Late as usual, the big goof.

It was 8:15 on a cold December night, the day before Christmas Eve to be exact.

Kurt was home and waiting patiently for his fianc� to return from work. He was always later than he said he'd be, so when the clock struck fifteen minutes after, Kurt knew he would be walking in the door with a frantic look on his face and some flowers he'd picked from the next-door neighbors' garden.

Smiling at the thought, Kurt went into the kitchen to make a cup of hot chocolate, allowed himself a small indulgence. He sat down on a plush chair in the living room and soaked in the warm comfort of his drink.

The chocolate occupied him for a short time, but when the clock sounded nine, he was beginning to worry. He should have been here an hour ago, Kurt thought to himself as he frowned at the grand clock that was stashed away in the shadows. Kurt set down his mug and took out his cellphone.

After a few moments of consideration, he hit the first speed dial number and worried his lip anxiously. When the ringing stopped, Kurt was relieved to hear his fianc�'s voice, but his heart dropped when he realized it was only his voice-mail.

With a shaky voice, Kurt asked him to "call me as soon as possible" and snapped the phone shut. Blaine always answered his phone.

"Don't be stupid, he's probably caught up in a meeting. Or had an emergency patient. Stop worrying," he mumbled to himself, though he still continued to worry his lip and the hot chocolate was long forgotten

Finally, at twenty minutes 'till ten, Blaine showed up with a tired look on his face and no flowers in sight. Standing up, Kurt raised his eyebrow and motioned towards his new outfit, then towards the clock.

Blaine looked at him dumbly for a moment before his eyes lit with realization. "Oh no," he groaned, hesitantly following Kurt's direction and wincing when he saw the time.

"Oh yes," he replied, his face emotionless, but eyes flaming with anger. It was their eighth anniversary and Blaine had promised to do something surprising. Kurt stood with his arms crossed, waiting for an explanation. Blaine stood with a hand on his neck, attempting to come up with some sort of excuse.

Well, here's a surprise! Kurt scoffed internally. Not being able to take the silence any longer he started berating Blaine in a flurry of English and French.

"And I just can't believe you!" he finished, his chest rising and falling rapidly and Blaine looking slightly terrified at the words that had flown out of his mouth. He could only understand a small percent, but what he didn't translate had enough anger behind it to get the point across.

Kurt waited, once more, for any type of response from his significant other but nothing was said. There were no attempted apologies, no pleas for forgiveness, just crackling anger from Kurt and a dumbfounded expression from Blaine.

Heaving a sigh, Kurt pointed towards the door.

"Go, please." He said, his other hand rubbing his forehead to prevent the oncoming headache. That request seemed to bring the other man back, because he finally started to move warily closer.

"You're just stressed from work; I know how you get sometimes. Now, if you sit down and think rationally," he said softly, attempting to make Kurt calm down.

"No!" Kurt interrupted. "The only thing I'm going to do is watch you step out of that door," He said, deathly calm. Blaine looked back at him with puppy dog eyes, but Kurt scoffed and forced his face to stay blank.

"Fine, happy anniversary," Blaine mumbled, before closing the door and walking out into the freezing winter streets. Kurt was feeling slightly guilty for blowing up on him like that, but the man had been two hours late after forgetting what he had to be home for. He hung his pea coat in the closet, sank into the nearby couch, and turned on the TV to the late-night news.

"And now we've got a great recipe for the family this holiday," the reporter announced, a sickly sweet smile plastered to her perfectly cheery face. Kurt closed his eyes in exhaustion and was lulled to sleep by the ingredients of a walnut stuffing.

---

The next morning, Kurt woke up to the weatherman droning on about a snow front heading North towards the city. He moved to tell Blaine about the incoming snow, but then remembered what had happened the night before. He frowned at the memory, then frowned even more when he realized he hadn't changed or moisturized.

Kurt walked up the stairs, passing by the mocking pictures of the two staring happily at the camera or looking at each other and forgetting the camera all together. By now, Blaine would be singing in the shower, or humming while he got ready for work that day. Now it was just the dull echo of Kurt's footsteps as he made his way towards the bedroom.

Unfortunately, he didn't make it there because there was a hesitant knock on the door. Kurt grimaced at the thought of answering the door in the state he was in, but he couldn't very well ignore whoever was on his doorstep.

He made his way back down the stairs and opened to door to find Blaine standing there with a bouquet of roses and a hesitant smile. Kurt attempted to close the door, but the other man threw his foot out, preventing it from closing all the way. Kurt rolled his eyes, but let him in nonetheless.

"Yes, Blaine?" he inquired, his voice cold and his arms crossed. Blaine winced at the tone of voice, but offered the roses to his offended partner. Kurt gave them a disaffected glace, making no move to take them.

"I actually bought them this time," he joked. "I also have something to show you," he added softly, setting down the flowers and raising his head to look him in the eye.

"I'm not sure if I want to go anywhere with you," Kurt replied stiffly. Blaine seemed like he was expecting this, because he pulled out a jewelry box from inside his jacket and held it out to him. Kurt almost didn't take it, but his curiosity was too strong. Kurt reached out his hand and opened the lid to find the Tiffany's ring he had fallen in love with after a trip to the mall with Blaine. He hadn't really mentioned it to Blaine, only allowed himself a few longing glances.

"I'll be ready in thirty minutes," He mumbled, turning on his heel and trekking back up the stairs. Kurt carefully set the jewelry box on his dresser and got into the shower. After he had perfectly coiffed his hair, he pulled a thermal over his head, pulled on some nice jeans and slipped his feet into some Jimmy Choo boots. He hesitated for a moment, but slipped the ring onto his middle finger. Kurt wrapped his prized Alexander McQueen scarf around his neck as he walked down the stairs and saw that Blaine was looking at a picture of them from their first Christmas together. Kurt cleared his throat and brushed past him to grab his new pea coat out of the closet.

"I'm glad I could get some use out of this," Kurt said airily, sauntering out the door with Blaine to close the door behind him. Blaine smiled when he saw that he was wearing the new ring, but didn't comment on it.

Kurt was fine with walking ahead of him, until he realized he had no idea where he was going. He slowed down enough for Blaine to move ahead and made sure that he grumbled all the way there. When they had been walking in the cold for about five minutes, Kurt stopped in his tracks and huffed in annoyance. Blaine kept walking without realizing what had happened, though he looked back after a few steps and realized that Kurt had stopped following.

"We're almost there okay? Just a little farther," he assured, holding out his hand. Kurt passed on the hand, but did speed up to get in front of Blaine again. He figured Blaine would tell him when he needed to turn. About three minutes later, Blaine slipped his hands over Kurt's eyes, which proved slightly difficult due to the height difference.

"What the-"

"I need you to trust me. You can still do that, right?" Blaine asked rhetorically. "Now, I'm going to trust you to keep your eyes closed until we get to where we need to be." Blaine continued, gently guiding Kurt along. Kurt reluctantly complied with his little games and walked with his eyes closed, feeling like a fool, for another six minutes. It was then that he realized the smog and odor from the city had given way to fresh air and earthy scents. Kurt took a few more steps, then felt Blaine tug on his arm to stop. After a shuffle of movement, he heard Blaine say the words "open your eyes."

Kurt let out a gasp at the terrific scene before him. There was a frozen lake surrounded by iced pines and frosted rocks. The sun was dappled over the scene, creating an almost ethereal glow on the plants around them. There was a picnic table with a bottle of champagne and an array of sandwiches and fruit. Blaine was standing in front of him with open arms and a hopeful smile.

"I know I'm late, as usual. But I love you, I'm sorry, and... happy anniversary" he rushed, his breath creating a puff of white in the cold. Kurt took in the wonderful set up, and then turned his eyes down to look at something even more beautiful.

"No, for once, you're right on time," he replied with a soft laugh before capturing those beautiful lips with his own and soaking in the heat that they created. Blaine started singing softly to himself. He encircled his arms around Kurt's waist and they swayed together in their little patch of serenity.

"Cause Blue Eyes
You are all that I need
Cause Blue Eyes
You're the sweet to my mean

Fess it up, dot on the palm of your hand
I can help you to stand
Saved it up for this dance
Tell me all the things you can

I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna be the one that's true.."

Blaine trailed off as they shared another breathtaking kiss.

It was a happy anniversary, indeed.