Chapter Twenty Two

They were late, arriving at the Warner Bros. Studios flushed, out of breath but high on the happy, sex endorphins that were racing through their bodies. Santana met them at the entrance, and even though Kurt had only met her the day before and had no idea how she worked with Blaine, she was a welcoming face in the chaos that was suddenly whirring around him. He was more than happy that at least when Blaine was busy, he would have someone to talk to. She did however make him blush when she enquired straight out as to whether they had put her gift box to good use.

"Of course we did," Blaine told her merrily. "Except page 68 proved to be a challenge because I couldn't quite get my leg..."

"Blaine!" Kurt interrupted sharply.

Santana gave the pair a sadistic, but happy smile. "Good for you guys, good for you."

Fortunately for Kurt's embarrassment, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Ellen's staff member who had been assigned to be Blaine's personal assistant for the day. She introduced herself as Betty, Betty with big, red curly hair. Blaine immediately crossed his arms over his chest and struck a defensive pose while Kurt hid fearfully behind him unsure of why the ambience around them had suddenly taken a dive for the worst.

Completely aware of just how much trouble Blaine could be (his reputation more than preceded him), Betty decided to give him the rundown as quickly as possible, "You've missed your chance of having a couple of run throughs of your song before they start filming and you've also missed being able to discuss your part in Ellen's hidden camera celebrity pranks for the day. You've seen the final list of approved questions?" she asked.

For the first time ever, Blaine sensed someone else's discomfort and displeasure at being in his presence. He had been about to unleash a rude comment along the lines that he didn't care about any list, he would answer whatever he wanted, when he had realized that Betty had been waiting for it, preparing herself for any onslaught of uncouth comments. Blaine was suddenly overcome with guilt and shame. Just how many producers, interviewers and other various workers that he had met and dealt with over the past couple of years had felt the same way? What was he doing? He didn't have to play that obnoxious rock star any longer.

Blaine took a step back, relaxed his stance, and gave Betty a soft smile. "It's absolutely fine," he told her, "I can perform anywhere, anytime. I don't need any run throughs, and in regards to the pranks, I'll do whatever Ellen tells me, and the first list of questions was fine."

Betty tilted her head to the side obviously surprised by Blaine's polite response, but she wasn't quite ready to relax just yet. "Okay, well that's good to know because once we start filming, it's going to get quite hectic," she explained. Betty looked past Blaine and to his small group, "Follow me. I'll guide you to your dressing room."

Kurt sat awkwardly on the sofa, his back straight and knees uncomfortably together. He was too afraid to make any sudden or significant movements. He was going to act invisible and pretend that he didn't exist. Santana was on his right and was already flicking through a magazine that had been under the coffee table in front of them. He tried to act as calm and relaxed as her, but he was finding it difficult. How could he when he was at The Ellen Studio for goodness sake?

It was as if he had stepped into another dimension. He had seen Ellen's dressing rooms on TV before on many occasions. There was the flat screen TV on the wall, the simple wooden TV cabinet below, the green sofa along the opposite wall that he was currently sitting on and the bathroom just to his right. Kurt was also aware of the very fact that they had a tendency to put cameras in the rooms, and he glanced nervously around hoping to spy if there had been any secret cameras hidden. He gazed even more warily at the restroom. There would be no way that he was going to use the toilet in there. He had seen what had happened to Taylor Swift.

"Make up will be here soon, I'll let Ellen know you've arrived," Betty informed them at the doorway.

Kurt snapped back to what was going on in the room. Blaine thanked Betty again which only afforded Blaine with another bewildered gaze. She paused then, obviously listening to someone talking through her earpiece. "Blaine Anderson's here," she spoke authoritatively while she eyed Kurt so viciously he began to squirm. Someone was obviously ranting away in her ear regarding Blaine's tardiness because she kept nodding her head along with the comments, "He said he's good to go." Nod. "He'll do the pranks." Nod "The questions are fine."

Despite the relaxed and comedic atmosphere that was always displayed when the cameras were rolling, Kurt quickly noted that behind the scenes, Ellen's team conducted their work with the utmost professionalism. But not only that, they liked efficiency and professionalism in return. Kurt swallowed nervously. Betty was staring at him again, especially after Blaine sat down beside him and stroked his hand down his back. Would they blame him for Blaine being late? What if Ellen herself came into Blaine's dressing room later and got angry at him? Kurt would just want to crawl into a hole and hide for the rest of his life.

"No, no, Blaine's lateness was for a good reason," Betty suddenly stated. "He's ready to go."

Betty turned her attention back to Blaine. "Since you're so late, Ellen doesn't have time to stop by before we start. Once makeup is finished, we'll head straight out. Everyone else will wait here."

"That's fine," Blaine assured her. "And I'm sorry again for being late."

Betty gave Kurt one last quick glance, a knowing smile coming to her lips. "It's okay, I'm sure Ellen will understand."

Kurt jumped, almost leaping to his feet to run away right then and there. Ellen getting mad at him was actually a possibility!

"Are you alright?" Blaine asked once it was only the three of them in the dressing room.

"Yep, sure, I'm fine," Kurt stammered.

"Don't worry we'll be out of here soon enough," Blaine said squeezing his hand. "I can't wait to spend the rest of the afternoon with you. This won't take long at all once it gets started."

Kurt flashed him an appreciative smile, "I don't know how you are so calm in the midst of all this."

"It's a mask. I hide behind the mask and believe I can do anything."

A firm knock came to the door. It was make-up and Kurt watched on in awe as he witnessed Blaine go into business mode.

"So, how do you know Blaine?" Kurt suddenly decided to ask Santana.

"I'm his masseuse."

"Oh!?" Kurt sat for a moment confused. "So, Blaine's asked you to give him a massage after the show?"

"No, he called me earlier today. Something about possibly having another job for me," she told him with a smile. "I'll never say no to a new client."

"Oh," Kurt nodded again.

"So, Kurt," Santana began laying her magazine down on the table. "What about you? Tell me all about yourself. You have captured Blaine's heart so vigorously this past year, and I still don't know a thing about you."

Kurt chuckled. "I'm not really that interesting. What do you want to know?"

"Everything, Kurt. Everything!"

Kurt and Santana couldn't stop giggling while they watched the TV monitor in the dressing room. Blaine was on fire and as usual, so was Ellen. Kurt had always loved Ellen's cheeky mirth and devilish smile. When Ellen was happy, it was as if a large bubble of merriment had been popped causing billions of molecules of gleefulness to go floating through the air before they then dropped down to sprinkle over anyone who was within range.

Kurt could tell that Ellen was pleasantly surprised by Blaine's attitude. Whilst the pair had never had a run in before, Ellen was more than aware of Blaine's notorious interview behaviour. Today however, Blaine was different. He radiated a collective serenity, an inner peace and tranquillity that no one could miss or deny.

Ellen was impressed and she took the opportunity to let her playful and vivacious nature to really shine through. She was going to have a little tease. "So, you arrived a little late today."

The camera flicked back to Blaine. "Hmm, yes," he responded steadily, "and I have to apologize for that, it was very rude of me."

"Must have been something really important to keep you away."

"Yes, yes it was."

Kurt could feel himself blush and he was sure he could see a sudden rosiness to Blaine's cheeks as well.

"I have to mention, since everyone is talking, that was an incredible performance the other night at the VMAs."

Blaine eyed her, but Ellen only gave him a reassuring, comforting nod. Ellen, as always, sat in her comfortable pose, her right arm draped over the armrest of her chair, her legs crossed in a casual manner, her inability to control her contagious smile showing.

Blaine adored the mischievous twinkle in Ellen's eyes that sometimes belied her fierce, empathic heart. He relaxed, trusting in her professional nature that she wouldn't reveal too much and break the fourth wall. The news had apparently spread quite quickly backstage that Blaine had brought someone special with him.

Blaine straightened in his seat, fully aware of the long pause that had followed Ellen's statement. "Thank you," he finally answered.

Ellen kept the conversation moving, "Yes, everyone's talking about it. It was definitely a new sound for Blaine Anderson."

"Yes," Blaine acknowledged. "It's something that I've been working on for a while, it was a bit raw but I think it served its purpose."

"Well, I'm hoping it served its purpose too."

No one needed to elaborate at just what Ellen had meant. The double meaning was more than clear to all of the Blaine Anderson fans who were desperate for any news on Blaine's love life. The audience jittered, giggled and some people even clapped. Blaine, not missing a beat, decided to elaborate. He wouldn't mention names but to save any unnecessary prying, he was going to give a small tid-bit. "As I said at the beginning of the song, it was intended for someone whom I hurt."

"And did they accept the apology?" Ellen asked quickly now that Blaine had shown a willingness to go in that direction. Nothing could stop the way Ellen's foot on the end of her crossed leg had started to bounce.

Blaine smiled and the audience cheered excitedly. He couldn't help the blush that came to his cheeks and he changed his position in the chair. "Yeah, he accepted my apology."

"Good! Good! So, it's a happy ending then for Blaine Anderson?"

Blaine laughed along with her as the audience cheered, wolf whistled and clapped once again. "Yes, yes we've had a happy ending."

"Well, that's good to hear," Ellen said patting Blaine's hand, and with that she moved the conversation on, "So do you have any other different songs under your belt?"

Kurt's heart was beating loudly and he was sure no one could miss the shiny gleam on his forehead. He had indeed started to sweat. Santana reached for his hand and gave Kurt an encouraging smile. His heart had been in his throat when the conversation had gone dangerously close to their relationship. They both startled as Santana's phone suddenly beeped. She pulled it free and her face changed to delighted surprise.

"I'm sorry, Kurt," Santana said rising to her feet. "I have to take this."

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Santana responded. "Just someone from my past that's unexpected."

Santana turned to the bathroom and closed the door behind her, eager to have this conversation in private. "Brittany?" she asked trying to keep her voice steady.

Kurt leaned back on the sofa. He was still feeling a little uncomfortable but for the most part, everything was going well so far. Blaine's interview would soon come to an end and then he would head straight off to start on the pranks. Kurt picked up the magazine that Santana had been flicking through earlier while the audience went about dancing to DJ Tony's music.

His own phone suddenly began to ring. Kurt pulled it free and glanced down unaware that it was going to be another one of those moments where his life was going to change completely.

"Rachel!" Kurt asked, surprised to be hearing from her when she knew they were going to be busy all afternoon.

"Are you in front of a TV?" she asked urgently, her voice filled with panic.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Kurt, just turn it on to Channel 28!"

"What's going on?" He rose to his feet curious as to what had gotten her so wound up.

"Just do it!"

Kurt picked up the remote, changed the channel and stared at the screen in confusion as he tried to figure out just what he was looking at.

"Blaine Anderson fans have not been able to contain their excitement since Blaine's performance at the VMAs the other night. While his new sound was a pleasant surprise everyone is also wondering at just who Blaine Anderson was trying to woo that night. Well, we might have some answers. From this raw footage that has just been obtained, could this young, handsome individual caught giving Blaine a more than a welcoming hello at this Ritz-Carlton's lavish café just before noon today, be that guy?"

Kurt's mouth hung open in absolute terror, for there, for the whole world to see was a shaky video recording of him walking up behind Blaine and kissing Blaine on the cheek. The video continued and even included Blaine's shoulder nudging and Kurt kissing the back of his hand while their fingers had been entwined.

"So just who is Blaine's lover? Who is this individual who has been capable to take Blaine Anderson off the market? And is this new man responsible for Blaine's new sound. Can he keep Blaine on the straight and narrow? Is changing Blaine's image a good thing? So many questions for us to ask right now, we might not know who this mysterious man is who has captured famous rocker Blaine Anderson, but the pair certainly do look happy. Let's wish them all the happiness and we'll be watching."

It was Kurt's first ever experience with the paparazzi. His insides churned. A piece of his private life had been stolen from him and put on display for the world to see.

"Whatever you do, don't come home!" Rachel suddenly screeched.

"What's going on, Rachel?" Kurt cried.

"It looks like someone has leaked your name and now there's a dodgy van outside your apartment building and some other rough looking men with cameras."

"What!" Kurt gasped. "Someone leaked my name? How is that even possible?" Kurt shook his head, the realization hitting him. He didn't even need to ask that question. It was obvious what had happened.

Sebastian.

Sebastian was responsible for this.

"Welcome to the world of dating a celebrity," Rachel told him grimly. "It must have been Sebastian," she speculated as well, confirming Kurt's fears. "I'm keeping an eye on it, don't worry, everything is going to be alright."

A painful pressure began to build behind Kurt's eyes at the sudden onset of a stress headache. He had no idea what he should do. If he couldn't go home, where would he go?

"Oh, crap!" Rachel gasped and Kurt was almost too afraid to ask what had happened now.

"What?" he stammered weakly.

"Change your TV channel to 51," Rachel demanded.

Kurt obeyed only to find, to his horror, that another gossip show was also running an article. He went sick to the stomach as he stared at the TV screen.

"What!!!" he cried. "How is this possible?"

It had taken him a moment to realize what he was looking at, to process the second grainy image before him. But once he realized, once it struck home, there was no denying it. The video was of Kevin and himself kissing under the tree, all those months ago.

What was the meaning of this monstrosity, a video of Kevin and him? Why?! Why and who would do such a thing? This had to have been the video that Blaine had told him about when they had stayed in the hotel. No wonder Blaine had been hurt! Kurt didn't understand how this video existed but all he knew was that his perceived position of himself in the world had suddenly shifted and an unprecedented paranoia quickly rushed over him. If there was footage of him from back then, were there others?

Kurt shook his head and tried to focus on what the article was saying. It wasn't a good idea. The last article had at least been positive, but this one, this one was tainted with negative overtones and dared to question Kurt's integrity.

"Looks like Blaine's mystery man is as much as a player as Blaine Anderson. Our source has informed us that Blaine's lover, Kurt Hummel, seems to be renowned for breaking hearts all over the country. Not only with this individual under the tree but reports have come in of a scandalous affair with a lecturer at the infamous New York School of Interior Design. Not much else is known about this Kurt Hummel at this stage but it raises the question of whether Blaine Anderson is just heading for more trouble."

Kurt believed he was going to throw up. His emotions were swirling within him and he was suddenly hit with a rush of dizziness. He dropped his phone and collapsed to the ground scrunching his legs close to his body before he wrapped his arms around his knees. He tried to draw himself in, making himself as small as he possibly could. How on Earth could this be happening? Not only had Sebastian leaked his name but he had also revealed parts of Kurt's past that he was only just coming to terms with. How did he even know about these details? Blaine must have told Sebastian, that was the only way. And now the whole world was going to know about his past relationships and make up new ones, painting him as an easy player.

Sebastian's threat from that morning rang loud in Kurt's ears. Oh shit, could Sebastian play mean! Kurt could be vicious and sharp tongued when he had to be, but this kind of deception and attack was way beyond him. This was so far out of his league it wasn't funny. How on Earth was Kurt meant to retaliate against such an attack? The truth was he couldn't! He didn't have connections like Sebastian. And Sebastian knew this! Kurt was not in any kind of position where he could clear his name.

Kurt tugged at his collar, unbuttoning the top as he struggled to breathe. He tried to gasp in a big breath of air but he truly believed that nothing made its way inside. His chest tightened and his hand clawed at his throat as he tried to get any small amount of precious oxygen that he could, into his lungs.

"Kurt!" The sound of Rachel's frantic, faint calls of his name on the other end of the phone reached his ears. She must have been screaming his name from her end for Kurt to have been able to hear her. He closed his eyes, focused on her voice and tried to silence every other maddening thought racing through his mind. His chest rose and fell more naturally, and when he believed he wasn't going to pass out from a lack of oxygen, Kurt reached over and put the phone onto loud speaker.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Rachel cried unaware that Kurt could now hear her clearly. "Look, don't worry, I might not have dealt with Blaine's publicity personally but it's not that bad. They haven't said anything too defamatory. Just don't panic. We'll sit down with Blaine and his people." His people!? Kurt swallowed down more fear. Blaine had 'people' who were going to help out this situation? Rachel continued, "and then you can decide what the pair of you want to do. Is Blaine off stage yet? Does he know what's happened?" Kurt still didn't respond. He only rocked himself back and forth. "Shit! I'll be there soon, don't move!"

Rachel hung up. Kurt hadn't been able to say a word. His body swayed, back and forth, lost in a trance as he tried to put his thoughts into any kind of rational order. He stayed there for nearly a minute slowly rocking until he realized that the highlights of the article that he had watched just minutes ago, was being replayed. More horror sunk in. This wasn't going to be shown just once. This was Blaine Anderson world famous rock star after all!! These articles were going to be played over and over, and these people, Kurt realized, these people would not stop until they had picked and pulled out every last detail of Kurt Hummel they could find. They knew about his past relationships. They knew where he lived! They had followed him!

Kurt leapt to his feet. There was only one thing that he could do. He leaned over viciously and smacked his hand over the corner of the TV turning it off. Silence fell over the room except for Santana's muffled words coming from the bathroom.

Fear, pulsating, pounding, deafening fear coursed through Kurt's body so loudly he couldn't hear anything else but the whir of it as it pumped through his veins. In all the scenarios that he played in his head, he could not see how this could be fixed. No matter what Blaine might say, no matter what Rachel might do, or no matter what 'Blaine's people'- whoever the hell they were - thought they could fix, nothing would be able to take back what had been said. And then another thought hit Kurt and he wanted to curl up even tighter and hide from the world altogether. People he knew from home, his father, his old classmates, people who had hated him, they would all eventually end up hearing about this at some time or another.

Kurt stood trying to gain an even breath, the overbearing natural instinct to run, taking over. He desperately needed Blaine there right at that moment, to tell him that everything was going to be alright. But he was still on the stage. He wasn't there. He wasn't there.

Santana opened the bathroom door, a warm unexpected buzz tingling through her. Receiving a phone call from Brittany had been terrifying, mostly because she was worried that something bad had happened to her. Fortunately, it had been the opposite. Brittany was on her way to LA and wanted to meet.

Santana smiled to herself and then came to a stop, taking in the empty room before her. Kurt must have snuck off to have a quick chat with Blaine after he got off stage. Her smile faltered though as she sensed a shift in the room now that she was standing in the middle of it. The energy had changed somehow. She tried to shrug it off and think rationally. Kurt wouldn't go far without Blaine. She walked towards the TV but side-stepped to the right when she saw Kurt's phone on the ground. Frowning, she leant down and picked it up. Odd? She paused, a prickling sensation running over her neck, and this time, she was unable to shift the thought that something terrible had happened.

It's odd sometimes how the slightest shift, or a blink of an eye, or breath of air can change everything. Santana suddenly sneezed and her head dropped forward from the force of it, but it was as she opened her eyes from her new position that she caught the sight of a large hand print smudged over the bottom right corner of the TV. She frowned, reached for the remote and turned the TV on.

Santana took a step back in confusion as she found herself staring at a close up picture of Kurt. Her head tilted to the side, her mouth slightly open and her quirky, confused frown that often found its way to her forehead appeared as she tried to register just what was going on.

Santana's jaw hit the floor. No way!

She spun on her heels for the door but everything in her bones told her that she was too late. No amount of looking backstage was going to help her.

Kurt was already gone.

Betty met Blaine as soon as he walked off stage, a bottle of water held out for him to take. He took it swiftly, gasped a 'thanks' and chugged it back as he walked. He was pleased with how the interview had gone. It was probably the best interview he had completed in two years.

"How long have I got?" he asked, secretly hoping he could sneak in a quick hello and kiss to Kurt before he moved on to the room where Ellen's pranks were going to take place.

"Five minutes," Betty informed him.

"I'm just gonna," Blaine pointed in the direction of where his dressing room was situated.

Betty tried to contain her wry smile but she wasn't very successful. "Better make it quick," she advised, but just as Blaine's body prepared to move, Betty quickly reached out and clasped her fingers around Blaine's arm. She paused listening to her earpiece. "Sorry Blaine, Ellen wants you in the room now. She wants to quickly run over some things before the audience stops dancing to this song."

Blaine's shoulders dropped but it was alright. He would see Kurt as soon as the hour was over. He nodded to Betty and followed her until she led him through to an identical dressing room to the one he had been in earlier.

"Ellen will be with you in a moment."

"Thanks," Blaine said. The door closed quietly behind him and Blaine turned in a slow circle, swinging his arms gently all too aware that this room was filled with cameras and microphones to capture every single moment of Ellen's prank. He wondered at which unsuspecting soul would walk through his door in the next few minutes and chuckled. Blaine was in a good mood and he was looking forward to having some fun.

He waited for twenty seconds, then another thirty more, waiting just for Ellen to start talking to him but nothing came. Blaine sighed and looked for the TV remote feeling all too fidgety. He started to flick through the channels while he mused. He could have gone to see Kurt after all. The wonderful warm feeling that he had started to develop whenever he thought of Kurt, started to begin again. Just the thought of knowing that Kurt was there, somewhere close, was the most satisfying feeling to have. That Kurt was someone that loved him, despite of everything else Blaine had done, that Kurt loved him for what he really was, a human being like everybody else.

Blaine's fingers continued to press the channel button on the remote not really registering anything at all, until, wait... Blaine stopped and went back. What was Kurt's picture doing on the TV?

Blaine gasped and his world shifted as if he had hit by the full force of an earthquake's initial jolting wave. He staggered backwards from the strength of it, his legs hitting the sofa behind him and he fell to the seat as his knees collapsed.

Oh! Oh! Oh!

There was no doubt who was responsible for this, no doubt at all because Blaine had screwed up one night and poured his heart out to Sebastian. Blaine had revealed what Kurt had told him about what had happened in New York. And in his drunken state, Blaine had told Sebastian how the news of it had only made Blaine ache inside even more, that he wanted to be with Kurt, to protect him and give him the real relationship that Kurt deserved.

Blaine started to feel nauseated. What if Kurt had seen this article already? Panic began to rise up inside of him and his palms began to sweat. Where was Kurt now or even Santana for that matter? He looked at the door and was just about to leap to his feet when Ellen's voice suddenly came into his earpiece.

"Sorry Blaine, we're not going to have a chance to run over this. You're just going to have to follow what I say," Ellen told him quickly. "You're going to be asking the delivery people who come into the dressing room for singing advice, that's the plan. Try to get them singing and doing all crazy stuff with their voices, alright? I'll be giving you instructions on what to say the whole way through, so don't worry!"

Blaine was on his feet. He had to find Kurt. Would he have time?

"Are you ready, Blaine?" Ellen's voice almost had tinge or urgency to it. "Your first guest is being walked through the building as I speak."

Blaine rested his head in his hand resigning to the fact that he was now on camera and people were waiting. But to hell with it! The old Blaine Anderson wouldn't have cared. He would have stormed out of the room, probably swearing his head off in the process and not looked back. He reached for the door handle just as several loud and impatient knocks pounded through from the other side.

Blaine's eyebrows went up in surprise. Just what kind of delivery person had they sent?

"Who is it?" Blaine asked.

"It's Sebastian."

Blaine stopped. Sebastian? Now, of all times, Sebastian had to knock on the door?

But maybe...

Blaine looked over his shoulder, his mind racing. This could actually be a good thing, Sebastian being on the other side of this door, right at this very moment. It was as if fate had stepped in and told Blaine it had to be so.

"Ellen! Ellen!" Blaine stated frantically. "You're recording now?"

"We sure are!"

"Whatever happens in the next five minutes, before the first delivery person gets here, promise me, promise me you'll keep recording."

Ellen paused for just one moment before she answered cautiously, "Okay, Blaine."

Trying to contain his shaking hands, Blaine opened the door.

Their eyes locked fiercely. Two strong minded men with their own opinions and both disgruntled with the way the other had been behaving. Blaine tightened his grip on the door handle, this could get messy.

"What are you doing here, Sebastian?" Blaine managed his voice shaking.

"What do you think? I'm your manager," Sebastian stated arrogantly shoving past Blaine and allowing himself into the room. "You said yourself that we were going to talk today." He gave Blaine the once over and his eyes filled with disdain. "I guess Kurt can get you all spruced up after all."

Blaine's insides curled up and he clenched his fists as Sebastian sank down onto the couch and crossed his legs making himself at home. It was as Blaine had suspected. Sebastian had no idea that he was in a dressing room that had cameras and microphones on.

Blaine took a deep breath to steady himself. It was probably for the best that this conversation was going to be recorded. The cameras would help Blaine to control himself for he was actually scared by the anger that he had raging through his veins. Never before had he despised or wanted to hurt someone like he wanted to hurt Sebastian Smythe. But today, Blaine would have to let his brain do the work and leave his instinctual urge to pound his fist into Sebastian face far behind. No, what Blaine was going to do was going to be far better than any muscle Blaine could deliver. It was safe for him to assume that their conversation would never be aired, but the audience in the studio would be enough and Ellen would be enough. She would ensure that at least the right people would be aware of what kind of vicious, horrible, deceiving scumbag Sebastian was. And if at all possible, Blaine was going to try and redeem the situation for Kurt and put him in a positive light as well.

Blaine took another deep breath. He wanted to be composed and ready to say all the things that he had committed himself to. Could he really do this? Blaine paused and smiled to himself. Yes, yes he could.

He turned and faced Sebastian straight on. "You have some nerve showing up here now."

"What do you mean?" Sebastian asked, trying to look innocent even though he couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.

"You know exactly what I mean, Sebastian!" Blaine shouted. "The articles that are playing today about the person I love! Just what the hell were you thinking?"

"I was just giving Kurt a little idea of what the real world is all about. He needed to know what he was going to be in for. That's all."

"Bullshit!" Blaine hissed. "You were trying to scare him off. You couldn't let us settle and be together before everyone else found out. You couldn't let us get comfortable and be established in our relationship before you had to meddle. You couldn't let it go, could you? You've always trying to cause trouble for me!"

Sebastian scoffed. "I think you do a good enough job yourself on that front. Kurt is nothing but bad news for you."

"How can you say that?" Blaine demanded loudly still in disbelief at how Sebastian could be so blind. "He is the best thing that has ever happened to me!"

"Best thing?" Sebastian asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes," Blaine answered before Sebastian had time to add more. "He's made me happy and he's nothing like the picture you have painted of him in the media. How dare you! All you've been doing since day one is trying to keep us apart."

"Oh God, Blaine! Stop being so dramatic," Sebastian admonished rolling his eyes. "I have not been trying to keep the two of you apart."

"You don't think you've been trying to do that?" Blaine asked, trying to contain his excitement. He nearly had Sebastian right where he wanted him. "What did you say to Kurt that morning, when I stayed over at his house? What did you say to him when I was in the shower? I want to hear all of it."

Sebastian remained quiet and eyed Blaine angrily.

"Come on," Blaine antagonized, "I want you to say the words and tell me what you did to him, since of course you haven't been trying to keep us apart." Blaine stepped forward but he tried not to be too menacing. He wanted Sebastian to say it for all those people to hear. "Be a man, be honest for once and tell me exactly what you did."

Sebastian rolled his eyes as if he was bored with the whole conversation and the fact that he believed that any notions of love were far beneath him. "Oh, for goodness sake, Blaine! So what, I told some lies to Kurt and I said that you and I were fucking."

Blaine cringed, that was the last thing he wanted the audience to hear. No one had ever suspected that a relationship had existed between Sebastian and him. It could be more fuel to the fire. Blaine decided to press on hoping that Ellen and the audience wouldn't give it too much attention. "What else did you say?"

Sebastian sighed and continued in a bored sing-a-song manner. "I said that Kurt was just a game to you or something that you needed to get out of your system, and that we would be laughing at him after we had hit the sack again."

"And..." Blaine asked through clenched teeth.

Sebastian sighed again. "Oh, yes, let's see. I lied to my friends over at TMZ and told them all this nasty stuff about Kurt. He had it coming, Blaine, because really if that sweet, innocent thing really wants to play with the big guys, he really needs to toughen up." Sebastian picked up his phone in a clear statement that he was done talking.

Blaine turned away gasping for breath. He was so close, so close to losing it but he had to remind himself. What Sebastian had revealed put all the guilt on him now.

Sebastian chuckled to himself as he glided through his phone, oblivious to how his every word had just been heard by Ellen and a whole studio of guests. He was far more concerned with Twitter and other social media that were already exploding. Fans didn't know what to think. First Kurt with Blaine, then Kurt under the tree with another man; it was a mess. Sebastian was really impressed with himself. "I really had no idea that sending Hunter after Kurt to try and get some dubious shots would work out so well." Sebastian started to laugh, "Paid off way better than I ever thought it would. Kurt kissing that guy under the tree, yeah, you got a good man there, Blaine," Sebastian crooned sarcastically.

"So it was you that was responsible for the video." Blaine shook his head. "He only kissed that man because he thought I was taken and I had lied to him." Blaine turned his back on Sebastian and tried to count to ten to calm himself again.

"You've tried to ruin him," Blaine said softly gazing at Sebastian's reflection through the vanity mirror in the corner of the room. "You've painted him as a bad guy when he is nothing of the sort."

Something shifted in Sebastian's eyes as if he really understood for the first time what was playing out since he had walked into the dressing room. That here, now, Sebastian was close to being finished and Sebastian suddenly decided that he had had enough. It was now or never. Someone had to talk some sense into Blaine. He rose to his feet and moved to stand behind him. "Look, just man up. You don't get what's this is all about do you?"

Blaine turned to face him. "No, for once please enlighten me, Sebastian. Please explain why you are so against us."

"No one wants to see a rock star falling in love, Blaine. They don't want to see you swooning and romancing your way around the world. They want rock stars who are out there every night hooking up with other celebrities, they want to see you causing trouble in bars and nightclubs and out on the streets, and getting away with it. You're meant to be their idol. They want to be like you. They want to have that life but they know they can't."

Blaine was seething trying as best he could to contain the full wrath of his anger. "You're wrong, you're so wrong! But are you sure that that is the only reason why you are so annoyed by my wanting to be with Kurt?"

Sebastian stopped for a moment, unsure for the first time as to whether he should be honest. Despite their tendency over the past couple of months to argue and nit-pick, he had always been sure that Blaine did have feelings for him. He went to speak but stopped. It was too late though, Blaine had seen the shift in Sebastian's eyes, that unmistakable wonder.

"You're so wrong, Sebastian," Blaine said softly and he slowly turned away.

The door to the dressing room quietly opened but it was enough to interrupt their tense standoff.

It was Santana. She crept quietly into the room and closed the door behind her. It was time, she believed, to be really worried. Kurt had truly vanished of the face of the Earth. She was so worried in fact she had actually pushed Betty aside just so she could get into the room. Santana didn't care who she had to trample over however, she had to let Blaine know. It wasn't like he was on stage or anything. Her first role as close friend to Blaine was to ensure she stood by him in his time of need, and he was going to need a loyal friend when he realized that Kurt had gone missing.

Santana stepped towards Blaine. He caught her in the corner of his eye and jerked his head up to look at her.

"Kurt's gone," she said softly worried of how he was going to react. "He saw these articles about himself on the TV, and he's gone!"

Santana stopped. She had never seen Blaine look so angry before, but then, Blaine's expression changed and it was as if he was looking at Santana for the first time. He suddenly spun his head back to Sebastian.

"You're fired!" Blaine spat.

Sebastian laughed merrily and crossed his arms elegantly over his chest. He did it with too much flourish, arrogantly so. "If you remember Blaine that's not possible, you have me under contract."

"I'm sure under the right legal guidance, they will determine that you have broken some of your obligations, and besides," Blaine continued with a quick flick of his head in Santana's direction. "I have a new manager. Santana is going to be my manager from now on."

"I am?!" Santana asked in surprise. Blaine gave her an encouraging nod and she swallowed her shock before stating firmly, "I am!"

"Well, your career is over," Sebastian argued looking down his nose in Santana's direction. "Here I am trying to dig you out of the hole you've made for yourself and all you're doing is digging yourself deeper."

Sebastian glanced back and forth between the two and seeing that neither was going to shift he sighed loudly. His hands tugged at his jacket straightening his appearance. "This isn't over Blaine," he said quietly. "You'll be hearing from my lawyers."

"It's a weak threat, Sebastian. Musicians leave the managers over conflicts of interest all the time."

Sebastian held his chin high and narrowed his eyes, and it was just at that moment that Kurt's face reappeared on the TV again. Sebastian stared at his image before turning abruptly towards the door.

"Just one last thing Blaine," Sebastian said stopping in the hallway. "Let me know when you do get sick of him. Kurt might be soft on the inside but he must be incredible in bed to have you so obsessed with him. I wouldn't mind seeing if I could make him scream, see if I can wreck him, see if I can turn him into my own little whore."

And with that Sebastian stalked away.

Blaine stood there in shock. Santana watched him, and just when she thought he was going to let Sebastian get away with such a comment, Blaine reached up to his ear piece and pulled it free.

"Hold this for me," he said quietly, so quietly and so coldly Santana wouldn't have been able to refuse even if she had wanted to. He laid it gently in her hands.

He followed after Sebastian with steady even strides, out into the hallway away from the cameras and away from the microphones. He didn't care whether any of Ellen's people saw what he was about to do, there was no way he was going to let anyone talk about Kurt like that.

"Sebastian," Blaine ordered walking up behind him, ignoring the people backstage who were sticking their heads around the corners to watch what was taking place.

Sebastian turned around his hands coming to his hips, another annoyed and bothered expression on his face. "What is it now, Blaine? Changed your mind already?"

Blaine didn't stop in his stride. He lifted his clenched fist and delivered the hardest and meanest punch to Sebastian's jaw. The sound of his knuckles meeting Sebastian's skin echoed down the hallway and without another word, Sebastian fell to the ground. He was out stone cold.

Blaine shook his hand, trying to ease the throb out of his knuckles. But it was the most satisfying throb he had ever felt. Sebastian was going to have one hell of a headache when he woke up.

He sensed Santana at his back. "Have you tried calling Kurt?" he asked his thoughts already turning back to what was most important.

"No. He left his phone behind, Blaine."

Blaine's shoulders dropped. This was worse than he thought. "What about Rachel?"

"I called her and she's waiting out the front of the studios. She can't get in but she hasn't seen Kurt either."

"He could have left before she got here. What about Mercedes?" Blaine asked hopefully.

Santana shook her head. "I called her as well. She said she'd call if she heard from him."

Blaine gazed at Santana and she trembled at the fear she saw in the depths of his eyes. After everything he had been through, could Blaine really lose Kurt now, with this?

Blaine raked his hand through his hair thinking wildly at how he could possibly fix this. There had to be some way to get Kurt's attention again. All of a sudden, he grabbed Santana's hand and retrieved his ear piece. He quickly shoved it back into place. "Ellen!" he shouted. "Did you get all of that?"

"OW! Blaine, too loud! And yes, we sure did. We got all of it," Ellen responded. "Even got the punch in the hallway. Nice shot!"

"I'm so sorry, Ellen but I need one last favour."

"Sure, Blaine, what do you need?"

"Are you filming right now?"

"No, we went to a break, everyone's dancing." Ellen gave a chuckle. "They're dancing for you actually. They loved the action in the hallway."

"I'm not celebrating, Ellen. I need to find Kurt. I'm going to come back out to you. I have a plan."

Blaine ran, following the corridor while he explained what he wanted to do. He came out onto the stage and stood beside Ellen. The music cut away and the audience started to scream when they realized that Blaine had returned to Ellen's side. He tried to wave them down, to get them seated, he had to act straightaway. A wasted second was a second that Kurt could move further away from him.

Blaine continued to signal for everyone to quieten, placing his finger over his mouth and motioning for everyone to sit down with his other hand. It took a couple of minutes but eventually people began to pay attention, and with one or two more wolf whistles being blown, the audience finally started to pay attention.

"Listen up, everyone!" Ellen spoke to her rowdy and excited audience. "It's time to get Blaine's man back." She turned expectantly to Blaine, "They're all yours."

Blaine didn't hesitate. "Everyone take out your phones, turn them on and get recording. I want to send the love of my life a message and I want to see this on every single social media website that exists so we can get his attention!"

Blaine tried to wait patiently as the audience suddenly burst into action. People started searching for their phones, pulling them out of the clothes or rummaging for them in their bags. A loud hum ran through the studio as they chatted and talked excitedly amongst themselves.

Blaine signalled for quiet once more and when he had nearly two hundred phones pointed in his direction, he began to speak.

"Kurt! I love you and I'm so sorry that this blew up the way it did. Sebastian will never bother you again. I've just fired him and Santana is going to be my manager from now on. I want the whole world to know just what an amazing and wonderful person you are. I've never met someone so honest and sincere in my entire life. It's written. We're meant to be together." Blaine paused for a second and he stepped closer to the audience. "Kurt, if you see this and you still want to be with me, I want you to meet me at the entrance of where I took you that day, that special place that I go to when I want to be alone. The place I shared with you. Be with me." Blaine glanced at his watch. "Meet me there today at five o'clock. I love you, Kurt."

Blaine didn't say anything after he finished. The stress of the moment was too overwhelming. He looked at the ground, his hands clenched together in front of his face, his body shaking. Ellen walked up behind him and patted his back gently, but when she spoke, she spoke to the audience.

"Okay guys, that's the message. I want to see that out there, on everything. Let the world know and hopefully, just hopefully, Kurt will see it."

Blaine heard the audience begin to cheer and more excited raucousness continued around him as everyone started to play with their phones uploading their videos to the Internet.

"Do you have far to go?" Ellen asked quietly in Blaine's ear.

"Yes."

"Then go Blaine! It's fine. We'll easily find something else to cover for the rest of the show." Ellen opened her arms and gave Blaine a warm hug, patting him reassuringly on the back again. "But I want the full story when you get back," she joked.

Blaine laughed, "You can have every single word. If not, you can help put my heart back together again."

"It won't come to that," she tried to comfort him. "You should go."

Blaine nodded in appreciation and turned to leave.

"Good luck!" Ellen shouted after him.

The audience heard her shout of encouragement and they began to voice their support in his direction as well. Blaine waved a final salute, mouthed a 'thank you' and ran off the stage, the sound of the audience's cheers following him down the corridor.

"Okay, so once everyone's got that, we'll also get our guys on it and we'll get it straight onto YouTube." Ellen's words were the last thing for Blaine to hear as he ripped off his ear piece again. He grabbed Santana as he ran past and she yelped as she was tugged after him.

"Come on, you're driving!" He said over his shoulder, somehow summoning the courage to flash a smile to go with his words. "I'm going to get one of those videos and send it on to everyone I know while you drive."

"Not a problem boss," Santana replied, struggling to keep up with him in her heels.

It must have been the stress but Blaine managed a laugh in response.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Blaine cried just as Santana pulled out of the Warner Bros. Studios.

"Over there! Rachel and Finn!"

Santana screeched to a stop and grimaced knowing the car behind them was going to have to put their brakes on hard as well. She waited for the impact but fortunately it never came. The car instead, honked its horn furiously and swerved around them before continuing on. Blaine was oblivious. He undid his seatbelt, opened the car door and ran towards the pair.

"Do you know where he is?" Blaine asked reaching where Rachel and Finn were standing. "Did you find him?"

"No!" Rachel exclaimed worriedly. "Finn and I just got here maybe fifteen minutes ago. You still haven't found him?"

"Gah!" Blaine spun on heels straight back to Santana's car. "Check the Internet!" he shouted over his shoulder.

"What?!" Rachel cried from behind. "What do you mean?"

Blaine's hand was already on the passenger door of the car. "If you want to know what's going on, get in and come with us, quickly!!!"

Finn and Rachel didn't hesitate. They ran to Santana's car and clambered over the back seat.

"Would someone tell us what's going on!" Finn demanded.

"In a moment," Blaine said swivelling around in his seat so he could look at the pair now sitting behind him. "Can you call Mercedes and see if she's got an update."

Finn pulled out his phone, the urgency in Blaine's voice compelling him to honour his request.

"Blaine," Rachel breathed placing her hand on his over the back of the seat. "I was on the phone to Kurt when he saw the articles. I, I, called him to tell him about them."

Blaine shook his head, "This is not your fault. This was all Sebastian's doing, but don't worry about him, he's out of the picture now." Santana's and Blaine's eyes met for an instant before he continued, "I think Kurt ran, I think he saw the clips and panicked." He held onto the upholstery as Santana turned sharply speeding to make a light. When the car straightened up again, Blaine began to explain to Rachel and Finn just what he had done on The Ellen Show, Finn listening while he repeatedly tried to dial through to Mercedes.

Blaine finished talking and Finn lowered his phone, sighing. "I've tried Mercedes' phone but she's not answering."

"Keep trying," Rachel begged. She leaned towards the front of the car again. "We'll find him Blaine, we will, I promise."

"So, would you care to elaborate," Santana asked as she changed gears, rounding a corner before the car headed onto the freeway. "Where exactly are we going?"

"Angeles National Forest," Blaine informed her. "There's a place where I go to sometimes. I took Kurt there once."

"Oh Blaine, such a hidden romantic! Who would have thought?" she teased looking over her shoulder as she merged into the traffic. She put her foot down and passed several slow cars. "We'll get there way before five if we stay at this pace."

"I hope so."

"Are you sure he'll make it by five though?" Santana asked with a quick, worried glance in his direction.

"The video is out there now," Blaine stated his eyes on the road before him. "It's in fate's hands. I can only hope he sees it and still wants to be with me."

"Don't worry. We can wait all night if we have to. I'm sure he'll turn up." They were both silent for a moment, listening to Rachel and Finn as they talked in the back.

"Have you got Sam's number?" Finn asked.

"No, I've never needed it before," Rachel replied.

Santana decided to distract Blaine, "On another note, I don't know if you were serious before but you do realize that I don't have any idea on how to be someone's manager."

"I was absolutely serious," Blaine confirmed his face set with fierce determination. "And I know that you don't have the experience, but you're smart, loyal and can think out of the box. My new sound needs a new team and I'm quite happy for us to work it out together. So what do you think?"

Santana's face filled with a beaming smile. "I'm all yours."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Mercedes asked softly, the noise of the coffee shop a loud din behind her.

Kurt nodded and looked up from the cardboard box he was sitting on. The back storage room had become his sanctuary, the only place where he could sit in silence and collect himself since he couldn't go back to his apartment.

"Yeah, I'm okay," he answered feebly.

Mercedes entered the storage room and sat on a box opposite to Kurt while Sam stood guard ensuring that none of the other coffee shop employees tried to bother them. "And you're absolutely sure about your decision?" Mercedes asked watching him closely. "Because, you know we're your friends, Kurt. We'll support you either way."

"I know, I know." Kurt looked away unable to meet her eyes. "I'm not going to change my mind though," he whispered, tears coming to his eyes. He blinked them back hoping that Mercedes hadn't seen.

She looked away allowing him a moment to regain his strength. The silence continued and Mercedes maintained her vigilant watch over him, waiting, giving him time, trying to preserve the calm that she had finally managed to create. He had been frantic when he had first arrived.

"Did you manage to get through to my Dad?" Kurt asked after several minutes.

Mercedes nodded. "He knows and he's waiting for you. He said you can call whenever you're ready. He'll be there." She paused just one last time before looking at the bag beside Sam's feet. "Sam brought everything you asked for."

Kurt gave a weak smile, "Thanks." He looked up towards the door. "Sam," he spoke calmly. "How fast can you drive?"

"Fast."

"Good, I need to get away from all of this."

Mercedes held out her hand for Kurt to take, "Let's go."

Blaine stepped out of the car, his heart pounding in anticipation. He spun in a slow circle, the green of the trees and the forest beyond the initial front line blurring together as his eyes sought for only one thing: Kurt. He spun twice, the dirt car park where he had stopped Kurt's car three months ago completely empty.

Blaine kicked the ground and his hand came up to rub his chin.

The all-pervading silence was overwhelming. It was echoing in his heart, turning him cold. He glanced at his watch and took a deep breath. They were early. It was only 4.30pm. There was still half an hour to wait.

Santana, Finn and Rachel waited patiently in the car, their doors open while they chatted quietly amongst themselves. They didn't talk to Blaine while he paced back and forth fretting over whether Kurt would show. They watched him though, keeping a mindful eye on him to ensure that he didn't become too stressed. Rachel glanced at Finn and Santana and they nodded in return. They were all prepared to help pick up the pieces of Blaine's heart if they needed to.

Blaine was so wound up. He walked to the road to look up and down the hill that they had come up earlier. He glanced frequently at the darkening sky and he even walked up and down the start of the path they had used when Kurt and he had set off on their hike. He was trying to do anything to make the minutes pass more quickly.

No one said a word when five o'clock came and went. Everyone just tried to ignore it. It was only when the clock struck six o'clock that Santana finally braved to walk over towards Blaine.

She swallowed uncertainly, the pain in Blaine's eyes radiating through the dim light.

He hadn't come. He hadn't come.

Blaine's eyes fell to the dirt beneath his feet.

"What do you want to do?" Santana asked softly.

Kurt wound down the window in the passenger seat of the car allowing the soft breeze outside to touch his face. The setting sun was warm on his skin and he welcomed it, letting the light seep through to behind his eyes so the only thing he could see were the thoughts in his head.

Love, in the sense of sharing two hearts, came in many shapes and forms. Kurt knew that now. He had only been searching for his true love for a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, but he had already experienced different versions of love, and experienced the different consequences that could derive from them.

Mark. In the end, Kurt was going to have to let go there. Remorse, shame and regret would rot his heart otherwise. And revenge, well revenge was not always feasible and in this instance, it was painfully out of reach. And even if it were achievable, Kurt sensed it wouldn't leave the satisfactory taste in his mouth that he would hope for. Kurt, however, didn't even think of revenge anymore when it came to Mark for Kurt had learned something else. That sometimes, not needing revenge was the best kind of revenge there was. He honestly didn't care that Mark and his lecturer were still together. Kurt had moved on.

Even Kevin, a different kind of love, a love that existed between two lonely hearts trying to find what they needed, but failing miserably because they were clearly in the wrong place. He couldn't hold any regrets or remorse for that failed relationship either. Kurt now understood that he wasn't a person who could be with a friend. He needed the passion of a lover, and he wasn't afraid to admit it because Kurt knew who he was, after all this time, he knew. Under all that structure and planning, Kurt was also a romantic, a dreamer, a passionate person who felt things deeply, and he wasn't ashamed of that.

And then there was Blaine, the fierce lover who had come along out of the blue and had captured Kurt's heart right from the start. The fierce lover who had turned out to be more and everything that Kurt could have ever hoped for. When their eyes had connected, a life's story had been shared. When their fingertips had pressed together, they had exchanged all of the feelings within their hearts. And when their two noses had met in an Eskimo's kiss, it had been more intimate than any other form of love-making.

But what Kurt had realized most of all, was that finding love wasn't the greatest challenge. The greatest challenge was the outside world. It would do anything to interfere and meddle. Sometimes life would throw everything against Kurt and the whole world would tell him to stay away from Blaine for his own good. Being in love with Blaine, the world told him, was dangerous and not his place.

Sometimes, just sometimes, the world was right.

Kurt knew that now.

He stepped out of the car, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, his bag in his hand. The gravel under his feet crunched softly and he looked to the sky. The sun would set soon. He looked over his shoulder at his friends one last time and gave them a nod before he turned back around.

Sometimes, sometimes though, the world could be wrong as well.

Because sometimes those passionate loves are so passionate that the fire and the drive in each of them just needs time before they can settle and align properly.

"Hi, Blaine."

Blaine let out a long relieved breath of air. His eyes welled up and a lump formed in his throat.

"Hi, Kurt."

They stood apart from each other, staring, a soft smile on each other's faces until Kurt finally spoke again.

"I, urr, saw what you did," he stated, a quirky amused expression on his face.

"I had to!" Blaine said quickly. "And it worked didn't it?"

"Blaine," Kurt stepped forward and he took Blaine's hand in his. "I wasn't running."

"You weren't?" Blaine suddenly looked confused. "But, where did you go?!"

"Well," Kurt swallowed unsteadily. "I actually left Ellen's studio with the plan of getting some more clothes so I could stay at your place for the weekend, you know, since Rachel had told me that the paparazzi was staked outside of my apartment. I had hoped to be back in time before you finished. I knew Mercedes was working so I went to the coffee shop since I couldn't go home, and since I left my phone behind..."

"I thought, I thought you had seen the articles and had fled!" Blaine interrupted.

"Blaine," Kurt said softly. "I made my decision to be with you. I decided outside of your hotel room that you are who I want. And I know it's going to be up and down but I also know that when it's just you and me, it's only going to be you and me and that's all that matters." Kurt stepped closer, their bodies brushing gently together. "For goodness sake Blaine, will you just kiss me already?"

"Kurt!" Blaine's heart nearly collapsed in relief. "I love you so much!" He swept in, cupping Kurt's face. Blaine kissed him hard, not holding back for anything. Kurt dropped his bag and wrapped his arms around Blaine's waist. The kiss didn't last long though, the noise of their friends' cheers and wolf whistles reminding them of the show they were putting on.

Kurt pulled away from Blaine's lips laughing. Blaine chuckled as well and leaned back into Kurt's space but he didn't kiss him this time, he just held on, drawing him into his embrace.

Kurt spoke into Blaine's ear, "I have to warn you though Blaine, I'm not going on a three hour hike at this time of day. I'm not going to get lost in the dark, in there and have some Brokeback Mountain experience with you."

"We're not going in there!" Blaine said huskily his lips grazing over Kurt's cheek while his hands slid down Kurt's back and over the top of his trousers to rest gently over the top of his buttocks. "I like your original plan. I'm taking you home with me, tonight."

"Well, you did stay with me that one weekend."

"I certainly did."

Kurt let Blaine kiss him again, let Blaine pull sensuously on his lips and kneed his fingers into his spine, a lingering promise of what was in store later that evening. Kurt pulled away gasping, his heart pounding in lustful excitement.

"Come on, I'm taking you home," Blaine mumbled, nuzzling into his neck.

"Just for the weekend," Kurt smiled.

'We'll see about that,' Blaine thought to himself.