Author's Note: Hi all! First things first... Merry Christmas! Or happy holidays, if you don't celebrate Christmas. I hope everyone's had a great holiday.
Obviously I've returned home from my trip and finally gotten around to getting you the next chapter of this one. I'm presently writing three fics at once... might have bitten off a little more than I can chew with that, but thanks for hanging in there if you're still with me.
Thanks to all who've followed and favourited the story. I'm glad you like it enough to stick around for more. Thanks especially to my reviewers. I love hearing your thoughts. Your reviews definitely help keep me determined to keep writing more of this.
Darrinia: Yes indeed, they are going to see one another. It'll definitely be an interesting week for the both of them. We'll have to wait and see where it all leads.
Anyway, enough from me. Please enjoy Chapter 4.
He didn't start regretting the impulsiveness of this decision until the plane began pushing back from the gate. Only then did the sheer idiocy of this plan finally settle into his mind. He was leaving New York for a week, taking a break from his classes – a break from Kurt – and spending several days with a guy he hadn't seen since high school. They hadn't even spoken since the day he'd proposed to Kurt. Since then, their only communication had been through these texts, and although those meant a lot more to him now than he'd imagined they might in the beginning, they were still just texts. What if it was awkward? What if they had nothing to talk about in person? What if they were only ever really friends by text?
He spent the next eight hours worrying about it, his concerns plaguing him to the point that he was unable to sleep – even in the luxurious first class cabin Sebastian had booked him. He kept worrying about it all through customs and waiting for his luggage. He kept worrying about it right up until he walked out of the arrival gate to see Sebastian's beaming grin waiting for him.
"Killer! Hey! Welcome to London!" He paused for just a moment, green eyes flicking quickly over his face and posture. "Christ! You look exhausted!"
"Long flight," he explained wearily, but mustered up a warm smile for his friend.
"You didn't sleep at all?" Sebastian asked in surprise as he relieved Blaine of his bags. If he hasn't been so tired he might have protested but as it was he was glad to let them go. "Those first class seats are pretty comfortable. Dunno how people survive in economy, I really don't. God, I'm such a snob."
Blaine couldn't help but laugh quietly at the quick chatter of the other guy. "At least it's a flaw you're aware of."
"More than aware, believe me. I'll never take being wealthy for granted, I can guarantee it." Then he grinned. "And speaking of snobs and their wealth... my driver is waiting just over there."
Blaine looked up at him in surprise. He'd forgotten over the months apart how very tall Sebastian was. "You have a driver?"
Sebastian shrugged. "Sure. Only a hire, mind you. I don't have a permanent driver just in case I ever happen to be in London. That'd be really fancy. And don't get me wrong, we're totally catching the underground this week because it's part of the whole 'London experience', but I figure catching a train from the airport might be hellish. Or at least a driver is only a hundred percent more convenient for my poor, very jetlagged American friend."
Blaine nodded with a smile at Sebastian's obviously great mood but otherwise didn't respond. Sebastian, no doubt realising he'd have to carry this conversation, just smiled back.
"So how about we get out of here? You probably want to get back to the hotel and take a nap."
Blaine laughed quietly with a quick nod, rubbing at his eyes in exhaustion. Now that his worries had fled he was really starting to feel all those hours he'd been awake – not to mention the time difference between London and New York.
"No worries at all. I got us a nice hotel in the middle of London. Right in the middle of everything. No point staying out in the middle of nowhere unless the middle of nowhere is what you came to see." He laughed at the drowsy expression on Blaine's face, throwing a companionable arm around his shoulders. "Okay, come on sleepy head. Let's get you out of here."
What Sebastian hadn't told him – and when he found out he was too tired to make a big deal out of it – was that he'd gotten them a large suite to stay in. Two bedroom, but essentially they were staying in the same hotel room.
He didn't even want to know what Kurt would say to that if it somehow got back to him.
Then again, Kurt was likely to flip out the moment he found out he'd gone to London at all – let alone to spend time with Sebastian Smythe – so there was probably no point worrying about it. Besides... he was so tired at that point that the idea of taking the time to check in to a second room just made him want to cry.
So he stumbled without comment into the large suite, rummaging through his suitcase to find clean pyjamas before treating himself to a hot – and very short – shower.
After that he must've found his way to his bedroom because he woke up buried in a thick, warm quilt on a mattress that gave the impression he was sleeping on a cloud – he really needed to get himself one of these at home.
Sitting up, bleary-eyed and slightly disoriented, it took him a moment to remember his impulsive trip, another moment to quietly panic about it, and yet another to realise that it was fine. It was just a week away from Kurt... he just needed some space to think. It didn't mean anything.
Dragging himself out of bed – God it was so amazingly comfortable – Blaine padded barefoot to the door, opening it a crack and peering around the large suite. "Sebastian?"
Nothing. The guy had gone out apparently, and after feeling a moment's indignation – how could he abandon him in a foreign country – he realised exactly how unfair that thought was. Of course Sebastian wasn't going to wait around while he slept. He wasn't a kid anymore.
Still, it was strange being in this large place all by himself, and after making a quick pit stop to the bathroom to get changed and tidy his hair, Blaine made his way to the small kitchen area to make himself a coffee.
He was halfway through it before the door opened, signalling Sebastian's arrival home. It was obvious he was trying to be quiet so as not to wake him, but a wide smile split his face when his eyes caught Blaine's. "You're awake. Welcome back to the land of the living."
Blaine smiled, nodding. "Thanks. This place is amazing," he offered then, gesturing around at the suite, and Sebastian's eyes flicked around the room as he nodded his head.
"Yeah. My father and I always stay here whenever we're in town. Best hotel in London as far as I'm concerned."
He made his way deeper into the room, depositing a paper bag on the bench and patting it happily. "I found you some bagels, New Yorker as you are now, though I can't promise they'll be on par. And some coffee too, because the stuff here..." and he made a face.
"I didn't think it was that bad."
Sebastian just chuckled. "Well you wouldn't. You're used to American coffee. Parisian coffee will ruin you forever. Avoid if at all possible." And when Blaine laughed, Sebastian continued. "And though this stuff isn't quite as good as Parisian coffee... at least it's tolerably close."
Blaine just laughed quietly. "You really are a snob."
The other guy flashed him a grin, nodding. "I told you. I'm the worst. Still... You'll thank me later when you try it," and he gave the bag one last satisfied pat before making his way over to join him on the couch.
"Until I return to the States and am stuck with the shit New York coffee again, you mean?"
Sebastian shrugged. "Life is hard." And the other paused a moment, before shifting a little on the couch to face him "And speaking of... 'fess up. What's going on with you? All this drama with Kurt? That's not like you."
Blaine just sighed, shaking his head, unsure for the moment whether he was really ready to discuss this with the other guy. It was one thing to put it in writing; it was another thing entirely to talk about it with those big green eyes watching him so steadily.
"Not ready to talk about it? That's fine too."
It seemed as though Sebastian could read his mind; it must have been a new skill because in the past Sebastian had definitely never seemed to understand when to stop. He'd seen it towards the end of his friendship... Initially he'd attempted to hide his antagonism towards Kurt... after a while he'd apparently given up.
"It's not that... it's just... I don't really know how I feel about it all."
Sebastian considered that a moment, nodding his head. "I get that," and when Blaine looked at him in disbelief, Sebastian shot him a grin. "Okay not exactly, but I have definitely experienced a similar feeling... just not about something quite so important."
Blaine just nodded in silence for a moment, his mind going over all the facts – everything he'd been going through with Kurt during their time together in New York, trying to put his finger on exactly what it was that he wanted.
"I just... I don't know if I'm still doing the right thing."
There was a brief pause.
"So... you're not sure if you want to be engaged to him anymore? You're not sure you want to get married?"
He only hesitated a moment before shaking his head, dark eyes lifting to find Sebastian looking off to one side, his expression... distant. He was clearly considering what it was he was going to say; trying again to be objective as he'd done for him over the phone.
"Okay wow... that's uh... that's pretty big." He paused a moment, green eyes flicking back to Blaine's face, seeking out his own. "Does Kurt... I mean... does he feel the same?"
Blaine just shook his head with a shrug of his shoulders. "I don't really know. Maybe, maybe not. It's not like he's really giving us a chance to talk anything through. We don't communicate the way we used to. I think... I mean... I don't think he loves me anymore."
It was a long moment that Sebastian studied him this time, eyes flicking over his face, as if perhaps attempting to read anything behind the words he offered. "Now... don't take this the wrong way, but is that an honest assessment. Or are you just hoping that it's the truth?"
"I... what..." Blaine recoiled at the idea, an instant frown tugging the corners of his mouth down. "I don't want that. I don't want him to fall out of love with me. I just... I think he has."
His reply was an instant shake of his head. "Trust me, he hasn't. He's definitely still in love with you. Remember I knew you two pretty well, and if there is one thing I know about Hummel is that he's completely head over heels for Blaine Anderson. Maybe he's let it slip his mind in recent times, but he'll figure it out eventually." And when Blaine opened his mouth to speak, Sebastian continued before he could reply. "I think this whole separation thing will do the two of you the world of good. You can stop trying so very hard to figure out what's going on with your relationship and tormenting yourself over it, and Kurt... well Kurt can have the time he needs to realise that he does miss you and does want you around. Hate to say it, Killer... but you two are just in a rut. You'll both get through it."
For a long moment Blaine just considered that, before a slow smile pulled at his mouth, his dark eyes sparkling merrily at the other guy. "You know... you've gotten really good at this whole advice thing in such a short space of time."
Sebastian flashed him a grin. "What can I say? I've always been a fast learner." Then he clapped his hands. "Now... finish your coffee and I'm going to show you London how it is meant to be seen."
"Sounds great to me."
