Happy Wednesday, my darlings.

As always, I'm so grateful for your support and your comments. It makes me endlessly happy that you guys are enjoying this story. It holds a special place in my heart now.

Christine also deserves all my appreciation for her amazing work as my beta. Love you, thank you so much!

I hope you'll enjoy this one!

At first, there were too many things to focus on – getting the kids safely to the hotel, help them check into their rooms, give them a stern talking to about respecting said rooms and not wrecking them, no matter how excited they were, as well as about not wandering off without telling anyone where they went. If any of them found it confusing that the coach of the Warblers had tagged along for the trip, none of them said anything at all, just nodded along to everything both Kurt and Blaine said, wide-eyed as they tried to pay attention and glance at the city outside the window at the same time.

Once the last group was settled in their room, they walked down the hallway, dragging their suitcases behind them. They were tired already, and willing to kill for a cup of coffee after travelling with over a dozen teenagers. As Kurt slipped his hand in his pocket to fish for his key, Blaine leaned against the wall and watched him, a quiet, easy smile on his face.

"So far so good?" He asked.

Kurt got the door open and took a deep breath. He hadn't even had time to think about how he felt since they had left Ohio. "So far so good," he confirmed, but he couldn't promise it would last.

"I'll go leave this in my room, and then maybe we can call your parents, check on the kids?" Blaine proposed, as he moved to the door across the hall.

"Sure, just come get me when you're ready," Kurt nodded, and after one last reassuring smile, he closed the door and he was alone.

He propped his suitcase up against the nearest wall, didn't even bother glancing around the room – it was pretty much the same as the kids', except there was only one bed, in the same white and grey shades, the same generic yet slightly elegant hotel décor. Instead, he walked towards the window, pulled the curtains open and stared at the city on the other side, just another shade of grey – concrete and glass and not enough of a blue sky today, just a monochromatic landscape, and yet, once upon a time, it had looked like paradise to Kurt.

He could hear the traffic, feel the thrumming of this once familiar city. A few years ago, he had walked its streets and imagined himself nowhere else. How could Kurt Hummel trade New York City for any other place in the world? When he was a kid, just the idea that he could get on a train, or a bus, or a plane and get here in a handful of hours, where he could be free and happy and accepted and himself, had kept him safe and sane. Now, however, he couldn't remember what exactly had made him feel like he belonged. There was nothing safe about this place.

He thought of Finn, safe and sound in Lima. He thought about the way he and Olivia had waved at them as they drove away, standing in the driveway with his parents, big smiles on their faces.

If something bad was waiting for him out in this city, then at least Finn wasn't here for it. That helped him breathe a little more easily.

Kurt allowed himself a moment to close his eyes and simply breathe. He didn't have time to deal with demons and fears. He had a team to coach, a group of kids to focus on, and a trophy to win.

And a man across the hallway who confused him and yet continued to pull him back time and time again, like a drug he couldn't quite quit.

Like a dream he could touch with his fingertips and yet couldn't quite grasp.

He pressed his forehead against the cold glass of the window and continued to breathe. That was all he could do, really.

There was a lovely coffee shop on the corner across from the hotel, a mixture of vintage and modern, exposed brick and white wood, luminous yet cozy. Blaine chose a table by the window and sat down with a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. He wasn't really hungry, but he figured he could pick at it as a way to pass the time. He had also brought a book along, although he suspected he wouldn't be able to focus on it enough to get through more than a page or two.

It was so weird, being here.

He had managed to keep a smile on his face and a confident air all around him while he was with Kurt, but now that he was alone, he felt like all the negative things this city brought out in him came out to play – the anxiety, the bad memories, the doubts.

He had once loved this city. He had imagined a bright future here, had even managed to get a glimpse of it for a little while, before everything he had ever wanted suddenly collapsed in front of him. And then New York had turned into hell – the buildings seemed to suffocate him, he couldn't breathe amongst all this concrete, amongst all these people, there wasn't a single moment to stop and kneel on the ground to even try to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart...

So he had run instead. And he hadn't regretted it, not once. It was what he did, anyway, wasn't it? He had run away to Dalton when he was bullied and attacked, then run away to McKinley when he feared being apart from Kurt would be too much for their relationship, almost run away back to Dalton after cheating on Kurt and breaking his trust, and finally, he had run away back to Ohio when Kurt ended the engagement.

It got so exhausting, Blaine thought, running all the time. He had been so happy and so lucky to finally get to settle down in Ohio. If he had told his eighteen year old self that his happiness was in the same place he had been eager to leave behind, he wouldn't have believed it.

Just how he wouldn't have believed all the ways in which he and Kurt would be capable of hurting each other.

He shook his head and drank his coffee. He couldn't allow himself to get lost in old feelings and fears. Being here didn't mean he was the same person he had been ten years ago. He was stronger, he knew what he wanted, he was more comfortable with who he was. And Kurt had changed too, in so many ways. Maybe this time they would be wiser. Maybe this time they could get through this unscathed.

He broke off a piece of his muffin and checked the time as he chewed. Kurt and the kids had at least another hour of rehearsal, and they had promised to take them to Central Park afterwards. He took a deep breath and opened his book.

He couldn't allow the bad thoughts to haunt him.

They would be back in Ohio before they knew it.

Despite the sun hiding behind large clouds, its brightness missing, not reflecting off the windows in buildings or the surface of the lake, Central Park looked like a luscious oasis, summer already hinting its arrival in the way flowers had blossomed, trees had strengthened, and people had said goodbye to layers. And people were everywhere – when was Central Park ever empty, anyway?

The New Directions kids looked around like they had fallen into a storybook.

Kurt played the role of tour guide perfectly, taking them to what had once been his favorite spots. He allowed them to explore a little on their own, to suggest things they wanted to see, to stop and take pictures whenever they wanted. He seemed to remember what it felt like, to step into this city for the first time, before it had been tainted with painful experiences. But just because it had been ruined for him, it didn't mean he had the right to take this moment away from them. It was their time to shine, their time to be the leading characters in this story they had started.

"What are we going to do next?" Zach asked, bouncing excitedly on his spot.

"I'm so hungry, can we get something to eat?" Melodie proposed.

That's when the rest of them started to chime in:

"No, let's go to the zoo!"

"Oh we have to go to Times Square!"

"Do you think we could get tickets to see a Broadway show? How expensive could it be to get tickets to something like, I don't know, Hamilton?"

"I want to go to the Brooklyn Bridge to take pictures..."

"Are we near Fifth Avenue? I want to go into Chanel or Gucci and pretend I can actually afford to even step into one of those stores..."

Kurt raised his hands as if trying to contain them. "Come on, guys, calm down. We'll try to visit as many places as we can, but we're not here to play tourists, okay? We're here for a competition. So we can have some lunch and then we'll head back to the hotel to rehearse a little more..."

Melodie nodded sharply, her eyes bright with determination. "Yes, I agree. We need to win this, guys! We can always come back to New York some other time."

"Yeah, when we return as reigning champions for Nationals next year!" Dylan said and everyone cheered.

Blaine smiled. It was impossible not to, their enthusiasm was infectious and they were all so happy to be here.

The next argument was about where they would eat. In the end, the easiest solution was for each of them to buy something they liked and have an impromptu picnic in the lawn. They all gathered in a circle under the shade of a tree and began to eat, already talking about the competition.

"Okay, Mr. Anderson and I are going to find something to eat, but we'll meet again right here in an hour," Kurt said, sternly. "I don't want to hear about any of you wandering off on your own, do you hear me? Katie, you're in charge. If anyone so much as moves their butt off the ground, you call me right away, you hear me?"

"Yes, Mr. H!" Katie said immediately.

"Good," Kurt still took the time to look at each of them in turn to make sure they knew how serious he was. He then pointed at the restaurant not far from there. "Mr. Anderson and I will be right there. Call me or come find us if you need anything, alright? See you in a bit."

The Boathouse was a lovely restaurant overlooking the lake. Blaine followed Kurt towards it and didn't tell him that once, a long time ago, he had been here inquiring about renting the venue for their wedding. Back when they had been nothing but struggling college students, it had been an impossible dream to even have lunch at this place, much less a wedding.

Don't think about it, Blaine told himself. Don't think about it.

The hostess smiled at them as they entered and took them through the restaurant towards an available table by the window, from where they could actually see the kids sitting together under the tree. Kurt took a moment to check on them before he sat.

"I'll send your waiter right away," the hostess said politely, before she walked away.

Blaine looked at Kurt across the table and he realized he couldn't breathe. It was like his lungs had forgotten they needed to expand and accept air back into them.

Kurt pressed his forearms to the table as he took a look around the restaurant. "This place is so gorgeous. I've always wanted to come here."

Blaine couldn't speak even if he had been able to find something to say.

"Whatever you want, it's my treat," Kurt said with a little smile. "You came all the way here for me, the least I can do is treat you to a nice lunch."

Have you noticed how exhausting it's been ever since you moved back in?

Blaine closed his eyes tightly. God, no. Please, no.

There was no rain this time, but he could still hear it, somewhere in the back of his head, like the memory could never be shaken off, could never truly disappear. It was a clear day, not a stormy night outside, and definitely a different restaurant, but still...

His chest felt so tight, why couldn't he breathe?

Do you even want this wedding? Do you even want to marry me?

Maybe I don't.

He stood up so abruptly the chair made a loud scraping noise that seemed to echo all through the restaurant.

Kurt looked up at him, frowning. "Blaine?"

"Sorry, I..." he cleared his throat because he couldn't even recognize his own voice. "I need to use the restroom. I'll be back in a minute, okay?"

He was barely aware of Kurt replying, he just walked away as fast as he could without looking suspicious, moving through the gaps between the tables without really knowing where he was going, but mercifully he ended up going in the right direction, because he saw the signs that pointed towards the restrooms and he felt like he would cry in relief.

He opened the door and headed towards the sinks, gripping the edge of the counter tightly and letting his head hang as he forced himself to breathe. God, just breathe, you idiot, it's been over ten years, how can you still feel like this? When are you ever going to be over this? Move on already, stop being so weak...

Ten years and that night was still engraved in his memory like it had happened yesterday, and the pain was just as strong, the disappointment just as wrecking, the feeling that he wasn't enough, that he hadn't managed to hold on to what he had wanted the most, that he had failed...

The way Kurt had looked at him that night, like he meant nothing at all, like he was only an annoying little boy he couldn't wait to get rid of...

That night, Kurt had told him he loved him too, but it had been the first time he hadn't meant it.

He splashed water on his face, hoping it would help him snap out of it. So much had happened since that last night. He had made his peace with it, had worked so hard to forget, to forgive...

It's this city, he told himself. It's just this fucking city keeping all those bad things alive. I should have never left Ohio.

More water on his face, like it would actually change how he was feeling. He kept his eyes closed and focused on his breathing and tried not to hate himself too much for how he was reacting, but it was so hard...

There was suddenly a hand on his shoulder and he hadn't noticed just how tense he was until then. He turned almost violently, startled by the intrusion, and found Kurt standing there, watching him with his blue eyes filled with worry, a little crease in his brow, his hand retracted like he thought touching him was the wrong thing to do.

"Blaine? What's wrong?" He asked, looking careful and hesitant.

Blaine inhaled and exhaled a couple of times and tried to find the smile he always hid behind. "I'm fine, sorry. I just..."

"You're not fine," Kurt whispered sadly. "Talk to me."

God, where was that smile? It never failed him, he could always count on it to be a facade, to keep his pain out of sight, but today... He shook his head, frustration piling up on top of everything he was already feeling. "I'm just being stupid. I need a moment. Why don't you go back out there and...?"

Kurt took another step towards him. He didn't touch him, though. Blaine wasn't sure what was worse. "I'm not leaving you, you look like..." He paused, and Blaine never found out what he looked like. "Was it something I said?"

What was Blaine supposed to say? Yes, it was something you said, but not now, ten years ago...

How pathetic was that?

It was the stretch of silence, apparently, that made Kurt understand. His face fell and he looked so heartbroken, Blaine felt the urge to comfort him, even though he was the one currently in the middle of a crisis.

"I didn't think," Kurt said softly, looking down at his own hands, "when you said you wanted to come with me, that while you were going to protect me from my demons, you were going to be left vulnerable for yours."

Blaine, feeling defeated, leaned against the counter. "I'm fine. I'm just being stupid..." he said again.

Kurt looked angry now. "Why is it that when I'm the one freaking out, it's acceptable, and when it's you, you're stupid?" He waited, like he expected Blaine to have an answer. "You're allowed to feel whatever it is you're feeling right now..."

Blaine sighed tiredly. "It's been ten years, Kurt."

"It doesn't mean it can't still hurt," Kurt said fiercely, and then his eyes filled with tears. "I don't know how to stop hurting you. I don't know how to erase what I did ten years ago..."

Blaine ran a hand through his hair. "We both made mistakes, Kurt. Don't blame yourself for it. We were both responsible."

Kurt wiped his eyes quickly, as if embarrassed. "You should go back to Ohio. I never should have let you come with me..."

"I'm not going anywhere," Blaine interrupted firmly. "I'm not going anywhere."

He wondered if Kurt understood exactly what he meant by that. He wondered if he himself knew exactly what he meant.

Like he couldn't hold back anymore, like not touching him was just as painful as seeing him like this, Kurt first pressed a hand against his shoulder, and then let it trail down to his chest, above his wildly beating heart. His eyes spoke of a million things unsaid, but not a single word left his mouth. He took a step closer when Blaine didn't push him away, and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a hug that Blaine melted into without a second's hesitation. He held on for dear life.

"We can do whatever you want," Kurt finally said, lips brushing his ear. "Just tell me what you want me to do."

Blaine let his fingers trail the path of Kurt's spine, down to the dip at the base, the one he had always felt was made for his hands – they just fit perfectly. And then he allowed himself to turn his head enough to place a kiss on Kurt's cheek, just because he was close enough to. He took a deep breath and pulled away to look Kurt in the eyes. "I want you to go back to our table and order our drinks; water for me, please. And then we're going to eat and have a nice day, because no matter what happened in the past, we're here now, and we should make the most of it, don't you think?"

He hoped he sounded as confident as he tried to.

Kurt watched him for a moment, and god, he was so stunning, with his blue eyes shining in the artificial light of the bathroom, his lips parted slightly. Blaine could have walked the Earth for a thousand years and still not find one single human being who could be as beautiful as Kurt was.

"Okay," he said at last. "If you're sure."

This time, Blaine did find his smile. "I'm sure."

Kurt understood what he was really asking him for – a couple more minutes by himself so he could try to put himself together. So he nodded and, with one last worried glance, he left him alone.

Blaine turned towards the mirror, looked at his reflection and took a deep breath. Cooper would say that this was the perfect moment to walk away. It was obvious, after all, that there were a lot of things that still affected Blaine, a decade later, despite his insistence that he was over it all. But he had to believe that there was more than heartbreak waiting for him at the end of this. With the way Kurt held him, touched him, looked at him... heartbreak wasn't even an option, right?

So instead of walking away like his brother would want him to, he walked out of the restroom and back towards Kurt, who was sitting at their table, scanning the menu, his shoulders tense and his brow creased, not really reading the words in front of him. Blaine knew him well enough to know he was just pretending to check it out to give himself something to do as he waited.

He slipped into his seat and drank a sip of water before he looked up at Kurt, who had put the menu down and was watching him expectantly, nervously.

Once again, Blaine found the smile he needed for him. "So, what looks good? I'm starving."

And Kurt smiled back, softly first, and then wider, clear in his relief. He extended one of his hands across the table, palm up, a silent offering.

The night he had broken his heart, Blaine thought as he looked down at it, he hadn't grabbed his hand. They hadn't touched at all, like Kurt couldn't even stand to touch him.

He slowly slid his hand over Kurt's until his fingertips rested on the pulse point on his wrist. It felt as if suddenly his entire soul shifted back into place.

Walking away, he thought and almost snorted. Like it had ever been an option...

It was so loud in the auditorium that Kurt could barely hear his own thoughts as he made his way through the rows of seats. The lights dimmed just as his eyes found Blaine sitting near the middle, saving a seat for him. He hurried the last few steps and let himself drop down into the empty seat, almost startling Blaine, who had been distracted looking at the program.

"How are the kids doing?" Blaine asked, leaning a little closer to be heard over the announcement of the next group's performance.

"Nervous, but excited. And as ready as they can be," Kurt replied, as he clapped politely. "They're up after this group."

Blaine let the program fall onto his lap and grabbed his hand. "It'll be okay, you'll see. You guys worked your butts off."

Kurt didn't let go of his hand during the entire performance. He felt, actually, that he had barely let go of his hand since the previous day.

And how could he? When he had found Blaine in the restroom at the restaurant, very clearly standing on the edge and ready to tip off into the abyss, he felt, once again, as if he had failed. And Kurt was so, so tired of failing; he was so, so tired of hurting people. But, especially, he was so, so tired of hurting Blaine.

Last night, he had laid in his big, unfamiliar hotel bed and stared at the ceiling and thought about Blaine, about the pain he had seen in his eyes, about how he had put it aside so he could come to New York with Kurt. He thought about how selfless and wonderful and beautiful he was, about how he still fit into his arms so perfectly, like they had been made from matching molds. He thought about everything they had meant to each other, and how they always seemed to find their way to each other again and again. And he thought about how happy he was to be able to count on him, to have his friendship, his support.

And he thought about how easy it could be for him to break that, to hurt him again, and he hated himself for having that power, for being capable of that.

Kurt hadn't lied when they had talked on the phone a few weeks ago – he was scared, terrified, paralyzed with terror. Just because he was naturally drawn to Blaine didn't mean he forgot about the fear that seemed to creep inside of him every second of every day. How fucked up was it, that despite how much they meant to each other, they were the most likely person to shred the other to pieces?

And Kurt wanted him. Not even in a tear-your-clothes-off-and-ravish-you kind of way, though he wanted that too, god, of course he did. Blaine knew how to push every single one of his buttons, how to turn him on, how to make the pleasure course through his body until it was the only thing he could feel, the only thing he could think about. But no, it wasn't just that. It was so much more.

He wanted to be close to him all the time, wanted to hear about his day, wanted to be the person Blaine ran to when he needed someone there. He wanted to hold his hand, just like he was right now, just reach for it whenever he felt like it, without having to think about it like it was the hardest and most definite move on a chess game. He wanted to be able to slip his arms around him from behind and breathe him in and just stay like that until he absolutely had to let go. He wanted to lie next to him in bed, cozy under warm blankets and talk, just talk, nothing else. He wanted to hear his voice, feel the way his chest vibrated as he spoke while Kurt rested his head on his chest. He wanted to make him breakfast in the morning, to accept a cup of coffee from his hands already knowing it would be exactly how he liked it. He wanted to drive around with him, no destination in mind, just the radio and them and the endless road ahead, so many possibilities of where they could end up...

How could Kurt not be scared when what he wanted, in the end, was everything?

Once upon a time, Blaine had been ready to give it all to him, had trusted him with his heart and his future and Kurt hadn't been careful enough, smart enough, loving enough. What right did he have now to ask for everything again?

It wasn't any better, didn't make him feel more reassured, that Blaine was probably willing to give it all to him once more. He was so trusting, such a perfect wonderful open creature. It didn't mean he wasn't scared, Kurt knew he was. It just meant that he didn't let fear guide him. Blaine was brave, and Kurt wanted to be brave for him, but he was terrified of making mistakes again, of dropping Blaine's heart and shattering it again. His hands had become so clumsy when it came to holding something precious, had needed to become claws instead, that could keep him and his son safe. He didn't think he could go back to being the same romantic, hopeful boy Blaine had once fallen in love with. He had been dead for over a decade now.

Didn't Blaine deserve better? That's what everyone kept telling him, after all – Cooper, his father – and Kurt believed it, too. He deserved better, had always deserved better. Kurt had no right to play with him, with his feelings.

But if he was playing, shouldn't it feel like a game?

There was thunderous applause that brought him back to the auditorium and away from his own thoughts. Blaine let go of his hand just long enough to join in, and then grabbed it again at once, like he couldn't stand not to thread his fingers through Kurt's for even a second.

"They were really good. But I don't think you have to worry," he commented, and Kurt simply nodded, because he hadn't paid attention and he had no idea if they had been good or not.

He did pay attention for the New Directions. The kids were amazing, not a single step out of line, and their voices sounded wonderful together. Kurt's chest filled with pride as he watched them, and by the way Blaine was nearly bouncing on his seat, his hand squeezing his, he guessed he wasn't the only one who thought they did great.

They both stood up to give them a standing ovation when they were done, and Kurt took a moment to watch as they smiled, the glint in their eyes, the post-performance adrenaline. He remembered feeling like that. It had been one of the happiest moments of his life, and he hoped they would never forget this, no matter the outcome.

He leaned a little towards Blaine as the applause began to die out. "I'm going to go meet them backstage! See you in a bit."

Just as he hoped they would never forget what they had felt standing on that stage, Kurt would never forget what it felt like when they all engulfed him in a hug, laughing (and some of them crying) together, feeling they were on top of the world.

"You guys killed it!" He exclaimed once they let him breathe. "I'm so proud of you!"

It was difficult to get them to settle down after that, the excitement was running high, but Kurt eventually herded them all back into the auditorium to watch the rest of the performances before he sat back next to Blaine, who turned around on his seat to give everyone a thumbs up.

It felt like it took forever to go through all of the groups. They had a bit of a break at some point, and they went outside to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. Blaine busied himself passing around bottles of water for everyone, as Kurt watched him fondly – he really didn't need to help or care about his kids, but he did, because that was who Blaine was. He cared about everyone.

"Wanna share the last one?" Blaine asked him, as he came back to his side, one last bottle of water in his hands. He uncapped it and offered it to Kurt. He watched him as he drank. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit nervous," Kurt admitted, passing the bottle back to Blaine. "And exhausted. I can't wait to go home."

Blaine hummed, as if he couldn't think of anything better. "Me too. I miss my bed."

Kurt sighed. "I miss the kids. I hope they're not driving my parents too crazy."

"I'll tell you what," Blaine said, nudging him with his shoulder. "Next time? We stay with the kids and we send your parents on a nice trip somewhere."

Kurt chuckled. "That actually sounds nice. They deserve it."

Zach came running towards them, panic-stricken. "Mr. H? They say we have to go back, they're going to announce the winners."

Kurt straightened up and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Okay, guys. Come on, follow me. And whatever happens? I'm proud of everything you have accomplished. The New Directions didn't even exist until a handful of months ago and you performed at Nationals today. That's a big deal already, trust me."

"Break a leg, guys!" Blaine exclaimed, as he headed to the auditorium and they headed backstage.

In the end, they came in third. For a moment, there was a voice in the back of Kurt's head that said it wasn't enough, that he had failed. And then he realized: they came in third. The words he had said to the kids just before going backstage echoed back in his mind – he somehow had managed to bring back a glee club that had been gone for over a decade and take them straight to Nationals in just a matter of months. It was a huge accomplishment, and just as he was proud of the kids for how hard they had worked, he was proud of himself.

They were handed a trophy and Kurt realized he had believed, all along, that they were going to head back home empty-handed. This was... this was everything he had worked for in the past few months. This was proof that he was more than capable of rebuilding his life and doing something worthwhile with it.

As soon as they were out in the lobby, he looked around, and once he had found exactly what he was looking for, he didn't hesitate. He walked straight into Blaine's open and waiting arms, and let him squeeze him in a tight hug, let him whisper in his ear that he knew he could do it and that he was happy for him. Kurt closed his eyes and held onto Blaine and for once, allowed himself to believe again. Maybe everything was possible, even what had initially seemed completely crazy and unreachable.

And then Blaine, one arm still around him, turned to face the New Directions and, grinning, he said: "I think this calls for a little celebration."

The kids held the trophy up in the air and cheered again.

There was a big pizzeria a couple of blocks from the hotel, and they took over a large part of it. Blaine had to help the waiter bring over the drinks and the pizzas while Kurt tried to calm the euphoric group down. They kept bursting into song spontaneously. Blaine couldn't really blame them.

It was a little cramped, so he and Kurt took over a little corner of the table, sides almost glued together, and were just content watching the kids. It had been a very long day – a couple of very long days, really.

Afterwards, they walked slowly back to the hotel, some of the kids still singing under their breath, others dancing along the sidewalk, and Kurt was smiling. It was a lovely smile, calm and perfect, like there wasn't a thing that was wrong in this world, not right now.

They stopped at a corner to wait for the red light and Blaine turned his head to check none of the kids were missing when he felt Kurt's hand sliding down his arm and grasping his, fingers intertwining easily. When he looked at him, Kurt's smile had become even more peaceful. Blaine squeezed his hand. He had always looked so beautiful with the lights of New York City reflecting in his eyes.

They didn't let go of each other until they arrived at the hotel and had to make sure every single one of the kids made it into their rooms. They were all still riding their high from the competition and it was difficult to convince them to go to bed and stay in their own rooms, because it was obvious they wanted to keep celebrating. But they had to be up early the next day to go back to Ohio, and honestly, Blaine couldn't believe they weren't tired, he felt exhausted down to his bones.

He and Kurt finally made their way back down the hallway towards their own rooms. Blaine stood against his door as he fished the key out of his pocket.

"What a day, huh?" He commented, and when he looked up, Kurt took a deep breath, crossed the hallway and kissed him.

Blaine didn't even hesitate before kissing back, almost hungrily – he was always hungry for him, after all. Kurt cupped his face, tilted it just so he could deepen the kiss a little more. Blaine wrapped his arms around him, pressed him close. It was never close enough.

The kiss turned into Kurt pressing tiny little kisses against his lips, down his jaw, on his eyelids. Blaine's heart was beating so hard he was surprised no one came out of their rooms to see what that sound was. He brushed Kurt's hair off his face tenderly and watched him, waiting.

He was always waiting for him.

Kurt pressed their foreheads together and stayed like that for a moment, simply breathing him in like that was enough. Then he sighed, his fingers tightened on Blaine's shirt, and he muttered: "Would you... do you want to...?"

Blaine inhaled and exhaled, very calmly. He knew what his answer would be. He just needed Kurt to be sure enough to ask the question. "What, Kurt?" He prompted quietly.

Kurt moved one of his hands up, cupped Blaine's face, ran his thumb over his bottom lip. His blue eyes were hypnotizing at this distance. "Would you... like to come to my room?"

Blaine caught his hand before he could remove it and kissed the center of his palm, never once moving his eyes away from Kurt's. "Yes," he whispered. "I would really like that."

Kurt breathed out like it had been caught in his throat in anticipation. He smiled and – god, why was it fair that just one smile from him disarmed Blaine completely? – then simply grabbed his hand, and tugged to make him follow, as if Blaine needed him to. Didn't Kurt know already that he would willingly go wherever he took him?

Kurt opened the door and Blaine walked into the room beside him. The door wasn't even completely closed before they were kissing again, wrapping their arms around each other.

Tomorrow, they would go back to Ohio, but in a way, they were already home.

They didn't bother turning the light on.

If you know me enough by now, you'll know I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot because of all the wonderful Blangst. Blaine being vulnerable is one of my favorite things to write, honestly. And I really liked writing Kurt's thoughts as well. I hope that makes things a bit clearer for everyone on where he stands.

Thank you so much for reading and I'll be seeing you on Saturday!

Love,

L.-