Notes:

If I had kept to a strict changing of pov's for each chapter (which I never really have to be honest) this should have been a chapter from Kurt's pov, but this one really needed to be told from Blaine's. There's not a lot of Klaine in it, but for me this chapter was important to complete the whole story. It's the longest chapter of all posted yet (ch. 17 a close second with only a 100 words less ;) ), and I thought about splitting it into two because I knew before I started to write it that it would be long (one weekend in one chapter - what was I thinking?). But I did say this would be a 55 chapter story, so you'll have to put up with this extremely long chapter :)


Blaine, Friday October 27th 2017, 09.03 am

"Kurt?"

"Yes, baby?"

"When are you going to admit that you've moved into my apartment?"

"I haven't." Kurt is very determined.

We're in my bedroom, packing the final things before we head to the airport. Over the past month, more and more of Kurt's stuff have found their way into my apartment. I don't mind, I love it actually, love having things around me that remind me of him. He has made this place feel like a home instead of a show house. At first it was little things like his toothbrush next to mine, a few pillows on the couch, his breakfast food in my fridge. But after a while, his clothes were in my wardrobe, pictures of us were carefully placed around the apartment, new, fluffier towels replaced my old ones in the bathroom. But for some reason he can't admit that he's moved in.

"You have, Kurt. You spend almost every night here, your clothes take up more space than mine, and Sophie even has her own litter box." I close my bag and sit down on the bed.

"This is your place, Blaine. Not mine." Kurt is unrelenting, and I don't understand why.

"It is your place too, Kurt, don't be silly. You know how much I love it when you're here, how it doesn't feel like home when you're missing. You have your own key, and you come and go as if you lived here, so why can't you admit that you actually do?"

Kurt stops what he's doing and sits down on the other side of the bed, his back turned towards me, his voice sounding small. "You never asked me if I wanted to move in..."

Oh… I didn't realize he needed me to ask. I just assumed he knew I wanted him to. I move across the bed and wrap my arms around him from behind. "Do you want to move in with me, Kurt Hummel?" I say the words close to his ear, making him shiver.

"I do," Kurt says and places his hands on top of mine. His voice is much softer and more yielding than before. "I would love to live with you."

I chuckle tenderly into his hair. "Have I ever told you how adorable you are?"

"How could I know for sure that you wanted me to live here if you never asked?" Kurt asks and turns his head slightly to look at me.

"I thought I told you to assume away when it comes to these things. I want to share my life with you, of course I want to live with you." I meet his lips in a soft peck.

"So I won't renew my lease then." He kisses me back before he excitedly continues. "Is it okay if I rearrange the living room? The couch would fit so much better against the wall facing the window."

"Do whatever you want, Kurt," I chuckle. "This is officially your home too now."

"Oh, I have so many plans!" Kurt says and claps his hands.

I can't do anything but laugh at his enthusiasm. "How many times have you rearranged this apartment in your head?"

"Just a few…" Kurt says and smiles. "I might have some plans for this room, too."

"Oh God, I love you so much," I say, hug him tight, and pull him down on top of me on the bed.

Kurt lets out a surprised laugh, but then he kisses me, and everything else but his lips on mine, his tongue swirling around mine, disappears. I could spend forever kissing Kurt and never get tired of it.

"Should we get going?" Kurt asks when he breaks the kiss.

"Can we stay?" I'm excited about going to Lima, to see Burt, to see our friends, but right now, kissing Kurt in my, no in our, bed feels much more tempting. With my palms on his cheeks, I meet his lips in another kiss. I wrap my legs around his to anchor him close to me, to make it harder for him to get up from this bed. There might also be a tiny thrust of my hips.

"Even if you make a convincing argument, no we can't," Kurt laughs, his face shining like the sun above me. "Are you ready?"

"Are you?"

We both know our lives are about to change. Well mostly Kurt's. We've managed to keep our relationship a secret since we got back together. No one has been able to figure out whom I went up to perform to at that restaurant, and our friends have been great and kept the secret safe. But now, we will travel together, we will go to the wedding together, and I sure as hell intend to dance with Kurt at that wedding. We will get noticed. We've talked a lot about it, and even though I want to keep Kurt safe, away from the spotlight, we both know that this moment was going happen sooner or later. Now at least it's on our terms.

"I think so," Kurt says. "I don't think there is a way for you to prepare yourself for something like this, but as long as I have you, I know I'll be okay."

"And you'll always have me," I say.

"Then I'll always be okay." Kurt smiles and kisses my nose.

Hearing Kurt use the word always in reference to us makes my belly flutter. It's only been a month, but it's so clear to the both of us that this is it. This is forever. We know the mistakes we made, and we know how not to repeat them.

After minutes of more kissing - I don't know how many because kissing Kurt always make me lose track of time - we have to tear ourselves away from each other before things become too heated, or we'll miss our flight. It's hard because I know there will be nothing of that in Lima, not under Burt's roof. Not gonna happen, no matter how much Kurt's going to beg me.

"Are you sure Sophie will be okay staying with your friends while we're away?" I ask. I've grown quite attached to that furry, little animal. I feel like we have a special bond, and I don't like that we're leaving her with people she's not used to.

"You're so sweet when you worry about her, baby," Kurt says. "She's stayed with them before, and she'll be perfectly fine. Ali loves to spoil her, and even if Sophie does her best to stay away in the beginning, by the time this weekend is over, she'll be purring in Ali's lap. Besides, your idea to let Sebastian watch her was horrible. Why would you even think about giving a key to this place to him? Have you learnt nothing?" Kurt's voice is playful, and like he's enjoying reminding me of this more than he should.

"I know, I know…" I say with a little laugh and hang my head in embarrassment. That had not been my brightest idea. I just thought it'd be easier for her to stay at home than at an unfamiliar place. But giving a key to Seb after changing the locks, would be like giving him permission to come and go as he pleases.

Kurt chuckles when he looks at me. "Okay, let's get going," he says and tugs me up from the bed.

In the taxi to the airport, Kurt grows quieter the closer we get there, and I can tell he's getting nervous. I take his hand in mine, making him turn his face from the window to look at me. There's a fraction of a smile there, one that grows when our eyes connect. His hand relaxes in mine, and I can see some of the tension leave his body.

I let go of his hand when we step out of the taxi and don't take it again until we're in the taxi to the Hummel residence. We've both decided to not draw attention to ourselves by being overly affectionate in public. Not yet.

Before we board our flight, I get noticed by a few fans at the gate. No one really pays too much attention to Kurt, though. They're the kind of fans that appreciate me for my music and nothing else.

I can feel Kurt relax the closer we get to Lima. But as he relaxes, I feel my own anxiety levels increase. I've made so many mistakes to the people in this town, and now I'm about to face them. I want to make those apologizes, but that doesn't mean I'm not scared about the response.

"It's going to be fine," Kurt assures me when the taxi parks on the street just outside his old home. "Dad loves you, and you know how excited he is about meeting you again."

I know, but I still worry. He was like my dad, and I didn't talk to him for five years. Somewhere underneath the excitedness, he has to be upset with me.

"I hope that you're right," I say.

"I am, Blaine, you know I am." Kurt presses my hand lightly before he lets it go for the first time since we got into this taxi.

We pay the driver and step out onto the street. Kurt takes my hand in his again as we start walking up the driveway. When we're by the steps leading up to the front porch, the door opens and Burt comes rushing down, forgoes Kurt, and wraps me up in the biggest hug. I drop my bag to the ground and let go of Kurt's hand to hug him back.

"Welcome home, son," Burt says, and there's no way for me to stop the tears from coming. Burt is hugging me. I'm his son and this is my home.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice cracking, as I hug him a little tighter.

Kurt clears his throat besides us after a few seconds. "What about your actual son?"

"Give us a moment," Burt says, his voice warm and teasing, just as Kurt's. "We haven't seen each other in forever."

But then he lets me go and hugs Kurt instead, which gives me a moment to dry my tears and recompose myself. Even while hugging his dad, Kurt reaches out his hand to me, and I lace our fingers together. I feel blessed. These two are my family. Even after everything that has happened, I know they will always be my home.

It's with a sudden clarity then that I realize that one day I will marry Kurt, and Burt will be my father-in-law, and then I'll be his son for real. That thought makes me smile again.

Once inside, I'm introduced to Carole, whose embrace is almost as tight as Burt's. She's a real sweetheart, and she doesn't seem to care one bit about who I am beside Kurt's boyfriend.

When Burt and Carole are preparing coffee, Kurt's hand finds its way into mine again, and he takes a step closer so that only I can hear what he has to say.

"Did something happen outside before?" He asks. "You went from crying to having the biggest smile on your lips."

"I just realized that this is my home, that you and Burt are my family," I say because I don't intend to tell him about my thoughts about marrying him. The day I ask him to marry me, I want it to be a surprise.

"Aww, baby…" Kurt says, and I think there might be tears in his eyes now. I put my arms around his waist and tuck my head into the crook of his neck. Kurt holds me tight, and the last lingering notes of my worries about coming back to this house disappear. Being here - in Kurt's arms, in this kitchen, in this house - this is home in every sense of the word.

"Enough with the cuteness," Burt says with a light voice. "I saw enough of that puppy love five years ago. I didn't think I'd had to relive all of that again this time."

"Some things never change, Dad," Kurt says without letting go of me. "Might as well get used to it."

The afternoon goes by fast. We have coffee, we talk, and we laugh. Everything is easy. Too easy it feels like, but I know I need to let go of my worries and enjoy being surrounded by people who love me.

We unpack down in Kurt's old room. Being down there is like moving back in time. We're eighteen again, those feelings of falling in love and being giddy returning, as does the inability to keep our hands away from each other. To be fair though, we've been acting like eighteen ever since we got back together, and we haven't been able to stop touching each other since. I just can't get enough of him.

Kurt pulls me down on his bed beside him, his hands under my shirt, his lips on mine.

"What do you want to do?" He asks, a mischievous look in his eyes.

"Kurt, we just got here."

"You know I can be superfast and very quiet," Kurt says and rolls on top of me.

"No, Kurt. I told you, it's not going to happen this weekend. Not with Burt upstairs."

Kurt groans in frustration. "I've told you that he won't hear a thing. He'll be two floors above us, sleeping."

"Doesn't matter because he will know. I think he can sense this kind of things."

"Well if he already "knows", we might as well do it," Kurt says, trying to convince me. "But you know he has no idea what we're doing down here, right?"

"Sorry, Kurt." My mind is made up.

Kurt groans and rolls off from me again. "I bet I can find a way to convince you later tonight when the house is quiet, and everyone is sleeping."

I bet he can't.

When Kurt hits the shower, I return upstairs to talk to Burt and Carole. I find Carole in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

"Did you find everything alright down there?" She asks.

"Yes, everything is just the same as when Kurt lived here," I answer because his room hasn't changed in anyway.

"Burt is in the living room. Why don't you grab a beer in the fridge and join him?" Carole suggests.

"I don't drink, but a glass of water would be nice," I say.

I see a slight blush creep up on Carole's cheeks as she realizes the slip. "Oh, I'm so sorry… I forgot, Blaine. How unthoughtful of me," she says and grabs a glass from the cabinet above the sink and fills it with water.

"Don't be, it's not a big deal," I say and accept the glass she's handing me. I hardly know Carole, but she has this way about her that makes it easy to open up. "I have a drinking problem, but I'm dealing with it. Kurt made me go and talk to someone about it."

Those conversations have been so awkward and so embarrassing. I don't like going there and spilling my life and feelings to a stranger I don't know if I can trust. I'm still wary about word getting around, but at the same time, I understand that I have to. It doesn't mean however that I don't come home drained after every session. But Kurt is always there, waiting to wrap me up in his arms, and just hold me until the tenseness in my shoulders disappears. He never asks me what we talk about, but I think that's because he can sense that it's difficult enough for me to talk about it for forty five minutes, and that there's no energy left in me to talk about it again when I get home.

I enter the living room, where Burt sits in his usual recliner. He's watching a basketball game, but when he sees me come in, he mutes the TV. I place my water glass on the coffee table as I sit down on the couch.

"Who's winning?" I ask and point towards the TV.

"I don't know, the game just started," Burt says while looking at me. It's like he's not only looking at me, he sees me. "How are you doing, Blaine?"

"I'm good," I say. "A little tired from the trip, but I'm happy to be here."

"How are you really doing?" Burt asks, getting straight to the point.

"I'm better than I've been in a long time," I answer truthfully. I know Kurt has told him about my drinking, and about the mess I've been in our years apart.

"I'm glad to hear," Burt says. "And Kurt, he's helping you?"

"Just being around him is what helps me the most," I tell him truthfully. Kurt is the best kind of distraction. When I'm with him, he's all I'm focusing on. But I know I can't rely on him too much. "Kurt is always a rock," I continue, "but I try not to trouble him with this. I've started seeing someone about my problems, and I think it's helping. But I know Kurt still worries about me, which is hard for me because I don't want to become a burden to him."

This past month hasn't passed without bumps in the road. It's been hard finding a way to be together, to be the person you want to be for the other and with the other, without losing who you are to yourself. We've had our disagreements and heated arguments, but it's only because we both want this so much. We want to do it right, but sometimes it becomes all wrong. But we're slowly finding our place, and even if it sometimes it's hard, we know that it all comes from a place of love. From a deep desire to be together.

"I don't think you have to worry about that. Kurt is stronger than he gets credit for, and his love for you is unquestionable," Burt says and smiles.

"And I love him very much too," I say. "Just so that you know."

"Oh, that's clear," Burt chuckles. "You two haven't changed one bit when it comes to being inseparable and keeping your hands away from each other."

"I'm here alone now," I say trying to pull off offended, but not succeeding in the slightest.

Burt chuckles again. "Only because Kurt takes the longest showers in the history of the world."

I let out a laugh because Burt is not wrong. Kurt really takes forever to shower and get himself ready afterwards. Although lately, some of those long showers might be my fault…

Burt takes a swig of his beer before he puts the bottle down and rests it against the arm rest. He looks at me with much more seriousness than before. "What happened back then?" He asks. "You just disappeared."

I sigh, hang my head, hiding it in my hands, elbows resting on my thighs. I'm embarrassed about my behavior. I know it was childish to just turn my back on everything instead of dealing with it.

Burt is quiet, giving me time to find my answer. I know he needs that answer, that he deserves it. But I'm ashamed of the way I acted, and it's difficult to talk about.

"I got lost," I say and look up at him. "Everything went against me at the same time, and I couldn't handle it. Kurt was my world, and I…" my voice cracks. This is so much harder than I want it to be. But it's Burt, and I feel like I failed him.

"You know you could have come to me, right? That I would have treated you the same way I treat Kurt. That I would have been able to see beyond mine and Kurt's biological bond. Because you are my son too, Blaine. And when you left like that, without a word, it broke my heart."

My chest is so tight from the pain I feel at having caused him so much sorrow. My heart physically hurts. If I could go back in time and change some things, this would be one of them.

"I know that now," I say slowly, voice full of sadness, "but I couldn't see it then. You were Kurt's dad and I just figured you would take his side. I thought it would be easier for everyone if I stayed away. I'm sorry, Burt… I never meant to be a burden to you." The tears are so close to spilling over that it takes all of my willpower to hold them back.

"You're not a burden, Blaine. This is what parents do. We help our kids through hard times, and we rejoice with them in times of happiness. Wait until you have kids of your own, and you'll see what I mean." He says with a chuckle. But then he becomes serious again. "If Kurt leaves again. Will you act the same?"

"No. Never. I've learnt from my mistakes. I don't have many friends, but I know not to shut them out if things get bad. I know that I need them, and that I can lean on them. That it's okay to be weak and ask for help. I know that I have you…"

"Good. Because I'm not getting any younger, you know. My heart isn't getting any stronger, and I can't handle more of the worry and the not knowing."

"It won't happen again," I assure him.

"What won't happen again?"

I turn my head towards the door to the kitchen to see Kurt standing there. "Me turning my back on everything if things get bad again."

"We just got here, and you're already questioning him about this?" Kurt says to his dad. There's a hint of anger in his voice.

"It's okay, Kurt. Burt deserved an explanation, and I'm glad we talked about it."

"I hope you understand now, that you're always welcome here, no matter what happens. I meant what I said when I said "welcome home". This is your home just as much as Kurt's."

"Thank you, Burt. This means more to me than you can ever imagine."

"Okay, come here and give me a hug," Burt says cheerfully, and I think he's trying to hide the tears that are showing in the corners of his eyes.

I stand up, and so does Burt, and he gives me one of those tight, bone crushing hugs that only he can. The kind that makes you feel loved and cared for. This one leaves no room for misinterpretations – he has forgiven me for the mistakes I've made.

The rest of the evening flies by. Carole has made the most delightful dinner, conversation is easy with lots of laughter and questions about my life as a pop star. I share as much as I feel comfortable with, not wanting to dampen the good mood around the table. I tell them about my next single, and then Burt makes me sing it. He has saved my old guitar - the one he replaced with a new one on my eighteenth birthday, the one I left behind when I turned my back on this house, and he brings it out for me to play on.

I can't believe he saved it all these years. It makes me indescribably happy somehow that he kept something of mine, even after the way I treated him. It's out of tune and even after tuning it, you can still tell that it's an old guitar that has seen better days.

The song is about Kurt because all of my songs are, and even if he has heard it before, I can still see him wipe away a few tears. Carole isn't doing any better than Kurt, and I wish I had chosen a different song to sing. But this song is so special to me, almost as special as Beautiful Mess, and I can't wait to share it with my fans. After this weekend everyone will know about me and Kurt, and this song will cement my feelings for him.

When the clock turns ten, I've been yawning for thirty minutes, and Kurt suggests we go to bed. I try to protest because we're having such a good time, and I want to stay up and talk. But at the same time, snuggling up next to Kurt in his bed sounds so tempting, and my protests become rather weak.

Downstairs, with showers and tooth brushing out of the way, with my body pressed close to Kurt's, and Kurt's fingers running through my hair, it only takes seconds for me to fall asleep.


I'm having the best dream, and I know it's a dream because a blowjob has never felt like this. Kurt is good, he's beyond good, but the Kurt in my dream has some exceptional skills, and the dream is so vivid that I feel myself being right there, right on the edge, ready to tip over.

I wake up with a sudden jerk, thinking that I don't want to make a mess in the sheets, but the dream lingers, and it still feels so real, and I'm so close that I can't stop myself from coming with a loud moan of Kurt's name.

I expect to feel the wet stickiness all around me, but all I feel is Kurt pulling off and climbing up on top of me, a proud look on his face. I should be mad at him for not listening to me, but I'm feeling so laxed after that orgasm that all I can do is smile at him.

"You're crazy," I say, not really sure why I didn't see this coming. It's not the first time Kurt has woken me up with a blowjob.

"I told you this would happen," he says, a pleased smirk on his lips. "But I thought you were worried about being loud because that wasn't exactly quiet."

"If your dad comments anything on this, I'm putting all the blame on you," I say and pull him down for a kiss. "But you're not getting one in return."

"I know," Kurt says, still smiling. "This was all for you. I know you worry about today, and I just thought I'd help you start the day in a relaxed way."

"In the best way."

Today is the wedding. Today is the day when I face my old friends. Today is another day of apologies. Apologies that I have to make. That I want to make. But it's still difficult, and I do worry because I don't know how they will react. Kurt says I'm worrying about nothing, but I can't believe that everyone will forgive me just like that.

"It's strange being down here with you again," Kurt says and lies down beside me. He props himself up on one elbow and lets his fingers trace patterns on my chest. "It feels like a different life, and it feels like it was yesterday."

"We have many good memories from this bed," I say and smile as I remember all of them. And some sad ones too, but I don't want to think about our last night here right now.

"It's too bad we can't relive any of them."

I laugh at him. He is so not liking my determination right now. Once I set my mind on something, I can be very firm about it. Kurt knows it, but still he tries. "We can relive all of them when we get back home, snuggy."

"Oh God, no! Not that horrible name!" Kurt says and laughs.

"I thought you wanted to relive memories from this bed. I believe that name was invented here."

"Some things are better left in the past, baby. We don't have to relive everything."

"How about reliving Saturday morning breakfast with your dad and the awkward feeling of wondering if we were too loud?"

Kurt laughs again. "How many times do I have to tell you that he can't hear a thing upstairs?"

I'm still not as convinced as Kurt about that. I remember him saying he knew exactly what went on in his basement.

When we enter the kitchen, the coffee is brewing and Carole is setting the table. "Your timing is perfect," she says with that warm smile that I think she always carries. Burt appears a few minutes later, and we sit down to enjoy breakfast together.

My hand finds Kurt's under the table. Touching him, being close to him, gives me comfort. Kurt glances at me, flipping his hand to lace our fingers, his eyes asking if something is wrong. I smile in return. Nothing is wrong. I'm having breakfast with people that I love and for once everything feels normal. I'm not surrounded by people telling me what to do, how to act, or what to say. I'm with people who see me, and who like me for me.

I think I need to have a talk with Jeff when I return. My contract will have to be renegotiated, or I might not want to do this anymore. I have no clue what I want to do if they don't agree with my terms, but I have enough money to get by while I figure that out. I have a new dream, and I'm already living it.

After breakfast we go for a walk. I'm too restless to sit still and wait for the afternoon to arrive. Lima is pretty in fall colors, and Kurt is pretty in one of his many scarves. He says you can never have too many scarves, and although I normally disagree, today I'm happy he brought several so that I could borrow one.

Walking hand in hand down the streets is not something we've been able to do in New York. It's such an ordinary thing to do, but my life isn't ordinary, and now I'm enjoying it far more than is probably deemed normal. I don't intend to let Kurt's hand go today. I'm going to stay close by his side during the wedding. I like being close to him, but that's not the main reason. I want everyone to know that I am his. He's the man in my life, and I'm not afraid to let everyone know it. My life is changing in so many ways - some of which I have no control over - but this change I like. We can still enjoy our little bubble at home, just the two of us, that won't change.

When the afternoon arrives, I'm dressed in a gorgeous maroon colored suit that Kurt has designed for me. He told me he was sketching it when he figured out I was the one he wanted to be with, and that makes it very special to me. Kurt seems to have a thing for me in bowties, as this is not the first time he's chosen one for me to wear.

Kurt's suit is a warm, dark blue one, a little toned down for being him, but I think that he doesn't want to draw too much attention to himself tonight. The skinny black tie, that makes my knees a little weak, is in place against his white shirt.

Burt takes pictures of us like we're going to prom, before he drives us to the church where the wedding will be officiated. The closer we get, the clammier my palms get. Kurt told me to call them and talk to them before we got here, but I wanted to have these conversations in person. Now I'm kind of regretting that.

"Relax, baby," Kurt leans in and says close to me.

"Easy for you to say," I almost snap at him. It's the nerves and nothing else that's making me testy. "You're not the one who shut your friends out for several years."

"I kind of did too, Blaine. I know it's hard, but they forgave me, and they're going to forgive you too."

I hope he's right.

Burt drops us off and tells us to call when we want a ride home tonight. Kurt tells him not to wait up, that we'll get a cab home.

I cling to Kurt as we walk from the parking lot to the church. I hate feeling this way. I can perform in front of thousands of people without being bothered by it, but seeing five old friends has me almost as nervous as the night I walked up to Kurt at the Flying Duck.

When I feel two hands sneak up to cover my eyes, I'm so not prepared for it and jump in surprise. As the hands slip away, I turn around to face a smiling Quinn. She surprises me with throwing herself in my arms and hugging me tight. I let go of Kurt's hand to hug her back.

I've always felt like Quinn gets me, especially after she found out about me and Kurt, and we had that talk on our camping trip. She gave me the words I needed to understand that I was gay. Now her words are soft against my ear.

"I've missed you so much, B. Don't disappear like that again, okay?"

She lets me go and takes a step back. I'm about to say the words I've been practicing in my head the past week, but as my eyes land on the small, but clearly visible bump on her belly, those words are forgotten.

"You're pregnant," I state.

"Yes." Her face glows as she strokes a hand over her belly.

"Oh my God, you're pregnant, Quinn!" Kurt squeals besides me and steps in to hug her.

Quinn laughs at my overexcited boyfriend, and I watch the two of them embrace each other. My eyes then land on Puck standing behind her. He smiles at the two of them, but when his eyes meet mine, the smile falters slightly. I should say something, but I'm frozen to the spot.

Instead it is Puck who steps around Quinn and approaches me. He reaches out his hand to greet me.

"Dude, you've been pretty absent lately."

I shake his hand, while trying to get the right words to cross my lips, but it's like they're all forgotten. "I know, I'm sorry…"

"I know you've been busy and all, but answering a call or a text wouldn't have taken you more than five minutes, right?"

I can't tell from the tone of his voice if he's upset, or if this is his way of joking. There were calls and texts from all of them, especially in the beginning, but even years later, there were still occasional texts that I read but didn't know how to answer. Then I changed my number, and there was, of course, nothing more.

"You're right, it wouldn't, and I wished I had done things differently, but I didn't, and all I can say is that I'm sorry, and that I regret what I did."

Please forgive me. I can't get the words to cross my lips, but that's what I most of all want to say.

Puck looks at me for a second before he puts his arm around my shoulders. "I don't fully get what happened between you and Kurt, but Quinn's told me you stayed away because of him. Now you're back, and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to put this behind us."

"Thank you," I say feeling more tension roll off of me.

"Besides, Quinn would get fucking upset with me if I didn't forgive you, and trust me, you do not want to go against a hormonal Quinn," Puck adds in a low voice so that only I can hear.

I chuckle, but he looks so serious, almost scared, like he's tested her patience more than one time too many, that I immediately stop.

"Oh, it's not funny Anderson," Puck says seriously, but I can still hear the affection in his voice. "This kid better be a mini Puck because I don't know if I can handle two Quinns," he adds and laughs.

"I can't believe you're going to be a dad," I say because I can't quite picture it in front of me.

"Yeah, don't know how that happened… well, I know how, but it's still hard to grasp, you know."

It feels nice to have this kind of normal conversation. Some things haven't changed even if it's been years.

Quinn walks over to us and Puck lets go of me and instead puts his arm around Quinn.

"Shall we go inside?" Quinn asks.

Kurt comes up by my side and sneaks his hand into mine. "Everything okay?" He asks as we make our way towards the church. His words might be few, but the concern and the caring nature with which they are said makes me feel loved.

"Yes, I think so," I answer and pull him a little closer to kiss his cheek. Being in Kurt's immediate proximity grounds me. Even if seeing Quinn and Puck went well, I still worry about the others. Mostly Sam, because Mike and Tina did after all invite me to their wedding. But being close to Kurt, our hands joined like I'm an extended part of him, makes me feel safe. Connected. No matter what happens here tonight, no matter if I'm given the cold shoulder or there is no forgiveness to have, I have him. It's that thought that makes me finally relax, walk proudly into that church, and enjoy the wedding.

I notice people recognizing me. I hear their whispers and see their not so subtle ways of taking pictures without wanting me to notice. I knew this would happen, and I almost welcome it. I'm proud to be with Kurt, I don't care if the world knows. If Kurt notices, and if it scares him, he doesn't show.

The wedding ceremony is wonderful. Tina looks stunning in her dress, and Mike's vows are so strikingly beautiful that I don't think there's a dry eye in the church. The tissues I brought come to good use as Kurt's eyes seem unable to stop welling up with tears.

"Are you okay?" I ask, resting my hand on his thigh.

"I just love weddings," is Kurt's only response as he places his hand on top of mine.

The wedding reception is held at a country club just outside of Lima. The venue is decorated in fall colors, and I can see that even Kurt is impressed with what they have done to the place.

I'm seated between Kurt and Quinn, which is a relief because they know me, and they like me. Also seated at our table is Sam and his girlfriend, and two other couples that I don't know.

Sam doesn't come over to greet me when he arrives at our table. Other than a courteous nod in my direction, he pretty much ignores me. I feel my heart sink even though I had prepared myself for this reaction. Or I thought I had prepared myself but now that my fears seem to become reality, I feel myself closing in on myself. I feel tiny and insignificant, like the worlds biggest fool, and I become quiet and shy. I try to tell myself that I'm over reacting, that his reaction to seeing me doesn't necessarily mean that he's upset with me. Maybe he didn't want to make a scene and have that conversation before dinner, or maybe he's intimidated by my fame. But deep down I know that's not the case.

I watch the others laugh and throw themselves into conversations, but I remain quiet unless asked a direct question.

"What's wrong, baby?" Kurt asks when the first course is being served.

"I don't think Sam is happy to see me. I've tried making eye contact, but he refuses to look at me."

Kurt's hand finds mine under the table, and again, his touch calms me, makes it easier to breathe.

"I know he wants to talk to you, but I think he's waiting for you to reach out. I know it's hard, but I think you need to be the one starting that conversation."

I know he's right. I'm the one who messed up. I need to be the one fixing it. But as the dinner continues, there's never really an opportunity for me to talk to him. My feelings about the conversation I need to have only gets worse the longer the night proceeds.

"We should go and say hi to Tina and Mike," Kurt says as we're finishing our dessert. He pulls me up from my chair and guides me through the labyrinth of tables scattered around the big room.

There are two empty chairs across from the bride and groom at the head table. When we sit down, and Tina notices us, she gives out a big squeal.

"Oh my God, it's you, Blaine!"

She hurries around the table and throws herself into my arms. She might be a little over excited because of this being her wedding day (and maybe because of a little too much wine as well), but her excitement to see me again is still clear, and I happily wrap my arms around her.

"I'm so glad that you came to my wedding! You must be so busy, and still, here you are!" Tina continues.

"My friends are getting married, of course I'm here," I answer. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for the both of you."

"Thank you! I always knew I was going to marry Mike, but I was still so surprised when he got down on his knee and proposed. And now I can strike the "Cohen" part out of my name and be Tina Chang," she laughs. "Ah, I'm so happy! And I'm so happy that you and Kurt are back together. I never really got to see you two together back then, but I wish I had because you two are my favorite boys! Except for Mike, of course."

"I'm happy too," I say and smile at her happy, bubbly personality. The words just keeps flowing out of her. "Kurt is all I've ever wanted, and I wish that you'd got to see us together. I wish I had done a lot of things differently back then…"

"Aww, stop it. Don't make me cry on my wedding day, Blaine. We'll have plenty of time to talk about what happened, but not tonight. Just know that I'm happy that you're back. You're part of our group, you always have been, no matter where you've been."

"I thought you said no tears," I say teasingly as I feel myself getting emotional from her words. There's so much forgiveness in her, and in Quinn and Puck, I'm not sure I deserve it. But I am forever grateful for my friends, and I make a pledge to myself to make it up to them somehow.

"No tears for me. You, on the other hand, are free to cry as much as you want to," she says with a smile before she hugs me again and returns to the other side of the table.

We sit and talk for a little while longer. Mike is just as excited as Tina to see me and to see us back together again.

We don't return to our table, instead we stand in the circle watching the newlyweds dance. Mike's dance moves are exquisite, and he moves Tina around the dance floor with such grace, it amazes me. I didn't know he had it in him to dance like that.

Kurt's hand remains in mine the entire evening. It could be because we both have things we worry about, and we want to find comfort in each other, but I don't think that's why. Since we got back together, I've felt this desire to be close to him, to be connected to him in some way, no matter if we're alone or not. Holding hands is a simple way to have that bond, and for now it's all that we can do. And it's perfect.

"This is a beautiful wedding." I turn to Kurt and watch him looking at the dancing couple.

"It is," Kurt answers and shifts his gaze to me. "And not to be unfair to the bride, but I have the most handsome date here tonight."

"Kurt." I don't know how he does it, but he always makes me feel special. Like I'm the only one.

"It's true. I wish I had an equally handsome date the last time I attended a wedding."

"Was that Quinn and Puck's wedding?" I ask, and Kurt nods. "Who did you take then?" Kurt and I haven't really talked about his dating life during our time apart. I'm sure he would share it with me if I asked, but I'm not sure I want to know. I know I would wonder if Kurt compared me to them, and those are not thoughts I want to bring to the bedroom. It will probably come up in conversation one day, but right now I want it to be about me and Kurt only. But since he's mentioning the wedding, I have to ask.

"I went alone, but I remember thinking so much about you during that night, and the days that followed. I hadn't seen them in such a long time, but being there, witnessing Quinn and Puck getting married, thinking about them lasting even though they lived on different sides of the country, made me wonder if you and I could have made it too, despite the distance. I know now that the answer to that is yes."

"I wish I had been there." Not only at the wedding, but always.

"You're here now." Kurt says and leans in and kisses me.

For a few moments everything around us disappears. Kurt and I and our kiss are the only things that exist. Getting lost in kissing Kurt is one of my favorite things to do. It happens every day, and when we break for air, I have no idea how long we've been kissing, or where that time went.

The look in Kurt's eyes when we do part tells me how much he wished we were somewhere else. Back in New York, back at our apartment, back in our bed. My thoughts match his. I love being here, at this wedding, reuniting with my friends, but right now, this minute, I wish we were somewhere else.

We don't have to say anything to know what the other is thinking, we just stand there, close, my hands on his suit lapels, his arms wrapped around my waist and look into each other's eyes. My breathing is heavy, almost panting. Kurt looks gorgeous, the soft glow from the chandeliers catching in his hair, his eyes sparkling with lust, his fingers pressing tight into my back, drawing me closer.

I've thought this many times before, but how did I become so lucky? To have Kurt. Again. That he actually wants to be mine despite everything that has happened. The thought is too big to grasp. I don't think it will never not amaze me. I remember thinking back then that I was the luckiest guy in the world. I still am.

"Do you want to dance?" I ask Kurt, not wanting to let him go, or for this moment to be over. If I can dance with him, I can still have him in my arms, and we can stay in this moment.

Kurt nods without breaking eye contact. I take his hand and lead him out on the dance floor. I have no idea what song is playing, or if it's even slow enough for slow dancing. He leans his head on my shoulder, and I lean mine against his. I hold him tight, swaying slowly to some inner rhythm that only we can feel.

"I promise I won't run away and cry this time," Kurt whispers. His voice warm and playful.

"What really happened that time?" I ask. I haven't thought about that moment since we got back together, but now I realize that I'm curious about what went through his mind that night.

"I was so affected by your closeness, by the words you sang to me. I wanted to be yours. I wanted those five years to not have existed. I wanted to be eighteen again, for you to be my boyfriend. I got turned on by you. But that's what made me realize that I wasn't yours, that I belonged to someone else. That's what made me cry. I could never cheat on anyone. Not even for you."

"God, how do you always make me love you more than I think is possible? I wanted so much to kiss you that night, but now I'm glad we didn't. I never want to turn you into someone you're not. I always want you to be you, Kurt, because I love the you that you are."

"I love you, Blaine," Kurt says and places his hand on my heart. "And what's in here. This here is the most beautiful part of you."

We stay close, until there is no more music. It's time for Tina to throw her bouquet, and Kurt says he wants to watch it up close. By "watching" I think he secretly means wishing to catch it. I return to our table, hoping to have a chance to talk some more to Quinn. I know she won't be up there waiting to catch the bouquet.

When I walk closer to our table though, I see Sam sitting there alone. His girlfriend is probably in the crowd of girls (and Kurt) waiting for Tina. I feel a heavy lump in my chest. This is the moment I've been waiting for - getting a chance to talk to Sam. But it's a moment I'm dreading, too. Sam and I were close, we got closer that summer, playing those gigs, and next to Kurt and Burt, I think Sam is the one I let down the most.

There's no time to waste, everyone will return soon, and I might not get a better opportunity.

"Hi Sam," I say and sit down next to him.

Sam looks at me. He looks wary when he returns my greeting.

"It's a lovely wedding, isn't it?" I cringe at my own words, they're awkward and stilted, but I don't know how to start this conversation.

Sam only nods in return. My heart sinks at his cold attitude. But I want to see if I can fix this, and I might as well start apologizing.

"Sam, I'm sorry about what happened. I know I acted like an idiot, and I really regret-"

"I thought we were friends," Sam says. There's so much hurt in his voice, it crushes me.

"We were friends, Sam."

"Yeah, well, you had a funny way of showing it. You just left, Blaine… You confided in me about what happened with Kurt and with your mom, but then you were just gone. Nobody knew where you were. Do you realize how worried I was?"

His words are difficult to listen too, but they're the truth. I did leave without a word.

"I'm sorry I worried you, I wasn't thinking clearly at that time. My world fell apart," I say and sigh. Finding the right words isn't easy. "I don't think any of you understands what Kurt meant to me, how much I loved him, and how much I needed him. I felt completely lost without him, and I lost myself. I couldn't stay. I needed to get away. I couldn't stay in a place where everything reminded me of him."

Sam listens and takes in my words. "Okay, I get that, but you still could have called, you know. We could have talked about other things."

"I know… Everybody was spreading out around the country, and I figured nobody would care if I moved away. I know you were still in Lima, that you weren't leaving, and I really, really regret the way I behaved. I know now that I could have used a friend like you, someone who knew me and who could have understood me… I wanted to call you, but after a while it just got too difficult to reach out…" I take a deep breath before I continue. "I'm sorry, Sam, I really am. I know it's too little too late, but I don't know what else to say."

"You did act like an idiot," Sam says, less wary now, and there's almost a smile on his lips. But then he becomes serious again. "I wish you had called. Just once, you know. Just to let me know that you were okay. I heard your music on the radio, and then I at least knew you were alive, but there were months where I wondered."

I have caused so many people so much pain, it's a wonder any of them are still talking to me. But they are, and I'm hoping Sam will too.

"I would like to be your friend again," I say. "I know it will take time to regain your trust, but I've missed you..."

Sam leans back in his chair and looks at me. "I don't know…" he says, and even though I know I don't have any right to be disappointed by any decision he makes regarding our friendship, I still am. It would feel good to be able to reunite our group as a whole, we used to be close friends, and I know I will have to be the one staying away if Sam doesn't accept my apology, but I will respect whatever he says.

"I've missed you too. I've missed talking to you and playing with you. Why don't we start with just keeping in touch and take it from there?"

That sounds like the sensible way to do this, and it's really all I can ask for. A chance to become friends again.

"Just let me know before you plan to disappear again, so that I don't have to worry, okay?" Sam adds.

"I promise," I say and smile in return, both from understanding that this friendship can be fixed, and from that typical Sam thing to say.

"So, you and Kurt are back together," Sam says and tilts his head a little to the left, giving me an inquiring look. "You're still gay then?"

"Yes, I'm still gay," I say and chuckle. "And yes, Kurt is my boyfriend again."

"Cool."

"And you have a girlfriend," I say and watch a fond expression spread across his face. "How long have you been together?"

"301 days," Sam says. "I met her on New Year's eve."

"You count the days?" I ask and laugh.

"She's special, Blaine. I count and bless every day I'm with her."

"Wow, you really like her." It's evident from how he says those words that this girl is something out of the ordinary to him.

"I do. I think she might be the one," Sam says.

"I'm happy for you. You'll have to introduce me."

"I'm happy for you. And Kurt. The thought of the two of you together is still a little strange to me. Not because you're gay," Sam adds quickly, "but because you were best friends for so long. I can't even imagine how you went from that to being boyfriends. You both had girlfriends before for God's sake."

"I'll tell you about it some day," I say. Suddenly that's all I can think about - me telling Kurt I was in love with him down in his bedroom all those years ago. I can feel the same butterflies just thinking about that memory now.

I feel a pair of strong hands on my shoulders. I don't have to look up to know it's Kurt. I put my hands on his and lean my head back slightly until it connects with him. He leans down and whispers into my ear. "You okay?"

"Yes," I say. "I'm finally okay."

Kurt kisses my cheek. "So you talked it through?" He asks, and I nod in affirmation. I'll explain more tomorrow. "Good. Cause we're all gonna dance now. Come on." He starts pulling me up from the chair.

"If it's okay, I'd like to stay and talk a little with Quinn." Normally I would want to be close to Kurt, but I've noticed Quinn returning to our table looking tired, and I'm guessing she will leave this party soon.

"Of course, you should do that," Kurt says and places another kiss on my cheek.

"We'll dance more later, okay?" I say and turn around to look at him.

"Oh, you bet we will," Kurt says and winks. I'm not exactly sure what he means by that, but he's happy and flirty (and maybe a little bit more tipsy than when he left me), and I don't really need to know his reasons to know that whatever he means, I'm game. Unless it's getting busy under Burt's roof.

Kurt drags Sam with him to the dance floor, and I sit down next to Quinn.

"Hey, how are you doing? You look tired."

"I am," Quinn admits. "This baby is taking all of my energy. Sometimes I feel like all I do is sleep."

"You look happy though," I say noticing the smile on her face, and how her words come out soft and fond.

"She wasn't exactly planned, and it took me a while to get used to the idea, but even though it still feels surreal that there's a human growing inside of me, I am happy, and I am looking forward to becoming a mother," Quinn says while stroking her bump, her face glowing even more as she does.

"She?"

"Yes, but don't tell Puck, he doesn't want to know. I know he's wishing for a boy, so I guess this will be a fun surprise for him," she says and chuckles softly.

"I still can't believe that you and Puck are married, and that you're having a baby." Their relationship was just starting out when I left, and now they're building a family. "I'm sorry I missed the wedding. I wish I could have been there."

"Don't worry about it. We didn't exactly send you an invitation." There's something gentle, yet teasing in her voice.

"You know what I mean…" I say thinking about all the things I could have done differently.

"I know. But it's water under the bridge, Blaine. I can't believe that you're famous, that one of my best friends from growing up is a world famous singer. That's crazy!"

I chuckle at her words. "Yeah, don't know how that happened really."

"Because you're good at it! Don't be modest, Blaine. You have a way with words that amazes me. All your lyrics go straight to my heart."

"When you have my source of inspiration, it's easy to write." If she has listened to my lyrics, it shouldn't be a tough guess to figure out who my inspiration is.

"You and Kurt," she says, "I'm really happy that you guys have worked everything out. You have, right?"

"Most of it, the essential bits anyway. It's only been a month, and there will probably be some setbacks, but he makes me really happy. He gets me like no one else does."

"I remember you saying the same thing when you first got together," Quinn chuckles.

"Some things don't change," I say, and even though I don't remember saying those words to her, they are as true now as they were then. Kurt is the only one who really gets me. He knows me. He knows my darkest secrets and my innermost thoughts, and he accepts me for who I am, despite all of that.

"I saw you dancing before. You two are ridiculously cute together," Quinn says.

I feel myself blush because that dance was probably a little too intimate for someone else's wedding reception. I take a sip of water to distract her from my pink cheeks, but I think she notices anyway because there's a soft laugh crossing her lips.

"I tend to forget about the rest of the world when I'm with him," I admit.

"You don't say," she laughs. "There's a very strong connection between the two of you, that's evident to everyone here tonight."

"I just love him so much… My life was crazy when we were apart, but now we've found our way back to each other, and I just can't get enough of him." I look up at the dance floor and see Kurt and our friends having fun up there. As if he can feel me looking at him, his eyes find mine. He smiles and does a little wave. I return both and watch as he turns back to dancing. His dance moves are silly, and he seems to completely have let go of everything, not caring about how he looks or who sees him. He's not always like that, but now he's having fun, and that makes me happy.

"I've noticed you've been drinking water all evening," Quinn says. She doesn't add a question of why. She just leaves the comment like that.

"There has been too much drinking in my life these past years. I think I'm gonna stick to water for a while," I say, not feeling like explaining more right now.

"Well, you and me both then," she says and raises her water glass in a cheer.

I take another sip, and when I lower my glass, Kurt sits down heavily on my lap.

"Hey there, handsome," he says before placing a big, sweaty, sloppy, kiss on my lips. Yep, he's definitely been drinking something. I hear Quinn chuckle beside us as Kurt eagerly pushes his tongue into my mouth. "I love you," he says close to my lips when we part.

"I love you," I whisper back, feeling chills running down my spine as his breath mixes with mine, and his eyes are looking at me only inches away.

"Looks like we're attending your wedding next," Quinn says. "When are you two getting married?"

Tonight. I would marry him tonight if that was a possibility. I know he's the one for me.

Kurt smiles at me before he turns his focus to Quinn. "We just picked things up," he says. "Let us enjoy being together for a while before we start talking about those things."

I smile at myself and my ability to get caught up in the moment. Kurt is of course right, he has always been my voice of reason. Just yesterday, we decided to live together. It probably is a little too early to think about bigger commitments.

"We have our entire lives to figure out what we want to do," Kurt says and returns his gaze to me. "Right now, I want to dance with my incredibly handsome boyfriend."

And that's what we do. We dance and laugh with our friends throughout the rest of the night. I don't think I have laughed this much in a very long time. In the early hours, when Mike asks me to sing a song for Tina, I happily sit down behind the piano and sing the song he's selected. Throughout the lyrics of How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding, I try to focus on Tina and Mike dancing, but my eyes inadvertently wander to Kurt. The lyrics are from me to him just as much as they are from Mike to Tina.

How long will I want you
As long as you want me to
And longer by far

The kiss Kurt gives me when I step away from the piano is probably too indecent to be shared in public, but despite various loud comments from Puck and Sam, I couldn't care less who sees us. I love him, and I want everyone to know that I am his.


I wake up before Kurt, still tired from last night (or this morning if you want to get technical), my throat sore from singing and screaming on the dance floor, but with the biggest smile on my face. Last night was a weight lifted from my heart. Now I have finally reconciled with everything from my past, and from here on out, I can focus on the future.

Kurt stirs beside me. He's still sleeping, his arm thrown across my chest, holding me tight. I snuggle in closer to him, enjoying being close, feeling his warm body against mine. Kurt is a big part of my future. He's the one I'm looking forward to spending forever with. We might not have the opportunity to be together every day or even every month, but I believe in us. This time around we know what we're getting ourselves into, and how to handle difficult situations while still keeping our hearts protected.

I place a kiss on Kurt's forehead. I don't want to wake him up yet, but I can't help myself. He looks utterly gorgeous, although I'm sure he would disagree. I like him like this, in his natural state, before he fixes his hair and puts on his fancy clothes. The way only I get to see him.

I shift just a little, to reach for my phone on the nightstand. There are several messages, and I decide to open the ones from Jeff.

Jeff
Well, you seemed to have fun last night. I don't think there is a doubt in anyone's mind that Kurt is your boyfriend.

There are numerous links attached to his message. There are also more messages, but I decide to click on the links first. I open them one by one and discover picture after picture of me and Kurt. Pictures of us walking hand in hand into the church, of us kissing, and of us dancing. There's even one of him sitting in my lap. Other than when we walked into the church, I hadn't noticed anyone taking pictures of us, but they're from multiple different sources, so I'm guessing there were several people noticing us last night.

I scroll through the pictures and the comments and smile. I like seeing me and Kurt together. We look good in the suits Kurt designed for us. We look happy, like we're having fun, but mostly we look like we're in love. Some pictures are intimate, captured moments that were meant for me and Kurt only. Now the pictures are out there for anyone to see, and even though I wished that those moments were only ours, I'm glad the secret is out. I know Kurt won't be as excited about this as I am, that his life will change after today, but we both agreed that this is what we wanted.

I still wish there was a way for me to keep him away from the spotlight, to protect him from this world, but at the same time, I want everyone to know that my heart belongs to him. I'm so proud of him and what we have. I've been hiding who I am, keeping my feelings a secret, for so long, but I don't want to do it anymore. Never again.

Jeff
Your fans seem to approve of your boyfriend. As far as I can see, most comments are positive.

Jeff
They have also discovered his identity and what he does for a living. I'll contact his office to make sure they're aware of the situation.

Jeff
Enjoy your weekend together and I'll see you at the studio on Monday. Take care of each other Blaine.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Kurt's warm voice sounds close to my ear. He snuggles in closer to me, wrapping not only his arms, but his legs around me, too.

"Looking at pictures of you and me from last night," I answer, placing a kiss on his forehead.

"Who sent you those? Quinn?" Kurt asks, kissing my neck.

"Jeff."

Kurt groans. He knows what it means if Jeff was the one who sent me them. "What's the verdict?"

"It's good. Everything is good, Kurt. They love you. They love us together."

"Yeah?" Kurt says, moving his head away from the crook of my neck. He sounds surprised, like he was expecting something else. "Can I see the pictures?"

"You look good in all of them," I say, knowing that's what he's worrying about.

"I know," Kurt says and smiles. "But I want to see how good we look together."

"We look amazing together, Kurt."

I show him the pictures and the comments. Kurt complains a little about the intimacy showing, worrying about what people will say. I assure him that everyone we need to worry about has already seen us kissing like that.

That relaxes him enough to place himself on top of me. "We do look good together, don't we?" He says.

"I told you," I say while trailing my fingers down his back. "How do you feel?"

"I have a headache. Why did you let me drink that much?" Kurt says and winces.

"I wasn't anywhere near you when you were drinking," I say and grin.

"Exactly! So this is all your fault," Kurt says with that adorable pout that only he can pull off. "I wouldn't have been drinking if you were by my side."

"Okay, blame me if that makes you feel any better," I say and kiss him.

"It does," Kurt says sounding pleased. "But besides the headache, I think I'm pretty good."

"Pretty good?" I ask and pinch his butt.

Kurt laughs. "Okay, okay! If you really want to know, right now, I feel like there's nothing anyone can say or do to make my love for you lessen. I think I could only love you more if you would forget about your stupid rule not to have sex in Dad's house," Kurt says and grinds down. Then he laughs again when he sees me roll my eyes. "But since I know that's not going to happen, I'd say I'm exactly where I want to be with the person I love the most."

How could I not kiss him after that? Our tongues swirl together in a familiar dance, sucking and licking and tasting. Right now I hate my own rule because having Kurt kissing me like this does things to my body. I know Kurt can feel it. I sense him smiling through the kiss, but he doesn't say anything. Instead he "tortures" me by moving his kisses to that spot on my neck. The spot he knows makes me weak.

"Okay, stop, Kurt," I breathe out in a husky voice.

"You're no fun," Kurt teases when he rolls off of me.

"I promise you, I'm going to be so much fun when we get home tonight," I say and try to calm my breathing and my body.

"You better," Kurt says with a final peck to my lips. "So, how do you feel today?"

"I'm so happy, Kurt. Happy that I get to show everyone what a wonderful boyfriend I have. Happy about the response to our relationship. Happy to have such great friends, and that last night went so much better than I expected. Happy to have everyone that matters to me back in my life. Happy to be moving on and putting all the bad stuff behind me."

Kurt suddenly shifts a little uncomfortably beside me. I can see that something is bothering him.

"What's wrong, Kurt?" I ask, worried about the sudden change.

"There's something I haven't told you," Kurt says, taking my hand in his. I'm sure connecting our hands is meant to calm me and make me feel safe, but it actually makes me worry more.

"What is it?" I ask.

"There is one person from your past that you haven't made peace with."

"Who?" I ask.

Kurt takes a deep breath before he continues. "Your mom contacted me last week. She wants to meet you."

My mom… I don't know how to feel about her contacting Kurt. I've reconciled with the idea that she's no longer a part of my life. She made it clear back then where her priorities laid, and it wasn't with me.

"She told me that she regretted what she did and what she said to you," Kurt continues when I don't say anything. "She said that she tried to contact you, but that you never answered. She wanted to say sorry but didn't know how when you shut her out. When she heard about your performance at that restaurant and figured out that it was me you were singing for, she contacted me, hoping I could talk to you."

"Why didn't you tell me she called?"

Kurt sighs. "I know I should have, but I wasn't sure if you wanted to talk to her, so I didn't know if I should mention anything. But then I realized that's not my decision to make. I waited until now because you were already worrying about seeing our friends, and I didn't want to add to that." Kurt moves a little closer and places his hand on my chest. "I think you should talk to her. She sounds genuinely sorry, Blaine. I think things might be different this time. I think that she has changed. She wants to meet you today."

When I think about her, about who my mom was when I was growing up, about how she tried to change but never really did, it's not a difficult decision to make.

"I don't want to meet her, Kurt. She's hurt me too many times for me to be able to forgive her. Maybe she thinks that she has changed, that she wants to be a part of my life again, but I don't trust her. And I'm scared I will get my hopes up only for her to crush them again."

"Then we won't go and see her," Kurt answers.

His answer comes without hesitation. He doesn't push me to see her, he just accepts my decision without further questions. And this is exactly why I love him. He listens to me, and he sees me. He has always made me feel seen. I roll on top of him this time, kissing him with all of the passion and love I feel for him.

"You and Burt are my family," I say while resting my forehead against his. "And I think that Carole might like me, too."

"Carole adores you," Kurt assures me.

"Then that's all the family I need."


Notes:

So this is actually where the story ends. The final chapter is the epilogue and it will be only Blaine and Kurt and full of fluff because that's how I want to end this :)

As always, all of my thanks and appreciation to my amazing beta roxymusicandlayers – you rock!