Blaine took a moment to compose himself. His parting moments with Kurt had been an emotional rollercoaster and he needed to collect his thoughts and ensure that he was decent to face the real world. His mind was in a blur, his whole being too wrecked by the rejection he felt.

After several minutes he squared his shoulder and walked out of the lift, Puck giving him one last sad smile as he walked away. Even he had expected that they would continue their relationship. He had not expected it to die so quickly.

Blaine walked out into the foyer. He had one last person he wished to see before he left the hotel forever.

"Finn!" Blaine announced the warmth he felt for the man evident in his voice.

"Blaine!" Finn responded with an equal amount of fondness.

"I wanted to say goodbye," Blaine told him giving him a fake but steady smile.

"Then I gather," Finn paused fractionally and slightly surprised, "You're not accompanying Mr. Hummel to New York?"

"Come on, Finn. You and me live in the real world!" He gave Finn's arm a gentle tap trying to make their conversation light and playful, "Most of the time anyway."

Finn looked away. It wasn't his place to comment but he really wished he could. Everyone had watched their relationship develop and grow over the past week. He thought it was certain, set in stone even that Blaine and Kurt would stay together after this week. 

Finn gave the slightest shrug of his shoulders, he wouldn't interfere. "Have you arranged for transportation?" he asked.

"I'm gonna call a cab," Blaine told him bending down to pick up his bags once again.

"Allow me to help," Finn quickly informed him. He turned around before Blaine could argue. "I'll get one of our drivers to take you home." Finn signaled to a man standing in a crisp hotel uniform. He gave a quick nod back and headed in their direction to help Blaine with his belongings. "It's been a pleasure knowing you," Finn continued taking Blaine's hand and giving it a firm but warm shake. "Come and visit us again sometime." 

Blaine just smiled, "Stay cool."

He took a deep breath and walked out of the hotel not once looking back over his shoulder.

***

Kurt stood on the balcony holding onto the watch that he had only noticed that Blaine had left behind. It was the furthest he had been out on the balcony in the whole week. He needed the fresh air and for once he wished that he wasn't in L.A. He wished that he was somewhere else, far away from this room where now every corner and every object reminded him somehow of Blaine. 

Kurt couldn't leave the balcony just yet. He had to keep his back to that empty place that was now devoid of any indications of happiness. Previously he had relished the silence. He had relished being alone having the opportunity to date who he wished, when he wished and where he wished. Of course, he had been in serious relationships before, he had even been married, but they were relationships that had been built and developed like his business plans, strategically and over extended periods of time. Only then, once he had felt himself connect with those people had he ever considered himself in a serious relationship with them. He had never quickly and openly declared or even felt in love with those people within the first couple of days of meeting them.

But now, thinking about it, Kurt really wondered whether he had ever been in love before. And he meant, real love, the love that made you empty when the other person was gone, in pain when you thought you didn't have them, happy with the joy of just thinking that you might have a chance of seeing them at the end of a long day. Was that what real love was all about? He held the question tightly inside his head because that's what he was feeling right now; empty without Blaine, in pain without Blaine, and happy just at the thought that he might suddenly knock on his door and tell him that yes, he would stay one more night with him.

He had been swept away that much was true. He had not been expecting it. He had only expected to have a relationship hassle free week while he completed his business deal. He had not seen this coming. Maybe that was what true love was all about though. Getting blind-sided when you least expected it. Being able to let yourself go and enjoy the ride? Allowing yourself to get swept away?

Would it mean he was less of the man he had created if he acknowledged and owned up to those feelings?

Kurt sighed and cast his view over the city. Whatever these new feelings were, he knew that no-one else he had ever been with had created such feelings of hope, family and passion. Kurt sighed. Blaine..... He thought. Blaine's eyes, Blaine's smile, Blaine's soft words, Blaine's caring manner and Blaine's funny quirks. It was all Blaine.

Kurt looked back down at the box. It was a present that Blaine had accepted as a gift of love, although Kurt had not been aware of it at the time. He wouldn't be able to keep it. It would be too painful. He would have to return it. 

***

"We both look so dopey," Sam declared looking at the photograph of the two of them. It had only been taken a week before but it seemed like an eternity ago. "Michigan's not that great, you know," he started realizing he really didn't want Blaine to leave. "It's a bad climate. It's foggy. It's unpredictable."

"I'll wear a sweater," Blaine laughed and looked around the apartment. It didn't feel like home anymore and the prospect of being in a completely new environment, with new people, new work and new dreams was just so much more appealing. Yes, leaving L.A was the best decision he had made in a long time.

"What are you going to do there?" Sam couldn't understand why Blaine would want to leave. What could he possibly do in Michigan that he couldn't do here?

"Get a job. Go back to college," Blaine explained with nothing but determination in his voice. "I got things I can do. I used to make pretty good grades at school. And I know that one day I'll get up on that stage."

"Yeah, I could see that about you. I can see that," Sam replied wistfully.

They shared a nostalgic smile. Despite their differences they were best friends and they had been through a lot together. Blaine was going to miss him. "Sure you won't come with me?" he asked one last time.

"And leave all this? Not in a million!" Sam declared but Blaine was worried about what was going to come of him. Sam was resilient and strong, he would easily cope without Blaine there but Blaine wanted more for Sam. He wanted him to get out of this horrible industry, find something else, something with opportunities. Being a prostitute was not a job that he would be able to do forever.

"Come here." Blaine reached into his pocket as Sam moved to stand before him. He revealed several hundred dollar bills from his jeans' pocket and placed it in one of Sam's hands.

"Whoa, whoa, what is this?" Sam held the notes gingerly.

"It's part of the Kurt Hummel Scholarship Fund," Blaine joked. "We think you got a lot of potential, Sam."

"You do?" Sam was amazed. No-one had ever said that to him before, not even his own parents. "You think I got potential?"

"Oh yeah. Don't let anybody tell you different, okay?" Blaine ordered him firmly. He leaned over and picked up his favorite hat and placed it on top of Sam's head. "Take care of you," his voice choked up with emotion.

Sam's face lit up at the gesture but his hands went up and took it off. "No, I can't! I can't! It's your favorite!"

They were silent unsure of what else to say.

Sam spoke first settling on a chair that didn't match anything in the room around them, "What time's your bus?"

"In an hour," Blaine stammered wondering what the hell he was going to do with himself while he waited.

"Yeah, well," Sam suddenly announced jumping to his feet. "I gotta split, ‘cause goodbyes make me crazy. So...take care of you," Sam lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Blaine in one big brotherly hug.

"Whoa!" Blaine laughed completely taken back by his outward show of affection.

***

Kurt approached the lobby desk. He didn't want to think about the night before. The first night that he had spent alone in that huge bed, without the knowledge that Blaine was beside him breathing deeply and contentedly before he would lean over to stroke over his shoulder and down his back and...

"Mr. Hummel," Finn greeted him as he approached. Kurt snapped out of his daze and tried to focus. It was not like him at all to be so unfocused.

"You don't have any messages for me, do you?" he asked hopefully before he had even realized that he had thought of the question. He hoped that he maintained his cool and professional manner. Their eyes met and Kurt knew that he was not fooling anyone. No words were needed for them both to know what Kurt was really asking.

"No, I'm afraid not, sir," Finn revealed disappointed that he nothing else to report, nothing positive or Blaine related.

Kurt nodded and got straight back down to business. It was too late now. He would have to live with the consequences of his actions. Blaine was gone. He didn't even know where he lived.

"I'll need a car to the airport," he informed Finn.

"Of course, our driver will take you wherever you need to go." Finn signaled the driver once again.

"One last thing," Kurt began, a lump forming in throat. He passed the box with the watch inside over the counter towards Finn. "If you could return this to Fred's for me, please?"

"Yes, of course," Finn paused. He had seen the watch that Blaine had worn the night before. It truly had been exquisite. "May I, sir?" He met Kurt's eyes wanting nothing more than to look at it one last time.

"Of course, please." Kurt almost had to turn away. He was surprised that such a simple act of opening the box was like having his heart opened again to all the pain that had been raging through him over the past twelve hours. Was that regret that he was feeling?

"It must be difficult to let go of something so handsome," Finn stated softly, taking back his vow to not meddle in business not his own, the very same vow that he referred to yesterday when he had stood with Blaine and discussed his departure. Their eyes met and they both knew what Finn really meant and quickly decided that he wasn't going to stop there. He felt a duty to just add one last comment. "You know, that driver also drove Blaine home yesterday."

Their eyes locked once again and then Finn returned to business hoping that he hadn't overstepped. A soft smile tugged on Kurt's lips. Finn had overstepped but it had not been done with callous intentions in mind. Finn glanced at the watch again, "I'll take care of it."

"Thank you," Kurt nodded. He turned and left the foyer heading directly towards the car that would take him to the airport.

Kurt settled himself into the limousine. It was comfortable and lavish but it was also quiet, too quiet. In fact, Kurt couldn't adjust to how quiet everything was now that he was by himself again. He leaned forward and turned on the radio with his own personal controls. He froze as the distinct lyrics hit his ears, lyrics that had captivated him and drawn him towards a naked playful man who had been singing at full volume in his bathroom only a couple of days ago. ‘Teenage Dream' echoed throughout the limo and Kurt smiled, his eyes beginning to water as it suddenly hit him.

He did love Blaine! He loved him! With all his heart he loved him! It didn't matter if it hadn't happened the way he thought it should happen. It didn't matter that he would have to let go and not be in control. It didn't matter that Blaine was so removed from his real life. It didn't matter that Blaine lived in LA and he lived in New York because if he was smart, he would do the right thing and whisk Blaine away to New York to be with him or even better, he would move to LA.

Why was he being so stupid? Why was he about to let the only person who he had ever truly loved, yes he truly loved Blaine, to walk out of his life? 

 ***

Blaine walked restlessly around the apartment waiting for the minutes to count down before he had to leave to reach the bus station on time. He checked his watch. Finally! He would still be ten minutes early but he could leave now without getting unreasonably bored in the bus station's transit area. Blaine leaned down and grabbed his two bags. He couldn't believe that he had managed to fit all of the things he wanted to take with him in those two bags. There was plenty more of his belongings here but he was going to get Sam to mail them to him once he had got himself sorted and settled.

He turned towards the door but stopped as the distant but distinct sound of a car tooting its horn came to his ears. Blaine felt like kicking himself. Why was he doing this to himself? Of course Kurt wouldn't come after him. Not now. He had made it clear how he really felt. It had just been a fling to him and nothing more.

Blaine turned to leave again but the sound of the horn became louder and louder and something within Blaine ached. Could he let himself dream one last time? Would he be stupid if he did? He dropped his bags and hesitantly walked back to the window, the very same window he had used to escape his landlord only a week before. The window seemed to take forever to appear and Blaine wondered if his heart would be able to cope with the aftermath if he got to it only to discover that it wasn't Kurt.

Blaine reached the window and leaned out. He caught his breath and a smile broke out onto his face. He blinked, closing his eyes hard and pausing for a moment before he opened them again, afraid that he hadn't seen what had greeted him when he had looked to the ground below. He opened them again and sure enough, there was Kurt, standing out of the open sunroof of the limousine.

"Blaine!" Kurt shouted as the limousine pulled to a stop. "Prince Blaine!" He spied Blaine in the window above him. "It had to be the top floor didn't it?"

"It's the best!" Blaine laughed down to him in delight. Was he imagining things? Was his dream going to come true? He wanted to pinch himself to make sure it was really happening. Dreams could come true!

"Alright," Kurt announced shaking his head at the fact that he would have to climb up all those stairs and possibly mortally injure himself. It would be worth it if he did reach the top. "I'm coming up!"

Kurt climbed out of the limousine, umbrella in his hand to act as his sword, the other full with a bouquet of flowers. He found the fire escape, pulled the stairs free and started to climb.

Blaine laughed at his slow ascent, giggling as Kurt held frantically to the railing afraid that he would fall. He couldn't let him suffer and decided to help and meet Kurt halfway down. He climbed out of the window and began to wind his way down the different floors until only one level separated them. Blaine looked down the last set of rungs, his eyes falling onto Kurt.

Kurt held his arms out encouraging Blaine to come the rest of the way. How could he resist? Blaine laughed again and stepped down slowly, this time keeping his back to the railings so he could keep his eyes on Kurt. He didn't want to tear his eyes off him for one moment. He still couldn't believe that he was there, right there in front of him. Kurt lowered his props, stepped forward and climbed the last two rungs. He held onto the rails on either side of Blaine pinning him against the ladder.

"So what happens after the knight climbs up the tower and rescues the prince?" Kurt asked his voice husky and deep at having Blaine in his arms once again. He couldn't believe that he had nearly let him slip through his fingers, possibly never to see him ever again. Staring into his eyes right now, Kurt knew it. He couldn't last another day unless he had Blaine beside him.

Blaine draped his arms over Kurt's shoulders. "He rescues his knight right back."

They both smiled and Kurt had to let the fantasy drop for just one moment.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry I ever doubted my love for you. I love you, I really do. I..." Blaine cut him off leaning in so their lips could meet. The kiss was long, firm and filled with all the love that Blaine could put into a kiss. It quieted the distress within Kurt, spiraling him away to the warm place that had existed back at the hotel room, where nothing could touch them. Kurt didn't have to worry anymore. Everything was going to be alright because he had Blaine, and that's all that mattered. He didn't need anything else, anything else at all.