The final week of classes and exams went by fast. A little too fast for Kurt. He was going to be heading to New York for the summer and then school almost immediately after finals week. There was a week worth of packing and a week long spent with Blaine. He was going to miss Blaine, but was already making plans for him to visit in the summer.

"Let's go mini golfing!" Blaine tugged on Kurt's hand like a small child. The ice cream cone he held in the other hand helped to seer the image into Kurt's mind. He smiled.

"Blaine, we've already been to the zoo, the mall, I'm tired. Can't we call it a day?" Kurt whined. "Let's just go back and watch a movie or something."

Blaine pursed his lips and sighed. He pulled Kurt closer to him with on arm and held him. Kurt laughed and did his best not to drop his snow cone. Blaine stared at him, a bit of sadness in his eyes. It hadn't been there before and Kurt couldn't understand where it was coming from now.

"I mean, if you want to mini golf we can..." Kurt said softly. He hadn't meant to hurt Blaine's feelings.

Blaine shook his head. "No. It's fine. It's just...you leave tomorrow."

Kurt leaned in and gave Blaine a sweet reassuring kiss. "It's only for a few days unless I can find a place for us to live next year."

"Us?" Blaine stammered, caught by surprise.

"Yes. Us. You said you'd talk to your parents about transferring, I want to find an apartment that will fit the both of us comfortably. Nothing too big because it's going to cost money. Which is why I'm heading over there in the middle of the summer so I can start finding jobs and working. Blaine, we've talked about this." Kurt smiled.

Blaine pulled away from Kurt but kept a hold of his hand, walking them down the street back toward Kurt's car. "I know, sorry. There have been a lot of things on my mind lately."

They walked silently to the car both throwing away what was left of their frozen treats in a garbage can along the way. Kurt climbed into the driver's side. He smiled over at Blaine. "We can go mini golfing in New York." He said happily. "I'm sure they have to have it there too."

Blaine smirked. Kurt turned on the radio and their song came over the speakers. "Perfect" by Pink. It was what they always sang to one another in the car. It caused Kurt's eyes to light up as he glanced over to Blaine, oblivious to anything that might have been wrong.

They both sang it as a duet as they often did with songs. The two of them had been busy the last week with nonstop activities Blaine had planned for them. And they were all lovely, he especially loved the candlelight dinner Blaine made him. It was so romantic and to be honest their sex life hadn't been better.

Kurt didn't want to question the sudden amount of affection and clinginess Blaine was showing toward him. He chalked it up to their recent break up and then New York. It was a tough couple of months but they had survived and Kurt couldn't be happier. Being in New York for several weeks without Blaine would be hard, but he'd manage with skype and phone calls until Blaine could fly out and meet him. By then, Kurt planned on having a cozy apartment for the two of them.

Back in Kurt's bedroom where Titanic played on the TV, the volume turned low, Kurt curled up into Blaine's arms laughing and talking about the year that had gone by.

"Remember when you punched Sebastian to try and avenge me?" Blaine chuckled. "And you broke your wrist?" He picked up Kurt's now healed wrist carefully. Kurt wrinkled his nose and flexed his fingers, his fingertips brushing against Blaine's own.

"That guy has the face of a marble statue." Kurt grumbled. "Karma I guess for hitting someone. You know i've never punched anyone before in my life."

Blaine pushed the hair away from Kurt's forehead and kissed him there softly. "I'd believe it. You're too kind for that sort of violence."

"Yeah, the guy had it coming though. He nearly blinded you Blaine." Kurt poked him in the nose. As if pressing a button, Blaine smiled revealing his beautifully white teeth. It was Blaine's smile that made him swoon over him in the first place followed by everything else Blaine was.

"I'm still standing here though." Blaine said.

"Sebastian was kind of insane, but I think I understand him a little more. And he tried to make up for what he did. Not saying I trust him." Kurt added quickly.

"That's what I love about you." Blaine sighed. "You're always willing to give someone a second chance and benefit of the doubt."

The tone in which Blaine said this sounded almost sad, as though he was trying to speak about it in a past tense. A bitter sweet memory that had been lingering in his head for too long. Kurt shifted and looked up at Blaine with questioning eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, babe." Blaine ran his fingers through Kurt's hair, massaging his scalp lightly with his fingers. Kurt hummed and shut his eyes leaning into the touch.

"You don't seem fine." Kurt muttered trying not to let Blaine distract him.

"I promise you, I'm okay. I want to see you happy and tomorrow is a big day for you." Blaine whispered in his ear. "It's when you start living your dreams."

Kurt smiled his cheeks flushing a little. He giggled a bit at Blaine's breath on his ear, tickling it slightly. A sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him and Kurt yawned. Blaine kissed Kurt on his temple and held him close.

"Blaine," Kurt murmured, his voice thick with sleep. "Sing to me?"

'S-sure."

"Blaine?" Kurt asked quickly before he could start. "I love you."

Blaine stared down at Kurt for a moment , kissing him tenderly on the lips before Kurt settled into his arms a bit more comfortably.

"And if you have a minute why don't we go. Talk about it somewhere only we know, this could be the e-end-" Blaine tried not to sound like he was holding back sobs. "e-end of everything. So why don't we go, somewhere only we know. Somewhere only we know."

He felt Kurt relax fully in his arms, knowing the boy had fallen asleep. Blaine blinked back tears and kiss Kurt on the head. "I love you." He whispered, a tear running down his face. "I love you."

The next morning, Kurt scrambled about trying to make sure everything was in order before they headed to the airport. Blaine sat cross legged on the bed reading off a list Kurt had made prior. Once everything was checked off the list twice, Kurt put his hands on his hips and stood looking apprehensively at Blaine.

"Ready for this?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah. I am." He pulled out his phone, no new messages. "Why hasn't Rachel called me? She should be here right now." Kurt walked over and sat down on the bed beside Blaine. Blaine's hand covered Kurt's.

"She'll be at the airport, Finn stayed over there last night. He'll make sure she is there." Blaine said.

Rachel had been avoiding Kurt the last week. She wasn't around as much as she should have been. Blaine was keeping Kurt so busy though that sometimes he didn't notice. Kurt frowned and laid his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"I don't want her to be upset with me. I'm afraid she's angry that I'm going to New York and she isn't. We always talked about going together." Kurt mumbled.

"Kurt. I don't think it's that. Maybe she's going to miss you and she is afraid to say goodbye. I know how Rachel can get but I doubt she'll be angry about this. She's happy for you. We all are." Blaine said

Kurt heaved a sigh and looked at Blaine. He kissed him on the lips remaining there for a few seconds until Burt Hummel walked into the room.

"Whoa." Burt froze as the two boy broke apart blushing furiously. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."

"Dad!" Kurt chided. He stood up and tried not to look so flustered. "Did you want something?"

"Yeah, it's time to go son. We don't want to miss our plane." Burt's eyes lingered on Blaine for a moment and Kurt could have sworn there was some level of anger in them. Burt had never given Blaine that kind of look before. Kurt figured he must have imagined it and brushed it off.

Blaine helped to load the car and climbed into the back with Kurt as Burt and Carol sat up front. The ride to the airport was filled with quiet conversation about places Kurt wanted to go see while they searched for apartments and visited the campus. Burt tried to tell Kurt that he shouldn't overload himself with too much at once but Kurt didn't really bother to listen. Blaine was quiet at Kurt's side, his hand woven with Kurt's.

"Kurt!" Rachel rushed into Kurt's arms once they were at the airport. "God, I'm going to miss you!"

Kurt clenched his jaw forgetting that he was upset with her for avoiding him the last week. He was trying not to cry. Kurt had been doing so good up to this point. "Rachel, I'm going to miss you too. How am I going to survive in New York with my Barbara with me?"

Rachel chuckled and pulled out of the hug to look up at Kurt. She smoothed out his vest and picked off a piece of lint. "You'll manage without me. But you're going to be calling me, right?"

Kurt nodded. "Of course I'll call you. And then in the fall you can come and stay at our apartment for fall break and we'll go see some Broadway shows."

Kurt glanced to Blaine when he said this. Rachel looked as though she wanted to be excited but she couldn't do it. She was hiding something. Rachel quickly glanced around from Blaine to Finn and then back to Kurt finally deciding to smile. It was a half hearted smile.

"Don't look too impressed or excited." Kurt said.

"No. No, Kurt that sounds...it sounds amazing really. I can't wait." She was lying and Kurt could tell. "I just don't want to see oyu leave. You're my best friend Kurt."

Kurt blinked a tear rolled down his cheek. "I know. You're mine too, sweetie. I'm going to visit and come back of course. I love you Rachel Berry." he said pulling her into another hug.

Rachel was crying now as he hugged her. "I love you too Kurt Hummel."

They held each other for another minute before Rachel stepped back and dried her eyes. She made way for Finn who gave Kurt a big hug. "It was cool to be roommates with you last year. Kinda just like living at home. Except...my room actually smelled nice at school."

Kurt chuckled and patted Finn on the back. "Just promise me with your new roommate you'll at least try to keep things a little clean."

Finn smirked, "I'll try but you know I probably can't make that promise."

Kurt looked over to Blaine next and reached out for him with both hands. Rachel and Finn looked awkwardly at one another.

"I'm going to miss you, you know that right?" Kurt said. "I promise I'll find a place as soon as I can. Maybe you can meet me out there before school even starts."

Blaine's smile faded. He hesitated his voice shaky and unsure. "Kurt, we need to talk."

Kurt arched a brow. "We are talking." he said trying to be playful not wanting the direction of this conversation to go anywhere but. He already had a bad feeling about this, his stomach queasy.

"No. I mean..." Blaine sighed and squeezed Kurt's hands. "I'm not going to New York."

Kurt did his best to stay optimistic. "Of course you're not right now, but by the end of sum-"

"I'm not going to NYADA." Blaine said firmly. "I'm staying in Ohio. But you're going, and I think the only way to do that is if we-"

Kurt's eyes were brimming with tears, "Don't." Kurt warned his voice breaking.

"Break up." Blaine finished.

Kurt blinked and tears started to stream down his face. Everything around him felt as if it was closing in and making it harder to breathe. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I...I think I heard you wrong-"

"You didn't Kurt." Blaine's voice was even and quiet. The near lack of emotion was killing Kurt. He pulled back and away from Blaine.

"Why are you doing this?" Kurt asked.

"Because you belong in NYADA and in New York. I know you'd never stay there without me but you have to do this, Kurt. For me and for yourself because I know it makes you happy."

"What happened to 'as long as you think we'll be okay'? We can make the internet and phone conversations work. Please." Kurt was doing his best not to make a scene.

Blaine took a deep breath. "We both know that won't work out. It's best if you go to live your dream."

Kurt glanced over at saw Rachel and Finn standing by, dead silent their eyes diverted to the ground. Then it clicked. Everyone was acting so strange.

"You knew?" Kurt whispered staring at Rachel.

"I—Blaine...he told me and I...It wasn't my place-"

Kurt held his hand up to silence her and he looked back to Blaine. "So what was this last week? A big lead up to dumping me at the airport?"

Kurt was furious and it was becoming hard to keep his voice low.

Blaine's jaw quivered and Kurt could see the emotion finally showing in his eyes and he could hear it in his voice now. "It was my goodbye. I don't want to do this but I want you to be happy, and I'm not going to be the one to stand in the way of you and New York."

Kurt shook his head, "No. Stop. Just, stop. I don't want to hear it. You're a coward. That's all you are Blaine so just forget it."

It was starting to overwhelm him and he wasn't ready to have a break down in public. He stormed off with his bag over his shoulder toward Burt and Carol near the gate. He didn't even look back at Blaine as he boarded the plane even though he wanted to.

Kurt kept it together surprisingly well as he and Burt took their seats on the plane. Burt glanced over to Kurt. He didn't seem surprised which meant he must have known too. Everyone but Kurt knew about what Blaine was doing and it was murder.

"Hey kid." Burt said finally turning to talk to Kurt. It was breaking his heart to see Kurt like this. "I'm sorry about you and Blaine."

"Are you?" It came out more venomously than he had originally intended.

"That's not fair. You think I like to see you like this? You think I wanted that guy to break you into a thousand pieces?"

"If you're trying to help me, it's working splendidly." Kurt sassed resting his head on the tray in front of him. Burt scoffed and gently pulled Kurt upright by his shoulder.

"Now look at me. I know you loved Blaine and I know damn well that kid loves you. He came to me about this and I was against it cause I want you happy."

"Everyone seems to want that." Kurt said exasperated. "It's a little presumptuous of all of you to think you know what will make me happy." He sniffed and wiped a tear from his eye.

"Will you listen to me? I'm pissed that he did this but I can't force the guy to continue to be your boyfriend. I mean I could but I don't want you to have a shotgun wedding one day. I know you don't like guns." It was a joke, or an attempt at one.

Seeing that his joke didn't go over too well, Burt cleared his throat and tried again.

"Can you honestly tell me that if Blaine didn't go to NYADA and New York, that you would stay there in New York?"

Kurt stared at his dad sheepishly, knowing that the answer was a big resounding 'No.'

"That's what I thought. I know why Blaine did it, and why he didn't do it this last week. He knew you wouldn't get on this plane before now. Again, I want to wring his neck a little bit because he hurt you but...he also did this because he loves you."

Kurt jutted out his chin refusing to believe his dad's words. He loved Blaine but in that moment he also hated him. He didn't want to believe that Blaine loved him because it made it hurt even more. This entire week was Blaine's way of saying goodbye, true feelings and emotions all leading to the grand finale of heartbreak. It wasn't fair.

"It's not fair." Kurt repeated what he had been thinking. New tears forming.

"I know it does, son. Life isn't fair though and shit is going to come your way but who knows. You may meet an amazing guy in New York." Burt put his arm around Kurt. "You're strong, Kurt. I know you're going to get over this. I want you to be in New York and I know you want to be there."

Kurt nodded and rested his head on his dad's shoulder. "I'm going to miss him."

"I know." Is all Burt could say to that.

The plane ride was long and Kurt spent it crying and sipping from a small bottle of water. He starred off out the window, and it wasn't until half way through flight that he glanced down and realized he was still wearing Blaine's ring. He took it off and turned it over between his fingers. The names "Kurt & Blaine" etched on the inside, and on the outside of the silver ring the words "Then I Found You" stared up at him, haunting him along with the memory of Blaine's face and the winter night that Blaine presented it to him, and the empty promises he made to Kurt after they had gotten back together.

Blaine's words echoed in his head, "To always love you...I'm always going to be here to make sure that you remember just how perfectly imperfect you are..."

Kurt closed the ring in his hand and laid his head back against seat as they made their decent into New York. He could see the city below, a new start away from old heart ache. Kurt hoped the city would bring him much more than Ohio, he also hoped that it would all hurt less with time.

*end*