"Wes, I don't know what to get Kurt!"

"I think the more important question is why you are calling me at 6:30 in the morning to tell me this, Blaine?" Grumbled Wes on the other end of the phone.

"Because I don't want Kurt to know I'm calling you!"

He heard a dial tone.

"Rude much?" Blaine grumbled, glancing at Kurt who was still fast asleep. His face lit up as his phone rang. "I knew you still loved me, Wes."

"I'm only calling back because you still have my Katy Perry CD and I want it back. I know I won't get it back if we aren't speaking." Wes gave a huge yawn. "Why are you whispering?"

"I don't want Kurt to hear me. I lied and told him I had his present picked out ages ago. Christmas is next week, Wesley, and I am kind of freaking out!"

"Why don't you just serenade him? You know when we did Somewhere Only You Know last year he started crying and everything, so…" Wes yawned again. "I bet he'd like that."

"I can't serenade him. I know you're in musical theater, Wesley, but music is not everything in life." Blaine sighed and carefully stood, tiptoeing out into the hall so he wouldn't wake Kurt. He carefully and quietly shut the bedroom door behind him and walked in the direction of the kitchen.

"I don't know. I'm too tired to think. Can't you call me at a reasonable hour? One after sunrise, perhaps?"

"Wesley, Wesley, remember that time your baby sister found that porn and I told her it was mine?"

Wes didn't answer. Blaine could picture him rolling his eyes.

"Or that time you burnt the Thanksgiving turkey and I paid off some woman for the last one so your mom wouldn't kill you?"

Silence.

"Or the—."

"Fine, Blaine! Fine! I'm awake. Did you try Google or something? That's what I use to get ideas for all of Emma's presents."

Blaine's face screwed up. "No wonder you haven't gotten laid yet, Wes."

"How undapper of you, Blaine! What has college done to you? Or rather, what has sex with Kurt done to you? I bet you two are freaks in the—."

"Let's leave my sex out of this, Wes. He always wakes up really early now and I don't want him to find out I don't know what to get him. Or that I talk about my sex life. He won't let me live it down. So, please, help me!" Blaine whispered frustrated and desperately. He knew he should have called David. David, the nice one.

"Well what did you give him last year?" he heard rustling as Wes sat up.

Blaine mumbled, "A candy cane and a card?"

"Wow, Blaine, you suck at this… well… get him a gift card to Express?"

"I'm not getting my boyfriend a gift card for Christmas, Wes." Blaine sighed and sat at the kitchen table. "Do you think he'd like a baking pan? Carole says he likes to bake cookies." When he received no answer, he asked, "Wes, are you still there?"

"Yes. I'm trying to figure out how you are gay and this terrible at stuff like this. I thought this stuff was supposed to be right up your alley." Wes snorted. "Okay, okay… a gift for Kurt… a sweater?"

"No, he's got completely bizarre taste in clothes." Blaine waved his hand as if Wes could actually see it, rolling his eyes.

"CD?"

Blaine banged his head on the table. "He's got every CD known to man, Wes. His CD collection could take up an entire wall of your dorm. I. Am. So. Screwed."

"Calm yourself, Romeo. A book?"

"Kurt doesn't read unless it's about a musical or about someone musical related, and he's got all the good ones already. Mercedes and Quinn bought him the Judy Garland one that was just released when he was in the hospital. Damn them." He groaned. "What am I going to do?"

"Why don't you make him those stupid coupons? Will give a ten minute blow job upon request. Will cover you in whip—."

"You kiss your mother with that mouth, Wesley? And somehow I don't think Kurt would appreciate that gift… he'd probably find it repulsive, actually. He can't even watch porn without having an anxiety attack."

"The next time you pick a boyfriend, don't pick such a difficult one." Wes whined. "Take him to a show right before or after Christmas? Take him for a trip somewhere? Make him a mix CD full of sweet songs you two sing along with? Take a dancing class with him?"

"No, no, no, that isn't good enough. This is Kurt. And for the record, there won't be another boyfriend."

There was stunned silence and then Wes went softly, "Wow… really? You two are that serious? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I… I don't know. A lot has been going on and it's a lot to say over a text or a five minute conversation before your Lit class, I guess…" Blaine looked outside and watched the snow falling, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. "But, yeah… it's that serious."

"Well… then you need to get him something serious, I guess… it's really serious? Like serious enough to say you'd want to run to Canada and marry him?"

"I mean I'm not about to run off with him and elope any time soon." Blaine laughed loudly. "He's still in high school, Wes."

"Right. I forget he's younger than us." Wes still sounded rather stunned. "Dude, really? It's that serious?"

"Yes. Now do you see why I am freaking out? That is the issue at hand here, Wes. I want to give him something special, something perfect, something he— oh my God. I know what to get him. I've got to go, Wes! Thanks, you're a genius."

"Blaine, I didn't even s—."

"Bye!" Blaine snapped his phone shut and ran back to Kurt's bedroom. He was still fast asleep, hugging Blaine's pillow to his chest. Could he make it to the garage and back before Kurt woke up? Well, he'd have to try.

He tugged on shoes and his jacket, grabbed his car keys, and ran excitedly from the house. Where had all of this energy come from? He made the short drive to the garage, but the door was still locked. He banged on the door loudly and it took several minutes for Burt to open it, already covered in oil.

"Blaine? What's wrong? Where's Kurt? Is he alright?" Burt looked behind Blaine, to the empty car.

"Kurt's at home. Can we talk?"

Burt looked hesitant. The last two talks they had had in this garage hadn't gone well. One had been about Kurt's sex talk, one an argument with Blaine's parents. Needless to say he wasn't anticipating anything good. But this was good. This was amazing. Because Blaine was a genius. And he'd come up with it all on his own. Well, practically.

"Sure, kid. Come on in and lock that door behind you. Jeff won't be in for another hour and I don't want customers coming in yet. We're not open." Burt grunted, making his way back into the garage. There was country music playing from a small radio in the back of the garage and a red car's hood was up.

Blaine stepped in and closed the door. It was so warm in comparison to how cold it was outside and Blaine, who was shivering and probably should have worn different shoes, was very grateful for this.

"Alright. What's going on? You don't look like you're about to tell me you've had a change of heart and are going back to Kentucky or something like that." Burt wiped his hands on a hand towel that was sitting on one of the counters.

"I know what I want to get Kurt for Christmas. I lied and told him I knew ages ago, but now I actually do know. I just need to ask your permission—."

"You're not about to propose to Kurt are you?" Burt's eyes widened and he dropped the towel. "I mean… I…"

"No! Oh no, not yet. I'm not even nineteen yet and I don't plan on getting married until I'm 24 at least. 24 to 26, you know." Blaine said quickly, putting his hands up. "No way. Not yet."

The color that had drained from Burt's face slowly returned. "34 to 36 is a better time slot for marriage, I'd say. Especially when my son is involved… but what did you want to ask?"

Blaine took a deep breath and blurted out, "I want to buy Kurt a puppy."

Burt blinked at him a few times, but Blaine couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"It's the only thing he wants and, to be completely honest, there is nothing else in the world I can think to get him. He's got everything. There is nothing else to get that boy." Blaine looked down. "Plus, I want to get him something he'll really like… and I know he'd love a dog. It might help take his mind off of things."

Burt let out a resigned sigh and nodded. "I did promise him he could have one, even if he doesn't remember… I suppose you can get him a dog… but how exactly do you plan to find a dog on such short notice?"

"I was thinking… my old boss from Kennedy's… his brother's dog was about to have puppies a few months ago. I thought I'd call him and see if there were any that he wanted to sell. If not… I'll find one. I know I will."

Burt nodded, eyes still on Blaine. "Alright then… if you're going all that way to get it, though, I suggest you let Kurt go with you. That way you can be sure he likes it. He's very picky about… well, about everything."

Blaine definitely knew all about that, so he nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Hummel."

"Look… I actually wanted to talk to you. Let's go back here and sit." Burt headed back towards the office. Blaine, feeling very anxious and wondering what he'd done wrong, nodded and followed his boyfriend's father. Had he heard about Finn walking in on them making out? All clothes had definitely been on. Surely not. Burt gestured to a chair and sat in one across from it.

Blaine took the seat across from Burt nervously. "Yeah?"

"How are you holding up, kid? With your parents and all… and then that fight with Kurt a few weeks ago…"

Blaine inwardly let out a sigh of relief. "I'm doing alright, I guess… this stuff with my parents was bound to happen eventually."

"Do you know what you're going to do come next fall?"

"I want to go to UK, I think… unless Kurt goes far away, then I—."

"If you want to go to UK, Blaine, you need to go to UK. You've sacrificed more than enough to be with Kurt." Burt interrupted him. "The fact is, you're in school for English and maybe pre-law. He wants to go into clothes or whatever. Very different things and that may mean different schools. You like UK?"

"Very much, sir." Blaine said quietly, looking down.

"Then you should go back to UK next fall and make sure you take spring classes at school here that will transfer." Burt leaned back against his chair and sighed. "Did your parents pay for your schooling?"

Blaine tugged at his hair a bit, one of his nervous habits. "Yeah, they did. I don't have that figured out yet, but I'll—"

Burt pulled something out of a desk drawer and passed it to Blaine. "Carole and I discussed this. A lot. And we both think it's the right thing to do. You… you helped us a lot by coming up here, Blaine. If you hadn't come up here, I would have had to shut down the garage for months to take care of Kurt... We want you to take this and use it for school and… and for a place with Kurt if he stays close, or a place for yourself if he doesn't. That's enough for four years at UK and some extra."

"I can't take this." Blaine said hoarsely, staring down at the check in shock.

"The facts are you wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for you coming down here to help with Kurt."

"Kurt wanted me here, I wanted to be here."

"I know." Burt nodded. "I know that. I also know that you care about my son a hell of a lot. And my son cares about you a hell of a lot too. I want my son to be taken care of when he moves out of my house. The only way for me to know he will be taken care of is if you have a college education. There would be no question what you'd be doing next fall if it weren't for you coming to help my family out, Blaine. I'm not going to let your parents take an education from you because you did a good thing for my son. I'm just not." He sighed heavily. "The money will be going to a very good place."

"Kurt starts college next year too, and Finn—."

"Finn is on a football scholarship and Kurt has had a college fund set up since before he was born, Blaine. You don't even have to tell Kurt about this if you don't want to. I can't rest at night if I know you're in debt to your eyeballs because you love my son. It's not right. And when it comes down to it… that's what this cutting you off thing is about."

"It's not right, sir, but…"

"I want to know that you will be okay and that Kurt will be okay." Burt leaned forward. "This is how I can make sure that it happens."

"It's out of state tuition. That's—."

"Money well spent." The older man said firmly. "You can repay me by taking care of my son."

"Kurt's insurance bills from the surgeries… and…"

"This money is coming from another place." Burt said. "Kurt shouldn't worry about that and you shouldn't either, kiddo. We're in a tight spot but this money… It belongs to you and I won't take no for an answer."

Blaine stared down at the check. $72,000. That was enough for four entire years at UK and enough left over to feel comfortable living away from home. He mouthed wordlessly. The biggest thing on his mind lately was tuition. He had even resolved to go to OSU because in state tuition would have been much cheaper. "I… uhm… thank you." He finally whispered. "You didn't have to do this. You still don't have to…"

"We want to. You can tell Kurt if you want, but you don't have to. It really is money well spent… just… use it well. Do good in school. That way if you want to go to law school, you can. That way you and Kurt can be well taken care of. I worry… him wanting a major in clothing designing or whatever. That's… That sounds like it'd be hard to get a good job, you know? It's what he wants; I'm not going to tell him that he shouldn't do it. But I worry. He's my kid, you know. I suppose I have to… but I worry less when he's with you, Blaine. When he's with you, I know he's in good hands."

"Kurt will be fine." Blaine said softly, still trying to process everything that had happened in the last three minutes. "He can… he can make it in the fashion industry."

Burt nodded and stood. "If things get to be too much, you can talk to Carole and me. I know Kurt can be a little stressful right now but the kid… he's trying. He's getting better. But I want you to know that if you ever want to talk, even about Kurt, you can come to us. Or Finn. I better get back to work on this car, though. The lady calls every hour on the hour about it and if I don't get it out of my garage, I may kill her. Plus, you should get back to Kurt."

Blaine nodded and, still holding his check, made his way for the door. He turned back around and looked at his boyfriend's father. "Thanks again, Mr. Hummel… I… I will use it well. I promise."

Burt nodded. "I know you will. Merry Christmas, Blaine."

Blaine folded the check, zipped his jacket, and jogged back out to his car. It was still relatively warm despite having been shut off and in the cold for fifteen minutes. He pulled the check out of his pocket and stared at it for several long minutes before putting it back into his pocket. He was going to make sure he did as well as possible in school. There would be no more goofing off, no procrastinating, no half ass doing homework assignments. He was going to do well and get into law school and take care of Kurt. He owed Burt that much, considering the man had just given him a check for $72,000.

Once he got back to the house, he crept in and quietly closed the door. Kurt was curled up on the couch, the only part of him uncovered by his blanket being his head. He turned slightly and his eyes lit up. "Good morning!"

Blaine smiled, enjoying seeing Kurt so happy. "Hey, my love. Did you sleep well?" he approached the couch and leaned down to kiss the top of Kurt's head.

"Yeah. That Lunesta really helps." Kurt nodded, smiling. "Sit and watch What Not to Wear with me?"

"Is that a hint?" Blaine laughed, lifting the blanket and sliding underneath it with Kurt.

Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine, pulling him close. "No. When I watch it with Rachel, however, it is."

Blaine snorted, relaxing against his boyfriend. Kurt's fingers ran through his hair as they watched the show, Blaine not even really paying attention.

"I have to go with Mercedes to the mall tomorrow… she's still got to do most of her Christmas shopping apparently. We're going to try to hit it early in the morning so we don't have a Black Friday Fiasco repeat. You can't come, though. No offense or anything. I've got to pick up your present. Which you are going to totally love, by the way." Kurt was whispering quietly in his ear, half paying attention to the show.

"That's okay. I've got to sign up for an orientation to take those online and night classes next semester anyway. I'll figure out the website when you're out… but you'll leave if you start to feel sick like that again, right?" He turned slightly to look at Kurt. He really didn't like the idea of Kurt being out without him, but he had to admit Kurt had been doing much better over the last few weeks. He had handled getting his second round of stitches out much better than the first time, he was much more cheerful without being on so many different pills, and now that he was moving around more and not as sluggish he had begun to lose his extra weight just as Blaine had predicted.

There were still some days when he'd lay around and stare off into space, a very strange look on his face. He'd cheer right up, though, when Blaine sat next to him, put a hand on his leg, and leaned over to kiss his forehead. Or, in the moments when Blaine wasn't at his side, when Carole would bring him some ice cream that she claimed was non-fat in an attempt to not only cheer the boy up but "put some weight on his bones" too.

Kurt was doing better. Plus, Blaine had to get used to Kurt not being twenty feet away at all times. He would eventually be going back to school, so it would probably be better to get used to it now. They couldn't spend whole life together attached at the hip unfortunately.

"I don't think I will. But I promised Mercedes that if I needed a break I'd tell her. She's still rather pissed off that she had to leave the mall early on Black Friday."

"I think she's more pissed off that you didn't tell us you felt sick." Blaine pointed out, snuggling close to him.

"Or that." Kurt rubbed Blaine's arm absentmindedly. "Where were you?"

"I went down to the garage to have a talk with your dad."

"Ooh, do tell." Kurt said, sounding very interested.

Blaine dug the folded check out of his pocket and passed it behind him to Kurt.

"Woah! I wish I got $72,000 every time I went down to the garage to visit him. Did you sell him your soul or something? Because there's a new pair of shoes I really want and—Hey! Stop tickling me!"

Blaine, who had turned around to tickle him, grinned. "Those shoes look silly."

"They're fashionable. Something you know nothing— Stop tickling me!" Kurt let out loud giggles, curling as much as he could on the cramped couch. "Stop it, stop! You know fashion, you know fashion!"

He ceased his tickling and ruffled Kurt's hair. "It's for college. He feels bad I think, so he gave me money to go to UK and… to get an apartment… One with you. If you go to school close enough that we can do so, that is."

Kurt sat up, looking at Blaine. "He gave you $72,000 for college? No joke?"

"No joke. I wasn't expecting it at all… It was really nice though… I still feel bad taking it." Blaine admitted, biting his lip. He hadn't asked for the money, but he still felt bad.

Kurt passed the check back to him. "It was a gift that you should take. Otherwise you may have a hard time going back to school… Dad's got plenty of money coming in from the garage. He wouldn't have given it to you if he couldn't have afforded it. I told you he loved you."

Blaine smiled a bit, sitting up straight next to Kurt. "I really like your family, you know. Carole is just amazing and I think your dad should write books… and Finn…"

"Finn's just something else entirely." Kurt snorted. "He's going to be homeless and starve to death if he doesn't get married right out of college."

Blaine laid his head on Kurt's shoulder, taking Kurt's hand. "Do he and Rachel ever talk?"

"No… well, Rachel didn't say anything about it the other day when she visited. She was very pleasant, actually. And Leroy sent over cookies with her. I don't know why everyone is so eager to fatten me up. I'm trying my hardest to lose those seven pounds. If I don't lose it before school starts, I'll die." Kurt's head rested on top of Blaine's and squeezed his hand. "I hope Carole likes the sweater I got her. It will bring out her eyes."

"I'm sure she will love it, Kurt. You are, after all, the shopping king… are there any of those cookies left?"

Kurt laughed and stood. "Yes. I'll be right back." He ruffled Blaine's hair, kissed the top of his head, and headed towards the kitchen. He later returned with a metal tin that was still almost completely full with cookies. "I like the swirly ones. But you can have some too, I suppose."

"Kurt's learned to share. I'm so proud of you, my love." Blaine pulled out two of them and bit into one. "The swirly ones are my favorite too. I know they're technically all the same type of cookie… but these taste so much better."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "For someone who grew up with such a perfect family, you sure talk with your mouth full of food a lot."

"S'cause I like to annoy you, Mr. Hummel." Blaine shoved the other cookie into his mouth. "And now I'd like to go shower."

"Hurry back." Kurt kissed his cheek.

"I will."

"I don't get why the mall isn't busier than it is. It's the last full weekend before Christmas. Where are all the frantic shoppers and the crazy grannies with their canes?" Kurt muttered, sipping on the milkshake that Mercedes had forcibly bought and given him.

"I can handle no crazy grannies right now. My crazy granny is already at the house for Christmas and I feel like cutting them all. You want to talk about crazy black people, come home with me for an hour. Mom wants to see you by the way. She says you're the only white boy she can tolerate."

Kurt snorted loudly. "So what is on your list? I just have to pick up Blaine's tickets from Ticket Master."

"Tickets?" Mercedes questioned, taking some tots out of the Styrofoam cup Sonic had given her and putting them into her mouth.

"Katy Perry will be in Tennessee in March. I got him two tickets. Not that I even like Katy Perry. She's incredibly tacky and auto tuned."

"You sure like Teenage Dream." Mercedes nudged him and grinned.

"I like any song Blaine has ever sang. He could sing Baby Got Back—the worst song ever made—and I'd end up liking it. It's not something I admire in myself, either. I have a Blaine playlist on my ipod. Oh god, did I say that out loud?"

Mercedes let out a loud laugh. "Kurt, you have got it bad! How many songs are in this playlist?"

"Fifty three." Kurt admitted, rather embarrassed. "He sings along with stuff in the car a lot."

Mercedes shook her head and pulled him over to a scarf display. "Think my mom would like this one?"

"Gross, that's hideous. Get the blue one." Kurt said instantly. He couldn't help it, really. He was brutally honest when it came to shopping. It was something many people didn't like about him, but Mercedes would not have brought him along if she hadn't valued his opinion.

Mercedes grabbed the blue one because Kurt was, of course, right. He always was. She glanced at Kurt. "Quit staring at that girl's clothes. I don't want to have to cut a bitch when she gets mad and tries to act all big and bad."

"She's wearing gray Uggs and a khaki miniskirt. Does she know what a mirror is? Clearly she needs some guidance, Mercedes. And that sweater is hideous. Who wears thick sweaters with miniskirts and Uggs?"

"I don't know. You white people are crazy." She held out her cup. "Want a tot?"

"No thanks. Everyone keeps feeding me all these disgusting greasy things. Blaine took me to KFC for lunch yesterday because he was too lazy to cook. And then for dinner he ate two bags of Doritos. Spicy Nacho, might I add. I can still smell it on his breath." Kurt groaned. "I don't know how he is so thin, 'Cedes. He's like a trash compactor for junk food."

"Well you know opposites attract." She pointed out.

"Do you know what Blaine said to me the other day?" he suddenly gasped. "He told me—no, really. He told me that he doesn't like Wicked. He doesn't like Wicked! Does he know who he's dating, Mercedes? He told me it was stupid! I almost had to say 'hell to the no' but he was too busy opening up a bag of Bugles to even care."

"Silver or gold?" Mercedes held up two necklaces.

"For whom? I mean he doesn't like Wicked? What kind of person doesn't like Wicked, Mercedes?"

"For my demon sister. She's trying to pretend she's a diva now. It's kind of cute, really."

"Gold. Oh and Finn kissed Rachel. Yes, he went there after I explicitly told him not to. She had me on the phone until 3 in the morning. I knew we were meant for each other. It was only a matter of time before we got back together. He's a much better kisser than your boyfriend, Kurt. He's so tall and I'm short. We'll have perfect medium sized babies. They're killing me. If they break up again I'm checking myself into a mental institution to avoid the drama."

"Hot Mama and Justin Timberlake are dating again? This is going to be all we hear about at Glee Club after the break, isn't it?" Mercedes sighed.

"Well, you will. I won't." Kurt attempted to laugh but it didn't quite sound that way. It ended up being a sigh.

"When are you coming back, baby? You look good." She looked at him sadly. "I miss you. I have to sit with Rachel alone at lunch every single day. And Glee Club... it's just not fun anymore."

Kurt leaned towards her a bit. "I have a meeting with my doctor after Christmas. Dad's going with me. And right before the break Mr. Schue brought over a lot of make-up work for me to get caught up on. Probably the beginning of February… but I won't be able to come back to New Directions…"

"Why so long? You seem fine."

Kurt shrugged. "I don't know. Sometimes I feel fine and others… I don't. Mainly I'll just feel really tired. It's always very sudden. That's why they don't like to let me drive for longer than a few minutes. I could probably go back after the break, but I'll need time to get caught up and stuff… Dr. Gibbons is trying to give me a break, I think."'

Mercedes draped an arm around him as they walked. "Well if you can't drive when you get to go back, I'll pick you up."

"Thanks, 'Cedes." Kurt gave her a grin and then gasped. "That'd be so cute on you. Go try it on. Right now."

***WBUCT***

"Kurt… Kurt, come on. Wake up." Blaine whispered, letting his fingers run up and down his boyfriend's back. "Baby, wake up."

Kurt whimpered, eyes narrowing. "It's too early."

"Shush and get in the shower. There's a snow storm coming tonight and we've got something very important to do today." Blaine patted his shoulder. "I'll have some scrambled eggs ready for you when you get out. And a nice glass of apple juice."

"But it's Christmas Eve. I want to sleep in. W-we were out late." He yawned.

"Ten o'clock hardly counts as late, Kurt." Blaine let out a loud laugh, fingers stroking his hair. "Come on. I promise you, it will be well worth getting up. In fact, you will never love me any more than you love me today. So get up."

"You're so frustrating, Blaine Anderson." Kurt climbed out of bed.

"Hey, hey, kiss me."

"I don't know if I want to. You're waking me up at 8 in the morning on Christmas Eve." Kurt frowned.

Blaine placed his hands on Kurt's shoulders and leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. He then pulled away and grinned. "I have a feeling you'll want to kiss me a lot here in a few hours, so I'll just let you pout and grumble."

Kurt put his hand on Blaine's and gave him a sleepy half-smile. "Sit in the bathroom and talk to me while I take a shower?"

"No, sir. I have to make you breakfast. So hurry up. Don't worry about fixing your hair or doing your moisturizing face stuff either. We don't have time and you're beautiful just the way you are." He kissed Kurt's cheek and stepped out of the room, calling behind him, "Don't wear anything too expensive either, Kurt!"

Blaine jogged into the kitchen, positively excited. He really was the smartest person in the world. Okay, maybe not the smartest person in the world. But he was about to give Kurt the best Christmas present ever. It was rather unfortunate that he couldn't actually give it to him on Christmas Day but this would still be good.

Today they were going to drive down to Harrodsburg, Kentucky. His boss's brother didn't have any puppies left, but luckily someone else the man knew did. He had little Coton De Tulears that were 8 weeks old and ready to be adopted out. The puppies usually were sold for $1,800 but because Blaine was so awesome (okay, because he had connections with the brother), they were going to sell a puppy to Blaine for $500. He could definitely handle that. He still had $3,000 in his savings account. Besides, he had looked the dogs up online and decided that they were adorable. It was going to be well worth his money, though, just to see the look on Kurt's face when he found out what they were doing.

Kurt appeared in the kitchen about ten minutes later in jeans and a red sweater. He yawned and rubbed his eyes adorably. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." Blaine said cheerfully, handing him a plate of eggs. "Eat up, eat up! We've got a long drive and we're going have to go straight through to beat the storm, but I'm confident we can do it."

He was practically bouncing with excitement, but Kurt must have written it off as him being excited about Christmas because he began to eat his eggs, yawning. Thanks to Blaine's incessant "Hurry upppp!"s, Kurt had finished his eggs in under five minutes and was then forcibly dragged out the door ("The car is already on, put your jacket on when we get out of the car!").

"Why are we on I-75?" Kurt arched his eyebrow as Blaine merged onto the highway a few minutes later. "Why are we on I-75 South?"

"Not telling you yet." Blaine sang. "I'll tell you in about thirty more minutes. That will allow for adequate squealing time before you have to get out of the car and make a decision."

"Decision about what? You can't do this to me, Blaine. I don't have patience like you." His boyfriend moaned, pulling at the hand that was not on the steering wheel. "Tell me, tell me."

"No, no."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pleeeease?"

"No, sir. I am not opening my mouth until 9:30." He laughed when Kurt admitted defeat and sagged against the seat, putting his feet up on the dashboard. He had to admit, five minutes later, that he was surprised at how well Kurt was taking his rejection. The two sat in comfortable silence, but only ten more minutes had passed before Blaine finally caved in. "We're going to get a puppy!"

"We're going to get a puppy?" Kurt shrieked.

"We're going to get a puppy!" Blaine exclaimed, immensely proud of himself. Who had picked out the best Christmas present ever? He had! And he'd done so almost entirely on his own. Seeing Kurt so excited warmed his entire heart. He hadn't seen the younger boy this happy in a very, very long time. He missed it and hoped it would stay this way. Maybe the puppy would be just what Kurt needed.

"Ah, we're going to get a puppy!" Kurt started bouncing up and down like a little kid that had been promised candy if he was good. "Where is it? What kind? Where, where, where? Does Dad know? Can I name it Kreacher? Can it sleep in our bed?"

"It's in Kentucky, it's a Coton De Tulear and you get to pick between three, your father knows and approves, you can name it whatever you'd like as long as you don't pick the name Fido, and I guess it can sleep wherever you want!" Blaine said, growing more excited with each squeal Kurt gave. And he wasn't even a dog person. First he had been excited because he was going to give Kurt the perfect present. Now he was excited because Kurt was excited.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! I've been waiting for twelve years, I can't wait any longer! Hurrrrry!"

Blaine laughed and began to drive a little faster, eliciting more cheers from his boyfriend who had apparently adopted the mindset of a seven year old.

There was no way Kurt was going to top this present. Ever. Unless he got him Katy Perry tickets of course but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Shh, we have to act normal now." Blaine laughed as he got out of the car fifty minutes later, buttoning up his jacket. It had begun to snow just as they'd passed Lexington and was already starting to pick up. "And we need to try to be quick."

"I'm so excited, I'm so excited!" Kurt chanted over and over as they made it to the door of the house.

"Kurt and Blaine?" An older man smiled and opened the door. "Henry said you'd be dropping by about now. How are you?"

"Great." Blaine gave the old man a friendly smile.

"Can we see the puppies now?" Kurt asked, sounding exasperated.

"You sure can!" The man laughed. "They're right in the garage with the space heater. I'll show you where it's at and leave you two to decide which one you want."

They followed the man to the garage and Kurt walked excitedly to the little box.

"That one!" Kurt said instantly before Blaine had even had a chance to get all the way over there. Two of the puppies were running around and playing within the box, hopping and rolling over each other. The third one sat off to the side, getting rather excited when the man poured some food into a bowl.

"That is him, he is the one I want, him, him, him. I don't need another minute."

"Are you sure about that, boy? He doesn't do much at all. He just eats and lies around." The man laughed, setting the bag of food against the wall of the garage.

"Well apparently I like things that just eat and lay around—Ow, Blaine!"

"I do not just eat and lay around!" Blaine pouted. "I do other things too. Like read."

"While you lie around and eat." Kurt said cheerfully, picking up the puppy. "You are my new best friend, yes you are. You can have Blaine's spot on the bed because apparently he doesn't lie around. We'll have great fun eating together!"

Blaine rolled his eyes and pulled out five $100 bills. "I'm guessing we'll be taking the fat one."

Kurt toddled off to the car with his new puppy as Blaine talked to the breeder about the proper ways to care for their new pet. While doing this his eyes kept darting to Kurt who was sitting in the front seat of the car, door wide open, and seemingly having a very in-depth conversation with his dog about the importance of never going near Kurt's shoes, "no matter how yummy they look."

When Blaine finally got into the car, Kurt turned to him. "I'm just laying down the law with him. It's never too early to set rules."

Blaine smiled, starting the car. "Merry Christmas, Kurt."

Kurt leaned forward, pressing his lips to Blaine's. "Thank you! So much! I love Christmas! It's officially my new favorite holiday. If Christmas is this awesome though, I can't wait to see what I get for Valentine's Day!"

Damn. Blaine hadn't thought about that. Maybe he should have gone with the baking pan.