Kurt still felt embarrassed about the night he had spent at Blaine's days later on Christmas Eve. He had never been close with anyone before that night. There were things Kurt vaguely knew about because of Sex Ed. and movies but it was nothing compared to actual experience. Blaine knew what was going on, he and Sebastian dated for two years and it would be extremely naïve of Kurt to think they never got dirty. He hated that thought and quickly shoved it from his mind. Blaine wanted to talk about it with Kurt, but the subject was sure to be changed.

It was Christmas Eve and Kurt was back at Blaine's house to meet his family. Awkward. His parents were traveling on Christmas and they agreed to have Kurt over for dinner. Blaine, as promised, was all Kurt's on Christmas Day.

Blaine sat with his leg touching Kurt's on the couch.

"You two met at school then?" Mr. Anderson asked.

Kurt nodded, scared. "Y-yes. We had biology together."

Thoughtful silence. Mrs. Anderson came back in from the kitchen drying her hands on the apron tied around her waist. The Anderson's were like a perfect couple out of a movie, except they had a gay son. Kurt could tell by the look in Mr. Anderson's eye that this one smudge on their otherwise postcard life bothered him even if he didn't voice it.

"And you're a musical theater major." Mr. Anderson drummed his fingers on his leg.

"Correct." Kurt nodded again. "Perpetuating the gay male stereotype as much as I can. I'm highly into fashion too." He tried to joke but it was met with uncomfortable silence.

Blaine shifted a little next to Kurt. "Tough crowd." Kurt whispered aside to Blaine.

"Dad, Kurt played football in high school. He was the kicker, weren't you?" Blaine tilted his head to Kurt urging him to continue, maybe even lie.

Kurt couldn't do that he just told the truth, "I only played a few games. Like three."

Mr. Anderson didn't look impressed.

"That's great." Mrs. Anderson said. She genuinely sounded interested. She put her hands on Mr. Anderson's shoulders. Kurt could tell she wanted to break the tension. It wasn't quite working.

"Blaine said he was really into football." Kurt tried to roll with the sport topic, even though it was something he knew very little about.

"Yes, but I could never get him to try out for the team. He preferred that uhh glee club." Mr. Anderson said.

Blaine sighed beside Kurt. "He has a really good voice, he's very talented."

"He is." Mr. Anderson said it as though he wasn't trying to contest this fact.

More awkwardness. Kurt just wanted to leave.

"Dinner is ready whenever you three are ready." Mrs. Anderson clapped her hands together and put a smile on her face.

They each took their time getting up and heading for the dining room. Kurt pulled on Blaine's sweater to get him to slow, "I think it's going well." he whispered with sarcasm. Blaine groaned and rolled his eyes.

Dinner was silent, so much silence in this large house. Kurt sipped his ice water chilling in a very nice wine glass. Everything was fancy at the Anderson house. They ate with cloth napkins and very expensive china, Kurt was afraid for his fork to touch the plate should it accidentally scratch it. For a while the only sound was chewing.

"So what happened to Sebastian?" Mr. Anderson asked breaking the quiet after ten minutes.

Kurt froze mid bite. Blaine had dropped his fork onto his plate with a loud clatter. Mrs. Anderson flinched apparently worried more for her china, or perhaps afraid for the fight that may have been in the works.

"Dad, not now." Blaine said.

"It's just, I thought things were going so well for you two. I thought that phase would end when you got to college."

"Here we go." Blaine grumbled.

Kurt set his fork down carefully and watched Blaine beside him. He stayed still as if it made him invisible to the rest of the people present. Kurt saw Blaine's hands clench on his lap. He wanted to reach out but knew that would be a mistake.

Mr. Anderson continued, obviously company meant nothing to him. Either that or he wanted to make a fool out of Blaine in front of Kurt.

"You couldn't be more like Cooper. College. Graduation. He's dating that nice girl named Sarah Harper right now, she's a pre law student at that uhh Harvard. Great girl."

"How many times are we going to have this conversation?" Blaine asked through gritted teeth. He was seething.

Mr. Anderson swallowed his bite of chicken and pointed the fork at Blaine, "Watch your tone young man. All I'm saying is that, Coop has his life on track. You're studying music, and-and dancing about like you did at Dalton. Your mother and I didn't pay for you to go there to sing and dance about." His father's voice rose. Both Kurt and Mrs. Anderson were motionless. She had listened to this argument many times before and knew to just stay out of it. Kurt eyed her for a second, she was staring down at her plate.

"And further more." Mr. Anderson's hands were flying about now gesturing wildly. "We don't pay for you to go to school to study music! Coop went into law school. You could have done anything you wanted to Blaine."

Kurt's jaw tightened he wanted so badly to speak out for Blaine but Kurt wasn't stupid. It wasn't his place to say a damn thing no matter how hard he wanted to save Blaine. Blaine exploded,

"I'm sorry if I'm more like Cooper. I'm sorry if I'm not the perfect son you wanted. And I'm sorry that you can't accept that I'm with Kurt and that I love him."

Kurt did a double take. His head turned and his jaw hung open. Blaine had never said those words before not even while they were alone. His heart beat faster and he wished more than ever that life came with a rewind button so he could hear Blaine says that magic phrase one more time.

Blaine was standing now. He set the cloth napkin on the table leaning on the back of his chair. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Thank you for dinner, Merry Christmas." Blaine said with heavy bitterness. He touched Kurt's shoulder briefly. "Come on, let's go."

Kurt put his napkin on the table. "It was n-nice meeting you both." he said with more politeness than either deserved.

"Blaine!" Mrs. Anderson called after them as he and Kurt left the dining room. "Richard, go talk with him."

"Forget Valerie, let him go." Mr. Anderson said from the dining room.

Blaine assisted Kurt with his coat and handed him his scarf. Kurt followed Blaine out to the car. It was unspoken that Blaine was going to spend the night at Kurt's house. There was no way Kurt was going to allow Blaine back in that house anyway.

"Blaine," Kurt kept his voice low as they drove back to Lima. "I'm sorry if anything I-"

"No." Blaine snapped. He hadn't meant it Kurt saw the resolve on his face immediately after he said it. "Sorry. Kurt, I'm sorry for my parents I was hoping this would be the one time they would play nice. But I suppose it being Christmas doesn't count for anything."

Kurt nodded thoughtfully, "Who was Cooper?"

"My older brother." Blaine left it at that. Kurt already gathered enough information about him from Mr. Anderson that he didn't feel the need to pursue that topic. Kurt ran his fingers over the seat belt looking for something to do in order to fill the awkward void.

"They weren't a fan of Sebastian then. I wonder why, he was such a charmer." Kurt smiled over to Blaine. It took a few seconds but Blaine smiled back and even let out a half hearted laugh sigh hybrid. Blaine took one hand off the wheel and found Kurt's he took it and kissed the back of his hand. The kiss sent a shiver down Kurt's spine.

"I'm really sorry you had to sit through that. Really I am." Blaine kept holding onto Kurt's hand gently rubbing the back of it with his thumb. "I should have known better th-"

"Okay stop it." Kurt said squeezing his hand in return. "Blaine, you don't need to apologize or explain I'm not going to love you any less."

The car swerved a little. "Um, w-what was that?"

Kurt gave a sly smirk. Blaine was taking quick glances at him but still trying to watch the road a head of them.

"I said, even though your parents aren't going to be sending me holiday cards unless I grows boobs and start calling myself Nancy, I'm not going to love you any less than I already do."

They were at a stoplight. Blaine turned and leaned over as far as the seatbelt would allow. "I love you." he sounded each word out slowly so Kurt could savior each syllable.

Kurt's lips stretched across his teeth into a large smile. "I love you too."

They locked lips, always Kurt's favorite thing. The kiss must have lasted longer than Kurt first imagined because only the honk of the car separated them. The light was green.

Burt was quite explicit with Blaine sleeping in the guest bedroom they had prepared. It wasn't like Kurt was planning to do anything; Burt and Carol were right down the hallway as was Finn. Talk about awkward. Christmas morning came about and Kurt had never felt more alive. He couldn't remember the last Christmas where he was smiling as soon as he woke up. It helped that Blaine was here. If he had Blaine year's prior everyday would have felt like today.

The Christmas tree was lit up regardless of the morning light streaming through the living room window. Presents poured out from under it's lower branches, all wrapped in the same three types of wrapping paper. Some were shaped in classic box form while others were clearly a DVD or some obscure gift that was awkward to try and wrap. A few bags with green and red tissue paper exploding from the top were lined around the edges of the tree.

Carol was in her nightgown and robe handing out fresh cups of coffee for everyone. Burt took his spot in his recliner and was instructed not to move. He had been babied since his return from the hospital. Finn, like a seven year old, sat closest to the Christmas tree and the presents trying to sneak a peak at what gifts might have his name on them.

Kurt and Blaine were huddled on the couch, Kurt wrapped in Blaine's arms unashamed. No one was there to judge them for who they were or their relationship. Unlike the Anderson household where Kurt was certain this kind of physical contact would result in the fine china being thrown across the room.

"Finn, why don't you play Santa this year?" Carol offered. She held her cup of coffee and sat on the arm of the recliner Burt was in. He looked up at her with love in his eye before his attention went back to Finn.

Finn shrugged his shoulders and knelt next to the tree. He was trying not to show excitement.

"Okay. Umm, here this one is for Burt." He said picking up a rather hefty sized gift. A purple ribbon clashed against the Santa Clause wrapping paper.

A smirk formed in the corner of Burt's mouth. Finn set it carefully in Burt's lap. He chuckled a little and tore at the paper after reading the tag.

"From Finn and Kurt." he said pulling away the paper. A new grinder stared up at him from the side of the box. His eyes lit up like a child. "Wow. Boys this is…it's great. I can't wait to start using this thing."

"Yes well, Finn kind of picked it out." Kurt confessed. "I have no idea what it is."

Finn pursed his lips. "Confession, I'm not sure either. But the guy at the store said it was cool."

Finn assisted Burt in setting his new power tool down beside the recliner.

"I love it guys. I really do." Burt said.

"The next one!" Kurt exclaimed unable to contain himself. He was still wrapped up in Blaine's embrace on the couch. Blaine chuckled and the rumble of his chest against Kurt's head made him laugh too.

Finn proceeded to hand out the gifts one by one. Burt and Carol, unbeknownst to Kurt, had bought a few items for Blaine. Kurt received a few new scarves that he personally picked out and sent Carol and Burt shopping for them. Finn got a set of weights, and a couple new shirts.

Burt and Carol had heard from Kurt how much Blaine liked to do cover music, and how he played guitar so for part of Blaine's gift they bought him a stack of sheet music from musicals and popular artists, and a book of blank sheet music for him to write his own songs. Blaine almost cried at this gift, his eyes teared up. Kurt wondered if Mr. or Mrs. Anderson ever did anything that thoughtful for their son. The second gift Blaine received was a pair of new bowties, one had tiny snowflakes and the other was a simple deep green color.

Blaine gave Kurt a mixed tape. Yes a legit cassette tape that Blaine had recorded himself with some personal messages layered in along with Blaine's own voice singing some of the songs. One in particular, Blaine said, was "Somewhere Only We Know". Kurt felt like crying. Kurt's gift to Blaine was not only a new bowtie with musical notes on it, but also a pin he made special with their initials on it. Kurt always wanted Blaine to have him with him so he also had a pin made with a picture of himself. Kurt almost regretted the gift thinking it was dumb, he had seen an advertisement for a site the specialized in custom pins and buttons online and decided to give it a try. Blaine said he loved them and immediately pinned Kurt to the lapel of his PJs.

After they messed around with their respected gifts for an hour and enjoyed some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast, they all went to get cleaned up. Finn was supposed to go see Rachel even though she didn't celebrate Christmas. Finn said Rachel never missed a chance to receive a gift. Burt and Carol settled in on the couch and watched the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story. Blaine thumbed through his sheet music, beaming the entire time. He wore the musical note bowtie that Kurt had purchased for him. Kurt tried out a new scarf and the turned the mixed tape over in his hand, just admiring the scrawl on the side titling the gift as "Bleeding Love" the song that Blaine asked out Kurt to.

The day went on with some games of charades and trivia and of course the fabulous dinner Kurt and Carol both made with some help from Blaine and a little bit from Finn. Dinner was very easy going, the complete opposite of how it was at the Anderson household. And once dinner was finished and they vegged on the couch in the living room, the final play of A Christmas Story on in the background.

"Look, it's snowing." Blaine said, pointing to the window.

It was. The flakes were large and very easily visible even in the darkness outside. Kurt rested his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked after a moment. "I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk?"

Kurt lifted his head not exactly wanting to move from the comfy couch and the warmth coming off Blaine's body. He sat up, "Sure." thinking nothing of it.

The world outside was beautiful. Under the street lamps the large flakes of snow resembled that of a snow globe. They settled in Blaine's hair on the shoulders of his peacoat. Kurt linked arms with Blaine as they walked down the street in this picturesque Winter Wonderland.

"Bad day?" asked Blaine.

Kurt gave a disgruntled snort. "Always with the sense of humor."

"You've been quiet all day." He said.

"Blaine this has been the single best day of my life." Kurt said, his breath rolling out of his mouth in a cloud.

Blaine stopped them under a street lamp. "Is that so? Even better than the serenades?"

Kurt scoffed and pulled his arm away from Blaine so he could face him properly. "Okay, so this day is a close second. But it's been my best Christmas ever."

"Mine too."

They stared at one another, Blaine with a growing smile in his eyes. He broke eye contact and reached into the pocket of his coat. "I guess then that this won't have any further influence."

He pulled out something small, it was small enough to fit in his cupped hand. Once it was cleared from his pocket he held it out on his palm. It was a small red box with a gold bow on top. Blaine poked at the bow to get it to bounce back after having been a little smooshed inside of his pocket.

Kurt's heart stopped beating. He had to remind himself to breathe. His eyes darted from the box to Blaine's face and then back. Kurt slowly reached out for it. He picked it up and carefully lifted the lid open. On the white cushion rested a single silver ring band. Kurt felt like he was going to vomit. His eyes widened and he glanced up to Blaine his mouth agape.

"Is this a-" Kurt couldn't bring himself to actually say the words.

"It's not an engagement ring!" Blaine said quickly. "No. It's not that. It's just a ring. But look what I have engraved."

Kurt's eyes squinted a little. On the inside of the silver band were the names "Blaine & Kurt" on the outside read "Then I Found You".

"Blaine-"

"I know you wondered about me still loving Sebastian when we first started dating Kurt. And you had every right to question it. We were together for two years, and we had strong feelings for one another-"

Kurt cut him off, "Is this going somewhere?"

Blaine laughed, "Yes. The point is, I thought I loved Sebastian but I was just going on what I thought was love and what I thought I should have felt. Then I found you, sitting there in biology and I just felt something spark in me that I hadn't felt before. Once we started to hang out I knew Kurt, I knew from the moment you came over to me and said thank you."

Kurt was now holding the ring itself between his fingers. He lowered the ring to gaze at Blaine again. "Knew what?"

Blaine stepped closer. "Knew that this was the boy I was meant to be with. I said the audition was my moment, but I lied Kurt. It was always you."

Kurt placed the ring back into the box and closed it. His jaw quivered, partly from the cold and part from the intense joy and love he felt for Blaine in that moment.

"I fell Kurt, and I fell hard." Blaine said tears now rolling over and down his cheeks. His voice cracked.

Kurt put his gloved finger on Blaine's lips. "Just…kiss me."

Under the streetlight Kurt and Blaine shared a passionate kiss as the snow continued to fall around them. Kurt had always envisioned a moment like this but only in his dreams or in a rom com. They broke apart, Blaine exhaled his warm breath felt nice on Kurt's otherwise chilled face.

"Uhh, did you want to go see if we could find a cup of coffee or something?" Blaine asked.

Kurt kept a poker face on, only the tiniest smile showed through. "No."

Kurt saw fear flicker in Blaine's eyes momentarily.

"I want to go to your house." Kurt finished.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had left for destination whatever early that morning and would not be back for at least four days. The house was deserted except for Blaine and Kurt. Back in Blaine's room they stared at each other longingly lost in another's eyes until they removed their shoes, coats, scarves and other unnecessary accessories. Kurt was only in a basic t-shirt, and Blaine was already in less than that. He was wearing his jeans, socks and already removed his shirt.

Kurt, smiling, lay on the bed. Blaine moved close next to him. They lay with their noses touching ever so gently on the sheets. Kurt had his hand on Blaine's chest rubbing his thumb steadily in a back and forth motion while Blaine traced circles on the back of Kurt's hand.

"Are you sure?" Blaine asked in a whisper. There was no one in the house but the moment required whispering.

Kurt pecked Blaine on the lips. "There is no one else I would rather share this with. I'm only ever going to be ready with you."

Blaine grabbed Kurt's face and pulled it to his. He rolled over and straddled Kurt. He sat up and beamed down at him. Kurt, on his back, felt his pulse quicken but there was no sense of panic as there had been before. Blaine reached down and took the bottom of Kurt's shirt and pulled it up slowly over Kurt's head not breaking eye contact. He tossed the shirt aside. Kurt sat up and wrapped his arms around Blaine, his finger pressing into Blaine's bare back as he held him close. The next article of clothing to off were the insignificant socks, then the inch by inch the jeans and the rest until they pressed against one another naked.

"I love you." Blaine whispered in Kurt's ear. Kurt pushed a stray curl away from Blaine's forehead.

Kurt gave a crooked smirk and crashed their lips together. The two of them fell into one another. Blaine's hands examined every inch of Kurt's chest before traveling south. Kurt sucked lightly on Blaine's neck as he did so. Kurt had never experienced anything like such passion before. He wanted all of Blaine and that's what he got. He regretted nothing of his decision, only that it hadn't been allowed to happen sooner. The red box with the gold bow sat on Blaine's bedside table open, the silver band shining in the dim light of Blaine's desk lamp.