Thursday found the apartment bustling with activity. Friday was to be the last session, a final chance to complete their projects and present their portfolios. The day left no room for their usual slow and sweet morning, waking up at an hour that Kurt deemed bright and early and Blaine deemed fucking ungodly. The entire day was dedicated to their art. The easels where set up in the living room, paint pallets and brushes resting between them on a chipped side table they'd found at a market. Blaine had bought it simply because Kurt had fallen in love with it.

Sharing a work space was so easy for Kurt and Blaine, even though their techniques were vastly different. Kurt used up relatively little space, his brushes were neat, his paints and colours ordered from frequently used to highlights whereas Blaine was everywhere. Blaine could only work on his canvas intensely for up to half an hour before wandering off and noting something down or moving to retrieve some other tool only slightly necessary from the cupboard in the hall. Kurt smiled fondly as he watched his profile, cigarette hanging from his lip, his eyes squinting in concentration as he marked minutely on the canvas propped up in front of him.

Cooper was in and out sporadically. Dropping off groceries he'd taken the liberty of purchasing while Kurt and Blaine were in their ‘artsy haze'. Surprisingly, he'd crashed through the door just after noon, arms burdened with grocery bags and a small pink backpack. Blaine was in tears the moment he laid eyes on her. She'd rushed to him, hopping and jumping over a stray brush or sketch and flew into his arms. She peppered his face with sweet kisses, giggling and grinning in all her childish glory.

"Mi sei mancata Belle," Blaine choked out, settling her on his hip and stroking a hand through her long brown hair. Arabella sighed and rest her head on his shoulder, turning her big eyes on a tearful Kurt. "You been looking after Uncle B for me Mister Kur-" Cooper coughed loudly "Oops" she giggled. "I'll start over."

"Have you been looking after Uncle B for me Uncle K?" She finished her toothy grin impossibly wide as she gave her father an exaggerated wink. Kurt just gaped at them all as he closed his arms around both Arabella and Blaine. Blaine had his nose buried in Bella's hair, his hazel eyes swimming with tears and peaking up at him; smile wide with love and happiness.

"Guys you do know Bella is my kid right?" Cooper interrupted, as he nonchalantly began to pack away the groceries. Blaine blushed, head filled with images of his own little boy with crystal blue eyes and dark unruly curls scampering around the house, painting like his dads. He was flustered by the sudden prospect of the future, a future he never thought he'd have, a future he certainly wanted and one glance in Kurt's direction assured him that he wanted the same. Blaine set Arabella back on the ground and waited until she'd skipped off to help Cooper before dragging Kurt towards him for a kiss full of promises.

.oO0Oo.

However easy I was unfortunately for Kurt, working with Blaine proved to be slightly counterproductive. His tendency to never standstill and work in a constant state of what he could only assume was organised chaos distracted him. In addition on Blaine's so called ‘breaks' he wouldn't leave Arabella alone. He asked her questions about what he'd missed, helped her paint, chased her, sang and danced until they were breathless and ‘whoops Uncle B has to work now honey, keep working on that princess picture you've got going there, looking good!'.

Kurt couldn't even find it in himself to be annoyed. That smile and that laugh was something so rare, something unbelievably precious to him that he couldn't help but smile fondly as he turned back to his piece. He was nearly finished anyway. He'd left the ears and eyes of the wolves last, trying to focus all of his energy on the tufts of fur and the light in powerful hazel eyes. He drew his arm back from the canvas, biting his lip as he leant into the rough paint slick hands slipping under his tank to grip his waist. He could feel his smile against his neck; feel the contentment and joy thrumming in the air.

Blaine was better, not fine but better. He'd been worse; he was most definitely getting better. It didn't mean that all of a sudden the withdrawal would cease to exist. Addiction is a struggle that can only be overcome with time. He wasn't fine but they were young and in love, they had time. With every day that passed he was getting stronger. That didn't mean there weren't still bad days; days when Blaine could barely move for fear of excruciating muscle pain and vomiting or one night in particular when Kurt had arrived home tipsy, climbing into bed with a sleeping Blaine and sending him into a panic attack. The smell is what triggered it; Kurt didn't smell like Kurt, he smelt like booze and several of his friends' perfumes and cheap colognes. Blaine had yelled, strings of things he didn't mean ‘you fucking idiot Kurt, you know what that does to me and you- I can't believe-'. Kurt, in his muddled state, was confused and completely broke down, shattering underneath invisible pressure and shutting down in complete horror. He apologised profusely and sobbed and then Blaine sobbed and apologised and assured him he didn't mean it, that he was sorry that he ruined his good night because he was so screwed up.

That's why Blaine like that, smiling and laughing and holding him as he sang in his rich croon was so wonderful, of course it always would be, but seeing someone at their worse makes seeing them at their best so much more dazzling. "Hi," he whispered as he hooked his chin over Kurt's shoulder "I like this" he fingered the red bandana Kurt had tied around his head to keep back his bangs. "How strong is it do ya think?" He said voice rough and sultry as his lips brushed the shell of Kurt's ear.

Kurt didn't reply, swivelling in Blaine's arms and painting a long stripe of brown from temple to jaw. Blaine stood stock still, arms still hanging limply in front of him and the most hilariously shocked expression animating his features. Slowly he leant towards one of his pallets pressing his palms into the paint and then brandishing them menacingly at Kurt with a devilish grin. He lunged and Kurt leapt away from him, giggling and screeching as he dashed around his easel, Blaine following quickly.

Kurt was about to rush into the kitchen when Blaine caught him. With an arm around his waist he hauled him back into his arms, laughing joyously, his honey eyes shining with mischief. He brought one bright blue hand to Kurt's cheek before leaning in for a kiss, feeling him smile against his lips as the music of Cooper's raucous chuckle and Arabella's girlish giggle played in the background.