"Though if I don't get into NYADA I will be devastated," Kurt laughs, trying but failing to sound carefree and not like a nervous wreck. "But still. NYU is a good university, and The Actors studio is very prestigious- but it's heavily focused on acting as opposed to musical theater." he pauses a while, watching Blaine trying to decide between two different types of cheese. "So, I've applied to all of them, and the AAD too- though I didn't really like the look of their course. Plus I... Are you okay?" he asks suddenly.

"Hmm? Yeah, yeah," Blaine says distractedly.

"Because I've pushed this cart up and down the same aisle four times, and you still haven't chosen which cheese you're getting."

"Kurt I..." He pauses and looks at Kurt, who waits expectantly. "This one," he says, slinging a packet into the cart and swallowing the hurt lodged in his throat. "You didn't like the gruyere last time."

"Blaine?"

Stopping in the middle of the aisle and gripping the cart tightly, Kurt watches Blaine's shoulders slump as he takes a moment to gather himself before he turns to face him.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"And I love you. I'm really pleased you're applying to other places. Obviously I hope you get into NYADA, but at least you're open to other options- even if they are all in New York."

"Of course they are, silly." Kurt scrunches his nose as Blaine's insides lurch in pain. "There's nowhere else I want to be."

"I thought so." Blaine plasters a smile on his face and holds his hand out to Kurt. "Come on. We need chicken."

Kurt goes home that night to study. They have fallen into a pattern of seeing each other a few evenings and all weekend- and it seems as though a large part of Kurt's closet has found it's way into Blaine's and vice versa. But Kurt has a lot of tests looming, meaning he has no choice but to study hard. Still, they kiss goodbye as lovingly as they always do, and Blaine closes his front door quietly before he sinks to the floor and sobs. He stays there for the longest time before he eventually fumbles for his phone and dials.

"He's applied," he chokes out before Wes can even utter a greeting.

"Oh Blaine," his friend sighs heavily. "I'm on my way."

There is nothing Wes can say or do other than to hold Blaine on the floor of his hallway and let him cry until he can cry no more, until his eyes are red and raw and he finally becomes capable of speech once again.

"Thank you," he whispers, voice hoarse and thick with tears.

Wes runs his hands over Blaine's back as he speaks into his hair. "Any time Blaine. You should know that by now," he smiles ruefully. "I have to say, I'm surprised you're not halfway through a bottle of whiskey."

"Kurt doesn't like it when I drink heavily," he mutters, before a fresh flood of tears make themselves known. "They're all in New York, Wes," he sobs. "Every place he's applied to. All of them. He will go to New York next summer and that will be the end of us."

"Hey, come on now. You don't know that for sure. You can work through this. You've told me yourself so many times that you two are meant to be."

"I know, and I'll never let him go, but he wants me to go with him...and when I say no..."

"I thought you had already told him?"

"I have, or at least, I've tried. But I know he's convinced he can change my mind. These last few months we've been spending every weekend together. We're as good as living together already. We go grocery shopping together, we make dinner together, he has a key and just comes and goes as he chooses. It would be so easy...so fucking easy to make that transition."

"Then why don't you?" Wes asks as he takes Blaine's hand and forces eye contact. "Blaine, why are you here? In Lima? We came back together because you needed support from me and your parents, and ultimately we came because of my job. But you can do your job anywhere."

"But... New York..."

"New York is a big city, with many different places and with many opportunities for you to make new memories with Kurt. He's the love of your life Blaine. Luke wasn't. I know it was hard, but be honest with me here. How many times have you thought of him in the last year? You know the anniversary of his passing was two weeks ago?"

"Was it?" Blaine rubs his temples and tries to remember. "Yeah... I guess it was."

"You see? That doesn't make you a bad person, Blaine. It just means you've found closure in the arms of Kurt. You've moved on from that dark place. And you know what? You loved that city. Central Park, Times Square, Bronx Zoo... Don't you want to be by Kurt's side when he experiences all of that for the first time? Don't you want to share cotton candy on Coney Island? Or try and rein in his spending at Saks? Two years ago I was sitting here telling you to try and get to know Kurt as a friend. Now I'm telling you not to lose your lover."

"I need time to deal with this," Blaine croaks as he lies down with his head in Wes' lap. "I'm not sure."

"Of course you do," he says kindly. "Though if you need to cuddle I'd rather we move to your couch," he laughs as he pats his shoulder. "I'm not expecting a snap decision, Blaine. But I do want you to talk to Kurt about this. You have to tell him why you're reluctant. I can only help so much, it's him you really need to get you through this."

"Not tonight. He's got studying to do, and it's sectionals on Saturday. I can't mess all that up for him."

"But soon, yes?"

"Yes."

But sectionals comes and goes, Kurt sends his applications in, and Blaine says nothing. Truth be told, he finds it all too easy to bottle his feelings, put them on the highest shelf and forget about them. It's easier than confrontation that's for sure. And he just wants to enjoy being with Kurt. Every second they're together is better than the last, and so it is that he finds himself trudging wearily through the door after a long day at work with a huge grin playing on his face.

"Kurt?"

"How did you know I was here?" He appears in the hallway, apron tied around his waist and an adorable chocolate smudge running across his cheek. "I hid my car in the garage."

"I know you did," Blaine smiles as he throws his keys on the hall table. "Because I couldn't get my car in there."

"Oh. I didn't think of that," he smiles sheepishly.

"What'cha doing?" Blaine sing songs as he sidles up to him.

"Oh no you don't mister. It's a surprise. Now go wash up."

"I don't even get a kiss?"

"Well..." he places a lingering kiss to Blaine's pouting lips. "There. Now go. Dinner in five."

When Blaine trips back downstairs a few minutes later he finds the kitchen door barricaded and hears a muffled Kurt ordering him into the dining room. He gasps when he walks in and finds the whole room lit by candles, an enormous bouquet of flowers and the table laid out for two with a bottle of wine set in an ice bucket.

"All this for a Thursday?" he asks as he hears Kurt come into the room behind him. "I don't even usually see you on a Thursday."

"All this for your birthday," Kurt corrects, wrapping his arms around his waist and hooking his chin over his shoulder.

"That's on Saturday."

"Blaine, trust me, I'm never going to forget the date of your birthday," he says with a small smile. "But the celebrations start now. We have plans tomorrow and for the weekend too."

"A card would suffice."

"It would not," Kurt says, tapping his backside playfully. "Now sit. Dinner is served."

"Okay. You're gonna have to stop with the noises," Kurt says as he throws his napkin down in defeat. "Or you will be naked."

"Too good," Blaine gets out around a mouthful of chicken. "Ohmygod, how have we gone all this time without me knowing you could cook like this? When we're married I'm gonna need this at least once a week, 'Kay?"

"You still think that will happen?" Kurt asks, propping his chin on his palm and gazing at him lovingly.

"I hope so," Blaine answers with shining eyes. "It's what I want more than anything."

"Me too."

"Along with cheesecake."

"Yes, me too," Kurt laughs as he gathers the plates. He returns a moment later, one plate in his hand as he gestures to Blaine to let him sit in his lap. "So... I made this," he says somewhat proudly. "It has taken nearly all afternoon so I hope it's good. S'mores chocolate cheesecake for the birthday boy...well...man," he smiles as he offers a tempting forkful.

"I am in heaven," Blaine says as he swallows. "Kurt that is just... Not better than sex but pretty damn close. More," he demands, opening his mouth wide and groaning when Kurt feeds him again and again.

"Do I get to try any, or are you just going to have the whole slice?" Kurt teases.

"Here." Blaine scoops some cheesecake onto his finger and offers it, eyes darkening as Kurt sucks his finger suggestively. "Well I guess we know where this evening is heading," he says, quirking one eyebrow as his voice becomes gravelly with desire. He offers his finger again. "Tell me you're staying?"

"I'm staying," Kurt confirms. "And you and I are going to be naked for a very, very long time," he breathes as he ghosts his lips over Blaine's. "After we finish the cheesecake."

"Or before," he answers with a wink.

An hour later and cheesecake is everywhere. Blaine can't help but laugh when Kurt stops sucking his cock and looks up at him, complete with chocolate beard. It is smeared down his chest and stomach, in Blaine's hair, over his thighs and finally his hips as Kurt bends him over the dining room table and takes him. The only part of their anatomies that are cheesecake free are their dicks, both having taken great pleasure in sucking each other clean earlier in the proceedings. By the time their mutual orgasm hits for the second time, both are worn out and stagger wearily to the shower where Blaine declares he will tackle the dishes the next day.

"That cheesecake..." he starts once they're in bed and he's tracing a finger up and down Kurt's chest.

"Hmm?"

"Promise me you will never serve that at any dinner parties we may end up having. I'll never survive."

Kurt laughs loudly and rolls him over, pinning him to the bed and kissing him tenderly. "Blaine... I love you so much. You're completely over dramatic..."

"Me?" he cries incredulously. "Me?!"

"Yes. You. I'm always calm and collected." Kurt's eyes sparkle with mirth as he continues. "You panic if there's a smear on the kitchen window yet you eat cheesecake from my cock like you haven't had a decent meal in weeks."

"I hadn't sucked your dick for five days," Blaine points out. "Same thing."

"Blaine... " Kurt pauses to catch his full attention. "We'll be okay." He offers a small smile, eyes sincere but then filling with concern as Blaine breaks down completely. "Hey... Oh Blaine. Shh." He cradles him tenderly in his arms as Blaine's sobs echo around the room and he grips the love of his life as tight as he can. "Blaine... My darling old man. Please don't cry. Please. We will, I mean it. We'll be okay."

"Th-thank you," he sobs violently, whole body shaking with the force. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that."

"What? I thought you knew..."

"I did...I do," pausing, he rubs at his eyes in the manner of a small child and Kurt finds himself struck by the vulnerability and fear this man is dealing with. His whole body curls around him protectively as he listens to Blaine's anguish. "I just...it's always you asking me. And I... I'm tired of trying to be strong. I can't be strong anymore because I'm fucking petrified."

"Oh my god I'm so sorry," Kurt cries desperately. "Blaine..."

"No, no don't be sorry, cause you need that reassurance as much as I do and I'm happy to be the one to give that to you. But I just... I just needed to hear that you think that for yourself. Does that make any sense?"

"Yes," Kurt nods earnestly. "And please don't be frightened. There's no need. We know how fairy tales end... And this is ours."

"I'll never give up fighting for you."

"I know." Kurt kisses everywhere, becoming frantic and desperate as he tries but fails to keep his own tears from falling. Blaine finds his lips and captures them, their kiss fervent with need until both steadily start to relax in each others arms. "We'll be okay," Kurt murmurs against his lips. "We'll be okay." Their kisses slow to occasional grazes of lips, their tears dry as salt tracks on each others skin and it is to this mantra which Kurt repeats over and over, that Blaine eventually falls asleep.