He didn’t have the courage to text Kurt back.  Blaine still felt as if everything he was feeling, everything that was missing, was all just a dream.

Blaine didn’t feel whole. His body was entirely numb, and it wasn’t because he was standing outside in the freezing cold.  Cooper was dead. What other reason did he have for living?

Kurt. He had to live for Kurt. But how could he go back to him now, after all the life in his soul had been washed away? Blaine couldn’t love Kurt like he did before, because he himself couldn’t love.  He didn’t feel anything.  And going back to Kurt would only be a letdown for Kurt, because Blaine Anderson was no longer the same man.

Blaine scrolled through his contacts until he reached Kurt’s name.  And then he deleted it.

“I don’t understand.” Kurt asked, a perplexed expression on his face.  His face had been covered in tears since Blaine had started retelling his story, but now the tears were for his own pain.  The recollection of what happened years ago had caused his own emotions to stir as he remembered going to Blaine’s apartment and finding him not there.  No phone calls, no text messages.  He was so worried about Blaine.  He even called Blaine’s mother to make sure he was okay, and he had gotten a short response from her that made Kurt’s blood boil. Blaine’s fine. Please don’t call again.

Kurt hated Blaine after that.  What had he done to make the man up and leave without a word? He tortured himself for months, questioning himself and his entire relationship.  But he couldn’t understand.  So he eventually settled for hatred and moved on with his life.

“I couldn’t be the man I was before Cooper died.  I couldn’t love you the same because I didn’t know how.” Blaine said.  He clearly had lost sleep over his decision and whether it was the right one or not.  And Kurt could see he regretted it.

 “Kurt, I need you to understand what I’m about to tell you.  I have hated myself for the past three years.  I’ve cried myself to sleep more times than I can count and my heart has ached for you ever since I left.  I did what I did because I thought that it would be best for you.  I thought you deserved someone who could love you unconditionally.  I thought that part of me that could love was gone.  But I felt it.  I still do.  My love for you has never gone away and it never will, because you are the love of my life, Kurt Hummel.  I need you. And I am so sorry for leaving in the first place.  I’m so sorry-“ Blaine was cut off by the forceful lips of Kurt, crashing down on him with more passion and love and forgiveness than he could ever imagine.

Blaine immediately grabbed Kurt’s face and kissed back as hard as he could.  Both of them had started to cry, but never losing the passion.  Kurt had moved closing to Blaine, almost completely on top of him, and broke off the kiss to wrap his arms around Blaine’s neck and squeeze him as hard as he could.  Every, little feeling of anger and hatred he had built up for Blaine had vanished within seconds, and Kurt was overcome with a sense of relief and, especially, love.  Blaine was sobbing into Kurt’s shoulder, every so often whispering, ‘I love you’. 

When Kurt found his breath again, he pulled back and looked Blaine square in the eye, “I love you. Always.” And embraced Blaine once more.

Blaine was smiling through his tears.  He had dreamt of this moment for years, and now that it was actually happening, he didn’t know what to do with himself.  All he could do was hold the man he loves and promise to never let him go again.

But, unfortunately, Kurt pulled away.  He sat on his heels and took Blaine’s hands in his own. 

“Blaine, you look exhausted.  We’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster for hours now, you need some rest.  Come on.” Kurt said, standing up from the couch. 

With a yawn, Blaine shook his head.  “I’m not tired.  I swear, please come back.  I don’t want to let you go yet.”

Kurt’s heart literally felt like it had melted to a puddle in his chest.  Blaine’s puppy dog expression was one he always fell victim of.  “I’ll come with you. Let’s go.”

Blaine smiled his goofy smiled and trailed behind Kurt to his own bedroom.  Kurt nudged the other man into bed and pulled the warm, gray comforter over the both of them.  Facing Blaine, Kurt put his right arm around Blaine’s chest, while his left arm supported his own weight.  Within minutes, Kurt could hear the soft sounds of Blaine’s snoring and smiled with victory.             

               In that moment, Kurt had felt a shift in the air.  His heart was swelling with love and, for the first time since Blaine left, he felt whole again.  He shifted his body closer to Blaine’s and buried his face in the crook of Blaine’s neck, breathing in the familiar musky scent. 

               For some strange reason, Kurt’s eyes were starting to water again and a lump in his throat was growing rapidly.  Never in a million years could he imagine he would have the life he was living in that very moment.  A-list actor, penthouse apartment, loving family, and Blaine Anderson.  There was no way this was real.  It wasn’t until he felt Blaine scoot backwards into Kurt’s body that he was snapped back into reality and everything finally felt right. 

               Blaine stirred, turning around with squinted eyes and a lazy smile.  “Was I out long? Or am I still dreaming?” He groggily asked, shifty completely to face Kurt and wrap his arms around the other man’s waist.

               Kurt laughed and shook his head.  “No, you’re awake.  It’s real.”

               Blaine sighed, and his smile grew as he was starting to regain complete conciseness.  “Can I sing to you, Kurt Hummel?” Blaine asked.  Kurt nodded and shut his eyes as Blaine opened his mouth and sang a very similar song. 

               “Lovely, never ever change.  Keep that breathless charm. Won’t you please arrange it, cause I love you. Just the way you look tonight.”

               Kurt leaned in, pressing his lips to Blaine’s and cupped his face, moving his lips in sync with his love’s. 

               “You know this doesn’t fix everything, right? We have a ton of things to talk about and we a million and one things to figure out and-“Kurt was cut off by Blaine’s hand covering his mouth.

               “Shhhhhh.  I know, I know, sweetheart.  But let’s enjoy this, okay? Let’s just live in this moment, you and me, right now.  Nothing and no one can stand in our way right now.  And I know that we can’t go back to the relationship we once had, but living without Cooper these past few years has taught me that I need to cherish every single moment I get. And I’m not giving up on us, and I will work my ass off to make us work.  Because you, Kurt Hummel, are the love of my life.  Always has been, always will be.  Now stop worrying, and kiss me.”

               For the rest of the day, Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson stayed in that bed and made up for every year that they were apart.  Every so often, they would stop and just look at each other, taking in the brand new features that each man had developed.  But the older features, and the new lifestyles would change the incredible memories these two men had shared together, and continued to create for the rest of their lives.