After that muttered 'hi' a funny kind of silence falls between us, comfortable almost. Well it was a little awkward too don't get me wrong. You try lying on your back, legs in the air, a Shirley temple with coconut rum poured down your white silk shirt, while your ex best friend is tanned and gorgeous above your head.....Okay it was a lot awkward. Blaine was staring at me and I took the time to really take him in; his hair was a lot looser now, curls carefully styled and maintained, a slight stubble across his jaw, his eyes had a few more wrinkles but still the same warm honey glaze that I remembered and his clothes more mature, a pair of burgundy chinos paired with a well fitted t-shirt and plimsolls (still no socks!) there was no denying that Blaine looked good and now I was....well a mess!

"Are you going to stay down there all night or..." oh yeah I was still on the floor. As I made to get up two strong hands circled my waist to help until we were face to face -or as near as we could be with our height difference- and both smiled awkwardly. "You got taller..." it wasn't a question just an observation of our time apart. I shuffled subconsciously and it made Blaine realise his hands were still on my waist and quickly dropped them.

"So how have-"

"Do you want a-"We both started simultaneously and then cleared our throats.

"Do you want a drink? I need a replacement one anyway..." I ask feeling lame. Really Kurt you've not seen him in five years and you ask if he wants a drink? How about you look good what have you been up to?

"Ehh a water please!" he smiles as I turn to the barman who hands the drinks over with an intent look on his face, obviously wanting to listen in to this meeting. "Thanks!" he whispers out as our fingers graze against each other on the bottle. "You look good Kurt!" I blush a little before I guffaw because good is the last thing I look right now and I can feel the ice slipping into my pants.

"Thanks....so do you..." he smiles a thousand watt smile at me before taking a sip of his water.

"I doubt it, I just got back from Europe...jet lag is a bitch!" he giggled to try and break this weird vibe more than anything I think.

"Really what were you doing?" this is good Kurt act civilised keep asking engaging questions.

"....then he fell off the donkey!" maybe pay attention to what the answers are! He's laughing though, do a small giggle a cute one. I said cute! What do you call that snort?! "Are you okay?" Blaine's staring at me, I can tell even though our eyes aren't connected, my skin has prickled with Goosebumps, it senses him.

"Yeah I'm fine! It's just um a surprise to see you is all" I shrug it off like it's no big deal.

"Yeah I kind of couldn't decide whether to come or not tonight...I knew you'd be here" his eyes pop open at what he said. "Not that I didn't want to see you! It's just I thought you maybe wouldn't want to see me..." I nod knowing exactly how he feels because I would have felt the same. Five years has passed so quickly, in some forms its nothing, in others it is everything.

"It's good you came....Santana will be happy to see you. It's been a long time. It's silly to let the past define us."

"Yeah you're right..." a stagnant pause crosses us and there are cheers in the background as Santana finally finishes her set. "Do you need to go see her?" he nods to the stage.

"No she will come find me when she's ready to go home..." I shrug trying to be nonchalant. "So if you only just got back, how did you know about tonight?" Blaine fiddles with the water bottle cap for a minute.

"Cooper told me about it....he said I should have his ticket since he couldn't make it..." That was a shock ,I didn't realise Santana still kept in contact with Cooper, after a year it was too hard trying to catch up without hearing about Blaine and we just stopped our friendship gradually. I knew dad still spoke to him, only saying I was good or fine and he would tell me the same about him never any important details. "I saw your dad last month..." My jaw hit the floor that he didn't tell me about it.

"You did? When?" I ask feeling a bit hurt that he hadn't told me.

"I flew home for mom's birthday and he said if I didn't show up at the garage for some hard graft he would believe all the diva rumours..." Blaine was laughing at the memory and I couldn't help but laugh too, that was so Burt Hummel.

"What is it you do now? Still back up?" I ask realising I have no idea what he does for a living.

"No! I'm part of a small collection of acoustic musicians...we tour all-round the place each having a small set time...." He beamed throughout "it's not as big or crazy as this but I'm happy! I love it and get on well with everyone; we are like a band without performing together."

"Wow that sounds great! I bet there's many a drunken story to tell?" I ask leaning my elbow on to the bar.

"SURPRISE! SURPRISE! I'm out there busting a gut to put on a show and you're in here getting hit on by a caveman....." Santana stood directly behind Blaine with her hands on her hips glaring me down. "I swear I should attach a balaclava to your head to stop you getting all the attention! It's a good job your such a good cook or- why are you smiling at me like that?" she's looks totally befuddled leaning forward to extend her hand over Blaine's shoulder still not taking in any of his features. "Hi I'm Santana!"

"Bumble! Nice to meet you..." he grabs her hand and quickly spins to face her and I watch her face span from confused, surprised and genuinely gob smacked in a split second as Blaine hugs her tightly giving her a peck on the cheek.

"What are you-how are you-You're here?!" she rambles looking at me for confirmation and I smile nodding slightly.

"I'm here!" he nods putting her back in place.

"You're shorter than I remember..." I burst out laughing from behind him and he turns to give me a look.

"You're bitchier than I remember...."

"You're gayer than I remember......." Blaine did a little curtsey in jest.

"Your boobs are bigger than I remember...."

"The boobs are fake.....yours clothes look better than I remember...."

"Your clothes are sluttier than I remember...."

"It's a look! You look older than I remember...."

"You look younger than I remember..."

"Botox!" me and Santana both squeal in unison making Blaine look confused as I laugh and get up to give Santana a hug.

"Told you the moisturising routine would work.....everyone thinks Botox is the answer...." I shake my head at the inside joke. A few years back Santana had an expose on her written when she was first starting out, one of those how they looked then and now things. She looked younger in the now pictures making people decide she had Botox, when the truth was that she had a Kurt Hummel skin care routine.

"Okay, so I'm gonna go... it was nice to see you both again, maybe we can-"

"Where do you think you're going?" Santana snapped at him making him stop on the spot.

"Home...?" he looked confused by his answer or her reaction.

"NO! You have to come see the apartment! It's amazing! Kurt tell him!" she was jumping on the spot like an excited puppy.

"You can come with us if you want?" I ask looking at him sincerely. It would be nice for the three of us to catch up.

"Sure if you don't mind?" Santana had already linked through both of our arms to drag us out the back door.

**************************

"Ok so if you want me to leave you two alone at any point, just give me the signal!" Santana was changing into lounge pants and pulling her hair into a pony tail off her face.

"TAN! Why would I need to be alone with him?!" I spin around on the spot pulling my McKinley hoodie on. We had come back to the apartment with a few of the production crew and Blaine. We had both decided to get into comfier clothes when everybody left to go sleep off the tour. Blaine had stayed after Santana's insistent pleas and was now waiting for us in the living room.

"Please!" she raised an eyebrow at me. "How long has it been since you got laid?"

"It wasn't that long ago I've just been busy at work is all! And even if I was desperate why would I ask him to help me out?" I threw my shirt at her when all she did was smirk. "Santana! Stop it.....we are practically strangers now, and besides he could have a boyfriend...." I pull on my yoga pants and fix my hair in the vanity.

"He doesn't! Cooper told me and don't change the subject! You were practically dry humping when I walked up..."

"We were talking! And while we are on the subject when were you going to tell me about Cooper and you still talking!" I slump down on to the bed to glare at her.

"We bumped into each other when I did my LA dates...I said he should come see the closer and see you, it's been a long time Kurt." She sat beside me and put her arm around my shoulders.

"I know but a heads up would have been nice.....Especially since I have to be up early tomorrow!" I lean my head on to her and she gives me a tight squeeze.

"I get it and I won't do it again....." she stands up pulling me towards the door to follow her "let's go see if the bumble we remember can keep up with us like he used to..."

*****************

".....and then she tried to stick her hands down my pants before Kelly came over to reassure her I was gay and that no I couldn't be swayed!" he stopped to take a swig of water while we laughed.

"I don't know, you always seemed to have me wrapped around you in high school Bee...." Santana giggled from her spot on the couch.

"Because you always found it appropriate to mount me in any kind of setting......I could not be more turned off by those things if I tried! Kurt help me out here?" he flashed a fake puppy pout at me making Santana gag loudly.

"She's just winding you up! I definitely don't envy all those poor little fan girls.....you must be quite the heart breaker!" I get up to grab the rest of the wine me and Santana are sharing.

"Hardly there is this guy Paul in the group and he is hot and 100% straight....I just sometimes get a few girls that don't like him! It's flattering until it gets creepy!" he let out a shiver obviously recalling the memory.

"So where do you stay when you're in town? With a boyfriend?"

"Santana!" I wail spilling a little of the wine in my glass.

"It's ok Kurt! I stay in Brooklyn with Kelly; she's actually dating Cooper just now."

"Cooper is in a relationship!?!" I'm shocked he was always a player to be honest.

"Still didn't answer the boyfriend question....." Santana moaned and I threw her a look.

"Erm...I'm single. What about you guys?"

"Well I'm open to possibilities!" Santana grinned. "Now that is what we should catch up on- I could tell you lots of embarrassing dating stories about ..." she trails off when there's a knock at the door but doesn't move. So I kick her shin slightly to get her up.

"Fine I'll go! Just don't tell the Jayden story without me! It's my favourite!" she runs quickly to the front door coming back a few minutes later. "Kurt....." when I look up I see Mrs Benson trailing in behind her.

"Oh my god what's wrong?" I jump up rushing over to her.

"Nothing's wrong Kurt..." she patted me on the shoulder. "It's just Landin woke up wanting his dad...." I heard a small gasp from behind me but I didn't want to look back round.

"Ok! Take me to him please!" and before I can do anything else I hear him shout and run into my arms, still sobbing slightly.