Chapter 21 London

A/N: First off thank you to my amazing beta JayhawkWrites for all your wonderful suggestions, and fixing my million grammatical errors (Darn those comma's lol). Thank you to everyone reading my story and for leaving reviews, suggestions, and Kudos. They all make my day. Stay safe.

oOoOo

Blaine woke up the next morning before Sere could wake him. He just lay there on his side, propped up on his elbow so he could look down at Kurt. He had forgotten just how beautiful he looked in the morning. Well, he looked beautiful anytime, to be honest. Waking up beside Kurt had always been one of Blaine's favorite things. While they were in high school, they had never gotten the chance to spend the night together. Yes, they had managed to steal alone time, but he had never gotten to hold Kurt all night long. That is not until the week he and Sam had spent in New York when he was getting ready for his audition for NYADA.

He had been so nervous about going to New York, and not just about the audition. He was also nervous because he would be spending more time with Kurt than he had in a long time. They hadn't been back together long, and he hadn't been able to spend a lot of time with Kurt since they had gotten engaged. Blaine had proposed, and then he had gotten to spend only a few hours with Kurt while he was waiting for his flight back to New York. Kurt had wanted to stay a few more days, but between NYADA and Vogue, he had needed to go home. They had managed a few stolen hours here and there when Kurt would come back for Burt's different doctor's visits, but there had never been an opportunity for overnight visits.

That week he and Sam had visited New York had been magical and more perfect than Blaine ever thought was possible. He and Kurt had made love for the first time since getting back together. They were able to reconnect and find themselves again. Looking back, he remembers just how nervous he had been to visit. He had repacked his duffel bag at least fifteen times, trying to remember to pack the outfits Kurt had made comments about him wearing, wanting to make Kurt proud to have him as his fiancé. Things were good between them again, and Blaine had been so very nervous about messing that up. He finally felt like he had his life back and had never wanted to lose it again; he never wanted to lose Kurt again.

That week had shown Blaine how their life together could be, the way he hoped it would be. They separated in the morning so Kurt could go to school and then work, and Blaine and Sam explored New York. After dinner each night, when the apartment would get quiet, they would spend the night making love, or just cuddling with each other. When he had moved to New York after graduation, it had been better than he could have ever imagined and it was like they were already a family. Blaine would wake up early in the morning just so that he could make Kurt breakfast. He had always loved pampering him, and he had also wanted to make sure that Kurt had no regrets about taking him back and agreeing to marry him.

Things had gone downhill very quickly after that. They were better than how they had been in high school, better than Blaine had ever thought that could be possible. Then it was over. One moment they had been happy and the next Kurt was waiting to come to bed only after he knew Blaine was asleep and getting up before Blaine woke up. Waking up beside Kurt had always been one of the best parts of Blaine's day. His whole world had been wrapped around Kurt. He had never known it was possible to love someone that much. He had been happy, and then it was over.

Blaine shook his head to clear his thoughts. He refused to wallow in the past and let it bring him down now. Blaine was back with Kurt and Kurt was where he was meant to be, in Blaine's arms again. He had no intention of letting him go. Blaine would fight for him, he would fight for them. Mistakes had been made on both sides, but hopefully, they had both learned from those mistakes and had grown into stronger people because of them.

One thing Blaine had learned was that even though he still loved Kurt with his whole being, Kurt couldn't be his everything anymore. If the last year had taught him anything, it was that he had to be his own person. He couldn't center his life around Kurt. That had cost him dearly the last time. He would be with Kurt, love him, and spend the rest of his life with him happily. Blaine's main priority now and always would be Sere.

Blaine hadn't realized that he was so lost in thought until he felt Kurt run a finger down his chest. He looked down into those blue eyes, and as always, he felt his heart skip a beat. You would think after almost five years of knowing and loving Kurt, he would be used to looking into those eyes, but nope, every time was like the first time.

"Blaine, are you ok?" Kurt asked in his husky, just woken up voice that always did things to Blaine.

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Blaine said, pulling Kurt close to him so he was snuggling into his side and placing a kiss on Kurt's soft lips.

"Are you sure?" Kurt asked again. When he had woken up, Blaine had been so lost in thought that he hadn't realized that Kurt had been watching him for several minutes.

"I'm sure Kurt. Everything's fine," Blaine said, pulling Kurt a little closer to him, never wanting him too far away again.

"So, what time do you want to get started this morning?" Kurt asked before sitting up and then quickly lying back down with a sharp intake of breath.

"Kurt, sweetheart, are you ok?" Blaine asked, his voice full of concern.

Kurt just smiled. "I moved a little fast, umm, it's been a while," Kurt says looking at Blaine, arching one eyebrow.

"Ooh, yeah," Blaine says with a sheepish grin. He was sorry that Kurt was hurting this morning, but wasn't sorry for the reason behind it. They had both needed it, and even though Blaine had wanted to be gentle, in the end, Kurt wouldn't allow it.

"So, yeah, someone is going to be walking slowly this morning," Kurt said, smiling at Blaine.

"Well, we aren't in any kind of a hurry," Blaine said, leaning over Kurt to kiss him and rub his hand up and down Kurt's bare chest. Just that touch had Blaine on fire again. The soft kiss he had started with soon became heated, and Kurt's moans were going straight to Blaine's cock.

Blaine leaned down even more so that he was almost entirely on top Kurt. They might not be able to do what he wanted to do right now, but there was still so much they could do. Blaine ran his hand down Kurt's side and slid it between Kurt's ass and the mattress, gently squeezing and pulling Kurt's hips towards him.

"I love you so much, Kurt... so much," Blaine said, kissing him. Before long kisses and cuddles weren't enough for them. Blaine slowly crawled on top of Kurt, still placing sweet kisses on Kurt's lips. He gently started thrusting his hips down, allowing their hard cocks to rub together, giving them the friction the both needed so badly. Kurt opened his legs, allowing Blaine to shift to a better position. The added weight of Blaine's body on top of him created more pressure on Kurt, making him feel so good Kurt moaned loudly.

"Sweetheart, I love you, and I love all the noises you make for me. It lets me know I am doing something right for you. But if you don't stay quiet, little one over there is going to wake up, and we will both be left very uncomfortable," Blaine said before attacking Kurt's lips right when he was about to moan again. "I can tell you are going to be trouble," Blaine said with a smile, thrusting his hips against Kurt a little harder. God, how he loved this man.

"I love you, I love you, I love," Kurt chanted softly, thrusting his hips up and meeting Blaine thrust for thrust. Kurt began moving faster under him, and for Blaine, this had always been such a turn on. Kurt had always been an active participant in their lovemaking, no matter what they were doing and who was leading. He had friends who talked about how their lovers would just lay underneath them, not really moving. That had never been his Kurt. His Kurt had always given as good as he got. He had always wanted Blaine to feel as good as he did, and Blaine always had.

Kurt grabbed Blaine's ass and pulled their bodies together harder, encouraging Blaine to move just a little faster. Seconds later, he made an almost guttural moan, and Blaine knew Kurt had found his release. Blaine continued rocking his hips into Kurt, placing soft kisses on his face, until he finally found his own release and almost cried. Every time with Kurt was perfect. Every time seemed to be just a little bit better than the time before, and every day Blaine fell just a little more in love with the precious man under him.

Propping himself on his forearms, Blaine continued to kiss Kurt softly all over his face. He didn't want to move away from Kurt. He didn't ever want to lose this connection, this closeness. Blaine knew very soon real life was going to creep back in, and he would have no choice but to move away.

"Morning, sweetheart," Blaine said softly, looking into Kurt's eyes and placing one more soft kiss on his lips before sliding back off of him. "Have I ever told you just how very much in love with you I am?" Blaine whispered, laying his head on Kurt's chest, tracing small circles on Kurt's skin with his finger.

"I love you, too, Blaine, more than you will ever know. I will spend my life making sure you know that. I never want you to have a moment of doubt as to how I feel about you. If I learned anything this last year, it's that living without you in my life isn't really living at all. I was just going through the motions. I never want you to doubt how much I need you in my life. I will spend every moment from now on letting you know what you mean to me. I never want to face a life without you in it again. I love you so much," Kurt said, leaning down to place a kiss on top of Blaine's head.

"I love you, too, sweetheart, and I will happily spend the rest of my life letting you know just how much," Blaine said. He was straightening up so that he could kiss Kurt again when he heard movement from the crib, and Sere saying "dada." One of the many things he loved about his little girl was that she very rarely woke up crying. She was such a happy little girl. "What is it, baby girl?" Blaine asked, placing one more kiss on Kurt's upturned lips before standing up, walking over to the crib and pulling his little girl into his arms. Thankfully, they'd put boxers on last night before they'd fallen asleep. The downside now was that he was all sticky inside them. That would need to be the first thing he took care of after getting Sere all changed and settled.

Still holding Sere, Blaine walked over to her suitcase and pulled her out a clean outfit and diaper for today. He carried her over to the bed, laid her down, quickly cleaned her up, and then dressed her. "I figured today if you were interested, we can play tourist since we are all still a little jet-lagged. Then we could go to the apartment and knock it out tomorrow," Blaine said, looking over at Kurt for a moment, before picking Sere back up into his arms, snuggling her close. Sometimes he could still not believe he had this precious little girl in his life. He had always thought his life was complete, and he didn't realize how wrong he was until he had her.

"Sounds good. Do you want me to watch her while you take a shower, or should I go ahead?" Kurt asked as he watched Blaine with Sere. It always amazed him how wonderful he was with her. Kurt had always known Blaine would be a good dad just by how he treated everyone else. Nothing could have prepared him for just how amazing Blaine would be, though. He remembered all the long conversations they had had, especially when they first became a couple and were first learning each other. They had decided that when the time came they wanted two kids. Kurt had loved his life but had always wished growing up that he had a sibling. When his dad married Carol, he had gained Finn but had always wished he had been there when he was growing up.

Blaine agreed on having at least two children, but he wanted them kind of close together. He had grown up with Cooper, but Coop had been eight years older than Blaine so they were never really that close. They loved each other, and they both knew that, but he had always wished they could have been closer in age. It wasn't until Blaine became an adult that they were able to really connect with each other.

"Why don't you go ahead and I'll take mine when you get out," Blaine said, smiling when Kurt walked over to him so that he could kiss him.

"Ok, I'll be out in a few," Kurt said and walked to the bathroom. He knew that Blaine had to be uncomfortable, so he wanted to make sure he was actually quick.

Blaine could only smile at this. Kurt's few minutes was generally about thirty. He would shower and then do his skin routine. Blaine couldn't be too terribly upset, though, since it gave him alone time with Sere. He loves spending time with her in the morning when she first woke up. He felt like that was their special father-daughter time. This didn't mean that he wouldn't be spending the rest of his day with her, but the mornings, when she first woke up had always been his favorite time and something about it felt different than any other time of the day. During this time, he would hold her tight and sing to her.

When Kurt was ready, Blaine quickly showered and dressed. He packed a diaper bag for Sere, reminding himself that he needed to stop and buy diapers while they were out. He packed the ones he had left along with a couple of outfits for her and they were ready to go. They had decided instead of ordering room service this morning, they would go to the restaurant downstairs to eat instead. One of the things on Kurt's ever-growing to-do list was a full English breakfast, and from the reviews that Blaine had read, the restaurant downstairs was supposed to offer a good one.

"Ready?" Blaine asked Kurt after looking around for the hundredth time that he had everything he would need for himself and Sere for the day.

"Yes!" Kurt said with a big smile on his face. Blaine could tell how excited he was.

"Well, let's go then," Blaine said, smiling back. Kurt's excitement was contagious. Blaine waited for Kurt to open the door and then pushed Sere in her stroller out into the hall.

When they got downstairs to the restaurant, they were both a little shocked by the amount of food that was available. There were coddled eggs, English and American types of sausage, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, porridge and oatmeal, fresh fruits and pastries. The hardest part about breakfast was trying to figure out what to eat first. While Kurt watched Sere, Blaine went up and fixed himself and Sere a plate and then watched Kurt's face as he walked up to the bar. He remembered when they were in school, Kurt would always eat healthy and small portions. When Kurt came back to their table with his plate rounded up, Blaine could only smile.

"What?" Kurt asked between bites, enjoying his food.

"Nothing. Can't I just like watching you?" Blaine said, leaning over and placing a kiss on Kurt's cheek. They still didn't do a lot of PDA, but Blaine just couldn't stop himself.

Kurt had just smiled and continued eating. After breakfast, Blaine put Sere in her stroller and they headed out into the city. They had decided to walk today instead of taking taxis, plus one of the things Kurt had said he wanted to do was ride on the top level of a double-decker bus and take the underground.

They went to Westminster Abbey, saw Big Ben, and were both a little sad that the scaffolding was still around if from the work that was being done on the Elizabeth Tower itself. Since today wasn't a special holiday or occasion, they also wouldn't be able to hear the clock chime the time. Blaine decided in a few years, maybe when Sere was older, they would come back and experience the things they didn't get to this time. After that, they hopped on a double-decker bus and rode it to Buckingham Palace. They managed to time their arrival just in time to see the changing of the guard, another thing on Kurt's to-do list. It was on Blaine's as well, and while he had done all of this before, he had never done it with Kurt by his side, and that made it feel almost new again.

While they were on that side of London, and since it was lunchtime, Blaine decided to check-off another thing from Kurt's to-do list. He wanted to take him to eat real fish and chips. When Blaine had been here with his parents, they had eaten at Poppies. He had checked this morning and found out that they were still open, so they hopped on another bus and headed over there.

They ordered their food and found a seat. So far, today had been a really good day. Blaine had loved London when he was here before, but seeing everything again through Kurt's joyous eyes made it even more special and amazing.

"There's something I have been meaning to ask you," Blaine said, looking up at Kurt. "What happened to NYADA? The last I heard, once you got glee going again at McKinley, you were going back to New York to start your junior year. You haven't mentioned anything about it. Is school ok with you missing so many classes?"

Kurt looked back at Blaine and he could see the hurt in Kurt's eyes. Blaine almost wished now he hadn't asked, but he had decided that if they were going to work, if they were going to be a couple, Blaine wasn't going to shy away from potentially uncomfortable subjects anymore. If he had a question, he was going to ask. If something was wrong, he was going to talk to Kurt about it so that they could fix it. He didn't want it to be like it was before, where they swept their problems under the rug. Blaine wanted to face everything head-on. Whatever problem came along, they would work on it then and there instead of letting it build up until it became too big, and potentially pulled them apart.

"I went back... and I tried to get back into school, back into my old classes. I tried going back to sparring class, you remember the one we were in together? I ended up dropping it after a week. I signed up for the summer master class with Layne Marceau, and the second year of theater history, but it just wasn't the same," Kurt said, looking at Blaine before looking down at his plate again.

"I remember when you first moved to New York, you were so excited to be able to get in the same classes as me. We had just had a horrible year apart and this was our chance to reconnect again. I had spent that first year in New York alone; first because of our breakup, and then waiting for you to graduate so you could join me. I had learned how to live alone and be my own person for the first time in my life. I'm not saying any of this to hurt you. I'm really not, but I went from a life controlled by my dad, and in some form by you, to doing things my way and living the way I wanted. I was finally able to be me." Kurt desperately hoped he was making sense. This was something that was hard for him to think about, let alone talk about and convey exactly what he had been thinking and feeling.

"I loved being back with you and having you with me, but you ended up being in six of my classes, plus we were living together. I went from living on my own, minus Rachel, of course, to being part of an 'us' again. It was no longer where I just made decisions based on what I wanted; I now had to figure you in as well. You asked me in our first class together if I felt like you were smothering me, and I said no. But I did... I did feel like that. I think that might have been one of my problems as well." It had taken Kurt a long time to figure all of this out. To figure out where their problems really started this time around. He just wishes he would have figured it out sooner and been able to talk about it instead of letting everything get out of control.

"When I went back to New York after you said for now we needed to stay broken up, everywhere I looked, everywhere I went, you were there, and I missed you more than I ever thought possible. I had always known I loved you, but until you said goodbye and refused to get back with me, I guess I didn't realize how much. There were all these old memories of you being with me no matter where I went or what I did. Being at school made me think about watching you in mime class and the faces you would make that would have me busting out laughing, causing me almost to get me kicked out of class." Kurt knew he was rambling now. But he felt like everything he was saying was important and leading to something big.

"I went back there thinking I could just jump back into school, back into those classes like nothing was wrong; only everything was wrong. I missed you. I missed your goofy smile. I missed walking into a room and having you hug me tight. I kept trying for two months, but nothing was the same. I used to love going to school and going to my classes. Then all of a sudden, NYADA became a place I hated. I fought so hard to get into that school, and yet I couldn't stand being there anymore and all of the classes I once loved I now hated. The apartment that I thought had to be set up 'my way' was suddenly cold and impersonal. I decided to drop out and concentrate on Vogue for a while," Kurt said, wiping a tear off of his cheek.

"Oh, Kurt, I am so sorry. Why didn't you tell me I was smothering you? Why did you say everything was ok? I could tell it wasn't, but I guess I just wanted to keep living in my fantasy world where everything with us was still perfect; the way it was before you left for New York. I would have backed off. I would have changed classes. We had just spent that last year apart and I couldn't stand the thought of being separated from you again," Blaine whispered, looking at Kurt and wishing once again that they had talked.

"I guess I was afraid you would get upset. It wasn't that I didn't want you with me, because I did, but it was like there was never any 'me' time anymore. I remember telling Elliot that I felt like I was losing myself in you. I felt like I was losing my identity," Kurt said, not looking up.

"Kurt, I wish you would have talked to me, not Elliot," Blaine said, feeling sad about how Kurt had felt and how he didn't think he could talk to him about it. He had known their relationship was fracturing but hadn't realized just how badly. "Speaking of Elliot, what happened to your band?"

"Oh... that. I just couldn't get into it anymore. I was no longer interested in signing us up for new gigs, or anything like that. He and Dani started their own band. He named it 'Glitter Rock Vampires.' He said that he got the name from you, actually. I never understood what he meant by that," Kurt answered back

"Long story," Blaine said, laughing, remembering the day he had busted into Elliot's apartment and accused him of trying to steal Kurt away from him.

Kurt just started laughing, "Ok, that is a story you are sooo going to have to tell me."

"I will one day, I promise," Blaine said, laughing, glad that the mood had changed back to how it was. He didn't want to think or talk about their time apart again. Enough had been said about it for a lifetime, and he felt that they both had a better understanding of where they went wrong. He also knew in the depths of his soul that they wouldn't allow themselves to get back to a place where they didn't feel comfortable talking to each other. They were both committed to making this work this time around.

"Ok, speaking about burning questions... what happened between you and June Dollaway? I thought for sure she was going to keep your music career moving forward, especially since she loved your showcase," Kurt asked, taking a sip of his water.

Blaine sat there looking at Kurt, wondering how to answer that question. He knew no matter what he said, Kurt would be hurt, but he needed to tell the truth. "There was something I never told you, Kurt. I told you that she didn't want you to be part of the showcase, but what I didn't tell you was, when I asked her to let you have even a small part, she told me no. She also said that if I screwed her over she would leave me like driftwood."

"What?" Kurt almost yelled.

"Umm, that wasn't the worst part. She wanted me to break up with you. She said, 'You need to break that engagement.' I told her no, that I loved you, that you were my life. She told me that that's what humans do, we fall in and out of love and we break each other's hearts. I refused to do that, and she finally let it drop. Since she let it drop, I thought it would be the same thing with the showcase. I could keep asking her for you to be in it, and I would finally convince her to see it my way. The day before my showcase, I knew I was never going to change her mind. I was never going to convince her to see my side of it. So I did what I had to do. I finally told you the truth, and had you sing with me anyway," Blaine said, looking at Kurt, hoping he would understand.

"So, you potentially gave up a career that we both know you would have loved, to have me sing with you that day, even after the way I acted," Kurt said, looking at Blaine, not even shocked that he had done something like that for him. Blaine had essentially put his own career on the line to make him happy. That was just how Blaine was. He loved with his whole heart. He always gave his all in everything he did. Too bad, Kurt couldn't always say the same.

"Like I said that day sitting out on that stoop, you were more important to me than anything. You were my whole life. I would have given up everything to keep you happy. I had lived for a while without you before, and I didn't want to go through that again," Blaine said, reaching out for Kurt's hand and rubbing his thumb over Kurt's knuckles.

"Until I made you," Kurt whispered, looking at Blaine.

"Hey, no, don't go there. We just have to take it all as a lesson learned so that we don't make the same mistakes again, because as much as we'd like to, we can't go back and change what has happened. We agree right now that if there is a problem, we talk to each other about it. Even if, like right now, it hurts or is uncomfortable. I would rather have a little hurt now then more in the future," Blaine said, turning his hand, so he was holding Kurt's, giving it a small squeeze, "Agreed?"

"Agreed," Kurt answered back before leaning in and placing a kiss on Blaine's lips.

"Ok, on with the next touristy thing on the list," Blaine said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood back up.

"Ok, kind Sir. What's the next stop in our adventure?" Kurt asked, laughing.

"Well, you wanted to take the underground, and I wanted to see platform 9 ¾, so I figured two birds, one stone," Blaine said, giving Kurt a goofy grin.

"You're still such a dork," Kurt said, returning the grin.

"And you thought a year would have changed that? Kurt, I am so disappointed," Blaine said, sticking out his bottom lip in a fake pout.

"I don't know. Not change per se," Kurt said, tilting his head sideways, laughing with a big smile on his face.

"Oh, my love, I will never change. Don't you know me by now?" Blaine said, kissing Kurt, before holding out his hand and helping Kurt stand up.

Kurt was on cloud nine. Blaine always called him 'sweetheart.' He had called him that for the first time right after they became a couple, almost like Blaine had been waiting for a chance to be able to say those words out loud. It had always melted Kurt's heart a little when he did, but Blaine very rarely called him 'my love.' When he did, though, Kurt knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he meant it. It wasn't just words he would use or a phrase he said. Today was the first time since they had gotten back together that Blaine had called him that, and Kurt just wanted to be somewhere alone with Blaine, so he could show him just what those words had meant to him.

When they left the restaurant, they walked about ten minutes to Piccadilly Circus Station. Kurt wanted to ride the underground, and this seemed like the perfect time. They were sitting down on the train when all of a sudden, Kurt started laughing. "Oh, my Gaga. That's what that means," Kurt said, continuing to laugh, not caring how many people were watching him.

"What what means?" Blaine asked, unable not to join Kurt in his laughter, even though he didn't know what he was laughing at, or why they were laughing.

"Mind the gap," Kurt said, laughing even harder.

"Oook," Blaine had heard the announcement 'mind the gap' at every station that they stopped at, but couldn't figure out what had Kurt laughing so hard about it. He wasn't complaining though. He enjoyed watching Kurt laughing, especially after the conversation they had had at lunch. His laugh was one of Blaine's favorite sounds in the world.

"In New York, I've seen people walking around with these T-shirts on. They had the underground emblem, with the words 'mind the gap' under it. I swear I thought it was something sexual and was like oook, they're proud. Now, I know." Kurt said, still laughing, only now with a blush spreading across his face.

Blaine just stared at Kurt for a minute, his mouth hanging open before pulling Kurt into a tight hug, laughing, "Only you, Kurt, only you," Blaine said, shaking his head.

"Well," Kurt said with a big grin on his face.

They got off the underground at Kings Cross Station, went down a few levels until they got to the store platform 9 ¾. Blaine was in heaven. He had always been a big Harry Potter fanatic and always wanted to come here. When Blaine had been in London with his parents, he hadn't known about the store. When he had come with Bryce, it hadn't been the right time for this type of store. He spent an hour just walking around. He bought Sere a baby Gryfindor T-shirt and found himself a Gryfindor hoodie. He couldn't convince Kurt to let him buy him anything in that store. Kurt had never been a big Potter fan. He had always sat through the movies for Blaine, but they weren't something he would watch on his own.

When Kurt was finally able to get Blaine out of the Potter store, they browsed through a few more before deciding on dinner when Sere started to fuss. Blaine stopped, unstrapped her from her stroller and carried her. While Kurt pushed the stroller, Blaine talked to Sere softly and held her tight. He placed his free hand on Kurt's waist and a kiss on his cheek. Blaine was truly happy at that moment. He had his family and all was right in his world again.