There are no words. We made it to 600 reviews, and all I can say about that is . Frankly.

Thank you so much to every single person who's reviewed this fic. I love you all, more than I can say. :)

This chapter was beta'd by the amazing Nija Assasian, who is frankly brilliant. I can't thank her enough :)

I'm so sad that this fic is coming to an end, but I would like to confirm that by the time this fic is finished, I WILL have another one running, a soulmate!Klaine fic, so hopefully that will keep you all amused for a while :)

Thank you for reading and if you have a minute, drop me a line and tell me what you thought! I'll send you a preview of the next chapter in return and also, my eternal love and gratitude. Which is totally worth having, by the way. ;)


Chapter twenty eight


Kurt and Blaine lay entwined on the sofa, Blaine watching the TV while Kurt watched his boyfriend. Their bodies were twisted together; there wasn't a single part of their bodies that wasn't touching and just short of a year ago, Kurt would have found this suffocating. But now, it felt just about perfect.

Kurt held onto Blaine tighter. He knew he'd scared his boyfriend a week ago when he'd said that he'd had no idea what he was doing or what was happening to him. Kurt hadn't realise that Blaine might misinterpret this as Kurt being unsure of their relationship, and though Blaine hadn't actually said anything, his concerns were clear in the way that he clung to Kurt a little tighter, kissed him a little longer, told him he loved him more often.

Kurt was adamant that one day, Blaine would believe that Kurt was as committed to the relationship as he was.

Because it's true, he was. Granted, it hadn't always been that way, but through his identity crisis, the one thing Kurt knew was that he loved Blaine more than anything in the world and he'd loved him since he first set eyes on him in the crowded hallway in McKinley High. There was just no room for ifs or buts or maybes with them. Kurt just knew, the way he'd always known and the way that people had told him that he would know.

There wasn't a single cloud of doubt in his mind that this was where he belonged, and where he would stay.

He didn't worry that Blaine would hurt him and he knew that in return he would never hurt Blaine. Because it's as simple as that when you're crazy about someone, and he was realising it now. He knew Blaine deserved better, he knew that in some depths of his subconscious, Blaine knew he deserved better but the fact that he was willing to stick with someone, knowing that he could go out and pick up any man he took a fancy to, like Kurt was nothing short of mind blowing.

But then again, Kurt supposed that Blaine knew. Blaine knew in the way that he knew, that this was it. That he had found his one and only and would never stray from the path he was set on because he had no need to. Everything he wanted was in his arms at this moment.

Kurt tilted his head away from Blaine's slightly to look at him. He let out a small sigh of contentment. His boyfriend was simply perfect.

Blaine noticed this and inclined his head, giving Kurt a questioning look. "What's up, love?"

"You," Kurt breathed and Blaine froze, "you're just perfect," he continued and his boyfriend instantly relaxed, leaning closer to Kurt and tightening his hold around him, though he was mindful of the bruises that were still prominent on his pale skin.

"No less so than you are, love," Blaine told him, smiling and kissing the top of Kurt's head. Blaine's fingers fell to stroking an area that he'd newly familiarised himself with as of late – the expanse of Kurt's neck, but – more importantly – the angry red marks and the flecks of bruising that told tales of Kurt's fight.

Kurt knew why Blaine was suddenly fixated on this spot – he'd often found himself staring at it in the mirror for long moments – it was like a lifeline. Kurt had no doubt that he could have died, had the man's fingers tightened and squeezed a little more, had the strangers not pulled them apart, had the police not arrived. Chance had saved him, but it wasn't without internal scarring to match the external.

He could have died. It was something that neither Kurt, nor Blaine, would ever truly get over. The idea had festered inside their brains and it would take more than words of comfort or reassurance to put their worries at ease.

It was also tragically humbling, having a near-death experience, which meant that Kurt was more at peace with it than Blaine was. He was thankful for his saviours, rather than being angry at his tormentor, but his boyfriend was showing Kurt a side of him that he'd never seen before. When they'd returned home on the night of the attack, Blaine had been all ready to go out and shoot the guy who'd assaulted Kurt but for once, Kurt had been the one to hold him back, to reassure him. It was a dramatic role reversal, but also incredibly touching that Blaine would go to such lengths to protect Kurt. But, then again, Kurt had no qualms over the fact that he'd do exactly the same for Blaine.

Kurt gently prised Blaine's fingers away, twining them with his own instead. He knew that as long as Blaine was touching the marks, he'd be thinking about how they could have ended Kurt's life, and he just couldn't stand that.

Kurt looked up at Blaine, murmuring, "I'm OK, you know."

Blaine turned his gaze downwards upon Kurt and his eyes instantly softened. He tilted his head and moved his lips to Kurt's, kissing him softly. "I know," he breathed, "I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

Kurt returned the kiss, humming, "You don't ever have to worry about that, OK? I promise."

Blaine nodded, deepening the kiss and threading his fingers through Kurt's hair almost desperately, as if to convince himself that Kurt was there, he was alive and he wasn't going anywhere. Kurt clutched Blaine in return, reminding himself that he was safe with Blaine and that no harm would come to him. In that moment, they needed each other more than they'd ever needed anything before in their lives.

And they were both perfectly OK with that.

The shrill ringing of their landline phone tore them apart. Blaine reached over Kurt and snatched up the phone as his boyfriend began to kiss the column of Blaine's neck, making it increasingly harder for himto focus on the task in hand – answering the phone.

Blaineeventually found the 'answer' button and pressed it, bringing the phone up to his ear as Kurt chuckled against the skin of his neck. "H-hello?" He answered.

"Hi, Blaine, it's Rick," their landlord said.

"Oh, hi, Rick," Blaine replied, smiling. "What" – he paused as Kurt bit down on his neck, letting a small hiss of pleasure emit – "can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if I could speak to Kurt for a minute, if that's okay," Rick asked.

"Uh, sure," Blaine told him, tilting Kurt's face up and whispering to him, "it's for you."

Kurt looked startled but accepted the phone. "Hi, Rick, what's up?" Blaine watched as Kurt's expression turned to one of even more surprise. "Sure," Kurt said, "I can do that. I'll be there in a bit. You're welcome. See you later." Kurt hung up the phone and turned to Blaine. "I have to go," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Blaine let out a whine, clutching at his boyfriend. "Why?" He groaned, clinging to Kurt like a limpet as he tried to struggle free.

Kurt chuckled, dropping a kiss on the top of Blaine's head before he wrenched himself loose of his boyfriend's hold. "Rick's working late so he asked if I could pick Mark up from school for him," Kurt explained, crossing the living room and shrugging on his charcoal pea coat – which had been rediscovered when his leather jacket was boycotted. Blaine had a matching one in black, though Kurt insisted that they could never wear them together, lest they look like a Hallmarks greetings card. Blaine had pointed out that there would never be two men holding hands on a holiday card, to which Kurt had replied with just a sigh.

Kurt, momentarily distracted by this train of thought, was startled by Blaine coming up behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist, kissing the side of his neck as Kurt struggled to wind a scarf around it. New York was unseasonably cold and Kurt prided himself on always being prepared.

He turned in his boyfriend's hold and kissed him quickly before disentangling himself and darting towards the door. Blaine, however, grabbed his arm around pulled him back, wrapping him in one last sensual kiss before allowing him freedom.

"Go on," Blaine instructed, biting back a chuckle, "go play babysitter."

Kurt stuck his tongue out at Blaine. "Go do," he paused, considering this, "whatever it is you do when I'm not around."

"I don't know," his boyfriend responded, "maybe be a responsible adult? One of us has to."

"Hey!" Kurt protested. "May I remind you who's going to pick a kid up from high school?"

"A paedophile?" Blaine guessed.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "You're just annoyed because you'll have nothing to do when I'm not here."

Blaine decided not to comment on the blatant truth in Kurt's statement and instead winked. "I'm sure I'll find some way to amuse myself."

Kurt narrowed his eyes. "If it involves nudity, save it until I get back, would you?"

Blaine pretended to contemplate this. "Maybe I will, or maybe I'll get that cute guy from upstairs to fill in for you," he teased.

His boyfriend's glare intensified. "Yeah, the one that's married with two kids? Great choice, Blaine."

He just shrugged. "Beggars can't be choosers."

Kurt crossed the room in a few strides from where he stood by the door. He caught Blaine's face between his hands and gave him a firm, long kiss. When he pulled away, Blaine looked decidedly less cocky, his pupils dilated and he panted as he looked up at Kurt.

"What was that for?" He asked, reaching out for his boyfriend again for round two, but Kurt had already flitted out of his grasp.

"You're mine," Kurt reminded him, "if I get back and Mr Happy Family is in our bed, I won't be happy."

Blaine smirked. "Jealous?"

Kurt snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, Blaine," but his slight hesitance gave him away. Before his boyfriend could comment, Kurt was out of the door.

Blaine stared after him, raking a hand through his hair. He had to get Kurt jealous more often, he thought, as he touched his kiss-bruised lips.


Kurt pulled up outside the high school, frowning as he peered at the entrance doors through his window. He glanced down at his watch. 3:57. Rick had said that classes let out at 4pm. Kurt took a moment to internally preen over his accuracy before he turned back the entrance doors, drumming the steering wheel absentmindedly as he waited. At exactly 4pm, the bell rang loud enough for Kurt to hear it from his car and a flood of students piled out of the doors and into the parking lot. Most headed to the station to catch their respective buses and some milled in the car park, glancing over at the rows of parked cars as they waited for their rides.

Kurt scanned the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of Mark but there was none. He shot a text to him – his number which he'd acquired through a moment of 'I'm here if you need me' – inquiring his destination.

Hey, I don't know if your dad told me but I'm here to pick you up from school. I'm waiting outside, where are you? - Kurt

Mark instantly responded.

Sorry, I'm coming now, see you in a few minutes – Mark x

Kurt slid his thumb over the x on the screen. To him, knocking on the door of 19 and deeply in love with the man he intended to spend the rest of his years with, an x meant nothing. But to a 16 year old, Kurt knew perfectly well that it could mean everything. He paused. Mark didn't think of him in that way, did he?

Did he?

At that moment, Mark appeared through the double doors, surrounded by fellow classmates, who were predominantly female, Kurt noticed with interest. He supposed that he himself, in the years before his bad boy persona had taken over, had been good friends with Mercedes and Tina and Brittany, almost tempted to join the Glee club at one point, but social direction had steered him away. And even in his time as a well-respected member of the social ladder, he'd remained close to Santana. He supposed that it was just easier, surrounding yourself with people who were like you.

Mark was pointing towards the car and the girls giggled, following his gaze and then raising their eyebrows. Had Kurt been closer, he would have heard their conversation.

"Wow, Mark, you're right, he is cute," one girl commented, sounding impressed.

As the group came closer, Kurt managed to pick up the fringes of their speech and he rolled his window down a fraction, desperate to catch what they were saying. Had he heard their first statement correctly, he would want to hear this.

"There's no way he's your boyfriend," another protested.

Kurt's eyebrows shot up until they near enough reached his hair line. He swallowed. This was so not good.

Mark just winked. "I have my methods of persuasion," he replied, "but he is gorgeous, isn't he?"

Kurt choked, stifling a cough. Well that answered that question; Mark was definitely more than a little interested. He strained to hear the next few sentences.

"Totally!" A girl giggled. "I'm so jealous. And he's your ride home?"

Mark nodded emphatically. "Absolutely. I'll see you tomorrow, girls!"

"Good luck!" One called as Mark crossed the car park towards Kurt's car.

Kurt grinned at him, trying to hide his discomfort as Mark slid into the passenger's seat, smiling.

"Hi," Mark greeted, unable to keep the beam off his face.

"Hi," Kurt responded in kind, trying to sound as adult as he could muster as he pulled the car out of the parking lot and onto the main road. "Good day?"

Mark nodded. "Yeah, it was OK."

"Surrounded by friends, I see," Kurt commented, smiling across at him.

The teen flushed. "Yeah, they just wanted some help with, er, homework."

Kurt nodded, though of course he knew better. "Oh, OK."

The way Mark was looking at him across the car was enough to confirm Kurt's deepest fears and suspicions. He resisted the urge to bang his head against the window and instead struggled to muster up all his courage. It was clear that they had a lot to discuss.


TBC...

And what situation does Kurt/Mark's relationship remind you of? Whoever guesses right gets kudos from me, and the self satisfaction of being a mega gleek, which I'm sure many of you have anyways. But maybe also another prize if I can think of one.

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