It took a few days for Kurt to become situated again back at work and in the apartment. Mostly, Blaine just watched him silently go about his business, feeling like Kurt was the most interesting afterschool special, and if he took his eyes off of him, he would miss the best parts.
So he sat like a schoolboy with a crush, his head in his hand, as Kurt bustled about the boutique checking and rechecking that everything was finished and in place for the show. After Kurt was thoroughly satisfied, he turned toward the dress form on which the commissioned gown was displayed.
"This is beautiful, Blaine," Kurt said, almost breathless.
"Thank you. I just finished it last week, actually." He rose from his seat and walked over to join Kurt by the gown.
"I don't know how you did all of this. You're amazing." Kurt ran his fingers over the ruching and the beading on the bodice and admired the sweetheart neckline and tiering in the skirt.
"I just hope that Meredith loves it as much as you," Blaine said. "I want her to feel confident and beautiful when she makes her vows to the love of her life. Weddings are so strange - I love them. I think what makes them so amazing is that it's one day, the biggest day in your entire life, the biggest opportunity to look as fabulous as you can so that moment is locked in time forever - fabulous gowns and tuxedos, decorations, and a declaration of undying and infinite love." Blaine looked down as he said those final words.
Kurt gazed at Blaine as he spoke, and he found himself smiling as he held back tears.
"She will love it, Blaine. There's no doubt in my mind," Kurt assured him.
With only two weeks left before the show, the final model fitting was upon them, and Kurt and Blaine organized the pieces accordingly while they awaited the arrival of the girls.
The first few showed and immediately went off to get into their assignments. But when Elyse walked in and saw Kurt helping another model into a dress alongside Blaine, she squealed and dropped the folder she had been holding.
Blaine whipped around to locate the source of the commotion, and he laughed at Elyse's expression as she bobbed up and down with her hands clamped over her mouth to conceal the biggest smile she'd ever worn. He approached her, returning the smile.
"Thank you," he said. "You've been so kind and a great friend to me. I don't think I would have gotten through all of this without you." He bent down and helped her pick up the paperwork she had dropped. Then, after handing the folder with all its contents restored back to Elyse, he stood up on his toes and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Are you guys okay now?" she asked, blushing slightly from the contact.
"We're more than okay. We're working on getting everything back to normal and hopefully better than before. I really believe that everything is about to fall into place," Blaine told her.
At that moment, Kurt looked up and over his shoulder at the two before grinning and returning his attention back to the model he was suiting up. He shook his head gently, knowing well that he was a fool to ever think for a second that Blaine was a mistake or that any of this wasn't meant to be. Things didn't have to fall into place, they were already where they belonged; it just took them a little longer to see it all through the temporary fog.
Blaine's attention turned toward the recovered folder in Elyse's hands, and he became curious.
"What is that, anyway?" he asked, pointing to the paperwork.
"Oh! It's an application - and a portfolio," she said. Blaine's confusion showed on his face, so Elyse cut in again to explain. "It sort of happened on a whim, but I'd been thinking about writing again - maybe even going back to school in the spring."
"That's wonderful!" Blaine beamed and threw his arms around her.
"But I won't be going back for political journalism. I've been so involved in the fashion world that it's grown on me. I'm looking into programs for fashion journalism."
"You'll be great. You have so much first-hand experience," Blaine said.
"I hope so." She grew quiet.
"Let's get you into your suit," Blaine said, realizing that she had shown up for the fitting, and they had become side-tracked, albeit, by exciting news.
Kurt approached Blaine after he was finished helping Elyse into the suit. Elyse had wandered off to join the other models by the mirrors.
"So, she's going back to school?" Kurt asked, crossing his arms and looking on at the area where the girls had gathered.
"Yeah. I'm really happy for her," Blaine said.
"She's going to need something for an interview, no?" Kurt said.
Blaine turned his head to the side to look at Kurt and grinned.
"Definitely."
-s-
At the conclusion of the work day, Kurt didn't feel exhausted or strung out like he had in the past; instead he felt invigorated and ecstatic to be back in the studio working alongside Blaine. And when they were back at the apartment getting ready to sit down for a quiet evening in, Kurt had something else in mind.
"Hey, Blaine? I want to go out and roam around the city. And...I believe we had a date planned," Kurt said, hopeful, the corner of his lips turning up.
"We did - well - I guess we still do," Blaine said, smiling. He leaned over and kissed Kurt on the forehead.
"Shower?" Kurt suggested.
"Yes. And I'm going to do it right this time around."
"Oh?"
"Make sure you pick out a fashionable outfit suitable for the theater, because I'm taking you to dinner, and then we're going to rush a show."
Kurt quirked an eyebrow at Blaine.
"I love it. I love you," Kurt said, an expression of awe on his face as he followed Blaine into the bathroom.
-s-
The evening was surprisingly cool for August, and the street lights were already lit up along the avenue when they emerged from the Gershwin Theatre. After spoiling themselves with dinner at Sardi's, Blaine stood by his word, and they snatched up the best tickets still available to a show very near and dear to Kurt's heart. Kurt had a broad smile plastered across his face that hadn't left it since the opening act. He was still in a post-show daze, and the final number was playing on repeat in his head as he gripped the playbill against his chest with one hand and held Blaine's hand in the other.
"I still can't believe we managed to get such great seats," Kurt said, squeezing Blaine's hand.
"I know - and we weren't very far back," Blaine said.
"I wouldn't have cared about where we were seated. My love for Wicked is so immense that nothing could have spoiled the experience," Kurt said.
They walked to the corner and stopped to wait for the signal to cross. Just then, Kurt turned toward Blaine, and his eyes were glistening; he was gazing at Blaine as if he were a pair of shiny, leather Prada dress shoes that Kurt couldn't wait to take home, wear out, and then parade for all the world to see because Blaine was fabulous, he was his, and he made him feel like he was walking on top of the world.
Blaine laughed as he caught a glimpse of Kurt's expression.
"What?" Blaine asked.
They stepped into the street and continued across the busy intersection.
"Nothing. It's just that I'm really happy," Kurt said.
"So am I. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Blaine said, grinning, as they made their way toward the subway entrance.
"I did, and I didn't realize how much I missed the city - even when I was still here. I guess after living somewhere for so long, you begin to forget where you are and take it for granted. Seems like we want whatever we don't have rather than taking full advantage of what's right in front of us." Kurt paused for a second and scrunched up his nose as one of the trains sped by on the track. "Well, there are some things I would never miss." Blaine laughed. "But I'll take the bad with the good."
Their train arrived, the doors slid open, and they stepped into the car. Blaine grabbed the bar, and Kurt did too before wrapping an arm around Blaine's waist.
"I think the good far outweighs the bad," Kurt said quietly as he stared through the reflection in the window of the moving train, not focusing on the external. He held Blaine against his body as the train rumbled on back towards Brooklyn, back towards home.
-s-
In the following week leading up to the show, Kurt and Blaine were running around, frantically fixing hems and little things here and there while they put the rest of the show together, which included choosing the music and the order of the pieces.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of preparations, Blaine had also scheduled the meeting with Meredith and Joe for a proper final fitting and to make sure they loved the wedding gown.
"Oh my - it's gorgeous! I love it! I mean - it's perfect!" Meredith gushed.
"I'm so glad to hear that. The last thing I would want to do is send you down the aisle in something that was anything less than my best work," Blaine said.
"My friends are going to be so jealous. Thank you so much," Meredith said.
Meredith took the dress to the back of the room as Kurt helped her into it. Blaine stayed back with Joe as they watched. Then Joe turned away, trying to adhere to tradition and not see his fiancé in her wedding gown before the big day.
"So," Joe took Blaine aside. "Not to be intrusive or anything, but are you planning on tying the knot anytime soon?"
Blaine laughed, surprised to be asked that by a customer. "I am. I just haven't figured out how to bring it up yet. Things kept getting in the way - life kept getting in the way. I just want it to be perfect."
"You know what, though? When you're in love, you don't need to have an elaborate proposal. Just let it happen - surprise him - and it'll be perfect no matter what you do."
"Thanks," Blaine said.
After they planned a day for pickup and the couple left, Blaine had nothing but weddings and marriage on his mind, and he became lost in a daydream. He imagined himself standing across from Kurt, holding his hands, and gazing into his brilliant, blue eyes as he slipped a ring onto his slender finger and the word forever danced across his lips.
Kurt had turned around to watch the interaction from a distance. He really admired Blaine's strength to push through the hardships and still complete the work. Kurt loved him for his selflessness and virtue, and he was so proud to be with this man and knew that Blaine was proud of him too.
-s-
Kurt propped himself up on his elbow in bed and looked over at Blaine who was sitting up against the headboard flipping through an issue of GQ.
"Can we talk?" Kurt asked.
"Of course," Blaine answered. He closed the magazine and placed it on the endtable. "What's on your mind?"
"I was just thinking about us. Our future...I just want to make sure we're on the same page. I know you've forgiven me for taking off like I did, but I want to be sure that continuing all of this is what you really want." Kurt sat up and began absentmindedly, nervously twisting and bunching up the bedsheet in his hand. Blaine looked down, noticing, and placed his hand on Kurt's to still it. Kurt relaxed and looked up at Blaine.
"Kurt - it's everything I want. I don't blame you for anything. We all struggle with things sometimes, but you were brave, and you sought help. I don't think it's possible for me to want this more," Blaine said, lightly squeezing Kurt's hand.
Kurt paused for a moment.
"Can I ask you a silly question?"
"Always," Blaine responded.
"Where do you think we'll be in the next few years?"
Blaine laughed and narrowed his eyes playfully before answering.
"Right here, maybe. In New York - unless something becomes more appealing, if that's even possible. Continuing our line, designing for celebrities. Maybe doing a bit of traveling. But, all in all, no matter where life takes me, I want to keep holding your hand," Blaine said, tilting his head to the side and smiling warmly, almost questioningly at Kurt.
Kurt swallowed hard, but the conversation was moving in the direction he had hoped it would. He reached over to grab Blaine's left hand, lifted it between them, and then softly ran his fingertips over Blaine's fourth finger.
"I will hold onto you for as long as you'll have me," Kurt said. He looked up into Blaine's eyes, contemplative for a moment as his chest swelled with emotion.
"How does forever sound? Daunting? Like something so unfathomable that it's terrifying?" Kurt asked.
"No...Kurt." Blaine paused as he breathed in deeply. "Things haven't been perfect between us, and there are going to be challenges ahead, but I'm not afraid of the future - especially if we're together. I couldn't have asked for a better, more talented partner and lover."
Kurt fixed his gaze on Blaine's hand again. Blaine watched Kurt's eyelashes flutter as he blinked, his eyes becoming glossy.
"And it doesn't scare you that you've been in love before, been so sure, but it didn't last? What if we don't last, Blaine? It's just that I find it so difficult sometimes to imagine that anything good can be everlasting." Something tightened in Blaine's chest from Kurt's words.
"It doesn't scare me at all. Sure, when you're young and your heart gets broken, it feels like the end of the world. But we're not teenagers anymore - far from it," Blaine laughed quietly. "We're wiser now, and I think we know what our hearts want - and what they need. I believe that our love is strong enough to last. What I know for sure is that I love you, and that, in this moment, there's nothing else I want to do but spend my life with you. But - listen...if there comes a day when you don't feel the same way anymore and none of this is working out for you, I don't want you to feel trapped. I won't force you to stay. It's more important that you're happy, Kurt."
"Blaine - I - I don't," Kurt swallowed thickly, finding himself unable to respond to Blaine's comment. "Okay," was all he could manage to say. It was Blaine's honesty, his patience, and the way he had always been willing to compromise when it came to things he knew were important to Kurt without so much as a complaint, that Kurt loved about Blaine. It was the safety and support he provided him and Blaine's drive and passion for everything that he did that Kurt admired about him. But, most of all, it was the way Blaine understood Kurt and continued to love him for all his flaws as well as his strengths.
"Sometimes I think it's so funny how we met," Kurt mumbled, a grin tugging at his lips.
"What? Why's that?" Blaine asked, grabbing Kurt around the waist and playfully pulling him closer to him.
"On a reality television show," Kurt answered. "Never in a million years would I have imagined that I'd fall for the nerdy little bow tie-wearing designer with the bright eyes while I was thoroughly intent on kicking your ass - your perfectly round ass, might I add," Kurt said. Blaine laughed and raised his eyebrows.
"Hey! You love the bow ties," Blaine said.
"I do," Kurt responded fondly.
"I guess you were drunk off of all those textiles, and the rush of the competition drove you temporarily insane," Blaine joked. "You must have thought I was a bolt of golden silk charmeuse, and you just couldn't wait to get your hands on me and work me with your fingers..." he said, his voice growing gruff.
"Oh - talk dirty to me about chiffon and organza," Kurt joked back, his voice breathy as he leaned over to nibble on Blaine's ear. "Mmm...our sex life could be really interesting." Blaine giggled and lightly swatted Kurt's arm, and Kurt pulled away, pouting in feigned offense. They both looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"I - I know I've said it a million times, but I'm so in love with you," Blaine said, finally catching his breath.
"Make it a million and one, then. And now I'm going to kiss you for the millionth time," Kurt said as he leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on Blaine's lips.
"And one," Blaine joked as he kissed Kurt back lightly on the mouth.
"And more," Kurt said as he pushed himself up on his hands and knees and climbed on top of Blaine. He leaned in and planted kisses from his ear, trailing them down his neck.