He spent the morning recording a song for Blaine and trying to write the perfect email to go along with it. When he couldn’t think of just the right words, he decided to let the song speak for itself. He really thinks Blaine will understand.

He and Julia chat idly most of the day, though they fall into a deep conversation about how Kurt should approach Blaine when he gets home.

“Do I seek him out? I don’t even know where he lives!” Kurt’s quite frustrated by this detail. He feels like it’s an odd slight on Blaine’s part, but he’s trying not to fixate on it.

“Kurt. I really don’t think he was hiding that from you. It was just a circumstance kind of thing, he would have told you and happily will tell you. Just text him.”

“Do I text him right away?” Kurt asks.

“Do you want to see him right away?” Julia shoots back.

“No. Yes. No. Of course.” Kurt is honestly torn on the subject. He feels like no matter how much he wants to see Blaine and how much he believes Blaine wants to see him, he’s having trouble imagining actually getting to see him. He almost doesn’t want to get his hopes up.

“Oh, well that clears everything up,” Julia says sarcastically. “What do you want Kurt?”

“I want to see him as soon as I can.”

“Okay. So stop at your apartment, drop off your shit, ask Rachel where he lives and go see him. Don’t even text him. Don’t agonize. He’ll want to see you. He wouldn’t have sent you the rest of the passwords if he was mad at you or didn’t want to see you.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“What are you doing for his birthday?”

“Puck and Rachel planned a surprise party for him Saturday night. They told him it was a welcome back party for me and that we’ll do his birthday the next weekend. And Blaine being Blaine thought it was a good idea.”

“Blaine being Blaine,” Julia says with a smile.

Kurt puts his head in his hands. “I was so stupid.”

“I know,” Julia agrees.

“I’m going to make it up to him.”

“I know you will,” Julia smiles and searches Kurt’s face. She finds such sincerity in it that she has to stop herself from giving him a hug. Now is talking time, later can be hugging time.

“From now on, I’m just going to be the best damn boyfriend the world has ever known.”

“Good for you.”

“You’re gonna come to the party right?” Kurt asks.

“Of course.”

“I might need the moral support,” Kurt states seriously.

“I highly doubt it, but I’ll be there anyway,” Julia assures him.

“Do you think he’ll respond to my email?”

Julia shrugs. She really doesn’t know. “He might, or he might want to wait and talk to you.”

They wile away the rest of the day and Kurt leaves for the airport around 10 that night.

~~~~~

Later that evening, Blaine sits in his living room watching tv with Matt and Kerry.

“I’m gonna go mm-meet him at the airport tomorrow,” Blaine announces during a commercial. “Surprise him, you know?”

Blaine had told them about Kurt’s email and a little bit about the song and the letter. It all seemed too personal and raw to tell them everything. But now he’s decided to tell them about his plan.

“You think that’s a good idea?” Matt asks.

Kerry nudges Matt’s leg and gives him a reprimanding look. “I think it’s a fantastic idea, Blaine. I think that’s what Kurt wants but at this point would never have the guts to ask.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I think he probably assumes that would be asking too much of you after everything else. He probably thinks that he should be the one to make the first move when he gets back. You know, like he wants to make a peace offering.”

“Wait. So, you’re saying this is a good idea?” Blaine asks, suddenly unsure.

“Yes, Blaine, it’s a good idea. I think I might have used the word fantastic even,” Kerry says kindly, reaching over to give his knee a squeeze.

Blaine isn’t assuaged. “Yeah, but then you said all that stuh-stuff about him mm-making the first move. But, but if I let him make the first move, it mm-might take too long. I want to see him r-r-right away.”

“Well, I was just saying that’s how I think Kurt might be feeling, but you should go meet him. I think it’s like a good faith mission.”

“Okay, okay,” Blaine says mostly to himself, nodding. A small smile crosses his face as he resolves the idea in his mind. “I can’t wait to ssssee him. I-I-I can’t wait to talk to him, I can’t wait to touch him.” A little shiver runs up Blaine’s spine at the thought.

“TMI,” Matt says, but he’s grinning.

“I-I-I just mean like hug and kiss him.” Then Blaine blushes. “And other sss-stuff too, you’re right. I can’t wait for him to shave my stupid bah-beard.”

“Aw, I like your beard. You just need to trim it more.”

“I hate trims! I hate getting my hair trimmed and I hate trimming mm-my beard even more. So, I can’t wait to shave it. I-I-I would do it myself, but I promised Kurt he could.”

“Aw. See? Everything will be okay.”

“Yeah,” Blaine smiles and leans back on the couch. “I can’t be-believe I get to see him tomorrow. I’m r-r-really excited and also kind of nah-nervous. But, but mostly excited. I … I hope he’s excited. I hope he, he, he wants to see me. I-I-I hope it won’t, um, um, be weird.” He knows he’s babbling, but he’s so anxious and happy at the same time. He can’t keep all of his thoughts inside. He doesn’t have to keep all of his thoughts inside.

Kerry looks at Blaine appraisingly.

“What?” Blaine asks when he notices her staring at him.

“Your speech is like really good today.”

“Kerry!” Blaine and Matt shout at the same time. Matt goes so far as to put his hand over her mouth.

“What?” she shrieks as she pulls Matt’s hand away.

Blaine shakes his head, while Matt explains. “You can’t say stuff like that about Blaine’s speech. When we acknowledge it, his fluency goes away.”

“Are you guys really that superstitious?”

Blaine’s eyes go wide and he tries to look at Kerry threateningly.

“Blaine. You and Matt both really need to work on looking threatening.”

“Monkey face?” Blaine asks.

“Monkey face,” Matt and Kerry agree.

~~~~~

Kurt sits in the airport, waiting for his flight home, thinking about everything he needs to say to Blaine as soon as he sees him. He needs to apologize, for like a dozen different things. He needs to tell him how much he loves him, how much he’s missed him and how his life is really dumb and boring without him.

This isn’t what he expected before he left, he really would have never predicted how terrible he would feel or how terrible he would end up acting. It’s no excuse, but Kurt knows he really wasn’t himself the whole time he was away. He felt like an impostor in his own life.

He’s glad he went though. Kurt’s happy to have befriended Julia, and he knows they’ll keep in touch, and probably even be friends for a long time. His friends are going to love her, he’s sure of it. He’s also happy for the experience. He learned a lot about a different culture and he feels like a more well rounded person. And his French definitely improved.

He just wishes there had been a way to gain all of these experiences, without potentially jeopardizing his relationship with Blaine.

After he boards his flight, he tries to sleep, but he can only seem to nap on and off all night long. He can’t quite get comfortable and he can’t quiet his mind. There’s too many thoughts floating around. Not to mention the noise of the drink cart and the crying kids and how loud people can seem when they’re trying to be quiet.

~~~~~

Blaine leaves for the airport early. Way too early. So he arrives there way too early. He takes a seat in one of the few waiting chairs near baggage claim and keeps an eye on the arrivals and departures. If everything goes as planned, Kurt should be here in a half hour.

Blaine has a sign in his pocket, that he hopes Kurt will appreciate. He just wants Kurt to smile when he sees him. Because no matter what he believes and what Kerry and Matt said, Blaine isn’t sure he should be at the airport at all right now.

However, he is here and he’s going to stay. Hopefully Kurt will be happy to see him. What if Kurt isn’t happy to see him? What if it’s weird or awkward and Kurt decides that he doesn’t even want Blaine to go home with him? What if Kurt asks Blaine to go away?

He has to stop himself from getting up and leaving after that thought process. Blaine decides to wait it out. Even if Kurt doesn’t want him to stay, at least they’ll get to see each other.

Blaine just really can’t wait to see Kurt.

~~~~~

As his flight lands, Kurt is tired, bone tired. It’s noon, New York time and he realizes he has all afternoon and evening to talk to Blaine. He resolves to stop at his apartment for an hour and take a nap. He’ll wake up refreshed and he’ll be better equipped to go throw himself at Blaine’s feet and plead for his mercy.

Kurt walks through JFK airport in a bit of a daze. He knows he needs to get himself to baggage claim, but he feels like his flight took forever. He would willingly put his carry-on bag on the ground to use it as a pillow and take a nap right here. Then he actually looks at the floor and decides better of that idea.

He's calculating the amount of time from where he is right this second, to his bed. His bed. He knows Tina found a new apartment already, so it's his bed again. He thinks he should be there in about 2 hours from now, (counting however long it takes to get his bags, hail a cab, sit in traffic...) but he really doesn't want to get his hopes up.

All that is erased from his mind, when the crowd parts and he sees a man.

A smiling man, with twinkling eyes, a scruffy (though somewhat sexy) beard, too long hair and a hand lettered sign that reads "Poophead missed you."

Nothing else really matters.

Kurt really looks at Blaine, taking him in for the man that he’s become while Kurt’s been away. He holds himself differently, taller, less self-conscious. When his eyes meet Kurt’s, he doesn’t drop his gaze for even a second. His smile is genuine, and Kurt can see just a shade of shyness in it, but he doesn’t think anyone who doesn’t know Blaine would recognize it. His shoulders and arms look pretty much amazing in his well fitted t-shirt. That thousand push-up challenge works wonders.

The boys don’t lose eye contact even as they hurry towards each other through the crowd. Within five feet of Blaine, Kurt’s bag finally does hit the floor with a thump, but he’s not going to lay down with it.

Kurt’s arms are around Blaine tightly before he can even think twice and Blaine responds in kind.

They hold each other for one minute, two minutes, hearts beating wildly together, breath warm and in sync on the other’s neck, arms clutching tightly as though even the barest space between them would be too much at the moment. They have no sense of the people around them. They don’t have a care in the world.

They’re together.

At last.

“I’m so sorry, Blaine,” Kurt murmurs into Blaine’s ear, before kissing the shell of it, encircling his arms around Blaine’s shoulders and squeezing.

“No, no, I’m sorry, Kurt,”Blaine whispers into Kurt’s neck, inhaling his scent and before burying his face in Kurt’s shoulder, arms tightening around Kurt’s waist.

The boys stay frozen like that for what could very well be hours. There is nowhere else in the world they need to be except in each other’s arms. They can both feel the other relax, the tension of the moment being erased with pure relief.

When they finally pull back, they both have smiles on their faces and happy tears in their eyes.

Kurt grins wider, searching Blaine’s eyes and then shakes his head.

“You hate mm-my bah-beard don’t you?”

A laugh bubbles out of Kurt.

“That’s why you didn’t kiss mmm-me, right?”

Kurt is nearly hysterical with laughter. He’s laughing from exhaustion, relief, and the very nearness of this man he loves. Blaine’s strong arms around his waist are the only reason he’s still upright.

“Are you having a br-breakdown?” Blaine asks seriously.

Kurt stops his laughter for a second. “You look like the unabomber, Blaine.”

“I do nah-not!” Blaine’s eyes go wide. And then he adds quietly, “You can’t say the word bah-bomb in an airport.”

They stand there smiling at each other for another moment, both just completely content with the knowledge that they’re together.

“Please Kurt, just a little kiss,” Blaine pleads and then purses his lips and squeezes his eyes shut.

Kurt leans in and gives Blaine a light peck on the lips.

“Ugh, whiskers!” Kurt teases. “That’s all you get for now.”

They collect Kurt’s luggage, never losing touch of each other’s hands. When they get outside, they hail a cab and are on their way to Kurt’s apartment.

At first, neither one of them is sure what to say. The quiet isn’t necessarily awkward but there’s so much that could be said or asked that it seems nearly overwhelming. After several minutes, Kurt decides to ask the question that’s been gnawing at him for a week.

“So, Blaine. Where do you live?”

Blaine turns his body fully towards Kurt and grabs Kurt’s hand, in a somewhat pleading gesture, and words start spilling out of his mouth.

~~~~~

What Blaine wants to say:

I’m sorry.

What Blaine says:

I’m so sorry! I was going to tell you, it just dih-didn’t come up! It was all connected with like, a a a hundred other things that I couldn’t ww-wait to talk to you about, but I didn’t want to just s-s-send an email about. Like how good it w-w-went when my parents visited and Chad dropping a bomb about spah-spah-spah-speech therapy and Sarah offering me the music counselor position this ss-summer. I was just saving it for a skype d-d-date. I swear! It really wasn’t a b-big deal and we were w-w-w-working on the search while my parents were here and Matt and I ended up picking one and, and, and we really like it. The bah-bathroom isn’t gross and it’s only two blah-blocks from your apartment, which is all I rr-rr-really wanted and … you’ll like it. And it just sort of happened, I-I-I wasn’t keeping it from you. I-I-I swear. It was just … timing.

~~~~~

Kurt stares at Blaine and is honestly taken aback by how much he just said. “You sound incredible Blaine.”

“Oh,” Blaine blushes and looks at feet.

Kurt can’t help but smile at how embarrassed Blaine just got. He was looking for his boyfriend, underneath this new exterior, and Kurt sees him now. This is Blaine, this will always be Blaine, but now he has vastly better communication skills. And a somewhat scruffy appeal, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Blaine looks back over at Kurt and scrunches his nose and then smiles. “It... comes and goes, de-de-depending on the day.”

“You sound pretty much amazing today.”

Blaine is glowing at this point and he simply says a quiet thank you.

The cab ride is quicker than expected, or maybe that’s just Blaine’s presence making everything in Kurt’s life a little brighter. Kurt can’t seem to stop smiling. Neither can Blaine.

When they arrive at Kurt’s building, they drag Kurt’s luggage upstairs and Kurt unlocks the door, calling out to Rachel as he enters. Rachel bounds into the living room screeching and jumping on top of Kurt immediately.

“I missed you so much!” she cries as she squeezes him in a tight hug, her smile a mile wide.

Kurt laughs and squeezes back.

Rachel notices Blaine then and somehow manages to make her smile even bigger. He smiles sheepishly back, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, I see you picked up a rugged mountain man on your way home,” she says to Kurt as they pull away from each other.

“He happened to be at the airport,” Kurt turns to grin at Blaine. “Serendipitously.”

“I heard they had opened up a rugged mountain man depot at JFK,” Rachel says as she moves towards Blaine.

She stands on her tiptoes and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good job,” she whispers, with a wink.

“Thank you,” Blaine answers. And he means it, sincerely. Rachel was a big part of why he started feeling better. He might not have been prepared for the revelations in Kurt’s letter if he hadn’t spoken to Rachel first.

Rachel picks up her keys and purse and gestures towards the door. “I’m just going to go somewhere else now. I’m pretty sure you two have some talking to do.” Rachel waves and closes the door behind her.

Blaine approaches Kurt and searches his eyes, earnestly.

“So,” Blaine starts with an eyebrow raise. “I-I-I guess we have ss-some talking to do.”