between them at all. Blaine's eyes widen, big and round and glowing as he grins one sided-ly, head tilted.

“Hey yourself.”

“Do we even have to say anything?”

“I don't know, do we?” Kurt smirks and shakes his head slowly, swinging their arms in the small gap between their bodies, looking completely adorable and completely kissable. Only then do Blaine's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline, something dawning on him. “We never did work out that deal did we? Is it too late for a Christmas kiss?” Blaine doesn't care what Kurt's answer will be, he's half a second from demanding a kiss anyway, demanding something, anything before he tackles Kurt down to the ground.

But Kurt is already grinning at him widely, almost naughtily so, and when their eyes catch and Blaine makes a questionable face at him, Kurt tilts his chin and lifts his gaze up to the archway above their heads.

Blaine is already smirking, already anticipating what he'll find when he looks up, and yep, there it is, a lush of green leaves with small white buds gathered in the middle, wrapped together neatly with a rich red ribbon, dangling from a piece of sticky tape.

Blaine doesn't even have the headspace to come up with anything appropriate to say, he doesn't trust the words that he thinks may tumble from his tongue and his lips should he open his mouth to try. Instead he wraps his arms around Kurt's shoulders and tugs him down, mouths meeting and melding instantly, their bodies relaxing into each others like they haven't been able to breathe right for the past three days.

Just under three days, Blaine thinks, eyes closed already lost to the feel of Kurt's tongue and his lips and his hands, already evaporating in his taste and his smell.

Just under three more days of this. Blaine stops thinking, there is no time to think now, only time to feel and to hope, there is always hope.