The days melted into weeks which slid into months.  Kurt got a small bonus at work after helping Amber locate some especially rare and expensive gold and ruby button, and Blaine finished filming his movie.  Their emails slowed, but their texting was rampant and constant, the multitudes of typed messages bouncing off satellites out in space and back to earth and the boys’ cell phones, reflecting the great distance between the two. 

Kurt was loving the constant messaging with Blaine, or, as he knew him to be, Lucas.  He felt like he could talk about anything, be it work, friends, family, or just life in general, and Lucas answered sincerely and kindly.  He did, however, wish that every once in a while Lucas was up for talking on the phone.  But Kurt kept receiving odd excuses from his friend- either he was in a meeting and really shouldn’t be texting but was so bored, or that he was on his way to a press obligation, or, most recently, that his earpiece had busted and he couldn’t upgrade his phone until his prepaid plan ran out in a couple months. 

Blaine, on the other hand, was growing tired of lying to Kurt, not only about his identity, but also about his job and coming up with constant fibs about why he couldn’t actually talk on the phone (and, as an added precaution, he had also changed his voicemail to the automated one, causing confusion among his friends, family, and colleagues).  Attending red carpet events, visiting talk shows with Porter to sell their new movie, and constant photo shoots were also taking their toll on him.  He was only staying sane by drinking copious amounts of coffee and texting Kurt.  Who didn’t even really know it was really him. It depressed him a little bit every time he thought about it.

One day in late March, Blaine was lying on the plush sofa in his LA apartment, phone in one hand, television remote in the other as he flipped through the channels on his flat-screen.  It was a rare morning where he had no obligations, although he did have another red carpet event to attend that night.  His phone buzzed and he lifted it to see a text from Kurt.

I don’t understand how one woman can have so much insanity in her.  I’m surprised there’s any left for the rest of the world.

Blaine laughed.  He knew by now that Kurt was talking about Amber, his “overbearing, callous, insensitive, Devil Wears Prada” boss. 

That bad, huh? There’s definitely plenty of insanity left for everyone else though- and I’m pretty sure half of it settled here in Tinseltown. Blaine hit send before turning his attention back to the old mystery movie playing on his TV.

His phone buzzed again; Kurt had replied. He slid his finger across the screen to open the text.

Worse. She practically split my head open this morning when she threw a vase across the room. Apparently the silk that was dropped off for her this morning was folded “irresponsibly.” But it was still in its plastic packaging, what was I supposed to do?  And that might be true, but then the other half is here in NYC, more specifically Amber’s shop.

Blaine read the text, cringing at the vase incident, and then laughing about the silk.  He could just picture Kurt handing the package over to Amber, then taking a defensive stance when his volatile boss blew a fuse.  How he wished he could be there in New York, to, if Amber really had hurt his former boyfriend, comfort Kurt, to help keep him sane the way Kurt had unknowingly done for Blaine. 

And then he remembered; he was flying out to New York in two weeks for press purposes for his movie; he was going to be on a smattering of morning talk shows, having a few more photo shoots, and, maybe attending a few Broadway shows.  If he was lucky, Kurt would even be with him.

Oh, how Blaine wanted to go to Broadway shows with Kurt. It had been their dream- no, their future- forever, up until that one day.  That day when it all fell apart.

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"You're... You're what?"

"We're- my parents and I- we're going to California," Blaine said, pulling tight on the tassel wrapped around his finger; he tugged until the tip of his finger turned white.

Kurt wrinkled his nose in confusion. "What, for the summer?" He took Blaine's hand in his own, pulling it free of the tassel. "To visit some family? Doesn't Cooper live in LA?"

Blaine swallowed.  He could feel his own hand turning clammy in Kurt's cool palm.  He really didn't want to have to have this discussion.  "Uh, yeah, Coop lives out there, but- Kurt, you remember when Cooper came to visit?"

Kurt nodded. "Of course."

"And- and he was all excited about that new audition he had gotten, the one for the Michael Bay movie?"

Nod.

"And when the casting agents changed their minds, canceled his audition, he and I made a video-"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupted, squeezing his hand.  "I know what happened then; tell me what's happening now. Please."

Blaine nodded. "Right. Um, well, Coop didn't get the part." He paused, not able to hold back a small chuckle at Kurt's expression of mock surprise, before continuing on at a faster speed, his words tripping over each other. "But he sent in an 8x10 of me, too, and apparently the casting department liked me because they gave me a call back to meet me and then they casted me and now I have a part in a Michael Bay movie." He took a deep breath and glanced up at his boyfriend, nervous for his reaction after noticing Kurt's grip on his hand had become significantly less tight.

Kurt wasn't looking at him.  Instead he was staring out the window at the narrow strip of grass that ran alongside the road, the row of small trees that was planted there.  Two birds flitted in and out of one of the trees, carrying twigs and leaves in their beaks.  Building a home, Blaine guessed.  For a family.  Together.

After a few moments Kurt turned to Blaine who immediately shifted uncomfortably and stared at his lap but didn't pull his hand from Kurt's.

Kurt tried to meet Blaine's eyes, but the honey-irised boy kept his cast down.

"Blaine," Kurt began.  Still his boyfriend did not look up. "Blaine, look at me." When there was no movement Kurt squeezed his hand again before bringing his free one up to hold Blaine's chin, gently turning his face so their eyes could meet. Kurt smiled slightly.  "I love you. And I am so proud of you." He kissed him gently.  Blaine's eyes fluttered shut as he tried to commit this moment, too, to memory.  The way Kurt smelled like cologne and hair product and himself, the way his palm cupped Blaine's cheek so perfectly, the way his thumb stroked the tender spot under Blaine's eye when they kissed... Blaine took it all in.

Kurt pulled back after a long moment, but still Blaine did not open his eyes immediately.  He was still lost in the kiss.  Kurt laughed softly.  "And I am *so* happy for you." He kissed Blaine's nose. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? When was the callback?"

Slowly Blaine opened his eyes, a large image of Kurt filling his vision as he leaned over the console, eager to know the details of Blaine's casting.

"Um... April," he said hesitantly.

"April?" Kurt repeated, frowning.  "Wait, was that when you told me you had to go to a family reunion?"

Blaine nodded, eyes apologetic.

"Blaine, why didn't you tell me the truth?" Kurt asked.  His eyes were sad and he was still frowning; hurt.

"I... It wasn't a complete lie- I saw Cooper, and he's family." Kurt rolled his eyes at this so Blaine hurried on. "But mostly I didn't want you to know because I was sure I wouldn't get the part."

"But you did!"

"Actually, I didn't.  Not that part, at least."

"What do you mean? You just said you were in the movie."

Blaine shifted again, his hand still clasped in Kurt's, and sighed.  "I got a different part. A... A bigger part."

"Oh, Blaine!"

Kurt threw his arms around him, and Blaine forced a chuckle as Kurt giggled happily.  "That's great! Fantastic!" He paused, pulling back and staring at Blaine, a grin still spread across his face. "So- what's the deal? You film this summer? No big deal, I'll fly out to see you a few hundred times and then you'll be back home before you know it and we can spend the rest of the summer together before school starts in the fall."

*He looks so excited,* Blaine thought.  *How can I do this to him? It'll kill him- just like it's killing me.*

Blaine looked over at Kurt who was humming happily under his breath, staring once again at the birds still building their nest, an excited smile on his face.

"It's not that simple, Kurt," Blaine finally said.  Kurt stopped humming and looked at him, brow furrowing in confusion.  Of course it was that simple.   He needed it to be that simple.

"It's not a single movie- the, erm, contract I signed was for a multi-movie deal."

Kurt's face fell.  One movie, one summer apart he thought he could cope with... But how was he supposed to deal with more than a year on opposite sides of the country? "How many?"

"As of now... Three."

"And you... You have to be in all of them?"

Blaine paused.  "I- Kurt, that bigger role I was talking about- it's actually, um, a lead."

Kurt blinked.

Blaine braced himself.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Tear.

Blaine was surprised to see a drop making its way from the corner of Kurt's eye down his cheek.  He made to wrap him in a hug, but Kurt leaned away from him, shaking his head.

"How- how long?" he sputtered, tears coming more freely.

Blaine knew exactly what he meant.   How long would the movies take.  How long would the two of them live on opposite sides of the country.  How long would Blaine's career split them up.

Blaine breathed, "Two years minimum."

Kurt sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, tears falling consistently.  "So more like three," he said dejectedly.

Blaine sighed.  "Yeah."

"Blaine, I-" Kurt stopped.  He squeezed Blaine's hand once more before dropping it.  "Maybe you should-"

"Don't say it.  Please, please Kurt, don't say it." Blaine squished his eyes shut.

"I-"

"I know what you're going to say. 'Blaine, I think you should go.' But, Kurt, I can't. Please, don't make me, I can't." Blaine opened his eyes and reached a hand up to touch Kurt’s face, to make him understand.  He had to understand. "I know I'm going to California and you to New York,” he continued, feeling Kurt’s tears under his fingers and suddenly becoming aware that he had tears trailing down his cheeks as well, “but I really, really just need to be with you right now."

All of a sudden the door opened and he felt a cool breeze.  The door was shut soundly.  Then, Kurt was gone.

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Taking a deep breath, Blaine weighed his options.  He could let Kurt know that he, or, rather, “Lucas” would be flying out to the city to do some press work, and then reveal his true identity there, or he could keep it to himself, head out to New York, and hope that maybe he ran into Kurt accidentally, or just… not see him.  Not yet.

But Blaine didn’t think he could take being in the same city, or even the same state without at least seeing Kurt.  Hell, he could barely stand being in the same country.  So, without letting himself think about it too much more, he composed a text and quickly sent it off.

Hey, it turns out I’m heading to NYC in a couple weeks for some movie stuff… could we possibly meet?

The answer was instant.

Yes.