On my way to Ohio for the holidays. Peace out, LA!

It was attached to a picture of Blaine stretched out in a first class plane seat, looking rumpled and very, very hot.

Kurt wasn’t sure how Blaine managed to pull off both being a completely adorable dork and the hottest guy he’d ever seen. It was one of the mysteries of life, he guessed. The tweet had gone up a few hours ago, and Kurt was waiting for Blaine’s call that he had landed. Kurt knew that Blaine would be spending his first few days in town with his parents (which Blaine didn’t seem too thrilled about. The tabloids had reported a split in the family back when Blaine had made it big, but nothing had really come from it at the time, and Kurt didn’t have any details. He’d just have to wait and see if Blaine wanted to talk about it), but then he would be coming to Lima to spend time with Kurt and his family.

Kurt couldn’t wait. His phone buzzed in his hand, and he hurried to check the text message.

Landing in a bit. Can’t wait to see you. I miss you.

Kurt typed out a reply.

Same here.

He never thought he’d be the kind of guy to text a heart symbol to his boyfriend in an unironic fashion, but apparently he was.

*

Blaine sighed as he and his mother stepped off the plane. He’d been dreading this. His father mostly let Blaine and his mother live their own lives in LA even though they were still legally married. Because of that small fact, Blaine’s mother insisted that the holidays be spent together every year, and that was why he was flying ‘home.’ The next two days would be thinly veiled insults about Blaine’s sexuality, his chosen career, and whatever else Blaine’s father would be able to come up with. The only thing getting him through it was the knowledge he’d be seeing Kurt.

*

The first two days that Blaine was in Ohio dragged out forever in Kurt’s eyes. They texted back and forth, emailed and called, but the idea that there were only two hours between them was enough to frustrate them both to no end. Kurt even took to reorganizing his closet, and clearing out some of last season’s looks (much to his father’s and Carole’s amazement), in order to make the time pass quickly.

Finn was also an excellent distraction, and Kurt let himself get roped into a video game marathon along with the other boys from New Directions the night before Christmas Eve. Blaine and his mother would be coming for dinner the next day.

“What’s up with you, Hummel?” Puck asked, taking a swing of his pop.

“What do you mean, Puck?” Kurt asked as he pushed some random buttons on his game controller and somehow managed to kill the thing attacking him.

“You never hang with us,” Mike pointed out. “Let alone play video games.”

“I am a man of many talents,” Kurt replied.

“And you keep checking your phone.” Artie added.

“I do?” That got Kurt’s attention, and he paused the game. “I didn’t even realize.”

“Waiting on a call?” Sam asked.

“Not exactly,” Kurt mumbled. This was getting too close to the subject of Blaine. Blaine, who hadn’t texted him in a couple of hours – something that wouldn’t have worried Kurt if Blaine was in LA – but the two of them had practically been in contact non-stop since Blaine’s plane had touched down at Columbus International Airport.

He tried to push his worry away – after all, he’d be seeing Blaine the next day.

“I’m fine,” Kurt finally said. “Let’s just… kill things.” Kurt missed the other boys sharing a look as he restarted the game. Once again, Kurt set about pushing random buttons and somehow destroying his enemies.

“How are you doing that, dude?” Finn demanded. “I’ve been playing this game for two months and I still can’t do that move,” he said to Kurt.

“I don’t know,” Kurt replied. “I’m just pushing buttons.”

“Seriously?” Finn stared at him, shocked.

“Seriously.” Kurt couldn’t help but smile. A loud knock on the door made them all jump.

“Here, one of you take over for me.” Kurt handed the controller to Mike and got up to answer the door. Carole and Burt had gone out for some last minute Christmas shopping, and it was under penalty of death that Finn had even been allowed to have the boys over.

Kurt opened the door and gasped. “Blaine!”

Blaine looked terrible. He had a day’s worth of stubble on his chin, his hair was untamed and he had very clearly been crying at some point.

“I know I’m not supposed to be here until tomorrow, but I-“ Blaine began, sounding upset.

“No, Blaine, it’s okay,” Kurt said, pulling his boyfriend inside. He shut the door before throwing his arms around Blaine.

“I just needed to see you,” Blaine mumbled into Kurt’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” Kurt asked.

“It’s… it’s not important right now,” Blaine replied. “Can we just… be together?”

“Yeah,” Kurt told him. “Whatever you need.”

“I just need you,” Blaine said.

“Who’s at the door, Kurt?” Finn spoke up, poking his head around the corner into the entryway.

“Oh, Blaine.”

“Hi, Finn,” Blaine greeted quietly.

“Everything okay?” Kurt knew that Finn could see how upset Blaine was.

“Everything’s fine, Finn,” Kurt told him firmly. “Blaine and I are going up to my room. Call me when Dad and Carole get home, okay?”

Finn nodded, looking like he wanted to say something else, but Kurt stopped him with a pointed glare.

Kurt took Blaine’s hand and led him toward the stairs, which put him and Blaine in full view of the boys in the living room. “I’m afraid I’m calling it a night, boys,” Kurt said, ignoring their wide eyed stares. Kurt gave them a delicate wave with his fingers and led Blaine upstairs.

*

“What happened?” Kurt asked as soon as they were in his bedroom. Blaine took a moment to collect himself, looking around Kurt’s room.

“My dad,” Blaine answered. “He just… we don’t… It’s complicated.”

“So I gathered,” Kurt spoke quietly, sitting on the edge of his bed, and looking up at Blaine. “Want to talk about it?”

“No,” Blaine told him truthfully. “No, I really just want to forget about it, and enjoy being here with you.” Kurt frowned and Blaine knew he wanted to disagree, but he didn’t.

Kurt scooted back on the bed instead, and patted the mattress next to him. “Come here.” Blaine moved slowly, kneeling down on the bed as he settled down next to Kurt. “I’m glad you’re here,” Kurt whispered.

“Me too,” Blaine replied. “Everything is better when you’re around.”

“I feel the same way,” Kurt murmured, glancing at Blaine. Their eyes locked, and then Blaine was leaning forward and pressing his lips into Kurt’s.

Maybe it was because it had been over a week since they’d last done this, but Blaine felt the spark all the way to his toes. He deepened the kiss, his hands tangling in Kurt’s hair. Kurt let out a surprised noise, and Blaine took the opportunity to slip his tongue into Kurt’s mouth.

Startled, it took Kurt a moment to respond, but when he did, Blaine felt a little thrill of victory go through him. He leaned over Kurt, one of his hands drifting from Kurt’s hair to stroke down the side of Kurt’s face, then his neck. Kurt gripped Blaine’s shirt tightly in both hands, little sounds escaping from this throat as they kissed.

Needing more, Blaine let his hand slide down Kurt’s chest, brushing against Kurt’s nipple. Kurt whimpered, arching against him, and Blaine smiled against his mouth.

He let his hand travel lower, resting against the waistband of the skintight pants Kurt was currently wearing. They left nothing to the imagination, and Blaine could feel Kurt hard against him. He had barely moved his hand to really feel Kurt, when Kurt wrenched his mouth away. “Stop,” he said.

It took a moment for it to sink in, and Blaine was still moving his hand. Kurt grabbed it.

“Please, Blaine,” Kurt gripped his hand tightly. “Stop.”

“Why?” Blaine was aware it might have come out like a whine. “I want you.” Kurt actually let out a shiver at Blaine’s words.

“I… want you, too.” Kurt’s face flushed red, and Blaine started pressing kisses to Kurt’s neck. “No, Blaine, listen, please,” Kurt pushed him back. “I don’t want to do… this… not like this.”

“You said you wanted me.” Blaine hoped his confusion was showing.

“I do!” Kurt was quick to exclaim. “But I’m not ready for all of… that. And I don’t think you are either.”

“Kurt-"

“You’ve had a rough couple of days. Anyone can see that,” Kurt pointed out. “And I just think if we did this… it would be too soon, and not for the right reasons, and we’d both regret it later.” Kurt put a hand on Blaine’s cheek. “I don’t ever want any regrets with you.”

“Kurt, I-" Blaine knew he looked as distraught as he felt. How could he have just done that?

“Blaine, it’s okay.” Kurt smiled. “We just need to set some ground rules that we’re both comfortable with.”

“Like what?” Blaine asked, leaning back.

“Like not granting our hands visas to travel south of the border until we both agree it’s something we want,” Kurt suggested.

“Sounds good,” Blaine agree quietly. “I really am sorry.” Kurt pulled him close, and Blaine laid his head on Kurt’s shoulder.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Kurt asked. “Or we could go downstairs and join the boys in their bloodthirsty habits?”

“I don’t think we could hide ‘this’,” Blaine gestured between them, “if we went downstairs. Your friends would know.”

“They probably already suspect,” Kurt replied. “I don’t normally have other gay boys in my room.”

“Video games it is, then?” Blaine looked at Kurt for confirmation.

“Okay,” Kurt agreed. “But don’t cry to me when I kick your ass,” he said. “Somehow I’m strangely good at them.”

*

Silence fell in the living room when Kurt and Blaine walked in. “Boys, you remember Blaine.” Kurt finally spoke up.

“Yeah, dude,” Puck replied. “How’s LA life treating you?”

“Fine,” Blaine smiled, sitting down next to Kurt.

“What brings you to Ohio?” Artie asked, jerking his controller as if it would help his character move faster.

“Visiting family,” Blaine answered, his voice a little low. “And Kurt.” Kurt felt his face turning red, again. One of these days, he would stop blushing in Blaine’s presence.

They delved back into the video game, and before long, Kurt realized they were treating Blaine like one of the group. Kurt also realized that Blaine was keeping the touching to a minimum. He was sitting right next to Kurt, but hadn’t even tried so much as to hold Kurt’s hand.

Kurt hoped he still wasn’t upset about what had happened upstairs. They’d gotten carried away. It happened to couples all the time.

He worried about it until his parents got home and chased the boys out, saying it was too late even with them being on school break. They were surprised to see Blaine, but simply said they’d see him and his mother the next day.

“I’ll walk you out,” Kurt told Blaine, as they headed for the door. The other boys were still gathering their things, and putting on coats. The living room was quiet, and Kurt knew they were all shamelessly eavesdropping.

“They’re all listening right now, aren’t they?” Blaine murmured. Kurt nodded.

“Yep,” he said.

“Think we should give them a show?” Blaine smiled a real smile, his first true smile of the night. Kurt smiled back.

“If you want to,” Kurt replied. “It’s up to you if we tell them or keep it to ourselves.”
Blaine didn’t reply, just leaned in and kissed him.

Okay, then.

Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine’s shoulders, forgetting about the boys in the living room and his parents in the kitchen, and just let himself get lost in Blaine for a moment. When Blaine pulled way, Kurt actually made a noise in protest.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Blaine promised. Kurt nodded, and opened the front door. He watched as Blaine went down the walk and over to what he assumed was a rental car. He waved, waiting until Blaine had driven off before shutting the door behind him. Kurt shivered at the chilly air that had been let in and turned around only to stop short.

“Well played, Hummel,” Puck said, holding out his fist. Kurt looked at it, and then up at Puck’s face, before slowly reached out his own fist to bump it. Kurt didn’t know what to say; somehow he managed to a good bye to his friends as they left.

He wondered what would happen now that they knew.