Klaine Advent

01 – Anniversary

The Hudson-Hummel house feels warmer than usual, and Blaine hurriedly shrugs off his coat - and helps Kurt with his - before placing them on the hook by the door. The warmth is welcome after the chill of the December air, although Blaine could do without the flush he feels spreading in response. Kurt seems less affected, however, if his bright laugh and quick words with Burt are any indication.

Blaine wishes he adjusted as easily.

In New York, in their new apartment with the curtains they chose together and the fridge that they joke has a gremlin inside given its hums and vibrations, Blaine exists with Kurt in their mostly-happily married bubble. They're Kurt-and-Blaine just starting on their lives.

It's harder to remember that, in Burt and Carole Hudson-Hummel's house.

Still, Blaine finds it difficult to hold on to his melancholy thoughts when he's being pulled into a hug, Carole's arms firm around his shoulders. Beside him, he can barely make out Kurt's frame around Burt. The moment blurs briefly, and Blaine suddenly sees Kurt back in his Dalton uniform, welcoming Blaine with a shy smile as Burt stands beside him – event the scent of cookies is the same.

Blaine freezes.

Uncertainty fills him, and the present carefully hidden in his jacket pocket  that had seemed cute in New York suddenly seems wrong, childish and silly as memories of previous Christmases in this house war with Kurt's shouts that they wouldn't work, that Blaine couldn't be a member of the family.

Carole steps back, and Blaine takes a moment to glance at his wedding ring as he lowers his arms. He offers a smile and slightly shakes his head; he and Kurt are married – he just needs to focus on that. A beep sounds over the holiday music, and Carole hurries away with a mutter about the oven finally being preheated.

Kurt's gone from his side moments later, vanishing into the kitchen with a shout to Burt that even Christmas cookies can be low-fat if made correctly.

Blaine sighs before lifting the bags dropped at his feet, carefully pulling the straps across his shoulders and balancing the three duffels as he heads for the stairs. Kurt didn't mean to leave him, regulating him to the hired help.

He's being ridiculous, he knows.

Kurt's old room leaves Blaine feeling off-kilter, the old vanity and bedspread reminding him of hours spent doing homework and stealing kisses while the missing photos and stack of folded sweaters in the corner serve as proof of times changed as much as the bags at his feet. Mannheim Steamroller drifts up the stairs, the forte managing to push the sound even into Kurt's old bedroom. Blaine sits on the bed, sighs as he raises his left hand.

It's the first time he's entered the room as Kurt's husband, and he feels unsettled.

“Hey.”

He startles at Kurt's voice, the music having hidden his steps. He feels guilty, though he can't begin to say why.

“Hi.”

“I was wondering where you ran off to. I just went to the kitchen to show Carole that recipe we found…” Kurt's voice trails off, and Blaine shifts as Kurt moves to sit beside him, his eyes creased with worry. “Is everything okay? Are you not feeling well? You seemed okay on the plane and –”

“I'm fine, Kurt.” Blaine smiles, though the action feels off, awkward in a way it hasn't been for months.

“I thought we were past you pretending for me.” The words are soft, but hold a touch of wariness and Blaine winces.

“It's not –” Blaine stops, lets out a breath before turning to face Kurt, reaching out and clasping his hand. What is it about Lima that undoes all the progress they've made?

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the brightly wrapped box. “Happy Anniversary.”

Kurt's free hand stills an inch above the present. “Blaine, honey, we didn't get married in December. And we never started dating then, either.”

“No, I know. I just –” Blaine pauses and offers a self-deprecating smile. “I made a promise, a few actually, two years ago. And I know I couldn't – I mean, last year –”

“Oh my God.” Kurt's cheeks flush, his eyes wide as he stares at the box.

Blaine carefully drops the box into Kurt's outstretched hand before standing and bending to unzip his bag, pushing aside sweaters and pajama pants to unearth a small Christmas tin, complete with snowmen. “There's snickerdoodles and some chocolate frosted sugar cookies,” Blaine carefully sets the tin on the bed, “I did promise to make them.” Kurt still hasn't moved, and Blaine feels his smile fall – it was silly, after all. “You can take it back,” Blaine nods to the box, “I still have the receipt –”

Kurt stops Blaine's words with a kiss, jolting forward so suddenly Blaine rocks with the weight, his left arm the only thing keeping them upright even as his right wraps around Kurt's shoulders.

“Don't you dare,” Kurt murmurs, and Blaine smiles at the breathless tone.

“You haven't even opened –”

“Well,” Kurt's tone turns teasing, “I'll just have to fix that, won't I?” He slips out from Blaine's hold, grabbing the small box with a wink and slides a finger under the paper.

His lips may still be tingling, but Blaine feels his shoulders tense as Kurt slowly peels back the wrapping.

“Blaine –”

“Hopefully it's more fashionable than gum wrappers.”

“There's nothing wrong with that ring,” Kurt laughs, pulling the bracelet from the box. “Now, do your husbandly duty and help me unhook this.”

Blaine huffs a laugh and leans forward. “I thought my husbandly duty was to –”

“Not if you finish that sentence, it's not.”

Blaine wisely turns his comment into a smile, unhooking the clasp and setting the bracelet on Kurt's right wrist.

“Thank-you,” Kurt keeps the words quiet, “Do I even want to know how you managed to find a bow-tie bracelet?” Kurt then shakes his head at the question, continuing before Blaine can form a response. “But,” Kurt pauses, turns and meets Blaine's gaze, “Blaine – this was so, so wonderful. Why…why were you upset, earlier?”

“It was silly really,” Blaine murmurs, only to sigh when Kurt leans forward, obviously intent of receiving a more thorough explanation. Blaine takes a moment to gather his thoughts before Kurt takes his hands again, stealing his attention. “Just – memories, I guess.”

Kurt's eyes narrow in confusion. “I thought – I always had happy memories, I guess…I thought you did too?”

“I do!” Blaine rushes to ease the hurt in Kurt's voice, words almost tripping over one another in his haste to explain. “I love you – I love your family and this house and all the times we spent here. I just – I can't help but remember how different it was last year, too.”

“Blaine,” Kurt ducks his head briefly, taking a breath before tightening his hold on Blaine's hands. “Last year was bad, it was, but I've already had more fun in the fifteen minutes we've been here than the two months I spent here a year ago. I wish –” Kurt offers a shy smile, “I wish I could take it back, all of it. But since we don't have Brittany's time machine we just have to deal with only looking to the future. But,” Kurt raises their hands, makes sure their wedding rings catch the dim light of the window, “we have the rest of our lives. We both promised that.”

“I know!” The words are slightly louder than Blaine had intended, and he offers an embarrassed shrug before continuing. “I just – I had your present, and it seemed like a good idea in New York, but it's different here. I just started to worry –”

“Don't.” Kurt shakes his head and stands, seemingly ignoring Blaine's hum of confusion. “I had planned to make you wait, you know. But,” Blaine watches as Kurt unzips his own bag, carefully moving aside scarves and socks, “I think it's more fitting, now. Besides,” Kurt tosses Blaine the professionally wrapped box, “they fit with the theme.”

“They?” Kurt just smiles and Blaine takes it as the instruction it is, opening his present with far less care than Kurt had his. “Kurt –”

“I hope you know I promised the same that day, even if it wasn't aloud,” Kurt reaches forward, pulling the bow-tie cufflinks from their cotton cushion. “So I figure last year was our fluke; every couple has one, right? Well, now we've had ours, so you better keep me happy with cookies and promises because it's expected, now.”

“You're very sure of yourself,” Blaine teases, admiring the cufflinks against the stark whit of his shirt. “Aren't you the one who just reminded me that December isn't our anniversary?”

“Not in the traditional sense, maybe,” Kurt smiles, gives Blaine a quick, chaste kiss before continuing, “but it can be ours – ours to celebrate without an audience.”

“Just you, me, and the cookies?”

“Don't forget the bow ties,” Kurt laughs, pulling Blaine into a hug. “We can't forget them.”

“Never.” Blaine promises, holding on to Kurt until his husband leans back minutes later.

“As much as I'd love to stay up here, I actually came to get you; Dad said something about a trip to the store with his favorite son-in-law.”

“You just don't want to brave the crowds.”

“That too,” Kurt smiles, leaning back on the bed. “But he did ask for you, so you should probably head down before he gets ideas.”

“He wouldn't –” Blaine jumps back in shock even as he feels the blush staining his cheeks. “We're in his house –”

“Blaine, sweetie,” Kurt's voice is saccharine sweet, “that didn't stop us before, and now we're married and share an apartment in New York. Besides,” he offers Blaine a teasing smile, “he found you asleep in my bed less than a month after meeting you.”

“I should take back the cookies,” Blaine mutters as he steps for the door, “you certainly aren't on the ‘Nice List' this year.”

“I love you too,” Kurt sings from the bed.

“Have fun unpacking,” Blaine calls from the doorway, “I love you!”

He makes it to the landing before a shout makes him pause.

“You made bow-tie shaped cookies, too?!”

Blaine smiles the rest of the way down the stairs.