[Author's note: I think this is going to be the final chapter, for real this time, unless someone has some suggestions for where to go further. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!]

Kurt couldn't remember ever being happier in his life. He was curled up against Blaine, his head resting on Blaine's shoulder, his newly ringed finger lying over Blaine's heart. As Kurt had expected, when they had made it up to Blaine's room, the room and bed had been covered with even more rose petals. Kurt was pretty sure some of them were permanently stuck to parts of his anatomy, but he didn't care.

Blaine's eyes were closed, but his thumb was still rubbing lazy circles where it rested against Kurt's shoulder. "I should help you clean up some of these rose petals," Kurt murmured.

"No, you shouldn't," Blaine replied, locking his arms around Kurt. "You should stay right here. I don't want to waste our time together. I'll clean them up tomorrow after you leave."

Kurt wanted to protest, to tell Blaine he had already done enough, but Blaine's arms were so comfortable and warm around him. He didn't actually want to leave them either. "Did I say thank you yet for today?" Kurt whispered.

Blaine's lips curled up slightly as his eyes slowly opened. "I should thank you too for saying yes."

Kurt lifted his head and looked down at Blaine. "I'm serious, Blaine. Today was… incredible. Even in my wildest dreams, I couldn't have imagined a more perfect proposal. I can't believe how much effort you must have gone through to make this day the most amazing day ever. Thank you."

"The results were worth the effort," Blaine answered with a sleepy smile. "I'm just glad I could surprise you."

Perhaps it was the late hour and the fact that Kurt had barely slept the previous night. Perhaps it was the fact that they were about to embark on a new life together, and it seemed wrong to do so on a foundation built on a falsehood, as silly and insignificant as that falsehood may be. Perhaps it was just the fact that Kurt had always been able to tell Blaine anything, and their relationship had always been predicated on total honesty. For whatever reason, Kurt found himself sitting up and blurting out, "It wasn't a surprise. I mean, it was in that I had no idea what to expect exactly. Even knowing it was happening couldn't prepare me for that. But… Rachel told me you were planning on proposing yesterday."

"I know," Blaine said simply.

Kurt was ready to jump to Rachel's defense and had lined up an argument, so he found himself quickly backtracking mentally. "What do you mean, you know?"

Blaine pushed himself up to lean against the headboard. "First of all, I'm surprised you didn't find out earlier, given the amount of people who were involved in planning this. Sure, I swore them all to secrecy, but with that many people, leaks are bound to happen, so it really was probably just a matter of time. Second of all, Rachel only told you because I asked her to."

"What?" Kurt knew his voice was reaching octaves only dogs could hear, but he was in a state of disbelief. "Why would you sabotage your own surprise?"

Blaine sighed and prepared to explain. "Because I love you, Kurt." Blaine didn't think it was possible, but Kurt's eyebrows rose even higher on his face in confusion. He was almost tempted to stop talking and force Kurt to talk again, just to see how much higher his voice could actually get, but then decided against it. The sooner he explained, the sooner he could get Kurt back to sleepily cuddling in his arms.

"Grand, extravagant romantic gestures are great, but they can be really embarrassing for everyone involved if both people aren't on the same page. Which is why I haven't gone in a Gap in several years." Blaine wondered if Kurt was aware that he had reached out and laid his hand over Blaine's, gently stroking it as if trying to soothe the embarrassment three years later. "I didn't want the same thing to happen to us. I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. I know how much you like to plan.

"Plus, public proposals add a layer of pressure, and I didn't want you feeling pressured to say yes just because you didn't want to hurt my feelings or embarrass me. I didn't want to blindside you or make you uncomfortable by surprising you with a proposal in front of half the state of Ohio just days after we got back together. I knew if Rachel told you it was coming, without actually giving you any details, you'd be smart enough to figure out the set-up. If you were completely opposed to the idea, you'd convince your dad not to bring you or you'd call me and yell at me not to go through with it. Since you didn't, I assumed you were at least open to the possibility of saying yes."

Kurt bit his lower lip in thought. "Hm. In all of my agonizing yesterday and last night, not coming today didn't even occur to me."

Blaine smiled and flipped his hand over to intertwine their fingers. "I'm glad to hear it."

Kurt took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. "So all that stuff you kept repeating last night about loving me no matter what happened really was your attempt at subtly sending me a message?"

Blaine nodded.

"So… in addition to the many other wonderful things you did for me today, you also ruined your own surprise just so I would be comfortable. So I could have time to think and prepare."

Blaine nodded again.

"God, I love you," Kurt said, lunging forward to cover Blaine's mouth with his own. Blaine's lips curled up under his in a quick smile before he slid his arms around Kurt's hips and pulled his legs until they straddled his. Kurt ran his fingers into Blaine's hair and slightly adjusted the angle of the kiss, plunging his tongue more deeply into Blaine's mouth. Despite having been on the verge of sleep just minutes ago, Blaine seemed very energetic and enthusiastic. They both knew the best ways to drive each other wild quickly, so it wasn't long before they once again found themselves curled up together, sweaty but satisfied.

As their rapidly beating hearts resumed a normal pace, they lay in comfortable silence. This time, it was Blaine who cuddled up next to Kurt, his head fitting perfectly against Kurt's shoulder. Kurt slowly ran his hand up and down Blaine's back until his breaths slowed into the deep, even breathing of sleep. Then, pressing a kiss against Blaine's forehead, he carefully stretched his arm to turn off the light. As he drifted off to sleep in his fiancé's arms, Kurt was filled with the peaceful certainty that he was exactly where he belonged. Forever.