“Happy New Years!” Finn shouted above the roar of the crowd gathered in Times Square as Blaine and Kurt came towards him.

Kurt laughed and hugged his brother. “Happy New Year Finn!” He looked around grinning as Blaine hugged Finn, then Cooper did. They’d all arrived in New York the morning before; they couldn’t resist Rachel’s invitation, to come see the ‘real’ New Year’s celebration.

She’d rung up a few days ago, when Blaine, Cooper and Kurt had been up visiting Burt, Carole and Finn in Lima and begged them to come see her and enjoy the spectacle of New Years in Times Square. Kurt had readily agreed and booked the flights, they hadn’t seen her in a while, since he’d come back she and the rest of the New Directions had visited a few times but with them living in LA and her in New York with both her and Blaine in college they’d had no time to see her, two years since he’d vanished and come back had gone by so quickly, but it was plain to see they were all happy.

Kurt could see Rachel grinning and waving wildly at him and he started over but Blaine caught his hand; wide, earnest eyes looking at him. Kurt smiled, Blaine was so adorable. “I’ll be back in a minute, just going to talk to Rachel!” He shouted and Blaine let go, waving at Rachel himself as Cooper tossed his arm around his shoulders and steered him away.

Kurt waded over and wrapped his arms around Rachel, almost lifting her off the ground. “Hi!”

Rachel squealed and laughed. “Hi Kurt! Oh my god I’m so glad you’re here! Yay! Oh did I tell you I broke up with Jesse?”

Kurt raised his eyebrow. “Again?” The two had dated on and off since she’d come to New York and he’d come to try again at musical theatre.

Rachel blushed. Kurt had often warned her about going back to him again and again but she had no-one else here and she really felt safe with Jesse. “Yeah but I have no-one else and he’s a great guy Kurt!” She shouts as the cheering gets louder, the time getting nearer to midnight.

“What about Finn?” Kurt shouts, looking over at his brother whips bouncing around, enjoying the music and atmosphere.

“What about him?” She shouts dismissively and he raises an eyebrow. Ever since that day he let her go and she got on the train they’d talked sparingly, the wounds too fresh and the hurt too deep. They’d bonded a little over Kurt being missing and Blaine’s breakdown but she’d maintained she didn’t want him back, even though she asked how he was nonchalantly every time she and Kurt talked, even though Kurt lived several states away from him and looked wistful when they chatted on Skype, laughing at themselves back then.

Kurt looked over at Blaine, laughing at something Cooper was saying and smiled. The lights were washing over his face, making his skin glow with each colour as the lights changed, making his gorgeous face give off its own glow, so happy.

“It’s amazing.” Rachel muttered so Kurt almost didn’t hear her.

He looked over at her watching him watching Blaine. “What is?”

She sighed, coming to his side and curling her arms around his right, close up against his side. “You and Blaine, you’ve been through so much and you stare at each other like there’s no-one else on earth. Of all of us couples in high school you two were the ones we all knew would last, even me and Finn but you two are like the ultimate couple.”

Kurt smiled and rested his cheek against the top of her head as she laid it on his shoulder. “He is all that exists on earth, Rachel. I don’t think there’s such a thing as the ultimate couple; do you remember all the stuff we put each other through? We’re just more honest and stronger for what happened. We’re fabulous, gorgeous and amazing together. I wouldn’t trade him for all the McQueen or rhinestones in the world.”

Rachel mock-gasps and steps away from him, smiling back at him as he turns, grinning, their hands still attached. “Kurt Hummel, picking a man over fashion? I can’t believe my ears!”

“What are you two talking about?” Finn calls as he makes his way over, pushing through the crowd to get to them.

Kurt grins at him. “Oh just talking about Blaine and how fabulous I am and gorgeous he is. Oh did you know Rachel’s single?” Kurt shoves her towards Finn and runs off into the crowd, leaving Finn to catch Rachel and Rachel to gasp indignantly and yell after him.

“Kurt Hummel you get back here!” She screeches but he’s long gone, disappeared into the crowd.

Blaine laughs as he and Cooper dance around as the band plays. He feels so light, like his chest has opened up and he can breathe deeper than he ever has, all other thoughts fading into the background. There is only tonight, his brother, his soon-to-be brother in law and his boyfriend who he sees launch Rachel at Finn then run off into the crowd out of the corner of his eye. He’s sure he’ll get the full run down later, twice; once as Kurt laughs, telling him the story when they get back to the hotel or tomorrow at breakfast and the other over an indignant walk around Central Park tomorrow morning.

He thinks back over the last few years. The years spent as Kurt’s friend and then boyfriend, each New Year’s slightly different but perfect in their own way. One, clueless and happy, texting Kurt all day and kissing no-one at midnight. The second as a happy couple, kissing at midnight at the New Directions New Year’s Party, their friends kissing and whooping around them.

The third after Kurt was home again, their love renewed and stronger than ever after Kurt had wooed him back; they’d cried off the New Year’s party Burt, Carole and Finn were going to and spent the night making love long and slow, kissing at midnight and whispering promises for the future. The fourth time sat in their apartment looking over Studio City, watching the city lit up before them and watching fireworks go off at midnight, kissing deeply and making love until the dawn filtered through the window, lighting their skin in new and different ways.

This would be the fifth New Year’s, the fifth of many they’d have together.

Cooper’s voice in his ear brings him back from his thoughts as he whispers in his ear. “Hey it’s nearly midnight, where’s Kurt?”

Blaine looks around and sees Finn and Rachel where Kurt had left them, talking then looks up to the stage as they get ready for the countdown, revving the crowd up, His eyes dart around, the familiar dark head of hair, golden skin and blue and black ensemble he’d picked out to go with Blaine’s nowhere to be seen. His breath hitches and he starts to panic.

Cooper looks at his brother and leans down again to his ear, realising a panic attack when he sees one, knowing how close a full blown episode was, cursing himself for bringing it on. “Hey, calm down he’ll get back before its kissing time.”

Blaine nods faintly, his heart still hammering in his chest as he looks around.

10!

Blaine’s eyes search the crowd.

9!

Blaine turns around bodily, twisting around on his heel as he searches the crowd for Kurt.

8!

Cooper watches Blaine warily as he bounces on the falls of his feet, trying to get some height

7!

Blaine starts to panic, his skin going hot and breath hitching.

6!

Cooper starts to panic as he sees Blaine start to cry, tears leaking out as the younger man clenches his eyes shut, desperation seeping through him.

5!

Blaine whimpers, an episode flaring hot and brilliant in his brain, his nerves screeching as white hot pain floods his body, memories flipping through his mind like a scrapbook.

4!

Cooper grabs Blaine’s shoulders, shushing him and trying to calm his brother down, looking around the crowd desperately for Kurt, or even Finn and Rachel.

3!

Cooper’s hands fly to his hair as Blaine brings his hands up to his face, digging the heels of his hands into his eyes, memories flashing and trying to bring his heart rate and the heat coursing his body down by himself.

2!

Cooper turns, moving away slightly to alert Finn who he sees some way off, talking to Rachel.

1!

Strong, sure hands wrap around Blaine and lips mould to his mouth and Blaine kisses back automatically, the heat and pain dissipating as calm floods his body, feeling sweet and fresh like dew on grass.

“Happy New Year baby.” Kurt whispers and Blaine opens his eyes as Kurt dips him, arms wrapped around him securely and they grin at each other before kissing again. Cooper sighs and kisses some random stranger and when they come up for air Blaine spies Finn and Rachel locked in a deep kiss.

“Happy New Year, love of my life.” Blaine whispers back as they watch, Blaine’s head resting against Kurt’s shoulder, blissfully happy.