Kurt Hummel's life was the epitome of happiness right now. Or at least that's how he felt. Everything was going the way he hoped it would. He was currently in his senior year in college in New York City (majoring in theater), he had a part time job at a coffee shop (to help pay his rent), and he had a small (but homey) apartment in the city with his boyfriend and love of his life Blaine Anderson. This was everything Kurt could have ever wanted.
But there was one exception.
Kurt loved Blaine. Kurt loved Blaine so much it was ridiculous. When Kurt was with Blaine everything still felt just as new as it did six years ago when Kurt and Blaine had become boyfriends in highschool. Kurt's heart still fluttered when he walked through the door, they never ran out of things to talk about, and Kurt always, as pathetic as it sounded, always missed him when he was gone. Not only was Blaine his boyfriend, but he was his best friend too. Blaine was everything Kurt could have ever wanted and he found him in a private school in Ohio.
But Kurt wanted more. He was ready to take the next step with Blaine and he sensed that Blaine was ready to take the next step too. Kurt and Blaine had talked about getting married before.
Today Kurt gushed about how he'd been planning his wedding since he was two years old. Blaine stared across the table, smiling at him fondly. This was pretty how every one of their dates went. Even ones like this, the same ones they had been going on since they were in high school. Just sitting at the coffee shop together and chatting about their day.
"I'm just in love with the idea with getting married," Kurt sighed. It was true. Sometimes when he was lying in bed awake he would just watch his sleeping boyfriend next to him and imagine what it was like to call Blaine his husband or his fianc�. Kurt knew that he and Blaine probably weren't going to be married in any of the next few years because Kurt was getting ready to graduate and Blaine was still a junior. All those issues aside, the thought of being engaged to Blaine made his heart swell about one thousand sizes.
"I'd love to get married to you one day, Kurt," Blaine said as he reached across the table and held Kurt's hand in his. Blaine's statement made his heart flutter. Kurt smiled back at him and ran his thumb across Blaine's knuckles.
"Yeah me too," Kurt said. Blaine smiled and leaned across the table to kiss Kurt on the cheek.
"Come on," he said while standing up, "Let's go home. I've got enough homework to drown in." Kurt nodded and was glad Blaine didn't see his expression falter. Clearly Blaine wanted to wait later in their future. Kurt felt childish wanting to be engaged with Blaine right then but he loved Blaine so much. Was it so bad to want to take the next step with the person he was in love with and that he had been with for six years?
"Actually I was going to meet up with Rachel," he said, "It's been a while since we've hung out. I'm sure she has a lot to get off her chest since she got turned down at another audition. And I bet she really misses Finn."
"Hmm date with me then date with Rachel. I see how you roll," Blaine joked as they walked outside together. Blaine took Kurt's scarf from him and draped it around his neck then leaned in for a kiss, "I'll see you at home, love."
"Okay I'll see you," Kurt said kissing his boyfriend. When they broke the kiss Blaine smiled and turned walking in the general direction of their shared apartment.
"I love you!" Kurt called raising his hand to hail a cab.
"I love you." Blaine called back turning his head slightly to look at his boyfriend as he climbed into the back seat of the taxi. Kurt smiled to himself and his heart fluttered at Blaine's inflection of 'you' as he told the driver Rachel's address.
"Are you coming?" said a text from her. Kurt rolled his eyes as he tapped out his reply. Rachel was just as crazy as ever.
"Yes. I just got in a cab."
"Okay. I was just checking. It's been a while. I can't wait to see you!"
"Yeah me too."
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When Kurt finally arrived at Rachel's he walked into her surprisingly tastefully designed apartment. It differed a lot of the bedroom Kurt had visited numerous times when they were in high school together. It also differed a lot from Rachel's surprisingly consistent style of clothing.
"Kurt!" she cried as she threw her arms about his neck. Kurt returned the hug and grinned. If someone would have told his 16 year old self that one of his best friends would be Rachel Berry and his brother was going to be Finn Hudson he would tell them they were insane. He'd probably call the mental ward for them if they told him he was going to find a guy like Blaine in Ohio.
"How are you?" Kurt asked her as he looked around her living room again, "This is a really really place."
"Oh, I'm alright," she said, "I got a call back for a small production of Rent for the part of Maureen. Not a Broadway like I want but it's still something."
"That's pretty incredible, Rachel. I mean considering where we live. Sounds like you're moving your way up in the world. How are you in Finn?" He knew Rachel missed Finn a lot. Finn had stayed in Ohio to go to Ohio State and play football. Rachel really wanted him to go to New York with her but in the end she realized it was her dream, not his.
"I miss him terribly," Rachel sighed, "I wish that he wanted to go to New York with me but I want him to live his dreams too."

Kurt smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "That's incredibly big of you, Rachel. I talked to him on the phone last night. He's having a good time at OSU but he misses you a lot too. It doesn't go well when he drinks though." Kurt chuckled as he remembered when Finn taught him about the categories of drunk people in high school, "He called Blaine weeping one night saying that he missed you."
Rachel tilted her head and smiled sadly as she headed into her kitchen, "Come sit! I made us dinner!" Kurt followed Rachel and sat down at her kitchen table.
"You know," he said, "Blaine was kind of glad Finn stayed in Ohio. He felt more welcome at our house when Finn came home for some of the weekends when he was having family issues…"
Rachel nodded while she stirred something in a pot, "How is Blaine? I haven't seen him in a while?"
"Oh he's great. He's doing well in school and he's really happy," Kurt said smiling slightly.
"Are you happy, Kurt?" Rachel asked, concern coating her voice.
"Oh yeah! Of course! I've never been happier. I have a job, I'm doing good in school, I live in New York City, and I'm doing it all with the man I love. I love him so much, he makes me so happy. He's like the icing on the cake."
“But?" Kurt looked up to see Rachel smiling. She knew him so well.
"It's just… I don't want to sound stupid."
"I promise not judge you."
"I want to…take our relationship to the next level."
"Meaning…?"
"Engagement, Rachel. I can so tell you're with Finn. Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Oh my gosh, Kurt!" Rachel cried, "That's fantastic! Do you think Blaine is going to propose?"
Kurt shrugged, "I'm not sure. There have been some times when I thought that maybe he was going to. We would be on a really romantic date together. It would be the right mood and it seemed like he was going to drop down on one knee and ask but no. Not that I don't appreciate that he takes me out on really romantic dates. I love it. He's incredibly sweet, beautiful, and perfect… and I fall more in love with him every day."
Rachel set a plate in front of him and sat down with her own meal, "It will happen, Kurt. Blaine loves you so much."
Kurt smiled and started to eat, "You're right. Of course you're right. I shouldn't worry." Rachel smiled at Kurt knowingly. For she knew more than Kurt did.
Kurt fidgeted with his keys in front of the door of his apartment. He had just gotten home from Rachel's where he had stayed longer than he had planned. He had forgotten how much Rachel could talk.
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He sighed as he finally found his key and got his door opened. He knew Blaine was inside but he always locked the door when it got too late. This was New York after all. Kurt stepped into his small apartment and dropped his keys on the counter. When he looked up he found Blaine asleep at his desk. His hair was tousled, his head and arms laying on a text book, and there was a high lighter in his hand. Kurt grinned as he approached him and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"Hey," he shook lightly, "Blaine. Wake up sweetheart."
"Hmmm?" Blaine murmured sleepily as he looked up at Kurt. When their eyes met he smiled, "Oh… hi there."
Kurt smiled and kissed him. "I swear, you are going to study yourself to death," Blaine simply smiled again, "Come on. Let's get you to bed." Blaine nodded in agreement and stood up with him. The two of them changed their clothes and did their respective pre-sleeping activities then crawled under the covers together. Kurt held his arms out to Blaine who scooted into them and rested his forehead against Kurt's.
"I love you, Kurt," Blaine said sleepily. Kurt leaned forward and kissed Blaine.
"I love you too, Blaine Anderson," he said while Blaine still grinned at him in a way that was making his heart melt, "More and more every day. Now get some sleep. You're clearly exhausted."
"Okay," Blaine kissed him again, "Goodnight my love." Blaine then nuzzled his nose into Kurt's neck and soon was fast asleep. Kurt smiled and ran his fingers through Blaine's hair. Fianc� or not, Kurt new this boy was the one.
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"So," Amber, Kurt's best work friend, said, "Boyfriend propose yet?" Kurt sighed and gave her the 'bitch' look. They were having a particularly slow day at work and she wasn't helping.
"No," Kurt said fiddling with a coffee stirrer and not looking Amber in the eye.
"Aw sweetheart," she cooed and laid her head on his shoulder. As much as a pain in the ass Amber could be, Kurt really did adore her, "You really want him to don't you?"
Kurt shrugged, "I mean yeah… Blaine is my whole world. Having him for the rest of my life would mean everything to me. Obviously engagement is the next step in that process."
"Why don't you ask him?" Amber said movie back towards the cash register.
"What?" Kurt asked looking at her with wide eyes.
"Why don't you ask Blaine to marry you? I mean you're both guys so it's not like it would be weird and clearly you love him.
Kurt smiled all of a sudden feeling his heart start to race and said, "Amber that's the best idea you've had in weeks." Kurt couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it himself.
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Blaine sat in the edge of his and Kurt's bed and snapped the ring box shut again for about the millionth time. He shoved the small box in the front pocket of his sweatshirt and buried his face into hands and flopped onto his back.
"He's not going to say no," Blaine told himself for the millionth time. But Kurt had to be suspicious. He had taken him out on all these incredibly romantic dates and right when he was about to pop the question something would happen or he would chicken out.
Kurt wouldn't turn him down. They were in love and they had been since they were seventeen. Then why was Blaine so nervous? He had already gotten Burt and Carole's blessing. He specifically remembered Carole crying over the phone when he spoke to her. He even called Finn and asked him. Kurt's family had always accepted Blaine but he wanted their approval to take his hand in marriage.
Blaine pulled the box out of his pocket and flipped the lid open again. The ring was silver and had a row of seven small diamonds embedded in it. It was simple yet flashy. Just like Kurt.
"He's not going to say no," Blaine reminded himself again but to boost his confidence again he pulled out his cell phone and called Wes and David.
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Kurt spent the last couple of weeks saving up every bit of money he earned to buy Blaine a nice engagement ring. Okay, he also pulled a lot from his saving accoun too. This was really important to him, though. This was Blaine. In the end he had settled on a white gold ring with a silver stripe through the middle.
The only person who knew he was doing this was Amber. He showed her the ring at work the day after he bought it.
"Oh honey," she hugged him. If Kurt weren't mistaken he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes, "I'm so proud of you. When are you going to ask him?"
"Soon," he said admiring the ring still in its box, "Hopefully really really soon." It had to be soon. Before Kurt got too nervous to do it.
"Well you might want to put that up. Boyfriend at six o clock," Amber said so only Kurt could hear. Kurt quickly shoved the ring in his bag under the counter again and whirled around to see Blaine on the other side.
"Hi honey," Kurt said leaning against the counter with his chin in his hands, "What are you doing here?"
"Am I not allowed to visit my boyfriend at work?" Blaine said leaning on his forearms against the counter.
"Actually, it's highly recommended," he grinned and kissed Blaine.
"You two are so cute it makes me want to barf," Amber joked as she took a customer's order.
Kurt rolled his eyes and took one of Blaine's hands in his, "So what's up? Aren't you usually taking a between classes nap right now?"
"Well I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go out this Saturday night," Blaine smiled and ran his thumb across the back of Kurt's hand.
"And you came all the way to my work to ask me that?" Kurt chuckled.
"I thought it would be semi-romantic. What do you say?"
"Of course, dear," he smiled and kissed him again, "Now you get going. You're going to be late for class."
"Okay, see you at home. Love you."
"Love you too," Kurt smiled and turned back to Amber, "See I told you. Soon. Very soon."
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It was Saturday night and Kurt was getting ready for his date with Blaine. Kurt checked his hair in the mirror and straightened his tie and jacket. They weren't going on the fanciest date in the world, dinner at a nice restaurant and a walk in the park, but since he was going to ask Blaine to marry him, he wanted to look nice. He was a bit nervous. His life was definitely about to change in the next few hours. It could end two ways: Kurt could be the happiest man on the planet on his way to marrying the man of his dreams or in heartbreak. He was opting for the first one, of course.
"Kurt?" Blaine called from the living room, "Are you ready to go?"
"I'll be out in a minute, babe!" he called as he looked at himself in the mirror staring himself in the eye. He took a deep breath, "He's not going to say no." He looked at the ring box one more time before shoving it into his jacket pocket.
"Okay, let's go," he said as he stepped into the living room. Blaine looked up from where he was sitting on the couch.
"Aw, look at you," he said grinning widely and taking Kurt into his arms, "You're so beautiful."
Kurt kissed Blaine on the cheek, "Hmm so are you. Ready?"
"Very much so," he replied taking Kurt's hand and they walked out the door together. Kurt bounced on his toes nervously while Blaine hailed a cab. Blaine looked at him and smiled as they climbed in the back of the car, "You alright?"
Kurt smiled back convincingly, "Never better."
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Their dinner had gone fantastically, aside from the waiter flirting with Kurt a little and receiving the 'you're dead to me' look from Blaine. He finally got the picture when Blaine leaned over and kissed Kurt when he was in sight. Kurt smiled at Blaine's adorable jealousy.
"My heart belongs to you," he told Blaine, "You know that."
"I know… I just want everyone else to know it too."
"You're adorable."
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Kurt and Blaine walked slowly through Central Park together. They weren't really speaking, just enjoying the other one's company. Every time they would look into the other one's eyes it almost like having an entire conversation. Blaine loved how Kurt would blush, smile, and look away shyly. He leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Blaine ran his thumb across the ring box in his pocket. It was now or never.
"Uhm Kurt?" he said and turned to look at Kurt who looked like he was about to say something.
"Please. Let me first?" Kurt asked. Blaine nodded gestured for Kurt to speak. Kurt took a deep breath and looked flustered, "Gosh… I'm so nervous…"
Blaine tilted his head in confusion, "Why, babe?"
"Because…uh…I…" his heart thumped in his chest, "I… okay here we go." He pulled the box out of his pocket and dropped down on one knee. He opened the box to reveal the ring.
"Oh my god… Kurt…" Blaine covered his mouth with his hands and tears were brimming his eyes.
"Blaine," he started with his breath shaking a little bit, "I love you so much. I've been in love with you since I met you in Dalton Academy when we were in high school. Not only are you my boyfriend, but you're my best friend. That's why we're so good together. I can't imagine myself making it through high school without your help. Blaine, you make me laugh, you hold me when I'm upset, and I can't imagine the rest of my life without you. What I'm trying to say is… Blaine Anderson… will you marry me?"
Blaine smiled even wider and wiped tears from his eyes, "Yes…Yes! Of course I will." Kurt smiled up at Blaine as he too started to cry. He stood up to meet Blaine's gaze. This was the happiest Kurt had ever seen Blaine. He took Blaine's left hand in his and slipped the ring onto his ring finger.
"I love you," he said looking into Blaine's eyes.
"I love you too," Blaine said breathily and pulling Kurt into a kiss. It was the longest happiest kiss Kurt had ever experienced. When they finally broke the kiss it was clear to see that they were both crying.
Kurt laughed a little bit and sniffled, "So…uh…what were you going to say earlier?"
Blaine chuckled a little and put his hand in his pocket. When he pulled his hand out he was holding a small, black velvet box that opened and revealed a ring.
Kurt's eyes grew wide, "Oh my god…Blaine… I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"Don't be," Blaine said kissing Kurt again softly and slipping the other ring onto Kurt's ring finger, "I'm marrying the man I love and now…everyone will know."
"So many people to call and tell," Kurt said.
"Well I hope you mean tomorrow," Blaine said grinning, "Because tonight you're all mine."
"But of course," Kurt said kissing Blaine again.