Chapter 10/Epilogue

A/N: Hey there! While the first nine chapters do stand as a complete story, I thought I'd add one bonus chapter/epilogue to take a peek into the future (because who doesn't like to do that?) Plus, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't write at least one scene with Kurt and Sebastian in the same room…

"Yep. Send him up," Blaine said cheerily into the phone before disconnecting. "He's on his way," he called out loudly into the apartment.

"Where do you keep the holy water?" Kurt replied as he entered the kitchen area, a wry smirk on his face.

"You know, that joke never gets old," his boyfriend answered quickly back, grabbing Kurt around the waist and taking a playful nip at his earlobe.

"Hey, I'm just looking out for you," Kurt giggled as Blaine tickled his sides lightly. They were halted from going any further when three sharp taps sounded on the front door.

"I'll get it," Kurt said, heading for the door with Blaine close behind.

Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of Sebastian leaning on the doorframe, one foot crossed leisurely over the other. "Well, well, well," he began, his voice dripping with his trademark blend of amusement and condescension, "I thought I'd get comfortable out here, not knowing when the two of you would be able to stop doing unspeakable things to one another long enough to answer the door. Color me surprised."

"Ah, Sebastian," Kurt drawled, "not even across the threshold and already you are vile and degrading. That's a new record for you, isn't it? You must be proud."

"You gonna let me in, princess?" Sebastian retorted, pushing himself away from the doorframe and walking past Kurt without waiting for an invitation.

"By all means," Kurt muttered under his breath, closing the door behind him. He turned and found Sebastian standing close, startling him slightly.

Suddenly, Sebastian's features changed from leering to open and happy. "I've missed you, Kurt," he said, his voice softer and sincere.

"Aww, I've missed you too, Bas," Kurt answered, opening his arms wide and taking Sebastian into a warm, friendly hug.

"I swear, I will never, ever understand the relationship between the two of you," Blaine commented from a few feet away where he'd been watching the exchange.

Sebastian laughed as he broke away from Kurt. "Hey, I knew from that first text message that this one could keep up with me. I have to respect that, Killer." Kurt just smirked and winked back at him.

"You know, I'd be worried about the two of you if I thought you could go ten minutes without killing one another," Blaine remarked, laughing as he hugged Sebastian hello himself.

"True," Sebastian answered as he released Blaine. "I mean, who wouldn't want all of this?" he asked, waving an arm towards himself. He ignored the hand that Kurt enthusiastically raised in the air as he cried out, "Ooh, I wouldn't!"

Sebastian rolled his eyes and sighed. "Anyway," he went on, rubbing his hands together, "are we ready to get to work?"

xoxoxo

A year had come and gone since that Fashion Week which had brought Blaine and Kurt together. In that time, Blaine had been extremely busy working to make The Dalton his own. Fortunately, most of the staff had agreed to stay on with him instead of leaving or trying to find other jobs within his father's company. Apparently, his father hadn't been too popular among the staff.

A few weeks after taking over The Dalton, Blaine got a call he'd been expecting. Well, almost. He had anticipated that he would be on the receiving end of his father's wrath once Derrick learned that Blaine was the mystery buyer of the hotel. Blaine had figured his father would come swaggering into The Dalton one day to give him the "good" news (about him being out of a job, that is), at which time Blaine would be able to share his own good news and ceremoniously toss his father out the front door. But as the days and weeks went by, Blaine became a bit apprehensive of the silence. He couldn't understand what is father was waiting for. The finalities had all gone through, and the hotel was officially under his control, but still there was no word from his father.

Then the call came – from Mr. Smythe. Apparently, Derrick had decided not to confront Blaine directly, but rather to try to sue him. In the ultimate show of being disconnected from his own son, he had chosen to ignore his son personally and go after him legally. Unfortunately for Derrick Anderson, Blaine had one of the best attorneys in town on his side. After Mr. Smythe spoke with the Anderson attorneys, pointing out that not only was there no requirement for Blaine to have identified himself, but also that Derrick had specifically initialed a section of the contract which indicated that the individual behind Warbler LLC wished to remain anonymous during the negotiations, the matter was dropped. Blaine never saw or heard from his father again.

And he was fine with that.

Finally free of his father's oversight, Blaine dove head-first into the business. Owning a hotel was a lot more work than just managing it, but he had good help and excellent advisors, along with a passion for the place that made all the difference. It wasn't easy, but it was what he'd always wanted. Speaking of what he'd always wanted, another aspect of his life had blossomed, as well.

After their rather unconventional start, Blaine and Kurt had decided to back things up a bit and have, as Kurt called it, a "proper courtship." Kurt returned to his apartment in Bushwick (albeit somewhat reluctantly and not without an unforgettable farewell from Blaine, the memories of which still made him blush). He returned also to his job with Isabelle, and began working in earnest toward finding a job more suited to his desires to be a designer. His work at Vogue over the past couple of years had not been in vain, as he had actually made a number of contacts in the fashion design industry without realizing it. He spent a couple of months really diving back into designing, working every spare moment to cultivate a portfolio that best displayed his talents and vision.

He started going on interviews, trying hard not to be disappointed when the first few didn't work out. It was a struggle, but this time, he didn't have to go through it alone. He could not have had a better support than his new boyfriend. Blaine, despite the fact that most people thought his job had been handed to him on a silver platter, was no stranger to hard work and dealing with disappointment. He had a lot of good insight into business matters, which he was able to translate into strategy ideas for Kurt in his job search. He also was, as he called himself, the "biggest Kurt Hummel fan in the world," and he was always ready with words of encouragement and strength when Kurt needed them.

About six months into Kurt's job search, it finally happened.

"Blaine! Blaine!" he screeched into the phone before Blaine could even so much as say "Hello."

"Kurt, honey, dial it down an octave, please," he said, laughing and holding the phone away from his ear a little.

"I got it! I got the job!" Kurt replied, a little less screechy, but still wildly excited.

Kurt had taken an interview with a small but well-respected fashion design house. The company had a reputation for picking out new designers and helping them launch their own careers. It was a perfect starting point for Kurt.

"That's fantastic, baby! I knew you could do it!" Blaine said, his own excitement building to match his boyfriend's.

"Oh, but that's not the only thing," Kurt said, speaking so rapidly that Blaine could hardly keep up with him. "They've got a showcase at Fashion Week in a few months for their newest designers. I get to design a piece and show it, Blaine!"

"OW!"

Blaine was drawn from his reverie about the past year by a loud yell from the other end of the apartment. "What now," he muttered to himself, walking in the direction of the noise.

Much to Kurt's delight, Blaine had taken one of the spare bedrooms and turned it into a design space for Kurt in order to help him work on his portfolio. The lighting was perfect, and if it meant that Kurt spent a little extra time in Blaine's apartment, well, that was just a bonus, wasn't it? The space had come in handy once again as Kurt worked on his design for the Fashion Week showcase event.

"Hold still!" Kurt snapped from his spot kneeling on the floor. Sebastian was standing on a low stool while Kurt worked on pinning up the hem of his trousers. Blaine lingered quietly in the doorway and crossed his arms in front of his chest, deciding to amuse himself by watching the show for a moment.

"Hurry up!" Sebastian retorted, sounding equally annoyed.

Kurt sat back on his heels and looked up. "You know, this isn't like your underwear fittings. I'm afraid there's a little more to it than stuffing a pair of socks down your shorts and sending you on your way."

Sebastian snorted. "Hey, princess, I never needed any socks. In fact, from where you are, I think you can see that for yourself. You actually look kind of good down there on your knees," he added in a lower tone, a playful light coming up in his eyes.

"Hey!" Blaine called out before he could even think about it. "I'm standing right here," he said, sounding properly offended as he crossed into the room.

Kurt glanced over at Blaine and smiled, then dropped his smile quickly as he glared up at Sebastian and rose back up on his knees. He held a large pair of shears up dangerously close to Sebastian's crotch. "You want to repeat that, Meerkat?"

Sebastian couldn't help himself and doubled over laughing. Blaine stepped up next to Kurt and put a possessive hand on his shoulder. "That's my man," he said, bending over and kissing Kurt when he turned his face upwards. "So how's it going?" he said in a sing-song voice.

"It's going great," Kurt said brightly, the exchange between him and Sebastian seeming to have never happened. This was their strange dynamic, and it worked.

"Seriously, Hummel, you've outdone yourself," Sebastian remarked, resuming his proper position for Kurt to complete the fitting of the suit he'd designed.

"Well, I can't thank you enough for agreeing to be my model, Bas. It'll be a real coup for me to have an actual Calvin Klein model wearing my design at my first show."

Kurt had originally asked Blaine to be his model, but Blaine had politely declined, suggesting Sebastian instead. Kurt had balked, but Blaine had ultimately convinced him that using a professional model was the best choice. Unbeknownst to Kurt, Sebastian had to do some negotiating to be able to help Kurt, as it was technically against his contract to model for anyone else. However, for his best friend and the man who had made that friend happier than he'd ever seen him, it wasn't too much to ask.

xoxoxo

The Fashion Week event came and went, and was a huge success. Kurt received rave reviews for his suit (which looked stunning on Sebastian, of course). Kurt, Sebastian, and Blaine all attended the Vogue party that Isabelle hosted, and Kurt was thrilled to find out that the blogger who had taken his place was going to be doing a story on the newcomers' showcase, as well. "I happen to know he loved your work, so expect a great review!" Isabelle stage-whispered behind her hand, drawing a laugh from the three men.

At the end of the evening, the three of them took a cab back to The Dalton, exhausted but in high spirits. They parted ways in the lobby, with Blaine and Kurt heading for the private penthouse elevator and Sebastian walking toward the public elevator. Blaine had offered Sebastian his usual guest room, but Sebastian declined. His specific words were, "There is no way in hell I am going to sleep in a room within earshot of yours." When Blaine went to argue, Sebastian held up a hand, adding, "That is a mistake I will make only once." Blaine held back a snort and Kurt blanched, realizing what Sebastian was implying.

Yes, maybe Seb having his own room at The Dalton was a good idea, after all.

When Kurt finally turned off the bathroom light and climbed into bed with Blaine, he snuggled up to his side. "Hi," Blaine said softly, reflexively wrapping an arm around Kurt and pulling him in just a little bit closer.

Kurt simply hummed in response and let out a contented sigh.

"Somebody's sleepy," Blaine said with a chuckle.

"'s been a looooong day," Kurt yawned. "Oh!" he groaned, turning his face to press his forehead into Blaine's bicep as he seemed to remember something.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Blaine asked.

"Ugh, I just realized I've got to drag all of my stuff back to Bushwick tomorrow." Kurt had set up camp at Blaine's for Fashion Week, working on the suit for the show and doing some other work for the design house, once again taking advantage of the prime location of the apartment's proximity to the week's events.

Blaine paused and then said quietly, "You could leave it here."

Kurt pulled his head back to look at Blaine in confusion. "I can't leave it here, Blaine. I mean, aside from the things I used specifically for the suit, I've got half my design work and tools here and the other half at home. I can't work with my stuff in two places."

Blaine turned a little, still holding Kurt close. "Well, what if you brought the rest of your stuff here?"

Kurt opened his mouth to question Blaine, then shut it again as his eyes flew open wide. It dawned upon him what Blaine was saying.

"Blaine," he said cautiously, "Do you…are you…" he fumbled for his words as he shuffled around in the bed to face Blaine directly. "What exactly are you saying, Blaine?"

Blaine smiled indulgently and held up a finger, asking Kurt to give him a minute. He turned and opened the drawer of his nightstand, reaching for a small but distinctive blue box. He smiled, knowing that there was another similar box hidden away in the back of his sock drawer, but the time wasn't quite right for that one yet.

Not wanting Kurt to misunderstand for a second, he turned and held out the box, saying very clearly, "This is not a ring, Kurt."

Kurt laughed, saying, "Lord, I should hope not. You propose to me while I'm in your Dalton t-shirt with my hair a mess and I'll kill you."

Blaine huffed out a laugh and leaned forward to kiss Kurt lightly. "I love you so much," he said sweetly.

Kurt smiled, suddenly a little more serious as he answered back easily, "I love you, too."

"Kurt," Blaine began, pressing the box into Kurt's hands and covering them with his own, "stay with me. Don't leave. A year ago, you breezed into my life out of nowhere, and nothing has been the same since. You make every day better and brighter, and you make this place home to me in a way I never thought I would know. Having you here every day and every night has been so perfect this week. So stay. Live with me."

Kurt's eyes were bright with unshed tears. He bit his lip and gave Blaine a tiny, joyful nod, not trusting his voice. Blaine's face broke into an enormous smile as he leaned forward and captured Kurt's lips in an enthusiastic kiss. Blaine pulled back after only a few seconds, though, when he was reminded by their awkward positioning of the box that they held between them. "Open it," he said gleefully.

Kurt blinked away the happy tears and turned his attention to the box that he'd completely forgotten he was holding. He untied the white ribbon from the signature Tiffany blue box and opened the lid. Lying inside was a small silver key on a chain, the head of which was an open heart.

"I know that normally, someone gives you a key to their place, but there was something decidedly unromantic about giving you a plastic access card at a moment like this," Blaine explained shyly.

"I love it," Kurt whispered, looking up into Blaine's eyes and leaning forward to kiss him softly on the cheek. "Thank you." He sat back again and pulled the key and chain from the box. "Put it on me?" he asked, handing it over to Blaine and turning around.

Blaine carefully undid the clasp, brought the pendant around in front of Kurt and then fastened it securely, leaning forward and kissing the place where the clasp came to rest at the nape of Kurt's neck. He slid his arms around Kurt's waist and pulled him close, resting his chin on Kurt's shoulder. "We're gonna be roomies," he murmured.

Kurt giggled. "Roomies," he repeated, turning his head to press a gentle kiss to Blaine's temple.

They sat quietly like that for a little while, allowing the peace and happiness of the moment wash over them. Eventually, they settled down and curled into each other's arms to sleep. Tomorrow would be the beginning of yet another chapter in their lives. As they drifted off, Blaine thought again of the other small Tiffany box he possessed. He smiled to himself, knowing that it wouldn't be too long before he would be presenting the ring inside to the man sleeping soundly in his embrace.

Maybe he'd even get to do it before Kurt gave him the ring he had hidden away in Bushwick.

A/N: That's it, kids. Hope it lived up to your expectations. The key pendant Blaine gives Kurt is from the Tiffany Keys collection, which you can find on the store's site. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little tale of mine. If it brought a moment's happiness or a smile to your day, I have done my job. Be well.