"Marry me."
The words suddenly escaped Kurt Hummel's mouth one evening as they lay snuggling in bed in their New York City apartment.  
Kurt and Blaine were high school sweethearts.  Excluding a brief separation during Blaine's senior year in High school and Kurt's freshman year in college, they had been inseparable for almost eight solid years. This wasn't the first time the subject of marriage had been broached between the two of them.  They both knew that they wanted to get married, but had agreed to wait at least until Blaine graduated school.  Marriage was something they took very seriously, especially as some places weren't as accepting as others..
It was now July 2017, and Blaine had just graduated NYU with a degree in music education and performance.  He was set to begin teaching in the fall at PS 22, but was working as a barista in order to keep the bills paid until then. He didn't mind. Kurt was the main thing in his life apart from his music, and as long as he had him he didn't mind waiting a little while longer...
Kurt, on the other hand, was working as a costume designer for a local theater. Continuing to attend auditions every week, he'd been hoping for his big break since his graduation from NYADA a year earlier.  He picked up extra sewing and designing work on the side to help make ends meet.

Then there was their apartment. The pair had moved in together Kurt's Junior and Blaine's sophomore year of college. Much to Blaine's distress, Rachel had insisted on sharing the apartment with them, and both Kurt and Blaine had exercised great self-restraint in not strangling her. Kurt loved Rachel to bits, but she could be very infuriating at times. She and Finn had since moved into their own apartment, a few weeks after Finn had returned from half a dozen years' service in the Army.
Everything happened very quickly after that. Within a month of being back, Finn had done what he'd been wanting to do for years, and proposed to Rachel. Rachel had nearly deafened Kurt when she broke the news - Blaine had conveniently locked himself in the bathroom for over an hour, until Rachel had squealed her voice hoarse - and they'd got married a year later. Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine still had Friday night dinners together, and Skyped with their families (the Hudson-Hummel's) at least once a week.  

"Marry me."

Kurt stared intensely into Blaine's eyes.  Blaine looked at Kurt thoughtfully for a moment, wondering what had prompted him to say it, before breaking out into a grin and kissing his boyfriend gently.
"Okay."
"Yes?"
"Yes." Blaine said. "I think we're ready for this. And hey, we can do it legally here!"
"Hang on," Kurt said.  "There's something I want to give you."
He got up and went to his dresser and pulled out a small, dark box. Walking back to the bed he handed it to Blaine.  Blaine opened it to reveal a gold ring. After a second of staring at the thin band, he wrapped his arm around Kurt and kissed him passionately on the lips.  
"Your turn now."  Blaine said walking over to his backpack and pulling out a similar sized box.  "Did you really think I haven't been thinking the same thing since graduation in May?"  
Blaine smiled as he handed the box to Kurt.  
"Best ....fiancée....ever." Kurt murmured in Blaine's ear whilst slipping the ring onto his finger.  Then he looked into Blaine's eyes, his voice breathless. "So, when do we do this? I need at least six months to plan everything!"
"Don't worry, I knew you would. How about Spring break?" Blaine asked pulling Kurt towards him in an affectionate embrace.   
"Sounds perfect to me. That will give us enough time for you to settle into your new job and for me to sort various things out."
The pair went silent for a moment, then Kurt spoke again.
"Is this really happening? Are we really getting married?  If you'd have told me ten years ago that I would be able to marry the man of my dreams legally I never would have believed it."  Kurt said, the excitement and emotion in his voice building.  
"I love you so much, nothing would have stopped me. I'll be by your side forever." Blaine replied.
"Mmm...forever..." Kurt sighed happily.  "But now comes the scary part."
"What's that?"
"Telling my dad!"  Kurt laughed.
Blaine nodded, smiling.
"Get him on skype then, he'll want to talk to both of us."  He said, and  Kurt literally bounced across the room to grab his laptop off the desk. Flicking through his contacts list, he prayed his father was online. Thankfully, he was.
"Hey dad." Kurt smiled as his Dad's face came on the screen.
"Hey kid, what's up?  How are you doing?  How is Blaine?"
"So many questions!" Kurt grinned. "They'll have to wait though. Can you get Carol?  Blaine and I have some news we want to share."
"Sure kiddo," Burt said curiously. "I'll be right back."  
About two minutes later, (it felt like hours to the nervous couple in New York, but his watch proved that it had only been two minutes) Burt Hummel's face came back on the screen, closely followed by his wife, Carol Hudson-Hummel.   
"So, what's the big news guys?"  Carol said by way of greeting.  Kurt and Blaine grinned and held up their hands to display the rings on their fingers.  
"You guys got married?"  Burt said, "Nice of you to invite your old man."   
Burt looked hurt, and they could hear Carol's squeal of surprise in the background.
"Whoa Dad, slow down! Do you really think I would make the most important commitment of my life without having you there?  Come on Dad, it matters too much for that! You matter too much!"  
"Blimey, you scared me for a second. Yeah, I guess I should have known better. You and Blaine have always taken your relationship seriously. Well, I'm really, really happy for you two.  You know I already consider you family Blaine, but welcome, officially."  
"Thanks, Burt. It means a lot." Blaine responded with a teary smile.  
"Kurt, Honey, we're so happy for you." Carole gushed, "I know you two are going to be so great together."
"Well, Kurt," said Burt cutting in.  "I'm pretty sure you don't want to spend the night of your engagement talking to your old man, so I'll let you go for now.  Call me sometime tomorrow ok?"
"Ok Dad, I love you." Kurt replied.  
"Love you too kid, I'll talk to you later. Congrats, both of you."
"Congratulations guys, come home to visit soon ok?" Carol added.  
"We'll try!" Kurt said. "Hopefully before the end of summer..."  
And with that, both parties waved goodbye and disconnected.
"Think we should call Rachel and Finn tonight?"  Kurt asked Blaine, laughing at the mock horror that came across Blaine's face when Rachel Berry was mentioned.
"I guess we should. If Finn answers, I'll talk, but if it's Rachel..."
"Oh shush, you. That's my best friend you're talking about!"
"Okay, okay. I'll talk to Miss Berry..."
"Best Man and Maid of Honor, right?" Kurt asked, seeking approval from his to-be husband.
"Perfect." Blaine said dialing his cell phone. He waited a moment before nodding to Kurt and greeting his friend. He pressed the button to put it on loudspeaker, and Kurt sat down next to him. He slipped his hand into Blaine's and gave it a small squeeze. It was really happening. Finally.
"Hey Finn, it's Blaine. Is Rachel there with you?"  
"Yeah, I'm right here, why?" Rachel's voice came down the line, fainter than Finn's but still clearly recognizable.
"Can you put it on speakerphone? Kurt and I have something to ask the two of you..."   
"So dude, I'm here, what's going on?"  Finn asked.
"How would you like to be matron of honor and best man at our wedding?  We're engaged."  Kurt said happily. There was a stunned silence before Rachel's squeals erupted down the phone. Blaine shot Kurt a playful I told you so look.
"Really? Oh my God, that's so great!  You are going to have the wedding of the century!" Rachel gushed when she'd calmed down slightly.  
"Congrats bro!" Finn said, trying in vain to calm Rachel down. "I'm really happy for the two of you. And it's a yes! I'd be honored to stand up for the two of you."  
"Me too!" squealed Rachel . "Move over Finn, I need details!" Rachel said pushing Finn aside and taking the phone.  "Who asked who? Where were you?" Rachel began a stream of question, barely pausing to take breaths in between.
Kurt and Blaine spent the next hour of their lives recounting every detail to Rachel. Everytime they managed to answer one, she would fire off half a dozen more. She only stopped when Finn mentioned Barbra being on the television. After declaring they were eternally in Finn's debt for the idea, Blaine and Kurt finally hung up, and were alone at last.