Finn had been giving him the silent treatment since they’d left the house, Finn driving his truck because Kurt had taken his Navigator on an impromptu trip to Canada and now needed to get gas.

“Why’d you do it?” Finn finally broke the silence as they were walking down the quiet halls of McKinley. What students had come to school were already in their classes, so he and Finn were alone.

“I love Blaine,” Kurt said, and he was a little startled at the ease of the words. He’d thought it would be much harder to say. Of course, he didn’t love Blaine – they’d only just met. Kurt had a feeling that maybe he could, one day. He forced that thought away – the marriage was only for a year and then they would go their separate ways, regardless of how Kurt felt about Blaine. “We didn’t want to wait anymore.”

“So you’ve been seeing him behind everyone’s backs?” Finn asked, sounding upset.

“Not exactly,” Kurt replied. They paused outside the choir room door. “Look, I don’t get why you’re so upset.”

“You ran off and got married to a guy you didn’t even tell anyone you were dating!” Finn shouted. “Do you know how much that hurts, dude? And my mom – don’t you think she’d want to be at your wedding?”

Kurt’s mouth fell open in shock. He hadn’t really thought about it.

“Well, maybe you should have,” Finn snapped, indicating that he’d said that last part out loud. “Because she thinks of you as her son, even if you don’t think of her as your mother, and you got married without her.”

“Finn, I…” Kurt trailed off. He didn’t know what to say. It’s not like he could go back and change it and even if he could, he knew they wouldn’t because Blaine was very specific in that no one know what they were doing so no one could stop them from claiming his money.

“Just save it,” Finn muttered, turning and practically stomping into the choir room. Kurt followed and then stopped short at the shocked faces of the New Directions’ members and Mr. Schue.

It was clear that every one of them had heard Finn’s outburst in the hall.

Oh, yeah. He was totally going to strangle his brother.

*

“Rehearsal not go well?” Blaine asked. He’d heard the front door slam and then Kurt come upstairs a moment later, only to flop face first on the bed without speaking.

“I’m going to kill Finn,” Kurt said into the comforter, only to Blaine it sounded more like “ma ing ely flee.”

“What?” Blaine wanted to know. Kurt lifted his head a fraction of an inch.

“I’m going to kill Finn,” he repeated.

“As misguided as your brother seems,” Blaine began, and really, Finn thought guys could get pregnant, “don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?”

“No,” Kurt answered.

“What happened?” Blaine got up and crossed the room, where he’d been going through one of his boxes and deciding if the stuff in it should be unpacked now, or left in the box until after their inevitable move to New York.

“Well,” Kurt started. “Finn is upset because we got married without telling them we’re ‘dating’ and that we didn’t invite him and Carole to the wedding.” Blaine nodded. “Which I didn’t think about and now I feel really bad about it, but it’s done.” Kurt sighed. “So he decides to shout all of this at me at school, in the doorway to the choir room, which means that every member of New Directions and our director heard him.”

“So all your friends know?” Blaine asked.

“Yep,” Kurt muttered. “And I didn’t get to be the one to tell them, so of course they took it badly. Rachel and Mercedes – my two best friends – are mad at me for the same reasons Finn is.” Blaine thought he saw Kurt blink back tears for a second and reached out for Kurt’s hand instinctively. Kurt took a second to respond, but his fingers curled around Blaine’s and Blaine gave him a supportive smile.

“Santana teased me about finally having sex,” Kurt continued, his face turning red. Blaine’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his place to comment on Kurt’s sex life or lack thereof. “Brittany offered me sex tips and Mr. Schue didn’t stop any of them from commenting. We barely got any rehearsing done, and then when he finally let us leave, he pulled me aside so we could ‘talk,’” he finished. Blaine didn’t say anything, just let Kurt keep talking. “He wanted me to know he was worried about me and if I was ‘sure this was what I wanted.’”

“I’m sorry,” Blaine told him, feeling terrible. This entire mess was his fault.

“Stop that,” Kurt chided him gently. “I didn’t have to marry you. Just because you looked completely adorable in your Dalton uniform doesn’t mean I had completely lost my mind in your presence.”

It took Blaine a moment to realize that Kurt had indeed called him adorable and he flushed. “Sorry,” he replied. “You’re right. I just… feel like I’m messing up your life.”

Kurt smiled. “My life was messed up before I met you. Now that you’re here, I only anticipate it getting better.”

“Well,” Blaine cleared his through, acutely aware that their fingers were intertwined. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

*

When they arrived back at the school for the ceremony, they walked inside with Kurt’s hand tucked into Blaine’s elbow. Carole and Finn followed behind them, Carole’s hand tucked into Finn’s elbow. Finn wasn’t really speaking to him, but Kurt wondered if Carole had said something to him, because he seemed subdued. He hadn’t really said anything to Blaine either. Kurt was choosing to see it as a good thing. He just had to get through the ceremony and he could deal with his friends without a performance hanging over their heads.

Kurt tightened his grip on Blaine’s arm as they headed for the choir room. Blaine was looking around the school hallways with interest. “Different?” he murmured. Blaine nodded. He agreed with Blaine – it did feel weird, all of it. He was walking down the hallway with his husband while dressed in his best outfit and wearing a red polyester graduation robe on top of it.

Blaine was wearing an impressive suit with a bow tie, and Kurt had had to actively keep from staring at him. They stopped outside the choir room door, just as he and Finn had this morning, and Kurt had to fight down the d�j� vu he was feeling.

“I am so proud of you,” Carole said, pulling Finn in for a hug. Finn hugged her tightly, and then Carole was moving onto him, pulling him into a hug as well. “You too, Kurt,” she murmured in his ear. “If Burt was here, he’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

“I know,” Kurt replied, hating it when his voice cracked. He couldn’t think about his dad right now or he’d never make it through the ceremony.

“We should find our seats,” Blaine suggested. Kurt gave him a grateful smile – he didn’t know if Blaine had seen how upset he was or if he was just being nice, but Kurt appreciated it nonetheless. Still, Kurt was shocked when Blaine leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “For luck,” he whispered. Kurt’s face flamed red and his mouth dropped open in surprise. He walked away with Carole on his arm as Kurt followed Finn into the choir room.

“Was that him?” Rachel hissed, coming over toward him, Mercedes in tow.

“Yes, if you must know,” Kurt replied, keeping his tone light.

“No wonder you married him,” Rachel murmured.

“Agreed,” Mercedes said, poking him in the ribs. “He’s a hottie.”

“I’m still mad at you for not telling me,” Rachel continued.

“How many times can I say I’m sorry?” Kurt asked. “I am. You guys will get to meet him at Breadstix after graduation anyway.”

Both girls’ eyes lit up and Kurt smiled.

“Okay, guys,” Mr. Schue called them together. “It’s the last time some of us are going to be in this room. Those of us that are staying will miss those of you that our leaving – and if you ever need to come back, you’re always welcome. Glee club is family.” He smiled sadly. “Let’s bring it in for a show circle.”

They all reached in their hands, laughing as they touched them together in the middle. “Amazing!!!” They all shouted.

“You ready to go wow them with our duet?” Kurt asked Rachel, glad she was at least speaking to him again.
She gave him a huge grin. “You know it,” she answered. “We’ve got one more chance to knock ‘em dead and I’m going to take it.”

They linked arms as the group headed for the auditorium and graduation.

*

Blaine was glad that the auditorium was loud and boisterous. It made it hard for him and Carole to carry on much of a conversation. Eventually the lights went down and the crowd settled into their seats. He had no idea what to expect for the ceremony.

A man came out to the center of the stage to speak.

“Thank you for coming to the McKinley High graduation ceremony for the class of two thousand and twelve,” the man said, his voice heavily accented. “An announcement before we begin – due to last week’s senior prank, the toilet paper shortage will once again be in effect in the fall.”

Blaine blinked at that information, unsure how to take that news. It was probably good that Kurt was graduating today and wouldn’t have to deal with that.

“To start off today’s ceremony, we have Kurt Hummel and Rachel Berry from New Directions,” he finished, and everyone clapped. The stage went dark and spotlights found Kurt and Rachel standing on the stage alone. They were distance from each other, smiling brightly.

“I’m limited,” Rachel began, her voice soft but rich. “Just look at me. I’m limited,” she sang.

Kurt kept his eyes on her as she continued, waiting for his moment to come in. Blaine felt anticipation course through him. Even though they’d sung in the car and he knew Kurt had a great voice, this was different. He was going to get to hear what Kurt sounded like by himself and to see him perform.

“I’ve heard it said that people into our lives for a reason,” Kurt came in at the right moment. “Bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return.” He walked slowly forward, the spotlight following as he sang. “Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today, because I knew you.”

Rachel moved to join him as she took over for her part and Blaine could feel the goose bumps forming on his arms. Kurt and Rachel performing together were electric and moving. Went they went to the harmony, they clasped hands and turned to face the audience again. At the bridge the rest of the members of the glee joined them on the stage, chiming in along with the chorus.

They fell silent at the end, letting Kurt and Rachel finish out the song.

The audience clapped and cheered around him as the song came to an end, but Blaine didn’t hear any of it. He could only stare a blushing Kurt as he curtseyed and then headed backstage, presumably to line up to be called for his diploma.

Blaine’s heart was beating rapidly in his chest and he felt like he couldn’t breathe for a moment as realization of what he was feeling set in.

Blaine Anderson had quite possibly just fallen in love with his husband.