AN: Here's the second, and final, bit to this story. I didn't feel like it could stand on it's own as a sequel, so here it is.
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The flight back from Nationals was silent… at least for most of New Directions. Kurt had finally reached the end of Blaine's playlist as they were waiting to get off the plane. He stuffed his i-pod back into his bag, double checked that he had gotten everything, and followed Mercedes in the line of passengers.
Once they were free to move various members of New Directions were stretching, others were trying to get the travel induced knots out of their hair. Kurt was straightening out his outfit when he heard his name being called. He turned and nearly dropped his bag. Blaine was standing there, a single flower in his hand and a huge smile on his face as he approached.
"I missed you," Blaine said, he held up the flower, "A little cheesy I know, but I couldn't help it."
Kurt pulled him into a bone crushing hug, not caring that his bag fell off of his shoulder and onto the floor.
"I missed you, too." They pulled apart, "Whoops, I kind of killed the flower."
Blaine shrugged and knelt to slip the flower into a partially open pocket on Kurt's bag. "I guess I'll have to buy you another one sometime."
"As long as you know that I'm going to one up you in romantic gestures one day."
"I wouldn't expect any less."
Blaine smiled, took Kurt's bag and put it over his shoulder. He saw Kurt about to protest and held a hand up to stop him, readjusting the bag.
"My amazing boyfriend just got home from New York, is it so bad that I want to carry his bag?" he shifted it on his shoulder. "God, this thing weighs more than the mini-Warbler."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Mini-Warbler?"
"Wes's little brother," Blaine explained, "His mom made him a warbler jacket just like Wes's. Jeff has dubbed him unofficial mascot. You see what happens when you go away? The Warblers get a mascot. It's madness." Neither of them brought up the fact that Kurt was in no way connect to the mini mascot, but the idea that he added some kind of normalcy to Blaine life made Kurt smile. That, and the image of Jeff running around, holding Wes's brother up to give everyone hi-fives while Wes tried in vain to recall order.
"But that's more than enough information from me. I want to hear all about everything that you've been up to."
"I promise I will tell you all about the trip, but I think I need some coffee in my system before that happens."
Blaine nearly reached out to take Kurt's hand, but they had attracted enough attention already. The action didn't go unnoticed by Kurt.
"I know just the place for that. I may or may not have our usual table reserved at the Lima Bean." Blaine headed towards the parking lot.
Kurt laughed and followed, "It's a coffee shop. They don't reserve tables."
"Well, most of the time they don't. But the baristas missed you… and they might have felt bad for me doing my homework there by myself this week."
Kurt started to frown.
"Nope, no frowning, it was my choice. Plus they let me play my guitar there a little this week." Blaine held the door open for Kurt, "After you."
"Speaking of guitar playing," Kurt started, "You are amazing. You knew exactly what I needed for my trip."
Blaine smiled. "Well I didn't know if you'd freak out or not, but I wanted to make sure that I was there for you if you did."
"When did you manage to record all of that? There were hours of music on that playlist."
"I started recording the day you transferred back to McKinley." He looked a little sheepish, "I had a bunch of the songs picked out since we tied at Sectionals. Of course, at that point the list was more platonic. After Regionals I had to change a few things." He gave Kurt a wink as they both got in the car. Blaine was putting the keys in the ignition when he felt Kurt's hand on his shoulder. He looked over at Kurt and instantly had hand cupping the side of his face, pulling him in for a passionate kiss. Blaine couldn't stop his hand from going straight to Kurt's hair. He half expected Kurt to pull back or at least make a noise of annoyance, he wasn't expecting the contented sigh and renewed effort on Kurt's side of the kiss. Finally, their kiss slowed and they pulled apart.
"I've been waiting to do that since I got to 'That's All' on that playlist."
"Really?" Blaine's eyes were still wide and he was slightly breathless.
Kurt shrugged and started fixing his hair, "I hadn't heard you play it before, and hopelessly romantic."
Blaine just nodded, still staring, slightly dazed, at his boyfriend.
Kurt took a moment to just look at him, and absorb that he had made his usually articulate boyfriend so incoherent.
"Blaine?" he asked after a moment. Blaine looked at him as if he just had just woken up.
"Huh?"
"Coffee?" Kurt asked gently.
"Oh, right," Blaine's megawatt smile returned, "Of course." He started the car and they headed for the exit. They rode for a while in silence, just enjoying each other's company. But eventually Blaine's pride got the better of him.
"So you really liked my playlist?" he asked. Kurt laughed.
"I really did."
Blaine smiled brightly, glad he's done something right. Kurt could tell and wanted to explain just how much he liked that playlist.
"It's one of those playlists that you can't stop listening to. You know how once in a while an album comes out and you can't pick your favorite song because the whole thing is great? You listen to it every chance you get, it almost causes you physical pain to skip some songs, and there are a handful of songs that you like to listen to every night before going to sleep. That is what your playlist is."
Blaine nodded, taking that in. It was another minute before he spoke.
"Listened to before you go to bed?"
"Don't judge me. I remember when I had my CD player I would keep the same CD in for weeks at a time. There were some that had a few songs that I would listen to every night when I went to bed. They were that good. You had some songs that I couldn't help listening to."
"Ok, I see what you're saying, I think." Blaine had done his share of listening to New Direction performances that had ended up on youtube. If there were any specific songs that Kurt listened to Blaine wanted to know for future reference. "Would you mind giving me some examples of my songs that would make it onto your lullaby mix?"
Kurt blushed slightly. "Well, your acoustic guitar cover of 'Teenage Dream' should be illegal... growling like that, very undapper." Kurt didn't mention that it also led to his own rather undapper thoughts. "And I've already expressed how much I liked 'That's All'."
He flattened the place on Blaine's head where his free hand had straying to the gelled locks earlier.
Blaine chuckled lightly and turned on the radio, motioning for Kurt to pick the station.
"You know that means I'm going to have to start a new list of songs, slow songs, keep you from stressing out too much. Anytime you need it, I'll be right on your i-pod."
Kurt rested his head back as he thought about a playlist of lullaby-esque songs in Blaine's soothing voice.
"That sounds divine."
"It sounds like a summer project to me." He looked over to Kurt, smiling, and gave him a quick wink before putting his eyes back on the road.
"As long as I get to help."
"Of course, maybe we'll do a few duets," Blaine thought for a moment, "What are your thoughts on 'As Long As You're Mine' from Wicked."
Kurt was momentarily stunned, picturing their voices singing together.
"Definite nighttime playlist potential."
The rest of the drive was light chatter, silence, and more than anything singing along with the radio. They were both lost in their own thoughts, but at the same time there was undeniable comfort in the fact that they were together.
New York had offered its share of comfort, there was something about that city, Kurt couldn't deny that. At the same time he felt so relaxed with Blaine. He could only dream about what it would be like to walk the streets of the city together.
Blaine had been to New York with his family, a business trip with his father. The feel of the city was electric, Blaine hadn't forgotten that. He tried to imagine what it would feel like to wander Central Park with Kurt.
They were both lost in their New York City daydreams when Blaine pulled up in front of the Lima Bean.
AN: I think we all know where the conversation goes from there. If you are interested in the versions of the songs mentioned there are links listed on my profile.