The evening sky peeked through the tiny windows on the staircase up to the loft. A blazer-clad figure turned his head round to face his two friends as they climbed the stairs.
"It's so nice to see you guys again." said Blaine, adjusting his school bag on his shoulder.
"Yeah!" said Rachel as she and Finn climbed up behind him, "When Kurt said he'd be out this evening I thought it was the perfect opportunity to invite you over to catch up."
"I feel like I haven't seen you in ages! And I have no excuse, so this is really nice of you."
"Don't mention it, dude," said Finn, "You used to live with us. We miss having you around."
Blaine smiled wistfully. Yeah, I miss it too.
"Still, it's nice to come visit." he said, "What's for dinner?"
"What do you propose?" asked Rachel as they reached their floor. Blaine, in front, stopped suddenly.
"Guys, your door's open..." he said concernedly.
The door was cracked open a bit, a strip of light from the landing extending into the apartment.
Rachel glanced at Finn as Blaine slowly pushed open the sliding door. He paused for a second. Then, without a word, he switched on the light.
Standing in the open space between the bedrooms in the apartment was Kurt. Blaine's bag slid off his shoulder and landed with a thump on the floor.
"Thanks guys!" said Kurt, leaning to look around Blaine at Finn and Rachel, who smiled, waved, and left down the stairs.
"Kurt?" said Blaine, eyebrows furrowed, "I thought -"
"Blaine." Kurt interjected.
Blaine went silent. Kurt took a deep breath.
"I love you." he said.
Blaine's eyes softened. He looked like he was about to say something when Kurt spoke again.
"I love you and I want you back." Kurt said. He reached to his right and grabbed a microphone stand that had been hidden behind the curtain. Blaine went to step forward, but Kurt held up his hand.
"Nuh-uh. Stay there." he told Blaine, "But close the door, there's something I want to say – sing actually."
Suddenly the music started – a guitar melody – and Kurt began to sing into the microphone.
Imagine me and you – I do
I think about you day and night
Kurt shrugged, eyes locked on Blaine's.
It's only right
To think about the one you love
And hold 'em tight
So happy together
Behind Kurt, in the space that separated the two bedrooms, suddenly appeared Wes, David, Thad, Nick and Jeff. Blaine laughed as they strolled out from behind the curtains one at a time, hands behind their backs and mock-innocent looks on their faces as they added the Warblers famous backing vocals and harmonies.
If I should call you up, invest a dime (Call you up)
And you say you belong to me, and ease my mind (Ease my mind)
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine (Very fine)
So happy together
Kurt saw Blaine smiling and his heart fluttered. With soaring "ah"'s, the ex-Warblers launched into the chorus, gliding past Kurt to circle around Blaine with stupid grins on their faces.
I can't see me loving nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
The boys lined up behind Kurt again as he continued the song, all of them doing that step-touch that only Warblers could get in perfect synchrony.
Me and you, and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
Blaine shook his head in disbelief, mouth slightly open, watching his old friends performing like they were back in high school.
I can't see me loving nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
Jeff jumped up to the microphone next to Kurt and the two of them harmonised together for the next verse, the rest of the boys clicking their fingers in the background.
Me and you, and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
Jeff ran past the microphone stand and pulled Blaine over with the rest of them.
So happy together
He gave Blaine a meaningful look and pointed to his feet – Blaine understood immediately. He joined in seamlessly with the dance routine everyone, including Kurt, had now broken into. It was the standby impromptu performance routine that every Warbler had up their sleeve in case of emergency.
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Blaine was grinning now, he couldn't believe this was happening. It was just like the last few years hadn't happened, and he was back at Dalton, dancing with Kurt and his friends.
Blaine ended up back where he started, facing Kurt and the others. Kurt continued the song, adoring the elated look on Blaine's face. Blaine started laughing, clapping his hands as the Warblers paired up and dancing together – ballroom style. Jeff and Nick, Wes and Thad, and an unfazed David dancing on his own.
Me and you, and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
Blaine caught the mischievous glint in Kurt's eye as Kurt abandoned the microphone stand to saunter up to him.
So happy together (Oooh)
Blaine grinned wider as Kurt pulled him close to dance with him like the Warblers were.
So happy together (Oooh)
How is the weather
So happy together
The song built and built, the other Warblers coming to circle Kurt and Blaine, adding harmonious backing to Kurt's lead.
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
The boys filed back in line to their original positions as the song ended with a flourish.
So happy together
Kurt ended up holding both of Blaine's hands in his own, adrenaline rushing through him as he caught his breath after the song. He took a deep breath.
"Blaine," he said, smiling.
"Kurt," Blaine said, with a chuckle.
"I know this isn't a spectacular performance at the place where we met which must have taken so much planning and organisation and..." he stopped to breathe, "but I wanted to remind you, and me, of what it was like... when we met. What it was that brought us together. How we became friends."
Blaine stared curiously at Kurt.
"When we were at Dalton, everything was good. It was before all the drama," he laughed shakily, "and it's where everything began. So I wanted to try and recreate that when I asked you this."
Kurt gripped Blaine's hands even tighter in his, and got down on one knee.
"Blaine Anderson, will you marry me?"
Blaine stood in stunned silence for a few seconds, looking down at Kurt's anticipatory expression. Then he came to his senses.
"Of course," he said, "Of course I will."
He pulled Kurt up and hugged him tight, a slightly dazed look on his face. Kurt took him by the shoulders and they came apart. Kurt removed his engagement ring from his own finger and slid it onto Blaine's, who started to choke up, staring at his hand. Blaine kissed him for the first time in months.
The Warblers started to whoop and cheer, walking over and clapping Blaine on the back, laughing good-naturedly at the tears escaping his eyes.
Blaine had been looking forward to dinner with his friends, but this was so much better.