It was nearing the end of Summer. -Kurt would be heading off to NYADA with Rachel at the end of the week.- And Kurt and Blaine were curled up on Kurt's bed, watching a movie and snuggling.

As the credits rolled, Kurt picked up the remote, and turned the TV off. He sat up straight, turning towards Blaine, and taking his hands in his.

"Blaine, honey. Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Blaine didn't like the sound of Kurt's voice, but he liked the look in his eyes even less.

"Of course.", He said, warily.

Kurt took a deep breath.

"Okay. Blaine...I've been thinking. And I'm leaving for NYADA in five days."

Blaine nodded slowly, not liking where this was going.

"And this is going to be your senior year at McKinley," Kurt continued, "And I don't want anything holding you back. I want you to be able to make as many new friends as possible, and not have to worry about working around my schedule so that we have time to talk. NYADA's going to be taking up a lot of my time, we both know that. And I just don't think it would be fair of me to hold you down. I mean...Who knows. Maybe Sebastian will talk you into going to Scandals again," Kurt cringed at the thought,"And maybe you'll meet a nice boy there. And maybe, just maybe, you'll realize I'm not the only one for you. My point is, Blaine, I'm going to be far away. I'm not going to be able to give you all the time you deserve, because you deserve the world, Blaine. And I just can't give you that. Not yet."

Blaine was speechless for a moment, taking all of this in.

"Kurt, are you....Are you breaking up with me?", Blaine asked desperately, voice cracking.

"Not forever. Just for a year, until you graduate and move to New York. And then, if you haven't found someone who deserves you more than I do, I would be happy to get back together with you."

"No. No, you don't mean that. There's no one on this whole planet who deserves me more than you do, Kurt."

"Blaine, I love you more than anything, and I always will. New York's not going to change that. NYADA's not going to change that. But it's because I love you that I think we need to break up. You need to live your senior year to the fullest, and I would feel like the most selfish person in the world if I held you back.", Kurt sighed.

Blaine couldn't handle this. The tears he'd been trying to hold in for so long came slowly pouring down his face.

"Kurt, please. Please, don't do this. I don't want the opportunity to be with anyone else. I don't need the opportunity to be with anyone else. I only want you."

"I know, Blaine. I know. And if that's how you truly feel, it won't change in a year. You'll be in New York before you know it, and we can be together again. I swear it."

Blaine broke down then, wracking sobs shaking his whole body. Kurt took him in his arms, rubbing his back gently.

"Hush, baby. Hush. It's alright. It's not like we won't still be friends. I'll call you every chance I get. I just don't want to tie you down."

"Stop.", Blaine gasped out between sobs. "Please. Just...Don't say anything else. I have to go."

And with that, Blaine was running from Kurt's room as fast as he could. Bounding down the stairs, past Burt, and wrenching the front door open.

Kurt was alone, then. Blaine's tears still wet on his shirt.

"I did the right thing, didn't I?", he whispered to himself. "I did the right thing."

He then curled up in a ball at the foot of his bed, and cried himself to sleep.

Blaine ran up his driveway, and through his front door, sobbing even harder than he had been upon leaving Kurt's home.

"Blaine, sweetie? Is that you?", His mother called from the kitchen.

She then heard him pounding up the stairs, crying loudly.

"Blaine? Blaine, are you alright? Did something happen? Is Kurt okay?"

At the sound of Kurt's name, Blaine began to cry even harder, dropping down in the middle of the steps, and rocking back and forth.

His mother, unsure of what to do, and not having a clue what was wrong, walked slowly towards Blaine, and sat down on the step next to him, gently rubbing his back, attempting to sooth him.

After a good twenty minutes, Blaine managed to calm himself down enough to say hoarsely, "I think I'm just gonna go take a bath, okay, mom? I'll be fine. Really."

"Alright, sweetie. Just call down if you need anything."

"Thanks, mom.", Blaine mumbled, quietly, heading the rest of the way upstairs.

Once upstairs, he headed directly for his room, sitting down on his bed as the tears came, once again. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get them to stop. These awful, gut wrenching sobs. He couldn't breathe. He needed air.

He rolled off his bed, and walked over and opened the window as best as he could, his vision blurred with tears.

The warm Summer breeze drifted in through the window, but it wasn't helping. Blaine still couldn't breathe. He felt like his whole world was closing in on him. He just didn't understand. Why would Kurt be so adamant about breaking up with him when it was obvious that that was not what Blaine wanted?

And then, like a punch to the gut, Blaine was struck with an awful thought. What if it had all been an excuse? What if it was Kurt who didn't want to be held down? Wanted to be free to date other people? What if it wasn't Kurt worrying about Blaine not wanting him, but Kurt not wanting Blaine?

Blaine began to choke on his tears, gasping for air.

No. It couldn't be. Kurt loved him. Kurt loved him more than anything else in the world. He had said so.

Then again, he could have been lying. If he was worried about Blaine finding someone else in Ohio, Blaine should be even more worried about Kurt finding someone else in New York.

Burt was in the kitchen helping Carol fix dinner when he heard it. Heard his son screaming bloody murder from upstairs.

He bounded up, two steps at a time, and burst into Kurt's bedroom, finding him thrashing around wildly in his sleep, still screaming.

"Kurt. Kurt, buddy! Wake up!", Burt shouted, shaking him.

Kurt awoke with a gasp.

"Dad. I think I've made a big mistake."

Blaine couldn't take it anymore. These thoughts.

These doubts. He hadn't felt this way since meeting Kurt.

Kurt made him feel special. Made him feel needed. Made him feel wanted.

And then this.

Blaine just didn't understand. How could Kurt do this to him?

He just kept playing those words over and over in his head, "You deserve the world, Blaine."

"But you are my world, Kurt.", Blaine said to himself. "You're my world and more."

And with that, he made his decision.

He grabbed his razor blade out of his drawer, which was filled with various toiletries, and headed to the bathroom.

"Whadd'ya mean, buddy?", Burt asked, concern etched over his face. "What kind of mistake?"

"I broke up with Blaine, dad. I didn't want to hold him back during his senior year, and have him end up resenting me for it. I didn't want to be selfish, and keep him to myself even though I'm going to be hundreds of miles away. And so I broke up with him."

"Mmm.", Burt nodded, gruffly, "Is that why he tore out of here sobbing like that?"

Kurt began to cry softly.

"I never meant to hurt him, dad. I didn't."

"I know, kiddo.", Burt said, pulling his son into a hug.

"I was trying to do what was best for him, but I think it came out all wrong. I doubt if he'll ever want to talk to me again. He probably hates me now.", Kurt whispered into his father's shoulder.

Burt pulled back from the hug, then, looking his son directly in the eyes.

"Kurt, that boy could never, and I mean never, hate you. You're his world, don't you know that?"

That struck Kurt right in the heart.

"You deserve the world, Blaine." "You're his world, don't you know that?"

The words rang in his ears. How could he have been so stupid?

He was trying not to be selfish, but in doing so, he'd hurt Blaine more than a long distance relationship ever could have. Because they were each others everything. They didn't need to be free to see other people, because there was no one else. Not for him, not for Blaine, not ever.

Blaine swiftly locked the bathroom door before turning on the tap, and drawing himself a warm bath.

He then set the razor on the edge of the tub, and began slowly removing his clothes. Folding them, and setting them in a neat pile. He didn't want to burden his mother with a big mess of clothes.

He looked in the mirror, dark circles under his red, tear filled eyes. Snot dripping from his nose. His normally tame curls had come free from their gel, and were hanging over his forehead, and sticking out every which-way.

He looked a mess. Truly. He could see why Kurt thought he could do better. Because he could. Kurt was perfect, and Blaine was just an insecure little boy. Sure, he put on a good act, making everyone think he was the picture of confidence. But deep down, he really didn't like who he was. He only liked the person he was when he was with Kurt. And now that person was gone. Dashed to pieces.

He looked away from the mirror, sighing heavily, and running his fingers through his hair.

He walked over to the bathtub, and dipped his toes in, making sure it was a comfortable temperature.

Then, satisfied with the heat of his bathwater, he stepped into the tub, sinking down until only his head and neck were not submerged.

He grabbed his razor, and put it to his wrist.

"I've got to go see Blaine.", Kurt all but shouted, standing up quickly and grabbing his keys from his dresser.

"Whoa, buddy. You're in no condition to be driving. Let's go eat some dinner, and I'll take you over to see Blaine after."

"No, dad. There isn't time. I screwed up big time, and I have to go fix it. Now."

He stormed out of his room, running down the steps and out the front door as fast as his could.

He hopped into his car, and started it up, slamming on the gas.

"I've got to get to Blaine.", he muttered to himself. He had an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something wasn't right.

He pulled into the Anderson's driveway, and ran up to the front door, pounding on it loudly.

Mrs. Anderson answered, and she smiled brightly, seeing who it was.

"Kurt, dear. I'm so glad to see you. Blaine got home about an hour ago and seemed pretty shaken up over something, but he didn't want to talk to me about it. I was afraid perhaps you were hurt."

"Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Anderson.", Kurt replied, smiling as politely as he could in his panic stricken state. "Can I come in? I've really got to see Blaine. It's important."

"Oh, of course.", she said, stepping back and pulling the door open the rest of the way. "He's upstairs. He told me he was going to take a bath, but you can go up and let him know you're here. I'll make some tea."

Mrs. Anderson scurried off to the kitchen, leaving Kurt to head up to the bathroom alone.

He knocked on the door softly.

"Blaine? Blaine, honey, are you in there?"

He paused, waiting for a response.

"Listen, Blaine...I know what I did was stupid, but I really did have your best interest in mind. I never meant to hurt you."

Another pause.

"Blaine. Please, baby, let me in. Let me know you can hear me. Something."

Kurt was getting exasperated now.

"Look, you have every right to hate me. I don't blame you if you do. I'd sure as hell hate me after what I did. And I'm sorry I was so stupid."

"Tea should be ready in a few minutes, boys!", Mrs. Anderson called up the steps.

"Alright, thank you, Mrs. Anderson!", Kurt shouted down to her. "You hear that, Blaine? Your mom's making us tea. Want to come out of there so we can talk?"

Once again, he got no response.

"That's it, Blaine. I'm coming in."

Kurt went to turn the knob, but the door was locked. Blaine never locked the door when he was bathing. Kurt knew that.

He went into full-fledged panic mode, then, ramming into the door, and it flew open.

Kurt's heart dropped into his stomach, and he couldn't breathe.

There was Blaine. His Blaine, laying in a bathtub filled with red water.

"No. Oh, God, no. What have I done?", Kurt whispered to himself.

He ran to the tub, taking his boyfriend into his arms, and kissing every last inch of his face.

"Blaine, honey. Please. Say something. Anything."

He put his finger to the pulse point on Blaine's neck. His heart was still beating. But just barely.

"Mrs. Anderson! MRS. ANDERSON!", Kurt called, panic evident in his voice.

"Kurt, dear? What's happening?"

"Call...Call an ambulance.", Kurt faltered. "Blaine's tried to kill himself. Please, hurry."

Mrs. Anderson ran upstairs as she dialed the phone.

Kurt heard her coming up the steps, and ran out of the bathroom, stopping her from coming in.

"Please. Please don't go in there. You don't want to see.", Kurt said, solemnly, shaking his head just slightly.

Kurt went back into the bathroom, taking Blaine into his arms once more, and listening to Mrs. Anderson on the phone with 911.

Minutes later, he heard the sirens approaching, and sighed in relief. He knew they weren't out of the water yet. Blaine had lost a lot of blood. But at least they would soon know the extent of the damage.

At the hospital, Kurt and Mrs. Anderson waited in the waiting room together in a strained silence. Neither one trusting themselves to speak.

Then Blaine's Doctor, Dr. Harding, came out and walked over to them.

"Mrs. Anderson," said Dr. Harding, addressing Blaine's mother, "Your son's stable now. He lost a lot of blood, but he should be alright in about a week. Until then, we've got him hooked up to an I.V. He's still unconscious, but he should be awake again in a few days."

Dr. Harding turned to Kurt, and then back to Mrs. Anderson. "You can go see him now, if you'd like."

And so they followed Dr. Harding back to Blaine's room. Both secretly glad the other was there with them. They both knew that the other was the only other person in the world who loved Blaine as much as they did, and they took comfort in the fact.

Mrs. Anderson reached down, and took Kurt's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze as they walked through the door to Blaine's room, and saw him lying there, unmoving, breathing shallow.

"He's going to be okay.", Kurt whispered, more to himself than to Blaine's mother. But she took comfort in his words nonetheless.

They each pulled up a chair on either side of Blaine's bed, taking his hands in theirs.

Five days later, and it was time for Kurt to be leaving for NYADA.

And yet, here he was, at Blaine's bedside with Mrs. Anderson, just as he had been since that first night in the hospital. He had only left to sleep, and a couple times to eat.

He was beginning to doze off, tired, and stressed, when he got a text from Rachel.

To Kurt: You sure you're not coming? :(

Kurt scowled at the text before sending a reply.

To Rachel: Yes, I'm sure. Blaine's still unconscious. But it shouldn't be long, now. I'll be on the first flight over after he wakes up, and I get a chance to talk to him. Start setting up our apartment. I may be late for decorating, but I won't miss a day of classes, I swear.

Just then, Blaine's hand twitched in his. He looked up at Mrs. Anderson. Apparently she had felt the same thing, for she was looking up at him, smiling hopefully.

Blaine groaned a little, trying to open his eyes.

"Blaine, sweetie, can you hear me?", Mrs. Anderson asked.

"Mom?"

"Yes. Yes, sweetie, it's me."

"Hi, Blaine.", Kurt said, softly.

"Kurt?!" Blaine asked, eyes popping open, and turning his head quickly to make sure he hadn't just imagined Kurt's voice coming from the right of him.

"Shh. Shh. Yes, honey. It's me.", Kurt cooed, squeezing Blaine's hand just a bit tighter.

"I'll give you two a few moments alone.", Said Mrs. Anderson, giving Blaine's hand a gentle squeeze before getting up, and leaving the room, closing the door gently behind her.

Kurt had filled her in on what had happened, and they had cried and comforted each other. Knowing the whole story, she realized they needed time alone to talk, and so she headed down to the cafeteria to get herself a snack.

Back in Blaine's hospital room, Blaine's eyes were filling with tears.

"Kurt, what are you doing here? What day is it?"

"The day I should be leaving for NYADA, Blaine. The plane just boarded a few minutes ago. But you're more important."

"No, I'm not. Don't say things like that. NYADA's your dream."

"NAYDA will still be there if I arrive tomorrow evening. You're something that couldn't wait."

"I thought you didn't want me anymore." Blaine said, beginning to sob quietly.

"Oh, Blaine, honey. No. That wasn't it at all. I'll always want you. I was trying to do what was best for you. But I realized that I was being an idiot. And I hurt you. And it was almost too late, when I realized.", Kurt said, taking a deep breath, "When I got to your house Blaine, and I saw....And you were...I just couldn't. I couldn't bear it. I felt like it was my fault. I know how fragile you are. It's easy to forget, because you just seem so sure of yourself all the time. But I know. And I shouldn't have let you leave my house sobbing like that. I should have talked through it with you, and maybe then I would have realized earlier how stupid I was being. And I'm just so sorry, Blaine. I'm so, so sorry." And with that, Kurt broke down, burying his face in the blankets of Blaine's hospital bed, and gripping Blaine's hand as if his life depended on it.

"Shh. Kurt. Kurt, it's not your fault. I should have know you'd never do anything to hurt me. I...I shouldn't have tried to do....What I did. I just thought I'd lost you. I was afraid you'd find someone new in New York and forget all about me, and I just couldn't stand it. But if anyone should be sorry it's me. And I am, Kurt. I really am."

Blaine pulled Kurt up out of the chair he was sitting in, and into the bed next to him. They lay together, and cried, holding each other tightly, and never wanting to let go.

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

"I love you, too, Kurt. More than anything. And it's okay. You can stop apologizing."

"I do still have to go to NYADA. I'll have to book another flight, but I'll probably be able to leave by tomorrow morning. But we're not breaking up, alright? Not now, not ever. I swear it."

"I'm glad you found me before it was too late, Kurt.", Blaine whispered, against Kurt's neck.

"Me too.", Kurt breathed.

He pulled away from their embrace, just slightly, so he could look into Blaine beautiful hazel eyes.

"It's only a year. Just one tiny, little year, and then you'll be in New York with me. You'll move into the apartment with Rachel and me, and everything will be prefect. We'll take the city by storm." Kurt said, smiling brightly at his beautiful boyfriend.

"Sounds perfect.", Blaine replied, smiling back.

Kurt sighed, wrapping his arms around Blaine's neck.

"You're my world, you do realize that, don't you, Blaine Anderson?"

Blaine nodded, giving Kurt a chaste kiss on the lips.

"And you, Kurt Hummel, are my universe."