Temptations Mate: Chapter Twenty

By the time Nikolas reached the sitting room it was in shambles. Blaine had smashed furniture, overturned the bookcase, thrown several ornaments against the wall, smashing them to bits.

"What manner of devil has overtaken you?" Nick yelled, stopping his brother from throwing an antique vase against the wall. "The entire household heard you and Kurt stripping the paint from the walls with your squabble and now you're destroying the damn place. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"He left me," Blaine snarled, letting the vase fly. "He left me, Nikolas! So much for all your wonderful advice! He learned the truth and he left."

Nick gave Blaine a dark look. "Clearly you've learned nothing from this entire fiasco," he said reproachfully. "Have a little faith in Kurt, Blaine. He said he needed some space to think, let him have it."

"How easy it is for you to tell me to let him have his space," Blaine hissed. "I doubt you'd be so calm if it was you who was abandoned by your mate!"

"He hasn't abandoned you, although few could blame him if he did," Nick said evenly. "He has taken a few hours, perhaps a night or two, to clear his head. He was given a hell of a shock, Blaine. That he needs some time to get over the fact that you have a child and kept that information from him is hardly shocking and quite frankly the idea that he wants to process that information in a place where said child and his mother aren't underfoot should be perfectly understandable."

"Again, Nikolas, it's rather easy for you to be the voice of reason when it isn't your mate that's run screaming for the hills," Blaine retorted.

"If it were my mate he would have known from the beginning and this entire mess would have been avoided."

Blaine turned to Nick, his eyes flashing black. "Is that so? You are an expert in affairs of the heart, are you? Tell me then little brother, have you settled things with Jeff? Have you claimed him as yours? No? Perhaps then you need to sweep around your own damn door before taking a broom to mine!"

Nick stiffened at the well placed jab. "My situation with Jeff is nothing like the mess of things you've made with Kurt," Nick fired back. "From what I overheard he may have been enticed into staying had you not gone Lord of the Manor on him and forbade him from leaving. Honestly, Blaine? When will you learn?"

"When will I learn?" Blaine repeated sardonically. "This from the man whose advice was 'just go collect the boy, bring him back here and be done with it. Chain him to your bed, have your way with him and make him yours. You're acting as if you're some type of bloody human, pining and plotting like a besotted fool. If you want him, take him', Blaine parroted back Nick's earlier advice.

"That was before I knew Kurt," Nick defended. "I had no idea how headstrong he really was or how desperately he wanted to be seen as an equal in your relationship, but you did. You always have, even if your actions haven't always been in accordance with your knowledge. Don't lose sight of that now and do something you'll regret."

"The only thing I regret," Blaine said, walking towards the door," is that I didn't stop him when he left. I am going to gather my men and go get my mate. If I have to lay siege to Caisle�n, go through the very King of the Fey himself, or drag Kurt home by his hair, Kurt is coming home.

Nick moved lighting quick to block the doorway. "Blaine, stop! Get a hold of yourself and think for a minute. If you wage war on his brother's castle and force Kurt home all you'll have done is prove him right," Nick insisted. "He's been fighting you tooth and nail from the moment you met because he feared falling under your control, being a mere possession. You go dragging him home when he expressly asked for space and time will only prove to him all his earlier doubts were justified."

Blaine shifted; preparing to heave his brother out of the way if need be, but then changed back and threw himself into an armchair.

"What am I supposed to do?" He whispered brokenly. "He's been gone but a few minutes and I already feel his loss. I need him, Nick."

Nick opened his mouth to answer and then felt a pair of strong arms circle his waist and press a kiss into the back of his neck.

"He'll be back, Blaine." Jeff said, releasing Nick and going to kneel by the upset vampire. "He needs you too and he knows it. He's yours, not because you made him be but because he wants to be." Jeff moved so that he was sitting at Blaine's feet, nuzzling his cheek against his leg like an overgrown cat. "I know your feelings are hurt that he left. I know you're angry and sad and don't understand why you have to be apart. I feel the same way when Nick sends me away," the affectionate blonde confessed, "but no matter how mad at him I get I always come back because I need him and he needs me. I know even though he sends me away he wants me to come back. I'll always come back to Nick and Kurt will always come back to you."

Blaine ran a gentle hand through Jeff's hair as Nick stared dumbfounded at his fledgling. "Such wisdom from one so young," Blaine murmured looking at Nick. "You are truly remarkable, Jeffrey."

"Yes he is," Nick whispered quietly, causing Jeff to lift his head and send a sunny smile in his creator's direction.

Nick felt the overwhelming urge to lay claim to Jeff then and there and fought not to give into his instincts. The gentle words Jeff had spoken with quiet conviction had begun chipping away at the last remaining bits of the wall that Nick struggled to keep erected between them. He'd known almost from the moment he'd turned him that if he pursued him as his mate Jeff would accept him. It was the knowledge that Jeff had never belonged to another, never even been kissed before being sent to Nick's bed that made Nick hesitate.

He'd robbed the boy of his innocence and he had no desire to steal his eternity as well. As badly as he wanted him, Nick felt that Jeff couldn't be sure of his feelings. Nick was his creator; they shared a bond that none could duplicate one stronger than any Jeff had ever known. Nick had been sure hormones, pheromones, hero worship and lack of experience accounted for Jeff's romantic feelings. While he knew his own feelings to be true, he was steadfast in his refusal to take any more advantage of Jeff than he already had, at least until Jeff had gone out into the world and seen what it had to offer.

Nick had spent centuries denying himself the honor of taking Jeff as his mate because he was convinced the other vampire would be settling, mating with him out of obligation and lack of other, more suitable, choices. He'd spent years sending Jeff to the far corners of the globe under the guise of being an ambassador for their clan, always with Brittany at his side in order to allow the younger vampire to see the world, experience lust and possibly even love, have romances and flings, all the things he never got to do while he was human.

Jeff had never gone along with Nick's plan, always refusing to indulge in carnal pleasures with others and always Jeff returned to him, more determined to be his, testing Nick's will and breaking through the wall between them brick by painful brick, more sure than when he left that Nick was who and what he wanted.

Watching his love kneel at his brothers feet, sure and strong, affectionate and open, imploring Blaine not to give up on love, subtly yet effectively subduing Blaine and supporting Nick's side in their argument made him realize that he was tired of fighting his fate, playing the martyr and denying them both what he knew they wanted. He realized that he had lost himself to Jeff the moment the boy had bravely bared his neck to him without a hint of hesitation or remorse, vowing his loyalty and allegiance.

Jeff leaned back on his heels and looked at Blaine quizzically. "Why aren't you going?"

Blaine's brows drew together and he looked over Jeff's head to make eye contact with Nick, who shrugged. "Going where, Jeffrey?"

"To ask Kurt to come home," he replied simply.

Nick's eyes widened and Blaine balked. "Didn't you just say that he'll come back so I don't have to go and drag him back to me?"

Jeff rolled his eyes. "I didn't say go drag him back," he said with exaggerated patience. "I said go ask him to come home. As I said, Kurt's like me. He'll come home because he needs you and he wants to come home but… even though I'm going to come back to him, I always wish that Nick would come after me. Just so I can see, even though I know, that he wants me back as much as I want to be back," Jeff's voice dropped to a whisper and he continued, "Sometimes I wish he'd ask me to stay so I didn't have to go in the first place. Kurt was mad because you told him to stay, I bet he'd realize how much you miss him and that you're really sorry if you ask him to come home."

Nick stared at Jeff in quiet amazement and Blaine leaned forward to drop a gentle kiss onto his forehead. "Thank you, Jeffrey. I believe I will take your advice and go ask Kurt to come home-when he's ready…which for all our sakes had better be soon," Blaine said as he rose and began walking from the room.

"And there's the bloodthirsty tyrant we all and love," Nick said drolly. "Wouldn't want to think you were going soft on us or anything."

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Blaine threw over his shoulder at his brother as he left.

Nick crossed the room and sat down on the floor beside Jeff. "Thank you for talking some sense into my brother," he began.

Jeff leaned his head on Nick's shoulder. "Talking sense into Blaine is easy. Talking sense into you is hard. I've been trying to talk sense into you for over two hundred years and you still won't listen."

Nick swallowed. "Jeff-"

"You keep saying you don't want to hurt me," Jeff rushed on," but you hurt me every time you send me away. You hurt me every day you make me spend alone and without you. You hurt me every time you deny me, deny us our forever."

Nick reached for Jeff's hand and placed a kiss on his open palm. "I never meant to hurt you," he said softly. "I told myself that I had taken enough from you, that I had taken your life, your humanity, your innocence…I thought the least I could do was grant you your ever after with a mate of your choosing."

Jeff's leveled a loving gaze at Nick before shaking his head and closed his hand around Nick's. "You're a fool," Jeff said softly, "If you wanted to grant me eternity with the mate of my choosing you would have claimed me a lifetime ago. You are the mate of my choosing Nikolas, you always have been and no matter how many times you send me around the globe, you always will be."

Nick closed his eyes, muttered a curse and gave Jeff one last chance to change his mind. "My brother and I have many differences," he began," but among the traits we share is possessiveness. He'll never let go of Kurt now that they've mated and you need to know that if we mate and you become mine in all ways, I'll never let you go either."

"I'll never want you to," Jeff swore before he pulled Nick into a fiery kiss, biting harshly on the vampire's lower lip and curling his fingers into his brunette locks. Their tongues battled for dominance, sliding and slipping over and under one another until Nick yanked on a handful of Jeff's hair, breaking the kiss and forcing his soon to be mate to look into his eyes.

"You're mine," Nick growled, quickly rising from the floor and hauling Jeff up with him. "You're mine," he whispered again, taking his mate's hand and leading him out of the sitting room and towards his bed chamber.

They climbed the stairs slowly, Nick wanting to give Jeff one final out and Jeff wanting to prove to Nick that no matter how much time he had he wasn't going to change his mind.

They entered Nick's bedroom and the dark haired vampire took his mate into his arms.

I love you," Nick breathed.

Jeff's eyes flitted closed and he let out a long, slow breath. "I know," he said reaching up and twining his fingers through Nick's, "I love you too."

Nick closed his eyes and breathed Jeff in. He buried his face in Jeff's locks and kissed his temple, trailing tiny kisses down the side of Jeff's face. He cupped Jeff's face in his hands and looked into his eyes. "I feel like you are the only thing that makes the world make sense to me. Every time you leave you take a piece of me with you."

Jeff looked Nick in the eyes and smiled. "Every time I leave, I leave a piece of me behind," Jeff whispered. He kissed Nick again, slow, languid but needy.

Nick's hands slid down Jeff's side and his fingers traced patterns on Jeff's stomach, his cool touch seeming to burn through the fabric. "Tell me what you need." He murmured.

Jeff's hands tightened on Nick's shoulders. "You. I need you. I always need you. Don't ever send me away again."

"I won't." Nick declared quietly, but fiercely. He sealed their mouths together and quickly stripped himself and his mate of their shirts, letting his hands travel the familiar road of sinewy muscle and smooth skin of Jeff's chest, lightly teasing a nipple, ghosting over his ribs, and mapping the hollow of his throat as Jeff lightly ran his fingers over the outline of Nick's dragon tattoo.

Jeff arched under him, skin scorched by the feather light touch, wordlessly seeking more contact. "Nick, I need you." He pleaded. He placed his hand over one of Nick's and guided it to his belt. When Nick's fingers hesitated on the buckle, Jeff responded by moving his hands to Nick's belt and deftly undoing it and the top button of his slacks. He unzipped his lover and guided the smooth fabric of his trousers down his hips, taking his underwear along with them. Nick kicked out of his pants and then followed Jeff's lead, undoing Jeff's belt and divesting him of his pants and underclothes, lips following the stiff material of his pants kissing every inch of exposed skin as he divested the blonde of his coverings.

Nick maneuvered them onto the bed and Jeff pushed himself against Nick, savoring the drag of skin on skin, scraping his teeth over Nick's shoulder and shifting so Nick's weight could rest comfortably in the cradle of his body. "Please…Nick, I need you." He kissed Nick again, hard, almost bruising, desperate in its intensity and need.

Nick pulled away and made eye contact with his lover. He slowly, deliberately extended his fangs and bit into his wrist. As the blood rose to the surface, Jeff latched on and began to drink, his fangs deepening the wound, drawing more Nick's blood to the surface, drinking greedily.

Nick hissed in pleasure, his body thrumming with the need to mate with Jeff, to give him his second mark and bind Jeff to him as his mate for eternity. Jeff released Nick's wrist and began to lap at the wound, healing it, sealing it closed.

Nick reluctantly pulled away from Jeff, leaning over to rummage blindly on the bedside table until he found a bottle of oil. He slicked his hand with the substance and massaged Jeff's entrance with one hand, while he took his tongue and lapped at his nipples, biting and then soothing the ache until they were firm, hardened peaks and Jeff was moaning and writhing beneath him. He then pressed his finger inside Jeff, preparing him as gently as he had the very first time they'd made love.

"Nick…Nick more," Jeff moaned. His body was on fire and wanted to feelNick for the first time in months. He pushed back against Nick's finger encouraging him, giving him permission to go harder, further, give him more.

Nick groaned and pushed his finger in deeper, sliding it in and out a few times before adding a second, and then a third. Jeff let out a strangled, needy sound and arched, the fingers of one hand fisting the sheets, the other finding the short tufts of Nick's hair.

Nick moved down and took Jeff's cock into his mouth. He swallowed his lover, his lips sliding along the shaft, his tongue curling underneath and wrapping around the head. He hollowed his cheeks and began to suck.

"Nngh…Nick,"Jeff gasped, tightening his hold. Desire burned through his veins, leaving him highly sensitized and in a lust filled haze. "Nick, Nick please...oh please oh more."

Nick redoubled his efforts, humming around Jeff's erection and scissored his fingers, stretching Jeff fully, taking more and more of Jeff's length down his throat.

"Please Nick. I need you, I want you…I need to feel you."

"Me too, baby," Nick said as he pulled off of Jeff's member and leaned in for a passionate kiss. "I will never let you go again, you belong to me, you belong with me," He whispered, resting his forehead on Jeff's.

"I'm yours, I've always been yours, please, Nick take me."

"I will," Nick promised. He knew that in that moment he couldn't have denied Jeff anything he'd asked. "Can I have you baby?" He whispered.

"Yes." Jeff's whisper was thick with need, drowning in emotion, barely audible. Nick positioned himself and pressed inside. Jeff moaned, and nearly sobbed as he succumbed to the familiar feeling of Nick inside him, taking him, claiming him, loving him. Nick thrust slowly, his lips running along Jeff's neck, one hand lodging itself in Jeff's hair.

Jeff's hands slid up Nick's back, gripping his shoulders, rocking his hips up to meet Nick's thrusts. "Your mine too, just mine, all mine forever." His nails raked a trail of file down Nick's back and he raised his legs up over Nick's hips.

Nick growled, low and fierce, the twin sensations of the pain in his back and the pleasure wrapped around his cock threatening to tip him over the edge. "I'm yours," He ground out. "I'm yours, I'll always be here and I'll always be yours." He assured Jeff as he slid in and out of his lithe body, kissing him hungrily, tongue moving in and out, mimicking their love making. He broke their kiss and sank his fangs into the pale flesh of Jeff's neck, biting, sucking and licking. As he drank from his lover, completing their mating ritual Nick felt a sense of completion that he'd never known and he sucked harder, drinking in more and more of Jeff's essence, convinced the blonde had never tasted so sweet as he pounded in and out of him and imagined the mating mark that would soon appear on the spot.

Jeff's hands wandered down to pull at Nick's hips, dragging him in deeper, urging him to thrust harder. He clenched his muscles around him, begging him for more. Nick finally released Jeff's neck, licking closed the pierced skin and changed the angle of his thrusts, and making sure to hit Jeff's prostrate each time. He snuck a hand down between their bodies and began stroking Jeff in time with his thrusts. Jeff cried out, his face flush with pleasure, eyes half closed, as he found his release hot and sticky, coming in bursts and spurts between them. Pleasure, love, possession and desire warred within Nick. His hips sped up, his thrusts becoming harder, deeper and more forceful until he couldn't hold back any longer and he came hot and hard, a low growl in his throat and Jeff's name tumbling from his lips.

Their world reduced to harsh pants and shaky exhales of breath as they struggled to get themselves back under control. Nick slid off of Jeff and onto his back. He gathered his mate to him, noting with satisfaction the crimson mark on his neck and wrapped his arms around him. "I love you," he whispered, dropping small kisses into his hair and along the side of his face, "No matter what Jeff, never doubt that I love you and I promise you that will never change."

Jeff sighed and settled into the embrace, absently running his hands along Nick's skin. "I know that. And to think it only took two hundred years for you to come to your senses," he teased.

Nick tightened his hold. "Let's leave my past stubbornness in the past where it belongs. I'd much rather concentrate on the present and our future. No matter what happens in the future Jeff, we'll get through it, together. We'll always get through it together."

Jeff snuggled deeper into Nick's arms and nodded. "As we were meant to be," he said before letting his eyes close and allowing himself to feel the triumph of finally being mated to the man he'd loved for so long.

"Kurt, you realize you're tying my hands here. I can't very well advise you of what to do about Blaine if you won't tell me what's going on," Sam said gently.

"Who cares what happened," Rory said crossly, "The vamp upset him. That's all we need to know. We should hex him."

"Rory," Kurt said tiredly, "for the last time, I do not wish to put a pox on Blaine's House or hex him or set the fates upon him or anything else. I simply needed to get away and have some time to myself to think over matters."

"Again, I ask you Kurt, what matters do you need to be thinking over?"

Kurt began to answer then shook his head. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't confide in Sam without feeling like he was betraying Blaine. Blaine had taken great pains to keep Dmitri's existence a secret and had done so at great personal cost to himself and apparently, his son as well. Kurt wouldn't make that sacrifice be for nothing because he was upset. He had no fear that Sam would ever use Dmitri as a weapon against Blaine but if Sam were going to made aware of the boy's existence it would be Blaine's doing, not Kurt's.

"It's just…it's complicated Sam," Kurt mumbled.

Sam was quiet for a long moment then turned to his cousin. "Leave us Rory. My brother and I need to have a chat."

Rory's eyes sparked with rebellion but he nodded anyway and left the room, drawing the doors closed behind him.

After a few moments Sam leaned back and his chair and glanced at his brother. "So, I take it the prodigal son has returned?" He asked suddenly, catching Kurt off guard.

Kurt's mouth went dry as he fought not to gape at Sam, uncomprehending of how his brother could possibly know of Dmitri's existence. "I'm sure I have no idea what you're going on about," Kurt said stiffly, hoping his face did not betray his nerves.

Sam shook his head. "Kurt, stop. Blaine's heir isn't nearly the secret he believes it to be. It's not quite common knowledge and the details are sketchy but the fact that he has a child is one I've been aware of for quite some time."

Kurt narrowed his eyes. "How?"

Sam shrugged. "Blaine's from the House of Drăculeşti. While it's a bit of work separating fact from fiction with that House, among those of us whose clans and covens date back at least as far as theirs Vlad's rumored bargain with Lucifer himself is relatively well known. Again, the details are few but there are rumors that the Purebloods, the first born sons, can sire children. Blaine's clan leader, he's the oldest, obviously the first born son. From there, given your blabbering on about keeping secrets and lack of trust, it doesn't take much doing to connect the rest of the dots."

Kurt felt panic rising within him. Sam meant neither Blaine nor Dmitri any harm but if Sam knew…

"Aye," Sam said suddenly," you might want to tell that mate of yours nothing in the demon world is ever truly secret. Between the folklore and curses, the council and the wives tales we've all been exposed in way or another. It's just a matter of degrees…the devils in the details as they say."

"And what are those details," Kurt demanded harshly, anxious to know just how much danger-and from whom-his…Blaine's child was in.

Sam gave him a curious look. "As I said, they're few and far between. He has a son, somewhere. It's a boy, still a child, with a human."

Kurt breathed a short sigh of relief.

"Your mate might want to rethink his current arrangement," Sam said softly. "The boy's safe for now because there's not enough information to track him. But should it become available, he's better off under Blaine's roof and protection than left to the defense of a human woman and whatever manner of guard Blaine has set up for him."

Privately Kurt agreed but he didn't feel it was his place to question Blaine's decisions.

"I understand Blaine's impulse to keep the wee one out of the line of fire," Sam continued. "William wouldn't have hesitated to try to use his child against him and he's not the only one who would stoop so low, I'm sure that Jinn would have hunted the child down as well had he known of his existence."

Cold fear slammed into Kurt's gut at the thought of Jeremiah getting his hands on the beautiful little boy who'd smiled so shyly at him earlier.

"And after my father's treatment of our mother and the way he exploited her love for you, I have intimate knowledge of how a parent's will can be bent and controlled through their child, but still. A boy's place is with his father and I doubt Blaine would forgive himself if any harm came to his offspring and he were not there to defend him personally. The child is in danger either way, better he be in danger with his father than without him, I say."

Kurt kept silent but he agreed with Sam. He wondered if he could get Blaine to agree to with them as well.

"Now, the real question little brother is how long do you plan to sit here and sulk?"

Kurt's head snapped up and he glared at Sam. "I am not sulking. My mate withheld vital information from me and then attempted to order me about as if I were-"

"His," Sam finished bluntly. "Which you are," he added. Kurt opened his mouth to protest but Sam held up a hand to silence him. "You are his, Kurt and there will be times when that's exactly how you're treated."

"So you're suggesting I get used to being ordered about like a paid laborer?" Kurt sneered.

"Stop being obstinate," Sam snapped. "You'd better develop a thicker hide if you're going to be spending eternity with the Marquess of Wiltshire," Sam declared.

"Sam-"

"He's your mate," Sam said slowly. "But he's Lord and Master as well. There will be times when he'll be more of one than the other and you have to be able to withstand that. I'm not suggesting you let him run you ragged-"

"Thank heaven for small favors," Kurt muttered,

"But I am suggesting you stop looking for excuses to run. You've been running from that vamp since the day you met and now's he caught you. You let him catch you, Kurt. You are his mate. You don't leave his side over misunderstandings and hurt feelings."

"He lied to me! A lie by omission is still a lie," Kurt insisted. "He kept secrets and he's been scheming and plotting probably since our first meeting. I'm tired of being positioned this way and that at someone else's whim."

Sam leaned forward and gave Kurt a hard look. "He was wrong to lie to ye," Sam said slowly. "As your mate, he owes you his truth and he owes you his trust but tell me little brother, have you made that easy for him?"

Kurt opened his mouth to assert that he had and then closed it quickly, recalling all the times he'd rejected Blaine and how fearful he'd been of losing himself in the powerful vampire.

"I didn't think so," Sam said softly. "I'm not blaming ye, either," Sam went on. "Blaine is a hard one, demanding, domineering, dangerous. Running was probably the smart thing to do but… when the heart and the head do battle, the heart usually wins and your heart wanted Blaine despite your head's protests. I'm not saying he was right to lie to you, I'm just saying you were wrong to leave. You don't leave your mate Kurt, especially when it's clear that you're perfectly miserable without him."

A tear tracked it way down Kurt's cheek and Sam swiped it away. "None of that now or I may have to behead your vamp," he joked. "Just try to put your offended feelings aside and look at it through his eyes. Everyone knows that Blaine had vowed to never take a mate so this child had to be born at a time when he'd given up all hope of finding a mate for himself and then, however much later there you are. And his reputation does him no favors and so you run. Lead him on a merry chase telling him all the while the many reasons you'd never be his. And then suddenly you are. He handled it badly little brother, but can you truly not see his side, even a little bit?

Kurt nodded. "It's just…he obviously loves his son. You should have seen the way he held him, Sam. Like he was the most precious thing in the world to him and I…I didn't give him that. I could never give him that."

Sam scoffed. "Blaine was aware of that when he chose you, Kurt. He wanted a mate, not a breed mare."

Kurt laughed. "Stop, that's terrible," he gently admonished Sam. "It just hurts that someone else has that bond with him. And it hurts that he kept such a large part of himself away from me."

"Aye, I can see that you're hurting," Sam said. "And he no doubt should have told you. He had reason to fear to be sure, but he absolutely should have told you. I'm sure he sees that now. The two of you need to try to meet somewhere in the middle of this mess and get it sorted out before the wound festers, eh?"

Kurt nodded. "Thank you Sam," he said, standing and hugging his brother tightly. "I just needed a quiet place to sort out everything that was running about in my head."

"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but peace and quiet have left the building," Rory said opening the door to reveal Blaine on his heels. "They've been replaced by trouble and toil," he added shooting a dark look at the vampire.

Blaine sighed. "I'm in no mood for you, Rory." He warned.

"That' makes two of us," Rory muttered before catching the disapproving glint in Sam's eye and leaving. "I'll just…I'll be around. Practicing my hexes." He added, glaring at Blaine one more time before leaving.

Kurt found himself unable to meet Blaine's eye and suddenly found the pattern on Sam's carpet fascinating. Blaine stood awkwardly in the middle of the room and Sam looked from one of them to other with increasing amusement. "I'll just leave the two of you to talk," Sam said.

He gave Kurt a quick hug and clapped Blaine on the shoulder as he passed him, whispering in the vampire's ear, "I meant what I said about taking your head, vamp. Upset him like this again and I'll be proving it to you."

Blaine nodded minutely before whispering back, "I meant what I said about you needing an army to carry your broken bits home should you ever try it."

Sam laughed loudly and gave Blaine a genuine smile. "It's always a pleasure Blaine."

Blaine smiled back. "You're certainly never dull, Samuel."

As soon as Sam had left them alone Kurt sat down on the sofa, purposely leaving space so that Blaine could sit beside him. "I suppose you've come to drag me back by my hair or exhibit some other cave man like behavior," Kurt said, his usual bite not quite in his words.

Blaine reached out and took Kurt's hand in his. "No," he said gently. "I didn't come to force you to return to me." At Kurt's look of surprise he carried on. "I came to ask you to come home, because I need you there. I need my mate by my side. I love you and our clan loves you and if you'll have him I'm sure in time my son will love you as well."

Kurt's breath caught in his throat and he couldn't stop himself from kissing Blaine softly on the corner of the mouth. "Of course, I'll have him," Kurt whispered fiercely. "He's yours, Blaine. I would never turn away from your child. I don't even know him and my instincts keep screaming at me to protect him," Kurt confessed.

"Of course they do," Blaine said gently. "You're my mate and you're a part of me. So is Dmitri. The entire clan's instincts are to protect what is mine but yours are particularly heightened. You are, in some ways, instinctually bound to him."

Kurt simply nodded. "Blaine I-"

"I made a mess of this, Kurt. I know that," Blaine said quietly. "Everything in me is telling me to throw you over my shoulder and take you home. But I won't do that. Returning to me has to be your choice and I'll wait an eternity for you if I have to. I'm trying to learn from my mistakes. But I want you to know that I want you to choose me, to choose us knowing everything you know now. Knowing how dark I can be, how far I'll go, how greatly I can disappoint you. I want you to still choose me."

Kurt shook his head. "There is no choice to make," he said simply. "You are my everything, Blaine. Wherever you may roam you take the best of me with you. No matter how angry, how hurt, how disappointed I may be, I could never, would never give up on you, on us. I need you desperately, don't you know that?" Kurt whispered, kissing Blaine softly.

"I think," Kurt said slowly," that you don't know just what you mean to me. You are my home, Blaine. You are my beginning and my end, and the only thing that matters at all points in between. I belong to you, I belong with you. I was made for you and you for me. I could never, would never willingly leave your side. I won't lie to you, I'm known for a good storm out every now and again and I will try, for the sake of both our sanities to curb my tendencies to do so, but I if by chance I succumb to my baser instincts you need to know I will never go far and I will always come back. Always. I belong to you always and in all ways, Blaine."

"I will hold you to that, dear one," Blaine smiled.

"I look forward to it," Kurt teased back then grew serious. "But Blaine…there's nothing else right? No more deep, dark secrets? No more manipulations or revelations?"

"Kurt-"

"Because I don't care about what you did before," Kurt rushed on. "I mean, ok fine I may get upset or we may fight about it if it's particularly heinous but it won't break us. The only thing that can do that is secrets and lies."

Blaine pulled Kurt close to him. "I agree," he said quietly. "From this point on Kurt, no matter how unpleasant, you get full disclosure."

Kurt smiled. "That's all I ask, that you stop censoring information for my alleged good. I'm not going to break Blaine. You have to trust me to be able to handle things, trust that I'll come to you when I need help and," Kurt swallowed hard," acquiesce to you when it's necessary."

Blaine nodded, nipping Kurt's earlobe. "I shall do my best my love."

Kurt sighed happily, "That's all I can ask of you," he said softly, "Except there's one more thing."

Blaine tensed. "What might that be?"

"Take me home," Kurt whispered.

"Always."