Kurt looks around them. The band has started a new song, a traditional slow waltz, for the elderly guests wanting to join in. Olivia and Brian have changed partners, inviting their new father and mother in law to the dancefloor respectively. Greg and Samantha will take their turns too, then Julian, and Olivia had made it very clear she planned to dance with Sebastian and Kurt as well. They know nothing of what is threatening to happen. Their world does not extend beyond the dancefloor and their happy bubble- one that Kurt was in right until now. How quickly everything can change; how a few words turn everything upside down. Kurt already knows how that works, and he greets it with the bitter melancholy of inviting in a former friend.
This is it, he thinks to himself. This is the thing I have been dreading. One thing always goes wrong at a wedding - and he has let himself be blindsided by the dress when all along it had still been on its way.
Suddenly he feels out of place here. Among the revellers, there is no room to think, to go over what he needs to say. Kurt is angry with himself for not anticipating this, for not being prepared- he had given Blaine's return a place in his head for next week, compartmentalizing it neatly away until after the wedding to deal with then. This isn't supposed to happen now. There is no Plan B and he is not dressed for confrontation.
"I can't be here-" he starts, breaking off and shaking his head slightly. He mustn't make a scene- not here, not now- he has worked too hard to give Olivia the perfect wedding she deserves. But his mind feels like it's going to explode, and every count of the waltz is like a hammer onto his skull. Rachel looks at him in confusion, but Sebastian catches on immediately.
"What do you need?" he asks, looking ready and determined.
"I need some air," Kurt whispers. He is aware of how it sounds- they are, after all, in a garden- but Sebastian doesn't question it.
"Let's go to the parking lot," he says, offering Kurt his arm. It makes sense- if Blaine is on his way, that's where he'll turn up. He's not going to materialize on the dance floor. Kurt nods gratefully, his throat too thick for words.
"I'll come with you," Rachel offers.
"No," the both of them say in unison. Kurt swallows hard around the lump in his throat to find his voice.
"You need to stay put and cover for us," he instructs sternly. "I don't want Olivia or Brian to notice anything. Anything, do you hear me? Make whatever excuse you need."
"But I feel responsible," Rachel says plaintively.
"You are," Sebastian cuts in. "That's why you are getting this job. Don't fuck it up, Berry."
Rachel's eyes go wide, but then she nods, her head bobbing up and down.
Sebastian leads Kurt off the dance floor. There's a sudden smile on his lips, an extra adoring gaze, and all Kurt can think of is: weeks of fake-dating have trained us for this moment. He smiles back, pretends to whisper something in his ear, and then they head off away from the crowd. For once, Sebastian's former lifestyle and his reputation are of use to them; if anyone is watching them right now, Kurt knows what it looks like. He also knows how it may reflect upon him, but at this moment in time, he doesn't care. Saving Olivia's wedding is more important than his reputation. Let everyone think they are sneaking off to have sex; at least that way, no one will suspect a potentially disruptive wedding crasher is on his way.
They walk back through the entrance of the garden- now romantically lit with hundreds of fairy lights- and in another scenario, this would have been the perfect spot to really do what everyone thinks they have gone off to do. But right now, Kurt just holds on to Sebastian's hand tightly, clenching his jaw so hard it almost hurts, needing to be away from the romance to focus on the Blaine of it all.
"I'm so sorry," Kurt says as soon as they are outside. He can still hear the music in the background, layered over a muted hum of voices, but no one can hear them now, which is what matters.
"What for?" Sebastian asks, frowning a little.
Kurt shrugs uncomfortably. "I feel like...maybe somewhere deep inside, I wanted this to happen. But now that it is, I don't want it anymore- you have to believe me!"
"You wanted him to come crash the wedding?" Sebastian asks, scoffing a little.
"No!" Kurt assures him quickly. "I just mean...when I updated my relationship status on Facebook, I sort of expected...something. A reaction. When nothing came, it just felt like…" He shrugs, hugging his own arms.
Sebastian's expression changes from guarded to understanding.
"Like he didn't care at all?" he suggests carefully. Kurt nods. His throat feels thick again, and tears well up in his eyes.
"I mean, I already felt like our whole relationship didn't matter to him anymore when I heard it only took him nine days to find someone else," he blurts out, and Sebastian winces in sympathy but he has to go on now, the flood of words wanting to come out can't be stopped, "but I somehow thought that he'd at least...put up some kind of fight if he realized I had moved on too."
"Do you think he's coming to fight?" Sebastian asks, his eyes scanning the dark parking lot.
Kurt shrugs. "I don't know. When Cooper told me about him, it sounded like he still cared, and yet he never contacted me, never gave me any hope-" He swallows hard. "It felt like he left me, completely, without looking back."
He shakes his head and looks down on his shoes for a moment before looking up at Sebastian. "At least if he does come tonight, it will show that he cared." Too little, too late, but still.
Then, before either of them can say anything else, Julian comes running up to them.
"Is he here yet?" he asks, breathing hard. He looks around the parking lot. Both Sebastian and Kurt wait silently for Julian to figure out the rather obvious answer to his question.
"Good. Because I have stuff to say," Julian announces, and turns to Kurt. "Look, I know you love chick flicks, and a long-lost love crashing a wedding with some kind of serenade is about as romantic as it fucking gets, but please, please don't fall for it. I saw how heartbroken you were. I saw first-hand what he did to you, how much it hurt when he cheated on you-"
"They were broken up, so technically he didn't cheat-" Sebastian interjects, then frowns and breaks off as if he can't believe he is actually defending Blaine.
"But it crushed him," Julian continues, glancing at his brother before turning back to Kurt.
"And believe me, Kurt, leaving Sebastian here, today- it will crush him, too. I know I am probably the very last person in the world to have any right to speak after what I did to Seb, but I am begging you, please don't hurt him like that. He doesn't deserve it. Despite the way you two started-"
"Jules," Sebastian cuts in.
"No, Seb, I get to be just as worried as you are! If Kurt takes Blaine back I'll hate myself forever, I have to-"
"JULIAN!" Sebastian shouts, a hint of anger tainting his voice now, and finally, it gets through to his brother, who shuts up and stares at him.
"I am not worried," Sebastian states.
"You're not?" Julian asks.
Sebastian shakes his head. "I know Kurt loves me. Blaine showing up here is not going to change that tonight. And...if I don't completely fuck things up, I hope nothing ever will."
Kurt offers him a small smile. Later, he'll frame this moment in his mind and put it with the others in his summer album - a memory to be treasured forever. For now, realizing just how far they have come is a little too overwhelming, so he pushes that thought away for later.
"He's right, Jules," he offers. "We came out here to make a containment plan to stop Blaine from crashing the wedding, not to renegotiate the terms of our relationship." He takes Sebastian's hand. "Blaine has lost his chance."
Julian stares at the both of them for a moment. "Good for you," he finally says. Then, they are interrupted once again, by a very stressed-looking Rachel.
"So much for not fucking it up," Sebastian mumbles under his breath, but Kurt shushes him.
"Kurt, I'm so sorry! He wouldn't listen! I told him you were busy- I mean, I even implied...you know-"
"That you were off fucking," Julian supplies with a grin.
"And let me guess," Kurt says drily, "that only spurred him on to go look for us?"
"Yes," Rachel says, lowering her voice and frowning. "What is wrong with that guy? He's more like...like..Sebastian than Sebastian!"
"Thanks," Sebastian says, but Rachel ignores him.
"I couldn't do it, Kurt, I had to tell him the truth. I couldn't have him thinking that you'd ever do such a thing-"
"Not until after we had cake, anyway," Sebastian comments idly, holding his hand up for his brother to high-five, and Rachel just gasps.
Kurt shakes his head. "It's fine, Rachel. But please go back to the party now. We don't want Olivia and Brian to notice. If making excuses for us doesn't work, you'll need to create a diversion until we've dealt with Blaine."
Rachel winces. "How will you...deal with him?" she asks, eyeing Sebastian again.
"Relax, we're not going to beat him up. I just want to talk to him, and explain everything," Kurt assures her.
Rachel lets out a deep breath and nods. Then, her eyes begin to sparkle. "A diversion, huh?" she says, and then eyes Julian. "Can you sing?"
Julian looks a little taken aback. "I was in the Warblers," he says, as if that says enough.
"Perfect," Rachel says, and grab his arm. "You and Cooper can be my back-up singers."
"Is she actually skipping?" Sebastian asks, watching Rachel pull Julian along by the hand while Julian looks back at them with a mildly horrified expression.
Kurt snorts. "Pushing herself into a solo and saving a wedding? It's the highlight of her week."
They watch them until they disappear through the tunnel of fairy lights and ivy, and then it feels like everything quiets down again. Kurt lets Sebastian's words echo in his head.
"You really aren't worried?" he finally asks.
Sebastian purses his lips and shrugs, like Kurt is asking him what he wants on his pizza. Then, his expression grows more serious and he takes Kurt's hand, running his thumb over his knuckles. "Should I be?"
Kurt quickly shakes his head, flipping his hand so he can interlace their fingers and squeeze Sebastian's hand. "If you love something, you hold onto it as tight as you fucking can, and you make damn sure it doesn't ever want to go."
Sebastian's eyes go stormy as he seems to connect the memory of his own words to what Kurt is trying to say. For a moment, Kurt thinks he is not going to reply at all. Then he offers Kurt a small smile and whispers: "Okay."
He pulls Kurt closer by his hand, wrapping his arms tightly around him and kissing him hard, like Kurt's words were literal, and a challenge - but it's exactly what Kurt needs right now, the physical, almost bruising assurance that they are both holding on, no matter what.
He kisses Sebastian back, bringing his hands up to clutch at his shoulders. Everything around them fades to the background- the noise from the party, the excitement of the day- all that's left is Sebastian, their kiss, and the ever growing need to be even closer than their current location and state of dress allow.
A pair of headlights turn up the driveway to the parking lot, briefly bathing them in a bright white glare, and for a moment Kurt feels oddly disconnected from reality. It feels like they are on stage, in a spotlight of their own, placed at that exact point for a reason. Gravel crunches as the car rolls up.
The roar of the engine dies down to a purr; muted conversation and the slam of a car door make Kurt realize the next act has started. He pulls back from Sebastian's lips, looking up into his eyes, and as Sebastian gives him a small nod, they part, though Sebastian does not stray far. He remains in the shine of the headlights, their spotlight.
A lone figure comes towards them. As he passes the side of the car, he is illuminated from behind. Kurt could pick out that silhouette, that gait, anywhere.
He comes into focus. Blaine looks tired, his eyes a little puffy, his normally so well-tended clothes rumpled from his flight. Locks of curly hair have come undone from his styled pompadour and hang limply down his forehead.
It takes Kurt all of three seconds to remember everything. A tsunami of memories washes over him, from their first meeting at the Dalton staircase to their dance at prom, all of the times they've made love, shared kisses and I-love-you's. With a sharp, painful sting, Kurt aches. He aches for those memories with an unexpectedly deep longing crashing through his entire body like waves hitting rocks on the shore, eroding his heart and nearly cutting off his breath. Seeing Blaine like this, knowing it's because of him; is killing him a little. He longs to make it alright, to cup Blaine's soft chin in his hand and kiss his eyelids, to straighten his jacket and brush the hair from his face. But then other memories come back too.
'But we are together!'
'We are, but I think come summer time we shouldn't be.'
His world turned upside down. Everything he had taken for granted up until that moment- New York, them, KurtandBlaine - ripped away like a bandaid.
"Hey," Blaine says, pulling him back to the present, and Kurt feels his muscles go rigid, coiling like a spring ready to jump, and he has to work hard to repress his body from reacting to the sound of his voice.
"Hey," he replies, far more calm than he feels.
"When I imagined this moment, it was never here, or like this," Blaine admits softly.
Kurt really feels that, because of course he has imagined the moment of their glorious reunion too- even if he was hurt and angry and numb, he had that one blade of grass to clutch: it would play out in front of his eyes like an old Hollywood movie. 'August 28th, at Columbus Airport'...it was slow-motion, usually, sometimes even black and white, a Marlene Dietrich song playing in the background.
"I know, this is weird. We're in full color," he jokes nervously.
Blaine frowns a little. "I meant, we're in Pennsylvania, at the wedding of your-" He glances at Sebastian and swallows. He seems to struggle to go on. "Of his sister."
"Blaine," Kurt breathes, and he doesn't know how to express everything at once - that he's sorry, but also isn't? That he missed Blaine, but also didn't?
'We'll both be so busy we probably won't even have time to miss each other'
Blaine couldn't have been more wrong- not at first, anyway. Kurt started missing him the second after that conversation in May, all through his final weeks of school, and for weeks after Blaine had left, every single moment he wasn't actively trying to compartmentalize, Kurt missed him so much he could hardly breathe.
And then, somehow, breathing became easier...around Sebastian. 'I miss you every day and night' became 'a few times a day', became 'every now and then'. If Kurt thinks back at his time at the beach house, he can only recall missing Blaine once or twice - and he does not recall missing him at all after that.
"I don't understand," Blaine whispers. "I thought we were forever."
"Me too," Kurt admits, and the mere mention of that word brings back so much bitterness that he cannot stop himself from adding: "only in your case, forever only lasted nine days."
Blaine's jaw drops and he gives Kurt such an incredulous, hurt look that Kurt almost wishes he could take it back. But it's not his fault, it was never his decision, even if Blaine had tried to convince everyone they both wanted it - and so he doesn't take it back, and holds his ground.
"How can you say that?" Blaine whispers, his eyes large and slowly filling with tears.
"How could you do that?" Kurt replies, steeling himself. He doesn't have enough tears left to weep after how many he has shed hearing Cooper's words - maybe now it is Blaine's turn.
Blaine shakes his head. "I didn't mean to, Kurt, you have to understand! It was that place. They have such a big community, it was like our entire group at camp was queer and they were all so out there, there were parties, and I just-" His breath hitches.
Kurt feels himself grow colder. He half-expects Blaine to say something like how much he loved it, how they were all oh so artistic and spontaneous and it was all so much better than Ohio (and Kurt) could ever be, but then-
"I felt so out of place," Blaine admits. "I didn't know what to do without you at my side. I was so lonely, and I missed you like crazy, and then I made the stupid decision to get really, really drunk to try and fit in..."
Kurt represses a shudder, because he knows that feeling far too well. Suddenly he feels cold for a whole other reason.
Blaine pauses. "This guy came on to me, and I just- I don't know. I let it happen."
Kurt clasps a hand over his lips. "Did he-" he starts, but Blaine immediately shakes his head.
"No! No, nothing like that. I wasn't that drunk. I could have said no, but I didn't. I...thought I wanted it. I messed up. As soon as it was over, I felt terrible. I still feel..." He swallows hard. "Kind of sick when I think about it, actually."
As soon as it was over. That implies that he didn't feel terrible while it was going on, didn't it? Did he enjoy it? Did the guy make him feel good, (better than Kurt?) He can't ask. He's not even sure he wants to know.
"I'm so sorry, Kurt. I hate that it happened," Blaine continues, then shakes his head and frowns. "I hate that I did it," he corrects himself, and despite the knife currently twisting in Kurt's heart, he has to give Blaine credit for admitting he had agency, and it was not something that happened to him, like an earthquake or a tornado. "I should have said no. I would do anything to turn back time."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kurt asks, feeling hollow. A tear is rolling down his face.
"I didn't know how," Blaine admits. "I was afraid you'd be angry, that you'd-" he breaks off and shrugs awkwardly. "That you'd never forgive me."
Kurt presses his lips together into a thin line. "I would have forgiven just about anything if you'd just been honest with me, Blaine," he admits, shrugging helplessly.
"So you got drunk and made a mistake. We've been there together before." He looks into Blaine's eyes, knowing he remembers that night at Scandals. "But you chose to hide it from me, and say nothing…for weeks. Would you even have told me at all if Cooper hadn't tattled?"
Blaine frowns, looking a bit desperate. "I...of course, I-" then something hardens in his face.
"But you didn't tell me about him either. Did you ever think about how it would feel for me to find out on Facebook with everyone else? Didn't I deserve a little warning?"
Kurt lets out a humorless laugh. "Do you think I haven't tried? You didn't want any contact, remember?" He shakes his head.
"I reached out to you over and over again those first weeks, needing to hear your voice, needing the reassurance that you would come back to me, that I wasn't a fool for waiting and putting my life on pause for you. You had plenty of warnings, but you chose to ignore them."
Blaine gives him a crestfallen look. "Would it have made a difference?" he asks defeatedly.
Kurt closes his eyes, spilling the tears that have gathered in them because he doesn't know. There was a time where he would have said yes- yes, Blaine could have called him back from that brink, could have stopped him from falling for Sebastian because Kurt has always been nothing if not loyal- but is that really true? If being with Sebastian feels this right, could anything have stopped it from happening? And - would he have wanted it to?
"Maybe," he says softly, his voice troubled. "Or maybe not."
Blaine's eyes flit to Sebastian, his eyebrows pulling together in a frustrated frown. "I thought we were friends," he says accusingly.
Sebastian takes a step forward and crosses his arms over his chest. "So? You broke up with him. He was fair game. And I have to say, you really dropped the ball there, Anderson. I hope your one-night stand was worth losing the best thing you ever had. Because he's definitely the best I ever had...over and over again."
Blaine scoffs, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
Kurt feels his stomach drop, because although Blaine probably thinks this sounds just like the Sebastian he knows - it is not really him. Sebastian is putting up a front, making it easier for Blaine to hate him, to shift the blame onto him to take it away from Kurt. In his own, harsh way, he is trying to protect Kurt.
"No," Kurt says decisively, "it's not Sebastian's fault. Hearing about you from Cooper made up my mind," he admits, "but I already wanted to be with him before that."
Blaine's attention turns back to him. "Why?" he finally asks simply. There's so much in that single word- why, when they both know of Sebastian's reputation and how he acted towards them in school, how he nearly blinded Blaine, how he intended to blackmail Finn?
Kurt sighs, and glances at Sebastian, who offers him an apologetic smile. "Because I fell in love with him," he admits, looking into Sebastian's eyes. "He makes me happy."
Sebastian drops his cocky pose and takes Kurt's hand, squeezing it softly before turning to face Kurt's ex.
"Neither of us planned for this, Blaine," he says, far more gently than before. "But while, as a friend, I am sorry that this is hurting you, I am not sorry it happened."
Blaine nods almost imperceptibly, giving them both a resigned look.
"I...I want you to be happy, Kurt," he whispers. "I'm sorry I couldn't be the one."
Kurt cocks his head and presses his lips into a sad smile. "You were, Blaine. And I will always cherish that time. But sometimes, things change. People change. I am not the boy you left anymore."
Blaine nods. "I can see that."
He looks up at Sebastian and opens his mouth to say something, but then changes his mind, shaking his head a little. Kurt can see he is struggling.
"I need some time for this," Blaine admits. "I want to be happy for you, but-"
"That's okay," Sebastian says gently. "Do you wanna come back with us, have a drink? I mean, it sounds like there's a party going on out there." He nods to the garden.
Blaine hesitates, briefly glancing at the cab that is waiting for him. He looks like he'd rather run and lick his wounds somewhere out of sight.
"Cooper's here too," Kurt offers.
"Cooper?" Blaine repeats incredulously, looking visibly thrown. "Why?"
"I think you two have a few things to talk about," Kurt says, feeling it's something that he should probably hear from his own brother.
"Um...Okay," Blaine says, sounding a little unsure. "I'll just...I should pay the driver first."
"I'll take care of it," Sebastian offers. "You two go on, I'll be right behind."
Kurt shoots him a grateful look. He really isn't worried, is he? Not that he should be- but Sebastian is really handling this with a poise he himself hopes to have one day, should they run into one of his exes. Or Micha.
It makes Kurt feel a little conflicted. He is proud that his boyfriend has the emotional maturity to know Blaine isn't going to make a move while he has his back turned, but at the same time, all of the movies and tv shows Kurt has seen in his impressionable youth taught him that jealousy is a sign of love, and a tiny little voice nags in the back of his head: why isn't Sebastian more jealous?
Before he can think too hard on it, Blaine takes his arm- a gesture that feels so normal that Kurt just goes along with it, looping his arm around Blaine's and adjusting his steps to match his. Blaine's eyes go wide at the entry to the garden and the fairy lights.
"This is amazing," he whispers.
"I know," Kurt says, excited to have his friend by his side to show off what he has done. "And you haven't even seen the rest yet."
By the time they reach the dance floor, Kurt has told him all about Olivia and Brian, their venue burning down, the frantic search for a new location, and everything else that happened the past few days. To his credit, Blaine listens raptly, only every now and then losing himself in thought as he ends up staring at Kurt's lips and Kurt has to gently pull him back to the conversation.
"Kurt! There you are!" Olivia exclaims happily, letting go of Greg with a little curtsey. She has changed into an off-white, A-line cocktail dress and is looking beautiful. "I want my dance!" She holds out her hand to try and beckon him to the dance floor.
"Liv, this is Blaine, Cooper's brother," Kurt introduces them. "He just arrived."
"Oh! Hello," Olivia says, graciously declining a dance to her uncle as she makes her way towards them. "I'm sorry, I got a little caught up. Hi, I'm Olivia Sm-" She pauses, her mouth hanging open. She looks at Kurt, who grins at her.
"Olivia Wilton," she corrects herself, squeaks a little giddily and holds out her hand. "Sorry, Blaine, I need to practise."
"It's nice to meet you, Olivia," Blaine offers politely, taking her hand, "And congratulations on your wedding! Kurt has told me all about it. I have never seen a more beautiful place, or a more beautiful bride. You look-" He breaks off and stares at her.
"Yes?" Olivia asks, cocking her head.
"That is the best replica of the Mike Todd necklace I have ever seen," Blaine lets out in awe.
Kurt smirks and leans closer, bringing his mouth to Blaine's ear. "It's the real thing," he whispers.
Blaine pulls back, letting go of Olivia's hand and turning to stare at Kurt in shock. "Holy shit!"
"I know!" Kurt lets out, his voice rising in pitch.
With his mouth hanging slack, Blaine turns back to face Olivia. "I never thought I'd see it in real life. Can I...I mean, may I...touch it?" he whispers reverently.
Olivia smiles indulgently. "Sure." She lifts her chin and Blaine steps closer. He carefully lifts his hand, holds still for a moment, and then lightly caresses the stones. "Kurt…" he says, his eyes still fixed on the necklace, "I am one degree away from Elizabeth Taylor."
"And only two away from James Dean," Kurt adds dreamily. How he missed this - how he missed having his best friend to share this with.
After a moment, Blaine drops his hand. He's blushing fiercely. "Thank you," he says. "It's beautiful. By comparison, I am-" He looks down on his rumpled appearance bashfully. "I'm sorry, I'm fresh from my flight. I didn't exactly pack for a wedding."
Olivia sighs sympathetically. "I understand. I guess you and Coop want to talk, huh? He's over there by the bar. I'm not sure where Jules is." She looks around, her eyes searching.
Figuring that maybe it'll be easier for Blaine to talk to his brother without his loud and outspoken boyfriend, Kurt quickly takes his arm again.
"I'll take him," he tells Olivia, "and then I am coming over for my dance!"
"Who's Jules?" Blaine asks as Kurt leads him to the bar. "And why does everyone keep insisting Cooper and I talk?"
Then Cooper catches sight of them, and his jaw drops. He crosses the distance between them with two long strides and then stops. He looks over his brother's outfit, and then glances at Kurt, who is still holding Blaine's arm.
"Sebastian?" he asks hesitantly.
"Just paying for Blaine's cab. He'll be here in a minute," Kurt assures him. "He's...we're okay."
Cooper's eyes go back to his little brother, who dutifully nods. Without further questions, Cooper opens his arms and Blaine steps into them, accepting a hug from his big brother. His shoulders shake a little.
Behind his back, Kurt mimes going back to the dancefloor, and Cooper nods. Kurt knows they'll be okay. Then he sees Julian and Sebastian walking up together, and quickens his steps to catch them before they interrupt the pair.
"Are you okay, Kurt?" Julian asks.
Kurt nods. "Surprisingly, I am," he admits. "But let's give them some time. I don't think Blaine knows anything about the two of you."
Julian nods. "No, I guess he wouldn't," he replies pensively.
"Do you wanna dance?" Sebastian offers.
Kurt pulls his eyes away from Cooper and Blaine and looks back at his boyfriend. "I do," he says, "but later. I have promised your sister, first."
"Hey, you also promised me!" Julian reminds him playfully.
"I need more drinks for that," Kurt jokes idly, and leaves the two brothers standing by the dance floor as he goes for his dance with the bride.
Kurt leads Olivia back to the dance floor, and they take up positions for a Foxtrot.
"I am having the best time of my life," Olivia whispers into his ear, squeezing his hands. Kurt sighs happily.
"Is it everything you hoped it would be?" he asks, as he holds up their arms for her to spin.
"Yes!" she exclaims happily. "Everything and more! Those speeches, and Julian's artwork! Oh my god, it's so amazing!"
"It really is," Kurt agrees. "Do you know where you'll put it yet?"
Olivia smiles. "I am thinking maybe it should travel, like an exhibition piece. I want it in my home, of course, but I was also thinking we could lend it to Brian's office- so many people come through there, and if they see it, I just know some of them will want to commission Julian for a piece! Some of our guests have already put in requests, too."
"That's an amazing idea!" Kurt says happily. He really thinks Julian could make a good career out of this if he wanted to, and he loves Olivia for already thinking of ways to give him exposure on her own wedding day.
He glances at the side of the dance floor, where Cooper and Blaine are sitting. Julian and Sebastian have joined them, and they are still talking. Olivia follows his eyes.
"I really hope Cooper and Blaine will be okay," she says sympathetically. "I feel so awful for what their parents did."
"Me too," Kurt says. "But they are not alone. We'll work things out."
"Yes," Olivia agrees. "Just like we worked this wedding out."
"Exactly," Kurt agrees.
They finish the dance, and Kurt can tell the talk between Cooper and Blaine is drawing to an end. He bows his head and thanks Olivia for the dance. Another member of her extended family immediately comes to take over from him, so he heads towards the edge of the dance floor.
Blaine catches his eye, and starts towards him. Cooper exchanges a few words with Julian and then follows, hovering in the back to give them some privacy.
"I'm gonna go," Blaine announces. "But can I talk to you for just one moment?"
"Of course," Kurt immediately agrees. They move away from the dance floor and the crowd. Kurt can tell Blaine is still upset, but he's trying to keep it together- probably for the sake of the party, but also a little for himself. He takes Blaine's hand.
"I feel like my whole world has turned upside down," Blaine admits, looking down on their hands. "You're with someone else, Cooper has a boyfriend…All of the stuff that happened…" He looks up, his amber eyes bright with tears.
"I can't believe my parents kept this from me! They always told me Coop had gotten himself in trouble in school, making me think it was about some kind of prank that had gotten out of hand!"
Kurt nods, feeling for him. He can't imagine how betrayed Blaine must be feeling to have found he had been lied to for so long. "I guess Cooper was trying to protect you by not telling you what they did," he offers. "You were so young, it's not like you could have moved out."
Blaine nods, his lip trembling. "That's what he told me," he whispers. "He said that's why he left and moved to California. He had hoped that without him there, they'd give me a fair chance."
He sighs deeply. "But you know, I realized something," he continues. "I thought my dad had given up trying to get me to change, that we had reached a point where he had accepted me the way I am… I thought that picking out that summer camp in San Francisco for me was his way of showing me that he understood my interests. But…" He takes a deep breath.
"It was also around that time that he kept mentioning that maybe I had been thinking too small, that I was letting myself become too fixed on following you to NYADA and New York. That the world was a big place and everywhere had things to offer, and that I was only seventeen and shouldn't let myself be tied down- Kurt, I think, in retrospect-"
"That he was trying to put the idea in your head to leave me?" Kurt whispers, connecting the dots. "And go to San Francisco...sow your wild oats, and return a new Blaine?" He can't help but think of Mr Smythe sr, who had also assumed Sebastian was just going through some phase.
Blaine nods. "And I did it," he continued. "I did what they wanted, and it felt good, because I thought it was the best for both of us-" He breaks off. "It felt like it was my own idea," he admits quietly.
"I think that's how it works when people manipulate you," Kurt says gently. "You can't blame yourself for that. They are your parents, and you love them- you had no reason to assume they didn't have your best interest at heart. Maybe in their own mind, they did."
"If only I had known what they had done to Cooper, then maybe I could have seen what they were trying to do to me!" Blaine says bitterly, his anger rising a little. Kurt can tell in his eyes, the little crease between his eyebrows, the hardening of his jaw. Then Blaine shakes his head, and it bleeds out of him - Kurt is not the one he is angry with.
"I know that I am still responsible for what I did," Blaine admits, frowning. "I shouldn't have listened, I shouldn't have let them put these ideas in my head- but most of all, I shouldn't have slept with someone else because I was missing you."
Kurt swallows hard. "I understand why you did," he admits. He has been so close a few times...intoxication and need, attraction and loneliness- all of those mixed together make it very hard to resist temptation. Luckily for him, it was Sebastian who resisted for him.
Kurt sees Blaine's eyes go wide and quickly shakes his head. "I didn't," he adds. "We waited-"
Blaine scoffs. "Sebastian waited?" he asks, sounding a little incredulous. "More than twenty minutes?"
"Yes," Kurt says, knowing he needs to be patient with him. Had he heard the same story half a year ago, he would have scoffed too. "He isn't really like that once you get to know him. I mean, maybe he was, but not anymore. He changed." For me, he adds in his head, but he doesn't want to rub it in.
"Rachel said so too," Blaine admits, "but I thought she was just trying to soften the blow."
"Do you really think I'd be with someone who treats his partners like that?" Kurt asks gently.
"I thought maybe...it was revenge. For me leaving."
Kurt shakes his head. They have seen too many movies with that exact plot to know that revenge like that never works. He would only have ended up hurting himself- or falling in love with the person he'd choose to inscenerate the revenge with, which is...kind of exactly what happened, but that's beside the point. The point is that Kurt would never throw himself away having sex with a random person to hurt someone he loved. His dad taught him well.
"You know me better than that, Blaine."
Blaine nods. "I do." He lets out a deep sigh. "If you chose him, he has to have some redeeming qualities."
"He does," Kurt assures him. Elaborating will only hurt Blaine, so he doesn't.
"I'm glad," Blaine offers. "I really do want you to be happy. You deserve that."
"So do you," Kurt says, then pauses. "Where will you go now? Home?"
Blaine nods grimly. "I have to. I need to hear the story from my parents. I want to know what they have to say for themselves."
He looks over his shoulder at Cooper, who has been joined by Julian. They are talking quietly.
"Julian seems nice," he says.
Kurt nods.
"Coop said that they've been discussing getting an apartment together in Ohio," Blaine continues. "That way he can be around for my senior year, and he said that if I wanted, I could move in with them until graduation. If...the talk with my parents doesn't go well and they kick me out too." He raises his chin defiantly. "Or if I choose to leave."
Kurt looks at Cooper and Julian and feels his heart grow light. He knew there had been more going on in that hotel room than just catching up on seven years of physical distance. They had been making a plan, and they had included Cooper's little brother in it, too.
"Cooper said he was going to tell me everything and ask me when I got back on Tuesday," Blaine adds. "I kind of jumped the gun by showing up here." He offers Kurt a shy smile.
"I just wanted to see you, Kurt. To tell you I am sorry in person and make sure you were okay." If he had planned to try and get Kurt back, he doesn't say it- and Kurt is grateful for it.
"I am sorry too. You hurt me, a lot, but I never wanted you to feel like this."
Kurt pauses and thinks about Blaine going back home. He doesn't really want to let him go back to those people, who will likely hurt him the way they hurt Cooper.
"Why don't you stay?" he asks. "It's late. In the morning, we can all go back together. I'm sure Greg and Charlotte would be willing-" He breaks off when Blaine shakes his head.
"Thank you, but I need to do this by myself. Seeing you here, making sure you're okay...it was enough for now. You belong here, Kurt. I can feel it. You didn't just get a new boyfriend, you got a whole new family who love you." He hesitates. "I'm sorry, it's yet another thing I couldn't offer you. I know my family was never kind to you."
"Don't," Kurt says sternly. "You are not responsible for the way your parents treated me. And hey, I've still got you and Cooper, right?" He gives Blaine a pleading look. "Can we still be friends?"
Blaine nods, closing his eyes tightly. Kurt gives him a moment. "Maybe-" Blaine starts as he has gathered himself, then clears his throat. "Maybe in a little while, okay? For now, I just need some time to...adjust."
"I will be here," Kurt promises. "Take all the time you need."
He opens his arms, and Blaine steps into them, briefly clinging tightly to Kurt before letting go. Then he looks up into Kurt's eyes, and Kurt feels what he is about to say, and he can't.
"No goodbyes, remember?" he whispers. "I'll see you soon."
Blaine presses his lips together, sealing in a sob that Kurt feels in the shake of his shoulders. Blaine nods, then steps away.
Cooper comes up to them and puts his arm around his brother. "I'll see him to the airport safely," he promises.
"Thank you, Cooper," Kurt says. They walk away together, and Julian comes up to Kurt, watching them go.
"He'll be back," he says, as if he's reminding himself.
"Of course," Kurt agrees. Then, he decides he hasn't teased Julian in a long while, and he really needs something to alleviate the mood.
"So...what's this I hear, you're settling down? Picked out curtains yet? I hope you're one for doing dishes because I somehow don't really see Cooper do that…"
Julian winces and makes a face. "Not so loud, please, you'll ruin my reputation!"
"Oh, the Smythe boys, always so worried about their precious reputation," Kurt says fondly, then grows serious. "I think it's really good of you to offer to help Blaine out."
Julian shrugs self consciously. "He'll have to get noise-cancelling headphones," he says drily, "but...yeah. I feel bad for Blainers. I think it's time for him to get some real guidance so his parents don't screw him up." He smirks. "Maybe this is like the second chance I never deserved."
Kurt chuckles. "Well, a word of advice- don't hit on his next boyfriends. But I think you learned that lesson already."
"I did," Julian says dutifully. "As you may have noticed, I haven't hit on you all day, despite your ass looking in-cre-di-ble in that suit and your hair being completely on point."
"My hair is always on point," Kurt replies. Then, his eyes catch Sebastian, who is dancing with his mother, and an idea forms in his head. "If you behave until Cooper gets back, I may have a little reward for you."
"Oh yeah?" Julian says, his eyes glittering. "What is it?"
"A surprise," Kurt promises mysteriously.
When Cooper returns, however, there is one surprise that needs to be dealt with first, and it is not for Julian, but for Olivia.
Brian takes the microphone and the DJ stops the music. The crowd quiets down. He looks happy and flushed, a little jittery maybe, but mostly just excited. Kurt can barely contain his grin. He squeezes Sebastian's hand tightly, feeling a little nervous himself.
"Thank you, everyone, for your attention- thank you for being here and celebrating this wonderful party with us. My wife and I-"
Julian whistles loudly through his teeth again and a few people cheer and laugh.
"-I know, right?" Brian agrees, letting air from puffed cheeks as he looks around, showing everyone he knows exactly how lucky he is to be calling Olivia his wife. "We're extremely happy that you made it here to this beautiful, dreamlike, fairytale...wonderland."
"He's a few drinks in, isn't he," Sebastian whispers in Kurt's ear, and Kurt shhes him.
"Can you imagine there was a time where Livvie dreamed of marrying someone else?" Brian continues, leaving a dramatic pause, and Kurt actually feels that he's doing this part of the speech quite well, drinks or not- of course, that's probably because he knows what is coming.
Olivia is frowning from her seat by the dance floor, making a mock-exasperated face at him. She doesn't know what's coming, but Kurt can tell she trusts him that it won't be too embarrassing.
"That's right," Brian continues. "There was a time when all of her dreams were populated by other guys - such as Nick, Brian, Kevin, AJ and Howie…"
Several of the women have caught on and start cheering.
"And those weren't even all! There was Nicky and Shane, and Kian... Daniel, Darren..."
Olivia is clasping her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
"I thought it would be a nice surprise to invite these guys here tonight to see what they're missing-"
Olivia looks up sharply, her eyes going wide. She scans the crowd until Brain lowers his head in mock sadness.
"I'm sorry, my darling, none of them showed up. That's rockstars for you, huh?"
Brian chuckles, and Olivia shakes his head at him, wagging her finger. Her friends all awwwww disappointedly.
"However," Brian adds, "now that I have a few drinks in my system, I think I'm brave enough to show you that I can do anything those guys can do, and thankfully I have a group of ex-Warblers to back me up. So, be prepared to be swept off your feet."
He grins goofily and raises the microphone to his lips.
'You are my fire
The one desire…'
Olivia cringes and laughs at the same time- clapping her hands with glee.
'Believe when I say…'
Olivia and the bridesmaids get ready to sing along, but then Julian joins Brian on stage for a harmony, and as they seamlessly switch songs, the women realize it's not just going to be the iconic Backstreet boys song - it's a medley.
'...I'll never break your heart
I'll never make you cry
I'd rather die than live without you
I'll give you all of me
Honey, that's no lie-'
Kurt sighs. He has heard Julian sing before, but that was all just improvised, campfire tunes. This is a well-rehearsed song, and he's doing a difficult layering background vocal, lifting Brian's voice until they sound amazing.
'And I swear-' Brian sings, his voice straining a little, 'I swear,' Cooper adds in a deep honey-soft voice, walking up from the side with a wireless headset clipped to his ear. Olivia gasps.
'-by the moon and the stars in the sky, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear like a shadow that's by your side, I'll be there
For better or worse, till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear -'
Sebastian releases Kurt's hand and steps onto the stage for his solo. Kurt can feel his heart beat fast, knowing that Sebastian was nervous as well, but you would never be able to tell if you saw him now. He smiles broadly at his sister as he takes the lead, the other boys singing his backup.
'I'm never gonna say goodbye- 'cause I never wanna see you cry
I swore to you my love would remain
And I swear it all over again and I
I'm never gonna treat you bad - 'cause I never wanna see you sad
I swore to share your joy and your pain
And -'
Tension and nerves slide off of him, and on the last beat, Kurt clicks on his own wireless headset.
'I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need.'
Olivia turns around to face him- she doesn't even know where to look first, and it's clear from the look in her eyes that she is overwhelmed with joy. Kurt and Cooper were not in the boys' original plans, but as Julian and Brian started a little alcohol-fuelled discussion about the more difficult lines at the bachelor party, Kurt had quickly offered to take them. Cooper, in turn, had eagerly accepted to add his unique voice when he joined Julian the day after. It had only taken a few dry runs in the morning after breakfast to get it all coordinated.
'I love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do
I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause-'
Cooper takes over from Kurt with another of Olivia's favourites, mimicking Ronan's accent a little too thickly so that he ends up sounding a bit like Rory, but Kurt knows that apart from him, no one will notice.
'The smile on your face let's me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall'
Kurt adds some more Savage Garden, taking the lines that were too high for Julian or Sebastian to reach (let alone Brian), and tears of happiness are flowing freely from Olivia's face now.
'And in your eyes I see the missing pieces I'm searching for
I think I've found my way home
I know that it might sound more than a little crazy but I believe…'
They go into the end, bringing the medley to a close by repeating lines from their respective solos, mixed to perfection -
"I knew I loved you before I met you, I have been waiting all my life," Kurt croons, giving it his all.
"And ...I'll never break your heart, I'll never make you cry!" Brian adds.
"And I swear (I swear), by the moon and the stars in the sky,'"Julian and Cooper sing.
"I'm never gonna say goodbye-" Sebastian reminds everyone, walking up to Kurt and taking his hand.
"I want to stand with you on a mountain," Kurt sings, turning to face Sebastian.
"Tell me why!" Julian intersects, playfully intense, gesturing for the audience to join in.
"I want to bathe with you in the sea," Kurt and Sebastian sing to each other, pretending to ignore him.
"Teeeeeeell me why!" Julian, Olivia and the bridesmaid yell, hilariously.
"I want to lay like this forever… " Kurt and Sebastian sigh, in their own world.
"Tell me why!" The whole audience sings along.
"Until the sky falls down on me…"
Then, Brian steps in front of them and finishes the song with a completely straight face, his voice deadpan.
"Cause I want it...that way."
The applause is deafening. Olivia rises from her seat and runs up to Brian, nearly bowling him over with a hug, and before they know it, she is hugging the others as well - a tiny, fiercely emotional woman nearly jumping up to reach all of their shoulders to wrap her arms around them, pressing her lips against their necks and whispering compliments.
"This is all I ever wanted," she nearly sobs as she reaches Kurt. "Thank you so much."
"It was Brian's idea," Kurt reminds her, "And Julian had already made all the arrangements. But I was honored to be a part of it."
Olivia grins widely and bounces on her tiptoes giggling.
From that moment, the party is made. The DJ picks up on the boyband vibe and starts mixing classic songs, getting everyone to the dance floor. From the corner of his eye, Kurt can see Julian walk up to him, a wide smirk on his face.
"I was very good," he reminds Kurt.
"Yes. Yes, you were," Kurt agrees, knowing what is coming.
"I want my surprise," Julian demands.
Kurt smirks. "Okay then, come here." He beckons him closer with a jerk of his head.
Julian narrows his eyes a little and steps closer, licking his lips. As he is standing right in front of him, Kurt runs his hand up the lapel of Julian's jacket, stopping at his shoulder and giving him the most intense look he can muster.
"For our dance," he says in a sultry voice, "You can pick the music." He pauses. "I will dance to anything you want. Anything."
Julian sucks in a breath, his eyes flicking from Kurt's hand on him back to his face, following Kurt's tongue as he wets his lips. Then, Kurt leans in closer to whisper in his ear.
"I'll even let you lead."
Julian lets out his trapped breath like a shudder, his hands coming up to Kurt's waist, and he squeezes for a moment as he gathers his bearings. Then he pulls away to look at Kurt.
"What about Sebastian?" he asks sceptically.
Kurt smiles. "I already cleared it with him. He's not feeling very threatened," he teases.
Julian's eyes glitter. "Yet!" he says, smirking. He is accepting the challenge alright. "I need to go talk to the DJ." He points at Kurt. "Don't go anywhere. You'll be mine soon."
Kurt winks, and watches as Julian hurries off.
He really had cleared it with Sebastian, who thought the whole idea was hilarious. Julian would probably pick something ridiculous like 'I Wanna Sex You Up' or 'Pony' - and they'd all have a good laugh about it. Sebastian knows Kurt will come back to him after the song- and Kurt gave him permission to make a show of trying to woo Cooper at the same time.
It doesn't take long for Julian to return. Sebastian has joined Kurt by now, and they both greet a very excited looking Julian. "Next song, you're up," he announces, looking at Kurt. "Prepare to be swept off your feet, sweetheart."
Kurt snorts. "Sure," he agrees pleasantly. He's curious what Julian has picked. The two brothers muster each other.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Julian asks Sebastian, sounding teasing and casually amused- but Kurt can see in his eyes that he is serious. "You must really trust Kurt."
Sebastian pulls up the corner of his mouth in a half-smile. "I do. But I also trust you, Jules. Go ahead, and make it scandalous. We have to give them all something to talk about."
Julian's smile broadens. "I can do that," he promises.
The current song comes to an end, and Julian straightens up. "This is it," he announces unnecessarily. Kurt nods, looking at the DJ expectantly, bracing himself for some explicit lyrics - or possibly the Lambada.
The DJ, however, announces that he is taking a short break, as the band will play a special request for the brother of the bride. Kurt's eyes flit to the stage. The band?
The singers have put their microphone stands away; one has taken up an accordion, and the other a violin. What is going on? When he turns back to Julian, he sees that he has taken off his jacket as well as his waistcoat, leaving him in his fitted shirt and snug black dress pants. Kurt swallows hard.
The music sets in, and Kurt panics. This is not what he signed up for.
"Jules, no! I can't! I...I don't know how to tango!" he lets out, his eyes wide, as Julian beckons him onto the dance floor with a crook of his finger and a smirk. A strong hand in his back pushes Kurt onto the floor - as he looks around, he sees it is Sebastian, Julian's jacket and waistcoat draped over his arm. He is looking a little too pleased.
"Watch your toes, babe," he says, his eyes glittering, and then Kurt stands there on his own, all eyes on him and Julian. The intensity of the music heightens, and the intro ends- Julian, his back long and his chest out, stalks towards him, the pointed toes of his shoes dragging over the wood in a sultry, almost lazy circle with each step.
This is it, Kurt thinks. I always knew I was going to die on stage, but I didn't think it would be before I even got to NYADA. Everyone's looking at me. The entire Pennsylvania social elite will judge my steps-
Julian comes to a halt in front of him, giving him an exaggerated once-over before taking one of his hands in his, curling his fingers around Kurt's palm slowly. "Don't think," he whispers, and takes Kurt's other hand as well. "I'll lead you through it."
At the next accent, he rips Kurt's arms up into a dancer's frame, holding them firmly up on shoulder level, his elbows out, and then steps forward to Kurt's side, coaxing him backward. The steps are quick, but before Kurt can protest, Julian's mouth is by his ear, talking him through it, counting softly, describing each move before he leads them through it- four counts back, twist, return- Kurt, I am going to fan you out and pull you back, how far can you go down in a split?
Julian leads them through the same motive twice, and by the third time, Kurt has caught on and dares to improvise, lifting his leg, draping it over Julian's thigh as they both dip down for another pose. Someone whistles through their fingers - possibly Olivia, maybe even Charlotte. Kurt doesn't have time to look around. He is focused purely on Julian, his arms rigid, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
"Who taught you to dance like this?" he mumbles, sidestepping.
"Micha," Julian replies, leading them to a simpler outline now, without extra figures. "He was a trained dance instructor before he...switched professions."
Kurt gives him a wide-eyed look. Julian doesn't seem opposed to talking about him, and they are so close right now, that Kurt feels daring enough to ask.
"Did you write him a letter as well?" he asks. Julian nods. They move through the room in measured steps.
"I didn't think he was going to reply," Julian admits. "It took him over a year."
Kurt swallows. "Was he mad?"
Julian shakes his head before twisting Kurt around on the spot and capturing him in his arms again. "He was in rehab. Like me, he decided to change his life around."
Kurt breathes out in relief. "Do you keep in touch?"
Julian pulls up the corner of his mouth a little self-consciously. "I'm not the world's best penpal," he admits, "but we text every once in a while. He ended up studying event management and started up his own firm. He lives in Berlin now as far as I know, in a civil partnership."
Kurt feels something bloom warmly in his chest. "I'm glad," he whispers. "Does Bas know?"
Julian frowns a little. "Yes. But Kurt…Micha would never come between you and Sebastian, married or not."
"I know. That's not why I am glad," Kurt says, and he splays his hand on Julian's chest at the next accent, pushing him away playfully before letting himself be caught again. "When Sebastian told me your story, I felt bad for him. I wanted him to be okay."
"He is. Maybe we should all go down some time and meet up," Julian suggests. "I'm sure he'd love to meet you."
Kurt smiles. "Me too."
Julian's hands tighten around him. "For the finale, I am gonna lift you up," he announces. "Like Dirty Dancing."
"NO!" Kurt says loudly, and Julian laughs.
"Just kidding, babe."
He dips Kurt back for the last accent, and they freeze in that pose for a moment, both breathing hard. Then Julian pulls him back up under the thunderous applause of everyone watching. Julian holds up their joined hands in victory, and then brings Kurt's hand to his lips to kiss it.
A little dazed, Kurt lets himself be led off the dance floor and back to Sebastian as the band takes their bows, and the DJ starts up his club music again.
"That...was super hot," Sebastian says honestly, handing Julian his clothes back. He reaches for Kurt and plants a kiss on his lips, pressing in hard. "I think we need to take another dance course," he mumbles against Kurt's lips.
"Mm-mmm," Kurt agrees breathlessly. He wants to pull Sebastian into a dark corner now, but then he hears a familiar song intro. It's like the lure of a siren - and he feels the need to dance. When he turns around, he sees someone else has got it covered. Or rather...two of them.
"What...is going on?" Julian whispers, still standing next to them. The three of them watch with open mouths as Burt and Finn make their way to the middle of the floor, hands on their hips, and begin shaking them to the rhythm.
'All the Single Ladies…Put your hands up!'
Sebastian gasps, looking horrified and fascinated at the same time.
"What the hell is going on?" he whispers into Kurt's ear. "How come your family dances like this?"
"Welcome to the Hudmel family," Kurt says quizzically, clapping and cheering along as his dad and Finn get more and more backup dancers all following their lead. "Come on, let's join them!"
"Me? I'm not a single lady," Sebastian protests.
"Neither am I, let's do this!" Kurt urges, and takes his hand, dragging him onto the dance floor.
"This is fucking ridiculous," Sebastian curses, but at the same time, eyes Finn's feet carefully to see what he's doing.
"Better watch mine," Kurt says smugly. "Finn's got two left ones."
Time, Kurt knows, has never been on his side this summer. The days and nights missing Blaine felt like eternity; the days on the beach with Sebastian passing by in a flash. The same is true for Olivia and Brian's wedding day.
All day, their world had seemed to exist in a different timezone; slipping away from them as they tried to get everything ready, slowing down as they waited for the guests to arrive so they could get started- then fast as lightning as one highlight surpassed the next - only to come to a screeching halt again for the talk with Blaine. And yet a whole day has gone by faster than any of them noticed, and suddenly, taxis have been ordered, goodbyes are being said, and the garden gradually empties and it is just a few family members and friends left as the first light of dawn is slowly coloring the night sky.
For the first time after what feels like days, Kurt sits down, finally taking the weight off his feet. His shoes held up everything the price promised, but even handmade Italian shoes feel heavy after a full day of last minute chores, solving crises, and last but not least, partying.
Now the party is slowly winding down, and he can feel his toes throb. He stretches them out under the table, crossing his ankles, and looks around at the party stragglers. At another table across the dance floor, he can see Cooper sitting down and talking to his dad and stepmom. Carole is holding Cooper's hand in hers, nodding empathically as Burt speaks, and he watches as his dad puts his hand on Cooper's shoulder. He can tell the moment the day's events are too much for Cooper and he breaks down.
Kurt almost rises to his feet again, but then he sees his dad's got it. He puts his arms around the other man, who is taller than he is, and hugs him tightly, continuing to talk. It is clear that Cooper does not just have his boyfriend's dad in his corner, but his dad as well- and between Greg and Burt, he knows Cooper and Blaine will be alright.
He averts his eyes to give them a private moment and looks at the other guests sitting scattered around tables, walking by the stream, or slow-dancing sleepily, not stopping their continuous sway as the music fades out and a new song starts.
A drop in the ocean, a change in the weather-
Kurt watches as the bride and groom enter the dance floor. For the past hour, Olivia and Brian have been pulled away from each other every few minutes for goodbye nightcaps or last sage advice by well-meaning aunts, and now they are finally together again, just the two of them, to dance and enjoy the remnants of their party.
Kurt lets his eyes become unfocused as he thinks of their day. The ups, the downs- but mostly Sebastian. The way he looks in his suit. His happiness for his sister and new brother-in-law. The fierceness with which he defends those whom he loves, and the unique generosity he displayed to his former rival.
I was praying that you and me might end up together-
"May I have this dance?"
Kurt sits up and looks around into the eyes of his lover. His suit a little worse for wear; his bowtie undone and the top two buttons of his shirt popped open, Sebastian holds out his hand, palm up.
Kurt doesn't need to think about it. "Yes," he says immediately, aching toes be damned, putting his hand in Sebastian's and rising to his feet.
Sebastian leads them to the dancefloor, and as the soft piano theme sets in, encloses Kurt in his arms. They don't try for steps; feeling each other close is all they need. They just shift their weight from one foot to the other to give it some semblance of a dance.
"Sorry it took me so long to get back to you," Sebastian says. "Carter and his buddies insisted on going for a swim and me and dad had to dissuade them from going skinny dipping."
Kurt wrinkles his nose. "That's actually really dangerous if they are that drunk," he mumbles pensively.
"I know. But they are all safely into cabs on their way back to the hotel now," Sebastian replies. "One can only hope it doesn't have a pool, but my dad said he'd call up to the staff ahead."
He leans in to rest his forehead against Kurt's. "I hurried back," he whispers. "I didn't want you to think I had snuck off with a waiter or something."
Kurt doesn't need a moment to think. "I wasn't worried," he says honestly. "I trust you."
They close their eyes and breathe out as one, swaying to the music. Kurt feels Sebastian's chest rise against his at every breath, his skin warm under his shirt. Everything around them ceases to exist; it is just them, their arms the outer perimeter of their world.
I'm holding you closer than most - 'cause you are my heaven
Kurt opens his eyes to look at him, and he is just wondering if it would be okay to kiss him here, when he sees something swirl in the corner of his eyes.
Olivia and Brian are making the most of the almost empty dance floor. Kurt recognizes a few steps of the rhumba he learned with Sebastian, but they are doing many more fans and travelling steps than they ever managed, and he smiles fondly. They look incredible, like they were made to dance together - their eyes linked as their bodies sway and twist graciously towards and away from each other. "Look at your sister go," he whispers.
Sebastian turns his head to look at them and scoffs. "Show-offs," he mumbles, his hand tightening at the small of Kurt's back. The bridge of the song comes on, and suddenly, Sebastian spins them and dips Kurt back with a swooping motion.
Kurt yelps and grapples to hold on to Sebastian's shoulders, but years of muscle memory make him elongate his back and stretch a leg up, making it look intentional and holding the pose for a moment before Sebastian pulls him back up.
"Are you crazy?" he whispers urgently as he finds his feet again. His heart is pounding and he can feel his face flushing. "You nearly dropped me!"
"Never," Sebastian replies, his voice a little hoarse, his pupils blown so wide Kurt is nearly drowning in the stormy dark. "Never," he repeats strongly, and then he is kissing him, and Kurt doesn't mind they are in the middle of a dance floor - adrenaline is still surging through his system and he kisses him back fervently, wanting all of this, and never, ever wanting to let go.
Above their heads, over the water, fireworks begin to explode, lighting up the sky in sparkling stars and bursts of reds, green and blues.
It is one of these moments where once again, everything changes; and it's the moment they will both remember most from this summer, where everything finally feels completely right. It is the exact moment they can both put a name to, and no matter how many more changes are to come, this is the one that will help them decide to face them together.
It's just a drop in the ocean
A change in the weather -
And heaven does not seem far away anymore - no...
THE END
Authors' Notes: This is it. You've reached the end of our story. It has been a long process, and now we would like to hear from YOU. Did you read it in one sitting? Did you savour each chapter? Which part(s) stood out? Are you satisfied with the ACITW plots we closed, or did you have different headcanons? What do you think of our OCs? Tell us about it! We'd love to hear your comments - and if you know anyone you think might enjoy this story too, we'd appreciate a fic rec!
We hereby issue a blanket permission for fanart and/or continuations of ADITO, our OCs and original plots. We'd love to see any derivative works, link us if you do!
Readers coming here from Tumblr; you may have picked up some discourse about a 'Kurtbastian feud', 'KB drama' or 'the toxic fandom'. We would like to state once and for all, that for us, writing fanfiction is not (and never has been) a competition. In the end, all of us are only writing our own interpretation of a work of media, out of passion, with the same tropes and plots, to make our characters (and ourselves) happy. We encourage author solidarity and the 'holy shit 2 cakes' mentality.
(FINAL) DEDICATIONS:
[Dafty] - To JWM : I want to start this by saying thank you. Thank you for going on this journey with me, for indulging my need for fluff but also reining me in from writing 20 chapters of these two boys falling in love at the beach. This is our 4th project that we've worked on together now, and I could not imagine doing any of this without you. Your writing talent is second to none and working with you makes me a better writer. The thing I have to thank you most for though, is your friendship. The journey we have been on over these past 3 years has meant more to me than I can say; your support, generosity and kindness means everything to me and I really do not know what I would do without you. Now, let's sit back and watch Queer Eye Season 5 with wine, cheese and gin and take a well-earned break. Love you babe.
[JWM] - To Dafty : from cheerleader to counselor & ACITW-encyclopedia, to beta & co-author; you were and are everything to me, and this work would never even have existed without you. Thank you for nights of plotting, phone conferences, headcanons; for guiding me through my darkest moments, for abiding my ceaseless badgering about 'canon' and painstakingly correcting minute details that I glossed over. I am sorry you had to bear the brunt of the anons; they targeted you specifically, even if I may have deserved it more for starting this fic. We had planned to be together for the release; COVID19 stopped our plans, but you are in the pocket over my heart (and sometimes, my ass), always.