Kurt was in the half-awake-but-determined-to-stay-asleep moment when he felt the bed dip behind him. He burrowed into his pillow, figuring if he kept his eyes closed then he wouldn't have to wake up and face the day.

"C'mon, Kurt. I know you, you have to wake up."

Kurt shook his head in response. "No."

Tobias laughed behind him and pressed a kiss to the side of his head. "C'mon, please? Who else is going to take me to the airport?"

"If I don't take you, does that mean you'll stay?" Kurt asked.

"You know I can't."

"Then I refuse."

The bed dipped again and the covers tightened as Tobias settled on top of them, wrapping his arms around Kurt as best as he could above the covers.

"You know you don't want me to stay," Tobias started. "I leave my socks everywhere and I never put the cap back on the toothpaste..."

"That's true," Kurt mumbled, shuffling under the blankets so he could face Tobias properly. "And you smell. Like a boy."

Tobias' rich laugh filled Kurt's ears and he sighed. "I'm going to miss you, Kurt."

"I know," Kurt replied. "I'd miss me too, if I were you."

Tobias smiled and wrapped his arms tighter around Kurt's body. "Time to get up, Kurt."

Kurt sighed in response and eventually slipped out of the bed. He washed and dressed and they grabbed bagels and coffees from the little coffee shop near Kurt's apartment before getting into a taxi together to ride to the airport.

Even though it had only been a week, Kurt realised how much he had missed Tobias; missed being in a relationship with someone. Kurt had kept to his word – he didn't just want to jump straight back into bed with Tobias only for him to leave again, but it was nice just having someone there. Kurt missed that a lot.

Kurt didn't realise how much he missed having a guy around that he could snuggle up to on the couch, or fall asleep next to in bed. Someone that didn't have boobs or copious amounts of hair that would somehow make its way into his mouth, his food or his clothes.

"I'm going to miss you too, you know," Kurt said once they had arrived at the airport. Once Tobias passed through the security gates, he would undoubtedly disappear from Kurt's life for another year, if not longer. Lifestyles of the up and coming artists and all of that.

Tobias smiled. "I know," he said.

Kurt mentally cursed Tobias' soft, light brown hair and his stupidly charming smile and he hugged Tobias close. "Take care," he said. "Make sure you email me regularly, okay?"

"I will," Tobias promised, squeezing Kurt a little.

Kurt pulled back enough to look up at Tobias. His gaze flickered down to Tobias' lips and they both leaned towards each other. Kurt tilted his head upwards, letting Tobias' lips fit easily against his own. He gripped onto Tobias' shoulders, digging his fingers in just a little in hopes that this wouldn't be the last time he kissed someone for another year.

Tobias broke the kiss, his breath puffing across Kurt's skin, making him shiver. Kurt kept his eyes closed for a few more moments before tucking himself back into Tobias' arms.

"Promise me that you'll find some nice guy and fall in love?"

Kurt pulled back, giving Tobias an incredulous look. "I..."

"I saw the way you were looking at that Mr Anderson guy," Tobias started. "It's the way you used to look at me."

Kurt opened his mouth to respond before promptly shutting it again. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Tobias snorted. "Kurt, this is me," he said. "I know you and if you have a crush on an older guy, it's fine. Maybe he might want someone like you – you're an amazing catch. I should know; I had you."

Kurt flushed at the compliment. "We'll see," he replied. "No promises on the Mr Anderson front but I definitely hope to find some nice guy and fall in love. Especially since the nice guy in front of me is leaving. Again."

"Stardom awaits," Tobias teased with a wink.

Kurt rolled his eyes affectionately. "Go," he said. "Before you miss your plane."

"Love you, Kurt," Tobias said.

"Love you too," Kurt replied.

Tobias pressed another, quick kiss to his lips before leaving for the security gates.

Kurt waited until he was through and waved to him from the other side. He wrapped his arms around himself in a hug briefly before leaving the airport to head into work for the afternoon.

Somehow, he didn't feel like putting the final touches on the masquerade ball that was happening the next night.

~*~

"You can't just have a mask, Uncle Blaine!"

Blaine sighed, wondering what he had managed to get himself into with his niece. Ever since he agreed to go to the Vogue masquerade ball, Audrey had taken it upon herself to make sure that Blaine's entire outfit matched his mask.

He was under the (apparently extremely wrong) impression that he was just going to wear a nice (preferably black) suit and add a mask to it but Audrey had other ideas. She wanted to make sure that he made a statement with his outfit because they were going to a Vogue party and apparently it was a must that Blaine dressed his absolute best.

Blaine could handle dressing nicely, he liked shopping for suits as much as the next guy with good taste, but he really didn't want to be a spectacle. He just wanted to go to the party and have a nice time, and if he got to dance with a guy or two, then he would be more than happy.

Audrey, however, was extremely insistent. The moment Cooper had contacted her when Blaine had left his office she had been on his case about finding the perfect mask and the perfect outfit to match it.

He had the strong feeling that she was using him as a human dress up doll; something that both intrigued and terrified Blaine. He loved his niece though and, for the most part, he tended to do whatever she wanted because it made her happy and he liked seeing her happy.

"C'mon, please do this," Audrey said, giving him the same puppy eyed look she got from her father.

Blaine sighed. He was doomed, he really was. Between Audrey and Cooper, it was a wonder he had any self-restraint at all. He pulled off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. "Fine," he said. "I'll do it."

Audrey barely contained a squeal of excitement and immediately thrust the mostly white suit in Blaine's direction. "Try this one on, please."

Blaine took the item and headed into the changing rooms of the store they were in. They had found the mask easily enough. Blaine had settled on a nice white mask that had silver glitter swirls along it. It was probably more aimed towards the female population but it didn't have feathers or anything else sticking out of the sides or the top, so Blaine considered it a win.

Once they had found the mask, Audrey said she wanted him to wear a nice white suit to match. Blaine had argued at first, saying that a plain black suit was more to his tastes, but Audrey had insisted. She argued that it would not only make him stand out (something Blaine didn't really want to do) but it would also match the mask nicely.

Which is how Blaine ended up in the position he was in. He pulled the suit on, thankful for the black button down shirt that contrasted nicely with the white of the suit. He felt absolutely virginal looking in the suit.

Blaine sighed. He felt silly and he was sure that he looked it as well.

He exited the change room and Audrey let out a happy sound, clapping her hands together as she did.

"You look great!" she said excitedly.

"I look stupid," Blaine countered. "Who wears white suits anymore?"

Audrey gave him a pointed look. "Uncle Blaine, you're going to a Vogue party, it's classy."

"It's ridiculous," Blaine replied. "I'm not wearing a white suit, this is stupid, Aud. I look like an idiot and I'm going to a party where the most snobby of people will be there and they're all going to be wearing masks anyway – it's not like anyone is going to care what I look like. I'm a lowly high school counsellor; my job means nothing to these people!"

Audrey raised her eyebrow at him. "Fine," she said coolly. "Get a boring black suit then."

Blaine stepped back into the change room and took off the suit and re-dressed in his own clothes.

When Blaine exited the change room, Audrey was gone.

Blaine closed his eyes for a moment and turned to the store clerk. "I'll get the suit," he said, resigned.

Blaine felt bad for snapping at his niece like he did. It was one of the reasons that got out of the corporate world. He didn't want to be just another highly paid lawyer who didn't care about anyone else but himself and his clients. It was why he took the job as a high school counsellor. He wanted to make an impact on people's lives – he wanted to help in any way he could.

The people of the Vogue world and the Anderson and Sons lawyer world weren't who he was anymore. He didn't want to be a part of that, especially if it meant looking like an absolute idiot at a party he didn't even care about.

~*~