June 2022

New York, New York

Pavarotti Fashions Summer Line Fashion Show; backstage

“Jessica, can you go make sure that Helen is in her dress, and go tell Josh to get down to makeup, we have thirty minutes until the show starts, and then I need you to find Audrey so that she can meet with the photographer from Vogue,” Kurt said to his intern, trying to make sure that he didn’t stab Alyssa with his needle. “Of all the times for a torn hemline…” he muttered, tying the final not and sending the model down to hair.

Despite having graduated from NYADA, Kurt Hummel was working in the fashion industry. He had ended up switching his major to costume design when he was a sophomore, and nowadays, along with doing costume for various shows, he had his own design company, something he had been dreaming of for almost as long as he had wanted to perform on Broadway. And this year they were getting an article in Vogue.

But Kurt really didn’t have time to savor his accomplishment at the moment, he was in the middle of a pre-show scramble, and still had to meet his parents, step-brother and sister-in-law before the show started, and couldn’t even go meet the photographer himself, he had to send his assistant to do it, something he hadn’t done since the disaster of the winter line of 2018, and Audrey was much more responsible than Emma, so he wasn’t super worried.

“Uncle Kurt!” he heard a high pitched voice exclaim, and Kurt took the second to brace himself before Barbra Hudson, his 5-year-old niece, practically tackled him from behind.

Looks like he found his family.

~O~O~O~

June 2022

New York, New York

Pavarotti Fashions Summer Line Fashion Show

Blaine Anderson was many things. Easy to surprise was not one of them. So when his new boss, Vivian Hawkins told him that he was going to take photos for one of New York’s up and coming fashion designers’, Kurt Hummel’s, summer line, he could easily say that it didn’t happen that often.

Not to say that it was an unpleasant surprise though. He had been hoping that he would somehow run into Kurt ever since he even got news that he would be transferred, so he was definitely looking forward for the show.

“Are you the photographer from Vogue?” A petite red-head asked him, and he smiled, holding out his hand that wasn’t holding his camera bag.

“That’s me, I’m Blaine Anderson,” he said, and she shook his hand before speaking.

“Audrey McKnight, I’m Mr. Hummel’s assistant,” she said, and Blaine nodded, slightly disappointed that it wasn’t Kurt himself, but he was sure to see him later, “Normally he would come meet you himself, but it’s rather hectic back there right now, and he has to meet his family, and make sure that his step-brother doesn’t end up ripping an outfit again,” she said, smiling, and Blaine chuckled, and before he could stop himself spoke.

“Finn would do that,” he said, and Audrey looked at him with a slightly curious look on her face.

“You know him?” she asked, and Blaine blushed.

“I was close friends with the Hudson-Hummels before I moved to London in high school,” he said resisting the urge to run his hand through his currently gelled hair, and she nodded.

“Okay then,” she said slowly, taking in this newfound information, “How about we go get you set up then, and you can go talk with them after the show,” she said, and Blaine nodded, before following Audrey out to go set up his equipment.

~O~O~O~

June 2022

New York, New York

Pavarotti Fashions Summer Line Fashion Show After-Party

Blaine looked around the hall that the after party was being held in, looking around for someone he actually knew.

“Guess that’s what happens when you live on a different continent for ten years,” he muttered, before catching a familiar brown set of eyes.

The petite brunette walked over faster than Blaine thought was possible in heels and pulled him into a hug.

“Blaine Anderson, I haven’t seen you in years!” Rachel exclaimed, grinning, and stepping back to give him what felt like a full body scan, “London seems to be treating you well,” she said, before smiling again, “But what are you doing back in the states? At Kurt’s fashion show no less?” she asked, and Blaine grinned, forgetting how it felt to be the recipient of a Rachel Berry, well Hudson now, questioning.

“It’s nice to see you too Rachel,” he said, and she smiled, “And you are looking excellent yourself, what is that, baby number two?” he asked, motioning towards Rachel’s  baby bump, and she nodded.

“Yes, Barbra’s five now, but you’re avoiding my questions!” she said, and Blaine chuckled.

“Well, for being in New York, I just moved back last month, work wanted me to transfer,” he said, “and as for Kurt’s show, I’m the photographer from Vogue,” he said, and she looked at him with a slightly gob smacked look before slapping him lightly on the arm.

“And you didn’t think to tell me you were moving back!” she said, and as an afterthought added, “Or Kurt?” and he shrugged.

“I posted a status on Facebook, and Finn did comment on it, so I assumed you knew, and you know full well that I haven’t really been in contact with any of you guys for the last year, you being the member of the New Directions that I have talked to most recently,” he said, and she nodded, frowning slightly.

“Well have you spoken to Kurt yet?” she asked, and he shook his head.

“No, I was waiting until he didn’t have hoards of people surrounding him, plus,” he said, and motioned to the camera hanging around his neck, “I’ve been taking pictures,” he said, smiling, and she grabbed his hand.

“Well, you are going to come with me, and socialize, and then you can go have a nice, long conversation with Kurt,” she said, smiling, and leading him towards the small group that she had emerged from.

~O~O~O~

June 2022

New York, New York

Pavarotti Fashions Summer Line Fashion Show After-Party

As soon as Kurt had managed to escape the mob of various reporters, designers, potential purchasers and other viewers of the show, he went out in search of his family. As soon as he spotted his giant of a step-brother across the hall, he was stopped by two figures, the first of which he immediately recognized to be his sister-in-law, who immediately pushed the man who she was walking with in front of her, and walked away.

It took Kurt a second to look at the second person, as he was staring at Rachel, who was walking away to rejoin Finn and Barbra where they stood. But the second he looked at the other man, it immediately registered who he was, despite not seeing him in person for seven years, as the hair gel, bowties and general dapper appearance hadn’t changed all that much.

“Blaine?”

~O~O~O~

June 2022

New York, New York

Pavarotti Fashions Summer Line Fashion Show After-Party

As soon as Rachel shoved him towards Kurt, Blaine felt like he was punched in the gut. Here he was. Kurt. The man who, even after only seeing him for five seconds, he could honestly say was probably the love of his life.

“Blaine?” Kurt asked, breaking him from his trance, and Blaine grinned.

“The one and only,” he said, smiling, and without warning, pulled Blaine into a massive bear hug.

Blaine was engulfed into what felt into a cloud of Kurt. His arms were just as strong as he remembered, and he smelt like he had then too, moisturizer and musky vanilla and Kurt and he felt like home.

"God, I missed you so much,” Blaine breathed, before stepping back and out of Kurt’s embrace, and looking him over, “And you look fantastic by the way,” he said, and Kurt smiled.

“Well of course I do,” Kurt laughed, and Blaine basked in just the sound and just how much he missed that laugh while he’d been away, and why didn’t he come home sooner?

“But you didn’t tell me you were coming!” Kurt exclaimed, “I would have gotten you a good seat!” he said, and Blaine laughed, fiddling with the camera strap hanging around his neck.

“Sorry about that,” he said, scratching the  back of his neck, “But I only found out that I was going to be coming yesterday, Vivian decided to switch what shows Stephan and I were covering last minute, so I didn’t really think to call you,” he said, blushing, and Kurt raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“What do you mean Vivian switched you and Stephan?” he asked, and Blaine blushed bright red.

“Wow, I guess that shows how little we’ve talked since I saw you last,” Blaine muttered, before speaking up, “I switched my major from music to photography my Sophomore year, and am working as a photographer and reporter for Vogue,” he said, smiling, and then gestured to the badge and camera attached to the strap he had been fiddling with, “And I happen to be covering your show,” he said, grinning, and Kurt just looked at Blaine for a moment before speaking.

“Well I really should have come and met you myself earlier instead of sending Audrey down,” he said, before grinning, “But how about you get back to your job, and we go get coffee tomorrow at this café that I like,” he said, and it was Blaine’s turn to grin.

“That sounds absolutely perfect,” he said.