(AN: First of all a big thank you to all of you who have reviewed this far. Reading your reviews always puts a smile on our faces and motivates us to crank out the next chapter as soon as we can. This chapter is dedicated to Toni, our ship captain. We love you girly! This chapter doesn't have any pictures, so no need to read it on our tumblr page.)

Chapter Seven

"Things that matter are not easy. Feelings of happiness are easy. Happiness is not. Flirting is easy. Love is not. Saying you're friends is easy. Being friends is not."

-David Levithan, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List

Kurt awoke on the couch with a sleepy smirk on his face from the dream he was having until he opened one eye, realizing his head was pounding and his mouth was dry. He slowly forced himself to open both eyes, groaning as he saw his hard on had returned from last night, no doubt caused by the dream he was having. He ran his hand through his hair remembering what happened the night before.

He didn't think he drank that much but Bryce must have bought him enough shots to cause his inhibitions and walls to be way down. That combined with a flirty text from Blaine, who Kurt already has let most of his walls down with anyway was a dangerous combination. It was dangerous because Kurt was so comfortable with Blaine, more comfortable than he had been with anyone since he can remember. He had worked for so long building up all these different walls and he had no clue how Blaine had managed to knock almost all of them down in two short months.

Kurt had been with Michael for over a year now and he hadn't let him anywhere near as close as he let Blaine. Not that Michael hadn't tried to break through, he had. There had been flowers delivered to his work, surprise weekend trips to Boston even an I love you here and there but every time he got too close Kurt built that wall back up. Despite the walls, Kurt did like Michael. He was sweet; he had cute dimples, amazing abs, beautiful blue eyes and most importantly he needed Kurt. Michael had gone through a really tough time six months into their relationship. His dad had gotten cancer suddenly and died before anyone could come to terms with it. Michael didn't really know how to handle pain and since Kurt was well versed in the subject he helped him through it. It felt good to be needed, to take care of someone like that. So that had become the building blocks of their relationship, Kurt became the confidant, the shoulder to cry on although Michael never became that person for Kurt. For over a year Kurt had been asking himself why what he had with Michael never seemed like enough. After he saw Blaine's picture, the only answer he could come up with was, he wasn't Blaine.

While Kurt finally had an answer, he was more confused than ever.

Xxx

Kurt: I have deleted my text like a million times. I can't stop staring. You're real Blaine… You're beautiful

Blaine: It isn't just me then? Because Kurt I still haven't caught my breath. I don't know what I'd been expecting but this, you, weren't that.

Kurt: Definitely not just you. I knew you would be cute, adorable even… I don't even have words Blaine (shocker I know!) Why didn't you tell me you are like heart-stoppingly gorgeous?

Blaine: You're kidding right? I just have a sexy tummy (I'm not calling it cute anymore because reasons) but god Kurt, you just left me breathless.

Kurt: More like sexy everything. And yeah I'm having trouble catching my breath too.

Blaine: So I saw you. You saw me. And I'm not even slightly intoxicated. (Maybe by your beauty but I will survive)

Kurt: I am slightly hangover, but not intoxicated. Now what?

Blaine: You tell me.

Kurt: I mean this doesn't change anything does it? Us seeing each other? I meant what I said last night about not wanting to fuck this up.

Blaine: I feel like whatever I say, it won't be the answer you expect me to give

Kurt: And now I feel like whatever I say in response will be something you don't want to hear

Blaine: Then don't say anything.

Kurt: But we don't do that, just not say anything. Given how last night went we obviously say too much.

Blaine: It wasn't too much for me. I meant everything I said. But you just want me to act like I didn't.

Kurt: I didn't say that. It just feels way more complicated now. Just please promise me that this, us, won't get screwed up.

Blaine: Of course Kurt. I promise. I'd do anything not to lose you.

Kurt: And I promise that too. You are way too important to me Blaine.

Blaine: I'm going to break up with Matt.

Blaine: Not that it has anything to do with you. Just wanted you to know.

Kurt: Really?! That's a big decision. When did you decide this?

Blaine: When I understood I was being unfair to him. Ask no more questions if you want me to keep my promise.

Kurt: You shouldn't have to stifle yourself to keep that promise. If that's the case then this is already messed up.

Kurt: But maybe I am doing the same thing.

Blaine: But that's not fair Kurt. I don't know what to say here. I typed out like five different texts before deleting them all.

Kurt: I don't know either. That's a first with you.

Blaine: I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have brought Matt up at all.

Kurt: You don't need to apologize. It's not about him. It has just always been easy to talk to you, and now I feel like my words aren't enough and too much at the same time.

Blaine: What do you suggest then? Anything. Except for telling me to stay away from you maybe.

Kurt: I would never tell you that. Email maybe? I am always able to sort my thoughts out better on paper so to speak.

Blaine: Okay. I miss you Kurt.

Kurt: We'll figure this out Blaine. I'm not going anywhere. I'll email you soon.

Blaine: I'll be waiting.

To: BAnderson

From: KurtHummel

Subject: Us.

Blaine,

Words. I pride myself of always finding the perfect words to express my ideas and how I feel. I have been known to spend many sleepless nights before my column is due editing and trying to find the right words. It's been three days and three sleepless nights and I don't have the perfect words, so I am going to just ramble because I don't know what else to do.

I look at your picture every day. It makes me miss you more. I don't want to call it a mistake, because it wasn't. Nothing about that night was a mistake, not the umm heated? conversation and definitely not the pictures. But it is different now, something changed. I just don't know what changed exactly. Because to be honest I have never been able to put a label on what we are. You were more than a follower when we first started talking on twitter, you were more than a pen-pal when we started emailing, and you're more than just a really good friend now. Despite labels, we have always been Kurt and Blaine and that will never change.

But let's be honest about our situation. We live 800 miles apart right now. We have seen one picture of each other's face. We've talked extensively about hugging, touching, cuddling each other but we've never actually felt each other. I can picture your beautiful smile, but I have never seen it. The words we have exchanged between each other have been powerful, more powerful than any DL quote I can think of right now but they still don't make up for all of that. Blaine… I like you, I really like you but you aren't here. You aren't here and we both have boyfriends, had? boyfriends. So for now can we continue to be more than pen-pals, more than friends… and just be us? But in order for us to be us, you need to be honest with me… I don't know what else to do right now, I'm so confused. All I know is I need you; I need you more than anyone else. Is that okay?

Ford misses you too.

Love,

Kurt

Xxx

To: kurthumel

From: banderson

Subject: Friends?

Dear Kurt,

You know I wasn't this nervous even when Jason, who was my first boyfriend at high school, asked for my number and didn't call for a whole week as I was waiting for your email. I thought I somehow offended you or said something to upset you and that you wouldn't want to talk to me again. It was just horrible.

I haven't left my place for three days. Not even for the gym and I'm extra careful with the tummy now so you do the math. Vivi thinks it's because of "the" talk I had with Matt who –news flash- is not my boyfriend anymore. I just didn't know what to say to her when she's been trying her best to be there for me because I'm going through such a "heartbreaking" break up. I feel like shit that I've been more upset about your non-existent e-mail than I was about my recently ended two year relationship.

These three days without hearing from you in any way made me realize something though. I will just do anything to not have you upset with me. Anything. Even if you'd offered me to write each other monthly, I'd have been okay with it as long as I know things were good between us. (I'm not saying yearly because come on I'm being real here.) So whatever you're saying, whatever you're not saying, it is okay. Maybe it was wrong of me to push for more when I knew you had a boyfriend. But Kurt, it feels like I don't have wrong, inappropriate, too much or too fast in my vocabulary with you. So I'm not going to say I'm sorry because I'm not. It felt right. It feels right.

You wanted honest from me as if I am capable of being anything else with you. So here it is. I think we could be fucking perfect together. I think I could make you really happy and I think you could make me think in ways I have never before and also I think, no scratch that, I know you could be everything I need. But this is what I think and for now what I think doesn't matter. It doesn't matter that I think you're the most beautiful person I've ever known or you've made me feel things that my boyfriend couldn't do in our two year relationship. It doesn't fucking matter that when I talk to you I feel like I'm home in the world. What matters is what you ask from me. And what I got from what you've said and haven't said in your email is far from what I have in mind. Which is perfectly okay. If you need me to be your friend, I'll be the best friend you'll ever have. It'll be a horrible wonderful thing to stay? friends with you though. Wonderful because I know we can write a history of friendship together and horrible because I know we could do even better with more.

I have some news. But I'm really not sure if I should tell you or not after seeing how adamant you were about us being 800 miles apart from each other. Are you telling me it would be a bad thing if we weren't? Or is it just because that's the only thing you can hold onto to keep "us" from happening?

Ps I hope Ford won't be mad that I changed my wallpaper with something even more beautiful (no offense to my little buddy but there are things even he can't compete with.)

Miss you always.

Love

Blaine

Kurt re-read Blaine's email over and over again. He hated the fact that he made Blaine miserable wasting three days to come up with the perfect words that never came. He hated the way that he left so many things unsaid. He hated the fact that no matter what happened someone would get hurt and Kurt couldn't figure out how to make himself be that person. But most of all, he fucking hated that he couldn't hold Blaine's hand, or hug him or even just sit there next to him in silence.

After the fifth time he finished reading the email there was only one thought in his mind. So he navigated back to the southwest website and clicked purchase on a ticket to Chicago leaving in 3 hours. Kurt's mind and heart were racing as he packed God knows what into a duffle bag, gave Ford a kiss on the head and hailed a cab to the airport.

Xxx

Kurt: Can you watch Ford for a couple days, I'm going to Chicago.

Bryce: Yeah… wait Chicago? Like the same Chicago that Blaine lives in? The Blaine who you talked about so much the other night I made a drinking game out of it and got us both wasted?

Kurt: Yes that Chicago. That Blaine. I don't know what I am doing, I just know I have to go.

Bryce: It's about time… What about Michael, what did you tell him?

Kurt: Nothing. Just um, can you just watch Ford? I will figure something out… I hope.

Bryce: Tell Blaine I say hi.

Kurt: Thank you Bryce. I will text you when I get there.

Bryce: Anytime Bro.

Xxx

As soon as the plane landed Kurt turned on his phone, finding Blaine's number. He took a deep breath before pressing call.

Blaine looked up from his notebook when he heard his phone ring, his heart started to race as soon as he saw Kurt's name on the screen. He ran his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat before picking up.
"K-Kurt?"

Kurt felt like all the air left his body when he heard Blaine's voice, goose bumps formed all over his skin when his name came out of Blaine's mouth. He collected himself & then spoke
"Hey Blaine. How are... I mean... what are you doing right now?"

Blaine had to lean back against his chair and close his eyes, letting out a deep sigh when Kurt started to talk. It was so unexpected and he was so overwhelmed he almost missed what he was asking. He shook his head and paused the music that was playing in the background.
"I um I was just making a draft for my new script. What about you?"

Kurt grabbed his bag off the plane and smiled at the stewardess who gave him an extra glass of wine during the flight because she said it looked like he needed it.
"I um I just got off a plane... In Chicago."

Blaine's eyes widened, his smile froze and he felt like the wind knocked out of his lungs when he heard what Kurt said. He hadn't even noticed how tightly he was gripping the side of his desk as he talked.

"W-what? What do you mean in Chicago? Like the Chicago I live in and 800 miles away from where you live?

Kurt let out a little laugh as he heard the adorable confusion in Blaine's voice.
"Yes Blaine, the same Chicago. So... are you going to come pick me up or not?"

It was pathetic and funny how quickly Blaine nodded his head and pushed his chair back to get up.
"Fuck. Yes. Don't move anywhere!"
He grabbed his car keys and put on his shoes before getting out of his place, not even bothering to lock his door.
"I can't believe you're here."

The smile that came across Kurt's face as he heard Blaine's door close on the other end of the phone was ridiculous. The way his heart was beating out of his chest was also ridiculous.

"I can't believe I am either. I...I just needed to see you."

"You did? Well I am glad. Blaine bit his lip to keep himself from grinning like an idiot, waving at his next door neighbor before he got into his car.
"I still don't believe I'll get to see you in like twenty minutes."

"I can't believe I have to wait twenty minutes to see you! But I want you to get here in one piece so I'm going to let you go now. Holy shit Blaine... I'll see you soon."

Kurt had waited over two months to see Blaine but he was pretty sure the next twenty minutes would feel way longer than that.

"God the way you say my name.. Okay okay I'm going now. Soon, Kurt."
Blaine hang up without giving Kurt any chance to say something in return, the butterflies in his stomach throwing a party at the thought of seeing Kurt, maybe touching Kurt real soon.

Xxx

Blaine: Rain check for movie night? Kurt is here…

Vivien: WTF do you mean Kurt is here? Where is here?

Blaine: Here as in Chicago. Going to pick him up from the airport now. I am def not freaking out.

Vivien: It would be a lie if I said I didn't see this coming. Not this soon maybe… What does him being here mean though?

Blaine: I don't know. I don't care. He is here. That's all that matters for now. Gotta go now. Ttly baby girl.

Vivien: Of course you will little fawn. Who else is going to listen to you gushing about how perfect Kurt was when he is gone? Keep your calm. Muah!

Xxx

Kurt paced up and down the baggage claim corridor checking his watch every 5 minutes watching the doors for a beautiful curly haired man to walk through them. He went from being excited to nervous, to scared to anxious with every glance at his watch. It had been 22 min and 32 seconds when he looked down the long hallway and finally saw him. As soon as his eyes met Blaine's, Kurt froze. He wanted to run to him but he was lost in those eyes. All he could do was smile his Blaine smile.

Blaine spent his drive to the airport drumming his fingers on the wheel nervously and cursing under his breath whenever he was stuck at a red light. His insides were going crazy when he finally parked his car and got out, combing his hair with his fingers but messing it up even more while walking towards the door. He was glad he took a deep breath before he passed through the door because the minute he saw Kurt, standing with one hand on the luggage next to his feet and the most beautiful smile on his face, it was impossible to catch it. He didn't even notice his feet were moving until there was only five inches between them. He took another step and stopped, biting his inner lip while returning his gaze to Kurt's eyes.
"H-hey. Am I allowed to touch you?"

Kurt barley let Blaine finish his question before he flung his arms around Blaine's neck hugging him tightly. He spoke against Blaine's neck.
"You think I would fly 800 miles to see you and not want to hug you?

It was nothing like what Blaine had expected. It was everything. It was just simply amazing the way they fitted together when Kurt closed the tiniest distance between their bodies and threw his arms around Blaine's neck, the way Blaine wrapped his arm around Kurt's waist so effortlessly like this what they've been doing for years, like the crook of Kurt's neck was made for Blaine's nose, like there was a reason Blaine was a hobbit all along and it was to fit in Kurt's arms when he put his chin on Blaine's shoulder.
"This is ... unbelievable. But I'm touching you and I believe."

Kurt didn't want to let go. Blaine was finally real, he finally had him in his arms and it was way better than he had imagined. His words, his pictures didn't do him justice. Kurt pushed Blaine back slightly, so he could take all of him in.
"Now what? My plan kind of ended with give Blaine an epic Kurt Hummel hug."

Blaine shrugged slightly, his arms still tightly wrapped around Kurt, simply refusing to let him go.
"This already is pretty perfect but um maybe you would want to test my awesome cuddles next?"

Kurt grinned at the possibility of Blaine cuddles. He linked his arm with Blaine's biting his lip at how muscular they were.
"Lead the way; I definitely need to see if you live up to your words. Blaine... I'm really happy I am here."

Blaine didn't waste time returning Kurt's ridiculously big grin when he linked his arm with his, thanking god he did what he did because Blaine was sure he would have done something even crazier like holding Kurt's hand and linking their fingers.
"I'm telling you, you'll never want to leave Kurt."