A/N: Thank you for all your reviews and I would also like to thank the Guests who I cannot thank personally, I appreciate it very much. I decided that I will not be paying too much attention to what is currently happening on the show, it is just very confusing at the moment and I'll try to write this story the way it just takes me. The most important facts will be included though, so it hopefully will make sense eventually. Enjoy!

It was a 40-mile drive. A very familiar 40-mile drive by now.

They drove into the country and with every minute that passed, the night got darker and colder. There was not much talking actually but neither of them minded because they were enjoying each others company no matter what. Kurt noticed Diane seemed to be tired. She just looked out the window, her eyes following the well-known path, occasionally closing her eyes for a few seconds when she opened the window and breathed in the cold air that felt so much more energizing than in the city.

When they arrived, Diane went directly to the bathroom to take a short cold shower that would refresh her a little, that was definitely a good choice because a long hot shower would've just made her more tired. Meanwhile, Kurt was back in his lab to finish up some work.

The cold water that ran down Diane's body made her shudder. It was a contrast to her warm skin and she was feeling completely awake after five minutes. The shower was always a good place to think about literally everything. She was alone, sort of isolated from everything that was happening around her. She was just being herself and that is what brought a lot of different thoughts to her mind. Her mind was racing those five minutes.

She leaned against the tiles for a moment and opened her eyes widely. Her look did not meet a completely steamed up bathroom for a change. There was one thing that was running through her mind constantly: Would she ever be in the position to give up work when work was everything she had ever done? You could say that it basically defined her, it was part of who she was. A part that she was probably not yet willing to give up. It made her who she is today. The next step, maybe the ultimate step, would've been to prove wrong everyone who ever thought poorly of her. A firm with an all female partnership, that would probably be her crowning achievement, if her strong fearless character wasn't her biggest achievement already.

It was a picture Diane actually enjoyed. She imagined herself in her own office, she wouldn't like it to be any different. A long workday would've passed and she would be standing in the dark, in front of her open window, leaning over a little and declaring herself to the world from the 28th floor. She would smile and be proud of every moment she was working hard to make this firm exceptional and big, every time she fought against people. Not only enemies but also friends who seemed to have become her enemies over time.

At that moment she thought: It would not be right to just stop. And she regretted bringing up the topic in the first place.

She got out of the shower and slowly dried her back and shoulders, looking into the mirror and knowing- she would change her mind again later. It really was not an easy decision to make.

Of course she had a lot of things at Kurt's already and she fetched a comfortable pair of jeans and a beige-colored cardigan from the dark-wooden cupboard. She wrapped herself in the beige wool and went over to his lab.

Kurt was already done when he heard her come in. He looked up and smirked when she stopped at the doorframe.

"Hey there."

"Hey.", she smiled.

He waved his head to summon her and she gladly surrendered herself to that, stopping at the table. He got a little closer and leaned against the table.

"You know what was brought up for the first time at this exact spot, don't you?", he asked, pointing at the floor to make a point.

"I do." She really did. It was a sense of déjà vu when she thought about it. And he didn't even have to voice the exact words.

"You declined."

"Well, you did put me in an awkward position, don't you think?"

He took her hand and grinned.

"I just want to annoy you."

"I know. You're good at that."

He just put on his typical smirk.

Somewhat abruptly, Diane's stepped closer and grabbed him by his collar to pull him closer. He gave in to her immediacy and she wrapped her hands around his neck. She just looked him in the eyes and waited for him to respond just as eagerly. And he did, she didn't have to wait long. He bent his head a little and kissed her, gently at first but swiftly more fervently, his hands taking hold of her waist in a slightly proprietary manner. He pinched her lower back lightly and Diane laughed into his kisses, he knew she was sensitive there. She loved how they couldn't go five minutes without teasing each other.

"Would you retreat this time?", Kurt asked after placing a last kiss on her lips.

"Retreat?"

"It was a huge 'no' the first time I asked. Would you say yes today?"

"Well...it wouldn't be such a huge no anymore."

"But it wouldn't be a yes either?"

"I don't know."

Kurt looked a little confused. He still held her in his arms and looked at her, all serious now.

"You brought up the topic."

"I know." She sighed.

"So, that was what, a joke?", he slowly let go of her, clearly a little hurt.

"It was no joke. I just didn't think it through, it just went through my mind at that moment." She grasped his hand again.

Kurt wanted to say something, but wasn't really sure what would be the right thing to say.

"I'm going to set up the fireplace.",he simply responded, brushing her shoulder when he passed her. Diane stood there for a moment, she was sure earlier that it was the right thing to follow her plans and goals she has set concerning her career, it was just what she yearned for all her life. But she also felt torn between doing what would probably be beneficial for the business and her reputation, and following her gut feeling that was trying to tell her to do what's good for her soul and what would make her truly happy.

She followed after a brief moment and walked into the big room. Maybe it was even her favorite room in the house. So was the bedroom of course, but they always somehow ended up on the couch or on the carpet in front of the fireplace when they would actually have a real, deep conversation. In those moments when they were alone, when it was completely silent and the only thing they would hear was their breathing and the variety of noises coming from the fireplace or the crickets when the window was open. That's when they could talk for hours and it was not politics or work. It was everything else. Things that mattered, or some maybe didn't but it always felt good to talk, sometimes whisper, when they were just being themselves. Although Kurt never was much of a talker, after they've gotten so used to each other, he sometimes just talked. Diane loved what effect she had on him and even more she loved the effect he had on her.

She sat down on the sofa and waited for him to join her, she noticed he was a little hesitant. He sat down next to her and she draped the blanket over both of them, lifted his left arm to put it around her and snuggled up to him. She kissed him on the cheek, then leaned against his shoulder and looked at the bright fire.

"I hope I haven't hurt you.",she mumbled.

"I'm not hurt. Just confused."

"I don't want you to feel like I turned you down two times. I just need some time to think straight, things are getting to me."

He didn't respond, just brushed his lips over her forehead and joined her in looking at the fire that was burning in front of them.