“I hate rainy days. They make me just… not want to smile.”

“Aw, babe! Don’t not smile! I love your smile,” Blaine whined, trying to pull Kurt into his arms. But Kurt wiggled away from his grasp.

“Hey, no PDA in the coffee shop!”

Blaine pouted dramatically, “But we’re alone! Except for Quinn, and she doesn’t count.”

As soon as he said this, however, the door dinged open. Blaine mumbled something Kurt swore sounded like “cockblock” as he approached the register to take the customer’s order.

“What can I get you today?” Blaine asked cheerily.

“Actually, I saw your ‘help wanted’ sign and was hoping I could get a job,” the man drawled. Blaine looked him up and down. He was tall and buff, with tan skin and a dark Mohawk that was incredibly unattractive. He definitely did not set off Blaine’s gaydar. Good.

“Oh Kuuuurt!” he called. “We got a guy who wants a job!”

“Coming!” Kurt called from the kitchen to which he had retreated. “Hey I’m Kurt, the owner. And you are?”

“Noah Puckerman. Though most people call me Puck.”

“Nice to meet you, Puck. This is Blaine and Quinn,” Kurt introduced, gesturing to his friends. “Why don’t we go chat in my office.”

Twenty minutes later, Kurt emerged with the newly hired and apron-ed Puck. Kurt worked out the hours so Quinn could have some time off. She had been with him since the beginning, and she deserved it.

Puck took over most of the custodial duties, and Blaine spent more time behind the counter with Quinn. Kurt was able to spend some much needed time in his office dealing with the managerial aspects of owning his own business.

And he got to think. For the past five months since he opened Burt’s, Kurt has had absolutely no time to himself. Not that he needed it. All he had wanted to do was lose himself in something so he wouldn’t have time to dwell in the past.

Since Blaine, though, the past didn’t seem so haunting and the future, well, the future was so much more brighter, so much more hopeful.

Now, Kurt enjoyed down time when his mind could wander. He thought about Blaine a lot, not gonna lie. He thought about… and he can hardly believe he allowed himself to think about this… but he thought about life with Blaine, a future with Blaine. A house in the suburbs. A little boy with dark curls. A little girl with pigtails and blue eyes. Birthday parties and Christmas trees. Science fair projects and PTA. And Blaine, strong, constant Blaine. Always there. Stealing kisses. Wrestling kids. Holding them all together.

It was lofty of him, precarious even, for him to dream like that, especially after only knowing the guy for five days. But honestly, he didn’t give a damn anymore.

“Blaine, can you refill the milk pitcher, please?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

The midmorning rush had slowed, so Blaine had time to slip into the kitchen. Quinn had the day off, and Puck was sweeping the floors. Blaine hoped Kurt would hire another person or two; they could always use extra hands. How Kurt and Quinn had managed five months on their own, he had no idea.

Leaving the kitchen, he heard Kurt ringing up another customer. However, he wasn’t prepared to recognize said coffee-buyer.

“Holy shit!” he gasped, almost dropping the pitcher.

“Blaine!” the customer was equally surprised, and Kurt raised an eyebrow at the two as they stared at each other.

“We haven’t seen each other in two years, B. Are you just gonna stand there?” the man asked, opening his arms.

Blaine shook his head and laughed before launching himself in the taller man’s arms.

“I’m just shocked to see you! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be in Niger until the end of the year.”

“They reassigned me, well, I asked them to. I missed home. I missed you, B. Two years is a long time to be away from the people I love.”

“That’s amazing! God—I’m so glad. I really, really missed you. New York isn’t the same without you!”

Kurt cleared his throat, reminding Blaine where he was.

“OH! I have someone important I want you to meet. Cooper, this is my…” Blaine trailed off. They hadn’t talked about this yet. Were they boyfriends? Crap. He didn’t know if Kurt was okay with that title yet. “…Kurt.”

“YOUR Kurt, huh?” Cooper grinned knowingly, offering his hand to Kurt. “I’m Cooper Anderson. Blaine’s older and wiser brother.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me you had a brother!”

“Well, it hadn’t come up,” Blaine said sheepishly. “And he’s been in Africa for the past two years.”

“So how long have you two been dating?” Cooper asked, putting his arm around Blaine.

Both boys blushed. “Um, a-about five days,” Blaine replied. “So you can’t freak him out yet, Coop. We’re just getting to know each other!”

“Ok, I’ll be nice,” Cooper winked at Kurt. “B, you have to tell me everything.”

“I will! I get off at 10 tonight, so…”

Kurt interrupted him, “Take the rest of the day.”

“What?”

“Puck and I can manage. Take the rest of the day and catch up with your brother.”

“Really? I mean, are you sure?”

“Yes, Blaine. Go! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you SO much, Kurt,” Blaine gushed, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. “Let me grab my jacket.”

“It is really great to meet you, Kurt,” Cooper said as Blaine ran to the kitchen. “I can tell you make my baby brother happy.”

Kurt smiled as Blaine skidded back towards them. “And for the record, Blaine?” Kurt took his hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. “You can say ‘boyfriend.’”

If it was even possible, Blaine’s smile got even bigger.

“Alright,” Cooper began as he collapsed on their couch. “Spill.”

“Uh, well, what do you want to know?”

“Oh, don’t act all shy, Blainers. I may have been in a different country for the past two years, but I’m still the same awesome big brother I’ve always been. Start from the beginning. How did you two meet?”

So Blaine told him everything, he spared no detail.

“And, Coop, I know it has only been five days but I love him. I’m sure of it. I’ve never felt like this before. Cliché, I know, but it has never been truer.

“Do you believe in soul mates, Coop? I didn’t. Until Kurt. How insane is that? It’s like, until five days ago, everything I thought I knew about love was a lie. Kurt… Kurt is the truth, the only truth. He’s everything!”

“Wow, Blainers! He’s that good in bed, huh?” Cooper said, crude but jokingly.

“We haven’t slept together,” Blaine growled. “We are going slow. We both want more than sex from each other. I’ve only kissed him.”

“Is he a good kisser?”

“SO good,” Blaine sighed dreamily.

“I’m so happy for you, B. Really. You deserve love.”

“I think the craziest thing in all of this is he reciprocates. It’s not just me. Like, how did I get so lucky?”

Cooper beamed. Blaine had always been optimistic and positive, but this kind of happiness was brand new. This was elation. This was love.

“I’m so glad you’re home, Coop.”

“Me too, B. Me too.”

“So,” Kurt began nervously as he and Blaine were closing the shop for the night. “Do you and Cooper want to come over for dinner on Sunday? I know it’s Cooper’s first weekend back and you probably want to spend it with him so you can totally say no…”

“You’re cute when you ramble. And I’ll talk to Coop, but I’m sure he’d love to. I would love to.”

Kurt was having a lovely dream. He was standing in a field of wildflowers. The sun was shining brightly and Blaine was there, standing beside him, holding his hand. Blaine asked him to dance, even though there was no music. As they spun happily in the field, clouds began to appear, dotting the blue sky with wisps of gray.

“Don’t let go,” Blaine whispered to him. Rain began to fall, soft at first but then harsher, larger drops assaulted the pair.

“Come on, Blaine. Let’s get out of here.”

“No,” Blaine insisted. “Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Never stop.”

A shrill ring broke through the patter of rain, startling Kurt out of his dream. He bolted upright.

The ring sounded again; it was his phone. But who could be calling at one in the morning?

“Hello?”

“Kurt, its Cooper. How fast can you get to Mount Sinai Hospital?”