Kurt stared at the phone in his hand.  The Google Maps app showed him a neighborhood that seemed completely unlike the place where he was standing. Supposedly the Metro subway station was right there but Kurt didnt see any evidence of it.  

When he had made the decision that morning to explore some of the classier neighborhoods in Washington in preparation for his upcoming role as the lead in a political thriller, he had assumed that he could just wander freely and rely on his phones GPS to keep him from getting too lost.  Clearly, his assumption was misguided.  He was lost.  Thankfully, he reassured himself, he was lost in a good neighborhood.  The sidewalk was lined with stately brownstones, decorated with dignified planters overflowing with colorful flowers.  Also, if push came to shove, he could call his agent, Elliott, and have him send a car.  It would just be so embarrassing.  

He was on the corner of Girrard and 14th, but was it northwest?  Southwest?  Northeast?  Kurt didnt know.  He vaguely registered a door opening on one of the nearby houses, but he didnt look up from his phone, so intent was he on trying to figure out where he was.  But then a voice said, "Kurt?  Kurt Hummel?"

Kurt looked up reluctantly, automatically smoothing his face into a pleasant expression.  After several years of starring on Broadway, he was occassionally recognized by a theater buff.  It wasnt anything like being a movie star--although maybe it would be once the movie he was about to make came out--but he still had his fans, nonetheless.  

"Yes.  How do you do...." the words died on Kurts lips when he saw who was addressing him.  

The man standing in front of him mistook Kurts sudden silence for lack of recognition and put out a hand.  "Blaine.  Blaine Anderson.  We knew each other in high school, remember?"

Kurt pulled himself together.  "Blaine! Oh, my gosh, Blaine."  Kurt ignored Blaines hand and pulled his long-lost acquaintance into a crushing hug.  "Its so great to see you.  What are you doing here?"

"Um, well, I live here."  Blaine pointed to a beautiful pale green brownstone with black, wrought iron embellishments.  "There, actually.  But I should ask you the same question.  I heard that you were headed to Hollywood to star in a movie."

Kurt smiled, "Yes, actually.  Thats why Im here.  Were shooting on location in DC for the next several months, and were in the pre-production phase now.  I just came out to take a look around some of the neighborhoods.  You know, get a feel for the place.

"But I expected to see you in Hollywood, too, or on the Great White Way.  What made you leave performing for DC?  Last I heard you were headed to Juliard on a violin scholarship, or something."

"Yeah, I did that.  But then I volunteered one summer on Senator Samuelsons campaign, and then he offered me an internship.  One thing led to another, and I guess I just love politics more than the stage.  I came to Washington and never left."

"Senator Barry Samuelson?  From Massachusetts?" 

"Yeah.  Im his Chief of Staff."

Kurt let out a low whistle.  "Hes done so much for gay rights."

"I know.  Thats why I wanted to volunteer when I was in college.  Hes a good man.  Being around him reminds me every day that not everyone on Capitol Hill is a sleezebag."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, "Thats good to know."  

"God, Kurt.  Its so great to see you.  Its been, what, like twenty years?"

Kurt did the math in his head.  The first time he met Blaine was on the staircase at Dalton Academy in Westerville, Ohio.  He thought Blaine was the most beautiful boy hed ever seen, and when he opened his mouth to sing, Kurt thought his bones might melt.  That long ago afternoon, Kurt has sat down with Blaine and a few of his friends to talk about show choir and about the perils of being a gay kid in the middle of nowhere, Ohio.  At sixteen, it was nice for Kurt to know that there were other kids who had experienced some of the same trials he had growing up.  Afterward, Kurt and Blaine had seen each other off and on at various show choir competitions, and they had always made a point of talking to each other when they met face to face, but they hadnt crossed paths after Kurt graduated and left for New York to attend college at NYADA.  

That was, as Blaine had noted, not quite twenty years ago.  

Time flies, Kurt thought ruefully, except when it crawls.  

Perhaps reading the expression on Kurts face, Blaines put a hand on Kurts forearm.  He said gently, "Kurt, I read about your husband.  Im really, really sorry.  I cant imagine what youre going through right now."  

Kurts late husband, Adam Crawford, had been the front man of the band, Adams Apples.  Adam had organized the band when they were in college, and everyoneincluding Kurtwas surprised when the band shot to fame and stayed there, despite (or, perhaps, because of) their happy riffs and cheesy lyrics.  When Kurt and Adam married, their stylish nuptials were splashed across society pages all over the country.  When Adam and several members of the band died in a plane crash three months ago, that, too, made headlines across the country.  

Leave it to Hollywood to decide that casting the grieving widower of a famous musician would guarantee a big box office.  

They were probably right.  

Kurt tried to respond to Blaines expression of sympathy with an appropriately banal comment like, "Thank you.  How kind of you to say so," but, to his horror, his eyes filled with tears and he let out a small gasp, instead.  

"Oh, God.  Im sorry.  I didnt mean to upset you."  Blaine took Kurt into his arms and held him gently for a moment before letting him go.  

Kurt stepped back and wiped away his tears.  He gave Blaine a small smile.  "Please dont worry about it.  It was nice of you to say something.  I dont usually fall apart like that, but sometimes I just have moments.  You happened to catch me at one."

"Kurt, this may be a weird question, since we havent seen each other in ages, but what can I do for you?  Say anything.  If I can make it happen, I will.  I want to."

Kurt opened his mouth to reassure Blaine that he was fine and didnt need anything, but something in Blaines eyes made him answer truthfully, instead, "Blaine, the only thing you could give me, I would be too embarrassed--it wouldnt be right--to ask."