Why hello old and new readers! What a joy to have you all gather together here! (Yes I'm in a festive mood right now xD) Thank you for your comments, they made me happy. :-) Merry 2nd Advent! Here goes another chapter, and don't forget: Yummy food and drinks and cozy blankets needs to be here with you (and maybe some music...)

Chapter 7: Confessions of a Power Couple

Sam fell on his bed. He couldn't move a single muscle. Baker was such a slave driver! He had appeared with a whole action plan this morning and then insisted of them going through with it. Which had meant recording a song and shooting a video. Already! Rachel hadn't even had time to present him her song because he had decided they would have more luck with one that he had written. So they had gone to a recording studio somewhere in Manhattan and worked their asses off. Literally. Sam had never felt so strained, not even after a long day in his father's carpenter's shop.

Of course he had wondered how Blaine's audition was going but he hadn't had time to check in. Now he got out his phone and called his boyfriend's number.

"Yes?"

"Babe, hey! How are you? How did it go?" Sam turned to lie on his back and yawned.

"That's all you have to say?"

"Uhm..." Sam narrowed his eyes. Why did Blaine sound so distant?

"Did you get my voice mail?" Blaine asked.

"No. I have my phone in my hands the first time today so naturally the first thing I did was call you."

"Well. Maybe you should check your mailbox first, then."

The connection was interrupted and Sam's heart cramped together. What was going on? What had he done wrong?

He listened to Blaine's voice mail and his heart cricked even more. Shit, Kurt must have told Blaine. This was so not good. He quickly called Blaine back and started babbling as soon as his boyfriend had picked up.

"It's not like that, Blaine, okay, I'm not pathetic! But Sebastian was mean to me and said you would be his, soon! What should I have done, I mean, I don't like when people say stuff like that."

"When did Sebastian ever say something like that, Sam? And why should he?"

"I don't know why! He's just..."

"Look. Can we talk about that in person?"

"Yes! I'm coming over!"

"No, not tonight. I'm tired."

"Well, okay, tomorrow then. Uhm, how was the audition?"

"Pretty good."

"Oh. Cool."

Sam fumbled with his sheets while the heaviest burden ever settled down on his shoulders. How on earth should he sleep tonight, knowing Blaine was pissed at him?

They ended the conversation without good night kisses and Sam didn't like it. He got up and strolled through the loft, sending bitter glances at the Christmas tree. He listened to Blaine's message again, too. If Blaine would only believe him that Sebastian had said those things!

The lights on the Christmas tree were askew so Sam spent a good deal of time straightening them up. After a while he realised someone was snoring loudly and he turned to frown at that. Maybe it would have been funny on another day but tonight, well, did Rachel have to be so Jewish?

Wait, did that make sense? Oh, whatever. Sam went to the stockings and looked inside. There was nothing. So he moved on to the kitchen and scanned the content of the fridge. Boring. Oh! The Advent calender was still lying on the table. He ate the chocolate from the doors twenty and nine and then realised he needed to listen to music.

The CD in the player was Joni Mitchell. Whatever. He let it play and put a blanket around his shoulders, pretending it was a cape. What would Clark Kent do if Louis Lane was mad at him?

Sam jumped from the couch, a fist in the air. "Boom! Superman on his mission to save the world! But... can he save the relationship with his girlfriend, too?"

The Advent calender got eased off more chocolate. Afterwards Sam decided Joni Mitchell was pretty christmassy music and sat down on the ground in front of the tree, nursing his feet.

"You understand me, right? I mean, Sebastian is mean!" Sam pouted. Now he was talking to a tree. He needed a pet, that was what he needed. He pulled the laptop from the table and looked at pictures of cute puppies that kind of reminded him of Blaine. Weird.

Suddenly the box in the lowest drawer of his bedside table came to his mind. He fetched it and sat down underneath the tree again. Inside was a lavender bracelet, a red string and some photos of him and Blaine. He put the bracelet around his wrist and sighed. Midsummer had been such a happy time. Well, except their separation. But they had fake married and gotten fully naked together for the first time.

But now it was winter. Things were icy.

"You're still up?"

Sam turned his head. Kurt was standing behind the couch in a bath robe, pulling it close and frowning at Sam's box.

"Yeah." Sam cleared his throat. "Just looking at some old stuff."

"Aren't you tired like hell? Rachel told me about your long day." Kurt went to the kitchen, got a glass of water and sat down on the couch. He covered his bare feet with Sam's cape that was lying there and looked with glassy eyes at the sparkling tree.

"I had a fight with Blaine."

"About?"

Sam shrugged and unrolled the red string. "Sebastian. Or rather that I made you do stuff to keep him from auditioning with meercat. Did you tell him?"

Kurt sipped on his glass and shook his head. "I was busy having the worst day of my live myself."

"Yeah?"

"I can forget getting a role in 'Let's get this queer'. Sebastian is the worst actor ever. Or he just hates me, which is probably the case, since I hate him, too. It was unnerving, I tell you."

"Oh... sorry, and, uhm, thanks you did that for me. I still don't get why you would help me, but thanks."

"Oh Sam, Sebastian's enemies are my friends. And we are friends anyway, right? I mean, apart from all that stuff that happened."

"I don't know, man, I was pretty pissed at you the whole last year."

Kurt shrugged and drank another gulp. "Can't say I was your biggest fan, either."

Sam wound the red string around his left wrist and looked at it. Beautiful. Now the other end only needed to have Blaine on it, then everything would be okay again.

"You're listening to Joni Mitchell", Kurt said after a while.

"It's christmassy."

"No, it's depressing."

"The CD was in the player already. Must be Rachel's", Sam said. "Maybe she's lonely. I can totally understand that."

Kurt sighed. "Oh God, stop whining. Every couple fights, every however cheesy and tacky couple."

Sam put the string back into the box. "Do you and Elliot fight?"

Kurt shrugged. He emptied his glass and put it on the table. "Now and then. But... I was wondering."

He pulled up his legs and hugged his knees, observing Sam.

"First I didn't know what Blaine saw in you and I thought this intermezzo would end soon. I thought he needed to geek out a bit before having a serious relationship again. When he came to New York and hung out with Rachel and me I realised I was over him for good and started looking at him like a friend, not the jealous ex-lover. I saw the way he looked at you when you were video chatting and I saw how the long distance between you was no obstacle, how you managed to stay in contact although you were both busy. And I started to wonder why I hadn't put more effort into it back when me and Blaine tried the long-distance thing."

Kurt ruffled through his hair and sighed. "I guess my own life was more intriguing. I did love Blaine but I wasn't fascinated by his every breath and didn't feel that a night without him did me any bad. In fact I was relieved when I had time to myself. So..."

Kurt laid his chin on his knees and focused on Sam again.

"What is the difference?" he asked. "I see how you two are with each other, how you long for each other, how you seem so complete and satisfied when you're together. What is that, why can't I have that with somebody? Yes, I love Elliot and I love the way he does things for me and tells me he adores me, but it's nothing like what you and Blaine have. And I want that. Is there a person for me out there who I can have that with?"

"So you don't think we aren't to be taken serious anymore?"

Kurt shook his head. "On the contrary. The easiness you have and that I thought resulted from the fact that this can't be real love seems to be exactly that. Love should feel easy and silly, right? Not like an obligation. Do you ever feel burdened because of something you have to do for or with Blaine, even when you don't want to feel like that?"

"Are you kidding? Whatever shitty stuff I have to go through, when he's there everything is perfect. I would walk for weeks through a desert if it means I can be with him. Hell, I would carry him through it. I feel burdened when he's gone. Like now. Do you think I should call him?" Sam took up his phone. No missed calls or texts.

"No, let him sleep over it", Kurt said. He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. "I need to sleep as well. And you should try it, too."

Sam bit his lip. "What if I dream..."

"Dream of something good, then." Kurt got up and went to his section. With a "good night" he closed the curtain and Sam was left alone, staring at green pine needles. What if he dreamt of that stupid stag again?

December 4th, Thursday: 21 days until Christmas

Blaine tipped with his pen against the table, his feet waggled on the ground. He had drunken too much coffee. Because he hadn't been able to sleep. And it was all Sam's fault.

On his lunch break he went to the coffee shop, ordered a sandwich and decaf coffee and took his usual table at the window. The view was fantastic. It had snowed in the night and now bright white blankets covered the grass, trees and roofs.

The little bell above the door went. The man stopped after coming in and looked around. He and Blaine's eyes met and Blaine's tummy caught fire. What on earth was Sam doing here? Without taking his hat or scarf of Sam rushed to him, got down on his knees and took Blaine's hand.

"What... stop it, Sam, what are you doing?" Blaine gazed around nervously but nobody in the rather empty shop paid them attention.

"I am sorry for everything I did that hurt you, I am sorry for lying and going behind your back, I am sorry that I still don't have my jealousy issues under control. I want to work on that, for you, but then I just... exploded. Blaine, I swear, Sebastian threatened me, I didn't make that up. But it doesn't matter. I won't interfere anymore with your work or you friendships!"

Blaine's mouth wanted to smile and after suppressing it a few moments he didn't find any sensible reason to do so.

"Okay", he said, grinning. Damn, he couldn't stay mad at Sam. That cute smile that appeared and lightened his eyes rewarded Blaine instantly.

"Just like that?" Sam asked, still not getting up.

"As long as you understand that I don't want secrets and lies between us. That's all I ask. You can be as jealous as you want, I don't care. Maybe I even feel flattered thought I wouldn't encourage it. It's the lying to me that made me angry. Whatever bad treats you have, you know I still love you."

"Deal! So you won't be angry when I admit that I have eaten all the chocolates from the Advent calender?"

"No, I'm not angry..." A pang of regret shot through Blaine. He hadn't been totally honest, either.

"And, uhm... Sam, I'm still not in a festive mood. Come on, sit on a chair." Blaine tugged Sam up and he did sit down, without letting go of Blaine's hand. Blaine was okay with that.

"But how can you not be?" Sam asked.

Blaine shrugged. "It all seems so meaningless and... just an excuse to buy things, you know? And since we're on confessing stuff..."

"Wait, so, there's more to come? Blaine, it's totally unfair that you get mad but hide things yourself!"

"I know! I just realised it, I'm sorry. Sam. I'm stupid. Can you forgive me?"

"Mh." Sam took off his hat and drove a hand through his short blond hair. "Well... for a kiss or two maybe."

"If you insist." Blaine grinned and glided to the edge of his chair to meet Sam's lips.

"So I take it you have made up. Good. I couldn't have endured another night of Joni's whining."

Blaine sighed, leaned back and looked at Kurt, who hat sat down on the table with a cup of coffee and a salad.

"Is it coincidence you're here or are you stalking me now?" Blaine asked.

"Neither. I guided Sam to the place he'd find you." Kurt took up his fork and poked it into green leaves.

"And Blaine, on the subject of Sebastian. I never told you but when we were together he told he'd get you and I could take a bow when you weren't there. Sam is not making anything up, meercat face is still highly insane. You should reconsider your choice of friends."

Blaine frowned. He wanted to believe Sam but he couldn't imagine Sebastian would... well... he actually did some very mean things back in high school but... it had been so long ago and...

"I will confront Sebastian with that", Blaine said with a heavy sigh.

"You won't be his room mate very long anymore anyway", Sam said.

"Yeah." Blaine grinned and reached for Sam's hand again to squeeze it.

Kurt's phone went. He answered it, listened for a while and then stuttered: "Yes, of course, oh my God, thank you. Yes, yes, I'll be there!"

When he had put it down on the table he stared at it.

"I just... that was a callback. I got called back!"

"From yesterday's audition?" Blaine asked.

"Yes!"

"Wow! They are fast. Congratulations!"

"I can't believe that! I was bad! Meercat made me bad. We had the worst chemistry ever!"

Blaine shrugged and exchanged a look with Sam. "Maybe they sensed that you could to better with another partner?"

"Yeah, that must be... Wow. I have to call Rachel!" Kurt jumped up and went outside. They could see him pacing and talking fast into the phone.

"That's cool, man. But why didn't they call you back? I'm sure you were the best!" Sam said.

Blaine turned to his boyfriend. "Speaking of Rachel."

"Huh? Aren't you sad?"

Blaine rubbed his nose. "Well, there's still time, maybe they call later? But if not, I'm okay. There will be a lot chances to get roles."

"Oh, well, I think they should take you on. You're the best." Sam grinned and kissed Blaine. "Now what about Rachel?"

"Don't overreact, okay? The other day I was wondering... don't you miss being with girls? You two looked pretty tight."

"What? When? Why?"

"Just... it's nothing bad, I'm not saying don't work with her or anything. I just wanted you to know what's going through my head. As unreasonable it is."

Sam bit his lip and stared at the table so Blaine squeezed his hand again.

"Now, don't overthink it. It's all well. We're good."

Sam gazed at Blaine. "There's something I need to tell you."

Blaine gulped. What else? How much had they already hid from each other in the one week Sam was living here?

"Uhm, it's for work and I agreed because we have this deal, right, no jealousy about work-related stuff?" Sam said.

"Yeah?"

"We have this new coach and he suggested a concept and... well he wants me and Rachel to pretend we're a couple to ride the romantic Christmas wave to sell our single." Sam had talked fast and looked at the table but now he lifted his eyes and carefully watched Blaine. "We agreed."

"Uhm." Blaine puckered his lips and his forehead wrinkled. He took back his hand and kneaded his fingers. No work-related jealousy, yes, that was their deal. Of course not only he would have to pretend to be a couple with somebody else, Sam had the same right. For work.

Just... why did it have to be Rachel? They were friends and spent every day with each other. Blaine had refused to work with Sebastian because they were too close friends and they weren't even that close.

"Please, Blaine, you're not mad, right? I can't handle another fight!" Sam said.

"I'm not mad", Blaine quickly said.

"But you don't like it. Shit. I wish I could undo it. But it's too late now."

"So... what if it works? If you get famous? Does that mean we'd have to hide our relationship?" Blaine wanted to know.

"No! I would never..." Sam glided to the edge of his chair and pressed Blaine against his torso.

"Never ever hide that I love you", he whispered.

"Oh." Blaine's eyes tore up and he returned the hug. Just like Sam he got insecure way too quickly. They both didn't need to be jealous because they truly loved each other. This wasn't another one of those relationships were you dated but could fall for someone else easily. They were both in too deep, their hearts and souls intertwined. Of course it wasn't nice to see your partner with someone else but as long as they talked about it and assured each other the love between them was still strong everything would work out just fine.

Blaine patted Sam's back.

"Okay, okay. It's okay."

"And about Christmas", Sam said, leaning back. Blaine sighed. He should have known that the last word hadn't been spoken about that.

"You are right. It's all meaningless if you let yourself be guided by what the media and other people say."

Blaine pulled an impressed face.

"So, I will do everything to bring back the magic and holiness of Christmas. Consider me your personal Christmas coach."

"Sam..."

"Oh... deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la!" Sam started to sing. Pretty loud. Blaine put his hands to his face. Spontaneous breaking into a song. Where they still in high school?

"Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la." Sam clapped his hands. By now Kurt came back, while some students looked their war. Blaine saw someone getting out a mouth organ and start to play, while getting up and coming to them. Oh right. They were at NYADA and everybody here was crazy. So why not join in? After all it could really get him into a festive mood, right?

"See the blazing Yule before us, fa la la la la, la la la la", he sang, getting up. Sam applauded, got up, too and took Blaine's hand. Other people were dancing and singing now, too.

"Strike the harp and join the chorus, fa la la la la, la la la la", Kurt added. Even the waiters sang along. As always the melody, the notes and the dancing lifted up Blaine's spirits.

"Have a holly-jolly Yuletide!" Sam called as the song ended and everybody applauded each other.

"Ah... Sam that so made my day", Blaine beamed as they sat back down. "You truly are my Christmas inspiration."

"Thank you, I do my best."

"Oh", Kurt sighed. "It's starting again. Don't you ever get tired of all that sweet talk? Have you checked your insulin rates lately? I think you should."

"And I think you need a good shag", Sam said.

"Sam!" Blaine laughed. "You can't... interfere with his and Elliot's relationship."

"What? I'm just stating the facts. And speaking of sugar: When will we bake cookies?"

"Hey, we can do that when we're home", Blaine said. "Today I got my vacation days. Are you ready to go to Lima this weekend?"

"Hell yeah!" Sam held up his hand and Blaine hit it. December wouldn't be as bad as the had thought after all.

Coming up on Tuesday (or Wednesday): Blam back in Lima! Christmas fluff. :-) (A/N OMG Can you believe it? Only two weeks left! Time does fly...)