An hour later, the trio lounged on the soft grass of the bank of a river, surrounded by the protective embrace of dozens of maple trees. Fading sunlight burst in patches through the leaves that swayed in the soft breeze, making each spot of light dance across each surface. The river, narrow in this part of the forest, glittered and sparkled in the yellow light. Off in the distance, the purple shadows of mountains rose above the treetops.

The horses were tethered a short distance away near the river so they could drink. Blaine watched one of them flick its tail to ward off butterfly that was intent on landing on the horse’s gleaming coat.

With a contented sigh, Blaine leaned backwards until he was laying down on the warm grass. Rachel lay to his right, Kurt to his left. The only sounds were their synchronized breathing and the quiet splashing of the gentle current against the rocks.

“Let’s take turns telling secrets.”

“Rachel, we already know all their is to know about each other,” Kurt said, turning his head where it rested in his arms to look across Blaine at his sister.

“Fine, then you and Blaine are going to tell me the details of your romantic escapades.”

Blaine snorted. Kurt shook his head, fighting a smile.

“I’m not kidding.”

“We know,” Blaine and Kurt said at the same time.

“Come on, it’s not fair! We’re best friends! You’re supposed to tell me everything.”

Blaine rolled his eyes. “Rachel, where’s the drama in a steamy love affair if you know all the dirty details?”

Rachel sat up and grinned at Kurt and Blaine. “So the details are dirty?”

“I will not hesitate to throw you in that river,” Kurt told his sister.

Rachel whined like a child and threw her hands up in exasperation. “Just tell me! Please! I’m begging you!”

Kurt and Blaine bit their lips and glanced briefly at each other.

“None of that silent lover communication, you two,” Rachel complained. “At least tell me how far you’ve gone.”

“Why do you want to know so badly?” Kurt asked.

“Because friends tell each other these things! I’ll tell you about Finn and I,” she attempted to bargain.

“Rachel, we already know that the two of you have slept together,” Blaine said.

Kurt grunted. “That’s really all I’d care to know, thank you very much.”

Blaine hit Kurt lightly on the shoulder. “Be nice.”

Rachel glared at both of them.

“Fine,” Blaine sighed and sat up. Eyes wide with the shock of betrayal, Kurt sat up and tried very hard to communicate a firm no to Blaine, but without success.

“We haven’t. . . done it, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Say it, Blaine,” said Rachel, eyes lit up with excitement. “Say the word.”

“Kurt and I have not had sex.”

“Not in the technical form of the word,” Kurt added reluctantly.

“But, you two have. . .?”

Blaine glanced over at Kurt with a secret smile. “Yes, we’ve done nearly everything else.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Jesus Christ, you guys are prudes!”

The next second, a bundle of fallen leaves hit Rachel square in the face. She giggled and turned to gather a handful, tossing them right back at Kurt.

Thus ensued a frantic game of the three young royals darting around in the trees, throwing bundles of leaves at each other. As Blaine hid behind a tree trunk, trying to figure out where Kurt had run off to, suddenly Rachel snuck up behind him and shoved a handful of scratchy leaves down the back of his shirt.

After a curse and a shout of laughter, Blaine chased Rachel right into the stream, lifting her around the waist and sending her twirling backwards into the clear, calm water. She landed with a loud splash and high tinkle of laughter.

“Blaine Anderson, you’ll regret that!”

Before Blaine could dart out of the water, Rachel reached up and grabbed a handful of the fabric of his shirt, pulling him down into the water as well. 

“Kurt, come on! Join the party!” Blaine called.

On the shore, Kurt rolled his eyes, but pulled his shirt up and over his head. Blaine gazed breathlessly at the beautiful boy in the light of the setting sun at Kurt rushed into the water, great sparkling splashes erupting around his feet. Kurt dove under. Rachel and Blaine eyed each other nervously, shivering slightly as the light slowly began to fade behind the mountains.

Kurt suddenly popped up in front of Blaine, spitting a stream of water into his face. In retribution, Blaine jumped up and pressed down on Kurt’s shoulders, sending the two of them spiraling down toward the bottom of the river before they began kicking back up the surface.

Rachel sent a torrent of violent splashes in their direction, which they answered just as viciously. The night echoed back their loud laughter and squeals of surprise. Before long, the three of them had shed most of their clothing, as it was dragging them down, and tossed it on land.

And then, just like they had for more than a dozen summers on the beaches of McKinley, the three friends twirled and dove through the water like mermaids, hands raised above their heads in triangular formations. Pale legs slipped in and out of the surface of the water, kicking and splashing. Their hair was plastered to their heads unattractively, but none of them cared.

By the time they were too cold and tired to do anything other than tread water, the moon was high in the sky. Rachel swam out to the shore to get dressed, but Kurt and Blaine remained in the water, blinking against the droplets of water on their eyelashes.

Without pretense, Blaine pulled Kurt towards him and kissed him fiercely, tasting lake water on top of the underlying flavor that was purely Kurt. Underneath the surface of the water, Kurt wrapped his legs around Blaine’s waist and then draped his arms around his neck.

“Whenever I’m around you, I feel as if I can be young forever,” breathed Blaine when he broke away. Kurt twined his fingers into Blaine’s as the two boys swam for shore.

Rachel was staring at them with tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Blaine asked.

“It’s just. . . you two. . . you’re just so precious. . . and beautiful. It hurts my heart,” she replied, fanning her eyes with both hands. Kurt laughed and shook his head, picking his way through the dark grass in bare feet to untether the horses.

Blaine hunted for his clothes, which were still damp from earlier, and turned to face Rachel.

“I know that in about two months, we’re going to have to grow up and be adults and do what people expect us to do, but this was really nice,” Blaine told her. “I’m glad you had the idea to bring us here.”

“Me, too,” Rachel said, holding out her arms and gathering Blaine in a tight hug. Soon they were joined by Kurt, who pressed a kiss to both of their heads.

“I love both of you so much,” Blaine murmured, wiping the excess water from his face.

The night air was cold on their damp skin and clothes, causing them to shiver as they mounted their horses and rode back to the castle underneath the starry sky.

Upon entering the castle, the trio was a sight to be seen, if anyone else was still awake. A single servant was waiting up for them in the Grand Hall, and upon seeing them, soaking wet with bits of leaves and dirt on their faces and in their hair, he left to inform the King and Queen of their return. 

“We’ll face the wrath of my father some other time,” said Blaine. Kurt and Rachel agreed, heading off to their respective bed chambers. Before Kurt turned to go, he glanced around to make sure nobody was around, other than Rachel, and pressed his lips firmly to Blaine’s. 

“I’ll see you in the morning, my sweet Prince,” said Kurt, disappearing into the shadows.