The next morning, the first thing Kurt woke up to was the image of Blaine lying in bed next to him. Kurt smiled gently and yawned as he tried to get himself out of the morning haze.

Wait. Blaine was in his bed.

Like a jolt of lightning, everything that happened the night before flashed through his head. "Whoa," Kurt said, sitting up suddenly and rubbing his eyes to wake himself up.

Blaine smiled, his hair sticking up in every direction, which Kurt immediately thought was absolutely adorable. "Good morning."

"Morning," Kurt replied groggily. "How long have you been up?"

Blaine hesitated with his answer. "Not long." Kurt could tell he wasnt telling the truth.

"You could have woken me up," Kurt yawned. "Honestly." Kurt never had a reason to get Blaine accustomed to his bedroom, so he wouldnt have known how to get around. And he couldnt make himself breakfast because Kurt didnt have the proper equipment.

"You deserved your sleep. Especially after everything that happened last night."

Well you deserve everything, Kurt wanted to say. "Hey, the swelling looks like its going down," Kurt noted, tentatively touching Blaines jaw right outside of where the bruise was forming.

Blaine winced. "Is it really that bad?"

"You look a little more rugged, but good rugged, like you could beat up a guy."

"Ill tell people I got in a fight with a pharmacist who turned out to be a drug dealer. You can get those confused very easily when you cant see who youre talking to."

Kurt laughed the loudest he had in days. "Theres the Blaine I know." Kurt looked at the clock for the first time that morning, stunned that it was already eleven oclock. "God, you must be starving." Kurt hopped out of bed and started for the bathroom. "Okay, let me brush my teeth and then I am making you breakfast in bed."

"I think Ive been in bed long enough." Blaine sat up and grinned. "But, I would love some pancakes."

When Kurt returned from the bathroom-after taming his hair to the best of his ability-he smiled at the fact Blaine was wearing his clothes. "My pajamas are a great look on you, the KH on the shirt pocket really pulls it off."

Blaine touched his chest, smiling at the feeling of the embroidered letters. "I bet it does."

The breakfast started off quiet. Kurt made pancakes and scrambled eggs, even adding chocolate chips to the pancakes, hoping it would help brighten Blaines day after such a horrible night. However, Blaine barely said a word. Usually when Blaine didnt talk it was because he was too busy eating, but this time he was hardly touching his plate.

"Blaine? Is everything okay?" Kurt asked, concerned. Blaine seemed distance, like his body was there in front of him, but his mind was somewhere far, far away.

"Hm?" When Blaine realized Kurt was talking to him he straightened himself up in the chair and cleared his throat. "Sorry, I was- I have a lot on my mind with work."

Kurt picked at the half-eaten eggs on his plate with his fork. "Is that all?" Kurt asked meekly.

"I want-" Blaine looked to be searching for the right words. "Everyone has things about their past that they keep close to them-close to their heart. And sometimes, they meet a person, a spectacular person," Blaine smiled to himself, "and even though this person means so much to them, they cant tell them about this crucial part of themselves because theyre afraid."

Kurt knew the feeling. "Blaine-"

"Sam told me some things, about you."

Kurts heart almost skipped a beat. "Like what?" Kurt asked, taking a bite of pancake and hoping he wouldnt choke on it.

"Sam told me about your mom...and your brother."

Surprisingly, Kurt didnt choke, but instead became extremely calm, which was usually a bad sign. "Oh," Kurt clenched his jaw, "and why did Sam feel like it was his place to share this information with you?"

"Because he knew you wouldnt."

Sam did have a point. Kurt probably wasnt going to tell Blaine about his mom or Finn anytime soon, but in all honesty he barely told anyone.

"And even though I wish you had told me, I know why you didnt. Its probably close to the same reason why I havent told you...about my parents."

Then the dots started connecting themselves. Blaine always talked about his brother but rarely his parents, and the one time that he did mention his mother he stumbled over his words.

"The day I came over for the tuxedo fitting was the ten year anniversary of the accident. That day, I had asked my parents if we could go out to see a movie." Blaine eyes began welling with tears. "I just remember being so happy that day. The movie ended pretty late, and on our way home the last thing I remember was a flash of light coming straight at us." Blaine shuddered, and Kurt instinctively reached for Blaines hand, squeezing it tightly. Blaine collected himself and continued, "The next thing I know, Im waking up in the hospital to the news that wed been hit by a drunk driver and that I am an orphan."

"Blaine Im so-" What, sorry? Blaine didnt want Kurt to be sorry for him. "Thank you for telling me." Losing one of his parents was hard enough, and Kurt couldnt even imagine what losing both must have been like.

"Last night...I didnt even think about calling anyone else. I just needed to hear your voice." Blaine wiped a tear from his cheek. "Everyone treats me like Im helpless. I know people stare at me and I know no matter how hard they try people will always treat me differently. But ever since I met you, I havent felt like I lost anything during that accident. I want to know you, and I want you to know me, and I hope you feel the same way."

It was like a dam had been broken; everything that Kurt was harboring inside came pouring out like a river thatd been building up power for years. He told Blaine about his mother, and Finn, and high school. He told Blaine about his years of bullying and hardships he encountered during college. It wasnt as difficult as he thought it would be, and maybe it was because it was Blaine, Blaine was special, hed always been special.

Their conversation lasted for hours. It wasnt until Kurt remembered he had the afternoon shift at the coffee shop that he even thought of leaving the table. The uneaten pancakes had turned cold, and they had never once stopped holding hands.

For the next few days, Kurt and Blaine were in a sort of limbo. One thing was certain: Kurt and Blaine were more than just friends. Kurt had feelings for Blaine, that was a given, and Kurt didnt really know how much longer he could put any effort into hiding it. It was exhausting, really, especially when they were close, and Kurt could smell Blaines cologne mixed with a hint of raspberries, which Kurt could never tell where it was coming from, maybe Blaine was made of raspberries. There were a few times Kurt found himself going in a for a kiss, but pulling away at the last second.

Why was he holding back so persistently? Most of the reason, he told himself, was because he wanted to wait for Blaine to initiate. There was a constant itching in that back of Kurts mind that reminded him that Blaine might not feel the same way, and he didnt want to ruin the friendship they had been building for the past month and a half.

"I dont understand why Im not getting it," Kurt said during his piano lesson that Tuesday afternoon, frustrated that he kept messing up the chords of a fairly simple song.

"Kurt, its okay, thats why Im here," Blaine assured him. "Here, let me just…" Kurt scooted over to the edge of the piano bench and let Blaine sit next to him. Blaine showed Kurt the chords himself first, and then asked Kurt to play them back. When Kurt still couldnt get them right, Blaine put his hand on top of Kurts and guided him as he played, which made Kurt play even worse because he could no longer concentrate.

"I dont know whats wrong with me," Kurt sighed. "Im sorry."

"Youre doing great, dont be so hard on yourself. Youre picking it up much faster than I did."

"You started learning to play when you were four," Kurt deadpanned.

Blaine burst into laughter and Kurt couldnt help but follow, Blaines laugh was unbelievably contagious. "I laugh so much more when Im with you," Blaine said, cheeks immediately becoming red.

"Me too," Kurt smiled.

The room was completely silent, which Kurt wasnt used to, since the room was usually filled with the music from the piano.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked softly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think Im...I mean, do you think someone could find me handsome?"

Kurts mouth went dry. "I-"

"Nevermind, you dont have to answer that. Its just...the last time I saw myself was when I was thirteen. Everyone looks awful when theyre thirteen. I still imagine myself with acne and pudgy cheeks. Sometimes I just wonder what I look like now."

Kurt couldnt even imagine still thinking he looked as he did at thirteen. Blaine was right, everyone looks awful at thirteen.

"Okay, face me," Kurt said, positioning himself so he could get a better view of Blaine. Blaine twisted his face up and stuck out his tongue as Kurt examined him. "Yes, absolutely beautiful." Blaine smiled and something about his face began to glow, and Kurt wanted Blaine to know exactly how handsome he was, so he didnt hold back. "Your skin looks perfect, well, minus the bruise, which is looking a lot better by the way. And your jawline is just the right angle, and I can assure you that your cheeks are no longer pudgy...And your eyes have this sparkle to them…at first I couldnt possibly believe they were your natural color." Then Kurts eyes fell to Blaines lips. "And your lips…" He leaned forward, and without any hesitation, pressed his lips to Blaines. His lips were warm and soft and everything he thought they would be. "I hope that answers your question," Kurt whispered.

Once Kurt pulled away, Blaines expression changed into a mix of astonishment and confusion-but mostly confusion. "Kurt…" he said softly, touching his lips.

When Kurt realized what he just did, his whole body tensed as blood rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment. "Im sorry, I can go if you-"

"Wait," Blaine cut him off, his voice earnest. Blaines hand slowly reached out for Kurt, but retracted tentatively when it neared his cheek. Seeing what Blaine was trying to do, Kurt took Blaines hand and carefully placed it on his cheek, trying to stay as still as possible.

Kurt let out a shaky breath as Blaine lifted his other hand to Kurts cheek. "Is this okay?" Blaine asked, hands barely putting any pressure on Kurts skin.

Kurt nodded slowly into Blaines hands. Gently, Blaine brushed his thumbs across Kurts across his nose and forehead, prompting Kurts eyes to flutter shut as Blaine learned his profile. "What color are your eyes?"

"Blue," Kurt whispered, not helping the smile that crept across his lips. Kurt blinked open his eyes for a moment to gauge Blaines reaction, and he was smiling too.

There were a few moments of silence before Blaine brushed the pad of his thumb across Kurts lips, parting them slightly. Within seconds Blaines thumb was replaced by his lips, pressing firmly against Kurts. Kurt kissed back, trying not to scare Blaine with how much hed built up inside, how much he wanted this. Kurt held Blaines arms in place, keeping them there, in that moment, for as long as they possibly could before they had to come up for air.

Blaine grinned bashfully and Kurt couldnt help what he said next. "Youre so cute," he blurted, immediately trying not to laugh at himself.

"Im cute? I thought I was handsome," Blaine said smiling.

Youre everything. "I think were going to have to take a raincheck on this lesson," Kurt said, closing the cover over the piano keys and going in for another kiss.

And in that instant, nothing nor anyone but Blaine mattered, and everything was perfect.