Kurt was still on a competition high. It was two months to the next one which, if he got through, meant he could go onto the National Competitions. It was gonna be hard but he could do it.

Kurt was sat on a bale of hay, picking at a salad. Although he was mostly generally healthy with his diet and he was trying to keep in shape ever since the magazines had started paying attention to him, all he really wanted right now was a McDonalds. Admitting defeat to the salad, he put it down on the floor where Pepper the dog promptly sniffed it and then recoiled in disgust. Looking at Kurt with an expression that could only be described as 'You guys actually eat this?'

"I know buddy" Kurt smiled, patting the puppy on the head.

"Kurt? You in here?" Blaine's voice drifted in through the open door.

"Yeah" he called back.

"Hi" a smile on his face and looking as cute as ever, Blaine wandered in, carrying a brown paper bag.

"Hello" Kurt replied, smiling as Blaine sat down next to him and slid an arm around his waist.

"You not eating?" he asked gesturing to the salad on the floor.

"I've had enough of greens" Kurt said, his nose wrinkling.

"Do you want my fries?" Blaine asked. "You've been eating that salad for the past three days"

"Please?" Kurt asked sweetly.

"Go ahead" Blaine replied, passing over the red carton.

"You are the best boyfriend ever" Kurt said cheerily, kissing Blaine's cheek. Kurt then froze, realising they hadn't actually discussed the kiss. Sure, they had been a few more since then and a lot more cuddling, But they hadn't had the 'are-we-boyfriends-now' conversation.

Blaine looked like he wanted to both smile and frown at Kurt's words.

"Are…are we boyfriends?" Blaine said, turning to look at him.

"Do you want to be?" Kurt asked hopefully.

"More than anything" Blaine said a bit too quickly but he didn't really care. Kurt grinned rather stupidly and leant forward to kiss Blaine properly.

"So. Boyfriends. This is new" Kurt said.

"Yeah" Blaine said, dragging the word out.

"I've never been anyone's boyfriend before" Kurt said quietly.

"Me either" Blaine said. "But I'm glad to call myself yours"

Their hands found each other's and they barely left for the rest of the day.

"So we need to start training again soon" Blaine said, as he and Kurt were riding down one of the back fields, Kurt on Socks, Blaine on Darcy. He had formed some form of special bond with the sleek black stallion and they worked well together.

"Tell me about it" Kurt said pulling a face. "This one has only just recovered from the last competition and he needs to be trained up again" Kurt patted Socks on the neck lovingly.

"Don't worry, I'll be there to help you. We have more time anyway, Socks will the best damn horse there once we are done with him" Blaine replied cheerfully.

"Blaine I need to ask you something" Kurt said, looking straight ahead down the path.

"Shoot"

"Are you okay still being just a groom?"

"What?" Blaine turned his head to look at Kurt, confusion in his eyes. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, it's just seeing you ride today and before, you look like you miss it"

"I do sometimes. But it was very rarely I rode competitively. Besides, I love being your groom. I get to spend every day with you and I enjoy it. So don't ever worry about me, okay?"

"Are you sure?" Kurt asked. "I don't want to be in the way"

"Hey, you are never in the way, never, I promise. I told you, I enjoy helping you, I'm riding now aren't I?"

Kurt smiled downwards. "Race you back?"

"You're on!"

Sebastian threw a magazine down in disgust. There was a picture in 'Animal News' of Kurt and his horse and how he was the youngest rider to go for the National Championships.

He was fed up of seeing Kurt in the kinda limelight now. He had qualified as well! He deserved some attention!

But no, Hummel and his stupid horse and now his stupid boyfriend were getting all the attention. "Ugh" Sebastian shuddered.

He had to do something. He needed to win to prove people wrong. And he knew just how to do it.

Get rid of Socks, you get rid of Kurt's weakest point in this competition, he thought to himself.

One month later

Socks flew over a jump happily and flawlessly, Kurt beaming as he did so. "That was brilliant!" Kurt cried, patting the horse's neck excitedly.

Blaine was leaning on the fence, grinning at them. "You see, I told you he could do it! You two are gonna storm this competition!" Kurt smiled gratefully and wiped his hand against his forehead. For the middle of September in Ohio, it was unusually hot and Kurt had been riding for nearly three hours now. Both he and Socks had turned in sweaty wrecks.

"Right, as your groom and training partner I'm telling you, you have to go rest now" Blaine said, walking forward to grab Socks' reins. He held out his free hand to help Kurt down. Kurt moved to take off Socks saddle but Blaine stopped him.

"You go change, because no offence sweetie, but you are really sweaty right now and I will sort him out"

"You sure?" Kurt said pulling off his hat revealing his normally perfect hair flattened and sticking to his forehead.

"Yes, I've been doing this for a while, I can untack a horse" Blaine winked. Kurt gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you!" Kurt chimed, smirking a little when he knew that Blaine's eyes were set firmly on his butt as he walked away.

"Come on boy" Blaine clucked his tongue and pulled firmly on the reins to get Socks to walk forward. The horse was tired and sweaty and highly reluctant to move. After about five minutes, Blaine finally dragged Socks to his stable who leapt at the chance to get at his water bucket. "Socks, I can't untack you if you are gonna keep your head in that bucket!" Blaine mumbled, struggling to pull the reins over Socks' ears. Blaine didn't like doing it but he got his hand under the horse's neck and pushed upwards just enough so he could manoeuvre the reins over his ears.

"Bye Socks" Blaine said as he gathered up the tack in his arms, throwing the saddle over his shoulder and shutting stable door behind him. He slid the bottom bolt up with his foot and wandered back to the tack room where Kurt was waiting outside, his hair styled again, now changed into jeans and a red shirt. They were going back to Kurt's house for dinner.

"Need a hand?" Kurt asked smiling.

"Thank you" Blaine said gratefully as Kurt pulled the saddle off his shoulder. They made sure everything was tidy in comfortable silence before leaving the door hand-in-hand.

The next morning, Kurt wandered into tack room where Blaine was gathering up the tack they would need for today's training session. "Morning honey" Kurt said softly, admiring his boyfriend's back muscles. Turning round, Blaine greeted him with a cute smile. "Hello beautiful" he kissed Kurt quickly. Kurt's heart fluttered every time Blaine greeted him like that – it was so natural to them now and it made him swell with love for Blaine.

"Have you checked the horses yet?" Kurt asked.

"No, I was just about too –"

"I'll go" Kurt cut him off. "You cleared up last night"

Kurt walked to the barn and frowned. The barn door was open. He could have sworn it had been shut the night before when he and Blaine left. Opening it a little more, he noted one open stable door. There were normally 12 horses in that barn. There were only 11. The only one missing was Socks.

"Socks?" Kurt called out anxiously, thinking he may have just gotten stuck. He normally responded to his name. There was no neigh, no soft whinny.

"Socks?" Kurt shouted this time, his worry increasing by the second, going outside and desperately looking anywhere for signs of his horse. Blaine had heard his shouts and jogged over to him. "Kurt, what's the matter?"

"It's Socks, he's missing! His stable door was open and he's not there! Where is he?" Kurt cried frantically, pushing past Blaine looking towards the field and food room. "SOCKS!" he shouted.

Kurt suddenly turned furiously glaring at Blaine. "You were the last one in there! You shut his door last night! You can't have shut it properly, you idiot!" Kurt shouted, prodding him in the chest. Blaine tried to catch his hand, shaking his head viciously.

"Kurt, I swear to you, I locked it, I'm sorry, I promise you he was in there and the door was shut!" Blaine said, tears forming in his eyes at the distrust in his boyfriends.

"Forget it Blaine. I'm going to find my horse" Kurt said storming off towards the bridleway.

"I'll come with you, let me help" Blaine said, running after him, grabbing Kurt's forearm. Kurt shook him off angrily.

"Alone"

Blaine couldn't help but brush away the angry tears in his eyes as he watched Kurt walk away.