Hey there, readers!
Like always, thank you for reading and showing your support toward this story. I'm thrilled when I receive an e-mail letting me know this story has been alerted or a review has been posted. It makes my day shine brighter. I would also like to thank everyone that has favorite/followed me. It makes me happy!
I've received mixed reviews and some PM's too of Sebastian's role in the story and why I had to bring him into the plot. So I will just address the issue here, and I'll try to explain my reasoning without giving too much spoilers of future episodes!
1) I thought it would be strange if both of them spent six years without entering a single serious, long term relationship because of what happened between them, and given the facts, it seemed less than probable that they'd ever get back together. It just doesn't make sense, for me, for either of them not having had moved on. As Kurt was the one who moved away and started a new chapter of his life in Paris, it made more sense for him to be the one to move on, seeing that he was the one who was immersed in a new world and new social circle.
2) I usually write better when I can picture the characters and their interactions. I know this it's not usual for Klaine shippers (and if you are reading this story, you are most likely a Klaine shipper), but though I'm a hard core Klaine shipper, I also ship Kurtbastian. I love their interactions and I love how their personalities and snark seem to rival but complement each other's at the same time. Cue in the fact that canon!Sebastian has actually lived in Paris and all that… That's why when I needed to give a face to the mystery man who stole Kurt's heart in Paris, I could only picture Sebastian for the role.
3) As for why I decided to have Kurt still mourning the death of his late fiancé, well…the story progressed that way in my head. So bear with me here.
Hope I have been able to kind of answer some of the reviews questioning Sebastian's (or a fiancé overall) appearance. This plot will play a major part in the story, but I'm first and forward a Klaine shipper, so Klaine is endgame. But I love myself some angst.
Last chapter was a bit angsty towards the end, and this one will have a bit of angst too. But fear not, things will get better! That said, let's continue and find out what this chapter will unravel.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, nor do I own anything you may recognize.
"What do you think is taking them so long upstairs? I know they probably wanted to talk alone, what with that speech and the hours they spent outside this afternoon, but I was sure they would join us back here, downstairs, sometime tonight."
The Hudson-Hummel clan had been gathered in the living room for the past three hours, ever since dinner ended and the younger members of the family had finished cleaning away the dining room and kitchen. They had watched a movie and talked, the parents catching up with what Finn and Rachel had been up to in Chicago. But now their talk was coming to an end, and the two men had yet to show return downstairs. The family was starting to get curious as to their whereabouts, hence Rachel speaking what was in everyone's mind.
Carole sighed. "Let them be, Rachel. They probably have a lot to talk about."
"Even after spending hours together before dinner? I should have thought they would have talked everything through this afternoon." Finn gathered his wife in his arms, silently hushing her dramatics telling her that his brother and Blaine had six years' worth of happenings to catch up with, now that they were on speaking terms with each other once again, not knowing that he was closer to the truth than he thought.
"But they have been there long enough. Carole and I don't get to have you home many times in a year, and it's been years since we have all been gathered together under one roof. I want my family together. I'll go check on them and call them down." Burt announced, already standing up and heading towards Kurt's room.
Carole tried to protest, hissing to Burt to leave them alone and let them talk, but her husband was not hearing about it, already making his way up the stairs . As he was approaching Kurt's room he heard fain sobbing from the inside and Blaine's calm but concerned voice.
"Kurt? Kurt, please calm down. You don't have to tell me what happened. I shouldn't have asked."
The door was slightly ajar, and he could see the outline of Kurt curled in his bed seemingly clutching something in his hands with tears streaming down his porcelain skinned cheeks and Blaine sitting in the floor at the foot of the bed, hesitant to touch Kurt, but still trying to calm him down offering comfort in simple gestures and calming words.
"No, that's not it Blaine. It's just that this is all extremely difficult for me to talk about. It's still so fresh, it hasn't even been an year since Seb is gone. My emotions were already altered lately, this just added to it. But please don't apologize for asking. You, of all people, have the right to know, and I should have at least told you long ago. And if you haven't asked I'd probably keep it bottled inside." Kurt had raised his head long enough to look at Blaine while he spoke, but as soon as he was done he dropped his face to his hands again.
"Kurt, you don't have to tell me now. Actually, you don't have to tell me ever. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not curious as to what happened now that you told me some of the story, but I understand this must be hard for you, and I won't pry the story from you."
Seeing as his friend wasn't going to stop crying anytime soon, Blaine gingerly climbed on the bed beside Kurt and cautiously enveloped the taller, but thinner, man in his arms. As soon as Kurt felt those familiar arms around in, cuddling him in and offering comfort and support, he relaxed a little and moved in closer, although he continued clutching the band in his hands and hadn't stopped crying.
Burt stood in the hallway by the door a moment longer, still unnoticed by the occupants of the room, seeing his son apparently having a breakdown and Blaine comforting said son in a way only he ever could. The scene he was witnessing made him remember of one, years ago, when Blaine also the one responsible for comforting Kurt, the time when Karofsky had chased his son away from McKinley and to Dalton's safe heaven. Back then, Blaine and Kurt's friendship was in their early stages and even so, the curly haired teenager had been the only one to offer Kurt comfort and reassurance that he would be alright at Dalton. It was in that moment that Burt knew Blaine would be around for a long time, and seeing those two again, made him sure that, whatever the reason for Kurt's breakdown – which apparently involved another person, the two would make it. Silently deciding to let the two be, they were obviously having a moment and he did not want to interrupt them, he turned around and wondered back down the stairs towards the living room where the rest of his family was assembled.
"Is everything okay, honey?" Carole looked up when her husband entered and was confused when she saw the frown set on his face.
"Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine. Kurt and Blaine were talking some stuff, Kurt was crying, Blaine was trying to comfort him. I didn't want to interrupt them. Kurt was saying something about being one year since someone named Seb was gone. Do you know who this is?" Burt glanced around the room during this last bit.
All three shook their heads, no, while Carole enquired.
"Boyfriend maybe?"
Burt immediately shook his head. "I don't think so. Kurt never said anything about a boyfriend, neither has he mentioned any Seb's during our numerous talks. He wouldn't have kept it from me. And he always asked after Blaine, why would he do that if he'd moved on?"
Carole just smiled and shook her head lightly. "The fact that he continued caring for Blaine doesn't mean that he hasn't moved on, honey. They shares eight years together, it was only natural that he asked after Blaine. They did part ways amicably after all."
"I know, Carole. I'm not saying that he doesn't care for Blaine. I'm just saying that he seemed awfully affected with what happened with whoever this Seb guy is." Burt was still frowning, not believing what he had heard upstairs.
"Honey, I understand you are curious. But don't say anything, okay? Kurt didn't tell us for a reason. Let he tell us about this mystery guy in his own time. Do not, I'm warning you, Burt Hummel, do not pester Kurt about him, got it?" Carole added this last part with stern look and tone directed towards her husband.
Burt sighed and lent back on his chair, glancing at his son and daughter-in-law, who both had similar expressions of 'Carole is right, let them be'. The four, after deciding that the two newly-reunited friends wouldn't be joining them anytime soon, soon settled into watching another movie before heading to bed, Carole settling down on an identical chair to Burt's, by his side, and the younger couple cuddling in the couch, Finn's hand finding their way to Rachel's stomach, where the newest Hudson was nestled.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Upstairs Kurt had managed to calm down somewhat, enough to sit back up again, still leaning against Blaine's solid frame.
"Sorry about that. Sorry about this all. I'm sure it must be hard for you to hear this." Kurt said somewhat awkwardly, still wiping at his eyes, trying to get rid of some stray tears.
Blaine smiled slightly and rubbed Kurt's shoulder. "Don't apologize, Kurt. It is hard for me to listen to this, I won't lie. But you said you've never talked to anyone about what happened before. Let me be the person you open up to then. Yes, we dated for eight years a long time ago. So, while this would normally be considered an off limits topic, I think it would do us both well if you'd talked about what happened. And remember, right now, I'm not your ex-boyfriend Blaine. Right now, and always, I'm your best friend Blaine, who is here to help you through whatever you need."
Kurt twisted his head to look at Blaine, eyes still glistening with unshed tears, but with a somewhat hint of smile in them. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Bee?" Kurt asked, his old nickname for Blaine effortlessly slipping in.
Blaine tensed a bit at the nickname, but hugged Kurt tighter against him for a moment. "You were yourself. And I don't know what I did to deserve you either." He rested his head in Kurt's hair before murmuring softly into it. "Guess we are just both lucky."
Kurt hummed and they stayed like that for a couple more minutes before Kurt spoke again.
"Want to know what happened?"
Blaine's response was immediate. "Only if you want to tell me. You can tell me everything, or you can tell me nothing at all. Your choice. Whichever, I'm here for you."
Kurt took a deep breath before he started talking again. "We moved in together after about two and a half years of dating. It was an easy transaction to move in with him. His apartment was slightly larger than my own, but in the same floor; the only two on the top floor. We both owned our apartments, so I just packed a few stuff and moved in with him. My apartment was still there, and for all the outside world new, I was still living in my apartment. I sometimes organized dinners for a few closer friend from work. When I did, it was in my apartment. It was easy for me to slip into single guy whenever those happened. I didn't have pictures of Bas and I up, but I did keep all the photos I already had up. I still paid the maid to clean. It wasn't hard at all to keep the public from getting knowledge of our relationship. We much preferred a home-cooked dinner in and cuddling in the couch instead of having some fancy dinner out. We had enough of those in our professional careers. The only time we went out together was if we wanted to take a walk together. But that usually happened at night, and we never got caught."
Kurt paused and smiled to himself, no doubt reminiscing of his and Sebastian's time together in Paris. The intimate way in which Kurt was smiling, the soft expression on his eyes, and faraway gaze alerted Blaine that Kurt had probably been in love with Sebastian for real – that it wasn't just a convenient relationship, and judging from his face now, still was in love with the man. And while Blaine was happy that Kurt had managed to find genuine happiness again, it pulled a little on his heartstrings to know that Kurt would have married and lived a blissfully happy life with someone who wasn't him. It made him sad that the two of them would probably never have a life like the one he had often fantasized about before. Nevertheless, he squeezed Kurt for a moment, silently letting him know that he was there for him.
The chestnut haired man suddenly started speaking again. "Bas proposed out of the blue two months before I was scheduled to visit. After I accepted we decided that he would come with me and I would finally introduce him to everyone. I - we never got the chance to do so." Kurt was crying again. Blaine rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, offering silent support.
"Tell me about the proposal?" Blaine asked gently, trying to distract Kurt from somber thoughts.
The effect was immediate. A huge, slightly bittersweet, smile broke across Kurt's face. "The proposal was one of the sweetest moments I've ever witnessed, and in the eyes of many it was probably be the most unromantic moment ever. It wasn't a grand display of love, it didn't involve some cheesy romantic moment, he didn't even get down on one knee nor did he have a whole speech prepared! It was just another normal night in for us. But it was perfect. He popped the question out of the blue, I had no idea it was coming!"
*flashback*
It was normal week night for the couple. Kurt had been working on some of his designs locked away in his office for the past several hours while Sebastian was in his own office, across the hall from Kurt's typing away in his laptop while looking through a pile of files and cases for work. This was a normal routine for them, they would each work on their own stuff for some time then they would always stop doing work about an hour before bedtime, so they could have time for themselves every day. The only exceptions in their routines were Fashion Week and whenever Sebastian had a big case he'd had to concentrate on. In both occasions, one would stay locked up in the office for an immeasurable amount of time, finishing up their work; couple hours and bedtime thrown out the window. But they managed. Kurt learned to deal with Sebastian moods swings whenever he had a big court case, and in turn, Sebastian respected Kurt's space and diva moments.
Suddenly Sebastian's voice calling Kurt's name rang through the apartment.
"Hey, Kurt?"
"Yeah, hon?" Kurt called back not looking up from his sketches. It wasn't unusual for Sebastian to call Kurt out of the blue.
"I was thinking, we should get married. What do you say? Will you marry me?" This time, Sebastian's voice was much closer.
Kurt dropped his pencil in shock and looked up to see his partner leaning against the doorframe to his office, a small smile gracing his lips, and hand scratching nervously at his hair.
"Wait-what? Bas?" Kurt was stuttering incoherently, trying to find the right words, wondering if he had heard correctly.
Sebastian approached Kurt slowly, still smiling and smirking a little while he repeated the question. "I asked if you would like to marry me. Just a simple question, no need to go all speechless, babe."
Kurt suddenly let out a loud peal of laughter that reverberated around the office, while grinning wildly at his boyfriend – scratch that – fiancé. "You absolute jerk! You know very damn well that is not a simple question, mister! And that's it? You are really proposing out of the blue like this?" He said through his laugh while launching himself into Sebastian's waiting arms.
"I couldn't help it babe. You know how I am. You know I don't normally do grand gestures. And this is what I want for the rest of my life. Us, each working on our own stuff during the day, but at the end of the night, being able to fall asleep together and wake up in each other's presence. I realizes this, and I just couldn't wait. " The green-eyed man. Kurt slapped playfully at his arm at this response before pulling him in into a kiss, meant to be sweet, but soon became a fight for dominance, all teeth and tongue.
When they pulled themselves apart for some air, Sebastian just held onto Kurt's face, while Kurt held onto his hands, keeping them there, they both looking into each other's eyes. They leant in for a slow and gentle kiss, mustering all their love into it, before Sebastian pulled apart and leant his forehead gently against Kurt's.
"So, I'll take that as a yes?"
The glasz eyed man laughed and whispered against his fiancés lips, "You are a dork. And that's a hell yes, I'll marry you Sebastian Smythe," before crashing their lips together again, in another messy kiss.
After a couple of minutes kissing Kurt broke them apart, instead going for a hug, just holding each other. While in that position, Kurt heard Sebastian whispering against his hair.
"I'm so glad you said yes, Kurt. I love you, so much. And I'm not sorry at all for springing this at you."
Kurt leaned back to look into his fiancés eyes shining with love and adoration and whispered back. "I love you so much, I don't know what I'd do without you. You are everything to me. And this, us like this, is what I want too, forever. It was perfect, Bas."
Sebastian than took his hand and lead them out of the designer's office and towards his own where he opened the top drawer of his desk and took out a small velvet box, inside of which were nestled two identical white gold ring, each engraved with their names and the date they became official, and encrusted with one tiny diamond. He held open the box and took one of the rings slipping it on Kurt's left hand ring finger, while Kurt did the same to him with the other ring. After admiring their rings for a moment, they looked at each other again and leaned into another kiss, not breaking this one until they reached the bedroom, where they proceeded to show their love for each other, work forgotten on their desks.
*end flashback*
As Kurt finished telling the story of how Sebastian had proposed to him, his spirits had brightened considerably, no doubt effect of remembering one of the best nights in his life. Blaine had held him silently while he told the story, chuckling with him on the appropriate times. It was hard for the curly haired man to hear his ex-boyfriend, which he was still in love with, talk about someone else being his everything, but as he had already told Kurt, he was going to be there for him, always, like a best friend is supposed to be.
Kurt grew silent once more, before whispering. "It was one of the best moments in my life. Little did I know the worst day and months of life so far would come only a couple of months after that day."
Blaine tightened his hold, offering quiet words of comfort, telling Kurt to let it all out and that he was there for him. Kurt was not crying anymore, he had probably cried all he had to cry already. He was now gazing down at his engagement ring once more, touching it gently, almost reverently, a complete contrast to how he had been clutching at it before. He suddenly spoke, voice low, and Blaine could hear the pain behind his words.
"We were going to come and visit, and I was going to tell the whole story to everyone. We were going to let the world know about our relationship too, and once we returned to Paris, I was going to do an interview revealing or confirming our relationship, depending on how much attention our trip together attracted. We had all planned out already. I was ready to open up about my personal life again, and Bas was prepared to be on the spotlight occasionally."
Kurt sat up, leaning away from Blaine, and Blaine knowing he wanted some space got up and settled against the wall, across from Kurt's spot on the bed. He nodded silently and Kurt continued.
"About a month after he proposed, Bas suffered a heart-attack. It's rare for someone as young as him to suffer one – he was only 30 years old – but there was history of heart attacks on his family. He was walking home from work when it happened. He just collapsed from what they told me. They took him to the hospital, he went directly into surgery, but he didn't make it. He died on the operating table. When the nurse at the hospital called me to let me know that my fiancé had been taken in, victim of a heart attack, I was sure they had it wrong. Bas was one of the healthiest person I know, his diet rivaled my own. But it was him. I was a wreck for weeks after that. Isabelle was extremely worried about me, she thought someone had died, but I wouldn't tell her what happened. Just told her I was going through some personal issues. I refused to take leave from work, as work was my only distraction. Bas's funeral was an extremely intimate moment, considering he was quite a famous lawyer; only myself and his close family in attendance. His parents knew about us, they were extremely kind to me; they treated me as a second son. The media learned about his passing a couple of weeks after he died, but they were kind enough to not make a huge deal out of it."
Kurt started crying again, fresh tears making their way down his porcelain skin, and Blaine scrambled up to hold him again, holding him tightly against his chest, while Kurt cried and talked, letting his emotions out.
"It's still hard, knowing he won't be there for me anymore. There are some days in which I wake up, and for a moment I still think I'm going to turn around and see him by my side, hogging the sheets and clutching his pillow like he always did. Then my senses come to me and I remember that it won't happen ever again, because he is dead, and he isn't coming back. I love him so much. He brought true happiness back into my life. And I didn't even get to have much time with him."
Blaine hushed and comforted Kurt the best that he could, letting his own tears fall. He cried for his friend, no one should ever have to experience the passing of a loved one; he cried for the knowledge that Kurt indeed loved Sebastian, and would probably always love him; he cried because he knew he was still in love with Kurt, and because said man was still in love with someone else, and would probably never love him back. But he held Kurt while the designer cried, swallowing his own sadness in favor of helping out his best friend, because even if they never get back together again, he wasn't going to lose this friendship again.
Kurt finally started to calm down after several minutes, sobs giving way to sniffles. After calming down his breathing a little, he turned in Blaine's arms and threw his arms around the curly-haired man whispering into his neck.
"Thank you so much, Blaine. I needed it. Thank you. You don't know how much it means to me that you are here. It means a lot to me that you are here, willing to listen and offer words of support, even after all that has happened between us in the past. I missed this. I missed having my best friend by my side."
Blaine smiled tearfully, hugging Kurt back and rubbing his hands in slow calming motions on his back. "I wouldn't be anywhere else. I told you, I will always be by your side when you need me. You will always be my best friend." And I will always love you was what he wanted to add, but kept it to himself, knowing it wasn't the right time.
The two kept that way, Blaine still holding Kurt who was once more holding onto his ring, now once again on the chain securely fastened around his neck. The two laid there in silence, Blaine thinking about all that Kurt had told him, about his relationship with Sebastian, and Kurt remembering the good times he shared with said man. The two eventually fell asleep on Kurt's bed, laying together above the covers, both their faces covered with tear tracks, and with Blaine holding Kurt, who had, for once, completely forgotten about his moisturizing routine.
Thank you all so much for reading! Please let me know what you think of this chapter and this story overall! Your feedbacks mean a lot to me! So please review, they motivate me to write and update faster!
Also! IMPORTANT! I'm a bit ahead in my writing and I'd like to know from you guys. I was thinking while writing my current chapter that I can go two ways: I can either organize my story so that the verse will be over when this fic is done, or I can organize the plot in a way that will lead to a sequel. I can picture both ways and I'd like to have your input. YES OR NO TO A SEQUEL?
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Xoxo – Julia