'So, Kurt, Blaine... Are you going to share the story? I mean, we've had Kurt's version squealed to us down the phone, but we haven't been able to grab him for long enough to get the full one.' Rachel inquired.

Kurt looked towards Blaine, smiling. He squeezed his hand whilst communicating with his eyes. Andrew leant towards Artie and Mercedes. 'That look we had from before Regionals until he transferred. They were made to sit next to each other every practice so they couldn't stare at each other.' He whispered. Mercedes smiled at the two boys, happy they had each other, finally.

Tearing his eyes away from Kurt's, Blaine smiled at the cluster of people in front of them. 'Sure, I guess. You've had Kurt's input from the beginning and there isn't much to put in on my part.' Rachel's face fell. 'Until we get to the week before Regionals.' The Warblers smirked at Kurt and Blaine, knowing what happened. Kurt looked at New Directions. 'Come on guys, let's go sit on the bleachers, it's a long (ish) story.' Kurt tugged on Blaine's hand, leading the groups. He resisted sitting on Blaine's lap, choosing instead to snuggle into his side.

'So, as the girls figured out, Pavarotti passed away. But before that, we threw an impromptu performance, singing 'Misery'. I started eye flirting with Kurt again, but didn't realise it. I was also too wrapped up in performing to see the Kurt looked slightly upset.'

'I wasn't upset, I was annoyed.' Kurt looked up from where his head was resting on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine wrapped an arm round him.

'I know, but I still didn't notice. Anyway, after the song, I asked him what he thought of it. I was running on a high, off the adrenaline of performing, so I still didn't notice anything was wrong until Kurt said "Been there, done that". Of course, being the friend he is, he still complimented me...' Blaine nudged his now boyfriend playfully, '... but he wasn't finished. Only this guy can make me blush one second, and drain my face of colour the next. Kurt being Kurt, there was always going to be an issue with solos for competitions; he's a counter-tenor for pity's sake.' Blaine and the Warblers looked pointedly at New Directions.

'Anyway, Kurt was jealous that I was always the one chosen to be lead. Don't look at me like that, he admitted it! Initially, I thought he was being unreasonable, but they way he was honest threw my snide comments back in my face. He didn't try and hide it; he told me when I asked. Unfortunately, it was at the end of Friday when this happened, so I couldn't do anything because Kurt went home. I'm ashamed to say I didn't dwell on it over the weekend. I should have, but I didn't. Next thing I know, it's Monday and Kurt isn't in school. I didn't see him all day, and he didn't text me to let me know he wasn't coming in, which I found odd. No one had seen him either. We get to Warblers practice and he still doesn't turn up. That set my alarm bells ringing slightly, but I had a point to argue with the boys, so I just guessed he was ill and left his charger for his phone in school.'

The doors flew open, and Kurt walked in to the room. Blaine was worried. Here was his friend that he hadn't seen all day, or hadn't heard from since Saturday, walking into the room dressed in black. He automatically thought the worst. 'But if his dad has died, why is he in school?' he thought. When he enquired what was wrong, he certainly wasn't expecting his answer.

'It's Pavarotti. Pavarotti's dead, I suspect a stroke.' Blaine felt like he had been smacked in the stomach. No wonder Kurt had been absent from his life! Pavarotti was a part of Kurt, and Blaine had used him on more than one occasion as a metaphor for Kurt.

'Now, I know today we're supposed to practice du-whopping behind Blaine as he sings every solo...' Ouch! Clearly Kurt was still sore about that, and that hurt Blaine a little, but he couldn't help but smile. Even in mourning, Kurt was still Kurt. Next thing Blaine knew, Kurt was handing Luke a tape, and preparing to sing.

The song was so magical, and yet Blaine felt it was missing something. Clearly the Warblers felt that as well, as they all began backing Kurt at the same time, same tune, same speed. That was how well the Warblers knew each other. Nothing planned, just felt. All eyes were either on Kurt or the floor, their warbler's death affecting each member. He glanced at Kurt, and something shifted.

Kurt was harmlessly walking around the room, towards the council so he could see everybody, and yet Blaine couldn't help but think that something was different. He looked away, and then looked again, shifting in his seat to look properly. 'Blaine, what's happening to you? Kurt's still the same, he's just in mourning... So why does he look so different!'

'He looks different because you're seeing him differently. He's proven that he can survive something like this on his own. He doesn't need you anymore! Think about it. He's never criticised one of your songs before, and here he is doing it twice in 4 days. He's strong, he always has been, he just needed time to rebuild himself. You know he likes you, but that doesn't stop him criticising you...'

'So what do I do? I can't lose him!'

'That's because you need him, more than he needs you know. You've been searching Blaine, you know you have... You've just only figured out that you stopped searching when you met him, because he's who you've been looking for.'

Blaine smiled. He felt the same way about Kurt. He always had. He know just needed to let Kurt know, and just telling him wasn't going to cut it, not after what he'd been through.

'So, one song and you just knew?' Rachel asked. Blaine nodded, and nuzzled into Kurt's hair.

'Good thing too, else I wouldn't have him with me right now. I don't know what I'd have done if I'd realised after he left...'

'We do...' The Warblers chorused. Blaine glared at them.

'But wait, you said you were supposed to get every solo... so where did Candles come from? Mercedes asked. The Warblers grinned at each other.

'So, I had my master plan figured out. Only one problem... how to get it in motion. I'd used the rehearsal for audition excuse up. It wasn't until we were sat in rehearsals, and this lot were fighting about what songs I should sing at Regionals that it hit me. I put my foot down, and finally spoke up.'

Blaine was panicking. He could see Kurt getting more wound up with the council, and it also kind of felt like they were relying on him to carry the whole competition. 'Not for much longer!' he thought.

'We are going to lose at Regionals.' He said, waiting for the outburst the eventually came.

'You said WHAT!' Rachel and Mercedes screamed. The rest of New Directions looked equally shocked. Blaine looked at them before continuing.

'I'm incredibly grateful for the belief you've all given me as a junior member to lead you all in these wonderful songs this year, but from what Kurt has told me about New Directions, I just know I can't beat them on my own. So I propose that we take our 11 o'clock number, and turn it into a duet.' He could feel the controversy simmering beneath the brains of the Warblers council, so he enforced it more. Finally, Wes gave in, calling a vote. Every member shot their hand up, and finally Kurt spoke, asking to audition. 'Now or never dude.'

'No, no auditions. I want to sing the duet... with Kurt.'

'But of course, he tried to turn it down. So, I stepped up, and asked the Warblers approval.' Blaine grinned.

'Blaine, can I interject here? Wes asked, apprehensively. Blaine nodded, and Wes straightened up.

'Blaine was at the front of the group, with Kurt just behind him, so he couldn't see the reactions he was getting. I have never seen these boys vote so quickly. And yet someone decided to stay oblivious.' Wes chuckled looking towards Kurt. 'You could tell by the looks in their faces that they realised that Blaine finally was getting his act together. Who were we to stand and so no to that?'

'If I remember Mr Council Member, you had a smug smile on your face.' Blaine defended. 'And you!' he said looking at Thad. 'Congratulations Kurt? That was so not about the solo...' Thad just grinned.

'Kurt, Blaine, the round of applause you got afterwards as well, wasn't for the solo. Sure, it must have been horrible for you Kurt, to just sit around and hope. But we had to watch Blaine be completely clueless about his obvious feelings, whilst unintentionally lead you on. It was TORTURE!' Kurt and Blaine blushed as the New Directions laughed.

'Final stretch then, honey.' Kurt winked. The Warblers piped up; even they didn't know this bit. Blaine sighed, hugging Kurt closer.

He had found Kurt in the same place they had gone for coffee that first time. 'Oh how ironic. So much happened in this room, and now I'm walking back into it!' Kurt's attention was clearly elsewhere, eyes focused on the task at hand. He spoke up to announce his arrival.

'What's that?' he asked, kind of regretting it when he heard the reply. Great, morbid much... 'Come on, you have to tell him the song at least.

'Well finish up. I have the perfect song for our number and we should practice.'

'Do tell.'

'Candles, by Hey Monday.'

'I'm impressed. You're usually so Top 40.' 'Says the Gaga Monster'

'Well, I just wanted something a little more emotional.' 'Ask why, ask why, please make my life a million times easier and ask why!' Kurt evidently hesitated before asking his next question.

'Why did you pick me to sing that song with?' 'Actually, changed my mind, abort, abort, ABORT YOU DAPPER HOBBIT!' 'NO, you go this far... Jump!' So he did.

'Kurt there is a moment... when you say to yourself... Oh, there you are! I've been looking for you forever.' Blaine paused, not wanting to push too far. He took his hand, hoping that Kurt not pulling away was a good sign. 'Good, go further...'

'Watching you do Blackbird this week... that was a moment for me... about you...' Blaine could see Kurt still didn't understand him. So he just let go and went for it, something he hadn't done in a long time.

'You move me Kurt...' 'There we go, you got it now. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were being oblivious on purpose...' 'And this duet would just be an excuse to spend more time with you.' 'Please don't reject me now!' he thought as he slowly moved in. When he saw Kurt wasn't moving away, he finally met their lips meet.

'I was positive Wes and David were going to burst in and start happy dancing.' Blaine finished.

'They would have been shot if they did.' Kurt added, glaring at the grinning nut cases.

'Especially after what you said...' Blaine smirked.

The New Directions and Warblers looked at the wicked smile that now adorned Kurt's face. Without thinking, Blaine leant in and gave Kurt a kiss exactly the same as their first. Kurt was just as shocked, but reciprocated exactly the same way he did that first time, catching on quickly. The two groups just sat there in shock; the kiss so innocent, and yet meaning the world to the two boys at the same time. They sat and waited until they broke apart; blushing like it was the first time all over again. Blaine even went bashful, but Kurt could tell it was genuine.

'We should practice...' 'I thought we were.' And they lunged at each other again. This time, Santana spoke up.

'Ok, you've already had a make out session. Leave it for another time...'

Mercedes and Rachel were just sat there. 'You really said all that?' Rachel asked. Blaine nodded, smiling bashfully, looking at Kurt out of the corner of his eye.

'Wait, why are you two embarrassed now?' Lauren asked, curious.

'We just re-enacted our first kiss for all of you, without thinking about it, that's why!' Kurt snapped, wanting to bask a little bit longer.

'That... that was your first kiss... that was what your first kiss was like?' Tina asked. The two boys nodded, purposefully not looking at each other.

'AAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!' came the response from the girls, even Santana!

'Nice job dude... And Hummel; never thought you had it in you to pull out a line like that!' Puck nodded his approval, whilst Finn just sat there, slightly shocked. Kurt and Blaine finally looked at each other, and smiled, Kurt wrapping his arms around Blaine this time, pulling him in.

'What can I say? We're not a stereotypical gay relationship.' He said, walking two fingers down Blaine's thigh to prove his point. Blaine visibly stiffened next to Kurt, but relaxed when Kurt grinned at him.

'Anyway guys. Blaine, I am so glad you chose Candles. It was such an amazing song. You even had Puckerman in tears.' Rachel hid behind Finn as Puck chased her around the bleachers for giving that away, the two glee clubs laughing at him.

'Yeah, it was a good choice, wasn't it?' Blaine smiled at Kurt, turning back before the two lost themselves. 'But thinking of crying, did I see you, Quinn, welling up back in the McKinley courtyard?'

The blonde girl nodded. 'You had to have a heart of stone not too. Didn't you see the entire yard?' Blaine shook his head. Kurt stepped in.

'You shut the school down for a while.' He whispered into his ear before speaking to the Warblers. 'Even at McKinley, the Warblers shut the school down, and for 5 seconds, they watch a relationship they loathe, something they should be able to live with but choose not to. There are quite a few girls who now glare at me because of my boyfriend; not because I'm gay, but because he's good looking. According to McKinley unwritten rules, not only should I forever be alone, I should not have a boyfriend that looks like you do.' Blaine didn't know whether to be happy or sad, and the others looked in the same predicament, so he did the thing he knows best and hugged his boyfriend wishing life wasn't so punishing for him.