It's raining and gloomy and misty here and I'm listening to a playlist of Dallas Green, Adele, and Jonny Craig, intermingled with a little Alesana. Why wouldn't I be writing? Haha.

I've missed this site a lot and, even more, I've missed posting my stories on here. I was going to update one of my chapter fics but, I feel bad updating one and not the others so, I'll just have to get my act together and update them all at the same time.

I'm actually really proud of this one but, I'll let you all be the judge of that. Enjoy!

Title: Rehearsal

Characters: Kurt, Blaine, Hans

POV: Third person, alternating between Kurt and Blaine

Warning: My Blaine in this has a religion and prays. He believe in God. Kurt idoes not. I don't feel like it's big deal beyond this chapter and maybe in the last one but, if you have some odd adversity to religion, Blaine prays below. It's in italics. It idn't very formal at all because my prayers aren't very formal. Just skip over the italics if you wish. There will be a bit of language later on but, it's appropriate in context and we're all some semblance of adults here. :D

Kurt was running late on his way home from work, as per usual. His days were unnaturally hectic, given that he couldn't bring himself to settle for merely the theater or fashion designing. So, naturally, being the over-achiever that he was, he had undertaken both. There both his passions and he didn't see any real reason to go after one and not the other, as long as he was physically able.

Over the past month, he had been pushing his designs and fervently preparing for the upcoming shoot and show. At the exact same time, he had been running himself ragged due to eight hour rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway production of White Christmas.

Under normal circumstances, he may have been able to pass up the musical but, he was cast as Bob Wallace, after all and who was he to refuse that? When Burt had questioned his reasoning, Kurt had saucily replied that Bing Crosby had rather large shoes to fill but, Kurt owned about 100 pairs total so, he could deal.

It did help that his best friend, Blaine Anderson, was to star alongside him, as Phil Davis. The producers had noticed the uncanny connection between the two and quickly picked up on it, calling them back almost immediately.

Blaine, of course, would make an outstanding Phil but, what took Kurt a while to comprehend was why he was cast as Bob, rather than Blaine. In the end, he was every bit as dapper and charming as Blaine, no questions asked. He was just far too modest to admit it. The producers had detected it almost immeditaley, fortunately for Kurt. Although he'd never admit it, the complete lack of respect towards him during his senior audition for West Side Story had skewed his perception of his talents a bit.

Kurt shook himself from his thoughts, smiling at the room around him that was currently in shambles. Normally, messes completely irked him but, today, it paid homage to the complete and utter dedication and hardwork that he, along with everyone else, was putting towards this show.

Pieces of music were strewn around, dance shoes left along the far wall. Up on the stage, there were miscellaneous props that had been abandoned for the time being. Back stage, costumes were draping from furniture, half-heartedly folded.

They'd all have hell finding everything tomorrow, but they wouldn't dare send in the custodians just yet. Something could easily get mistaken for trash so, they only brought them in when the actual showings began. In the time being, the actors and staff were in charge of maintenance.

"Kurt, dear, just go home already. You've already done so much today…" He heard one of the choreographers practically scream but, the smile in her voice wasn't lost on him.

"Thanks, Julia. Next time we get out of here early, we'll have to do coffee again. I really enjoyed that little bookstore last time." Kurt replied sincerely.

"Of course, babe. See you Thursday night." She responded from the back room, amidst loud shuffling noises.

"Talk to you later, hon." Kurt replied, before pulling on his woolen Gucci coat, quickly fastening the buttons and yanking at the belt before stepping outside and into the blizzard-like conditions around him. Nomrally, he'd stick around with Blaine, talking and laughing at nonsense but, Blaine had been allowed to leave early since he wasn't involved in the last bit of blocking that they did.

Kurt was lucky to catch a cab within the next five minutes, since you could hardly see a foot in front of your face. It was dangerous to ride a cab in such conditions, he knew but, he didn't really have much of a choice.

It took them about an hour to get to the flat that he shared with his boyfriend, Hans Livingston.

Kurt unintentionally sighed upon entering his apartment building. He liked his boyfriend, really, he did. He just wasn't sure, nor did he know how, those feelings could ever grow into anything more substantial.

After a quick ride on the elevator, he dug around in his pocket, easing his hand into the tight denim to locate his keys.

He immediately stepped out of his damp coat upon entering his home, quickly followed by his slush covered boots, both of which he left at the door, deciding to remain bundled in his scarf, which was miraculously dry.

He didn't hear any movement around the apartment and figured that his boyfriend was asleep and tried to make as little noise as possible as he slowly maneuvered to their bedroom, wincing when a section of the floor creaked ever so slightly beneath his feet.

"Kurt, baby… is that you?" He heard a grumble from the couch and moved closer to see a bundled pile of his boyfriend snuggling against numerous fuzzy throws and his little stuffed bear.

Despite Kurt's confusion at their relationship, he was happy and ultimately found Hans to be extremely charming and sweet, not to mention gorgeous. And, right now, he was just about the cutest damn thing the twenty-five year old had ever seen.

"Yeah, babe, it's me. Long day?" Kurt asked as he slipped onto the couch beside his boyfriend, running his long fingers through his tousled auburn hair, smoothing it down and mussing it all at once. He heard Hans sigh quietly at the sensation.

"Hm. Yeah. Long shoot. Photographer sucked. Sooo tired" Hans was a model for many well-known companies and, like Kurt, has recently found the ultimate opportunity to get his name known in the industry.

"You look positively exhausted. Even more than I am. You sure about this, Hans?" Kurt couldn't help asking because the purple tinted bags beneath his boyfriend's eyes were highly noticeable.

"Of course, Kurt." Hans now sounded more alert, as he rubbed his hand against his eyes, wincing at the soft light of the lamp that Kurt had turned on. "I need to do this. This is my dream." He sighed in sleepy content and Kurt felt himself beaming back at the man, happy that he was happy, despite the exhaustion. Kurt continued to card the other man's hair, gently massaging his scalp.

"Well I'm immensely proud of you, as you know and now, I think it's time for someone to go to bed, hm?" Kurt said, standing up swiftly and pulling his boyfriend to his feet.

Hans stumbled for a while, trying to gain some semblance of balance but, ultimately, gave up and settled for leaning heavily against his boyfriend.

In one fell swoop, Kurt picked the slightly older boy up, hoisting him into his arms bridal style as he made his way to their bedroom.

Before he ever reached the bed, his boyfriend's breathing had evened out, his mouth hanging slightly open and his bear clutched in one hand.

Kurt had originally scoffed at the man for sleeping with a teddy bear but, he had quickly come to find it endearing and strangely lovable. The bear was just tattered enough to display that it had been in someone's possession for quite some time but, was so meticulously clean, without a hole in sight and fully stuffed, that it was obvious that he was special to someone and well taken care of.

Kurt lowered his boyfriend to the bed, tucking the stuffed toy into his arm as he made his way to his closet, quickly selecting a pair of silk pajama bottoms and stripping out of his clothes.

He nuzzled his face into Hans' neck, enjoying the twang of cinnamon and cucumbers in his hair, letting it lull him to much needed sleep.

"I really like you, Hans." He whispered against the other boy's neck before shifting to kiss his cheek sweetly. Hans squirmed adorably, turning unconsciously in Kurt's arms and burrowing his face in his chest.

It was two weeks later, during an important dress rehearsal that Kurt suspected that something was up.

He had been backstage, in the dressing room with his name elegantly scripted on the door, getting his stage makeup applied with the final touches being added to his hair.

At the same time, a woman was investigating the seams of his tailored costume, making sure that everything fit just right, that the few safety pins here and there were secure and, most importantly, that Kurt looked to be straight out of the 1940s.

All of this, however, was not what had Kurt on edge. What had him on edge was the fact that Hans had promised to be there an hour and a half ago and, yet, he hadn't heard from him since he'd left the apartment earlier that morning.

A million and one explanations were rapidly running through Kurt's head. Perhaps Hans had to work later than he'd anticipated? Something went wrong with the shoot and he needed to stay for a while longer?

What if he were sick and Kurt didn't know? Was it serious? Was he hurt? Mugged? This was New York, after all. Anything was possible, really.

"Kurt, calm the hell down, already." His hair stylist reprimanded harshly, as his makeup artist tsked loudly in a disapproving manner.

"What? I am calm." He responded automatically, voice laced with obvious worry.

"Right, and you aren't totally screwing up your hair by fidgeting and hopping like a rabbit with its ass lit on fire." Liz responded bluntly, eliciting a giggle from Senda, the makeup artist.

"We know you're worried about Hans but, I'm sure he's fine." Senda added, face scrunched in infallible concentration.

"Yeah, I thought you were here to own that stage, not bitch about your little model, wherever he is." Liz could come off to some, okay many, as rude and annoying. To Kurt, however, she was one of his best friends and just what he truly needed sometimes, a swift kick in his psyche to get the wheels churning and the worry forgotten.

"Bitch, please. Let me worry about my job, you worry about yours, Liz." Kurt shot back, arching an eyebrow at the girl, who smiled despite herself.

"Ah, shut it. Aren't you supposed to be going somewhere?" With that, she promptly pushed him out of his dressing room, closing and locking the door so he had no choice but to wander back to the stage area.

He took a deep breath and just started his regular breathing exercises before he felt a hand tap on his shoulder.

He turned to see a goofy looking Blaine beaming at him, waving comically even though they were, at most, one foot away from each other.

"Nervous, Kurt?" He asked, knowing his friend impeccably well after knowing him since high school.

"It never fails and it isn't even a real show. It's just rehearsal." He chastised himself, shaking his head but, remaining mindful of his hair.

"Well, if it's any consolation, as I'm sure it is, I'm nervous too. This is when the producers and directors decide if this is even gonna work. They could scrap me out of this thing forever. My understudy is better at the part than I am." Blaine reasoned, resembling a deer caught in headlights.

"Don't say that. You obviously deserve the part or you wouldn't have been cast for the part, you know that." Kurt explained, shaking his head at his best friend's ridiculousness.

"So, if that's not what's bothering you too, what is?" Blaine inquired curiously.

"Hans was supposed to be here almost two hours ago, yet he isn't. I wonder if everything's all right." Blaine shrugged, not thinking too much on the matter. He didn't really have anything against Kurt's boyfriend but, he just simply wasn't an interesting person. He was a little dull, in Blaine's opinion.

"Models have pretty sporadic schedules so, just relax, Kurt. I'm sure he'll be here soon." Blaine offered him an encouraging smile.

"Yeah, you're right. Without you here, I'd probably regularly stress myself into a panic attack." Kurt laughed lightly, only stopping when he noticed his best friend's face fall as he stared at the floor beneath them.

"Blaine? What's wrong? Look at me." Kurt raised his arm to Blaine's chin, gently pulling his face up to gauge the problem.

"Kurt… Could you please not joke about things like that? It wasn't so long ago that I had to watch helplessly as you did have an attack. It's not a laughing matter to me, Kurt. It's scary." Blaine murmured, brown eyes wide, back completely stiff as he stared up at Kurt.

He was referring to a few months ago, before Kurt had met Hans. His brother, Finn, had been in a serious car accident and Kurt was halfway across the country, showered in far too much work.

Blaine had gone to Kurt's apartment to visit him but, despite his rapidly increasing knocking and buzzing, he'd had to let himself in, automatically fearing the worst.

He'd walked through the corridor before breaking into an all out sprint. He'd cursed Kurt's large apartment as he searched frantically for his best friend.

He finally heard a slight wheezing sound coming from Kurt's office and quickly pushed the door open, only stopping to take in the sight of his best friend, knelt on the floor, face deathly pale.

As he got closer, he realized the tears falling from the older boy's eyes, automatically scooping him into his arms. He quickly surveyed the room, trying to find the source of the problem, which could only be his cell phone, tossed haphazardly on the floor, a picture of his oafish, smiling brother covering the screen.

"Kurt, sweetheart, look at me, alright? Shh. Everything will be just fine, Kurty." He pulled the boy against his chest, trying to give him some comfort. He quickly pulled away once the wheezing grew sharper and louder.

Blaine noticed a look of absolute panic in Kurt's eyes as he noticeably struggled for air, eyes unfocused and knuckles stark white against the blue of Blaine's sweater.

"Kurt, shh. Kurt, I need you to breathe with me, okay? Do exactly as I do and everything will be fine, okay?" Blaine had had experience with panic attacks himself after the Sadie Hawkins incident and had taken inventory of the ways in which his doctors and parents had calmed him.

He opened his mouth wide, taking in a large gulp of air and waited for Kurt to do the same, which he tried to the best of his ability. Blaine then expelled the air slowly, never breaking eye contact with his distressed friend.

After a short while, Kurt had calmed down and was merely crying again.

They had proceeded to book the first flight to Ohio, where his step-brother had been visiting their parents for the holiday. He'd decided to drive over a few days before Kurt and a large semi had blindsided him.

Quinn was in the car as well but, was left virtually unscathed. Finn, however, had been put in critical condition and had to be rushed to the emergency room.

While it wasn't ideal to spend the holiday in the hospital, once Finn had gotten stable, the three boys, along with Burt had bonded over football and music.

Finn had been released, good as new after a bit of physical therapy and a few weeks in a cast and Blaine had tried his best to not think about the condition that his best friend had been in and what would have happened had he not been there.

"Oh, Blaine. I'm sorry. You know I was only trying not to make you worry." Kurt frowned at the memory and bit his lip in apology.

"Well, I guess that didn't go as planned, huh?" Blaine let out a giggle, which Kurt soon joined in on.

"Fifteen minutes, boys." Julia winked and shot them a thumbs-up.

The boys then proceeded to quickly go through their vocal stretches. Once they were finished, Blaine lowered his head and closed his eyes, a crease of concentration forming on his forehead.

"Blaine." Kurt said quietly, causing Blaine to look up from his prayer inquisitively. "Do you mind letting me hear you? Pray, I mean." He clarified awkwardly, stopping to clear his throat.

"Not at all, Kurt." Blaine did, however, feel that it was an odd request, especially since Kurt didn't believe in God.

Blaine stretched his arm out to Kurt before lowering his head once more, this time saying the words aloud.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I just want to thank you for the beautiful life that you've blessed me with and my wonderful family and friends.

You've given me so much but, I'd like to ask that this rehearsal goes well for me and my friend here, Kurt.

He isn't religious but, I'd like to ask for you to continue to bless him, as I know you are.

Please let everything go well tonight, Lord.

Amen.

Blaine was blushing profusely by the end of his prayer. He regretted saying that aloud, knowing Kurt's views. "I hope it was okay that I mentioned you. I know that you're atheist but, it couldn't hurt, right?" Blaine didn't believe in trying to convert people and only sought to worship as he felt and leave others alone. He only hoped Kurt would understand that...

"No, no. It's fine. I asked you to say it out loud, didn't I? I just figured, why not? First Broadway performance, might as well cover all the bases, right?" Kurt smiled brightly at him, squeezing his hand.

"Showtime, boys!" Steve called from the rafters and they quickly parted, shuffling to their designated spots but, not before flashing each other bright, blissful smiles. Blaine gave Kurt a cheesy thumb-up and Kurt chuckled and returned it with an eyeroll.

They were both amazed that not only were they following their dreams, they were following them with their best friend beside them. That was more than either could have anticipated.

I had planned to put all of this up as a one-shot but, I felt that the humongous chapter would be a turn-off for some. However, this is all written out so, it won't amount to anywhere near the size of my other chapter fics.

Someone mentioned adding more descriptions pertaining to the surroundings but, I want the main focus to be on emotions, as you'll see within the next few installments of this. I will get more descriptive later on, though. This chapter is just to bring you up to speed with the rest of the story. It's introductory to what is to come.

This is ideally a one-shot broken up into easier-to-digest pieces. Tell me what you guys think of it so far and don't hesitate to pm me with any questions and leave reviews. I also love favorites/adds. Reviews equate to more and quicker Klaine romance...

-Alexis