A/N: Hi everyone. So much thanks needs to go out in this chapter, because you've made me so happy with your continued enthusiasm for this story. Some individual thanks go out to violetbuterfly for your support, and to StarGleekBelle for your inadvertent "idea" for this chapter during your flailings. It somehow tied in quite nicely. Also there's a song in here briefly that everyone should have seen coming, but maybe not in the way you wanted or expected.

This chapter also gives you some perspective on Sebastian. He may not be everyone's favourite person but he's human so give it a read.

Also some more Niff family, and also well...you'll just have to read and find out.

As always I own nothing, and I of course don't wish to be sued for pretending I do in an act of fiction. All mistakes are my own. Ta!

Stand By Me

Chapter 10

"J.J wait! Look I'm sorry okay, it's just, you don't understand. I'm, just STOP!"

Sebastian grabbed onto Justin's suitcase from where it was rolling behind him as Sebastian fought to catch up. It had been four days of intense nonverbal communication between the two of them, and it had been painfully obvious from the start that Justin remembered everything from that night. Sebastian had never wanted to crawl under a rock at work so much as he had that first day back at the new office. He felt smaller than an ant, and just as fragile. It sucked.

Now here he was just making things worse, trying to chase after a man, a friend, that didn't want to be seen with him or be near him, but Sebastian chased him anyway. He had to make it right.

Justin turned, his eyes piercing and almost a dark olive green, his face flushed from the pace at which he was moving.

"What do you want Sebastian?! What could you possibly want from me?!"

Sebastian took a backseat to the anger that Justin was brewing and he decided that now was as good as time as any to let Justin air out his grief...and his anger.

"I want to apologize J.J." Sebastian didn't let go of the suitcase quickly but let his grip loosen slowly. He knew how to read people, and that lent no quick movements when people were upset, it just egged on that anger.

"Don't! You can't call me that, not after...well not after all that's happened. I thought we were friends!? I thought you gave a flying fuck about me, not just so much as to get in my pants when I'm weak, and obvious stupid."

That hit a nerve. " You aren't stupid okay? I am. Look what we did was wrong and I know that. I didn't want to hurt you Justin, but I still wanted to say I'm sorry."

Justin turned away, roughly getting his suitcase out of Sebastian's grip and continue to walk away. "Whatever. Have a nice life Sebastian. I'll be back in a few days, stay out of my way."

Sebastian stood there for about ten seconds when a moment, the moment that happened only three months ago flashed before his eyes.

The room he was in was meant for nothing more than being a holding room; a cell, actually that's kind of what it was, and in between. He was done for

he could just feel it. Some how he had slipped and someone had found out what he had been doing. Good intentions or otherwise, Sebastian knew he played a dangerous game every day.

That was until a man that he knew well, in his late fifties, early sixties, who was impeccably dressed walked into the room. His eyes were strong but not completely devoid of emotion, and with the simplest flick of his eyes, the burly man who had escorted him in, left him alone with Sebastian in a heartbeat.

"So Mr. Smythe I see we have quite the track record here, one I wasn't privy to when you were hired. You've hidden your intentions rather well I should say."

Sebastian guard went up, this man was knew nothing, he was bluffing.

"I see here that you graduated from CalTech, top twenty in your class. Openly gay but no immediate attachments listed. You pay your taxes and have represented my company well in the last five years. Aside from a few drunk and disorderly charges in your youth, its seems to be pretty open and shut. You're an apparent upstanding citizen Mr. Smythe." He still hadn't opened the manilla envelope that he was carrying, and that worried Sebastian slightly.

"Then why am I here?"

"It's funny, that you still respond to that last name of yours, considering you don't speak to the man whose last name you share. You're father, General Colin Smythe is it? He's a war hero, an Iraqi veteran, and yet you've been estranged from him since you were sixteen. Why is that?"

"Was a hero. And with regards to my feelings on the General, well we had a difference of opinion on what was considered parenting...sir." The man made a face that was neither concern nor caring.

"I'll bet. I also see here that you have a sister."

"Yes, Sarah."

Clarence opened the envelope on the table and stared at it reciting his next speech.

"It says here. Relation, sister, Sarah Smythe, deceased just a few months ago, suicide. Now that's sad she was only twenty two. It also says that she had a spinal injury after a car accident which involved your father and another driver six years prior."

Sebastian's hackles went up. He always got defensive when people talked about Sarah, and this man had no right talking so nonchalantly about a woman that he never knew.

"Just stop, I know my own history sir, could you please tell me why I'm here before I press charges involving wrongful interrogation?"

Clarence laughed, a full bellied laugh, that showed no hint of joy. He took his time continuing to chuckle at the apparent idle threat that Sebastian was throwing at him, and opened the largest part of the folder. That was when Sebastian's heart sank.

"So Sebastian, let me tell you another story. It seems that you also have another secret that isn't as public as the ones that I've just said aloud. Apparently you also go by a hacker alias known as Flash, is that correct?"

Sebastian's jaw tightened as he saw what looked like photos of email correspondence from his personal account. He didn't have to know that this mans power seemed to go further than he thought.

"I'm not on trial here. I'm not going to dignify that with an answer."

"You don't have to. I know all about the money that you've been making on the side hacking into computer safety systems for anonymous clients. I've also noticed that from the start of your internship up until suspiciously three months after your sisters death, that a certain and very cleverly harvested amount of money has gone missing from my numerous corporate accounts. Skimming I think is the term. All using familiar IP addresses that you, or at least Flash is known for using, and cleverly placed in different phantom accounts on different days. Ironic isn't it?"

This was the moment that Sebastian knew he should have taken the case to court and just served his sentence, but the constant reminder of why he had done this hit home quickly, and he began to crumble.

"Come on Mr. Smythe, we both know I have enough evidence to just walk out of this room with it, and make your life hell. Just tell me why and maybe we can move forward."

Sebastian took a deep breath and for some reason, actually answered his executioner.

"Medical bills." Sebastian murmured this to himself, but Clarence heard him. He heard the man crack and all it took was mentioning his sister. Ah, his crux.

"Oh?" All Clarence had to do was pretend to be sympathetic. He was good at that after all.

"My sister, Sarah, her medical bills were insanely high. My father paid for them until she was of age and then poof! My father decides that in order to become an adult she has to learn to deal with things herself. She only had a part time job as a librarian's assistant, how was that supposed to cover all her bills without insurance?

"I had it out with my father, and after some 'creative parenting' lectures I took Sarah on as my own dependant, as you no doubt noticed in my taxes. But the bills were too much for me too. So...I took a couple side jobs to help us both out, and fudged the numbers on my tax receipts, for her and myself. We were living on our own, no fucking family to speak of or help, and what does my father do now?"

Sebastian was getting pissed off. All the anger he held in about his father came pouring out of him. He should have been shouting but instead his voice had an eerie force to it.

"He probably sits on an army pension and too much savings from fucking family money and doesn't lift a finger to help his own family, and why? WHY? Because he's a sick bastard that can't even help his own kids! His fucking child died because he didn't care for her! Not when he was driving drunk, causing the crash which paralysed my sister, but then he covers it up, pays a fine for his wrong doing, and then cuts the cord on his own family when it was convenient. My sister killed hers….passed away knowing her father hated her for being a burden. Which she wasn't. She was worth all the heartache and money and I would do it all over again. If you have all this information on me….fuck you then. Guilty as charged. I will not besmirch my sisters memory because I fought for her in the only way I knew how."

Long moments passed as Sebastian took a deep breath trying to calm his ever raging heart. There were surely tears on his face at the thoughts of Sarah, the wound still so fresh, but his face and whole body seemed numb. He knew he was going to be arrested for embezzlement, or something like that. He was screwed so he might as well speak his mind.

"You've got balls kid. I can definitely say that." That wasn't what Sebastian was expecting to hear.

"Sir?"

"You've skimmed over a hundred thousand dollars from my corporate accounts, all very well hidden, and if it weren't for the charge you put on your company card for where was it again...Oh yes, GoodHandy's, really Mr. Smythe, gay or not using company money at a men's strip club? Of course I would investigate your financials. Should have used your Amex. I might never have figured this out."

Sebastian resisted the urge to bang his head on the table. Talk about irony that the one night he used the wrong card for a little bit of senseless fun, it would be his eventual undoing.

"But I am not an unforgiving man. I play hard but I am not above throwing you an opt out."

Sebastian wasn't buying it, at least not yet.

"I have a son. Justin. Brilliant mind, gay like yourself, you'd like him I think. He's just too damn proud to see what a mess he's made of his life. Unlike your own father it seems, I actually care about the well being of my own. So I intend on doing him a favour, much as I am going to do for you, all in the same gesture."

A way out. God Sebastian just pay attention.

"I will make all of these charges, the embezzlement of company money however small to the company, its still a hundred grand that I no longer have access to, and that should be atoned no matter how valid your sob story may be. Now, as I said I will make it all disappear, but for me I would have you make something that's been an eye sore for me disappear, in the not literal sense of course.."

"What would that be?" Sebastian looked at this man square. He knew he had to step up to the plate for this conversation.

"My son."

Sebastian nearly fell off his chair. " You want me to off your son!? How fucked up are.."

Clarence's laughed once again filled the room.

"No, no, no, you silly child. Not off Justin. God I'm not that stupid. Justin is a brilliant mind remember? Amazing work he can do for my company, but somethings holding him back."

"What's that?"

"His husband." Sebastian literally had no idea where this was going.

"I need you to use all that charm and charisma that I've seen you use with this company, and it's other employees, and use it on my son." Sebastian cringed when he heard 'other employees'. He guessed that his inter office dalliances weren't so covert after all. Bosses always seemed to know.

"You want me to seduce your son? What is this Indecent Proposal?" Sebastian was just about to take the maximum sentence and demand being arrested on spot, he couldn't understand this man's angle, but Clarence continued.

"Sort of. Only in this case, I just need you to seduce my son, and make him break off his marriage. And in return, I will offer you a chance at a new start, a clean slate and I will forget that you could get a few years in prison for this. Nevermind a lovely debunking involving your status with any computer or IT firms. My reach is far Mr. Smythe. You will never work in this business again if I say so. So I ask you? Is this something that you can do? I'm sure you've committed enough felonies that one more couldn't hurt, especially if this was the last one."

Clarence sat there like a master poker player and watched his prey. There were no tells, no blinks or bodily quirks that would give him away. The man was serious.

"Using extortion to erase embezzlement and corporate theft charges, so classy." Sebastian barked this out before he could stop his inner cynic. Clarence chuckled.

"I guess you could look at it like that, but far more elegant. And before you ask me, yes I am doing this for more reason than messing with my son. His husband is below him, in every way, and I plan on having him remain unmarried as long as possible. He needs to focus on his career and he can't do that with his husband telling him he has to stay in new York and live the bohemian lifestyle he's set up for himself. His husband is artsy and full of romantic ideals, and that's not something I can afford to have in my life. Blaine, that's his name, is just wrong for my son, and despite my best warnings, Justin seems to love him still. But love can be throttled with the right encouragement, the right promotion and that I am setting in place. He's in Seattle now, finally taking the promotion I gave him but I need another push. You, Mr. Smythe, for the right price, are that push."

Before Sebastian could really say anything Clarence was up and collecting his folders.

"I'll just hold on to these in case I need them. Please go home and think about it. I will need to know in the next forty eight hours. Do me the pleasure of not leaving the country, I watch the people that are of interest to me, and I hate to have to track you down. Good day Mr. Smythe, i look forward to your call."

That night it took only a handle full of moments reasoning with himself that not only would he not survive long in prison, he was not as tough as he acted, and also, he was a coward. Two rings later…

"I'm in."

Those moments were flashing in his mind so quickly that it was only a few more seconds before he shook his head and knew exactly what he had to do.

"Justin, wait!"Sebastian seemed to be making running after this man a hobby.

"God what do you want!? Isn't it enough that you've ruined my life, can't you just…"

"I lied."

"I know you did Seb, you said that we were friends and…"

"We are friends which is why I have to tell you something. Something horrible but...really, really important."

Come on Sebastian, you can do this. Please let Justin listen. Justin sighed and straightened up his suitcase.

"Okay talk."

God now that he had his attention how was he going to do this?

"I lied, not about being friends, that just happened to happen on its own, for which I am more thankful than you can imagine. I do like being your friend Justin, and I don't do friends all that often...but the thing is, I, well I…"

Sebastian didn't know what to do. He was just about to reveal what Justin's father paid him to do but he got a moment of doubt, a huge moment of doubt. even if he told him, he may never see him again, he may lose his friendship anyway, and god he hated to admit that there were some kind of feelings brewing for Justin. The sentiment of it all was suffocating. He said the first thing that his heart told him to. It may not have been the right thing to do, but he said what was in his heart. There was a first time for everything.

"I don't know how to process feelings really Justin, but I have….well I have some, for you. It did mean something to me."

There he said it. It was still a truth, but maybe not the truth he should have said. Justin's hardened face softened slightly.

"Sebastian, I know, well I think I know how hard that was for you. But look I'm married, but what I did, what we did, has all but ruined that for me. So even if I was divorced, even if I didn't look at you and think 'hey, that's the guy I cheated on my loved one with', I don't think I could say that being any more than friends with you would work okay? I'm flattered, slightly appalled at myself for being the worst shit of a husband, but...thank you. It makes me feel a tiny bit better than there was some feeling behind it and not just some random mistake. So thank you for that. I'll see you in a couple days, okay?"

"Osaka awaits huh?" Sebastian tried to melt the ice that was building on his heart, but it was too late for that. He made his bed, he was a coward.

"I'll be back in town in two days, try not to start any international incidents while I'm gone okay? Just gimme some space, and we can see about being friends again. I need to figure out what I'm going to do with my marriage too."

"Okay Justin, that's fair."

Justin straightened up his small suitcase and leaned over the give Sebastian a tiny one armed hug despite himself.

"Somehow, it meant something to me too Seb." It was a whisper, but it made his small confession valid. Justin cared. He just wished he could erase the guilt over not telling him about everything else.

"And you can call me J.J again, it sounds more right. See you around Smythe." Justin smiled softly but with caution as he walked over toward the train he needed to catch to Osaka.

"See you." Sebastian really, really wished that in some other universe, he deserved to see that man again.

XXXX

Blaine wasn't really sure if the night had gone by really fast, or if was he distracted by his own thoughts so much so that half of the night had just escaped him. Before he knew it, Sami was being tucked into Kurt's bed for a few hours, leaving the adults to finish the evening in grown up company.

After Blaine had successfully shown Sami how to properly slurp noodles, much to her papa Jeff's dismissal that he was the champion at noodle-ology ( yes Jeff thought if he used it in a sentence that it was a real word), Kurt had taken Sami to bed at her insistence.

The little lady's logic was valid after all. It was Kurt's bed, so he should be the one to do the tucking. It was then that the one room apartment showed it's size, as they noted that even over conversation, the sounds from across the apartment carried. The sound had made the other three men in the home, Blaine included, smile so big that it hurt. Kurt, at Sami's insistence, had begun to sing her a lullaby, but not just any old lullaby, but the song that Kurt swears was written for her even before she was born. Even if it was only a whispered song, Sami was one of the only people Kurt would sing for anymore, her fathers and Blaine the other exceptions. It caused Jeff, Nick and Blaine, to settle in and strain to listen above the light stereo sounds in the background.

The way her hair falls in her eyes

Makes me wonder if she'll

Ever see through my disguise

And I'm under her spell

Everything is falling

And I don't know where to land

Everyone knows who she is

But she don't know who I am

Sami, Sami...

Why can't you see

What you're doing to me?

"Night munchkin."

Kurt came back out a few minutes later, dimming the lights in the living room, and tried not to blush at the looks he was getting. The chorus of "aww" he got only made him blush further.

"Oh shut up. She's my baby girl."

Jeff pretended to cry which got him an elbow from his husband. All Blaine could do at that moment was try hard not to let a tear fall at the touching display he forget Kurt was capable of. Instead he had tried to focus on something else entirely, which resulted in him staring at the painted on pants Kurt was wearing which didn't help matters much. It just made have to hide a different emotion.

XXXX

Blaine had been in deep discussion with Kurt and their friends, explaining his excitement over starting work up again in a few weeks, namely working with the new age group he had been assigned. He was just beginning to tell them about the new TA he had met and would be working with, when Kurt's cell rang out quite loudly disrupting his train of thought.

"I'm sorry guys, I didn't know I had the ringer on."

Blaine made a face at Kurt because Kurt always knew when his ringer was on, and most importantly he knew that Kurt preferred his phone on vibrate. So why did he…

"Sorry guys it's Serg, can I take this?"

Jeff and Nick smirked at the coy but embarrassed smirk Kurt was wearing, and Blaine could only nod along with their friends. Wasn't it he who said to give his relationship with Sergio a real try? Well, this would be a first for Kurt, interrupting a dinner party to answer his phone, so he guessed that Kurt was taking his advice to heart.

Why did he feel at least a tiny bit disappointed then?

"Hi honey." Honey? God why did that bother Blaine so much?

"Yeah, we're just having dinner now so I can't be too long, it's rude….yes, yes I know." Kurt giggled, fucking giggled, but Blaine knew that it was genuine. He could always tell when Kurt was fake laughing because it was usually too nervous. Kurt was genuinely happy as he moved further out of earshot.

"So Blainers, have you met Kurt's new boy? What's he like?" Nick was the one to ask this which was a little surprising to Blaine because he would have figured such a question to come from Jeff instead.

"He seems okay I guess. I only met him for a minute and I was more worried about prying the guys hands off Kurt and thus sobering up Kurt in the process. But I dunno, I'd say he was nice, and Kurt seems to like him which is the important part…."

Blaine didn't hear what Jeff nor Nick said in response to that, because he was trying to strain and hear the tail end of the conversation between Kurt and Sergio.

"Yeah, sure I'll run it by them….No! Oh my god now is not the time for that….you're making me blush Serg. I promise to give it my best shot….me too, very much. Okay I'll talk to you tomorrow. K love, bye."

Jeff was just finishing his sentence when Kurt walked back over.

"...I mean that's the only logical explanation right?" Jeff was looking at Blaine expectantly, but Blaine could only say a quick "Of course" with a tight smile. Jeff knew he hadn't been listening and he let it slide.

Kurt walked back over the loveseat silently smiling and nestled himself beside Blaine, and leaning heavily on him. Jeff went to sit on the larger couch with his husband.

"Sorry about that. So what'd I miss?"

Kurt nudged Blaine's arm in a gesture long practised in their night of movie marathoning...he wanted to cuddle. Now Blaine knew this loveseat was small, perfect sized for him but with two adults on it, it got a little tight so being super close wasn't unheard of. But he was conflicted, which these days wasn't a really bigger shocks for the married man, he seemed to be in a constant state of conflict. Kurt was with Sergio, and he interrupted their night to talk to him just now. But he also had a newly formed sexual confidence that Blaine had only just started to notice, and as much as he wanted to deny it, Blaine was having a hard time refusing the man whom said loved him, anything. So he budged over a little bit and lifted his arm.

Kurt leaned in sideways so his left shoulder was wedged underneath Blaine's arm and his back lent sideways on his chest. Blaine kept his arm on the back of the loveseat just to play it safe. Jeff and Nick alike would have questions if he outright held Kurt tightly in his arms like he wanted to, but if he ended up like that, he was caring less and less with every minute.

Nick, Jeff and most of the guys at school, including Finn and obviously Rachel and Santana had gotten used to Blaine and Kurt forever being attached at the hip, or arm, but this was the first time they had been as such with Blaine being married and without his husband around.

Kurt was only touchy like this with Blaine and maybe now that Blaine knew his feelings for him, maybe now he could see why Kurt had always been like this. But it fit with them, only now Blaine had even more confusion to add to the pot, because having Kurt here like this felt too damn right to ignore, and it was starting to become painfully obvious to him that Kurt could actually be the one that got away.

Only he was here, with him, with their friends and not out with Sergio. It was a happy thought, a very soothing one too.

Blaine let his arm fall from the couch as Nick continued with his train of thought, his husband's arm lightly around his waist and his glass of wine perched on his lips.

Blaine mimicked his arms movements along Kurt's shoulder and arm, just as Jeff did it with Nick. Kurt shivered a tiny bit in his reply to Nick but Blaine caught it, as did Jeff.

The blonde smirked into his wine as his and Blaine's eyes locked in a moment of silent acknowledgement. He may be playing with fire showing a small possessive side with regards to one Kurt Hummel, but the man was showing himself to be a person Blaine wanted to fight to keep in his grasp no matter the outcome. Not only was this something new to conflict his already heavy mind these days, but it seemed as if Jeff caught the slight change in his friend too.

For the next twenty minutes of so, every movement of hand, subtle as it may be, that Jeff soothed his husband with, was mirrored by Blaine's hands on Kurt. Kurt talked about his new designs animatedly throughout, trying to ignore the faint possessiveness of the gestures, but soon his enthusiasm was muted as he became butter in Blaine's arms. He let himself fall further back into him, so much so that Blaine end up putting a pillow behind Kurt's head so he could still face Nick comfortably, while not giving up his position in Blaine's arms.

Jeff could see what Blaine was doing, but oh could he see what Kurt was doing as well.

Jeff may give off that he's a pretty face covered in blonde hair, but did Blaine and Kurt really think they were being subtle with anyone? Yes, he had to admit that earlier today when Nick had stopped him before he went to have a shower, and said that they needed to watch Kurt and Blaine while they were here, it had been a little bit of a shocker, because he hadn't known what to really expect. But now he did, at least at a quick glance.

Nick and Jeff, happily named Niff by their friends long ago, were still the inseparable agents three and six that they had been coined in high school, the devious fiends who were best friends that always seemed to be in the middle of whatever scandal Dalton had to offer. They were the gossip train, along with their friend Trent, and they just had to have their noses in the gossip that floated around that private school.

As the years passed there was always one rumour that was kept hidden and only said aloud once in a while, and that was Blaine and Kurt's relationship being more than what was said. Neither Jeff nor Nick thought much on it, as they had seen both of them have crushes on others, but of course they knew there was something there that couldn't be denied, it was only a matter of time before either one of them said something to break that ice.

And now seeing Blaine so out of character, so overly doting on his best friend in a way that was not only slightly sexual but rather possessive, gave Jeff's heart a jump that he might finally be witnessing an old rumour come to light. His husband had been right when he said that these two needed to be watched, it was rather alarmingly beautiful to see such affection being shown by them. Nick seemed to sense it too as he grasped his hand tightly for a nanosecond and squeezed; a silent note that they would talk about this tonight once they got back to the hotel.

Nick made visual contact with Kurt while he spoke from his spot all but in Blaine's lap and the words he spoke were not with his mouth but his eyes.

So, you're testing the waters. I won't stand in your way, but be careful.

Kurt blinked rapidly for a second, completely dumbfounded that Nick's unspoken words were painted so clearly on his face. That's when Blaine ran his hands lightly through his hair and he almost choked on his next words.

"So...t-tomorrow. Central Park? I've got a picnic ready in the fridge…" Kurt rambled when he was nervous, and seeing Nick's observational skills regarding him and Blaine made him slightly nervous. He didn't want Nick to blow the whistle on his and Blaine's obvious closeness, nor inadvertently throttle Kurt's plans at making Blaine want more with him. He knew Nick would never do it intentionally but if he was being too obvious, maybe Blaine would see right through him too. So he shooed Blaine's hands from his hair and sat up.

"Guess we have a big day tomorrow then, want me to call you a cab while you get Sami ready to leave?"

Jeff and Nick blinked at the change in posture from Kurt, his solemn expression speaking volumes because of the position in Blaine's arms he had just given up, but the kicked puppy look Blaine was sporting almost made them laugh. Blaine was so over his head it was almost funny.

"Yeah she should be out like a light. Honey can you grab our shoes please?" Nick was up and in daddy mode faster than you can say quidditch.

Blaine just kind of sat there a little confused as to how the evening had so quickly changed. One minute he was happily holding the man he loved in his arms and was being allowed to do so in front of great friends. In the next moment, Kurt was up and so were the boys as they gathered their things in silent contentment to catch the cab that Kurt was currently calling for them.

Wait? Man he loved?...Blaine had finally admitted it out loud in his head. Well fuck me sideways.

Kurt was telling Nick and Jeff when and where they would be meeting them tomorrow morning. There was no point in them heading out to Brooklyn when they would be spending the day in midtown. Nick cradled his little girl close, and as expected, she was sleeping like the dead clutching Bunzie to her chest as she slept on. Bunzie was apparently how a young girl pronounced bunny when she was two. The name stuck. Blaine had a stuffed toy named Pupbee, who was he to criticize?

They said their goodnights and closed the door behind them. Kurt turned, unbuttoning the top three buttons on his shirt and fanned them lightly. It was rather warm in the apartment now that Blaine was thinking about it.

"What?" Kurt looked over at him with a dishevelled look to him. He had a small stain on his lower left abdomen that look suspiciously like juice from Sami's cup earlier, his hair was still the artful mess it was when Blaine had ruffled it thoroughly with his hands when they were on the couch, and those pants were still taunting him.

Kurt went to walk by Blaine when Blaine stretched out his arm and held Kurt's elbow.

"Wait." His voice was a whisper, but it was still commanding enough that Kurt knew Blaine was being serious.

"What's wrong?" Kurt couldn't face Blaine for some reason, the tension in the apartment was too high.

"Nothing is wrong, it's just right I guess."

Kurt turned into Blaine again, both of them still hovering very close to the door, and Blaine not giving up the hold he had on Kurt's arm. Slowly Blaine looked down at where he was gripping and began soothing the soft fabric with his thumb, watching the way that it ripped at the elbow with every up stroke. Kurt just stood ramrod still and watch what his best friend was doing. He didn't move for fear of spooking Blaine but, god was it hard not to say something.

"B?"

Blaine's hand had moved up Kurt's very defined arm all the way up to his shoulder, along his neck until it was cradling his face.

"Kurt...I…" Blaine wasn't freaking out as much as he thought he would be, actually the calm in his heart at his earlier inner revelation felt incredibly soothing.

"B, what? I can't..." Kurt's eyes tried to dart back on forth between Blaine's own but there was nothing there to see except happiness.

"I love you Kurt. I love you so very much."

Kurt's knees almost gave out, but he only remained upright as Blaine used the hand that was holding his jaw to bring his head down the few inches so it could connect with his own.

The kiss was not the careful, sensual, and tentative pecks and explorations from the other day. This one was fuelled by something a little more desperate, a little more needy, but Blaine felt connected more than he would have ever imagined.

This time tongues came into play and Blaine almost lost it at the touch of the wet muscle, he couldn't help but groan into his friend's mouth. Kurt allowed Blaine to back him up against the wall, or was that the door, as he allowed Blaine to just take what he wanted.

God Kurt had wanted this for so long. The feel of his hands in Blaine's hair tugging at the strands, loosening up the product, and watching as his glasses fogged. It was beautiful and amazing, as was Blaine's other hand that had snuck down to Kurt's hip where it dug in against his hipbone commandingly.

"Hmmm B, are you...oh god, sure?" Blaine moved his mouth down to Kurt's ear, and then the bend of his jaw, licking tightly releasing a growl of his own. Kurt tasted fantastic everywhere. Wait was Blaine sure, of what?

"Whaddya mean Kurt?" Before Kurt could think of a response Blaine's mouth was back on his, his tongue not delaying and resuming it's early exploration, taking deep swipes of a man he had hungered for in youth, and feeling the love that Kurt felt back for him. Only as Kurt pulled away again, trying to speak, Blaine chose the other side of his neck to continue exploring, nipping, tasting.

"I mean, you've thought about this...shit Blaine stop for a sec!"

Kurt's voice was rough and it was really very hard for Blaine to be pushed away.

"I'm what you want then?" Kurt tried to look at the lidded eyes of the man he loved with conviction. Now there was no turning back if Blaine said so.

"What do you mean? I just told you I love you, as in I am in love with you too Kurt." Kurt closed in eyes in sheer delight, but he didn't allow himself the time, he needed to know.

"Does that mean your marriage is over, you're getting a divorce, cuz I will not be the other man. I just can't B." Kurt kissed Blaine under his jaw, to weak to not indulge in their closeness now.

"I guess."

That's when Kurt moved Blaine aside.

"You guess? You said...Blaine you told me when you were sure, and only then...you still haven't made up your mind have you? Have you even talked to your husband?!"

Kurt knew he was raising his voice, but given the circumstances, he figured he was allowed to be a diva a little bit.

"Well no. But Kurt look I just came to this realization, about you, about us…" Kurt put his foot down, and it was probably the hardest thing he had to do in a long while. He voice broke numerous times.

"There is no us, not in that way Blaine. Look I told you, you promised me Blaine! My heart can't take this kind of attention if your not...and if we can't…." Blaine finally cleared the lusted fog in his eyes and saw what he had just done, or at least asked his best friend to do.

"Look I'm sorry Kurt. I really am but you just looked so good and I just had to kiss you." It was lame maybe, but it was the truth. Kurt seemed to stiffen, his posture no longer relaxed. He was understanding, Kurt had this feeling around Blaine for the last decade so he understood, but he would not be made a fool for his emotions, by playing into an urge he had to control.

"Well Blaine, I may love you, but my heart and my body are not playthings."

"No, no, angel no I'm sorry. Please just, gimme a chance to tell you you're irresistible and that's why I fucked up?"

Blaine came over to Kurt and as much as Kurt wanted to back up more, he had run out of room. Blaine's hands settled in his, and Kurt allowed Blaine to lean his forehead against his, even if he had to rise on his tiptoes to do it.

They stood still for quite some time.

"If you hadn't stopped me would you have regretted what we did Angel?"

"Probably, with you it was never meant to be a mistake Blaine. We have to be sure."

"I know, I know I'm sorry I wasn't thinking."

"Yes you were, you were thinking with your dick, something that we as men do frequently. I'm sorry that I didn't stop us earlier too. I got carried away just as much as you even if you started it."

"God what are we going to do Kurt? this is maddening."

You are going to sort out your feelings and talk to your husband...no wait let me finish. Look, waiting another two weeks until you see him isn't going to cut it, especially if we have to resist the urge to apparently door fondle each other."

"Door fondle, really Kurt?'

"Hey most of my blood is south of the equator so cut me some slack here on the phrasing buster. Besides, I have to think about things too. Plot, plan, and god probably have another shower today, and this one preferably colder than the last one. You promised me you would work it out, if you were sure. I can't regret what we do Blaine. I would rather us never doing anything again than me resent you."

"Or me you."

They both waited there, holding their breaths on a precipice they weren't sure they would jump over together or alone, all while waiting until their hearts and bodies calmed down.

"Okay, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna go shower Kurt. I'll be out in a bit and then we can...try and think of a way of forgetting this." Blaine pecked Kurt's cheek.

"I can't forget this, and I don't want to."

"Me neither."

"It was pretty hot."

"Are you kidding it was super fucking hot."

"Blaine go have a shower before I eat my own words and push you against the door now..if not sooner."

Blaine walked away, trying valiantly and failing to hide the semi still in his pants. Kurt may have smirked at the awkwardness of it all for his best friend, and maybe felt a little triumphant that he was the one to put it there, but he was in no better condition.

Sliding down the door, the hard on still very painfully pressing against him in his skin tight pants, he fell to the floor in an ungraceful pile and tried to memorize the taste and feel of one of the most erotic feelings he had ever felt.

His skin, his taste, the urgency of the kiss and the want that radiated off him like waves made Kurt dizzy but also incredibly sad. Blaine had almost broke his own resolve as well as Kurt's by stepping over a boundary without answers; and it nearly killed him to pull away.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket and it was only then that he realized he was sitting on his five hundred dollar phone. The message read:

How's it going Andele? The cuddles and submission work? - Serg

Kurt sighed. He had an update to give.

Better than expected. We all but dry humped against the door. But he still didn't give me an answer! This is maddening Serg. I want him so bad, and he wants me apparently but I won't be the mistresses as it were and he won't budge on talking to Justin. What am I going to do? - Kurt

Kurt hadn't realized how frustrated he was until he had typed that out. Sergio was really becoming an important person to him, he needed this kind of support. There were some things that even brothers couldn't do.

Keep doing what we are doing and insist that Blaine talks to his husband. We can make him want Kurt, but the rest is up to him. Ljubavi, it's okay, I'll help in anyway I can. resist and it'll be worth it when it happens. See, I said when, it's destiny Andele. Destiny. - Serg

Kurt hadn't even begun a response when the second part of the message came through.

Tomorrow, you'll be in Central Park? Message me when you figure out when and where. Stage 2 okay? Just as planned.- Serg

Will do. And Serg, thank you for being here for me. Btw, what does Andele mean? I've always wondered - Kurt

It took a few minutes but the response was simple. It made his heart ache.

Always, and it means Angel, my angel, why? - Serg

Kurt tried not to sob. His life was an emotional roller coaster.

No reason. Goodnight hun - Kurt

Kurt thumped his head against the door as he heard the shower continue on in the background, Blaine soft voice echoing in the background. It was deep and god it was doing nothing for this body's reaction again,.

Relax Hummel, get it together. You can do this, be the better man and fight for the love you know is there now. It's what dad told you to do, so do it.

Kurt knew the odds, but god he didn't know if the resistance would kill him.

So? Review and let me know that it was okay? More to come kiddies, much love and hugs to you all for your support and feedback.