Chapter Forty-Nine: Loose Your Chance of Ever Knowing

Kurt and Blaine returned to New York after a quick day-long visit to the Hudmel household, falling back into their usual routine, going to college and work, cuddling in the evenings, occasionally christening a new room in their apartment. Their lives began normal, as if Blaine wasn't a prince and he wasn't soon to be crowned king, with his boyfriend at his side.

Kurt still hung around Aaron to save everyone from awkwardness at college, frowning when Blaine explained to his manager why he didn't want to share shifts with the taller boy anymore. He had sulked for a whole three days after that, determined for Blaine to get over his unprecedented jealous. But as college became harder and they were both given assignments that limited their alone time together, it was also harder to be mad at his boyfriend.

The conversation between Michael and Ella was soon forgotten, until one night four weeks later.

Blaine grumbled under his breath, snuggling closer to Kurt's back, arms tightening around him to stop the other boy moving, the sound of the doorbell ringing loudly resonating through their apartment. Kurt struggled against his hold, trying to sit up.

' Blaine…there's someone at the door, let me go'

' It's three in the morning, just ignore it' Blaine said into the back of his neck.

' What if it's one of the neighbours?'

' What if it's the boogieman?'

' I highly doubt the boogieman would ring the doorbell'

' Just leave it'

' Let me go, I'll be right back' Kurt told him, scrambling out his grasp and pulling on some sweatpants and his dressing gown, looking round at the sound of movement. ' You don't have to come'

' Sure I do, what if it is really the boogieman? I can't let you go out there alone' Blaine sighed, pulling on his own boxers and a t-shirt, following Kurt out of the bedroom as the doorbell rang again. ' He sure is impatient'

' Will you please stop mentioning the boogieman?' Kurt hissed, grumpy from being woken up so early. He made it to the door first, not bothering to glimpse out through the peephole, sliding off the chain and opening the front door. ' Ella?'

Ella stood in the hallway, damp from the light rain that was falling outside, her hair limp against her shoulders and her coat covering what appeared to be a long violet dress.

' Hi' she sighed, biting her bottom lip anxiously.

' Come in' Kurt said, stepping aside and letting the girl scurry inside. ' What are you doing here?'

' I'm sorry it's so late and for coming unannounced, I just…I just didn't know who to go to' the princess stammered, tears filling her eyes so suddenly, Kurt wondered how long she's been holding them back. Blaine looked dumb struck, crossing over to his sister and wrapping his arms around her instinctively. She burst into tears.

' Ella, oh sweetheart, it's okay, everything's going to be okay' Blaine whispered soothingly, rubbing her back, motioning for Kurt to make some tea over her shoulder. He carefully manouvered the younger girl over to the sofa, sitting her down and letting her cry into his shoulder. ' Ella, what's happened?'

She pulled away, taking sharp breaths and wiping her eyes. ' Dad…he's…he's done something awful…'

' What did he do?' Kurt asked, handing her a mug of hot tea. She smiled gratefully, still shivering from the cold outside.

' You remember after the party, when dad told me he'd found an ideal suitor for me?' the two boys nodded. ' Well we had him and his family over for dinner again yesterday and…oh he's just so horrible! So arrogant and rude and chauvinistic and offensive, he's homophobic even though he says he's fine with two guys "have sex and shit", and he barely talks to me, he's always talking to dad or he's always talking at me, he's the worst human being I've ever met! And now dad has announced that he has made arrangements for us to be betrothed…!'

' Wait! He what?' Blaine gasped, sounding angry.

' He's set up this big betrothal to happen that will make sure that we marry each other!' Ella exclaimed, setting down her mug and jumping to her feet, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace in her own anger. ' I have no choice in the matter and I really don't want to marry Francis! I want to marry…' she trailed off, looking at the floor.

' Noah?' Kurt finished for her, smiling.

She looked up, aghast. ' Is…is it that obvious?'

' Of course it's obvious! Gosh you two are worse than Nick and Jeff…you both really like each other, yet you're too stupid to see it' he laughed, flopping backwards on the sofa. Blaine grinned beside him, nodding his agreement when his sister glanced at him.

' Well that makes it even worse! I can't go through with a marriage to someone I don't love! I just can't! Blaine, you got out of your marriage to Tiffanie, how?' the princess asked, dropping to her knees on the other side of the coffee table, reaching for her tea again.

Blaine shrugged. ' It was easier for me, I just had to come out publicly'

' Great' she sighed, dropping her head onto the table.

' Hey, hey! One, don't do that it hurts…' she nodded, rubbing her head. ' And two, just publicly inform dad that you want to marry someone else'

' Won't dad be mad?'

' Of course dad will be mad, he's always mad, he spends his life angry at his children. You're one of the two children he has left that have been marginally obedient and because of that he thinks he can control your life, and that he will eventually control Emilie's life, because you're his daughters and his last chance at keeping control over his family…but he's not thinking about what you, what's best for you' Blaine told her. ' Think about it. Christian left to be in the army. Sebastian left to be with the woman he loves. I left so I could live outside his walls. Jack left to be who he wanted to be. All of this happened because dad thought he could control our lives to the tee. It's ridiculous and you need to stop him before he has you married off and sent away'

' How?'

' Call him out, tell him you won't be marrying this Jean-Paul guy and that you will only marry for love'

Ella nodded, sipping her tea in quiet contemplation.

' Why don't you stay here for a while?' Kurt suggested. ' We can make up the guest room'

' I don't want to impose on you anymore'

' Nonsense, you're family, come on you can borrow some of my pyjamas' he said, standing up and holding out a hand for her.

' This is so nice of you, thank you' Ella smiled, letting him pull her to her feet.

' No problem, we've all been in this situation'


' I regret not packing a bag when I left' Ella sighed, bemused as she walked with Kurt down 5th avenue, already holding an expanse of shopping bags and dressed in some of Kurt's skinny jeans and one of his more feminine shirts. Kurt laughed.

' Thank grilled cheesus for Blaine's credit card then'

' Grilled cheesus?'

' Oh don't ask, all you have to know is Finn made a grilled cheese sandwich with the face of Jesus on it and called it grilled cheesus' he explained, stopping outside a window and peering in at all the clothes.

' Wow…your brother is just plain odd'

' You don't know the half of it' he sighed, going into the shop.

Ella followed Kurt around the shop, offering her opinion on a piece of clothing for him, standing still while he held up clothes for her.

' So Kurt…what are you and Blaine doing for Christmas? It's only a few weeks away' she asked as Kurt handed over the credit card to the cashier for the pile of clothing. He smiled.

' We're going to Lima to celebrate with my family. Mum's planned a huge Christmas party for Christmas day' he told her, taking the bag. ' The New Directions are coming and some of the Warblers, she sent an invite to the palace for you, Jack and Piers but obviously you're here'

' Oh! I would love to come! How lovely of her!'

' Excellent, well why don't you just stay with us until we leave, save you from travelling so much?'

' I really don't want to impose on you two' Ella said quietly, biting her bottom lip again. Kurt shook his head, linking their arms together and pulling her close.

' Ella, you're going to be my sister soon enough, there is no way you could impose on us, you're always welcome' he told her. ' Plus, Puck will be at the party' he added with a wink, making the princess blush pink. ' Oh you are so sweet! It reminds me of Pocahontas you know? The free spirited princess, in love with the American bad boy but being made to marry a practical stranger. You're a Disney princess Ella'

She laughed with him, continuing to discuss the similarities of Disney with their own life as they returned to the car, unloading the shopping bags and going for a walk through Central Park. It was a cold day, snow was on its way, and the leaves were falling in curtains from the auburn trees. Children were playing in the piles of leaves and couples were walking through the park, enjoying the romance that came from walking through the park in autumn. Kurt and Blaine had walked through the park together just last week, in the semi-darkness that the city produced. Central Park was the picture of romance, and made Ella ache for that romance as she sat waiting for Kurt to reappear with the crepes. She sat on a bench beside the lake, gazing out at the water. She sighed.

' What I love most about rivers is:
You can't step in the same river twice
The water's always changing, always flowing
'

The princess looked round at all the families and couples walking, the children playing, running about without care for anything.

' But people, I guess, can't live like that
We all must pay a price
To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing
What's around the river bend
Waiting just around the river bend
'

She stood, kicking at stray leaves as she walked along the edge of the lake bank.

' I look once more
Just around the river bend
Beyond the shore
Where the gulls fly free
Don't know what for
What I dream the day might send
Jut around the river bend
For me
Coming for me

I feel it there beyond those trees
Or right behind these waterfalls
Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming'

Kurt was walking over, looking bemused that she had gotten up. Her brother was so lucky.

' For a handsome sturdy husband
Who builds handsome sturdy walls
And never dreams that something might be coming?
Just around the river bend
Just around the river bend

I look once more
Just around the river bend
Beyond the shore
Somewhere past the sea
Don't know what for ...
Why do all my dreams extend
Just around the river bend?
Just around the river bend ...
'

Kurt was suddenly at her side, handing her one of the crepes, not saying a thing, just smiling, waiting for her to finish.

' Should I choose the smoothest curve
Steady as the beating drum?
Should I marry Kocoum?
Is all my dreaming at an end?
Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver
Just around the river bend?
'

' You can dream whatever you want to Ella' Kurt said softly, wrapping an arm around her. ' Everybody deserves to have their dreams come true'


' This is why I dread us having a daughter' Blaine sighed to himself, leaning against the open driver's door of Kurt's navigator and laying onto the horn. ' It is going to take years for us to get out of the door in the morning' he pressed the horn again. ' Kurt! Ella! Hurry up! We have to be there before Christmas day!'

' We're coming, we're coming! Keep your hair on' Ella exclaimed, hurrying down the steps, Kurt at her heels.

' You're so impatient' Kurt grumbled, throwing his messenger bag into the back and climbing into the passenger seat.

' And you have too much stuff' Blaine replied, grinning. ' What is all this stuff?'

' Presents of course!'

' You spoil your friends' the prince chuckled, pulling out of their road.

' Oh shut up' Kurt said teasingly, nudging him. Ella smiled in the back. She and Blaine had spoken last night. Something was coming. Something big. Something that would change their lives forever.


A/N I have every intent of continuing this long into their children's lives, and everything now is leading up to big things like their wedding and the coronation and their children being born. There's going to be big drama, like the public dealing with a gay couple running a country and you'll see which girls help Klaine have children. But you have to all tell me if you're getting bored of it. A recent review has left me a little worried.

The next chapter will be longer. And yes I've made a big jump from Halloween to Christmas, but I didn't want the store to drag or anything, and Christmas has lots of big things happen! Yay! XD

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