Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

A/N: This is finally the starting point to the Breathe Series. So when Kurt first notices that Blaine might be hurting in ways neither boy knows how to communicate. Was meant to be a one-shot, oh, well, now I have already at least two more chapters to this in the works.

I have been wanting to write this for a while now, and had a big part of it planned out for some time. I hope this caries meaning beyond fluff and angst to you, my readers.

I had not expected it myself, but for some reason this feels like an extremely important story to me, personally. Feedback would be so appreciated, you have no idea! I care deeply about the BreatheUniverse.

audancerboy, this chapter is for you, because you bring so much joy to me, knowing that you have stuck with me for a while now, adding so many of my stories to your favorits.

To all my readers offering me there loving feedback and support by favoriting and putting me on alerts and of course reviewing:

Thank you for making posting a happier experience for me by showing me love for my work, and offering me constructive criticism; some of you have grown dear friends to me. I trust you know who you are.

Love you.

When I'm By Myself I Can't Be Myself

Kurt does not know what to think.

But he knows, something is off.

It has only been a short while since he and Blaine got together, and in any other relationship Kurt has watched grow - and then in most cases implode - that would mean an almost scary, and certainly – to Kurt at least – unnerving degree of obliviousness concerning the other person and that person's emotional needs.

Kurt and Blaine are not usual; and Kurt does trust Blaine to come to him if he needs him, needs answers, just as Kurt had only two days ago.

Kurt might have begun to fall for Blaine from the first moment they met, and sometimes Kurt scolds himself for that, questioning whether that is a bad omen.

Now, that he opens the door to Blaine and is met with that same smile he first fully experienced standing in the door of the commons at Dalton, watching Blaine perform for the first time, – because Kurt thinks 'Gosh, this smile is an experience in itself, never mind the boy attached to it,' – Kurt is matching Blaine's smile within a split-second - unable to help the response although there is that feeling in the pit of his stomach that something isn't quite right- reminded that two days ago he had finally, cuddled up with Blaine on their living room couch in the afternoon, actually worked up the courage to ask Blaine what he thinks this intense connection he knows he has always felt might mean.

xxxx

"Blaine?" Kurt had asked, suddenly sitting a little straighter, his back not leaning as relaxed as it had only a moment ago against Blaine's chest from where Kurt had been sitting between Blaine's legs.

"Yes, Love."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything."

"I have been thinking about this for a while now. I, I mean, I don't want to scare you away."

"Kurt," Blaine had said pulling Kurt back deep into his embrace, "I can't think of anything that could even make me get up from this couch right now, let alone let go of my feelings for you. I would not know how. They seem to be about everything that holds me together, and makes me truly feel like I am me, these days. This might sound strange, and I cannot say I understand it fully myself, not yet anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"I always feel the closest to myself when I am with you."

"Not strange."

Kurt had said turning his head, revealing a loving smile to Blaine and placing a soft kiss, the lightest of touches, to Blaine's lips.

Yes they are still taking the physical side slow, and gladly.

The slightest of touches still being the biggest thrill either boy has ever experienced so they both ravel in those, loving touches.

Blaine had kept smiling at Kurt and that really had been all the encouragement Kurt had needed right then to dare ask what had been stirring in his mind for not just a while, but more than a while too long by then.

"Do you think…I mean…", and there had been his nerves again, acting up, and Blaine had squeezed Kurt's left hand with his own, resting tangled lightly on Kurt's right upper thigh.

Kurt had, still sitting in between Blaine's legs, turned slightly, looking over his left shoulder, a moment later turning his whole body, to face Blaine fully.

Locking their eyes with determination Kurt had finally rushed the words out "I realized I started falling for you from the first moment we met. What do you think that means?", and then Kurt had been off on a ramble, his eyes leaving Blaine's and darting around the room, "Do you think it means something bad? I am scared it means something bad, and I don't want it to be that dark omen, I don't want us to be doomed. I…I…".

Blaine had cut Kurt of with a kiss, and taken both of Kurt's hands in his own.

When Blaine had pulled back almost in slow motion, the brief moment of utter quiet had had Kurt throw him a questioning but still undeniably happy – if not a little dazed – look.

Blaine though, attentive sweet Blaine, who sometimes cares even too much – yes he exists too, Kurt had discovered almost instantly, certainly within the first 24hours of dating Blaine – had still seen the questions working away behind Kurt's eyes 'What does it mean? Did I fall too quick, too hard?'

"True Love."

Blaine had noticed Kurt stilling, even holding his breath for a moment at the sound of these two not so simple words, and all the meanings and loving promises implied with these words spoken.

"I think it means true love. Maybe, maybe it means only the chance for it. I think it is like a friendship, every relationship needs work, but I…I felt it too Kurt, that moment I turned and took you in, all of you, I, I felt that pull towards you. Instantly. I was not as brave as you, I could not name it as love until, well, you know when. Hearing you say you felt the same, means so much to me. I am so glad you asked."

"Me, too," Kurt had said allowing his eyes to flutter shut as he had moved to rest his forehead against Blaine's, their hands still gently intertwined.

They had stayed like this for as long as it had been comfortable, and – because it had never stopped being comforting – then some.

xxxx

Every time Kurt thinks his love for Blaine has reached its limit he discovers something new about his boyfriend that deepens and widens and stretches everything Kurt ever thought love could encompass.

Today, Blaine's first ever Friday Night Dinner with Finn, Burt, Carole and Kurt, quickly turns out to be no exception to that rule.