After getting back from Aarons apartment, Blaine had a short burst of energy, showing Felix his heartstone and explaining that Aaron wouldnt be a problem again, wanting to ease his friends worry. However, soon he was crumpling back down into bed. He hated feeling this weak, it wasnt a feeling he was used to, and despite the fact that Felix told him he just needed to sleep it off, Blaine felt resentful towards his own body for not having the strength he wanted.

He watched Kurt place the heartstone almost reverently in his safe and then he drifted to sleep as Kurt and Felix spoke in hushed tones.

He woke up sometime later, blinking open his eyes and noticing that the sun had moved lower in the sky. He glanced around the room to see Felix sitting on a chair nearby; Kurt was nowhere to be seen.

"Kurt left," Blaine said, his heart sinking; he shouldnt be surprised really, Kurt had already gone above and beyond to help him get his stone back.

Felix looked up from the book he was reading. "Hell be back presently, he only went to his place for some of his things. He will stay with you while you recover."

Blaine sat up on his elbows, holding back a smile as delight bloomed in his chest; and even though he tried not to get his hopes up, "And whose idea was that?"

"Mine, but he readily agreed."

Blaine fell back on the pillows and rubbed a hand over his head, "He is going to want answers."

"Blaine." Felix stood up and walked towards the bed, "He deserves answers."

Blaine nodded, "I know, I m just afraid of what will happen to us once he knows the truth. Perhaps it will be better for him if he decides he doesnt want anything to do with me."

"Why do you say that?"

Blaine took a long breath and thought it through; as much as he wanted Kurt in his life, he needed him to be safe and the truth was no one was really safe around him. "Because getting my heartstone back was the easy part of what I have to do," he answered.

Felix sighed deeply and nodded; Blaine didnt like seeing him so serious, but he didnt have much time to focus on it as sleep greedily pulled him back under. The next time he woke up, the sun had set and no one was in the bedroom with him. He lay in bed cursing the weariness of his bones until he heard movement in another part of the apartment. He sat up in bed and listened for a moment before getting up and shuffling into the living room and then into the kitchen where he found Kurt in front of his opened refrigerator as he loaded it up with groceries.

"Kurt?"

He spun around and a hand went to his chest, but when he saw Blaine a smile crossed his face. "Youre awake."

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked dumbly as he looked at the half-full refrigerator and grocery bags on the counter.

"Not only is your apartment a little bleak, Blaine, you hardly had any food in your kitchen," Kurt replied with an arch of an eyebrow. "Im just fixing that."

"You didnt have-"

Kurt lifted a hand to stop him, "No, Blaine, it isnt right. How can you not have eggs and bread and the basics?"

"I dont spend a lot of time here," Blaine answered sheepishly.

Kurt just put his hands on his hips, "Well you do now until you get better, so you need to be stocked on food. How are you feeling?" Kurt walked closer to Blaine and lifted a hand to feel his head. "You arent feverish anymore, thats good."

Blaine smiled at him. "You dont have to do all of this, you know. I can take care of myself."

"Mmhmm," Kurt hummed. "Says the man standing in the kitchen in pajamas and bed head who would have had nothing to eat if I werent here."

Blaines hand immediately flew to his head, trying to pat down his curls.

"No, dont," Kurt said, pulling his arm down. "You look…" An easy smile covered his face. "You look kind of adorable."

"I dont think that is a word that has ever been used to describe me," Blaine answered, a little stunned by the sincerity on Kurts face.

Kurt just shrugged and let go of his arm. "Im going to make dinner, you should go shower, youll feel better once youre fresh."

Blaine nodded and then looked down at his pajamas, he didnt know where these had come from, he didnt even own pajamas and he didnt remember putting them on.

"Theyre mine," Kurt said, as if reading his mind. "You were really out of it and needed something comfy."

Blaine blushed at the thought of Kurt changing his clothes, though maybe Felix had done it, not that that was any better.

Kurt suppressed a grin, "Dinner will be ready when youre finished with your shower."

Blaine smiled and turned to do as Kurt told him. There werent many people who could just boss Blaine around like this; in fact, Kurt might be the only one.

He did feel better after he showered, washing the day off of him and feeling a little more like himself. He was still tired, though, as he slipped back into Kurts pajamas, grinning broadly at the thought of wearing Kurts clothing. Then he followed the scent of something delicious back to the kitchen where Kurt was setting a table that Blaine wasnt sure hed ever used.

"I made caprese-stuffed chicken," Kurt announced with a satisfied smile. "I hope you like it." He gestured for Blaine to sit and Blaine followed his direction as Kurt brought everything to the table.

"Kurt-" Blaines throat felt a little scratchy and it wasnt from his recovering illness. "I dont know the last time I had a home-cooked meal."

Kurts smile slipped for a moment. "Thats just sad."

"I still dont understand why you arent mad at me. Why are you doing all of this?"

"I was angry," Kurt said, sitting down next to him, "I mean you have been keeping so much from me. I started to think that that maybe I didnt really know you at all."

"No, Kurt, you do," Blaine insisted, his chest tightening in worry.

"I agree." Kurt looked up at him with bright blue eyes that seemed to gaze right into him. Kurt saw him in ways that no one ever had; it was as if, when he looked at Blaine, he saw all he could be and not the sad, cold man hed become. Kurt made Blaine want to try harder, to be better, to be the kind of man who could deserve someone like Kurt. "There is so much I dont know about you," Kurt continued, "But I know what kind of man you are. And that man deserves a chance to explain all of this to me."

"Ill tell you anything… I tell you everything," Blaine assured him, and Kurt just smiled as he served the chicken.

"Youd better, but not just now. Eat first and rest. We have time. Dont we?"

Blaine thought about his plans now that he had his heartstone back-hed waited decades-a little more waiting would be okay. "We have time."

Blaine enjoyed one of the best meals hed had in his long life, though the fact that Kurt had made it might have influenced that verdict a little, and when he tried to help clean up, Kurt just swatted at him.

"I usually stick to the the cook doesnt do the clean-up rule," Kurt said, "But you look dead on your feet right now." It was true; as much at Blaine hated it, he still felt weak and a little shaky. "Go sleep," Kurt ordered, and again, Blaine did as he was told.

Thats how the whole of the next day went: Blaine slept more than he ever remembered sleeping and he always woke to Kurt nearby, reading or sketching or cleaning the apartment. He looked tired, and Blaine understood that, with everything that had happened with Aaron and all the new information hed learned, Kurt might be a little weary, even though he wasnt complaining.

Blaine knew that Kurt had slept on the sofa that first night; he had already been asleep when Kurt turned in for the night, but after he awoke, Blaine had seen the sheet and pillow stacked neatly on the sofa. Now, seeing Kurt looking a little ragged, Blaine realized that his sofa was not the most comfortable surface.

Would it be too fast or too much for Blaine to offer his bed? All he wanted was for Kurt to have a good nights sleep, and while the thought of sleeping next to him made butterflies stir in Blaines stomach, it really was Kurts health he was concerned about. Mostly. After the second day of Kurt looking out for him, Blaine woke up as Kurt got out of the shower, hair towel-dried and wearing pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. He was heading to the living room.

"You could sleep in here if you wanted," Blaine blurted out.

Kurt looked over at him in surprise. "Here? Here where?"

Blaine sat up and shrugged, "The bed is more than big enough for two." He held his breath and watched Kurt as he considered the idea, hoping hed take him up on the offer.

Kurt hesitated a moment before a smile crept on his face, "That would be a lot more comfortable, and it is a ridiculously big bed Blaine."

Blaine laughed in relief and patted the mattress next to him.

Kurt climbed up into the big king sized bed and slid under the covers. "Mmmmm," he hummed happily, "Much better than the couch."

Blaine couldnt help but grin, having Kurt here like this was wonderful, close and warm and safe beside him. During the middle of the night Blaine woke up and found that he had unconsciously snuggled up against Kurt, but Kurt had an arm around his waist so he didnt seem to mind. Blaine just yawned and rested his head back down near Kurts before falling soundly back to sleep.

He woke up the next morning with soft springtime light coming in through the windows and Kurt sitting on his bed, leaning against the headboard and drawing. The sun hit his face perfectly, reflecting off his hair and making the blue of his eyes look almost translucent. Blaine wished he could draw, because hed love to sketch Kurts profile like this; instead, he settled for just drinking in the sight of him.

"God youre gorgeous," Blaine said without even thinking.

Kurt looked down at him in amusement as he lifted an eyebrow, "Good morning to you too."

Blaine sat up and yawned, stretching his arms high above his head; when he glanced back at Kurt, he politely ignored the fact that he found Kurt biting his lip and looking down to Blaines waist where his shirt had ridden up. It wasnt like Blaine didnt spend a lot of time looking at Kurt as well. Kurts eyes flitted back up to glance at Blaine and his cheeks were a little pink. Again, Blaine politely ignored it.

He leaned back against the headboard and scooted over to see Kurts sketch book. "What are you working on?"

Kurt tilted the book so Blaine could see several sketches of men in turn-of-the-century inspired clothing, with close-up sketches of ties and cuff links and handkerchiefs. "I was just working on some ideas for my Etsy shop."

"Kurt." Blaine breathed. "These are amazing. You are gifted."

Kurt smiled and his face flushed as he looked away. "Thank you."

"Seriously Kurt, these are beautiful."

Kurt just shook his head and laughed. "You seem to be feeling better this morning."

"Well, youve taken amazing care of me."

Kurts face grew a little more serious as he lifted a hand to brush the curls off Blaines forehead. "I was really worried about you."

Blaine rubbed the back of his neck, feeling guilty, "Im sorry I got you involved in this."

Kurt just sighed and then leaned forward cupping Blaines face with his hands and kissing his lips, soft and sweet until Blaines head went a little fuzzy, "Im not sorry." Kurt said sweetly as he pulled back, "And I need to show you something."

Blaine nodded, not able to find his voice quite yet as Kurt flipped back several pages in his sketch book and then laid it down in Blaines lap. At first Blaines breath caught in his throat as he saw sketch after sketch of himself. Sitting in that high wingback chair at Aroma Mocha, or sipping coffee, a few close ups of just his eyes.

"Okay yeah thats a little embarrassing," Kurt said and Blaine looked at him with a grin. "But this is what you need to see." He pointed to the bottom corner of one of the pages.

The joyful feeling bubbling in Blaines chest immediately went cold. There, in the corner was a dead-on sketch of a Dontizu.

"I drew that a while ago. Long before I knew about magic or heartstones or had ever seen that knocker on Felixs door."

Blaines breathing started feeling a little shallow. "Youve seen one of these creatures before?"

"No." Kurt shook his head. "I just drew it. I… I dont know how. Its a Dontizu isnt it?"

"Yes," Blaine said, pushing the word out as his lungs seemed to deflate.

"How is that possible?"

Blaine rubbed a hand across his brow. "Oh god." He moaned. "Ive been so stupid!" He thought he had time, he thought he could wait, but he was already behind! He was out of time. He sprung up from the bed and paced the room, Kurt watching him closely.

"Blaine," Kurt pleaded and Blaine glanced back at his worried expression. It was now or never, Kurt had to know.

"You must have known what a Dontizu looked like because you had my stone, because youve had it for so long. You are connected to it now, in some way. You must have had some kind of… vision…"

"A vision?" Kurt asked, worrying his lip. "Of the Dontizu?"

"Yes, of the creatures after me and my heartstone."

Kurts eyes widened and he patted the bed next to him with some force. "Sit down. Explain."

Blaine looked tired. Not sick like he had been a couple of days ago, but still more tired than Kurt liked. He had been waiting to ask Blaine all of his questions until Blaine was back on his feet, but he hadnt been able to hold back, and now Blaine was pacing the floor and looking like the end of the world was on its way. Plus, Blaine thought Kurt had had a vision of creatures that were after him? Why? Why did those creatures have to be after Blaine? Wasnt this all frightening enough without that?

Blaine came and sat down next to him, wearily combing his fingers though his hair, which was just a mess of curls at this point. He needed a haircut and a shave. Kurt wanted to run his hand over the stubble on his face, but didnt actually want to distract Blaine from the answers he was finally going to provide.

"Im not sure where to start," Blaine said as he glanced at Kurt.

"Start with the Dontizu." Kurt prompted the thought of them making his stomach squirm, "Why are they after you?"

Blaines eyes fluttered closed and he leaned his head back on the headboard. Kurt hated making him look so worried, but he needed to know what was going on here. If he was part of it, he had to know.

"I need to start from the beginning," Blaine answered as he finally opened his eyes again. Kurt nodded and Blaine lifted the sketch book from Kurts lap, looking down at the Dontizu as if the picture would spark some memory.

"My family was a family of power – meaning that we all had magic. It is a rare thing, it made us very strong, but it also made us a tempting target." Blaine ran his hand over his forehead. "You should know, before I continue, that we were happy for a while. As safe as possible and happy, we hardly ever used our magic, my parents didnt want the attention and they were just content to be a family together. It… was my fault that that all changed." Blaines face fell; he looked so heartbroken Kurt couldnt help but scoot closer to him on the bed so their shoulders were touching.

"As I grew, my parents realized that not only did I have magic, but it was different, more powerful than my familys magic. My parents knew since I was a toddler that it meant eventually they would come for me." Blaine paused and Kurt waited, Blaine was looking straight ahead as if he didnt even see the room they were in, but instead was looking straight into the past. When it seemed like maybe hed gotten lost in thought, Kurt prompted him.

"They who?"

"The Dontizu," Blaine answered softly, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "They used to be part of a magic sect that used their powers for personal gain and practiced the dark magics, they were power hungry and liked to hunt down those with strong magic and steal it." He looked back at Kurt. "They gained anothers power by killing them. They came after me when I was young because they knew that once I had grown into my powers Id be almost impossible to defeat."

Kurt shuddered at that, the gruesome, deadly creatures hes sketched coming after a young defenseless Blaine. He reached for his hand, squeezing it tight to remind himself that Blaine was here, next to him, alive and safe. "What happened?"

"I was five years old when they stormed our home." Blaine said, his eyes looking far too old for his young features, "My parents were ready, though; they sent me away under the care of Cooper, just in time. My father and mother died that night. They died giving their sons time to get away." Blaine looked down at his lap, his voice growing quiet. "I remember it was raining. I remember hearing howls coming from my home. And then…" He trailed off.

Kurt felt a lump forming in his throat and lifted Blaines hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. Again he waited for Blaine to be ready to continue. He had questions, obviously, and he wanted to just wrap Blaine up in his arms and hold him close. Losing both of your parents so young... Kurt couldnt stand the thought of it. But he wanted Blaine to tell this in the way he needed. He wondered how long it had been since Blaine had actually told this story to someone.

"That was the night my heartstone was created," Blaine continued, looking down at their clasped hands as if pulling strength from them. "Cooper used a charm of my fathers to create it, knowing that, as long as I had a heartstone, I was nearly untraceable to the Dontizu. They could still track me in their animal form, but they lived mostly as humans back then."

"You mean they can change back and forth between human and animal?" Kurt asked in astonishment.

"They are shape-shifters, the truth that the myth of werewolves is based on. We knew the Dontizu would stop at nothing to find me, so Cooper made it so that they couldnt – or at least that it would be very difficult for them to." Blaine sighed again, as if telling this story was making him weary.

Kurt lifted a hand to run his fingers through Blaines curls. "So your heartstone makes it harder for them to find you."

"Yes."

"Thats good, right?"

Blaine nodded, but his brows were furrowed, "The problem is Im not complete now. My heartstone is part of me, but its disconnected. I have been missing a part of my…. of my soul, for lack of a better word, since I was five. It changed my personality, probably not for the better, I dont even know who Id be if Id grown up complete. It makes me virtually immortal, but at a price."

"Well… I like who you are." Kurt said, not sure how else to comfort him. "No one knows who they would have been if their life had been different, but Im rather fond of the Blaine I know." He smiled and leaned in, giving Blaine a kiss and enjoying the blush that immediately rose to his cheeks. Kurt wasnt sure what to say to all of this information, but he was glad he knew how to wipe the lost look off of Blaines face. This story Blaine was weaving was surprising Kurt far less than he had expected, it was odd how quickly he was coming to accept the impossible.

Blaines smile turned more sincere. "I think Im better now than I have been. And I think that is because of you; you helped me remember how to feel human again."

"You are human, arent you?" Kurt asked, his pulse quickening.

"Yes, but it doesnt always feel that way. Cooper used to be the one to keep me in check, to help me remember who I am… but then…" Blaine looked away, breaking their eye contact and the lost look crept back to his face.

"But then?"

"Then Cooper decided that he needed his own heartstone in order to keep me safe. Hed been using other magics to keep himself young and to extend his life so that hed be around long enough to protect me. I had stopped aging around twenty-six years of age and he still looked to be in his early thirties, but really wed both been on the run for over half a century-"

"Half a century?" Kurt had been doing his best not to interrupt, but that made Blaine older than Kurt had imagined.

"Yes." Blaine answered as if he didnt even consider his age and oddity.

"Okay." Kurt shook his head trying to clear it, "So you and Cooper had been together for over fifty years and then…?"

"And then one day, he just decided he needed a heartstone too, because then he would be nearly immortal and harder to find. He didnt ask me what I thought, didnt let me tell him how empty it makes you feel and how that emptiness can so easily be filled with darkness – he just did it. It was a mistake."

Kurt swallowed deeply. "Is that when he stole your heartstone?"

"We stuck together for a few more decades before we started fighting; we could hardly stand the sight of each other. Thats when I decided I was tired of running, of hiding, of living my life in fear. The Dontizu had changed by then, almost completely abandoning their human forms, they had also grown in strength and numbers, I knew that even with my heartstone they now had enough strength to eventually find me.

"I chose to stop running. I wanted to reconnect with my heartstone, to regain my complete powers and fight the Dontizu. Cooper was against it, so strongly that he stole my heartstone so I couldnt complete the ritual to reconnect with my soul, my full powers - and then he fled. That was 18 years ago."

It was Kurts turn to let out a long breath as he took this all in and let the story play out in his mind. It explained so much about Blaine, the coolness and distance Kurt found in him when they first met and even his reluctance to talk about himself. His life sounded lonely and hard; Kurt hated that. Hated that, just because of something he was born with, that he was made to give up a chance at a normal happy life.

"18 years ago, you lost your heartstone and your brother, so not only did you have to stay on the run, but you had to do it alone?"

"Yes."

Kurt bit his lip, not wanting to cry in fear that Blaine would want to comfort him when it should be the other way around. "I found your heartstone 18 years ago." He let his fingers trail up and down Blaines arm, wanting to touch him, be near him, show him that he no longer needed to feel lonely.

"Thats the part of all of this I dont understand," Blaine said, his eyebrows knitting together. "Why would Cooper steal the stone and immediately lose it? Where did you find it anyway?"

"On a beach in Virginia," Kurt answered. "I found it in a sand castle I made."

Blaine smiled at that, "I have absolutely no explanation for that, but the thought of little Kurt on a beach finding my heartstone… thats a nice thought."

Kurt smiled as well and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to the corner of Blaines lips. "Im so glad I found it. I feel like Ive been… I dont know… helping to take care of you all these years without even knowing It."

"You have been," Blaine answered, his face still close to Kurt and his voice soft. "Im so glad it was you who found it. A heartstone compels people to take it - to keep it, as Aaron did. God, I was lucky someone with such a pure heart found mine."

Kurt bumped his forehead against Blaines and gave him another soft kiss. "Did you…" Kurt was almost afraid to ask this next question. "Did you ever spend time with me just because I had your stone?"

Blaine looked at him seriously, meeting his eyes. "No, never. It was never about that between you and me, I promise."

Kurt nodded in relief, he knew that in his heart, but it was good to hear all the same. "Okay, next question." He really needed to be close to Blaine right now, his heart was beating heavily, everything hed just learned making him fall for Blaine that much more. He climbed up into Blaines lap and looped his arms around his neck. "A very important question," Kurt asked in mock seriousness.

"Okay." Blaine said solemnly.

"How old are you?"

Blaines eyebrows shot up as if that wasnt the question he was expecting before he smiled. "I was born in 1902."

Kurts heart thudded in his chest for a moment. "Blaine… that makes you 114 years old!

Blaine just nodded.

"Thats… thats a long time to feel like youre incomplete."

Blaines shoulders slumped. "Too long."

Kurt lifted a hand to cup his face, brushing a thumb over his stubble. "At least you arent alone anymore," he said softly. "You have me."

Blaine leaned in, reaching up to cling to the back of Kurts shirt and pull him close, kissing his lips softly and then letting the kiss linger and build. He pulled back with a soft smile. "You are the best thing to ever happen to me in my long life."

Kurt swallowed deeply, he wanted to show Blaine how much he meant to him, he didnt want Blaine to have any doubt of it. And he needed to calm this restless feeling in his stomach, the knowledge that Blaines life was in danger. Hed felt like the Dontizu were on his tail after seeing that knocker on Felixs door and he knew they were set on killing Blaine. It made him hurt, he wanted to comfort Blaine as much as he needed the comfort himself.

He was still straddling Blaines lap as he kissed his lips and then let his mouth trail down Blaines neck. They sat like that for a while, Kurt straddling him and Blaines hands holding Kurts hips, lips sliding together. Kurts breath was heavy and his body ached to be closer to Blaine, to feel his skin. His hands slid down Blaines firm back and started inching up under his shirt so that Kurt could feel his warm skin. Blaine moaned into the kiss and then broke away to lift his arms over his head, Kurt took that wordless offer and lifted his shirt up over his head.

Blaine scooted down the bed so that he was lying on his back and Kurt smiled as he hovered over him, looking down at his bright golden eyes. "You really are feeling better arent you?"

"Yes. Thanks to you," Blaine said practically beaming at him.

Kurt glanced down at Blaines chest, tan and strong and smooth. There were scars there, several of them; Kurt had noticed them briefly when he and Felix had changed Blaine into pajamas. Kurt wanted to ask what they were from, but now wasnt the time; instead, he just leaned down and captured Blaines lips with his own again.

Soon, Kurt had lowered himself down so that he was almost completely on top of Blaine, their lips and hands still moving. Kurt was getting warm now, Blaines skin like an electric current, and he stripped his own shirt off and smiled into the next kiss with Blaine as their chests pressed together.

Blaine held the back of his head with one hand, the other traveling down his back to cup his ass, "Is this okay?" He panted into the kiss and Kurt just answered in the affirmative by pressing back against his hand.

Kurt felt heady with his longing for Blaine. Theyd never gone further than this before, heated make-out sessions, but right now, Kurt knew he wanted more. He was nearly desperate for it. He moved away a little so he could look at Blaines eyes and smiled as he heard Blaine let out a little groan of protest at not being kissed anymore. Kurt reached back with one hand and started pulling off his pants, watching Blaines expression and wondering what hed think about this move.

Blaines eyes widened for a moment when he realized what Kurt was doing, but then he smiled and helped Kurt out of his pajamas and then he lifted his hips off the bed to pull off his pants as well. They rolled over to their sides, legs tangled together and hands roaming, touching and discovering parts of each other they hadnt explored before. Kurt started to feel a little sweaty as he pressed against Blaine, letting their hips come together as he let out a soft moan. He sighed into Blaines mouth and he was just about to ask Blaine if maybe he was ready to go further when Blaine pulled back and looked at him.

His expression was bright and his pupils wide, his dark lashes framed his eyes and his lips were plump and red from kissing. Kurt smiled at him and Blaine looked at him with so much intensity that it made his heart skip a beat. "I love you Kurt." Blaine whispered and Kurt held his breath. "I love you more than Ive ever loved anyone, more than I thought that I could with the splintered heart I carry."

Kurt choked back a happy sob, not even able to speak; instead, he surged forward and kissed Blaine soundly, letting his lips move down to kiss Blaines chin and jaw and neck and then back to his lips. Eventually he was able to speak again, to say the words that had been in the back of his mind for weeks now.

"I love you too," he answered reverently as their lips parted for breath. Blaine stared up at him in awe as if looking at something precious and inconceivable. "Dont look so surprised." Kurt laughed before kissing him again. They didnt speak again for a long time, bodies pressed and sliding together, hands holding and fingers gripping.

Soon there was nothing between them at all as they both slipped out of their undergarments and Kurt was lost in a haze of desire and I love you and yes yes just like that!

Blaine was strong but gentle, moving in ways that made Kurt feel like he was going to come undone. Kurt had done this before with others, but it had never felt like this. So perfect and whole, Blaines moans and sure hands and his soft skin against Kurts lips.

Blaine let Kurt take the lead as they rocked against each other, and Kurt was grateful for the lube and condoms Blaine kept in his bedside table. They took everything slow, savoring the chance to be with each other in this new way, and when Kurt came, it was with professions of love on his lips and Blaine crying his name beneath him.

Kurt felt shaky afterwards, but full of joy as he laid on top of Blaine, not wanting to move or break the spell they had created. Eventually, though, the position became too uncomfortable for both of them and they moved enough to clean up a little.

Kurt fell over on his side, lying next to Blaine as Blaine stretched out happily on the bed. Kurt had never seen his face look quite as relaxed as it did now and he couldnt help but press a kiss against Blaines cheek.

Blaine turned to look at him, cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling, "Did you mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"That you love me," Blaine asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course I do," Kurt said, a laugh bubbling happily in his chest. "Did you mean it?"

"God yes Kurt."

Kurt smiled and moved to pillow his head on Blaines chest, his ear over Blaines heart and hearing its rhythmic thud thud. Kurt let his fingers trail up and down Blaines stomach and chest as Blaine sighed in contentment under him.

"Why did your heartstone start beating at Aarons?" Kurt asked, the thud of Blaines heart bringing his mind back to that afternoon.

"Because I was close and looking for it."

"That wasnt the first time I had heard that, though. The day I lost your stone, the day Aaron took it, I heard it beating then too. Thats why I had it out in the first place."

"When was that?"

Kurt thought for a moment. "The same day you met Aaron while we were at Aroma Mocha."

"Oh." Blaine took a deep breath and Kurt smiled as his head moved up and down with Blaines chest. "I did a ritual that day, looking for my heartstone – thats probably why. It was probably beating the same time I was having visions of you."

"Of me?" Kurt said, lifting his head to look at Blaine. "Thats when you had a vision that told you I was connected to your stone?"

"Yes, but I didnt want to believe it. I left for London to talk to a… contact… to have her interpret my vision. She said you were the key to finding my heartstone. I just didnt listen."

"Why not?"

"Because I didnt want you in danger. I still dont. I dont want anything bad to happen to you because of me."

Kurt lay his head back down on Blaines chest. "If anything happened, and Im not saying it would, but if it did, it wouldnt be your fault. Ive had that stone for 18 years, I was always involved."

Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt and held him close.

"I heard it beating then too, the day I found it on the beach," Kurt continued. "Were you looking for it then?"

"Cooper had just taken it, so yes, thats probably why you heard it. Unless…"

Kurt watched Blaines face, he could almost see ideas flying behind his eyes, like he was putting puzzle pieces together in his mind. "Unless… unless it knew it would be safe with you. Maybe it was beating because it was looking for you?"

Kurt was quiet for a moment, still tracing patterns on Blaines skin with his fingertips. "I like that idea. That your heartstone was looking for me even then."

Kurt felt Blaine chuckle and it made Kurt want to stay like this forever. Happy and safe and in love. He knew it couldnt last though. Blaine had his heartstone back and the Dontizu were looking for him. Blaine must have a plan and Kurt knew it would be dangerous. His fingers trailed up Blaines chest and he lifted his head to look down at a scar, pale and round and just over Blaines heart.

"What is this from?" Kurt asked, tracing it.

Blaine glanced down. "Gunshot wound," he said casually.

"Gunshot wound. To your heart?"

Blaine nodded.

"You really are immortal."

"Nearly." He said with a smile.

"Did it hurt?"

"Yes."

The emphasis in Blaines voice made Kurts own heart ache. He pressed a kiss to the scar before laying his head back on Blaines chest and letting his fingers move down to a long scar that started at Blaines ribcage on the left and cut across to his hip on the other side. "What is this from?"

"A duel. With swords."

"Well of course it is," Kurt answered, trying to sound light but feeling a little jittery. Not only did he not like the idea of Blaine hurt, all of this was just further proof that Blaine had had a long hard life before he ever met Kurt. Kurt ducked down to kiss that scar as well.

There were other scars too, one around Blaines bicep, a long one down one leg, something that looked like a circular burn in the middle of his chest. Kurt didnt ask about all of them, he didnt want to bring up any more bad memories. But he did slowly kiss each one, starting at his arm and down to his leg and up his body to place a gentle kiss to the scar on the center of his chest all the while Blaine sighed beneath him. When he came back to snuggle his head against Blaine again, he knew he needed to ask the question he was avoiding.

"What are you going to do now that you have your heartstone back?" He finally forced himself to say, but he didnt look up at Blaines face, not wanting to see the expression there.

"I was going to wait… but if you are having visions of Dontizu, then they are close. I have to reconnect with my heartstone, Kurt."

"And then?"

"And then I have to face the Dontizu. I have to end them once and for all – like I wanted to 18 years ago."

Kurts chest felt tight, he knew that was what Blaine was going to stay, it was part of the reason he felt so desperate to be near him, to touch him, to hold him, as if he knew trying times were ahead. "Oh."

Blaine moved, rolling them over so that they were both on their sides facing each other. "I have to Kurt, not just for me this time, but for you as well."

"I dont want you to do anything dangerous for my sake."

Blaine shook his head. "They are already coming Kurt, they could be here now and just biding their time. Now that I have my stone, the Dontizu will be even hungrier to get to me. In their human forms they may have wanted me whole so that they could steal my power, but the Dontizu are mostly animal now, and theyll want me like this, fractured, so they can drain my heartstone. They feed off of it."

Kurt felt a little sick to his stomach. "And being nearly immortal wont help?" he asked hopefully.

"It wouldnt help you, if they got to you, theyd just… theyd…" Blaines face grew a little pale and he didnt finish that thought. "And if they got to me or my heartstone, no it wouldnt save me. It would be my ruin. If the Dontizu feed off of my stone, it leaves heartstone remains behind, and it wouldnt kill me, it would just make me…" Blaine let out a long pained sigh. "It would make me one of them. A horrible, cursed, shape-shifting creature starving for blood and the souls of those with magic. It would make me a monster."

Kurt stared into Blaines troubled eyes as his heart pounded against his chest. "Oh my god."

"Id rather die than let that happen. I have to restore my heartstone and face them. It is my only chance to actually live. To live a real life instead of this imitation my life has been so far. And I have more reason than ever to want to live now."

Kurt nodded even as he felt his eyes filling with tears. "What can I do to help?"

Blaines determined face softened and the tips of his mouth turned up in a small smile. "Oh Kurt."

"Im serious. I know you have to do this, I understand that, but let me help. Dont expect me to just stand aside while you go to face all of this alone!"

Blaine shook his head, but before he could answer, Kurt continued. "Im already involved. You cant keep me away from it now. Besides Im having visions of Dontizu, doesnt that mean there is a chance they already know about me?"

Blaine took in a sharp breath at that. "God I hope not."

"But they may."

Blaine furrowed his brow and rubbed a hand across his forehead like this was giving him a headache. "Okay, okay… so the first thing I have to do before we can worry about anything else is reconnect with my heartstone."

"And how do you do that?"

Blaine sat up in bed, the sheets pooled around his waist, and if Kurt wasnt so intent on the life and death situation they were in, he would have marveled at how sculpted and perfect Blaine looked, scars and all. Okay, maybe he did marvel a little bit.

"It is a simple ritual really. I just need the same charm of my fathers that Cooper used to make the heartstone in the first place."

"Where are we going to find that?" Kurt asked as he sat up as well. He almost hoped that getting this charm would be a long drawn-out process so that there would be more time before Blaine went off to face these monsters.

"I have it already," Blaine said, nodding to the wall where his safe was. "I took it when Cooper and I parted ways. All I needed was my stone and now, thanks to you, I have that too. I could… I could do the ritual now."

"Now?" Kurt asked, his chest hurting. "Right now?"

"I was going to wait." Blaine answered, giving him an apologetic look. "To give us time, but if you are sketching the Dontizu, I have already waited too long."

Kurts throat felt dry. "Could we have breakfast first at least?" He pleaded. This morning had started so perfectly and now it felt like things were suddenly spiraling out of control. Blaine looked away from the wall and back to Kurt, probably noticing the distressed look on his face. He smiled a little and held Kurts face, his thumb running over his lips. "Yes, breakfast first is a good idea."

They got up and showered and got dressed, Blaine putting on clothes other than pajamas for the first time in two days. They made breakfast together, pancakes and fruit salad, and it was all so wonderfully hopeful and domestic that Kurt tried the best he could to push ideas of matted fur and sharp teeth and red eyes out of his head and just enjoy being with the man he loved. The man who loved him in return.

They bumped shoulders and hummed to the radio and traded kisses and then played footsie while eating. It was so near perfect that it made Kurt want to cry.

After breakfast, they were slow to clean the kitchen, it was as if they both wanted to put this off as long as possible.

"Should we call Felix to come over?" Kurt asked, trying to think of any way to stall the inevitable.

"Felix cant do anything to help, and at this point, I want to keep him away from this as much as possible. For his own safety."

"Right." Kurt leaned back against a kitchen counter and crossed his arms over his chest. "So we are doing this then?"

Blaine rubbed the back of his neck. "You could go stay with Felix for a while; as soon as this is done, it will be like a red neon target on my back. It wont be safe, but Felixs place is pretty well protected and-"

"No." Kurt interrupted him. "You just said you didnt want Felix involved and besides, I am not leaving you."

"Kurt, I understand why you want to stay - I would if I were you too - but you have to realize, I may not be able to keep you safe. You can stay for the ritual but then we have to find a safe place for you until this is over."

"And by over you mean when youve defeated the monsters that are after you." Or they turn you into one of them. Kurt thought but he couldnt bear to say it.

"Yes."

Kurt nodded. "The ritual first though." Kurt wasnt really planning on leaving him, but this would give him some time to decide what to do. Everything was happening too quickly. He had just learned the full truth about Blaine and his heartstone and now they were going to perform a ritual that Blaine had been waiting decades to do? It was all a little hard to process.

Kurt followed Blaine back into his bedroom where he unlocked his safe and pulled out both his heartstone, red and glistening in his palm, and a small round charm that looked to be made out of marble. It was no bigger than a dollar coin and hung from a leather cord.

"Thats all you need?"

Blaine nodded and then sat down crisscross on the floor, Kurt followed suit, sitting facing him. He looked down at the charm, it had some kind of carving on it, but Kurt couldnt read it. It looked very old though.

"This was my fathers, the last thing I have of him. His last gift to try and save me. And now Im about to undo the magic he and my mother died for."

Kurts throat felt tight. "What will happen to you?" He asked. "When this is done. It wont… change you will it?"

Blaine looked up to meet his eyes. "I dont know. I havent been fully me since I was five years old, it may change me, but hopefully for the better."

Kurt couldnt hide the fear in his expression, Blaine leaned forward, placing a hand on Kurts knee. "Ill still be me Kurt, Ill just be more me. And Ill still love you, Ill always love you."

Kurt nodded.

"Do you want to help? It is completely safe." Blaine offered.

Kurt took a breath, yes of course he wanted to help in any way he could. "What can I do?"

Blaine looped the leather cord around his neck and reached for Kurts hand. "I just need physical contact with someone. Magic is easier with two people. Your strength will help build my own. You just have to focus on the heartstone. Thats all. Just think about it and me becoming one again."

"I can do that," Kurt said, even though his heart was beating painfully and he just wanted to go back to earlier that morning when he and Blaine were tangled together in bed, lost in their passion for one another.

Blaine held the heartstone in his right hand and held on to Kurt with his left. He pressed the stone against the charm on his chest and closed his eyes. Kurt kept his eyes open as the heartstone started to light up, he watched Blaines beautiful face as it was cast in the red glow of the stone. Blaine started whispering something under his breath, some kind of chant, it wasnt in English, or any language Kurt had ever heard.

As he continued chanting, the heartstone started growing brighter and brighter filling the room with a deep red light. Kurt tried to focus on the stone, to think about Blaine and the stone becoming one again, but it was hard when his thoughts were mostly just, keep him safe, please keep Blaine safe.

Kurt noticed another light, a more yellowish glow coming from the charm around Blaines neck, it looked hot, like it should burn. Then Kurt remembered the circular burn hed seen on Blaine chest and he gasped realizing that it probably was burning Blaine, hurting him. Kurt blinked back tears and Blaine started chanting louder. The room seemed to vibrate and then with a loud cracking sound the charm against Blaines chest burst into white light and shattered, pieces of it propelled across the room. Kurt had to duck one that came flying towards him.

Blaine let go of Kurts hand and fell backwards, head hitting the ground and the still-glowing heartstone rolling out of his hand.

"Blaine!" Kurt moved as fast as he could, crawling to Blaine and leaning over him, placing his hand on his chest and feeling a measure of relief when he felt a heartbeat. "Blaine! Are you okay? What happened? Blaine please say something!

Blaines eyes fluttered open as the red glow in the room started to fade.

"Blaine?"

Blaine glanced at his heartstone laying near him, all the light out of it now and then he stared up at Kurt, his eyes wide and worried. "It didnt work."

"What?"

"Oh god, it didnt work." He sat back up again groaning a little in pain and all Kurt could do was stay close and rub his hand up and down Blaines back "Why didnt it…" Blaines eyes flitted over the room, taking in the broken pieces of his charm flung across the floor. His face darkened, looking almost as frightening as it had when Aaron had come at Kurt with that baseball bat.

"Blaine what is it? What went wrong?"

Blaine looked at Kurt, his eyes narrowed, and uttered just one word as an explanation. "Cooper."