When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

"It's perfect," Kurt whispered to no one in particular, giving his now-furnished apartment another loving gaze. This was it. Kurt was officially living in New York with Rachel. Sharing a dirty, cheap apartment, but hey, it was in New York, and that was all that mattered. It was his dream, and finally, he had accomplished it. He couldn't help but smile softly at the thought.

"I think that's all the furniture, kid. Do you need help carrying any of your bags, or...?" Burt asked, brushing his hands together after working with Blaine to put another bookcase in place. Kurt smiled back at him.

"No, it's fine. Blaine's going to help me unpack."

"Right, well Carole and I are going to head back to the hotel. We'll come back in the morning to make sure you're settled in before heading back to Ohio with Blaine."

"What time are you planning on heading out?" Blaine spoke up from the couch on which he had collapsed on.

"I don't know. Maybe eight-ish. It depends on what time I can get up and running."

"Sounds good, Dad." Kurt pulled his father in for one final hug. "Thank you so much for helping us move the furniture in. The place looks amazing."

"Anytime, kid," Burt gave Kurt a meaningful gaze paired with a soft smile. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye, Burt!" Blaine's voice rang out from the other room where he still lay, passed out from exhaustion on the sofa.

"Bye, Dad." Kurt grinned as Burt left the apartment, closing the door behind him.

Kurt didn't know what to do with himself now that he was here, in his apartment that he shared with his best friend, really and truly beginning to live his dream. He didn't even know where to start. Well, actually, he did. He had a gorgeous boyfriend who would only be in this state for the night collapsed on his couch. His couch. Yeah, Kurt wasn't going to get used to that any time soon.

"I just can't believe this..." Kurt wandered into the living room, running a hand through his hair and making a fist. Blaine lifted his head up from where it was pressed against the couch cushion. He smirked and stood up slowly, walking behind Kurt and whispering into his ear.

"Your place is great, Kurt. You're going to do amazingly in New York," he wrapped his arms around Kurt from behind, letting his chin rest on Kurt's shoulder.

"It will be even better when you can join us here next year, Blaine. God, I just... I can't even believe this is happening. It's more than I could have ever..." Kurt whispered into the air.

"I'm so proud of you, Kurt."

Kurt beamed, his eyes beginning to well up with tears.

"I hope so. I want you to be."

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

Blaine grinned when he heard the little ding come from his computer. Sure enough, Kurt Hummel was online, and had already initiated a video chat with Blaine that was pending his approval. Like his computer even needed to ask.

With a single, eager click, the face of the one and only Kurt Hummel, New York college student extraordinaire, appeared on the screen. Kurt looked to be in the bedroom of his apartment, sprawled across his bed with his laptop resting at the foot. Even midweek with a million things going on, it still looked impeccably clean, and so incredibly Kurt.

"Hey, Kurt!" Blaine said, waving violently into the camera. Kurt grinned.

"Blaine! Hi!"

"How's NYC?"

"Oh, Blaine, it's going great! I love it here. I was born to be here. School is going so great. I'm learning a lot and making tons of new friends. It's perfect." Kurt's eyes lit up when he talked. Blaine loved this about him. Kurt was so passionate about his dreams and Blaine couldn't be more proud of him.

"That is so great, Kurt!" Blaine mused, and he meant it. Kurt gave a sheepish smile in return.

"So how's it going back in lonely ol' Lima without me?"

"Well, actually... I-" Blaine was interrupted with a loud banging noise coming from Kurt's room. Blaine squinted into the lens to see a figure approach Kurt's bed.

"Oh, Kurt! Is that Blaine? Hi, Blaine!" Rachel stuck her face into the camera, and instinctively, Blaine shot back a few feet. But he smiled anyway. This was Rachel, after all. Despite her insanity, he did love her.

"Hey, Rach!"

"Rachel, Blaine and I were talking. Can we not do this now...?" Kurt asked, pushing Rachel out of the camera's view with a forceful shove.

"Oh, actually Kurt, I came in here to tell you that Ryan and Peyton are here. We invited them over for dinner, remember?" Kurt's whole face lit up in sudden realization.

"Oh, shit! I totally forgot! I'm so sorry, Blaine. I have to go."

"Oh... alright." Blaine's face dropped. He was disappointed, of course. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Countless times since they started the whole "Skype Date" thing. Sometimes Rachel would interrupt them asking for homework help, or a friend from Kurt's new school would call and Kurt would have to pick it up. But Blaine understood that Kurt was just really busy. It was just all in the job description of "long distance boyfriend" after all, right? "Well text me tonight, okay?"

"Definitely. Bye, Blaine!" Kurt said quickly.

"I love you, Kurt." Blaine looked Kurt square in the eyes through the lenses of the computer screen. He meant every ounce of those three words, it was certain.

"Love you, too. Bye!"

And the screen went blank. Blaine let out a loud sigh and logged out of his computer.

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

"Maybe we should break up." Kurt shifted his weight, turning his coffee cup around randomly. His gaze was set somewhere distant. Not towards Blaine's suddenly confused face.

"What?" Blaine squeaked, unnaturally high.

"I said, "maybe we should break up"." Kurt repeated softly.

"No, I heard you..." Blaine managed after several moments of silence. "Why?"

"I mean, we barely ever talk. We Skype once a week, we send random texts... Your calls are becoming less and less frequent and when we do talk, we run out of things to talk about too quickly. And you barely visit because the commute is too expensive. Blaine, I'm in New York. You're in Ohio. It's getting so much harder for us to stay a couple."

"Kurt, you can't be serious," Blaine said, incredulously. "We can fix things, Kurt. I can visit more often. I know it's a lot of money but I'll get another job and we can make it work-"

"No, Blaine. You're missing the point." Kurt sighed. "The point is that even if we could see each other more, it's not the same as when we both went to school in Lima. I know you wanted to come to New York and all that next year, but really, Rach and I can barely manage the apartment as is, let alone with another body in there. And... you're still my best friend, Blaine, and I love you in that way but..."

"Wait, you don't love me anymore?" In that moment, it looked to Blaine like his world was ending. His heart was shattered. He did look like a kicked puppy--you could see it in his eyes. Wide and pleading. Kurt had to shake himself out of Blaine's gaze.

"I do..." Kurt trailed, not meeting Blaine's eye again, fiddling with the lid of his Lima Bean coffee cup. "Just not in the way that I used to."

"So you want to break up." Blaine said, blatantly, tears clearly present in his eyes.

"Yeah, Blaine. I do."

And that was it.

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 4:23 PM
subject: Um... hi

Dear Kurt,
Hey. So I know that you wanted us to break up and stuff... but I miss you more than I can put into words and I figured we could at least be friends. I mean, you were my best friend even before we got together. And Lima is lonely without you.
I just needed someone to talk to, really. Without you at McKinley, I'm facing everything alone and I... It's really hard. They torment me. I've gotten slushied seven times this week, and its only Wednesday. I'm trying to be strong about it and even talk back, but I'm just so sick of it.
Sorry, you probably don't want to hear this. I just really wanted to talk to you about it.
I miss you,
Blaine xx

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 11:09 AM
subject: [no subject]

Happy two year anniversary, Kurt!
I miss you,
Blaine xx

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Thurs, Apr 4, 2013 at 11:49 AM
subject: WE WON REGIONALS! :D:D:D

Kurt,
So, I'm bored during history so I thought I'd send you another email. I know you probably aren't getting these or reading them, but it's nice to think that I might be sending my thoughts your way.
Glee is going great. We won regionals! You know what that means? We're going to nationals! I am so excited, but I felt bad beating the Warblers. Nick and Jeff did an amazing rendition of "As Long As You're Mine" from Wicked. I know how much you love that song. You should've seen it, they rocked it. But I guess the New Directions were a tad better, because we did win. I had a solo! I sang "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Goyte... Tina sang the female part. She was stellar. And then we brought the house down with "Rent".
Since I'll be in New York for nationals, maybe I could stop by and say hi? It's been awhile.
I miss you,
Blaine xx

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Tue, May 20, 2013 at 3:02 PM
subject: Nationals in NYC! :)

So I'll be in New York for Nationals on the 8th, so I thought I could stop by? I'd love to see you.
I miss you,
Blaine xx

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel:
date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 8:34 PM
subject: Missing you again.

Hello Kurt!
I was bummed to hear that you were away last weekend. I don't know if you got/read my email, but I was in New York for Nationals. I was hoping to see you. I saw Rachel (she went to the competition, I don't know if she told you) and she said you were out of town. So yeah, sorry I missed you. I was really looking forward to catching up with you.
I miss you,
Blaine xx

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Tue, Jul 2, 2013 at 11:12 PM
subject:

Hey Kurt,
How are you? How is New York going? Lima just sucks without you, of course. I miss you.
So, Burt tells me you got a good part in a musical. He didn't know that much, but what I got out of it was that you are spectacular and are finally getting the chance to show it to people, so I couldn't be more proud of you. Maybe I could come see you? If you want, of course. If it's weird or awkward or makes you uncomfortable, than I don't have to but... I mean, I miss you, Kurt. And I'd love to see you.
I miss you,
Blaine xx


I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not
And who I am

from: Blaine Anderson
to: Kurt Hummel
date: Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 10:12 AM
subject: NYC

Kurt,

NYC, just got here this morning. Three bucks, two bags, one me.
See you tonight!
Blaine xx

from: Kurt Hummel
to: Blaine Anderson
date: Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 2:33 PM
subject: RE: NYC

wait... tonight???
Kurt

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up.

Blaine knew Kurt would have his own dressing room one day. He knew that there would be a door in a long hallway with an engraved star hanging on it. It was all just a matter of time, really.

Blaine paced down the hall with a spring in his step. This was it. He was going to talk to Kurt. He thumbed with the single rose in his hand as he walked. Blaine was a tiny bit nervous. Okay, he was a lot bit nervous. It had been months since Blaine had seen Kurt. And here he was, about to see him in person. Blaine was terrified.

He paused outside of the door that read "Kurt Hummel", and knocked twice on the door. There was no going back now.

The door swung open, revealing Kurt in all of his glory. His hair was wet from what must have been a post-show shower, his clothes were surprisingly casual for Kurt, and his face was simply glowing. Blaine wasn't sure if this was just his flawless skin's doing that caused the glow, but it might have been due to the fact that he had just performed in a musical, live, in front of a real audience.

Blaine was rendered speechless.

Kurt smiled softly at him.

"Annie lyrics, Blaine?"

"Kurt! Um, hi. Annie lyrics. Was that too cheesy? I'm sorry..." Blaine rambled.

"Just a tad... It was cute, though." Kurt said sweetly. Blaine exhaled.

"Okay, good."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward per say. But it wasn't comfortable, either. It was as if the two of them were waiting for something. What, exactly? It's anyone's guess. Maybe for the other to make a move...

"So, you came." Kurt spoke.

"I did. I wouldn't miss seeing you perform for the world, Kurt." Blaine answered, solemnly.

"Thank you." Kurt said simply, smiling and looking down at their feet.

"Here, I... I got you this." Blaine held the single rose to Kurt, who took it with slightly trembling hands.

"Thank you, Blaine... It's beautiful." Kurt lifted the bud to his nose, inhaling the sweet scent. It was perfect. "I missed you, Blaine."

"I missed you, too."

"I'm so sorry, Blaine. I'm an idiot." Tears were threatening release at Kurt's eyes. Kurt didn't hold them back.

"You aren't an idiot, Kurt. Stupid sometimes, but never an idiot." Blaine brought his hand up to Kurt's face, his thumb wiping away a lonely tear that had begun making its way down Kurt's cheek.

"I still love you, Blaine. I never really stopped." Kurt's voice was barely a whisper.

"Good. Neither did I."

Blaine pressed his lips up against Kurt's slowly and softly. It had been months since they had last kissed. Back then it was brief, chaste, and hardly worth anything. Now it was filled with much more meaning and feeling. Kurt and Blaine were young. They got confused. They made mistakes. But there was always that original connection. It was never altered in the slightest. It was love. And neither of them we going to give up on it.

I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

"I love you, Blaine. I'm so sorry."

"I love you, too, Kurt. Forever."

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up