A few days later, Kurt came home from work to find a large envelope addressed to him on his desk. On the back of the envelope, it said, "Don't open this until you call me." Sebastian wasn't home yet, so he decided to wait until he came home. He jumped in the shower and redressed. When he got out, he could hear that Sebastian was home. Kurt took the envelope out to the living room and sat on the sofa next to Sebastian, who was talking to Sam.

"This was on my desk, but it says to call your mom before I open it." Kurt dialed Lisette's number.

"Hi Lisette. Yes, the envelope arrived." Kurt turned the speaker on and laid the phone down. He opened the envelope carefully.

"What is it?" Sam asked. It was written in French.

"Oh, my God!" He looked at the second set of papers in the envelope. "It's done. Wow."

"What's done?" Sam asked.

Sebastian was looking at the French paperwork. "Kurt's trademark was approved in France and here. If he decides to market any of his brooches, other jewelry or clothing, he has a brand name now that's his legally."

"That's so cool," Sam said.

"It is," Lisette said. "So, now the question comes down to how you want your caption. Do you want me to just leave it with your name or put the brand name along with your name?"

"How long do I have to decide?"

"It would be best if I knew when I go into work in the morning. That's in about eight hours. I know that's not long to think about it, but we go to print in a couple of days."

"Okay. I honestly hadn't even given this any thought. I signed all those papers all those months ago and then just got busy. I'll text you with my decision before I go to bed tonight."

"That's fine, sweetie. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I'll call Mamie and thank her tomorrow. I'll call Reid tonight. I'll let you get some sleep. Thanks for everything."

"You're welcome, honey. Good night."

"I have a brand." Kurt repeated. "I have my own brand."

"That's super cool, Kurt," Sam said. "I didn't even know you had applied for a trademark."

"It was just a spur of the moment idea. The only reason anything even happened with it is because Mamie and Reid are lawyers and Lisette got them to work on it. They didn't keep me updated on the progress or anything, so I honestly didn't even think about it anymore. So many other things have happened since then. They started the process back at the very beginning of June."

"Well, it's really cool."

"I have another phone call to make and I need to think. And I have homework. How about I bow out on the dinner making tonight?"

"That's fine," Sam said and got up to go to the kitchen.

Sebastian followed Kurt back to their room. Kurt put the papers in his mini safe in the closet. Sebastian shut the closet door behind them. Sebastian waited until Kurt put the papers away, and then he pulled Kurt into a hug. "Congratulations." Sebastian kissed him and hugged him again before going back to help Sam.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Kurt went out to the kitchen to eat dinner with Sam and Sebastian.

"I'm going to go ahead and put the brand name in the magazine. I don't honestly know which is better, but since Reid and Mamie went to all that trouble, they must think there's a good reason to do it and they know a lot more than I do about a lot of things."

"Sounds reasonable," Sam said.

"I already texted Lisette and I called Reid to thank him. I'll call Mamie in between classes tomorrow morning."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Kurt was running his fingers through Sebastian's hair like he did frequently in the position they were in.

"I'm feeling very spiteful tonight."

"What do you mean?" Sebastian tipped his head up and kissed Kurt. "You're very rarely spiteful. Did someone do something to you?"

"Not recently. Not for a long time actually. It's really exciting to have my brooch in the magazine, but it also brings back some memories of how many times I was put down about making stuff like that. I'm feeling spiteful because despite the fact that would make absolutely no difference, I would love to rub it in those neanderthals' faces that my brooches were cool enough to end up in a magazine and that people actually want to buy them. They wouldn't care and they would just insult the magazine it's in."

"I get it. With people like that you can't win, even if you're successful. Just remember, their goal was to make themselves feel better by tearing you down. It gave them power. They no longer have that power. You're a success. You've accomplished so many things already. The question is how do you feel about it?"

"I'm still sort of in that daydream state about it. Getting the trademark papers was tangible, but not quite enough I guess. When I have a print copy of the magazine and see my brooch and name in there, then it will be real. I'll let you know how I feel about it after that."

"Fair enough. Just so you know, in case you've forgotten, I think you're amazing." He kissed Kurt again. "Let's get some sleep." Kurt turned over. Sebastian wrapped his arm around him. Kurt scooted back, got comfortable and fell sleep.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

To Kurt: Be home at 1:30 on Friday is all you said to warn me? You're a shit. OMG. You rock.

From Kurt: Make up your mind.

"Oh, my God, Kurt." Noah was crying. "This is amazing. Annie is going to be so psyched when she gets home and finds a bed, a desk and a dresser in her room with sheets and everything."

"The long low dresser is supposed to be for your TV in the living room. I figured you could use the extra storage space rather than just putting your TV on a table."

"Oh, got it. I did wonder why there were three dressers. The two tall ones are for the bedrooms. I got it."

"Hey, I've got class in ten minutes and you've got furniture to arrange and beds to make before Annie gets home from school. Have fun!"

"Hey, it'll be the first time I can say that I had fun making a bed. You have no idea how excited I am to NOT sleep on the floor tonight."

"Call me later if you want Noah, but I have to go to class. Send me pictures."

"Will do."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"So, how does it feel to be a vision therapy graduate?" Kurt asked Sam at dinner that evening.

Sam stood and pretended like he had been handed an Oscar. "I'd like to thank my friends for supporting me during this journey to better vision and improved reading." He bowed deeply and sat back down at his place at the table.

"You're such a goof. I'm just glad it helped."

"Me too," Sebastian said. "So, we chose Monday for movie night. We need to add some snacks or something to the shopping list for tomorrow morning. Are we inviting anyone besides Adam?"

"Not this time because SOMEONE told him about Pip, Pip Hooray! Saturday before last and he wants to see it. So, it will just be him this time. Maybe next time we'll ask Elliott, Dani and Charlene too."

"Well, then maybe we don't really need much extra if it's just going to be Adam," Sam said.

"The list is over on the counter, if you want to add anything to it for us to get tomorrow when we go shopping," Sebastian said. "And I'm not one bit sorry that I told Adam about your musical. I think maybe he can help you get it back on track for you to finish it. I think it's really funny, but perhaps that's because I'm European. You said other people you showed it to didn't find it funny. I think Adam will be a good sounding board. If he thinks it's funny, then you've just been showing it to the wrong audience."

"Well, we'll find out Monday."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

From Kurt: Your place looks great.

To Kurt: Thanks. That's high praise coming from you.

From Kurt: I'm not nearly the snob that people seem to think I am.

To Kurt: Yeah I figured that out already. Too bad I didn't figure it out sooner.

From Kurt: Better late than never, I suppose.

To Kurt: Annie says to tell you that you are her second favorite person.

From Kurt: Tell her I'm glad she likes the furniture.

To Kurt: I want to send Sebastian's dad a thank you letter or something.

From Kurt: I'll see what I can come up with. I don't have his new address yet.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"That table and chairs from the pool room look good in their kitchen," Kurt said.

"Yeah, anything bigger wouldn't have fit," Sebastian agreed.

"That's why I went with only sending a few things. Their apartment is really small. I thought the dresser for the TV would give him some place to put towels and stuff since there's only two small closets in the bedrooms and an even smaller coat closet."

"So, let me see the rest of the pictures. A bed, a desk, a tall dresser in his sister's room. A bed and dresser in his room. The couch from the library. Good choice. Comfortable, but not overly large. I've read more than one book on that couch. And the long dresser from one of the guest rooms. Looks great. You're right though. The place is tiny. If you had picked any other couch, it might not have fit."

"I know. The one in the TV room was so fluffy and comfy, but it was huge. Way too big for their place."

"Well, you did good. They have places to eat, sleep, put their clothes, watch TV and his sister has a place to do her schoolwork."

Kurt put the phone back on the side table. "Snuggle time?"

"Definitely."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

The movie choice was up to Kurt the following Monday. He chose one of his favorite documentaries about the British royal family.

"This is how you amuse yourself?" Adam asked. "This is the type of film I was forced to watch in history class at school when our regular teacher called out sick."

Sam tried to restrain himself from laughing out loud.

Kurt picked up one of the throw pillows and hit Adam with it.

"What? It's true. We'd look forward to a nice rest during the film."

"Well, you'll have to pay attention this time or you won't know enough to help me with my musical."

"As you wish," Adam said in his best Westley voice.

Sebastian and Sam burst out laughing.

"Fine. We'll watch Princess Bride, if you want. Although I know Sebastian likes the historical documentaries. He never complains." He leaned over and kissed Sebastian.

"That's because he's a smart man," Sam said. "If someone snuggled me, massaged my hands, and ran their hands through my hair during the documentary, it would be a lot more fun to watch," Sam laughed.

Kurt threw a different pillow at Sam. "Ooh, perfect." He put it behind his head and leaned back against the wall.

"Sam Evans, you're lucky I love you so much," Kurt threatened teasingly.

"Oh, I know how lucky I am," he laughed and blew Kurt a big smoochy kiss.

"How about I just show you Pip, Pip Hooray!, Adam? And you can just tell me it's terrible and we'll watch Princess Bride instead. I'll even go make cookies while you read it."

"If I read it, can I have cookies too?" Sam asked.

"You've read it before."

"Doesn't change my question."

"Yes, you can have cookies, Sam. When have I ever denied you cookies, you goof."

"What about me?" Sebastian fake whined. "I want cookies too," trying to sound like a 6-year old.

"Everyone gets cookies, you bunch of whiners."

"I wasn't whining," Adam said like an argumentative child.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "I'm going to the kitchen. Sebastian can get the play from our room. There are two copies. You'll have to share somehow."

An hour later, several glasses of milk and two dozen cookies had been consumed.

"This is fantastic," Adam said.

"You actually like it?" Kurt asked.

"It's quite funny. But you need the songs set to music."

"I know. I didn't get the songs done yet. I know how the melodies go, but I don't know how to orchestrate them or anything."

"That can be arranged," Adam said.

"Very punny," Sam said as he rolled his eyes and laughed.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Sebastian went around to the opposite side of the bed and climbed in entrapping Kurt while delivering an avalanche of kisses everywhere Sebastian could reach easily, his neck, his upper chest, his shoulders, eventually his lips.

Kurt was breathless when he asked, "What was that for? I definitely want to make sure I do it again," he laughed.

Sebastian moved over to the middle of the bed and lay down on his side. Kurt rolled on his side to face Sebastian, who started running his fingers up and down Kurt's arm.

"Five months ago, you chose me."

"That was a great day." Kurt reached up and caressed Sebastian's cheek. "I love you."

"I love you. You don't actually think that you can do things to be 'more worthy' do you? I thought we were past that."

"We are. I shouldn't have joked that way. I know that you love me, good days or bad days. And I don't have to do something to earn kisses."

"Okay. Just checking. I never want you to feel like that."

"I don't. Ever. Really."

"Okay."

"You know the same is true for you, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good because if I spent as much time kissing you as I'd like, I'd flunk out of school."

"You and me both."

"Ooh. I figured out what I want for Christmas," Kurt said.

"What?"

"You."

"You already have me."

"But I'll have three and a half days off in a row and we'll have the apartment to ourselves. I want to have easy to grab meals for those three days and then we can spend all of the rest of the time in bed snuggling and kissing."

"Hmm...that can be arranged. I can cook and prep while you're at work the week before."

"Perfect. Now, you just have to think of what you want. You don't have to tell me now. You can think about it. For now, let's just get back to the kissing."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

The next Tuesday, Kurt came home to find Sam sitting on the sofa looking antsy like he did back in October when he got his SAT results the first time. Kurt walked over to the living room.

"I can just stand behind you while you load the results if you don't want to wait for me to go shower.

"No. I can wait ten more minutes. Just hurry."

"I'll hurry," Kurt said as he was already going through the bedroom door. He came back out less than ten minutes later wearing his pajamas. "Okay, I'm back." He called for Sebastian to come in from the kitchen.

"Okay." Sam took a deep breath and logged in and navigated to the scores page. "520 math, 480 English."

"That's 1000," Sebastian said excitedly. This time around he knew what that meant to Sam.

"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I got 1000! I feel like I'm hallucinating. This is a dream."

"Nope, no dream," Kurt said. He took Sam's phone and straddled his lap. "See, this would never be part of your dreams," he teased. He gave Sam a bear hug, knocking him back a bit in surprise. "You did it. You really did it."

Sebastian wrapped his arms around both of them. He knew that this was what Kurt had wanted for Sam all along - a chance to get to study art in college. The rest would depend on his portfolio and recommendations, but this gave him a chance he didn't have before.

"Okay. I'm going to go get dressed and we're going out for Chinese, my treat. I'm so excited," Kurt said. Kurt got up off of Sam's lap. "Call Dad and Carole and tell them. They'll be really excited too."

By the time Kurt came back, Sam had hung up from talking to them. He was just sitting on the sofa crying. Kurt sat down next to him and pulled him close and held him and let him cry it out. "Better?"

"Yeah. I'm going to change out of my school clothes. I'll be right back."

Sebastian put what he had gotten out earlier back in the fridge. "We'll make the lunches later," he said.

"Ready!" Sam called as he came running back out of his room.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"That was really good. I love this place," Sam said. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. It was a well-earned treat. You've worked really hard this semester."

"You could stop and get donuts on the way to school tomorrow morning for the resource room. Or we could go get a grocery store cake right now and you can take it in with you in the morning," Sebastian suggested.

"I say the cake. I don't even know where there is a donut shop and I don't want to get lost or stuck in a huge line and be late to school."

"Fair enough. Let's just stop at the first grocery store we see and go in and buy a cake, or now that I think about it, let's just go home and make a cake. I don't have to get up in the morning," Kurt said.

"You win. Homemade cake will taste better," Sam said.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

For Thanksgiving dinner two days later, they opted to roast a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. They invited Adam over for the afternoon. Sam and Kurt made all the traditional Thanksgiving items and Sebastian added a French flair to the meal by making additional side dishes that he liked. He also sliced up French bread from the sandwich shop and served it with the French cheese he had found locally.

Adam had told them that he liked food in general and had no specific requests. Since he'd never been to a traditional American Thanksgiving meal, he was looking forward to trying new things.

When Adam arrived, he had gifts with him. He handed a package to Kurt and a couple of what appeared to be wine bottles to Sebastian, who looked at them with distrust until he realized that they both said "sparkling cider".

Sebastian thanked him for the cider and put it in the fridge to keep it chilled.

"What's the gift for?" Kurt asked.

"It's my thank you to you for joining the Apples."

Kurt went to the living room and sat down to open it. He laughed. "Thank you. I saw other people in the group wearing them from time to time. I just figured they were from last year and never thought to ask if I could get one."

"Well, now you have your very own Adam's Apple hoodie to wear around."

"Thank you."

Sebastian called them over to the kitchen to start to serve themselves. Adam enjoyed trying all of the traditional foods that Kurt and Sam had made and was familiar with most of the things that Sebastian had added.

"I need to know where to get the good cheese," Adam stated.

Sebastian laughed. "See I told you that American cheese wasn't real cheese. Even Brits know better."

"Hey!" Adam said in mock offense.

They all left the table stuffed. Adam and Sam moved on to the living room to look through their games and choose one to start with while Sebastian and Kurt quickly packed up the leftovers.

After the meal the four of them played card games. Adam found out about Kurt's competitive streak and his penchant for card games.

"Does he have x-ray vision? Or telepathy so he can tell what our cards are?" Adam asked.

"This is a mystery no one has solved. Even if we buy a new card game, within a few rounds, he's mastered the game and starts beating everyone consistently. It really just comes down to who comes in second because he almost always wins," Sam said.

"You'll get used to losing, eventually," Sebastian teased. "Like Sam said, he and I really compete for second place at this point."

After about an hour, Kurt said, "How about a movie? Or we could sing."

"Or we could sing and watch a movie. How about Grease?" Sam suggested. Everyone nodded. He got up and put it in while Kurt picked up the card games and put them in the basket in the sideboard.

After the movie, Sam cackled and said, "Finn told me about the catsuit."

"Oh, God," Kurt laughed.

Adam looked at Sebastian, who just shrugged his shoulders.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"Do you like living on campus?" Sam asked Adam on the drive back to campus.

"Most of the time. It's simple. I know the three of you enjoy cooking and I do miss it sometimes, but having meals ready when I walk into the cafeteria saves time and I'm a really social person, so I like eating with a lot of other people and talking during meals. I think that I'd only like living off-campus if I had close friends to live with like you do."

"That makes sense. I'm sending in applications to different schools around here and I've been thinking about what it would be like to live on campus. That's why I asked."

"I think it's really good the first year or two because you really get to meet a lot more people that way."

"I can see that."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You love Kurt. I can see it from a mile away. You've known him longer. Why is he with Sebastian and not you, not that I don't like Sebastian. I'm just curious."

"I do love him, but not in that way. He's like proof that there's good in the world. He's the most amazing person I've ever met. I'm straight, but I can tell you honestly that there were times when I wished I was into guys. His last boyfriend was a tool and it killed me inside to see his heart torn out like that. But Sebastian's not like that. Kurt's not perfect. No one is, but he's a really good guy. I've wondered why you pursued him. At first, I was really concerned that you were going to like try to seduce him away from Sebastian. I don't actually even know if you're into guys, but you kept asking him to join your choir and then you started coming to karaoke just to watch him. It seemed like you were interested in him, but I never saw you flirt with him or anything."

"Yes, I'm gay. But to answer your question, which Sebastian asked me ages ago, I'm definitely not trying to steal him from Sebastian. I'm not a home wrecker. He's just this light and he's super talented."

"Where we came from most everyone was interested in extinguishing his 'light' as you call it. He doesn't talk about the past for a reason."

"I figured. I would never ask him. But it was that bad?"

"Yeah. It's not his family, so never think that. His family is super cool. I lived with them for eight months before I moved here with Kurt."

"So you've been friends for..."

"A little over two years."

"And Sebastian?"

"Well, they met a little over a year ago, but they didn't really become friends until ..." Sam was counting. "Seven months ago. They started dating about five months ago. Five and half."

"I hope I didn't offend you with my first question. I've just never seen a straight guy be so affectionate with other guys like you are with Kurt and even with Sebastian."

"Kurt used to say that to me all the time. My claim to fame is that I'm the only straight guy who's ever treated Kurt like he's a guy. I don't see the world the way other people do, I guess. People are people. I'm not afraid that you or Kurt or Sebastian have some sort of 'gay cooties' or something stupid like that. I don't treat women like they're some alien creatures either. I guess I just don't buy into the stereotypes and rules that society has about things. I mean, if I meet a girl I like that likes to box and hates flowers, I'll never buy her flowers and I'll take her to boxing matches. But if she likes flowers, I'll get her some. I mean people like what they like and I guess I just find the delineation of likes and dislikes into things that girls like vs things that guys like to be pretty dumb."

"You're a wise man, Sam," Adam laughed. "And you'll make some girl very happy someday."

"Well, I can hope. I've not had much luck in love so far."

"Some couples meet young, like Kurt and Sebastian. They seem very well suited for each other. My parents have been together for 25 years and didn't even meet until they were close to 30."

"Yeah. Kurt's parents are happy and they only met like a little over two and a half years ago. They got married not too long after I moved to Ohio - which is when I met Kurt. My parents met in high school and got married as soon as they graduated."

"Are they still around? You mentioned that you had been living with Kurt's family."

"Yeah, they live in Kentucky. I have a little brother and sister too. Stevie is nine and Stacey is seven."

"I have one older sister. She lives in England, not all that far from where my parents live."

"Kurt and Sebastian are both only children. But Kurt did acquire a stepbrother our age when his dad married Carole."

"I've never heard him talk about him."

"There are reasons for that." Sam looked at his phone to check the time. "I better get back. They're probably making dinner and wondering where I am. We always cook together."

"I'll see all of you on Saturday," Adam said as he got out of the Navigator.

"See ya."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"Dad and Carole called while you were gone and wished us a Happy Thanksgiving."

"I hope they're having a good day too," Sam replied.

"I don't think so, but Carole was putting up a good front. She sent Finn to her Aunt Somebody's, whose name I didn't catch, to stay for a while. No cell phone, no internet. On a farm in north central Ohio. He's still seeing Dr. Morris."

"Why did she send him to Aunt Whoever's?" Sebastian asked.

"He asked to go anywhere for a while. He said he needed time to think where no one could bother him, meaning Rachel."

"Well, that might be a good thing," Sam said.

"She said that Rachel actually seems to be better. She's been taking dance lessons and voice lessons in Columbus. I guess she's been doing a few things Madame Tibideaux suggested. I don't know whether she'll re-audition for NYADA or not. From what we saw that day Sam and I went there, I don't think it will be a good fit for her unless she's grown really thick skin in the past few months. She can't stand being corrected, especially publicly like that class we saw."

"Carole mentioned that Finn is back to considering joining the military," Sebastian added. "I don't know a whole lot about this whole situation, but he seems like he doesn't know how to live without someone telling him what to do."

"That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Finn has always been a people pleaser. Back when Kurt was being bullied heavily, he actually told Rachel that he could help him more by staying at the top of the heap at McKinley than he could by actually defending him from Karofsky. His popularity has always been very important to him."

"He joined Glee, but managed to stay at the top because he was Finn. He was the golden boy quarterback, like the family golden retriever that no one can get mad at when he chews up their shoes," Kurt added.

He went on. "When Mr. Schue thought Finn was the father of Quinn's baby, he took him out to lunch. He took them to gynecologist's visits. Once it came out that Noah was the baby's dad - nothing. Finn just has this cluelessness about him that people, including adults, have always found endearing, I guess. Rachel has a strong personality and easily controls him. She wanted a boyfriend and she wanted him. He dated Quinn and Rachel, back and forth and the only thing the two of them have in common is how controlling and bossy they can be."

"I mean Quinn cheated on me with Finn. Finn cheated on Quinn with Rachel before that. And sometime in between going back and forth he slept with Santana. Finn doesn't know what he wants. And that's what it comes down to. Maybe spending time at Aunt Whoever's will help him figure himself out, but only if he keeps going to see that counselor," Sam said.

"Isn't Santana gay?" Sebastian asked confused.

"She is. She just slept with guys for the power she could hold over them. It's a lot easier to be a popular slutty cheerleader than it is to be a lesbian cheerleader. And no, I'm not slut shaming her. She considered it to be a compliment. The more guys she could get the better her rep. She only came out because Finn outed her at school and another student overheard and that student was the niece of my dad's opponent. He used the information in a commercial to try to beat my dad and Sue in the congressional race. But Finn led a 'girl love' week in Glee and sang a slow ballad version of 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and everything was fine again - back to the adorable golden retriever that no one can stay mad at," Kurt said.

"I missed that. It was before I came back last fall," Sam said.

"No loss on your part," Kurt retorted, clearly agitated by the whole thing. "Blaine and I sang 'Perfect' to her and she called me a gay slur to my face in class. Good times," he said sarcastically.

"Well, she had that whole list of insults ready for me and blasted me with them five minutes after I arrived back at McKinley. Yeah, good times," Sam snarked.

"So, I had to apologize to a person who has treated both of you badly for years because I said one out-of-line thing and I slushied her?"

"Yep, that sounds about right to me," Sam said. "I'm not sure the words 'I'm sorry.' have every come out of her mouth."

"Wow."

"Well, now you get a little better idea why 'I'm thankful I don't go to McKinley anymore.' is near the top of our reasons to give thanks on this auspicious day." Sam said.

"And along with that one comes 'I'm thankful I don't live in Lima anymore,'" Kurt added.

"Here, here!" Sam said in agreement.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Deadlines were coming up for Sam's college applications. He had one last thing he needed to tackle for some of them - the personal essay. He managed to get an outline of what he wanted to say, and then he went to Sebastian for help. They worked on his essay while Kurt was at work the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. Although Sebastian knew a lot of what Sam included in his essay, seeing all of it written down really affected him. Watching Sam struggle to get on paper what he expressed so easily in spoken words gave him a new respect for how hard Sam had worked to get the SAT score he was so proud of. Sebastian double-checked the essay for spelling mistakes that computers overlook and declared it finished. Sam gave him a big bear hug and thanked him.

Sam had helped Mrs. Dixon with a timeline of his high school career giving her an outline of what he had struggled with and the help (or more like lack thereof) he had gotten. She had the evidence of how he had progressed rapidly at the new school once he had been given the proper supports. He also had gotten a strong recommendation from three of his current art teachers. He was hopeful that it would be enough to get into one of the schools he liked. She helped him with the fine details of what needed to be included in the different applications for the schools. Sam had visited the art school at Kurt's school a few times during the fall getting pointers on his pieces that he was including in his portfolio. He was extra hopeful that he would get into the same school that Kurt went to because he really liked the program there.

The two weeks after Thanksgiving were weeks full of papers, essays, performances, rehearsals and all of the things that get stuffed into the end of a semester. November passed and winter was about to begin and so were final exams the following week.

Sam was fortunate in that he didn't actually have any exams to take - just projects to finish. He had finalized the selections for his portfolios for the different schools he was applying to as well. The high school had photography equipment that he was allowed to use, which helped a lot and he had used it during class to photograph the pieces he had chosen to include for the schools that required digital portfolios.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Three weeks after Thanksgiving, Sam had his final review at the art school at the university that Kurt attended.

Sam waited in the area outside the office where his portfolio was being reviewed. Eventually, his name was called and he went inside.

"Please have a seat."

He sat.

The head of the group spoke. "Mr. Evans, we're very impressed with your letters of recommendation and by the dramatic improvement in you academic scores this year. Your portfolio pieces are very well done."

"Thank you, sir."

"We have chosen to overlook your low GPA due to the abundant evidence that your previous schools did nothing to ameliorate your learning differences to help you achieve your academic potential."

"Thank you."

"We are pleased to offer you early admission and a 50% tuition scholarship for next school year. The official offer and paperwork are in this folder."

Sam reached out to take it from the man.

"Thank you, sir. Really, thank you."

"The information is in the packet on how to officially accept the offer."

"I'll read the information carefully. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"You're quite welcome, Mr. Evans. We hope that you choose to study with us next fall."

The man stood to shake hands with Sam, who stood up too. Sam shook his hand and left the room.

He went back to school on cloud nine after the review and the offer. He kept watching the clock for school to get out, and then for after-school care program to end so he could go home and tell Kurt and Sebastian.

Sam got home first because he had taken the Navigator to be able to go to his appointment during the day. He changed and waited on the sofa. He turned Netflix on and absentmindedly stared at the episode of Star Trek he had chosen.

Fifteen minutes later, Kurt and Sebastian got home. He turned the TV off and waited for Kurt to come back from the shower.

"Okay, finally you're home. Come sit down." Sebastian and Kurt sat down. "So you know I had my final portfolio review today."

"Yes, of course. That's why Sebastian took me to work and picked me back up. You had the Navigator."

"So, today, I was offered early admission and a 50% tuition scholarship to the art school at Kurt's college."

"Oh, Sam." Kurt leapt up from his seat. "That's amazing! I know that's where you really want to go. A scholarship. I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it." Kurt was practically jumping in place.

"Once they have the portfolios for all of the accepted students, the top 10% will get offered full scholarships. So, there's still a chance I could get that, but I won't find out about that until like April sometime."

Kurt pulled him to stand up so he could hug him properly. "You did it!"

Sebastian hugged him next. "Are you going to tell anyone else?"

"I don't think so, not yet. I think I'm going to wait and see if I get any other offers in the spring. I think this is what I really want, but I really do need to see how much more financial aid I'm offered. I do want to go to this art school, but not bad enough to go into a lot of debt. I'd be willing to accept an offer from a different school if I can avoid taking out loans."

"I understand," Sebastian said. "Still, the half-tuition scholarship is the highest amount the offer during the first round of acceptance. So, that puts you in the group that might get offered more in the spring. It's really cool. I mean early admission and a scholarship offer is really amazing."

"Especially for me, the kid who thought he never had a chance." Sam was crying. "You did this. You gave me this chance." He pulled Kurt into another hug and held him tight.

"You put everything into making the best of being here. You worked hard for this. Congratulations. This is just fantastic. I'm so proud of you."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

The following two weeks were full of tension. It was Kurt and Sebastian's first time experiencing college finals. Sebastian wasn't fazed by the experience because he was accustomed to being tested on material without being told exactly what he needed to know. Kurt, on the other hand, was freaking out a lot more than normal when it came to the exams. He was used to knowing exactly what was going to be covered on exams.

Sam and Sebastian had both known him long enough to expect his reaction and weren't really bothered by his shorter temper and increased OCD tendencies. Sebastian's method of kissing Kurt in random places and random times was the most effective way of diffusing his anxiety that Sam had ever seen. Sam took to threatening to kiss Kurt to calm him down as well, which made Kurt either laugh and evade him or dare him to do it. Several times Sam followed through on the dare, kissing his arm or his knee or something absurd, which would start the evasion and laughter all over again.

The one really exciting thing that happened was that Kurt got his copy of the December issue of Vogue Paris in the mail from Lisette. He showed it to Sebastian and Sam. He took a photo of the page that his brooch was on and sent it to Carole and his dad. He stored his copy of the magazine away carefully.

The three of them made it through the ordeal alive and well. Afterwards, Kurt apologized to both of them for being so out of sorts over the whole thing. Neither of them had been angry with him to start with.

Sam had gotten an airplane ticket in the mail back before Thanksgiving and no one seemed to know where it had come from. Whoever had bought it never revealed themselves. By the end of the last week of school, Sam was packed and ready to go. He had a much shorter school break than Kurt and Sebastian.

The three of them had agreed to celebrate Christmas together when Sam got back. Sebastian and Kurt weren't going anywhere and no one was coming to visit either. Lisette had not managed to find a way to get assigned to anything in New York during December, but she had the possibility of visiting in January.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Sam had to be at the airport at 6:00am. Kurt had gotten Stacey and Stevie gifts and Sebastian had done the same. Not surprisingly, Sebastian's gifts were books that Sam knew that they wanted. Sam packed them in his suitcase that morning before they left for the airport.

"I'm going to miss you guys."

"We'll miss you too. You'll be back for New Years. Have fun with your family. Tell everyone hello and Merry Christmas from us," Kurt said.

"I will." Sam hugged them both before he walked into the airport.

Kurt and Sebastian got back in the car and moved out of the passenger drop off area.

"Did you buy the ticket?" Kurt asked Sebastian.

"No. I thought you did, honestly."

"I bet Dad and Carole bought it. He's refused the money my dad offered all semester and hasn't bought a single thing that wasn't absolutely necessary for an art project or food. So, I bet they bought the ticket and mailed it. The list of people who know our address is pretty short. Just Nick, Jeff, Thad, and our parents. I guess it could have been any of those people."

"Well, whoever did it will make Sam's family happy because they'll get to see him."

"It definitely will," Kurt agreed.

"So, now we have eight days alone in the apartment and three and a half of those you are off from work. I cooked, I chopped, I baked. Everything's ready to go."

"You never did tell me what you wanted."

"Don't worry. There's still time. I'll tell you later today when we get home after you get off from work. Is there anything you want to add to the shopping list? I'm still going to go to Costco while you're at work like I usually do."

"Maybe just one dessert. Anything that looks really good and decadent that we can eat little bits of all week."

"I will see what I can find." He pulled into the shop parking lot.

Kurt leaned in and grabbed Sebastian's shoulder gently turning him and kissed him. "I love you. I'll see you at noon." He got out of the car and let himself into the building.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"It smells fabulous in here," Kurt said as he got into the car. He sniffed. "You went to the Indian place on the way here."

"Yep. I ordered your favorite. You can eat it and then go shower. I know it's not what you usually do, but it's better warm."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. After your shower, you can see the decadent thing I found at Costco."

"Mmm. Sounds intriguing."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Kurt had only been in the shower for a minute or two when he heard Sebastian's voice.

"Kurt?"

"Yes, Bas?"

"So, I've come to tell you what I want."

"Okay?"

"I want to take you up on your offer."

"Well, come on then."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

"Ooh. It's cold out here."

"Just run for it. I stuck the heating pad in the bed before I came in the bathroom. The bed should be warm."

"You think of everything." Kurt zipped across the room and slid under the covers as fast as he could. "I'm glad we dried our hair in there. It might freeze out here."

"It's 68 degrees in here. Our hair wouldn't freeze. It just feels so cold because the bathroom got so steamy."

"Mmm hmm. And not just from the hot water," Kurt teased. He kissed Sebastian.

Sebastian turned the heat pad off and put it on the floor. "We won't need that anymore."

"Definitely not with you in the bed."

"You're okay with this, right? You're not just going along with it because I said I wanted to."

"Definitely okay. More than okay," Kurt said. "Although I am pretty tired. The shower was a bit more energy consuming than my usual Saturday shower."

"Big spoon or little spoon?"

"Umm, little spoon, but kisses first." After a few minutes, Kurt turned over on his side facing away from Sebastian.

Sebastian scooted up so there was no space between them. "So, what do you think? Sleeping in just our underwear? Or will you be too cold?"

"Well, it's different because I can feel your legs up against mine, but you're warm. We'll just have to see. We'll try it again tonight and if I wake up cold during the night, then we'll know we'll have to try again when it's warmer or buy an electric blanket," he laughed.

"Now, why didn't I think of that and buy one this morning?"

"You were probably thinking about the shower too much to think about much else. I know I would have been if I had known in advance." Kurt intertwined their fingers and held Sebastian close.

"Mmm hmm." Sebastian didn't say anything else because he wanted Kurt to be able to fall asleep, which didn't take long. He was surprised when he woke up almost two hours later when Kurt turned over to face him and started kissing him on the cheek.

"You fell asleep too. You must have been really tired. You usually just rest while I nap." Kurt stroked Sebastian cheek. "I want to talk for a bit, okay?"

"Of course."

"So, you surprised me earlier. I just want to talk about that, okay?"

"Okay."

"Was that a one time thing, like you just wanted to try it? Or is this our new normal? Or something in between? I just want to know how you feel about it and what it means for us."

"Well, I'm hoping it's not a one time thing. Remember back when you came to my dad's house the first time and you were shocked by all of my books and my bookwormishness?"

"Mmm hmm."

"I made a joke about you being surprised that I owned more books than porn."

"Yes."

"Well, the truth is I didn't own any porn. You've seen all of my books and movies. I didn't hide my stash somewhere and then toss it while I was unpacking my boxes while you were at work."

"Okay."

"For a while, I wondered if something was wrong with me. Guys would talk about their reactions to seeing pretty girls or women, or hot guys if they were gay, and nothing like that happened for me. It wasn't that I was 'broken'. I knew I didn't have ED or something because it worked just fine. I just never had that type of reaction from seeing guys."

"Okay."

"I wasn't sure if Dr. Morris was up for talking about that type of thing, but I needed to talk about what had happened in Paris and other related issues, and it took me quite a while to build up the nerve to ask her. Eventually I brought it up as we talked through my past - that the reaction absolutely happens all the time around you."

Kurt laughed and kissed him. "Good."

"I mean all you have to do is look at me sometimes. I'm not complaining, mind you."

He kissed Kurt. "I was just trying to understand because it had never happened to me like that before."

"Okay."

"She explained to me how some people don't feel that type of attraction toward someone unless they feel an intense emotional connection with the person first. It made so much sense the way she explained it and it completely fit how I am. It was honestly kind of scary how intense the feelings were because I had never felt like that at all. I wanted to make sure there wasn't something wrong with me."

"It's fine for you to tell her whatever you need to, you know that. She's helped you so much. I'm glad she was able to help you understand yourself better."

"So, since she and I had talked about it a while back, I did some reading and a lot of thinking. I think a lot of what was holding me back was just the unease of all of the new feelings, the arousal, the intensity. But what she said and what I read did help me understand why I had zero interest in accepting the offers from any of the guys that would hit on me in Scandals. I'm just not the type to be aroused by that. But you, God, you drive me crazy. My body goes into overdrive. I think sometimes I come across as standoffish or like I don't want to touch you but really I want you so badly that I don't know what to do with the intensity of the feelings, so I would hold back."

"And now?"

"And now, I realize that how I feel is normal. It's fine to feel that way about you. That feeling so turned on by my partner is totally normal."

Kurt kissed him again.

"We had spent weeks talking and getting close to each other last spring, starting in the garden, and then we got really close once you came to Paris, and you had brought up dating that night before my dad called. Later that night, you showed me yourself, and that was the first time it had ever happened. I had seen plenty of guys naked before. I played lacrosse and swam. I had showered in communal showers and had probably seen more than a hundred naked guys over the years. And in all those years, I had never had a physical reaction to seeing any of them. But that night, I had to force myself to stay in the bed. I was so turned on."

"I can see how that would be startling. So, I was standing there terrified that you wouldn't find me attractive at all and you were lying in the bed experiencing attraction that you had never felt before. And we were both surprised."

"I could barely speak and you were asking - if I was attracted to you? I didn't even know I could feel like that."

"So, then, yes, this is where we are now? You're okay with this level of interaction? Here in our space, in our room, which includes the closet and the bathroom. So, for example, I can come out of the bathroom in my birthday suit and get dressed out here?"

"Oh. Um. Am I allowed distract you from putting the clothes on? I might just not want you to."

Kurt laughed. "It's winter and it's cold."

"I'll turn the heat up and cover the cost of the additional electricity," he teased as he ran his hand down Kurt's arm and leaned forward to kiss him.

"I don't think so. I'm not ready to start our own nudist colony in our room. Maybe some day. I don't know though. I think my limit is probably stripped down to my underwear for my waking hours."

"Fair enough. I don't honestly think I could wander around completely naked either." Sebastian laughed.

"As for the rest of what went on, I'm comfortable with that, but I'm not ready to move beyond that yet," Kurt said.

"Me either. I still have other issues that I'm working through."

"I know. It's fine. I've told you before and I meant it. A lot of couples never even do that. I'm not going to love you more if we do or less if we don't. Us being together is about us being comfortable together with what we do. If and when we're seriously considering it, we'll talk again."

"I'm so glad your mine. I love you so much."

"I love you, Bas, so very much. Will you turn over so I can hold you now?"

Sebastian kissed him and then turned over.

"I'm glad you shared with me. I'm honestly glad that we've gone this slow with things. It's given both of us more time to heal and really get to know and trust each other."

Kurt scooted up as close as he could and slipped his arm under Sebastian's and wrapped it around his chest so that his hand was stroking the side of Sebastian's neck.

"I think what you told me is part of who you are and I'm really fine with that. I can't separate my issues between whether they are similar to yours, meaning an internal integral part of me or whether they were beaten into me by an environment that found me and my desires an abomination. Living where everything that would have been attractive to me was forbidden and punishable really suppressed my natural instincts. If I had physically displayed any sort of arousal around a guy, it could have led to me getting beat up. I had to change in the communal locker rooms as well. I feared anything like that happening in front of the other guys. Just like you, it never did happen to me. I have never been into porn either. I just can't watch it. Touching someone is just such an intimate act to me that it doesn't feel right watching other people touch each other. It feels like I'm invading their privacy, despite the fact that I KNOW that they are being paid to do what they're doing or they willingly uploaded videos of themselves. It just doesn't turn me on the way it obviously does most guys."

"So, none of that turns you on either?"

"Nope, not a bit. Even if I knew for absolute certain that the two people were in love, I would still feel like I was invading their privacy and that wouldn't be arousing to me at all."

"Interesting. I don't think I've met anyone else like me. Or if I have, they just played along with the other guys pretended that porn was hot."

"And just so you know, you have the same effect on me that you say that I have on you. And even though I live in a place where I can be myself now, I still don't have that reaction to anyone but you."

"Mmm. Maybe it is part of who you are as well then. The environmental fear may have just been an outside issue." He moved his hand to place it over the top of Kurt's and run his thumb across Kurt's ring.

"Could be. I guess it doesn't really matter now. We have each other."

"That we do."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

A couple of hours later, Kurt asked Sebastian, "Are you hungry?"

"Actually, I am." He climbed out of bed and they both slipped on their Paris hoodies, pajama pants and socks. "I think maybe I should have bought two pairs of the fluffy slippers I saw this morning at Costco."

"I think so. I'm not used to living in a place with no carpet and actual tile floors. Those tiles are COLD. When I go to work later this week, you can go out and find us warm fluffy slippers. Get Sam a pair too. We can give them to him as a Christmas gift when he gets back. I know he said not to get him anything, but slippers hardly count as a gift."

Kurt sat down at the table. "You never did show me the decadent item you bought."

"Oh, yeah." He opened the freezer and took out a box of mini cheesecakes. He put it on the table in front of Kurt.

"Oh, my. This is fantastic. They're like two bites each. It's perfect. There are 32 of them. Four each of eight different types. We can each have two every day while Sam is gone. Which one do you want to try first? You pick."

Sebastian closed his eyes and randomly touched the box. He opened them and read, "Dark chocolate sprinkles with a dark chocolate cookie crust."

"Let's get two of them out and let them defrost while we eat real food."

Sebastian found the right ones and sat them out on the counter and put the box back in the freezer and pulled out the salads he had prepared for their dinner earlier. He put their salads on the table, grabbed forks, poured them water, and sat down with Kurt.

"These salads look great. Thank you for doing all the work for our meals for the next few days. I'm glad were going to get to relax."

After they finished eating, Kurt washed the bowls and put them in the drain to dry. He unwrapped the mini cheesecakes and fed Sebastian his and ate his own.

"Those are actually pretty good. I didn't know what to expect," Sebastian said. "I've never bought frozen cheesecake before."

"Me neither, but I agree. That was pretty good." Kurt kissed Sebastian. "Good find."

"Back to bed?" Sebastian asked.

"Yep." Kurt double-checked that the front door was locked, turn the lights off and followed Sebastian back to the bedroom.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o

Sam's family was waiting for him when he arrived at the airport in Cincinnati. It was a fairly short drive from there back to their house. When he walked in, Christmas filled the air. His mom had baked a pie and the house smelled like the Christmas tree that his brother and sister had decorated with handmade paper ornaments.

"The tree looks great, you two. Good job!" He laid his suitcase on the couch and opened it and pulled out the six gifts that he had brought with him and put them under the tree. "There. Now, there are presents under the tree too."

"Yay! Who's Sebastian?" Stacey asked as she looked at the labels.

"Oh, that's Kurt's boyfriend. He's really cool."

"I didn't like his last boyfriend," Stevie said.

"Me neither," Stacey added.

"Well, you'll like Sebastian. Here, let me show you a picture." He pulled out his phone and pulled up a photo of the three of them.

"He looks nice," Stacey said.

"He is. He's very, very nice. And he loves Kurt very much. They're going to get married this summer."

"Really? Boys can't marry boys here," Stevie said.

"Well, they can where we live."

"That's cool. Kurt looks happy. I miss him."

"I know, Stacey. I'll have to see if I can figure out some way for you to get to see him."

"Since you're here we can use your phone and call him. Maybe on Christmas Day for a surprise. At least we could talk to him," Stacey suggested.

"That's an excellent idea."

"When can we open the presents?" Stacey asked.

"Well, I think you can open Sebastian's presents tonight. And we'll wait to open Kurt's presents until Christmas Eve and you can open mine on Christmas morning. How's that?"

Stevie and Stacey walked over to the tree, sat down and took their presents out from under the tree.

"You first, Stacey. You're the youngest," Stevie said.

"Oh, look it's those books I wanted that Nicole has. The ones about Samantha. It's the whole set. That's so cool. I'm going to read one tonight."

"Go ahead, Stevie. Open yours," Sam encouraged.

Stevie unwrapped his and found the first two Harry Potter books.

"Awesome! I really wanted these. Every time I try to check them out at the library, they're already gone."

Sebastian said to tell both of you that when you finish to let him know and he'll get the next books in the series for you."

"Really?" they said at the same time.

"Yep, really. He's cool like that. And his very favorite thing to do is to read books. He's studying to be a college teacher to teach people about books."

"That's cool," Stacey said.

"I agree," Sam said.

"Well, tell him thank you, okay?" Stacey said.

"Yeah, from me too," Stevie said.

"I'll do that. Let me take your picture and I'll send it with the thank you message."

Sam got down on one knee and they sat together with their books on their laps and smiled for Sam.

"Perfect," he said as he clicked send.