“Are you ready?” Rachel asked as she put down her luggage near the door.

“Yes. Let’s go or we will miss our flight,” Kurt said as he emerged with his bags from his private area in their shared apartment.

Rachel could see the tiredness and anxiety behind the brave façade Kurt put on.

She wanted to say something but decided against it, she knew he wouldn’t want to talk about ‘it’. He never talked about ‘it’.

A few hours later, both of the New Yorker’s arrived in Lima, Ohio and they parted ways to spent the evening with their families. Kurt couldn’t sleep that night, he was exhausted but his mind wouldn’t shut up. What would happen? What should he do? What would ‘he’ do? Should Kurt talk to ‘him’? Yes he should. Could Kurt talk with ‘him’? He didn’t know! Kurt finally fell asleep at around 4 am.

He was woken up by the smell of coffee. As he opened his eyes he was greeted by the sight of Rachel holding a cup of grande non-fat mocha under his nose.

“Good morning,” he said with a sleep filled voice and sat slowly up.

Rachel handed him the coffee and began to speak. “It’s noon.”

“Oh.”

“You sure you want to go to the play?” she asked him. “Nobody would be mad at you when you don’t want to go.”

Kurt sighed and rubbed his eyes. “No. But I’m going for Tina, Sam, Artie, Unique, Sugar and Finn. I’m going and support them,” he said with determination.

“And Bl…”

“I’m going to shower and then I will eat a late breakfast or lunch,” Kurt said and got out of bed. “You can wait here or in the living room for me.”

Rachel watched him with a sad face and shook her head. He would see ‘him’ in less than four hours and wasn’t even ready to talk about ‘him’. She was more than concerned for her best friend.

The show was as amazing as Kurt hoped it would be.

They were currently at the after party in Breadstix. Kurt sitting on one of the tables near the exit and was watching all his friends and all the new faces of New Directions, the whole cast of the play celebrating their success. He avoided looking at one particular table on the right side near the stage. The table that was occupied by a lonely looking curly haired boy with too much hair gel and without a bowtie. The table which Blaine sat at.

Kurt could feel the curious glances he got from his friends, he could feel the unanswered questions that lingered in the air. After two hours of nursing his iced tea, forced smiles and avoiding questions about the ‘topic’ he left.

As he stepped out into the chilly fall night he stopped in his tracks, right in front of him stood Blaine. They both looked at each other in shock.

“I want to explain,” Blaine suddenly blurted out.

“I’m not ready.”

“I will wait.”

“Good.”

Kurt looked one last time at Blaine and started to walk to his car.

He was packing his bags for his return to New York when Sam came into his room and gave him a letter. “Read it when you are ready.” was all Sam said before he left Kurt’s room.

                                     - 42 days, two boys, two broken hearts -

“Hurry up or we will miss our flight,” Kurt called to Rachel. Thanksgiving was in two days and both wanted to spend the holiday with their families back in Ohio.

Thanksgiving Day came and Kurt felt like he ate twice as much as he ate in the weeks before.

On Black Friday, he hit the mall in Lima with Rachel and Tina. After he drove the girls home, he decided to go to the Lima Bean, for the first time since he left Lima, for a desperately needed coffee.

Kurt stood next to the counter and waited for his order as he saw Blaine sitting at one of the tables far in the back of the coffee shop. He wanted to run out of the shop and he wanted to run into Blaine’s arms at the same time.

“Grand non-fat mocha and one biscotti,” the barista said and put Kurt’s order on the counter. He took his order, stepped beside and looked at Blaine again. At the same time Blaine looked up from the magazine he was reading. Their eyes met, Blaine begun to smile shyly and made a little wave with his hand.

Kurt walked hesitantly over to Blaine.

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Hi,” Blaine replied in an equally soft tone as he took his coat and bag from the second chair.

Kurt sat down and took a sip from his too hot coffee. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before both started to speak at the same time.

“I read your letter.”

“I started therapy.”

Both boys looked at each other with a small smile on their face.

“Thank you,” Blaine began, “for reading.”

“Thank you for writing it down,” Kurt said. “What happened?” Kurt asked after a short moment, staring pointedly at Blaine’s bandaged hand.

“I was boxing,” Blaine stated. Kurt looked at him with furrowed eyebrows and waited of Blaine to elaborate more. “I lost it. I mean… It was two days after you left after, the opening and I was so angry at me and started to box, let out the anger, you know but then I lost it and… and punched the bag and I didn’t felt anything besides my anger, at me.” Blaine paused and inhaled before he continued. “Coach Beiste found me throwing one punch after another at the bag. I broke down in her arms and cried for an hour or so. She and Miss Pillsbury brought me to hospital afterwards. The wrist is sprained, nothing broken,” Blaine explained in an unsteady voice, embarrassment clearly to hear, his eyes directed on the table and avoiding Kurt.

“And the therapy?” Kurt asked.

“Uh Miss Pillsbury idea.” Blaine rubbed his neck with his right hand, a habit he had when he was embarrassed. “I uh called the same therapist I had after Sadie Hawkins. Uhm she had an open slot and I go to therapy now, twice a week, for you know depression, anger and anxiety.” He rushed out the last part, seemingly uncomfortable to talk about it.

“Good,” Kurt said and nodded. “I mean it is good that you get help, professional help.” He looked at Blaine who blushed and played nervously with the lid of his coffee cup. Kurt split his biscotti in two halves and shoved one half to Blaine. Blaine took the biscotti with a smile.

They drank the rest of their coffees and ate their biscotti halves in a comfortable silence until Kurt’s phone rang.

“Crap I have to go,” Kurt said after he read the text message from his dad and put on his coat in a hurry. He took his empty coffee cup from the table and looked at Blaine.

With a shaky voice and sincere look in his eyes he said,“This is not a goodbye,”before he walked out of the Lima Bean.

This evening he sent the first text message after a long time to Blaine.

“Thanks for telling me about the therapy. I’m proud of you.”

                            - 50 days, two boys, two broken hearts who want to heal -

“Kurt, Kurt! Are you listening to me?” Rachel waved her hand in front of Kurt’s face.

 “Sorry Rachel,” he said as he looked up from his phone. “What did you say?”

After their talk in the Lima Bean, Blaine and Kurt started to text each other again. At first it was only one or two texts a day, asking how the other boy was. With the time it got more and more. The daily variation of ‘How are you?’ was soon joined by ‘I hate the cold weather’ (Blaine), ‘The cab drivers are all potential murder’ (Kurt), ‘Finn want us to do Journey, please talk him out of this (and maybe suggest Roxy)’ (Blaine), ‘Rachel drives me crazy, help’ (Kurt). In the third week after their talk, they only had gone without texting for more than two hours when they were asleep.

“He will text you,” Rachel told Kurt.

“It’s five hours since his last text. What is if something has happened?” Kurt asked miserable.

“Maybe he is busy with family things or he is last minute shopping for Christmas.” Rachel tried to calm Kurt down.

“He has all presents already. We were text shopping the other day. And it’s Monday his parents are at work at this time,” Kurt said while looking once more at his phone.

“Did you try to call him?” Rachel asked as she watched Kurt.

“No. We don’t call each other, we only text.” Rachel huffed and took the phone from Kurt’s hands.

“Call him!” she held the phone, Blaine’s number already selected, to Kurt.

“I can’t.”

“But you want to.”

“What is if something has happened?”

“What if nothing has happened and he is just busy and hadn’t a chance to text you?”

“Wouldn’t I interrupt him then?”

“Kurt, call him!” Rachel was at the end of her patience.

“But…”

“Call him. I’m sure nothing had happened,” she said and stood up from the sofa. “I have to go to class now.” She kissed Kurt on his cheek and left.

Kurt didn’t call, he sent a stream of texts to Blaine and checked his twitter and facebook, as well twitter and facebook of their friends in hope to find out where he is and why he didn’t text him. He just started to type out another text when someone knocked on the door.

“Surprise.” A smiling and uninjured Blaine said after Kurt opened the door.

“What? How?” Kurt stuttered out in shock.

“Plane.”

“Why?”

“You said I need to see the Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center by myself because the picture you send me didn’t show the magic.” Kurt’s mouth fell open at Blaine’s explanation for his sudden appearance.

“I thought something had happened. Why didn’t you say anything? I was worried to death. Your last text 6 hours ago said ‘I hate broccoli’.” Kurt wandered away from the open door and back into the apartment. “I hate broccoli, really Blaine? You planned to fly out to New York and the last text you send me for hours said ‘I hate broccoli.’” Kurt ranted.

“It’s true I hate broccoli,” Blaine said with a sheepish grin on his face. “And it wouldn’t be a surprise if I had written ‘I hate middle seats’, wouldn’t it?” Blaine pouted at Kurt.

“Ugh stop with that kicked puppy expression. I’m mad at you.” Kurt threw his arms in the air and walked off to the kitchen area. He busied himself with making tea while he discretely watched Blaine as he took off his coat and sweater.

Kurt put the two cups of tea on the table and sat down on a chair opposite from Blaine.

“So you are in New York.”

“I’m in New York.”

They drank their tea in silence.

“Uhm do you maybe know where I can find a cheap hotel?” Blaine asked. “I didn’t think on that until I was on the plane.”

“No,” Kurt said with a stern and meaningful look. “But I do know a good Chinese takeout place. Your usual?” he asked as he started to dial the number from the Chinese restaurant. The ‘I want you to stay here and not in a hotel’ remained unspoken. After he ordered their food he sentRachel a text about Blaine’s sudden visit. She answered immediately with ‘I’m staying over at Brody’s for the night.’

“Why are you here Blaine?” Kurt asked after he put his phone away.

“Like I said the Christmas Tree.”

“Blaine,” Kurt said in his ‘don’t lie to me’ voice.

“I was alone,” he began. “School is on vacation. Sam is in Kentucky. Artie is at his grandparents. Tina is busy with family.”

“Where are your parents and Cooper?” Kurt interrupted Blaine.

“Cooper is filming a new commercial and my parents …” He drifted off and looked at the fireplace with an absent expression.

“Blaine. Where are your parents?” Kurt asked again with a soft voice. He could feel that something was wrong.

It took Blaine a few minutes before he could answer. “My mother called last night and told me that my father invited his parents over Christmas.”

“So he practically threw you out of your own home over the holidays?” Kurt asked incredulous.

“No he uninvited me to spent Christmas with them and Cooper at their house in Austin.”

“Wait, since when live your parents in Austin?” Kurt knew Blaine’s father got a new position in Austin over the summer, but he didn’t know that his parents or better his mother moved to Texas.

“Since the end of September, beginning of October,” Blaine answered short.

“Okay let me get this right. Your parents moved to Austin, you are now living alone in that big house in Lima and he invited his extreme homophobe parents to Christmas knowing that there is no way that you can spend more than ten minutes in their presence?” Kurt summarized with a voice full of anger.

“Yes.”

“What did that jerk of an ass think? Does he know about your problems? Did he think one minute about what that does to you? Of course he didn’t think about that. He never thinks about more than what would look good for his appearance and the neighbors. Let me guess,  he talked about the nice daughter of some new colleague you could spend time with on the rare occasions he would remember that he has two sons?” Kurt started to walk up and down in the living room, cursing profanities about Blaine’s dad and working himself into a rage.  “… that is’ it, Blaine,that is it he is uninvited to our wed…” Kurt stopped in his tracks,in shock about what he was about to say. He looked at Blaine who looked in astonishment at Kurt.

Their food arrived before either of them could say something. While Kurt paid the delivery guy, Blaine chose a movie to watch while they were eating. They didn’t talk about what just had happened or any other serious topic for the rest of the evening.

Around 11 pm they got to bed. Blaine was sleeping with Kurt in the same bed, but only because the temperature in the apartment dropped down a lot during the night and Kurt didn’t want Blaine to freeze on the sofa.

When Blaine woke up the next morning, Kurt had already left for work. They met up in the afternoon at Kurt’s favorite coffee shop and discussed the plans for the evening. Times Square, Rockefeller Centre, dinner at a little Italian place, packing Kurt’s things for his two weeks vacation over Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Lima and then a movie before bed.

On the plane to Columbus, Kurt surprised Blaine by saying, “Dad will get us from the airport and then we will drive at first to your house to get your clothes and other things you need over the holidays. You can sleep in Sam’s room for now.” Blaine and Kurt argued for the rest of the flight if Blaine should spend the holidays with Kurt and his family or not. Kurt: ‘Yes’, Rachel: ‘Yes’, Blaine: ‘but it is not my family, I’ll only intrude, I can’t say yes to that offer, I’m sure your Dad hates me and only want to murder me during the night’. In the end, he said yes. 

The holidays were peaceful (nobody got murdered), everyone had a chance to relax, a lot of cookies were baked (by Kurt, Carole and Blaine) and eaten (especially by Burt, Finn and Blaine) and presents were exchanged. Burt and Carole got their own special Christmas concert from Kurt, Finn and Blaine and Blaine laughed for the first time in nearly three month.

On New Year’s Eve Kurt and Blaine declined Sugar’s invitation to her party at her house. They instead had dinner with Carole and Burt and watched afterwards a movie in Kurt’s room. And for the first time, they talked about what happened in October. It was an emotional talk, both were scared to talk about it but both were also really happy when it was done. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted from their hearts.

A few minutes before midnight, they rejoined Kurt’s parents in the living room to watch the ball drop together. They counted the seconds down, hugged at midnight and wished each other a happy new year. When they let go of the hug they looked each other into the eyes and before they knew what was happening, their lips met in a soft, chaste kiss.

                 - 88 days, two boys, two broken hearts who were on their way to heal - 

“Hey, Kurt,all singles go out to the bar down the street tonight, be ready at 5.” Chase, his colleague at vogue.com, said as he walked by Kurt’s office booth.

“I’m not single,” Kurt said loud enough for others to hear.

“Wait, you have a new boyfriend?”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Is he cute. Do you have a picture?”

“When did you met him and how?”

Kurt groaned, his colleagues (male and female) could be more gossip-y than the girls from New Directions.

“I don’t have a new boyfriend. Why should I have a new boyfriend anyway?”

“But didn’t you break up with your boyfriend back in October?”

“No.”

“I thought you broke up and stayed friends”

“We are friends.”

“So he is not your boyfriend?”

“He is my boyfriend.” Kurt got more and more worked up by his too nosy colleagues.

“Now I’m confused. Is he your boyfriend or friend?”

“Argh. We are both, friends and boyfriends,” he said and went to the copier room.

Honestly he didn’t know where his and Blaine’s relationship stood at the moment. In the last six weeks, they constantly texted, talked over the phone every other day and had Saturday night Skype movie non-dates. Kurt also flew to Lima the last weekend in January, officially because he missed his family but most importantly to go out with Blaine. They went at first to dinner and watched afterwards a movie, this time in a movie theater, the evening ended with coffee at the Lima Bean. Neither of them said if it was a date or not. The New Year’s Eve kiss wasn’t discussed once the entire time, both pretending as if that kiss never happened.

Kurt wanted to know where they stood, he really wanted but he was too afraid to bring it up during their phone calls. What is if Blaine didn’t want to be in a romantic relationship with him? What is if Blaine was tired of waiting for him? Regardless of his fears he was excited for his and Blaine’s unscheduled Skype (non-)date this evening. It was Valentine’s Day after all and spending time with Blaine on Skype was better than not spending time with Blaine on this day at all.

Kurt left the office at 5:30 pm, he would be home at around 6 pm and would have just enough time to shower, get dressed in his already carefully chosen outfit, moisturize his skin, style his hair and order the Italian food he and Blaine had decided on before their (non-)date would start at 8 pm.

Kurt was only a few feet away from his apartment when he recognized the smell of food. He began to panic immediately because Rachel and cooking was a dangerous mix. Kurt took a deep breath and steeled himself for the worst when he remembered that Rachel was out with Brody and wouldn’t be back until the next afternoon. He slowly walked up to his apartment and opened the door carefully. All the scenarios he had in his head couldn’t prepare him for what he saw after the door was open.

The apartment was illuminated with a soft light. On the left side of the living area stood a table, covered with a white table cloth, flowers and candles. Two chairs, also covered with white cloths, framed the table. The sofa was put to the right site of the living room, a duvet and what looked like hundreds of pillows lay on the floor in front of the sofa, the wall was covered with a white sheet.

Kurt looked to the kitchenette and saw Blaine. His Blaine in a tux, his Blaine with the biggest smile he could imagine, his Blaine looking so, so happy and his Blaine with a bouquet of red and yellow roses.

“Blaine,” Kurt said breathlessly.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Blaine walked slowly up to Kurt and held out the roses for Kurt to take.

Kurt threw himself at Blaine and hugged him tight. He couldn’t believe that Blaine was in his New York apartment with roses and oh god did he smell good.

“Blaine,”he said again as he hugged him tighter and burrowed his face in Blaine’s neck.

“Hey,are you crying?” Blaine asked as he felt Kurt shaking and something wet on his skin. Kurt tightened the hug again.

“I’m so happy you are here,” Kurt choked out.

“Me too,” Blaine said as he and Kurt swayed, hugging each other in the apartment entrance, not caring if someone could see them.

“I cooked dinner,” Blaine said after a few minutes. “Italian.”

Kurt laughed softly and let go off Blaine. “Then let’s eat before it gets cold,” he said and wiped the tears with his fingers away from his face.

“Okay.” Blaine took one of Kurt’s hands and led him to the table before he got their food from the kitchen.

They didn’t talk much during their dinner, but what wasn’t said with words, was said with glances, smiles and the occasional foot that brushed accidently against the other boy’s calf.

When the dinner was over, Blaine took their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Kurt watched not so discrete every move Blaine made. After Blaine was done, he came back to the table and held one hand out for Kurt to take. Without any questions Kurt took the hand and let himself be guided to the sofa. He started to sit down on the sofa when Blaine said, “No, please sit on the duvet.” Kurt did as Blaine said.

Kurt was surprised when the wall was suddenly illuminated by the light from a projector and looked up to Blaine, who just smiled at him from behind the sofa.  Kurt could hear but not see the sound of clicked keys and then the menu of a DVD showed up on the wall.

“When Harry met Sally?” Kurt asked Blaine.

“Like we agreed on,” Blaine answered with a smile of achievement.

Blaine clicked start and sat down with a bowl of fruits next to Kurt. He reached the bowl to Kurt and grabbed a second duvet from the sofa. Both cuddled up under the duvet and watched the film, occasionally feeding each other the fruit pieces. They laughed at the movie but more often they laughed and giggled at each other. After the movie was over they decided to watch “The Notebook” because neither of them wanted to go to bed, or go back into reality by leaving their little pillow and duvet heaven on the living room floor. It was after midnight when Blaine’s eyes felt close and his breath evened out. Kurt watched how Blaine fell asleep. He kissed his head and softly said, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Blaine mumbled in his sleep as he cuddled more into Kurt’s side. Kurt fell asleep with a happy smile on his face.

Kurt woke up with his alarm clock going off at 6 am the next morning. He didn’t want to get up, he wanted to stay where he was forever. He reached out for his phone and shut off his alarm. Kurt looked next to him and watched Blaine sleep. He watched how Blaine’s eyelids twitched from his dream, he watched how Blaine began to smile and he couldn’t suppress his own smile when Blaine mumbled in his sleep “I love you, Kurt.” No Kurt didn’t want to get up and leave Blaine for work. Kurt grabbed his phone and carefully, as not to disturb Blaine stood up and went to the bathroom. When he came back he slipped under the duvet and cuddled up to Blaine who instinctively put his arm around Kurt.

Kurt woke up again two hours later and had to laugh, Blaine’s hair stick up in all directions, he had a big pillow mark going all over his left cheek and his eyebrows were furrowed. For Kurt Blaine looked so kissable. He leaned down and planted a soft but determined kiss on Blaine’s lips.

“Mmhhh,” Blaine let out and kissed Kurt back sleepily.

“Good morning sleepy head, wake up.”

“No good dream,” Blaine slurred and burrowed his head deep between two pillows. Kurt laughed again and started to kiss Blaine’s cheek, forehead, jaw and ear.

“Mmhh,” Blaine let out again and opened one eye.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Blaine turned his face so he could get a good look at Kurt.

“I made us breakfast,” Kurt whispered before he pecked Blaine on the mouth.

“Don’t you have to go to work?” Blaine asked.

“Nope. Apparently that nasty stomach bug that wouldn’t let you go to school today is very infectious and I have it now too.” Kurt grinned at Blaine and handed him a cup of coffee.

“Oh.” Blaine looked surprised at Kurt and smiled.

“And I just want to spend the day with my boyfriend,” Kurt said and looked hopefully at Blaine. Blaine inhaled at the last word.

“Boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend.”

“I love that.”

They smiled at each other and took a sip from their coffees.

                                - 134 days, two boys, two hearts who were once broken - 

“Blaine why are we here of all places?” Kurt asked.

“Because that is the place where I broke your heart, where I broke our hearts. I don’t want you to have places in this city with bad memories. Kurt you are the best person that ever entered my life. I don’t know why you forgave me but you forgave me and I’m so,so happy about that. You’re amazing, wonderful, fantastic, talented, sexy, witty, smart, likeable, loveable, awesome, perfect, good looking, heartfelt, caring, intelligent, imperfect, funny, strong, stubborn, cute, adorable, clever, stunning and just the most perfect man of the whole word, in the whole universe.” Blaine fell onto his knees and reached in his coat pocket. He got out a small red box with a golden bowtie.

“Blaine wha…”

“Psst. I’m not finished yet,” Blaine said. He opened the box and showed the content to Kurt. “Kurt Elizabeth Hummel, will you marry me?”

                        - 52 weeks, two young men, two hearts who belong together, forever -