Blaine had to go to L.A. for a few days on business. He tried to set up conference calls or Skype meetings so as not to leave Kurt, but they needed him there. He ended up spending 3 days with Cooper and away from Kurt.

Blaine still hadn't fully decided what to do about Kurt's dad. Of course he wanted to help Kurt, he couldn't condemn him to a life, well an afterlife, of being killed every night. However, the thought of meeting Mr. Hummel and somehow bringing up Kurt was terrifying to him, almost as terrifying as it working and him losing Kurt.

He spent his time with Cooper going over possible scenarios. Cooper was surprisingly open to the idea of ghosts, most likely thanks to his friendship with Camille, and tried to be helpful. In the end though, all Blaine really knew after his trip was that he needed to work harder on the song he'd been writing and that he had missed Kurt terribly.

As soon as Blaine reached his house he hopped out of the car and sprinted up the steps to the front door. The thought of Kurt alone for 3 days was awful. He knew Kurt had been alone for years before he got there but he was there now and wanted Kurt to feel... what? To feel safe? To feel cared for? To feel... loved. Blaine froze, his key in the door as the word hit him. Loved.

Blaine didn't know why he was so surprised. He wanted Kurt to feel loved, Kurt deserved that and Blaine did... Blaine loved him. Of course he loved him. How could he not? Blaine had to swallow a dry sob and compose himself before entering his house. Loving Kurt was painful, because he knew it meant losing Kurt. Maybe that's why it'd taken him this long to realize what he'd been feeling, that he didn't just care about Kurt. He loved him.

"Kurt?" He called as he entered the quiet house, "Kurt, I'm back."

Kurt quickly came rushing down the stairs, flinging himself into Blaine's arms. Blaine stumbled back a step in surprise before wrapping his arms around Kurt and laughing, "I missed you too."

Kurt leaned his head back to look at Blaine's face, but didn't loosen his embrace, "Welcome home Blaine." His smile was huge and Blaine felt his heart melt. This felt right, coming home to Kurt. To their home, because that is what it had become. It filled Blaine with longing for what could have been.

"You were okay while I was gone, weren't you?" Blaine asked with concern.

Kurt finally let go of him and rolled his eyes, "Of course Blaine. I can manage on my own you know. I've been on my own for quite some time and I can handle it."

Blaine smiled softly and cupped Kurt's face in his hands, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should have too. You carry so much on your own Kurt, and I'm here, you could let me help."

Blaine didn't know where this was coming from or why he felt so serious all of a sudden. Maybe it was because he felt like his time with Kurt had an expiration date. He had to do everything he could for Kurt while he still had the chance.

Kurt blushed and glanced a way for a moment, "I know Blaine and I am so grateful for you." Kurt slid his hand into Blaine's and swung them back and forth between them.

"So how'd everything go? Do you think they are going to like the new version of your song?"

"Honestly Kurt, I don't even like the new version of my song."

"You don't? But I thought..."

"It isn't right. And I feel stuck. I can't seem to get it. Some other things with the movie hit delays so I have time to fix it though, which is good for me."

"Well, come on. We'll go work on it now." Kurt said tugging at Blaine's hand and heading to the stairs.

"Not now Kurt. I'm tired and I don't think I have a creative bone in my body right now. I need to not think about the movie for a bit"

Kurt walked up to Blaine and looked at him seriously for a moment. "Okay. Let's not think about the movie. Let's think about some other movie." he smiled. "We should have a musical marathon. Blaine I haven't seen Singing in the Rain or The Sound of Music in years. It's wrong Blaine, just wrong."

Blaine laughed and squeezed Kurt's hand. "Sounds perfect."

They settled down on the couch and started with The Sound of Music humming along with their favorite songs. Blaine was leaning against Kurt playing with their joined hands, distracted by Kurt's smooth soft skin.

"Your hands are cold." Blaine said suddenly. "They are always cold."

"Well, that's because I'm always cold."

"What do you mean?"

"Just that, I'm always cold. I can never seem to properly warm up. That's why I like to sit by windows and in the sun. Like a cat. It feels better."

Blaine sat up and looked at him, "I didn't know that."

Kurt shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, "Just part of being a ghost I'd imagine."

Blaine stood up from the couch and pulled Kurt up after him. "What are we doing? The movie isn't over."

Blaine just walked to the other side of the couch and started pushing it back. Then he turned to the coffee table and pushed it out of the way as well, until there was a large open space in the living room.

"Okay... I often like to take time during a movie to rearrange the furniture as well." Kurt said sarcastically.

Blaine didn't reply instead he sat down on the middle of the floor and reached a hand up to Kurt. Kurt didn't move for a moment before he grinned and shook his head taking Blaine's hand sitting down next to him. Then Blaine laid down on his back and Kurt followed suit.

"What are we doing?" Kurt asked.

Blaine stretched and turned to face Kurt. "Laying in the sun like cats."

They were indeed stretched out on the floor basking in the afternoon sun. Kurt laughed, his whole face lighting up as he turned towards Blaine. "It is warm."

"Good." Blaine keep hold of Kurt's hand and scooted closer to him.

They were quiet and watching the movie again when Kurt spoke up, "I've always loved musicals and old fashioned romances." He said glancing at Maria and Captain Von Trapp singing together. "I used to think that the touch of fingertips was as sexy as it gets."

Blaine smiled.

"When I was younger I never really thought I'd have a romance of my own. For a long time the only other gay guy I knew was a closeted jock. And then I met Sebastian."

Kurt rarely talked about Sebastian and Blaine often changed the subject when he did, but this time somehow Blaine knew to let him continue. Like Kurt was probably going to say something he really needed to get out.

"I met Seb our senior year of Highschool. He'd been living in France and when his family moved back to the States he refused to go to a private school. He said he was tired of 'stuffy private school boys." Kurt said and smiled at Blaine. "So he ended up at McKinley. He was the first out gay guy I'd ever met. And I fell for him hard."

"He flirted with me constantly, and was so worldly and knowledgeable. I didn't stand a chance. He joined Glee club and even though some of my friends didn't like him, I couldn't see any of his flaws." Kurt sighed. "There were signs even then that I should have seen, but I so wanted to be in love and Seb was right there."

"He proposed right after graduation. My dad was against it, he never did like Seb but I was too far gone. I said yes. Dad did talk us into waiting a little while before getting married. I was due to start at NYADA in the fall and had so much to focus on but then everything changed."

"What happened?" Blaine asked.

"Seb's dad offered him a position out here with their company. Sebastian was all set to work for his dad part time and go to school out here and if I wanted to be with Seb, then this is where I had to go too."

"But what about NYADA and your dreams of New York?"

"I chose Sebastian. I think I knew even then, that if we'd tried a long-distance thing Seb would dump me and I... Blaine, I am so ashamed of who I was then because I was no one without him. He told me how to dress and what to do and how to act. Even though I hated it I let him because I honestly thought I'd never find anyone else who'd love me."

"Kurt..." Blaine said drawing in a deep breath, "You were never no one. Maybe he made you feel that way, but it is impossible that you were ever anything other than amazing. He just... he just blinded you to that."

Kurt laughed and smiled a little, but the sorrowful look in his eyes as he talked about Sebastian, didn't go away, "I've never met anyone like you Blaine Anderson. I love how you see the world."

"It's true though. You're amazing."

"I should have gone to New York. I shouldn't have believed the lies I told myself. I should have listened to my dad. Maybe then I would have been amazing."

Blaine brushed his fingertips down Kurt's cheek. "Kurt" Blaine breathed, "You aren't hearing me. You are amazing. Now. You are kind and creative and so very brave. Kurt, you move me."

"Blaine." Kurt said, rolling to his side so they were facing each other, his face so close to Blaine's own. "I..." Kurt bit his lip and didn't continue.

Blaine looked at Kurt's eyes and then at his lips before he closed the space between them, pressing his lips against Kurt's and gently cupping his cheek. Blaine's heart hammered in his chest. Kissing Kurt was like having something warm and wonderful fill him to his fingertips.

He'd been so afraid of kissing Kurt because he knew what they had couldn't last but in this moment it didn't matter. Everything Blaine wanted was laying right beside him in the sun and Blaine wasn't to miss out on it.

Eventually Blaine pulled back from the kiss and studied Kurt's face. Worried that maybe he'd been alone in his feelings. Maybe he'd misread things and Kurt didn't actually want- but then Kurt was surging forward and kissing Blaine. Long and sweet. Kurt's hand on the back of Blaine's neck buried in his curls as Blaine continued to cup Kurt's cheek pulling him closer.

It was as if time had frozen, the sounds of the movie faded out and all Blaine could focus on was the warmth of the sun. Kurt's hands on him. The soft press and slide of Kurt's lips.

Soon they deepened the kiss, Kurt's lips parting to let Blaine's tongue lick against his lips and softly into his mouth. Kurt moaned and rolled over so he was straddling Blaine, sucking lightly on Blaine's lips and kissing him deeper. Both men were panting and holding tight onto each other.

Kurt broke away from the kiss only to start kissing down Blaine's chin and neck. Blaine's hand traveled down Kurt's back and held him securely. Blaine whined when Kurt pulled back. He slowly opened his eyes to see Kurt looking at him. His face flushed and his eyes wide, a sweet smile on his lips.

"I've wanted to do that for such a long time." Kurt said.

Blaine laughed, "So have I." he trailed his fingers down Kurt's face. "That was perfect."

Kurt lowered himself down until he was laying curled up next to Blaine, his head on Blaine's chest.

"Yes it was." he answered.

Blaine's heart felt like it was ready to beat out of his chest. "I'll go see your dad."

Kurt leaned up on one of his elbows to look at Blaine, "What was that?"

"I'll go see your dad."

"You will?"

"Yes."

Kurt's smile was so big it looked almost painful as he started peppering Blaine's face with kisses, "Thank you! Oh thank you Blaine!"

Blaine kissed him back and tried to ignore the knot he felt forming in his stomach.



Like every night, Blaine pulled himself out of bed, shuffled down to the music room, shut the door behind him and waited. The candles appeared first, little dots of light around the room. Then the fireplace set ablaze before the old beautiful four-post bed appeared.

Sebastian's lean body moving on top of Kurt. Blaine swallowed and then stepped forward like he always did. Making sure he doesn't have a good view of Sebastian but that he is directly in Kurt's line of sight.

Blaine can hardly breathe watching Kurt's struggle. Blaine wants to pull Sebastian off of him and throw him across the room. He wants to gather Kurt into his arms and get him out of this house. But he can't. He can only stand there and listen to Sebastian swear at Kurt while he wraps his hands around his throat.

"Kurt" Blaine sobs out, and for a moment Blaine thinks that Kurt's eyes shift. It seems like they look right at Blaine as Kurt gasps for air. Blaine is sure this has never happened before. They lock eyes before the light goes out of Kurt's and he lays still on the bed.

Blaine backs away as Sebastian turns and gets the gun. Shooting himself and falling to the floor as everything dims out of view.

Blaine releases a breath he didn't know he was holding and runs back to his bedroom. He realizes he has wasted enough time. In his fear of losing Kurt he'd been hurting him, allowing this to go on. Not anymore. Blaine logged on to his computer right then and booked a flight to Ohio. Kurt had suffered long enough.